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
A San Francisco Park ranger stands guard for a Holocaust survivor portrait exhibit which features 80 portraits at San Francisco City Hall Square. (Photo: Michelle Snider/The Tower)

Right-wing rally advocates to uncensor hate speech

Michelle Snider, Co-Editor • May 16, 2019

Portraits of Holocaust survivors gazed towards the steps of San Francisco’s City Hall as an anti-feminism speaker chanted “hate speech is free speech,” and “free speech, not safe spaces,” at...

A charred school bus lies among debris at the entrance of Pine Ridge Elementary School in Magalia, California, one of the communities heavily impacted by the 2018 Camp Fire. Upwards of 70 volunteers descended on the school April 27. to plant gardens and work the land at the only school still operating within the burn zone.

Restoring Paradise with Permaculture

California’s first ecosystem restoration camp rejuvenates school in the Camp Fire area
Saskia Hatvany, Co-Editor • May 7, 2019

Down a dusty road in a field between two California highways in Butte County, a herd of cattle greeted volunteers as they arrived to a small oasis. Visitors were assailed by a dry breeze similar to...

Oakland gym empowers community

Oakland gym empowers community

Queer body positive exercise space Radically Fit emphasizes movement for health, not looks
Isis Piccillo, Staff Writer • April 19, 2019

Personal trainer and gym founder Luca Page shadowboxes during a “Baes Who Box” class on March 25. Page established Radically Fit to create a safe and welcoming workout space. Photo by Toni Cervantes. Jab,...

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...

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...

Emmy-winning journalist showcases work — Cott talks to media class, explores the contrasts and…

admin • March 16, 2019

by Sydney Toth Emma Cott presents clips of her work, such as ‘The Waiting Room,’ which documents patients and providers at Highland Hospital, and was short-listed for an Academy Award in 2012.One...

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...

Rousing welcome for ‘Year of the Boar’

admin • February 14, 2019

by Isis Piccillo/Tower Staff Writer Cover image by Toni Cervantes/ Tower Staff Photographer Taiko drummers perform at the Oakland Museum of California on Feb. 10 as part of the museums Lunar...

Club Rush shakes up Student Center

admin • February 14, 2019

Emcee Sheon Slaughter, DJ Turbo Flash bring energy to semi-annual event by Jordan Hankston/Tower Writer An ariel drone from the Laney drone club flys overhead at Club Rush. The Drone Club helps...

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...

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