SAC students exercise their right to be heard

The brick walkway south of Loftin Student Center was a collage of images and phrases reflecting the thoughts and ideals students during the annual Chalk Day Oct. 8 celebrating freedom of speech.

Students celebrated their First Amendment rights by writing or drawing with chalk provided by The Ranger and the campus chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists in observation of National Newspaper Week.

The Staff members of The Ranger were handing out the weekly edition of the paper to students drawing and walking by.

Among the messages decorating the pavement were a few “Vote for Romney” and “Vote Obama” political slogans as well as peace and anti-war slogans.

Others chose to write positive messages like “Any Day Above Ground Is A Good One” or “One Step At A Time” on the stairs in front of the Loftin Student Center entrance.

Liberal arts freshmen Marayli Vargas and Edith Yanez chose to write “We Are All Equal” to reflect their support of gay marriage.

“We feel that it does not matter what you are. If you are happy with what you are doing, then we should stay out of your business,” Vargas said. “You are not doing any harm to us by marrying a gender that people do not agree with.”

Liberal arts sophomore Samantha Gonzales chose to help write “Legalize Bike Riding at ACCD.”

She and another student who declined to give his name chose to write this in response to the college’s policy of not allowing people to ride bicycles on campus.

 Although it is legal to ride bikes through the city and other universities throughout Texas, it is against this college’s policy for students to ride their bikes through campus.

Kinesiology freshman Kelby Rowe wrote, “We Want Our Basketball Team Back, Rangers.”

“I think it’s a shame that this is the first Alamo College in San Antonio and they don’t have a basketball team and all the other Alamo Colleges that came from this foundation do have a basketball team.

“I just think they have a lot of excuses why they don’t want to do it, but the problem can be solved easily,” he said. “I think it is something that could brighten up this community if we had a basketball team.”

The Lady Rangers basketball program won the South Texas Extramural Basketball Championship in the 2005-06 season, but the men’s and women’s basketball programs were cut because of lack of funding in the spring of 2011.