The Citizen

Laney student reports rape near campus

Peralta police advise caution when traveling area

Michelle Snider, Editor in Chief • December 18, 2019

OAKLAND, CA — A female Laney College student reported being raped on Thursday, Nov. 7 at Estuary Park, according to an email from Peralta Police Thursday evening. Estuary Park is off the Laney campus...

Former Laney student Oshiana Thompkins shot and killed at Orinda Halloween Party

Michelle Snider, Editor in Chief • November 5, 2019

Laney College President Tammeil Gilkerson confirmed Tuesday that former Laney college student Oshiana Thompkins succumbed to injuries she suffered during a mass shooting that occurred on Oct. 31. She was...

Talking Tech, Social Issues, and Social Equity: TEDx Oakland Comes to Laney

Michelle Snider, Editor in Chief • November 5, 2019

TEDx Oakland was hosted at Laney College on Sunday, Nov. 3 with a heavy focus on social issues, family values and the tech industry’s social influence. Some TEDx speakers reflected on different experiences...

Merritt College to Close Due to PG&E Power Shutoff — All Other Peralta Campuses to Remain Open

Tower Staff • October 8, 2019

Pacific Gas and Electric Company will shut off power to an estimated 800,000 customers, including several Bay Area cities beginning at midnight Wednesday to ensure fire safety during expected high...

In the wake of FCMAT report, Peralta leaders promise change

District heads present budget rehabilitation plan to the California Board of Governors

Saskia Hatvany, Co-Editor • September 17, 2019

Peralta Board President Julina Bonilla presents to the California Board of Governers on Sept. 16. In an unusual session, the fiscal condition of the Peralta Community College...

FCMAT weighs heavy as first Peralta Trustee meeting focuses on fiscal budget

Michelle Snider, Editor in Chief • September 17, 2019

Citing staff mistrust, lack of communication, favoritism and an environment ripe for fraud, the Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team (FCMAT) report loomed over the first Peralta Community College...

Bernie Rallies His Base in Downtown San Francisco

Senator Bernie Sanders holds town hall meeting to hear concerns and reveal plan for student debt

Luke Wrin Piper, Staff Writer • September 6, 2019

Sanders waves to a crowd of over 1,000 at an Aug. 23 town hall in downtown San Francisco. The event focused on student debt and higher education. More than 1,000 potential voters...

Changing Your Brain & Befriending Your Nervous System

My Recommended Resources (mostly budget-friendly)

Thayer Robins, Staff Writer • June 4, 2019

It is a source of unending sadness to me that many of those struggling every day with brain and nervous system conditions believe help is out of reach. Often they are told they need money they don’t...

Stranded in no-man’s-land — Laney reporter travels U.S-Mexico border to document chaos

Toni Cervantes, Staff Writer • May 16, 2019

Find the cost of Freedom Buried in the ground. Mother Earth will swallow you, Lay your body down. -Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young So what the hell is going on down at the border, and why...

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...

Presidential hopeful O’Rourke addresses S.F.

Alice Robinson, Staff Writer • May 16, 2019

Beto O’Rourke has a long, hard road ahead of him — he’s one of 23 Democrats (and counting) who want to be president. But unlike many politicians who want to brag about how great they are, O’Rourke...

Readers converge on Bay Area Book Festival

Annual event in downtown Berkeley hosts authors, vendors, bibliophiles

Isis Piccillo, Staff Writer • May 16, 2019

A honeycomb-setup of authors, vendors, performance stages, and storytime circles drew book-lovers to the Bay Area Book Festival like bees to honey. The festival unfolded over the sunny May 4–5 weekend...