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

The Citizen
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
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
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
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
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
Tony Claar, an animation instructor at Laney College, passed away at 74. (Photo: Li Khan/The Citizen)

At annual student artwork showcase, Graphic Arts Department honors recently deceased instructor

‘Visual fiesta’ closes with a dedication to Tony Claar, animation instructor
Li Khan, Editor in Chief • January 24, 2024
At a “bittersweet” Graphic Design Showcase on Dec. 14, the Laney College Graphic Arts Department celebrated student artwork while honoring the memory of animation instructor Tony Claar, who passed away just days before.
The melted three-phase switch that powers the Student Center and the F building was compromised when a rodent touched two poles and caused a 1200 volt ‘arc flash’ that compromised the power distribution to the buildings on March 28, causing students, faculty and personnel to evacuate.

Rodent ‘sets off’ electrical failure

Trustees take quick action, hire firm to effect ‘emergency electrical repairs’
Saskia Hatvany, Co-Editor • April 19, 2019

In an emergency meeting on April 15, the Peralta Board of Trustees unanimously approved a $220,108 contract for Rosendin Electrics to effect “emergency electrical repairs” to the Laney College Student...

Laney Tower delegates pose for a photo on March 30 at the 2019 Journalism Association of Community Colleges conference awards ceremony. Reporter Isis Piccillo won first place in an opinion writing contest, Tower co-editor Saskia Hatvany placed in the news writing and editorial cartoon categories. Photo by Eleni Gastis / Laney Faculty.

Spirited journalists swarm Sacramento

Califorina’s JACC Statewide conference kicks off: Laney Tower wins 11 awards
Jordan Hankston, Staff Writer • April 19, 2019

Curiosity, passion, courage and ethics are the qualities that drive a journalist’s heart. Community college journalism students gathered to celebrate these qualities in what could prove to be a life-changing...

Starting pitcher Ricky Hernandez throws against Mendocino College April 9 at home. He came within one out of throwing a complete-game shutout.

Hernandez a bright spot for Eagles baseball

Sophomore pitcher leads Bay Valley Conference in wins and strikeouts
Eva Hannan, Co-Editor • April 19, 2019

Laney College’s baseball season may not be going as well as hoped, but the campaign might have been a lot worse if it weren’t for players like pitcher Ricky Hernandez. The starting pitcher, who...

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...

Former Vice Chancellor Sadiq Ikharo (center) answers questions about the Fire Watch at the Feb. 26 Board of Trustees meeting. His replacement Leigh Sata, was announced on March 26, just days after the fess of the fire watch at Laney reached $100,000

Ikharo placed on permanent leave

Decision underscores longstanding infrastructure deficit; Leigh Sata named interim VC
Saskia Hatvany, Co-Editor • March 29, 2019

Exactly two weeks after Jowel C. Laguerre officially left his position as chancellor, the district announced on May 14 that the vice chancellor of general services, Sadiq Ikharo, had been put on permanent...

‘Fire Watch’ costs Laney $12,000 per week — Oakland Fire Department reports a host of…

admin • March 16, 2019

by Saskia Hatvany/Co-Editor A flyer posted by the Oakland Fire Department on the front of the Laney Student Center lists fire watch protocol.Laney College has been on fire watch since Jan. 22, and...

Convention center renovations set to begin-Construction on the Henry J.

admin • March 16, 2019

by Michelle Snider/Co-Editor The Henry Kaiser Convention Center near Laney College has lain dormant for over 15 years. Orton Development presented plans at Laney College on Mar. 2 for the...

1968 Olympic protest still resonates — Tower staffer was an eyewitness to climactic events in…

Wen Li • March 16, 2019

by Toni Cervantes/Tower Staff Writer Olympic swimmer Toni (Hewitt) Cervantes was deeply affected by the events at the Mexico City Games. It was 1968: a tumultuous year in both politics and sports....

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...

Word on the Quad — What are the political issues today that concern you the most?

admin • March 16, 2019

by Toni Cervantes Joseph Heuken — Machine TechnologyBetter job training is very important to me. I’d like to see more apprenticeship programs that are more hands-on. You learn stuff at school...

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