The Guardsman, Vol. 150, Issue 1. City College of San Francisco

SPORTS: Men gear up for new season

Volume 150, Issue 1

Page 10

C&T: Ocean campus dining guide

www.theguardsman.com

Page 8

What’s inside: NEWS: Mult-Use Facility finally opens C&T: Ninth annual SF Zine Fest OP/EDS: Column: Escape From City College OP/EDS: The human toll of virtual warfare SPORTS: Return of The Water Cooler

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August 25, 2010

FREEDOM OR FEAR?

Islamophobia and ‘the politics of division’ Page 6

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News

THE GUARDSMAN

AUGUST 25, 2010

Dispatch from the Editor’s desk

A

The Zemanifesto

ll of the Guardsman editors had a recent meeting where we came up with this crazy idea for our editorial: What if everybody in the United States was protected by some kind of law that ensured their right to freely practice the religion of their choice, regardless of the opinion or prejudice of the majority? I know, it seems like pretty radical stuff—we all thought the same thing at first— but we discussed it endlessly and, in the end, it seemed only fair.

So imagine our surprise when we discovered there is a document called “The United States Constitution” that has been around since 1787. And guess what, it already provides the kind of religious freedom we agreed to advocate at our editor’s meeting.

Needless to say, we were as disappointed as we were shocked by the discovery of this “Constitution,” which beat us to the punch on our “religious tolerance” idea by over 200 years, but we have since decided to embrace it.

Furthermore, we have pledged to let the people who don’t know about the religious freedoms guaranteed to them know: 1. “The Constitution” does exist 2. It does protect people of all religions 3. People of all religions include Muslims.

The Torment of Sisyphus Those of you who have taken (or are now taking) a mythology course are familiar with the agony of Sisyphus—the ancient, Greek king doomed to roll a boulder up a towering hill in Hades again and again for all eternity as punishment for thinking he was so damned clever.

Having said that, you are hereby informed that I have returned to The Guardsman as

Campus Safety

Clery Act revisions focus on reporting and safety plans

By Matthew Gomez CONTRIBUTING WRITER

RAMSEY EL-QARE / THE GUARDSMAN

Editor in Chief, despite my well-documented declaration that I would, “never work at that [expletive] paper ever again, even if they paid me in gold and gefilte fish.”

Which, for the record, they most definitely are not doing.

Clever Subhead We’ve got some brand new content in the paper this semester, like “Escape From City College,” our own Op/Ed Editor Nick Palm’s record of his continuing efforts to... well, actually, the title is pretty much self-explanatory.

I appreciate Mr. Palm’s razor wit, wry humor and keen eye for absurdity, but what I really appreciate most is that he’s giving me the opportunity to run a picture of Kurt Russel as “Snake” Plissken in the 1981 film Escape From New York.

Thanks Nick, you’re A-number-one.

But we also have the return of a Guardsman classic. That’s right; after months of

waking up at 2:15 a.m. to the sound of him slurring desperately into the receiver of various payphones throughout the city, and more recently, watching him burst into bitter tears in front of two young women in the newsroom, I have decided to allow banished Sports Editor Bontá Hill to resurrect the Water Cooler.

I’m sure my bookie is already salivating over all the losing sports bets I’ll be placing now that Mr. Hill is once again gracing our pages with his athletic expertise. Thankfully, I held on to my crutches from his “stone cold lock” on the Colts against the Saints in last season’s Super Bowl.

And as an extra treat to our readers, I didn’t bring back Suite/Street 415. Enjoy.

— Greg Zeman Editor-in-Chief E-mail: gzeman@theguardsman.com

Alea Iacta Est

Long-awaited MultiUse Building open for student use Classes will start despite exterior construction work

By Alyssa Laurel THE GUARDSMAN

FRANK LADRA / THE GUARDSMAN

City College student Mercedes Torrey reads quietly outside a classroom in the new Multi-Use Building on the Ocean campus on Aug. 18, where she hopes to add a course for the fall semester.

Construction on the Multi-Use Building began in 2008 and will be a LEED Gold Certified building.

After nearly two years of construction, the new MultiUse Building on Ocean campus is open, but delays in other construction projects have stalled the completion of its exterior.

Construction of the building was supposed to be complete by mid-July, said David Liggett, director of facilities planning and construction.

Much of the work on the east and north sides of the Multi-Use Building is temporary and will be redone when construction of the Performing Arts Center is complete. At that time, permanent landscaping, trees, and furnishings will be added.

Liggett said that the new Performing Arts Center was supposed to have broken ground last year, but the state failed to pass the necessary construction bond in 2008. The district had

to wait for state funding to start construction.

“The building is substantially complete,” said Liggett.

Despite the unfinished exterior, the building is in use and is not disrupting ongoing courses.

Remaining parking lot lights should be installed next week, and the construction fencing will also come down at that time.

“The fencing is the only thing that’s kind of inconvenient,” said Lisa Smith, a sophomore at City College. “It’s just in the way.

Nothing else about the building is really disruptive.”

“I think the work, including all the contractors punchlist work, should be done by the end of September. In checking with occupants on the first day of classes we have identified few problems. The facilities [office] is working with the contractor to fix these issues as soon as possible.” said Liggett.

The building, which will house childhood development, teacher preparation and health education programs, is part of a 10- to 15-year construction plan for City College.

E-mail: alaurel@theguardsman.com

New amendments to the Clery Act will change the way colleges across the country report hate crimes and develop and execute emergency plans.

The amendments , which took effect July 1, require schools to have an emergency plan, practice a drill annually to determine the plan’s success and give more details when reporting hate crimes.

Due to the lack of on-campus housing, City College is not required to follow the provision concerning missing students.

According to the Department of Education's Federal Register, hate crimes must be reported if they "manifest evidence that the victim was intentionally selected because of the victim's actual or perceived race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity or disability" .

The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act is a federal law that was passed in 1990 after 19-year-old Jeanne Clery was raped and murdered at Lehigh University in 1986.

The act mandates that any college or university with federal financial aid program keep a public and up-to-date crime log concerning crime on or near campus. The log is supposed to be updated within two business days of when a crime happens.

"There are a lot of things that would make it a lot easier and a lot more efficient," said Public Information Officer Rachel Hakes. "But we're doing the best we can."

Additionally, crime logs must be current and contain incidents for the last 60 days. For crimes older than 60 days, logs must be made available with two business days if requested.

"We've been doing crime logs for years,"Hakes said. "It's always kept up to date on our website.”

E-mail: email@theguardsman.com

News

AUGUST 25, 2010

THE GUARDSMAN

A Closer Look: Mondo Ecofill® MF FTS Artificial grass fibers minimize materials that are exposed and gives the field a natural grass look.

Ecofill® granules are made of natural earth and 100% recyclable making it safer than other turf materials.

Recycled rubber tires are used as a base. Once the fields lifetime expires it can easily be recyclable.

JESSICA LUTHI / THE GUARDSMAN

Game over for football field’s toxic turf THE GUARDSMAN

In September, City College will replace the synthetic turf used for the football field with a non-toxic, 100 percent recyclable turf, becoming one of the first schools in the area to do so.

This new replacement turf - made up primarily of recycled crumb rubber and polyethylene - has garnered much attention after Potrero Hill residents organized against a plan to install the same kind at the Potrero Hill Recreation Center in 2008, citing health and environmental concerns.

“When you look at the field now from a distance, you see just as much black as green,” Football Coach George Rush said. “No one knows about the long-term effects this might have on the environment, but I know we want our kids playing in an environment that isn’t going to hurt them. I don’t want to be breathing in carcinogens and I sure don’t want my

team doing it.”

Although several organizations - including the California Office of Environment Health Hazard Assessment and San Francisco Environment - have found the safety hazard of the rubber and polyethylene play fields to be low, the arrival of a non-toxic playing surface will be sure to ease the fears of those still on the fence about unnatural playing surfaces.

“We’re looking forward to it starting,” Athletic Chairperson Dan Hayes said. “It was time to replace our current turf, which we’ve had since the early 2000s, and to be able to make it more green-friendly is great.”

The new turf, Developed by an Italian company called Mondo, may signal a new beginning in the turf debate by offering a product that has greater durability than grass, is free of carcinogens, and doesn’t threaten the environment.

Mondo turf also boasts lower surface temperatures, which reduces the “heat island effect” that comes with black rubber granules,

which in time may oxidize the polyethylene fibers that comprise the turf’s “grass” making it more like a carpet than a field.

“We did our homework,” Rush said.

“Money-wise, when someone comes to pick up the turf we have now, we’re going to have to pay them to dispose of it. In ten years, when this new turf has run its course, someone is going to pay us because it is 100 percent recyclable. Really, this is cutting edge stuff.

It can drain 600 gallons of water in an hour, although, let’s hope that never has to happen.”

With it being 40 percent more dense than traditional black rubber granules, the overall performance of the turf will improve as well, providing a more uniform and stable field designed to decrease the risk of turf-related injuries.

“For us, it’s really about three things: safety, performance and environment,” Rush said.

And this is the best thing out there yet.”

E-mail: kopokuduku@theguardsman.com

New standards adopted by Board of Education

By Tania Cervantes THE GUARDSMAN

By a vote of 9-0, California’s Board of Education approved the adoption of national common core standards Aug. 2 in an attempt to win a federal grant for education.

The adoption of these standards, which are lower than California’s, would give the state more points in the application for a Race to the Top federal grant, an Obama Administration backed program that is part of the Recovery Act and holds an investment of $4.5 billion for education in the US. According to a press release by the Department of Education, the Race to the Top criteria requires states to document their past successes and outline their plans to extend their educational reforms; build a workforce of highly effective educators; create educational data systems to support student achievement and turn around their lowest-performing schools.

“I am very suspicious of lowering the standards,” said Gus Goldstein, President for the American Federation of Teachers Local 2121.

“But it all depends on what you are getting funded to do. To prepare students to pass tests is a questionable enterprise in itself.

If you’re funded to give better education with our students, getting prepared for college and then lowering standards does not mean lowering the quality of education our students should get.”

News website Education Week showed in its 2009 California State Highlights Report, the state is ranked 47th in the nation for amount of dollars spent per pupil, and 37th on overall spending for K-12 education from state taxable resources.

“It almost doesn’t matter what standards you adopt if you don’t adequately fund education,” Goldstein said.

Currently California’s standards have been noted as some of the best and most rigorous

NEWS IN BRIEF Iran opens first reactor

Iran’s first civilian nuclear power reactor opened in Bushehr on Aug. 21.

The Obama administration said the plant will serve as a solution to the Iranian nuclear dispute: Iran will benefit from the nuclear energy it is entitled by international law and since the fuel comes from outside sources it will negate Iran’s need to produce its own uranium rods.

The Iranian government is planning to build at least 10 more nuclear plants like the one in Bushehr.

Pakistan flood support

Drainage system helps release water after a hard drain, so the turf won’t get damaged.

By Kwame Opoku-Duku

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in the country, yet 8th graders rank below national average in proficient reading, according to Education Week.

Among the 35 state applicants for the second round of grants, California is a finalist. The first round contained 41 applicants, with Delaware winning over $100 million and Tennessee $500 million to implement their education reform plans over the next four years.

“My take is that teachers need to be able to feel passion for their students and the material they are teaching. If the standards are a barrier to either of these passions, then they are bad standards.” said Dave Keller, a Piedmont high School social studies teacher.

“The National Standards are not as detailed as California’s -- adopting them may seem as a dumb-down of California’s - but I think as far as skills are concerned, they are not. When it comes to content, there are no specific requirements only guidelines for choosing the right content.”

Keller mentioned that the national standards do not require English teachers to teach Huck Finn, but they do say teachers have to choose a book as complex and as well written. This gives teachers, schools and districts a lot of responsibility to choose the right content, but it also gives them the freedom to teach what they and their students are passionate about.

According to the Common Core State Standards Initiative website, “while the standards focus on what is most essential, they do not describe all that can or should be taught. A great deal is left to the discretion of teachers and curriculum developers.

The aim of the Standards is to articulate the fundamentals, not to set out an exhaustive list or a set of restrictions that limits what can be taught beyond what is specified herein.”

The new standards are expected to be in place by the 2013-14 school year.

E-mail: tcervantes@theguardsman.com

Pakistan is seeking aid from the international community following massive flooding that has swept through one fifth of the country.

United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the U.S. will help provide aid for the nearly 20 million displaced Pakistanis. Currently the U.S. has donated $96 million while Great Britian and China have pledged $50 million and $9 million respectfully. The United Nations has also pledged to raise $460 million in relief but have only raise 70 percent of the amount.

While pledges have been made to aid Pakistan, it will not be enough to cover the billions of dollars needed to repair the country.

Middle-East peace talks

A new round of peace talks between Israeli and Palestinian leaders will resume Sept.

2 after nearly two years. While the Obama administration heralds the new round of peace talks between Israel and Palestine, others remain skeptical.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will face opposition if he agrees to some of the compromises the Palestinians expect from peace talks including an Israeli pullout from Jewish settlements.

Palestinian officials said peace is possible if the Israeli government were more willing to negotiate. The U.S, Russia, United Nations and European Union have declared support and hope that a settlement is reached.

Proposed parcel tax

City College is exploring the idea of a parcel tax to help generate additional revenue for the college to cover operating expenses, building upkeep and school programs. It has not been determined exactly how the funding will be used.

The Board of Trustees approved a resolution to contract Godbe Research to conduct a public opinion survey to assess if San Francisco voters would oppose or support a parcel tax as well as determine the feasibility of a parcel tax that voters will approve.

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Opinions&Editorials

THE GUARDSMAN

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

A professional student’s fight for freedom

Editor in Chief Greg Zeman News Editors Tania Cervantes Jessica Luthi 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 Chief Copy Editor Atticus Morris Copy Editors Don Clyde Alex Luthi Online Staff Alex Luthi Staff Writers Celeste Bogle Daniel Edwinson Matthew Gomez Bontã Hill Elizabeth Kessell Isaiah Kramer Alyssa Laurel Catherine Lee Kwame Opuku-Doku Omri Petitte Jose Torres Destiny Vaughn Gayle Yglesias Photographers Sabrina Bot-Le Stum Dishon Irving Donald Hamilton Frank Ladra Patrick Makiri Robert Romano Chacrit Taechotirote Roderick Tannekile Rachel VanZandt Faculty Adviser Juan Gonzales

California Newspaper Publisher’s Association Journalism Association of Community Colleges

To advertise in our newspaper please contact our Advertising Manager Jessica Luthi at advertising@theguardsman.com How to contact us: Mail: 50 Phelan Ave Box V-67 San Francisco, CA 94112 Phone: (415) 239-3446 Fax: (415) 239-3884 E-mail: email@theguardsman.com Online: www.theguardsman. com

AUGUST 25, 2010

Oh City College, will you ever loosen the stranglehold you have on the neck of my education?

I appreciate every positive learning experience I’ve had with you and your passionate, devoted instructors. But sometimes I feel like a caterpillar forced in to a coma - cocooned against my will.

And only you can decide when I can move on from your purgatory of enlightenment.

Once in a while, I still cross paths with former high school classmates while traversing Cloud Circle. Six years ago, these encounters would lead to a warm embrace, three to five minutes of back and forth catching up time, and most likely a short debate on either puppies or nuclear disarmament, depending on the person.

Fast-forward half a decade. I cross paths with a former elementary school chum-turned-high

school acquaintance. This time around, there is no acknowledgement of each other’s existence.

There is no mention of that time in fourth grade when we crushed the fifth graders in a game of kickball.

We are both far too embarrassed because most people from our graduating class have already finished college and moved on with their wonderful lives, filled with champagne, easy women, and a Maserati to match your outfit every day of the week.

That’s what you get when you graduate college, right?

I know I’m not alone. The average age of a City College student is 33. Many are trapped, like myself, on this depressing prison island. So I write this column for you, my eternalundergrad friends.

If you can rattle off every food item - including the price - that

the “roach coach” has to offer, this is for you. If you’ve taken more courses at City College than Baskin Robbins has flavors, this is for you. If you’ve ever considered naming your first born child Batmale or Rosenberg, this is not for you. You have much deeper issues that I can’t help with.

Consider seeing a therapist.

As for the rest: Let me be your Snake Plissken. Follow me as I lead the way and attempt to...

“Escape From City College!!!”

In this version of the epic Kurt Russel movie, there are no night raiders. Air Force One has not crashed into the Science Hall.

I will not have to find and rescue the President within 24 hours.

And no microscopic explosives were injected into my carotid arteries to ensure my allegiance.

[Editor’s note: all Guardsman staff members are injected with allegiance ensuring, microscopic explosives.]

It’s just me, my backpack, and copious amounts of caffeine constantly fueling my will to accomplish this mission.

After years of changing my major from English to English Literature to Graphic Design to Interior Design to Macaroni Sculpture to Elderly Care and Control and now finally to Journalism, taking superfluous courses, nearly mastering the German language, and wallowing in the fog, I am ready to transfer to a four-year school.

On my journey, I have narrowly escaped whimsical

danger. I have battled my foes to their death. I have ascended the peaks of colossal mountains.

Well. maybe not mountains. But dominant hills, for sure.

Hear my battle cry from the tops of those small, insignificant hills. Follow my adventure this semester, as I fumble through my final required courses, apply to universities, and question everything along the way.

I know I’m not alone in this process. Please friends, share with me your own stories of trials and tribulations, hopes and fears, as you’ve attempted to conquer this beast they call City College.

I want to know what you’ve been through.

Together, we will let our community know just how much we’ve attempted to accomplish all these years. And maybe, just maybe, we can emerge victorious as we escape this allegorical cave.

Then, we will ride majestic unicorns to candy mountain, and bathe our weary souls in lakes and rivers consisting entirely of fine cabernets and bourbons, respectively. Then, we will slide down the freedom rainbow, and share our tales with the real world.

And attempt to stay out of mental institutions by doing so.

Until next time, my disciples.

Stay strong. Stick it to the man with a smile on your face and a beer in your hand.

E-mail: npalm@theguardsman.com

Apples and oranges or: How the Christian Legal Society spent their summer vacation

By Frank Ladra THE GUARDSMAN

Imagine your school campus has a club for avid iPhone enthusiasts.

Members are true devotees to the Apple product, and they regularly have discussions about its awesomeness, often in public around campus grounds.

They even set up tables where new members are invited to come and participate in sharing each others’ mutual adoration for their beloved smart phone.

Now imagine a student who has a similar devotion to the Android phone, but is curious about joining this iPhone club.

Members of the iPhone club vehemently deny the student’s membership request, saying people with opposing views are not allowed.

What if I told you that the iPhone club was partially subsidized by mandatory student fees, fees that even the Androidloving student is required to pay every semester?

Almost exactly the same thing has happened at the

University of California Hast- assemble on campus. Nobody is peaceful demonstrations. ings College of the Law, where stopping them. But the students Everyone is not going to the Christian Legal Society still have no say in determining agree with every opinion, but denied membership to an open- to whom their money goes. everyone should be allowed to ly gay student, and yet still Private clubs on college attend meetings of a club they expected that same student to campuses have existed for help support financially. subsidize their club. generations. Fraternities and As a student I depend upon Anybody can see how ridic- sororities have been discrimi- my freedom of speech and ulous this is. A student shouldn’t natory toward membership, right to peacefully assemble. have to pay fees that go right even in matters regarding race, As a journalist I rely upon my back to organizafreedom of press to tions that discriminate report the news. As an against him or her.

I respect my A student shouldn’t have to pay fees American Thankfully, a U.S. ability to exercise reliSupreme Court deci- that go rigth back to organizations gion freely. These are sion has since denied that discriminate him or her. our First Amendment the Christian group’s rights, and they aren’t participation in the going anywhere. student organization There will always program based on their unwill- economic standing and sexual be apples and oranges, iPhones ingness to comply with the orientation. But we don’t gener- and Androids, right wing and school’s “all comers welcome” ally see court cases popping left wing. Because of this, policy. The court ruled that up from that since unaffiliated there will always be differences if you want to have a club on students aren’t being asked to in opinion leading to discuscampus that gets money from subsidize them. sion. Our responsibility lies in the school, you have to let When it all comes down to respecting each others’ given anybody join. it, the Christian group still has right to freedom regardless of Some opposition to the constitutional rights to voice whether or not we agree. court decision has surfaced, their beliefs. Any college freshsaying that it threatens the free man can see signs of free speech speech and assembly rights of scattered across campuses students everywhere. The Chris- nationwide, be it through posted E-mail: tian group still has the right to leaflets, classroom debates or fladra@theguardsman.com

Opinions&Editorials

AUGUST 25, 2010

THE GUARDSMAN

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Remote control combat blurs ethics

By Robert Romano THE GUARDSMAN

Technology combined with the lust for war is making killing easier — virtually.

The modern military uses wireless technology to fly military attack drones known as unmanned aerial vehicles to destroy targets from a distance, sometimes from the other side of the world.

When soldiers finish their virtual destruction duties, they simply go home to their families and loved ones.

This is definitely not a happy ending. It just makes killing easier to live with.

In an August 2009 Popular Science article by Eric Hagerman, U.S. Air Force Captain Adam Brockshus said what lured him into flying UAVs, “was not the ‘magic’ of bombing targets each day from afar, but being able to tuck his kids in at night.”

The article also tells the story of a 19-year-old high school dropout recruited by the Army as a pilot instructor because of his high level of video game skills. This “antiseptic” killing insures no physical harm to the soldier. Conversely, it makes the reality of killing other human beings unreal. Drones dehumanize something that should never be dehumanized: the belief that life is important.

UAV attacks are imprecise. According to a New York Times opinion piece

by David Kilcullen, a former adviser to General David Petraeus: “Errors lead to attacks that kill more civilians than terrorists - and thus drive civilians into the arms of local militants.”

Instead of the surgical removal of terrorists, UAV attacks are creating new generations of people who’s families have been killed by America.

The next generation’s hate towards America will perpetuate false patriotism by fundamentalists on both sides of the world, fueling an “endless war.”

Schools receiving funding from George

RICK LOOMIS/LOS ANGELES TIMES/MCT

A pilot at Creech Air Force Base in Nevada flies an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) over Afghanistan.

Bush's No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 are, upon request, required to surrender students’ records to the U.S. military. This allows them the same access to personal information that employers and colleges have. This keeps the military’s database of future recruits fully loaded.

To energize the war effort in 2002 the U.S Army released “America’s Army,” a free video game that simulates different aspects of being a soldier. According to the Army’s website, the game is meant “to provide civilians with insights on soldiering from the barracks to the battlefields.”

In a July 2008 article from Truthout. com, Michael B. Regan explained: “Army weapons specialists worked with developers to ensure aim, fire, sound and reload functions for all of the game's weapons were as close to the real thing as possible.”

“America’s Army” plants the thought that killing is, in fact, a game.

The game is a free download on the Internet. It can also be picked up at recruitment centers and can be purchased for the Xbox and PSP platforms, as well as for mobile phones. The game, rated “T for Teens,” is highly accessible to everyone

and is especially attractive to teens.

The military has intentionally blurred the lines by recruiting and training the soldiers of the future through fun technology like video games. This gives children the wrong impression.

War is real and in it, people lose their lives. When you kill someone in a video game, pressing reset is all it takes to undo the damage.

E-mail: rromano@theguardsman.com

Drivers on ‘FasTrak’ to empty pockets

By Gayle Yglesias THE GUARDSMAN

Drivers who make use of the carpool lanes on the Bay Bridge are now charged a toll fee of $2.50 and have been since the first of July.

That’s the bad news. The good news?

Well, there doesn’t seem to be much good news about this.

The carpool lane has been free for commuters since its inception. Commuters are furious because they now have to pay a fee for something that was once free.

John Goodwin, spokesperson for the Metropolitan Transportation Commission said, in the San Francisco Chronicle, that the purpose of the $2.50 toll was, “not to discourage ride-sharing, but to spread out the cost among all drivers.”

In addition to the fee hike, the only way to pass through the carpool lane and receive a discount is with a FasTrak toll tag.

Since the increase, 30 percent fewer drivers are using those carpool lanes. Traffic data released by he MTC showed 12,000 fewer carpoolers from July 12 to July 23, compared with the same dates in 2009.

Although It seems fairly early to assume this trend will continue, the numbers don’t lie: 12,000 fewer carpoolers proves people are avoiding the new toll.

In another chronicle article, Will Kane reported that the Bay Bridge also saw approximately 6,200 fewer drivers on average pass

through the toll plaza each day, compared to 2009.

In the same article, Steve Heminger, executive director of the MTC said, “I think what you are seeing here is that we are having our cake and eating it too. We’re raising revenue and seeing decreased congestion.”

The MTC is being greedy by implementing higher toll fees. Carpoolers and commuters have no voice in this matter yet they are the ones being affected by this.

On the Bay Bridge, the tolls for autos are $6 during weekday commute hours (5 - 10 a.m. and 3 - 7 p.m.) and $4 during off-peak hours. On weekends, the toll is $5. This is what the MTC calls “congestion pricing.”

Some drivers have even resorted to pulling to the side of the road with their emergency lights flashing until the off-peak toll price comes into effect - anything to save a few bucks I suppose.

This is not the most efficient way of avoiding a more expensive toll. In fact, it’s illegal to pull over to the side of the freeway in a nonemergency situation. The MTC, along with the California Highway Patrol, needs to deal with this behavior by issuing citations before the popularity of these illegitimate rest-areas grows out of control.

“I commute from the East Bay to San Francisco almost every day with my dad,” said a CCSF student, who requested to be kept anonymous. “It’s bad enough that the budget cuts are affecting me, but now even my commute

in the carpool lane is digging into my wallet.”

Placing these tolls on drivers is unfair.

Carpool lanes were supposed to be an efficient way for commuters to save time and money.

Now they are a frustrating reminder of local governments’ total lack of imagination, a mental bankruptcy to match their empty pockets.

Ridership statistics of both the newly remodeled carpool lanes and public transportation, like BART, need to be monitored closely to insure the lanes’ effectiveness. If the numbers come back and show a decrease in revenue, it proves the fee should never have been applied.

The Bay Area Toll Authority is taking a gamble with this toll hike. The money they are making along with the decreased amount of commuters raises the question: Is there any profit?

Oh, and by the way, they should charge us for breathing air while they’re at it. You know, because it makes sense. Nothing in this world is free, right?

The suburban middle-class was badly wounded when the housing bubble collapsed and now they are bleeding out. Smelling the blood in the water, the piranhas at MTC— who have already acquired a taste for human flesh—have condemned commuters to the death of a thousand cuts.

E-mail: gyglesias@theguardsman.com

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

Guidelines for letters: Letters must be signed with first and last name.

The Guardsman reserves the right to edit letters for length, clarity and content. Most letters should be less than 200 words, although longer letters are sometimes printed.

All letters are available at www.theguardsman. com.

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

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THE GUARDSMAN

Opinions&Editorials

AUGUST 25, 2010

Editorial

‘Mosque’ opponents no champions of democracy Pleas for sensitivity disguise desire for Christian dominance The would-be Paul Reveres galloping through lower Manhattan, bellowing “the Muslims are coming,” are playing into the hands of religious extremists by cementing the image of the United States as a nation waging war on Islam.

The result is division and fear, and there is no collective emotion more useful to the enemies of freedom than fear. There is nothing new about the presence of Muslims in New York or the united States and those trying to conjure up the illusion of a “Muslim invasion” are using fear as a weapon against freedom.

Fear of terrorism is being used to dupe the general public into abandoning the democratic values of our constitution and replacing them with a generalized Islamophobia.

While the fear of being viewed as subversive or un-American is being used to coerce American Muslims into forfeiting their constitutionally-guaranteed right to religious freedom.

The spectre of “radical Islamists” pushing for a Muslim theocracy in the United States is not the creation of those with an anti-theocracy agenda, just a different one.

The most vocal opponents of the proposed Park 51 community center have no problem with the idea of theocratic government that uses religious text to create laws and restrict the freedom of non-believers and people from other faiths, so long as it’s the “right” faith doing the restricting.

“By no means are all or most Muslims fanatics of the Osama bin Laden variety,” conservative commentator Pat Buchanan writes in a recent article widely distributed online. “But many are uncompromising in their belief that, once their faith becomes the majority faith in a community or

society, Muslims should write the rules and Muslims should make the law.”

But it is Buchanan who does not believe in a separation between church and state and has encouraged Christian Americans to, “capture their occupied public schools and re-establish their beliefs as the legitimate moral foundation of American society.”

His rationale? “Three-in-four Americans profess a Christian faith.”

Thanks to a largely lazy and reactionary news media, the center - basically a Muslim YMCA that would be open to all the public - has been successfully labeled “the mosque at ground zero” by those who want to use it as a social wedge.

The real tragedy, however, is not the unremarkable fact that the mainstream media once again failed to see through the sloppy, boilerplate propaganda spoon-fed them by the Republican PR machine. What’s truly disturbing about the public response to our nation’s latest media circus is the growing knee-jerk, xenophobia it represents.

According to a CNN poll, 68 percent of U.S. citizens are opposed to the construction of Park 51. Most of them acknowledge that there is no legal basis for restricting its construction. Even the most strident critics of the proposed center admit that its construction would be perfectly legal and is protected by the constitution.

They claim that it’s “insensitive” for a community bonded by an adherence to Islam to create a space to share its culture with the larger community, because that larger community was scarred by the actions of extremists who also professed faith in Islam.

What is truly insensitive is the “Burn A Qu’Ran Day” planned by the Dove World

Outreach Center in Gainesville Florida on Paul, of Texas, decried what he called a the ninth anniversary of September 11. A “sideshow” motivated by “hate and dematwisted display that commemorates a trag- goguery.” edy, brought about by hate and religious “The justification to ban the mosque fanaticism, with a stunning display of reli- is no more rational than banning a soccer gious fanaticism and hate. field in the same place because all the The message this sends to Muslims suicide bombers loved to play soccer,” everywhere is Paul wrote. that our country The Guardsviews their reliman is not a gion as violent paper that tradi“The justification to ban the and evil, or at the tionally makes very least, too mosque is no more rational than endorsements of scary and flawed banning a soccer field in the same any kind, so we to be allowed in are not explicplace because all the suicide certain public itly endorsing bombers loved to play soccer.” spaces. the construcIncidentally, tion of the Park — Ron Paul 51 community groups who burn Congressman, R-Texas center. Like most books are rarely, if ever, big on of the center’s freedom. opposition, we We’re all don’t live in so absorbed Manhattan and in the fighting over the difference our lives will not be affected in any way by between a mosque and a center; its construction. and the precise number of blocks However, we are condemning the slipbetween Park 51 and “Ground Zero” pery slope of religious intolerance that is (an imprecise label for a space that represented by the public “outrage” over a nobody can agree on the boundar- perfectly legal structure being built a few ies of) that we’ve let the civil rights blocks away from a national tragedy that of American citizens become a Muslims shared in the pain of. secondary issue.

The truth is that no matter how many It is fundamentally wrong to names of World Trade Center employees, deny the freedom of an unpopu- first responders and other Muslim Amerilar group, but it is even more cans killed in the attacks on our country despicable to ask that they will- are read aloud, the religious right will not ingly forfeit their freedom and be moved. They see 9-11 as their tragedy vilify those among them who and America as their country. For them, refuse to submit to second-class no distance between the center and ground citizenship. It’s outrageous to ask Ameri- zero will ever be far enough. can Muslims who had no involvement In their minds, the proper response to - directly or otherwise - with the attacks Americans exercising their civil rights is of 9-11 to live with ‘separate but equal’ fear, but there is no room for fear in a free status and not assert their constitution- society. Free people have the freedom to be al rights for the sake of a “sensitive” anything but afraid—we give up the right majority. to be afraid when we have the audacity to In fairness, not all Conservatives or call ourselves free people.

Republicans are buying into the latest political hate parade. In a statement E-mail: npalm@theguardsman.com released on his Website, Rep. Ron

AUGUST 25, 2010

Photostory

THE GUARDSMAN

|7

ONE STEP CLOSER PHOTOS BY ROBERT ROMANO / THE GUARDSMAN

TO

EQUALITY Counterclockwise: Top: Sharron (left) , who is nine months pregnant and partner Amber Papo get married by Jewlia Eisenberg in celebration of the Prop 8 stay in San Francisco, Calif. on Aug. 4.

Above: Members ot the San Francisco Gay Mans Chorus take part in rally Prop 8 stay on Aug. 4 in San Francisco , Calif.

Right: Police officer controls the crowd as they embark down Market St. to celebrate the Stay on Prop 8 in San Francisco , Calif. Aug. 4 Far Right: Hundreds of people march to City Hall to show their support of the Prop 8 stay in San Francisco Calif on August 4

8|

Culture&Trends

THE GUARDSMAN

AUGUST 25, 2010

Graffitti artists fight tagging epidemic

By Isaiah Kramer THE GUARDSMAN

Eight months and 10 murals later, San Francisco Art Commission’s pilot program StreetSmARTS, is ready for its second year with triple the funding according to its affiliates Next fiscal year the artists will complete an additional 20 murals as part of the program.

The locations are undecided as more property owners are becoming eager to take part. This is partly because property owners are subject to fines for graffiti on their buildings, and they are responsible for graffiti removal.

“The program is funded by the Department of Public Works (DPW) and they were happy with the results,” SFAC representative Robynn Takayama said of the increased budget.

The SFAC contacted the DPW, who spends $22 million a year combating graffiti, and proposed StreetSmARTS with a hypothesis that more murals equals less graffiti. With an open mind to an alternative approach, the DPW agreed to fund the program.

The DPW provided contact with property owners afflicted by chronic graffiti vandalism, and the SFAC auditioned 82 muralists to the participating property owners. Only 22 artists were chosen, and 10 murals were painted for this first round.

The murals are spread throughout the city. Most are in the Mission, but there is one in the Tenderloin, in the Bayview, and even one in the Outer Sunset.

RAMSEY EL-QARE / THE GUARDSMAN

A mural pained eaerlier this year by Francisco Aquino on the side of a building at the corner of 23rd and Capp Streets. The mural is one of many StreetsmARTS projects to help prevent graffiti.

“I got really tired of cleaning up graffiti,” participating property owner Leslie Hollingsworth said. There has been no vandalism to the mural side of her building, yet still some on the unpainted building front, she said. “I expect have the mural extended around the whole building.”

Painter Bryana Fleming completed a

mural at 3rd street and Palou street, though her wall wasn’t blank.

“He told me to paint whatever I wanted,” she said referring to the property owners.

“I was the only person who painted over a mural, one that had been there 15 years,” people had objections, she said.

Get out and eat something: Ocean Campus

“ By the end people were like ‘Oh my God’, even this guy that initially ostracized me...A lot of the neighborhoods energy got put on that wall.”

E-mail: ikramer@theguardsman.com

World Music Club hosts battle of the bands competition

By Estela Fuentes and Alyssa Laurel THE GUARDSMAN

PATRICK MAKIRI / THE GUARDSMAN

City College student Hara Honda selects a marinated chicken sandwich from the “Roach Coach” located next to the Creative Arts building on Ocean Campus.

By Estela Fuentes and Alyssa Laurel THE GUARDSMAN

Whether your looking to fulfil mid day munchies or in need of a substantial meal you’ll be happy to know that City College’s Ocean Campus has a variety of dinning options.

The school’s culinary program runs its version of a five start restaurant, the Pierre Coste Dining room. You can get anything from soup, salmon or steak. It is the priciest place on campus, but if you have the money and a large appetite it is a great place for a multiple course meal.

City Cafe located in the Student Union is also a great option for those with a hardy

appetite. They serve both breakfast and lunch at a moderate price range. They have bagels , salads, cup of noodles or you can have them make you a fresh sandwich on the spot.

The cafe’s hours are Mon thru Thurs from 7am to 7 pm and Fridays from 7am to 3pm. Best of all they take credit cards.

A pocket friendly option with lots of variety is also the school cafeteria. They serve pastas, sandwiches, soups, salads and more. Everything here is under $6.00.

It is also run by the culinary program. The cafeteria is open Mon thru Fri, 11am to 1:15pm for lunch and 5 to 6:30pm for dinner.

Located at the center of cloud circle is the Lunchbox. Its a pricey place for an OK meal. They

charge you $2.00 to toast a bagel and hand you a serving of cream cheese and a plastic knife. But if your feeling nostalgic for Costco they have chicken bakes at $4.

The highlight and newsroom pick for a quick bite has to be the one and only Roach Coach. It’s the school own mini mart. You can get from a candy bar or some ibuprofen, to a nice salad or some sushi at a pretty good price point.

Parked right in front of the Visual Arts building. This is place close to almost every building on campus. If all you have is a dollar in your pocket this is the place to go to keep the tummy grumbling to a minimum.

E-mail: efuentes@theguardsman.com

City College’s World Music Club will be hosting a band competition this semester with a grand prize of $1000.

Bands of all music styles are welcome to join, but at least one member must be a current city college student.

Dancers and anyone with a stage act are also welcome to participate.

The club hopes to have at least one local artist in the judging panel, the clubs’ adviser Benedict Lim said.

The first round of competition will take place the weekend of September 17. The number of contestants will determine how many preliminary rounds will be held; The final round will consist of ten bands. This event is tentatively scheduled for October 22 in the performance theater of the Ocean campus’ Health and Wellness Center.

The club was officially founded five years ago, according to Lim. However, the idea came from the Asian

Music Club, which started almost 30 years ago by City College professor Joshua Law. The club’s mission is to setup a platform for students to learn and be exposed to cultural diversity. Every semester the club tries to organize some type of music-related event for students to participate in.

About 90 percent of the events are free and others are at very low cost for students due to fundraising by club members.

“We are very lucky because we’ve gotten grants for our events,” club member Catherine Tse said. “We also do food sales and approach business to sponsor events.”

Club members are not only exposed to cultural diversity, but also learn accounting, business administration and marketing skills, Lim said.

“This is not a teacher’s club, this is a student’s club,” Lim said. “Students come to me and tell me what they want to do and I advise them. They do all the work.”

E-mail: efuentes@theguardsman.com alaurel@theguardsman.com

Culture&Trends

AUGUST 25, 2010

THE GUARDSMAN

|9

‘Wuvable Oaf’ personifies San Francisco artist

By Estela Fuentes THE GUARDSMAN

“Wuvable Oaf” is the new, San Francisco-inspired comic that many will relate to according to its creator Ed Luce.

“Bear dudes like to see someone of their body type being represented,” Luce said. “Straight guys might dig the gross-out humor and metal references. I think every woman has an oaf in her life, be it her best friend, boyfriend or brother. And everyone is attracted to the the cute little kitties.”

Oaf was initially created for a paper doll themed art exhibit, just as he appears in the comic. He was a big hit and everyone wanted to know his story.

Luce decided to put out a comic to let people into the Oaf’s world.

Oaf is a big scary-looking guy with a heart of gold and a passion for everything cat-related. The comic’s storyline revolves around his search for love.

With a love of heavy metal, Morrissey, and the 1980’s as a whole, Luce’s personal experiences made the Oaf everything he is.

“Oaf’s tastes and behaviors are all me, but I’m 5 feet, 5 inches and hover

PHOTO COURTESY OF ED LUCE

“Wuvable Oaf” is the creation San Francisco artist Ed Luce, who personified himself through the comics main character.

between 160 to 170 pounds,” he said. “He’s over 6 feet tall and almost 300 pounds, so in a way he’s how I imagine myself as a real big guy.”

The comic is usually broken down to a few short, fast-paced stories full of ‘80s references that will make you laugh.

All of the characters in the comic are inspired by people Luce has met throughout his life and the strong connections he has to these people who inspired his char-

acters make the repetitive drawing a comic necessitates continue to be interesting.

“I like trying to capture on the page that certain something that makes someone sexy to me,” Luce said.

Last year Luce was invited to participate in a panel called Gays in Comics at Comic Con 2009 that discussed the use of gay characters in comics.

Until recent years gay characters were invisible in mainstream comics, Luce said.

This year he served on a

panel for recipients of the Prism Comics Queer Press Grant where he discussed the application process and deadlines of the grant.

The Oaf has transformed from a comic book character to a gay icon spawning fanware such as T-shirts and mugs and has garnered international recognition through social networking sites and conventions. Orders for Oaf products have come from Europe, Canada, Australia and Dubai, Luce said.

E-mail: efuentes@theguardsman.com

ZineFest opens Labor Day

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Luce is currently hard at work on issue three of “Wuvable Oaf,” which will debut at the Alternative Press Expo in October. Luce is also working on a fifth shirt design to be released around the same time.

For more info on the Oaf and his creator visit WuvableOaf.com

San Francisco’s ninth annual Zine Fest will be held this upcoming Labor Day weekend at Golden Gate Park’s county fair building.

This year’s fest will showcase a wide range of works presented by 120 exhibitors. Organizers expect that at least 2500 people will show up and enjoy comic books, artist trading cards and much more.

“All is fair in love and creativity,” cartoonist, Josh Barone said.

Barone will be exhibiting his comic book “National Security State,” during his first appearance at Zine Fest.

Spectators can attend do-it-yourself workshops, panel discussions with special guests, an art show and a reading room featuring ‘zines by all the exhibitors. The featured workshops are bookbinding and screen printing.

“Zine Fest really has something for everyone,” event organizer, François Vigneault said. “Every subject and style is represented, from the political to the personal, from hilarious comics to deeply moving stories.”

This year’s special guests were chosen by organizers because their work has made an impact in the small-press world. Organizers only picked three to emphasize the importance of these artists’ work in

8/2/10 11:27:08 AM

the do-it-yourself community.

V. Vale has founded and published ‘zines in the Bay Area for decades. His more well-known projects include “Re/Search” and “Search and Destroy.”

Artnoose is a prominent local artist whose bimonthly ‘zine “Ker-Bloom!” has been printed by letterpress for the last 14 years.

Jesse Reklaw is a local cartoonist and creator of “Slow Waves,” which is printed in six alternative news weeklies. He recently self-published the 384-page diary comic “Ten Thousand Things to Do” and designed this year’s Zine Fest flyer.

To fund the fest, organizers will host events around town prior to Zine Fest weekend. The second annual Zine Fest Benefit Show will be on August 26 at 10 p.m. at Amnesia, 853 Valencia St. They will also host a “comics reading” at the Cartoon Art Museum, 655 Mission St. The reading will include John Porcellino, Ed Luce, Jamaica Dyer and Jesse Reklaw.

Zine fest started in 2002 as a do-it-yourself event where local Bay Area artists could share their work with mainstream culture. It was also used as an opportunity to expose the general public to new creative ideas of self-expression.

Zine fest will be Sept. 4-5 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Admission is free. For more information visit Blog. sfzinefest.com E-mail: efuentes@theguardsman.com

10 |

Sports

THE GUARDSMAN

THE WATER COOLER

BY BONTÃ HILL No, say it isn’t so? The Guardsman picked up the Water Cooler for another semester?

I know it’s shocking, mindboggling and hilarious all in one thought. Yet, after watching newly appointed Editor-in-Chief Greg Zeman embarrass himself by begging me in front of two little hotties to bring this column out of retirement, I figured, “what the hell, more pub for me.”

All right, I admit I can be a little delusional at times and think that the Guardsman will never be able to move on without the ‘Cooler, but over the break, writing this column was the farthest thing from my mind.

As I went through summer announcing at the San Francisco Summer-Pro-Am two times a week, arguing with my roommate routinely about who knows what, and then, reinvigorated by writing for an up and coming high school sports website, I was looking forward to my retirement from the Guardsman.

However, after walking by bungalow 214 and getting a whiff of old newspapers, plus Zeman pleading with me like I was the Brett Favre of journalism, not

even my participation of being in the nuttiest fantasy baseball league ever could stop me from being duped to sign on for eight more issues.

OK, so it’s not the worst feeling in the world. I could be the assistant coach who got slapped

by Matt Barnes at a Pro-Am game (classic).

At the end of the day though, I am happy to announce: The ‘Cooler is back.

Speaking of coming out of “retirement”, guess who clinched his fourth straight “diva of the year” award (here at the ‘Cooler, we have awards for everything imaginable) and dominated ESPN for the last week?

If you guessed Favre you’re right.

Favre’s reason for coming back is that he feels he “owes it to the fans and Minnesota Vikings,” to play for one more season and try to lead the franchise to its first Super Bowl victory.

When the news was broke that Favre was on his way to Vikings headquarters in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, my homey, French Bread Picot Jr. threw a question out on Facebook, “Who’s the biggest diva of 2010?”

A. Beyonce B. Lebron James C. Chad OchoCinco D. Brett Favre After 19 comments, seven agreed LeBron was the biggest diva, and only three went with Favre. The rest were about who was cute, the OchoCinco show, etc.

I agree, Lebron’s “decision,” the over-hyped, hour-long ESPN special - was unfathomable and he lost some stock in my book.

You can make a case for Lebron being the biggest diva, but Favre has been pulling this wishy-washy act for the last five

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years.

One week, Favre says his “heart is not in it,” the next month he gets the “itch back” to play football again.

It’s a slap in the face to backups Sage Rosenfels and Tavaris Jackson. They take the all the offseason repetitions, and then get this egotistical attention-grabber who just one day says, “Hey, I want to play.”

Yet, head coach Brad Childress doesn’t mind, as he sent three of his team leaders - Steve Hutchinson, Jared Allen and Ryan Longwell - down to the deep south to convince him to come.

Also, two assistant coaches lied for Childress, telling the media that the three players were inside the practice facility, when in fact Hutchinson and company were strong-arming Favre into a decision.

Last year, Childress had to go down to lovely Hattiesburg Mississippi (never been, nor do I plan on going), to convince Favre to play himself.

Yes, Favre is 40 and is a living legend, but to let one man decide to take off mini-camps and two weeks of training camp and create another pointless media circus (did you really think he was retiring?), is hypocrisy all around.

In my 20-plus years of watching sports, I can’t ever recall seeing an act like this. Can you imagine Peyton Manning or Tom Brady doing this?

One day Favre will a be a hall-of-famer, and be looked at as one of the top-ten quarterbacks of all time. But because of what he’s done off the field the last five years - making franchises hold their breath and pray for him to play - I’ll forever look at Favre as the king diva.

E-mail: bhill@theguardsman.com

AUGUST 25, 2010

CELESTE BOGLE / THE GUARDSMAN

Rams Men’s Soccer hold pratice at Fairmont Middle School in

Pacifica, Calif on Aug. 23.

Team unity becomes focal point for season

By Ryan Kuhn THE GUARDSMAN

After appearing last season in the elite eight, City College men’s soccer looks to be back in the title picture for the 2010 season.

Under direction of head coach Adam Lucarelli, the Rams finished 16-3-5, losing to Fresno City College 1-0 in the Northern California semi finals. Before the loss, CCSF won six straight games.

With the Rams have appeared in the playoffs since 2005, this was the first time they made it to the final eight teams in so many years.

With players like coast Conference forward of the year Allan Laspina, Coast defender of the year, Jorge Ramirez, and keeper Rene Martinez who is

now playing for San Jose State, City will look to focus more on a team game.

“Although we are not as talented on the field as we were last year, we are more focused as a team on and off the field,” Lucarelli said. “I’m looking forward to working with our young players.”

The Rams play all their home games at Fairmont Middle School in Pacifica as they wait on a new field being built on Ocean campus.

Their first game is against Hartnell College on Friday, Aug. 27. Kickoff is at 1:30.

Email: rkuhn@theguardsman.com

Calendar

AUGUST 25, 2010

Calendar for August 25 - September 7

Lindy in the Square: Swing Dance in Union Squre Geary and Powell Sts. San Francisco, CA Free 6 - 8 p.m.

Contemporary music from Mexico at the Yerba Buena Gardens Mission St. at Third St. San Francisco, CA Free 12:30 - 1:30 p.m.

“The Haberdash” Men’s Fashion & Style Event with free beer at Jack’s San Francisco 668 Post St. San Francisco,CA Free 21+ 7 - 9 p.m.

WED

THUR

FRI

1

“People in Plazas” Market Street Music Festival – September 2010 2nd and Market Sts. San Francisco, CA Free 12 p.m.

2

National Day (Vietnam)

FRI

SAT

27

28

Mexico de Mi Corazon concert at Ocean campus Diego Rivera Theater $15 7 p.m.

Lovin Haiti Benefit Gala at Ocean campus Wellness Center 7 p.m.

SAT

3

Last day to add full-term credit classes in person San Francisco Zine Fest comics reading at the Cartoon Art Museum 655 Mission St. San Francisco, CA and at Needles and Pens 3253 16th St. San Francisco, CA Free 7 p.m.

4

Last day to add on the web

Zine Fest, SF County Fair Building 9th Ave. and Lincoln Way San Francisco, CA Free 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.

SUN

29

“Paint Out” at the Presidio & Watercolor Art Exhibit 50 Moraga Ave. San Francisco, CA Free 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.

War Memorial Opera House/Cesar Rubio; Production photo /Marty Sohl/Metropolitan Opera.

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KC Turner’s Songwriter Showcase with The Welcome Matt at the Bazaar Cafe 5927 California St. San Francisco, CA Free 7 p.m.

MON

TUES

6

No class in observacne of Labor Day

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Census Day

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 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

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TUES

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Sports

THE GUARDSMAN

AUGUST 25, 2010

Title hunt is on for women’s volleyball Destiny Vaughn THE GUARDSMAN

The Rams do not shrink away from the ball while it is in play, they dive for it.

As the women’s volleyball team prepares to step back onto the court, they are filled with the determination to make it to the Northern California playoffs and the Conference Championships taking every leap they possibly can to get there.

Last year, the team finished overall 10-16 (4-6), placing fourth in the Coast Conference.

City College has not made it to playoffs in two years and has not played in the conference championships in over four, but they’re ready to dig their way there.

“This year the girls are heavily looking into a conference championship, knowing what is to be expected and the steps in order to get that championship,” head coach Saga Vae said.

Not only are the Rams determined to win, but they’re looking to rebuild their team’s chemistry.

With the departure of last year’s captains, Vivian Lee and Jessica Lui who both went off to play volleyball for UC Davis, the team had to start anew with only three returning members, outside hitter Siao Malepeai and middle

backs Melany Luu and Marimba Nolan.

“This year one of our main goals is to make it farther than we did last year,” said Malepeai.

“As co-captain, I want to help this year’s team to up their intensity level to get to the playoffs.”

With a 12-player roster composed of mostly incoming freshmen, the team must strengthen their chemistry to make it far.

Malepeai and new recruits setter Brandi Graven and starting libero Crystal Lee are stepping up to bring the team together as this season’s co-captains.

“I’m hoping to be a role model for the team by playing hard and picking up my girls when they need it,” said Lee, a graduate of Lowell High School.

Currently, the team is working on their consistency during practice.

“It is the very beginning of the season and we’re trying to clean up the errors,” said assistant coach, Edna Molina, while watching the team during practice. “But we’re a good team.”

The biggest challenge for the newcomers is adjusting to a new team.

“The challenges of moving from one team to another learning to trust new people. You have to build team chemistry and also play fluidly as a team,” said Lee.

RACHEL VAN ZANDT / THE GUARDSMAN

Members of the women’s volleyball team work on their offensive game as they finish up one of their final practices before they play in the Solano Classic, Sept. 1.

“But I’m glad that I’m on a team with these girls. They’ve really made my transition from high school to college a whole lot easier. I can’t wait to see what we’ll do in season.”

To start off their season, the Rams will play in the Solano College Classic with their first match against the host Falcons on Sept 1. Tip off is at 2:30 p.m.

ROBERT ROMERO / THE GUARDSMAN

Women’s soccer looks forward to new season THE GUARDSMAN

As the women’s soccer team was finishing one of their final practices before the start of the season, there was a confident attitude in the air.

This was the same team who two years ago only won two games all season, but with a new coach and a new philosophy, City College looks ahead with opti-

mism to their 2010 season.

Second year coach Gabe Saucedo is the man who brought this new philosophy on the field.

“We are going to focus on team chemistry and defense this season,” said Saucedo, walking up and down the sidelines. “We are going to play a better brand of soccer.”

The Rams finished up the 2009 season with a record of 5-11-4, finishing sixth in conference, but defense was key to their success, allowing half as many

9/1

@ 2:30 p.m. @ Solano College

E-mail: dvaughn@theguardsman.com

Goal keeper Alexandra Jerez protects the goal during a women’s soccer scrimage, Head coach gabe Saucedo sasys defense will be a strength for the Rams this season.

By Ryan Kuhn

COMING UP

goals as they did the year before Saucedo became their coach.

Sophomore Julie Alba is just one of the three returning players this season. The rest all came with recruiting.

“Last year team was starting to come together but we had to rush to put all the pieces in place,” said Alba. “With a fresh start and team building, it is so much easier.”

Saucedo not only searched throughout the City but also found players to come play from

the Peninsula and the East Bay. We have a very balanced team this year,” said Saucedo. “Everyone is going to contribute in their own way. I’m really excited.”

Having played for Saucedo the year before, Alba understands her new role for the team.

“It’s my job for everything to move smoothly on the field,” Alba said.

Midfielder Cyntia Salazar played a season before Saucedo became coach and she can really see a change between the two teams.

“It was pretty bad back then,” said Salazar. “Players were injured. Now we have way more girls and everyone is playing hard. Its nice, like a big family.”

The Rams road will not be easy this season. Being a member of the Coast Conference they will have to play Skyline College twice where they finished with a perfect record 14-0-3 last year Even with the hard schedule, the players are motivated to do well.

“Playoffs are a reasonable goal, maybe even a conference championship,” said Alba. “We are this year’s Cinderella team.

There is nothing we can’t do.”

The Rams first game is against Foothill College on Sept. 1 who according to Saucdo is going to be a tough challenge for his club.

“It will be a challenging game,” Saucedo said. “Win, lose or draw. It will tell what kind of team we are.”

All home games are played at Crocker Park. Kickoff is at 1:30 p.m.

RAMS DEFEAT PASADENA CITY

E-mail: rkuhn@theguardsman.com

E-mail: rkuhn@theguardsman.com

Women’s badminton wins first state title

By Ryan Kuhn THE GUARDSMAN

Coming up short the previous two times, City College’s women’s badminton team can finally call themselves state champions.

Both in 2006 and 2009 the Rams have lost in the state title game but not this year as they defeated Pasadena City College, completing a perfect season of 9-0.

In the ten years badminton has been played in community college athletics, CCSF was the first Northern California team to win a state championship, the previous coming from San Diego Mesa, San Diego City and Irvine Valley colleges.

Maggie Choy and Janice Wong came back from an 11-6 deficit in the final match against the Lancers to finally put PCC away 21-12, 11-21, 21-18.

This game snapped a 13-match winning streak for Pasadena.