Download - Nov. 13, 2009, issue of The Ranger
THE RANGER
WORLD TOILET DAY 5
GOLF TEAM 5TH IN NATIONALS 10
IPOD VS SCHOLARSHIPS 14
A forum of free voices serving San Antonio College since 1926 Single copies free
Vol. 84 Issue 9 Nov. 13, 2009
Alamo Colleges
Student Centers
2 • Nov. 13, 2009 The RangerBlotter
San antonio College
nov. 1 - Officers assisted in locat-
ing a lost male in nursing and
allied health.
nov. 2 – An individual reported a
suspicious female in the bookstore
in Loftin.
An individual reported damage to
a district sign in a parking lot.
An individual reported graffiti in
the elevator in nursing and allied
health.
An individual reported vehicle
damage because of an accident in
the parking garage.
nov. 3 – An officer assisted SAISD
Police with an incident at Travis.
An individual reported theft of a
personal laptop.
An individual reported a suspi-
cious male in the parking garage.
An individual reported damage to
a personal vehicle in the parking
garage.
An individual reported damage to
a personal vehicle in a parking lot.
At approximately 5:40 p.m. an
individual reported an aggravated
assault in Lot 2. The assault was
between acquaintances. The vic-
tim received non-life threatening
injuries and was treated at the
scene then later released at a local
hospital. The assailant was arrest-
ed and charged with aggravated
assault and criminal mischief.
nov. 4 – An individual reported
personal property being stolen
from the bookstore in Loftin.
An individual reported a distur-
bance in Chance.
An individual reported a stolen
personal vehicle from a parking
lot.
An individual reported a suspi-
cious person in Fletcher.
An individual reported an illness
in a classroom and departed cam-
pus.
An individual reported a person
pacing back and forth in front of
Moody.
An individual was taken into cus-
tody for violating an active crimi-
nal trespass warning.
An individual reported locking
keys in a vehicle in the parking
garage.
nov. 5 – An individual reported
seeing three males smoking mari-
juana near McCreless.
An individual reported theft of
personal property in Moody.
An individual reported theft of fuel
from a vehicle in a parking lot.
ContaCt InfoEmergency222-0911
General DPS485-0099
Weather Line485-0189
www.theranger.orgComplete blotter online.
The Ranger • Vol. 84 • Issue 9 Nov. 13, 2009 • 3
Only online @ theranger.org
People slideshow
How to becomea police officer
SAC Cares to engage students, faculty in community service
Student-designed toys for children’s museum
CIP celebration marks completion
H1N1 prevention explained
Skipping class for writing lab
Letter:Biology missing at major fair
Go to www.theranger.org
for news and information.
The last print edition for the semester will be Nov. 20.
A forum of free voices serving San Antonio College since 1926The RangeR
www.theranger.org
2 Blotter
4 People
5 World Toilet Dayflush with sanitation awarenessBy Trey Randolph
6 Conner retires,board spot openBy Jason B. Hogan
Board fears low morale will lower student success By Jason B. HoganPhotos by Destiny Mata
7 Councilquestions confidentialityBy Vanessa M. SanchezPhotos by Priscilla Reyna-Ovalle
International Weekaims to increase cultural awarenessBy Zahra Farah
8 PremiereAlamo Collegesstudent centersStory and photos by Laura GarciaPhotos by Laura Garcia, Henrietta Mutegwaraba and Priscilla Reyna-Ovalle
10 Pulse Golf team placesfifth at nationalsBy Regis L. RobertsPhotos by Priscilla Reyna-Ovalle
11 Calendar
12 EditorialCartoonAdd students to send listCollege value declines with budget decreasesStill a ‘community’ college
14 OpinioniPod vs. scholarshipsBy Trey Randolph
15 Guest ViewpointFall of Berlin Wall as seen from Soviet UkraineBy Aivars Norenbergs
16 BackpageHunger issues oflow-income worldwideStory by Zahra FarahPhotos by Deborah Harrison
4 • Nov. 13, 2009 The RangerPeople
Priscilla Reyna-Ovalle
Priscilla Reyna-Ovalle
Bon appétit: Jennifer Garcia-Valdez, culinary arts and restaurant
management sophomore from St. Philip’s College, explains her group’s
recipes to judges at the 14th annual turkey tasting contest Wednesday
at Central Market at 4821 Broadway.
Celebrate: Administrative secretary Corina Vera; Rosalinda Castillo, secretary in human resources;
and project coordinator Edith Casias celebrate at a party for the completion of the capital improve-
ment program Nov. 6 at Pearl Stable. Alamo Colleges completed $450 million in improvements
made possible by a 2005 bond issue. See story online.
Sit back, relax: Nursing sophomore
Karen Larios gets a foot massage
from Shana Watkins during Spa
Day Nov. 5 in the craft room of
Loftin. The office of student life
sponsored Spa Day and hired the
Living Touch Therapeutic Spa to
participate.
Food drive: Business sophomore Hanna Carothers paints a box to help
promote a food drive for needy families outside Loftin Nov. 4.
Overflow: An overflow of water drains from the pool in Candler as Professor
Brad Dudney assesses the situation Nov. 5. Dudney canceled his class. The
pool was opened Nov. 6 with no malfunctions.
Priscilla Reyna-Ovalle
Priscilla Reyna-Ovalle
Destiny Mata
The Ranger Nov. 13, 2009 • 5
By Trey randolph
A toilet-shaped house in Suwon, South Korea;
the world’s largest public restroom in Chongqing,
China, with more than 1,000 toilets spread
over 32,000 square feet; and the Toilet Seat Art
Museum in Alamo Heights are a few of the
diverse and sometimes humorous toilet-related
items presented by engineering Coordinator Dan
Dimitriu in a presentation to his students every
year for World Toilet Day, Nov. 19.
The presentation even includes pictures of
toilets on the International Space Station. The
two toilets on the station, thanks to the unique
requirement of having to operate in zero gravity,
cost $19 million each, according to space.com.
Dimitriu shows the presentation as a light-
hearted way to make his students realize the
connection between engineering and toilets, as
well as to highlight the world sanitation issue.
“I raise awareness,” Dimitriu said. “It’s fun
also. Just think about it: We go to the bathroom
every day, several times a day, and we don’t
think about it.
“That’s one of the fantastic engineering mar-
vels that really was made possible by engi-
neers,” he continued. “It’s still developing with
all kind of new inventions and ideas.”
World Toilet Day is “to celebrate the impor-
tance of sanitation and raise awareness for the
2.5 billion people (more than a third of the world
population) who don’t have access to toilets and
proper sanitation,” the day’s Web site reads.
Basic sanitation, according to the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention, is described
as “having access to facilities for the safe dis-
posal of human waste as well as having the
ability to maintain hygienic conditions, through
services such as garbage collection, industrial/
hazardous waste management, and wastewater
treatment and disposal.”
Improper disposal of human waste can lead
to water-borne diseases. The CDC states 88 per-
cent of diarrhea cases worldwide “are linked to
unsafe water, inadequate sanitation or insuf-
ficient hygiene.” Other water-borne diseases can
cause malnutrition, skin infections and organ
damage. In 2007, diarrheal diseases because
of improper sanitation were responsible for
more than 425,000 outpatient deaths in Ghana,
according to Ghana’s newspaper, The Statesman,
ranking it as the fifth most common cause of
death in that country. Intestinal worms, another
by-product of poor sanitation, ranked eighth.
Upper respiratory infections — 50 percent more
common in areas with inadequate sanitation —
ranked second only to malaria.
By comparison, of the top 15 causes of death
in the U.S. in 2006 listed by the CDC, there is no
mention of diarrheal diseases. The top cause of
death, heart disease, claimed 631,636. The fifth,
accidents and unintentional injuries, 121,599.
Pakistan’s The News International reported
Oct. 28 that 630 children die each day from
water-borne illnesses. It added that of the 1.8
million people who die from diarrheal diseases
annually around the globe, 90 percent are chil-
dren under age 5.
According to the U.N. Human Development
Report 2006, “The transition from unimproved
to improved sanitation is accompanied by a
more than 30 percent reduction in child mortal-
ity.” Improved sanitation is defined by the World
Health Organization as “a sanitation facility that
ensures hygienic separation of human excreta
from human contact,” such as a flush toilet
instead of an outhouse.
World Toilet Day events are in 17 countries,
such as India, Libya, Zimbabwe and Cameroon,
and three U.S. cities, Seattle, Milwaukee and
Portland, Ore. Events include seminars on prop-
er sanitation as well as participation in “The
Big Squat.” Participants squat for one minute
to acknowledge the need for proper sanitation
worldwide.
Since 2002, Cintas Facility Services has
awarded the America’s Best Restroom award.
Any restroom in the United States is eligible, and
the public determines nominations. The win-
ner for 2009 was the sumptious Shoji Tabuchi
Theater in Branson, Mo..
For more information on World Toilet Day
and America’s Best Restrooms, visit www.world-
toiletday.com and www.bestrestroom.com.
World Toilet Day flush with sanitation awarenessWorldwide 2.5 billion people
don’t have access to proper sanitation systems.
The ladies room at Shoji Tabuchi Theater in Branson, Mo., earned America’s Best Restroom 2009 award.
The men’s lounge at the theater includes a billiard table.
Courtesy photos
6 • Nov. 13, 2009 The Ranger
Former chairman, trustee retires
Board fears low morale will lower student success rate
www.theranger.orgGo online for extended ver-
sions of both stories.
By Jason B. Hogan
District 7 trustee Charles Conner admitted, in hind-
sight, that the board and district administrators could
have done a better job in establishing solid
communication with faculty and staff.
In a telephone interview Nov. 6, the trust-
ee, who resigned Oct. 28, praised the district
colleges as educationally driven but called
employee reactions mostly miscommunica-
tions on their part.
He said information supplied by the
board and district was consistently met
head on with nothing but incivility, unnec-
essary harshness and constant accusations
that created chaos.
The town hall meetings being conducted at each
of the colleges have been a positive factor in taking a
step in the right direction for better communication,
Conner said.
By Jason B. Hogan
The Alamo Community College District
board of trustees, district administrators
and the five college presi-
dents gathered Saturday for an
annual retreat to collaborate
efforts to increase student suc-
cess and achievement.
The problem that the board
and administrators found dur-
ing the retreat is that enroll-
ment may be up well above
average by more than 8,000
students, but Faculty Senates
and Staff Councils have said morale across
the district has decreased along with it,
and officials worry that it will affect class-
room productivity by faculty and student
achievement.
Dr. Thomas Cleary, vice chancellor for
planning, performance and information
systems, said the town hall forums have
produced positives because faculty and
staff have been given an environment to
vent and more information has come out
into the open. At the past two forums — at
this college and Palo Alto College — board
representatives and district administra-
tion said they realize they have the same
expectations for student success as faculty
and staff.
The board has scheduled the final two
forums at Northwest Vista and Northeast
Lakeview colleges for Monday and Tuesday
from 3 p.m.-5 p.m.
Dr. Federico Zaragoza, vice chancellor
of economic and workforce development,
said the district has a chance to be proac-
tive or “continue to eat at each other.”
The Ranger Nov. 13, 2009 • 7
By Zahra Farah
International Education
Week gives students at this col-
lege time to reflect and increase
their awareness of different cul-
tures and diversity, said Suzanna
Borawski, counselor in this col-
lege’s international students office
and adviser to the International
Student Association.
Events run Monday through
Thursday.
The observance kicks off for
students, faculty and staff from
noon-2 p.m. Monday in
the board room at Killen
Center, 201 W. Sheridan
St.
Keynote speaker
will be Dr. Sara Jackson,
professor of inter-
national business at
the University of the
Incarnate Word.
Students may learn about
study-abroad opportunities in
Europe, Japan and Costa Rica, as
well as language courses offered at
this college from 11:30 a.m.-1:30
p.m. Tuesday in the Fiesta Room of
Loftin Student Center.
The International
Student Association will
sell sausages from 10
a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesday in
the mall.
Students from India,
Mongolia and Vietnam
will speak about their
customs, languages and
political systems from 11 a.m.-
noon Wednesday in Room 120 of
the visual arts center.
Maricarmen Esper, education
freshman, will discuss her book,
“How to Educate in Ethical Values,”
from 1 p.m.-2 p.m. Wednesday.
The film, “Afghan Women: A
History of Struggle,” will be shown
from 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Thursday
in Room 120 of the visual arts
center.
The film captures the resilience
and courage of a group of women
who risk their lives daily in the
struggle for political, economic
and social equality.
For more information, call
Borawski at 486-0116.
By Vanessa M. sancheZ
A revised district computer security agree-
ment was presented to the College Academic
Council Tuesday, but members still disagreed
with some of the language.
Psychology Chair Thomas Billimek objected
to wording concerning breaching confidential-
ity of access codes by negligence, saying that
it needed clarification on who decides what is
“negligence.”
He also protested the
requirement to abide by the
district’s policies and proce-
dures that include restric-
tions on computer use for
anything other than college
or district purposes.
He said that even
though, “I can use my
home computer for work,”
employees cannot use their
work computers for some-
thing as small as online
banking.
Billimek continued, “I’m not going to sign it
if it’s vague.”
Usha Venkat, director of technology and
communication, who presented the revised
agreement, said the district allows “incidental
use” of computers by employees, though others
found that term vague.
Jorge Posadas, director of student life, said,
“A lot of nice stuff comes up when we pull up
cheerleader” in a search engine, when search-
ing for cheer uniforms. As council members
laughed, he explained that this is an example of
computer use that could be misconstrued and
illustrates the need for clarification.
In addition, Posadas suggested a depart-
ment chair or supervisor should determine
what constitutes negligence.
Librarian Candace Peterson objected to
what she called a confidentiality agreement in
the document that she said had nothing to do
with computer security.
This college’s president,
Dr. Robert Zeigler, said
administrators will try to
get some answers to these
concerns.
In a report
from the
C u r r i c u l u m
Review and
E v a l u a t i o n
C o m m i t t e e ,
Vernell Walker,
dean of profes-
sional and technical education, said
the kinesiology and dance depart-
ment at this college is to add KINE
1338, Concepts of Fitness and Wellness, to the
college inventory.
The CREC report stated that the class will
be accepted by the University of
Texas at San Antonio’s transfer
plan and is already offered at the
other four colleges.
She also said that the history
and humanities department pro-
posed a new Associate of Arts
degree, which she said will be
listed as “with a concentration in
history.”
The change, according to the
report, is to help students who
aspire to becoming a social studies teacher at
the elementary level or secondary institutions.
Computer agreement in dispute over confidentiality
International Education Week aims to increase cultural awareness
Vernell Walker, dean of professional and technical educa-
tion, talks about new courses at the Academic Council
meeting Tuesday.
Photos by Priscilla Reyna-Ovalle
www.theranger.orgGo online to read interviews with
international students.
Program includes film, lectures and culture
presentations.
Dr. Thomas Billimek objects to vagueness
and a double standard in a draft agreement.
Academic Council also discusses new classes, parking and
end of capital improvements.
www.theranger.orgGo online to read about
the council’s discussion of parking and accreditation.
Unfinished center contrasts with othersA room that has yet to be renovated in the Loftin. Originally planned as a game room, it is
now set to be a fitness room.
Loftin photos by Priscilla Reyna-Ovalle
Architecture sophomore Eduardo
Rodriguez and nursing sophomore Rusty
Covell play pingpong Tuesday in Loftin.
Health care freshman David Murray, com-
puter science sophomore Ryan Ferrell,
and architecture freshman Michael
Gonzales play a game of Xbox Tuesday in
the cyber cafe in Loftin.
By Laura Garcia
Construction of Loftin Student Center is at a stand-
still and has been for almost two years.
Phase 1 of renovations, which included moving the
student life offices to a corner of the second floor and
a modernization of the interior, began Sept. 12, 2007.
Funds were spent on specialty furniture, an informa-
tion desk, building curved walls with bar-height laptop
seating and a new paint job.
It was supposed to include a bookstore annex and
game room before production halted.
The project cost $170,240 in student activity
fees with an additional $198,000 from district’s 2006
Maintenance Tax Notes. The project total is $352,000.
John Strybos, vice chancellor of facilities, said they
got a surprise once they pulled up the floor and also
that the needs of the students changed. Student life
Director Jorge Posadas said the floor was uneven and
that would have blown the budget.
Posadas said the game room that was originally to
go in the now vacant space on the south side of the
first floor is now intended as a mini fitness room. He
says that it’s hard to get into fitness classes and that
the conditioning rooms are available only when there
are no classes so it is difficult for students to find time
to work out.
Since moving the arcade off the second floor, the
video games and pool tables have occupied the north
end of the cafeteria, adding to the cacophony.
A bookstore annex, conference room and a couple
of student life offices also will occupy the space next to
the fitness room. Posadas said he plans to have a few
workout machines and mirrors added to the space.
The cost has not been determined, but Posadas said
that there are student activity fee funds available.
Kinesiology Chair Bill Richardson said that if the fit-
ness center will benefit students then that is fine. He
added that there should be a monitor present to sign
in students and ensure they are using the equipment
properly so that they don’t get hurt. He
added that students should wear workout
clothes.
Posadas also plans to update the
Fiesta Room by adding theater lighting,
a sound booth and mini stage similar to a
black box theater. A remodeled informa-
tion booth under the stairway and new
paint are also in the works to be added
in Phase 2.
“We are trying to use every inch of the
building,” he said.
Posadas said new plans are in place for Phase 2 and
are awaiting a district architect’s designs. He said they
have the $30,000 and at this point are just waiting for
a draft of the blueprints. Then Strybos will send out
bids. Right now, there is no completion date for the
renovations to come.
“I hope it’s as soon as possible,” Posadas said.
Strybos said that district architects are currently work-
ing on the project, but has no idea when the work will
begin.
He said there are easily 10-15 events a week ranging
from live entertainment, sporting events, workshops
to fairs and karaoke free. The 22,028 students enrolled
at this college pay $1 per credit hour in student activ-
ity fees.
Even with an uncompleted student center, there
are an abundance of amenities. There are pingpong
and pool tables, arcade games, big-screen TVs for
video game use, and Bailey’s Cyber Café
equipped with new Macintosh comput-
ers. The café is open until 5 p.m. except
on Fridays when it closes at 4:30 p.m.
“We’re going to take care of them,”
Posadas said. “We want to make sure that
they get the best.”
A number of intramural sports
teams are beating out some four-year
universities in competition, the Student
Government Association is active on- and
off-campus and other student clubs and organizations
are fundraising nonstop.
Still students are kicked out of the building by 6:50
p.m. even though cafeteria hours are from 7 a.m.-7
p.m. Monday through Thursday and 7 a.m.-4 p.m.
Friday and won’t be extended, Posadas said, because it
would mean longer hours for housekeepers.
For information or suggestions, call student life at
486-0125.
www.theranger.orgGo online for details of student centers
at the four other colleges.
8 • The Ranger Across the district
Nov. 13, 2009 • 9
Unfinished center contrasts with othersA room that has yet to be renovated in the Loftin. Originally planned as a game room, it is
now set to be a fitness room.
Loftin photos by Priscilla Reyna-Ovalle
Northwest Vista College photos by Laura Garcia
St. Philip’s College photos by Henriette Mutegwaraba
Palo Alto College photos by Laura Garcia
Northeast Lakeview College photos by Henriette Mutegwaraba
Palo Alto College
ing on the project, but has no idea when the work will
begin.
He said there are easily 10-15 events a week ranging
from live entertainment, sporting events, workshops
to fairs and karaoke free. The 22,028 students enrolled
at this college pay $1 per credit hour in student activ-
ity fees.
Even with an uncompleted student center, there
are an abundance of amenities. There are pingpong
and pool tables, arcade games, big-screen TVs for
video game use, and Bailey’s Cyber Café
equipped with new Macintosh comput-
ers. The café is open until 5 p.m. except
on Fridays when it closes at 4:30 p.m.
“We’re going to take care of them,”
Posadas said. “We want to make sure that
they get the best.”
A number of intramural sports
teams are beating out some four-year
universities in competition, the Student
Government Association is active on- and
off-campus and other student clubs and organizations
are fundraising nonstop.
Still students are kicked out of the building by 6:50
p.m. even though cafeteria hours are from 7 a.m.-7
p.m. Monday through Thursday and 7 a.m.-4 p.m.
Friday and won’t be extended, Posadas said, because it
would mean longer hours for housekeepers.
For information or suggestions, call student life at
486-0125.
Northwest Vista College
St. Philip’s College
Northeast Lakeview College
Across the district
10 • Nov. 13, 2009 The RangerPulse
By Regis L. RoBeRts
Vegas was good to this college’s
golf team.
Coach Angela Olivarri said
two graduating team members
were encouraged by the team’s
fifth-place finish in the National
Collegiate Golf Tournament last
weekend in Las Vegas to continue
playing at a four-year university.
She said the team finished only
four points behind the fourth-
place team.
The eight-member team —
broken up into two-person teams
for the tournament’s format —
competed against 52 teams from
37 colleges and universities in the
tournament Nov. 6-8.
Only two community colleges
entered, including this college,
Olivarri said. Schools came from
all over the United States, she said
“from Hawaii to New York.”
Jorge Posadas, director of stu-
dent life, said he was impressed
with how well this college did
compared with such prestigious
schools as the University of
California-Los Angeles, Rutgers
University and Syracuse University.
Because the team bested many
well-established teams from bigger
schools, Olivarri said members are
more confident that they will qualify
for those teams when they transfer.
The format of the tournament
was a two-person scramble, mean-
ing that teams are divided into
two-person teams that play togeth-
er. Both players drive the ball four
times each, and the members play
from the best lie, or where the ball
lands, Olivarri said.
Players were given a day to
practice at the Silverstone Golf
Course, allowing them to become
comfortable with the intricacies of
the course, she said.
Silverstone was a challenging,
beautiful course, she said, but the
day of practice got them accus-
tomed to it.
She also said the weather was
good for the most part, aside from
an hour or so of cold and windy
conditions Sunday.
The team is finished competing
for the remainder of the semester,
but Olivarri said another tourna-
ment is expected in the spring.
Tryouts will be next semester,
and the young team’s success has
garnered interest from three high
school seniors who have asked
about joining the team, she said.
New golf team wins fifth place in Las Vegas tourney
Player success brings attention to college.
Director of student life Jorge Posadas introduces this college’s golf team at the Academic
Council meeting Tuesday in Room 228 of nursing and allied health complex.
Priscilla Reyna-Ovalle
Nov. 13, 2009 • 11The Ranger Calendar
Today
SAC Election: Student Government
Association voting deadline at midnight.
Vote at www.sacweb.accd.edu/student-
councilvote. Call 486-0667.
SAC Drive: PEOPLE Club “Teddies for
Tots” teddy bear drive benefiting Christus
Santa Rosa Children’s Hospital, drop-
off in Room 124 of Chance. Continues
through Dec. 4. Call 486-0022.
SAC Drive: Peer Educators peanut but-
ter donations benefiting San Antonio Food
Bank, drop-off in Room
120 of Chance. Continues
through Nov. 20. Call 486-
0022.
SAC Drive: Cheshyre
Cheese Club third annual
Thanksgiving Food Drive
benefiting student fami-
lies. Drop-off boxes in
Loftin help desk, Moody library, Fletcher
welcome desk, English, music and history
departments. Continues through Nov. 24.
Call 771-2571.
SAC Writing Center: New tutors, oper-
ation hours and more appointments 8
a.m.-7:30 p.m. Monday and Thursday, 8
a.m.-5:30 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday,
8 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Friday in Room 203 of
Gonzales. Call 486-1433.
SAC Event: “The Twilight Saga: New
Moon” voucher pick-up 8 a.m.-10 a.m. in
the craft room, after 11 a.m. in the office
of student life in Loftin. Call 486-0125.
SAC Event: Student Talent Show noon-
1 p.m. in the Fiesta Room of Loftin. Call
486-0125.
SAC Event: Outdoor movie “Harry Potter
and the Half-blood Prince” 7:20 p.m.-
10 p.m. in the mall.
Call 486-0125.
Saturday
SAC Event: “Women 4 Women”
Relationship Retreat 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. in
Room 105 of the empowerment center.
Call 486-0455.
SAC Tourney: Racquetball benefiting
kinesiology scholarships 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
in the racquetball courts, $5. Call 486-
1029.
District Event: PC clinic 10 a.m.-3
p.m. at Port of San Antonio, 312 Clarence
Tinker. Call 486-3412.
Monday
SAC Registration: Early online regis-
tration for spring 2010 at
8 a.m. Visit www.alamo.
edu/sac/sacmain.
SAC Event: United
Methodist Student
Movement worship service
11 a.m.-noon in Methodist
Student Center, 102
Belknap. Call 733-1441.
SAC Meeting: Mexican-American
Engineers and Scientists 2:30 p.m.–3:30
p.m. in Room 144 of Chance. Call 486-
0125.
SAC Concert: Guitar ensemble 7:30
p.m. in the auditorium of McAllister. Call
486-0255.
District Event: “International Week
Kick-Off” noon-2 p.m. in the Sheridan
board room, 201 W. Sheridan. Call 486-
0116.
Tuesday
SAC Meeting: Black Student Alliance 2
p.m. first and third Tuesdays in Room 624
of Moody. Call 486-0589.
For coverage in Calendar, call 486-1773 or e-mail [email protected] two weeks in advance.
Calendar Legend
SAC: San Antonio CollegeNVC: Northwest Vista CollegeSPC: St. Philip’s CollegeSWC: South West CampusPAC: Palo Alto CollegeNLC: Northeast Lakeview
www.theranger.orgComplete calendar online.
The Ranger 12 • Nov. 13, 2009 Editorial
The Ranger, the student newspaper at
San Antonio College, is a laboratory project
of the journalism classes in the Department
of Media Communications, published Fri-
days except during summer, holidays and
examinations.
News contributions accepted by tele-
phone (486-1773), by fax (486-1789), by
e-mail ([email protected]) or at the
editorial office (Room 212 Loftin Student
Center). Advertising rates available upon
request (486-1765).
The Ranger is a member of the Texas In-
tercollegiate Press Association, the Associ-
ated Collegiate Press, the Texas Community
College Journalism Association and the As-
sociated Press.
Guest Viewpoints: Faculty, staff, stu-
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The RangeR
Juan Carlos Campos
The Ranger Nov. 13, 2009 • 13Opinion
At the Faculty Senate meet-ing Nov. 3, Carolyn Kelley, presi-dent of the Tobin Hill Community Association, proposed a deal that would add two additional five-story buildings to this campus.
The first building would be strictly used as a parking structure, and the second would be a multipurpose facility for nonchain restaurants, office or class space, apartments, student housing and an event venue.
Political science Professor Christy Woodward-Kaupert said she opposed it as it would be hypocriti-cal because of the senate’s opposi-tion to development on the Playland Park site proposed for a new district headquarters.
Faculty Senate Chair Jeff Hunt said he agreed, in part, but liked the idea.
The two proposed construction sites are entirely different affairs.
Board members and district offi-cials will use desperately needed dis-trict funds to develop the Playland property, while the Tobin Hill plan is a donation to the college to be built on the Park Place lot owned by the college.
This will benefit students, not a bloated district administration.
No one can argue with our need for more parking.
The 1,000-space garage we have didn’t add much space when build-ings replaced three student lots.
And classroom space is at a pre-mium in the morning hours.
Of course, we will incur some expense either in finish out or main-tenance, but don’t be so quick to say no.
The Alamo Colleges work on a budget that consists of many factors, some items we need and some items we want; still, there are guidelines that need to be fol-lowed before one can obtain some extra money for technology.
This college, especially because it houses the largest group of the 60,000-plus students in the district, needs money for technology to improve student suc-cess. But, for some reason, we cannot get funding because there isn’t enough to go around the five colleges and district.
The faculty and staff at this college, however, are singing and dancing for it, literally.
Employees of this college are putting on a talent show and silent auction to raise money for technology. Three win-ning departments will each get a projec-tor valued at $2,000.
This is sad.Once again, the faculty and staff are
doing something proactive while the dis-trict does a song and dance.
These people work hard in the inter-ests of our students, but because the district shorts this college when funding, they have to give up what little free time they have to perform in a fundraiser in which they hope to cover the cost of three projectors.
What’s efficient about that?Other colleges do not have as high a
ratio of tenured faculty members and are housed in newer campuses than this col-lege, but the district always seems to find money for those colleges. Here many of our needs go unmet.
Northwest Vista released 45 computers once their warranties had expired; how much did it cost to replace them?
Something has to change.For years, there was no money for
equipment, but plenty for technology. Now that well has dried up also.
The students of this college deserve more. The chancellor wants the Alamo Colleges to be national models.
Well, this isn’t the way to achieve it.What’s the value of a college that can-
not fully support academic and student success anyway?
Students get wind of events and important dates by clicking through Web sites for the district, college, student life, The Ranger and Facebook or MySpace accounts for individual clubs and organizations.
Sometimes, they hear through word-of-mouth or stumble across a flier on campus bulletin boards.
Hopefully, by that time, it’s not too late to actually attend an event.
The college and district need a better communication system to alert students of services and oppor-tunities available to them as well as a reminder for drop dates, appli-cations for graduation deadlines, speaker series and sports schedules.
The campus has an abundance of events planned, but often, students are unaware of them unless they trip over them.
For example, a sexual heath talk Oct. 29 in Loftin Student Center drew only five students — two were Peer Educators who surely knew the
risks of STDs and two were covering the event for The Ranger.
A speaker from the UT Health Science Center said that more than half of all sexually active people will have an STD by age 24 with most unaware they are infected. With information this important to get out, it seems a pity that no one knew.
We need a unified calendar or message system to reach all stu-dents, online, evening and San Antonio College students attending Northeast Lakeview College in addi-tion to our traditional students.
Don’t expect students to check several sources daily to get the infor-mation they need from their col-lege. Get the information out there quickly and in one place.
The district has been harping about customer service for years but can’t seem to master the basics of communication, publicity or adver-tising.
College value declines with budget decreases
Senate is wrong to equate Playland, Park Place plans
Give students a little notice
14 • Nov. 13, 2009 The RangerOpinion
The office of student
life will host the annual
student talent show from
noon to 1 p.m. today in
the Fiesta Room of Loftin
Student Center. Students
will once again show off
their talents, ranging from
singing to dancing and
more, for the chance to
win one of four iPod Nanos.
The question has been raised again and again
by The Ranger – what do iPods have to do with
education? They are given away as prizes for
seemingly every event on campus these days.
Did an Apple truck drive by campus and lose
a box? Are we getting them at a discount since
we apparently buy so many? Who decided iPods
were the end-all solution for prizes across cam-
pus, and more valuable to the average student
than financial assistance?
With my love of music, I often say I’d be
lost without my iPod, but does it really help
me navigate through the years of school? The
answer, quite simply, is no.
Sure, it’s nice to be able to walk across
campus lost in my own thoughts with any
number of my favorite musicians providing the
soundtrack. It helps me mentally organize my
day and even relax before or after classes.
Last year, as in many years prior, the prizes
for winning the student talent show were schol-
arships. Last year’s winner, former communi-
cations major Jon Coker, was awarded a $500
scholarship. Who made the decision that iPods
were more worthwhile to a student than money?
An 8-GB iPod Nano retails for $149, accord-
ing to the Apple Store Web site. Four cost about
$600. Why not use the $600 toward scholarships
for the winners?
Who can’t use a little help with tuition?
Considering that many students attend com-
munity colleges such as this one to save money
on basic courses, the availability of scholarships
for performing well in the talent show should be
an obvious choice.
According to the National Center for Education
Statistics, a division of the U.S. Department of
Education, 66 percent of all undergraduates
received some type of financial aid in the 2007-08
school year, including grants, student loans, veter-
ans benefits and work-study jobs.
While an iPod is a nice prize, it is a luxury
item. Basic economics states luxury items are
purchased once all other needs — food, shelter,
bills, etc. — are satisfied. Education is not a
luxury; in this day and age, it is almost a neces-
sity for success.
Awarding scholarships instead of iPods
would help students toward furthering their
education instead of just providing background
noise.
Student life’s Web page says its mission is “to
foster student learning and student develop-
ment.”
Providing scholarships instead of iPods
would be the first step, by hopefully, taking
some of the mental strain away from paying for
college. Every little bit helps, right?
iPods provide background entertainment, not educational support
Viewpoint by Trey Randolph
Check out the Department of Media Communications
Where Creativity and Technology Meet
/Programs inDigital Design
JournalismMusic BusinessPhotography
Radio-Television-Broadcasting
/Student MediaKSYM Radio
The Ranger/The Ranger Online
For more information, contact:Marianne Odom, Chair
Department of Media CommunicationsLoftin Student Center 204
Department: 210-486-1765Office: 210-486-1786
Fax: 210-486-1789E-mail: [email protected]
Nov. 13, 2009 • 15The Ranger Opinion
The unified German
nation this year is cel-
ebrating the 20th anni-
versary of the fall of the
Berlin Wall. In Germany,
festivities to honor this
event have been planned
throughout the year start-
ing back on May 7.
To me personally,
only one date drastically
changed my worldview — Nov. 9, 1989. It was
the date when the Berlin Wall fell. I was a senior
sergeant in the Soviet Border Guard Forces of
the former Soviet KGB.
At that time, we were stationed in the beauti-
ful city of Odessa in Ukraine (not Texas). After
the evening guard duty and a hearty meal, I
and some of my comrades were watching TV,
and we could not believe what we saw on the
nightly evening news: the Berliners with ham-
mers and pick axes in hands were knocking
down the Wall!
Some of them were actually climbing on the
wall and were waving to the people on the other
side, West Berlin. The East German police this
time around did not aim their guns at anyone.
On the contrary, they didn’t do anything.
They appeared unarmed and were simply
watching what was going on.
One of our officers walked in and said to us,
“Comrades, the Wall is going down! Who knew it
would happen in our lifetimes!”
Soon the whole room was filled with other
border guards — very good friends of mine.
Everyone wanted to see this benchmark of his-
tory.
I asked, “If the wall is going down, will there
be nothing to guard anymore? We should all
go home!” Some shouted in agreement; some
exclaimed that they wanted to get married,
and this event would be a good cause to do it
sooner.
Usually, in the military, there was always an
answer to every question one might ask. This
time, many of my comrades were looking at me
and each other in disbelief.
Nobody said anything. Nobody knew what
to say.
My brave comrades in arms, who could
assemble and disassemble the AK-47 assault
rifle in 20 seconds; who made a decision in a
split second; who would run into fire to rescue
another soldier, on that evening, did not know
what to make of the new reality.
The fall of the Berlin Wall affected us not
only collectively, but also personally. From the
collective point of view, it is important to note
that the whole doctrine of the Soviet border
protection scheme was replaced.
Many personnel stationed in western Soviet
Union were moved to the eastern parts of the
country to guard borders with China, and to
the South, borders with Iran, Afghanistan and
Turkey.
On a personal level, everyone had to decide
what the Wall’s fall meant.
Some, who lived more in Soviet mainstream
culture — Russians and non-Russians alike —
became angry because they feared the end of
the Soviet state, the only socio-political order
they knew, might come rather quickly, but
everything new they viewed with suspicion.
Others, who came from the peripheries of
the Soviet empire, like myself, where ethnic
minorities prevailed, held more nationalistic
views on how things in the future should be
done in the country.
The common denominator was the follow-
ing: The fall of the Berlin Wall on Nov. 9, 1989,
marked the new time during which to welcome
social, political and economic changes in the
Soviet state in order to undo the wrongs that
the Communists during the regime’s 70-year
rule committed politically, economically and
ecologically toward Russians and non-Russians
alike.
Aivars Norenbergs has been a reserve learning
resources specialist in the library since 2003. In
the early 1990s, he studied English at the Defense
Language Institute at Lackland Air Force Base.
In 1995, he emigrated from Latvia, and in 2000,
became a U.S. citizen.
Fall of Berlin Wall as seen from Soviet Ukraine
Guest Viewpoint by Aivars
Norenbergs
Courtesy
Aivars Norenbergs in Soviet Border Guard 1988-90
16 • Nov. 13, 2009 The Ranger
By Zahra Farah
At the first Hunger Banquet at this
college, more than 60 students
experienced what life is like for
the wealthy, the middle class and
people who barely get one meal a day.
“Fifty percent of the world’s population
makes $2.70 or less a day,” said theater arts
freshman Sebastian Carter and
emcee for the Hunger Banquet
Nov. 5 in the visual arts center.
Banquet participants from this
college and Texas A&M University-
San Antonio were divided into
groups ranging from the wealthy,
middle class and the poor.
Carter told the audience the
wealthy class makes up only 15
percent of the world’s population, while the
middle class compose 35 percent of the world’s
population.
“The high-end population make up to
$12,000 or more a year … the middle-income
population make $987-$11,999 a year,” he said.
As participants entered, they donated either
$5 or five cans of food. Then they randomly
picked a card from a basket indicating which
class they would be representing. The wealthy
sat at a table placed in the center overlooking
the poor audience members who had to sit on
the floor. The middle-class audience members
sat at tables placed to the sides.
The banquet collected 126.7 pounds of food
and $259 in donations toward the Phi Theta
Kappa Food Pantry, said service-learning coor-
dinator Audrey Grams.
While the majority of audience
members waited for the presenta-
tion to begin, the wealthy audience
members were waited on immedi-
ately, served fresh salads on china
plates, cold glasses of iced tea or
water, and bread. The poor audi-
ence members sitting cross-legged
on the floor watched intently.
“I feel the inequality here,” said Debbie
Benavides, psychology junior at A&M-San
Antonio. “It’s weird I didn’t get food at a food
banquet.”
Carter told the audience that for 50 percent
of the world’s population, it is not uncommon
to walk 5 to 10 miles a day to get water. Many
children never attend school, and tenant work-
ers have to give 75 percent of their income to
the land owner.
“This is awkward,” said Rose Torres, soci-
ology-psychology senior at A&M-San Antonio.
“Being Hispanic, we normally had rice, beans
and tortillas — not a five-course meal like this.”
Jon Lugo, a premed sophomore at this col-
lege, said, “I think if you look at our plates, we
are still ungrateful. Some of us are unhappy to
get what we got.”
Participants in the Hunger Banquet, a benefit for the college food pantry, eat in groups separated by income levels.
Photos by Deborah Harrison
Rich land, poor man
A five-course meal, at top, was served to the participants
representing the wealthy; beans, rice and tortillas were
served to the middle class; and the poor had to line up
for a bowl of rice.
Hunger Banquet illustrates health, nutrition, access issues
of low-income worldwide.
www.theranger.orgGo online for an extended
version of this story.
Hunger not only a Third World problem
KSYM 90.1 will have its 12th annual Alternative to Hunger drive starting
at 7 p.m. Nov. 21 at Casbeers, 1150 S. Alamo. Call 486-1374.