Due to the generosity of former graduate and Texas' latest millionaire, Lauren Esparza, Austin Community College will receive $2.5 million, if the school agrees to add a new language course.
Imagine for a second you're Texas' latest jackpot winner. You've paid off your family and close friends' debt and you're back from a European dream vacation, what's a millionaire to do? "I've been able to take care of my family, my close friends and now I'm ready to give back to my community," said Esparza. Esparza said that she plans to donate the money to build five mid-sized, multi-story garages if ACC is willing to add courses for the study of a rare, indigenous Mayan language Nahuatl, (pronounced in two syllables, NA-watl).
Fifth generation Esparza would like to see more awareness of her family's native language in and around Austin. "Nahualtl is a beautiful and rare language that was spoken during the time of the Aztec empire and very worthy of preserving," said Esparza. Nahualtl is spoken today by millions of people throughout Mexico.
An advisor at Rio Grande's campus, who asked to be identified as Regina, adds, "I'm jazzed about my heritage as much as the next person, but I feel she's imposing her culture [on me] a bit much." ACC strives to offer college courses ranging in a variety of subjects. Currently ACC has over 500 accredited courses from which undergrads can choose. "ACC cannot afford to drop a very necessary core class in exchange for such a specialized subject," said Regina.
Parking at any ACC campus is not a new problem. As more and more undergrads enroll at ACC, parking availability shrinks. Currently there are 500 available parking spaces at the Rio Grande campus. Three hundred spots are reserved for students and 150 are reserved for professors and staff. The remaining parking is metered parking spots that can be found around the perimeter of the campus.
Esparza is working with campus administrators and city planners to review two proposals to build various multi-story parking structures located near Rio Grande, Riverside and Northridge campuses. Esparza remembers how she liked her professors; however parking on campus commanded her attention. "Parking at Rio Grande was a nightmare. When I was attending Rio Grande, I would spend close to ten dollars a week for parking, then had several $15 parking tickets because my meter expired," said Esparza.
The garages will each have a capacity of 3,500 spaces. Construction will begin in the Spring of 2007 and is scheduled to be completed by the Fall of 2009. In addition, Esparza is planning to donate an additional $200,000 to a scholarship fund for first generation college students of Mayan decent.
Esparza is scheduled to appear before a select panel of campus administrators this month where this decision will be up to vote. If you are opposed to having your core curriculum modified at the hand of a millionaire, show up and make your voices heard during ACC's open forum located at the ACC's Pinnacle Campus, located at 7748 Highway 290 West on Sat. April 1, at 7 p.m.
Esparza hopes all Accent readers enjoyed this completely fictitious April Fool's story!
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