The Citizen

Dial Tones and Disengagement: A student election marked by silence

The Citizen observed conflicting information during last semester's student body election. When we tried to get more information, we were met with unanswered calls, wrong numbers, and voicemails.

Tamara Copes, Staff Writer • October 16, 2025

During the Spring 2025 semester, 21,555 students were enrolled at Peralta Community College District, according to data from Peralta's communications spokesman Mark Johnson. Only 523 participated in student elections. That’s 2.4% of the student population.

Editor’s Pick

Alexandra Tejeda Rieloff performs with her band at Etcetera Wine Bar in San Francisco, CA., on April 15, 2025.

Alumnus reflects on decades-long performing career: “it really started in Laney College”

For Alexandra Tejeda Rieloff, it all began with a dance class.

Eliot Faine, Multimedia Editor • September 26, 2025

Alexandra Tejeda Rieloff has lived her life immersed in the arts. She's a multidisciplinary artist, with decades devoted to each craft. She’s a dancer, a choreographer, and an actor, a producer, a director, and a photographer. Now, she’s a lounge singer with residencies all over San Francisco.

Recent Stories

Peralta will join in international “Great Shakeout” earthquake drill

The district will test its emergency communication systems with a mock earthquake incident on Thursday morning.

Desmond Meagley, Editor in Chief • October 14, 2025

The Peralta Community College District will initiate an emergency drill Thursday at 10:16 a.m. as part of an international earthquake preparedness...

A pair competes in the Potato Dance contest, where two people hold a potato between their foreheads and dance around the arena at the NAHC Powwow at Merritt College in Oakland, CA., on September 27, 2025.

‘Laughter is Medicine’, Annual Powwow highlights Native American healthcare

The Native American Health Center has served everyone who walked through their doors in San Francisco and Oakland for over 50 years.

Eliot Faine, Multimedia Editor • October 13, 2025

The sky was nearly cloudless at Merritt College campus on Sept. 27, the Saturday after the 2025 California Native American Day. Warm sun beamed down on the jewelers and dancers and volunteers as they prepared for the fourth annual Native American Health Center (NAHC) Powwow.

Chancellor Tammeil Gilkerson speaking to a crowd of Peralta employees during the fall 2025 District FLEX Day at Merritt College in Oakland, CA on Aug. 15, 2025.

Big changes may be coming to Peralta. Here’s the plan so far

The Citizen breaks down what is currently known about the district’s transformation plan, including the creation of dedicated "taskforces" and a glimpse into the proposed timeline for the “unification" of Merritt and Laney.

Ivan Saravia, News Editor • October 8, 2025

Merritt College to host “Peralta Pumpkin Pursuit” district fundraiser marathon

The event aims to bring community members of all ages together, while fundraising for the Peralta Colleges Foundation.

Feven Mamo, Staff Writer • October 7, 2025

Merritt College will host the Peralta Community College District’s inaugural Peralta Pumpkin Pursuit 5K run/walk on Oct. 18.

Trellis and sign stand at the entrance to the Urban Community Gardening class plot at the Lakeside Park Garden Center in Oakland, CA., on September 23, 2025.

Merritt College urban garden class sows “practical skills”

Every Tuesday morning, Tom Branca and his students gather far from Merritt College’s campus in the Oakland hills to the heart of Lake Merritt.

Eliot Faine, Multimedia Editor • October 6, 2025

The class works on a slightly different schedule than the Peralta Community College District’s semester system. According to Branca, students take a break around the December holidays, and resume their work before the semester officially starts in January or beyond when it ends in May.

Leslie Blackie speaks during public comment at the Sept. 23 Board of Trustees study session at Merritt College. (via PCCD livestream)

Student support programs highlighted at Sept. 23 Board of Trustees study session

Faculty concerns, as well as horticulture hopes, broached during public comment

Reid Haataja, Staff Writer • October 5, 2025

Representatives from each college in the Peralta Community College District gave a presentation highlighting programs designed to support student success to the district’s Board of Trustees during the Sept. 23 study session at Merritt College. The presentation examined the efforts and results of programs focused on meeting the needs of Asian American and Pacific Islander, Black and African American, and Latinx students.

Graphic of a student journalist, using a rolled up newspaper to break the ribbon of silence.

The Citizen will not “take down” the truth

The Citizen is Peralta’s only student-run news publication. We serve all four colleges as a watchdog. Just like professional newsrooms, we take accurate reporting very seriously.

Eliot Faine, Multimedia Editor • October 4, 2025

Over the summer, The Citizen received multiple emails that claimed we had published libelous articles. The authors of the emails alleged they were reaching out on behalf of their client, Tim Thomas, Peralta Community College District’s former Executive Director of Public Safety.

Peralta set to launch campus shuttle service in December

Students will be able to pay a one time fee per semester to travel from all four Peralta colleges

Dustin Chu, Staff Writer • September 29, 2025

The shuttle bus program will start with limited service on Dec. 1, while full implementation will begin at the start of the 2026 Spring semester.

Andrea Epps speaks to the Peralta Board of Trustees about an independent analysis into the district's equity as an employer. Despite finding Latinx-identified individuals to be underrepresented among district employees, the analysis did not show "persistent patterns of adverse impact” on hiring “by race, ethnicity, or gender.”

Laney-Merritt merger “concerns” and EEO presentation at Sept. 9 Board of Trustees meeting

Uncertainty over pending college merger, an EEO analysis of Peralta's underrepresented Latinx faculty population, and Peralta gets new tech

Tamara Copes, Staff Writer • September 29, 2025

The Peralta Community College District Board of Trustees met for a regular board meeting at the district office on Sept. 9. Trustees heard discussions around the annual Equal Employment Opportunity certification form, updates for student government appointments, and the district's acquisition of updated technology.

Alumnus reflects on decades-long performing career: “it really started in Laney College”

For Alexandra Tejeda Rieloff, it all began with a dance class.

Eliot Faine, Multimedia Editor • September 26, 2025

Yunomi by Ian Bassett is one of the featured works at the new exhibition. STOKED highlights the unique texture and color of wood-fired ceramics.

National art exhibition ‘STOKED’ showcases wood-fired possibilities for Laney ceramics program

A new kiln is igniting enthusiasm among Laney College ceramics students.

Erik Bracken, Staff Writer • September 24, 2025

STOKED brings together 36 nationally recognized artists from around the country to celebrate a new wood-fired kiln at Laney College, which was constructed entirely by Laney students. The diverse array of pieces in the exhibition each have one thing in common: they are all products of wood-firing.

Mina Spasely, peer mentor for SALAAM learning community and nursing major at College of Alameda, poses in front of the sign for the college. SALAAM aims to uplift CoA students from Arab, Southwest Asian and North African diasporic communities.

SALAAM program helps immigrant women find confidence and careers at CoA

The program supplies students with materials, grants, food vouchers, and a safe community.

Romi Bales, Copy Editor • September 19, 2025

College of Alameda’s SALAAM program is a learning community that aims to uplift Arab, Southwest Asian and North African students. Through SALAAM, CoA students in need can receive classroom materials, food vouchers, assistance with transportation costs, early access to class registration, and more.

SEIU members pack the Board of Trustees regular meeting at the Peralta District Offices, Aug. 26, 2025.

Board hears union opposition during public comment and more at Aug. 26 Board meeting

Public comments focused on district security and a new payment schedule for campus facility rentals.

Nelzy Gonzalez-Zaragoza and Ivan Saravia • September 9, 2025

The Peralta Community College District Board of Trustees convened for their first meeting of the 2025 Fall semester on Aug. 26. During public comment, the board heard representatives for Service Employees International Union (SEIU) voice grievances on behalf of security workers and discussion of a new rental fees schedule for campus facilities.

Peralta in the roots of Oakland labor history

Courses about the American labor movement are few in number at the Peralta Community College District – across all four schools, the district currently offers just one eight-week class about labor history through Laney College.

Eliot Faine, Multimedia Editor • September 1, 2025

Monday marks 131 years of Labor Day, as observed in the United States and Canada. Courses about the American labor movement are few in number...

Peralta Chancellor Tammeil Gilkerson introduced her recommendation to merge Laney College and Merritt College at a recent district professional development day. Historically, Laney and Merritt were once two campuses of one school -- Oakland City College.

BREAKING: Peralta chancellor recommends merge between Merritt College and Laney College

In her FLEX day address, Gilkerson said the colleges may become “Oakland City College” in a move to “prune” and grow the district

Ivan Saravia, News Editor • August 15, 2025

Peralta Community College District Chancellor Tammeil Gilkerson announced Thursday that she will recommend that the Board of Trustees approve a merger between Laney College and Merritt College. Her announcement came during a staff development day for Peralta district personnel.

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