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

The Citizen
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Merritt College updates its online resources for undocumented students after The Citizen finds outdated information from 2022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
Faculty, classified employees, and administrators convened Friday to share ideas for how to repair the district's financial crisis in the long term. The district needs to make at least $11.5 million in cuts next year, but officials say a significant "reimagining" of the district is necessary to sustain the district in the long run.
PCCD is in crisis. Everything is on the table
February 1, 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
A new space for LGBTQ+ students has popped up on the Laney College campus. The Queer Community center will host events and offer resources to LGBTQ+ members of the Peralta community.
‘We’re here, we’re in school, we have dreams’: New Laney queer center offers safe haven for LGBTQ+ students
November 20, 2024
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
In Director Chelsea Bo's first feature-length film, half-sisters Harper (left, Chelsea Bo) and Georgie (right, Ava Acres), thrown together by circumstance and a weak blood relation, must untie the knots in their relationship. The film won "Jury Prize Feature" at the Alameda International Film Festival last week. (Courtesy: Paxeros)
No Right Way, Chelsea Bo’s hard-hitting emotional rollercoaster about the complexities of sisterhood, shown at Alameda International Film Festival
February 29, 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 19, 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 8, 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

Berkeley City College

Peralta Trustee Paulina Gonzalez Brito addresses the crowd at Berkeley City College’s 50th anniversary celebration. The event featured a block party along with a groundbreaking ceremony for the college’s new Milvia Street building. (Photo: Marcus Creel/PCCD)

‘We’re still rising’: BCC celebrates 50th anniversary

College throws block party and breaks ground on new building
Sam O’Neil, Associate Editor • May 6, 2024
Looking down Center Street on April 22, crowds of people could be seen gathered outside of Berkeley City College (BCC) to attend a block party, with free food, a live DJ, and a horse.
VC of General Services retires

VC of General Services retires

New security survey, search for PCCD General Counsel, and more announced today
Eliot Faine, Staff Writer • April 22, 2024
Interim Vice Chancellor of General Services, Atheria Smith, has retired effective April 19.
A PCCD board meeting held during spring break included 'really good news' for the funding of retiree benefits, as well as the approval of $1.36 million for the new Laney Tower elevators. Pictured: New designs for CoA's revamped aviation facility, which were approved by the board. (Source: AE3 Partners)

‘Really good news’ for retiree benefits, Laney Tower elevators set for replacement, and more at 3/26 meeting for PCCD trustees

Desmond Meagley, Staff Writer • April 7, 2024

The Peralta Community College District (PCCD) Board of Trustees held a regular meeting March 26, during the district’s spring break. The meeting focused heavily on retiree benefits, while also touching...

(Graphic: Li Khan/The Citizen)

PCCD Trustees to vote on $6 million Marina contract

$63.7 million amendment to BCC’s Milvia Street Expansion also on agenda
Sam O’Neil, Associate Editor • February 27, 2024

The Peralta Community College District (PCCD)’s Board of Trustees is set to vote tonight on a new $6 million contract with Marina Security Services (Marina), the private security firm currently contracted...

(Graphic by Li Khan/The Citizen. Illustrations: Sketchify/Canva; SEGOTeam/Canva)

California Virtual Campus Exchange allows community college students to enroll in online classes statewide

Peralta open enrollment for regular session classes ends soon, but many late start classes will still be available
Ian Waters, News Editor • January 25, 2024
Although Saturday is the last day to enroll in a regular session class at Peralta Community College District (PCCD), students can still enroll in online classes at other community colleges in California through the California Virtual Campus (CVC) Exchange.
Izzie Villanueva sits at their laptop in BCC's Basic Needs Center, scanning student IDs into a database to track Basic Needs usage. (Photo courtesy: Izzie Villanueva)

The Basics on Izzie Villanueva, BCC’s first Basic Needs Coordinator

Ian Waters, News Editor • December 15, 2023

After a long day spent answering emails, signing paperwork, and distributing food to Berkeley City College’s students, Izzie Villanueva sits down with Basic Needs Center student workers for a meeting....

Meet Peralta's student leaders

Meet Peralta’s student leaders

Four student body presidents discuss their backgrounds and aspirations
Satch Alvarez, Staff Writer • December 13, 2023

At each of the four Peralta colleges, student body government plays a substantial role in the shared governance structure, responsible for voicing the needs and concerns of the students at their respective...

(Photo by Li Khan/The Citizen)

Peralta Board of Trustees Brief: FabLabs, facilities, chancellor contract

Satch Alvarez, Sam O’Neil, and Ivan Saravia • November 29, 2023
The Peralta Community College District’s regular meeting of the Board of Trustees included public comments in support of funding for the FabLabs, a presentation on facilities issues, and the approval of the next chancellor’s contract.
Spring is free... again!

Spring is free… again!

Lylah Schmedel-Permanna, Investigations Editor • November 28, 2023
PCCD is offering its districtwide “Spring is Free” initiative for the second year in a row. Tuition and fees will be waived for those who complete the requirements. 
(Image by Randi Cross/The Citizen)

BCC holds events for Undocumented Student Action Week

Emily Tenorio Molina, Staff Writer • November 14, 2023

The week of Oct. 16 marked the seventh annual Undocumented Student Action Week across community colleges in California. Berkeley City College (BCC) held a series of events centering the undocumented student...

Denise Richardson to be permanent BCC President

Denise Richardson to be permanent BCC President

Li Khan, Editor in Chief • October 13, 2023

Berkeley City College’s (BCC’s) new president will be a familiar face. The Peralta Community College District (PCCD) announced Tuesday that Interim President Denise Richardson has been selected...

Meet the three finalists for BCC President

Meet the three finalists for BCC President

Li Khan, Sam O’Neil, and Ian Waters • October 3, 2023

Berkeley City College (BCC) hosted public forums on Sep. 20 for the three finalists in their search to hire a new college president. Each candidate was given 50 minutes to present themselves and field...

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