Vol. 86 Issue 13 • Single copies free • Feb. 20, 2012 • 210-486-1773 • theranger.org
District searches for another vice chancellor
This week
Thirty-seven apply for $180K district position.
Emily Kahanek, coordinator for civic engagement and service learning, talks about hunger and global income level gaps during the Oxfam Hunger Banquet Feb. 9 in the Fiesta Room of Loftin. Before the presentation, students received a meal ticket through lottery; lower class tickets received a plate of rice; middle class received rice and beans; and upper class received lasagna, garlic bread and a salad. Ingrid Wilgen
View video of Oxfam Hunger Banquet at www.theranger.org
College hosts debate tournament San Antonio College hosted the spring 2012 Individual Events and Debate Tournament sponsored by Texas Intercollegiate Forensics Association Feb. 3-5. Three students of this college placed in the competition. Visit www.theranger.org for the full story. Silvia Millan
English sophomore John Calloway recites a poem at this college’s poetry slam, hosted by the Black Student Alliance Wednesday in Loftin. Slams traditionally have elimination rounds and recognize a winner, but low participation prompted host Ria “Ria Listic” Thompson to invite people on stage to perform impromptu readings. J. Almendarez
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Kole Erben, 5, milks a dairy cow Tuesday with help from Colin Lowe, integrated marketing assistant for Dairy Max, in the dairy discovery
zone of Little Buckaroo Farms at the 64th Stock Show & Rodeo. See slideshow at www.theranger.org. Riley Stephens
Director of student life contests lack of quorum Vice president of student affairs must be present for interviews with The Ranger. The district ethics officer said there was no quoPosadas also said, “There were three students, and rum. The nonvoting chair maintains there was. In the faculty are not required to hold a quorum. Only stubalance hang the decisions of the Student Activity Fee dents need to be present. There does not need to be a Committee from a Feb. 2 meeting. faculty member present.” Two student members, a student However, for The Ranger to interview Posadas, an By FAITH alternate and student life Director Jorge administrator needs to be present. Dr. Robert Vela, vice DUARTE Posadas met in the health promotions president of academic affairs, accompanied Posadas for office in Loftin Student Center for the Tuesday’s interview. He asked Posadas to send The Ranger fduarte3 @student. committee’s second open meeting documentation supporting his position. By Thursday, alamo.edu since it was formed five years ago. The Ranger had not received the documentation. The committee consists of five students and four faculty or staff members. Posadas serves as nonvoting Interview saga continues chair. No faculty members attended the meeting, which is what led Eddie Cruz, ethics and After scheduling an appointment Jan. 31 to conduct compliance officer for the district, to a Feb. 1 interview with Posadas, student life secretary say Tuesday that a quorum did not Mary Schlabig called The Ranger Feb. 1 about 45 minutes exist and the commitbefore the interview to postpone because tee’s decisions from that Vela, Posadas’ supervisor, needed to accom“It sounds meeting were invalid. pany Posadas during the interview. like there Cruz said a minimum At 10 a.m. Feb. 9, Schlabig scheduled needs to be of three student meman interview for 4:30 p.m. Tuesday with Eddie Cruz both.” bers and two faculty The Ranger. Vela said during a phone Dr. Robert members constitute a quorum. District interview Feb. 9, he wanted “to ensure a Zeigler, procedure F.2.3.1 says, “For the purpose of good interview process.” president this committee, a quorum consists of any Posadas, who has regularly canceled or combination of members with a plurality simply been a no-show for interviews with of student members present.” The Ranger in the five years he has been director of stuIn a telephone interview Monday, President Robert dent life, wound up on this year’s list of Texas Monthly’s Zeigler said he understood the procedure to require annual Bum Steer awards for telling The Ranger in faculty members’ presence. October that he would agree to an interview for a fee. “It sounds like there needs to be both,” he said. Posadas’ refusal to speak to reporters for The Ranger But Tuesday afternoon, Posadas said, “In terms of over the past five months caused a series of meetings the law, there’s no violation.” among Posadas, Zeigler and Vela. Student members present Feb. 2 were nursing Zeigler said Nov. 3 that Posadas had admitted his sophomore Daniel Having and Michael Martinez, mistake and would be more forthcoming in communianthropology sophomore and Student Government cating with The Ranger. Association commissioner. Tuesday, Vela said, “We want to continue working SGA President Jacob Wong attended as an alternate. with The Ranger. I really want us to start off on the right He is the only alternate for the committee, but four foot. My intention is for us to provide good interviews, alternates are allowed. good information to our students.” Missing student members were Leonard Herbeck, However, after the interview in Vela’s office, The speech communication sophomore; psychology soph- Ranger sought clarification on the quorum procedure omore Rebecca Ross; and Jonathan Scheel, theater and found Posadas back in his office on the secsophomore. The two faculty members of the commitond floor of the student center. Posadas directed The tee — Charles Falcon, theater and speech communica- Ranger to schedule another appointment with Vela. tion professor, and Deidra Flynn-Dobson, American Thursday, Vela said Posadas could clarify without Sign Language instructor — were not present. him. Vela also said he and Zeigler were scheduled to Another two faculty positions are vacant, and meet Thursday to decide if faculty members need to be Zeigler has said he is working on new appointments. present for the committee to have a quorum.
After Dr. Robert Aguero retired in December, the Alamo Colleges opened the position of vice chancellor for academic success. The district By JOSHUA advertised the position beginFECHTER ning Nov. 18. jfechter @student. The job postalamo.edu ing advised that applications submitted after Jan. 13 were not guaranteed a review, but Mario Muñiz, district director of public relations, said the position closed Jan. 27. Dr. Thomas Cleary, vice Thomas Cleary chancellor of planning, performance and information systems, is chair of the 13-member search committee. Jo-Carol Fabianke Tuesday, he said 37 people have applied. Cleary said he would not name the members of the committee because he did not want to put them in an “awkward” position; however, he said the committee is composed of district officials, college administrators, faculty and staff. “We tried to make it as broad based as we possibly could,” he said, adding the committee will reduce the pool of candidates to a manageable number based on experience. He said he wants applicants to visit the colleges so they can “get a feel” for where they will work. “We want this to be a good fit for us and the candidate, too,” Cleary said. After the committee conducts in-person interviews, they will send the recommendations to Chancellor Bruce Leslie for a final decision. Cleary said college presidents and vice chancellors will have an opportunity to meet applicants before a decision. He said Leslie will submit his finalist for approval by the board of trustees. Jo-Carol Fabianke, associate vice chancellor for academic success, serves as interim vice chancellor for academic success. According to the Alamo Colleges operating budget for fiscal year 2010-11, the vice chancellor for academic success was paid $181,029.60 during 2010-11.
“We want this to be a good fit for us and the candidate, too.” Dr. Thomas Cleary, vice chancellor
People
2 • The Ranger
Feb. 20, 2012
www.theranger.org/people
Calendar For coverage in Calendar, call 210-486-1773 or email sac-ranger@alamo.edu two weeks in advance. Today SAC Deadline: Applications accepted for San Antonio Educational Partnership Recognition scholarship. Call 210-4860121. SAC Deadline: Applications accepted to graduate and participate in commencement May 12. Continues through March 9. Call 210-486-0342. SAC Deadline: Applications accepted for Teaching Academy Program Peers scholarship. Continues through March 7. Call 210-486-0658. SAC Event: Karaoke sponsored by office of student life 11 a.m.-1 p.m. in the Fiesta Room of Loftin. Call 210-4860125.
SAC Meeting: Psychology Club 2 p.m. in Room 502 of Moody. Continues Wednesdays. Call 210-486-1258. SAC Meeting: Gay and Lesbian Association 3 p.m. in faculty and staff lounge of Loftin. Call 210-486-0673. NLC Recital: Faculty trumpet recital 7 p.m. in performing arts center. Email cmagee7@alamo.edu. Performance: “The Robber Bridegroom” directed by Tim Hedgepath 7 p.m.-9 p.m. in Stieren Theater at Trinity University. Continues Thursday and 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday. $6 students, $8-$10 others. Call 210-999-8511. Thursday
SAC Meeting: Student Government Association noon-1 p.m. in health promotions office in Room 150 of Loftin. Call 210-486-0125.
SAC Transfer: Texas A&M-San Antonio 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. by appointment in transfer center in Room 117 of early college program. Continues Friday. Call 210-486-0864.
SAC Transfer: Texas A&M UniversityCollege Station 1 p.m.-4 p.m. on first floor of Chance. Call 210-486-0864.
SAC Event: Bible study 12:15 p.m. at Methodist Student Center, 102 Belknap. Call 210-733-1441.
SAC Meeting: Glee Club 2 p.m.-4 p.m. in faculty and staff lounge of Loftin. Continues 3 p.m.-5 p.m. Thursday. Call 210-486-0126.
SAC Event: Scene It! tournament 1 p.m.-3 p.m. in Bailey’s Cyber Café of Loftin. Call 210-486-0126.
SAC Meeting: Philosophy Club 2:15 p.m. in Room 220 of academic instruction center. Call 210-486-0966.
Music sophomore Chris Herrin, left, listens to Luis Gonzales play a Steinberger guitar, while Alan Cabrera plays bass. Music sophomores Gonzales and Cabrera performed bluegrass music Monday in McAllister during a break between classes. Riley Stephens Gonzalo Rodriguez Marquez of Brazil , studying English-asa-second-language and global entrepreneurship, attempts a corner kick during a soccer match between international students from Brazil and Korea at San Pedro Springs Park Tuesday. Brazil won 6-2. Felipe Perez Jr.
SAC Transfer: University of the Incarnate Word 3:30 p.m.-6 p.m. on first floor of Chance. Call 210-486-0864. Friday
Event: International Women’s Day planning meeting 6 p.m. at PEACE Initiative, 1443 S. St. Mary’s. Call 210533-2729. SAC Recital: Faculty recital 7:30 p.m.8:30 p.m. in auditorium of McAllister. Call 210-486-0255. Tuesday SAC Transfer: St. Mary’s University 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. on first floor of Chance. Call 210-486-0864. SAC Event: Graduation Fiesta 9 a.m.-1 p.m. in the Fiesta Room of Loftin. Call 210-486-0142. SAC Hot Potato: “Why Does SAC Need a Food Pantry?” by Susan Spencer 12:15 p.m.-1:15 p.m. at Methodist Student Center, 102 Belknap. Call 210733-1441. Wednesday SAC Transfer: Our Lady of the Lake University 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. on first floor of Chance. Call 210-486-0864. 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. by appointment in transfer center in Room 117 of early college program. Call 210-486-0864.
SAC Meeting: OnStage Drama Club noon-1 p.m. in McCreless theater. Continues Fridays. Call 486-0492. Saturday SAC Men’s Baseball: SAC vs. Texas A&M University 10 a.m.-noon at Mission County Park, 6030 Padre. Continues 2:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m. and 10 a.m.-noon Sunday. Call 210-486-0125. Feb. 27 Lecture: Chuck Klosterman 7 p.m.-9 p.m. in Room 114 of Dicke/Smith at Trinity University. Call 210-999-8187. Feb. 28
Engineering sophomore Hyrum Hilario rides a mechanical bull Wednesday during Rodeo Round-Up in the Fiesta Room of Loftin. The threat of rain moved the event indoors. Robert Medina
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. by appointment in transfer center in Room 117 of early college program. Call 210-486-0864. SAC Recital: Jazz ensemble 12:15 p.m.-1:15 p.m. in auditorium of McAllister. Call 210-486-0255. Performance: “Black-Jew Dialogues” 7 p.m.-9 p.m. in Laurie Auditorium at Trinity University. Email bbrent@trinity. edu. Feb. 29
SAC Lecture: Money Matters series “Saving and Investing” sponsored by office of student life 11 a.m.-noon in the Fiesta Room of Loftin. Call 210-486-0126.
SAC Transfer: University of the Incarnate Word 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on first floor of Chance. Call 210-486-0864. Public relations sophomore Carolina Vela and liberal arts sophomore Anais Turrubiates paint Monday for art Professor Eduardo Rodriguez’s drawing and painting class in visual arts. Ingrid Wilgen
Feb. 20, 2012
News
The Ranger • 3
www.theranger.org
SLAC lab offers computers, printing, tutoring for success Students must purchase a GoPrint card to use printing services in campus labs. The student learning assistance center offers tutoring, printing and computers for students enrolled in any of the Alamo Colleges. All these services are free, except for printing which costs 10 cents to print in By REBECCA black and white and 50 cents SALINAS for color. To print, students must sac-ranger@alamo.edu have a GoPrint card or GoPrint online account, used in most campus labs. The GoPrint cards are $1 and can be purchased at the SLAC lab. Students who may need change to purchase a card can go to the fourth floor of Moody Learning Center. The SLAC lab offers one-on-one tutoring.
The subjects change with the availability of tutors, but are likely to include Spanish, social studies, history, reading and English, but not math. Tutoring appointments are required because there are only 10 tutors and “a fair amount of students,” Gerald Manahan, distance learning programs specialist, said. As the semester rolls on, more students visit the SLAC lab, Manahan said. A student does not need an appointment to use any of the 130 computers. Students should bring an Alamo Colleges photo ID to use any SLAC service. Headphones are available in the lab. Manahan said he believes the SLAC lab is popular
Leslie: No tenure timeline The Alamo Colleges board of trustees will ident of Palo Alto College; Dr. Jimmie Bruce, vice president of academic affairs at Northwest not take action on the district’s policy on tenVista; Dr. Jo-Carol Fabianke, interim vice ure until the administration makes changes to chancellor for academic success; Dr. Federico faculty evaluations. Zaragoza, vice chancellor of economic and Chancellor Bruce Leslie By JOSHUA said in an interview after the workforce development; and Leslie. FECHTER board committee meetings Elmore-McCrary said Cynthia Katz, math Feb. 7 the board is not in professor at St. Philip’s College, served on the jfechter @student. a rush to make a decision promotion, tenure and faculty evaluation task alamo.edu regarding tenure. team from February 2010 to March 2011. Leslie said no time frame has been set for Elmore-McCrary said she does not want to the board to make a decision on the faculty cover any ground the team covered. evaluation system or tenure. Katz said the biggest recommenHe said he does not know if the dation the committee made was board will take action within the changing the way faculty are rated. semester, but that they may do so by Faculty are evaluated on a one-tothe end of the fall semester. five scale. “We want to be deliberate and The team recommended faculty come up with something reasonable,” be given three ratings: does not meet he said. expectations, meets expectations and Dr. Bruce Leslie The policy was overlooked in 2002 exceeds expectations. when district updated other policies. Katz said she served on the comSince then, tenure has been treated mittee with Lee Ross, computer inforas a procedure, varying among the mation systems professor at Palo Alto; colleges. Dr. Thomas Billimek, chair of psycholHe said some trustees believe havogy and sociology; Jennifer Comedying a separate evaluation process for Holmes, then social sciences chair at tenure and tenure-track is unfair. Northwest Vista; Dr. Dollie Hudspeth, Dr. Dawn Current district policy requires an Elmore-McCrary English, reading and education evaluation of tenured faculty every chair at Northeast Lakeview; Dennis other year and of tenure-track faculty annually. McDonaugh, electronics chair at St. Philip’s; Tenure-track faculty must be observed in Dorothy Haecker, philosophy professor at St. the classroom by the department chair or desPhilip’s; Charles Falcon, theater and speech ignee during the fall semester and a member communication instructor; Jeanette Jones, of a peer review committee during the spring education coordinator at Northwest Vista; Lisa semester. Strain, biology professor at Northeast Lakeview; Tenure-track faculty must complete a self- Vernell Walker, dean of professional and technievaluation and be evaluated by the department cal education; Elizabeth Tanner, dean of arts chair and a peer review committee each spring. and sciences at Palo Alto; Linda Boyer-Owens, Tenured faculty must be observed in the associate vice chancellor of human resources classroom during the fall semester if the and organizational development; and Bruce of department chair or faculty member requests Northwest Vista. an observation or if the faculty member is being She said the committee presented their recconsidered for promotion. ommendations to Dr. Robert Aguero, then vice After the sixth year of employment, tenured chancellor for academic success, and Fabianke, faculty must submit a self-evaluation every then associate vice chancellor for academic other year unless the department chair or facsuccess, March 10, but she does not know what ulty member requests it more often. happened to the recommendations. A peer review is required in the spring Aguero retired in December. semester if the faculty member is submitting a Fabianke said after the committee presentfall application for promotion. ed their recommendations, they were sent to Tenured faculty are evaluated every other faculty and college administrators at all five year by their department chair unless the chair colleges. or faculty member requests it more often. She said the recommendations were also Leslie said he is working with English discussed with college presidents and vice Professor Dawn Elmore-McCrary, chair of chancellors, but when the board began disthis college’s Faculty Senate and district Super cussing tenure in 2011, it became unclear what Senate, on a committee to examine faculty would happen to the recommendations. evaluations. Fabianke said because the new committee Elmore-McCrary said she serves on the will take a broader look at faculty evaluations, committee with mortuary science Professor Leslie asked her to send the recommendations Mary Mena; Darrell Stafford, English profesback to college administration for feedback. sor at Northwest Vista College; Jessica Cooper, She said the new committee will use the early childhood professor at St. Philip’s College; recommendations as a basis for their decision. Frank Maldonado, math chair at Northeast Fabianke said she does not know how long Lakeview College; Dr. Ana “Cha” Guzman, presthe process will take.
SLAC hours with students because of the variety of software available, and it is not restricted to academic use. The SLAC lab allows students to surf the Internet for personal use. However, students in need of computers for academic use have priority. The SLAC lab, in Room 726 of Moody, is open from 7:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday; and 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday. The lab will be closed March 15-18 for spring break, April 6–8 for Easter and April 27 for Fiesta San Antonio. For more information, go to www.facebook.com/ slaclab or www.twitter.com/sac_slac. To make an appointment, call 210-486-0165.
The SLAC lab in Room 726 of Moody is open 7:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday; and 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday. To schedule a tutoring appointment, call (210) 486-0165.
Prem
4 • The Ranger
www.theranger
Rodeo brings
The seven-member Challenger shuttle team included the most diverse group of astronauts NASA had sent on a mission, including a physicist, mechanical engineer and teacher. AP Photo
Star bash Celebration honors Scobee legacy. Ten shows on the hour and one outdoor star party create one Big Bang Bash to celebrate renovations of Scobee Planetarium and the advent of the Challenger Center. The Scobee Planetarium will conclude its school and public show schedule with a Big Bang Bash celebration 1 p.m.-11 p.m. Saturday. For 50 years, the planetarium has educated and served as the source of By ALICIA astronomy education for South Texas. MILLAN Scobee will close in March for renovations and construction to add a Challenger Space Center, planetarium Coordinator Bob Kelley said. sac-ranger@alamo.edu The project will start with a $5 million budget, and a campaign for more money continues during renovation, said David Mrizek, vice president of college services. The planetarium will continue its Friday night public show schedule with “The Little Star That Could” at 6:30 p.m., “Experience the Aurora” at 7:45 p.m. and “Secret Lives of Stars” at 9 p.m. Children under age 4 are The planetarium honors Francis R. Scobee, the commander of the Challenger shuttle, which exploded 73 seconds after launch Jan. not admitted to all shows on 28, 1986. Dick Scobee attended classes here when the planetarium Saturday. opened in 1961. File Photo At 10 p.m. the planetarium’s observatory telescope will be opened to the public, weather permitting, to look at highlights of the February night sky. Tickets for the Friday night shows are $2 for district students, faculty and staff with ID. Admission for children ages 4-17 is $2 and senior citizens 55 or older, $3. General admission is $5. The Saturday event is free, but $3 donations are requested to benefit the Challenger Center.
Agriculture education freshman Stephanie Kersey checks rancher Matt Shiozawa’s registration paperwork for his three ho horseshow arrival trailer on the grounds of the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo. Jennifer M. Ytuarte
Rancher Matt Shiozawa of Chubbuck, Idaho, distributes feed to his three horses after bedding them down early Tu the rodeo. His three horses participated in the roping and quarterhorse shows later the same day. Jennifer M. Y
“The first two nights were a bear.” Andrew Morehous, mechanical engineering sophomore
Kelley’s Top 10 shows 1 p.m. “Attack of the Space Pirates” 2 p.m. “Seven Wonders” 3 p.m. “Ultimate Universe” 4 p.m. “Extreme Planets” 5 p.m. “Invaders of Mars” 6 p.m. “Violent Universe” 7 p.m. “Saturn, Jewel of the Heavens” 8 p.m. “Experience the Aurora” 9 p.m. “Secret Lives of Starts” 10 p.m. “Black Holes” A star party starts at 7 p.m. and runs to 11 p.m. in Lot 21, at West Park Avenue and Maverick Street. Members of the San Antonio League of Sidewalk Astronomers will provide telescopes to allow the public to observe the night sky during Saturday’s event. For more information, call the planetarium at 210-486-0100.
Stephanie Kersey rips open a 3-cubicfoot bag of pine shavings to help make a concrete floor more comfortable for a horse to sleep on Tuesday in the equestrian barn. Jennifer M. Ytuarte
miere
Feb. 20, 2012 • 5
r.org/ premiere
s internship, experience
orses, Grey, Chuck and Alotta at 1:15 a.m. Tuesday at the
uesday morning in the equestrian barn on the grounds of Ytuarte
Palo Alto students trade sleep for overnight barn duty. Eight Palo Alto College students will forego sleep during a 10-day internship at this year’s San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo. In return, agriculture Professor Weldon Riggs said each student receives By JENNIFER experience to add to résumés M. YTUARTE and a $1,000 internship funded by the profits from this year’s jytuarte8 @student. event. alamo.edu Four students are working the first 10 days and a second set of interns began Thursday and continue through the rodeo’s end. Each student’s shift begins at 10 p.m. and, depending on the assignment, can end up to eight hours later. Agriculture education freshman Stephanie Kersey Daisy Garcia, agriculture and animal science assigns stall numbers to rancher Matt Shiozawa’s three sophomore, and Stephanie Kersey, agriculture horses on Tuesday at the horseshow arrival trailer. Jennifer M. Ytuarte education freshman, both work eight-hour shifts in the horse show arrival trailer. The horse barn is open 24 hours to receive up at midnight; the young women processed 11 equestrian contestants. horses and prepared stalls for them. Riggs said the Texas rodeo season overlaps At 1:15 a.m. Tuesday, rancher Matt Shiozawa of with competitions in other states, so some of the Chubbuck, Idaho, arrived to process Grey, Chuck contestants drive long distances to get to the San and Alotta, his horses participating in the quarter Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo. horse and roping shows the following morning. “It’s our job to show them a smiling face and The horse barn on-site is a large metal building help them get settled,” Garcia said. with 732 stalls and concrete floors. Garcia and Kersey greet contestants, inspect Garcia said each contestant receives two bags horses and match up of shavings per stall, which horse profiles with paperare used to cushion the con“It’s our job to show work on file. crete floor for the horses to them a smiling face and They also verify horses sleep on. help them get settled.” have received a coggins Professional Rodeo Daisy Garcia, vaccination, which helps Cowboy Association contesagriculture and animal prevent the transmission tants are given one to two science sophomore of equine infectious aneextra bags of shavings for free. mia, an often-fatal, bloodOthers pay $8.65 per bag. borne disease spread by “These horses are their horse flies. livelihood,” Garcia said. “It’s up to the individual Garcia said they also sell extra bags of bedding, owner on how many bags of shavings they use assign a stall for each horse, help prep the stall per stall.” with pine shavings, and help the owner unload After filling out paperwork and finalizing his trailers before showing them where to park. tab, Shiozawa followed the students, driving an She said the overnight interns fill the roles of all-terrain vehicle, to the equestrian barn where five daytime volunteers. they sliced open the bags of shavings to make a On Feb. 8, an owner with two trailers showed bed for his horses.
“Even with the cold, I’m having a great time getting to know people,” Kersey said. Meanwhile, rangeland management freshman Travis Svoboda and mechanical engineering sophomore Andrew Morehous empty trash barrels and sweep horse droppings from the asphalt around stable entrances and walkways. Svoboda and Morehous, friends since kindergarten, graduated from Floresville High School. Svoboda said they usually only clean the outer perimeter of the horse stables. They also help clean the stalls if the cleaning crew is overloaded. During the first two days, they joined 16 community service volunteers to clean 280 stalls. The first two nights were a bear,” Morehous said. “We were here for a good seven to eight hours. The rest has been a piece of cake.” Svoboda said, “I remember finishing one stall and looking up at a whole row of stalls left to go and wondering when it was going to end.” Morehous said the experience has given him a behind-the-scenes view of how the rodeo works while Svoboda said he learned more about career paths and networking with other professionals. All four students attend morning classes after the overnight shift ends. Garcia and Kersey said Riggs told them about the opportunity last fall during animal science and livestock evaluation classes. Svoboda and Morehous discovered the internship through the Lone Star Agriculture Club at Palo Alto College. This is the first year students will be paid outright by the San Antonio Livestock Exposition instead of receiving a scholarship. Riggs said the $1,000 internship can be used right away instead of students waiting for fall semester for disbursement. He said the exposition does not require exclusive use toward education expenses. Morehous plans to use the funds toward his out-of-district tuition and help off-set fuel expenses. Riggs, a member of the rodeo’s School Tours Committee, said he tries to recruit interns from all majors and educational backgrounds. While agriculture is preferred, he said previous interns have been nursing and education majors. He also works with local high school chapters of the Future Farmers of America and 4-H Youth Development Organization. Members volunteer as tour guides during elementary school field trips through the rodeo grounds. He said up to 1,800 elementary school children funnel through free exhibits and hands-on activities each day. Riggs then recruits those high school volunteers to continue their passion for agriculture at Palo Alto College. Next year’s application will be available in October and due by the end of the fall semester. For more information about next year’s application, contact Riggs at 210-601-1605. The rodeo is still accepting applications for volunteers. For more information, visit www.sarodeo.com.
View videos of rodeo food, fashion and birds of prey at www.theranger.org Rene Benton warms up a registered indian paint named Gucci for competition Tuesday in the horse show arena. Riley Stephens
Editorial
6 • The Ranger
Feb. 20, 2012
www.theranger.org/opinion
Editor Joshua Fechter Managing Editor Alma Linda Manzanares News Editor Faith Duarte Sections Editor Jennifer M. Ytuarte Photo Editor Ingrid Wilgen Photo Team Janell Arnold, Victoria Drumming, Nicole Henry, Eloy Hilburn, Alberto Penuelaz, Christopher Perez, Felipe Perez Jr., Troy Renteria, Cecilia Tornel, Donna Quintana Multimedia Editor J. Almendarez Video Team Dee Dixon, Valerie Salazar, Carmen Sanjuan, Riley Stephens Illustrator Alexandra Nelipa, Juan Carlos Campos Staff Writers Carla Aranguren, Jennifer Coronado, Melissa Gonzales, Kirk Hanes, Haly Lam, Jennifer Luna, Rachel McKee, Alicia Millan, Silvia Millan, Arturo J. Mireles, Ivie Okungbowa, Osita Omesiete, Diana Palomo, Darrell Payne, Janeka Porter, Rebecca Salinas, Matthew Schiffmacher Web Editors Jacob Beltran Robert Medina ©2012 by The Ranger staff, San Antonio College, 1300 San Pedro Ave., San Antonio, TX 78212-4299. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without permission. The Ranger news outlets, which serve the Alamo Community College District, are laboratory projects of journalism classes in the Department of Media Communications at San Antonio College. The Ranger is published Mondays except during summer, holidays and examinations. The Ranger Online is available at www.theranger.org. News contributions accepted by telephone (210-486-1773), by fax (210-486-9292), by email (sac-ranger@alamo.edu) or at the editorial office (Room 212 of Loftin Student Center). Advertising rates available upon request by phone (210-486-1765) or as a download at www.theranger.org. The Ranger is a member of the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association, the Associated Collegiate Press and the Texas Community College Journalism Association.
Guest Viewpoints:
Faculty, staff, students and community members are welcome to contribute guest viewpoints of up to 450 words. Writers should focus on campus or current events in a critical, persuasive or interpretative style. All viewpoints must be published with a photo portrait of the writer.
Letters Policy:
The Ranger invites readers to share views by writing letters to the editor. Space limitations force the paper to limit letters to two double-spaced, typewritten pages. Letters will be edited for spelling, style, grammar, libel and length. Editors reserve the right to deny publication of any letter. Letters should be mailed to The Ranger, Department of Media Communications, San Antonio College, 1300 San Pedro Ave., San Antonio TX 78212-4299. Letters also may be brought to the newspaper office in Room 212 of Loftin Student Center, emailed to sac-ranger@alamo.edu or faxed to 210-486-9292. Letters must be signed and must include the printed name and telephone number. Students should include classification, major, campus and Banner ID. Employees should include title and telephone number. For more information, call 210-486-1773.
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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.
Alexandra Nelipa
Strive for excellence At its Feb. 2 meeting, the Student Activity Isolated incidents are the exception, not the Fee Committee unanimously approved more rule, and they are not popular with everyone than $2,000 for Students In Free Enterprise to else who plays by the rules. attend a regional competition in Dallas; howStudents should conduct themselves with ever, the committee noted that the organiza- consummate professionalism inside and outtion’s application was incomplete. side the classroom. It lacked a dissemination plan to share the The committee is not doling out Monopoly experience with the college community. money. Phi Theta Kappa also submitted a request They are charged with handling public without a dissemination plan, money collected from every single but the committee approved student in this college district. Applications can be found at that proposal. Its members should act like it www.alamo.edu/ However, the committee and so should the students subsac/student-life/ denied a $1,600 request from mitting proposals. leadership-activities/ Mexican American Engineers Complete funding applications and Scientists because the procarefully, following instructions. posal listed a $400 registration fee when the Attend student activity fee training sessions fee was really $375. to prepare. To treat all clubs and organizations equalThe next session is at 10 a.m. March 5 in the ly, the committee should have rejected all craft room of Loftin Student Center. incomplete applications or accepted them If officers of clubs and organizations canall. not attend that session, they should seek help Furthermore, by approving incomplete from the office of student life in preparing a requests, the committee sends students, clubs proposal. and organizations the message that sloppy Applications are due two weeks prior to work is acceptable and achieves the desired committee meetings. outcome with minimum effort. College is not a dress rehearsal; your life It doesn’t work that way in the classroom, and career have begun so make every effort in business or anywhere else for that matter. count.
Beware bike snare Palo Alto’s Viva Verde! Go Green! Committee is creating a bike share program, opening later this year with 20 donated and refurbished bicyles. On such a large campus, this is a wonderful service to provide at no cost to students. The program will function on the honor system: Users may pick up or drop off bikes at one of the several on-campus stations. In a utopian world, all users return bicycles in the condition in which they were checked out so others will have the opportunity to promote fitness and save fuel. However, not everyone will act honorably; there is always someone trying to cheat the system. The honor system works because of peer pressure in a closed system. As a preventive measure, the college has asked area businesses to alert authorities should they observe anyone attempting to steal a bicycle. Involving the community is a great idea but probably not enough. If the program wants to be successful for
more than a semester, the college needs to keep some sort of record of those who use — or abuse — it most. It’s going to take more than lime green paint to ward off theft, especially because of the ease of the theft. After all, the Alamo Colleges are public institutions. Palo Alto has two cooperative ventures with the City of San Antonio — a natatorium and a children’s library — that bring nonstudents to campus. San Antonio B-Cycle users check out bicycles with a credit card or pay online in advance, but they face a $1,000 replacement fee should the bike go missing. Students, too, should face a consequence — a fine or an account hold if a bicycle leaves campus or one is returned damaged. Students must show an ID to use computer labs or check out library books, so why not scan IDs to check out a bicycle? Palo Alto’s bike share is a wonderful opportunity to promote not only a healthier lifestyle but also sustainability. Unfortunately, it’s also a bit naïve.
Feb. 20, 2012
Editorial
The Ranger • 7
www.theranger.org/opinion
Accept assistance Students with knee-high stacked bills can relieve some financial stress by visiting the food pantry at 602 W. French Place. The pantry, a Phi Theta Kappa-run service learning project, provides groceries for students, faculty and staff with a district-issued ID on a weekly basis from noon-3 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays. Inflation has sent prices for food, tuition and fuel skyrocketing. The cost of food worldwide rose 37 percent from February 2010 to February 2011, The New York Times reported. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, food prices fell slightly in December but still remain high. The average cost of tuition and fees for two-year public colleges has increased almost 500 percent since 1986, according to a study conducted by the College Board Advocacy and Policy Center. Thursday’s national price was $4.087 compared to last year’s aver-
age of $3.922, according to AAA’s Daily Fuel Gauge Report. The average local prices for unleaded gasoline range from $3.26 to $3.51, according to sanantoniogasprices. com. Students have studies to focus on, and trying to balance with work hours or finding a job can be quite difficult. Despite the recession being declared officially over, the unemployment rate in January for 18- to 19-year-olds was 20.5 percent and 13.3 percent for 20- to 24-year-olds, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Students stressed by an ever-tightening budget can take advantage of the pantry service where they can collect a nutritionally balanced combination of groceries. Those who are getting by without extra assistance should contribute by donating. You never know when you might need help, too. When times get tough, students should know their classmates are looking out for them.
Run, find candidates Three of nine seats on the board of ence in this college district. Instead of using a seat on this trustees will be on the May 12 ballot. board to pad a résumé, or as a stepApplications for seats in District 5, ping stone to other offices, candi6 and 7 are being accepted through dates need to have a vision for this March 5. district and understand the needs of This is an opportunity for valuable the students and employees it exists input from students and employees, to serve. present and past. Board members have The best voice to six-year terms and begin represent students A copy of the serving immediately and faculty is from the district map is after the May 12 electrenches. All you have available under the tion, unless a runoff is to do is apply. “who represents me?” required. If you don’t think sidebar in the “about us” menu at During the 2010 elecyou are up to the task, www.alamo.edu. tion, District 1 and 7 take a look around. seats were up but of the You may already know 218,646 registered voters a perfect candidate. in those districts, only 3,650 people Professors should encourage recently retired professors and staff- voted, or 1.67 percent. District 1 trustee Joe Alderete won ers or former students who live in his seatby 64 votes. The odds are in those districts to apply. The only legal prerequisite is to your favor. If you win, trustees may finally live within the district in which you hear the voices of those affected by run, so why not? Take an active approach to partici- their sweeping measures and neglect patory democracy to make a differ- in making the colleges uniform.
GREEHEY DEGREE-COMPLETION SCHOLARSHIP Our Lady of the Lake University offers a degreecompletion scholarship for first-generation college students who are studying business at one of the Alamo College campuses. Eligible students who transfer to OLLU will receive a scholarship that covers half of tuition costs. Features of the William E. Greehey Scholars Program: • Scholarship covers up to half of tuition costs • Complete a Bachelor of Arts in Management in two years • Attend classes held on Tuesday and Thursday evenings Students applying for the William E. Greehey Scholars Program must: • Have an associate’s degree in Business from an Alamo College or hold at least 60 hours • Be at least 23 years old • Be one of the first in the family to attend college Learn more Call: 210-431-3961 Email: transfer@ollusa.edu
Easy test to pass In “Free HIV tests at 3 colleges,” eight agencies administered free HIV testing at three colleges, in recognition of the 12th National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. African-Americans represent about 14 percent of the population but accounted for 44 percent of new HIV infections in 2009, according to the Centers for Disease Control website. Latinos represent 16 percent of Americans and accounted for 20 percent of new HIV infections. While condoms are free at Planned Parenthood, HIV testing is another free service that should be taken advantage of to make sure you’re not passing any unwanted gifts to your partner.
Before you share that special moment with someone new, get them and yourself tested. Free walk-in testing is available at the San Antonio AIDS Foundation 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 9 p.m.-1 p.m. Friday with results in 20 minutes. Of 1.2 million HIV-positive people in the U.S., one in five are unaware they are infected, according to the CDC. If there’s any possibility you carry the HIV infection — that means anyone who has ever had sex — make the trip to a clinic for free testing. Safeguard your health. There’s no shame in being safe and preventing the spread of disease.
411 S.W. 24th Street San Antonio, TX 78207 210-434-6711 www.ollusa.edu
News
8 • The Ranger
Feb. 20, 2012
www.theranger.org
Summer pay 50-50 once more Fifty percent of summer classes will be paid at adjunct rate again this summer, kinesiology and dance Chair Bill Richardson reported at College Council By ALMA LINDA Tuesday. He MANZANARES was reporting on Faculty amanzanares6 Senate in the @student.alamo.edu absence of Chair Dawn Elmore-McCrary. Last spring, Chancellor Bruce Leslie, vice chancellors and the college presidents decided summer pay would be decided in a lottery to ensure a 50-50 full-time to adjunct ratio in a budget-driven decision. Until summer 2011, full-time faculty were paid on a pro rata basis of their full-time nine-month salary. President Robert Zeigler said Tuesday he supported a flat rate of pay for all full-time faculty but was voted down by other district colleges. “Nobody is really pushing the flat rate other than us,” Zeigler said. He said the deans of the two college divisions are seeking reasonable ways to decide who will be paid at the adjunct rate. He suggested that those who taught at the adjunct rate in summer 2011 receive pro rata pay in 2012. The lottery method for summer 2011 was widely criticized and left to the discretion of departments. The English faculty, for example, drew Sticky Notes from a cardboard box. In other business, Dr. Jessica Howard, vice president of academic affairs, said her counterparts rejected a proposal to require students to take at least 25 percent of courses in the major at the degree-granting college. “Because we’re all the same,” multiple voices returned sarcastically. Howard said she was told the stipulation would indicate a difference in quality among the colleges. Currently, students are required to take 25 percent of degree hours at the degree-granting institution. There is no requirement that courses required for a major have to be taken at the degree-granting college. In other news, a policy revision was tabled for re-evaluation because it created a burden for online instructors who live a distance from this college. The policy states, “Online instructors must be located within a day’s travel of the campus at any time in order to meet with a student in person if they request it, and within 24 hours of the request.” Psychology Chair Thomas Billimek said he has instructors in his department who reside in Indiana, Houston and Waco, and it would be unrealistic to put that burden on adjunct faculty, especially if the district is going to expand online offerings to a broader base. He read a statement from ElmoreMcCrary that said the Teaching and Technology Committee also opposed the initiative. Zeigler said he was unaware the college was hiring out-of-state instructors, and he is uncomfortable with the idea of faculty teaching if they have not been on campus.
Catholic center feeds soul, body The Archdiocese of San Antonio has awarded the Catholic Student Association a grant to purchase new picnic tables to promote its continued success By MELISSA with “Picnic GONZALES and Parables” at 12:15 p.m. sac-ranger@alamo.edu Tuesdays at the Catholic Student Center, 312 W. Courtland Place. Joseph Liedecke, assistant coordinator of campus ministry, said “Picnic and Parables” is to help students gain insight and a greater understanding of the Bible and how they can implement it in their lives.
He said attendees read a short parable to discover how they identify and understand the story. The goal is to relate the parable to present day problems faced by students. After discussion, students enjoy a hot meal provided by the center. Liedecke said picnic attendance has doubled in three weeks. “If it’s done in a creative way, like outside in a picnic setting surrounded by nature where students are not sitting at a desk like they are during class all day, and not reading it off a chalkboard, hopefully, the message will stick with them a little better because it’s not so academic.”
Ash Wednesday Mass at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Fiesta Room of Loftin.
Liedecke may greet visitors from his office a few steps from the center entrance. If he is not available, a visitor may be greeted by a student lounging on a cozy couch situated just to the left of the entryway. On Feb. 7, X-ray tech freshman Briana Godina was enjoying some down time at the center. She said students can be sure they will not be ignored. “I love to come here because it’s a chill place, a good place to
unwind, and the atmosphere is really good,” she said. “It’s relaxing and safe.” Center hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday. Recurring weekly activities include Social Justice Mondays at 2 p.m., Rosary and Meditation at 12:15 p.m. Wednesday and Mass and Meal at 12:15 p.m. Friday. Snacks are served at Social Justice Mondays, and lunch is provided free at events Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. For more information on the Catholic Student Association’s activities, call 210-736-3752.
Left midfielder Carmen De La Rosa takes away a pass, but the women’s soccer team fell short against the SA Kicks 2-1 Feb. 12 in their first game of the season. Melissa Gonzales
Eleven gay couples ‘wed’ At 12:05 a.m. Tuesday, the Rev. Joe Sullivan, began trying to impose order on the chaos on the Bexar County Courthouse steps. He used a speaker system to carry By JENNIFER his voice through M. YTUARTE the crowd assembled for the first jytuarte8 @student. of five free mass alamo.edu weddings he conducts each year on Valentine’s Day. For the second year, members of the Direct Action Network of San Antonio attempted to join the ceremony despite no legal standing in Texas for same-sex couples. Eight states have legalized samesex marriage, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Iowa, Massachussets, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont, and Washington. Sullivan, a psychology professor at this college, said only license-carrying couples could stand on the courthouse steps. There were about 50. The crowd booed and network organizer Julie Posson encouraged the same-sex couples to stand their ground. “This is a public event; enforce your 14th Amendment rights.”
Same-sex marriage supporters march to Bexar County Courthouse. Jennifer M. Ytuarte The 14th Amendment prohibits states from passing laws that abridge the privileges of citizens or deprive citizens of life, liberty or property without due process. It continues “nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.” Sullivan repeated, “Only couples with a license will be acknowledged, so please get off the stairs.” No one moved. Some of them embraced and others kissed in response to Sullivan’s statement. Through the sound system, the crowd could hear him debating calling the police to remove the same-sex couples. After 10 minutes of insistence by Sullivan, he relented and reminded attendees that only couples with
a marriage license would be legally married and that everyone else could participate, but the ceremony wouldn’t mean anything. Crystal Hernandez and Rachel Gutierrez participated in last year’s ceremony and were there to support the same-sex couples on the steps. Gutierrez said, “We knew the ceremony was only symbolic, but I feel like it brought us closer together, and we strive to create a stronger relationship.” On June 24, they will celebrate six years together. About 25 members of the Direct Action Network of San Antonio and supporters set off at 10:30 p.m. from Milam Park heading to the courthouse and gaining participants along the way.
Marchers carried colorful balloons, and bridegrooms wore rainbow boutonnieres. Posson said the peaceful protest began last year when she read about the death of gay rights activist David Kato and saw an adjacent story mention the date and times of the five free weddings. She said within four days, she and a group of gay friends and straight allies put together a marriage equality march and participated in the midnight celebration. The network creates rallies and protests and also helps start-up groups to organize. “We think it’s important to push for equal rights because we all deserve the same benefits as our heterosexual brothers and sisters,” she said. Last year, six couples participated in the symbolic ceremony. This year, the number jumped to 11. “A lot of our members are students,” said Amanda Benton, former president of this college’s chapter of the Gay and Lesbian Association. For more information about the network, visit http://dansa. usfreedomring.com.