By Nick Palm
STAFF WRITER

Education in the United States is in jeopardy. It’s a big enough issue that students are missing out on a higher education because of their ethnicity, income level, gender or sexual orientation. But one more disadvantage has been added to the list—their parents never went to college.

On April 30, City College’s board of trustees unanimously passed a measure to ensure equal opportunity and treatment for all students by eliminating ethnic achievement gaps.

Under the new resolution, the college will now collect data from all students including ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, immigrant status, language and ability in order to pinpoint which areas need the most support. Annual data will be compiled and reported by the chancellor. That report will then be used to evaluate, assess and make new policies, which will eliminate any imbalance in City College’s learning environment.

The problem goes much deeper than the same ethnic equality issues America has been dealing with for centuries: It goes deeper than black and white. We are dealing with a class equality issue. Poor and disadvantaged people are struggling to go to college.

According to the National Center for Educational Statistics, the rate of college enrollment has risen for high-income students each year since 1972. The children of economic dynasties are attending college more than ever before, while the low-income families are staying away from post-secondary education.

Among 1992 high school graduates whose parents had not gone to college, 59 percent had enrolled in some form of higher education by 1994. This rate increased to 75 percent among those whose parents had some college experience, and 93 percent among those who had at least one parent with a bachelor’s degree, according to “First Generation College Students: A Literary Review.”

The United States government has set up Gaining Early Awareness for Undergraduate Programs and TRIO, two programs to make it possible for first generation college students to succeed. GEAR UP supplies grants to low income students who want to succeed in a post-secondary education. TRIO — named for three programs that originated in the 1960s—are six outreach and support services intended to motivate and support youth from disadvantaged backgrounds toward going to college.

Since its inception in 1998, the GEAR UP program guided over 215,000 low-income students and helped disadvantaged California middle school students to raise their learning curve to the state-mandated level through grants to their schools. Currently, almost 1 million American students are receiving funding through the TRIO programs. The Council for Opportunity in Education states two-thirds of TRIO recipients must come from families whose parents have not graduated from college and have incomes under $33,000.

The Board of Trustees plans to begin working closer with the San Francisco Unified School District in the future. The Board wants to ensure the school district is doing all it can to prepare students for college — not only to achieve while attending but to eventually graduate.

Considering City College serves 23 to 30 percent of the students graduating from San Francisco high schools, this interdistrict cooperation should have started a long time ago. Students must be informed of resources like the TRIO programs, which can help many San Francisco youth become first generation college students. Every high school senior should be required to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

Currently the SFUSD has the right idea, but getting students ready for college is only part of the solution. Because parents are such a major influence in their children’s lives, they must be trained to give support and motivation, and to teach them the importance of getting a post-secondary education.

The First Five California program has been teaching parents the importance of brain development during the first five years of a child’s life. Although this is undoubtedly a crucial time for children to learn, it must continue after age five. A child must be challenged by parents, teachers and peers alike to succeed throughout adolescence and into adulthood, both academically and personally.

Educating parents to encourage their children to succeed will show results by the time that child is in high school and ready to make an important decision about the future of their education.

It’s a well known fact that the American education system needs a lot of work.  But I am pleased that City College has promised to make an honest attempt to change the trend.

By Vanessa Blore
CONTRIBUTING WRITER

The City College board of trustees passed a resolution March 26, establishing a College Textbook Affordability Task Force to help students deal with the rising cost of text books.

The purpose of this task force is to “develop textbook adoption guidelines and to evaluate and implement other strategies to improve textbook affordability,” Chancellor Dr. Don Q. Griffin said.

“[The task force] should include representatives of the local academic senate, student government, librarians, disabled student services, Extended Opportunity Programs and Services as well as the bookstore manager, chief instructional officer, chief student services officer and other important stakeholders,” Chancellor Griffin said.

This task force is the first step in a local solution to a statewide problem. The California State Auditors May 2008 report stated publishers employ various tactics to affect the costs of textbooks.The report also states several companies in the textbook industry believe the market for used textbooks drives up the cost of new textbooks and may play a role in how frequently publishers issue new editions.

“This resolution is good to bring some awareness to the subject. But the cost of books is far beyond City College. I really hope, that out of the resolution, a lobbying group gets created. Moreover, I really wish for this group to lobby in Sacramento in favor of policies and laws that prevent publishers from burdening students with the cost of books,” Student trustee Diana Muñoz -Villanueva said.

The 2008 California Auditors Report states textbook costs represent nearly 60 percent of the total cost of a students education in academic year 2007-2008. An average full-time City College student can expect to pay $692 on textbooks annually. The annual cost of fees for a full time student to enroll at City College costs around $480.

Community Colleges may attract low-income students because they are more affordable than UC or CSU campuses. Therefore, textbook costs represent a higher portion of the total cost of an education for a student enrolled at a community college than for a student at a UC or CSU campus.

There are a few alternatives to purchasing new or used text books. City College’s library has textbooks on reserve and although the number of reserved books is small, it is growing. Google has also began to take “orphan” books – out-of-print works which no author or publication has an active copyright to. Scanning these onto a database will make these books available free of charge to students.

Instructor Jerry Bernstein, bottom right, instructs students in the basics of solar panel installation during a public interest workshop at the Evans Campus on Feb. 7. ISSAC CRUMMEY / THE GUARDSMAN

By Fleur Bailey
STAFF WRITER

City College is implementing new educational programs as a pathway to new jobs in the green technology industry.

A directive to create green training programs and establish a green jobs industry advisory group was passed unanimously by the City College board of trustees on Jan. 29.

The board intends to establish a group to help the district’s faculty develop curriculum and establish major educational programs to provide training for employment in the green industry.

“This stimulus package from the government is going to make the renewable energy industry grow exponentially like we’ve never seen before,” Trustee John Rizzo said. “It’s going to be historic growth of this industry.”

The new programs will provide hands-on training that will  lead to employment opportunites in green energy industries like solar, wind, energy efficiency and geothermal fields. It may also lead to jobs in biodiversity and environmental sciences, and positions specialized for green industry, such as project management and sales.

“The green industry is excited to have this training program,” Rizzo said. “I believe the economy will change in the next ten years. We will switch over to green technologies and City College will be a part of it. This resolution makes the creation of a major green jobs training a priority for the board of trustees.”

New board member Chris Jackson is working with the Southeast Jobs Coalition, a group of community-based organizations which proposes to create jobs and workforce development in San Francisco’s Bayview and Hunter’s Point communities.

“An electricity of change needs to happen locally at our community college,” Jackson said. “I am very happy to see that people are looking forward to train our students for the next generation.”

The coalition provides access to all San Francisco residents, but it asks City College to target outreach to groups which are traditionally underrepresented.

“We are specifically engineering the training to those of low-income, people of color, limited-English speakers and women,” extend the programs in the Southeast and Mission campuses. We hope to devote between $45,000-$50,000 to the Student Ambassador Program for outreach and recruitment.”

The coalition aims to involve all members of society, but especially residents in neighborhoods who have suffered the effects of an earlier era of a “pollution-based” economy.

“These are double-digit unemployment rate areas,” Jackson said. “Bayview and Hunters Point are in a serious recession. The country may have a cold right now, but Bayview has pneumonia.”

General education student Kendell Lewis has returned to college after he was laid off from his job at San Francisco City and County’s Department of Parks and Recreation.

“I’m going through a tough time right now,” the 25-year-old black man said. “Nobody is hiring. The economy is going down, things are changing and I have to change too. I came back to school to get some credentials as the recession is getting out of hand. The green jobs program is a good opportunity and the more help we can get the better. After all, green is where we’re going.”

Jackson said the lack of diversity in the bio-tech industry leaves little room for those with entry level skills. He believes the industry imploded as those with higher skills received more resources and those with lower skills received less.

“We hope to change that with this training,” he said. “We are providing an opportunity to unite the community with labor and business through sustainable technology and green jobs.”
City College is already offering a new solar technology workshop at the Evans campus and will be introducing a hybrid car technology class for the fall semester.

David Dias, project coordinator for the Alternative Transportation Technology and Energy Initiative at the Evans campus, has recruited students for the solar technology class.

“The program serves as a preview to the construction 101 class,” Dias said. “It prepares students to move into the workforce. There is a big push for the new technologies of the future to meet energy needs.”

With the work and enthusiasm of those involved, City College is on board with the crucial need for change in our environment and our economy.

“We hope to hit the ground running with this,” Rizzo said. “Within the next month we aim to create a road map of how we will do it. This training is not just for the underprivileged. The industry is going to need people who know what they are doing.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF STEVE NGO

By Liska Koenig
CHIEF COPY EDITOR

Steve Ngo is one of the newest members to join City College’s board of trustees.

The 32-year-old San Francisco lawyer is passionate about his office. “I chose City College because I wanted to work in an area of policy I felt personally attracted too,” Ngo said.

Ngo wants to give everybody a chance to get an education. “If you look at the bigger picture of educational justice and equity  , there has been an achievement gap for decades. Access has been disproportionate by gender, skin color and sexual orientation,” he said.

“What most people don’t realize we are going to be looking at a major labor shortage because we are facing a ‘creeping crisis’ of the American job market,” Ngo said.

He emphasized upcoming generations are weaker in numbers and manufacturers will be forced to hire costly skilled workers from other countries. The “creeping crisis” in combination with the increased competition of the global market could undermine American growth and productivity, according to a study by Harvard economist David Ellwood in 2005.

A first generation Vietnamese-American, Ngo was born in Kentucky, grew up in Louisiana and moved to California to go to law school. His mother, who passed away in 2006, is his biggest inspiration.

She came here at a very young age as a refugee with a third grade Vietnamese elementary school education. By the age of 30 she had six children – which didn’t stop her from going to vocational school, opening a successful business and acquiring a home for her family.

“Nowhere but here is it possible to transform a life the way she did,” Ngo said. “Nowhere but here is it possible to transform a life the way she did. If I can just make one more person like my mother, then my service was worth it.”

Motivated by his mother’s life story, Ngo decided to campaign for the board of trustee position at City College a year after her death. “I don’t want to look back at my life when I’m old and regret I didn’t have a purpose in life,” he said.

The new trustee wants to shape the future of City College students with a focus on counseling, financial aid issues and returning students. The advancement of students in the HARTS, Guardian Scholarship and Second Chance programs have been created to support students who are battling homelessness, have been through the foster care system, or have been incarcerated.

“Every added year in college results in the direct increase of a person’s income (after school)  and access to education gives people the tools to earn a living wage,” Ngo said.

“Career and technology program skills, like the automotive mechanics classes at the Evans campus, offer students who prefer to learn a hands-on trade to do so without having to pursue an academic education,” added Ngo.

AT&T presented a check for $10,000 to the Mission Campus Homework club at the Board of Trustees meeting Jan. 29. Pictured from left are: Board of Trustee members and Dr. Carlota del Portillo, Dean, Mission Campus; Dr. Don Q. Griffin, Chancellor; Tedi Vrihaes, Area Manager, External Affairs, AT&T California. PHOTO COURTESY OF CITY CURRENTS

Ngo wants to give interested students more opportunities to get to know the City College trustees. “I am hoping we can have forums and other mixing opportunities for students and board members, perhaps put short excerpts of meetings on YouTube or hold live chat sessions between students and trustees,” he said.

Kimberly Berger was elected to an open ASC senator seat.

By Alex Weinschenker
STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

After a debate for an open seat on the senate, Kimberly Berger was appointed to the City College’s Associated Student Council Jan. 29.

“I want to do something for the school and give back to the community,” Berger said  after the meeting.

Berger’s story is not typical. She recently returned to school having never finished high school. She has been clean and sober for six years with dreams of sharing her life experience to guide students toward a brighter future.

The major debate focus of the appointment revolved around the shrinking classes at City College and assisting those who are confused and falling steadily behind due to forces beyond their control.

“[I plan] to change the way shared governance represents the students and take it upon myself to see that students get involved in their school community,” Berger said of her plans as senator.

According to the ASC Web site, the ASC advocates for the student body on issues of campus safety, diversity, social and political awareness, improving access to higher education, and building a sexual harassment-free campus.

Other candidates in the senate race gave convincing speeches, touching on issues such as international student aid and increased funding for remedial classes. Marina Zubaneva, a student from Russia, Yoowie Jung, a sociology and psychology major, and Wenshan Ji, president of the Immigrant Club, all ran against Berger, campaigning on different platforms such as more art programs and human rights.

“I want to make the campus friendly for all students, whether they be disabled, new to school, international or have a low level of income,” said Ji.

Berger filling this senate seat was a precursor to the ASC elections taking place in few months.

Starting Feb. 12, applications will be available to students who are interested in running for student council positions. Positions range from president of the ASC, to the senators that comprise the backbone of the Ocean campus student council. Also up for election is the student seat on the Board of Trustees. The student trustee is the only position that oversees all City College campuses.

Candidate petitions are due to the administration by March 12 and the campaign kicks off on March 19. A town hall meeting will be held at the Wellness Center on April 1 with another meeting scheduled for April 20. The elections will be held on April 28 and 29.  The only two polling booths will be set up in the Creative Arts Plaza.

By Ellen Silk & Doug Ahlgren
News Editor & Staff Writer

From left to right: Newly-elected board of trustees members Milton Marks III, Chris Jackson, Dr. Natalie Berg, and Steve Ngo were officiall sworn in on Jan. 5 at the Wellness Center. JESSICA LUTHI / THE GUARDSMAN

The 2008 board of trustees unanimously approved Dr. Don Griffin’s contract at a Dec. 19, 2008 meeting and confirmed him as chancellor through June 2012, at an initial salary of $287,000 per year according to his employment contract. Griffin has 38 years of service at City College, both as an instructor and administrator. He has been the interim chancellor at City College since March 2008.

“My many years of experience in positions of ever-increasing responsibility at City College of San Francisco have prepared me for this new post,” Griffin said. “I look forward to working with the board of trustees as well as the faculty and staff to continue the college’s legacy of excellence and service to our students and communities.”

Board of Trustee

New City College board of trustees members Steve Ngo and Chris Jackson, along with returning members Dr. Natalie Berg and Milton Marks III, were sworn-in during a ceremony at the Wellness Center on Jan. 5.

All four trustees won their four-year seats after a seven-month election process ending in November 2008. Incumbents Marks and Berg along with former members Rodel Rodis and former City College Police Chief Carl Kohler ran in the nine person, four seat election for the seven member board.  Nearly 200 people watched as Senator Mark Leno swore-in Berg and Ngo. San Francisco Supervisor David Campos and Superior Court Judge Teri Jackson officiated the oaths for Marks and Jackson respectively.

“The Trustees recognize the difficult challenging budgetary times we are experiencing,” said Board President Lawrence Wong.
The Budget Crisis was a major topic of the ceremony. “I am very privileged to serve City College students and the community. I am confident that we will get through this,” Ngo said. She feels, the crisis has to be a number one priority for the college board.

This is Ngo and Jackon’s first time to serve the City College Board of Trustees. However both have experience in other forms of civic government. Ngo has served on other boards including the South East Asian Community Center, CollegeWorks and as a student representative at Hastings College. He is currently an attorney at San Francisco legal firm Minami Tamaki. In his senior year at San Francisco State University, Jackson served as Associated Student President and created Project Connect, which helps K-12 students connect with college . He currently works as a policy analyst for the San Francisco Labor Council.

“This is a great opportunity to bring an under served voice to the halls of government through the board,” said Jackson. During his time on the board he hopes to protect basic skills-and-outreach programs, as well as bring more “green jobs” training and sustainability education to the college.

Interim Chancellor Dr. Don Q. Griffin

By Natalie Coreas
Staff Writer

The City College board of trustees announced the appointment of the college’s newest chancellor during the Nov. 20 board meeting.

After weeks of meetings and interviews with the three finalist for the position, board of trustees president Lawrence Wong made a quick announcement at the beginning of the board meeting that Interim Chancellor Dr. Don Q. Griffin will become the college’s 25th chancellor.  The announcement was met with applause and loud cheering from the unusually large audience in attendance.

“I think that this is a very critical time, not a bad time, but challenging because of the economy,” Griffin said after the announcement was made.

Griffin has been at City College for 39 years, working first as a psychology professor and then as the chair of the psychology department, with Interim Chancellor being Griffin’s most recent post.

Griffin said he will officially begin serving as chancellor on Dec. 1.

As chancellor, Griffin hopes to serve the communities that attend City College more efficiently.

“Aside from the budget, one of the issues that I’m interested in is the transition of high school students to college,” Griffin said.

By Roxanne Bequio
Staff Writer

The contrast between recently constructed and older buildings on Ocean campus is prompting many of City College’s students to question when the older buildings will get a turn at renovation.

“City College is following the Master Plan and it doesn’t ignore the existing buildings. The plan first addresses the anticipated growth of the system and where the greatest needs are,” said James Blomquist, associate vice chancellor of facilities planning/management.

Some of these projects, including the improvement and expansion of the recently opened Mission campus, as well as the planning and construction of the new Chinatown/North Beach campus, were funded by the 2001 and 2005 Proposition A bond measures.

Although the City College board of trustees have not officially decided when the next phase of remodeling will occur, students can anticipate the early stages of more Ocean campus renovations with the completion of the next phase of construction which includes the new Joint Use Facility, scheduled to open in summer 2010, and the arrival of the next bond, to be issued in the next few years.

Classes held in older buildings like Cloud Hall, the Creative Arts Building and the 600-series bungalows would be moved into the Joint Use Facility, presenting City College with an opportunity to “remodel spaces and create better conditions within [older] buildings,” Blomquist said.

“The oldest buildings are those that need the most work, just because of their age,” Blomquist said. “Due to the Americans with Disabilities Act improvement project, many, if not all of the buildings on campus, will recieve remodeling in some of the bathrooms and a few classrooms to accommodate accessibility needs,” said Blomquist of the work financed by the 2005 Proposition A Bond funds.

Nursing major Selma Gardner said, “The bathrooms are always in poor condition. You know, you’ve got three sinks here, and maybe one paper towel holder working, or one stall. Especially in the science building the bathrooms are pretty funky.”

Within Blomquist’s department, concerns are shared over the condition of all the bathroom facilities. Water saving fixtures, similar to those in the new buildings, will be installed to conserve energy and natural resources when the college has enough money, said Blomquist.

At this time, restrooms on City College campuses will not be restored unless they conflict with the ADA and need remodeling to “adequately provide good service for disabled students,” said Blomquist. Remodeling required by the ADA will start this October and is expected to be completed by December 2009.

Non-compliant restrooms have not yet been identified, but will be upon evaluation. “If a room is completely non-compliant, a total renovation might be required,” said Blomquist.

An issue was raised toward the recently opened Community Health and Wellness Center regarding faucets and showers, which were not in working order. Blomquist said some valves were plugged up with debris and cleaned out by a plumber shortly after.

In any new building, there is a “breaking in period” when all the working parts get tested through daily use. Due to the contractor’s warranty minor problems, like clogged water pipes, are found and corrected at no cost to the college, said Blomquist.

“We get complaints from time to time on the comfort of a classroom, whether it’s too cold, warm, or noisy, and we try to address those as they come along,” said Blomquist.

When asked about older buildings on Ocean campus, 18-year-old City College student Angela Li said “Even though they’re old, they’re still in pretty good condition. It’s not like they’re falling apart.”
In addition to the appearance of older buildings’ interiors, earthquake preparedness is considered an important issue as well.

“All of the buildings on campus have been constructed within structural codes appropriate to the time they were built. Many have been inspected and determined to still be structurally adequate for seismic activity,” Blomquist said about the state of campus buildings.

“The current code requires that whenever any significant remodeling is done to a building, if there are seismic adjustments that need to be made to bring it up to current code, that has to be done as part of that work,” said Blomquist.

In regards to covering seismic work financially, “It depends on when that need [to retrofit a building] was discovered, but if we assume it was something that was decided upon currently, it would be funded by the 2001 and 2005 Proposition A Bond,” said Blomquist.

Illustration courtesy of EHDD Architecture

BY JEAN-PIERRE BITCHOKA

In a unanimous decision, City College’s board of trustees approved the final design of the Lot 5 for the new Chinatown/North Beach campus on Thursday July 10, putting an end to a long delay.

The approval was postponed four months ago when what is known as Lot Nine and 10 buildings was approved, and deferred again by two weeks on June 26, during the last regular board meeting.

According to City College legal counsel Alan Spier the primary reason why the approval of the Lot 5 Resolution was postponed was due to the fact that the Planning Department had requested that they would be allowed to review and comment on the final design of Lot 5.

Spier insisted that this step was necessary because it would allow the college “to take additional input that would help us in the two lawsuits we are facing.”

The audience present at the July 10 meeting enthusiastically welcomed the long awaited decision. Peter Goldstein, vice chancellor of finance and administration noted that, “ The crowd was very supportive of the decision.”

Vincent Pan, an activist supporting the Chinatown campus, and executive director of Chinese for Affirmative Action has been very vocal about the delay. He recognized the importance of the Board’s approval of Lot 5, and insisted, “It is important that nothing stops this project.”

When asked about the benefits of the Chinatown/North beach campus for the Chinese community, Pan replied they are tremendous, as a permanent facility would allow members of the community to further their education and would also allow them to take classes that will help them prepare for citizenship, said Pan.

Nine trustee candidates have stepped forward

BY MARTHA VALLEJO
STAFF WRITER

San Francisco citizens will elect four candidates for the Community College Board of Trustees Nov. 4.

By April 24 there were nine candidates who filed documents at the City Department of Elections. Two of them were incumbents Milton Marks III and Rodel Rodis, intending to be reelected. It is assumed that incumbent Natalie Berg will do the same. Julio Ramos leaves his place to pursue his candidacy as Supervisor for District 11.

The board of trustees has a total of seven seats. Four of them are elected during presidential elections and three in off years. This year, the other candidates are marketing and sales consultant Roberto Figueroa, Michael Goldstein, Mary Hernandez, research analyst Chris Jackson, retired chief deputy sheriff Carl Koehler, attorney Steve Ngo and social worker and chief information officer Bruce Wolfe.

Mary Hernandez was elected to the San Francisco Board of Education in 1996 and 2000, and served as vice president in 1999 and president in 2000. She currently serves as a member of the Youth Law Center Board of Director. Hernandez is the mother of two children currently enrolled in middle and high school in San.

Carl Koehler was chief of police at the Police Department of City College in the Ocean campus.

“As a teacher at SF State, I understand the classroom dynamic,” Koehler said. “And as a peace officer with twenty-nine years of experience, I understand the importance of keeping the campuses safe so that students have a chance to experience the learning environment.”

For Steve Ngo his Vietnamese mother has been his motivation.

“I want to be an advocate for people like her,” Ngo said. “As the first in my family to graduate from college, I also want opportunities for other first generation college students. Basically, I know how education can transform lives for the better, and I want to make that power work for more people.”

After a severe work injury Bruce Wolfe went back to school. This is his second time running.

“I currently am in my fifth year serving on the Public Education Enrichment Fund Advisory Committee that creates the annual budget for spending voter approved funding of nearly $450 million for public schools,” Wolfe said. “I could not have had better experience and popular education than from my years at City College to prepare me for this task. Now with far more experience into education budgeting and review of programs, I can bring back with my fellow colleagues on the board of trustees the accountability needed this time.”

In fact, possibly three incumbent trustees will be reelected leaving only one seat available. Regardless of who the new trustee will be the board faces big challenges adjusting matters to the inevitable budget cuts.

The deadline to register is Oct. 27. Candidates must be residents and registered to vote in the City and County of San Francisco. No employee of a community college district can be sworn into office unless he/she is a part-time teacher instructing one course per semester. There are no term limits for the Members of the Community College Board.

Education and profession are not subject to candidature. Whoever wants to try can just apply for it.