L4U M a g a z i n e Diversity At ACC p.6
In sid 201 3 er ’s G -201 uid 4 eE di tio n
How many students attend ACC? p.8
Being Green at ACC p.16
College Technology Guide p.18
Where to Eat Near Your Campus p.20
Why do textbook cost so much? p.12
2013–2014
features 03
Look Around You The many faces of ACC
05
Just the Facts An illustrated look at ACC Photo by Clarissa Peereboom
Photo by Clarissa Peereboom
07 Why Are Textbooks So Expensive? Coping with the rising cost of knowledge
Photo by Clarissa Peereboom
L4U M a g a z i n e
insider’s guide 13
What’s Green?
15
How Are You Connected?
ACC works toward carbon neutrality
Apps, websites and media
Shireen Fatehi-Sedeh Editor in Chief Ruby Pinon Design Editor Clarissa Peereboom Photo Editor
17
Where to Eat?
Sandwiches and barbecue near campus
Kimberly Hancock Layout Editor
21
Where to Caffeinate?
Carizma Barrera Staff Reporter
Local coffee spots
editor’s letter
Jacqueline Torres Staff Photographer Era Sundar Editor at Large Jamie Lay Student Media Adviser Life4U is Austin Community College’s back-to-school, studentrun digital magazine. The insider’s guidebook for new and returning students contains stories and photos covering important people, places and events in the ACC District. It also offers advice on Student Life, study spots and restaurants.
Photo by Clarissa Peereboom
25
ACC Impressions Shireen Fatehi-Sedeh, Editor in Chief
On the cover:
Photo Editor Clarissa Peereboom photographed model Nguyen Stanton at Highland Business Center.
Photo by Shireen Fatehi-Sedeh
Photo by Clarissa Peereboom
Look Around You ACC’s student population crosses cultural, ethic and generational lines by Carizma Barrera and Shireen Fatehi-Sedeh
T
he Austin Community College District is huge. Students hail from all over the United States, several foreign countries and just about every walk of life. With nine campuses serving seven counties and offering more than 200 degrees and certificates, ACC is a model of diversity and variety with its broad mission and varied population. Rocio Salinas is a sophomore at the University of Texas working toward her degree in bilingual education. She is also an ACC student. Salinas attends ACC in the summer because of the flexible scheduling options. “ACC has a great degree of freedom in what your class schedule looks like,” she said. While at ACC, Salinas has encountered students pursuing many fields of study. Her art club, for example, is filled with engineers. “It’s very interesting, and makes you think twice about your major, especially if you are someone who has more than one interest,” she said. Salinas has also encountered students in various stages of their lives. “Especially in my math education class, there are adults who have gone back to college and are significantly older than I am. It adds a different viewpoint to the class,” she said. “Older students can be more studious. They want to take more from the class.” Ketzavel Arispe is studying to be an administrative assistant. After graduating from high school in 2005 she worked for a number of companies including Sally Beauty Supply, Wal-Mart, HEB, Calendar Club and Dell. She started taking classes in 2008 to improve her career prospects, but stopped the next year because of complications with her pregnancy. She returned to ACC last year. “When you have kids and a family, it’s hard to attend a big university,” she said. Like Salinas, Arispe also noticed a broad range of people represented in the student body. “No course that I took had any set of students of the same age, gender or ethnicity. Everyone was different,” she said. Statistics show that ACC’s student body is racially and ethnically varied. Forty-seven percent of students are white, 29 percent are Hispanic, 8 percent are black and 5 percent are Asian. ACC students 21 years old and younger make up 43
percent of the student body. Many younger students come to ACC to take core-curriculum requirements so they can transfer to any public Texas university with credit for two years of lower division classes. These students may or may not complete an associate’s degree. More than 2,600 high school students age 17 and younger attended ACC in spring 2012, as part of the Early College Start program. This group uses ACC classes to satisfy high school graduation requirements while earning college credits. Juniors and seniors in high school are exempt from tuition and fees for up to 12 credit hours. Some high schools even have ACC classes available on their own campuses. In spring 2012, 112 students age 65 or older attended ACC as well. These students are exempt from tuition for six credit hours per semester, on a space available basis. In an attempt to provide opportunity to anyone interested in higher education, ACC offers courses for adults who were unable to complete their secondary education requirements. Adult Basic Education courses are offered for those whose math and literacy skills are below high school level. General Education Development classes are available to help students prepare for the high school equivalency exam, gain life skills and jobs skills. Classes are also available to inmates at the Travis County jail and GED classes are available through juvenile probation. For international students, English-as-a-Second-Language can be combined with a citizenship preparation program. Students can benefit from reaching out to other members of ACC’s diverse student body. Thanh Nguyen, a student of economics at ACC, previously attended Portland State University. He said ACC is linguistically more diverse, with students speaking a variety of languages on campus. Still, Nguyen said he sometimes felt out of place. “As an international student, English is still a barrier and I have some difficulties in communication,” he said. “Also, we do not have many Asian students in the south side.” However, once he began working for Student Life, Nguyen felt more connected to the ACC community. He also volunteered with Circle K International’s service based programs and attended meetings of ACC’s Phi Theta Kappa honor society. “When I worked for Student Life, I realized that ACC did try to create events and opportunities for international students to have a chance to fit in with this society,” he said.
ACC’s student body is large and varied. This is how it breaks down.
WE ARE ACC Approximately 40,954 students were enrolled at ACC during the Spring 2013 semester, a 10.23% increase over enrollment in 2009. Students were enrolled in approximately 308,114 credit hours. 18,260
students were enrolled full-time
32,213
students were enrolled part-time
45%
male students were enrolled compared to
8,738
21% Full Time
22,694
55%
female students
79% Part Time
The average age of the ACC student body is:
26
25% 18%
18% 15%
12%
9%
3%
51
36
31
25
22
19
+
0
-5
5
-3
0
-3
4
-2
1
-2
d
an
r
de
Un
Source: ACC Fact Book 2012-2013
18
33,802 Students are In District, 6,123 Students are Out of District 663 Students are Out of State 366 Students are International
Graphic by Kimberly Hancock, Layout Editor
Photo by Clarissa Peereboom
ns
iv
e?
Why are textbooks
Ex
pe
ACC students cope with the high cost of educational materials
Elementary-High School
College
by Shireen Fatehi-Sedeh
A
CC student Trevor Mason once paid $130 for a calculus book. “It’s ridiculous,” he said. “I think it’s a big scam to make money.” In recent years, textbook prices have played an increasingly significant role in the cost of education. Students spent an average of $655 on required course materials during the 201011 academic year according to “Student Watch,” a report published by the National Association of College Stores. The cost of textbooks has also outpaced inflation according to University of Michigan professor Mark J. Perry. In a 2012 article for American Enterprise Institute, Perry wrote that the consumer price index has risen 250 percent since 1978, while textbook prices have grown by 812 percent. This increase dwarfs the climbing cost of medical services during the last 30 years and makes the housing market crash of the 2000s look inconsequential, according to Perry. Mason, who studies photography at the Northridge Campus, said students feel victimized by the high cost of textbooks. He blames the soaring costs on the frequent release of new editions by publishing companies. “It’s a constant race to keep up,” he said. “They change a few pictures and it’s a different textbook.” Jeanette Lien, who manages all nine of ACC’s bookstores, said there are several reasons for the frequent revisions. For example, government textbooks become outdated whenever there’s a turnover in elections, and technology texts become obsolete with each advance in software. “Thirty years ago, it was maybe every five years,” Lien said.
“Now revisions may come on a two to three-year cycle.” As the cost of textbooks continues to consume budgets, many ACC students have turned to money saving options like selling their books back to the store. Lein said the bookstores generally buy a book for half of its selling price, whether it was new or used. However, factors such as demand and a book’s condition may affect whether it can be bought back and at what price. Chris Florence, who attends ACC under the GI bill, once bought books for a class that changed editions the next semester and was not able to sell them back to the bookstore. “That’s just money sitting on the shelf gathering dust,” he said. “You learn about debt in every textbook.” Florence prefers to rent textbooks. It’s less expensive than an outright purchase and many bookstores allow students to highlight and take notes in rented texts as long as they are kept in good condition. There are high penalties for late returns, however. Students also find savings by purchasing books online or from fellow students. Selling them on Craigslist or eBay at the end of the semester can also net more money. E-books provide an alternative to traditional textbook purchases. They can be bought or rented. Since there are no shipping or printing costs associated with e-books, there is more potential for savings. Some publishers also offer perpetual edition updates on an e-book for a small initial fee. Bich Vu, who is taking ACC classes recreationally, said she only purchases coffee table books in hardcover. For everything else she uses e-books. She appreciates the convenience of
not having to carry heavy texts and likes that e-books are searchable electronically. “That made the homework assignment a lot easier,” she said. Vu also appreciates the savings associated with e-books. “The original print price was a bit high. Forty dollars versus $12 was a big consideration,” she said. E-books offer non-monetary benefits as well. Jill Brockmann, a business communications professor at ACC, said they also provide an in-depth, interactive experience. “It supports the learning experience with video interviews, animated graphics and charts,” Brockmann said. Despite their benefits, Lien said e-books are not yet popular at ACC. “Students are still on the fence about it. We’re waiting to see what happens,” she said. “It’s been interesting to see my daughter using more and more online resources. When her generation comes aboard we’ll see what happens.” Some professors have not embraced the switch either. ACC English professor Carol Barrett pointed to an illustration on her office wall. It displayed media through the ages: clay tablets, papyrus, parchment and CDs. CDs illustrate the role of digital content in the recent past and the future. However, she said the future has not yet arrived. “I don’t use e-books in my classes,” Barrett said. “I like the student to bring the book to class, turn to a page and follow along.” Although many still prefer traditional formats, advances toward digital educational models are constantly being made. Open educational resources are a possibility that may provide free or low-cost alternatives to students in the future. Boundless is an open source education organization that offers free interactive textbook substitutes. These resources are a compilation of material from libraries, government sources, and educational websites. Boundless organizes the material to cover the same topics as specific textbooks in alignment with the book’s table of contents. The service is designed so students can sign up and follow along with their substitute book instead of buying the one chosen by their professor. However, Boundless is currently defending itself against charges of copyright infringement brought by three textbook publishers. So for the near future, textbooks continue to play a major role in education and student budgets. -✌
You learn debt in every — Chris Flo
n about y textbook
orence
What impacts the cost of a textbook? Cost increases in paper, ink and transportation may only be a part of the equation. Jill Brockmann, a business communications professor at ACC, said a great deal of specialized skills and labor go into producing a text. These skills include compiling indices and appendices. Because textbooks, unlike novels, must be accurate, the fact checking process is labor intensive, Brockmann said. Up to 30 people were involved in producing a book she coauthored.
How is a textbook selected? English professor Carol Barrett said the review process takes place every three years and any professor in the department can volunteer for the selection committee. Committee members nominate books and vote to narrow down the choices. Each professor can then choose from the shortlist. Photography professor William Tolan said quality, thoroughness, pricing and accessibility are considered when choosing a textbook. “It’s sort of a balancing act,” he said. “Often we go with the thinner, more affordable, more accessible one.”
How can students save money ? Options to help manage the cost of books include doing some homework. Sometimes a combination of approaches yields the best result: • selling - back to the bookstore, to other students, or via ebay and craigslist • renting - from the bookstore • buying used - instead of new books • online - shopping around to find the best price from online
nsider’s
guid
de
to
Austin Community College
start here
ACC’s goal is to be clim
L4U looks at the steps ACC is taking
Andy Kim, Director of Environmental Stewardship, said his initia
Architecture & Design “ACC is at the forefront of sustainability,” Kim said. Campuses are designed to be green. All new construction will meet LEED silver standards, and existing buildings have been repurposed to avoid waste. Builders of the Elgin Campus used bricks made in Elgin, which reduced transport costs and supported local industry. The Rio Grande parking garage was designed to use daylight for illumination and to reduce heat absorption by using reflective concrete and white coatings. Builders at the Round Rock Campus used recycled materials, Forest Stewardship Council Certified wood and low-VOC paints.
Transportation “ACC is a commuter college, so transportation is a really big part of our sustainability program. We cannot offer enough parking,” Kim said. “Almost half of our carbon emissions are related to commuting.” Students pay a $1 sustainability fee along with their tuition, and in return, receive a Green Pass for free use of Capital Metro public transportation. Kim said some students wouldn’t be able to make it to class if not for the Green Pass. Green Passes are available at the cashier’s office on each campus. Electric vehicle charging and preferred parking for green vehicles is available on all campuses. Micro car rental company, Car2go, has been at ACC since the spring of 2013. Designated parking spaces are available at Eastview and Riverside Campuses and the Highland Business Center. Zipcar has been on the Rio Grande Campus since fall 2012. It offers car rentals for as little as one hour. Online services such as mycommutesolutions.com can help carpoolers contact with one another. Kim said he has plans to offer a carpool incentive parking area. Plans are in the works for more and better bike racks at Rio Grande Campus.
by Shireen F
Energy
About a fifth of the powe During the day, RRC sends e Northridge Campus redu and made the parking lots an
mate neutral by 2050.
g to get there and how it affects you.
atives benefit ACC by easing parking gridlock and saving money.
Careers ACC offers degrees in green fields and training for green jobs. Students can learn about solar energy installation, energy auditing and alternative fuels. ACC offers degree programs in environmental science, environmental technology and renewable energy.
Involvement “We need students to get involved,” said Kim. “Sustainability touches everything in our lives.” The sustainability committee has two student members, appointed by the Student Government Association. A new student Green Team is being formed to work on environmental initiatives. To get involved, contact Andrew Kim, ACC’s Director of Environmental Stewardship at green@austincc.edu.
Fatehi-Sedeh
er for the Round Rock Campus comes from solar energy. energy back into the electric grid. uced energy consumption for outdoor lighting by 69 percent nd driveways brighter and safer by switching to LED lights.
Recycle ACC is saving on landfill waste collection fees by composting paper towels, along with food waste from the culinary and child development programs at Eastview. Kim and associates went dumpster diving to document waste leaving campus for two weeks before initiating the program.
My SL: Khan Academy:
This portal allows students to contact Student Life organizations and RSVP to events at bit.ly/ACCSL.
This non-profit provides over 4,200 free, instructional videos in math, science and humanities.
> How YO Wolfram|Alpha:
This “knowledge engine” can be used in tasks that range from outlining the steps of a math equation to diagraming metabolic pathways.
Connec
Apps, Sites > Blackboard
and gmail access to homework, h grades. These are som technology resources. Evernote:
Evernote helps users access documents, calendars, reminders and to-do lists from any device with internet capability. The software also makes it possible to add notations to photos.
Capital Metro Trip Planner:
One way to get the most out of the free Green Pass is to navigate travel routes at capmetro.org/planner/
Facebook:
Most college organizations have Facebook pages where you can find out about the latest events and interact with other students.
Twitter:
Follow @theaccent for a student perspective on what’s happening in the district and follow @accdistrict to receive official college notifications like registration and payment deadlines.
Are
OU
cted?
s and Media
Waze:
For those driving to school, this crowdsourced app provides alerts for traffic, accidents, speed traps, road hazards and gas prices.
l provide online handouts, tests and me additional, free . by Shireen Fatehi-Sedeh Zipcar:
Reserve a zipcar microrental with your phone.
Car2go:
Students without a car can download this app to find and reserve short term rentals from the nearest car2go.
CYP Cypress Creek Campus
L4U ventured outside ACC’s cam food chains in search of good fo
Noble Sandwich Co. 11815 620 N #4
noblesandwiches.com Distance from campus:
2.3 miles
Culinary school classmates John Bates and Brandon Martinez from Corpus Christi started this “crafted” sandwich shop a few years ago. Almost everything is produced in-house: they smoke their own bacon, grind their own sausage and make their own pickles. Duck pastrami and beef tongue are popular, but the namesake “Noble Pig” is loaded with spicy ham, pulled pork, bacon and provolone. Sandwiches are $7 or $8 and vegetarian options are available. Noble Sandwich Co. is only open for lunch, 11 “until close.”
Photo by Clarissa Peereboom
EGN Elgin Campus Southside Market & BBQ 1212 US 290
southsidemarket.com Distance from campus:
Less than a mile
Photo by Jacqueline Torres
Southside Market has been open since 1882 and claims to be the oldest barbecue joint in Texas. While the specialty is the sausage, they also offer brisket, chicken, turkey, pork steak and four kinds of ribs, including mutton. Sandwiches and plates are $3.49 to $13.99.
mpuses and passed the typical fastood, a short walk or drive away
EVC Eastview Campus Juan in a Million 2300 East Cesar Chavez Street
Photo by Clarissa Peereboom
juaninamillion.com
Distance from campus:
1.7 miles
Juan in a Million is traditional Mexican food in a friendly place. Usually you are greeted or thanked by Juan himself. It is known for “Don Juan Taco,� which is supposed to be the largest taco ever sold. But Juan also offers breakfast all-day and has vegan and menu items. $0.10 to $10.45 for food and drinks.
NRG Northridge Campus Taco Deli 12001 Burnet Road tacodeli.com
Distance from campus:
1.1 miles
Taco Deli opened its second location in 2005 not far from the Northridge campus. It serves breakfast and lunch and is known for daily specialty tacos. Authentic flavors and natural meats make this spot stand out. House-made aguas frescas use seasonal fruit. Taco Deli is open for breakfast and lunch. Tacos start at about $3.
Photo by Jacqueline Torres
PIN Pinnacle Campus Donn’s Texas BBQ Oak Meadow Drive donnstexasbbq.com
Photo by Jacqueline Torres
RGC
Distance from campus:
Less than a mile
This family-owned business serves stickto-your-ribs meals at long communal picnic tables. Sausage wraps and barbeque sandwiches are $2.75 to $6. Plates and family packs are also available.
Photo by Shireen Fatehi-Se
RV
Rio Grande Campus
Riverside
Shoal Creek Saloon
The Blue
1505 Town
909 North Lamar Blvd
blueoxbarb
shoalcreeksaloon.com
Distance f
Distance from campus:
2.5 m
Less than a mile
A better spot for hanging-out than studying, Shoal Creek is the selfproclaimed home of Austin’s New Orleans Saints fans with more than 30 TVs. Sit outside on the covered patio under misting fans and enjoy the view of the creek. The 18-year-old restaurant offers Cajun fare from étouffée and gumbo to po’boys and burgers. Crawfish and oysters are served seasonally. Daily specials range from $8 to $14.
Photo by Shireen Fatehi-Sedeh
This food truck share Buzzmill coffee. Fork brisket is $7 for a half sausage, pulled pork, pork tenderloin comp menu. The trailer is c trades its two side dis salad and Texas style you-can eat pancakes on Sundays. Covered best, since the patio c midday. The patio als homemade skee-ball
RRC Round Rock Campus Hoody’s Sub’s 1205 Round Rock Avenue hoodyssubs.com
Distance from campus:
6.4 miles
edeh
VS
e Campus
Hoody’s Subs is located on Round Rock Avenue across from Round Rock High School. It has been open since 1989. It is best known for the made-to-order Philly cheesesteak with hot pepper relish and mushrooms. The cajun turkey is also a good choice. Sandwiches and combo meals range from $3.95 to $10.00.
SAC South Austin Campus
Ox BBQ
Conans Pizza
n Creek Drive
2817 West Stassney Lane
becue.com
conanspizza.com/south
from campus:
Distance from campus:
miles
es a patio with k-tender and flavorful f-pound. House spare ribs and plete their barbecue closed Mondays, and shes (German potato pinto beans) for alls and bacon and eggs d picnic tables are can be a little hot at so features games like and Lincoln Logs.
Photo by Jacqueline Torres
Less than a mile
Photo by Clarissa Peereboom
Conans Pizza has been serving pies to Austin students since 1976. Its specialty is “The Savage”, a deep dish pie with meats, anchovies and veggies. Pizza by the slice is only available until 2 p.m. Vegan cheese and whole wheat dough are available upon request. Hangout until 11 on weeknights and midnight on weekends. Study in the wooden booths when it’s quiet on weekdays in between meals. Lunch specials are $3 to $8. Deep pan pies $11 to $26.
CYP Cypress Creek Campus
Where to Caffeinate
Bees Knees Bakeshop 109 Cypress Creek Road beeskneesbakeshop.com Distance from campus:
1.8 miles
Bees Knees Bake Shop is a gluten/dairy/ casein-free bakery and cafe. It serves breakfast and lunch all day, and has a daily offering of more than 25 sweet treat flavors. Bees Knees also takes custom orders. For people with food allergies, this is the place to study and eat. $1.50 to $8.00 for muffins and other food items. Half-priced breakfast tacos and $0.50 coffee are available every Wednesday from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m.
Curl up with a book or get a shot of espresso at L4U’s favorite coffee spots near campus
Photo by Clarissa Peereboom
EGN Elgin Campus Coffee Catz 112 South Main Street
Photo by Clarissa Peereboom
facebook.com/pages/CoffeeCatz/305943574437 Distance from campus:
3.4 miles
Coffee Catz offers drive-through breakfast, lunch and dinner. The shaved ice is delicious and a great bargain. $1 to $10.00 for food or drink items.
EVC Eastview Campus Bennu Coffee 2001 E. MLK Blvd bennucoffee.com Distance from campus:
1.7 miles
Open 24 hours, Bennu Coffee Lounge is a great neighborhood hangout close to the UT and ACC campuses. It has free Wi-Fi and plenty of comfy chairs to sit and study or just hang out with friends. Power outlets make it easy to study with a laptop. French Press, designer mochas, loose leaf teas, and a variety of sandwiches, salads and treats are all delicious. $1.50 to $6.00 for drinks, pastries and other food items.
Photo by Clarissa Peereboom
NRG Northridge Campus Cafe Java 11900 Metric Blvd cafejava.info
Distance from campus:
Less than a mile
Cafe Java serves coffee and tea, as well as daily soup specials, sandwiches and breakfast all day. There are a wide selection of bean varieties for espresso beverages and iced drinks with names like the “depth charge,” and the “hammerhead.” Cafe Java also offers an assortment of baked goods and desserts along with free Wi-Fi. Food ranges from $1.85 to $7.99.
Photo by Clarissa Peereboom
RGC Rio Grande Campus Sentelli’s 814 West 12th Street austinsweets.com
Distance from campus:
0.1 miles
Photo by Shireen Fatehi-
PIN
Sentelli’s started as a bakery and recently began offering pizza, wraps and tacos. Pastries at $2 are tastier than the other food options. Espressos, cappuccinos, lattes and americanos offered at $1.75 to $5.
Photo by Shireen Fatehi-S
RV
Riverside
BuzzMil
Pinnacle Campus
1505 Town C
Jim’s Restaurant
buzzmillc
7101 Texas 71
Distance fro
jimsrestaurants.com
2.5 m
Distance from campus:
0.7 mile
The old-school diner is open 24-hours a day and has unlimited free refills of basic hot-plate coffee.
Photo by Jaqueline Torres
This lumber-themed specializes in a smoot brew that is also sold to take home and drin big room has a social connect-four games, lined corridor in the b lighting and graphic w who want to work qu shares a patio with Th which has all-you-can bacon and eggs on Su tea range from $2 to $
Sedeh
VS
e Campus
ll Coffee
Creek Drive
coffee.com
om campus:
miles
coffee shop th, mellow coldin large glass jugs nk all week. The l vibe with giant and there is a boothback with warm wallpaper for those uietly. This place The Blue Ox BBQ n-eat pancakes and undays. Coffee and $5.
RRC Round Rock Campus Round Rock Donuts
Photo by Jacqueline Torres
106 West Liberty Avenue roundrockdonuts.com Distance from campus:
6.2 miles
The reason to visit this Round Rock institution is not really the coffee, but the melt-in-your-mouth, worldfamous, orange, glazed donuts. Texassized donuts are available for a special occasion or crowd. Seating is very limited, so take your donuts to go. At busy times a friendly employee is always outside working to expedite the drive-through line. Donuts and other food range from $0.59 to $7.99.
SAC South Austin Campus Full English 2000 Southern Oaks Drive fullenglishfood.com
Distance from campus:
0.3 mile
Anglofiles can find a traditional English breakfast all day, including bangers made in house with local pork, tomatoes, mushrooms, baked beans and fried bread. High tea is served at 4 p.m. with tea sandwiches, scones, cakes and pots of hot strong, black tea with milk. The Wi-Fi is free and the sofas are cozy. Drinks are $2 to $3, breakfast plates $8 to $12, suppers $3 to $7.
Letter From the Editor
Like many students here, this isn’t my first time in college. I enrolled again because I wanted to update my skill set and branch out into something a little bit different. I chose ACC because of the convenience, the low cost and the emphasis on teaching specific applied skills. Because of the combination of academic classes and technical certifications, you can acquire concrete skills at ACC, even if you plan to go on to study elsewhere. You can qualify as an EMT or pastry chef or begin a degree in philosophy or mathematics. The presence of non-traditional students at ACC adds an element of diversity that can be valuable and interesting for everyone. The recent high school graduate next to you may have the latest research skills or a perspective on the newest testing and admissions requirements in Texas. The veteran next to you may have stories to tell about their travels around the world. Students with career experience may have useful perspectives on job-hunting. They may
talk you into or out of a career path you were considering. ACC’s student body includes attorneys, accountants, actors, photographers and graphic artists. Some of them are here to keep up with changing technology while others just want to keep busy. The faculty are just as varied as the student body. Ivy League alums, Fulbright Scholars and people with valuable industry experience contribute to the teaching staff. Some of them take classes too. Although you might not expect it from a commuter campus, ACC also offers a rich variety of events and activities. I’m really enjoying the chance to spend time trying to make myself a more skilled person. I appreciate the luxury even more now than I did the first time around. Shireen Fatehi-Sedeh Editor in Chief