The Ranger, Nov. 9, 2015

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Volume 90 Issue 8 • Nov. 9, 2015

Diane Snyder, associate vice chancellor for finance and administration, presents the amended 2016-17 budget to the board Oct. 27 which consists of a 5 percent increase in tuition. Cynthia M. Herrera

Trustees pass tuition hike three weeks before spring registration Serving up rhythm, tea Federico Gonzalez-Vidal, fine arts sophomore and president of the Asian Pop Society, performs a dance routine with English sophomore Rosalva González Nov. 3 in the mall. The club will host a maid and butler cafe 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Nov. 10 in the Fiesta Room of Loftin. Cupcakes, curry, tea by Teavana and dance entertainment will be provided.

Pre-sale tickets were $5 and regular priced tickets are $7 at the door. E. David Guel

Speech policy reviewed The citizens-to-be-heard policy is sent back to the Policy and Long-Range Planning Committee.

By Cynthia M. Herrera

cherrera151@student.alamo.edu

A proposal that would restrict students, faculty and staff from speaking during citizens-to-be-heard at meetings of the Alamo Colleges trustees unless speakers have exhausted administrative channels was sent back to the Policy and Long-Range Committee for further discussion.

No agreement could be made on proposed amendments to board policy during the regular board meeting Oct. 27.

Administrative channels for students require going through student government associations at district colleges or the college president before resorting to citizens-to-beheard. This is specified in Procedure B.8.1.1 Administrative Remedies Before Resorting to Citizens-to-beheard, which is referred to in the proposed amendments.

Faculty and staff must go through proper channels seeking administrative solutions before bringing

up issues to the board as stated in Policy B. 8.1. under Procedure B.8.1.1 and Procedure D. 3.3, Employee Complaints.

For faculty, the channel would be Faculty Senate and for staff it would be Staff Council. Both groups also would need to seek a solution from the college administration, President Robert Vela said.

The proposal was forwarded to the full board Oct. 20 after committee members were unable to agree on the amendments.

Gerald Busald, president of the Alamo Colleges Faculty Legal Action Association and math professor at this college, represented the group and spoke during citizens-to-beheard.

“I think it’s a horrible, horrible thing. It’s like we want no negative thoughts ever to come out at the board meetings. Sometimes negative thoughts lead to positive results,” he said.

Busald said the association has

Math Professor Gerald Busald expresses his discontent with the proposed and then amended citizens-to-be-heard policy change during the Oct. 27 regular board meeting in Killen. Cynthia M. Herrera not contacted its attorney.

Board Chair Ana Bustamante, District 3 trustee, said she would like citizens-to-be-heard not to have a time limit, which is stated in the policy but rather a “reasonable” amount of time.

Citizens-to-be-heard is currently

See POLICY, Page 5

One to 350 adviserstudent ratio should be reached by 2017.

By Cynthia M. Herrera

cherrera151@student.alamo.edu

Students will pay a 5 percent increase for classes starting in the spring semester after the Alamo Colleges board of trustees approved an amended annual budget for the 2016-17 fiscal year.

The budget was approved in July and the amendment added during the regular board meeting Oct. 27.

The new tuition rate for up to six hours in the spring is $504 compared to $480 this semester for indistrict students.

The district charges a flat rate for students taking one to six semester hours.

Tuition goes up incrementally for each semester hour above six.

Tuition rates will be an additional $3.50 per hour.

A student taking 12 hours will pay $873, $42 more than the $831 charged this semester.

All students, whether in-district, out-of-district or out-ofcountry will be affected.

The vote was 5-3. District 2 trustee Denver McClendon left before the vote.

District 1 trustee Joe Alderete, District 4 trustee Marcelo Casillas and Chair Ana Bustamante, District 3 trustee, voted against the increase.

The tuition increase was approved to raise revenue to cover the cost of hiring advisers to ensure there is one adviser for every 350 students by 2017.

The current ratio is one to 400.

There are 45 advisers within the Alamo Colleges, and an additional 20 advisers will be hired by 2017.

The district also will spend $1 million for software.

A total of $3.7 million has been spent on advisers, and an additional $1.7 million will be used to provide office space for the additional advisers as well as their certification and training.

English sophomore Michael Santos said he didn’t think the increase was too bad and might be beneficial.

“I don’t think it’s that bad, considering. I didn’t find the increase to be substantial or shocking,” Santos said. “I think that’s fair. I started school eight years back, and then I left for five years, so this is my second semester back. The whole advising aspect helped me get back into school.”

Donna Goodloe, funeral director sophomore, said it was unfortunate for those not having access to financial aid or grants.

“Honestly, I think school is just expensive anyway. For kids, especially, if they don’t have family to help them pay for tuition or those

See TUITION, Page 5

St. Philip’s College founder elevated from savior to saint SPC will host a reception in celebration of Artemisia Bowden.

By Alyssa Zapata

azapata84@student.alamo.edu

Artemisia Bowden rose against all odds to fight for education and raised St. Philip’s College above expectations to answer the call of God. This year the Episcopal Church has added Artemisia Bowden into “Holy Women, Holy Men: Celebrating the Saints.”

“She was a young lady who was requested

by Bishop James Johnson to help a Saturday evening sewing class,” said Dr. Adena Williams Loston, president of St. Philip’s College.

“When God calls, we must answer and that is what Artemisia Bowden displayed,” the Rev.

Patricia Riggins of St. Philip’s Bowden argued with the Episcopal Church said. city to allow St. Philip’s to be a With the weight of the Great public junior college for African Depression, Bowden did not Americans. give up and thought of differIn 1942, the city added St. ent ways to keep the school Philip’s to the junior college afloat, Loston said. system alongside this college, Bowden galvanized stuLoston said. dents to sing, family members “Once she took the helm, to work alongside her and barwe grew from a Saturday night ter chickens, eggs, pigs and sewing class to an accredited produce to generate income junior college,” Loston said. during the Great Depression, Artemisia Bowden “She wasn’t married to anyone because the church could no because she was married to longer provide financial support. the school.”

St. Philip’s then fell under San Antonio Bowden’s goal was to continuously provide Independent School District for the financial opportunities for African Americans in San responsibility.

Antonio.

Her personal motto was, “Learn to do something and do it well.”

Becoming founder and principal of St. Philip’s was not enough for Bowden. She went on to become president of the San Antonio Metropolitan Council of Negro Women and founder and president of the city’s Negro Business and Professional Women’s Club.

“Her mission was greater than her title,” Loston said.

For the Episcopal Church, Bowden displayed great service to her community and faced many obstacles, but never lost her faith, Riggins said.

“She was a role model, iconic figure and a person who never strayed from their values … I don’t have to look far for a role model,” Loston said.

See SAINT, Page 5

SAConnected

2 • Nov. 9, 2015

www.theranger.org/calendar

Study

time

Environmental science sophomore April White and engineering freshman Sunni Jensen compare notes Nov. 3 on the second floor of the library. The library’s hours will not change for finals week. It will be open 8 a.m.-8 p.m.

Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and closed Sunday.

Danielle Kelly

Protest International studies freshman Rachel Huber argues her point against Frank Diorio, volunteer for the Center of Bio-Ethical Reform, left, as volunteer Bill Davis looks on during a Nov. 3 abortion protest in the mall. Huber said women have a right to make choices about their bodies, and Diorio argued that the fetus is another life. E. David Guel

For your health Janie Castañeda, community health educator for University Health System, Costume contest Drama freshman Natalie Temple, who won scariest costume as Harvey Dent from “Batman,” walks the stage with liberal arts freshman Tiffany Perez, who dressed as Robin Hood, during the costume contest Oct. 30 in the cafeteria of Loftin. The contest was in celebration of Halloween and gave students the opportunity to show their creativity. April Dawn Genao

today tues SAC Event: Final fall issue of The Ranger.

PAC Transfer: Texas Tech University recruiters 9-11:30 a.m. and University of TexasSan Antonio 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Room 101 of student center.

Call 210-486-3880.

SAC Event: Civic Engagement Volunteer Fair 9 a.m.-1 p.m. craft room in Loftin. Call 210-486-0157.

SAC Event: Blood drive 9 a.m.-3 p.m. by appointment in mall. Continues Tuesday. Call 210-731-5555, ext. 1946.

SAC Meeting: Student Government Association noon1 p.m. craft room in Loftin. Call 210-486-0125.

PAC Event: Mascot retirement and welcome party noon1 p.m. student center annex.

Call 210-486-3125.

NVC Event: Fall Music Fest 4-9 p.m. through Thursday Palmetto Theater. Call 210486-4682.

PAC Event: Generations FCU: Avoiding Student Debt 5-6 p.m. Room 130 of student center. Call 210-486-3125.

Event: “The New Latinos” documentary 7 p.m. Chapman Auditorium Trinity University.

Call 210-999-8515.

SAC Event: Maid and Butler Café 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Fiesta Room in Loftin. $5 presale tickets and $7 at the door. Call 210-486-0125.

SPC Event: Veterans Day “The Welcome that Never Was” 10-11 a.m. Heritage Room.

Continues Tuesday Building 1 Tiger Bistro Southwest campus.

Call 210-486-2100.

PAC Transfer: Texas A&MSan Antonio noon-4 p.m. and University of the Incarnate Word 1-3 p.m. Call 210-4863880.

SAC Event: Hot Potato: “How to Choose Your Major” with Professor Joe Sullivan 12:15 p.m. Methodist Student Center, 102 Belknap. Call 210-7331441.

SAC Meeting: Cheshyre Cheese Club 1:30 p.m. Room 203 of Gonzales. Call 210486-1436.

SAC Meeting: Campus Crusade for Christ 1:45-2:45 p.m. Room 002 of Chance. Call 210-486-1233.

PAC Event: John Leguizamo, actor, producer and playwright live stream broadcast 6-7 p.m. student center annex. Call 210-486-3880.

left, goes over health insurance information with criminal justice freshman Aide Rangel Nov. 3 during Open Enrollment for the Health Exchange in the Fiesta Room of Loftin. Professionals from CommuniCare Health Centers helped students enroll for coverage before the Jan. 31 federal deadline. Students must pay a fee when filing their federal tax returns if they are not covered by the deadline. Another health exchange event will be Jan. 27. For more information, visit www.healthcare.gov.

E. David Guel

wed

thur

fri

sat

PAC Event: IT mobile services with ACES, AlamoGuest Wifi and Office 365 download/ install 9 a.m.-1 p.m. student center annex. Call 210-4863777.

NLC Event: Pool tournament 11 a.m. student commons. Call 210-486-5404.

SAC Event: Adopt-A-Park Cleanup 9 a.m. San Pedro Park, 1415 San Pedro. Call 210-486-0125.

SPC Event: CORE4 STEM 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Heritage Room. Register at www.eventbrite.com/e/st-philips-collegecore-4-stem-family-day-tickets-18962898540. Call 210486-2100.

NLC Event: Veterans Day Celebration 9:30-10:30 a.m. performing arts center. Call 210-486-5009.

SAC Event: Veterans Day ceremony 11 a.m.-1 p.m. in mall. Call 210-486-0111.

NVC Event: Student Dialogue and Listening Forum series 11 a.m.-1 p.m. performing arts auditorium. Call 210486-4682.

PAC Event: 3-Point Shootout 1-3 p.m. in Gym. Call 210486-3125.

SAC Meeting: Psychology Club 2 p.m. Room 623 of Moody. Call 210-773-8306.

NLC Event: Student Dialogue and Listening Forum 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Room 211 of library. Call 210-486-5470.

PAC Event: America Recycles Day with music, games and recycled fashion show 11 a.m.2 p.m. student center annex.

Call 210-486-3880.

PAC Event: Career opportunity with Sea World 11 a.m.-2 p.m. in Room 101 of student center. Call 210-486-3880.

NVC Event: Digital Media speaker series John Viruzo, audio/visual specialist for the Air Force 1-3 p.m. Redbud learning center. Call 210-4864682.

SAC Event: Volleyball noon2 p.m. Candler gym. Call 210486-0125.

SAC Meeting: Asian Pop Society 2-5 p.m. craft room of Loftin. Call 210-452-6185.

NLC Performance: “Night Watch” 7:30 p.m. NPAC Theatre. $5 for students, military and seniors, $8 general admission. Call 210-4865624.

Event: Threepenny Opera 8-10:30 p.m. Stieren Theater Trinity University. $6 for students, $8 for faculty, staff, alumni and senior citizens , and $12 general admission.

Call 210-999-8511.

PAC Volleyball: Women vs.

Victoria College 7 p.m. in gym.

Call 210-486-3805.

PAC Event: CORE4 STEM 9 a.m.-2 p.m. performing arts center. Register at www.eventbrite.com/e/core4-stem-family-day-at-palo-alto-collegetickets-18687248062. Call 210-486-3880.

SAC Event: CORE4 STEM 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Scobee Education Center. Register at https://www. eventbrite.com/e/core4-stemfamily-day-at-san-antoniocollege-tickets-18686175855.

Call 210-486-0948.

mon PAC Event: Career Services information tables 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Room 101 of student center. Call 210-486-3324.

SAC Event: Karaoke with DJ 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Fiesta Room in Loftin. Call 210-486-0125.

PAC Event: Generations FCU: Living on Your Own 11 a.m.noon Room 130 of student center. Call 210-486-3880.

SAC Meeting: Campus Activities Board 2 p.m. faculty lounge in Loftin. Call 210-5893845.

NLC Drive: Toys for Tots donations to continue through Nov. 20. Call 210-486-5487.

sun PAC Event: Story and craft time celebrating Thanksgiving 3-6 p.m. first floor of Ozuna Library. Call 210-486-3570.

SAC Meeting: Students for Environmental Awareness 2 p.m. EcoCentro. Call 210-5630447.

SAC Meeting: Gay, Ally and Lesbian Association 3-4:30 p.m. craft room in Loftin. Call 210-326-7274.

NLC Event: Actor Jesse Eisenberg video broadcast for leadership and success 6-7:45 p.m. Room 201 of student commons. Call 210-4852000.

File art

!

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

Air quality NLC president reassigned in McCreless, Vice Chancellor Thomas Cleary named interim president.

Gonzales unresolved Director says it could take weeks for results.

By Ty-Eshia Johnson sac-ranger@alamo.edu

Mike Legg, director of enterprise risk management, said his department is waiting for the results from samples taken in both Gonzales and McCreless halls and will speak with the staff about the results once they come in.

“Both McCreless and Gonzales have two active cases where we’re kind of investigating and doing some surveying and so forth, to determine what’s going on with those buildings,” Legg said.

“That’s obviously why we want to do the survey and testing,” he said.

“We had an industrial hygienist come in and do the testing for us,” he said.

Legg hopes to see results within a week, but said there could be a threeto four-week turnaround.

“That’ll give us a general idea of what we’re looking at like do we have any active mold growth or anything of that nature?” he said. “We actually did a fairly expensive survey for all kinds of different things.”

When the department receives a complaint about air quality or mold growth in a facility, someone — typically Roy Brown — will do a visual assessment of the suspected area, Legg said.

“I think the thing that piques most people’s interest is mold, and for mold to grow, we need to have moisture,” he said. “So typically, we’re looking for any kind of moisture penetration or moisture buildup in those facilities.”

Legg said issues with mold are common and easy to see.

“The first step we typically take is just a visual assessment by our department,” he said.

Legg said if they determine that there is enough information or uncertainty about the cause, they have a certified industrial hygienist come and take samples.

“We’ll also make sure that we’re not pulling too much outside air into the facilities so we’re not getting a higher level of allergens,” he said.

Usually, the standard ratio for airflow is an 80/20 mix, which is 20 percent outside air mixed with 80 percent of internal air, Legg said.

“I think in McCreless, one of the complaints was about some black stuff coming out of a vent,” he said. “We tested that material with a tape sampling to make sure it’s not a specific mold or anything that would be relatively a concern for us to have in the vent system.”

The sampling assessment is a quick process but getting the results takes longer because the samples must be sent to a lab, he said.

“They’ll do the scientific review of that data, and will return that report to us based on the findings and then offer his level of recommendation,” Legg said.

Where the samples go for testing is up to the certified industrial hygienist Ron Bishop, who sends them to an independent certified laboratory out of state.

Hear the McCreless air quality results, 10-11 a.m.

Nov. 18 in the president’s conference room of Fletcher

!

have a new president on board no later than August 2016.”

During Follins’ tenure, the college

By Kyle R. Cotton was able to win its first accreditation kcotton11@student.alamo.edu visit from the Southern Association of Northeast Lakeview College President Colleges and Schools Commission on Craig Follins has been moved to spe- Colleges, which is scheduled for Feb. cial projects administrator at the district 22-25. level, Chancellor Bruce Leslie announced The college, established in 2005, has Nov. 2. been seeking accreditation since 2007.

In a memo to the faculty and staff of Leo Zuniga, associate vice chancellor Alamo Colleges, Leslie wrote, “I regret of communications, said that Follins has to inform you that Dr. Craig Follins been moved to special projects adminishas left the position of president of the trator, a position that did not exist in the college.”

Alamo Colleges’ 2014-15 annual budget Follins has been president of the dis- staffing summary, which lists every positrict’s newest college less than two years tion and employees’ salary for the fiscal and the fifth president in the district to year. leave their college’s top post in the last Zuniga said Leslie is the only one who three years. could comment on Follins’ new Follins joined the district in position because it is a “personMarch 2014 after the college’s nel matter.” first president, Dr. Eric Reno, Leslie has not returned retired in January 2014. phone calls from The Ranger.

Follins was chosen by Leslie The Ranger was unable to from four finalists who visited reach Follins for comment. the campus and answered quesKathleen Labus, director of Follins tions in open forums. public relations at Northeast Follins was president of Lakeview, would not comment Olive-Harvey Community College in on Follins’ sudden move but praised the Chicago before becoming Northeast new interim president.

Lakeview’s president and has previously “Having Dr. Cleary is a great asset worked in Victoria and Houston. to us as we approach our accreditation Leslie has named Dr. Thomas Cleary, milestone with our first SACSCOC visit vice chancellor for planning, perfor- coming in February,” Labus said. “Dr. mance and information systems, the Cleary is familiar with our accreditation interim president of Northeast Lakeview. process and our culture here at Northeast “Dr. Cleary is well-prepared to step Lakeview as he’s helped us as both advisin as he served very well as the inter- er and his short time filling in as presiim president when Dr. Reno retired,” dent for Dr. Reno when he retired.”

Leslie wrote in the memo. “While it may Labus noted that Cleary conductbe unsettling to lose a key member of ed a town hall meeting Tuesday with the team as we take the final steps to Northeast Lakeview’s faculty and staff to accreditation, I want to assure you the ease concerns with the sudden change. college will have the excellent leadership She said the session went well. required to achieve a successful accrediCleary said it was a “future oriented” tation outcome.” agenda at the town hall, focusing on After Reno retired, Cleary served as where the college is headed rather than interim president until Follins came on where it has been. board.

“The Faculty and staff were welcom“We will have time to focus on ing and supportive,” Cleary said. the selection of the next president of “They are a really great group of Northeast Lakeview College after the engaged professionals that continue to accreditation visit in February 2016,” keep student success as their number Leslie said in the memo. “My hope is to one priority.”

Nov. 9, 2015 • 3

DEC Final Exam Schedule

7

8

MW 6:30 a.m.

MWF 7 a.m.

7-:930 a.m.

MW 9:25 a.m.

MWF 10 a.m.

9-11:30 a.m.

MW noon/MWF 12:15 p.m.

12:30-3 p.m.

MW/MWF 1 p.m.

1-3:30 p.m.

MW 3:05 p.m./3:50 p.m.

3:50-6:20 p.m.

TR 8 a.m.

TR 10:50 a.m.

8-10:30 a.m.

10:50 a.m.-1:20 p.m.

TR 1 p.m./1:40 p.m.

1:40-4:10 p.m.

9

MW/MWF 8 a.m.

8-10:30 a.m.

MW 10:50 a.m.

MWF 11 a.m.

11 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

MW 1:40 p.m./2 p.m.

MWF 2 p.m.

2-4:30 p.m.

MW 2:25 p.m.

2:25-4:55 p.m.

10 TR 6:30 a.m.

TR 9:25 a.m.

TR 12:15 p.m.

TR 3:05 p.m.

11 MWF 9 a.m.

MWF noon

6:30-9 a.m.

9:25-11:55 a.m.

12:15-2:45 p.m.

3:05-5:35 p.m.

9-11:30 a.m. noon-2:30 p.m.

Friday and night classes meet at regular class times.

Exam times are scheduled by instructor.

Department chairs may schedule final exams not reflected on this schedule.

Infographic by Alyssa Zapata

Chance BioSpot offers relaxed study area Lab offers free tutoring and use of computers.

By Cassi Armstong sac-ranger@alamo.edu

The BioSpot, located in Room 350 of Chance Academic Center, offers students access to three labs, computers and tutoring.

Lab hours 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday.

Two of the three labs are food friendly, and a microwave is also available.

The lab containing the computers is the only lab in which food is prohibited. Students are able to do research and access their ACES accounts.

Lorraine Ramirez, pharmaceutical science sophomore and lab assistant said students of all majors are welcome to study and enjoy free coffee.

In the main room, posters of human anatomy, models of the human heart, anatomical human skeletons and a preserved fetal pig in a glass case are displayed.

The models that are displayed are a big help to the students, Ramirez said.

“When the students leave class, they can come here and still use the models,” she said.

The lab has more than just studying going on. “It’s like a bowl of gumbo, instead of having just one or two things,” said biology and physical

Pre-nursing freshman Jennifer Moreno and pre-nursing sophomores Jessica Woodard and Cassandra Canter study a human skull model Wednesday in the BioSpot in Room 350 of Chance. Daniel Carde therapy sophomore Jesse Perez.

Perez said he likes that he can sit down and study while eating his oatmeal.

Ramirez is available at the front desk, to answer questions, while keeping an eye on students in a room dubbed “the quiet room.” Biology students use the “quiet room” to make up exams they missed in class.

The lab includes a printer and scanner for students, as long as they have the cash or coin.

Baylor graduate Jerome Miller offers students tutoring in the lab 1:30 p.m.- 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. Miller tutors in anatomy, physiology, math to college algebra, and Chemistry 1.

“My hours are really when others need time to sit down,” he said. “I’m listed from 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, but if I have time outside of that I will meet people as well.”

Email Miller at jmilz2086@gmail.com.

Call BioSpot at 210-486-0860

4 • Nov. 9, 2015

News

www.theranger.org/news

Student in ongoing battle over accessibility

By Richard Montemayor

ible through a crack on both sides.

“Two semesters ago is when we first noticed it and it just Theology sophomore Robert “Charlie” Shivley 59, is battling keeps getting bigger. They’ve tried to Band-Aid it... and it just kidney disease alongside his wife Sherrie Shivley, who is also keeps getting wider, and eventually, someone is going to get attending this college as her husband’s caretaker. hurt,” Sherrie Shivley said.

Charlie Shivley has been on a kidney transplant waiting list She said she has brought these problems to the attention of since he was diagnosed in 2005. the college, but nothing has been done. Sherrie Shivley He said he lost sight in both eyes, and on May 19 of said every time she sees an article in The Ranger that this year, his left foot had to be amputated because of shows funds being used inappropriately at this college, diabetes. He receives daily kidney dialysis treatment. her blood boils.

With his wife’s help, Charlie Shivley uses a wheel“I call the president’s office and I say ‘justify it, I chair to get around campus. need to know what the justification is for spending $1.5 Sherrie Shivley said she is having trouble getting million to redo a floor in a building,’” she said. him from building to building. “If you go over to the In an Oct. 26 story The Ranger reported on remodelShivley Chance (Academic Center) building and go to the dising of the third floor of Fletcher Administration Center. ability entrance, that’s down the slope,” she said. “There Funds were used that were not designated from the is now finally an orange cone there because there is a separation budget, she said. between the bricks. If a blind person were to come along with a “They are remodeling the third floor, but they’re using funds cane, they would be the first person on the floor.” that were not designated from last year’s budget; only $250,000 Another spot on campus needing to be fixed is a handicap worth of money to do that remodeling came from this year’s ramp on the east side of Moody Learning Center that leads to budget. The rest came from undesignated funds,” Sherrie Shivley Parking Lot 16. said.

Sherrie Shivley said the ground below the ramp is clearly visPresident Robert Vela was unavailable for comment. His rmontemayor15@student.alamo.edu

administrative assistant, Janet Lozano, said Vela is doing everything he can to fix the problems with accessibility around this college.

“We are on top of it, every issue that they brought up, they are being covered. They are being taken care of,” Lozano said.

The Shivleys have a Dec. 2 appointment to meet with Vela and Lisa Alcorta, interim vice president for student success.“Lively Shively,” as he is called, was diagnosed with diabetes in 1990.

By 1998 Shivley was having trouble seeing, and in 2005 he completely lost his sight.

“I didn’t take diabetes seriously until I lost my sight,” Shivley said.

Three months later, Shivley’s kidneys shut down, forcing them to be removed and putting him on dialysis. Soon after, Shivley’s heart started to give in, which led to an open-heart surgery and a double bypass. A pacemaker was inserted in 2008.

Shivley and his wife had been fighting the effects of diabetes on his feet, but hyperbaric treatment and wound care, Charlie Shively had to get his foot amputated.

“We worked on my foot for six years before it was taken away,” Charlie said.

V. G. Garlisi contributed to this story.

ADA rules accepted but limited access remains

By V. G. Garlisi

sac-ranger@alamo.edu

On the morning of July 26, 1990, on the south lawn of the White House, President George H. W. Bush amended and signed one of the most important pieces of civil rights legislation in the last quarter of a century.

Today, the Americans with Disabilities Act celebrates its 25th anniversary with renewed vigor and support, but have all its benefits reached this college?

There are mixed feelings among students and staffers at this college’s office of disability support services. Some have seen the ADA’s benefit as the campus grows more accepting and supportive of DSS students. Others say, this college needs serious improvement to make walkways and buildings accessible.

Theology sophomore Robert “Charlie” Shivley said the needs of the DSS community are not being met. Some campus areas are nearly impossible to navigate in a wheelchair, said Shivley and wife Sherrie in an interview.

“There is no consideration for handicapped people; the school could care less,” said Charlie Shivley, who is blind, on dialysis and in a wheelchair after losing his foot to diabetes. “They care more about the money than the student.”

He and his wife are furious after fighting with college officials for nearly four years to correct sidewalks and areas such as the ramps around Moody Learning Center.

“I’d like to put them in a wheelchair for a day and let them get around campus,” Sherrie Shivley said. “And maybe then, someone will figure it out.”

Her husband takes core courses here so he can attend Wayland Baptist University for a theology degree.

Charlie Shivley said note-takers are no longer offered since recent DSS budget cuts. He and his wife say this college only bandages the existing problems, never really fixing them.

Others, who remember the pre-ADA years, say this college — particularly the attitude on campus — has improved.

Dr. Thomas Hoy, retired executive vice president, became coordinator of disability support services in 1983. For 11 years as coordinator he witnessed the ADA’s impact on this college.

“Back in the late ’70s, early ’80s there were some staff members who didn’t think students with disabilities should be a part of regular classrooms,” Hoy said. “Some were reluctant to comply with the steps they had to take such as handing in lecture notes in order to be copied or giving students extra time on tests.”

“The signing of the ADA brought muchneeded attention and strength to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973,” Hoy said.

Section 504 prohibits discrimination against children with disabilities. The law gives all chil-

dren the right to an equal education.

Hoy said with the act’s signing, agencies such as the Texas Rehabilitation Commission offered scholarships and grant money for the college to provide services and equipment such as note-takers for the hearing- and visionimpaired, wheelchair-accessible entryways, recorded classroom lectures and tutors.

“There were times ... as coordinator that I saw a record number of students with disabilities attending the college,” Hoy said. “The ADA gave students with disabilities the confidence to further their education, because of the equal opportunity they were afforded.”

Josue Estrada, 24, graduated from this college last semester with an associate degree in psychology. He said he is grateful for the impact the ADA had on his success.

“When I started here in 2011, I knew about the ADA, but I wasn’t fully aware of how it all worked,” he said. “It has allowed me to achieve goals that I never thought were possible.”

Born with cerebral palsy, Estrada was confined to a wheelchair before he had a chance to walk. Estrada said the ADA helped him break out of his shell and access services such as the DSS computer lab and the supportive staff.

Estrada attends Texas A&M University-San Antonio to earn bachelor’s and master’s degrees in psychology.

Although the ADA has been helpful at this college, Estrada saw a lack of communication for new students with disabilities and unsafe spots for those in a wheelchair.

“Since we are such a small population, there’s not really that connection of communication,” he said. “The students need to know what services are offered to them, and if they’re aware of those they can achieve much more.”

Maria Gomez, a crisis and personal counselor at this college, began as a DSS counselor under Hoy in August 1990. She became DSS coordinator in 1995 after Hoy moved into the college’s administration.

“The early challenges we faced were getting faculty to understand their obligations to students with disabilities,” said Gomez, who still works with DSS students here today.

Gomez said their first charge as faculty was to understand the law and how they could better assist their students.

“We were fighting for the respect and fair treatment of the students,” Gomez said. “So anyone, regardless of disability, could not be denied their right to an education.”

Hoy and Gomez agree the ADA has brought about significant change for the campus and its DSS community. Gomez said about 30 DSS students graduate each semester. Prior to the ADA, their numbers for success were about half that.

“By the early ’90s faculty would be happy to assist a disabled student, whether it was con-

Students cross a crack repair in the concrete block of a walkway on the east side of Moody. Danielle Kelly cerning longer testing times, recorded lectures or additional material on the topics covered in class,” Hoy said.

Gomez also said the campus has become fairly cohesive toward disabled students and their educational needs. “We have come to a plateau,” she said. “The faculty now understands what they need to do as educators to ensure that every student has an equal opportunity for success at this college.”

However, there are still things Estrada said this campus must improve. “One of the top concerns for me about future students is the accessibility around campus,” Estrada said. “Although there are parts of the campus that are accessible, there are some, such as McCreless Hall and Loftin Student Center, which create obstacles for students that need to use these buildings.”

Sherrie Shivley said funding does not seem

to be an issue. “We have $1.5 million set aside to remodel our president’s office, but we can’t fix the problems that plague the DSS community,” she said.

Both Hoy and Gomez see progress, but continue to push for a better tomorrow.

“I can’t ever say we will eliminate discrimination, for it is mostly attitudinal,” Hoy said.

“But don’t ever say a person with disabilities can’t do something because they will prove you wrong in an instant.”

This college must go forward, not backward, in ADA compliance, he and Gomez agreed.

“The DSS community needs to maintain its sense of self and not get lost in the changes of the campus,” Gomez said. “We have gained the respect of the college community and have helped thousands of students succeed in college. The program works.”

News

www.theranger.org/news

Nov. 9, 2015 • 5

Faculty Senate considers high-risk courses, advising guides Employment Development Day might be on a Friday instead of Wednesday next year.

By Melissa Luna

mluna132@student.alamo.edu

Discussions regarding professors being held accountable for students who drop classes and academic disciplines completing advising guides headlined this college’s Faculty Senate meeting Wednesday.

Psychology Chair Tom Billimek and fine arts Chair Jeff Hunt updated the Senate on discussions among department chairs regarding highrisk courses.

Courses in which fewer than 70 percent of students achieve a grade of 70 or higher, known as productive grade rate, are deemed as high-risk courses by the district.

The district calculates productive grade rate based on class enrollment on census date and does not exempt students who dropped the course from the calculation.

There is a list of proposed strategies for professors to raise their PGRs, Hunt said.

“Everybody can have a bad semester,” Hunt said.

“But they’re still expected to be some kind of action plan

between the chair and faculty member to raise the PGR.” Billimek expressed his concerns regarding students dropping courses for personal reasons and the effect it has on course pass-fail rates.

“One of the issues is how we define high-risk courses,” he said.

Students having to work to feed themselves and buy groceries or having a family crisis is not something professors can control, he said.

“We need to define what do we mean by withdrawals,” Billimek said. “We need to be able to distinguish academic versus other reasons for dropping.”

Billimek suggested highrisk courses should take into account the difficulty level.

“If I’m teaching Calculus 3, I’m probably going to have a higher drop rate than someone who is teaching Math 1332,” he said.

If a course has a low pass rate, that could mean the professor needs help with teaching methods, he said.

The senate agreed to reach

out to President Robert Vela and Dr. Jothany Blackwood, vice president for academic success, on a better way of defining high-risk courses.

Another major discussion regarded advising guides.

Criminal justice Professor Tiffany Cox explained to senate members that “cross college discipline team advising guides” workshops are available for faculty to ensure a successful completion of advising guides.

Advising guides are equivalency guides to help students select courses that will transfer to the seven universities that attract the most transfer students from this college.

Most of the tedious work was done by Jo-Carol Fabianke’s office, she said.

Jo-Carol Fabianke is the vice chancellor for academic success of Alamo Colleges.

Cox explained spreadsheets, or crosswalks, are being created with the community college courses and the university equivalent.

The guides include the top 12 degrees from the seven most frequently transferred into universities, including private institutions, Cox said.

Psychology Chair Thomas Billimek expresses concerns over withdrawals being considered failures when evaluating faculty Wednesday in the visual arts center. He suggested when students withdraw, they should be able to designate whether it was academic or non-academic reasoning for the drop. Kyle R. Cotton The 12 degrees are accounting, biology, business administration, computer science, criminal justice, English, interdisciplinary studies, kinesiology, liberal arts, marketing, nursing and psychology.

The seven universities are University of TexasSan Antonio, Texas A&M San Antonio, Texas State, UT Health Science Center, University of the Incarnate Word, Our Lady of the Lake and St. Mary’s University.

“Not all the disciplines had all seven universities repre-

sented,” she said. “If you don’t have a program, then there’s no work to be done.”

“Making it an organized process really helps,” Faculty Senate President Lisa Black said.

Cox did not say when the next workshop would be.

Hunt reported increased participation in Employee Development Day Oct. 28.

“The opening session last year had 350 people attend,” he said. “This year, 250 registered but we had many, many people who came up and signed in.”

Breakout session numbers also increased from 481 participants last year to 691 registered participants this year, which doesn’t include attendees who participated but did not register.

Hunt also reported the Presidents and Vice Chancellors Committee, known as PVC, will consider a request to schedule Employee Development Day on a Friday next fall rather than a Wednesday because fewer classes would have to be canceled.

State representative explains campus-carry law at Hot Potato event SGA has a task force studying implementation of the law in fall 2017.

By Wally Perez

sac-ranger@alamo.edu

There is a time and place for guns, but not on a college campus, said state Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer, D-San Antonio, to about 50 people Nov. 3 at the Methodist Student Center’s Hot Potato luncheon.

“I’m not a person who believes there is no room for guns in our society,” Martinez Fischer said. “I just think there needs to be policies in place to ensure the safety of campuses.”

Martinez Fischer was referring to State Bill 11, the new campus-carry law “relating to the carrying of handguns on the campuses of and certain other locations associated with institutions of higher education.”

The new campus-carry law will affect universities in fall 2016 and

TUITION from Page 1 who don’t qualify for aid,” she said.

The Alamo Colleges 2015-16 budget approved in July was $328.4 million and is now set at $332.1 million.

District 8 trustee Clint Kingsbery noticed no one addressed the tuition increase during citizens-tobe-heard.

“We had a large number of students here tonight to present and none of them mentioned the tuition increase at all and I know that they’re very passionate about things that are going on at their school,”

community colleges beginning fall Every college is different, and 2017, allowing concealed handgun every campus has unique security license holders to legally carry hand- considerations, he said. guns on campuses of public universi“Some colleges have high school ties and colleges in Texas. students who attend dual credit Martinez Fischer helped craft the programs, some have day cares,” final version of the bill after voting Martinez Fischer said. “We need to against both the origiaccount for this, since “We have the option nal and rewritten verthere are current laws to speak up and sion. in place that prevent protest. If we don’t “There are two big firearms in public want this here, arguments that I hear. schools.” we need to make ‘We don’t want guns The University of ourselves be heard.”

Bernard Lavallee period, and if we’re Texas at San Antonio social work sophomore going to have them, has a national rankwe don’t want them in ing cybersecurity proclassrooms,’” Martinez Fischer said. gram that could be threatened by the With the final version of the law in campus-carry law, he said. place, he said he hopes college presi“UTSA has a cybersecurity misdents will find ways to change the sion and they deal with global polipolicies based on the security needs tics,” Martinez Fischer said. of their campuses.

“The risk of someone easily tarPresidents know their unique geting them with firearms is a realisdemographics and issues; they are tic possibility.” best suited to come up with policies With this in mind, he urges faculfor their campus, he said. ty, staff and students to speak out on

Kingsbery said. “And it’s not like they didn’t know it was happening.”

“Either they see value in what we’re doing or I’m not sure why they didn’t put that out there.”

Bustamante said students could have overlooked the item because there is so much on the agenda.

The Texas Association of Community Colleges Spring 2015 Tuition and Fees chart states the Alamo Colleges is $8 per credit hour below the state average for community colleges for 12 semester credit hours.

’’

POLICY from Page 1 limited to one hour.

Speakers are given three minutes to speak, representing themselves, and five minutes representing a group.

Ross Laughead, Alamo Colleges attorney, said if the policy had been passed, public comments for a specific item on the agenda would not be allowed during citizens-to-beheard but rather during discussion of items for input.

He said additional time for citizen input would be allowed under the agenda item.

The board cannot speak to those voicing their concerns on issues not on the agenda because of the Texas Open Meetings Act, Texas Government Code Chapter 551, Section 551.042, which was established September 1993.

However, the amended policy would not allow a speaker who spoke as an individual

this issue and find ways to ensure a safe environment for their campuses when the law takes effect. He said the law impacts outsiders as well.

“Visitors may not want to come to campuses due to the law. They may think it’s too dangerous,” Martinez Fischer said.

Social work sophomore Bernard Lavallee voiced his opinion on the lack of student involvement at this college.

“We have the option to speak up and protest,” Lavallee said.

“If we don’t want this here, we need to make ourselves be heard.

If you can’t get people together for something like this ,how do you expect to make a difference?”

Harley Williams, psychology sophomore and Student Government Association president, said a task force has been set up with other colleges in the city known as the San Antonio Higher Education Representative Assembly.

during citizens-to-be-heard to speak again as a representative of a group.

This college’s Student Government Association was not represented at the meeting.

Harley Williams, this college’s SGA president, said she was not aware of this policy amendment even though she does meet and speak with student trustee Sami Adames during the Student District Council meeting, which occurs every two weeks.

“I’m aware of certain things, but I was not aware of that exactly. Our meeting had to get canceled last Friday because of the weather,” Williams said.

The Policy Long-Range Committee meets at 6 p.m. Dec 8 in Killen Center, 201 W. Sheridan. The next regular board meeting is Dec. 15.

No meetings are scheduled for November.

For more information, call 210-485-0000.

“We meet once a month and get to see what other universities are doing, so we get to model after them and get ideas,” Williams said.

Martinez Fischer called for more participation in government.

“Ultimately, you are the ones who decide whether we’re doing a good job or not, you vote for us, you put us in office,” Martinez Fischer said.

“Stay engaged. You are not a spectator; you are the impact.”

The SGA meets noon-1 p.m. on the first three Mondays of every month in the craft room of Loftin Student Center.

Students are encouraged to stop by and voice their opinions and ideas about the campus-carry law at this college.

The next Hot Potato, “How to Choose Your Major 101,” is at 12:15 p.m. Tuesday at the center.

For more information, call 210733-1441 or email umcm.director@ gmail.com.

SAINT from Page 1 Bowden served 52 years with St. Philip’s, 25 years as principal, 15 years as president and 12 years as dean.

St. Philip’s will host a reception to celebrate the new saint at 6 p.m. Nov. 20 on the third floor of Bowden Alumni Center.

“It will be a grand ceremony to pay tribute to a Saint,” Loston said. During the reception members will recognize her life journey, revisit highlights of the college and perform a short play about the life of Bowden.

“She’s a role model on how to live our lives so someday we hope to meet her,” Loston said.

Visit www.alamo.edu/eventDetail.aspx?id=49578.

Prem

6 • www.theranger.org/premiere

The cast of “Sordid Lives” pretends shock as they watch Earl “Brother Boy” Ingram, played by theater sophomore Eric Dorsa, make a surprise appearance in the final act during rehearsals Tuesday in McCreless Theater.

“Brother Boy” wasn’t expected to show up at the funeral of Peggy Ingram, his sister. “Sordid Lives” is a comedy about dysfunctional families and coming out in the South. Melissa Luna

Comedy meets coming out in theater’s second play of season “Sordid Lives” spotlights challenges for the gay community in the South and offers a chance to meet the playwright.

By Gabriela Rodriguez sac-ranger@alamo.edu

“Sordid Lives,” a raw comedy about dysfunctional families and coming out in the South, will premiere in San Antonio at 7:30 p.m. ThursdaySaturday and Nov. 19-21 and at 2:30 p.m. Sunday and Nov. 22 in McCreless Theater.

Charles Falcon, theater instructor and director, said playwright and producer Del Shores, originally from Winters, Texas, will give a lecture 12:151:30 p.m. Thursday, an acting work-

shop at 10 a.m. Friday and a meet and greet after the play.

With recent changes in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community such as legal same-sex marriage in the U.S., Falcon thought it would be a good idea to do this play.

“It’s a white-trash comedy and melodrama,” he said. “It’s a tale about people who are dysfunctional.”

The play starts with the funeral of a woman who was killed while making love to her married neighbor. The family has to deal with the embarrassing

situation and plan the funeral. While they decide what to do, main character Ty Williamson, played by theater sophomore David De Leon II, struggles with coming out because of fear of judgment, being Hispanic and trying to make his dreams come true in the South. De Leon said he takes pride in playing this role and did a lot of research to do justice to the LGBT community, friends and family.

After his visits to gay bars and talking to people, he has a much better appreciation of the discrimination they face every day. De Leon learned how many people still don’t accept members of the LGBT community, who

must face this prejudice in the workplace and school.

“It’s pretty tough to hear,” De Leon said. “I love them; they’re my family and friends.”

The play deals with some of the usual struggles of being young and lost, Falcon said.

“I see it really as a story about someone who is trying to understand who he is, understand how he can make it in the world with a family that essentially is against him because of religion and conservative ideals,” Falcon said.

“Sordid Lives” is for a mature audience. “It’s kind of out there,” Falcon said. ‘Lots of fun but lots of language,

so it’s not for children at all.”

A short musical number introduces every scene. “It’s an honest portrayal of the dysfunction that many families live,” theater sophomore Dalissa Roman said. “It also brings light to the human rights issue of homosexuality,” Roman, who plays Latrelle, said the play handles a sensitive issue with a lot of comedy.

“I even laugh during rehearsals,” De Leon said.

Tickets are $5 with an Alamo Colleges or high school ID; $8 for other college students, seniors and military; and $10 general admission.

Call Falcon at 210-486-0486.

miere

Nov. 9, 2015 • 7

Veterans gather for annual ceremonies

By V.G. Garlisi

sac-ranger@alamo.edu

Charles Falcon, theater instructor and director, speaks to the cast of “Sordid Lives.” Melissa Luna

Latrelle Williamson, played by theater sophomore Dalissa Roman, caresses the face of her son Ty Williamson, played by theater sophomore David De Leon. Ty tells Latrelle he is gay, which Latrelle says she has known since he was a child. Melissa Luna

State Sen. Jose Menendez will unveil building plans for a new veterans center at a Veterans Day ceremony 11 a.m.–1 p.m. Wednesday in the mall.

The ceremony will begin with a color guard procession from Candler Physical Education Center to the mall, where Menendez, President Robert Vela and veterans Jesse Treviño and Roel Gonzalez will speak.

It is hosted by the Veterans Affairs Office, VetSuccess on Campus and the Student Veterans Association.

Treviño is a Vietnam War veteran and alumnus of this college who lost use of his right hand during combat. After coming back to San Antonio, he enrolled in drawing and painting courses here, where he learned to use his left hand, and earned his associate degree.

Treviño earned a bachelor’s degree from Our Lady of the Lake University and a master’s degree in art from the University of Texas, and since then has been creating murals such as the “Spirit of Healing” at Santa Rosa Children’s Hospital.

“Jesse Treviño is a SAC alumnus that has overcome adversity to paint murals with his left hand,” veterans affairs Coordinator Odell “Trey” Kelley said.

Gonzalez, a kinesiology freshman, will represent current student veterans. He will describe his triumph over PTSD and the strategies he uses — such as longdistance running — to prevent recurrences.

“I reached out to the VA department to see if I could get any help for the solo run that I did a couple of weeks ago,” Gonzalez said.

He said Sylvia Rodriguez, VetSuccess on Campus coordinator, asked him to speak on behalf of students.

After accepting the offer, Gonzalez racked his brain thinking of possible topics to cover. The veteran has decided his speech will be on his transition from military to civilian life.

“I want to touch upon how I struggled with PTSD, and what I’ve done as far as running to overcome that obstacle,” said Gonzalez, who ran a 223-mile Capital to Coast relay from Austin to Corpus Christi last month to raise awareness for veteran suicide.

Having joined the Army in July 2001 at 17, Gonzalez served for over 12 years. He said he has seen the worst of the worst — from his convoy taking fire to people dying right in front of him — and turned to drinking

Service officer Paul Rodriguez and Post Quartermaster Robert Garza explain the benefits of joining the Veterans of Foreign Wars to nursing freshman Richard Cote. File to escape from his anxieties.

“I was bottling it all up and putting myself in a dark corner,” he said. “I was going through therapy and found running could be my medicine.”

Gonzalez wants to share his story with student veterans on campus and reassure them it’s never too late to heal the anxiety caused by combat.

In case of inclement weather, the ceremony will be in the Fiesta Room of Loftin Student Center. Lunch will be provided after the ceremony.

Visit www.alamo.edu/sac/veteransday.

Other Alamo Colleges also will host ceremonies to honor veterans.

A Veterans Day ceremony will be 10–11 a.m.

Wednesday in the Bowden Alumni Center at St. Philip’s College and noon–1 p.m. in the cafeteria of the college’s Southwest Campus. Ernest Gonzalez, computer support for the IT department, is in charge of organizing the ceremony.

“This year’s theme is ‘The Welcome That Never Was,’” Gonzalez said. “It will be the second year we are commemorating the Vietnam War Veterans.”

At Palo Alto College, the ceremony will be 11 a.m.– noon Wednesday in the Central Courtyard. Call the veterans office at 210-486-3111.

Northeast Lakeview College will host its celebration 10:45 a.m.-noon Wednesday in the NPAC Performing Arts Center on the first floor. Call 210-486-5000.

Northwest Vista College, which opened a veterans lounge and resource center Sept. 9, did not respond to The Ranger before deadline.

Pizza with the President encourages dialogue Free pizza will be provided to attract more students.

By Roberto Martinez sac-ranger@alamo.edu

Students can ask questions and voice their opinions with President Robert Vela and the college executive team at Pizza with the President 12:30-2 p.m. on Thursday in the cafeteria area in Loftin Student Center.

This is the fourth year the Student Government Association will host Pizza with the President.

SGA will provide free pizza for students who attend.

The event, like the Student Dialogue Series with the chancellor and a vice chancellor, is an effort put forth by the SGA to maintain a line of communication between students and administrators.

“There’s no more grapevine,” Jami Keeton, vice president of SGA, said in an interview.

President Harley Williams echoed this point.

“You can directly ask questions and be in the same room to hear your school’s president address these issues. Students continue to come to this event because every-

thing that is discussed directly affects them.”

Williams said Vela will be there to respond on behalf of the college, but if he is unable to, another administrator will be present to find an answer.

If students are unable to attend the event, Williams encourages questions to be posted on Twitter @sac_pr or sent through email to hwilliams55@student.alamo.edu.

The SGA meets noon-1 p.m. every Monday in the craft room of Loftin.

Call 210-486-0133.

ASL collects turkeys for donation

By Courtney Kaiser

lies,” Cage said. “In the seventh year we’re expecting over 25 deaf families to The seventh annual American Sign be supported.”

Language/interpreter training Turkey Cage said he estimates a total of 100 Drive is collecting donations of turkeys deaf families have benefited from the and nonperishable items including turkey drive. canned goods, sauces, stuffing and other Students and faculty first started the Thanksgiving trimmings for deaf resiAlexandra Nelipa drive in 2009 after seeing families strugdents and their families. gle around the holidays.

The ASL program also will accept monetary donaThis year about 40 to 50 ASL students will be tions. All donations can be dropped off through Nov. involved, he said.

19 in Rooms 108 and 110 of Nail Technical Center.

After the drive is completed and the meals are Donations also may be made to the office of ASL packaged, students assist with the delivery and donaProfessor John Cage in 109E of Nail. tions so they can meet the families they are helping.

The drive is one of many events throughout the “Each student is responsible for going and meeting year that connects the program with the deaf comwith one of the deaf families and talking to them using munity in San Antonio. The turkey drive’s efforts have ASL,” Cage said. more than doubled since it began.

Call Cage at 210 486-1106 or visit Room 109E of “The first year we started out with nine deaf famiNail Technical Center. sac-ranger@alamo.edu

Editorial

8 • Nov. 9, 2015

.org

the

ranger

www.theranger.org/editorial

Editor Cynthia M. Herrera

Managing Editor Melissa Luna Assistant Managing Editor – News Kyle Cotton Assistant Managing Editor – Features Richard Montemayor Calendar Editor Alyssa Zapata Staff Writers Cassi Armstrong, Matthew Cuevas, Alejandro Diaz, Ryan A. Flournoy, V.G. Garlisi, April Dawn Genao, Giselle Guadron, Ty-Eshia Johnson, Robert Limon, TressMarie Landa, Hannah Norman, Courtney R. Kaiser, Wally Perez, Gabriela Rodriguez Photographers Daniel Carde, E. David Guel, Danielle Kelly Photo Team Katelynn Alexa Garcia, TifJuan Carlos Campos

fanyAnne Bermea, April Dawn Genao, Derrick Patron, Hillary E. Ratcliff Illustrators Juan Carlos Campos, Alexandra Nelipa Production Manager

Fight to lower textbook costs OERs have saved students about $12,300 in textbook costs.

Katherine Garcia Copy Editor Carlos Ferrand Distribution Manager Shelly Delgado

©2015 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 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, 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.

Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin has proposed legislation for free college textbooks.

The thought of having free textbooks brings a sigh of relief, but whether the Democratic senator will follow through and gather more support is another thing.

For now, our main focus should be what this college is doing here on campus to work with students and faculty to address the high cost of textbooks.

President Robert Vela said this college has about 140 sections that use open education resources, called OERs. An OER is an open textbook that is free to stu-

dents, and they can access them on any device.

So far, those 140 sections of OERs saved students about $12,300 this semester, Vela said.

Lowering or eliminating the cost of textbooks would greatly help college students.

Faculty and administration forget what it was like to be a broke college student.

Besides worrying about tuition, the cost of textbooks, homework and grades, students do have a life outside of college.

For some students, life includes balancing two jobs, children to raise and bills to pay.

Professors should be teaming up with the board and state to come up with solutions to the high cost

online

of textbooks.

Together, professors and the board could work toward developing more online education resources.

Giving students access to open textbooks could improve studying habits, grades and possibly enrollment.

The price of textbooks would be a great burden lifted off students’ shoulders, encouraging more to enroll.

Students need to speak up to our college president, professors, and, more important, our congressional representatives to fight for lowering or eliminating the high cost of textbooks.

Why should the cost of a book be a barrier to success?

Last-minute tuition spike hurts students’ wallets Not all trustees favor raising tuition for students across the board.

The Alamo Colleges board of trustees believes it’s in students’ best interest to raise tuition to fund the hiring of more advisers at this college.

The board approved an increase in tuition Oct. 27 for spring 2016.

Registration begins Nov. 16.

The tuition hike was approved 5-3.

District 1 trustee Joe Alderete, District 4 trustee Marcelo Casillas and District 3 trustee Anna Bustamante, board chair, voted against the increase.

The rest of the trustees need to take note of the three trustees’ opposition because that indicates some understanding of the difficulties students face in going to college.

correction

While it’s good the board wants more advisers directing students to new pathways to degrees, the board should consider the impact of a midyear tuition increase on students with fixed budgets and expenses.

With registration less than a month away, students do not have time to plan for additional costs.

Financial aid awards for returning students have already been determined.

An in-district student taking 12 semester hours will pay an additional $42 in the spring. But an out-of-state student will have to pay an additional $215.

It may not seem like a lot to trustees who have recently approved building a $55 million district headquarters, but to students, any additional tuition is a burden.

Correction: In the editorial, “Work-study should benefit all students,” the Saturday hours for the SLAC lab were listed incorrectly. The lab is open 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday.

Adjunct faculty fight for equality

Visual arts adjunct’s band performs electronic countrywestern hits Think small: Nanotechnology applications go beyond computers InTV renovates studio in Moody

The Ranger scores 12 awards from two-year college contest Eastern pop group brings culture to Loftin

Communication, advising top complaints at PAC open forum

Opinion

www.theranger.org/opinion

Nov. 9, 2015 • 9

Shooters pick venues with concealed-carry bans The Oct. 26 edition of The Ranger included an editorial that opposes the intent of the campus carry law, as well as a perGuestspective from an Viewpoint “undecided” stuby Jerry dent.

Please consider O’Connor this: sac-ranger@ alamo.edu If some deranged individual decides it’s time to make their perverted point at SAC (or one of the other Alamo Colleges), who will be there to stop them in the

letters

Guns not threat to faculty Editor:

I’m writing to you because I, for the most part, strongly agree with you on the stances you took in your “Guns don’t benefit education” piece you posted on The Ranger Online Oct. 19 on allowing guns in as few areas as possible on campus, if at all.

There are a few exceptions to that as well.

Students go to school, not just college, but any learning establishment to learn and build socially.

Where in the equation of furthering your education and building socially does a gun become necessary? Or even appropriate?

All of the examples of students possibly being worried or even deterred in certain situations because of the possibility of what guns can do that you gave, are on point and the level of worry you alluded to has to be heightened when you take recent events into consideration.

We do, of course, have to keep in mind that every person who owns and carries a gun is not a gunslinger or “loose cannon” simply because they own one.

Police own guns, military own guns and they’re good people.

There are a couple of points I didn’t see eye to eye with you.

One, you stated teachers might be scared of really challenging students in fear of them being armed.

You’re making it seem like students are volatile young men and women on the edge, just a slight push from going off the deep end.

There’s no reason for fear to exist in a classroom at all, especially when the gun is concealed.

My final point — this idea of invading fear coming over us all when we realize the imminent doom of being on campus with concealed gun-carrying students.

You won’t know if someone has a gun. We can’t operate under the assumption that everyone who owns a gun is crazy because a few people wielding guns were behind recent tragedies.

Jesus Heras Journalism Freshman

Guns have no place on campus Editor: “Guns don’t benefit education” published on Oct. 19 contains a lot

first critical seconds?

If you are in the first or second classroom to be visited, what are your chances?

Where could you hide?

What would prevent the attacker from shooting everyone they can find for whatever reason?

It would take some time for DPS to find out what’s happening and then more time to get there.

How many would be killed or injured before they arrive?

Having someone in the classroom who could return fire might not completely prevent casualties and injuries, but it would most certainly

of great points.

The concealed carry law will change education as we know it.

Teachers will not only be afraid to “give students hard or challenging curriculum,” but students will become reluctant to engage in discussion, especially about hot-button topics.

The allowance of guns on campuses will lead to a “just the facts ma’am” education system that is watered down.

That sounds too much like high school.

If students were content with just a high school education, they wouldn’t be here.

Recent events have scared people into thinking they’d be safer if they were to have their own weapon handy to defend themselves.

No one makes an announcement before they start a mass shooting, so having a gun would not help most people.

In the heat of the moment, it comes down to who draws first.

The crazy guy with the ill intent will win.

Furthermore, the more people shooting at each other, the more people will likely be injured.

Guns definitely have their place: on a hunt, at a shooting range, in the holster of a police officer or in an old time Western.

A college campus, or really, any place with large crowds isn’t one of them.

Kristine Harrigan Business Sophomore Northwest Vista College

Here to learn, not shoot Editor: The words that Alyssa Zapata wrote in your Oct. 19 issue about “Campus gun law raises questions,” gave great thoughts that many people should consider.

The balance of who and where guns are permitted on school grounds will be debated until and past August 2017.

As Zapata stated, both sides have equal stands as to why guns should be allowed on school grounds and why they should not.

Safety is the main concern on most if not on everyone’s mind.

School is a place of education however, in most recent events schools especially, colleges and universities, have been targeted for shootings.

reduce the number.

Also, please consider that the individuals who commit these atrocities typically select venues, which prohibit concealed carry, and, in most cases, take their own life as soon as they are confronted by armed resistance.

For example, do you know that the Colorado theater shootings occurred at the only one of seven theaters in the area that prohibited concealed carry?

The concerns about students “retaliating by bringing a gun to class if they get a bad grade” or “students being afraid to come to school if they

Prior to this bill being signed by Gov. Greg Abbott, a place of education that once was safe, no longer has that feeling.

Either for or against this bill, people, students, faculty, and staff have the right to feel safe in their environment.

Precautions need to be taken either way.

Samantha Ruiz Business Freshman

Concealed carry could decrease enrollment Editor: Re: “Guns Don’t Benefit Education,” Oct. 19: If the board is looking for a new tool to create an increase in the absence rate, then this idea of allowing people to carry a weapon on campus with a valid license is a great idea.

The thought alone creates a fear inside me, a community college student.

School shootings have increased rapidly with the number at 52 this year as of Oct. 10, according to rt.com, www.rt.com/usa/318169school-shootings-statistics-year/.

Yes this new law, taking effect in August 2017, will give students a chance to be armed in case a shooting were to occur, but it also allows for a shooter to have easy access to the campus while armed.

The law creates more fear than a sense of protection.

The law is supposed to establish certain areas on campus that will allow arms, but that still doesn’t change the idea that guns are allowed on campus.

The police department should be the only ones allowed to be armed on campus.

If anything, new laws should be enacted to increase spending for the equipment supplied to the school police stations.

They should be getting more things to protect the campus, not allowing new ways for people to add to the list of this year’s school shootings.

Guns are only going to throw off the students who are trying to receive an education.

Jonathan Vasquez Music Business Freshman

do not know which of their classmates is armed” are unfounded.

People who have passed the required background checks for concealed carry permits are more lawabiding than the general public.

If we want to make a claim for data-informed decisions, wouldn’t it make sense to look at the data first?

A study from the Crime Prevention Research Center, which has collected data on concealed carry permit holders, can be accessed at www. crimeresearch.org/wp-content/ uploads/2014/07/Concealed-CarryPermit-Holders-Across-the-United-

Student welcomes safety tips Editor: Re: Oregon Community College shooting reminder of campus dangers in the Oct. 12 issue of The Ranger: Ever since the 2012 shooting in Newtown, Conn., there seems to be more and more of them. Not just in schools, but in movie theaters and other public places.

Often times when I go on campus, or any public setting, I think about what I would do if someone were to come and start shooting up the place.

It seems a little paranoid, I know, but with the recent shooting in Oregon I cannot help but to think about it.

I think this article does a good job informing readers on what to do in emergency situations.

I would have never known that each classroom has emergency plans and that every Alamo College campus has certain procedures in place according to the situation.

Having these basic tips and knowledge can help make a difference between making sure everyone makes it out safely or not.

Also, this article does a good job in reminding people to always update their information on ACES, which is something I am guilty of not doing on a regular basis.

I definitely will try to keep in mind everything that was said in this article next time I’m on campus or any other public place.

Emmber Garcia Sociology Sophomore St. Philip’s College

Danger will bring support for guns Editor: Contrary to popular belief, concealed carry does not promote fear simply because the weapon is concealed. Out of sight is out of mind applies in this situation.

Senate Bill 11 allows concealed carry, not “open carry” on college campuses.

I expect any opponent of weapons on campus would readily change their mind if they were in a room with a bad guy walking around, popping off rounds, killing one student at a time.

You would be praying that someone would take them out before they drew down on you and that someone, maybe your classmate, whom

States.pdf In Colorado, individuals with permits can carry concealed handgun in most malls, stores, movie theaters and restaurants.

But private businesses can determine whether permit holders can carry guns on their private property.

Most movie theaters allow permit holders carrying guns.

But the Cinemark movie theater was the only one with a sign posted at the theater’s entrance.

Jerry O’Connor is a professor in the physics, engineering and architecture department at this college.

you had no idea had a concealed handgun license and had their weapon with them that day.

Have you noticed these mentally deranged shooters pick soft targets and plan to go out in a blaze?

The vast majority of school shootings take place before police enter the building. The first critical minutes, when the bad guy has total control of the situation, is when all carnage happens.

Most of these cowards give up or commit suicide upon the first resistance they encounter.

If a concealed handgun licensed student or employee could offer that resistance early on in the episode, there would be much less loss of life.

At best, he could take out the shooter or at least pen him down until the cops arrive.

The argument that small children should be criteria for restricting areas of carry is poor thinking.

The Newtown, Conn., elementary school shooting was at a grade school. That is a super soft target and should have had even more internal protection.

By state law, sports events and bars are already restricted; therefore, the gym is off limits.

I see no need for any other restrictions on this campus. Additional restrictions create more soft targets.

When Texas implemented concealed handgun licenses, opponents said we are going to turn the state into the Wild West.

It did not happen. To the contrary, it has saved lives.

Get over the hype and look at the statistics. Concealed handgun licenses have an overwhelming benefit to society. Cities and states that have heavily restricted gun regulations have well-above-average crime.

The idea that students are going to shoot up the place because of controversial class discussions or teachers giving low grades doesn’t hold water. Other states that have concealed carry and even open carry on campus have had little to no problems.

It is always the bad guy with a gun on campus that causes the problems.

The good guys are law-abiding citizens who have background checks, gun safety and marksman training.

A policeman in every classroom would be ideal. Next best is concealed handgun licensed citizens.

James McBride Photography Professor

Pulse

10 • Nov. 9, 2015

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Kinesiology sophomore Derick Johnson dives for the ball in the second half of the Rangers 88-55 victory over the Saints Wednesday at Our Lady of the Lake University. The Rangers’ pressure defense was consistent throughout the game. Alejandro Diaz

Efficient execution leads Rangers to victory Team faces Victoria College Wednesday in Candler.

By Alejandro Diaz

sac-ranger@alamo.edu

The Rangers punished the Saints in a blowout 88-55 Nov. 4 at Our Lady of the Lake University.

This marked the second win and the second by a large margin for this college’s men’s basketball team.

The Rangers had beaten Palo Alto College’s Palominos by 24 points Oct. 28 in Candler Physical Education Center and continued their winning path on the road.

After falling behind 5-0 in the first three minutes against OLLU, the Rangers had a 10-0 run to take the lead. They never relinquished it.

It was a team effort by the Rangers, as each player scored at least 3 points, showing efficient ball movement and helping each other to put defensive pressure on the Saints.

The Rangers seemed to have learned a lesson from their losses against the University of the

Incarnate Word and Northwest Vista College when they led at halftime and during a stretch of the second half, but were unable to hold on for the win.

In this game as well as against Palo Alto, the Rangers never let the opponent off the mat, taking commanding leads in the second half and cruising to a win.

Coach Louis Martinez said in an interview after the game that it’s important to learn how to put away games when the team holds a lead at the half.

“In situations like that when we are up 15 or 14 points, it’s really easy to just relax,” Martinez said. “We’ve done it before; we’ve been up, we had the lead, so now we’re just learning how to finish games.”

The Saints used the energy from their home crowd as fuel to a 5-0 lead in the first two minutes, but that didn’t hold for long.

Kinesiology sophomore Derick Johnson completed a rare 4-point play with 16:37 left in the first half

that capped a 10-0 run, as the Rangers took control of the game and never looked back.

Saints guard Keaven Chestant responded with a layup that cut the lead to 10-7, but that was the closest the Saints were the rest of the game.

Both teams turned up the intensity as they displayed fast-paced possessions, with the Rangers making the most of them, as the Rangers slowly extended their lead to double digits.

A steal by applied science freshman Eric Contero unleashed a fast break that he turned into a layup, and the Rangers took an 11-point lead.

As the home crowd kept cheering on the Saints, the Rangers didn’t let the foot off the gas.

After split free throws by criminal justice sophomore John McVea and a 3-pointer in the following possession by kinesiology sophomore Cody Hastings, the Rangers took a 15-point lead that forced the Saints coach to call for a timeout.

The Rangers led at halftime 41-27.

Both teams came out in the sec-

Real estate freshman Ricky Myers goes for the layup as he gets fouled. Myers completed the 3-point play and finished with 10 points. Alejandro Diaz ond half energized as they traded baskets in the first four minutes.

The Rangers, however, started controlling the tempo of the game with quality possessions, always looking for the open man, which helped them build a 22-point lead with 14 minutes remaining.

The bleeding continued for the Saints despite trying to stop the clock by fouling the Rangers, sending them to the free-throw line.

The Rangers shot 82 percent from the free-throw line, pulling away in the final 10 minutes and leading by as much as 36 points.

For the Rangers, Contero led the

scoring with 18 points, including 11 in the second half. Liberal arts freshman Stockton Perry added 9 points off the bench, all 3-pointers.

“We went back and we worked on a lot of attacking,” Martinez said.

“We struggled a lot against UIW when they went to the 2-3 zone, so we’ve been working on attacking the zone, getting layups, sometimes getting open shots, but not trying to concentrate too much on those shots.”

The win improves the Rangers’ record to 2-4.

The Rangers look to continue their winning streak when they host Victoria College Wednesday in Candler.

Pulse

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Nov. 9, 2015 • 11

Kinesiology freshman Destiny Solis and Cowgirls post player Robin Hill exchange blows in an altercation that erupted in the Nov. 4 game between this college and Southwest Texas Junior College in Candler. E. David Guel

Brawl ends game between Rangers, Cowgirls Official identifies “smack-talk” as cause of incident; coach says behavior was unacceptable.

By E. David Guel

eguel1@student.alamo.edu

A high-intensity match Wednesday between this college’s Rangers and the Southwest Texas Junior College Cowgirls erupted into a 20-plus-person scuffle on the hardwood, cutting short a home game with the Rangers leading 56-48.

The game was called at the 2:31 mark of the fourth quarter when a confrontation between kinesiology freshman Destiny Solis and Cowgirls post player Robin Hill — who led her team’s effort with 20 points — escalated into an exchange of fists.

All players, coaches, game officials and several spectators rushed the court in Gym 1 of Candler Physical Education Center.

The previous play had ended in a technical foul on Cowgirls guard Kellie Faison, who scored 11 points, for an illegal push on an opposing player.

Rangers coach Haley Capestany said the tussle started with an “attitude over here” as “they gave in,” motioning to opposing players and referring to their effort as the game drew to a close.

After the game, Cowgirls coach Jesus Garcia said Ranger players were “mouthing off,” instigating the feud.

The back-and-forth game stayed close until the end of the third quarter when this

Psychology freshman Angel Charles is fouled on a shot attempt by Cowgirls post player Danielle Irwin in the first quarter. E. David Guel college’s team began to pull away 45-36.

Tensions grew and nerves wore thin as defensive intensity from the Rangers ultimately overwhelmed the Cowgirls, who struggled at times to inbound the ball and dribble to the opposite end of the court.

Solis tallied more than four steals, which helped propel her teammates’ scoring opportunities throughout the night.

After the game, Garcia and an official who asked to remain anonymous discussed how the game result would be tallied. “I don’t care about what the win is; the only thing I can say is what the situation is, and we’re saying that the game is a forfeit based

on both teams’ playing,” the official said.

League officials will decide whether the Rangers win by forfeit.

Another official pinpointed the cause as “just people talking smack to each other — that’s all.”

After the game, Capestany and Garcia assessed the situation with officials and stressed to their teams their behavior was unacceptable. “There should be no smiling whatsoever,” Capestany said to her team.

“This is not OK.” Kinesiology Chair Brad Dudney stressed the importance of players remaining calm when dealing with in-game confrontation.

“Those things happen. It happens in games; the intensity … and everything goes on … tempers flare and there’s sometimes pushing and shoving, but they have to understand that it can’t go beyond the scope of what it’s supposed to be.”

“You have to know as a player that you can’t come off the bench.” Players from both teams who left the bench during the altercation are subject to game suspension.

Alamo Colleges police officers arrived in about 15 minutes. Capestany, kinesiology Instructor Raul Rodriguez, officials and Garcia filed incident reports.

After an Oct. 28 victory over Palo Alto College, the team remains at a league record of 2-1 until further notice.

The Rangers are scheduled to face off against the Wildcats at 6 p.m. Nov. 11 in Huisache Hall at Northwest Vista College.

Cowgirls post player Robin Hill and psychology freshman Angel Charles, center, fumble for a rebound in the first quarter. E. David Guel

NLC honor society sponsors Turkey Day 5K night walk, run

By Ty-Eshia Johnson sac-ranger@alamo.edu

The Phi Theta Kappa Beta Sigma Delta chapter at Northeast Lakeview College will sponsor its inaugural Turkey Day Classic 5K night walk and run at 6:30 p.m.

Nov. 20 at the wellness building, 1201 Kitty Hawk Road in

Universal City .

The event gets its name because it takes place before Thanksgiving Day. Registration costs are $15 for adults and $10 for all students with a valid student ID, faculty and staff.

Admission is free for children 10 and younger.

Proceeds will go to the Phi Theta Kappa Beta Sigma Delta chapter.

Packet pickup starts at 4:30 p.m. at the race site on the day of the race, and check-in begins at 5 p.m.

Waivers will also be provided and signed there.

To register online, go to

www.redemptionrp.for mstack.com/forms/turkeydayclassicnightrun_.

There will be a processing fee of $1.55 in addition to all registration payments.

Participants will need to fill out the form and make a payment.

Though participants are encouraged to pay online,

cash is also accepted.

“We thought it would be easier to give that to you, so you would already know what you would be looking for when you go online to register,” PTK adviser Regina Horne-Espree said.

The race will be categorized by gender and age.

Awards will be given to the first-, second- and third-place winners who will receive a plaque or medal.

The deadline to register is Nov. 18.

For more information, email NLC-PTK@alamo.edu or call Horne-Espree at 210486-5398.

News

www.theranger.org/news

Nov. 9, 2015 • 12

PAC aviation soars higher with chopper training Palo Alto’s “mini campus” offers helicopter courses at Stinson Municipal Airport.

By Evelyn Reyes

sac-ranger@alamo.edu

A new program at Palo Alto College has people buzzing about getting in the air.

The college’s aviation program now includes helicopter training for students, said lead Instructor John Aken, a pilot for over 17 years.

The program announced a partnership with Alamo Helicopters in May, giving birth to the helicopter courses now offered at a mini campus at Stinson Municipal Airport.

“The helicopter courses are the newest addition to the aviation program,” Aken said.

PAC’s aviation program, which trains students to fly rotary wing aircraft, was launched in 1988 by Bruce Hoover, a decorated pilot who earned awards including the U.S. Air Force Commendation Medal in 1974 and an award for outstanding leadership and dedication to aviation education in May 2008.

To apply for the 16-week aviation program, students must pass an interview process and ensure they are financially able to take the course.

The program begins with ground school, where stu-

dents learn the “basics.”

This includes different types of clouds, airplane “roads,” engine parts and how an aircraft works.

Students must complete the rotary wing program to take courses for piloting helicopters, Aken said.

The entire aviation program takes about two years if the weather cooperates.

“The aviation industry is a giant industry,” Aken said.

“Almost everyone who starts on a fixed wing program starts with small aircraft.”

A rotary wing program is the foundation in which all pilots learn to fly, he said. After students have completed the rotary wing training, they will have a choice to move on to bigger aircraft or begin with helicopters.

Fixed wing aircraft include airlines, cargo aircraft or anything with a turbine engine.

When students graduate, they will have a private license to fly non-commercial aircraft for personal or recreational use with up to six passengers.

Students also graduate with an instrumental certification and commercial certification, which allow pilots to be

hired to fly, as well as certification as a flight instructor.

“This level is getting experience and building hours,” he said. “That’s the key once you graduate. You get experience and build hours.”

The program, after about eight to 10 years of experience and flying time, produces pilots who will one day fly planes for United, Southwest and other airlines.

After students complete the program at PAC, they are eligible to apply for jobs as flight instructors for companies such as Alamo Helicopters and Sky Safety.

Alamo Helicopters and Sky Safety are companies that provide the instructors and training aircraft students use to fly.

Aken explained the steps future pilots must go through to fly as a corporate pilot, which is still considered the bottom of the flight chain career path.

“You start as a flight instructor, then you build hours of time and experience,” he said.

“You move up the flight instructor chain to a multiengine instructor, then you become an instrument instructor and you build more time and experience.”

“There are thousands of

Professional pilot freshman Timothy Norwood presents a YouTube video practicing autorotation Oct. 22 at Stinson Municipal Airport. Autorotation is an emergency landing manuever used if the rotor wings lose power from the engine. Daniel Carde corporate aviation pilots,” he said. “If you’re lucky enough and have over 1,500 to 1,800 hours and, get some jet time, you can apply directly to heavy metal, commercial airlines or air cargo, provided you have a four-year college degree.”

Aken also said if students are interested in flying for airlines, they would need to continue their education and gain at least a master’s degree, as well as log some jet time.

After they complete this, they can be considered as an airline pilot.

The program isn’t for everyone, he said.

“This is a very complex, highly skilled, trained pro-

gram,” Aken said, noting that it is a pass-fail program.

Aviation sophomore Mariah Moreno is working to obtain a commercial license.

Her goal is to become a pilot for the Air Force. One day she hopes to fly a C5 Galaxy, a cargo aircraft.

“It’s like one big aviation family,” she said of Palo Alto’s aviation program.

“If one person struggles, you’ll see 10 more people around to help them because they know what it’s like to struggle.”

The program is open to students willing to dedicate their life to flying. It also is a great program for military

Professional pilot freshman Alex Anderson sits in an R-22 helicopter’s cockpit Oct. 22 at Stinson Municipal Airport. Daniel Carde veterans, Aken said.

For more information, call Aken at 210-486-3077.