THE RANGER A forum of free voices serving San Antonio College since 1926
Vol. 84, Issue 16
Single copies free
Feb. 26, 2010
CENTRAL PARKING SURVEY 5 NAME THE PORTAL 7
INTV SEEKS PROGRAMMING 17
YOU GROW, GIRL
Women’s History Week explores realities, illusions
The Ranger
2 • Feb. 26, 2010
Officials Chancellor: Dr. Bruce H. Leslie 201 W. Sheridan, Bldg. B, San Antonio, TX 78204-1429 Work: 485-0020 Fax: 208-8149 E-mail: bleslie@alamo.edu District 1: Dr. Bernard Weiner 929 Manor Drive, Ste. 7, San Antonio, TX 78228 Work: 735-9151 E-mail: bweinermd@satx.rr.com District 2: Denver McClendon 3811 Willowwood Blvd., San Antonio, TX 78219 Work: 281-9141 E-mail: denvermcclendon@satx.rr.com
The Ranger Editor Laura Garcia Managing Editor Zahra Farah News Editor Vanessa M. Sanchez Calendar Editor Riley Stephens
District 3: Anna U. Bustamante 511 Ware Blvd., San Antonio TX 78221 Work: 882-1603 Fax: 927-4557 E-mail: abustamante20@alamo.edu
Photographers Tyler K. Cleveland, Rennie Murrell, Alison Wadley
District 4: Marcelo S. Casillas 115 Wainwright, San Antonio, TX 78211 Home: 922-6815 Fax: 923-3167 E-mail: mcasillas19@alamo.edu
Photo Team Scott Aranda, Scott J. Bajeck, Jennifer Charo, Sharon Hensley, Sarah Janes, James Lazo, Marisa N. Montano, Julysa Sosa, Robert Stofa
District 5: Roberto Zárate 4103 Buffalo Bayou, San Antonio, TX 78251 E-mail: rzarate11@alamo.edu District 6: Dr. Gene Sprague 14722 Iron Horse Way, Helotes, TX 78023 Work: 567-5544 Fax: 520-9185 E-mail: sprague@uthscsa.edu District 7: Blakely Latham Fernandez 755 E. Mulberry, Suite 200, San Antonio, TX 78212 Phone: 244-8879 E-mail: bfernandez35@alamo.edu District 8: Gary Beitzel 15403 Forest Mist, San Antonio, TX 78232 Home: 496-5857 E-mail: gbeitzel@alamo.edu District 9: James A. Rindfuss 109 Laburnum, San Antonio, TX 78209 Home: 828-4630 Work: 375-2555 Home Fax: 832-8292 Office Fax: 375-0301 E-mail: jrindfuss@alamo.edu
Presidents San Antonio College, Dr. Robert E. Zeigler 486-0959, rzeigler@alamo.edu Northeast Lakeview College, Dr. Eric Reno 486-5484, ereno@alamo.edu Northwest Vista College, Dr. Jacqueline Claunch 486-4900, jclaunch@alamo.edu Palo Alto College, Dr. Ana M. “Cha” Guzman 486-3960, aguzman@alamo.edu St. Philip’s College, Dr. Adena W. Loston 486-2900, aloston@alamo.edu
Illustrator Juan Carlos Campos Staff Writers Ximena Victoria Alvarez, Jacob Beltran, Michelle E. Gaitan, Joshua Sanchez Guerrero, Steffany Gutierrez, John P. Kline, Mary Lerma, Alexandria Maxwell, Melody Mendoza, Celeste J. Nentwig, Victoria G. Ortiz, Amanda M. Rios, Brandy A. Santos, Tamara Sayles, Michelle L. Tymrak, Reagan White Production Manager Jason B. Hogan Web Editor D.A. James Circulation Destiny Mata ©2010 by The Ranger staff, San Antonio College, 1300 San Pedro Ave., San Antonio, TX 78212-4299. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without permission. The Ranger, the student newspaper at San Antonio College, is a laboratory project of the journalism classes in the Department of Media Communications, published Fridays except during summer, holidays and examinations. News contributions accepted by telephone (486-1773), by fax (486-1789), by e-mail (sacranger@alamo.edu) or at the editorial office (Room 212 Loftin Student Center). Advertising rates available upon request by phone (486-1765) or as a download at www.theranger.org. The Ranger is a member of the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association, the Associated Collegiate Press, the Texas Community College Journalism Association and the Associated Press.
Guest Viewpoints: Faculty, staff, students and community members are welcome to contribute guest viewpoints of up to 450 words. Writers should focus on campus or current events in a critical, persuasive or interpretative style. All viewpoints must be published with a photo portrait of the writer. Letters Policy: The Ranger invites readers to share views by writing letters to the editor. Space limitations force the paper to limit letters to two double-spaced, typewritten pages. Letters will be edited for spelling, style, grammar, libel and length. Editors reserve the right to deny publication of any letter. Letters should be mailed to The Ranger, Department of Media Communications, San Antonio College, 1300 San Pedro Ave., San Antonio TX 78212-4299. Letters also may be brought to the newspaper office in Room 212 of Loftin Student Center, e-mailed to sac-ranger@alamo. edu or faxed to 486-1789. Letters must be signed and must include the writer’s printed name, classification, major, Social Security number and telephone number. For more information, call 486-1773. Single Copy Policy: Members of the Alamo Community College District community are permitted one free copy per issue because of high production costs. Where available, additional copies may be purchased with prior approval for 50 cents each by contacting The Ranger business office. Newspaper theft is a crime. Those who violate the single copy rule may be subject to civil and criminal prosecution and subject to college discipline.
The Ranger • Vol. 84, Issue 16
Feb. 26, 2010 • 3
The RangeR
A forum of free voices serving San Antonio College since 1926
2 Policies and officials 4 Blotter
Worker injured By Laura Garcia Photo by Rennie Murrell
5 News
Chancellor says faculty admits to lies By Laura Garcia
District investigates centralized parking By Brandy A. Santos
6 People 15 Calendar
7 PALS renaming contest By Melody Mendoza
NLC credits transfer? By Celeste J. Nentwig
17 Armstrong moves to media services from alumni relations By Celeste J. Nentwig Photo by Rennie Murrell
20 Fault line shapes city landscape By Victoria G. Ortiz
21 Local perseveres to Haiti adoption By Ximena Victoria Alvarez Photo by Sharon Hensley
22 Young Leaders Conference
By Vanessa M. Sanchez
9 Rental textbooks soon
Project WORTH teams Big Brothers Big Sisters
By Laura Garcia
By Steffany Gutierrez
10 Speaker says everyone goes to probate
12 Premiere
By Jacob Beltran
Pioneers made history in new spheres
An alternative to spring break
By Celeste J. Nentwig Cover illustrated by Juan Carlos Campos
16 Columnist discusses aftermath of Sept. 11 By Riley Stephens Photo by Julysa Sosa
Associate vice chancellor explains adjunct faculty not getting paid Armstrong’s pay never left college’s budget despite transfers Complete Blotter
By Vanessa M. Sanchez
By Laura Garcia
By Zahra Farah
And the crowd roared
District alert system test postponed
8 Q&A with HR chief
11 Loston explains Title 3 job jeopardy
People slideshow
By Steffany Gutierrez
23 Castillo worked on behalf of students, staff
By Steffany Gutierrez
Online @ theranger.org
14 Prospective writers page through advice By Riley Stephens Photo by Tyler K. Cleveland
18 Editorials
Move fitness center Keep VP here Fix Banner now Cartoon
www.theranger.org
Go to www.theranger.org for news and information.
Blotter
4 • Feb. 26, 2010
The Ranger
Contractor transported to BAMC after accident Rennie Murrell
BY LAURA GARCIA A construction worker fell into a 20-foot deep pit near Nail Technical Center shortly before 8 a.m. Wednesday. The injured worker was transported to Brooke Army Medical Center after city EMS and the San Antonio Fire Department rescued him from the pit. The injured man is employed by a Vaughn Construction subcontractor. Lt. Juan Velez Jr. of SAFD told The Ranger that after initial examination, he believes the man may have a broken leg and facial or head injuries.
SAN ANTONIO COLLEGE Feb. 14 – An individual reported burglary of vehicle at Park Place. No suspects. An individual reported burglary of vehicle at Park Place. No suspects. Feb. 15 – An individual reported eggs were thrown at her vehicle. No further information available. Feb. 16 – An individual reported being struck by a vehicle while walking from Lot 17. Vehicle did not stop to render aid. EMS refused.
At about 11 a.m., John Strybos, associate vice chancellor of facilities, confirmed the incident but didn’t have any information on his current condition. College public relations released a statement through PALS, student e-mail notifying students of the incident. The statement said the area “poses absolutely no risk to students or employees of the college” because it is sealed off with fences. Sgt. Ben Peña of the district department of public safety did not have any details on the case. Vaughn Construction did not return calls.
Feb. 20 – An individual reported theft of a bicycle, no suspects located. ST. PHILIP’S COLLEGE Feb. 18 – An individual reported being advised by a staff member that his public affection with other subject on campus were not appropriate. Campus administration advised. An individual reported damage to district property. No further information.
District police along with San Antonio Fire Department emergency response teams exit Nail Wednesday with an unidentified construction worker who fell into an open pit.
PALO ALTO COLLEGE Feb. 12 – An individual reported a small child playing in a car with the window down. Everything found to be OK.
Feb. 17 – An individual reported a disturbance in the parking area. No further incident. An individual reported a hit-andrun incident. One witness present. No further information.
Feb. 18 – An officer request to stand by while facilities cut a locker in the women’s locker area. No further information.
NORTHEAST LAKEVIEW COLLEGE
NORTHWEST VISTA COLLEGE
Feb. 18 – An individual reported damage to district property. No further action taken.
Feb. 16 – An individual reported lost district property. No further action taken.
Feb. 19 – An individual reported suspicious activity in men’s restroom. Subject located.
The Ranger
Feb. 26, 2010 • 5
Chancellor questions faculty’s honesty By Laura Garcia Faculty members are liars. Or at least that’s what Chancellor Bruce Leslie indicated during a Super Senate meeting Monday. Faculty Senate presidents from all five colleges were present during the 1:30 p.m. meeting with the chancellor when they questioned why it took so long for him to respond to their September vote-of-no-confidence statements. Because there were so many lies and misrepresentations was his reply. Leslie confirmed Wednesday night in a telephone interview that he made it clear to senate leaders that the documents they had produced were full of falsehoods and lies. “They admitted it that they made it up. A series of untruths. The documents that they produced were all false,” Leslie said. Leslie wrote his own statement to the San Antonio Express-News and distributed it districtwide in December more than two months after the Sept. 15 board meeting in which Faculty Senate leaders of the four accredited colleges in the district read statements on the overwhelming votes of no confidence and the objections to the chancellor’s leadership. Leslie told The Ranger that if you do a sideby-side of his response and their statements, you’ll see the truths in what he wrote. Jeff Hunt, Faculty Senate president here, said, “I’m disappointed that the chancellor would use a tactic like character assassination of the faculty leadership.” He said the senate was meticulous in choosing what to charge the chancellor with and only included items that
Jeff Hunt
Dr. Mary-Ellen Jacobs
could be backed up with instances and facts. “The facts are all on paper,” Hunt said, adding the chancellor has his own perspective, but the senate focuses on reality. Dr. Mary-Ellen Jacobs, Palo Alto College’s senate president, said, “That is so wrong. That is absolutely incorrect. I’m heart sick. This is a misrepresentation of our conversation on Monday.” George Johnson III, St. Philip’s College’s senate president, said of Monday’s meeting that the chancellor basically said he felt there were a lot of points raised in the vote-of-no-confidence statements that were incorrect. “His sentiments haven’t changed. We still feel the same way,” Johnson said. Paul Martinez, Northwest Vista College Faculty Senate president, said, “That’s not true. We never said that. We never admitted that there were lies and misrepresentations in the statements.” Northwest Vista faculty’s statement, presented Sept. 15, compared administrators’ leadership in developmental studies as worthy of a Dilbert cartoon — unworkable and demonstrating a complete lack of understanding of the task.
George Johnson III
Paul Martinez
This college’s balloting drew 75 percent of eligible full-time, tenure-track faculty, of which 97 percent voted no confidence in Leslie. Northwest Vista yielded a 96 percent vote of no confidence out of the 85 percent of tenured faculty who voted. At St. Philip’s, 70 percent of eligible faculty voted with 91 percent voting for no confidence and called for his resignation. Furthermore, Palo Alto’s faculty, with 91 percent participation, voted 99 percent no confidence. Jacobs, Johnson, Martinez and Hunt said they still stand by the statements presented in the noconfidence vote. In a telephone interview Thursday Debbie Martinez, administrative assistant to the chancellor, was working on the minutes at press time and said there was nothing in the agenda about that. She said if it was said, it might have been a discussion and she didn’t hear it. At the Sept. 15 board meeting, trustees responded to the no-confidence vote by approving a new three-year contract for the chancellor. Mark Sadler, Northeast Lakeview College’s senate president, didn’t return calls for comment but was present Monday during the meeting.
District investigates centralized parking, traffic office By Brandy a. SantoS Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam Inc. was scheduled to begin work today on a districtwide parking survey to assess the value of combined oversight of parking and traffic throughout the district. In its regular January meeting, the district board of trustees approved hiring the College Station consultants for $60,000. Civil Engineer Justin Reeves said the firm will start by developing clear goals of the work that
needs to be performed, such as collecting field data on current cost, fine-collection, permit rates, ticket revenues and site plans. During field collection, the firm will conduct on-site interviews to determine traffic flow, areas of concern and other intangibles that are unique to each of the colleges and sites. Once the team completes its survey, the data will be used as a baseline to determine the durability of ground parking versus garage parking.
Reeves said the firm will present parking scenarios to trustees. According to the proposal presented to the board, the company will present anticipated costs for roughly 10-15 employees, office space, transportation, technology and ongoing maintenance for a combined district parking and traffic office. Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam, Inc., has 30 years experience in working with colleges to improve parking. Reeves said the landlocked
state of this college will challenge the firm to develop a plan that is unique to this campus. The consultant’s proposed parking and transportation service unit will be in charge of ordering and distribution of permits and issuing parking and traffic citations. Moving those tasks to another office is intended to free campus police to attend to more pressing matters. Reeves could not provide a timeline for the project nor could he address potential costs.
6 • Feb. 26, 2010
People
The Ranger Tyler K. Cleveland
Pool power: Biology sophomore Alysson Klein from Brazil swims the butterfly stroke Feb. 19 in the pool in Candler. The pool is open from 1 p.m.-3:45 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday and 3 p.m.-4:15 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday. Klein swims for about two hours every day he can. Julysa Sosa
Brandy A. Santos
Dietary needs: Nutritionist Tracy West of the San Antonio Food Bank uses a Bill Miller’s BBQ cup as a visual aid during a wellness lecture on Wednesday in Loftin. West explained that a large sweet tea contains 26 sugar packets. Rennie Murrell
Dental needs: Daniel Breeden, distance education Web master, talks with dental assisting sophomores Raquel Rasmussen and Margaret DeLeon at the third annual SAC Dental Fest in the foyer of the nursing and allied health complex Wednesday.
Poetry night: English sophomore Granston Loomis performs “Your Cheatin’ Heart” by Hank Williams Feb. 19 at the Cheshyre Cheese Club Open Mic Night in Loftin. The next open mic night is March 26.
The Ranger
Feb. 26, 2010 • 7
NLC credits transfer to UTSA, not health centers By Celeste J. nentwig When Northeast Lakeview College was denied an application for accreditation last summer, a question of the transferability of their credits began to be a concern for students registered at the district’s newest college. While UTSA has agreed to accept transfer credit, other institutions, particularly healthrelated and medical schools, are not willing to take Northeast Lakeview credits. The University of Texas at San Antonio and the Alamo Community College District came to an understanding in which the university will accept credits from the college as long as Northeast Lakeview seeks accreditation. “We have not denied any credits from any Northeast Lakeview College student,” Dr.
For more information call 486-5401.
George Norton, assistant vice president of student affairs at UTSA, said. This does not hold true for Texas A&M and the University of Texas Health Science Center, nor for the Texas Chiropractic College and other health career-related institutions, Dr. Beth Lewis, vice president of academic affairs at Northeast Lakeview, said. Lewis said those schools have additional accreditation boards that will not allow them to accept credits from an unaccredited school. She said these students will be accommodated by the college if they plan to transfer to a medical school or other related institution.
“We will transfer credits to one of the other district colleges for these students so they may be accepted to these schools,” Lewis said. President Robert Zeigler and Vice President Jessica Howard did not know how this would work and referred questions to Lewis. Lorraine Wright, processing manager at UT Health Science Center, said the center will not accept coursework from unaccredited institutions and students must submit all transcripts. “Whatever is on that transcript is what we go by, not someone’s interpretation,” she said. Wright said students can appeal the refusal to accept their courses from Northeast Lakeview on a course-by-course basis. They need a letter from the institution, course description, syllabus and the transcript submitted to the appropriates dean, she said.
District to launch new student portal for fall semester Courtesy photo
Monday is the deadline for the Name the Portal contest. By Melody Mendoza Project Phoenix, charged with implementing the new Banner system, is not only replacing the student information system, but also changing PALS, the students’ personalized access to learning and services accounts. The new Web-based portal calls for a new name; that’s where students come in. “The contest is a good way to get the message out to students,” Roger Castro, district director of information technology services, said. “This portal belongs to the students and faculty, so this gives them more ownership.” Castro said the new portal is going to bring the Alamo Colleges together. Banner is the $6 million software program that will integrate the Alamo College’s SIS into a unified system. Registration for fall 2010 will go through the new Banner system, Castro said. Registration begins in mid-April and Banner will be ready beginning in April. Also, PALS will be changing to a single point of access available in fall 2010. There are many benefits to this new portal.
Project Phoenix is sponsoring a Name the Portal Contest for all affiliates of the Alamo Colleges, especially students. The district director of information technology services said it will help students take ownership. Students concurrently enrolled in more than one district college will be able to register in one sitting, view and pay a single bill, and view class schedules. Students will have 24/7 access to all of their academic information instead of the limited hours currently available. Students will be able to get into their accounts late Saturday night or early Sunday morning, Castro said. Castro said the district doesn’t anticipate any problems with the portal, but there may be some confusion with registration. The current PALS portal system will handle registration for Maymester and summer sessions, but students should be prepared to register for fall semester through Banner.
The help desk is getting the correct information about the portal so they can navigate students, Castro said. Affiliates of the Alamo Colleges are invited to submit an entry in a Name the Portal Contest by Monday. Mail entries to dst-portalcontest@alamo. edu by midnight. Include name, address, phone number and e-mail. “We’ve gotten well over 100 entries already,” Castro said. The winner will receive a Flip Mino HD Camcorder with FlipShare software and will be notified no later than April 15. For more information or to see contest rules, visit www.alamo.edu/portalcontest.
The Ranger
8 • Feb. 26, 2010
HR: We’re working on fixing it By Laura Garcia They’re working on it. This was the answer heard most frequently by college faculty when they met with Linda Boyer-Owens, associate vice chancellor of human resources for a Q-and-A session Wednesday. Faculty Senate members gathered in the nursing and allied health center with a collection of questions submitted by faculty from throughout the college. Boyer-Owens began the session by introducing herself and explaining that she started working in the district in April 2009 and that many of the items on the senate’s list of questions were already on human resources to-do list. Dr. Dawn Elmore-McCrary, vice chairperson of the senate and
English professor, said the most Several faculty members shared universal question was in regard their experiences of not being able to the confusing hard-to-read pay- to reach anyone in human resourcchecks. es by phone or e-mail. “I think it’s very confusing,” “I just can’t believe that everyBoyer-Owens said. one’s out on the same day,” English She agreed with Chair Alex Bernal said. this and the HR/ Senate memPayroll/Banner projbers noted that they ect team added this would e-mail human to their short list to resources employees be fixed. and would never get a “‘They’re working response. They would on it’ is a very dishave to make several www.theranger.org Go online to read full satisfying answer,” calls for action to be version of this story. said Carlos Corona, taken on obtaining math and computer personnel files. science instructor. Boyer-Owens said she had done Boyer-Owens encouraged factest calls to ensure her employees ulty to e-mail her with questions were responsive in the past and and said she would do her best to said she would do that again. give a timeline of when they could Senate members agreed a expect changes or updates. rotary call system would be more
Scott Aranda
Linda Boyer-Owens, associate vice chancellor of human resources, discusses faculty pay Wednesday with Linda Lowman, secretary of Faculty Senate, in nursing and allied health. efficient than the current alphabetized sections designated to representatives. That way if someone calls, the caller could get an answer right away.
The Ranger
Feb. 26, 2010 • 9
Board opens possibility of rental textbooks
Julysa Sosa
By Laura Garcia The board joins federal and state legislators in the fight against expensive textbooks. Tuesday trustees unanimously voted in favor of extending the district’s bookstore contract with Follett Higher Education Group Inc. for two years during the regular monthly board meeting at Killen Center. The extension would be for March 1 through Feb. 28, 2012, and includes an amendment with the option of rental textbooks and e-books this fall for students. Alan Stratman, vice president of marketing and sales for the Follett group, said this district would probably be the first community college to put ink to this deal. He explained that this was a new model for their company but has so far been successful. District 9 trustee James Rindfuss said a rental program would be largely dependent on faculty and asked the Follett representatives to report to the board about the level of faculty commitment. Faculty Senate President Jeff Hunt came to the podium and said he agreed with Rindfuss specifically because faculty should have no more than two textbooks per course and not all faculty members do that. Hunt noted that Follett representatives have been helpful trying to get the word out about the changing textbook laws. These include House Bill 1096, which states that there must be a notice available to students that informs them that they are not obligated to buy textbooks through a university-affiliated bookstore. A new state law, HB 2504, requires universities to provide public, online access to course information and be no more than three-clicks from the college home page. Beginning this fall, instructors need to post their syllabuses and student evaluations along with required or recommended reading material. The textbook provision of the federal Higher Education Opportunity Act requires publishers to provide the net price at which the publisher would make the material available to the campus bookstore, copyright dates of the three previous editions, if any, with a description of substantial revisions, whether it is available in any other format, including paperback, and the price of that material.
Marketing Vice President Alan Stratman and District Manager Elizabeth Gray of Follett Higher Education Group answer questions at the board meeting Tuesday. The Textbook Expense Reduction Action Plan requires book rentals and electronic books as an option for students. Also required is the publication of ISBN number or International Standard Book Number of the textbook material in course schedules. If this information is not available they must post “to be determined.” This federal mandate goes into effect July 1. The faculty deadline for book adoptions is March 15 for summer and April 15 for fall. Amy Turpin, San Antonio College Bookstore manager, sent a list of policies for the rental program that included these terms. The rental policy includes the guarantee that a textbook is at least half off the price of the new textbook. Renters need to be at least 18 years old, with a valid credit card, an e-mail address and a driver’s license or state ID. Students also can use a debit card that bears the logo of a major credit card company. Books are due after finals by the return date on the receipt, and a sticker will be placed on the textbook as a reminder. The bookstore will also send e-mails to remind students of the date. Should a renter not return a textbook by that date, the bookstore will charge the rest of the cost of the book to their credit card along with a processing fee. Not all textbooks will be available under the rental program, but Follett officials assured the board it will offer as many as possible. E-books
account for less than 2 percent of the 2,600 titles offered in the bookstore. Before the vote, Dr. Robert Aguero, vice chancellor for academic success, estimated the students in the district would save $882,073 by using rentals. All trustees were present except Dr. Bernard Weiner, District 1; Anna Bustamante, District 3; Marcelo Casillas, District 4; and Gary Beitzel, District 8. In other news, the citizens-to-be-heard section of the meeting included a full-time adjunct journalism instructor with suggestions on improving efficiency in payroll and fair treatment of adjunct faculty members. Jerry Townsend, who teaches five courses in the media communications department, made the point that adjuncts should not be paid more than six weeks after the start of a semester. He said it is unequal and unfair that nonadjunct faculty get paid on Jan. 15 while adjuncts are paid their first check on Feb. 12, if at all. Townsend told the board of another full-time adjunct in the department who experienced his health insurance being canceled because he hadn’t received pay. Another lecturer previously went an entire semester before she was paid. While Townsend said some of the issues were in the process of being resolved, he hoped the board would make equitable and timely pay for all employees a priority.
The Ranger
10 • Feb. 26, 2010
Welcome to probate court An alternative to spring break Speaker says everyone will go to probate court, sooner or later. By JacoB Beltran Barbara “Barbie” Scharf-Zeldes, a probate court lawyer, described various aspects of her job and the Bexar County court system at the Criminal Justice Student Association meeting Wednesday. Scharf-Zeldes discussed ways probate courts deal with documents such as wills, trusts, guardianships and powers of attorney. “I really wish these topics were taught in your last year of high school because (probate court) is the one place, I promise, everyone is going to end up,” Scharf-Zeldes said Wednesday. Power of attorney is a docu-
ment allowing someone to make decisions for someone else while they are incapacitated. The legal designation takes effect as soon as it is signed, she said. Along with designation of guardianship, Scharf-Zeldes discussed some of the issues that arise when dealing with child support and child custody. Officer elections also were held during the organization’s second meeting of the semester. Criminal justice sophomore Crystal Casias, who previously was the group’s secretary, was elected president. The Criminal Justice Student Association is selling polo shirts for the group for $20 each. For more information, call Tiffany Cox, criminal justice program coordinator, at 486-0835.
By Steffany Gutierrez Habitat For Humanity is seeking volunteers to help build a home for a needy family during spring break. Volunteers can sign up for one to four days. The deadline to sign up is March 12. A home will be built March 17-20 in the vicinity of Palo Alto College. A typical construction day follows this schedule: • 7:45 a.m. — Sign-in. Volunteers must sign-in each day and complete a waiver of liability each year. Volunteers are then introduced to the house leader who will direct work for the day. • 8 a.m. — Safety first. As safety is a priority, the house leader will brief on safety issues
that might arise. No one under the age of 14 is allowed on site. • 3:30 p.m. — Clean up. The workday ends after the site is clean and tools have been stowed. Lunch will be provided for all volunteers on Saturday and for scheduled groups on Friday. Volunteers are asked to wear comfortable clothes appropriate for the work and weather, and clothing they don’t mind getting stained, ripped or damaged. Closed-toed shoes are required. No sandals are allowed. Sunscreen and water bottles are recommended on site. All tools necessary will be provided. For more information and to sign up, e-mail Justin Storrs in the service learning office at jstorrs@ alamo.edu or call 486-0760.
The Ranger
Feb. 26, 2010 • 11
SPC soft money employees worry jobs in jeopardy Tyler K. Cleveland
By Zahra Farah Employees at St. Philip’s College paid by grant funds or “soft money” cannot reapply for their jobs if the positions are absorbed in the college budget and paid with “hard money,” the president said Wednesday at a pubic session in the Heritage Room. The meeting for faculty, staff and employees funded with grant money was to clarify concerns about those employees losing jobs and being unable to apply for their positions if the college budgets for their positions. Currently, 80 full-time and 58 part-time employees are paid with Title 3 grant money at St. Philip’s and Southwest Campus. SPC is receiving $5,746, 256 in Title 3 money and $1,655,250 from the College Cost Reduction and Access Act money. The total grant funds St. Philip’s received for fiscal year 2009 was $7,401,506. The district’s focus on accreditation issues, which began in June, has focused attention on St. Philip’s reliance on Title 3 funds. “I have been given the charge by the chancellor (Bruce Leslie) to give him a plan on what we are going to be doing with Title 3,” Loston said. “One of the things Dr. Leslie said is no monies would be given to St. Philip’s College, so we have to do it with the operation budget we have. “The opportunity is to move poor business operations off of soft money to hard money,” Loston said. Loston said she knows employees are frustrated, but district policy currently requires open positions to be advertised internally. Grant-funded employees are considered external, meaning if their positions move to hard money, they cannot apply for the position. “I’m not devaluing your services. I’m not devaluing your contributions,” Loston said. After the meeting, Ruth Dalrymple, vice president of academic affairs, said that employees who apply for grant money positions fill out a Benefited Employment Acknowledgement form. This form explains the person recognizes they are being recommended for employment in a benefited position, which is funded by either soft money or revenue-generated funds. Also, the district or employee could terminate their employment at any time. Loston used a PowerPoint presentation to explain how St. Philip’s relies on Title 3 funds, which were first given to the college because of
Sean Nighbert, professor and chair of English and speech at St. Philip’s, questions President Adena Williams Loston about the ethics of hiring for the Title 3 grant Wednesday in the Heritage Room at St. Philip’s. its historically black college status even though 46 percent of students are Hispanic. The grant money can be used for all students attending a historic black college. “Even though demographics have changed, we still are historically black,” she said. Title 3 funds are supposed to go into activities such as student services, educational equipment acquisition, facility construction and faculty and staff development. SPC received its first Title 3 grant in 1987. Since then programs, which were supposed to be under hard money, slowly in the course of 23 years moved to soft money, she explained. “We have essentially improved areas in educational support funded with Title 3 grant money,” Loston said. “Is that normal? No.” Title 3 funding now goes into nine specific programs at SPC — freshmen center, welcome center academic support, instruction innovation, center for math and science, instructional technologies, research and college development, campus construction and project administration. The freshmen center, which would ideally be funded from the college budget, impacts 2,900 students per semester and consists of honors, book loan and laptop loan program with 24 fulltime staff and three part-time staff at an annual cost of $922,721. The welcome center impacts 45,134 students annually and costs $304,711 and employs six full-time staff and two part-time. Academic support’s current funding is $527,606 and consists of three full-time staff and 31 part-time. The instruction innovation program costs
$388,379 and employs six full-time staff and one part-time. Instructional technologies program, which advises the college on technology services, employs 30 full-time staff and 15 part-time staff with funding of $1,666,169. The center for math and science houses eight full-time staff and six part-time staff, at a cost of $847,830. Research and college development costs $161,819 and hires three full-time staffers. Campus construction’s current funding is $805,611, and project administration’s current funding is $121, 410. Loston said the move from soft money positions going into hard money is not going to happen over night. They are going to have to go through every position and look at what’s funded out of Title 3. “Let me say this, it is kind of painful, but if you’re on soft money, I would encourage you not to anchor your future to soft money. There is no other way to say it,” Loston said. In Q-and-A session with Loston and administration, Loston asked for attendees to not personalize questions, but to generalize them. Rusty Boyd, information technology training center network/training specialist, asked if the board considered the past criteria coming from an April 5, 2001, memo to all employees from then-Chancellor Robert Ramsay, that specified the district’s intent to provide internal and transfer opportunities to Title 3 employees from Budget Object Codes 12 and 14, regardless of the funding source. Loston said the chancellor and the board were not aware of that, and she would bring it to Leslie’s attention.
Prem
12 • The Ranger
Reality or I
Juan Carlos Campos
miere
Feb. 26, 2010 • 13
Illusion? Pioneers made history in new spheres, old beliefs By Celeste J. Nentwig A four-day Women’s History Week celebration begins Monday with speakers, feminists and films on the theme “Different Spheres: Reality or Illusion.” The theme was chosen by Co-Chairs Eileen Oliver and Robert Gomez. This is the 20th year the college will celebrate Women’s History Week, and 30th nationally. The theme questions whether the boundaries between genders are natural or constructed, according to www.accd.edu/sac/vat/arthistory/arts1303.women.htm. State Sen. Letitia Van de Putte will deliver the first presentation on “Women in Leadership” at 10 a.m.–10:50 a.m. Monday in the craft room in Loftin. At 9:25 a.m. Tuesday in Room 120 of the visual arts center, Elizabeth de la Portilla presents “Night to His Day: the Construction of the Feminine in the Work of 20th Century Feminists.” The Women Make Movies Web site at www.wmm.com describes the film as “a powerful and inspirational videotape showing how survivors of domestic violence are working to change the way the system treats battered women in search of justice and safety.” At 12:15 p.m. Tuesday, the film “In My Father’s Home” will be shown. Filmmaker Fatima Jebli Ouazzani investigates Islamic marriage customs and the constraints her culture and society place on women. At 7 p.m. Tuesday in the auditorium of McAllister Fine Arts Center, Dr. Robert McElvaine will present the keynote, “The Distance Origins of (Mis)Understanding of
the Sexes.” McElvaine, Elizabeth Chisholm Millsaps College professor of arts and letters, is the author of “Eve’s Seed: Biology, the Sexes, and the Course of History.” His topic is “Different Spheres: Reality or Illusion?” Historic female characters in cinema will be honored at 10 a.m. Wednesday in the theater in McCreless Hall. Richard Reed, associate professor of anthropology at Trinity University, will be presenting “From Alpha Male to Nurturing Father: How Childbirth Affects Dads.” Reed said, “Many characteristics of the contemporary dad conflict with our stereotypes of American masculinity.” Directly after this lecture, there will be another film, “Visitors of the Night,” about the Mosou tribe in southwest China. Female tribe members are polyandrous, meaning they take multiple husbands. On Thursday, the celebration concludes with an awards ceremony, two lectures and a film. Women of Vision Awards ceremony will be at 9:25 a.m. in Room 120 of the visual arts center. Two faculty or staff members will be honored for encouraging and promoting sensitivity and awareness of the issues that relate to women. A presentation, “On Whose Shoulders We Stand: Women’s Vision, Power and Action in San Antonio” with Dr. Antonia Castaneda will close the ceremony. At 10:50 a.m. Thursday, Gayl Newton, a life and professional coach and editor of ignite-She, a local women’s GLBT magazine, will present “Recovering the Stories of Female Pioneers: How Their Lives Can Inspire Us Today.” For more information about the activities, call Oliver at 486-0577.
Women’s History Events Monday Lecture: Women in Leadership with State Sen. Leticia Van de Putte 10 a.m. in Room 120 of visual arts. Tuesday Lecture: “Night to His Day: The Construction of the Feminine in the Work of 20th Century Feminists” 9:25 a.m. in Room 120 of visual arts. Events continue through the week. Film: “Voices Heard, Sisters Unseen” 10:50 a.m. in Room 120 of visual arts. Film: “In My Father’s House” 12:15 p.m. in Room 120 of visual arts. Lecture: Dr. Robert McElvane discussion “The Distant Origins of Our (Mis) Understanding of the Sexes” 7 p.m. in the auditorium at McAllister. Wednesday Lecture: “From Alpha Male to Nurturing Father: How Childbirth Affects Dads,” by Richard Reed, 11 a.m. in Room 120 of visual arts. Film: “Visitors of the Night” noon in Room 120 of visual arts. Thursday Awards: Women of Vision Awards and “On Whose Shoulders We Stand: Chicana/Latina Visions, Power and Action in San Antonio” with Dr. Antonia Castaneda in Room 120 of visual arts. Lecture: “Recovering the Stories of Female Pioneers: How Their Lives Can Inspire Us Today” with Gayl Newton 10:50 a.m. in Room 120 of visual arts. Film: “Uphill All the Way” introduced by Nathan and Michelle Hunt 12:15 p.m. in Room 120 of visual arts. For more information on Women’s History Month events, call 486-0577.
Premiere
14 • Feb. 26, 2010
The Ranger Tyler K. Cleveland
Meet the KSYM DJs What is your DJ and real name? Dallas and Dallas Williams What’s the name of your show and what time does it air? The Nightlife 9 p.m.-11 p.m. Monday What kind of music is played on your show? R&B, hip-hop, soul, anything groovy What is the funniest thing that has happened while on air? So far I’ve only Dallas Williams had one show. What got you interested in radio? I love music, I love people and I love to talk. What underground or local band do you enjoy listening to? Bad Rabbits, Brittany Bosco and Hydra Melody. What would people be surprised to know about you? I plan to get a bachelor’s degree in finance. What is your favorite thing about being on air? Being on air allows me to share fantastic music that you wouldn’t hear on other radio stations. I like being the “goto person” for new and exciting music. What has been your favorite moment so far from your show? Receiving phone calls is always nice. What new CD will listeners hear on your show and what’s so good about it? Blank Tapes was a studio owned by Bob Blank. The studio was home to artists of every genre, and the birthplace of some of the most infectious disco tracks. “The Blank Generation: Blank Tapes NYC 1971-1985,” released by Strut Records, is a compilation of some of Blank’s best work, including Gladys Knight on the track “It’s a Better than Good Time.” One of the best tracks on the album is “Itchin for Love (M+M mix)” by Mikki; it has a heavy bass line, smooth vocals and a feeling that just makes you want to dance.
Professional development editor Christine Lindbloom speaks to a small audience at the writers panel Feb. 18.
Experts advise prospective writers By Reagan White Aspiring college writers were advised Feb. 18 not to write another “Twilight.” “Publishers are not buying vampire stories anymore,” said H. Christine Lindbloom, guest speaker at “From Writing to Meeting the Editor: A Panel Discussion for Writers,” sponsored by the Cheshyre Cheese Club. Lindbloom, a professional development editor at Complete That Manuscript and a former editor at Penguin and Knopf, was joined by, Lisa Carroll-Lee, a fiction writing teacher, and Jen Knox, author of “Musical Chairs” and tutor at this college’s writing center. Fifteen novice writers gathered in McCreless theater as the speakers sat cross-legged on the edge of the stage and spoke for two hours about their experiences in the book industry. Knox discussed the writing process and becoming an author. “I remember when I first started writing, already thinking about publishing,” she said. “I was thinking, ‘It might take me a few years, but I’m going to be writing for the New Yorker.’ But I kind of sobered up very quickly. Because it’s very romantic, the idea of publication, but it’s a long road and it’s not an easy road.” Carroll-Lee shared with the audience the Amherst writers and artists method as a way of combating writer’s block. “What the AWA method will help you do is put aside the analytic side of your mind while you allow these crazy wild images to run free on your paper, and then later you can control them,” she said. She gave the audience an example of a writ-
ing prompt designed to draw out ideas for future projects. “It’s a really delicious feeling to have more ideas that you possibly have time to turn into stories,” she said. “For the rest of your life, you’ll never feel worried or empty again.” Lindbloom, an experienced editor, shared her insights into the business of publishing and warned writers to be careful when choosing a publisher. “You should own all the layouts and design. You should not ever, ever have to submit your own layout. You should get a style sheet. They should offer marketing classes. They should have press releases,” she said. She added that writers should have an intellectual property lawyer look at their contracts to ensure they do not lose the rights to their work. “Before you send anything anywhere, get it copyrighted. It’s the best 35 bucks you’ll ever spend on anything,” she said. Lindbloom also shared insights about what type of work publishers are looking to buy. “Publishers are buying more character-driven books because they’re easier to translate to the screen,” she said. “That’s where publishers are making 75 percent of their money now.” Lindbloom said that when it comes to new authors, publishers are looking for works about 65,000 words long. “They cannot make money on anything that is 80,000 words long,” she said. “Anything less than 50,000 words, they’re not going to publish it because they can’t sell something that small.” She also said changes in technology and the economy have hurt the industry and writers who want to publish more complicated material.
Calendar
The Ranger
Feb. 26, 2010 • 15
Financial services career seminar Thursday By AmAndA m. Rios
careers that may be discussed are banking, insurance, investments and related fields, Maria F. Davis, associate professor and coordinator of the finance and financial services program in the business department, said Tuesday. The event is planned in collaboration with the career services center. Scheduled times and
speakers include: • 10 a.m., Dawna Mitchell, vice president of Morgan Keegan and Co. Inc., will discuss financial security and investments; • 11 a.m., David Wallis, management partner of ILIT management group, a fourth-generation banker, will speak about the banking industry; and
• 12:30 p.m., Laura Piemont, Allstate Insurance representative, will discuss insurance and investments. The seminar is open to students interested in majoring in finance and financial services. For more information, call Davis at 486-0191 or the career services center at 486-0135.
For coverage call 486-1773 or e-mail sac-ranger@alamo.edu two weeks in advance.
SAC Festival: Irish Heritage Day 12 p.m.–5 p.m. in Loftin. Call 946-0294.
p.m.-2 p.m. south of Candler. Call 486-0125.
March 17
SAC Concert: Alumni reunion concert 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium of McAllister. Call 486-0494.
Today
SAC Event: Tennis tourney-singles 1 p.m.–2 p.m. south of Candler. Call 4860125. Tuesday
SAC Event: Community job fair 1:30 p.m.-4 p.m. Empowerment Center, 703 Howard Call 486-0455 or visit www. alamo.edu/sac/wc.
Students may learn about careers in financial services at a seminar from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday in the Fiesta Room of Loftin Student Center. Speakers will discuss the skills needed for careers in the financial services industries. Among the
SAC Deadline: Last day to apply for graduation in the admissions and records office. The final deadline to apply to walk the stage is March 26. Apply in counseling or individual departments. SAC Event: Annual Africa Read-in 10:50 a.m. in the Craft Room of Loftin. English faculty read their favorite essays, and students read from Zora Neal Hurston’s work. Call 486-0661. SAC Concert: Choral concert 1 p.m. in the auditorium of McAllister. Call 486-0494. Saturday SAC Volunteer: San Antonio Food Bank looking for volunteers 7:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Free T-shirt to wear on site. Call Stephanie Kimball, 486-0763. SAC Event: Racquetball tourney benefiting kinesiology scholarships 9 a.m.–4 p.m. at racquetball courts in Candler. $5. Call 486-0125. SAC Field Trip: Astronomy Club star party and potluck dinner 5 p.m. at Guadalupe River State Park, 3350 Park Road 31. Call 486-0063. Sunday
Monday
SAC Lecture: United Methodist Student Movement Hot Potato 12:15 p.m. Methodist Student Center, 102 Belknap. Call 733-1441. SAC Event: Combat Veterans’ Readjustment Workshop, faculty and administrators assist returning veterans 2 p.m.-3:30 p.m. in Rooms 612-613 of Moody. Call Sylvia De Leon, 486-0192. SAC Event: Representatives from Americorps, NCC Americorps VISTA will present “How a Way of Service Can Change Your Life” 3 p.m. Rm 226 of McCreless. Call 486-0494. SAC Concert: Latin jazz combo 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium of McAllister. Call 486-0494. Concert: Faculty recital 7:30 p.m. in Ruth Taylor Recital Hall, Trinity University. Call 999-8212.
March 4 SAC Event: Tennis tourney-doubles 1
March 5 March 19 SAC Event: Virtual reality gaming 1 p.m.-3 p.m. in the Cyber Café of Loftin. Call 486-0125.
SAC Concert: Faculty recital 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium of McAllister. Call 486-0494.
March 10
March 22
SAC Event: Casino Day sponsored by student life,10 a.m.-1 p.m. in the Fiesta Room of Loftin. Call 486-0125.
SAC Deadline: Flex 2 census date. Last day to drop without a recorded grade of W. March 23
March 12
www.theranger.org
SAC Concer t: Faculty recital 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium of McAllister. Call 486-0494.
Complete calendar online.
Performace: Ides of Texas Playfest 8 p.m.10 p.m. at the Overtime Theater, 1414 S. Alamo, Suite 103. Continues through March 27. Call 557-7562 or visit http:// theovertimetheater.net. March 13 Event: Dyeing O’ the River Green and St. Patrick’s Day Parade, river dyeing at 2 p.m. and parade at 3 p.m. Call 227-4262 or visit www.thesanantonioriverwalk.com. March 15 SAC Closing: College closed for spring break. Continues through March 21. Administrative offices closed March 18-21.
March 31 SAC Event: Psychic Fair 10 a.m.-1 p.m. in the Fiesta Room of Loftin. Call 486-0125.
Calendar Legend SAC: San Antonio College NVC: Northwest Vista College SPC: St. Philip’s College SWC: South West Campus PAC: Palo Alto College NLC: Northeast Lakeview College
The Ranger
16 • Feb. 26, 2010
Local columnist discusses aftermath of Sept. 11 By Riley StephenS “It was a traumatic experience seeing other peoples’ fears, but it also was exhilarating to report on what was going on,” Cary Clack, San Antonio Express-News columnist, said Tuesday, recalling writing columns from New York in the aftermath of 9/11. He spoke to about 50 Travis Early College High School dual credit communication students as well as journalism faculty and students in Longwith Radio, Television and Film Building. The event was sponsored by the college chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists during Black History Month. “I remember going into work on Sept. 11, 2001, and being told to pack my bag because I was head-
ing to New York that same day,” Clack said. “I remember interviewing families who were waiting on information about their loved ones.” He said none of them received good news. Clack said he grew up in a family that received three newspapers a day. “We got the Express in the morning, the Evening News in the afternoon and the San Antonio Light in the afternoon.” He said the newspaper business has changed since then. “It’s a much different day. I know that many journalists don’t even read the newspaper as much as they should, but still I’m very proud to be able to call myself a newspaperman. And I may appreciate it more because it took me
longer than most people to get into. I didn’t get my foot in the door until I was in my 30s,” Clack said. Clack attended this college for three semesters. He graduated from St. Mary’s University in 1985 with a degree in political science. His first published article as a journalist was an opinion piece for the Express-News in January 1983 encouraging the adoption of Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a national holiday. “I’m proud to be a part of a profession that I believe is the forefront of recording some of the most important of things, like how we treat one another,” Clack said. Clack also signed copies of his book, “Clowns and Rats Scare Me,” a compilation of 84 of some 2,000 columns he has written for the Express-News.
Julysa Sosa
Columnist Cary Clack of the San Antonio Express-News answers questions from the audience Tuesday in Longwith during an event sponsored by the Society of Professional Journalists.
The Ranger
Feb. 26, 2010 • 17
Armstrong moves to media services from alumni relations Rennie Murrell
By Celeste J. NeNtwig
Pamela Tyler, coordinator of donor relations in the district’s Kathryn Armstrong, coordinaoffice of institutional advancement tor of special projects, has been for five years, was hired as the colreassigned from the alumni relalege’s full-time director of institutions office to the media services tional advancement. department. “We are looking into something In her place, the college has exciting to offer alumni, to intrigue hired a full-time director of insti- and inspire people to join,” she said. tutional advancement and a partKahanek will be working closely time alumni relations coordinator. with Tyler, who spent two years “The association was taken fundraising for all five colleges. over by part-time employee Tyler said, “We don’t want to Emily Kahanek,” President Robert change too much but enhance Zeigler said. He said the move was what’s there and find what works.” prompted by budget concerns. Kahanek and Tyler also will Kahanek was employed at be working with Susan Espinoza, H-E-B Grocery Co. for 13 years, director of resource and college seven of those as senior public development, in the college and relations coordinator. grants development office. She planned the Christmas Tree Tyler said the departments are Lighting at Alamo Plaza, as well as separate here, but at most instituthe annual Feast of Sharing, which tions of higher education, they are raised an average of $12,000-13,000. the same and should be married. She said, “I attended a couple Dr. Alice Johnson, dean of learnof classes at SAC during the ’90s, ing resources, said, “Armstrong and and I am excited to be a part of an her supervisor, Barbara Knotts, alumni association that is just getchair of media services, will be ting off the ground.” working with public television sta“She will take the current proj- tion inTV,” the City of San Antonio’s ects and expand on them, and educational access channel. develop more longAs program manterm goals,” Zeigler ager, Armstrong will said. work with the city and The alumni fundKnotts to find and raisers that were preschedule events and viously planned by shows, such as graduArmstrong, such as a ation ceremonies, www.theranger.org recycling fundraiser campus events and Go online to read story and the SAC coffee performances. about Armstrong’s pay. blend, are still being The station is researched and considered. available on cable channels 98 with Regarding the department Time Warner Cable Co., 21 with change, Armstrong said, “I strugGrande Communications Co., and gled with letting the alumni asso- 99 with AT&T U-verse. ciation go because I had worked The district just received to get it up and running, but I’m $100,000 from the city for pleased to be in this new position new equipment and supplies, as it is a wonderful opportunity.” Armstrong said. She said her job Kahanek said the association now is to find the programming plans to continue offering insur- that will work best for this station. ance benefits and the Savings Plus For more information regardprogram. “We are also trying to get ing the alumni association, call benefits from local and national Kahanek at 486-0743, and for inTV, merchants,” she said. call Armstrong at 486-0904.
Kathryn Armstrong
18 • Feb. 26, 2010
Editorial
The Ranger Juan Carlos Campos
Cafeteria, workout center gross mix A fitness center in Loftin Student Center is a horrible idea. Loftin is already crammed with performances, students studying, eating, dancing and playing video games. By adding a fitness center, it will turn into a circus. Student life is supposed to try to serve the needs of all students, but putting a workout center in the cafeteria doesn’t come close. Imagine sweaty students after a workout while everyone else is trying to eat. Loftin is also the setting for live performances and lectures. It’s bad enough those events have to compete with the midway sounds coming from the video arcade and pool hall at the north end of the cafeteria. Now add the sounds of a gym. And where are these body builders supposed to change and shower?
Also, a fitness room will require a monitor — can you say liability? — for the 12 hours a day student life envisions the center being available. That’s 1 1/2 jobs actually. And won’t the monitor need to be able to maintain the machines and have some training to be able to advise students (more liability) on their use? The equipment quote is $106,000, but student life is trying to work out a better deal. Planning this fitness center started more than a year ago — probably about the time the idea of adding boxing did — but there are so many questions still unanswered. Who even asked for this? We hope it isn’t just a private club house for cheerleaders, dancers, athletes or others with an unhealthy obsession with body image.
Students should use Candler Physical Education Center facilities instead. How about using some of the funding from the student activity fee to support open hours in the gym we already have? Originally walled to house coinoperated entertainment, the room could still be used for that or a comfy study area where students can relax. A monitor is still required so why not move Bailey’s Café in there where students might be able to get a little quiet and the computers wouldn’t have to be disconnected, unplugged, stored and set back up every single day. An extension of Bailey’s Café would offer additional computer access. Too many of our students do not have access at home. Studying and learning are student activities, too.
Correction and Clarifications In the Feb. 19 Ranger, in “National Engineers Week builds to signing,” the Puentes grant was incorrectly identified. It is a Title 5 grant.
Also, in “CSI team leader thrilled to be at Pat Booker site,“ Dr. Lina Silva did not decline to comment.
The Ranger
Opinion
Keep VP here, or you pay him The college should not pay for a part-time vice president. Dr. Robert Vela, vice president of student affairs, is transferring to the new center for student information. He will spend as many as four days a week more than 16 miles away monitoring that facility. So when will he deal with student affairs? It must be exciting to be part of an emerging new entity, but, if district wants our VP, then they should pay his salary. There’s no doubt that the center will need management, but there are vice chancellors and assistant vice chancellors who could run this sort of project. Why can’t district administrators handle this? The almost 22,000-student body needs their go-to guy, not to mention the faculty and staff who report
to Vela. There is no dean under Vela. He is in charge of overseeing student life, the assessment center, admissions and records, disability support services, enrollment management, counseling and the empowerment center. There is no way he can oversee these departments effectively in just one day a week. This is a bad idea. District thinks of consolidation, efficiency and cost-saving measures and leaves its students highand-dry in the process. The college is already strained financially, and paying for someone who won’t be available to us is unreasonable. You wouldn’t pay a Northwest Vista College adjunct’s salary from our budget would you? Wait, that’s already happening.
Feb. 26, 2010 • 19
Fix Banner now When adjunct faculty do not receive paychecks on time, it says a lot about what the district is doing to make Banner run smoothly. More should have been done. It is great that supplemental checks were distributed, but it does not seem that the district did enough to react swiftly and proactively. Waiting in long lines is unacceptable, unnecessary and nonproductive, not to mention what it does for morale. And if this is the way Banner is going to run for adjunct faculty, imagine how the student module will work? Should students fear not receiving financial aid? Get it fixed and make sure before the student module of Banner is implemented next fall, that it is complete and ready to go so we don’t have lines of angry students who won’t be as polite or as patient as our employees have been.
The Ranger
20 • Feb. 26, 2010
Fault line shapes San Antonio landscape By Victoria G. ortiz Earthquakes may not elicit much interest in this part of the world, but this college sits on an active fault line. Evidence of the Balcones Fault Zone is seen along Dewey Place in the change in elevation from McCreless Hall, which sits below street level, to McAllister Fine Arts Center, which sits well above street level. Devastation from the earthquake that rocked Haiti Jan. 12 is not likely to ever threaten San Antonio, but the Balcones fault line gets attention periodically. The Balcones Fault Zone was created when erosion caused the rocky layer atop what is now the Edwards Plateau to slide down toward the coastal plains. With a lighter load, the Earth’s crust actu-
ally experienced uplift much like a cupcake rises in an oven, geology Lecturer Dwight Juran said. This uplift produced the cracked layers of rock referred to as the Balcones Fault Zone and created the Edwards Aquifer, which collects precipitation underground. The University of Texas Institute for Geophysics reports that there have been three historic earthquakes that have been felt over all or at least in a significant portion of West Texas. The institute credits low damage to the relatively low population. The first, Aug. 16, 1931, struck with a magnitude of 6.0 near Valentine, halfway between Marfa and Van Horn. The second, Jan. 2, 1992, shook the Texas-New Mexico border near Andrews and Hobbs with a magnitude of 4.6. The third was in the evening
Scott Aranda
The Balcones Fault Zone at Dewey Place between McCreless and McAllister shows a change in elevation. See full story online. of April 14, 1995, near Alpine with a magnitude of 5.7. That quake prompted an evacuation of the campus after reports of the building shaking came from the fourth floor of Moody. The college remained closed the next day for an engineering inspection.
According to that week’s Ranger, most students were unaware of the tremors. The students who felt the quake were on upper floors. For more information, visit www.edwardsaquifer.org or the UT Institute for Geophysics at www. ig.utexas.edu.
The Ranger
Feb. 26, 2010 • 21
Local perseveres to Haiti adoption Sharon Hensley
By Ximena Victoria alVarez Cheryl Oechsle was born and raised in Haiti by missionary parents. When she was 15, her family returned to the United States to make a home in Illinois. She married Jarrell Oechsle and became mother of three children, Judah, 14, Obadiah, 16, and Kristian, 18. After having three kids, the couple decided they were not going to have more children, but one day maternity called. The Oechsles opted to adopt. She did not want to adopt just any child. Cheryl Oechsle wanted to adopt an infant from her beloved Haiti. Cheryl Oechsle worried about the children of her former home in the wake of Jan. 12th’s devastatSteven, 23 months old, was adopted from Haiti by Jarrell and Cheryl Oechsle. ing earthquake because government corruption may hinder recovery and it on hold,” Cheryl Oechsle said. Huband. we had to start the adoption proadoptions. “They are so greedy,” The Oechsles wanted a baby Immediately after the Oechsle cess all over again to get him back she said. “They won’t let anyone girl; however, they only qualified family was notified, they started here,” Cheryl Oechsle said. have them, but they won’t take care for a 6- or 8-year-old, twins or a the medical visa process and When unwed teens in Haiti of them.” child with special needs. Instead planned to travel to Indiana to have a child, it is customary for the Before she and her husband they applied through Methodist meet their new son. grandparents to raise the child as started the adoption process, she Mission Home. The Methodist Mission was their own. His grandparents had spoke to her children and got their Huband told them about a able to get the Haitian baby into five other children to care for, but approval. Cheryl Oechsle said the baby boy with spina bifida who this country, but sponsorship was because the baby’s mother begged couple painted the worst-case was coming to the United States still a problem. so much to let scenario for their for surgery and lookFortunately, her keep him, children. If she and ing for a family. the organizathe grandpar“… because we her husband passed Spina bifida is a tion Mending ents finally already had children, away, the children birth defect in which Kids, for which agreed. we did not qualify” would be responsible the back bone and the actor Mel But the (for an infant). for the adopted child. spinal canal do not Gibson serves burden was too Knowing this, they close before birth. as spokesman, great; within Cheryl Oechsle, still weren’t against The mother of the was able to get two months, adoptive parent Log on to it and decided to infant was an illiterate surgeon serthe mother www.theranger.org contact Stephanie unwed teen mother; vices donated realized she for the full story. Huband, a missionary the agency assumed from surgeons at the University of couldn’t take care of her infant son friend. she was 16; however, different California in Los Angeles. nor pay for his medical expenses. A “We contacted a missionary papers had different ages on them, Dr. Jorge Lazareff, the surgeon follow-up surgery was urgent. friend of ours that at the time was Cheryl Oechsle said. who separated Guatemalan twins Once more, the teen mother set in Haiti, but because we already The unwed teen had gone to a conjoined at the head in a 23-hour out walking, this time three or four had children, we did not qualify clinic near her village and was told surgery in 2002, operated on the days to the city of Puerto Principe (for an infant),” Cheryl Oechsle that the only way her baby would Haitian baby, but Mending Kids where she found Huband. said. survive was for him to be sent to requires a child to be returned to Huband immediately called the “We had put an application the United States for surgery. its home country once stable. Oechsle family and asked if they for HOLT International adoption So she walked two days to the “The staff from Mending Kids were still interested. “We really agency but after this we had to put city of Pestel and gave her baby to personally took our son back, and think God called us,” she said.
22 • Feb. 26, 2010
The Ranger
News
2010 ACCD Young Leaders Conference
Alert system test postponed
By Steffany Gutierrez
By VaneSSa M. Sanchez
Scholarship opportunities, college recruiters and the Alamo Colleges Mobile Go Center are just a few of the things high school students will find at the Young Leaders Conference. The conference is a free one-day event for high school juniors and seniors from 9 a.m.–2 p.m. Saturday at Palo Alto College’s Performing Arts Center, 1400 Villaret. Registration begins at 8 a.m. and breakfast will be available at that time. Mayor Julian Castro and state Rep. Joaquin Castro will be keynote speakers. The conference will feature sessions addressing college financing, college careers, volunteerism, student involvement, technology, time management and student success. It will also include two workshops designed for parents such as “What Parents Should Know About FAFSA”
and “Money Management.” To be considered for one of 10 $1,000 scholarships provided by the Alamo Community College District Office of Institutional Advancement and Foundation Board, applications were due Sunday. Late registration is possible by calling 485-0790. Applicants must also submit a typed essay on educational goals. To be eligible, applicants must be a high school senior with a GPA of 2.5, submit a high school transcript and two letters of recommendation. Scholarships are for the 2010–11 academic year. Requirements also include attending the entire Feb. 27 conference and enrolling in a minimum of six credit hours by fall 2010. For more information, visit w w w. a c c d . e d u / d i s t r i c t / s l i / announcements/082409b.htm or call Alamo Colleges Student Leadership Institute at 485-0790.
The district planned to test its emergency notification system today, but Dr. Tom Cleary, vice chancellor for planning, performance and information systems, said the test was moved to mid-March because personnel in the IT department are busy. Still, people are encouraged to register or update their contact information. In case of an emergency, everyone will be notified via e-mail, phone, voice mails or text messages, that is, if their information is updated. Sgt. Ben Peña of the district’s police department said it is important for the district to have an emergency notification system because it allows them to notify anyone about a campus emergency. Peña said this is an important system to keep people safe and out of harm’s way. Students, faculty and staff can leave their home, office and cell phone numbers to receive calls and text messages in case of an emergency. The system also sends texts to any text-based device, including TTY and TDD for the hearing impaired. To update information, click on “Emergency Contact Information View/Update” under the “Personal Information” tab after logging in to student services at the district’s Web page, alamo.edu.
The Ranger
Feb. 26, 2010 • 23
Castillo worked on behalf of students, staff Rosary and memorial are set for 4 p.m. Saturday at Mission Park South, 1700 S.E. Military Drive. By Vanessa M. sanchez Gil Castillo, former associate director of student activities, died Saturday. While the cause of death was unknown, an autopsy is pending, Ruben Flores, dean of evening, weekend and distance education, said Monday. Castillo’s brother called Flores Monday morning to notify him of the death, saying he believed his brother died of natural causes, Flores said. Castillo was 53. Arrangements were still pending Thursday. Flores said he would notify The Ranger as updates are available. Castillo began his career at this college March 15, 1985, and resigned Feb. 17, 2009. Before working with student activities, he worked for Flores processing adjunct faculty
applications for about 15 years until he went to work for the student activities office, Flores said. Flores said Castillo was such a good worker that he was promoted twice in five years. One promotion moved Castillo into a position as a community liaison working with surrounding high schools. Castillo was one of the first people to advocate the creation of Staff Council, saying that because faculty and administrators had their own forums, staff needed one, too, Flores said. Castillo also was involved with TACHE, the Texas Association of Gil Castillo Chicanos in Higher Education. He was president of the organization’s San Antonio chapter and later headed the state group. Flores said other association presidents held doctorates, but because Castillo was a staff member at this college, his presidency was
significant. Adolph Lopez, director of the assessment center, is a member of TACHE and a friend of Castillo. Lopez said Castillo was a hard worker who advocated on behalf of students, injustice and Chicanos. Lopez said he had known Castillo to be effective in getting faculty and students involved in various events. He said Castillo helped organize Hispanic Heritage Month and always tried to get students involved in clubs and organizations campuswide. Belinda Saldaña, former association president, provided a statement on behalf of TACHE Tuesday, saying, “We express our condolences to the family and friends of Gil Castillo. He was the state president in 1994 and an active member of our local chapter. He will be deeply missed.”
Project WORTH teams with Big Brothers Big Sisters Volunteers, mentors to work on helping local teens postpone pregnancy. By steffany Gutierrez Project WORTH and Big Brothers Big Sisters held an information session to recruit volunteers. The event, made possible in part by the service learning department, took place in the United Methodist Student Center. Project WORTH, the city of San Antonio’s teen pregnancy prevention program, and Big Brothers Big Sisters paired up to recruit volunteers and mentors to work together with three middle schools in San Antonio: Tafolla Middle School, 1303 W. Durango Blvd., Mark Twain Middle School, 2411 San Pedro Ave., and Davis Middle School, 4702 E. Houston St. Project WORTH focuses on emphasizing youth development and abstinence and helping teens avoid risky behavior and postpone pregnancy.
Big Brothers Big Sisters, the oldest and largest youth organization in the United States, also focuses on developing positive relationships and impacting the lives of young people by mentoring them. Their mission is to help children reach their potential through professionally supported, one-to-one relationships. Their vision is successful mentoring relationships for all children who need and want them, contributing to brighter futures, better schools and stronger communities for all. Among the students present, foreign language major Belen De Leon listened attentively and said she was “interested in mentoring and helping kids and teens.” The volunteer opportunities available with Big Brothers Big Sisters and Project WORTH are many. There is a community-based program in which volunteers visit a little brother or sister about once a week and participate in community activities. In the school-based program, volunteers visit a school once a week.
There also is a volunteer program for high school students. Project WORTH’s program manager Mario Martinez, and outreach and recruitment Coordinator Barbie Leal-Hallam, spoke about the importance of becoming a volunteer for community organizations in contributing to the healthy development of teens and are rewarding experiences for the volunteers or mentors and members served. Volunteers serve as a positive role model for younger students, encouraging them to stay in school, avoid negative behavior and work toward a better life. In addition, according to the speakers, volunteering and mentoring is great in that it “demonstrates people and time management skills, and looks good on job résumés.” For more information on Big Brothers Big Sisters, call Leal-Hallam at 225-6332, Ext. 131, or visit www.bigmentor.org. For information on Project WORTH, call Martinez at 207-8850. For service learning volunteer opportunities, call Audrey Grams at 486-0763.
24 • Feb. 26, 2010
And the crowd
Roared
The Ranger Photos by Tyler K. Cleveland
Top left, American sign language sophomore April Lopez browses the silent auction with her husband Eddie, Feb. 20. The auction raised more than $6,000 for the Rea and Barbara Hinrich’s Scholarship Fund. Top right, lab technician David Raymond lunges at interpreting sophomore Amy Calvet (left) during a Jerry Springer spoof Feb. 20, during the fourth annual American Sign Language Talent Show in McAllister. Performing as the opposite sex, Calvet told Raymond he was breaking up with her.
www.theranger.org
Left, the audience cheers Go online for the Feb. 20 following a dance to story. Sonny and Cher’s “I’ve Got You Babe” by Blanca Zamarripa and lab Director David Solis during the fourth annual American Sign Language Talent Show in McAllister. Applause in sign language involves silently waving your hands in the air.
American sign language sophomore Ariel Johnson signs “this sucks” Feb. 20 while performing the skit “It’s a Hard Knock Life” from “Annie” during the American Sign Language Talent Show and Silent Auction in McAllister Feb. 20.
Interpreting graduate Sharon Zarb-Cousin signs to Mercy Me’s “I Can Only Imagine” during the American Sign Language Talent Show Feb. 20 in McAllister.