Vol. 86 Issue 12 • Single copies free • Feb. 13, 2012 • 210-486-1773 • theranger.org
March 9 deadline to apply for graduation
This week Library presents Chet Graham exhibit The library is exhibiting local artist Chet Graham’s work on the third floor of Moody Learning Center. When Librarian Eileen Oliver discovered Graham’s work, she said it “visually grabbed me.” Graham has been a creator of colorful, innovative, modern art his whole life. The name of the exhibit is “Formulation=Chet Graham,” and the exhibit consists of about 20 pieces. The exhibit will be in the library for the rest of the semester. The second and fourth floors are presenting “Shifting Views: The Art of Bernice A. AppelinWilliams,” which is on display through Black History Month. For more information, call Oliver at 210-486-0577. Rebecca Salinas
SGA Sweet Treats set for Monday The Student Government Association will host Sweet Treats for SGA in the mall from 9 a.m. to noon today but the time may be extended if needed. “The event will give students an opportunity to approach members of SGA and bring forth college issues, concerns, or any other matters the students feel need attention as well as get a few tasty treats in the process,” SGA Secretary Lizzie Allen said. SGA meets from noon–1 p.m. the first three Mondays of each month in the health promotions office in Room 150 of Loftin. For additional information, call adviser Tiffany Cox at 210486-0835 or email SGA president Jacob Wong at jwong19@student. alamo.edu. Matt Schiffmacher
View the boxing club practice video at www.theranger.org
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Jamie Choi, St. Philip’s College alumna and owner of Choicolates, smooths a block of ganache before cutting it into pieces for dipping and decoration Wednesday at Choicolates, 700 E. Sonterra. Read the story on Page 6. Ingrid Wilgen
Students must submit graduation applications to admissions and records in Room 216 of Fletcher Administration Center by March 9 to walk the stage at commencement May 12. “Students not planBy ROBERT ning to walk the stage MEDINA can turn in applications up until the last day rmedina116@student. of the semester,” Joe alamo.edu Jacques, assistant director of admissions, said. Students may apply for spring 2012 graduation if they have six hours or less left on their degree plan and intend to finish those hours during the summer. Students must have a GPA of 2.0 or higher in all coursework that applies to the degree, complete a minimum of 25 percent of all coursework at this college, be in good academic standing in the final semester and submit an official transcript from all previous institutions attended. “A degree is something you can hang on the wall. It’s a symbol, a trophy that you have completed a certain level of college work,” Counselor Ruben Whitney said. Students must meet with a graduation or department adviser to complete a graduation application and degree audit. These must be submitted to admissions and records along with an academic transcript and a departmental substitution approval form, if needed. For more information, call Counselor Rosa Maria Gonzalez at 210-486-0342 or visit the graduation advising office in Room 124 of the early college program building.
Chancellor considers transferring faculty Some complain of “hiring chill” double standard. After winter break, district officials asked several departments at this college to submit names of full-time faculty members to be transferred to other colleges in the district. English Instructors Richard Farias, Mariano Aguilar and Denise Stallins; speech communication Instructor Karen Wilking; reading and education Instructor Cecilia Gabrillo; and math Professor Brian By J. Hons would be the first affected. ALMENDAREZ English Chair Mike Burton said he understands that the possible transfers are a result of the board’s jalmendarez25@student. directive for all colleges to keep faculty at a ratio of 50 alamo.edu percent full-time to 50 percent part-time. He said the English department was at that ratio in fall 2010, but the district’s enrollment capping, limited course sections, and increased class size from 24 to 25, led to fewer sections being offered. Burton said departments had to fill the schedules of full-time faculty with available courses, leaving fewer opportunities for adjuncts and affecting the full-time to part-time ratio. Burton stressed that while transfers are “very probable,” Chancellor Bruce Leslie must approve them, meaning the transfers are not yet official. As of Tuesday, Leslie has not approved any transfers officially, but he said a decision will be made in the coming weeks. He said the reasons behind the moves are twofold: the $4 billion budget cut and $1.4 billion in discretionary grants to education during the most recent legislative session, and “the long history of colleges not being managed in the hiring of their personnel.” Burton said the decision of who is transferred is required, legally, to be done based on seniority, with the least senior staff members leaving first. “My faculty are very upset,” he said. Farias and Stallins would be moved to Northwest Vista College if transfers are made. Aguilar also was supposed to be transferred to Northwest Vista but said because English Professor Ioannis Vassiliou will move to Australia this summer for personal reasons, Aguilar will be able to keep his position at this college. Burton said if departments affected by the transfers have full-time employees who volunteer to leave this college, they can take the place of the aforementioned faculty members.
Richard Farias
Denise Stallins
“I think that whenever there is chaos introduced into the system, it affects everybody, and definitely it affects students. So I think that if the professors are unsettled, it has an unsettling affect everywhere,” he said. Gabrillo would transfer to Northeast Lakeview College if the transfers are made. She said she has been teaching at this college for 15 years and volunteered to be transferred from the department. “I just figured, well, it’s closer to my home,” she said. She also said that volunteering to be transferred helped to ease tension that might arise by forcing an employee to leave. Hons would be moved to Palo Alto College. Mathematics Chair Said Fariabi said that while Hons is the newest hire, he volunteered to be transferred. He said math Professor Rachid Makroz was transferred to Northeast Lakeview College after last semester ended, but he also was a volunteer.
This college’s unique needs Burton also said this college faces challenges different from other colleges. He said this college’s senior faculty outnumbers those at other colleges, and while the full-time to part-time ratio may be disproportionate now, within the next few years it is likely that departments will fall below the 50-50 ratio. “It seems reasonable from my position to just let natural attrition take care of the problem,” he said. Wilking is the most junior faculty member in the speech communication program in the fine arts department but said there is no official decision made within the department about who would be transferred to Northwest Vista. She said while other departments may have a definitive list of who will be transferred, the speech communication program does not. “Our department is not really in that boat,” she said. Fine arts Chair Jeff Hunt agreed, saying the transfers are unofficial, and the department is still requesting volunteers if moves become mandatory. Mariano Aguilar
See TRANSFER, Page 4