The Citizen

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.

thecitizeneliot · Interview with Alexandra Tejeda Rieloff

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.

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.

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 at the Peralta Community College District – across all four...

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.

(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.

Voting begins for Peralta student government elections

Ongoing student government elections will determine the future of student leadership and transportation access at each Peralta campus

Tamara Copes and Lylah Schmedel-Permanna • April 9, 2025

Let’s get ready to rumble! The 2025-2026 Peralta Community College Student Government elections are currently underway. Peralta students can vote for student representatives at their home college and...

The Locker Room Stall: 47 years of Title IX allegations at Laney College

Nearly 10 years since the Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights mandated their renovation, Laney's locker rooms remain in disrepair.

Eliot Faine and Romi Bales • March 31, 2025

Laney sophomore and shooting guard Adrienne Blackwell says she never uses her college’s locker rooms to change or shower. Neither do her teammates on the Laney Eagles basketball team. The half-functioning...

Besikof Leaves Laney

The college president began a sudden "mutual" administrative leave today, days after Peralta trustees voted unanimously for his non-renewal.

Desmond Meagley, Editor in Chief • March 19, 2025

Today, Laney College President Rudy Besikof began a permanent leave of absence “by mutual agreement” with the Peralta Community College District, pending the end of his contract on June 30. Besikof announced his departure from Peralta in an email addressed to the “Laney Community” on Tuesday.

Laney Art students get crafty in new gallery show

"Clay Paper Wood" melds Art and CTE student creations together in free multimedia exhibition

Emiliano Villa, Staff Writer • March 10, 2025

Clay Paper Wood highlights ceramics, prints, and woodworks by Laney’s advanced student-artists, and features the works of over 20 Laney Ceramics, Printmaking, and Wood Technology students.

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

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.