The Ranger (San Antonio, Tex.), Vol. 61, No. 11, Ed. 1 Friday, November 21, 1986 Page: 11 of 12
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LETTERS
November 21, 1986 / The Ranger / 11
OPINION
a
Dear Editor:
Shawne Todd
Xi
Commander Robert O'Keefe
*
SRC member
voices complaint
Article labeled
opinionated
Mario A. Vazquez
SRC President
Editor’s Note: Robert M. O’Keefe,
chief of campus police, will retire
Feb. 1 after working with the district
14V2 years.
Excellence and elitism are not
synonymous. Because of the diversity of
our students in the Alamo Community
College District, we are facing some im-
Robert M. O’Keefe, Chief
Campus Police
issues that might arise.
On his opinion that the duty of the
media is to “...report on government ac-
tions, good or bad.”, I respectfully sub-
mit that he has assumed a Watergate-
type mentality.
As an ex-journalism major, it has
always been my view that the duty of
the media was to fairly and accurately
report the news.
Please note that the word news does
not lend itself exclusively to government
actions, but to all news.
Again, this is merely one of the
author’s many assumptions; and like
many of the other ones he makes, it is
inaccurate.
By far, the greatest complaint we have
is the author’s lack of research, which
he so gratuitously accuses the SRC of in
its charter revisions.
Indeed, if he had been at the SRC
meeting, or had taken just a few facts to
base his article on rather than a pot-
pourri of unsupported, unsubstantiated
allegations and hearsay.
The author tells the SRC “This is the
real world, SRC.” We address the same
statement to the author.
If you intend to be a responsible jour-
nalist, learn to report the facts and
research your subject accurately.
If not, perhaps you should consider tak-
ing up creative writing as a vocation.
Tom Weinbrecht,
SRC Public Relations Chairman
Ivory V. Nelson
Chancellor
Kim Potempa
SRC Secretary
Chancellor
outlines goals
Dear Editor:
_
SRC’s goal
to help students
Dear Editor:
Letters policy
Because of space considerations, The
Ranger requests that authors of letters
restrict the length of the letters to two
double-spaced, typewritten pages.
Letters of greater length will be subject
to editing.
Letters may be sent to the Department
of Journalism, 1300 San Pedro Ave., San
Antonio, Texas 78284, or brought to the
journalism department in Room 200 of
Loftin Student Center.
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from the American Heritage Dictionary,
Second College Edition.)
• FACT-Something true and accurate.
Something having real, demonstrable ex-
istance, reality.
• OPINION-A belief held often without
positive knowledge or proof; A judgment
or estimation.
• ASSUMPTION-A statement accepted
as true without proof. To take for
granted, suppose.
• HEARSAY-Information heard from
another.
With these definitions established, let
us proceed.
The article, which is fortunately on the
opinion page, is filled with assumptions,
opinions and hearsay and is very short
on actual facts.
For example, the fourth paragraph
states, “In its (sic) meeting last week, the
SRC spoke of plans to bar everyone but
their own from meetings.” Not only is
this assumption inaccurate, but
outrageously out of context.
The discussion of executive sessions
focused on defining what an executive
session was and exactly what would
precipitate the need for one.
Never during the course of the meeting
(as the meeting minutes will reflect) did
the SRC make plans to bar anyone.
Furthermore, the author was so kind
as to quote, from the Open Meetings
Act, reasons why a governmental body
might vote to go into a closed meeting.
I would like to address the article on
“SRC must research before revising
bylaws.’ I would like to say that the arti-
cle was very, very opinionated.
My first impression of the article was
that it confused me. It was written that
they (SRC) came up with a strange new
twist, and I thought that twist was
rather normal.
As a member of the SRC, I have the
opinion that article was and is wrong. If
and when we bar people from our
meetings, then I am sure something will
be done about it.
Even if someone was to be thrown out
of a meeting that statement itself is very
absurd!
Lastly, if any student is needing to
know about SRC, please ask one of the
members because we do not want more
absurd things to just be hearsay.
students, faculty and staff in every way
that we possibly can.
A few but not all of these services are
listed below:
retrieve keys locked in vehicles, jump
start vehicles, change tires for certain
categories of personnel perform simple
first echelon maintenance, investigate all
motor vehicle accidents, provide for
phone service for personal emergencies,
provide escort service, offer transporta-
tion to local doctors, dentists and
hospital facilities when needed as well
as transporting the student to his or her
home when necessity dictates, transpor-
tation for visitors and VIPs from the
local airport to hotels and return as well
as delivering packages for meetings to
members of the board.
Our campus police officers are CPR
November 14, 1986 I The Ranger / 1 2
The Student Representative Commis-
sions holds a meeting. Pretty normal
stuff except this time, members come up
with a strange new twist—they want to
go into executive session.
They throw out all other people, in-
cluding reporters, leaving them out in
the cold.
Although this is a hypothetical situa-
tion, it could occur if the SRC’s plans to
revise its bylaws to include executive
sessions go as planned.
In its meeting last week, the SRC spoke
of plans to bar everyone but their own
from meetings.
This is, at the very least, absurd.
The talks are just that—talks. Ap-
parently, the SRC did not consult any
legal documents to back their arguments
to go into executive session.
The words (executive session) sound
impressive and, above all, convenient.
This letter is in response to the Nov. 14
article entitled “SRC must research
before revising bylaws” by Tony Cantu.
First, if Tony Cantu would have been
at the meeting, perhaps his article would
have been accurate information and not
second hand. An executive session is not
a “strange new twist,” as Cantu put it. If
it were, Cantu would not have obtained
as much information as he did.
Secondly, the article refers to the SRC
as merely talking and the lack of legal
consultation. During last week’s
meeting, absolutely nothing was voted
on that “would affect so many people.”
The SRC discussed reasons for going
into executive session and mutually
agreed that research would be needed.
Among reasons mentioned for going
into executive session was if the SRC
would have a sexual harassment com-
plaint (for example) wherein the student
would request privacy to discuss the
complaint, or due to lack of information
which would find it necessary for the
SRC to discuss the issue in private.
By the power of the current SRC Con-
stitution and Bylaws, we can go into an
executive session because it is stated.
However, to avoid abusing this am-
biguous term (in the future), I proposed
to the SRC committee on revising the
constitution and bylaws to clearly define
what executive session means at this
level.
This is the real world, Cantu. It is
asinine to literally compare a local state
state or national government to that of a
school government. One example of this
is that we do not handle any school
funds or students’ tuition compared to
that of local, state or national govern-
ments which handle citizens’ tax money.
Our executive session definition would
clarify what is now ambiguous and
* would only be valid in conjuntion with
* school policies.
In closing, I would like to point out
that my biggest frustration, from reading
the article, is in Cantu’s assumptions on
what the SRC is still contemplating.
Tony Cantu should attend the meeting
for which he writes his opinions and see
first hand where the SRC stands or re-
quest an interview to clarify any heresay
before it is erroneously printed.
trained, hold Red Cross certification and
every police car carries oxygen and first
aid equipment.
The above is all in addition to the
regular police assignment of traffic con-
trol, enforcement of parking regulations,
investigations of burglaries, sexual
motivated assaults and break-ins, family
squabbles, etc.
No private security company that I am
aware of is authorized to render this
type of service.
In my opinion, it would be the epitome
of false economy to let a security com-
/ pany take over the security requirements
for this installation.
I emphasize that I have no personal
stake in this but it would do my heart
good to know that the personalized ser-
vice the campus police department now
renders will be continued after my
departure.
Especially important, I think, is the
personalized service we try to offer to
each individual who feels she or he may
have been unjustly cited for a traffic or
parking violation.
My door has always been open, and I
hope that it will continue to be open in
the months and years to come.
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coherent vision of what it means to be
an educated person.
Additionally, we must not allow the
debate about the importance of the
liberal arts and the practical arts to
degenerate into an either-or argument.
They are both important and balance is
needed.
The ACCD has presented its request to
the Legislative Budget Board for $93.4
million for the next biennium, including
$45.8 million for 1987-88 and $47.6
million for 1988-89.
This request is part of the $1.1 billion
total for the 49 community college
districts throughout the state and
represents approximately $300 million
above the 1985-86 and 1986-87
biennium.
Enrollment in the district increased
this fall from fall 1985. Palo Alto enroll-
ment increased from 243 students to
1,128 while St. Philip’s had an increase
from 5,444 in 1985 to 5,607. San Antonio
College’s current enrollment of 20,852 is
a decrease of 435 students. However, all
three colleges increased contact hour
generation.
During November we celebrate Honors
Week throughout the District.
Congratulations to all faculty, staff and
students who will receive recognition for
their honor activities.
Happy Thanksgiving!
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A-
One such reason, according to the Act,
is the hiring and firing of personnel.
Had the author actually attended the
SRC meeting, rather than relying on
hearsay evidence from another reporter’s
notes or story, he would have known
that this was precisely one of the given
examples as to why such a rule might
be needed.
Another example given was the right
to privacy for a student. The hypothetical
situation used to illustrate this involved
the possibility of a student involved in a
sexual harassment case.
Such an issue, in the view of most SRC
members, should not be immediately
opened to the entire student body for
two reasons.
First, the right to privacy for the stu-
dent involved; should that student have
to face embarrassment in the press over
a situation which is very private to
them?
Second, the possibility that any in-
vestigation which might result from such
charges would be hampered by such
coverage.
Again, if the author had been present
at the SRC meeting, he would have
known these arguments and perhaps not
been so quick to jump to his inflam-
matory conclusions.
It should be clear, therefore, that the
intentions of the closed session is not,
as the author assumes, to keep our ac-
tivities a secret, but to provide to the
students confidentiality on sensitive
posing challenges, to achieve the
academic excellence to which we aspire.
Helping the ordinary student develop
the competencies and the proficiencies
required to successfully, even joyfully
cope with the dilemmas of a rapidly
changing world, is foremost among
these challenges.
Gardner and the National Commission
on Excellence addressed the question of
excellence in this manner:
“The twin goals of equity and high
quality education have profound and
practical meaning for our economy and
society, and we cannot permit one to
yield to the other either in principle or
practice. To do so would deny people
their chance to learn and live according
to their aspirations and abilities. It
would also lead to a generalized accom-
modation to mediocrity in our society on
the one hand or the creation of an
undemocratic elitism on the other.”
To help students develop the com-
petencies to be effective, life-long
learners must be the top priority of the
colleges in the ACCD. So much attention
has been given to admissions standards
that our exit requirements may have
been overlooked and shortchanged.
We must therefore give attention to the
following:
• Have we given our incoming students
clear signals regarding what constitutes
adequate preparation for a career, as
well as for academic success?
• Have we examined our core
curriculum?
• Does this core curriculum meet the
needs of the student of the twenty-first
century?
• Are courses required only to insure
enrollment, rather (than) to insure
competencies?
Do we fall into the category of having
too much talk about what is best for
students or wanting them to be liberally
educated, when what we really mean is,
“Don’t touch my course because my
enrollment depends on this
requirement”?
We must address the issue of whether
our core curriculum is a treaty among
different departments rather than a
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Opinion page column sparks controversy
SRC president
questions story
Dear Editor:
I’m writing in reference to Tony Can-
tu’s analysis of its (SRC) bylaws. First of
all, I would like to say that everyone is
entitled to an opinion and so am I.
As secretary of the SRC, I often hear
lot of information going on in the
meetings. Mr. Cantu was not in atten-
dance at our Nov. 11 meeting so he
could not have heard directly what was
going on.
So he based his opinion on someone
else’s notes. He did not take the time to
research the facts presented.
We, as the SRC, did not say we were
going into executive session. At this
meeting, we simply were discussing how
to define executive session and we need-
ed to further research the subject.
I’ll admit we did not know much
about the subject, that’s why we didn’t
discuss it further.
We are not here to be elitists. We, like
all other clubs and organizations, have a
common goal. Our goal is to help
students and to direct them in the right
direction.
We are students and don’t like things
that affect us to be kept secret. So why
as student government should we hide
anything from students? They are our
purpose for existence, as is this school.
The article downgraded the SRC and
we don’t deserve it. We welcome
students to come to our meetings and to
express their problems.
So students, remember this, if you
have something to say, write the editor.
But too bad we can’t express it in our
own editorial section.
O’Keefe praises
campus police
Dear Editor:
* On the eve of my departure from San
Antonio College, I feel I would be amiss
if I did not make some gesture to show
s my sincere appreciation for the en-
| couragement and loyal support extended
I to me by the faculty, staff and students
’ of this college.
I have been a member of the campus
police department for the past 1472
years, the last eight of which have been
in the capacity of commander or chief.
Many changes have occurred in that
time, most of which I sincerely believe
’ have worked out to the betterment of
the college. I feel a person can feel
reasonably secure in regards to his per-
son and his property while on this in-
stallation if a few common sense precau-
tions are followed, such as, locking your
vehicle, not having valuable articles in
plain sight and not leaving textbooks
behind in classrooms.
Disturbing signs are beginning to ap-
pear on the horizon which may or may
not indicate that the era of campus
f police protection at this college may fast
be drawing to an end.
This in spite of vehement denials by
those in authority. Ways and means to
save money appear to take priority over
all else.
It is now conceded that Palo Alto Col-
lege, located in the high crime area of
San Antonio, will be patrolled by private
security guards who, at best, have
i minimal training to conform to state
I codes and are paid the minimum wage
allowable.
Almost all of the services now
rendered by the campus police depart-
ment will go by the boards. This campus
police department is and always has
been service oriented.
In spite of what many may think, our
reason for existence is not solely to
create revenues for the general fund of
the college but to aid and assist
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The SRC Is not alone. Other govern-
mental bodies share this desire to prac-
tice this privilege on a regular basis. City
Hall would love it, the federal govern-
ment as well. If they had their way, they
would hold all their meetings under ex-
ecutive session.
Why? Because this way, they would
not have to be held accountable for their
actions. That's where the media come in.
The media's function is to act as a
watchdog toward government. This func-
tion at times causes the media and the
government to clash, as the SRC and this
newspaper sometimes do.
The duty of the press is to report on
government actions, whether good or
would go under executive session.
There are 16 subsections under Section
2 which explain when a governmental
body would be able to go into closed
session.
The first subsection explains the pro-
cess of applying for closed session.
It Is not as easy as Just saying, "We
are going under executive session."
The governmental body must first an
nounce It will hold an executive session
and then identify the section or sections
under the Open Meetings Act authoriz-
ing the holding of such closed or ex-
ecutive session.
The only reasons a closed session
can take place is if the governmental
I ANALYSIS/Tony Cantu
bad. More close to home, The Ranger’s
duty Is to report Issues that will affect
the students.
Although a college organization, the
SRC is analogous to city, state and even
national government. The Ranger is
analogous to city, state and national
media. Both groups have the same basic
functions as their more advanced
counterparts.
The SRC must first do its homework
before attempting to strip the newspaper
and the students of the right to attend
its meetings.
Under the Open Meetings Act, Article
6252, Section 2, there is no possible
reason an organization such as the SRC
SRC must research before revising bylaws
1 body is discussing matters such as hlr-
I ing and firing personnel, litigation and
I settlement offers and purchase of
J property.
The SRC is not Involved In actions such
as those that would call for executive
sessions
This is the real world, SRC. A commit-
tee should not rewrite bylaws to give the
SRC authority to go into a closed session
when the issues discussed are going to
affect so many people.
This research should include examin-
ing the declaration of policy which in-
troduces the Texas Open Records Act.
"The people in delegating authority, do
not give their public servants the right to
decide what is good for the people to
know and what is not good for them to
know."
Has the SRC conducted such research?
The answer is obvious: No.«
Dear Editor:
We, the undersigned, wish to take
issue with the analysis article entitled
*■? “SRC must research before revising
bylaws” which appeared in the Nov. 14
edition of The Ranger.
Before beginning, let us define several
terms pertinent to this issue. (Definitions
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San Antonio College. The Ranger (San Antonio, Tex.), Vol. 61, No. 11, Ed. 1 Friday, November 21, 1986, newspaper, November 21, 1986; San Antonio, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1350549/m1/11/?q=%22~1~1%22~1: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting San Antonio College.