CITY COLLEGE TO AUDIT BIG BOND MEASURES
BY STEPHANIE RICE
EDITOR

After requests from three board members and one state assemblywoman, City College is conducting the first comprehensive performance audit of taxpayer money approved by voters in 2001 and 2005 bond measures.

The two bonds total about $441 million.  Voters approved the bonds for construction projects, like the new campuses in the Mission and Chinatown.  Ocean campus projects like the Wellness Center and Child Development Center were included, as well as a new stem-cell center for City College’s bio-tech program.

Concerned about several over-budget projects and compliance with state law, trustees John Rizzo, Milton Marks and Julio Ramos co-sponsored a resolution in April to conduct a performance audit of the bond money.  All seven board members voted for the resolution.

At a Sept. 27 meeting, the board approved a $210,000 contract with MGT of America to conduct the audit.

Rizzo, who initiated the resolution, said he’s been pushing for the audit since last year when he was a member of the bond oversight committee. The committee is a 13-member panel appointed by the board to track bond expenditures and review annual audits.

“We’ve never done a performance audit,” Rizzo said.  “It’s required by the state but we’ve never done it.”

Rizzo added that he is concerned that bond projects are often over budget and the audit is necessary to ensure money is being spent as efficiently as possible.

State law has required two types of annual bond audits since 2000 – performance and financial.  Performance audits are more in depth than typical financial audits: They look at how responsibly and effectively money was spent rather than just verifying that financial records are accurate.

City College does an annual bond audit, but the three board members say it only includes a financial audit and no performance audit, putting the school in violation of state law.  The annual audit reports are typically about 10 pages long, and the board members say they need more information.

According to Chancellor Philip R. Day, Jr., although City College has never done a complete performance audit, the school is fully in compliance with state law and has been meeting the minimum legal requirements with the financial audits that happen every year.  The performance audit goes above and beyond what is legally required, Chancellor Day said.

Vice Chancellor of Finance Peter Goldstein said City College actually has been doing annual performance audits in addition to the financial audits.  In an e-mail to the Guardsman, Goldstein wrote that the annual audit is “two separate audits conducted by the same firm, reported in the same document.”

Assemblywoman Fiona Ma also recently requested that the state do a performance audit of City College, specifically looking at the bond money and the progress of construction projects, like the stem-cell center.

“While regular financial audits have been conducted, there has been no performance audit,” Ma wrote to the State Legislative Audit Committee on Aug. 22.  “With $441 million of taxpayer funds on the table, the time has long passed for thorough review.”

Ma, who has been critical of City College’s proposal to build a high-rise campus in Chinatown, did not contact school officials before asking for the audit. 

The college agreed to incorporate the scope of Ma’s audit into the one already being planned, and Ma withdrew her request at the state level.  The assemblywoman will review the audit the college does and could go forward with the state audit if she is not satisfied.

e-mail: newseditor@theguardsman.com

Brownsey hopes the class will encourage students' creativitty without fear of judgment and give them insight into the effects of discrimination on queer creative output.

“I just want to see the world be a little more fair,” said Brownsey, a red-headed and self-described “gay girl,” who has been teaching in the LGBT studies and film studies departments for 10 years.

By the end of the course, each student will have one piece of art that explores gender identity in the medium of their choice; some works emphasisize on stand-up comedy, film/video, fiction/non-fiction writing and writing for performance.

In terms of her own creative output, Brownsey has authored “Is It a Date or Just Coffee?,” a dating guide for the gay girl. She has also been an advice columnist for Match.com and has a master’s degree in film production.           

Brownsey's easy-going nature and a charisma seemed to put her students at ease in the classroom. The atmosphere at the Thursday night class, smaller and more intimate than expected,  is one of acceptance and humor.

“I put humor into everything,” Brownsey said, as she sipped her iced coffee at a crowded café on Ocean Avenue. “If you can get people to laugh, you get them to think.”The 9th U.S. Court of Appeals has ruled that a City College board of trustees member may seek damages for being held in jail for hours on false charges.

 Rodel Rodis can now sue the two police officers who arrested him in 2003 for using what they mistakenly believed was a counterfeit $100 bill at a Walgreens Pharmacy on Ocean Avenue.

Rodis used a 1985 $100 bill at the pharmacy to purchase cough medicine, and because the store manager was unsure of the bill’s authenticity, even after it tested valid when he used a counterfeit detector pen, he called the police.  When Officer Michelle Liddicoet and Sergeant Jeff Barry arrived at the scene, they arrested Rodis without any proof that the bill was fake.

“I was humiliated, and I am suing because [the police] needs to be more respectful of people’s rights,” said Rodis.  “They have the attitude that because they have a badge, that gives them ultimate power.”

Even if the bill had been counterfeit, it would not have been illegal for Rodis to unknowingly use it. 

Rodis said he believes that Barry arrested him for personal reasons. Rodis voted against City College police having guns while Barry's brother-in-law was working for campus police.  Barry was also Rodis son’s basketball coach at St. Stephen’s Elementary School and Rodis complained to the principal that his son was always benched.

“When I was in the back of the police cruiser,” Rodis said, “I heard the other officer in the front say to [Liddicoet] ‘Under the circumstances, make sure he doesn’t recognize me.’  I later found out it was Barry.”

Rodis identified Barry when he went to the Taraval police station and obtained a copy of the police report.  Liddicoet and Barry were not available for comment.  Liddicoet is now stationed at the San Francisco airport.  Barry is working on an on-call basis at the Taraval Station. 

The city is appealing the court’s latest decision.

During the first class, students were split into small groups, given newspaper sections and asked to pick one article to use as the impetus for a short presentation. Most students leaned toward sarcasm and parody when it came their time to share.

“This is my third class with Mo,” said student Ben Schaeffer, who is taking the class to help develop his screenplay. “She’s such a creative teacher and she gets students to participate.”

e-mail: newseditor@theguardsman.com

HEALTH AND WELLNESS CENTER CLOSE TO COMPLETION AND SET TO OPEN IN SPRING

BY MICHELLE BAGUIO
EDITOR

The building will house new and improved facilities such as an Olympic-sized swimming pool, faculty and student lounges, conference rooms, team and PE lockers.

According to Peter Goldstein, vice chancellor of finance and administration, the entire project costs $81 million. “That includes everything, like engineers, project managers, furniture, etc. The $49 million was a rough estimate made back in 2000.”

City College has signed a contract for Lick-Wilmerding, the private high school across the street from the center, to have access to the facilities, especially the swimming pool. The school has donated over $3 million upfront toward access to the facilities in the Wellness center and will continue to pay $125,000 a year (to be adjusted later according to inflation) for the next 25 years. Some people have complained that this was unfair and as City College students must have complete access to the center at all times.According to the Sept. 22-28, 2004 issue of the Bay Guardian, Julio Ramos, then a trustee of the college -- now vice president of the board -- argued that “Everyone should get the same treatment, without exclusivity.”

When asked why this decision was made, Goldstein replied, “Lick-Wilmerding students can only use the facility on certain times, like sometime between 3:00 and 5:30 p.m. City College’s [swim classes] are offered only during days and evenings so we didn’t see how the [high school students] would be interfering.”

e-mail:onlineeditor@theguardsman.com

BOARD TO MAKE FINAL CHINATOWN DECISION

BY STEPHANIE RICE
EDITOR

Jason Zheng, vice president of the Chinatown/North Beach student council, holds signs urging board members to support a new campus. ARIEL SOTO / GUARDSMAN

The City College board of trustees will vote on the final design for the new Chinatown/North Beach campus on Oct. 18.  There are about 10 designs that have been evaluated, including a 16-story high-rise and several smaller, multi-site alternatives.  While school officials review reports and analyze design options, students and Chinatown community organizations are taking advantage of the final weeks to campaign.

The high-rise

Many favor the 16-story high-rise design, although some school officials say it is no longer a viable option.

The proposal has been a source of controversy since it was introduced last fall, with some neighborhood associations and city agencies saying the 244-foot structure is out of proportion with the low-rise neighborhood.  The adjacent Hilton Hotel, which stands to lose views from some rooms, opposes the design.  Assemblywoman Fiona Ma and Sen. Leland Yee have also expressed concerns over the height and cost of the tall building.

The design has a lot of support from the Chinatown community though, including students like Natasha Chang.  Chang has attended the Chinatown/North Beach campus since she moved from Hong Kong 11 years ago.  She believes the 16-story building is the most convenient option for students, especially senior citizens who might find it difficult to travel between two separate buildings.

Chang was recently hired to help organize students in support of the new campus by Friends of Educational Opportunities in Chinatown, a coalition of organizations and community leaders who have supported the 16-story building.  After receiving permission from her new employer, Chang agreed to an interview with The Guardsman.

“I think the 16-story building is every student’s dream,” Chang said.  “One building is better.  I haven’t thought about two buildings.  Everyone thinks about it this way.”

The exemption

At the October meeting, before the board of trustees votes on a final campus design, it will vote on whether or not to exempt the college from city planning codes.  The designs being considered for the new campus exceed the height restrictions imposed by city ordinance. Without the exemption, the school would have to seek city approval.  As a state entity, City College is allowed to exempt itself from those restrictions, but five out of seven board members must vote in favor of it.

Over 60 City College faculty, union representatives and student officers have also signed a statement asking the board to vote for the exemption.

FEOC and student leaders from the Chinatown/North Beach campus have also launched a postcard campaign to urge trustees to vote for the exemption.  Chang said almost 10,000 signatures have been gathered on individual postcards, which include the same pre-printed message encouraging trustees to support the exemption.

Jason Zheng, vice president of the Chinatown/North Beach student council, has been active in the postcard campaign.  He also wants to see the 16-story design approved.

In an interview arranged by an interpreter, Zheng told The Guardsman the only reason for the board to choose a design other than the 16-story option would be to cater to the Hilton Hotel.

“The trustees represent students,” Zheng said, speaking Cantonese through the interpreter.  “They are not supposed to be considering the interests of the hotel.  If they don’t support the 16-story building, it doesn’t make sense.”

The Hilton Hotel

The Hilton, which strongly opposes the tower design, has been critical of the school’s review process.  Some have been concerned the hotel might take legal action if City College attempts to go forward with the high-rise.

At a recent board meeting, trustee Rodel Rodis said the college could be sued over any design and should stick with the 16-story building.

Chancellor Philip R. Day, Jr. said he’s not paying attention to the Hilton, but there are other reasons why the high-rise is no longer a viable option.

“People have some legitimate concerns (about the high-rise),” Chancellor Day said.  “I have some legitimate concerns.”

The new design

Chancellor Day recently proposed an additional two-site alternative, with one 13-story building and one five-story building.  The tallest building would be 167 feet, which is 77 feet shorter than the high-rise proposal.  It would also allow space for an auditorium not included in the high-rise design.

Chinatown/North Beach student Jose Tzab said he would prefer two buildings, partially because he thinks it is important for the campus to include the auditorium where students and the community could hold meetings.  Tzab also thinks students would feel overcrowded in one tall building.

Julio Ramos, board of trustees vice president, said the new design is a step in the right direction.  The two-building design would allow more space for additional programs while lowering the height considerably from the high-rise proposal, Ramos said.

Although he opposes the 16-story plan, Ramos said he and other board members are dedicated to completing the long-awaited campus regardless of the final design.

“We’re going to build a campus – 16 stories, 13 stories, whatever,” Ramos said.  “When the campus is built, nobody’s going to care how tall it is.”

More Info:

On Oct. 18, the board of trustees is scheduled to cast three deciding votes for the new Chinatown/North Beach campus. 

Vote #1: Certification of the environmental impact report.  The report, completed by a consulting firm hired by the district, examines the effect each design option would have on the surrounding neighborhood. 

Vote #2: Exemption from city planning code.  City ordinance restricts the height of new Chinatown buildings to five stories.  None of the designs being considered comply with city code.  As a state agency, the college can exempt itself from city code, but five out of seven trustees must vote for the exemption.  Without the exemption, City College would have to seek city approval.

Vote #3: Final campus design.  School officials are currently reviewing different options, including the high-rise and several smaller, multi-site alternatives.  The newest design proposal is a two-building campus, with one 13-story building and one five-story building.  The taller building would be 167 feet tall, 77 feet shorter than the 16-story tower design.

e-mail:newseditor@theguardsman.com

CITY COLLEGE REVAMPING ITS WEB SITE FOR EASE, CLARITY

BY BENJAMIN TAYLOR
STAFF WRITER

City College's Tech Committee presented a resolution at the Sept. 27 board of trustees meeting to overhaul the City College Web site, which has remained largely unchanged for the last five years. 

“We want to create an easy-to-use site with a compelling design so that all users, from faculty to students and alumni, can find the information they need,” said Beth Cataldo, the committe's chairperson. Cataldo also added that many find the Web site difficult to navigate at times.

The committee has been meeting since March to discuss changes and to propose a budget for the project. Orange County-based Earthbound Media Group was chosen out of a field of three companies to design and develop the new site.

 “City College students will notice a substantial positive change,” Cataldo said.

Upon project approval, the committee plans to hold a series of focus groups to encourage students and faculty for input on specific changes they would like.

“I don’t think the Web site is very good. It’s really hard to find the right link,” said Shanez Choi, a student taking a rest between classes outside the Creative Arts building.  Choi thinks that room for improvement is definitely needed and suggested that the design for each link should be reorganized.

City College students should begin seeing improvements to the site by early next year.

e-mail: btaylor@theguardsman.com

BY MARIA UMANZOR
STAFF WRITER

e-mail: mumanzor@theguardsman.com

BY MARIA UMANZOR
STAFF WRITER

e-mail: mumanzor@theguardsman.com

BY BENJAMIN TAYLOR
STAFF WRITER

e-mail: btaylor@theguardsman.com