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

The Citizen
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
A neon sign on the Laney College Tower building lights up at dusk. The Tower houses the offices of administrators, counselors, and other Laney employees.
Besikof Leaves Laney
March 19, 2025
The Board of Trustees listens intently as public comments are under way.
Peralta’s Board of Trustees vote to lay off 68 positions at 02/25 trustee meeting
March 15, 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?
March 14, 2025
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
March 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
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
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
Ehren Tool throws a cup during a demonstration at Laney College Ceramics studio on May 8. Tools renowned work cannot be bought, only give. Photo by Alice Robinson.

Gulf War veteran depicts the horrors of conflict 

UC Berkeley ceramics mechanician molds cups into visceral anti-war message
Alice Robinson, Staff Writer • May 16, 2019

Ehren Tool, a ceramics mechanician and self-described “kiln bitch” at UC Berkeley, came to the Laney College ceramics lab May 8 to talk about his personal odyssey. Joining the marines led him to serve...

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...

Remembering 1963 — Laney Tower Cover Art for March 14

admin • March 26, 2019

This cover art reflects the history of 1968 Olympic winners Tommie “Jet” Smith and John Carlos protesting racial inequality in the U.S. Toni Cervantes was an Olympic swimmer who witnessed the events...

Ancient art of ceramics now ‘cool’ at Laney — Club president Spring Montes ‘pushes boundaries of…

admin • March 16, 2019

by Eva Hannan/Co-editor President of the Ceramics Club Spring Montes smiles as she displays ceramic art pieces. Photo by Teihui Fan/Tower StaffHave you heard? Clay is cool again! One of the most...

‘The Art of Living Black’ is back — Annual Richmond show makes appearance at Laney’s June…

admin • March 1, 2019

by Sydney Toth Art from “The Art of Living Black” exhibit will be displayed at the Laney June Steingart through March 15. Mark Sublett’s “Wishful Thinking.” “The Art of Living Black”...

Tower Watch — First impressions of Laney

admin • February 5, 2019

Piles of hosing, bags and trash almost block an entrance near the Art Building.The chair of the Art Department, Anna Vaughan, returned to campus Jan. 16 and was dismayed with what she found. “There...

Review — An experience at the Laney Bistro

admin • December 21, 2018

Student-run lunch spot delights with culinary expertise and friendly atmosphere by Alice Robinson Meatball sandwich and garlic fries include fresh baked ciabatta bread. (photo by Michelle Snider)Restaurants...

Treasure Island Music Festival Shores Up in Oakland

admin • October 27, 2018

International performance group “Big Nazo” entertains crowds with bizarre and hilarious music and creative costumes. Thousands turned out for the weekend-long festival at Middle Harbor Shoreline...

Exploring shades and hues

admin • September 29, 2018

By Spencer Bell For those who appreciate creative skill and imagination, “Fall from Grace” is a beautiful and emotionally powerful art show at the Laney College Photography Department gallery...

Park Jam sizzles

admin • September 8, 2018

By Michelle Snider In the spacious outdoor area of the Oakland Museum of California, “Park Jam” had its first premiere. Headliner Daveed Diggs, who performed with his hip-hop group, “clipping.”,...

Art for peace

admin • May 29, 2018

by Alice Robinson Laney student Tsungwei Moo with a sculpture of her now-deceased boyfriend, Ricardo Distin, who was shot and killed in 2017. (Photos by Nicole Lovett)Tsungwei Moo toiled steadily...

Ceramics loses only full-time instructor, no replacement in the works

admin • May 29, 2018

by Alice Robinson Ceramics Instructor Larry Henderson, near a kiln he recently repaired. Henderson said that around 150 students took his ceramics classes during the 2018 spring semester. (Photo...

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