Volume 143, Issue #1
Generally speaking, college students have reached the age of majority, with all the rights of adulthood -- save one. Although elected by their peers to represent the interests of students, student trustees at California’s community colleges cannot vote on substantive issues of importance to their constituencies under Title V, California Education Code Section 72023.5. Thus, they are tokens at best. Julia Waters and Ben Schaeffer, City College vice presidents of the Inter-club Council and administration respectively, aim to change this by amending the education code to correct this inequity through the Spring General Assembly of the Student Senate for California Community Colleges. The SSCCC, a statewide organization of student senate leaders, is but the first stop on a tortuous road to change the language of the current education statute in the state legislature. Last November’s effort by Waters and Schaeffer at the group’s fall assembly to move a measure forward allowing student trustees the vote failed when time ran out. It is time to discard the training wheels and allow student trustees to assume their roles as full-fledged adults -- unfettered -- alongside their colleagues as equals on local community college boards of trustees. After all, who knows the needs of students better than one of their own? The legislature should amend the offending education code section. e-mail: editorial@theguardsman.com
IN SEARCH OF A STYLISH SCHOOL LOGO
What graphic image do you picture when you think of City College? Is it the square black logo with “City College of San Francisco” written inside, or perhaps the ram? Maybe it’s the official seal with its staid ancient column circled by the words “The truth shall make you free.” The square logo, created years ago by The Gap as a tax write-off, belongs on a bag from The Gap. This school is as philosophically removed from The Gap as it could be. Why are we still using this logo? The ram athletic crest is a powerful graphic statement. It looks aggressive. It’s job is to inspire our teams to win and to intimidate opponents, not to represent our entire institution. The seal has represented City college since 1935. It is the only graphic image allowed on City College stationery and business cards. The seal is boring. It says nothing if you take away the message around it; it could represent any institution that fancies ancient columns-perhaps an architectural firm? We aren’t a classics-heavy institution. It is hard to associate any of these images with what City College means. We have an amazing graphic communications department. Let’s utilize them to create an image that represents the array of educational choices available at City College. A unifiying, easily recognized graphic image for the new millennium is what we need; not a futile attempt to hold on to the past. e-mail:managingeditor@theguardsman.com "FAGGOT" OR "NIGGER" -- BOTH ARE BAD!
A few nights ago, Glenn Beck said “fagot” on national television. His guest, Dave Glover, said “the N-word.” He did not say “nigger.” It all happened during a discussion about the scandal surrounding the cast of Grey’s Anatomy. Isaiah Washington, a black man, called T.R. Knight, a gay man, a “fagot.” When Glover introduced the issue to the audience, he did not use the epithet, but instead described it as “a derogatory term for a gay man that starts with ‘F,’ rhymes with maggot.” Beck responded: “Do you know that The New York Times wouldn’t even print – I mean, we can say the word. We’re having an adult conversation here. Wouldn’t even print the word ‘fagot.’ ” Is it OK to use a derogatory term for gays in an adult conversation? Glover then pointed out the fact that Washington was black. “What if [Knight] had called him the ‘N-word’? Would [Washington] even had made it to the afternoon? I don’t think so.” This exchange exposes a double standard in our society. “Fagot” is OK to say on TV; “nigger” is not. But really, what’s the difference, apart from the group that is being offended? Seemingly, the only difference is that gays are not equal. Just like African Americans could be called “nigger,” “nigra,” and “negro” in the media decades ago, gays today can be called “fagots” because they are still considered sick subhuman sinners by many Americans. So when we revisit this footage years from now and hear that hateful word, we will hopefully experience the same breathtaking shock that the nonchalant usage of African American slurs in 1950s footage evokes in us today.
Should the State provide health care for all California residents?
BY ANNYSE ACEVEDO As I was growing up my father and I did not share many bonding moments. He would be in the garage working or playing his drums, and I would be upstairs running wild and getting on my mother’s last nerve. The only time I would ever be in contact with him would be when my mom had given up and called in the “big dog” to put me in my place. That was how my relationship with my father was. Divorce eventually followed, and I wound up living full-time with my mother, only seeing my father once a month, if I was lucky. Years slowly drifted by and the distance between my father and I grew immensely. I moved away giving up any hope of being close to him or having anything in common with him, other than the bloodline. But until life took a turn, I moved back to San Francisco, and ended up at City College, where my father was taking classes as well. It was weird to see my father on campus, but at the same time it made me feel good. I mean, I have cousins on campus, which of course is great in its own sense, but how many people can say they go to school with their parent? Being at City would be the beginning of my father and I sharing a common bond-education. I see my father all of the time now hanging out in the creative arts building, getting his learn on! And it is inspiring. I love that my father, my dad, is bettering himself through education, something that I am trying to do for myself.
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MICHAEL MORGAN / SPECIAL TO THE GUARDSMAN 
Actor Isaiah Washington, a cast member of the show Grey's Anatomy, stirred up controversy for using the word "faggot" on national television to describe a gay fellow actor.
