The Ranger
Vol. 85 Issue 3
Single copies free
Sept. 24, 2010
A forum of free voices serving San Antonio College since 1926
Olympian kicks off 85th bash
BUDGET CUTS DEEP 3 HISTORIC HISPANICS 12-13 GULF TOURISM TANKS 19
2 • Sept. 24, 2010
The Ranger
The Ranger A forum of free voices serving San Antonio College since 1926
Sen. Leticia Van de Putte tells trustees Tuesday the recession has reduced sales tax revenue for the state. Tyler K. Cleveland
This issue
3 News
7 Preliminary results of SGA survey show widespread registration problems
SLAC tutors get cut, student protests
Story by Joshua Fechter Photo by Tyler K. Cleveland
Story by Rachel McKee Photo by Tyler K. Cleveland
Board seeks options to tiered parking plan
Funding slashes writing center hours
Story by Laura Garcia
Story by Kristina Coble
4 Blotter
Alternative parking offers options Story by Alison Wadley Photos by Alison Wadley and Tyler K. Cleveland
Photo by Tyler K. Cleveland
12 Ceremony energizes Hispanic Heritage Month
Story by Alison Wadley Photos by Rennie Murrell and Julysa Sosa
78th annual fishing rodeo
Story by Creshawna T. Parker
Hispanic history is being erased, author says
22 Editorials
Story by Zahra Farah Photo by Julysa Sosa
9 Banner self-service down for weekend
perform Magik
14 Susana Baca’s career
Story by J. Hernandez Photo by Alison Wadley
Story by Stefania Malacrida
Online
15 Calendar
Story by Megan Mares Photo by Julysa Sosa
Story by Abiel Rodriguez Photos by Tyler K. Cleveland and Rennie Murrell
Story by J. Hernandez
pays off
24 Two autistic students
Story by Julysa Sosa
10 Mover’s heavy load
Story by Laura Garcia Photo by Tyler K. Cleveland
21 Spill shuts down
to discuss Banner
8 Cleary travels to campuses Hispanic Heritage
drafting, engineering technology programs
looks tighter
Story by Laura Garcia Photo by Julysa Sosa
Story by Zahra Farah Photo by Julysa Sosa
a triumph of percussion
6 Future state funding
takes hit
13 PAC kicks off
Story by Zahra Farah Photo by Tyler K. Cleveland
5 Two colleges merge
19 Gulf coast tourism
Rummage sale benefits ASL
16 People
11 Swimmer shares his story 18 JSchool Travels
of mental discipline Thursday National spotlight burns Story by Megan Mares hole in summer incomes
DREAM Act down payment to immigration reform, attorney says Story by Joshua Fechter
College Extravaganza Story by Creshawna T. Parker
Cover photo: Olympian Josh Davis lectures at 7 p.m. Thursday in McAllister auditorium. See story on Page 11. Tyler K. Cleveland
The Ranger
News
Sept. 24, 2010 • 3
SLAC tutors get cut, student protests By Rachel McKee Every morning, students are outside the student learning assistance center waiting for the doors to open. Those who rely on the SLAC lab for tutoring will have to look somewhere else. Budget cuts caused the SLAC lab to reduce staff by 50 percent to six. The cuts have prompted a student petition drive to restore services. Office supervisor Jennifer Capra said SLAC employees got the news of the budget cuts a week before the semester started. District cut services throughout the colleges because of a 10 percent decrease in public college budgets for the next two years as directed by Gov. Rick Perry. The positions eliminated were four math and remedial English tutors and two help desk employees, leaving no staff to help at the desk. “If they are looking to save money on part-time staff, it’s an ideal solution to have a centralized tutor lab, instead of each department having their own,” Capra said. For more savings, the center’s
hours were cut, opening an hour later in the morning and closing an hour earlier at night. SLAC Coordinator Dave Elder said, “This handicaps people who take Internet classes” because some online students are required to take their exams in the SLAC lab. Students will have a longer wait time for services because there is only one person at the desk at all times. Criminal justice freshman Fernando Rojas started a petition to get math tutors back because he was so upset by the loss. “All these budget cuts never really affected me, but this one did,” Rojas said. So far, he’s collected more than 330 signatures. “I’m going to continue this until I cannot do it anymore. I’m going to continue to go to board meetings; I’m going to continue to get signatures. This is just the beginning,” Rojas pledged. SLAC lab hours are from 8 a.m.8 p.m. Monday-Tuesday, 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday, 8 a.m.2 p.m. Friday, and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday. The lab is now closed on Sundays. Tutoring services are available from 8 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Monday-Tuesday, 8 a.m.-6:30 p.m.
Criminal justice freshman Fernando Rojas addresses the board of trustees Tuesday at Killen, saying the budget cuts that resulted in fewer math tutors at the SLAC lab has affected his grades. Tyler K. Cleveland Wednesday-Thursday, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday, and 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. Saturday. Test proctoring service hours are from 8 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Monday-Tuesday, 8 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday, 8 a.m.-3:30
p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Saturday. The SLAC lab is in Room 726 of Moody Learning Center. For more information, call 210486-0614 or visit www.alamo.edu/ sac/slac.
Funding slashes writing center hours By Kristina Coble
students despite the budget cuts. “We’re trying to provide the best service that Among the programs at this we can,” Crawford said, adding the college feeling the effects of workload is full because of the cuts. reduced funding this semester is “They’re having to do double and the college writing center. triple duty,” she said. The peer-based program’s Eric Treviño, a student tutor, funding was cut by 50 percent, agreed the changes made things hardlimiting their services to 8 a.m. to 5 er for students. p.m. Monday through Wednesday “Printing is no longer free,” he and 8 a.m. to noon Friday and said. “It’s difficult for the students who Saturday. don’t have the card to print.” Frances Crawford The center now has only partGo Print cards are required for time staff. printing in labs around campus. Frances Crawford, director of the writing Treviño said some days, he is on campus center, is confident about continuing to help all day because of the new hours at the writing
New hours The writing center is open 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Wednesday and 8 am.noon Friday and Saturday. For more information, call Frances Crawford at 210-486-1436 or stop by the writing center in Room 203 of Gonzales Hall.
center. Although strapped for funding, Crawford would like to hire a few more tutors for the center. The writing center is searching for more tutors who can work up to 19 hours a week with a flexible schedule.
Blotter
4 • Sept. 24, 2010
Tip of the week
The Ranger
Alternative parking offers options By Alison Wadley
Vehicle crime Fact: In 2009, 128 crimes concerning vehicles were reported at this college.
A bag visible through a car window Tuesday in Lot 21. Alison Wadley
Police suggest locking doors, securing windows, avoiding leaving valuables in sight, considering installing an alarm system and having keys ready when returning to your vehicle. For more information about crime prevention, visit the police department website at http://www.alamo.edu/district/dps/ seclinks/prevention.htm.
Contact Info Emergency 222-0911 General DPS 485-0099 Weather Line 485-0189
Vehicles without parking permits in campus lots can expect to find a ticket on the windshield this week. Those who don’t want to invest $25 in a permit should park in some off-campus lots within walking distance of the campus. Absolutely free parking is available at the San Pedro Playhouse at Ashby Place and North Flores Street, but be aware of spaces reserved for its staff. An L-shaped, metered city lot at San Pedro Avenue and West Myrtle is available at 25 cents per hour up to 10 hours. Hours of operation are 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Payments can be made at one of three pay stations in the lot by coins or credit cards. Keep an eye on the clock because a ticket for an expired meter in this lot is $30 and increases to $40 after 14 days. Parking for permit holders is available in nightclub lots along North Main Avenue at Evergreen: Heat, The Saint and Sparky’s Pub. Another lot is available off Main on East Locust with a sign that states “Park At Your Own Risk.” This lot is owned by Alamo Colleges and you can expect to receive a ticket for parking without a permit.
SAN ANTONIO COLLEGE Sept. 11 — Individual reported a suspicious package in the parking garage. Everything found to be OK. Sept. 13 — Individual reported personal vehicle being damaged by an unknown vehicle.
Officer M.C. Romero writes a ticket Monday as math freshman Esteban Lara moves his car from Lot 20 for faculty and staff. Tyler K. Cleveland This lot is unpaved, sometimes has broken glass and is unavailable when it rains excessively to prevent vehicles from getting stuck in the mud. Park Place West and East lots at Evergreen and Howard streets offer parking; the west lot is labeled student parking and the east lot is unmarked. Neither lots have signs designating parking for permit holders only, but citations will be issued in these lots to vehicles without permits. A map of off-campus lots can be found at http:// www.alamo.edu/sac/sacmain/html/parking.htm.
Individual reported theft of personal property in Chance.
burglary of a vehicle. No suspects.
Individual reported a parking permit was stolen from his book in Chance.
Individual reported a suspicious person in Mountain Laurel. No one located.
NORTHEAST LAKEVIEW COLLEGE
PALO ALTO COLLEGE
Individual reported a disturbance in Fletcher.
Sept. 14 — Individual reported theft of personal property in the wellness center.
Sept. 14 — Individual reported graffiti on the exit door of the gym.
Sept. 15 — Individual reported a suspicious person in the commons. No one located.
Individual reported blood in a men’s restroom in Moody.
NORTHWEST VISTA COLLEGE
Sept. 15 — Individual was issued a criminal trespass warning in the gym.
Sept. 13 —Individual reported theft of personal property in Huisache. Sept. 14 — Individual reported
Sept. 13 — Individual reported theft from the campus bookstore. Individual reported being stuck in the elevator of Ozuna. ST. PHILIP’S COLLEGE Sept. 13 — Officer reported hearing gunshots near Walters and Anderson. Sept. 16 — Individual reported his personal property had been stolen in the campus center.
The Ranger
News
Sept. 24, 2010 • 5
Two colleges merge drafting, engineering technology programs By Megan Mares To enhance opportunities for students in two similar fields, St. Philip’s College and San Antonio College have combined an architectural drafting program and engineering technology program. Professor José Z. Gonzales transferred with the architectural drafting program, said the departments combined to make the field of study more accessible. He said a student previously, might have taken three classes toward one degree and wanted to study something else. They wouldn’t want to deal with a transfer and would give up. Both programs have been offered since the 1960s. Engineering technology was originally in a house near campus known as Annex C. When Nail Tech was opened in 1966, engineering technology moved in. Twenty-seven years later in 1994, the program was relocated to Chance Academic Center. The architectural drafting program has had a transient trajectory in its 50 years. Originally, it was believed to have been housed in the old technical building at St. Philip’s and later in the 1960s, the Bowden Building. In 1972, the program moved to Norris Technical Building, then to the applied science building in 1996. In 1998, it was moved from the main campus to Southwest Campus on Quintana Road. This fall, the program was welcomed to San Antonio College. “Physically, we’ve made the move, but we are still in transition this semester,” Gonzales said. Once at a high enrollment of 250 students, the program has dropped to about 80. Michael D. Psencik, chair of engineering technology, said, “With less than half of the enrolled number of students, the move has been a positive change and has
brought hope that the number enrolled will go up. I think it will make the program stronger.” There is constant change in the technology used for architecture, drafting and engineering technologies. “This is a field where if you don’t stay current, you will become obsolete,” Psencik said. With the recession, many technicians are experiencing layoffs because they are not up-to-date with software, he said. Some companies that don’t want to lay off people are sending their staff here to learn the latest technology. Others come to the department to look for employees because the students are familiar with necessary programs, such as AutoCAD, a computer-aided drafting and design program. Many options are available for the associate degree that the new combined programs offer: surveyor, manufacturing engineer, technical sales associate, applications engineer and maintenance supervisor. Many students in architectural drafting and engineering technology are nontraditional students, meaning they are older than 25, most likely have children and often are returning to school. Another option for high school students is dualcredit offered in the Harlandale, Northside, San Antonio and Somerset school districts. These students can graduate high school with 50 percent of an associate degree and manage to finish the other half in about a year. “Now’s the time to get an education with the economy the way it is, and our goal is to provide students the skills they need to get a job in this field,” Psencik said. For more information, call 210-486-0066.
Professor Mike Lane helps architectual drafting sophomore Cynthia Graves on a computer exercise involving an external reference file used in drawing Sept. 9 in Chance. St. Philip’s architectural drafting and this college’s engineering technology have combined. Julysa Sosa
6 • Sept. 24, 2010
News
The Ranger
Future state funding looks tighter Faculty questions district’s planning in Banner implementation.
the program, and some have not received their financial aid package. If they paid their balance out-of-pocket, they haven’t received reimbursement checks, Davila By Laura Garcia said. She explained the additional hardship the There’s more bad news coming. students encountered because Banner issues Texas Sen. Leticia Van de Putte presented a prohibited them from being able to show docureport Tuesday during the regular board meetmentation to Baptist services of the classes they ing about the state’s $182 billion budget shortwere enrolled in or whether they received an fall. award. Van de Putte said that there will be a $10.8 Dr. Adelina S. Silva, vice chancellor for stubillion shortfall in 2012-13, which is worse than dent success, spoke with Davila after the presenthis year’s $9.5 billion shortfall. tation to try to resolve the issue. “What I’m telling you is, I don’t think we can But students weren’t the only ones still upset. fix the product until we fix the process,” she said, Faculty Senate expressed frustration with explaining that most of the problem is that the registration and recommended a book for state relies on sales tax as a basis for revenue and Chancellor Bruce Leslie to read called “The delayed accounting tricks to balance the budget. Checklist Manifesto” by Atul Gawande. She said during a recession when Texans get The New York Times bestseller describes the their jobs back, they are responsible and pay off importance of checklists and how no matter their debt and wait to make major purchases. how intelligent and competent a person may be, The state recently cut 10 percent of approprithey sometimes fail to adhere to them. ations, a $7.1 million loss, because of Gov. Rick “It’s about why things tend to go wrong,” said Perry’s mandate, which affected Dr. Dawn Elmore-McCrary, student services across the disFaculty Senate president, trict. while pointing out that Banner “You deserve to know what implementation has its flaws. your Texas government is doing,” “Nobody disputed that we she said. needed Banner,” she said. “But Board chair and District 8 nobody surveyed us.” trustee, Gary Beitzel responded, She said the faculty were “Thank you for those sobering treated as security risks and facts.” weren’t allowed access to stuDistrict 5 trustee Roberto dents’ transcripts and weren’t Zárate said, “Sobering? I need a able to remove holds that prodrink.” hibited students from registerDuring the citizens-to-beChancellor Bruce Leslie ing. heard portion of the meeting, colspeaks Tuesday during Elmore-McCrary said trainlege students who aged out of the the board meeting at ers weren’t helpful because foster care system expressed frusKillen. they were hastily trained and tration with Banner registration there was “obviously disrespect and financial aid and asked for help from the for people’s time.” trustees. Faculty members are on nine-month conNorma Davila, program director for educatracts so rolling Banner out during the summer tion at Baptist Child and Family Services, spoke “was terrible for faculty and staff.” to the board about the difficulty foster children She explained that there were no focus who are attending colleges in the district are groups to help design the system’s functions, experiencing this semester. and faculty should have been asked how the Davila said once foster children are released old system worked at the college level before from the state’s custody, they have the option launching a new one. of attending college on an educational training “We know our jobs. We know our students,” voucher program. she said. “We need to work together as a whole She said there are 198 students at district and not from the top down.” colleges — 112 at this college — benefiting from Dr. Thomas Cleary, vice chancellor for plan-
State Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio, speaks Tuesday during the regular board meeting at Killen about the $10 billion state budget shortfall. Van de Putte suggested eliminating the August sales tax holiday and raising taxes on gasoline, beer and cigarettes. Photos by Tyler K. Cleveland ning, performance and information systems, did not report to the board at the meeting but requested $68,200 for software that would eliminate duplicate records. The board approved a contract for SkyBridge Global for Banner personal identification number resolution software and support. In other news, trustees voted on a resolution rejecting expansion of the King William Historic District, which would place the district’s headquarters at 201 W. Sheridan in the boundary. Trustees said it wasn’t in the district’s best interest because, although they aren’t likely to sell the property, a future buyer would have to get permission from the city’s Office of Historic Preservation and the King William Association for any renovations. Representatives from the King William district and property owners opposed to the expansion spoke at the Sept. 14 Building, Grounds, and Sites Selection Committee meeting. The next regular board meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Oct. 26 in Room 101 of Killen Center at 201 W. Sheridan. For more information, go to www.alamo.edu.
The Ranger
News
Sept. 24, 2010 • 7
Preliminary results of SGA survey show widespread registration problems By Joshua Fechter A student survey found that 77 percent of respondents encountered problems while registering for the fall semester with the new Banner student records software. Student Government Association released the results of its survey of 586 students on Banner and ACES. The problems reported to SGA officers were related to financial aid, registration and the class schedule. According to the survey, students thought they were not adequately trained to use the new system. Students also voiced concern about the implementation of the new system without a backup at the busiest registration time of the year. Nineteen percent of students responding to the survey were dropped for nonpayment. Of that group, 62 percent were dropped once, 18 percent twice, 12 percent three times and 5 percent four times. The survey found that 3 percent of those deleted from the system were dropped five times. Eight percent were charged with three-peat tuition for re-registering. Three-peat tuition is the same as out-of-state tuition because the state does not provide funding to colleges for students enrolling in a course for the third time. Seventeen percent were dropped despite making their payments on time. Among survey participants, 55 percent said they thought they had enough information to access and use ACES. Eighty-five percent of students in the survey successfully registered before the first day of
class Aug. 23. Eighty-six percent were charged correct tuition based on their residency. Eighty-five percent of survey participants managed to register for classes at the anticipated campus. Twelve percent of students said their financial aid was affected when they withdrew from a class that was not on this campus. Eighteen percent said their financial aid was affected because of a canceled class. SGA presented the results of the survey to the board of trustees Tuesday night. Psychology sophomore Ernest Olivares, who took the survey at SGA’s booth Sept. 17, said he had no idea what ACES was. Olivares said he visited the counseling office where he was told he did not need a counselor to register and should use the new system. After he logged on to ACES, Olivares registered for five classes but was dropped from three. Olivares was not informed that his classes were dropped and found out by logging onto ACES. “I don’t know why the classes were dropped,” he said. The dropped classes affected his financial aid. Olivares said the issues have been resolved but he is still waiting for $900 in financial aid. Education sophomore Michelle Flores said Sept. 17 at SGA’s survey booth that she encountered no problems. “Finding classes was stressful, but the only difference was the website,” she said. Education sophomore Adriana Rodriguez said at SGA’s survey booth she had nothing negative to say about the registration process. She
SGA Vice President Sam Huckleberry reports on a survey of 586 students in which 454 encountered problems while registering. He and President Tammy Kothe-Ramsey addressed the regular board meeting at Killen Tuesday. Tyler K. Cleveland registered before the deadline, had no dropped classes and received financial aid on time. “To me, it went smoothly,” she said. To see the results of the survey, log on to http://www.alamo.edu/district/distmm/ Presentations/September-10/September-2010. html. For more information, call SGA at 210-4861340.
Board seeks options to tiered parking plan By Laura Garcia A tiered parking plan the Building, Grounds and Sites Selection Committee recommended Sept. 14 was pulled from the meeting agenda for Tuesday’s regular board meeting. The committee chose the plan over charging all students a $10 fee increase, which they characterized as unfair. Now staff will work on other options and will present a new recommendation at the October committee meeting. The tiered plan called for charging students $30, $60 and $90 for different levels of parking access with premier parking closer to buildings. The fees would fund parking lot maintenance, construction of garages and campus police. The change would bring in $470,000 in preventive maintenance annu-
ally with minimal impact this spring because most returning students would have paid for the annual permit this semester. Committee members voting in favor of the tiered plan included committee chair Dr. Gene Sprague, District 7 trustee Anna U. Bustamante and District 9 trustee James A. Rindfuss. In other news, trustees approved a legislative agenda, which calls for an elimination of the three-peat rule and the six-course drop rule. Current state legislation mandates they will not provide reimbursement funding for the district’s colleges for courses taken twice. Students now pay out-of-state tuition, or three times the in-district cost, for the third attempt at a course. The district also will lobby to maintain current formula funding levels and employee group health insurance benefits and to permit community colleges to offer specific bachelor’s degrees.
8 • Sept. 24, 2010
News
The Ranger
Cleary travels to campuses to discuss Banner By Zahra Farah Dr. Thomas Cleary, vice chancellor for planning, performance and information systems, is hosting 10 “lessons learned discussions” with a range of employees from the Center for Student Information to front-line staff from each of the colleges. He will be collecting feedback about problems encountered in using Banner for registration this fall. The Student Government Association will represent this college’s students when he visits this college 8:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. Thursday in Room 218 of the nursing and allied health complex. This meeting is with the front-line staff from this college. SGA plans to present findings from an online survey of students’ experience with Banner and ACES, or Alamo Colleges Education Services, in the mall through Tuesday. SGA President Tammy Kothe-Ramsey said her advisers and SGA members received an
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Additional meetings • Front line staff from St. Philip’s 10 a.m.-noon today in the Heritage Room. • Front line staff from Northwest Vista 2:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m. today in Room 113 of Huisache Hall.
Vice Chancellor Thomas Cleary shows the Aug. 14 Academic Accountability and Student Success Committee meeting the “Banner monster” his son found on Google. Julysa Sosa invitation to attend. Members who have confirmed they are attending are Ramsey, Jacob Wong and Rebecca Ross, all psychology sophomores.
• Front line staff from Northeast Lakeview 8:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. Sept. 28 in Room 109 of the library. • Department chairs and deans 2:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m. Sept. 30 in the Heritage Room of St. Philip. • Palo Alto’s front line staff 2:30 p.m.- 4:30 p.m. Oct. 1 in Room 1109 in Guadalupe.
The Ranger
News
Sept. 24, 2010 • 9
Banner self-service down for weekend By Zahra Farah
Fotoseptiembre USA coordinator Michael Mehl takes a picture of Libby Rowe, professor of photography at Texas State University-San Marcos alongside her series “Dwellings,” a part of the “Trace Elements” exhibit in the visual arts center 8 a.m.- 5 p.m. Monday through Friday through Oct. 29. See story online. Tyler K. Cleveland
Banner’s self-service portal will be offline 5 p.m. today until 7 a.m. Monday for data import from the summer sessions. Dr. Tom Cleary, vice chancellor for planning, performance and information systems, said the weekend data conversion would have no effect on ACES, students’ e-mail accounts or BlackBoard Vista. Cleary said students’ data information in Passport, the old registration system, is going to be imported into Banner. He said the only services expected to be offline will be Banner self-service and Native INB. Self-Service is the portal students use to register, view records, financial aid and update their personal information. Native INB is the portal administrators use to access Banner. For more information, students can call support central at 210-485-0555 and select Option 4.
10 • Sept. 24, 2010
News
The Ranger
Mover’s heavy load pays off Employee wins coveted reserved parking spot and district recognition. By Abiel Rodriguez Moving furniture is no easy task and nobody knows this as well as the college’s only mover, Ruben Casarez. The college’s Staff Council named him SAC’s Employee of the Month, and Alamo College’s Unified Staff Council named him district Employee of the Month for September. Casarez is recognized by his peers for his work in helping turn three offices into four in the Empowerment Center, 703 Howard. Several pieces of new furniture were being moved in the newly expanded center and the old furniture had to be moved out. The Empowerment Center opened one year ago and houses three programs benefiting women and nontraditional students, the San Antonio College women’s center, the Seguir Adelante Adult Re-Entry Program and Mi CASA Career Assistance and Self Sufficiency Programs. Seven lateral cabinets, which were 7-feet tall and weighed about 90 pounds, needed to be moved along with filing cabinets and five desks and chairs from the center to the media communications department’s newsroom for The Ranger in the journalism-photography wing of Loftin Student Center. Casarez didn’t get any help moving the furniture until the second day of moving and stayed after hours to complete the job. He services primarily this college but still helps with district moving services. Casarez also helps put everything in place whenever there is a board meeting, and he assist in
collecting up the college’s recycling bins on Wednesdays and Fridays. He has been working for the Alamo Community College District for nine years. The Staff Council presents the Employee of the Month award on the 15th of every month. All full-time staff members who have been working here for at least one year are eligible for nomination as Employee Of the Month. Nominations come from coworkers who notice service aboveand-beyond job obligations but don’t have to be from the same department. Winners receive a plaque, cake and a monthlong reserved parking space. Recipients also are recognized at the district board meeting and are entered into a district Employee Of the Month contest. Henry Castillo, president-elect of Staff Council, said the council reads nominee submissions and decides on a winner each month. Castillo said that the winner must have a parking permit to park in the prized reserved parking spot.
Top: Ruben Casarez, September’s Employee of the Month, is speechless Tuesday after receiving an award during the regular board meeting at Killen. Tyler K. Cleveland Bottom: Casarez moves heavy shelving into a storage room on the first floor of chemistry and geology Sept. 14. Rennie Murrell The reserved spot used to be identified by a portable sign placed in a parking lot nearest to the winner’s building. However, the sign kept being moved, ignored or stolen. A more secure sign is in the works, he said. Casarez’s reserved parking spot is conveniently located near the
entrance Fletcher Administration Center. To nominate someone, fill out a form and turn it in with three letters of recommendation to Mailbox 95, SAC Staff Council. Nomination forms are available at www.alamo.edu/sac/staffcouncil. For more information, call Staff Council at 210-486-0258.
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News
Sept. 24, 2010 • 11
Olympic Bold Swimmer shares his story of mental discipline Thursday Former student says hard work paved a path for personal success. By Megan Mares Olympic medalist and San Antonio native Josh Davis will help kick off this college’s 85th anniversary celebration by speaking to students at 7 p.m. Thursday in McAllister Fine Arts Center. The event is free, and seating is first-come, first-served. Davis, a San Antonio College alumnus, participated in the Olympics twice — first in Atlanta in 1996 where he became the first man in any sport, from any nation, to win three gold medals. Four years later in 2000, Davis was elected captain of the USA men’s swim team. Davis competed in Sydney, Australia, and won two silver medals. Of course, Davis worked hard on his way toward his goals, and it all began on this campus. He later transferred to the University of Texas at Austin. “I went to SAC, and basically, that period of time, I learned a lot of things from my teachers and coaches that totally took me to another level in my life,” Davis said Sept. 14 in a phone interview. Davis quickly realized that achieving success wasn’t going to be easy. Davis was in his early 20s, newly married and living in a 500-squarefoot, non-air conditioned apartment, while training for the Olympics. Yet, Davis was able to remain focused. “I think the greatest thing that allowed me to remain driven is the
‘attitude of gratitude.’ Thankfulness for things in life reflect in the intensity of what you do,” Davis said. Sacrifice became part of Davis’ success story quickly. Although he was not the “party type,” Davis did have to make the “right decisions” to pave a clear path toward success. “I came to a point in my life where I cared more about truth than what people thought of me. When you find that, you don’t get distracted,” Davis said. “It becomes about mental discipline.” Davis is the founder of USA Swim Clinics where he has created an atmosphere in which swimming education is meant to produce competitive swimmers. While Davis believes that physical competition is exhilarating, he also believes that mental attitude is an important part of success, be it in the water or in a business office. Davis said that as a motivational speaker, he is able to stir up excitement in young people by displaying his seven habits for achieving goals. Dr. Alice Johnson, dean of learning resources, made it clear why it’s important to hear Davis speak. She is in charge of the 85th anniversary observation. “He’s an excellent speaker. You have to give him respect for winning those gold medals,” Johnson said. “The self-sacrifice that he had to have made and all the dedication that it took, that is inspiring.” For more information, go to www. alamo.edu/sac/pr/NewRel10/davis_ speaks.htm. Other 85th anniversary events include a fund-raising gala Oct. 9 at Westin Riverwalk Hotel. Call 210486-1385.
Top, Josh Davis Monday at the Josh Davis Natatorium, 12002 Jones-Maltsberger Tyler K. Cleveland Bottom, Davis celebrates setting a new American record in the finals of the men’s 200-meter freestyle at the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials in Indianapolis, Aug.11, 2000. AccuNet/AP Images
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12 • The Ranger
Ceremony energizes Hispanic Heritag By Alison Wadley The sights, smells and sounds of a fiesta filled the Fiesta Room in Loftin Student Center Sept. 15 for the opening ceremony and community fair kicking off Hispanic Heritage Month, Sept. 15-Oct. 15. “El grito,” or the cry, significant as the start of the struggle for Mexican independence, is the first thing, the chair of the Hispanic Heritage Committee told the crowd. English Instructor Richard Farias continued, “If you know what that is, you’ve got to have music and you’ve got to have food.” A serape, a colorful blanket, covered the refreshment table like a tablecloth offering sandia and piña juices, or watermelon and pineapple; guacamole; and beef and chicken taquitos. Dr. Robert Vela, dean of student affairs, said Hispanic Heritage Month is a time when the community can reflect on what families mean, the sacrifices they make and reasons for being here. “It’s a time for introspection,” he said. “We really don’t know and can’t appreciate our culture and our history unless we get educated about it.” President Robert Zeigler said residents of San Antonio and the Southwest are lucky to have convergent history and to be part of the history of Spain and Mexico. “Values of the Hispanic culture, family, hard work, commitment to improvement -– all of those are a part of us,” Zeigler said. There are many things in everyday life that come from Hispanic culture, such as street names, the name of this college, food and music, he said. “We are very fortunate to share both American history and the culture of Hispanic history,” he said. Staff council president-elect, Henry Castillo, said, “Long live religion, long live our Lady de Guadalupe, long live la Americas, death to the corrupt government,” and in Spanish, “Viva la religion, viva la Virgin de Guadalupe, viva las Americas, muerte al mal gobierno.” Castillo shouted, “Viva Mexico” and the crowd responded, “Viva” as the mariachis, Sonido Del Alma, began to play. And as Farias said, students and faculty partook of the food at various booths set up in the back of the room. As a part of Hispanic Heritage Month, at 7 p.m.8:30 p.m. Tuesday in the auditorium in McAllister Fine Arts Center local artist Vincent Valdez will speak. Three more events are scheduled in Room 120 of visual arts center. From 9:25 a.m.-10:40 a.m. Thursday, genealogist George Farias will deliver “Buscando Nuestras Raices — Hispanic Contributions to History
Hispanic hi By Julysa Sosa
Top: Mariachi Sonido Del Alma electrified the opening ceremony of Hispanic Heritage Month Wednesday in Loftin. Bottom: Dr. Jessica Howard, vice president of academic affairs, blushes at a serenade. Photos by Rennie Murrell and Tracing Your Roots.” At 10:50 a.m.-12:05 p.m. Thursday, Rudi Rodriguez will lecture on “Celebrating the True Lives and Legacies of the Tejanos.” At 10 a.m.-10:50 a.m. Oct., Diana Lopez, author of “Sophia’s Saints” and “Confetti Girl,” will discuss her craft.
More than 2,000 men died in the Battle est single battle in the history of Texas. “But do we hear about the Battle of Me associate professor at the University of Ho As part of Hispanic Heritage Mont remarks in the nursing and allied health “Beyond the Alamo.” “Beyond the Alamo” has won awards i Fehrenbach Book Award, Texas Historical National Association for Chicana and Chic Ramos projected a quote by Patricia H State Board of Education. “But you canno You cannot give people an elevated plac place was not elevated.” Ramos said Mexicans are being erase they are not acknowledged as part of Am that sometimes creates the view that “ included because they weren’t even imp even there.” He characterized Hardy’s comment no row.
miere
Sept. 24, 2010 • 13
ge Month
PAC kicks off Hispanic Heritage By Creshawna T. Parker Faculty and students enjoyed complimentary paletas and energy drinks in the courtyard of Palo Alto College Sept. 15 during the opening of Hispanic Heritage Month. The music of radio station KGSX La Salle 95.1 filled the air and students were treated to a variety of activities to celebrate the monthlong observation. Free paletas were provided to help everyone keep cool, and Red Bull’s promotion team was in attendance to learn how to market to Hispanics. “With the new generations of Hispanics, nobody knows how they spend their money,” Dr. Daniel Rodriguez said. “Red Bull is here to do direct marketing to this population.” Vendors’ offerings included Hispanic-style jewelry. At the event, Palo Alto stu-
dents also had an opportunity to answer questions in a survey called “We Survived Banner.” In the student center a video, “History of El Grito,” told the story of Father Hidalgo and his role in the Mexican Revolution. Contestants vied for the top spot in an “El Grito,” or a yell, competition. “There are lots of cultures around the world, and we need to celebrate all of our cultures,” Rodriguez said. “But our plan with Hispanic Heritage Month is to enlighten students on the number of accomplishments of Hispanics throughout the world.” Upcoming events at the student center include “Achieving Success in the Media” at 11 a.m. Monday; International Film Festival 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday; and a game of Loteria, or Mexican Bingo, is 10 a.m.-noon Oct. 1. For more information, contact Rodriguez at 210-486-3125.
Fire science freshman Andreas Sisneros looks at a 1974 Chevrolet Caprice Wednesday during the Antojitos Festival in the mall, which showcased lowriders. Go online for more photos and video of Hispanic Heritage Month. Julysa Sosa
istory is being erased, author says
e of Medina, the bloodi-
edina?” Dr. Raúl Ramos, ouston, asked Sept. 17. th, Ramos focused his h complex on his book
including the 2008 T. R. l Commission and 2009 cano Studies Tejas Book. Hardy, a member of the ot distort Texas history. ce in history when their
ed from history because merican history. He said “Mexicans shouldn’t be portant, or they weren’t
ot as wrong, but as nar-
“She’s got a very narrow, singular, view of the past, one that That first declaration caused a rippling effect throughout all was brought from Washington, D.C., or New York to Texas,” Ramos of Mexico, including Texas, which at that time was still Spanishsaid. occupied, and sparked a need for freedom. As a San Antonio native, Ramos was raised like many children After that first movement, Mexicans began revolting against learning U.S. history through the State Board of Education stanthe Spanish government and were so determined to gain freedom dards. that even Americans joined the fight to defeat the Spanish, and But Ramos’s main focus is the other side of U.S. eventually the United States conquered Texas. history, the part that the board of education doesn’t With both parents originally from Mexico, Ramos emphasize. was able to see two sides of American history. “We don’t have enough Mexican people in this his“I had the benefit of someone telling me that your tory,” he said. “We need more Mexican figures.” history is also Mexican history, but we don’t all have His lecture covered the different interpretations of that,” he said. independence by region in the United States. Ramos, who is working on his third book, empha“When July 4, 1776, happened, that was somesized the importance of education in every aspect of where else on the other side of the continent,” he said. American history. Ramos explained the first declaration made by “It’s all about planting seeds,” he said, “and realFather Hidalgo on the night of Sept. 15, 1810, from the Dr. Raúl Ramos izing how important it is to vote for people who are village of Dolores, Mexico, now known as “El Grito,” going to give a more expansive view of the Texas past.” was the first step toward liberation from Spain. Texas belonged to Mexico before it belonged to the United “Independence takes place in 1810 in our part of the world,” States, and the turning point in history is Mexico’s declaration of Ramos said. independence on Sept.16, 1810. He emphasized the Mexicans’ and Americans’ roles in creating “Americans came into Texas, but Mexicans stayed,” he said. a second independence day for the nation. “Mexicans are living reminders of that past.”
14 • Sept. 24, 2010
Premiere
The Ranger
Susana Baca’s career a triumph of percussion Performer keeps alive African music slaves brought to Peru in the 1500s.
ho yP tes ur Co
Anyone who thinks percussion is just a musical background has never heard Susana Baca. The prominent Afro-Peruvian singer will perform in concert Saturday, giving a San Antonio audience the opportunity to see what a couple of sticks and a drum can do. “I have never been to San Antonio,” Baca said Sept. 15 in an e-mail interview, “but I have read and heard about it.” The singer has chosen the Alamo city as her only Texas concert stop because of cultural links. “San Antonio’s history is connected to our own through a similar experience,” she said. “Both Texas and Latin America were part of the Spanish colonies and have traditions that mix the indigenous roots with Spanish culture.” The imaginative percussion featured by Baca’s band actually is made of indigenous Peruvian instruments that the artist rediscovered in her never-ending attempt to research and preserve Afro-Peruvian music. The cajón, for example, is a wooden box whose origins lie in an upturned fruit crate, and while the quijada is a jawbone of a burro or donkey, the guapeo is a simple clay pot. Baca has dedicated her life to her ancestors’ music that enslaved Africans brought to Peru in the 1500s. “When I was young,” a news release for the concert quotes her, “I found myself
to
By Stefania Malacrida
singing old folk songs like ‘Toro Mata’ and was curious where they came from.” That curiosity led her to an obvious source. “I then started asking my mother about the origins of both melodies and instruments. This led to a magnificent mother-daughter dialogue and spawned my passion to research Afro-Peruvian music,” the release continues. The young Baca soon headed off in search of old musicians, curious to learn about her origin. “There was nothing ever written about our music or our history,” she explained. “So I went out in search of oral culture.” In her 30-year career, Baca has developed a unique and refined style that mixes traditional with contemporary elements. One of the most notable results of her work is the revival of the lando, a popular slow to mid-tempo folk song that represents the Peruvian equivalent of the Brazilian samba. Her new record, “Seis Poemas,” or “Six Poems,” features a couple of landos that also will be performed on stage during the concert in San Antonio, a date she said she is looking forward to. If mixture and eclecticism are the background of Baca’s art, its key element is her voice. Her warm and soft vocals evoke the primal essence of her heritage. Along with her voice, other elements contribute to the highly evocative music: acoustic guitar, double bass and, of course, percussion. The many pings and pangs produced by bones, maracas, seeds and pots create the haunting pace of Baca’s music. Who would have thought those noisy rhythms of childhood games using mom’s pots and pans could be art? Admission is $10 for assigned seating on the first floor and $8 for seating on the second floor. The concert begins at 7 p.m. in Thiry Auditorium at Our Lady of the Lake University, 411 S.W. 24th St. Tickets are available at the Esperanza Peace and Justice Center, 922 San Pedro. For more information on the event, call the center at 210228-0201.
The Ranger For coverage, call 486-1773 or e-mail sac-ranger@alamo.edu two weeks in advance. Today SAC Parking: No access to Lots 1 and 2 from 4 p.m. for Yom Kippur services at Temple BethEl. Continues through Saturday night. SAC Deadline: Last day to register for Law Enforcement Training Academy. Classes begin Oct 11. Go to Room 100 of law enforcement training center or visit www.alamo.edu/sac/ce/ letc. SAC Meeting: Student chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists at noon in Room 207 of Loftin. Call 210-486-1788. SAC Meeting: Non-Traditional Students Club to discuss and organize the “Clothesline Project” at 1:30 p.m. at the empowerment center, 703 Howard. Call 210-486-0455. SAC Meeting: San Antonio Education Partnership 1:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m. in Room 652 of Moody. Continues Fridays. Call 210-486-0121. SAC Event: Video gaming 1:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. in Cyber Cafe of Loftin. Continues Fridays. Call 210-486-0125.
mall. Call 210-486-0125.
210-486-1025.
Rummage sale to benefit ASL
SAC Event: Live in Loftin music series featuring The Reliques at 11 a.m.-1 p.m. in the Fiesta Room of Loftin. Call 210-486-0125.
SAC Hot Potato: “Indebtedness and World Governments” with Susan Spencer at 12:15 p.m. at the Methodist Student Center, 102 Belknap. Call 210-733-1441.
By J. Hernandez
Monday SAC Intramurals: Pingpong tournament 1:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. in Loftin. Continues Tuesday. Call 210-486-0125. SAC Auditions: Fashion show model auditions 2 p.m.-5 p.m. in the Fiesta Room of Loftin. Call 210-486-0125. SAC Event: Rock Band Extravaganza sponsored by Catholic Student Association 11 a.m.-1 p.m. in the Fiesta Room of Loftin. Call 210-736-3752. SAC Meeting: Cheshyre Cheese Club at 3 p.m. in Room 100 of Gonzales. Continues Mondays. Call 210-486-0125. SAC Meeting: Social Issues Club at 3 p.m. in Loftin. E-mail social.issues.2010@gmail.com. SAC Meeting: Society of Mexican-American Engineers and Scientists at 3:30 p.m. in the MESA study center in Room 204 of Chance. Continues Mondays. Call 210-486-1309. Tuesday
Event: Renewable Roundup and Green Living Fair noon-6 p.m. at
Sept. 24, 2010 • 15
Calendar
Energy
Fredericksburg’s Market Square. Continues through Sunday. Call 877-3768638. SAC Event: “Toy Story 3” outdoor movie 7 p.m.-10 p.m. in the
SAC
Meeting: Society of Women in Engineering at noon in the MESA study center in Room 204 of Chance. Continues Tuesdays. Call 210-486-1309.
Sac Event: Moon Festival Celebration 11 a.m.-1 p.m. in the Fiesta Room of Loftin. Call
SAC Transfer: St. Mary’s University 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on the first floor of Chance. Continues 4 p.m.-6 p.m. Thursday. Call 210-486-0864. SAC Transfer: Texas State University-San Marcos 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. on the first floor of Chance. Continues Wednesday. Call 210-486-0864. Wednesday SAC Event: Employee Development Day 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. for faculty and staff in auditorium of McAllister. No classes for students until 5 p.m. SAC Transfer: Texas A&M-San Antonio 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. by appointment in the transfer center. Call 210-486-0864. SAC Meeting: Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science at 3 p.m. in the MESA study center in Room 204 of Chance. Call 210-486-0342. SAC Meeting: Gay and Lesbian Association at 3 p.m. in Room 613 of Moody. Call 210486-0673. Thursday SAC Transfer: University of Texas at San Antonio 9 a.m.12:30 p.m. on the first floor of Chance. Call 210-486-0864. SAC Transfer: Texas Lutheran University 1 p.m.-3:30 p.m. on the first floor of Chance. Call 210-486-0864.
The department of American Sign Language and interpreter training along with the Connection Club is having a backyard sale from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday in Lot 20. The department is still accepting gently used goods, except for clothing, today in Room 114 of Nail Technical Center. Proceeds benefit the department and Connection Club. Tax forms will be available upon request. ASL and interpreter training secretary Ray Rodriguez is in charge of the event. “There’ll be sausage, roasted corn, beverages, bottled water and music,” he said. Interpreters will be available to assist people who need translation. Later in the day, the crowd can take a break from bargain hunting and check out the 45-minute ASL talent show at 6:30 p.m. in Lot 20. For more information call 486-1119 or e-mail rrodriguez9@alamo.edu.
SAC Music: Jazz Ensemble at 12:30 p.m. in McAllister auditorium. Call 486-0255. Event: Childbirth education classes sponsored by San Antonio Birth Doulas 6 p.m.-8 p.m. at Catholic Charities, 202 W. French. Call 210-330-9971.
SPC Debate: “2010 Debate: Arizona Immigration Bill” with George Rodriguez, chair of Tea Party Juan Seguin Society, and Luis Vera Jr., LULAC national legal adviser, 9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. in Heritage Room. Call 210-4867231.
Oct. 5
Oct. 8
SAC Event: Leadership Forum sponsored by student life 1 p.m.3 p.m. in the craft room of Loftin. Continues Oct. 14. Call 210486-0127.
SAC Music: Ensembles Renaissance Concert at 1 p.m. in McAllister. Call 210-486-0255.
SAC Meeting: Teaching Academy Program Peers 12:15 p.m.-1:15 p.m. in Room 128 of Gonzales. Call 210-486-0665.
SAC Event: 85th Anniversary Gala fundraiser with music by Paul Elizondo Orchestra at 7 p.m. at The Westin Riverwalk, 420 W. Market. Call 210-486-1385.
Oct. 9
Oct. 6
Calendar Legend SAC Music: Brass and wind ensembles joint concert at 2 p.m. in the auditorium of McAllister. Call 210-486-0255. Oct. 7
SAC: San Antonio College SPC: St. Philip’s College SWC: Southwest Campus PAC: Palo Alto College NVC: Northwest Vista College NLC: Northeast Lakeview College
The Ranger
People
SAC play:
Theater freshman Caitlan Evermon and James Dean rehearse a scene from “Waving Goodbye” Tuesday in McCreless theater. Evermon plays Lily and Dean is Jonathan, Lily’s father. Performances will be at 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Oct. 2 and Oct. 7-9 and at 2:30 p.m. Oct. 3 and 10. Alison Wadley
Getting ready: Theater sophomore Beatrice Ramos carves styrofoam sculptures for the play “Waving Goodbye.” The sculptures, which Ramos volunteered to work on for weeks, will be destroyed after the final performance, she said. A sculputure from last spring’s “Amadeus” hangs on the wall after she refused to destroy it after all the work she put into making it. Tyler K. Cleveland
Sept. 24, 2010 • 16
The Ranger
People
Sept. 24, 2010 • 17 Water
aerobics:
Students exercise in kinesiology Professor Martha Stephenson’s water aerobics class Wednesday in Candler. Alison Wadley
Photo art: Photographer Keith Carter walks across the stage while lecturing on “Autobiography in Fiction” Monday in McAllister. Carter said “our life stories are told by what ideas, places and beliefs we belong to.” Tyler K. Cleveland
Constitution: Marshall Lloyd, chair of the criminal justice department, speaks Sept. 17 during a panel discussion on Constitution Day in visual arts alongside (from left) government Professors Fernando Pinon, Asslan Khaligh and, Jesse Horton and Dr. Paul Wilson, chair of political science and economics. Tyler K. Cleveland
Gridiron: Kinesiology freshman Rueben Ortega is fed a lateral by business administration freshman Nathaniel Castro during 4-by-4 flag football tournament Tuesday sponsored by the office of student life at San Pedro Springs Park. Ortega’s team, Victorious Secret, won against the Longhorns 7-1 and competed to win iPod Shuffles. Tyler K. Cleveland
18 • Sept. 24, 2010
JSchool Travels
The Ranger
Dollars and
Sense National spotlight burns a hole in summer incomes
Many visitors come to the Pensacola Lighthouse because it is rumored to be haunted. Julysa Sosa
The Ranger
JSchool Travels
Sept. 24, 2010 • 19
Visitors wait for chicory coffee and beignets French donuts, Aug. 14 at Cafe Du Monde in the French Quarter, New Orleans. Julysa Sosa
Gulf Coast tourism takes a hit By Laura Garcia
three months killing animals and causing tar balls to litter the shorePENSACOLA, Fla. — Business line. has slowed for tourism hot spots BP cleanup crews worked to along the Gulf Coast. collect the contaminated crude A once-booming industry is from the sand and move it to a faltering, this time not nearby landfill. GULF because of a hurricane Environmental issues COAST but because a crisis that aside, some residents are attracted swarms of none too happy after national media. this summer’s smaller A Series Many restaurant crowds. managers who count on Bubba Turner, owner tourists and visitors to keep up of Gloria’s Produce, said business sales felt the media scared people is down 25 percent but he’s been away. reluctant to file a claim against BP. Businesses wonder how long Turner said his fruit and vegethey can stay afloat after BP’s April table stand has been a family busi20 oil rig explosion, which killed 11 ness for 15 years. people, and stayed in the public On Aug. 17, he said he’s been eye on national TV for months. doing this his whole life, excludBP dumped 200 million gallons ing the four years he spent in the of oil into Gulf waters for nearly Marine Corps. “It’s all I know.”
A crowd enjoys music Aug. 14 on Bourbon Street. The family spent seven years in Mobile, Ala., until they moved to their current location on the road to Dauphin Island. “Nothing is ever smooth sailing,” he said, explaining that the spill is just like a hurricane in that
tourists are driven away from the area. The small wooden stand Turner built right along the road features fresh, local produce and his
CONTINUED ON PAGE 20
20 • Sept. 24, 2010
JSchool Travels
Diane Torchia, a Pensacola Lighthouse employee, looks at BP boats. Photos by Julysa Sosa
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19 famous boiled peanuts. Turner stirs one of four huge kettles behind the counter. Each kettle contains peanuts boiled for 16 hours in a blend of Habanero chili peppers, red peppers, garlic and several more ingredients he is keeping secret. “I’ve been cooking these a long time,” he said. About 100 miles inland, in the heart of New Orleans historic French Quarter, there’s a café on everyone’s itinerary. On Aug. 14, it was business as usual at Café Du Monde as servers ran around the 24-hour restaurant and patio with hot chicory coffee and French beignets. One server, Jeff, who wouldn’t provide his last name, has been working at Café Du Monde on and off for 15 years. He blamed national broadcast media for scaring away tourists. “CNN writes these big shock stories, and it puts a challenge on us,” he said. He said tourism hasn’t recovered since. Hurricane Katrina flooded the city in 2005 and that the restaurant is slower because of the negative publicity on newscasts. “When they were writing about future hurricanes and scaring people, it pissed me off,” he said. Café Du Monde manager Charles Sanchez, 40, said he wasn’t here before Katrina but heard business was booming back then. He said business has been steady, but the café gets most of its visits from tourists rather than locals. Sanchez explained that when there aren’t many customers, employees are agitated
because they’re not making any money. “If business is slow, people just go home,” he said. The summer’s earnings along the coast were short for businesses. One souvenir shop called Surf Style sits along Perdido Beach Boulevard in Orange Beach, Ala. On Aug. 20, store manager Randy Doege of Alberto, Ala., said, “The volume’s just not there anymore.” He said the shop used to see about 800-1,000 customers daily, and this June and July, the store served fewer than 400 daily. Another tourist attraction with declining
The Ranger numbers is Pensacola Lighthouse, 2081 Radford Blvd., in Pensacola, Fla. Executive Director Jon Hill said the lighthouse saw a 23 percent to 25 percent drop in visits this season. Hill said the national media hype has affected the site, which draws nearly 400 visitors a day despite the oil spill. To be fair, the lighthouse has somewhat of a cult following among ghost hunters. Purported to be haunted, it was featured on a Travel Channel special on the country’s most haunted lighthouses. In addition, the Atlantic Paranormal Society, commonly referred to as TAPS, featured the lighthouse on the Sci-Fi Channel’s “Ghost Hunters.” Visitors climb 177 steep and winding, wrought-iron steps, stopping to rest in deep window sills for the view and fresh air, until they reach the top of the 151-year-old lighthouse. After the climb in the dark and stuffy stairwell, visitors emerge into a room housing the lights and step out in the cool breeze off the Gulf. Visitors are welcome to circle the exterior of the lighthouse for panoramic views of a serene and beautiful coastline. Back in April, the lighthouse had just been open for the season a few weeks and the summer looked promising. The beach must have looked quite different five months ago. Then there probably weren’t any BP jeeps zooming across the shore. Zahra Farah contributed to this story.
Gloria’s Produce owner Bubba Turner serves boiled peanuts Aug. 17 near Dauphin Island, Ala.
The Ranger
JSchool Travels
Sept. 24, 2010 • 21
Justin Plant (left) and Jeremy Babson, workers contracted by BP, buy T-shirts parodying an annual fishing rodeo Aug. 17 at Ship and Shore on Dauphin Island, Ala. Julysa Sosa
Spill shuts down 78th annual fishing rodeo The fishing rodeo was last canceled in World War II.
oil spill. The April 20 Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion killed 11 people, released more than 200 million gallons of oil into the Gulf By Zahra Farah of Mexico and closed many of Dauphin Island’s beaches. DAUPHIN ISLAND, Ala. — A For days, the smell of oil permeremote stretch of land 14 miles long ated the island. and about two miles wide that is “Instead of people in beach home to about 1,300 permanent towels, you saw people in hazmat residents, is known for the Alabama clothes,” said Appie Head, invesDeep Sea Fishing Rodeo. tor relations coordinator The rodeo started in GULF for Gulf Coast Exploreum 1929 and is considered COAST Science Center. “You the oldest and largest could hear the drones of multispecies saltwater their cars; it felt like I was A Series tournament in the counin a ‘Star Wars’ movie.” try. According to the rodeo The rodeo generates income Web page, the tournament each and scholarship opportunities for July raises scholarship money for residents and brings in more than the University Of South Alabama’s 75,000 spectators and 3,200 fisherdepartment of marine science and men. funding to study 600 fish otoliths The 78-year-old tradition throughout the country so scienwas canceled during the Great tists can better understand Gulf Depression and two years during fisheries. World War II. This year, the rodeo The rodeo is also a chance to was canceled because of the BP collect hundreds of specimens, sav-
ing both time and money compared to traditional collection methods. Crystal Allen, 32, an employee of Ship and Shore, a convenience store that now sells oil cleanup equipment, said she was blown away to see the rodeo canceled. She said, “It messed with a lot of business and left many of the islanders outraged.” Many islanders count on the dollars the tournament brings in. A local Dauphin Island artist found a way to cash in. The Ship and Shore offers T-shirts for the “First Annual Offshore Tar Ball Rodeo.” The shirt showed commercial fishermen pulling in nothing but tar balls and fish covered in globs of oil. Bobbie Buerger, owner of Ship and Shore for 31 years, said more than 3,000 shirts have sold, the store’s biggest seller. Contracted BP workers especially appreciated the parody and bought them in bulk. Even though most area busi-
nesses such as tourist shops and restaurants were forced to file claims against BP, Ship and Shore’s business has soared. Buerger said business got better when BP workers arrived. The store brought in revenue by selling cleaning equipment, food and beer. She said she was glad the rodeo was closed because it attracted drunks to her store. As BP leaves Dauphin Island, business has slowed down drastically. Buerger said July Fourth weekend usually brings in thousands of dollars, but this year no one came to the beach. Businesses on the island have to survive on their summer income. Buerger said she is worried she is going to have to resort to filing a claim but is trying to hold off as long as possible. This year, she is hoping that the “snow birds coming in the winter can bring business back.”
22 • Sept. 24, 2010
Editorial
The Ranger
Laura Garcia
Close Banner gap District 7 trustee Blakely Fernandez couldn’t have described it better when she told Vice Chancellor Thomas Cleary that he and his district staff “don’t have it under control.” He responded to trustees’ questions about registration at an Academic Accountability and Student Success Committee meeting Sept. 14. He said he expects better performance in time for spring registration, but it will be another two years until the system is perfected. Bumbling the implementation of the Banner student records software has affected thousands of students and potentially cost the colleges money at a time when they are being squeezed by the state and district administration. It’s five weeks into the semester, so administrators and committee members need to take responsibility and stop the blame game. To start, maybe district staff should actually go to the campuses
and talk to students and faculty. Faculty and, especially, staff have been forced to deal with the consequences of an ill-conceived registration plan, chiefly, all the frustrated people darkening their doorways. Registration, obviously, was not under control. Students were dropped after having paid in full in June. Some reported being dropped up to five times. Students lost financial aid awards as they were dropped. Students were charged three-peat rates because of the drops. These are not glitches. Cleary tried to deflect some of the problems by saying students “want a schedule based on convenience.” Well, of course, they do. Our students have responsibilities — many work full-time jobs; care for children, mates and pets; volunteer with churches and service organizations — and the district needs to be respectful of that to help students get through college. This is not the way to achieve the dream or close the gap.
Have fun and learn at heritage events around district If you haven’t taken part in Hispanic Heritage Month events, there is still time. The Alamo Colleges still have a packed schedule of events, lectures and films for students interested in Hispanic culture and history. About 61.4 percent of the population in San Antonio is Hispanic, which gives students the advantage of regular exposure to the diversity of the culture. But, many people may not know about Hispanic contributions to American culture and history. This is a chance to expand awareness in a fun way. Events are free to students, so take a short break to see what is offered. Some of the upcoming events include Lupe Valdez, Dallas County sheriff, speaking; Darlene Pedraza teaching Zumba Lessons; Tea Party’s Juan Seguin Society chair debating the national legal adviser for the League of United Latin American Citizens about Arizona Immigration SB1070; and a salsa competition. In the Hispanic tradition of hospitality, there is something for everyone.
The Ranger
Officials Chancellor: Dr. Bruce H. Leslie 201 W. Sheridan, Bldg. B, San Antonio, TX 78204-1429 Work: 485-0020 Fax: 208-8149 E-mail: bleslie@alamo.edu District 1: Joe Alderete Jr. 1602 Hillcrest Drive, San Antonio, TX 78228 Cell: 863-9500 E-mail: jvajr711@aol.com District 2: Denver McClendon 3811 Willowwood Blvd., San Antonio, TX 78219 Work: 281-9141 E-mail: denvermcclendon@satx.rr.com District 3: Anna U. Bustamante 511 Ware Blvd., San Antonio TX 78221 Work: 882-1603 Fax: 927-4557 E-mail: abustamante20@alamo.edu District 4: Marcelo S. Casillas 115 Wainwright, San Antonio, TX 78211 Home: 922-6815 Fax: 923-3167 E-mail: mcasillas19@alamo.edu District 5: Roberto Zárate 4103 Buffalo Bayou, San Antonio, TX 78251 E-mail: rzarate11@alamo.edu District 6: Dr. Gene Sprague 14722 Iron Horse Way, Helotes, TX 78023 Work: 567-5544 Fax: 520-9185 E-mail: sprague@uthscsa.edu District 7: Blakely Latham Fernandez 755 E. Mulberry, Suite 200, San Antonio, TX 78212 Work: 244-8879 E-mail: bfernandez35@alamo.edu District 8: Gary Beitzel 15403 Forest Mist, San Antonio, TX 78232 Home: 496-5857 E-mail: gbeitzel@alamo.edu District 9: James A. Rindfuss 109 Laburnum, San Antonio, TX 78209 Home: 828-4630 Work: 375-2555 Home Fax: 832-8292 Office Fax: 375-0301 E-mail: jrindfuss@alamo.edu
Presidents San Antonio College, Dr. Robert E. Zeigler 486-0959, rzeigler@alamo.edu Northeast Lakeview College, Dr. Eric Reno 486-5484, ereno@alamo.edu Northwest Vista College, Dr. Jacqueline Claunch 486-4900, jclaunch@alamo.edu Palo Alto College, Dr. Ana M. “Cha” Guzman 486-3960, aguzman@alamo.edu St. Philip’s College, Dr. Adena W. Loston 486-2900, aloston@alamo.edu
The Ranger Editor Laura Garcia
Managing Editor Zahra Farah Calendar Editor Jennifer M. Ytuarte Photographers Tyler K. Cleveland, Rennie Murrell, Julysa Sosa, Alison Wadley Photo Team Katie Bordini, Noel Bracy, Christopher Michael Brown, Dave Crockett, D.L. Gonzalez, Karla Iruegas, James Lazo, Hilda M. Lopez, Henriette Mutegwaraba, Nicole Jacinta Gaskin-Paulsen, Pam Ramsey, Jenny Robles, Carmen Sanjuan Illustrators Juan Carlos Campos, Alexandra Nelipa, Fred V.M. Nockroes III Staff Writers J. Almendarez, Jacob Beltran, Kristina Coble, Joshua Fechter, Roxanna Flores, J. Hernandez, Rachel McKee, Lauren McPherson, Stefania Malacrida, Megan Mares, Aaron Nielsen, Creshawna T. Parker, Daniel Perales, Abiel Rodriguez, Riley Stephens Production Manager Melody Mendoza Production Assistant Jason B. Hogan Web Administrator D.A. James ©2010 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, the student newspaper at San Antonio College, is a laboratory project of the journalism classes in the Department of Media Communications, published Fridays except during summer, holidays and examinations. News contributions accepted by telephone (210-486-1773), by fax (210-486-1789), by e-mail (sac-ranger@alamo.edu) or at the editorial office (Room 212 Loftin Student Center). Advertising rates available upon request by phone (210486-1765) or as a download at www.theranger.org. The Ranger is a member of the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association, the Associated Collegiate Press and the Texas Community College Journalism Association.
Sept. 24, 2010 • 23 Guest Viewpoints: Faculty, staff, students and community members are welcome to contribute guest viewpoints of up to 450 words. Writers should focus on campus or current events in a critical, persuasive or interpretative style. All viewpoints must be published with a photo portrait of the writer. Letters Policy: The Ranger invites readers to share views by writing letters to the editor. Space limitations force the paper to limit letters to two double-spaced, typewritten pages. Letters will be edited for spelling, style, grammar, libel and length. Editors reserve the right to deny publication of any letter. Letters should be mailed to The Ranger, Department of Media Communications, San Antonio College, 1300 San Pedro Ave., San Antonio TX 78212-4299. Letters also may be brought to the newspaper office in Room 212 of Loftin Student Center, e-mailed to sac-ranger@alamo. edu or faxed to 210-486-1789. Letters must be signed and must include the printed name and telephone number. Students should include classification, major, campus and Banner ID. Employees should include title and telephone number. For more information, call 210-486-1773. Single Copy Policy: Members of the Alamo Community College District community are permitted one free copy per issue because of high production costs. Where available, additional copies may be purchased with prior approval for 50 cents each by contacting The Ranger business office. Newspaper theft is a crime. Those who violate the singlecopy rule may be subject to civil and criminal prosecution and subject to college discipline.
The Ranger
24 • Sept. 24, 2010
Two autistic students perform Magik By J. Hernandez “Ooooogy Green and Other Fables,” is a play about a young caterpillar coming to realize “the things that make us different are the things that make us special.” The play is from 6:30 p.m.7:50 p.m. Saturday at the Magik Theatre, 420 S. Alamo St. on the western edge of HemisFair Park. Speech-language pathologist Celeste Mullen said the play is being put on as “a tribute to parents and families of children with autism.” Mullen is one of the many people volunteering time to put on the play. Along with the six cast members and crew from Los Angeles, two performers are students from this college who have high-functioning forms of autism called Asperger’s syndrome. Theater freshman Garrett Tatum will serve as the master of ceremonies, and music freshman Dewayne Griggs II is a soloist. Griggs, originally from New Orleans, came to San Antonio after Hurricane Katrina. Yvonne Hayes, Griggs’ mother, is an active participant and advocate in building understanding for and supporting children with autism. Hayes and the volunteers said they hope to fill the 594 seats in the Magik Theatre. A corporation, which wishes to remain anonymous, and Gordon Hartman, builder of Morgan’s Wonderland, are sponsoring the event. Mullen and fellow volunteer Sandy Whited said the silent corporate sponsor is interested in promoting autism awareness. Mullen did not disclose how much was donated but said it was generous. Hartman, a local homebuilder and developer who founded Gordon Hartman Homes and Gordon V. Hartman Enterprises,
Children with autism, their parents and teachers take the stage Saturday to practice the finale of the production “Ooooogy Green and Other Fables” at the Magik Theatre. Photos by Alison Wadley
Music freshman Dewayne Griggs II, soloist in “Ooooogy Green and Other Fables” rehearses the song “I Am Your Child” by Barry Manilow Saturday at Magik Theatre, 420 S. Alamo. The play is being performed as a tribute to parents and families of children with autism.
sold both businesses in April 2005. In September of that year, Hartman and his wife, Maggie, founded the Gordon Hartman Family Foundation with the purpose of pursuing their dream of helping children and adults who deal with daily obstacles of cognitive and physical special needs. Mullen said she worked with children within the autism spec-
trum for the past 40 years as a speech-language pathologist. Through this work, Mullen developed a deep commitment to her students, the parents and families. “It takes a close bond of trust and understanding to successfully connect and make the desired difference in the development of speech and language skills,” she said. Mullen and the volunteers hope to create a greater level of understanding and support for children and parents with autism. To do this, they planned a night at the theater to help parents meet other parents with autistic children in a positive and open environment. Mullen hopes this is the beginning of more events to help grow awareness of autism in the local community. It was Mullen’s idea to bring “Ooooogy Green and Other Fables.” She said, “I saw this play performed in Los Angeles and just
wanted more children to experience its wonderful message of self discovery and acceptance.” Green is a young caterpillar boy who feels angry and rejected by his family and peers. He encounters a small group of storytellers in the forest and becomes engaged in some revealing, insightful fables that begin to make an impact on him. He goes through a metamorphosis, not only physically, but in his awareness and self-acceptance. Jon Steely, reviewer for backstage.com, wrote, “In the end, Ooooogy learns his most important lesson: The very thing that makes us ‘different’ is exactly what makes us special, so be proud of who you are.” Admission and parking are free at the San Antonio Independent School District lot on the southeast corner of Durango and Alamo streets. To reserve tickets, call Mullen at 210-408-7435 or Whited at 210497-6807.