NewsThe Rattler2 12-9-09www.stmurattlernews.com

CalendarDec. 103:30 p.m. – 6 p.m. University staff and faculty Christmas party in the UC.

Dec. 117 p.m. – 9 p.m.Baccalaureate Mass for the Fall 2009 graduates in the Greehey Arena.

Dec. 121:30 p.m. – 4 p.m.Ninth Annual Fall Commencement in the Greehey Arena. Leticia Van de Putte to speak.

Dec. 25The Rattler staff hopes everyone has a Merry Christmas

Members of the Catholic Daughters, The Belles of St. Mary’s, sing Christmas carols and offer sugar-free candy and cookies to the Marianist Brothers living in the campus’ Marianst residence. Photo by Analicia Perez

Police Blotter11/20/09Public intoxication in Lot M. Inebriated student found parked in Lot M after an off campus accident. StMU citation issued, referred to judicial affairs.

Theft in the University Center, money was taken from a wallet and backpack.

11/21/09Public intoxication outside Founders Hall. DoD es-corted student to room, referred to judicial affairs.

11/23/09Criminal Trespassing in Lot D. Person found looking into vehicles and pulling on door handles. Criminal Trespass Warning issued, escorted off campus.

Violation of Student Handbook involving narcotics in Leies Hall. Students found smoking marijuana in room. StMU citations issued, referred to judicial affairs.

Burglary of vehicle in Lot C. Window broken and stereo stolen.

12/2/09Violation of Student Handbook in John Donohoo Hall. Student in possession of fencing foil. Foil con-fiscated, referred to judicial affairs.

12/2/09Theft in Founders Hall. Clothing stolen from a room.

12/3/09Violation of Student Handbook involving narcotics in Treadaway Hall. Students found smoking mari-juana in room. StMU citations issued, referred to judicial affairs.

IndexNewsCommentaryFeaturesEntertainmentSports

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NEWS IN BRIEF

The Vatican adds rap song to official playlist

The deaths of two men and 43 horses were caused by a barn fire in Ohio, on Dec. 5. While criminal activity has been ruled out, the cause of the blaze has yet to be determined.

Firefighters from 11 different departments were able to prevent the flames at Lebanon Raceway from spreading to other barns. Officials confirmed that the barn and much of its equipment were destroyed.

Source: CNN.com

The song “Changes” by Tupac Shakur is now on the Vatican’s official Myspace Music playlist.

“...all these artists share the aim to reach the heart of good mind-ed people,” the Vatican wrote on its page.

Source: CNN.com

One dead in Valero explosion

Part of a Valero Oil Refinery in Texas City exploded Saturday, due to a boiler failure, resulting in one dead and two injured.

The company released a statement saying there was no environ-mental impact caused by the explosion and that the two injured workers were in the hospital doing well.

Source: Mysanantonio.com

Residence Life recommends proper check out

Students living on campus need to ensure that they fill out all the correct paperwork to check out of their rooms for this semester. All residents are required to turn in their keys at the end of the year, and can pick them up when they return to campus.

Appliances should be unplugged, and refrigerators should be defrosted before checking out. Since the campus will experience a power outage, all parishable food should be removed.

Failure to follow proper procedure will result in a $25 improper check out fee.

Donations are still wanted

The Service Learning Center and the University Police Depart-ment are still taking donations for the “Miracle on 36th Street“ program.

Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to bring in new un-wrapped toys to various drop off boxes located on campus. Donations will go directly to the children in the surrounding community.

Rattler Awakening selling shirts for fundraiser

Student staff members for the up coming religious retreat, Rat-tler Awakening 10, are pre-selling long sleeve Rattler t-shirts. The shirts are available in Black, Navy and Forest Green.

Students can purchase shirts for $12 from any staff member. Those who do not know a staff member are encouraged to go to University Ministry or The Rattler Newsroom to find one. Or-ders and money are due by Jan. 14.

Barn fire at race track kills men and horses

Predicted snow keeps kids out of school Despite cold but sunny skies, many San Antonio schools experi-enced a drop in attendence Friday. Decreases were seen in every district in the city.

While San Antonio remained snowless, other parts of Texas like Houston and Dallas did get some snowfall.

Source: Mysanantonio.comDeadline for Peacan Grove Review extended

The Pecan Grove Review is set to publish this coming Fall 2010. Get your piece published by submitting up to three typed pros-es or poems with a cover sheet. The cover sheet should include your name, e-mail, title of your work, category, daytime phone number and your permanent address. Please drop them off at the English department, located on the forth floor in Chaminade Tower. The deadline is this Friday, Dec. 11.

Note: Electronic submissions will not be accepted

Friday, Dec. 11, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.Riverwalk Garden

Volunteers are needed to help shape the gardens in the River-walk Garden Workday. Participants are asked to bring rakes, clippers and other gardening tools to help.

Source: Livinggreensa.com

Students can help beautify the Riverwalk

Contact Us:210-436-3401 (office)210-431-3407 (fax)

Compiled by: Ari Rivera and Austin W. Newton

Early planning includes getting relevant job experi-ence through an internship or through service learn-ing, networking, developing marketing and interview-ing skills and a professional résumé, according to Hart.

Hart says that graduat-ing seniors should budget, identifying current and an-ticipated bills and loan pay-ments, to develop a realistic estimate of their needs.

A dwindling economy does not mean that it will be impossible to find a job either, Hart added.

“There are still job op-portunities out there. What is becoming essential, since there is a more competi-tive job market, is that stu-dents really need to be able to market their skill sets,” Hart said. “The earlier they start gaining experience and start understanding how it helps them in a pro-fessional world, the more likely they will have an easy job search.”

But for those graduates

who may struggle to find a job or may have trouble repaying their loans in the next six months assistance is available. The Income Based Repayment plan, a new federal loan repay-ment plan that the U.S De-partment of Education be-gan offering on July 1, may provide some help for those who qualify.

Graduates can qualify for IBR if their federal loan debt is high relative to their income and family size.

In addition, under IBR, those who work in public services may have their loans forgiven after 120 loan payments (usually 10 years, if all payments are made) in accordance with the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program that Congress enacted in 2007. For those not entering pub-lic service, loan debt may be forgiven after 25 years, if they remain under IBR, ac-cording to the U.S. Depart-ment of Education.

The disadvantage of IBR

is that, as with any loan, an extended repayment period results in more accrued interest. The longer a bor-rower takes to repay any loan, the more interest must be paid.

Alderman advises stu-dents to keep track of how much interest they owe and to plan to start paying that interest as soon as possible.

“I wish every student was conscious about what debt they will graduate with rather than worrying about just paying their first bill,” Alderman said.

News The Rattler 312-9-09www.stmurattlernews.com

With concerns about dropout rates in Bexar County, St. Mary’s students have established a Big Brothers Big Sisters university chapter – the first in San Antonio.

The chapter is trying for recog-nized status and senior marketing major, Stephanie Cano, president of the new chapter, is excited about the group’s potential to make an impact in many children’s lives.

“Big Brothers Big Sisters” is a non-profit organization that allows individuals to provide youth men-toring to children between the ages of five and 17. Through this pro-gram, a mentor who is also called a “big,” serves as a positive ex-ample in the child’s life and com-mits an entire year to establishing a healthy one-on-one relationship with the child.

The organization holds several events a year which both mentors and children attend and a “big” also spends individual time with the child throughout the year.

“Students can make a huge dif-ference to these children,” Cano said, “most of these kids are at risk or come from a single par-ent household, it’s a prevent- ative program.”

“My ‘little’ has 11 siblings and

I haven’t even gone through what she has gone through at the age of 9,” she said.

According to the Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Texas Web site, 50 percent of “littles” said their big brother or sister prevented them from dropping out of school, and 65 percent said their “big” helped them pursue and obtain a higher education. In addition, 87 percent of children enrolled in the pro-gram graduated from high school or earned a GED.

Cano said there are currently about 800 kids on the waiting list

at the Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Texas, and there is a special need for big brothers. And while children are waiting to be matched with a mentor, they can participate in “Magic While You Wait” events where they can spend some time with a mentor on a special day planned by the organization.

“This is pretty much a chance for someone to be a mentor for a day,” Cano said, “if someone can’t commit for a year, at least they can spend time with the kids for a day.”

Applications to be a “big” can

be found in the Service Learning Center or can be accessed through the organization’s official Web site. It takes between two to four weeks for an application to be processed, Cano said, and the organization will try to match the mentor with the most compatible child.

“They will interview you [applicant] and put you with a child that is similar to you and has some of the same qualities,” Cano added.

There is also a “match support specialist” assigned to each child and mentor, Cano explained.

“They check in every month to see how the match is going, what kind of activities they are doing, how often they met and if they even get along,” Cano added.

Becoming a “big” is a full-year commitment, and if selected, the applicant will attend a three to four hour training period in order to prepare for the new responsibility.

“Some students may not be ready to become a ‘big’ but that is okay, they can be advocates by organizing recruiting events, mak-ing posters, joining group activi-ties or fundraising for the agency that runs purely on donations,” said Cano.

Freshman interdisciplinary read-ing major Yesenia Guzman is not currently a mentor but joined as an advocate for the cause.

“I hope that this chapter grows in number so that we may make a significant difference in this orga-nization,” Guzman said, “I want us to teach our ‘littles’ valuable skills and characteristics that will enable them to pursue a better future.”

Cano said being a “big” has been a fulfilling experience and she hopes that both students and alumni will get involved with the new chapter.

“I want big things to happen with this group,” Cano said.

St. Mary’s is first campus with Big Brothers Big SistersBy Denice HernandezManaging Editor

Members of the campus chapter of Big Brothers Big Sisters are happy to help the youth in San Antonio. Photo by Denice Hernandez

Cont. from PG. 1

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In debt:Early planning is key to success