Single copies free • 210-486-1773
This week Student suspended for Oppenheimer incident Two aggressors and three victims were involved in a Sept. 26 verbal altercation at Oppenheimer Academic Center, Dr. Robert Vela, vice president of academic and student success, confirmed Oct. 25. Ultimately, one aggressor faced probation and the other was suspended, Vela said. “It just seemed bigger than it was because it was a mob of people,” he said. The Ranger reported Sept. 26 that four to 15 students were involved in the incident on the first floor of the building that required the attention of about 10 Alamo College police officers, including Chief Don Adams. Vela said the student who was suspended was already on probation for threatening a student a few days before the altercation. “It wasn’t just a one-time thing,” he said. Vela would not specify details on the altercation, and The Ranger has not yet received a copy of the police report.
Faith Duarte
Spring registration begins Nov. 12 Time-ticketing registration for spring begins Nov. 12-13 for students who have completed 46 or more hours, Nov. 14 for students with more than 31 hours, Nov. 15 for students with more than 16 hours and Nov. 16 for students with more than one credit hour. Open registration begins Nov. 19. Registration ends Jan. 11 for 16-week and Flex 1, Jan. 25 for Start 2 and March 13 for Flex 2. Classes begin Jan. 22 for 16-week and Flex 1, Feb. 4 for Start 2 and March 25 for Flex 2. For more information, visit http://www.alamo.edu/calendars/ or call admissions at 210486-0200.
Alma Linda Manzanares
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Vol. 87 Nov. 5, 5, 2012 2012 Vol. 87 Issue Issue 77 •• Nov.
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District launches mobile app MyAlamo features a directory, catalog and emergency information. By ALMA LINDA MANZANARES
created the learning management system the district has adopted, to Students can download MyAlamo, create the app at a cost of $66,000. a free mobile app that includes a “We think this will payoff 100 directory, emergency contact infortimes over,” he said. mation and news feeds, off the App Cleary said in spring 2011, inforStore for iOS operating system and mation technology services surveyed Google Play for Android operating 1,638 students representing the five system. colleges. Dr. Thomas Cleary, vice chancelHe said 78 percent of students who lor for planning, performance and responded owned a mobile device information systems, capable of mobile reported to district apps. “I’d imagine trustees at Tuesday’s that number is closer regular monthly meetto 90 percent today,” ing that Phase 1 of Cleary said. MyAlamo is complete; He said MyAlamo however, the app is is part of the BYOD, not available on the bring your own Blackberry AppWorld device, which leverbecause Blackberry is ages the technology the “minority of the that students already market.” have. MyAlamo “If you have a brings applications Blackberry, I encourand processes to stuMyAlamo, the district’s app age you to trade that for mobile phones Riley dents on their devicin for an Android or an es, he said. Stephens iPhone,” Cleary said. Cleary said 48 perPhase 1 of MyAlamo features a cent of students surveyed wanted a directory of faculty, staff and students; course catalog available on the app; a detailed course directory with times 45 percent wanted college and office and locations; college catalogs; feeds operating hours; 48 percent wanted with district news ; video feeds; emerannouncements; 39 percent wanted gency contact information; links to a directory; and 42 percent wanted the college’s websites; and links to the news and events. “So we’ve done it,” district’s Facebook and Twitter. he said. “It gets us out of the hardware Cleary said the district partnered business and into the software and with Blackboard, the company that delivery business.” amanzanares6@student.alamo.edu
Dr. Thomas Cleary, vice chancellor for planning, performance, and information systems, presents MyAlamo, the district’s new mobile phone app, to the board of trustees during a regular board meeting Tuesday. David Torres Cleary said Phase 2 of MyAlamo, which he hopes to implement by the end of the spring semester, includes access to secure information and services including a student’s class schedule, registration, financial aid information, academic progress information, course instruction, grades and transcript information. He said the generation coming into college is a mobile generation that grew up with interacting, communicating and doing business through the Internet and mobile devices. “These devices go with them so they’ll never not know information that they need to know,” Cleary said. He said a cost has not been determined for Phase 2 because he is not sure if the district will need to engage another vendor.
“I’d love to have students see their grades at the end of the spring term and be able to start registering online through their mobile apps, and pay and look at transcripts and courses for the summer term,” he said. “I want all the students to be online rather than in line.” Possibilities for a Phase 3 of MyAlamo are limitless, Cleary said. For example, Cleary said if there is a laundry facility at the Tobin Lofts, a public-private partnership at this college that has a residential development for students, faculty and staff, an app could be made to tell students when a machine is not being used. He said parking could also be monitored using an app to tell students where an available parking spot is located. “It’s endless with this,” Cleary said.
Officials delay letter of employment By FAITH DUARTE
ciation and the college’s Faculty Senate became involved after hearing about Duong’s situation from Piper Professor nominee Hoan Duong received math Professor Gerald Busald Oct. 3 in a closed an employment letter Oct. 29 to allow him to contin- meeting of Faculty Senate. ue teaching in the U.S., the president of this college’s Faculty Senate created a resolution dated Oct. chapter of the American Association of University 22 in support of Duong, who is one of four nomiProfessors announced during the citizens-to-be- nees for Piper Professor from this college. The heard portion of Tuesday’s board meeting. nominee chosen by peers to represent this college “His ability to remain teaching at SAC for the will compete statewide for one of 10 $5,000 awards next few years will ensure that our math depart- for teaching excellence. ment can continue its tradition of engaging and According to the resolution, the district has preparing students for graduation and no policy regarding the employment of successful transfer to four-year colleges,” noncitizens. Librarian Celita DeArmond said during Busald, vice president of the Faculty the presentation. Legal Action Association, said Thursday The delay in getting the letter signed the organization was prepared to provide by a district official had attracted the legal support for Duong if the situation attention of Faculty Senate, the AAUP was not resolved before the board meetchapter and the San Antonio College ing. “We were prepared to have our attorFaculty Legal Action Association, which ney at the meeting, so we were prepared Hoan Duong had planned to speak to the board on if it came down to a battle,” he said. Duong’s behalf. DeArmond said an email describing Duong’s The letter is required for the Canadian citizen situation was sent Oct. 28 to the Alamo Colleges to maintain a Trade NAFTA visa, a special status for board of trustees and Zeigler. professionals that allows Canadian and Mexican “Let’s just say movement happened all of a sudcitizens to live in the United States. Without this den,” she said after the presentation. verification, his employment for the spring would “I think there was some kind of confusion as have been in jeopardy. to what kind of visa he needed to be on,” she said Duong, who has taught in the math department after the presentation. “It just seemed there wasn’t since 1998, requested a letter in September and said enough effort to understand the situation before he learned in early October that although it was the big ‘no’ happened.” submitted to the district by college President Robert Linda Boyer-Owens, associate vice chancellor of Zeigler, a district representative had not signed it. human resources, declined to comment Thursday Duong said it seemed as if the district was stalling. on reasons for the delay but said she signed the letThe college AAUP chapter, faculty legal asso- ter of employment Duong received Oct. 29. fduarte3@student.alamo.edu
“We’re pleased that it worked out the way it did, and we’re pleased that everybody is pleased,” she told The Ranger Thursday. About 10 faculty members, including Busald, and one student stood with DeArmond during the presentation to show support for the professor. “He (Duong) has a high level of involvement within our academic community, is an excellent professor, and is well-respected by his students and colleagues,” DeArmond said during the meeting. Math Chair Said Fariabi said Duong is an asset to the department that has seen its full-time faculty decline in recent years from a high of 62 to 31 this semester. “I’m so happy that we could have him in the department because he’s been helping the department and the students in any way he can,” Fariabi said Wednesday. Duong teaches math and computer science courses, which “makes him unique in that sense,” Fariabi said. This semester, Duong teaches MATH 0303, Intermediate Algebra; MATH 1314, College Algebra; MATH 2413, Calculus 1; MATH 2314, Calculus 2; MATH 2318, Linear Algebra; and COSC 1315, Fundamentals of Programming. Fariabi said the district would have given Duong until the end of the semester to submit a letter of employment and would have allowed him to teach for the remainder of the semester. “We had a plan to assign his (spring 2013) classes to somebody else, but I’m glad it didn’t go that far,” Fariabi said. Duong did not attend the board meeting because he was teaching his 6 p.m. Calculus 2 class. “They said from now on there would be no problems, and I hope this is (just) a misunderstanding,” Duong said Wednesday.
2 • The Ranger
People
Nov. 5, 2012
www.theranger.org/people
Crime prevention officer Shane Isbell of campus police registers bicycles of business freshman Julien Rivera and teaching sophomore Levon Minter Oct. 25 in the mall. Registration can help in the recovery of stolen bicycles. Monica Correa
Education freshman Sierra Solano applies makeup to communications sophomore Rene Orozco during a Psychology Club and GALA meeting Wednesday in the craft room of Loftin. The clubs hosted a costume party and potluck meal for Halloween instead of their regular meeting. Monica Correa
Philosophy sophomore Terrell Stewart takes a survey provided by Maura Callahan, Student Government Association Commissioner and speech communication sophomore, during Sweet Treats Wednesday in the mall. Bags of candy were given as a reward for completing the survey. Vincent Reyna
International studies sophomore Matthew Rodriguez plays music using the sound engine from a Game Boy Oct. 29 in tryouts for SAC’s Got Talent in Loftin. The talent show will be 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday in the Fiesta Room of Loftin. Vincent Reyna
Voice Instructors Becky Walker and Madeline Elizondo perform during “Twilight Tones,” an annual Halloween fundraising performance for the music program Oct. 25 in McAllister. The total money raised was $587. David Torres Julio Castillo and his son, Julio Castillo Jr., chat with comic artist Eroll See while he draws his own character, Dead Boll, during Women of Wonder Day Oct. 21 at Heroes and Fantasies Store, 4923 N.W. Loop 410. The event’s proceedings go to the Battered Women and Children’s Shelter of San Antonio for Domestic Violence Awarness Month. Gloria Fernandez De Clements
Students play cards Oct. 19 during an event for Deaf Awareness Week in the basement of Nail. The American Sign Language and interpreter training department sponsors monthly game nights. Sergio Ramirez
News
Nov. 5, 2012
The Ranger • 3
www.theranger.org
District will pay 6.4 percent for retirement for adjuncts By REBECCA SALINAS
semester, and Zeigler does not know if there will be one. The Alamo Colleges will make the Townsend said he wants to get the 6.4 percent contribution to the Teacher message out and “calm people down.” Retirement System for adjunct facHe said adjuncts who teach a couulty teaching more than 7.4 semester ple of classes might not always check hours in the spring. their ACES email so they A TRS rule, announced might not know. by Chancellor Bruce He also said he wants Leslie on Sept. 26, limited to “correct the damadjunct teaching hours to aged morale” that might 7.4 before both the adjunct have been caused if and the district would have adjuncts were limited to to contribute 6.4 percent of fewer classes. Previously, compensation. adjuncts could teach up to President Robert 12 units. Zeigler sent an email He said he thinks the Jerry Townsend later that day saying three contribution adjuncts will options are to hire more adjuncts, have to make will connect them to the keep faculty teaching 7.5 hours or college. more with justification or cut classes. “It bonds them to the college Zeigler said Wednesday that the and district by letting them buy in,” district will pay the contribution and Townsend said. “will not make changes.” On the other hand, Zeigler said Jerry Townsend, Adjunct Faculty some adjuncts are not pleased Council chair and media communicabecause their compensation will be tions adjunct, said he was informed smaller. of the decision at Tuesday’s regular Zeigler said he does not know how board of trustees meeting. much the contribution made by the Townsend planned to speak durdistrict will cost. ing the citizens-to-be heard section of He said if adjuncts’ schedules have the meeting to let trustees know of the been limited in the spring because of rule’s disadvantages for adjuncts. the rule, the college administration Zeigler said the decision was made will address earlier issue. about a month ago when Leslie sent An earlier decision that limited an email to faculty Sept. 26. adjunct teaching loads was made There is currently no policy because the district had to stay within addressing the rule after the spring budgeted labor costs, Zeigler said. rsalinas191@student.alamo.edu
Transfer fair shows need to research By CRISTINA CARREON sac-ranger@alamo.edu
Some universities that were once easier for students to get into are now getting more competitive. This was one vital bit of information students who asked learned at the college’s transfer fair Oct. 29 that brought representatives of 38 colleges and universities to Loftin Student Center. For instance, the University of Texas at San Antonio required a grade-point average of 2.0 for 20122013, but requires a 2.25 GPA for transfers for 2013-2014. Our Lady of the Lake University requires a minimum GPA of 2.0. Texas A&M International University at Laredo requires different GPAs for different programs. Also universities allow their schools and colleges to determine the minimum GPA they will accept. Participants at the transfer fair included major universities such as the University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M University and Texas State University-San Marcos; local institutions such as UTSA, OLLU, the University of the Incarnate Word and St. Mary’s University. Smaller colleges, such as Cottey College for Women, also participated. Cottey College is a liberal arts and sciences institution in Nevada, Mo., with about 350 students. College enrollment representatives at the fair encouraged students to be aware of which uni-
Liberal arts sophomore Angela Polendo talks to Cheryl Hollenshead, associate director of transfer admissions at St. Mary’s University. Monica Correa versities offer the most extensive programs in their field and what requirements are necessary for transfer. University representatives pointed out pitfalls for transfer students to avoid. “Some mistakes students make are not taking enough prerequisites before applying or sending an incomplete application,” Dora Turner, recruitment coordinator and preadmission adviser for the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, said. “Also, students need to meet the minimum GPA requirement when applying to transfer.” Universities such as St. Mary’s University and UT-Austin have a flat tuition rate with extra costs depending on the major. “If your major requires more
labs, it will cost more in tuition,” Belinda Celis, regional director for UT-Austin, said. Other universities’ tuition is based on semester hours. Class sizes vary at UT-Austin, which has 50,000 enrolled students but a ratio of 18 students to one professor. Some colleges don’t have admissions deadlines. Schreiner University in Kerrville offers a “rolling admissions” policy, which does not have a set deadline for transfer applicants. This college’s transfer center on the first floor of Moody Learning Center offers degree plans, transfer guides, catalogs and admissions and scholarship information. For more information, visit the transfer center’s website at alamo. edu./main.aspx?id=5671 or call 210-486-0864.
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News
4 • The Ranger
Nov. 5, 2012
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Student development classes train the brain to learn By DAVID ESPINOZA sac-ranger@alamo.edu
Student development Professor Suzanna Borawski starts her class with a game of blackout bingo. The idea is fairly straightforward: Find a student who’s done one of several activities listed on the game sheet and fill in their name on the space. This is done until the whole sheet is filled out. No one wins or loses, and the class begins a few minutes later. This may seem like a trivial activity for a college course, but this is a class that values interaction and helping others to achieve a mutual goal. This is SDEV 0370, Foundations for College Learning. This is one of three courses offered by student development to give students skills to be successful in completing a degree plan. The others are SDEV 0170, College Success, and SDEV 0171, Strategies for Success. All new Alamo College students are put into either SDEV 0370 or SDEV 0170, depending on their Accuplacer scores. Students who need remedial courses are put into SDEV 0370, a 16-week course. If the student’s SAT scores are higher, those scores will replace the Accuplacer. The rest of the students are put into the eight-week SDEV 0170. This course previously was a two-day eight-hour orientation course. Students with a GPA below 2.0 for two or more semesters are required to sign up for SDEV 0171. Transfer students with at least 15 credit hours do not have to take any of these courses. The student success center, which houses student develop-
ment courses, estimates a total of 3,300 students are enrolled in student development courses. Borawski starts her lecture discussing the human brain and how it works. Humans are born with 100 billion neurons in the brain, Borawski said. As the five senses take in the world around people, synapses, or branches called dendrites branch out connecting neurons to each other, forming a network. By exercising the brain through repetition, the neural network is strengthened. Eventually, previous problems such as difficult math problems become easier to solve because the neural network has been trained to deal with them. These “branches,” however, must constantly be worked through repetition or the network will weaken over time. Borawski also emphasized the importance of prior knowledge to be used as a basis for the neural network to build on a strong prior knowledge of math becomes the building blocks of more advanced courses. The second is quality of processing or how students study material, and the third is quantity of processing or how frequently students work the brain over the same material. The brain naturally retains what is most important to its owner so students need to believe what they are learning is important. Cramming information is not advised because it uses the working memory instead of long-term memory. Working memory is limited when compared to long term. Exams normally contain too much material for the working memory to handle.
Student development Professor Suzanna Borawski tells students they will have a class party after a test Oct. 18, during her SDEV 0370, Foundations for College Learning, class in the student success center. Riley Stephens Self-esteem also plays a crucial role in studying. Work in a particular subject becomes easier after small successes. Religious studies freshman Frank Mangeniello, a student in SDEV 0370, has felt the effects of the course in just a few short weeks. “I’m putting together ways of studying, repeating problems over and over. In the past I would cram my studies. The class is teaching me what works best for me. It’s more than just learning math. You feel the support,” he said. Students looking for more information, can visit the student success center or call 210-486-0370.
Three events scheduled for National Distance Learning Week By PATRICIA MCGLAMORY sac-ranger@alamo.edu
8 in 10
Distance education classes are becoming a more popular way to take college courses. Students can take online classes anywhere, any time, Usha Venkat, director of information and communication technologies, said Oct. 29. “It is also very flexible, in a sense that the students will be able to complete these assignments and they are not tied to a specific timeframe,” she said. Nov. 5-9 is National Distance Learning Week, and the office of technology services is sponsoring events for students and faculty to see what this college has to offer with distance learning. “Right now technology is used in both, our face-to-face teachers as well as our distance education teachers,” Venkat said. Distance education is growing not only for
exclusively online classes, but also for face-toface classes being supplemented with online coursework. In fall 2010, this college offered 377 Internet course sections, with an enrollment of 2,911 students. In fall 2011, the college offered 364 online course sections, with 3,513 students enrolled. And this semester shows 373 online course sections, with 3,859 students enrolled. This growth shows nearly a 33 percent increase in online enrollment in the last two years. Distance learning options can be enrolling in an online course, hybrid/blended course, web-enhanced course, telecourse or an interactive video conferencing course, according to the distance learning site for this college. Online courses are 100 percent Internet
clients are age 20 and older.
96
years providing women, men, of clients at or below 150% and young people of the federal poverty level. with the education, information, and services needed to make of all health services responsible choices about sex are contraceptive. and reproduction.
76%
34%
activists, supporters, and donors.
900,000 clients served by
Planned Parenthood-supported partners in 10 developing countries.
3/4
of clients receive services to prevent unintended pregnancies.
3%
of all services are abortion services
584,000
estimated number
6 million+
of unintended pregnancies averted by contraceptive services each year.
in male clients 105% increase from 2000 to 2010.
delivered. Hybrid/blended courses are faceto-face classes, meeting on scheduled class days, combined with online assignments. Web-enhanced courses are delivered face-toface with online assignments. Telecourses are video-based, but face-to-face meetings may be required. Interactive video conferencing is an interactive video and audio conferencing system used to connect remote classrooms at scheduled times and locations. A virtual distance learning panel will be presented 10 a.m.-10:50 a.m. Wednesday. For logon access instructions, go to http://alamo. edu/sac/DistanceLearning. Psychology Professor Pamela Hill, mortuary science Professor Francisco E. Solis and librarian Celita DeArmond will compose the panel. Hill will speak about the Online Learning Institute and ways teachers can use online open
content to supplement their teaching materials. Solis will take “another spin” in teaching face-to-face classes, Venkat said. He records his face-to-face classes and makes it available on the Internet. Venkat uses this example as a form of distance learning to show that if a student misses a class because of an emergency or getting tied up at work, they can still catch up. DeArmond will speak on humanizing technology and ways technology can be used to reach students. A technology showcase forum and reception are 1 p.m.-3 p.m. Thursday in Room 120 of the visual arts center. A distance learning booth will be in the mall 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Thursday. For more information, call 210-486-0030 or go to http://alamo.edu/sac/DistanceLearning.
News
Nov. 5, 2012
The Ranger • 5
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Non-Traditional Student Club members join for a clothesline walk for Domestic Violence Awareness Month Oct. 23 north of Oppenheimer. Club members walked from the empowerment center to Loftin. Sergio Ramirez
Students share experiences to spread awareness “It ends with me” was the theme for this year’s clothesline project. By LUCIA ESPINO
sac-ranger@alamo.edu
During the Clothesline Project, the Non-Traditional Student Club raised awareness for domestic violence by sharing their experience as victims. Roxana Avendano, American Sign Language sophomore and club president, and business sophomore Angela Polendo, shared their experiences as victims of domestic violence in interviews Oct. 10. “I didn’t want my son to be like his dad, and I definitely didn’t want my daughter to be like me,” Avendano said. During one of the times she was being abused, Avendano realized her children were more likely to fall into a similar situation. She said the thought was all she needed to stop the abuse and act against her husband. “That day, for the first time, I fought back,” Avendano said. “I called 911. When I was talking to the
operator he grabbed the phone line cables and ripped them off the wall.” The operator was able to trace the call and police officers were dispatched to the residence. Her husband was arrested and charged with assault, along with obstruction of a 911 call, Avendano said. Avendano said she had separated from her husband twice before but decided to give him another chance hoping he would change, and then they could finally be the happy family they were pretending to be. “The first day back at home, he was lovely and kind, but the next day the abuse continued. I tried marriage counseling and help from church, but nothing worked,” Avendano said. After years of trying to help her husband change, Avendano said she realized the abuse would not stop if her husband did not want it to. She said at the beginning of the abuse, she thought it was normal and nothing else but a way of life, the
same thought Polendo had. Polendo said ever since she was 8 years old, she was afraid to wake up and find her mom dead from abuse. She said she was well aware of the abuse her mother and other women in her family went through, which was why she thought abuse was normal. Her mother was the first in her family to break the cycle of domestic violence, and after that, everyone in her family decided to follow her footsteps, Polendo said. “Her strength finally broke the cycle for my family,” Polendo said. During the time she was trying to help her mom get out of domestic violence, Polendo said, “I realized I was a verbal abuser myself.” “The victims are not just the ones getting abused, but also everyone around them,” Polendo said. After 25 years of domestic violence, she was diagnosed with major depression, generalized anxiety disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder, Polendo said. Avendano’s and Polendo’s experiences were reflected in some mes-
sages written on white shirts Oct. 22. in the mall. The project is called the Clothesline Project, and it allows participants to write encouraging messages for and in memory of domestic violence victims. “Love should not hurt,” “After the first strike … act,” “Domestic violence hurts everyone” and “Be strong” were among the messages written by students. Club members gave information about where to get help and how to help others who might be going through domestic violence. The office of student life provided small gift bags with candies and chocolates, along with a domestic violence awareness button for everyone who designed a shirt. All 26 shirts created, along with some from previous years, were hung on a clothesline and walked by students and staff from the empowerment center to Loftin Student Center Oct. 23. “The violence stops here” and “Say no to domestic violence,” were shouted along the way.
This year, the club is also sponsoring a Hopeline for the first time. The Hopeline is a project created by Verizon Wireless, where anyone can donate old cell phones to give to domestic violence victims, said Melissa Flores Valencia, a Seguir Adelante counselor. This cell phone drive is to promote safety, security and freedom for victims, according to the Verizon Wireless website. Cell phones can be dropped off at the empowerment center, Room 312 of the nursing and allied health complex, Room 214 of the early childhood studies building or Room 150 of Loftin Student Center until Nov. 9. Polendo and Avendano said they want others to know that abuse should not happen at all and even if it is just verbal, it is still abuse. “I want other women to know there is life outside of domestic violence,” Avendano said. “It ends with you,” Polendo said. For more information call the empowerment center at 210-4860455 or visit the center on 703 Howard St. 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday.
Digital art students showcase works
Student wins $500 scholarship
65 pieces are exhibited in visual arts center.
Holiday card design was redrawn to remove The Ranger.
By EDGAR GARCIA
sac-ranger@alamo.edu
By EDGAR GARCIA
sac-ranger@alamo.edu
Professor Tom Willome in the visual arts program said this year he selected a total of 65 pieces of digital art produced by students for an exhibit in the visual arts center. This is the first time he and the fine arts faculty decided to focus on digital art, he said. “Students like to see their work being exhibited, and we are also sharing them on our Facebook page, which is getting around 700 organic looks (per post) from the public, he said. Willome explained the artwork in the gallery has been produced by students who have taken ARTS 2348, Digital Art 1, and ARTS 2349, Digital Art 2, in the past three years as well as students who are currently taking the courses. The exhibit showcases a vari-
Places 9 by Inessa Bicknell
ety of colors, patterns and textures. “On an annual basis, we select the best work that we accumulate from our students,” Willome said. After receiving nearly 1,000 entries, Willome selected his top 65 art pieces. “I eliminated any work that has been exhibited before … I
made my selection based on quality and picked pieces that complement each other as a whole,” he explained. The artwork will be on display on the first and second floors of the center, which is open to the public 7 a.m.-7:30 p.m. weekdays until Dec. 12. For more information, call Willome at 210-486-1043.
Education sophomore Kathryn Ramirez is proud of her victory in the annual president’s holiday card design contest. Ramirez described the moment she received a call from project coordinator Robin Collett Oct. 7 as a shocking experience for which she has still not recovered. “My eyes turned so big, and my mouth dropped to the floor,” Ramirez said Oct. 26 in a telephone interview. The winner of the $500 scholarship said she decided to create four cards for the contest, but she had a feeling that one, which included three snowmen on the cover, was her strongest entry. “I had to go back and redo my card because the original version wasn’t acceptable because I had the snowmen reading The Ranger, which I was told had nothing to do with the contest,” Ramirez said. The winner edited the card by removing the newspaper out of the hands of the snowmen and instead drew books in their hands.
“I decided to put snowmen on the cover to make it seem like students reading,” Ramirez said. Ramirez described the experience as “a little stressful, but overall worth the stress.” “Three days before the deadline, a student in one of my classes told me about the contest,” Ramirez explained. The winner also will be introduced at the president’s holiday gathering on Dec. 7, where she will receive a scholarship from President Robert Zeigler. “I am very excited about meeting the president,” Ramirez said. “And the money, I will use it for my next semester in spring.” The contest was judged by Zeigler; Dr. Robert Vela, vice president of academic and student success; and Vanessa C. Torres, public relations officer. Collett said that among the 12 entries, Ramirez and another student were the only ones who submitted hand-drawn cards. “The judges liked her entry because it was very different from the ones we have had in the past years,” Collett said.
Editorial
6 • The Ranger
Nov. 5, 2012
www.theranger.org/opinion
Editor Alma Linda Manzanares Managing Editor Rebecca Salinas Calendar Editor Jennifer Coronado Photo Editor Riley Stephens Photographers Monica Correa, Vincent Reyna Photo Team Gloria Fernandez De Clements Jovan Ibarra, Sergio Ramirez, David Torres, Carolina Vela Multimedia Editor Ingrid Wilgen Illustrator Juan Carlos Campos Production Manager Mandy Derfler Production Assistant Jason Hogan Staff Writers Cristina Carreon, Jennifer Charo Angelo Thomas Dixon, Chelsea Driskell Lucia Espino, David Espinoza, Carlos Ferrand Edgar Garcia, Kirk Hanes, Jennifer Luna, Beau McCarter, Patricia McGlamory Adam Meza, Ivie Okungbowa, Osita Omesiete Diana Palomo, Felipe Perez Jr. Janeka Porter, Christina Quintanilla, Amanda Rios Paula Christine Schuler, Nicole West Web Editor Faith Duarte Circulation Dawn Mayen ©2012 by The Ranger staff, San Antonio College, 1300 San Pedro Ave., San Antonio, TX 78212-4299. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without permission. The Ranger news outlets, which serve the Alamo Community College District, are laboratory projects of journalism classes in the Department of Media Communications at San Antonio College. The Ranger is published Mondays except during summer, holidays and examinations. The Ranger Online is available at www.theranger.org. News contributions accepted by telephone (210-486-1773), by fax (210-486-9292), by email (sac-ranger@alamo.edu) or at the editorial office (Room 212 of Loftin Student Center). Advertising rates available upon request by phone (210-486-1765) or as a download at www.theranger.org. The Ranger is a member of the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association, the Associated Collegiate Press and the Texas Community College Journalism Association.
Guest Viewpoints:
Faculty, staff, students and community members are welcome to contribute guest viewpoints of up to 450 words. Writers should focus on campus or current events in a critical, persuasive or interpretative style. All viewpoints must be published with a photo portrait of the writer.
Juan Carlos Campos
Watch accessibility President Robert Zeigler reorganized the college administration by returning to a vice president model that combines two positions into one. Dr. Robert Vela, formerly vice president of student affairs, was named vice president of academic and student success Oct. 23. The combined vice president position was in effect from 1995–2009, when Dr. Jessica Howard was hired as executive vice president but agreed to become vice president of academic affairs and Vela was promoted from dean to vice president of student affairs. Vela assumed the academic vice president’s duties temporarily in addition to his regular duties when Howard left June 29 to become president of Portland Community College’s Southeast Campus. With about 26,000 students enrolled, this college has the largest population among
the five colleges in the district and one of the leanest executive teams. Zeigler said Oct. 23 that the college executive team recommended the combined model because they believe it would help them function more effectively as a team. He said it also would avoid confusion because academic and student issues are merging and often overlap. Initiatives to improve student academic performance, such as MyMap, involve both student affairs and academic affairs. So Zeigler’s reasoning makes sense. But the bottom line is will Vela still have the time to invest in students with all of his additional responsibilities? Zeigler said he plans a review in six months. We hope Vela will be able to continue making time for students while juggling so many duties.
Letters Policy:
The Ranger invites readers to share views by writing letters to the editor. Space limitations force the paper to limit letters to two double-spaced, typewritten pages. Letters will be edited for spelling, style, grammar, libel and length. Editors reserve the right to deny publication of any letter. Letters should be mailed to The Ranger, Department of Media Communications, San Antonio College, 1300 San Pedro Ave., San Antonio TX 78212-4299. Letters also may be brought to the newspaper office in Room 212 of Loftin Student Center, emailed to sac-ranger@alamo.edu or faxed to 210-486-9292. Letters must be signed and must include the printed name and telephone number. Students should include classification, major, campus and Banner ID. Employees should include title and telephone number. For more information, call 210-486-1773.
Single Copy Policy:
Members of the Alamo Community College District community are permitted one free copy per issue because of high production costs. Where available, additional copies may be purchased with prior approval for 50 cents each by contacting The Ranger business office. Newspaper theft is a crime. Those who violate the single- copy rule may be subject to civil and criminal prosecution and subject to college discipline.
Pre-K nod obvious One week before the Nov. 6 general election and after much deliberation, the Alamo Colleges board of trustees finally passed a resolution supporting prekindergarten education, an issue some people would have already considered a given. The resolution steers clear of endorsing Major Julian Castro’s Pre-K 4 SA initiative, an issue that bounced between a committee and the board until outside legal counsel watered down the wording. The initiative, which would require a oneeighth of a cent sales tax increase, strives to improve prekindergarten education for local 4-year olds. Lawyer money spent on the microscopic
edit of the resolution’s wording could have gone to something else. Though the resolution does not endorse the initiative, events throughout the district show otherwise. The mayor spoke at a press conference for the initiative Sept. 21 a the early childhood center and hosted forums Oct. 16 at Palo Alto and Oct. 26 at this college. Two prominent district administrators — Dr. Adena Loston, president of St. Philip’s College and former PAC President Ana “Cha” Guzman — were part of the task force that created the initiative. Why bother spending time and money on a resolution that confirms the obvious?
Make sure to vote Your last chance to vote is from 7 a.m.-7 course, the president and vice president. p.m. Tuesday on Election Day. San Antonio voters also will Research who and what will decide whether to approve For more be on the ballot and find the a sales tax increase that will information, call location of your precinct. fund Pre-K 4 SA, a program 210-335-8683 or visit Positions on the ballot that would provide education elections.bexar.org. include U.S. and state senators for local 4-year-olds by serving and representatives, judges, 22,400 children over eight years. constables, school district trustees, and, of Let your voice be heard.
Nov. 5, 2012
Health
The Ranger • 7
www.theranger.org
Breast cancer affects loved ones
45 students get HIV tests
By NICOLE A. WEST sac-ranger@alamo.edu
Nancy G. Brinker made a promise to her dying sister, Susan G. Komen, she would do everything to end breast cancer, Samantha Huizar, program coordinator for the San Antonio Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation, said Monday in Loftin Student Center. In 1982, Susan G. Komen for the Cure was launched as a global breast cancer movement. The office of student life invited Huizar to speak on “Join the Promise: Imagine Life Without Breast Cancer.” Six students attended the presentation in the health promotions office. The San Antonio affiliate started in 1997 with six women who shared a vision for local breast health, Huizar said. The six women had breast cancer, and only three survived. They were dedicated to the memory of their friend, Karen Wood, who died from breast cancer. In 1998, San Antonio had its first Komen Race for the Cure, which raised $35,000 for research. The 15th annual Race for the Cure on May 12 had 24,000 participants including 13,000 survivors and raised more than $1 million, Huizar said. The next local race is April 6. According to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure San Antonio website, 75 percent of the funds support local nonprofit programs that provide breast
By CARLOS FERRAND sac-ranger@alamo.edu
Samantha Huizar, program coordinator for Susan G. Komen Foundation Race for the Cure, talks about breast cancer prevention and treatment Monday in Loftin. Monica Correa cancer screening, treatment and education about the disease. The remaining 25 percent goes to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure grants program for research and scientific programs around the world. When someone goes through breast cancer, family and friends go through it as well, Huizar said. Breast cancer is a disease in which cells in the breast tissue divide and grow without normal control, Huizar said. “There are 2.6 million breast cancer survivors in the United States today,” Huizar said. In the U.S., about 10 percent of diagnoses are because of inherit gene mutation, yet 85 percent of diagnoses have no family history of breast cancer. She said women and men should: • Know your risk by researching fam-
ily history. • Get screened. People should ask their doctor which screening tests are right for them. • Know what is normal to you. People should know how their breasts look to them; any changes should be reported to their doctor. • Make healthy lifestyle choices,” such as breast feeding, limiting alcohol consumption and maintaining a healthy weight. One in eight women will have to battle breast cancer, Huizar said. “Remember, men can get breast cancer, too,” Huizar said. According to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure website, 2,190 new cases of breast cancer will occur in men in 2012 and 410 of those will die. For more information, visit www. komensanantonio.org.
Studying and being prepared are two keys to success in testing. The same is true with preventing the spread of HIV. Peer Educators hosted free HIV testing Oct. 25-26 by Hope Action Care, a nonprofit community-based organization. With a simple swab of the gums, students were able to get results in 20 minutes. More than 45 students were tested over the two days. Hope Action Care has tested at this college before, but the most they tested in a single day was 10, said program manager Danielle Leal. “The most we have ever got in a community college was 32, so it was a really successful event for SAC,” she said. Testing is important as the HIV rate is increasing among those 18-25 years of age. “More people are engaging in higher risk activities and not knowing what they’re putting themselves at risk for,” she said. High-risk activities include sharing drug needles or having unprotected sex. Along with testing, having an open and honest conversation with your partner is vital,
Peer Educators Michael Lozano, radiology sophomore, and Jesus Interiano, music business sophomore, tell Melissa Padilla, interpreter training sophomore, that it’s important to get tested for HIV. Alma Linda Manzanares Leal said. “Have the conversation,” she said. Students should not be scared to get tested because they are nervous about the results, Leal said. “Just because there is a positive test result doesn’t mean it’s the end of anything. People can live healthy with HIV, and it happens all the time,” she said. Hope Action Care also provided condoms, lubricants and information. “Being protected is the most important thing … and right now being unprotected is the most dangerous thing you can do for your future,” social work sophomore Stephanie Trujillo said.
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Sports
8 • The Ranger
Nov. 5, 2012
www.theranger.org
Rain allows fists to fly in the Fiesta Room Sparring matches reflected the frustration of student boxers over event cancellation. By INGRID WILGEN
icobham@student.alamo.edu
It almost didn’t happen. On Oct. 25, the college’s Olympic-style USA Boxing event was canceled after the suspension of USA Boxing by the Amateur International Boxing Association. Later that day, the suspension was lifted, and the campus event was rescheduled for 11:30 a.m. Oct. 26 in the mall. Then rain poured from the heavens canceling the event once again. The Olympic-style event was washed away and replaced by eight sparring matches in Loftin Student Center, consisting of three one-minute matches. Because of its size and sogginess, the official boxing ring could not be moved indoors and the event lost its sanction, which would allow boxers to move up in their division. Instead of a boxing ring, open folding chairs took the place of roped ring boundaries. Official judges conducting the sparring did not declare winners or losers. Instead, they raised the arms of both fighters in victory at the end of each match. Some students from this college were paired with their teammates while others fought boxers Criminal justice freshman Nadya Cano punches criminal justice freshman Diana Vallejo during a match Oct. 26 in the Fiesta Room. Photos by Monica Correa from Team Alcoser. Boxing coach Hector Ramos said the matches allowed student boxers to get the butterflies out of their system. He said the can change unexpectedly. Altamirano said the teur boxing had been suspended, Martinez said. forum gave the team an opportunity to demonmatches were nice because the team was still Although the ban was lifted Oct. 25, the strate their skills and gain able to do something. weather took away any chance to hold the sancexperience. Music sophomore tioned event Oct. 26. “We just wanted to fight,” View the video at Ramos said, “Next Luis Martinez said the Martinez said. “We gave it our best today.” theranger.org. time it will be in the ring sparring matches were Student activities specialist Carrie Hernandez with a bigger crowd.” more intense than the said the next Olympic style boxing event will be Nursing sophomore Maria Altamirano bouts in the spring semester because of the in the spring. sparred with Team Alcoser boxer Jenelle Leal. frustration of all the cancellations. He said the Right, Mercy Preston, emergency health services Altamirano said she was a little disappointed team trained for five intense weeks to prepare freshman, punches chemistry sophomore Katherine in not being able to box in the sanctioned event. for the event. Bouldin, sending her into the chairs. She said it was a life lesson because things Everyone was “bummed out” because ama-
Welder Eric Garcia and kinesiology sophomore Dustin Southichack set up the boxing ring for the Olympic-style boxing event Oct. 26 in the mall. Thunderstorms rained out the event, which was replaced with indoor sparring matches.
Liberal arts freshman Sean-Robert Engleka dodges a punch from criminal justice sophomore Kevin Orozco during a sparring match Oct. 26 in Loftin.
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