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

The Citizen
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Merritt College updates its online resources for undocumented students after The Citizen finds outdated information from 2022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
SEIU 1021 members carry protest signs decrying planned layoffs among Peralta employees. The district recently announced its intent to cut 68 positions across several departments, 44 of which are currently filled.
Proposed layoffs condemned during public comment at 2/11 Peralta trustee meeting
February 20, 2025
(Photo by Li Khan/The Citizen)
PCCD to hold hearing on proposed layoffs
February 10, 2025
Faculty, classified employees, and administrators convened Friday to share ideas for how to repair the district's financial crisis in the long term. The district needs to make at least $11.5 million in cuts next year, but officials say a significant "reimagining" of the district is necessary to sustain the district in the long run.
PCCD is in crisis. Everything is on the table
February 1, 2025
An audience in academic regalia watches a graduation ceremony. One graduation cap reads, "All that I am & hope to be, I owe to those who believed in me[.]" (Photo: Marcus Creel/PCCD)
Gilkerson quells Pell grant fears during federal freeze: “This executive order does NOT impact your financial aid”
January 29, 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
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
November 20, 2024
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
In Director Chelsea Bo's first feature-length film, half-sisters Harper (left, Chelsea Bo) and Georgie (right, Ava Acres), thrown together by circumstance and a weak blood relation, must untie the knots in their relationship. The film won "Jury Prize Feature" at the Alameda International Film Festival last week. (Courtesy: Paxeros)
No Right Way, Chelsea Bo’s hard-hitting emotional rollercoaster about the complexities of sisterhood, shown at Alameda International Film Festival
February 29, 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 19, 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 8, 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
Ryan Barba

Ryan Barba, Editor in Chief

Ryan B. is an Oakland native who is following his passion of writing. It has led to his desire to expand his knowledge and insight in this profession by learning and sharing with others. Ryan attended primary and secondary schools in Oakland and has ties to various community outreach programs throughout the East Bay. Having spent his life in Oakland, he enjoys telling feature stories that are occurring in his community.

All content by Ryan Barba
Into The Unknown: Students turn to optimism in new year

Into The Unknown: Students turn to optimism in new year

Ryan Barba, Editor in Chief
January 18, 2021
Word at the polls

Word at the polls

Here's how East Bay voters were feeling on Election Day
Christy Price, Luke Wrin Piper, William Ink, Menel Raach, Ryan Barba, and Veronica Steiner
November 7, 2020
“Scott Strain sits happily with a cell phone and coffee at a coffee shop in Seattle, WA” Photo Courtesy of Mollie Brown

Remembering Scott Strain: Journalism Instructor and Mentor

Ryan Barba and Luke Wrin Piper
November 7, 2020
Inside our newsroom: Ryan

Inside our newsroom: Ryan

When I think of journalism, I think of truth, integrity and advocacy.
Ryan Barba, Managing Editor
October 26, 2020
Metal barricades stand between graffitied barriers and the vandalized Multnomah County Courthouse in downtown Portland, Oregon on Monday, August, 10. 2020. (Photo courtesy of "Zack")

Surviving Portland: Escaping a Mental Prison

Community College student recalls living in Portland, Oregon during COVID-19 pandemic and days of protest and civil unrest
Ryan Barba, Managing Editor
September 28, 2020
Lock-down Diaries: Ryan

Lock-down Diaries: Ryan

Ryan Barba, Associate Editor
April 25, 2020
text saying peralta classes resume April 6 campsues remain clsoed

Peralta classes resume April 6, campuses remain closed

What students should know before Monday
Isis Piccillo, Jacquelyn Opalach, Ryan Barba, and Kasper Dilmaghani
April 4, 2020
Text: District scrambles to prepare for potential emergency remote teaching

District scrambles to prepare for potential emergency remote teaching

Lack of training, lack of student access to resources troubles instructors
Kasper Dilmaghani and Ryan Barba
March 17, 2020
Geography professor Gregory Schwartz lectures at Laney

The Planet Doctor: Gregory Schwartz

Laney Professor gives his students advice on life, saving the planet
Ryan Barba, Associate Editor
March 10, 2020
Thousands attend Oakland A’s FanFest on brink of 2020 season

Thousands attend Oakland A’s FanFest on brink of 2020 season

Team shares plans for ball park, area developments in Jack London
Ryan Barba, Associate Editor
February 11, 2020
Peralta colleges placed on probation

Peralta colleges placed on probation

Isis Piccillo and Ryan Barba
February 10, 2020
Journalism Department Chair Eleni Gastis stands in front of the renovated newsroom at Laney College room G-233. Photo by Saskia Hatvany

New journalism chair revitalizes department

How Eleni Gastis’ dedication inspires student success
Ryan Barba, Staff Writer
December 11, 2019
Drag queen Orphan Fortune begins her routine on the Laney quad, Nov. 14. (Photo by Ryan Barba/The Citizen)

Talent share at Laney reignites campus vibe

Performing Arts Club showcases immense community talent
Ryan Barba and Luke Wrin Piper
November 21, 2019
Keira is one of five black cats in Ryans’ family. Photo by Ryan Barba.

Black Cats Aren’t Bad Luck

Ryan Barba, Staff Writer
November 8, 2019
Nonprofit leads “Know Your Rights” workshop for Undocumented Student Week of Action

Nonprofit leads “Know Your Rights” workshop for Undocumented Student Week of Action

Ryan Barba and Luke Wrin Piper
November 1, 2019
Still Image from ‘Ad Astra,’ 2 hours 3 mins, rated PG-13, released Sept. 20, 2019.

Movie Review: Ad Astra

Ryan Barba, Staff Writer
October 1, 2019
Phillippa Caldeira, passed away unexpectedly on Aug. 25. Photos by Ryan Barba.

Laney College remembers beloved librarian Phillippa Caldeira

Ryan Barba, Staff Writer
September 23, 2019
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