Download - The Ranger 2-14-2011
THE RANGER
Rope your perfect partner
GUNS ON CAMPUS 3
HEALTH CENTER PAINS 7
PAY FOR PLAYS 11
A forum of free voices serving San Antonio College since 1926
Vol. 85 Issue 13 Single copies free Feb. 14, 2011
The Ranger •2 • Feb. 14, 2011
A forum of free voices serving San Antonio College since 1926The RangeR
3 News Committee opposes handgun bill before Legislature By Jennifer M. Ytuarte
4 Students take budget concerns to the Capitol By Jennifer M. Ytuarte
6 Grassy knoll makeover By Jacob Beltran Graduate crashes during winter storm By Megan Mares
7 Health center closing strands disabled students By J. Almendarez
8 Premiere
Valentine’s Day makes romantic memories By Ranger staff Love doesn’t have to be blind By J. Almendarez Holiday leaves emotional scars
9 Lovers’ day marks saint’s clubbing, stoning and beheading
10 Calendar
11 Whitney curator of new media here Thursday By Riley Stephens No more free performances By Dana Lynn Traugott
12 Editorials Call, write, text legislators
13 Graduate now Treat adjuncts better
14 Officials & Policies
16 Stock show raises ranchers, scholarships By Krystal Barcenez
College Council wary of assessment, opposes concealed handguns By Melody Mendoza College releases 500 transcripts on printer paper By Joshua Fechter VP suggests federal
services for disabled By J. Almendarez Handguns on campus revived in Legislature By Jennifer M. Ytuarte Consultants find, remove petroleum tanks from lot By Jacob Beltran
This issue
Online
Cover: Illustration by Juan Carlos Campos
Drama sophomore Wendy Olivares as Penelope, a demonic twin, rips the head off a doll while theater sophomore John Belcher, as Xavier Utterson, reacts Tuesday during rehearsals for “Chemical Imbalance: A Jekyll and Hyde Play” in McCreless. Tyler K. Cleveland
Does a Ranger as SAC mascot offend you?Online poll resultsNo — 63 percent/38 votesYes — 5 percent/3 votesWhy would it? — 32 percent/19 votes
The Ranger Feb. 14, 2011 • 3News
By Zahra Farah
Legal Affairs Committee members Tuesday
voted to recommend to the full board a resolu-
tion opposing pending legislation to allow con-
cealed handguns on campus.
The full board will consider the resolution at
the next regular board meeting at 6 p.m. Feb. 22
in Room 101 of Killen Center at 201 W. Sheridan.
The board meeting was postponed a week
so trustees can attend a Community College
National Legislative Summit in Washington, D.C.
Tuesday’s vote was 3-1 with District 8 trustee
Gary Beitzel in opposition. Beitzel, who is also
chairman of the board, was sitting in for District
4 trustee Marcelo S. Casillas, who was feeling ill.
Members of this committee are Casillas,
District 9 trustee James Rindfuss, District 7 trust-
ee Blakley Fernandez and District 1 trustee Joe
Alderete Jr.
Chancellor Bruce Leslie was absent to attend
a Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation meeting in
Washington, D.C. Dr. Robert Aguero, vice chan-
cellor for academic success, sat in for Leslie.
The resolution calls for opposing three pro-
posed bills related to licensed concealed hand-
guns on campuses, HB 86, SB 354 and HB 750.
Another handgun bill in the Texas House of
Representatives is HB 954, which relates to an
employee’s transportation and storage of cer-
tain firearms or ammunition while on property
owned or controlled by the employer.
After the meetings, Beitzel said he voted
against the resolution because he agrees some-
one with a concealed handgun license should
have the right to carry a concealed weapon. He
said it is up to the committee and in the end, the
decision of the full board.
In a Thursday interview, Beitzel said he does
not carry a handgun, but he got a license about
a year ago and practices target shooting at a gun
range and has a gun for family protection.
He said a requirement of getting a license is
to “know how to shoot and clean your weapon.”
“The law to carry a license is pretty thick,”
Beitzel said. “It’s about 69 pages.”
He said the restrictions on getting a license
are tougher than running for office and that
when he was in the Air Force, he had a security
clearance, but it still took six months to get a
concealed handgun license.
The resolution further states that such leg-
islation limits the number of Alamo Colleges’
parking lots because the district would have
to provide employee-secured firearms storage.
General counsel Retha Karnes said that the
Texas labor code states that employees who are
licensed to carry would have to leave weapons
in the car. If the car is on an employer’s parking
lot, the employer has to provide either a lock box
or designated parking lot for those employees.
Alamo Colleges’ policy states only peace officers
can carry handguns on campus.
Chief Don Adams of district police said it’s
best to oppose all legislation. He said if any of
these bills pass and if there is a situation at the
campus involving weapons, peace officers won’t
stop to ask who is licensed to carry a handgun.
Texas law states a “person who can legally
possess a firearm may carry a handgun in motor
vehicle (including a recreational vehicle with liv-
ing quarters) that is owned by or under the lawful
control of the person.”
According to policy D.4.6 workplace violence,
state law and college district prohibit the posses-
sion, carry or use of prohibited weapons includ-
ing firearms, illegal knives and clubs on college
district-owned or -controlled properties.
Adams said if the bills in the Legislature pass,
it would trump any district administrative policy.
Beitzel asked if a citizen in a campus parking
lot is allowed to carry a concealed handgun.
Adams said yes, but if they point the gun at
anyone, they are breaking the law. Also prohib-
ited from obtaining a license is anyone with a
charge of driving while intoxicated or threaten-
ing with a weapon, or who has been diagnosed
by a psychiatrist with mental incompetence.
Adams said they can only use a weapon to
protect themselves and others. Beitzel said it’s
not like a student would come in and threaten a
professor with a weapon for a better grade.
Fernandez asked college presidents for their
opinions. Dr. Jackie Claunch, Northwest Vista
president, said she was not comfortable hav-
ing students carry guns on campus. President
Robert Zeigler said he was not comfortable with
students, faculty and staff carrying weapons
on campus. Dr. Eric Reno, Northeast Lakeview
College president, said he would not work in an
environment that allowed students and faculty
to carry concealed handguns on campus.
He reminded the board that two years ago
at Northeast Lakeview, Librarian Alan Godin
shot and killed fellow Librarian Donald “Devin”
Zimmerman. Reno said concealed handguns
wouldn’t have changed the outcome. After the
shooting, Reno said the media asked if he would
install metal detectors, and he said no.
Dr. Ana “Cha” Guzman, Palo Alto College
president, did not attend the meeting and Dr.
Adena Loston, St. Philip’s College president,
arrived after the discussion.
Alderete asked Adams how police would
remember which students have permits to carry
a handguns.
“It would virtually be impossible,” Adams
replied.
For more information, go to www.alamo.edu
and click on Board of Trustees and then Agendas.
Committee opposes handgun bills before Legislature
Ashley Storm, general counsel and bill manager for Sen. Jeff Wentworth, speaks with students and faculty of this college Feb. 2 at Community College Day in Austin. Students express con-cerns about SB 354, which would allow concealed handguns on campus. Storm said the bill involves self-defense and the right to protect property. See story, Page 4. Jennifer M. Ytuarte
4 • Feb. 14, 2011 The RangerNews
Anthropology sophomore Alice Yannuzzi speaks with State Rep. Joaquin Castro about pursuing a degree after she raised her children as a single parent and saw them graduate from college. Castro spoke Feb. 2 during Community College Day in Austin. Photos by Jennifer M. Ytuarte
By Jennifer M. ytuarte
A wind chill of 6 degrees and power failures
greeted six students, two faculty members and
a Ranger reporter Wednesday as they boarded a
charter bus and headed to the Capitol in Austin
for Community College Day.
The Texas Association of Community
Colleges, the Community College Association
of Texas Trustees and the Texas Student
Government Association sponsored the event.
Eighty-five students from the Alamo Colleges
participated the event: six from this campus,
plus a Ranger reporter, 30 from St. Philip’s
College, 32 from Northwest Vista College and 16
in a combined bus of Northeast Lakeview and
Palo Alto colleges’ students.
Of the 21,441 students currently enrolled at
this college, 22 expressed interest, but only six
boarded a bus early Feb. 2.
Student life announced the free trip on
ACES Jan. 25 inviting students to voice their
concerns about proposed budget cuts to high-
er education.
Leo Zuniga, associate vice chancellor of
communications who coordinated the event,
said, “These students were dedicated. They left
between 6:30 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. in the bitter
cold.”
Zuniga said, “They also braved wind gusts
and below freezing wind chill during the open-
ing speech on the Capitol steps.”
Zuniga said the event was a success.
“Students carried on active conversations
with senators and representatives and were
involved in the discussion process.”
District funds covered the $983 Star Shuttle
charter bus and $100 breakfast. Each student
received apple juice, a water bottle, apple and
muffin.
Alamo Colleges students spoke directly with
Sens. Judith Zaffirini and Jeff Wentworth as well
as Reps. Mike Villarreal, Ruth Jones McClendon
and Joe Farias.
Steven Johnson with the Texas Association
of Community Colleges said about 700-800 of
the original 1,400 registered students attended.
They represented 30 of the 50 college districts
in Texas.
“Most districts have only one community
college, so there was a huge turnout, even with
the unbearably cold weather,” Johnson said.
Snow in the Dallas metroplex and single-
digit temperatures with up to a minus-12 degree
wind chill in the Panhandle grounded most of
northern Texas.
Anthropology sophomore Alice Yannuzzi
said she wanted to go to the Capitol and get
information directly from bill authors. “I’m
going to let the representatives know we are
hard-working and determined to get an educa-
tion,” Yannuzzi said.
Nursing freshman Jessica Hernandez said
she is concerned about cuts to elementary
education.
The preliminary House budget proposal,
HB1, eliminates all prekindergarten funds.
Students from Brazosport College, one of
four community colleges proposed for the
Students take budget concerns to the Capitol
The Ranger Feb. 14, 2011 • 5News
chopping block in HB1, wore matching T-shirts
that said, “Count on us, here to stay!”
Other students passed out fliers and sport-
ed red stickers that read, “+20% students/-30%
funding,” to remind legislators that while stu-
dent enrollment has increased 20 percent,
funding has been cut by 30 percent.
A comparison of enrollment between fall
2009 and 2010 by the Texas Higher Education
Coordinating Board shows an enrollment
growth of 66,590 students, or 9.83 percent, in
community colleges, and 27,891 students, or
5.24 percent in public four-year institutions.
According to the 2010-11 biennium, appro-
priations to higher education totaled $21.6
billion in all funds and $12.7 billion in general
revenue. Public community colleges received
a budget of $2.2 billion of general revenue
appropriations.
The 2010-11 budget does not include Gov.
Rick Perry’s later mandated 10 percent cut.
Johnson said the 2010-11 budget does not
cover growth and HB1 cuts deeper into higher
education, forcing Texas colleges and universi-
ties to patch together temporary solutions at
students’ expense.
Rep. Dan Branch, R-Dallas, met hundreds
of community college students at the Capitol’s
southern steps.
He emphasized the importance of student
participation. “Today more than half of higher
education takes place in community colleg-
es,” Branch said. “We need your voices to be
heard.”
Of the 1.3 million students enrolled in four-
year universities, community and technical
colleges last fall, 743,979 — 53 percent —
called community college home.
The board cites data that shows 70 percent
of first-time college students enroll at a com-
munity college.
During lunch, Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-San
Antonio, said, “The budget we see today is not
what is going to pass in May, it is the worst-
case scenario.”
He said, “Just as there is an infrastructure
for roads and highways, we need to build a
support mechanism to make sure everyone
has access to higher education.”
Castro said tuition at public four-year uni-
versities has risen 75 percent since 2003.
Cuts must be made, Castro said, but they
will not be made at the expense of children.
Deborah Martin, this college’s public rela-
tions director, asked David Clark, Wentworth’s
legislative assistant, if the next budget options
would tap the state’s $9.4 billion Rainy Day
fund.
“It’s pouring,” Martin said.
Clark said HB1 is what legislators promised
constituents: a balanced state budget with no
tax increases and no rainy day funds.
He said, “This budget crisis is a blessing
and a curse.” Clark said it forces legislators to
address previously overlooked spending.
Clark said there are several ideas for tax
increases, revisiting the gross receipts margin
tax as well as a tax on tobacco.
“The most likely idea is to use $4 billion to
$5 billion from the Rainy Day fund to fill the
gap.”
Tyler Ingraham, a former student here
and an unsuccessful candidate for the Alamo
Community College District board, works as
an aid to Rep. Trey Martinez-Fischer, D-San
Antonio.
Ingraham said, “One vote can go a long way
in the right situation.”
He said, “You only have so much credence.
Talk to your local representatives. They know
what avenues to take to get your voice heard.”
Local and Austin office phone numbers, as
well as e-mail addresses for the included list
of representatives and senators can be found
in their member directory at www.house.
state.tx.us/members/ and www.senate.state.
tx.us/75r/Senate/senmem.htm.
Representatives
District 116 Trey Martinez Fischer Local: 210-737-7200 Austin: 512-463-0616 [email protected]
District 117 John V. Garza Austin: 512-463-0269 [email protected]
District 118 Joe Farias Local: 210-923-0908 Austin: 512-463-0714 [email protected]
District 119 Roland Gutierrez Local: 210-532-2758 Austin: 512-463-0452 [email protected]
District 120 Ruth McClendon Local: 210-225-2107 Austin: 512-463-0708 [email protected]
District 121 Joe Straus Local: 210-828-4411 Austin: 512-463-1000 [email protected]
District 122 Lyle Larson Local: 210-414-3536 Austin: 512-463-0646 [email protected]
District 123 Mike Villarreal Local: 210-734-8937 Austin: 512-463-0532 [email protected]
District 124 Jose Menendez Local: 210-673-3579 Austin: 512-463-0634 [email protected]
District 125 Joaquin Castro Local: 210-684-6896 Austin: 512-463-0669 [email protected]
Senators
District 19 Carlos Uresti Local: 210-932-2568 Austin: 512-463-0119 [email protected]
District 21 Judith Zaffirini Local: 210-657-0095 Austin: 512-463-0121 [email protected]
District 25 Jeff Wentworth Local: 210-826-7800 Austin: 512-463-0125 [email protected]
District 26 Leticia R. Van de Putte Local: 210-733-6604 Austin: 512-463-0126 [email protected]
Tyler Ingraham, aide for Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer, speaks with students about finding alternative private funding for higher education Feb. 2 at Community College Day in Austin. Eighty-five Alamo Colleges students attended the event.
6 • Feb. 14, 2011 The RangerNews
By Megan Mares
Icy roads proved treacherous
for many San Antonians late Feb. 3
when freezing drizzle and ice cov-
ered the area. Many aren’t trained
to drive on icy roads because the
area so seldom sees this weather.
Nearly 500 vehicle accidents
were reported with one resulting in
a college graduate in two leg casts,
unable to walk for six to eight weeks.
At about 10 p.m., Monica
Polendo was involved in a 20-car
pile-up eastbound on Interstate
10 near Woodlawn Avenue and
Fredericksburg Road.
On the way home, weather con-
ditions declined quickly with tem-
peratures at 20 degrees and roads
slick with freezing rain. The trip in
her older Honda Civic usually took
less than 15 minutes.
The liberal arts graduate saw
cars in front of her begin to collide.
“As I hit my brakes, my car spun in
a circle and hit a concrete barrier,”
she said.
Cars behind her continued to
pile up, so Polendo jumped out
of the car and ran to the shoulder
of the elevated freeway lanes. “I
was freaked out,” she said. “I didn’t
want to get hit.”
And so Polendo jumped. She
landed 10 to 12 feet below on the
access road. Unable to get up, she
located her cell phone and called
for help. Residents who saw the
accident offered help and blankets.
In about 15 minutes, two para-
medics arrived and assisted her in
walking to an ambulance where
she waited for 30 minutes.
Paramedics told her nothing
was broken. She said she was wait-
ing for a friend to pick her up.
As he approached the scene,
Clayton Greenwell saw an elderly
man trapped in an upside-down
vehicle. He kicked in the window,
shattering the glass, and pulled the
man out unharmed before collect-
ing Polendo.
Two days later, she was still in
extreme pain and began to doubt
the paramedics’ assessment.
Polendo was X-rayed, and a doc-
tor told her the fibula in each of her
legs was broken. She was unable
to decide between cast colors and
opted for one orange and one blue.
When asked what happened,
Polendo said she answered the
doctor honestly. “I guess it’s better
then being dead,” she was told.
Despite her injuries, Polendo’s
Honda sustained only a small
scratch.
AIR GUARD
Career training. Money for college. And an entire team to help you succeed.
Serving part-time in the Texas Air Guard, you can choose from nearly 200 career specialties, you’ll also serve close to home and receive a steady paycheck, benefits and tuition assistance. Talk to a recruiter today, and see how the Air Guard can help you succeed.
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!
Grassy knoll makeoverBy JacoB Beltran
Students often slip on mud
or trip on branches when walk-
ing through the seating of the
grassy knoll west of Moody
Learning Center.
Facilities Director David
Ortega said limestone is being
cut and will be placed along the
west side of the knoll.
As he cleared a barricade
on the knoll Tuesday, irrigation
technician Alberto Gloria said,
“This will hopefully prevent
people from walking through,
tripping and act as a barrier to
stop mud from getting on the
walkway.”
Gloria dug a moat using a
tractor in preparation for lime-
stone blocks to be placed as
a border in harmony with the
limestone already in place.
“It will be noticeable at
first,” Ortega said. “But after a
couple years of weathering, it’ll
blend in.”
Ortega said the limestone,
which costs $2,300, would add
more places for students to sit
in the mall.
He said planning for the
project began in November,
was approved in December
and landscapers began Sunday
to avoid having to work with
heavy equipment around stu-
dents.
The project is expected to be
completed in a month.
Graduate crashes during winter storm
Irrigation technician Alberto Gloria uses a tractor to make preparations to place lime-stone around the grassy knoll. Jacob Beltran
The Ranger Feb. 14, 2011 • 7News
By J. AlmendArez
Library science sophomore
Loree Morgan has cerebral palsy.
The brain disease affects mus-
cle tone, which is her ability to
resist movement.
It directly causes her to strug-
gle with balance, posture, and the
position of her body.
She depends on the college
health center in Room 119 of
Chance Academic Center to assist
her throughout the day on campus.
The nurses help her open the
restroom door, are available to
help her if she falls and allow her
to rest in the office.
When the center is closed, as it
was Feb. 5 and 6, the services stop.
The health center closed at 2
p.m. Monday when nurse Paula
Daggett left ill. Tuesday, the center
was closed all day because Daggett
was still out sick.
“I have to find somebody to
take me to the bathroom,” Morgan
said. She said when she sometimes
feels dizzy, she turns to the resting
beds in the health center to nap.
But when the center is closed,
she said she rests in a corner of a
computer lab next to the disability
support services office. “It’s embar-
rassing,” she said.
She and several other disabled
students, said it feels like the cen-
ter is closed more than it is open.
Last semester, The Ranger
reported this college is in com-
pliance with the Texas Board of
Nursing’s Interpretive Guideline
for LVN Scope of Practice Section
301.353 and Rule 217.11(2).
It requires “an LVN to practice
under the supervision of a RN,
advanced practice nurse, physi-
cian, podiatrist, dentist or physi-
cian assistant.”
In the guideline’s definition of
supervision, it states, “However,
direct (onsite or on-unit) supervi-
sion is not required.” It goes on to
say that if an LVN can
contact an RN on the
telephone or through
other means, they will
be within the law.
President Robert
Zeigler said the col-
lege has been operat-
ing since last semester
under the assumption
that a RN had to physi-
cally be present for an
LVN to legally work in
the center.
After being shown the state’s
definition of the word “supervised,”
Zeigler said he would meet with Dr.
Robert Vela, vice president of stu-
dent services, and Jorge Posadas,
director of student life, to discuss
if the college can comply with that
interpretation of the word.
“We will look into this further,”
he said Wednesday.
While the code was enacted in
2006, it was not implemented at
this campus until last semester.
Jeff Jackson, associate direc-
tor of student life, said the col-
lege complied with the law when
they found out it changed, but was
unsure why the change was not
noticed sooner.
Vela confirmed that the col-
lege did not find out about the
change until last year. Neither he
nor Zeigler were able to explain
the delay.
The health center, overseen by
the office of student life, is now
closed whenever Dagget is unable
to be at the office because of a
meeting, for lunch or when she
is sick.
When the health center is
closed during regular hours of
operation, LVN Josie Noriega has
been instructed to report to the
office of student life in Room 256
of Loftin Student Center.
There she is available to answer
questions or provide information
for students, faculty and staff,
Jackson said.
However, she is unable to
provide any medical
assistance to students,
including the daily
help many disabled
students need and that
Noriega has been pro-
viding for the past 16
years at this college
Prior to the fall,
Noriega often staffed
the health center
when Daggett was out.
Several years ago, the
college health center had a staff of
three, which allowed evening and
weekend hours.
Tuesday, Noriega was also pro-
moting the center’s lecture “Sexual
Health and Condom Awareness”
Feb. 9 in the craft room in Loftin,
which was scheduled at the same
time as student life’s Wild West
Rodeo Round-up in the mall.
Vela said the college wants to
protect Noriega from losing her
license, which under the current
understanding of the guidelines
is a potential consequence if she
practices without the supervision
of a certified RN.
DSS Chair Maria Gomez mir-
rored the feeling some disabled stu-
dents have about the center being
closed nearly as much as it is open.
She is concerned not only for
the well being of disabled students,
but for everyone on campus who
needs medical help or advice.
She said without the health
center, this campus will lack acces-
sibility to medical information,
adding that when the health center
is closed, people often go to DSS
looking for a nurse.
The DSS office is next to the
health center in Chance.
For assistance with college ser-
vices, call the DSS office at 210-
486-0020. The health center num-
ber is 210-486-1446.
Health center closing strands disabled students
A federal program can provide help to disabled students.
8 • The Ranger Premiere
Read closely, romantic souls, and prepare to scorn,
cynics. Maybe these recollections from The Ranger staff
will spark an idea or two for your own 2011 Valentine’s
Day.
“Last year, my boyfriend picked me up for church like
a regular Sunday. It was our first Valentine’s together, so I
was expecting something good, but there were no flowers,
no card, nothing. I was a little disappointed, but “love is
patient.” When I got to church, I found a huge bouquet
of flowers on the media/audio booth where I sit. At first,
I thought they were just decoration, but when I finally sat
down, I saw a picture of us with 1 Corinthians 13:4, which
says, ‘Love is patient, love is kind,’ etc.”
Journalism sophomore Melody Mendoza
“My boyfriend always gives thoughtful gifts. One year
for Valentine’s Day, he bought me a tape recorder because
he knew I wouldn’t buy it for myself but that I would even-
tually need it for a reporting assignment. Someone who
can support your goals is definitely ‘a keeper’ in my book.”
Journalism sophomore Laura Garcia
“My best Valentines Day experience was back in 2009,
the best year of my life. I wanted to take my girlfriend to
Olive Garden but I was so sick, I didn’t think I could do it,
I still did though. She was so happy that we made it, even
though we were waiting outside for almost an hour till we
could get a seat. Eventually, we got in and as we sat down,
we exchanged Valentines gifts. I gave her a bear that had
her favorite picture of us in the center when we were in
school together along with other things I can’t remember.
She gave me a mix CD that I still listen to, and PS3 under
shorts. It was a romantic time and I still remember the
love in the air, even in the freezing wind that buffeted us
outside, we simply held each other close to keep warm.”
Journalism sophomore Jacob Beltran
“Well to be honest I really don’t have a memorable
Valentine’s Day moment. I don’t feel like I’m really missing
out on anything. I just feel like my special someone has
not come yet. I’m not sad or upset when this day comes
around either. To be honest I make sure I get my mom a
gift because she’s more into it than I am. When I do find
that someone, I hope we don’t celebrate this day because
it’s too commercial. I want my boyfriend to buy me flow-
ers and chocolate in a random month like October. It
would be more meaningful and more of a surprise.”
Journalism sophomore Zahra Farah
Others just can’t catch a break on the big
day. Read these stories to make you grateful for
a waxy chocolate heart and wilted carnation.
“Every Valentine’s Day is just anotherday for
me – nothing special.”
Joshua Franklin
mechanical engineering sophomore
“I’ve been broken up with on Valentine’s
Day. I actually had a custom chocolate rose
made for my boyfriend. While I was getting
ready for our date, he called me and said he’d
been cheating on me for two months, and he
didn’t think things would work out between us.”
Muerta-Paz Guerra
English sophomore
Valentine’s Day makes romantic memories
Holiday leaves emotional scars in star-crossed love stories
By J. AlmendArez
Some sensations cling to you forever: the
giddiness of lips pressed against lips and the
first breathless “I love you.”
And then there’s the nervous anticipation
of meeting parents and realizing how serious
this is getting.
However, somewhere between sweaty
palms and racing hearts, secrets may be lurk-
ing. In the beginning of a relationship, every-
one is on their best behavior.
Carolina Treviño, a counselor in the wom-
en’s center, said the signs of an unhealthy
relationship are often evident immediately, but
people often do not recognize them or simply
choose to ignore them.
She said the signs are most evident initially
by the way a potential partner treats others.
If they’re disrespectful, rude, lie or are abu-
sive physically or emotionally with others,
they will likely treat a partner similarly.
Treviño said two main issues affect a stu-
dent’s education: finances and relationships
with others.
An unhealthy relationship can affect one’s
education because an abusive partner will
often try to control or isolate by limiting, for-
bidding or manipulating. Contact with friends,
family and other influential people is strictly
regulated.
Treviño said many people she counsels tell
her that one of the primary reasons they stay in
unhealthy relationships is because they have
don’t want to be alone.
She said people tell her their relationships
give them a sense of support and companion-
ship, even if
they’re unhappy.
“It’s just really
hard letting go,” Treviño said.
Another reason people tell her they stay in
unhealthy relationships is because they have
no financial means to change the situation.
However, Treviño said an unhealthy rela-
tionship is not doomed to fail. “I think it can
change,” she said, but she was adamant in say-
ing it can only change if both partners want it to
and commit to seeking outside help.
Love does not have to be blind Healthy relationships are possible and practical.
Feb. 14, 2011 • 9Premiere
“I’ve been broken up with on Valentine’s
Day. I actually had a custom chocolate rose
made for my boyfriend. While I was getting
ready for our date, he called me and said he’d
been cheating on me for two months, and he
didn’t think things would work out between us.”
Muerta-Paz Guerra
English sophomore
“I dropped my phone in the toilet at my
aunt’s house and had no way to call my girl-
friend. When I showed up at her house with
a giant teddy bear, her mom said she already
went out. She broke up with me in the next
couple of days.”
Robert Sanchez
film sophomore
“My girlfriend bought me a gourmet burg-
er and I’m a vegan. I don’t know how she
didn’t know, but when I told her she started
crying.”
Paul Andrew Milson
economics sophomore
Compiled by J. Almendarez and Megan Mares
Lovers’ day marks saint’s clubbing, stoning and beheading
Holiday leaves emotional scars in star-crossed love stories
Cut-out paper hearts, candy, flowers and other sentimental gifts are often exchanged on Feb. 14, a day for expressing romantic love.
An enormous holiday for florists, chocolat-iers, card companies, stuffed animals vendors, sex toy stores and chain pharmacies good for last-minute gifts, we rarely think about how the celebration came about.
The legend of St. Valentine is not often told, but the tragic nature of the story was appealing enough to build folklore upon.
The History Channel’s website says that Valentine was a priest who served around 270 A.D. in Rome.
The legend says Roman Emperor Claudius II decided that unwed men made better soldiers than those with wives and families.
He outlawed marriage because he needed more soldiers to expand his empire in the Pyrrhic War into modern-day Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia-Hertzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro and part of Albania.
Valentine, rejecting the injustice of the decree, continued to perform marriages.
Couples flocked to small home gatherings and churches to secretly exchange vows of devotion.
When Valentine’s actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death.
One version of the story says that Valentine incurred Claudius’ wrath when he tried to con-vert him to Christianity.
He was beaten with clubs and stoned. When that didn’t kill him, Valentine was beheaded.
One legend says, while awaiting his execu-tion, Valentine restored the sight of his jailer’s blind daughter.
Another legend says that on the eve of his death, he pinned a farewell note to the jailer’s daughter, signing it, “From your Valentine.”
Our modern day Valentine’s Day is the anni-versary of the saint’s death.
Valentine performed secret weddings after emperor
outlawed marriage.
ship, even if
they’re unhappy.
“It’s just really
hard letting go,” Treviño said.
Another reason people tell her they stay in
unhealthy relationships is because they have
no financial means to change the situation.
However, Treviño said an unhealthy rela-
tionship is not doomed to fail. “I think it can
change,” she said, but she was adamant in say-
ing it can only change if both partners want it to
and commit to seeking outside help.
Psychology Professor
Stanley McCloy agreed, say-
ing, “Love does not have
the power to change
people. That’s an illu-
sion.”
He said culture,
religion and edu-
cation will affect
the kind of ele-
ments they bring
into a relationship.
“People carry
their baggage with
them into relation-
ships,” he said.
“The people from
your past, all these
people are inside
of you.”
While McCloy
said there are
no psychological
secrets for assured
happiness, he pin-
pointed genuine
communication and
good listening skills as
the most crucial points of creating
a satisfying relationship. He said the changing
roles of men and women in this country are
changing relationships and expectations.
As this happens, he said, “Women and men
should be able to interchange roles readily.”
He said being flexible about gender roles
can help to alleviate stress between partners
because they will not feel trapped in expecta-
tions of what they should be doing.
“The main thing is to feel like you have free-
dom in a relationship,” McCloy said.
Treviño said a combination of respect and
communication can build other healthy rela-
tionship factors such as trust, compassion,
compromise and commitment. “You have to
have respect,” she emphasized.
There are counseling resources on this cam-
pus, free to all students, faculty and staff.
The empowerment center at Evergreen
Street and Howard Avenue schedules appoint-
ments to assist women and nontraditional stu-
dents. Call 210-486-0455.
In the Balditt Counseling Complex on the
first floor of Moody Learning Center, guidance
counseling is available and is open to partners
and children. Call 210-486-0333.
McCloy said he sometimes refers people to
Our Lady of the Lake University or St. Mary’s
University for counseling because psychology
and some sociology doctoral students must log
hours treating patients under the supervision
of a licensed professional.
Love does not have to be blind
If you need helpThe Community Counseling Center
at Our Lady of the Lake University is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with walk-ins welcome from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Evening and Saturday appointments are available by request. Fees are based on financial status. For more information, call 210-434-1054
The Family Life Center at St. Mary’s University is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The center is open Saturday 9 a.m. to 1p.m. Fee based on financial status. For more information, call the Family Life Center, call 210-438-6411.
Alexandra Nelipa
The Ranger 10 • Feb. 14, 2011 Calendar
Calendar Legend
SAC: San Antonio CollegeNVC: Northwest Vista CollegeSPC: St. Philip’s CollegeSWC: Southwest CampusPAC: Palo Alto CollegeNLC: Northeast Lakeview College
For coverage in Calendar, call 210-486-1773 or e-mail
[email protected] two weeks in advance.
Today
SAC Transfer: University of Texas at
San Antonio 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on first floor
of Chance. Continues 9 a.m.-11 a.m. Feb
22. Call 210-486-0864.
SAC Event: A Taste of Soul 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
in Loftin. Call 210-486-0589.
SAC Dance: Chinese dance group 1 p.m.-
2 p.m. in Fiesta Room of Loftin. Call 210-
486-0125.
SAC Event: HIV testing 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
in Room 119 of Chance. Continues
Wednesday. Call 210-486-0222.
SPC Donation: Southwest Campus blood
drive 3 p.m.-7 p.m. Call 210-486-2887.
Tuesday
NLC Event: Painted plate party to create
an African vase 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. in
Room 136 in commons. Call 210-486-
5000.
SAC Transfer: Schreiner University 1 p.m.-
3 p.m. on first floor of Chance. Call 210-
486-0864.
SAC Transfer: Our Lady of the Lake
University 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on first floor of
Chance. Call 210-486-0864.
SAC Transfer: Texas State University-San
Marcos 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. by appoint-
ment in transfer center. Continues 10
a.m.-1 p.m. Feb. 24. Call 210-486-0864.
SAC Resource: Phi Theta Kappa Food
Pantry noon-3 p.m. at the Catholic Student
Center, 312 W. Courtland, Continues
through Thursday. Call 210-486-0431.
Wednesday
SAC Meeting: Psychology Club 2 p.m. in
Room 642 of Moody. 210-486-2887.
SAC Transfer: St. Mary’s University 8:30
a.m.-12:30 p.m. on first floor of Chance.
Continues Thursday. Call 210-486-0864.
Thursday
SAC Event: Celebration of Chinese New
Year noon-1 p.m. in Loftin. Call 210-486-
0125.
SAC Transfer: University of the Incarnate
Word 3:30 p.m.-6 p.m. on first floor of
Chance. Continues Feb. 21. Call 210-
486-0864.
SAC Event: “Meet the Pros” sponsored by
media communications department and
Association of Women in Communications
6 p.m.-8 p.m. in Room 120 of visual arts.
$5. Reservations to karina.c.alderete@
gmail.com. Call 210-486-1765.
SAC Event: Martial arts performance
11 a.m.-noon in Loftin. Call 210-486-
0125.
Event: Audrey Niffenegger, author of “The
Time Traveler’s Wife” reading at 7 p.m. at
Gemini Ink. Call 210-734-9673.
Friday
SAC Meeting: Kinesiology Club 3 p.m.
in Room 126 in Candler. Call 210-588-
1936.
SAC Event: Coffee and open mic night
sponsored by Cheshyre Cheese Club 6:30
p.m.-9:30 p.m. in Loftin. Call 210-486-
0125.
Sunday
SPC Concert: San Antonio Youth Wind
Ensemble with Albert Aguilar, resident
conductor and Damon Gupton, guest con-
ductor 2:30 p.m. in auditorium of Watson.
Call 210-486-2887.
Feb. 21
SAC Concert: Regency Jazz Band 11 a.m.-
1 p.m. in Loftin. Call 210-486-1035.
SAC Transfer: Texas A&M University-
Corpus Christi 9 a.m.-11 a.m. on first floor
of Chance. Call 210-486-0864.
Feb. 22
SAC Audition: “SAC’s Got Talent” audi-
tion 2 p.m.-4 p.m. in craft room of Loftin.
Call 210-486-0125.
SAC Event: African-American Read-in
Celebration of “The Narrative of the Life
of Frederick Douglass” 10:50 a.m.-
12:05 p.m. in the craft room of Loftin.
Call 210-486-0661.
The Ranger Feb.14, 2011 • 11News
By Dana Lynn TraugoTT
The theater and speech communication depart-
ment now charges Alamo College ID holders $2 to
attend student productions.
The new fee began Feb. 3 with the opening of
“Chemical Imbalance: A Jekyll and Hyde Play” in the
auditorium of McAllister Fine Arts Center.
OnStage Drama Club adviser
Paula Rodriguez said produc-
tions for the 2010-11 academic
year have been cut from five
to four shows. She said budget
cuts have led to the end of free
admission for students, faculty and staff. The depart-
ment traditionally charged a general admission fee
to anyone without a district ID. Chair Jeff Hunt said
this college is the only one of the Alamo Colleges that
hasn’t charged admission.
If anyone knows this college’s plays, you know
“each night is different,” said Wendy Olivares, a theater
sophomore and sound technician. “You find out a lot
of these things were made by hand. Even if you’re not
into the show, just to see the props is amazing,”
Budget cuts force the department to print fewer
promotional posters, and playbills are now double-
sided sheets with no actor biographies or pictures.
Hunt said there will no longer be summer produc-
tion or weekend performances and a $5,000 stipend
to give internships to students was canceled. At the
same time, there is an increase in students and majors
within the department.
Young drama fans are not the
only ones losing.
The music department did
not distribute scholarships
this year. The department usu-
ally awards $200-$300 in scholarship funds but that
amount has been reduced to only $100.
The chair said that any donations from ticket sales
for concerts will go into scholarship funding.
The cuts may have grounded the department’s
well-respected speech team as well.
“It’s just not enough for all the places we need to
travel, so we have to make do with what we have. We
find our way,” speech team Coach Jolinda Ramsey said.
Church of ChristStudent Center301 W. Dewey
736-6750
* Conversational
English
* Bible Studies
- Women Wed. 1-2 pm
- Life Group Tues. 7-8 pm
- One on One Study
* Food Pantry
* 12 Step Accountability Grp.
MW 1-2pm / TT 2-3 pm
* Bible Courses for Credit
* Friday Noon Lunch
* Professional Counseling
* Free Wi-Fi
By riLey STephenS
At the intersection of poli-
tics and society, digital media
have set up shop.
To give students insight,
visual arts is presenting one of
the leading experts on digital
media.
Christiane Paul, adjunct
curator of new media arts
at the Whitney Museum of
American Art, will lecture at
7 p.m. Thursday in the audi-
torium of McAllister Fine Arts
Center. The free event is open
to the public.
She will address artwork
that deals with political and
social conditions.
“Social media affect just
about everything students do,”
visual arts Professor Debra
Schafter said, noting the website
Facebook is just one example of
digital media that students use.
Paul is also director of the
media studies graduate pro-
grams and associate professor
of media studies at the New
School in New York.
She is the author of the
textbook this college uses for
ARTS 2348, Digital Art 1, a stu-
dio course that explores the
potential of computer hard-
ware and software media for
visual, conceptual and practi-
cal uses in the visual arts.
Paul earned a Ph.D. from
Düsseldorf University in
Germany.
Schafter said Paul was invit-
ed in May by the visual arts
department and student life.
“She is interested in learning
how new digital media inter-
faces with society and politics.
We’re always looking for peo-
ple who are leading the way in
their field or at the forefront.”
For more information, call
Schafter 210-486-1042.
No more free performancesWhitney curator of new media here Thursday
“Chemical Imbalance: A Jekyll and Hyde Play”
at 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Friday and at 2:30 p.m. Sunday in
McCreless theater.
The Ranger 12 • Feb. 14, 2011 Editorial
Newsman Dan Rather told a packed auditorium Feb. 3 that one of the most effective ways to show patriotism is to question authority.
If we don’t talk to our elected officials, who will?A proposed 10 percent budget cut followed a 5 percent
cut the district is already experiencing.Lawmakers are struggling to end a revenue shortfall of
at least $15 billion for the next two years.According to the Texas Legislative Primer, out of $20.4
billion dollars allocated toward higher education, 10.3 percent is appropriated to all community colleges and technical schools across Texas.
Yet community colleges educate 80 percent of students in higher education.
Faculty, staff and students must tell legislators how extreme cuts are affecting them. Cuts in hours with tutors, cuts in physical resources, cuts in possibilities.
Contact with a representative is as simple as a call or e-mail. Remind legislators that it is impossible to main-tain a quality education if we continue to lose funding.
Tyler Ingraham, a former student here and an unsuc-cessful candidate for the Alamo Community College District board of trustees, now works as an assistant to Rep. Trey Martinez-Fischer, D-San Antonio.
Ingraham said formal letters are no longer necessary; representatives want to hear from individuals how prob-lems are affecting them.
As the cuts continue, community colleges are seeing enrollment increase more than ever.
Most students within a community college are non-traditional students, first-generation college students or from low-income families.
Tuition increases are becoming more and more of a deterrent.
Society is meant to grow and improve but without edu-cation, there is no way to create a better tomorrow.
The www.USA.gov website offers the e-mail addresses, phone numbers, and mailing addresses of our legislators, so act now.
Feb. 2 was Community College Day at the Legislature, and students from this college district were given a chance to lobby legislators in Austin.
Of the more than 21,441 students enrolled at this col-lege, 22 made reservations, but only six boarded for Austin.
Across the district’s five colleges — about 60,000 stu-dents — only 84 made the trip.
One voice may not be heard, but when we join our voices, the chorus can make a difference.
Call, write, e-mail, text legislatorsAlexandra Nelipa
The Ranger Feb. 14, 2011 • 13 Editorial
Remember senior year in high school as you applied, wrote application essays, requested transcripts and followed up with colleges to find out where you were accepted? Well, it’s that time again.
Administrators in full regalia crisscrossed the campus the first week of this month to promote graduation. Graduating can mean a smoother transition to a four-year college, and shows you can commit to a program and finish it. You will experience a great sense of accomplishment.
We encourage students to follow a degree plan meeting the requirements of the transfer university. Often, it ends up taking longer, when you take random classes.
Get a degree audit to see what you still need to graduate. If you are eligible to graduate, be sure to apply early. Even if you are six hours short, you can still walk the stage in May.
If you are transferring, check application deadlines, submit applications, request tran-scripts now because they take time to be pro-cessed.
Graduate nowEffective communication
does not exist within the Alamo Colleges. The root of every prob-lem is an administration unwill-ing to participate in two-way communication with college administrators, faculty, staff or students.
So there is no surprise in the district’s handling of adjunct pay. Adjuncts expect their first paycheck Feb. 15, a month into the spring semester, while full-time faculty members will be collecting their third check.
The explanation is because full-time faculty members report to work a week before classes start. Adjuncts also must prepare, so why are they treated differ-ently?
If trustees and district admin-istrators really intend to main-
tain our reputation for quality education, they need to start treating adjuncts with a little more respect.
The pay is insulting for the amount of work quality educa-tion requires. Many adjuncts teach in the evening without departmental support. Limited interaction with colleagues means fewer ties to the institu-tion that can lead to loyalty, pride and dedication. The chancellor has set a goal to reduce the full-time to part-time faculty ratio at the Alamo Colleges to 50-50.
With adjuncts teaching 50 per-cent of sections, the colleges will begin to lose their individuality.
No one should be surprised if our quality starts to fade as well.
Achieving this ratio is easy. Achieving excellence isn’t.
Treat adjuncts better
14 • Feb. 14, 2011 The Ranger
Chancellor: Dr. Bruce H. Leslie201 W. Sheridan, Bldg. B, San Antonio TX 78204-1429Work: 210-485-0020 Fax: 210-208-8149E-mail: [email protected]
District 1: Joe Alderete Jr.1602 Hillcrest Drive,San Antonio TX 78228 Cell: 210-863-9500 E-mail: [email protected]
District 2: Denver McClendon3811 Willowwood Blvd., San Antonio, TX 78219 Work: 210-281-9141 E-mail: [email protected]
District 3: Anna U. Bustamante511 Ware Blvd., San Antonio TX 78221Work: 210-882-1609 Home: 210-921-2986 Fax: 210-927-4557E-mail: [email protected]
District 4: Marcelo S. Casillas115 Wainwright, San Antonio TX 78211No number provided Fax: 210-923-3167 E-mail: [email protected]
District 5: Roberto Zárate4103 Buffalo Bayou, San Antonio TX 78251E-mail: [email protected]
District 6: Dr. Gene Sprague14722 Iron Horse Way,Helotes TX 78023Work: 210-567-5544 Fax: 210-520-9185E-mail: [email protected]
District 7: Blakely Latham Fernandez755 E. Mulberry, Suite 200,San Antonio TX 78212Work: 210-244-8879E-mail: [email protected]
District 8: Gary Beitzel15403 Forest Mist, San Antonio TX 78232Home: 210-496-5857 E-mail: [email protected]
District 9: James A. Rindfuss109 Laburnum, San Antonio TX 78209Home: 210-828-4630 Work: 210-375-2555 Home Fax: 210-832-8292 Office Fax: 210-375-0301 E-mail: [email protected]
Officials
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]
Presidents
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,
e-mailed to sac-ranger@alamo.
edu or faxed to 210-486-1789.
Letters must be signed and
must include the printed name
and telephone number. Students
should include classification,
major, campus and Banner ID.
Employees should include title
and telephone number.
For more information, call
210-486-1773.
Single Copy Policy:
Members of the Alamo
Community College District
community are permitted one
free copy per issue because of
high production costs.
Where available, additional
copies may be purchased with
prior approval for 50 cents each
by contacting The Ranger 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
Zahra Farah
Managing Editor
Melody Mendoza
Sections Editor
Megan Mares
Photographers
Tyler K. Cleveland, Alison Wadley
Photo Team
Felisia Almaraz, Carla Aranguren,
Jake Ceballos, Adrian Fernandez,
Victor A. Garcia, Marisa N. Montaño Garza,
Jason B. Hogan, Julia Novikova,
Chelsea Von Peacock, Abiel Rodriguez,
JungKeun Song, Ingrid Wilgen
Illustrators
Juan Carlos Campos, Alexandra Nelipa
Staff Writers
J. Almendarez, Ximena Alvarez,
Jacob Beltran, David Espinoza, Joshua Fechter,
Mandy Kosub, Alma Linda Manzanares,
Daniel Perales, James Anthony Salamé,
Julysa Sosa, Riley Stephens,
Dana Lynn Traugott, Valdemar Tejada,
Jennifer M. Ytuarte
Production Assistant
Krystal Barcenez
Web Editor
Laura Garcia
©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 (210-486-1789), by e-mail ([email protected]) or at the editorial office (Room 212 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
The Ranger Feb.14, 2011 • 15
student townhomesopening this fall
new clubhouse now open - tour today
close to campus + resort-style amenities + private bedrooms & bathrooms
210.697.8200 | 14333 babcock rd
villasatbabcock.com
16 • Feb. 14, 2011 The RangerNews
By Krystal Barcenez
In the 1950s, the San Antonio
Stock Show and Rodeo was estab-
lished for farmers and ranchers to
buy and sell livestock and enter
them in competition.
Today, education has become
a big part of the stock show’s mis-
sion, adding to the array of original
events.
In 1984, the San Antonio
Livestock Exposition founded
the SALE Scholarship Fund that
awarded 15 four-year scholar-
ships totaling $90,000 that year to
students majoring in agricultural
studies in Texas colleges, accord-
ing to the stock show and rodeo’s
website.
It also says that last year, the
rodeo committed to donating $8.5
million in scholarships, endow-
ments, and grants, auctions, a calf
scramble program and show pre-
miums paid to youth.
Ethan Lott, a junior at
Martinsville High School, said,
“I’ve competed since I was a fresh-
man and have won a few scholar-
ships doing this, and I just hope I
keep winning them so all my hard
work will pay off.”
Lott has been a member of the
Future Farmers of America since
his freshman year and is a third-
generation dairy show competitor.
Lott has competed for eight
years with his grandfather in the
major stock shows in Houston,
Fort Worth, and Stillwater, Okla.
“I started competing with my
grandpa, and won my first Division
Grand Championship and decided
to stick to it ever since,” Lott said.
Wesley Morrell and his grand-
son have four competition cows —
all raised on Morrell’s farm — that
they show every year at four major
stock shows.
“It’s in our blood,” Morrell
said, after Lott won Reserve Grand
Champion Feb. 5.
Stock show participants said
many contestants come from win-
ning families and have legacies in
Texas, Colorado and Oklahoma.
They said it is rare to see first-
generation champions, especially
if that champion is a girl.
“I’ve competed since I was in
fifth grade and I’ve liked it ever
since,” Rebecca Barling, an Iola
High School junior, said.
Barling, 16, has won at least
two events a year since she began
showing.
Both her parents are veterinar-
ians so she is comfortable around
animals.
“I have two show heifers I com-
pete with, and we have about 50
more commercial cattle at home,”
Barling said.
In 2010, Barling won Reserve
Division Champion and All-
Around Division Championship
and is an FFA member who com-
petes in stock shows with her high
school.
“I like what I do, and I hope
to have a lot of cows at my house
when I get older, and maybe even
my children, when I have them,
will like it, too,” Barling said.
Barling said she remembers at
first, there weren’t a lot of girls for
her to compete with and she likes
that more are participating today.
She has won numerous scholar-
ships competing in stock shows.
“People think it’s cool; I’m a girl
doing this,” Barling said. “I’m glad
to see a lot more females joining
now. I get a lot of positive feedback
from people, and I like knowing I
was cool since I was in fifth grade.”
Crowds gather around the food stands in the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo food court at the AT&T Center. Abiel Rodriguez
Iola High School junior Rebecca Barling, 16, brushes hay off of her heifer before competition Feb. 5. at the 2011 San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo. Julia Novikova
Stock show raises ranchers, scholarships Future Farmers of
America gives youth early training.
“I just hope I keep winning them so all my hard work will pay off.”Ethan Lottdairy show competitor