4/4/11

San Jacinto Times

Colleges face budget slashing The Student Publication of the San Jacinto College District

April 4, 2011

Vol. 21, No. 16

www.sanjacintotimes.com

Legislature’s proposed funding could cause deep, personal cuts

Graphic by Chris Shelton/San Jacinto Times

BY CRISTOPHER RODRIGUEZ San Jacinto Times

The State of Texas has a released its proposed budget for the 2012 fiscal year, which includes significant cuts to higher education. The projected budget is $21.1 billion, which is a 7.6 percent drop from the 201011 year. The budget also proposes cuts in the areas of financial aid and Pell grants.

The 2012 first budget draft had even planned to completely close four community college campuses around Texas. Those colleges were the only higher education available for miles for the citizens in those small rural areas. The four colleges that were placed on the chopping block were Ranger, Brazosport College in Lake Jackson, Frank Phillips in Borger and Odessa College. Although the fates of these colleges are still up in the air and are hundreds of miles away, we here at San Jac will feel the aftershocks.

Students will begin seeing the effects soon. Class sizes will increase and the amount of courses offered will decrease. “No money for classes means less courses available, and some of those courses help round out a student’s education,” said Mr. Patrizio Amezcua, a Government professor at San Jacinto North.

“Students getting a higher education is the most important thing,” said Amezcua, who attended San Jacinto College himself.

“Students’ tuition will rise and it will become increasingly difficult to get adequate financial aid, which could be a problem for a lot of first-generation students,”Amezcua said.

There is a 41% cut to Texas grants -- $675.8 million in general revenue funds. This means that the number of grants will drop from 87,000 to 27,000 next year.

A lot of teachers and students around Texas have voiced opposition to the proposed budget for many reasons. They have gone to Austin in protest to be heard. The voices were not only being represented in Austin but also here at San Jacinto. Amezcua and students from all three campuses went in front of the San Jacinto’s delegation and pleaded their case. Details of San Jac’s future have not been laid out yet. The student body will see the effects along with some of the faculty. With rising enrollment it will be difficult to

see teachers being let go.

The Texas Legislature has decided to reform the State’s education system because it is one of the state’s biggest expenses.

SEE BUDGET page 6

Impending cuts will most certainly affect availability of funds to future students

MCT Campus

Texas High schools not immune to looming money hatchet

BY ASHLEY ALLYN San Jacinto Times

Texas High Schools are anticipating of a drastic drop in state funding next school year. The state is now led to make decisions when it comes to 2011-2012 budgets. How will these budget cuts affect high schools? Just recently several budget cuts are already being approved. The results of the cuts are leading to reductions, one after another.

Already the second week of March, The HISD Board of Education has approved several budget cuts that will affect funding that each HISD school receives. Resulting from these cuts, each individual school will have to determine how to reduce their own campus budgets. Included in this is the possibility of teacher and support staff layoffs, cuts to equipment, supplies, non-core subject areas and special programs. HISD is required by state law to notify the teachers by April 18 if they are being eliminated from their positions.

HISD Board of Trustees voted to decrease the amount of money given to each high school by $275 per student. Due to this cut in per-student spending, this would bring HISD $58.4 million closer to closing a $171 million budget gap, caused by state budget cuts. HISD used an example of a school with 1,200 students, would have $345,000 less to spend, which is equal to an average salary of 6.5 teachers.

Opinion

Next Week

Opposing viewpoints An in-depth look into drug use and its on the validity of effects cuts to education Page 2.

A few reductions that were already approved for HISD by the board are: First, reducing the amount of extra money given to schools with large numbers of students from low-income homes by $60 per student.

This is a result of federal funding cuts to programs for poor children. Secondly, approval of a timeline and process for gathering public input concerning the possible closure and consolidations of Grimes, Love, McDade and Rhoads elementary schools. Closing those schools would save nearly $1.7 million. Lastly, amending the ASPIRE Award performance pay model to eliminate the attendance bonus and restrict the campus-based financial incentives to schools that achieve state rankings of “exemplary” or “recognized” without the benefit of the Texas Projection Model. In addition, employees with low value added results would now be ineligible for any financial award. These changes will save HISD about $4.6 million. With all of this HISD still faces a funding gap of $64.8 million.

Budget cuts can affect high school students as fewer dual credit and higher-level courses will be available. This leads to the effect on another independent school district. CCISD will experience planned increases to its budget next year, which adds about $2.9 million to the deficit.

Blog Post

The most interesting student blog posts of the week.

Page 6.

SEE HIGH SCHOOL page 6

Opinion/commentary

An open debate: The State’s budget crisis

April 4, 2011 San Jacinto Times • Page 2

It’s simple: Pay more taxes Don’t give up on students

By MICHAEL DEATS San Jacinto Times

The price of gasoline is rising, the cost of everyday commodities will soon follow, and the United States is finding it harder to procure a means for paying for everything the people want. It was not always like this though. A few centuries ago the thought of spending money that we did not have would have seemed ludicrous, but not anymore.

In todays world the government has to cut spending on several key programs that are vital for this nations growth, just to insure its survival. Almost every state has to cut back as the growing market is costing the government more then they are making.

In comparison the government is like a family.

In the later 1920’s the families were spending money they didn’t have on commodities that were not essential. In the late 2000’s it happened again with every family wanting to own a house and signing away their futures on subprime and adjustable rate mortgages.

Two painfully memorable moments when the United States Dollar, once considered the mightiest in the world, showed how little it cared for humanity. Now people are in an outrage over the government trying to respect this cruel thing by budgeting it properly. Running jokes, about china owning half of America, are played out, and I have no desire to see it repeated. But at what cost are states trying to

save their budgets and moderate their spending.

Schools and social programs are already “tightening their belts.” Electives are being cut, arts and crafts are becoming extra curricular activities, and teachers are either being asked to retire or they are being let go.

These are bad times. Remorseless times. What are the options? Pretend we are a 1920’s family on the rise and spend away our lives, or cut the fat and build a stronger foundation for a greater America.

Unfortunately the first option isn’t a sane one, since it would be a repetition of the past. The wisest course however would be the budget cuts. It is a sad ordeal, inspirational teachers that helped shape the people we are today losing their jobs. But like in any budget-cutting scenario, things only seem bad during the restructuring.

Most people can remember a time in their life when mom or dad had to cut back on groceries or Internet and premium television just to make ends meet, when diets were instituted, not for health, but because the grocery bill was too large. These times pass, and for the government there is not a choice.

If America is to survive and prosper then the people in charge must figure out a feasible financial crises exit strategy and implement it. And unfortunately spending money that does not exist is not the answer.

If people are so opposed to budget cuts they can offer to pay higher taxes.

By JANNETTE MARIN San Jacinto Times

MCT Campus

How would you feel if your school tuition increased by a high percentage and you could no longer continue your education? Wouldn’t you feel hopeless? Not knowing which road to take? By September 2011 Texas budget plan will cut $1.7 billion from higher education. This is devastating news to many students and teachers. I strongly disagree on what is going to happen. Can you imagine how many students’ success will be affected? It seems that it is going to be harder for future college students to attend school, especially to those that do not receive any financial help. I predict that many students will drop out of from school if the economy becomes worse.

Candie Guevara, a stay-at-home mom, says, “ I’m not in school anymore, but I do plan to return five years from now when my kids are in school. If they are doing this now I cannot imagine the budget cuts in 2016. It is probably going to affect me in a way that I won’t want to continue getting my degree or certification. I believe that is why so many people have begun to start their own business from home.

They figure why go to college and waste money taking classes, when they can teach themselves and start their own small business from home?”

According to star-telegram.com future college students won’t be able to tap into state financial aid under spending cuts proposed in a $156.4 billion plan that also would shutter four community colleges.

Colleges including the University of Texas, University of North Texas, and Texas Woman’s University would see funding cuts. This act can cause faculty and school staff to become unemployed and would become difficult to educational graduates to find a job. The State aims to make very deep cuts by cutting financial aid to future college students and elimination some programs. This will definitely hurt students and think twice about going to school, which is a bad decision because they’re education won’t be there. That actually worries me a lot, I have a sister that is soon to graduate from high school and she is going to need the extra money to help her get through college and what if there are no programs or financial aid available for her? Then she would have to work double to pay her way through school and my parents would have to give her thousands of dollars every time per semester. Most likely that will cause finan-

each year and both have promised to balance the budget without raising taxes. Strapped for cash since 2004 Mississippi has been slicing funding for education and social welfare programs ever since.

According to the Mississippi Adequate Education Program (MAEP), since 2004 Mississippi schools have been underfunded by 620 million dollars.

Mississippi Governor, Haley Barbour, has proposed even deeper cuts in his 2012 budget including three percent of funding from colleges and four and a half percent from schools K-12.

What effects have these cuts had on Mississippi?

Mississippi is now the poorest state in the nation.

Forbes Magazine recently created a list of "Best States for Business and Careers." Not surprisingly Mississippi ranked forty-eighth out of fifty.

According to Motherjones.com “ Last year, [in Mississippi] high school graduates, on average, scored so low on the ACT standardized test that they failed to meet the minimum score to be considered ready for college.” Mississippi also ranked forty-eighth out of fifty in percent of persons twenty five or older with a Bachelor’s Degree in 2008 according to the Census Bureau.

But at least they balanced the budget without raising taxes on the wealthy right.

To be fair, Texas ranked seventh on Forbes "Best

States for Business and Careers" list and Texas ranks higher than Mississippi in almost all economic and educational statistics. So I am not suggesting that Texas is headed down a slippery slope to becoming the poorest state in the nation. What I am suggesting is that the effects on the Texas economy, present and future, will be swift and noticeable.

Less scholarships and grants mean fewer opportunities for students who really need them. Texas currently ranks thirtieth in percent of persons twenty five or older with bachelor’s degrees and that rank will surely climb. This will lead to a less educated workforce less able to compete in the future.

The amount of K-12 teachers and college professors lost will hurt students and teachers. This means larger class sizes, less one on one time and a more generic teaching style that will not personally connect with each student. A San Jacinto College professor told me “professors are most worried about the effect on the quality of education that these budgetary decisions will have on students.” The professor never once mentioned concern about job security or job security for colleagues; showing real concern about the priorities of the State when legislators sacrifice the long term advances for short term plateaus.

It makes me cringe to think that talented teachers

cial problems in the family. So the cause for that affect is very bad for both sides, parents and daughter have to work double to raise money for school and she will have less time to focus on her studies because of the long hours being put into her job.

Another negative way that can affect students is that some will want to get loans, but why put your self through a deep student loan debt? Royce Walker, adjunct professor in communications discuses "This is a very difficult time for everyone in education - students, faculty and administrators.

There is no easy answer to the financial situation that San Jacinto College and other college and universities find themselves in at this time. With the loss of revenue, the college will be forced to make some financial decisions that will be difficult for all involved."

Last month, Governor Rick Perry ordered State Universities to propose cuts totaling 10 percent of their state funding for the two-year cycle that will begin in September 2011. According to Facebook, many people strongly disagree with his decision.

Here are some posts regarding this situation; Joe Padilla says, “thanks for making Texas dumb!

Education should be the last thing to ever cut!” and Dustin Loyd said, “worst mistake of a public office career!” Also according to Star-Telegram.com, education officials said they would have to maximize dollars without affecting academic programs.

Erma Johnson Hadley, chancellor at Tarrant County College said, “The college district is considering increased class sizes to keep costs down.

Cutting instructors is not on the table because enrollment keeps growing.” Wrong, wrong, wrong!

With the high budget cut and higher tuition, there is no way the class sizes will grow. There would be less and less students attending college in the next few years. For example Rey Garcia, President of the Texas Association of Community College said, “If the State’s not going to pay for the cost of enrollment growth, we may not be able to grow, and we may have to abandon the State’s goal of more access to higher education.”

Feeling more worried about your future education? I am. Something has to be done; otherwise chaos is going to occur with students, teachers, and staff. This impact is going to affect many and now it is the time to have a plan B ready, but no matter what, education is what will get us through, therefore we must not give up no matter what life throws at us.

Texas lawmakers should learn to spell M-i-s-s-i-s-s-i-p-p-i

By CHRIS SHELTON San Jacinto Times

In eighth grade physics class everyone learned Isaac Newton’s three laws of motion. Newton’s Third Law states that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. This law can be used to preach responsibility and relay the message that actions have consequences. If a person participates in actions that break the law he should expect a judge on the opposite side of the law to assign him an amount of time equal to the heinousness of the crime.

The same logic should be applied to budgets whether private or public.

Texas Legislators have a Quixotic zeal to balance the budget no matter the dire consequences. They are not weighing the negative implications of cutting education and other social programs.

Mississippi should serve as a cautionary tale of the adverse effects that draconian budget cuts have on the most vulnerable Americans.

I know what you are thinking; how do budget cuts in Mississippi affect us in Texas?

The budget cuts in Mississippi are the precursor to the ones proposed in Texas. Both have constitutional amendments that require a balanced budget

EDITOR

Maria Chavez

MANAGING EDITOR

San Jacinto Times San Jacinto College Student Publications

Michael Deats

DESIGN/WEB EDITOR Chris Shelton

ASSISTANT EDITORS Amanda Rae Sowa, Joseph Eng CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Harrison Lee

CIRCULATION Cristal Calvillo

ADVERTISING Sara Quintana

ADVISER Fred Faour

The San Jacinto Times is published weekly by the journalism students at San Jacinto College Central, 8060 Spencer Highway, Pasadena, TX 77505.

Opinions expressed herein are those of the writer and not necessarily those of the staff, its adviser, the administration or the Board of Regents.

The Times encourages letters to the editor.

Letters must be in good taste, accurate, free from libel, malice or personal controversy.

Letters must be limited to 200 words in length. Letters submitted without the author’s signature will not be accepted.

will be sliced from the budget as if they were an excess stapler. According to the Huffington Post by five billion dollars in proposed cuts will “shutter four community colleges and generally eliminate financial aid for incoming freshmen and new students. The Texas Grants scholarship program would drop by more than 70,000 students over the next two years.”

Margaret Shelton is a frustrated former teacher, counselor, and principal. “I do not know why people are surprised because Rick Perry and the whole legislature ran on cutting and balancing the budget.” Shelton dedicated her life to educating children with special needs. She is now very concerned with the stance the state has taken on education.

In President Obama’s most recent State of the Union address he referred to teachers as “nation builders” and spoke of how imperative it was to “win the future.” Any person with a brain, regardless of political affiliation, realizes how important education is to success. How can we, as a country, “win the future” without putting forth the sacrifices? Maybe it will take an apple falling on the head of the Legislature to restore common sense to Texas.

The staff reserves the right to edit the letters for accuracy without altering the general meaning.

Letters can be e-mailed to fred.faour@sjcd.edu. Letters must include name and phone number for verification.

The online edition of the Times is available at www.sanjacintotimes.com.

Advertising space is available for $5.00 per column inch. Special rates are available. For news tips and information on advertising, contact the Times at 281-4782752.

Around campus Espanol Norte

Fun can be inexpensive

•Exhibicion de arte por Jeff McGee, 9 a.m, Galleria Del Norte •Junta del club de anime, 12 p.m., NTEC A1025

Tuesday, April 5 • Art Exhibit by Jeff McGee, 9 a.m., Galleria del Norte • Rotaract Club Meeting, 1 p.m., NSTC S215

•Exhibicion de arte por Jeff McGee, 9 a.m., Galleria del Norte •Junta del club Rotarct, 1 p.m, NBCB C1038

Wednesday, April 6 • Art Exhibit by Jeff McGee, 9 a.m., Galleria del Norte

Thursday, April 7

•Exhibicion de arte por Jeff McGee, 9 a.m., Galleria del Norte

Miércoles, Abril 6

• Art Exhibit by Jeff McGee, 9 a.m., Galleria del Norte

Friday, April 8

Jueves, Abril 7

•Exhibicion de arte por Jeff Mcgee, 9 a.m., Galleria del Norte

Central

•Junta de Prepara el Camino, 11:30 a.m., CSTC 210 A/B •Junta de SIFE, 1:30 p.m, CSTC Raven Cafe •Junta del club de Tenis, 3:30 p.m., Tennis Courts •Junta del club de artes marciales mixtas, 8:30 p.m., Gym

Lunes, Abril 4

•Presentacion musical de Grant Terry, 11:30 a.m, CSTC Raven Cafe •Junta de TSEA, 1 p.m., CSCI 243 •Estudio de biblia de parte de BSM, 1 p.m., edificio de BSM •Junta de VYNE, 1:30 p.m., CSTC 210 A/B

Martes, Abril 5

•Lonche gratis de parte de BSM, 11:30 a.m., edificio de BSM •Estudio de biblia de parte de BSM, 1 p.m., edificio de BSM

Miércoles, Abril 6

•Cafe del alma de parte de BSM, 11 a.m., edificio de BSM •Junta de ASID, 11:30 a.m., Interior Design Building cuarto 215

Jueves, Abril 7

•Junta del club de sociologia/antropologia, 12:45 p.m., CADM W124

Viernes, Abril 8

•Junta de la sociedad de juegos, 12 p.m., CSTC 210 A/B

Sabado, Abril 9

Sur

•Junta de Psi Beta, 1 p.m., cuarto 1101 •Junta de SGA, 3 p.m., Cuarto 4202

Lunes, Abril 4

•Junta del club de arte, 3:30 p.m., cuarto 2141 •Junta del gremio de juegos, 3:30 p.m., Room 2141

Martes, Abril 5

•Junta de la sociedad WEBB, 2:30 p.m., cuarto 1131

Miércoles, Abril 6

•Junta de Phi Beta Lambda, 2:30 p.m., cuarto 2208 •Junta de la associacion de estudiantes veteranos, 3:30 p.m., Student Center

Jueves, Abril 7

•Junta de Psi Beta, 1 p.m., Room 1101 •Junta de SGA, 3 p.m., cuarto 4202 •Junta del club de Tenis, 3:30 p.m., Tennis Courts

Lunes, Abril 11

North

• Art Exhibit by Jeff McGee, 9 a.m., Galleria del Norte • Anime Club Meeting, 12 p.m., NTEC A1025

Martes, Abril 5

Viernes, Abril 8

8 DAYS A WEEK Monday, April 4

Lunes, Abril 4

•Exhibicion de arte por Jeff Mcgee, 9 a.m., Galleria del Norte

April 4, 2011 San Jacinto Times • Page 3

MCT Campus

Horseback riding and going to the beach are cheap ways to have a fun time.

Blogs are the new ways to express yourself on the

By AMANDA RAE SOWA web, many people have the same interests as you, San Jacinto Times so write about it. You can open up to a new variety If the best things in life are free, then why are we of people if you start a blog, and reading other peospending a whole days pay on a movie with snacks ples blogs can be interesting for you as well.

Start writing poetry. See how creative you can get at the theatre?

Nowadays, it seems the media, your parents, sig- writing your own poetry, and see if you can get your nificant others and everyone else with an opinion is friends involved. Having weekly book meetings or telling you to 'save, save, save'. Generally speak- poetry readings can be a lot of fun.

Maybe you want to start writing to a pen pale. We ing, they are right.

Saving is a great way to give yourself a firm foun- all have friends or family that have moved away, or dation on which to stand and build your life's grand maybe it’s just been too hard to keep in contact with friends since high school. You can write to them vision.

There is one fundamental problem: saving is every week. Plus who doesn’t love getting mail that aren’t bills. It can be something to look forward to absolutely no fun.

Everything costs money. However, there are ways every week.

If you are into music, there are a lot of local places to keep your fun levels high and your expenditures to hear live bands. Besides going to big named conlow.

Some are pretty obvious, but if you are willing to certs downtown, you can open yourself up to local use a little bit of imagination, you can find some music, and maybe get a new appreciation to the local talent that you never would of listened to diamonds in the rough.

If you are an outdoorsy kind of person, go to the before.

Get on iTunes and make some new playlists for park, take a nature hike, have a picnic, or have a BBQ with friends while playing outdoor games you or your friends. You can make a good CD for a friend for their birthday or just because it’s a such as Frisbee.

I know Galveston isn’t the cleanest of waters, but Tuesday. There are always new songs coming out take advantage of living so close and go the beach. daily, and this is a great gift for someone who doesYou can go fishing or camping. Even go horseback n’t have the time to hear all the new jams that you think they would like. riding or go for a bike ride along the seawall!

Maybe you would like to start giving back to your Take it back to when you were a kid, and go play with sidewalk chalk, go decorate your friend’s community, you could volunteer at local homeless driveways when they aren’t home and make them shelters, or even walk dogs at a pet shelter.

Community centers are always having events that wonder who graffitied their house!

Get a group of friends together and have a scary they need volunteers for, and who knows, maybe movie night. With the options of Internet streaming, you can meet new friends.

Join a local gym and start working out. Gyms RedBox, and Netflix, it’s nearly free to get movies have many fun excerise classes, including, kick these days.

Grab some good old board or card games and boxing, yoga, dance, Zumba or marshal arts. You have fun like you did before video games were the could join a club, either here at school or at an art only source of entertainment. While you all are studio near you. You can find others who have the together, be a little creative and make a funny same interest in hobbies as you.

If you enjoy cooking, take a cooking class, or Youtube video!

For just a small amount of cash go bowling, or watch cooking shows on TV and the Internet, you ice-skating, Go to the dog track and have fun bet- can impress your family with your new recipes.

Experiment in the kitchen and design your own speting on the Greyhounds!

If you haven’t gotten a chance in a while, go cialty smoothies or new kinds of cookies. Even try downtown to visit the many museums that Houston to decorate your own cakes for friends.

In this fast-paced world, it can be overwhelming has to offer. There are a lot of good art and science exhibits to check out, also if you have children, or with all the responsibilities that come with work, nieces and nephews take them to the children’s relationships and finical issues. If you open your museum. It will be exciting for them, and you will eyes, the best things in life can be free.

Spending time with your family is free, and you probibilty end up having more fun than the kids!

The Houston Zoo is also a great place to have fun only have so long to enjoy their company. Go spend on a budget. Go and take pictures of all the animals, an afternoon with your grandparents and talk to and challenge yourself to learn facts about each of them. Ask them what it was like growing up for them; get a sense of where you and your family them.

If your friends are at work, and you find yourself come from.

Heck, think about what life was like for them 30 bored alone, there are still ways to have fun on the cheap. You can start a new book and go to the park years ago, and make yourself a time capsule. Put all or beach to read it. Head to your local library and the things in it that describe your life now, and bury grab something new that you normally wouldn’t it somewhere that you can revisit in 30 years when you have kids of your own. read about.

Pick up a few magazines that you usually don’t There are many things that we need to use our get a chance to read and catch up on your hobbies hard earned money for right now, so step back and or celebrity gossip.

If you like to write, you should start a diary or think about all the fun that you can have alone or journal. Having something in writing of how your with friends without spending anything. Take life was in your 20s will be fun to look back on in advantage of things you ‘do’ have and not try to just buy your happiness. your 40s.

Pick up to the very end

By ADRIAN REQUENA San Jacinto Times

Well it’s past midway into the semester and nearing the end. It’s hard to believe that we only have a month and week left of school.

For some, it’s starting to wear us out, and it always feels like everything is rushed towards the end. There is no time for laziness, so start perking up.

This may be trouble for someone who lacks the motivation to pass their classes. Yes, it tires us out, but it must be done or else one might fail their classes and end up all wasting their money.

Every now and then we get hit with a case of the lazy bones and

it’s somewhat hard to get out of that rut. Just don’t let it get the best of you.

A good way to give oneself a pick me up is to go out for a brisk walk to get those juices flowing.

Working and studying at school is surprisingly effective at getting ones’ concentration focused on the work at hand as opposed to studying at home where there are many distractions. This one may be the most important; get a good night’s sleep. It may seem simple, but most people lose track of time after they have or haven’t done their work to do something more entertaining and end up losing sleep over it.

Once one has set themselves in the right conditions to study effectively, it’s time to beat those exams to the ground. Some people seem to have a good response to flash cards, some rewrite the notes, or then there’s the classic skim through and hope for the best. Whatever one studies, just get that information in your noggin. Try to study throughout the week not the day before.

After that good week of studying one will be happy to find that they know the answers to the exam with a scrunching grin.

Study hard, well not hard, but adequately and one should be all right.

• Art Exhibit by Jeff McGee, 9 a.m., Galleria del Norte • Fine Arts Friday Free Concert, 12 p.m., NFAB 103

Saturday, April 9 • No Scheduled Activities

Monday, April 11 • Art Exhibit by Jeff McGee, 9 a.m., Galleria del Norte

Central Monday, April 4 • SGA Collecting Old Cell Phones and Accessories to be Recycled (M-F), 8 a.m., CSTC 100 • Prepare the Way Meeting, 11:30 a.m., CSTC 210A/B • SIFE Meeting, 1:30 p.m., CSTC Raven Cafe

Tuesday, April 5 • Grant Terry-Musical Performance, 11:30 a.m., CSTC Raven Cafe • TSEA Meeting, 1 p.m., CSCI 243 • BSM Bible Study, 1 p.m., BSM Building • VYNE Meeting, 1:30 p.m., CSTC 210A/B • GSA Meeting, 2:30 p.m., CADM 204 • Philosophy Club Logic Study Group, 2:30 p.m., CADM W106 • Philosophy Club Meeting, 4 p.m., CADM W106 • Indoor Soccer (w/Student ID), 6 p.m., Gym 100

Wednesday, April 6 • BSM Free Lunch, 11:30 a.m., BSM Building • BSM Bible Study, 1 p.m., BSM Building • VYNE Meeting, 1:30 p.m., CSTC 210A/B • Anime Society Meeting, 2 p.m., CADM W112 • WEBB Historical Society Meeting, 2:30 p.m., Professor Turner’s Classroom • Philosophy Club Meeting, 3:30 p.m., CADM W106 • Indoor Soccer (w/Student ID), 6 p.m., Gym 100 • BSM Soul Cafe, 11 a.m., BSM Building • ASID Board Meeting, 11:30 a.m., Interior Design Building Room 215 • Philosophy Club Meeting, 2:30 p.m., CADM W106 • Racquetball Sign Up, 6 p.m., Gym 110

Friday, April 8 • Sociology/Anthropology Club Meeting, 12:45 p.m., CADM W124

Saturday, April 9 • Gaming Society Meeting, 12 p.m., CSTC 210A/B

Monday, April 11 • Prepare the Way Meeting, 11:30 a.m., CSTC 210A/B • SIFE Meeting, 1:30 p.m., CSTC Raven Cafe

South

Monday, April 4

• Psi Beta Meeting, 1 p.m., Room 1101 • SGA Meeting, 3 p.m., Room 4202 • Tennis Club Meeting, 3:30 p.m., Tennis Courts • Mixed Martial Arts Club Meeting, 8:30 p.m., Gym

Tuesday, April 5 • Gaming Guild Meeting, 3:30 p.m., Room 2141 • Art Club Meeting, 5:30 p.m., SFAB 113 • Writer’s Block Meeting, 6 p.m., Room 3200

Wednesday, April 6 • Student Bible Fellowship, 11:30 a.m., Game Room • WEBB Society Meeting, 2:30 p.m., Room 1131

Thursday, April 7 • Phi Beta Lambda, 2:30 p.m., Room 2208 • Student Veterans Association Meeting, 3:30 p.m., Student Center (Top of Stairs) • Gaming Guild Meeting, 3:30 p.m., Room 2141 • Breakfast Club Meeting, 4:30 p.m., South Cafe

Friday, April 8 • No Scheduled Activities

Saturday, April 9 • No Scheduled Activities

Monday, April 11 • Psi Beta Meeting, 1 p.m., Room 1101 • SGA Meeting, 3 p.m., Room 4202 • Tennis Club Meeting, 3:30 p.m., Tennis Courts • Mixed Martial Arts Club Meeting, 8:30 p.m., Gym

Music/Sports

Album Reviews

Amon Amarth: Surtur Rising

By Matt Adamiak San Jac Times

The Viking Gods have truly blessed metalheads this spring with the release of Amon Amarth’s highly anticipated eighth studio album, Surtur Rising. This Swedish Metal behemoth, whose career began nearly two decades ago, has proven itself a worthy force to be reckoned with and has toured all over the globe spreading tales of pillaging and the pre-Christian world of Viking mythology. With such monster album releases as With Oden on Our Side and Twilight of the Thunder God, Amon Amarth is the epitome of Viking Metal.

Amon Amarth is like a fine wine which seems to improve with age. Surtur Rising continues this trend and is nothing short of mind-blowing.

Every single track on the album is an absolute joy to listen to. The galloping riffs, reminiscent of bands like Iron Maiden, give a powerful sense of charging into battle while the belly growls of lead vocalist, Johan Hegg, add to the Viking imagery.

It is difficult to point out any tracks that stand out above the rest only because they are all equally on par with each other. It’s almost as if you

were listening to a greatest hits album. However, one track stands out for being unexpected; that track is a cover of Aerials by System Of A Down.

Although the band is covering a different genre entirely, they still find a way to make the song their own. While lacking the melodic vocals that originally gave life to the SOAD version, I still found myself enjoying this different flavor of the 90’s rock classic, especially during the beefed up chorus which really got my adrenaline pumping.

The only thing that this album suffers from is the stigma of being a new album. I believe once that initial shock is over, critics will regard Surtur Rising as a true masterpiece of heavy metal brilliance. If there ever was a living breathing Dethklok, it would most certainly be Amon Amarth.

Grade: A+

Other Album Ratings:

Cavalera Conspiracy – Blunt Force Trauma: C Blackguard – Firefight: C+

April 4, 2011 San Jacinto Times • Page 4

Weekly concert calender

By MATT ADAMIAK San Jacinto Times

APR 4 The Big Easy – The Mighty Orq! Rudyard’s – Deep Dark Robot Warehouse Live – Scissor Sisters APR 5 The Big Easy – Howard and Art Fitzgerald’s – The Damnwells, w/ Harper Blynn, + Howard Jennings; Johnny Falstaff Mango’s – Texas Dub w/ BMC (Swisha House) House of Blues – Camila Walters on Washington – Rotting Christ w/ Melechesh, Hate, Abigail Williams + Lecherous Nocturne APR 6 The Big Easy – Big & Easy Blues Jam Fitzgerald’s - Robert Ellis & The Boys House of Blues – Guster Mango’s – Labretta Suede Verizon Wireless Theater – Dierks Bentley Warehouse Live – Duran Duran APR 7 The Big Easy – Luther and the Healers Fitzgerald’s – The Books House of Blues – All Time Low + Yellowcard; Brother of Pearl + The Reliques Mango’s – Dead Rabbits w/ Sawyer Family, Viva La Rox + Yellow Echo Numbers – Dipset w/ Jim Jones, Cam’ron, Juelz Santana, Ill Liad + Nosaprise Rudyard’s – The Governor’s Chair Warehouse Live – B L A C K I E APR 8 Arena Theater – George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic The Big Easy – Eric Demmer and the Sax Dawgs Fitzgerald’s – The Pains of Being Pure at heart w/ Twin Shadow + The Watermarks; The Family Band Warpaint w/ PVT + House of Blues – Chingo Bling Mango’s – Dickey Hands w/ Mission vs. Madness, Shut Up Sydney + The Black Pharaophs Rudyard’s – Fired for Waling + Bald Eagle Burger Scout Bar – The Spazmatics Toyota Center – Lady Gaga Warehouse Live – Grupo Fantasma w/ DJ Chicken George APR 9 The Big Easy – J.P Soars Fitzgerald’s – Eyes Burn Electric w/ Electric Touch + The Vettes; Glassnost + Motel Aviv Number’s – Three 6 Mafia Rudyard’s – Metal Maiden (Iron Maiden tribute) + Alter Ego Scout Bar – Thin White Dukes Walters on Washington - Texas Massacre (go to www.4215washington.com for details) Warehouse Live – Metavenge, Radio One, Violent Copilot, Passive Aggressive, Ethreal, Souls of Agony APR 10 The Big Easy – Zydeco Dots Fitzgerald’s – Bobby Long Numbers – Metal Zone Jam: Fallacy, Souls of Agony, Necrofaith, Mercenary X, Melovine, The Hectic, Wide Open Throttle, Crank Case, Silenced Within, Forever Falls, Cern Warehouse Live – This Name’s Temporary, CrossbellForTheBlind, Woodpecker & Guests

Lockout reigns, fans share pain SPORTS COMMENTARY

The Sports Report (All records March 31)

By HARRISON LEE San Jacinto Times

Here’s what we’re going to remember about the NFL lockout: All the other stuff. It won’t be the legal wrangling or maybe even the common-sense aspect; we’ll look back on all this and fondly remember DeMaurice Smith’s Adjustment Bureau hats and Adrian Peterson’s slavery comparisons.

Let it never be said that professional athletes have an overly good sense of timing off the field, but this might take the proverbial cake.

Of course, there are genuine legal issues centering on the complex areas of contracts, labor and various media torts, but that can’t really change the fact that this is really badly timed. But hey, it is what it is, and we all seemingly have to make sense of it. Though, that’s a pretty tough task when the leading voices of this lovely little lockout belong to those who should stick to the game itself.

With all the less than wonderful events in the world, sport is supposed to be one of the ultimate escapes, so is it any wonder that now, tragedy of tragedies, ESPN can be as draining as CNN? Aren’t we a little better than this?

Probably not, but we can at least pretend.

In my Heart of Hearts, I’m sure both sides have actual grievances, but that doesn’t mean that this should be negotiated via Twitter for the benefit [amusement] of the public. The bulk of we, the adoring populous, have no understanding of how a Pro Sport works, and this isn’t helped along by such gems as “This [the lockout] is about the fans”, from Kevin Mawae.

Huh? I’m perplexed. I thought it was about the rookie pay scale, the CBA and the looming specter of an 18 game season? What did I do? Of course, it’s either that for the players, or insult everyone else’s intelligence.

“The players want to play, we’re not striking. We decertified because we want to get back to playing football.”

Said Tony Richardson. So, it’s not a strike, you’re just not

as

of

BASEBALL Record: 22-9, 10-3 in Region IV play Update: Regular season ends May 4.

National tournament ends June 4.

MEN’S BASKETBALL Record: 29-4 Update: Season over; Lost to Lamar State-Port Arthur 72-67 in the Region XIV Tournament.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL Record: 9-22 Update: Season ended on March 4.

SOCCER Record: 16-4 last season.

Update: Season begins in Fall.

MCT Campus

It might be a while before we see Matt Schaub and the Texans on the field again. doing what you get paid to do. Makes sense. Though, I’m the NFL draft out of “solidarity” to a group they have no duly impressed you think decertifying will magically allegiance with. A helpful hint to maybe getting the pubmake you not a Union. I may be a few years away from a lic on your side might be to remember that the bulk of us corner office with a nice law firm, but if members of a don’t make millions a year for a game, thus we the Public Union are suing on behalf of other members of a Union… have very little patience when you all cry foul and poverthat means what? ty.

I will admit, my family and our values could easily be I don’t mean to sound unsympathetic or overly callus, it’s just hard for me to side with a group when their classified as a Crown example of “Corporatocracy,” but at “Master Plan” to win is have kids [read: pawns] boycott least we’re not trying to ruin the NFL draft.

SOFTBALL Record: 21-11 Update: Regular season ends April 27; national tournament ends May 21.

VOLLEYBALL Record: Finished last season 29-10, second nationally.

Update: New season begins in the Fall.

Entertainment/Etc.

Raven Day excitement

By PAULETTE VARGAS and MICHAEL DEATS San Jacinto Times

Blue Jeans. Blue Camouflage Tank. Blue earrings. Blue lips stained from the blueberry flavored snow cone. And a blue ambient surrounds Jessica during her first Raven Day. Former SJC Central student Jessica Adair, experiences an accident while “walking on air” said Student Life Coordinator Assistant Angie.

On Wednesday, Mar. 30 at approximately 11:15a.m. SJC Police Officer, G. A. James, was called to the scene.

Adair explains the accident, step-by-step, as she attempts to complete the inflatable obstacle course. She completes the first challenge, climbing over the wall, trying to land on both feet; she falls on her right ankle.

As the ankle swells on the outside, wrapped with ice, Adair bursts out “[it] hurts like crap”.

April 4, 2011 San Jacinto Times • Page 5

With a probably twisted ankle, Adair says she will never be going on one of those things again.

Adair, accompanied by a friend, waits for the paramedics to take her to the hospital; her advice is to be careful when attempting the obstacle course.

On a later note Raven Day was a huge success with students participating in the events, from car bashing to free snow cones.

Two professional spray paint artists did miniature landscape arts of immaculate quality, with the cans flying in the air as they shook, scraped, and molded their art into something many students will enjoy for years to come.

In the background Brett Mann cruised around on a unicycle to many peoples delight. By the end of the event attendees were thoroughly entertained by the festivities provide by the student organizations. A special thank you goes out to all the organizers, including; the Student life organization and all the various clubs.

All photos by Michael Deats/San Jacinto Times

Just For Fun

April 4, 2011 San Jacinto Times • Page 6

Cobra Meet excites car enthusiasts cutline here

WILL STEWART San Jacinto Times

On a very sunny day on a small racetrack in San Marcos, a large group people arrive with their trailers in tow to in participate the Texas Cobra Meet. Tons of lightweight, high performance Cobra kit cars zoomed around the track as pedestrians watched in the distance. For one day in March there was no nuclear crisis in Japan, there was no

HIGH SCHOOL

economical decline or potential for a double dip recession, no deaths, no crimes, just a community of car fans living out their dreams. For a day on a tiny little racetrack in San Marcos there was peace, even when a shiny sports car spun off the side of the track into a cloud of dust. At the end of the day, the sun sets and the cars are packed into their trailers with their engines hot, a few more scratches than they had before they arrived, and another memory that will last forever. cutline here.

Continued from page 1

Those increases include bond payments, fuel and salary increases, health insurance premiums, reduced interest revenue, the cost of opening a new school, a new data system, and the colleges of study redesign at the high school. CCISD projected a $27 million shortfall over the next five years to simply keep up with inflation and to meet the needs of 38,500 students. This $27 million shortfall does not include pay increases for its 5,000 employees.

The first level of reduction for PISD is already in progress based on

BUDGET

Continued from page 1

Totaling 156.4 billion in education alone. “ They are cutting from bare bones,” stated Mr. Amezcua. When Governor Rick Perry was elected he promised not to raise taxes. To keep his promise he has to find different ways to balance the State budget. The cutting into edu-

COMMENTARY

A situation that may cause the hopes, dreams, and desires of most students to come to an end. It has been said that there may be budget cuts in school funding.

This not only affects the students, but the teachers and faculty staff as well. Will this cause a domino effect of down fall causing many to remain jobless? The future doesn’t seem too bright from here. The game of life could surely take a turn for the worst.

It simply doesn’t make since people need money to live and pay for school; why destroy anyone’s chances of education?

The effects could vary; many teachers could become unemployed and unable to find any more teaching jobs slowly running out of money not paying the bills all because their class happened get cut. Can you imaging losing your job over something completely out of your own power unable to prevent it? Higher school tuitions can cause uproar with people paying from their pockets. This could very well ruin student scholarships causing many students to not be able to pay for their books, supplies, and classes. They will never be able to achieve their dreams at this rate.

Cutting the funding from schools seems like the worst thing anyone can do to society. It’s almost like taking education away.

With no education how will the world be run? No education would cause a generation of dumbed down people in a point in

Photo by Will Stewart/San Jacinto Times

a $21 million reduction in state funding. First, reduce Central Office staff including the reorganization of Curriculum and Instruction and Special Programs and the elimination of 6 administrative positions as well as the Associate Superintendent for Facilities position. Second, reorganize Alternative Education (Guidance Center and the Summit) for a loss of 11 positions. Third, at the secondary level, teachers will teach an additional class and have increased class sizes, a reduction of 86 teaching positions. Fourth, increase student/teacher ratio at elementary and middle schools-a reduction of 66 positions. Fifth, eliminate an average of one aide position from each campus. Sixth, close small bilingual enrollment programs. Seventh, reduce the number of dyslexia teachers on the Secondary level. Eighth, reduce maintenance, operations and trans-

portation staff. Lastly, the ninth is to reduce police staff by five positions and crossing guards by ten. A hiring freeze has been implemented across the district. A 60-day moratorium has been placed on all positions to save 2 months of salary. The Chief of Police position has also been left vacant at this time to save money. If a teacher leaves from this point on in the school year, a full-time sub will be used. All vacated positions will be carefully reviewed and filled only if necessary.

These are just a few of the new or soon to be affects for high schools across Texas. The true aspects that this state budget cut will have will truly been seen as time progresses. From job loss to increase of class sizes will make high schools take a turn, will it be for the worst? Time will tell.

cation has been a growing trend in recent years. The fact of the matter is that higher education is extremely important and without it there will be negative impacts.

only hinder student’s future. Fewer students will attend and the students who are attending will be a less prepared for the workforce and less attractive to hiring employers.

Although most colleges will try to defer the budget cuts, and spread them evenly. The students and the community will surely feel the affects. Community colleges play a major role in local communities and local cities. “Community Colleges are an important fixture in our community,” said Mr. Amezcua. Cutting classes and financial aid will

Education makes world of difference

By ADRIAN REQUENA San Jacinto Times

Photo by Will Stewart/San Jacinto Times

time. People say children are our future, but focusing to preserve and improve the present is what would help make children grow into becoming better people. We need education to get better money; we need the money nurture the children better; we need the children for the future; it’s like one big cycle if one thing is pulled out the rest is doomed.

One way you could look at this is as if you’re playing a really bad game of Monopoly. If the game started with low cash, missing second die; and loss of some property cards. You would have to be very lucky to be successful in this game. You run out of money then land on chance, pay each player $50, suddenly you are forced to cut the properties you own selling the rest to the other players. Surely this isn’t fun and your weekly pay of $200.00 passing go doesn’t help by much at all. Low cash repented the money a normal student would have, missing die represented how slowly one would excel, and lost property cards was the unfairness of never being able to have any success.

Education it pretty much what makes our world go round. Some people are smarter than others and can innovate a better future, some people are more helpful than others to keep us present people sane, and some are more creative to entertain cause excitement as well as wonder. Everyone is different in his or her own way, but education is what taps out our natural talents to share with the world.

The proposed budget is being polished out, but the fact is that there will be cuts, and students, and faculties around Texas will be affected.

Many students will be awaiting their next year’s future, which now lies in the hands of the Texas legislature. Only time will show what affects may come.

Just For Fun

April 4, 2011 San Jacinto Times • Page 7

April 4, 2011 San Jacinto Times • Page 8