City College News in Brief: capoeira, elections, library closing – 3/7/12

By Sara Bloomberg & Oz Litvac
The Guardsman

Capoeira livens up Ocean Campus

The Multi Cultural Resource Center in collaboration with the The Club of Brazil, arranged a Capoeira workshop for students on February 22 at the City College Ocean campus in the amphitheater.

Capoeira is an Afro-Brazilian martial art and dance form dating back to at least the late 1700’s and is believed to have been invented by slaves in Africa.

Around 10 students attended the workshop, where they had an opportunity to learn some basic moves. Some joined in, some danced on the side and others just watched.

Arturo Diaz Morales, also known as Barauna,  a friend of Sale’ who lead the workshop,  played the Atabaque.  “There are two types of Capoeira : Angola which is more traditional, closer to the ground, ritualistic. And Regional, more standing up, a faster and acrobatic approach,” he said.

Saléciano Ramos Alves, for short Sale’ started by playing the Berimbau, a single stringed instrument, and was joined by Barauna banging on the Atabaque, or bongo drum.

A small group of about 10 students gathered to learn few moves from Salé. First, he showed the group how to do the basic step called Ginga, and do the A’u, a cartwheel. Finally, there was the Meia Lua De Frente, a front half moon kick.

After the group split into pairs to practice the moves, a circle opened up so everyone had a chance to show what they had learned.

“The dance starts from the instrument, out of respect,” Barauna said.

Two people at a time entered the circle .They would first kneel and shake hands, then get on with the dance.

A few advanced dancers demonstrated superb skills with head stands and more complicated moves.

“We would like to petition people so we can find out if there is enough interest for future Capoeira classes,” said MCRC Organizer Taema Mahinui.

 

Board president to run for supervisor

Board of Trustees President John Rizzo has announced his intention to run for District 5 supervisor.

“I think City College needs a champion in City Hall,” Rizzo said, explaining that he thinks the city should do more for the school.

He also believes that many of the large private companies that have received tax breaks from the city should reinvest in students through programs such as internships.

Rizzo was elected to the college board in November 2006 and has served as the president since January of 2011. That year he successfully spearheaded a campaign that sought to reduce the amount of taxes and fees that the city was charging the college.

He will begin collecting signatures in June from residents in District 5, which is home to the John Adams campus, in order to get his name on the November ballot.

Two vacant student council seats filled

The Ocean Campus Associated Students appointed two interim senators to the council on Feb. 29 in order to fill vacant seats until elections are held toward the end of the semester.

The new senators, Joao Possagnoli and Brian Fernandez, will serve on the council for the remainder of spring semester 2012.

Fernandez, a former AB540 student, is also a member of Occupy CCSF.

As a senator he said he will be a great liaison between the occupy movement on campus and the Associated Students Council.

Possagnoli is the president and founder of the Club of Brazil. He said he wants to be a voice for under-represented communities on campus.

Learning Assistance Center to close on Saturdays

Budget cutbacks at the school have forced the Learning Assitance Center to cease Saturday operations. LAC staff estimate that hundreds of students work with tutors there every Saturday, an essential resource for students who work during the week and cannot visit the center during regular operating hours.
Management told The Guardsman that no staff were fired due to the cuts, and that Saturday staff were being reassigned to weekday schedules.
The LAC closes 5:45 p.m. on weekdays with the exception of Fridays, when it closes at 2:45 p.m.

School Internet speeds slowed by USDN Inc.

Students and faculty browsing the Internet may experience slowdowns until sometime in late March. USDN Inc. is combing through school servers, compiling information on a viral attack on the college’s computer system. The attack is reported on page two of this issue.

Members of the City College ITS staff have confirmed that as long as UDSN Inc. is combing our servers, users will experience slower speeds using either the college Wi-Fi system or networked computers. When contacted for an interview unrelated to the network slowdown, Vice Chancellor Peter Goldstein was unable to say when he expected USDN Inc. to be fully complete with its search through college computers.

Sundial to be repaired by student

August Tisselink’s 1955 sundial will be repaired this semester by City College metal arts student, Morgan Wilson, under the supervision of art department instructor Suzanne Pugh.

Donated to City College in the 1970s by the artist’s wife, the sundial is located in front of Cloud Hall. The part to be replaced is referred to as a gnomon, which is Greek for “indicator.” It is the piece that creates the shadow on the sundial’s face.

According to Julia Bergman, chair of the Works of Art Committee and member of the Facilities Review Committee, “There is no fixed time line for this, but we hope (it will be) this semester.”