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

The Citizen
A neon sign on the Laney College Tower building lights up at dusk. The Tower houses the offices of administrators, counselors, and other Laney employees.
Besikof Leaves Laney
March 19, 2025
The Board of Trustees listens intently as public comments are under way.
Peralta’s Board of Trustees vote to lay off 68 positions at 02/25 trustee meeting
March 15, 2025
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Merritt College updates its online resources for undocumented students after The Citizen finds outdated information from 2022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
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

Sports

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.”
Basketball legend Gary Payton, who left a coaching gig at Lincoln University earlier this year, has been tapped to lead the College of Alameda's men's basketball team. (Photo: Faiza Ali/PCCD via Peralta Colleges Smugmug)

Lights flash at Payton press conference

CoA's new men’s basketball coach gears up for the season
Ivan Saravia, Staff Writer • September 20, 2024
“I’m coming here to give back,” Payton said, recalling his Bay Area roots.
NBA legend Gary Payton, who recently wrapped up a tumultuous coaching stint at Lincoln University, is set to make a splash at the College of Alameda this fall. (Photo: Keith Allison via Wikimedia Commons)

Exclusive: NBA Hall of Famer Gary Payton lands coaching gig at the College of Alameda

Ivan Saravia, Staff Writer • September 7, 2024
The basketball legend is hopping across the estuary after tumultuous stint at a private nonprofit university in Oakland.
Laney Profile: Robert Crowley

Laney Profile: Robert Crowley

Nebai Esaias, Staff Writer • December 8, 2022

Laney Women's Head Track and Field Coach and Men’s Football Quarterbacks coach Robert Crowley strives to instill positivity in the athletes he works with. His enthusiasm for coaching stems from the...

Laney Eagles defeat Diablo Valley Vikings 27-24

Laney Eagles defeat Diablo Valley Vikings 27-24

Nebai Esaias, Staff Writer • November 9, 2022

The Laney Eagles football team squared off against the Diablo Valley Vikings at Laney College on Friday, Nov. 4. The Eagles held a (6-2) record on the season coming into Friday’s contest, while the...

Laney Eagles Dominate in 45-0 Win vs. San Joaquin Delta Mustangs

Laney Eagles Dominate in 45-0 Win vs. San Joaquin Delta Mustangs

Nebai Esaias, Staff Writer • November 1, 2022

The Laney Eagles football team squared off against the San Joaquin Delta Mustangs at Laney College on Friday, Oct. 28. The Eagles held a 5-2 record on the season coming into Friday’s contest, while...

Laney Eagles suffer first loss of season, fall 14-13 to Fresno City

Laney Eagles suffer first loss of season, fall 14-13 to Fresno City

Nebai Esaias, Staff Writer • October 5, 2022

The Laney Eagles football team squared off against the Fresno City Rams at Laney College on Friday, Sept. 30. The Eagles held an undefeated 4-0 record on the season coming into Friday’s contest,...

Undefeated Laney Eagles defeat Contra Costa Comets 21-7

Undefeated Laney Eagles defeat Contra Costa Comets 21-7

Nebai Esaias, Staff Writer • September 27, 2022

It was alumni night at Laney College on Friday, Sept. 23, as the Laney Eagles football team squared off against the Contra Costa Comets. The Eagles held an undefeated 3-0 record on the season coming...

Carlos Cruz (foreground) celebrates a goal that put his team ahead 1-0. (Ken Lester/ The Citizen)

Oakland Roots’ development team dominates in home opener at Merritt College

Project 51O remains undefeated and is leading the USL League Two Southwest Division after their first 3 games
Ken Lester, Staff Writer • May 25, 2022

Project 51O, the development team for Oakland Roots, opened their USL League Two home schedule at Merritt College on Sunday with a dominant 4-1 victory over Central Valley Fuego FC II. According...

Laney College Baseball excited for a return to full length schedule after historic two-year deviation

Laney College Baseball excited for a return to full length schedule after historic two-year deviation

Pandemic reduced opportunity for players
Ken Lester, Staff Writer • February 23, 2022

When the Laney College baseball team took the field in their season opener on January 27 against De Anza College, it marked what should be the beginning of a return to normalcy for a squad that for the...

Town Roots Rock the South West

Town Roots Rock the South West

Ivan Chairez, Photo Editor • November 12, 2021

Everything may be bigger in Texas, but the heart to win was bigger for the Oakland Roots on Friday, November 5 . The Oakland Roots swept the EP Locomotive off their great plain in the 2021 Western...

What to Expect When Going to a Roots Game

What to Expect When Going to a Roots Game

Ulysses Smith, Staff Writer • October 28, 2021

It was cold, dark but the lights and the crowd led the way. I hadn’t been to a roots game since the pandemic started and this was the warmest of welcomes. We parked on the street completely unaware...

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