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

The Citizen
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
The district announced a new app allows students to access campus security, emergency contacts and law enforcement with the touch of a button.
Peralta community members now have access to new safety and security app
May 3, 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
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
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
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
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
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
Romi Bales

Romi Bales, Copy Editor

Romi Bales (they/them) is a Bay Area transplant, originally from San Diego. They are a first-year staff writer with The Citizen and have worked as an editor and Editor in Chief for several academic publications including Humble Pie Literary Magazine, The Production Online Newspaper, and Inscribe Writing and Visual Anthology. They received a Bachelor of the Arts degree in Writing and Literature from the California College of the Arts in 2020. In their free time, Romi enjoys reading and writing queer fiction novels, researching Irish culture, and memorizing information about sustainable farming practices.

All content by Romi Bales
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

The college invited the Board of Trustees and the public to review its accomplishments
Romi Bales and Lylah Schmedel-Permanna
May 28, 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
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?

Each college acknowledged a desire to protect queer students, but institutional approaches have varied.
Romi Bales, Staff Writer
March 14, 2025
Longtime head coach for the Laney College Eagles, John Beam, retired last month from coaching, but will stay on as the Director of Athletics.

In case you missed it: Beam retires, new audit scrutinizes financial oversight and more at 12/10 trustee meeting

Ivan Saravia, Stephon Autery, and Romi Bales
January 28, 2025
Trustees Louis Quindlen (left) and Paulina Gonzalez Brito switched roles at Friday's board elections. (Courtesy of Ken Lester and Paulina Gonzalez Brito)

Quindlen/Brito duo tops board elections for a second year

Romi Bales, Staff Writer
December 17, 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.

[Photo] Multi-layered, highly decorated pastry chef Cheryl Lew brings culture and chemistry to Laney’s culinary department

Rym-Maya Kherbache, Staff Writer
December 11, 2024
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

Rolling river of emotion engulfs audience with a story of love, betrayal, and heartbreak
Romi Bales, Staff Writer
December 8, 2024
Paulina Gonzalez-Brito shares a laugh with The Citizen staff during the publication's public forums held Sep. 23. Area 2 voters re-elected Gonzalez-Brito this month, according to unofficial results from the Alameda County Registrar of Voters.

Paulina Gonzalez-Brito to retain Area 2 seat

Incumbent trustee prepares to tackle finance, facilities
Romi Bales, Staff Writer
November 24, 2024
A new space for LGBTQ+ students has popped up on the Laney College campus. The Queer Community center will host events and offer resources to LGBTQ+ members of the Peralta community.

‘We’re here, we’re in school, we have dreams’: New Laney queer center offers safe haven for LGBTQ+ students

Romi Bales, Staff Writer
November 20, 2024
The newly reopened Laney Cafeteria, packed with students, faculty, and staff, now offers burgers, salads, sandwiches and more.

Four years later, Laney Cafeteria reopens without free meals

Paid offerings include hot bar, grill, grab-and-go items
Romi Bales, Staff Writer
September 20, 2024
PCCD offices. (Photo: Li Khan/The Citizen)

Board bears down on budget at 6/11 meeting

District faces $11.2 million deficit
Romi Bales and Li Khan
July 10, 2024
A cap at the Laney College commencement ceremony on May 24 reads in Spanish, "This is for my mom who gave me everything." (Photo: Marcus Creel/PCCD)

Graduations, resignations and more: PCCD Trustees wrap up school year at 5/28 meeting

Romi Bales, Staff Writer
June 17, 2024
Abigail McMurry, Acting President of Associated Students of Laney College, spoke against last-minute class cancellations at the May 14 Board of Trustees meeting.

[Photo] Class cancellations, basic needs, and ‘flying pigs’ at 5/14 meeting for PCCD Trustees

Ian Waters, News Editor
June 1, 2024
As College of Alameda searches for a new president, The Citizen searched for one of the college's former presidents. The late Jeanette Poore was the first woman to lead a community college in California.

CoA’s mystery woman: The forgotten legacy of the first female community college president in California

Romi Bales, Staff Writer
May 13, 2024
Finalists for Laney VP of Student Services share plans for student success

Finalists for Laney VP of Student Services share plans for student success

Deadline for community feedback shortened to Thursday at noon
Romi Bales, Desmond Meagley, and Lylah Schmedel-Permanna
April 10, 2024
(Photo: Li Khan/The Citizen)

Finalists announced for Laney College VPs of Student Services, Administrative Services

Public forums to be held April 8-9
Romi Bales, Staff Writer
April 5, 2024
CoA community members think carefully about issues facing the college they hope to see the next college leader address. (Photo: Marcus Creel/PCCD)

Some laughs and some big questions at CoA president search listening session

Romi Bales, Staff Writer
March 21, 2024
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