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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

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Laney College student athletes embrace one another as they watch a video tribute to the college's late athletic director and former head football coach, John Beam, at the Dr. Bill Riley Stadium in Oakland, CA on Dec. 10, 2025.

Laney athletic director memorialized in lights during public celebration of life

“Grief is not only about loss,” district chancellor Tammeil Gilkerson said, addressing an audience of hundreds. “It is about responsibility. It asks us, ‘What will you do with the light someone has handed you?”
Desmond Meagley, Editor in Chief • December 11, 2025
A crowd of hundreds gathered outside of the Laney College Bistro on Wednesday to attend a memorial “luminaria walk” honoring the life and career of Laney’s late athletic director and former head football coach, John Beam. The memorial was held on behalf of the Peralta Community College District. Attendees came from in and outside of the district, representing Beam’s colleagues, former students and community partners.
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

Prigden speaks with The Citizen about his experience as a long-time police officer and a new proposal to form a Peralta-led police force through a “hybrid model”.
Stephon Autery, Staff Writer • March 1, 2025

Over the past 30 years, the Peralta Community College District (Peralta) has undergone substantial changes to its security model which continues to evolve. The Citizen interviewed Peralta's recently appointed...

What Really Happened

What Really Happened

admin • April 19, 2019

Laney Tower Cover by Saskia Hatvany Rodent ‘sets off’ electrical failure. Trustees take quick action, hire firm to effect ‘emergency electrical repairs.’ By Saskia Hatvany. Story posted below: https://medium.com/laney-tower/rodent-sets-off-electrical-failure-b6c33d65fd75?source=friends_link&sk=94344e938d334229851011450e2f3850

Oakland gym empowers community

Oakland gym empowers community

Queer body positive exercise space Radically Fit emphasizes movement for health, not looks
Isis Piccillo, Staff Writer • April 19, 2019

Personal trainer and gym founder Luca Page shadowboxes during a “Baes Who Box” class on March 25. Page established Radically Fit to create a safe and welcoming workout space. Photo by Toni Cervantes. Jab,...

Laney College’s Vincent Garrett and Alejandra Landin pose under the seal of the Department of Education seal after receiving technical support for their goal to help students with the Alameda County Clean Slate Program. (Photo: Vincent Garrett/Restoring Our Communities)

Formerly incarcerated? Lose your ‘RAP’!

Alameda County’s Clean Slate Program offers system-impacted a fresh start
Eva Hannan, Co-Editor • April 19, 2019

Drew Gamarra was on the inside. When he finally got outside, he discovered he had no options. “I get it, my background was just too vicious,” he said. “I beat my case, and I came home. They wouldn’t...

Punk’s Not Dead 

Opening night goes off with a bang, keeping the anonymity of the “Pussy Riots” alive
Sydney Toth, Staff Writer • April 9, 2019

The audience bustled in the lobby of the Laney performing arts center on March 22, as anticipation for the play “We Are Pussy Riot or Everything Is P.R.” began to build. An energetic atmosphere seemed...

Former Vice Chancellor Sadiq Ikharo (center) answers questions about the Fire Watch at the Feb. 26 Board of Trustees meeting. His replacement Leigh Sata, was announced on March 26, just days after the fess of the fire watch at Laney reached $100,000

Ikharo placed on permanent leave

Decision underscores longstanding infrastructure deficit; Leigh Sata named interim VC
Saskia Hatvany, Co-Editor • March 29, 2019

Exactly two weeks after Jowel C. Laguerre officially left his position as chancellor, the district announced on May 14 that the vice chancellor of general services, Sadiq Ikharo, had been put on permanent...

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