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ranger Serving San Antonio College and the Alamo Colleges
An independent forum of free voices 210-486-1773 • Single copies free
Volume 91 Issue 14 • March 27, 2017
Graduation dates Students can apply to walk stage after deadline. Page 3
Vinyl paradise Neighborhood record store still alive. Page 4
online now
Advocates are voices for undocumented immigrants
Students present concerns to president
Board votes for new tuition schedule A $1 international education fee was added to tuition. By Zachary-Taylor Wright zwright9@student.alamo.edu
Chalk the vote Social work sophomore Ryan Mixon tries to sign the “I registered because … ” chalkboard after registering to vote March 21 in the mall but did not sign the board because the “vote” robot costume restricted his movement. The Student Government Association partnered
with MoveSA intern Madison Porras to stress the importance of registering to vote. The last day to register to vote for the May 6 Bexar County election is April 6. For more information about early voting, visit the SGA office 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday-Thursday in Room 260B of Loftin. Brianna Rodrigue
The board of trustees approved a revised tuition schedule for fiscal year 2018 at the board meeting March 21 at Killen Center. The tuition schedule raises the term cost for nursing students at this college and St. Philip’s College, lowers out-of-district tuition, mentions the introduction of transcript sets and introduces a $1 per semester credit hour international education fee.
See TUITION, Page 7
Board reviews campus carry policy By Zachary-Taylor Wright zwright9@student.alamo.edu
The board of trustees questioned the timeline for approving a licensed concealed campus carry policy during the chancellor’s report at the board meeting March 21 at Killen Center. District general counsel Ross Laughead presented a first draft of potential policy recommendations to the board and suggested the board adopt a policy at the April 18 board meeting. District 5 trustee Roberto Zarate expressed concern with the timeline, saying an April vote from the board is too rushed. Zarate suggested the board push the vote until the May 16 board meeting to allow the discussion of potential policy at two committee meetings and two board meetings. District 6 trustee Gene Sprague charged Laughead and the board with compiling a detailed policy recommendation so the board can make an informed decision. Chancellor Bruce Leslie said he plans to work with general counsel and the board to establish a policy in time, but the board can postpone a decision until the May 16 board meeting if they need to. This is the first recommendation for policy the board has seen. Laughead reminded the board that it takes considerable time to implement new policy across the colleges and said this was the time for the board to identify any concerns they have with proposed policy before bringing recommendations back to the April 11 committee meetings. According to the presentation, concealed campus carry will be effective Aug. 1 in the Alamo Colleges District and the board must
State allows barring at:
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present a policy and reasoning to state legislators by Sept. 1. The campus carry committee, including student government, faculty, district staff, administrators and police, was formed to review and discuss concealed campus carry in the district and suggest policy additions. Laughead said barring concealed carry in athletic facilities was feasible because students cannot control their weapon if it is not on their person or within reach. Texas legislation requires licensed concealed carriers to have access to and control of the weapon at all times. Laughead said extending the restriction to spectators at sporting events is “less justified by statute” but recommended by the committee. Laughead said the committee supported barring concealed carry at Scobee Education Center because the planetarium is heavily marketed toward minors. The committee supported barring concealed campus carry in special testing areas because they didn’t support installing gun lockers around the colleges, Laughead said. Students in special testing areas would be required to remove weapons from their person prior to taking the test. Laughead said he spoke to the police department, and they said the installation of gun lockers increases the risk of accidental discharge. Having concealed carriers constantly handle their weapon increases the chance of accidental discharge, Laughead said. Laughead said the committee and general counsel support a broad definition of hazardous laboratories, where the committee wanted to bar concealed campus carry. According to Laughead’s presentation,
District wants barring at:
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Disciplinary hearings Scobee Education Center Athletic facilities Special testing areas Labs and training facilities with hazardous material
District general counsel Ross Laughead presents a proposed policy on the licensed concealed campus carry, which goes into effect at Alamo Colleges District Aug. 1, to the board of trustees March 21 at Killen. He discussed possible limitations and sites that will be barred. J. Del Valle many chemicals can be considered dangerous in the presence of a weapon by presenting a “small risk of ignition from firearm discharge.” The presentation used automobile fuel, lubricants and battery acid as examples of materials that are hazardous in the presence of a firearm. Laughead proposed the board bar concealed campus carry where minors congregate, saying board policy can only bar concealed campus carry in specific classrooms and at specific times when minors will be present. Laughead said the board must weigh the safety concerns against the penalty for inaccurate signage and enforcement confusion. According to the presentation, the district may be charged a civil penalty of $10,000 a day for signage that bars licensed concealed campus carry where it is not prohibited by state legislation under Texas Statute 411.209. Laughead said he discussed the implementation of signage with the purchasing department, which said the district could purchase signage within the current budget plan. The presentation states that policy should
accommodate “clearly accidental display.” Zarate questioned what this statement implied and questioned the vague nature of the statement. Laughead provided an example: If a gun is in a holster and concealed by a buttoned jacket, a concealed carrier should not have charges pressed against them if a button comes undone and exposes the holster. District 2 trustee Denver McClendon asked if the current legislative session could impact how the board constructs the new concealed campus carry policy. Board Chair Yvonne Katz, District 7 trustee, said she has not seen any proposed legislation that would impact or impede the construction of policy. Laughead proposed a plan for communicating the board’s concealed campus carry policy to students, faculty and the public, saying course syllabuses and the college websites were the best places to inform students, faculty and the public about the policy. Leslie proposed creating an implementation committee to discuss the logistics of implementing the new policy.
People
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www.theranger.org/multimedia
Ball-diving Business administration sophomore Daniella Aguirre dives for the Balance
Architecture freshman Diana Luevano uses a pencil for a sighting technique to help her analyze what she is seeing of Gonzales Hall March 21 during architecture Professor Michael Connor’s Freehand Drawing 1 class. Brianna Rodrigue
ball March 22 in Candler after going for the rebound against the Northwest Vista College Wildcats. Aguirre threw the ball back after saving it, but it went straight to a Wildcat player. The Rangers lost 71-58. Visit theranger.org to view the men’s and women’s basketball slideshow. Brianna Rodrigue
Personal views
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Liberal arts sophomore Elizabeth Lawson dances with a pro-abortion sign at an anti-abortion event March 20 in the mall. Marion Thompson, member of Love of Truth Ministries has opposed abortion for three decades. “We’d love for mothers to have their baby adopted,” he said. Michelle Delgado
life
Harley Williams, Student Government Association president speaks during Pizza with the President March 22 in Loftin. Williams encouraged students to ask questions concerning accreditation and transfer credits at this college. Emily Garcia
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ACCD Deadline: Census Date for Flex 2.
Event: Summer job fair 9 a.m.-1 p.m. in Room 1.02 of the university center at UTSA. Call 210458-4769.
SAC Event: Free testing for HIV, by San Antonio AIDS Foundation 9 a.m.-2 p.m. in the mall. Call 210486-0127.
PAC Event: Domestic Violence presentation 11 a.m.-2 p.m. in the auditorium of performing arts. Call 210-486-3125.
SAC Meeting: Asian Pop Society 2-5 p.m. in the craft room of Loftin. Call 210-365-1244.
PAC Meeting: Tri-Beta Biological Honor Society noon-1 p.m. in Room 200 of San Jacinto. Call 210-486-3125.
PAC Event: Job fair 10 a.m.-noon in Room 101 of Ozuna. Call 210486-3125.
NLC Event: Fourth annual poetry slam in celebration of Women’s History Month 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. in Room 109 of the library. Call 210-485-0200.
Event: UTSA Day open house 8 a.m.-1 p.m. with check-in at the university center, H-E-B university center and biotechnology sciences and engineering building. Call 210-458-5145.
SAC Event: Blood drive 9 a.m.3 p.m. in the mall. Continues Tuesday. Call 210-486-0125. SAC Event: Women’s History Month: Pamper Our Women Day 10 a.m.-1 p.m. in the Fiesta Room of Loftin. Call 210-486-0125. PAC Event: SeaWorld career opportunity 10 a.m.-1 p.m. in Room 101 of the student center. Call 210-486-3131. SAC Meeting: Campus Activities Board 1-2 p.m. in Room 150 of Loftin. Call 210-486-0125. NLC Event: Speaker Broadcast: Hoda Kotb, “Today Show” host and NBC correspondent, 5-6:30 p.m. in Room 201 of student commons. Call 210-485-0200. Event: Young Life leadership training 8-10 p.m. in Room 2.02.20 of McKinney Humanities at UTSA. Call 210-458-4770.
SAC Meeting: Tutoring services for Music Theory and Fundamentals of Music noon-1:15 p.m. in Room 112 of music hall annex. Call 210486-0255. Event: Art Fit: Art + Yoga 6-7 p.m. at San Antonio Museum of Art. Bring yoga mat. Free. Call 210978-8100. NLC Event: Special Olympics Unified Game 7-10 p.m. in the gym in the wellness center. Call 210-486-5152. NVC Event: Jack Stone Award for national competition for community college student composers at 7:30 p.m. in Room 107 of recital hall. Call 210-486-4010.
SAC Event: Women Helping Women Succeed fashion show noon-1 p.m. in the Fiesta Room of Loftin. Call 210-486-0128. SAC Meeting: Social Justice League noon-12:30 p.m. in Room 150 of Loftin. Call 210-486-0137. SAC Meeting: Student Veterans of America 2-3 p.m. in the faculty lounge of Loftin. Call 210-4861418. SAC Meeting: Explore the Mind Psychology Club 2 p.m. in Room 652 of Moody. Call 210-5291639. NLC Movie: “Hidden Figures” 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. in auditorium of performing arts. Call 210-485-0200. SAC Lecture: “Attracting Butterflies and Hummingbirds to your Garden” by Judit Green, urban wildlife biologist, 6 p.m. at EcoCentro. Call 210-486-1874.
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Event: Economist Lecture: A. Michael Spence, economics professor at New York University who won a Nobel prize for his contributions to market analysis, 7:30-9 p.m. in Room 142 of Chapman at Trinity University. Call 210-9997221.
NLC Event: “Chasing the Dragon —The Life of an Opiate Addict 1-3 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. in the auditorium in performing arts. Call 210485-0200. SAC Meeting: Gay Ally Lesbian Alliance of SAC 3-4 p.m. in the faculty lounge in Loftin. Call 956893-4175. Event: Meditation and spirituality — storytelling, meditation and ancient forms of spiritual technology 5:30-7 p.m. in the Willow Room 2.02.12 of the university center at UTSA. Call 956-337-2583. NLC Event: Women’s Nighthawk basketball vs. TAMU-SA at 7 p.m. in the wellness gym. Call 210486-5404. SAC Event: Volleyball at Palo Alto College 7-9 p.m. at aquatic center. Call 210-896-4353.
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Event: Badminton 3-6 p.m. in Room 1.102 of the recreational gym at UTSA. Call 210-458-6464. NLC Deadline: Tug of war sign-up deadline 5 p.m. in Room 131 of student commons. Call 210-486-5404. SAC Deadline: Student of the Month application due by 5 p.m. for students enrolled in at least six hours and who have completed 15 semester hours with a 3.0 gradepoint average. Submit to gsavage@ alamo.edu or in Room 309 of Fletcher. Call 210-486-0930. SPC Event: “Alice in Wonderland: The Rock Opera” 8 p.m. in the theater in Watson. $5 for students and faculty and $10 general admission. Continues April 7-8 and at 2:30 p.m. April 2 and 9. Call 210-4862205.
SAC Workshop: Bat house building 9 a.m.-noon at EcoCentro. Call 210-486-1874. Event: Tours for blind or visually impaired 10-11:30 a.m. at San Antonio Museum of Art, 200 W. Jones. Free with admission. Call 210-978-8138. SAC Event: “The Grapes of Wrath” performance at 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium of McAllister. Continues April 2 and 9 at 2:30 p.m. Students $5; other colleges, seniors and military $8; general admission $10. Call 210-4860255.
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Event: Ucinema Night: “A Dog’s Purpose” 9-11 p.m. in Retama Auditorium in Room 2.02.02 of the university center at UTSA. Call 210-458-4160.
Event: First Sundays for Families to experience nature-inspired pieces 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at San Antonio Museum of Art. Call 210-9788100.
PAC Deadline: Eleven Rivers Review scholarship accepting submissions of visual art, cover art, creative writing and photography before midnight. Call 210-4863262 or visit www.alamo.edu/pac/ literary-journal.
ACCD Deadline: 2017-18 Alamo Colleges online scholarship application due before midnight to be considered for more than 35 Alamo Colleges Foundation scholarships. Visit www.alamo.edu/ pac/scholarships.
For coverage in People, call 210-486-1773 or e-mail sac-ranger@alamo.edu two weeks in advance.
News
www.theranger.org/news
March 27, 2017 • 3
Steps to transfer to universities start now TRAC services get students on the fast track to a university. By Jakoby West
sac-ranger@alamo.edu
Students who plan to transfer to a university in the fall should begin now, a transfer adviser says. “If a student wants to start in the fall, now is the time,” Yesenia Caloca, transfer adviser at the transfer and career center, said March 1 in an interview. The transfer and career center, known as TRAC, is located on the first floor of Moody Learning Center and offers advice and services to help students through the transfer process. The first step of the transfer process starts with enrollment in this college, Caloca said. Once enrolled at this college, students are assigned an adviser and given a copy of an associate degree plan for their major. After enrollment, they are able to use services in the TRAC center. If students are unsure of where they want to transfer, the TRAC center helps students explore their options and decide which university is the best fit for their major.
When deciding on a transfer institution, students should first think about if they want to stay in San Antonio, if they want to stay in Texas or if they want to attend a university out of state, she said. With a university selected, a TRAC service students should use is following a transfer degree guide for their intended university. The guide will show classes a student should take at this college and which classes transfer and apply to that university’s bachelor’s degree requirements. “If you’re a student, they have a transfer degree plan for you and tell you which classes to take. So basically, I’m at UTSA right now; I’m just not there yet,” criminal justice freshman Kameron Jones said. Following the transfer degree guide is especially important for students planning to pursue a math or science degree, Caloca said. “If you’re going to be doing a math or a science degree, there is very specific course sequencing that needs to happen to be able to move on from one class to the next for their major,” she said. The TRAC center offers physical copies of transfer degree guides for most universities in Texas, and students are urged to come by
and pick one up as well as a physical copy of the associate degree plan, she said. “With those two in hand, we can help them map out their transfer process,” Caloca said. The TRAC center then encourages students to meet with a university representative, which they can do during fairs and events hosted by the TRAC center. Students can find a list of TRAC events as well as book an advising appointment with university representatives on the TRAC center website at www.alamo.edu/sac/TRAC/. Students are then encouraged to meet with their transfer adviser every semester so they can make sure they are on the right track while also avoiding snags the students could face during the transfer process. Some of the problems that could delay transferring include the three-peat rule, which requires students to pay out-of-district rates for a course when enrolling in it the third time. Another problem could be students affected by the six-drop rule, which limits drops to six in all four years at public colleges in Texas. She said meeting each semester with a TRAC adviser ensures a student is aware of the requirements of senior institutions, such as grade-point average.
When it comes down to applying to the transfer university, the student should do so one semester in advance, she said. Be aware of university deadlines, she said. Some students may need to apply earlier than one semester. Caloca said the process of applying to the university can be summed up in three main steps: • Fill out an application for the university. If they are applying to a university in Texas, students do so through Apply Texas: www. applytexas.org/adappc/gen/profile.WBX. • Pay all the admission fees and application fees, which vary by institution. • Submit official school transcripts. There may be additional steps depending on the university, but the TRAC center is here to help guide students through the process. For questions regarding transferring or the transfer process, visit the TRAC center on the first floor of Moody Learning Center. The center is open 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday; 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday; and 9 a.m.-1 p.m. the first Saturday of the month. Students can call the center at 210-4861500.
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Do you know your Buildings to be inspected by VP civic responsibility? This college will host an event about politics and immigration for DREAMers. By Sasha D. Robinson sac-ranger@alamo.edu
The office of civic engagement will host “What is Your Civic Responsibility?” at noon March 30 in the Fiesta Room of Loftin Student Center. The office and MOVE San Antonio inform students of the importance of voting and localized voting statistics and have a conversation with students about the current political climate since the election of President Donald J. Trump. MOVE stands for Mobility, Organize, Vote and Empower. MOVE SA promotes local civic engagement by using live video streaming technology to create online forums for community conversations about quality of life, neighborhood news, culture, social justice, equality, human rights and government accountability and transparency. Students who may be most affected under the new administration are the Dreamers, students who have come from other countries who are currently in school and fearful of being deported because of the immigration climate. Dreamers are able to go to school through the DREAM Act or Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors. There is a fear that undocumented immigrants are going to be deported for not being citizens of this country. The previous presidential administration deported people with serious criminal records. “The fear is that any undocumented immigrant who is found
is going to be deported, from someone who is a mass murderer or has a parking ticket,” Mariano Aguilar Jr., Mexican-American Studies instructor, said. According to americanimmigrationcouncil.org/research/ dreamact.com, the Dream Act addresses the plight of young undocumented immigrants growing up in the United States who wish to go to college and obtain lawful employment. After obtaining a high school diploma or GED, recipients have a pathway to U.S. citizenship through college or armed services. The office of civic engagement conducts a similar session each school semester. For more Information, call the civic engagement office at 210-486-0137, email jliedecke@ alamo.edu or visit Room D403 of portable building 19 from 8 a.m to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Custodians know how often buildings should be cleaned. By Emily Garcia
egarcia1009@student.alamo.edu
Inspections of buildings at this college are being done by Dr. Stella Lovato, vice president of college services, in response to complaints. “My responsibility as vice president is to gather information and make sure the housekeepers are meeting the needs of faculty, staff and students,” Lovato said. Protocol for finding issues with housekeeping is reporting it to facilities, Lovato said. “After I report it, my job is to make sure improvements are followed through,” Lovato said. The best way to keep up with complaints students, faculty or staff may have with housekeeping is to always provide documentation, said Vanessa Torres, director of public relations. “The more documentation, proof and evidence that there is a problem, the more facilities can help solve the problem,” Torres said. “I even had a student contact me on Twitter about toilet paper missing
Housekeeping contractor Linda Hernandez cleans a classroom Feb. 1 in Gonzales. The staff members and contractors work together to maintain the campus. Noah Acevedo from a restroom in Moody, and we took care of the issue immediately.” If faculty or staff has a complaint about housekeeping, they must contact the chair of the department and the chair should then file a work order, which would be sent to facilities, Lovato said. Changes have already been made since Lovato started asking tenants of buildings how to improve their custodial services, said David Ortega, district facilities superintendent. A change that has been made is the frequency of servicing Moody Learning Center restrooms, Ortega said. The frequency and cleaning lev-
els of buildings are determined by the amount of usage of the building, Ortega said. “On the second floor of Moody, there is constant flow of students in and out of there,” Ortega said. “That is a high usage area of the building, so that is going to determine how often those restrooms should be cleaned.” The frequency level that is being maintained on the second floor of Moody is Association of Physical Plant Administrators: Leadership in Education Facilities Level 3, he said. There are five levels. The project manager in the building, as well as housekeepers, should be aware of how much traffic goes through a building, Ortega said. “It should be evident to the project manager of the building and the housekeepers how frequent restrooms are being used and how frequently they should clean them,” Ortega said. Lovato can be contacted at 210486-0903. To submit a facilities service request, do so at https://alamo. oncfi.com/woform/woform.jsp. Facilities management can be reached at 210-486-1235.
Students can apply to graduate after deadline Extra caps and gowns were ordered. By Kimberly Brown sac-ranger@alamo.edu
Estefania B. Alonso
Students applying to graduate after the March 15 deadline may be able to participate in commencement, but their names may not be included in the ceremony, Joe Jacques, associate director of student success, said March 8. Late applicants may be included in commencement May 13 because a “significant amount” of caps and gowns have been ordered, but students may not receive their preferred size, he said. He did not know how many caps and gowns were ordered. Students can pick up caps and gowns from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. April 3-7 at Duran Welcome Center. Students are not charged for caps and gowns. The first step in the process is to meet with an adviser. The adviser will audit the student’s classes and
grades and help with the application. Once a student has applied to graduate, the student will be notified by email that the application has been received. Procrastination is the biggest problem in being able to participate because students wait until the last minute to apply and then are in a rush or panic, he said. “From the day you get here until the day you leave, you should have an adviser and meet with them on a regular basis,” Jacques said. It’s the student’s responsibility to know their degree plan and when it will be completed, he said. Degrees are awarded after grades are confirmed, usually no more than 30 days after commencement. They are mailed 60 days after commencement. Commencement is at 10 a.m. May 13 at Freeman Coliseum. Students can visit www.alamo.edu/sac/graduation for requirements to participate in the ceremony.
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Symposium celebrates art history Top students present art history lectures for 16th year. By Solomon A. Wilson sac-ranger@alamo.edu
Art and history will go hand in hand at the 16th Annual Student Symposium in Art History 10:50 a.m.-noon April 4 in Room 120 of the visual arts center. Guests will be able to listen to a short talk about five unique pieces of art that includes visual and verbal descriptions of their history. The symposium will feature art history essays from five top students enrolled in art classes at this college. In 2001, Debra Schafter, art historian and visual arts professor, was inspired by this college’s annual student exhibition that displayed students’ work every spring and thought art history classes deserved their chance in the limelight. She said she felt like the work they did in art history was being ignored, so she orchestrated the event that has been running ever since. “We came up with this idea to have an
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annual art history symposium like we both experienced in grad school,” Schafter said of a former colleague who helped brainstorm the symposium. Schafter attended graduate school at the University of Texas at Austin. Faculty and staff throughout the year look for outstanding papers written by students throughout all visual arts classes and submit them to Schafter for final review. The symposium will include presentations such as “The Art of War” and “Ancient Artistic Artifacts: A Tale of Two Princes.” “It’s like telling a great story; it’s like filmmaking,” Schafter said, describing what it’s like to be a part of the symposium. Each student will receive a 12- to 13-minute period to speak about a topic covering not only the history but the art that came with it and how the art is interpreted today through the students’ eyes. The analysis gives students an opportunity to learn at a more advanced level than usual, Schafter said.
By James Dusek
jdusek3@student.alamo.edu
“The result definitely opens their awareness of what they’re capable of doing,” Schafter said. Students elaborate on selected artwork and the history behind it in front of peers, professors and art historians, “taking their really good research, distilling it down to a beautiful communicated talk where you inform people of the research you did and the ideas you arrived at,” Schafter said. The free event is open to the public and there will be a reception following the presentations. For more information, call Schafter at 210-486-1042 or email dschafter@alamo.edu.
The music program is preparing for its yearly showcase of superlative students. Each spring, the student music performance showcase exhibits the program’s most talented students. After a thorough audition process, a small group of students will be chosen to perform before a public audience. The showcase will be at 7:30 p.m. April 10 in the auditorium of McAllister Fine Arts Center and will be followed by a reception in the lobby. Fine arts Chair Jeff Hunt said the show-
A vinyl lover’s
paradise Hogwild has seen an increase in college student customers as vinyls are becoming popular again, says store manager. By Emily Garcia
egarcia1009@student.alamo.edu
For 35 years, Hogwild Records and Tapes has sold vinyls, cassettes, CDs, posters and T-shirts to people who like to rock out and bang their heads. Before opening a retail store, owner Dave Risher rented a flea market stall at Northwest Center Flea Market where he sold vinyls, store manager Steven Alejandro said. “Eventually, he had enough business to move into a retail store, and when this space opened up, he took it,” Alejandro said. Alejandro studied radio, television and film at this college, and had a radio show on KSYM 90.1 called “Positive Vibrations,” which consisted of reggae tunes. Alejandro worked at Hogwild Records from 1984 to 1987, then returned in 2003 and has been there ever since. “I like working here because you get to listen and talk about music, movies and books with customers,” Alejandro said. “It is also nice to turn customers on to different genres of music.” The store sells genres including metal, rock, country, punk, rap, ska, dance, blues and jazz. The store suffered a decline of student customers through the years, but has seen an increase as students have shown more interest in vinyl, Alejandro said. “I’d say about between 25 to 40 percent of customers are SAC students,” he said. Cecelia Garcia is a sales associate at Hogwild Records and a former student at this college. She studied psychology and music, and has been working at the store for 11 years. The items in the store, which include buttons, stickers, tote bags, patches,
mugs, hats, puzzles and box sets of vinyls, are items that can be found online, but the store offers an experience online shoppers will not get, Garcia said. “Most people prefer the experience of walking into an actual record shop and looking around, looking at the vinyls and the covers, as opposed to looking online and having vinyls mailed,” Garcia said. Prices of albums and merchandise begin at $1 and go up, Garcia said. James “Hot Mustard” Velten, academic program coordinator and program director at KSYM, shops regularly at Hogwild Records for music for KSYM. “It’s nice to actually browse through all the music,” Velten said. “It’s not like online where they throw the newest stuff at you because here you can browse wellknown music as well as local music.” One of the most unusual vinyls Velten has bought at the store is “Sesame Street Fever,” which included the song “Ernie and his Rubber Duckie” in disco. Local artists such as Nina Diaz of the band Girl in a Coma are known to give away signed albums at the store. Hogwild Records will participate in Record Store Day April 22. Record Store Day is a day for the staff, the customers and the artists of record stores to unite and celebrate the role record stores play in the community, according to the Record Store Day website, recordstoreday.com. “During that day, we offer limited releases you can only get at independent record stores,” Alejandro said. Hogwild Records is at 1824 N. Main Ave. at Dewey Place. The store is open 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Saturday and noon to 8 p.m. Sunday. Call Hogwild at 210-733-5354 for more information.
Biology sophomore Marcus Gonzalez has shopped at Hogwild since age 13. Hogwild sells popular and local music and holds artist signings and performances. Gonzalez produces local dub-techno group Pasiphae Group. Right: Hogwild Records and Tapes sits across from this college at North Main and Dewey. Hogwild Records supplies records, cassette tapes, CDs of various genres and other music paraphernalia. Left: An indicator shows the number of miles to the North Pole on the side of Hogwild Records. The store has served students’ music needs for 35 years. Photos by Emily Garcia
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See the stars at Scobee Education Center
ians alent case has been a part of this college for more than a decade. “As chair, it is by far my favorite concert of the year,” he said. “It really does highlight the incredible talent that we have in our students here at SAC in our music program.” Students’ music advisers can nominate them to be eligible for the showcase. If students are nominated, they will audition before a panel of four full-time music faculty judges, who will score their performance. Those with the highest scores will perform at the showcase. Students are scored on musicality, skill and the difficulty of the piece they perform, music program Coordinator Andrew Gignac said. The audition process is intense, but Hunt said it’s intended to give students an opportunity to prepare for auditions after college.
Center continues Challenger’s mission. By J. Carbajal
sac-ranger@alamo.edu
“We try to give our students as many opportunities that are very realistic that they’re going to experience in the future, so when they go to that audition, they’re used to that sort of practice,” he said. Gignac said the judges are concerned only with the quality, not the variety of performers. “We want to showcase the best of the best, and if that means all of them are vocalists or all of them are pianists, that’s OK,” he said. Gignac said performers must be the “best of the best” to earn a spot in the performance. “If they really want to be at this, they are going to have to play their very best that day,” he said. The event will be free and open to the public. For more information, call Gignac at 210-486-0269.
Scobee Education Center, named after former student Francis R. “Dick” Scobee, has public program showings Friday evenings in the planetarium. The various programs, which play in sequence 6:309 p.m., offer viewers various ways to explore the galaxy. The programs change almost every month, workstudy student Parti Rai said March 22. Current shows include an all-ages, family-friendly show about an alien family exploring the solar system, “Perfect Little Planet,” produced by Clark Planetarium. “The Sky Tonight Live” is a live viewing of the sky, and there is a double feature that explores Earth’s climate system and the possibility of life on planets that orbit other suns. The shows in the double feature are “Extreme Planets,” produced by Clark Planetarium, and “Dynamic Earth,” a production of Spitz Creative Media, National Center for Supercomputing Applications at the University of Illinois, NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio and Thomas Lucas Productions Inc. The last three shows do not permit children under 6. The Scanlan Observatory has a 10-inch refractor telescope and is open and free to the public 9-10 p.m. if the weather permits. Tickets go on sale 30 minutes before the start of each program, with cash, credit or checks accepted. Because of the nature of the programs, such as “The Sky Tonight Live,” when eyes need to be adjusted, late entry is not allowed because any light will flood in, Director Rick Varner said March 20. The planetarium seats 101. Audience members are advised to arrive early because it is hard to predict
audience size for specific nights. The education center’s website advises guests not to purchase tickets for a group unless all members are present. If an entire group is not together, guests cannot save seats, Varner said. The Challenger Center, formerly housed at Brooks City Base, is included in Scobee Education Center along with the planetarium. The Challenger provides space mission simulations for students in grades 6-12. These group sessions are booked by contacting the center. The education center was established in memory of the lives lost on the Challenger space mission. On the 10th launch of the shuttle Challenger Jan. 28, 1986, Christa McAuliffe was going to be the first teacher in space. NASA’s Teacher in Space project was designed to interest students in STEM, science, technology, engineering and math. McAuliffe planned to give lectures while in space, according to NASA’s website at www.nasa.gov. Scobee was commander Courtesy of the mission, which ended in tragedy 73 seconds into the launch when the shuttle exploded. “Our goal is to carry on the crew’s educational mission, to spark youth interest and joy in science and engineering,” according to the planetarium’s website at www.sacscobee.org. The center will be closed April 15 and 28 for Easter and Fiesta. The programs will run for the public on Friday evenings throughout the summer. Alamo Colleges students and staff tickets are $2 with ID. Children’s admission prices are $4, adults $5 and seniors and military with ID $4. Call Scobee at 210-486-0100 or email sac-scobeectr@alamo.edu.
Editorial
6 • March 27, 2017
.org
the
ranger
www.theranger.org/editorial
Editor Zachary-Taylor Wright
Managing Editor Michelle Delgado News Editor Emily Garcia Features Editor James Dusek Calendar Editor Grayce Trevino Staff Writers Samantha L. Alonso, Bismarck D. Andino, Ashley Bailey, Nicole M. Bautista, Kimberly Brown, J. Carbajal, Rachel Cooper, J. Del Valle, S.R. Garcia, Maria Gardner, Elena Longoria, Mario Parker Menchaca III, Maritza Ramirez, Grace Reyes, Sasha D. Robinson, Austin P. Taylor, Jakoby West, Solomon A. Wilson Photo Editor Brianna Rodrigue Photographers Noah Acevedo, Deandra Gonzalez, Alison Graef, Aly Miranda Photo Team Zaeva Mercado, Kristel Orta, Christy Romero Renee Talamantes Multimedia Editor Brandon A. Edwards Video Team Christian Erevia Illustrators Estefania B. Alonso Wally Perez Social Media Promoter Miranda Holden ©2017 by The Ranger staff, San Antonio College, 1819 N. Main Ave., San Antonio, TX 78212-3941. 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 classes in the Journalism Program 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, Journalism Program, San Antonio College, 1819 N. Main Ave., San Antonio TX 78212-3941 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.
Wally Perez
Put an end to the gender gap The lack of female professors in STEM fields at this college impacts everyone. This college needs to do more to actively recruit women into its science, technology, engineering and math programs, both as students and professors. Employment statistics in the engineering program show engineering courses are taught by one full-time professor and two adjuncts—all male. These statistics leave our female students in STEM fields lacking relatable instructors, and our male students lacking their valuable perspectives.
It’s important to expose students to a diverse set of perspectives from professors with vastly different life experiences, especially in fields requiring creative problem-solving. If this college is serious about providing a well-rounded education to its students, its faculty needs to reflect that. Long before they enter college, young girls need relatable role models to inspire them to explore their options, including those in STEM fields. Where this college and the workforce as a whole fail in that regard, our students are picking up the slack. This college’s chapter of the Society
of Women Engineers has a large group of both women and men working to not only support one another, but also introduce young girls around the city and state to STEM. These students should be lauded for their efforts in combating gender expectations in a male-dominated field. The college could learn a lot from its students. Show the next generation of young women that not only do they have a wide range of options for their careers, but that they can feel included and important in those careers. Bring women in. Show them they’re valued.
letters Prioritize gun safety Law allows concealed carry on campus with exceptions. Effective Aug. 1, all two-year colleges in Texas must allow an individual with a concealed handgun license to carry a loaded weapon on campus. The state also prohibits colleges from bypassing the law by saying all buildings are off limits. Instead, administrators can determine certain sensitive areas or buildings off limits. The college does not have enough police protection to begin with. Roughly two to four officers are patrolling our very large campus at any time. The idea that an armed member of the community could provide protection isn’t supported by law enforcement. Officers don’t want civilians interfering in dangerous situations. The limitless possibilities that can occur have caused concern among many people. Many times the owner of the gun is the problem. So how about offering a few
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activities that might be useful? This college can offer anger management classes to prevent someone from getting too heated or upset in a difficult situation. Many people react without thinking when they’re angry. Perhaps provide self-defense courses. Should students find themselves with a gun in their face they should be able to protect themselves. There also should be an event to teach people how to de-escalate a situation or how to manage a risky situation. If someone is in a situation where things are getting out of hand, they could use these skills to protect themselves and others. Students shouldn’t have to pay for any of these resources. Students didn’t choose to allow guns on campus. They definitely didn’t choose to feel unsafe. The college has a responsibility to protect and make students feel safe. It’s a law we have to live with for now, but everything we can do to keep the college community safe is worth doing.
@therangerSAC
Editor: The article “Building border pre-dates Trump,” published on Feb. 20, sheds light that building a border wall is nothing new. While this is true, why is the project unfinished? Politicians would rather talk about building a wall than build one. It’s a hot topic that stirs all types of negative emotions among voters toward immigrants from Mexico and Central America. These emotions resonate with jilted American voters who feel immigrants are taking their jobs away. Instead of blaming the corporations who choose to outsource or hire cheap labor, they would rather accuse immigrants. The article states that the plan to reinforce the wall goes back more than 100 years.
/therangervideo
The main detractor is the price of the border wall project, which is an estimated $40 billion. President Trump said he will revoke foreign aid to Mexico. This will only heighten tension between the countries. Some politicians argue drug trafficking is the main issue for securing our borders. However, if our country didn’t have such a high demand for narcotics, drug trafficking wouldn’t thrive. We as Americans must assume some of the blame. While no one can deny securing our border is important, we must come up with a logical alternative to fix the issue along with our borders. Using Mexico as a scapegoat is not the answer. Both countries must come together and figure out an alternative plan that benefits both of us. Daniel Chevez RTVB Freshman
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News Board questions enrollment, CIP and capacity www.theranger.org/news
March 27, 2017 • 7
By Zachary-Taylor Wright zwright9@student.alamo.edu
The board of trustees discussed the projected growth of this city over the next 20 years and how that growth influenced the Capital Improvement Plan at the Student Success Committee meeting March 7 at Killen Center. At a Jan. 17 board meeting, the trustees approved a $450 million bond issue and placed it on the Bexar County election slate in May. During the Student Success Committee meeting, District 2 trustee Denver McClendon asked the board about the capacity of the colleges’ facilities. McClendon said the public thinks the district does not have the enrollment to meet capacity and questions the district’s proposal of several new buildings in the May bond issue. Diane Snyder, vice chancellor for finance and administration, said she doesn’t have a “magic sum,” but financial services is trying to get together more information to accommodate McClendon’s request. Snyder said the recommended construction projects are specialized spaces targeted toward filling local job market gaps. Chancellor Bruce Leslie said the anticipated population growth over the next 20 years is “well and superior” to the current capacity of the district’s facilities, saying 1 million people are expected to settle in this city in the next 20 years. Leslie said the capacity issue is complex, but the projected growth of the city is evidence the district needs to expand. According to The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board’s 2017-2030 enrollment forecast, Alamo Community College District is expected to see an increase of 6,725 students between 2016 and 2030. The enrollment forecast says the district’s preliminary enrollment numbers for 2016 were 59,467 and are projected to be 66,192 in 2030. Leslie said he doesn’t think the public would have an interest in seeing the “building-by-building data.” Leslie said the culinary arts center at St. Philip’s College is an example of the need to construct new facilities, saying the building is at capacity. Leslie said the building next to culinary arts may not be at capacity, but other facilities at St. Philip’s do not have the proper equipment to accommodate the culinary arts program. McClendon said the public thinks there is enough space at the colleges to accommodate the projected city growth and said the board should work on formulating an educated answer to the public’s speculation. District 6 trustee Gene Sprague said the board needs to develop an honest and serious answer to the public’s concerns, saying he can’t present the raw data to the public and expect them to understand. Sprague said at least one of the colleges is at capacity and enrollment would grow if the opportunities at the college were expanded. Sprague added the bond issue would increase the quality of programs and education at the colleges. Sprague said the board needs to develop a simple message the public can understand explaining the positive impact expected of the bond issue. District 3 trustee Anna Bustamante questioned the board’s reference to capacity, saying the colleges are empty in the evening. Leslie said the colleges’ capacity is typically referred to
TUITION from Page 1 The revised tuition schedule raises the cost per term for students in the registered nursing program at this college and St. Philip’s College from $900 to $1,200. At the March 7 Audit, Budget and Finance Committee meeting, Diane Snyder, associate vice chancellor of finance and administration, said the registered nursing program had not seen a tuition adjustment in nine years. At the meeting, Snyder suggested the cost per term of the pre-nursing and licensed vocational nursing program at St. Philip’s College would need adjusting, as it had not been adjusted in seven years. The newly approved tuition schedule increases the cost per term of the pre-nursing and LVN program at St. Philip’s College from $700 to $1,000. The new tuition schedule decreased outof-district tuition from $233 per semester credit hour to $202 per semester credit hour. The revised and approved tuition sched-
District 6 trustee Gene Sprague and District 2 trustee Denver McClendon discuss the issues surrounding the Capital Improvement Plan March 7 at Killen. “Are we utilizing the capacity the colleges can actually hold?” McClendon asked. “We need to be able to deliver an honest and simple answer,” Sprague said. J. Del Valle under the parameters of Monday through Thursday during the normal hour window. In an interview with The Ranger March 21, Leslie said normal hour windows are the times when most students are at the colleges — from 8 a.m. to noon and from 3 to 5 p.m.; however, he said these numbers vary by college and building, saying capacity is difficult to define. Leslie said Fridays are dedicated to college and administrative meetings on campus because average enrollment was low on Friday. The low enrollment followed district urging the colleges to create a scheduling system with few Friday classes. In an effort to explain why campuses may not be at capacity in the late afternoon, Leslie said evening classes tend to be specialized, such as continuing education courses. This college offers about 215 evening classes, defined as primarily after 5 p.m., this semester; however, the majority of them are core-required classes. Sprague said the district had 63,000 students five years ago and was able to accommodate the capacity. He said any one familiar with data analysis would question the need for new buildings if enrollment is down. Sprague said the public is aware of the city’s projected growth, but the board’s message to the public should address the needs of the community today rather than focusing on needs in 10 years. District 5 trustee Roberto Zarate questioned the enrollment numbers the board uses to gauge capacity. Zarate said the board previously agreed there are 88,000 students enrolled but now said there are 59,402 students enrolled. The 88,000 figure is the duplicated enrollment number, which counts students for each of the Alamo Colleges they attend, online students and early college enrollment students. McClendon said the 11,000 dual credit students, represented in the 59,402 enrollment figure, are not on campus, which means there are actually 48,000 students on the college campuses, saying this is another number the public can
“throw at them” when questioning the bond issue. Zarate said the board needs to obtain consistent information to present to the public and said an inconsistent message is not a good one. District 8 trustee Clint Kingsbery said the public needs to understand that the bond issue doesn’t only address the growing population. Kingsbery said the bond issue requests the expansion of programs on each campus and the construction of facilities at regional campuses, which he said serve the needs of the people in those communities. District 1 trustee Joe Alderete said the focus on capacity is an incomplete question and references to the bond issue should include the housing and accrediting requirements for each program. “It’s not just, ‘Hey, our student population goes up and down,’” Alderete said. “Of course, it goes up and down. We can’t pinpoint and pull out one portion of a question. That would be naive.” McClendon said people tend to think of the capacity of the colleges as they would the capacity of an elementary school. “‘We can handle X number of students all day in 15 classes,’” McClendon said, projecting the mindset of the public. “‘If we have X above that, then we have a problem.’ People try to compare that scenario to us, which does not fit.” McClendon said the board should address concerns about the relationship between capacity and enrollment by presenting an approximation of the capacity of the colleges. Leslie said the enrollment information provided to the board was intended to show the district’s and colleges’ progress and should be reviewed separately from the bond issue. Leslie said the administration has struggled with counting enrollment figures, saying it is difficult to determine who should be counted in the figures and how often to collect data. District 9 trustee Jim Rindfuss expressed concern for discussing the bond issue, saying he has yet to see any projections from a demographer explaining what districts will see the most increase in population. Rindfuss said St. Philip’s and this college had room for more students when the district began constructing Northwest Vista College, which has now reached capacity. Rindfuss said Northeast Lakeview is going to reach maximum capacity soon. According to an information technology services update presented at the Jan. 10 board committee meeting, Northeast Lakeview had 3,163 enrolled students this semester by Jan. 4. In an interview March 21, Leslie said Northeast Lakeview College was designed for 7,000 students. Rindfuss said the other colleges have not been able to reach capacity and questioned if the district would construct facilities in the neighborhoods that will see the highest population growth. Rindfuss said the public needs to know where the facilities are being built to form an opinion on the use of public funds.
• The last day to register to vote is April 6. • Early voting begins April 24 and ends May 2. • Election day is May 6. • For more information, call the Bexar County Elections Department at 210-335-8683.
ule clarified that the first set of transcripts students receive are free. According to The Ranger, the district center for student information began issuing a set of transcripts Feb. 3 for each Alamo College a student attended; after the first set, students will be charged $10 for each set. The tuition schedule also includes the addition of the new $1 international education fee per semester charged to all students. The board approved the international education fee, which was established to fund scholarships for students to study abroad, Dec. 13. At the meeting, Chancellor Bruce Leslie said the student government associations at the colleges had voted down the proposed fee, but this policy didn’t require a student vote and could pass solely with board approval. Carol Fimmen, director of international programs, said students will not be charged the $1 fee for each college they register at, saying students only receive one bill regardless of how many colleges they attend.
People who THINK like you do – and people who don’t – make the best learning partners.
Alamo Colleges District
Student Leadership Institute Developing students into proactive, productive, and engaging leaders Accepting applications for the 2017-2018 Leadership Program through May 31st For more information, call 210-485-0790 or visit alamo.edu/district/sli
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News
March 27, 2017 • 8
Art Guild collaborates with tile store to host show Artists used mixed media to create contemporary pieces. By Solomon A. Wilson sac-ranger@alamo.edu
March is National Contemporary Art Month, and the San Antonio College Art Guild did not miss its opportunity to be a part of it. The guild hosted an open reception for “Contemporary Textures,” which combined artists’ work and interior tiles for a unique viewing experience March 14 at Travis Tile Design Center. The event included 12 artists who are recent graduates or current students of this college. The Art Guild is a student club with 10 members this semester. They participate in fundraising with their art at local events such as the King William Fair. “They sometimes can receive job offers during the events,” said Alfonso Cantu, guild director and art professor. Members must be enrolled in six credit hours in the visual arts program, maintain a C average and attend meetings. Tim Roberts finalizes his purchase of work by Dante Di’Pasquale “Inquiry Guild. The reception features work by current fine arts students and alumni. As artists and buyers exchanged business of Inveteracy” at “Contemporary Textures” art and tile opening reception The exhibit will be open for viewing 7:30 a.m.- 5 p.m. through March 31. cards and wine was poured, guests arrived March 14 at Travis Tile Design Center, 2420 N. Main. The show is associated Kristel Orta Puente in groups, intrigued by the combination of with Contemporary Art Month and curated by Jody Baker and the SAC Art acrylic paints and tiles. They took pictures and posed questions to the artists about the event. The art was paired with certain their pieces. tiles, allowing the guests to walk through a Many of the pieces were for sale. maze of different textured tiles and stones Dante Di’Pasquale, a recent liberal arts used for interior design while viewing cusgraduate of this college, sold his painting tom paintings that complement each other. “Inquiry of Inveteracy,” which was inspired The largest piece in the gallery belonged by his deep love for outer space. The painting to Eric Acuna, a liberal arts graduate of this included two lonely space walkers in the dark college, whose work “Salvation” incorporated underneath a multicolored acrylic galaxy. oils, fabrics and newspaper clippings that “When I hear what it came together to represent means to them and what they what he called “survival.” get from it, that to me is worth “I slept with this, I ate more than just selling it,” with this, I lived with this and Di’Pasquale said with exciteevery day a different meaning ment as passers-by shook his came to me,” Acuna said of the hand, congratulating him on painting. his achievement. He said it originally started Cantu, the event’s coordias a picture of the American nator, said he was unsure how flag but with time and inspimany people would attend, ration turned into a detailed but he took a chance. symbolic piece showing the “We just jumped on the fight that it takes to survive in opportunity to do the event, America. and we want to do more,” Acuna said he takes whatCantu said. ever life throws at him and “The turnout was great — intertwines that into his work we even got to take pictures “Texas Sunset” created by for others to interpret themnext to these awesome paintKeith Klabon on display at selves. ings,” said Mary Vasquez, nurs“Contemporary Textures.” “Art is a universal laning freshman at this college. His piece contains woods, guage,” Acuna said as people Wanting his students to nails, screws and nuts on a read the words from news keep building their portfolio, wood panel to make a sun- clippings that peeked from Cantu asked them to submit set. Kristel Orta Puente behind the acrylic paint. works of art for the event. For more about Art Guild A detail of “Salvation,” created by Eric Lee Acuna using oil and acrylic with fabric, linen and news print He then handpicked from the submis- events, email Cantu at acantu20@alamo.edu on canvas, sold for $600 March 14 at Travis Tile Design Center. The piece contains newspaper clippings sions and chose 12 artists who qualified for or call visual arts at 210-486-0255. including mug shots with overlays of acrylic paint. Kristel Orta Puente