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CityTimes www.sdcitytimes.com
Covering the San Diego City College community since 1945
Volume 64, Number 9
March 2, 2010
Walkout of classes planned Campus community to support California Day of Action By DAN BERGER and MARK RIVERA City Times
MINERVA ONTIVEROS Contributor Regional students and faculty raise their voices against the Compton Cookout event at UCSD campus Feb. 24.
UCSD racial tensions on the rise By ERICA ARVIZU City Times
The looming sound of chanting, “Whose campus? Our campus!” grew clearer as hundreds of UC San Diego students progressed toward the Price Center Ballroom for a two-hour “teachin” on Feb. 24, orchestrated by UCSD administration in response to recent racial tension on campus. What started as a flippant theme party hosted by several fraternities at UCSD, advertised as the “Compton Cookout,” has culminated into a heated movement by outraged students and faculty. Blacks, Latinos, whites and others marched side by side, clad in black t-shirts that read “Real pain. Real action. 1.3%” — the 1.3 percent representing the black population at UCSD.
As the masses filtered into the ballroom, the group of energized and emotional marchers used megaphones and drums as they shouted, “We’re fired up, can’t take it no more!” until the meeting was started by the dean of Marshall College. The seats in the ballroom were filled and students took up standing and floor room. Dr. Nadine George was first to take the stage. George’s body of work as professor of Theater, Dance, Performance Studies and African American Studies, has been dedicated to acknowledging and conquering issues of class, age, race and gender inequalities. George described the current state of the campus climate as part of “an ongoing struggle, escalated by recent events.”
See UCSD, page 3
UCSD First-Time Freshman Ethnicity Statistics 2009 African-American
1%
Asian
49%
Mexican-American
12%
Filipino
4%
Latino
3%
Caucasian
22%
Other
9%
In an attempt to demonstrate disapproval of public education budget cuts, City College students, faculty and staff are planning a walk out of classes on on the same day of the National Call for Action on March 4. The Education For All Coalition, a grassroots organization working to mobilize a community response to the economic crisis, has organized a campus Walkout that will begin at 11 a.m. in Gorton Quad. The Walkout asks that teachers bring their students out of the classroom to gather with other faculty, staff, administration, as well as activists to rally against the budget cuts. “Students need to take the lead and get involved,” Tony Perez, a member of the Education for All Coalition, said. “There should be access to education at all levels and for all ages - from the cradle to the grave.” The walk out is in coordination with the California Day of Action budget cut demonstrations involving teachers, students and workers from all sectors of state-wide public education - K-12, adult education, community colleges and state-funded universities. A “teach out” is planned to take place at 1:30 p.m. and will involve peers speaking out and educating their fellow students about the education budget issues. At 1:30 p.m., different members of the student body, mem-
See WALKOUT, page 3
Supporters of 9/11 ‘Truth’ reach goal
Seminar offers financial advice
By ERNESTO LOPEZ City Times
By MEGAN McKEE Correspondent
Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE) hosted their first of several financial literacy seminars to take place on City campus, on Feb. 23, in an attempt to provide education on credit card debt, establishing credit, and budgeting. Event organizer, and City student, Collette DesAulnier was assisted by Chase Peckham, director of community outreach for the nonprofit organization DebtWave. Together they presented a Power Point presentation containing facts, percentages and examples of financial situations likely relating to students. Attendees were presented with a sobering statistic. The average credit card debt of an undergraduate college student could take 18 and a half years to pay off. Those in attendance were also informed about credit card restrictions under the new credit
See ADVICE, page 3
Index
News/Calendar.................... 2-3 Arts........................................ 4 Life......................................... 5 Opinion................................... 6 Sports.................................... 8
CITY COLLEGE 9/11 TRUTH CLUB Courtesy Photo Steve Fahrney, President of City College 9/11 Truth Club (second from left) and Aaron Brown, USD Toreros for Truth (third from left) join members of the San Diego for 9/11 Truth speak at a press conference Feb. 19.
City College’s chapter of Architects & Engineers for 9/11 Truth announced that more than 1000 building professionals have signed a petition demanding the government hold a new investigation of 9/11. Supported by several San Diegans for Truth members, City’s AE911 Truth club, led by student Steve Fahrney, was at Gorton Quad Feb. 18 providing hand outs and complimentary DVDs of their investigation which, allegedly, proves that explosives were used to demolish the World Trade
Center towers and Building 7. The video being played at the quad and handed out to students features Architects & Engineers for 9/11 founder Richard Gage and is entitled “9/11: Blueprint for Truth The Architecture of Destruction.” Gage’s video demonstrates side-by-side examples of controlled demolitions of skyscrapers versus actual video footage of the collapse of the World Trade Towers. It is also the video that has been instrumental in convincing architects and engineers to sign the on-going petition.
See 9/11, page 2
Budget cut march fizzles
Campus leader fears students are falling into protest apathy By ERNESTO LOPEZ and JOHN BALCHAK City Times
A rally and march to the Governor’s San Diego office protesting cuts in college funding planned for Feb. 18 was cancelled at the site due to lack of support
and participation. The Education for All Coalition and Save Our Schools (SOS), distributed fliers and announced the event to be held in Balboa Park but were met with far more members of the San Diego Police Department than demonstrators.
Sidney Martinez, a leader in the pro-education movement, brought a megaphone to the protest and passed out literature concerning future anti-cut actions and political agenda to the few attendees. “Last semester we could
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See FIZZLES, page 3
ERNESTO LOPEZ City Times Sydney Martinez of City’s Save Our Schools coalition makes peace with SDPD officers in Balboa Park on Feb. 18 before the protest on budget cuts was cancelled due to lack of support.
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