The Ranger 10-10-11

Vol. 86 Issue 5

Single copies free

Oct. 10, 2011

The Ranger A forum of free voices serving San Antonio College since 1926

NEW INCENTIVE 3 SEX ED V. ABORTION? 6 ORDER TRANSCRIPTS 9

DROUGHT DRIVES BATS FROM ROUTINE Photo by Jennifer M. Ytuarte

Calendar

2 • Oct. 10, 2011 For coverage in Calendar, call 210-486-1773 or e-mail sac-ranger@alamo.edu two weeks in advance.

Today SAC Transfer: Texas A&M University 9 a.m.-noon on first floor of Chance. Call 210-486-0864.

PAC Event: Richard Romo’s South Africa photography exhibit 9 a.m.-5 p.m. in Room 100 of Concho. Continues through Oct. 21. Call 210-486-3205.

Exhibit: Griff Smith’s “Texas: A Retrospective through the Lens & Images from Texas Highways” 9 a.m.–5 p.m. at the Institute of Texan Cultures. Free with Alamo Colleges ID, others $8-$6.

Continues Monday-Saturday and noon-5 p.m. Sunday. Call 210-458-2300.

Student Center, 102 Belknap. Call 210733-1441.

SAC Meeting: Campus Crusade for Christ 1:30 p.m. in Room 113 of chemistry and geology. Continues Tuesdays. Call 210-486-1233.

SAC Event: “Out and Proud: Coming Out as Soldiers, Parents, Friends and Family” 7 p.m.-8:15 p.m. in auditorium of McAllister. Call 210-486-0673.

Wednesday SAC Transfer: University of Texas at San Antonio 9 a.m.-11:30 a.m. on first floor of Chance. Continues 12:30 p.m.-3 p.m. in transfer center by appointment. Call 210-486-0864.

The Ranger

SAC Event: College Panel “Creating an Accepting Environment at SAC for LGBTQ Persons” 10:40 a.m.- 12:05 p.m. in Room 218 of nursing complex. Call 210-486-0673.

SAC Event: Wellness event “Drug and Alcohol Prevention” sponsored by office of student life 11 a.m.-noon in Loftin. Call 210-486-0125.

SAC Music: Latin Jazz Combo directed

by Alice Gomez 2 p.m. in auditorium of McAllister. Call 210-486-0255.

SAC Meeting: Students United for the DREAM Act 4:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m. in cafeteria of Loftin. Continues Thursdays. Call 210-683-5879.

SAC Event: Free face painting with LGBT equality artwork sponsored by Gay and Lesbian Association 10 a.m.-1 p.m. in the mall. Call 210-486-0673.

SAC Event: Drag Bingo sponsored by Gay and Lesbian Association 11 a.m.- 1 p.m. in Fiesta Room of Loftin. Call 210486-0673.

SAC Lecture: “My Tribute to Ann Richards” by actress Holland Taylor 6:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. in auditorium of McAllister. Call 210-486-0455.

SAC Event: Karaoke 11 a.m.-1 p.m. in Fiesta Room of Loftin. Call 210-4860128.

SAC Meeting: Black Student Alliance 12:30 p.m. in Room 613 of Moody.

Continues Wednesdays. Call 210-4860593.

Friday

SAC Event: Yu-Gi-Oh tournament sponsored by office of student life 2 p.m-4 p.m. in craft room of Loftin. Continues Tuesday.

Call 210-486-0126.

SAC Meeting: Campus Activities Board 4 p.m.-5 p.m. in faculty and staff lounge of Loftin. Call 210-486-0125.

Tuesday SAC Transfer: University of the Incarnate Word 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.-6 p.m. on first floor of Chance. Call 210486-0864.

SAC Hot Potato: “Democracy the Answer to Global Terror” by Asslan Khaligh 12:15 p.m.-1:15 p.m. at Methodist

SAC Meeting: Gay and Lesbian Association 3 p.m. in Room 644 of Moody. Call 210-486-0673.

SAC Meeting: Psi Beta 3 p.m.-4 p.m. in Room 642 of Moody. Continues Wednesdays. Call 210-4861264 or email rross41@ alamo.edu.

SAC Music: Orchestra Concert directed by Mark Denison 7:30 p.m. in auditorium of McAllister.

Call 210-486-0255.

Thursday SAC Lecture: “Gay in the USA — A History of the LGBT Movement” 9:25 a.m.-10:40 a.m. in Room 218 of nursing complex. Call 210-486-0673.

Oct. 15 SAC Event: Student leadership retreat sponsored by office of student life 9 a.m.-5 p.m. in craft room of Loftin. Call 210-486-0125.

Oct. 17

SAC Event: Portfolio building workshop sponsored by office of student life 1 p.m.-3 p.m. in Fiesta Room of Loftin. Call 210-486-0126.

SAC Transfer: Wayland Baptist University 10 a.m.-noon on first floor of Chance. Call 210-486-0864.

SAC Meeting: Student Government Association noon-1 p.m. in faculty and staff lounge of Loftin. Call 486-0125.

concert 7 p.m.-9 p.m. in auditorium of McAllister. Call 210-486-0681.

SAC Event: Communication in Action sponsored by office of student life 10 a.m.-11 a.m. in craft room of Loftin.

Continues Tuesday. Call 210-486-0125.

SAC Event: Belly dancing lessons sponsored by office of student life 11 a.m.-1 p.m. in Fiesta Room of Loftin. Call 210486-0128.

SAC Event: Student activity fee training hosted by office of student life 2 p.m.3:30 p.m. in craft room of Loftin. Call 210-486-0125.

SAC Transfer: Concordia University 4:30 p.m.-7 p.m. on first floor of Chance.

Call 210-486-0864.

Oct. 18

SAC Play: “Actos” directed by Charles Falcon 10 a.m.-10:50 a.m. in theater of McCreless. Call 210-486-0681.

SAC Music: Renaissance concert 1 p.m. in auditorium of McAllister. Call 210486-0255.

SAC Event: American Sign Language game night 6 p.m.-9 p.m. in Room 120B of Nail. Call 210-888-0029.

SAC Event: “The Little Star that Could” 6:30 p.m., “Secret Lives of Stars” 7:45 p.m. and “Extreme Planets” 9 p.m. in Scobee Planetarium. $2 with Alamo Colleges ID, and children 4-17. Others $3-$5.

Continues Fridays. Call 210-486-0100.

SAC Concert: Little Joe y La Familia

SAC Event: HIV Testing 9 a.m.-2 p.m. in Loftin. Continues Wednesday. Call 210486-0125.

SAC Hot Potato: “Social Media and Big Brother: Who’s Watching?” by Dr. Jessica Howard 12:15 p.m.–1:15 p.m. at Methodist Student Center, 102 Belknap.

Call 210-733-1441.

SAC Event: “Scene It!” sponsored by office of student life 2 p.m.-4 p.m. in Cyber Café in Loftin. Call 210-486-0125.

Calendar Legend SAC: San Antonio College NVC: Northwest Vista College SPC: St. Philip’s College SWC: Southwest Campus PAC: Palo Alto College NLC: Northeast Lakeview College AC: Alamo Colleges

The Ranger

News

Oct. 10, 2011 • 3

Retirement incentive for presidents approved

By Joshua Fechter The district board of trustees voted 8-0 to allow college presidents to take advantage of retirement incentives until Aug. 31, 2013, at a special meeting Wednesday in Killen Center.

District 3 trustee Anna Bustamante said she could not attend the meeting because she was in charge of a pep rally at Southside High School the same night.

Presidents who participate in the program will follow the same criteria employees complied during the summer and receive 50 percent of their current salary for a year and cannot apply for a job at the district for two years after retirement.

If they are interested, college presidents must submit their retirement election forms six months before the intended retirement date so the district can find a replacement.

Diane Snyder, vice chancellor of fiscal affairs, said if college presidents made an election during the last incentive period ending Sept.

30, they have until seven days after that date to withdraw it.

If they rescind their election for the last period, presidents can make a new election for the period beginning Thursday. Snyder said they do not have to rescind it and may retire Jan. 4.

The new incentive requires retirement by Aug. 31, 2013.

Snyder said she could not say which presidents or how many of them expressed interest.

District 7 trustee Blakely Fernandez said she was shocked to learn presidents and vice chancellors were eligible for retirement incentives.

She said she did not understand the program was open to employees with multiyear contracts as well as employees with single-year contracts. She said col-

Board members discuss retirement incentives for Alamo Colleges presidents and vice chancellors at a board meeting Wednesday in Room 201 of Killen Center. Riley Stephens

lege presidents are on two-year contracts.

Fernandez said she would have tried to amend the motion to exclude employees with multiyear contracts because it takes more effort to find a replacement for them than employees with singleyear contracts.

District 9 trustee James Rindfuss said there was a disconnect between what the district human resources department proposed and what the board thought they were voting on.

He said allowing presidents and vice chancellors to take part in the incentive program would not save money because the district would have to search for replacements and pay them at the same rate.

Linda Boyer-Owens, associate vice chancellor of human resources, said it is district policy to hire a firm to conduct a nationwide search for replacements.

Boyer-Owens said a successful search for replacements for vice chancellors would cost $35,000 but did not say how much a successful search for replacements for presidents would cost.

Snyder said the early retirement incentives were open to all employees eligible for retirement.

She said if a president retired

Jan. 4, the district would not be able to find someone to fill their position by that time and encouraged trustees to extend the time period presidents could receive incentives.

Fernandez suggested implementing an incentive program encouraging presidents to stay.

District 6 trustee Dr. Gene Sprague said he would rather do that than hire a search firm for new executives.

After a 35-minute executive session, Fernandez proposed a motion to allow college presidents to take advantage of retirement incentive plans starting Thursday and ending six months prior to Aug. 31, 2013.

District 1 trustee Joe Alderete, Jr. moved to replace the motion with a motion instructing Chancellor Bruce Leslie to contact presidents and lay out a plan to deal with retirement incentives.

Alderete said he wanted to support Fernandez’s motion, but he did not want to add confusion by setting the parameters Fernandez put forward.

Sprague said Alderete could vote against the motion if he did not support it.

Alderete said he did not want to vote against it.

No one seconded Alderete’s motion.

Zarate seconded Fernandez’s motion, and the board passed it unanimously.

The motion only allows presidents to take advantage of the incentive program, but Fernandez said the board may look at allowing vice chancellors to participate in the program at a later date.

Dr. Eric Reno, president of Northeast Lakeview College, told The Ranger he had not decided whether to take the incentive.

Dr. Adena Williams Loston, president of St. Philip’s College, said she was not eligible for retirement.

President Dr. Robert Zeigler; Dr. Ana Guzman, president of Palo Alto College; and Dr. Jackie Claunch, president of Northwest Vista College, did not attend the meeting.

Zeigler told The Ranger Thursday that he does not plan to take advantage of the program.

He said he wants to work for a few more years to oversee the completion of construction of the Challenger Center at this college and the renovation of Moody Learning Center.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

4 • Oct. 10, 2011

People

The Ranger Biology freshman Rafael Angarita raises a price list, shouting, “Get your chicken fajita tacos,” for the Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science. SACNAS sold hot dogs and chicken fajita tacos Wednesday in the mall to raise money for a trip to the SACNAS national conference Oct. 26 in San Jose, Calif. Jacob Beltran

Nursing freshman Maria Martinez places the spout on her water can sculpture Wednesday after a ceramics class in the art studio at Ashby and Belknap. Jacob Beltran Psychology sophomore Elizabeth Jimenez enjoys the services offered by aromatherapist Charmiene MaxwellBatten at the aromatherapy table Wednesday at Spa Day in the Fiesta Room of Loftin. Casandra Gonzales

Engineering sophomore Roland Aquirre plays Yu-Gi-Oh, a strategic card game, with liberal arts freshman Mario Melara Tuesday next to the Cyber Cafe in Loftin. Players use monster, spell and trap cards to weaken opponents. Ingrid Wilgen

Travis Early College High School students Ryan Pereida, Michael Hughes and Kassandra Aguilar play volleyball west of the chemistry and geology buliding during their free time Sept. 29. Riley Stephens

The Ranger

News

Oct. 10, 2011 • 5

Counselors, students losing needed privacy

By J. Almendarez Students seeking counseling will soon have to discuss their academic questions and personal lives in a room full of people instead of in a private office, Counselor Steve Samet told Faculty Senate Oct. 5. He said renovation of Moody Learning Center will cause the counseling center to relocate from the first floor of Moody to the early college programs building, formerly the nursing education building.

During the temporary move, he said students will have to meet with counselors in large rooms with no privacy. He also said when construction is complete in Moody, there are plans for counselors in the center to be moved into a large area in cubicle-like modules. “It’s unethical,” he said.

He questioned whether those approving plans for modules are aware of standards professional counselors must uphold.

For instance, he said a woman receiving counseling because she is abused by her boyfriend could be overheard discussing her options with a counselor by an acquaintance of her abuser, leaving her in a dangerous situation.

Samet said this not only puts the student in danger but also could expose the district or counselor to legal action.

Senators expressed concerns about the relationship between faculty and district officials, especially in regard to the ending of a 2.5 percent Optional Retirement Plan supplement and the board’s questioning of tenure.

Faculty Senate President Dawn ElmoreMcCrary briefed senators about the Sept. 20 regular board of trustees meeting. She and others who attended expressed surprised at the haste in which board members cut the ORP supplement. “I was struck … that it took one minute to make a decision on that one,” English Professor Alex Bernal said. “Quite obviously, the decision was made long before that.”

He said he sent email to all trustees asking them to compromise with faculty before immediately ending the supplement, but he received a response from only one. Bernal did not disclose which trustee responded, but said the response was essentially the members were not aware many employees were concerned about the ORP cut because they did not receive email about concerns nor did many people speak at the citizens-to-be-heard session.

“I was disgusted by the board,” English Professor Janice Clayton said.

The next meeting of the Policy and Long-Range Planning Committee is Oct. 11 in Room 101 of Killen Center, 210 W. Sheridan.

Senators said it seemed as if the board intentionally waited until almost 11 p.m. to discuss cutting the ORP supplement. The 5:30 p.m. meeting was interrupted by two lengthy executive sessions. “They fixed it because they knew we’d be so exhausted having to get up and teach in the morning,” Clayton said.

Librarian Celita DeArmond said the board’s hasty decision about ORP supplements, which had been grandfathered to employees since 1995, said this is the reason she is encouraging all faculty and staff to go to the Oct. 11 committee meetings where Dr. Paul Wilson, chair of social sciences and humanities, will conduct a presentation about tenure on behalf of faculty.

Elmore-McCrary said Wilson is not a member of Faculty Senate, but she wants the board to hear different voices. The committees begin meeting at 5:30 p.m., but she does not know when the policy committee meeting will begin.

DeArmond said going to the committee meeting this month should be a priority for all employees in the district. She said the senate will provide bottled water and collect money to order pizza if the board of trustees delays discussion about tenure. “It’s going to be a party,” she said.

Bernal said, “If we don’t show up for tenure, they’re also going to think we don’t have those grounds.”

Elmore-McCrary said the district is still undecided about how faculty will be paid in the summer.

She said Chancellor Bruce Leslie said employees would be informed about the policy in early October, but no information has been released.

Leslie has been on vacation since Sept. 26 and is scheduled to return to work today.

The senate also discussed the district’s plan to transfer distance education from the colleges to district. Elmore-McCrary said the district will entrust a director, who will potentially make a high five-figure salary, to oversee distance education.

Dr. Robert Aguero, vice chancellor for academic success; Deborah Martin, director of public relations for this college; and Dr. Eric Reno, Northeast Lakeview president, met during the summer to discuss district plans.

Elmore-McCrary asked Martin why a committee could not oversee distance education and was told district officials don’t think a committee could complete the tasks necessary.

“They think it’s impossible for a committee to do that,” she said.

Senators laughed because the colleges have always managed distance education.

Bill Richardson, kinesiology and dance chair, updated the board about textbook policies. He said faculty have to negotiate with publishers to get the best prices possible for students.

He said some students struggle to have the required edition of a book is because distributors release new copies every six months or so and bookstores carry new editions instead of old ones. This means students only have access to former editions purchased and returned by students the semester before.

Elmore-McCrary acknowledged that this places an undue burden on students.

“I don’t know why we have to negotiate for book prices,” Clayton said.

History Professor Thomas Clarkin said the college is now accepting Piper Award nominations. He said he has received 13 emails with 11 nominations. “We will eventually pick four of them,” he said.

Then faculty will vote for one nominee to enter the Piper Award competition.

The Piper Award is a statewide award giving 10 professors teaching at two- or four-year universities $5,000 to acknowledge their superior work.

Math Professor Gerald Busald won the statewide award in 2010-11.

Interested employees should go to www. everychanceeverytexan.org/funding/programs/piperprofessors.php for more information.

Elmore-McCrary said new software to replace the locally created e-syllabus that is used to post syllabuses on the college website also will be decided soon.

She said while no system has been approved, Ellen Marshall, chair of early childhood studies, is impressed with a system called Intellidemia.

The current syllabus system “was just something that was designed at the last minute,” Elmore-McCrary said.

Colleges are required by state law to post syllabuses that are easily accessible on the college website.

The next faculty senate meeting is at 2:15 p.m. Nov. 2 in Room 120 of the visual arts center.

6 • Oct. 10, 2011

News

The Ranger

Roe v. Wade survives latest attack Teen births

One-third of Ashby Planned Parenthood patients are students here.

Percentage of females, 15-19 years old, with a birth in the past 12 months

By Stefania Malacrida

U.S. average 2.6 Mississippi 4.9 Texas 4.4 Tennessee 4.2 Kentucky 4.1 North Carolina 3.9 South Carolina 3.8 Nevada 3.7 Louisiana 3.6 Oklahoma 3.5 Georgia 3.4 Arizona 3.1 Indiana 2.9 Alabama 2.8 Kansas 2.7 Arkansas 2.6 Illinois 2.4 Michigan 2.4 California 2.3 Florida 2.3 Missouri 2.3 Ohio 2.3 Pennsylvania 2.3 Iowa 2.2 Washington 2.1 Wisconsin 2.1 Colorado 2.0 New York

2.0 Rhode Island 2.0 Nebraska 1.9 Virginia 1.9 Oregon 1.8 Minnesota 1.7 Maryland 1.6 New Jersey 1.3 Massachusetts 1.2 Connecticut 1.1 Delaware 1.1 Alaska N.A. Hawaii N.A. Idaho N.A. Maine N.A. Montana N.A. New Hampshire N.A. New Mexico N.A. North Dakota N.A. South Dakota N.A. Utah N.A. Vermont N.A. West Virginia N.A. Wyoming N.A. N. A.: Data unavailable Source: 2010 U. S. Census

A law approved in May by the Texas Legislature would have required abortion providers to perform an ultrasound 24 hours before an abortion.

Scheduled to become effective Sept. 1 with compliance by Oct. 1, the law didn’t end there. The patient would be forced to watch the procedure on a screen while the image is narrated and to listen to the fetal heartbeat, if detectible.

If the patient declines to see the ultrasound, she would have to sign a waiver requiring disclosure if the pregnancy resulted from incest or assault. She also would still be compelled to hear the doctor’s detailed description of the fetal development revealed in the ultrasound and to hear about alternatives to abortion.

Then, the patient would have to wait at least 24 hours before returning to obtain an abortion.

On Aug. 30, U.S. District Judge Sam Sparks ruled it unconstitutional to force doctors to provide patients with medically irrelevant details that patients do not wish to hear.

“There surely are limits to the government’s power to impose whatever message it desires, on whomever it likes, under any circumstances it desires,” Sparks said as reported in The Dallas Morning News.

Yvonne Gutierrez, vice president of public affairs with Planned Parenthood Trust of South Texas, said the stricken law violated First Amendment rights. “Imagine you are on an exam table in stirrups with a probe inside of you for the sonogram, basically incapable to move and forced to hear information you don’t want to hear,” she said. “In that case, you are a captive audience, a victim of a forced speech. This violates the First Amendment, assuring freedom of speech.”

Source: San Antonio Metropolitan Health District at http://www.sanantonio.gov/health/pdf/healthprofiles/hildHealthinSA2000-2010.pdf

Nancy Northup, president of the Center for Reproductive Rights, which filed the lawsuit, called the ruling “a huge victory for women in Texas and a clear signal to the state Legislature that it went too far when it passed this law.”

State Attorney General Greg Abbott immediately appealed the decision, but a three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans decided that Sparks’ injunction should remain in effect until a full hearing on the injunction in January.

On one side, Gov. Rick Perry is an eager supporter of the law. The Republican presidential hopeful joined fellow Republican candidates in signing a pro-life pledge just days before the ruling.

On the other side, medical associations strongly oppose it, asserting their role — and not the legislators’ — in deciding what is best for a patient.

Some parts of the law were not repealed, but will also be re-evaluated. Among them is the requirement for a woman to have a sonogram 24 hours in advance unless she lives more than 100 miles away and then the waiting period is reduced to two hours.

Gutierrez said, “A woman usually

has the sonogram on the same day of the procedure. Under the new law, however, she has to go to the clinic twice for no real medical reason.”

“Sometimes, a clinic is far away from a woman’s house,” she said, noting the added burden of arranging transportation or childcare.

The Planned Parenthood Trust offers clinics in San Antonio where women can go expecting privacy and protection or to talk about the possibility of abortion and be fully informed about the risks.

Planned Parenthood has seven local offices.

One of them is at 120 W. Ashby Place, adjacent to this campus. Last year, that facility saw 4,805 patients; one-third of them were students at this college.

Gutierrez said abortion services are only 15 percent of the services rendered.

The facility takes care of a woman’s health in all aspects, including pap smear, follow-up to abnormal pap smear, menopause treatment, pregnancy and post-birth care, cancer and STD screening.

“Men come to the clinic, too, for specific testicular treatments and for STD tests,” Gutierrez said.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 29

The Ranger

News

Oct. 10, 2011 • 7

Teen birth rates The 2010 U.S. Census reports: 15- to 19-year-olds who have given birth in the past 12 months:

U.S. average Texas average

2.6% 4.4%

White, not Hispanic, in Texas 2.4% Hispanic in Texas 6.2% Black in Texas 4.7% Bexar County average White, not Hispanic, in Bexar Hispanic in Bexar Co. Blacks in Bexar County

3.6% 1.6% 4.3% N.A.

Alexandra Nelipa

Sex ed: Serious fun, Professor says

By Stefania Malacrida

As a public healthcare provider, Planned Parenthood receives federal support and survives on donations. Funding abortion is illegal in Texas, leaving women to foot the bill.

Except abortion, visits and procedures are free for low-income citizens and patients without documents — for now.

Texas lawmakers also passed a budget bill dramatically cutting family planning resources.

The cuts went into effect Sept.1, and Planned Parenthood facilities in Texas lost $63 million, corresponding to about 15 percent of its funding.

Gutierrez said, “Because we also provide abortion, we are a target.”

She said legislators cannot persecute abortion the way they would like to, so they install obstacles to family planning, ignoring that this way they endanger the accessibility to a wide range of services, and 90 percent of them are prevention treatments.

“We will have to replace the state family planning funds with new private support,” Gutierrez said.

However, she said cuts to healthcare facilities are worrisome considering the high rate of uninsured people and the teen pregnancy rates in the Lone Star State.

According to a “American Community Survey” conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau in 2010, Texas ranks second nationwide for teen pregnancies, after Mississippi. Statistics also show that in this city, teen pregnancy among Hispanic females is three times higher than the national average, and in some San Antonio zip codes the teen pregnancy rate is four times higher than the national average.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 8

When psychology Professor Pamela Hill closes the door of her PSYC 2306, Human Sexuality, class, she actually draws the line between two attitudes.

Clichés, judgments and stereotypes stay out; intimacy, openness and transparency are in.

Sex ed is no place for taboos.

“Teaching sexual education is not an easy task,” Hill said. “A sexual educator should be extremely comfortable with her or his sexuality.”

Students talk about sex, love, relationships and body parts — but no nicknames are allowed.

“We go straight to the point and want to be open,” she said. “I am the first to share my experience and to set a model in order to create a feeling of trust and naturalness.”

Students are eager to learn, so in the privacy of the classroom, the debate gradually blossoms.

Students explore scientific literature and erotic habits in other countries. They talk about reproduction and contraception, discuss gender identity and are open to talking about what pleasures them and what pleasures their partners.

Sometimes, students are so comfortable they say things they would not dare express anywhere else.

When this happens, a thin veil of amused embarrassment sets in, then, the tension explodes in laughter.

“We laugh a lot,” Hill said. “A sexual education class is actually a lot of fun.”

In the last couple of years, however, the atmosphere has changed, mirroring a trend within the Texas Legislature.

Hill said a rigid, conservative trend has crept into college classes, making it difficult to confront controversial topics. For example, abortion

has become a difficult topic even to mention.

Hill noticed that in a class of 30 students, a couple of them always are opposed to prochoice opinions.

In comparing her experience to that of instructors in other states, Hill said her colleagues throughout the South face the same situation. When those students manage to dominate the conversation, the atmosphere in the classroom chills and the learning process is interrupted.

According to Hill, such a an unequivocal approach originates from an early American Puritan culture implying that sex is tantamount to sin, and that everything that has to do with sexuality is bad or dirty.

Hill said a discussion of abortion is legitimate and necessary.

In the 1970s, the Supreme Court legalized a woman’s right to an abortion in the first trimester. Also, she said a law that relies on religious views violates the separation between state and church.

Hill said her role is not to impose one opinion but to facilitate as many perspectives as possible.

“Life is not just black and white,” she said.

“Teaching that class has become very stressful,” she said. “It was just easier to teach something else in psychology.”

Hill carries the burden of teaching plurality to a sometimes tense audience. “Yes, I do feel alone.” Her professional ethic helps her to persist despite occasionally fierce resistance.

As a psychologist and an educator, she said she has to inform students that the sense of guilt connected with sexuality can paralyze one’s affective life, leading to psychological disorders of moods, feelings and attitudes.

“Everyone has the right to learn and, then, to make his or her own decisions,” she said.

8 • Oct. 10, 2011

The Ranger

News

Fall graduation application due Nov. 4 Commencement ceremony in May serves fall, spring and summer graduates.

By Diana Palomo An associate degree offers a higher potential to finish at a four-year university and earn at least $7,000 more annually.

In May, about 800 students graduated from this college with an associate degree.

Only one graduation ceremony per year is conducted. Each spring, a ceremony is scheduled for fall, spring and summer graduates.

Students planning to graduate this fall have until Nov. 4 to turn in an application to admissions and records in Room 216 of Fletcher Administration Center.

Martin Ortega, director of admissions and records, said the way an associate degree is designed by the college and state is to have individuals leave well-rounded.

The core curriculum includes communi-

cation, mathematics, natural sciences, social behavioral sciences, humanities, literature or performing arts and dance or kinesiology.

Counselors and department advisers can answer questions about degree plans.

Students with six or fewer hours to complete in the summer can walk the stage in May. Hours depend on the chosen degree plan.

Receiving a diploma is a simple process.

Students need to review the degree plan with an adviser and counselor, confirm the major, submit a list of completed courses and complete an application, which will be forwarded to the admissions and records office. This will put the student into the file for graduation.

After the student has finished his or her last class and the completion is confirmed their banner record will reflect they are eligible for graduation. The information is forwarded to the center for student information where the printing of diplomas is arranged. Later, the diplomas will be mailed to the students.

Joe Jacques, assistant director of admis-

Ready to graduate?

The requirements to qualify for a degree or certificate from this college are: • achieve a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or above in all coursework at this college; • complete all required courses for degree or certificate; • maintain good academic standing at the end of final semester; • must satisfy the Texas Success Initiative in all applicable areas; • complete a minimum of 25 percent of coursework at this college; • submit an official transcript from all colleges attended.

sions and records, said there has been a steady increase in awareness on campus about degrees.

For more information about applying for graduation, call the office of admissions and records at 210-486-0200 or 210-486-0333.

Hope.

Joy. Love.

Life!

God’s Word is Truth, bringing blessings to His people.

Learn for yourself how with WBS—in your own home, at your own pace.

Choose printed lessons with “pen-pal” helpers or Web lessons with online friends.

Go to: northside. worldbibleschool.org Enter promo code: SAC1

8PSME #JCMF 4DIPPM PPM Teaching the Word. Reaching the World!

CONT. FROM PAGE 7 Gutierrez said according to a state estimate, defunding family planning will cause another 20,000 unwanted pregnancies at a cost to the state of $231 million for emergency births, labor and delivery costs, and costs related to a lack of prenatal care among low-income new-mothers. “This makes no fiscal sense; it makes no moral sense,” she said.

To reduce the number of teen pregnancies, state District 125 Rep. Joaquin Castro and District 120 Rep. Mike Villarreal, both Democrats, proposed two bills in 2009 to expand sex education in public schools.

Sex education in Texas high schools promotes abstinence only, and the two legislators wanted the classes to include contraception information.

Villarreal stressed the necessary the urgency to acknowledge that students are sexually active and, therefore, to inform them about contraception methods.

The Ranger

News

Oct. 10, 2011 • 9

Low grades can lead to suspension Failure to meet academic standards means paying tuition out-of-pocket.

By Jennifer Coronado Satisfactory academic progress is a requirement that students must meet each semester to remain eligible for federal and state financial aid.

SAP requires students to hold at least a 2.0 GPA, have a 67 percent completion rate between courses attempted and completed, and they must complete a program within 99 attempted hours.

Students who are unable to maintain satisfactory academic progress will be placed on academic suspension, and students who have exceeded 99 credit hours are on an irrevocable suspension.

In an email between Tomás Campos, the director of student financial services, and Lucy Odell, systems analyst for financial aid, Odell said.

The policy is to officially notify students of their status after spring grades are posted.

However, for students enrolled in fall, the office runs a report to identify those who do not meet the progress requirement of 67

percent completion and/or 2.0 A student must complete and GPA to inform them they did not submit an appeal for the financial meet it, and to bring up the GPA aid committee to make a decision and/or completion rate to mini- based a written letter containing mum requirement by the end of reasoning for academic perforspring. mance, and proper documentaIf it’s not met after spring, then tion. the student is placed on suspenThe letter is an opportunity to sion status. list situations that interfered with A student on suspension sta- grades and should include how the tus may appeal the suspension but issue has changed or been adjustmust submit the appeal and docu- ed to improve academic performents required during the time mance. frame when the appeals process is “You want to be very clear and open, which concise when also is when writing the letter For more information on satisfactory academic counselors because vagueprogress, visit the student are available ness will not financial services website at to assist stuhelp get appeal www.alamo.edu. dents with approved,” said the process.

Counselor Steve According to www.alamo.

Samet, who has been a counselor edu/district/schships/Appeal_ here for 12 years.

Guidelines.aspx students who The appeals process takes up to meet SAP requirements will remain 10 weeks, and any delays will result eligible to receive aid. in an incomplete packet held up by Students on suspension for the the financial aid office. current term are no longer able to Students with appeals who are receive aid but have the option to denied have the option of a second submit an appeal. appeal after completing another For students to receive aid, stu- a six-hour semester at their own dents must successfully complete expense, with a 2.0 GPA and 100 a six-hour semester at their own percent completion rate. expense and maintain a 2.0 GPA Students who receive an with a 100 percent completion rate. approved appeal will have aid

reinstated for one semester that will be monitored. If the student continues to fail SAP regulations, suspension is put back into effect.

The appeal form is available at financial aid office, or online at www.alamo.edu/district/schships/Appeal_Guidelines.aspx.

“File early for an appeal, so you can get results earlier,” Campos said.

Every student filing an appeal is required to complete the financial aid success plan, which helps students experiencing academic difficulties establish goals for the semester while on suspension and creating a graduation plan.

Advisers and counselors review success plans to create ideas and strategies for each student to prevent any future suspensions.

Students who enroll immediately after suspension is in effect must complete a plan.

Samet said, “It is the student’s responsibility to understand academic standing.”

To check SAP status visit www. alamo.edu, login into ACES, click on Student Tab, Web Services, click on Student & Financial Aid, click on Financial Aid Status, Select Aid Year. After proceeding with the following steps, students will be able to view their progress plan report.

Allow 10 business days for transcript processing

By Joshua Fechter Students planning to transfer for the spring semester should order transcripts and monitor for the document being sent to the transfer university.

Martin Ortega, director of enrollment services, said students should allow 10 business days for the center for student information to process transcripts.

The enrollment services Web page advises students to contact the admissions and records office

at this college if a transcript is not processed within that time.

Ortega said students may submit requests and allow the transcript to be held until the end of the semester so the transfer institution will receive a transcript with complete information.

He said students should check with the institution they intend to transfer to about deadlines for submitting transcripts.

Emma Mendiola, interim dean of student affairs, said students should put in transcript requests

For more information, call the admissions and records office at 210-486-0700 or go to Room 216 of Fletcher. as soon as possible to ensure the transfer institutions receive them.

“It’s important to plan ahead,” Mendiola said.

The Ranger reported Feb. 24 that the center of student information had a backlog of 4,600 transcripts.

Students waited a month or longer for the center to process

transcripts.

Mendiola said she hopes turning around transcripts will go more smoothly than last semester.

Ortega said the center has not told him if they are taking any longer than 10 business days to process transcripts.

Cynthia Mendiola-Perez, interim director of the center of student information and associate vice chancellor for student and program development, said Oct. 5 that transcripts take 10 business days to process.

10 • Oct. 10, 2011

The Ranger

News

Martha Diaz, graduate intern for Café College, presents a résumé-building workshop for students and former students Oct. 1. Julianna Anaya

Café College resources aid enrolling, paying

By Jennifer Coronado Café College is the go-to spot for middle, high school and college students and adult learners to receive free resources for college.

The café opened its doors in September 2010 and has seen more than 5,700 clients.

The services offered at café assist students with college admissions, financial aid guidance, career exploration, college applications, advising, and SAT and ACT preparation.

Sisters Vanessa and Cassandra Osteguin, use the services provided by the café and are repeat visitors. Vanessa Osteguin is a senior at Alexander High School in Laredo, and her younger sister Cassandra Osteguin, is a freshmen at Churchill High School. The two are

CONT. FROM PAGE 3 Guzman and Claunch did not return calls by press time.

Dr. Robert Aguero, vice chancellor for academic success, announced he will retire, and the minute order for an RFP to hire a

signed up frequently by their mother for workshops throughout the year.

“The SAT programs are very beneficial here because I’m trying to raise my scores for my college applications,” Vanessa Osteguin said.

Workshops for current students are provided at the café and listed on its calendar at www. cafecollege.org. Assistance also is available to individuals returning to college.

The café has three full-time advisers, one part-time adviser and a support staff on site.

The wait to speak to someone is usually 10-15 minutes, said program manager Rebeca Gonzalez, who has been with the café since its opening date. Walk-ins for all workshops are welcome, but online registration is preferred so the cafe can account for all seats, Gonzalez said.

search firm states other members of the chancellor’s executive team have expressed interest in retiring.

The board unanimously approved the request for a search firm to scout replacements for vacated executive positions. No external hiring is authorized for

Additional services offered at the café are conference rooms for studying, scholarship registration and free coffee and tea. The center is funded by the city of San Antonio and managed by the San Antonio Education Partnership.

“There is still work to do in creating this college culture,” Gonzalez said, “but the very existence of the café is to place a big importance on obtaining a college degree. There are very few centers like our center. Our programs are offered all over San Antonio,” The café is open 8 a.m-8 p.m. TuesdayFriday and 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday at 131 El Paso St. For more information about the services provided by Café College, visit its website at www. cafecollege.org, email questions to cafecollegesa@gmail.com or call 210- 207-4528.

faculty or staff.

The chancellor’s executive committee consists of the chancellor, five college presidents, five vice chancellors, six associate vice chancellors, executive director of institutional advancement, district ethics officer, legal counsel, Super

Senate chair and Unified Staff Council president.

Leslie did not attend the meeting because he is on vacation until today. Dr. Thomas Cleary, vice chancellor of planning, performance and information systems, sat in Leslie’s place.

The Ranger

News

Oct. 10, 2011 • 11

District registrar returns to college as director Interim director takes on new responsibilities.

agreement between the district and the college.

Andrea Priolo, director of compensation and benefits in the district human resources departBy Joshua Fechter ment, did not return multiple phone calls.

Cynthia Mendiola-Perez, interim director of On Sept. 6, Martin Ortega the center of student information returned to this college to serve as and associate vice chancellor for director of enrollment services. student and program development, Ortega served as director of said there is no definite plan to fill admissions and records from spring the position of district registrar.

2007 to fall 2010.

It is not clear why the position He left this college in fall 2010 was never posted to the district’s to serve as district registrar at the human resources list of recognized center of student information on positions.

Pat Booker Road.

The job is not listed on Martin Ortega Ortega said he is uncomfortable PeopleLink, the online portal to discussing the circumstances of his human resources for applying for hiring with The Ranger. available positions.

Dr. Robert Vela, vice president of student When he left this college, Ortega earned affairs, said he does not know what information $70,641.84 for fiscal year 2009-10. he can disclose regarding Ortega’s relocation to While he served as district registrar, Ortega this college. was paid $79,260.48 for fiscal year 2010-11.

Vela said Ortega returned in an unspecified Ortega declined to reveal his current salary,

saying it could be found in the district budget.

However, as of Oct. 3, the district has not posted a budget for fiscal year 2011-12.

Helen Torres, interim director of enrollment services, will remain in the same office but will serve as director of partnerships and services.

She said she is assuming some responsibilities left by Ruben Flores, dean of evening, weekend and distance education, when he retired in the summer.

Torres said those responsibilities include helping the Central Texas Technology Center craft a degree program and maintaining relationships with inner city schools, such as Jefferson High School, which she said are feeder schools to the Alamo Colleges.

The center for student information was established in spring 2010 to handle student applications, process transcripts, file state reports and keep academic and continuing education records for Alamo Colleges in a centralized location as part of the move to the Banner system.

! u o y g in im d d n a l e We’re nick

While many financial institutions are discontinuing checking rewards, RBFCU is offering members more with Really FREE Cash Back Checking!

Join online – rbfcu.org

210-945-3300 | 1-800-580-3300 To receive debit card rewards, you must open a Really Free Checking Account and use our debit card for purchases. The 15¢ cash back promotional offer begins October 1, 2011 and ends December 31, 2011. On January 1, 2012, this offer will revert to our standard 10¢ cash back program and is subject to change.

Federally insured by the NCUA.

Prem

12 • The Ranger

Mexican free-tailed bats take flight at dusk Sept. 28 from under Interstate 10 at Vance Jackson. Photos by Jen

Colonies finding freeways bat-fri Heatwave brings bats out before sunset looking for scarce food.

By Jennifer M. Ytuarte

Mexican free-tailed bats fly at dusk Sept. 28.

A Mexican free-tailed bat is found on the ground under Interstate 10 at Vance Jackson. For more information on bats and health concerns, visit www.batcon. org.

At dusk, thousands of Mexican free-tailed bats fill the sky in search of the next meal.

Matthew Driffle, education consultant with San Antonio River Authority, said because of the recent heat wave, bats surface up to 30 minutes before sunset so they have time to fly farther looking for scarce food.

“It’s a great chance to see bats in action,” Driffle said. “Usually, it’s too dark.”

He said the expansion joints under the city’s highway bridges create protective nooks during the day for bats to rest and feed their young.

Bats can travel up to 50 miles from their roost to hunt for insects.

Surfacing earlier makes the bats more vulnerable to hawks, which usually do not hunt at night.

The San Antonio River Authority hosted bat talks in July and August at Museum Reach at Camden and Newell streets.

Guided bat tours have ended for the season, but people still gather at river level to watch the bats take flight.

Driffle said bats adapt to urban environments because water is readily available and insects tend to accumulate nearby.

In rural areas, bats roost in dark crevices, but in urban areas, they gravitate toward attics, abandoned buildings and concrete suspension joints.

According to Bat Conservation International’s website, there are more than 1,200 species of bats, ranging in size from the world’s smallest mammal, the bumblebee bat which weighs less than a penny, to flying foxes with 6-foot wingspans.

Dianne Odegard, outreach associate with Bat Conservation International, said there has been a notable increase of bats in urban

areas and called them nature’s version of mosquito repellent.

Odegard said bats eat 1.5 times their body weight in insects every night.

She said there is no defined method used to calculate the citywide bat population, but two nearby colonies are monitored.

The Bracken Bat Cave on protected property in Schertz is home to the largest rural bat colony in the world with millions of bats roosting from March through October.

The Congress Street Bridge in Austin is home to some 1.5 million bats, and, according to BCI, it is the largest urban roost in the world.

According to “Bats in American Bridges,” written by BCI researchers Brian Keeley and Merlin Tuttle, the Congress Street bats consume 10 to 15 tons of insects nightly.

BCI promotes highway bridge renovations and new projects to include bat-friendly spaces.

Michael Gonzales, deputy

dir San as for gu can

no wh es, exp for en fro

“Ye pro en an

Ba Co ho fro Co Ave sta co yea

miere

nnifer M. Ytuarte

iendly

rector of technical services with n Antonio River Authority, said he checks the San Antonio River r contamination levels from bat uano, he has not seen any signifint change.

He said city bridge projects do ot take bat roosting into account hen building or restoring bridg, but the three-quarter inch wide pansion joints already in use r renovation projects gives bats nough space to remain protected om predators.

BCI is a founding partner of ear of the Bat,” a two-year effort oposed by United Nations to ncourage international education nd conservation.

Fran Hutchins, Bracken at Cave coordinator with Bat onservation International, will ost “The Secret World of Bats,” om 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 22 at ody Library, 11441 Vance Jackson e. For more information about atewide events, go to www.batn.org/index.php/get-involved/ ar-of-the-bat.html.

Oct. 10, 2011 • 13

Companies collect costumes New or gently used costumes are donated to needy children.

By J. Almendarez

O

n Halloween, children straighten their princess crowns or strap on pirate’s sword and walk through neighborhoods or go to parties to fill plastic pumpkin pails with candy.

It is a unique holiday that lets children pretend to be heroes or villains, but some children have never stuffed a pillowcase with candy or painted on whiskers.

Louis Cardenas, owner and creative director of Blonde Creative, worked with his wife, Pamela, to create Scare-N-Share three years ago to help more children in San Antonio have the opportunity for a “spooktacular” Halloween experience.

Scare-N-Share accepts donations of new or gently used costumes for children at

Drop off spots Blonde Creative, 2500 McCullough Ave. Chili’s restaurants in the metropolitan area Roy Mass’ Youth Alternatives’ thrift store, 3103 West Ave. Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse restaurants The CE Group Inc. 200 East Grayson St. Calypso Rotisserie Caribbean Fusion Restaurant, 12030 Bandera Road Joshua Austin Family Cosmetic and Implant Dentistry 4553 N. Loop 1604 W. For more information, visit www.Scare-NShare.com.

Roy Mass’ Youth Alternatives and SA Youth, child fostering and counseling facilities in San Antonio and Boerne.

Roy Mass’ Youth Alternatives is expecting to house about 100 kids in late November.

SA Youth did not return phone calls from The Ranger.

Cardenas said

Halloween is his favorite holiday, and his wife is “big into saving the planet,” so they combined their two passions and founded the donation effort.

Lisa Brothers Gutierrez, public relations coordinator for Roy Mass’ Youth Alternative Inc., said, “The kids are really excited to get anything.”

She said many of the children in the facility’s care have never participated in holiday traditions and ask for toothbrushes and underwear for Christmas and birthdays because they have never experienced anything else.

The facility houses children 5-17 years old.

She said any unused costumes are sold at the Roy Mass’ Youth Alternative thrift store, and the money goes to the children’s needs and programs at the shelter.

This is the first year SA Youth is participating in the event.

“It’s grown every year,” Cardenas said. He said the first year about 100 costumes were collected at about 20 locations.

Last year, about 200 costumes were collected at 45 locations.

This year, there are 60 locations, and about 300-400 costumes are expected to be collected.

“I love dressing up, being a kid,” Cardenas said.

14 • Oct. 10, 2011

Presidents Round Table discusses events Higher education software is underused among college clubs.

By Kirk Hanes Some campus organizations are using OrgSync while many are still not registered with the program.

OrgSync has not been finished or kept current on each club.

“Update OrgSync if you haven’t already,” Mark Bigelow, assistant coordinator of student life, said to the presidents at the Presidents Round Table meeting Sept. 29.

OrgSync is an organizationbased software for colleges in the United States and Canada, and student life has paid $6,000 to $7,000 for it.

Campus clubs can use the

The Ranger

News

software to keep events on the site, communicate with members and recruit members.

Presidents of 13 clubs discussed events and meeting times.

Gay and Lesbian Association will host Coming Out Week, including “It Gets Better,” a video playing in the theater of McCreless Hall, with Ally Week Oct. 17 - Oct. 21.

“It Gets Better” was a video made by Dan Savage and husband, Terry Miller, in response to teen gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender-related suicides.

Ally Week is in honor of the straight allies of the LGBT community and those against bullying.

GALA meets at 3 p.m.

Wednesday in Room 644 of Moody Learning Center.

The Rev. Ramon Gonzalez of

the Catholic Student Center celebrates Mass at 12:15 p.m. Friday.

Weekday events at the Catholic Student Center also are scheduled for 12:15 p.m.

On Monday, the center leads praying, reading and reflecting; Tuesday, the center offers Bible studies; Wednesday, guests can recite the rosary; and leadership meetings are on Thursday.

The center sponsors a Theology on Tap benefit every Thursday at Blue Star Brewing Company. A priest will speak about love, hope and faith with question-and-answer responses.

Last week’s theme was based on exorcisms.

For more information, call campus minister Joseph Liedecke at 210-736-3752.

Each club selected items to sell at Oktoberfest 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Oct. 20 in the mall.

Cheshyre Cheese Club will attend the Haunted House at 7 p.m. Oct. 21.

The event is free to college students and $5 for the general public. Club members suggested this because of the postponing of an Open Mic Coffee Night, which has been moved to Oct. 28.

Cheshyre Cheese Club meets 2 p.m. Tuesday in Room 133 of Gonzales Hall and at 6 p.m.

Wednesday in Room 129 of Gonzales Hall.

Call English Professor Jane Focht-Hansen at 210-486-0668 for information.

GALA will attend the Halloween concert fundraiser at 7 p.m. Oct. 27 in McAllister Fine Arts Center, which costs students $5 and adults $7.

For information on the fundraiser, contact academic unit assistant Rosie Carreon at 210486-0255.

Club presidents spoke about requirements.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 15

Star club looks for members

By Faith Duarte Star-struck business administration freshman Hannah Dunn is in the process of rebuilding the Astronomy Club.

Dunn said she joined because she was fascinated with stars and galaxies and wanted to become more active on campus.

She joined fall 2010, as the number of members fell from 25 to 15.

“My first day there, I became secretary and public relations officer,” Dunn said.

Members had other commitments and were too busy to coordinate events for the club during the fall 2010 semester.

Dr. David Wood, director of institutional research, planning and effectiveness and club adviser, said most of the previous members graduated in spring 2010, leaving the once active organization without members.

Dunn now focuses on rebuilding the club and recruiting new members. She said about 10 students showed interest in restarting the organization. Her plans to restart the club include creating a club profile on OrgSync, building student interest through Facebook and possibly staffing a booth in the mall to answer questions and reach interested students.

Wood is still considered the primary adviser despite the club’s current inactive status.

Dunn said she is searching for a new adviser. She said she is not sure if she wants to be president, but roles will be discussed once enough people join.

If the club is reestablished, she said she would like to see more fundraisers, star parties and would like to coordinate events with other San Antonio astronomy groups.

For more information, call Wood at 210-486-0063.

The Ranger

News

Oct. 10, 2011 • 15

Workshop kicks off Deaf Awareness Week First weeklong observation features films, panel discussion and a family festival.

By Jennifer Flores San Antonio College and Sorenson Communications will kick off Deaf Awareness week Saturday through Oct. 22 with an interpreting workshop on role shifting.

It will be 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 15 in the auditorium of McAllister Fine Arts Center.

The workshop is free and a complimentary lunch is provided by Sorenson Communications.

Lauri Metcalf, chair of American Sign Language and interpreter training, said, “This is the first time doing deaf awareness as a formal week long celebration.”

Metcalf said the purpose of Deaf Awareness Week is to bring attention to the program and to address misconceptions about deaf people.

“Many people view deaf people as disabled, but they view themselves as a cultural and linguistic minority,” Metcalf said.

Hosting the workshop for the second time at this college will be internationally known actor and interpreter educator Anthony Natale.

Natale first knew he wanted to act when “Grease” came out.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 14 Club requirements include a 3.5 GPA is to be in Phi Theta Kappa, international honor society, or Psi Beta, psychology honor society, which also requires a B in psychology.

An education major is required for Teaching Academy Program Peers.

WE ARE

At that time, films were not available with closed captions.

He had a pop-up book of the movie and took it with him to watch it.

He has starred in “Mr. Holland’s Opus” and a USA network movie “His Bodyguard.”

Natale has appeared in several TV series like “Any Day Now,” “Once and Again,” “Seventh Heaven,” “Ellen,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Pacific Blues,” and “Rude Awakening.”

His current work includes teaching American Sign Language translation with Michael Jackson’s comeback concert tour, “This Is It.” The workshop is open to all ASL students, interpreters and people of the deaf community, and the workshop will be done in sign language.

Natale is going to teach more than just how to narrate. The workshop offers learning how to become the role of different people.

The workshop will focus on ASL storytelling techniques; develop characters using role shifting, eye gaze and spatial referencing; understand the difference between storytelling, lecturing and interpreting; and discuss dangers, possibilities, benefits and liabilities.

For more information, email Michelle Theiss at Mbecker1@alamo.edu.

Phi Theta Kappa meets at noon Monday in Room 241 of Nail Technology Center.

Psi Beta meets 3 p.m. Wednesday in Room 642 Moody Learning Center.

TAPP meets 2 p.m. Wednesday in Room 133 of Gonzales Hall.

The People Club, a club for disabled stu-

Awareness events • Texas premiere of the “Versa Effect” 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. Oct. 15 at Blue Star Brewery, 1414 S. Alamo St., Suite 105. Admission is $11.

Deaf actor Russell Harvard has appeared in “CSI: New York,” “Fringe,” “Hamill” and “There Will Be Blood.”

• “Deaf People in a Hearing World” panel discussion 7 p.m. Oct. 19 in Room 218A and 218B of the nursing complex.

• “Ingelore,” produced and directed

by Frank Stiefel, 7 p.m. Oct. 20 in McAllister auditorium. Documentary of a deaf Jewish woman who survived the Holocaust. She witnesses her father’s abduction and Nazi cadets rape her.

She negotiates for her life with distant U.S. Consulate officials, escapes Germany and learns she is pregnant as a result of the rape.

• Deaf Festival by the Alamo Community Association of the Deaf 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Oct. 22 at Comanche Park No. 2, 2600 Rigsby Ave. Arts and crafts, food, drinks and a children’s moon bounce. Family- and pet-friendly. Admission is $2 and parking is free.

dents and socially acknowledging the individuals, is on hiatus.

A revival is tentative.

The next round table meeting will be at 2 p.m. Oct. 27 in the craft room of Loftin.

For more information, call the office of student life at 210-486-0125.

The University of Texas at San Antonio is your first choice for a top tier education. Transferring to UTSA is easy and scholarships are available.

Go to applytexas.org and apply now.

The final Admissions Application deadline for the 2012 Spring Semester is November 15.

Learn more at

utsa.edu/transfer

Transfer Scholarships available are the Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship and the Joint Admissions Agreement Scholarship. The deadline to submit either scholarship application for Spring 2012 is November 1.

We are Roadrunners and we are you.

16 • Oct. 10, 2011

News

The Ranger

Immigration attorney explains citizenship routes

By Ingrid Wilson Antonio Almazan, immigration law attorney with Rodriguez and Almazan Attorneys-at-Law, said the federal government has an absolute right to determine immigration laws.

Almazan lectured Sept. 16 in one of four sessions on the Constitution in the nursing and allied health complex on the constitutional rights of undocumented people, their right to go to school and how to become a U.S. citizen.

To understand how these laws apply, Almazan said it is important to define “alien” as it applies to immigration.

“Anyone not born in the United States is an alien,” he said.

Almazan said, “Some rights are more defined than others.”

He said the 14th Amendment of the Constitution grants illegal aliens constitutional rights.

Section 1 of the 14th Amendment, also called the equal protection clause, says “nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.”

Almazan said the words “any person” give constitutional protection to undocumented students.

He said undocumented students have the right to go to school since the legal precedent set in 1982 by Plyer v. Doe. In 1975, the Texas Legislature passed a law that led to discrimination against undocumented students.

Before 1975, all school-age children could go to public elementary and secondary schools regardless of status.

The law allowed the state to cut off reimbursement to school districts for education costs for

Attorney Antonio Almazan lectures on immigration Sept. 16 in the nursing complex. Ivie Okungbowa

undocumented students.

This gave school districts the option to reject undocumented children to attend classes.

The Tyler Independent School District in Smith County began to charge undocumented students $1,000 a year for tuition.

The Supreme Court found this to be unconstitutional under the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment; the clause does not cover college tuition charges.

Almazan said undocumented college students can be deported.

To illustrate Sixth Amendment rights, Almazan brought up a case in which an undocumented person pled guilty to possession of less than a gram of cocaine.

Because of a precedent set

by Padilla v. Kentucky, Almazan said the court held that an alien charged with a crime has the right to be told by his attorney whether a guilty plea has immigration consequences.

“Immigration law clearly states that a conviction of a controlled substance is deportable without exceptions,” he said. “The same individual is inadmissible into the U.S. and may never apply for U.S. residency or naturalization.”

He said a person’s constitutional rights are violated if they are not told of the impact of a plea bargain.

Almazan said the White House released a statement on Aug. 19 indicating a change in deportation priorities.

He said deportation priority will focus on people with criminal records. Almazan said, “This is not amnesty; students will not be able to apply for residency based on their completion of college, amount of years, or lack of a criminal record.”

Almazan discussed a few ways in which an undocumented student can become a lawful resident.

For students, the DREAM Act was a possible doorway but did not pass the legislative process.

Although the law tends to be complicated, Almazan simplified three routes — the business investment, special circumstances and family.

If a person can invest $1 million in a new business that creates at least 10 jobs for U.S. workers, he can become a legal resident.

If $1 million is a stretch, an entrepreneur can invest $500,000 as long as the business is located in an area of high unemployment or in a rural area.

Almazan said an example of a special circumstance route is if a person is a victim of a serious crime or domestic violence from a U.S. spouse, then the victim can petition on their own behalf.

Relatives can petition for undocumented family.

Almazan said, “Immediate family relatives can have their U.S. residency immediately upon processing; there is no numerical limitation on their visas.”

The spouse, children and parents of a U.S. citizen over 21 years old are considered immediate family. Chemistry sophomore Denise Salazar was interested in how to gain residency for family members.

Salazar, a natural born U.S. citizen, is working to keep her mother, a Mexican national, from deportation.

At the age of 21, Salazar petitioned for her undocumented mother to become a permanent resident.

She has paid more than $6,000 in attorney’s fees to keep her mother in this country.

Salazar asked Almazan during his lecture what she could do as deportation activities had already begun against her mother.

He offered help for her family’s immigration problems.

Almazan also discussed employment-based preference that can be used to become a citizen.

Preference can be available for people with extraordinary abilities, professors or researchers, managers and executives who are subject to international transfer to the U.S. Other employment-based preference can be available to professionals with advanced degrees, people with exceptional ability, skilled or professional workers.

Almazan said skilled and professional workers have to be petitioned for, and the employer has to have a certification from the U.S. Labor Department.

The Ranger

Honors Academy replaces Presidential Honors program

By Diana Palomo

political science Professor Christy Woodward Kaupert.

The Honors Academy, which The pathway to excellence is replaced the Raul S. Murguia for students to get advising, menPresidential Honors Program, toring, assistance with building a gives students a choice to excel résumé and help to graduate in in college before graduation. two years.

In May 2010, scholarships The steps begin with being were eliminated for students in recruited in the senior year of the program because of budget high school. cuts.

Second, as part of a learnAs a result, history Professor ing community, students must Jonathan Lee, coordinator of the take ENGL 1301, Freshman Honors Academy, decided to take Composition 1, and HIST 1301, action and change the program History of the United States Part that was originally coordinated 1, with close reading such as writby the English department. ing short essays to develop that Now the academy emphasizes skill. graduation and helps Next, for the students prepare for spring semesthe honors programs ter, students at the university level must take ENGL at institutions such 1302, Freshman as the University of Composition 2; HIST Texas at San Antonio, 1302, History of the University of Texas at United States Part Austin and Texas State 2; and GOVT 2301, Jonathan Lee University-San Marcos.

A m e r i c a n / Te x a s Coordinators and National and State, advisers visit high so they can start schools to recruit high school constructing arguments. students.

In fall 2012, a student must Jefferson, Fox Tech and take GOVT 2302, American Edison high schools will be visitGovernment: Problems and ed, and the coordinators hope to Policies, and start using data add other high schools to the list. from the constructed arguments.

Each student in the academy Finally, for the spring 2013, is required to have a 3.25 gradestudents must complete a 10point average from high school to 15-page capstone project for or college and 15 hours or less of world civilization since 1500. college credit when they graduIf the project is not completed ate from high school. at a high standard, the student If the student does not have will not graduate with honors. this grade-point average, they Anderson said the program need two letters of recommenhelps “build fundamental skills dation. for a high paying job.”

Lee said the academy has 40 Students already enrolled at students who are on a pathway to this college may be able to join graduate with honors. the program in the spring by conStudents are required to meet tacting Lee before registration at least four times a month with begins Nov. 15.

Lee and other advisers, history For information about the Professor Erik Anderson, English academy, call Lee at 210-486Professor Patricia Portales and 1097.

News

Oct. 10, 2011 • 17

18 • Oct. 10, 2011

The Ranger

Editorial

In memory of fallen Mexican journalists

Alexandra Nelipa

Chancellor’s ‘tenure’ better than faculty’s The board of trustees will review Chancellor Bruce Leslie’s four-year contract for $319,937.04 annually at its next regular monthly meeting Oct. 18.

Leslie’s current contract became effective Sept. 1, 2009, and ends Aug. 31, 2012, but it contains a rollover clause that can extend until Aug. 31, 2013.

The board cannot terminate Leslie’s contract except in the event of his death, disability, resignation, “good cause,” mutual agreement or in the convenience of the district as long as they compensate him for the contract duration, according to the agreement.

Leslie, who has overseen one retirement incentive offering and approaching a second, has a four-year contract.

The faculty is offered single-year contracts that include notice that if their services are not required, employment may not be continued. That includes tenured faculty.

Tenured faculty members are evaluated every two years and can be terminated for professional incompetence, moral turpitude, gross neglect of professional responsibilities and sexual harassment.

The chancellor gets paid even if he dies.

He is quick to claim he has managed the district without layoffs or cuts in salaries, but that is not true.

Most full-time faculty at this college took a pay cut last summer in the chancellor’s bizarre lottery plan. Everyone is waiting to hear the plan for next summer.

Leslie’s employment is much more secure than that of the tenured faculty he shows so little regard for.

Trustees will entertain the idea of eliminating tenure in

the pursuit of ensuring the faculty is are held accountable.

Faculty members are required to solicit evaluations from their classes and are encouraged to consider student comment. Also, the faculty is evaluated by peers and supervisors. The chancellor is officially evaluated once a year by trustees only.

Faculty members here have the opportunity to participate in an annual opinionaire conducted by the Faculty Senate of this college that includes an evaluation of the chancellor and other administrators.

The 2011 results, posted on Faculty Senate’s website, are less than flattering. A full two-thirds rated Leslie’s performance as unsatisfactory. An additional 24 percent rated it as marginal.

Accompanying the results are 49 comments, three of which could be charitably characterized as unenthusiastically positive.

Unfortunately for the district, trustees so far have chosen to ignore all comment. A districtwide vote of no confidence didn’t faze them two years ago. This year’s opinionaire shows no sign of improvement.

Whose accountability should we be worried about?

Correction

In “Trustees evaluate chancellor’s performance,” Oct. 3, the chancellor’s salary was incorrectly reported. He received a 2 percent pay increase in January 2010 along with faculty and staff, bringing his salary to $319,937.04.

The Ranger

Don’t let our history crack, crumble down Koehler Cultural Center sits on a hill at Belknap and Ashby, along with its glass and Victorian greenhouse that shows many years of neglect.

The Otto Koehler family donated the property to this college in 1971, and while the college has restored the house and carriage house of the estate, the greenhouse has been left in disrepair.

Why has the college neglected such a beautiful historical structure?

Jack Fyke, construction technology coordinator at Southwest Campus of St. Philip’s, hopes to renovate the greenhouse as a volunteer project.

In the process, it could provide his students a chance to apply skills and knowledge acquired in class.

Fykes has 125 potential volunteers for the renovation.

There is a long history of community do-it-yourself projects that attorneys and liability concerns have effectively ended.

This is just one example of the myriad pairings resourceful instructors and creative students could contribute to throughout the district.

The college profitably rents the Koehler estate for weddings, conferences and meetings. The greenhouse could one day provide a similar service.

Blossoms of delicate orchids and roses should be visible through the glass panes and visitors should be met with the pungent scent of tomato plants.

Instead, shattered glass and decaying leaves greet passersby.

Neither the history of the estate nor the history of community building should be forgotten. Let’s revive both.

Editorial

Oct. 10, 2011 • 19

Get going on graduation In May, 800 students graduated from here with an associate degree, opening up several options, such as a chance at working in their desired professions, establishing a good foundation to start a four-year university or both.

Transferring after two years of “basics” here at a cheaper tuition is a great option, but students don’t seem to realize completing an associate degree takes the same amount of time.

After taking courses that count toward a degree, using resources offered

by Alamo Colleges to learn about potential majors and getting ahead through

internships, it only makes sense to earn an associate degree.

With four 12-hour semesters and passing all classes taken, the hours earned add up to the 48-hour minimum required by several degrees in the Alamo Colleges catalogs.

Students need to make sure they are enrolled in classes that count toward the degree to be able to finish in two years. Setting up a degree plan is the first thing a student should do.

Consulting an adviser, counselor or chair today about graduation can lead to walking the stage in the May 2012 graduation ceremony.

Facebooking is networking For students used to talking with their peers, the idea of networking with professionals is overwhelming.

Many young adults are still in the mindset that talking to like-aged people in social situations and leaving “grownups” to socialize separately is a good idea.

Well, news flash: We are “grown-ups” now and with this dwindling economy, there has never been a better time to network and master the art of small talk.

The thing people forget is that networking is actually just talking.

It’s like using Facebook, but face-toface.

Going to a Constitution Day lecture and chatting with the lecturer afterward is networking.

Reading something you enjoy and shooting an email to the author to let them know you liked it is networking.

Reminding people that while you may have a job to do, you’re also a friendly person who has a thing for black-and-white movies on VHS and loves the Dallas Cowboys, no matter how much Tony Romo makes your skin crawl, is networking.

And the people you meet have not

only used similar means of building resources for themselves, but they also benefit by networking with up-and– coming young professionals.

Not only can they learn about new ideas and gadgets from us, but they can also scout talent for themselves or associates.

Many established individuals enjoy taking newbies under a wing for mentoring or internships.

Don’t be afraid to have confidence in your work and skills and let people know that you’re capable and interested in what they have to offer.

The adage, “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know,” is as true as the day it was written.

So, take the initiative to get your name in your chosen industry’s network soon.

A bachelor’s degree is becoming as common as a high school diploma was, and networking can be the difference between landing a job or moving back into your mom’s garage with a mountain of student debt to repay.

And while mom makes breakfast every morning and reminds you that ironing your shirt is a necessity, it’s not the life most students dream of.

20 • Oct. 10, 2011

The Ranger

Viewpoint

Chalk Day celebrates censorship Editor: The sponsors of Chalk Day would like you to celebrate free speech — or so they claim. The fact is, they and nearly everyone who participated in Chalk Day celebrated censorship.

Marianne Odom, chair of media communications, said, “We want students to appreciate and take advantage of their right to free speech,” in a Ranger article. However, in a head-spinning feet of Orwellian double-speak, the same article included the following caveat: “All forms of expression are welcome as long as no profanity or obscenities are used. …”

In other words, “Write what you want as long as we approve.” This is not freedom of speech. Having your range of self-expression forcefully limited is censorship. Profanity may be offensive, but it is the price we must pay to know that we, too, may

use speech others disagree with.

Without free speech, America would never be the beacon of liberty it is today. It would never be the most famous country in history for its iconoclasts and revolutionaries. As rock star Ted Nugent said, “Freedom of speech is ultra important so stupid people will make their stupid statements so we know how stupid they are.” Underneath his humor, there is a profound truth: Suppressing freedom of speech doesn’t eliminate disagreeable ideas, it only drives them underground. Despite my disagreements with the half-hearted attempt at freedom on Chalk Day, I still participated.

You’ll see my contribution on the mall south of Loftin. I drew a chalk baphomet with the words, “Hail Satan!” underneath.

Some may find it offensive, some

Editor’s note: The Society of Professional Journalists chapter at this campus sponsors Chalk Day annually to encourage people to exercise their right to freedom of speech.

This year’s event coincided with The Ranger publishing several stories about limited expression at this campus and internationally.

The event is meant to encourage people to express themselves, give them information about limited free speech and encourage people to reach for a higher level of thinking and expression.

humorous, some may even like it, and others may not care at all. That is exactly the point of free speech!

As cathartic as it was to contribute something very unpopular, I still harbored resentment knowing my liberties were being curtailed.

SAC needs to truly support free speech and stop worrying about trivial profanity. It’s very doubtful anyone is going to draw anything pornographic, strewn with profanity, or anything else equally ridiculous.

People should be allowed to decide for themselves what they want to write and accept the fact that there may be social consequences for it.

College students don’t need nannies.

We need the freedom of speech necessary for exchanging ideas in a place of higher learning.

David Hadley Psychology Freshman

The first goal was achieved. Sidewalks are still chalked, including your, “Hail, Satan!” It’s just as valid an expression as the Christian love messages still on display.

Our second goal was also achieved. Not only did SPJ pass out copies of The Ranger and induce conversation about recent restrictions in this First Amendment freedom, but

by Tuesday, many Ranger newsstands were empty.

The third goal is where the event seems to hit-or-miss every year. While our reader says, “It’s very doubtful anyone is going to draw any-

Psychology freshman David Hadley’s contribution to Chalk Day Oct. 3 is a symbol associated with satanism and the phrase “Hail Satan” outside the south entrance to Loftin.

By Oct. 6, the design was starting to fade. Casandra Gonzales

thing pornographic, strewn with profanity, or anything else equally ridiculous,” SPJ members can attest to the opposite.

There are always participants who draw pornographic images, try to write the f-bomb in large letters with no context or meaning and who draw giant marijuana leaves encouraging people to smoke weed.

These do not represent a level of higher thinking. SPJ hopes participants would avail themselves of.

Speaking of levels of higher thinking: We censored your misspelling of Orwellian.

CAREER TRAINING. MONEY FOR COLLEGE.

AND AN ENTIRE TEAM TO HELP YOU SUCCEED. 10886_ANG_TX_Ranger_7.5x2.5in.indd 1

8/25/11 11:43 AM

The Ranger

Trustees District 1: Joe Alderete Jr. 1602 Hillcrest Drive San Antonio TX 78228 Cell: 210-863-9500 Home: 210-434-6967 E-mail: jvajr711@aol.com, jalderete21@alamo.edu District 2: Denver McClendon 3811 Willowwood Blvd.

San Antonio, TX 78219 Work: 210-281-9141 E-mail: denvermcclendon@satx.rr.com, dmcclendon2@alamo.edu District 3: Anna U. Bustamante 511 Ware Blvd., San Antonio TX 78221 Work: 210-882-1606 Home: 210-921-2986 E-mail: abustamante20@alamo.edu District 4: Marcelo S. Casillas 115 Wainwright, San Antonio TX 78211 No telephone number provided Board of trustees liaison: 210-485-0030 E-mail: mcasillas19@alamo.edu District 5: Roberto Zárate 4103 Buffalo Bayou, San Antonio TX 78251 No telephone number provided E-mail: rzarate11@alamo.edu District 6: Dr. Gene Sprague 14722 Iron Horse Way Helotes TX 78023 Work: 210-567-4865 E-mail: sprague1@alamo.edu District 7: Blakely Latham Fernandez 3707 N. St. Mary Street San Antonio TX 78212 Work: 210-538-9935 E-mail: bfernandez35@alamo.edu, bfernandez@tuggeyllp.com District 8: Gary Beitzel 15403 Forest Mist, San Antonio TX 78232 Home: 210-496-5857 E-mail: gbeitzel@alamo.edu District 9: James A. Rindfuss 13315 Thessaly, Universal City, TX 78148 Home: 210-828-4630 Work: 210-375-2555 E-mail: jrindfuss@alamo.edu

Administrators Chancellor: Dr. Bruce H. Leslie 201 W. Sheridan, Bldg. B, San Antonio TX 78204-1429 Work: 210-485-0020 Fax: 210-486-9166 E-mail: bleslie@alamo.edu San Antonio College, Dr. Robert E. Zeigler 210-486-0959, rzeigler@alamo.edu Northeast Lakeview College, Dr. Eric Reno 210-486-5484, ereno@alamo.edu Northwest Vista College, Dr. Jacqueline Claunch 210-486-4900, jclaunch@alamo.edu Palo Alto College, Dr. Ana M. “Cha” Guzman 210-486-3960, aguzman@alamo.edu St. Philip’s College, Dr. Adena W. Loston 210-486-2900, aloston@alamo.edu

Oct. 10, 2011 • 21

Web Editor Jacob Beltran

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.

©2011 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 (210486-1765) 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.

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 singlecopy rule may be subject to civil and criminal prosecution and subject to college discipline.

The Ranger Editor J. Almendarez

News Editor Joshua Fechter Calendar/Opinion Editor Alma Linda Manzanares Photo Editor Ingrid Wilgen Photo Team Julianna Anaya, Rachael L. Emond, Casandra Gonzales, Celeste Kulla, Ivie Okungbowa, Valerie Marie Salazar, Katie Sheridan, Alex Solis, Riley Stephens Illustrators Juan Carlos Campos, Alexandra Nelipa, Fred Nockroes Staff Writers Brian Burdick, Sebastian Carter, Jennifer Coronado, Marc Cunningham, Faith Duarte, David Espinoza, Jennifer Flores, Sara Garza, Kirk Hanes, Stefania Malacrida, Hilary Martinez, Robert Medina, Diana Palomo Multimedia Editor Jennifer M. Ytuarte Production Manager Melody Mendoza

22 • Oct. 10, 2011

Pulse

The Ranger

About 15,000 people, including bicyclists and joggers, gathered for events on a closed 2-mile stretch of Broadway for this city’s first Síclovía. Photos by Riley Stephens

City: Go play in street Síclovía helps create a fitness culture by encouraging citizens to stay active and healthy.

By Jennifer M. Ytuarte Wheels, paws and shoes hit asphalt during this city’s first Síclovía, a citywide effort to fight obesity by engaging the community in physical activity.

A two-mile stretch of Broadway, from Parland Place near Brackenridge Park to McCullough Avenue just north of Downtown, was closed from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 2. to let about 15,000 citizens play in the street.

During the opening ceremony at Lion’s Field Park, Mayor Julían Castro said the event encourages the city to get out and exercise.

He said the city is trying to create a fitness culture.

Luis Lopez, YMCA district vice president, told participants to “take our parks back, bring our kids out — play kickball — prevent all the things that hurt our city.”

Former Spurs forward Sean Elliott, presented as the event celebrity VIP, said he has always been an active voice in the community regarding health and livelihood.

“I’ve been to more functions concerning health in the past two years than the previous 22,” he said.

The event is funded by part of a $15.6 million Communities Putting Prevention to Work grant, an obesity-prevention grant funded through White House health initiatives and monitored by the Centers for Disease Control

Volunteer Aaron Cantu installs free lights on a bicycle at Maverick Park during this city’s first Síclovía. and Prevention in Atlanta. The grant is used to pay for programs that target the rise in obesity throughout Bexar County.

Lion’s Field Park, 2809 Broadway and the event hub, hosted family-friendly activities.

Children hula-hooped for a red squeezable sports bottle at the Southwest General Hospital tent and played a larger version of checkers using three-pound weights on a 6-by-6-foot canvas.

At Maverick Park, 1000 Broadway, a line of commuter and children’s bikes formed at the city environmental policy tent, where volunteers attached free front and rear lights to each bicycle.

Chris Johnson, general manager with environmental policy, helped coordinate volunteer efforts and said cyclists can also go to the bike patrol station downtown at 416 E. Commerce St. to get their bikes fitted with front and rear blinking lights.

The City of San Antonio Office of Environmental Policy enforces a new city ordinance which makes a front bicycle light and rear reflector mandatory equipment.

Interior designer Gabriela Castro waited in line with her daughter to get the child’s bike fitted with lighting equipment.

“My kids bike to school every day,” she said.

“This is a great way to help them stay safe.”

Johnson said they brought 400 pairs of front and rear lights to this event and have about 5,000 to distribute at different bicycle-centric events throughout the city.

Mahncke Park, 3400 Broadway, hosted the Energy Zone with cardio activities like body boot camp and Zumba classes.

Participants followed instructors on stage through fast-paced exercises synchronized with Latin music.

Mary Robles, 49, donned gloves and took part in the kickboxing class.

She said she found out about the event as a member of a local YMCA. Robles said she brought five people with her, her two sons, Jake, 13, and Thomas, 11, plus three of the neighborhood children.

“I think they looked at me for permission in the beginning when I told them to go play in the street,” Robles said. “It’s such a novel concept; I hope it takes root.”

The Ranger

Pulse

Oct. 10, 2011 • 23

YMCA instructors Patricia Villanueva and David Peña lead a session of Body Combat at Mahncke Park Oct. 2 as part of this city’s first Síclovía. Photos by Riley Stephens Sarah Olivares and Brian Zepeda, liberal arts sophomores at the University of the Incarnate Word, spent a couple hours cycling with their tandem, a twoperson bicycle, before going to work.

“We never get to use this thing; It just sits in our apartment,” Olivares said.

“This was a great chance to take a break and enjoy the weather.”

Pete Garcia, athletic program super-

visor with the city of San Antonio, said the overall attendance was calculated using San Antonio Police Department estimates and volunteers with clicker counters.

He said another Síclovía is slated for late February or early March.

For more information go to www. siclovia.org or visit their Facebook page www.facebook.com/siclovia.

Loyda Martinez, five-year cancer survivor, pushes her granddaughter, Sarah Heath, Oct. 2 on Broadway with encouragement from her daughter Loyda Heath. “I switched places with my granddaughter because, it’s time for me to get some exercise,” Martinez said. A 2-mile stretch of Broadway was shutdown for events to promote healthy living.

24 • Oct. 10, 2011

News

The Ranger

Coupons: Stack, match, save

By Jennifer M. Ytuarte

redeeming more than $50 or 40 coupons. It also states if a coupon value is worth more than the item, the difference or more than 100 years, coupons have offered temporary is credited to the basket purchase or given as cash back. retail discounts. According to Britannica Online, in 1887, “Most of the time, my $90 bill gets down to $45,” McKee marketing powerhouse Coca-Cola created the first coupon. said, offering an example. “I had a coupon to buy two, get The handwritten card, created by co-owner Asa Chandler, $2.50 off any Reach dental product. At Walmart; dental allowed one free sample of the 1-year-old tonic, a savings of 5 floss was 82 cents so if you bought 60 sets of dental floss, cents. The coupon was distributed to potential customers by mail, you got money back.” magazine advertisements, sales representatives and employees.

McKee netted $51.60 from the transaction.

Within 25 years, one in nine Americans received a free CocaH-E-B coupon policy states the grocery firm will Cola, which approximates a total of 8.5 million free drinks. combine store-sponsored yellow coupons with a manIn the ’90s, the Internet opened a doorway to digital coupons, ufacturer coupon for the same product but do not give online coupon redemption codes and Groupons, an emailed daily cash back if the coupon creates a negative balance. deal that requires a minimum number of participants.

“I’m always willing to argue with a cashier over A one-hour special, “Extreme Couponing,” coupon policy,” she said. McKee aired in December 2009 on The Learning said at H-E-B, she paid $3 for six “Extreme Couponing” airs at 9 p.m. Wednesday on TLC. Visit Channel and led to a television series in its boxes of cereal because Post cerehttp://tlc.howstuffworks.com/ second season. Television crews follow families als were three for $3 and she had tv/extreme-couponing for tips. who clip coupons to fill pantries, basements, a coupon for $1 off two boxes. attic spaces and spare bedrooms with a stockIn her laundry room, she pile of retail items — many purchased for pennies on the dollar. stores 10 boxes of cereal, multiple packages of Journalism sophomore Rachel McKee, mother of two, saw the prorazors, peanut butter, pasta and deodorant. “I have gram and decided to follow suit. a hoard going on,” McKee said. “If I don’t have a “I figured if they could do it, so could I,” McKee said. “But I don’t coupon for something, I feel bad buying it,” McKee have a lot of money to buy in bulk like they do, like buying 50 bottles of said, noting she saves between $30 and $50 each mustard because the coupon gets them at 50 cents per bottle.” time she goes to the grocer without buying excess “One time, I bought $97 of Revlon makeup for $5.73,” she said.

— like 40 containers of mustard.

McKee uses a method called “stacking” which combines manufac“I think it’s something anyone can do, and you turer and store-specific coupons with in-store sales. In 4 1/2 hours, she don’t have to do it to an extreme,” McKee said. organizes multiple newspaper inserts, clips coupons and sorts the clipShe said stores have recently become more aware of coupon usage. pings into piles based on what she buys most often and what she wants “For me, the cashiers act like the coupon is being taken out of their to donate to others. She said, “I tend to memorize what coupons I have, paycheck.” and I use that to base my grocery shopping on.”

She said the cashiers read every coupon and make sure they’re McKee uses two three-ring binders with plastic pouches intended not expired or photocopied. for baseball cards filled with the sorted coupons.

“Walmart has a national coupon policy, but it’s up to the She also keeps a digital copy of coupon policies for store manager if they’re willing to follow the policy or not,” H-E-B and Walmart saved on her phone. She stacks McKee said. Walmart corporate headquarters in Bentonville, at H-E-B, price matches at Walmart or Walgreens Ark., refused to comment. Its coupon policy is available and buys perishable goods from the commissary online at http://walmartstores.com/7655.aspx. at Fort Sam Houston.

H-E-B’s public relations department declined a teleMcKee said she looks at weekly ads for phone interview. Its policy can be viewed at www.heb.

Walgreens and CVS pharmacies. “Walmart price com/page/weekly-ads/ads-coupons/coupon-policy. matches without requiring the coupon,” she CVS corporate headquarters did not return phone said. “They also price match the discounted calls and their customer service department was CVS ExtraCare card price.” unable to comment on whether they give cash Walmart’s coupon policy does not state refunds for products purchased with coupons specific rules for price matching without a valued at more than the sale price. coupon or advertisement present. It does “Don’t be overwhelmed,” McKee said to state there is no limit to the number of beginners. “There are a lot of coupons out coupons used, but supervisors need to there, and a lot of changing information, but approve transactions it’s worth it.”

F