The Ranger (San Antonio, Tex.), Vol. 65, No. 11, Ed. 1 Friday, December 1, 1989 Page: 3 of 12
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The Second Front
' Dec. 1,1989
The Ranger/3
Trustee hosts forum breakfast
IM
Richard Gonzalez
fighting for it." ■
Plant boss gets support letter
■Wi
tor of the physical plant and two
"Next day, we voluntarily called
Johnson received the letter Nov.
a central source of information about
rity are not in question."
Bryce Harper
No-smoking policy discussed at forum
would hamper the telecommunica-
proper ty, prompting The Ranger to
Nov. 16 approved the expenditure $600,000 for the property.
of $650,000 for drainage construc-
tion around this campus. ■
The proposal cited the need for a
expanded computer center to accom-
modate the new computer system
Bl
In the letter, NAGE went on rec-
ord as prepared to use all existing
tion, to remove Johnson's silence
order.
ees
said. "If the board will not react, we
will have to file lawsuits."
Several speakers criticized the
in this area.
In an interview Nov. 22, Nelson
confirmed the purchase price and
nance workers.
The letter was typed on San Anto-
nio College letterhead.
to the business of work," he said.
Gavino Hernandez, general main-
A no-smoking policy will be im-
plemented in the fall, but no changes
to the policy were decided upon
sity of Texas at San Antonio.
Castillo said a committee had been
formed of faculty members, admin-
By Victor Morton
News Editor
least one comfortable place on cam-
pus where they can smoke.
Vera Nunez, speech communica-
tion major, said she realizes the col-
lege cannot provide as many smok-
ing as non-smoking areas.
But, if non-smokers' rights pre-
vailed, why bother to hold a forum
or create a committee, the speech
communication major questioned.
The forum ended without solu-
tions.
President Denise Igleheart said
another forum discussion is planned
in February.
Dr. Tom Aufdemorte, a patholo-
gist from the University of Texas
Health Science Center, was sched-
uled to speak with Castillo.
However, he did not attend be-
cause he was out of town. ■
Jcfa'
a desire to support the
supervisors and asked if I would
$3,685,900. The winning bid was
. $103,166 under the project budget of
$3,789,066.
Work on both projects is expected
to start this month.
In other events concerning the
capital improvements program, the
board's building committee Nov. 20
refused to consider a proposal by
Chancellor Ivory Nelson 'for a new
district warehouse.
The proposal contained five op-
tional sites ranging in price from'
* $1.73 to $2.45 million.
The proposal was developed by
the district physical plant office under
The direction of Dr. Ronald Jonas,
vice chancellor for administration.
He explained the proposal to the
committee.
The need for the additional space
was determined after RVBK Archi-
tects completed a study of space
2^
■ ■■'
a
Association of Government Employ- also violated the First Amendment.
"The chairman of the board said
this is not a sanctioned meeting," he
Eric Jetta, assistant director of utili- help them, write a letter," she said, did not think enough of him to merit
ties; and Horace Allison, assistant "and I did as the secretary." his signature of support,
director of design and construction,
r——• - • •
Nov. 27 by groundskeepers at the
request of Henry Steams, district
custodial and grounds manager.
Groundskeeper Manuel Rodriguez
munity College District Chancellor tion must take the public very lightly."
Ivory Nelson or any spokesperson at
a citizen forum Nov. 18. The forum
Was
Gonzalez on freedom of speech and
tion of Chicanos in Higher Educa- response. Alvarado submitted the
"I went personally to see the chan- tion, and not as a "spy" for the grievance Tuesday.
cellor and invited him to represent administration.
the college's point of view. He said
"neither a called meeting of the ACCD no thing."
First Amendment rights within the board of trustees nor an official func-
district. ' "
About 60 people attended, includ-
According to a memo sent to The
Ranger by Sue Behrens, assistant to viously refused to release the p
provements project, City Council the chancellor, the district paid chase price or the market valueof the
' " ’ property, prompting The Ranger to
"This price was significantly lower request the data by citing the Texas 1989,
than the appraised current market Open Records Act. I’
the McCreless Theater but moved to Hansen, educational television; Mary
a classroom when only four students Helen Vera, women's center; and
attended.
In Castillo's opening statement, he
said non-smoking policies had been people
Richard Gonzalez said he would
write a letter to the other board
members and Nelson about the
v x concerns voiced at the forum.
Gonzales. Professor Nef Garcia of St. Mary's
Often policies are written but not Law School said he was disappointed
I'm a bit disappointed.
"I would suggest Nelson enroll in
my constitutional law class at St.
Mary's," he said to the cheers of the
audience.
Besides Richard Gonzalez, theonly
member of the board of trustees
present was elementary school prin-
cipal Donald McClure.
He said "We already have free
speech. Let's not take it for granted,
being a minority member, the chan- Everywhere in the world, people are
liness, but they never play by the cellor would show some sensitivity, fighting for it." ■
Karen Littleton also contributed to
"We just felt it was time to get back this article.
ion."
Alvarado said he had hand-deliv-
ered a letter to Nelson Nov. 15 ask-
ing for a formal response within 10 from a recruitment and marketing
Manuel Flores, director of coun- days from the board or from Nelson committee Sept. 29, one week after
applies them unequally. been taken away, everything hasbeen
Dr. Earl Wright, vice president of taken away."
student services, removed Gonzales
> "It was regarding capital improve-
know that the majority of employees ments, and we are not knowledge-
in the department support you 100 able about that," she said. "The ad-
By John D. De Paolo
Staff Writer
ISL
AS
A
I
I
I
ion ' n
The first two
construction con-
tracts for the $97
million capital
improvements
project were awarded Nov. 21, two
years and two months after the bond
issue was approved by voters.
The bids were awarded at the Nov.
21 meeting of the Alamo Commu-
< nity College District board of trus-
tees.
The renovation of the business and
industry center at 1801N. Main Ave.
was awarded to Suburban Construc-
tion Co., a local firm that submitted
h bid of $442,811. The winning bid
was $94,072 over the approved proj-
ect budget of $348,739.
The classroom building project at
Palo Alto College was awarded to
Templeton Construction Co. of
Templeton with the low bid of
s
Pottery man
Instructor Doug Kenney puts finishing touches on a project in
the Alamo Room pottery shop. His favorite projects are vases.
ner of North Main Avenue and West
tions system planned for the capital Evergreen Street. He previously re-
improvements project, Jonas said, f
U1
Cervantes said the letter should
not have been released to the press.
"I thought it was just going to be
within the office," he said. "I didn't
want it to go the media."
"It sets co-worker against co-
worker, and it hurts morale," he said.
Downs said the complaints about
a gag, which had constituted the
L If-
&41
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I
fll
it
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Ak A
viL.
Mr
■r IT 7
also declined to sign the letter but
refused to say why.
tenance department supported the
three 100 percent.
Georgina Downs, maintenance tenance technician, did not sign the
department secretary, said she wrote letter and said he was not asked to.
By Bridget! L. Cary
and Victor Morton
1
I
I
1
■
’IS
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the debris," she said.
Bacher also said the college must
comply with city fire codes and the
fire marshal considers ash trays and
trash cans in hallways fire hazards.
In answering questions from the
audience, Castillo said punishment
had not been decided for violators of
the proposed policy.
"This is where the honor system
and peer pressure come into play,"
he said, "but we have no ready-
made answer."
Michael La Trasse, computer pro-
gramming major, said, "Non-smok-
ers have 90 percent of the buildings.
"They have the pool room and
video games, but there is no place for
a smoker to go," the computer pro-
gramming major continued.
He said students should have at
The report is the result of an in-
spection requested by Linda O'Nave,
district director of procurement and
materiel management, to determine
market value of the property.
Danysh-Lundy & Associates Inc.
will conduct an engineering survey
of the building to determine if the
foundation is structurally sound, Don
Johnson, district director of physical
plant, said Nov. 27 in an interview.
Johnson said the results of the
survey will reveal how much weight
the foundation will support.
This information should help Presi-
dent Max Castillo decide which
departments will occupy the build1
ing, Johnson said.
Nelson said he hopes the district
can get four or five years of usage
from the building before any struc-
tural modifications are needed.
The continuing education build-
ing, which adjoins the HEB build-
ing, has been the victim of structural
problems in recent years.
Unstable soil has caused some areas
of the building to shift as much as 4
3/4 inches, resulting in cracks be-
tween walls and floors, doors which
do not close without being adjusted
and ceilings which are bowed. ■
Gary Cox, student representative.
Sitting on the committee as resource
’ ? are Cynthia Ladson, public
implemented at the University of information officer; Nancy Bacher,
Texas in Austin and at the Univer- facilities manager; and Ellen Bren-
nan, biology department.
Bacher, who deals with the safety
and stability of the buildings at this
istrators and one student adviser to college, said the age of the buildings
discuss the smoking policy. and improper ventilation in most
The committee consists of Dean areas created an unhealthy environ-
Ruben Flores, extended services; Dr.
Jim Dye, assistant to the president
»bI
real estate market.
These prices are many times the
going prices of warehouse space,"
Harlan said.
"What we are looking for is ap- sions. The forum's original site
proval for funding to search for a
property," Jonas said.
The mainframe computer is ex-
pected to meet the district's needs
for the next four years, the vice chan-
cellor said at the Nov. 21 board meet-
ing.
jgggy!
i
I .fl
vote of confidence in his leadership.
The letter said in part:
"The spirit of teamwork in this
^Previously, he had gathered some department has been more evident
signatures for a petition to Stearns since your staff joined Alamo Com-
aboutagrievancehewouldnotname. munity College District. We appre-
He said Stearns told him "signa- ciate the leadership you are provid-
tures mean nothing to me." ing and the interest you have shown
Groundskeeper Gilbert Cervantes the employees in this department.
- • "Recent articles in the local college press reports criticized as unfair, were
newspaper have maligned your staff a misunderstanding.
Stearns did not return several in an unfair way, and you deserve to
phone calls. 1
The first letter dated Nov. 20 i a ...
was signed by more than 20 mainte- percent. ...your honesty and integ- ministrators were just trying to make
& . . .. . • ff t .1 z • c _ _ . • _1____»
Jesse Garza, general maintenance capital improvements." ■
supervisor, said the workersbelieved
The letter given to Johnson said there had been enough bickering,
the majority of workers in the main-
the college's point of view. He said Among the specific policies de-
he had to commute to Austin. We're nounced were the gag put on main- respond appropriately.
curtailed.
Trustees told Alvarado to file a
cado Merchants Association, who representative of the Texas Associa- formal grievance to get a formal followed, except at the convenience in Nelson and his own role in hiring
moderated the forum, said: tion of Chicanos in Higher Educa- response. Alvarado submitted the of administrators, he said. him.
"I sat on the chancellor selection
committee," he said. "We assumed,
his signature of support.
"What good is my signature to an
The more recent letter was signed those we thought might be suppor- administrator that says that all I know
five," Downs said.
Some maintenance workers were
deliberately not sought out, she said.
of administrators, he said.
"I've tried the grievance procedure
Theletter to Nelson threatened legal also," he said. "The only thing they
action if he or the board did not used to dismiss it was a lack of time-
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Nelson was not at the meeting, seling and services for special popu- stating freedom of speech will not be The Ranger published a letter from
and he did not send a representative, lations, said he was there at the invi-
Roman Pena, president of El Mer- tation of counselor Juan Balditt as a
Four students
uxi» Louipitrieu a aiuuy ui space .
requirements at the district offices at C-^HStillO
defend policy
■the board approved Nov. 21. The By Celina Ybarbo
cost of the unit is $687,167. Staff Writer
The proposed computer center to
house the new unit was estimated to
be about $415,000.
Committee member Dr. Doug
Harlan questioned the study's real during an open forum Wednesday
estate estimates in the city's depressed presided over by President Max
Castillo.
The question-and-answer session
with Castillo was organized by the
Student Representative Commis-
? was
very sorry he was unable to send a tenance workers by Don Johnson,
representa five because wedon't want director of physical plant.
the media to think we are presenting
» An empty chair sat in the middle this as a one-sided issue.
of the forum. '
■L MS
"A.
ment.
"According to the outside tempera-
and engineering technology; Jerry ture, each building will bring in 20
Hubbard, computer information sys- percent fresh air whereas 80 percent
terns; Mary Ann DeArmond, read- is return air," Bacher said.
ing department; Dr. Janie Wilson, "Onpe smoke is in the air, it can't
nursing education; Carol Anderson, get out. We do not have a system that
continuing education; Jane Focht- will clean smoke out of the air, just
Bid winners
announced
* on two sites
Sam Alvarado, vice president of legal remedies, including court ac-
NAGE, said public employees'right
"That's how much respect he has toself-expressionheavilyoutweighed
The chair symbolized the absence for citizens," Pena said, pointing to the arguments Johnson had given
of a representative of Alamo Com- the empty chair. "The administra- about the workers' knowledge.
- — - • ■ ’ ’• ” ’ ’ •' Johnson said Oct. 31the gag was
Gerardo Gonzalez, chairman of the justified because "all they (mainte-
board of trustees, issued a press re- nance workers) can do is give bogus
organized by trustee Richard lease Nov. 17 stating the forum was information about which they know
Two letters from workers ha vebeen department secretary, said she wrote letter and said he was not asked to.
issued this month praising the direc- the letter at the request of several He said he would have refused to
tor of the physical plant and two maintenance workers, including Rene sign it if he had been asked.
staff members and criticizing recent Garza, Jesse Garza and Joe Trevino. "The only things I sign are my
articles in The Ranger. "Several men in the department payroll check and my income tax
The letters were to Don Johnson, expressed a desire to support the forms," he said.
district director of physical plant; supervisors and asked if I would Hernandez said Jetta and Johnson
is how an air-handler works?" he
said. "What good is one or 19 signa-
tures for an administrator that runs
"There are some few who we knew his department squeaky clean?"
said, "The letter came to us from Mr. would not be interested in signing," Carpenter Pete Cervantes, who
Stearns and he invited us to sign it." she said. "And we did not bother signed the letter, said the supervi-
Rodriguez said the letter praises with those." sors used no coercion.
the administration and says how Johnson received the letter Nov. "They just said, 'You read it and
proud the?groundskeepers are of 21 and said he considered it a great sign it if you want to,' " he said.
"Johnson says our people aren't
tion of the ACCD." qualified," Alvarado said. "That
Jose Botello, LUL AC national treas- doesn't matter. You can be an illiter-
ing representatives of the National urer, said sending the press release ate. You can still express your opin- administration ignores its policies or rights. Once freedom of speech has
--------a-------- -------------11.. , ----------------
ees, League of United Latin Ameri-
; can Citizens, Texas Association of
Chicanos in Higher Education and said. "This is our right to assemble."
other community leaders. I '
same rules. I have filed grievances,
and they will not follow the timeli-
ness policy."
Pat Cisneros, counselor in disabled
student services, said she also had
Rosa Rosales, district director of experienced procrastination.
LULAC, threatened legal action. She said the district still has not
"There are many, many employ- resolved a grievance she had filed
and only one chancellor," she more than a year ago.
RosalespledgedLULAC'ssupport
to the workers of the ACCD.
"District 15 of LULAC is 100 per-
district's grievance policy as inade- cent plus behind the workers of the
quate. Alamo Community College District,"
Counselor Vai Gonzales said the she said. "It's a matter of workers'
value," according to the memo. The Nelson said making this informa-
memo did not list the market value, tion public would jeopardize ongo-
Johnnie Rosenauer, program co- ing negotiations for other property
Thedistrictchancellorhasreleased ordinatorforrealestatemanagement,
information concerning the purchase defined market value as, "The high-
i a
knowledgeable buyer and seller, said the market value of the prop-
On Nov. 28 Nelson released the
appraisal report of the property
conducted by Nelson Cory Inc.,
Realtors.
The "estimated market value of
the subject property as of May 5,
" , was $675,000," according to
the report.
the administration and says how
them,-../i . i
Rodriguez did not sign because
signatures mean nothing to Steams.
District pays $600,000 for HEB property
By Leeman Upshaw
Jonas said he expects to have the Editor
k new system on line by the end of
December.
As to whether the committee's
rejection of the warehouse proposal price of the HEB property on the cor- est probable sale price between
given adequate market exposure, erty was $675,000.
fused to make this information pub- using contemporary financing meth-
"VVe will have the facility, the prob- lie. ods."
lem still remains." According to a memo sent to The Chancellor Ivory Nelson had pre-
In other news on the capital im- Ranger bv Sue Behrens, assistant to viously refused to release the pur-
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San Antonio College. The Ranger (San Antonio, Tex.), Vol. 65, No. 11, Ed. 1 Friday, December 1, 1989, newspaper, December 1, 1989; San Antonio, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1350575/m1/3/?q=%22Places+-+United+States+-+Texas+-+Bexar+County+-+San+Antonio%22: accessed July 10, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting San Antonio College.