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

The Citizen
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
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Merritt College updates its online resources for undocumented students after The Citizen finds outdated information from 2022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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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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