Over 100 students, teachers and staff carpooled to the Accrediting Commission of California Junior Colleges’ (ACCJC) main office in Novato on Oct. 11 to rally against the ruling that threatens to close City College by the end of next semester.
“We are here as teachers, as students, and community members, to protest the unfair and biased sanctions against all community colleges in California,” Save CCSF Coalition organizer Wendy Kaufmyn said.
The mission statement of City College states “we will continue to reach out to all people, especially to those communities who encounter barriers to education,” and that due to the accreditation crisis, equal access to community education is in danger.
“These sanctions are directly impacting the most marginalized population of students. Undocumented, non-traditional, and students of color are in danger of losing equal access to education,” said CCSF Coalition member Lalo Gonzales.
Associated Student Council senator Itzel Calvo said she is rallying on behalf of Voices of Immigrants Demonstrating Achievement (VIDA), a resource center within City College.
“VIDA is the only center in the whole country that is focused on getting resources for undocumented immigrants. If City College closes, that resource center closes,” said Calvo.
Ana Fisher, a City College Child Development and Family Studies faculty member, spoke about the opportunities that City College gave her after she came from El Salvador.
“I want to say thank you to City College for teaching me English, otherwise I wouldn’t be here…I was able to get my BA from San Francisco State, and then my Masters.”
“The ACCJC is going to leave behind people that come to the United States with the hope to be something better. I’m not ashamed, I crossed the border illegally and I would do it a thousand times again. City College should be open for all people, especially the poor who need it most,” said Fisher.
Dora Palacios, a City College student taking poetry and PE classes for her health is worried about her son graduating high school this year, “I don’t have money, and I’m disabled, and can’t afford to pay for his education. Most parents are worried about this ruling.”
Palacios continued: “Education shouldn’t be a privilege, but for all people. If we can’t get education, then what’s tomorrow? What kind of world will we live in?”