IMPACT Magazine Summer/Fall 2012

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WE’RE BLOODIED BUT STILL FIGHTING The recession hammered students.

We’re still clawing our way out. p36

PLUS Transgendered Journey Overcoming HIV Drug War Failure

S U M M E R/ FALL 2012

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The Telescope is an independently produced, staffed and edited newspaper made by Palomar students. Writing, photography and design positions are available. Staffers have taken jobs at The North County Times, The Associated Press, U-T San Diego and The Press-Enterprise.

IMPACT is Palomar’s full-color glossy life magazine. Students run the production process from story pitches to boarding to the final print run.

IMPACT is seeking talented writers to produce feature, opinion, art and fashion pieces. Photographer, designer and editor jobs are also available.

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IMPACT TABLE OF CONTENTS

ON THE COVER: LIVING ON A BUDGET 29 | STUDENT STRUGGLES In the aftermath of the economic collapse, Palomar students work long days and toil at school to keep afloat.

34 | DO IT FOR FREE Everyone likes free things. Here’s a guide to 34 fun and costless things to do locally.

35 | TEXTBOOK TIPS Books always seem to put a dent in your wallet, but here are a few tips to save money when buying them.

36 | HOW TO THRIFT Being in style need not be expensive. Use this thrift-store shopping guide to keep your wardrobe and wallet happy.

38 | HEALTHY AND CHEAP EATS A few diet tweaks go a long way. Here are tips on eating healthy for the starving student.

39 | STUDENT DISCOUNTS Use what ya’ got.

Here are a few places where being a student can actually save you money.

Cover Photo By Kiigan Snaer | Creative Direction by David Leonard and Justin Masanque | ABOVE PHOTO BY KIIGAN SNAER

IMPACT FEATURE 3

Local coffee shops want your business. Check out our rundown of the best spots to get your caffiene fix in North County — and your best frothy bets.

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PHOTO BY HANNAH VILLARUEL

Features 7 | MY CUP OF JOE Homemade coffee not made at home. The charm and appeal of four local shops.

10 | RAPE SURVIVOR How one woman turned her deadly diagnosis into a source of inspiration for struggling women.

18 | FASHION PARTIES A Hillcrest socialite gives IMPACT a sneak-peek at the production process of one of her shindigs.

22 | THE FIGHTING PROFESSOR The secret life of a karate instructor and professor.

Shorts

Photos

Opinion

40 | OLYMPIC DREAM A student balances school, family and international competition.

14 | MUST HAVE APPS Student-friendly apps that help lighten the load and pass the time.

42 | NIGHT’S SKY A closer look at Palomar’s new planetarium.

16 | TRANSIDENTITY A biological male’s journey to understand the transgender mind.

44 | STOLEN LIVES An in-depth look into San Diego’s oft-overlooked and highly dangerous world of human trafficking.

46 | SENIOR STUDENT SHARES He is 88-years-old and still enrolled. A Q&A with Palomar’s most seasoned photographer.

48 | REFORMED GANGSTER A Palomar’s student’s journey from gangster to youth visionary.

ONLINE | RECYCLED FASHION Old-school fashion trends are coming back into style. > impactpalomar.com

51 | LESLIE’S LIGHTS Artist and Palomar professor William Leslie’s light sculptures.

24 | AMERICA’S DRUG WAR The war on drugs is failing. It’s time to rethink our approach.

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ONLINE AT IMPACTPALOMAR.com 2012 BEST STUDENT PUBLICATION WINNER WESTERN PUBLISHING ASSOCIATION 2012 MAGAZINE GENERAL EXCELLENCE WINNER JOURNALISM ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITY COLLEGES

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

David Leonard

ART DIRECTOR

Justin Masanque

MANAGING EDITOR

Shaun Kahmann

PHOTO EDITOR

Deb Hellman

ADVERTISING MANAGER & ASST. PHOTO EDITOR

Kiigan Snaer

ASSIOCIATE EDITORS

STAFF WRITERS

ADVISER

Agustin Galeana Joel Ramos

Shelby Grates Cemaka Lawrence Melissa Mezin Kodi Moneymaker Andria Munoz Giovanni Nieto Jaie Rodriguez Brittany Veytia Hannah Villaruel Kaylynn Ward Kimberly Wisdom Hala Yakzan Wendy Nelson

IMPACT is produced by students enrolled in Journalism 120, offered at Palomar College in San Marcos, Calif. To learn more about IMPACT or future issues, contact Wendy Nelson at wnelson@palomar.edu.

IMPACT MAGAZINE • 1140 W. Mission Road, San Marcos, CA 92069 www.impactpalomar.com • 760-891-7865

IMPACT MASTHEAD 5

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR You Aren’t Alone You amaze me.

Every day, you get up for class, or work, or both. Sometimes you’re hungry and oftentimes you’re tired, but you still fight through every day.

I know the future seems dim. I know rent is too expensive and your terrible job pays too little. I know you’re struggling to keep up your grades and stay on track for graduation.

I am too. And so are thousands of Palomar students, their tired faces floating past in droves every day on the campus quad.

You’re not alone.

I talked to a few who faced unique struggles. They experienced stolen cars, ransacked apartments and empty bellies and still kept striving for a degree and a better future.

I saw their frustration and bravery, and I grew angry.

Nobody chose this life -- the dreary daily slog of the poor student.

When I first enrolled, I didn’t envision it.

It was thrust upon us by the risky decisions of America’s economic intelligentsia, those Wall Street tycoons and Capitol Building wonks we trusted to keep the county on track. They failed us.

And five years after we hit a new low, the tiny dot of light way above us isn’t growing any larger.

But there’s hope. A few small tweaks can go a long way. In this issue, we offer up tips that’ll save you big bucks on clothes, books, outings and a hundred other little things. The results are modest, but one dollar here and two there add up.

We’re not getting a bail out any time soon. I’m not waiting up.

We sought out more deep and inspiring stories, too.

The harrowing tale of woman who overcame rape and her following HIV diagnosis gives me hope in the essential good of people.

On a lighter note, a group of my staffers traveled down to San Diego to party with a fashion socialite and dig into the city’s style scene.

And a Palomar landmark, 88-year-old photography student Jack Iskin, spoke to IMPACT to about the experiences that shaped his life, from his tour in World War II to his many years in the college darkroom.

Dive in and get lost.

Always yours,

David Leonard, IMPACT Editor-in-Chief IMPACT LETTER 6

A Cup Of Culture (Coffee and Tea Included)

There’s something about vintage findings and souvenirs that people find fascinating. Whether it be a family heirloom, washed out ’40s clothes or postcards, everyone enjoys a little bit of history. People travel the world to learn and experience different cultures. If you can’t afford to pop over to Italy for a week, why not take a 5-minute trip to your nearest local coffee shop and pick some up there. It might not be Paris but it will probably only cost you around $8.00 and you can stay as long as they’re open.

STORY AND PHOTOS

BY HANNAH VILLARUEL IMPACT SHORT 7

LOCAL COFFEE SHOPS WANT TO WOW YOU. They want every customer to experience a unique setting and decor. As opposed to your average chain coffee shop, local coffee shops have a more mellow and quiet atmosphere. It’s not as fast paced and rushed; you can sit down and enjoy some peace of mind.

With assignment after assignment due, it’s healthy to squeeze in a break or two away from the frantic rush of life as a student.

OLD CALIFORNIA COFFEE HOUSE AND EATERY Everyone who can speak knows the phrase “home is where the heart is.”

Old California is known for its home like ambiance. With the warm tone color scheme, low light, sink in couches, fire pits, nostalgic memorabilia, you get the feeling of being at home. For some of the customers it’s like a home away from home. Not to mention that the workers treat you like you’re a part of a family. “It’s a historical place, I want our customers grand children to be able to come here. Its a place for everyone; a melting pot,” said coffee house owner, Giovanna Garcia.

PANNIKIN The whole place has a kind of European/ British feel to it; the French love their “du café noir’ and the British, their cup of tea. Pannkin is exploding with rich coffee bean scents, and the scents do not do the coffee justice. Not only do they have coffee but they also have food so they’re considered more of a cafe than a coffee house.

One of the things that makes Pannikin so unique, is the bottom floor where they roast their own coffee. If you’re a coffee fanatic then you definitely need to visit Pannikin to see how coffee is roasted.

It’s open for everyone to take a peek and educate themselves on how coffee beans are roasted.

IMPACT SHORT 8

BEST DRINK BET: Hot White Mocha $2.75

PAIR WITH: Chocolate Chip Coffee Cake $2.60

BEST DRINK BET: Chai Tea Latte $3.50

PAIR WITH: Chocolate Chip Muffin $2.00

ESCONDIDO JOE’S

JITTERS COFFEE PUB

It’s one of those phrases that never get old. When given a “cup of Joe”, it sounds like it’s made with love; something specially for you. “Joe was the old word they used for a cup coffee back in the day so we combined that with Escondido to show the local feel for the name,” said Damon Parker, the owner of Escondido Joes.

When you walk into the door of Escondido Joe’s you get a kind of industrial/old time feel, with the roof pipes and the red brick walls. The front counter where you place your order is connected to a bar with stools where you can sit and watch the baritsta prepare the coffee and sit and enjoy whatever drink you order. To the right there’s a stage where local bands play their music at 6 p.m. on Friday nights.Toward the back of the coffee shop there’s shelves of books in case it interests you to pick up a good read, sit in a comfortable couch and indulge in the sound of silence.

BEST DRINK BET: Snickers Bar $3.75

PAIR WITH: Raisin Custard Croissant $2.79

The Oceanside Pier is always a fun place to meet up with friends, have a bonfire, or tan in the hot sun. While embarking on any of theses activities you can easily get thirsty and need a quick coffee fix. Jitters Coffee Pub is a place with fantastic drinks and its not a long walk from the beach.

At the door, you’ll notice that the place is covered with art from local artists. If you’re an art enthusiast you’ll enjoy Jitters because every wall holds something you can stare at for hours. The composition of the place gives off an earthy, artsy vibe. Connected to the cashier’s table is a bar where you can sit on one of the the beautifully designed wooden stools and enjoy your drink. Along with tables outside and in, there are couches right next to shelves of books and glasses that are made by one of the employees who is also a glass blower.

Another obvious thing about Jitters is that customer service is top notch, it’ll make you want to come back. “We know everyone that comes in and if we don’t know you we still feel like we know you, we’re really like family,” said Vallie Gilley, the owner of Jitters. It’s apparent that Jitters cares about its customers and community; they own a non-profit organization; Feeding the Soul and donate everything to support the community.

BEST DRINK BET: White Lightning $4.25

PAIR WITH: Apple Turnover $2.00

IMPACT SHORT 9

RAPE SURVIVOR RAIS Acintia Wright’s best friend conspired to have her raped.

BY SHAUN KAHMANN | Photos by Kiigan snaer

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n a September night in 1995, Oakland’s sparsely lit canvas paved the way for five dark figures as they marched with deliberation toward a crowded nightclub conspicuously called “The 5th Amendment”. As they pushed their way inside, one of them pulled away from the group and moved toward the bar. The bartender gave a concerned glance and offered the woman a warning to be careful with the men she came in with. She traded a reassuring word and returned to the dancing rabble past the dim lights where the men waited for her. In the darkness is where she would find them. And for the next hellish year, in the dark is where she would stay.

The following morning found 32-year-old Acintia Wright riding back to her home in Vallejo, California. It was a short trip from Johnny’s house in Richmond, where she unknowingly spent the night. She exited the car and walked a short distance on her lawn before looking back at the grim faces on the four occupants of the still-idling car in her driveway. Their faces told a story she had not even begun to unravel.

“I got out of the car and they were all staring at me,” Acintia said. “They had these looks on their faces like ‘I hope she’s gonna be okay’.”

Inside her home she was met with the smiling faces of her four young children. At this point, she thought she had simply fallen asleep at Johnny’s and was poised to resume her life as normal.

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But a sinking feeling told her that something wasn’t right.

“Honestly, I felt a little dirty,” Acintia said. “I didn’t know what happened, but I felt something inside me telling me that something did.”

What Acintia didn’t know was that the entire evening was a ruse. An elaborate scheme orchestrated by her friend to lure her to Johnny’s house where she was drugged and raped. It would take Acintia more than a year to discover the truth.

It had been Acintia’s birthday and her longtime friend Gigi invited her out to celebrate. Acinita was working as a part-time preschool teacher and a counselor for runaway pregnant teens while raising four children.

After putting them to bed she stepped out to find a strange car waiting in her driveway.

It was Gigi, but she wasn’t alone. She was accompanied by three men. One was Johnny Richmond, notorious throughout Vallejo as a known thug. The second was Anthony “Tony” Nickens, whose repute was every bit as ugly as Johnny’s. The third was a stranger, whom Acintia did not know. And there was Gigi, gesturing her to enter with promises of a good time. Reluctantly, Acintia accepted.

“I heard The Lord tell me ‘Don’t go’,” Acintia said. “I thought, ‘she’s my friend, what would she do to me?’”

Acintia would later remember spending the night bar-hop-

SES HIV AWARENESS After contracting HIV from her attackers, Wright now speaks out to help others living with the disease.

ping through the Bay Area and her time at the club, where she wanted to leave early. She remembered Johnny declining her offer to drive, opting instead to drive the five of them drunk back to his place in Richmond where he supposedly needed to use the bathroom.

She remembered not understanding why, when they arrived at Johnny’s, both Gigi and Tony needed to accompany him or why they left her alone with the man she did not know.

After an uncomfortable wait in Johnny’s car, Acintia decided to go in and see what was taking so long. She found Gigi and the others partying inside. Upset but not deterred, she took a drink for herself.

Then she woke up.

Two weeks later, Acintia had thrown herself back into her work. She was running for city council in Vallejo when she started noticing rashes around the cuffs of her arms and stomach.

She visited her doctor who attributed the symptoms to stress. Just before Christmas she started noticing rashes around her groin and decided to get tested for HIV. It took weeks for test results to come back in those days. Acintia wouldn’t find out her status until the holiday season was over.

“I had to show a clear face to my children through Christmas,” Acintia said “That was very difficult for me.”

When the time came, Acintia left for the hospital with her boy-

friend Sampson and waited anxiously for the results. The doctor finally emerged and gave her the envelope. She barely had time to brace herself before the doctor broke the news. She was positive.

“The doctor told me I had seven years to live,” Acintia said.

“My life started flashing before me, I wasn’t sure if I was going to live to see my children graduate high school.”

Distraught, Acintia immediately exited the hospital through the nearest emergency exit, setting off the alarm. She returned to Sampson outside where she told him the news and they broke down together.

When Acintia’s family learned of her condition, they were devastated.

Their reaction motivated her to learn more about the HIV virus in an effort to survive. Knowing little about HIV, Acintia couldn’t tell good advice from bad. She started depriving herself of sleep because she read somewhere that viruses grow when the body is at rest.

“My youngest daughter would find me passed out in the kitchen and wake me up,” Acintia said. “I’d realized I was resting and panic.”

Acintia’s memory came back to her in pieces. She said she could vaguely remember someone being on top of her, but wasn’t sure of what really happened.

IMPACT IMPACT FEATURE FEATURE 11

It wasn’t until she saw an episode of “Oprah” about That’s when she saw a flier advertising an opening date-rape drugs that she decided to call Gigi with for a position at the University of California San Diego questions about that night at Johnny’s. With some (U.C.S.D.). She applied and got a job as a recruiter in coaxing, she managed to persuade Gigi to meet for their research department. lunch. Once there, Acintia ambushed her with ques“When I saw the flier I said ‘That’s so me’, because tions she knew Gigi would have been unwilling to anit was an outreach program into the African American swer over the phone. She confessed. community,” Acintia said.

“Gigi just broke down crying, saying ‘I didn’t know Acintia’s job at U.C.S.D. offered her the opportunity they had AIDs!’” Acintia said. “I told her ‘Why did you to share her story for the first time in front of a large do this to me? You killed me!’” audience. Her story moved the crowd and the U.C.S.D. Acintia collected the phone numbers of her attackadministrators in attendance to such a degree, that ers from Gigi and left her at the restaurant. Now, her they hired her on as a peer advocate and became the work was cut out for her. She decided to call Tony first African American woman to work on U.C.S.D.’s first. When he answered Acintia hit him with everyplanning council. Her new job allowed her to travel thing she knew, looking for more answers. Tony simto other campuses and shed light on the dusky ignoply laughed. rance that surrounded HIV at the time. Since then, “I asked him why he was laughing and he said ‘I she has become something of a celebrity, traveling to killed you’,” Acintia said. more than 25 states and appearing in numerous meTony threatened retaliation if she told anyone what dia outlets spreading HIV awareness. She even had an he’d done. Acintia armed herself opportunity to fly to Africa, to meet with and waited six months for Tony to women who suffer from the virus there. make good on his threat. Still count“I never thought in my years of living ing down the days of her seven-year that I would ever go to Africa,” Acintia said death sentence, Acintia went to the “We thought we had it bad.” police. By then, months had passed Acintia now works at San Ysidro Health and any evidence of the attack had Center, tending to the needs of young been displaced by time and cirpeople who struggle with HIV and AIDS. cumstance. Only her sole testimony She said one of her biggest obstacles was remained. Unable to win in court, overcoming the isolation associated with and unwilling to wait for a violent having a disease that most people fear, but reprisal from her attackers, she defew understand. Acintia said she wanted cided to stop waiting and go after to be the beacon for others that she never the men who attacked her. had.

“I just decided I was going to kill “I know what it’s like to feel like no one them, my life was done.” Acintia understands,” Acintia said. “ I want them said. “I knew where they lived and to know I’m here for them, that I’ll hold I was going to shoot them. I told my their hand.” mother I’m going to jail for murder.”

In spite of the bad memories, Acintia and When Acintia told her mother her children still visit Vallejo from time to of her intent to kill, she pleaded time to drop-in on family and old friends. against it. Acintia couldn’t bear the And on occasion, a familiar foe. thought of her attackers living on Eugenia “Gigi” Jones was Acintia’s closafter her death. One day while out est friend from earliest childhood. Prior ACINTIA WRIGHT driving she saw a man who looked to her betrayal, the two were lifelong like Tony crossing the street. She friends. In the days that came before the put her foot down on the ignition, attack, Gigi worked in a hospital, giving gunning for the man. her access to the Rophenol Acintia be“My car stopped and he turned around,” Acintia lieves was used to drug her. Acintia described Gigi as said. “That’s when I realized it wasn’t even him.” a woman for whom the years have made meek and Mortified by her actions, Acintia decided it was time fearful, avoiding Acintia whenever she can. When her to put Vallejo in her rear-view for good. So with her children see Gigi, she reminds them to tell Acintia mother’s help she moved to San Diego, where she that she loves her. And while Acintia no longer bears came into contact with Women Organized to Respond anger against Gigi, their friendship can never be reto Life-threatening Diseases (W.O.R.L.D.). There, she kindled. met over 300 women who were living with HIV. After “I’ve got a forgiving heart, but I’ll never forget,” attending a retreat organized by W.O.R.L.D, she was Acintia said. still reluctant to share her story with others.

Through betrayal, illness, prejudice, violence and “Their stories were an inspiration to me,” Acintia the shadow of death; Acintia Wright has survived. By said. “But I still felt like my HIV was different.”

1998, only three years after the attack, she had alAcintia went back into hiding for another six months. ready martialled enough courage to reach past her When she emerged, she began working with local own misfortune to avail against the suffering of othchurches. When she tried to share her experience she ers. And in the intervening 17 years since that night in found herself getting flack. The nature of Acintia’s Ritchmond, Acintia’s T-cells have stabilized, her HIV story didn’t mix well with church decorum so she left, is undetectable and her philanthropic work has tranbut her resolve was unbroken. scended national boundaries.

“If God isn’t going to have me, and the church isn’t “I thank God for pulling me through, I’m just really going to have me, what am I going to do?” Acintia proud of who I am,” Acintia said. “I speak on behalf of said. “I needed to do something.” women, because women are the caretakers.” IM

I JUST DECIDED I WAS GOING TO KILL THEM, MY LIFE WAS DONE.

IMPACT FEATURE 12

INSPIRATIONAL Acintia Wright turned her deadly, dark circumstances into an opportunity to inspire others through speeches and discussion sessions in the San Diego area.

ESSENTIAL FREE APPS 8 smartphone additions to make your life easier By jaie rodriguez

The average student holds more power in the palm of their hand than any have in the past.

Creating school networks with teachers and classmates, finding the best deals to buy and sell textbooks and using recipes to cook cheap and easy meals are some of the ways that students can use their phones to make life easier.

IMPACT SHORT 14

Amazon Student

Translate

With barcode scans, amazon accounts are fully accessible, trading and selling books online becomes faster and more convenient. iPhone: Free Android: Free Windows: Unavailable

Typing up a homework assignment for your foreign language class?

Google has come out with an app for simple translating, switching it from English to another language of your choice. Finding the next word in an incomplete sentence is no longer a problem. iPhone: Free Android: Free Windows: Free

My Majors With a simple registry of basic information, this app can help students choose a university best-suited for their major. They describe to the student what each major does in society, how much they can be looking at in gross income, as well as what colleges are best to study at. iPhone: Unavailable Android: Free Windows: Unavailable

Student CookBook

Blackboard Blackboard serves students as an aid for excelling in any class. A professor can easily post presentations, homework assignments, notes, and important dates for the student to be well prepared. iPhone: Free Android: Free Windows: Unavailable

Cookbook shows students the key ingredients in simple dinner dishes for every day of the week. It categorizes each dish under situations that a regular student would find themselves experiencing such as date night or a hangover breakfast. iPhone: Unavailable Android: Free Windows: Unavailable

Simple Tax Calculator

eBooks

My Fitness Pal

From magazine articles to textbooks, eBooks is the top choice when it comes to finding a book online. A simple light-weight device can help a student by just scrolling from page to page, cover to cover, book to book. iPhone: Free Android: Free Windows: Free

By typing in your weight goal, eating habits and favorite meals from your favorite restaurant fitness pal calculates and gives the user his or her expected weight goal date.

Shopping and need to know the price of your new jacket? Simple tax calculator gives a quick view of the total price you will be paying.

Punch in the price and hit enter.

Just remember, California sales tax is 7.75%. iPhone: Free Android: Free Windows: Unavailable

iPhone: Free Android: Free Windows: Free

Can’t get enough IMPACT? MORE STORIES. TONS OF PICTURES. AWESOME GRAPHICS. MORE DEALS & SPONSORS. Check us out online at impactpalomar.com Tweets and deets at twitter.com/impactpalomar So nice you should like us twice at facebook.com/impactpalomar

SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN A biological male’s journey to understanding the transgendered mind AN ESSAY BY AGUSTIN GALEANA

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ver since I could remember, I knew that I was a boy. I looked like a boy, acted like a boy, peed like a boy, and since I was never adorned in frilly dresses, I knew that I must be a boy. Having been taught that people were only either blue or pink, boys or girls, no other ideas outside of this schema entered my little noggin. “Which sex are you?” is the question that ruled all the kids I knew, determining which bathroom we could use, what games we could play, and even with whom we were socially allowed to associate ourselves.

But as I have gotten older, the concept of “gender” molded my mindset, having found that there are people that were born males and females, but are now considering themselves as the opposite sex. This notion of “transgender” left all previous ideas of boys and girls that I was taught completely flabbergasted. I looked to my peers for better understanding of transgender, but failed to find anyone who had a full grasp. Not one to remain in the dark, I delved into the topic to find why the public sphere is so oblivious to this facet of our society, and on a more personal level, to attempt to give my biologically male mind a fair understanding of what it is to be transgender.

SEX=GENDER? Before attempting to understand what “transgender” is, I wanted to gain a tentative grasp of what the difference between sex and gender is; sex and gender being used to explain the same idea of men and women in our society’s common jargon. According to the Institute of Developmental Studies for the University of Sussex, “the term gender has been increasingly used to distinguish between sex as biological and gender as socially and culturally constructed.” In essence, this explains that our lower extremities do not define us as masculine or feminine, but only as males or females.

So the idea of males being masculine and females being feminine is a relied upon notion that is specific to the United States’ culture. But with the changing tides of our society, it has become very apparent that the societal norms are changing everyday; more women are going out and working to be providers, and more men are staying home to nurture the kids. So with our advancements going against the gender roles that were established before us, why is “transgender” so taboo?

What does being transgender entail that has kept it out of the public’s eye?

IMPACT OPINION 16

WHAT IS TRANSGENDER? Human Rights Campaign Foundation clarifies in their book, Transgender Americans: A Handbook For Understanding, that when the term “transgender” is used, it is to explain “a broad range of people who experience and/or express their gender differently from what most people expect — either in terms of expressing a gender that does not match the sex listed on their original birth certificate, or physically changing their sex. It is an umbrella term that includes people who are transsexual, cross-dressers or otherwise gender non-conforming.”

The significance of the definition being placed on transgender people is going against the gender they were categorized at birth, even to the point of changing their physical body in order to look and feel the gender that they believe they are.

Coming as a biological male, having surgery to change one’s sex can be seen as quite the drastic step based on how a person simply feels. But Angel Lopez, a biological transgender male who is making the transition to become female, would beg to differ. Upon being asked how she would explain to the public how it feels to be transgender, she plainly said, “have them live as the opposite sex for a day. Make them do what that sex is supposed to do.”

Putting myself in these shoes, if I had to live as a female for a day, I would not know what to do. Having to follow the societal norms for women would be entirely confusing and could, arguably, create a damaging effect to my identity as a person.

With the pressures of society to establish women as feminine and vice versa, understanding the struggle for self identity as a transgender person is daunting.

Something as simple as using the restroom can become a fiasco if you were found out to be transgender.

But the misunderstanding begins with the public, perpetuating these strict concepts and furthering them as beliefs only to isolate us to such cramped spaces.

FRAUGHT WITH INSECURITY “The way our society perceives gender and sexuality is having to be male or female. Those of us who fit one of the two categories don’t realize how difficult it is just in everyday social situations,” Part-time Professor of sociology at Palomar, Devon Smith said. “These are things you become aware of when you are in that grey area.”

The way our society perceives gender and sexuality is having to be male or female. ... These are things you become aware of when you are in the grey area.

DEVON SMITH

A summation of the core idea that our society is uncomfortable with the unknown. Being in the “grey area” makes way for cause of reticule and mocking like creating stereotypes. There are many hackneyed characters I have come across for transgender people, but none as prevalent as the “transsexual on Jerry Springer.” I am guilty of having that as my first exposure, seeing a transgender woman telling her boyfriend that she was born a man and him going ballistic. But that is the tone for our society’s idea on the subject. That since they do not fit the first impression we had, our most basic first impression, that it is okay to cause them harm.

Case in point, Brandon Teena, a transgender man who was raped and murdered when he was found out to be anatomically a woman. A person who was just trying to live his life to the best of his ability, not trying to pull a fast one or to lie, he was being himself and what he believed he was.

MY UNDERSTANDING As I have come further and further to attempt to understand an iota of the pressures associated with being transgender, I found myself at a standstill. There are little equivalents to this realm. The idea of gender is so ingrained within our infrastructure that it has become a major steeple. Causing those who cannot be situated in a specific spot to have violence toward them or be made fun of on TV. The only sense I could make out of all of this to help me understand, would be the equivalent of there being a ban on writing in the United States. That everything must be spoken, and no texting, no Facebook, no visual communication

at all. And that the rest of the country was in line with this.

Everyone, except for you.

“The most important thing I want people to know about transgender people, is that we are people,” Kaiden Montana, a transgender man and educator/advocator of the transgender community, said.

And that is the basic fact. Not a “Kumbaya” moment with multinational people holding hands, but a simple understanding of taking transgender people as people. They are just attempting to live their lives to the best of their abilities just as the rest of us. Being a human is difficult, even more so with other people destroying other’s happiness for the lack of their own.

Live your lives, decounce your fears and prejudices, and just be happy, because in the end, we all just want to be happy. IM IMPACT OPINION 17

UNDERGROUND PARTIES UPTOWN CROWD May Star brings a new twist to the underground party scene

By Andria Munoz | Photo by hannah villaruel

A

San Diego socialite adds an artsy and modern spin on party-throwing. May Star’s cool, underground events are an alternative to the usual nightclubs and bars in San Diego. Usually themed and including fashion and art shows, a May Star party is an interesting place to escape to on a night out.

The party starts before guests arrive. Makeup artists and hair stylists create alluring and glamorous works on the models. Designers play a big role in the preshow process, dressing the models and making any last minute changes to their overall look. Minutes before party-goers arrive, models pose for photographers who take snap-shots of each of the models to capture the outfits they’ll later be sending on the runway. May Star describes the time just before the party as the most strenuous part of the night. “Set-up is probably when I’m the most busy.”

May Star embraces the idea of celebrating art, and each month she selects an artist and highlights their work on the opening night of her parties. After the artwork is hung, everything is almost in place. The doors open, and the night begins.

DJs liven the mood with indie-electro beats as guests enter the Hillcrest based location. With a diverse crowd dressed in styles like hipster, goth, scene, and mainstream. The environment that May Star creates is one in which people can express themselves, and where people are encouraged to be different.

During the hours of networking and socializing, party attendees connect with people from the fashion industry, who are often present at these events. Flashbulbs burst as models in teased hairstyles and en vogue clothing continue to strike poses for photographers all over the venue. In the moments before the models take to the catwalk, guests can sip on drinks prepared at the bar, enjoy paintings from the night’s featured artist or purchase jewelry and clothing from vendor kiosks.

Lights hit the stage no later than midnight, and May Star’s chic production named “Fashion Whore” begins.

The indie fashion show production presented unique apparel collections to the crowd. Anyone interested in the designs at the show can actually talk to the models or speak to the designer after the show. Dancing follows the fashion show. More drinks are served and the party’s guests appear to be enjoying themselves more and more as the night progresses, until 3 a.m. when the event is over. After attending a May Star event for

IMPACT FEATURE 18

It was fun. My friends and I even got to dance on the runway toward the end of the party.

Jacob James

the first time, Jacob James said he had a blast. “It was fun. My friends and I even got to dance on the runway toward the end of the party,” James said.

May Star’s parties and brand are a creation that brings the fashion, art, music, photography and eventplanning industries together in one place. Newcomers in these fields gain exposure and experience when working at these events. Attracted to all things creative and dramatic, May Star’s original goal when starting these parties was to bring the eclectic fashion style of an LA nightclub to San Diego.

“Synthetic”, an 18-and-over club she used to go to regularly would have recurring guests that would go dressed in what May Star described as “crazy outfits, I can’t even explain.”

May Star’s parties have progressed since then, and her new additions are inspired by her desire to keep the party-goer’s partying while adopting the fashions “Synthetic” pioneered.

May Star’s efforts are bringing variety to the local fashion scene. “Pop Noir”, another 18-and-over venue she hosted had a similar set-up but with a younger crowd. May Star said she enjoyed the enthusiasm of the youthful set.

“The younger kids were more excited to dance. A lot of them couldn’t drink yet, so they were there to dance, which made it fun,” May Star said.

May Star said she is currently anticipating the grand opening of a new venue in which she will soon be hosting even bigger parties. She and her frequent guests await the couture, art and culture that awaits them at this new venue.

“I like getting to see all of my friends while working,” May Star said. IM

XXX FASHION FEVER May Star (left) is known for XXX throwing fabulous parties andXXX runway shows in San Diego.

OFFICES IN SU-102 & SU-104

FROM BLACKBOARD TO BLACK BELT Palomar professor moonlights as a karate instructor

By Hala Yakzan and Shaun Kahmann | PHOTO BY DEB HELLMAN

W

hen he isn’t instructing students with the aid of bones from the dead, Anthropology Professor Jeff McKendricks uses his proficiency at Shotokan Karate to break the bones of the living.

In addition to being a lifelong learner and college professor with nine degrees, McKendricks spent 35 years as a practitioner of martial arts. With an approachable personality, no one would ever guess that beneath McKendricks’ friendly demeanor beats the heart of a warrior. McKendriks said he has a fidgety personality, but he uses the martial arts to center himself.

“I had nervous legs (and) couldn’t sit still for my life, very hyperactive,” McKendriks said. “Martial arts gave me the ability to stay still. My mind is not still, but at least my body is.”

McKendriks is a practitioner of Shotokan Karate Do and once competed in martial arts tournaments around the world, including Europe and Japan. He started out as a fighter and has been involved in martial arts for over 35 years.

He currently works as a fight inspector for the California Amateur Mixed Martial Arts Organization (C.A.M.O.). Since exiting the world of full-contact fighting, McKendriks has noticed how perceptions of the martial arts were changing in America.

“Martial arts changed; it started to be about belt ranks and non-contact tournaments,” McKendricks said. “By that time it lost its credibility as real combat, and became more about acrobatics.”

McKendricks believes mixed martial arts are the heir to full-contac karate, his first love.

While McKendriks’ journey didn’t end with the martial arts, it didn’t lead him straight to teaching. After high school he spent 25 years as a general contractor licensed in virtually every discipline in the field including building, plumbing and electrical.

His seemingly unquenchable thirst for knowledge garnered him the nickname “the professor” amongst his colleagues. But when he became disenchanted with his life in construction, he turned his gaze back toward education.

“I would drive past UCLA, on my way to construction sites, and I would think, ‘Is this it?’,” McKendriks said.

McKendricks jumped back into school. While attending community college, he couldn’t figure out how

IMPACT FEATURE 22

Education and martial arts are similar in that if you don’t enjoy the process, the end is meaningless. You have to love pratice and love learning, they’re the same thing.

JEFF MCKENDRICKS to narrow his focus to one major. So he didn’t. After transferring to UCLA, he dabbled in a little bit of everything and by the time he graduated he had earned nine degrees including credentials in literature, anthropology and education. After much deliberation, he zeroed in on Anthropology with an emphasis on education as his career of choice.

“Education and martial arts are similar in that if you don’t enjoy the process the end is meaningless,” McKendriks said. “You have to love practice, and love learning, they’re the same thing.”

McKendriks said he’s a big believer in constructivist teaching methods. As a Constructivist, he purports that demonstrating how the concepts he teaches are applied in the real-world is more effective than through explanation.

“Constructivist learning is to build something meaningful to the student and the discipline.”

McKendriks isn’t shy about expressing his disdain for modern educational practices. He said he believes lazy teaching methods are resposible for student apathy. McKedricks said diligence is the key to success in education, as well as in the future success of students.

“I don’t think education is the way it’s supposed to be, especially in today’s world. We fear what’s going to make us uncomfortable,” McKendriks said. “Whether its martial arts or academics, the easy life is hard, the hard life is easy.” IM

LIVING IN TWO WORLDS Jeff McKendricks wasn’t content with his life as a contractor. The martial arts-practicing academic catapulted himself to UCLA and landed a job teaching Anthropology at Palomar.

RETHINKING THE DRUG WAR New form of prohibition has failed America’s citizens AN ESSAY By Shaun Kauhmann | Artwork by Kiigan Snaer

THE WAR ON DRUGS IS AN AMERICAN ENDEAVOR In its ambition to remedy drug related social dilemmas, prohibition has created entirely new and distressing problems that wouldn’t have otherwise existed, and have left any of its purported benefits null and void. And while drug legalization is an oft revisited topic that is frequently supported by hippies, objectivists and the criminally insane, drug legalization advocacy isn’t the sole domain of lunatics.

After more than 30 years of fighting, American streets are still flooded with drugs, prisons are flooded with nonviolent drug offenders and the only thing keeping us afloat is the promise of a drug free America that we will surely never see. America’s continued zeitgeist against drug use has made her more militaristic, more authoritarian and less safe.

IMPACT OPINION 24

Opium

A schedule-1 drug, possession of opium in serious quantities can lead to a 4-year-plus federal jail sentence.

Salvia

While technically legal in California, efforts are underway to make salvia a schedule 1 drug carrying strict posession penalties.

Mushrooms

Federal sentencing guidelines say posession of a gram can lead to a 20-year prison sentence,

Marijuanna

A first-offence federal possession charge will land you in prison for 1 year and leave you with a hefty $1,000 fine.

IMPACT FEATURE 25

For your consideration, here are few modest reasons for ending the fight:

THE WHITE MARKET If you believe the rhetoric you were fed about drugs as a child, it’s likely that the word “drug-user” conjures quite the disparaging image. Perhaps a man in tattered clothes with empty, out-turned pockets and a body-odor powerful enough to attract flies. The reality is quite different.

Most people start down the path to drug-use in the early years of childhood, usually no later than six.

Most children’s first fix will come courtesy of good ole’ mom and dad. Doting parents who, out of love and concern, tear their offspring from the ceiling long enough to see a doctor who’ll invariably diagnose them with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (A.D.H.D.).

According to CBS News, as many as 4-to-12 percent of school aged children have been diagnosed with A.D.H.D., many of whom have been given popularly prescribed stimulants like Ritalin and Adderall.

In 2011, The American Academy of Pediatrics widened its guidelines concerning A.D.H.D., prompting doctors to start evaluating children as young as 4.

Perhaps “drug-abuse” isn’t an entirely self-inflicted condition after all. And while parents may be a child’s first drug suppliers, they certainly won’t be their last.

A 2008 survey performed by USA Today revealed that teens aged 12-to-17 said that they have greater access to prescription drugs than alcohol. As many as 46 percent of a sample of over a thousand teenagers said they go out and occasionally engage in drug use. The drugs are usually obtained by way of their parents medicine cabinet or a friend. Prescription drugs have become so commonplace that if a teen has more than a few friends, fortune danes that he or she will have at least one pal who’s got access to a medicine cabinet full of Adderall. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the eminent rationalization for prescribing stimulants to children so young is to curb the onset mental of disorders in young adults. So this should give rise to a nation of healthy grown-ups, right?

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, adults aged 18-to-25 have the highest incidences of mental illness of any age group in the United States. So adulthood will likely find the average American popping just as many pills as before.

According to National Public Radio (N.P.R.), Ritalin and Adderall, the two major medications associated with A.D.H.D. are also extremely popular among college students who want a boost of concentration for coursework. The pills have become so popular with students that some have started selling them for as much as $25 a pill. What makes Ritalin so powerful is that it acts on brain chemistry in an almost identical manner to cocaine. And because it’s amphetaminebased, it’s highly addictive.

With all these legal drugs churning through white-suburban streets it’s hard to register where all the fervor over marijuana and crack comes from. But let’s turn the dial forward one last time; to the elderly.

The aged have the misfortune of being especially vulnerable to nasty ailments like restless leg syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis and dozens of other conditions that seemingly no one heard of prior to IMPACT OPINION 26

the last decade.

Fortunately for our senior citizens living in care facilities, they’ll get all the “treatment” they need.

According to a 2006 report from the Department of Health and Human Services, pharmacists have serious concerns over how drugs are administered at facilities for the elderly. Issues that include the administration of drugs sans specific usage instructions, failure to update medications and correct dosage scheduling, and the administration of drugs that have been inappropriately altered. In some cases, depending on the nature of the nursing home, the drugs may be administered to them against their will. No wonder they call it the “second-childhood”.

Can we really call it “treatment” when we dose 4-year-old children and the elderly to make them more docile and manageable for us to care for?

Given the above, it’s quite impossible for America to justify the grandiloquence of her anti-drug rhetoric. Why should crack-addicts bare the weight of the criminal justice system while millions of white Americans breathe free and consume a steady stream of drugs all the days of their well-regimented lives?

DRUG LAWS MAKE CRIMINALS OF US ALL President Richard Nixon’s declaration of the “War on Drugs” in 1971 marked only the beginning of what would be a frenzied alchemy of policy decisions that would ultimately doom millions of Americans to unjust and disproportionately long prison sentences.

In 1984, The Sentencing Reform Act under President Ronald Reagan abolished parole in the federal system. In 1986, the Anti-Drug Abuse Act introduced a minimum sentencing policy that required stiffer penalties for drug related crimes. This meant that an offender caught with a few grams of an illegal substance for personal use would have to face similar sentencing as someone caught with several ounces intended for distribution. These and other policies helped furnish a huge spike in American incarceration rates. The total number of drug offenders in prison has increased 1,100 percent since 1980, according to a study by the November Coalition.

A 2009 report from Bureau of Justice Statistics said that there are roughly 743 people for every 100 thousand in prison in the US. That’s over 2 million.

By contrast, China has a population that is about four times the size of the US and only incarcerates 1.6 million. It costs Americans over $70 billion annually to incarcerate its citizens for drug related crimes.

That’s five percent of the federal deficit.

In addition, because drug use is higher among African-Americans, they are disproportionately affected.

According to the ACLU, African Americans make up only 15 percent of drug users, but account for 59 percent of drug convictions and 74 percent of those imprisoned on drug related charges. According to Michelle Alexander, author of the book “The New Jim Crow: Mass incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness”, there are more black people incarcerated in the US than there were in South Africa under apartheid.

If the current rate of incarceration continues an estimated 6.6 percent of Americans will serve prison time at some point in their lives, according the November Coalition.

How can America call herself “The Land of the

Free”, when she incarcerates more of her own citizens than any other nation on Earth? That she should spend so much money to have people waste their lives away in prison, to prevent them from wasting their lives away on drugs. This is shameful stupidity.

WHERE THERE’S SMOKE, THERE’S FIRE It’s easy to forget that while America is fighting her domestic “drug-war” at home, just south of the border in Mexico, the term has taken on a much more literal meaning.

When a recent prison riot in Monterrey, Mexico left 44 prisoners dead and 30 unaccounted for, the loss of life was thought to have been incurred by the chaos of the moment. According to the New York Times, it was later discovered that those 30 men were associates.

Members of a powerful drug cartel called “The Zetas” and that the 44 prisoners who were found brutally knifed and beaten were members of the “Gulf Cartel”, one of their staunchest rivals. And what was all this bloodshed for? To gain control over highly lucrative trafficking routes into the United States.

For the last six years Mexico has been embroiled in a quasi-civil war, with Mexican President Felipe Calderon deploying as many as 40,000 soldiers in 2008 to fight drug traffickers scattered throughout the Mexican countryside. Once fighting commenced, the Mexican military learned the hard way that the traffickers were more well armed and coordinated than expected, wielding grenades and automatic weapons. These weapons were purchased with money from the sale of illegal drugs.

Since President Felipe Calderon began his military campaign against drug-cartels in 2006, 47,515 people have been killed. That’s five times more deaths than the total number of Americans who have died fighting in Iraq, Afghanistan and on 9/11 combined. The conflict is only six years old.

Mexico is losing.

A REMEDY WITH SIDE EFFECTS Sometimes solving a problem isn’t as simple as declaring war on it. Sometimes, the only way to win is by making careful choices. Knowing that any selection made will have both negative and unforeseeable consequences.

A world where prohibition is lifted could potentially lead to thousands or even millions of people becoming hopelessly addicted to powerful narcotics they would never have had access to. Healthcare costs associated with drug addiction could also see a huge influx. There is no way to know exactly what would happen until that threshold is crossed.

What we do know, is that prohibition has given rise to powerful criminal organizations with access to enough resources to threaten governments, who derive the lion’s share of their revenue from trafficking drugs. We do know that thousands of men, women and children have died as a result of narco-terrorism and transnational cartels. We know that black markets incentivize low level drug dealing and precipitate gang culture in inner cities. And that tens of millions of Americans will become hopelessly addicted to drugs irrespective of their legal status.

No mathematical algorithms, statistical probability formulas or predictive economic models are needed to see how destructive prohibition has been to the American way of life. The evidence is laid right at her feet. IM

SACRAMENTO

SAN MARCOS

It costs Americans over $70 billion annually to incarcerate its citizens for drug related crimes

The total number of drug offenders in prison has increased 1,100 percent since 1980

Teens aged 12-to-17 said that they have greater access to prescription drugs than alcohol

MEXICO CITY

Mexican President Felipe Calderon deploying as many as 40,000 soldiers in 2008 to fight IMPACT FEATURE 27 drug traffickers

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PALOMAR

MIKE’S PIZZERIA

DON’T LEAVE US HANGING Life on a Budget

To all the investors, bankers, business owners and politicians who were bailed out of the Great Recession: Where is our bail out?

IMPACT FEATURE 29

OVERWORKED & UNDERPAID Six years on, Palomar students are still feeling the sharp sting of the Great Recession.

For them, every day is a struggle to stay fed and keep up their grades.

IMPACT LIFE ON A BUDGET 30

By David Leonard & Hannah Villaruel | PHOTOS BY HANNAH VILLARUEL

W

e’re in a deep hole, and it’s only getting deeper.

When the economy collapsed in 2007, bankers, businessmen and politicians were dragged into its depths. But they’ve clawed their way out, leaving one sad group huddled in the dark at the bottom: students.

Unsurprisingly, the teens and 20-somethings who populate Palomar’s lecture halls have been pummeled over and over by the bleak job market and deep cuts to public education. Tuition is up, rent is up, gas is up, enrollment is up, and hope is at an all-time low. Gone are the days when a bad grade or a overstretched social life were a student’s worst worries -- many are struggling to stay fed and avoid the streets.

Poverty is on the rise among North San Diego County’s youth; 1 in 5 students under 18 have slipped below the poverty line, leaving them just enough money to eat a bit and keep a roof over their heads. Across the country, 30 percent of undergraduate students are struggling to stay afloat, up 5 percent from the pre-

units away from donning a graduation cap. Like many students, he must strike a balance between going to class, doing homework and working. Activities once considered essential, like sleep and relaxation, have become an afterthought. A full stomach is a luxury.

“I’ve given up a lot of sleep. I’ve given up a lot of eating. I’m regularly hungry,” Boston said. “I live paycheck-to-paycheck to get to school.”

When money is tight, small costs add up, he said.

Gas for his 2000 Dodge Neon runs $160 each month, rent is $350 for the small bedroom he sublets from a family in Escondido and school fees are burdensome.

With no financial support from his parents and a job that pays $11-an-hour, Boston said he has learned to sacrifice.

“I’ve always realized that sacrifice is necessary,” he said. “At this age either you’re pulling out loans and owing people money or you’re living by the grit of your teeth to get by.”

Virgil Stickney knows well the trials of a poor college student. He works three jobs -- at the Welk Resort, Red Robin and Chrome Zebra -- and studies illustration at Palomar.

For many carrying a 12-unit-plus load, the choice between school and work begs the question of what’s more important: a meal today, or the promise of a meal a few years down the road.

recession lows just half a decade ago.

With poverty on the rise, Palomar students are requesting more and more financial assistance from the state and federal government. Roughly $8 million was given out in 2005 and 2006 through grants, Board of Governors fee waivers, loans and scholarships, among other aid types. That number increased astronomically to $20.8 million in 2010-2011, a sign of just how much students are struggling to keep up with fees.

But fees are just one piece of the massive collegecost puzzle. Book prices can run into the hundreds and a gallon of gas costs more than lunch. For many carrying a 12-unit-plus load, the choice between school and work begs the question of what’s more important: a meal today, or the promise of a meal a few years down the road.

Choices, Choices Something had to give for Alex Boston, a 21-yearold illustration major at Palomar.

Boston works full time at Rock ‘N Jenny Italian Subs in Escondido and takes just one class at the college. “I was taking three, but I had to lose two of them because of work,” he said. “I usually take three, but this semester has been particularly difficult for me because I (was) just made manager at work. It’s awesome, but oh god is it stressful. It is a pain. It’s really tough.”

Six years into his Palomar career, Boston is just 12

“(It’s about) scheduling and work,” Stickney said.

“I have to try and keep those three jobs happy (while) having a school schedule that will work around my jobs.”

But the 27-year-old Temecula resident has faced unique hardships too.

Stickney started his car one morning, ran back inside to grab a forgotten textbook and found his driveway empty just moments later. “I wasn’t even gone thirty seconds,” he said.

Just two days later, he returned home to find his apartment window ajar.

“I thought, ‘That is not a good sign, not a good sign,” Stickney said. “Everything was gone. They didn’t take the T.V. They took my taekwondo gear and cup! I mean, what are you going to do with that? You can’t sell it.”

His advice to others facing such devastating loss: carry on.

“I stayed in school because that’s what I’m doing, and I’m not going to let a couple of schmucks that have no work ethic take what I’m doing away from me,” he said.

Boston echoed that sentiment. Staying in school isn’t a ticket to slack off before being dumped into the labor market, he said. It’s a time to bite the economic bullet, dig in and study hard.

“I do feel that my sacrifices are working toward a goal,” Boston said. “I don’t feel that my degree will IMPACT LIFE ON A BUDGET 31

Alex Boston 21, art major Alex struggles to juggle classes and his job at Rock ‘N Jenny’s Subs in Escondido. Gas, rent and other expenses have forced him to make hard choices.

He said he’s had to make sacrafices— like not eating his fill—to pay for other necessities.

necessarily fix all of my problems. I feel that this hard work I’ve put into getting my degree ... is an experience that will definitely benefit me in the long run.”

Crawling Out

WHEN YOU DON’T HAVE A STEADY PLACE TO GO TO STUDY IT IMPACTS THE STUDENT’S OVERALL SUCCCESS VERONICA AGUILERA EOPS COUNSELOR

IMPACT LIFE ON A BUDGET 32

Staying in school and paying the bills isn’t easy, but students don’t have to struggle alone. College programs and commonsense tweaks to the monthly budget can help keep grades up and save some relaxation time, according to finance experts.

At Palomar, the Extended Opportunity Programs and Services office offers poor students priority registration, up to $275 in book-buying funds and frequent workshops covering how to succeed and stay sane.

But the program’s key tool to help students is face-to-face time with speciallydesignated EOPS counselors.

“If somebody’s not guiding you, 50 percent of students will not return because of the difficulty of getting their classes or life in general,” EOPS counselor Veronica Aguilera said.

EOPS takes the students hardest hit by the economic downturn and offers them hope, she said. To qualify for its benefits, applicants must have a low income or be the first in their family to attend college, among other criteria. Many who join have difficulty with basic English or math classes. Some are young, some receive federal work study money, some are single parents and some are older adults coming back to college.

What unites them is the difficulty they

face in going to school while dealing with complicated home lives.

“When you’re doing two things full time, something’s going to suffer,” Aguilera said.

EOPS counselors ask students in their program to evaluate priorities and schedules -- time spent studying, time spent working, time spent having fun -- and seek a balance that will keep them out of poverty without tanking grades.

Some circumstances make that balance impossible to find.

“Some of the students we counsel have gone through homelessness, have gone to shelters, have been evicted,” Aguilera said.

“When you don’t have a steady place to go to study it impacts the student’s overall success.”

Enrollment in EOPS has stayed fairly constant over the past few years. Between 2006 and 2007, about 1,200 sought help, a bit more than the 1,051 that joined from 2010-2011, the most recent data available.

Still, staffing cuts and a college-wide hiring freeze have made it more difficult for EOPS counselors to keep up with the load. Students in the program are required to visit with an adviser three times each semester, saddling the two full-time counselors and one part-timer with a heavy workload. “The students are going to suffer if they can’t come in and see a counselor,” Aguilera said. “Those students are getting freezed out.”

But additional resources -- and alternate methods of keeping finances on track -- are available, and EOPS often advises students to reach out and seek other help.

VIRGIL STICKNEY 27, ILL. major Virgil saw his livelihood stripped away in two seperate incidents of robbery.

After losing his car and everything in his home, the Palomar student decided to continue his education and struggle to get a degree, regardless of the obstacles in his way.

LOOKING Inward Local community health centers, like the San Marcos Health Center on Valpreda Road, offer low-cost or free doctor visits, counseling sessions and dental services, according to the center’s website.

North County Community Services on Grand Avenue in San Marcos offers free food and child care to poor families. The center saw a 79 percentw increase in use in the last half of 2009, when the economic downturn’s death grip closed in on the local economy. Demand has remained at an all time high ever since, according to the food bank’s website.

Still, smart spending and a lot of introspection can keep a student off the soup line in the first place, according to San Diego-based financial advisor Thomas Manheim.

“People spend money like it’s water,” Manheim said. The problem is particularly acute among college students who often take out massive loans and spend with reckless abandon, landing themselves in extreme life-long debt. “We try to use money to fill ourselves up, to make ourselves feel better,” he said. “A lot of times we want instant gratification, so we impulsively do things for pleasure.”

Manheim’s advice is simple: think, think, think.

Put off big purchases for 72 hours and evaluate if they’re truly necessary, he advised, and seriously think about all spending and the motives behind it.

“Don’t ever do anything when you’re hungry or tired as far as money is con-

cerned. You want to be emotionally stable,” he said.

“Try and look ahead. Take more of a macro approach instead of thinking, ‘I’ve got this money burning a hole in my pocket.’”

Even the best financial planning can’t save some time-strapped college students from going hungry or skipping class because of work, he said.

“We do live in one of the most expensive cities in the U.S.,” Manheim said. “Kids are competing, especially if they’re trying to rent an apartment. You’re talking somewhere minimum $1000 to $1200 a month.”

“Money goes so fast. My heart goes out to students. I think it’s hard to survive today.”

Is There a Light at the End? Nobody knows exactly when the county will pull out of this economic slump. And even less clear is when American students will pull themselves out of the poverty stricken depths we were cast into after the big crash.

How many new degree holders will already be in crushing debt by the time that happens?

What percentage of us will be consigned to a tiny apartment and a can of beans for decades to come?

And, perhaps the most important question: How much more can we take before we break?

For now, those questions are doomed to echo endlessly back-and-forth across the bottom of this deep, dark chasm. IM

IMPACT LIFE ON A BUDET 33

LIVE FREE IN SAN DIEGO San Diego is an amazing place — and amazingly expensive. If you’re looking for a good time on the cheap, look no further than right out the window. Here’s a guide to free fun a few minutes from home. BY HALA YAKZAN

OUTSIDE

INSIDE & AROUND TOWN

It doesn’t matter when you’re reading this. It’s probably 70 degrees outside, and you’ve got an ice cold one cracked open on the rickety wicker table beside you.

Sunset Cliffs in Point Loma The vew is stunning

The breeze is blowing, the sun’s beaming and you live a few steps from the best beaches, mountains, deserts, parks and outdoorsy locations our fine city has to offer.

Cabrillo National Monument See the S.D. skyline, bay and Coronado

What the hell are you waiting for?

Get out!

San Diego River Park Take a hike and enjoy the wildlife Lake Cuyamaca Hike, visit the hidden waterfalls or camp out Otay Mountain Enjoy a clear view of Mexico

Oceanside Pier Walk the west coast’s longest wooden pier La Jolla tide pools Hunt anemones, crabs, fish and slimy things Anza-Borrego Desert Check out completely unique wildlife La Jolla Cove Swim or snorkel, and give seals a gander Mission Bay Bike, picnic, or go for a swim Coronado’s Silver Strand Survey the bay and ocean views Presidio Park Walk Old Town, watch the city Mission Trails Regional Park Free concerts every 3rd Sunday | Visit for boating, camping, and hiking Mt. Soledad Bike in to see the disputed memorial cross

IMPACT LIFE ON A BUDGET 34

Afraid a bit of dirt will stain your brand-spankingnew pair of white pants? Does walking to the water fountain wind you?

No worries! We’ve got an array of activities for homebodies and the less sporty.

San Diego is known for its fine museums (watch out though — its also known for crotchety museum caretakers) and array of indoor and easy-to-reach fun spots.

There’s no excuse.

Get up and go do something, now.

Visit art galleries La Jolla has quite a few near eachother and the beach Go on a date, make them pay San Diego ain’t cheap — but it can be Test drive cars So what if you can’t afford it?

Test out houses Pretend you could ever pay for them Stage a photo shoot Get your friends together and take some print-quality shots (locations to the left) Cruise Costco for free samples Maybe pick up a gallon jug of ketchup, too Plan a Potluck Make sure your friends can cook Play with pets at the pet store Don’t buy — food and vet visits aren’t cheap Volunteer It feels good Have a spa day Men: pedicures feel pretty good, trust us Crash a wedding Don’t sleep with any bridesmaids HIT SOME MUSEUMS Balboa park has a million TRY on wedding dresses Or take your gf — she’ll thank you and you’ll save a few bucks

HOW TO FIND BOOKS ON THE CHEAP QUICK TIPS

Books cost a lot. Seriously, it’s getting ridiculous. The average textbook will run you $80, and some of the more obscure texts — think Advanced Physics of Underwater Basket Weaving — can break the $200 mark.

A few small tweaks to your book-buying plan can save a lot of money.

1 OLD IS OKAY

But don’t fear, IMPACT is here to help with a list of websites and tips that’ll keep your wallet full and help you avoid skipping out on that mathematics degree just because Professor Deep Pockets requires six pointless books you likely won’t use.

VISTAS, ed. 4 Required for: Spanish 100 Chegg.com: $143.99 Amazon.com: $73.28 Abebooks.com: $48.13

Don’t worry about buying the newest version of a text.

Grab an older copy used and check with a classmate to make sure you’re reading the right stuff. You’ll be fine.

2 ASK THE PROF Chances are your instructor has a few extra copies of the class texts lying around. Hit up office hours and see what you can find. (Maybe bring some coffee too — everyone needs their fix.)

3 LIBRARY TIME

Mathematical ideas, ed. 12

Art Across Time, ed. 3

Required for: Math 100

Required for: Art History 165

Palomar Bookstore: $124.50 (used) Chegg.com: $100.49 Amazon.com: $76.95 Abebooks.com: $53.90

Palomar Bookstore: $110.50 (used) Chegg.com: $85.99 Amazon.com: $43.65 Abebooks.com: $76.24

Palomar’s library keeps a copy of most required texts.

There’s always a first time for hitting the stacks — why not save money while you visit?

WESTERN HUMANITIES, ed. 2 Required for: Spanish 100 Palomar Bookstore: $112.00 (used) Chegg.com: $78.99 Amazon.com: $31.20 Abebooks.com: $57.75

Visit impactpalomar.com for more information on how to save a buck.

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LOOK GOOD SPEND LESS Thrift stores are the key to dressing fly on the cheap

BY KIMBERLY WISDOM | PHOTOS BY DEB HELLMAN

Looking good doesn’t cost a lot. You can dress fine on a few dimes, but you’ll have to look closely for the right steal. Head to your friendly neighborhood thrift store — there are many in North County — for a unique shopping trip that’ll help you discover your fashion identity.

First Timer

How do I shop?

If you’re a first time thrift store customer, the first step is to keep an open mind and not feel overwhelmed. Take a deep breath and get a lay of the land.

Thrift store shopping is trial and error. You’ll need to try a few shops and see which best fits your style.

Figure out how this particular store is set up. For example, many thrift stores are either organized by colors, sizes, or styles. Find the section which is appealing to you and jump in. There will likely be a huge selection. It’ll take some serious dedication to find something in your size and your style.

If you do find something you love, you must try it on!

Remember, just because it says it’s in your size and looks cute on the hanger, doesn’t necessarily mean it will look good on you.

IMPACT LIFE ON A BUDGET 36

It’s important to keep in mind that these clothes should be much cheaper than those in the mall. You should plan on spending around half as much as you would normally pay for a shopping trip.

Fashionable clothes aren’t your only option.

Accessories, accessories, accessories are everywhere. Accessories can take any plain outfit and give it the edge that it needs to make you feel fierce.

DEVILISH SUNSHINE Top: Black embellished tanktop $10 Bottom: Canary yellow Daisy Dukes $3

Thrift Store Suggestions

When should I shop?

Different stores have different styles and prices.

If you are a people watcher, then thrift store shopping on weekends is for you.

If you’re into vintage fashion, Flashbacks in Encinitas is where you live. Flashbacks has a great collection of vintage pieces that will make any fashionista happy, but items are on the pricey side.

For a first time thrifter who just likes commercial fashion, Plato’s Closet in Escondido is a perfect introduction to the secondhand world.

Plato’s Closet has everything from American Apparel to Volcom, and cater to both men and women.

For a less jostling, hectic experience, visit during the week. Going during slow hours may make a first time thrift store shopper feel more comfortable and feel less rushed than going when it is hectic.

Remember that most thrift stores buy their inventory from shoppers, so the best times to go to find good deals are when the store opens and right before it closes.

Thrifting Rules!

When trying to save money while still looking your best, thrift stores are the way to go. They have a huge inventory and the clothes are priced very fairly, unlike most stores at the mall.

Instead of shopping for name brands and wasting your cash, why not try a thrift store? You have nothing to lose, and who knows - maybe you can save some money by making the switch!

peach MINT SORBET Top: Vintage orange collared shirt $5 Bottom: Teal Volcom cutoffs $16 Belt: Black zipper detailed belt $6

If you shop by brand, then thrift store shopping may be a little more difficult because when going to thrift stores you never know what they are going to have in stock. There’s a chance they had your favorite pair of Guess jeans last week, but more than likely they aren’t going to have a similar pair today. Although there are some stores that often carry certain name brands, searching by name is trial and error, so you really have to check out a few shops and see which you prefer.

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CHEAP FOOD CAN BE HEALTHY Simple food-choice changes can make a big impact

It’s 7 a.m. and you’re running late for that morning class. Or maybe noon is near and your stomach is grumbling louder than the history prof. can speak. College meals don’t have to pack 1,000 calories — and don’t have to break the bank. Read on for tips to keep it cheap and healthy.

BREAKFAST

SNACK

LUNCH

Dubbed the most important meal of the day by your grandmother, chances are you haven’t started the morning right for years. But it’s never too late to start, and pairing a scone with that gallon of coffee will do wonders for your mid-morning caffeine comedown.

It’s after breakfast, but not quite lunch.

What are you going to grab? Pass on the fried, fatty stuff in a plastic bag and try to grab something from the vine. Remember those fruits your parents kept on the table?

They aren’t just for show.

For the middle meal, keep it simple and make it at home. Almost anything you can get for $5 at a fast food restaraunt you can make for $2 or less at home. Stick to the basics — a whole-grain bread, cheese and meat for the carnivores with fixings on top.

PICK THIS

PICK THIS

PICK THIS

Tea and Granola Bar

Fruit or Veggie Chips

Homemade Sandwich

SKIP THAT

SKIP THAT

SKIP THAT

Energy Drink and Donut

Potato Chips

Cheeseburger

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POOR HAS ITS PERKS: DISCOUNTS JUST FOR STUDENTS Sure, being a starving student sucks. Sure, it’s not fun to scrounge pennies out of the couch to grab a bottle of milk from the corner store. And sure, drowning in homework and toiling away day-afterday in a chilly classroom offers few advantages in the short term.

But students do have a handful of advantages when shopping at local businesses. Proprieters know you’re hungry for deals, and they know you’ll spend, spend, spend if given the chance. IMPACT rounded up a few of the better deals offered to students in North County and beyond.

THRIFTY SPENDING

ELECTRONICS

Goodwill 10 percent discount

AT&T, Verizon, Sprint & T-Mobile Reduced monthly prices

Charlotte Russe or J.Crew Discounts for students

Apple and Dell Up to 10 percent discount on electronics

Abebooks.com and Alibris.com Email coupons to students

Adobe Software Up to 80 percent off of full retail prices

Studentrate.com Offers wide range of savings tips

Microsoft Software 70 percent off Windows 7 Professional, Office packs, and other software Autodesk Free trials for students

LOCAL BUSINESSES Edwards Stadium Cinema San Marcos $7.00 ($2.50 off) for matinee

Peace Love and Yoga Fitness Center Carlsbad 20 percent discount for students

Surf Brothers Teriyaki Escondido Save 50 cents on chicken

Happy Chang San Marcos Free Thai Iced Tea for Palomar students (with student ID)

Massachusetts Mike’s Pizzeria San Marcos

MUSEUMS San Diego Museum of Man San Diego Discounts for students

Mingei International Museum San Diego Discounts for students

San Diego Natural History Museum San Diego Discounts for students

San Diego Air and Space Museum San Diego Discounts for students

2 slices of pizza and a drink for $4

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COOL UNDER PRESSURE Palomar student skates in international competitions

By Justin Masanque | Photo by Phyllis Celmer

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t first sight he looks like any other college student, but under that average guise is a second life that takes him across the country one day and to international destinations the next. Instead of starting the day with last minute homework assignments, back-to-back classes and possibly some breakfast or coffee, he starts his day with some routine drills: at least two laps around the rink, then some plyometric exercises. Some stretching to loosen up, then some off-ice jumping. After this daily practice, he puts on his skates and is ready to train. “Relax. Don’t do anything that you’ll regret. Try to enjoy the moment,” he tells himself as he practices his favorite ice skating jump: the triple lutz.

Since the age of seven, Palomar student Christopher Caluza has been a regular in the rink. Prior to the ice, he got his start spending his free time inline skating with family. “I used to go to this roller rink in Chula Vista and then one day it closed,” Caluza said. Upset about the closing of the roller rink, his parents brought him to the UTC shopping center in La Jolla, Calif. where he took his first steps on the ice. “A coach got me into skating by asking my parents for me to take lessons,” he said.

Since his introduction to the rink, Caluza has competed nationally and internationally in ice skating competitions for both the United States and the Philippines.

“I like to go out there and express myself,” Caluza said, “It’s a place where I feel safe and a place where I can enjoy my time.”

The most prominent thought in his mind before a competition is nervousness, and now that his ice skating has taken him abroad, his nervousness only grows.

“Back then I competed for the United States and now I’m representing the Philippines, and I’m going into international competitions which is a lot harder.”

Though overcome with nerves, Caluza has managed to perform well competitively, and in his two most recent international competitions he placed third and 12th.

With his successes in the international arena comes the excitement and troubles of traveling. Germany, France, and the Philippines are just a few countries Caluza has visited for competitions. Though most would view travel as enjoyable, Caluza experiences its hardships first hand. “Traveling is fun, but it is also stressful,” he said, “ traveling is a lot more stressful than skating.” Caluza must fight jet lag when competing internationally and must struggle with his parents

IMPACT FEATURE 40

I like to go out there and express myself.

It’s a place where I feel safe and a place where I can enjoy my time.

CHRISTOPHER CALUZA to finance the expenses. “Since I’ve been traveling, they’ve been trying to save money,” he said. To help finance Caluza’s international competitions, his parents recently pawned their wedding rings. Unfortunately, they have not been to any of their son’s international competitions. “I’ve been traveling by myself because we can’t afford plane tickets for all of us,” Caluza said.

While in different countries, Caluza spends no time seeing the sights. “I strictly focus on my competitions,” he said. Caluza traveled solely for ice skating and reserved his energy just for that.

Although Caluza loves the ice, he has future plans other than skating. “I’m not going to skate forever,” he said. He is studying psychology at Palomar and hopes to use that degree toward coaching.

Caluza also enjoys choreographing, and contributes to his own choreography when it comes to his performances. “I love it when skaters contribute to the choreography,” said Lexie Fernandez, one of Caluza’s choreographers. “It feels like it is a part of them and I think that’s very important.”

Fernandez is also the skating director at the Icoplex in Escondido, Calif. where Caluza spends plenty of his time. She has watched him grow on the ice and described him as a very well rounded skater with fantastic performance qualities. “It is hard to find a skater who is a great technician and a great performer,” she said.

With his drive and passion for skating and the support of his family, coaches and choreographers, Caluza’s goals include the 2014 Olympics in Russia, possibly the following Olympics, and in the future to become a coach for future skaters. IM

BURGEONING OLYMPIAN Christopher Caluza laces up his skates before training in the rink.

PALOMAR’S NEW FRONTIER Rebuilt Planetarium offers stellar new views of the heavens STORY AND PHOTOS By Deb Hellman

IMPACT FEATURE 42

PHOTO COURTESY OF PALOMAR PLANETARIUM

T

he new Palomar College Planetarium on the San Marcos campus opened to the public on April 20. The 142-seat theater provides the audience with a comfortable auditorium setting to relax and explore the universe. The planetarium offers weekly viewings on Friday evenings called “The Sky Tonight” that shows where things are currently in the sky as viewed from San Marcos.

“The new, state-of-the-art venue and presentation technology will make astronomy come alive in a way that the old planetarium was unable to do,” said Mark Lane, Palomar associate professor and planetarium director. “The new planetarium will allow students to see the various concepts of astronomy in a way that is realistic and dynamic,” Lane added.

The 50-foot Astrotec dome with the use of the digital reproduction system lets the audience feel like they are orbiting through space. This replaces a 72-seat theater with a 30-foot dome.

The planetarium is the fifth largest in California with a cost of $8.5 million and funded as part of Proposition M, a bond that was passed in 2006. The architecture of the structure’s exterior is showcased with the stainless steel, chemically treated, colored roof tiles that appear slightly different depending on the angle of the sun.

In addition to being an important part of the astronomy courses for Palomar students, the planetarium will be a part of the community hosting school aged groups. The old planetarium hosted 200,000 area K-12 children since it opened in March of 1965.

IMPACT FEATURE 43

INNOCENCE FOR SALE San Diego human trafficking victims demand attention By shelby grates | ARTWORK BY KIIGAN SNAER

F

ourteen-year-old Angela was walking the streets of Spring Valley in San Diego when someone pulled over to ask her for directions. The next thing she knew, something was pressed over her face, she gasped with panic and passed out. While she was incapacitated she was raped and when she arose, her attackers told her if she said a word, they would kill her mother.

Angela was just another victim in an influx of children to be exploited by human traffickers in America’s “Finest City” of San Diego. And while it’s easy to imagine such heinous violations against human rights occurring in underdeveloped countries, The FBI has labeled San Diego as a “High Intensity Child Prostitution Area.”

After being abducted, Angela was dragged to an apartment, where she was chained to a bathroom wall next to four or five other girls the traffickers collected. They were all stripped naked and the only comfort they were provided were dog bowls scattered on the floor that would contain their only nourishment.

“They would beat and rape us daily, just for entertainment. Just for their own pleasure,” Angela said before a crowd at Occupy San Diego as part of a human trafficking event presented by a group called the Radical Feminists.

She painted the gruesome picture of what she experienced while being a trafficked teen, and explained that she was posted on Craigslist by her traffickers. The posts included a falsified I.D. that said she was 21. She described how she was dressed up by her kidnappers and made to look enticing, covering up the bruises and marks they left on her.

She eventually escaped through a small window at a house where she was dropped off to be pimped.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services defines human trafficking as the trade of humans in which victims are subjected to coercion, force, or fraud for the purpose of exploitation in the form of forced labor or commercial sexual acts.

“It isn’t just international, it’s right on our campuses and in our schools, churches, homes,” said Kaye Van Nevel, Vista Soroptimist International member.

An estimated 100,000 children and teens are sold for sex in the U.S. each year, according to Congressional estimates. The total number of annual human trafficking victims in the U.S. reaches into the hundreds of thousands.

“I think it’s just a disgrace when human beings are

IMPACT FEATURE 44

treated as slaves,” Van Nevel said. “It is probably the most despicable form of violence I could ever imagine, human beings treated as commodities.”

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, human trafficking is linked with the illegal arms industry as the second largest criminal industry in the world today, just behind drug dealing.

According to California Against Slavery, California Law Enforcement reported that local gangs are moving from selling drugs to selling women and children.

In a California Against Slavery promotional video, Pat Mims explains an incident when he asked a man why he exploits children instead of selling marijuana, he responded, “You can only sell dope once. You can sell a child over and over again.”

At any given time there are an estimated 2,500 homeless and runaway children and teens in San Diego County. According to the FBI, one out of three of them will be lured toward prostitution within 48 hours of leaving home. “The Internet is a huge force now in human trafficking,” Van Nevel said. California against Slavery attributes the anonymity and efficiency of the Internet as reasons why online trafficking is growing.

In February, almost two-dozen people were arrested in Oceanside, Escondido and Vista for prostituting children, according to sheriff’s officials. Officers posted ads on Craigslist offering sex for sale and arrested those who responded to the ads. According to sheriff’s Sgt. Joe Mata, 19 men were arrested for attempting to solicit prostitutes.

Most human trafficking incidents go unreported because traffickers are getting better at keeping their victims quiet.

According to the U.S. Department of State, human trafficking victims that survive their experiences often contract STDs, including HIV and AIDS. They suffer malnutrition, trauma, physical harm or botched abortion complications. They also suffer from psychological issues such as depression, suicidal thoughts and behavior, chronic stress, insomnia, and more. Traffickers often use drugs, terror and threats of violenceto keep victims under control.

“There were times when I would cut myself,” Angela said. “I wanted to kill myself everyday, wondering why this happened to me.”

Most San Diegans don’t understand the severity of the issue.

“There are a lot more of us out there than people are

HOW TO GET INVOLVED Demand laws that create heavier penalties.

Show your support for the California Against Sexual Exploitation Act (CASE) at caseact.org.

Research, donate, participate.

Check out websites like soroptomistvista.org and amnesty471.org for local info.

Go to slaverymap.org to find slavery crimes that happened near your home.

Go to chainstorereaction.com to send pre-written e-mails to your favorite companies to demand fair labor practices.

Download the “C+R Mobile App” for easy, on-the-go tips to fight human trafficking.

Learn how to spot victims.

Victims of human trafficking often show signs of abuse like lack of identification or unfamiliarity with English. They are often scared, submissive, overly nervous or anxious, depressed and dependent.

Educate people around you.

Share this article on Facebook, Twiter and your blog. It is important to make people aware.

Stay back.

Don’t get directly involved if you suspect a case of human trafficking. You could create more problems. If the situation is an emergency, call 911.

To report a suspicion or offer a tip, call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center at 1-888-3737-888.

aware of. It’s like we are the best kept secrets in our communities,” said Svava Brooks, an Irish born San Diegan and survivor of child sexual abuse who now travels and speaks about preventing the sexual exploitation of children.

Angela said she believed the reason she survived was so she could spread the word about the prevalence of human trafficking, in hopes that the next little girl won’t get picked up on her way home from school.

“The only reason I came here today is because I want people to know this stuff is real,” Angela said to the crowd at Occupy. “This doesn’t need to happen to anybody else.” IM

IMPACT FEATURE 45

HIS WISE LENS Q&A with Palomar’s oldest photography student STORY AND PHOTO BY KIIGAN SNAER

IMPACT FEATURE 46

Palomar’s resident greybeard, 88-year-old Jack Iskin, is a World War II veteran, a well-rounded professional photograper and a long-time student at Palomar. Iskin recently spoke about his craft, legacy and retirement.

Q: What did you do before you became a photographer?

A: I joined the Navy. I joined on my 17th birthday because I could not stand living in Brooklyn, New York another minute. I had my dad take me down to the Navy headquarters and ok that I was seventeen. I chose to be an aviation radioman.

I listened for messages the enemy might be sending out. The war started and I was transferred to the South Dakota. It became a very famous battleship. The South Dakota engaged in night battle November 14, 1942 at Guadalcanal. I was assigned to a tower off the main deck.

That’s where the enemy aimed fire. Just about everyone was killed around me, but miraculously I survived.

Q: When did you start working as a photographer?

A: Photography came to me after I got out of the Navy. I went to work on the South West Independent Newspaper after I came to Los Angeles in the 1950s. I did everything: wrote stories, interviews, photography, sold ads. I did it to express myself, to capture themes and inspiration. Everything came to fruition after I retired. When I went to Palomar College that was my maturing at the age of 65.

Under the tutelage of the faculty, I seemed to bloom. I did what I was meant to do…take pictures.

Q: How long have you been a student at Palomar?

A: I have broken the record for aging at Palomar. I am 88 years old and still enrolled. It is still a good thing to wake up every morning and to be involved in the educational program. Campus is a vibrant place for a person in retirement to go to.

It gives you a second lease on life.

Q: What keeps you coming back?

A: Palomar to me is part of my family. It has become a very intimate part of my life. The quality of teaching, the faculty is without a doubt the best there is around. There’s something about Palomar that is a very favorable feeling for a student,

one willing to learn a subject, any subject. Guys like Deegan come and go but I stay around. They’re not getting rid of me.

Q: When did you graduate?

A: That’s actually a very funny story. I get a call from (Associate Professor of Communications) Paul Stachelek and he says, “Jack be here on Friday.” You don’t argue with Paul, he glowers at you. When I showed up Paul says, “Come with me. ” The rest of the faculty from the photography department was there. I asked “Where are we going?” Paul said, “You’ll find out.”

They had a cap and gown which they threw on me. It was graduation! They marched me out to the ball field and said “we’re getting rid of you.” It was one of the most memorable days of my life. I’ve had a lot of surprises in my life, so it was wonderful to have that happen again.

Q: How can taking college courses enrich the lives of people in retirement?

A: You’ve got to have something to do when you wake up in the morning. Retired or older people should look at this time as freedom to learn. You have the ability to do something that you wanted or longed to do through your working years.

Q: How do you think the budget crisis is affecting the photography department?

A: Terribly. If you are an official of the college, what are you going to cut out? Science or photography?

You can cut back on photography without anyone making a fuss. It’s pretty low on the list as a necessary requirement for graduation. I think it shouldn’t be dealt with lightly.

The arts are an important part of learning on the college level to me.

Q: How do you help students at Palomar?

A: I give some money to photography students and servicemen who need a little financial help. I give what I can afford because I’ve been there myself.

IMPACT FEATURE 47

FROM GANGS TO GOD Palomar student draws on his past to counsel youth Story by Shaun Kahmann | Reporting by Gio Nieto | PHOTO BY DAN CHAMBERS

F

rom gang member to emissary of peace, Palomar student Cody Southern used his stint in prison as a springboard to help troubled youths overcome the lure of gang culture and violence.

After being charged with attempted murder and sentenced to life in prison, Southern found himself buried under the full-punitive weight of the criminal justice system for his past crimes. While serving his time at George F. Bailey Detention Facility, Southern’s sojourn in prison gave him ample time to reflect on the shambles his life had become, and the loneliness his violent past had left him with.

“Jail is rough, no one wrote to me,” Southern said. “I didn’t want to become who I was becoming, I realized the life I was living was a life I didn’t want.”

Time in prison left Southern a changed man, though still chained to a heavy prison sentence with seemingly no escape. He fought his case in appellate court and against all odds, he won. But narrowly escaping a life behind bars wasn’t enough on its own to deliver him from the snare of gang-culture. He needed something new, something powerful enough to supplant the only lifestyle he’d ever known. He found faith.

“The first day I got out of prison I went straight to ‘The Rock’, a church in Point Loma,” Southern said. “I heard live music. I hadn’t heard music in a long time, it was a dream come true, it felt unreal.”

Southern’s about-face continued when he met Dennis Martinez, the Executive Producer of television reality series “Off The Streets”(O.T.S.). The program chronicles gang members’ difficult transition from criminal to law-abiding citizen. Southern said Martinez has had a huge influence on his life. Southern said his story was all too familiar to Martinez, who grew up ensconced in drugs.

Since getting involved with O.T.S., Southern has traveled to North County elementary schools and other locations with other former gang members to preach to children about the consequences of getting involved with gangs.

“We don’t tell them what to do. We just talk to them about the choices we made and the outcome,” Southern said. “We don’t go pointing fingers because we know that doesn’t work.”

Working pro-bono, Southern said the work he does with OTS is fulfilling enough on its own. For him, achieving success means participating with OTS and sticking to his faith, which he credits with saving his life. He said he is trying to bring hope into the lives of kids by sharing the story of who he was, and who he has become.

“My advice is to stay away from things that will slow you down or hamper your goals,” Southern said, “ To achieve, you have to get out of your comfort zone. Everything else will come naturally.” IM

IMPACT FEATURE 48

I didn’t want to become who I was becoming. I realized the life I was living was a life I didn’t want.

Cody southern

FORMER GANG MEMBER Cody Southern shares his past with North County youth to discourage gang violence.

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WHEN LIGHT BECOMES ART

By Gio Nieto | Photos by Charles Lugtu

Philosophy professor William Leslie channels his love for nature through the aperture of intricately designed light sculptures. Made of glass and framed with mahogony, his creations have garnered high demand from restaurants, businesses and religious institutions nationwide. With winding and winsome designs, 65-year-old Leslie has used his craft to make a name for himself beyond Palomar’s classroom walls. “I think it is very fulfilling if a person has not one but two careers. Find something you enjoy doing that contributes to the well being of others.”

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Making a living as an artist isn’t easy. I live a dual life and I enjoy doing both of these things. It’s not really work, it’s more like play.

WILLIAM LESLIE IMPACT FEATURE 52

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OUR STAFF

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1 | DAVID LEONARD David is a journalist, editor and graphic designer who loves the smell of fresh newsprint.

2 | JUSTIN MASANQUE Justin enjoys magazines.

He wants to someday be an art director for a magazine.

Either that or a superhero. He is undecided.

3 | SHAUN KAHMANN A clause in Shaun’s contract permits him to conduct interviews at gunpoint. When asked whether he prefered his bullets medium rare or well-done, President Deegan declined to state.

4 | DEB HELLMAN Deb is a photographer with experience in photojournalism, sports and fine art

IMPACT BIOS 54

photography. She earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration in May 2012.

5 | KIIGAN SNAER Kiigan is a deadly assassin with experience in photojournalism, portraiture, and fine art photography.

6 | JOEL RAMOS Joel is a writer and an editor.

He hopes to leave a lasting impression on the world through journalism. He is an avid celebrity gossiper.

7 | HANNAH VILLARUEL Hannah endeavors to drown the entire existence of humanity with art, music and writings until nothing is left but the refinement and ingenuity of art.

8 | SHELBY GRATES A crooked soul trying to stay up straight who seeks to assist the world in progression despite the inevitable cat apocalypse.

9 | HALA YAKZAN Hala is an easily distracted lover of stories, both written and spoken. She hopes to experience and do enough to have her own tales to tell someday.

10 | AGUSTIN GALEANA In times of strife and tribulation, the last thing I need is for humanity to give me false hope.

11 | GIO NIETO Gio Nieto is The Telescope Newspaper opinion editor and a writer for IMPACT.

12 | ANDRIA MUNOZ Interested in music, fashion, and the social scene, Andria’s biggest passion is always learning new things.

13 | JAIE RODRIGUEZ Not a traditional person. Rude and sarcastic, Jaie decides to not go with the flow. But he can still brighten your day.

14 | KIMBERLY WISDOM Kimberly sees the beauty in this chaotic world, and can’t help but smile.

15 | KAYLYNN WARD A hopeless romantic and music lover who enjoys the simple things in life. Always there to brighten someone’s day with a batch of cupcakes and a smile.

16 | MELISSA MEZIN Melissa is our resident redhead. A California native who loves fun, fitness, food, photography, writing, and all that life has to offer.

17 | CEMAKA LAWRENCE You will find Cemaka sitting at the Yellow Deli unwinding with the current and permanent obsessions of life: mate lattes, fashiontoast, folk music and minimalism.

18 | KODI MONEYMAKER “I do not believe in an afterlife, although I am bringing a change of underwear.”

- Woody Allen 19 | Brittany Veytia Brittany is an IMPACT staff writer.

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