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Preparing for battle Rattler basketball teams prepare to compete in the Heartland Conference playoffs.
PG. 20
A St. Mary’s Student Publication since 1925 • Vol. 97 Issue 8 • 02-24-10 • STMURATTLERNEWS.COM
Student holds block walk
White House official speaks on education
By Clayton Billadeau Staff Writer
Tyler Ingraham, junior political science major, hosted his first “block walk” to raise awareness about his campaign for the District 1 seat on the Alamo Community College Tyler Ingraham District’s board of trustees. Gathering near San Antonio College, Ingraham and co-campaign managers Robert Pohl and Jacob Segarra instructed the ins and outs of a safe and effective walk for the group of 22 supporters. Precautions included no trespassing, observing “no soliciting” and “beware of dog” signs, leaving any person who is angry or combative and to always travel in pairs. Generally, walkers should not do anything out of the ordinary or feel Cont. on PG. 5, SEE “INGRAHAM ”
Inside: Tasty Tacos
Neighborhood taco stands are an alternative for latenight taco runs. PG. 9
Energy + Alcohol
Mixing alcoholic beverages with stimulants has grown popular, but not safe. PG. 13
Tablet Talk
Computer tablets may all look similar, but read about differences among models. PG. 14
Going Greek
Fraternities and sororities prepare for Greek Week after completing recruitment. PG. 15
By Alonzo Mendoza Staff Writer
Bon Voyage! A new study abroad scholarship fund is created after approval of a Student Government Association proposal. By Sarah Mills Editor-In-Chief The university’s board of trustees officially approved a Student Government Association proposal to create a scholarship fund for students planning to study abroad on Feb. 12. Beginning in fall 2010, a $10 fee will be implemented each semester for all full-time undergraduate students. The fees will be used to create an International Educational Student Scholarship Fund that will give students hoping to study abroad the opportunity to receive a scholarship to help pay the costs. The fund will be maintained by having 75 percent of the fiscal resources available to students who enroll in an International Education Program; the remaining 25 percent will roll over each semester so that the fund can mature, according to the proposal. In spring 2007, a similar SGA proposal that called for the university to match all funds collected from a $4 fee
on full-time undergraduate students was declined. SGA president Tania Ramirez, senior political science major, said she decided to try to get a new proposal passed because she wanted to increase the amount of students who study abroad, which is also one of the university’s Vision 2012 strategic goals “This has been on SGA’s back burner for years,” said Ramirez who has studied abroad in China and Bolivia. “Studying abroad is a life changing experience; you appreciate your home more and get to see how people in other places live. So I thought ‘let me pick [the proposal] up to see what I can do.’” SGA worked on the proposal, which includes 200 student signatures in support, for nearly five months. Dean of Students Timothy Bessler, who is also the SGA advisor, and Minita Santizo, Director of International Educational Programs, advised the group through the process.
Bessler assisted by asking a lot of those questions. “We researched other universities who have scholarship funds for studying abroad, spoke to financial aid, talked to students who have studied abroad and to parents to get different perspectives,” Ramirez said. “There were some negatives and positives, but the positives are what drove me to continue the proposal.” Currently, students studying abroad can use their financial aid to help cover the cost, but work-study awards cannot be used because students must work on campus to use the award. Even though students can use financial aid to study abroad, it does not cover the entire cost. Santizo estimates that the London study abroad program totals $23,000 to $24,000 for one semester; the Spain program is an estimated $22,000 for one semester. “Because of the exchange rate and depending on where Cont. on PG. 3, SEE “SGA ”
The ¡Adelante! U.S. Education Leadership Fund hosted the first of a three-part series of the State of Latino Education at the university with Juan Sepúlveda as the main speaker. Sepúlveda spoke about the significance of education on a national scale and how it impacts San Antonio. Sepúlveda is the director of the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans (which is housed under the U.S. Department of Education and the Domestic Policy Council) under President Barack Obama’s administration, and manages the White House’s involvement in Latino education in the U.S. During his speech on Feb. 19, Sepúlveda began the series by saying that education is one of the top priorities of the Obama administration. Sepúlveda introduced the administration’s goal of making the U.S. the leading country where the majority of the population has an undergraduate degree. The U.S. is currently No. 10 on that list, he said. People with no college education account for 15 to 20 percent of the currently unemployed population and those with some college education account for less than 5 percent of the currently unemployed, Sepúlveda said. He restated Obama’s challenge regarding education: “Every child needs to get at least a high school education and at least one year of college education.” The future of the U.S. is tied to the Latino community because of its increasing population. There are 47 million (51 million if you count the residents of Puerto Rico) Hispanics in the U.S., and it is the largest minority group in the country. About half of Latinos do not finish high school, and half of the students who do finish high school are not even ready for college. Thirteen percent of Latino high school graduates get an undergraduate degree and 4 percent get a degree beyond the undergraduate level, Sepúlveda said. He then laid out the Obama administration’s agenda regarding Latino education. The Obama administration plans to challenge programs such as “Head Start” and other programs in all states to increase the quality of their Cont. on PG. 3, SEE “SEPÚLVEDA”