The RangeRA forum of free voices serving San Antonio College since 1926 Single copies free
Vol. 84 Issue 2 Sept. 18, 2009
NO CONFIDENCENO CONFIDEN90%+90%
WHAT’S NEXT? 7-9
SPC FACULTY SEEK RESIGNATION
CHANCELLOR TRIES TO GAG FACULTY
2 • Sept. 18, 2009 The Ranger
The Ranger • Vol. 84 • Issue 2 Sept. 18, 2009 • 3
4 Blotter
5 Criminal Justice Association formsBy Lorraine Gomez
6 News
7 What’s next?By Vanessa M. Sanchez
8 Trustees commit to Leslie despite oppositionBy Jason B. HoganPhotos by Destiny Mata
9 St. Philip’s calls for resignationBy Vanessa M. SanchezPhotos by Destiny Mata
9 Faculty: “We can no longer afford to remain silent”By Vanessa M. Sanchez
15 Magic Closet dresses women for successBy Erika TorresPhoto by Priscilla Reyna-Ovalle
10 Premiere
10 KSYM’s morning showBy Henry A. ChavarriaPhotos by Destiny Mata
11 Calendar 12 EditorialsEditorial CartoonGag orderDonate bonusOnline comments
14 People
Only online @ theranger.org
Photo slideshow ofKSYM’s morning show
Photo slideshow of board meeting with story
Handgun incident in parking lot at NVC
Community leaders’ reaction to faculty’s vote of no confidence
Empowerment Center houses nontraditional, women’s programs
Free parenting workshops
Editorial No confidence in chancellor, board
Viewpoint: Ramadan teachescompassionby Zahra Farah
When you see this symbol,
go to www.theranger.org
for more info.
A forum of free voices serving San Antonio College since 1926The RangeR
www.theranger.org
4 • Sept. 18, 2009 The Ranger
Chancellor: Dr. Bruce H. Leslie201 W. Sheridan, Bldg. B, San Antonio, TX 78204-1429Work: 485-0020 Fax: 208-8149E-mail: [email protected]
District 1: Dr. Bernard Weiner929 Manor Drive, Ste. 7, San Antonio, TX 78228 Work: 735-9151 E-mail: [email protected]
District 2: Denver McClendon3811 Willowwood Blvd., San Antonio, TX 78219 Work: 281-9141 E-mail: [email protected]
District 3: Anna Bustamante511 Ware Blvd., San Antonio TX 78221Work: 882-1603 Fax: 927-4557E-mail: [email protected]
District 4: Marcelo S. Casillas115 Wainwright, San Antonio, TX 78211Home: 922-6815 Fax: 923-3167 E-mail: [email protected]
District 5: Roberto Zárate4103 Buffalo Bayou, San Antonio, TX 78251E-mail: [email protected]
District 6: Dr. Gene Sprague14722 Iron Horse WayHelotes, TX 78023Work: 567-5544 Fax: 520-9185E-mail: [email protected]
District 7: Charles Conner13306 Hunters Hollow, San Antonio, TX 78230Home: 493-7176 Fax: 493-7909 E-mail: [email protected]
District 8: Gary Beitzel15403 Forest Mist, San Antonio, TX 78232Home: 496-5857 E-mail: [email protected]
District 9: James A. Rindfuss109 Laburnum, San Antonio, TX 78209Home: 828-4630 Work: 375-2555 Home Fax: 832-8292 Office Fax: 375-0301 E-mail: [email protected]
Officials
San Antonio College, Dr. Robert E. Zeigler486-0959, [email protected]
Northeast Lakeview College, Dr. Eric Reno486-5484, [email protected]
Northwest Vista College, Dr. Jacqueline Claunch486-4900, [email protected]
Palo Alto College, Dr. Ana M. “Cha” Guzman486-3960, [email protected]
St. Philip’s College, Dr. Adena W. Loston486-2900, [email protected]
Presidents
SAN ANTONIO COLLEGE
Sept. 1 – An officer reported
adult male lying on the side-
walk at West Park and San
Pedro.
Sept 2 – An individual report-
ed damage/vandalism to per-
sonal vehicle.
An individual reported a dis-
turbance on the second floor
of Moody.
An individual reported illness
in Candler. EMS arrived, no
transport.
Sept. 3 - An individual report-
ed a suspicious person in the
construction site near Nail.
Suspect located and issued a
criminal trespass warning.
An officer reported an indi-
vidual starting a vehicle with
wires located under the steer-
ing column. Individual found
to be registered owner.
Sept. 4 - An individual
reported damage to personal
vehicle while on campus to
pick up her child at day care.
An individual reported seeing
a bike on campus which they
had reported stolen a week
previously.
An individual reported an ill-
ness in Chance. EMS arrived.
Transport not needed.
An individual reported a fight
in progress in Lot 7. Officer
made scene; subjects depart-
ed area.
Sept. 5 - An individual
reported suspicious person in
Moody. Suspect was located.
An individual reported their
vehicle was on fire in lot 26.
SAFD arrived on scene and
extinguished fire.
Sept. 8 - An individual report-
ed a disturbance on second
level of parking garage.
An individual reported
harassment from an exboy-
friend, which occurred off
campus.
An officer observed vehicle
with windows open in Park
Place lot. Vehicle checked;
came back as stolen.
PALO ALTO COLLEGE
Sept. 1 - An individual
reported suspicious persons
between courtyard and stu-
dent services area.
Sept. 3 - An individual
reported a disturbance in the
applied technology build-
ing. Report taken; everything
found to be OK.
Sept. 4 - An officer stood by
to watch facilities cut a wall
locker padlock.
An individual reported theft
of personal property.
An individual reported almost
being struck by another
vehicle.
Sept. 8 - An individual report-
ed theft of district property.
ST. PHILIP’S COLLEGE
Sept. 2 - An individual was
issued a citation for playing
loud music on campus.
An individual reported found
property. Item placed in
property locker.
An individual reported vehi-
cle being stolen.
An individual reported a
suspicious person. No one
located.
Sept. 3 - An officer reported
a disturbance in Lot 20.
Everything found to be OK.
An individual detained for
traffic violation and found to
be operating vehicle with no
drivers license.
An individual reported dam-
age to vehicle while parked
in Lot 10.
Sept. 8 - An individual report-
ed theft of district property.
An individual reported theft
of personal property from
classroom.
SOUTHWEST CAMPUS
Sept. 1 - An individual report-
ed missing district property.
Sept. 2 - An individual report-
ed a disturbance related to a
recent breakup of a relation-
ship.
Sept. 3 - An individual report-
ed theft of district property.
An individual reported graf-
fiti in men’s restroom stall
Building 1, Section C.
An individual reported miss-
ing personal property.
An individual reported miss-
ing district property.
An individual reported a tool-
box taken from the back of a
truck.
Sept. 4 - An individual report-
ed missing district property.
Property found.
Sept. 8 - Individual reported
burglary of vehicle.
Blotter
The Ranger Sept. 18, 2009 • 5
By Lorraine Gomez
Twenty-seven students interested
in careers in criminal justice formed the
Criminal Justice Student Association Sept. 3.
“The goal is to give students the oppor-
tunity to interact for career development
and opportunities through criminal jus-
tice professionals and community ser-
vice,” said Tiffany Cox, faculty adviser and
criminal justice instructor.
The association is open to students in
any major who are interested in criminal
justice careers.
San Antonio Police Officer Rick Olivares
described the police department’s training
program.
Professor Marshall Lloyd, criminal jus-
tice coordinator, said he believes in the
future of the association. “I want this to be
successful, and it will be; I will guarantee
that,” he said.
The organization is designed to intro-
duce students to the various professions
within criminal justice so they can decide
on a career.
The association elected criminal justice
freshman Christopher Garcia as president
and criminal justice sophomore Ginger
Ulloa as treasurer. Additional officers are
expected to be elected in future meetings.
Members also are creating a logo that
they will use later on T-shirts.
The San Antonio Police Officers
Association awarded the Criminal Justice
Student Association $500 to help the group
get started.
Students must have up to six hours
completed and a 2.0 GPA or higher to join.
Qualifying students may sign up with Cox
in Room 310 of Chance Academic Center.
“If you’re interested, even if you don’t
want to be a police officer, come to the
meeting and see what it’s all about,” Cox
said.
The next meeting will be at 1 p.m. Sept.
30 on the second floor of Loftin Student
Center.
For information, call Cox at 486-0991
or Lloyd at 486-0989.
Students form Criminal Justice AssociationNorthwest Vista
College
Sept. 1 - An individual
reported damage to dis-
trict property. Report
taken; no further informa-
tion.
Sept. 2 - Individual report-
ed illness in Juniper Hall.
EMS arrived and treated
individual on scene.
Sept. 3 – An individual
reported damage to per-
sonal vehicle.
Sept. 4 - An individual
reported lost personal
property.
An individual reported
found property. Item
placed in property locker.
Sept. 5 - An officer report-
ed graffiti at North Ellison
entrance.
Sept. 8 - An officer report-
ed graffiti in Juniper Hall
Room 212.
Northeast lakeView
College
Sept. 2 - An individual
reported a minor vehicle
accident in Lot 7.
Sept. 4 - An individual
reported illness at 1201
Kitty Hawk. EMS arrived
and transported the indi-
vidual for further treat-
ment.
An officer reported a street
sign lying on the ground
adjacent to Lot 6. Item
placed in patrol office.
6 • Sept. 18, 2009 The Ranger
By Mario anguiano
Face-to-face and online tutor-
ing are available by appointment
for any students, faculty and com-
munity members who need help
with their writing through the writ-
ing center in Room 203 of Gonzales
Hall.
Writing Center Director Frances
Crawford said with a laugh,
“Writing is hard.”
Crawford said the center pro-
vides an “engaging” process, as
opposed to merely an editing ser-
vice. Tutoring sessions are a part-
nership, with tutors using a “peer-
tutoring concept.” Depending on
where the student is with their
work, they receive necessary feed-
back and advice to get the best
possible piece of writing.
“(Tutors) are always ready
and waiting,” political science
freshman Jonah Thompson said
Tuesday. He appeared ready to get
work done, laptop out, pulling dif-
ferent items to work on out of his
bag. Thompson said he comes to
the writing center as an alternative
to the library, to work on “any and
all essays,” or just to do research in
a quiet atmosphere.
“I expect it to be quiet and
peaceful, where I don’t have to
worry about being interrupted.”
Thompson said there should be
more “environments focused on
writing” throughout the campus.
Crawford said faculty and stu-
dents both have asked if the cen-
ter could have longer hours. The
center is open 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Monday through Thursday and 8
a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Friday. The com-
puters lining the walls, and the
slew of tutors readily available, are
just keeping up with the demand
for the center’s services, she said.
Jon McCarter, writing center
assistant director and English lec-
turer, said the center expects to get
busier as the semester progresses.
While scrolling through the never-
ending appointments on his com-
puter screen, he said appointment
times were filling fast.
McCarter said he has seen a pos-
itive response in his own English
1301, Freshman Composition 1,
students who he knows to have
visited the center.
“Look at the results,” he said,
indicating research done earlier
in the year over the pilot center
that preceded the current writing
center.
The results of the research,
according to an Aug. 28 e-mail
from Crawford to the campus
faculty, indicate that if a student
comes to the center three or more
times in a semester and that if at
least one of those visits was early
in the semester, the writer has a
strong chance of seeing a signifi-
cant improvement in grades.
In the same e-mail, Crawford
wrote that “online tutoring is based
in Second Life, a virtual world pro-
gram that allows students to create
an avatar and meet with our tutors’
avatars online, in real time, with
voice.”
Assistants in the writing center
can help students create their ava-
tars and help them get the Second
Life software downloaded to their
home computers.
To schedule an appointment,
visit the writing center in Room
203 of Gonzales or call 486-1433.
Writing center helps students polish their prose
The Ranger Sept. 18, 2009 • 7
James Rindfuss-9
Gene Sprague-6
Denver McClendon-2
Roberto Zarate-5
Charles Conner-7
Marcelo Casillas-4
Anna Bustamante-3
Gary Beitzel-8
Bernard Weiner-1
By Vanessa M. sanchez
After announcing votes of no confidence
in the chancellor at Tuesday’s board meeting,
Faculty Senate chairs say they are deciding
what to do next after trustees responded with
a unanimous vote of confidence.
Jeff Hunt, this college’s Faculty Senate
chair, said he is undecided. “I don’t know; I
don’t have anything yet. We made our stance
and represented ourselves with great profes-
sionalism,” he said Wednesday.
Senates of this college and St. Philip’s, Palo
Alto and Northwest Vista reported more than
90 percent of faculty who voted at their respec-
tive colleges expressed no-confidence in the
leadership of Chancellor Bruce Leslie.
Mary-Ellen Jacobs, Faculty Senate chair of
Palo Alto College, said Wednesday, “We are try-
ing to formulate the next steps now.”
Alex Bernal, English department chair and
senate member at this college, said he is disap-
pointed that the board ignored the fact that all
the accredited colleges opposed the chancel-
lor’s progress.
As far as what is to come, Bernal said, “It’s
premature to say what the next steps are. It
needs to be thought out. That’s the way we
work, and we will continue to work with the
board.”
Northwest Vista’s Faculty Senate Chair Paul
Martinez said that they will make plans to
further ensure “we’re not wasting too much
money on consultants” because that money
“represents opportunities for students.”
Martinez also said he wants to work with
the senate to make sure that the colleges have
power to say what the curriculum is.
Hunt said he would bring up what is best
to do next at the next meeting of this college’s
Faculty Senate at 2:30 p.m. Oct. 7 in Room 120
of the visual arts center.
“It will be on the next senate agenda but
until then, this is unusual,” he said.
Efforts to reach George Johnson, St. Philip’s
College’s Faculty Senate chair, Wednesday
were unsuccessful.
At Tuesday’s Staff Council meeting at this
college, discussion and action on satisfaction
with the chancellor’s job performance was
not on the agenda, though council members
questioned its absence.
President-elect Anthony Perez said staff
shouldn’t “jump on the bandwagon,” but
administrative specialist Edward Diaz of
admissions and records said the staff mem-
bers encouraged him to bring up supporting
the faculty.
Parliamentarian Veila Tovar said she want-
ed the council to poll staffers on conducting a
vote for staff on supporting the faculty resolu-
tion.
Staff Council President Geraldo Guerra
said, “It’s too late,” but members disagreed.
President Robert Zeigler joined the council
at this point and when questioned on the pos-
sibility of supporting the faculty resolution, he
cautioned careful consideration.
“You need to decide as staff leaders what
those issues are” concerning the no-confi-
dence resolution. “Try to understand what’s
going on and what’s happened to get us where
we are.”
After the meeting, Guerra told The Ranger
that he learned of the Faculty Senate resolu-
tion a week earlier but felt it was too late to
rally Staff Council.
The chancellor continues in his post with
the trustees’ Tuesday night vote of confidence,
a $30,000 bonus on the horizon and a new
three-year contract.
Faculty: It’s too early to say what’s next
Board declares its satisfaction with chancellor’s performance
while staff mulls joining the fray.
Photos by Destiny Mata
Sept. 18, 2009 • 9
By Vanessa M. sanchez
Chancellor Bruce Leslie has “overex-
tended his role by ignoring faculty, not
adhering to policy and shows a lack of con-
cern for the mission and fac-
ulty,” said Jeff Hunt, Faculty
Senate chair of this college,
during Tuesday’s board
meeting. Leslie’s undermin-
ing of academic freedom at
this college shows Leslie dis-
regards the faculty at all the
district colleges, he said.
Leslie has “removed
curricular authority and
monopolized that author-
ity at the district level,”
Hunt said, adding that faculty members
were disappointed to issue “a resolution
of no confidence to the chancellor.”
Palo Alto Faculty Senate President
Mary-Ellen Jacobs said, “As faculty from
Palo Alto College, we speak out in one
voice to provide students with the high-
est quality in education. We can no
longer afford to remain silent.”
The chancellor undermines student
support, new administrator positions
have been created and student success
has been compromised, she said.
Jacobs said student support services
have failed and labs and tutoring hours
have been shortened, and for these rea-
sons, “we have no confidence in the
leadership of Bruce H. Leslie.”
Paul Martinez, Northwest Vista
Faculty Senate chair, said that his faculty
also voted no confidence.
He said the chancellor
has “squandered taxpay-
ers’ money” by increasing
the financial burden on
students. Martinez said
“9.9 percent of the budget
decreased and 5.3 percent of
that is for student services.”
He said the lack of
understanding of students
and district mission forced
them to vote no confidence.
Laura Miele, allied
health instructor at St. Philip’s, put recent
district changes of name, logos, tele-
phones, Web and e-mail addresses into
perspective by comparing to President
Obama telling Texas officials they could
no longer use the Texas seal on any docu-
ments and could no longer fly the Texas
flag at the same level as the American flag.
Loud whispers filled the room as the
crowd reacted to the hypothetical exam-
ples. She said she hopes her children will
one day attend a district college but that
they will have the freedom of thought,
research and conclusion to consider coop-
erative transparency and shared gover-
nance.
By Jason B. hogan
Board Chairman Denver McClendon
declared his unwavering confidence in
Chancellor Bruce Leslie Tuesday Faculty
Senates of three district colleges showed an
unprecedented vote of no confidence in the
chancellor’s leadership.
The board approved a new three-yeear con-
tract for the chancellor and a vote of confidence.
The balloting at this college drew 75 percent
of tenured and tenure-track faculty who voted
97 percent in no confidence for the chancellor’s
leadership.
At St. Philip’s College, 70 percent of eligible
faculty voted with 91 percent expressing no
confidence.
Palo Alto’s faculty, with 91 percent participa-
tion, voted 99 percent no confidence. Northwest
Vista’s faculty had an 85 percent eligible turnout
and 96 percent claimed no confidence.
Senate representatives called the chancel-
lor fiscally irresponsible in their resolutions,
questioning his motives for the proposed new
headquarters at the site of Playland Park, failure
to recognize principles of accreditation speci-
fied by Southern Association of Colleges and
Schools, ignoring faculty input on academics
and curriculum, and a disregard for district hir-
ing policies.
Those practices, the resolutions state, are
a direct link to the more than doubling of the
number of district personnel while the number
of full-time faculty at district colleges is being
reduced and class sizes are increased.
NVC did not draft a resolution, but Faculty
Senate president Paul Martinez represented his
college’s faculty at the citizens-to-be-heard ses-
sion at the board’s Tuesday night meeting.
Martinez focused on the growing institu-
tional support, which is the second highest
budgetary item among this district’s peer col-
leges, and a shift in requirement of student-
focused services.
He said the chancellor’s efforts have delayed
projects like Banner, use of nonstandard hiring
practices and a waste of tax dollars on specula-
tive projects such as Playland Park, a proposed
district headquarters.
Dr. Gene Sprague, District 6, said he contin-
ues to tell the chancellor how much he hates
administration, but if the hiring of new officials
can be justified, it leaves little cause of concern
for him.
“I’m a faculty member at a medical school,”
he said. “I deal with the same things they do.”
There is no such thing as a faculty member
that is in love with their administration, Sprague
said.
“Faculty generally are suspicious of admin-
istration and they should be,” he said. “But they
are not in a unique situation.”
This college’s Faculty Senate chair, Jeff Hunt,
said the large voter turnout at each of the col-
leges spoke volumes.
“He (Dr. Leslie) can claim we’ve had a collab-
orative process with shared governance, but to
us, it is merely smoke screen,” Hunt said.
Leslie continually ignores faculty input on
academics, Hunt said. For that reason, and the
fact that the colleges are accredited, and the
district is not, Hunt said the chancellor has
overstepped his bounds.
But McClendon denies charges there is not
sufficient communication.
“The board has made itself available to fac-
ulty,” he said. “In fact, I made myself available
on Friday” during a Super Senate meeting.
“We’re available to them,” he continued.
“We’re not trying to hide. If they see a need for
more communication between board and fac-
ulty, we are certainly available to do that.”
Sprague considers Leslie a willing partici-
pant in open communication, but said there are
some things the chancellor just cannot cave to.
Sprague said some of the faculty charges are
ludicrous.
He said aligning core curriculum pertains to
courses that crossover to multiple colleges. Any
programs that are unique to a specific campus
are to be maintained. Sprague said, more spe-
cifically, colleges that are unique to their com-
munities earn grant money for their services,
and they are an aid to the district, individually.
Hunt said, “Faculty are very sickened as
well that the board will so quickly disregard our
opinion when it comes to the students.”
McClendon said he believes that the objec-
tives of the board and district administration
correlate to the faculty and staff’s goals, but he
hopes it will become more harmonious.
But, realistically, he said everyone does not
agree the district is moving in the right direc-
tion.
Efforts to reach other trustees Tuesday after-
noon were unsuccessful.
Trustees commit to Leslie despite oppositionResolution cites fiscal
irresponsibility, disregard of policy and top-down management.
By Vanessa M. sanchez
George Johnson III, Faculty Senate president at St. Philip’s
College, asked on behalf of that college’s faculty for Chancellor
Bruce Leslie’s resignation during the citizens-to-be-heard por-
tion of Tuesday night’s board meeting.
He said Leslie has lost his credibility and “represents a
threat to our history and future.”
“Morale has diminished,” Johnson said. “We, therefore,
present this vote and ask for his resignation as chancellor of
the Alamo Colleges.”
Ninety-one percent of votes cast by 70 percent of the fac-
ulty called for the chancellor’s resignation. A total of 149 of 209
faculty members participated in the vote Sept. 11.
Johnson said if St. Philip’s faculty voted only no confidence
for the chancellor, then “he’ll just come in tomorrow knowing
that we have no confidence in him.”
St. Philip’s does not come forward on anything unless it is a
heavy situation, Johnson said.
In the past, Leslie has asked each of the colleges to send
him information on what is unique about each college.
St. Philip’s is the only college in the nation to be both a
Hispanic-serving institution and a historically black college.
Johnson said the institution graduates many at-risk stu-
dents and are “rich in student success.”
“Bruce H. Leslie has refused to see that,” he said, noting
that Leslie “does not find anything unique about the colleges
under his control. He has had the opportunity to establish
trust and shared governance but has not.”
Leslie has no contact hours and teaches no classes, he said.
He has forgotten that St. Philip’s was founded in 1898 and has
survived two world wars, the Great Depression and leadership
changes. “We do what we do best by putting our students first.”
St. Philip’s calls for resignation
Faculty Senate Presidents George Johnson III of St. Philip’s, Mary-Ellen Jacobs of Palo Alto and Paul Martinez of Northwest Vista address the board of trustees Tuesday.
Faculty: ‘We can no longer afford to remain silent’
Photos by Destiny MataPhotos by Destiny Mata
www.theranger.orgGo online for gag order,
new hires, student protest and community reaction.
For board meeting video, go to www.alamo.edu/district/
distmm/videos.htm.
News8 • The Ranger
10 • Sept. 18, 2009 The Ranger
By Henry CHavarria
The morning talk show “The
Sauce” on college radio station KSYM
90.1 FM will observe its 100th show
Sept. 28.
And college President Robert
Zeigler has begun joining the three
hosts from 7:30 a.m.-8 a.m. Thursdays
to answer students’ questions.
Questions will be gathered from stu-
dents around campus, and students
also can call in at 486-5796.
The morning talk show, which
hit the airwaves May 11, airs from 6
a.m.-8 a.m. weekdays with the simple
purpose to give the audience straight
news and music.
The hosts are radio-television-film
majors. Freshman Robert Medina and
sophomores James Velten and John
Basham “try their best not to give their
personal opinion on local, national
and world news,” Medina said.
While most morning talk shows
consist of 20 minutes of music and
20 minutes of news, the three hosts
decided it would be more appeal-
ing to have 20-minute segments of
news and 40 minutes of
music.
“The music during
the show has become a
blend of blues, rock and
country alternatives
since we do not play
much of those genres in
the rest of our regular
programming,” Velten said.
The show features traffic, weath-
er reports, sports high-
lights, today in history
and birthdays, which
come from a news
feed from USA News
Network, the nation’s
award-winning college
fax news service, which
provides news from
ABC News, CNN, ESPN, USA Today
and other major sources.
Immediately after one show
ends, the guys start planning for the
following day. “The best way for me
to prepare for each show is to stay on
my feet,” Basham said pointing to the
San Antonio Express-News, which he
keeps nearby for local news.
“Hosting a morning talk show
takes a lot of commitment,” Medina
said, “but it’s not too bad once you
get used to waking up at 4:30 in the
morning.”
Medina handles most of the pro-
motions and audio production dur-
ing the show — running the board,
cueing music and sound effects. On
top of going to school full time and
hosting a morning show, Medina
hosts “The Party” radio show from 9
p.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays.
Last spring Velten proposed
bringing a morning show to KSYM.
He is a part-time student and
works a graveyard shift at a gas
station at the edge of downtown.
“Sometimes, I won’t sleep and just
head to the station right after work,”
Velten said, “but the best way to
manage my time is to suck it up and
deal with what needs to be done.”
The station is taking applications
for promotion, music and graphics.
For more information, call 486-1371.
‘The Sauce’ covers talk that mattersPresident Robert
Zeigler plans to join DJs on the air once a week.
Sophomores James Velten and John Basham and freshman Robert Medina — radio-
television-film majors — host the morning talk show “The Sauce” on the college’s radio
station KSYM 90.1 FM at 6 a.m. weekdays.
Leda Garcia
By Lorraine Gomez
Health issues facing San
Antonio Latinos, such as diabe-
tes, obesity and high teen preg-
nancy rates, are the focus of this
year’s Hispanic Heritage Month
essay contest.
Noon Oct. 2 is the deadline
to enter the essay contest, which
is sponsored by the Hispanic
Heritage Month Committee, stu-
dent financial services and the
English department.
Scholarships will be awarded
to the writers of the four best
essays. The first-prize winner will
receive $400, second place will
receive $300, and two third-prize
winners will receive $150 each.
To participate, students must
have a grade-point average of at
least 2.0 and be enrolled in at
least six credit hours.
Winners will be notified by
Oct. 9. An awards ceremony is
set for 7 p.m. Oct. 13 in Koehler
Cultural Center.
For guidelines and more
information, call English faculty
members Liz Ann Baez Aguilar at
486-0650, Mariano Aguilar Jr. at
486-0651 or Patricia Portales at
486-0681.
Contest on Latino health
Tanya Martinez, vocalist for the band Bocastria, performs for the opening celebration of
Hispanic Heritage Month Wednesday in the Fiesta Room. Martinez is originally from San
Antonio and received a bachelor’s degree in cultural anthropology at UT-Austin. For more
events celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, log onto www.theranger.org.
Destiny Mata
www.theranger.orgSee photo slide show of
KSYM’s “The Sauce.”
The Ranger Sept. 18, 2009 • 11Calendar
Today
SAC Event: Mayor Julián Castro Hispanic
Heritage address 10 a.m.–10:30 a.m. in
the Fiesta Room of Loftin. Call 486-0125.
SAC Performance: “Azul Barrientos”
11 a.m.–1 p.m. in the Fiesta Room of
Loftin. Call 486-0125.
Monday
SAC Event: Salsa dance lessons from
11 a.m.–1 p.m. in the Fiesta Room of
Loftin. Call 486-0125.
SAC Meeting: Society of Mexican-
American Engineers and Scientists 2:30
p.m.-3:30 p.m. in Room 144 of Chance.
Call 486-0125.
SAC Transfer: Schreiner University infor-
mation table 1 p.m.-3 p.m. on first floor of
Chance. Call 486-0864.
SAC Transfer: Texas A&M University
8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. in the transfer center
on the first floor of Moody. Call 486-0864.
SAC Transfer: Our Lady of the Lake
University 9 a.m.–2 p.m. on the first floor
of Chance. Call 486-0864.
Tuesday
SAC Recital: Terry Muska and Madalyn
Blanchett at 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium
of McAllister. Call 486-0255.
SAC Transfer: Our Lady of the Lake
University 4 p.m.–6:30 p.m. on the first
floor of Chance. Call 486-0864.
SAC Transfer: University of Incarnate
Word 9 a.m.–1 p.m. on first floor of
Chance. Call 486-0864.
SAC Transfer: Texas A&M University
1 p.m.–4:30 p.m. in the transfer center on
the first floor of Moody. Call 486-0864.
Wednesday
SAC Meeting: Teaching Academy
Program Peers 1 p.m.–2 p.m. in Room
128 of Gonzales. Call 733-2539.
SAC Event: “Cooking with Mama” 12:15
p.m.–1:15 p.m. in the craft room of Loftin.
Call 486-0125.
SAC Meeting: American Institute of
Architecture Students 4 p.m.–5 p.m. in
Room 251 of Chance. Call 486-0125.
SAC Workshop: “To Google or not to
Google ... That is the Question” 2 p.m.-3
p.m. in the auditorium of McAllister. Call
486-0494.
Thursday
SAC Event: Presidents Round Table
2 p.m.–3 p.m. in the Craft Room of Loftin.
Call 486-0125.
SAC Transfer: University of Texas at San
Antonio 9 a.m.-11 a.m. on first floor of
Chance. Call 486-0864.
SAC Transfer: Texas A&M University
from 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. in the transfer
center on the first floor of Moody and
noon to 7 p.m. on first floor of Chance.
Call 486-0864.
Fotoseptiembre: SAC and UTSA Ar-
chitecture Alumni and Students exhibit 5
p.m.-8 p.m. at Schiebel-Richardson Gal-
lery, 626 Ave. E. Call 228-9921.
For coverage call 486-1773 or e-mail [email protected] two weeks in advance.
Calendar LegendSAC: San Antonio CollegeNVC: Northwest Vista CollegeSPC: St. Philip’s CollegeSWC: South West CampusPAC: Palo Alto CollegeNLC: Northeast Lakeview College
www.theranger.orgComplete calendar online.
The Ranger 12 • Sept. 18, 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-
dents and community members are wel-
come to contribute guest viewpoints of up
to 450 words.
Writers should focus on campus or cur-
rent events in a critical, persuasive or inter-
pretative style.
All viewpoints must be published with a
photo portrait of the writer.
Letters Policy: The Ranger invites
readers to share views by writing letters
to the editor. Space limitations force
the paper to limit letters to two double-
spaced, typewritten pages. Letters will be
edited for spelling, style, grammar, libel
and length. Editors reserve the right to
deny publication of any letter.
Letters should be mailed to The Ranger,
Department of Media Communications,
San Antonio College, 1300 San Pedro Ave.,
San Antonio TX 78212-4299.
Letters also may be brought to the news-
paper office in Room 212 of Loftin Student
Center, e-mailed to [email protected]
or faxed to 486-1789.
Letters must be signed and must include
the writer’s printed name, classification,
major, Social Security number and tele-
phone number.
For more information, call 486-1773.
Single Copy Policy: Because of high
production costs, members of the Alamo
Community College District community
are permitted one free copy per issue.
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 sub-
ject to college discipline.
Editor
Jason B. Hogan
Managing Editor
Vanessa M. Sanchez
Calendar Editor
Henry A. Chavarria
Photo Editor
Priscilla Reyna-Ovalle
Photographers
Leda Garcia
Destiny Mata
Production Manager
Laura Garcia
Production Assistant
Alena Ramirez
Newsroom Assistant
Zahra Farah
Illustrators
Juan Carlos Campos
Melissa Ann Rodriguez
Staff Writers
Mario Anguiano, Tyler K. Cleveland, Emilio Davila,
Lorraine Gomez, Steven L. Moya, Erika Torres
Web Administrator/Circulation
Regis L. Roberts
©2009 by The Ranger staff, San Antonio College,
1300 San Pedro Ave., San Antonio, TX 78212-4299. All
rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced with-
out permission.
The RangeR
Melissa Ann Rodriguez
The Ranger Sept. 18, 2009 • 13Opinion
Faculty leaders say Chancellor Bruce Leslie has forbidden them from distribut-ing their own notes from meetings, such as the District Chair’s Council and Super Senate.
Instead, annotation of meeting minutes is the express responsibility of district rep-resentatives.
Members of the ad hoc Accreditation Committee are not allowed to discuss the progress of their study of combining all five of the district colleges into one college to attain a single accreditation.
How odd that an administration that says it prizes transparency limits others’ efforts to share information gleaned from meetings.
One of the five district shared values designates communication as a top prior-ity and lists it as a district responsibility to “engage in open and transparent com-munication, information sharing and col-laboration.”
This gag order must be a reaction to criticism of the board of trustees, chancel-lor and district administration that advis-ing bodies of the five colleges have shared over the last two years.
The District Council of Chairs’ letter sent to Leslie in November 2008 held lack of planning, communication and trans-parency accountable for district failures.
Faculty Senates — this college and Palo Alto College — called the district and board of trustees “fiscally irresponsible” after they bought the Playland Park prop-erty and proposed building a $131 million district headquarters.
Groups have openly criticized the chan-cellor for changing the name of the district twice and the ripple effect of the adoption of new logos, all without consultation from college employees.
The incremental move toward single accreditation — a common core curricu-lum, course alignment and rumored com-mon learning outcomes and the appoint-ment of a committee to study the con-solidation of the colleges — has raised the most objections.
The chancellor has reneged on the promise of transparency by openly refus-ing to allow anyone other than his assis-tants to disperse their observations of what goes on in meetings.
His assistants and public relations offi-cials give accurate, if limited, information on proceedings. But as many people have pointed out, the “official” version is not the whole story.
This district can’t represent constituen-cies with academic freedom and pretend to prize transparency, if it squelches the free and open exchange of ideas.
Chancellor Bruce Leslie should be noble enough to donate his $30,000 bonus to the students of the Alamo Community College District.
The chancellor’s origi-nal contract promised him $30,000 if he stayed in the job three years. On Nov. 1, he will fulfill that obli-gation, and he’s doing it with an annual salary of $313,633.84
The district budget was in such dire straits this year that no one got across-the-board raises although trustees prom-ised to consider a 2 per-cent raise mid-year if dis-trict financial objectives are met. College budgets have been slashed, forcing mergers of departments, cutbacks in student ser-vices, an increase in class sizes and greater reli-ance on adjunct faculty. Although $30,000 wouldn’t go far in adding teachers or keeping labs open, the chancellor should donate his bonus to the Alamo Community College District Foundation.
With the rise in tuition, textbooks, child care and taxes along with the fluc-tuating price of gas and utility bills, 120 students could benefit from a $250 scholarship or 15 deserv-ing students could receive a $2,000 scholarship.
That’s a good deed that would make a big differ-ence to some students.
Chancellor: Donateyour bonus money to scholarships
Gag order inappropriate at academic institution
Viewpoints, Letters & Comments
Log onto www.theranger.org for reader opinions such as comments on the
no-confidence vote on the chancellor.
www.theranger.org
14 • Sept. 18, 2009 The RangerPeople
Priscilla Reyna-Ovalle
Priscilla Reyna-Ovalle
Destiny Mata
Destiny MataLeda Garcia
Sing a long: Economics
sophomore Daniel Having
belts out “Whole Lotta Love”
by Led Zepplin during a kara-
oke performance Monday in
the Fiesta Room of Loftin.
Karaoke takes place from
11 a.m.-1 p.m. every other
Monday. The next one is
scheduled for Sept. 28.
Pool Champs: Liberal arts freshman
Timothy Hernandez and pharmacy sopho-
more Robert Reyes battle it out in an 8-ball
pool tournament Monday. Hernandez won
an iPod Shuffle for first place and Reyes a
SAC T-shirt for second.
Friends: Psychology fresh-
man Raja Anthony Abu-
Nakha Bal makes a new
friend, theater sophomore
Daniel Lerma, during New
Friend Tuesday in the mall.
Bal was cooling off after jog-
ging class and was happy to
meet friendly people.
Entertainment: Music sophomore Gilbert Abundis, a member
of Danglewood, performs Sept. 11 in Loftin. Joshua Fuentes, St.
Philip’s College music sophomore and former student of this col-
lege, and Matthew Garcia formed the band with Abundis in 2000.
This is their second time performing in the Fiesta Room.
Breathe out: Freshman Arthur Nino, elec-
trical engineering freshman, concentrates on
exercising his arms in Candler Sept. 10. The
physical conditioning room hours are 3:15
p.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Wednesday,
3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday and 2 to 4 p.m.
Friday.
The Ranger Sept. 18, 2009 • 15
By Erika TorrEs
The grand opening of the Magic Closet, a program that provides pro-
fessional women’s clothing for low-income students, will be Thursday.
Even before the grand opening, some students already have received
help informally from the closet, which is located in the lower level of the
Catholic Student Center, 312 W. Courtland Place.
Dr. Alice Johnson, dean of learning resources, said the program is for
students who have a job interview or are starting a job and do not have
appropriate clothing.
Debbie Middleton, continuing education specialist, said, “It’s defi-
nitely going to benefit low-income students. It’s going to do a lot to
encourage them and build their self-esteem.”
The closet first opened its doors in 2001. It moved to St. Philip’s
College in 2005, but closed there and returned to this college early this
year on an informal, referral basis.
Middleton said two board members of the Network Power/Texas
organization, a support group for area businesswomen, started the Magic
Closet because they felt there was a need for it. The program got its name
from the Magic Time Machine, which was where Network Power/Texas
first met. At the onset, donations for the closet were housed in spare
bedrooms, offices and the trunks of cars, Middleton said.
A collection of women’s professional clothing items in various sizes
has been donated, but Johnson said clothing in larger and plus sizes is
especially needed.
“It’s such a crowded place,” Johnson said. “There is a lot of work to be
done, but it’s worth it.” She also said she hopes to take pictures of all of
the clothing and put it in an online database.
Recipients must be students at colleges in the Alamo Community
College District, Johnson said. Students make an appointment, go
through the racks of clothing, try on outfits and pick something.
“Normally, it’s one outfit per person.”
The motto of the Magic Closet is “dressing today’s students for tomor-
row’s success.”
“Let’s face it, sometimes you are judged on your appearance,”
Johnson said.
To schedule an appointment for access to the closet and to make
donations, call 486-0904 or 486-0903.
Magic Closet dresses women for success
Clothes, purses and shoes are stored Wednesday in the Magic Closet in the basement of
the Catholic Student Center. The closet’s grand opening will be Sept. 24.
Priscilla Reyna-Ovalle
16 • Sept. 18, 2009 The Ranger