Volume 136, Issue 3
News
Briefs
Not
a Baaaaad Idea: Goats clear brush on reservoirs
The reservoirs parking area of the main campus looked like a petting zoo September 19 as a herd of goats grazed the hillside.
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by Daniel JenkinsThe goats, brought in by the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, were provided by Goats-R-Us, a family-owned grazing company based in Orinda.
Students gathered excitedly behind the MUNI stop on Ocean Avenue to gawk at the unusual sight of goats lounging on the wooden "Love Is The Answer" display that sits on the southern hill surrounding the reservoirs.
The herd of 50 goats included a variety of breeds: Angora, Alpine, Spanish, Boer, Pygmy, Lamncha and Nubian. They differed in colors, shapes and sizes.
The goats spent the weekend grazing the hills surrounding the reservoirs, clearing them of excess brush.
Keeping watch over the herd was Oscar Iturra, a shepherd recruited from South America to work for Goats-R-Us. Also there to keep the goats in line was Winnie, a Border Collie.
Iturra remained on the premises in a self-contained travel trailer while the goats were present.
While the herd remained on the hillside behind a portable electric fence, one young doeling named Pepa was allowed to graze in the parking area during the weekend.
Goats-R-Us was founded by Egon Oyarzun and his wife, Terri Holleman, as a way of involving the beloved animals in their everyday life. They began with 54 goats working in neighbor's yards clearing brush and poison oak.
As the company grew, shepherds were brought in from South America to tend the livestock, along with a team of Border Collies that were bred, raised and trained by the Goats-R-Us staff.
The Goats-R-Us livestock have achieved a certain measure of popularity due to their winter brush reduction projects.
Whenever they work in a residential area, neighbors come out to view and enjoy their temporary presence.
Goats-R-Us has a retirement program for their "four-footed employees." When the goats reach old age, their work is limited to local areas around the Goats-R-Us ranch where they can avoid the stress of traveling from one location to another.
Willie goes Pop
Wearing uncharacteristically casual attire, San Francisco mayor Willie Brown greets artist Pop Zhao at the "Celebrate: Life, Liberty & Beauty" event at Ocean Beach September 13. Zhao and volunteers unfurled a "five-mile long" American flag to commemorate the victims of 9/11.
The Chinese-born artist is known for his large scale thematic art involving thousands of participants.
Mayoral Candidates Court Teachers Union
By
Abbey Hayward
Guardsman News Editor
Five of the leading San Francisco Mayoral candidates visited City College's Ocean Avenue Campus on Tuesday, September 9, 2003 for a special American Federation of Teachers (AFT) local 2121 Committee on Political Education meeting (COPE).
COPE is the political arm of the AFT union overseeing endorsements, funding and lobbying efforts. COPE re-ceives it's money through contributions from faculty members in the form of dues. In the last year, COPE has contributed more than $7000 to political initiatives and candidates.
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by Jorge Parada Supervisor
Gavin Newsom speaks at American Federation of Teachers (AFT) local
2121 Committee on Political Education (COPE) meeting.In preparation for COPE's mayoral endorsement decision Allan Fisher, President AFT 2121, organized the City College Mayoral Can-didates Forum. The mayoral candidates in attendance included Supervisor Gavin Newsom-D; Susan Leal-D; Board of Supervisors President, Matt Gonzalez-G; Supervisor Tom Ammiano-D; and Angela Alioto-D.
The event kicked off at 3 p.m. in the Diego Rivera Theater with Supervisor Gavin Newsom as the first speaker. Though each candidate had been allotted a five minute presentation with an additional ten minute question-answer period, Newsom was the only speaker to arrive on time. He held the stage for forty minutes.
Newsom expounded on issues such as affordable housing, homelessness, health care, and the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD).
Newsom championed the Workforce Housing initiative which will expedite construction of over 5,000 affordable homes in the waterfront and downtown districts.
Workforce housing is geared toward families with a yearly income of $85,000 to $110,000, a constituency currently unable to buy homes in this city where the average price for a house is $595,000.
"It is critical we fight for funding and reach out to the private sector; I will not over-promise and under-deliver," said Newsom.
"I am proud of a record of accomplishment, not rhetoric," said Newsome, prompting James Riggs, City College professor of rhetoric to wish Mr. Newsom success.
"To baldly plagiarize Woody Allen, 90% of success is just showing up," said Riggs.
Supervisor Newsom was followed by Susan Leal, Treasurer for San Francisco city and county. Leal also spoke of the necessity for low interest loans for teachers.
"When the state is in such trouble, we must as a city step up and provide financial assistance," said Leal. "The school district has fewer resources to make up for the gap. We have to push the state."
Matt Gonzalez, the only Green Party candidate ever to hold the title of President of the Board of Supervisors, opened his presentation emphasizing his party affiliation.
"Progressive ideas are the best ones at a time when we are economically challenged," said Gonzalez.
Gonzalez stressed the importance of shifting the economy away from a dotcom- and tourist-revenue base to one of protected industry and small businesses.
He suggested that a possible solution to the education budget crisis would be to allocate a percentage of property taxes for the school board.
Gonzalez claimed that more low income housing was needed as well as additional shelters, public toilets and services.
"We've got to take what we've got and demand accountability in these parts and improve," said Gonzalez.
At one point, Gonzalez was heckled by a woman in the back of the auditorium.
Supervisor Tom Ammiano holds a unique position at City College. He was elected in 1990 to the Board of Education. He worked as a Community Resource Teacher for the AIDS Education project at City College and also as a classroom instructor for the ed ucable mentally retarded.
Ammiano spoke in a whirlwind about the necessity for rebuilding the economy, small business support, and low income housing. He proposed that city planners be required to set aside at least 12 percent of new housing developments for affordable housing. Ammiano, like Matt Gonzalez and supervisor Chris Daly, is a supporter of the adoption of a San Francisco Community Land Trust (SFCLT).
Angela Alioto has been District Attorney of San Francisco, as well as an anti-discrimination lawyer. She was the legislator behind the first tobacco ban in San Francisco restaurants as well as the first San Francisco medical marijuana initiative. Ms. Alioto championed proposition J, a campaign finance reform initiative on the November ballot, and condemned proposition M, an initiative penned by Gavin Newsom which will ban 'aggressive panhandling.'
Alioto spoke of the "poor and sick dying on the streets," and how they are criminalized by city officials.
To generate more revenue for schools Ms. Alioto advocated putting pressure on Sacramento officials through the mayor's office. She also insisted that all jobs coming out of the San Francisco Government's offices be contracted to city businesses.
On September 19 the AFT 2121 announced its mayoral endorsement for Supervisor Tom Ammiano. The election date is November 4, 2003.
Educated
Palate Movin' On Up
Downtown campus renovations iinclude upgrade for restaurant
By
Jim Powell
Guardsman Staff Writer
City College's Downtown Campus has been undergoing major renovations since July 2003. Overseeing this effort is David Ligget, director of City College's Department of Facilities, Planning and Construction.
 Courtesy of Regency Virtual Studios A computer-generated rendering of the future Educated Palate restaurant set to include a view of Moscone Center. |
According to Ligget, the most visible changes are being made to the ground floor of the downtown campus building. The main entrance on the corner of Fourth and Mission will be moved further down Fourth street. The lobby is being significantly expanded with the addition of an information and security desk. The bookstore and the counseling offices are also slated for remodeling.
Getting the most significant upgrade is the Educated Palate, a restaurant that will be moved from its current home in the basement to the lobby. The Educated Palate is not only an acclaimed restaurant, it is also a teaching facility where students from the Culinary Arts and Hospitality Studies Department can learn everything from food preparation to restaurant management. After the remodeling has been completed, the Educat-ed Palate will seat 80 and offer views of the Moscone Center.
Some may be curious why so much money is being spent on construction of new facilities, especially considering the budget shortfall that has resulted in class and staff cuts. "The construction is being paid for by bonds approved in 1997 and 2001 by the voters of San Francisco County," said David Ligget. The bonds, totaling $247 million, can only be used for construction. None of the funds for this project come from City College's General Fund, which is used to pay faculty salaries and operational costs.
The ground floor renovations should be complete by March 2004. Construction on the second floor library should begin later this fall as soon as the State Architect approves the plans. The library, as well as added handicapped access for existing bathrooms, should be finished shortly after March 2004.
The downtown campus, located at 800 Mission St., serves over 6,000 students and ranks third in enrollment behind the Ocean and John Adams campuses.
By
Asiana Ponciano
Guardsman Staff Writer
An award ceremony was held honoring the Louise and Claude Rosenberg, Jr. Library and Learning Resource Center on Thursday, Sept. 25.
The Rosenberg Library was given the Excellence in Academic Libraries Award, which is awarded annually to a library from three divisions (university, collegeand community college) nationwide. The award, given by the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL), recognizes outstanding librarians and staff, who work together as a team to further the educational objectives of their institution.
There to receive the award was Rita W. Jones, the Dean and Team Leader of the Rosenberg Library. The ceremony commenced with Jones, who happily shared the spotlight of the event with her fellow librarians and staff.
Chancellor Dr. Phillip R. Day, Jr. and Dr. Anita Grier, the president of City College Board of Trustees was there to present remarks at the lively celebration.
"I also know the hard work that has gone into this library," said Dr. Anita.
"I'm very pleased this afternoon. It is an important event for City College," said Tyrone H. Cannon, the President of the ACRL.
A $3,000 check and glass trophy was presented by Cannon, and Jim Berry, who represented the award's sponsor, Blackwell's Book Services.
When Jones was asked to receive the award, she would not accept it until her colleagues in the audience joined her.
According to Jones, the Rosenberg Library's team served at least 20 to 31 thousand students daily and at least 6 million students since the library's opening. Jones also praised the librarians and staff for their dedication and hard work, which has made the team's mantra, "Helping to Achieve Student Success", a reality.
With flower arrangements and music provided by City College students, the event was also an example of Jones' dedication to students.
"This was a great event for the faculty, staff, as well as students," said Jones. "We have always said we are number one and now we are."