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Volume 89 Issue 10 • Feb. 16, 2015
210-486-1773 • Single copies free
Rangers crush Palominos
Feeling sheepish
Rangers season climbs to 6-4
Chinese New Year full of traditions
online now Page 4
Page 7
Sights and smells: A student’s guide to restrooms on campus
Theater department kicks off season with ‘Rabbit Hole’ Feb. 12
Fat Tuesday brings soul food, jazz music Students personalize valentines in volunteer event
District to invest $43,000 more in Covey training Alamo Colleges has spent almost $2 million on sessions.
Hold on tight
Mathematics freshman Demarco Newton rides a mechanical bull during Wild West Rodeo Roundup sponsored by the office of student life Wednesday in the mall.
Newton held on about six seconds. He said he didn’t want to underestimate the ride so he held his arm up to keep it a challenge. E. David Guel
Students should admit own racism, minister says Hot Potato lecture discusses race and religion in church. By Matthew Reyna sac-ranger@alamo.edu
The church can help improve race relations “by not being the most segregated hour in America on Sunday mornings,” a minister said at Tuesday’s Hot Potato lecture. Though disguised throughout society, racism exists, the Rev. Linda Baumheckel of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Corpus Christi said Tuesday. Her presentation, “Racism Takes Many Shapes,” was a part of the United Methodist Campus Ministry’s Hot Potato series, a forum that combines healthy debate on social issues and free hot potatoes for participants. A common theme echoed by participants was the idea of forthright discussion between all races and religions. Before Baumheckel’s lecture, Alex Ruiz, president of the United Methodist Student Organization, said, “It is time for the church to start moving on new issues in a progressive fashion. We cannot continue to uphold ancient ideology.” The Rev. Johnny Silva, director, introduced Baumheckel to the crowd of about 25. Baumheckel referred to disguised racism as “soft racism,” which drew a murmur of agreement throughout the crowd. She said when she is around her mostly black congrega-
Linda Baumheckel, senior pastor at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Corpus Christi, discusses racism and the book “Learning to be White: Money, Race and God in America” by Thandeka during the Hot Potato lecture Tuesday. Taylor Tribbey tion, people will subconsciously ignore “my brothers and sisters of color,” and direct questions straight to her. Baumheckel talked about “black invisibility,” motivating
See RACISM, Page 3
$1,906,689. Forty-two of 134 part-time faculty have completed Covey training, and 1,992 of 2,272 fullBy Katherine Garcia time employees have completkgarcia203@student.alamo.edu ed training, said Linda BoyerThe Alamo Colleges will spend Owens, associate vice chancellor another $43,000 on training based of human resources and organion Stephen R. Covey’s self-help zational development. book “7 Habits of Highly Effective The second addendum of People,” according to an amendthe agreement says the district ment in the FranklinCovey Client has spent $43,680 so far on a Sales Inc. facilitator license agreetwo-year subscription for use of ment made with the district. a website for 4DX (“4 Disciplines Gary O’Bar, director of purof Execution”), also under chasing at district, said the funds FranklinCovey Client Sales Inc. would go toward materials for The board approved 4DX in faculty to teach February 2014, Covey principles and the district The next board to other faculty. entered into the of trustees The last of agreement Feb. meeting is 6 p.m. Covey’s four lev25, 2014. Tuesday at Killen els of training is The set-up Center. for faculty who fees include have completed $3,000 for web the previous certification three levels to train other faculty. modules and $45,200 for 200 peoInstead of continuing to buy ple to use the site for two years. materials and training services, The addendum also states the the district bought the rights to “Alamo Colleges shall have the some of FranklinCovey’s teaching right to cancel or reschedule any principles to save $225,000 on the consultation, on-site training, or final level, O’Bar said. coaching without penalty, providThe Ranger previously reported the Alamo Colleges provides ed FranklinCovey, the company written notice to FranklinCovey behind the training, was paid up to 15 days prior to the calen$1,228,590 for training and matedar event.” rials for the 2013-14 year, accordIf the Alamo Colleges provides ing to the original agreement. less than a 15-day notice, it must As for the 2014-15 year, O’Bar pay a canceling fee of 75 percent said $1,863,689 has been spent or a rescheduling fee of 25 pertraining employees, or an addicent, but it does not have to pay a tional $635,099. fee if FranklinCovey cancels. Between 2013-2015 and the O’Bar said any further puradditional $43,000 yet to be chases will go to the full board for spent, the new total would be approval.
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Catholic students to host Ash Wednesday Mass Religious activities will continue through Lenten season. By Karenna Reyna
sac-ranger@alamo.edu
Starting Wednesday, the season of Lent will begin with Ash Wednesday services, and many students from this college will participate in this
religious observance. Mass will be held at 12:15 p.m. Wednesday at the Catholic Student Center, 312 W. Courtland Place. The center also will serve a traditional Lenten meal that includes recipes
from all over the world, such as ugali, an African dish of cornmeal served with bean soup, fried plantains and West African peanut soup immediately following Mass. Ashes will be distributed throughout the day at this college starting at 12:15 in Loftin Student Center. The
ceremony is open to faculty, staff and students at this college. During Lent, Western Christians begin preparing — through penance, reflection and fasting — for Jesus Christ’s resurrection on Easter Sunday. A priest administers ashes on their foreheads to remind them that
life passes away here on Earth. Over the next 46 days, Joseph Liedecke, campus minister, and the Catholic Student Association will participate in the Catholic Relief Services Rice Bowl project. The Catholic Relief Services is an
See ASH, Page 3
SAConnected
2 • Feb. 16, 2015
www.theranger.org/calendar
Chicken Dance Students dance the chicken dance during the rodeo round up Wednesday in the mall. Facing camera from right is radio-television-broadcasting sophomore Lazonzo Bonner, education sophomore Shawn Hill, history freshman Wesley Steinmetz and Chris Garza. Gwendolyn Garcia
Serve Eleventh-graders Shawn Rodriguez, 16, and Matthew Huchin, 18, compete in a doubles match against Fox Tech High School classmates during junior varsity tennis practice Wednesday at the tennis courts by Candler. E. David Guel
Feeding time
Juan Sanchez, administrative services specialist with the English department, feeds and pets Garfield Wednesday between Fletcher and Moody. Garfield has waited for Sanchez every morning to be fed for three years. Garfield is one of many city cats used for rodent control on this campus. His clipped ear distinguishes him as a city cat who has been neutered to prevent an unwanted population explosion. Pam Paz
Dominoes Boxing coach Hector Ramos monitors the SAC boxing team while they perform domino push-ups during a physical conditioning session Wednesday in the craft room of Loftin. Ramos urged
today tues SAC Lecture: Black History Month event “Pushing Beyond Your Limits: Writing Your New Chapter in STEM” by Dr. Reagan Flowers 10:50 a.m.12:05 p.m. in nursing complex. Continues 6:30 p.m. in auditorium in McAllister. Call 210-486-0125. SAC Meeting: Catholic Student Association 12:15 p.m. at 312 W. Courtland. Call 210-736-3752. Trinity Lecture: “La Economía de Dios: Almavisión & the Latino/a Prosperity Gospel Movement” by Arlene Sánchez-Walsh from Azusa Pacific University 5:30 p.m. in Room 040 of Northrup Hall. Reception at 5 p.m. Visit new. trinity.edu/events. UTSA Event: Intro to Yoga 4-5 p.m. in orange studio of campus recreation center. Continues Monday and Wednesday through March 4. Call 2104586725.
Trinity Event: REACH Symposium: Health Care 2015 and Beyond 8 a.m. in Ruth Taylor Recital Hall. $25. Visit www.new.trinity.edu/ news/trinity-host-health-care2015-and-beyond. UTSA Lecture: Occupational Safety and Health Administration guide to industrial safety 8 a.m.-5 p.m. in meeting room of Buena Vista at downtown campus. Call 210-485-2411. SAC Event: Black History Month event Fat Tuesday sampling of wings and rice with live music from the Bobby Black Trio 11 a.m.-1 p.m. in the cafeteria of Loftin. Call 210486-0125. Trinity Recital: Dance: “Metamorphosis” by SOLI Chamber Ensemble and Ballet San Antonio 7:30 p.m. in Ruth Taylor Recital Hall. Preconcert talk at 7 p.m. $25. Visit new.trini t y. e d u / events.
wed
thur
the team to pick up the pace. They box 7 p.m. Friday at Woodlawn Gym, 1103 Cincinnati. E. David Guel
SAC Showcase: Black History Month STEMulate: Science showcase 9 a.m.-noon in mall. Call 210-486-0593. SAC Event: Volunteer Fair sponsored by civic engagement center 9 a.m.-1 p.m. in Fiesta Room of Loftin. Call 210-4860157. PAC Event: Football Challenge sponsored by campus recreation 11 a.m.-2 p.m. in fitness center. Call 210486-3901. UTSA Event: Meal and a microphone 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. in Frio Street common terrace at downtown campus. Call 210-458-2817. PAC Event: Student Services Fee Committee meeting 2-3 p.m. in Room 130 of student center. Call 210-486-3901 or visit www.alamo.edu/eventDetail.aspx?id=44502.
fri
sat
Event: Black History Month Film Series: “Dear White People” sponsored by office of student activities 9-10:45 a.m., 11 a.m.-12:45 p.m. 1–2:45 p.m., 3-4:45 p.m. in student center annex. Call 210486-3130 or visit www.alamo. edu/pac/blackhistorymonth/.
SAC Event: Basura Bash to help clean waterways 7:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. at River Road and Mulberry. Call 210-4860157.
PAC
SAC Panel: Black History Month panel discussion “Opportunities for Minorities” 12:15-1:30 p.m. in Fiesta Room of Loftin. Call 210-4860593. SAC Play: “Rabbit Hole” directed by Charles Falcon and presented by the department of fine arts 7:30 p.m. in theater of McCreless. Continues Friday and Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday. $5 with Alamo Colleges ID; $8 other colleges, senior and military; $10 general. Call 210-486-0255. SAC Film: “I Am Ali” 7:309:30 p.m. in Fiesta Room of Loftin. Call 210-486-0125.
SAC Boxing: Boxing team in Golden Gloves Novice championship 7 p.m. Woodlawn Gym, 1103 Cincinnati. Call 210734-2813.
sun PAC Event: Presidents Day children’s story time and crafts sponsored by Ozuna Library 3-5 p.m. in Room 201 of Ozuna. Call 210-486-3901.
mon
SAC Event: Blood drive 9 a.m.-3 p.m. in mall. Call 316557-7126. SAC Film: Black History Month showing of “Quilt Makers of Gee’s Bend” 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on fourth floor of Moody. Call 210-486-0593. SAC Exhibit: Black History Month “Putting it Together: A Display of Quilts” 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on fourth floor of Moody. Call 210-486-0593. SAC Event: Karaoke 11 a.m.-1 p.m. in Fiesta Room of Loftin. Call 210-486-0126.
Trinity Event: “Anna in the Tropics” 8 p.m. in Stieren Theater. Continues 8 p.m. Saturday, 2:30 p.m Sunday and 7 p.m. Feb 25 and 26. $6 with any student ID, $10 adults, $8 seniors. Call 210999-8515.
SAC Meeting: Student Government Association noon1 p.m. in craft room of Loftin. Call 210-486-0835.
SAC Event: Video game tournament 2:30 p.m. in game room of Loftin. Call 210-4860125. McNay Event: Soap Sculpture building with Charles Ingram and Susan Calkins 2-3 p.m., 6000 N. New Braunfels. Call 210-824-5368.
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For coverage in SAConnected, call 210-486-1773 or e-mail sac-ranger@alamo.edu two weeks in advance. Visit theranger.org for more upcoming events.
News
www.theranger.org/news
Feb. 16, 2015 • 3
PTK elects officer, discusses resignation controversy Student organization is not under investigation, director of student life says. By Kyle R. Cotton
sac-ranger@alamo.edu
Engineering sophomore Austin Hammerli defeated speech sophomore Kim Briana-Lorine for Phi Theta Kappa historian, falling two votes short of unanimous during PTK’s second special election meeting Feb. 9 in the craft room of Loftin Student Center. “I want to make more people aware of PTK and not the way like the article in The Ranger, but in a more positive light,” Hammerli said, referencing a Feb. 9 article “Phi Theta Kappa elects three officers amid controversy.” Lorine, former PTK president, was asked to resign under a technicality in the chapter bylaws among multiple grievances over her leadership and lack of delegation to other members of the chapter, resulting in a downgrade to the chapter’s rating from five stars to two stars. Lorine originally said the rating drop was because club adviser Roger Stanley turned a research project in late. An email between PTK and Stanley shows he turned the project in on time. Hammerli said, “We are the honor society at this college so we are supposed to represent the best of the student body, and I’d like to move beyond what’s in The Ranger.” Lorine said she was happy for Hammerli, who she said reminded her a lot of herself. “He started off shy, just like I did first starting out, but he got bolder as
the semester went on,” she said. “He became confident enough to run for multiple officer positions.” Prior to votes being cast, both Samantha Davis, PTK president and American Sign Language sophomore, and Ann Marie Hessbrook, vice president of fellowship and business administration sophomore, addressed the members over the article, as well as reiterating the need for transparency and better delegation after handing copies of The Ranger to each of the members. “There were discrepancies last semester with our chapter involving the president and our projects, as well as problems with delegation and getting the word out to members to make it a more involved club,” Davis said. Hessbrook added to Davis’ statement, “I feel that perhaps instead of resigning based on a technicality that it would have been better for a more muddy situation, but we just didn’t want PTK dragged through the mud, and we (the fellow officers) did ask her not to run so as to provide an opportunity to people who hadn’t served for as many years, but she was really set on being part of this.” After Hammerli was elected, he and the three individuals elected the previous week were officially sworn in by Stanley. In spite of the desire to move on, two more situations have surfaced. Lorine said the PTK chapter at this college is under investigation by Richard Farias, director of student
American Sign Language sophomore Samantha Davis, president; computer information systems sophomore Joshua Johnson, secretary; engineering sophomore Hunter Hodge, vice life, and Dr. Conrad Krueger, dean of arts and sciences. Stanley said he knew mediation had happened but was unaware of any investigation. Lorine said the investigative parties were trying to keep things quiet. Farias said there is no investigation. “No, there is no ongoing investigation into PTK. I don’t know where Kim could have gotten that idea from,” he said. Krueger said, “I don’t know of any issues with the clubs.” Hessbrook said the Student Government Association and student trustee Jacob Wong acted hostile toward the organization on Lorine’s behalf by confronting PTK officers. She described the group as a “clique.” Lorine said, “I expressed my frustration to my friends in SGA, but I also asked that they not act on my behalf.” Davis said this was around the
president of leadership; and engineering sophomore Ashton Hammerli, historian, take oaths as officers of Phi Theta Kappa Monday in the craft room of Loftin. Cynthia M. Herrera.
time Lorine was asked by PTK officers to resign on Nov. 17. Lorine and the officers parted ways on good terms after the resignation request, she said. Davis said later that week Andrew Hubbard, former SGA president and liberal arts sophomore, confronted the PTK officers over the bylaws after a PTK meeting. Davis and the officers felt it was hostile and asked club adviser Jacob Martinez to help answer Hubbard’s questions. Hubbard said it was not his intention to appear hostile. Wong, who said he had stayed out of this situation while knowing what was going on since he interacts with both organizations on a regular basis said, “I find the issue childish with all the organization infighting.” He said the organization was not a very supportive environment.
“You can’t complain about the actions of one person if you go back as a group and do the same thing,” Wong said. The meeting closed with solicitation for nominees for the vice president of service, noting potential candidates need to submit nomination to Stanley or student success coordinator Jacob Martinez by 3 p.m. today. An election meeting will follow at 4 p.m. Lorine said she doesn’t plan to run for vice president of service. “This is my last semester here, and I’m already part of a bunch of other organizations,” she said. Davis said, “The new officers are motivated and energetic to take the chapter to a new level and have invigorated our members to accomplish our goals that we know we can achieve.” For more information, call Stanley at 210-486-0058.
SGA discusses KSYM, seeks trustee applications Association announced new officer and deadline for trustee application. By Aaron Martinez
amartinez1628@student.alamo.edu
The Student Government Association discussed student trustee applications, their new public relations officer and going on campus radio station KSYM 90.1 to discuss student government issues Feb. 9 at its second meeting of the semester. The student trustee application deadline is Thursday, and the officers will vote on an applicant to send to the board Feb. 28. Although the current student trustee, Jacob Wong, is from this college, any candidate who is qualified will have an equal opportunity throughout the district, SGA President Karen Elliot said. “We are looking for a student who has the integrity and the desire to represent students at that level,” Elliot said. “We are crossing our fingers and hoping for more (applications) but it really depends on what students are interested in.”
RACISM from Page 1
Financial aid adviser Madeline Lester prays during the Ash Wednesday service February 2010 in the craft room of Loftin. File
ASH from Page 1 dedicated to assisting the Catholic community. This includes raising money for the hungry in Africa while praying, fasting and giving to others. Every Wednesday during Lent, services, prayers and food will be available in the CSC. Some activities will include in-depth
stories about the people assisted by the Rice Bowl Project, with lectures, presentations, videos and reflections. Throughout Lent, calendars with everyday prayers and events can be picked up at the center. For more information, call 210-7363752.
many African-American and Hispanic students to share their own experiences with invisibility. Baumheckel made the crowd examine its own racial biases when she proposed a “fear factor.” She asked the audience if they reacted differently when two white men walk by as opposed to when two black men walk by.
Jami Keeton was appointed commissioner of public relations to run their Facebook and Twitter and advertise events and meetings. Keeton has made a Twitter account — @SGA_ PR — which is another publicizing route, according to Elliot. Elliot will be on KSYM at 8 a.m. every Wednesday discussing student government and how it could impact students. “It is completely student-centered,” Elliot said. ”Every now and then, I’ll also ask another student leader to join me. Typically, it will be another student leader from a club or organization because they are very prominent on campus and they represent a pool of students as well.” President Robert Vela is on KSYM 7:30-8 a.m. every Thursday for the segment “Speaking of SAC” to discuss this college in a broader view concerning faculty, staff and things that happen with students. The SGA meets the first three Mondays of every month and meetings are open to the public. For information, call 210-486-0133.
A sea of nodding heads testified to the guilt many felt in this situation. When Baumheckel finished, more than half of the students raised a hand to ask a question, including, “Is America’s diversity at the root of its racism?” At one point, the questionand-answer session morphed into a debate over the term “reverse racism.” The pastor smiled, listening to two students debate whether
the term was inherently racist. An African-American student asked if he should be scared as a young black male in America. Baumheckel said, “I can’t honestly tell you that you shouldn’t be scared.” After the event, Baumheckel said the single most important takeaway of her speech was for students “to recognize how they deny racism in their own actions, thoughts and deeds.”
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Feeling sheepish Chinese New Year marks the year of the sheep Thursday. By Kyle R. Cotton
sac-ranger@alamo.edu
The legend of how the Jade Emperor selected the Chinese zodiac varies between two popular tales. In the first according to www.astrology.com, the Jade Emperor, who had ruled heaven and Earth for quite some time, grew curious as to what the creatures of Earth looked like; he himself had not visited his earthly kingdom. The Jade Emperor invited 12 animals to the heavens to satiate his curiosity and to create the zodiac. The rat, jealous of the cat, hid the emperor’s invitation. When only 11 animals arrived before the emperor, he asked his servants to retrieve a twelfth. The servants hastily grabbed a pig at the last second. The next day the cat
found out the emperor had determined zodiac and the cat was too late. The second tale was a race across a roaring river for the honor to be part of the zodiac. According to Washington University’s student support services department, the rat, eager to win, forgot to wake the cat, and rode the ox across the river. The rat finished first, jumping off the ox’s head to land on the bank. In order followed the ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and boar. According to www.travelchinaguide.com, those born in the year of the sheep tend to be clever, shy and kindhearted.
Those years were 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991 and 2003. Timid by nature, sheep usually don’t dare to express their love openly. Students born in the year of the sheep will have trouble concentrating this year and should adjust their emotions to focus on their studies. Notable sheep include Michaelangelo, Mark Twain, Thomas Edison, Barbara Walters, Orville Wright and Bruce Willis. Shen Jiang, a computer information systems instructor, said, “Chinese New Year is the equivalent to Christmas time, the biggest get-together for the whole family, which is a big deal since
the Chinese respect family more than the individual.” She noted if you are a sheep you should wear red. “It’s good luck, especially with underwear.” She said particularly in the northern region, the female members of the family prepare dumplings for most of Chinese New Year’s Eve for a midnight celebration, one of the most important meals of the New Year celebration. At midnight, members of the family burn money to send it to deceased ancestors. Jiang noted the
fireworks traditionally associated with the New Year are meant to scare away evil spirits. Jiang won’t be going to China because of her work here. “This time of the year is busiest time of the year for phone lines between here, or anywhere in the world to China and people calling back.”
Illustrations by Estefania B. Alonso
Two local institutes ring in Chinese New Year The festivities will include food, performances and a parade. By Richard Montemayor
rmontemayor15@student.alamo.edu
The Institute of Texan Cultures hosts the 28th annual Asian Festival from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. “This is an opportunity to experience a San Antonio tradition that has been around for 28 years of several Asian cultures in one place,” said James Benavides, communications specialist for the institute. “It’s authentic; it’s actual Chinese, Japanese and Korean families and organizations that will be preparing the food for the festival as well as performing dances to their native music.” The festival was originally organized to take place at the San Antonio Museum of Art, Benavides said. “They came to us; they outgrew their first venue, originally organized for the opening of the Chinese
Eastern Arts wing at the museum,” he said. In that first year, they had a few thousand people, Benavides said. Over the years it has grown, and Benavides estimates it will attract 10,000 people this year. “The festival will start off with a lion dance parade through the grounds at the institute that will conclude with a dedication ceremony,” he said. Several organizations will be participating in this year’s festival, including the Japan-America Society of San Antonio, San Antonio Lion Dance Association, Chinese Women’s Club, India Association of San Antonio, Korean American Cultural Center of San Antonio, Karilagan Philippine Cultural Group Inc., Bangladeshi Association of San Antonio, Taiwanese Association of America and San Antonio China Alliance. Benavides said one of the exhibits is the “Sikhs: Legacy of the Punjab.” The exhibit features a collection of traditional Sikh art, information on the culture’s history and beliefs, and artifacts such as ceremonial weapons and armor.
“It originated from the Smithsonian; we updated it for a Texas showing with specific content,” he said. Tickets are $8 in advance and $10 at the gate for adults 13 and older, $5 for children 6-12 and free for children 5 and under. Advance tickets are available at the ITC store, 801 E Chavez Blvd, and online at www.texancultures.com. The Institute of World Cultures at the University of the Incarnate Word will host a free Asian New Year Festival 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Thursday in Marian Hall Ballroom. Guests can sample Asian cuisine while listening to authentic Asian music and watching traditional Asian dances and drum performances. “Guests can also participate in a variety of cultural activities and games that are scheduled during the festival,” said Mingzhi Chen, marketing junior at UIW. For more information, call 210-829-6001.
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Feb. 16, 2015 • 5
Chinese New Year full of traditions This college will celebrate with the San Antonio Chinese Orchestra. By Pam Paz
ppaz2@student.alamo.edu
The Chinese New Year, or Spring Festival, starts Thursday, with a 15-day celebration of Chinese traditions. One tradition is the year being dedicated to a specific animal. This year is the year of the sheep from the Chinese zodiac. Other traditions include eating dumplings filled with treats, according to Travel China Guide. The dumplings are usually filled with coins, candy, peanuts or chestnuts to bring good fortune, wealth, health and vigor. Dancing is an important part of the Chinese New Year. Traditional dances include the dragon dance, performed to scare away evil spirits, according to the English website Top Marks. Another popular dance is the lion dance, which is believed to bring good luck. It’s also known as the “lion lantern” and is performed on joyous occasions such as the Chinese New Year. This college will celebrate the Chinese New Year with help from the Chinese Orchestra of San Antonio and Chinese Culture Performance Association of San Antonio at 11 a.m. Thursday in the Fiesta Room of Loftin Student Center. This event is sponsored by the office of student life. Carrie Hernandez, student success coordinator, said the orchestra will present a 45-minute performance, at a cost of a $600 donation to the orchestra. The association will perform a Chinese folkdance while the orchestra plays. Hernandez said the dragon dance will not be performed. “They’re going to do a quick presentation, then go to Incarnate Word,” Hernandez said. “It’s better to have them for 45 minutes than not at all.” Last year’s event featured a traditional Chinese tea ceremony, Chinese script writing and a special Chinese buffet. This year’s celebration will not include those events because of time constraints on the orchestra and a limited contract in the cafeteria. Paul Urrubazo, unit manager for Selrico Services, said he hoped they could do a stir-fry for the event but was not sure if it would be possible. “We always try to help out,” he said. Call Hernandez at 210-486-0128.
Illustration by Alexandra Nelipa
Civic Engagement Week honors volunteers Staff and students recognized with presidential award. By Tim Hernandez
sac-ranger@alamo.edu
An awards ceremony kicks off Civic Engagement Week at 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. today in the Fiesta Room of Loftin Student Center. The ceremony recognizes students and staff members who have earned a Presidential Volunteer Service Award, and will be followed by students sharing stories about their volunteer activities. A Presidential Volunteer Service Award is earned by meeting the required number of service hours over a 12-month period and is based upon the age of the volunteer and the level of the award, bronze, silver or gold. A family or group can earn the award by working together toward the common goal. In addition, the award can be earned by an individual as a lifetime award by serving 4,000 hours. For specific information visit the website: www.presidentialserviceawards.gov/the-award A volunteer fair will be 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday in the Fiesta Room of Loftin to provide volunteer opportunities. The list of confirmed organiza-
tions attending the volunteer fair includes Big Brothers Big Sisters; Harbor Hospice; Catholic Charities; Habitat for Humanity of San Antonio; AmeriCorps Corporation for National and Community Service; San Antonio Children’s Museum; Fiesta San Antonio Commission; Child Advocates of San Antonio; Empowerment Center; Ronald McDonald House Charities of San Antonio; the Center for Health Care Services; One World Conservation; St. Peter-St. Joseph Children’s Home; American Red Cross; and the American Heart Association. Students and staff members can sign up at either event for the 21st annual Basura Bash on Saturday. The first 15 people to sign up will receive a free hoodie from the Center for Civic Engagement and Service Learning. Per the center’s website, www.alamo. edu/sac/student-life/civic-engagement/, service-learning and volunteering are two different avenues by which a student can become involved in efforts to improve their community. The website quotes www.servicelearning.org/what-service-learning, “service-learning is a teaching and learning strategy that integrates meaningful community service with instruction and reflection to enrich the learn-
ing experience, teach civic responsibility, and strengthen communities.” Volunteering is defined at the website as “a student’s decision to give their time to perform a service without compensation.” The center falls under the office of student life and is managed by Mary Elise Ferrer. She began working in student life as the coordinator for the center in December 2013. Ferrer said, “When they (students) volunteer they can learn skills they can apply to future careers. “They can also network with employers in the field they would like to pursue.” Ferrer has been an adjunct at this college since 2007. She taught continuing education courses and worked in the continuing education division as a program coordinator 2007-2013. Ferrer also taught history courses at this college 2011-2014. The week’s activities are focused on volunteering, but students interested in service-learning can contact the center to learn about available opportunities. For more information, call Ferrer at 210-486-0157 or email mferrer10@ alamo.edu.
6 • Feb. 16, 2015
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Editor Katherine Garcia
Managing Editor Mandy Derfler Assistant Managing Editor – News Cynthia M. Herrera Assistant Managing Editor – Features Richard Montemayor Calendar Editor Aaron Martinez Staff Writers Victoria Aguilera, Jose Arredondo, Tyrin Bradley, Christina M. Briseno, Eddie Chozet, Kyle R. Cotton, Travis Doyle, Marina Garcia, Priscilla M. Galarza, Sabrina Griffith, Tim Hernandez, M.A. Horta, Te Keyshia Johnson, Derek Landis, Melissa Luna, Danny Geraldo Martinez, Edith Moctezuma, Nathalie Mora, Matthew Reyna, V.L. Roberson, Johann Spiess, Alyssa Zapata Photo Editor E. David Guel Photographer Gwen Garcia Photo Team Cassi Armstrong, Anthony B. Botello, Vanessa Frausto, Jon Hernandez, Elle Howard, Jack Jackson, Tress-Marie Landa Multimedia Editor Daniel Carde Video Team Neven Jones, Rey Ruiz, Taylor Tribbey Illustrators Estefania B. Alonso, Alexandra Nelipa Production Assistant Pam Paz Promotions Manager R. Eguia Distribution Manager Shelly Delgado
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©2015 by The Ranger staff, San Antonio College, 1300 San Pedro Ave., San Antonio, TX 782124299. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without permission. The Ranger news outlets, which serve the Alamo Community College District, are laboratory projects of journalism classes in the Department of Media Communications at San Antonio College. The Ranger is published Mondays except during summer, holidays and examinations. The Ranger Online is available at www.theranger. org. News contributions accepted by telephone (210-486-1773), by fax (210-486-9292), by email (sac-ranger@alamo.edu) or at the editorial office (Room 212 of Loftin Student Center). Advertising rates available by phone (210) 4861765 or as a download at www.theranger.org. The Ranger is a member of the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association, the Associated Collegiate Press and the Texas Community College Journalism Association. Guest Viewpoints: Faculty, staff, students and community members are welcome to contribute guest viewpoints of up to 450 words. Writers should focus on campus or current events in a critical, persuasive or interpretative style. All viewpoints must be published with a photo portrait of the writer. Letters Policy: The Ranger invites readers to share views by writing letters to the editor. Space limitations force the paper to limit letters to two double-spaced, typewritten pages. Letters will be edited for spelling, style, grammar, libel and length. Editors reserve the right to deny publication of any letter. Letters should be emailed to sac-ranger@alamo. edu. Letters also may be brought to the newspaper office in Room 212 of Loftin Student Center, mailed to The Ranger, Department of Media Communications, San Antonio College, 1300 San Pedro Ave., San Antonio TX 78212-4299 or faxed to (210) 486-9292. Letters must be signed and must include the printed name and telephone number. Students should include classification, major, campus and Banner ID. Employees should include title and telephone number. For more information, call 210-486-1773. Single Copy Policy: Members of the Alamo Community College District community are permitted one free copy per issue because of high production costs. Where available, additional copies may be purchased with prior approval for 50 cents each by contacting The Ranger business office. Newspaper theft is a crime. Those who violate the single-copy rule may be subject to civil and criminal prosecution and subject to college discipline.
Estefania B. Alonso
Spend on students, not self-help Part-time employees are being pressured into Covey training. Part-timers should be helping students, not spending the equivalent of their entire workweek in training based on Stephen R. Covey’s self-help book “7 Habits of Highly Effective People.” Administrators are claiming attendance for 134 part-time employees is not mandatory, but an email sent to 92 part-time employees who haven’t trained said they are “included in the expectation to attend a session.”
Covey training is mandatory for all full-time employees; 280 of 2,273 have not completed the training. The 20-hour training is longer than the part-time workweek, which is limited to 19 hours a week. Adjuncts aren’t even compensated. On top of that, labs, such as this college’s writing center, have to bring in a replacement tutor when the part-time employee is unavailable to help students with assignments. In other labs, part-time employees help with computer problems or assist
with math homework. Replacements don’t work for free. Sending part-time workers to “7 Habits” training strains budgets. Labs can’t just do without for the week. Maybe district employees can miss half a week without inconveniencing anyone, but college employees cannot. Student trustee Jacob Wong was right to inquire about the impact Covey training is having on the colleges. If anyone bothered to measure it, our guess is the impact is positively negative.
Two paths are letters online better than one Child care limits necessary for grant Editor:
Trustees should improve, not debate two developmental educational methods. The board’s Student Success Committee met Feb. 3 to hear the progress on two programs designed to make developmental students college-ready. Based on the Texas Success Initiative assessment, first-time-in-college students (FTICS) who are not college-ready must take developmental classes before they can take college-level classes. Returning students can take the developmental courses or earn one of 10 certificates through the Alamo Integrated Basic Education and Skills Training program (I-BEST). In Melissa Sadler-Nitu’s presentation of the I-BEST program, 496 of 595 students in the program have completed or are persisting, giving the program an 83 percent success rate. Meanwhile Pamela K. Ansboury’s presentation on developmental education revealed 64 percent of students passed their INRW (integrated reading and writing) classes and 56 percent of students passed developmental math. District 6 trustee Gene Sprague argued I-BEST was
the better method and suggested cutting the number of developmental classes. Just because developmental classes do not have as high a success rate as I-BEST does not mean the program is not helpful to students, too. Students who are not successful in developmental classes can choose the I-BEST program instead, which offers a quicker avenue for developmental students to become collegeready while obtaining a certificate in a discipline of their choice, such as medical assisting, pharmacy technician or information technology. However, the I-BEST program is not a cure-all, and the developmental classes alone do not offer job opportunities. Both methods have benefits, so let’s improve both instead of arguing about which one to reduce. Firsttime-in-college students need as much help as possible as they prepare to enter college, earn a degree and prosper in a meaningful career. Why not offer them two paths to get there?
In response to “No Freedom for students enrolled with child care” here are a few clarifications. The Department of Education measures CCAMPIS funding success by degree completion. In order to support this goal, we consciously and deliberately made it clear in our proposal that we would require students to enroll in courses (and pre-requisites) listed on their signed degree plan to qualify. We feel that this was probably a deciding factor that contributed
I should have known Editor: If it comes on by itself, it is liable to go off by itself. That is the way it is with new-fangled technology. I looked for a coat rack or bookshelf. I would think that the designer of a college lavatory would have foreseen the need for such furnishings. I guess not; I parked my briefcase on the floor and began my business. Before I could finish, the lights went out. I guess the sensor detected no movement and shut
#Muslim lives matter
to being funded over the many colleges that also submitted proposals for this highly competitive grant. This is more than just a discount. Some student parents have two or more children funded; and some receive funding for three or four years amounting to $12,000-$16,000. While we realize that course exploration may be limited as a caveat for receiving this support, we feel it’s justified and hope to see a story in the future about the majority of students who are thrilled to have this opportunity instead of just the few who feel the requirements are unfair.
Ellen Marshall Early Childhood Studies Chair
itself off to conserve energy. I finished my business and reached for the toilet paper. I guess they wanted to save paper too, because the paper unrolled only enough to dispense little four-inch squares. Moreover, the dispenser had sharp teeth-like edges, perfect to rip the flesh of the user. After I finished with the paperwork, I stood — and the toilet flushed, spitting on my trousers.
Don Mathis International Student Services Designated School Official
an unacceptable link between the atrocity and the unfortunate apathy found in my World Literature class.
Editor: Even at midnight, I still find myself grappling to deal with the killings of three Muslim students Tuesday in North Carolina. I will expand upon the events of my day in school and reveal why there is
Adriene Goodwin English sophomore
Read the complete letters to the editor on theranger.org.
Janelle Polcyn, Karenna J. Reyna,
Pulse
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Feb. 16, 2015 • 7
Adjunct shares love of fencing Former student now teaches what she learned at this college. By Melissa Luna
sac-ranger@alamo.edu
Fencing Adjunct Bernadette Guerra teaches the only fencing class offered in the Alamo Colleges. Her class actually is a combination of three courses, KINE 1123, KINE 1124 and KINE 2123, Fencing 1-3. It is offered at 10:50 a.m. Tuesday-Thursday in Gym 1 of Candler Physical Education Center. Twenty-one students are enrolled to earn college credit and meet other local and national competitors. Guerra, certified by the U.S. Fencing Association, is an assistant coach at Olympian Fencing Club, 3200 McCullough Ave. In 1993, Guerra was an education major at this college and needed kinesiology credits for a degree. Choosing a kinesiology course didn’t excite her because she wasn’t an athlete in high school. Instead, she participated in band and booster activities. She picked fencing because she said it was something
different. Over the years, she participated in local and national fencing meets and fell in love with the sport, so much that she wants to share the joy of the sport with students. After earning a liberal arts degree from this college, she earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education and a master’s in kinesiology from the University of the Incarnate Word. In her fencing class at this college, she teaches techniques and ways students can be mentally and physically prepared for a bout. She also wants her students to learn how to take apart and reassemble an épée, foil and saber and make repairs. Having those skills can save fencers money. She is helping her students organize a fencing club as a student organization at this college. The club will allow them to become more active in the fencing community and raise awareness for the sport. In an organizational meeting, students elected Christopher Perez president and Christopher Williams vice president. To raise awareness of fencing,
101 SGA Vice President Harley Williams promotes student government to biology freshman Isabel Rodriguez during the Student Organization Showcase Jan. 28. E. David Guel
Kinesiology junior Felix Castillo learns how to disengage from criminal justice sophomore Christopher Perez in sabre fencing Tuesday in Gym 1. In sabre fencing the target is from the waist up, including the head. Vanessa Frausto Guerra has arranged to have demonstrations at an elementary school and plans to schedule more. Fencing has been offered at this college for decades, but the decline in class enrollment resulted in the reduction of the number of sections offered, kinesiology Chair Brad Dudney said Wednesday. In the 1970s and 1980s, Professors
Rangers crush Palominos
Paul Pesthy and Les Bleamaster, former Olympic fencers, taught fencing when the sport was popular in San Antonio, Dudney said. The U.S. Modern Olympic Pentathlon trained for the 1979 Olympics in San Antonio, he said. For more information about the fencing organization or the class, email bguerra3@alamo.edu.
Tigers take second win from Nighthawks By Sabrina Griffith sac-ranger@alamo.edu
By Jose Arredondo sac-ranger@alamo.edu
In their first meeting this semester this college’s Rangers hosted the Palo Alto Palominos Wednesday in Gym 1 of Candler Physical Education Center. The Rangers snatched 37 rebounds while the Palominos nabbed 40 of their own. The Rangers only committed 13 turnovers. Meanwhile, the Palominos’ 25 turnovers spelled their demise. “We limited our turnovers, which benefited us a great deal,” coach Lou Martinez said. Business management sophomore Chady Joukeh’s 30 points and nine rebounds lifted the Rangers past the Palominos. “Some of us went through a slump,” kinesiology sophomore Andrew Butler said. “But my teammates stepped up when we needed it; ‘Brazil’ (Joukeh) came in clutch for us.” Butler added 19 points, seven rebounds and three steals for the Rangers. Kinesiology freshman Nate Martinez led the Palominos with 31 points and four assists. Of those, 24 points came from 3-pointers. “My threes were falling for me,” Martinez said. “My teammates put me in position to make those shots.” The Rangers led by as many as 19 points in the first half of the game; however, the Palominos ended the first half with an 8-0 run and cut the Rangers lead, 39-28. “I did not like the way we ended the first half,” Coach Martinez said. “We executed poorly and allowed them to get momentum.” That momentum carried in the second half, and the game became a battle when the Palominos gained the lead with 9:51 remaining in the game.
student
Kinesiology freshman Andrew Butler puts up a contested shot through pre-nursing freshman Ricardo Garcia in the first half Wednesday. E. David Guel The Rangers trailed by as many as 6 points, 63-57. When the Rangers made a run, the Palominos would counter with a run of their own. Nevertheless, Joukeh’s crossover and strong finish tied the game at 67-67 with 3:47 left in play. Joukeh and Butler scored 10 of the Rangers’ final 17 points. Butler’s steal and emphatic dunk put the game away. “We trailed for a good part of the second half,” Coach Martinez said. “But we relaxed and we started playing our game.” Next week, the Rangers will go on the road to take on the Southwest Texas Junior College Cowboys at 8 p.m. Feb. 18 in the La Forge Hall Gymnasium. For more information, call 210-486-0125.
Despite their hopes to avenge last semester’s loss to the St. Philip’s men’s basketball team, the Northeast Lakeview Nighthawks fell prey to the Tigers 85-61 Wednesday. The Tigers started the game with a quick lead when liberal arts freshman Marcellus Garrick made a layup. Andres Ramirez, math sophomore, stole the ball from the Tigers and drove the length of the court for a quick layup. The Tigers showed great ball movement and 3-point shots throughout the whole game. St. Philip’s education sophomore Tefton Tate said, “As long as we play as a team, we’ll have a pretty good game.” Despite many fouls against the Tigers, they kept the lead throughout the game. Most of the fouls committed by the Tigers were on Lakeview’s Cody Swearingen, which helped the Nighthawks stay in the game with the Tigers leading at halftime 44-29. Tigers coach Jimmy Alcala said, “To win this game, we have to play together as a team, especially on defense.” In the second half, the Tigers got hot while the Nighthawks struggled to shoot from the outside. The Tigers won 85-61. “We played as a team and moved around good,” Tate said. “We have to build on this and make it better and learn from our mistakes.” Steve Gordon, Northeast Lakeview coach, said his team had a bad shooting night and the turnovers were a problem. “We lost a tough game to a good St. Philip’s team,” he said. Alcala, who had urged the Tigers to reduce turnovers and get rebounds, said his team played great defense and was able to move the ball. St. Philip’s plays the undefeated Northwest Vista College at 8 p.m. Feb. 18 in Huisache Hall.
Clubs offer respite from classwork An NVC student found her passion in a club. By Christina M. Briseno sac-ranger@alamo.edu
Joining a campus club can be a great opportunity, student success adviser Jacob-Aidan Martinez said. “Many of our academic clubs/organizations are national,” he said. Martinez said joining a club is a great way to socialize with other students who have the same interests. During meetings, members learn to work as a team or stand out as a leader. They can communicate ideas and listen to others. “Attending the meetings and events develops friendly encounters with other members of the club,” he said. Theater sophomore Aaron Poe originally majored in biology at Northwest Vista College because her parents wanted her to pursue science. “I liked science because my parents liked science,” she said. As escapism, Poe joined a non-major drama club. She took theater in high school and loved acting and dancing. “I always felt at home around theater students,” she said. Initially Poe worried that joining a club would be too time consuming. “I needed all the time to study for biology; I felt very overwhelmed,” she said. In the club, students performed skits and learned the art of theater. Soon after, Poe rediscovered her high school passion and changed her major to theater. Martinez said everyone in a club or organization understands schoolwork comes first. Members will help each other and work around their schedules. When choosing a club to join, Martinez said to explore current interests or try something new. For more information, visit http://alamo.edu/sac/studentlife/clubs/.
8 • Feb. 16, 2015
Feature
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Alexis ‘Lexi’ Roberts traverses Mount Snæfellsjökull on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula of Iceland during summer 2014. Courtesy
Spirit of adventure lives in anthropology student Student volunteers in lab of Gault School of Archaeological Research at Texas State University. By Tim Hernandez
sac-ranger@alamo.edu
While many students may have their sights set on a trip to the beach this May, one young woman has her eye on Iceland. Meet Alexis ‘Lexi’ Roberts, a modern-day Indiana Jones. Roberts, initially a design student in her first year of college, is an anthropology sophomore who, last summer, at 19, traveled to Iceland to study the Icelandic language at the University of Iceland on the Háskóli Islands and the University of the Westfjords for three months. While in Iceland, she summited her first mountain, Snæfellsjökull on the Snæfellsnes peninsula. Anthropology sophomore Alexis ‘Lexi’ Roberts This summer she will be returning to sorts Paleoindian lithic artifacts from the Clovis Iceland to volunteer in a trail renovation pro- period for the Gault School of Archaeological gram near Bórsmörk, which is in the moun- Research lab at Texas State University in San tains near the volcano Eyjafjallajökull that Marcos in spring 2015. Courtesy erupted in 2010, interrupting international air travel. 2401, Human Anatomy and Physiology 1, Her work there next summer will be mainly which is a prerequisite for her planned future survey work and mapping out trails, as well in human osteology, a branch of anatomy as taking part in erosion control around the dealing with the bones. trails. Her goal is to continue her studies in Roberts will be departing for her second anthropology with a focus in bio-archaeology trip to Iceland May 31 for eight weeks. because she wants to study human and priThis year she mate evolution in coninterned at the San junction with cultural Consume as much Antonio Museum of Art development. information as possible in the education departHer plans for the with regards to your ment. She assisted in future are to transfer to potential field of study. running teacher/educaUniversity of Texas in Test the waters by acting tor workshops intended Austin to complete her to aid teachers and genundergraduate studlike your life is dedicated eral educators uncover ies and enroll in the to the field already. new ways to use art University of Arizona Alexis ‘Lexi’ Roberts, and the resources at the to pursue her graduate anthropology sophomore museum to teach their degree. students how to look at Roberts’ advice for the world differently. those uncertain about their chosen major: This semester Roberts is volunteering at “Consume as much information as possible the Gault School of Archaeological Research with regards to your potential field of study. lab at Texas State University in San Marcos Test the waters by acting like your life is dediwhere she helps document and sort precated to the field already. Read on it as much historic Paleoindian lithic artifacts from as possible, share learned information and the Clovis period, which archeologist place find others who can share their own experibetween 13,200 to 12,900 years ago. ences. Part of her responsibilities include idenShe continued, “It’s really all about discovtifying excavated objects from the Gault Site, ering the heart of the field you might want to located in Bell and Williamson counties, as pursue. If you feel you’re set on a major, take either flakes, pieces removed from the face one class that’s unrelated and see if it pulls you of a tool through percussion or bifaces, tools in another direction. flaked on two sides or faces. “I wanted to pursue art for six years and She also determines how to best document one psychology class changed my mind them in the lab’s data system along with the entirely. It helped me discover my love of other artifacts. studying humans and how they interact and This semester Roberts is enrolled in BIOL respond to their environment.”
’’