the ranger 9-12-2011

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NO HEALTH SERVICES 3 VEHICLE BURGLARIES UP 5 HISPANIC HERITAGE 11 T HE R ANGER A forum of free voices serving San Antonio College since 1926 Vol. 86 Issue 1 Single copies free Sept. 12, 2011 WHAT OUR ESTABLISHES CONSTITUTION PAGE 6

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The Ranger, the student newspaper at San Antonio College, is a laboratory project of the journalism classes in the Department of Media Communications, published Mondays except during summer, holidays and examinations.

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Page 1: The Ranger 9-12-2011

NO HEALTH SERVICES 3

VEHICLE BURGLARIES UP 5

HISPANIC HERITAGE 11

The RangeRA forum of free voices serving San Antonio College since 1926

Vol. 86 Issue 1 Single copies free Sept. 12, 2011

WHAT OUR

ESTABLISHES

CONSTITUTIONPAGE 6

Page 2: The Ranger 9-12-2011

The Ranger 2 • Sept. 12, 2010 Calendar

Today

SAC Contest: Friends Don’t Let Friends

Flunk video contest at Flunk Me Please

on Facebook. Entries accepted through

Oct. 1 with voting through Oct. 15. Call

210-486-1360.

SAC Transfer: Texas A&M

University-Corpus Christi 9

a.m.-11 a.m. on first floor of

Chance. Call 210-486-0864.

SAC Event: Karaoke

11 a.m.-1 p.m. in

Fiesta Room of Loftin.

Continues Sept. 26.

Call 210-486-0128.

SAC Event: Weight

room orientation 11:30

a.m.-12:30 p.m. in Candler

Physical Education Center.

Continues daily through

Thursday. Call 210-486-1025.

SAC Meeting: Student Government

Association noon-1 p.m. in faculty and

staff lounge of Loftin. Call 210-486-0125.

SAC Recital: Faculty Jazz Guitar 7:30

p.m. in auditorium of McAllister. Call 210-

486-0255.

Tuesday

SAC Transfer: St. Mary’s University

8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on first floor of

Chance. Call 210-486-0864.

SAC Event: Kickball 2 p.m.-4 p.m. at

San Pedro Springs Park. Call 210-486-

0126.

Wednesday

SAC Transfer: Texas A&M University-

San Antonio 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. by

appointment in transfer center. Continues

Thursday and 1 p.m.-5 p.m. Friday. Call

210-486-0864.

SAC Transfer: University of the

Incarnate Word 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on first

floor of Chance. Call 210-486-0864.

SAC Transfer: Wayland Baptist

University 10 a.m.-noon on first floor of

Chance. Call 210-486-0864.

SAC Event: Punctuation Month 2 p.m.-

2:50 p.m. in the Writing Center Room 203

of Gonzales. Call 210-486-1433.

Thursday

SAC Transfer: University of

Texas at San Antonio 9

a.m.-11:30 a.m. on first

floor of Chance. Continues

12:30 p.m.-3 p.m. in

transfer center by appoint-

ment. Call 210-486-0864.

SAC Event: Study Abroad Fair

9 a.m.-4 p.m. in Room 218 A/B

of nursing complex. Call 210-

495-0076.

SAC Meeting: Students

United for the DREAM Act 4:30

p.m.-5:30 p.m. in cafeteria of

Loftin. Continues Thursdays. Call 210-

683-5879.

Friday

SAC Event: Coffee Open Mic Night 6

p.m.-9 p.m. in Loftin. Call 210-486-0125.

Saturday

SAC Sports: Men’s soccer, Stephen

F. Austin vs. SAC 3 p.m.-5 p.m. at Stars

Complex, 5103 David Edwards. Call 210-

486-0126.

Sept. 19

SAC Event: Department of social sci-

ences and humanities Constitution Day

speakers 9 a.m.-1 p.m. in Room 218 A/B

of nursing complex. Call 210-486-0998.

SAC Transfer: Dallas Baptist University

9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. on first floor of Chance.

Call 210-486-0864.

SAC Transfer: Texas State University-

San Marcos 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. in transfer

center by appointment. Call 210-486-

0864.

SAC Event: Salsa dance lessons 11

a.m.-1 p.m. in Fiesta Room in Loftin. Call

210-486-0128.

Sept. 20

SAC Event: “Jeopardy” 2 p.m.-4 p.m. in

craft room of Loftin. Call 210-486-0126.

SAC Transfer: University of the

Incarnate Word 3:30 p.m.-6 p.m. on first

floor of Chance. Call 210-486-0864.

Sept. 21

SAC Transfer: Texas A&M University-

San Antonio 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. in

transfer center by appointment. Continues

1 p.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 23. Call 210-486-

0864.

Sept. 22

SAC Event: Résumé writing workshop

sponsored by student life 1 p.m.-3 p.m.

in Fiesta Room of Loftin. Call 210-486-

0126.

SAC Event: Department of creative

multimedia art reception 2 p.m.-4 p.m. on

third floor of Moody. Call 210-486-0577.

SAC Recital: Faculty Brass Recital 7:30

p.m. in auditorium of McAllister. Call 210-

486-0255.

Sept. 23

SAC Movie: Outdoor

movie “The Green

Lantern” 7:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m. in

mall. Call 210-486-0125.

Sept. 24

SAC Event: Student Leadership Retreat

9 a.m.-5 p.m. in craft room of Loftin. Call

210-486-0125.

Sept. 26

SAC Event: Model auditions 2 p.m.-5

p.m. in Fiesta Room of Loftin. Call 486-

0128.

SAC Recital: Faculty Guitar 7:30 p.m.

in auditorium of McAllister. Call 210-

486-0255.

Sept. 27

SAC Transfer: St. Mary’s University

8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on first floor of

Chance. Call 210-486-0864.

SAC Transfer: University of the

Incarnate Word 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on first

floor of Chance. Call 210-486-0864.

SAC Event: “Choose a Major and Career

You’ll Love” for 10 participants 4:30

p.m.-5:50 p.m. in Room 176 of Moody.

Continues Tuesdays for eight weeks. Call

210-486-0378.

Sept. 28

SAC Transfer: Texas A&M University-

San Antonio 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. in

transfer center by appointment. Continues

1 p.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 30. Call 210-486-

0864.

SAC Transfer: University of Texas at San

Antonio 9 a.m.-11:30 a.m. on first floor

of Chance. Continues 12:30 p.m.-3 p.m.

in transfer center by appointment. Call

210-486-0864.

SAC Event: Pizza with the President

noon-1 p.m. in mall. Call 210-486-0125.

Sept. 29

SAC Transfer: Concordia University

9 a.m.-11:30 p.m. on first floor of

Chance. Call 210-486-0864.

SAC Transfer: Texas A&M

University 1 p.m.-4 p.m. on first floor of

Chance. Call 210-486-0864.

Calendar Legend

SAC: San Antonio CollegeNVC: Northwest Vista CollegeSPC: St. Philip’s CollegeSWC: Southwest CampusPAC: Palo Alto CollegeNLC: Northeast Lakeview CollegeAC: Alamo Colleges

For coverage in Calendar, call 210-486-1773 or e-mail

[email protected] two weeks in advance.

Page 3: The Ranger 9-12-2011

The Ranger Sept. 12, 2011 • 3News

By J. AlmendArez

The minor treatments provided at the col-

lege health center helped countless students

and employees deal with heat, headaches and

injuries.

On Aug. 8, those services ended.

Jorge Posadas, director of student life,

informed faculty and staff at this college in an

Aug. 16 email that the health center in Room 119

of Chance Academic Center was moving to the

first floor of Loftin Student Center and will no

longer offer over-the-counter drugs or provide

first aid services.

The announcement drew immediate criti-

cism from faculty who were concerned that such

a large campus would be without first aid care

and that disabled students would no longer have

access to on-campus medical attention.

Dr. Robert Vela, vice president of student

affairs, said Aug. 24 that the health center now

offers advice on health maintenance, disease

prevention and self-care. He said the center’s

efforts at providing services will consist of lec-

tures and pamphlets endorsing disease preven-

tion through information booths in the mall.

Officers in the district department of public

safety will respond to emergencies on campus

and assess whether a situation warrants EMS

services. For assistance, call 210-222-0911.

Vela said officers were assigned the duty

because they have emergency responder training.

He also said ambulances do not have to

transport students to a hospital. They provide

first aid services, but he does not know the cost.

According to the San Antonio Fire Department

website, the non-transportation fee is $85.

Transportation to a hospital requiring basic life

support services is $495 and $12 per mile.

The fees are subject to change Oct. 1. For

more information, visit www.sanantonio.gov/

safd/emsbilling.asp?res=1920&ver=true#listing.

Joe Curiel, deputy chief of administration

of the district department of public safety, said

Aug. 26 that Alamo Colleges officers are receiv-

ing no additional first aid training because of the

policy change, but they receive first aid training

at the San Antonio Police Department Training

Academy.

Potential officers must complete a 27-week

program to graduate from the academy and

begin work with the department.

Officer Joel Pope, a first aid and driving

instructor at the academy, said officers undergo

two days of training in basic first aid, totaling

about 16 hours. He said officers learn CPR using

standards set by the American Heart Association

on their first day of training.

Then they learn how to set splints, control

bleeding and identify emergency situations such

as diabetic comas on their second day.

Pope also said officers learn “what not to do

to further complicate things because they do not

have advanced training.”

Pope has been a police officer for 15 years

and was an Emergency Medical Technician

before becoming an officer.

Students can refuse EMS services if an officer

suggests it. Their refusal will be noted in the

police report.

Counselor Steve Samet did not agree with the

decision to require officers with limited first aid

training to respond to medical situations.

“I feel it’s inappropriate and could do more

harm than good,” he said.

He was unsure whether officers are qualified

to determine if EMS should be contacted and

questioned what the procedure is for incidents

that do not require EMS.

Nursing sophomore Leticia Sandoval, a work-

study in the Peer Educators office in Room 120

of Chance Academic Center, said she has seen

about 10 students a day seeking services from

the closed center.

The Peer Educators office is across the hall

from the previous health center and next door to

disability support services in Room 124.

“I think the disabled students are most

affected by it,” she said. “ I don’t think that they

(administrators) care about what they need.”

“We feel bad about it. We don’t want to cut

services,” Vela said.

However, he said the college made the deci-

sion because of cutbacks that were required to

take place throughout the district.

The district’s total operating expense budget

for 2011-12 is $281,828,383, which is $3.1 million

less than last year’s $284.9 million budget.

The district has reduced expenses by 4 per-

cent per contact hour in the past two years.

Vela said the center was allotted $5,000 a

semester in funding, not including RN or

licensed vocational nurse salaries.

He said the funds were no longer sufficient

to keep the center provided with materials and

staff. He said the district does not competitively

pay LVNs or RNs, and the college struggles to

replace employees at the center.

President Robert Zeigler said LVN Josie

Noriega retires Jan. 1 and will not be replaced.

Secretary Mary Schlabig spoke on behalf of

Posadas. He has no comment about the health

center’s change of policies and would not con-

sent to a face-to-face interview with The Ranger,

requesting questions via email. The Ranger does

not conduct interviews via email.

Registered nurse Paula Daggett also respond-

ed to a request for an interview through email

in which she wrote, “I prefer not to comment

on the operation or the change of focus of the

health center.”

Public information officer Julie Cooper said

she has not received a request from the office

of student life to send a notification email to

students using ACES. Neither the student life

Facebook page nor OrgSync account mentioned

the closure. The new health center is in the

southeast corner of Loftin’s first floor in a space

originally expected to house an annex of the

college bookstore. Later, the space was to be an

office for the Student Government Association,

but was never used for that purpose.

The new office is not equipped with a phone,

and the room is not numbered.

Campus police will respond to emergencies.

Student life closes college health center

A sign on the door of the former health center in Room 119 of Chance alerts students and employees that the center is closed. The cen-ter began moving to Loftin Aug. 8 and will no longer offer first aid. Ingrid Wilgen

Page 4: The Ranger 9-12-2011

4 • Sept. 12, 2011 The RangerPeople

Art freshman Brittany Miele sings her version of “Skyscraper” by Demi Lovato for glee club try-outs Wednesday in the Fiesta Room of Loftin. Students auditioned to fill 12-15 positions. Riley Stephens

Speech communication sophomores Leonard Herbeck and Jeremy Carrizales discuss an assignment Sept. 6 in the communication center lab in Room 205 in McAllister while waiting for their next class to start. Herbeck is the speech intern and assists students with their speeches or presentations. Students may use the cen-ter from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Students do not need to be enrolled in a speech class to use the lab. Celeste Kulla

Business administra-tion freshman Istaban Castro, English sopho-more Joseph Martinez and human resource management freshman Sandra Nickleberry use the math lab’s online resources to complete assignments Sept. 2 in Room 124 of McCreless. Lab resources are available to students enrolled in math and physics courses. Valerie Salazar

Liberal arts sophomore Michael Smith performs tricks on his skateboard Wednesday in the mall. Smith said he loves to play hoops in his spare time. Ingrid Wilgen

Page 5: The Ranger 9-12-2011

The Ranger Sept. 12, 2011 • 5News

By Joshua Fechter

After the Sept. 7 census date for

16-week classes that began Aug.

22, students must contact their

instructor to drop a course.

The instructor will then assign a

grade of W in ACES.

If students want to drop all

courses, they must see a counsel-

or who will explain the academic

and financial consequences of that

decision.

Students must bring a drop

slip to the admissions and records

office with a counselor’s signature

to process the all-course drop.

J. Martin Ortega, director of

enrollment services, said before

dropping, students should keep in

mind the state’s six-drop rule and

three-peat tuition.

The six-drop rule prevents stu-

dents from dropping more than

six classes over the course of a

bachelor’s degree. An exception is

when a student withdraws from all

classes in a semester.

The third time a student

attempts a course, tuition is

charged at a rate of three times the

cost of in-district tuition because

the college is not reimbursed by

the state after a second attempt at

a course.

Dr. Robert Vela, vice president

of student affairs, said dropping a

course can have stiff consequences

on a student’s academic record and

tuition.

He said if students decide to

drop a course, they should stay

in contact with the instructor to

make sure the Banner system for

student records reflects the drop.

Otherwise, they may stay on that

instructor’s roll, which could result

in being assigned a grade of F for

the class.

Courses dropped by 5 p.m.

Sept. 7 will not show up on tran-

scripts.

State appropriations per stu-

dent are based on enrollment at

each college on the census date,

the 12th day of classes in the fall

and spring semesters.

Nov. 11 is the last day to with-

draw from courses in the fall

semester.

For more information, call the

office of admissions and records

at 210-486-0700 or go to Room 216

at Fletcher Administration Center.

By alma linda manzanares

The Alamo Colleges police

department reported 13 incidents

of vehicle burglaries in August —

eight at this college, four at St.

Philip’s College and one at Palo

Alto College.

This compares to seven report-

ed in the district in August 2010,

including five at this college, one

at Palo Alto and one at St. Philip’s.

Police Chief Don Adams said

the burglaries at this college were

reported in Lot 10 at Lewis Street

and West Courtland Place, Lot 13

at West Dewey Place, Lot 16 east

of Moody Learning Center, Lot 23

at Howard and Lewis streets, Lot

26 at Howard Street and West Park

Avenue, the Park Place lot located

at North Main Avenue and West

Laurel Street and an off-campus

parking lot located at 100 E. Locust.

Two of the burglaries were

reported at the Park Place lot.

On Aug. 24, a crime prevention

reminder was distributed through

ACES email by the police depart-

ment to faculty and students list-

ing tips to reduce the chance of

burglary.

When parking on Alamo

Colleges property, students should

also take precautions when leaving

or returning to a vehicle:

• Always remove the ignition

key, lock all doors and secure all

windows.

• Avoid leaving valuables in the

vehicle that are in plain view. Lock

valuables such as iPods, purses,

laptops and textbooks in the trunk.

• When returning to a vehicle,

students should have keys ready

and check the backseat for any-

thing out of the ordinary before

entering the vehicle.

Adams said police officers

patrol the campus and parking lots

throughout the day. Officers are on

duty 24/7.

Patrol officers will leave crime

prevention reminders on students’

vehicles if their vehicles are or

could be in danger of burglary,

Adams said.

Students need to be cognizant

of their surroundings because an

individual or multiple individu-

als are committing the burglaries,

Adams said.

To report any suspicious activ-

ity, call the Alamo Colleges police

at 210-485-0099.

Vehicle burglaries up

Instructors issue W for dropped courses

Alamo Colleges Officer Jesus Treviño gets information Sept. 6 about the burglary of photogra-phy sophomore Celeste Kulla’s car. Kulla found her passenger side rear window smashed in the campus parking garage. The thief stole a flowered lunch box. Ingrid Wilgen

Admissions specialist Albert Vasquez tells Aida Askari-Sabi that her son, in person with verified ID, can discuss his academic record. Vasquez said 1,062 students spoke with the admissions office during the first week of classes. Jennifer M. Ytuarte

Increased motor vehicle burglaries should make students practice safety.

Students should consider six-drop rule and three-peat tuition.

Page 6: The Ranger 9-12-2011

6 • Sept. 12, 2011 The RangerNews

God’s Word is Truth, bringing blessings

to His people.

Learn for yourself how with WBS—in your own home,

at your own pace. Choose printed lessons with

“pen-pal” helpers or Web lessons with online friends.

Go to: northside.worldbibleschool.org

Enter promo code: SAC1

Teaching the Word. Reaching the World!

Hope. Joy.

Love. Life!

By DaviD Espinoza

The Criminal Justice Student

Association is sponsoring lectures

Sept. 16 in Room 218 of the nurs-

ing and allied health complex in

observation of the 224th anni-

versary of the signing of the U.S.

Constitution.

The event is free and open to

the public.

The Constitution was signed

Sept. 17, 1787, by delegates at

the Constitutional Convention in

Philadelphia.

Robert L. Summers, profes-

sor of law at St. Mary’s University,

is presenting the first lecture

“International Law and the

Constitution” 9 a.m.-9:50 a.m.

Summers is also co-chair of inter-

national legal studies at St. Mary’s.

Walter L. Paulissen, chief of the

major crimes unit, San Antonio

division of the U.S. Attorney’s

Office in the Western District of

Texas, is presenting the second lec-

ture “The Living Constitution” 10

a.m.-10:50 a.m.

James Harrington, founder and

director of the Texas Civil Rights

Project, will present “Civil Liberties

and the Constitution” 11 a.m.-

11:50 a.m.

Harrington said in an interview

that the main point of his lecture

is that civil liberties are not given,

they must be won.

“I want to emphasize the

students’ role in organizing

together and implementing the

Constitution in our everyday lives,”

Harrington said.

He cited the civil rights move-

ment as a prime example of mass

organization changing the opinion

of the courts.

Antonio Almazan, immigra-

tion law attorney and partner in

Rodriquez & Almazan Attorneys at

Law, will present “Immigration &

the Constitution” noon-12:50 p.m.

Almazan said he plans to dis-

cuss the Obama administration’s

recent decision to prioritize depor-

tation on a case-by-case basis

determined by factors such as edu-

cation and military experience.

Program Coordinator Tiffany

Cox, adviser to the club, said hav-

ing multiple speakers in one event

benefits students more than hav-

ing events spread throughout the

semester.

“It’s a great opportunity for stu-

dents to get updated with consti-

tutional issues related to legal and

criminal law,” she said.

For more information, call Cox

at 210-486-0835.

Criminal justice students plan Constitution Day lectures

By MatthEw taylor

Royalties organization ASCAP and

Grammy U are presenting a network-

ing mixer for college students interested

in the recording industry 5 p.m.-8:30

p.m. Thursday in Room 101 of Longwith

Radio, Television and Film Building.

A panel of experts, including award-

winning composer Ricardo Garcia and

Veronica R. Hernandez, president of

the San Antonio chapter of the National

Association of Latino Independent

Producers, will talk about their experi-

ences in the music recording industry.

The American Society of Composers,

Authors and Publishers is an association

of more than 410,000 U.S. composers,

songwriters, lyricists and music publish-

ers. The society licenses and distributes

royalties for the nondramatic public per-

formances of copyrighted works.

Grammy U is a community of full-

time students pursuing careers in the

recording industry. For more informa-

tion, visit www.ascap.com and www.

grammy365.com/grammy-u.

Music mixer

Page 7: The Ranger 9-12-2011

The Ranger Sept. 12, 2011 • 7News

By Brian Burdick

Students looking to add some

variety to their schedules should

look no further than a new method

of teaching GOVT 2301, American/

Texas: National and State.

GOVT 2301 covers government

at the national, state, and local

levels and is a course that most

students must take to fulfill core

curriculum requirements for an

Associate of Arts degree.

A section taught by Professor

Wanda Smith is being taught in

a more interactive way than has

been done in the past.

She presented a proposal to Dr.

Paul Wilson, social sciences and

humanities chair, outlining the

idea for a government class engag-

ing kinetic learners.

Wilson approved the proposal

for a trial run this semester.

He said the decision was made

in the spirit of experimenting with

methods of presentation to meet

student needs.

Smith describes this process

as experiential learning in which

students learn material through a

more hands-on approach, rather

than standard class lectures.

Some of these experiences will

include field trips to city council

meetings, activities in the virtual

world of Second Life and interac-

tive trivia games.

During a City Hall visit, which

includes sitting in on a session

of the San Antonio City Council,

students will get the chance to

meet Mayor Julian Castro and City

Manager Sheryl Sculley.

In the virtual world of Second

Life, students build a community

and then run it using a democratic

process.

Students will also write and

perform skits for their peers.

“By teaching, we learn better,”

said Smith, who also performs a

one-woman skit for the class.

The class meets 10:50 a.m.-1:30

p.m. Thursdays.

Although this interactive class

entails more activity than most

government classes, it costs the

same as other government classes,

aside from the cost of parking dur-

ing some field trips.

With class enrollment at 29

in its first semester, the future is

promising for the new, more inter-

active GOVT 2301, Smith said. She

is hopeful spring classes will be

offered more than once a week.

Knowing how a democracy

runs is important for students and

when they’re not so removed from

the process, it enables them to

understand it better, Smith said.

CAREER TRAINING. MONEY FOR COLLEGE.

AND AN ENTIRE TEAM TO HELP YOU SUCCEED.

10886_ANG_TX_Ranger_7.5x2.5in.indd 1 8/25/11 11:43 AM

Apollo DJJamie Sumaya

Specializes in all types of music.

210-324-3234

Government section a hands-on approach

Pool party idea drainedBy J. armendarez

A swimming pool party planned by the office of student life for

Wednesday through Friday has been postponed to April.

Although the event was not listed on the office’s website, President

Robert Zeigler confirmed Thursday on “Speaking of SAC” on campus

radio station KSYM 90.1 FM that the office had planned to temporarily

install a 60,000-gallon pool in the mall west of Moody Learning Center.

James Velten, KSYM DJ Hot Mustard, informed Zeigler that the

office posted on its Facebook page that it was seeking a lifeguard and

that he understood a fire truck would be needed to fill a 60,000-gallon

pool, but Zeigler did not confirm that.

He said he was unaware of those dates but had told the office in

the past that the district’s department of enterprise risk management

would have to review safety regulations for events involving a pool.

Mike Legg, director of enterprise risk management, said student

life had been emailed information about city safety requirements.

The event, however, has been postponed because of extreme fires

and drought in South Texas, student life Director Jorge Posadas told

The Ranger Thursday.

“Dr. Zeigler and Dr. (Robert) Vela (vice president of student affairs)

felt that it was bad timing,” Posadas said.

Page 8: The Ranger 9-12-2011

8 • The Ranger 10 Years After the Attacks

Former Ranger editor Alison

Beshur remembers Sept. 11

for the story and correction

that followed a month and a half

later.

Beshur said The Ranger received

a tip from the president’s secretary

that education sophomore Christal

Bell attributed absences in a speech

class to her military recruitment

efforts after both her brothers were

killed in the attack on the Pentagon.

Beshur interviewed Bell and

pressed her for photos, even offer-

ing to pick them up. Bell skirted the

request and offered to meet on cam-

pus but did not make deadline. The

story ran on the front page of the Oct.

12, 2001, issue, without photos.

“I was really naïve going into jour-

nalism,” Beshur said, during a phone

interview Sept. 5. “I never thought

someone would lie about that.”

Beshur said she sympathized

with Bell’s loss but regrets not fact-

checking more, “but the casualty list

wasn’t published yet.”

After the story ran, retired Maj.

Pete Siegel emailed The Ranger that a

brother’s attributed rank did not exist

in the Air Force.

According to the correction pub-

lished in the Nov. 30, 2001, issue,

while searching for the proper title,

The Ranger learned that no Air Force

nor Navy personnel died in the

attack.

Beshur confronted Bell, who

admitted to fabricating the story. “I

think the correction was longer than

the story.”

She said her story was used as a

learning experience, and fact-check-

ing was heavily stressed throughout

the rest of the semester. She was edi-

tor in spring 2002.

Her year at The Ranger prepared

her for a full-time newspaper job,

Beshur said. She worked briefly as an

editorial assistant at the San Antonio

Express-News then as a reporter

at the Brownsville Herald, Corpus

Christi Caller-Times and Kerrville

Daily Times.

Since the birth of her son, she

works part-time at USAA and occa-

sionally freelances for the San

Antonio Business Journal and San

Antonio Magazine.

“It wasn’t just because of this

news event that was so important

that people are still talking about

it,” Beshur said. “It’s because of the

guidance and dedication of (journal-

ism faculty and staff) Irene (Abrego),

Trish (Buchhorn), Mr. (Chet) Hunt

and Ms. (Marianne ) Odom.”Jennifer M. Ytuarte

Covering college reaction to 9/11

Photographer Eric Lyle Kayne

was planning to report to the

newsroom the morning of

Sept. 11, 2001, like any other day on

the student newspaper.

As he prepared to leave his house,

news of the first plane colliding into

the north tower of the World Trade

Center aired on TV.

Shortly after Kayne arrived at this

college, a second plane hit the south

tower.

“I remember (photo adviser)

Tricia (Buchhorn) telling me to go

top off the gas in my car,” Kayne said.

“I have to be honest, I was very

excited something big had hap-

pened,” Kayne said.

As he prepared a Nikon F3 film

camera, campus police began evacu-

ating students from classrooms.

Kayne followed officers to each

classroom.

Later, Kayne and reporter Jacob

Wesolick went to interview people

lined up at the South Texas Blood

and Tissue Center.

“We went there because people

came from all over to donate blood ...

it wasn’t hard to find a SAC connec-

tion,” he said.

Despite the unfortunate circum-

stances, Kayne said he was honored

to be one of the journalists docu-

menting 9/11 and have his work

published for an audience of thou-

sands of students here.

Kayne still remembers images

he captured that week: among them

students crowded around a televi-

sion set outdoors on the balcony of

Moody and a student praying at the

Catholic Student Center.

From behind the camera to in

front of the camera, local news sta-

tions interviewed Kayne asking how

he handled the events of 9/11.

“It’s horrible what happened, but

whether I wanted it to happen or not,

it happened,” he said.

Kayne worked at The Ranger

2000-2001 and studied Photoshop, a

digital photo editing software.

Kayne said he discovered a pas-

9/11 impressed new journalists with big lessons

A television placed on the balcony of Moody drew a crowd after classes were dismissed for the day Sept. 11, 2001, in the wake of the attacks on New York and Washington, D.C. File photo

Fabricated story taught skepticism

Page 9: The Ranger 9-12-2011

Sept. 12, 2011 • 910 Years After the Attacks

sion for spot news that momentous

day. Since his time at The Ranger,

Kayne, a freelance photojournalist

in Houston, has earned a master’s

degree in photography from Ohio

University.Jacob Beltran

Photographer saw fort secured

The daily parking fight was

nonexistent as Ranger pho-

tographer Cynthia Esparza

parked her truck next to Chance

Academic Center the morning of

Sept. 11, 2001. On her way in, she

faced a rush of vehicles headed in the

opposite direction.

The lot was almost empty, save

for one vehicle that belonged to

an elderly woman, who informed

Esparza the campus was closed.

“I ran across campus to the news-

room because I knew I’d have to

cover something,” Esparza said.

In the newsroom, a small TV con-

tinuously cycled through newsfeeds

as Ranger staffers rushed to localize

the attacks in prayer services, blood

donations and heightened security.

Esparza went to Fort Sam

Houston, where soldiers erected

barricades and gated the formerly

welcoming entrance at Grayson

and North New Braunfels avenues.

“It was strange since the (post) had

always been open to the public.”

The gates were closed perma-

nently, as were other entrances.

In October, Ranger staffers

attended a Society of Professional

Journalists meeting to listen to jour-

nalists of the San Antonio Express-

News talk about their experiences at

Ground Zero. “I felt grateful to hear

their accounts,” Esparza said.

She said, even now, when she

photographs news for the San Angelo

Standard-Times, her camera is her

shield. “I remember through the pic-

tures I took, but not in the moment.”

Esparza graduated from Texas

State University-San Marcos in 2004

and has worked in San Angelo since.Jennifer M. Ytuarte

Respect grew for journalists

On Sept. 11, 2011, when

Ranger photographer

Brook Freeman stepped on

campus from San Pedro Avenue, he

saw everyone leaving in a rush. “I

knew I had to stay,” he said.

He pushed against the tide of cry-

ing students and grim faces to get

to the Ranger newsroom in Loftin

Student Center. “No one knew what

was going on,” Freeman said.

Of all the stress the Ranger report-

ers faced that day, Freeman said, “I

didn’t see anyone with anything less

than grit.”

The Ranger published four pages

of news and photos that “wrapped

around” the first issue of The Ranger

for fall 2001.

“I have more respect for the job

reporters do and how fast they get

it done.”Jennifer M. Ytuarte

Love it or hate it

Reporter Robert J. Zertuche

watched the twin tow-

ers collapse while at work.

“I made a choice that day to quit

my second job and work full-time

reporting for The Ranger.”

Zertuche earned an associate

degree in journalism here.

“The Ranger trains you really

well, and you either love it or hate it,

but either way you hone your craft,”

Zertuche said.

He earned a Bachelor of Arts

degree in mass communication from

Texas State University-San Marcos

and is working on a thesis for a

Master of Fine Arts in creative writ-

ing from Texas State.Jennifer M. Ytuarte

A television placed on the balcony of Moody drew a crowd after classes were dismissed for the day Sept. 11, 2001, in the wake of the attacks on New York and Washington, D.C. File photo

Go to www.ranger.org to see the original

coverage of 9/11.

Page 10: The Ranger 9-12-2011

10 • Sept. 12, 2011 The RangerNews

By Marc cunninghaM

Like many recent graduates, continuing

education Coordinator Thermajean Jones is still

looking for a job that will best allow her to apply

her skills.

In 2010, she earned a bachelor’s degree in

business at Texas A&M University-San Antonio.

Undergraduates learn the job market

requires they pursue further education to stand

out from the crowd of job seekers.

“I have to get that master’s degree before I

can even apply, and that’s heartbreaking,” said

Jones, who is looking for a job teaching student

development classes.

She said her lack of a graduate degree would

cause her to be passed over in favor of someone

who has earned a master’s degree but doesn’t

have her experience.

In an economy with shrinking budgets and

fewer employee benefits, Alamo Colleges offers

Upward Mobility, a tuition assistance program

that provides up to $2,200 per year toward

higher education for full-time faculty and staff.

Employees with benefits and one full year

of service who have completed the maximum

transferable hours at an Alamo College within

the district and attend any college or univer-

sity that offers certificates, undergraduate and

graduate degrees may apply.

Jones said she is grateful for the perk that

will help her become upwardly mobile.

As a health care major, she said each book

costs up to $320.

The Upward Mobility program covers books

alone, but as Jones sees it, “You give me $15,

isn’t that $15 more than I had before? Now you

bought my books? Wooooo!”

This December, she expects to complete

a master’s degree at Texas A&M University-

San Antonio and is optimistic about future

employment opportunities within the Alamo

Colleges.

Despite her enthusiasm, Jones said she had

one complaint.

“I know lots of people use it; I just wish more

people would complete it.”

For more information, visit http://alamo.

edu/district/training/upward-mobility.aspx.

Moving up in down economyUpward Mobility provides tuition

assistance to full-time employees. “I know lots of people use it; I just wish more people would complete it.”Thermajean Jonescontinuing education coordinator

Page 11: The Ranger 9-12-2011

The Ranger Sept. 12, 2011 • 11Premiere

By Diana Palomo

Phi Theta Kappa, a two-year international honor society,

gives students an opportunity for “fellowship, leadership,

scholarship and service.”

The society provides leadership training and community

service while improving chances for scholarship opportuni-

ties at transfer institutions.

In 1938, the Beta Nu chapter of the

society was established at this college.

The advisers of the honor society are

English Professor Jane Focht-Hansen,

mortuary science Professor Mary Mena,

Counselor Jim Lucchelli and

Counselor Julie Engel.

Incoming members are

required to be enrolled in a

regionally accredited institution

offering associate degrees and

have a minimum of 12 hours of

coursework earned toward the

associate degree. They must be

enrolled in at least six hours of

academic coursework, achieve a

cumulative GPA of 3.5 and follow the moral

standards of the society.

Eligible students must meet all the

requirements and contact advisers to partici-

pate in the ceremony at 7 p.m. Sept. 29 in the auditorium of

McAllister Fine Arts Center.

The $75 membership fees include international and

regional dues, enrollment in the international community

college registry and lifetime fee.

Three orientation sessions — all in Room 241 of Nail

Technical Center — have been scheduled to answer ques-

tions and distribute applications.

The first session is 4 p.m.-5 p.m. today. The other two are

4 p.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 19 and 3:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m. Sept. 20.

The deadline for applications and dues is noon Sept. 23.

Students should bring an unofficial transcript, which can

be printed from ACES.

Meetings for members are at noon every Wednesday in

Room 241 of Nail Technical Center.

“I like to see the students grow and bring out their leader-

ship abilities,” Mena said.

For more information, call Mena at 210-486-1136 or

Focht-Hansen at 210-486-0668.

By KirK Hanes

Hispanic Heritage Month is a cel-

ebration of major cultural traditions.

“It’s a focus on issues, culture and

art in the Latin American community,”

English Professor Patricia Portales said.

Portales and English Professor

Claudio San Miguel serve as co-chairs

of the Hispanic Heritage Committee,

which organizes events on campus for

the national observation.

Hispanic Heritage Month begins

Sept. 16, or Dieciséis de Septiembre

when Mexican independence is cel-

ebrated, and ends Oct. 12, Columbus

Day in the United States.

Throughout Latin America, the day

is known as Día de la Raza, or Day of

the Race.

On campus, the kickoff is 11 a.m.-1

p.m. Thursday in the Fiesta Room of

Loftin Student Center with mariachis

and opening remarks.

Also on Sept. 15, Bertha Valdes will

lecture on curanderos from 11 a.m.-

noon in Room 120 of the visual arts

center.

“Tex[t]-Mex” author Dr. William

Nericcio, an English professor at San

Diego State University, will speak on

Mexican-American stereotypes in the

media at 10:50 a.m. Sept. 22 in Room

218 of the nursing and allied health

complex.

A victim of human trafficking,

author Theresa Flores, will talk about

the abduction of women and children

for servitude and sex work at noon Sept.

23 in Room 120 of the visual arts center.

The Antojitos Festival, led by Fabian

Cortez, special projects coordinator in

student life, happens in the mall 9 a.m.

-2 p.m. Sept. 28. Carrie Hernandez, stu-

dent life specialist, said the festival will

showcase low rider cars, and student

clubs will be selling food.

Esther Morales Liedecke will lead

“The Art of Making Tortillas” 12:15 a.m.-

1:30 p.m. Sept. 28 in the craft room in

Loftin.

The celebration ends Oct. 14 with

two events. OnStage Drama Club is set

to perform a play at 10 a.m. in the the-

ater in McCreless Hall.

Tejano group “Little Joe y La Familia”

performs at 7 p.m. Oct. 14 in the audito-

rium of McAllister Fine Arts Center.

Portales said Hispanic Heritage

Month has traditionally been built

around a theme, but this year, the plan-

ners wanted to broaden the events on

campus.

She said the committee would like

more students to help plan next year’s

events.

For more information, call Portales

at 210-486-0681. To see a list of

Hispanic heritage events, visit www.

alamo.edu/sac/pr/default.htm.

Phi Theta Kappa issues invitation, sets orientation

Campus events celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month

Speakers and events will focus on issues,

culture and art.

Students dance in the mall while Mariachi Azteca 90 performs as part of Hispanic Heritage Month in 2006. File photo

PTK induction ceremony is set for 7 p.m. Sept. 29 in McAllister auditorium.

Page 12: The Ranger 9-12-2011

The Ranger 12 • Sept. 12, 2011 Editorial

Students still waiting for financial aid disburse-ments need to stop reacting and become proactive.

Some 787 students missed the Aug. 25 pay dead-line for late registration.

It is the students’ responsibility to keep on top of tuition payments.

Account balances and financial aid statuses can easily be checked through ACES so students know whether they stand in a danger zone.

Tuition payment deadlines can be found on the college website under the tab Admissions and Records.

The virtual business office is also available for setting up an installment plan or paying tuition in full.

Students who failed to meet the June 1 priority deadline for financial aid applications should know they cannot count on their applications being pro-cessed before the fall semester.

Students signed an acknowledgement receipt that informs them financial aid will not be available at the start of the semester.

Classes begin the same time every year, so there’s no good reason for the melodrama.

Avoid standing in lines or growing old on hold only to hear the same answers: Filing for financial aid early will help students avoid these problems in future semesters.

Pay your tuition on time.

Avoid drops; pay upDid you get stuck in line at admissions, bursar or financial

aid office?Most likely, you saw one of our staff members passing out

The Ranger.Reading the summer edition of The Ranger is a great first

step to learning the ins-and-outs of campus.It’s off the stands now, but you can log onto www.theranger.

org for the entire issue.Information on paperwork, degree plans and the effect

of dropped courses will answer questions you may not have thought to ask yet.

Each of the Alamo Colleges offers unique programs. Don’t be afraid to enroll in courses at multiple campuses because you pay a single tuition.

Remember to save all your receipts because programming errors and glitches may erase the record of your tuition pay-ment.

Don’t pick courses based on professor ratings online. Talk to previous students.

Also, don’t drop courses thinking another professor will be easier. You will directly affect financial aid eligibility and waste one of only six drops the state allows during your entire under-graduate career.

Follow a degree plan, meet with professors and stay informed by regularly checking your Alamo Colleges email.

You’re in college now.It’s time to take responsibility for your life and your deci-

sions. The first step is doing your research so let The Ranger assist you.

You’re on your ownAlexandra Nelipa

Page 13: The Ranger 9-12-2011

The Ranger Sept. 12, 2011 • 13Viewpoint

“I was born in Germany, and my father is Italian. I moved here when I was 6 and forgot how to speak Italian and German. I want to remember.” These few lines are one of the answers

I received from my students at the beginning of the semester, when I asked them to anonymously write why they enrolled in an Italian class.

It is the third year that I have taught at this college, and it still surprises me that so many students — almost 90 this fall — want to learn Italian. It is not a major commercial idiom like Chinese or German, nor does it have the traditional charm or historical distinction of French.

So what is the attraction?Well, most of the responses

fell into the category of memory. Often, students in Italian class-es are children of military families once stationed in Italy, or they served in the military themselves.

At one time, they tasted La Dolce Vita — or the sweet life — walked the beautiful medieval cities and sampled the rich regional foods.

Now they want to remember — in Italian.

In general, Italian appears to be a “fun language,” which flatters me, considering that we Italians removed our nationalist pride since the end of World War II and its disastrous conse-quences.

Italian is the language of gelato and wine, the language of fashion and architecture.

Art majors want to better under-stand the Renaissance masters. Music majors want to hear “concerto,” “alle-gretto” or “adagio” as intended at the opera house La Scala.

Sometimes, older students enroll whose grandparents, or even parents, came as immigrants to the United States in the ’20s and ’30s. Their effort

to learn Italian is part of a deeper search for a lost identity.

Italian was their childhood lan-guage, but life’s urgencies and the need to integrate forced it into the background.

Now, it is time to get all possible memories back, including linguistic ones: that lullaby Granny used to sing or those obscure words Mom and Dad said when they were angry.

Students of Italian origin are the most motivated but also the most challenging to teach. They often dis-cover the language they remember is not

proper Italian but one of many dialects heard

across the peninsula. From my teaching

experience, I know this dis-covery can be very painful. Full of hope, they present me with expressions I can-not possibly understand. It must be very disorienting to learn their family lan-

guage was not “correct” Italian.As the course continues, the frus-

tration yields to a deep sense of grati-tude.

Students understand that dialects have their own dignity, and eventu-ally, they accept the diversity of the families who faced the ocean and the huge effort of immigration to give their descendants a better future.

Now, here are those descendants, learning Italian at this college and struggling with pronouns and conju-gations to be able to capture the echo of sweet childhood memories.

However, I have to admit not every student is so romantic. Half of the

students wrote that they already know Spanish and think they can easily learn a third

language with minimal effort, which is true to some

extent.And one student wrote, “I am

here because I registered late, and this was one of the only classes that was available.”

Well, I can live with that. We all need to fit in somewhere and

learning a new lan-guage is a great

way to fit into the world.

Recalling La Dolce Vita — in Italian

Viewpoint by Stefania Malacrida

Page 14: The Ranger 9-12-2011

14 • Sept. 12, 2011 The Ranger

District 1: Joe Alderete Jr.1602 Hillcrest DriveSan Antonio TX 78228 Cell: 210-863-9500 Home: 210-434-6967E-mail: [email protected], [email protected]

District 2: Denver McClendon3811 Willowwood Blvd.San Antonio, TX 78219Work: 210-281-9141 E-mail: [email protected], [email protected]

District 3: Anna U. Bustamante511 Ware Blvd., San Antonio TX 78221Work: 210-882-1609 Home: 210-921-2986E-mail: [email protected]

District 4: Marcelo S. Casillas115 Wainwright, San Antonio TX 78211No telephone number providedBoard of trustees liaison: 210-485-0030 E-mail: [email protected]

District 5: Roberto Zárate4103 Buffalo Bayou, San Antonio TX 78251No telephone number providedE-mail: [email protected]

District 6: Dr. Gene Sprague14722 Iron Horse WayHelotes TX 78023Work: 210-567-4865E-mail: [email protected]

District 7: Blakely Latham Fernandez3707 N. St. Mary StreetSan Antonio TX 78212Work: 210-538-9935E-mail: [email protected],[email protected]

District 8: Gary Beitzel15403 Forest Mist, San Antonio TX 78232Home: 210-496-5857E-mail: [email protected]

District 9: James A. Rindfuss13315 Thessaly, Universal City, TX 78148Home: 210-828-4630 Work: 210-375-2555E-mail: [email protected]

Trustees

Chancellor: Dr. Bruce H. Leslie201 W. Sheridan, Bldg. B,San Antonio TX 78204-1429Work: 210-485-0020 Fax: 210-486-9166E-mail: [email protected]

San Antonio College, Dr. Robert E. Zeigler210-486-0959, [email protected]

Northeast Lakeview College, Dr. Eric Reno210-486-5484, [email protected]

Northwest Vista College, Dr. Jacqueline Claunch210-486-4900, [email protected]

Palo Alto College, Dr. Ana M. “Cha” Guzman210-486-3960, [email protected]

St. Philip’s College, Dr. Adena W. Loston210-486-2900, [email protected]

Administrators

Guest Viewpoints:

Faculty, staff, students and

community members are wel-

come to contribute guest view-

points of up to 450 words.

Writers should focus on cam-

pus or current events in a critical,

persuasive or interpretative style.

All viewpoints must be pub-

lished 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, typewrit-

ten 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,

emailed 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 busi-

ness office.

Newspaper theft is a crime.

Those who violate the single-

copy rule may be subject to civil

and criminal prosecution and

subject to college discipline.

Editor

Jolene Almendarez

News Editor

Joshua Fechter

Calendar/Opinion Editor

Alma Linda Manzanares

Photo Editor

Ingrid Wilgen

Photo Team

Julianna Anaya, Rachael L. Emond, Casandra Gonzales,

Celeste Kulla, Ivie Okungbowa, Valerie Marie Salazar,

Katie Sheridan, Alex Solis, Riley Stephens

Illustrators

Juan Carlos Campos, Alexandra Nelipa, Fred Nockroes

Staff Writers

Brian Burdick, Sebastian Carter,

Jennifer Coronado, Marc Cunningham,

Faith Duarte, David Espinoza, Jennifer Flores,

Sara Garza, Kirk Hanes, Stefania Malacrida,

Hilary Martinez, Robert Medina,

Diana Palomo, Matthew Taylor

Multimedia Editor

Jennifer M. Ytuarte

Production Manager

Melody Mendoza

Web Editor

Jacob Beltran

©2011 by The Ranger staff, San Antonio College, 1300 San Pe-dro Ave., San Antonio, TX 78212-4299. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without permission.

The Ranger news outlets, which serve the Alamo Community College District, are laboratory projects of journalism classes in the Department of Media Communications at San Antonio Col-lege. The Ranger is published Mondays except during summer, holidays and examinations.

The Ranger Online is available at www.theranger.org.News contributions accepted by telephone (210-486-1773),

by fax (210-486-9292), by email ([email protected]) or at the editorial office (Room 212 of Loftin Student Center).

Advertising rates available upon request by phone (210-486-1765) or as a download at www.theranger.org.

The Ranger is a member of the Texas Intercollegiate Press As-sociation, the Associated Collegiate Press and the Texas Commu-nity College Journalism Association.

The RangeR

Page 15: The Ranger 9-12-2011

The Ranger Sept. 12, 2011 • 15Pulse

By Jennifer flores

The Wellness Committee is pro-

moting “Protect Your Corazón:

Cardio Madness” for

heart health. The pro-

gram through Dec. 2, is

open to faculty, staff and

students.

Chris Dillon, kinesiol-

ogy instructor and wellness

coordinator, said the reason for the

program is to engage faculty and staff

in exercise.

“People neglect taking care of their

heart,” he said. “The importance of

cardio is to protect the heart against

different diseases like cardiovascu-

lar disease, diabetes, heart attacks or

strokes.”

He said the program is meant to

inspire people to develop exercise

habits and requires participants to

log 1,100 minutes of cardio activity,

such as walking, running, jogging,

biking, zumba and swim-

ming, between 30-60 min-

utes at least three times a

week. Participants completing

the required minutes receive a

“Protect Your Corazon” shirt.

Those who exercise in

Candler Physical Education Center

during open gym hours should sign

in and out to record their minutes.

A box with cards to record minutes

will be available in Room 111. Those

participating off-campus must email

minutes to Dillon by Friday each week

at [email protected].

For more information, visit www.

alamo.edu/sac/kine/bulletin.htm.

Wellness contest encourages exercise

Join online – rbfcu.org210-945-3300 | 1-800-580-3300

The iPhone® app is free for members and available for download in the App Store. RBFCU Mobile works with all iPhone® and iPod® touch models (Electronic Deposits Mobile feature not available on some iPod® touch models). Operating Systems 3.1 or higher required. Our Android™ app is free for members and available for Android™ devices using version 1.6 operating system or above. Visit rbfcu.org for more details. Apple and the Apple logo are trademarks of Apple, Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. iPhone® is a trademark of Apple, Inc. App Store is a service mark of Apple, Inc. Android™ is a trademark of Google, Inc. Portions of this page are reproduced from work created and shared by Google and used according to terms described in the Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution License. Federally insured by the NCUA.

and more!and more!and more!and more!

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and more!and more!

FREE APP

As a Student or Employee of ACCD, You are Eligible for Membership.

Manuel Venegas practices tennis with Manolo Morales Sept. 1 on the tennis courts. Venegas and Morales are former stu-dents who plan to return in fall 2012. The tennis courts, when not reserved for classes, are open. Celeste Kulla

Page 16: The Ranger 9-12-2011

16 • Sept. 12, 2011 The RangerNews

By Diana Palomo

A food pantry sponsored by Phi Theta Kappa

provides groceries for students and staff of the

Alamo Colleges who may need help.

Members of the two-year international

honor society operate the pantry.

In the summer, the pantry relocated to 602

W. French Place at San Pedro Avenue from the

Catholic Student Center at 312 W. Courtland

Place.

Volunteers, led by economics Professor

Susan Spencer, worked to remodel, paint and

resurface the building.

The nonprofit San Antonio Food Bank has

served as a clearinghouse for cash and food

donations, storing truckloads of food, produce

and grocery products.

The agency has supported the Phi Theta

Kappa Food Pantry with food donations since

its opening March 5, 2009.

The donated products include canned

goods, baby food, juice, soft drinks, dairy prod-

ucts, meat, fruits, vegetables, poultry and bread.

Biology Professor Ellen Brennan, who teach-

es nutrition here, helps volunteers at the food

pantry combine the right amount of protein,

food and carbohydrates in prepackaged grocery

bags.

The food pantry is open noon–3 p.m.

Wednesday and Thursday for distribution.

First-time visitors can be provided with food

even if they are not part of the Alamo Colleges.

When people visit the pantry, volunteers

create a file that includes the number of family

members and a record of food given to them.

Children can receive a stuffed animal as a

gift from the agency.

Utensils are accepted only if they are in good

condition and attractive.

Three times a week, Spencer goes to the food

bank to pick up boxes of food for the pantry,

purchasing products that cost the pantry on

average 15 cents per pound. Produce is free.

On Wednesday mornings, she picks up spe-

cial orders.

“We have been so blessed,” said Spencer, who

is passionate about helping others.

Last year, Phi Theta Kappa received a $5,000

grant from Pepsi to set up the pantry. The United

Way distributes donations collected in an annual

combined campaign.

Between $1,000-$1,500 has come from dona-

tions earmarked for the pantry through United

Way contributions. Also, donations can be made

directly to the pantry with checks payable to the

San Antonio Food Bank for deposit in account.

Donations can be dropped off in Room 316

of Fletcher Administration Center or at the San

Antonio Food Bank at 5200 Old Highway 90 W.

For more information, call Spencer at 210-

486-0431 or email at [email protected].

Food pantry settles into new home off-campus

Education sophomore Tania Lopez and engineering sophomore Rick De La Garza prepare bags of groceries to be distributed. Photos by Casandra Gonzales

The Phi Theta Kappa food pantry at 602 W. French at San Pedro provides a variety of groceries available from donations.

San Antonio Food Bank, United Way and individuals continue to support PTK food pantry.

The food pantry is open from noon-3 p.m. Wednesdays and, when

volunteers are available, noon-3 p.m. Tuesdays.