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online now Volume 89 Issue 12 • March 2, 2015
210-486-1773 • Single copies free
Don’t ever give up It’s not an easy life when you are born with a birth defect — take it from me. Page 4
College’s ‘Top Brags’ paper cost 50 percent extra Page 3
Leticia Van de Putte kicks off Women’s History Month events Time capsule opened to mark 30 years at Palo Alto College
Amanda Martin, Adjunct Faculty Council chair, and members Randi Wayland, Dr. Gustavo Valadez and Arisa Rice discuss proposals concerning payment for extra work Feb. 23 in Room 100 of Gonzales. Eddie Chozet
Quilter Nina Fennell points out the different people represented on a quilt depicting the underground railroad during “Piecing it All Together: Quilts and Their Role in Art and History,” a panel during Black History Month Feb. 25 in the Fiesta Room of Loftin. On the far side of the quilt, Harriet Tubman is carrying a gun because if someone tried to turn around and go back, she would kill them, Fennell said. Fennell worked with other quilters for two years hand-quilting the characters and piecing together the bordering blocks. Mandy Derfler
No quorum, Panel discusses police use of force big problems Protocols and perception evolve, panelists say.
Adjuncts can’t get a quorum for pay proposal. By Kyle R. Cotton
Mrizek, vice president of college services; Tim Rockey, dean of conThis college’s Adjunct Faculty tinuing education and workforce; Council has a proposal to revise Vernell Walker, dean of profesthe adjunct compensation polsional and technical education; icy and has support for it from and Kristine Clark, interim vice Faculty Senate and President president of student services. Robert Vela. However, in a meet“I feel we are representing ing Monday, members of the the four of us and we’re not repcouncil said they have not been resenting the 5,000, or however able to achieve a quorum to vote many adjuncts there are.” on or amend the Linda Boyerproposal, whichOwens, associate Adjunct Faculty creates some vice chancellor of Council meets form of a leave human resources at 1 p.m. March policy; compenand organization16 in Room 100 sation for particial development, of Gonzales. pation in camsaid this semesFor more pus committees, ter, there are 1,147 task forces, office adjuncts with information, call hours and proteaching assign210-269-1571. fessional develments across the opment; and a district. compensation tier-system based Martin said the council only on years teaching here and comrepresents the 928 adjuncts affilimunity participation. ated with this college despite At present, none of those being the only such council in elements of the proposal are in the district. The Adjunct Faculty place. Adjuncts earn $740.67- Council has eight members and 918.71 per class hour dependrequires a five-member quorum. ing on their level of education, The four members in attenranging from a bachelor’s degree dance, adjunct Chair Amanda to doctorate. Each adjunct can Martin, Wayland, math Adjunct teach up to 12 class hours, and Gustavo Valadez and ESL Adjunct are not required to maintain Arisa Rice were all perplexed. office hours beyond 10-15 min“I’ve hand invited people, utes before a class starts. face-to-face in my department, For professional developand they look at me like I’m from ment, adjuncts are only not comacross the street in the library, pensated, but also have to pay ‘Who are you?’” Wayland said. for their own travel and confer“They always say thank you ence fees, in addition to a salary when we do something, but there deduction for time missed. is never any support while or Kinesiology Adjunct Randi before we do it.” Wayland said the Adjunct Faculty Martin said, “It’s one thing if Council has only been able to you’re not actually signing up to reach a quorum once in the five be a representative, but if you’ve meetings this school year. done that, you ought to have read Wayland said, “I was extremewhat you are committing to.” ly embarrassed last month when Dawn Elmore, English profive people showed up, the presifessor and president of Faculty dent on down, and there was only Senate said, “We voted unanithree of us sitting here,” referencmously to approve the proposal ing a Dec. 1 visit from Vela; David from Adjunct Faculty Council.” sac-ranger@alamo.edu
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By Karenna Reyna
sac-ranger@alamo.edu
Police training teaches officers to use verbal and other non-violent tactics before resorting to physical force when subduing suspects, three criminal justice experts said during a panel discussion Feb. 10 in Loftin Student Center. Tiffany Cox, criminal justice coordinator, organized “Police Use of Force” as part of Black History Month on this campus. The panel discussed officer-involved deaths like Michael Brown’s last year in Ferguson, Mo. The three panelists, who have decades of experience in policing, prosecution and defense, discussed procedures and how they are handled. “You may have standards, you may have procedures, but the things that happen on the street happen very fast,” local attorney Cornelius Cox (no relation to Tiffany Cox) said about following protocols straight from the book. Cornelius Cox has a law degree from Howard University, was a pros-
ecutor for many years in Miami-Dade County, Fla., and is a criminal defense attorney in San Antonio. Oscar Ruiz, a peace officer since 1976, has worked as a deputy sheriff and constable in South Texas for more than 11 years. He said law enforcement training is different nowadays. Use-of-force policies have been modified throughout the years, he said. Officers now must start with verbal strategies to defuse the situation, although it depends on the nature of the call and the danger of the situation, he said. “We have come a long way; now it is mandatory that all patrol officers have a dash camera,” Ruiz said. “They no longer can hide any evidence, they have to treat everyone the same and it is all recorded.” Cornelius Cox opened the discussion by asking the audience if anyone has felt they have been stopped by a police officer without a good reason. Many raised their hand. He explained everyday experiences influence people’s judgments on what will happen to them when confronted by an officer.
Cox himself was stopped once by a Miami police officer who suspected Cox’s car was involved in a robbery. The officer searched his car, placed him against a wall and detained him for 45 minutes. He said he felt there was no reason he should have been stopped. Incidents like this happen every day, he said. “What is reasonable?” he asked, referring to police’s behavior with suspects and citizens. Mistreatment of citizens should never take place, and being mindful of the situation will help reduce the chances, he said. Local attorney Dexter Gilford agreed. “Most agencies follow a use-of-force continuum approach — that is, there is a preference that force should be used from the least intrusive means to the most intrusive means,” Gilford said. Gilford served as a prosecutor for Bexar County for two years, and has been in private practice for more than 18 years, working on defense and capital murder cases. He is a full-time adjunct in this college’s criminal justice department.
Library cuts books, materials and databases The budget was reduced by $116,164.
subscription, was cut, but after a faculty complaint, librarians negotiated for restoration at half price, Bahlinger said. By Alyssa Zapata However, the library cannot promise to have this datasac-ranger@alamo.edu base again next year because of the increasing prices and Cuts to the library’s materials budget for this academic uncertainty about the library’s budget. year have resulted in fewer databases and reductions in As of 1994, the Alamo Community College District took acquisition of books and other materials. over the library and other department budgets. Librarians The 2014-15 budget plummeted below $400,000, said submit a budget each year, but the college administration reference librarian Tom Bahlinger, who manages the budget. determines the amount the library receives, library director The 2014-15 materials budget is $370,000, which is the Alice Johnson said. lowest it has been in four years, Juanita She recalls students began paying Lewis, learning resource specialist, said. a library fee that year of no more than District gives us a Bahlinger said this is not the biggest budget and our college $2 a semester, which ended five or six cut the library has had, but the total years ago. decides how they’re materials budget is less than the 2013-14 “District gives us a budget and our going to spend it. budget of $486,164. college decides how they’re going to Alice Johnson, In 2011-12, the materials budget spend it,” Johnson said. library director was cut to $450,000, which The Ranger When the library makes cuts, librarreported was the biggest reduction in ians review database usage. They conrecent years. In 2010-11, the budget was about $400,000. sider databases like America: History and Life essential to This budget must be split among materials, books and the history department, but also must weigh those needs databases. Three databases were identified for cancellation, against available funding, Bahlinger said. but one was restored. America: History and Life and MLA Other cuts include the reduction of librarians from at International Bibliography will no longer be accessible. least 12 full-time to five full-time and two part-time, he said. Safari Books Online, which cost $11,525 for an annual Retiring librarians were not replaced.
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SAConnected
2 • March 2, 2015
www.theranger.org/calendar
Leafy greens Lisa Cervantes, Students for Environmental Awareness president and environmental science sophomore, offers environmental science sophomore Jess Hayes some greens harvested from their garden Wednesday at EcoCentro. Graciela DeLeon, landscape horticulture of applied science freshman, tries some Swiss chard. The club meets 2-3 p.m. every Wednesday at EcoCentro. Pam Paz
Water pong
Physical therapy freshman Jeremy Sanchez tosses a pingpong ball at cups of water guarded by fire science sophomore Edward Silva during a game of water pong between classes Wednesday in the game room of Loftin. The game room is open to students from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday. E. David Guel
Survivor
Blast off Ninth-graders Isaac Garcia, 15, and Matthew Villarreal, 16, prepare to launch a handmade paper rocket using a bicycle pump and air compressor Tuesday in the mall west of Scobee. Science, technology, engineering and mathematics students from Memorial High School took a field trip to Scobee to test their rockets and visit the planetarium. E. David Guel
today tues
Event: “Enlightened Reincarnation” art exhibit at Blue Star Art Complex, 1414 S. Alamo. Call 210-872-2586. SAC Graduation: “Be SAC Proud” photo booth 9 a.m.-1 p.m. in mall. Call 210-4860125. PAC Lecture: Understanding Credit Financial Literacy 11 a.m.-noon in Room 130 of student center. Call 210486-3125. UTSA Event: Intro to Yoga 4-5 p.m. in orange studio of campus recreation. Call 210-458-6725.
Event: Sketching in the Galleries 6-8 p.m. at San Antonio Museum of Art, 200 W. Jones. Free with Alamo Colleges ID. Call 210-978-8100. NLC Film: “Places in the Heart” 6:30-8:30 p.m. in performing arts. Call 210-4865404. Concert: Bands Expire, Rotting Out, Suburban Scum, Bent Life, Mizery 6 p.m. at The Korova, 107 E. Martin. $15. Call 210-2265070. E v e n t : Alamo Beer C o m p a n y ’s Siege Week 6-9 p.m. at Stay Golden Social House, 401 Pearl. Call 210444-0707.
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SAC Concert: The Heart of Texas Concert Band 7:30 p.m. in auditorium of McAllister. Call 210-486-0497.
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thur
fri
SAC Event: Transfer fair 9 a.m.-noon in Fiesta Room of Loftin. Call 210-486-0125.
UTSA Event: Alcohol awareness information booth 11 a.m.3 p.m. outside of UC Paseo. Call 210-449-2361.
Event: Mandala Healing Arts Project 5:30-10 p.m. at Blue Star Arts Complex, 1414 S. Alamo. Call 210-227-6960.
SAC Event: 7-on-7 coed flag football tournament 3-6 p.m. at San Pedro Springs Park. Call 210-486-0129.
Musical: “The Addams Family” 7:30 p.m. at Woodlawn Theater, 1920 Fredericksburg. $15 students; $20 senior and military; $23 adults.
UTSA Lecture: Cash Handling 101 9:30-10:30 a.m. in meeting room of Buena Vista St. building at downtown campus, 501 W. Cesar E. Chavez. Call 210-458-4881. Event: World War II in Film presents “In The Navy” 2-3 p.m. at McNay Art Museum, 6000 N. New Braunfels. Free with Alamo Colleges ID. Call 210824-5368. NVC Meeting: LGBTQ meeting 3:30-5 p.m. in Room 113 of Huisache. Call 210-486-4009.
NVC Play: “Moliere’s Shorts” 8 p.m. in Black Box Theater. Continues 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday. $3 with college ID; $5 seniors and military; $8 general. Call 210-486-4000.
UTSA Lecture: Author Robin Black 7 p.m. in university room at downtown campus, 501 W. Cesar E. Chavez. Call 210-8346140.
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Event: Art print fair 10 a.m.5 p.m. in Leeper Auditorium at McNay Art Museum, 6000 N. New Braunfels. Continues Sunday. Free with Alamo Colleges ID. Call 210-824-5368.
Concert: Bands Hounds of Hate, The Sentenced, Unit, Ill Informed, Mau and Stacked Against 8 p.m. at The Korova, 107 E. Martin. $7. Call 210226-5070.
Event: 5K Run Dead San Antonio 1-6 p.m. at Rio Cibolo Ranch, 1101 Ulrich. $70 individual. $65 team of five or more. Call 802-430-7270.
Event: San Antonio Mystery Book Lovers discussion of “Standing in Another Man’s Grave” by Ian Rankin 7 p.m. at Barnes & Noble, 15900 La Cantera. Call 210-558-3903.
sun
Event: Brick Marketplace noon at Blue Star Arts Complex, 1414 S. Alamo. Call 210-227-6960.
UIW Concert: Outliers performance 8-9:30 p.m. in Ingrid Seddon Recital Hall. Call 210829-3855.
Concert: San Antonio Vocal Chamber Ensemble Copperleaf singing Renaissance music 2-3 p.m. at McNay Art Museum. Call 210-824-5368.
UTSA Lecture: Kevin Glowski dog behaviorist 7-9 p.m. in Room 2.02.02 of multidisciplinary studies building. Call 281-620-1487. Trinity Lecture: Poet Gary Snyder 7:30 p.m. at Great Hall of Chapman, 1 Trinity Place. Call 210-999-8884.
sat
Holocaust survivor William Samelson, a professor emeritus of the foreign languages department, recounts his experience Tuesday in Oppenheimer during a leadership series for the public administration program. When Samelson was a boy in Poland, he played his violin for Nazis. After about 10 minutes, a Nazi officer smashed the violin on Samelson’s head. His brother later told him he saw several Nazis with tears while he played. Samelson said he played to save lives. Read the story online. Daniel Carde
Daylight saving time: Move clock forward one hour.
Alexandra Nelipa
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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
March 2, 2015 • 3
In 2013-2014, about $500,000 awarded by ACCD Foundation. By Cynthia M. Herrera
cherrera151@student.alamo.edu
Students who don’t want to miss an opportunity to earn scholarships from $250 to $1,500 a semester may apply to the Alamo Colleges Foundation Scholarship by the early deadline of April 5. In 2013-14 about $1.5 million was awarded to students in all Alamo Colleges, said Jim Eskin, executive director of Alamo Colleges Foundation. In an email, Eskin wrote about 1,700 students from all Alamo Colleges received a foundation scholarship. About 500 students at this college received approximately $500,000 in scholarships during the 2013-14 academic year. Students must complete a one-time application online for 2015-16. The application consists of questions including “Are you or have you been an amateur boxer between the ages of 8 through 32 years of age? Are
you an employee or immediate family member of a McDonald’s restaurant/owner? Do you regularly attend SAC Gay and Lesbian Association meetings?” The questions allow the foundation to consider applicants for a variety of foundation scholarships, according to its website. That is why the application only needs to be filled out once every academic year. There are also three 250-word essays. The topics describe the background and life experiences that prompted the applicant to pursue a higher education. The application asks about educational, career and life goals as well as the plan for achieving them. Applicants also must explain why they chose a degree or major and why receiving a scholarship will help achieve their goals. Foundation scholarships are open to students graduating from high school, currently enrolled students, returning students and first-time-in-college students. The judges consist of staff, faculty and community representatives. Applications are scored based on criteria, such as
activities, number of hours earned, grades, grammar and spelling. Irene Fuentes, this college’s scholarship coordinator, said judges look forward to the application process and they are amazed at how it works. “It’s a very fair and very unbiased process,” Fuentes said. Fuentes explained when judges review an application, they see everything but the student’s name. The application process is not on a first-come, first-served basis. Instead applicants with higher scores are awarded. Students can compete for more than one scholarship. “There is no rigid limit on how many scholarships a student can receive,” Fuentes said in an email. “The goal would be to ‘spread the wealth,’ so to speak ... and strive to award to as many applicants as possible.” Once a student is qualified and ranked, Fuentes checks if students are enrolled and in good academic standing. Visit www.alamo.edu/foundation/scholarships/.
Essay help available Tune up writing skills before graduating or transferring. By Tim Hernandez
sac-ranger@alamo.edu
Writing an essay for a scholarship application doesn’t have to be faced alone. The ACCD Foundation Scholarship application process requires that the applying student answer each of three questions in a 250-word essay. The three questions and essay writing tips can be found at www.alamo.edu/ main.aspx?id=2468. The questions focus on the student’s background, education goals and how a scholarship will help. While the web page provides some helpful tips to guide a good writer, it provides no assistance to an applicant who struggles with writing. That assistance can be found on campus at the writing center in Room 203 of Gonzales Hall. Writing center Director Jane FochtHansen said a student will receive help with any writing assignment as long as they provide a document that explains the assignment. She said the center’s tutors will not write a student’s paper but help them develop brainstorming, instruction interpretation, idea generation, grammar and proofreading skills.
In addition to managing the writing center, Focht-Hansen also teaches English and literature. This semester, she is teaching ENGL 2342, Introduction to Literature and Literary Criticism. She has taught at this college for 21 years. She earned an Associate of Arts in radio, television and film from this college, a Bachelor of Arts in English from Trinity University, and a Master of Arts in English literature and language from St. Mary’s University. Students who plan on transferring to a four-year university that requires writing across the curriculum are encouraged to make use of the center to improve their writing skills. Focht-Hansen said, “We have some brilliant students here, but they were not served well by their public education.” Focht-Hansen’s recommendation to students who struggle with writing is take “a class that will challenge you and require that you write extensively.” Spring hours for the center are 8 a.m.5 p.m. Monday and Thursday, 8 a.m.–7 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday and 9 a.m.– 2 p.m. Friday. A student needing assistance must make an appointment for tutoring by visiting the center or by calling 210-4861433.
Robert Sifuentes, Joshua Martinez and Thomas Gonzalez, South San Antonio High School seniors, look at letters they put in a time capsule as third graders in 2006. Pam Paz
Back in time
Leandro Esparza, coordinator for student success for Palo Alto College’s welcome and advising center, empties the contents of a time capsule buried in 2006 Wednesday on the lawn of Concho Hall. The time capsule was filled with letters, photos, T-shirts, video games and other memorabilia by the Palo Alto Elementary School third-grade class of 2006. The students are now seniors in high school and are eligible for a two-year scholarship to Palo Alto, contingent on fall enrollment, full-time status and a minimum of a 2.5 GPA. See story and video online. Pam Paz
College’s ‘Top Brags’ paper cost 50 percent more By Cynthia M. Herrera
cherrera151@student.alamo.edu
Those in attendance at the SAC Scores Data Day Jan. 13 received a printed agenda and a flier promoting the Top 14 SAC Brags of 2014. Some of the brags for 2014 included: • This college made the Top 100 Associate Degree Producers list in Diverse Magazine. • This college’s Facebook page exceeded 17,000 likes, the second-largest audience base among local colleges and universities. • The Gnome Ranger spirit figure debuted in the fall semester. More than 750 agendas and 400 fliers were distributed. The college spent almost $150 to print the agenda on a heavy textured cardstock, which is used for business cards at this college, the director of public relations said. Regular cardstock at half the cost was used to print the Top 14 for a total of $62. In an email, Vanessa Torres, director of public relations, explained the heavier stock is used for high-profile events, such as SAC Scores Data Day, to emphasize the importance of the event. The college may have placed a great deal of emphasis on the agenda, but a great many attendees did not and discarded the agenda at the end of the session opening the spring semester. Some discarded it before getting to the lobby.
Jackie Dorton, customer service representative at UPS for the Alamo Colleges, said printing the agendas on regular copy paper would have cost $90, but because the agendas were printed on the heavier textured cardstock, the cost was $142.50. Dorton said Torres uses the paper regularly. “Everyone (at UPS) knows she prefers it.” English Professor Jane Focht-Hansen, writing center director, said with a tight budget she can’t do much. The writing center is a pay-for-copies lab. The lab also has few work-studies but because pay rates have increased there is not enough money to pay for extra work hours. “There is less access for tutors,” FochtHansen said. “Rather than expanding, now salaries mean students will get less.” Focht-Hansen grew up recycling and stated that she would have written notes had she been able to attend the event. Education sophomore Jazmine Limon said there could be other ways to show the importance of a high-profile event. “That’s not cool,” Limon said. “At my workplace, we recycle. If you don’t need it, don’t use it. Be mindful of what you’re using.” That would be something to brag about.
student
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Scholarship deadline in early April
Alexandra Nelipa
Balancing life, school, work School takes sacrifice, discipline, student says. By Danny Geraldo Martinez sac-ranger@alamo.edu
Balancing work, school, family and a social life can be a challenge for any student. The thought of juggling all of these demands may seem overwhelming at times, but it’s a necessity for every student, said adviser Stephanie C. Williams. Social work sophomore Margie Garcia plans ahead to balance school with work. One class away from receiving her associate degree in social work, Garcia is a full-time employee at H-E-B. “The key to making it all work is prioritizing and time management,” she said. “Once school starts, my work schedule gets made in advance so I can plan accordingly.” Growing up in a rough neighborhood, Garcia knows what it’s like to be on the receiving end of clinical social assistance. “I believe you should do something that you’re passionate about, and I truly feel I want to make a difference one person at a time,” she said. “We are living in tough times; social workers are needed to help people get their lives back on track.” The academic advisers in Moody Learning Center can lend a helping hand to students facing the pressures of juggling school and work life. Williams, who works in this college’s counseling and advising center, understands this frustration and knows what it takes for students to develop a healthy school and life balance. “Fifty percent of our student population are non-traditional students. Many have to work and many have families,” Williams said. “You must be serious and realistic about anything that you do because we all know we have responsibilities in and out of school. It’s all about finding that balance.” So how do students find the balance? According to www. everydayhealth.com, students should create a personal day planner. This should be an hourby-hour schedule that includes classes, work hours and other daily activities. Students should also schedule some time for themselves. This includes a chance to socialize, watch movies, read books, catch up on sleep, whatever it takes to help keep them from getting overwhelmed. “You have to discipline yourself,” Garcia said. “If not, then why go to school if you’re not prepared to focus and sacrifice your free time toward your goals and aspirations?”
Editorial
4 • March 2, 2015
.org
the
ranger
www.theranger.org/editorial
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 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, Janelle Polcyn, Karenna J. Reyna, Matthew Reyna, V.L. Roberson, Johann Spiess, Alyssa Zapata Photo Editor E. David Guel Photographer Gwen Garcia Estefania B. Alonso
Photo Team Cassi Armstrong, Jon Hernandez, 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
@therangerSAC /readtheranger /therangervideo
©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.
Really about trust, Dr. Leslie? Chancellor blogs the talk, but doesn’t walk the walk. In November 2013, Chancellor Bruce Leslie wrote a blog entry on the Huffington Post titled, “It’s a Matter of Trust.” In this post, Leslie wrote about a speech he heard by a state political leader that struck a nerve in him. The political leader said the state’s schools were “deplorable.” In response to this, Leslie wrote, “I’ve concluded that we educators have lost the public’s trust” and trust is “especially crucial” when community college is the only choice for a student. Where does this mistrust come from? Let’s start with the chancellor. First, he blindsides campus administrators, faculty and staff with EDUC 1300, totally disregarding procedures
for a curriculum change. Then he single-handedly decided majors should be removed from degrees, claiming a “transfer degree” would better serve students and didn’t bother to consult college administrators or faculty, much less students. Transparency and open communication are the foundation of trust. He also wrote, “For generations, a degree represented the assured passage to a successful career and life.” Well, Chancellor, what does a degree without a concentration represent? Gilbert Perez, business management graduate of Palo Alto College, tore up his degree, signifying a degree without a major represented nothing. Leslie rejected the Super Senate’s ideas on majors, stating “they are solution-oriented rather than open-ended
Apply now Deadline for foundation scholarship is April 5. All students with at least a 2.5 GPA who are enrolled in any of the Alamo Colleges should apply for an Alamo Colleges Foundation Scholarship. Students must also be enrolled part- or full-time at the Alamo Colleges and have satisfactory academic progress. The deadline is April 5. The foundation is offering about a half million dollars in scholarships for qualifying students. About, 1,700 students from all Alamo Colleges received a scholarship last year; 500 of those attended this college. Students must apply online through the ACES portal. For the application, students should write good essays, get letters of recommendation from their professors and complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Read “Scholarship essay help is available on campus” on Page 3 for tips on easing the process, such as the three essay prompts and to seek a writing center tutor’s help in editing drafts. “Recommendation letters are service, not obligation, adviser says,” which can be found at theranger. org, reminds students to ask for letters weeks before they are needed. This allows professors time to write them. The president may be playing with the idea of free community college tuition for the first two years, but until that becomes a reality — if ever — it is the student’s responsibility to fund their education. With all these resources available to college students for free, there’s no reason to delay starting your application. A few hours writing essays can save thousands. Fill out your application today and avoid expensive student loans in the future.
and are college-based rather than district-oriented.” Aren’t ideas supposed to be “solution-oriented?” And just who does the teaching around here: the colleges or the district? To regain the trust of students, faculty and staff, the chancellor needs to start by taking his own advice. The final statement in this blog reads, “Trust must be earned and educators at all levels must appreciate our collective responsibility to rise above our internal political issues and focus all our efforts on student success.” Key words: collective responsibility. The chancellor seems to expect everyone else to do the rising while he decides what the focus will be. If his own employees cannot trust him, why would the public?
VIEWPOINTS
Don’t ever give up Being born with a birth defect doesn’t define who I am. It’s not an easy life when you are born with a birth Viewpoint defect — take by Richard it from me. But Montemayor what helped me overcome rmontemayor15@ challenges student.alamo.edu that I faced in life was to never give up. I wasn’t going to let the school bully get the best of me. My Apert syndrome was unexpected. My mom and dad had no idea I was going to be born with it. Apert syndrome is a genetic disorder that causes abnormal development of the skull. The syndrome is caused by a rare mutation on a single gene that is responsible for guiding bones to join together at the right time during development. Physical characteristics identifying individuals with Apert syndrome include abnormal skull growth, wide-set bulging
eyes and web-like hands or feet. All of which I have. I also suffer from hearing loss in my right ear, and the syndrome causes chronic sinus infections and allergies. So you can imagine how I feel about mountain cedar. One in 65,000 children are born with Apert syndrome. I’m the only one in my family who has this syndrome, but if I have children there is a 50-50 chance they would be born with Apert. Growing up with Apert was far from normal. Instead of sleep-away camp or the beach, I spent summers in Dallas at Medical City Dallas Hospital in the Craniofacial Center. I’ve had more than 30 surgeries on my hands, feet, head, mouth and eyes.
Read the complete viewpoint on theranger.org.
Anthony B. Botello, Vanessa Frausto,