All Entries in the "Insight" Category

Government shutdown avoided but budget battles still loom

By CHRIS HOLLOWAY

aztecpress@pima.edu

Although a deal was struck recently to avoid a government shutdown, the political firestorm is far from over.

A government shutdown is when non-essential government workers are placed on furlough and non-essential services are temporarily suspended. Shutdowns are typical when Congress and the president do not agree on the fiscal year’s appropriations.

The federal government has not had a shutdown since 1996.

Partisan politics are generally to blame, especially when the House is of a different majority party than the Senate and/or the president.

This was the case in President Clinton’s Republican-controlled House in 1995 and 1996. It’s also the case now, with Republicans gaining the majority of the House while the Senate and president remain Democrat.

Both parties had agreed that spending must be cut in order to curb the growing federal deficit of about $14 trillion.

House Republicans approved a budget that cut $61 billion. Democrats refused to accept such large cuts, arguing for a $32 billion cut instead.

After weeks of negotiations between Speaker of the House John Boehner, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and President Obama, a $38 billion cut was agreed upon one hour before the feared shutdown.

The decision couldn’t come soon enough for the 800,000 government employees who were deemed “non-essential” and faced temporary lay-off.

But the battle isn’t over.  Next in line for debate is the federal debt ceiling. Currently, U.S. debt is not allowed to exceed $14 trillion. That ceiling must be raised for the government to meet its obligations.

Expect more battling over America’s financial situation in the coming weeks as Republicans try to cut spending and debt for their tea party base, while Democrats try to fight for the constituents who elected them and keep social programs alive.

Czechs celebrate Easter with unique customs

By ALEXANDR SVETNICKY

Chocolate bunnies, fake grass, wicker baskets and tons of last-minute shoppers are some examples of what is not involved during a traditional European Easter.

Even though it might seem that popular holidays of North America are celebrated similarly in other countries, there are still some unusual traditions that can take one’s breath away.

I lived many years abroad, in the heart of central Europe. During my upbringing in one of the historical cities of the Czech Republic, I participated in many local traditions.

Easter  is definitely among the most appealing and favorite celebrations of the year.

The Czech Easter is celebrated for five days. On Wednesday, children are excused from school to prepare themselves for upcoming events.

The following day, each boy equips himself with a wooden rattle, joins a group and goes caroling through a village. The jangling sound from vigorous rattling is supposed to keep Judas away.

They repeat the same act on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, as the boys stop at each house and rattle until they are given money.

On Monday, the day of Christ’s resurrection, women and girls decorate and paint eggs that are given to men and boys on Easter Monday.

A kraslice, the most recognizable symbol of Czech Easter, is a decorated, hand-painted egg. The most elaborate ones can take more than an hour to decorate.

Easter Monday, the peak of celebration, is a day for pomlazka. The Czech word means “to make younger,” and is the name for a braided whip made from pussy-willow twigs. Boys and elderly men use pomlazkas while caroling.

The twigs are thought to bring health and youth to anyone, particularly a woman, who is whipped with them. Commonly, men make their pomlazka before Easter Monday arrives.

The symbolic whipping of girl on the bottom is supposed to bring her youth and beauty for another year. While the man performs the symbolical whipping, he recites an Easter carol that usually involves a desire for eggs.

After the girl is “whipped,” she gives the man some of the eggs she has prepared.

Men are also rewarded with colorful ribbons, which they tied around their pomlazka. As men progress through the town, their pomlazkas become adorned with many different colorful ribbons.

Even though Easter Monday is largely upheld throughout the country, customs have been changing.

Some men don’t even bother making a pomlazka. Instead, they use one twig or even a wooden spoon.

Fully arranged pomlazka are regularly sold during the Easter holiday.

Some men, especially teenagers, seem to forget the “whipping” is meant to be symbolic and perform the act more painfully.

It comes as no surprise that many girls and women won’t allow anyone to come inside their homes, and choose to travel away for a day or two.

When making this nationally-known rejuvenation tool, adding more twigs doesn’t only add fear the women’s faces, it actually makes braiding more difficult.

As any other original tradition, this notable phenomenon is gradually being replaced by customs from abroad.

Egg rewards are being replaced by money or shots of plum brandy (slivovice.) On days of celebration, groups of men can be seen staggering in villages where this popular drink is made.

Nevertheless, Czech Christians have not lost sight of the holiday’s religious importance and their belief that it is the day when Jesus rose from the dead after his crucifixion.

No matter if one is Christian, or how modernized Easter has become, all Czechs participate in this most unique and enjoyable celebration.

Alexandr Svernicky is a Pima Community College business administration student who enjoys writing articles and short stories.

The Rebel Yell: 2011’s Change in Consciousness

By CHRIS HOLLOWAY

aztecpress@pima.edu

Much of the world is undergoing dramatic change as we head into April 2011. The news of Egyptian and Libyan revolutions is widespread.

As a result, similar demonstrations have begun in Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Pakistan and even Iraq, as well other countries throughout the Middle East and Africa.

As if taking cues from Howard Beal’s character in the popular film Network (1976), the entire Middle East seems to be slamming their fists and yelling, “We’re mad as hell and we aren’t going to take this anymore!”

The escalating dissatisfaction from those subject to varying oppressive regimes is spreading like wildfire and currently shows no signs of going out.

With this epidemic revolutionary attitude, one must consider how the African and Middle Eastern situation relates to the United States, Arizona and even Pima County.

Aside from the obvious $3.30/gallon of gas seen at the pumps, America is seeing a rise in its own “rebel yell” as citizens of various ideologies are beginning to get fed up with those who are chosen to represent them.

In the last publication of The Aztec Press, I talked about Arizona’s dissatisfaction with the federal government and the state legislatures push towards setting itself up for independence, as well as Pima County’s push for similar action with the proposal of Baja Arizona.

A separate article could have been written about the “Northern California Secession League,” which is northern California’s growing movement just like those behind the Baja Arizona movement in Pima County.

Furthermore, the demonstrations against the state government in Wisconsin concerning the labor strike have been quite adamant.

Americans everywhere are beginning to lose faith in the institutions that have been in place for generations, and the people have begun to slam their fists down with dissatisfaction.

As an American, I admit that not one of us is faced with the despotism of Gadhafi , nor much the world’s populations who’ve been unfortunate enough to be born under totalitarian rule.

However, the “rebel yell” seems to be taking hold in the human spirit as a whole.  People from all over the world are toppling Old World regimes, and with all sorts of different ideologies seem to heed to the same cry: “We’re mad as hell and we aren’t going to take this anymore.”

And the year has just begun.

Bid for ‘Baja Arizona’ part of a bigger picture

By CHRIS HOLLOWAY

aztecpress@pima.edu

Pima County activists gathered attention across the state and nation recently with announcement of Baja Arizona plans to secede from Arizona to form the union’s 51st state.

Largely Democratic Pima County feels extremely dissatisfied with the conservativeness of the highly populated central part of the state.

Those in favor of “Baja Arizona” say the state’s conservative stance on immigration, health care and education have left Pima County with no other choice. 

Paul Eckerstrom, co-chair of the “Start our State” movement, told MSNBC news that while this has been a growing movement over the last two years, the “the last straw was when Phoenix-area legislators began moving on very extreme anti-federal nullification statutes.”

Eckerstrom was referring to bills that push for the state to increase its sovereignty.

HB2070 would allow the state to form a new “homeland security force” under the direct control of the governor. SB1433 aims to allow Arizona to deem any federal law, mandate or executive order unconstitutional and therefore null and void within the state of Arizona.

HB2070 is Arizona’s response to forming a militia answerable to the executive branch of Arizona.

In order to fully understand this, one must understand the Second Amendment as it applies to militias.  The amendment protects the forming of a “well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state.”

For the better part of 100 years, the National Guard was a state-regulated militia of civilian soldiers whose primary goal was to help the state respond to natural disasters, invasion and rebellion.

At the time, the National Guard was the only army that primarily remained within the country to protect against a potential invasion by an enemy military, as the Marines and U.S. Army were often deployed overseas.

In 2007, the John Warner Defense Authorization Act gave the president primary command over state militia. All 50 governors wrote letters opposing the legislation.

With the National Guard answering to the president first and governors second, states lost their ability to maintain and protect themselves as they saw fit. HB 2070 is Arizona’s attempt at forming a militia regulated solely by the state and directly answerable to the governor.

Some view this as an attempt byArizona to create a pre-secession military force. If the state ever attempts to secede from the United States, it would have the ability to defend itself if fighting reminiscent of the civil war broke out.

However, nothing to this degree is mentioned in the text of the bill. The bill neither validates nor reputes the idea.

SB1433 is an attempt to increase the state’s 10th Amendment rights, as well as increase its sovereignty.

The 10th Amendment reads: “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”

This is generally interpreted as saying that any power not explicitly given to the federal government belongs only to the states.

Some people encourage a stronger federal government and weaker state government, while others favor the opposite. This debate has raged since before our nation formed.

Federalists argued that the constitution adequately protected the people with separation of powers via the three separate but equal branches of government set up at both a state and federal level.

Furthermore, the Federalists were wary of the articles of confederation, which had very little federal authority to unify the states.

Anti-Federalists argued that the separation of powers was insufficient at protecting the people, and favored a nation with stronger state government and weaker federal government.

The Anti-Federalists also pushed for the constitution to explicitly protect the rights of the people, which later led to the adoption of the 10 amendments later known as the Bill of Rights.

With many of the original states divided on the issue, the Federalists eventually gave in and adopted the Bill of Rights, which secured the ratification of the anti-federalist states and the adoption of the constitution creating the United States of America.

However, the debate was not settled on that fateful day in 1787 when the constitution as most know it was adopted.

Many people believe the federal government has increased its power significantly since 1776, often exceeding its constitutional bounds through loopholes and by strong-arming states with threats to pull federal funding for non-compliance.

SB1433 seeks to give the state ability to “flex its 10th amendment muscle” by allowing the state to overrule the federal government.

It would also adopt any measure necessary to prevent enforcement of a federal law deemed to be unconstitutional .  This is the politically correct way of saying that federal agents would be barred by force from enforcing such a law.

Arizona’s bid to expand its sovereignty is not recent.

In 2000, Arizona adopted HCR2034, which said that if the federal government imposed martial law, Arizona would secede from the union and become a sovereign nation.

HCR2034 said that if 35 other states seceded, the states would form a new “confederation,” readopt the United States constitution and re-elect an entirely new federal government.

Arizona does not stand alone in this aspect. Other states, including Texas, Tennessee and New Hampshire, have similar distrust of the federal government.

Texas is expected to immediately follow any other state in secession. And, just as Texas was a great asset for the Confederacy during the Civil War, a modern confederacy would greatly benefit by adding the world’s 15th largest economy as an ally.

While Texas has built a name for being “The Lone Star State” and to this day has large sympathies for the confederacy of the past and for a potential new confederacy, it’s safe to say Arizona is the true “Lone Star” state for standing up to the federal government.

This is the reason why yet another secession movement has formed, though this time the idea is for Pima County to secede from Arizona.

Tucson was not made the capitol of Arizona due to Civil War era confederate sympathies, but today Tucson and Pima County are largely liberal.

Start our State represents Pima County’s frustration with the state government in the same way that the rest of the state feels hopeless towards the federal government.

Expect the secession issue to pick up momentum and gather debate as time goes on.

Links to listed legislation are as follows:

House Bill 2070:
http://azleg.gov/DocumentsForBill.asp?Bill_Number=HB2070&Session_ID=102

Senate Bill 1433:
http://azleg.gov/DocumentsForBill.asp?Bill_Number=SB1433&Session_ID=102

House Concurrent Resolution 2034: http://www.azleg.state.az.us/legtext/44leg/2r/bills/hcr2034p.htm

Strive for education, not certification

By JERRY H. GILL

In his provocative book “Finite and Infinite Games,” James Carse makes a distinction between education and training.

“To be prepared against surprise is to be trained,” he writes. “To be prepared for surprise is to be educated.”

Education leads toward continuing self-discovery, the book contends, while training leads toward a final self-definition.

Many students come to college to be trained or certified for a specific career or job. However, in my mind, the focus of a college education should be on “education.”

There are many people in the world who, although they have never been “certified,” are extremely educated and wise. On the other hand, there are many folks who, although they have been trained, are a long way from being educated or wise.

One of the crucial differences lies with the concept of learning to think creatively, cogently and sequentially.

It is, to be sure, important for students to consider their future from an economic standpoint, but far too often this approach turns out to be short-sighted.

Not only does narrowing one’s academic focus at an early stage limit one’s choices later on, but many of the occupations that students train for today will be obsolete within a few years.

Thus it seems advisable for college students to focus on getting an education rather than on being  certified. To be sure, these two are not mutually exclusive. One can become educated and earn certification at the same time.

However, far too often the educational focus gets shoved aside in favor of the short-term goal of training or certification for a specific occupation.

Thus far too many young people end up following a career they soon find boring and stultifying, trapped in a line of work for the rest of their lives, living for weekends, vacations and retirement.

It would be far better to make sure you are getting a real education, one that enables you to explore the world and expand your mind, as well as one that helps you learn to think creatively and logically in whatever situation you find yourself in down the line.

A real education, as Carse puts it, leads toward openness, surprise and self-discovery rather than toward merely striving to repeat what others have taught you to do. A real education cultivates an ability to think “laterally” as well as sequentially, and eventually contributes the nourishment of wisdom.

Focusing on training or certification leads us to limit our lives to finite games, ones that must always be played by pre-established rules. Education opens us up to an infinity of possibilities for innovation and personal growth.

Get certified if you must, but be sure you get a real education as well.

Jerry Gill is a Pima Community College adjunct instructor.               

‘Cap and Trade’ concept has flaws

Story and photo by ANA RAMIREZ

aztecpress@pima.edu

This is the second in a two-part series

 “Cap and trade” is the government’s attempt to limit the amount of pollution (mainly carbon dioxide) emitted into the atmosphere.

The cap regulates how much carbon a company is allowed to emit, based on size of the company and the industry. Each company is issued credits or permits that say how much they can pollute.

If a company produces less pollution than its cap, it is allowed to sell its credits. That’s where the trade comes in – selling credits to companies that need them. Companies that go over their cap have to purchase more credits, which acts as a penalty.

Why is it so important to find a way to lower our carbon emissions?

“We know that CO2 emissions are increasing all the time. That’s the result of more and more industrialization,” said Timothy Jull, a University of Arizona geosciences and physics professor.

“Unless we do something, we’ll just reach some new level, which is a lot higher. It’s going up, I think 1 to 2 parts per million per year.”

Limiting pollution while being able to make money off of it sounds like a win-win. Why, then, are so many environmentalists and economists against cap and trade?

Many feel that cap and trade is a distraction from real solutions, such as the need to get away from using fossil fuels.

“People would have to do things they don’t want to do,” Jull said. “They’d have to drive cars less, they’d have to fly less, they’d have to use public transportation. We’d have to develop a better railway system in this country.”

Others feel as though cap and trade is the first step to some sort of solution.

“It’s going to be the only chance we have to get the industry to get a hold on carbon emissions,” said Sue Livingston, a science teacher at Dodge Middle School.

“Industries aren’t going to change their practices if it’s not cost effective,” Livingston said. “Their purpose is to make money.”

The issue that people don’t understand is that companies can have a project approved and the carbon credits are then “validated” and can be sold as a future contract, according to Harper’s Magazine.

Credits are good for seven years, then can be renewed for another seven years and so on, resulting in nothing being done to reduce emissions.

Cap and trade did give some companies an incentive to lower carbon emissions by upgrading facilities or by purchasing carbon offsets.

Carbon offsets, a way to reduce carbon emission in order to compensate for carbon emissions elsewhere, include wind turbines or even buying property and planting trees on it.

Again, it seems the idea would help the environment and create new jobs. So what’s wrong?

When the government creates a new commodity, especially one that’s as scarce as the right to emit carbon, and then forces businesses to buy into it, consumers will end up paying higher prices.

Most scientists agree we need to do something to reduce carbon to 350ppm to avoid climate change, meaning the United States needs to reduce emissions by 80 percent.

“I think people should know that the C02 increases are a real problem,” Jull said. “We already see some level of climatic changes … there are more storms and there’s more variability in the climate.”

But is cap and trade the way to do this, or is it just another way for the government and big businesses to make money?

For more information, check out these websites:

http://www.storyofstuff.com/capandtrade/

http://www.gapminder.org/world/#;example=6

TPD: Photo radar increases safety

By EDWINA FRANCISCO

Photo radar cameras may cause a headache to local drivers but it is the safest route to take when it comes to Tucson traffic.

Tucson Police Department is raising the awareness of Pima Community College students to always drive with caution, and avoid running red lights.

TPD Sergeant Sean Bailey held a presentation at Pima’s East Campus regarding photo and speed enforcement.

Bailey started off by naming several intersections throughout Tucson that have permanent photo cameras. Mobile vans and officers are also used to investigate photo and speed violations.

The most common question that sergeant Bailey hears is, “I received a ticket while I was passing through a green light. Why?”

Bailey replies with, “How fast were you going?”

Most drivers are unaware that if you speed through a green light, you will be ticketed, Bailey said.

Sgt. Tim Beam, another speaker at the event, said traffic laws still apply at green lights.

“Just because you have a green light, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t pay attention,” he said.

The purpose of photo radar is to reduce crashes, deaths and injuries, so think of your choices before making them, Beam said.

Drivers who speed through intersections are most likely to cause an accident then a driver that is speeding over 45mph in a residential area. TPD says the fine for running a red light is higher than a ticket for speeding.

If an intersection camera doesn’t do enough of the job, TPD has posted several unit vans around the city to also catch speeders.

A unit van can be posted at a location for up to three hours. TPD finds that in terms of cost, setting up a van along the side of the road is cheaper than intersection cameras.

Cameras are installed at certain intersections due to the heavy flow of traffic, not necessarily because of the number of accidents that have occurred there.

Three levels of review that are conducted before a ticket is issued from an intersection camera.

The photo is first sent to Scottsdale to American Traffic Solutions for review. ATS checks if the picture quality is good, and sends it to TPD.

TPD looks at video and pictures for violations, plus checks the vehicle registration and whether or not the driver’s license has expired.

Two officers are assigned to review violations. It takes approximately 30 days to receive a ticket in the mail from the time a violation occurred.

Prop. 203: Victory for medical marijuana

By KYLE WASSON

aztecpress@pima.edu

After many days spent counting and recording votes, state officials confirmed the victory of Proposition 203, which allows for the sale of medical marijuana. A mere 4,300 votes determined the proposition’s success.

“This can be good for the state and all the patients who are looking for a different means of medicine,” Pima Community College student and glaucoma sufferer Rhonda Byrne said. “I hope it does what it is intended to do.”

The measure will allow “qualifying patients” with a “debilitating disease” the means to acquire an “allowable amount of usable marijuana” from dispensaries statewide solely with a recommendation from a physician, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services.

Under the new law, ADHS is required to adopt and enforce a regulatory system for distribution. The funds needed to keep the program afloat will come from application and renewal fees, civil penalties imposed and private donations received.

Once qualified and registered with ADHS, patients can acquire up to 2.5 ounces every 14 weeks from any dispensary. Only patients who live farther than 25 miles from dispensaries will be permitted to grow marijuana, and no more than 12 plants at a time.

A recommendation will not be given to every patient. They must have one of the following diseases: Cancer, glaucoma, positive status for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), hepatitis C, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Crohn’s disease, agitation of Alzheimer’s disease or severe/chronic pain.

Patients will not be able to start the process until Spring 2011. ADHS predicts a 120-day rule-making period, and hopes to stick to the following timeline:

● Dec. 17: ADHS posts an initial informal draft of the rules.

●Dec. 17 – Jan. 7, 2011: ADHS receives electronic public comment on the initial informal draft rules.

●Jan. 31: ADHS posts official draft rules for public comment.

●Jan. 31 – Feb. 18: ADHS receive public comment on the official draft rules.

●Feb. 15 – 17: ADHS holds three public meetings about the draft rules:

o Phoenix: Tuesday, Feb. 15, at 1 p.m., 250 N. 17th Ave.

o Tucson: Wednesday, Feb. 16, at 1 p.m., 400 W. Congress St., Room 222.

o Phoenix: Thursday, Feb. 17, at 1 p.m., 250 N. 17th Ave .

●March 28: ADHS publishes the final rules that will be used to implement the legislation.

●April 2011: ADHS begins accepting applications for registry identification cards and for dispensary certificates.

Prop. 203 details posted on the ADHS website, www.azdhs.gov, include an outline of the proposition, state legislative analysis, frequently asked questions and timelines.

Social media software targets ‘drunk posting’

By APRIL GEORGE

aztecpress@pima.edu

It’s a scene that plays out many times. A student visits three or four bars, then goes home and logs onto Facebook, ensuring that a few moments of drunken stupidity will be forever immortalized on the Internet.

Intoxicated posts follow similar patterns. Users announce their state of intoxication, then post silly, crude and sometimes downright abusive messages. Regret sets in the next morning, when they view their posts in the cold light of day.

Now, thanks to teamwork from an Internet security company and an advertising company, Internet users can say goodbye to posting under the influence.

Webroot and TDA Advertising & Design have released a Social Media Sobriety Test just in time for the holidays—the main time of year when people fall prey to intoxicated Web browsing due to freely flowing alcohol at parties.

The test is designed as the ultimate bad idea protector. Its main purpose is to prevent embarrassing posts.

After users download the free application, they can apply settings for the hours they personally feel most vulnerable, to the social networks of their choosing.

An example: a user downloads the test and determines he is most susceptible between 10 p.m. and 3 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. He blocks Facebook and Twitter during those hours.

Once the customization is in place, users must pass a randomly selected test when they attempt to log in. Tests vary from “drag your mouse in a straight line” to “type the alphabet backwards.”

If users pass, they can log into their profiles normally. The program randomly retests when users refresh pages or click links.

If users fail the sobriety test, they are given a chance to try again. If they fail a second time, the Sobriety Test prevents them from logging on until after the specified end-time. Another alternative is to bypass the second test by selecting an “I’m not drunk” option.

“In the old days, all you had to worry about was drunk dialing,” said Jeremy Seibold, a TDA associate creative director who helped design the test.

“A randomly placed call to an ex was certainly embarrassing, but it was limited to him/her and maybe a few friends,” he added. “Today, the consequences of a stupid blog post or an ill-advised photo can be instantaneously spread around the globe.”

Siebold said TDA and Webroot partnered on the test “as a public service to anyone who enjoys beer, wine or spirits, but doesn’t enjoy the over-sharing that often accompanies one too many.”

For more information or to download the application, visit www.socialmediasobrietytest.com. The test is compatible with all major Internet browsers.

Deaf student pursues career in counseling

By RORI MOORE

Sitting on a couch in a West Campus hallway, 20-year-old Chris Molten watches as other students walk by. Some laugh, some talk on the phone or to peers and some listen to music. For Molten, the sound falls on deaf ears.

Molten has been deaf since birth. He moved to Tucson with his parents and sister from St. Louis at age 6, and graduated from the Arizona School for the Deaf and Blind.

He is the only deaf person in his family. His mother and sister know sign language well, and his father knows a little. “I communicate with my dad by writing things back and forth,” he says, signing to his interpreter, Torrey Mansager.

At Pima, Molten is one of several hearing-impaired students enrolled in English as a Second Language classes. “I like the ESL class because it helps me improve my English,” he says.

Most of Molten’s friends at Pima are deaf, which makes it easier to be on campus.

He is a full-time student, majoring in counseling. “Right now I really would like to focus on relationship counseling,” he says.

Molten wants to continue his education at Gallaudet University in Washington, DC. Gallaudet is the world’s only university in which all programs are specifically designed to accommodate deaf and hard of hearing students.

His hobbies include photography, hanging out with friends, playing video games and eating his favorite meals: Mexican food, Chinese food and pizza.

He also likes playing and watching basketball, and has attended a few professional games with his dad.

During the conversation, when passersby distract Molten, Mansager taps his knee to regain his attention.

Molten puts his head down and smiles as he talks about his love life, or lack thereof. He says he does not have a girlfriend, and laughs nervously.

He begins signing to a friend, Mike, in a bashful way. They get into a debate and Mansager can’t keep up. The two friends laugh and play-fight as Mike mocks Molten’s answers.

Molten depicts himself as a mischievous person. He laughs while recounting a time he played a prank during a camping trip.

“I put shaving cream in a friend’s sleeping bag and it got all over his face,” he says. “He was mad but I told him to just go clean it off.”

Aztec Press photo by Genesis Salazar

Cerebral palsy can’t slow student’s progress

Story and photo by GENESIS SALAZAR

aztecpress@pima.edu

Mild cerebral palsy doesn’t dampen the cheerful outlook of Rachael Robinson, a 19-year-old Pima Community College student.

“I very much dislike the word ‘disabled,’ because it implies that there are things I can’t do,” she says. “I prefer the term ‘challenged’ because, although I do have a hard time doing things like writing, tying my shoes or buttoning my sweaters, I reach the same finish line as everyone else.”

Everyone has hurdles to clear in life, Robinson notes. “Mine are just more noticeable.”

Robinson moved with her family to Tucson from Florida last July. She says her family treats her just the same as her brothers and sister, and she never even heard the word ‘handicapped’ until she was 9 or 10.

Cerebral palsy, a form of brain damage that usually occurs during fetal development, affects muscle coordination. The condition is not curable or progressive.

Robinson is not at all ashamed or bitter about her physical limitations. On the contrary, she would not change anything about herself. “I’m here, I’m alive and I’m happy.”

At Pima, Robinson must limit herself to two classes per semester until she qualifies for in-state tuition. She is enjoying her fall semester classes, Introduction to Western Civilization and Introduction to Reporting and Media Writing.

She registered with the Disabled Student Resources office on West Campus, and receives assistance in areas such as note taking, “so that I can do my work as quickly and as easily as any other student.”

Robinson originally planned to major in English but has switched to journalism. After she completes her associate degree, she will transfer to the University of Arizona. “It’s close to home, and I hear the journalism courses they offer there are excellent.”

Her long-term goal is to get a well-paying job that is both mentally and emotionally satisfying.

Robinson says she loves her parents, her friends, her pets, her boyfriend and her siblings. “They inspire me to do many of the things I don’t think of on my own.”

She also loves walking and running, and proudly details a recent hiking trip in which she climbed a mountain.

“I have an open mind, and am strongly goal-oriented,” she says. “I think of what I’d like to do, and I try it until I get it right.”

PCC offers free resources for disabled students

By GENESIS SALAZAR

aztecpress@pima.edu

Pima Community College students with disabilities ranging from physical impairments to chronic illnesses can receive free help from Disabled Student Resources offices located on each campus.

About 850 Pima students are currently enrolled with DSR, according to college spokeswoman Rachelle Howell.

DSR services include note taking assistance, testing accommodations, sign language interpreters, in-class assistants, alternative formats for textbooks and adaptive classroom equipment.

Students requesting services can register at any campus. They must meet with a DSR specialist for an interview and provide documented proof of disability.

Federal and state laws, including the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability.

“The students are provided equal access and opportunity to pursue their education and career goals,” Howell said.

For additional information, visit pima.edu/dsr, e-mail DSRhelp@pima.edu or visit any campus DSR office.

DSR offices

Community Campus: 206-7286

Student Development, Area B

Desert Vista Campus: 206-5151

Plaza Building, F-109

Downtown Campus: 206-7286

Student Center, Counseling

East Campus (and Northeast Education Center): 206-7699

EC Student Center, L-231

Northwest Campus: 206-2209

Building B, Counseling

West Campus: 206-6688

Santa Catalina building, C-130

Helpful websites:

PCC Disabled Student Resource: http://www.pima.edu/dsr/

Association on Higher Education and Disability: http://www.ahead.org/

Information and Referral Services: http://www.ourfamilyservices.org/

Learning Disabilities Online: http://www.ldonline.org/

Americans with Diabilities Act: http://www.ada.gov/

Office for Civil Rights: http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/index.html

Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic: http://www.rfbd.org/

Transforming Education Through Universal Design for Learning: www.cast.org.

WEBAim, Web Accessibility in Mind: http://webaim.org/

Arizona Department of Economic Security Disabilities page:  https://www.azdes.gov/main.aspx?id=3320

Guide to Disability Resources on the Internet: www.disabilityresources.org/

U.S. Department of Labor Disability Resources: http://www.dol.gov/dol/topic/disability/

Social Security Disability: http://www.ssa.gov/applyfordisability/

Department of Veterans Affairs Disability Information: http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/compensation/

Arizona’s Aging and Disability Resource Center: http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/compensation/

Disability Resource Center, Arizona State University: http://www.asu.edu/studentaffairs/ed/drc/

University of Arizona Disability Resource Center: http://drc.arizona.edu/

Arizona Bridge to Independent Living: http://www.abil.org/links

Arizona Center for Disability Law: http://www.acdl.com/links.html

UA Vets Center serves hundreds daily

Editor’s note: This story, the second of two parts, concludes “Battling the books: Veterans return to college.” The series explored the unique difficulties veterans face while attending college.

Story and photo by LIZA PORTER

aztecpress@pima.edu

The first University of Arizona veteran’s center opened in 2008—a 20 foot by 20 foot office in Old Main. It had no budget, and was equipped with donated furniture and computers.

Workers figured out they could use Veterans Administration work study positions to staff the office.

The VA certifying official in the registrar’s office would walk veterans to the center. Staffers also began offering free sodas and free printing, as a way to attract veterans.

“It wasn’t one thing in particular, but it was a lot of word of mouth, and little things like that we were setting up,” said Dan Standage, a former Pima Community College student who now serves as coordinator for the UA Veterans Reintegration and Education Project.

Workers used a “warm hand-off” to help veterans move through the university system.

“It wasn’t the student being dropped off there, it was a student getting briefed and then giving the last little bit of help we could provide to him,” Standage said. “It was actually speeding up the process in financial aid, in admissions and everywhere else.”

Starting with five veterans the first week it opened, the center now sees more than 100 veterans a day come through its doors.

The center has also moved to a large space on the fourth floor of the Student Union Memorial Building. The facility is being expanded to add a kitchen.

The UA chapter of the Student Veterans of America recently won Chapter of the Year at the third annual National Conference of SVA in Washington DC. More than 320 campus vets clubs competed for the honor.

National officials who attended the award ceremony included high-ranking officials from the VA and the U.S. Dept. of Labor.

“We were doing what we should be doing, we were doing the things that people were having a hard time grasping the concept for, nationwide,” Standage said. “So for us to get that award, that was really like the crowning jewel.”

There are now several elements to veterans’ services at UA, including the VETS office, a UA Student Veterans of America club and UA Veterans Services, which includes the VA certifying official.

To add another acronym to the list, UA offers three courses called SERV, Supportive Education Programs for Returning Veterans. Sessions are specifically directed toward veterans, and emphasize resiliency and leadership.

The SERV classes are designed to help veterans transition from the military to civilian and academic life. Michael Marks, the head psychologist at the VA, and Philip Callahan, a UA psychology professor, devised the program and teach the classes.

Standage recommends SERV courses for all veterans attending Pima. “Get into those transition courses,” he said. “They provide the same credit that you’ll need anyway, to get a bachelor’s degree.”

Even while still attending Pima, a veteran can have UA dual admission and enroll in the SERV courses. The GI Bill will pay for the classes.

Standage also highly recommends PCC’s Transfer Strategies (STU-210) class. Students are brought to UA for an orientation, which now includes a break-out session for veterans to become familiar with services available at the vets center.

STU-210 will be offered on all PCC campuses in Spring 2011. See the schedule of classes for more information.

“My vision is that we should not be isolating veterans,” Standage said. “They should be reintegrating back into the campus.”

PCC resources:

PCC Veterans Services

www.pima.edu/veterans

206-4715 or veterans@pima.edu

PCC Student Veterans Organization
Commander Chris Clemens, silverwolf6669@netzero.net
Resource Director Abel Moreno, abel@vets4vets.us

University of Arizona Resources:

UA Student Veterans Center
626-8330 or vetsofc@email.arizona.edu

SERV transition courses
621-9215 or pec@email.arizona.edu

VETS contact information

www.studentaffairs.arizona.edu/programs/vets

UA Veterans Services home page

http://registrar.arizona.edu/vets

Disabled Veterans’ Reintegration and Education Project

http://drc.arizona.edu/veterans

Blindness couldn’t keep vet from achieving goals

Editor’s note: Our ongoing series, “Battling the books: Veterans return to college” explores the unique difficulties that veterans face while attending college. This story is the first of two parts.

Story and photo by Liza Porter
aztecpress@pima.edu

Former Pima Community College student Dan Standage defies the label of ‘disabled.’

Standage’s blindness didn’t stop him from getting a degree in rehabilitation. It also didn’t stop him from starting the Student Veterans of America club and the Veterans Education and Transition Services center at the University of Arizona.

On top of that, he accomplished his goals as a single dad.

“I was pretty much tapped, but I was enjoying it, I was loving it,” Standage said. “It kept me more than busy.”

He said his work provided intrinsic value. “The rewards I got every day far outweighed any kind of drug the VA could’ve gave me or any kind of award the campus could’ve gave me.”

Standage was in the Marine Corps for 10 years. He’s currently coordinator for the UA Veterans’ Reintegration and Education Project.

He slowly began losing his sight while in the military, after a bad reaction to an encephalitis vaccine damaged his optic nerves. He underwent 60 spinal taps and numerous other medical procedures, including surgery to both eyes.

When Standage enrolled at PCC in 2006, he felt isolated and hid out in the library most of the time. His blindness made it difficult to function and he didn’t feel a bond with other students.

The same thing happened when he transferred to the UA in 2007. He was on campus all day and didn’t have a place to keep his belongings between classes.

A turning point came when the copy center in the basement of the UA library wouldn’t print for him any more. “The copy guy said, ‘I’ve just been doing this cause I kind of felt sorry for you,’” Standage said.

“It kind of triggered something,” Standage said.

He went to the campus Disability Resource Center on the advice of his VA Vocational Rehabilitation counselor. The DRC had free printing and a safe place to store his belongings. It became his hang-out.

In the spring of 2008, he needed a professor’s signature to enroll in a class for his major. The professor, Sue Krager, saw the Marine Corps logo on his shirt and asked if he would like to attend a summit in Washington, D.C.

“I told her ‘I think I can swing this,’” Standage said with a laugh.

At the “Serving Those Who Serve” summit, hosted by the American Council on Education, Standage told his story to a crowd at Georgetown University.

He also introduced UA President Robert Shelton to the audience. Afterward, they talked with U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz.

Not long after the summit, Standage was invited to attend a meeting of student services administrators and staff. When someone asked if he had anything to say, Standage decided to be honest.

“You know, I had such a pain in the ass problem getting here, to the U of A,” Standage said. “This place sucks as far as admissions for veterans.”

He explained how VA paperwork makes it difficult to buy textbooks, and detailed other problems that vets have with the GI Bill and with class registration.

The administrators had no idea how difficult it was for veterans, Standage said. They offered to give vets a table on the UA mall several times a week.

“Give me a closet, give me anything,” Standage told them. “Give me a place I can come to every day and just set up a desk, inside a building, and veterans know where to come back to. Every day.”

The director of the University Learning Center gave up her office and the UA veterans resource center was born.

Continued in next issue.

PCC resources:

Veterans Services
www.pima.edu/veterans
206-4715 or veterans@pima.edu

PCC Student Veterans Organization
Chris Clemens, commander, silverwolf6669@netzero.net
Abel Moreno, resource director, abel@vets4vets.us

University of Arizona Resources:

UA Student Veterans Center
626-8330 or vetsofc@email.arizona.edu

SERV transition courses
621-9215 or pec@email.arizona.edu

VETS list of contact information
www.studentaffairs.arizona.edu/programs/vets/contact.php

Dan Standage feels at home in the University of Arizona VETS office.

Immigration activists keep DREAM alive

By David Mendez

Like many Pima Community College students, he’s been in Arizona since elementary school. He’s involved in numerous clubs and organizations. He’s proud to live in America, which he calls “the happiest place in the world.”

Yet because he’s a Mexican immigrant, he feels he’s on the outside looking in.

“Enrique” (who has elected to hide his identity for this story) is a legal immigrant. He’s lived in Tucson on a visa with his family since he was 7.

Like many immigrants, legal and illegal, Enrique hopes Congress will ease the path to citizenship.

One potential opportunity died in September when a bill known as the DREAM Act stalled.

DREAM, which stands for Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors, would grant eligible illegal immigrant students conditional permanent residency and the ability to apply for financial aid.

To qualify, a student must have been brought to the United States before age 16, have proof of U.S. residency for at least five consecutive years, have a U.S. high school diploma or GED and be of “good moral character.”

Though Enrique has legal visa status, he’s chosen to hide his name because he’s afraid of saying anything that could jeopardize his family’s chances at securing permanent resident status.

“We filed our residency back in the year 2000, so we’ve just been waiting for the past 10 years,” Enrique said. “They say it’s going to take 10 more years.”

Enrique doesn’t understand the anti-immigrant fervor dominating the news, which reached a fevered pitch when Senate Bill 1070 was signed into state law by Gov. Jan Brewer.

In the current climate, migrants to the United States feel as if visas are impossible to receive.

West Campus student president Sugey Lopez is a Mexican citizen in the United States on a visa.

“I was really lucky to get mine when I did,” she said.

When she lost her original travel visa, she chose to stay in Arizona while her student visa was being processed — an act that risked deportation.

“For about two months, I was practically illegal. I barely left the house. When I went anywhere, my girlfriend drove,” she said. “You get deported, and you’re done. They don’t allow you to come back.”

Lopez said officials don’t consider individual circumstances. “They don’t care how long you’ve been here, the taxes you’ve paid…if you’re not from here, you’re not as important.”

Anti-immigrant viewpoints strike Enrique as misguided. “The immigrants coming are putting the United States on an altar,” he said. “It’s not just the rest of the Americas, it’s that all the world wants to come to the United States. I would be proud of that.”

When natural disasters occur, the United States is the first country to help, Enrique noted. “But when it comes to actually fixing something they’re a part of, they don’t take action for that.”

He urged Americans to look beyond immigrant stereotypes. “We’re not criminals,” he said. “We didn’t come here to invade the country.”

Lopez said immigrants have goals and expectations. “There wouldn’t be a DREAM Act if people didn’t have dreams,” she said. “All of the people who are pushing for the DREAM Act are people who want more for their lives.”

Enrique will continue campaigning for the DREAM Act, though he believes it’s just a small part of the whole.

He said the proposed legislation means very little in the overall scheme of immigration reform if it’s a bone being tossed to distract activists from chasing further measures.

“The immigrant community doesn’t see the DREAM Act as success,” he said. “It won’t be the end of the immigration problem that we have. That only takes care of the youth, those that came in before 16. What happens to the adult population?”

Success will come through comprehensive immigration reform, he said. “The DREAM Act will be just one step — not a victory.”