Peralta Community College District's Only Student-Run Publication
Peralta Community College District's only student-run publication.

The Citizen
On Jan. 30, 2025, the Trump Administration issued two executive orders focusing on restricting trans and non-binary people from accessing gender affirming care and spaces. These executive actions have raised questions within the LGBTQ+ community at Peralta about what the colleges are doing to protect their students.
LGBTQ+ students are feeling “fear and hesitation” under Trump. What’s Peralta doing about it?
March 14, 2025
Abdul Pridgen sits down for a chat with The Citizen regarding public safety, how Peralta's security model currently works, and his plans for a new model.
Interview and security updates with Peralta’s Interim Executive Director of Public Safety Abdul Pridgen
March 1, 2025
A sign reading 'No human is illegal' in the R-building at Merritt College. As of Jan. 21, ICE agents are now permitted on college campuses.
Merritt College updates its online resources for undocumented students after The Citizen finds outdated information from 2022
February 20, 2025
SEIU 1021 members carry protest signs decrying planned layoffs among Peralta employees. The district recently announced its intent to cut 68 positions across several departments, 44 of which are currently filled.
Proposed layoffs condemned during public comment at 2/11 Peralta trustee meeting
February 20, 2025
(Photo by Li Khan/The Citizen)
PCCD to hold hearing on proposed layoffs
February 10, 2025
The pieces shown in Clay, Paper, Wood are crafted by advanced Laney students across many mediums. The gallery offers a tranquil space in the center of Laney College’s campus.
Laney Art students get crafty in new gallery show
March 10, 2025
New CoA President wants to be a role model for students
New CoA President wants to be a role model for students
December 12, 2024
Laney's student body president, Frida Veliz, wants to help connect students to the resources she didn't have access to when she first started college.
New ASLC President Builds Community
December 11, 2024
Cheryl Lew has been an instructor in the Culinary Arts department since 2012 and was tenured in 2015. Her focus is on baking and pastries.
Multi-layered, highly decorated pastry chef Cheryl Lew brings culture and chemistry to Laney’s culinary department
December 11, 2024
Laney Engineering Department Chair Mallory Barkdull tallies points as her students pit their soccer-playing robots against each other. The friendly tournament challenges contestants to learn design and coding skills through play.
Robot soccer teaches students nuts and bolts of engineering
November 26, 2024
The pieces shown in Clay, Paper, Wood are crafted by advanced Laney students across many mediums. The gallery offers a tranquil space in the center of Laney College’s campus.
Laney Art students get crafty in new gallery show
March 10, 2025
Native American photographer Dugan Aguilar spent decades documenting the lives of Indigenous Californians through his camera lens. His collection of work is on display now at the Oakland Museum of Califoria. (Shown: “Mimi Mullen (Madiu) Grand Marshall,” 1997 Greenville Gold Digger Days Parade)
This Indigenous art exhibition is free for Laney students
January 27, 2025
A seven-year relationship ends in a tumultuous fight in Jeffrey Lo's "A Kind of Sad Love Story," performed live at the Laney Theater last month. Shown: Maya Wooten, Jesse Savoey
‘It started with an argument about bags’: Laney Theater performs A Kind of Sad Love Story
December 8, 2024
Merritt Librarian reimagines 'alebrijes' sculptor’s life in new picture book
Merritt Librarian reimagines ‘alebrijes’ sculptor’s life in new picture book
May 30, 2024
College of Alameda jazz professor Glen Pearson demonstrates his musical talent on his classroom piano. He's one of the newest members of the Count Basie Orchestra, a historic 18-piece jazz ensemble that took home a Grammy this year.
The humble Grammy-winning pianist leading CoA’s music program
March 4, 2024
Incumbent Area 2 Trustee Paulina Gonzalez-Brito, pictured here in The Citizen's newsroom, has what it takes to stay on the Peralta board for another four years.
EDITORIAL: Keep Paulina Gonzalez-Brito on the Peralta board
September 25, 2024
Staff Writer Desmond Meagley stands in the very spot where a security guard confronted him last month: the doorway of the men’s restroom in the Laney College Library. Meagley, who is transgender, tried to report the incident, but reached a dead end when an administrator told him he would need the security guard’s name.
The Catch-22 in AP 3435, Peralta’s Harassment Protocol
May 20, 2024
Social Media Editor Isabelly Sabô stands in front of the door to The Citizen's newsroom. Sabô is an international student from Brazil.
We’re not just ‘rich kids on vacation’: The journey of an international student
May 5, 2024
(Photo: Glen Carrie/Unsplash)
Student elections open today. Has voter information been ‘widespread’?
April 9, 2024
The state flag of California flies underneath the American flag on the west side of the Laney College campus. Behind, the Tribune Tower, which once housed Oakland's daily print newspaper, sits in the city skyline. Both California and the United States have open government laws that establish the public's right to information, but the Peralta Community College District consistently lags behind in comprehensively fulfilling requests for public information made by student journalists at The Citizen. (Photo: Li Khan/The Citizen)
We sued our district over public records and won. Here’s what we learned
February 22, 2024
The American Straight A Academy helped students in China receive transfer degrees from the Peralta Community College District without paying international tuition or setting foot in California. The for-profit company, registered in Dallas, Texas, has not disclosed how much students pay for the experience.
Investigation: A look at the for-profit Chinese business that sold Peralta classes overseas
October 30, 2024
Investigation: Over half of PCCD conflict of interest disclosures nowhere to be found
Investigation: Over half of PCCD conflict of interest disclosures nowhere to be found
September 17, 2024
The Citizen Investigates: International Travel
The Citizen Investigates: International Travel
July 25, 2024
Sunshine Week 2024: Spotlighting public records
Sunshine Week 2024: Spotlighting public records
March 17, 2024
The UC Berkeley chapter of End Overdose at Sproul Plaza in Berkeley on Jan. 23, 2024. The organization passes out free fentanyl test strips to students, and gives other organizations training on Narcan usage. (Photo: Juliana Yamada/CalMatters)
Narcan at California colleges: Are students getting overdose medication?
March 8, 2024
Peralta Community College District's only student-run publication.

The Citizen
Peralta Community College District's only student-run publication.

The Citizen

Academics

Peralta Colleges regain full accreditation after three year struggle

Peralta Colleges regain full accreditation after three year struggle

Accrediting Commission says district has 'corrected deficiencies'
David Rowe, Associate Editor • February 6, 2023

After three years of uncertainty regarding their accreditation status, the presidents of the four colleges (Laney, Merritt, Berkeley City College, and College of Alameda) in the Peralta Community College...

RAÍCES online graduation ceremony showcases Latinx excellence

RAÍCES online graduation ceremony showcases Latinx excellence

Justin Burrows, Staff Writer • June 3, 2022

The RAÍCES graduation, which translates in Spanish to “Roots” graduation, is Peralta Community College District’s annual graduation celebration for Latinx and Chicanx students.  The ceremony...

Class of 2022 graduates look toward non-traditional commencements and celebrations to mark the end of their academic reign within The Peralta Community College District

Class of 2022 graduates look toward non-traditional commencements and celebrations to mark the end of their academic reign within The Peralta Community College District

The Peralta Community College District (PCCD) prepares for virtual and in-person celebrations for the graduating class of 2022. Each college will host its own commencement ceremonies and graduations to honor its students’ accomplishments.
Pamela Samuels, Staff Writer • May 22, 2022

As Spring 2022 will soon come to a close, the Peralta Community College District will host its Virtual Commencements and In-Person celebrations across the four campuses of Berkeley City College, College...

Peralta Foundation scholarship deadline approaching fast

Peralta Foundation scholarship deadline approaching fast

Students must apply by March 1 at Midnight
Travis Chapman, Staff Writer • February 27, 2022

The Peralta Colleges Foundation grants and scholarships are due March 1, and foundation officials encourage students at Peralta to apply. The Foundation’s online smart application system, available...

Peralta Board of Trustees January 25 Video Brief

Peralta Board of Trustees January 25 Video Brief

Derek Sylvester, Managing Editor • February 6, 2022

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12RCmlceLnY

Vax mandate looms with shifting deadlines and upcoming Town Hall

Vax mandate looms with shifting deadlines and upcoming Town Hall

Conflicting messaging adds to confusion
Luke Wrin Piper, Leticia Luna, Gretchen Zimmermann, and Ulysses Smith • September 29, 2021

Just weeks away from the deadline for the district’s vaccine mandate, members of the Peralta community were still looking for information as the administration promised answers at an upcoming “town...

A view of Laney College. (Gabe Johnson/The Citizen)

Fraudulent students and their bots plague Peralta College District 

Laney and Merritt in Oakland are among the California colleges being impacted by scammers trying to steal financial aid. Such cases have increased during the pandemic.
Pamela Rudd, Editor • September 17, 2021

The shift from in-person to remote learning has led to an invasion of bots and “phantom students” who are taking advantage of Peralta Community College District’s enrollment system to fraudulently...

First annual Raíces Latinx graduation honors Peralta grads 

First annual Raíces Latinx graduation honors Peralta grads 

Ivan Chairez, Photo Editor • June 16, 2021

June 5th, 2021 marked a special day for the Peralta Latinx community, as a touching celebration was held online for Latinos, Latinas and Latinx individuals as they graduated from Berkeley City College,...

Director of Hedayat Institute speaks to Peralta about study abroad program

Director of Hedayat Institute speaks to Peralta about study abroad program

Moamar Abdelrahman and Farhad Golriz • May 26, 2021

In a recent Zoom lecture, Hedayat Institute Director Nagwa Hedayat shared that the pandemic has impacted plans to have Peralta students study abroad program visit Egypt, after having previously run...

Five elected officials inspire students to dream big at virtual panel 

Five elected officials inspire students to dream big at virtual panel 

Misha Berman, Staff Writer • April 29, 2021

  On April 23, former Peralta Community College District Area 6 Trustee Karen Weinstein organized and hosted a Zoom event titled “From Community College To Elected Office” that featured...

Peralta Campus Solutions: How to navigate the system update

Peralta Campus Solutions: How to navigate the system update

Farhad Golriz, Staff Writer • April 21, 2021

Berkeley City College ambassadors led an online Zoom workshop for students on how to navigate the updated online Peralta Campus Solutions (CS) System with step-by-step instructions. When adding...

Honorlock: Friend or Foe?

Honorlock: Friend or Foe?

The Peralta Community College District grapples with academic integrity and privacy rights issues in a COVID-19 world
William Ink, Staff Writer • March 31, 2021

The key is to not make the solution worse than the problem.  A systemic shift to remote learning in response to the coronavirus has resulted in a massive expansion of online test proctoring services....

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