The Future of Enrollment Decided by Hackers at Large
By Abby Sigler, Marrion Cruz, Tom Whitehead and John Adkins
At a time when the college's financial stability can only be resuscitated by an increase in enrollment, a record 10,000 ghosts have clogged class registrations.
With the number of fraudulent student accounts having more than doubled this semester, faculty members are predicting matters will only get worse.
“This year is such a critical year to be maximizing enrollment, and we're not really in a position to be doing outreach and encouraging students to come to City College when we have this other issue preventing students from getting seats,” Maura Devlin-Clancy said.
Delvin-Clancy is a Computer Networking and IT instructor who currently teaches five online classes and one in-person class. She estimates she has interacted with at least 60 ghost students this spring semester alone.
Faculty still risk their class being cut after the semester has started if enrollment is too low. Many courses with full registration lists were met with empty desks on the first day of the semester. Now, a full enrollment
The
at City College causes more anxiety than relief. “Your thinking goes down this hole of like, what if they're all ghost students?” Devlin-Clancy said.
Unmasking the Unknown
“Ghost” or “straw” students are fraudulent accounts in college application and class registration systems created using bots, stolen identities or AI-generated profiles. The creators of these accounts are located globally and range from individual scammers to organized crime rings, primarily attempting to access dot edu email addresses and defraud financial aid.
According to Guillermo Villanueva, Dean of Financial Aid and Special
Daniel E. Koshland
San
Francisco
History Center: Untapped Resource for San Francisco Scholars
By Finbar LaBelle finbarlabelle@bennington.edu
Anchoring four blocks of Civic Center at 100 Larkin Street, many San Franciscans are well acquainted with the beauty of our public library's Main Branch. Opened in 1996, the iconic spiral design, crafted from glass and metal beams that crown the building's roofline, stands as a testament to our public libraries' strength. Patrons may be able to navigate the floors, each with varying specifications, but many of us are still unaware of the hidden gem on the sixth and uppermost floor. This hidden gem, fully available to the public, is The Daniel E. Koshland San Francisco History Center.
Programs, City College and other community colleges are prime targets because of their open enrollment policies. “Pretty much anyone can register for a course in the community college system because it's open. So that's where the biggest problem has come in.”
Villanueva also noted that ghost students have been traced to scammers operating worldwide. “We've seen fraudulent activity from Eastern European countries, Africa and some Asian countries,” he said.
Ghost student fraud siphons millions in financial aid dollars meant for real students. Scammers especially covet Pell Grants, which can provide up to $7,395 per student. Local grants, such as Free City grants that cover $46 per unit, are also at risk.
Danny Chin Bids Farewell to The Lunch Box
By Qi Mai qmai10@mail.ccsf.edu
Rather than the usual crowd of hungry students grabbing a bite for lunch, one Thursday afternoon at The Lunch Box became the site of a heartfelt goodbye—and a new beginning. Faculty, staff, police officers and students gathered at the eatery overlooking Rams Stadium on March 27 to shake hands and share hugs, laughter and tears with The Lunch Box's former owner, Danny Chin, as they bid him farewell. Come April 1, the Lunch Box will officially fall under the new ownership of Linda Fang.
Feeding Futures
It's Alec's first semester as an education major at City College. He frequently visits The Lunch Box to buy tuna sandwiches. “The prices are reasonable and they help a lot of students with their food,” Alec said. “The owner is trustworthy, very friendly and always makes us laugh. He's an awesome guy.”
Police Officer R. Palacios remembers when he was a student at City College in 2010; he would pick up coffee on many cold mornings and grab sandwiches for lunch. “Sometimes I didn't have money, and Danny told me, ‘Take it.’ If I was hungry, he always made sure I had food,” Palacios said.
“Later, I became a police officer working for the college. Sometimes my team and I come here, sit, eat snacks, chat with him and feel warm because of him,” Palacios continued.“What I know is, if you were hungry, he'd give you food. He didn't care about money as much as he cared about giving from the heart—which is perfect for City College because our school gives so much to people. You could always count on Danny. Students were hungry for knowledge,
Illustration by Kyra Young
Photo Curator and Interim Manager of the History Center Christina Moretta handles a miscellaneous collection of old posters from around San Francisco dating back to the 1970s. April 10, 2025 (Kyra Young/The Guardsman)
GHOST
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and if you were hungry for food, Danny was there to prepare it for you.”
“Danny doesn't just feed us food; he provides spiritual nourishment with his positivity, kind words, encouragement and support for both students and faculty,” said Dora Rodriguez, an instructor for Disability Services and Programs for Students. “My office is in Batmale Hall, just a two-minute walk from here, and I always call this my home. I hope to stay in touch with him.”
While Chin has earned a widely positive reputation, The Lunch Box also has received a top health rating in San Francisco.
“One day, I was at the City and County Public Health Department, and I saw a paper on a board showing that The Lunch Box had a 100 percent rating,” recalled Officer D. Quintana. “It was in our community! I was so surprised and proud. We won't find another like him.”
At the start of each semester, Extended Opportunity Program Service officer Vanessa Quock comes to pick up Lunch Box gift cards from Chin and gives them to students.“The Lunch Box's clean environment, fresh food, good service and convenient location—right on the way to classrooms—have made it a favorite among the community and we are proud to include it as part of the Free City Program grant,” Quock said.
Legacy of Lunch
Chin's success as a businessman, as well as his compassion, has left a lasting mark on City College's history. Chin, of Malaysian Chinese descent, gained extensive culinary experience while living in Asia. He moved to the Bay Area 20 years ago and trained at various food-focused establishments before comanaging two cafeterias. When he operated his third cafeteria independently, he took over The Lunch Box from its previous owner.
Chin remodeled the restaurant to create a well-organized kitchen layout, efficient serving stations and a smooth dining area workflow. Each staff member had clearly defined responsibilities, ensuring seamless service. The food was always fresh and delicious, and the cafeteria maintained a warm, welcoming atmosphere that made people feel at home. “Both of us designed the restaurant's logo. He is skillful,” says Colin Hall, Senior Print Production Supervisor of Visual Media Design.
The original menu at The Lunch Box featured breakfast items, sandwiches, hot dogs, coffee, pizza and orange chicken. Determined to perfect the orange chicken and its sauce, Danny invested heavily in learning from various chefs. His efforts paid off, as the dish quickly became a customer favorite.
Danny also coined the restaurant's slogan: “Once you take a bite of the food and sip the coffee, you know your money is well spent.” Over time, he expanded the menu with new dishes while keeping prices affordable, ensuring the community continued to enjoy great food at great value.
“City College is a very good community with a great management system that gave me a lot of support. I'm grateful to the entire City College community for supporting this business,” Chin reflected. “I'm very happy to have served this community for 18 years. I'm happy to have provided healthy food, away from the usual fast food.”
Chin continued, “I always think about the hungry students, and I'm glad to have been able to support them. When I was a student, sometimes I didn't have money for food, and I remember how it felt to be hungry. I always wanted to help others in the same situation. I hope the new owner will bring new ideas and expand the menu.”
After leaving The Lunch Box, Chin may pursue a one-dollar pizza business. While traveling through several Asian countries, he noticed how expensive pizza was but saw that Costco offered it cheaply. That thought has stayed with him.
The Lunch Box's new owner, Linda Fang, took lead on April 1. Originally from Shanghai, China, Fang studied in Japan and later immigrated to America. Before the pandemic, Fang ran three restaurants successfully, but after COVID-19, she closed them and worked for a large national chain. Now, as a new generation business owner, she plans to bring fresh concepts to The Lunch Box.
Students Are Missing Out on Opportunities for Community Health Support
By Antonio Vaz aamadova@mail.ccsf.edu
The Health Center's team of eight mental health clinicians and three nurse practitioners work tirelessly to provide free counseling and support for the physical and mental health of City College's diverse student body.
Felicia King, a mental health counselor at the center, emphasized the importance of raising awareness about the services available and noted the center's inclusivity and ability to link students to other resources. “When we did a survey recently, many students just didn't know about our services.”
“I had heard bits about the mental health services, but I never really knew how to access them. More visibility is needed so more students can benefit,” said Rosibel Sarduy, a psychology major.
Over 3,000 medical appointments and 1,458 mental health sessions have been scheduled in semesters. Despite this, more than 18,000 enrolled students would currently be eligible to benefit from the health services.
Health workers maintain a proactive approach to help bridge information gaps and ensure that both new and returning students are aware of the available resources.
“We tabulate our presence across campus events, use email updates and the MyCCSF app, and participate in classroom presentations. Our goal is to
ensure that every student knows we're here to help,” said George Martiniano, a health center employee.
A Healthy Impact
Jane Ernstthal, a nurse practitioner and department chair at the Student Health Center, spoke about the broad scope of services offered. “We provide both in-person and telemedicine appointments,” she explained. “Our services include sexual and reproductive health care, tuberculosis screening, immunizations and first aid.”
The center also participates in the Family Pact program, which offers no-cost family planning services to low-income students. “Most of our students qualify for this program,” Ernstthal said.
While mental health is a growing concern on college campuses, King explained that the center “has many steps to de-escalate and support students before reaching a point of crisis.”
Employees emphasize ailment prevention through routine appointments. Annual flu shot clinics, tuberculosis screenings for allied health students and nutritional counseling are integrated with first aid and treatment for minor injuries. This blend of proactive and reactive care reinforces the comprehensive health strategy to keep the entire student body safe and healthy.
The Lunch Box is a family owned and operated business located in the center of City College’s Phelan Loop. Feb. 11, 2020.
(Jennifer Yin/The Guardsman)
DANNY CHIN
From right to left, EOPS Specialist Vanessa Quock, new owner Linda Fang, Danny Chin and student Alec pose outside The Lunch Box. March 27, 2025 (Qi Mai/The Guardsman)
GHOST STUDENTS
continued from page 1
California community colleges lost more than $10 million in financial aid fraud in 2024, KCRA reported.
Haunted Halls
The college revealed that over 10,000 ghost students were caught registering for classes this spring, compared to roughly 4,000 last fall. Departments heavily targeted include Computer Networking and Information Technology; Behavioral Science; Business; and Kinesiology. Introductory courses, which typically lack prerequisites, are especially attractive to scammers.
Prospective and current City College students had a tough time registering for their classes due to this increase in enrollment fraud. One Reddit user posted to r/AskSF wondering why “every single CCSF class [they] wanted to take—from ‘fluffy’ ones to ‘academic’ ones—are full and have full waitlists too.”
Students who showed up on their first day, uncertain of their status in their courses, worked with professors and the registration office to get officially added. Faculty were expected to identify and cull fraudulent accounts from their rosters as soon as possible to ensure real students were provided spots instead.
In a survey conducted by their union, some faculty members reported dedicating upwards of 60 hours this semester to dealing with ghost students and their fallout.
“I had to try to suss through who or what was a real person before letting them into the course. I spent more time working on that than I did actually engaging with my authentic students,” remarked Communication Studies Professor
HEALTH CENTER
continued from page 2
“We handle student emergencies and accidents on campus, and we work closely with allied health programs to support students in their clinical rotations,” said Micahel Snider, a health and safety officer and EMT at the college. This collaboration ensures that students receive the care they need while gaining valuable hands-on experience in their fields of study.
King recalled a positive experience with a student who overcame family abuse and financial aid issues through the counseling services at City College. “She became more open about her experiences and was able to transfer to another school,” King said.
Willow Hans, a biotech student, also affirmed their positive experiences with the health center, such as obtaining a critical clearance for a university application.
Limited Supplies
Despite its successes, the Student Health Center is not without its challenges. “We used to have four or five nurse practitioners, but now, due to budget constraints and evolving personnel costs, only two remain,” Ernstthal said. This staffing shortage impacts the center's ability to provide timely care.
and Academic Senate President Alexis Litzky. Teachers who want to be inclusive and allow grace for late adds are instead forced to remain suspicious of their students.
“Our usual practice is welcoming and encouraging students. We shouldn't have to be doubting a student's intention. This is putting teachers in a hard position they had never signed up for,” DevlinClancy said.
“Unless we can address this, any of the outreach efforts to bring students in seems like you're encouraging students to come at a time when it's really not very friendly,” she continued.
Despite increased awareness and mitigation efforts, fraudsters outpace detection systems by leveraging AI and evolving tactics. Resources meant to address cybersecurity have struggled to keep up, leaving schools like City College in a constant game of catch-up.
“This semester is the worst semester that we've ever had, and so far, we haven't seen anything concrete in terms of solutions,” said Business Professor and Faculty Union Vice President Robin Pugh. “It's ever-evolving, but that doesn't mean nothing should be done.”
Discussions on the faculty union's online forum allude to the expectation of an increase in ghost students every semester. So far, it appears scammers' evolving strategy is that the more a college is
overwhelmed, the more bot accounts will slip through the cracks.
Some administrators have also raised concerns about “sleeper” accounts—fraudulent profiles that were successfully enrolled in previous semesters and could be reactivated without detection. While the college has no immediate plans to require existing students to reapply, these accounts remain a potential blind spot as fraudsters adapt to detection measures.
Bracing the System
According to Villanueva, “The college distributes the first of the Pell money within a week of approval by the Department of Education, and the rest after the enrollment census is complete,” making these funds an attractive target for fraudsters.
City College contracts with loan payment processing platform Nelnet to distribute grant money and mitigate fraud. As part of their agreement with the Department of Education, Nelnet and City College must maintain monitoring procedures to ensure funds go to eligible recipients or face potential sanctions.
Nelnet has been instrumental in detecting fraudulent patterns in financial aid distribution. Villanueva detailed how “they were able to identify a lot of that money was going to the same reloadable card, and it was coming from different people, different names.”
On March 20, Chancellor Mitch
“This semester is the worst semester that we've ever had, and so far, we haven't seen anything concrete in terms of solutions.”
Robin Pugh Business Professor and Faculty Union Vice President
With an annual budget of approximately $1.2 million—funded primarily by the student health fee— the center must constantly balance quality care with limited resources.
“We continuously manage scheduling and resource allocation. Strategic planning is essential, especially when demands exceed our capacity,” Dean Amy Coffey explained. Coffey, responsible for student engagement and wellness, remains committed to maintaining service excellence under financial and operational constraints.
Looking ahead, the center is gearing up for the upcoming Mental Health and Wellness Monday. This outreach event promises activities such as yoga, meditation and interactive resource tables, aiming to demystify the healthcare process and promote a culture of wellness. “Events like these are crucial,” notes Martiniano. “They provide educational opportunities, foster community and reduce the stigma around seeking help.”
Mental Health and Wellness Monday will be held on May 12, 2025, at 11:30 a.m. at the Student Amphitheater.
Despite limited staffing and financial constraints, the center responds to health crises and lays the groundwork for a healthier, more informed campus community.
“It's important that students know the whole college itself. Student
“Our usual practice is welcoming and encouraging students. We shouldn't have to be doubting a student's intention. This is putting teachers in a hard position they had never signed up for.”
Maura Devlin-Clancy Computer Networking and IT Instructor
Bailey and Vice Chancellor David Yee presented their plan to tackle the ghost student problem at a Board of Trustees meeting. The presentation remained high-level as they believe fraudsters may be paying close attention to the college's strategies and adjusting their scams accordingly.
Vice Chancellor Yee detailed the school's initial response in December last year when the ghost student numbers began to spike.
He described how they added additional filtering capabilities to flag potentially fraudulent accounts, increased manual intervention by the registration office, and shortened the verification period for flagged student accounts from seven to three days.
As this issue impacts community colleges across California, the administration has been reaching out to other schools to understand how they have dealt with the problem.
“We were able to talk to Ohlone and their staff to find out how they did it. We've talked to San Mateo, and we're exploring other colleges,” Yee said.
El Camino Community College trustees recently approved a $54,000 subscription purchase of Lightleap, an AI fraud detection platform.
At the meeting, trustees expressed apprehension over how these strategies may affect accessibility for legitimate students. In response, Chancellor Bailey shared an analogy:
“Everyone's welcome at the house. We want everyone to come visit us at our house. But we can't leave the front door open unguarded all the time, so we've got to do things that help protect the house.”
On April 9, administrators sent out an email outlining a portfolio of approaches to limiting the number of ghost students for the upcoming registration periods.
These strategies range from dropping students who fail to pay for their courses on time to withholding student ID numbers until identification has been verified. The email also mentioned leveraging “current tools” at the college.
Despite the ongoing conversations, faculty still feel there has been no urgency in the college's response.
“I didn't get a sense that there was a clear deadline or a solution. It was more like the start of thinking about a solution,” DevlinClancy explained.
“We have serious business to take care of, and this issue is just making that difficult to focus on. If the admin could make this a priority, it would really go a long way to helping us have a brighter future.”
Editor's note:
In our next issue, The Guardsman delves deeper into the uncanny behavior of ghost students in the classroom, and what students can do to stand out to get the courses they need.
Health Services, all the resource centers, all the clubs, because there are so many opportunities that students may not know are out there to help them succeed in their academic journey,” Martiniano said.
The Student Health Center is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is located on the lower level of the Health Center building on the corner of Frida Kahlo Way and Judson Avenue.
For more information, students can contact Student Health Services at 415-239-3110, visit their website at https://www.ccsf.edu/student-services/ student-health-services, or email them at studenthealth@ccsf.edu.
The Student Health Center on Ocean Campus offers in-person, virtual and phone appointments. April 12, 2025 (John Adkins/The Guardsman)
HISTORY CENTER
continued from page 1
Designed by the local firm Simon Martin-Vegue Winkelstein Moris and named in honor of San Francisco philanthropist and fierce supporter of education Daniel Edward Koshland (1892–1979), the center welcomes visitors through large glass doors opening to a mid-century modern reading room.
The only thing standing in the way of the vast archives are the librarians stationed at the front desk who will check your bags and a form of identification. After that, the vast and extensive archives are available to all who are interested. Should you ask for any historical records to be pulled, the librarians can swiftly provide anyone with primary documents, some dating back a century or more, with some files that still harbor the smells of the smoke from the 1906 earthquake.
Local art exhibits are interspersed among the room's orderly arrangement of maps, books and records chronicling San Francisco's rich history. Walking around the center, one can tell its aesthetic purposefully reflects the library's commitment to preserving the city's past. Following the line of wooden desks, past the hushed reverence of the rare book collection, visitors are rewarded with a breathtaking panorama of City Hall and the vibrant expanse of Hayes Valley.
Inside this remarkable history center, examining any document—be it an 1800s edition of the San Francisco Chronicle or the historical records of your own home—can fundamentally reshape a project, quench a lifetime curiosity or offer a profound journey through time.
SFPL City Archivist
In February of this year, The Guardsman had the opportunity to interview Adrienne Storey, San Francisco Public Library's new city archivist. Storey received her
undergraduate degree from the University of Washington and her master's in Library Science from San Jose State. Assuming the position in September of 2024, she has been tasked with managing SFPL's Archives and Special Collections.
While leading a team of fifteen fellow archivists, librarians and other professionals, Storey oversees the aforementioned San Francisco History Center, Book Arts and Special Collections and San Francisco Photograph Collections.
Timeless Tomes
Storey was happy to share more about the Book Arts and Special Collections, offering a peek into where the rare books are held. Typically overshadowed by the impressive San Francisco archive, the collections lie beyond a ropedoff area to the left of the main reading room.
“Ever since starting, I have been obsessed with studying the History Center,” Storey explained, pulling the rope aside. “Surprisingly, the Book Arts and Special Collections section came first. That is what people of the time were really interested in. They were interested in the classics and the antiquarian. We still steward those collections.”
The Public Library first started rebuilding its collection around the turn of the twentieth century after the city-wide destruction in 1906. Despite the center's emphasis on San Francisco history, the rare book collection continues to grow alongside the more prominent local archives.
The lavish room within touted rare books lining the walls, some dating back to the fifteenth century, is astounding. However, Storey made it clear that this is only one part of the operation.
Rooms like these are often difficult to access. They are typically held within more sequestered
collections, frequently privatized by universities with little to no public access.
Chronicles Preserved
A key focal point of the center has been maintaining the work of local presses, significant given San Francisco's past as a hub for printing and publishing. Storey and her team play a strong role in preserving the city's legacy by collecting inimitable publications, sometimes possessing the sole extant copy.
“It was 1973 when the History Center became official. From there, it got more and more attention,” Storey noted. As she spoke more about the library's past, she revealed it has become “the only thing [she] reads about now.”
The shifting of interest to local histories partly blossomed because of San Francisco's first City Archivist, Gladys Hansen (1925–2017). Hansen had a deep interest in the truth of the 1906 earthquake. According to a 2017 SFGate article by Carol Nolte, Hansen's findings showed that some 3,000 to 4,000 residents had died in the earthquake and the ensuing fires. This number was much higher than the original listing of 478.
In the years between Hansen and Storey came Susan Goldstein, another acclaimed city archivist. In her 28 years with the SFPL, Goldstein greatly contributed to diversifying the collection.
Hansen's career and the genesis of Storey's are among the many contributions emanating from this department. There is an increasingly dire need, especially in today's political climate, to value and uplift the continued funding, utilization and consistent engagement with our libraries.
As the SFPL approaches its 150th anniversary in June of 2029, there is even more reason to revel in the center's great archival undertaking.
Continuing to explain her role in more depth, Storey spoke about time spent organizing San Francisco's city departments' records of permanent value. As the official repository for the entire city, thousands of records pass through the department. Here, it is decided where and how to store them, always with the goal of accessibility.
Times have changed, and so has the History Center, but Storey has seamlessly adapted. “Another part of the future of the History Center is the care we are putting into diversifying the collection, paying attention to whose histories are being told and why. We need to start thinking about the agencies of communities
and how they want to research and be researched themselves,” Storey said, with particular regard for that of marginalized communities.
The History Center team dedicates countless hours to ensuring that “accessibility” is fully realized.
While technology is reshaping many aspects of her work, Storey's guidance ensures that the preservation of San Francisco history remains in capable hands. The center is currently developing the stronger infrastructure needed to digitize more records. However, as things progress, one thing remains certain: the History Center will continue to be the definitive destination for any San Francisco scholar.
Tapping the Time Capsule
With myriad ways to utilize the archives, don't just think about what you can do for your public libraries, but what your public libraries can do for you. As previously mentioned, the archives can be a great space to research when and who built your San Francisco home or even when your neighborhood became prominent. It is also the perfect place to reconnect with family histories within the Bay Area.
Writing a movie? Doing research for a site-specific history project? Writing a paper for a class on San Francisco history? Wanting to find an old photograph for a family reunion? Into historical fiction and want to depict San Francisco in the 1920s accurately? Whether your
interest is community-oriented or simply for yourself, the archives can be your gateway to the missing and integral part of your work, whatever that may be.
“This place is perfect for deep dives on any aspect of the city. And people coming in with different projects keep my job interesting!” Storey said.
One day, Storey might be researching a small local outlet from the 50s; the next, she could connect a screenwriter crafting the next blockbuster based in San Francisco with an 1800s photograph of their muse.
The readily available archivists can pull anything from mayoral records—Mayor London Breed's document collection was the first collection Storey took in—to photography and videos that can be viewed in their screening room. As Storey put it, one of the primary goals of the history center staff is to question what documentation exists. “How can we help researchers find that documentation wherever it is? We are working on broadening how we can help people with any type of interest or question,” Storey explained.
Whether a seasoned academic or an inquisitive newcomer, all who hope to understand the many layers of San Francisco's history will undoubtedly find a home within The Daniel E. Koshland History Center. In this small reading room on the sixth floor, countless untold stories eagerly await exploration.
The Daniel E. Koshland San Francisco History Center contains a rich research collection of various printed work documenting many different aspects of San Francisco's life and history. April 10, 2025 (Kyra Young/The Guardsman)
City Archivist Adrienne Storey in the Books Arts and Special Collections Center. Feb. 24, 2025 (Isaac Ortiz/The Guardsman)
Kimberly Seda, a senior animation major at California College of the Arts, uses a light box to view photo slides from the celebration of the Golden Gate Bridge's 50th anniversary. Seda is utilizing the History Center's resources for one of her final projects. April 10, 2025 (Kyra Young/The Guardsman)
The Books Arts and Special Collections Center hosts a myriad of important research collections as well as several smaller collections. April 10, 2025 (Kyra Young/The Guardsman)
Thousands Turnout to Support Farmworkers and Challenge Trump's Immigration Policies
By The Guardsman Staff
Some 5,000 people marched in Delano on March 31 not only to commemorate the birth and legacy of Cesar Chavez, the renowned civil and labor movement activist, but to draw attention to President Donald Trump's continuing policy attacks on immigrants.
Farmworkers in California, who grow one-third of the country's vegetables and three-fourths of its fruits and nuts, have reported increasing fear and anxiety over a series of Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrests and deportations in the Central Valley, NBC News reported.
NBC News also stated that around half of California's farmworkers are undocumented, according to a study by the University of California, Merced, and according to the U.S. Agriculture Department, about 42% nationwide lack legal immigration status.
The statewide march, themed “Con Estas Manos/With these Hands,” reminded people about the workers who grow and pick their food. It gathered in Delano, where the UFW was founded, and then marched to the Forty Acres site, where Chavez held his first public fast in 1968.
The march also commemorated the historic Delano grape strike that launched Chavez's 280-mile march to Sacramento with Filipino American and Mexican American farmworkers.
The marchers were primarily farm workers but included union representatives and United Farm Workers supporters. The California Federation of Labor Unions and SEIU California were among the unions in attendance.
Guillermina Castellanos and members of Nueva Sol, the new San Francisco organization of day laborers and domestic workers, march behind their banner. March 31, 2025. Photo courtesy of David Bacon
"Esta es nuestra tierra"—demanding recognition that the land of California's corporate agriculture is unceded land of native people. March 31, 2025. Photo courtesy of David Bacon
Brown Berets and Native American community activists at the Delano March on March 31, 2025. Photo courtesy of David Bacon
Andres Cruz, a Triqui farmworker and irrigator for D'Arrigo Brothers Produce, came to the march from Greenfield in the Salinas Valley. March 31, 2025. Photo courtesy of David Bacon
BEMA's Tools of the Trade Show Connects Theory with Hands-On Industry Training
By Qi Mai qmai10@mail.ccsf.edu
The Broadcast Electronic Media Arts Department recently held its third Tools of the Trade event at Rosenberg Library. Representatives from five companies—Lumix (Panasonic), Sony, Sigma, Tilta and Bright Tangerine—showcased their most advanced media devices to broadcasting students.
BEMA Chair Misha Antonich stated that this event provides students with a rare and incredible opportunity to learn about current media equipment. It's a one-stop mini trade show for students pursuing freelance careers where they can see professional media devices.
Lumix and Sony demonstrated still and video cameras, Sigma presented over 35 lenses, Tilta showcased rigs and camera supports and Bright Tangerine demonstrated matte boxes and camera support. Blackmagic Design, based in Burbank, California, brought video cameras, monitors, audio equipment, video switchers and DaVinci Resolve.
The DaVinci Resolve panel was a significant highlight of the show. “Students should definitely know about DaVinci Resolve. It's an excellent way to get started with a free application where you can do editing, color correction, visual effects, motion graphics and audio post-production all in one software,” said Kendall Eckman of Blackmagic Design. “The students seem very interested and ask great questions. We hope we can help guide them in a professional direction.”
Student Esther Mondesir, who recently completed her Television Production Certificate, said, “It's really cool to join the event and see all the new equipment. At school, we have some app downloads available, but this is a great place to learn about new devices.”
Zia Hoskins, an education marketing representative for B&H Photo Video, which has an excellent student discount program, shared her thoughts: “I see a lot of passionate students here, and I'm impressed by their level of knowledge and dedication. This is a fantastic program, and it's always a pleasure to be part of it. I look forward to being back next year.”
The Tools of the Trade began after Antonich attended a large media show in Las Vegas and thought to organize a similar event at City College. His idea was to create a “mini trade show for students,” combining theory and practice to help students understand classroom knowledge and gain hands-on experience. In 2021, he invited several companies to join the first mini-show.
“This year, I'm thrilled that our students could experience different types of cameras, lenses, software and hardware,” said Antonich. “It's always wonderful to see their enthusiasm.”
Widening the Signal
Beyond this year's trade show, BEMA students are provided many opportunities to attend seminars and network with industry professionals.
Department Chair Antonich or Instructor Dana Jae Labrecque also takes students to the monthly Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers networking events in Oakland, where they meet media, technology and engineering professionals.
Another major event BEMA students attend is the National Association of Broadcasters trade show in Las Vegas each April. This event is the largest media entertainment trade show in North America and features major industry players, such as the NFL, NBC and Sony.
Antonich is excited to send select students to this prestigious event, where they can network with industry leaders and gain insights into the latest media technologies. “It is the biggest audio and video media entertainment trade show in North America. This year, we have eight students going, and they will be talking to professionals.”
The professional training and industry experience BEMA students receive at City College lays a strong foundation for their future careers, with a focus on the skills needed to succeed commercially, particularly as freelancers.
“In a world where content creation is booming, the BEMA program gave me the confidence and knowledge to pursue my career, knowing I have a solid foundation to build on,” former student Greg Gazzano said. Gazzano is now working as a Video Producer at Apple.
Joshua Fulton, B2B EDU Account Manager at Sony Electronics Inc., San Diego, CA, introduces Sony A7 Mirrorless Camera in the Tool of Trade Show. (Qi Mai/The Guardsman)
Instructor Dana Jae Labrecque and BCST 128 students take a tour of the Meyer Sound Factory in Berkeley, Calif. (Qi Mai/The Guardsman)
Delivery Apps Are Contributing to Our Loneliness Epidemic
By Abby Sigler abby.sigler@gmail.com
There were two viral social media moments related to delivery apps earlier this year, representative of a growing sentiment: maybe it's time we go back to doing our own shopping. One post was a screenshot of a New York Times report circulating on X, which detailed a Hollywood director's delayed evacuation from the L.A. fires as he awaited his $300 Amazon Fresh delivery. I hope he tipped, at least.
The other was a TikTok posted by a woman whose five-item DoorDash grocery order had been bungled, with four of the five not at all matching her instructions. For example, she had received the Ultimate Caesar Salad Kit rather than the Chopped Caesar she had requested. I have no hope at all that she tipped.
Services like Amazon Fresh and DoorDash contribute to an environment of near instantaneous demand satisfaction devoid of the pesky social interactions typically involved with a trip to the grocery store or local restaurant. While baking cookies, an unexpected sugar shortage at home is solved with a tap and a surcharge of a few dollars. No need to turn off the preheating oven because Instacart promises delivery within the hour. By the time you open your front door to grab that bag of C & H Pure Cane Granulated White Sugar, you might just catch a glimpse of the individual who fulfilled your request hustling back to their car to complete another order. The convenience is unparalleled, but at what cost?
Wielded as a replacement for in-person tasks, these apps contribute to a disintegration of community
engagement. By paying a company to send someone out on our behalf, we bypass the opportunity to build a relationship with that remarkably cheerful cashier lady or request that occasional cup of sugar from our neighbors. These conventions are only as old-fashioned as we allow them to be. As our nation is suffering from a loneliness epidemic, it might behoove us to seek out minor social connections wherever we can get them.
This is not to say that the concept of meal or grocery delivery is inherently immoral or socially corrosive. Some argue that these services are vital to people with disabilities and the elderly. Not everyone has the privilege of a grocery store within walking distance or a body that can get them there. This feels like a bad-faith response, especially in the face of the Hollywood director situation, but I'll give them the benefit of the doubt.
Still, are these ill-conceived “move fast and break things” Big Tech disruptors the best solution? Have we given up on the community's role in taking care of each other? My concern is a fast-approaching future in which most of our social interactions are purely transactional—or worse, replaced entirely as we get sucked ever deeper into the tiny screens that know us so well. Although I feel the temptation of that convenienceseeking mindset, I refuse to believe it is worth abandoning our already fraying community ties. I still remember the moment I officially became a regular at my local coffee shop, the look of recognition passing over the barista's face like “Ah, her again!” Our quick exchanges are simultaneously inconsequential and sustaining, well worth the chilly morning walks to and from.
Letter to the Editor
The Case for a Cantonese Instructor at Chinatown Campus
San Francisco Chinatown is undeniably the heart of Cantonese culture in the United States. As I stroll from Portsmouth Square to AA Bakery & Cafe for delicious egg tarts, all I hear on the street is Cantonese and Taishanese (a Cantonese dialect). Yet, the one place where you won't hear any Chinese is at City College's Chinatown campus. Why isn't City College offering Cantonese classes in the neighborhood with the highest concentration of Cantonese speakers per capita?
This is not just my personal opinion. Trustees Alan Wong and Heather McCarty have publicly endorsed the idea, saying it makes perfect sense. When City College stopped offering online Cantonese classes, my former classmate and San Francisco Supervisor Danny Sauter had to turn to a private tutor to continue learning the language and better communicate with his constituents in Chinatown. It is baffling that a city-funded program like Free City is not accessible to someone who can decide its fate.
It is not just alumni and public officials who face challenges accessing Cantonese classes at City College. Many of my friends in Chinatown and Oakland would gladly enroll if the courses were offered at the Chinatown campus. Unfortunately, commuting to the Ocean campus is a major hurdle for working students and parents. At a time when the college is struggling with low enrollment, why not remove this barrier and bring classes to where the students live?
But San Francisco Chinatown is not just home to
Cantonese learners. It is also home to many English learners. CCSF's Chinatown campus is well known for its English as a Second Language classes. While scrolling on Douyin (China's version of TikTok), I came across a 100-year-old elder attending one of these ESL classes at our Chinatown campus.
It reminded me of my middle-aged, new immigrant classmates who enrolled in CCSF's Cantonese classes to help them learn English. At the Ocean campus, Professor Yu and my English-speaking classmates would help them translate Cantonese passages into English. In return, the new immigrant classmates helped Cantonese learners with pronunciation and offered cultural insights for our American-born Chinese classmates. It was a beautiful example of language learners supporting each other across generational and cultural lines.
Cantonese classes at the Chinatown campus are about more than just language instruction. They build bridges across cultures and generations while honoring the community that still lives in San Francisco's Chinatown. That's why our community leaders, alumni and students continue to advocate for an additional Cantonese instructor at the Chinatown campus.
Our community cannot miss this opportunity for greater mutual exchange and deeper connection. It's time to invest in our neighborhood. It's time to teach Cantonese in Chinatown.
—Chester Leung cleun221@mail.ccsf.edu
Next time your fridge is empty, consider going to the grocery store and resisting the gravitational pull of the self-checkout machine. Have a nice chat with your cashier, and bask in the delightful awkwardness of small talk with a stranger.
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Illustration by Cindy Chan
Rams Suffer the Stampede of Cañada Colts
By Henry Crowell henrycrowell5@gmail.com
The Rams were close to taking the lead throughout the game but could not overcome a late-inning offensive explosion by the Cañada College Colts.
City College returned to the loss column with this game, having won their previous match against Cañada just two days beforehand.
“The teams that won, their pitcher didn't walk guys. They made plays,” Rams Head Coach Mario Mendoza said.
16–2 was the final score on Thursday, March 27, with the Rams posting five hits to Cañada's 15. The two teams played at Skyline College, where City College acted as the home team.
Gary Ford, the Ram's freshman third baseman, was responsible for both of their runs when he blasted a 2–0 fastball to left-center field for his third homer of the season. Ford described the dugout as “electric” following the hit. “Having several scoreless innings, it's good to get a run in,” he said.
“I hit it hard, but it was kind of on a line. Plus, it probably wasn't my A swing, so I didn't think it was going to go out, but it did,” Ford said.
Ford had a single, walk and a steal on top of the two-run homer, having a stellar game all around.
Cañada secured the victory by gaining a sizeable lead late in the game. Going into the top of the 8th, they were winning by a score of 5–2, and they quickly increased that, putting up six runs in that half-inning off the back of three hits and five walks. They polished that off with another five runs in the top of the 9th
Coach Mendoza said, “It's always that big inning, if you eliminate that big inning, you'll always have a chance, one run, two runs, you can always fight back. It's hard when it's five, six, seven runs in an inning, it kind of deflates you.”
The Ram's freshman starting pitcher, Wyatt Rowland, got through five innings of solid work, surrendering two earned runs and six hits, walking two batters and striking out one. He attributed his success to his use of his changeup, saying, “Got them out all day. Pop up after pop up.”
“I learned a lot about myself. It was probably one of my better outings this year, just relying on the changeup will get me out of innings. Fall behind in the count? Just go back to the off-speed,” Rowland said.
This loss brought City's record to 5–20 on the season. At press time, they are now 6–25 and 2–12 against conference opponents.
Rams Tennis Stars Move Onto State Championship
By The Guardsman Staff
The No. 4-seeded City College women's tennis team closed out the regular season with a 10–4 record overall.
The Rams have qualified for the 3C2A State Championships and will send a pair of singles players and two doubles squads to represent the college. Led by singles players Elizabeth Au and Natalie Batlin, the duo will also compete in doubles competition alongside the No. 2 doubles team of Rita Williams and Trevor Wade.
The 3C2A State Championships will begin on April 24 at the Ojai Valley Tennis Club in Southern California.
Rams athletes Sarah Niles, left, and Claudia Woo greet their competitors from Ohlone College before their match on Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (Patrick Perkins/The Guardsman)
City College's Rita Williams steps up for a volley in the Rams' match versus Ohlone College. April 2, 2025. (Patrick Perkins/ The Guardsman)
City College's Sarah Hwang mid-hit during the Rams' match versus Ohlone College. Sarah played doubles alongside her teammate, Claudia Woo. April 2, 2025 (Patrick Perkins/The Guardsman)
Mark Zhu bats for City College in their game against Cañada College. San Bruno, Calif. March 27, 2025. (Isaac Ortiz Dominguez/The Guardsman)
City College's Isac Mendoza, left, forces out a Cañada College player. San Bruno, Calif. March 27, 2025. (Isaac Ortiz Dominguez/The Guardsman)