Download - The Ranger 9-12-2011
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The RangeRA forum of free voices serving San Antonio College since 1926
Vol. 86 Issue 1 Single copies free Sept. 12, 2011
WHAT OUR
ESTABLISHES
CONSTITUTIONPAGE 6
The Ranger 2 • Sept. 12, 2010 Calendar
Today
SAC Contest: Friends Don’t Let Friends
Flunk video contest at Flunk Me Please
on Facebook. Entries accepted through
Oct. 1 with voting through Oct. 15. Call
210-486-1360.
SAC Transfer: Texas A&M
University-Corpus Christi 9
a.m.-11 a.m. on first floor of
Chance. Call 210-486-0864.
SAC Event: Karaoke
11 a.m.-1 p.m. in
Fiesta Room of Loftin.
Continues Sept. 26.
Call 210-486-0128.
SAC Event: Weight
room orientation 11:30
a.m.-12:30 p.m. in Candler
Physical Education Center.
Continues daily through
Thursday. Call 210-486-1025.
SAC Meeting: Student Government
Association noon-1 p.m. in faculty and
staff lounge of Loftin. Call 210-486-0125.
SAC Recital: Faculty Jazz Guitar 7:30
p.m. in auditorium of McAllister. Call 210-
486-0255.
Tuesday
SAC Transfer: St. Mary’s University
8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on first floor of
Chance. Call 210-486-0864.
SAC Event: Kickball 2 p.m.-4 p.m. at
San Pedro Springs Park. Call 210-486-
0126.
Wednesday
SAC Transfer: Texas A&M University-
San Antonio 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. by
appointment in transfer center. Continues
Thursday and 1 p.m.-5 p.m. Friday. Call
210-486-0864.
SAC Transfer: University of the
Incarnate Word 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on first
floor of Chance. Call 210-486-0864.
SAC Transfer: Wayland Baptist
University 10 a.m.-noon on first floor of
Chance. Call 210-486-0864.
SAC Event: Punctuation Month 2 p.m.-
2:50 p.m. in the Writing Center Room 203
of Gonzales. Call 210-486-1433.
Thursday
SAC Transfer: University of
Texas at San Antonio 9
a.m.-11:30 a.m. on first
floor of Chance. Continues
12:30 p.m.-3 p.m. in
transfer center by appoint-
ment. Call 210-486-0864.
SAC Event: Study Abroad Fair
9 a.m.-4 p.m. in Room 218 A/B
of nursing complex. Call 210-
495-0076.
SAC Meeting: Students
United for the DREAM Act 4:30
p.m.-5:30 p.m. in cafeteria of
Loftin. Continues Thursdays. Call 210-
683-5879.
Friday
SAC Event: Coffee Open Mic Night 6
p.m.-9 p.m. in Loftin. Call 210-486-0125.
Saturday
SAC Sports: Men’s soccer, Stephen
F. Austin vs. SAC 3 p.m.-5 p.m. at Stars
Complex, 5103 David Edwards. Call 210-
486-0126.
Sept. 19
SAC Event: Department of social sci-
ences and humanities Constitution Day
speakers 9 a.m.-1 p.m. in Room 218 A/B
of nursing complex. Call 210-486-0998.
SAC Transfer: Dallas Baptist University
9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. on first floor of Chance.
Call 210-486-0864.
SAC Transfer: Texas State University-
San Marcos 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. in transfer
center by appointment. Call 210-486-
0864.
SAC Event: Salsa dance lessons 11
a.m.-1 p.m. in Fiesta Room in Loftin. Call
210-486-0128.
Sept. 20
SAC Event: “Jeopardy” 2 p.m.-4 p.m. in
craft room of Loftin. Call 210-486-0126.
SAC Transfer: University of the
Incarnate Word 3:30 p.m.-6 p.m. on first
floor of Chance. Call 210-486-0864.
Sept. 21
SAC Transfer: Texas A&M University-
San Antonio 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. in
transfer center by appointment. Continues
1 p.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 23. Call 210-486-
0864.
Sept. 22
SAC Event: Résumé writing workshop
sponsored by student life 1 p.m.-3 p.m.
in Fiesta Room of Loftin. Call 210-486-
0126.
SAC Event: Department of creative
multimedia art reception 2 p.m.-4 p.m. on
third floor of Moody. Call 210-486-0577.
SAC Recital: Faculty Brass Recital 7:30
p.m. in auditorium of McAllister. Call 210-
486-0255.
Sept. 23
SAC Movie: Outdoor
movie “The Green
Lantern” 7:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m. in
mall. Call 210-486-0125.
Sept. 24
SAC Event: Student Leadership Retreat
9 a.m.-5 p.m. in craft room of Loftin. Call
210-486-0125.
Sept. 26
SAC Event: Model auditions 2 p.m.-5
p.m. in Fiesta Room of Loftin. Call 486-
0128.
SAC Recital: Faculty Guitar 7:30 p.m.
in auditorium of McAllister. Call 210-
486-0255.
Sept. 27
SAC Transfer: St. Mary’s University
8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on first floor of
Chance. Call 210-486-0864.
SAC Transfer: University of the
Incarnate Word 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on first
floor of Chance. Call 210-486-0864.
SAC Event: “Choose a Major and Career
You’ll Love” for 10 participants 4:30
p.m.-5:50 p.m. in Room 176 of Moody.
Continues Tuesdays for eight weeks. Call
210-486-0378.
Sept. 28
SAC Transfer: Texas A&M University-
San Antonio 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. in
transfer center by appointment. Continues
1 p.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 30. Call 210-486-
0864.
SAC Transfer: University of Texas at San
Antonio 9 a.m.-11:30 a.m. on first floor
of Chance. Continues 12:30 p.m.-3 p.m.
in transfer center by appointment. Call
210-486-0864.
SAC Event: Pizza with the President
noon-1 p.m. in mall. Call 210-486-0125.
Sept. 29
SAC Transfer: Concordia University
9 a.m.-11:30 p.m. on first floor of
Chance. Call 210-486-0864.
SAC Transfer: Texas A&M
University 1 p.m.-4 p.m. on first floor of
Chance. Call 210-486-0864.
Calendar Legend
SAC: San Antonio CollegeNVC: Northwest Vista CollegeSPC: St. Philip’s CollegeSWC: Southwest CampusPAC: Palo Alto CollegeNLC: Northeast Lakeview CollegeAC: Alamo Colleges
For coverage in Calendar, call 210-486-1773 or e-mail
[email protected] two weeks in advance.
The Ranger Sept. 12, 2011 • 3News
By J. AlmendArez
The minor treatments provided at the col-
lege health center helped countless students
and employees deal with heat, headaches and
injuries.
On Aug. 8, those services ended.
Jorge Posadas, director of student life,
informed faculty and staff at this college in an
Aug. 16 email that the health center in Room 119
of Chance Academic Center was moving to the
first floor of Loftin Student Center and will no
longer offer over-the-counter drugs or provide
first aid services.
The announcement drew immediate criti-
cism from faculty who were concerned that such
a large campus would be without first aid care
and that disabled students would no longer have
access to on-campus medical attention.
Dr. Robert Vela, vice president of student
affairs, said Aug. 24 that the health center now
offers advice on health maintenance, disease
prevention and self-care. He said the center’s
efforts at providing services will consist of lec-
tures and pamphlets endorsing disease preven-
tion through information booths in the mall.
Officers in the district department of public
safety will respond to emergencies on campus
and assess whether a situation warrants EMS
services. For assistance, call 210-222-0911.
Vela said officers were assigned the duty
because they have emergency responder training.
He also said ambulances do not have to
transport students to a hospital. They provide
first aid services, but he does not know the cost.
According to the San Antonio Fire Department
website, the non-transportation fee is $85.
Transportation to a hospital requiring basic life
support services is $495 and $12 per mile.
The fees are subject to change Oct. 1. For
more information, visit www.sanantonio.gov/
safd/emsbilling.asp?res=1920&ver=true#listing.
Joe Curiel, deputy chief of administration
of the district department of public safety, said
Aug. 26 that Alamo Colleges officers are receiv-
ing no additional first aid training because of the
policy change, but they receive first aid training
at the San Antonio Police Department Training
Academy.
Potential officers must complete a 27-week
program to graduate from the academy and
begin work with the department.
Officer Joel Pope, a first aid and driving
instructor at the academy, said officers undergo
two days of training in basic first aid, totaling
about 16 hours. He said officers learn CPR using
standards set by the American Heart Association
on their first day of training.
Then they learn how to set splints, control
bleeding and identify emergency situations such
as diabetic comas on their second day.
Pope also said officers learn “what not to do
to further complicate things because they do not
have advanced training.”
Pope has been a police officer for 15 years
and was an Emergency Medical Technician
before becoming an officer.
Students can refuse EMS services if an officer
suggests it. Their refusal will be noted in the
police report.
Counselor Steve Samet did not agree with the
decision to require officers with limited first aid
training to respond to medical situations.
“I feel it’s inappropriate and could do more
harm than good,” he said.
He was unsure whether officers are qualified
to determine if EMS should be contacted and
questioned what the procedure is for incidents
that do not require EMS.
Nursing sophomore Leticia Sandoval, a work-
study in the Peer Educators office in Room 120
of Chance Academic Center, said she has seen
about 10 students a day seeking services from
the closed center.
The Peer Educators office is across the hall
from the previous health center and next door to
disability support services in Room 124.
“I think the disabled students are most
affected by it,” she said. “ I don’t think that they
(administrators) care about what they need.”
“We feel bad about it. We don’t want to cut
services,” Vela said.
However, he said the college made the deci-
sion because of cutbacks that were required to
take place throughout the district.
The district’s total operating expense budget
for 2011-12 is $281,828,383, which is $3.1 million
less than last year’s $284.9 million budget.
The district has reduced expenses by 4 per-
cent per contact hour in the past two years.
Vela said the center was allotted $5,000 a
semester in funding, not including RN or
licensed vocational nurse salaries.
He said the funds were no longer sufficient
to keep the center provided with materials and
staff. He said the district does not competitively
pay LVNs or RNs, and the college struggles to
replace employees at the center.
President Robert Zeigler said LVN Josie
Noriega retires Jan. 1 and will not be replaced.
Secretary Mary Schlabig spoke on behalf of
Posadas. He has no comment about the health
center’s change of policies and would not con-
sent to a face-to-face interview with The Ranger,
requesting questions via email. The Ranger does
not conduct interviews via email.
Registered nurse Paula Daggett also respond-
ed to a request for an interview through email
in which she wrote, “I prefer not to comment
on the operation or the change of focus of the
health center.”
Public information officer Julie Cooper said
she has not received a request from the office
of student life to send a notification email to
students using ACES. Neither the student life
Facebook page nor OrgSync account mentioned
the closure. The new health center is in the
southeast corner of Loftin’s first floor in a space
originally expected to house an annex of the
college bookstore. Later, the space was to be an
office for the Student Government Association,
but was never used for that purpose.
The new office is not equipped with a phone,
and the room is not numbered.
Campus police will respond to emergencies.
Student life closes college health center
A sign on the door of the former health center in Room 119 of Chance alerts students and employees that the center is closed. The cen-ter began moving to Loftin Aug. 8 and will no longer offer first aid. Ingrid Wilgen
4 • Sept. 12, 2011 The RangerPeople
Art freshman Brittany Miele sings her version of “Skyscraper” by Demi Lovato for glee club try-outs Wednesday in the Fiesta Room of Loftin. Students auditioned to fill 12-15 positions. Riley Stephens
Speech communication sophomores Leonard Herbeck and Jeremy Carrizales discuss an assignment Sept. 6 in the communication center lab in Room 205 in McAllister while waiting for their next class to start. Herbeck is the speech intern and assists students with their speeches or presentations. Students may use the cen-ter from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Students do not need to be enrolled in a speech class to use the lab. Celeste Kulla
Business administra-tion freshman Istaban Castro, English sopho-more Joseph Martinez and human resource management freshman Sandra Nickleberry use the math lab’s online resources to complete assignments Sept. 2 in Room 124 of McCreless. Lab resources are available to students enrolled in math and physics courses. Valerie Salazar
Liberal arts sophomore Michael Smith performs tricks on his skateboard Wednesday in the mall. Smith said he loves to play hoops in his spare time. Ingrid Wilgen
The Ranger Sept. 12, 2011 • 5News
By Joshua Fechter
After the Sept. 7 census date for
16-week classes that began Aug.
22, students must contact their
instructor to drop a course.
The instructor will then assign a
grade of W in ACES.
If students want to drop all
courses, they must see a counsel-
or who will explain the academic
and financial consequences of that
decision.
Students must bring a drop
slip to the admissions and records
office with a counselor’s signature
to process the all-course drop.
J. Martin Ortega, director of
enrollment services, said before
dropping, students should keep in
mind the state’s six-drop rule and
three-peat tuition.
The six-drop rule prevents stu-
dents from dropping more than
six classes over the course of a
bachelor’s degree. An exception is
when a student withdraws from all
classes in a semester.
The third time a student
attempts a course, tuition is
charged at a rate of three times the
cost of in-district tuition because
the college is not reimbursed by
the state after a second attempt at
a course.
Dr. Robert Vela, vice president
of student affairs, said dropping a
course can have stiff consequences
on a student’s academic record and
tuition.
He said if students decide to
drop a course, they should stay
in contact with the instructor to
make sure the Banner system for
student records reflects the drop.
Otherwise, they may stay on that
instructor’s roll, which could result
in being assigned a grade of F for
the class.
Courses dropped by 5 p.m.
Sept. 7 will not show up on tran-
scripts.
State appropriations per stu-
dent are based on enrollment at
each college on the census date,
the 12th day of classes in the fall
and spring semesters.
Nov. 11 is the last day to with-
draw from courses in the fall
semester.
For more information, call the
office of admissions and records
at 210-486-0700 or go to Room 216
at Fletcher Administration Center.
By alma linda manzanares
The Alamo Colleges police
department reported 13 incidents
of vehicle burglaries in August —
eight at this college, four at St.
Philip’s College and one at Palo
Alto College.
This compares to seven report-
ed in the district in August 2010,
including five at this college, one
at Palo Alto and one at St. Philip’s.
Police Chief Don Adams said
the burglaries at this college were
reported in Lot 10 at Lewis Street
and West Courtland Place, Lot 13
at West Dewey Place, Lot 16 east
of Moody Learning Center, Lot 23
at Howard and Lewis streets, Lot
26 at Howard Street and West Park
Avenue, the Park Place lot located
at North Main Avenue and West
Laurel Street and an off-campus
parking lot located at 100 E. Locust.
Two of the burglaries were
reported at the Park Place lot.
On Aug. 24, a crime prevention
reminder was distributed through
ACES email by the police depart-
ment to faculty and students list-
ing tips to reduce the chance of
burglary.
When parking on Alamo
Colleges property, students should
also take precautions when leaving
or returning to a vehicle:
• Always remove the ignition
key, lock all doors and secure all
windows.
• Avoid leaving valuables in the
vehicle that are in plain view. Lock
valuables such as iPods, purses,
laptops and textbooks in the trunk.
• When returning to a vehicle,
students should have keys ready
and check the backseat for any-
thing out of the ordinary before
entering the vehicle.
Adams said police officers
patrol the campus and parking lots
throughout the day. Officers are on
duty 24/7.
Patrol officers will leave crime
prevention reminders on students’
vehicles if their vehicles are or
could be in danger of burglary,
Adams said.
Students need to be cognizant
of their surroundings because an
individual or multiple individu-
als are committing the burglaries,
Adams said.
To report any suspicious activ-
ity, call the Alamo Colleges police
at 210-485-0099.
Vehicle burglaries up
Instructors issue W for dropped courses
Alamo Colleges Officer Jesus Treviño gets information Sept. 6 about the burglary of photogra-phy sophomore Celeste Kulla’s car. Kulla found her passenger side rear window smashed in the campus parking garage. The thief stole a flowered lunch box. Ingrid Wilgen
Admissions specialist Albert Vasquez tells Aida Askari-Sabi that her son, in person with verified ID, can discuss his academic record. Vasquez said 1,062 students spoke with the admissions office during the first week of classes. Jennifer M. Ytuarte
Increased motor vehicle burglaries should make students practice safety.
Students should consider six-drop rule and three-peat tuition.
6 • Sept. 12, 2011 The RangerNews
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By DaviD Espinoza
The Criminal Justice Student
Association is sponsoring lectures
Sept. 16 in Room 218 of the nurs-
ing and allied health complex in
observation of the 224th anni-
versary of the signing of the U.S.
Constitution.
The event is free and open to
the public.
The Constitution was signed
Sept. 17, 1787, by delegates at
the Constitutional Convention in
Philadelphia.
Robert L. Summers, profes-
sor of law at St. Mary’s University,
is presenting the first lecture
“International Law and the
Constitution” 9 a.m.-9:50 a.m.
Summers is also co-chair of inter-
national legal studies at St. Mary’s.
Walter L. Paulissen, chief of the
major crimes unit, San Antonio
division of the U.S. Attorney’s
Office in the Western District of
Texas, is presenting the second lec-
ture “The Living Constitution” 10
a.m.-10:50 a.m.
James Harrington, founder and
director of the Texas Civil Rights
Project, will present “Civil Liberties
and the Constitution” 11 a.m.-
11:50 a.m.
Harrington said in an interview
that the main point of his lecture
is that civil liberties are not given,
they must be won.
“I want to emphasize the
students’ role in organizing
together and implementing the
Constitution in our everyday lives,”
Harrington said.
He cited the civil rights move-
ment as a prime example of mass
organization changing the opinion
of the courts.
Antonio Almazan, immigra-
tion law attorney and partner in
Rodriquez & Almazan Attorneys at
Law, will present “Immigration &
the Constitution” noon-12:50 p.m.
Almazan said he plans to dis-
cuss the Obama administration’s
recent decision to prioritize depor-
tation on a case-by-case basis
determined by factors such as edu-
cation and military experience.
Program Coordinator Tiffany
Cox, adviser to the club, said hav-
ing multiple speakers in one event
benefits students more than hav-
ing events spread throughout the
semester.
“It’s a great opportunity for stu-
dents to get updated with consti-
tutional issues related to legal and
criminal law,” she said.
For more information, call Cox
at 210-486-0835.
Criminal justice students plan Constitution Day lectures
By MatthEw taylor
Royalties organization ASCAP and
Grammy U are presenting a network-
ing mixer for college students interested
in the recording industry 5 p.m.-8:30
p.m. Thursday in Room 101 of Longwith
Radio, Television and Film Building.
A panel of experts, including award-
winning composer Ricardo Garcia and
Veronica R. Hernandez, president of
the San Antonio chapter of the National
Association of Latino Independent
Producers, will talk about their experi-
ences in the music recording industry.
The American Society of Composers,
Authors and Publishers is an association
of more than 410,000 U.S. composers,
songwriters, lyricists and music publish-
ers. The society licenses and distributes
royalties for the nondramatic public per-
formances of copyrighted works.
Grammy U is a community of full-
time students pursuing careers in the
recording industry. For more informa-
tion, visit www.ascap.com and www.
grammy365.com/grammy-u.
Music mixer
The Ranger Sept. 12, 2011 • 7News
By Brian Burdick
Students looking to add some
variety to their schedules should
look no further than a new method
of teaching GOVT 2301, American/
Texas: National and State.
GOVT 2301 covers government
at the national, state, and local
levels and is a course that most
students must take to fulfill core
curriculum requirements for an
Associate of Arts degree.
A section taught by Professor
Wanda Smith is being taught in
a more interactive way than has
been done in the past.
She presented a proposal to Dr.
Paul Wilson, social sciences and
humanities chair, outlining the
idea for a government class engag-
ing kinetic learners.
Wilson approved the proposal
for a trial run this semester.
He said the decision was made
in the spirit of experimenting with
methods of presentation to meet
student needs.
Smith describes this process
as experiential learning in which
students learn material through a
more hands-on approach, rather
than standard class lectures.
Some of these experiences will
include field trips to city council
meetings, activities in the virtual
world of Second Life and interac-
tive trivia games.
During a City Hall visit, which
includes sitting in on a session
of the San Antonio City Council,
students will get the chance to
meet Mayor Julian Castro and City
Manager Sheryl Sculley.
In the virtual world of Second
Life, students build a community
and then run it using a democratic
process.
Students will also write and
perform skits for their peers.
“By teaching, we learn better,”
said Smith, who also performs a
one-woman skit for the class.
The class meets 10:50 a.m.-1:30
p.m. Thursdays.
Although this interactive class
entails more activity than most
government classes, it costs the
same as other government classes,
aside from the cost of parking dur-
ing some field trips.
With class enrollment at 29
in its first semester, the future is
promising for the new, more inter-
active GOVT 2301, Smith said. She
is hopeful spring classes will be
offered more than once a week.
Knowing how a democracy
runs is important for students and
when they’re not so removed from
the process, it enables them to
understand it better, Smith said.
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Government section a hands-on approach
Pool party idea drainedBy J. armendarez
A swimming pool party planned by the office of student life for
Wednesday through Friday has been postponed to April.
Although the event was not listed on the office’s website, President
Robert Zeigler confirmed Thursday on “Speaking of SAC” on campus
radio station KSYM 90.1 FM that the office had planned to temporarily
install a 60,000-gallon pool in the mall west of Moody Learning Center.
James Velten, KSYM DJ Hot Mustard, informed Zeigler that the
office posted on its Facebook page that it was seeking a lifeguard and
that he understood a fire truck would be needed to fill a 60,000-gallon
pool, but Zeigler did not confirm that.
He said he was unaware of those dates but had told the office in
the past that the district’s department of enterprise risk management
would have to review safety regulations for events involving a pool.
Mike Legg, director of enterprise risk management, said student
life had been emailed information about city safety requirements.
The event, however, has been postponed because of extreme fires
and drought in South Texas, student life Director Jorge Posadas told
The Ranger Thursday.
“Dr. Zeigler and Dr. (Robert) Vela (vice president of student affairs)
felt that it was bad timing,” Posadas said.
8 • The Ranger 10 Years After the Attacks
Former Ranger editor Alison
Beshur remembers Sept. 11
for the story and correction
that followed a month and a half
later.
Beshur said The Ranger received
a tip from the president’s secretary
that education sophomore Christal
Bell attributed absences in a speech
class to her military recruitment
efforts after both her brothers were
killed in the attack on the Pentagon.
Beshur interviewed Bell and
pressed her for photos, even offer-
ing to pick them up. Bell skirted the
request and offered to meet on cam-
pus but did not make deadline. The
story ran on the front page of the Oct.
12, 2001, issue, without photos.
“I was really naïve going into jour-
nalism,” Beshur said, during a phone
interview Sept. 5. “I never thought
someone would lie about that.”
Beshur said she sympathized
with Bell’s loss but regrets not fact-
checking more, “but the casualty list
wasn’t published yet.”
After the story ran, retired Maj.
Pete Siegel emailed The Ranger that a
brother’s attributed rank did not exist
in the Air Force.
According to the correction pub-
lished in the Nov. 30, 2001, issue,
while searching for the proper title,
The Ranger learned that no Air Force
nor Navy personnel died in the
attack.
Beshur confronted Bell, who
admitted to fabricating the story. “I
think the correction was longer than
the story.”
She said her story was used as a
learning experience, and fact-check-
ing was heavily stressed throughout
the rest of the semester. She was edi-
tor in spring 2002.
Her year at The Ranger prepared
her for a full-time newspaper job,
Beshur said. She worked briefly as an
editorial assistant at the San Antonio
Express-News then as a reporter
at the Brownsville Herald, Corpus
Christi Caller-Times and Kerrville
Daily Times.
Since the birth of her son, she
works part-time at USAA and occa-
sionally freelances for the San
Antonio Business Journal and San
Antonio Magazine.
“It wasn’t just because of this
news event that was so important
that people are still talking about
it,” Beshur said. “It’s because of the
guidance and dedication of (journal-
ism faculty and staff) Irene (Abrego),
Trish (Buchhorn), Mr. (Chet) Hunt
and Ms. (Marianne ) Odom.”Jennifer M. Ytuarte
Covering college reaction to 9/11
Photographer Eric Lyle Kayne
was planning to report to the
newsroom the morning of
Sept. 11, 2001, like any other day on
the student newspaper.
As he prepared to leave his house,
news of the first plane colliding into
the north tower of the World Trade
Center aired on TV.
Shortly after Kayne arrived at this
college, a second plane hit the south
tower.
“I remember (photo adviser)
Tricia (Buchhorn) telling me to go
top off the gas in my car,” Kayne said.
“I have to be honest, I was very
excited something big had hap-
pened,” Kayne said.
As he prepared a Nikon F3 film
camera, campus police began evacu-
ating students from classrooms.
Kayne followed officers to each
classroom.
Later, Kayne and reporter Jacob
Wesolick went to interview people
lined up at the South Texas Blood
and Tissue Center.
“We went there because people
came from all over to donate blood ...
it wasn’t hard to find a SAC connec-
tion,” he said.
Despite the unfortunate circum-
stances, Kayne said he was honored
to be one of the journalists docu-
menting 9/11 and have his work
published for an audience of thou-
sands of students here.
Kayne still remembers images
he captured that week: among them
students crowded around a televi-
sion set outdoors on the balcony of
Moody and a student praying at the
Catholic Student Center.
From behind the camera to in
front of the camera, local news sta-
tions interviewed Kayne asking how
he handled the events of 9/11.
“It’s horrible what happened, but
whether I wanted it to happen or not,
it happened,” he said.
Kayne worked at The Ranger
2000-2001 and studied Photoshop, a
digital photo editing software.
Kayne said he discovered a pas-
9/11 impressed new journalists with big lessons
A television placed on the balcony of Moody drew a crowd after classes were dismissed for the day Sept. 11, 2001, in the wake of the attacks on New York and Washington, D.C. File photo
Fabricated story taught skepticism
Sept. 12, 2011 • 910 Years After the Attacks
sion for spot news that momentous
day. Since his time at The Ranger,
Kayne, a freelance photojournalist
in Houston, has earned a master’s
degree in photography from Ohio
University.Jacob Beltran
Photographer saw fort secured
The daily parking fight was
nonexistent as Ranger pho-
tographer Cynthia Esparza
parked her truck next to Chance
Academic Center the morning of
Sept. 11, 2001. On her way in, she
faced a rush of vehicles headed in the
opposite direction.
The lot was almost empty, save
for one vehicle that belonged to
an elderly woman, who informed
Esparza the campus was closed.
“I ran across campus to the news-
room because I knew I’d have to
cover something,” Esparza said.
In the newsroom, a small TV con-
tinuously cycled through newsfeeds
as Ranger staffers rushed to localize
the attacks in prayer services, blood
donations and heightened security.
Esparza went to Fort Sam
Houston, where soldiers erected
barricades and gated the formerly
welcoming entrance at Grayson
and North New Braunfels avenues.
“It was strange since the (post) had
always been open to the public.”
The gates were closed perma-
nently, as were other entrances.
In October, Ranger staffers
attended a Society of Professional
Journalists meeting to listen to jour-
nalists of the San Antonio Express-
News talk about their experiences at
Ground Zero. “I felt grateful to hear
their accounts,” Esparza said.
She said, even now, when she
photographs news for the San Angelo
Standard-Times, her camera is her
shield. “I remember through the pic-
tures I took, but not in the moment.”
Esparza graduated from Texas
State University-San Marcos in 2004
and has worked in San Angelo since.Jennifer M. Ytuarte
Respect grew for journalists
On Sept. 11, 2011, when
Ranger photographer
Brook Freeman stepped on
campus from San Pedro Avenue, he
saw everyone leaving in a rush. “I
knew I had to stay,” he said.
He pushed against the tide of cry-
ing students and grim faces to get
to the Ranger newsroom in Loftin
Student Center. “No one knew what
was going on,” Freeman said.
Of all the stress the Ranger report-
ers faced that day, Freeman said, “I
didn’t see anyone with anything less
than grit.”
The Ranger published four pages
of news and photos that “wrapped
around” the first issue of The Ranger
for fall 2001.
“I have more respect for the job
reporters do and how fast they get
it done.”Jennifer M. Ytuarte
Love it or hate it
Reporter Robert J. Zertuche
watched the twin tow-
ers collapse while at work.
“I made a choice that day to quit
my second job and work full-time
reporting for The Ranger.”
Zertuche earned an associate
degree in journalism here.
“The Ranger trains you really
well, and you either love it or hate it,
but either way you hone your craft,”
Zertuche said.
He earned a Bachelor of Arts
degree in mass communication from
Texas State University-San Marcos
and is working on a thesis for a
Master of Fine Arts in creative writ-
ing from Texas State.Jennifer M. Ytuarte
A television placed on the balcony of Moody drew a crowd after classes were dismissed for the day Sept. 11, 2001, in the wake of the attacks on New York and Washington, D.C. File photo
Go to www.ranger.org to see the original
coverage of 9/11.
10 • Sept. 12, 2011 The RangerNews
By Marc cunninghaM
Like many recent graduates, continuing
education Coordinator Thermajean Jones is still
looking for a job that will best allow her to apply
her skills.
In 2010, she earned a bachelor’s degree in
business at Texas A&M University-San Antonio.
Undergraduates learn the job market
requires they pursue further education to stand
out from the crowd of job seekers.
“I have to get that master’s degree before I
can even apply, and that’s heartbreaking,” said
Jones, who is looking for a job teaching student
development classes.
She said her lack of a graduate degree would
cause her to be passed over in favor of someone
who has earned a master’s degree but doesn’t
have her experience.
In an economy with shrinking budgets and
fewer employee benefits, Alamo Colleges offers
Upward Mobility, a tuition assistance program
that provides up to $2,200 per year toward
higher education for full-time faculty and staff.
Employees with benefits and one full year
of service who have completed the maximum
transferable hours at an Alamo College within
the district and attend any college or univer-
sity that offers certificates, undergraduate and
graduate degrees may apply.
Jones said she is grateful for the perk that
will help her become upwardly mobile.
As a health care major, she said each book
costs up to $320.
The Upward Mobility program covers books
alone, but as Jones sees it, “You give me $15,
isn’t that $15 more than I had before? Now you
bought my books? Wooooo!”
This December, she expects to complete
a master’s degree at Texas A&M University-
San Antonio and is optimistic about future
employment opportunities within the Alamo
Colleges.
Despite her enthusiasm, Jones said she had
one complaint.
“I know lots of people use it; I just wish more
people would complete it.”
For more information, visit http://alamo.
edu/district/training/upward-mobility.aspx.
Moving up in down economyUpward Mobility provides tuition
assistance to full-time employees. “I know lots of people use it; I just wish more people would complete it.”Thermajean Jonescontinuing education coordinator
The Ranger Sept. 12, 2011 • 11Premiere
By Diana Palomo
Phi Theta Kappa, a two-year international honor society,
gives students an opportunity for “fellowship, leadership,
scholarship and service.”
The society provides leadership training and community
service while improving chances for scholarship opportuni-
ties at transfer institutions.
In 1938, the Beta Nu chapter of the
society was established at this college.
The advisers of the honor society are
English Professor Jane Focht-Hansen,
mortuary science Professor Mary Mena,
Counselor Jim Lucchelli and
Counselor Julie Engel.
Incoming members are
required to be enrolled in a
regionally accredited institution
offering associate degrees and
have a minimum of 12 hours of
coursework earned toward the
associate degree. They must be
enrolled in at least six hours of
academic coursework, achieve a
cumulative GPA of 3.5 and follow the moral
standards of the society.
Eligible students must meet all the
requirements and contact advisers to partici-
pate in the ceremony at 7 p.m. Sept. 29 in the auditorium of
McAllister Fine Arts Center.
The $75 membership fees include international and
regional dues, enrollment in the international community
college registry and lifetime fee.
Three orientation sessions — all in Room 241 of Nail
Technical Center — have been scheduled to answer ques-
tions and distribute applications.
The first session is 4 p.m.-5 p.m. today. The other two are
4 p.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 19 and 3:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m. Sept. 20.
The deadline for applications and dues is noon Sept. 23.
Students should bring an unofficial transcript, which can
be printed from ACES.
Meetings for members are at noon every Wednesday in
Room 241 of Nail Technical Center.
“I like to see the students grow and bring out their leader-
ship abilities,” Mena said.
For more information, call Mena at 210-486-1136 or
Focht-Hansen at 210-486-0668.
By KirK Hanes
Hispanic Heritage Month is a cel-
ebration of major cultural traditions.
“It’s a focus on issues, culture and
art in the Latin American community,”
English Professor Patricia Portales said.
Portales and English Professor
Claudio San Miguel serve as co-chairs
of the Hispanic Heritage Committee,
which organizes events on campus for
the national observation.
Hispanic Heritage Month begins
Sept. 16, or Dieciséis de Septiembre
when Mexican independence is cel-
ebrated, and ends Oct. 12, Columbus
Day in the United States.
Throughout Latin America, the day
is known as Día de la Raza, or Day of
the Race.
On campus, the kickoff is 11 a.m.-1
p.m. Thursday in the Fiesta Room of
Loftin Student Center with mariachis
and opening remarks.
Also on Sept. 15, Bertha Valdes will
lecture on curanderos from 11 a.m.-
noon in Room 120 of the visual arts
center.
“Tex[t]-Mex” author Dr. William
Nericcio, an English professor at San
Diego State University, will speak on
Mexican-American stereotypes in the
media at 10:50 a.m. Sept. 22 in Room
218 of the nursing and allied health
complex.
A victim of human trafficking,
author Theresa Flores, will talk about
the abduction of women and children
for servitude and sex work at noon Sept.
23 in Room 120 of the visual arts center.
The Antojitos Festival, led by Fabian
Cortez, special projects coordinator in
student life, happens in the mall 9 a.m.
-2 p.m. Sept. 28. Carrie Hernandez, stu-
dent life specialist, said the festival will
showcase low rider cars, and student
clubs will be selling food.
Esther Morales Liedecke will lead
“The Art of Making Tortillas” 12:15 a.m.-
1:30 p.m. Sept. 28 in the craft room in
Loftin.
The celebration ends Oct. 14 with
two events. OnStage Drama Club is set
to perform a play at 10 a.m. in the the-
ater in McCreless Hall.
Tejano group “Little Joe y La Familia”
performs at 7 p.m. Oct. 14 in the audito-
rium of McAllister Fine Arts Center.
Portales said Hispanic Heritage
Month has traditionally been built
around a theme, but this year, the plan-
ners wanted to broaden the events on
campus.
She said the committee would like
more students to help plan next year’s
events.
For more information, call Portales
at 210-486-0681. To see a list of
Hispanic heritage events, visit www.
alamo.edu/sac/pr/default.htm.
Phi Theta Kappa issues invitation, sets orientation
Campus events celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month
Speakers and events will focus on issues,
culture and art.
Students dance in the mall while Mariachi Azteca 90 performs as part of Hispanic Heritage Month in 2006. File photo
PTK induction ceremony is set for 7 p.m. Sept. 29 in McAllister auditorium.
The Ranger 12 • Sept. 12, 2011 Editorial
Students still waiting for financial aid disburse-ments need to stop reacting and become proactive.
Some 787 students missed the Aug. 25 pay dead-line for late registration.
It is the students’ responsibility to keep on top of tuition payments.
Account balances and financial aid statuses can easily be checked through ACES so students know whether they stand in a danger zone.
Tuition payment deadlines can be found on the college website under the tab Admissions and Records.
The virtual business office is also available for setting up an installment plan or paying tuition in full.
Students who failed to meet the June 1 priority deadline for financial aid applications should know they cannot count on their applications being pro-cessed before the fall semester.
Students signed an acknowledgement receipt that informs them financial aid will not be available at the start of the semester.
Classes begin the same time every year, so there’s no good reason for the melodrama.
Avoid standing in lines or growing old on hold only to hear the same answers: Filing for financial aid early will help students avoid these problems in future semesters.
Pay your tuition on time.
Avoid drops; pay upDid you get stuck in line at admissions, bursar or financial
aid office?Most likely, you saw one of our staff members passing out
The Ranger.Reading the summer edition of The Ranger is a great first
step to learning the ins-and-outs of campus.It’s off the stands now, but you can log onto www.theranger.
org for the entire issue.Information on paperwork, degree plans and the effect
of dropped courses will answer questions you may not have thought to ask yet.
Each of the Alamo Colleges offers unique programs. Don’t be afraid to enroll in courses at multiple campuses because you pay a single tuition.
Remember to save all your receipts because programming errors and glitches may erase the record of your tuition pay-ment.
Don’t pick courses based on professor ratings online. Talk to previous students.
Also, don’t drop courses thinking another professor will be easier. You will directly affect financial aid eligibility and waste one of only six drops the state allows during your entire under-graduate career.
Follow a degree plan, meet with professors and stay informed by regularly checking your Alamo Colleges email.
You’re in college now.It’s time to take responsibility for your life and your deci-
sions. The first step is doing your research so let The Ranger assist you.
You’re on your ownAlexandra Nelipa
The Ranger Sept. 12, 2011 • 13Viewpoint
“I was born in Germany, and my father is Italian. I moved here when I was 6 and forgot how to speak Italian and German. I want to remember.” These few lines are one of the answers
I received from my students at the beginning of the semester, when I asked them to anonymously write why they enrolled in an Italian class.
It is the third year that I have taught at this college, and it still surprises me that so many students — almost 90 this fall — want to learn Italian. It is not a major commercial idiom like Chinese or German, nor does it have the traditional charm or historical distinction of French.
So what is the attraction?Well, most of the responses
fell into the category of memory. Often, students in Italian class-es are children of military families once stationed in Italy, or they served in the military themselves.
At one time, they tasted La Dolce Vita — or the sweet life — walked the beautiful medieval cities and sampled the rich regional foods.
Now they want to remember — in Italian.
In general, Italian appears to be a “fun language,” which flatters me, considering that we Italians removed our nationalist pride since the end of World War II and its disastrous conse-quences.
Italian is the language of gelato and wine, the language of fashion and architecture.
Art majors want to better under-stand the Renaissance masters. Music majors want to hear “concerto,” “alle-gretto” or “adagio” as intended at the opera house La Scala.
Sometimes, older students enroll whose grandparents, or even parents, came as immigrants to the United States in the ’20s and ’30s. Their effort
to learn Italian is part of a deeper search for a lost identity.
Italian was their childhood lan-guage, but life’s urgencies and the need to integrate forced it into the background.
Now, it is time to get all possible memories back, including linguistic ones: that lullaby Granny used to sing or those obscure words Mom and Dad said when they were angry.
Students of Italian origin are the most motivated but also the most challenging to teach. They often dis-cover the language they remember is not
proper Italian but one of many dialects heard
across the peninsula. From my teaching
experience, I know this dis-covery can be very painful. Full of hope, they present me with expressions I can-not possibly understand. It must be very disorienting to learn their family lan-
guage was not “correct” Italian.As the course continues, the frus-
tration yields to a deep sense of grati-tude.
Students understand that dialects have their own dignity, and eventu-ally, they accept the diversity of the families who faced the ocean and the huge effort of immigration to give their descendants a better future.
Now, here are those descendants, learning Italian at this college and struggling with pronouns and conju-gations to be able to capture the echo of sweet childhood memories.
However, I have to admit not every student is so romantic. Half of the
students wrote that they already know Spanish and think they can easily learn a third
language with minimal effort, which is true to some
extent.And one student wrote, “I am
here because I registered late, and this was one of the only classes that was available.”
Well, I can live with that. We all need to fit in somewhere and
learning a new lan-guage is a great
way to fit into the world.
Recalling La Dolce Vita — in Italian
Viewpoint by Stefania Malacrida
14 • Sept. 12, 2011 The Ranger
District 1: Joe Alderete Jr.1602 Hillcrest DriveSan Antonio TX 78228 Cell: 210-863-9500 Home: 210-434-6967E-mail: [email protected], [email protected]
District 2: Denver McClendon3811 Willowwood Blvd.San Antonio, TX 78219Work: 210-281-9141 E-mail: [email protected], [email protected]
District 3: Anna U. Bustamante511 Ware Blvd., San Antonio TX 78221Work: 210-882-1609 Home: 210-921-2986E-mail: [email protected]
District 4: Marcelo S. Casillas115 Wainwright, San Antonio TX 78211No telephone number providedBoard of trustees liaison: 210-485-0030 E-mail: [email protected]
District 5: Roberto Zárate4103 Buffalo Bayou, San Antonio TX 78251No telephone number providedE-mail: [email protected]
District 6: Dr. Gene Sprague14722 Iron Horse WayHelotes TX 78023Work: 210-567-4865E-mail: [email protected]
District 7: Blakely Latham Fernandez3707 N. St. Mary StreetSan Antonio TX 78212Work: 210-538-9935E-mail: [email protected],[email protected]
District 8: Gary Beitzel15403 Forest Mist, San Antonio TX 78232Home: 210-496-5857E-mail: [email protected]
District 9: James A. Rindfuss13315 Thessaly, Universal City, TX 78148Home: 210-828-4630 Work: 210-375-2555E-mail: [email protected]
Trustees
Chancellor: Dr. Bruce H. Leslie201 W. Sheridan, Bldg. B,San Antonio TX 78204-1429Work: 210-485-0020 Fax: 210-486-9166E-mail: [email protected]
San Antonio College, Dr. Robert E. Zeigler210-486-0959, [email protected]
Northeast Lakeview College, Dr. Eric Reno210-486-5484, [email protected]
Northwest Vista College, Dr. Jacqueline Claunch210-486-4900, [email protected]
Palo Alto College, Dr. Ana M. “Cha” Guzman210-486-3960, [email protected]
St. Philip’s College, Dr. Adena W. Loston210-486-2900, [email protected]
Administrators
Guest Viewpoints:
Faculty, staff, students and
community members are wel-
come to contribute guest view-
points of up to 450 words.
Writers should focus on cam-
pus or current events in a critical,
persuasive or interpretative style.
All viewpoints must be pub-
lished with a photo portrait of
the writer.
Letters Policy:
The Ranger invites readers
to share views by writing letters
to the editor. Space limitations
force the paper to limit letters
to two double-spaced, typewrit-
ten pages. Letters will be edited
for spelling, style, grammar, libel
and length. Editors reserve the
right to deny publication of any
letter.
Letters should be mailed
to The Ranger, Department of
Media Communications, San
Antonio College, 1300 San Pedro
Ave., San Antonio TX 78212-4299.
Letters also may be brought
to the newspaper office in Room
212 of Loftin Student Center,
emailed to sac-ranger@alamo.
edu or faxed to 210-486-1789.
Letters must be signed and
must include the printed name
and telephone number. Students
should include classification,
major, campus and Banner ID.
Employees should include title
and telephone number.
For more information, call
210-486-1773.
Single Copy Policy:
Members of the Alamo
Community College District
community are permitted one
free copy per issue because of
high production costs.
Where available, additional
copies may be purchased with
prior approval for 50 cents each
by contacting The Ranger busi-
ness office.
Newspaper theft is a crime.
Those who violate the single-
copy rule may be subject to civil
and criminal prosecution and
subject to college discipline.
Editor
Jolene Almendarez
News Editor
Joshua Fechter
Calendar/Opinion Editor
Alma Linda Manzanares
Photo Editor
Ingrid Wilgen
Photo Team
Julianna Anaya, Rachael L. Emond, Casandra Gonzales,
Celeste Kulla, Ivie Okungbowa, Valerie Marie Salazar,
Katie Sheridan, Alex Solis, Riley Stephens
Illustrators
Juan Carlos Campos, Alexandra Nelipa, Fred Nockroes
Staff Writers
Brian Burdick, Sebastian Carter,
Jennifer Coronado, Marc Cunningham,
Faith Duarte, David Espinoza, Jennifer Flores,
Sara Garza, Kirk Hanes, Stefania Malacrida,
Hilary Martinez, Robert Medina,
Diana Palomo, Matthew Taylor
Multimedia Editor
Jennifer M. Ytuarte
Production Manager
Melody Mendoza
Web Editor
Jacob Beltran
©2011 by The Ranger staff, San Antonio College, 1300 San Pe-dro Ave., San Antonio, TX 78212-4299. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without permission.
The Ranger news outlets, which serve the Alamo Community College District, are laboratory projects of journalism classes in the Department of Media Communications at San Antonio Col-lege. The Ranger is published Mondays except during summer, holidays and examinations.
The Ranger Online is available at www.theranger.org.News contributions accepted by telephone (210-486-1773),
by fax (210-486-9292), by email ([email protected]) or at the editorial office (Room 212 of Loftin Student Center).
Advertising rates available upon request by phone (210-486-1765) or as a download at www.theranger.org.
The Ranger is a member of the Texas Intercollegiate Press As-sociation, the Associated Collegiate Press and the Texas Commu-nity College Journalism Association.
The RangeR
The Ranger Sept. 12, 2011 • 15Pulse
By Jennifer flores
The Wellness Committee is pro-
moting “Protect Your Corazón:
Cardio Madness” for
heart health. The pro-
gram through Dec. 2, is
open to faculty, staff and
students.
Chris Dillon, kinesiol-
ogy instructor and wellness
coordinator, said the reason for the
program is to engage faculty and staff
in exercise.
“People neglect taking care of their
heart,” he said. “The importance of
cardio is to protect the heart against
different diseases like cardiovascu-
lar disease, diabetes, heart attacks or
strokes.”
He said the program is meant to
inspire people to develop exercise
habits and requires participants to
log 1,100 minutes of cardio activity,
such as walking, running, jogging,
biking, zumba and swim-
ming, between 30-60 min-
utes at least three times a
week. Participants completing
the required minutes receive a
“Protect Your Corazon” shirt.
Those who exercise in
Candler Physical Education Center
during open gym hours should sign
in and out to record their minutes.
A box with cards to record minutes
will be available in Room 111. Those
participating off-campus must email
minutes to Dillon by Friday each week
For more information, visit www.
alamo.edu/sac/kine/bulletin.htm.
Wellness contest encourages exercise
Join online – rbfcu.org210-945-3300 | 1-800-580-3300
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Manuel Venegas practices tennis with Manolo Morales Sept. 1 on the tennis courts. Venegas and Morales are former stu-dents who plan to return in fall 2012. The tennis courts, when not reserved for classes, are open. Celeste Kulla
16 • Sept. 12, 2011 The RangerNews
By Diana Palomo
A food pantry sponsored by Phi Theta Kappa
provides groceries for students and staff of the
Alamo Colleges who may need help.
Members of the two-year international
honor society operate the pantry.
In the summer, the pantry relocated to 602
W. French Place at San Pedro Avenue from the
Catholic Student Center at 312 W. Courtland
Place.
Volunteers, led by economics Professor
Susan Spencer, worked to remodel, paint and
resurface the building.
The nonprofit San Antonio Food Bank has
served as a clearinghouse for cash and food
donations, storing truckloads of food, produce
and grocery products.
The agency has supported the Phi Theta
Kappa Food Pantry with food donations since
its opening March 5, 2009.
The donated products include canned
goods, baby food, juice, soft drinks, dairy prod-
ucts, meat, fruits, vegetables, poultry and bread.
Biology Professor Ellen Brennan, who teach-
es nutrition here, helps volunteers at the food
pantry combine the right amount of protein,
food and carbohydrates in prepackaged grocery
bags.
The food pantry is open noon–3 p.m.
Wednesday and Thursday for distribution.
First-time visitors can be provided with food
even if they are not part of the Alamo Colleges.
When people visit the pantry, volunteers
create a file that includes the number of family
members and a record of food given to them.
Children can receive a stuffed animal as a
gift from the agency.
Utensils are accepted only if they are in good
condition and attractive.
Three times a week, Spencer goes to the food
bank to pick up boxes of food for the pantry,
purchasing products that cost the pantry on
average 15 cents per pound. Produce is free.
On Wednesday mornings, she picks up spe-
cial orders.
“We have been so blessed,” said Spencer, who
is passionate about helping others.
Last year, Phi Theta Kappa received a $5,000
grant from Pepsi to set up the pantry. The United
Way distributes donations collected in an annual
combined campaign.
Between $1,000-$1,500 has come from dona-
tions earmarked for the pantry through United
Way contributions. Also, donations can be made
directly to the pantry with checks payable to the
San Antonio Food Bank for deposit in account.
Donations can be dropped off in Room 316
of Fletcher Administration Center or at the San
Antonio Food Bank at 5200 Old Highway 90 W.
For more information, call Spencer at 210-
486-0431 or email at [email protected].
Food pantry settles into new home off-campus
Education sophomore Tania Lopez and engineering sophomore Rick De La Garza prepare bags of groceries to be distributed. Photos by Casandra Gonzales
The Phi Theta Kappa food pantry at 602 W. French at San Pedro provides a variety of groceries available from donations.
San Antonio Food Bank, United Way and individuals continue to support PTK food pantry.
The food pantry is open from noon-3 p.m. Wednesdays and, when
volunteers are available, noon-3 p.m. Tuesdays.