Karissa Rodriguez Editor-in-Chief

Natalee Blanchat Campus Editor

Hilary Shepherd News Editor

Pete Perreault•Staff Photographer

Ali Halpin•Staff Photographer

Dana Manickavasagam•Lead Photographer

RAISE YOUR HAND — Eileen Galvez, leadership coordinator at South Austin Campus, raises her hand during the April 22 meeting to ask the Student Activity Fee Advisory Committee a question.

SIGNING OFF — After serving at ACC since 1977, President Stephen B. Kinslow will retire this summer. Kinslow led the college through its rapid growth to more than 44,000 students and its increase in minority student involvement.

INSPIRATION— Jose Villa uses hit foot to open his car door while preparing to leave Eastview Campus. Villa drives to Austin from San Marcos four times a week to attend classes at Eastview and Rio Grande campuses where he is studying Computer Information Technology.

News → studeNt GoverNmeNt AssociAtioN

News → the BoArd News → PeoPle

After 34 years at ACC, President Stephen B. Kinslow will be retiring in June.

Kinslow, who was appointed as president in 2005, joined the college in 1977. He began as an associate dean, and later held the roles of vice president of school relations, dean of Rio Grande Campus, and has served on various Central Texas boards.

During his time as president, Kinslow led the college during its increase in student enrollment from 31,908 in fall of 2005 to 40,248 in fall of 2010. He oversaw the master planning process as well as the introduction to annexations of several new campuses, including Round Rock Campus, and more recently the districts of Hays and Elgin counties.

Kinslow said the expansion of ACC was one of the highlights of his career.

“I think ACC has done a great job over the last six years by putting together a very detailed and comprehensive master plan that drives how we use our limited resources and keeps the institution focused on some core values and core priorities,” said Kinslow. “I feel good about those planning processes and think the additional annexations help other communities understand the value of being full partners with the college.”

Kinslow, who was the first member in his family to attend college, said being raised in a lower-middle-class lifestyle helped drive his passion for higher education.

“I know the difference education has made in my life. That’s the satisfying thing about being a part of ACC, is being able to talk to students and see the difference ACC makes,” he said. “It’s a very transformative institution in terms of helping people redirect their lives.”

One memory Kinslow said he will take with him was when a former Rio Grande Campus security guard, Bobbie Herring, cut his hair in the security office at RGC when Kinslow was associate dean at the college.

“This place is just filled with people who are spontaneous, fun, and creative,” said Kinslow. “It’s things like that which have made it such a pleasure to work here.”

Julie Todaro, dean of library

Born without arms, 32-year-old Jose Villa said his disability hasn’t kept him from doing anything. In fact, Villa is able to successfully write, eat, get dressed, use his phone, and drive – all with his feet.

“What’s the hardest task for me? Nothing,” said Villa.

Villa was born with a heart condition, needing surgery at nine years old. For the procedure, Villa and his family traveled to Salt Lake City, Utah from Tenancingo, Mexico. Two years later, they relocated to Houston, Texas because he needed back surgery. From there, they moved to San Marcos, Texas, eventually settling there.

Villa said he tried to get into Texas State University, but he needed remedial courses before enrolling. Instead, he attended Gary Job Corps, and with their college program, he began attending ACC in 2002.

“I like ACC,” he said. “I like the teachers, and I especially like the opportunities they give us, especially for handicapped people. They’re good about accommodating.”

Villa resides in San Marcos with his parents. Even though he doesn’t live by himself, Villa said he needs little assistance.

“Sometimes, when I go to the grocery store, I’ll bring someone with me. But if I need to get something small, I’ll just go by myself. I’m pretty independent,” he said.

For four days each week, Villa drives to Austin for his classes at Eastview and Rio Grande campuses. After five more classes, he’ll graduate with an associate degree in Computer Information Technology.

Villa’s dedication to school, according to Joseph Wiseman, instructional associate of writing in the learning lab at Eastview, is impressive.

“We get a lot of students who come into the learning lab,” said Wiseman, “but, honestly, the number of students who are as dedicated as Villa is very low. He’ll work at something, whether it’s a writing assignment or a computer assignment, until he gets it.”

“And that’s really impressive when you get a student – any student, but especially a student without arms – putting in that kind of time.”

Though Wiseman hasn’t taught Villa in any of his classes, he said the two have grown close from Villa’s frequent visits to

Meeting spurs concerns over activity fees

ACC president bids farewell

Dedication to education

Before retiring, Stephen Kinslow recalls his term in office as college president

Student uses feet to accomplish everyday activities

sga violates open meetings act pg. 5most awarded degrees at acc pg. 8

fashion for a student budget pg. 10 accent salutes president kinslow pg. 2

A new timeline implemented by the Student Activity Fee Advisory Committee (SAFAC) at the April 22 meeting at Highland Business Center (HBC) calls for student clubs and organizations to submit budget proposals to SAFAC via email by May 6 so the committee can recommend any adjustments to the Student Life budget proposal that was presented at a recent SAFAC meeting, according to SAFAC Chair Sophia Downing.

In the past, SAFAC met once in the fall semester and again in the spring semester.

However, the April 22 meeting was the first meeting SAFAC held this year and members did not vote to recommend Student Life’s fiscal year 2012 budget that was presented by Student Life Director Cheryl Richard.

Downing announced at the meeting that the committee will need to hold a second meeting before the end of the school year in order to finalize their student activity fee budget recommendations to send to ACC President/CEO Stephen Kinslow who will then review the budget before sending it to the board of trustees for final approval.

The next SAFAC meeting will take place on May 13 from noon to 2 p.m. at HBC.

the learning lab.“He’s a wonderful fellow. He’s wonderful

from any aspect. I’ve seen him climb up in an automobile engine and start taking it apart. I’ve seen him type at both desk level and foot level. Sometimes, I think, ‘Well, he can’t do that,’ and he just does it as a matter of fact. I think you can pretty well say that he can do anything,” said Wiseman.

And the ability to do anything, said Villa, is part of the lesson he wants to teach elementary students during the motivational speeches he conducts.

“I tell them about my life and the way I do things. I try to convince them to stay in school. But the number one thing I want them to know is if I can do it, they can do it,” said Villa. “Just because a person is disabled doesn’t mean he or she isn’t going

to accomplish things.”Villa said he doesn’t worry about people

staring.“It used to bother me, but it doesn’t

anymore. I guess it’s because I’m used to it.” he said.

“He’s very outgoing,” said Wiseman. “I think if I had a serious disability, I would kind of withdraw, but he has a lot of friends. He’s someone who knows a lot of people and talks to a lot of people.”

Villa said he doesn’t look at his disability as a disadvantage.

“If I would’ve had arms, maybe I wouldn’t be in college or even in the states,” he said. “I think if I wasn’t the way I am, I probably wouldn’t be the same person that I am right now.”

services who has worked with Kinslow for 25 years and considers herself a personal friend, said that she recalls a time when he gave a waitress a $50 tip under the stipulation that she use it toward education.

“Steve has been known to provide scholarship money from his own pocket, but that’s just the kind of thing he does; he’s very generous,” said Todaro. “He’s very compassionate and full of passion for the mission of the college as well as education for people who are first time college-goers or can’t afford a college education.”

According to former Student Government Association President Joshua Bacak, Kinslow met with the organization each month in order to address student initiatives and keep students informed about the administration.

“He always made it a point to have that open transparency,” said Bacak. “He was always willing to listen to proposals and meet the organization halfway on issues if it was in the best interest of the student. He is the perfect example of what leadership should be.”

As far as retirement plans are concerned, Kinslow said he would love to do some traveling in Canada, Europe, and Portugal. His first travel destination will be to Spain but not before taking some time to brush up on his Spanish.

“I just want to relax and have some fun,” said Kinslow. “You reach that latter part of life and you start thinking about other things. It’s not a loss of interest in community colleges, and I hope I’ll still be connected to community colleges in some ways, but I would like to have some flexibility to do other things before it’s all over.”

Kinslow said he hopes that students realize how important community college is, whether they’re going on to four-year universities or going straight into the work force after obtaining an associate degree.

“The great thing about our college is that we have a pioneering spirit and this embracing of change and innovation,” said Kinslow. “I hope students are proud of the college and the things that they accomplish here.”

Richard is concerned that there will not be enough time for Student Life to plan for fiscal year 2012.

“We can’t move forward, and we don’t want to interrupt service for students in the fall,” said Richard.

Aside from the concerns over SAFAC’s timeline, much of the meeting was spent answering audience questions and going over budget line items from Student Life’s proposal, including the budget for first year experience and orientation and leadership.

In fiscal year 2011 Student Life spent $1,701,604 and is currently proposing to spend $1,860,000 in fiscal year 2012, according to the documents Richard presented at the meeting.

Richard announced that the mandatory student activity fee will remain at $2 per credit hour and explained that the increase is to plan ahead and budget for the expansion of student services and the hiring of four new Student Life employees to work at Elgin and Hays campuses once they open to the public.

“When we get a new campus, we get new students, so there will be more students paying the fee,” explained Richard when asked how Student Life plans to pay for the increased budget proposal.

One of the line items in the proposal is administrative fees, which include Student Life employees’ salaries and benefits.

Downing said she was concerned that the student activity fee pays for Student Life salaries and benefits which make up $1,155,955 of the total budget.

“The committee has been researching if salaries and benefits are something that comes out of the [Texas Education] Code,” said Downing.

SAFAC member Neil Vickers, associate vice president of finance and budgett, said during the meeting that he felt that salaries and benefits would fall under a category of the Texas Education Code Section 54.503 that states how colleges can use student activity fees for student services.

The code explains that

student services include a number of categories including “any other student activities and services specifically authorized and approved by the governing board of the institution of higher education.”

SAFAC members explained that they are not seeking to abolish Student Life salaries and benefits from the student activity fee.

“We are not asking that you guys don’t get paid. We are trying to figure out why [it’s coming out of student activity fees],” said SAFAC member Stacy Moreno, the SGA Senator at Eastview Campus.

After completing research, SAFAC will send its recommendation.

First Copy FreeVolume 13, Issue 12

May 2, 2011theAccent.org

CorreCtions: April 28, 2011In issue 11, the article “Diagnosis leads to student advocacy” stated that Jassamine Domino attended Camp Dermadillo. The correct name is Camp Wonder.The article “Prof. named state chair” stated Kristin Benton’s term is set to expire on Jan. 31, 2013. The accurate information is that her term as state chair will expire at the pleasure of the governor. Benton’s name was also misspelled.The photo credit for the photo titled, “Hoosiers win basketball tournament” misspelled staff photographer Walter Challapa’s name.

FAx512.223.0904

Advertising512.223.0122

editoriAl512.223.0393

RRC, 4400 College Park Drive, Room 2107 Round Rock, TX 78665

All rights reserved. All content is the property of Accent and may not be reproduced, published or retransmitted in any form without written permission from the Office of Student Life. Accent is the student newspaper of Austin Community College and is printed by the Austin American-Statesman. Accent is published biweekly. ACC students may submit articles for publication in Accent to RRC’s Student Publication Office, Room 2107; e-mail articles to accent@austincc.edu or fax submissions to 223-0904. ACC does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, political affiliation or disability. Accent offers ACC’s faculty, staff, students and surrounding community a complete source of information about student life. Accent welcomes your input, as well as information about errors. If you notice any information that warrants a correction please e-mail accent@austincc.edu. Individual views, columns, letters to the editor and other opinion pieces do not necessarily reflect the views of Accent.

Accent loves to hear feedback from its readers. Here is one comment we received about the article “SGA works to hold elections by end of year.”

“I’m ashamed of the level of disrespect shown towards Student Life as a student. There has been a lot of friction this year than any other between Student Life and Student Government. Much to my disapproval.

Lastly I can’t agree more with Rodriguez.SGA has turned from an open book into a closed and sealed

“members only” club.”- Jorge Amador

Want your comments and opinions published? Leave a comment on our website theaccent.org, like us on Facebook.com/AccentNewspaper and follow us on Twitter @theaccent or better yet, e-mail us a letter at editor@austincc.edu or accent@austincc.edu.

JAMIE ESTRADA-CARPENTER

RUN!WALK!RAWK?!

Last week, I had to quit on one of my runs.

I was supposed to run at least six miles, and with my husband by my side, I was sure it was going to be a fast (for me) run. Then the wind, my tired legs and the heat hit me, and I was struggling to get to the halfway point.

Afterwards, I was so disappointed in myself. With about a year of running under my belt, I could count the number of times I had quit a run: two.

Now, I’m not the fastest person out there, probably because I walk about half the time in all my runs. But, I’m not a quitter. A whiner, a complainer, an “Are we there yet?” kind of runner, yes, but I have always felt I would rather be a complainer than a quitter.

The reality is that there will be times when you’ll have to quit something that you love. There will also be times that you have to try several times to achieve some success that will come easily to others.

I think at school, particularly at ACC, the issue of quitting comes up a lot. Should I drop this class? Should I withdraw this semester? Should I give up on this math assignment from

Unsung Heroes

Editor-in-Chief ...................................................................................... Karissa RodriguezAssistant Editor .................................................................................... Sarah VasquezPhoto Editor........................................................................................... Joey GidsegWeb Editor .............................................................................................. Chris ScottLayout Editor ......................................................................................... Elizabeth BrownNews Editor ........................................................................................... Hilary ShepherdCampus Editor ..................................................................................... Natalee Blanchat

Accent Adviser ...................................................................................... Matthew ConnollyStudent Life Director ......................................................................... Cheryl RichardStudent Life Communications Coordinator ........................... Lori Blewett

Staff Reporters Era SundarLead Photographers Dana Manickavasagam, Edgar RodriguezStaff Designers Olga RaceWriters Jason Witmer, Jamie Carpenter-Estrada, Jessica Blair, Sarah Grover, Erica BeanPhotographers Saul Hernandez, Walter Challapa, Ty Hardin, Pete Perrault, Ali Halpin, Adrienne SparksStaff Artists Megan McKayACC President Dr. Stephen B. KinslowBoard of Trustees Dr. Barbara P. Mink—Chair; Allen H. Kaplan—Vice Chair; John Michael V. Cortez—Secretary, Tim Mahoney, Nan McRaven, Jeffrey Richard, Dr. Victor H. P. Villarreal, Guadalupe Q. Sosa, Dr. James W. McGufee

Sophia Downing Guest Columnist

Forum → sGA letters

Dear Fellow Students of Austin Community College,

I wanted to take this time to thank you for being such an important part of the ACC Family. I say family because we are more than just students in attendance at ACC. So many times, we have come to rely on one another as support to one another to achieve the goal of either graduating from ACC, entering into the workforce or transferring to an institution of higher learning. Whether, upon leaving ACC, transferring or entering into the workforce, I wish you farewell and best wishes in whichever path you pursue. I also would like to wish a warm thank you and farewell to Senate Chair Jason Haydon for his time and dedication to SGA. Jason graduates with Honors this semester. It was the hard-work and commitment from Jason and the scholarship committee that made it possible for SGA scholarships to available for students.

As for those attending ACC for the first time, welcome. For students returning this upcoming school year, your time will soon come where you meet your goals of graduating or transferring. I encourage you all to take advantage of all the systems in place to help you throughout your tenure at ACC. Get involved with clubs and organizations. I have found, and studies confirm that participating in extra curricular activities and events have contributed to a higher students success rate in completing their studies.

Letter from SGA president

Forum → columNs

Staff Editorial

Forum → editoriAl

With only one month left during his tenure, Accent commends Austin Community College President/CEO Dr. Stephen Kinslow for his dedication to ensuring accessibility for students seeking higher education.

Kinslow has spent the last 34 years supporting accessible, affordable higher education and training in a variety of roles that ultimately led to his illustrious career as President/CEO of Austin Community College.

Last summer, Kinslow announced that he will retire in June 2011 at the end of his contract.

Kinslow was originally appointed as ACC’s president/CEO temporarily in 2005 after former president Robert Aguero abruptly left, having served only nine months with the school.

ACC’s leaders appointed Kinslow to help the college stabilize before searching for a new president, but instead renewed his contract at the end of the two years.

We believe Kinslow is the complete package. As ACC president/CEO, not only is he an accomplished

administrator having served on numerous Central Texas boards and councils, but Kinslow is also great with working and interacting with students directly.

Nearly every student we have spoken with who has met Kinslow personally has nothing but nice things to say about him. At campus events Kinslow is always seen mingling with students and listening to their thoughts about the event or any other issue.

Kinslow clearly cares about students and supports them in any way he can.

One example of his thoughtfulness occurred during a Yak N’ Sack meeting held on September 14, 2010 at Round Rock Campus where Kinslow was available to talk with students, answer questions, and address different concerns.

The Accent reported in our September 21, 2010 issue that at the Yak N’ Sack meeting one student asked Kinslow if students could have a microwave in the student lounge. Kinslow couldn’t believe that there wasn’t one already, and lo and behold a microwave arrived that very day for students attending Round Rock Campus to use.

Kinslow’s attentiveness to students’ needs is just one of the many reasons why we enjoyed having him as our college president.

We would also like to acknowledge Kinslow for successfully guiding the college during a time of rapid expansion, including the annexation of Hays and Elgin independent school districts.

Kinslow led the college through historic enrollment growth. During his term, the student population increased by 33 percent, with 33,039 students in fall of 2006 and 44,100 in fall of 2010.

In addition, the percentage of minority student enrollment grew, with African American participation increasing by 88 percent and Hispanic enrollment increasing by 22 percent.

Kinslow has been a valuable asset to ACC, and he will be sorely missed by the Accent editors and staff.

We are certain that students, staff and faculty of ACC all agree with us in saying that the next college president will have some large shoes to fill once he or she is appointed to the position.

The board of trustees will announce the next president after a meeting on May 2 at Highland Business Center.

Goodbye, Mr. President

Accent praises college president Stephen Kinslow for his successful term in office

hell?On a daily basis we are

given choices for our future. In an institution best known as “Start Here. Get there.,” I don’t think we give enough credit for staying here.

So many students at ACC are non-traditional students looking for that second, third, and fourth chance. They have had to drop out of school when they have gotten pregnant, when their family needed the income, when they became homeless, when they moved to another state and for many other reasons.

The fact that they have temporarily quit school does not make them quitters. If anything, it is more of a long pause when they return.

Five years and three colleges after I graduated from high school, I received my Associate of Arts in Creative Writing from here.

I quit and gave up on school multiple times, but school did not give up on me. Starting college is exciting, and getting your degree at the end is even more exciting. The unsung heroes lie in the middle, deciding every day whether or not to quit. Keep up the good fight.

The office of Student Life host activities and events through out the school year. Use events such as these as opportunities to network, as well as to learn more about the college. These events usually have really cool people there for you to meet and there is always FREE FOOD and PRIZES! Other services available for your success are Tutoring Labs, Counseling and Advising, and Student Support Services, just to name a few. ACC has a huge network of individual committed to student success. When you visit one department and express your needs, I am sure, you will be directed to the correct person that will be more than willing to assist you.

One main voice you have is the Student Government Association. (SGA). SGA operates all year long. We currently have several opening available within the organization; some are paid positions. We are also in the election process for electing officers for the 2011-12 academic year. Look out for posted information on the SGA board at your campus for updates of current events. You can also check out our website at austincc.edu/sga.

SGA currently has three scholarships available for any students needing assistance with paying tuition. To be eligible, you must be actively involved with the organization. This summer is the perfect time for you to involved as we will be planning our Fall activities and events. As a student of ACC, all students are automatically a member of SGA. However, voting members play a more active role in advocating for the students of ACC. To become a voting member, you need to attend two consecutive meetings prior to being swore into office. Check our website for updated information regarding SGA meetings and events.

If you would like more information about SGA, please also feel free to call us at 512.223.3116 or send an email to sga@austincc.edu

Best wishes to all of you. Have an enjoyable summer!

On behalf of SGA, Sophia DowningPresident

Graphic by Chris Scott • Web Editor

FORUMpage 2 www.theAccent.org May 2, 2011

A N O P E N L E T T E R T OPRESIDENT OBAMA ABOUT

WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAYAmerican Booksellers Foundation for Free ExpressionAmerican Copy Editors SocietyAmerican Society of Journalists and AuthorsAsian American Journalists AssociationAssociated Collegiate PressBroadcast Education AssociationCenter for Scholastic Journalism, Kent State UniversityCollege Media Advisers, Inc.The First Amendment ProjectFoundation for Individual Rights in Education, Inc.Illinois College Press Association Illinois Community College Journalism Association Inter American Press AssociationInvestigative News NetworkIRE, Investigative Reporters & Editors, Inc.Journalism Education AssociationMid-America Press Institute National Association of Black Journalists National Association of Hispanic JournalistsNational Association of Science Writers, Inc.National Coalition Against CensorshipNational Federation of Press WomenNational Lesbian & Gay Journalists AssociationNational Newspaper AssociationNational Press FoundationNational Press Photographers AssociationNational Scholastic Press AssociationNational Society of Newspaper ColumnistsNational Youth Rights AssociationThe Poynter InstituteQuill and Scroll International Honorary Society for High School JournalistsReligion Newswriters AssociationReporters Committee for Freedom of the PressSociety of American Business Editors & WritersSociety of Collegiate JournalistsSociety of Environmental JournalistsSociety of Professional JournalistsSociety for Features JournalismTully Center for Free Speech at Syracuse University

On May 3, the United States will, for the first time, play host to World Press Freedom Day, an event that will focus an international spotlight on the state of press freedoms in our own country as well as abroad.

You and your administration, and in particular Secretary Clinton, have been commendably forceful in pressing foreign governments to remove the fetters from online communications that obstruct the free flow of ideas. As Secretary Clinton said in her February 15, 2011, address on Internet freedom at George Washington University: “Some take the view that, to encourage tolerance, some hateful ideas must be silenced by governments. We believe that efforts to curb the content of speech rarely succeed and often become an excuse to violate freedom of expression. Instead, as it has historically been proven time and time again, the better answer to offensive speech is more speech.”

Regrettably, the United States will lack the full moral authority to advocate for world press freedom so long as our laws fail to effectively protect the majority of the Americans who gather and report news each day: Those working for student media.

The values conveyed by journalism – attribution, verification, fairness, accountability – are the values that every young person needs as a citizen of the online world. Because the professional news media cannot be everywhere, our society needs candid reports from “embedded” student journalists to tell us what is going on inside of our schools.

Yet far from embracing the educational benefits of journalism, school after school has done just the opposite. Those bearing the brunt are America’s journalism teachers, the best of whom go to work every day certain that the question is when, not if, they will be fired in retaliation for what their students write.

A generation ago, the Supreme Court rolled back students’ First Amendment rights significantly in its Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier ruling. We have now 23 years of experience with Hazelwood – a generation of students from kindergarten through college – and it is undeniable that Hazelwood, having done nothing to improve student learning or school safety, is a failed experiment on America’s children.

American’s most vulnerable journalists need those who have spoken out so persuasively against censorship abroad to speak with that same forcefulness at home. We urge your administration to publicly acknowledge the unfinished work of press freedom in our own nation, to denounce the shameful practice of stifling candid discussion of school issues, and to ensure that this World Press Freedom Day concludes with a global commitment to protect the rights of all journalists, even the youngest.

Get the factswww.splc.org/wpfd

Paid for by the Student Press Law Center, Journalism Education Association, Society of Professional Journalists, College Media Advisers, Inc., National Scholastic Press Association, and Quill & Scroll International Honorary Society for High School Journalists

SIGNED BY

Sarah Vasquez Assistant Editor

Hilary Shepherd News Editor

Natalee Blanchat Campus Editor

Forum → editoriAl

I had no intentions of joining the Accent staff when I returned to ACC in 2008. I was miserable at my job and wanted to better myself. I thought I wouldn’t have time to write for the newspaper after all the studying I needed to do to redeem my so-so grades from my first college experience.

Instead, two and a half years later, I’m writing my first and only column for Accent Newspaper and leaving with an abundance of clips and stories to tell. If it wasn’t for my friend, who happened to be editor-in-

If I could go back in time, I would’ve written for Accent before doing anything else journalism-related.

Before applying for a reporting job last fall, I had two magazine internships under my belt. I was about to apply for my third one, but my parents urged me to take a break and focus solely on school. So I did, for about a month, until my appetite for more journalism experience became insatiable.

To be frank, I felt like those two internships had given me a solid enough grasp on all things editorial-related that writing for a community college newspaper would be a breeze.

Wrong.My entire career at Accent

has been a challenge, and it still is. I’m still trying to master the news-writing formula. I’m still trying to sharpen my interviewing techniques. I’m still working on churning out quality stories as quickly as possible. And, sadly, I’m still trying to memorize the AP Stylebook.

But that’s why this experience has been so fulfilling. It’s been an ever-evolving learning process, and, ultimately, a test. Journalism is hard, and many times I’ve considered giving up. I’ve made a lot of mistakes both as a reporter and an editor, and I’ll keep making ‘em until, well, forever. But here, at Accent, is where I’ve laid the foundation that is vital to succeeding in this tough industry. And most of all, it’s where I’ve learned to do the most important, basic thing: write.

Because of Accent, I’m confident that journalism is the right industry for me. I love the sharp, quick-witted nature of my fellow editors, the adrenaline rush I get after a stellar interview, and the euphoria I feel after the perfect lede pops into my head.

The best part about

My experiences at Austin Community College were something truly amazing,and ones I will never forget.

I came to the college in 2009 after doing poorly at the University of New Mexico, located in Albuquerque NM, where I grew up.

Most of my extended family lives in Austin, and I thought it would be a good place for me to start over.

Before I enrolled in the summer of 2009, I was completely lost. I had no special interests, no hobbies, and I lacked any sort of student discipline.

When I started at ACC I quickly found that it was a rude-awakening into what college was actually like.

For me, it was a second chance to start over and really make something of myself. Since I didn’t really know anyone in Austin at the time, I quickly immersed myself in the college and my studies to stay busy.

Editors reflect on experiences-30-

A sign of completion : a traditional sign-off signal and slang word for “the end.”

Accent, though, has been the people. I’ve been fortunate enough to work alongside some of the most talented editors and writers, and I find myself constantly amazed at their passion and drive. My coworkers don’t write for the newspaper as a fun pastime; they do it because they live and breathe journalism. And that, I think, is very admirable.

Accent has seen me at my worst: sleep-deprived, zombie-eyed, and behind deadline. It has also seen me at my best: beaming after receiving an award, enlightened after speaking with an inspirational student, and blushing after someone compliments me on an article. Above all, though, Accent has seen me grow into a journalist. And for that, I’m thankful.

Edgar Rodriguez•Lead Photographer

FAREWELL — Accent editors Hilary Shepherd (L), Natalee Blanchat (center), and Sarah Vasquez (R) say goodbye to The Accent Newspaper and ACC.

I found that I had a passion for learning, one that I had never known before. I also knew that I wanted to get involved in a student organization, so after switching majors a few times, and taking a couple of mass communications classes, I heard about the Accent newspaper.

Through a news reporting class, I volunteered to write one story over the 2010 summer semester. It was there, in my first news story, a tiny piece titled Cafe Con Leche, that I found my true calling. Ever since then, I have been working hard for Accent, first as a staff writer and now as an editor.

Through the paper I’ve had great opportunities to cover serious events, interview legislative officials during Texas Community College Day, and talk with quirky directors at the South By Southwest Film Festival.

The semesters have flown by, and I can’t believe I’m getting ready to leave it all behind. I have made some great memories at ACC. I’ve had some amazing teachers and met some incredible people, and

through Accent I really found myself.

As I go on to transfer to Texas A&M in the fall semester, and continue to pursue my dream job as a journalist, I will most likely look back on my time at ACC as a transitional period, when I evolved from an irresponsible adolescent to a steadfast adult.

chief at the time, I would still be another wannabe writer in this over-caffeinated city.

Thanks to the editors I’ve worked with and our faculty adviser, Matthew Connolly, I am leaving ACC with more confidence in my journalism skills. While there were definitely moments that truly tested my patience and stress level, I learned a lot during my time at the newspaper.

Boy, did I learn.I learned that it is possible to

earn a living watching movies, going to live shows, getting early album releases, and sitting down with some of the most creative people in the world. There is just one catch: I have to write a story about it in return.

I learned that I’m never really off the clock when you leave the newsroom. If a story hits, it’s back on the clock no matter what I’m doing. My brother called and woke me up last September to ask where I was because Colton Tooley decided to shoot his gun at the University of Texas. My immediate reaction wasn’t “that’s terrible,” it was “oh great,

we’re going to have to cover that.” Of course, minutes after that, I got the phone call from my editor.

I learned that no matter how much sleep I sacrifice, how much coffee I drink, and how much writing and editing I do, something will inevitably go wrong on deadline day. When the power went out hours before the issue needed to be completed, the editors rushed over from Round Rock Campus to Rio Grande Campus and used borrowed laptops and computers to get the issue done. Even if it meant showing up bright and early the very next morning, the Accent team dealt with whatever wrench fell into the gears and still managed to produce award-winning content.

So when I walk across that stage to receive my associate of art degree in journalism, I’m going to remember that my education didn’t really come from the classroom. It came from the Accent newsroom. And I’m better for it.

-30-

-30-

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May 2, 2011 www.theAccent.org Forum | Page 3

Hilary Shepherd News Editor

Karissa Rodriguez•Editor-in-Chief

OUTSPOKEN— Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas) speaks to audience members at the Center for Public Policy and Political Studies’ third annual fundraising dinner. Cornyn said in his speech that maintaining funds for education is one of his top priorities in Congress.

News → eveNts

The Center for Public Policy and Political Studies (CPPPS), a bipartisan, non-profit organization, hosted its third annual spring fundraising dinner on April 25 at the AT&T Executive Education and Conference Center.

Students from various campus organizations, such as Student Government Association, Phi Theta Kappa, and the CPPPS’ own Center for Student Political Studies (CSPS), were in attendance, as well as business, community, and government leaders.

U.S. Senator John Cornyn, the keynote speaker, said it was important for ACC students to attend in order to expand their role in the public service sector of the community.

“I think students need to be a part of the planning and the vision for the Center,” said Cornyn. “We’re celebrating tonight through more of a public service vision. I think of good citizens to not only be well-informed and well-educated, but to perform public service.”

Gerald Hill, vice president of the CPPPS board of directors, said the organization asked Cornyn to speak because of his longtime dedication to ACC and his role in government.

“Senator Cornyn [is] a statewide, elected official and a senior member of the U.S. Senate,” Hill said. “We like the fact that he is willing to support the Center and ACC.”

Students network with area leadersCPPPS holds third annual fundraising dinner, students meet with state leaders

Karissa Rodriguez Editor-in-Chief

Adrienne Sparks•Staff Photographer

RALLYING FOR JUSTICE — ADAPT Of Texas protests budget cuts proposed by both the Texas Senate and the House, the cancellation of funding to nursing homes and disability programs on April 1 at the State Capitol.

News → educAtioN

The Texas Legislature is considering several bills that concern college students. The following are updates on two of the bills that Accent has been following.

House & Senate Bill 1The state’s current budget

shortfall is estimated at $27 billion over the next two fiscal years. One of the main issues looming over the Texas House of Representatives and Senate includes education cuts in the proposed HB 1 at 18 percent and 9 percent with the SB 1.

HB 1 could mean a total of $8 billion in educational cuts while SB1 proposes cuts of $4 billion.

In response to the cuts, Austin Community College’s board of trustees has approved to raise tuition by $5 per credit hour beginning during the Summer 2011 semester.

The board is also considering more tuition increases in the future, including an increase of $5 per credit hour for the fall 2011 semester and another

Proposed bills to affect students

Budget cuts to education, guns on campus proposals still linger at Legislature

increase of $5 per credit hour for the spring 2012 semester, according to a memorandum to faculty and staff written by ACC President/CEO Stephen Kinslow.

Under the board’s proposal, student tuition would increase $15 per credit hour in under one year from now.

The board will vote on these proposals at future meetings this summer and fall.

Guns on CampusSenate Bill 354, introduced

by Senator Jeff Wentworth (R-San Antonio) stalled once it was introduced in the Senate last month.

On April 27 Wentworth tried to tack on SB 354 as an amendment to Senator Judith Zaffirini’s (D-Laredo) education bill that she said would reduce reporting requirements for universities and help drive down tuition rates.

Zafrini was disappointed with Wentworth’s amendment.

“If she considers that amendment so onerous that she wants to kill her bill, that is her decision — not mine,” Wentworth said in a Texas Tribune article.

According to Peck Young, director of the board of CPPPS, the purpose of the event was not only to raise money for the organization, but to expose students to community and government leaders.

“All of the speakers have something interesting to say, and we want students to have an opportunity to hear them,” said Young.

Hill said the event gives students exposure to leaders they might have not had a chance to meet during their time in college.

“There aren’t many events that you can go to and sit with the former governor of the state of Texas and a former ambassador of Sweden and a sitting member for the U.S. Senate,” he said. “It’s a chance for our ACC students to meet people of that nature, people who have been in public service for many, many years. They’ll learn from them, listen to them, ask questions, and take advantage of that relationship. And hopefully it’ll grow all of our horizons. That’s the idea.”

Stacy Moreno, a pre-med student and a representative for CSPS, volunteered to help organize the event. Moreno said the opportunity to meet people was one of the reasons the fundraiser was important to her.

“I worked the event with the excitement of knowing I was going to meet a lot of people,” said Moreno. “Not a lot of students get the opportunity to meet the people they were in the room with tonight. I thought it was great.”

Era Sundar Staff Reporter

News → crime & sAFety

In an effort to shed light on sexual violence in the college community, commercial photography major David Saenz has launched Unzipped, a training program designed to prevent sexual assault through awareness and student activism.

Saenz partnered with SafePlace, an Austin-based organization which provides shelter and assistance for victims of sexual and domestic violence, and its community-led task force, Keep it Consensual, to bring the Unzipped program to ACC.

As chair of the SafePlace committee for Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, Saenz said his goal is to get as many students involved in Unzipped as possible.

“One person may not be able to do much, but we, as a college, can get together and change the attitudes that allow for the acceptance of sexual assault, and in doing so, we can foment positive change on our campus and in society,” said Saenz.

Campus police records show three cases of dating violence on ACC campuses since 2009, but no cases of sexual assault.

According to a National Institute of Justice report published in 2005, sexual assault is the most under-reported violent crime in America, often because the perpetrator is an acquaintance of the victim.

Unzipped seeks to end this cycle of silence through eight 90-minute training sessions that will cover topics such as power and privilege, homophobia, societal responsibility and creating change, said Saenz.

The first training session will be held in June at the SafePlace facility near Riverside Campus and registration may be completed online. Training is free and open to all students of higher education, said Saenz.

Annette Saenz, no relation to David Saenz, is a senior training specialist at SafePlace and chair of the Keep it Consensual Task Force. Saenz said that Unzipped will focus on the root of the problem through primary prevention rather than risk reduction.

“Risk reduction, such as having your keys ready when you walk to your car, occurs too close to the actual assault. Primary prevention occurs at a more basic level and allows for greater instances of intervention prior to an act of sexual violence. It focuses on preventing potential perpetrators from becoming perpetrators in the first place,” said Saenz.

According to SafePlace statistics, 11.7 million women and 2.1 million men have been sexually assaulted, but only 20 percent of the incidents are actually reported to police.

“I have friends and relatives who are survivors [of sexual assault]. I’m doing this for them and trying to help prevent others from going through the same thing,” said David Saenz.

Unzipped exposes sexual assaultStudent-led program confronts sexual violence on college campuses

Registration for the Unzipped program can be completed online at safeplace.org/unzipped. Anyone who has experienced sexual assault or knows someone who has can call Safeplace’s 24-hour hotline at 512-267-SAFE(7233) or 512-927-9616 TTY for the deaf community.

NEWSpage 4 www.theAccent.org May 2, 2011

News Briefs

14 students will no longer be able to attend the Japan study abroad trip scheduled for this summer due to the concerns arising from the recent earthquake and tsunami.

The program was cancelled on April 26 due to growing concern over the safety of the island’s food, water, and power sources, as well as the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, according to a press release issued by the college.

“While we’re disappointed we can’t offer the program in Japan this year, the well-being of our students and faculty is our paramount concern,” Stephanie Amundson, director of international programs at ACC, said in a press release.

The U.S. State Department issued an active travel alert for Japan on April 14, causing many colleges to suspend their programs to the country.

ACC is currently working with the students to refund their money for all fees, including airfare, and place them in other programs.

“We look forward to resuming our program when the time is right,” said Amundson. “ACC extends its support to Japan and its people as they recover from this devastating situation.”

Austin Community College District dedicated the St. David’s Health Sciences Building at the Round Rock Campus on April 20 in honor of the $2,030,000 endowment given to the ACC Foundation by the St. David’s Foundation.

The ACC Foundation created the St. David’s Neal Kocurek ACC Endowed Scholarship with the endowment in order to aid students in the health sciences programs.

Income from the endowment will be used to provide $60,000 in scholarships for 30 students each year.

Stephanie Dempsey, executive director of the ACC Foundation said that the scholarships are an excellent opportunity for ACC students, many of whom are unable to work based on the demands of school, family life, and up to 30 hours of clinical work per week.

The annual priority application deadline is June 1. Students may apply online at austincc.edu/foundation.

The Renewable Energy Students Association (RESA) will host its last event of the spring semester on May 26 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Eastview Campus.

According to Jason Shaw, co-chair of RESA, the first 45 minutes of the event, titled “Renewable Energy Roundtable Discussion,” will give students the opportunity to meet with representatives in the field. The event will proceed with presentations from local renewable energy organizations, such as Imagine Solar, the Texas Workforce Commission, and the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners. After the presentations, speakers, RESA members, and interested students will form roundtable discussion panel.

“The point of this event is to inform students, potential students from high schools, and people with interest to see what the future is for the renewable energy field, and what education and trainings there are to get a career in the renewable energy field,” Shaw wrote in a press release.

RESA to host final event

ACC names RRC building

Japanese class canceled

Karissa Rodriguez Editor-in-Chief

News → studeNt GoverNmeNt AssociAtioN

The Student Government Association (SGA) is currently violating the Texas Open Meetings Act by not posting meeting agendas for all meetings at least 72 hours prior to meeting dates. This is one of many issues plaguing SGA this year.

SGA is subject to this act because they have a decision-making authority on behalf of the student body to recommend to ACC’s board of trustees how to spend student money, among other recommendations.

“A body that actually holds some type of advisory or decision-making authority and has some regular and formalized meeting schedule,” Student Press Law Center Executive Director Frank LoMonte wrote in an email to explain who is subject to the Act.

SGA President Sophia Downing explained in an earlier interview that the lack of training SGA members have received and software issues with SGA’s website are the reasons why SGA is currently not in compliance with the Texas Open Meetings Act.

At the April 22 meeting, Downing said that agendas are shared “internally through Google Docs” when asked if they are available to all ACC students.

Downing explained that because inaccessible software was used to set up the website by SGA’s former Director of Communications, Rodney Hermes, SGA was unable to properly update their website to

SGA violates open meetings actMeeting agendas not accessible to public, SGA seeks to become independent organization

post agendas or minutes.New software was purchased

on April 22 and SGA funds were not used to pay for it, according to Downing who said they are in the process of updating their website to become compliant with the Act.

“Texas law does require that, if the meeting is one covered by the open-meetings act, an agenda be made public at least 72 hours in advance,” wrote LoMonte. “ It is not an excuse that the organization lacks the technical ability to post an agenda on its website. The agenda can be distributed on paper, posted in public places, and otherwise distributed without access to the website.”

LoMonte explained that violating the Act potentially carries two consequences.

“First, a court can be asked to declare anything that was decided in an illegally closed meeting to be void. So any votes that were taken or decisions that were made can be reversed,” wrote LoMonte. “Second, if the failure to obey the act was intentional, then there can be misdemeanor criminal penalties including up to $500 per violation in fines and even a short jail stay, although this is rare and is reserved for extreme cases.”

SGA has had a tumultuous year in which the Executive Council has undergone several turnovers in administration. This has caused confusion among members during SGA meetings.

Many SGA members commented during the April 22 meeting that they do not understand Roberts Rules of Order, and senators and executive council members often backtrack and explain how members should conduct themselves during meetings.

“I’ve seen a little bit of productivity, and I’ve seen a lot of confusion,” said former SGA president Joshua Bacak who attended his first SGA meeting this year on April 22. “A lot of

people stood up expressing their concerns about Roberts Rules of Order and parliamentarian procedures.”

“These rules prevented us from getting sidetracked [last year],” said Bacak.

Roberts Rules of Order is something that the Executive Council said they would like to include in future training sessions.

In addition to conducting training sessions, Downing said that unofficially it is one of SGA’s goals to become a standalone organization like Phi Theta Kappa.

“We want to get out from under the Student Life umbrella,” said Downing who is frustrated with paperwork that Student Life requires all clubs and organizations to fill out.

Director of Student Life Cheryl Richard is disappointed

that SGA does not feel Student Life is serving them well.

“I’m sorry that it’s not working,” said Richard. “We want it to work, but we also want the students to plan and to recognize that any event that they are planning we want it to be a collaborative effort between them and other parts of the college,” including campus managers, purchasing and facilities.

Vice President of Student Support and Success Systems Kathleen Christensen responded to SGA’s desire to become an independent organization.

“We’re happy to listen to the concerns of SGA,” Christensen wrote in an email. “We’re certainly open to the discussion of another model, other than the current arrangement; we want to do what is best for students.”

Pete Perreault•Staff Photographer

GOVERNMENT IN ACTION — Student Government Association executive council officers Dylan Pera, Sophia Downing, and Bretton Johnson administrate the April 22 SGA meeting at the Highland Business Center.

May 2, 2011 www.theAccent.org News | Page 5

Jessica Blair Staff Writer

Dana Manickavasagam•Lead Photographer

WINNER — Brandon Beecham crosses the finish line to win first place in the Riverbat 5k. The Student Activity Advisory Board (SAAB) hosted the 5k on April 19 for students, staff, and faculty.

cAmPus liFe → rouNd rock cAmPus

23 students, staff, and faculty were surprised to discover that the Austin Community College Riverbat 5k run they signed up for wasn’t actually 5 kilometers, or 3.1 miles. Instead, the run turned out to be 4.1 miles.

The Riverbat 5k was held on April 19 at Round Rock Campus and hosted by the Office of Student Life and the Student Activity Advisory Board (SAAB) at Round Rock Campus.

Student Brandon Beecham took first place in the men’s division of the race, completing the race in 26 minutes.

Beecham ran in high school, but took time off since attending college. When he received an email with information on the Riverbat 5k, he decided to pick up running again.

“I was really surprised that I ran so slowly, but when I found out it was a 4.1 mile instead of a 3.1 mile, I was relieved,” said Beecham. “I think my time is really starting to improve.”

The course was originally 3.1 miles in length, but due to safety concerns, coordinators thought it was best to move the race from its original placement that crossed the parking lot, to

Riverbat 5k run at RRCStudents, faculty, staff engage in first Riverbat 5k run

Sarah Grover Staff Writer

Sarah Grover•Staff Photographer

AWARENESS — Mariana Pedroza (left) paints a pink ribbon on the face of Feyi Oni’s (right) during the Save the Girls event to promote breast cancer awareness on April 20 at the South Austin Campus.

cAmPus liFe → south AustiN cAmPus

Student Activity Advisory Board (SAAB) promoted breast cancer awareness with its pink themed “Save the Girls” event at the South Austin Campus on April 20.

The event, organized by SAAB Director of Diversity Mariana Pedroza, featured volunteer information for the Susan G. Komen for the Cure and other volunteer groups in Austin, free pink cupcakes and a raffle drawing.

According to Pedroza, the purpose of this event was to inform students about the dangers and realities of breast cancer.

“I have a couple of family members that actually fought breast cancer,” said Pedroza. “I thought that this would be a good event to make people aware of fighting cancer, and see if anyone wants to join the cause.”

Pedroza invited Quinn Gold, a volunteer from Susan G. Komen for the Cure, to attend the event and raise student awareness by providing information about breast cancer services and activism.

Gold shared information about the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure which will occur in Austin this November. She also made students aware of the fact that organizations such as Planned Parenthood offer free mammograms.

Students raise breast cancer awareness

Save the Girls event informs students about breast cancer advocacy, early detection

Sarah Grover Staff Writer

Dana Manickavasagam•Lead Photographer

ENCOURAGING LITERACY — International student Hafeez Jamali (right) makes inquiries about sending books to children in Pakistan while Steven Wilson (left) helps Tiffany Pineda (center) get information on the Silver Star Literacy Program. Students donated books and received information about volunteering at the book drive at the literacy celebration held on April 23 at Rio Grande Campus on April 26.

cAmPus liFe → rio GrANde cAmPus

The Silver Star Children’s Literacy Club celebrated the end of its spring 2011 book drive at the Rio Grande Campus on April 26.

Students, faculty and staff came out to donate last minute books, and get information about joining the club and getting involved in next semester’s activities.

Book drives will be held each semester, and students will be able to donate new or gently used books to the cause.

The books will be distributed by student and community volunteers and reading times will be set up in community centers, hospitals, homeless shelters and libraries.

Children who attend the readings will receive a book of their very own to take home.

According to Silver Star’s Faculty Adviser David Lauderback, the club’s main objective is to promote literacy among underprivileged students and raise awareness about the importance of reading to children.

Lauderback, explained that the literacy club was founded by a mutual acquaintance and president of the Center for Public Policy and Political Studies, Avy Gonzales.

Lauderback said that

Students promote children’s literacy

the sidewalk along the campus, according to Round Rock Campus Student Life Assistant Dot Dearinger.

“Overall I think the race went really well and sparked a lot of interest among students from Round Rock as well as other campuses,” said Dearinger. “What was most enjoyable for me was watching the students being healthy and having fun.”

Another student, Sandra Gonzalez, placed first in the women’s division of the race.

Sandra Gonzalez and her husband Jason Gonzalez who took third place, said that they participated in the event as an excuse for get out and do something fun as a couple.

“This was an exciting run,” said Sandra Gonzalez. “The weather was perfect.”

Racers started the 4.1 mile run at building 2000, and ran around the entire length of the campus, and finished back at the building. First place runners were awarded a t-shirt, coffee mug, and a $25 gift card.

According to Christopher Stevenson, the Director of Services for Round Rock Campus SAAB, “the goal for the event was to promote healthy choices in the daily life of both students and staff.”

“Whether you’re uninsured or under-insured, there are a lot of ways that you can get mammograms paid for by Texas,” said Gold.

Gold emphasized that early detection is the best way to fight breast cancer.

“That was one of the things that my mom was lucky with,” Gold said. “She detected it in an early enough stage, so we were able to nip it in the bud.”

Gold stressed the importance of awareness and recognized ACC’s efforts. “It’s great that [ACC] is educating women about self-breast checks,” Gold said.

According to Gold, one in seven women is affected by breast cancer.

“It’s an epidemic more than a disease,” said Gold.

Mambwe Oni, a business administration major, thought it was great to be able to attend an event like this. Oni said it was neat to see people giving their time for such noble causes like breast cancer awareness. Because so many people are affected by breast cancer, she thinks that knowing information about the disease can be very helpful.

“[Maybe you] know somebody who might have the disease, and maybe they don’t know where to go and are lacking information,” said Oni. “The one or two pieces that you pick up from an event like this can actually mean the difference in someone’s life being saved.”

Gonzales, who has children of his own, thought, “If you give a kid a toy, it might last a week or two. But if you give a kid a book, it’s not just playtime, it’s learning. That book becomes their friend; and sometimes, a very good friend.”

Gonzales started a book drive out of CPPPS, and then that book drive morphed into its own entity, Silver Star, according to Lauderback.

Marcos Larios, the president

of the Silver Star club, has a personal attachment to Silver Star, and what it accomplishes.

Larios grew up in an underprivileged community, where a positive influence wasn’t prevalent. His world was his neighborhood, and that world included drugs, gang violence, and alcohol.

Things didn’t start to change for Larios until a teacher showed him that he cared, and gave him books to read. Larios

said he did not read them at first, but when he did, he felt like a whole new world was opened to him.

“I was able to expand my horizons beyond my little neighborhood,” said Larios. “And that’s pretty much the idea of this club- to help those [underprivileged] kids to be able to expand their horizons, and to let them know that their world is bigger than their little neighborhood.”

Interviews and photos by Walter Challapa

rant & rave

I usually make review sheets with key terms and topics on them defined. That helps me learn the material, and then I read over them multiple times.

Education / Art Computer ScienceArt

Annie Baker Penny PanVincent Merriman

Final exams are coming up, and every student has their own method of studying. We asked students at Pinnacle Campus: How do you study for finals?

Four hours in the tutoring lab for each class, lots of rest the night before, and plenty of time to relax. Taking short breaks while testing is helpful too.

I have four courses this semester. Two subjects will have a final exam. One is drawing. We have to prepare the final portfolio. The other is design. We have a final project of color mixing painting. I always study government and reading subjects during the week and weekend, and use my off classes time to study. So, I think I might do fine on the finals.

CAMPUS LIFEPage 6 www.theAccent.org May 2, 2011

Dianna DeanNatalee Blanchat Campus Editor

Edgar Rodriguez • Lead Photographer

Dianna Dean graduated from Lyndon B. Johnson High School in 1978. As a single mother, she knew that she wanted to continue her education to support herself and her family. Dean started her education at ACC in 1978 and graduated from the Licensed Vocational Nurse [LVN] program two years later.

According to Dean, passing the pre-entry exam into the LVN program at ACC solidified the start of her nursing career.

“After graduating from high school, two of my best girl friends and I applied to take the pre-entry nursing exam, and I was the only one who passed,” said Dean. “When I shared that with my mother, who was a nurses aide at the time, she helped me realize that the program was a great thing.”

Once Dean got into the nursing program she started taking her nursing classes at Eastview Campus, before transitioning into the Brackenridge Hospital School of Nursing where she completed her degree in 1980.

She recalls enjoying the small class sizes and the friendless of professors.

“The program was very convenient for me. I lived in east Austin so I could catch the bus to and from school,” said Dean. “The instructors were very down to earth, allowing you to learn the material and the skills with ease.”

According to Dean, the LVN program was a great way to make the switch from being a student to joining the workforce.

“It helped me grow and move forward when I graduated the vocational nursing program,” said Dean. “I was able to go right into Brackenridge Hospital and work as a professional nurse. The money [as an LVN] was great back then, and I have never been without a job to this day.”

While working in conjunction with Brackenridge Hospital, Dean joined the

Jefferson Street Family Practice, formally called East Side Family Practice, in 1984.

According to Dean, it was the first clinic in Austin to service people infected with HIV. “I started working with patients who were very sick with AIDS. The patients would come in with 105 to 106 degree temperatures,” said Dean. “They were so sick because they didn’t have the information on the disease, and there were not a lot of anti-viral medications out there to help slow down and stop the virus.”

Dean worked for the practice until Feb. 2001 when she landed the position as Campus Nurse at Huston-Tillotson University. Currently, she runs the Health and Wellness Center that serves the 900 students who attend the college. Her services include STD screenings, information on HIV and disease prevention, pregnancy, as well as assisting with injuries.

“I run a very tight ship,” said Dean. “I do a lot of teaching and help students learn how to advocate the importance of prevention education.”

Dean is also the co-director for Huston-Tillotson Health Connection HIV/AIDS peer educators, which helps manage HIV prevention and health services. With big ambitions, she hopes to open up a center to support foster teenagers and pregnant teenagers living with HIV.

“My passion is HIV/AIDS prevention,” said Dean. “Because the health care cost is rising so I like to keep the students healthier and provide information that they would need,” said Dean. “Hopefully they can apply that information to everyday life.”

Dean said she didn’t always know she wanted to be a nurse but sometimes “your calling calls you,” and that the LVN program changed her life.

“I thank God for the ACC nursing school, said Dean.“I enjoyed every minute of it.”

What I’veLearned May 2, 2011 www.theAccent.org Campus Life | Page 7

0-4 yearsexperience

5-9 yearsexperience

10-19 yearsexperience

20+ yearsexperience

Most aw

arded degrees at ACCH

ighe

st p

aid

care

ers

with

an

asso

ciat

e de

gree

*

Associate of Arts1. General Studies

2. Psychology3. (tie) English

3. (tie) Spanish

Associate of Science1.Business Administration

2. Computer Science3. Engineering

Associate of Applied Science1. Nursing, Professional

2. Criminal Justice, Law Enforcement3. Nursing, mobility trackR N

RegisteredNurse

up to $59,050

up to $65,807

up to $74,115

up to $70,986

Dental Hygienist

up to $64,781

up to $61,789

up to $57,549

up to $65,750

EngineeringTechnician

up to $76,498

up to $55,418

up to $49,196

up to $62,575

Paralegal

up to $63,701

up to $52,289

up to $43,625

up to $59,758

ComputerTechnician

up to $66,819

up to $49,660

up to $36,173

up to $49,995

RadiationTherapy

up to $69,983

up to $75,198

up to $84,441

up to $89,240

*All compensation data shown are the gross, national median. Pay can vary greatly by location.

Sources: Austin Community College 2010 Fact Book, payscale.com, hr.com

Graphic by Elizabeth Brown, Layout Editor

Employees with an Associate Degree in Nursing

earned an average of

$51,872 after 4 years,

and up to $62,816 after 20 years of experience Employees with an Associate Degree

in Business Administration earned an

average of $38,826 after 4 years,

and up to $49,122 after 20 years of experience

Employees with an Associate Degree in General Studies

earned an average of $36,174 after 4 years, and up

to $53,637 after 20 years of experience

What will your degree earn for you?

page 8 | Campus Life www.theAccent.org May 2, 2011

The semester is quickly coming to an end for ACC students with all-night study binges, last-minute projects, and rigorous finals. While many students opt to take classes during the summer, some are more interested in playing the all new video game releases. Take a break from the beach this summer and check out these anticipated video games:

Duke Nukem Forever - June 14 on PS3, Xbox 360, & PC.The first-person

shooter sequel is 14 years in the making. Game development picked up by Gearbox Software (the masterminds behind Borderlands) will take Duke into the future with all the same explosions, gun fights, wise cracks, and strippers as the original. The plot is simple: aliens are invading earth and stealing all the hot babes, and to top it off, they drank your beer. Time to get locked and loaded to save the planet.

Brink - May 10 on PS3, Xbox 360, & PC.Brink, developer

Splash Damage’s first original game, is a highly anticipated first-person shooter with online multiplayer mission modes, deep character players, and a campaign to die for. The two factions, “Resistance” and “Security” fight for control over their previously utopian world: The Ark. With the population rising and the resources decreasing, the island is on the brink of civil war.

inFAMOUS 2 - June 7 on Playstation 3This open world

action game is the sequel to the 2009 PS3 hit, InFAMOUS. The protagonist/antagonist (depending on the decisions the player makes) is Cole MacGrath, who, after being in contact with a strange military equipment called the Ray Sphere in the first inFAMOUS, is now infused with electrical abilities and can save or destroy anything and everything in his path. It is up to the player to decide how Cole controls the city: through peace or through fear.

L.A. Noire - May 17 on PS3 & Xbox 360L.A. Noire takes

many aspects of the cinema style “film noir” and puts the player in a dark Los Angeles in the 1940s. Created by the guys behind Grand Theft Auto, L.A. Noire offers a multitude of murder mysteries to solve using guns, cars, and most importantly, wits. The game showcases many new innovations in video game technology by how it shows emotion in characters’ faces, voices, and actions. Dig deep into the seedy underbelly of the gangster ridden streets of Los Angeles, circa 1947.

Times New Viking - Dancer Equired Recording in an actual studio gave the group a much cleaner sound, but they still keep their grungy indie appeal.

Son Lux - We Are Rising A month to write and record doesn’t mean a loss in quality. It’s just proof of how confident Son Lux is of his brilliantly composed music.

Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues Seattle harmonizers return with their brand of acoustic folk music and a tour to follow their new album.

The Midgetmen - Loud Enough Reminiscent of old school British rock, this band’s fourth album is nothing short of good music.

Sarah Vasquez Assistant Editor

Ty Hardin•Staff Photographer

SCREAMING GOOD TIME — Little Lo will release their debut EP in June. The folk pop band is made up of both University of Texas and Austin Community College students.

liFe & Arts → colleGe souNd

With write-ups in local music publications such as Austin Writes Music and The Austin Chronicle, Little Lo has garnered the attention of music aficionados.

They ranked second in this year’s Austin Music Awards for “Best New Band” without heavily campaigning for people to vote for them.

“We did talk about it online... At least to centralize all those votes if anyone was going to vote for us,” said Ryan McGill, guitarist/vocalist. “We definitely could have done a lot more than what we did.”

“But this is maybe more organic,” said Bailey Glover, vocalist/pianist. “We didn’t push it. It just kind of happened.”

Doug Freeman even made a small reference to the Grammy-winning Arcade Fire in a review about Little Lo in The Austin Chronicle.

All this for a band that hasn’t celebrated their first anniversary. Little Lo formed last summer, and to some of the members, all the attention comes as a surprise.

“That’s awesome. I didn’t know that our name was everywhere, because I don’t follow that stuff,” said Ian

Little Lo freezes to record albumNew band turned off heater during recording of debut EP

Sarah Vasquez Assistant Editor

Sarah Vasquez•Assistant Editor

DOUBLE VISION — Tje Austin watches himself perform during the premiere episode of NBC’s The Voice. Austin is Assistant Editor Sarah Vasquez’s roommate.

liFe & Arts → music

The moment Tje Austin’s red skinny jeans and PUMA shoes appeared on the TV screen, I knew it was time for his audition on NBC’s The Voice, the new singing competition that judges solely on contestants’ voices.

He wore a similar look the first time he walked into my house in response to my roommate ad last year.

Austin has always been the roommate who’s never home because he’s out rehearsing or performing. Although, I always know when he’s home because I can hear him singing around the house.

It was still a strange experience on April 26 to see my afro-wearing roommate singing on stage in front of Christina Aguilera, Cee-Lo Green, Adam Levine of Maroon 5, and Blake Shelton during the premiere episode of The Voice.

Earlier this year, Austin casually mentioned during our morning chat around the coffee pot that he auditioned for this show. There weren’t many details at the time, but all he

Editor watches roommate on The Voice

Rogers who plays mandolin and saxophone for the folk pop band.

“We hear the same things over and over again,” said Josh Mead, the bassist. “That we have this almost family-like relationship on stage, where people notice that it’s more than just trying to...”

“...put on a show,” said Glover.

“For us, it’s more of reacting with each other,” said Mead who is also a general studies major at ACC.

For the moment though, it is all about the live show, because it’s the only way fans can take in their music.

“That’s why it’s so weird that we get as much recognition as we do right now,” said McGill. “Because our only recording right now is one demo we did.

It was a quick recording that we did in the living room.”

That four-song demo is only available online through Bandcamp, but the band’s debut EP will be formally released as a physical CD.

The new EP, which is currently unnamed, was recorded in the house McGill and Rogers live in and is over 50 years old.

To avoid unwanted background noises, the band turned off the refrigerator and heater during the recording process. However, they recorded during their winter break.

“It was really cold. I had multiple layers on,” said Glover.

Luckily, the heater only affected the one room they were recording in as the microphones led to the

computer in another room.“Everyone collected in my

bedroom,” said McGill. “All the people in there would be nice and cozy and warm, but then when you walk out here, it’d be really cold. I did board up the windows, but that was to keep street noise [from] getting in. It helped with temperature stuff.”

Now that the band members got through the cold winter days, they are now in the process of adding the finishing touches to the EP for a June release.

“I’ve been mixing it and tweaking the final touches on vocals and stuff. It just takes a really long time,” said McGill.

But Little Lo is ready to get their CD in people’s hands.

“It’s going to feel really good to get something out,” said Mead.

Jason Witmer Staff Writer

Courtesy of Premier PR

Courtesy of Lunch PR

liFe & Arts → GAmes ANd tech

Video games to play during summer

teammate by singing the same song. Green will then decides which contestant from his team will head to the final phase, which is the live performance. The television audience then votes on who will advance.

The winner of The Voice receives the grand prize of a recording contract and $100,000, not a bad opportunity for the local R&B singer who performed at coffee shops, bars and business lunches before all this happened.

knew was that he would only be judged by his voice. It was never mentioned again until I caught a glimpse of his fro during one of the commercials.

The blind audition is the first of the three stages in The Voice, where each singer performs as the four judges sit with their backs toward them.

If the judges like what they hear, they hit a button in front of them and turn around to ask them to join their team of eight. Then, the contestant decides which judge they want to work with as a coach for the duration of the show.

If only one judge turns around, the decision is made.

During Austin’s blind audition which he performed Bruno Mars’ “Just the Way You Are,” he had to choose between Levine or Green. Austin chose Green.

“I was always hoping that Cee-Lo would turn around. I’ve been a big fan of Cee-Lo for a long time and especially with this new album that he has. I do his covers at my show,” said Austin.

The next phase for Austin will be the battle rounds, where he’ll compete against another

“I appreciate everything that I’ve done from the coffee shop gigs to the gigs where I didn’t get paid,” said Austin. “I may not have been ready to do this three years ago... I feel like this is my time.”

Even though Austin has completed his blind audition, I’m still going to tune in at 8 p.m. each Tuesday to see how the competition unfolds.

I’ll be rooting for Austin to win that record deal, even if it means he has to move out.

Courtesy of Sony Computer Entertainment

Courtesy of Rockstar Games

LIFE & ARTSMay 2, 2011 Page 9 www.theAccent.org Page 9

Grey skirt by Twenty One:

$8.50

Floral dress by Yippee:

$16

Brown bag:$15 Black handbag:

$13.50

Shoes by Wet Seal:

$12

Pink Purse:$11

Shirt by Sweet Clair:

$17

Dress by White House | Black Market:

$22.50

Shoes by BCBG: $16

Erica Bean Staff Writer

All photos by Erica Bean • Staff Photographer Model is staff photographer Adrienne Sparks

liFe & Arts → liFestyle

High fashion is sometimes unattainable for an average college student. For most students, living on a budget is a reality, and being stylish is mostly what one can find in the closet half an hour before class.

Thrifty threads: $75 or less

For Weekends This outfit adjusts from afternoon lunches to evening dinners with friends or family.

For School A light and flowery dress works for the sunny days where school and work might collide.

For Evenings This dress-up outfit is for an evening date or a night out with friends. It’s also great for summer evenings in Austin.

Buffalo Exchange2904 Guadalupe StAustin, Tx 78750(512) 480-9922

In Austin, being fashionable is not necessarily about how much money a student has, but how creative the student can get with what they have.

Here are some styles from Buffalo Exchange for three different types of occasions: school, weekend, and evenings. And with prices under $75, it’s almost too good to be true.

page 10 | Life & Arts www.theAccent.org May 2, 2011

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Mangieri’s Pizza Cafe5900 W Slaughter Lane #490

Tucci South Side Subs7101 W Highway 71 #A5

Arcade Fire May 3, 6 p.m., The Backyard Playing alongside Austin’s instrumental Explosions In The Sky and all-female band Schmillion, the Grammy-winning band will be in Austin to promote their new album, The Suburbs.

Ann: An Affectionate Portrait of Ann Richards May 4-8 at 8 p.m., Paramount Theatre, Austin, TX A one-woman show about the former governor of Texas Ann Richards, who passed away in 2006. Actress Holland Taylor portrays a personal side of the former governor.

Margaret Smith May 4 at 8 p.m., Capitol City Comedy Club The comedian, most noted for six Emmy award wins and the former writer/producer of Ellen DeGeneres’ current talk show, will be in Austin for one night.

AFF’s Made in Texas Film Series presents...SELENA May 11 at 7:30 p.m., Bob Bullock Museum Texas filmmakers showcase their films for the “Made in Texas film series” in the Bob Bollock Museum and Texas Spirit Theater. This night will show about the life of Tejano singer Selena Quintanilla-Perez and her personal life of growing up in Southwest Texas.

Fortnight Forecast

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Jessica Blair Staff Writer

Figuring out what to eat between classes is an important decision for any college student. All campuses have some form of a Simon’s Cafe. However, stepping away from the campus provides other choices to fill those tummies. Accent will feature several restaurants around the different campuses. In this issue, we feature Pinnacle Campus.

liFe & Arts → Food

Pizza is a staple for most college students, and this pizza cafe offers more than just take-out. Mangieri’s Pizza Cafe is a nice diner where one person or a group can

sit to eat. Their setting can fit up to six people to a table. The deep red and brown environment sets a relaxing and romantic mood. Their pizza is amazing, and students have their choice of creating their own pizza or selecting one from the menu. Everything they make is from scratch including the dough. Located in Escarpment Village shopping center, it’s a little hard to find, but find a huge canopy and there’s the restaurant. If students want authentic pizza, this is the place to go.

Scale: $ = 15 dollars and under an entree $$ = 15 to 20 dollars an entree $$$ = 20+ dollars an entree

Food for thought: Pinnacle

Located across the street from an HEB, Tucci South Side Subs offers great sandwiches on the go. With daily specials, the staff prepares each sandwich when the customer orders it. The friendly attitudes and smiling faces makes this a pleasant place to grab a bite to eat.

Any student that loves a little spice would enjoy the Cajun Turkey sub. And with the “have it your way” menu, students can have their sandwich made just for them. The 333 bus stop at the Oak Hill Plaza allows students to use the bus as an easy way to find the restaurant, so they can get back to school quickly. Tucci

South Side Subs is the place to go for students in the mood for a great sandwich.

Saul Hernandez • Staff Photographer

Saul Hernandez • Staff Photographer

May 2, 2011 www.theAccent.org Life & Arts | Page 11

page 12 | Life & Arts www.theAccent.org May 2, 2011