Vol. 86 Issue 16 • Single copies free • April 2, 2012 • 210-486-1773 • theranger.org
Tuition absorbs fees for AF
This week Domestic violence leads to scholarship The Alamo Colleges board recognized a scholarship to promote awareness of domestic violence at its Tuesday meeting. The Kristine Meza Foundation donated $3,000 to the Alamo Colleges Foundation to offer the scholarship in memory of Kristine Meza, who was killed in a murdersuicide Feb. 11, 2011, at age 25. “It’s not easy finding the silver lining in such a horrible tragedy, but that’s just what we did by the grace of God,” Anastasia Salazar, president of the Kristine Meza Foundation, said. More information is online. Melissa Gonzales
Iran nuclear concern It is possible Iran can pose a threat using nuclear weapons, but the country also is surrounded by nations with that power, political science Professor Asslan Khaligh said Tuesday to an audience of 25. Campus minister John Feagins of the Methodist Student Center said the Hot Potato lecture “Does Nuclear Iran Pose a Danger to World Peace?” arose from the controversy about Iran acquiring nuclear weapons. For the full story, visit www. theranger.org. Kirk Hanes
Cecilia Tornel
Archaeology lecture
Daniel Osland, visiting professor of classical studies at Ohio State University, discussed “A Kind of Conversion: From Roman to Visigoth Emerita” Monday in the nursing complex. For the full story, visit www. theranger.org. Diana Palomo
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Alicia Sebastian (left) chants while Jessica Shittu and Tanya Farirayi hold a “We are Trayvon Martin” banner Wednesday at the UTSA main campus. Students marched to show their support for justice for the
shooting death of the teen Feb. 26 in Sanford, Fla. “We felt it was an issue we needed to address,” Victoria Garrett, president of the Black Student Leadership Council, said. Riley Stephens
Early college grads first class Four students are graduating with two associate degrees this spring. Senior Carlos Castaneda of Travis Early College High his sophomore and junior years and treasurer for his School, is one of 10 students graduating from the pro- senior year. gram with more than 70 credit hours. After four year, things are now “outstanding” he said. One hundred students and five instructors made “Students are more cohesive with one another in regard up his class when he first to all grade levels.” By ROBERT joined the program in He also sees early college students taking MEDINA August 2008. advantage of college clubs and organizations. The program has “For example, I’m the president of Phi Theta rmedina116@student. alamo.edu increased annually by 100 Kappa. There are students in the Psychology students. Club at SAC, and they are going to use the labs, An early problem experienced by faculty and the gym and the library,” he said. staff was “getting the students to understand Castaneda is one of four students receiving Carlos Castaneda the responsibility of the rigor and challenges of two associate degrees this spring. “I asked … if an early college,” Principal Orlando Vera said. we could take an extra class that would qualify The school now has 351 students and 16 instructors. us for a second degree,” he said. “Our vice principal said The Texas Education Agency requires that high school ‘yes’ and they paid for us to take this extra class.” instructors be certified to teach at an early college proCastaneda will graduate with an associate degree in gram to ensure all educators “meet the needs of all learnliberal arts and one in general science. ers in today’s and tomorrow’s Texas classrooms.” He plans to earn a bachelor’s degree in neurobiology “At first, there were issues for building the early coland a master’s degree in psychology because he hopes to lege program up and our class was, of course, the guinea become a pediatric psychologist. pigs toward trying out different things for the school,” He has already been accepted to six universities but is Castaneda said. still waiting to hear from his top three choices, University “At first, that was a little weird because you see how of Texas at Austin, Yale and Notre Dame. high schools already have their traditions and they have Of a graduating class of 86 students, 51 also will gradeverything set up, what works for the students and what uate with associate degrees in the May 12 ceremony and doesn’t, and we were the first ones to experience that. So will participate in a high school graduation ceremony now that they’ve gone through us, the students, staff and June 14 in the auditorium of McAllister Fine Arts Center. the school itself have an agenda to fall under that works.” See related stories, Page 5 His classmates elected Castaneda class president for
The Alamo Colleges board of trustees unanimously voted to consolidate tuition and fees into a single cost at a meeting Tuesday. By JOSHUA At the FECHTER Audit, Budget and Finance jfechter @student. Committee alamo.edu meeting March 20, Diane Snyder, vice chancellor for finance and administration, said the change was made to accommodate students enlisted in the military, who must pay fees out of pocket because the military covers only tuition. During a phone interview March 23, chief bursar Mary Hall said the U.S. Air Force does not reimburse the district for fees. During a phone interview Monday, Russell Gregg, chief of education and training at Lackland Air Force Base, said as of fall 2010, the Air Force will pay only fees related to coursework such as lab fees. Gregg said the Air Force would pay the new tuition rate if the board approved it. According to the minute order attachments, cost of attendance would not be affected by consolidating tuition and fees. Current tuition appraises one to six credit hours at a flat rate of $336 for in-district tuition, $1,008 for out-of-district tuition and $2,016 for out-of-state tuition. The general fee for students enrolled in one to six credit hours is $130. Students enrolled in seven or more credit hours pay an additional $56 per credit hour for indistrict tuition, $168 for out-of district intuition and $336 for out-of-state tuition. The general fee for students
See TUITION, Page 4
PAC president steps down Aug. 31 The Alamo Colleges board of trustees unanimously approved the retirement of Dr. Ana “Cha” Guzman, president of Palo Alto College, at its regular meetBy JOSHUA ing Tuesday. Her FECHTER retirement will be effective Aug. 31. jfechter @student. Guzman told alamo.edu The Ranger that after serving as president for 11 years, she felt she needed a new challenge. “I’m a builder. That’s what I love to do,” she said. She has been president of the
South Side college since 2001. Guzman said she has no plans to seek employment elsewhere. On Feb. 21, the Alamo Colleges board removed Guzman’s retirement from its agenda after she requested to stay at Palo Alto in an unspecified position until Jan. 6, six months after her effective retirement date. At the February meeting, board Chair Gary Beitzel said this violated board policy. At a special meeting Oct. 5, the board voted 8-0 to allow college presidents to take advantage of a 50
percent retirement incentive if they elect to retire by Feb. 28, 2013, six months before the end of the current two-year contract, Aug. 31, 2013. Presidents who participate in the program receive 50 percent of current salary for a year. A retiree cannot apply for a job in the district for two years after retirement. So far, Guzman is the only one of the four eligible college presidents to apply for the retirement incentive. In February, Beitzel said if Guzman continued working at Palo
Alto after her retirement, the board would have to create a new position. After that board meeting, Guzman said she still planned to retire but would rethink her options and bring her decision to the board at the March meeting. At that time, Guzman said she and Chancellor Bruce Leslie discussed another position for her at the college but did not specify the nature of the position. In a phone interview Wednesday, Guzman said she would not seek another position at Palo Alto.