The Ranger, April 09, 2018 by The Ranger

R ANGER

An independent forum of free voices serving San Antonio College since 1926 and the Alamo Colleges since 1945 Volume 92 • Issue 15

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April

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2 0 1 8 Journalism-photography program at San Antonio College

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WALK A MILE

The empowerment center will hold its fourth annual Walk a Mile in Her Shoes march 11 a.m.-noon April 11 in the mall. Participants will walk from the mall to the empowerment center wearing high-heeled shoes to raise awareness of rape, sexual assault and gender violence.

Marchers are encouraged to bring their own heels, and awards will be given afterwards. State Rep. Diego Bernal will serve as grand marshal and offer remarks before the event. The center is open 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday at 703 Howard St. For registration contact the center at 210-486-0455. Dillon Holloway

Pizza with President, sans president Students addressed questions or concerns to SGA officers and advisers. By Kimberly Caballero

kcaballero3@student.alamo.edu

The Student Government Association scheduled Pizza with the President April 4 for students to engage in a Q&A with the college president and the executive team. Not in attendance: President Robert Vela and the executive team. Vela told The Ranger in an April 4 interview that he wished he could have attended Pizza with the President and he is willing to reschedule. “I love doing it because it’s a conversation with the students and it’s always very positive,” Vela said. “I wanted to be there and I needed to be there, but it didn’t work out. My health didn’t allow me to be there.” Vela said he fell off of a ladder March 17 while cleaning gutters on his home. The fall broke his humerus bone and tore his bicep in his right arm. He said he returned to the office April 3 but overdid it and did not feel well enough to return April 4. Public relations Director Vanessa Torres in an April 4 email

See PIZZA, Page 2

Dance sophomores Kriztena Cahase, Lily Solano, Halen George and Jasmine Trejo perform an improvised dance April 2 west of Loftin. Dance Professor Annette Flores had five students create their own movement for about 20 minutes with no music. A dance recital is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. May 4 in McAllister that will include contemporary, jazz, ballet, modern and improvisational dances. Tickets are $5. Brianna Rodrigue

SGA proposes update to exclude off-campus groups Awards banquet to honor outstanding student leaders and club advisers. By Austin P. Taylor

ataylor160@student.alamo.edu

During an April 2 meeting of this college’s Student Government Association, SGA President Kayla Salwey suggested possible changes to the peaceful public assembly policy used by this college. Salwey said the group would like to adopt something similar to the policy used by the University Texas of San Antonio. UTSA’s peaceful public assembly guideline says, “In furtherance of the University’s educational mission, the University campus is a limited forum open only to the expressive activities of faculty, staff, and students. Unaffiliated groups and individuals may not engage in expressive activities at the University except in accordance with this Policy.” The university’s guidelines for guest speakers say any organization that wants to speak on the campus must be in a reserved indoor location, and they cannot accost those who have chosen not to attend the event. Under the proposed policy, organizations that want to come on campus need to be sponsored by a student organization. “If they can’t find a sponsor on campus, they’re probably doing something wrong,” SGA Vice President La-Tieka Sims said. The current policy for groups wanting to hold assemblies at this college requires that they contact the office of student life and provide their own equipment. SGA met Feb. 26 to discuss measures that

could be taken to make students more aware of, if not regulate, the content outside organizations are displaying on campus. SGA members discussed solutions that ranged from forming committees to decide what can be shown on campus, to making sure administration better schedules events like the ministry’s gathering, so graphic content is not seen by children on campus. The proposed policy change is in response to a rally held by Love of Truth Ministries Feb. 19 in the mall. Love of Truth Ministries is scheduled for another event at this college April 23. The ministry’s Feb. 19 antiLa-Tieka Sims, abortion rally vice president of SGA was met by counter-protests from students. Two students vandalized signs used by the ministry, and one splashed water on an antiabortion protestor. SGA will discuss the policy change at its April 19 meeting with President Robert Vela. The meeting with President Vela is closed to the public. The next SGA meeting will be April 16 in the craft room of Loftin Student Center. After announcing the proposed policy revision, SGA discussed several upcoming events. The Campus Activities Board will host the Outstanding Leaders Awards Banquet. The banquet is 6-9 p.m. April 11 in the round of Loftin Student Center. The theme is

“I

f they can’t find a sponsor on campus, they’re probably doing something wrong.”

“Tricentennial: A Night Under the Stars.” The banquet will honor student club leaders. Every club on campus was able to nominate a student for the outstanding student leader award through April 2. Club members could also nominate advisers for the outstanding adviser award. They will be competing against other club advisers. Seven members of each club can attend the banquet. Several events will be in Loftin on May 4. The San Antonio College Gaming Society will host several tournaments noon-4 p.m. May 4 in the second floor game room of Loftin Student Center. Participants will need to pay a $5 entry fee at the sign-up on the day of the tournaments. Games participants can compete in “Magic: The Gathering,” “Yu-Gi-Oh!,” “Dungeons & Dragons,” “Super Smash Bros.” and “Dragon Ball Fighterz.” The first- and second-place winners of the “Yu-Gi-Oh!” tournament will be awarded “Yu-Gi-Oh!” card packs. The third-place winner will receive card sleeves. “Everyone is welcome to come and participate,” said Gaming Society President James Russell. “It’s really just a cool meet-up place to relax and have a bit of fun.” CAB will show “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” 5-11 p.m. May 4 in Loftin. Students with questions about SGA can call the office of student life at 210-486-0125. SGA meetings are on the first and third Monday of each month. Students with questions about the Campus Activities Board can call Carrie Hernandez, coordinator of campus activities, at 210-486-0128.

President Kayla Salwey and Vice President La-Tieka Sims of the Student Government Association answer questions at Pizza with the President April 4 in visual arts. Thirty minutes prior to the event, President Robert Vela informed SGA he would not be able to attend for health reasons. Shamona Wali

Promise programs provide free college Vice chancellor says ideal program should not be limited to economically disadvantaged students. By Alison Graef

agraef@student.alamo.edu

Dr. Diane Snyder, vice chancellor for finance and administration, said the key to a successful free college program in San Antonio is simplicity and awareness. Her remarks were at the Feb. 27 board meeting at Killen Center. Former President Barack Obama first proposed America’s College Promise as a federal program in January 2015, which was modeled after Tennessee’s free college scholarship program, Tennessee Promise. Snyder said many states have started offering free college programs, and it is also happening at local levels. “It really never came to fruition at a federal level … but that didn’t stop the trend that’s been happening across the nation,” Snyder said. “Even if nothing happens at a state level to support something here in a big way, we can do something for San Antonio.” Tennessee Promise is a state-funded scholarship program that covers the cost of tuition and fees for two-year colleges in Tennessee. It operates on a “last-dollar” model, providing aid that covers whatever is left over after scholarships and grants are applied. The program is funded by the state lottery. Snyder said the Tennessee program’s model stood out to her because its requirements are simple.

See PROMISE, Page 2

2NEWS

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April 09, 2018

Collaborate with institute advisers for academic support, says team lead The Science and Technology (STEM) Institute advisers relocated to the first floor of Moody Learning Center. By Brianna Rodrigue sac-ranger@alamo.edu

Students in need of guidance with classes, grades, graduation or career information can visit an adviser. Leticia Adams, Creative and Communication Arts Institute advising team lead, said the key to success in attending college from day one is to visit with your adviser. “Visit your adviser to make sure you, the student, are taking the correct classes that are needed toward your major,” Adams said. “It’s really a good check-in for students. Even when you get to your third or fourth semester, it’s a good opportunity to say, ‘I’m here for advising because I just want to make sure I am still on the right track.’” For students facing challenges in their classes, Adams says they should talk to an adviser because

PIZZA from Page 1 gave the reason the event was canceled. “Traditionally, Pizza with the President is a chance for students to speak directly to the president; therefore, it was decided that the event should be cancelled instead of replacing him with the College Executive Team,” Torres wrote. Vela said he made the decision for vice presidents not to attend the event in his place. Dr. Stella Lovato, vice president of college services, was charged with taking care of college business on his behalf, and Dr. Jothany Blackwood, vice president for academic success, was out for the day. He said it would not have been fair to Dr. Lisa Alcorta, vice president for student success, to cover everything. Although the college executive team consists of Vela, the three vice presidents and four deans, Vela said only he and the vice presidents had planned to attend the event. Vela said after he had to cancel, he hoped SGA could capture the questions students had and present them to him at a later time. “If we want to reschedule, I don’t mind doing it again before the semester is up,” Vela said. “That will be up to SGA to decide if they want to do that. I hope SGA will consider doing one right before finals.” SGA President Kayla Salwey said April 4 that she did not know if SGA would reschedule because it is so close to the end of the semester. At the event, 161 people rotated in and out of Room 120 of the visual arts center for the opportunity to eat pizza and have

they can help students meet their goals. “We are really good guides. … It’s a partnership,” she said. “We are not here to tell you what to do, but we are here to work with you, to give you your options and to help you navigate through all the red tape.” There are four advising offices at this college, each designated for certain majors. Adams said the Science and Technology (STEM) Institute advisers were in Chance Academic Center last semester, but they recently relocated to the first floor of Moody Learning Center. She also said the counseling office is now in Room 323 of Chance. Advisers for Creative and Communication Arts and STEM institutes are on the first floor of Moody. Business and Public Science Institute advising is in Room 324B of Nail Technical Center. Health and Biosciences Institute advising is in Room 109 of the nursing complex. Maria Rogers, Health and Biosciences Institute advising team lead, has been the team lead adviser

a dialogue with administrators, SGA Vice President La-Tieka Sims said. This event is planned once a semester, and SGA began promoting the event in early March by distributing flyers throughout campus and at Ranger Con and Puppy Days. SGA Adviser Nicole France, senior coordinator of outreach and recruitment parental network, received a voicemail the morning of the event from administrative specialist Janet Lozano informing her Vela would not be attending the event. After arriving, students learned the president would not be in attendance. In the absence of administrators, Salwey and Sims addressed questions. “If there are concerns, questions, anything that you guys have that you did plan on presenting to Dr. Vela, feel free to ask us. We’ll do our best to answer. If it’s something we’re not sure about and we need to take it to the executive team, we do meet with Dr. Vela once a month,” Sims said. Suggestion forms were available for those who wanted their questions or concerns delivered directly to administrators. The forms included “suggestions” and “my suggestions would benefit” sections. Students had the option to remain anonymous. SGA will present those suggestions on April 19 at Pan Dulce with the President, a closed meeting between SGA officers and the president and vice presidents. After presenting suggestions to Vela, the association will contact the student to relay the president’s answer, Salwey said.

ee full story at www.theranger.org

for a year at this college, but was a senior coordinator adviser at Palo Alto College for 14 years. “I think it is important for students to visit their advisers because a lot of times, we don’t know what we don’t know,” Rogers said. She said it is important to build a relationship with an adviser and to talk about classes and future plans. “I like to see my advising team as a set of cheerleaders. We are here to be your support system, to guide you and to celebrate your successes with you,” she said. Under the “My Page” tab in students’ ACES accounts, students can see a photo of the primary adviser with contact information to set up an appointment. Students also can make an appointment in the advising office. Walk-ins are welcome. For more information about advising services, visit http://alamo.edu/sac/advising/. For students who are ready to transfer to another college or university or have questions about a career field, the transfer and career center has

advisers qualified for those questions. The transfer center helps with transfer information, degree plans, career assessments, job searches and more, said Sandor Valero, transfer center peer adviser and kinesiology freshman. Students wanting to transfer to Texas A&M University-San Antonio or the University of Texas at San Antonio can speak with a university adviser in the transfer center. A TAMUSA adviser is available Monday and Wednesday 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. and a UTSA adviser Monday-Thursday 9 a.m.-3 p.m. by appointment. Valero said students are welcome to use the computers in the transfer center for information on transferring, applying for jobs, homework assignments or studying. To schedule an appointment to see a transfer center adviser about transfer and career services, visit http://alamo.edu/sac/TRAC/ or visit the first floor of Moody to schedule an appointment. Walkins are welcome. Call 210-486-1500 for more information.

PROMISE from Page 1 “Don’t try to burden it with GPA requirements or all these other things,” Snyder said. “If it’s a high school senior, they get free college tuition.” Snyder said Tennessee is now No. 1 in the nation for FAFSA completion with a 74 percent completion rate and has seen a 13 percent increase in college enrollment in the first two years following the start of the program. For a successful program, she said, it would be important to increase awareness of grants available to students — that many students don’t even consider going to college because they think they can’t afford it. “That’s the key part here: creating a college-going culture where every senior sees it possible to complete the FAFSA and get some college,” Snyder said. As a part of the Tennessee program, each student is assigned a mentor to help with the college admission process and must attend mentorship meetings to remain eligible. Students must maintain at least a 2.0 grade-point average and complete eight hours of community service per semester enrolled. Snyder said the cost of “free” college can be covered by government, businesses, taxpayers and donors. She said most programs rely on Pell Grant funding. She said Texas currently has about $5 million in the Texas Public Education Grant (TPEG) that could go toward funding the program. “What we’re saying is Pell first, and then you can use TPEG for those who are in that middle group who can’t get full Pell,” Snyder said. She said Pell and TPEG could be used for everyone except those who complete the FAFSA indicating an expected family contribution of $10,000 or above. She said if the program in San Antonio began by funding tuition for seniors from 26 local, economically disadvantaged high schools, Pell and grant money would cover all tuition except $400,000 annually. “As we move to the other high schools, that’s where we’re going to need some momentum with community

Dr. Diane Snyder, vice chancellor of finance and administration, introduces the AlamoPROMISE program at the regular board meeting Feb. 27 at Killen. The program would provide free college tuition, including fees and books, for the first two years. The program is modeled after Tennessee Promise, which showed a 74 percent FAFSA completion and a 13 percent increase in college enrollment. Deandra Gonzalez partners and fundraising … to really build the scholarships,” Snyder said. She said she thinks the program’s strength is in helping middle class families who, because of their income, do not qualify for grants but also struggle to afford college. “It’s the middle class that are really struggling,” Snyder said. Chancellor Bruce Leslie has spoken to Mayor Ron Nirenberg, the Hispanic Chamber and Alamo Colleges Foundation about the possibility of creating a college promise program. He said they are only in the first steps of discussing possibilities. “This is a preliminary presentation, but I want it to get on the table because I think this is very exciting,” Leslie said.

EDITORIAL 3 www.theranger.org/EDITORIAL

APRIL 9, 2018

Show up, or don’t expect students The executive team is as knowledgeable as the president. When the administrators of this college schedule an event with students and offer the opportunity to speak to them, the people in power need to show up. Pizza with the President is one of the best ways for students of this college to speak to the normally elusive members of this college’s executive team. The casual atmosphere helps everyone feel at ease when discussing important topics with the college’s leadership. The event is free, it takes place mid-day, it’s all questions and answers, and free food is provided. More than 160 people showed up. So when this college’s entire leadership fails to appear, students don’t feel like a priority, not even very important. President Robert Vela is on medical leave, but he covered the cost of the pizza, which was nice. But what about the rest of the college executive team? Jothany Blackwood, vice president of academic success; Stella Lovato, vice president of college services; Lisa Alcorta, vice president of student success; Conrad Krueger, dean of arts and sciences; Francisco Solis, dean of performance excellence; Vernell Walker, dean of professional and technical education; and Tiffany Hernandez, dean of student success, all have information about this college. What can be done about outside groups, such as the anti-abortion Love of Truth Ministries? Can the Texas Success Initiative used for placement be waived?

Amanda Graef

Keep marching, students Young people must lead the way into the future. There has been a surge of students participating in marches across the United States, and students at the Alamo Colleges are wasting no time taking a stand and raising their voices. This college’s men’s basketball team, along with other students, participated in the Martin Luther King Jr. March alongside the coach in honor of the late civil rights activist. Last month, students and staff participated in the Women’s International March to advocate for women’s rights and marched in memory of Cesár Chávez and the farmworker movement. This week, students, faculty and staff will participate in the fourth annual Walk a Mile In Her Shoes at this college hosted by the empowerment center 11 a.m.-noon April 11 in the mall. Marchers will don high-heeled shoes to raise awareness of rape, sexual assault and gender violence. Students are practicing their right

Those questions were discussed, but students might also have wondered about the course of planned renovations and if any more degrees will be available under the Saturday@SAC program? The college executive team includes the ones most qualified to answer. Vela said he and the vice presidents were scheduled for the event, but the flyer said the “college executive team” would attend. The executive team includes deans as well as vice presidents. Instead, participants had to voice their concerns about college level issues to the officers of the Student Government Association or fill out forms that will be directly delivered to administrators. SGA President Kayla Salwey and Vice President La-Tieka Sims did a good job answering what they could, when they were not promoting their organization, but that’s not the same as the word of an administrator. And how are students to get responses to those forms? Students cannot have an open dialogue with a piece of paper. Is another Q&A session being planned or will students need to attend an SGA meeting to hear the responses of the administration? Pizza with the President does not lose importance because Vela cannot make an appearance. The administrative team should be able to give students the same amount of information about this college that the president can. Otherwise, you are just wasting students’ time.

to freedom of expression and excercising their civic duty. They should be applauded and encouraged. The First Amendment is these students’ tool, and they are using it to chip away at the oppressive forces that have for too long kept youth in silence. Even as students rallied for gun control under the cry of “march for our lives,” some school administrators threatened disciplinary action for walkouts. The political climate has become ever-divided. This century is one of rapid change, and if students are going to have a say in the direction of that change, they need to make their voices heard. Demonstrating students are not a new concept. During the 1960s and ’70s, there was an upheaval of protests against the Vietnam War, sexism, racism, homophobia and a slew of other oppressive forces. Students must continue to stand in solidarity with those who share a vision of the future. It is when people stand together with a unified objective that their collective message is heard.

ONLINE NOW www.theranger.org Volleyball and basketball teams must win or go home By Dillon Holloway

ee the Art of the Sacred Springs video at www.theranger.org.

STAFF Editor Alison Graef

Visuals Editor V. Finster

Sports Editor Dillon Holloway Staff Writers Kathya Anguiano, Blanca Granados, Katya Harmel, Thomas Macias, Sergio Medina, Andrea Moreno, Jeff Riley, Maya R. Williams, Victoria L. Zamora

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ee more photos of this college in the People This Week gallery at www. theranger.org

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This college’s women’s volleyball and basketball teams have a shot at the conference playoffs but must win a play-in game to qualify. The Rangers’ volleyball team, led by head coach Rauel Pichardo Jr., will play Palo Alto College in a high stakes matchup 7 p.m. April 12 inside the athletic center gymnasium at Palo Alto. Pichardo said the winner will play in the Texas Collegiate Club Sports League conference volleyball tournament April 14-15 inside the wellness center gymnasium at the University of the Incarnate Word. Conference tournament start times will be announced April 12.

Geology sophomore Tejay Roy plays spike ball before Bible study April 3 in the mall. The Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship, a group from the University of Texas at San Antonio, meets at this college noon-1 p.m. every Tuesday. Deandra Gonzalez

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4FEATURES Alumnus’ exhibit features Moody in landscapes of his youth www.theranger.org/premiere

April 09, 2 0 1 8

Artist uses cats to represent Mexican- A merican immigrants. By Katya Harmel

sac-ranger@alamo.edu

Former student Michael Menchaca is the mind behind the latest art exhibition, “Vignettes from San Antonio,” on display at Ruiz-Healy Art, 201-A E. Olmos Drive. The collection includes images of locations, events and scenes around the city that generate nostalgia for Menchaca, which include Brackenridge Park, the Battle of Flowers parade and Moody Learning Center.

“La Florona,” 30-by-22-inch oil painting and mixed media on paper. Courtesy “Piensalo Bien,” 30-by-22-inch mixed media on paper. Courtesy

the “it’sOfunnsurface, colors

and silly cartoon graphics. But if you stare a little longer, you realize this is talking about something else.” Michael Menchaca, artist “This is a very personal exhibit for me,” he said March 30 in an interview. “It’s more for looking at my upbringing in San Antonio.” He said he is introducing the viewer to his personality by sharing the landscapes that meant the most to him growing up. He chose to include Moody in a large-scale collage that depicts a busy, festive day on campus. Menchaca attended this college 2003-2007. “It’s a very nostalgic landmark for me — the Moody Learning Center,” he said. He said the building always had the most students inside and around it, and the creative energy hanging in the air inspired him. “It’s nice to reconnect with that energy when I visit,” he said. Menchaca explained he wanted to depict Moody in a way people have not seen the building. He said he wanted to showcase Moody in a stylized way and did so by using techniques of traditional ancient artworks, such as Aztec and Mayan codices and Byzantine manuscripts. He explained the connection he made between the manuscripts that inspired him and video games because they both use three-fourths perspective. He combined the two aesthetics to produce the style of his collection.

Above: “San Antonio College,” 8-by-4-foot large-scale collage on panel. Courtesy Left: “It’s Always Sunny in San Antonio,” 19-by-25-inch mixed media on red French paper. Courtesy

The use of three-fourths perspective creates intentional “wacky perspectives” that cause

the space in the artwork to not make sense, he said. “I did not want to just rep-

resent a location,” he said. “I wanted to play with optics.” The figures in his artwork are flat and defined from the background. This technique is inspired by the techniques used in Mixtec codices. “If a limb was in the way, they’d cut it off the figure,” he said. “In my art, you’ll notice a

missing paw or missing hand.” He explained he wants the viewer to see behind the figures in his artwork, so he excludes limbs if he needs to. “Vignettes from San Antonio” depicts the Mexican-American culture of the city while addressing the current issue of illegal immigration. The subjects in Menchaca’s “San Antonio College” are all cats. He uses cats to represent Mexican-Americans and individuals who crossed the border illegally. He explained there were two instances that sparked the idea. The first instance was an encounter with a student while he attended Texas State University. He graduated in spring 2011 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in studio art. Menchaca explained a student asked him a racist question about one of the cats in his artwork. “He asked me, ‘Why does that cat have a dirty, Mexican mustache?’” he said. He said the comment took him aback and, for the first time, made him question his identity as a Mexican-American. The second instance was his mother’s connection to the stray cats in her neighborhood. “I had to warn her that if we kept feeding them, they wouldn’t go away — they won’t leave us alone,” he said. “They’re going to have babies and keep freeloading. It started to sound like the counter-immigrant argument.” This realization confirmed the idea of using cats to represent Mexican-Americans and people who crossed the border illegally. Menchaca said it was the perfect way to address serious immigration policy issues that have been prominent since 2011. “There were articles coming out about anti-immigrant senti-

ment and racist police officers stopping people they thought were illegal,” he said. He chose to represent the people in the stories he read as cartoon characters with an Aztec style. “On the surface, it’s fun colors and silly cartoon graphics,” he said. “But if you stare a little longer, you realize this is talking about something else. That’s what I wanted.” Menchaca explained the exhibit focuses more on his drawing, which he has not included in previous collections. He shared the narrative of a drawing he enjoyed creating titled “H.E.BUDLIGHT,” which depicts a man carrying a case of Bud Light beer and a dozen roses. “I was walking out of H-E-B and saw this guy carrying roses and Bud Light,” he said. “I thought he was so cool, and it was obvious he had a date that night.” Menchaca said he carries a small sketchbook to jot down ideas or draw something hastily. He said it was worth telling the story of the man and including it in his depiction of the city. “Vignettes from San Antonio” is available to view 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday until May 21 at Ruiz-Healy Art. The gallery can be reached at 210-804-2219.