The Ranger Online

Issue date: 4/11/08 Section: Opinion

Deadbeat students need not register early

The fall semester marks a change in how students register for classes; from now on, students must pay tuition sooner than in past semesters.

While this may strain students financially, it should allow for an overall easier enrollment process.

Registration for fall opens April 21. The deadline for payment for those who register then is July 18. Students registering after July 18 must pay tuition by the Saturday of the week in which they register.

Students who register but fail to make payment arrangements by the deadline will be dropped from all classes.

This will give counselors, advisers and chairs regularly updated information on individual sections to improve enrollment management.

After the deadline passes, students who have yet to pay will be swept off the roll sheets, creating open spots in classes for new students who can afford tuition.

This will put an end to deadbeats who register for classes, hold seats all summer, then don't pay at the last minute while the rest of us search desperately for sections to fill out a convenient schedule.

This might pinch the already tight budget of students who can't afford tuition all at once, but the college still offers an installment plan.

The installment plan has changed as well; students must pay one-third of tuition by the deadlines listed above plus an extra $25. Two payments of equal size follow.

So as soon as registration opens, get your schedule for summer and fall planned, but be ready to pay up.

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Get hip, get green, recycle

Now - as always - is a good time to be passionate about the environment.

Events are culminating that will give students many opportunities to celebrate the Earth by conserving, recycling and making Earth-friendly decisions.

Earth Day is April 17, and Staff Council has made plans to pay tribute to the planet by kicking off a campaign to move this campus toward an expanded recycling program.

Moving toward a "green" campus was also something student government embraced last semester.

It's about time the rest of the campus has embraced an improved recycling program - the journalism program and KSYM have taken it upon themselves to expand recycling efforts in their facilities. KSYM collects plastic bottles and aluminum cans. The Ranger offers bins for glass, plastic and cans.

Caring for the blue marble we call home is more than just a passive change of attitude; it requires adjustments in the way we practice our day-to-day lives.

With this in mind, The Ranger will focus our April 18 edition on "green issues," with helpful tips on sustainable living, articles about climate change and more.

Readers will be given practical suggestions on how to save water and energy, shop smarter and reduce environmental footprints.

So, The Ranger encourages you to read the material, digest it and take action armed with the tips. Then be sure to recycle this paper.

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TexShare expands research possibilities

Students have endless possibilities when it comes to research. Not only can students access the infinite world that is the Internet, but they also have access to college libraries.

Students may think of libraries as things of the past, when, in fact, libraries provide endless possibilities.

The library at this college contains thousands of books that are available to the students of the Alamo Community College District.

For those resources students can't find in this college library, TexShare is a gateway to academic and public libraries across the state.

TexShare is a program that allows students from the district to check out material from institutions around Texas.

While the district colleges have plenty of materials for students, universities have floors and floors of books which can be used for research.

In the past, students had to go to the university library and stay there to read the book or invest a fortune in photocopying. TexShare allows students to check out the book and read it in the convenience of their own homes.

They don't even have to visit the library. The book can be sent to the library on campus for you to pick up.

The TexShare program provides a great opportunity that allows students to take advantage of resources that might otherwise not be available to them.

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Caffeine not cure for stressed students

Stimulants affect the central nervous system, creating an urge to get up and go, especially when used in conjunction with the demands of college life.

For today's overworked students, that can be a big incentive to partake of caffeinated drinks in the form of coffee or energy drinks.

There is an old practice they used to call "exercise" used to stimulate the mind and body to improve health and fitness, preparing yourself for the physical and mental rigors of the upcoming day.

In the April 4 issue of The Ranger, biology Professor Ellen Brennan advised students against relying on stimulant drinks, such as Rockstar, Monster and Starbucks Coffee, now occupying every convenience store.

There is nothing wrong with these drinks, if they are consumed in moderation, she said, but consuming them on a daily basis might become a health problem.

Students may have become so reliant upon these drinks because they have no strategies or organization to complete their daily activities.

The modern method to keeping yourself in check and staying with a schedule lies in the acquisition of a daily planner.

These little books are very detailed. It is possible to record your daily regimen, so you can do it all over again tomorrow. To be a success today, you have to move on your own two feet.

For your health, plan to move under your own volition without the stimulation of so much caffeine.

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