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
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
An unexpected path

An unexpected path

Community college made my dream possible
Sydney Toth, Staff Writer • May 10, 2019

Growing up, I was told that to fit the mold for a “perfect” life I must attend a four year college straight after high school. I was told work hard, get good grades and graduate with an acceptance...

Tower Staff Writer Isis Piccillo

Got $$$? We got the college

 Admissions scandal: a new outrage but old news
Isis Piccillo, Staff Writer • April 9, 2019

The overwhelming response I’ve observed from the recent college admissions scandal is that many are appalled, but few are surprised. Of course rich people are bribing and cheating the system. This...

Coral reefs lead to Laney classroom-Engineering instructor Barkdull works on Ph.D.

admin • March 16, 2019

Isis Piccillo/Tower Staff Writer Mallory Barkdull swims with massive fish in Palau for her environmental fluid mechanics research on coral reefs. Barkdull plans to continue her position as instructor...

In loving memory of KeithWelch, Laney Hero-Students, administrators and friends mourn the loss of…

admin • March 16, 2019

by Michelle Snider/Co-editor Keith Welch graduated from Laney with the class of 2018 and worked tirelessly to help others succeed in their educational goals.Mourning the loss of Laney College alumni...

Teachers’ Strike comes to Oakland

Wen Li • March 1, 2019

Oakland Education Assn. president Keith Brown leads a march to the OUSD district office in downtown Oakland on Feb. 21. The purpose of the teachers’ strike is for higher teacher wages, more...

Broke on purpose — Clash between charter and public school proponents deepens as strike continues

Wen Li • March 1, 2019

President of Oakland Education Association Keith Brown stresses the importance of bringing back the kinds of resources and services that students used to have in Oakland schools.by Michelle Snider A...

Failing our students — The American public school system still has a long way to go; what can be…

Tamia Lane, Column Writer • February 28, 2019

By Tamia Lane We all believe that school systems could do a lot more to improve kids’ learning experiences, whether they are in grade school, middle school or high school. African Americans...

Some students are lost — Navigators Club at Laney can help

admin • February 14, 2019

by Eva Hannan, Co-Editor Laney College Navigators Club President Evetta Williams (right) and Greg Lowerie discuss the nuances of the organization’s goals during a recent Welcome Week event. Photo...

Repair of broken elevator is huge releif for culinary arts students and instructors

admin • December 21, 2018

by Michelle Snider Culinary Arts Department instructor Lawrence Jackson measures the distance to a working elevator. (photo by Michelle Snider)Culinary Arts students and staff had cause for elation...

Facebook to offer tuition-free course

admin • November 9, 2018

Peralta’s ‘historical’ partnership with tech giant set for spring at Merritt campus Saskia Hatvany, Laney Tower Staff Writer Facebook’s Chief Diversity Officer Maxine Williams addressed the...

‘Decision Peralta’ lacks main ingredients

‘Decision Peralta’ lacks main ingredients

admin • October 26, 2018

(Left to Right) Trustee Linda Handy, Peggy Morre (Trustee Riley rep), and Cleavon Smith (representing Cindi Reiss), held forth in ‘Decision Peralta’ in the Laney College Forum on Oct. 17. (Photo...

Candidates to speak in Laney Forum Oct. 17

admin • October 11, 2018

‘Decision Peralta’ will include a chance for audience questions and concerns By Eva Hannan You are invited to participate in “Decision Peralta,” a candidates’ night on Wednesday, Oct. 17,...

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