The Ranger
Vol. 85 Issue 6
Single copies free
Oct. 22, 2010
A forum of free voices serving San Antonio College since 1926
VIRUS SPREADS HIGH DRAMA
NEW CAMPUS COMING? 3 DRIVE NOW, TEXT LATER 4 LICENSED TO DESTROY 9
2 • Oct. 22, 2010
The Ranger
The Ranger •
A forum of free voices serving San Antonio College since 1926
Hilda Fuentes dances in a Tabasco, Mexico-style during a Fiesta Mexicana Ballet Folklórico show Oct. 15 in McAllister. Julysa Sosa
This issue
3 News
Trustees wary of planning for North Central campus
7 .Senate educates trustees
Trustees’ vision impaired
Online
Story by Zahra Farah
Letter to the editor: Wrong way to success
Columnist opposes deficit spending, tax deductions
on damage from budget cuts
8 Dallas sheriff: Being first
Story by Laura Garcia
is just fine
14 Officials and policies
4 Blotter
Story by Stefania Malacrida Photo by Noel Bracy
15 Two robberies prompt
Cell phone use restricted, texting prohibited
9 Learning to destroy
Story by Riley Stephens Photo by Jacinta Nicole GaskinPaulsen
Story and Photos by Alison Wadley
5 News
12 Premiere
Health Center cuts hours, services Story by J. Hernandez Photo by Rennie Murrell
6 Clubs and administration join forces for graduation
Story by Joshua Fechter
10 Calendar
warning
Story by Riley Stephens
Story by J. Almendarez
Story by Abiel Rodriguez Photo by Noel Bracy
Photo by Julysa Sosa
13 Editorial
Academic Council rejects opt-out of SAC-ALL Story by Zahra Farah
Pumpkin picking
Story by Stefania Malacrida
College team takes steps to prevent diabetes Story by J. Hernandez
Orionids meteor shower reaches peak
Virus spreads in Loftin
Faculty go zombie
Story by J. Almendarez
16 Premiere
Banner complicates adjunct schedules Story by Zahra Farah
Fiesta Finale
Story and Photos by Julysa Sosa
Two trustees travel to Canada for conference Story by Laura Garcia
Cover photo: Theater majors Alan Galvez and Lucille Wilson pose Tuesday to demonstrate their haunted house roles. Julysa Sosa
The Ranger
News
Oct. 22, 2010 • 3
Trustees wary of planning for North Central campus Board explores capping enrollment, annexation and a bond election. By Laura Garcia Chancellor Bruce Leslie presented the board of trustees Saturday with options to address a growing gap between higher enrollment and shrinking financial support. His answer to the district’s growth: Add a new campus funded by a bond election and reduce the probability of capping enrollment at Northwest Vista College. Trustees suggested raising tuition to $3,000 a semester and asking students to travel to other colleges or offer more online instruction. The board retreat was Saturday in Huisache Hall at Northwest Vista College and heated discussion pushed the end of the meeting until about 3:15 p.m. Leslie warned trustees in the retreat that focused on the district’s future, if the administration doesn’t pursue planning the 145.5 acres designated for a North Central campus, the district might have to turn students away. The site purchased in four parcels in spring of 2005 is west of Interstate 10 and north of 1604 near the Kendall County line and Camp Bullis. The chancellor said Northwest Vista was built in 1995 to support 12,000 students and is quickly reaching its maximum enrollment with about 13,000 students attending classes on campus or taking online classes. Architect Doug Lowe, president of Facility Programming and Consultants, presented the board with a demographic study of where each of the five colleges draws its students and potentially how many students would attend the proposed campus. He estimated the new campus would have a similar growth pattern in enrollment to Northeast Lakeview College and he supported the addition of a new campus, saying that most of the growth in the city has been in the Northwest. The campus would not be a full-fledged college until much later and would operate as a branch of Northwest Vista. Leslie said that even if the district constructs three additional buildings and a parking garage as planned in Northwest Vista’s master plan, it would be too overcrowded. Board Chair Gary Beitzel questioned the type and height of new buildings. “So it seems like if you go up, it may be more cost-effective than
building a whole new campus,” Beitzel said. Leslie’s response was that there is only so much capacity at Northwest Vista and that the district could look into acquiring about 40 acres across the street, but they would have to be careful about it “unless you create a bridge or something.” Leslie referred to a side street, not Loop 1604. District 2 trustee Denver McClendon noted that Northwest Vista looks like a ghost town on nights and weekends and perhaps the college should look into offering more sections during those time periods. Vice Chairman and District 9 trustee James Rindfuss said he didn’t know the land was so close to Camp Bullis and questioned Lowe about growth near U.S. Highway 281, but this was not in his study. District 1 trustee Joe Alderete Jr. said the district was looking at population growth but might be neglecting the district’s job of developing the workforce within Bexar County. Alderete also asked about the possibility of building another site within the county and said he was concerned about the district “trying to just hop around and follow the growth.” District 5 trustee Roberto Zárate said, “I think we need to refocus.” Zárate reminded the board of the district’s mission of providing educational access to students in the county. Leslie then asked the board to consider directing him to do pre-planning and explore the possibility of a bond election, a process that he says would take about two years. He said even if the process starts soon, the district would still need two to three years to plan the buildings. He said it would be five or six years before a new campus could open. Even though space remains to accommodate a larger enrollment at the other four colleges, Leslie said, many students who attend Northwest Vista would not want to drive 30 miles to Northeast Lakeview College. “It seems to me like we are in very dire straits financially,” Blakely Latham Fernandez, District 7 trustee, said during the retreat. State appropriations have been in decline for years, and the colleges effectively turned away students this semester when 1,500 sections were canceled as the district attempted to cut $12 million from the budget. In February 2005, voters rejected a $450 million bond package, which included plans to consolidate health career training from this college and St. Philip’s College in the South Texas
Medical Center. In November 2005, a revised bond package, which kept health career training intact at the colleges, passed. It included $125 million for Northeast Lakeview College. Leslie said a new bond could help pay for the construction and planning of a new campus and fulfill the other colleges’ need for renovations. Rindfuss made it clear he was against changing the district’s open-door policy and said, “If we try to cap enrollment, that’s almost insane.” Instead, he suggested raising tuition to quell the district’s financial problems and that even if students pay $3,000 a semester, the district would still be the lowest cost tuition in the area. McClendon said, “So you’re saying put it on the backs of the students?” Rindfuss replied, “We need not apologize if we have to restructure the way we do business.” McClendon described the possibility of capping enrollment a “tragedy.” An annexation plan for the seven counties in the district’s service area would create increased tax revenue and would allow students residing in those counties to pay in-district tuition rates. Residents in these counties, who pay twice the tuition that Bexar County students pay, would have to vote on the plan. Annexation can take years, Leslie said, and reported that Austin Community College spent 12 years trying to annex surrounding counties and came across competition for territory when Round Rock wanted to build its own college. Leslie asked trustees whether they wanted him to pursue a bond election and development of a North Central campus, but trustees were wary of proceeding. “Can we wait 10 years before we go out with another bond election to include the North Central campus?” The question, he said, is do you support a strategy that caps growth because if you cap, you are going to have repercussions. The board ended the discussion with a decision to collect more information. Leslie said they could plan another retreat later if trustees want to pursue a North Central campus. The board will meet for its regular meeting at 6 p.m. Oct. 26 in Room 101 of Killen Center, 201 W. Sheridan. The October meeting was postponed a week to allow board members to attend an Association of Community College Trustees conference in Canada and assure a quorum for the meeting. Trustees return Oct. 23. For more information, call 210-485-0030 or log onto www.alamo.edu for an agenda of the meeting.
Blotter
4 • Oct. 22, 2010
The Ranger
Cell phone use restricted, texting prohibited Tip of the week By Riley Stephens
Lost and found Fact: 36 items were reported lost or found last month.
The district police department displays items in the lost and found Tuesday. Rennie Murrell
The lost and found is at the police office at each college. The campus police office at this college is at 1601 N. Main and is open from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Call dispatch at 210-485-0099 to report lost or found property. For more information, visit the police department web site at http://www.alamo.edu/district/ dps/seclinks/prevention.htm.
Contact Info Emergency 222-0911 General DPS 485-0099 Weather Line 485-0189
A state law banning the use of handheld devices in school zones went into effect Sept. 1, 2009. New signs between this college and Travis Early College High School warn students not to use their cell phones under penalty of a fine. There are three signs at Courtland Place and Howard Street and one sign at Dewey Place and Howard that read, “Cell phone use prohibited; up to $200 fine.” Oct. 15, the San Antonio City Council approved an ordinance, or city law, banning texting while driving. District 4 Councilman Philip Cortez admits to using his phone to text and drive in the past. “I think we have all done it,” he said. Despite the practice, Cortez pushed for the ordinance to pass. He said he couldn’t wait for the 2011 elections in November because he hopes the ordinance could become a state law. “We have secured the support of state Sen. Carlos Uresti, D-San Antonio, in the 2011 vote. I think there is an opportunity that the bill will prevail,” Cortez said. State Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, said, “I believe it should be a model for other communities and other states.” She failed to pass a bill in 2009 that would ban
Traffic control engineers Juan Mendoza, standing, Juan Medina, left, and Adrian Licea erect signs Oct. 15 around Travis Early College High School. Jacinta Nicole Gaskin-Paulsen reading, writing and sending of text messages while operating a motor vehicle. “It’s not just the act of texting; it’s the act of texting while driving. It affects both the pedestrians and the drivers,” Zaffirini said. The rules are simple. “If you go into a school zone, you can’t use your phone for anything,” Cortez said. “If you’re not in one, you can use your phone but you cannot text, use your e-mail, or go online, etc.” He said he hopes with the new ordinance in San Antonio, the use of texting while driving will slowly decrease the number of fatalities on the road.
SAN ANTONIO COLLEGE
ST. PHILIP’S
Palmetto. EMS refused.
Oct. 11 — Individual reported a vehicle being burglarized in the parking garage. No suspects.
Oct. 9 — Individual reported a female arguing computer regulations in Sutton. She departed before the officers’ arrival.
Individual reported feeling ill in Lot 8. EMS treated.
Oct. 13 — Individual reported an odor of gas in the nursing complex. All found to be OK. Individual reported his vehicle being burglarized in Lot 14.
Oct. 11 — Individual reported damage to her personal vehicle. Oct. 15 — Male in Norris with an active warrant and was transported to the magistrate’s office.
Oct. 14 — Individual reported damage to personal vehicle in Sea World overflow lot. Oct. 15 — Individual reported a personal vehicle being burglarized in Lot 10. No suspects.
Oct. 15 — Individual reported a strange odor in Chance.
PALO ALTO
NORTHEAST LAKEVIEW
Oct. 16 — SAPD reported a male who appeared to have been injured falling in Luther’s lot.
Oct. 11 — Individual reported the tailgate had been stolen from his truck. No suspects.
Individual reported a person having a seizure in Fletcher. EMS treated.
NORTHWEST VISTA
Oct. 14 — Individual reported feeling ill in building 8300. EMS treated.
Oct. 11 — Individual reported being injured during class in
Oct. 15 — Individual reported students in library after closing.
Oct. 11 — Individual reported a snake in a commons classroom.
The Ranger
News
Donna Deming, associate director of records, prepares to lower a gate to block the view Tuesday as district police and EMS technicians
Oct. 22, 2010 • 5
render aid to an unidentified staff member during an emergency in admission and records. Rennie Murrell
Health center cuts hours, services Nurse is restricted to care within the center. By J. Hernandez Be careful on campus because if you get injured, the nurse won’t be coming to help, and if you get sick and want to visit the college health center, you might find it closed while the health center coordinator attends a meeting elsewhere. Tuesday, an employee suffered a seizure in the admissions and records office in Fletcher Administration Center. Under a new protocol, college health center Coordinator Paula Daggett, who is a registered nurse, was unable to assist. Also, that morning, a professor in Chance Academic Center reported a student entering his classroom and falling to the floor in a seizure. On May 27, David Mrizek, college services vice president, sent a mass e-mail stating a student or employee at the scene of an incident should call district police. DPS will gather information and follow their procedures for emergencies. The college’s executive team approved the change.
Along with the new procedures, the office of student life decided to interpret the Texas Board of Nursing’s Interpretive Guideline for LVN Scope of Practice Section 301.353 and Rule 217.11(2) that requires “an LVN to practice under the supervision of a RN, advanced practice nurse, physician, podiatrist, dentist or physician assistant” more narrowly than previously. Because of this reading, whenever Daggett has to leave for a meeting, lunch or anything else, everyone in the college health center has to leave and the health center must be closed. Dagget has also been tasked with overseeing some student club activities, duties the office of student life are responsible for. Jorge Posadas, student life director, said, “(LVN) Josie Noriega can’t provide health care unsupervised. Paula Daggett’s license lets Josie work.” For years, LVNs allowed the health center to provide hours to accommodate day, evening and weekend students. The medical regulations are not recent additions but were added to the state nursing guidelines in September 2004 and revised in January 2006.
Posadas was unavailable to comment on why the college has not acted until now. This college’s executive team, composed of the college president, vice presidents and deans, reviewed the additional guidelines in late spring and implemented them during the summer. “Because of budget cuts, student services generally suffer,” Posadas said. However, Posadas is in a position to do something about it by using the student activity fee each student pays at a rate of $1 per semester. Posadas said a safety concern has caused the recent changes to the health center. He said Noriega and Daggett are not trained first responders, so they cannot leave the health center to help students or faculty in an emergency. When asked about not being able to assist the employee seizing Tuesday and Posadas saying she is not a first responder, Daggett simply said, “I’m a nurse.” Students are not happy about the situation. “I almost don’t want to go here anymore,” said library sciences sophomore Loree Morgan, who is a disabled student
and depends on the center daily. Without the health center, Morgan does not know whether she can stay at this college. “I’m not blaming Paula, but where do I go where I can get my needs met?” International business sophomore Sara Gabel said, “Why do they want to take something we’re using?” Delia A. De Luna, student services assistant for disability support services, said, “The concern is these students don’t have anything that is accessible.” The office of disability support services is located next door to the health center because of reliance on the its services. De Luna wants to know where students can go when services are not provided. “I can’t understand why they’re not there like they used to be,” she said. “Parents and students feel comfortable because there’s a health center.” De Luna questioned if DPS is qualified to determine when to call EMS and also if students should be billed for the EMS call if not requested. For more information, visit the center in Room 119 of Chance or call 210-486-0222.
6 • Oct. 22, 2010
News
The Ranger
Clubs and administration join forces for graduation By Joshua Fechter In Presidents Round Table Oct. 14, this college’s administration met with club presidents to discuss promoting graduation through the organizations as a service component. President Robert Zeigler; Dr. Jessica Howard, vice president of academic affairs; and Dr. Robert Vela, interim district director of center for student information, called the special meeting to focus specifically on graduation. Howard said students who graduate with an associate degree statistically do better when they transfer to a university than those who transfer without completing a degree plan. “Graduation is one of our most important initiatives at SAC,” she said.
“When students become a junior or senior and have that degree, it will distinguish them from everybody else in their field who are looking for a job,” she said. Howard encouraged clubs and organizations to take part in promoting graduation, though none are required to participate in the initiative. Howard said she wants graduation to become integral to campus culture. “We want it promoted all of the time through cells of student activity,” she said. Howard suggested organizations could adopt an academic department and encourage teachers to promote graduation in the classroom. “If you want to capture students, the only way you can do it is in class,” she said.
Zeigler said the club’s ideas do not have to be complicated as long they get the message out. “It’s just a matter of trying to keep it in front of people so they’re aware that graduation is important and that it is relatively easy to do,” he said.
Zeigler said graduation could be promoted on a word-of-mouth basis. “Just think about if every member of every club talked up graduation and the huge impact that could have across the college,” he said.
The Ranger
News
Oct. 22, 2010 • 7
Senate educates trustees on damage from budget cuts By Zahra Farah District 1 trustee Joe Alderete and District 7 trustee Blakely Fernandez learned about consequences and cuts the colleges face because of board and district administration decisions. At Wednesday’s Faculty Senate meeting, senators spent about three hours in a question-andanswer session with the two trustees who joined the board in May. They were informed $12 million in cuts for fiscal year 2011 left the colleges scrambling and cutting many student services. At the Aug. 19 regular board meeting, trustees passed 6-3 a 2011 operating budget with a 5-percent tuition increase in spring 2011 and a property tax increase that adds $5.77 per year to a home valued at $100,000. District 3 trustee Anna Bustamante, Alderete and Fernandez voted against the increase. Cuts here include a loss of 50 percent of temporary employees and note-takers for students with disabilities; cuts in hours and tutors in math, English and SLAC labs; cuts in library hours and databases and job placement services; and a stronger push for a 50-50 adjunct-faculty ratio. Alderete told senators he wanted a clear list of the negative impact faculty and students have faced so he can present this information to the board because Alderete said he was told by district administrators “nothing was supposed to impact the students directly.” That comment raised a big laugh. Alderete asked faculty if a communication problem exists between departments and the college because in a meeting he attended with the five college presidents, they approved cuts. Counselor Steve Samet advised Alderete to take into consideration that college presidents are appointed by the chancellor.
Math Professor Carlos Corona said the district passes Alamo Colleges’ operating budget, then the monies are dispersed to colleges to figure out how to make the money stretch. He said the problem is each college’s needs differ; the college is left to make hard decisions, which leaves everyone, in the end, suffering. Fernandez said she was not aware of the direct cuts to student services because specific information is not being reported to the board. Fernandez said the information trustees receive comes from the administration unless she gets a call directly from a parent. She told senators she wanted to hear “concerns you have so we can be a part of the solution.” Alderete said he told Chancellor Bruce Leslie he was not going to “flat out get information only from administration.” “I’m here to listen to different opinions,” he said. “We are policymakers not administrators … we can’t cast things without the whole picture.” Senators thanked Alderete and Fernandez repeatedly for being willing to hear “our side … and not think we’re only disgruntled employees,” business Chair Val Calvert said. Last spring, Faculty Senate invited then-new trustee Fernandez to a special called meeting Feb. 10, but she canceled saying board policy prohibited it without another trustee present. Senators tried getting trustees Gary Beitzel of District 8, Roberto Zárate of District 5 and then-board Chair Denver McClendon of District 2 to accompany Fernandez, but all declined. Zárate added, in a Jan. 29 e-mail, “It is beyond my role and responsibility to meet with either staff and faculty. This protocol is to maintain an objective viewpoint when making decisions.” Senators, at the time, questioned whether
trustees care about making informed decisions. At Wednesday’s meeting, Calvert said her department has a shortage of full-time faculty, with a 30-70 full-time-to-adjunct ratio, and one program has 7 percent full-time faculty. Calvert said the shortage prevents students from receiving enough advising and assistance in labs. Samet said job placement was important, helping students connect with the workforce and internships. Also, the cut in temporary employees, which includes work-study students, adds greater financial burdens to students and could factor into keeping them out of college. Alderete said he was upset to hear of job placement being cut. “This really bothers me; we were not communicated this as a board.” He continued, “We need the full facts.” Corona said in developmental math courses, students require an extra lab hour. He said he has no problem with an extra lab hour, but with the number of students in developmental math, there is not enough lab space or tutors. He said if something is added to the curriculum, the department should have the resources to fulfill those needs. For two years, chairs have had to deal with course alignment across the district, E-syllabus, Banner, learning outcome measurement and other new initiatives. Bill Richardson, kinesiology and dance chair, said some of them are good, but he’s barely “swimming up stream.” He said he wants trustees to know “we fight through it” and “bring it in the classroom,” but department chairs are worn out. “Things are moving too quickly,” he said. Chairs in the meeting nodded in agreement. Fernandez accepted some blame because some initiatives have been approved since she took office, “My apologies on what this is doing to your job.”
New
8 • The Ranger
Dallas sheriff: Being first is just fine By Stefania Malacrida When Lupe Valdez was elected sheriff of Dallas County in 2004, she broke many ceilings. She is the only female sheriff in Texas, the first Hispanic and the first “out” lesbian. For Valdez, being the first is something she got used to long before her election. She has been in law enforcement more than 35 years, and in a field dominated by men, she was often the only woman in almost every hierarchy she belonged to and every training or class she attended. Valdez began with one of those recollections in her Coming-Out Week lecture Oct. 14 in the auditorium of McAllister Fine Arts Center. “About 25 years ago, I was in Quantico, Va., for an undercover class as a federal anti-terrorism agent,” she said. “Being the only female, I had an advantage — there was no line for the women’s bathroom,” she joked, triggering a loud laugh in the audience. “When I came out of the bathroom, I heard one FBI top manager saying as loud as he could, ‘I’ll be blankety-blank-blank if I ever have to take orders from someone who has to sit down to pee.’ In that moment, I promised myself that I would never allow another person to be publicly degraded that way,” she said. Now Valdez runs a metropolitan jail system with about 2,000 employees, many who verbally attacked her during her campaign because of her sexual orientation. “My opponents delved farther and farther into the negative, coming out with offensive slogans,” she said. “When I took office in 2004, those people were terribly afraid to be fired.” Not only did Valdez not fire them, she worked to change their minds. “The revenge has to stop with us,” she said. “Sexist people, racist people think we minorities would behave the same way they treated us, but we have to look beyond our hurt egos.” This positive attitude was eventually successful for Valdez. “We ran as if we were losing,” she said, adding
Sheriff Lupe Valdez references “The Interpreter” talking about overcoming bias Oct. 12. Noel Bracy that it was amazing to “think that a Democrat, a woman, a Hispanic and a lesbian would dare run for sheriff in Bush’s backyard.” Nevertheless she ran, carefully considering when to play the gaycard. “I wasn’t out publicly at that time. Only a few people knew that I was a lesbian,” she said. The news, however, began to spread. Sooner or later, she had to come out, before her opponents did it for her. “I remember entire nights spent with my staff, discussing whether to come out or not, and how.” She delayed as long as she could. “I wanted to make sure that my sexuality wasn’t the first thing they knew about me,” she said. “I wanted to convey the message that the skills and the motivation are the important things, regardless of one’s sexual orientation.” Finally, Valdez came out during a press conference in the simplest way she could. ‘Yes, I’m a lesbian,’ I said. ‘And what’s the big deal? Don’t 35 years experience count?’ And we went ahead speaking about the program,” she said. Valdez recalled the victory in 2004 as an unexpected joy not only for her but also for the many minorities she represents. In 2008, she was reelected. At 63, she wants to run again in 2012. If she loses, she will find another way to serve the community. “But to tell the truth, I’m very popular,” she smiled.
Cadet Logan Huesing uses a claw to cut into a car Monday at Texas Au
Cadet Lt. Jesse Borroel uses a cutter to remove a car roof while Instructor Tom Miller supervises and cadets Greg Carrillo, Robert Sanchez and Victoria Recio watch.
Cadets Pearl Pearson tice cribbing and a a vehicle during a Monday.
ws
Oct. 22 2010 • 9
Cadets Lt. Jesse Borroel, James Rogers and Lt. Brent Lowak clean up after vehicle extrication exercises Monday.
Learning to destroy Story and Photos by Alison Wadley One minute, you’re driving, and the next minute, you’re spinning wildly out of control. Your car hits an embankment and you begin to roll. When the vehicle comes to a halt, you realize you’re trapped. The floorboard is above you, and you have no way of getting out. This is a job for firefighters. “All fire equipment is designed to destroy, not repair,” fire science Instructor Eddie Bramhall said. He is a retired captain from San Antonio Fire Department. This college’s First Responders Fire Academy is down a quiet road about 2 miles off Interstate 35 in Atascosa County. As a part of Basic Fire Suppression class at the academy, cadets learn basic
Cadet Logan Huesing uses a glass saw to cut the windshield out of a car Monday at Texas Auto Salvage. tasks necessary to assist in extrication from motor vehicle accidents, the most common rescue call. Cadets use various air tools and hand tools such as splitters, cutters, pick axes and glass saws to cut up cars while learning vehicle extrication. They also use air bags to raise vehicles
off the ground and cribbing to support the vehicle once it is raised. He said they practice vehicle extrication techniques so they can get a feel for how heavy the tools are and have a basic idea of how to use them, but they will learn to use them in-depth once they are employed with a fire department. This is one of many exercises in the 40-hour-a-week course offered at the academy. Basic Fire Suppression counts for 27 credit hours and can be applied to an associate degree in fire science from this college. To become a firefighter, EMT training is required. For more information on EMT training, visit http://www.alamo. edu/sac/ce/mycaa/emt.html. For information on First Responders Fire Academy, call academic unit assistant Rita Ogden at 210-486-1692.
uto Salvage.
n and Josh Capps pracair bags to safely raise an extrication exercise
Above, Cadet Logan Huesing uses a spreader to remove a car door while fire science Instructors Tom Miller and Capt. Cheryl McCall supervise, Cadet Greg Carrillo holds hoses at the ready. Left, Cadets Tripp Christopher and James Rogers and fire science Instructor Tom Miller remove the windshield from a car after cutting it with a pick ax and glass saw.
Calendar
10 • Oct. 22, 2010 For coverage, call 210-486-1773 or e-mail sac-ranger@alamo.edu two weeks in advance. Today
Lecture: Trinity’s DeCoursey Lecture Series presentation of “Biodiversity and the Future of Life” with Pulitzer Prize recipient Edward O. Wilson at 7:30 p.m. in Laurie Auditorium, One Trinity Place. Call 210-999-8201.
The Ranger Wednesday
Thursday
SAC Meeting: Gay and Lesbian Association at 3 p.m. in Room 613 of Moody. Call 210-486-0673.
SAC Sports: Women’s volleyball vs. NVC at 7 p.m. at NVC. Call 210-486-0125. Oct. 29
SAC Event: Job Fair 9 a.m.-1 p.m. in the Fiesta Room of Loftin. Call 210-486-0135. Saturday SAC Event: PC on Call clinic 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at Port of San Antonio, 312 Clarence Tinker. Call 210-486-3412. Monday SAC Meeting: Astronomy Club 1 p.m.-2 p.m. in Room 111 of chemistry and geology. Call 210-486-0063. SAC Comedy: Oxymorons troupe 11 a.m.noon in Loftin cafeteria. Call 210-486-0125. SAC Club: Cheshyre Cheese at 3 p.m., Room 100 of Gonzales. Call 210-486-0125.
SAC Meeting: Society of MexicanAmerican Engineers and Scientists at 3:30 p.m. in the MESA study center in Room 204 of Chance. Call 210-486-1309.
SAC Lecture: “Healthy Relationships” hosted by health center 11 a.m.noon in the Craft Room of Loftin. Call 210-486-0222. SAC Sports: Women’s and men’s basketball vs. NVC. Women’s at 6 p.m., men’s at 8 p.m. in Candler. Call 210-486-0125.
SAC Event: 3-on-3 basketball 1 p.m.-4 p.m. in Gym 1 of Candler. 210-486-0125.
SAC Event: Health screenings by Wellness Committee and Affordable Lab 7 a.m.-9 a.m. in Room 126 of Candler. Appointment required. Call 210-588-8779.
PAC Event: Children’s Halloween celebration at 1:30 p.m. in Children’s Library in Ozuna. Call 210-486-3561.
Tuesday SAC Worship: Campus Crusade for Christ at 1:30 p.m. in Room 119 of chemistry and geology. Call 210-486-1233. SAC Meeting: Society of Women in Engineering at noon in MESA center in Room 204 of Chance. Call 210-486-1309. 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: “Women in Policing” with San Antonio Police Department recruiting from 9 a.m.-noon in Loftin. Call 210-486-0422.
Oct. 31
Calendar Legend
SAC Meeting: Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science at 3 p.m. in MESA center, Room 204 of Chance. Call 210-486-0342.
SAC: San Antonio College NVC: Northwest Vista College SPC: St. Philip’s College SWC: Southwest Campus PAC: Palo Alto College NLC: Northeast Lakeview College
Join the Student Leadership Institute!
Accepting Applications for the Spring 2011 Semester
Meet new people and make new friends Explore new interests Learn new or enhance current skills Network and gain experience related to your field of interest Be exposed to leadership opportunities on campus and in the community Build your resume
Visit: www.alamo.edu/district/sli Call: 210.485.0790
The Ranger
Oct. 22, 2010 • 11
Are You Connected? Connect your two year associate’s degree with a four-year bachelor’s degree at UT Dallas. Lock in tomorrow’s tuition at today’s prices for four school years through our guaranteed tuition plan. Get access to early advising and start planning your move today. Go to UT Dallas’ Comet Connection website for details and to report your intention to join.
utdallas.edu/connect
Join Us for Preview Friday! Designed exclusively for transfer students, Preview Friday is an event that allows you to mingle with other transfer students and view a detailed presentation about transferring, financial aid, scholarships and campus life. It also gives you an opportunity to talk oneon-one with an advisor in your major to learn how you can make the smoothest transition to help you reach your academic goals.
create your future
Register online for the date you’d like to attend and get more information regarding Preview Friday and other events at utdallas.edu/enroll/events. Directions to the UT Dallas campus are available at utdallas.edu/directions.
2010 - 2011 Preview Friday Dates 2 - 4 p.m. Oct. 22 Nov. 5 Feb. 11
utdallas.edu
Premiere
12 • Oct. 22, 2010
Virus spreads in Loftin Annual haunted house is infectious.
Faculty go zombie By Stefania Malacrida
By Abiel Rodriguez An unknown virus turns Loftin Student Center into a sick ward for the dying. From 7 p.m.-11 p.m. Oct. 29-30, Loftin Student Center will be filled with people infected with an unknown virus in the fourth annual haunted house presented by the Onstage Drama Club and the office of student life. Virus, this year’s theme, will lead the brave and immune through various stages of a viral infection. If all the hype in the last five years over a bird flu pandemic make you scoff, remember, a virus turned everyone into blood-thirsty zombies in “28 Days” and almost gave the U.S. Army reason to blow a small ebola-ridden town off the map in “Outbreak.” The drama club didn’t want to give away too much but provided a brief description of the haunted house. Onstage Drama Club adviser Paula Rodriguez said, “One room will have people in the beginning stages of being infected with the virus, while another will have people completely taken over by the virus.” Students from this college get in free with a college ID. The general admission fee is $5. Because of the graphic nature of the haunted house, children under the age of 6 will not be admitted. “It might be too scary for them,” Rodriguez explained. “There will be blood, zombies and people screaming.”
The Ranger
Drama sophomore “Z.” Badillo practices his zombie moves by pretending to attack drama freshman Andy Silva on Oct. 8 outside the visual arts center. Noel Bracy The haunted house is directed, built and performed by students. Anthony Diaz, president of the Onstage Drama Club, said, “We have people from Psych Club, OnStage Drama Club and people from the office of student life participating in the event.” Students who have taken stage makeup classes will help make the event feel authentic by applying makeup to the actors. The effects in the haunted house include lighting and audio but won’t include haze and fog machines because they tend to turn on smoke alarms, Rodriguez said. The themes for the haunted house have been different each year since it started. The first year’s haunted house was asylum-themed
followed by “Terror in the Toy Factory” and a “Bloody Ball at Dewey Mansion” last year. A portion of the proceeds will help fund a trip for the Onstage Drama Club to New York City to attend workshops and see Broadway plays in May. This college’s haunted house offers a less expensive alternative to other Halloween events in the city. Prices for haunted houses like The 13th Floor and Nightmare on Grayson range from $14.99 to $29.99. Six Flags Fiesta Texas and Sea World also have Halloween-themed events that could cost as much as $58.99 to enter the parks. For more information, call the office of student life at 210-486-0125.
For one night, teachers will toss aside chalk and red pens and don vampire’s teeth or witch hats, not to torture their poor students, but to perform in the Halloween Faculty Concert at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in the auditorium of McAllister Fine Arts Center. All of them will be dressed in the best Halloween tradition. “Last year, we had ‘Sweeney Todd.’ It was an awesome makeup,” piano Professor Mary Lou Russell said. “This year, we will have zombies and German character’s outfits such as ‘Hans und Franz,’” Russell said. As far as the music, Russell revealed, “I’m playing Bach ‘Toccata & Fugue in D Minor’ — always a winner!” Bach’s “Toccata and Fugue” on pipe organ and “The Phantom Of The Opera” are some of the gothic melodies in the program. The orchestra also will play other types of popular music such as the Rolling Stones’ “You Can’t Always Get What You Want.” Between one piece and another, a series of sketches from major comedies will entertain the audience. The tickets cost $5 for students and $7 for adults, and the department also accepts donations. Music Chair Mark Denison said the reason for the concert is to raise money for scholarships. “The event finances two $500 scholarships for two music students who stood out during the semester for talent and commitment,” he said. “The names will be announced at the end of the concert, and this will be the pivotal moment of the night,” Denison said. Denison anticipated that he will wear a funny dress, “a sweat suit based on a ‘Saturday Night Live’ character. I can’t tell more. It’s a surprise,” he said. During the evening, a lottery and a number of jokes will assure fun for everybody. “The spirit of the whole evening is basically to have fun,” Denison concluded. “But the scholarships are for real.” The concert is organized by the music, theater and speech communication department and includes 12 instructors: Denison, Russell, Terry Muska, Peter Kline, Andrew Gignac, Cynthia Sanchez, Jeff Hunt, Peter Carey, Jim Kalson, Janet Tracy, Owen Duggan and Madeline Elizondo. Other participants include Jorge Posadas and Tyler Archer of student life; Dr. Jessica Howard, vice president of academic affairs; and student chamber singer Rene Solarzano. For information, visit http://www.alamo.edu/ sac/music/musiccalendar.htm.
The Ranger
Editorial
Oct. 22, 2010 • 13 Letter to the Editor
Wrong way to success
Alexandra Nelipa
Trustees’ vision impaired Parking at this college is problematic every semester, and there are many instances when students become so discouraged, they give up. The district needs to look at each college individually when it comes to parking decisions. This college has 3,760 parking spaces, according to a 2009 survey by Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam Inc. This is only 1,985 more parking spaces than at Northeast Lakeview College whose enrollment is 5,252 students compared to this college’s 22,498 students. Where is the fairness trustees talk about? If trustees approve increasing the price of parking permits to $50 next week, the district should use the money for more officers as well as addressing the lack of parking. The district police reported that based on other institutions the ideal officer-to-student ratio is 3.8 officers per 1,000 students. Also, this district provides only 0.98 officers per 1,000 students as reported at the board budget retreat on May 15. Last week alone on this campus, there was a report of a robbery and an assault and robbery — both in broad
daylight and one in a heavily traveled area. There is an obvious need for a higher profile by police. Public transportation also needs some serious exploration, so students who can’t afford the $50 parking permit will still have a means of transportation to school. It’s clear from this weekend’s retreat that trustees don’t fully appreciate the financial hardships students today face. This is not the golden age of American economy that many of the trustees experienced growing up and attending college. This is the generation that cannot expect a better life than their parents. Hard times makes for hard choices. Because so many more students are affected by the permit increase than the citation increase, the district should sharply increase citations rather than permits. Let those who choose to violate rules pay the consequences. There is still time to weigh in on the decision. Trustees are expected to address parking at the regular board meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday at 201 W. Sheridan. Sign up before 6 p.m. to address the board in the citizens-to-be-heard segment of the meetings.
Editor: The Texas Legislature seems likely to lead Texas colleges down the wrong path in the name of success. True success must be earned, not legislated nor administered. Who wouldn’t like to be successful? I know any success I might have is inexorably linked to my students’ success. Thus, I feel compelled to strive to do all I reasonably can to ensure their success. Even so, there are many things I can’t do for students. I cannot attend class for them. I cannot remember for them. I also cannot make learning more important to them than their latest text message. These are things students must do themselves. Recent and proposed initiatives by the Texas Legislature regarding funding for community colleges have caused college administrators to increasingly track “student success” and push for better numbers. However, success seems to be narrowly defined as productive grade rate without consideration of actual learning. It has been said that San Antonio College is not as “successful” as our peers. While our PGRs might not be at the same level as our peers, I would argue that it well might be that our standards are higher. I hope there is no great push to make medical schools more successful and I doubt that CPA exams or bar exams will be made easier to accommodate a different type of student with a different type of expectation. (A significant percentage seem to expect success as a reward for attendance.) Administrators probably have no choice but to push for more and more student success. I would argue, however, that any statement that we should expect to achieve a really significant increase in student success but should not lower standards is either naive or disingenuous. I would expect that the “pressure to pass” will be especially strong on adjunct and nontenured faculty. I would like to add that none of this has made me bitter or “burned out.” I still love what I do and feel honored to have spent the last 31 years teaching at such a great school. I just hope what I am expected to do does not change so drastically that I no longer love what I might be forced to do. Gerald Busald Math Professor
14 • Oct. 22, 2010
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, 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, Stefania Malacrida, Megan Mares, Aaron Nielsen, Creshawna T. Parker, Daniel Perales, Abiel Rodriguez, Riley Stephens Production Manager Melody Mendoza Production Assistants Krystal Barcenez, 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.
The Ranger 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
Premiere
Oct. 22, 2010 • 15
Orionids meteor shower reaches peak The full moon may interfere with viewing, coordinator warns. By J. Almendarez The Orionids meteor shower will be at its peak through today. This meteor shower appears annually when Earth passes through dust left behind by Halley’s comet. The comet is visible with the unaided eye from Earth every 76 years, and its last pass close to Earth was in 1986. It will appear again in 2062. Planetarium Coordinator Bob Kelley described the event as being similar to “bugs on a windshield.” Watching a meteor shower away from city lights will typically increase the visibility of meteors, but the moon, which becomes full at 9:38 p.m. today creates a less than desirable condition for meteor sightings because, Kelley said, “The moon will just be too bright.” Moonrise tonight is at 7:33 p.m., and the moon sets at 8:18 a.m. so it will be in the sky all night. Because the full moon will overly light the sky, the visibility of meteors may be reduced to five to
10 meteors an hour, but the shower can produce as many as 25 meteors per hour. While Kelley warns of the possibility of a lackluster celestial show, he said that it still may prove to be a worthwhile event. He said the meteors will likely take one to two seconds to burn in the atmosphere. Most will appear white, but some of the brightest ones will appear yellow or green. Kelley credits color variations to the mineral content of the comet dust as they chemically react to the atmosphere. The highest concentration of meteors will be between 5 a.m. and 6 a.m. and can be found by looking directly overhead and slightly west. While the constellation Orion will be visible on the eastern horizon at 11:30 p.m., only meteors burning toward the west will be seen so early. Kelley does not recommend using binoculars or a telescope during the shower because they will narrow the scope of the sky and reduce the chances of meteor sightings. Information about monthly astronomical events can be found at http://www.alamo.edu/sac/ce/ scobee/skyline2.html.
Two robberies prompt warning Alamo Colleges police offer tips to increase individual safety. By Riley Stephens Two robberies, one with an assault, occurred this week, but police are not releasing information on the incidents as they are under investigation. An Oct. 13 crime alert e-mail warned of a robbery reported between McCreless and Gonzales halls in which a student reported two unidentified individuals stole his personal property at 2:30 p.m. Campus police also received a report at 11:45 a.m. Oct. 15 about a student who was physically assaulted by three males. On Oct. 15, The Ranger reported a Gateway-to-College student saw the victim of the robbery talking to the three assailants prior to the robbery near Dewey
and Belknap places. The eyewitness said the victim was seen playing with a handheld gaming device and showing off a “nice phone.” He moved west on Dewey with the assailants. The eyewitness said he heard people yelling about a fight and the victim started to run eastward on Dewey. When the victim was next seen, he had blood dripping from his face, his eye was red and swollen, and he was bleeding from his nose. Sgt. Ben Peña of the Alamo Colleges police said Tuesday there have been no additional assaults reported. Because the robbery is still under investigation, Peña did not want to reveal the specifics of the robbery but said the number of people located near the area where the robbery occurred
For more information on crime prevention, visit http://www.alamo.edu/district/ dps/saclinks/prevention.htm.
is something that doesn’t happen often. “There is no reason why it happened here and not anywhere else. They (robberies) just happen,” he said. Peña said students shouldn’t put themselves in situations where they can be a victim and should stay in public areas with people they know. “We offer tips to students online and in The Ranger,” Peña said. The e-mail alert suggests using the buddy system when walking on campus. To report an incident, call the police dispatcher at 210-4860099.
Pumpkin picking:
Biology sophomore Carlos Castany looks for a pumpkin to pick out for the Halloween costume pumpkin carving contest during Oktoberfest Wednesday in the mall. The contest is from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Oct. 29 in Loftin. Julysa Sosa
16 • Oct. 22, 2010
Premiere
The Ranger
Hilda Fuentes dances while balancing a liquidfilled bottle on her head Oct. 15 during a performance of Fiesta Mexicana Ballet Folklórico in the auditorium of McAllister.
Fiesta Finale Mexican folklórico group travels to San Antonio for wrap of Hispanic Heritage Month.
Story and Photos by Julysa Sosa Ballet Folklórico Fiesta Mexicana, a group of 38 dancers from Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico, performed traditional dances last week to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. The men whirled onstage with pairs of machetes, and the women twirled while balancing on their heads bottles and trays of filled water glasses. The office of student life sponsored the troupe, which cost $15,000, for three performances and a three-hour Oct. 16 workshop in the gym of Candler Physical Education Center. The dancers performed at Northeast Lakeview College Oct. 14 and at 11 a.m. Oct. 15 in the mall at this college. The group also performed at 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium of McAllister Fine Arts Center for a crowd of about 300.
The dancer’s colorful costumes and fancy footwork represented styles of dance from different regions of Mexico. One unexpected dance routine, that originated from Nayarit, Mexico, incorporated quick movements with machetes, or large heavy knives. The dancers cut the air with the machetes in synchronized motions in front of their bodies, between their legs and daringly threw them into the air and caught them in time with the music. This style of dance was used by men to show off their skill in field work. The women waved the folds of the skirts of their vibrantly colored dresses, while balancing brown glass bottles on top of their heads and fanning themselves. Carlos Juarez, one of the male dancers, said he has been dancing for most of his life and has made it a family tradition. “Es halgo que puedo hacer con mi hijo,” he said in Spanish. “It’s something that I can do with my son.”
Dancers from Fiesta Mexicana Ballet Folklórico dance to “El Chinito Koy Koy” balancing trays of glasses and bottles on their heads.