Students ask president about impact of budget cuts

Correction: The March 11 article "Students ask president about impact of budget cuts"should have read $500 worth of Faulkner's Pub Pizza was donated to Student Government Association.

About $500 in Faulkner's Pub Pizza was provided by Student Government Association Wednesday in the mall during Pizza with the President.

Open to all students, the event allowed them the chance to voice concerns to Dr. Robert Zeigler, the college president, and a panel of administrators of this college.

The panel included Dr. Jessica Howard, vice president of academic affairs; David Mrizek, vice president of college services; and Dr. Robert Vela, vice president of student affairs.

SGA President Tammy Kothe-Ramsey began the public conversation by asking Zeigler about budget cuts at the Alamo Colleges and how advising for the fall semester will be affected.

"We do not know as of now how big the impact will be," Zeigler said. "Whatever the impact, we will continue to provide services as best we can."

Zeigler added that he did not believe budget cuts would negatively affect advising.

At the start of the spring semester, the counseling office was reduced to eight counselors to assist the 21,441 students enrolled here.

Vela said, "We have a comprehensive plan in place to ensure that advising is not compromised. We have faculty (members) who are prepared to assist you."

But members of Faculty Senate wonder how the plan will work if faculty members are expected to do all the advising but are not paid at their regular pro-rated rate.

This summer, the college plans to pay faculty members the regular rate for 50 percent of sections in each department and the lower adjunct rate for the other 50 percent.

Dr. Thomas Billemek, psychology and sociology chair, noted in the March 2 Faculty Senate meeting that faculty members paid at the adjunct rate will not be available to advise because they will leave after teaching class because that is all they will be paid to do and that will hurt students.

English sophomore Rebecca Dunn asked how administrators plan to address malfunctioning elevators and automatic door openers.

Mrizek acknowledged the problematic elevators in Chance Academic Center and assured students that a fix was on the way. He explained that many elevators are currently awaiting parts for repair.

"The best thing to do is report these electrical malfunctions to me or bring them to the attention of district facilities," Mrizek said. "If we don't know about these problems, we can't get them fixed."

Anthropology sophomore Mike Martinez asked Zeigler for his opinion on proposed legislation that would allow concealed handguns on campus.

"I am opposed to it," Zeigler said, adding that resolving problems with guns on campus with more guns won't solve anything and would only serve to create added confusion for law enforcement.

"People who have a license to carry a weapon are not necessarily trained in how to handle it in crises," he said. "The more guns we have, the more likely it is someone will get hurt."

Zeigler said the legislation has a good chance of passing.

Vela added that regardless of a license, an accurate assessment of a person's mental stability isn't possible.

Zeigler then addressed cuts in the number of people hired as note-takers. He said that efforts have been made to allow recordings to offset a shortage of note-takers.

Vela said that in addition, disability support services have been provided with almost 70 smart pens.

A smart pen not only records audio while taking notes but also allows the note-taker to hear a playback of exactly what was said when a note was written.

DSS has also been provided with laptops for checkout.

"We're continually trying to provide newer, smarter ways to help students while at the same time cutting down on expenses," Zeigler said.

A.J. Mireles, radio-television-film and Reserve Officers' Training Corps sophomore, asked remedies for the diminishing lights across the campus.

Zeigler said periodic checks on the lights will need to be made and that a schedule is being established.

"Please let us know about the dark spots," Zeigler said.

Drama sophomore Beatrice Ramos voiced her concerns about staff and budget cuts in the wake of consolidation of theater and speech communication, music and visual arts and technology departments.

She asked how administrators plan on maintaining efficiency.

Zeigler said, "While we are eliminating some department chairs, we are putting in program coordinators to help manage the specific disciplines within the larger department."

He said by doing this, opportunities for these disciplines to work together will be enriched.

This year, the three departments have collaborated on a partnership with the Tobin Hill Art Alliance for Second Friday Art Walk, a tour of neighborhood art galleries.

The event is 6 p.m.-10 p.m. today beginning in the visual arts gallery.

In the March 2 Faculty Senate meeting, theater and speech communication Chair Jeff Hunt called the consolidation "budget driven."

Zeigler said for the time being, the budgets of each department will continue separately.