IMPACT Magazine Winter 2011 by IMPACT Magazine

It’s Deeper Than Skin

IMPACT

MAGA ZINE PALOMA R COL L E GE WI NT E R 201 2

BODY ART IS ABOUT MORE THAN INK AND BRAVADO - IT CARRIES A MESSAGE

A BREWERY WITH LOCAL FLAVOR TRYING TO FIND LOVE ONLINE?

FAT CHANCE

PALOMAR ALUM MAKES IT BIG IN GAME DESIGN WITH HALO: REACH 1

IMPACT

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF David Leonard ART DIRECTOR Justin Masanque PHOTO EDITORS Deb Hellman Kiigan Snaer COPY EDITORS Natalie Soldoff Shane Sanford ADVERTISING MANAGER Joel Ramos STAFF WRITERS Leena Barrientes Chris Bouchard Bridget Byron Jacqueline Coble Marina Ferrerira Agustin Galeana Shaun Kahmann Cemaka Lawrence Cyndi Lundeberg Melissa Mezin Breeana Torres ADVISER Wendy Nelson IMPACT is produced by students enrolled in Journalism 120, offered at Palomar College in San Marcos, Calif. To learn more about Journ. 120, or to advertise in 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

LETTER FROM THE STAFF We produced the first issue of IMPACT Magazine last Spring and, much to our satisfaction, it was extremely well received. We earned eight individual accolades and won an award for General Excellence at the annual conference for the Journalism Association of Community Colleges. This semester, we humbly return with new ideas and an entirely refocused publication. This edition was produced with you in mind. It confronts tough issues of disease, despair and delights with beautiful art and absurd anecdotes. We turned our heads toward the wind and let your ideas, thoughts and interests wash over us. We plucked stories from the ether of Palomarâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s collective conscious and put them into these pages. We offer you a window in time, fostered by your voice, encouraged by your readership and driven by a need to keep the campus informed and entertained. Flip through our pages and explore the realms of college life. Follow the journey of a student who, in the face of adversity, turned to humor for catharsis.

Discover tips and tricks to navigate a jobless economy. Learn the cardinal rules of beer sampling, and discover a unique local brewery that will keep your taste buds buzzing. As ever, we remain resolute in our dedication to provide you with the finest news, features and profiles centered around Palomar life. We would also like to thank the Associated Student Government and the Palomar College Foundation for their continued support.

CURIOUS TO READ MORE STORIES LIKE THE ONES HELD IN THESE PAGES? Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll have more unique features and insightful peeks into Palomar life up on our new website at www.impactpalomar.com. Log on and check out more exlusive IMPACT content, including additional photos and graphics. Add your voice to the discussion by commening on our work.

Sincerely, Your IMPACT Staff

INSIDE

USED CAR BLUES

The secondhand car market is brutal. Navigate through the minefield with this guide 38 3

TASTY BUZZ

Identify

Influence

Imagine

THESE BARE FEET

LIES YOUR PROFILE MADE

INK IN THE SKIN

Running barefoot might be healthier than with shoes • 18

Online dating is more than just a joke. It’s downright stupid • 9

An overview of body art, a most creative forms of expression • 42

THE GROWING GAY PRIDE

TRASH TO TREASURE

A JOBLESS ECONOMY

The growing LGBT celebration in North County • 24

Two students search through garbage to find gems • 50

Jobs are scarce, but the right degree can still pay off • 46

Sampling a San Diego microbrewery and the three tasting rules

STUNNING DESERT

A photo essay showcasing the beauty of Joshua Tree National Park

Inspire LEARNING TO LAUGH

FRESHMAN TO FACULTY

DRUMMING MADNESS

A stand-up comedienne uses jokes for catharsis • 12

Palomar professor recounts his journey as a Comet • 34

A passionate drummer who leads a second life at Palomar • 48

PROGRAMMED FOR GAMING

LIVING WITH HIV

NIGHTS ON CAMPUS

A former Palomar student hones his craft at Bungie Studios • 20

A student’s positive outlook on his difficult disease • 44

Custodian takes on your crazy mess in the Student Union • 52

SAMPLING SAN DIEGO’S MICROBREWERY SCENE STORY BY NATALIE SOLDOFF PHOTOGRAPHS BY DEB HELLMAN

ny college student of legal drinking age knows what is like to hold a cold beer in their hand. Those that grow to love it know a nice brew when they see one. All it takes is a frosty glass, a frothy head and just the right amount of carbonation bubbling to the surface to make a beer drinker drool with anticipation. Though a good beer may have those qualities, there’s a lot more to beer than that. It’s easy to find what style of brew one might favor by venturing into a microbrewery and taste testing some of their options. People living in San Diego County are no strangers to the idea of microbreweries. San Diego is considered one of the largest beer brewing cities in the United States. As a matter of fact, there are more than 30 breweries within the county. A magazine article in Men’s Journal named San Diego the most popular and fastest developing brewing cities in the country, noting that San Diego offers the most eclectic variety of flavors. The California Small Brewers Association named San Diego in its top five brewing cities. “San Diego is definitely known as a bright and vibrant spot for craft brewing,” said Tom McCormick the executive director of the California Small Brewers Association. “The first breweries to show up were high quality and unique, so San Diego was able to build a name for itself right off the bat.” A great example of the ability of San Diego brewers can be found right here in San Marcos. Nestled in the middle of a crowd of industrial complexes and factories off Rancheros Road, lies the Lost Abbey brewery, owned by Port Brewing Company, offering up more than a dozen different beers all brewed and packaged on site.

THE MANY FACES OF BREW Microbreweries have to compete to remain unique and relevant in a world where brewing is blooming. “This is a very proud industry that is really flourishing and growing profusely, even during these tough economic times,” McCormick explained. “It is a very competitive industry, but there is a comradery among brewers.” One reason the microbrewery business is booming is the fact that every beer is different. “The amount of stuff that goes into a beer is crazy these days,” Gwen Conley the quality assurance director for the Lost Abbey noted. “It used to just be barley, water, yeast and hops. It still is but now you have tons of other flavors brewers toss into the mix.” If you go to two different breweries and taste the same beer type, they will taste differently. If you go to Lost Abbey and taste an India Pale Ale (IPA) beer and you get a

strong bitter flavor with a hint of citrus. Go to Stone Brewery and taste their IPA and you will get sweeter flavor notes with a hint of pine. “Every beer is different, it’s the grain we use, what hops we use, all the flavors we put in,” Conley said. “We use tons of different flavor accents, there’s orange peels, rosemary, chocolate and even carrots.”

WHERE TO DRINK UP IN SAN DIEGO GREEN FLASH BREWING COMPANY

RULES TO ABIDE BY There is a right and wrong way to drink a beer when going beer tasting, believe it or not. Breweries create different beers to appeal to different tastes. They get people to notice various flavor notes and to maintain a variety of sensory reactions to the beer. When beer tasting, half the point is to find differences between one beer and another, to appreciate what goes into the beer. Follow these simple rules when tasting, and you will be coasting the flavor super highway in no time.

THE LOST ABBEY

RULE 1: RESPECT THE BEER

Located in the heart of San Marcos, this brewery aims to serve “inspired beer for sinners and saints alike,” according to the brewery’s website. Lost Abbey offers over a dozen brews year round including a blonde ale named Devotion, a dry ale called Inferno and Judgment Day, a dark ale. They also offer up specialty and seasonal beers aimed to catch the vibe of each season, including Carnevale and Witch’s Wit.

Going beer tasting is much more than heading to a bar to swig back a few cold brewskies. The whole point behind beer tasting is to introduce your palate to a variety of flavors and introduce you to that brewery’s beer. By shooting back samples as if they are shots of whiskey you are doing the exact opposite. “Tasting involves all of your senses,” Conley explained. “What you want to do is be in an environment where your senses are not overly stimulated.” Operating out of the popuWhat this means is lar Pizza Port restaurants you need to be able to Located in Vista, this miin Carlsbad, Solana Beach, concentrate on the beer. crobrewery opened up San Clemente and Ocean Don’t get distracted by in 2010 but has quickly Beach, Port Brewing offers what the group of people claimed a top spot up award winning beers next to you is talking among San Diego’s that are packaged at the about, don’t look around beer culture crowd. Iron Lost Abbey’s brewery wareat all the signs hanging. fist offers up sevhouse. According to Port’s Ignore the sound of kegs eral year round stouts, website, the company being filled in the factory including a blonde strives to offer up aggresbehind you or how hot ale named Renegade sive flavor driven beers. or cold the room is, just Blonde, an orange inSome of their year round think of the glass in front fused ale called Spice of brews include shark attack, of you. Life and a stout named an imperial red ale and Looking at the beer Velvet Glove. Wipeout, a traditional IPA. plays a big part in your initial opinion of the brew. “You can be turned off by a visual instantly,” Conley pointed out. With so many kinds of beer all in one “Someone had once put red dye in their county, how is one to choose which beer beer to make it pink for breast cancer they will like? awareness, but people wouldn’t drink it.” The answer is simple. Go beer tasting! If someone doesn’t like what they are Beer sampling is a great way for people to looking at, they will avoid it. Visuals change decide which type of beer appeals to them. perception, period. Located in Mira Mesa, Green Flash is known for it’s heftier beers, specializing in brewing assertive and distinctive flavors, according to the company’s website. Best known for their award winning West Coast IPA, the company is known for hoppy, bitter beers including Hop Head Red, a red India pale ale, Double Stout, a black ale and La Freak, a dry ale.

PORT BREWING COMPANY

IRON FIST BREWING COMPANY

RULE 2: FLAVOR IS KING The next big step is to smell your beer. “Swirl your beer around in your glass and smell it,” Conley instructed patrons. What you are doing here is releasing volatiles, just like when you taste wine. This adds oxygen to what you taste and creates a stronger relationship between taste and smell. “Believe it or not, whatever you smell counts towards 80 percent of what you taste,” Conley explained. When smelling your beer before tasting it, your brain connects what you smell with something physical. Conley explained that smell and taste have a strong connection in your brain. “What smelling the beer does is take your right brain and say ‘Oh I like this’ or ‘Oh I hate this’ and then put the thought into your left brain where you logically connect what taste the smell is; or here’s what I think of when I smell it.” For example, if you smell a beer and get a scent of fruit, when you sip it you will taste more fruit flavor than any other flavor notes. When beer tasting, brewers aim to do one

of three things to the flavor notes within a brew: cut, compliment or compare. By combing flavors from foods with beer you are able to accomplish these three ideas, depending on what you taste as you sip. “When you cut a flavor, you are using food to change a flavor in the beer you are drinking,” Conley explained. “When you want to contrast a flavor, you find food that accentuates a given flavor in your beer. When you compare flavors you are pairing food to make two flavors compatible, you can combine flavors to make a whole new one.” The key is to sip beer while the food you are eating is still in your mouth. You need the combination of flavor on your palate at the same time to experience the change. “Part of beer tasting and pairing is swallowing at the same time,” stressed Conley. “The retro nasal effect that comes back up through your nasal passages add to your flavor.”

RULE 3: PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE You will not be the only person in the beer tasting room, and most

of the time the brewer is the only server available. This means wait patiently for your brews and don’t keep the server at your table longer than necessary by asking a ton of questions. Many tasting rooms have boards that give stats on ingredients, alcohol content and flavor notes of the different beers offered for sampling that day. A huge chalkboard covered in names of the beers on tap hovers over the tasting bar at the Lost Abbey. You can look here to find the alcohol content for each, and even the origin of the name of the brews. Many microbreweries are only open for a few days each week, making them prime hot spots for beer fanatics to gather and experience beer drinking in the same place it was brewed. Because microbreweries also do their beer tasting on site, you can often get your beer samples for less than a normal restaurant would charge. Whether you’re a hard core beer fan, or looking to test the waters of beer culture, going to a brewery tasting room is an experience that should be had by anyone of legal drinking age looking to have bar experience unlike any other. Cheers!

creepy pics, bloated standards and that ugly racism problem

Story by Shaun Kahmann â&#x20AC;˘ Photographs by Sergio Soa

online dating sucks

ver the last decade, the popularity of online dating websites has exploded. According to Pew Research, roughly 11 percent of Internet using Americans said they’ve used a dating site. Unfortunately, the samples of humanity that can be found on these sites leave a lot to be desired. One would think that as the world of dating became more technologically advanced, daters themselves would evolve along with it. Unfortunately, they haven’t. Rather, online dating is to courtship what YouTube comment sections are to intellectual discourse. The online landscape has caused prospective daters to devolve into reptilian creatures that feed the optimism of their fellow human beings. But if you are brave, you may choose to venture into the online dating world. But be know this: this isn’t advice. It’s a warning. Here are the five ordeals of online dating for men.

5. Heightened Expectations In real life, people usually aim for what they can get. Even where expectations are high, they are often brought down by rejection. Online, this dynamic is compromised by the dizzying array of options. For many, cycling through profiles on a dating site is probably a lot like browsing Amazon.com. They see an ocean of possibilities and in the wake of so many potential mates, they see no reason to negotiate compromises with what attributes they feel their ideal mate should possess. For example, every man who has been on a dating site has seen a “Don’t message me if…” list. These lists are devised by women in order to weed out unwanted male attention. The problem arises when women become far too specific with who they want to hear from. Don’t want to talk to a guy who only wants a fling? Great. Don’t want a guy who does drugs? Ok. Don’t want someone who doesn’t listen to Radiohead? Now you’re starting to go overboard. With the absence of any natural dampener to keep people’s expectations in check, they become demanding to the point of ego-madness. This mindset is as much a hindrance to women as it is to men.

4. Lowered Tolerance for Normal Human Behavior When you message women online you’d better bring your A-game. Because

your ability to spell takes on an extremely heightened level of importance in the online dating space. Any accidental “you’re” when you meant to say “your” will have your current love interest questioning your upbringing. And when you finally do convince a girl to meet you in a brightly lit, public place with plenty of emergency exits, you’d better be at your most charming. Sweat, stutter, or say something stupid and it’ll likely shatter the fragile illusion she had of you as her ideal man and send her running back to her inbox where hundreds of other men are currently banging down her online door. That’s not to say that all of these men will be desirable, but at least she knows she has options. And speaking of which…

3. Women Hold All the Cards Of course, in the real world this is far from true. Women have many disadvantages, not the least of which is that they’re still likely to be considered slutty if they ask a guy out. So they’re stuck flirting, hoping they can get guys to notice them without being overt. This is still somewhat true online, only the paradigm is tilted heavily in their favor. The vast majority of online dating interactions occur when men message women. The problem is that you aren’t going to be the only one messaging

your woman of choice. Not by a long shot. Odds are, she’s wading through an inbox full of suitors of which you are only one. It’s true that this sort of competition exists in real life, but there your competitors are usually only a few guys she knows in her personal life. Online, you’re competing with every guy on earth. Even women who aren’t dead knockouts will still likely have dozens of guys vying for their attention. Even if she isn’t interested in any of her current prospects other than you, she is still secure in the knowledge that she has options. A certainty you will probably never know as long as you date online.

2. Pictures Tell a Thousand Lies One of the most fascinating aspects of online dating is arguably the photographs. Most of them are self taken and are meant to display exactly what attributes a person feels are their most appealing. Even the ones that aren’t self-taken are interesting, as they were selected because they display something the person

the twopart crazy test

PAR T ONE:

PART TWO:

Does (s) he want to know your shoe sizes since birth? YES: Crazy. NO: Not.

Did (s)he ask for your home address? YES: Run. Fast. NO: Solid choice.

of these photos? Well, they come in four categories: Just right, too much information, not enough and ditzy. Photos with just the right amount of information generally show a woman that is fully dressed, photographed either from the waist up or full-bodied, that gives you an accurate depiction of what she looks like in person. These women are the safest bet, as their photos indicate at least some measure of level-headedness. But as always, you’ll have lots of competition. Photographs with too-much information generally contain more cleavage than anything else. These photos may also show a woman surrounded by other guys, her with her ex-boyfriend, her washing a car with a bikini on or her wearing nothing but underwear with her leg propped up on a stool. These women will make your life difficult before you even meet them in person. Talk to these women only if you’re desperate to get laid OR you already know you’re the type of guy these women go for (i.e. musicians/ tattoo artists). Photos with too little information tell you almost nothing about a woman. These pictures usually contain only her eye, a tattoo on her leg, her standing 1,000 feet away in a field, or don’t contain her at all. These women don’t think you should care what they look like. And they’re right. In fact, you shouldn’t care to know anything about them at all. This group is exactly like the previous one, only with a generous helping of pretense. These are the neo-feminists. The types of women who will go to great lengths to tell you exactly what they expect from men in their profiles, without as much as a whiff of the promise of reciprocation. They may seem interesting at first, but you’ll quickly find that behind their multi-colored hair and affinity for scarves, lies earth-shattering blandness. On the bright side, they might be

willing to split the bill over dinner. The down side is, you have to eat with them. Only masochists need apply. And then there’s the ditzy ones. These are the women who post photographs that depict things that have no relationship with common sense. These photos include women giving the camera the finger, making faces, flashing gang signs, or with a group of other women with no indication as to which one is her. These women are on the rebound, they’ve just gotten out of a long-term relationship that ended badly and they want you to know they don’t care anymore. But don’t let the bravado fool you, these are actually the most fragile women you’ll encounter. They are by far the most likely to misinterpret anything you say to them as an insult or suspect that you have an alterior motive for being interested in them. They are sad, bitter and want you to feel the full weight of their incredulity. These women are also the most likely to write their profiles in all-caps. Contact these types only if you’re a psychology major who wants to examine a case study in mental illness.

1. If You Aren’t White, You Aren’t Alright Some say that online dating isn’t for everyone. This is true. So true in fact that you can pin down whether you should give it a try by asking yourself one simple questions: Are you white? If you said yes, than you’re in luck, because the online dating arena heavily favors you. As for everyone else, here’s some bad news. According to OK Cupid, one of the most popular free online dating websites, algorithms they use to record user behavior found that every non-white ethnicity receives fewer messages than whites. In

fact, Asian and Hispanic woman prefer white males to men of their own ethnicity. In addition, many women include racial parameters in their “Do not message me if...” lists that favor whites. And if you’ve ever seen a Match.com or E Harmony commercial, you may have noticed that most of the people featured are white as well. There’s a reason for this. Angloesque people, especially whites, have the upper hand online. Women face the same problem. According to OK Cupid’s algorithms. Black women are the only group of women that actually send more messages than they receive. Again, the online paradigm is usually tilted heavily in favor of women, but black women are the only exception to the rule. This group is actually being ignored. Apparently, men would prefer to date anything else, even if it’s a sociopath who flips her webcam the bird. And speaking of white men, of all the male groups, they are the least likely to respond if messaged by women. The algorithms OK Cupid uses covers millions of users, more than enough for their findings to be considered scientific. Which means, no matter which dating site you use, these metrics will likely apply. In the end, most of the preceding gripes can be found in good ole, flesh and blood reality. But the issue is, and has always been, that all of the negative aspects of dating are magnified by many orders magnitude once computers, distance and anonymity become involved. Venture here only if your expectations are appropriately placed. And if you do go online and experience the frustration so many others have felt in the often vain enterprise of finding love online, don’t bother lashing out at the more ludicrous members of the opposite sex with strongly worded messages. Online hubris is like steel, the harder you strike it, the stronger it gets.

SO, SHEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S WEIRD KI FUNNY. IT Anna Akana jokes about stigmas, mocks her audience and loves going on stage. Story by Justin Masanque Photographs by Johnny Nguyen

S THIS IND OF T’S COOL.

COMEDIAN. JOKESTER. CLOWN. CALL HER WHAT YOU WANT, BUT SHE’S FUNNY. Backstage before a show, she sits in a corner quietly meditating, trying desperately to tame her shaking hands. It isn’t nerves or stage fright but, excitement and adrenaline making this comedienne tremble. With a spotlight overhead and an anxiously awaiting crowd, 22-year-old Anna Akana enters stage left. She begins her act with the standard “Hey, how’s it going?” and seamlessly flows into her stand-up routine. Most who have the pleasure to watch her perform do not know that behind her giggle-jerking jokes, Anna clings to the memory of her younger sister, Kristina, who took her own life a few years ago. “I found out on Valentine’s Day,” Akana said. “I was at the park a few blocks down when some fire trucks and police cars raced by.” Soon after, in a tragic scene so commonplace in film and television, Akana got the grim news over the phone from her younger brother. “It felt so cliché,” she explained, “I went home and sure enough, I saw my sister on a stretcher, then in the hospital, and finally in a casket.” Akana was absent from school that day and as classes came to an end, close friend Gabby Batto casually called her, curious to know where she had been. Akana replied with an invitation to her sister’s funeral. “I was speechless,” Batto said. Though her day was occupied with bad fortune, Akana showed no tears while explaining the rough day to her friend. “I could only imagine how distraught she was earlier that day,” Batto said, “but the fact that she

was able to keep her composure and stay strong to tell me what happened really showcases her character.” Akana took time off school for a month but used her tragedy as motivation to overcome her stage fright and take a crack at stand-up comedy. “I was incredibly stage shy growing up, despite always knowing I wanted to do entertainment. However, at the discouraging words of others, I decided to go into veterinary medicine,” Akana said, “After Kristina’s death, I realized that I shouldn’t waste my life doing what other people told me was best for me, but rather just live doing what truly made me happy.” As her pursuit of comedy led her to happiness, she brought chuckles and aroused laughter from crowds with her comic personality and humorous show sets. “I was pleasantly surprised when I went to her first show in Oceanside,” Batto said. “She had the audience laughing to tears about Asian stigmas, female problems and incredibly personal thoughts.” Akana’s love of performing is evident in her shows. She described the on-stage experience as strange and incredible. “When I’m up there, I’m not really thinking of anything else other than what I want the audience to leave with,” Akana said, “There’s no greater feeling than people finding you funny and laughing out loud at what you say. There’s such a power to it.” Inspired by her everyday life, Akana’s humor is described as relatable. “She comes up with jokes and bits that stem from her family, personal and professional life and that’s why she is so personable,” said Batto, “She finds past experiences that were once embarrassing and rather than ignoring it or keeping it to herself for fear of more embarrassment, she finds a way to turn it into a good story. She’s a story teller, and a hilarious one at that.” In addition to stand-up comedy, her hobbies include reading DC comics, writing, painting, and drawing. She is normally seen carrying a notebook everywhere she goes just in case she has an idea for a joke, a drawing, or even a song lyric and is commonly described by her friends as unbelievably creative. Akana also is now bringing her passion for entertainment from the stage to the camera. “It’s quite different,” said Akana, “Stand up is live performance, whereas acting is an arduous process. They do have similarities though: a lot of driving, a lot of adrenaline, and people who like you or don’t.”

Appearing in a “Sims 3” video game commercial, performing in MTV’s show “Awkward” and a role in the upcoming movie “Underground Comedy,” Akana goes out for auditions one to four times a week. She has had auditions for stations geared toward younger crowds, such as Disney, but is now being pushed by her manager towards shows on MTV and ABC Family. She described the audition process as an odd suspense that took some getting used to. “Most of the time you get your lines a day in advance. The audition notices are almost always the day before, so it’s a bit hectic trying to clear your schedule,” Akana said. “You get there, sign in, and sit in a waiting room with about 15 other people that look exactly like you. You go in, read your lines, they thank you, and you leave. If you get a callback, hooray, if you don’t get it, you’ll just never hear from them.” With an imaginative personality and motivation stemming from her loss, she is heading for success, which she describes as being happy doing what she loves. “I would think that Kristina’s death shed a new light on how life should be lived: without reservations, and you can definitely see that in Anna’s personality,” Batto said. “She speaks her mind, gets things done and reaps the benefits of success.”

“There’s no greater feeling than people finding you funny and laughing out loud at what you say.” Anna Akana 16

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These Barefeet Are Made

For Running

Story By Melissa Mezin Photographs By Deb Hellman 18

s busy college students, we spend a lot of time on our feet. Whether we are playing a sport, working out or simply walking to class, we are almost always on our feet. And every year, people spend hundreds of dollars on shoes to help us run and walk “normally.” But do our feet need that much help? Recent studies being done around the world are telling us that maybe the shoes we have been wearing are actually detrimental to our health. Which leads to the question: is going barefoot better? Daniel Lieberman, a professor of Human Evolutionary Biology at Harvard, is a widely known believer and supporter of the barefoot theory. Lieberman studies runners in America who wear shoes versus people in Africa, who do not. His idea is that if people ran with no shoes for hundreds of years what do we really need shoes for? Through the use of slow motion video, the difference is very evident. He explains that shoes make normal gait (the way we walk and run) almost impossible. So the debate over running barefoot is whether or not it can help us improve our gait. Dr. William Rossi, a podiatrist, explains in his article, “Why Shoes Make ‘Normal’ Gait Impossible,” that gait is the single most complex motor function of the human body. It is so complex that it is the only motor function for which a definition of standard or “normal” does not exist. It involves half of the body’s 650 muscles and 200 bones, along with a large share of joints and ligaments. Despite gait studies that have been done since early man, all the mysteries about human gait have yet to be revealed. First, it’s important to distinguish between “normal” and “natural.” Normal is defined as an accepted standard, a mean or average. For example, everyone occasionally catches a cold, so it could be said that a common cold is “normal,” although this does not mean it is healthy or natural. Natural means the pristine, ideal state, form and function stemming from nature itself. So, the difference between normal and natural is essentially the difference between what is and what can be. We may think that the way we walk or run is fine, but it still might not be right. People who wear shoes may have a “normal” gait, but people who do not wear shoes have a “natural” gait. Lieberman’s studies focus on the difference in a person’s gait. His videos show that when a shod runner’s foot strikes the ground, it usually hits heel first. By your foot striking heel first, it is stopping your body, which makes moving forward more difficult than it should be. These runners can have injuries that occur in their hips and knees, which can be caused by their poor gait. When barefoot, people strike with their forefoot, more towards the toes, which keeps them continuing in a forward motion. These runners usually do not have the same kind of injuries. Barefoot runners are more likely

to have fatigue in their abs and hips rather than in their knees and ankles. Athletes and trainers have many different views on what is good and bad about barefoot running. Brian Crilly, a trainer at Ambition Athletics in Encinitas believes that barefoot is the only way to go. He believes that by not wearing shoes, you can work muscles that you would not typically use while wearing shoes. “You should want everything in your body to be strong, why would you not want your feet to be strong too?” Crilly said. He also stated that he believes that the benefits of working out barefoot are exponential. By going barefoot it forces your bones to become stronger and denser which in return makes them healthier and more efficient, according to Crilly. But what about all of us that have always worn shoes while working out or running? Could going completely barefoot actually be bad for us? Robert Wessels, a trainer at EZIA Human Performance in Carlsbad believes that going completely barefoot while running can actually be detrimental. “A person should work more on their gait and the way they run rather than blaming it all on shoes. Just by deciding to take off your shoes doesn’t instantly mean you are going to be able to run perfectly,” Wessels said. His view is not that shoes are bad for you, but that you should wear a shoe that has less padding and more flexibility so you can achieve a more natural gait, but also enough to ensure that your foot is still protected. People who decide to go barefoot should be very careful, as their feet will have to go through quite a change to get used to running without shoes. People should be advised that they can hurt themselves by going barefoot. Podiatrists and physical therapists all over the country have said that in the last year or so, there has been a large influx of people with injuries that are a direct result of running barefoot or with certain barefoot influenced shoes. Dr. Steve Pribut, a Washington, DC podiatrist and one of America’s most respected running injury specialists, said he has experienced a recent boost in barefoot runners with injuries that include cases such as plantar fasciitis, a painful and hard to overcome heel injury. In attempting to go barefoot, there needs to be a happy medium between running with tons of padding which completely screws with your gait and running barefoot. New shoe technology is helping the world become more comfortable with going barefoot. Major shoe companies such as Nike and New Balance, along with smaller, newer companies such as Merrill and Vibram are coming out with designs that allow a more barefoot approach. Many shoes are now being made to be more flexible, and lightweight, and with very little heel-totoe change in the sole. These new designs may help in changing a runners gait to make it more natural.

Palomar cross country runner Nadine Whann runs the trails at Discovery Lake in San Marcos with her teammates as part of their morning practice.

COMET SOARS TO “HALO: REACH” He’s not a household name, but he made a video game your little brother has probably wasted weeks of his life on. Meet the designer of “Halo: Reach.”

Story by Leena Barrientes Photographs courtesy of Johnny Renquist

t 28, Multi Media Artist Johnny Renquist lives a life most 20 year olds only dream about--he does what he loves for a living and gets treated like royalty for it. Not many people take time out from a heated game of “Slayer” to bask in the beauty of the structures surrounding them, but as an environment artist he does, because he creates them. While the majority of focus on a video game usually goes to storylines, game play, or controversy, Renquist and a team of other artists spend countless hours and drink countless cans of Red Bulls to make sure players have geometrically sound structures for Spartans to run around on.

Getting the Gig

Such a career may seem illusive, but Renquist advises that those in pursuit of such a career invest time in networking while advertising one’s self on professional niche based social networking sites. You can expect to face an art test, Renquist explains. The company gives interested candidates an opportunity to prove they can match the art style needed for the project. If you can match the company’s required style, the next step is to interview. If you don’t live nearby some interviews take place on the phone, and according to Renquist they usually fly you out. The whole interview process time-frame can vary, Renquist explains. The interviews tend to be at least an hour long (up to seven hours in one case). He explained that interviews are usually conducted by multiple people and typically involve being asked the same rephrased questions repeatedly. The interviewers usually refer to the art test and “they ask you how you could have made it more efficiently,” Renquist said. In order to meet the standards of efficiency, Renquest thinks in pieces. Unlike the construction of a tangible building in the actual world, the structures he creates for the virtual world have to conserve memory. The expense of memory is offset by building of the structures. His structures are actually put together with layers reserved for every window and bit of texture. Each piece of the structure comes together to create the three dimensional building that players explore.

Comet Connection

He credits his time at Palomar in 2002 for being the place where he refined his art skills and discovered what he wanted to do. He did not hesitate to credit Palomar Art Professor Kitty Meeks with inspiring him to think outside of the box, “[She] helped me realize that the only way to do art is to have a mindset that way,” Renquist said. “Well, he’s never been a bragger,” Mrs. Renquist warmly chuckled as she reflected on her son’s humility. Before Johnny began his work in the gaming industry, he worked with his hands on his family’s farm. His mother is proud of her son’s talents, “It’s always been his niche.” The white box she pulled out of a closet confirmed Johnny’s affinity for art at an early age. She revealed an envelope that contained a savings bond awarded to her son in the fourth grade. It was for a safety poster for a AAA contest that illustrated the importance of walking against the flow of traffic while on the sidewalk, demonstrating his knowledge of perception at a young age. “I’ve never worried about him,” Mrs. Renquist said. Renquist took control of his career and enrolled in The Art Institute of California, San Diego. His time at the Art Institute was spent mastering the very same programs that would later enhance the iconic worlds of Halo. One of his professors took notice of his talents and recommended him to the art director at Bottle Rocket Entertainment. This kick started his career.

Playing the Field

Renquist explained how quickly his beginner’s nerves dissipated. To give you an example of how dedicated some companies are to employee satisfaction, one company

sent out an email asking employees what kind of chair they’d like. He said, you know you’ve made it when people are concerned about what you’re sitting on. The internship turned into a full time job at Bottle Rocket Entertainment and was the metaphoric toll road in which he paid his dues. He described the place as being disorganized, deadlines were tough, and workloads were uneven. It was evident that this wasn’t going to last, and in September 2009, the company laid-off employees and closed its doors for good. Renquist attributed his smooth transition to his next job at Sony Entertainment to networking. Renquist revealed the interview for Sony lasted about five minutes. He disclosed that Sony had the refinement and the organization Bottle Rocket lacked. Deadlines were clear and as a Generalist Renquist had his hands full in a diverse slew of projects. He had the opportunity to work on projects with his preferred sci-fi style for structures in the Playstation 3 exclusive “Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time.” He also found himself creating floating furniture and chairs made out of gum for a life simulator game titled “HOME.” At this point, he wasn’t solely building static structures, but rather features on the faces of professional baseball players for a Major League Baseball videogame. After his contract at Sony ended, he departed from working on videogames temporarily to work on a film project. When the independent film studio Lionsgate Entertainment outsourced its work to contractors, Renquist was chosen to be one of the two freelance CG artists that worked on a beating heart for the film Crank 2.

The Atmosphere

As an environment artist, Renquist belongs to a field with a small community of professionals. He has the flexibility to pass up any job that doesn’t jive with his desired work place culture. In one instance, he recalled passing on a job that required him to wear a tie. Renquist admits he hasn’t had to really struggle to find a job, thanks to his constant networking so he has had recruiters call him while he was already working. Renquist described the work place atmosphere as having a small world feel that breeds camaraderie. While the companies he works for may change, he usually gets to work with familiar faces.

He also worked on the ending credits only to have them cut and replaced. Renquist explained that when working on movies, a deadline can go from two months to three days on a whim. He confessed that the nearly impossible deadlines eclipsed the extra zeros on his paycheck, which led him to prefer working on videogames. Renquist returned to videogame production as soon as he was free from his contract at Lionsgate.

The Jump to Bungie

Renquist returned to videogames in a huge way, he applied to Bungie. The California native packed his bags and moved to Seattle, Wash. Where he began to work on another installment of XBox’s cash cow first person shooter franchise. The highly anticipated covert project was code named “Omaha” according to Renquist. “The art test was… easy,” Renquist recalled, “because their style is easy to recreate.”

Not all fun and games

Renquist admits to not being able to play video games anymore. He attributed his inability to play to his critical eye. He disclosed that his busy schedule and frequent traveling usually monopolizes his time. When he has a free moment he can be found with his brother and their group of tight knit friends. Renquist confessed the last game he played was Uncharted. Working in the game developing

industry, Renquist confides that his least favorite part are the meetings which he would rather do without. He confesses that while working freelance gives him control over his career, he worries when he doesn’t have health benefits.

Work hard, play harder

Each year Renquist is sent passes to all of the hottest conventions that would have gamers and geeks alike envystruck. He admitted that even though he has the opportunity, you won’t find him at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), San Diego’s own comic book and pop culture convention Comic-Con, because he’s usually a long plane ride away, Renquist said. The wrap party at Bungie was by far the largest scale bash commemorating the end of the project. A goodie bag waited for him on his desk. Bungie had rented out Seattle’s own sci-fi/pop culture museum EMP formally known as Experience Music Project and Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame, and converted it into a nightclub. Renquist described the place as being filled with noise of live bands playing music. He may not be an actor or a rock star, but you really couldn’t tell the difference if you listened to Renquist’s description of the warm welcome/mob of fans that clamored for his autograph at Halo Fest. Reach fans lined up for hours anticipat-

ing the midnight release at Game Stop. Renquist revealed that about two hours into the nightclub-esq buffet wrap party for Reach, he and the other employees were informed that arrangements had been made for the staff to be shipped on charter busses to be set free to interact with fans at the local mall.“Signing a kid’s face was priceless,” Renquist said. Sure, there are some grueling deadlines to meet, but a job that requires so much of their employees offers some perks too.

Forging Ahead

Currently he’s working for Airtight Games on an unannounced title that promises to be “another ambitious AAA title in a genre that is both unique and refreshingly unexplored,” according to airtightgames.com. He said he’s happy to build anything with hard edges, for a free lunch. There is not much he can disclose at this time, aside from the free lunch and dinner and no, not pizza. After three years in the industry, he seems to be conditioned to his accomplishments. Like the construction of any one of his buildings, his journey to get into this career started with nothing. Renquist conveys that at the end of the day launch parties and crazy deadlines aside, Renquist is just doing what he loves.

PRIDE BY ANY OTHER NAME STORY BY JOEL RAMOS • PHOTOGRAPHS BY CHARLES LUGTU

North County’s gay celebration is growing larger every year The start of the day began with busy work for the people in charge of putting on an ever-growing event on the boardwalk of Oceanside. Today marks the third annual Pride @ the Beach Event, an exciting time to be a gay resident of North County San Diego. For gay residents of North County it’s hard to feel a sense of community pride because of the lack of establishments that are tailored to LGBT people. Places like the bars in the heart of Hillcrest, the gay mecca of San Diego, are painfully absent from anywhere in the area known as North County. A person walking through the streets of San Marcos, Escondido or Carlsbad will not find a bar like “Mo’s Bar and Grill,” “Rich’s” or “The Brass Rail.” The North County Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Coalition was founded in 2008 and has been putting on Pride @ the Beach every year since. Attendance at the event has grown from 800 at the first event in 2008 to over 4,000 at the 2011 event. With over 30 members in its club, the Palomar Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Questioning and Allies Club was excited to host a booth at the North County equivalent of San Diego Pride. “I’ve been here since 9:30 this morning setting up. We’re out here enjoying the scenery being one with the community. We’re all advertising our own groups and advertising ourselves,” said Vice President of Palomar’s LGBTQA Club, Dylan McTighe. Annual gay pride parades and festivals happen all over the country. Cities like New York and San Francisco rank highest in attendance, but here in North County San Diego, efforts to increase attendance are growing every year. “I think it’s wonderful that they have been able to pull this together for a number of years now, Pride in North County. There are a lot of people who live in the area north of downtown San Diego that need the support and need the visibility so this is really important and they’ve gotten bigger every year,” said California State Assembly member, Tony Atkins. “While I don’t represent this area and I don’t live here I think it’s really important to be supportive of what they’re doing.” Staying with the tradition of many gay pride festivals, the Pride @ the Beach event for North County residents has become a promotion of acceptance and a contributor to

Ornate parades and huge parties are typical of Pride festivals around the U.S., while San Diegoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s subdued North County event remains a more intimate affair. 26

Oceanside’s Pride @ the Beach event drew the North County LGBTQA community out to the beach for a day of celebration and flair.

a sense of community for the spectators, the participants, and coordinators who make the event happen. “We’re very happy about the vendor support this year, we have about 60 vendors,” said Max Diposti, Executive Director for North County LGBT Center. “Pride really helps to create those bridges of communication between the communities; we’re here to be as inclusive as possible. It’s not only about LGBT people, but also other minority groups: Latinos, AfricanAmericans and so on. We want to have visibility for all diversity not only for LGBT even though it’s LGBT Pride.” Although Pride @ the Beach is significantly smaller than San Diego Pride much of the event seemed to go on without a hitch, with the exception of the performance by a Nicki Minaj impersonator in which the recording kept skipping. Other performers at the event included the San Diego Men’s Chorus, Tronada Dee and Rompe Corazones. Students from local high schools gathered around the stage for a group line dance as the DJ played. Many of the underage students at the event seemed to express a collective open-

mindedness; they stressed the feeling that differences are to be accepted rather than tolerated. Every year the Coalition is able to award different high schools’ and middle schools’ gay-straight alliances. The GSA awards are based on the high and middle schools’ GSA’s ability in “providing respect for diversity in their schools,” according to NorthCountyPride.com, the official website for Pride @ the Beach. Pride @ the Beach yielded $4,000 in profit and will fund the GSA Awards as well as help open the North County LGBT Resource Center. The opening of the Center will provide North County gay residents with a place to gather and promote visibility for the LGBT community in the city of Oceanside according to Disposti. In an email, Disposti said he felt “the event was successful because of the great youth participation.” As the day came to an end, the beach sunset serves as a backdrop to the festivities of a celebration rooted in acceptance and pride in diversity. It’s the end of this year’s event, but just another step toward a truly open-minded society.

LOST IN

Hidden Valley, Joshua Tree National Park 28

NATURE

A Photo Essay by Kiigan Snaer

Hidden Valley, Joshua Tree National Park

Hall of Horrors Rock Formation, Joshua Tree

Near Barker Dam, Joshua Tree

Near Amboy, California

TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHY

A STUNNING DESERT JOURNEY I hated it. But the park grew on me because I stopped thinking. Instead I listened and let nature speak to me. It was then that I was truly able to see. Thousands of Joshua trees, millions of rock, milesupon-miles of scrubby brushcovered desert â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Joshua Tree Park had the Palomar College landscape photography students and I enraptured. Pictures danced before my eyes and I found myself distracted by the amount of beauty that I had initially refused to acknowledge. I was no longer worried about getting the images for my assignment, but instead wanted to ensure that I captured the heartbeat of the land and the echoes of what was. Deserted homes that had once held the hopes of new families were at once lonely and elegant in their vacancy. Rock formations stood bold and strong, having withstood the test of time. Trees that had been burned in fires lay twisted and broken on the ground. My surroundings spoke of both the persistence and

simultaneity of life and death. It was lovely. We spent our days shooting until our film or memory cards ran out. We started early, capturing the sun peeking over the mountains and finally sailing into the sky. In the evenings, we painted the rocks and trees with light and captured trails of stars that had blazed in the sky for millennia. The afternoons were warm and the sun at its peak would drench the landscape in light. Shadows stretched across the land and settled among the groves of Joshua trees. Lizards sunbathed on rocks while dragonflies and honeybees flitted through the air in search of water. Water was scarce, but could be found in clear turquoise puddles on the expanse of salt flats near Amboy. Just as I had grown accustomed to Joshua Tree, it was time to leave. Nature flashed by like a kaleidoscope and with the windows rolled down, I took in my last breath of the park. I loved it.

Near Amboy, California

Amboy, California 33

FROM

STUDENT TO

TEACHER

A Studentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Journey Back To Palomar College Story by Jacqueline Coble Photograph by Charles Lugtu

(Photo courtesey of Pat Hahn) 35

enduring passion for radio and TV through their teachings. “There was actually no radio station at Palomar. So I along with fellow students and Dana Hawkes, established the radio station that exists today,” Hahn said. In fact, the radio station we know today as KKSM was first started in a closet in the former drama lab at Palomar. Hahn described the original set up as small and fragile, “it had a turntable with little wooden legs so you had to take extra care using it.” Hahn was the first engineer, and Sheila Atkins was its first program director. According to Hahn, shifts would be several hours and all the music played was on records. “Beatles, Led Zeppelin, and The Who were some of my favorite records to spin on the shows. The people loved it and I loved it because I got to be a DJ,” Hahn said.

Living the Dream

or Pat Hahn, it has been almost 37 years since he sat behind a wooden desk with a pencil and paper eager to learn the secrets of the world from his college teachers. It was here that his dreams of working in radio and television took shape, and ultimately teaching those subjects. Hahn left home at the age of 18 after graduating from Escondido High School to begin his new life journey. He did not stray too far from home, residing in San Marcos, where he majored in Radio and TV at Palomar College in 1974. Since he did not have a scholarship, he was forced to sign up for work-study landing a job as a custodian at the school. Although, Hahn found the location to be fitting the pay was not enough, so he took a side job as a mail courier for the All-State Insurance Company. A job, which required he drive 70-80 miles a night from 9 p.m. until 3 a.m. “Working both those jobs and going to school full-time was tough, but necessary to get my education,” Hahn said. Despite his demanding schedule Hahn said he was always a good student receiving mostly A’s and B’s in his classes. It also helped that radio and TV had become his favorite subjects to study thanks to two amazing teachers, Dana Hawkes and Russ Jackson (retired). Both these men imbued Hahn with a deeper understanding and an

“

Hahn said he was most grateful to his teachers; it was because of them at 19 he was able to land his first major broadcasting job, while still attending Palomar. KBest95 was the #1 oldies station in San Diego. He was the overnight DJ, and his responsibilities were to produce and run a 5-hour radio show from midnight to 5 a.m. “I was constantly honing my craft – learning to project my voice, doing air checks and researching material as an on air personality for the show,” Hahn said. “People were starting to recognize me as a radio personality, so it was vital that I created a name for myself. Thus, came the birth of Pat Gallagher,” Hahn said of his on air personality name. In time he moved to 91X as the night DJ from 7 p.m. to midnight. He played current Album Oriented Rock music. However, Hahn explained, the station changed formats in 1984 so he and most of the DJs were let go. He quickly got a job at FM Rocker KKOS 95.9 and sister station KVSD AM 1000, an oldies station. The station over time went to news. “It wasn’t for me,” Hahn said, “I was a rock jock, not a newsman. So I left the station.” Despite his dislike for news Hahn said he was actually very good at it. For a year, he worked as a columnist at the Vista Press.

He did a story on a budding news/talk station called XTRA AM 640. His conversation with the news director led him to a new job as a radio news anchor. While he loved news, Hahn found talk radio was in his future. He went back to KVSD AM 1000 to host a talk show. That show grew and became a nationally syndicated radio talk show out of KFMB AM 760 airing in 75 markets across the county. The show caught the eye of Lifetime TV and Hahn soon found himself hosting a national weekly television news magazine program for 95 episodes. Lifetime, however, became a channel for women and his show was canceled. Within 6 months he was back on TV with CNBC. The TV show lasted for two more years. He retained the rights to all the reruns and ended up selling it to a network in Dallas, Texas. He returned to radio as a news anchor on KOGO AM 600 until he got a call that would bring him to a new chapter in his life.

Becoming a Teacher Radio and TV took him around the world, but he eventually came back home to Palomar. After doing broadcast work for 25 years, Hahn went back to school to finetune his broadcast skills. He took a news writing class with Susan Deacon (retired). Hahn said he did so well in the class, a few weeks before the new semester began, he received a call from Deacon asking if he would like to teach part-time. “I always dreamed of being a teacher and I jumped at the shot of it,” Hahn said. “I finally had a chance to give back to the world like my teachers had done for me in the past.” Today, Hahn is the chair of the Communications Department, though most recognized for being the professor of radio and TV courses. He strives to emulate and recreate the same atmosphere that was here when he went to school. “I was able to come here and have a successful career,” Hahn said. “And I just want that for all my students. The great thing about teaching is you can really see the students grow, and that alone is a reward.”

I was able to come here and have a successful career,” Hahn said. “And I just want that for all my students.”

DONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;T SCREW THIS UP Buying a used car is no easy process. Read up to avoid the clunkers.

STORY BY CHRIS BOUCHARD • PHOTOGRAPHS BY SERGIO SOARES

ome people find shopping for a used car exciting, but for many it can be an overwhelming and daunting process. This is especially

true for college students who are usually operating on a tight budget. Since most students do not have the luxury of walking onto a dealership lot and buying a new car, many will have to choose from a selection of used cars. And for some on an extremely limited budget, “very” used cars.

STEP 1: THE CAR (OR TRUCK) The first step in car shopping is figuring out what type of car to purchase. Since most students will have to drive this car for some time, finding the right car to fit their lifestyle is important. If all you need is a reliable vehicle to get from point A to point B, then a simple gas sipping compact car is the right choice. For individuals requiring more out of their vehicle than a compact car can give, something more versatile such as a wagon, S.U.V, truck or van may be the answer. And

of course, if style and enjoying the sunshine is important, nothing beats a convertible, especially in beautiful San Diego. Figuring out the best type of vehicle is easy when the following questions are taken into account. • How many passengers will I need to be able to carry? • How much cargo will I need to be able to carry? • Do I need to be able to tow heavy loads? • Do I need four-wheel drive? • Power or gas mileage? The answers to these questions will greatly narrow the search for the type of car that will best suit one’s lifestyle.

STEP 2: THE BUDGET The next step in getting a new ride is figuring out your budget. By paying cash for a vehicle the spending budget is set. Individuals considering a loan in order to pay for a ride need to figure out how much money they can realistically put toward a car. Write

out a monthly budget and do not over extend. Also take into account that many financers require full coverage insurance, so these payments will add to the cost of the vehicle. The sometimes daunting task of finding a bank or a dealer that will finance a poor college student is another issue to consider. Do not get discouraged during this step because there are places that will finance the purchase. However, it takes some work to find them and there is a probability of paying a higher interest rate. Check with friends and fellow students about their experiences. Take into account that adding a cosigner, i.e. mom and dad, the likelihood of finding a lower interest loan is greatly improved, though this might be costly.

STEP 3: THE SEARCH After establishing a realistic budget and deciding what type of vehicle to purchase, the search begins. Internet resources, specifically, Auto Trader, CarMax and eBay are great and make the searching process quick and easy. Classified ads in newspapers and weeklies such as Penny Saver are also viable

options. These resources are often overlooked, so there are great deals to be found. After finding some possible purchases check out their reviews online. Edmunds.com, Cars.com, and AAA give thorough reviews of specific models. In addition, check automotive blogs to read truthful perspectives from actual owners. KBB.com should be the next stop to find out what the car is actually worth. At this point, there is another decision to make: buy from a private seller or a dealership? There are pros and cons to each. Used car dealers have a bad reputation for a reason, so keep your guard up. It is a good idea to check a dealer’s reputation through the Better Business Bureau before visiting their lot. There are pros to sorting through the sea of crooked car dealers though. Dealerships offer a great selection of cars, many with a warranty. Be wary of the hole-in-the-wall independent dealers who only purchase their car stock from auctions and offer little or no information about the history of the car or a warranty. More often than not, these cars tend to be lemons. A safe bet is a new car dealership that also sells used cars. Their previous owned vehicles usually consist of trade-ins that have been inspected by a mechanic. But this peace of mind does not come free. Used cars from these dealerships sell for the highest price. Cars sold by private sellers, on the other hand, usually sell for the lowest price and are a great place to find a good deal. Since private sellers have owned the car for some time, they can offer great insight into the car’s history. If the person is a neat freak, it is obvious the car has been well taken care of, and vice versa. Many private sellers will also have maintenance records and know about any repairs that have been done or need to be done. The catch to buying a car from a private seller is since you have to look at these cars one by one it takes more time. Do not expect a warranty either, but many times the price is worth the risk. One of the final steps in buying a used car is the most important; make sure it is not a piece of junk. Just kicking the tires is not enough to insure this new investment is a wise one. A CarFax vehicle history report is a great tool in the used car shopper’s arsenal. Identify the V.I.N. (Vehicle Identification Number) from inside the driver doorframe or on the corner of the dash. Then visit carfax.com and enter the VIN to receive a detailed report about the car’s history, including maintenance records and accident details, as well as its owner changes history. Beware though, not all activities are on record. The service does cost a couple dollars but it is worth every penny. If the paperwork checks out it is time to check the car over. Taking the car to a mechanic is always a safe bet, but since most students are already stretching their budget just to buy a car it may not be in the cards. Popularmechanics.com/usedcarchecklist offers a great checklist that will almost certainly save someone from ending up with

TOOLS TO STAY SAFE After you get your car, it’s time to get it ready for the open road. To the right is a list of things that you should always have in your new ride. Some might seem like overkill, but anyone who has been stuck without one of these essentials will attest to their importance.

a Junker. Some simple technics the list describes are to always look at the car in bright natural light. This reveals the most flaws. Check for fading paint scratches and dents. Most southern California cars are not prone to rust, but if rust is present use your better judgment. Rust is like cancer for a car. Check for signs of an accident; these include body panels that do not line up straight or are a slightly different shade of color. If there

are signs of either, the car might have been in a wreck. The doors should all open and close without a struggle. Take a magnet to different parts of the car to see if body filler or bondo was ever used for a repair. If it was the magnet will not stick. Check to make sure all the lights and electronics work. If the paint and body check out, pop the hood and check for any signs of leaks. Check all the fluid levels. If some are low it could

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JUMPER CABLES OR JUMP BOX JACK, TIRE IRON & SPARE TIRE CAN OF FIX-A-FLAT PROOF OF INSURANCE AND REGISTRATION A COMPLETE SET OF MAPS A FLASHLIGHT AND EXTRA BATTERIES A ROLL OF DUCT TAPE

just need a top off or there may be an unseen leak. Pull out the oil dipstick and look at it in the light. If it has small metal chunks or bubbles walk away or be prepared for some costly repair bills. The next step is to take the car for a test drive. Nothing tells more about a car then a good test drive. Do not just take it for a quick cruise around the neighborhood. To get a good

8 9 10 11 12 13 14

feel for the car get a well-rounded drive in it. Take it out on the highway, down windy roads, up hills, drive up a ramp into a shopping center. Test the stereo a different time. During a test-drive listen and feel what the car is doing. If the engine makes a ticking or knocking sound, or if you feel banging from the suspension, or jerking from the transmission as it shifts, walk away. Most used cars have a few small things that need

A SPARE KEY TO YOUR HOME WATER FOR YOU AND YOUR CAR OWNERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S MANUAL FOR YOUR CAR STOCKED FIRST AID KIT FIRE EXTINGUISHER ROAD FLARES OR REFLECTORS PEN AND PAD OF PAPER attention and can often be used to haggle the price down, but unless you plan on forking out thousands more dollars for repairs stray away from major problem like bad leaks or powertrain problems. After reading this students that are detailed and diligent will greatly reduce their chances of ending up with a clunker and will have many great miles behind the wheel of their new to them car.

This Ink Runs Deep STORY BY AGUSTIN GALEANA AND KIIGAN SNAER PHOTOGRAPHS BY KIIGAN SNAER AND DEB HELLMAN 42

INK. TATTOO. BODY ART. DIFFERENT WORDS, SAME DEEP MEANING.

lose your eyes and imagPeople like Jorge Nava beg to ine the most important differ. At first glance, he looks like thing in the world to you. a tough guy and the quintessenNot just something physitial punk kid with throwaway tatcal – something with true meaning. toos that were haphazardly picked Is it a fond memory? Does it have off of the wall of a tattoo shop. Afto do with your ter speaking to faith or your behim, however, it liefs? Perhaps it’s is clear that his a person. Whatmost obvious tatever it may be, it too tells a differmust be signifient story. A black cant to you and and gray banner shape who you adorned with are. Some may the name Diego choose to keep stretches across these totems to Nava’s neck. themselves, but “It is a methere are those morial tattoo for who proudly my baby brother wear them on who died on Octheir skin by way tober 22, 2004. I of needle and ink. have a plethora Tattoos ofof tattoos that fer a window hold great signifiinto the wearer’s cance to me, but personality and that one will alsoul. They reflect ways be the most a deep and perimportant,” Nava manent need to said. remember a moThe comment, or idea or memorative loved one. The piece is as much sprawling lines an homage to of ink and soft Nava’s brother as gradients are it is a therapeutic more than just tool used to deal markings on skin with the grief – they’re the mesof his brother’s Jorge Nava sages we leave passing. Though Palomar Student for our future his tattoo was selves. done with nothThe permaing more than a nence of body art Bic pen and an is a common argument that the disRC car motor, the lasting effect of approving use as fodder to load their having his brother’s name engraved hate cannons. “Let us see how much on him will last a lifetime. you love that tattoo when you are At first glance, you might not 60,” these naysayers whine. “That expect Edie Adamo to have a tattattoos will sag with age and lose too. She seems like an ordinary stuvalue. You’ll regret it.” dent, donning a cardigan, t-shirt and

“

It’s a memorial tattoo for my baby brother who died ... I have a plethora of tattoos that hold great significance to me, but that one will always be the most important.

jeans. However, once free of layers, you are faced with a colorful masterpiece. Thick tendrils of vibrant ink flow up her back and settle into a sea of tattoos. Adamo has used her back as a canvas to document her journey through life. Her side features a self-portrait nestled among goblins, trolls and a forest that travels across her back. This portion of her tattoo is a personal reminder to look beyond the trees because things are not always as they seem. The bare sections on her back are indications/place holders of future endeavors and the continuation of her ongoing work of art. Looking to the past, Josh Silva took a page from his tribal heritage and placed it on his calf. “The concept of the galactic butterfly conceived by the Mayans, that represents all energy and consciousness that has existed since before the earth was created, and on through the centuries,” explained Silva. He decided on the tattoo, because of the connection to his roots and his desire to express an unbreakable ancestral bond. Some use tattoos as a representation of themselves – to exclaim to the world who they are and why it is important. Miranda Stone bears a Celtic cross on her shoulder to solidify her connection to her faith in Catholicism. This is a fairly controversial statement since Stone identifies herself as gay. Her ink symbolizes the finding peace and comfort within her sexuality and her religion. The tattooed feel the need to express their thoughts and experiences literally. They put it all out for everyone to see, wearing their heart and mind and history on their sleeves. Their devotion to self-expression is more than an aesthetic choice – it’s a raw, artistic articulation of the story of their life, laid bare for all to see.

Thinking

Story By Breeana Torres Photographs By Charles Lugtu

Positive

artying, random hookups and a care bodily fluids entering another person’s free lifestyle are what many college bloodstream. students associate with having a When Daniel first discovered he was good time. However, this lifestyle HIV-positive he was angry; “I was blaming can have consequences that are far from the guy who gave it to me, I should blame being defined as fun. While no obvious myself for not protecting myself, knowing symtoms surfaced, a gut feeling told the risk of getting HIV and not taking ad20-year-old Daniel something was wrong. vantage of it,” Daniel said. Life for former Palomar student Daniel has Living with HIV has been a challenge drastically changed for Daniel; once diafter recently been agnosed with HIV, he diagnosed with HIV. had to alter his life“I still don’t know style drastically. who I got it from, but “When you get I want to know who HIV, your whole life gave it to me because changes. I have to he needs to get testeat healthier, I have ed,” Daniel said. to exercise, I have You can be HIV-postive and According to to do a lot of things not show any symptoms for years. The only way to be sure Planned Parenthood, I wouldn’t normally you or your partner are not about 40,000 women do because I have to HIV-positive, is to get tested. and men in the United think about my imStates get diagnosed mune system and with HIV each year. how it will be afBecause symptoms fected.” Since Daniel are not always obvihas been diagnosedAlthough oral sex is less risky, ous, many individuwith HIV he said he you can still contract HIV from als do not know they is required to take oral sex with either a man or carry HIV and may 900 mg of medicawoman who is HIV-positive. Alspread the virus to tion daily. He said he ways use a latex barrier when others. takes Atripla, which participating in oral sex. Human Immuis a combination of nodeficiency Virus, three HIV medicines or HIV, is an incurin one pill. There are able virus that breaks a variety of side efdown the immune fects associated with Evidence shows that you cansystem and weakAtripla, however, not get HIV through touch, ens a person’s abilit is important for sweat or saliva. You can only ity to fight infections Daniel and his fight get it through blood, semen, or and cancer. Although against HIV. “I feel vaginal fluid entering another Daniel has a posidoped out throughperson’s blood stream. tive attitude about his out the whole night condition, he admits and when I wake up that his life gets physithe effects make me cally and emotionally feel tipsy,”Daniel said Although death rates from difficult at times. “It “I’m 20 years old and AIDS were extremely high in makes me think about have to take medipast decades, antiretro viral my future, like what if cine for the rest of my drugs allow those who are I get depressed and life. It’s annoying but HIV-positive, and even those decide to stop taking crucial.” with AIDS, to live much longer. my medicine,” Daniel Along with physisaid. cal struggles, Daniel Like many others, deals with psychoDaniel had misconlogical issues as well. HIV is the virus that leads to ceptions about HIV “ I do see myself difAIDS. When a person is said and how it is transferent but at the same to have AIDS, his or her CD4 mitted. “To be honest, time not really, I see count is below 200 or he or I actually felt scared myself as a normal she has certain infections or of people with HIV, I person but then I cancers. A person can have didn’t want to really start thinking about HIV for years without having hang out with them my status and then I AIDS. because I thought I feel bad, I feel that I would get infected should be secluded from them,” Daniel from everyone else said. for some reason,” Daniel said “ I’m more Daniel is one of many individuals who concerned with what I do, whenever I contracted the HIV virus through unprobleed I panic because I don’t want to intected sex. Although HIV can also be transfect everything. I always feel insecure and mitted by sharing needles, the most comscared about infecting others.” mon way it spreads is through HIV- infected Daniel faces many issues now that he

HIV MYTHS

I could tell if my partner is HIV-positive

I can’t get HIV from oral sex

I can get HIV by being around people who are HIV-positive

I’m HIV-positive, my life is over

HIV is the same as AIDS

“

To be honest, I actually felt scared of people with HIV, I didn’t want to really hang out with them because I thought I would get infecteed from them. Daniel

has been diagnosed with HIV. Although Daniel has talked to his father and sisters , he has yet to tell his mom about his status. “ It’s going to be really emotional and hard,” Daniel explained. Although Daniel learned about HIV and the dangers involved with having unprotected sex in high school, he did not take it seriously and continued to not wear protection. Now that Daniel has met someone he is interested in, he says he feels guilty about being positive and knowing he should have protected himself better. “I regret not caring, I didn’t give a shit and now I wish I did,” Daniel said. Modern technology and medicine have greatly increased survivability for those diagnosed; however, it is still a life-altering virus that is highly preventable. The social stigma associated with HIV and getting tested is a big problem according to Brian Hayes, a sex educator with the Get Yourself Tested campaign. “We need to normalize getting tested, that’s the only way it’s going to spin off,” Hayes said. Get Yourself Tested is a campaign, which encourages young people especially college students to get tested and talk about STDs. Hayes said he believes we can normalize this issue by being open about getting tested, talking about it and not being ashamed about it. “The overall message is go and get tested, don’t think you are immune don’t think it wont happen to you. If you are sexually active you can get an STD, no matter how careful you are,” said Hayes. Daniel’s story is one that everyone can learn from. Contracting HIV has made life challenging, but Daniel continues to stay positive. “I am thankful for having amazing friends, knowing I have friends that are always there for me helps me stay strong.” Daniel says he would like to continue his education and dreams of one day working as a hair stylist, graphic designer or interior designer. Although there are times his status brings him down, Daniel continues to surround himself with friends and have a good time. “Be calm, you won’t die from it.. it’s a chronic disease but its not like you will die,” Daniel said. “HIV is no longer a disease that will kill you, you can control it and live it with it.”

Story by Chris Bouchard

WHERE TO GO FROM HERE? 46

n this tough economy, picking the

right career path

is more important than ever. A new degree in investment banking for example will not yield the same results it did a few years ago. However there are still career

opportunities for students who plan

ahead. America’s economy is struggling, and with millions of Americans out of work,

students must plan ahead and look

for careers with good growth opportunities. With proper planning it’s still possible to pick a profession that will not only increase a student’s odds of landing a

job right out of college, but also pay

the bills and keep them happy. According to Palomar Career Center Coordinator Eddie Tubbs, “To find careers that will be a good fit, students have to do research.”

THE MEDICAL PROFESSION IS ONE OF THE BEST EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES. SURGEONS, PHARMACISTS, NURSES, ETC. WILL ALWAYS BE NEEDED

Economic forecasters sometimes disagree on which job sectors will recover the fastest. However, most do agree on certain industries being in demand when students finish their education. “Think about anything futuristic, anything green, anything Bio or anything that gives us energy,” said Palomar College counselor Cari Martinez.

HEALTHCARE No matter if it is a recession or progression, people get sick. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of elderly people with increasing healthcare needs will grow faster than the total population between 2006 and 2016. As baby boomers age, this industry will offer some of the best employment opportunities. “A lot of people don’t know much about healthcare, it’s not just nurses and doctors,” said Tubbs. Healthcare is the largest industry in the U.S., so there will always be a wide array of jobs ranging from doctors and surgeons, pharmacists and physical therapists to medical scientists and substance abuse/mental health workers. According to CNBC there are more underthe-radar jobs that often get overlooked as well, such as X-ray technician, lab tech or physical therapist assistant. Some healthcare careers can even be acquired with an Associate’s degree. For example, registered nurses, nursing aides, orderlies, attendants, licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses. “The classes necessary to get into these fields are filling up fast and maintaining a high GPA is mandatory to stay competitive as these fields get more and more saturated,” Martinez said.

ENGINEERING Another booming industry is engineering. Engineering jobs pay some of the best salaries. A 2009 survey done by moneywatch.com, found engineering majors claimed eight of the top 10 highest paying degrees. Engineering covers a broad range of job fields; just about every industry has engineering associated with it. Martinez said another good adaption is

bioengineering, because it combines both the booming medical industry with engineering. A bachelor’s degree is required for most entry-level engineering jobs and research positions may require a graduate degree.

GREEN The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports another rapidly growing industry is green jobs. These include careers in recycling, electric vehicles, alternative energy and green construction. LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is an internationally recognized green building certification system that is gaining momentum; even Palomar College’s new MD building is green. Made with recycled materials, the building was designed to use natural light and ventilation to help save energy.

LEGAL

BUSINESS Even the crippled business and financial industry has careers in demand, although the opportunities have shifted quite a bit because of the poor economy. Financial advisers and analysts will continue to be highly sought after as people try to figure out where to invest. Math nerds are in luck with this field as well. The employment prospects for actuaries are above average as companies need math types to help them assess the risk of the occurrence of certain events and craft policies accordingly. Market research analysts are in high demand as companies try to understand what consumers want, then the best way to advertise. “Five years ago we saw more students finding jobs then ever before. Five years later it is just the opposite. Finding a good job after college is very much still possible if navigated well. Do career research, take career assessment and meet with a career counselor,” Tubbs said. “Find a balance of what you like to do with careers that are in demand.”

THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY THE GOOD

• HEALTHCARE • ENGINEERING • GREEN CONSTRUCTRION • ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

THE BAD

• RETAIL TRADE • AUTOMOTIVE WORKERS • TRAVEL & HOSPITALITY

THE UGLY

• BANKING • MANUFACTURING • CONSTRUCTION

Many forecasters believe jobs in legal services will also be in demand. Almost all areas of the legal system are in need of more workers, including paralegals and stenographer/ court reporters. These high demand careers will continue to exist even as the economy improves, because people’s opinions will always differ, therefore opportunities for legal professionals will always be needed.

e f i L m u r D A Story by Bridget Byron â&#x20AC;˘ Photographs by Alex Chomik 48

JUST ANOTHER GUY IN A BAND, RIGHT? BUT HIS LIFE IS DEFINED BY HIS RHYTHMIC PASSION

magine you’re in an old run down movie theater, caged in against a fence while your head is in a constant nod to the music. All the while, the beat of the drums and bass are shaking your insides to the point where you can barely breathe. Directly in front of you are five large men, faces stained with anger, demanding your attention as they scream at the world. The lights fade from yellow, to red, to dark. A man is sporting the bands popular windbreaker that reads “Dedicated to hate.” A woman beside you has the bands’ name “Colossal” sharpied across her chest. Meet Colossal’s drummer, 21-year-old Tony Pitino. He works 40 hours a week while going to school at Palomar, and still makes time for the band. Pitino has been the drummer for Colossal since March of 2011. When asked how Pitino’s drumming life began, he explained that it blossomed in the eighth grade thanks, to his growing passion for heavy metal. Without any lessons under his belt, he began jamming with his friends after school. Pitino admits at first his drumming didn’t sound so great. “Eventually that shitty-ness starts to sound better as the years go by,” he joked. Pitino pointed out that his earliest musical influence was a late 80’s thrash metal Brazilian band named Sepultura. “Their drummer has a crazy different style,” Pitino said. “He wasn’t the best drummer in the world, by any means at all, but he would make some simple shit sound really cool.” The most important influence in his life is his Uncle James, Pitino said. He described his Uncle James as a man who lives and breathes music. He said he does not display any kind of negative energy, and he slashes his own path wherever his feet take him. When asked what Pitino most admired about his Uncle, he said, “He is not the richest dude in the world but he is the happiest guy I know.” To cope with the anxieties that come along with putting himself out there in the public eye, Pitino has his own rituals. On the ride up to LA for his first show, Pitino said, he nervously had his headphones glued on the whole way. The small 50 person crowd made him loosen up a bit. He said from that point on, it would keep getting easier each show he performed. Even so, an hour before a show, he still does his rituals. “I put on my headphones while I’m in my corner facing the wall doing all of the drumming motions to the entire set list. I’ll probably go through the CD about three times,” he explained. Pitino said it is stressful performing in front of people and there is aways that fear of forgetting the song. This happened at a show in Las Vegas. “We had just written the new song ‘Abomination’ and the guys in the band weren’t sure if I was ready to play it. ‘Yeah! I know how to play it,’” Pitino explained. When they got on stage, Pitino messed up within the first 30 seconds of the song, playing only

“

As a band you are supposed to be like a brotherhood.

Tony Pitino three measures instead of four. On the fourth measure, he stopped playing and the rest of the band kept playing. All the members turned to look back at him. The crowd went silent. “It’s okay, keep playing!” a fan yelled. Colossals’ biggest obstacle is finding the time to practice, Pitino admits. “When we get on stage our shit is very simple but it’s catchy and that’s how we get away with it,” he said. Pitino believes that a band is able to make good tunes because you hang out with each other, and are good friends that all feel the same way musically. The members are supposed to share their expressions and vibes, he added. It is because of this the band is able to create something listeners can relate to. “As a band you are supposed to be like a brotherhood,” Pitino said. He said he has known one of the guitarists Big Mike, who introduced him to the band, since ninth grade. Big Mike’s job is to network through all his connections in the metal scene, which is extremely important in promoting the growth of the band. The rest of the members handle all the business aspects such as printing, merchandising, booking, and organizing. Colossal’s lyrics are full of hate and violence. However, Pitino said he does not live his life in this way. He does not write the lyrics for the band, he only plays the beat of the drums. With the rise of illegal downloading, bands must adapt. “A band nowadays, wants people to download their music, illegally or not, because they want their names exposed” Pitino said. Once a band is known, they become somewhat like their own clothing company. Colossal is making windbreakers, tank tops, and shirts sold at their online web store. This is another way bands are adapting in order to make their band profitable.

Check out Tony’s band, Colossal, at:

facebook.com/colossal youtube.com/colossalca purevolume.com/colossalca 49

AN ETSY INTERVENTION STORY BY AGUSTIN GALAENA PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF CODY HENDERSON AND WHITNEY LANEAR

We all have a closet full of old junk: clothes our grandparents used to wear, old board games, that knitted sweater that was a nice gesture from your aunt but was not quite your style, but that is what they remained: junk. We do absolutely nothing with it and it ends up taking space. Palomar students Whitney LaNear and Cody Henderson are constantly searching for items like these - with potential to be vintage or kitschy. Taking their love for vintage and putting it into the 21st Century, they find old gems under the grime, and sell them in their online shop via the increasingly popular online megastore, Etsy. LaNear and Henderson ingeniously take the mantra of “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure” and put it to work. Impact decided to interview these Etsy titans to find out what it takes for average Palomar students to balance school and what they truly love doing.

IMPACT: HOW DID YOU GET THE NAME? “We were sitting in your car, remember? And we were trying to figure out a name for the shop, because you cannot change it after you have made it on Etsy,” LaNear said to Henderson. “And I wanted there to be some kind of alliteration and that kind of works with ‘invention’,” Henderson said. “We kind of just decided that whatever the next song was on the radio would be the name, and Arcade Fire’s ‘Intervention’ came on,” LaNear said. “Word. I guess that is how it happened. I came up with the reasoning behind the name, at least. I am a very sentimental, almost hoarder-style, but I am not disturbed in the head like that. When we go looking for stuff, my reasoning is that we are intervening from stuff going in the trash, and getting it to people that will use it,” Henderson said.

IMPACT: WHAT GOT YOU INTO THE BUSINESS OF SELLING ON ETSY? “There is a blog I would look at a lot called The Dainty Squid, and she is a very famous Etsy seller, and I thought her blog was really cute. And we have been collecting older things forever,” LaNear said. “When I was in junior high and in high school, I would ride my bike to an antique store on Vista’s Main Street, and I would look at all the antiques and buy random things. Actually, when I was younger, I would go to this book store, and I didn’t read very much, but I liked all the old books and bought their dollar comics. I have been stuck in old stuff,” Henderson said.

IMPACT: WHAT KIND OF STUFF DO YOU SELL ON YOUR ETSY SHOP? “Vintage anything. Except underwear cause that’s gross. We have a lot of automotive stuff cause that’s what Cody is into, and

I’m always looking for clothes. We have lots of cool kitchen and home decor type stuff too,” LaNear said.

IMPACT: HOW DO YOU FIND YOUR MERCHANDISE? “We will peek in random thrift shops and little things will catch our eye. I got three 1966 Bacardi shot glasses,” Henderson said.

IMPACT: HOW LUCRATIVE IS YOUR SHOP AND HOW LUCRATIVE WILL IT BE IN THE FUTURE? “There are a lot of people on Etsy that see this as their job. They have no day job,” LaNear said. “The hardest part is getting people into your shop. It is not a shop on a street where you can judge by foot traffic if people will be coming to your shop, it is directing people onto the website. Once the high profile items are gone, it becomes about getting more in, and it can become very lucrative. So far, though, it has made everyday life easier,” Henderson said.

IMPACT: HOW DO YOU PROMOTE YOUR SHOP? “The nice thing about the website is that you can look at where traffic is coming from, and what are the most sites. Google and business cards too, because people come directly from web addresses from our business cards,” Henderson said.

IMPACT: WHAT IS ONE OF YOUR FAVORITE ITEMS YOU’VE SOLD? “It made me so happy. I sold this automotive GM glass bottle and there is a manual for a 1965 Oldsmobile, and a guy bought both of them from us, and sent us of pictures his completely restored 1965 Oldsmobile with the bottle sitting in a bracket under the hood right where it is supposed to go and had the manual with the car. It was exactly what

I would hope to expect from a customer,” Henderson said. “I just like selling clothes. It is just fun to see what people like. There was a girl who was willing to pay $12 shipping for a scarf that was only so big,” LaNear said. “We sent it to England,” Henderson added. “I also love it when people buy internationally. We sold a small bud vase for maybe $3, and she was willing to pay ten dollars shipping to Australia,” LaNear said.

IMPACT: ARE THERE ANY ITEMS YOU CAN’T SELL? “We do have one item that we cannot necessarily sell on Etsy. There are people that collect this, and I bought it for that simple fact. A book that people know as a ‘Tijuana Bible’. I got it at a swap meet, and it is awful. And it is creepy because Betty Boop is in it, and you think you are reading the Sunday funnies, but then it goes horribly wrong,” Henderson said. “It is pretty dirty, a little too dirty for our shop,” LaNear said.

IMPACT: WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH WITH THIS STORE? “We don’t want this to rule our lives. But it is fun, and to make life a little easier. Not that we can depend on it, but when we do sell a few items, it may be an extra $50 in my gas tank,” Henderson said.

IMPACT: DOES THE STORE MAKE YOUR LIFE EASIER? “How much is tuition now? $40 a unit? I found that the store really helped to handle tuition more. I don’t have to worry about how big my paycheck was that month because I was able to set something aside from the shop. It is nice because it is a weekend thing. And it does not have to be thrift stuff,” Henderson said. “Yeah, and with school, it doesn’t matter what your major is, you will find things every week that you have to purchase. I am taking a restoration automotive class where I had to buy a grinder to cut the metal out of my tailgate. I used to be a photography major and before I knew it, I had to come up with eighty bucks for another pack of paper to last me, maybe, to the end of the month,” Henderson added.

IMPACT: ANY FINAL WORDS? “It’s tough starting up our own little business in the midst of school. Work, and our own relationship, but it’s been so much more rewarding than just the money we’ve earned. We relish the times we go hunting for treasures that someone else will love, and love getting to know our customers better. And the longer we’ve been at it. I think we’ve been getting to know ourselves a lot better too, which, in my opinion, is what it’s all about,” LaNear said.

HE’S NOT JUST A NIGHT JOB

STORY BY JACQUELINE COBLE • PHOTOGRAPHS BY DEB HELLMAN

s the crowd in Palomar College’s Stuto do the things he wants to do. dent Union begins to simmer down Too often, people overlook the very imin the early evening, Tyrone Davis is portant role that the custodians play here on just beginning his work, poking around the campus. Yes, they clean but they also handle custodians’ closet for his small repairs, act as cleaning tools and cart. security guards, orHis shift doesn’t acganize recycling and tually start until 5 p.m., even set up events. but Davis likes to arrive A 15-minute walk early to survey the area around campus with and see what is in store Davis demonstrates for the day. Dressed in his attention to dea long sleeve long John tail. For almost every shirt, jeans complete room he services, Dawith a ball cap and a vis understands evesmile, Davis has berything that is taught come well-recognized in them - information on campus for his vivagathered over time cious personality and spent cleaning the dedication to the mainsame places. tenance of the Student “I’ve been working Union. here since November Even so, his occu2006, so I am very fapation does not define miliar with the history TYRONE DAVIS him. “I am a poet and a of the departments teacher; I am a thinker here,” Davis said. and I am a reader. JaniPrior to being altors are people, and people have interests located to the Student Union, Davis was asand aspirations,” Davis said. He explained signed to athletics, where his duties included that being a custodian helps him maintain a the gym, the pool and the locker rooms. livelihood, but also allows him to still be able Since then his area has almost quadru52

“

I WANT THE PLACE WHERE STUDENTS AND FACULTY WORK TO BE THE BEST SO THAT THE GREATEST LEARNING CAN HAPPEN. NO DISTRACTIONS.

pled, now encompassing the cafeteria, the offices of ASG, and the student affairs’ boardroom and restrooms. Davis takes pride in his work, and the calculated way in which he goes about it. “I start in the closet and make sure that I have all the gear I need to do the restrooms later on in the night, because traffic is slower then,” he begins, describing his plan like a coach plotting X’s and O’s. “I am very detailed and meticulous; I am not the type to rush through an area.” The Student Union is where Davis said he does the majority of his work, because it is a high profile area that has a lot of traffic. Since it does not close until 7:30 p.m., Davis’s strategy in handling the area is to set up as much as possible before he can really go to work. This requires getting all the trash off the tabletops and picking up all the big trash from the floors. “On some days, you would think that the table was a trash can,” Brandon Roberts said, a Barista coffee shop employee in Student Union. “Sometimes the amount of trash I find startles me,” Davis said. However, he does not allow it to devastate him; instead Davis is confident. “Whatever the students dish out, when they come back at 6 a.m. it’ll be clean,” he assured.

Aside from gathering trash, Davis also has the task of rounding up the chairs, so that square tables have four chairs and round tables have five. Oftentimes, Davis finds he has to bring the black chairs (made specifically for indoors) back inside and put the gray chairs (meant for outdoors only) outside again, a necessity since the placement of the new red rubber floor in Student Union. “He is very diligent, he tries to make sure everything is picked up,” Jean Weinfurter said about Davis and his work. Every Monday and Wednesday she waits for her daughter to finish Japanese class in the Student Union. “The Student Union closes at 7:30 p.m., but Davis is nice. He lets me sit here until 8 p.m.,” she said. Davis said he doesn’t start mopping the floor until 8 p.m. so her being there does not prevent him from doing his work. Marilyn Lunde, staff assistant for the office of student affairs, noted that since Davis has taken over the Student Union, there has been an improvement. “Things get picked up and cleaned up sooner than it did before. I remember

when trash cans would be overflowing, because they were just so full,” Lunde said. “Davis’s work has been great; he is very conscientious and tries to finish up everything every day.” One of Davis’s last jobs of the evening is locking doors. He explained that maintaining the safety of the building is important, so students and faculty workplaces do not get disturbed. “I am now one of the few people who put the college to bed at night,” Davis said. “I make certain to set the alarms to all buildings, specifically the ones with computers, and lock each door behind me.” Since the start of the fall semester, Davis has worked his shift alone. Custodial management is extremely short handed because of budget cuts, and it seems to have taken the biggest toll on the night shift, from 10 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. “It can be overwhelming for those working the graveyard shift,” Davis said. “Because there is more work than people, the work load can put a lot of pressure on you and it also makes it hard to be thorough when you are expanded so far out.” Davis used to work the graveyard; he said

it was divided into teams of about three. It was through this experience that he and another custodian bonded. “Davis is a very good employee, he has a great work ethic and he really cares about the appearance of the school and his assignments,” fellow custodian and now assistant supervisor, Dave Williams said. “Because of his attention to detail and constant good reports it’s no surprise that he was the first recommended to man the Student Union area.” Davis is also quick to praise his friend and co-worker. “I love working with Williams,” Davis said. “We get things done, and he really knows what he is talking about. He’s a very good worker and I appreciate him.” Custodians like Davis, may not have the most glamorous job, but what they give to the school day in and day out is tremendous. The success of Palomar depends on everyone, from the professor all the way to the custodian. “We are in an environment of learning,” Davis said. “I want the place where students and faculty work to be the best so that the greatest learning can happen. No distractions.”

IMPACT

Leena Barrientes

David Leonard

Chris Bouchard

Cyndi Lundeberg

Bridget Byron

Justin Masanque

Jacqueline Coble

Melissa Mezin

Marina Ferreira

Joel Ramos

Agustin Galeana

Shane Sanford

Deb Hellman

Kiigan Snaer

Shaun Kahmann

Natalie Soldoff

Cemaka Lawrence

Breeana Torres

Leena is working on learning all aspects of magazine creation. She has escaped death four times. As more of his friends get married and have kids Chris justs keeps getting more and more awesome! They call her Hot Sauce. Her mission is to spice up the world.

Jacqueline is an aspiring public relations professional, & lover of all things sports, fashion and music. Marina enjoys long walks on the beach, dancing in waterfalls, and Nutella. That is all. Agustin: a sheep in wolf’s clothing; a renaissance man cloaked in grungy clothes, behemoth stature, and hair. Deb is photographer and will be finishing her Bachelors in Business Administration in spring 2012. A little known fact: Shaun is actually responsible for naming the magazine. He’s also half Tiger. Cemaka is an aquamarine haired beauty. His aspirations and interests include fashion, music and art. 54

David is a journalist and editor. His work has appeared in the San Diego Union-Tribune and The Telescope. Cyndi aspires to be a news broadcaster. Chris Rock and meditating are a few of her favorite things.

Justin is kind of awkward. And he likes to design stuff. That’s really all there is to him. Melissa is our resident redhead, her favorite things are fashion, fitness, photography, writing, art and life. Among some of Joel’s many goals are to become a page designer at a major magazine or newspaper. Shane’s desire to perfect his classmates’ errors has inspired him to become a full time copy editor. Kiigan is a photographer with experience in photojournalism, portraiture and fine art photography. Natalie has hopes of one day making a name for herself doing what she loves to do most, write. Breeana dreams of one day being a successful PR Professional while living in the Big Apple.

Associated Student Government • You can make a difference on campus. • Vote on important decisions regarding Palomar College.

of the students.

You are the voice

BE HEARD!

• Engage in issues that matter to college students. • Develop leadership and team building. • Travel to advocate community colleges. • Represent the student body and collaborate with faculty and staff. Come see what we’re all about Add us on:

facebook.com/PalomarASG twitter.com/ASGpalomar or at: www.palomar.edu/asg

or contact us at: elucero@palomar.edu (760)744-1550 ext.3765, 2605, or 2689 We meet on Wednesdays at 1pm in SU-104