Accent Newspaper Issue 2

Page 1

First Copy Free

Oct. 4, 2011

Volume 14, Issue 2

theAccent.org

NEWS New law to require student vaccinations | Page 4

CAMPUS The voice, roots behind Tje Austin | Page 8

News → Events

News → Student Government Association

SGA secretary resigns

Students volunteer to help feed families Walter Challapa

Requirements for clubs, organizations stir up student controversy

Lead Photographer

Karissa Rodriguez

Editor-in-Chief

Standing up for his beliefs and unwilling to compromise for the sake of avoiding conflict, Student Government Association (SGA) Secretary Ryan May said he resigned from his position Sept. 24. May said that he quit after feeling intimidated into signing an officer commitment agreement form before reading the new fall 2011 Student Clubs and Organizations Handbook, which he believed to contain several detrimental requirements for clubs and organizations. “I felt like I was put into a place where I had no options,” May said. “If I didn’t sign it, the student government then starts to fear that we’re not going to have funding and represent the students.” There are 19 club requirements and 21 organization Student Life requirements that must be met in order to become a recognized club or organization broken down into varying categories, according to the handbook. May is not the only person vocalizing their disapproval of the student clubs and organizations requirements, the Facebook account Fix Studentlife emerged online last week criticizing not only the handbook, but Student Life as a department and Student Life Director Cheryl Richard as well. Facebook page ACC Underground was also created last week but has served more as a place for students to communicate about all ACC-related issues. According to a Facebook post by Student Life, both Fix Studentlife and ACC Underground have been blocked from posting anything on Student Life’s Facebook page. The groups were blocked because Student Life felt even though they encourage students to express themselves, they fear the groups will post false information, Student Life Communications Coordinator Lori Blewett said. Fix Studentlife said only four student clubs and organizations were approved and the rest were denied, which is inaccurate. Blewett said as of Sept. 29, 17 clubs and organizations are approved, 12

LIFE & ARTS Fantastic Fest highlights and more | Page 10

Adrienne Sparks•Staff Photographer

STEPPING DOWN — Government major Ryan May, an advocate for problem solving between student clubs and organizations and the Office of Student Life, resigned from his position as SGA Secretary Sept. 24. May said he still wants to participate and represent students in SGA despite his resignation. are under review and none were denied. a part of the process.” She said Student May said Fix Studentlife has not life constantly solicits feedback, posts offered constructive solutions to student surveys and is available on all campuses. concerns about Student Life, and suggests Richard said Student Life’s mission working with Student Life would be more is to provide resources to enable their productive than attacking them online. students to succeed in the classroom and He wants students to have a voice, and beyond. said he and a number of students don’t “Every day our team comes to work feel like they do. to engage with students and provide May said the Student Organizations them meaningful student development and Clubs Council (SOCC) should review opportunities in the best way we know the handbook to adress concerns. how, and that is what we will continue to SOCC is a new council this semester do,” Richard said. created by Student Life as a way to improve communication. Look for an in-depth follow-up story “We are always open to improving to this story in the Oct. 25 issue of The how we do things in Student Life,” Accent. Individuals can also visit www. Blewett said in an email. “That’s why we theaccent.org to read the handbook or the created the [SOCC] — so students can be requirements.

Six members of the Austin Community College Phi Theta Kappa honor society (PTK) made community food donations ready for distribution to hungry families on Sept. 22 at the Capital Area Food Bank of Texas (CAFB). Students Kathryn Morryn, Marcelo Uriegas, Huong-Annie Vo, Kenneth Reeves, Christie Taylor and Tanya Sandler volunteered from 6-8:30 p.m. at the CAFB building on South Congress Avenue. There they handled different kinds of alimentary products, cleaned containers, inspected expiration dates, labeled products and sorted and made boxes of food ready for distribution to CAFB’s partner agencies and their clients. “We volunteer to come here,” Morryn said. It is her first semester as a leader of this group, and she said she believes this activity will help hungry Central Texans. One of PTK’s goals is to give students opportunities to become scholar driven servant leaders through volunteer efforts and access to scholarships at leading universities. Students in PTK take advantage of volunteer opportunities for many reasons. “This is a release for my stress after classes, and it is important to do because we

know that we are helping hungry people,” Uriegas said. “This volunteer activity will help add to my resume because I am planning to attend the Dental School of the University of Texas in San Antonio or Houston.” Accofding to CAFB, their main mission is to nourish hungry people and lead the community in ending hunger. Since 1981, CAFB in collaboration with more than 350 partner agencies has been helping Central Texas in need by providing health food, nutritional program assistance and education. Furthermore, CAFB accomplishes its missions thanks to volunteers like ACC students. “Helping over here is the opportunity to help the community,” Taylor said. “Besides homework, classes and other obligations, it is possible to do this volunteer work with an organized schedule.” In addition to their regular operations, CAFB has helped provide food and other items to Bastrop County fire victims. The organization provides more than 17 million pounds of food and grocery products each year. Students were reminded of the benefits of their efforts by a sign posted next to the CAFB building’s exit which read: “Your time helps feed our hungry Central Texas neighbors.”

Walter Challapa•Lead Photographer

VOLUNTEER WORK — Accounting major Christie Taylor

and photographic technology major Kenneth Reeves inspect alimentary foods at the Capital Area Food Bank of Texas on Sept. 22.

New → Events

News → Education

Students read their rights at debate

College cuts the cord on phone registration method

Debate teaches students about constitutional rights Era Sundar

Campus Editor

Civility and decorum prevailed as 400 hundred students discussed and debated constitutional issues at the fifth annual Constitution Debate Day Celebration held Sept. 22 at the Palmer Events Center. The event was sponsored by the Center for Public Policy and Political Studies (CPPPS), the Center for Student Political Studies (CSPS), the Student Government Association (SGA), the City of Austin, the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Texas, and the American Board of Trial Advocates. Participants discussed 18 scenarios involving constitutional issues taken from current hot button topics such as same-sex marriage, multilingual election ballots, and government mandated health insurance. Peck Young, director of CPPPS, said organizers chose scenarios that demonstrate the modern relevance of the Constitution. “We have the oldest constitution still enforced in the world and the first put into effect in modern times,” said Young. “If we are to be a nation of free people, we must understand it and how it applies to us.” Economics major Ted George said he agreed with Young’s assessment. “The scenarios were rich in depth and allowed you to sink your teeth into them,” he said. “You couldn’t ask for a better discussion.”

During the discussions, attendees explored a single scenario or constitutional issue with the other participants at their table. They were able to refer to a booklet containing a copy of the Constitution, which had been given to each person at the beginning of the event. In addition to the printed materials, 47 ACC faculty, staff and community members served as facilitators to ensure that discussions at each table ran smoothly. Also, 25 constitutional guides, mostly lawyers and judges, provided legal expertise and assisted in the understanding of complex issues. Following the discussions, 36 students were chosen to present arguments for or against each of the 18 issues that had been explored. Each speaker was given one minute to present his or her position at microphones set up in the center of the room. “The student presentations were outstanding,” said Samantha Davis, president of CSPS. “It’s always inspiring to see how involved people get. Perhaps some will be inspired to become lawyers.” “It was infinitely educational,” said Charles Martinez, undeclared major. “The fact that we could share knowledge with experts that have experience in the legal system made this an amazing opportunity for people to understand the basis of what we have in this country.” Courtney Williams, a social work major at the University of Texas at Austin, shared Martinez’s positive impression but said she would like to see more women and minority participants at the event. Adjunct government professor and attorney Jeffrey Millstone moderated the

Alejandro Alvarado  Staff Writer

Era Sundar•Campus Editor

CIVIL DISCOURSE — Paralegal

major Thomas White participates in the Constitution Debate Day Celebration held on Sept. 8 at the Palmer Events Center. debates and commented on the event’s relevance to students. “The preamble reminds us it’s our duty to reaffirm the constitution each generation,” Millstone said. “This unique event celebrated the Constitution, not by passive talking, but by having students engage and debate. This required time and effort by the participants and everyone got something they’ll remember.”

Austin Community College eliminated their long-standing automated phone registration option (TREG) on Sept. 22. Students received notifications through emails and postal mail informing them of the method changes. The message indicated that a trend in online registration has grown significantly high and has become the primary choice for most students. According to Kathleen Christensen, vice president of Student Success and Support Systems, the number of students using phone registration has steadily declined over the past few years with only 32 percent of all students using the phone registration in 2008, which led to an even lower 15 percent by the spring of 2011, Christensen said that security issues were also involved with the decision to eliminate the phone registration option. “Personal information like Social Security numbers are just not secure with the use of an automated phone system,” Christensen said. “It just does not conform to the law in the way that we would like it to.” Few students have felt that

the change creates problems with the registration process, but many still believe that more changes need to be added in order to improve the process. Student Kim Baker said the decision to eliminate this option was not a drawback and that the online option offers a better overview of the classes available. However, Baker said she chose to register for her first semester through an adviser to be better informed on the type of classes she needs. “I was advised that if there was a way to choose a teacher over a time and location then that would be the best way to go,” Baker said. Student Chelsea Lee said she remains neutral on the automated phone option decision, but that online registration should have a way to store students’ billing information so that it can be used for future semesters. “I found out later that my classes were dropped, so I had to start all over again,” Lee said, after assuming that her previous payment information would automatically provide payment for her current classes. For more information about registration, students can log on to www.austincc.edu/register.


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