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ranger Serving San Antonio College since 1926

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Volume 88 Issue 16 • March 28, 2014

210-486-1773 • Single copies free

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Credit cards can get you further in debt Earning interest can be the reward for saving money, and paying interest can be the cost of borrowing money, business Professor N. Mai Lai Eng said.

When an individual doesn’t pay a credit card in full each month, the cardholder is charged interest on the remaining balance, she said.

That’s what the credit card company earns, and it adds to what the cardholder owes.

Eng said if someone pays $500 for tuition with a credit card and repays only $100 each month, the credit card company will charge them interest on the remaining balance.

“It could end up costing you more,” Eng said. “That $500 tuition can end up costing you more if you take a long time to pay that balance off.”

Eng said interest increases every bill cycle, and a credit company will re-evaluate the interest based on the remaining balance after someone has made a payment.

“You’re paying interest on your interest,” she said. “It will end up making you spend more money than you would’ve if you had paid it off.”

She said one major problem with some students is credit card debt because of unpaid balances.

She said people should not use credit cards unless they really need to. Instead, use cash for everything, including small purchases.

“You should be very careful with how you use your credit card,” she said. “That’s the best thing that I can say for students.”

To earn interest, she said people should think of how to make their money work for them by putting their money in accounts that generate the most interest.

“You need to learn how to make your money work for you versus you work for your money,” Eng said.

Eng said it’s hard to find a place that’s going to pay a good rate of interest because of financial problems in the economy.

She said in 1978, people could find a savings account with a $500 deposit and earn 5.25 percent interest annually, but today they’re lucky to find an account paying 0.05 percent annually.

It is hard to save a small amount of money because it will take a while to generate a noticeable amount of interest unless people continue to deposit money into the account.

Building additional principle in an account will generate a greater amount of interest.

Ty-Eshia Johnson

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

Trustees and administrators of the Alamo Colleges point to where they think north is after spinning with their eyes closed at a board retreat Saturday in Sutton at St. Philip’s.

Different “norths” were meant to represent different educational approaches. See page 5 for full story. Siobhan O’Donnell

SACS/COC investigates all colleges

By Bleah Patterson

bpatterson13@studentalamo.edu

Palo Alto and Northeast Lakeview colleges have joined the other Alamo Colleges in receiving notice from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges of an official investigation.

Northwest Vista College was served notice March 11 of an official investigation.

Letters of inquiry to St. Philip’s and this college from Michael Johnson, a senior vice president of SACS/COC, referenced articles from the Chronicle of Higher Education and InsideHigherEd.com regarding a core change and exclusion of faculty from the decision-making, a breach of process.

Since then, St. Philip’s and this college have received a second

notice — this time of an official investigation, Dr. Jo-Carol Fabianke, vice chancellor for academic success, said Monday.

Northwest Vista, Palo Alto and Northeast Lakeview all were notified of an official investigation in the first contact.

The investigation is regarding EDUC 1300, Learning Framework, which is approved for addition to the core curriculum in place of three hours of humanities beginning in fall.

Fabianke, who is the district’s point person on EDUC 1300, said she met with Chancellor Bruce Leslie and Dr. Thomas Cleary, interim president of Northeast Lakeview, to formulate a response for that college.

The new president of Northeast Lakeview, Dr. Mike Follins, referred questions about the core change to Cleary because Follins stepped into

his new position March 21.

Dr. Mike Flores, Palo Alto College president, has been out of the office all week and has not returned calls.

Dr. David Wood, dean of performance excellence, is leading this college’s efforts at a Quality Enhancement Plan in conjunction with the application for a 10-year reaffirmation of accreditation in 2016.

Wood is part of President Robert Zeigler’s team preparing this college’s response to the agency’s inquiry of March 20.

Wood said the report, due by April 15 to SACS/COC, will add to the agency’s information.

“The information they got is not wrong,” Wood said, “but it’s not complete.”

He said he anticipates a fair evaluation of the colleges’ reports.

See INVESTIGATE, Page 4

Computers for children

By Mandi Flores

sac-ranger@alamo.edu

Music business sophomore James “Tank” Lowe helped expand an online server that provides gaming opportunities for terminally ill children.

The server, called “The Cube: A Friendly Minecraft Server,” which he manages with another online gamer with the screen name “Oli,” offers a portal for an online gaming community. It can be accessed at thecubeserver.com.

It all started April 21, 2011, after his 9-year-son was diagnosed with cancer. Lowe said he discovered the small 12-person game server when his son was going through treatment. He was looking for a

See DONATION, Page 4

Students tell trustees they want to keep textbooks

By Katherine Garcia

kgarcia203@student.alamo.edu

Seven people spoke against a new instructional materials policy to the board of trustees during the citizens-to-be heard portion of the regular board meeting Tuesday at Killen Center.

Karen Truelove, an education sophomore at Palo Alto College, began the opposition against the policy, reminding the board that Chancellor Bruce Leslie said books are dead in a town hall March 20 at Palo Alto College.

“We know that e-books have their place and there is a growing market, but traditional books are still very relevant,” she said.

She cited the Association of American Publishers, saying traditional books made up over 75 percent of sales in 2012, and the rest were e-books sales.

“You call this a dead market?” she asked the board.

Truelove then asked if the publisher was benefitting and how much, saying “So we’re handing over this juicy contract to some publisher where we agree to buy books for 65,000 students, and we don’t know the price?”

“It’s all coming from our pockets, and we have no say in the matter.”

According to the Government Accountability Office, a report issued last year stated that between 2002 and 2012, textbook prices rose at an average of 6 percent per year and overall prices of books increased 2 percent per year, she said.

Truelove said the report stated while used textbooks and e-books are more affordable, their prices

Students and faculty question retirement incentives and protest e-books. Paula Christine Schuler are directly linked to new textbook prices, adding that all it takes is for publishers to raise the prices.

Love asked the board to disclose the average price per e-book students will pay and the expected beneficiary of the cost.

She said a publisher would be happy to have a $65 million contract for 65,000 students paying an average of $1,000 a year for books.

She suggested the board chair and the chancellor meet with a group of students at all the campuses to determine alternatives.

Julian Itwaru, information technology sophomore at Northwest Vista College, said he spends more than eight hours a day studying in front of a computer screen to maintain a 3.79 GPA, and said he needs a textbook to relieve his eyes.

He asked the board why they wanted to take away students’ ability to get outside sources and get a book for free.

“We’re paying for this; you’re not,” he told the

board. “Stay out of my ability to get my textbooks.”

Alexis Morrow, a liberal arts freshman at Northwest Vista College who started the instructional materials petition, spoke to voice not only her opinion but “thousands of opinions.”

She said the proposal is “an effort to emphasize the profitable aspects of and standardize our education.”

“I do not believe this decision was made out of greed or spite. Rather, I believe it was a decision that was made out of a lack of communication and a huge disconnect between students and the administration.”

She said students want to choose where and what form textbooks are purchased.

“According to their values and mission statements, the board puts students first,” she said.

“I’m here to be sure they know what we need.”

She said students need to have purchasing

See TEXTBOOKS, Page 4

2 • March 28, 2014

People

www.theranger.org/people

On air Disc jockey James “Hot Mustard” Velten discusses off air someone they should contact about the pledge drive Wednesday with Bobby J., at left, and Joe Pareres, community volunteer disc jockeys, during KSYM’s Third Coast Music Network broadcast in Longwith. KSYM had raised $9,341 in pledge calls as of 4:41 p.m.Wednesday. Online pledges are tallied separately. The pledge drive continues until midnight Sunday.

Pledges of at least $35 qualify the donor to get a T-shirt. Call 210-486-KSYM to donate. Daniel Carde

Wherefore art thou

Theater arts sophomore Esther Padilla as Juliet proclaims her love for Romeo believing she is alone. Theater arts sophomore Adolfo Lambert as Romeo watches without her knowing. Cast and crew for “Romeo and Juliet” rehearse Thursday in McAllister. The production opens April 10. Read the story at theranger.org.

Paula Christine Schuler

Women’s history

Magaly Chocano, CEO of SWEB Development, tells students being driven allowed her to start her own app developing company even though she had no background in technology. Chocano spoke during Women’s History Month Wednesday in visual arts. Siobhan O’Donnell

Honorary membership

Left: Dr. Robert Zeigler, president of this college, receives an honorary medal from the Beta Nu chapter of Phi Theta Kappa from Eddiberto Silvaz, vice president of scholarship, during an induction ceremony April 20 in the auditorium of McAllister. Read the story at theranger.org Catharine Trevino

News

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Six apply for student trustee

By T. L. Hupfer

thupfer@student.alamo.edu

Six students have applied to be this college’s nominee for the nonvoting student position recently approved by the Alamo Colleges board of trustees.

Students at each of the district’s five colleges were asked to submit applications to their Student Government Association by March 20.

This college’s applicants are psychology sophomore Jacob Wong, who served as SGA president 2011-12 and 2012-13; biology pre-med freshman Italli R. Liberatore; speech sophomore Jared Edman; biology sophomore Casey Crisostomo; criminal justice freshman Jacqueline Guerrero; and pre-med freshman Jared A. Laney.

This college’s Student Government Association scheduled interviews with candidates Thursday. SGA President Andrew Hubbard said a nominee will be chosen by SGA officers Monday although advisers sat in on interviews.

The board will interview one nominee per college in April and choose a student trustee and alternate at the May 13 regular board meeting.

The student trustee and alternate will serve a one-year term, are not allowed in executive sessions and must attend all board and committee meetings. The student trustee will receive a $600 scholarship; the alternate will not.

The alternate attends all meetings in case the student trustee is absent or leaves prior to completion of the term.

“We aren’t looking for a student to tell administration what to do. We are looking for an open-ended conversation every time,” Hubbard said.

March. 28, 2014 • 3

Hubbard reflects after year in student office

By T. L. Hupfer

thupfer@student.alamo.edu

Student Government Association President Andrew Hubbard said Tuesday he is not running for reelection or any other student government position.

“I have served a year and now I’m done,” Hubbard said.

The deadline to apply for one of 10 positions in SGA for 2014-15 is April 4, and the election date has not been scheduled.

Hubbard said if the presidentelect asks him to be the next ex officio member he will accept, but if a mutual agreement is not made he will not actively participate in SGA. He hasn’t ruled out the possibility of any leadership roles but said it is highly unlikely he will be president of any organizations because he plans to graduate at the end of the fall

semester with a liberal arts degree.

Hubbard said he walked into the presidency this semester with three goals: forming a student district council, bringing the student activity fee increase to a student vote and opening a spot for a nonvoting student trustee on the Alamo Colleges board of trustees.

His first goal was to reach out to every Alamo Colleges government association and pull them together to “create a council that didn’t govern each other but came together and was able to have a unified voice.”

He called this the super SGA project, known now as the Student District Council, which was formalized in the fall. They met six times last semester and this semester.

The second goal, bringing a proposed doubling of the student activity fee to a student vote, was

accomplished. Students opposed the increase 884 against, 500 for.

Hubbard said he still accomplished his goal because he wanted it to be a student vote.

“I wasn’t about ready to decide for them,” Hubbard said.

Hubbard’s third goal was creating the policy for a student trustee. He calls it the crown jewel and defining moment of his term as presidency.

Trustees approved adding a nonvoting student Feb. 18 at the regular board meeting. Each college’s student government association will select one nominee and in April the board will interview them and make a selection by the regular board meeting May 13.

“The idea didn’t originate with me,” Hubbard said. “It came from talks between my predecessors and the district administration where

they really created the blueprint for the policy. Then when I ran and won as president I took their blueprints to the SDC.” Hubbard said.

“We came to a consensus on the way we wished it to look and took it to the board of trustees in a series of formal meetings.”

Hubbard said accomplishing his three goals wasn’t his legacy. He said the only things he did on his own was passing out hot chocolate and Scantrons during finals week.

“I was a leader, but I was never alone,” he said.

Hubbard said the next president should be open-minded, and open-hearted, love the students they serve, protect the officers they serve with by insuring they are fully informed and have the right tools to do the job and be a support system when needed.

Phi Theta Kappa sponsors mobile food pantry

By Ian Coleman

sac-ranger@alamo.edu

The San Antonio Food Bank mobile food pantry sponsored by Phi Theta Kappa will stop 2 p.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday and April 29 in Lot 1 at East Ashby and Belknap.

“On average, the pantry helped over 2,000 household members in the fall 2013 semester,” Kim-Briana Lorine, president of Phi Theta Kappa, said Tuesday.

Lorine said 800 faculty, staff and students of this college benefited from this program in the fall.

To obtain food from the mobile pantry, individuals must bring a voucher.

Susan Spencer, Phi Theta Kappa adviser, said the organization is not allowed to verify poverty

level, so vouchers are given out on “trust.”

Spencer said there are only 210 food vouchers per delivery, so it’s a “first-come, first-served basis.”

Food vouchers are available at the welcome desk at Fletcher Administration Center, the empowerment center, the early childhood studies center, Methodist Student Center Catholic Student Center and the Church of Christ Center.

Phi Theta Kappa lost storage space at the Frost mansion, 602 W. French Place at West Ashby and San Pedro Avenue during summer 2013.

Spencer said the space rented in Frost mansion became too expensive to be cost-effective.

“All our money now goes to buying food,” she said.

Lorine and other Phi Theta Kappa members decided to continue the food pantry by creating

an account at the San Antonio Food Bank.

“Now we call the San Antonio Food Bank and draw from our account there. All we have to do is ask the campus police department to clear a space for us,” Lorine said.

“The San Antonio Food Bank delivers to our campus four times a semester. Each delivery costs $350,” Spencer said.

One semester will cost Phi Theta Kappa $1,400 for food deliveries.

The organization’s funds provide 10,500 pounds of food to this campus.

Spencer said food donations or checks are accepted on Wednesday or April 29 in Lot 1. Checks should be made out to the San Antonio Food Bank.

For more information, call 210-486-0431.

Committee meets to plan for EDUC 1300 coming in fall

By Bleah B. Patterson

bpatterson13@student.alamo.edu

A committee of faculty is meeting today at district to plan the next steps for implementing EDUC 1300, Learning Framework, a student development course that has been approved to replace a humanities course in the fall 2014 core curriculum.

Jo-Carol Fabianke, vice chancellor of academic suc-

STUDY

By Adrian Yancelson

cess, said faculty from each of the five colleges have been invited to discuss the textbooks and other course materials for EDUC 1300.

“We will start making decisions about both the learning framework course and our current student development course,” Fabianke said. “The people we selected are current student development experts, some who will end up teach-

ing Learning Framework and some who are just genuinely interested in developing this course. We have about 20 people on this committee.”

Students entering college for the first time in fall, who do not meet college readiness requirements, will need to take both courses, so the goal is to make sure they are not teaching the same material.

“Once we have something

It’s time to enjoy reading again

are improvement of vocabulary, exposure to new cultures and increased relaxation.

On days when you have nothing “I find myself reading a lot because of how to do, instead of catching up relaxing it is,” he said. “The thing about on “The Real Housewives of reading that is so different from other Beverly Hills” on the DVR, activities is that, while reading, you grab another cup of coffee are focused on just one thing.” and pick up a good book Reading reduces stress because instead. you can read at your own speed It’s what a lot of peoand you don’t have any presple used to do. sure of finishing at a certain Biology program time, according to hubpages.

Coordinator Dan Hansen com, an online community for said that the reason he sharing ideas. reads almost three books a Some of Hansen’s favorite week is because of his outgenres include science, science dated cell phone.

Alexandra Nelipa fiction and military history.

“Look at this thing (pointing to “The reason I like to read about his phone),” he said. “If I had a Kindle, I would military history is because I like to see how we have so much fun with it.” are constantly repeating the same mistakes.”

“The Kindle (e-reader) makes it so easy Next time it rains or the next time you are to get books; it cuts your driving time to the looking to release some stress, pick up a book library.” See “Library without books a good and get lost in another world. read” online.

You might pick up some new vocabulary Hansen said some of the benefits of reading and impress your friends. sac-ranger@alamo.edu

written up, we will distribute it, open to the public, for feedback,” Fabianke said. “Another meeting is scheduled for April 11 to continue that conversation based on the feedback we receive.”

FranklinCovey Co., creator of the widespread training materials accompanying Stephen Covey’s bestselling “7 Habits of Highly Effective People,” are being asked to

LIVING

collaborate with the Alamo Colleges to create course materials to accompany the textbook chosen by the committee.

“EDUC 1300 was a good place to introduce the seven habits,” Fabianke said. “So we’ve talked with them, not about making a textbook, but about making resources.”

Fabianke said these resources will not be from FranklinCovey’s current publi-

cations, but something unique to Alamo Colleges. “It won’t be something old, but brand new.”

The course is also expected to include material from “Principled Leadership,” another of Covey’s books.

“We will continue to develop for the rest of the spring and train faculty and staff in preparation. We will hopefully have everything ready by August,” she said.

Emergencies on campus

Without a health center, people need to know what to do in case of an emergency.

blocks south of center of campus.

The college’s nursing education department trains nurses, but it is not allowed to treat students.

By Mandi Flores “We cannot help students – not even give sac-ranger@alamo.edu a Band-Aid; it’s illegal,” said Anita L Reyes, This campus no longer provides a regis- records and reports technician for the nurstered nurse to treat minor injuries. ing department, said.

In case an emergency should arise, stuEven if EMS technicians from San dents need to know how to respond to the Antonio Fire Department come and check situation. vitals, there is still the “Call 911, or bandages option to decline being We cannot help and first aid supplies can transported for further students – not even be bought at the bookmedical care. give a Band-Aid; it’s store,” Mary Schlabig, Even though the cost illegal. administrative services of an ambulance ride Anita L. Reyes, can be $800 plus $12 per specialist with the office records and reports technician of student life, said mile, “it is better to have for the nursing department March 6. it and not need it than For more options, vice versa,” Jeff Bailey, the bookstore in the basement of Loftin EMS program coordinator, said.

Student Center, carries bandages, first aid “Students should use common sense supplies and pain medication. and discretion when deciding to call for an The nearest drug store is Walgreen’s at ambulance, although if someone is not sure, San Pedro Avenue and Cypress Street, four just call them.”

’’

News

4 • March 28, 2014

Amended retirement incentive approved

By Katherine Garcia

kgarcia203@student.alamo.edu

After discussion of an amended incentive, the board of trustees approved a retirement proposal at the regular board meeting Tuesday in Killen Center.

The proposal, forwarded from the Audit, Budget and Finance Committee March 18, is a one-time payment equal to 50 percent of base salary not exceeding $47,500 for fulltime employees meeting the rule of 80, which is the number of years of service and age equaling 80.

Trustees approved an amended proposal in which about 45 academic advisers will be hired, and it is projected it will take the district two years to recoup the $6 million of the funds expended for the retirement incentive. Thereafter, the district will save $3 million annually. The original proposal would have moved existing employees into advising positions and would have recouped $6 million in 13 months.

According to the minute order, the incentive is funded by a $6.5 million incentive payment fund composed of a $6 million annualized salary and a benefit cost savings.

Diane Snyder, vice chan-

cellor of finance and administration, presented the amended proposal.

Two hundred people, including 127 faculty and 73 staff, are expected to take the incentive out of 343 positions eligible for retirement districtwide, according to her presentation. At this college, 123 faculty and 31 staff are eligible.

The district will reassign 42 faculty and hire 42 faculty to increase the numbers in rapid-growth areas such as math, science, nursing and allied health, and workforce programs, according to the presentation. In addition, the presentation showed the district will hire or reassign 37 staff members to replace retirees from critical areas, such as financial aid and information technology.

Eligible employees can apply for the incentive starting April 1. Those wishing to retire by Aug. 31 must apply by June 1, and those wishing to retire by Jan. 9 must apply by July 1. Staffing positions will be realigned from July through December.

Dr.Herbert Mann, an English professor at Palo Alto since 1988, addressed his opposition to the retirement incentive, saying that he was asked to make a decision to

retire by a certain time.

He was not not eligible to take the 2011 incentive to retire, and, after turning 65 in October, he said he had to submit a letter of intent if he planned to retire.

He said it would have been in his best interest to wait to announce his intent to retire.

When he had received a directive to submit paperwork, he wasn’t aware of the coming incentive.

“It was my understanding that I could not rescind the letter of intent, but it was also my understanding that I was required to submit the letter when I did,” he said.

He said in a phone interview Thursday that he was asked and not forced to send the letter. He said he’d like the board to consider allowing him and others in his situation a chance to receive this offer since he didn’t know about it before he submitted the letter.

“Should the proposed retirement incentive be approved, I’m hoping there can be enough flexibility to make an adjustment in this generous offer for people in my situation.”

He asked the board to consider offering the retirement incentive to those retiring before April 1 when the incentive kicks in.

TEXTBOOKS from Page 1 options, such as renting a book, borrowing it from a friend and even accessing it through the library.

Morrow said she wants what any student expects from a good college: an individualized education taught by a teacher who chose a textbook because the teacher thought it was the best option available, “not because a small committee chose the book and shoved it into the curriculum.”

“How am I supposed to receive an individualized education from a teacher who is giving a standardized lecture?”

She said she wants the freedom to choose where to buy a book, giving an example of paying $12 for a textbook, while the publisher’s ebook price was $50.

“We want the board of trustees to involve us in our education,” she said. “We want you, the board members, to consider our concerns about our education. So please stop the instructional materials proposal and work with us to better our education.”

She then placed 1,506 signatures from students to the left of the desk of Chair James Rindfuss, District 9 trustee.

Mariano Aguilar, English professor at this college, said the proposal violates state and federal law.

He said Texas House Bill 1096 says students are under no obligation to purchase textbooks from a college-affiliated bookstore.

He also cited Section 112, Subsection F of the amended Higher Education Opportunity Act, which states that institutions must notify students of information on programs regarding the sale and rental of textbooks and used textbooks, available textbook buy-back programs and available alternative content delivery programs.

He said the board should listen to students who say they can’t afford e-readers, laptops or the Internet.

Aguilar surveyed his four English classes two years ago and said about 24 percent of students didn’t have Internet or a computer, and he said a U.S. Census report from 20082012 said 20.1 percent of this city’s residents are below the poverty line.

Ashton Condel, Northwest Vista journalism sophomore and chapter president of MOVE Vista, spoke on behalf of MOVE San Antonio (Mobilize, Organize, Vote, Empower

DONATION from Page 1

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DEADLINES

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fun and safe place for his son to work on social skills. His son, now 12, is in remission.

The game server he found was run by Oli. Lowe said they began to work together about three years ago and Oli quickly became his best friend. Oli lives on the East Coast, so they have still not met in person.

After 10 months of working together to expand the server, the pair decided to do something more.

Lowe established a nonprofit charity about a year ago connected with the server to provide laptops for terminally ill children and scholarships to software engineers to encourage the development of educational games that promote community involvement.

He said the charity obtained 501.3c status from the Internal Revenue Service Jan. 8, which allows donations to qualify for tax exemptions.

The charity is always

San Antonio), which empowers young people.

He said the grievances students have and the board’s rationale behind the proposal are understandable, and meeting in the same room can help bridge the disconnect between both sides.

Simon Sanchez, a Palo Alto College music sophomore, said college is where you go to find your voice.

“I refuse to have my voice and my simple freedom of choice taken away,” he said. “We need to compromise.”

Sandra Hood, a retired Palo Alto librarian, said she feels strongly about students’ need for choice.

She said using textbooks and e-books are different learning processes.

“You can’t assume everybody thinks like you do,” she said.

Madelyn Martinez, pre-nursing and international studies freshman at Palo Alto, said she prefers textbooks because she’s had insomnia since she was diagnosed in the sixth grade. She hopes the board considers not phasing out textbooks for those like her with medical conditions.

The chancellor said after the session, “We hear a lot from students that they’re upset because they don’t feel the materials are relevant to what they want to learn.”

He said having all students purchase materials through the Alamo Colleges saves money and “if we don’t do that, we’re not going to get the price as low as it can be.”

The chancellor said he is willing to continue the process of talking to students.

“And I’m looking for great suggestions to those issues and if people can come up with a really, really good suggestion that benefits most students, then I’m very open to it,” he said, adding he had yet to hear a good alternative.

Morrow said in a phone interview Wednesday that she is still collecting signatures “in case we have another chance to speak with the board or we need more voices.”

To find the board members’ email addresses, visit www.alamo.edu/district/board/ and click on the photo of the trustee to email under Board of Trustees.

To sign an online version of the petition, visit www.ipetitions.com/petition/petitionto-stop-the-instructional-material.

seeking donations to give laptops to needy children so far only in San Antonio. They started raising money when they became nonprofit in January. They have already given one laptop.

He learned Monday of a young patient who needs a laptop immediately. He received a phone call Monday morning from Laura Worsham, R.N., case manager at Christus Santa Rosa Children’s Hospital about a 13-yearold with a terminal prognosis.

This caused Lowe to push for extra donations from everyone he came in contact with.

Lowe has gotten a backpack filled with a laptop and games that have been preloaded. Because the family speaks Spanish, they must work with a translator to set up the meeting.

“We want to change the way that people view gaming and the way they interact online.”

For more information and to donate, visit thecubeserver.com.

INVESTIGATE from Page 1 “What they’re going to do is take our response and weigh it against all of the other responses to get the full picture,” he said.

Wood said, “We’re either going to be off the hook completely, or there could be enough ambiguity that they need to do further investigation, or they could decide that the media and public complaints are founded, which could warrant a site visit.

If we don’t send in the report, then that would definitely be bad because they’d only have that one side, but that won’t happen.

We’ll definitely have our response before the deadline.”

Wood, who earlier said the core change proposal did include faculty input, though not as much as the faculty might have liked and perhaps not from the faculty members they might prefer, is content with abiding by the accrediting agency’s decision.

“I know that what they do will be very fair,” Wood said. “No matter the outcome, we can’t complain. It will be very unbiased.”

Jacqueline Claunch, president of Northwest Vista College, said, “We have a team working on our response. We will be conferring with the other schools just to make sure we’re on the same page on the areas we overlap.”

News

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March 28, 2014 • 5

Motivational expert to board: Prepare students for future

Get aligned

By Katherine Garcia

kgarcia203@student.alamo.edu

The board of trustees, vice chancellors and college presidents learned Saturday ways to update the curriculum to match advances in technology in a special board meeting and retreat at St. Philip’s College led by motivational speaker Ian Jukes.

Jukes, director of the InfoSavvy Group, is a former educator who has written or co-written 14 books and worked with 500 school districts to help them make education relevant.

According to an email from Dr. Thomas Cleary Wednesday, the district paid Lecture Management Inc. $12,000 for Juke’s appearance and travel expenses for two days.

On Friday, Jukes led a two-hour session for faculty, staff and administrators at St. Philip’s College, four trustees attended.

“What do we need to do to get them prepared for tomorrow?” he said Saturday.

He said when creating curriculum, it is important to think of how it will impact students in the future.

The future of the post-secondary institution involves blended learning using tools such as massive open online courses and digital textbooks, he said.

Massive open online courses are Internet courses that can be accessed by anyone through the Internet. They often are developed by companies rather than universities.

To emphasize curriculum importance, he asked participants to look at three time periods 2001, 2014 and 2026.

He divided them into groups and asked them to name for each time periods popular music groups, political figures, new technologies and determine what drives the economy.

He also asked them to think about what classrooms, teaching, learning and assessment look like.

He said the answers for each question would be different except

IN THEORY

Tom Cleary, vice chancellor of planning and technology, speaks to presenter Ian Jukes at a special board meeting of Alamo College’s trustees Saturday in Sutton at St. Philip’s. Jukes had the attendees discuss questions about the future of education in small groups throughout his presentation. Siobhan O’Donnell for what the classrooms and teaching, learning and assessment looked like.

Jukes said this is the area that demands the most change but is not receiving it.

After Jukes’ session, Northwest Vista College English Adjunct Natalia Treviño showed portfolios her students made using www.bluehost. com/cgi/spoke.

The site, which is free for student use, also lets students post blogs, create an online résumé and work on class assignments.

Said Fariabi, math and computer science chair of this college, delivered a presentation on the Math Pass program, saying 48 percent of students taking it advanced two levels in math.

Northeast Lakeview College biology Professor Karla Kosub presented a service learning program, a sixhour internship at a hospital, for BIOL 2401, Anatomy and Physiology, students.

The trustees, the vice chancellors and presidents discussed ways to implement changes.

District 1 trustee Joe Alderete

said the board wants to listen to what the staff, administrators and colleagues have to say.

“If we don’t change our attitude, it will be very difficult for the board to change its ways,” Alderete said.

He said the student is the most precious resource the colleges have.

“The focus of the student by this board has just escalated,” he said.

“How do we make it better for them to be more successful?”

Alderete said in June 2010 when he joined the board, trustees spent 10-15 minutes at meetings on students.

“Now we talk from an hour to two hours, and our focus is the students,” he said.

“Faculty are playing a greater role in helping teach students more effectively,” he said. “We’re listening to what the students’ needs are.”

Alderete said he is trying to understand students’ and faculty’s opposition to EDUC 1300, Learning Framework, and the instructional materials policy.

He said a methodology is being applied in choosing the single book per course for all five colleges.

He said faculty wanted to pick a book for each class, but picking one as the best instructional material across the five Alamo Colleges is the best strategy.

“If there’s a better way of doing it, shouldn’t we all do it?” he said.

“Everybody should be getting the best of the best.”

Alderete said the Super Senate’s opposition was based on old ideas.

The Super Senate is composed of representatives of Faculty Senates at the five colleges.

Chancellor Bruce Leslie said the proposals are going to improve the learning process.

“To stop something that will enhance our students will be counter-productive,” he said.

Besides the Super Senate’s opposition, Northwest Vista liberal arts freshman Alexis Morrow started a petition against the proposal.

Morrow delivered more than 1,500 signatures to the board Tuesday and said she will continue to circulate the petition. She also started an online petition at www. ipetitions.com/petition/petition-tostop-the-instructional-material.

Ergonomics is the applied science concerned with designing and arranging things people use so the most efficient and safe interaction takes place.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor website, working with the body in the way it naturally aligns “reduces stress and strain on muscles, tendons and the skeletal system and reduces you risk of developing a musculoskeletal disorder.”

A musculoskeletal disorder is “damage or disorder of the joints or other tissues in the upper/lower limbs or the back,” the Health and Safety Executive website says.

Hall Buntley, program coordinator of medical assisting, said he sees numerous posture mistakes being made on this campus.

He said students with backpacks who wear just one strap exhibit a bad spinal posture.

“New trees, which are planted, have supports to keep them straight,” Buntley said. “Our muscles in our back are the same; they keep the spine straight.”

Buntley said it takes a conscious effort to maintain a good ergonomic posture, but there are benefits.

“A better posture leads to more energy because of increased circulation and lung capacity,” Buntley said.

He said people should keep their wrists relaxed while typing to avoid carpal tunnel syndrome.

Sitting using incorrect posture causes one to use more muscles and will make one more fatigued over time.

Everyday objects, such as a computer mouse, a chair and shoes, are designed with ergonomics in mind.

“Things we use are designed for our body in its relaxed state,” Buntley said.

Ian Coleman

Students question president about core course Student calls out those who attended only for free pizza.

By Ansley Lewis

sac-ranger@alamo.edu

Questions on EDUC 1300, Learning Framework, and ebooks dominated an hourand-a-half session called Pizza with the President Wednesday in Loftin Student Center.

President Robert Zeigler and Dr. Robert Vela, vice president for student and academic success, were available to answer questions and listen to concerns students had regarding ongoing issues. More than 100 students stopped by the event, but only about 50 stayed to hear or voice questions to Zeigler or Vela.

Questions were asked regarding how future enrollment might be affected by the addition of EDUC 1300, which will replace a three-hour humanities course in the core curriculum.

“I would be more inclined to look for a different college, especially if I was a student out of high school who was magna cum laude or anything like that,” computer science sophomore Jorge Garza said. “Is there any way for students to get around it?”

Zeigler responded, “The short answer is that there’s not really a way to get around it.

Right now, there is a requirement for all incoming students to take the student development course, which is a non-credited course.”

“However, the EDUC 1300 course will be a

three-hour credit course and will transfer to a university,” Zeigler said.

Vela said other colleges and universities are mandating incoming students also take courses geared toward student success. “(Universities) have the same restraints and demands that we have. They need to graduate students that are successful,” Vela said. “Does everyone need it?

Probably not, but it’s a very small percentage.

“The way this curriculum is designed is that you can take these principles with you wherever you go,” Vela said. “Through your academic journey. Through your career journey.”

Zeigler was quick to address a statement on teachers not wanting the EDUC 1300 course, “The statement that teachers don’t want the course is not necessarily true across the board.

Some do, some don’t. The general consensus from department chairs and faculty leadership at SAC — or at least it was — is that the course is good. They don’t mind the course being required. They just don’t want it as part of the core.”

Regarding proof of the success of the course Zeigler said, “Other colleges have been using a course like this, or a similar course, and have had success. We won’t know whether or not it works here unless we offer the course and people take it and we get a bigger sample.”

Vela added, “We have been participants of Achieving the Dream for over 10 years, and we’ve collected data for over 10 years.”

Liberal arts freshman Armin Jeizan asks President Robert Zeigler and Dr. Robert Vela, vice president for academic and student success, why financial aid funds expire after a year. Daniel Carde According to the Alamo Colleges website, Achieving the Dream is a multi-year initiative funded by the Lumina Foundation for Education, which addresses the issue of lowincome and minority students who attain degrees and certificates at lower rates than white and Asian students.

“Ten years of data shows that students who took student development were more successful in their gatekeeper courses and more suc-

cessful to graduate,” Vela said.

Speech communication sophomore Jared “Max” Edman spoke about Stephen R. Covey’s “7 Habits of Highly Effective People,” which will be part of the curriculum in the course.

“As a nontraditional student, I believe the “7 Habits” are definitely good for students because I see a lot of people half my age — I have a daughter in school and I’m in college right now — and I see the lackadaisical approach to these children.

“I think a lot of this is fear-mongering and panic. It’s people that want to protest for the sake of protesting and come here to eat free pizza and leave,” Edman said.

Edman pointed out only certain courses will have ebooks, and professors still have the opportunity to provide students with choices regarding material.

Zeigler agreed, saying, “Right now, there are 17 courses that this ebook decision is impacting. Ultimately, the goal is to make everything move to ebook, but that’s going to take a while.”

“I do believe fear of change is provoking some of this. However, it is a failure on us as an institution that we need to do a better job of explaining what’s going on and informing all of you.”

Students will have another opportunity to speak with the president at an open forum, but no date has been set.

See full story online.

Prem

6 • www.theranger.org/premiere Before 10,000 B.C. Paleo-Indians, earliest Native American inhabitants, arrive in Texas.

500 A.D. to 1500 A.D. Late Prehistoric Period Agricultural natives domesticate cotton, corn, beans, squash, tomatoes and potatoes.

After 6,000 B.C. Archaic Period Cave murals created, giant bison disappear, Native Americans begin gathering.

1500 The Caddo Confederacy of East Texas becomes the dominant Native American group. Other major groups are the Kiowa, Wichita, Comanche, Tonkawa, Atakapan, Karankawa, Lipan Apache, Mescalero Apache, Jumano and Concho.

1519 Spanish explorer Alonso Álvarez de Pineda maps Texas coast. The beginning of Spanish rule.

1693 Teran and Massanet found more missions among the Tejas Native Americans. The missions are unsuccessful: The Tejas die by the hundreds from white man’s diseases and the soldiers molest the women. The soldiers were firmly shown the way home.

May 19, 1691 Domingo Teran de los Rios and Fray Damian Massanet, a Franciscan friar, stop in present-day San Antonio by a river and a Payaya Indian village, Yanaguana.

The Spaniards name the river San Antonio de Padua in honor of St. Anthony’s feast day.

Latest San Pedro Springs Pa Stories by Riley Stephens rstephens20@student.alamo.edu

The pool, as seen from the north edge, restored to a naturalistic setting in the center of the park. Riley Stephens

2007 Councilman Roger Flores secures $1.1 million for restoration, upgrade and ADA updates of San Pedro Branch Library.

2006 Mayor Phil Hardberger calls for large tree planting at northwest corner of park.

2012 San Pedro receives $1.07 million in bond.

2006 Founders Day celebration coordinated by San Antonio historian Frank Jennings of the Founders Day Alliance.

1999 Friends of San Pedro Springs Park forms under the nonprofit umbrella of the San Antonio Parks Foundation.

1966 The ballpark is converted to softball center.

1952 The city celebrates park’s Centennial.

2003 Phases 1 and 2 of park restoration completed.

1994 Quality of Life Bond Issue is passed. $4 million is set-aside for Phase 1 of San Pedro Park Master Plan.

1980s In a remodel, McFarlin Tennis Center adds a tournament grandstand above springs.

1954 With financial assistance from grocer H. E. Butt, a smaller pool is built and the San Antonio Tennis Center opens.

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2007 San Pedro Branch Library Spanish barrel tile roof is restored with a $50,000 S.A. Conservation Society Grant and city funds.

2004 District 1 secures $450,000 to upgrade, restore and preserve San Pedro Branch Library. In 2006, bids come in over budget.

1990s Neighborhoods begin lobbying efforts to restore San Pedro Springs Park.

The overflow of San Pedro Springs after a rain sends pool water into the concrete ditch that used to be San Pedro Creek. Friends of the park will lead a tour beginning at the Playhouse at 10:30 a.m. Saturday. Riley Stephens

Funds from a 2012 bond and a push from District 1 Councilman Diego Bernal raised $1.07 million toward renovating San Pedro Springs Park.

The park, which was established in 1729 by a Spanish land grant from King Phillip V, has served as rest stop for nomadic tribes and home to natives creating settlements as far back as 10,000 years ago.

It is the second oldest park in the United States after Boston Commons.

Park project manager Sandy Jenkins of San Antonio Parks and Recreation said renovations to the park are scheduled to start in late September or early October.

“We signed off on the final schematics, but it still has to go through the city,” Jenkins said.

The renovations include the addition of a three-quarter-mile walking trail and adding more lights around the park.

Hector Cardenas of Friends of San Pedro Springs Park said a 2007 city bond proposal

originally included funding to renovate the park, instead the city dedicated funds to Hardberger Park on the north side.

Cardenas said the 2012 bond includes a new proposal for $400,000-$700,000 to renovate the park.

Bernal was able to increase the renovation budget to $1.07 million with additional funds from the city.

However, Cardenas said Bernal only wanted to use the money for a new walking trail.

“The Friends of San Pedro Springs Park, (a nonprofit support group) has not finished executing a master plan that has been in the works since the 1980s,” Cardenas said.

He said the main idea was to restore the park to its lush pastoral state of the 1920s.

“We had enough active participation over at the tennis courts, and we had the baseball field. In the master plan, we decided that we wanted to restore the park to the 1920s and to make it a passive recreation area in the domestic plan,” Cardenas said.

He said the park is 45.6 acres and it’s

1998 Restoration begins.

Several generations enjoy a day in the park. In the lake are swan houses, and a bridge allows dry passage across the lake. Courtesy photo

Spanish land grant creates 2nd oldest U.S. park

San Pedro Springs Park, the second oldest municipal park in the U.S. after Boston Commons, has history dating back to the 18th century.

Mammoth remains, carvings and remnants from missionary times and war have been found in the park, which is nearly 46 acres.

Archaeologists from the Center for Archaeological Research of the University of Texas at San Antonio found mammoth teeth, arrowheads and Native American tools during a dig in December. The archaeologists were asked by the city to find objects that could be used as historic evidence. Access to

the findings is available to the public located at 1 UTSA Circle.

Natural springs were once an attraction of visitors to the park and have origins starting at the University of Texas then eventually feed into the San Antonio River.

In the early 1700s early settlers used butyl acequias, an early irrigation system, to divert the water from the springs for their plantations. The acequias remain in the park today.

Native Americans traveled from far, to the springs using the water for spiritual cleansing, and trading with other tribes.

Hector Cardenas with the Friends of San Pedro Springs Park said Indians in the 1800s set up a trading post where the playhouse is currently located.

“It was called the Indian Trading Tree located where the playhouse is now,” Cardenas said.

He said the two Indian tribes known to visit the park were the Payaya and the Coahuiltecans.

“They called the springs ‘yanaguana’ which means peaceful waters,” Cardenas said.

1944 The springs cannot continue a fresh flow so city engineers cap it San Pedro Playhouse Riley Stephens and 10 years of disuse begin.

1900 Buffalo Bill Cody’s 1891 The city assumes direct control of all city parks. City 1929 The Little The1902 Balloon rides and Wild West Show entertains also allows private citizens to apply for concessions at San ater and San Pedro parachute exhibitions bemore than 20,000 people in Pedro. In time the park begins to look like carnival grounds.

1922 Concrete turns lake Branch Library are gin in the park. the park.

Rental rowboats or gondolas are introduced to the lake. The into a spring-fed pool. Park built on park grounds. springs double their output but the water is now full of shells roads paved. Bridge spanand very murky. The City installs electric lights. ning the lake separates 1910 First municipally 1907 Electric Park shallow end from the deep. owned zoo opens at the opens south of San 1897 Mayor Bryan Callaghan orders much 1892 The Racetrack on The springs completely flush park. Moves to Brackenridge Pedro Park. needed improvements: Trees are planted and the southeast corner of the the pool three times every in 1915. bridges were repaired and painted. park was replaced by a new 24 hours. ballpark.

He said they considered the waters ‘life giving’ and continued to travel to the springs until the early 1900’s when the springs stopped flowing.

Today, the springs no longer flow and the Edwards Aquifer is the primary water source.

In the late 1800s an amusement park with a small zoo, museum, boat rides and a racetrack was built to attract visitors. Other attractions included hot air balloon rides and parachuting.

Cardenas said the zoo sat on top of the springs and was owned by J. J. Duerler who rented the land from the city. The San Pedro Playhouse opened in October 1930.

The Friends of San Pedro Springs Park and the San Antonio Parks and Recreations will start a $1.07 million renovation project in early September or early October for the park and renovations are expected to continue.

1890 A bandstand resembling one in Alamo Plaza is built over the lion’s den, formerly a bear pit.

1885 Near the springs, a large cave and human skeletons of 7-foot stature are found.

1884 Museum of Natural History is incorporated in a hurr ed frame building, making it San Antonio’s first museum Summer House known as the “grotto” is also built during th

miere

March 28, 2014 • 7

1709 Franciscan Father Antonio de San Buenventura Olivares and Father Isidro Espinoza, under the military escort of Captain Pedro de Aguire, explore the terrain where San Antonio is today.

1716 Father Espinoza returns to the springs with the Ramon Expedition and celebrates Mass with invited American Indians as guests.

May 1, 1718 Father Olivares returns to the springs and is given credit for founding the Mission San Antonio de Valero.

May 5, 1718 Gov. Martin Alarcon establishes the Villa de Bejar, the first presidio in San Antonio.

May 17, 1918 The governor’s camp is set up south of San Pedro Springs on the west bank of the creek. The Spaniards build huts and corrals and make gardens, the beginning of the city.

ark renovations set to start this fall

bout one mile along the sidewalk.

He said Councilman Diego Bernal wanted to set aside the historical value of he San Pedro Park for a new walking trail, ike the one around Woodlawn Lake.

Because of the park’s historical designaion and to protect the pool’s water, the proposed 1-mile walk around the park’s perimeter cannot be constructed of asphalt or concrete. The city installed bamboo mulch as an alternative for the new walkng trail.

The path has been started at the park ntrance at San Pedro Avenue and Dewey Place northward toward Ashby Place and he McFarlin Tennis Center.

Cardenas said despite the park’s limited parking when compared with Woodlawn Lake Park, Bernal agreed the initial funding would go toward a new walking trail.

“We asked that the walking trail stick lose to the current perimeter of sidewalk or use the existing sidewalk’s perimeter nd take it out to put in the walking trail,” Cardenas said.

Two new conceptual master plans were

Members of Professor Brad Dudney’s Extreme Fitness class run on the concrete sidewalks of the park. A new path of mulched bamboo has been started on the park’s perimeter.

created, one of which the support group didn’t like because it brought the trail too far into the park’s interior.

The second plan, which the group helped to create and has the trail leaving the perimeter to cross behind the library, requires ripping out some existing sidewalk to create a trail almost as close to the park perimeter as the first plan, but not in a straight line.

The second plan includes removing some parking and a softball field from San Pedro at Myrtle Street for a green recreation area.

Two new parking areas are planned on North Flores Street. The plan also includes low lighting in the landscaping most likely underneath the bushes.

“This plan was developed to create a green space in the park and leave some parking on Myrtle,” Cardenas said.

The total cost for the plan is $12.2 million so after the path is installed, further development will have to wait for additional funding, he said.

Laura Furst, Bernal’s special projects

assistant, said in a phone interview March 20, the councilman expects to schedule a public meeting in early April at the San Pedro Playhouse to discuss the progress of park renovations and a new bond proposal to fund more improvements.

Furst said the new park plan would include more walking trails and lighting.

She said the removal of one of the softball fields was not included because it will take years to fund.

She said the councilman expects the bond to pass and to be able to apply funds to complete the plan.

Bernal was unavailable for comment.

The plan for San Pedro Springs Park can be viewed online at www.sanantonio. gov/parksandrec/project_updates.aspx.

The city’s strategic plan for all parks can be accessed athttp://www.sanantonio.gov/ parksandrec/project_updates_system_ strategic_plan.aspx.

For more information, call the District 1 office at 210.207.7279 or send a message to e-mail District 1. For the parks and recreation department, call 210-207-8480.

Park offers space for athletics, sports

1719 The governor authorizes construction of the San Pedro and Upper Labor Acequia to alleviate water shortages. The springs remain an outpost and the place becomes convenient for armed travelers to camp and graze and rest their pack animals, but fear of raids keeps villagers near the safety of the presidio. This remains the main source of water for the city for the next 100 years.

1722 Marques de San Miguel de Aguayo moves the garrison of San Antonio de Bejar from San Pedro to its present day location on Military Plaza.

1724 A hurricane destroys Mission San Antonio de Valero, mostly huts and a small stone tower. The mission moves to its final site on Alamo Plaza.

1729 King Phillip V declares the land around San Pedro Springs an ejido, or public land, making San Pedro Springs Park the second oldest in the U.S. after Boston Commons.

1731 Spanish government introduces settlers from the Canary Islands and grants land parcels near the springs.

Settlements begin to place a strain on water supplies.

1821 Mexico breaks away from Spain rule.

1835 The Texas Revolution begins in October in Gonzales.

1836 Battle of the Alamo and victory at San Jacinto. Treaties of Velasco establish Texas as an independent nation but are violated or repudiated by both sides almost immediately.

The city of Houston is founded.

The grotto, as it appears today, was once used as a summer house. Riley Stephens

1838-1841 Capt. Jack Hays of the Texas Rangers establishes headquarters in San Antonio. When not out scouting or conducting other business, the Rangers join local Mexican caballeros and Comanche warriors near San Pedro Springs for races and feats of horsemanship.

1845 In anticipation of a war with Mexico and Texas still a Republic, Brevet Col. William S. Harney arrives with three companies of the 2nd U.S. Dragoons. There are no quarters in town large enough so the men pitch tents near San Pedro Springs.

The park becomes the first Texas home of the U.S. garrison. Texas trades independence for statehood, and San Antonio becomes headquarters for the 8th Military Department.

1846 City Council offers 100 acres of land around the springs, part of which was being used by the Army for training on the condition that the Army could not quarry any of the rock around the springs. The Army declines.

Th gy kin a Par the t this depa esiolo e S k r a c t K f m n ol R o i has ichard n e s i o r class Pedr lege u ent o l e s o has u s. on gy Spr ses b sed o s ing s tha n staff een at the p aid th C h a ark t is ir at t e t h run He along his c is co for a depa olle lleg r tm B i l l sai sl ni ti said “We ng and d the me,” R ge fo e. “I ong a ent r h sh ic ru .“ ju 39 p a w exe nning We u st lik alking ark is hards year ve bee e s o e s rcis n ei use ns no co an th me dic e whe d wa t a lot e ope urses. d for aid. w so ine lkin n s f r p o e r r ba ima g w p T g rily clas he de lls.” e use for w enera ace,” Ric hat l ex ses par o u har erc end tme r b t w o u c ody e ca ise b dson tim rance ompl nt req wei ll fun eyon e st test ete uire ght d c u to d a1 s d i n e wit tional nts the .5 m stud ete h t r t p m e i a the ark le he nt ke in R ci a the ichar e if th to co . He s cardio s in fitn dso inc maste ty’s de mp ir t e a r y i e d e s l p like ime n ad are the lude r pl ph ete th the a pirat ss an artm d re yog off th t a an to t ed tha ysica e test moun ory fiel Rich moval e add to wo ent o he pa A s e lly ts fp d rk pa ac it can t of d a r o “T beca rdson f one ion o k on arks , the rt of danc h ex ome fit. hel gr p wei een s he gre use th said softb f a thr renov and Friend a mas e fitne tracur profes atio recr r ey o the eeall ght s pac t en s s of i e o c s r r u f i q s e p ield ns nt lar exe e f de nly sp As ua at us Sa la th con e 1.5- long rcises or us ace m use o partm to tu rter-m to the ion ar n Ped n for r he par class e es e w ro S eno k. ent rn i ay ,” R tinu mil ne. t a i p o l s e a ork prin vat is h t int wal rk.

“It e to e run the p ichar go ou be go i i S k o n o a g o ,a se , th u ns ppy for g s a m ark dson t a od, e u em se t wit green dditio e par togeth Park a of said s,” R s like he sto depar does said. nd do just s ho k re nal n s e p r n ich o aw t r a n . ’ me our t r ied m ligh nov usin d e so ce. ard i t a bod e mo s f son n-win park nt wil emov t tba and ion g re e . y l ll s

The bandstand sets near the springs. Riley Stephens 1883 The A. B. Grady Cowboy Co., the forerunner of today’s rodeos, performs for 700 men, women and children in the park.

riedly constructm. The Victorian his period.

1878 Col. Augustus Belknap purchases the dormant San Antonio Street railway established in 1874, and begins the first muledrawn streetcar to San Pedro Springs Park. The original fare is 6 1/2 cents and runs continuously from 6 a.m. until midnight.

1860s Duerler opens an amusement park during the war and operates it through Reconstruction. He builds a museum of rare mineral curios, a small zoo and five artificial lakes, well stocked with fish. Old maps show an exhibition hall, a small ballroom with a bar, a speaker’s stand and a formal flower garden. Gustave Duerler takes over after his father’s death in 1874. In 1882, the Duerler family sells their rights to the park to Frederick Kerble for $4,000.

1874 In May, construction of the Alazan Acequia begins to irrigate land West of San Pedro Creek.

The channel carries water from the Old Upper Labor Acequia at San Pedro and Marshall. Plagued by operating problems from the beginning, it is filled in May 1875.

1852 City Council defines park boundaries. San Antonio Daily Ledger reports: “A public square embracing an extent of 50 acres, has been set apart, above our town. From the heart of this square leap forth, from God’s alembic, the clear waters of San Pedro.”

In the 1920s, area families could enjoy a zoo when they went to the park.

Courtesy photos

1860-1861 Civil War. Texas secedes from the U.S. San Pedro Springs is used as a prisoner of war Camp by the Confederate Army.

1863 City fathers, apparently much concerned over the damage inflicted on the park grounds by a prison camp, pass an ordinance on Dec. 21, 1863, making it unlawful to use the park grounds as an encampment.

1849 Well-known and liked Maj. Gen. William J. Worth, commander of military departments of Texas and New Mexico dies in San Antonio from cholera. In his memory, San Pedro Springs for a time becomes known as Worth Springs.

1854 A two-day county agricultural fair in September is the first city and county event in the park.

1855 Concessionaire J.J. Duerler purchases property adjoining the springs. Entertainment and eateries develop. Regular conveyance to the springs is offered at 25 cents round trip.

1858 Gen. Sam Houston, a candidate for governor, delivers a speech against secession in the park. He returns in 1860 on the same topic. The warm reception is one of his last great triumphs.

1856 Jefferson Davis, U.S. Secretary of War, experiments with camels to replace Army mules. The 34 camels arrive June 18 at San Pedro Springs but soon leave for Kerrville. The experiment fails because the camels scared the horses.

SAConnected

8• March 28, 2014

TODAY SAT MON TUES WED THUR SAC Transfer: Troy 9 a.m.-2 p.m. on first floor of Chance. Continues 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Monday and 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. in transfer center. Call 210-486-0864.

Concert: Las Jaraneras and el Fandango Pa’ Todos 7 p.m. at Esperanza Center.

Tickets $5. Call 210228-0201.

Event: San Antonio Nationals Nitro Jam 7:30 p.m. at San Antonio Raceway 3641 S. Santa Clara.

Continues Saturday at 6 p.m. Gates open at 2 p.m. both days. Friday adult $15, Saturday adult $25. Child $10.

Visit www.nitrojam.com.

Event: H-E-B Big League Weekend with Texas Rangers and Houston Astros 7:05 p.m. Continues Saturday 1:05 p.m. at the Alamodome. Tickets $10-$110. Visit www. bigleagueweekend.com.

SAC Meeting: Human Services Club 1 p.m. today in Room 628 of Moody. Call 210-4806842.

Event: Greg Gutfeld book signing, “Not Cool: The Hipster Elite and Their War on You” 9 a.m. at Books a Million, 5347 N.W. Loop 1604.

Call 210-507-0246.

www.mcnayart.org.

Event: Spring picnic by Green Spaces Alliance of South Texas 3 p.m.-6 p.m. at 7 Willow Way. Nonmembers $35, members $25. Call 210-222-8430.

Expo: South West Swag 3 p.m.-6 p.m. in San Pedro Park. Free admission. Bring your

SUN

Event: Travis Park grand reopening 6:30 a.m.-8 p.m. at 301 E. Travis. Call 210-2074080.

SAC Forum: Conversations in Civic Responsibility 9:30 a.m.-10:45 a.m. in Room 150 of Loftin Student Center. Open to the public. Call 210486-0127 or twitter. com/SACCivEng. Event: Job Fair 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at Rivercenter Marriott, 101 Bowie. Register at www.coasttocoastcareerfairs.com.

own toy gun.

Event: Siclovia by the YMCA 11 a.m.-4 p.m. at the intersection of South St. Mary’s and East Cesar Chavez and ending at East Mitchell and Mission. Visit www. ymcasatx.org/siclovia.

SAC Transfer: Texas A&M University-San Antonio 9 a.m.-noon in mall, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. in transfer center. Call 210-486-0864.

SAC Event: Ted Talks “Why Dieting Doesn’t Usually Work” 10:30 a.m.- 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.-2 p.m. in Room 150 of Loftin. Call 210486-0158.

SAC Event: Student support group 12:30 p.m.-1:30 p.m. the empowerment center.

Call 210-486-0455.

Event: Havana Hi-Fi DJ night 7 p.m.-10 p.m. at Hotel Havana, 1015 Navarro. Free.

Visit www.havanasanantonio.com.

Event: April Fools Day 5K 6:30 p.m. at Lady Bird Johnson Park, 10700 Nacogdoches.

Adults $30. Children 14 and under $20. Visit www.athleteguild.com.

Film: “The Hedgehog” with tour of Robert Indiana’s “Beyond LOVE” exhibit and treats 2 p.m. at McNay Art Museum, 6000 N. New Braunfels. Visit

SAC Event: Health and Wellness Expo 9 a.m.- 1 p.m. in Candler.

Call 210-486-1010.

SAC Meeting: Kinesiology Club 2 p.m. in Room 126 of Candler.

Continues first and third Wednesday. Call 210-486-1025.

SAC Meeting: Faculty Senate 3 p.m. in Room 120 of visual arts. Call 210-4860347.

SAC Event: Hawaiian luau and Polynesian dancers 3:15 p.m.4:15 p.m. in mall. Call 210-486-0128.

NLC Film: Spring series “Mary Poppins” 6:30 p.m.-9 p.m. in performing arts. Discussion following. Call 210486-5312 or visit www. alamo.edu/event.

SAC Performance: “Night Before Nationals” by speech team 7 p.m. in McCreless theater. $5.

For information, call 210-486-0494.

www.theranger.org/calendar

FRI

UPCOMING

SAC Transfer: Our Lady of the Lake 11 a.m.-1 p.m. in transfer center. Call 210-4860864.

April 5

ACCD Forum: Lunch and learn series presented by academic adviser Betty L. Harkins, noon-1 p.m. in Room 134 of Alamo University Center. Call 210-6540954.

NVC Event: Time management 1 p.m.3 p.m. in the student advocates office. Open to currently enrolled NVC students. Call 210-486-4007.

SAC Transfer: Texas State noon-4 p.m. in transfer center. Call 210-486-0864.

Event: ASSEMBLE! An Avengers quiz 8 p.m. at Firehouse Pub & Grill, 5380 Walzem. $5 each player, six player max per team. For players 18 and up. Call 210946-9600.

By Ansley Lewis

sac-ranger@alamo.edu

Seven students from this college’s art history and art appreciation courses will present research papers 10:50 a.m.-12:05 p.m.

Thursday in Room 120 of the visual arts center.

Students will give a 10-12 minute PowerPoint presentation on their chosen research topic, and a reception will be afterward.

The students’ research papers were selected from more than 1,000 entries from spring, summer and fall semesters in 2013.

Twenty entries were chosen from that selection, which were reduced to the final seven papers.

Fine arts Professor Debra Schafter and fine arts Adjunct Marleen Hoover, who served as two of the judges, began sponsoring the Art Symposium 15 years ago.

Schafter said only papers that were above average were chosen to be represented in the symposium.

“This is a chance for students to learn about different topics and use students as role models,” Schafter

said. “It is also an opportunity to show administration that we take these classes seriously. We want to be able to push students.”

Hoover hopes those who are participating in the symposium “gain experience in an upper-class, graduate and professional presentation format.”

Schafter said a winner would not be chosen because all symposium participants are considered winners.

Fine arts sophomore Denise Mojica wrote “The McNay Experience” for ARTS 1304, Art History 2, on interning at the McNay Art Museum during the summer of 2013.

Mojica also is designing the symposium’s poster and program.

“I was at the McNay four hours a day for eight weeks,” Mojica said. “My primary focus was to do the marketing for College Night.

I was in charge of getting in contact with the college newspapers in San Antonio and getting the word out about College Night.”

College Night Nov. 22 provided undergrads interested in art a chance to mingle with like-minded students. It included food, music and activities.

Event: Fiesta Especial 5K run and parade 8 a.m. Windcrest City Hall. $25 to run 5K, $20 for 1-mile walk. Call 210-656-6674.

Event: San Antonio Book Festival 10 a.m.-5 p.m. in Central Library and Southwest School of Art. Call 210-224-1848 or visit www. swschool.org.

Festival: Best of the West! 4 p.m.-11 p.m.

Our Lady of the Lake. $5 for adults and free for children 12 and under. Visit www.fiesta-sa. org or call 210-431-3985.

Event: Literary Death Match at 6:30 p.m. at Charline McCombs Empire Theatre. $10. Call 210-225-5724 or visit saplf.org/festival.

April 6 Mass: Fiesta Mariachi 8 a.m.-9 a.m. at San Fernando Cathedral. Free. Call 210-227-1297.

April 7 SAC Forum: Conversations in Civic Responsibility 9:30 a.m.-10:45 a.m. in Room 150 of Loftin. Open to the public. Call 210486-0127 or twitter.com/SACCivEng. April 8 SAC Meeting: College Council 2 p.m. in Room 120 of visual arts. Call 210-486-0956.

Seven students present at Art Symposium Internship gives art student real-world experience.

Event: SicloVerde by Green Spaces Alliance of South Texas 7:30 a.m. at Eastside Sprouts Community Garden, 1023 N. Pine. $25 registration.

Mojica said working as an intern at the McNay allowed her to take what she had learned from the classroom to the real world.

“I don’t think a lot of students get to see how what they do in class benefits them outside of the classroom,” Mojica said. “A lot of students work, but their work isn’t related to what they are studying.”

Mojica hopes students who attend the symposium will gain knowledge, experience and growth from being able to see other students being successful while in college.

Pre-nursing sophomore Jessica Madsen wrote a paper for “A Closer Look At the Construction of Beauty” by artist Walton Ford for ARTS 1301, Art Appreciation.

“It was challenging to write the paper, but in a positive way. I found the subject very interesting and wanted to convey that clearly in my paper,” Madsen said.

“Any opportunity that allows students to explore different interests in the arts is a positive one because it encourages new and different ideas and celebrates powerful works of art and the artists responsible for them,” Madsen said.

ACCD Meeting: Standing committees of the board of trustees 5:30 p.m. in Room 101 of Killen Center, 201 W. Sheridan. Call 210-4850000 or visit www.alamo.edu/district/board.

Event: Community Engagement 6 p.m.-8 p.m. Institute of Texan Cultures, 801 E. Chavez. Call 210-458-2300 or visit www.

TexanCultures.com.

April 10 SAC Deadline: Graduation cap and gown pickup 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. in Room 208 of Fletcher. Must have SAC ID. Visit www.alamo. edu/sac/graduation/commencement-info.

Event: Institute of Texan Cultures Hats Off to Fiesta! Exhibit through April 27. $8 adults; $7 seniors; $6 children aged 3-11, military and students with ID. Free for children 2 and younger, members, UTSA and ACCD students, faculty and staff with ID. Open 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Monday-Saturday and noon-5 p.m. Sunday.

Closed April 20. Call 210-458-2300.

April 11

“Pink Electric Chair” by Ivan Navarro Courtesy Fine arts freshman Vianney Vega wrote “Post Modernism: Art Against the Future for the Future” for ARTS 1304, Art History 2.

“Here in San Antonio, we are fortunate to have such a diverse array of art to fit every taste,” Vega said. “As a strong believer in individuality and expression, I have always been attracted to the art and ideologies behind post-modernism.”

Other students chosen who were unavailable to speak to The Ranger are pre-nursing sophomore

Alice Perez, who will present “Femicidio On the Border Through the Lens of Contemporary Art”; fine arts sophomore Maria De Abril Ramirez, “Japanese Woodblocks: From Ukiyo-e prints to Byobu”; liberal arts student Michael Perez, “Doors to the Persian Past”; and fine arts and communications student Ariel Vargas, “On the Razor’s Edge: An Examination of the Japanese Wasakashi.”

For more information, call Schafter at 210-4861042.

Event: Fiesta Oyster Bake by St. Mary’s Alumni Association 5 p.m.-11 p.m. and Saturday 11 a.m.-11 p.m. at St. Mary’s. $25 at gate, presale one-day $23 tickets at H-E-B and Fiesta San Antonio Commission. Pre-sale two-day $35 tickets at H-E-B. Free for children 12 and under. Visit www.oysterbake.com.

!

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

www.theranger.org/pulse

Pulse

March 28, 2014 • 9

Lady Rangers roll by Lady Tigers, 61-39

By R.T. Gonzalez

sac-ranger@alamo.edu

This college’s Lady Rangers took advantage of St. Philip’s Lady Tigers’ four-player team to win 61-39 Wednesday in the health and fitness center at St. Philip’s College.

After the Tigers could muster only four players for the game, The Rangers agreed to play with only four players so the game could go on. The Rangers came with six players.

The Tigers submitted a roster with five players to begin the game, but one person on the roster was not actually a team member.

After the tip-off, the fifth Tiger “player” and a Ranger were removed, and the game continued with only eight players on the court.

The Rangers dominated the hardwood, quickly taking a comfortable 20-point lead in the first 15 minutes.

Shadia Williams, Rangers liberal arts sophomore, shined a little brighter than the other Rangers, scoring 8 points in the first half.

Rangers coach Forris Phillips said getting cuts and openings to the basket were the key to success.

Williams finished 12 points, and the Rangers ended the half ahead 31-16.

Eventually, fatigue caught up with St. Philip’s. With only four players, the Tigers were not able to substitute and rest.

The Rangers won 61-39.

Liberal arts sophomore Shadia Williams puts up a short jumper over criminal justice freshman Tia Harper to score 2 points in the first half. David Guel Southwest Texas Junior College’s win or loss at Wednesday’s matchup will determine the Ranger’s next game. The date, time and place have not been determined.

Civil engineering sophomore Leo Dupre contests a shot by liberal arts freshman Deron Taylor Wednesday during the first “glow in the dark” 3-on-3 basketball tournament hosted by the K-Club in Gym 2 of Candler.

Players in glow necklaces played with a glow-in-the-dark ball. Six teams participated in the two-round tournament. Team Dynasty, consisting of Dupre, sports medicine freshman Donovan Merril, biology freshman Vanessa Gary and business sophomore Andrew Butler won the tournament. David Guel

Tigers’ Threat tears through Ranger defense with 30 points Dislocated shoulder triggers a turn of events in Tigers’ victory.

By R.T. Gonzalez

sac-ranger@alamo.edu

A lopsided second half gave the St. Philip’s College Tigers a victory over this college’s Rangers 91-76 Wednesday in St. Philip’s health

and wellness center.

In the first half, neither team wanted to give the other any advantage. With both squads matching each other offensively, the half ended with the Tigers holding a 5-point lead 67-62.

An injury in the first 10 minutes of the second half led to a turning point for the Tigers.

In a battle for possession of the ball, Edward

Rodriguez, St. Philip’s respiratory care technician sophomore, dislocated his shoulder by tangling with the Rangers’ Rey Esquivel, biology freshman.

No medics were called, but Gerald Huber, father of Ranger’s kinesiology sophomore Chris Huber, came out from the bleachers and relocated Rodriguez’s shoulder on the court.

Once play resumed, St. Philip’s took over the

game and never looked back, winning 91-76.

The Tigers were able to secure a victory with the strong play of accounting sophomore Daryl Threat. Threat scored 30 points.

Southwest Texas Junior College’s win or loss at Wednesday’s matchup will determine the Ranger’s next game. The date, time and place have not been determined.

10 • March 28, 2014

www.theranger.org/editorial

.org

the

ranger

Editorial

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

©2014 by The Ranger staff, San Antonio College, 1300 San Pedro Ave., San Antonio, TX 78212-4299. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without permission.

The Ranger news outlets, which serve the Alamo Community College District, are laboratory projects of journalism classes in the Department of Media Communications at San Antonio College. The Ranger is published Fridays except during summer, holidays and examinations.

The Ranger Online is available at www.theranger.org. News contributions accepted by telephone (210-486-1773), by fax (210-486-9292), by email (sac-ranger@alamo.edu) or at the editorial office (Room 212 of Loftin Student Center).

Advertising rates available upon request by phone (210-486-1765) or as a download at www.theranger.org.

The Ranger is a member of the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association, the Associated Collegiate Press and the Texas Community College Journalism Association.

Guest Viewpoints: Faculty, staff, students and community members are welcome to contribute guest viewpoints of up to 450 words. Writers should focus on campus or current events in a critical, persuasive or interpretative style.

All viewpoints must be published with a photo portrait of the writer.

Letters Policy: The Ranger invites readers to share views by writing letters to the editor. Space limitations force the paper to limit letters to two double-spaced, typewritten pages. Letters will be edited for spelling, style, grammar, libel and length.

Editors reserve the right to deny publication of any letter.

Letters should be mailed to The Ranger, Department of Media Communications, San Antonio College, 1300 San Pedro Ave., San Antonio TX 78212-4299.

Letters also may be brought to the newspaper office in Room 212 of Loftin Student Center, emailed to sac-ranger@alamo.edu or faxed to 210-486-9292.

Letters must be signed and must include the printed name and telephone number.

Students should include classification, major, campus and Banner ID. Employees should include title and telephone number. For more information, call 210-486-1773.

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 single-copy rule may be subject to civil and criminal prosecution and subject to college discipline.

METAMEDIA

FOIA opens records The Freedom of Information Act, passed on July 4, 1966, states that anyone has the right to acquire federal government records as long as they are not withheld from disclosure by one of nine exemptions.

The FOIA allows anyone to request and view information that otherwise would not be seen by the public.

States also have their own versions. The Texas Publication Information Act requires government agencies and institutions supported by tax money to make records available to the public.

As journalists, our duty is to inform the public of the information they need to know; therefore, the FOIA is important for journalists because we frequently face sources who are unwilling to talk or sometimes even lie to keep information from getting out to the public.

For journalists to get the facts straight, it is always best to have a document in hand with all the specifics.

In many cases, journalists prefer a document because it shows the

information for what it is rather than a comment from a source who could be lying about the facts or presenting them incorrectly.

Although it is a right for anyone to obtain federal documents, depending on the complexity, the amount of time to receive a response from an agency may vary.

Documents such as contracts are beneficial to a story and can expand further understanding of complex situations.

The Ranger has reported on the new EDUC 1300, Learning Framework, course.

To get a better understanding of the situation, The Ranger requested information on the contract between Franklin Covey and the district and on March 6 printed a copy of an addendum between the two.

A district official provided it without The Ranger having to file an open records request.

By obtaining documentation, we are able to hold people accountable for their actions as well as expose information some would like to keep behind closed doors.

Value long-time educators When “student success” is the sound ringing like a shrill bell throughout the Alamo Colleges, this retirement incentive sounds like a bit of a contradiction.

As a college district, students, faculty, staff and administrators have been asked to join hands under an umbrella to put students first and do everything possible to facilitate their, well, success.

The board of trustees has approved a retirement incentive to encourage the most experienced faculty to retire, allowing the district to save money by hiring mostly adjunct faculty to replace them.

Faculty are held responsible for student success, so shouldn’t district and college officials do everything they can to encourage long-time faculty to stay?

It stands to reason that full-time, tenured faculty with more years of experience would be better at turning out successful students

than new adjuncts who may work full-time elsewhere or teach at multiple colleges to eke out a living.

Obviously, many adjuncts are dedicated and effective teachers. But overall, the college’s commitment to adjuncts is minimal — one-semester contracts, no benefits, a meager paycheck — so it shows how little they value their contributions.

If eligible tenured and tenure-track professors are being encouraged to leave, only to hire adjuncts at a fraction of what they are worth, then what’s going to happen to the education system?

Professors can’t be replaced with a cheaper, under-valued version.

If student success is so important to our administration, they should be facilitating and supporting the folks who have dedicated their lives to teaching.

That’s the path to more student success.

Let students explore The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board has axed eight fine arts courses from the core curriculum beginning in the fall.

These include introductory courses that teach students how to draw, paint, sculpt and create ceramics. This will reduce enrollment in these courses because they will no longer be recommended for non-art majors.

That’s unfortunate because the emphasis on locking every student into a degree plan squelches the opportunity for students to explore subjects they might be interested in to provide enjoyment for the rest of their lives.

Students often come to community college because they are unsure about what career they want to pursue, and the Alamo Colleges aren’t allowing any room for exploration.

With EDUC 1300, Learning Framework, eliminating a humanities course, students may miss developing a love of reading literature, opening new worlds for them.

Or they miss learning about other cultures through foreign language classes.

Kinesiology classes, no longer required to graduate, open students to lifelong habits for good health.

A community college should not structure a curriculum so narrowly that students can’t take classes outside their major.

If a student wants to take nine credits of mathematics when they only need three, let them.

If they want 12 credits of humanities when they need three, let them. Don’t stop students from learning.

Community colleges also should remember they are chartered to serve their communities.

In years past, hobbyists enrolled here just to learn from accomplished professors how to draw or take photographs.

The college should streamline admissions and advising for people who just want to take a few courses for enrichment.

Members of the community shouldn’t have to go through My Map, student development and sign on to a plan in GPS just to take ceramics or yoga.

Let the community use the community college the way it was meant to be.

And give our students the freedom to try courses to explore learning and see where it takes them.

Correction In “Faculty question new tracking of learning outcomes” in the March 21 issue, plans to report students’ scores on eight competencies on transcripts were not correct. Officials do not plan to include mastery of competencies on transcripts.

Opinion

www.theranger.org/opinion

March 28, 2014 • 11

Reflections on when I became a feminist

clivities and preferences.

I never really understood the expectations my sister embraced that she would one day find “the perfect man” and get married and have 2.2 children and a dog named Muffin or Spot. I didn’t want to be “taken care of.”

I wanted to be able to take care of myself and if I chose to get married or have children (and to me, these things could certainly be mutually exclusive of one another although that certainly placed me out of step with “mainstream” moral viewpoints of my day) it would be just that: my choice.

My father may not have known how to articulate feminist ideas to me, and certainly not in academic parlance, but he clearly explained, in his Virginia hillbilly way that under no circumstances should I ever, and he did mean ever, allow myself to be put in a position wherein I would be beholden to anyone for my upkeep

esy

AccuNet/AP Images

or support.

I suppose, if I had to give anyone credit for turning me into a feminist, it was my own father, and I am pretty sure that wasn’t his intention.

He taught me to be bold and be the best I could be. To work hard and be proud of the work I produced.

To never allow the ideas of some who might expect girls to get married and make babies throw shade on the expectations I had for myself.

Most important, to never feel guilty for taking risks.

I wish I had some moment of clarity or some epiphany that I could share so that young women reading this might recognize it if they had it, too. Maybe they wouldn’t be afraid to call themselves feminists because they just want to be outside any other expectations society or their family might have for them. The fact is, it happens differently and at different times for everyone.

For Betty Friedan, it was a gradual unfolding of events over the course of her marriage that made her realize something was missing though she couldn’t put

urt

today eschew the label feminist? I wonder that all the time.

Just when I think I’ve covered the standard fare about choices and run the gamut of the philosophical underpinnings of the “third wave” and figure the interview is wrapping up, the young reporter decides apparently that the softball questions are over - “When did you know you were a feminist?” OK — didn’t see that one coming.

I had to pause and reflect.

It caused some momentary discomfort as I trekked back in my mind to the subtle (and sometimes not-sosubtle) hints that I was not like most of the girls I knew.

I was the eldest of two daughters, and my sister and I could not have been less alike.

I am not sure if it was the fact that I was the eldest or it was the realization that my dad harbored some ‘just under the flesh’ resentment about having two girls, neither of whom would carry on his family name, but I was keenly aware of the reality that I was being raised differently than my sister and, for that matter, most other little girls I knew.

Although, like many girls my age, I owned and played with dolls and my mother’s high heels, but I was also taken on fishing and hunting trips and could skin a catfish or a squirrel alongside any of my male cousins.

Back then, girls like me were simply called “tomboys” and that was OK because moms everywhere upon reassurance that these errant daughters would grow out of this phase, breathed a collective sigh of relief and simply shook their heads and rolled their eyes at our atypical pro-

Co

A Ranger reporter asked to speak with me to discuss matters involving feminism.

I am not sure if I was specifically Guest chosen, but the viewpoint fact that I am an

by Christy unapologetic femWoodward inist (a poorly kept Kaupert secret) may have had something to sac-ranger@ alamo.edu do with it.

The interview began initially focusing on what I would consider the origin and overarching issues commonly associated with the women’s movement.

We talked about the FCRA, Fair Credit Reporting Act, even Nixon’s veto of the Comprehensive Child Development Act. I provided anecdotal stories of my mother juxtaposed to my life experiences, and that was easy enough.

Without dredging up pre-1960s ‘first wave’ issues, I was perfectly content to begin the discussion with the second wave and the seminal American work authored by Betty Friedan, “The Feminine Mystique”.

The questions the reporter asked could be considered quite appropriate for a young woman of the Millennial generation.

After all, the opportunities young women are afforded today seem light years from what they would have been half a century ago.

Upon reflection, most of us would acknowledge the fact that “We’ve come a long way, baby,” but with that said, we still have a long way to go, so I often wonder why young women

her finger on it. For me, it was growing up and wondering why men on commercials didn’t do laundry or go to the grocery store.

It was watching young women exploring their sexuality and being called sluts for doing so while their male counterparts were given highfives.

It was sitting in my college classrooms among my male peers who thought women had no place in political science.

It was trying to understand why women got paid less because they had to leave the workforce to raise children and attempt to explain away the “gaps in employment” that men wouldn’t.

I guess like Betty, my recognition that I was a feminist was a function of a protracted series of events, and while it may have taken longer for me, we both wound up in the same place.

I celebrate women and their accomplishments. Often in the face of adversity and continued discrimination, we can do amazing things.

As far as what made me a feminist, I don’t know that any specific thing or event was the impetus, and I am not sure how to articulate what feminism means to me, so I will leave you with the words of Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart, “I know it when I see it.”

Never be afraid to just be.

Christy Woodward Kaupert is a political science professor at this college.

Women more than Disney princesses My generation is often referred to as Generation Y, or the Millennials, and while some given definitions (selfentitlement) are Viewpoint valid, I like to call

by Bleah B. my generation, and Patterson arguably my parent’s generation, bpatterson13@ student.alamo.edu something else.

I like to call us the fairy tale generation, plagued with unrealistic expectations of a human’s role in society based on their gender.

Also, a miscategorization of women based on appearance.

Before I could read, I would lie in crisp Barbie sheets, surrounded by princess dolls and listen to stories about damsels in distress rescued by a prince, their true love.

I fell asleep imagining grand ballrooms and sparkling dresses similar to those in the box at the foot of my bed, and from a young age, I kept a mental folder, planning my wedding.

Sometimes, I would dance around the kitchen, bare feet to the linoleum floors, twirling in a tutu to Elvis Presley and pretending the kitchen was a ballroom and my invisible dance partner was my prince.

None of these things are particularly unfamiliar to other girls my age.

I was introduced to every princess movie, and I thought I would grow up to be a petite, beautiful young woman with unrealistically large blue eyes and very, very long hair.

(Rapunzel was my favorite.)

As I got older, I thought I had to be meek, vulnerable and weak if I was going to find Prince Charming, and the list of expectations I held of him weren’t anywhere near as long as the one I had for myself.

You see, up until recently, the princes in those films and in all of those bedtime stories lacked character; they were so lacking in substance; not that they were bad people. There was no way to know.

I really didn’t expect much from a boy, except that he rescue me.

Courtesy

In all of those films, he just kind of steps onto the scene, gives the doeeyed damsel in distress a winning smile, fights and defeats the villain, and then sweeps the damsel off her feet to ride off into the sunset.

Fairytales stole my self-worth and they warped my idea of the real world into something that cripples me, if I’m being honest, even now.

As I grew up, I would look at myself in the mirror and I didn’t live up.

I’m 5-7 — significantly taller than Ariel when she gets her legs — my hair is frizzy and slow to grow, and my eyes are a murky, pond-sludge-esque green.

I didn’t know for the longest time that a woman could get a job, save money, buy a house, and live happily on her own until she found a suitable partner.

I thought I would be living at home until I was 27, until Mr. Right showed up at my door or threw pebbles at my window.

As I got older and my ambition

grew, I was surprised to realize I liked more than domestic activities. I felt trapped.

Women shouldn’t feel trapped just because they find they’re talented.

Women shouldn’t feel worthless when they find that they’re worth more than just being housewives.

Despite this, I have every intention of getting married and every intention of having children, and if I am so blessed, I have every intention of being a stay-at-home mom for at least a short period of time.

But over the years, I have realized that’s because that is where my heart lies. I’ve thought about it long and hard, weighed the consequences and thought about where I want my story to end. I want it to be with my husband and children.

But I don’t think that’s every woman’s destiny.

I think women should have a say in what they do for the rest of their lives, and I don’t think taking someone

else’s last name should be required.

As I got older, coming to this realization that love doesn’t come as easily as the stories tell you was heartbreaking.

I use “heartbreaking” in its truest sense. Realizing that I wasn’t going to just walk into a perfect relationship broke me, and I had to put myself back together.

Putting myself back together made me realize what a real woman can be, and the possibilities a real woman can be aside from the fairy-tale definition and snagging a man.

Putting myself back together made me realize the kind of man I deserve, someone who will dance with me in our kitchen one day.

Someone who will respect my decision to stay home or not. Someone who isn’t threatened by what I choose to call myself.

The process of mending my own shocked, disappointed and broken heart taught me how strong I really am, and how much better it feels to star as my own hero.

Feature Alternative spring break helps homeless in D.C.

www.theranger.org/news

12 • March 28, 2014

Story and photos by M.J. Callahan mcallahan7@student.alamo.edu

Ten students spent five days preparing meals for the homeless, organizing donations at a food bank and building a greenhouse in Washington, D.C., in an alternative spring break trip sponsored by the office of student life.

The group, under the direction of Mary Elise Ferrer, coordinator of student success, worked with the homeless through Amizade, a nonprofit organization that offers service learning through alternative spring breaks and studyabroad trips.

This trip offered new opportunities.

Drama freshman Samuel Gonzalez, a member of the college boxing team, experienced his first flight, first trip out of state and first time to participate in philanthropic work. He was nervous as the United Airline flight took off March 9, but he said he wanted to go “to learn more of their experiences firsthand.”

The National Coalition of the Homeless speakers bureau put a face on homelessness the morning of March 10.

The speakers were homeless or previously homeless individuals who shared with the students how they became

homeless and how anyone can become homeless.

Students learned what happens behind the scenes at food banks by working three hours at the Capital Area Food Bank the afternoon of March 10.

Because the conveyor belt was broken, students organized large bins of donated food by hand. Students were prompted to search for signs of botulism. Some of the cans had exploded and been at the bottom of the bins long enough to mold.

On March 12, students unloaded carrots, selected tomatoes and deboned turkeys at D.C. Central Kitchen in the same building as the area’s largest shelter.

The kitchen prepares 5,000 meals a day for schools, private parties and the large population of homeless waiting outside the door.

It also offers a culinary arts program to homeless, out-of-work, under-employed and previously incarcerated people.

Before working in the kitchen, volunteers from this college, Penn State and the American University law school watched an orientation video to teach such skills as

using a knife, washing hands and handling food properly.

The video starred one of the kitchen’s most famous chefs, Rahman “Rock” Harper, who was the winner of “Hell’s Kitchen Season 3” on Fox Broadcasting. He is now a culinary instructor at the D.C. Central Kitchen.

Drama freshman Dennis Salazar, also a member of the boxing team, took in giant carrots — 1 foot long and 2 inches in diameter — from local farmers to be put into walk-in coolers.

Supermarkets do not buy produce of that size so the kitchen purchases it at a reduced rate.

Biology premed sophomore Kim-Briana Lorine, president of Phi Theta Kappa and treasurer of Student Government Association, sorted through bins of cherry tomatoes to eliminate the squashed or molded ones and then washed the edible to use in homemade barbecue sauce.

At A Wider Circle On March 11, students worked with the neighbor-to-neighbor program, which provides furniture and other necessities to families moving out of a shelter or who need assistance to

Students from this college form an assembly line to organize and inventory hundreds of boxes March 11 at A Wider Circle, a nonprofit organization supplying essential housing products to those in need in Washington, D.C. get their independence back.

A Wider Circle’s Center for Professional Development offers clothing for job interviews and attire for people to wear when hired. Stylists help them make the best choices.

The students spent 9 a.m.4:30 p.m. moving beds, couches, chairs, tables, lamps, toys, linens, rugs and television sets to the showroom floor.

A Wider Circle sees 20 appointments a day. Appointments often are booked four months in advance.

In emergencies, such as someone having their children

removed because they don’t have a bed to sleep on, A Wider Circle sees them the next day.

ASL and interpreting sophomore Samantha Davis took pride in not only moving and cleaning the furniture but also putting on “caring little touches” making the showroom look more like a living room.

“The organization wanted to make it a dignified experience and so did I.” The 10 students will have a reflection meeting Saturday to discuss what they learned and contribute ideas for a possible trip next year.

Ivanna Gonzales, American Sign Language and interpreting sophomore, prepares breakfast for homeless people waiting outside at 6:45 a.m. with temperatures as low as 23 degrees March 13 at Thrive DC.