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

The Citizen
Peralta will join in international “Great Shakeout” earthquake drill
Peralta will join in international “Great Shakeout” earthquake drill
October 14, 2025
Chancellor Tammeil Gilkerson speaking to a crowd of Peralta employees during the fall 2025 District FLEX Day at Merritt College in Oakland, CA on Aug. 15, 2025.
Big changes may be coming to Peralta. Here’s the plan so far
October 8, 2025
Merritt College to host "Peralta Pumpkin Pursuit" district fundraiser marathon
Merritt College to host “Peralta Pumpkin Pursuit” district fundraiser marathon
October 7, 2025
Leslie Blackie speaks during public comment at the Sept. 23 Board of Trustees study session at Merritt College. (via PCCD livestream)
Student support programs highlighted at Sept. 23 Board of Trustees study session
October 5, 2025
Peralta set to launch campus shuttle service in December
Peralta set to launch campus shuttle service in December
September 29, 2025
A pair competes in the Potato Dance contest, where two people hold a potato between their foreheads and dance around the arena at the NAHC Powwow at Merritt College in Oakland, CA., on September 27, 2025.
‘Laughter is Medicine’, Annual Powwow highlights Native American healthcare
October 13, 2025
Trellis and sign stand at the entrance to the Urban Community Gardening class plot at the Lakeside Park Garden Center in Oakland, CA., on September 23, 2025. 
Merritt College urban garden class sows “practical skills”
October 6, 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
Mina Spasely, peer mentor for SALAAM learning community and nursing major at College of Alameda, poses in front of the sign for the college. SALAAM aims to uplift CoA students from Arab, Southwest Asian and North African diasporic communities.
SALAAM program helps immigrant women find confidence and careers at CoA
September 19, 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
Berkeley City College Multimedia Arts student Yunha Kim created the new owl mascot in collaboration with Marcus Creel, the district's graphic design specialist. (Owl and banner design via Yunha Kim and Marcus Creel. Used with permission.)
Berkeley City College arts student helps new mascot take flight
April 16, 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
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
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
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
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
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
Peralta Community College District's only student-run publication.

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

The Citizen

Sports

Merritt College to host "Peralta Pumpkin Pursuit" district fundraiser marathon

Merritt College to host “Peralta Pumpkin Pursuit” district fundraiser marathon

The event aims to bring community members of all ages together, while fundraising for the Peralta Colleges Foundation.
Feven Mamo, Staff Writer • October 7, 2025
Merritt College will host the Peralta Community College District’s inaugural Peralta Pumpkin Pursuit 5K run/walk on Oct. 18. 
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

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...

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...

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