The Ranger Online

Issue date: 11/21/08 Section: Opinion

One more day of thanks would be appreciated

Everyone loves time off, especially this far into the semester.

Luckily, the ACCD family will get Thursday and Friday off next week for Thanksgiving.

However, a holiday can be more than a one-day event, particularly a holiday like Thanksgiving.

English Chair Alex Bernal's suggestion to make the Wednesday before Thanksgiving a part of the holiday is a good idea.

This extra day would make it easier for students, faculty and staff to prepare for Thanksgiving.

For example, many people go out of town for the holiday to visit family.

Unless the family one is visiting lives in Austin, leaving town the same day to make it for dinner would be a challenge, to say the least.

Even if one were to stay in town for Thanksgiving, an extra day to get everything in order wouldn't hurt.

It always seems to happen that cranberry sauce or stuffing is forgotten on the list of supplies.

One more day to secure all the supplies for the big day would be a great asset.

We are not asking for the world.

San Antonio public schools, for example, give students the entire week off and give faculty and staff the Wednesday off.

Some more time to wind down before finals is a good enough reason in itself to give an extra day off for the Thanksgiving holiday.

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Shooter training deserves campus promotion

The district department of public safety has been providing training to faculty, staff and now students on the subject of on-campus gun violence.

The topic is certainly worthwhile and, unfortunately, relevant to our college community.

Called "Active Shooter Training," the first session was held on campus Nov. 10 but was poorly attended - a consequence of inadequate publicity.

Another training session is scheduled from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday in Room 120 of visual arts.

The training provides students with current data on campus-shooting incidents and provides guidance on how to improve chances of survival.

It is normal for people to not want to talk or even think about tragic events but being informed and prepared can make the difference between life and death.

It is important that students who are willing to take steps to prepare themselves are made aware of this training.

With so much technology at our disposal, it is unfortunate the training has not received the publicity that it deserves. Despite a mention on the college Web site, not much else has been done to promote it.

Surely, the college can give as much effort in promoting a potentially life-saving training as it does to giving away an iPod.

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Student life: Take money management course

It is great to see student life carrying out its mission by conducting an event that truly is a benefit to students.

Spa Day is a good idea: giving students some relief right before they have to jump into one of the most stressful parts of the semester - finals.

But at a price tag of $6,000?

This is not to say that our students are not worth $6,000.

The health - physical and mental - of students cannot be measured in dollars.

What is an issue here is that student life could have been a lot smarter with what is really our money.

Student life Director Jorge Posadas says that the free massage chair the school gets by renting chairs could lead to the school getting a complete set of chairs.

Did Posadas check to see if buying a set of chairs outright would be the best option?

Also, couldn't student life have taken advantage of the fact that St. Philip's College has a massage therapy program?

Those students need experience and might not have cost anything.

All told, $4,000 was spent on a deluxe package that included the chairs (one of which we keep) and staff for the event.

Expand this across four semesters and that is $16,000.

Couldn't we have purchased four chairs and used volunteers to come in under that price tag?

The merit of Spa Day is not what is being questioned.

The previous relaxation event, Stress-out Day, may have seemed to promote violent activity to relieve stress, but the point of the event was physical activity. Any number of sources encourage physical activity to relieve stress.

Was it a wise choice to hire a company from out of town to do the service that could have been provided by students from within our own community? We think not.

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'Tis the season when time is for giving

Season's greetings.

This informal term has poked its head out once again, and it is time to start thinking about others.

Over the next month and a half, self-indulgence and selfishness must be abated for friendliness, tenderness and sharing ourselves with those who are penniless.

Donating tends to be seen as the giving away of money to some stranger we feel squandered away his or her own chances at success.

Spending time with others is just as valuable as spending cash, if not more.

Places like the Salvation Army and the Ronald McDonald House accept volunteers throughout the year who can give time to those in their programs.

Ill children and their families especially need a helping hand.

Volunteers can alleviate their own boredom by offering their services to the Boys and Girls Clubs of America.

These organizations dedicate their programs to young, at-risk, inner-city youths and build lasting support networks to help keep them off the streets and out of trouble.

Local YMCA chapters are devoted to programs in child development, after-school partnerships and recreational sports for adults and youths.

Donating time can offer the individual a profound and unexpected experience.

Most never envision themselves as proponents for outreach to families and youths as a profession. But now is the time to. It is a profession, and an honorable one.

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Enjoy holidays, but drink responsibly

When we were young children, the holiday season never seemed to arrive fast enough. But when it did, it was magical.

As we grew older, we began to understand some of the pressures associated with the holidays that grown-ups would grumble about: shopping, decorating, cooking and studying. Who needs it?

Once the busy work has been completed, however, and the time to celebrate is upon us, all of that hard work seems worth it. One might argue that a good, strong celebration is deserved because of it. The magic of the season now found in a bottle or glass.

It is important to remember, however, that it is possible to take a celebration too far, especially when it comes to alcohol consumption.

We should be mindful that even minor overindulgence can turn a magical season to one of tragedy. No family should have to endure heartache during a traditionally happy time.

If alcohol is going to be a part of your celebration, take a moment and plan ahead. You and your family are worth it.

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