The anger Volume 93 • Issue 1 San Antonio College A forum of free voices since 1926
Sept. 17, 2018 WWW.THERANGER.ORG
MOVE Texas will sign up voters Sept. 25 The last day for registration is Oct. 9. By Liandre De la Uso sac-ranger@alamo.edu
The Crucible Drama sophomore Alexa Garza, playing Mary Warren, hugs and apologizes to Else Herrera, American Sign Language sophomore, playing Abigail Williams, after telling the truth in court during “The Crucible” practice Sept. 11 in McAllister. The play is based on the Salem witch trials
and was written in 1953 by playwright Arthur Miller. The play opens at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 11 in McAllister. Other showings are at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 12,13 and 18-20 and at 2:30 p.m. Oct. 14 and 21. Tickets are $5 with an a student ID from this college and $10 general admission. Brianna Rodrigue
Students at this college will be able to register to vote at an event at this college Sept. 25 on National Voter Registration Day. MOVE Texas, formerly known as Move San Antonio, is planning to register thousands of college students across the state in a single day Sept. 25, National Voter Registration Day. National Voter Registration Day began in 2012 and is endorsed by the National Association of Secretaries of State, National Association of Election Officials and National Association of State Election Directors. “We are planning on registering thousands of students for the single day,” Sean Rivera, organizing manager for MOVE Texas, said. “We are going to be on basically every single college campus in San Antonio.” Students will need to have a Texas ID or Social Security number to fill out an application. The location of the MOVE table has not been announced
See VOTERS, Page 4
FIRE complains to district about proposed communication policy The education rights group cites violations of First Amendment. By Kimberly Caballero
kcaballero3@student.alamo.edu
The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education emailed and sent express mail an eight-page letter to the Alamo Colleges board of trustees and presidents expressing opposition to a proposed communications policy. The C.4.1 (Policy) Communications proposal restricts communication between district employees and all media, including student media. The lengthy complaint focused on violations to employees’ First Amendment rights. FIRE is a “nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to defending liberty, freedom of speech, due process, academic freedom, legal equality, and
freedom of conscience on America’s college campuses,” the email states. The policy requires employees to receive approval from a college’s public relations department before speaking to any media, regardless of the topic. According to the policy, its purpose is to “establish policy, procedures and guidelines for public communication between Alamo Colleges District officials, employees, news media representatives and others requiring information concerning district issues, programs, projects, services and activities.” In two previous Ranger articles, faculty expressed concern over the policy. Tony Villanueva, president of Palo Alto’s American Association of University Professors, said “Media should have access to students and faculty without interference from policies that inhibit appropriate communication,” according to an Aug. 28 Ranger article.
Math Professor Gerald Busald said, “The main thing is: I don’t want faculty to be not able to give their expertise to the media — that’s bad for the district, in my opinion,” according to a Sept. 4 Ranger article. The FIRE letter states, “If adopted, the policy will violate ACD’s binding legal obligations under the First Amendment by restricting faculty members’ ability to communicate with the press and the general public on matters of public concern.” The email continues addressing “specific policy provisions of C.4.1 that would unlawfully infringe upon the First Amendment rights of ACD faculty.” One of the policy provisions FIRE constitutes as infringing is the provision under “Contact with the Media and Student Media.” The provision states “Employees must also direct all media requests to
the DSO Communications Office or their college PR office.” The email states “By effectively requiring faculty members to obtain administrative approval prior to speaking to the media, government figures, or external organizations, ACD has imposed a prior restraint on faculty speech.” In the email, FIRE references 391 U.S. at 572, Id. at 572-573: “Even if the faculty expression at issue is critical of ACD, it is protected if it involves a matter of public concern and can ‘neither (be) shown nor can be presumed to have in any way either impeded the teacher’s proper performance of his daily duties in the classroom or to have interfered with the regular operation of the school generally.’ FIRE continues, “If faculty do not communicate that they are speaking on behalf of ACD or its constituent colleges, they retain the right to disclose
their experience and position as part of their commentary on matters of public concern.” Under the policy, if an Alamo Colleges employee does not obtain approval from public relations to speak with media, the employee is not allowed to use a district title, time or equipment. The board’s Policy and Long-Range Planning Committee proposed the policy at its Aug. 14 meeting. It was scheduled to be listed on the regular board meeting agenda at the Aug. 21 meeting, but Kristi Wyatt, associate vice chancellor of communications and engagement, “confirmed Aug. 16 she and (the) legal (office) withdrew the policy for further review and possible modifications,” according to an Aug. 28 Ranger article. The policy is expected to be ready for the board or a committee as early as Oct. 9.
Staff Senate collects school supplies for elementary President encourages faculty to participate in delivery of supplies. By Sergio Medina
smedina104@student.alamo.edu
The Staff Senate is hosting a Back to School supply drive until Sept. 24, taking donations from students, faculty and staff to deliver to Antonio Margil Academy Sept. 26. In an interview Sept. 11, senior adviser Lenell Clay said everyone is encouraged to donate supplies such as pens, pencils, crayons, glue sticks, hand sanitizer, spiral notebooks, dry-erase markers and colored pencils. Drop-off locations include Room 260A of Loftin Student Center, Room 134 of the nursing and allied health complex, Room 136 of Chance Academic Center, Room 200 of Fletcher Administration Center, Room 123 of Gonzales Hall, Room 324B of Nail
Technical Center and Duran Welcome Center at North Main and West Park avenues. For a complete list of needed items and dropoff locations, visit Clay at Room 200 of Fletcher or call Nicole France, senior coordinator of outreach and recruitment, at 210-486-0934. The drive happens annually. “Every year, Staff Senate adopts an elementary school as our way of a service project and to give back to the schools in our backyard,” Clay said. “This year, we picked Margil Academy.” The basis for selecting a school depends on the financial situation of the institution. “We get a list of the schools,” Clay said. “We go after the most economically challenged ones in the group.” Margil Academy at 1000 Perez St. is part of the San Antonio Independent School District. “On the 26th, Dr. Vela and the Staff Senate,
we’re going to go to the school and pass out the school supplies to each one of the classrooms,” Clay said. During the College Council meeting Sept. 11 in the visual arts center, Clay encouraged those gathered to donate. “I need your help,” he said. “Please, please, please, get your employer, faculty and staff to help us with the school supply drive, and let’s take care of these children for this year.” Clay said having access to supplies promotes learning by encouraging otherwise dispirited students. “Their eyes light up,” Clay said. “They’re just happy to receive something. That goes a long way. “Always give back,” he said. “Remember where you come from.” President Robert Vela agreed with the impact of these drives during the meeting.
President Robert Vela at College Council Sept. 11 in visual arts encouraged faculty to attend and participate in the back to school supply drive for Antonio Margil Academy hosted by Staff Senate. Brianna Rodrigue “You hear it and you’re blown away,” Vela said. “The things that we take for granted that they so desperately need. “There’s a lot more need than the resources we have, but that shouldn’t stop us from doing what we do and continue making an impact in our backyard,” he said. “I really would like for you guys to come with us,” Vela said. “I want you guys to experience what we experience and how much it does matter.”