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Merritt College updates its online resources for undocumented students after The Citizen finds outdated information from 2022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