The Student Government Association had its Pepsi with the President meeting Sept. 8, at Fletcher with Dr. Lisa Alcorta, vice president of student success, and President Robert Vela. Attendees discussed when construction will be done on a memorial garden and bench behind Chance. Vela also said he wants a new parking garage. If the bond passes in May, another seven years of construction will take place. Photo by Aly Miranda
By Brianna Rodrigue
sac-ranger@alamo.edu
Student Government Association officers at Pepsi with the President Sept. 8 discussed placing signs at entry points to this campus to warn students when graphic images are presented by groups in the mall.
Vice President Quintin Longoria said some students were negatively affected by graphic images presented on posters by the Love of Truth Ministries last semester.
The group, which speaks out against abortion, is scheduled to return Sept. 26.
“Graphic images of any kind can affect and be harmful to some people,” Jenna Keeton, commissioner of public relations, said Sept. 9 in an interview.
People affected by graphic images could be veterans, SGA President Harley Williams said.
SGA members want to purchase a digital board that can notify students before they enter the campus.
Even though the cost needs to be discussed, college President Robert Vela said it’s a great idea. Dr. Lisa Alcorta, vice president of student success, said she would talk to the PR office about the idea.
Williams also brought up a lack of student parking because of construction.
“If students are getting impacted, we can have parking two-three blocks away and we can shuttle the students into the campus,” Vela said.
If the Alamo Colleges’ proposed capital improvement projects plan is approved by voters in May, Alamo Colleges will receive $450 million for projects of which $60 million to $80 million will go to this college.
Vela wants a five-story parking garage to be built at San Pedro and Park avenues where the law enforcement training center is located.
Vela said the construction would still continue even if parking is a problem for students, and if the bond passes, construction will be for the next seven years.
SGA has been working with local artist Luis Lopez, who designed the memorial garden at Scobee Education Center and mural at EcoCentro, to create a memorial bench as a remembrance of students and faculty who have died.
The bench will be placed in the garden east of Chance Academic Center, but there is a wait on Lopez’s art because of construction near Chance.
After discussing the memorial bench, SGA recommended to Vela to host a forum or event on campus telling students and faculty about the Texas law that will allow students, faculty and staff who have concealed carry licenses to bring concealed handguns on campus beginning in fall 2017.
The Alamo Colleges are required by state law to adhere to the Licensed Concealed Campus Carry law Gov. Greg Abbott signed June 13, 2015, to allow Texas residents to carry a concealed handgun on a shoulder holster or hip if they have a concealed handgun license.
For more information on campus carry, visit www.alamo.edu/district/campuscarry/.
“The gun law will be affecting us soon, and we want students to know what it is so they will not panic about it,” Williams said.
Vela said he could invite the San Antonio police chief and attorneys to speak and answer questions on campus about the gun law.
A voter registration drive will be on campus Sept. 27 led by Move San Antonio.
“San Antonio has a low voting rate, and a lot of our young people are not even registered,” Williams said.
Some SGA members will be deputized so they can help register students.
Longoria had an idea of hosting an interclub Olympics.
“It will be a great way for everyone to have fun, meet new people and learn about other clubs and organization on the campus,” Longoria said. “A lot of clubs are so isolated from others so this will be a great way to collaborate with each other.”
Williams presented a proposal of having a mariachi class in the fine arts program because students had asked SGA about it.
Vela said he has authorized fine arts Chair Jeff Hunt to purchase attire to prepare for the class.
Vela asked Williams to continue to prepare a proposal on the need for a mariachi class.
