Vol. 85 Issue 15
Single copies free
Feb. 28, 2011
THE RANGER A forum of free voices serving San Antonio College since 1926
East and west
WHERE’S MY TRANSCRIPT? 8 WOMEN’S HISTORY 12 EMBRACE YOUR INNER NERD 20
2 • Feb. 28, 2011
The Ranger
The Ranger •
A forum of free voices serving San Antonio College since 1926
Dr. Bruce Leslie reports on meeting with the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Higher Education Feb. 18 to explain the impact of cuts for Alamo Colleges. See story on Page 3. Megan Mares
This issue
By Melody Mendoza
3 News
11 Trustees hear
Chancellor calls cuts ‘devastation’
another side of story
19 Free HIV testing, facts
By Melody Mendoza
better than ignorance
12 Vice, voting & victories
Drop me, please, fingers crossed
By Zahra Farah
4 Blotter 5 News 29 students in juvenile detention By Julysa Sosa
6
Thai student’s road to Buddhism comes to SA
By Alma Linda Manzanares
Group wants to end free speech limits By Alma Linda Manzanares
14 Speech team off to national meet By Dana Traugott
By Ximena Victoria Alvarez Photos by Tyler K. Cleveland
15 Calendar
8 Center aims to end
17 Curator discusses
transcript backlog this week
political art in digital media
By Joshua Fechter
By Jacob Beltran Photo by Jason B. Hogan
10 PEAG wants orientation to move to student life
18 Editorials
Don’t leave college in the dark
20 Viewpoint From resistant student to aspiring intellectual By Megan Mares
21 Officials & Policies 22 Pulse Legal stands by ‘supervision’ definition By J. Almendarez
23 People 24
Author pushes Challenger Center By James Anthony Salamé Photos by Marisa N. Montaño Garza
Online College Council then and now By Melody Mendoza
Take a hike By David Espinoza
Cheating, plagiarism perfect topic for Presidents Day By Riley Stevens
More food choices coming, cafeteria manager says
Author promotes perseverence to get published
By J. Almendarez
By Joshua Fechter
Cover: Accounting sophomore Surasit Mankongsakulkit chose life as a monk over a career in music. See story on Page 6. Tyler K. Cleveland
The Ranger
News
Feb. 28, 2011 • 3
Chancellor calls cuts ‘devastation’ By Zahra Farah The Alamo Community College District board of trustees spent more time at Tuesday’s meeting discussing budget cuts than they did passing a resolution against handguns on campus and three other major items of business. In the almost three-hour meeting, the board spent only the last 10 minutes deciding four agenda items, the most notable of which is a resolution to oppose legislation to allow handguns on campus. The board spent 40 minutes in executive session to evaluate Patricia M. Major, district director of internal audit. No action was taken in open session. The board voted 8-1 to oppose pending legislation in the Texas Legislature that would allow concealed handguns on campus. James A. Rindfuss, District 9 trustee and vice chairman, said based on information they received from Chief Don Adams, a college campus is not a place to carry a concealed handgun. Board Chairman Gary Beitzel, District 8 trustee opposed. The resolution asks legislators to oppose HB 86, SB 354, HB 750, and HB 954, which would allow handguns on campus for people with concealed handgun licenses. Trustees voted unanimously to allow the district information technology department’s request for $470,000 be reallocated from capital improvements funds to help pay for an emergency generator at this college, which would preserve data in case of system failure. The board also voted in agreement on renewing the district’s internal audit department’s charter, which states they comply with government auditing standards. They also unanimously approved acceptance of multiple private gifts from Jan. 1-Jan. 28 valued at $135,367.43. District 5 trustee Roberto
Zárate reported that while he went to Washington, D.C., Feb. 13-16 to attend a Community College National Legislative Summit, he and other trustees’ petitioned U.S. senators to oppose cutting Pell Grant funding. Zárate said the U.S. House is looking at cutting $845 from Pell Grants, but the U.S. Senate is considering discontinuing funding in the summer and not cutting money from Pell Grants. He said the atmosphere in Washington, D.C., is the same in Texas, which is “community colleges help retrain America, but no one respects the amount of work we do.” Leslie told the board he met with the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Higher Education Feb. 18 to explain how cuts would impact Alamo Colleges. Leslie told them community colleges create jobs and stimulate the economy. Alamo Colleges sees 120,000 students annually. He told the board HB 1 and SB 1 in Texas not only cut funds but also do not support growth. Leslie said when growth is factored in, HB 1 and SB 1 would cause an $83 million cut to Alamo Colleges through the next two years. He said administrators have identified where to cut $20 million in two years but do not know where to cut $63 million. He compared the cuts to eliminating St. Philip’s College. Leslie told the Texas House that $63 million is the entire operating budget of St. Philip’s for two years. He said St. Philip’s stimulates the East Side by producing a workforce that puts back $508 million into the community. He said cuts could also impact 9,500 dual credit students because the district would have to start charging them tuition. Leslie said there would be a cutback in operations, which would result in a tuition increase,
a cut in programs and a possible cap in enrollment. He said the cuts would cause devastation to Alamo Colleges. “Cuts are six times greater than anything we’ve ever experienced,” he said. Leslie proposed eliminating unfunded mandates and using the state’s $9.4 billion Rainy Day Fund. He then passed out drink-sized umbrellas. Leo Zuniga, associate vice chancellor of communication, said HB 9 looks at basing funding on momentum points. This means funding from the state would be allocated based on the number of students who complete developmental math and English; first-time-in-college students completing basic math and English; students’ receiving associate degrees; and transfer rates. Zárate said the state has not reimbursed community colleges enough for their work and now they’re expected to work with less. He told the board if they could imagine a student defaulting on loans because this is the same thing the state is doing. He wants taxpayers to know the trustees and administrators have done the best they could and whatever happens is up to the Legislature. District 1 trustee Joe Alderete Jr. said Texas ranks 50th in the nation in education. The U.S. Census Bureau reports that in 2008, Texas ranked last in students receiving a high school diploma. However, Texas ranks 31 in the nation for people obtaining a bachelor’s degree. “You can’t expect to get success if you cut off funding,” he said. Everyone in the room broke into applause. Beitzel said he’s been on the board for 13 years and he has never seen a board or administration
more active in leadership roles. In his chairman’s report, he said, “Most of our students come from humble backgrounds.” He said students need help and encouragement, but the “message we need to get across to them is they can do it.” Beitzel was referring to Daisy Vasquez, student of the month and education sophomore from Northeast Lakeview College, who dropped out of school 15 years ago, but returned to college married with five children, and now, has a full scholarship to Texas Lutheran University. Beitzel also brought up meeting Dr. June Scobee Rodgers, widow of Dick Scobee, commander of the space shuttle Challenger and San Antonio College alumni, and learning she, too, came from a humble background. Beitzel said she was so poor growing up, her family couldn’t afford running water. Beitzel said they need to get the message across to students with financial hardships. In other news, Adams updated the board on crime. He said he’s aware there are more students and more parking lots, which has caused more theft. The total thefts were 242 in 2006, 225 in 2007, 252 in 2008, 285 in 2009, and 205 in 2010. He said they’ve increased arrests and caught someone who they suspect is responsible for 19 car battery thefts. Police plan to designate a crime prevention officer and put cameras in parking lots. In January, there were 26 crimes in the district, and 22 of those crimes were theft or larceny. The next regular board meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. March 22 in Room 101 of Killen Center at 201 W. Sheridan. For more information, go to www.alamo.edu and click on Board of Trustees and then Agendas.
Blotter
4 • Feb. 28, 2011
Did You Know?
Vehicles parked on campus must comply with state and Alamo Colleges traffic rules and regulations.
SAN ANTONIO COLLEGE
a door. EMS treated the individual.
Feb. 14 — Individual reported a suspicious person in a parked vehicle. Person found to be a student.
Individual reported his backpack had been stolen from a locker. No suspects.
Individual advised of an assault that occurred off campus two days earlier. SAPD report was made the day of the incident.
Feb. 15 — Individual reported a lost parking permit while washing her vehicle.
Feb. 17 — Individual reported a computer with its side panel open.
Individual reported a vehicle accident.
Feb. 16 — Individual reported a lost parking permit in a vehicle accident.
Feb. 20 — Individual reported graffiti at the soccer field. No suspects.
Individual reported feeling ill. EMS treated the individual.
Individual reported losing her jewelry in the parking Lot.
ST. PHILIP’S COLLEGE
Officer assisted SAPD with an off-campus vehicle accident.
Feb. 17 — Individual advised his personal vehicle was leaking oil and would be towed to his home later in the day.
Individual reported a missing district grass trimmer.
Individual reported damage to a district vehicle. Individual reported a missing textbook. Feb. 15 — Individual reported a suspicious male looking into vehicles. The male was not located.
News
The speed limit on all parking lots, streets, alleyways and thoroghfares owned by Alamo Colleges will be 10 miles per hour, unless otherwise posted. Speeding for the first 10 miles over the speed limit is a fine of $166 payable at municipal court. Each additional mile is $5. For more information about Alamo Colleges parking rules and regulations, visit www. alamo.edu/district/dps/parking%20rules.htm.
Contact Info Emergency 210-222-0911 General DPS 210-485-0099 Weather Line 210-485-0189
The Ranger
Feb. 14 — Individual reported being stuck in the elevator. Facilities assisted in opening the elevator. Individual reported her vehicle had been stolen. No suspects. Feb. 15 — Officer reported keys and other items visible in a vehicle. Items were secured by the officer.
Feb. 16 — Individual reported a vehicle being damaged in a vehicle accident.
Individual reported his backpack had been stolen. No suspects.
Individual reported a lost parking permit.
Feb. 16 — Individual reported her cell phone had been stolen. No suspects.
Feb. 17 — Individual reported damage to a district vehicle. Individual reported her textbook had been stolen from the restroom. Feb. 18 — Individual reported his keys and cell phone had been stolen from his backpack. No suspects. Individual reported a suspicious male in the area. The male was not located. NORTHEAST LAKEVIEW COLLEGE Feb. 14 — Officer assisted a student in locating her purse. Individual reported injuring his finger on
Individual reported a suspicious person in the area. No one was located.
NORTHWEST VISTA COLLEGE
Individual reported a female had been assualted by her boyfriend as they walked past the campus. Female did not want to file charges.
Individual reported a vehicle with a broken window.
Feb. 15 — Individual reported losing her wallet on campus.
Individual reported her iPod had been stolen. No suspects.
Individual reported a hard drive had been removed from one of the computers in the class. Feb. 16 — Individual reported graffiti in the men’s restroom. No suspects. Individual reported graffiti in the stairwell. No suspects. Individual reported a suspicious male on campus. Male departed. Individual reported cutting her finger while in class. EMS was refused. Individual requested district keys be secured for an employee for the next day. Feb. 17 — Individual reported her vehicle had been burglarized. No suspects.
Individual reported a disturbance occurring during a basketball game. Everything was found to be OK.
Feb. 18 — Individual was arrested for an active warrant.
Feb. 17 — Individual reported grafitti in the men’s restroom. No suspects.
Individual reported feeling ill. EMS treated the individual.
Individual reported found property. Item was placed in the property locker.
Feb. 19 — Individual reported a male being loud. Male departed prior to officers arrival.
Individual reported a suspicious male in the area. Male located and found to be an employee.
Individual reported falling in the building. Medical treatment refused.
PALO ALTO COLLEGE
SOUTHWEST CAMPUS
Feb. 14 — Individual reported three missing computer keyboards.
Feb. 14 — Individual reported he was not feeling well. EMS treated the male.
News
The Ranger
Feb. 28, 2011 • 5
29 students in juvenile detention Sociology adjunct uses real life to teach a lesson.
Mary Hathaway, evening supervisor of the center’s medical facility, said when detainees arrive at the By Julysa Sosa center, they are immediately given a medical examination and tested for Twenty-nine students from this sexually transmitted diseases. college filled up a lobby Tuesday “We do contact tracing with the night waiting to be let into the county to try and keep STD rates Bexar County Juvenile Center. down,” Hathaway said. “Eighteen After a couple of minutes, the to 22 percent come in with an doors opened slowly and students STD.” began to shuffle near Tony Harden, The medical facility provides an ex-Marine and shift team leader any attention that is needed at the center. including dental, but also monitors Harden has worked at the cendetainees that might be a danger to ter for five year and was the guide someone else or themselves. to an out-of-the ordinary tour A CO is someone in close that sociology Adjunct John Algeo observation and is watched when arranged for Intro to Sociology detainees are at a high threat of class, SOCI 1301. doing something to harm themThe tour took students through selves, and an SO, suicidal obserdifferent rooms of the center as vation, is needed when detainees Harden and other employees have already attempted hurting explained the procedure detainees themselves. 10 to 17 years old Under these go through once conditions, they they’ve been proare kept in the cessed. medical wing, After juveand an officer niles are arrested, has to be watchthey are taken to ing them at all an orientation times. area where they Every SO has wait to be proto wear a green cessed, medically Mary Hathaway, evening gown fastenedmedical supervisor examined, make with Velcro and a three-minute no clothing phone call and hear the rules. underneath. Harden said this is a Steve Treviño, juvenile superprotective measure so they won’t vising officer, said juveniles have to hurt themselves. walk with hands behind their back He told the group about a suiand in a line to the cafeteria. cide of one of the detainees about He said the most common reafive years ago. son they are brought in is possesHarden said officers must sion of marijuana and most are check on detainees at least every caught multiple times. 15 minutes. “Some kids are more comfortThe detainee memorized the able here,” Treviño said. “Sometimes, officer’s 15-minute-interval check better here than at home.” and hanged himself from the rafTreviño said the center sepaters of the room with the sheets of rates juveniles into modules that his bed. are divided by gangs, gender and Broadcasting sophomore size. Thomas Puentes said the medical There are currently 165 detainfacility stood out to him most. ees, 130 males and 35 females. “I didn’t think that they would
“Eighteen to 22 percent come in with an STD.”
Sociology students wait in the lobby for their tour to start at the Bexar County Juvenile Center. Julysa Sosa keep the SOs here,” he said. Puentes said he thought they would send them to a mental health facility. The next part of the tour included walking through two gyms used for recreation. All detainees are required to wear gray shirts, navy pants and orange sandals, which prevent them from trying to run away. Harden told the group about a female trying to escape from the gym earlier that day. He said she wasn’t able to make it to the door because every door is locked. “Every door has a key,” he said, “and I have the keys.” Harden explained that each door requires a key, and if detainees got a hold of the keys they wouldn’t get far. “If they get the keys, then what?” he asked. “There’s a camera in every room.” He said every officer carries an alarm that is disguised as a pen that sends a silent alarm when pressed. Screens monitoring all cameras automatically switch to the room where the officer set off the alarm, and within seconds, backup officers arrive. Students also walked past the “bad” boys and girl’s modules, which contained the misbehaved detainees. There is one officer per 12
juveniles with a third officer in a middle room called the satellite overlooking the two rooms. The tour continued through the kitchen and cafeteria. Harden showed students a plate of pasta and cheese, a piece of meat, corn and a piece of bread that juveniles ate for dinner earlier that day. Puente said he had a better understanding of how this type of institution works. “It’s a good experience,” Puentes said. “ I was not too familiar with it.” For eight years, Algeo said he took students to the Bexar County Jail but switched five years ago to the center because they accepted larger groups. “They only accept 15 people at the jail,” he said, “and we have large numbers.” Algeo says this is a good experience for his students to physically see how a total institution works in a society, something that his class has recently learned. Algeo taught students that total institution is a type of resocialization where uniforms are worn and structure is enforced. “It makes it more realistic in how it works in our society. They are not aware of how serious it is.”
6 • Feb. 28, 2011
News
The Ranger
Accounting sophomore Surasit Mankongsakulkit, a practicing monk at the Wat Dhammabucha Buddhist mission in Leon Valley, passes food down the line Sunday in the meal hall. Buddhist practice holds that the monks eat only one meal daily, which is provided by local restaurants and other Buddhists. Photos by Tyler K. Cleveland
Thai student’s road to Buddhism comes to SA By Ximena Victoria Alvarez He cannot work, drive, eat after noon until the next morning, or speak to others unless he is spoken to first. You have probably seen him in a yellow and maroon robe, a jivorn. He is neither your average exchange student nor Buddhist monk. Surasit Mankongsakulkit, 24, also referred to as “Sid” was born in Bangkok, Thailand. Mankongsakulkit lived with his parents and younger brother until he was 8 years old when his parents divorced. After his parents divorced, he went to live with his father’s sister and grandmother, never again to see his parents. At 14, he began playing the drums. A year later he received a full scholarship to Triam Udom Suksa secondary school in Thailand. According to the University Council of Chulalongkorn University, it is ranked first in the country. His passion for playing the drums, as Mankongsakulkit said, led him to earn first place in competitions and a full scholarship to Mahidol University’s music department an elite school in Bangkok. Mangkongsakulkit was in a two-year relationship and rejected the scholarship so that he
A Buddhist monk enters the meal hall Sunday at the Wat Dhammabucha Buddhist mission. Shoes are removed before entering buildings as a Buddhist practice of “keeping what is unclean outside,” monk Surasit Mankongsakulkit said. could attend Assumption University in Bangkok with his girlfriend. While attending Assumption University, he and his girlfriend ended the relationship, and at the end of his freshman year, Mankongsakulkit received a phone call from his aunt in Miami, who suggested he study in the United States. Without thinking twice, Mankongsakulkit took the next plane to San Antonio where his aunt and uncle were to pick him up. Mankongsakulkit’s aunt and uncle drove all the way from Miami to San Antonio to attend
Mankongsakulkit’s future master’s birthday party, whom they had followed for five years. Master is the word Buddhist monks use to refer to their leader or higher authority. Mankongsakulkit did not understand why his aunt and uncle were going to pick him up in San Antonio instead of Miami, but little did he know his life was about to change. Upon his arrival in San Antonio, he was greeted by his aunt and uncle and taken to serve at his future master’s birthday party. “I never believed in the monks, I never bowed to a monk, never believed in religion,” Mankongsakulkit said. He did not understand why he bowed to the master at the party, but out of nowhere, the Buddhist master said, “you will know later.” He and the Buddhist master talked, and the master told about Mankongsakulkit’s past. “I was like who is this guy and how did he know all about me,” he said. “And that’s when I knew I wanted to be just like him.” Mankongsakulkit was invited by Thanissaro Bhikko, his master, to become a monk, but before making any decision, he went to Miami with his aunt and uncle and attended the EF International Language School to improve his English.
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News
Surasit Mankongsakulkit uses a leaf blower near the temple while working Sunday. Mankongsakulkit wakes up at 6 a.m. to chant with the other
Though Mankongsakulkit seemed to be destined to be a monk, he thought about joining the Marines. “I had talked to Marine recruiters and thought why not and give it a try,” he said. Mankongsakulkit had only met bad monks in Thailand but it was different when he met Bhikko. “If it wasn’t for him I would have died already,” he said. “It was the biggest change in my life,” Mankongsakulkit said. Before becoming a monk, Mankongsakulkit learned and memorized the “Shanning,” the procedure of ordination. After two long years of intensive thought, he, received a phone call from his master and decided to become a monk. Mankongsakulkit is a “Theravada” forest monk that follows the early Buddhism and Buddha, not the Dalai Lama in the Tibet. “The life of a musician had taken me the wrong path. The reason I became a monk was because I wanted to practice, become a better person and discipline myself,” he said. No longer able to pursue his passion in music, Mankongsakulkit is now pursuing a career in accounting. “I learned from watching my master and what he did. You learn from your mistakes and that’s what I have been learning from, my mistakes,” Mankongsakulkit said. It is going on three years since Mankongsakulkit devoted his life to Buddhism. Life as monk prohibits him from civilian activities he once participated in and understood. Mankongsakulkit’s mission is to represent Buddhism to people in San Antonio and to educate them. “I would like to guide them through their problems.” “We as monks can tell you what direction you should go, but you are the one who chooses.” For more information on Buddhism, log on to www. buddhanet.net.
Feb. 28, 2011 • 7
monks before his 9 a.m. class here. “We work a few hours a day,” he said, noting that 10 monks help keep up the 15-acre mission grounds.
Wan Wallace prays Sunday in the meal hall before the monks begin eating. The mission began more than 20 years ago based on Theravada Buddhism, strongest in Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Thailand, Laos and Myanmar. Theravada means “the doctrine of the elders” and emphasizes attaining self-liberation through meditation and concentration. Surasit Mankongsakulkit talks with fellow monk, Phra Pong, while working on the mission grounds.
8 • Feb. 28, 2011
News
The Ranger
Center aims to end transcript backlog this week By Joshua Fechter Gwen Sullivan, physical and natural sciences sophomore, requested her transcript be sent to St. Philip’s College Jan. 18 for consideration in the college’s summer radiography program. Weeks later, when she checked the status of her transcript request, it had not been processed. Feb. 10, five days before the application deadline for the radiography program, Sullivan visited the admissions office of this college. She said the admissions and records office told her there was nothing they could do about her transcript. However, Sullivan said she received a grade report with her grades from the fall semester in a sealed envelope. She sent with her application to St. Philip’s a letter explaining the situation. She does not know if the program will consider her because she was unable to get her transcript to them on time. Sullivan said if she is not accepted into the program, she will be forced to reconsider her options or wait another year to try again.
“Alamo College is going to lose their students if they cannot provide a professional academic atmosphere.” Katy Scott, early childhood studies sophomore She is not the only student who has had issues with her transcript. Biology sophomore Jessica Shelton requested one transcript on Jan. 21 to be sent to UTSA. As of Feb. 16, the transcript had not been processed. Two weeks ago, she went to the admis-
sions office and was told to come back the following Monday. On Feb. 16, she returned to admissions and was told other transcripts requested around that time had been processed but hers had not, Shelton said. She said admissions put a rush order on her transcript so it would be processed within two days. Shelton said she is dissatisfied with the service provided to her by the admissions office. “It seems like they just do their job and don’t care who gets screwed over,” she said. Early childhood studies sophomore Katy Scott requested two transcripts on Jan. 8 to be sent to University of Texas at Austin and Texas State University-San Marcos. After a few weeks, she noticed they had not been sent and went to the admissions office at this college to ask about them. On Feb. 2, they had been printed but not mailed. Admissions told her they would be sent out within a few days. After almost two weeks, the transcripts were still not mailed. On Feb. 15, Scott visited the admissions office
The Ranger and was told they would put a rush order on her transcripts. Scott said she does not know if the universities she applied to will understand Alamo Colleges’ transcript issues when considering whether or not to accept her. She said her experience has been frustrating. “It’s been annoying, to say the least,” Scott said. “Alamo Colleges are going to lose their students if they cannot provide a professional academic atmosphere. It’s disappointing.” Helen Torres, director of enrollment services, said during the fall semester, the Center for Student Information had not finished the programming required to handle transcripts. On Dec. 16, the admissions office of this college began issuing transcripts with grades up to the fall semester along with a grade report containing all grades for fall and a letter explaining the situation with CSI, Torres said. She said admissions still issues grade reports on request from the student. Torres said she does not know why staff at admissions would say they could not do anything about one student’s transcript but put rush orders on others students’ transcripts.
News She said she could not verify whether or not a student’s transcript request was overlooked. Torres said every staff member at admissions has the ability to track a transcript. She said she has sent an average of two staff members per day to help with the backlog at CSI. Cindy Dermody, associate director of undergraduate admissions at University of Texas at San Antonio, said she does not think Alamo Colleges’ transcript backlog will affect students’ acceptance into the university. “This is not going to affect anyone,” she said. Clarissa Rodriguez, admissions specialist at Texas A&M University-San Antonio, said the backlog may affect students applying for the summer semester if the slow turnaround continues but not for fall. Cynthia Mendiola-Perez, interim head of center for student information and associate vice chancellor for student and program development, said CSI has processed 3,030 transcripts. She said 4,600 transcripts have yet to be processed. She said she hopes to have the backlog eliminated by the end of this week. Mendiola-Perez said it is takes 20 to 30 min-
Feb. 28, 2011 • 9 utes to validate a transcript, making sure all of the student’s information is correct and represented on the document. Mendiola-Perez said students should allow 10 working days for CSI to process their transcript and not request multiple transcripts unless they are sending them to different institutions. She said multiple transcript requests would increase the backlog. Mendiola-Perez said CSI is currently not able to send transcripts electronically but other Alamo Colleges can view grades because they are all in one database. She said if transcripts have not been processed by Feb. 25, students should contact the admissions and records office at their college. The admissions office at this college, as well as the admissions offices at the rest of the Alamo Colleges, will no longer handle transcripts. The week of Jan. 25, CSI started handling transcripts dating back to fall of 1994. When they started, CSI had more than 4,000 transcripts to process. For more information, call admissions and records at this college at 210-486-0700. The center for student information has no central number.
10 • Feb. 28, 2011
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News
PEAG wants orientation to move to student life oversight By Melody Mendoza A customer focus group recommended Nov. 19 that incoming students attend a June orientation facilitated by the office of student life. The Performance Excellence Advisory Group, or PEAG, passed it to the college executive team, which approved and advised an ad hoc committee be formed to carry out the change. Emma Mendiola, interim dean of student affairs, said a committee has been formed, and was scheduled to meet Feb. 4 but the college closed because of icy weather. Although the committee has not met, student life Director Jorge Posadas, liaison for the customer focus group, said he was advised to start designing an orientation for the second week in June. Posadas said student life would take over the orientation part of student advising, currently in the student development department, which used to be a part of counseling but split in the fall. Now, counselors can focus on advising and counseling, and student development faculty
teach classes. Students with fewer than 15 hours take College Success, SDEV 0107, a one-hour credit course that covers policies and procedures, curricular offerings, support services, time management, reading strategies, note-taking, testtaking, transfer strategies, career exploration and healthy lifestyle strategies. Mendiola said she does not know if all incoming students will be required to go through orientation. Posadas said through the summer orientation, students will learn how to register before classes start and go on a campus tour. He said the idea is to give an orientation for first-time, international and veteran students and parents, and an online orientation for nontraditional students. The orientation would last about three days, in which testing and advising will be included, Posadas said. He said an orientation testing day would include taking the Texas Higher Education Assessment, a five-hour placement exam that
will cost students $29. THEA will replace the Accuplacer test that currently costs $15. Throughout the orientation, students will also learn about services available here, Posadas said. “We are excited; we don’t get them early enough.” He said there are professional staff in the office who have facilitated orientation at other colleges. Posadas; Mark Bigelow, assistant coordinator of student leadership and activities; and Tyler Archer, former student life staff member who left the college in January, attended the National Orientation Directors Association in November. He said there they learned how other twoand four-year colleges organize orientation, how to incorporate multimedia and ways to lead a large group of students through the process. At the conference, there were people who talked about international and veterans orientation also, Posadas said. “It will be like an experience at any other college,” he said, adding he hopes to incorporate student leadership groups.
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Feb. 28, 2011 • 11
Trustees hear another side of story By Melody Mendoza Missing and misleading information seem to be patterns at the district with trustees not being apprised of concerns at the colleges. Faculty Senate Chair Dawn Elmore-McCrary read questions submitted by faculty members to District 1 trustee Joe Alderete Jr. and District 3 trustee Anna Bustamante that revealed trustees were unaware of problems at the colleges. The trustees met with Faculty Senate Monday in Koehler Cultural Center. “We hear there are little problems,” Bustamante said. “We hear, ‘It’s working.’” Alderete referred to “antagonism” between the district and colleges. “I’m trying to close this gap,” he said, adding the “rationality” of the problem is that district administrators don’t want the board asking questions. “Some people don’t want to get into interrogation or discussion.” He said it’s difficult because he is evaluating what is going into each college and from all points of view, in addition to considering budget cuts. “I’m going to ask questions, and I don’t care if it sounds dumb,” he said, adding that without proper information “I can make a tremendous mistake.” For example, misleading data is being reported to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, senators said. The district does not count overloads as adjunct sections although they are paid at the adjunct rate, political science Professor Christy Woodward-Kaupert, vice chair of Faculty Senate, said. She also said the district frequently groups data from the colleges when it suits the district’s purposes. Alderete added that as a board member, he assumes the data is correct. If the data is incorrectly stated, he would not know it, he said. He said he is at a disadvantage because he cannot look at all of the details. Elmore-McCrary continued on the subject of data reports. “Are the demographics of the particular colleges presented?” Alderete said the data doesn’t present the demographics of each college. The reports require colleges to report graduation rates, and faculty questioned if transfer students are considered in discussion of college performance. Alderete said no. “The state doesn’t give the Alamo Colleges credit for transfers. It’s absolutely ridiculous.” In a Jan. 28 weekly e-mail called Academic Success Matters, Dr. Robert Aguero, vice chancellor for academic success, said, “Thousands of
grades were not entered by faculty by the end of semester closing date.” Senators said grades not entered were primarily dual credit and some who were confused about W’s. Faculty members reminded trustees the semester for high school students ends after the college semester. English Chair Alex Bernal said he received an unfiltered list mixing dual credit and college students, which made it difficult to report grades. Bustamante said she heard there were mistakes with Banner but only knew of difficulties through students’ e-mails and phone calls. She said she hadn’t received any official notification about transcript delays or inaccuracies. She was unaware the center for student information was in charge of this service. Alderete added he knew about the difficulty in obtaining a transcript. Senators questioned the effectiveness of the center and its responsibilities. Alderete said he counts on the staff and assumes they are getting things done. He said specifically, he has yet to see output from the center, but he knows it’s still being worked on. Bustamante added that she doesn’t understand why things aren’t working smoothly because district reports that everything is working. She added that the college presidents haven’t said anything either and wondered if they are advised not to provide input. New signs for the colleges that applies an Alamo College brand was not popular, and college presidents were not notified. The brand not only covered the college seal here, but symbolically also covered years of history, senators said. Bustamante said, “I didn’t know this happened.” She said she didn’t want to transition toward promoting one district. She said she is passionate about preserving the colleges’ history. Presidents don’t seem to have the authority to make the decisions they want concerning the colleges, she said. Alderete called it “absurd.” He said he understood the idea that the Alamo Colleges logo would go alongside the college’s logo or seal, “not that one would supplant the other ... I don’t even think the community knows Alamo Colleges.” He said it’s going to be tough to change because district officials have their minds set on branding. “We don’t have the numbers,” he said. Bernal called it a “suppression of free thought.” On another topic, although the district is directing the colleges to go paperless, paper drop forms are still required.
Alderete said the paperless effort is districtwide and common sense should be used when deciding what to print. He said, “It was amazing” how much savings came from cuts in printing and agreed the transition is a good thing. After hearing some examples of faculty members in need of printing, Alderete said he understood that even when it makes sense to use paper, administrators are telling them not to. He advised that the colleges tap into the contingency fund to cover unexpected costs. Faculty members’ concerns included the effectiveness of the chancellor, vice chancellors, associate vice chancellors and directors and why the district is allowed to create new positions while freezing hiring at the colleges. Alderete added that it was rational to ask district officials to separate the administration budget to see how much is actually spent at the top. Woodward-Kaupert added that district also sweeps budget accounts around March, so the amounts that district reports are being allocated aren’t actually correct. Alderete said he was also unaware of this practice. Aguero’s Feb. 9 memorandum concerning librarians as professional staff was also questioned. The two trustees said they were not aware of the discussion because they were not at the board retreat. Bustamante said she received the memorandum via e-mail. Alderete said librarians as professional staff wasn’t “supported by the board” because only two trustees were present at a board retreat last summer. Jeff Hunt, theater and speech communication chair, said District 5 trustee Roberto Zárate and District 8 trustee Gary Beitzel were at the budget retreat in the summer. Alderete said this was misleading but said he will not attend board retreats because administrative decisions are made there, and he is a policy maker. Questions continued about a new campus and further action on a new central office. Trustees said they do not support building at this time. Senators also asked for trustees to support a clarification of maximum workload policy for faculty and what it entails. Alderete questioned why there isn’t already a policy and said he supports any policy that clarifies. Bustamante agreed.
Women’s H
12 • The Ranger
Vice, voting & victorie By Alma Linda Manzanares The 1920s spawned Prohibition and speak-easies, jazz and flappers, American expats in Paris and the birth of San Antonio College. In honor of the 85th anniversary of this college, the theme of Women’s History Week is “Jazz Age Women: Flappers and Feminists.” The calendar of events Tuesday-Friday features a gallery exhibit, films and a number of speakers. “Because this is the 85th anniversary of San Antonio College, we thought we would look back 85 years, which brings us back to 1925 — the thick of the jazz age and the Roaring 20s,” Professor Marleen Hoover, co-chair of the planning committee, said. Stories from women faculty and staff recalling their days as students at this college will be mounted on signs and placed around campus throughout the week as part of “Women Remember San Antonio College.” Women’s History Week draws attention to women’s lives often overlooked in history textbooks and how that has impacted women today. “That time frame is also the time period of flappers and early feminism in the U.S. when women got to vote and were being more educated,” Hoover said. Women were guaranteed the right to vote in 1920 by the 19th Amendment. Flappers were women who rebelled against what society found acceptable behavior for women. They wore short skirts, applied excessive makeup, smoked, drank and treated sex casually. “The flappers rejected the garments at the time, those tight fitting garments that would squeeze women’s waist and give them health issues in terms of breathing,” Hoover said. “They let their bodies just be natural.” All events are scheduled for Room 120 of the visual arts center. All events are open to the public but only students, faculty and staff will be admitted to film presentations. President Robert Zeigler will make opening remarks at the first event at 10:55 a.m.-12:05 p.m. Tuesday, followed by the lecture and gallery presentation, “Solar Powered Paper Dolls,” that explores the evolution
of Victorian American fashion and feminist reform. Art Professor Carol Flueckiger of Texas Tech University displays her artwork in the visual arts gallery. She used vintage dress forms and added blueprints with handwritten letters, leaves and clothing tags to encourage viewers to “try on” the history of fashion and feminist thought. “When I ask my students in my art appreciation class what famous artist comes to mind, they almost never mention women,” Hoover said. “They’ve been dropped from the history books, especially since we know from the Victorian era that it was considered inappropriate for a woman to be an artist because in that era, artists lived immoral lives so a woman was not supposed to be an artist.” A reception with refreshments will follow at 12:15 p.m. Three events are scheduled for Wednesday. At 9 a.m.-9:50 a.m., Hoover will be examining “Georgia O’Keeffe 1925: From Petunias to Skyscrapers” on how the artist described herself as a sexually liberated feminist through her intensely close-up flower paintings and her New York skyscrapers. At 10 a.m.-10:50 a.m., English Professor Juanita Luna Lawhn will present “The International Conference of 1916 in San Antonio: Women Coming Together Across Borders,” where she will examine the social, economic and political issues of the time. At 11 a.m.-11:50 a.m., visual arts Professor Margaret Greco will present, “Laboring For Love/The Silent Path of Power: Women of ‘Little Mexico’ in San Antonio, Texas,” which reveals how the Depression led the women of “little Mexico” to work increasingly within the home, devoted to spiritual entities, the dead and harmony inside the home. Thursday’s schedule includes three events. At 8 a.m. is a screening of “Pandora’s Box,” directed by G.W. Pabst, which tells the story of a seductive and thoughtless young woman whose raw sexuality brings her to ruin along with those who love her until she encounters Jack the Ripper. The film runs 103 minutes. At 9:25 a.m.10:40 a.m., former San Antonio City
Councilwoman Maria Berriozábal will discuss “While Some Were Flapping, O a New Community in Texas: La Texas.” Two faculty or staff will be Vision who have encouraged an and awareness of women’s issu receive $500 Women in History sc At 12:15 p.m., a comedy an pretense, “Sally of the Sawdust” follows a young woman who dis family. The film runs an 104 minu Friday’s events include two le gram ends with a screening. At 9 a.m.-9:50 a.m., English Trinity University presents, “‘I F Cake’: Forgetting and Rememb Gertrude Stein’s War Writing.” “Gertrude Stein was a mode early 20th century, and she wa experimentalists in literature,” Ra menting with literature in, say, th menting with painting.” Rando will focus on Stein’s in bian lover, in her writing — whic forgetting and remembering Ali experience of love and war. “As experimental as Stein wa her lesbian relationship with Alic that Stein seems to remember A in certain implicit ways to write another,” Rando said. At 10 a.m.-10:50 a.m. Alex S
Feb. 28, 2011 • 13
History Week
Group wants end to free speech limits
es
By Alma Linda Manzanares
Others Were Founding as Mejicanas de Lockhart,
recognized as Women of nd promoted sensitivity to ues and two students will cholarships. nd critique of upper-class ” directed by D.W. Griffith, scovers the truth about her utes. ectures, and the week’s pro-
Professor David Rando of Forgot to Put in a Special bering Alice B. Toklas in
ern American writer in the as really one of the great ando said. “She was experihe way Picasso was experi-
nclusion of Toklas, her lesch he called her practice of ice — as a function of her
as, she was hesitant about ce Toklas, but there are ways Alice in her writing, at least e about their love for one
., Instructor Mary Lalon xander of the Juren Sullivan Center for Fashion Management, will present “Legs, Rouge, Smoking and Booze: The Flapper and Her
Friends” which explores the spark of rebellion in young girls of the 1920s and its impact on the women who followed. At 11 a.m. is a screening of “The Red Kimona,” directed by Walter Lang, based on a true story about a young woman whose lover tricks her into prostitution in New Orleans. The film runs 77 minutes. Hoover encourages students to attend the events to broaden their view of history because not all of history is presented in their classes. “The present is built with everything that has happened in the past,” she said. “Students need to know history. They need to fill in their own knowledge with this kind of information because these are the things that get left out of the history books.” For more information, visit http://www. alamo.edu/sac/ vat/arthistory/ arts1303/Women. htm or call 210486-1035.
Juan Carlos Campos
The 21st annual International Women’s Day March and Rally will focus on U.S. immigration policy and constitutional freedoms of speech and assembly. The theme for this year, “Sin Fronteras Mujeres Marcharán Por Paz, Justicia y Solidaridad,” means “without borders, women will march for peace, justice and solidarity. “The march is to bring into focus the issues that affect women, which is everything, including domestic violence, and things that are injustices in the society,” said Imelda Arismendez, a member of the march planning committee. She added that justice is a priority because peace doesn’t come without it and that women are in solidarity with other women globally, so they carry that consciousness of other women suffering. The march starts at 10 a.m. Saturday at Travis Park and ends at Plaza Del Zacate in Milam Park. At the rally, speakers will protest the city’s 2007 marching and parade ordinance, which imposes high fees for political marches and cultural processions in public streets. The ordinance came after a 2006 immigration rights march that carried thousands of people through the streets. Since then, the city has imposed permit fees for marches. “(The city) wanted $10,000 in fees for barricades, police and all the other extras that the city wants us to have,” she said. Arismendez added that the committee believes in peaceful marching, so there is no need to have all the extra things the city wanted to charge for. As part of the ordinance, some community churches were told they were not allowed to host events in the streets of the community. “We are challenging that ordinance. Right now, the fee has gone down, and the city is asking for $6,000 for the march,” she said. The city agreed to supply $3,000, but the committee still has to raise the other half. “In other cities, they don’t have to pay anything to march,” Arismendez said. Rosa Clemente, 2008 Green Party vice presidential candidate and hip-hop entertainer, will perform at the rally. For more information about the march and rally, call 210-228-0201.
14 • Feb. 28, 2011
News
The Ranger
Speech team off to national meet By Dana Traugott
for this difficult event, speech coach Jolinda Ramsey said. Along with research, comes pracThe speech team is taking a breath to pretice, she said. For at least two hours per week, pare for regional and national competition after students gather to practice for the three to four a three-weekend run of competitions. events each will compete in. This sometimes At the Texas Community College Forensics involves peer coaching; students pair up to Association’s statewide competirehearse while Ramsey coaches “Night Before tion Feb. 11-13 in Fort Worth, the each individually. Nationals” and Readers Theater, team placed first in team sweepAt the Alamo City Swing comis “iCost,” stakes in individual events and petition Jan. 31-Feb. 2 at Our Lady which focuses second in overall sweepstakes. of the Lake University, Part 1, team on the cost of They received 16 awards. members Jeremy Carrizales and technology, at Five students next will travel James Dean placed sixth in duo 7 p.m. March 24 in to Tyler for a Phi Rho Pi regional interpretation and Miranda Jones McCreless theater. tournament March 10-13. Then placed third in communication Tickets are $5. the speech team gears up for the analysis and fourth in poetry interPhi Rho Pi national competition pretation. Swing competitions are April 8-16 in Greenwich, Conn., one of the two tournaments hosted by two colleges on one largest in the nation with 76 colleges and 600 campus to save travel time and expenses. students and coaches participating. For Part 2, Carrizales and Dean placed fifth In communication analysis, a student has in duo interpretation and Jones placed third in a model and a methodology used to analyze communication analysis and fourth in poetry it. There is an extensive amount of research interpretation.
At the Texas Intercollegiate Forensic Association competition Feb. 4-6 at Texas State University-San Marcos, Carrizales and Dean placed first in duo interpretation. Jones placed fourth in communication analysis and earned a top novice rating. She was named top novice in impromptu speaking. Dean placed fourth in programmed oral interpretation. At TCCFA State Tournament Feb. 11-13 at Tarrant County College, Carrizales placed second in interpreter’s theater, poetry interpretation, dramatic interpretation and duo interpretation with Dean. Dean placed second in interpreter’s theater, second in duo interpretation with Carrizales, third in programmed oral interpretation and fourth in prose interpretation. Ryan Erdy placed fourth in programmed oral interpretation and fifth in pros interpretation. Stephanie Boyd placed second in interpreter’s theater and second in informative speaking. Jones placed first in communication analysis and informative speaking, third in poetry interpretation and impromptu speaking.
The Ranger For coverage in Calendar, call 210-486-1773 or e-mail sac-ranger@alamo.edu two weeks in advance.
Feb. 28, 2011 • 15
Calendar Saturday
210-486-0255.
Monday
Lecture: “Wired For Activism” by Peterson Toscano 8 p.m.-9:30 p.m. in Auditorium 126 of Chapman Center at Trinity University. Call 210-9998055.
SAC Sports: Baseball vs. University of Texas A&M-Galveston 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. in Galveston. Continues 10:30 a.m. Sunday. Call 210-260-6348.
SAC Deadline: Apply for graduation. Call 210-486-0864. For more information, visit www.alamo.edu/sac/csd/grad/html/ applying.htm.
SPC Event: AT&T art donation reception in honor of 113th anniversary of college 3 p.m.-4:30 p.m. in center for health professions atrium. Call 210-486-2887.
SAC Concert: “Guitars Galore” 3 p.m. in auditorium of McAllister. Call 210486-0255.
SAC Event: “Guitar Hero” from 11 a.m.1 p.m. in the Fiesta Room of Loftin. Call 210-486-0125.
Wednesday
March 7
SAC Event: “SAC’s Got Talent” 11 a.m.1 p.m. in Fiesta Room of Loftin. Call 210486-0589.
SAC Concert: Wind and Brass Ensemble 2 p.m. in auditorium of McAllister. Call 210-486-0255.
SAC Meeting: Gay and Lesbian Association 3 p.m.-4 p.m. in Room 644 of Moody. Call 210-486-0673.
March 8
6 p.m.-10 p.m. Call 210-486-1046. March 12 SAC Sports: Baseball vs. Victoria College 1:30 p.m. at SAISD sports complex on field SC. Call 210-260-6348.
Sunday
SPC Event: “The Woolworth Experience” from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. in the Tiger Café. Call 210-486-2887. SAC Lecture: “Smoking Cessation” with Nicole Townsley from the American Cancer Society 11 a.m.-noon in the craft room of Loftin. Call 210-486-0125.
March 14
March 22
SAC Meeting: Psychology Club 2 p.m. in Room 642 of Moody. Call 210-486-2887.
SAC Event: “Halo: Reach” league play 11 a.m.-2 p.m. game area in Loftin. Call 210-486-0125.
SAC Sports: Women’s basketball vs. Palo Alto College 6 p.m. in Gym 1 of Candler. Call 210-486-0129.
SAC Transfer: Texas A&M University 1 p.m.-4 p.m. on the first floor of Chance. Call 210-486-0864.
SAC Sports: Men’s basketball vs. Palo Alto College 8 p.m. in Gym 1 of Candler. Call 210-260-6348.
SAC Transfer: Our Lady of the Lake University 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on first floor of Chance. Continues 3:30 p.m.-6 p.m. Call 210-486-0864.
Thursday
SAC Hot Potato: “Is the Tea Party a Third Party?” by Professor Asslan Khaligh 12:15 p.m.-1:15 p.m. at Methodist Student Center, 102 Belknap. Call 210733-1441. Meeting: Board committees 5:30 p.m. in Room 101 of Killen Center, 201 W. Sheridan. Log on to www.alamo.edu and click on Board of Trustees and then Agendas. March 9
Tuesday
Spring Break: Classes dismissed through March 20. Colleges closed March 17-20.
SAC Concert: Faculty Recital Piano Division: Duos From the Past 7:30 p.m. in auditorium of McAllister. Call 210486-0255.
SPC Event: President’s Lecture Series: “Building Gender Coalitions Across Racial Lines” by Nontombi Naomi TuTu 11 a.m.– 11:45 a.m. in Watson. Call 210-4862704.
SAC Meeting: Chess Club 1:30 p.m.3 p.m. in Room 104 of Chance. E-mail sacchess@gmail.com.
SAC Concert: Orchestra 7:30 p.m. in auditorium of McAllister. Call 210-4860255.
SAC Meeting: Kinesiology Club 3 p.m. in Room 126 or Candler. Call 210-5881936.
SAC Sports: Baseball vs. University of Texas-San Antonio 7:30 p.m. at UTSA. Call 210-260-6348.
Friday
March 10
SAC Concert: Choral 3 p.m. in auditorium of McAllister. Call 210-486-0255.
SAC Concert: Faculty recital 7:30 p.m. in auditorium of McAllister. Call 210-4860255.
SAC Concert: Faculty recital 7:30 p.m. in auditorium of McAllister. Call 210-4860255. SAC Hot Potato: “What is a Sanctuary City?” by Felipe Vargas 12:15 p.m.-1:15 p.m. at Methodist Student Center, 102 Belknap. Call 210-733-1441. District Meeting: ACCD Board 6 p.m. in Room 101 of Killen Center, 201 W. Sheridan. Log on to www.alamo.edu and click on Board of Trustees and then Agendas. March 29 SAC Hot Potato: “Concealed Weapons on Campus: Will We Be More Safe?” by Marshall Lloyd and Wayne Eresman 12:15 p.m.-1:15 p.m. at Methodist Student Center, 102 Belknap. Call 210733-1441. March 30
Event: St. Mary’s University Lin Great Speakers Series by Gretchen Steidle Wallace, founder of Global Grassroots, 7 p.m.-9 p.m. in Conference Room A of university center. Call 210-431-4376. SAC Meeting: Campus Crusade for Christ 1:30 p.m. in Room 113 of chemistry and geology. Call 210-486-1233. SAC Hot Potato: “Zero Tolerance: Is It Sexist?” by Lilian Saldaña 12:15 p.m.1:15 p.m. at Methodist Student Center, 102 Belknap. Call 210-733-1441. SAC Performance: Latin Jazz Combo 2 p.m. in auditorium of McAllister. Call
SAC Theater: “Check, Please” dinner 7 p.m. show, 8 p.m. in Loftin. $15. No tickets at door. Call 210-486-0494.
March 11 SAC Exhibit: Second Friday Artwalk with Tobin Hill Art Alliance begins in visual arts
Event: “A Call to Justice: the Three Theological Virtues” by the Rev. Norm Ermis and Will Rainford 7 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Continues March 31 and April 1. 2718 W. Woodlawn Ave. Call 210-736-3752.
Calendar Legend SAC: San Antonio College NVC: Northwest Vista College SPC: St. Philip’s College SWC: Southwest Campus PAC: Palo Alto College NLC: Northeast Lakeview College
16 • Feb. 28, 2011
News
The Ranger
The Ranger
News
Feb. 28, 2011 • 17
Curator discusses political art in digital media Games create a fictional Guantanamo Bay detention center and Chinese sweatshop experience. By Jacob Beltran Digital media art is used as a method of portraying political conflicts throughout the world, Christiane Paul, adjunct curator of new media arts at the Whitney Museum of American Art, said Feb. 17 in the auditorium of McAllister Fine Arts Center. Paul was also introduced as the director of the media studies graduate program and professor of media studies at The New School in New York City, a college composed of eight schools, and author of “Digital Art” written in 2003 and updated in 2008. For examples of politics in digital media, Paul presented half of the 29 works featured in the art exhibition “Feedforward — The Angel of History” she curated with Steve Dietz in October 2009 at the Laboral Centro De Arte y Creaciòn Industrial in Gijón, Spain. “We wanted to throw spotlights on certain moments of conflict,” Paul said. Paul said technology-driven media’s “aesthetic grounding might come under scrutiny.” She read the theme of “Feedforward — The Angel of History” as the angel was “looking in shock and horror of wreckage and history and being propelled backwards into the uncertain future by a storm (progress).” Afterward, Paul displayed photos of the exhibits on a big screen. Paul shared a soundscape, using sound to create an environment, “How I Learned to Stop Listening and Love the Noise,” by Christopher Baker that played sound from hundreds of video diaries from YouTube simultaneously as projectors showed the videos like a quilt on a white wall. “Does this really solve anything if arguments can’t be heard anymore?” Paul asked after she showed photos of the exhibit. Paul said that so many people submit video diaries of their own opinion or arguments on Youtube that it becomes hard for one to stand out. Paul mentioned the difficulty of using social media to express political artwork as repressive governments use the same social media to convey their points and track down those voicing protest against them. Another exhibit Paul showed, “Gone Gitmo,” a collaboration between Nonny de la Peña and Peggy Weil, is a reconstruction of Guantanamo Bay in Cuba built in a game called “Second Life” based on information through former prisoners. “Gone Gitmo” was designed to take control of the characters in “Second Life” to simulate the process of being captured and handcuffed, black-bagged and taken on a plane to the detention center at Guantanamo Bay. Then the character goes through contemplation chambers to contemplate reports and practices going on in Guantanamo Bay in place of an interrogation process that tortures an avatar. You can learn more about “Gone Gitmo” at http://gonegitmo.blogspot. com/. “Be Prepared! Tiger!” is a stealth boat created by Peter Sandbichler in the style of the stealth jet, which cannot be heard or detected approaching. The stealth boat hides in a public space docked in a harbor in Duisburg’s inland harbor where it moves from time to time.
Christiane Paul displays video, sculpture and digital art from an exhibit at the Whitney Museum of American Art. Jason B. Hogan Another “Second Life” creation, “Invisible Threads” by Stephanie Rothenberg and Jeff Crouse, is a take on sweat shops in China that force workers to spend all day raising the level of a character in the game “World of Warcraft” to the highest level where it can be sold for real-world money. The art involved an actual storefront in which customers use an instore computer to order a piece of clothing, which was made by virtual characters in “Second Life” controlled by real people and printed in the store through a cloth printer. A video of the art piece “10 Simple Steps to Your Very Own Virtual Sweatshop with Telematic Manufacturing” can be found online at www. youtube.com. Paul then showed a photo of a Plexiglas mirror of the Earth with bullet holes in various parts of the world. It was a piece of art titled “Instances of Use of United States Armed Forces Abroad, 1798-2006” by Hasan Elahi that was made in 2009. Bullets were shot into the Plexiglas by an actual sharpshooter. “I learned more on bullet shots and different calibers and their effects on Plexiglas than I ever would have or wanted to know,” Paul said. In a question-and-answer session, Paul explained how projects are funded. “Like any other artists, through commission and grants,” she said. “Print and video is more well known and sells well.” Paul then explained that many artists are happy just making an impact on the world. She said in the last decade she’s seen many more projects that are engaging with human beings. Concerning differences between those who appreciate older forms of art versus those who appreciate digital art, Paul said, “I’ve encountered lots of confrontations about why we show this art, some saying this isn’t art. I think there is a huge rift.” Paul said that many critics scrutinize digital art, like some shown in the exhibits, because it doesn’t have the best special effects or was not done by a big company. For a full list of digital art shown in the exhibition, go to www.yproductions.com/projects/archives/feedforward_the_angel_of_histo.html. For more information on the Whitney, visit www.whitney.org.
18 • Feb. 28, 2011
Editorial
The Ranger
Melody Mendoza
Don’t leave college in the dark President Robert Zeigler was in the dark about the lighting at this college. However, he was enlightened Feb. 16 when he accompanied The Ranger and college officials on a follow-up of a Nov. 15 survey of campus lighting. This time, they found at least 81 lights burned out or turned off. That’s up from the November total of 36. This is not OK. We applaud you for taking time to walk the campus, but instead of students having to push the issue, we need administrators to set up a process for regularly checking lighting. This is a safety issue — working students rely on evening classes while others stay late in labs and the library. A dark campus is an invitation to crime and injury. Dark stairs can create hazardous conditions in good weather, but add a slight mist to brick walkways and trouble is ahead. District Police Sgt. Dennis Guyer noted landscaping creates blind corners and hiding spots for those intent on wrongdoing. As an open downtown campus, this college already faces a number of policing concerns; four daylight robberies and assaults in the fall semester is a clear reminder. Let’s correct what we can to keep students and employees safe after dark. How about spending a little bit of capi-
tal improvements money on improving lighting? Most administrators are seldom on campus after dark so it’s no surprise that this hasn’t been taken care of earlier. The Ranger’s regular reports and complaints on our editorial page through the years have largely gone unheeded, though one round resulted in an enormous fixture being attached to Loftin that flooded the area astronomy students regularly used for night viewing and left the rest of the campus in its normally dim state. We’ve seen that money can usually be found for pet projects, so why not for something so vital as lighting? It should never have gotten to the point where the president had to survey the situation for himself. In this economic environment, the president’s time and energies are too valuable to expend on a no-brainer. This is a maintenance problem. A few years back, The Ranger reported on special software that facilities used to track when equipment and structures should be checked for maintenance or repairs. Was lighting left out? Often replacements occur thanks to reports from police officers, but our police force is stretched thin for all their duties and coverage area. If this, too, is a staffing problem, then a new protocol needs to be put in place that will keep the lights on. It’s time to show that we can rely on not being left in the dark.
The Ranger
Editorial
Feb. 28, 2011 • 19
Free HIV testing, facts better than ignorance Of the 1 million people infected with HIV living in the United States, one out of five does not know they are infected. That’s 200,000 people capable of infecting you without even knowing it. The human immunodeficiency virus can be transmitted through body fluids, such as blood, breast milk, vaginal fluid, semen and sharing needles. In the United States, more than 1 million people have AIDS, and 14,000 of those die each year of AIDS or AIDSrelated illnesses. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the 1980s was the height of the epidemic. Every four minutes, someone was diagnosed as carrying the virus. The number has decreased significantly. Now every 9 1/2 minutes, someone is infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. But, every 9 1/2 minutes is still too
high; it’s an increase from the bottom active people realize they must protect themselves through safe sex practices? rate of the 1990s. Reliable statistics are available with People preach about protection and abstinence in every forum of educa- the click of a mouse, yet people are still spreading this virus. tion, publication and broadcast. Some people are not honest or not Much has been made of this generation’s distance from the days when aware that they have HIV or any other sexually transmitted everyone lost somePeer Educators and disease. one to AIDS. the Center for Health Care If you are having In the 1980s and Services offer HIV testing sex, avoid the igno’90s, AIDS was a March 9-10 in the health center in Room 119 of rance and denial, and death sentence and Chance Academic Center. For instead arm yourself HIV a prison gate. information, call 210-486-1446. with knowledge. Advances in pharFree HIV testing macology have given patients with AIDS a reprieve to a life returns March 9-10 in the health censentence of daily maintenance drug ter, or if you don’t want to get tested on cocktails that are wearing on the body, campus, alternatives are to text your expensive and require precise and ZIP code to KNOW-IT (566948) or call 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636) for complex combinations. Yet, reckless disregard for those assistance in locating a testing site. Don’t let love, lust or false informafacts keeps the infection spreading. Don’t be a moron. If you are having tion blind you from making a smart choice. Please inform yourself and sex, you are susceptible. What will it take to make sexually spread awareness, not HIV.
Drop me, please, fingers crossed Four easy steps complete the process to drop a class. First, a student goes to the chair or instructor for a drop slip. Next, the student must take the drop slip to the admissions and records office so they have a record of a student-initiated drop. Instructors simultaneously must enter a W in ACES. Finally, the center for student information is supposed to receive a report automatically generated by the Banner system of all W’s assigned before it is officially recorded. Easy, right? In the past, a student would pick up a drop slip from the professor, fill it out and turn it into admissions and records staff who would officially drop the student. The “old” process was efficient, quicker and on campus. How are students supposed to have faith the center for student information will actually drop them? The center mailed out 500 transcripts on printer paper and still have
a backlog of requests students wanting to transfer are waiting for. We understand employees transferred from various campuses to the center may be overwhelmed by new surroundings, coworkers and procedures. Employees left behind at the colleges are also overwhelmed by increased workload, procedures repeatedly changing, and frustrated students they cannot help. Once again, this district has committed to spending large sums to replace an operable system with a complex procedure they control. If district officials intend to centralize the five colleges as one unit — despite determining such a move would not be beneficial — they need to learn how to execute and deliver. Excuses do not produce results; students don’t care if CSI is has new processes. What we do care about is being served in a timely and efficient fashion.
This new process certainly isn’t either. If we’re trying to move away from paper, the district should purchase an electronic signature device for admissions, so students simply sign to verify they have dropped. Anyway, this extra step shows CSI is not confident they can keep paperwork from the five colleges straight; technically, admissions and records is still dropping the student. The center for student information doesn’t provide a wealth of information for anyone. The colleges continue to do the work with little resources, while more money and resources are poured into costly initiatives like CSI. If the mission is to be more centralized and transparent, Alamo Colleges has yet to arrive at a destination or conclusion. Let’s hope CSI manages to process all our drops before the deadline for withdrawals April 18.
20 • Feb. 28, 2011
Viewpoint
The Ranger
From resistant student to aspiring intellectual Now that I look back, at those large, colorful, picture-filled textbooks from high school, I want to burst out laughing. And when I say that, I don’t mean to downplay the importance of the text or the intenViewpoint by Megan Mares tion behind scholastic improvement, but studying in college is a completely different beast. To make a long story short, my parents began to preach academia early in my life. Both collegeeducated professionals, my parents led by example and hammered into my head that without effort, I could forget about earning high grades. My high school was all about college preparation with very high expectations. Between my parents and my school, I was lectured to about study habits and a standard of education that felt unnatural. All right, maybe not completely unnatural, but people who studied all
the time and scored in the top 10 percent at my school were labeled nerd. For me, nerd had a negative connotation. I could not and I would not accept that label. I mean, nerds are seen as losers, rejects and freaks. So I did what any kid with a secret would do, I closeted my inner nerd. I rejected most forms of studying and stuck my nose in the pages of novels. I pretended to not understand or see a correlation between study time and grades. Truth is, the devotion of time and attention to acquiring knowledge in an academic subject is the best gift you can give yourself for your future. I can tell you, embracing my inner nerd and unleashing it from its lengthy sabbatical was spurred by the process my fellow Ranger writers and I go through each week just to get our stuff in print. Step by step we build, take away and revise each piece, and the process can be extremely time-consuming. So we spread it out, stay on top of it, and look forward to the end product. So it is with studying. Studying an hour for a test that covers five chapters doesn’t work.
Spread it out. You want as much time with the material as you can get. I am a babysitter, so I have the luxury of planning my work schedule around my education. When I slip up and book a family on a night I should be studying, I bring my books with me so when the kids go to bed, I can begin studying. Make studying a priority. This semester, I am taking history, and during the winter break, I read my textbook before classes started. I took notes and highlighted important material so during the semester, I could look back to make studying that much easier. I take my intellect seriously. I’m not going to claim I am the brightest crayon in the box, but now I’m always searching for information. I want to absorb everything available to me because I want to know for myself everything I can about all things there are to know. Every test is taken seriously, every essay is well thought-out. I make time for studying because I want this for myself. I am finally proud to be a nerd.
Feb. 28, 2011 • 21
The Ranger
Officials Chancellor: Dr. Bruce H. Leslie 201 W. Sheridan, Bldg. B, San Antonio TX 78204-1429 Work: 210-485-0020 Fax: 210-485-0021 E-mail: bleslie@alamo.edu District 1: Joe Alderete Jr. 1602 Hillcrest Drive, San Antonio TX 78228 Cell: 210-863-9500 Home: 210-434-6967 E-mail: jvajr711@aol.com, jalderete21@alamo.edu District 2: Denver McClendon 3811 Willowwood Blvd., San Antonio, TX 78219 Work: 210-281-9141 E-mail: denvermcclendon@satx.rr.com, dmcclendon2@alamo.edu District 3: Anna U. Bustamante 511 Ware Blvd., San Antonio TX 78221 Work: 210-882-1609 Home: 210-921-2986 E-mail: abustamante20@alamo.edu District 4: Marcelo S. Casillas 115 Wainwright, San Antonio TX 78211 No telephone number provided Board of trustees liaison: 210-485-0030 E-mail: mcasillas19@alamo.edu District 5: Roberto Zárate 4103 Buffalo Bayou, San Antonio TX 78251 No telephone number provided E-mail: rzarate11@alamo.edu District 6: Dr. Gene Sprague 14722 Iron Horse Way, Helotes TX 78023 Work: 210-567-4865 Fax: 210-520-9185 E-mail: sprague1@alamo.edu District 7: Blakely Latham Fernandez 755 E. Mulberry, Suite 200, San Antonio TX 78212 Work: 210-244-8879 E-mail: bfernandez35@alamo.edu, bfernandez@trpsalaw.com District 8: Gary Beitzel 15403 Forest Mist, San Antonio TX 78232 Home: 210-496-5857 E-mail: gbeitzel@alamo.edu District 9: James A. Rindfuss 13315 Thessaly, Universal City TX 78148 Home: 210-9828-4630 Work: 210-375-2555 E-mail: jrindfuss@alamo.edu
Presidents San Antonio College, Dr. Robert E. Zeigler 210-486-0959, rzeigler@alamo.edu Northeast Lakeview College, Dr. Eric Reno 210-486-5484, ereno@alamo.edu Northwest Vista College, Dr. Jacqueline Claunch 210-486-4900, jclaunch@alamo.edu Palo Alto College, Dr. Ana M. “Cha” Guzman 210-486-3960, aguzman@alamo.edu St. Philip’s College, Dr. Adena W. Loston 210-486-2900, aloston@alamo.edu
The Ranger Editor Zahra Farah Managing Editor Melody Mendoza Sections Editor Megan Mares Photographers Tyler K. Cleveland, Alison Wadley Photo Team Felisia Almaraz, Carla Aranguren, Adrian Fernandez, Victor A. Garcia, Marisa N. Montaño Garza, Jason B. Hogan, Julia Novikova, Chelsea Von Peacock, Abiel Rodriguez, JungKeun Song, Ingrid Wilgen Illustrators Juan Carlos Campos, Alexandra Nelipa Staff Writers J. Almendarez, Ximena Alvarez, Jacob Beltran, David Espinoza, Joshua Fechter, Alma Linda Manzanares, Daniel Perales, James Anthony Salamé, Julysa Sosa, Riley Stephens, Dana Lynn Traugott, Valdemar Tejada, Jennifer M. Ytuarte
Web Editor Laura Garcia
©2011 by The Ranger staff, San Antonio College, 1300 San Pedro Ave., San Antonio, TX 78212-4299. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without permission. The Ranger news outlets, which serve the Alamo Community College District, are laboratory projects of journalism classes in the Department of Media Communications at San Antonio College. The Ranger is published Mondays except during summer, holidays and examinations. The Ranger Online is available at www.theranger.org. News contributions accepted by telephone (210-486-1773), by fax (210-486-1789), by e-mail (sac-ranger@alamo.edu) or at the editorial office (Room 212 of Loftin Student Center). Advertising rates available upon request by phone (210486-1765) or as a download at www.theranger.org. The Ranger is a member of the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association, the Associated Collegiate Press and the Texas Community College Journalism Association.
Guest Viewpoints: Faculty, staff, students and community members are welcome to contribute guest viewpoints of up to 450 words. Writers should focus on campus or current events in a critical, persuasive or interpretative style. All viewpoints must be published with a photo portrait of the writer. Letters Policy: The Ranger invites readers to share views by writing letters to the editor. Space limitations force the paper to limit letters to two double-spaced, typewritten pages. Letters will be edited for spelling, style, grammar, libel and length. Editors reserve the right to deny publication of any letter. Letters should be mailed to The Ranger, Department of Media Communications, San Antonio College, 1300 San Pedro Ave., San Antonio TX 78212-4299. Letters also may be brought to the newspaper office in Room 212 of Loftin Student Center, e-mailed to sac-ranger@alamo. edu or faxed to 210-486-1789. Letters must be signed and must include the printed name and telephone number. Students should include classification, major, campus and Banner ID. Employees should include title and telephone number. For more information, call 210-486-1773. Single Copy Policy: Members of the Alamo Community College District community are permitted one free copy per issue because of high production costs. Where available, additional copies may be purchased with prior approval for 50 cents each by contacting The Ranger business office. Newspaper theft is a crime. Those who violate the singlecopy rule may be subject to civil and criminal prosecution and subject to college discipline.
Pulse
22 • Feb. 28, 2011
The Ranger
Legal stands by ‘supervision’ definition Closings of health center continue to leave students without care. By J. Almendarez On Feb. 7, registered nurse and health center Coordinator Paula Daggett left campus because she was feeling ill. When she left, the health center in Room 119 of Chance Academic Center closed about three hours earlier than the scheduled 5 p.m. Monday through Friday closure. The next day, the center didn’t open at all when Daggett was still ill. Feb. 9, the center reopened on schedule at 8 a.m., but it closed again from about 11 a.m.noon while Daggett assisted with a lecture on “Sexual Health and Condom Awareness” in the craft room in Loftin. For students who commonly use the health center, these frequent closures and inconsistent hours are commonplace but frustrating. Students enrolled with disability support services at this campus said the health center seems to be closed about as often as it is open. The Ranger reported last semester and again Feb. 14 that these closures take place because of the college executive committee’s reading of Section 301.353 Rule 217.11 (2) Texas Board of Nursing’s Interpretative Guideline for LVN
Scope of Practice. The rule was added four years ago but was not observed until last summer. The rules state that a licensed vocational nurse can practice only under the supervision of an RN advanced practice nurse, physician, podiatrist, dentist or physician assistant. However, it defines supervision as the two nurses having telephonic contact or a similar means of communicating. It specifically states, “direct (onsite or onunit) supervision is not required.” Before the story went to print Feb. 14, President Robert Zeigler said that an inquiry would be made about why that definition is not recognized at the college. The district’s general counsel Retha Karnes said the district is concerned with the legality of a situation if an emergency should take place and Daggett cannot be reached; therefore, the district chooses to close when Daggett cannot be in the center, which state law allows for. She said the health center’s nurses are not trained as emergency first responders. Despite years of responding to campus emergencies, Daggett and Noriega have been grounded. As a result, employees here have been instructed to call the district police in an emergency.
If the responding officer determines professional help is needed, the police call for EMS. International business sophomore Sara Gable said in regard to Karne’s explanation, “When they’re closed (the health center) we’re kind of screwed. It really impacts us and hurts us.” 2005 alumni Diane Price, who now works at this college as a temporary service assistant in the disability support services office, mirrored Gable’s feelings of frustration. She mentioned students who have had to pay out of pocket expenses for EMS services that could have been provided if the health center was open. “I’ve seen that happen a few times,” she said. Karnes said she had no comment about students who have been left without services because of the district’s decision to implement the policy about supervision. She did, however, say alternate options could be made available, but it is up to each individual campus within the district to provide options. Dr. Robert Vela, vice president of student services, said, “We’re looking into that. It’s just an issue of money.” He said he agrees with the legal decision to close the health center when Daggett isn’t there despite the law’s allowance to otherwise keep it open.
More food choices coming, cafeteria manager says By J. Almendarez Until 2 p.m. weekdays, the food service in Loftin Student Center offers a food orgy that bombards students with the aroma of pizza coffee and hot entrees. In the Market Fresca line, crisp cucumbers are in holders cuddled next to red and green bell peppers. Sandwiches and wraps are even cut in half for easy eating. Students who enter the cafeteria after 2 p.m., however, may equate their experience to walking into the kitchen of an ascetic nunnery. After 2:30 p.m. all the service lines in the cafeteria close except for Alamo Carvery and Grill station and the self-service pizza trays, which remain available to serve hot meals.
Frederick Danzoy, district manager of Selrico Services, the food service vendor for the district, said the Market Fresca line and Rio de Piedra lines close at 2 p.m. because the company must take food quality and labor usage into consideration. He said baked potatoes and homestyle meals like lasagna and chicken parmesan cannot stay fresh throughout the cafeteria’s entire operational day. In the past, Danzoy said the cafeteria has tried keeping the other lines open until 3 p.m. but had few customers and was forced to throw the prepped, old food away. He said the self-serve pizza station creates almost 17 percent of the cafeteria’s sales, and the carvery station can be staffed by one
person who can make food easily and to order. However, Danzoy is aware that students want fresh, readily available food. He said the cafeteria has seen an increase in sales of 28 percent to 30 percent since last semester. He correlates that growth to the improvement in food quality and healthier options as well as longand short-term solutions to meet student demands. “Pre-made food helps to alleviate the amount of time people spend in line,” Danzoy said. So he plans to make sandwiches, salads and wraps more accessible in the grab-and-go cooler. In addition to ham, turkey and vegetable sandwiches and salads,
he said the company is making efforts to provide an Italian wrap, vegetarian hummus wrap, Greek wrap and club wrap. In the long term, he said, there are plans to move the Market Fresca station, where sandwiches, salads and wraps are currently made, to the larger Rio de Piedra station, which currently serves homestyle meals and baked potatos. He said the move would easily allow two people to staff the Market Fresca station. However, he said if any changes are made, it won’t be this semester so he can plan for the changes and not interrupt service. The cafeteria is open 7 a.m.7 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 7 a.m.- 2 p.m. Friday.
The Ranger
People
Feb. 28, 2011 • 23
Music sophomore Lauren Douglas plays “Winter Light” by Zbigniew Preisner and recorded by Linda Ronstadt at an audition for “SAC’s Got Talent.” The talent show is from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday in the Fiesta Room of Loftin. Ingrid Wilgen
Education sophomore Angelia Hardaway and kinesiology sophomore Kaleen Mathieu hang from the basket while the Lady Rangers pose for a team photo Wednesday after their basketball game against the Northwest Vista College Wildcats was canceled. The men’s game also was canceled. The women and men will play Palo Alto College 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Wednesday in Gym 1 of Candler. Tyler K. Cleveland
Members of the Student Jazz Combo, Mauricio Gonzalez, Josh Barling and Diamond Meredith-Anderson, perform in a combined concert with the Chamber Jazz Choir and the SAC Big Band Tuesday
Dental assisting sophomores Chris Rocha and Peter Monsivais instruct dental lab technician freshman Alessandra Mendoza on how to properly brush her teeth during Dental Fest Wednesday inside the nursing complex. Exhibits demonstrated oral health techniques and diseases. Abiel Rodriguez
in McAllister auditorium. Their performance of the Bernard Ighner classic “Super Blue” got the audience tapping their toes and moving to the music. Victor A. Garcia
24 • Feb. 28, 2011
News
The Ranger
Author pushes Challenger Center “Believe in yourself and don’t let negative things turn you away.”
Former student says have faith and overcome life’s obstacles. By James Anthony Salamé
S
omewhere around 65 percent of students at this college hadn’t been born the day the shuttle Challenger exploded Jan. 28, 1986, killing all seven passengers. That day, Dr. June Scobee Rodgers lost her first husband, astronaut Francis “Dick” Scobee, who was commander of that shuttle mission. She came to campus Feb. 18 to promote a new book and interest in establishing a Challenger Center at San Antonio College in connection with Scobee Planetarium. She continues to be a driving force in education by her leadership in the Challenger Center for Space Science Education, created by family members to honor the crew and their mission to educate the country about space. Rodgers is the founding director of nearly 50 educational centers worldwide, including locations in Canada, South Korea and the United Kingdom. “Silver Linings: My Life Before and After Challenger 7” tells her story of overcoming the tragedy in her life. A lesson she had to learn was to have faith in herself. Rodgers said she believes this message can apply to anyone facing obstacles. She explained that when she first set out to open the Challenger Center in Houston, people told her it couldn’t happen. But she was persistent. She remembered her late husband telling her, “If you have a dream, tell people and someone can help you; then ask for advice.” Rodgers explained that
Dr. June Scobee Rodgers author
Tom Osborn, teacher applicant for 1986 Challenger mission, talks with June Scobee Rodgers about her new book “Silver Linings” Feb. 18 at the book-signing ceremony outside Scobee. More than 11,000 teachers applied for the global classroom opportunity in 1985 with Rodgers’ late husband, Dick Scobee. Photos by Marisa N. Montaño Garza
Dr. June Scobee Rodgers poses in front of the planetarium named in honor of her late husband, Commander Francis “Dick” Scobee.
her persistence is what kept her dream alive. She said she wants students to leave a Challenger Center with awareness of the planet, the universe, and even a sense of selfdiscovery. Challenger Centers help children build science knowledge and problem-solving skills and practice teamwork, communications and applied math. During her book signing, Rodgers sold all of her books and donated a portion of proceeds from book sales to the proposed
center at this college. Proceeds from planetarium shows that night also go toward establishing a Challenger Center here. More than $2 million will be needed. Rodgers credits her success to staying grounded by remembering where she came from. “It’s so good for people to know I’m from San Antonio,” she said. Rodgers moved to San Antonio in 1958 after her mother and father divorced. She attended Harlandale High
School, and at 16, she met Dick Scobee at a church hayride. They were married after graduation and later both attended San Antonio College. She became a teacher and has taught every grade level from kindergarten to college. Rodgers is married to retired Army Lt. Gen. Don Rodgers and has three children and nine grandchildren. She describes her success as something she wants her grandchildren to be proud of. “When it seems like your life is crumbled away, have faith, believe in yourself and don’t let negative things turn you away,” she said.