Vol. 85 Issue 10
Single copies free
Nov. 19, 2010
The Ranger A forum of free voices serving San Antonio College since 1926
Dark campus in the
spotlight
BANNER BETTER? 6 FINAL EXAM SCHEDULE 16 SELF-DEFENSE BIG HIT 24
2 • Nov. 19, 2010
The Ranger •
The Ranger A forum of free voices serving San Antonio College since 1926
SAFD engineer Sarah Wueste attends to Pixie, who escaped from a fire at 411 Lewis Wednesday as nursing sophomore Anna Herr pets the cat. See coverage at theranger.org. Alison Wadley
This issue
Photos by Julysa Sosa
3 News
10 Survey shows inadequate lighting on campus
Student shares financial aid saga; unsure about return Story by Jacob Beltran Photo by Henriette Mutegwaraba
4 Blotter
District issues temporary permits Story by Alison Wadley
5 Activity fee committees
Story by Laura Garcia Photo by Tyler K. Cleveland
13 The Ranger keeps pace
with 11th award
Story by Aaron Nielsen
The Ranger Online makes finals in national SPJ contest
14 SGA hosts candidate
not consistent
forum for special election
Story by Melody Mendoza
Story by Joshua Fechter Photos by Tyler K. Cleveland
6 Day 2 of registration runs more smoothly
Story by Zahra Farah Photo by Tyler K. Cleveland
7 Architecture students on campus overnight
15 Trustees dish Banner, budget over barbecue
17 Successful exams result from successful studying Story by J. Almendarez
18 Calendar 19 District’s belt-tightening efforts vague
Story by Riley Stevens
27 Editorials
Stop saving bucks on students’ backs Librarians should be our faculty
Story by Laura Garcia
28 Journalism students
21 Guardians dive
Viewpoint by Zahra Farah
Story by Laura Garcia Photo by Julysa Sosa
29 Homesick for familiar holiday foods
into disaster, spur hope
23 Gay marriage needs
to go from ideal to real
Story by Stefania Malacrida
24 Pulse
get a taste of Gulf Coast
Viewpoint by Stefania Malacrida
30 DREAM Act president split on immigration Viewpoint by Alisa Cortes
Letters to the Editor
Story by Joshua Fechter Photo by Rennie Murrell
90 people crowd into self-defense demo
31 Officials and Policies
16 Premiere
Story by J. Almendarez Photos by Dave Crockett
32 Classes adopt families
Story by Megan Mares
Sleeping on it
9 Honoring service rendered
Story by J. Almendarez Photo by Tyler K. Cleveland
26 Downtown bike rental
coming in February
Story by Alison Wadley and Aaron Nielsen Photo by Julysa Sosa
Cover: A walking tour Monday reveals a dark campus. See story on Page 10. Photo illustration by Tyler K. Cleveland
3 • Nov. 19, 2010
News
The Ranger
Student shares financial aid saga; unsure about return UTSA transfer student finally received her financial aid after applying in March. By Jacob Beltran Radio-television-broadcasting sophomore Chelsea Ann Owens tried to hold back tears as she recalled each step she took in trying to get her financial aid for the fall semester. “It’s my first semester here after having transferred from University of Texas at San Antonio, and I’ve been hung up on three times,” Owens said. Owens filed for financial aid back in March and applied for summer and fall semester aid. “I got my summer aid with no problems. I don’t see why I’ve had so many problems with the fall’s’,” Owens said. On May 5, Owens was told she needed to make corrections to her Free Application for Federal Student Aid and submitted it once again, thinking she was finished. Owens had no way of knowing that over the summer her FAFSA had not been processed. She showed The Ranger e-mails that documented her ongoing problems, including one to Chancellor Bruce Leslie, but efforts to reach college and district financial aid officers were unsuccessful. On Aug. 17, two weeks before the fall semester began, Owens was dropped from her courses by the Banner registration system on the first payment date. Owens said when she spoke to attendants at the business office to find out what was going on, she was sent to the financial aid office where she was told her FAFSA was “stuck in limbo”. To help cover her fall tuition, Owens was given a Texas Public Education Grant for $1,000 by Tomas Campos, director of student financial services. With the
help of the TPEG, she was able to register for 12 hours, taking one course here at SAC, two at Palo Alto College and one course offered by Northeast Lakeview College. Owens said Campos told her that the $1,000 would be taken from her awarded money when she received it. Owens was told to resubmit her corrections online at fafsa.ed.gov and that she would have her financial aid in time for Flex 2 courses. Owens said when she asked how else she could get help, employees in the financial aid office told her that 20,000 other students were experiencing a similar situation.“I thought I left behind the ‘you’re just a number’ attitude, but I am just a number because it happens to 20,000 others,” Owens said. Owens said she left UTSA because she felt neglected by the college. “Every time I called my adviser, they told me she’s not in, and by the time the semester was over, it turns out she left at the beginning of the semester,” she said. Two weeks later, Owens picked up a refund check of about $200 for books and other college costs. On Sept. 9, Owens said she was awarded a Pell Grant of $1,388 that, according to what she saw on ACES, should have been $1,850. Owens said that in a call to Richard Silva, director of financial aid in the district office, she was told that even though she was registered with 12 hours, she wasn’t receiving the full $1,850 because Northeast Lakeview is not an accredited college. “Where is the disclaimer for that?” Owens asked. “There was nothing when I was registering that said NLC is not accredited and that those hours wouldn’t count for anything.” Owens had been checking her ACES account religiously up until Nov. 12 when Owens noticed the amount of the Pell Grant displayed
Radio-television-broadcasting sophomore Chelsea Ann Owens tells about difficulties trying to claim financial aid. Henriette Mutegwaraba in the virtual business office in her ACES account. She immediately rushed down to the business office, only to be met with another obstacle. When she spoke with cashier, she was told she could not be issued a check for $1,388 because she owed $1,000 from the TPEG. Owens was then told to go downstairs to the financial aid office for a solution to her problem. An attendant in the financial aid office then told Owens to write a check for $1,000 to fill in for the $1,000 hold. Owens then returned to the business office and was overcome with emotion as she knew SAC would cash her check right away, leaving her with a negative balance, and that when she cashed the check to her account, the funds would not go through soon enough to prevent a negative balance. “I thought I was going to get yoyoed back and forth between the financial aid office and the bursar’s office, and end up leaving with nothing,” Owens said. She was angered and walked to the elevator to head down to the financial aid office to figure out
another solution. “I wasn’t mad at them, I was mad at the situation,” Owens said. “I live paycheck to paycheck. I never have $1,000 to throw at financial aid just because they mess up.” Before reaching the elevator, she was approached by welcome center staffer Edie Huff, who connected her with Dr. Adelina Silva, vice chancellor for student success. “The staff at Silva’s office were very nice. I didn’t get connected the first time but they stayed with me and helped me try again,” Owens said. As Silva told Owens she would call the chief bursar at this college, an attendant from the business office approached her and said they would cash the check themselves, taking the $1,000 payment out of the check and giving her the remaining balance of $388. Owens said that after the long nightmare she’s been through, she’s afraid it’ll happen again, making her unsure if she should come back for another semester. “I just hope this doesn’t happen to anyone else.”
Blotter
4 • Nov. 19, 2010 Tip of the week
Right a way Fact: On average, a pedestrian is killed in a traffic accident every 120 minutes and injured in a traffic accident every eight minutes.
Medical assistant Michelle Galvan Wednesday crosses San Pedro at Dewey. Julysa Sosa
The Highway Safety Research Center suggests drivers drive slowly and be prepared to stop when entering a crosswalk. Pedestrians, should be predictable and use sidewalks. For more information about safety, visit the center’s website at http://www.hsrc. unc.edu/safety_info/pedestrian/safety_tips.cfm.
District issues temporary permits By Alison Wadley Alamo Colleges October 2010 parking operations evaluation and assessment states, “Recent estimates put the volume at between 300 and 400 temporary permits issued per week per campus.” Sgt. Ben Peña said the Alamo Colleges police department has been cracking down on temporary permits to make sure people aren’t abusing them. Temporary parking permits can be obtained for various reasons: if a parking permit is lost, if a person drives a different car to campus and forgets to change the permit to that vehicle, and vendors or visitors on campus on campus for a short term. No temporary permits were issued between Aug. 24 and Sept. 20 because of a delay in issuing regular parking permits. Since Sept. 20, this campus has issued 361 temporary permits, Northwest Vista College has issued 380, Southwest Campus has issued 100, St. Philip’s College has issued 78, Northeast Lakeview College has issued 25 and Palo Alto College has issued 23 for a total of 967 for all campuses. Peña said during major events, the police department designates certain parking lots or areas for a ticket holiday. He said anyone enrolled in continuing educa-
Emergency 222-0911 General DPS 485-0099 Weather Line 485-0189
tion courses that meet less than 40 hours or GED and English-as-a-second-language courses receive temporary parking permits for the duration of the course. The application for a temporary permit is filled out like regular parking permit form. Peña said the number of times a person can be issued a temporary permit depends upon circumstance and is evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Peña said the length of time a temporary permit is issued for is based on the applicant’s circumstance, and clerks can only issue for up to two weeks. More time receives approval from him. He said in most cases, the person receiving a temporary permit has already purchased a regular parking permit, so the college isn’t losing revenue. Temporary parking permits can be obtained from the campus police department at 1601 N. Main Ave. A license plate number is required to obtain a temporary permit, a white paper tag that hangs from the rear view mirror. It lists name, area of parking, license plate number, issuer and expiration date. The back of the permit lists questions reminding driver of safety tips, instructions on hanging the tags and campus police phone numbers.
SAN ANTONIO COLLEGE
walking on the roof of Loftin.
Nov. 8 — Suspicious person reported in Moody.
Individual reported being injured during class in the Law Enforcement Annex.
Suspicious person reported in Lot 21. Individual reported her vehicle was damaged in Lot 23. An active fire alarm was reported in Chance. Nov. 9 — Individual reported a suspicious male off campus.
Contact Info
The Ranger
Individual reported graffiti on the gym door. Individual reported damage to her vehicle from a hit and run vehicle accident. Individual reported students
Nov. 11 — Individual reported a male following her. Individual reported a student making suspicious comments. Officer assisted with an off campus vehicle accident. Nov. 12 — Individual reported a group of students being loud and handing out fliers near Moody. Individual reported a group of students being loud near Loftin. Individual reported a male walking around with a baseball bat in the parking garage.
NORTHEAST LAKEVIEW COLLEGE Nov. 9 — Individual reported parking permit lost due to selling her vehicle. Individual reported missing district key. Nov. 11 — Individual reported scraping her leg in performing arts. Staff member reported someone tampered with the door lock of Room 102. Nov. 12 — Individual reported an assault that occurred off campus. Individual reported people at building 8300 of northeast campus after hours.
The Ranger
News
Nov. 19, 2010 • 5
Activity fee committees not consistent By Melody Mendoza According to district policy, each Alamo College is required to have a student services fee advisory committee with five students and four faculty and staff members. The committee decides funding for clubs and organizations at the colleges using funds from the student activity fee collected each semester at a rate of $1 per credit hour. The district has a compulsory fee, which the Texas Education Code S54.503 states, “is charged to all students enrolled at the institution.” Across the colleges, students on the committee are appointed by the Student Government Association at each college and meet monthly to review requests. The only apparent difference between the colleges is who has access to the decision-making meetings. No policy addresses this, so the director of student life and the president of the college can decide whether decisions about spending public funds are made in the open or behind closed doors. At this college, the fee is expected to raise about $400,000 this academic year. At this college, the Student Activity Fee Committee meetings are closed even to groups requesting funds. President Robert Zeigler said meetings are closed because of the deliberations they have, the questions asked and conversations members have about the status of proposals during meetings. He said the committee does post the results of their deliberation online. The Ranger reported Nov. 11 that Fabian Cortez, special projects coordinator, said the minutes would be posted by the end of the week,
but no postings at the student activity fee website have been found. Cortez said Jorge Posadas, director of student life, was in the office Wednesday, but Posadas requested all questions be sent via e-mail. Zeigler said Posadas decided to close the meetings, but Zeigler approved it. Zeigler also approves categories of expenditures. He said, “I don’t go through every line, but, yes, I am responsible.” On Nov. 4, the committee discussed purchasing iPads for each of the members, but Zeigler declined to comment because he said he did not know what was involved. He said he would need to talk to Posadas for the particulars. At Palo Alto College, the meetings are open to students, but Dr. Daniel Rodriguez, director of student life at Palo Alto, said not many students choose to attend. Rodriguez said the committee invites the individuals who are requesting funding. He said this year, the committee collected about $160,000 to distribute to college organizations. District policy says the committee can appoint up to four nonvoting student alternates. Rodriguez said, “We have some alternates, but we haven’t really used them.” He said they can attend the meetings but haven’t this year. Rodriguez said he sits in on the meetings but does not vote. “If there are questions related to the budget, I make suggestions,” he said. “I provide the fee of what was spent last year.” He said the committee may revisit past expenditures on travel, for example, and if they previously spent a lot of money on travel, the committee might focus on other things. The committee’s budget is not posted online. Rodriguez said the committee has never bought laptops or purchased paper to use in the
meetings, but the office of student life is trying to go paperless, so they e-mail the committee agenda to each member. He said students on the committee can check out laptops from their office. “They are outdated but functional,” he said. Crystal Willis, assistant director of student activities at Northeast Lakeview College, said that college’s committee meetings are closed because confidential information is discussed during meetings. She said confidential information might include bank account numbers, student names, Banner information and GPAs, which can only be heard by “privileged” students. Willis said a GPA might be considered when discussing a request and if a student’s grades are low, the committee can reject the whole proposal. The district application does not ask for any of the items she listed except for student names. Nor does the list of justifications for rejecting a proposal include a low GPA. She said the committee meets to discuss funding, and they don’t purchase anything for themselves. The fee generated $89,581 this year. Darryl Nettles, director of student leadership and activities at Northwest Vista College, did not return phone calls. Northwest Vista College collected $314,190 from the student activity fee. The Northwest Vista budget is posted online at http://www.alamo.edu/nvc/students/activities/default.htm. Julius Gordon, director of student life at St. Philip’s College, did not return phone calls. Charleen “Charlie” Brammer, senior secretary of student life at St. Philip’s College, said their committee meetings are “open just like everyone else’s.”
In spring, start week with Monday publication Decades-long tradition of Friday morning distribution of The Ranger ends today. The Ranger will begin publishing its print version on Mondays beginning in the spring semester. “We’re looking forward to students, faculty and staff at this college and our sister colleges starting each week with a fresh edition of The Ranger,” media communications Chair Marianne Odom said. Students who don’t come to campus Fridays
may find the print edition of the college weekly newspaper more current as it hits the stands on Mondays. The Ranger is distributed at sister colleges in the district, and the staff plans to increase the newspaper’s presence there as well. The Ranger Online, the companion news website, will continue to post news, features, commentary, photos, videos, slide shows and commentary daily. “The Ranger and Ranger Online continue to be the only independent sources of information in the Alamo Colleges, and it’s important that we expand the public’s
access to them,” Odom said. The Ranger has served San Antonio College as a “forum of free voices” since 1926. The Ranger Online hit the Internet in spring 1996. The student media are produced by students in journalism classes and a staff selected each semester by the Student Publications Board. Editor Laura Garcia said, “We work really hard on this newspaper, so it makes sense we want more people on campus to pick up the paper on the day it comes out rather than a couple of days later.”
6 • Nov. 19, 2010
News
The Ranger
Day 2 of registration runs more smoothly By Zahra Farah Dr. Tom Cleary, vice chancellor for planning, performance and information systems, said as of 2 p.m. Wednesday, 13,765 students had registered for spring classes. Despite Monday’s rocky start, Helen Torres, director of enrollment services, said registration ran smoothly and admissions and records didn’t experience any long lines. On Monday, Banner was temporarily running slowly, which caused some students to delay registering for classes for the spring semester. In a districtwide e-mail sent at 10 a.m. Monday, Kenny Patterson, manager of client services, wrote that Banner was experiencing some technical issues that were causing “sluggish performance.” When students tried to register for classes in ACES self-service, they would get a message stating an error had prevented the processing of the transaction. Students also started registering for classes at 8 a.m. Monday instead of 12:01 a.m., the announced opening for registration. Admissions and records staff Narrisa McFadden said the first student registered at about 8 a.m., then the system started slowing down. The system operated sluggishly until 11 a.m., but at about 1 p.m. it started working smoothly. Cleary said they detected the problem quickly when they saw Banner loading slowly and taking up to five, six or even 10 seconds. One of Banner’s functions, Oracle, caused the registration system to run slowly. Oracle is a company that runs its own database software also called Oracle, which Banner “sits on top of” to perform transactions on student records and finances. Banner and Oracle are two different applications. Cleary said the volume of students registering should not have affected Banner. Cleary said he sent e-mails to each
Students wait Monday in the business office in Fletcher. Photos by Tyler K. Cleveland
Admissions and records The office of admissions and records updated its call service so employees could answer questions on holds, financial aid and the bursar’s office. For more information on registration visit, http:// www.alamo.edu/sac/sacmain/ sac.htm and click on the admissions and records tab or telephone the call center at 210-486-0200. Liberal arts sophomore Jade Cantero waits Monday to resolve a problem with lost transcripts in the admissions and records office. Cantero said she wouldn’t be able to register until Wednesday. of the colleges Tuesday asking how registration was going. He got responses from Palo Alto and Northwest Vista college’s IT departments, which said they were experiencing no lines and were moving quickly. Cleary said he also got an e-mail from a student attending this college who he said thanked him for the improvements made to Banner and said registration took about 30 seconds. Torres said one of the reasons admissions and records didn’t have
long lines was because of information provided on the admissions and records webpage. Students have access to a list of steps to register. One problem admissions and records experienced in fall registration was that new students would automatically think their ApplyTexas application form was already at the college the day they submitted it. The steps instruct students that it takes 48 to 77 hours for an application to be processed.
Torres also advises students against adding and dropping classes during registration. Since Banner picks up every transaction, it records each time a student drops and adds. This causes problems for students awarded financial aid, because each time a student adds and drops, it changes their status from attending college fulltime to part time. Photography sophomore Gladys Campos said Monday she tried multiple times to drop a class, and the transaction was finally approved in 20 minutes. Jacob Beltran contributed to this story.
The Ranger
News
Nov. 19, 2010 • 7
Architecture students on campus overnight fear consequences Change in longtime habit sets stage for unauthorized access. BY MEGAN MARES After midnight on Monday about 30 to 35 architecture students climbed the stairs to the second floor of Chance Academic Center to wait to register for ARCH 2471, Design 4, through the department office. Architecture program Coordinator Rick Armstrong said Tuesday that students should not have been waiting to register for their classes in the buildings until the building was opened at 7 a.m. Only 42 spots are available this spring for a mandatory design class — one of two classes many require to complete their programs — and so students said there is some competition for first-come, first-served registration in the highly regarded program. Campus closes at about 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday. By 10 p.m., the build-
ings are supposed to be locked and remain so until 7 a.m. the following morning, Armstrong said. “The buildings were once open 24 hours for us to work on our models,” one student said, looking down at his feet. “Another class really messed that up for us. They were stealing things from the studios, so now we have to leave every night, and it’s hard to transport these huge scale models.” He referred to coffee table-sized scale models of buildings the student must build for class. Armstrong said students previously had permission to work at night because it was difficult for them to complete such time-consuming projects around work and school schedules. Students had been in the habit of alternately working, napping and eating while in the middle of projects. He confirmed the change in operations this semester because students were no longer using time in the lab strictly for working. District police Sgt. Ben Peña said Wednesday
he was aware the students had permission to be in the building at all hours, but he did not know that permission had been withdrawn this fall. Armstrong said, “If they are going around telling people that they were in the building earlier than 7 in the morning, they are much more stupid then I thought.” Three design professors Wednesday tried to persuade The Ranger to not publish the story because they worried that the revelation would cause trouble for the students that would have long-term repercussions on their educational and professional careers. A group of students who admitted to the overnight wait to enroll in the desired class said that it was cold outside so “they found a way in,” sat in the hallways and played the card game Uno. When the students were asked how they got in, they said, “through a door,” but would not identify which door. On Monday, one architecture student said that she was exhausted after such a long day. She slumped in a chair but was happy to have registered successfully for her final design class.
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8 • Nov. 19, 2010
Veterans Day
Army veteran Alfonso Moreno salutes the flag during the singing of the “The Star-Spangled Banner.�
Psychology sophomore John M. McClellan Jr., president of the BetaNu chapter of Phi Theta Kappa honor society, presents the veterans memorial during the dedication in the mall.
Members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 76 Honor Guard retire the colors at the dedication.
The Ranger
President Robert Zeigler talks about the importance of recognizing members of the armed forces and their contributions to the nation Nov. 11 during the dedication of a Phi Theta Kappa veterans memorial in the mall.
The Ranger
Veterans Day
Honoring service rendered
Nov. 19, 2010 • 9
Photos by Julysa Sosa
Pvt. Rosalie Salazar, communications freshman, salutes the flag during a Veterans Day ceremony Nov. 11 at Palo Alto.
Members of Palo Alto and San Antonio colleges’ ROTC color guard prepare to raise the Texas and U.S. flags during posting of the colors at a Veterans Day ceremony at Palo Alto.
Leslie Santiago, education freshman and Navy reservist, and Amanda Lopez pick up MREs, military meals ready to eat, at Palo Alto’s Veterans Day observation.
10 • Nov. 19, 2010
News
The Ranger
Survey shows inadequate lighting on campus By Laura Garcia A walk through the center of this campus after dark to see if lighting is adequate resulted in finding more than 35 outdoor lights burned out or not on because timers needed attention. A communication breakdown in who is supposed to be checking lights may be to blame. Tammy Kothe-Ramsey, Student Government Association president and psychology sophomore, and campus police representative Sgt. Robert Tomlinson walked throughout the campus Monday at about 6:45 p.m. in a survey requested by The Ranger. This came a week after the shift to daylightsaving time and a few weeks after the college suffered a string of daylight assaults, which included robberies, thefts and assaults. David Mrizek, vice president of college services, took a separate tour of campus about the same time and found several additional lights out, particularly near the parking garage. Tomlinson said the garage is so well-lighted, it is often darker during the day than it is at night. While walking past Lot 10, west of the visual arts center, a student approached Tomlinson and reported a man in a hooded jacket attempting to open car doors in the parking garage. Tomlinson called an officer to take her report. Kothe-Ramsey said the college has “a whole different feel at night.” Many spots, such as the northeast corner of Candler Physical Education Center and the southwest corner of the visual arts center, were identified as dark spots needing illumination. Many lights were spaced too close or too far apart to provide even lighting, Kothe-Ramsey and Tomlinson agreed. Tomlinson suggested adding more lights on the sides of buildings. “This doesn’t give me a real comfortable feeling,” Kothe-Ramsey said as she walked between Gonzales and McCreless halls. “I think it’s very important to make sure all students are safe. I vote for more lights.” She added that even though she was walking with a reporter, photographer and a police sergeant, she had a feeling she should be looking over her shoulder. Facilities Superintendent David Ortega, contacted Wednesday, said he is reluctant to say that more than 30 lights were out on campus because he did a check a couple of weeks ago. He said he frequently walks the campus checking lights.
Sgt. Robert Tomlinson, evening shift supervisor, and SGA President Tammy KotheRamsey tour the campus Monday night to gauge the adequacy of campus lighting. Photos by Tyler K. Cleveland Daylight-saving time began Nov. 7, which set clocks back an hour and likely affected the lights on timers because they have not been adjusted. Ortega said there are at least 1,000 lights outside, and electricians are responsible for adjusting the timers on more than 120 15-foot light poles. After Mrizek submitted a work order, Ortega said the electricians adjusted and verified all the timers Thursday. About five or six light poles are connected to one timer, he said. Ortega said he is well aware of the lighting situation, and his staff discovered a problem with the light fixtures in the garage that may be causing some bulbs to explode. They are investigating and returned bulbs to the manufacturer. Ortega explained that his staff is also trying out different bulbs on light poles because they are looking for lights that will illuminate a larger radius. “Our concern is making sure we have every available light on,” he said. Ortega said Thursday he is concerned about a couple of dark areas on campus, particularly near the fountain east of Loftin.
He said facilities plans to repair, change and add a few more lights by the start of the spring semester. He said that if all the lights were on, he thinks lighting would be sufficient. Ortega added that vegetation has blocked some lights and created some shadowy areas. The height of the bushes and shrubbery bothered Kothe-Ramsey. Ortega said he spoke with housekeeping staff about reporting lights that are out. They usually are aware because they leave campus when their shift ends at about midnight. He said the police are supposed to be checking the lights when they make rounds and that he spoke with police about the change about two weeks ago. President Robert Zeigler said Tuesday he believed facilities staff is responsible for checking lights. Tomlinson agreed. Mrizek said Tuesday he wasn’t sure who was responsible but would suggest that the maintenance staff who picks up the garbage in the evenings check the lights. Tomlinson said police check the lights in the parking lots once a month and the blue lights at emergency phones once a week; however, some were not operational. Of the parking lots that were surveyed, only one light in Lot 8, the faculty parking lot north east of the visual arts center, was burned out. Tomlinson said he walked the campus about eight years ago when Zeigler was vice president, and the campus is a lot brighter now. “It’s a lot better than it was,” Tomlinson said. “There are no spots that are totally dark, but they could use more light.” He added that he is an evening shift supervisor who has worked 12 years for the district and sees the highest volume of night students walking on campus here. A close second would be Northwest Vista College. Dr. David Wood, director of planning and evaluation, said a duplicated count indicates that about 7,000-8,000 students registered for classes here that meet after 6 p.m. in the spring and it’s been about the same for fall and spring semesters for the past five years. A duplicated count means that if a student enrolls in two night classes, the student would be counted twice in that figure. Zeigler said something must have occurred if that many lights are not turned on. “For the most part, we have the capability,” he said. “If 30 lights are burnt out, we certainly need to take care of it.”
The Ranger Zeigler added that he was glad The Ranger did a walk-around because “it’s always good to do spot checks.” Tomlinson suggested students keep their keys in hand while walking to the parking lots and women should be careful to keep their handbags under their arm. He said there are usually four officers on duty in the evening and suggested students call dispatch for an escort if they don’t feel comfortable walking alone. Danielle Rominski, volunteer and outreach services director at the Rape Crisis Center was unable to attend the walk, but like Tomlinson and Kothe-Ramsey, she suggested students be alert and aware of their surroundings. Rominski said students shouldn’t listen to music with earbuds during the walk. “It makes you a walking target for somebody,” she explained. She said that students need to look people in the eye when walking around campus and make a friend to walk with if they are not comfortable calling security. She said the campus police should make sure all blue light emergency phones are working
News
Nov. 19, 2010 • 11
Sgt. Robert Tomlinson discusses campus lighting with SGA President Tammy Kothe-Ramsey. because “if they are not working, they are not serving their purpose.” Rominski said when college campuses are perceived as safer, enrollment could increase and “a college should want their students to feel safe.” She recognized the growing issue of budget
cuts across the state and that it may be hard to ensure the campus is well lit and foliage is cut back, but the college should find a way to make it work. To contact the Rape Crisis hotline, call 210349-7273. To request a police escort, call district dispatch at 210-485-0099.
12 • Nov. 19, 2010
The Ranger
The Ranger
News
Nov. 19, 2010 • 13
The Ranger keeps pace with 11th award By Aaron Nielsen The Pacemaker is not an easy goal when competing nationally. The Ranger won a Pacemaker in the two-year newspaper category this year and was a finalist in the online category as well. The award was presented at the National College Media convention In Louisville, Ky. Oct. 27-31. This is the 11th Pacemaker award for The Ranger since 1975. The National Pacemaker is an award for excellence in American student journalism with a history dating back to 1927. It is referred to as the Pulitzer Prize for student journalism. Editors for the competition period were Jason B. Hogan in fall 2009 and Laura Garcia in spring 2010. The Associated College Press judges student newspapers on certain criteria ranging from content, quality of writing and editing, photography, art and graphics, layout and design, to the overall concept or theme of the publication. A panel of professionals with extensive online media experience judged the online presence of the publications.
Site design, coverage, interactivity, graphics and photography are just some of the details that made The Ranger a winner in 2010. Part of the paper’s continued success lies in a dedicated staff and attention to detail on all levels. Instructor Irene Abrego said, “As an adviser to the Ranger, I try to maintain the exacting standards I was taught when I was a student on the Ranger staff.” Marianne Odom, chair of media communications, said, “We never say we are just a student paper.” The Ranger is dedicated to its readership and giving students the experience of practicing the craft of journalism. “Students cover trials, fires, police stories, along with meetings and speeches. The strength of The Ranger is in the reporting. Everything we do is real and intended for publication because that’s the way students learn.” Being named one of the three finalists in the two-year category comes with a certain degree of responsibility.
Dr. Yuk-Kwong “Edmund” Lo noted, “Timely reporting is one of the factors in keeping up to date. We are dedicated to getting as much as possible to the reader.” Consistency in content and professional standards are a shared vision at the Ranger. “This is not a profit-oriented newspaper,” Lo said. “The hours spent are not always proportionate. We are practicing serious journalism here in terms of content and accuracy.” Garcia, who interned at the Longview NewsJournal in summer, said, “It’s exciting to be part of something so big. It’s exciting just to be a journalist.” Two summers ago, she redesigned the page templates to the smaller magazine format. “I chose SAC for The Ranger and I knew The Ranger had a history,” Garcia said. “What’s more exciting is knowing we’ve been rewarded for all the hard work and hours.” Garcia can be found in the newsroom every day of the week, often well in excess of 40 hours each week. Fall 2009 editor Hogan said, “The Pacemaker is representational of your entire paper; it shows how well-rounded your publication is. The structure of the paper from reporters to appointed editors like myself have to work as a cohesive unit in order to obtain an award like the Pacemaker.”
The Ranger Online makes finals in national SPJ contest The Ranger Online was named one of three finalists for the Mark of Excellence Award from the Society of Professional Journalists in the category of Best Affiliated Website for two-year and community colleges. The national award presented Oct. 4 at the professional organization’s annual convention in Las Vegas was for 2009. Journalism sophomore Regis L. Roberts was editor in spring 2009, and Jason B. Hogan was editor for fall 2009, but no one from The Ranger attended the convention to accept the award. The Communicator Online of Spokane Falls Community College in Washington won the competition, and the other national finalist was The Columns online at Pierpont Community and Technical College in Fairmont, W.V. The Ranger Online was entered in the national competition after Region 8 of SPJ, which represents Texas and Oklahoma, named the news website as
Best Affiliated Website for two-year colleges. Photo and first place in News Photo for “Tribute.” This was the first year SPJ divided entries into Former staffer Leda Garcia won first place for separate divisions for two- and four-year colleges. Feature Photo for “!Recuerdo El Alamo!” Criteria included design, content, interactivity Ranger photographer Rennie Murrell, journaland use of multimedia tools. ism sophomore, won second in News Photo In other competitions awarded this for “Contractor transported to BAMC semester, The Ranger placed third in after accident.” Overall General Excellence in the largeFormer student Scott Bajek won school division of the Texas Community third in Sports Action Photo for “PAC College Journalism Association at program hopes to build next strongest the annual convention Oct. 8 at the man.” University of Texas at Arlington. In other individual awards, liberal KSYM program director attends The awards were for fall 2009 and arts sophomore Riley Stephens won College Media spring 2010. Laura Garcia was editor in first in Sports News for “Two nonConvention spring 2010. The Ranger Online won students compete in boxing match.” second place in website. In individual Garcia won third place for an ediawards, The Ranger photo team captured three torial cartoon. first place awards, a second place and a third place. The staff won third place in Headline Writing. Ranger photographer Tyler K. Cleveland, phoNo one from the staff attended the convention tojournalism sophomore, won first place in Sports to receive the awards.
The Ranger
14 • Nov. 19, 2010
SGA hosts candidate forum for special election Online voting ends at midnight at http://sacweb.alamo.edu/studentcouncilvote/default.aspx. By Joshua Fechter
Taylor said he would let the administrators and trustees know Student Government Asso- they work for students. “I intend ciation presented a forum Monday fully to stand up for the rights of for five candidates to address stuevery student,” he said. dents before voting began in a speTaylor said he is not afraid of cial election. Online voting contin- controversy and is willing to help ues through 11:59 p.m. today. students. “A loud, proud voice who Psychology sophomore Tammy is willing to stand up and take the Kothe-Ramsey, current SGA presipunches when necessary is what dent seeking I bring to the re-election, table,” he said. SGA hosts Chili with the said the curJacob Wong, Chairs at noon Nov. 29 in the Fiesta Room. rent SGA incumbent SGA meets at 2 p.m. the first administration commissioner three Mondays of each month and psycholis not playing in the craft room in Loftin. around. She ogy freshman, For more information, call alluded to chalsaid he brings SGA at 210-486-1430. lenger James E. leadership Taylor’s saying skills from the in the Nov. 12 issue that SGA has workplace, with his membership not done enough to address issues in the Psychology Club for which to the administration and “they are he serves as president. He said all just doing lots of play time.” student voices need to be heard. Kothe-Ramsey said she is fightLiberal arts sophomore ing against tuition increases, single Mariano Marquis, candidate for accreditation and parking increascommissioner, said his main cones by going to meetings of the cern is informing students about Alamo Community College District basic campus information and board of trustees and meeting with changes. He said he often feels this college’s administrators. like a tour guide, helping students Kothe-Ramsey said she has find buildings and answering their good rapport with trustees, both questions. inside and outside of meetings. Marquis said that although he “That’s something that takes time does not know what his position to build,” she said. entails, he wants to help students. She said her goals of involving “I look forward to learning a lot more students in SGA and board and expressing my concerns for meetings and spreading aware- the student body.” ness of SGA on campus are being Political science sophomore accomplished. “The more students Andrew Floyd asked the candidates we have to speak up, the louder our for commissioner what SGA would voices will be,” Kothe-Ramsey said. do to improve problems within the Taylor, a mass communicaorganization. Floyd quoted Kothetions sophomore, said he wants to Ramsey from the Nov. 12 issue in improve communication between which she stated, “Students don’t the student government, adminisknow what district is doing to us.” tration and the student body. He He said, “I think The Ranger said he would like more students does a pretty adequate job of getto understand SGA is their voice. ting us that information.” “Our voice would be heard loud Marquis said information and proud if you elect me,” he said. needs to be streamlined on the
Candidates Jacob Wong, Tammy Kothe-Ramsey, Savahna Gomez, Mariano Marquis and James E. Taylor Photos by Tyler K. Cleveland
Political science sophomore Andrew Floyd asks SGA candidates how they will hold the district accountable. college website, and while The Ranger can provide information, gaps need to be filled. “You have to want to search for the information,” he said. Wong said he has put the information about student issues with Banner in front of the administration and board. “We are the voice of the students. If we’re ignored, then maybe we didn’t speak loud enough. It doesn’t mean we haven’t tried,” Wong said. Nursing freshman Savahna Gomez, candidate for secretary, said she wants to be part of SGA to serve the student body, promote school pride, deliver fun student activities and contribute fresh ideas to make the community a better place. Gomez said she believes SGA and students have the right to
speak out. “No individual should be afraid to let their voice be heard,” she said. Gomez said she would post fliers and talk to students to spread awareness of changes on campus. “I will do whatever it takes to bring change and awareness to students,” she said. Criminal justice sophomore Allison Cook, candidate for secretary, could not attend the event because she had to work. No candidates are running for vice president or treasurer. SGA vice president and history sophomore Sam Huckleberry withdrew his candidacy last week, citing a conflict with a course he needs to enroll in this spring. SGA’s by-laws say if a term is vacated, the president may appoint a student to fill it or the organization may hold a special election. Election results will be announced Nov. 22 and the winners inaugurated Dec. 10. This special election marks a change from SGA’s traditional election cycle. Starting this election, SGA officer terms will extend an academic year from Jan. 1 to Aug. 31 instead of a calendar year. To vote, log on to http://sacweb.alamo.edu/studentcouncilvote/default.aspx. Students need an ACES user name and the last four digits of the Banner ID.
The Ranger
News
Nov. 19, 2010 • 15
Trustees dish Banner, budget over barbecue By Joshua Fechter District 7 trustee Blakely Fernandez told an audience of about 50 students Nov. 12 that the word “glitch” is not applicable to problems experienced with Banner during fall registration. “This was just an outright failure from top to bottom,” she said. Fernandez and District 1 trustee Joe Alderete Jr. attended Barbecue with the Board sponsored by Student Government Association to familiarize students with trustees and their responsibilities. President Robert Zeigler and Dr. Jessica Howard, vice president of academic affairs, also attended. Board chairman Gary Beitzel, who represents District 8, was scheduled to attend but did not. Beitzel said Tuesday a family situation prevented him from attending. He said he notiDistrict 7 trustee Blakely Fernandez and District 1 trustee Joe Alderete Jr. Rennie Murrell fied district of the situation Nov. 11. Alderete and Fernandez answered questions submitted on note cards. ing printing and housekeeping, trying to save out what the problems are? It makes no sense,” Psychology sophomore James Lowe asked $12 million in budget cuts and not filling 150 she said. why students were treated as the problem when open positions across the district. Fernandez said the board communicates faculty was unprepared to handle problems Alderete said cuts apply on an administra- with Chancellor Bruce Leslie who communiwith the Banner system. tive level as well as at the colleges. cates with the administrative staff of each colHe said he experienced problems with finanHe said Perry and the state Legislature are lege. She said direct communication with each cial aid and was unable to find help. He said he proposing cuts to segments of the state budget administration carries the risk of bad decisionalmost lost his house because of the problem. specifically allocated to education. making and political prioritization. Alderete said there was a sincere effort to “Your gripe is not with the administration “You don’t want elected officials drilling identify exactly where probof this college. It is with the down and making decisions on your campus lems occurred in Banner, governor and state govern- that are administrative,” Fernandez said. Board committee meetings are scheduled for Dec. 7 and and none of them identified ment,” he said. District 3 trustee Anna U. Bustamante and the regular board meeting is the student as a problem. Alderete said students District 5 Roberto Zárate originally accepted the at 6 p.m. Dec. 14. Both dates In a Sept. 14 report to need to know how budget invitation but did not attend. are scheduled for Killen trustees that covered probcuts will impact them. Bustamante said she had a conflict with her Center, 201 W. Sheridan. lems with fall registration, Liberal arts sophomore job, and Zárate said he had an unexpected famdistrict officials said part Debra Webster said she ily matter to attend to. of the problem was in students not regularly is concerned about the low number of math District 2 trustee Denver McClendon was checking their ACES e-mail. “It is not the stututors and the effect their absence will have on scheduled to be out of town and could not dents’ fault in any shape, manner or form,” students’ performance in math courses. “Math attend. District 6 trustee Gene Sprague said Alderete said. tutors are what got me through the course,” Tuesday a work-related function conflicted with He said students should not expect Banner she said. the event. to be free of issues during registration for the Jolene Almendarez, member of the Social SGA President Tammy Kothe-Ramsey said spring semester. “If Apple can have problems Issues Club and journalism sophomore, said District 4 trustee Marcelo Casillas and District 9 with their iPhones, we’re going to have prob- money spent on campus events such as Ballet trustee James Rindfuss did not respond to SGA’s lems with our software program,” he said. Folklorico and performances of the comedy invitation. However, Alderete said the process of reggroup Oxymorons could go toward services Diane Snyder, vice chancellor of finance istering should be smoother and have fewer experiencing cuts such as the tutoring program. and administration; Dr. Federico Zaragoza, vice problems. “Don’t expect it to be perfect. Expect Almendarez said she would like to see trust- chancellor of economic and workforce develit to be better,” he said. ees work directly with administrators of each opment; Leo Zuñiga, associate vice chancelFernandez said each college is dealing with college. lor of communications; and Deputy Chief Joe budget cuts differently, but district responded “How can you all work to better every school Curiel, administrative division of district police, to Gov. Rick Perry’s mandated cuts by outsourcif you don’t talk to the administrators to find attended the event.
16 • The Ranger
Prem
Fall and Flex 2 Final Exam Schedule Monday, Dec. 6 (MWF and MW)
Class 7 a.m. 10 a.m. 1 p.m. 3:50 p.m.
Time 7:30 a.m.-10 a.m. 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. 1: 30 p.m.-4 p.m. 4:20 p.m.-7:10 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 7 (TR) Class Time 8 a.m. 8:30 a.m.-11 a.m. 10:50 a.m. 11:20 a.m.-2:10 p.m. 1 p.m. 1:30 p.m.-4 p.m. 1:40 p.m. 2:10 p.m.-4:40 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 8 (MWF and MW) Class Time 8 a.m. 8:30 a.m.-11 a.m. 11 a.m. 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. 2 p.m. 2:30 p.m.-5: p.m. 2:25 p.m. 2:55 p.m.-5:25 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 9 (TR) Class Time 6:30 a.m. 7:30 a.m.-10 a.m. 9:25 a.m. 9:55 a.m.-12:25 p.m. 12:15 p.m. 12:45 p.m.-3:15 p.m. 3:05 p.m. 3:35 p.m.-6:05 p.m. Friday, Dec. 10 (MWF) Class Time 9 a.m. 9:30 a.m.-noon Noon 12:30 p.m.-3 p.m.
Note: Final exams for evening and weekend classes are given during class hours. Department chairs can schedule final exam dates that do not conform to this schedule.
Art freshman Elisa Rodriguez Tuesday among the fiction said, “I was just tired today, so I looked for somewh
Sleeping on The library is among students’ favorite spots to nap.
By J. Almendarez Final exams, end of the semester projects and an excruciating three weeks are left before winter break begins. For some students, it can’t come quick enough. The signs of enduring a weary and sleepless semester are showing. Kinesiology sophomore Dean Nwokey knows what it’s like to be pressed for time. He is enrolled in 14 semester hours and works 20 hours a week in the office of student life. He lives near the main UTSA campus beyond Loop 1604. Nwokey said he often sleeps in his 2004 silver Kia Spectra. “I try to get rest because I’m up all night studying,” he said.
He even keeps a turquoise Snuggie stashed in his car to use while he lounges in the driver’s seat of his car for naps. He said releasing the seat back and popping his legs over the steering wheel is the most comfortable way to fit his 6-foot-1-inch frame in his car for a little shut-eye. “The best place to park when sleeping on campus, to get a good, peaceful rest, is in the garage, top floors,” Nwokey said. People without cars, though, are not without options. They find quiet spots to catch some Zs on campus. Reserve Specialist Aivars Norenbergs said that in the eight years he’s worked in this college’s library, he’s seen plenty of students sleeping between stacks of books and slumped over in study carrels. “It’s more secluded in the back,” Norenbergs said, so students tend to sleep by the stacks of book that range from R
to Z of the fict Students a sofas in the Learning Cen the craft room benches outd Candler Physi Sgt. Ben P laws prohibit pus, but sleep He said t sleeping in un being unawar ple vulnerable He said th campus, he su a friend who environment. You don’t w and find your
Nov. 19, 2010 • 17
miere
here to sleep.” Tyler K. Cleveland
n it
tion section. also can be found sleeping on counseling complex in Moody nter, spread out on the grass, in m of Loftin Student Center, on doors and in locker rooms in ical Education Center. Peña of the district police said no students from sleeping on camping beauties need to beware. the police do not recommend nfamiliar environments because re of surroundings can make peoe to crime. hat if students choose to sleep on uggests being in the company of will stay awake and aware of the . want to wake like Rip Van Winkle r whole world changed.
Successful exams result from successful studying Counselor offers tips to make the most of study time. By J. Almendarez There are 17 days left before final exam week begins Dec. 6. That adds up to 408 hours, or 1,440 minutes, or 86,400 seconds. In that time, students will be expected to prepare for comprehensive exams that include information that may have been received the first day of class. The task can seem daunting. Student development Professor Dehlia Wallis who teaches developmental classes at this campus throughout the year, Dehlia Wallis said she was thrilled to offer study suggestions for upcoming final exams. She stressed that students should use distributive learning techniques when preparing for exams. This emphasizes a planned study technique that allows students to have time to review information over a course of several weeks as opposed to cramming in a few short days leading up to exams. “We don’t learn when we cram,” she said. Wallis said students should use their strengths when studying and recommends creating study plans to ensure students adhere to their primary learning styles: auditory, visual and kinesthetic. Auditory learners may benefit from a study habit that encourages reading a textbook aloud, hearing a lecture or verbally studying with a partner. They also benefit from reviewing tape-recorded information.
A visual learner will benefit most from taking detailed notes, arranging information into charts or illustrations and analyzing the body language of a speaker. Kinesthetic learners should approach studying actively. These learners work best while listening to background music, building models and participating in demonstrations. They should embrace any urges to fidget or tap on things. Wallis also encourages students to take into account state-dependent learning, which influences a person’s recall of information. For instance, if a person is taking a test in a quiet, well-lit environment while sitting in a hard chair, studying in a similar manner will increase the likelihood of remembering information. Wearing a favorite color, comfortable clothing or a favorite outfit also can help create a familiar environment. “When you look better, you feel better,” she said. The stimulation level, or biofeedback, that a student studies in also helps the body recognize situations and aids memory and test-taking skills, she said. Wallis reminds students that smaller factors can play a part in test readiness. She said students feel more prepared when they have collected all the supplies needed for an exam, sleep between seven and eight hours and eat a meal at least one hour before an exam. She said being prepared minimizes test anxiety, which stems from “the fear of the unknown.” Memorizing or writing down the exam schedule in advance also adds to a feeling of preparedness. Students who practice these techniques but still feel uncertain about taking exams can schedule appointments to discuss concerns with a Strategies for Success counselor. Clerk Assistant Wendy Hernandez sets appointments from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday on the first floor of Moody Learning Center. The telephone number is 210486-0769.
Multiple-choice exams
Written exams
• Find out exactly what the question asks. • The longest answer is often correct. • The most inclusive answer is often correct. • Qualifying words like “usually” or “sometimes” tend to make choices correct, while words like “always” and “never” tend to make choices incorrect. • Try to rule out some of the choices if the answer is unclear.
• Read the question thoroughly and understand it before writing an essay. • Make notes on scratch paper to organize thoughts. • Answer the question asked: no more, no less. • Give examples to prove comprehension as opposed to memorization. • Monitor your time. • Do not leave a question blank. • Write legibly, in complete sentences and with correct grammar and spelling.
Calendar
18 • Nov. 19, 2010
The Ranger
For coverage in Calendar, call 486-1773 or e-mail sac-ranger@alamo.edu two weeks in advance.
Today
486-4818.
NVC Event: Repertory dance ensemble 7 p.m.-8 p.m. in Palmetto Theater. 210-486-4818.
11:30 a.m. Nov. 29. Call 210-486-0864. Wednesday
SAC registration: For all students for spring semester. SAC Food Drive: sponsored by Cheshyre Cheese Club and Phi Theta Kappa. Donate non-perishable goods to the campus food noon-4 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday in the Catholic student center. Continues through Dec. 9. Call 210-4860668. SAC Deadline: Student publication applications, continues Monday with interviews at 1 p.m. in Room 209 of Loftin. Call 210-486-1773. SAC Deadline: Texas Public Radio RTF scholarship applications currently accepted. Continues through Nov. 30. Go to alamo.edu/sac/rtf. SAC Event: U.S. Secret Service information session noon-2 p.m. in Fiesta Room of Loftin. Call 210-486-0134. PAC Transfer: St. Mary’s University 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. in student center. Call 210-486-3122. NLC Event: Thanksgiving 3-on-3 basketball tournament 2 p.m. in wellness gym. Call 210-486-5404.
Monday SAC deadlines: Last day to withdraw with a W from Flex 2 courses.
SAC Meeting: Society of Women in engineering noon in Room 204 of Chance. Call 210-486-1309.
Audition: “Alamo Colleges Jazz Allstars” audition to perform in San Antonio and Sao Paulo, Brazil, 7 p.m.-midnight at Patty Lou’s, 3902 McCullough. Call 210486-4828.
SAC Meeting: Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science 3 p.m. in Room 204 of Chance. Call 210-486-0342. 210486-0060.
SAC Transfer: Our Lady of the Lake University 9 a.m.-2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.6 p.m. on the first floor of Chance. Continues Nov. 30. Call 210-486-0864.
Thursday Happy Thanksgiving! All colleges closed. Classes resume Monday.
SAC Music: Choir Concert directed by Cynthia Sanchez 7:30 p.m. in auditorium of McAllister. Call 210-486-0255. Saturday SPC Event: 2010 Thanksgiving dinner competition 9 a.m. at Central Market, 4821 Broadway. Call 210-486-2100.
NVC Music: Holiday concert “Vista Voices” Choir 6 p.m.-6:45 p.m. in 107 of Palmetto. Call 210-486-4818. PAC Music: Mariachi and choir concert 7 p.m.-9 p.m. in performing arts center. Call 210-486-3228. Dec. 3 NVC Music: Extrava-Danza 7:30 p.m.-9 p.m. in Room 107 of Palmetto. Continues Saturday. Call 210-486-4818. Dec. 6 SAC Exams: Finals through Dec. 10.
PAC Transfer: Texas A&M-San Antonio 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m.-5 p.m. Call 210-486-3122. SAC Music: Brass Ensemble directed by Peter Kline 2 p.m. in the auditorium of McAllister. Call 210-486-0255. SAC Meeting: Society of MexicanAmerican Engineers and Scientists 3:30 p.m. in the MESA study center in Room 204 of Chance. Call 210-486-0060.
Nov. 29 SAC Event: Holiday tree decorating celebration 11 a.m.-1 p.m. in Loftin. Call 210-486-0125.
Dec. 7
SAC Lecture: Transfer for allied health majors with Dr. Irene Chapa, University of Texas Health Science Center of San Antonio, noon-1 p.m. in the craft room of Loftin. Call 210-486-0060.
Tuesday NLC Event: Party favors workshop 12:15 p.m.-1:15 p.m. in Room 135 of student center. Call 210486-5404.
PAC Transfer: Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 9 a.m.-11 a.m. in student center. 210-486-3122.
Nov. 30
SPC Event: President’s Lecture Series: “Café College” with Mayor Julian Castro 10 a.m. in Watson. Call 210486-2300. Dec. 1
NVC Event: “SA Plays” 7 p.m. in Room 111 of Palmetto Black Box theater. Continues 3 p.m. Saturday. Call 210486-4824.
NVC Music: Fall student piano recital 3:30 p.m. in Room 107 of Palmetto. Call 210-486-4818.
PAC Transfer: University of Texas at San Antonio 9 a.m.-11:30 a.m. in student center. Continues 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Nov. 29. Call 210-486-3122.
SAC Sports: Women’s volleyball vs. Victoria College 7 p.m. at 2200 E. Red River in Victoria. Call 210-486-0125.
SAC Transfer: St. Mary’s University 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on the first floor of Chance. Continues Nov. 23. Call 210486-0864.
NVC Music: Fall student recital 12:30 p.m. in Room 107 of Palmetto. Call 210486-4818. Dec. 2
SAC Transfer: University of Texas at San Antonio 12:30 p.m.-3 p.m. on the first floor of Chance. Continues 9 a.m.-
NVC Music: Holiday concert with Orquesta Vista jazz ensemble 1 p.m.1:45. in Room 107 of Palmetto. Call 210-
NVC Music: Fall voice recital 6:30 p.m. in Room 107 of Palmetto. Call 210-486-4818. Dec. 9 SAC Deadline: Tuition due for early enrollment for spring. Dec. 18 SAC Closure: Winter break through Jan. 2. Jan. 19 SAC Sports: Women’s and men’s basketball vs. Northwest Vista. Women 6 p.m., men 8 p.m. at Northwest Vista. Call 210-486-0125.
Calendar Legend SAC: San Antonio College NVC: Northwest Vista College SPC: St. Philip’s College SWC: Southwest Campus PAC: Palo Alto College NLC: Northeast Lakeview College
The Ranger
News
Nov. 19, 2010 • 19
District’s belt-tightening efforts vague By Laura Garcia While the impact of budget cuts is visible at the colleges in shorter lab hours, library database reductions and no class handouts, most officials at the district’s two headquarters can’t cite specific cuts they say they are making. Gov. Rick Perry cut 10 percent of state funding forcing the district to raise tuition and property taxes while seeking cost-saving measures at the five colleges. According to an e-mail sent by Chancellor Bruce Leslie, more cuts are on its way. Two office centers, at 201 W. Sheridan and 801 W. Houston, house five vice chancellors, six associate vice chancellors, 12 directors, one executive director, two coordinators, one deputy to the chancellor, a board liaison and one police chief, all of whom answer to Leslie. Leslie referred the interview to Diane Snyder, vice chancellor for finance and administration. Most of the 29 district positions identified on the Alamo Colleges organizational chart have multiple employees whom they supervise. The total annual budget for the district,including the five colleges, is $575,825,185. Snyder, who has been with the district since January, originally said she was unable to spend time building a specific analysis quantifying the district’s budget cuts versus the college’s budget cuts. Wednesday, however, she provided a handful of specific cuts that affected the district offices while explaining that many district departments directly and indirectly affect the colleges. Snyder said the 25 strategic initiatives compiled this summer by more than 55 faculty, staff and administrators were estimated to bring in $2.02 million in cost savings that affected district departments as well as the colleges. She said 70 percent of the targeted $12.28 million in cuts are workforce-related, including a districtwide hiring chill and terminating nonessential temporary staff. District’s temporary staff cuts amount to $540,000. Snyder added that within the last three years, the district has decreased its employee headcount although she could not give an exact count. The reduction amounts to $1.26 million in full-time employee cuts and an additional $300,000 saved from attrition of at least 11 employees. The addition of the center for student information increased the number of employees on the district’s payroll when they moved 46 college employees to the Pat Booker Road facility.
Exact numbers of employees in each department in the district and at the colleges is unavailable until at least January because the information is being compiled, she said. District appropriations and allocations are documented with detailed ledgers on employees’ salaries and departmental budgets, information the district is required to make public. According to library records, last year’s allocations book was cataloged Jan. 8. Linda Boyer-Owens, associate vice chancellor of human resources, said she was hired less than a year ago and built her department’s budget from the ground up. Her department works under Snyder’s supervision. Boyer-Owens said she would have to research any cuts the department sustained from last year to this year. “I know I reduced positions,” she said. “I know I took cuts, but I didn’t keep a running tab on it.” Snyder said the college bursars’ expenses are included in her district budget and that she also manages the treasury department, which handles debt management. Leo Zuñiga, associate vice chancellor of communications, said his department is experiencing a $100,000 budget cut from an annual budget of $1.6 million to $1.5 million. He said to put the reduction in perspective, the Dallas County Community College District has a communications budget of $2.7 million. The Dallas district has seven colleges and five campuses with a fall enrollment of 72,639 and a budget of $444.6 million budget in comparison with Alamo Colleges’ five colleges and six campuses and headcount of 63,792 on a budget of $575.8 million. “The bottom line is we have to cut,” Zuñiga said. He explained that the communications budget funds TV and newspaper advertising and internal communication. Zuñiga’s office also keeps up with legislative changes and how they affect higher education and lobbies for the district’s best interests. He said he doesn’t expect legislative efforts will be affected by the cuts. Dr. Jo B. Tucker, director of workforce, administration and special projects, said her department, like Zuñiga’s, receives word of department budget cuts from her supervisor, the vice chancellor of economic and workforce development, Dr. Federico Zaragoza. In a telephone interview, she said, “We’re simply doing more with less.” James Dickerson, director of the advanced
technology center at Port San Antonio, said cuts from his department are no greater or less than those cuts across the board. He said the center supports the college’s need for additional classrooms, meeting rooms or computer-related classes. For example, the district uses the center’s space, at 312 Tinker Drive, for in-house Banner system trainings. He said cuts would affect the center’s ability to adhere to district policy of updating and maintaining computers until they warranties expire or they are replaced. Dr. John Soto, director business outreach, another department Zaragoza oversees, said there are three people in his department and it’s a good thing they generate revenue for the district in the form of state funding and incentive programs. Soto, who has been with the district for nine years, said his department is in a different position than others might be. “They may have a more immediate impact,” he said, explaining that his department works with companies expected to move to San Antonio to get the company to offer training classes with the district. “We’re concerned. We’re very concerned,” he said. “We’re not exactly clear on how it’s going to affect us.” There are ways, he said, the business outreach department tries to save money. One example is by holding telephone conferences, Soto said, rather than traveling because “money is tight everywhere.” The district director of international programs, Carol Fimmen, said her department also brings in revenue for the district in the form of grants for projects like study abroad programs. She said the main objective of her office, also in Zaragoza’s area, is generating revenue. Some examples are grants that bring in $1 million for the district while others generate $600,000, but she didn’t cite specific examples. Still, Fimmen says the department has been very responsible in implementing savings practices. John Strybos, associate vice chancellor of facilities, whom Snyder oversees, said the utility budget increased significantly from last year, which affected his operating budget. The district was not immune to the city’s 8 percent City Public Service utility hike as electricity and water consumption increased. Strybos oversees facilities departments such as housekeeping, construction projects and bids.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 22
The Ranger
20 • Nov. 19, 2010
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The Ranger
Jschool Travels
Nov.19, 2010 • 21
Guardians dive into disasters, spur hope By Laura Garcia
PENSACOLA, Fla. — You’ve heard of jarheads, grunts, flyboys and squids, but what about guardians? This group of men and women guard the nation’s maritime borders with a primary mission of sea rescues and during natural disasters. They are the Coast Guard. The Coast Guard was first on the scene in 2005 when Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast forcing thousands to flee. They were the first on the scene when Haiti was devastated by a 7.0 magnitude earthquake in January. In both disasters, the guardian assisted thousands of injured people and delivered crucial medical supplies. The U.S. Coast Guard is a branch of the military that doesn’t get as much attention as the Army, Marines, Air Force and Navy. And sometimes, not as much respect. Think about how many military movies are centered about the lives of guardsmen. Not many. About 16 films in the last two decades feature the U.S. Coast Guard, however, in most, it plays a bit part. Yet, the guardians work tirelessly to fulfill the branch’s motto: Semper Paratus, Latin for “always ready.” Established with 10 vessels in 1790, the service was charged by Congress with tariff and trade law enforcement and smuggling interdiction. In its more than two centuries, four agencies were rolled into the Coast Guard. According to the Coast Guard website, each day guardians save 13 lives. They also respond to 64 search and rescue cases, keep 959 pounds of cocaine off the streets, save $260,000 in property and interdict 10 undocumented immigrants trying to enter the country. The Coast Guard is the only military organization within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security since it was transferred from the Department of Transportation in 2003. Guardsmen, or “coasties,” as they were called before “guardian” was adopted in 2008, have a different mission from the other four branch of the military. During an interview about the BP oil spill Aug. 18, Dave Matthes, aviation maintenance technician first class and a recruiter in Mobile, Ala., described the Coast Guard as a branch with higher recruiting standards.
The United States Coast Guard aviation exhibit Aug. 19 in the National Naval Aviation Museum at the Pensacola Naval Air Station in Florida. Julysa Sosa “It’s very competitive,” he said, describing most of the recruits as college students and said it wasn’t unusual to have people enlist with bachelor’s and master’s degrees. To enlist in the Coast Guard, you must be a U.S. citizen or a resident alien, be between the ages of 17 and 27, or if you have served in another branch of the military, younger than 29. By comparison, in the Army, recruits can join up to age 41. Coast Guard recruits are rarely accepted with a GED. They must have a high school diploma and be able to pass the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery test with a minimum score of 45. Matthes has been in the Coast Guard for 15 years and spent 2 1/2 years before that enlisted in the Army. His father and brother are also guardians. They, too, went through a rigorous eightweek training. “We set the bar high,” Matthes said while sitting in a small waiting room yards from a BP claim center in Mobile, 171 E. Interstate 65 Service Road South. “We bring out the best in people.” The recruiter carefully avoided answering specific questions related to the oil spill and referred The Ranger to the website for The Deepwater Horizon incident.
It was four months after an explosion killed 11 men and spewed some 200 million gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico. “We are involved in the clean up,” Matthes said. The Coast Guard responded within hours to the explosion, helping save 90 workers. Guardians also helped organize relief efforts in the months following the incident. Guardians, pulled from their families and homes, were posted along the Gulf Coast. When called upon, the Coast Guard also serves alongside its brother branches in wartime. While the other branches are larger — 675,000 soldiers and 328,234 sailors on active duty — and serve primarily the U.S. Department of Defense worldwide, the 42,389 guardians have distinct missions at home. The 11 missions include security of ports, waterways and the coast; drug interdiction; aids to navigation; search and rescue; marine resources and safety; defense readiness; migrant interdiction; marine environmental protection; ice operations; and law enforcement. When called upon in wartime, the Coast Guard also serves alongside its brother branches in war and is transferred to the oversight of the Navy. For more information, go to www.gocoastguard.com.
22 • Nov. 19, 2010
HEALTHY WOMEN & MEN AGES 21-54 that drink beer, wine, or mixed drinks are needed for participation in research studies.
Participants will be compensated for their time and travel. Volunteers should drink 1 to 4 days each week. Participation will last from 7:30am to about 7:30pm for 6 to 8 weekdays across a two week period. Participants may also be invited to participate in weekly visits that last for 30 minutes to 1 hour over 16 weeks. Volunteers must be height/weight proportionate. For more information, please contact Dina at 210‐567‐2752.
News CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19 “There’s a lot of people who are concerned about their jobs,” he said. One of the district’s cost-saving efforts is to freeze all hiring at the colleges and start outsourcing jobs like housekeeping and printing. He said he works closely with Snyder and the chancellor so that no one has to take any cuts in pay. However, print shop employees said they weren’t offered the option of keeping their current pay rate when the department was outsourced. All employees who didn’t leave the college are now placed in another position. Pam Ansboury, associate vice chancellor for finance and fiscal services, whose department Snyder oversees, could not be reached. Dr. Christa Emig, interim district director of curriculum coordination and transfer articulation, said she wasn’t aware of how cuts would affect her department, but her supervisor Dr. Robert Aguero, vice chancellor for academic success, would be able to answer questions on budget cuts within the department. Aguero, however, did not return phone a call and has never returned calls from The Ranger. The legal services’ department answers to the
The Ranger chancellor, reviews every contract the district enters, responds to Freedom of Information Act requests and advises the board of trustees on legal matters. Erik Dahler, district director of legal affairs, said his department took a hit and cut about $5,000 from the office’s operating budget. The legal services’ operating budget, as of Nov. 4, amounts to $19,447.77, not including salaries. The litigation budget is $764,925.22. This primarily funds outside counsel and professional fees. Dahler said the department also eliminated one full-time equivalent position, which equates to a savings of $60,000 in salary expense. He added that many times, his department cannot predict how many lawsuits or legal fees the district will incur so it’s difficult to estimate what the budget should be. Dahler said that’s why the legal services department works hard to find operating efficiencies. “I can assure you that we have made cuts,” he said. “I just hope that other departments are stretching their dollars.” Snyder said that every department throughout the entire district was affected by cuts with no exceptions. “We all have to have a piece in it,” she said.
The Ranger
News
Nov. 19, 2010 • 23
Sociology instructor says gay marriage needs to go from ideal to real By Stefania Malacrida In August, a federal judge in California delivered a landmark ruling affirming the right of samesex couples to marry. Judge Vaughn Walker ruled that California’s ban on same-sex marriage violates the U.S. Constitution. Then, the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals put a stay on Walker’s ruling, pending an appeal. Oral arguments are scheduled for Dec. 6. This college’s sociology department, especially Instructor Cynthia Flores-Martinez, await with great interest the outcome. “Although the decision was appealed, and, therefore, the results
are still to be seen, California has proved to be a very liberal state,” the marriage and family instructor said. Consensual homosexual acts are illegal in Texas. The law does not specifically define what is illegal, but it is understood by the courts, sexual acts deemed unnatural. “Gay people can’t kiss each other in public or can’t even have sex in their own privacy,” she said. “On the other hand, everybody knows that this happens in real life.” In other words, there is a gap between what is real and what is ideal, Flores-Martinez said. “The Texas government doesn’t feel that it is important to face this reality, even if our society has changed dramatically in the last 15 years.” In her classes every semester, Flores-Martinez documents
changes in the concept of family. “At the beginning, students seem frightened by the concept of marriage,” she laughed. “But then they understand that today’s definition of family is much broader than in the past and includes single parents, extended divorced families, cohabitations and civil unions.” The textbook, “Marriage and Families: Making Choices in a Diverse Society,” dedicates a chapter to gay marriage. “The book I’m using is very neutral. It provides arguments for both points of views against and in favor of same-sex marriages,” she said. The main argument against gay marriage concerns the adoption of babies. “Gay-marriage detractors say that children growing up in a gay family will become homosexuals themselves. Recent studies have shown that this is not true.”
Flores-Martinez said there is no proof the sexual orientation of the parents and the children will end up the same. Research in the past about gender identity has already shown that a parent, regardless of sex, can be perfectly capable of transmitting different aspects of a personality: the nurturing side traditionally attributed to mothers and the more aggressive, active side traditionally attributed to fathers. “I personally think it is an unjustified stigma not to allow homosexuals to marry and have children,” Flores-Martinez said. “Sociology is not about what I think, what is wrong or right, but about what is happening. “Unfortunately, discrimination against gays is still strong,” she said. For more information, call Flores-Martinez at 210-486-1328.
24 • Nov. 19, 2010
Pulse
The Ranger
Kinesiology Instructor Medin Barreira talks to students during a self-defense demonstration in Candler Nov. 11. Photos by Dave Crockett
90 people crowd into self-defense demo By J. Almendarez Five e-mail alerts about daylight crimes at this college since Oct. 13 seems to have encouraged quite a few people to take advantage of a self-defense seminar Nov. 11 in the racquetball courts in Candler Physical Education Center. Nursing sophomore Amanda Valadez said that’s what prompted her to attend the hourlong session sponsored by the Wellness Committee. Chris Dillon, Wellness Committee coordinator and kinesiology instructor, said that when he was organizing the event, he was expecting about 50 attendees and instead drew about 90 people. With almost twice as many people present, kinesiology Instructor Medin Barreira was not able to provide as much one-on-one attention as he would have liked, even with the assistance of six student volunteers. Barreira, who has 31 years experience in martial arts, taught three basic self-defense
Self-defense class In spring, kinesiology Instructor Medin Barreira will teach KINE 1132, Selfdefense 1, and KINE 2132, Self-defense 2. For more information, call Barreira at 210-486-1014.
techniques: spontaneous personal enabling accelerating response, known as SPEAR, and Fundamental 1 and Fundamental 2. SPEAR is an offensive move that plays off of people’s “startle reflex” or instinctive reaction to protect their neck and face when being attacked. The move allows the victim to force an attacker away by applying force to the aggressor’s shoulder. Simultaneously, the victim tucks the head between the arms to protect against an assault. Fundamental 1 is a blocking technique that involves stopping an oncoming punch with
one’s adjacent forearm and using an open or closed hand to hit the attacker in the face. Fundamental 2 is an alternative blocking method that involves stopping an oncoming punch with one’s adjacent forearm, gripping the aggressor’s arm with a free hand and twisting it 180 degrees. As a result, the victim is standing behind the aggressor, creating an opportunity to escape. Barreira said that while the moves seem simple, the surprise of knowing even one technique may inhibit an attacker from pursuing a victim. Electrical engineering sophomore David Cotrell, a student in Barreira’s KINE 1132, Selfdefense 1, class, said that while the three techniques are basic, they’re “probably the most important things to learn.” The 16-week course focuses on specific scenarios, such as how to defend oneself from an aggressor with a weapon or how to react to varying environmental factors, Cotrell said. Cotrell said participants were receptive to
The Ranger
Pulse
Nov. 19, 2010 • 25
Art freshman Asia Ashley looks on with other students as kinesiology Instructor Medin Barreira demonstrates a basic self-defense technique on liberal arts sophomore Raymond Tijerina. critique and quickly picked up the three moves. Barreira said that he saw about 80 percent of the attendees exhibiting proper self-defense methods, however, he was unhappy with having to divide the participants into separate racquetball rooms to practice because he could not monitor them as closely as he would have liked. Several students commented that initially instructions were unclear because they could not see the demonstration or could not hear Barreira clearly because a racquetball room is small and causes noise to be amplified and echo. Barreira said he would have preferred the seminar to be in one of Candlers’ two gyms, but the session conflicted with classes. Volunteer Raymond Tijerina, 15, a student at Travis Early College High School, said he attended the event with Dillon’s dual-credit class, KINE 1238, Concepts of Fitness and Wellness. Attendance for the class was mandatory. Tijerina said Dillon’s class mostly practiced among themselves. In spite of obstacles, students who were at the event gave positive feedback. Art freshman Asia Ashley said she attended the event out of curiosity. Afterwards, she said the demonstration, “made me want to learn more.”
Kinesiology Instructor Medin Barreira demonstrates a basic self-defense technique with dentistry sophomore Lissa Martinez during a self-defense class. Recent daylight crimes may have increased interest in the session, which drew twice as many people as expected.
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downtown include Alamo Plaza, t u Milam Plaza, Main Plaza, Market Square, Blue Star, Ellis Alley Park ~Springs p San Pedro San Antonio College and Ride, and the Central Library. Pearl By Riley Stephens “After you swipe your card, you B choose a bicycle, and it will autoSan Antonio City Council matically register it in the system. Crockett approved June 17 a program that The bicycles are universal,” Gainey § ¦ ¨ would allow anyone with a mem- said. “There is no helmet law in San Antonio Museum of Ar bership to San Antonio Bike Share San Antonio so you do not have to B B-Cycle to rent one of 140 bicywear a helmet, but they are recomEduardo Garcia cles from 14 stations beginning in mended. We will sell helmets for a Madison Square Maverick February. good cost at the hub,” she said. Central Library El Tropicano Bike Share is a nonprofit orgaEach location will have a § ¦ ¨ B B Hays Street Bridge nization helping to run the B-Cycle B-station, or kiosk, where people ~ p program. The price of membership can check out and return the bicyLockwood has not been set yet. cle. Dignowity Travis “An $850,000 Also, there will Milam Park Alamo Plaza grant was awardbe a main hub staB Main Plaza B “It is meant for ed to the city tion available in Market Square B B an alternative, and San Antonio HemisFair Plaza. Ellis Alley UTSA Market Square Convention Center p £B Riverwalk Euretta Fairch Bike Share from The hub will be environmentally B § ¦ ¨ La Villita B the Department open all day and friendly trip. Our of Energy and available to everyHemisfair HemisFair goal is to have B the Centers for one. 500 bicycles at Central Hub [ Disease Control to “The locations the end of two start the program,” were chosen by MPO years.” B city bicycle coorditheir visibility in nator Julia Diana the downtown Katherine Gainey said. She said Bike area,” Gainey said. Bike Share development ¦e r , ¨ coordinator Share was responD e n v§ sible for getting Chicago, Des Blue Star B the rest of the Moines and money through advertisers to supLouisville also have B-Cycle proport the program. “The program is grams to rent bicycles. available through debit or credit The bicycles are universal and Locations of proposed bike rental kiosks. http://sanantonio.bcycle.com/ Bike Rides B B-Cycle Locations Downtown Alamo/Hemisfair Ride purchase,” Diana said. the seats fit people 5 feet to 6 feet B-Cycle Locations Brackenridge Park Ride However, the website to purtall. They’re not recommended for from the bike-sharing[ program. Also downtown is the Segway Central Hub King William District Ride City of San Antonio chase a B-Cycle membership won’t children. “Since it is a commuter“The total number of bikes to storePearl where bicycle rentals are Brewery Ride Mission Trail Ride be available until early next year at based program, it is not recomstart with is 140, and weColleges are hoping available twice a week. Historic Landmarks £“We p VIA Park and Ride www.sanantonio.bcycle.com. mended for children. It is meant to start around February,” have about seven bicycle Parks Gainey ~ p Military Bases Depending on the memberfor business-oriented people,” said. “The money goes to sustain- locksLibrary with a holder and helmets San Antonio River ship, a person can purchase a Gainey said. ing and maintaining the bikes that we provide to our guests. We 0 0.5 1 1.5 renewable pass for one day, one “It is meant for an alternative, so we can continue to run and make the guests sign a safety waivweek or one year. The pass can be environmentally friendly trip. Our expand.” er before they get on the Segway or renewed at anytime. Discounted goal is to have 500 bicycles at the There will be a customer service any of our machines,” office manpasses are available for students end of two years,” she said. line if people are riding around and ager Daisy Hernandez said. and seniors. Gainey was asked if she tried need some help or information. “It is four hours for $20, and if “We’re starting with 14 highly the program herself. “Yes, I have The bicycles will be maintained they go over that, it is $30. No overvisible locations, and we hope to tested the system, and I think it is every day and include GPS. nights,” she said. have 50 locations at the end of a great way too get around down“If you have an annual mem“We are looking into the possitwo years,” said Katherine Gainey, town,” she said. bership, you will have access to bility of doing tours in the future,” program development coordinator Gainey said a rental component your mileage, carbon footprint Hernandez said. of Bike Share. with a tour guide will be added and the calories you’ve burned,” For more information, visit Projected stations around later, but it will be a separate cost Gainey said. www.sanantonio.bcycle.com.
DELAWA
FLORIDA
Of
The Ranger
Editorial
Nov. 19, 2010 • 27
Librarians should be our faculty
Alexandra Nelipa
Stop saving bucks on students’ backs “Will it save money?” is the only concern our district and state Legislature seem to have for the future of higher education. If the end goal is for the Alamo Colleges to be the best in the nation, we need to improve the education. Realization of that goal seems unlikely because of the district’s tunnel vision. Administrators are fixated on looking for the easiest avenue to save a quick buck. Faculty, staff and students understand the Alamo Colleges are left to figure out where to cut $27 million in the next three years. So far, there seems to be little action on the part of district administrators, at least none they are able to quantify or even seem to be tracking. Trustee Joe Alderete Jr. told students Nov. 12 at Barbecue with the Board that shortfalls are not the fault of the district. The Legislature and the governor are the real culprits, but trustees and administrators don’t get off that easy. The problem starts at the top. The governor, faced with a $24-$25 billion shortfall, mandated 10 percent cut, and now, expects to cut more in the coming years. The Legislature can be counted to mandate more restrictions and regulations on education while forcing disproportionate
cuts on community colleges, which educate the bulk of Texas’ students in higher education. The district is responsible for apportioning the revenue it collects. We understand cuts have to be made, but whose idea was it to get rid of student services first? Why are we cutting resources proven to make us the best and brightest? At committee meetings and board budget retreats, conversation rarely touches on the impact to the quality of our education. Instead, the district is run as a profitdriven corporation. Whatever is the cheapest and most profitable always wins over what’s best for education. Rarely does anyone hear or show interest in what we go through day in and day out and how badly cuts in services affect our success. For a state invested in recruitment, retention and graduation rates, one would think they would provide more resources to students. The college, district and state need to place the needs of students first. Without an educated populace, you are dooming the state of Texas to poverty, disease, illiteracy, crime and violence, all of which education helps to end.
This college has one of the best libraries in the city and this is a credit to our librarians who work hard to make sure students have the best resources. There is just one problem: Chancellor Bruce Leslie and his executive team want to hire incoming librarians as professional staff to save the district money. Our librarians are not the stereotypical older person telling people to be quiet from behind a book. Librarians graduate with a master’s degree in library science. Librarians argue in a memorandum that all arts and science faculty have the same requirement and their education even exceeds the requirements for some professional and technical education faculty. Using the library might seem like an outdated custom, but students need the resources and materials, and the librarians know these resources the best. Librarians are always available online or in the library at all times to help students. Not only do they help students look for books and research topics, they also teach classes. The district doesn’t consider the relationship librarians have with students; all they care about is money. We wonder what kind of applicants this move is liking to draw. Worst of all, it won’t save any money. We applaud librarians in their fight to retain the excellence of our education.
28 • Nov. 12, 2010
Viewpoint
The Ranger
Journalism students get a taste of Gulf Coast This summer I was fortunate to go on an eight-day trip to the Gulf Coast with three Ranger advisers and five classmates. In two Chevrolet Impalas, we made a 10-hour journey to New Viewpoint by Zahra Farah Orleans to report on the BP Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion, which killed 11 men and released more than 200 million of gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico. I first remember the explosion as breaking news April 20. The only thing my eyes could take in from the images flashing on the screen, was the Gulf of Mexico in flames. It looked like the sea was engulfed in a thick black haze. The ocean looked like it was on fire. I really didn’t know what to think. To be honest, I felt detached from the whole situation. I knew this BP explosion would be recorded as one of the worst disasters of my life, but I didn’t understand the magnitude of pain everyone affected by the blast would go through. This blast changed the lives of everyone who made money, memories and a life along the Gulf Coast. I didn’t know how bad the situation was, until I had the opportunity to go to meet them. We went to Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida. New Orleans was barely picking up in tourism after Hurricane Katrina destroyed the majority of the city in 2005. The Category 5 hurricane destroyed more than 90,000 square miles of the Gulf Coast and forced 800,000 residents from their homes. Katrina took the lives of about 1,836 people mostly from Louisiana. The city has spent five years rebuilding, beginning to show its old spirit and revive its tourism economy, but another disaster threatened all that. On my way to New Orleans, I had no idea what to expect, I was just excited to be away from home. I spent two days in the city, and I instantly fell in love. In every direction, I heard live jazz and blues music in the street. We even met a grizzled old man with a walker on top of the Mississippi River levee who sang us Marvin Gaye’s “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” and James Brown’s “I Feel Good” a capella. I got to eat, I think, the best food I had in a long in time — Cajun seafood. Whoever made
Zahra Farah interviews a group of fishermen in Grand Isle, La. poor boy fish sandwiches should be blessed. Despite the spicy food and good music, poverty and abandoned homes overpower the streets of New Orleans. I didn’t know how bad it was until I spent a day away from tourist attractions and took a car trip through the city. The city seemed abandoned. Homes were still boarded up and covered in graffiti, some graffiti showed when the house was first evaluated and how many people and pets died. As we were driving through the city, we passed through St. Claude Avenue, and saw Charles J. Colton Junior Middle School. The school looked like a war zone. It was lined with rickety fences and had some of its windows boarded up, while others were completely shattered. The place looked dead; I couldn’t imagine this school once flourished with hundreds of middle school children. I met a man who had lived in New Orleans most of his life; he was waiting with a group of Ecuadorian refugees trying to find work. He lost his restaurant job because of the spill and now was trying to make a few bucks from construction. He said because of the recession, construction, hotels and restaurants were forced to close. For him all the hardships of life started catching up at once, and now he was barely trying to survive. I met Tate Cantrelle, 44, a shrimper who lost his business because of the spill. He was unemployed for about three months, and when he tried to apply for a job from BP, his application was backlogged and without any explanation was denied.
As we traveled down the Gulf Coast, we stayed a few days in Pensacola, Fla. I couldn’t even see a trace of crude oil in the water. I guess I wasn’t looking closely enough because a few of the locals didn’t have any problems showing me the clumps of tar balls and sheens of oil across the beach. Allie Lamping, 18, was swimming at the Pensacola beach but stopped after the water started making her gag. Lamping’s white bathing suit turned brown from swimming in the sticky crude oil. She was told the beach was clean but realized otherwise when she and some of her friends got sick from swallowing water. Scharlene Black McLendon, 63, has been collecting shells from Pensacola for 20 years. She said the little white shells’ rigid lines are covered in an oil dirty sheen; she said some shells still have dead fish trapped inside of them because of the oil. She said most of the shells are not on the beach but sank to the bottom of the ocean. McLendon normally brings her three grandchildren to the beach but worried if their immune systems could withstand the oil. She lets them play for a little but ended up giving them chlorine baths afterward. Once I learned about the people from the Gulf Coast, I didn’t feel so detached anymore. National media tends to sensationalize these people’s tragic situations after a disaster. We, on the other hand, got the opportunity to actually get to know the people who live and work along the Gulf Coast and hear their stories. We wrote 18 stories, blogged and shot videos about our trip. It was a long, exhausting road trip, but it was worth it.
The Ranger
Viewpoint
Nov. 19, 2010 • 29
Homesick for familiar holiday foods People are getting ready for family gatherings, and on store shelves, covers of magazines show Thanksgiving and Christmas recipes, which brings me to one of my obsessions Viewpoint by — food. Stefania Malacrida For an Italian living in Texas, food is a real challenge. I moved to San Antonio from Milan about two years ago, and I clearly remember the first days of my American adventure. The subdivision where I stayed organized a breakfast with a buffet. It was a great moment. Everybody was relaxed and friendly. Soon, I was sitting in a chair — a sandwich in one hand and a coffee in the other — talking to people I had never met as if we were old friends. Coming from Milan, a big, northern Italian city where everybody is always in a hurry with no time to stop and say “hello,” I was surprised to experience the warm Texan welcome and to discover that, here, people acknowledge others in the room and when they meet in the street. So, the first contact with the U.S. was very pleasing — except for the sandwich and the coffee: a bacon cheese sandwich I could still feel in my stomach a day later and a roseflavored American coffee with an aftertaste of paper cup. In that very moment, I realized, Wow, food
is going to be a problem here!” Soon, I had to say goodbye to any possibility of pasta al dente and real Italian espresso. How do I explain to my American friends that fettuccine Alfredo does not exist in Italy and that spaghetti is never served with meatballs in my country? These are separate evolutions of ItalianAmerican food, but they are definitely not Italian. And it is not just me. Sharing these experiences with the few Italians living in San Antonio — a community of about 500 people — I discovered that we even dream about Italian food. It is a common phenomenon for Italians living in the U.S. to dream of their native foods — a subconscious reaction to culture shock. After several attempts to find local standins, we stopped eating out in so-called Italian restaurants, even when my Texan friends swear “they have a wood oven.” We started being suspicious about allegedly authentic Italian biscotti or wannabe Sicilian cannoli at the ultimate coffee shop. I know; we are so picky. It must be a pain in the neck talking about food with us. I finally got bored by my own criticism, particularly since I found an interesting blog while surfing the Internet. A fellow journalist, American Sari Gilbert, working in Rome for many years as a correspondent for several U.S. magazines and newspapers, decided to write a
blog, called Stranitalia.com, or Strange Italy, to share unexpected, paradoxical episodes experienced in an often-mythicized country. In one article, she says, “Visitors to Rome or other parts of Italy often come here primarily to eat this country’s wonderful Italian food. “But when you’ve lived in Italy for a long time, it often happens that you don’t want coffee and cornetti for breakfast. You want pancakes with maple syrup.” She continues, “You crave herring in cream sauce and not spaghetti carbonara for lunch. You want French country paté or tortilla chips with guacamole.” I found this blog post enlightening. It shows how relative cultural tastes are and how pointless all the speechifying about better or worse are. In the end, gastronomic tastes are based on family and tradition. In Italy, we don’t celebrate Thanksgiving, but we do celebrate Christmas, eating lasagna, homemade tortellini, roasted and stuffed peacock, Milan’s dessert panettone and a chocolate cake called tronchetto di Natale. This year, I won’t be able to fly home to Italy for Christmas. I’ll have to settle for a Skype conversation with my family. Fortunately, today’s great technology helps people who live in different countries to stay in touch. But virtual eating has not yet been invented. So, I’ll see all that delicious food via webcam — and for sure, I’ll dream of it.
Illustration by Juan Carlos Campos
30 • Nov.19, 2010
Viewpoint
The Ranger
DREAM Act president split on immigration In a way, I agree with Alexandra Nelipa’s viewpoint “International student desires equal treatment,” in The Ranger, Oct. 29: I don’t want people voluntarily coming illegally into what I’ve grown to call my Guest Viewpoint by home country — and Alina Cortes on top of it committing crimes. We have enough criminals in America; there is no need to let more in. But that article lacks some very important information. Most DREAM Act beneficiaries I’ve met across America actually have stories similar to mine, meaning that they entered the U.S. legally, but their documents expired before they were of age to even know of it, and before any legal action could be approved to fix it. Nelipa mentioned in her article that the DREAM Act would allow “illegal immigrants” to benefit from other Americans’ tax money. She fails to recognize that, if passed, this bipartisan bill would require very important things of students for them to even apply for it: a high school diploma or GED, proof of residency in the U.S. for at least five years before its enactment (and before the age of 16), a good moral character, and college attendance or military service. “Tens of thousands of well-qualified potential recruits would become eligible for
Letters to the editor
Are they serious? Editor: Just attended the SGA candidate forum, and I have to say ... more of the same. One candidate even suggested that a posed question might have been The Ranger “attacking” the SGA. In response to the same question, Jacob Wong detailed a “bias” which The Ranger holds against the SGA. All the while, no other candidate saw fit to defend the student media. Given that the student government has really achieved very little, and that not one candidate would defend this position, I really see little hope for substantial change in our student government.
Luis Figueroa, attorney for the Mexican -American Legal Defense and Education Fund, speaks Sept. 22 during a Dream Act rally in Loftin. Tyler K. Cleveland military service ... They are eager to serve in the armed forces during a time of war,” Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said to the Army Times. It’s definitely not fair to waste taxpayers’ money. There are two things I’d like to add to this: One is that “illegal immigrants” pay
Why do we still even have a student government? These students are wasting money, our largest asset in the face of gigantic budget cuts, on their scholarships, trips, and surveys which are not put to good use. As heartwarming as it is, Savahna Gomez even said she would be transferring her scholarship to her sister. If the problems with SGA were not evident enough, I think this new administration has brought them to the fore through their weak stances on important issues, and their lack of vision for SAC’s future. The Ranger should definitely take this issue up and bring it to student’s attention. Enough is enough! Keep up the great work on The Ranger! Andrew Floyd Political Science Sophomore
taxes. This is proven not only through the obvious sales taxes, but also because, according to an article on reason.org, “Two-thirds of illegal immigrants pay Medicare, Social Security and personal income taxes.” Absolutely anybody in America can obtain an individual taxpayer identification number — no matter what documents he may lack. Remember also that illegal immigrants are not eligible for federal financial aid; thus, not taking tuition money away from others. Both Americans’ and immigrants’ money is wasted as we pay taxes to send immigrant youth to school (K-12) and then don’t let them serve the U.S. by joining the workforce or the armed forces. (Undocumented people are no longer allowed to join the military, which puts us in a predicament in terms of this country’s needs.) Another ill-researched point made in the article is the notion that living in the U.S. without proper documentation is a crime. According to the nonpartisan, nonprofit Migration Policy Institute (and to anyone else who knows anything about immigration policy), being in the U.S. illegally is not a crime. It is merely a civil violation. Next time, people should do better research before publishing something so wrong and discriminating because such statements, not to mention the drawings, offend many. Cortes is president of Students United for the DREAM Act and liberal arts sophomore.
Elevator usage Editor: One of my responsibilities as an employee of disability support services is providing mobility assistance for students who need help getting to and from their classes. Many of these students cannot use stairs to get to their classes. Yesterday students would not get off an elevator in Chance Academic Center to make room for a blind student and a student in a wheelchair. If you are able-bodied and can walk up and down stairs, please give those who cannot use of the elevator. Please give these students your place. Frank Delph Student assistant Disability Support Services
The Ranger
Officials Chancellor: Dr. Bruce H. Leslie 201 W. Sheridan, Bldg. B, San Antonio, TX 78204-1429 Work: 485-0020 Fax: 208-8149 E-mail: bleslie@alamo.edu District 1: Joe Alderete Jr. 1602 Hillcrest Drive, San Antonio, TX 78228 Cell: 863-9500 E-mail: jvajr711@aol.com District 2: Denver McClendon 3811 Willowwood Blvd., San Antonio, TX 78219 Work: 281-9141 E-mail: denvermcclendon@satx.rr.com District 3: Anna U. Bustamante 511 Ware Blvd., San Antonio TX 78221 Work: 882-1603 Fax: 927-4557 E-mail: abustamante20@alamo.edu District 4: Marcelo S. Casillas 115 Wainwright, San Antonio, TX 78211 Home: 922-6815 Fax: 923-3167 E-mail: mcasillas19@alamo.edu District 5: Roberto Zárate 4103 Buffalo Bayou, San Antonio, TX 78251 E-mail: rzarate11@alamo.edu District 6: Dr. Gene Sprague 14722 Iron Horse Way, Helotes, TX 78023 Work: 567-5544 Fax: 520-9185 E-mail: sprague@uthscsa.edu District 7: Blakely Latham Fernandez 755 E. Mulberry, Suite 200, San Antonio, TX 78212 Work: 244-8879 E-mail: bfernandez35@alamo.edu District 8: Gary Beitzel 15403 Forest Mist, San Antonio, TX 78232 Home: 496-5857 E-mail: gbeitzel@alamo.edu District 9: James A. Rindfuss 109 Laburnum, San Antonio, TX 78209 Home: 828-4630 Work: 375-2555 Home Fax: 832-8292 Office Fax: 375-0301 E-mail: jrindfuss@alamo.edu
Presidents San Antonio College, Dr. Robert E. Zeigler 486-0959, rzeigler@alamo.edu Northeast Lakeview College, Dr. Eric Reno 486-5484, ereno@alamo.edu Northwest Vista College, Dr. Jacqueline Claunch 486-4900, jclaunch@alamo.edu Palo Alto College, Dr. Ana M. “Cha” Guzman 486-3960, aguzman@alamo.edu St. Philip’s College, Dr. Adena W. Loston 486-2900, aloston@alamo.edu
The Ranger Editor Laura Garcia
Managing Editor Zahra Farah Calendar Editor Jennifer M. Ytuarte Photographers Tyler K. Cleveland, Rennie Murrell, Julysa Sosa, Alison Wadley Photo Team Noel Bracy, Dave Crockett, D.L. Gonzalez, Henriette Mutegwaraba, Nicole Jacinta Gaskin-Paulsen, Pam Ramsey, Jenny Robles, Carmen Sanjuan Illustrators Juan Carlos Campos, Alexandra Nelipa, Fred V.M. Nockroes III Staff Writers J. Almendarez, Jacob Beltran, Kristina Coble, Joshua Fechter, Roxanna Flores, J. Hernandez, Rachel McKee, Stefania Malacrida, Megan Mares, Aaron Nielsen, Creshawna T. Parker, Daniel Perales, Abiel Rodriguez, Riley Stephens Production Manager Melody Mendoza Production Assistant Jason B. Hogan Web Administrator D.A. James ©2010 by The Ranger staff, San Antonio College, 1300 San Pedro Ave., San Antonio, TX 78212-4299. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without permission. The Ranger, the student newspaper at San Antonio College, is a laboratory project of the journalism classes in the Department of Media Communications, published Fridays except during summer, holidays and examinations. News contributions accepted by telephone (210-486-1773), by fax (210-486-1789), by e-mail (sac-ranger@alamo.edu) or at the editorial office (Room 212 Loftin Student Center). Advertising rates available upon request by phone (210486-1765) or as a download at www.theranger.org. The Ranger is a member of the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association, the Associated Collegiate Press and the Texas Community College Journalism Association.
Nov. 19, 2010 • 31 Guest Viewpoints: Faculty, staff, students and community members are welcome to contribute guest viewpoints of up to 450 words. Writers should focus on campus or current events in a critical, persuasive or interpretative style. All viewpoints must be published with a photo portrait of the writer. Letters Policy: The Ranger invites readers to share views by writing letters to the editor. Space limitations force the paper to limit letters to two double-spaced, typewritten pages. Letters will be edited for spelling, style, grammar, libel and length. Editors reserve the right to deny publication of any letter. Letters should be mailed to The Ranger, Department of Media Communications, San Antonio College, 1300 San Pedro Ave., San Antonio TX 78212-4299. Letters also may be brought to the newspaper office in Room 212 of Loftin Student Center, e-mailed to sac-ranger@alamo. edu or faxed to 210-486-1789. Letters must be signed and must include the printed name and telephone number. Students should include classification, major, campus and Banner ID. Employees should include title and telephone number. For more information, call 210-486-1773. Single Copy Policy: Members of the Alamo Community College District community are permitted one free copy per issue because of high production costs. Where available, additional copies may be purchased with prior approval for 50 cents each by contacting The Ranger business office. Newspaper theft is a crime. Those who violate the singlecopy rule may be subject to civil and criminal prosecution and subject to college discipline.
32 • Nov. 19, 2010
The Ranger
News
Staff Council aims to fill food pantry By Roxanna Flores
Children ages 3 to 5 from the early childhood center cheer and sing after delivering canned food donations to the Catholic Student Center for the college food pantry Nov. 11. This is the first year children of the center have participated in a food drive. Julysa Sosa
Classes adopt holiday families By Alison Wadley and Aaron Nielsen The Elf Louise Christmas project, a nonprofit organization, has been providing Christmas joy to needy families in Bexar County since 1969. English sophomore Miranda Jones said in the spirit of the Elf Louise project, speech and theater Professor Jim Mammarella’s public speaking class, SPCH 1315, has adopted families in need and seek donations for their wish list. The class Jones sits in is split into two groups; her group has adopted two families, one is a single mother with six children and the other is a couple with a 2-month-old baby. Jones’ group is asking for cash donations. “A simple $5 or $6 donation can make a huge difference in these people’ s lives,” Jones said. To reach this goal, Jones said, “We will shamelessly ask for donations from every person we meet.” They hope to overwhelm the families with generosity. “Our main objective is to meet the wish list and to provide new things as opposed to old,” Jones said. “There’s something special about receiving new things during the Christmas season.” Donations for Jones’ group can be dropped off
with welcome center Coordinator Edie Huff from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays on the second floor of Fletcher Administration Center. Students also can give donations to Jones by contacting her at 210-432-1956 or e-mailing her at mjones210@alamo.edu. Education sophomore Alexandria Ward is in another group, which adopted a single mother with four children and a couple with four children. She said they adopted the two families from the Family Service Association at 702 San Pedro Ave. Ward’s group is accepting cash donations and gently used clothes and toys. On Nov. 23 in the mall, her group will have a booth set up to sell hot cocoa, coffee and raffle tickets to raise money for the families. For more information on how to donate to Ward’s group, e-mail her at alexlikestosmile@ yahoo.com. On Nov. 22 and Nov. 30 in the mall, Jones’ group will be selling hot cocoa, coffee, pizza, nachos and raffle tickets in hopes of raising money. The prizes include movie and bowling tickets, Chick-Fil-A mugs and gift cards from La Madeleine and BJ’s Brewery. Each group will accept donations up to Dec. 1. All proceeds will go directly to the family.
From Nov. 8-18, Staff Council is sponsoring a food drive for the college food pantry. College Connections recruiter Audrey Grams said in a phone interview eight drop-off points on campus include the music department in Room 105 of McAllister Fine Arts Center and the reading and education department in Room 131 of McCreless Hall. In the first week that the food bank was open for donations, music secretary Rosie Carreon already had collected two full boxes of cans. Although the food bank is accepting food donations for another two weeks, organizers say it is off to a good start. “The food drive is going really amazing,” Grams said. Sometime this week, Grams picked up donations from the music department and was excited to find they had collected 85 pounds of food. In addition, the Unified Staff Council collected 76 pounds and $136. The food bank serves San Antonio College students and employees. Another way students can help the food pantry is by creating an account at www.refresheverything.com Dec. 1-31. Once students set up an account, they need to search for the Phi Theta Kappa link, click on its name and the honor society’s project will come up. Students are encouraged to vote for it once a day every day. The society will have an opportunity to win a $50,000 prize, which they plan to use to benefit the food pantry at this college.