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

The Citizen
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Merritt College updates its online resources for undocumented students after The Citizen finds outdated information from 2022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
An audience in academic regalia watches a graduation ceremony. One graduation cap reads, "All that I am & hope to be, I owe to those who believed in me[.]" (Photo: Marcus Creel/PCCD)
Gilkerson quells Pell grant fears during federal freeze: “This executive order does NOT impact your financial aid”
January 29, 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

Laney College

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

Engineering students at Laney College get to have a ball while learning coding and design basics
Sam O'Neil, Staff Writer • November 26, 2024
“This class is not like other classes where we just sit in the classroom listening to the teacher trying to give a lecture, but this class is actually hands on,” Wells said. “Everybody is always engaged.”
Laney community reflects on 2024 election results

Laney community reflects on 2024 election results

How is the Laney community responding to the new president-elect? (Spoiler: Mixed emotions.)
Rym-Maya Kherbache, Toni McGhee, and Gabriela Garcia • November 24, 2024
The Laney College community is reacting with mixed emotions and some strong commentary to the outcome of the 2024 presidential election.
A blue phone in the Laney College parking lot. District officials are advising community members to take precaution in parking lot areas after a recent vehicle burglary.

Laney issues safety advisory after vehicle theft in parking lot

Li Khan, Editor in Chief • July 12, 2024
An individual was inside the vehicle when the passenger window was broken into, according to the statement.
Laney College Baseball held a naming ceremony April 26 for its stadium, now called the Tom Pearse Diamond. The name change was approved by the Peralta Board of Trustees at its April 23 meeting. (Photo: Marcus Creel/PCCD)

Laney names baseball stadium, FabLab to relocate and more at 4/23 meeting for PCCD trustees

Eliot Faine, Staff Writer • May 15, 2024

The Peralta Community College District (PCCD) Board of Trustees held a regular meeting on April 23. District achievements and strategies were discussed, contracts approved, and several former PCCD employees...

New Vice President leadership at Laney announced

New Vice President leadership at Laney announced

Besikof selects Lily Espinoza and Ashish Sahni for Laney VP positions
Isabelly Sabô Barbosa, Social Media Editor • May 13, 2024

On April 29, Laney College President Rudy Besikof announced his selection of Lily Espinoza for Vice President of Student Services and Ashish Sahni for Vice President of Administrative Services, pending...

Carpentry instructor spruces up department

Carpentry instructor spruces up department

Matthew Wolpe found his passion for building in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Now he wants to inspire students
Rym-Maya Kherbache, Staff Writer • April 24, 2024
Newly tenured instructor Matthew Wolpe’s path brought him to Laney College, where he has whittled his creative passion into teaching students about building and carpentry.
San Mateo district passes on Besikof

San Mateo district passes on Besikof

SMCCCD to appoint incumbent chancellor Melissa Moreno
Li Khan, Editor in Chief • April 15, 2024
SMCCCD has selected Melissa Moreno for the permanent chancellor. Laney College President Rudy Besikof was one of four finalists for the position. 
Finalists for Laney VP of Student Services share plans for student success

Finalists for Laney VP of Student Services share plans for student success

Deadline for community feedback shortened to Thursday at noon
Romi Bales, Desmond Meagley, and Lylah Schmedel-Permanna • April 10, 2024
The new VP will oversee a number of departments underneath the Student Services umbrella, including the Counseling and Student Accessibility Services.
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...

(Photo: Li Khan/The Citizen)

Finalists announced for Laney College VPs of Student Services, Administrative Services

Public forums to be held April 8-9
Romi Bales, Staff Writer • April 5, 2024

Four fresh faces – and one familiar one – are vying for leadership positions at Laney College. The Peralta Community College District (PCCD) has announced finalists for Laney College Vice President...

Laney President Rudy Besikof announced as finalist for SMCCCD chancellor

Laney President Rudy Besikof announced as finalist for SMCCCD chancellor

Besikof up against two former finalists for PCCD chancellor and incumbent
Timothy Lane, Arts Editor • March 20, 2024

Update: SMCCCD selects Melissa Moreno for chancellor Laney College President Rudy Besikof is one of four finalists for the San Mateo County Community College District’s (SMCCCD) search for a...

Secondhand clothes in a variety of sizes and styles sit on a rack in the newly opened clothing exchange, where PCCD students can now access free clothes and shoes.

Laney clothing exchange gets permanent home

Free 'clothing store' available to Peralta students
Desmond Meagley, Staff Writer • March 11, 2024

A free clothing exchange is now available to all Peralta Community College District (PCCD) students on the third floor of the Laney College Student Center. Any PCCD student can access secondhand clothing...

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