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Vol. 87 Issue 3 • Oct. 1, 2012
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This week Deadline for voter registration looming The last day to register to vote in the Nov. 6 general election is Oct. 9. Oct. 30 is the last day mail applications will be accepted. Polling locations will be open 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Nov. 6. A sample ballot can be found at www.VoteTexas.gov. Voters can download the free mobile app SmartTxVoter for Android phones at Google Play or iPhones at the App Store. The app helps voters find polling locations, view the ballots, get voting related questions answered and set a reminders to vote. For more information, call the Bexar County Elections Administration at 210-335-8683, visit www.bexar.org/elections or visit www.sos.state.tx.us.
Ingrid Wilgen
Hispanic Heritage Month events Hispanic Heritage events continue with explorations of civil engineering, religious and secular art, a play and concert. Civil engineer Hernan Jaramillo will lecture from 11 a.m.-11:50 a.m. Wednesday in Room 218 of the nursing allied health center. Richard Arredondo, communication design program coordinator, will present “Rediscovering Mexican Religious Art” from 12:15 p.m.-1:30 p.m. Thursday in the craft room of Loftin Student Center. Visual artist Vincent Valdez will present his works from 6:30 p.m.7:30 p.m. Thursday in McNay Art Museum’s Chiego Lecture Hall, and afterward will lead a guided tour of the museum. Fine arts Adjunct Alison Vasquez will present “La Flor de la Canela,” a 40-minute play about Latina identity, from 9 a.m.-9:50 a.m. Oct. 8 in McCreless theater. The final event will be a concert by Pop Pistol from noon-1:30 p.m. Oct. 9 in the Fiesta Room of Loftin. For more information, call English Professor Patricia Portales at 210-486-0681.
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District police and student affairs administrators gather information on an incident in Oppenheimer Wednesday. Riley Stephens
Altercation spills out of Oppenheimer “Interim disciplinary action” is issued to two students and more are under investigation. By FAITH DUARTE
fduarte3@student.alamo.edu
A verbal altercation among four to 15 students that began around noon Wednesday in the lobby on the first floor of Oppenheimer Academic Center and moved outside the building is under investigation by college officials and district police. Dr. Robert Vela, vice president of student affairs and interim vice president of academic affairs, said Thursday that two students have been given “interim disciplinary action” and college officials and the Alamo Colleges Police Department continue to investigate the incident. More individuals could receive disciplinary action pending the outcome of the investigation, Vela said. The investigation is expected to take a week. “I suspect that there will be more, but we need to really make sure that the investigation and the facts are there before we begin the disciplinary process on others,” he said. “Sometimes, we have to act immediately as a result of the situation.”
The number of participants has not yet been determined, but Vela estimated that about four students were initially involved and up to 15 students could have participated. Vela would not say what the code of conduct violation was, but he said there was no physical altercation. “With any verbal altercation, it could be abusive language, to threats, to intimidation. It could be a whole array of things,” Vela said. Although officials would not give details on the verbal altercation, about 10 police officers, including Chief Don Adams, responded to the call, and police officers blocked entrances to the first floor of Oppenheimer to everyone but students on their way to class. Vela and Manuel Flores, student conduct officer, also responded to the situation. Maricela Ramon, lab technician in the foreign languages lab, said Wednesday she was told by campus police to clear the first floor of the building.
After the altercation, participants were separated into three groups — two in classrooms and one in the conference room of the foreign languages and philosophy department — as officials attempted to sort out what had happened. “It’s more of trying to piece the puzzles together,” Vela told The Ranger Wednesday after the incident. “Any time there’s a code of conduct violation, we address it very swiftly. “The police are investigating that to see who exactly was involved,” Vela said. He said no arrests were made Wednesday, but “that doesn’t mean through the course of the investigation that arrests won’t be made.” President Robert Zeigler issued a statement to students and employees by email Thursday confirming disciplinary action and the ongoing investigation. To report any suspicious activity on campus, call the 24-hour police dispatch at 210-485-0099. For non-emergencies, call the police at 210-485-0099. Riley Stephens and Carlos Ferrand contributed to this story.
Committee to preserve fee money for students By JENNIFER LUNA sac-ranger@alamo.edu
After two cancellations, the Student Activity Fee Committee managed to meet Tuesday afternoon. It was the committee’s first meeting since the director of student life resigned as chair this summer. “We just wanted to meet to reboot and regroup and give you our ideas of a go-forward direction,” Dr. Robert Zeigler, college president, said in opening the meeting in the president’s conference room in Fletcher Administration Center. Cancellations were caused by a lack of a quorum for the committee of four employees and five students. Zeigler introduced the new chair of the committee, Emma Mendiola, dean of student affairs. She replaces student life Director Jorge Posadas. “I’ve asked Ms. Mendiola to be the chair, and we’ve all talked, and
she’ll do a bang-up job. She’s in a line of improvement to the director, I mean, because she’s the dean of student affairs.” Zeigler continued, “What we decided to do was to make a change in the committee’s leadership, restart and appoint a new chair and start thinking in terms with the committee to work with Ms. Mendiola, but in general, parameters that we are interested in, is trying to approve proposals that will have the most bang for the buck — in terms of having a broad student impact.” An example of a proposal that was rejected for not fitting that description was installing a Steinbach piano in Loftin, which Zeigler said would cost roughly $70,000-$80,000. The committee decided that a piano for Loftin would be nice, but the percentage of students who know how to play were substantially lower
than students who did not, thus the proposal was denied. “I want more conversation than decisions,” Zeigler said about the proposal. Since committee meetings were opened to the public in November, little discussion preceded votes. Zeigler explained how the committee is empowered to make recommendations and to have those recommendations seriously considered. If the committee recommends something and the president rejects the committee’s recommendation, the committee has the right to appeal it with the board. “I’m also interested in trying to preserve as much money as we can for student activities and not spend as much as we’ve been spending on personnel ... ” Zeigler said. “I think we are spending about $100,000 on personnel.”
The April 16 issue of The Ranger reported that the budget fiscal year 2012 included $100,000 for two assistant coordinators. The proposed budget for fiscal year 2013 added an additional $110,000 for those two assistant coordinators and two associate directors for student life. That budget was based on a request to double the student activity fee to $2 per semester hour. There was no increase because all five colleges could not agree on the increase to propose it to district trustees. Tuesday, Zeigler continued, “We no longer are able to do construction with the fee money. I don’t know if we’ve ever been legally able, but we’ve done it, but now we can’t, so those expenditures can no longer occur, but we can spend money on equipment.”
See ACTIVITY, Page 4
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2 • The Ranger
Oct. 1, 2012
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Calendar For coverage in Calendar, call 210-486-1773 or e-mail sac-ranger@alamo.edu two weeks in advance. Today
Saturday
SAC Event: Karaoke sponsored by student life 11 a.m.-1 p.m. in Fiesta Room of Loftin. Continues Mondays. Call 210486-0128 or RSVP at www.orgsync.com.
Event: Out of the Darkness Community Walk for American Foundation for Suicide Prevention of San Antonio 8 a.m. at Brackenridge Park. Call 512-905-1827 or email mrobbins@afsp.org.
SAC Meeting: Men’s Bible study 1 p.m.-2 p.m. at the Church of Christ Student Center, 301 W. Dewey Place. Continues Mondays. Call 210-736-6750. Event: Open Mic Night sponsored by Channel 99 9 p.m. at Moses Rose’s Hideout, 518 E. Houston. Continues Mondays. Call 210-775-1808. Tuesday SAC Event: Hispanic Heritage lecture by Fernando Pinon 12:15 p.m. at the Hot Potato Methodist Student Center, 102 Belknap. Call 210-733-1441 or visit http://www.saumcm.org/San_Antonio_ UMCM/Calendar.html. SAC Event: Open forum for student and employees with President Robert Zeigler 3 p.m.-4 p.m. in the Fiesta Room of Loftin. Visit alamo.edu/sac. NLC Event: President’s First Tuesday Film Series presents “East of Eden” 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. in performing arts center. Call 210-486-5661.
Oct. 7 Event: Síclovía 10 a.m.-3 p.m. from Mahncke Park, 3400 Broadway, to Alamo Plaza. Visit www.siclovia.org or www.facebook.com/siclovia. Oct. 8 SAC Event: Rock the Vote 2012! Sponsored by Student Government Association and the Center for Civic Engagement in the Fiesta Room of Loftin and mall. 210-486-0133. NVC Lecture: “You Need a Runway? Take off from Where You Are!” led by Vernice “Flygirl” Armour sponsored by the National Society of Leadership and Success 12:30 p.m. in Rooms 121 and 122 of Cypress. Call 210-485-0800. PAC Performance: “All In The Timing” one-act comedies by David Ives 7:30 p.m.-9 p.m. in the auditorium of performing arts center. Call 210-486-3218. Oct. 10
Wednesday SAC Event: Spa Day sponsored by the Psychology Club 10 a.m.-1 p.m. in the Fiesta Room of Loftin. Call 210-4860128 or email chernandez@alamo.edu. SAC Workshop: “Say it with Style” by Professor Jim Mammarella sponsored by speech communication program at 2 p.m. in Room 203 of McAllister. Call 210-486-0255. SAC Meeting: Gay Allied Lesbian Association 3 p.m. in the faculty and staff lounge of Loftin. Continues Wednesdays. Call 210-201-4252. NVC Event: Televised debate watch party sponsored by the Democracy Commitment, Project Dem, student life, the Peace and Conflict Studies, SA Voters and Rock the Vote 2012! 7 p.m.-9 p.m. in cafeteria of Cypress. Call 210-4864812. Thursday SAC Workshop: Portfolio building workshop sponsored by student life 11 a.m.-noon in Room 150 of Loftin. Call 210-486-0126. Trinity Event: Lawrence H. Summers, former director of the White House National Economic Council, in 2012 distinguished lecture series at 7:30 p.m. in Laurie auditorium. Call 210-999-8441. Friday Event: Solar Fest sponsored by Solar San Antonio 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at Lion’s Field Park, 2909 Broadway. UTSA Event: San Antonio Police Department Law Enforcement Career Day sponsored by the vice provost for the downtown campus 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at Bill Miller Plaza. Call 458-2910.
SAC Advising: “Money Matters: Credit” sponsored by Generations Federal Credit Union and student life 11 a.m.-noon in the Fiesta Room of Loftin. Continues Oct. 17. Call 210-486-0126 Oct. 12 SAC Event: Deaf Awareness Week’s “Diversity and You” workshop sponsored by the American Sign Language and interpreter training department 2 p.m.-4 p.m. in the auditorium of McAllister. $15. Visit www.alamo.edu/sac/events/deafawareness-week/. Oct. 13 Event: LiveGreenFest sponsored by the Parks Foundation and CPS Energy 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at Olmos Basin Park, 651 Devine Rd. Call 210-212-8423. SAC Event: “See What I’m Saying” sponsored by the American Sign Language and interpreter training department 7 p.m.-10 p.m. in the auditorium of McAllister. Call 210-486-1111.
Mayor Julian Castro shakes hands with Ethan Gutierrez Sept. 21 at the early childhood center. Castro visited the center to promote Pre-K 4 SA, an initiative to increase pre-kindergarten locally. If voters approve the 1/8th of a cent tax increase Nov. 6, it would bring in $30 million for the program. It would cost $7.81 annually per median household. Vincent Reyna
Mayor rallies support at early childhood center for Pre-K 4 SA The initiative would require annual tax of $7.81 per median household. By FAITH DUARTE
fduarte3@student.alamo.edu
Mayor Julián Castro held a press conference to launch the campaign for education initiative Pre-K 4 SA Sept. 21 at the early childhood center. The initiative would improve preschool education for local 4-year-olds by serving 22,400 children over eight years. “The voters of San Antonio have a spectacular opportunity to make a great investment in the children of our city,” Castro said. David Mrizek, vice president of college services; Vanessa Torres, public relations director; and Claudia Gonzales, early childhood center director, held a check for $7.81, representing the annual cost of the program per median household. Pending voter approval Nov. 6, the initiative would require a one-eighth of one cent sales tax increase. Castro said the city’s most important need is ensuring a well-educated workforce to compete in the 21st century global economy. “For $7.81, we can make a profound difference in the educational achievement of 4-year-olds in our city and ensure that San Antonio has greater economic prosperity in the future,” he said. According to the city of San Antonio’s website, two Education Excellence centers would open in August, serving 700 4-year-olds the first year. “What this is going to do is fill in gaps that exist now and ensure that 4-year-olds get high-quality, whole-day Pre-K in our city, and also make sure that more middleclass families are able to access quality Pre-K,” Castro said. “From great early education to great higher education, what we want is for voters of San Antonio to say yes to Pre-K 4 for SA. It just makes sense,” he said. Early childhood studies Chair Ellen Marshall said not everyone is able to take advantage of early childhood
education. “In order to come to a center like ours, which is nationally accredited, it costs anywhere from $165 to $200 a week. And low-income families cannot afford this kind of quality for an early childhood center that is not a Head Start center or not a public school program,” she said. Marshall said the center does serve low-income parents who are students at this college. “Those parents would not be able to be educated if they did not have a place for their child to be while they’re going to college classes,” she said. Marshall said faculty from the department travel to local early childhood program centers because teachers need help to raise the quality of their curriculum and their interactions to impact children. “We support Pre-K 4 SA because it will increase access, improve quality and require accountability,” she said. A YouTube video featuring children from the center was screened during the event to promote the initiative. Marshall said Tuesday the video was shot over the duration of two weeks before the event. The video is available on the initiative’s website, www.prek4sa.com. Dr. Adena Loston, president of St. Philip’s College, and former Palo Alto College President Ana “Cha” Guzman were part of a task force to develop the initiative. The Academic Accountability and Student Success Committee of the Alamo Colleges board of trustees recommended moving a resolution in support of the initiative to the Alamo Colleges board of trustees for approval Sept. 11. The resolution was then moved back to the committee at the Sept. 18 regular board meeting. District 9 trustee James Rindfuss said Sept. 18 that outside legal counsel William Armstrong needed to revise the resolution. For more information, call Marshall at 210-486-0516 or visit www.prek4sa.com.
Oct. 15 PAC Awareness: National Latino AIDS Awareness Day by the office of student engagement and retention 10 a.m.-noon in student center annex. Call 210-486-3125. Oct. 16 Lecture: “Present and Future Impacts of Climate Change on Drought” by Dr. John Nielsen-Gammon 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. at the Witte Museum, 3801 Broadway. Oct. 17 PAC Event: Resource connection 9 a.m.-noon in the student center annex. Call 210-486-3125.
Education sophomore Samantha Sloan receives cotton candy from education sophomore Gwen Borst during the Antojitos Festival Wednesday. The Gay Allied Lesbian Association sold cotton candy for $1. Riley Stephens
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Oct. 1, 2012
The Ranger • 3
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Technology, online course support for students The student technology center offers technical support for students in both face-to-face and online courses. By PATRICIA MCGLAMORY
some of their skills, learning how to use Microsoft Office products, or if Students can get help with comthey need to have assistance with puters, Wi-Fi and hand-held devices their multimedia courses,” Cura said. at the student technology center Students can learn how to use temporarily located in Room 542 of Adobe Acrobat X Professional, Moody Learning Center. Windows 7, Adobe Illustrator, Services include technology menAdobe PhotoShop, PowerPoint and toring, equipment loans, technical Microsoft Word. support and technology workshops. “Our team is … graphically based, From 53 to 102 students used so they can support those specific the lab each week during the first softwares,” Cura said. four weeks of classes, said Heather Another service the center helps Cura, instructional innovation center students with is the learning managesupervisor. ment systems. The lab has 27 computer stations They will help students navigate including Macs and PCs for student through Blackboard Vista, the last use. semester it Some have will be used at The student multimedia this college, as technology center is software, scanwell as the new open 8 a.m.-5 p.m. ning capabililearning manMonday through Friday. ties and faxing. agement prodFor more information, In August uct, Canvas, call 210-486-0160. 2011, the Cura said. Internet skills A calendar center at this of workshops college underwent a name change to can be found at www.alamo.edu/sac/ better reflect the broad support and ots. Click on the training calendar link. services it offers. SmarterMeasure is another tool The center became the student students can utilize to help them suctechnology center, Usha Venkat, ceed. director of information and commuSmarterMeasure is a 35-minute nication technologies, said. online assessment designed to help In addition to online course supstudents determine their level of port, the center now offers additional readiness for taking online or techservices to include multimedia supnology-rich courses. port, technical walk-in support and The assessment asks questions training for students needing techsuch as how well students can use a nology assistance for online and face- computer, how motivated, organized to-face courses. and self-directed they are, how they The center is also available for prefer to learn new information and potential students to get help with how students read and recall inforregistration and online classes. mation online. “Some of the things that we do Upon completing this assessment, offer in the student technology lab students will receive a score report to are that the student can come in even help them understand their strengths before they are a student and get and opportunities for improvement. some assistance with filling out the Students also will be provided ApplyTexas application,” Cura said. resources to help them succeed in She said the lab also offers help online courses. with filling out financial aid applicaSmarterMeasure was originally tions. built to prepare students for online Staff will assist as much as poslearning. sible and then provide direction for “But in my opinion, I think it is more specific financial aid help, Cura valuable for anybody … to rate where said. you are in your skills and how you can Technology workshops are availimprove them,” Cura said. able. Visit the SmarterMeasure site at “We do help them (students) with www.sac.smartermeasure.com. sac-ranger@alamo.edu
Security guard Jose Valadez makes sure cars have district parking decals in Lot 21 Thursday east of the tennis courts. The lot is now open to students. Riley Stephens
New parking guidelines address communication Lot 21 east of tennis courts reopens to students. By ANGELO THOMAS DIXON sac-ranger@alamo.edu
College officials plan to improve communication among Star Shuttle drivers, security guards at Playland parking lot and district police after five students were stranded Sept. 12 for two hours. Tim Rockey, dean of continuing education, issued an operations guide Sept. 21 that deals with the Playland Park shuttle service, security guards and garage parking. The new Playland Park parking area opened Aug. 27 to provide relief for the closure of three lots and limited parking in two other. The guide comes just one week after an article in The Ranger revealed students had been stranded nearly two hours at the shuttle pickup point near Fletcher Administration Center. “We’re just trying to help communication a little bit,” Rockey said Sept. 21. One of the points addressed in the guide is communication. When the students were stranded, they called the Alamo Colleges police department in search of the missing shuttle. If a similar issue arises, Rockey suggest students call the non-emergency DPS number 210-485-0099. Campus police had no way of getting in touch with
the shuttle driver. The new guide addresses this oversight. According to the operation guide, radio communication will be maintained among Star Shuttle dispatch, Star Shuttle bus drivers and the district’s hourly security personnel. Any exceptions will be passed to campus police, who then communicate it to the college public relations office. The public relations team then decides how to best communicate the issue to students and staff. Star dispatch will notify campus police dispatch if any mechanical issues arise with the shuttles. On Sept. 25, a shuttle’s radiator hose broke at the Playland site. The new set of guidelines quickly went into effect, with Star Shuttle’s dispatch informing district police, who then informed the public relations department, who then informed Rockey. He then called facilities Director David Ortega who dispatched a maintenance shuttle to pick up stranded students. Rockey said he was impressed with the ease the new process. The new operations guide also addresses status updates for the buses. Star Shuttle will record the number of riders and date and time for each trip to and from this college. Those records will be emailed to Rockey and analyzed by the college parking committee, which
consists of Rockey; Ortega; Vanessa Torres, public relations director; David Mrizek, vice president of college services; Cpl. Marisa Saccio of district police; and college President Robert Zeigler. The committee will determine if modifications to the shuttle services are needed. The guidelines also cover parking in garages. According to the guide, campus police will exercise “stringent compliance” to staff and student conduct rules to dissuade bad behavior and unsafe driving practices. “There has been some poor and unsafe behavior happening in the parking garage,” Rockey says. “We are asking for more than a soft touch from campus police.” Also, in accordance with the guidelines, a security guard will roam the fifth level of the parking garage. Students and staff will be prevented from parking against the walls because it does not permit a safe exit from each level. While Rockey is pleased with the new guidelines, he says the operation guide will be revisited as needed. “Things just needed to be tightened up,” Rockey said. In other parking news, Lot 21 between the tennis courts and Nail Technical Center was reopened to students Monday. The lot had been restricted this semester to faculty and staff.
Deadline for fall graduation is Oct. 31 By BEAU MCCARTER sac-ranger@alamo.edu
Students planning to graduate this fall must submit a graduation package by Oct. 31. The college conducts one commencement ceremony each year in May that includes fall and summer graduates. The graduation package consists of an online application, a degree audit and a separate hard copy application signed by the student and adviser. “Students should first submit an electronic graduation application through ACES to give a heads-up that they’re planning on graduating this semester,” adviser Erico J. Barrera said. Barrera is a part-time employee who advises undecided and liberal arts students on academic issues. Steps to submit an online application are: • Visit alamo.edu/SAC.
• Login to ACES. • Click the Student tab. • Click on Student and Financial Aid. • Go to Student Records. • Complete application to graduate. • Review and submit. “The online application is not, however, the official application that will be used as a determining factor,” Barrera said. Make sure all information related to specific degree programs is entered correctly before hitting the button to submit the online application, he said. Students will next need to complete a degree audit with an adviser. “Go to a faculty adviser in the department of your major or field of study for advising,” Barrera said. The audit ensures students have fulfilled the required course-
work to graduate. Undecided and liberal arts majors can seek advising and counseling in the counseling offices on the first floor of Moody Learning Center. Students can also seek advising from any faculty in the major department. After the audit, the student submits the graduation package to the office of admissions and records in Room 216 of Fletcher Administration Center. “Make a copy of the official application and have admissions stamp received to prove that it was turned in by the deadline,” Kelly said. The graduation process will be complete after fall semester grades are submitted by faculty — no later than Dec. 19. For more information, call 210-486-0864 or visit alamo.edu/ main.aspx?id=880.
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4 • The Ranger
Oct. 1, 2012
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Student Activity Fee Committee regrouping
President’s holiday card contest offers $500 scholarship to winner
By JENNIFER LUNA AND FAITH DUARTE
sac-ranger@alamo.edu
sac-ranger@alamo.edu
During the student activity fee committee meeting, Tuesday afternoon in the president’s conference room, Emma Mendiola, dean of student affairs, and new chair of the committee was introduced. Dr. Robert Zeigler, president of this college, and Robert Vela, vice president of student affairs and interim vice president of academic affairs, attended the meeting. Faculty members present were Charles Falcon theater and speech communication instructor; Deidra Dobson, instructor of American Sign Language; and English Professor Laurie Lopez Coleman. Students present were anthropology sophomore Mike Martinez, vice president of the Student Government Association; speech sophomore James Riebeling, SGA commissioner; and psychology sophomore Jacob Wong, SGA president. Two meetings were canceled this semester. Vela said the first meeting, tentatively scheduled for 4 p.m. Sept. 4, was rescheduled because of a lack of a quorum. A second meeting was scheduled at 4 p.m. Sept. 6 but also was canceled because he wanted at least 75 percent of the committee to attend. Vela said the meetings were to announce the new chair, determine which members will stay on the committee and figure out the gaps in representation of the vast majority of students. Vela said after Pizza with the President Sept. 13, “The toughest thing is getting the full quorum.” After discussing the selection of new members, Zeigler said the purpose was to make a change in leadership, appoint a new chair and
approve proposals that would enable the students to have more “bang for the buck.” The committee is made up of five students and four faculty or staff members and determines the expenditure of student activity funds, which are collected from students at $1 per semester hour. Wong said he was unsure which student members would return. Members present at the last meeting May 3 were psychology sophomore Rebecca Ross and speech communications sophomore Leonard Herbeck. Two student alternates were present, Wong and Riebeling. Other student members in May were Martinez, speech communication sophomore Jonathan Schell; and nursing sophomore Daniel Having. SGA appoints members. Faculty and staff members then were FlynnDobson, Falcon, Coleman and Counselor Casey Lechuga. None were present at the last meeting in May, which was canceled because of a lack of a quorum. Zeigler appointed Coleman and Lechuga in the spring after student development Professor Dehlia Wallis and philosophy Professor John Visintainer resigned. Student life Director Jorge Posadas announced his resignation during an advisers’ brunch Aug. 23. Posadas had served as nonvoting chair of the committee since it formed in fall 2006. Zeigler said he would like the new chair to have a “big picture” approach and be focused on as many students as possible instead of a few organizations. Vela said the committee’s processes would become more transparent for organizations to understand how to request funds.
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Students at this college are invited to participate in the President’s Holiday Card Design contest, but only one winner will receive a $500 scholarship. Entries must be submitted by 4 p.m. Oct. 17 in the president’s suite in Room 323 of Fletcher Administration Center. The winner will be selected based on creativity and originality. The winner will be invited to President Robert Zeigler’s annual holiday gathering Dec. 7 for faculty and staff. The design will be used on the invitation. “Most successful cards that have won in the past include SAC in the design some way,” Robin Collett, project coordinator in the president’s office, said Tuesday.
“Students who wish to participate can view some of the past winning cards by visiting Fletcher in Room 323,” Collett said. They also can pick up the entry form from that location. The card size must be 5 inches by 7 inches and suitable for color printing. Computer-generated entries must be saved to a flash drive, zip disk or CD along with fonts and links. Entries may be mounted on any size mat board or enclosed in a manila envelope. Collett invited students to participate by saying, “I encourage anybody to send or bring by an entry. In the past years, we have received between 15-20 entries, so anybody has a chance.” The winner will be notified by via telephone or by email to the ACES account before Oct. 19. For more information, contact Collett at 486-0956.
Dr. Robert Vela, vice president of student affairs and interim vice president of academic affairs, says every penny should be traced back to students using the fee money. Jennifer Luna
ACTIVITY from Page 1 In fall 2006, Posadas engaged an architecture class here to remodel Loftin Student Center with a budget of $170,000 from the student activity fee fund. That fall was Posada’s first semester as director and the first semester the college collected the student activity fee. The first year’s fund was estimated to reach $472,000. Committee members seemed to nod in agreement with preserving more money for students. The meeting continued with Dr. Robert Vela, vice president of student affairs and interim vice president of academic affairs, reinforcing that all funds need to be used for students. Mendiola requested everyone introduce themselves, then jumped into business. “I think it’s a really important committee, and I think it’s one of those things that gives us an opportunity to do some neat stuff that we might not otherwise, are not able to do with our students, and I think that’s really critical and special,” she said. Theater Instructor Charles Falcon offered Mendiola copies of the state law pertaining to the committee, past proposals, decisionmaking and planning, and committee files to assist her in getting familiar with the committee’s work. Mendiola asked if the committee networks with other colleges statewide. Jacob Wong psychology sophomore and president of Student Government Association, said, “I sometimes look and see what’s going on at other colleges campuses … The state law says that we can spend the money on ourselves. Whatever that may be for, we’re allowed to do it.” Wong said the committee members at another of the Alamo Colleges funds trips for the committee out of the fee account. Falcon said, “The way we conduct our business here at SAC, in this committee, is totally different from other committees.” In November 2010, Posadas suggested buy-
ing iPads for committee members. Though the meetings were closed to the public at that time, a student member of the committee who opposed the idea told The Ranger Falcon made the motion and five members of the committee approved it. Three other members, including Wong, were absent from that meeting. The next day Falcon claimed he could not talk about committee discussions and that he hadn’t heard about iPads. Another faculty member on the committee told a reporter he would not accept an iPad even though the student member named him as voting in favor of the purchase. The third faculty member said the idea was still “up in the air.” At Tuesday’s meeting, Falcon complained the idea had been leaked to The Ranger and that ended it. Falcon asked if the student activity fee had been increased as the committee at this college proposed last spring. Wong said there would be no increase if the district did not agree. Falcon asked if the clubs and organizations would still contact student life for the proposals to be submitted to the committee. Mendiola initially stated that she wanted to keep a relationship between student life, the clubs and organizations; however, Falcon suggested the committee would be better off without any contact with Posadas. The committee meetings had been closed to the public, including members of organizations seeking funds, since it was formed in 2006. Zeigler and Vela ordered the committee to open the meetings to the public Nov. 16, 2011, in an effort to provide transparency. The Ranger had editorialized for five years in favor of opening the meetings to the public. The committee decided to train to analyze the proposals from noon to 5 p.m. Oct. 14, but the committee couldn’t decide on a location. Falcon volunteered that Posadas conducted catered committee meetings in his home. For more information, call Mendiola at 210486-0939.
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Oct. 1, 2012
The Ranger • 5
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Moody renovation, questions and concerns addressed Librarians and employees handle complaints and frustrations among students and other employees about renovations. By BEAU MCCARTER sac-ranger@alamo.edu
A number of students and employees have questions, concerns and complaints regarding the loud noise coming from renovation efforts in Moody Learning Center. “Some students just get up and walk away because of all the noise, while others block it out by blasting the volume on their iPod’s,” circulation technician Leticia Alvarado said. “The soundproof rooms can’t even block out all the hammering and drilling because the noise penetrates right through our walls” Alvarado said. “It’s sort of like being in an apartment with noisy neighbors above and below,” Librarian Celita DeArmond said. Long lines form at the elevators in Moody with frustrated students and employees waiting to get to the upper floors. In addition, the walls blocking non-construction personnel from construction areas barricades traffic in Moody to narrow
hallways on some floors. Students and employees have many frustrations finding facilities, including the restrooms, because of the confusing temporary layout of Moody, Librarian Karen Balcom said. Librarians like DeArmond are trying their best to help students and faculty. “We have signs all over the building to help guide students and faculty to find the temporary locations for study areas, classrooms and offices,” DeArmond said. “Group study rooms, which are very popular among students along with the textbook reserve desk, are located on the third floor until construction is complete,” DeArmond said. Librarian Stephen Dingman said, “The reserve desk and additional study rooms will be relocated to the second floor when the renovation is finished.” The student learning assistance center lab was moved from the seventh to the fifth floor, reopening its doors to students Sept. 18. Because space is limited on the fifth floor, the number of computers available to students for general use had to be reduced from 80 to 65, Gerald F. Manahan Jr., distance learning
First floor: Counseling center, disability support services and veterans affairs Second floor: Reference section, printing lab and study areas Third floor: Reserve desk and group study rooms Fourth floor: The reserve desk, additional book collections, study areas and rooms Fifth floor: Lab, four classrooms and student technology center Sixth floor: Psychology labs, classrooms and study areas Seventh floor: Closed for renovation.
program specialist, said. “When the renovations are finally complete, the Moody Learning Center will be an excellent place for students to study and hangout in peace and quiet,” DeArmond said. DeArmond and Dingman said they expect the renovations to be completed within a year.
Board extends library periodical subscription The contract with EBSCO is in the sixth year. By REBECCA SALINAS
rsalinas191@student.alamo.edu
The district board of trustees approved the purchase of periodical databases with EBSCO Information Services for the Alamo Colleges libraries during the regular board meeting Sept. 18. The contract with EBSCO Information Services costs about $287,900 annually. Library Director Eileen Oliver said the EBSCO purchase had to be approved by the board because it costs more than $50,000. District rules require any purchase in excess of $50,000 has to be approved by the board. “It’s nothing new,” Oliver said. “We’ve been subscribing to databases that are provided to us via EBSCO for many years.” The library has had a contract with EBSCO for five years. EBSCO provides more than 40 databases, such as Academic Search Complete. Oliver said the library does not receive print periodicals anymore, but many now are online in databases. Databases allow students and employees to search through hundreds of academic articles and journals. Professors prefer students use databases instead of search engines because they are more reliable. Oliver said she expects the annual board approval to continue. She said librarians select databases based on what students need most for their classes. This year, the library’s material budget is $469,000, which Oliver said “held steady” from the previous year’s budget. “We’re kind of maintaining this year,” Oliver said. The minute order states
that services include electronic and print resource access, as well as management to more than 375,000 periodicals, manuscripts and journal listings. Students will be able to search the database by title, ISSN, language, publisher and subject. The minute order states library staff will, “spend more time assisting students by reducing the administrative tasks associated with ordering, maintaining and renewing e-resources, subscriptions and publishers’ license terms.” The Ranger reported in March that the college library did not repurchase databases cut in 2010-11. For fiscal year 2011-12, this library had a budget of $450,000, which was spent on books and other material; $135,000 of that was spent on books for general circulation. Because of budget cuts last year, the library’s budget plummeted to $330,000 from $620,000 the previous year. A total of 25 databases were cut in the 2011 and 2012 fiscal years, equaling $79,153.34. Among the cuts were NewsBank, which cost $17,340 and EBSCO’s PsycArticles, at a cost of $10,598. Gov. Rick Perry cut state agency budgets by 10 percent in 2010, but the college was instructed to cut an additional 2.5 percent in January 2011. In 2011, the state deficit grew to $27 billion from an original estimate of $15 billion. Databases can be accessed at www.alamo.edu/sac/ library. Off-campus access requires a Banner ID. For more information, call the reference desk at 210486-0554 or visit the library website.
Math freshman Sarah Rodriguez expresses her opinion during Chalk Day Oct. 8, 2010, south of Loftin. Schools should teach students
more individualism instead of conforming to how society believes students should be taught, Rodriguez said. File
Career fair, lecture kick off National Newspaper Week A Media Communications Career Fair, lecture by a Pulitzer Prize winner, high school journalism workshop, Chalk Day, and screening of “Miss Representation” are scheduled on campus to celebrate National Newspaper Week Oct. 7-13. Three events Friday will kick off the observation. The Media Communications Career Fair will be 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday in the Fiesta Room of Loftin Student Center. The five programs in the department — communication design, journalism, music business, photography, and radiotelevision-broadcasting — are offering an opportunity for students to learn about their programs and visit with professionals in those careers. Additionally, representatives of universities will have information on transferring, and officers of professional organizations will offer mentoring. Participants include KABBTV; Telemundo 60; Clear Channel Broadcasting; Cox Radio; BMP Radio; KISS radio; Blonde Creative; Symmetric Sound; La Prensa; University of the Incarnate Word; University of Texas at Arlington; Texas State University-San Marcos; Texas A&M University-San Antonio. Also, American Society of Artists, Composers and Publishers; American
Society of Media Photographers; San Antonio Association of Hispanic Journalists; San Antonio Association of Black Journalists; and San Antonio Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. Also Friday, the 34th annual Edith Fox King Journalism Lecture will feature Mike Leary, the new editor of the San Antonio Express-News, 10 a.m.-10:50 a.m. in Room 120 of visual arts. Before joining the Express-News in August, Leary was deputy managing editor of news and investigations for the Philadelphia Inquirer, where he directed and edited a series on school violence, “Assault on Learning,” which won the 2012 Pulitzer Prize for public service. He will discuss public service journalism and answer questions from the audience. The lecture honors the late King, who taught journalism and advised The Ranger at this college 1958-68. High school journalism students and teachers will be on campus 9 a.m. -2 p.m. Friday for the journalism program’s annual Charting Your Course workshop. Participants will attend the career fair and Edith Fox King Lecture and sessions on sportswriting, questioning authority, coaching University Interscholastic League contest winners, sports photog-
raphy, taking iPhone video and still photos, feature writing and ethics. In addition, panels of professional journalists and other former journalism students will discuss opinion writing and getting internships. On Oct. 8, The Ranger and the campus chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists ask students to exercise their right of free speech at Chalk Day 11:45 a.m.-1:15 p.m. in the mall. Ranger staffers and club members will furnish sidewalk chalk for students to write messages or create works of art on the brick areas and sidewalks in the mall. Journalism students sponsor this event annually to help students appreciate the right of free speech guaranteed by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. On Oct. 11, the campus SPJ chapter will join the San Antonio professional chapter in a screening of “Miss Representation,” a documentary by Jennifer Siebel Newsom challenging the portrayal of women in the media. The screening will be 6 p.m.-9 p.m. in Room 101 of Longwith Radio, Television and Film Building. Admission is free for society members, and others are asked for a $5 donation. For information on any of these events, call 210-486-1765.
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6 • The Ranger
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Oct. 1, 2012 • 7
r.org/ premiere
Our Town’ teaches life lessons
MANDA RIOS
nger@alamo.edu
he fine arts department will stage the classic ican play “Our Town” by Thornton Wilder sday through Oct. 14 for this semester’s first uction. he play was first performed in January 1938 in arter Theater in Princeton, N.J., and brought to n 1940. Theater Coordinator Paula Rodriguez, directs the play, said Sept. 24 that she chose play because it is an American classic but stus today can relate to it. This play is relatable to today’s society, which hy it is an American classic, though not all ican classics have the same format as all ican classics do,” Rodriguez said. An American classic can be told from the nning of time but still be relevant to today, so usually is how a play becomes an American c. The subjects and themes in this play can be ected to the audience,” she continued. he said she also chose the play because of the acters. knew this play had a variety of characters, e the students can experiment playing young old characters,” she said. “And I thought it was ry that the students can connect with.” his play has been done before by students at college, but it was more than 30 years ago in ate 1960s or early 1970s, she said. he explained the plot: The play is about life, marriage and death in a small town. It foltwo of the main characters, George Gibbs and
Theater freshman Catie Carlisle, playing Emily, and theater and speech sophomore James Dean, as the stage manager, perform a dress rehearsal from the play “Our Town” Wednesday in McCreless. In this scene, Emily revisits her 12th birthday. Vincent Reyna Emily Webb, from when they were young teens. The play follows how they fell in love, when they got married and the fears that came along in life. The play follows up with the death of George Gibbs and his wife’s feelings about her husband’s death. “The play deals with the little day occurrences
and how everyday people don’t pay attention to the little details in life until somebody is gone,” Rodriguez said. The production uses 15 actors and four stage crew workers. Theater freshman Catie Carlisle plays Emily Webb, and theater freshman Hunter Wulff plays her husband, George Gibbs. Theater sophomore James Dean plays the stage manager, a character who narrates as well as appears as such townspeople as a soda shop owner. Students in theater classes are also helping build the set along with the rest of the crew. They also help with lighting, costumes and props. “I would recommend for students to see the play because it is relatable to everyday life. The characters are doing what you do everyday when it comes to something as simple as getting up, getting dressed and having breakfast with your family,” Rodriguez said. The play means to reflect that even the little things in life are just as important and that students should appreciate life and live it to the fullest, she said. The play premieres at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in the theater in McCreless Hall. Show times are 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, and Oct. 11-13 and 2:30 p.m. Sunday and Oct. 14. Admission is $2 with an Alamo Colleges ID, $8 for high school and other college students with IDs and $10 general admission. For more information, call 210-486-0263.
reativity flows in campus ‘coffeehouse’
ICOLE A. WEST
nger@alamo.edu
spiring writers, poets and musicians turned Loftin ent Center into a coffeehouse to share their expresof creativity. The Cheshyre Cheese Club and the office udent life hosted its first fall Open Mic from 6:30 p.m.p.m. Sept. 21. The center is usually closed on Friday s, but once a month it abounds with poetry, music, edy and short stories. used to stay up late at night, avoided grading papers, wrote music and recorded,” Gilliam “Mike” Burton, sh, reading and education chair, said before performis original song, “Midnight.” lub member and music sophomore Tony Guerrero the audience moving every time he stepped on stage. cited two odes to the literary club and performed two s. Feet tapped and heads bobbed to the beat while rero jammed on his red electric guitar his cover of ern English’s “Melt With You” and “Another State of ” by Social Distortion. heater and speech sophomore Jeremy Carrizales recitpoem about hands he compiled from different pieces
of literature. As Carrizales spoke, his voice changed with each new character. The audience supplied clapping and drum beating as they sipped coffee and nibbled cookies. As the sun began to set, more students trickled in and walked straight to the sign-up sheet to participate. Music business freshman Antonio Frank grabbed the audience’s attention with his voice projection and performance of his poem “Words I Never Said.” In a second performance, Frank recited Lupe Fiasco’s song “Kick Push.” Former club member Robbie Rodgers recited “Linda Loman’s Epilogue,” an original poem. “I came to hangout, hear poetry and encourage creativity,” Rodgers said. Jane Focht-Hansen, English professor and club adviser, recited poetry as well. “It was a good turnout; it was a comfortable sized group,” she said. Open Mic Coffee Night promotes the club to students, Guerrero said. It’s open to all majors and meets at 2 p.m. Tuesdays in Room 203 of Gonzales Hall. Open Mic Coffee Night is scheduled for Oct. 26 and Nov.16 and is open to the community, Focht-Hansen said. For more information, call Focht-Hansen at 210-4860668.
LC offers free movies, popcorn, drink
SITA OMESIETE
anger@alamo.edu
en years ago, the average cost movie was $5.80, according to National Organization of Theater ers. A trip to the movies today d cost $25, for one. he average ticket price has escato $10. A bucket of popcorn a drink can cost close to $15. All her, it could cost the same price your gas tank as to treat a date to ck flick. ortheast Lakeview College prosome box office relief. The office udent leadership and activities nts Middle of the Month Movies free popcorn and drinks. The t is first-come, first-served for a mum group of 85. The Hunger Games” was fea-
tured Sept. 19. “Dark Shadows” will be shown Oct. 10, and “The Bourne Legacy” Nov. 14. This is a first time event for the college, said Cheryl LeGras, director of student development activities and leadership. Films are shown in Room 201 of the student commons, and each movie has a noon and 3 p.m. showing. There is no theater seating; however, surround sound and an elevated floor across from the large screen provides good viewing. “A deal with Swank Motion Pictures allows the college to show movies after they have been released from theaters but not on DVD yet,” LeGras said. She said faculty and staff members are welcome in an attempt to build closer relationships with students.
Before the film begins employees introduce themselves and their role on campus. After the movie, students are encouraged to interact with employees. LeGras said students interacted well with a staff member. At the Sept. 19 showing, some of the students knew John Beck from the writing center, so now every time the students visit the writing center, they have something to converse about other than schoolwork, she said. “The Hunger Games” attracted eight students for the noon showing and 19 students for the 3 p.m. showing. LeGras attributes the low turnout to it being the debut presentation. She plans to promote the next movie with larger posters. For more information, call student development at 210-486-5404.
Costume sale later The club expects to reschedule the fundraiser before Halloween. By AMANDA RIOS
sac-ranger@alamo.edu
The Onstage Drama Club postponed its fundraiser selling costumes until mid- or late October. The sale was scheduled for the Antojitos Festival Wednesday in the mall. The club had planned to sell a variety of costumes from past productions of the theater program. The costumes would have included single items and full outfits. Stephanie Gonzalez, historian and secretary, said, “We didn’t have enough time to sort through all the costumes with Mr. Watson, so we couldn’t get our fundraiser going on time.” Theater instructor Ronald Watson, who oversees costumes for productions, did not have time to select costumes that are no longer needed. Theater Coordinator Paula Rodriguez said, “It can be understandable that the students didn’t have enough time to get the different styles of costumes ready.” With the various events the program is working on, including the production of “Our Town” opening Oct. 4 and planning a haunted house event Oct.19-20, there wasn’t enough time to look and sort through the costumes, Rodriguez said. Club members plan to have the sale before Halloween. For more information, visit the club’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/onstage.dramaclub or email the club at onstagedramaclub@yahoo.com.
Grammy U composers talk Organization helps students network in the music industry. By ADAM MEZA
sac-ranger@alamo.edu
Grammy U, a national organization created to help students network in the music industry, made an appearance at this college Tuesday evening. The theme reiterated by speakers and students was that networking is everything in the music industry. Grammy U is an organization that can expose students to professionals in the music industry network. About 20 students attended the event in Longwith Radio, Television and Film Building. Theresa Jenkins, senior executive director of the Texas Chapter of the Recording Academy, was unable to attend because of a family emergency, said Christee Albino, project manager of the academy who spoke in her place. “It’s a program that the Recording Academy created so that we can give students that are interested in the industry an out-of-the-classroom experience and an opportunity to get engaged, to jumpstart a possible career for them.” She explained that Grammy U arranges “meet and greet” events between artists such as Taylor Swift and Grammy U students. They also arrange for Grammy U members to volunteer at events such as South by Southwest and Austin City Limits music festivals in Austin. The Recording Academy not only supports Grammy U, but also is the organization behind the Grammy Awards and MusiCares, a charitable organization for musicians. Writer and producer James “Pharaoh” Brown and composer Carl Thiel gave personal accounts of minimum wage struggles before being able to break into the music industry. “I wish there was an opportunity like Grammy U for me when I was younger,” Thiel said. “It would have made my life so
The band Atlantis plays a couple of songs during Grammy U, a program made for students or starter musicians to help them network Tuesday in Longwith. Monica Correa much easier. There is no better opportunity for you right now than Grammy U.” Brown, San Antonio native and Grammy award winner for his collaboration on the hit Jamie Foxx song “Blame It,” became a Grammy U board member about a month ago to give back to those aspiring to make it in the music industry. He said San Antonio does not provide many avenues into the music industry so he moved to Atlanta to gain better exposure. “I want to be one of those people that can help for the people that have the skills and the drive but not the avenues,” Brown said. Networking was the word of the evening. The idea being sold was that dues of $25 a year or $50 for four years can help students get professional exposure to the music industry. Scott Marker, an intern through the music business program and 2011 graduate of this college, said he came to join. “I came here today to join Grammy U to take every opportunity to move up within the industry,” he said. “The foundation affords you the opportunity where you wouldn’t have it. A slight fee moves you up within (Grammy U), which is one of the most powerful entities in the business, so why not take every chance to step up and grab a foothold in it?” Those who missed the event and would like to join Grammy U can still do so online at https://www.grammy365.com/join.
Editorial
8 • The Ranger
Oct. 1, 2012
www.theranger.org/opinion
Editor Alma Linda Manzanares Managing Editor Rebecca Salinas Calendar Editor Jennifer Coronado Photo Editor Riley Stephens Photographer Vincent Reyna Photo Team David Torres, Gloria Fernandez De Clements Jovan Ibarra, Monica Correa, Samber Saenz Sergio Ramirez, Carolina Vela Juan Carlos Campos
Multimedia Editor Ingrid Wilgen Illustrator Juan Carlos Campos Production Jason Hogan Mandy Derfler Staff Writers Cristina Carreon, Jennifer Charo Angelo Thomas Dixon, Chelsea Driskell Lucia Espino, David Espinoza, Carlos Ferrand Edgar Garcia, Kirk Hanes, Jennifer Luna, Beau McCarter, Patricia McGlamory Adam Meza, Ivie Okungbowa, Osita Omesiete Diana Palomo, Felipe Perez Jr. Janeka Porter, Christina Quintanilla, Amanda Rios Paula C. Schuler, Joshua Tristan, Nicole West Web Editor Faith Duarte Circulation Dawn Mayen ©2012 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 news outlets, which serve the Alamo Community College District, are laboratory projects of journalism classes in the Department of Media Communications at San Antonio College. The Ranger is published Mondays except during summer, holidays and examinations. The Ranger Online is available at www.theranger.org. News contributions accepted by telephone (210-486-1773), by fax (210-486-9292), by email (sac-ranger@alamo.edu) or at the editorial office (Room 212 of Loftin Student Center). Advertising rates available upon request by phone (210-486-1765) or as a download at www.theranger.org. The Ranger is a member of the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association, the Associated Collegiate Press and the Texas Community College Journalism Association.
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, emailed to sac-ranger@alamo.edu or faxed to 210-486-9292. Letters must be signed and must include the printed name and telephone number. Students should include classification, major, campus and Banner ID. Employees should include title and telephone number. For more information, call 210-486-1773.
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.
Real back-up plan needed Buying textbooks and course materials without financial aid funding just isn’t possible for some students. Unfortunately, no one knows if students will receive funds early enough to purchase textbooks for the first day of class or if they will have to wait weeks. At the Sept. 11 Audit, Budget and Finance Committee meeting, Diane Snyder, vice chancellor for finance and administration, told trustees that Heartland Payment Systems overlooked 10,000 AlamoCash cards in one day’s order of 10,500. Although all the cards were delivered on time, another 510 students were left out of IT’s refund batch and did not receive funds until the first week of classes. Another 418 had not set up an account with Heartland so were issued paper checks during the first week of classes instead.
The Department of Education says financial aid refunds cannot be issued earlier than 10 days before the first day of classes, and no later than 14 days after the date the balance occurred on the student’s account. St. Philip’s College loans textbooks firstcome, first served, and Palo Alto College can provide $100-$300 book cards. This college offers 50 $100 bookstore scholarships for students in need; however, students have to apply Jan. 14 to be considered for fall 2013 and spring 2014 semesters. When financial aid is delayed, students don’t have textbooks. Even if students could see into the future, that future is likely to be filled with work hours — at times, at more than one job — just to meet basic needs. We need a real plan. Textbooks are important.
Place solution near problem Have you noticed the extra wall decoration around campus? You may have seen Civility Tip #331, which says, “It’s called your inside voice for a reason. If you never learned how to behave in public, please go back to kindergarten and retake that week. Geez.” This message, along with 12 others, comes from the Student Affairs Committee to remind students, faculty and staff to be respectful of one another. The 10 committee members work in departments often on the receiving end of student vexation, including financial aid, admissions and records, and the bursar. Although the posters were created to spark discussion, they simultaneously insult those who already conduct themselves in a courteous manner. They shouldn’t. We can all stand
an occasional reminder. If peer pressure reinforced positive attributes instead of always being about negatives, we probably wouldn’t need signs. But instead of plastering the college, perhaps the signs should be concentrated in the offices where the worst transgressions occur. Wouldn’t it be nice to have something to engage students — or distract them — while they wait in long lines? Unfortunately, the messages also conjure up images of cubbies, small desks and alphabet carpets. Students shouldn’t feel like they’ve traveled back in time to elementary school. We all choose to pay ever-increasing costs of tuition and textbooks for a higher education to make our way up the socioeconomic ladder. Otherwise, bring back recess and nap time.
Learn, defend lawful rights In honor of Constitution Day, the criminal justice department and history and political science programs hosted four lectures Sept. 17 ranging from international law and civil liberties to immigration and search and seizure. The 2005 federal spending bill requires public schools to observe Sept. 17 as Constitution Day. It is important to know the Constitution and amendments, so you can be prepared to defend any attempt to violate them. The U.S. Constitution is the document American society lives by. Everything from freedom of speech to voter’s rights are covered in the Constitution.
For instance, did you know the First Amendment states that Congress cannot prohibit freedom of religion, speech, press or assembly? The 13th Amendment abolished slavery, the 15th granted black men the right to vote and the 19th established women’s suffrage. Also, some things college students can appreciate: The 21st repealed prohibition. Another important amendment is the 26th, which lowered the voting age to 18. To better understand the Constitution and other documents that shape America, visit archives.gov/exhibits/charters.
News
Oct. 1, 2012
The Ranger • 9
www.theranger.org
Remembrance of first astronaut on moon
By PAULA C. SCHULER sac-ranger@alamo.edu
Students missed out on scholarships they were awarded during the summer because they missed the ACES email requiring them to sign paperwork. Angela Stewart, the STEM grant liaison, said San Antonio makes applications for the grant in May when students are starting summer break. This college was given 65 scholarships worth $2,500. On June 1, she emailed students who had applied through the Alamo Colleges Foundation internal scholarship program even though the particular STEM scholarship funded by Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Stewart said she had around 30-40 responses. The public relations staff joined the cause by posting information on Facebook. Stewart sent another recruitment email, but through the ACES system. Stewart did not track how many emails she was sending out. She was focused on finding 65 student recipients. Most often, students did not respond. When they did, and they were awarded, some did not reply to her email for the appointment to finalize grant paperwork. Students who were awarded but did not come in for final paperwork were bumped to the end of the line. By the last week of August, she found enough recipients to grant all 65 scholarships. The basic qualifications are 3.0 GPA in high school science and math, submission of high school transcript and full-time status studying in a program that matches a list of programs from the coordinating board to include allied health, science, technology, engineering and math.
Apollo 11 astronaut Neil Armstrong on the lunar surface. AccuNet/AP 14 years old. Cleveland said she had not been inspired by the astronaut’s life until his death Aug. 25 at age 82. She said her contemporaries don’t know much about him. “I think that whenever there is a big event in one generation, the next generation tends to take that for granted,” she said. “So, it is important to find ways to keep that alive in the succeeding generations so that there’s a connection, and that we never forget how important it was that he walked on the moon.” League member John Kelly said, “The Apollo 11 mission brought about recognition from Congress that we had defeated the Russians and since this had been driven by the Cold War more than science, having won the contest, Congress rather quickly lost interest in the kind of level of funding of NASA and the various moon projects that had been the case in the decade of the 1960s.”
When NASA was created two secret national-security programs were also established to operate in cooperation with the space agency, History.com states. The Air Force focused on the military potential for space travel and with the CIA focused on using satellites for intelligence gathering on the Soviet bloc and allies. Today, the two former adversaries cooperate on the International Space Station. According to Discover Magazine, Americans spend more money on pet food and tobacco products than what’s allocated in NASA’s annual budget. NASA.gov states the organization receives one-half cent of every dollar in the U.S. federal budget. Despite budget cutbacks and the end of the space race with the fall of the Soviet Union in 1992, space exploration continues today on Mars and with deep space probes.
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Cold War competition between the world’s two superpowers, the United States and Soviet Union, led to a walk on the moon and GPS on smart phones. The third annual International Observe the Moon Night brought stargazers to McAllister Park Sept. 18 where members of the San Antonio League of Sidewalk Astronomers set up telescopes for public viewing. League member Nina Chevalier trained her telescope on the Sea of Tranquility, the site of the Apollo 11 landing and the July 20, 1969, moon walk by American astronaut Neil Armstrong, the first man to set foot on the Earth’s natural satellite. “What Neil Armstrong’s family wants everyone to do is look up at the moon, wink at it, wave at it and say ‘thanks, Neil.’” In response to the Soviet Union’s Oct. 4, 1957, launch of Sputnik-1, the first manmade satellite to orbit the earth, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration was created by Congressional legislation in 1958, History.com states. That same year, the U.S. launched its own satellite, Explorer 1, an Army project designed by Wernher von Braun, who led the team that developed the V-2 ballistic missile for the Nazis in World War II.
Just before Allied forces captured the V-2 rocket complex, von Braun organized the surrender of 500 of his top rocket scientists along with plans and test vehicles to the Americans. They were sent to Fort Bliss outside El Paso to continue their work for the United States and the V-2 became the model for U.S. and Soviet missiles in the post-war era. In 1959, the Soviets launched Luna 2, the first space probe to hit the moon, and in April 1961, cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first person to orbit Earth, which galvanized the space race and prompted President John F. Kennedy to declare that the U.S. would land a man on the moon before the end of the decade. In March 1961, the U.S. beat the Soviets with a test flight carrying chimpanzees, but the first American in space was Alan Shepard on May 5, 1961. In February 1962, John Glenn became the first American to orbit the Earth and the Apollo project was launched. Research and discovery became vital components of the space program that led to a multitude of scientific break-throughs that continually spurred improvements in medicine, technology and science. Stargazer Jennifer Cleveland, 26, said when Armstrong took his famous first step she hadn’t been born and her parents were
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icobham@student.alamo.edu
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By INGRID WILGEN
STEM students missed money
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Searching for a major?
Chart your course at the Media Communications Career Fair
9 a.m.-1 p.m. Oct. 5 Fiesta Room Loftin Student Center
Bring a résumé and learn about careers in Communication Design, Journalism, Music Business, Photography and Radio-Television-Broadcasting.
Health
10 • The Ranger
Oct. 1, 2012
www.theranger.org
Scholarship ensures college education for two generations The scholarship awarded $26,000 to Alamo Colleges’ students and guarantees a two-year tuition and fee scholarship for a child. By LUCIA ESPINO
sac-ranger@alamo.edu
The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) awarded 26 $1,000 Parent/Child Scholarships to Alamo Colleges’ students Sept. 9. The scholarship awards the parent a $250 per semester scholarship for the fall or spring, within four consecutive semesters at any Alamo College. They must complete a certificate, an associate degree or the first part of a transfer program before their child is entitled to a two-year tuition and fee scholarship for the Alamo Colleges, said Bertha Castellanos, student success professional at the women’s center. Castellanos explained the participants for this scholarship must be a parent with only one child age 6 or younger, have completed a parenting program in high school or a minimum of four hours of parenting at a community site, have completed 30 or fewer college-level hours, a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA, and enrolled by fall 2012 at an Alamo College, complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and complete an interview with the
scholarship committee. “This scholarship helps with reentry (to college) and retention. The fact that they have a scholarship, it motivates them. If you compare this students’ GPA with students who are not in this program, their GPA is a lot better,” said Dr. Helen Vera, chair of women’s center and nontraditional students. Dr. Bruce Leslie, chancellor of Alamo Colleges, explained how, since 1997, the LULAC Council No. 2 partnered with the Alamo Colleges Foundation and this college’s women’s center, to provide an opportunity for two generations to see that there is a future for whatever they choose to become. “We believe, sincerely, that once you educate somebody, they never go backwards,” Leslie, said. The students and their families were welcomed by President Robert Zeigler, who also recognized the scholars for their commitment to earn the scholarship and being role models for their child. “This scholarship is extremely helpful, especially for underprivileged people who don’t have money to pay for college,” said Stephanie
DSS, vets move in Veterans affairs and disability support staff become amiable roommates in Moody. By PAULA C. SCHULER
roborated by temporary student support assistant Lolly Espinoza, Disability support services who began working in the office worked out of Chance Academic as a student employee. Center for more than 20 years, About the merger, she said, Delia A. De Luna, student services “I love it. They are the sweetest assistant, said. people, good people.” That changed on July 25 when Espinoza said she thought it they moved to a new home on the made sense because many veterfist floor of Moody Learning Center. ans also use the support offered De Luna said the college wantby her office. ed to merge veterans affairs with She said although it is a difdisability support because veterferent space, she likes the locaans often use both. tion and her experience accessing They have the office is not experienced the different from “I love it. They normal disrupaccessing the old are the sweetest tion in routines office in Chance. people, good that accompanies She said the people.” a big move, but critical factor Delia A. De Luna, De Luna said they is her access. student services are getting settled “Depending on assistant into their new where I park, home. getting in is no Twenty years problem.” is a long time to be in a single The location made sense to location, De Luna said. her because Moody is “the center Much like a personal move, De building of the campus.” Luna said they are all experiencEspinoza said many still do ing a transition time adjusting to not know they moved. the new space. Disability support services is on She said routines will take the southern side of Moody accestime to develop, but they will sible by stairs and one lengthy adjust well. ramp approaching the southwest Some new bulletin boards corner leading to the patio. have not yet arrived. The exterior entrance is a sinDe Luna said the move has gle automatic door opening to the brought “nothing major” in terms reception area from the patio on of problems. the southern wall. She said the challenge is From the interior, the waiting arranging how they will adjust the area of the counseling offices in furniture and establish the new the heart of the building is the routines. pathway to the disability support De Luna’s comments were corand veterans offices. sac-ranger@alamo.edu
Caloca, nursing student taking classes at Northeast Lakeview College. “I am a career-oriented woman who has her goals set very high, and this scholarship will help my son further his education,” Caloca said. Clarissa Mercado, nursing student at St. Philip’s College, said, “I am an active duty soldier in the Army and this scholarship will release some of the stress and anxiety of having to pay for college for my daughter. I hope for her to follow my footsteps and to have the same opportunities that I am having with this program.” Counselor Carolina Treviño awarded the scholarship to public administration student Gabriela Portales for her determination to further her education. Castellanos said 384 scholarships have been awarded since 1997, 159 have completed a two-year program or degree, and nine second-generation scholars have attended Alamo Colleges since fall 2011. Zeigler closed the ceremony saying “Education is really the key to almost everything, and people that recognize that are to be commended.”
President Robert Zeigler hands management science freshman Frances Cortez and her son Raphael Moreno the LULAC Parent/Child Scholarship Award Sept.9 in visual arts. Gloria Fernandez De Clements
Veteran determined to help others By CARLOS FERRAND sac-ranger@alamo.edu
After serving 16 years in the military, Jeff Schnoor returned to civilian life with the goal of helping those in need. Although Jeff said he was never an addict, he wanted to help veterans returning from war cope without turning to alcohol or drugs. “I don’t want to see anybody suffer the way I did.” He said he began volunteering in the community in any way he could. In 2010, he volunteered 530 hours to San Antonio Sports, helping to run the shuttle service for the 2010 Women’s Final Four. During the Rock‘n’Roll Marathon and Half Marathon, Schnoor was a team captain of a water station. For all his contributions, San Antonio Sports named him the Leo & Chickie Rose Volunteer of the Year. When he enrolled in college, he
chose human services to focus on homeless and war veterans. The department offers programs to earn an associate of applied science with a specialization in addiction counseling and substance abuse prevention. When students complete the twoyear program, they can begin addiction and prevention counseling. Along with input of human services program coordinator, Dr. Edwin Bergen, professors, and fellow students, he wrote the club’s bylaws. “The Human Services Club is open for anyone who cares and wants to help anyone other than themselves,” Schnoor said. During the showcase Aug. 31, the club arranged for the San Antonio Police Department to bring out the Breath Alcohol Testing van, or BAT van, which allows students to see the effects of drinking without taking a sip.
The club also displayed a drug paraphernalia case that includes a mock presentation of popular drugs and the dangers of using them. “We don’t want to lose students to alcohol and drugs,” Schnoor said. The club has 43 members, and during the showcase, more than 170 people requested information, he said. Schnoor said that no matter a student’s major, some part of it concerns human service and anyone wanting to make a profession of helping others should check out the department. “Are you going to be the one who helps?” he asked. The Human Services Club meets 3 p.m.-5 p.m. in Room 622 of Moody Learning Center every third Tuesday of the month starting Oct. 18. For more information, call Schnoor at 210-875-6535 or Bergen at 210-4861255.
Cop cab, BAT van illustrate choices By CARLOS FERRAND sac-ranger@alamo.edu
If you drink and drive, Office Joel Zulaica advises, “You have two choices: Get a designated driver or cab to get home, or take your chances. If we pick you up, you’re not going home.” The Human Services Club invited the Central San Antonio Fear Free Environment unit to bring out the cop cab, BAT van and beer goggles Wednesday in the mall. Cop cab is a vehicle that looks like a police squad car in the front and a taxicab in the back. Cop cab helps illustrate the two choices a person has after a night of drinking. The BAT van is a mobile breathalcohol testing vehicle you might see if
you made a poor choice. The SAFFE unit promotes one choice: refuse to drive under the influence. Zulacia said someone’s first DWI could cost $10,000 to $15,000. “You might get your license suspended and may not be able to get it back. Can you afford that?” The SAFFE unit’s priority is to educate every person on the realities of drinking under the influence. “The legal blood alcohol level while driving is .08 for someone 21 and up. For a person under 21, any detectable amount of alcohol is a crime.” Texas is a zero-tolerance state for underage drinking. Of more than 50 officers on patrol each weekend, Zulaica said, every sin-
gle officer makes at least one arrest. Students were invited to try walking nine steps in a straight line in beer goggles designed to simulate blood alcohol content double the legal limit. Architecture sophomore Samantha Castillo could barely stand once the goggles went on. “I couldn’t keep my balance. I tried so hard, but it felt like someone was pushing me,” she said. The SAFFE unit encourages students to make the correct choice or be prepared for the consciences. “We understand that people are going to go out and have couple of drinks, but we don’t want them getting behind the wheel,” he said. For more information, email joel. zulacia@sanantonio.gov
Sports
Oct. 1, 2012
The Ranger • 11
www.theranger.org
Above, coach Roger Molina talks about the strategies and improvements needed to win the game against the S. A. Nightmares Sept. 23 at S.T.A.R. Soccer Field 7. Left, criminal justice sophomore Andrea Villarreal, goalie, jumps up to block a shot. Photos by Gloria Fernandez De Clements
Women defeat S.A. Nightmares 3-1 Women’s soccer team ranks second place in SAWSA First Division. By JENNIFER CHARO sac-ranger@alamo.edu
The college’s women’s team came out on top in a game Sept. 23 against the second-ranked S.A. Nightmares at S.T.A.R. Soccer Complex. The team participates in league play in the San Antonio Women’s Soccer Association’s First Division. The women continually drove the ball down field, breaking their opponents’ defense only to be deflected by the Nightmares’ goalie. “We hope to In the first half, education sophohave a stronger more Ana Quintero took a shot, but the finish than last Nightmares’ goalie deflected it. year. We have Before fans could hang their heads, liba better and eral arts sophomore Iliana Rodela regained stronger team possession and followed through to score than last year’s.” the first goal of the game. Roger Molina, The score was tied 1-1 at the half. The S.A. Nightmares continued to fight, Coach but it wasn’t long before forward Quintero found a hole in the Nightmares’ defense and fought past the goalie to score a second goal for a 2-1 lead. Pre-med freshman Jasmine Herrera pivoted past the Nightmares’ last defender to put the ball past the Nightmares’ goalie one more time to close out the game 3-1. “We hope to have a stronger finish than last year,” Coach Roger Molina said. “We have a better and stronger team than last year’s.” The women are currently in second place with a 1-1 record in the SAWSA First Division. The team plays every Sunday at S.T.A.R. Soccer Complex, 5103 David Edwards Drive, adjacent to Morgan’s Wonderland. For information, call the office of student life at 210-486-0125.
Nursing sophomore Michelle Rodriguez steals the ball from two S. A. Nightmares opponents and tries to make her way to the goal.
Kinesiology Club: Key to experience in community By FELIPE PEREZ JR. sac-ranger@alamo.edu
The Kinesiology Majors Club helps prepare students for careers in kinesiology by giving them experience in organizing events such as a 10- and 5-mile run. Kinesiology Instructor Chris Dillon, club adviser, said, “Students are going to graduate with an associate degree and on to a bachelor’s. And they need to have that experience.” When hiring, companies not only want employees to have a degree, they also want experience, such as participation in community events, he said.
Other advisers are kinesiology Instructor Dawn Brooks and Professor Brad Dudney. Dillon was a former member of the club, which students refer as the K-Club. Dillon joined the club in 2000 when he was a student, and Brooks was his faculty adviser. “I can really reach out to our members and be a mentor to them because I used to be in their shoes,” Dillon said. The K-Club is open to majors and anyone with an interest in sports, health, coaching, physical fitness and dance. “You might be an English or education major, but you love sports,” Dillon said. “You
might consider this as a minor or if you have ever thought about coaching on the side. The K-Club is here to help with that as well.” The club advises students in networking. “Students should be passionate about what they do; if you’re passionate about what you do the rest will take care of itself. And make sure you network, network, network,” Dillon said. The club will sponsor the fifth annual SAC 10 & 5 Miler Boot Camp Run at 8 a.m. Nov. 17. The run will be at the Leon Creek Greenway Trailhead behind the Drury Inn at 15806 Interstate 10 West. Last year the event drew 250 runners.
Proceeds from this event go to funding the Jean Dudney and Nelda Drury kinesiology scholarships named for two former professors. The Dudney scholarship is for a kinesiology student and the Drury scholarship is for a dance student. The Kinesiology Majors Club meets at 2 p.m. each month on the first and third Wednesday in Room 126 of Candler Physical Education Center. For more information, visit the department’s Facebook page https://www.facebook. com/sackinesiology. Call 210-486-1010.
News
12• The Ranger
Oct. 1, 2012
www.theranger.org
Digging Deep
Cadet Capt. Josh Castañeda leads a group of ROTC cadets in locating coordinates in a map reading and land navigation station Sept. 18 in San Pedro Springs Park. ROTC students rotated through various stations, including compass familiarization, map reading and land navigation, orienteering techniques and pace count.
ROTC cadets tackle road march and navigation training. Story by JENNIFER CHARO • Photos by NICOLE WEST
I
f you’ve thought about joining the Army or have questions about where to begin, this campus’ ROTC program has answers. Skills gained from the program are skills that can be applied to everyday life and career. The Army calls its Reserve Officer Training Corps a program designed to create leaders. Not to worry, joining the program is in no way a commitment to a stint in the U.S. Army. It prepares those who want a military career, but it also prepares others for real-life problemsolving and team-building. Throughout the semester here, cadets go through military training in everything from land navigation to road marches. While enrolled in military science classes at this college, ROTC students here conduct training with ROTC students of the University of Texas at San Antonio at the university and Camp Bullis in Northwest Bexar County. Cadets have to be able to pass the demanding Army PT, or physical training, test at the end of the semester to
earn college credit in the military science program. “It’s one of the hardest classes you will ever take,” said Ret. Major Monica Martinez, who directs the ROTC at this campus. She said students in the program continue to challenge themselves. “It’s about digging deep down inside of you in order to come out on top.” Challenging themselves is exactly what these cadets do when they rise in the pre-dawn hours to be ready to start PT at 6 a.m. on campus or in San Pedro Springs Park. With dew still on the ground, cadets perform a 3 ½-mile road march through neighborhoods adjacent to this campus. “They carry an extra 35 pounds on them, which is nothing compared to an actual road march that is 50 pounds and 26 miles,” Martinez said. Cadets perform road marches twice a semester, the second one in full uniform and maintaining complete platoon formation to teach them long distance platoon formation. Some cadets will even qualify to join a team assembled by UTSA for the 24th annual Baton Memorial Death
March in spring at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. Cadets have to survive a 12-mile road march to be considered for the 26.2-mile march that commemorates the tens of thousands of American and Filipino warriors forced to march across the Philippines after surrendering to Japanese forces April 9, 1942. Thousands died, weakened already by the heat, malaria and surviving on quarter- or half-rations and lack of medical care. When cadets complete their courses at this college, they can transfer to the ROTC program at UTSA and compete for scholarships that pay 100 percent of tuition, book and fees. To be awarded, a cadet must have a competitive GPA and have passed the Army PT test. Aside from leadership and problemsolving skills, a cadet with a bachelor’s degree and completion of the ROTC program can serve full-time, active duty as an officer of the United States Army. For more information, call Martinez at 210-486-1481, email mmartinez742@alamo.edu or visit her office in Ashby House, 218 W. Ashby Place.
ROTC Cpl. Frank Carreon, psychology sophomore, practices using a compass at the compass familiarization station of a land navigation drill in San Pedro Springs Park.
ROTC Pvt. Nick Rehberg, business freshman, practices using a scale map at the orienteering techniques station.
The ROTC platoon stops to rest after a road march through this college and surrounding neighborhood streets Sept. 21 during a 6 a.m. physical training exercise.
ROTC Cpl. Frank Carreon, psychology sophomore, and Pvt. Vari Villarreal, law enforcement freshman, lead other ROTC cadets in a road march.