Volume 136, Issue 2
Transgender Professor Granted Tenure
By
Jim Powell
Guardsman Staff Writer
|
photo
by Kent Taylor In a sign of the times, Bob Davis, a beaming bald man wearing a green silk gown and white heels, accepted tenure from City College on Aug. 28, 2003.
Davis is the first transgendered professor to be granted tenure at City College since Governor Gray Davis signed Assembly Bill 196, amending the Fair Employment and Housing Act to ban gender-based discrimination.
Davis was ecstatic, though not surprised, when he received tenure. "The process takes years," he said. As a newly-tenured professor, Davis has job security and can take time to pursue private studies.
Davis, a Philadelphia native, has been teaching music at City College since the summer of 1976 longer than many of his students have been alive. He has also pursued a career as a performance artist and composer, going on numerous American and European tours. He currently lives in Oakland with his partner of 10 1/2 years, a woman.
There are few terms as confusing as "transgender." Davis defines it as anyone who has any degree of identification with the opposite gender.
"Gender is what your mental image of yourself is, which can be at variance with your anatomy," Davis said.
Although he is comfortable in a male identity, he sometimes presents himself as a woman. "I wouldn't wear a dress to class, it wouldn't be appropriate. But I do wear one when I go to the opera or a restaurant."
However, he doesn't try to convince people that he is a woman. "When I wear a dress and makeup, I don't wear a wig. People just see a bald man in a dress."
Davis's gender has been uncomfortable at times for his girlfriends, but he hasn't faced much discrimination.
"It would be a whole different kettle of fish if I hadn't been middle-class, white, and educated," he said. "There are transgendered kids living in the Tenderloin who are so scared of being assaulted because society is uncomfortable with them."
City College Ocean Campus Gets a Facelift
By
Abbey Hayward
Guardsman Staff Writer
 |
In 1997 a bond passed granting City College $50 million for construction and repair of certain buildings. Then again in 2001 Proposition A passed, giving City College a bond of $195 million for the same uses.
This leaves students and faculty alike wondering when and where we will be seeing changes. Much of the work is invisible, behind-the-scenes maintenance, such as electrical rewiring but some changes will be prominent .
A list of projects with start and completion dates, as well as projected construction costs on the City College web site, under Facilities and Planning.
New Look, New Services
Some changes will enhance student services. By mid-October a new Book Loan center will be built in the student union and the old Book Loan location will house the student group S-cubed (Students Serving Students). On the main floor of the student union in the old S-cubed headquarters one will be able to find a rent-a-computer-kiosk, a miniature computer laboratory.
This summer two main levels had new flooring put in. The main bathrooms in the student union are also undergoing some repairs and renovations, which will be complete by mid September.
The stairs of the student union also will be refurbished and a skylight is due to be put in over them, giving the whole building more light.
Around campus other changes occurred. The Conlan Hall testing center was completed. New handrails were put in the Science building in front of the main entrance Olmstead murals. The Creative Arts classrooms were painted, as were the halls (a job which will be completed with in the next month.)
And bleachers for the tennis court next to the south gym were installed, says Tobin Kendrick, the associate director of City College Facilities Planning and Construction.
The biggest jobs are yet to come though.
According to the department of planning, we can expect construction on the Science Building to start in October. The windows throughout the building will be replaced, group by group, since currently they are improperly sealed and in disrepair. This replacement should provide greater energy efficiency as well as a more comfortable environment, says Kendrick.
The most noticeable construction will be occurring at the 200 bungalows. The roof on B214 will soon be repaired, and shortly thereafter B209, home to the Guardsman offices, will temporarily be moved there. Around winter break, or sooner if possible, B209-212 will be demolished, making way for the new two-story student health center with second story classrooms, due to begin in March 2004, with a scheduled completion in December. Upon the completion of that building various departments will find a permanent home in the old student health center.
By the end of this August students should be noticing a 60 x 24 ft. storage building behind B204 and 206. This building was bought for the purpose of storing the contents of B214 (Music) & B206 (Broadcast) while repairs are made to their ceilings. The storage building is, however, permanent.
Batmale Hall will be getting all new exterior doors by October and the Visual Arts Building will have a storage building by December. From March 2004-February 2005 a new Child Development Center will be under construction in part of where parking lot F now resides, and by the end of 2006 we will have a new Performing Arts Center.
The new performing Arts Center will then make the current theater redundant and therefore obsolete and perhaps by 2009 City College will be home to the new Diego Rivera International Studies Center.
These projects will take quite a sum of money but they don't even begin to scratch the surface of the upcoming construction projects on City College campuses throughout San Francisco.
Because
the nature of the student career at City College is transient most of
our current pupils will not see these projects come to fruition. But
the growth of the college, even when projected, benefits us all.
Interim
Campus Security Chief Has Big Shoes to Fill
Baccetti feels no pressure
By
Miles Harwell
Guardsman Staff Writer
With the retirement of long-time Chief Gerald DeGirolamo, the Campus Police Department at City College might have been left in disarray.
"People don't realize how much he meant to not only law enforcement in San Francisco, but in the entire Bay Area," said Kenneth Baccetti about DeGirolano.
But while they are losing a veteran leader, they are gaining an equally qualified replacement in Interim Chief Kenneth Baccetti.
Baccetti has been involved in police work for 22 years. The fact that he always wanted to be a police officer inspired him to work in the field.
Baccetti says that he "wanted to serve the campus community."
Baccetti describes his first experiences on-the-job as gratifying. He got a lot out of helping people who have been violated. He feels it is his job to console these people, while still maintaining professionalism when on- duty. The Campus Police Department at City College is the same as any other police department. They can call for backup if needed, and the police reports and cases are treated the same as those made on the streets by beat cops.
To achieve his current position, Baccetti had to go through normal police training at the San Francisco Police Academy. Over the years he received further training and took classes related to his field.
A notable experience Baccetti recalls was one of his big busts involving a non-student entering the Ocean Avenue Campus for reasons unknown. Baccetti recalls attempting to interview the man, whose jacket then fell off, revealing a 9-millimeter pistol along with two clips of ammunition and a wad of money. After a record check was run on the man, they discovered that he had multiple drug convictions, and he was then taken to jail.
Baccetti feels that over the years he has grown and now has more experience in knowing how to approach victims, suspects and situations in general.
When asked about his predecessor, Bacetti said that Chief DeGirolamo touched the lives of a number of officers, even becoming a second father to some, including Baccetti.
He goes on to describe DeGirolamo not only as a good person who cares, but also as an excellent educator. His students have gone on to excel, and he is proud to say that he has taught them.
DeGiralomo declined to answer any questions concerning his retirement, experience in police work, or his teaching career. But he continues to teach police field work courses in the Administration of Justice Department here at City College.
Baccetti says there is no pressure taking over as chief, and is confident that he can do as good a job, if not better, as DeGirolamo. Whether Baccetti stays on permanently as chief is up to the district, but in his opinion it is an honor to even be named interim chief.
He believes he can impact City College students by implementing a Community Policing System that would involve officers patrolling on foot, and bringing back the Bike Patrol. He believes by doing this officers will become more approachable. However, this system is still a work in progress.
What he likes about the job is the people, calming crisis situations, and working with the faculty and staff at City College. When asked if there is anything he doesn't like about his job, he replied, "Not really."
"We like to feel that the students can approach officers," says Baccetti. "We're here to serve them."
Voter Registration
The voter registration deadline for the Oct. 7 state is Sept. 22, 2003. 15-Day Close of Registration Report for the Oct. 7, 2003 State wide Special Election)
Starting on Oct. 7 (Statewide Special Election) and continuing through the Preside ntial Primary next March, you have many reasons to vote during this academic year. Register now!
To register to vote you must obtain and complete a voter registration form.
Voter registration forms are available at the Student Union - Students Supporting Students office. Register online at www.ss.ca.gov/elections/votereg1.html. Or call 1-800-345-VOTE and request a form.
To register to vote in California you must be a an American citizen, 18 years of age on or before the day of the election. You must be a resident of the State of California; and not be in prison or on parole for the conviction of a felony.
Associated Students Meet
The Associated Students (AS) had their first council meeting Tuesday Aug. 26 and a subsequent agenda review on Tuesday Sept. 2.
The student council, a team of elected students, has a yearly budget of around $260,000 and is responsible for sponsoring various student organizations, such as the Book Loan program and the Woman's Resource Cent er. They also participate in the shared governance of City College administrative affairs.
Their meetings are held in the Student Union every Tuesday from 4-6 p.m. and are open to the public. All are encouraged to bring concerns to the group forum.
Meetings scheduled for Sept. 9 and Sept. 16 will include student club recognition and a discussion of the upcoming budget proposals.
Political proposals such as Proposition54and Proposition L will be discussed.
Muni
Tells City College Students to Take a Fee Hike
Fare increases by 25 Cents
By
Rob Nagle
Guardsman Staff Writer
Tuition increases have inflated the cost of staying at City College. And now rises in public transportation fees have boosted the price of getting there.
 |
For the first time since 1993, the San Francisco Municipal Transit Authority (MUNI) has raised its fare for riding its buses, trolleys and light rail vehicles.
City College students felt that a fare hike was justified.
"If they need it," Ryan McGilley said. Although he didn't like the idea of the Fast Pass going up as well. "If you're a student you should get a discount," he said.
Fares will go up from $1.00 to $1.25, a 25% increase. The monthly Fast Pass will also go up from $35 to $45. Senior, youth and disabled fares will remain the same.
The fare increase began on September 1, 2003.
Michelle Wong responded with a resounding "no,"when asked if she thought the service would get better with the fare raise, saying the buses would "still be all crowded." Nevertheless she still thought taking the bus was better than driving, because the fare increase itself is "way cheaper than gas prices."
According to MUNI's Executive Director Michael Burns in a letter to MUNI employees posted on MUNI's website www.sfmuni.com, the fare increase is a result of "tough economic times and the need to close a budget shortfall." The shortfall Burns refers to exceeds $60 million.
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors approved the fare increase and implemented higher parking fines and fees to help offset the budget shortfall. MUNI will also be relying on federal funds for preventive maintenance and increased contributions to retirement accounts by employees.
MUNI has started an extensive outreach effort in order to educate riders of the fare increase, encouraging them to "bring along an extra quarter," in ads posted on television, in newspapers and at bus stops.
Student Carole Rubinstein felt that although the "drivers are overpaid... we need it."
"There should be some sort of discount for people under 20 or 21" Rubenstein said. " I'm from New York and this is a wonderful transportation system, I love it."