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

The Citizen
Merritt College to host "Peralta Pumpkin Pursuit" district fundraiser marathon
Merritt College to host “Peralta Pumpkin Pursuit” district fundraiser marathon
October 7, 2025
Leslie Blackie speaks during public comment at the Sept. 23 Board of Trustees study session at Merritt College. (via PCCD livestream)
Student support programs highlighted at Sept. 23 Board of Trustees study session
October 5, 2025
Peralta set to launch campus shuttle service in December
Peralta set to launch campus shuttle service in December
September 29, 2025
Andrea Epps speaks to the Peralta Board of Trustees about an independent analysis into the district's equity as an employer. Despite finding Latinx-identified individuals to be underrepresented among district employees, the analysis did not show "persistent patterns of adverse impact” on hiring “by race, ethnicity, or gender.”
Laney-Merritt merger “concerns” and EEO presentation at Sept. 9 Board of Trustees meeting
September 29, 2025
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
Trellis and sign stand at the entrance to the Urban Community Gardening class plot at the Lakeside Park Garden Center in Oakland, CA., on September 23, 2025. 
Merritt College urban garden class sows “practical skills”
October 6, 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
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
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
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
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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