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Volume 88 Issue 13 • Feb. 21, 2014

210-486-1773 • Single copies free

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Scholarship databases match students, funds

Student denied counseling

Apply early for first dibs.

Vice president says he will investigate incident.

Students needing some extra cash to pay for classes should apply for the Alamo Colleges Foundation Scholarship. Priority deadline is March 31 to be considered for an award in the 2014-15 academic year.

Applying for foundation scholarships is simple, said Irene CisnerosFuentes, scholarship coordinator at this college.

“The process is a better opportunity,” Fuentes said. “One time per academic year.”

To be considered for all of the foundation scholarships, students must fill out a single application online.

“Students don’t have to apply for several applications, just one, to be considered for several scholarships,” Fuentes said.

All the scholarships have different criteria. When students apply, their name is added to a database and then matched with a scholarship, she said. Students who qualify for one of the many scholarships will be notified through ACES email.

Fuentes said students who apply before the March 31 deadline will be considered first and students who apply after the deadline will be added to a second group of applicants to be processed. Deadline for the second consideration is Sept. 15.

Fuentes said it is better for students to apply early because most scholarships are awarded to those who meet the March 31 deadline.

Fuentes said the second group of applicants is considered for scholarships only if additional funds are gathered.

Foundation scholarships are funded through organizations that donate money. If the money is not donated to a specific college, it is split equally among the five Alamo Colleges.

Fuentes said the foundation scholarships are easily attainable by all students because donors, such as USAA and Valero, decide on award criteria, which may not always focus on students with a high grade-point average.

She said every year this college awards about 150 scholarships to students. Scholarships awarded range from $250 to $1,500.

Fuentes said in 2012-13, 1,600 students were awarded a total of $1.4 million.

Apply online at www.alamo.edu/ foundation/scholarships.

Adriana Ruiz

For a direct link to theranger.org, download a qr reader from the app store today

By Marina Garcia

sac-ranger@alamo.edu

Braaaains Biology freshman Arnold Bosch stares at the left side of a human brain floating in formaldehyde at a biology and anatomy table sponsored by the biology program Wednesday in the mall during STEM-ulate. STEM-ulate was created to promote science, technology, engineering and math as possible career fields and to increase enrollment in the courses the college offers in the fields. See story at theranger.org. Riley Stephens

Board approves adding student trustee Applications for nonvoting seat are due Tuesday at each college’s SGA.

By Katherine Garcia

kgarcia203@student.alamo.edu

A student will have a seat as a nonvoting member of the Alamo Colleges board of trustees as soon as May. Trustees voted unanimously to approve the addition of a student to the elected nine-member board.

Through Tuesday, the Student Government Associations for all five Alamo Colleges will collect and review applications. One candidate from each will be submitted to the board by March 31.

In April, the board will review applications and conduct interviews, and the student trustee should be selected and sworn in at the May 13 regular meeting.

The student trustee will serve one year May 13 through April 30, 2015, and receive a $600 scholarship.

“I am looking forward to having a representative sit on the board so we can hear the voice of the students,” District 2 trustee Denver McClendon said.

According to the minute order, the student trustee must participate in all board meetings, events, conferences and training; is barred from participating in executive session and viewing nonpublic executive session materials. The student can view the board agenda and propose items and must inform Student District

SGA President Andrew Hubbard talks with District 7 trustee Yvonne Katz after Tuesday’s meeting. Melissa Perreault Council of the items presented to the board. Student District Council is composed of SGA presidents and vice presidents from each of the colleges.

Because they don’t have an SGA, Northeast Lakeview College sends two delegates of their Officers’ Roundtable and Northwest Vista sends the president and vice president of the Inter-Club Council.

To apply, a student candidate must be enrolled in at least six credit hours at the Alamo Colleges throughout

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See STUDENT, Page 4

Universities oppose humanities cut

By Bleah B. Patterson

bpatterson13@student.alamo.edu

Faculty here is in good company with its concern about replacing a three hours of humanities with EDUC 1300, Learning Framework.

Across the state, faculties of senior colleges are also concerned.

Faculty members at Texas State University and the University of Texas at Austin are shaking their heads at core changes the Alamo Colleges is pursuing.

Alamo Colleges is awaiting the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board’s announcement on approval of the change, which would require every arts and sciences and applied science degree at all district colleges to require the course. It will include instruction in Stephen Covey’s

The Alamo Colleges are absolutely wrong.

Dr. Larry Carver, director of liberal arts UT-Austin

“The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.”

“The Alamo Colleges are absolutely wrong,” Dr. Larry Carver, English professor and director of liberal arts at UT-Austin, said in a phone interview Tuesday. “Taking humanities from the core will prevent students from thriving in this world, and they’ll be poorer for it.”

From Russian conflicts and terrorism prevention to climate change, drought and ecological degradation, Carver said none of

the day’s vital issues can be solved without exposure to the humanistic disciplines of literature, philosophy and basic humanities. “The humanities are absolutely central to everything we do,” he said.

Carver said people have an abundance of scientific expertise, research, equipment and technological advances, which will be futile without courses that put the human experience back into society.

“Imagine politicians, engineers and scientists without a sense of our past or ideals of our culture,” Carver said. “As far as business and life skills go, learning frameworks courses cannot do justice to the writing and communication skills you gain in courses like literature.”

Dr. Lucy Harney, associ-

See HUMANITIES, Page 4

Monica Rodriguez, computer support specialist freshman, was barred from seeing a counselor Feb. 5 because she had a hold on her account.

A clerk at the counseling center told Rodriguez she would have to wait until the hold was removed to see a counselor.

“I felt very discouraged,” Rodriguez said. “Even though I am a student here, I am enrolled and taking a class on campus and I can’t speak to a counselor?”

The clerk refused to allow Rodriguez access to a counselor even though a counselor offered to help.

“I want somebody to point me in the right direction,” Rodriguez said. “I didn’t think that was fair, and I think that wasn’t right. If talking to a counselor is going to be a challenge, what else is going to be a challenge just to be a student here?”

Dr. Robert Vela, vice president for student and academic success, said Tuesday a clerk should not have prevented her from seeing a counselor, and this was the first time he had heard of this happening.

“That is unacceptable,” he said.

“That is not the practice we have.”

Vela said he would investigate so other students won’t face this situation.

Vela said Wednesday, “I will have someone call her and get her side of the story.” The task falls to Emma Mendiola, dean of student affairs and Julie Engel, director of student development.

Dr. David Rodriguez, coordinator for the counseling and advising center, said if a student wants to talk to a counselor academically, the hold will have to be removed, but if counseling for personal reasons is being sought, the hold does not have to be removed.

Students can check for account updates in ACES, where they will be notified if a hold is found on the account, Rosa Maria Gonzalez, counselor and transfer center coordinator, said.

Monica Rodriguez’s hold was related to the Texas Success Initiative, a statelegislated program providing assistance with reading, writing and math skills of students entering Texas public colleges and universities, but she was seeking counseling for personal reasons.

A hold on a student’s account keeps a student from registering for classes, requesting copies of transcripts and graduating. The counseling center offers help for students with holds and directs the student to the correct department to have a hold removed, Gonzalez said.

Holds are placed on accounts by counseling and advising, student development and the business office.

Reasons include academic probation or dismissal, transcripts, balance due, record of bacterial meningitis shot, a GPA of 2.0 or lower and financial aid.

Vela said students should be able to go to the counseling center to ask questions about holds.

For counseling, call 210-486-0864.

2 • Feb. 21, 2014

People

Magic break Accounting sophomore Josh Yoder prepares to play “Magic: The Gathering” against engineering sophomore John Boehm Tuesday in commons at Northeast Lakeview. Yoder, with 14 years of playing this card game, outwitted Boehm for a second straight win, using a cell phone to keep track of life levels. Daniel Carde

www.theranger.org/people

Dress rehearsal

Stephan, played by theater freshmen Esau Perez, lunges forward with a knife to attack Teddy, played by theater freshmen Eric Alvarado, Feb. 12 during a dress rehearsal of “When You Comin’ Back, Red Ryder?” The production continues at 7:30 p.m. today and Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday in McCreless. Eric M. Valdez

Fall in

Ret. Major Monica Martinez’s ROTC students practice a cadence during lab Tuesday on the tennis court south of Candler. Students enrolled in military science courses at this college conduct training with ROTC students of the University of Texas at San Antonio at the university campus and Camp Bullis in Northwest Bexar County. Students must provide a birth certificate, Social Security card, Texas ID and pass a physical to receive a uniform required for the class. Students compete for scholarships which require a minimum 2.5 GPA. Riley Stephens

Smarty pants

Reginald Smith, vice president of service of the Beta Nu chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, explains the rules for meetings and service hours to potential members during an orientation Feb. 12 in the Fiesta Room of Loftin. Chapter President Kim-Briana Lorine, center, and Vice President of Scholarship Eddiberto Silvaz, right, assist. The induction ceremony for Phi Theta Kappa is March 20 in McAllister. Catharine Trevino

Shark talk

Daymond John, entrepreneur and star of the television show “Shark Tank,” answers questions from Dr. Adena Williams Loston, president of St. Philip’s College, during the President’s Lecture Series Feb. 13 at Watson. John joined the cast of “Shark Tank” in 2009. St. Gerard Catholic High School students joined in with more than 600 attendees. Paula Christine Schuler

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Missed deadline ends Peer Educators Two former members still offer help in disability support services.

By R.T. Gonzalez

sac-ranger@alamo.edu

Peer Educators, a group of students who educated and helped other students with health concerns, was disbanded in the fall.

Delia De Luna, senior generalist in the office of disability support services, said the group was disbanded because work-study students did not meet the financial aid deadline for this year.

Peer Educators relied on work-study students to help give other students an outlet for stress and to provide basic sex education.

Patricia Sanchez, a counselor for disability support services, helped advise Peer Educators in 2012-13.

It was common for Peer Educators to give out condoms and raise awareness about STDs, such as HIV and AIDS, she said.

Sanchez also said the group provided students with HIV and AIDS testing once per semester.

Peer Educators had experience overcoming stress and genuinely liked to listen, she said.

Peer Educators had to be experienced, resourceful and compassionate and had to have the ability to understand the students they encountered, De Luna said.

Even though Peer Educators is no longer a campus organization, there are still other resources around campus that students can go to.

De Luna and Sanchez encourage students who need advice about their daily lives to drop by the disability support services office in the Veteran Affairs office across from the counselor-advising desk in Moody Learning Center.

De Luna said the disability support services office has two work-study students who are former Peer Educators and are available to help students.

James Brandenburg, a staff counselor in the counseling center on the first floor of Moody, can also help students.

Brandenburg is a licensed professional counselor, licensed marriage and family counselor, and has a master’s degree in education.

De Luna said the disability support service office does not turn students away.

Office hours for disability support services and counseling and advising are 8 a.m.-5 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday; 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday (general information only for counseling center); and 9 a.m.–1 p.m. the first Saturday of the month. Call disability support services at 210-486-0020.

Students who need personal counseling are advised to set up an appointment with Brandenburg at 210-486-0361 or 210-595-0056.

STUDY

Nursing curriculum to change in fall Specialist gives tips for getting into the competitive program.

By Mandi Flores

sac-ranger@alamo.edu

The nursing curriculum for students in the generic track will change this fall, moving from a medical-based curriculum to a concept-based one, Debbie Patton, student success program coordinator, said.

This college’s competitive nursing program has three curriculums: generic, career mobility and military.

The generic program will still be a twoyear program but will change from an eightweek curriculum to a 16-week one, she said.

One hundred students will still be accepted each semester, Patton said.

Students who started this semester on the eight-week curriculum will continue and the scheduling will be phased out, Patton said.

As of fall 2014, the nursing program will have a total of 675 students.

This is a drop from the 1,049 total from a year and a half ago, Vernell Walker, dean of professional and technical education, said.

The nursing department was unable to maintain that growth so they are moving to a more manageable number, she said.

“Good things are in store for the nursing program,” Walker said. “They will be hiring three more nurses in the fall and hope to hire some more this semester.”

The concept-based curriculum is an easier way to learn, Professor Christine Kuoni said.

By Adriana Ruiz

aruiz168@student.alamo.edu

The classroom environment can affect the way students learn. Changing the traditional classroom structure may encourage class engagement and increased flexibility in teaching methods.

The “Classroom of the Future” in Room 524 of Moody Learning Center is a restructured version of the conventional classroom.

The room offers a nontraditional seating arrangement, a variety of seating options, rolling white boards, a rolling white board projector and laptop charging docks.

Usha Venkat, director of information technology, said students can choose the seat that works for them. Seating options include lounge chairs, bar stools or rolling chairs.

The chairs are arranged in groups, but teachers have the opportunity to rearrange the floor plan.

Venkat said the classroom reflects aspects similar to those of a work environment.

“It can blur the lines of a workplace setting and a classroom setting,” Venkat said.

“If they learn a big concept, they can apply it to any disease process whether we actually teach that one or not. So as they run in their future, if they are working somewhere that has a disease process they have not encountered, they apply the principles and they will be able to understand it,” Kuoni said.

The new curriculum was developed by the Texas Concept-Based Curriculum Consortium and is part of a national movement to make curriculum even and enhance transfer to other institutions, Kuoni said.

The consortium is made up of nursing instructors and professors.

The generic track is geared toward students with no experience. Students who complete the program receive an Associate of Applied Science in Nursing.

Students are encouraged to complete the 28 semester hours of nursing prerequisites before applying to the program.

These courses consist of English, biology, psychology, chemistry and philosophy.

The career mobility path is for students who already have certification as a licensed vocational nurse and want to become a registered nurse, Patton said.

An RN has more responsibility and usually supervises LVNs. The military option is for members who have been trained by the military within the past 10 years, usually corpsmen and medics who have not been certified, Patton said.

A student coming in from the military will be credited with 10 semester hours for

their training and will still need to complete 30 hours.

One of the most important things to do to get accepted into the programs is to pass science courses the first time, Patton said.

When applying to the program, the student must already have completed 16 semester hours of biology and chemistry.

Acceptance is based on a system of five to seven points.

Students score one to four points for their GPA in the 28 required nursing hours, an extra two points for having completed the 28 hours before applying, and one point if science classes are not retaken.

The only exception to this is dropping and receiving a W, which does not affect the student’s chances.

This program is considered a “Capital A, small B program,” Patton said.

This means students’ grades are important to getting into the program and A’s are more important than B’s, she said.

“Students with a composite score of five never make it into the program,” Patton explained.

Most students who get into the program will have a seven depending on how many applied, she said.

Patton holds an information session for interested students at 1 p.m. Wednesdays in Room 208 of the nursing complex.

For more information, call Patton at 210486-1165.

Neven Jones contributed to this story.

Enactus Club member competes for $5,000 grant Fighting through a brain tumor, Veronica Miller started doing what she loved.

By Adrian Yancelson sac-ranger@alamo.edu

Photography sophomore Veronica Miller, member of the Enactus Club, is trying to make a run at the club’s national competition for her business in image consulting and professional photography.

The VA Miller group is Miller’s first entrepreneurial adventure.

She started a photography business with help from Dr. Charles Hunt and Dr. Mahmud Yusuf, business professors, who are advisers to the Enactus Club.

Experience classroom of the future

Modern classroom engages students with comfort.

Feb. 21, 2014 • 3

Melinda Lopez, information system specialist at this college, said six faculty members are using the classroom for the semester.

Lopez said she thinks the classroom is a great idea.

“I love this new idea. I think it’s a great way to interact better with students,” Lopez said.

Ana DeHoyos O’Connor, early childhood studies professor, is using the room for two classes this semester.

O’Connor said she likes the room because it allows students to become engaged in the lecture while using different types of media.

She said she breaks her class into groups and has them brainstorm ideas on the white boards.

“We can have two things going on at the same time. We can split the class into groups and everyone can be doing their own thing writing down ideas on the white board and then we all come together and share ideas,” O’Connor said.

Early childhood studies sophomore Valeria Ward said the classroom makes her feel at home.

“It’s comfortable and I get to relax,” Ward said. “I enjoy it overall; out of all the classrooms, it is the most comfortable.”

The business club formally known as SIFE, or Students in Free Enterprise, changed its name to Enactus, which stands for “entrepreneurial, action, us.”

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced the name change at the 2012 Business World Cup. Members presented results of community outreach projects to international business leaders.

Miller first came up with the project after being diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2011 while she was majoring in nursing.

Doctors told her she should

LIVING

refrain from schoolwork. After getting rest, she decided to do something she loved, photography.

While in a marketing class after switching majors, she found out about the Enactus Club and attended a meeting. She presented her business idea, and people really liked it, she said.

Every fall Wal-Mart conducts a contest to select 100 participants from all over the country and gives them a $1,500 grant to start operating their business.

Each participant has three months to develop the operation. They must send the final business report by Feb. 24 to be considered for national compe-

tition for the Enactus Club.

Her project got voted in by other club members. The prize for winning the competition is a $5,000 grant for a business.

The Enactus Club has been around since 1996-97.

The club has won six regional championships, rookie of the year and two first round runner-up awards in national competitions.

The club meets from 10:50 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Monday and Wednesday. It has 21 members with various majors.

“If you have an idea for a business, this is a great place to get help and get started,” Miller said.

Call 210-486-0197.

Pets: To have or not to have?

Pets can be “man’s best friend” but a GPA’s worst nightmare.

hours of studying is recommended outside of class,” Guerra said.

He advises students to weigh the responBy Ian Coleman sibility that comes with a pet against the sac-ranger@alamo.edu responsibility of college and a job.

Students wishing to spend time with a Nelson, a former adjunct of business and “furry friend” can volunteer at a local shelter professional communication at this college, or join the foster program. said, “Owning a pet is a big challenge, but it Experts say this may be better than ownis also rewarding. It is not impossible to be ing a pet because academic a good pet owner while in Owning a pet is a pursuits should come first. college, but it is certainly a Seamus Nelson, director big challenge.” big challenge, but of communication of the San He encourages students it is also rewarding.

Antonio Humane Society, to consider their housing, Seamus Nelson, described the foster program finances and schedule before director of communication of the San Antonio as a “great opportunity to see adopting.

Humane Society what it’s like to have a pet on “In graduate school, I was a temporary basis.” on campus 12 hours a day, The San Antonio Humane Society will four days a week. Also I had a part-time job, was provide foster families with all the supplies teaching and a reservist in the Navy,” he said. they need such as food, litter, toys, bedding With this in mind, Nelson said getting a pet and even medical care. while in college can be a disservice to the stuStudents should not be pet owners in coldent’s academics and the pet’s quality of life. lege, Geraldo R. Guerra, coordinator of the He recommends students first get their student learning assistance center, said. degree and a full-time job before they conGuerra said college students have too sider pet adoption. many things going on to take care of a pet.

For more information on the pet foster “For each class a student is in, two to three program, visit www.sahumane.org/foster.

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News

4 • Feb. 21, 2014

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Next stage plans for QEP

Board race filing ends Feb. 28

Students will serve on committee on student services.

kgarcia203@student.alamo.edu

By Bleah B. Patterson

bpatterson13@student.alamo.edu

Results of the Quality Enhancement Plan survey that closed Feb. 14 provided Dr. David Wood, dean of performance excellence, with information necessary to improve this college’s ability to serve students.

The survey revealed faculty, staff and students identified technology needs as the most pressing need. “Now that we have our theme, we can begin to narrow down our focus to particular areas that need our attention the most,” Wood said.

Tuesday, he met with the college executive team — deans, chairs, president and vice presidents here — to discuss results. “The executives felt that it was

such a close tie between technology and the other themes that once we find our focus on the former, we can begin to incorporate the latter into our enhancement plant,” he said.

Next, the executive team conducts research and data analysis to decide what that focus should be. Wood hopes a definite decision is made after spring break.

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges certifies this college’s 2016 reaccreditation.

SACS/COC requires that colleges implement a Quality Enhancement Plan and report the results.

“We will be submitting our final enhancement plan to SAC/COC, giving them our narroweddown idea. From there, they may decide that it’s not the right approach,

HUMANITIES from Page 1 ate dean for academic affairs at Texas State’s School of Liberal Arts, cringes when she sees courses like EDUC 1300 replacing literature and philosophy.

“Things like this are going to make universities vocational institutes without historical or philosophical exposure,” Harney said. “That’s where I see us heading. Some schools are already there.”

or they may have better ideas to implement our plan.”

In the next step, Wood said, a volunteer committee will start immediately planning how to implement the team’s decision and continue through summer and fall.

Wood said he wants a diverse range of student input so he does not intend to leave out students with low GPA’s.

“We haven’t really discussed placing any criteria on those students. We don’t want to prohibit anyone from being involved.

If for some reason, we have too many students, we might have to have some sort of threshold,” he said.

“We want to have a good draft compiled by the end of the calendar year,” Wood said, because the final report is due by the end of spring 2015.

Harney said for the first time in history, people will be graduating with impressive degrees without taking philosophy or critiquing the Great American novel. “They’ll be a little stupider and have less perspective.”

She recalled fall 2009 when the Coordinating Board began requiring colleges to reduce the core. “All of this is being driven by the Coordinating Board, the people at the top,” she

By Katherine Garcia

EcoCentro early site

District 4 trustee Marcelo Casillas, District 8 trustee Gary Beitzel and District 9 trustee James Rindfuss are up for reelection to six-year terms.

The nine-member board is composed of representatives of single-member districts.

Casillas represents the southwest side of Bexar County, Beitzel the North Side and Rindfuss the Northeast Side.

Applicants must file by 5 p.m. Feb. 28 for the May 10 race by sending an application to 201 W. Sheridan, Suite B, San Antonio, Texas, 78204.

Rindfuss is the only candidate to file by Thursday, said board secretary Sandra Mora.

Beitzel said via email Wednesday he will run for re-election.

Casillas did not respond.

Incumbents must file an application and a statement indicating awareness of nepotism law. The law states that no officer may vote for any person related within the second degree through marriage or the third

said. “The way they laid it out was to get rid of one hour of science lab and three of the six humanities hours.”

Texas State, prior to the change, required three hours each of literature and philosophy to satisfy the six hours of humanities and allowed six discretionary hours. “A lot of us struggled with the idea of taking out six more humanities,” Harney said.

“Our faculty argued the importance

Alamo Colleges trustees added EcoCentro as an early voting site for the district’s general election May 10 at Tuesday’s regular meeting.

Early voting is 8 a.m.-6 p.m. April 28-May 2 and 8 a.m.-8 p.m. May 3 and 5-6 in the lobby of EcoCentro, 1802 N. Main Ave. The center is expected to open Earth Day, April 22.

degree by blood to someone in a working position at the Alamo Colleges. Candidates must be registered voters and live in the district they represent.

The basement of the Bexar County Justice Center, 300 Dolorosa is the main early voting site. For a complete list of early voting sites, visit www.alamo. edu/uploadedFiles/District/ About_Us/Trustees/pdf/ACCDOrder-Calling-Trustee-GeneralElection-2014-with-exhibits.pdf.

For more information, call Mora at 210-485-0030.

until we won the battle.”

To compromise, they placed philosophy within the discretionary hours and added three communication hours, leaving three hours of literature under humanities.

Harney said many in her department are worried about the direction of Texas higher education, but also that if forced to make more core changes, faculty won’t win again.

STUDENT from Page 1 their term, maintain at least a 2.5 GPA, prove how they have served and are committed to their college or community, and submit an essay on why they wish to serve.

Students can apply through one campus only. After being chosen, the student and alternate attend principle-leadership training within 60 days of being seated, said Ross Laughead, general counsel for the district. He said the district would cover the cost.

Laughead said many states, including this one, have student trustees at major universities, but there is no statute in Texas that allows student trustees at community colleges. If the student trustee were elected under the statute that major universities use to elect their student trustee, the Alamo Colleges would have to choose a student trustee to represent all nine districts. “We’ve found a way to not violate laws and put a student trustee in a similar position,” he said.

Because the student trustee is chosen independently of the statute law as a nonvoting member, the Attorney General’s office did not need to be informed of the change, Laughead said.

The student trustee initiative started with Jacob Wong and Justin Wideman in spring 2013.

Andrew Hubbard, current SGA president and Student District Council chair, said, “This is a positive step forward, and we’re to help our district move forward in the right direction.”

Hubbard, a champion of the proposal, said he would not run for the position.

News

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Feb. 21, 2014 • 5

Board approves exploration of Saudi deal IN THEORY Board discusses bonds; graduate opposes course.

By Katherine Garcia kgarcia203@alamo.edu

The board of trustees voted to move forward with a proposal to teach classes at a technical-vocational training institute in Saudi Arabia at the regular meeting Tuesday in Killen Center.

Instructors from the Alamo Colleges would teach a variety of programs such as welding technology, mechanical technology, electrical technology, electronics technology and operations and supply chain management programs.

District 4 trustee Marcelo Casillas and District 5 trustee Roberto Zarate expressed apprehension.

Zarate reminded the board that Tarrant County Community College was identified as a possible partner with Saudi Arabia by the General Electric Technical Academy, but the community college district did not go through with it.

“Whatever we do tonight, I advise caution,” he said, suggesting Tarrant County be called and asked what concerns they had with their deal.

Federico Zaragoza, vice

chancellor of economic and workforce development, said in an interview Feb. 13 a partnership with another college may be necessary.

Chancellor Bruce Leslie explained for now, “We are going in as our own entity.”

Zaragoza said the proposal will not be submitted if it does not produce revenue.

He said he doesn’t know the exact amount the institute would pay the Alamo Colleges, but he said it would be based on enrollment and performance. Before the proposal is brought to the board, economic risk will be assessed.

During the citizens-tobe-heard segment of the meeting, Sam Huckleberry, a 2011 history graduate of this college, made his case against the proposed EDUC 1300, Learning Framework, addition to the core curriculum in place of humanities.

Huckleberry questioned the use of Stephen Covey’s “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” as part of the proposed class.

The University of Texas at Austin history major argued that Covey’s work wasn’t original. He explained Covey’s principles of morality, religion and character bear resemblance to Samuel

Smile’s 1859 book “Self Help.”

“One can get more out of a humanities class than a self-help book,” he said.

Other concerns were that the class couldn’t transfer and wouldn’t count toward a major, Huckleberry said.

“I have learned far more from world civilization, world literature and German courses that I took here in this district than I ever did from a self-help book,” he said, adding that Covey’s is the first he’s ever read.

“If you can analyze a map, you can certainly do that with anything else,” he said, adding that knowing another language is a great tool for critical thinking.

“I just want to ask to please fight this,” he said.

Zarate and District 8 trustee Gary Beitzel reported on a presentation at the 2014 Community College Futures Assembly Jan. 25-28 at the Hilton Walt Disney World Resort. It presented six guidelines for student success.

They also reported on a Tidewater Community College in Norfolk, Va. presentation on zero-cost textbooks Terry O’Banion, president of the League for Innovation in the Community Colleges, presented six guidelines for stu-

dent success at the assembly.

“Some of this you might recognize from some of the things we’ve been doing,” Beitzel said.

“Every student will be placed in a program of study, from Day 1. Undecided students will be placed in a mandatory program of study designed to help them decide. Every student who enrolls to pursue a certificate degree or plans to transfer will work with college personnel to create a student success pathway or a roadmap to completion.

“Every student will be carefully monitored throughout the first term to ensure successful progress. The college will intervene immediately to keep students on track. Students will engage in courses and experiences designed to broaden and deepen their learning.”

This sounds similar to the Alamo Institutes initiative, in which all degrees and certificates will be divided into six institutes. This will be done to prevent students from entering as undeclared and prevent those with a major from spending too much money on extra classes.

At the convention, Tidewater Community College presented its “Z Degree,” as

in zero textbook cost for students obtaining an associate of science degree.

The college partnered with Lumen Learning, a company in Portland, Ore., “that helps educational institutions integrate open educational resources into their curricula,” stated www.tcc. edu/news/press/2013/bellwetherfinalist.htm.

The site also states students can save an average of one-third the cost of college.

Beitzel said one of the problems Tidewater previously had with classes was students waiting until the final drop date to drop a class. However, no students dropped from the online version of the class.

The persistence rate of students in online classes was much higher than it was in the traditional class.

Students wanted the online class because it was more interesting.

Zarate said Tidewater Community College “found out there was absolutely no difference between student outcomes, and the ones that got free materials had fewer drops and withdrawals, so they basically had a better success rate with those than they had with the purchased materials.”

Textbook policy needs review before implementation

By Katherine Garcia kgarcia203@alamo.edu

Although the proposal to enforce one textbook per course at all the Alamo Colleges has been approved, it will take some time for the policy to take effect.

A committee of two faculty members from each of the Alamo Colleges will evaluate texts.

Business Professor Larry Rosinbaum and math chair Said Fariabi have been chosen as this college’s representatives.

The standard for selection is which texts produce the most successful students.

“We’re still trying to figure out what that (success) means,” said Mike Burton, English and reading chair.

He said success should not be

evaluated by how many students get an A, B or C because it “doesn’t really say anything about the quality of education they’re getting.”

He said the current classes among the five colleges will be studied to determine which is the most effective.

For example, each English class across the district would be evaluated to determine which pedagogy — or a method of teaching — and textbook are the best.

Upon registering, students must pay for the instructional materials with tuition and fees.

Faculty members may use other source materials as long as students can access them for free.

The manager of this college’s bookstore in the basement level of

Loftin Student Center is not expecting a great change.

“I don’t think it’ll have that much of an effect,” Melvin Johnson said.

“We’ll do whatever the district wants us to do.”

He knew the district was considering switching to ebooks, but he did not know if his regional manager in Dallas was contacted about the proposal and did not wish to release his number.

“I’ll cut down on inventory, but we’ll get books,” he said.

Chancellor Bruce Leslie said this college’s bookstore has a contract with eFollett.com, a company that provides books for a network of bookstores across the country, and the books could be printed out on campus for a minimum of $15.

“You can’t monopolize it,” said John Njam, L&M bookstore manager.

“Students have the right to go wherever they want.”

For now, most titles are available with an ebook if students request them.

A pilot of ebooks only with the option to print out the text was tested at St. Philip’s College, Leslie said. “As far as what I was told was that none of the students printed it, that they were satisfied to have it electronically.”

Leslie said that in the event that a textbook without an ebook equivalent is chosen, students could get the book from this college’s bookstore.

“We’re moving away from textbooks,” Leslie said.

BioSpot place for tutoring, homework Work-study students keep BioSpot running until tutors replaced.

Ty-Eshia Johnson

sac-ranger@student.alamo.edu

Dan Hansen, biology program coordinator, is working to hire enough work-study students and tutors to keep the BioSpot operating.

The lab, in Room 350 of Chance Academic Center, is a study facility providing students with resources and materials to assist students with reviewing lab assignments.

Two work-study students keep the facility running for biology students, but a tutor was transferred to the chemistry lab.

Work-study students schedule hours throughout the day for full coverage.

The BioSpot is a walk-in lab and students can check out materials overnight, but a valid college ID is required. Some items are for in-house use only.

Three study rooms are available for individual and group studying.

Students are allowed to have drinks in the general main room and coffee is also provided.

BioSpot can accommodate 30 people.

The computer lab can accommodate 32 students, and 16 students can use four private study rooms, which also have chalkboards if they need to use them.

A proctored testing center is also available in the lab.

Students can use tutorials for topics discussed in class, but professors may provide other resources and slide presentations to review. Model skeleton and human organs as well as microscopes are also available to students.

Students should check office hours before showing up, but the regular hours of operation are 8 a.m.–5:45 p.m. TuesdayThursday and 8 a.m.–3 p.m.

Friday.

For more information, call 486-0860.

Faculty question representation on search committee for president

By Cassandra Rodriguez crodriguez719@alamo.edu

After 12 years of leading this college, President Robert Zeigler is set to retire at the beginning of the summer.

A search committee will select potential candidates for the presidency of this college with the new president expected to start in fall 2014.

“Everyone is anxious to get the search process under way so that we can get somebody on board in time for next fall,” said Linda BoyerOwens, associate vice chancellor of human resources and organizational development.

Gold Hill Associates, a search firm

specializing in community college presidential searches, has a contract with this district to assist Chancellor Bruce Leslie and the search committee to find prospective candidates for this college.

Dr. J. Parker Chesson Jr., Gold Hill Associates search team member, will help the committee by reviewing applications, advertising the position, recruiting candidates and conducting detailed reference checks.

“It is very important to recognize that I work with the search committee. I am advisory only,” he said.

Recently, he advised Northeast Lakeview College’s search committee in the selection of Craig Follins, who

begins as president in March. He also advised Palo Alto College with their selection of Dr. Michael Flores as the president in 2012.

Leslie will choose a candidate from the committee’s recommendations and then recommend his choice to the board.

Faculty discussed at the Feb. 5 Faculty Senate meeting concerns about the president search committee and questioned what kind of representation there will be on the committee.

English Professor Alex Bernal asked whether there will be senate, chair, staff and student representation on the search committee.

President Robert Zeigler listens to results of a bond sale at Tuesday’s regular board meeting. Melissa Perreault

“There must be adequate representation on the committee,” Dawn Elmore, Faculty Senate president,

said Feb. 5.

In the past, the search committee went to the senate president and Staff Council asking for faculty and staff recommendations, Elmore said.

The search process is estimated to take four to six months.

“I’d like for the next president to view this job as not something to fulfill a personal ambition. But rather something to fulfill a service, a service to the community and a service to the students,” Zeigler said during an interview in January.

Boyer-Owens said students and faculty will have the opportunity to meet candidates when the search committee narrows the selection.

Prem

6 • www.theranger.org/premiere

Chicano arts pioneer Casas flouts tradition

Lecture sheds light on Abstract Expressionism

76 paintings on display in visual arts center.

Michael Schreyach highlights artists from 20th century United States.

By Ansley Lewis

sac-ranger@alamo.edu

By Ansley Lewis

sac-ranger@alamo.edu

Trinity University Professor Michael Schreyach will deliver a lecture on “The Meaning of Abstract Expressionism” 10:50 a.m.-noon Thursday in Room 120 of the visual arts center.

A reception will follow the lecture.

Schreyach, an assistant professor of art and art history at Trinity University, will give the lecture on his approach to understanding 20th century Abstract Expressionist artists.

“Dr. Schreyach approaches the study of Abstract Expression, the first distinctively American art movement, through the lens of philosophy, psychology, sociology and literary criticism in order to bring a new awareness to the paintings of Jackson Pollock, Barnett Newman and others,” art Professor Debra Schafter said.

This is an opportunity for students to see the artists’ works as more than simply the sum of their formal and technical parts, Schafter said.

“Students influenced by the ideas of Abstract Expressionism will be introduced to the most current scholarship in the field,” Schafter said. “Both majors and nonmajors will gain greater understanding of how the human sciences and humanities intersect with the visual arts in 20th century America.”

Schreyach is a recipient of pre-doctoral fellowships from the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the Getty Research Institute, according to the Trinity University website.

Schreyach also received a Terra Foundation for American Art Visiting Professorship at the JFK Institute for North American Studies at the Freie Universität in Berlin.

For more information, call Schafter at 210–486– 1042.

The visual arts program will sponsor an art exhibit featuring Latino/Chicano Arts Movement Pioneer, Melesio “Mel” Casas.

A book signing and reception will be 6 p.m-8 p.m. Feb. 28 in the visual arts center gallery. Seventysix paintings, produced between 1965 and 2012, were chosen from more than 750 pieces of Casas’ Humanscape Series and will be on display in the gallery through April 2.

Guests will have the opportunity to meet Casas, professor emeritus of art and former chair of the art department, as well as Nancy Kelker, author of “Mel Casas: Artists As Cultural Adjuster.”

Casas is considered by many to be a leading artist in the Chicano Arts Movement and has artwork in the Smithsonian Institution collection in Washington, D.C. Kelker describes his work as subtle, outrageous, witty, confrontational, controversial, innovative, provocative, erotic and even X-rated.

Kelker writes in her book Casas is settling into retirement and still continues to paint with as much passion as he did 50 years ago.

Because of a slow recovery from oral surgery, Casas was unavailable for an interview.

“Humanscape 77 (Temporary Loss of Image)” acrylic on canvas Courtesy Kelker, serving as Casas’ spokesperson, agreed to a phone interview with The Ranger.

Kelker is a professor of art history at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tenn.

Kelker met Casas while working as an adjunct at this college in the 1970s. She has worked at the San Antonio Museum of Art, where she was the associate curator of Latin American art and project director for several exhibitions of Hispanic/Latino art.

“I’ve always been intrigued by his intelligence and his wit,” Kelker said about Casas’ work. “Art history is like a giant puzzle. … Mel’s work, for me, has always presented an intriguing intellectual challenge trying to figure out where he came up with the things he (did) and enjoying the puns and witticisms in his work. For me, it was like being in a candy store.”

Kelker said the piece she feels the strongest connection to is Casas’ “Humanscape 79: X-rated Painting,” which serves as the cover art to her book.

Mel Casas’ “Humanscape No. 224 (Starving Artist Mirage)” acrylic on canvas is one of the paintings on display in visual arts Feb. 28-April 2. Courtesy “I start my day — every day — looking at his X-rated painting,” Kelker said. “When I was in Houston many years ago, I bought that painting because it spoke to me about censorship and the way society tries to limit sometimes what we can say and what we can do and how we think.

“The reason he did the painting with the big whitewashed X was to combine the idea of X-rated and whitewashing and censorship of things deemed, by some elements in society, to be offensive.”

In her book, Kelker said Casas is not concerned with making works that are pleasing in the traditional sense.

His paintings explode deeply rooted cultural myths and ste-

reotypes that foment societal ills, bring political and media fallacies into the bright light of scrutiny, and challenge the viewer to think and to act, Kelker said.

“He has been a good friend and adviser. He has provided intellectual challenge through his work constantly. If you’re someone who enjoys the life of the mind, then Mel Casas is a good companion and a good friend,” Kelker said.

The exhibit will be open to the public 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m.5 p.m. Friday. It will be closed Saturday, Sunday and spring break March 10-16.

For more information, call art Professor Thomas Willome at 210–486–1043.

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Feb. 21, 2014 • 7

An artistic evening of chitchat, stories Presenters share passion with slide shows.

By Adriana Ruiz

aruiz168@student.alamo.edu

Experience others’ passion through an artistic slide presentation at PechaKucha, Japanese for “chitchat,” 6:30 p.m-9:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Blue Star Contemporary Art Museum, 116 Blue Star.

PechaKucha features storytelling by an array of artists and passionate people who specialize in media such as painting, photography, graphic design and even real estate.

Vicki Yuan, committee chair for PechaKucha, said the event takes the idea of the traditional PowerPoint presentation and limits the artist to 20 slides.

Each slide lasts about 20 seconds before automatically switching to the next slide, giving the presenters a total of six minutes and 40 seconds.

Yuan said the idea originated in Tokyo by Astrid Klein and Mark Dytham of Klien Dytham architecture in 2003.

The duo created the event as a platform for young professionals, designers and architects to show their work in an informal environment.

Yuan said the event is a fun, quick format that has spread internationally to more than 700 cities.

“I think part of its success is the simple format,” Yuan said.

She said PechaKucha has taken place in San Antonio 12 times in the past four years.

Yuan said the event has been growing every year and organizers expect about 350 people will attend.

Eight people will present. She said the only requirement is that the presenter be based in San Antonio.

Photographer Angela Michelle Ramos, a former photographer for The Ranger, who goes by Angela Michelle, will present. She is the owner of Raven Red Photography.

She specializes in fashion-inspired, conceptual shooting, and her presentation will feature underwater fashion photography.

She used a point-and-shoot camera for her underwater photography and was inspired by the idea that expensive equipment is not needed to make great work.

“I wanted to make it a point that the latest and greatest equipment is not needed,” she said.

“A World of Whimsy: Underwater Portraits” by Angela Michelle is one of the slide shows featured at PechaKucha Tuesday at Blue Star. Courtesy Although she used a simple camera for her photos, Michelle said she put emphasis on the other aspects like lighting, aperture and ISO. South Town urban pioneer Michael Casey will present his story on the evolution of the Sala Diaz gallery and the Casa Chuck compound in the King William neighborhood.

Casey said his presentation will include details of his journey of buying real estate in the neighborhood.

Yuan said Casey was invited to present this time around because the event is at the Blue Star and it would be a great opportunity for him to speak on his history of the neighborhood.

“Mike (Casey) is like the unofficial mayor of South Town,” Yuan said.

Admission is a $5 donation at the door.

For more information, visit www.pechakucha.org/cities/ san-antonio/events/ 52fcf410dbdd20012f00000b.

Angela Michelle’s focus is on underwater, fashion-inspired photography. Courtesy

Ensembles schedule spring concerts

Valentine’s Day brings sore losers, big winners

Music department students fine-tune skills to entertain and pass a midterm.

aruiz168@student.alamo.edu

By Brenda Carielo

sac-ranger@alamo.edu

Students in the music program are tuning their instruments and voices as they prepare for spring concerts in March in the auditorium of McAllister Fine Arts Center.

Each semester, the Percussion Ensemble, Latin Jazz, Choir, and Jazz Ensemble in the music program each stage two performances.

The first will serve as a midterm grade and the second as a final, music Professor Alice Gomez said of the grades students receive for their ensemble classes.

To enroll in ensemble classes, students have to audition.

No auditions are required for the choir.

Concerts encourage students to enhance their talent by performing in front of an audience, Gomez said.

She is the director of the Percussion Ensemble and Latin Jazz Combo.

A nine freshmen and sophomore Percussion Ensemble, led by Gomez, will perform 1 p.m.-1:50 p.m. March 3.

Gomez also directs 10 freshmen and sophomores in the Latin Jazz Combo, which will perform 12:30 p.m.-1:30 p.m. March 4.

Gomez is looking forward to successful performances from the students.

An important skill for students is the ability to hide mistakes should something go wrong during the performance so that the audience doesn’t notice, Gomez said.

The choir, led by music Professor Cindy Sanchez, will perform 1 p.m.- 2 p.m. March 5.

The choir concert will include two performances.

The Concert Choir of 35 students and Chamber Singers of 20 students will perform separately with each performance consisting of four songs. The theme is food.

The choir performances include “Java Jive” by Manhattan Transfer, “Chili Con Carne” by The Real Group, “Lollipop” by Chordette, and “Banquet Fegue” by John Rutter.

“This song set is on the lighter side of pieces,” Sanchez said.

Chamber Singers are voice majors who auditioned for entry into the class.

The Concert Choir is open to all students who enroll in MUEN 1141, Concert Choir.

The Jazz Ensemble will perform 2 p.m.–3 p.m. March 6.

All concerts are free and open to the public.

For information, call 210-486-0269.

Contestants win Kindle Fires for ‘Dating Game.’

By Adriana Ruiz

An audience of about 50 in Loftin Student Center witnessed potential bachelor and bachelorettes try their luck at winning a Kindle Fire during a reinvention of the classic television show, “The Dating Game.”

The event was sponsored by the Black Student Alliance, Black History Month Committee and the office of student life Feb. 14.

Students signed up before for the game and waited to have their name drawn from a fish bowl.

Four women and four men were picked to participate. They chose questions from a list provided by the host, music business sophomore Darryl David Dawson. A screen separated the contestant from the bachelor or bachelorette.

In the first round of questions, liberal arts freshman Nathan Holiner played the bachelor.

Holiner asked the contestants, “Which Disney character would you say best describes you? Minnie Mouse, Goofy or Winnie the Pooh?” and “On Valentine’s Day, which of these would you prefer to receive?

Candy, flowers, chocolate-covered nuts or a kiss?”

The crowd cheered while the three bachelorettes giggled and timidly answered the questions.

Mortuary science freshman

Lauren Griffin, Contestant No. 1, did not win the grand prize but said she enjoyed participating and decided to play because she is adventurous.

Participation did not require students to go on a date, but Griffin said she would have to think about a date with Holiner.

“I feel like I am much older,” Griffin said. “But if he picked me, and he was nice, I might have gone out with him.”

During the second set of questions, early childhood education freshman Valerie Hernandez played the bachelorette. She asked Contestant No. 1, “If I was stranded on an island, how would you save me?”

Liberal arts freshman Reno Williams, contestant No. 1, shocked the audience with his response.

“Save you? I would save myself,” Williams said.

Even after his response, Hernandez chose Williams because he was nicer, she said.

Criminal justice sophomore Pablo Moreno said he was surprised he didn’t win.

“I should have won. Look at me,” Moreno said. “I guess people didn’t like my comments, but it was just something for people to laugh about.”

The event had the crowd laughing and offered plenty of audience participation.

Holiner, Hernandez, Williams and nursing sophomore Erendira Olvera were the winners of Kindle Fires.

Darryl David Dawson, music business sophomore and “Dating Game” host, announces education freshman bachelorette Valerie Hernandez’s winning bachelor at the eighth annual “Dating Game” Feb. 14 in Loftin. She chose Contestant No. 1, liberal arts freshman Reno Williams. Juan A. Rodriguez

BLACK HISTORY MONTH Tuesday SAC Event: 25th annual read-in 11 a.m.12:05 p.m. on the second floor of Loftin.

Thursday SAC Performance: Michael Jackson impersonator 11 a.m.-1 p.m. in the Fiesta Room of Loftin.

Call 210-486-0126.

SAConnected

8• Feb. 21, 2014

TODAY SAT MON TUES WED THUR NVC Exhibit: “Clay: Transformation of Water and Earth” by Gricelda Nill and Sarah Rohlack 8 a.m.-5 p.m. at Palmetto Center. Call 210-486-4527.

SAC Transfer: Texas A&M University-San Antonio 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. in transfer center and first floor of Chance. Call 210-4860864.

SAC Event: Game night sponsored by the department of American Sign Language and interpreter training 6 p.m.-9 p.m. in Room 120 of Nail. Call 210-4861106.

Performance: “Death of a Salesman” 8 p.m. at the Blackbox Theatre at Woodlawn.

Tickets $10-$25.

Continues at 8 p.m.

Saturday and 3 p.m.

Sunday. Call 210-5898450.

Concer t: Cantos Chicanos Y Chilenos En California 8 p.m. at Esperanza Peace and Justice Center, 922 San Pedro. $5 Presale or $8 at the door.

Call 210-228-0201.

SUN Event: Barbecue plate benefit for Leyda Suarez family 11 a.m.5 p.m. at 1051 W. Malone. $6. Call 210723-0779.

Fundraiser: No Idea Festival 2014 with lecture

by Carlos Prieto at 4 p.m. and Justin Boyd concert at 6 p.m. at Southwest School of Art, Coates Chapel.

Call 210-224-1848 or visit www.swschool.org.

Event: Craft beer class and tour 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. at H-E-B Central Market, 4821 Broadway. $10.

Call 210-368-8600.

Event: World Dance of the People 7 p.m.-9 p.m. at the International Folk Culture Center, 411 S.W. 24th. Call 210867-0692.

SAC Event: Hot Potato on immigration reform with criminal justice Professor Marshall Lloyd noon-1 p.m. at the Methodist Student Center, 102 Belknap Place. Call 210-733-1441.

SAC Transfer: Texas State University 2 p.m.-6 p.m. in transfer center. Call 210-4860864.

Trinity Event: “Vagina Monologues” 5:30 p.m.-10 p.m. in the Stieren Theater.

Call 800-874-6489 or visit lgarza@trinity. edu.

SAC Meeting: Society for Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science 2 p.m.-3 p.m. in Room 204 of Chance. Call 210486-0085.

Event: Informal chess games for all ages and all levels of play 6 p.m.7:45 p.m. at the San Pedro Library, 1315 San Pedro. Continues Tuesdays. Call 210207-9050.

Event: Teaching for Social Justice at Institute of Texan Cultures 6 p.m.- 8 p.m.

801 E. Chavez. Call 210-458-2300 or visit www.TexanCultures. com.

SAC Transfer: Texas A&M University-San Antonio adviser 9 a.m.-4 p.m. in transfer center. Call 210-4860864.

SAC Meeting: Society of Women Engineers 8:45 a.m.9:30 a.m. in Room 204 of Chance. Call 210486-1825.

SAC Transfer: Troy University 1 p.m.-4 p.m. in transfer center.

Call 210-486-0864.

SAC Transfer: Our Lady of the Lake University 11 a.m.-1 p.m. on first floor of Chance. Call 210-4860864.

SAC Transfer: University of Texas at San Antonio 2 p.m.-4 p.m. in transfer center.

Call 210-486-0864.

SAC Meeting: GALA 3 p.m.-4 p.m. in employee lounge of Loftin. Call 210-2014252.

Advising: Texas Tech information session 5:30 p.m. at Café College, 131 El Paso.

Call 806-834-2071 or cafecollege.org/ upcoming-events.

Film festifal: Short Films from 2013 Morelia Film Festival 7 p.m. at the Guadalupe Theater at the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center, 1301 Guadalupe. Continutes through March 1. Call 210-271-3151.

SAC Meeting: President’s Roundtable Meeting 2 p.m. in the craft room of Loftin.

Call 210-486-0125.

Event: “The Glen Miller Story” 6:30 p.m. and wine reception at 6 p.m. at the McNay Art Museum, 6000 N. New Braunfels. Free admission with Alamo Colleges ID. Call 210824-5368 or visit www. mcnayart.org.

Event: Alien Worlds and Androids 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Witte Museum 3801 Broadway. $15. Call 210-357-1900.

www.theranger.org/calendar

FRI

UPCOMING

NVC Event: Lead to Succeed: Leadership Conference 9 a.m.3 p.m. with keynote speaker Stan Pearson.

Priority to NVC students then to students at other district colleges.

Register at www.alamo. edu/nvc/current-students/student-life/.

Call 210-486-4010.

March 1

SAC Event: Alcohol and Drug Abuse awareness 10 a.m.-noon in Loftin. Call 210-4850088.

Event: ArtStrolls nature theme 10:30 a.m. at McNay Art Museum, 6000 N. New Braunfels. Free with Alamo Colleges ID. Call 210-805-1768.

SAC Event: Information session by Financial Services 10 a.m.-1:00 p.m. in Room 707 of Moody. Continues April 5 and May 3. Visit www.alamo.edu/district/connect.

Event: Festival of India sponsored by Indian Association of San Antonio 2 p.m.-8 p.m. La Villita 401. Call 210-317-7472 or visit www. indiasa.org.

Event: Drawing Demo with Megan Harrison 2 p.m.-4 p.m. in Russell Hill Rogers Gallery on the Navarro Campus, 1201 Navarro. Free.

Call 210-224-1848 or visit www.swschool.org.

SAC Event: “ASL on Stage” Talent Show and Silent Auction sponsored by the department of American Sign Language and interpreter training 6:30 p.m.-10 p.m. in auditorium of McAllister. $10 donation. Call 210-486-1106.

SAC Event: “Girl Talk” sponsored by Methodist Student Center 12:30 p.m. at 102 Belknap. Call 210733-1441 or visit www. saumcm.org.

SAC Bowling: Free bowling sponsored by office of student life 3 p.m.-5 p.m. at Bandera Bowl, 6700 Huebner.

To reserve space, call 210-486-0125.

March 15 SAC Deadline: Graduation application due March 15 in Room 216 in Fletcher. Call 210486-0200.

Alexandra Nelipa

March 18

New photo club seeks members direction Spokesperson and veteran Steven Price shares advice.

Magavern said.

He said students will decide the direction of the club.

By Ian Coleman “At the last meeting, it was decided sac-ranger@alamo.edu that our next meeting will help students Members organizing a new photo club to enter photo competitions,” Magavern at this college will discuss a spring break said. field trip at 6:30 p.m. March 3 in Room 207 Students will learn how to enter a in Loftin Student Center photo contest, what judges expect and Steven Price, a sophomore in this col- how to copyright photos. lege’s photography program, welcomes “We’re also kicking around the idea of any students who are a field trip over spring interested in photograbreak,” Magavern said.

The main reasons phy.

The details of the for the club “All interested people potential field trip will is to motivate are invited,” Price said. be discussed at the and further the “We’re not excluding meeting. anybody.”

Price, a former sereducation of For membership in geant in the Army, is students interested the club, a student must using skills he is learnin photography. be enrolled in at least six ing in the journalism Mark Magavern, credit hours at any of the and photography prolab technician Alamo Colleges. gram to create a docu“It’s good for stumentary called “The dents to be affiliated and involved Silent War.” in groups while in college,” Price said.

“It is about disabled veterans fighting “When they get out of college, people look to get their benefits,” Price said. for that on their résumés.”

He said the documentary is going to Price said the ultimate goal of the club portray the hardships of veterans who is to promote the college and students. return from combat.

Membership can help build their portPrice served in the Special Forces airfolio and résumé. borne division as a radio/telecommuniMedia communications personnel cation operator from July 1981 to October supporting the club are lab technicians 1987.

Mark Magavern and Tricia Buchhorn and He saw combat in the U.S. Invasion of photography Adjuncts Scott Vallance and Panama in 1982 through 1984.

Desiree Shanding.

He mentors veterans who are strug“The main reason for the club is to gling with the return to civilian life. motivate and further the education of For information, call Magavern at 210students interested in photography,” 486-1781.

’’

Transfer fair brings university representatives Students can update degree and transfer plans.

By Marina Garcia

sac-ranger@alamo.edu

Representatives of 24 universities are expected for the spring Transfer Fair 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday in Loftin Student Center The fair provides a bounty of information on two dozen potential transfer colleges, helping students decide which university has the best program in their major.

Representatives will tell students how many hours they need to transfer to a university.

Representatives of Alamo University Center, which offers upper-level university courses in a facility on Pat Booker Road, and Café College, a city agency focused on helping students prepare for college, will assist students who are still undecided on a major.

A student’s college history and GPA will factor in ability to transfer, Rosa Maria Gonzalez, transfer center coordinator, said.

She suggests students use Web resources like collegeforalltexans.com or transfer101.org to conduct research to complete transfer plans.

Students entering a university can transfer a maximum of 66 hours from a community college.

For an incoming freshman, Gonzalez recommends students select a career choice, have a major in mind, and research universities that offer the best programs in the student’s area of interest.

Regardless of the number of earned credit hours, students need to talk to a university adviser about transferring classes and special instructions individual universities may have.

Students can use the Alamo GPS in ACES, updated daily, to view the hours they have accrued and their progress on transfer plans.

The transfer center, in the counseling complex on the first floor of Moody Leaning Center, sponsors university representatives weekly.

For more information, call the transfer center at 210486-0864 or email sac-grad@alamo.edu.

ACCD Meeting: Standing committee meetings of the board of trustees 5:30 p.m. in Room 101 of Killen Center, 201 W. Sheridan.

Call 210-485-0000 or visit www.alamo.edu/ district/board.

March 20 SAC Event: Coffee Night and Open Mic sponsored by the Cheshyre Cheese Club 6 p.m.-9 p.m. in Loftin. 18 years or older event.

Call 210-486-0125.

March 25 ACCD Meeting: Regular meeting of the board of trustees 6 p.m. in Room 101 of Killen Center, 201 W. Sheridan. Call 210-485-0000 or visit www.alamo.edu/district/board.

March 27 SAC Event: Meet the Majors 9 a.m.-noon in Loftin Student Center. Call 210-486-0864.

March 29 NVC Event: Wellness 5k walk/run sponsored by the Wellness Committee 9 a.m.-11 a.m. at Huisache Hall. Call 210-486-1025.

April 19 Event: Fiesta Arts Fair 2014 10 a.m.-6 p.m. at Ursuline Campus, 300 Augusta. $16 weekend pass, $10 daily for adults, $5 daily for children ages 5-12 and free for children under 5 accompanied by adults. Continues Sunday 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Call 210-224-1848 or visit www.swschool.org.

!

For coverage in SAConnected, call 210-486-1773 or e-mail sac-ranger@alamo.edu two weeks in advance.

Pulse

www.theranger.org/pulse

Feb. 21, 2014 • 9

GYM SHORTS Pirates rob Lady Final Scores Wednesday Men’s basketball Victoria 74 San Antonio 47 Women’s basketball Victoria 55 San Antonio 44

Upcoming games Men’s basketball Wednesday San Antonio at Incarnate Word, 8 p.m. at McDermott Center St. Philip’s at Southwest Texas, 8 p.m. at La Forge Hall and gymnasium.

Victoria at Northwest Vista, 8 p.m. at Huisache Hall.

Women’s basketball Wednesday San Antonio at Incarnate Word, 6 p.m. at McDermott Center St. Philip’s at Southwest Texas, 6 p.m. at La Forge Hall and gymnasium.

Victoria at Northwest Vista, 6 p.m. at Huisache Hall.

Student raises awareness for VisionWalk

By Maria Duran

sac-ranger@alamo.edu

Diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, music business sophomore Tone Guerrero is raising awareness around campus.

Retinitis pigmentosa or RP is a group of inherited diseases causing retinal degeneration in which people experience a gradual decline in vision when rods and cones die.

Guerrero said it was overwhelming hearing he would never be able to drive, would slowly lose eyesight, and there is no cure. So Guerero wants everyone to put on walking shoes or sixth annual San Antonio VisionWalk March 22.

The Foundation Fighting Blindness, a national nonprofit and private source for retinal disease research funding, is sponsoring the 5K walk, which will begin at City of Olmos Park Gun Club at 928 E. Contour Drive. The walk is to increase awareness and help raise money for research, prevention, treatments and cures for blindness.

“That’s why it’s so important to me,” Guerrero said, adding that even though he is legally blind, “It’s not about me; it’s about the research and supporting the foundation.”

Guerrero has visited the Methodist Student Center, the Catholic Student Association, and the Campus Activity Board to publicize the walk.

Jacob-Aidan Martinez, assistant coordinator of student leadership and activities and adviser of the Campus Activity Board, volunteered along with six CAB members, to walk.

The San Antonio VisionWalk is free and open to the public, but donations are welcome. Registration continues until 8:30 a.m. before the walk at 9:30 a.m. A free lunch and entertainment at the gun club follow.

For more information, visit www.FightBlindness.org/ SanAntonioVisionWalk.

Rangers 55-44

By R.T. Gonzalez

sac-ranger@alamo.edu

Back-and-forth was the story of the Victoria College Lady Pirates and this college’s Lady Rangers, but it was the Lady Pirates who came out on top 55-44 Wednesday in Gym 1 of Candler Physical Education Center.

Victoria College took control of the game by jumping to an 8-point lead in the first few minutes.

The Lady Rangers answered back, turning offensive rebounds into points, and produced an 8-0 run to pull within 5 points.

Nearing the end of the first quarter, the Lady Pirates

substantially picked up the pace and held a slight lead heading into halftime 27-21.

In the second half, kinesiology sophomore Haley Capestany helped to bring the Lady Rangers back to even the score 31-31.

Capestany scored 14 points.

The Rangers enjoyed the lead for less than 2 minutes before the Lady Pirates turned the game in their favor.

Breaking though the San Antonio defense, Victoria College started an 11-point run, bringing the score to 47-36. The scoring run proved to be too much for the Lady Rangers to bounce back.

Fire science sophomore Jennifer Gonzales drives between Lady Pirate defenders Elissa Beaudoin and Jill Runnels to score during the Lady Rangers’ 55-44 loss. Catharine Treviño Despite the loss, coach Forris Phillips was happy with the effort his team gave. “They didn’t give up,”

he said.

With the loss, the Lady Rangers drop to 3-6 the season. The Lady Rangers take

on the University of the Incarnate Word at 6 p.m.

Wednesday in McDermott Center.

Pirates sink the Rangers 74-47 Rangers lose their drive for victory in second half.

By R.T. Gonzalez

sac-ranger@alamo.edu

The Rangers began the game with victory in mind but could not keep a handle on the Victoria College Pirates’ unrelenting drive during a 74-47 loss Wednesday in Gym 1 of Candler Physical Education Center.

Kinesiology sophomore Devin Coffey said the reason for the loss was simple — “turnovers.”

Coffey did his best to keep the Rangers in the game, scoring 18 points and grabbing more than eight rebounds.

The Rangers were able to keep the game within 15-points, concluding the first half trailing 36-22.

The second half was a different story. “The team lost their sense of urgency,” Rangers coach Mark Ramirez said.

The Pirates started the second half scoring 6 points. The quick start appeared to rattle the Rangers and resulted in more turnovers.

Kinesiology sophomore Chris Huber and Pirates guard Shannon Winston scramble for a loose ball. Catharine Treviño In the first 12 minutes, Victoria College out-scored the Rangers 29-13.

The fight had been taken from the Rangers, and the Pirates sailed

on to win by 27 points.

Pirates coach Jesse Ortega said the victory seemed effortless.

The loss drops the Rangers to

2-7 for the season. The Rangers will take on the University of the Incarnate Word at 8 p.m. Wednesday in McDermott Center.

Kinesiology Club offered internships at Blast Fitness Former student offers career advice and opportunities for majors.

By J’son Tillmon

sac-ranger@alamo.edu

Being a personal trainer is not glamorous, the regional fitness manager of Blast Fitness and alumnus of this college, told the Kinesiology Club Feb. 5 in Candler Physical Education Center.

“It’s a difficult job,” John Bonillas, 29, told 15 members and guests at the meeting. “It’s a lot of hours. You’re on your feet pushing people and motivating people. By the end of the day, your knees hurt, your ankles hurt and you’re hungry, but hey it’s your job, right? You’re a trainer.”

He told the group about a 30-hour service learning program with trainers at Blast Fitness.

The company has four gyms in San Antonio.

Interns learn how to monitor clients week to week to reach their goals, he said. They also learn the business of attracting and retaining clients.

Blast Fitness is hiring personal trainers and encouraged students with a personal trainer’s certification to apply, Bonillas said.

He was a student here 2004-2006, then transferred to Texas State University and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology in 2010. He

landed a seasonal coaching position at St. Mary’s Hall from 2009-2013. “I was doing the seasonal coaching with those guys, and I was swinging a hammer doing a construction job with a degree, so it was not the way I pictured it working out,” he said.

“My minor or my other focus was not math, science or special education,” Bonillas said. “So if you really want to coach and teach, make sure you have those under your belt.”

Coaches in public schools often teach those subjects in addition to coaching. Without that education, coaching opportunities passed him by so Bonillas sought opportunities in fitness.

Opportunity opened at Bally Total Fitness as a fitness manager. On May 1, 2012, Blast Fitness, a company based in Boston, bought out the company and Bonillas had to re-interview for his position.

When a regional spot opened in San Antonio, he applied and got the position. Two months ago, he noticed a regional position opened in Dallas.

He figured because of his success in San Antonio, he could micromanage Dallas from San Antonio.

Bonillas is the regional fitness manager of eight clubs in San Antonio and Dallas with eyes on Houston. “They gave it to me; they took a chance on me. I’m only in my third month in, and I hit

quota. I’ve done what the company has asked of me so we’re doing good and moving forward,” Bonillas said. “I thought I would be with a clipboard and a whistle talking about game plans.

What I do now is still coaching. I train people and coach employees. It’s still the same thing.”

Bonillas said the kinesiology department helped prepare him for opportunities in personal fitness training. Teachers Dawn Brooks, Brad Dudney and Carol Johnson, who is retired, influenced him to choose kinesiology and see it all the way through to a degree. “At that time, when you don’t know what you’re going to do in life, it’s good to have people say, ‘Look I think you can do this, you have the potential to do these types of things.’

Just having them support me was the biggest thing to give me that push,” Bonillas said.

On Feb. 11, Brooks said Bonillas brought good information for students. “I was impressed with him being a former student who has been where you guys are. You listen more to somebody who has already been there. It’s like, wow, you’ve walked the same path that I did and you know what it feels like. So I was excited to have him.”

The Kinesiology Club meets at 2 p.m. the first and third Wednesdays in Room 126 of Candler.

Call 210-486-1025.

10 • Feb. 21, 2014

www.theranger.org/editorial

.org

the

ranger

Editorial

Editor Mandy Derfler Managing Editor Katherine Garcia News Editor Cassandra Rodriguez Premiere Editor Adriana Ruiz Opinion Editor Bleah B. Patterson Social Media Editor T.L. Hupfer Web Editor Carlos Ferrand Web News Editor Neven Jones Staff Writers Kathya Anguiano, Manuel Bautista-Macias, Brandon Borrego, Brenda Carielo, Casey Coggins, Ian Coleman, Maria Duran, Mandi Flores, John D. French, Marina Garcia, Imani Gayden, R.T. Gonzalez, Marco Horta, Ty-Eshia Johnson, Ansley Lewis, Pam Paz, Juan A. Rodriguez, Marie Sullins, J’son Tillmon, Adrian Yancelson Photographers Daniel Carde, Belinda Hernandez, Riley Stephens Photo Team Nathan J. Fox, David Guel, Siobhan O’Donnell, Melissa Perreault, Paula Christine Schuler, Addison Simmons, Catharine Trevino, Eric M. Valdez, Roberto Villarreal Video Team Daniel Arguelles, Robbin Cresswell, Steven C. Price Illustrators Alexandra Nelipa, Franchesca Ruiz Production Assistant M.J. Callahan Alexandra Nelipa

Advertising Manager Patricia McGlamory ©2014 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 Fridays except during summer, holidays and examinations.

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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.

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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.

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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.

METAMEDIA

Reporting responsibly Viewers need chance to react and form opinions.

The job of a journalist is not as simple as saying, “Well, look at what’s going on here. Grab a reporter, it needs to be covered.”

Journalists have a responsibility to determine not only what to report, but also how much.

The challenge in reporting news is determining the limits to potentially inappropriate situations.

Recall the video of the Nebraska toddler spouting profanities while cheered on by his parents. The video, played by national news outlets, provided viewers the oppor-

Corrections In “Learning Framework to benefit training firm” in the Feb. 14 issue, a quote with an idiom referring to a “woodpile” was incorrectly attributed to Faculty Senate Secretary Lisa Black. A member of the town hall audience said it.

tunity to form their own opinions.

Although bleeping was not used to block the profanities, the toddler’s face was blurred to maintain the child’s privacy. Airing the raw video helps viewers grasp the inappropriateness of the incident.

Coverage led to an intervention by Nebraska Child Protective Services.

Of the many reactions, it’s the journalist’s responsibility to give people the opportunity to react and make their own judgments taking action if necessary.

The way journalists report is a carefully and responsibly made decision to inform people.

Also, in “Spin bike now ‘indoor cycling’ to avoid copyright infringement,” an incorrect copyright was reported. Mad Dogg Athletics trademarked the term “spin.”

To avoid the term, the kinesiology department changed courses to indoor cycling.

Convince us fee necessary Why double the student activity fee? For Student Activity Fee Committee plan to do students, every dollar counts, and agreeing to with double the funds that will be so beneficial to students? And how many students? double the fee will take some convincing.

What about evening and summer students?

The fee funds activities approved by the Why should they pay double the fee? Few Student Activity Fee Committee. If students events or activities are available to them. don’t already know, those enrolled in 12 credit Loftin Student Center and the cafeteria hours pay $12, $24 if the fee doubles. closes by 7 p.m. Monday-Thursday That’s a few days’ lunch money and 5 p.m. Friday. With the excepor enough ramen for a few weeks.

For video tion of a monthly coffeehouse Administrators and trustees probSound Off, go to night and outdoor movies on one ably can’t remember being so theranger.org. of students’ busiest workdays, poor. That’s because their tuition activities rarely occur after hours. wasn’t as large a percentage of their Sending an email survey asking income as it is today. students to hike the fee another dollar isn’t Students deserve a say on more fees and enough.

The students who will actually read it how the money is spent. The board agreed, so probably won’t be convinced and some won’t an ACES email survey is scheduled March 1-7. even understand.

Emails don’t get students’ As student representatives, SGA needs to attention; don’t expect it to capture a vote. take an active role in informing students of the Getting out and talking to students will tell proposal doubling the fee. It was SGA’s idea so you what they value and need and what they they better be able to demonstrate a benefit.

Let’s see a plan. Don’t ask for a bump of are willing to pay for and why.

It’s also SGA’s responsibility to represent more than $1 million just because.

Any student can name a few services they students’ opinion of the fee increase — and let wish would return to campuses that will help it go if students aren’t interested — and how them finish their degrees. What does the activity funds should be spent.

Honor Sinkin with naming This college has been remiss in honoring one of its most dedicated, revered and community-oriented alumni.

William “Bill” Rashall Sinkin died Feb. 3 at the age of 100. A student from 1930-32, he continued to remain a part of this college until the very end.

Sinkin was named one of 75 Outstanding Former Students at this college’s 75th anniversary celebration in 2000, an individual honor he was awarded in 1983-84.

As an advocate for green energy and solar power, Sinkin has become something of a icon in San Antonio for eco-friendly science.

He was an early activist for racial equality, valuing immigration rights and promoting desegregation. As a banker on the city’s East Side, Sinkin made a point of employing African-Americans, and gave little concern to what his white customers thought. By providing small loans to black-owned business, he facilitated economical growth.

In 1968, Sinkin and this college’s first Outstanding Former Student, the late Rep. Henry B. Gonzalez, pushed for a world’s fair.

Sinkin was the first president of HemisFair ’68, a half-year that placed the city on the world

stage on the 250th year of its founding.

Whether supporting scientific advances that would improve the environment, improving the quality of life for the community and furthering equality for all human beings, Sinkin was always in the forefront.

Buildings and other venues are named for people who donate a lot of money or whose lives prove so exemplary no explanation is necessary. The naming encourages those who occupy the facility to emulate the namesake.

EcoCentro, a sustainable-lifestyle training center at 1802 N. Main Ave., opens its doors this spring. The goal is to train and empower the community by providing job skills in ecofriendly technology and healthy lifestyle skills friendly to the environment and the wallet.

It is an appropriate facility to attach the name Sinkin.

Its mission continues his long legacy of service to the residents of San Antonio. Sinkin devoted his life to saving the Earth, improving the community and empowering people.

Bill Sinkin not only epitomizes equality and technological advances but remained a steadfast supporter of the college where he got his start in life.

Opinion

www.theranger.org/opinion

Feb. 21, 2014 • 11

Quiet of small-town home clears education confusion I grew up in Stockdale, a small town about an hour south of San Antonio. When I say small, I mean one blinking traffic light, one Dairy Queen and four Mexican restaurants. I’m also an only Viewpoint child so my decision to move

by T.L four hours away to College Hupfer Station after high school was thupfer@student. a shock to my family. alamo.edu Luckily, I wasn’t going alone. I met Kadie during spring break of my senior year. We instantly became close and decided to move in together. I thought getting away from home and experiencing life would be the best decision of my life. I was wrong.

That August, we moved into a four-bedroom apartment with two teen girls the apartment complex paired us with. Jaycee and Sarah Beth were childhood best friends from Houston who seemed to have their entire lives planned.

I was intimidated. Kadie and I had only met a few months before, and I had never lived with anyone but my parents. I had never even been

away from home for more than a couple weeks.

Kadie and I enrolled in Blinn College in Bryan while Jaycee and Sarah Beth attended Texas A&M University. About two months into the semester, I was completely failing as a student. I already had a couple of meltdowns, crying like my life was ending to my childhood best friend back in Stockdale. I missed my parents, my bed, home-cooked dinners and I was tired of PB&J sandwiches and Ramen noodles.

I wasn’t doing great in my English class because my high school style of writing was “incorrect.” My history professor noted: My high school coach didn’t teach us enough about America because he was too busy making football plays. My math teacher was shocked that I didn’t know simple college algebra. And I was so tired from trying to keep up with my other classes I never studied for my first aid class.

It was not going well for me. I wasn’t passing my classes. I was scared to drop anything because I thought I needed 12 credit hours to keep my loans. Worst of all, I still couldn’t find a job. I worked at Sonic Drive-In from the day I turned 16 to the day before I left for college.

At Toy’s ‘R’ Us, I was informed I was “overqualified.” No one seemed to be hiring.

Christmas break couldn’t have come at a better time. I barely passed my classes. My apartment was becoming a war zone. I knew I wanted to be in college, but I was confused.

One day my mom told me she didn’t see me as a veterinarian but more as an E! News reporter or working for a magazine in New York.

That was my dream job. I was only going to be a vet because my dad always said doctors and vets make a lot of money. I was going to college for all the wrong reasons. As soon as I realized that, everything made sense. The day I got back to College Station, I changed my major. That’s when I decided to study journalism. I also knew I would be moving home at the end of the term.

Unfortunately, I still struggled through my classes. The problems in my apartment made it clear that focusing purely on school wasn’t going to happen. Kadie and I were growing apart. There was constant bickering about groceries or going to parties or inviting people over. Everything became an argument.

We all lived off of our parents, scholarships

and loans. Luckily in February, Kadie’s uncle was able to get all four of us a job with a catering company. It was exciting at first. Then we realized we would be with each other at work and at home.

So my grades that semester were low, again.

I was working almost every day, and if I wasn’t, I was asleep, physically and mentally exhausted.

I was counting down the days until my last final. I knew once I was back at my parents’ house, I wouldn’t be interrupted. Although I still talk to my roommates, I knew I would do better in school if I went home.

I wasn’t making bad life choices in College Station; I just couldn’t focus while I was there.

I returned to Stockdale in May and soon we moved to Universal City where I enrolled in Northeast Lakeview. In one semester, I raised my GPA from a 1.7 to 2.8. I have a good waitressing job, and transferred to this college and Texas A&M-San Antonio. I am the social media and calendar editor at The Ranger.

Coming home happened at the best time possible, but I don’t regret moving away. I needed to experience life outside of my small town.

Adventure, travel, chance encounters teach value of all life experiences

Viewpoint

by R.T. Gonzalez sac-ranger@ alamo.edu

Eleanor Roosevelt said, “The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.”

I always thought that for people to understand the world around them, they should experience it. Despite growing up in the seventh largest city in the U.S., my parents kept a pretty tight leash on my brothers and me. Though they were overprotective, I always found a way to get outside the little box they seemed to keep us in.

One of those moments was when I was

21 and decided to travel to Boston, Chicago and New York City in one week by myself.

I told my parents I was only going to visit universities that would benefit my future. That was an excuse. I was really there for the adventure. Each city had its own culture; the people walked with a purpose, and each day, I routinely thought about how different I was from them. Sure, I was a student, and I knew I had a meaningful life, but I never felt so little.

Even though San Antono is heavily populated, it sometimes seems like a ghost town to me, especially at night. Before I vis-

ited these cities, I had never been outside of Texas. The experience was life-changing.

I weaved my way in and out of airports and subways and met so many people, including a Sports Illustrated reporter in the airport on my way home who once covered the Olympic games. He told me to keep up the great work in school. He encouraged me to keep in contact and not be afraid to ask him for support I may need.

If I never stepped outside the box, or Texas, I would not have received the reinforcing encouragement from writers and advisers I met in those three cities.

Sitting on the sidelines is definitely difficult, but it is something I am learning to handle. I am a person who loves to do. I am figuring out that when I step away from an experience, I am truly able to appreciate it.

When I finally realized that, I decided to become a reporter to have the opportunity to step back and record the impact of lives at hand. I am able to share those things in a skillful manner and bring the experience to life for the reader. I, too, have experienced so much, from the other side of the nation to things in my own backyard; it is time I get to tell the story.

Words should mean more Success, from the Today those words are punch lines more often Latin successus, means to than descriptions of real sentiments. acquire fame, triumph or Finishing up my time at this college, I’m achievement. “The favor- finding that I’m the product of a successable or prosperous terminadriven-administration, with “success” inserted tion of attempts or endeav- into every title like an exclamation point, ors; the accomplishment meant to excite and rile up readers.

Viewpoint of one’s goals,” according This should ease my anxiety, not heighten

by Bleah B. to the Merriam Webster it, right? I’m attending a college that puts my Patterson Dictionary. Webster seems success at the top of its checklists. to think success is basically Shouldn’t I be happy I attend a college so bpatterson13@ a job well done. concerned about my success? Yes, but I worry student.alamo.edu Perhaps we could say by about its dwindling meaning every time I see it definition, it is what hard work and perseversandwiched between catchphrases. ance give birth to. But what There’s nothing wrong happens to a word used too with being successful; on much, a victim of its own the contrary, success is so success? important to me, I want it to Rudyard Kiping, author of be so deep within the hearts “Jungle Book” said, “Words and minds of our adminare, of course, the most powistrators they don’t have to erful drug used by mankind.” keep saying it like they’re tryWhich, to me, means ing to convince themselves. those wielding powerful In the words of Tywin words like “success,” “love,” Lannister (please excuse “forgiveness” and “hate” the “Game of Thrones” refshould be vigilant, making erence), “If you have to say sure they’re not to blame for you’re a king, then you’ve depleting the meaning. already lost your throne.”

Actor Charles Dance The more you say a I worry that success has word, the more it loses its already become a handy gusto, its importance and, eventually, its value. slogan. I worry it will be an effective ploy, When I was a child, I was told actions empty of promise and less of a reality. speak louder than words. I wasn’t supposed to I’m not concerned because I attend an apologize to my parents; I was supposed to be unsuccessful school or because my instrucso “sorry” that I wouldn’t repeat poor behavior. tors and professors aren’t equipping me with As I got older, I thought loving everyeverything I need to be successful. They are one would magically mean a happy end- incredibly capable and impactful. ing. I thought “I love you” meant something, I’m simply wondering when it became OK to because words had value in my household. fling words around, expecting their definitions I quickly learned “love,” like “sorry,” had to speak for you, instead of just taking the necesbeen overused, overworked and bled dry. sary steps to let your actions speak for you.

THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT SAN ANTONIO The University of Texas at San Antonio is your first choice for a top tier education. UTSA provides you a world of ideas, diversity and culture with more than 140 undergraduate and graduate degree options.

Transferring to UTSA is easy. Go to applytexas.org and apply now.

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Feature

12 • Feb. 21, 2014

What would the pig say?

The Stock Show and Rodeo offers an array of pork-based food options.

By Bleah B. Patterson

bpatterson13@student.alamo.edu

At the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo, patrons like to indulge in less-than-healthy entrees.

Fried peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, glazed doughnut bacon cheeseburger, hot beef sundae and chocolate-covered marshmallows are among the most popular treats.

Our porcine friends, Grizzly, a Hampshire hog, however, who just a few playfully sticks his tongue out buildings away are being through his pen in the swine shampooed, washed, barn. Carlos Ferrand pampered, given treats and even snuggled by their owners, seem to be getting the worst of it. Signs on several booths advertise various ways to enjoy pork.

High school freshman Kelbi Hyles was proud to present her show pig, Grizzly, a 325-pound Hampshire hog. Grizzly is safe because he will be bought for breeding, not eating.

Not all pigs are so lucky.

With signs advertising bacon-covered hot dogs and barbecue pork-covered nachos, it stands to reason to wonder just how safe pigs are when they visit the rodeo.

Jackie’s French Fries stand sells more than 150 pounds of bacon a day in a chicken-fried bacon dish, which often doubles on weekends, an employee said.

Baconade, fresh-squeezed lemonade with syrup reminiscent of freshly fried pork fat, is quickly becoming a popular beverage among thirsty rodeo attendees, Robert Ojeda, a two-year employee of the lemonade stand, said.

Big G’s pulled pork sandwiches, a southern classic, run through 125 pounds a day and more on weekends.

If we were to ask the pig, what would the answer be?

Is the pampered life worth the bite?

www.theranger.org/news

Carnival provides classic fun The midway promotes safety and games where people win.

By Bleah B. Patterson

bpatterson13@student.alamo.edu

From the early 20th century to the present, carnivals remain a whimsical display of lights, color and amusements.

They’re also more than pretty faces; they have to be safe.

Gary Zaitshik, manager of Wade Shows International, which provides the midway for the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo, prides himself in being a part of the country’s largest and safest carnival display.

Wade Shows serves more state fairs than any other carnival in the country, but this is the only rodeo the company serves.

Zaitshik said he did not know the attendance for the rodeo.

Wade Shows, based in Tampa, Fla., opened its first carnival in 1912 in Detroit.

The company serves an estimated 15 million people a year.

“We have an exceptional safety record, which is one of the reasons the rodeo hired us. We make safety a priority,” Zaitshik said.

He explained unlike amusement parks that leave rides up year-round, Wade Shows inspect the safety of rides often.

“We hire a third-party cer-

Grace, Savannah and Maria Diaz are whipped around the track of the Himalaya ride in the carnival area Feb. 8 at the 65th annual San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo. Carlos Ferrand tified inspector to spend four days looking at our rides before every show. That’s how much we care about safety,” he said.

The company only allows personnel who have been trained and been working with the company for a long time to assemble the rides.

“Favorite rides are the vertigo, the Himalaya and the classic tilt-a-whirl,” Zaitshik said.

“It tickles my stomach and it makes me laugh.”

It takes four days, work-

ing from dawn to dusk, for the company’s crew to set up the entire midway.

By the time the carnival opens for business, more than 20,000 stuffed toys are on the fairgrounds and will be at any given time.

“Our games are designed to create winners. We don’t want to hold on to these toys. We want people to go home with them,” Zaitshik said. “All of our games are games of skill, not chance, and many of them

advertise a winner every time.”

Zaitshik says that the best part about working for a carnival is providing a place for families to create memories.

“I love seeing people eat cotton candy and come off of the rides saying ‘let’s do that again!’” Zaitshik said. “It’s satisfying when people leave happy.”

Saturday will be dollar day at the rodeo with $1 general admission 8 a.m.- 6 p.m. and $1 admission all day for anyone with a military ID.

SanAntonioStudentHousing.com V I S I T U S AT T H E

OFF-CAMPUS HOUSING FAIR W E D N E S DAY, F E B R U A RY 2 6 • 1 2- 6 P M WYNDHAM GARDEN HOTEL–6809 NORTH LOOP 1604 WEST

ENTER TO WIN A

BEATS BY DRE PACKAGE (HEADPHONES & PILL) + S I G N & S AV E $ 2 8 5 W I T H Z E R O D OW N T H E OU T P O S T • V I L L A S AT B AB C O C K Limited time only. Fees & prizes subject to change. See office for details.