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.

Poelele Malepeai (#7) slams a spike past two Chabot defenders on Oct. 29 at the Community Health and Wellness Center. The Rams won four sets against the Chabot Gladiators. ALAN NGUYEN / GUARDSMAN

By Arcel Cunanan

Staff Writer

The Rams volleyball began their drive towards the playoffs with a convincing victory over the Chabot Gladiators in four sets (25-10, 22-25, 25-12, 25-21) on Oct. 29 at the Wellness Center.

“The whole team played great. They all communicated as far as volleyball goes,” said Head Coach Ed Parker.  “Everybody stepped up.”

Coming out with great intensity and a lot of communication on the court, The Rams were able to gain a quick seven point lead, forcing the Gladiators to call a time out at 7-0. The Rams won the set on a kill by libero Amanda Ly, closing the up the first set at 25-10.

The Rams began the second set a little lethargic, allowing the Gladiators to maintain the lead. The Rams’ concentration began to diminish as frustrations grew on the court.  A time out was called by the Rams when they fell behind 20-13. The Gladiators withstood a furious rally from the Rams and held on to win set two at 22-25.

“I felt like the errors were on our side. We made the mistakes. They really didn’t do anything special. We just had a moment. It fell away from us,” said Associate Coach Aziza Bledsoe.

Down 4-1 early in the third set, the Rams picked up the intensity and were able to finish by dominating in the third set. The Gladiators seemed to start falling apart, as the Rams took the lead for good and went up 19-9.  At game point, Chabot set the ball up to their middle back row player, who swung too hard and in the wrong direction, causing the ball to go out of bounds, and allowing the Rams to win set three 25-12.

The third set’s momentum followed the Rams into set four, but the Rams allowed Chabot to once again gain the lead.  The fourth set was back and forth throughout, but straightened out at 22-21 when a call was made on a questionable block, resetting the score at 21-21. After the call was made, the reset score gave Chabot the chance to earn a critical point.  Even though tension on the court and in the crowd was showing, but that didn’t slow the Rams down.

The Rams got their point back after making an incredible kill that made the crowd go wild. At game point, sophomore Poelele Malepeai made a kill that skidded off the arms of one of the unsuspecting Gladiators. The Rams closed the fourth and final set at 25-21.

“It’s really hard to deal with referees. It didn’t affect us any. We still won the game,” said Bledsoe in response to the call.

After the game, Parker was optimistic about the team’s upcoming matches.

“It’s a great attitude and positive energy to start our second half of the season. Next week we are hoping to continue with the same attitude that we have.”

Looking ahead, the Rams will have three straight road games against De Anza, Foothill, and Monterey, returning for their final home match on Nov. 19 against Skyline College at 6:30 p.m. in the Community Health and Wellness Center.

By Al Lin
Contributing Photographer

City College’s dance classes convened in the Wellness Center on Oct. 18 to host a night celebrating a new era of dance at the Wellness Center. Students and residents alike paired up to salsa with latin dance band Mazacote on the new North Plaza, while others took an introductory lesson on the Feldenkrais method taught by Jean Elvin.

As the sun set and the autumn moon rose, the dancers moved inside to the various studios of the Wellness Center, waltzing to Seal’s hit “Kiss by a Rose” and learning West Coast swing from instructor Steve Rockwell.

When the clock struck eight, the guests lined up to head into the Wellness Center’s theatre for a mélange of performances by the dance department. Kathe Burick and her intermediate tap class opened the show tapping to Chip Webb’s “Spinning the Webb” jazz piece. Other notable highlights included a Mongolian dance performance and a performance by the City College Cheerleading Squad.

For more information on upcoming dances, check the City College athletics Web site at www.ccsframs.com. The dance department will be holding a Halloween Ball on Saturday the 25th.

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BY BONTA HILL
CONTRIBUTING WRITER

City College’s Hall of Fame will be moved to the Wellness Center from its longtime home in the defunct South Gymnasium, according to head football coach George Rush.

Started in 1985, inductions to the hall were held every five years until 1995.

“The first hall of fame was in 1985, and we did inductions every five years,” said Rush. “To do it every two or three years might have watered the meaning of the hall of fame.”

Because no inductions have been made in 13 years, the athletic department planned to wait until the Wellness Center had been built to rekindle the hall of fame.

Now that the Wellness Center has been built, talks have stalled about the Hall of Fame.

“Due to all the moving and coaches getting their offices together, we as a program have kind of forgot about it,” said Dan Hayes, physical education department chair.

“The faculty, the coaches, and the administration all have to get together and decide on how to get the Hall of Fame back up and running,” Hayes added. “Hopefully in 2010 we can kind of get it going again, and have a nice ceremony.”