CITY COLLEGE OF SAN FRANCISCO | SINCE 1935 | THEGUARDSMAN.COM | @SFBREAKINGNEWS | FREE
VOL. 155, ISSUE 8, MAY 8-MAY 24, 2013
Cover Story
Fighting for a dream
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Interview by Cecilia Ren
H
t’s been almost three years since former City College student Shing Ma “Steve” Li was imprisoned and sent to the Central Arizona Detention Center. § Li was oblivious to his undocumented immigration status until the day of his arrest by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
aving spent almost half his life in the Bay Area, Li saw himself as an average San Franciscan. § Li’s parents emigrated from China to Peru, where Li was born, in the late 1980s to escape the country’s one-child policy. When he was 11-years-old, Li came to the United States with his family on a tourist visa to flee from political turmoil in Lima. § In 2002, Li’s parents applied for political asylum but were denied their request. Then, in September 2010, Li went from an average Chinese American student to a criminal in the eyes of ICE officials. § Li is now a thirdyear college student at UC Davis.
T
he Guardsman interviewed Li at UC Davis about his experience as an undocumented immigrant, the importance of community and the struggle for immigration reform. § Story on page 3 Obituary
Officer Beatrice Ramirez, 1971-2013 By Minter McHugh THE GUARDSMAN/ MMCHUGH@THEGUARDSMAN.COM/
Beatrice Ramirez, a dedicated former City College police officer for over 20 years, died April 17 at the age of 42 after a lengthy battle with lupus and complications after suffering a stroke. “It is with great sadness that I report to the campus community the passing of Officer Beatrice Ramirez. Officer Ramirez Star #31 passed away early yesterday morning in a local hospital following a valiant fight with a long-term illness,” City College Chief of Police Andre Barnes said after her death.
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Born October 8, 1971, Ramirez began the student officer program at City College around 1990 under former City College Police Chief Gerald DeGirolamo said Rolando Garcia, current City College Downtown campus control agent and longtime friend of Beatrice. After excelling in the student officer program, Beatrice was asked to become a lab aide under DeGirolamo. Her dedication and professionalism was noticed, landing her a job as a campus control agent. A few years later she applied for and became a campus police officer, solidifying her presence at City College.
Q&A: Nanette Asimov part 2. Plus, who are her sources?
Steve Li participates at a protest in support of the DREAM Act on June 15. 2012 in Los Angeles. Photo courtesy of Steve Li.
Interacting with people professionally and socially was a significant part of Beatrice’s dayto- day life, and she treated close friends as if they were family. She was known for her many selfless characteristics. “She’d give you the shirt off her back, and the last dollar in her pocket,” said Garcia. She always acted on her desire to experience adventure and enjoy life. She loved to travel and root for the San Francisco Giants and 49ers. Beatrice saw people come and go during her long tenure with the police department, making friends the entire time. Joe Villagomez started at the academy with Beatrice in 1992 and worked with her until 1998. Villagomez left to serve in the military but the two always kept
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OBITUARY: PAGE 4
Career fair focuses on local opportunities
By Victor Verdugo
CONTRIBUTOR/ NEWS@THEGUARDSMAN.COM/ @SFBREAKINGNEWS
Students interacted with local employers and learned about job opportunities during City College’s annual Career Information Fair held April 24 in the student cafeteria on Ocean campus. The event was hosted by City College’s Career Development Counseling Department. “Students get a chance to practice communication skills, networking, and interacting with employers while getting firsthand information,” City College Career Counselor Josephine Ubungen said.
OPINION: ‘Starving the beast’ doesn’t work
Nearly 40 employers including Target, San Francisco International Airport, Walgreens, Old Navy and the San Francisco Police Department attended the fair. The career fair allowed students to find potential jobs while attending school as well as network for future career opportunities after graduation. City College student Shalisa Wolridge learned more information about a career with the Department of Rehabilitation. “Counseling for those going through rehabilitation really interests me,” Wolridge said. Cynthia Dimapasoc, store manager of Walgreens on Ocean
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JOBS: PAGE 4
SOFTBALL: Left-handed shortstop shines
2 | THE GUARDSMAN & THEGUARDSMAN.COM | MAY 8-MAY 24, 2013
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College Briefs Teach In
Over 100 students, faculty and members of the community attended a teach-in April 25 organized by the American Federation of Teachers Local 2121 to protest the new proposed budget for City College. The protest was held outside Multi-Use Building Room 140 on Ocean campus an hour prior to the Board of Trustees meeting. Yellow pins with red hearts reading “We Are All City College” were passed out and the crowd chanted “Turn the budget right side up.” Local 2121 President Alisa Messer addressed the crowd, declaring that City College’s Board of Trustees has no right to pass a budget without consulting the union. Messer argued that Proposition A revenue should be used to fund classes and maintain the student population as San Francisco voters had intended, rather than be used to replenish the school’s reserves. Proposition A was passed in November with 73 percent approval. (Elisa Riechel)
Phelan Loop
The new Phelan Avenue bus
loop was completed and opened May 6 for the 8X and 49 Van Ness/ Mission bus lines. The existing 49 Van Ness/ Mission bus stop, where the old loop meets Lee Avenue, is now discontinued. The new stop is at a boarding island that is adjacent to Phelan Avenue. The stop for the 8X, the 8BX weekday commute express and 49 lines running on the south side of Ocean Avenue has been replaced by a stop on the south sidewalk across the street from the new Phelan Avenue loop. The stops were relocated closer to Ocean campus to better serve the large City College population. Construction of the new loop began in February. The government-funded project also included building a new public plaza for community and college events and improvements to the City and County firehouse at the corner of Ocean and Phelan Avenues. (Madeline Collins)
Accreditation
A complaint has been filed by state and local unions calling for a reversal of the “show cause” sanction against City College by the Accrediting Commission for
RECEIVE YOUR MILLS COLLEGE ADMISSION DECISION IN 24 HOURS.
Community and Junior Colleges. The unions believe that the sanction was unwarranted and the accreditors’ assessment of City College was flawed. The commission ruled that the college must correct a host of problems listed in a “show cause” sanction or possibly lose its accreditation. The accreditation commission’s report, mandating City College to “show cause” to remain open, was submitted in March. A decision on whether or not City College will maintain its accreditation will be reached in July. “The flaws in ACCJC’s assessment of CCSF exemplify the flaws which generally infect the ACCJC,” the complaint said. The alleged flaws include the “disregard of the mission of community colleges, disregard of the public policy of California, improper criteria which conflict with federal and state law and arbitrary application of ACCJC Standards.” The complaint was filed with the support of the national American Federation of Teachers. (Madeline Collins)
Election Results
The Associated Students held elections from April 24-25. Here are the results: Student Trustee+ Shannell Williams Ocean campus President* Oscar Peña
Bangladesh
SF Bay Area
Tuesday, June 4 • 5:30 pm–7:30 pm Bring your completed application for fall 2013 to this special Transfer Information Program, and we’ll give you an admission decision in one day. Applications can also be submitted online prior to the event. Minimum 3.0 GPA recommended. For more information and to reserve your space, go to www.mills.edu/visitprograms.
MAKING THE WORLD MORE . . .
Oakland, CA admission@mills.edu www.mills.edu/transfer
Downtown Center President* Bouchra Simmons Vice President* Michaelangelo Reyes * elected to office starting July 1 + elected to office starting June 1 (I) - incumbent
NOTE: Shanell Williams will resign her Presidency at Ocean campus on June 1 to take over her newly elected role as Student Trustee, replacing William Walker. The AS Vice President of Administration Devon WashickOrtega will succeed Williams as AS President at Ocean campus until Oscar Peña is sworn in as scheduled on July 1.
World Briefs The death toll from the April 24 collapse of a garment factory rose to more than 700. Mainuddin Khandkar, head of the government committee investigating the accident, said that the building’s collapse was due to a combination of substandard building materials and heavy vibrations from the machines used in the factories. Police ordered an evacuation when cracks in the building developed the day before the collapse. Building owner Mohammed Sohel Rana has been arrested and is expected to be charged with negligence and illegal construction. (USA Today)
SPECIAL ADMISSION EVENT FOR FALL 2013
Ocean campus Senators* Deltrice Boyd Lalo González Hanin Benchohra (I) Itzel Calvo Loana Bonilla (I) Adriana Gutiérrez Sharon Shatterly Chima Chidi Mahmoud Ateyeh Ryam Mote Lizette García Ellohe Seyoum (I) Amelia Taufa Martin Madrigal Slava Ustinov
A limousine caught fire on the San Mateo/Hayward Bridge May 4 at around 10 p.m., killing five of the passengers. The limo was taking nine women to a bachelorette party when smoke started coming out of the rear of the vehicle and then became engulfed in flames. The cause of the fire is still unknown. The bride-to-be was among those killed in the fire. Four other women were treated for smoke inhalation and burns. The driver of the limo was the only one to escape uninjured. (SF Gate)
Afghanistan
Eight soldiers were killed in Kabul, Afghanistan in three separate incidents May 4. A roadside bomb killed five American soldiers, two soldiers were shot in an insider attack and one soldier died in a small-arms attack. The Taliban has taken responsibility for the insider attack. Insider attacks spiked in 2012 with 64 deaths in 48 attacks. So far there have been four attacks this year, and the military has taken extensive measures to prevent them. (New York Times)
Nigeria
At least 30 people were killed May 3 in clashes among rival ethnic groups in eastern Nigeria. An argument broke out between members of the Jukan, Hausa and Fulani groups when members of the Jukan group were marching through the town of Wukari on their way to a funeral. The argument escalated quickly to a clash with machetes and guns. Attackers also set fire to about 30 homes in the area. Joseph Kwaji, a police spokesperson, said that they have gained control of the situation and that 40 people have been arrested in relation to the attacks. (New York Times)
THE GUARDSMAN & THEGUARDSMAN.COM | MAY 8-MAY 24, 2013 | 3
news
Cover Story:
Managing Editor Gina Scialabba News Editor Madeline Collins Photo Editors Leslie Calderon Santiago Mejia Sports Editor Ivan Huang Opinion Editor Jandean Deocampo Advertising Manager Cecilia Ren Layout/Design Consultant David Hackett Copy Chief Patrick Tamayo Copy Editors Alex Reyes Dalton Amador Illustrator Anthony Mata Staff Writers Jandean Deocampo Dalton Amador Alex Reyes Cecilia Ren Lavinia Pisani Madeline Collins Alex Lamp Mckenna Toston Cassandra Hendry Dan Harrington Jackson Ly Julio Moran Zack Tobita Minter McHugh Staff Photographers Clarivel Fong Juan Pardo Francesca Alati Shelly Scott Faculty Advisor Juan Gonzales Mail: 50 Phelan Ave Box V-67 San Francisco, CA 94112 Phone: (415) 239-3446 Advertising: advertising@theguardsman.com Online: www.theguardsman.com Twitter: @sfbreakingnews Facebook: facebook.com/theguardsman Youtube: youtube.com/theguardsmanonline
General contact: news@theguardsman.com California Newspaper Publisher’s Association Journalism Association of Community Colleges
talks about what it’s like to be an undocumented immigrant
By Cecilia Ren
THE GUARDSMAN / CREN@THEGUARDSMAN.COM / @RENCECILIA
The Guardsman: After this whole ordeal, what’s your current status with immigration? Steve Li: I’m currently in deferred action, which means my deportation status is temporarily halted and stopped. I’m still in deportation proceedings, but it’s currently deferred for a year, which expires in a couple months. TG: Do you know exactly when the expiration date is? SL: I don’t know exactly when. But because of the new Deferred Action of Childhood Arrivals that Obama announced, I should be fine. I could apply for that. TG: What exactly is the Deferred Action of Childhood Arrivals? SL: It’s an act Obama approved last year to stop deportation of DREAM Act eligible students. TG: Do you think the DREAM Act will likely to be passed in the near future? SL: It’s just stalling in Congress. But the DREAM Act is a bill that would allow some sort of a pathway to citizenship. There are 11 million undocumented immigrants in the United States and two million of them qualify under the DREAM Act. There’s a big broken immigration system. Everyone knows. The White House knows that. The Senate knows that. The Republicans and Democrats know that. We still have a broken system because there is no clear pathway for undocumented immigrants here. TG: Are you currently involved in any other form of actions to potentially speed up your immigration or legalization process? SL: I’m currently not in the process of trying to get a green card or any legalization. The only ways I know, if you’re undocumented, is to either apply for political asylum, a U Visa or
get married. I do not want to get married for citizenship because there’s a psychological factor that comes with it. I think if you do get married, it should be for love and not for anything else. As for political asylum, it is a very complicated process. One can only apply for it if you fear for your life going back home as a result of violence or gangs. There’s a U Visa, which is something you can apply for if you are abused or something in your own country. I don’t qualify for any of those. TG: Did you think your story was going to get the national attention it did? How did you feel about that? SL: I was already incarcerated in the detention center in Arizona. So I had no idea what was going on outside. TG: So you had no idea that your friends back in San Francisco were advocating for you? SL: I had some idea that my friends were in fact advocating for me, but I didn’t know how big it was or what it was. I knew they were doing something about it. I’m very grateful, and I owe them a lot for seeing this injustice in our immigration system. TG: Do you feel it was because of the demonstrations that your story got so much attention? SL: I think during that time in 2010, it was a really big deal because the DREAM Act was coming to a vote in December. It was a really big deal that the DREAM Act was coming out for a vote because it was also the first Asian American/Pacific Islander story out there. TG: What was your reaction when you realized Senator Dianne Feinstein had taken on your story and offered to help your case? When you found out she was “on your side”? SL: I found out she was on my side when I wasn’t deported. I remember I was two days away from being deported. It was very
Steve Li. Photo courtesy of Steve Li. Photo illustration by Sara Bloomberg/The Guardsman
Editor-in-Chief Sara Bloomberg
CCSF alumnus Steve Li
close, and we were not sure what was going to happen. My community was pressuring Feinstein. She knew about my case for about twenty days or a month, possibly, and nothing had happened yet. TG: Did Feinstein reach out to your support team first or was it the other way around? SL: My lawyer contacted her first because a private bill is something that is very… a last resort. It’s very hard to get. “Private bills” basically means this is a bill that is uniquely for you and that it is going to be presented to the Senate. It was one of the last resorts we had to go through because we were denied initially for deferred action from the Immigration Department, and they wanted me to get deported as soon as possible.
“ There’s a big broken immigration system. Everyone knows.” --Steve Li
TG: Your parents were deported last year. Do you have any other family members at all left in San Francisco or California? SL: I have no family here. I am by myself. TG: How are you paying for college tuition or other living expenses? SL: Right now I’m living off of scholarships because I haven’t found a job yet. TG: Do you still go back to
San Francisco to visit? SL: I still go back. City College is still there. My friends are there. I go back to visit. TG: What are your plans after college? SL: I definitely want to go to graduate school. I’m still pursuing my education. It’s not over after undergrad. TG: What’s your current major here at UC Davis? SL: It’s Asian American Studies and Exercise Biology. TG: How has this experience affected you psychologically, physically and emotionally? SL: I think this has affected me in various ways. Seeing what happened to my family and being separated from my family has definitely been challenging. We are fighting not only for the DREAM Act to pass but also for an immigration package that will not separate families or tokenize children. TG: What lesson did you learn from this experience? SL: Seeing the injustice through my experience, I decided to do something about it. I now encourage others to do the same and become more active within their communities. You do have a voice and the ability to change the world in ways that you want to see it change. TG: What could you have done differently if you knew about your visa status before the arrest? SL: I don’t think there was anything I could’ve done differently. I would be in the same situation that I’m in now. TG: Is there anything else you would like to add? SL: Immigration reform is going to happen during the next four years. This is really the time for people who are passionate about this issue to get involved and share their stories. It’s very important to be aware of the things that are happening to this issue.
4 | THE GUARDSMAN & THEGUARDSMAN.COM | MAY 8-MAY 24, 2013
news Accreditation
What do the politicians think of CCSF?
The Guardsman contacted various politicians from San Francisco and California beginning in March to get their opinion on City College’s current accreditation situation. These are the responses we received.
Politicians who didn’t respond
Nancy Pelosi U.S. Congress, Calif. district 12 Leeland Lee Calif. State Senator, District 8 Phil Ting Calif. State Assembly, district 19 Barbara Boxer U.S. Senator Malia Cohen City Board of Supervisors, district 10 Katie Tang City Board of Supervisors, district 4 Mark Leno Calif. State Assembly, district 11 Jane Kim CityBoard of Supervisors district 6 Jackie Spear U.S. Congress, Calif. district 14
David Campos is a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors representing District 9, including the Mission, Bernal Heights, St. Mary’s Park and Portola neighborhoods.
engagement and more transparency in terms of what is happening at City College. There has to be more responsiveness to the needs of the students, teachers and entire community.
The Guardsman: What does City College mean to you? David Campos: It’s a very important institution, and it’s there to educate so many people, and opens a lot of doors for many people to access education and create a better life for themselves and their families. So it’s definitely a very important institution for the city that we need to protect.
TG: What would you like to say to the students of City College? Campos: I want the students, teachers and administrative staff of City College to know that the city government is paying attention and that we’re not going to look the other way, and that we want to do everything we can to help City College. But we also don’t want City College to become disconnected from the community. We want it to be accountable for the community.
TG: What’s your position on the situation? Campos: We need to make sure that City College is financially stable, but I also think that we have to make sure that the core qualities and characteristics that have made City College so important are not lost. And that in the course of saving City College, we don’t destroy it also. TG: What can you do in your position to help the school? Campos: I think what we have tried to do is be very supportive of City College by way of resolution, but also I think the city needs to think of ways in which it can be financially helpful to City College. Legally, we don’t have any authority over City College, but we want people to know that the city is paying attention to what happens and that the city government is paying attention in particular. So I think we need to make ourselves available to help in any way we can and to make sure that we also represent the needs and the interest of our constituents. A lot of people in our district, District 9, go to City College. Many of them not only study there but also teach there, and I want to make sure that they’re protected. TG: City College was warned that it had 14 major problems that needed to be addressed. Moreover, many teachers have been cut, as well as classes. Do you think that there is a lack of leadership? If so, is there anything you’d like to tell the City College Board of Trustees? Campos: I think the Board of Trustees needs to be more engaged and more active. I have a lot of respect for individual members of the board, but I think that there needs to be more
John Avalos is a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors representing District 11, including the neighborhoods of Cayuga Terrace, Crocker Amazon, Excelsior and Ocean View/ Merced Heights/Ingleside. The Guardsman: What’s your position on the situation? John Avalos: If City College shuts down because of the accreditation issue, it will be a big blow to San Francisco, especially working communities in San Francisco. A lot of people in District 11 rely on City College where you can get the credits for applying to higher education, universities, and it is a place for them to get training. TG: What does City College mean to you? Avalos: A lot of people will lose the opportunity to advance. City College serves as an institution to help. If it is gone, we lose the opportunities and a tool for people to advance academically. Tom Ammiano is a California state assemblyman representing the 17th Assembly District and San Francisco in the California State Assembly. The Guardsman: What does City College mean to you? Tom Ammiano: City College means a lot of things to me. Obviously, I have a personal connection to education because of my experience as a teacher. I got into teaching because I saw what it could do for people from all kinds of backgrounds and City College is an embodiment of that educational goal. I also have a personal connection because my daughter attended classes there. It’s a great institution because it provides different kinds of education
OBITUARY: FROM FRONT PAGE
JOBS: FROM FRONT PAGE
in touch as friends. When Beatrice was admitted to a hospice in late March, Villagomez visited her from time to time, but when he went Easter Sunday he had bad news. Ramirez’s nephew and godson Jacob Valdiviezo, a 19-year-old student athlete who lived in San Francisco’s Mission district, was shot and killed on March
Avenue, attended the career fair hoping to find candidates for assistant manager and pharmacy technician positions. She already has several employees working at the Ocean Avenue store that attend City College. Bay Area Community Resources AmeriCorps, a nonprofit organization that helps kids affected by drugs and gangs, found the Career Information Fair to be beneficial in finding people to help with their cause. “For a nonprofit, the career
30. Ramirez died 16 days after Valdiviezo’s death. “She was in tears,” Villagomez said. “She was broken.” Ramirez left behind three brothers and three sisters. A wake was held at Duggan’s Funeral Service April 19 and a church service was held April 20, followed by Ramirez’s burial at Holy Cross Cemetery.
depending on the students’ needs, whether it’s a single adult education class or a stepping stone to the California university system. Lastly, I love City College because of the way it embodies San Francisco ideals of diversity and equality. You can see that, among other places, in the college’s dedication to LGBT studies. TG: What’s your position on the situation? Ammiano: As I said, the great thing about CCSF is the way it upholds San Francisco values. It has been that way for a long time. Now, along comes the accreditation commission with the message that things have to change. This has hurt the reputation of the school and caused enrollment to drop. There may be things that have to change, but we have to keep our unique values. That means we have to keep programs that serve the parts of our community that are most in need and continue to offer as much as we can of the classes demanded by the tens of thousands of students. It also means that change cannot happen in a dictatorial fashion. The City College administration has to be open and transparent about change, and it must involve students, teachers and line staff in discussions of how to fix the things we know need fixing. Otherwise, we get a climate of distrust that can undermine the educational mission. We can’t allow the accreditation difficulties to divide us and create fear about change. TG: What can you do, or have done, in your position to help the school? Ammiano: I have asked my staff in Sacramento and San Francisco to be attentive to what has been going on and to be involved in meetings to try to bring resolution to the matter. I did ask the accreditation body to give City College more time to respond, but the deadline has passed. I support the involvement of college labor groups in the discussions, and I’ve encouraged people to continue to show their confidence in CCSF by enrolling. I even have a button on my Assembly website to link directly to CCSF. TG: Do you have any other thoughts on the matter? Ammiano: The key thing is that we need to work together to keep CCSF headed in the right direction, serving and representing all of San Francisco.
fair is a good way to get exposure. People call back and apply right away after the fair,” Team Regional Supervisor Tommy Thach said. Students were encouraged to “Dress for Success” and bring a resume to the career fair to create a connection with the employer in a professional sense. A San Francisco International Airport representative asked Brendan Harris, a first year student at City College, for his contact information. “You get great information
from a different variety of companies,” Harris said.“They asked me what my schedule was like, and seemed interested in talking more with me.” San Francisco International Airport Workforce Development Coordinator Olga Elizalde expressed positive thoughts toward City College students. “They are clear on what they want, and come prepared,” Elizalde said. “Several City College students have been hired in the past, and pull through.”
THE GUARDSMAN & THEGUARDSMAN.COM | MAY 8-MAY 24, 2013 | 5
news
Exclusive Q&A:
Nanette Asimov: part 2
O
n March 25, we sat down with Nanette Asimov to talk about the accreditation crisis and her coverage of City College for the San Francisco Chronicle. § In Part 1, which ran in Issue 7, we asked about her background, how she got started with writing about higher education for the Chronicle and the state of City College. § In Part 2, she explains what it has been like to report on the school during its accreditation crisis. The commission is expected to render a decision in July. By Gina Scialabba
THE GUARDSMAN / GSCIALABBA@THEGUARDSMAN.COM / @JOURNALIST_GINA
The Guardsman: Are you the only person at the Chronicle who covers higher education? NA: I am. TG: Is there a reason for that? NA: It is a budget thing. TG: You wrote an article on March 5, 2013 titled “CCSF Regulators: Sensible or ‘Gone Wild.’” In the article you question the ACCJC and some of their members’ qualifications. NA: Just to be clear, it’s not me questioning, but it’s the people I’ve interviewed that have raised questions. It is an important distinction. I’m just the reporter. TG: OK, as a reporter. Some critics have argued that article comes a bit too late and are wondering why you, representing the Chronicle, hadn’t looked into that issue earlier. NA: I am only one person. I tried to. I’ve done 33 or 34 stories on City College while covering the rest of my beat. Chronicle reporters also have to do other reporting as needed. There is a website that has all of my accreditation stories listed on them. If I go back and look at the order of them, all of them are important, but would I reorder them? Maybe? Would I not tell the story of how they got this way? Would I not tell the story of the achievements in December? Would I not tell the actions of the Board meeting that ended at two in the morning last October? There’s a lot of stuff if I was to take the ACCJC story and say, “OK, instead of that one there, I’ll put that one there.” The timing has to be right for all those other things as well. So sorry if it was a little late. I got to it at that point. TG: Were you getting any outside pressure asking why you hadn’t looked into the ACCJC before?
Did any readers write letters? NA: No, not really. I always welcome suggestions. I get story ideas from tips. If someone calls me and says, “I’ve got this great idea. Have you considered looking at this?” That’s helpful. But if someone calls afterwards and says, “You idiot. Why didn’t you write about this?” Well, too late now. TG: Several people have argued the Chronicle’s coverage is consistently negative and does not seek out the other side of the story. NA: If I were to go back and look at the coverage, I would see that I have talked to a lot of instructors. I talk to Alisa Messer frequently. I talk to students a lot. Could it be better? Absolutely. Could my coverage be better? Of course. But negative? You know the news is negative. That is for sure. This is painful, hard, sad stuff. The stories come off as painful, hard and sad because that’s the topic. I am not somebody who can write an opinion. If I were to write my opinion it would be “Go, Go, City College!” every step of the way because I love City College, but that’s not what I do. That’s not good journalism. That’s not helpful. If you want to throw darts at me, OK. That’s my job as the messenger. TG: Do you believe you seek out both sides of an issue in your coverage? NA: The way that I do it is, whatever the topic is, I’ll interview the people who know about that topic who are presenting whatever it is and get the opposing position. That’s the basic formula. If there is room, they restrict us on space, maybe I’ll get another opinion. And that’s the formula. Do I violate that formula? No. I think they have been fair. I welcome anyone to show me a specific example. I don’t have people pointing to specifics. I’m inclined to believe I’m being fair. TG: If you did get letters to the editor pointing out errors, would you address them? NA: I always do. A couple of
occasions there have been errors in the story. Just the other day, there was a fact missing in the story. Luckily we have the web. So I changed it. TG: There’s been criticism that the administration and Larry Kamer gives you press releases, facts and figures, and that you just report the information without doing any further investigation. NA: If the administration says this is their budget or this is how they feel, I say in the paper, “Peter Goldstein says this is the budget” or “Larry Kamer says this is happening at the university or the college.” I am not sure what investigation there is to do. If I attribute that, they have the right to give their opinions as well, but I always attribute it.
San Francisco Chronicle Higher Education Reporter Nanette Asimov. Photo by Sara Bloomberg/The Guardsman.
W ho’s Who’s your your source? source?
How often has Nanette Asimov used these sources in her stories about City College in the SF Chronicle from June 2012-May 2013? Board of Trustees
Former City College
I’ve been taking pains in this interview to say it’s not my opinion. I’m attributing it and that’s how I write my stories. People may disagree with the administration and that’s fine, but it’s not me.
CCSF Faculty
TG: We put out a question to our readers on Twitter and Facebook asking if they had any questions for you. One was whether or not you had any connection to the “for-profit” college system?
CCSF Adminstrator
NA: Yeah, I’ve written about the high debt load their students have. I can tell you stories about that. What exactly do you mean? TG: Do you have any relationship to them other than writing about them? Any financial ties? NA: This gives me an opportunity to say I am very proud as a journalist since 1984, I am completely independent. My job is to be a watchdog, not to be in anybody’s pocket. So no. Loud and clear. TG: Anything else you would like to leave us with? NA: Long live City College. Long live the Guardsman. Long live the Chronicle.
State Chancellor’s Office
Outside Organizations
CCSF Student Leaders
ACCJC administrators ACCJC’s 2012 report
CCSF Students
Other
CCSF Alumni
Former CCSF Employees
CCSF Classified Staff 0
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Source: http://www.sfgate.com/citycollegeofsfaccreditation/ Infographic by Dan Harrington, Maddeline Collins, Cecilia Ren and Sara Bloomberg
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YOUTUBE.COM/BLOOMREPORTS
6 | THE GUARDSMAN & THEGUARDSMAN.COM | MAY 8-MAY 24, 2013
culture
EVENTS CALENDAR
MAY 9
Blood Drive - The AGS Honor Society is taking sign ups for their blood drive in Ram Plaza on Ocean campus from 10 a.m2:30 p.m. For more information email ccsflife@mail.ccsf.edu. MAY 10 Queer Prom - Dance hosted by the Queer Alliance Club. Bungalow 201. Ocean campus, 6-9 p.m. For more information email ccsflife@mail.ccsf.edu. MAY 14 Jazz Concert - Concert hosted by the City College music department. Special guest Charles
Hamilton on trombone. Diego Rivera Theater. Ocean campus, 8-10 p.m. For more information call 415-239-3580 or email slyons@ccsf.edu. MAY 18
Swing Dance - End of the semester bash hosted by The Swing City Dancers. Wellness Center, Rooms 301 and 310. Ocean campus 8-10:30 p.m. Swing dance lesson at 7 p.m. $10 admission. For more information email swingcitydancers@ gmail.com MAY 24 Graduation - Second annual Lavender Graduation hosted by
the LGBT and Queer Alliance. Diego Rivera Theater. Ocean campus, 5 p.m. Event registration is May 12 in the Queer Resource Center. Bungalow 201. Ocean campus. For more information contact 415-452-5723 or email lavendergraduation.ccsf@ gmail.com. MAY 25 Interview Workshop - Hosted by the San Francisco Main Branch Library. Workshop focuses on learning to succeed in job interviews. 100 Larkin Street. 10 a.m-12 p.m. Free admission. For more information contact 415-557-4277.
Have Your Say:
How do you pay for school and living expenses? Victor Lee, 20, Business
“I work and get Financial Aid. It covers my tuition and I cover the rest.�
Francesca Malig, 19, Fashion Design
“I use to have the EOP but I didn’t apply this year. I applied for Financial Aid for next year but my parents cover most of it.�
Viviana Maldonado, 20, Graphic Design
“Right now I’m paying it out of pocket and I work as the Manager at Chipotle. I’ve set up Financial Aid for next semester but my parents are helping me out. Other than that I pay everything myself.�
David Tiguila, 32, Buisness Management “I try to be a Student Assistant when I can, any hours that are available. Financial Aid basically.
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I try to make it one class at a time, one Ramen noodle at a time.�
Photos and reporting by Santiago Mejia/The Guardsman
THE GUARDSMAN & THEGUARDSMAN.COM | MAY 8-MAY 24, 2013 | 7
The Chutney Express A column about my travels through India: The final chapter By Mckenna Toston
Clockwise from upper left: Dorothee, a German traveler, checks her camera for photos of the rice fields in Hampi. India’s rice fields are the fourth largest exporter of rice in the world. February 2013. Photo by Mckenna Toston; Sonu and Mckenna at Kumbh Mela, Allahabad, staying close for warmth after taking a dip in the 50 degree river. March 2013. Photo courtesy of Mckenna Toston; Cows take a meal break inside Meenakshi Amman Temple, Madurai. Cows are considered sacred in Hinduism. February 2013. Photos by Mckenna Toston/The Guardsman
San Francisco is like a ghost town. Dreary and desolate. I feel like I’m in a post-apocalyptic city where nobody knows each other. Why are the streets so empty? How can a bus filled with people be so silent? Why is prolonged eye contact socially unacceptable? How come starting friendly conversation is like pulling teeth? Nothing makes sense here. In India, I was everyone’s sister, or didi. I never needed to knock or ask permission to enter. I felt the embrace of family wherever I went, and it filled my heart with an indescribable warmth. It’s like we’re afraid of each other here, or have stiff necks and don’t feel like talking. Or maybe we just don’t get enough sun. Whatever it is, I don’t like it. I want the warmth back. The communion and vitality. I want to bump shoulders with strangers and not need to apologize. But if India taught me anything, it’s to make the most of what I have. And right now, in addition to depression, I have infinite opportunities. And the determination to seize them. While it’s certainly tempting to go back to Kolkata, marry Sonu, and live the rest of my life in India. I have to remember that I’m being idealistic. I know
I wouldn’t be happy. At least not for long. I’ve decided to suppress my desire to go back, in hopes that it will eventually fade. I’m ready to get serious about school and start working toward graduation. India was certainly an educational experience, especially for an aspiring journalist, but it didn’t get me much closer to a degree. School will give me the skills necessary to accurately report spot news. The skills I need to be a good reporter—the voice of the otherwise voiceless. I recently had the opportunity to interview LA Times crisis reporter Mark Magnier. He told me of a time he slept under bridges in Iraq during the violent reign of Saddam Hussein--all in the name of the news. Call me crazy, but there’s nothing else I’d rather be doing. Next time I travel, it will be to a war zone. I’ve dreamt of being a war reporter for years, and I’m ready to make it happen. I don’t want to waste any more time. It will take an immense amount of courage and drive. But after tackling a three-month solo trip to India--I know I can do anything.
Movie Review: “Iron Man”
This comic book movie is a marvel By Gina Scialabba
THE GUARDSMAN / GSCIALABBA@THEGUARDSMAN.COM / @JOURNALIST_GINA
I’ll preface this review with a disclaimer: I am a HUGE comic book fan. From reruns of the 1960’s “Batman and Robin” series to the modern day “Man of Steel,” set for release this summer, I’m giddy with excitement at the idea of superheroes, superpowers and good triumphing over evil. Having said that, I’ll attempt to be as neutral as possible… but I make no promises. Iron Man 3 is one of the coolest comic book movies ever made. Just when I thought the Marvel Cinematic Universe (yes, that’s the branding) couldn’t get any better, they bring us this actionpacked, plot driven, can’t-takeyour eyes off the screen summer blockbuster. I loved Thor. Loved Hulk. Loved The Avengers. But Iron Man enraptures me. There are many praiseworthy aspects of this film: plot, script and directing are top-notch. Shane Black (Lethal Weapon,
The Last Boy Scout, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang) directs flawlessly. It’s certainly an “action movie,” but the action sequences aren’t long and drawn out. They are short and calculated. When a movie, such as “Transformers,” is heavy on the “wow” special effects and short on dialogue, it becomes overbearing and hollow. I stop caring what is happening on screen and start looking at my watch. Iron Man 3 has none of these problems. I was riveted from the opening credits. It’s Robert Downey Jr. who really steals the show. He is brilliant, funny, and downright likeable as Tony Stark. His performance delivers the character like never before, providing multifaceted feelings and humor all wrapped up in our tormented hero. No other actor could fill his shoes. He is Iron Man. Period. And our hero is in for the fight of his life against one of the most eclectic and sinister villains to date: the evil “Mandarin,” a cross between Genghis Khan and
Osama bin Laden. The Mandarin vs. Iron Man feud has a long backstory in the Marvel world, but you needn’t know it to appreciate Ben Kingsley’s portrayal of the former. The Mandarin wants to rule the world, and he’ll resort to brutal acts of terrorism to do so. His casualties include women and children. He is stealthy and might just be unstoppable. Might. There’s a plot twist here, but I won’t ruin it. Tony Stark is definitely the superhero for the task, but he is afflicted with a very humanizing condition: post-traumatic stress disorder, a remnant from his last major battle in The Avengers film when he saved New York City from extraterrestrial beings. Hey, even superheroes need a little therapy. I also loved Gwyneth Paltrow as Pepper Potts, Tony Stark’s love interest. She has a much bigger role than the previous two installments. And she has rock hard abs she displays toward the end of the movie. This is the third and final
installation of the Iron man trilogy, but certainly not the last we will see of the Marvel heroes. Thor: The Dark World releases on November 8, 2013, Captain America: The Winter Soldier on April 4, 2014, and Guardians of the Galaxy on August 1, 2014. It concludes with The Avengers 2 on May 1, 2015. But for now, grab those 3-D glasses and watch Iron Man save the world one more time.
Illustration of Iron Man by Anthony Mata/The Guardsman
If you go... Running Time: 130 Minutes
Release Date: May 3, 2013
Genre: Action/Adventure/ SC-FI
Rating: PG-13 Directed by: Shane Black
Stars: Robert Downey Jr. Gwyneth Paltrow Don Cheadle Ben Kingsley Guy Pearce
8 | THE GUARDSMAN & THEGUARDSMAN.COM | MAY 8-MAY 24, 2013
culture
Sights and Sounds:
Will our Chinatown North Beach center survive accreditation?
SPERM DONORS HIGH PAY, Plus Bonus $100 per 15-30 minute visit Potrero Hill, San Francisco Guardsman  Easy Parking and Public Transit Access Leland  Yoshitsu  -  Minor  Graphic  Adjustment Apply online at www.Pacrepro.com FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTING FEDERAL CRIMES (for 29 years)?
by Leland Yoshitsu -     1.  You  are  purchasing  an  eBook  (or  paperback)  that  contains  a  collection  of  historic  and  legal  documents  which  PROVES  THE  FACT  that  the  US  Federal  Government  and  a  major  American  Corporation,  NBC,  have  COMMITTED  A  NUMBER  OF  CRIMES  AGAINST  A  US  CITIZEN,  Leland  Yoshitsu,  to  secretly  and  intentionally  DEFRAUD  him  from  receiving  and  obtaining  TRUTH  AND  JUSTICE.
NBC
People come and go from City College’s new Chinatown/North Beach campus at Kearny and Washington streets in San Francisco on Aug. 28, 2012. The site opened in July 2012 for summer session and an open house was held on Sept. 21, 2013. Photo by Sara Bloomberg/The Guardsman
STOLEN MAIL, CONSPIRACY, After MAIL FRAUD opening in
4.  Has  President  Obama,  as  the  Head  of  Law  Enforcement  in  the  US  Federal  Government,“FAITHFULLY  EXECUTED�  THE  LAWS  for  TRUTH,  JUSTICE,  and  “EQUAL  PROTECTION�? 5.  Can  President  Obama  “PRESERVE,  PROTECT,  AND  DEFEND�  the  US  Constitution  (Supreme  Law  of  the  Land)  against  Corporate  America  (NBC)? see:  www.lelandyoshitsu.com  &  facebook.com/leland.yoshitsu
Now is the time.
IMAGE: CHRISTY BATTA, M.F.A., GRAPHIC DESIGN, 2011, SEVERNA PARK, MARYLAND
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2012, its fate rests in the commission’s hands By Alex Reyes
THE GUARDSMAN / AREYES@THEGUARDSMAN.COM / @SFBREAKINGNEWS
Could this be the last issue of The Guardsman ever published? Normally I don’t engage in catastrophic thinking, but this is the last issue of the semester, and the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges releases its verdict in July on the fate of City College. What if the commission gives a thumbs down? The term “existential threat� is so overused on cable news and Sunday morning talk shows that it’s given the concept a bad name. It seems to apply in this case, though. City College’s 14-story Chinatown/North Beach center opened in September 2012. While declaring the new building to be “a smart addition to the landscape,� San Francisco Chronicle architecture writer John King also noted that, “the first meeting held by trustees in a companion four-story building included a vote to bring in a state trustee to oversee [City College’s] operations.� “In this context,� King wrote, “it is difficult not to view the $138 million campus as an albatross.� It would be tragic indeed if the Chinatown/North Beach “vertical campus� were to close.
As the website of EHDD, one of the building’s architects, puts it, “The project is a result of over 30 years of grassroots community activism to bring a college campus to a traditionally under-served community. The design process required 10 years of stakeholder buy-in from wide ranging interests such as the San Francisco political community, historic preservationists, and educators.â€? A wall display on the ground floor features a multitude of donors who contributed to the development of the Chinatown/ North Beach center. The names of Lillie Wong, who donated over $250,000, and the Robert Joseph Louie Memorial Fund, which contributed between $50,000 and $249,999, are prominently displayed on the first of four panels. Many Chinatown benevolent associations also contributed, as did businesses, labor unions and an unknown number of “Anonymousâ€? donors. Former City College Chancellor Don Q. Griffin’s name is displayed, as is San Francisco Board of Supervisors President David Chiu’s. At the bottom of the fourth panel, which devotes over 130 lines to $1000 contributors, the City and County of San Francisco thanks its “residents and voters [‌] for their support in bringing to reality the long-held dream of a permanent home for the Chinatown/North Beach Campus.â€? Over 30 years of grassroots activism, for a City College campus that served as such for just two semesters? City College has been in business since 1935. The school employs thousands of people and educates tens
of thousands each year. Many people who were trained at the school now work and have worked in San Francisco as firefighters, police officers, artists, chefs, journalists and nurses. In addition to the vital role it plays in San Francisco’s economy, the public education mission of a
The term “existential threat� is so overused but it seems to apply in this case. vibrant City College well represents the generous and humane spirit of the City and County’s namesake. The decades-long community spirit that led to the opening of the Chinatown/North Beach center less than a year ago is another example of the best San Francisco has to offer. Windows face in all directions on the top 14th floor of Chinatown/North Beach. The view to the north is dominated by Telegraph Hill and the lovely Coit Tower. Clothes hang below on lines strung on a rooftop at the corner of Kearny and Jackson Streets. Rooftop and other high gardens abound. The blue of the bay and the brown hills of Marin tantalize the senses. Who will look from these windows in the future?
THE GUARDSMAN & THEGUARDSMAN.COM | MAY 8-MAY 24, 2013 | 9
Letters to the editor
Cartoon Corner by Anthony Mata
opinion
Letters to the editor must be under 250 words and may be edited for content. Send letters to: editor@theguardsman.com
Cartoon was insensitive Though I assume Anthony Mata intended the cartoon “Rape Culture 101” (April 24-May 7, 2013) as a critique of alcohol facilitated rape, its effect was the opposite. By drawing a circle around the woman’s mouth next to the words “insert here” and a glass labeled “beer” in a nearby man’s hand, Mata left many viewers appalled. Most rapes occur in the 16-24 yearold age range where drinking has been involved. With the recent suicides by young women violated while unconscious due to alcohol intake and then humiliated via social media, this cartoon is in poor taste. No matter how much someone has been drinking, rape is always the fault of the perpetrator, never the victim. Mata’s cartoon does not make that clear. In “A Modest Proposal”— classic satire—Jonathan Swift does make it clear that he does not really believe the Irish should eat their children as a way to deal with poverty when he points to the real culprit: “I grant this food may be somewhat dear, and therefore very proper for Landlords, who as they have already devoured most of the Parents, seem to have the best Title to the Children.” The day after this issue of The Guardsman appeared, Project SURVIVE, the campus sexual violence prevention program, presented “Drawing the Shades,” a play about four rape survivors. At the last performance, a woman in the audience showed me the cartoon. She and everyone else who have brought it to my attention deserve an apology. Sincerely, Leslie Simon Project SURVIVE Coordinator Cartoon had no value I found the Cartoon Corner “Rape Culture 101:” very disturbing, without redeeming value. Perhaps if it had been included in some context, i.e. accompanied by an article educating students about the prevention and consequences of crimes like the rape case in Saratoga, it MAY have had some benefit. However, being presented without context, it seems only to
have shock value, and perhaps even been sickly titillating to some people. Prior to publication, was there any costs/benefits discussion about including the cartoon? I’d be interested in hearing about concerns you may have had. Please consider exercising greater sensitivity in future choices. Karin Hu Behavioral Science Dept. Editor’s response: It’s a fair criticism that the cartoon wasn’t as clear as it should have been but it was in no way a satirical piece and cannot be compared to Jonathan Swift’s “A Modest Proposal.” It was in no way was blaming the victim. It was about consent (rather, that the inability to consent equals no consent) and the role alcohol plays when men take advantage of young women. We most definitely talked about the cartoon prior to publication. We talked about whether the cartoon was too bold and decided that it wasn’t. Editorial cartoons are meant to be provocative, as evidenced by the recent cartoon published by the Sacramento Bee that depicts Texas Governor Rick Perry’s anti-tax and anti-regulation policies in a negative light. Perry now wants an apology and the artists has defended the merits of his cartoon. In our March 20 issue, we published an editorial denouncing rape culture. I encourage everyone to re-read it. We also recognize that the page the cartoon ran on should have been labeled as “Opinions” and not “Culture” and we apologize for any confusion that may have caused.
The editorial cartoon by Anthony Mata that ran in Vol. 155, Issue 7
Corrections: In Vol. 155, Issue 7, we incorrectly reported that a San Francisco police officer shot suspect, Dave Wilkerson, 60, twice in the upper body. The suspect was shot by an officer once and the location of the wound was not mentioned. Also, no attribution was given to the San Francisco Chronicle for some of the information reported. We regret the errors. Find a mistake? Let us know! Email: editor@theguardsman.com
Editor’s Note
It’s time to bury theory of ‘starving the beast’ City College was slapped with the threat of closure last July, in large part because it drained its reserves in an attempt to maintain classes, jobs and support services at a level that the San Francisco community needs. Although not an example of deficit spending, City College is a public institution that relies heavily on public funding. In November 2012, San Francisco voters proved that City College is worth every penny when they approved Proposition A, which will bring the school an estimated $16 million annually for seven years. Is City College too big to fail? This is the wrong question. Instead we should ask, “Why should we save City College?” It’s too important for poor and working class people who might not otherwise have access to more expensive universities, and it’s too important for the businesses who hire entire workforces trained at the school. “Every public education institution shouldn’t be too big to fail,” AFT 2121 President Alisa Messer told the Guardsman in February. “It’s not because it’s too big, but because it’s too important to lose.” She’s right. California’s community colleges are too important to lose but if the state doesn’t step it up in terms of funding, these public institutions will disappear. Governor Brown’s Proposition 30 guarantees much needed additional funding for public
schools—both K-12 and higher education institutions—for eight years. The state’s 112 community colleges expect to receive $200 million in the first year. Although the funding is desperately needed, what will happen in eight years—or seven in the case of Prop A—when these laws expire? Students, teachers, workers, administrators and community members will have to fight for more funding or face severe budget cuts. In 1978, Alan Greenspan articulated the idea that “starving the beast”—cutting taxes to reduce the amount of revenue available — will eliminate so-called excessive government spending through the powers of free market forces. Californians passed Proposition 13 that same year. It changed the way public education was funded by capping property tax rates and removing local control over certain funding decisions. Ronald Reagan applied the theory on a national level during the 1980s and fiscal conservatives have relied on it ever since. “Starving the beast” doesn’t work. It hasn’t worked for Jamaica since the 1970s—although neocolonialism is also to blame for the country’s social and economic problems. It’s not working for Spain, Greece, Britain, Ireland or the United States, either—to name a few countries that have been struggling with weak economies over the past several years. Our national economy has
been picking up and unemployment is steadily decreasing despite efforts by the Republican party to derail sensible economic policies. In April, a team of researchers at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst discovered major errors in a 2010 study that has been used by pro-austerity evangelists as a justification for their gospel. The 2010 study claimed that countries with public debt exceeding 90 percent of their gross domestic product experience declining economic growth, which implies that reducing national deficits by cutting expenditures would reverse that trend. However, when researchers in Massachusetts corrected the original errors, they discovered that the data told a different story. Instead of hindering growth, deficit spending actually propelled growth. Spending on “jobs now [and] deficits later was and is the right strategy. Unfortunately, it’s a strategy that has been abandoned in the face of phantom risks and delusional hopes,” New York Times columnist Paul Krugman wrote in 2011. It seems we’re coming full circle from the days of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. He knew that spending funds on public programs was an important part of stimulating the economy during the Great Depression. As the economy slowly improves, let’s not forget these lessons from history.
10 | THE GUARDSMAN & THEGUARDSMAN.COM | MAY 8-MAY 24, 2013
opinion
Eliminating guns won’t end violence We live in a violent society. There is no way around it. Violence is always around the corner, and it makes no difference who any of us are; violence does not show prejudice. Everyone has problems. Everyone has issues. And sometimes everyone is too preoccupied with their own lives (who can blame them?) to realize or care about other things going on around them. With Washington filled with big money gun lobbyists, Second Amendment supporters on one side and anti-gun lawmakers on the other, our gun dilemma does not seem to be improving or going away anytime soon. Of course no one wants bad guys and criminals with guns, but taking guns away from law abiding citizens does not appear to be the answer. Criminals will always have guns and any gun grabs won’t change that. Gun violence is definitely out of hand, but we live in a violent society, and disarming citizens won’t prevent violence. As a country we have been associated with violence from the beginning. As the country progressed, so did its violence. With every gun tragedy that occurs we are led to believe that now is the time for a change. Kids get put in their Sunday’s best and get paraded out to stand behind the president as he signs gun control measures that will help curb gun violence. This makes for great public relations rhetoric, but actual solutions to the problems are slim. As a society we would be fools to believe that we can get rid of all guns. If we could turn society into this fairy tale land with no guns, everything would still not be okay. People would still have problems with each other, and people would still not be able to get along. Sociopaths, murderers and deranged lunatics would still exist. We’ve all seen the militarization of police forces. It wasn’t that long ago that protesters in both Oakland and San Francisco were met with armored vehicles, tear gas and rubber bullets, and that’s because people weren’t actually all that angry. My imagination runs rampant when I think of how the forces that are supposed to serve and protect the people might act if people take to the streets with do-or-die issues. Rest assured that if any type
of civic unrest does occur our fine government is more than well stocked to defend itself against any kind of insurgence. The Associated Press reported that Homeland Security wanted to purchase 1.6 billion rounds of ammunition over the next few years. If you let Homeland Security explain things, they get a better deal if they buy in bulk. Whether or not that is the case depends on whom you ask, but society has become less trustworthy of our government, and they’ve shown this by hoarding guns and ammunition themselves. This has led to shortages of both guns and ammunition throughout the nation. With legislation aimed at banning certain weapons, it seems that society has decided to arm itself while they can still do it legally. There are so many other problems that can and should be addressed long before the impossible task of removing guns from society as a whole is undertaken. There is little that members of society can do. Protesters will likely be met with force once the establishment decides they’ve had enough. And leaving our future in the hands of lawmakers is exactly what got us into our current situation. Do your own research and find out what all sides are saying, and attempt to read in between all the lines, not just the ones that you may or may not side with. There is no way to predict the future. As grim as it may seem, with crime and violence and corporate corruption and takeovers, we should always look for a light at the end of the tunnel, even if that light is a figment of your imagination while you’re locked up in some detention center after being deemed a threat to society. We can’t live in fear. We have to live as normal as possible, yet we must remain informed of things, of all things. It’s way too easy to get wrapped up in the pursuit of personal accomplishments and self-satisfying projects, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that, but we must all make an effort to know as much about the events going on around us, especially the ones that may play direct roles in affecting us.
--Patrick Tamayo Copy Chief The Guardsman
THE GUARDSMAN & THEGUARDSMAN.COM | APRIL 24-MAY 7, 2013 |11
sports
Softball
Star player realizes diamond dream Lefthanded shortstop boosts image of program By Dan Harrington
THE GUARDSMAN / DHARRINGTON@THEGUARDSMAN.COM @SFBREAKINGNEWS
To some degree, assembling a team in any sport is like putting together a jigsaw puzzle. Coaches must understand the characteristics of the players and forecast how the players will work as a unit. For the City College softball team, the unique piece of the 2013 puzzle came in the form of a left-handed shortstop, a rarity on the diamond. The placement of Cristina Menjivar at the critical position made it possible for other players to link around her to form a respectable season for the Rams (10-19 overall). “Cristina Menjivar is the best softball player I have ever had at City College,” head coach Jack McGuire said. “Nobody hit the ball like she hits the ball.” Menjivar not only led her team and conference but almost the entire state with a .543 batting average. She had more hits than all but two California players, and only struck out once the entire season. For this and her 43 RBIs, seven home runs and all-around play on the field, Menjivar was named to the Coast Conference North Division First Team in its postseason awards. The statistics show her capabilities in many ways, but the Rams home field without normal fences took even loftier numbers from Menjivar. Outfielders would often back away an extra 40 feet to grab some deep shots off Menjivar’s bat, or keep the hits in front of them. “In a 200-foot fenced park, she could have probably 15 home runs. They caught a lot of balls playing back where a fence might have been,” McGuire said. “She
put on some shows at batting practice, too. I mean a .979 slugging [percentage], it’s unbelievable.” A slugging percentage takes the total bases and divides them by official at-bats. A slugging percentage of .500 is considered proficient, and .979 for a season is off the charts. Menjivar referred to her defensive role at shortstop and the escalating effects of playing there. “I have so much fire in me knowing I get to play the position of my dreams,” Menjivar said. “When you do well on the field it transfers to your hitting and vice versa.”
Breaking Traditions
Menjivar played first baseman and outfielder at Archbishop Mitty High School, and had the same roles at San Jose State University in limited time. But her desire to play a position not natural for a left-handed thrower could not be matched on those teams. “They had 30 plus players, and it was hard to get playing time,” Menjivar said. “There were girls just as talented if not better.” Menjivar came to City College as what is known as a “Division I bounce-back,” or someone who goes to a junior college after a year
“I like to prove people wrong when they say a lefty can’t play shortstop.” --Cristina Menjivar
on a four-year college team. “Growing up, [MLB shortstops] Derek Jeter and Omar Vizquel were my favorite players,” Menjivar said. “When you’re lefthanded, you always hear you can’t do it. I like to prove people wrong when they say a lefty can’t play shortstop. I finally got the chance.” City College assistants initially took the conventional view, as well.
“Shortstop is traditionally a right-handed thrower’s position with the footwork and defensive maneuvers. Routine plays for a ‘righty’ are not often there for a ‘lefty’,” assistant coach Scott Peradotto said. “She is proficient in her craft. She became a left-handed shortstop, and that’s rare – against my better judgment. With her athletic ability, she proved she could handle it.” The cordial head coach was straightforward about Menjivar. “She was our best player, period,” McGuire said. With Menjivar at short, freshman and would-be middle infielder Kaitlin Blando could bolster the team with a vacancy at catcher, and other players could play in roles more suited to their strengths. “I was real excited to go behind the plate and catch,” Blando, who may take over for Menjivar in 2014, said. “Cristina did a great job. Cristina and our second baseman Lauren Duff were both willing to dive and get dirty to make a play and stop a ball from getting to the outfield. They were a good match out there.” Fellow sophomore Jamie Hom played a lot of shortstop for the Rams in 2012. When Menjivar got the nod Hom roved to the outfield then finished the year holding down third base next to her old spot. Hom knew her new role was demanding, but thought Menjivar led the team by example. “I think with her background, especially coming over from San Jose, she was already a huge player,” Hom said. “She would give people tips on getting to the bags, covering bases. I kind of liked it, having Cristina there at short.” Menjivar’s experience and high expectations set a new standard for all players, including teammates who already had memories of success in high school, like Hom from San Francisco’s George Washington. “I don’t think Cristina felt pressure from the team,” Hom said. “From her own past experiences she made it better for the rest of us.” With the changes, Hom got the chance to play the same position her mother had played at third base, so the puzzle pieces worked out for her, as well. “In the end we found a better combination of where everyone was supposed to be,” Hom said. For her efforts at City College, Menjivar earned the softball
team’s Chris Burgart Award for “excellence in leadership, sportsmanship, and athletic achievement.” Rams coaches presented Menjivar the award at the team dinner on May 3. A lot of the inspiration Menjivar provided to teammates was one-on-one, but the sounds she made with the bat on ball also impressed. “At one of our first batting practices for City this year, I remember Cristina hit maybe five or six pitches,” Hom said. “We hear a strange ding, and half of the bat is ripped off. She goes to the coach, and calmly says, ‘Coach I broke this bat.’ Who goes and breaks a metal bat?”
Academic Future
While she proved the naysayers wrong by making more than routine plays on defense, Menjivar also sought to show the value of instruction at City College. “My dad’s always talking about going to three great colleges. City, San Francisco State and USF. He always says the best teachers he ever had were here,” Menjivar said, shining light on her dad’s encouragement to attend courses at City College when she decided to transfer.
She even arranged to meet some of her father’s instructors at Ocean campus even if she wasn’t in their classes. Cristina and her younger brother David (who volunteered as part-time batboy for the Rams) hold a sense of duty regarding academic and athletic performance. “I really need to focus on school,” Menjivar said. “That’s the most important thing.” She may include a year of grad school as part of her four years of athletic eligibility, with the demands she will face in labs and classrooms ahead. Menjivar is deciding what her next stop is. With her concern for the health of people and animals and her mother’s vocation as a nurse, a natural path might be veterinary medicine, pharmaceutical studies or nursing. With one season at San Jose State coupled with her on-field performance at City College, Menjivar knows she has more to contribute at a field to be determined. “I have two years remaining and I’m not going to let them go to waste,” Menjivar said. “I will play again. I’m not done.”
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