The Rattler (San Antonio, Tex.), Vol. 91, No. 8, Ed. 1 Wednesday, February 25, 2004 Page: 12 of 16
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12
February 25, 2004
Letter to the Editor
When we walk into campus can provide
materials Unfortunately, throwing papers in a
(
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1 .
cuve/82D04-
Mary's through Java City, the Diamondback Cafe opened the gates to better dialogue between the
less.
Improved communication is
vital to student-admin relations
on a daily basis. If stu-
dents could show pro-
Viva Study
Abroad:
News Editor
Kavita Bhalla
Managing Editor
Laura E. Hall
the residence halls and
check our mailboxes,
Jacqueline
Martinez
Editor-in-Chief
Francisco Vara-Orta
Let's reduce
paper waste
Features Editor
JoAnn DeLuna
Student finds simi-
larities in Spanish,
American lifestyles
and cultures
money students will have to find if financial aid
doesn't come through? Ultimately, the student
will have to decide, jeopardizing the stability in
HEY, KIDS!
THAT’S
ACTUALLY A
DECORATIVE
TURKEY JUST
FOR THE PHOTO
OPt
The Rattler
is looking for
writers and
photographers.
Copy Editor
Amanda R. Martinez
Commentary Editor
Valarie Geckler
Layout/Design Manager
Denise M. Salinas
STAFF EDITORIAL
THE RATTLER
Entertainment Editor
& Cartoonist
Chuck Ken-
Sports Editor
Stephanie T. Sosa
Photo Editor
Mike Zuniga
Assistant Photo Editor
Kate Kampschroeder
Advertising Manager
Pedro Nieto
Webmaster
Tony Bryden
Interim Faculty Adviser
Dean Karen Johnson
administration and student leadership will be a
learning experience that will lead to the next step:
incorporating more student voices in the univer-
sity decision-making process. After all, our tuition
dollars and federal and state revenue ultimately
run this institution and both sides are entitled and
obligated to remember that when they feel help-
The Rattler
Staff
Staff Contact
Linda Lopez-Hinojosa
/ FUSsABO0T
.\-OHNKeRR3MILITARYA
—-RCoRD? 4
Join The Rattler today!
Pick up an application
in room 258 in the University Center.
Call us at
(210) 436-3401 or e-mail
rattlernews@stmarytx.edu.
What comes to mind when one.
thinks of Spain? For those who have
yet to visit the foreign country, it could
-•SeReD(N
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,2.2
to get away.
Commentary
The Rattler •
be the stereotypical
glamour and mystique
of the bullfights and fla-
menco dancers.
I admit, before my
arrival overseas, I did
not know what to
expect from Spain other
than something unique
The Rattler upholds the
Mission Statement of St. Mary's
University. The publication fol-
lows the Canons of Responsible
Journalism, the Associated Press
Stylebook guidelines and the
Student Publications Policy.
The Rattler is a member of the
Associated Collegiate Press, the
Columbia Scholastic Press Ass-
ociation and Texas Intercollegiate
Press Association.
{W i
there is still unneces-
sary paper usage
around campus.
fessors they are check-
ing e-mails daily, that
would also reduce the
amount of paper used.
Together, we can fix
and make the campus a
more efficient and
environmentally
friendly school. If we
recycle a ton of paper it
saves "17 trees, saves
three barrels of oil used
in paper manufacture,
and saves 3.3 cubic
yards of land fill
space." Community
and individual support
for recycling make all
the difference.
Sincerely,
Susan Johnson
Freshman
$,883-8,23
270
f d t. ' e eg27, r A /. a r .. .
_________
7,4/2
n‘3%‘%
charging for printouts have begun to just take ments for students to
in libraries and use them out of their mail- pass by and see. E-mail
Letters to the Editor Policy
The Rattler welcomes letters to
the editor. Letters should not ex-
ceed 300 words and must include
writer's name, classification,
major and telephone number.
Editors reserve the right to edit
submissions for length, grammar,
spelling and content.
Letters may be delivered to
Room 258 in the University
Center, faxed to (210) 431-4307,
mailed to: The Rattler, St. Mary's
University, Box 83, One Camino
Santa Maria, San Antonio, TX
78228, or e-mailed to rat-
tlernews@stmarytx.edu. For more
information, call the newsroom at
(210) 436-3401.
a?
ASSOCIATED
COLLEGIATE
PRESS
MEMBER
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7 - —V
1.
improved communication throughout the univer-
sity leadership network.
Students honestly understand that costs will
rise eventually and do not seem to mind small,
steady increases, such as is the case with the resi-
dence halls, or even higher tuition hikes; but a
$700 total increase for the meal plan on top of the
tuition and residence hall fees left many in shell -
or shall we say - sticker shock. ,
The SGA was a major force in uniting con-
cerned students who effectively "lobbied" the
Board of Trustees to table the measure for further
consideration. Whether the administration wants
to acknowledge it or not, the students actively
organized a movement that helped change some-
thing that seemed as inevitable and left the stu-
dent body leaders feeling helpless.
But the administration has its points too.
Without a meal plan increase, some cafeteria serv-
ices may close or cut hours, prices are likely to go
up, and Aramark has honestly invested in St.
, 5...
8-. A
recycling bin, we
throw them in the trash
can. If our university
computer networks
such as Blackboard for
students and teachers
to stay connected with-
out having to print out
boxes and throw them could be used, but offi-
in the trash. ’ cials are not convinced
Students can also be that the students are
blamed for the waste of checking their e-mail
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paper. Instead of
mittee’s, recommendations last semester to the
administration's approval in January to the last-
minute anti-meal plan increase movement led by
SGA. It all seemed last minute and the larger stu-
dent body didn't even have a clue until days
before the actual vote on Feb. 6.
This fiasco has fortunately ignited a fire under
all these departments that is creating healthy dia-
logue between the SGA, The Rattler, and the
administration. It is our duty as your student
newspaper to be the student body's watchdog
and to serve as a mutual avenue between the
administration and student body.
There have been too many "after the fact"
memos sent to students about major decisions
affecting them and the entire campus leadership,
including students, faculty, and staff, is responsi-
ble for incorporating their ideas and opinions on
addressing the issues that directly affect the stu-
dents, whether just one, a few, or all 4,000.
The Rattler hopes the meal plan episode that
versify has begun to we are bombarded by a
crack down on the sea of small papers
usage of paper around telling us of the same
campus. Many schools events we have been
produce as much waste informed of over and
and use as much ener- over again. After
gy as a small city. receiving these a few
We have started dozen times, residents
from my American lifestyle in the
States along with the stereotypes I've,
always heard. Imagine my astonish-
ment early my first morning in Spain
when I awoke to Tupac Shakur's
"Ain't Nothin' but a Gangsta Party"
blasting from my host mother's 15-
year-old son's stereo. I thought maybe
the 12 hour flight to Spain had just
been a dream.
Well, it wasn't. I was definitely in
Spain, as the warm glass of milk I had
for breakfast that morning very well
reminded me.
My first culture shock experience
was that breakfast is not big here. The
Spaniards also enjoy a three hour-long
siesta from 2 to 5 p.m. every day. I sup-
pose the only downside to the siestas is
the closing of th stores with'it. "n"
The first time I had the pleasure of
eating dinner with the Tupac fanatic
(his name is Alvarro), I asked him if he
understood what Tupac was rapping
about. As I suspected, he didn't.
Along with that fact, I also learned
that he played on a basketball team.
This was surprising to me only
because soccer is such a dominant
sport in Spain and practically a reli-
gion here.
One of the more peculiar things
here are the ten and 12-year-olds
smoking in public. Everyone, and I
mean EVERYONE smokes here, even
when there are "no smoking" signs in
the room.
I went to a restaurant with some
friends the other day and the usual fog
of smoke filled the room, but the
abnormal thing was the baby in the
stroller parked beside his parent. The
parent was completely at ease and in
conversation with smoking friends
practically exhaling into the child's
face.
But the number one thing that truly
shocked me is the lack of censoring in
the news. As my roommate Valeree
and I ate our lunch and watched a
report on yet more bombings and
death in Iraq, I finally got to see what
is really happening in Baghdad.
I already knew about innocent peo-
ple dying, but I had yet to actually see
the graphic reality of it all. I wondered
why news reports in the States never
publicized this veracity, yet Janet
Jackson's right breast is now world
famous -1 assure you that made world
news for weeks!
There is more to endure here in
Spain and I hope that throughout my
semester I can encounter something a
little more discrete from home, aside
from the differences I have already
come across. After all, the point was to
experience something fresh and new-
renovation last year, and are open to more servic-
es if they can overcome budget challenges. The
Student Development office is not happy about
the proposed meal plan increase but seemed
adamant that the increase is the only option for
students living on campus and Aramark's pros-
perity in serving the community.
Does that justify the additional amount of
The recent discord between the Student residence hall residents.
Government Association (SGA) and the universi- The situation overall poses strain on all depart-
ty administration over the proposed mandatory ments involved, but what worsens the situation is
meal plan increase highlights the need for the lack of communication from the budget com-
recycling bins, we can
make a difference by
using them.
Put a limit on the
amount of flyers and
announcements posted
around school and in
mailboxes. Let's make
a bulletin board for
general announce-
■
Dear Editor,
it has come to my
attention that the uni-
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St. Mary's University (San Antonio, Tex.). The Rattler (San Antonio, Tex.), Vol. 91, No. 8, Ed. 1 Wednesday, February 25, 2004, newspaper, February 25, 2004; San Antonio, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1518898/m1/12/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting St. Mary's University Louis J. Blume Library.