SNUFFED: New Ordinance Tells Students to Kick Butt

BY DANIEL MARTINEZ
Contributing Writer

City College students have been barred from smoking near campus buildings ever since California Assembly Bill 846 went into effect on Jan. 1.

PHOTOS BY ERIC CHAVEV

Widely viewed as a victory for tobacco control advocates, AB 846 states that "No public employee or member of the public shall smoke any tobacco product inside a public building, or in an outdoor area within 20 feet of a main exit, entrance, or operable window of a public building."

"(The law) creates some barriers to help people quit easier," said Sarah McCuskey, a nurse practitioner at City College's Student Health Center who helps with smoking cessation.

But McCuskey feels a smoke-free campus would be an even more effective deterrent. "There are ways to stop smoking, but you have to want to stop smoking... To have to leave campus to smoke would help students question whether or not this is a worthwhile aspect of their lives," she said.

City College student Paulette Bleam said the new ordinance protects the health of those who don't smoke, including herself: "I totally support the Assembly Bill 846. I feel as though smokers do not need to stand right near a door to a public building where smoke lingers and non-smokers cannot avoid it."

"I love to smoke and wish we could actually smoke in class," said Jamie San Felippo, a student who, unlike Bleam, wants fewer smoking regulations.

But AB 846 is not always followed on campus. The pathway between the Creative Arts and Arts Extension buildings is littered with cigarette butts as close as seven feet from the entranceways.

PHOTOS BY ERIC CHAVEZ

Kenneth L. Baccetti, interim City College police chief, said his office doesn't receive many complaints about smoking near building. Baccetti added that most students aren't aware of the new regulations and usually receive a verbal warning.

Non-smokers at San Francisco State University also appreciate the new law, even though there are difficulties enforcing it. "Most benches and sitting areas are about 15 feet away from the buildings," said Jen Gasca, an SFSU student.

Lynzy Peters, also an SFSU student, asked, "Is 20 feet going to make that much difference? I guess it does, but you know ... smoke floats."

---

Marlene Dugyawi Elected ASC 2004-2005 President

BY ADAM BRODY
Contributing Writer

Associated Students Council election results were posted on April 29, declaring Marilyn 'Marlene' Dugyawi AS president of Ocean campus with 44.4 percent of the vote.

ROSALIND KWAN / GUARDSMAN Debbie Phelps and Sandy Cheng register a student to vote.

Also on the ballot, Veronica Lawrence took 41.9 percent of the vote over Carol Hudson's 34.1 percent for student trustee.

Sizzi Kong and Lili Zhang were the only two of the 17 hopefuls for senatorial seats who didn't make the cut.

Proposition A ­ which would es-tablish a socially responsible investment fund at City College ­ passed with a whopping 64.7 percent of the vote. Proposition A was sponsored by student group No Big Tobacco.

Dugyawi, a nursing/sociology major who ran as part of the Students United slate, is currently vice president of the Inter-Club Council, which consists of approximately 40 clubs and over 600 registered student members. She feels the position has made her a "helpful and efficient student leader" at City College.

Dugyawi said she was pleased with the large turnout of voters, attributing her victory to enormous effort and the faith that "students like our agenda."

Marilyn Dugyawi

She said she doesn't want to sound like a politician, and suggested there is a big difference between politicians and AS council members.

"We are not out for personal gain," Dugyawi said.

Dugyawi's goals for the future include the creation of the Queer Resource Center and continuing current endeavors.

"I want to make sure all the things we started get implemented," Dugyawi said. "It's on its way."

A strong supporter of Proposition A, she hopes it will help generate the revenue needed to compensate for the impending budget cuts.

The proposition would require the the City College Foundation to invest in companies that have operations sympathetic to social and environmental causes.

Opponents of the proposition claim it will limit the college's financial possibilities and lower investment revenue.

---

Beloved Business Professor Dies of Heart Attack While Teaching Class In Cloud Hall of Heart Attack

Craig Kuhns, 76, considered City College his family

BY MARLON LUMANG
Staff Writer

City College professor of business Craig Kuhns, 76, died of a heart attack Friday, April 30 while teaching a class in Cloud Hall.

PHOTO COURTESY BUSINESS DEPT.

"Craig always wanted to die with his boots on," Chancellor Philip Day Jr. said.

Kuhns graduated from University of California at Berkeley and became a City College instructor in 1963.

After 41 years of teaching, Kuhns was still passionate about inspiring his students.

"We thought he was never going to retire," said Mary Oldham, also a business instructor. "We thought we would be retired and he would still be teaching."

Kuhns is survived by his sister, nieces and a nephew, all of whom reside in Southern California.

"If the truth be known, City College was his family," Day said.

A memorial service honoring Kuhn's life and achievements will be held on May 13 at Ocean campus' Pierre Coste Dining Room from 4 pm. - 5:30 p.m.

---

Campus Pulse
Compiled by Ben Schneider with photos by Anthony Castellano.

Alemany Campus

Nearly 160 students recent visited the Oakland Museum. A trip to Angel Island is scheduled for the end of the semester. For more information, call (415) 561-1875.

Mission Campus

The campus will temporary move to Alabama and 17th streets at the end of July to accommodate construction projects.

John Adams Campus

Students from the campus' paramedic, medical assistant and ceramic classes are preparing to graduate. Graffiti on campus is becoming a problem, and anyone with information should call campus security at (415) 239-3200. Construction on campus will be delayed while a new contractor is hired.

Fort Mason Campus

In the Coffee Gallery, instructors will display their ceramics and paintings from May 10-26. Student's work will run from May 26 - July 1. For exhibit listings, call (415) 561-1840.

Evans Campus

The buzz on campus is over the new motorcycle program where students can build custom choppers. Automotive Department Chair Ben Macri said the motorcycle course will offer degrees and certificates next semester.

 Chinatown Campus

MetLife presented City College with the Community College Excellence Award and $30,000 for its commitment to meeting the learning needs of low-income and first-generation immigrant and working students.

---

Academy of Art University Students Cry Censorship
A student's expulsion over an explicit story sparks discussion over freedom of expression

BY GITANJALI BHUSHAN
Contributing Writer

Academy of Art University student and protest organizer, Justin Bianco uses a bullhorn to get his message across. GITANJALI BHUSHAN / GUARDSMAN

The expulsion of a student and the dismissal of a faculty member at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco have sparked nationwide debate over free speech and academic freedom, and has City College students wondering what effect the events at AAU could have on them.

The controversy at AAU (formerly the Academy of Art College) centers on an 18-year-old student who submitted a short story to Jan Richman, the instructor of a storytelling class. Richman described the graphic story, which is about a young serial killer, as "so passionately violent."

The story was eventually passed on to the San Francisco Police Department's Homicide Division for investigation into whether the story was based on an actual crime that had occurred.

According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the student was expelled even though no evidence of any criminal activity was uncovered during the investigation.

The student's mother reportedly called the school, claiming her son "was encouraged to do this sort of story by his teacher." She cited the fact that the story "Girl With Curious Hair," by David Foster Wallace, was assigned by Richman. The story, according to Richman, is a satirical look at a sadistic, misogynistic yuppie who hangs out with a group of punk rockers, and has a scene where the protagonist puts out matches on a young girl's skin during sex.

Art student holds signs of protest. GITANJALI BHUSHAN / GUARDSMAN

Richman said she assigned the story as an example of an "unreliable or unsympathetic narrator." Although she had been with the Academy for three years and had always received excellent student evaluations, Richman's contract was not renewed.

Chancellor Phillip Day Jr. said that in his six years at City College "there has not been anything close to paralleling the situation, and I hope that there never is."

"We don't play games with academic freedom or freedom of expression in the English Department," said Department Chair John Batty-Sylvan. "We don't squelch people's freedoms."

Richman said teachers at the Academy use "supplemental" materials to assist with certain lessons, but she added that she was never given any guidelines for which stories were to be used in class. "We had to submit a syllabus, and that was it." Richman said.

English instructors at City College are allowed wide latitude to use outside materials in class, said Batty-Sylvan, so long as they are relevant to the course being taught. He said that a student has the freedom to express him- or herself, so long as the work submitted fits within the parameters of the assignment.

Batty-Sylvan went on to say that instructors review students' work before presenting it in class. If questionable material is submitted, teachers speak with students to discover their intentions.

The most disturbing piece of student artwork City College Art Department Chair Robert Baird encountered involved "corsets and bondage," but was put into context by the student artist's recent experience with breast cancer.

"That's the thing about art. Art wants to point out things that are uncomfortable, that are on the edge," said Baird, who believes that the classroom is a sacred place where artists should be free to explore.

"I think that all art students should be able to express themselves," said art student Avery Couchman. "That's what art is, expressing yourself."

Students at AAU staged a walkout on April 28, the third protest since the controversy began. Bearing signs with slogans such as "Art is Not Dangerous," the protesters demanded an end to what they say is an atmosphere of censorship at the school.

When asked for the Academy's views on the matter, Vice Presidemt of Public Relations Sallie Huntting said, "It was a safety issue with us." An e-mailed statement from Academy President Dr. Elisa Stephens declared censorship charges to be false, but didn't provide details due to the privacy of the expelled student.