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

The Citizen
Mark Johnson stands in front of an archival display of promotional Peralta materials in Oakland, Calif. on April 23, 2026.
Peralta’s Director of Marketing, Communications, and Public Relations to retire
June 17, 2026
A look at Peralta’s crime data
A look at Peralta’s crime data
June 9, 2026
Photo taken by Li Khan, edited on Canva
Meet the candidates for Peralta’s Executive Vice President of Student Learning and Success
May 20, 2026
Notebooks on sale at the Bookstore at Laney College in Oakland, CA on May 6, 2026.
District’s only remaining bookstore will be online for summer
May 20, 2026
A ballot drop box sits on the corner of Oak and 12th Streets in Oakland, CA. on May 14, 2026.
What to know about Peralta’s Measure A on the June ballot
May 16, 2026
Mark Johnson stands in front of an archival display of promotional Peralta materials in Oakland, Calif. on April 23, 2026.
Peralta’s Director of Marketing, Communications, and Public Relations to retire
June 17, 2026
Raha Banoo, left, shows printmaking instructor Alex Echevarria, center, and classmate Abigail Shaw, right, a print of her work in the printmaking studio at Laney College in Oakland, CA. on Monday, Oct, 6, 2025.
Laney College printmaking instructor makes lasting impression; student work on display at SFO Museum
May 2, 2026
Laney College custodian, Dwayne Jefferson, pauses for a moment from work at Laney College in Oakland, CA on Dec. 4, 2025.
Tea with Tamara: Dwayne Jefferson, custodian at Laney College
April 24, 2026
Laney gardener Bahadur Rai watering vegetables at the Laney Community Garden at Laney College in Oakland, CA on Oct. 1, 2025.
Laney College’s garden has a history of collaboration with Oakland’s immigrant communities
April 21, 2026
Laney College culinary student Miracle Law-White smiles for photo on Feb. 27, 2026 at Peralta District Office in Oakland, CA
Peralta Colleges Foundation hosts fundraising events for student programming
March 26, 2026
Raha Banoo, left, shows printmaking instructor Alex Echevarria, center, and classmate Abigail Shaw, right, a print of her work in the printmaking studio at Laney College in Oakland, CA. on Monday, Oct, 6, 2025.
Laney College printmaking instructor makes lasting impression; student work on display at SFO Museum
May 2, 2026
Featured artist Terra Wong (left) looking at "Blink" by Jillian Freiheit during the Here and Now art exhibition reception at the June Steingart Art Gallery at Laney College in Oakland, CA on April 16, 2026. Freiheit and Wong both received awards for their submissions during the reception.
June Steingart Gallery hosts final exhibition in the Laney Tower
April 24, 2026
Left to right: Gavin Piedra, Arctomy Padilla, and Mariah Pon, organizers of the Student Arts Guild, prepare for a Club Rush event.
Submissions now open for Berkeley City College student-run art show
October 21, 2025
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”
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
September 24, 2025
Illustration and animation by Rachel Venable
Empty Promises: The disparity of inconsistent access to menstrual hygiene
May 6, 2026
Illustration by Eliot Faine, photo background by Romi Bales.
Student journalists have temporary roles, but a permanent responsibility
February 26, 2026
A student safety aide crosses the Laney College Quad at dusk in Oakland, CA on Nov. 20, 2025.
How The Citizen covered the Laney College shooting, and why our security reporting matters
November 26, 2025
Graphic made in Canva
Dial Tones and Disengagement: A student election marked by silence
October 16, 2025
Graphic of a student journalist, using a rolled up newspaper to break the ribbon of silence.
The Citizen will not “take down” the truth
October 4, 2025
A look at Peralta’s crime data
A look at Peralta’s crime data
June 9, 2026
Graphic by Desmond Meagley
Emergency alerts sent over 20 minutes after the Laney College shooting raise concerns
February 13, 2026
A CoA counselor was told to cancel an unvetted “class” – then promoted a nearly identical one
A CoA counselor was told to cancel an unvetted “class” – then promoted a nearly identical one
October 29, 2025
An athlete looks down the dark stairwell towards the locker rooms. Illustration by Eliot Faine
The Locker Room Stall: 47 years of Title IX allegations at Laney College
March 31, 2025
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
Peralta Community College District's only student-run publication.

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

The Citizen

Editor’s Pick

The Citizen receives honorable mention in NPR’s College Podcast Challenge

The publication's entry in NPR's nationwide contest told the story of how Peralta's only student-run newsroom covered the Nov. 13 Laney College shooting. Listen to "PCCD Alert" here.
Desmond Meagley, Multimedia Editor • March 9, 2026

The Peralta Citizen received an honorable mention for the publication's entry in NPR's nationwide College Podcast Challenge on Thursday. "PCCD Alert -- how a team of community college reporters investigated...

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.
Laney College Machine Technology students construct this high-powered reflector telescope as they progress through their training. The project teaches students how to create complex parts out of various materials using precise tools.

(VIDEO) Laney’s student-built telescope launches machining careers

The Laney Lunar Looker project is part of a "massive modernization" that recently took place within the college's Machine Technology program.
Desmond Meagley, Editor in Chief • April 16, 2025
The Laney Lunar Looker is a telescope prototype that Laney College machining students build from scratch as a part of their career training. The Citizen's co-editor in chief Desmond Meagley spoke to Adam Balogh, Laney's Machine Technology department chair, to learn about how the telescope is built — as well as what opportunities his program provides for students who are seeking an education in a skilled trade.
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

District Chancellor Gilkerson called the reductions in force a “survival strategy.”
Rachel Venable, Staff Writer • February 20, 2025
Peralta’s classified employee union protested a recent budget proposal during the public comment portion of the Feb. 11 Board of Trustees meeting. Armed with purple signs and heartfelt comments, a small crowd of classified employees filled the Peralta Community College District boardroom to oppose the elimination of 33 classified positions.
Sunshine Week 2024: Spotlighting public records

Sunshine Week 2024: Spotlighting public records

A multi-year investigation into public records related to campus security, public funds, and more
Li Khan, Editor in Chief • March 17, 2024
As the news cycle churns on and current events beg for our attention, some public records that we obtain inevitably end up collecting dust in the corner. In honor of Sunshine Week, we’ve decided to dust off some of those records, and shed light on public information.
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

Jazz professor Glen Pearson performs with legendary Count Basie Orchestra, which took home a Grammy this year
Desmond Meagley, Staff Writer • March 4, 2024

Seated at his piano in room G-119, between stacks of papers and cardboard boxes, Glen Pearson effortlessly hammers out snappy blues melodies with the flick of a wrist for his jazz ensemble students. His...

(Graphic: Li Khan/The Citizen. Photo courtesy of Laney College)

Q&A with incoming chancellor

Tammeil Gilkerson shares her background and plans for leadership
The Citizen Staff • December 3, 2023

Peralta Community College District's incoming chancellor, Tammeil Gilkerson, is set to begin her term on Jan. 4 of next year. Gilkerson – the district’s first permanent chancellor in over three years...

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