The Guardsman, Vol. 156, Issue 3. City College of San Francisco

CITY COLLEGE OF SAN FRANCISCO | SINCE 1935 | THEGUARDSMAN.COM | @SFBREAKINGNEWS | FREE

Pop Blues

Punk

Singing

Hip Hop

Electric

Drums

Classical

Music

Country

Acoustic

Guitar

Piano

Rock ‘n Roll

VOL. 156, ISSUE 3, SEPT. 18-OCT. 1, 2013

Reggae

R&B

Rap

Gospel

performing

stage

full-house

tragedy

Ballet

rehearseal

lights

acting

bachata

tango Ballroom

Comedy

dance

Performing Arts Jazz Center ?

Modern theatre

Hanging onto the dream: The plan to construct the City College Performing Arts Center is going to be put on hold indefinitely because of a shortage of funds.

The building was supposed to be completed in 2010 along with the Multi-Use Building, but it was pushed back when funding ran out.

Story by Jackson Ly. Page 3

4

SYRIA: San Francisco reacts

6

PHOTO STORY: CCSF alumnus shines during fashion week

8

MOVIE PREVIEW: “Saltwater” debuts

10

OPINION: Even when slurs gain acceptance, they’re harmful

2 | THE GUARDSMAN & THEGUARDSMAN.COM | SEPT. 18-OCT. 1, 2013

news

Editor-in-Chief Madeline Collins Advertising Mangager Lucas Almeida Photo Editor Juan Pardo Culture Editor Lavinia Pisani Design Director Sara Bloomberg Online Content Manager Santiago Mejia Sports Editor Alexander Tidd Copy Chief Patrick Tamayo Copy Editors Dalton Amador Illustrator Anthony Mata Staff Writers Gina Scialabba Alex Lamp Dan Harrington Jackson Ly Tim Maguire Patrick Cochran Daniel Galloway Carlos DaSilva Sujey Ruiz Evan Johnson Samantha Dennis Calindra Revier Staff Photographers Ekevara Kitpowsong Quintin Chisolm Michelle Arias 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

World Briefs Sanaa, Yemen

An 8-year-old died from internal injuries believed to have been caused by sexual intercourse that occurred on her wedding night. The girl was married off to a 40-year-old man. Officials have denied the story, and locals have said they have been directed to stop talking to the media about the case. Child marriage is legal in Yemen, despite its parliament’s attempt to raise the marriage age for girls to 17. Conservative members argued that Islamic law does not impose a minimum age for marriage. Human Rights Watch, which dedicates itself to defending and protecting human rights, has said that approximately 14 percent of Yemeni girls are married before the age of 15.

(CNN)

Zamboanga, Philippines

Army troops and special police in the Philippines have killed or captured almost 100

rebels. Members of the Moro National Liberation Front have been holding an undetermined amount of hostages in the southern Philippines. The rebels arrived by boat on Sept. 9 to march and hoist their flag at city hall. In the process they took over a hundred hostages and used them as human shields. Government officials initially attempted to negotiate with the rebels but chose to attack them after they began to burn houses and wounded Red Cross workers with mortar rounds.

More than 67,000 residents have been uprooted by the violence. (Al Jazeera)

Zanzibar, Tanzania

Acid attacks continue on the island of Zanzibar. A Catholic priest was the victim of the third such attack in two months, as he walked out of an internet café. In August two 18-year-olds from Britain had acid thrown in their faces by two assailants on a

College Briefs Fraud

Three arrests were made in Oakland on Sept. 11 for conspiracy to commit financial aid fraud by signing up “straw students” at local colleges, including City College, with no intention of using the money for educational purposes.

The four suspects found

people to serve as “straw students.”

They did not plan on attending the schools to which they were applying to.

They applied for and received federal aid and student loans.

The suspects face up to five years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000 for financial aid fraud and for each count of wire

motorcycle. In July a foreign businessman was hurt after a similar acid attack. Officials worry that the attacks could hurt tourism of the popular tourist destination.

The government is considering overseeing the purchasing of acid.

(CNN)

Bogata, Colombia

A police raid on a crowded bar resulted in the deaths of six people from suffocation or being crushed as patrons attempted to flee the establishment. A crowd of over 100 people dispersed frantically as police used pepper gas as they rushed the bar. Police officials said the “Night Club” bar has been shut down four times before for “bad behavior.” Witnesses accused police of using excessive force, and the bar owner said that gas was used after police were unable to get inside because of locked doors. Two police officers were suspended after the incident.

(BBC)

Montreal, Canada

The province of Quebec is proposing that all government employees be banned from wearing “conspicuous” religious symbols. This would include fraud they face a maximum of 20 years. (SF Examiner)

Accreditation

A clause in the Accrediting Commission of Community and Junior Colleges bylaws may allow their decision to revoke City College’s accreditation to be reviewed.

When City College submitted a request for a review on the commission’s decision, they were under the impression that the request would only be reviewed if they “submitted erroneous information, that commission evalua-

hijabs, turbans, and large crosses. Teachers, doctors and police would all be included in the ban.

The proposal brought out more than 40,000 people to demonstrate against it. Although politicians have come out against the proposal, polls indicate that the majority of Quebecers are in favor of it. The separatist Parti Quebecois is behind the proposal in an attempt to implement “common rules and values” for a population they claim has become “more and more multicultural.” (Al Jazeera)

Lima, Peru

Two women were arrested in Peru after being found carrying 24 pounds of cocaine while trying to board a flight bound for Spain.

Both women claimed to have been kidnapped while working in Ibiza and eventually sent to Peru via Majorca, a small Mediterranean island. They face up to 25 years in prison but by pleading guilty could be sentenced to approximately six years. One of the two women is prepared to enter a guilty plea for the possession charge but continues to say she was forced into smuggling the drugs. (BBC)

tors made errors or displayed bias or prejudice, or that the commission’s final ruling was not supported by the evidence,” according to an article from the SF Examiner.

If the commission does not review the ruling as City College requested, a new appeal can be filed presenting new evidence.

If the review of new evidence is also denied the appeal hearing would be postponed until it can be reviewed by a new committee. The new committee will either reverse the original sanction, otherwise the original appeal would continue. (San Jose Mercury News)

THE GUARDSMAN & THEGUARDSMAN.COM | SEPT. 18-OCT. 1, 2013 | 3

news

Cover story

Arts complex has a questionable future

Project put on hold due to budget issues

By Jackson Ly

@lyjacks jly@theguardsman.com

The Guardsman Special Trustee Robert Agrella announced on Sept. 6 to indefinitely delay the construction of the City College Performing Arts Center, a three theater facility costing $94.3 million to $96.1 million.

For a campus with approximately 4,500 music and theater students, it lacks professional production equipment, practice rooms and has an incomplete auditorium.

The decision puts a hold on the school’s programs.

“We can’t expand the program into job training opportunities,” Board of Trustees President John Rizzo said. “The theater we have was always inadequate from the start. It’s old and it’s showing its age.”

The new center would have included a 600-seat theater, 200-seat dance studio theater, 150-seat recital hall, three large rooms that fit 150-200 people and six large rentable spaces.

The center would have allowed students to be trained in areas of live performance, stage production and lighting, skills that Rizzo said employers in the bay area are looking for.

The City College Music and Theater Departments have set up a petition asking the California State Legislature for a one-year extension on $38 million in state bond funding and calls for Agrella to reverse his decision.

Exaggerated Operational costs

The college already has $88 million available funds for the project, $50 million of which comes from bond funds and $38.1 million coming from state capital funds voted for by San Francisco taxpayers. However, the school is still short $5.5 million to $7.3 million.

Agrella said that the building’s annual operational costs are estimated to be $2 million, which includes the need for additional certificated and classified staff, and about $350,000 for utilities, maintenance and repairs.

“We already have classified people running that theater [Diego Rivera Theatre]. It’s not

an additional expense. We have all the staff,” Music Department Chair Madeline Mueller said.

“We’re moving across the street.

The only new cost is custodians.”

She said that architects working on the Performing Arts Center can use “value-engineering” to remove features from the building to reduce building costs, so the additional $5 million in cost is “doable.”

Mueller said the $350,000 in utility costs should be much less than what Agrella presented.

“Part of the $20 million already spent on the [Performing Arts Center] involves the hundred plus geothermal wells dug under the reservoir parking area and the conversion rooms repositioned under the [Multi-Use Building],” Mueller wrote in a July 2013 letter to the school.

According to an article by GreenSource, the Multi-Use Building’s geothermal-based heating and cooling system is predicted to save 40 percent more energy than a typical new building and 70 percent more energy than older California community college facilities. Since the MultiUse Building’s opening in August 2010, it has been only 6 percent short of its predicted goal.

The first five months of MultiUse Building’s utility bills showed over 40 percent in reductions of its energy consumption compared to a building designed to code, according to Interface Engineering, the team that designed the ventilation system and a member of U.S. Green Building Council.

The Multi-Use Buildings’ hydronic system was designed to supply chilled and hot water for five additional buildings, according to a December 2011 article by ENR California. Had the center been built according to plan, it would have shared the same ener-

Top: A design of the proposed City College Performing Arts Center. Bottom: A dedign of the 600 seat theater located inside of the proposed City College Performing Arts Center. Images and designs by LMN/TEF and Studio 216

“Part of the $20 million already spent... involves the hundred plus geothermal wells dug under the resevoir.”

--Madeline Mueller, Music department chair gy-saving hydronic system.

A traditional HVAC system circulates cool and warm air around a building, but a hydronic system circulates chilled and hot water through radiant floor heating and cooling.

Using a hydronic system requires half the horsepower to circulate air, two-thirds less construction materials and onefourth the total energy usage than a HVAC system, according to a study done by Taco, an industry leader in hydronic systems.

The center also has the potential to bring in $100,000 in by renting it out to musicians, students, faculty, high schools and film festivals.

“It’s going to keep generations of students in SF,” Mueller said.

Where Will the Money Go?

The $38.1 million of state capital funds will either go back to the state or another school if City College does not build the center.

“The $50 plus million now

dedicated through the local bond criteria for the [Performing Arts Center] cannot be used for other CCSF projects, no matter how worthy, unless they were voted for already,” Mueller said. “It should be decided by the bond oversight committee.”

Agrella said he has already received approval to use the $50 million for renovation and repair projects on Ocean campus and its other centers.

4 | THE GUARDSMAN & THEGUARDSMAN.COM | SEPT. 18-OCT. 1, 2013

news

Syria

Hundreds of protesters march from Chelsea Manning Plaza to the United Nations Plaza in San Francisco, Calif. on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2013, to protest against the proposed airstrikes on Syria. Photo by Santiago Mejia/The Guardsman

Threat of U.S. strike sparks local outrage

THIS MOMENT BEGAN WITH A CHOICE.

Many people still feel uninformed about what’s happening abroad

By Samantha Dennis @sfbreakingnews sdennis@theguardsman.com

The Guardsman

®

He chose to make a difference. Chose to get a degree. To learn new skills. And it was all made possible by the National Guard.

EDUCATION BENEFITS • SKILLS TRAINING • PART-TIME SERVICE

Contact Sergeant Allen Loretz at 415.748.6028

1-800-GO-GUARD Programs and Benefits Subject to Change

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The anti-war fervor that swept the nation following President Barack Obama’s proposal to bomb Syria in retaliation for its regime’s alleged use of chemical weapons did not escape City College, with some of the school’s instructors urging their students to get involved.

“Students lack interest in what’s going on in Syria due to the facade that it doesn’t affect them now,” City College student Noah Bird said. “What many people don’t understand is that something like this could affect them in a large way.”

If Syrian President Bashar al-Assad used chemical weapons on his own people in the midst of a civil war, it would cross a red

8/9/13 10:31 AM

line, Obama said in a speech on Sept. 4.

While Obama first asked for the approval from Congress to strike Syria, he had postponed the vote in the wake of a possible diplomatic solution.

Ultimately a deal was reached on Sept. 14 between the United States and Russia to resolve the issue with Syria and its chemical weapons.

Natalie Hrizi led a protest against war with Syria on Sept. 7 that started at Chelsea Manning Plaza (Justin Herman Plaza on the Embarcadero) and continued down Market Street to Civic Center.

Hrizi has been involved in the anti-war movement for 10 years now. She is a member of Answer Coalition SF, a coalition against war and racism.

“Students don’t have the information they need because we are given half truths [the] majority of the time,” Hrizi said. “We are here to inform.”

Protesters chanted, “Money for jobs and education, not for war and occupation” along with, “Road to peace, U.S. out of the Middle East.”

Among the crowd were three young Syrian cousins, Zain, 11, Kevin,11, and Aiden, 8, who marched holding signs high in the

air that read, “Don’t kill my cousins” and “Fund schools-Not war.”

“My bestest friend lives there, and I don’t want him to get hurt,” Zain said.

Some teachers at City College have made an effort to make sure their students are informed of the situation.

“Its important that I encourage students to follow and discuss topics that are political and government related,” City College professor Kimberly Keenan said.

Kennan assigned homework to all her political science classes which was to watch President Obama address the public on Sept. 10.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Secretary of State John Kerry have established an agreement that Syria will forfeit its chemical weapon stockpiles.

“This framework provides the opportunity for the elimination of Syrian chemical weapons in a transparent, expeditious and verifiable manner, which could end the threat these weapons pose not only to the Syrian people but to the region and the world,” Obama said in a statement. “The international community expects the Assad regime to live up to its public commitments.”

THE GUARDSMAN & THEGUARDSMAN.COM | SEPT. 18-OCT. 1, 2013 | 5

Have Your Say: What is your ultimate goal at City College?

Caio Braga, 26

Photography Brazil

“My girlfriend and I moved to San Francisco [specifically for] City College because we heard about the school’s great reputation and it was affordable. I’m taking classes here while I figure out if I want to pursue a masters degree at a university. City College has given me an open door [to] improve my English and my skills for studying in American schools.”

Kellie Cook, 29 Undecided

culture

Events: Sept.18-Oct. 1 Wed/18

Sat/21

Wed/25

Music in the Park: Bluegrass

Free Outdoor Yoga

Tenth season of free Wednesday night concerts. Local Bluegrass all-stars Bangers & Grass featuring Bill Evans on banjo. Memorial Park. 1325 Portland Ave., Albany.

6:30-8 p.m. Free.

Outdoor yoga with Purusha yogis.

Connect your body, mind and spirit to release stress and take some time for yourself. Golden Gate Park. Big Rec Baseball Field.

Across the main entrance to the Botanical Garden. 11 a.m. Free.

Bring your own mat.

America’s Cup Exhibit: Rare Boat Models & Photography

music

Thurs/19 bicycles

Bicycle Bingo Night Play bingo while a bicyclepowered bingo machine shuffles and dispenses bingo balls. Actual Cafe. 6334 San Pablo Ave., Oakland. 7-9 p.m. Free. Bingo cards exchanged for donations.

San Francisco secret Bike Party

Fri/20

“I work full time and want to change careers. Going to school is better than doing nothing about it. I want to get as many core classes as I can because its cheaper. I really like my psychology class right now. City is great, I can take classes at night, and they have a lot of campuses, which I like.”

food

Mac+Cheese Celebration & Tasting

Jesus Sicario, 20 Kinesiology

“I want to get my associates degree, public health certificate, culinary certificate, EMT certificate and my firefighter’s certificate. I also want to open a gym and a restaurant. City College will allow me to do all these things. I eventually want to transfer to a university. I can get 80 percent of what I need at City.”

Mac and Cheese Party and Tasting hosted by Oakland restaurant Homeroom. The mac and cheese inspired restaurant will share their recipes and provide insider advice to making the best mac and cheese. Omnivore Books on Food. 3885a Cesar Chavez St. 6:30-7:30 p.m. Free.

yoga

exhibit

Exhibit featuring artifacts, photos and videos of San Francisco sailing and America’s Cup racing.

See rare models and other vintage sailing vessels. San Francisco Maritime Museum. 781 Beach St. 10 a.m-4 p.m. Free.

Mon/23

Thurs/26

Circuit Hacking Night

Twang: Country DJs, Line Dancing & $1 Tacos

hacking

dancing

Make cool electronic things and hangout with hardware geeks. Bring your own project or purchase a kit for $10-$30. All ages and skill levels welcomed.

Noisebridge. 2169 Mission St. 7:30 p.m. Free.

Tues/24

Line dancing and free dance lessons to country music. Learn four new dances every week.

McTeague’s Saloon. 1237 Polk St. 8 p.m.-12 a.m. Free.10 a.m-4 p.m.

Free.

Fri/27

movies

concert

Free Italian Movie Night “Life is Beautiful” starring Roberto Benigni as a Jewish man protect ing his son from the reality of their internment at a Nazi concentration camp. In Italian with English subtitles. Italian Culture Institute.

814 Montgomery St. 6:30 p.m.

Free. RSVP recommended.

Summer Reggaie & Jazz Concert A concert with Empress Meditations featuring female reggae artists from around the world, followed by jazz vocalist Nicolas Bearde. Downtown Point Richmond. Washington Avenue and Park Place. 5:30-7:45 p.m. Free.

REALIZE YOUR DREAM AT MILLS COLLEGE.

Nery Recinos, 29

Business Administration “I’m going to City College to finish up my classes. I began back in 2003 and I want to get a better position at my company.

I work in maintenance now, but going back to school will allow me to move into a better position in administration. I take classes at night while my wife watches my 5-year-old daughter. Its tough, but no pain no gain.”

Todd Evans, 18 Nursing “I want to complete my general [education] classes and move on to a university, maybe Berkeley. I just really like helping people, and some of my family have been certified nurses assistants, but I want to be a registered nurse. I’m going to give it a shot.”

Mills offers talented women who want an exceptional and personal education the ability to: • Transfer in spring or fall.

• Get the classes you need to graduate on time.

• Earn merit scholarships totaling up to $20,000.

• Transfer with no minimum number of credits.

• Transfer without completing your GE requirements.

VISIT PROGRAM: October 7 • 9:00 am–1:00 pm Learn about our programs, meet our students, and tour our campus.

Photos by Lavinia Pisani and Juan Pardo. Reporting by Tim Maguire.

MAKING THE WORLD MORE . . .

Oakland, CA admission@mills.edu www.mills.edu/transfer RESERVE YOUR SPACE AT WWW.MILLS.EDU/VISITPROGRAMS.

6 | THE GUARDSMAN & THEGUARDSMAN.COM | SEPT. 18-OCT. 1, 2013

culture Alumnus spotlight

Lights, camera, action:

Photographer gets behind the sc

By Samantha Dennis @sfbreakingnews sdennis@theguardsman.com

The Guardsman

With fashion week stretching across the globe from Paris and Milan to Miami and New York, then landing here in San Francisco, models will be showing the hottest new trends and flashing lights from cameras will be capturing it all.

One of the photographers behind the camera is former City College student Brawlio Elias, 31, who attended this year’s Miami fashion week, shooting runways for Uptempo Magazine and Sex and Design Magazine.

Before coming to City College, Elias was working in San Diego for well known companies including MAC as a makeup artist, Calvin Klein as a fragrance account

coordinator and Chanel as a retail manager.

Elias moved to San Francisco in 2007 to attend Miami Ad School but instead enrolled in photography classes at City College. “[The classes I took] helped me want to continue toward my goal and inspired me to open my own business,” Elias said.

The Business of Photography class particularly stood out to him.

“This class gave me the tools to believe in my work and that my work was worth sharing with others,” Elias said.

Since leaving City College, Elias has opened his own business as a freelance Marketing/Branding consultant where the focus of his work is the visual aspect of companies’ brands.

Whether it is interior design, marketing, purchasing or website design, Elias does it all.

“I’ve referred him so many times

because he is able to add so much to any project,” Ernesto Meneses, a hairstylist for Aveda Salon who has worked with Elias, said. “He manages to make everyone feel comfortable with his fun and upbeat attitude which is important when being photographed.”

During Miami fashion week Elias met John James Muller, managing director of petitePARADE, which showcases fashion and products for toddlers and tweens.

“I fell in love with his work instantly,” Muller said. He remained impressed by Elias’ talent.

“The next big thing we’ll see in the industry is installations over runway shows,” Muller said. “I can see one of his films opening the next big ‘it’ designer of the fashion industry.”

Elias is currently working with International Retailer Diesel SPA creating a training video for North America Terri-

tory retail division that is set to release on Sept. 30.

He worked on the film “Replikaa,” which deals with organ trafficking, as Creative Director and Costume designer.

The film received an award at the 2011 Silicon Valley Film Festival for Best Vision of the Future.

Even though Elias has been working 80-hour work weeks, the passion he has for his career will never fade.

He is satisfied doing something he is passionate about knowing he will inspire and create an impact on people.

“Never limit yourself to what you are able to do,” Elias said. “Always pursue other things related to your field. It helps you identify what you really want in life and what career path you want to take.”

THE GUARDSMAN & THEGUARDSMAN.COM | SEPT. 18-OCT. 1, 2013 | 7

cenes during global fashion week

Clockwise from top left: Brawlio Elias videographer/ creative director and former City College student stands in front of the Diesel store where he works as a visual merchandiser and is currently creating a training video for the company. San Francisco, Calif. Thursday, Sept. 12, 2013.

Photo by Ekevara Kitpowsong/ The Guardsman Brawlio Elias edits a training video for Diesel retail division at his Nob Hill home where he has a studio. San Francisco, Calif.

Thursday, Sept. 12, 2013. Photo

by Ekevara Kitpowsong/The Guardsman Brawlio Elias styles mannequins inside the Diesel store on Market Street. San Francisco, Calif.

Thursday, Sept. 12, 2013. Photo

by Ekevara Kitpowsong/The Guardsman Former CCSF student Brawlio Elias, writes down some ideas for his current project; a training video for Diesel. San Francisco, Calif. Thursday, Sept. 12, 2013.

Photo by Ekevara Kitpowsong/ The Guardsman

8 | THE GUARDSMAN & THEGUARDSMAN.COM | SEPT. 18-OCT. 1, 2013

culture Alumni profile

Preview

Gallery owners try to help emerging talent

By Lavinia Pisani

@LaviniaPisani lpisani@theguardsman.com

The Guardsman

Once aspiring photographers and City College students, Matt Osborne, Gordon Szeto and Hung Tran now have a photo gallery and film supply store in San Francisco, that showcases the work of local Bay Area photographers.

“We weren’t looking to get degrees, but [wanted] experience and [to] learn photography,” Szeto said sitting on a wood chair inside of 4x5 Gallery located at 442 Haight St. Since the three friends started the business in November 2012 their goal has been to help emerging local artists.

“We try to help people to get noticed, sell their work and hopefully move on with their careers,” Szeto said.

Over the last year, Szeto and Tran have exposed the creativity of several City College students.

Osborne, responsible for the film supplies store inside the gallery, has the intention to

start a photo-lab soon “to tie it all together,” he said.

“This place is awesome,” former City College student Tracy Marin said. She came to the store to get some supplies after reading positive reviews online.

“Location is perfect, and he seemed very nice,” customer Norman Ishimoto said, referring to Osborne.

City College photography student Noelle Trinidad came to the store because of wordof-mouth. She also wants to support City College and locals and keep film alive.

Top: A detail from a flyer for the movie Saltwater, directed by Lise Swenson.

Left: Marisa Llamas, film student at City college works on the weeding dress used in the movie Saltwater. The showing of the Saltwater preview was on Thursday, Sept. 12, 2013, at the Goodwill on Mission street in San Francisco, Calif.

Photo by Sujey Ruiz/ The Guardsman

4x5 Gallery is now exposing the work of Lisa Wiseman The 30Love.

Photos by former City College student Yelena Zhavoronkova will be on display Oct. 8-24.

The store is open 12:00-6:00 p.m. daily.

‘Saltwater’ film debuts after nearly two years

By Alex Tidd

@sfbreakingnews atidd@theguardsman.com

The Guardsman

Matt Osborne, 39, right, holds a Burke and James press camera while Gordon Szeto, 44, left, holds Polaroid print of close up portrait of himself at the 4x5 Gallery space wall, which is currently exhibiting The 30 Love photographs by local SF photographer Lisa Wiseman. San Francisco, California. September 11, 2013 Photo by Ekevara Kitpowsong/The Guardsman

A production team comprised primarily of City College students and led by professor Lise Swenson presented the first public airing of scenes from their feature film “Saltwater” at a San Francisco Goodwill thrift store Sept. 13.

“Saltwater” is about a young woman named Jenny who is searching for her grandmother’s wedding dress. She travels to the Salton Sea where she reconnects with her eccentric aunt and begins to uncover a murky family history.

The film was a joint collaboration between City College and Goodwill San Francisco, which provided costumes and props for the film.

Using City College students for 90 percent of the production roles has presented the students with a unique opportunity to not only receive on-the-job training with experienced filmmakers, but also to have their names on the credit reel of a feature film expected to perform well at the Sundance Film Festival.

“All the key roles, such as our editor Jessie Spencer and cinematographer Frasier Bradshaw, are industry professionals. But they

came on with the knowledge that they were going to have to train and head up teams of students who are trying to get into the industry,” writer and director Lise Swenson said. “I couldn’t have done it without these students—no way in the world. We are under a $200,000 budget and we have made something that looks as pretty and compelling as this film.”

Swenson’s students are just as grateful to be a part of the filmmaking process.

“I was attending City College cinema courses in the fall of last year and I wanted to get heavily involved with the project, so I jumped into ‘Saltwater’ with Lise,” associate producer and second assistant director Kris Sones said.

“I’ve learned a lot about leadership and working with multiple teams.”

Though getting her feet wet in the behind-the-scenes part of filmmaking was a good experience for Jones, being a part of the shoot crew was even more valuable.

“I learned a lot about what being on a feature film set is like,” Jones said. “I had been on small sets doing student projects before, but it was really different being on a feature film set. I learned what everybody does and what all those components require.”

Henry Mauldin, the senior producer of “Saltwater” and also

CNN’s former director of talent development and recruitment, loved working with City College students on set.

“I’m [a former] City College student from the ‘80s,” Mauldin said. “Collaborating with the students [on a high-level project] really shows that City College is producing not just award-winning filmmakers, but also is affording its students opportunities to break into the field.”

Swenson agreed with Mauldin that this feature film really showcases City College talent.

“We are telling the world that City College absolutely should not be closed—look what our students can do,” Swenson said. “Most importantly, I want to thank the students who worked on the film.

I could not have done this without these guys and the support of CCSF.” Saltwater is in post-production and is expected to continue the editing process for some time, but Jones feels City College students should be excited to see the film when they get the chance.

“I think it’s phenomenal how this project has given over 75 students the opportunity to work on a feature film set and our school should be proud of that,” Jones said. “The story itself is shot beautifully and is very compelling.”

THE GUARDSMAN & THEGUARDSMAN.COM | SEPT. 18-OCT. 1, 2013 | 9

culture

Movie Review: “The Family”

Mafia movie has promise but fails to deliver laughs

By Gina Scialabba

@journalist_gina gscialabba@theguardsman.com

The Guardsman

“The Family” is supposed to be a clever and loving homage to the mobster movie genre. A comedy that pokes fun at some of the greatest cinema ever made— ”The Godfather,” “Scarface” and “Goodfellas.”

Director Luc Besson (“La Femme Nikita,” “The Professional”) throws in every Mafia cliché imaginable, including one-dimensional hit men with no conscience, all-powerful crime syndicates and Italians who swear a lot with very short tempers carrying big guns and eating mountains of pasta.

It’s a storyline we know all too well. A former Mafia boss becomes an informant (or “snitch” in Mafia-speak) for the FBI and testifies against his “family.”

These are the men who made him, who killed for him and who covered up for him.

Now, he and his real family played by Michelle Pfeiffer (“Scarface,” “The Fabulous Baker Boys”), Dianna Agron (“Glee”) and John D’Leo (“The Wrestler,” “Brooklyn’s Finest”) are in the witness protection program and are in danger of being murdered because of the betrayal.

Sound familiar? Didn’t Ray Liotta play that character before?

Yep. So, who better to portray snitch Giovanni Manzoni than the one and only Academy Award winner Robert De Niro (“The Untouchables,” “Casino”).

De Niro actually co-starred in Goodfellas as master thief Jimmy Conway, barreling his way through a murderous world of drugs, bank robberies, extortion and money laundering. His performance in that film was priceless.

Robert De Niro stars in “The Family.” (Jessica Forde / Relativity Media / September 12, 2013)

Unfortunately, “The Family” pales in comparison. It’s full of Italian-American stereotypes that lack little basis in reality.

Pfeiffer blows up a grocery store when she’s angry, but then goes home and cooks ravioli.

Agron beats up another girl for a cell phone, but falls madly in love with her math tutor.

De Niro decides to put the plumber in a body cast because he didn’t like what he had to say, but he’s really just a misunderstood teddy bear wanting to express himself with his new hobby as a “writer.”

Anger management counseling may serve this family well.

The story places De Niro and his brood in the small French village of Normandy. They’ve been on the run for several years having

to relocate constantly, usually when one of the Manzoni family commits a heinous crime such as mayhem, terrorist threats, assault with great bodily injury, and yes, even murder.

Despite Agent Stansfield’s (Tommy Lee Jones) best efforts to keep them in line, De Niro, Pfeiffer and their children can’t help resorting to old habits by handling their problems the “family” way.

Of course, the jokes are meant to center around how they adapt to life in small town France while staying one step ahead of assassins dispatched by his now incarcerated former colleagues.

The movie really doesn’t produce any laughs and instead becomes quite dark.

The acting is decent. No one plays a mob boss better than De

Niro. Pfeiffer puts on a pretty good New Jersey accent.

Tommy Lee Jones is the cranky, level-headed member of law enforcement. Nothing surprising.

Yet, in watching one of the greatest actors of our time sleep-

walk through this terrible script, you almost feel sad.

Should you go see this movie?

To use the idiom of Hugh Grant in “Mickey Blue Eyes,” “fuhgeddaboudit.”

If you go...

Running Time: 110 Minutes

MPAA Rating: R

Genre: Comedy/ Crime

Directed by: Luc Besson

Release Date: Sept. 13, 2013

Written by: Luc Besson & Michael Caleo

Stars: Robert De Niro Michelle Pfeiffeir Tommy Lee Jones Dianna Agron

10 | THE GUARDSMAN & THEGUARDSMAN.COM | SEPT. 18-OCT. 1, 2013

opinion Staff editorial

Slurs may become accepted but they are still harmful It seems impossible to turn on your television or listen to the radio without hearing some sort of racist, sexist or derogatory word used toward certain groups of people.

When thinking about these deep-rooted issues some questions come to mind.

If referring to a black male or female as the N-word is considered offensive and unacceptable, why is the word used so frequently in popular rap songs by so many artists?

If women are tired of men degrading them by referring to them as the B-word and C-word, among other terms, why do women call each other those names?

As a culture we have become numb to what we hear and say.

These words are almost a part of our everyday vocabulary, and we forget they are weapons that inflict pain on others when we use them.

Some argue that the use of the N-word among black people is culturally acceptable as a term of love or endearment.

A New York jury decided otherwise on Sept. 3, ruling in favor of Brandi Johnson, a 38-year-old black woman who filed a harassment suit against her black boss Rob Carmona.

Johnson said Carmona made her the target in a rant about her work performance, using the N-word liberally.

Cases like this demonstrate that there has been progress fighting the use of these hateful words.

How do we decide when these words are acceptable? When speaking to our close friends?

When they are used for entertainment?

Sure, using negative language in movies and television shows can help with character development and may be relevant to the setting or time period of the show, but at what cost?

Hearing negative language can have a powerful impact on young minds. It is a parent’s responsibility to monitor what their children watch, but when it is everywhere it becomes difficult to control.

We tend to forget how much of an impact our words can have on others and reflects just how negative and intolerant our culture can be.

If we simply stop to think what these words mean and the damage they can inflict, perhaps we can remove them from our vocabulary altogether.

Letters to the editor must be under 250 words and may be edited for content.

Send letters to: editor@theguardsman.com

Corrections: Find a mistake? Let us know!

Email: editor@theguardsman.com

THE GUARDSMAN & THEGUARDSMAN.COM | SEPT. 18-OCT. 1, 2013 | 11

opinion

Guest column

There is no such thing as universal morality but we all have a sense of right and wrong

By Joshua Elmore

news@theguardsman.com

Contributor

My common sense is not the same as yours. Yet from birth humans have a general idea about right and wrong.

Children as young as six months have been observed to make moral judgments, but much of what they come to consider moral is shaped by their culture.

So here we are, living together with formal rules governed by law, along with education, which informs citizens of the ways they are expected to act.

However, this is changing.

There are two forces that contribute to culture which are

intersecting today. The first is the way things have always been; real world interaction with those closest in proximity. The second is the way we are headed; experiences and opinions shaped by global ideologies.

Technology has introduced the globe to societal alternatives and is redefining the way people see themselves and those around them.

Take the civilian unrest many dictatorships are now experiencing. That is a product of their culture being influenced by nations like them who have since

changed their own fate through revolution.

The common sense we understand to be ubiquitous throughout each culture may be expanding. Global values are now being adopted, and we all have a chance to influence its direction.

No longer are we trapped by manufactured information about what is happening in the world.

We can access citizen forums in almost any country and read about their experiences firsthand.

One out of every four people in the world speaks English says

the British Council, while demand for the language is increasing.

This means that the only obstacle keeping us from meaningfully communicating with humans everywhere is disappearing.

The masses will dictate what is normal and what is not. Propaganda may take a subordinate role in the new world where online ads can be blocked and content is created by users.

There is a general movement toward increased interaction on a macro scale. Governments and economies have worked in this

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realm since before they were formalized and given names. But their access to central control mechanisms has been scattered by collectivist technologies.

Government will always play a central role in expansion; there is no other way for us to stay organized. What a global government looks like may be up for debate and there will be many opinions.

There will no doubt be interesting questions to answer about how we will adapt to a global environment, such as, what will be our cultural values and will be considered common sense?

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12 | THE GUARDSMAN & THEGUARDSMAN.COM | SEPT. 18-OCT. 1, 2013

sports

Guest column

After a shakey start, Rams hold ground sports calendar

FOOTBALL

Sept. 21, 12 p.m. @ West Hills College Sept. 28, 1 p.m. vs. Fresno City College

SOCCER MEN:

Sept. 20, 4 p.m. vs Santa Rosa Junior College Sept. 27, 4 p.m. @ Ohlone College Oct. 1, 4 p.m. vs. Gavilan College

WOMEN:

Sept. 24, 2 p.m. @ Mission College Sept. 27, 4 p.m. @ Cañada College Oct. 1, 1:30 p.m. vs. Chabot College

VOLLEYBALL Sept. 18, 4:30 p.m @ Solano College Classic

Sept. 25, 6:30 p.m. vs. Skyline College Sept. 27, 6:30 p.m vs. Cañada College

Top: Rams quarterback Turner Baty (7) looks to pass in the third quarter against the Laney College Eagles on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2013, at Ocean campus. Photo by Santiago Mejia/The Guardsman

By Patrick Cochran

@sfbreakingnews pcochran@theguardsman.com

The Guardsman

A grey, overcast sky matched the tempo of the Rams in the first half—unexciting and uninspiring.

Laney College frustrated City College early in the game.

Quarterback Turner Baty could not get into a passing rhythm, and the offensive line was blown off the line by Laney’s defense, led by defensive end Eddie Heard, who showed his explosiveness when rushing from the outside.

The Rams’ special teams struggled again this game. Wide receiver Zach Schuller fumbled a punt return, and the special teams unit had an extra point blocked and returned for two points later in the game.

Despite the Rams’ first half troubles they managed to go into halftime trailing only 6-0.

City College returned for the third quarter showing signs of life.

Running back Daivon Ballard and wide receiver Xavier Amey were essential in the Rams offense.

Ballard rushed 16 times for 159 yards and one touchdown. Amey had eight catches for 84 yards and two touchdowns.

Bottom: Rams running back Jahray Hayes (26) gets past Laney College Eagles Forres Ferguson (44) in the fourth quarter on Saturday, Sept.

14, 2013, at Ocean campus. Photo

by Santiago Mejia/The Guardsman

“I definitely could have played a lot better,” Baty said. “Xavier really came through for me today.”

Laney’s offense revolved around their physical running game that pounded the ball up the middle continuously, but the Rams held their ground.

The Rams’ defense was sharp and made few mistakes. Cornerback Maurice Cannon made a key interception at the beginning of the fourth quarter that helped seal the victory for City College.

Cannon blamed a “bad week of practice” and “lack of focus” for the teams early difficulties.

“This week we can’t be distracted in our preparation,” Cannon said.

Wide receiver James Hickman agreed with his teammate.

“We slacked off too much this week and it showed in the first half,” Hickman said. “That can’t happen again.”

Whatever happened at halftime must have worked because

the Rams were able to pull off a 21-8 victory to start the season with two consecutive wins.

“Coach Rush gave a hell of a halftime speech,” City College assistant offensive line coach Sam McNaulty said. “I’ll keep it at that.”

The Rams are challenging themselves to improve on their mistakes.

“We can’t let that happen again,” Baty said. “Most of the time when you play like that in the first half, you don’t get a chance to make up for it.”

Baty finished with 213 yards passing and two touchdowns, but only completed 19 out of 43 passing attempts.

The Rams travel to the San Joaquin Valley to face West Hills College in Coalinga on Sept. 21.

Kickoff is at noon.