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

The Citizen
SEIU members pack the Board of Trustees regular meeting at the Peralta District Offices, Aug. 26, 2025.
Board hears union opposition during public comment and more at Aug. 26 Board meeting
September 9, 2025
Peralta Chancellor Tammeil Gilkerson introduced her recommendation to merge Laney College and Merritt College at a recent district professional development day. Historically, Laney and Merritt were once two campuses of one school -- Oakland City College.
BREAKING: Peralta chancellor recommends merge between Merritt College and Laney College
August 15, 2025
Students walk through campus at Cabrillo College in Aptos on Dec. 7, 2023. Photo by Loren Elliott for CalMatters
A safety net for struggling colleges is expiring. Why the Bay Area will be hit hardest
June 30, 2025
Peralta seeks proposals for new security vendors
Peralta seeks proposals for new security vendors
May 30, 2025
As a part of a tour of visits and study sessions at all four Peralta campuses, the Board of Trustees made their final stop at the College of Alameda.
April 22 Board Brief: College of Alameda highlights its academic programs and district enrollment trends
May 28, 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
Graphic by Ivan Saravia, Sept. 1 2025.
Peralta in the roots of Oakland labor history
September 1, 2025
Laney College Machine Technology students construct this high-powered reflector telescope as they progress through their training. The project teaches students how to create complex parts out of various materials using precise tools.
(VIDEO) Laney’s student-built telescope launches machining careers
April 16, 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
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
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
Eliot Faine

Eliot Faine, Multimedia Editor

Eliot Faine is a journalist based in Oakland. Faine believes in empowering individuals to make informed decisions, and telling stories that restore power to communities. Outside of the newsroom, they have an affinity for all things wild. Faine uses they, them, theirs or he, him, his pronouns, or anything said respectfully.

All content by Eliot Faine

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
College of Alameda counselor and SALAAM co-founder Fathia Mohamed laughs in front of a yellow rose bush, Thursday Sept. 18, 2025. Alameda, CA.

[Photo] SALAAM program helps immigrant women find confidence and careers at CoA

Romi Bales, Copy Editor
September 19, 2025
Graphic by Ivan Saravia, Sept. 1 2025.

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
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
Many of PCCD's neglected facilities need critical repairs, leading to high costs, Deputy Chancellor and Chief Operating Officer Greg Nelson said during the November meeting.

Facilities ‘in the red,’ districtwide employees get 1 percent raises and more at 11/12 meeting for Peralta trustees

Eliot Faine, Staff Writer
December 11, 2024
Citizen Staff Writer Eliot Fane pays a visit to PCCD's cat community. Photos by Stevie Campos-Seligman.

The Feline Freaks Come Out at Night:  Peralta District Office’s Nocturnal Neighbors

Eliot Faine, Staff Writer
November 3, 2024
Vasquez and Masand at a Feb. 27 trustee meeting.

[Photo] Bond update, student trustee vacancy, and new blue phones at 6/25 meeting for trustees

Li Khan, Editor in Chief
July 29, 2024
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
VC of General Services retires

VC of General Services retires

New security survey, search for PCCD General Counsel, and more announced today
Eliot Faine, Staff Writer
April 22, 2024
(Illustration: Eliot Faine/The Citizen)

CoA to host blood drive

College health coordinator says blood donations fell during pandemic
Eliot Faine, Staff Writer
April 13, 2024
(Photo: Glen Carrie/Unsplash)

Student elections open today. Has voter information been ‘widespread’?

Eliot Faine, Staff Writer
April 9, 2024
Student Trustee Natasha Masand believes her voice has the power to impact the PCCD community.

[Photo] Student Trustee Natasha Masand finds her voice

Isabelly Sabô Barbosa, Social Media Editor
March 19, 2024
Chancellor Tammeil Gilkerson shared new changes to the district's organizational structure in a March 1 Youtube update. (Source: PCCD)

PCCD Chancellor announces decision to hire new Chief Operating Officer

Organizational changes will eliminate VC of Finance, General Services
Eliot Faine, Staff Writer
March 9, 2024
Student Trustee Naomi Vasquez, who was sworn onto the Peralta Community College District Board of Trustees on Dec. 12, 2023, sees her role as an opportunity to uplift her fellow students and advocate for the value of a community college education.

[Photo] Student Trustee Naomi Vasquez aims to lift voices and empower students at PCCD

Isabelly Sabô Barbosa, Social Media Editor
February 28, 2024
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