The Guardsman, Vol 169, Issue 2, City College of San Francisco

Page 2 Graduation Guarantee: Empty Promise?

Page 4 Gallery Obscura Features Toy Cameras

Page 8 Women's Basketball Team for the Win

Vol. 170, Issue 2 | Jan. 22 – Feb. 5, 2020 | City College of San Francisco | Since 1935 | FREE | www.theguardsman.com

ANTI WAR

PROTEST

City College Students Stand in Solidarity With Hundreds of Anti-war Activists to Demand a Cease to Escalation With Iran page 2

2 | NEWS

Trustees Discuss Budget Crisis

Anti-War Protest

By Jennifer Yin jyin4@gmail.com

City College students were among hundreds of activists who marched down the streets of San Francisco Jan. 25 to protest the U.S. government’s assassination of Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani, an Iranian commander of the Quds Force.

On Jan. 3, President Donald Trump ordered a drone airstrike killing Soleimani and nine others at the Baghdad Airport in Iraq.

“The assassination seemed like an overreach seeing how the Iraqi parliament immediately voted to kick the United States out right after, which lets you know we did not have the insight and the support of our partners in the region to go ahead and order the attack,” Student Trustee Bryan Daley said.

“The U.S. needs to stop moving unilaterally and bring coalitions together to get things done. We also need to be working in respects with the Iraqi people and doing essentially as they wish to liberate their land.”

Solidarity Protestors from all walks of life chanted, “Move Trump, get out of the way, get out of the way,” while holding signs which read, "South Asians against the war,” and, “the war economy is immoral.” In addition, Act Now to Stop War and End Racism (ANSWER) Coalition’s sign read, “Trump, the people say no war on Iran! U.S. troops out of Iraq.”

The march ended at the edge of Union Square, while dozens of SFPD officers surveyed the crowd in front of the Macy’s storefront. Afternoon shoppers took to the windows to gaze from afar at the accumulating crowd, while speakers delivered their speeches.

Rosa Pergams, from The Party for Socialism and Liberation said, “This is a war against oppressed and exploited people all over the world. We must fight to smash capitalism and end imperialism. We and the Iraqis demand the U.S. out of Iraq now with no more war or sanctions on Iran.

We have the power and responsibility to stop the war machine."

Complex History The air strike was the latest in a complex history of tensions in the region, including what protestors consider to be an occupation of various countries in the middle-east by the United States military.

President Trump’s 2018 decision to pull out of the Iran nuclear deal and to implement economic sanctions against the country prompted Iran to exceed the deal’s defined limits.

Two years of minor escalations lead up to the Dec. 27, 2019 attack on an Iraqi military base which killed a U.S. contractor, an attack which U.S. officials blamed Kataib Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militia.

In response, the U.S. government ordered airstrikes on Kataib Hezbollah sites in Iraq and Syria, which killed at least 25 people, according to a statement by militant group Hashd al-Shaabi. This action prompted Iraqi citizens to storm the US Embassy in Iraq, responding to what they viewed as an invasion of Iraq's sovereignty.

Cease in Escalation?

The U.S. House of Representatives voted Jan. 30 to repeal the 2002 Iraq Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF), which was used as justification for Soleimani’s assassination.

The legislation was sponsored by Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Oakland, who has long opposed the “war on terror.”

In a Twitter post Lee said, “The 2002 AUMF is not needed for any current counterterrorism operations. PERIOD. This outdated and unnecessary AUMF has been on the books for far too long. It’s past time for Congress to reclaim our constitutional authority on war and peace.”

Win-Mon Kyi, a City College Solidarity Committee organizer, said student groups have a duty to oppose war in communities here and abroad.

Kyi said, “What is prioritized more?

Education for the public or is it militarization of the communities?"

"City College at the local level plays a huge role in the anti-war movement.

Our generation today is organizing on City College’s campus at the resource center. Whether or not you are a faculty member or student, we all have a role to play in prioritizing education and not militarization" said Kyi.

Anti-war activists Jonathan Jimenez, Maya Canales, and City College students Win-Mon Kyi and Aminah Jalal, left to right, hold a student-created banner on Jan. 25, 2020 at the global day of protest against a potential war with Iran.

Photo by Claudia Drdul/The Guardsman

Staff Editor-in-Chief Claudia Drdul

News Editor Tyler Breisacher

Vol. 170, Issue 2 | Jan. 22– Feb. 5, 2020

Culture Editor Jennifer Yin

Opinion Editor Caoilinn Goss Photo Editor Amal Ben Ghanem

By Jay Sea jcontere@mail.ccsf.edu

Trustees gathered in the Multi-Use Building on Jan. 23 for the first regular meeting of 2020 and the focus of the agenda was a newly completed financial audit, which examined the spending and budget of City College.

The audit findings point to a glaring red flag of deficit spending in the school’s budgeting going back three years. The auditors highlighted this in a section of their report, entitled “Emphasis of Matter Regarding Growing Concern.”

This is a repeat finding of the prior year, now compromising the school’s compliance with the State and its ability to continue financially.

Independent accounting firm Eide Bailly, has audited more than thirty community colleges in the area including City College. Eide Bailly consultant Brandon Harrison has been presenting his findings to the board since 2015.

Harrison’s report drew attention to an alarming concern he labeled “material weaknesses” in the school’s budget.

Since 2015, overspending, lack of oversight, and a dramatic decrease in stable funding has

led to a 58% decrease in the general fund.

The school’s budget was approved despite projected revenues being very inaccurate, the report revealed. Expenditures have exceeded revenues, with a loss of $36 million over two years.

Recently re-elected Trustee Ivy Lee asked the auditors a series of questions about how City College should handle the situation.

The trustees discussed resolutions for getting the budget on track, going forward. The trustees generally agreed that more supervision and more active oversight of the budget was needed.

Trustee Tom Temprano said, “Our current level of monitoring is not adequate.”

The findings reveal City College is currently not within the required 5% reserves to be in State compliance. The agenda item calling for response and corrective action was delayed until February by Chancellor Mark Rocha.

The meeting concluded with the Board electing Shanell Williams as the new board president, taking over the position from Trustee Alex Randolph. Temprano was re-elected as Vice President. The next regular meeting of the Board of Trustees is scheduled for Feb. 27.

A banner displayed outside of the cafeteria at Ocean Campus on Jan. 13, 2020 advises students about the City College's graduation guarantee. Photo by Matheus Maynard/The Guardsman

College’s Advertised “Graduation Guarantee” Falls Short

By Claudia Drdul claudiadrdul@gmail.com

City College’s elusive Graduation Guarantee has been heavy in signage but barren in detail.

Banners draped across the college urge students who have experienced cuts this semester to “see a counselor to get the City College Graduation Guarantee!” However, the reinstatement of courses based on their necessity for graduation, transfer or certificate completion has not clearly been successful.

“We lost many courses required for certificates and degrees and they have not been reinstated,” said Photography Department Chair Erika Gentry in an email to the Guardsman. She listed five different courses which have yet to be added back to the Spring 2020 schedule which are required for either a transfer degree, Associate’s degree or for a Career and Technical Education (CTE) certificate.

Moreover, the elimination of courses like Photography 102C, which is required for both

Asst. Photo Editor Fran Smith Sport Editor Meyer Gorelick Copy Editors Antoinette Barton

Design Director Nazli Ece Kandur Online Editor Matheus Maynard

Ad Manager Diana Guzman

an Associate’s degree and a CTE Certificate, has left “$150k in grant funded equipment sitting unused,” according to Gentry.

A letter written by an Administrative Justice professor was read by AFT 2121 Vice President Wynd Kaufmyn at a Higher Education Action Team press conference outside of City Hall on Dec. 10. This plea for the reinstatement of Administrative Justice 63, read “fingerprints, is a required course in the CSI certificate program.

It was cut last week along with dozens of others.

Since then, I have had several upset students tell me that this is the last class they need to complete their certificates.”

The Administrative Justice professor who teaches this course, Mary Juno informed the Criminal Justice Department Chair and Dean about next steps to put this required class back on the Spring schedule to no avail. “The information was passed on, but the class was not reinstated,” she said.

Staff Writers Aminah Jalal Rachel Berning Alexa Bautista Jay Sea

cont. on page 6 Photographers Matheus Maynard Amal Ben Ghanem Fran Smith Faculty Adviser Juan Gonzales

NEWS | 3

Vol. 170, Issue 2 | Jan. 22– Feb. 5, 2020

Student Workers Suffer From Low Wages and Reduced Hours

Illustration By by Nazli Kandur/ The Guardsman

By Alexa Bautista abauti34@mail.ccsf.edu

Student workers at City College continue to struggle to get the hours they want, and to find jobs that are suitable for their schedules.

The main reason behind this issue is the limited budget that City College offers for all of the departments hiring lab aides. Many of the employers on campus only have limited space and hours for lab aides to select from. In total, students are only allowed to work 15 hours. At approximately $15 per hour, student workers earn $900 or less from their on-campus jobs, every month.

This limitation is due in part to San Francisco's retirement system requirements. If a student were to work more than 15 hours, the department would be required to pay a certain amount into the San Francisco retirement fund, for that student. As a result, more students are competing for fewer hours.

Many lab aide workers, such as Pauline Maninang, a tutor at the math lab, desire more hours and pay for their work. “Yes, I wish to get paid more, as well as be able to work more hours. Like any other student worker in CCSF, our hard work impacts more people than many would think,” Maninang said.

“Even though we are only students, we also have families to help support. Some of us are unable to receive jobs from other organizations because of their inflexible schedules towards college students.”

Other lab aide workers, such as Nadine Peralta, who has worked as a secretary for the Associated Student Council, even found it difficult to find a lab aide job on campus.

“I think that the lack of advertisement and poor marketing is a huge problem at City. I needed to network and conduct intensive research to find jobs that were available to someone with such limited experience,” Peralta said.

Faculty Blame State Funding Formula For City College Budget Woes

By Tyler Breisacher tbreisac@mail.ccsf.edu

City College’s fiscal troubles arise from numerous sources, but one of the most important is a new funding formula approved in 2018, which applies to all community colleges in California.

Under the new plan, called the Student Centered Funding Formula, a portion of the funding provided to each community college is based on the number of low-income students enrolled, while another portion is based on student success, which is defined as factors like degree and certificate completion.

The bulk of state funding is still based on simply the number of fulltime students enrolled. However, the percentage allocated for degrees and certificates has raised concerns among some faculty members.

In a panel discussion held on Dec. 8, 2019, viewable on the “laborvideo” YouTube channel, three City College faculty members discussed the impact of the formula, which they see as part of a larger movement to “corporatize” or privatize the state’s community colleges.

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Edgar Torres, chair of the Latin American and Latino Studies Department, said when the college is deciding which classes to cut, they now tend to make decisions based on which ones will bring in the most money, rather than which lead to the most successful educational outcomes. This is what happens, Torres said, when the state of California tries to “impose a template that fits all of the community colleges the same way,” rather than letting each one reflect the unique community it’s a part of.

Political Science instructor Rick Baum noted that City College is unusual in that it offers a wide range of courses, rather than just introductory classes intended for students planning on transferring to a four-year school.

The new formula is designed for the type of student who “attends for two years, full time, and gets in and out of the college right away.”

In the same panel, Biology Professor Simon Hanson said that lobbying efforts had been successful in adjusting the funding formula.

Previously, 20% of the funding was based on success metrics such as graduation rates, but that changed to 10% and could even be adjusted further in the coming years. He also noted that

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City College was in a “hold harmless” status, meaning the new formula was not being applied yet. However, that status is temporary, so the amount of money City College gets from the state will likely drop significantly within about two years.

Because of that projected loss of revenue, City College leaders are seek additional funding sources, at both the local and state levels.

The Community Higher Education Fund, planned for the November 2020 ballot in San Francisco, is being driven by Supervisor Gordon Mar’s office. At the state level, the Schools and Communities First Initiative, also planned for this November, is supported by both AFT 2121 and the City College Board of Trustees.

In an op-ed for The SF Examiner, long-time faculty member Leslie Simon urged voters to approve both measures in order to support City College, to compensate for the new formula being “unfriendly to large urban districts.” She reminded readers that City College “has never lost an election,” a nod to prior successful initiatives such as Free City in 2016, and two facilities bond measures passed in the last 20 years.

This issue not only impacts lab aides, but Federal Work Study (FWS) students as well. Jowi Aizpuru, who has a FWS position in the math lab, still found it difficult to find a position on campus because of the limited amount of hours offered.

“It was a bit tough especially since there was a lot of competition and I was unaware of how anything worked at City. I applied for the IT department before, but I was against five different applicants.

But thankfully I was referred to by a friend and was able to land a job. Being federal work study also helped tremendously because many offices will be able to accept you,” Aizpuru said.

Many employers would also prefer to have an equal amount of lab aides and FWS workers.

However, with the budget, many employers hire more FWS workers because FWS workers do not impact the budget. The budget for lab aides has decreasedfrom $54,000 two years ago, to $45,000 this year.

Competition does not only exist with lab aide candidates, but for many departments. Math Lab Coordinator Charles Hutchins explained why many students may choose an administrative job rather than tutor jobs.

“It looks like there is competition to find jobs because I get a lot more students coming in looking for jobs than I can offer positions to. A lot of times I would send them to the [Learning Assistance Center] because they also hire math tutors over there. It does seem like a lot of students out there especially for administrative jobs,” Hutchins said.

According to Nanette Moafanua, coordinator for student employment, the number of lab aide positions has been steady in recent years. In addition, she said improvements were in progress to make it easier for students to access on-campus jobs.

“Right now the number is pretty consistent surprisingly. Last time I glanced at it, we were at about 600 students hired total. For student workers, the benefits would be paid sick leave and that would be it. There was a bill that was passed and you would have to be employed for about 90 days, and then you would be able to use your paid sick leave. We’re just trying to improve the way students apply for jobs and how the process works.” Moafanua said.

Students at other California Community Colleges have faced similar challenges, such as a reduction of hours and fewer positions.

At Diablo Valley College, many of the students were able to work 20 to 30 hours a week. However, due to a decline in the budget, many of their hours were cut by 10 hours.

City College students join members of faculty union AFT 2121 and thousands of other educators at the state capitol building in Sacramento on May 22, 2019 to support the funding of public education. Photo by Claudia Drdul/The Guardsman

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4 | CULTURE

Vol. 170, Issue 2 | Jan. 22– Feb. 5, 2020

Recycling Company Created by City College Student Finds its Roots in the Bay

By Jennifer Yin jyin4@mail.ccsf.edu

The Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovations (CEI), one of City College’s newest programs continues to produce blossoming entrepreneurs such as Kevin Posadas, 24, owner of GreenWayv LLC.

natural environment. Stats such as, "Recycling 60 pounds is equivalent to removing one cubic foot from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.”

The garbage patch is nearly the size of Texas, compiled of marine debris and is currently polluting the North Pacific Ocean. Most of the debris found in the patch is non-biodegradable plastic which disintegrates into microplastics. According to National Geographic, marine debris can prevent the growth of algae and plankton from receiving sufficient sunlight in the creation of vital nutrients for marine life, which in turn threatens the entire oceanic food web.

In addition to preserving the ocean habitats, Posadas strives to help communities within the Excelsior District in achieving the goals of being environmentally conscious. Posadas said, “We need to allow for all different types of people from all different types of backgrounds to be able to take advantage of recycling and its values. There is a large community in the Excelsior District, who does not have access to a recycling center within their radius. The closest one is in Bayview. However, since we're mobile we can facilitate for anyone no matter how far they are from a recycling center.”

Business Specs GreenWayv LLC is an ecofriendly company which caters to the Northern Peninsula and provides at-home pickup for reimbursable recyclable materials.

Posadas established his company last October with co-founder Mark Bandalan, 24, to combat the flow of pollution entering our waterways by providing customers with a 50 gallon ecofriendly corrugated cardboard bin to store their recyclables. Posadas described the process as, “We sell our bins for $30 and in those bins you compile your plastics, CRV bottles, and aluminum cans. You can request a pickup once your bin is full and we will arrive the next day to your door.”

GreenWayv LLC is located in San Francisco and serves approximately 50 homes in the Bay Area including South San Francisco, San Bruno, Daly City, Colma, and Pacifica. Currently the company is working on a beta test with Global Initiative Westmoor High School in Daly In Jan. 2018, China passed the City and is in the process of obtain- Chinese National Sword policy, ing a 300 unit complex by Skyline which banned the import of solid College. waste, raw materials, plastic, and paper amounting to half of the

Ocean Waste world’s recyclable waste.

“One of our biggest agendas China processes 55% of the we do is to tell people exactly what world’s scrap paper and is the they're recycling and how much leading destination for other of an impact they are having on recyclable materials, so the restricthe world,” Posadas said. “We tion is already having a major pick up their recycling and we impact on global waste managetell them how much money they ment. had made. Also, we give stats on Already the amount of scrap how many pounds of waste they plastic imported into China has are diverting from our oceans and fallen from 3.5 million metric tons

Founder of GreenWayv LLC and business student at City College Kevin Posadas, 24, poses behind the Student Union on Ocean Campus wearing his company's sweatshirt on Jan. 30, 2020. Photo by Jennifer Yin/The Guardsman

in 2017 to just 21,300 metric tons students bring to life from concept so far this year, according to a state- development to market testing ment made by China’s Ministry of all the way to impact. The CEI Environmental Protection and the harnesses the collaborative spirit China Scrap Plastics Association. of various centers and academic departments within the college and City College Roots community partners in providing Posadas pollinated his dream access to critical resources and of becoming a business student to network with entrepreneurial and environmental entrepreneur community in San Francisco and by applying to City College in the Bay Area.” the Fall of 2018, after leaving his With the help from Faustinoprior profession as a real estate Pulliam, Posadas was able to execute agent despite the uncertainties of two pitches for GreenWayv LLC, the global economics regarding which won him multiple awards recycling. ranging from “most purposeful” to “Being a realtor wasn’t fulfill- being placed as top five in the North ing enough for my soul. I felt like American Community College sort of a ‘douchey’ salesman at Entrepreneurship (NACCE), a time and I didn’t want that to be foundation focusing on the expanmy end goal in life. The reason I sion of entrepreneurship programs came to City College was because throughout community colleges in I thought that there would be the United States. resources here to help me with In addition, Posadas was recogmy start-up, which was an abso- nized by Shark Tank's co-producer, lute right thing to do. I wouldn't be Raymond Panetta at NACCE. “He where I am without having come to has seen thousands of pitches and City College and applying to CEI, his reaction to mine was, "Wow, that’s 100 percent,” Posadas said. that's all I can say is wow,” Posadas CEI was implemented in said.

2019 by Professor and Business Posadas attributed his success to Instructor Vivian Faustino- Faustino-Pulliam and described Pulliam. CEI is described on City her as an amazing person who College’s website as “a college-wide opens her doors to anyone and incubator of disruptive ideas that works overtime for her students'

success. He also thanked his family for being supportive throughout his journey with GreenWayv LLC. What the Future Holds However, the reenactment of CEI lies in the hands of the administration. Posadas said, “it is in the air, I believe, but I think that City College has big plans. I was able to meet with the Dean of Business and they want to expand CEI. For instance, right now they’re giving ‘Certificates of Accomplishments’ to people, who have been incarcerated. So City College is reaching out to inmates in different jails around the San Mateo County. There is so much positive things being built around CEI, and I can only hope that they continue to be around for a while.”

Posadas goal for his company is to expand the companies demographics from local neighborhoods, to nationally, then globally. When asked where he envisions himself in ten years time, he responded, "to just be happy."

To find out more about GreenWayv LLC, visit www. greenwayv.org

Gallery Obscura Resurrects 1960's Toy Cameras

By Rachel Berning rachelo.berning@gmail.com

City College hosted its first ever toy camera photography gallery at City College’s Gallery Obscura on Jan. 29.

The exhibition titled, “Through a Plastic Lens,” is located at Ocean Campus’s Visual Arts Building, in room 160 which showcases photographs from Professor Stephanie Williamson’s plastic camera class.

According to their website, “Gallery Obscura is an exhibition space committed to showcasing outstanding student work.

Situated in the heart of the photography facility, exhibitions rotate throughout the semester. The gallery also features work by the recipients of the various awards and scholarships that are available to CCSF photography students.”

Pizza, finger food, and boba (a Taiwanese beverage) littered a table in Gallery Obscura, while guest gathered to admire the artwork of 12 photography students Adam Field, Ann Grady, Kerim Harmanci, Patricia Lepe, Yolanda Lew, Suzanne Notario, Sherry Pang, Estefan Esperanza Santamaria Rebolledo, Tyler Jianhui Tan, Joseph Untalan, Miki Weston, and Kevin Zhou.

City College 2019 alumni Kevin Zhou’s photography incorporated images of the San Francisco Lesbian and Gay Freedom Band and a double-exposed image of an rainbow flag overlapping a leather flag. Zhou printed his photography on metallic paper, which increases saturation and provides an extra clear layer on the paper.

Gallery Cont. on page 5

Two brands of toy or pinhole cameras, Holga and Grace, displayed at Gallery Obscura's photography exhibit "Through a Plastic Lens" on Jan. 26, 2020. Holga was originally made in Hong Kong and is known for its low-fidelity aesthetics, causing an impression of vignetting or blur. Photo by Jennifer Yin/The Guardsman.

CULTURE | 5

Vol. 170, Issue 2 | Jan. 22– Feb. 5, 2020

Artwork by City College Instructor Maia Scott Displayed at Skylight Gallery

By Diana Guzman Dianaanaid.gf@gmail.com

The local disability community has gained the art work of Maia Scott, a visually impaired City College instructor, performance artist, labyrinth facilitator, and massage therapist.

Scott teaches her courses off campus for the Disabled Students Programs & Services (DSPS). DSPS caters to thousands of students, faculty, and staff with disabilities ranging from impairments in mobility, vision, hearing, and speech.

Her classes are instructed to cater to people with disabilities, such as students who cannot physically attend City College and take a course. Her programs include accessible theatre arts, in which she instructs basic movement and expressive theatre for people with multiple disabilities, including those who are non-verbal, with rehabilitation and accessible arts and crafts.

Scott’s vision has been impaired since the beginning of her life. She described her sight as, “an impression of a painting. The colors and the basic shapes of things are there, yet the details and depth are not. I can see things just before I crash into them, but I have my guide dog, Gleam, to help me out with that and is just a joy to work with.”

In 2019, Scott’s artwork was a part of The Change Makers Bay Area Disability Pride, which is a traveling exhibition that focuses on people who live or work in San Francisco. Around 50 artists are nominated to have their work presented in the exhibition.

“I am a strong believer that everybody has the power to create. Everybody has the creative processes. The creative process isn't always just about making pretty things for people to look at or judge, it's about thinking outside the box and finding a way to find that troublesome thing into a yes. I think that my art experience

growing up with very proactive parents, who gave me blank paper, who let me dance, who put me in dance classes and challenged me to push my limits enabled me to be the teacher and creator that I am today,” Scott said.

She also added, “I am seeing so many of the arts at City College that are being cut. It makes me very sad because I feel it's the arts that gave me the tools, confidence, poise and ability to find work and to be around employable in jobs that I love.”

According to Scott’s website, “Over the years Maia has received recognition for her work starting with collegiate awards for Best Choreographer of the Year, a Certificate of Honor in Dance, and a Certificate of Honor in Visual Arts.”

In addition she was featured in a San Francisco Chronicle article about her dance duet with her guide dog as well as the Milken Foundation's Calendar.

“The power to create is something worth pursuing whether it's the ability to create repairs around your car, prepare a special meal or to create something in your garden or a dance piece, it is all important and are all empowering, so go create,” Scott said.

Currently, Scott teaches at The Arc of San Francisco and the Pomeroy Recreation and Rehabilitation Center.

In addition she has taught at the Laguna Honda in San Francisco, which is California’s first green-certified hospital. According to the Laguna Honda website, “they are a skilled nursing and rehabilitation center owned and operated by the San Francisco Department of Public Health.”

The Changemakers exhibit is displaying her artwork at the San Francisco Public Library for The Blind, now through March 14.

For more information about Scott and her work you can visit her website, www.maiamaia.us.

“I am a strong believer that everybody has the power to create.

Everybody has the creative processes.

The creative process isn't always just about making pretty things for people to look at or judge, it's about thinking outside the box and finding a way to find that troublesome thing into a yes.”

— Maia Scott

Frame By Nazli Kandur/The Guardsman

Gallery cont. from Page 4

“I didn’t submit these at first because I didn’t think they were good enough, but Williamson encouraged me, and here we are.”

— Joseph Untalan

Joseph Untalan, a City College continuing student of more than 10 years said, “I didn’t submit these at first because I didn’t think they were good enough, but Williamson encouraged me, and here we are.”

Williamson’s plastic camera class was instated in the Fall of 2019 with the help of Chair of the Photography Dept. Erika Gentry.

“She worked her magic in getting this class instated. I don’t know how she did it, especially regarding all the cuts made to our department,” Williamson said.

According to the City College website, “students learned (in Williamson's plastic lens class) the differences between various models of plastic cameras and how to modify the cameras for optimum results.” In addition, Williamson taught her students how to pay attention to motion within their camera and how the art of photography has the power to change lives.

However, some students had a few challenges while taking Williamson’s class including finding time to squeeze their work within a six week period and experimenting with new techniques such as double exposure.

Double exposure is when a photographer shoots two frames simultaneously resulting in two projected images on one photo.“Everyone in the class wanted the course to be longer than six weeks,” said Williamson.

Williamson has been teaching at City College since 1996 and has been working with toy cameras for a number of years. Toy cameras, or pinhole cameras originated in China and were made popular in the 1960s by poor Chinese workers. The cameras are known for creating a soft focus, soft edges, vignetting, blurring, and having a dream like quality in their photos.

“Plastic Cameras is another name for toy cameras. The camera only has a few simple manual controls such as one shutter speed, and two apertures. However, it takes a rather large film, 120mm to be exact. Also, the two main companies who manufactured toy cameras were Holga and Diana.” Williamson said.

In addition to her show at Gallery Obscura, Williamson has a yearly show titled, “Krappy Kamera” in Soho, N.Y. “I used to be downtown with a plaster camera. I would show every year and some of my work has gotten entries from all around the world,” Williamson said.

For more information regarding “Through a Plastic Lens,” visit https://ccsfphoto.wordpress.com.

City College's photography department hosts its first toy camera exhibit titled ''Through a Plastic Lens'' at Gallery Obscura on Jan. 26, 2020.

City College photography professor Stephanie Williamson displays her student's artwork which includes photography from 2019 alumni Kevin Zhou. Zhou's photographs portrays the concept of how motion changes with time. Photo by Jennifer Yin/The Guardsman

6 | OPINION

Vol. 170, Issue 2 | Jan. 22– Feb. 5, 2020

Graduation Guarantee Cont. from Page 2 Juno has decided to “try to develop it for online delivery and teach it this summer. No idea if that will go through, though.”

Upon request for clarification about the terms of this “guarantee,” a City College spokesperson said, “The graduation guarantee is the College’s pledge to provide the required classes a student needs to graduate, transfer, or earn a workforce certificate in May 2020. Our academic counselors are on hand to work closely with students and Department Chairs to ensure necessary coursework is available for students who will graduate in May.” Contact a Counselor Thus far, City College’s Academic Counselors have

received only two emails regarding how they should handle students seeking to reinstate needed courses through the Graduation Guarantee. The most recent email sent on Dec. 16 by Academic Counseling Department Chair Lisa Romano said, “Dean Henderson-Brown has asked that we not bounce the students back to academic department chairs but rather help them the best you can by suggesting other options.” Tessa Henderson-Brown, the intirium dean of equity and student success These options include either searching for alternative courses to fulfill major requirements or passing along said student’s contact information to respective department chairs. The email ominously

concluded with, “The department chairs are working with Dean Henderson-Brown on this. Dean Henderson-Brown will communicate the student’s needs to AVC Kaeuper. We are hoping to get some answers soon.”

Academic Counselor Li Lovett has found it challenging to find substitution classes for majors like Math, where students must follow long course sequences with few areas that contain options.

Students who are seeking degrees in competitive majors like Computer Networking and Information Technology, which offer many course substitutions, may experience issues upon transferring because “the more competitive the major, the more courses you

must complete…the idea that you you need a class for a student to could use this in all situations is graduate, let us know and we’ll very fraught.” bring it back, but cut something Lovett spent her winter break else instead. Classic divide and collecting testimonies from dozens conquer” said Professor Rick of students who emailed her about Baum at a panel held on Dec. 8 at the negative impact of class cuts on the Howard Zinn Book Fair. their graduation timelines, ability This tactic seems to ring true as to transfer or mental well-being. Social Science Department Chair Several students explained they Darlene Alioto said in an email to either “had to shift majors,” “fight The Guardsman, “I know I am for classes that are overbooked,” going to try to put my courses for or even find classes they need at the degree back for Fall - but I do “UC Berkeley or other community not have an allocation as yet. And college campuses.” if that allocation is not big enough, then I will have to let something go Divide and Conquer in order to offer a class that was Some have questioned the cut.” tactics being implemented by the use of the Graduation Guarantee.

“Department chairs were told if

L etteR to the EditoR Dear Editor Many years ago I campaigned to get a campus swimming pool built at CCSF. It never occurred to me that the College would not allow the public, staff or even students to swim for recreation.

If the College District wants public support for more taxes for facilities, it should let the public enjoy some of the billions in facilities they paid for over the years.

Bill Collins CCSF Graduate 1971

HAVE YOUR SAY “To be honest, the Student Supporting Students space is one of my main sources of information because a lot of the mentors here usually really knowledgeable about different events that go on throughout campus, but then there’s also those emails that they sent out.

But, to be honest, I don’t really check those.”

— Veiongo Taumoepeau, Business Administration

“So, being a part of the Students Supporting Students space, a lot of our information comes from here. A second thing would be The Guardsman. A lot of what’s going on campus-wise. Information here on this campus and other campuses and even connected to the city.”

— Malinalli Villalobos, Latin American and LatinX Studies, Critical Pacific Islands and Oceana Studies

“WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR INFORMATION ABOUT CAMPUS ISSUES & EVENTS?”

BY AMINAH JALAL PHOTOS BY FRAN SMITH

“Usually, there’s like flyers passed around or like the teachers mention something. Generally, the English teachers, I found, are really good about mentioning things that are going on and sending out flyers through email.”

“I’m subscribed to the e-mail for newsletters and they send me, you know, updates about what’s going on on campus. Especially right now, we got an update from the coronavirus. They’re sending emails to everybody saying, like, there’s been no case so far so I find that impressive.”

— Cecilia Orellana, Criminal Justice

— Ozzy Solorzano, Computer Network Information Tech

COMMUNITY | 7

Vol. 170, Issue 2 | Jan. 22– Feb. 5, 2020

Bridge Funding Passes Board of Supervisors, but Falls Short of Veto-Proof Majority

By Aminah Jalal nima96209@gmail.com

The emergency bridge fund of $2.7 million dollars was approved by a 7-4 vote at the Board of Supervisors meeting last Wednesday, but failed to get enough votes to avoid a possible veto by Mayor London Breed.

Various students and faculty groups joined in North Light Court at San Francisco City Hall before the meeting took place last Tuesday to show their support for the vote on the $2.7 million emergency bridge funding to revive cut classes.

All of the board members upheld the common belief that the City College is a significant and vital part of the city, but expressed their worry of how the bridge funding would be used, saying that there must be a big discussion and conversation over the mismanagement of finances by the city college.

Board President Norman Yee expressed his concerns for City College’s management and spending of the money, on the account of the San Francisco Unified School District having trouble with financial management in the past before.

“What I’ve seen over the many years is that City College is unable to manage what they have and get themselves in trouble,” Yee said. “It was difficult during the time the school district was in trouble with the deficits. If we hadn’t made hard decisions at that time to close out certain schools, the school district may have not bounced back to what it is now and continued overspending.”

“It wasn’t easy then when I had to make those decisions and today it won’t be easy for me to take a no vote on this,” Yee said.

Supervisors Rafael Mandelman, Aaron Peskin, and Catherine Stefani joined Yee in voting against the emergency funding.

Supervisor Shamann Walton in favor of the emergency bridge fund said the appropriation of the fund would benefit the college despite the worry of how the funds would be utilized by the college.

“These are not just supplemental resources that give City College a blank check,” Walton said. “This is specific to the preservation of classes that were cut.”

Illustration By Kristina Hines/CCSF Portfolio Club

Walton believes the funding is important to the city college to be used for the classes that were abruptly cut with no outreaching to the students or faculty for discussion beforehand.

“Yes, this is a one-time bridge funding opportunity to restore classes that we need to be preserved while we have a conversation,” Walton said. “You don’t just cut classes, throw students out, cut jobs, and then say that it without a conversation where the city can get involved.”

Faculty member Leslie Simon said she hoped at least one supervisor would “make City Hall history” by changing their “no” vote to a “yes,” when the Board takes its final vote on Feb. 4. If no one changes their vote, however, it will be up to Breed to approve or veto the funding. A representative from Breed’s office did not respond to a request for comment.

8 | SPORTS

Vol. 170, Issue 2 | Jan. 22– Feb. 5, 2020

A Legacy That Will Live Forever

By Meyer Gorelick msggorelick@gmail.com

The basketball world was shaken to its core on Sunday, Jan. 26, when Lakers legend Kobe Bryant, 41, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna, and seven others were killed in a helicopter crash.

Bryant, the fourth all-time leader in points, five-time NBA champion, two-time Finals MVP, one-time NBA MVP, and 18-time NBA All-Star, became synonymous with basketball success over his 20-year career. How many times have you heard someone say, “Kobe!” while they shoot a ball of paper into the recycling?

He was widely regarded as one of the best to ever play the game, and many current players, including NBA stars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, grew up emulating his unrivaled work ethic and unmatched scoring prowess.

His loss was acknowledged and felt Wednesday night, Jan. 29, at Brad Duggan Court in the Wellness Center. There was a tribute to Bryant before the women’s game, and the men’s players

decided to leave the clock at 24:08 (the two numbers Bryant wore during his playing career) during warmups. There was a moment of silence before tip-off as well.

Bryant’s past is by no means pristine. In 2003 he was accused of sexually assaulting a 19-yearold hotel employee in Colorado.

The case was dropped when the accuser refused to testify in court, and a civil lawsuit was settled out of court.

After retiring, Bryant went on to found Mamba Sports Academy, an institute dedicated to training young athletes. He and Gianna died en route to one of her games there.

City College Sophomore wing Quincy Urbina cried when he heard the news. Growing up in Los Angeles, he said he was a Laker’s fan in utero. “[Bryant] is one of the major reasons I wear 24. Being from L.A., being a Laker’s fan,” Urbina said. “I was in the womb a Lakers fan.”

He compared Bryant’s death to losing another family member.

Urbina had three relatives who he was close with pass away in the last six months.

“Losing someone really makes you reflect on who you want to be as a person, what things you value in life at that very moment, and what things you should be valuing,” he added.

“The passing of his daughter too was really rough,” Women’s Basketball Head Coach Derek Lau said.

Gianna Bryant aspired to play at the University of Connecticut, the premier women’s college basketball program, and then in the WNBA. While Bryant was able to accomplish everything he had set out to do as a competitor, his daughter and the other young women in the crash were robbed of that opportunity by this tragedy.

Bryant is survived by his wife Vanessa Bryant and their three daughters: Natalia, 17, Bianka, three, and Capri, seven months.

Illustration by Dimas/ CCSF Portfolio Club instagram : @dimasaurusrex

Black Hawks Down, Rams Defeat Las Positas 110-74

Lady Rams Smother Hawks 73-30

By Meyer Gorelick

By Meyer Gorelick

msggorelick@gmail.com

The City College Rams stayed undefeated in their toughest league test yet, and manhandled a strong Las Positas team Wednesday, Jan. 29, winning 110-74.

The second place Hawks gave the Rams all they could handle early on, and were up eight midway through the first half. Star sophomore guard Michael Hayes scored 23 points that half for Las Positas and was able to consistently finish at the rim and get to the line.

The Rams typical world-beating swagger quickly morphed into gritty smash-mouth intensity. Towels were frequently brought out to dry the floor of sweat from recently spilled bodies.

The Hawk bench shouted and jeered from behind sophomore guard Dale Currie in an attempt to throw him off while he shot a corner three. After Curry cooly bottomed the triple, he held up a three-point symbol to the bench in celebration and was assessed a technical foul for taunting.

With the score tied at 36 City College went on a two minute run to close the opening half 48-37, creating turnovers that led to easy points in transition. During this period came an unreal highlight, a soul-snatching poster dunk from Ram Miles Norris over Michael Moore, that left the gym in awe.

After a few half-time adjustments, the Rams never looked back, and what had been a back-and-forth fist fight of a game turned into a blowout.

While the second half provided less drama, Head Coach Justin Labagh was happy that the team was able to succeed in leveraging half-time adjustments into dominant performance.

He was proud of the toughness they showed versus their best conference opponent so far.

“We haven’t been down 10 all year long, this was the closest I think we’ve been at halftime,” he said. “It was all about making those halftime adjustments… We said if you do X, Y and Z a ten point lead will become 30 really quick, and that’s what happened.

Despite two Rams fouling out, the extremely deep roster didn’t miss a beat, and the team saw out a 110-74 finish.

What’s Next The Rams capped off the week with a 96-60 home win over Chabot Friday, Jan. 31 to improve to 22-0.

“We’re trying not to leave anything to chance,” Labagh said when asked about going undefeated.

“We’re really concentrating on the details.

We’ve been detail oriented so I think we have a chance. We’re putting ourselves in a position to be in a position to do something special.”

Their next game is away at Skyline on Wednesday, Feb. 5.

City College sophomore wing Emeka Udenyi (3) is fouled by Las Positas sophomore guard Michael Hayes (3) on a layup attempt in the second half on Jan. 26, 2020. Photo by Kevin Kelleher/Special to The Guardsman

msggorelick@gmail.com

In preparation for a pivotal showdown against Chabot on Friday, the City College women’s basketball team came out with laser focus and absolutely destroyed an overmatched Las Positas Hawks team on Wednesday, Jan 29.

Playing with joy and effervescence, the Lady Rams controlled the game from tip through final buzzer. Teammates celebrated andone layups with guttural cheers and chest bumps in the fourth quarter with the game well in hand.

Sophomore standout wing Vivian Woo led the way with 20 points, 12 rebounds, three assists and three steals, while reserve freshman Marlene Puni got in on the fun as well, finishing with 10 points and 5 rebounds.

“We didn’t want to have any let ups or any downfalls going into Friday’s game,” Head Coach Derek Lau said. “I was very happy with the way they were focused, because we only beat Chabot by one the last time we played.”

The Lady Rams went straight into a film session after the win to prepare for their big game on Friday.

“We’ve just gotta focus one game at a time,” Lau said about moving forward.

City College freshman forward Marlene Puni (35) coasts past a defender for a second half layup versus Las Positas on Jan. 26, 2020. Photo by Kevin Kelleher/ Special to The Guardsman

“We can’t afford to lose,” he added.

In order to control their own destiny and win the conference Lau wants the Lady Rams to win out.

Unfortunately, the team lost its Jan. 31 rematch with Chabot 54-35, dropping their conference record to 4-2 and putting them in 3rd place.

Despite the disappointing loss, the Lady Rams have an opportunity to pick up a crucial win against first place Skyline on Wednesday Feb. 5, which would vault them right back into the race for a conference title.

For live game updates follow

@CCSFathletics on Twitter