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Volume 87 Issue 17 • April 8, 2013
210-486-1773 • Single copies free
Heads up
Lofts open in August, but not parking By Carlos Ferrand
cferrand@student.alamo.edu
Maymester, summer registration opens Don’t get out the sandals and picnic towels just yet, summer registration starts today. Registration is for Maymester, first summer session, second summer session and an eight-week evening summer session. Students with a minimum of 46 course hours can register today and Tuesday; 31 hours Wednesday, 16 hours Thursday and 1 hour Friday Registration is open for all students April 15. Students can register by clicking ‘Web Services,’ under the ‘Student’ tab in ACES, then clicking ‘Students and financial aid’ and ‘Registration.’
Tobin Lofts is expected to welcome its first residents in August, but designated resident parking will not be completed until March. Until then, residents can purchase a $200
parking permit to park in the garage east of Chance Academic Center. Residents purchasing a parking permit will be guaranteed a spot in the garage, said David
See PARKING, Page 10
By Rebecca Salinas
rsalinas191@student.alamo.edu
He said senators need to “revisit the channels of communication, not only between us and the administration, but among ourselves, so everybody has a clear understanding of what you’re attempting to communicate.” Senators need to analyze the decision-making process to determine when decisions are made and document articulate opinions on administrative decisions, Berrier said. “Wherever these decisions are coming out of, there’s got to be discussion going on, and there’s got to be some discussion going out, and we need to get on top of that and fill those
The Alamo Colleges board of trustees requested more data on student success to move forward with a capital improvement project during a CIP retreat Monday in Room 101 of Killen Center, 201 W. Sheridan. The board wants to know if student success will be increased if they use interactive technology in the classroom. Diane Snyder, vice chancellor for finance and administrations and Doug Lowe, owner of Facility Programming and Consulting, explained “future learning environments,” which can be built if the district can get the public to support another bond issue. A $450 million bond package was passed in 2005 resulting in 24 new buildings and about 1.3 million square feet districtwide. This college received $84 million for the nursing complex, parking garage, Oppenheimer Academic Center, the first responders academy and a utilities upgrade. Snyder presented trends in higher education, including the incorporation of interactive technology in the classroom. She said large flexible, multi-purpose rooms are becoming more popular because they can serve as a tutoring center with computer access, work space and gathering spaces for faculty and students. Other trends include space for individual and group advising and learning resource centers, with study spaces and study rooms for collaboration. She said employees could have an “innovation space” to meet to have “enrichment discussions and develop courses.” A learning resource center would be more than a library because the building could be used for things other than reading books, because the center would have wireless Internet, study rooms and a relaxed environment. “We don’t want to build just a science building and that is all it can be used for,” she said. District 6 trustee Gene Sprague, a radiologist who teaches radiology and pharmacology at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, said having more technology in a classroom is a good idea, but he would like to see evidence that the technology actually worked. In an interview Thursday, Sprague said he likes to teach from Power Point slides and use live models for a visual classroom. “If it was that great, do we have a class of students out there who have done fantastic as a result of going through this?” he said. “I hope it’s out there, but I haven’t heard it and I haven’t seen it.” Snyder presented the results of a 2011 Campus Learning Space Survey conducted by Herman Miller at the Society for College and University Planning. According to hermanmiller.com, the Learning Spaces Research Program surveys students and faculty perceptions of the learning environment at the beginning and end of each term. Colleges or universities that participate in the survey commit to a two-year engagement. The first question asked, “What is the biggest change driving new needs on campus?” Results showed 39 percent believed teach
See SENATE, Page 4
See RETREAT, Page 4
Short circuit zaps McAllister center
Jennifer Luna
Chancellor’s agenda turns to innovative classrooms
Trustees want more technology in classrooms, but question its impact on student success.
Rebecca Salinas
An electrical short occurred about 9 a.m. March 28 in McAllister Fine Arts Center because of a “faulty starter.” Music sophomores Mark Fiefarek and Bradley Martinez said fine arts Chair Jeff Hunt directed students to exit the building into parking Lot 3 North of McAllister and wait there for about 20 minutes before re-entering the building. Fiefarek pointed toward the auditorium where he heard a circuit breaker “zap.” An emergency update was posted on this college’s Facebook page about 10 a.m. that said, “There is a small electrical fire in the McAllister Fine Arts Building. Stay clear until further notice.” A few minutes later, a post stated, “There was no actual fire in McAllister Fine Arts Building. The fire smell was coming from an electrical short. The building is now clear and faculty and students are being let back in.” Fiefarek said the smell was very distinct, like “overheating electronics.” Facilities Superintendent David Ortega said the problem occurred because the circuit ran out of life. “It’s like a light bulb, every piece of equipment has a useful life,” he said. Ortega said the beeping from an exit sign is caused by power interruption or when a fire alarm is activated. Ortega said the starter was “on facilities’ radar,” but routine maintenance did not occur quickly enough. At the end of the day, Ortega said the repair of the circuit was a “good test.” In case there is a fire, the exit signs will function properly.
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Criminal justice sophomore Raul Garza shields himself from Wednesday’s thunderstorm with a trash bag while running to class north of chemistry and geology. Vincent Reyna
Senate needs stronger voice, instructor says By Faith Duarte
fduarte3@student.alamo.edu
For Faculty Senate to have a stronger voice in college and district decisions, it needs to articulate its position, government Instructor Michael Berrier said Wednesday in Room 120 of the visual arts center. “The reason they’re shoving solutions down our throat is because we’re not giving them alternatives in a timely fashion in the decision-making process that they identify,” he said. Faculty Senate invited Barrier to offer suggestions on improving its communication with administrators to regain a voice in college and district decisions.
“Frankly, I feel that we’re very much on the losing side, and I think that has colored our posture in fundamental ways that are destructive to our participation and efforts,” he said. Berrier suggested that senators “regroup, rethink, and stand up a bit taller, and just get over the idea that we’re repressed.” He said faculty members need to keep on top of new information coming from college and district administration so they can take advantage of every opportunity to participate in discussions so that when a decision is announced, they don’t feel it “hits us from left field.”