The Telescope 67.10

GLASS MENAGERIE Photo essay of the student produced performance • Page 6

the telescope Palomar College’s Independent Newspaper

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Vol. 67, No. 10 • Monday, February 10, 2014

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www.the-telescope.com

New ASG vice president elected

WHAT’S INSIDE

DAVID SHRUM THE TELESCOPE

teaching at CCSF for 23 years and was Department Chair for the African American Studies Department, said that sometimes it takes someone awhile before they know what they want to do with their life.

“What’s so great about a business model... a young person shouldn’t have to streamline their goals and dreams into a two year model... they should have time to find out who they are,” Farrar said.

On July 3, 2013, the ACCJC voted to invalidate CCSF’s accreditation, effective July 31, 2014 for “excessive administrative and financial deficiencies.”

The Associated Student Government (ASG) has been undergoing changes since last semester, and one of the many is the appointment of a the new vice president, Shant Soghomonian.

Soghomonian was initially voted into a senator seat on Jan. 15. He underwent a two week probationary period before his position as senator was made official on Jan. 29.

On that very same day, ASG swore him in as vice president of the student governing body.

When asked how he felt about his appointment to the ASG, Soghomonian replied, “I’m excited. It’s an opportunity for me to represent the students.”

Soghomonian is a 33-yearold former Navy firefighter with some world experience under his belt.

“I’ve been a maintenance technician for 12 years, just traveling around working for different companies under different contracts, mostly government stuff, and I just go and fix things,” Soghomonian said.

According to ASG President and former Vice President Genesis Gilroy, he has extensive experience in management, project facilitation, crisis management, strategy and customer service.

JUMP TO CCSF, PAGE 8

JUMP TO ASG VP, PAGE 8

Read how a Telescope writer feels about tattoos in the workplace • Page 4

City College of San Francisco Trustee Rafael Mandelman speaks to students and staff in MD 157 on Jan. 28. • Yolanda Granados/The Telescope

Palomar student plans to run for mayor in 2014 • Page 9

Forum sparks debate

STEVE KIRCH THE TELESCOPE

Former Palomar players turned pro return to train in off-season • Page 11

UPCOMING EVENTS Campus Clean Up • 10 a.m., Feb. 11 @ SU Quad

On Jan. 28 students, faculty, community college presidents and trustees packed into a room to listen to a panel from the City College of San Francisco (CCSF) talk about the accreditation standards that are destroying their school.

The panel consisted of a student, faculty member and a school trustee who feel the Accrediting Commission for Community Colleges (ACCJC) is on a mission to turn public education into a privatized business model.

The business model they are referring to is the Student Success Act (SB 1456), which California

Governor Jerry Brown signed into law in 2012, which is supported by the ACCJC. The purpose of the law is to prioritize learning for students who have declared a major or certificate program and streamline them to complete their coursework in two years, as community colleges face budget cuts.

The representatives from CCSF, feels SB 1456 puts older students and continuing students in nondegree or certificate programs at an educational disadvantage, which goes against their school’s Mission Statement: lifetime learning and education for their diverse community.

Tarikhu Farrar, who has been

Palomar theatre student killed in accident

Blood Drive • 7:30 a.m. 6:30 p.m., Feb. 10-13 near the NS building

CHISTOPHER BULLOCK

Club Rush • 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Feb. 12 @ SU Quad

The Palomar College Theatre Arts lost a member of its production family recently.

Alan Hopkins, 31, a stage management student/crew member, was struck and killed by a motorcycle along Del Dios Highway Jan. 26.

Known as a passionate student with a quiet nature, Hopkins worked in nearly every aspect of theatre arts, from building props to assisting the staff with overall stage production.

Christopher Sinnott,

THE TELESCOPE

Gallery Talk with Roxanne Jackson • 1 p.m., Feb. 12 @ Boehm Gallery Valentine’s Day Event • 10 a.m., Feb. 13 @ SU Quad African American History Event • 10 a.m., Feb. 20 @ SU Quad

Courtesy Photo from Theatre Arts Department.

assistant director of technical theatre and design, had nothing but praise for Hopkins.

“He wasn’t just any student...he was the top student in our class.

He assisted with every production, and was so passionate in his work,” Sinnott said.

Hopkins originally graduated from Palomar College in 2004 with his mother, Cornelia, with both receiving certificates in Internet and graphic communications.

But after working for years in the field, he found no joy in his work.

It was then that his aunt, fellow

theatre arts student Donna Howe, suggested he take a few classes in the department.

According to Sinnott, he had read through the entire textbook by the second week of class.

“He would come in to my office and ask, “Is there anything else I could read?”; it was like something in him sparked,” Sinnott said.

Hopkins assisted in multiple musical and theatre productions over the last couple of years. His most recent job being the props

JUMP TO OBITUARY, PAGE 8

2 •NEWS

Monday, February 10, 2014

Bravura seeks submissions JASON KLINGERMAN THE TELESCOPE

Bravura, Palomar College’s awardwinning annual publication, is asking all writers, photographers and visual artists to submit their work.

Published each spring, Bravura accepts original work in the form of art, poetry, photography, short stories, cartoons or comics and creative nonfiction. Artists must be current or former students of

Palomar College before they can be considered for publication.

Cash prizes will be awarded to the top three finalists for poetry, prose and visual arts in May at the annual Bravura Gala. The date for the Gala has yet to be announced.

According to Bravura’s online flyer, the magazine is celebrating its 50th anniversary this spring and looking to make the 2014 issue its most impressive yet.

All submissions should be emailed to rversaci@palomar.edu. Work can also be submitted directly to Dr. Carlton Smith or Dr. Rocco Versaci, the faculty advisers for the magazine. The deadline is March 3.

For more information on prizes or submitting artwork, call (760) 7441150, ext. 2971 or visit http://www. palomar.edu/english/Class%20Ads/ Bravuraflyer.htm.

JKLINGERMAN@THE-TELESCOPE.COM

Large or small, Palomar hosts them all JORDAN GREENE THE TELESCOPE

One of the many record-breaking facts discussed at a recent campus event is that four of the smallest plants in the world, called wolffia, can fit into the eye of one sewing needle.

The Botanical Record Breakers lecture was held on Feb. 1 in room NS-139, and about 20 people attended. Friends of the Arboretum is a community group dedicated to making sure Palomar College’s Arboretum is beautiful and thriving.

Botanical Consultant for Friends of the Arboretum Wayne Armstrong spoke about the largest, smallest, oldest and rarest plants in the world.

Armstrong is the editor of the Friends of the Arboretum newsletter.

Interim Grounds Services Supervisor Antonio Rangel said via email, “The purpose of this lecture is to enrich the lives of the attendees by educating them on the strange, wonderful, beautiful diversity of plants.”

Armstrong started the lecture by passing out pamphlets and introducing his website, waynesword.com, which he said contains

extensive research on a variety of plants and insects.

The lecture opened up to a discussion with audience members speaking frequently and sharing their experiences with some of the rare or old plants.

Armstrong taught botany at Palomar College for almost 40 years and noted how many botany related courses Palomar College used to offer, from vegetable growing to plant chemistry. He also mentioned how great the Internet is for organizing research material.

“There aren’t that many community colleges in the entire state that have anything like this,” he said.

“We offer these lectures so people can still get excited and interested in these topics.”

Rangel attended the lecture and spoke briefly on the new development project for the arboretum. Proposition M was passed in 2006, and instated a new budget of $694 million for the maintanence of Palomar’s campus.

He said $5 million from this proposition will go toward new paved trails with wheelchair access and maintenance for the plants.

20-year-old journalism student

BRIEFS Financial aid workshop provides help for students

If you are in need of financial aid, or just need information on how it works, Palomar College’s Financial Aid department is here to help.

The department is hosting a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and general financial aid workshop at 5 p.m. on Feb. 10 at the Governing Board Room (SSC-1).

The workshop will be focused on subjects including how to qualify for financial aid, what aid is available and what the FAFSA is.

No appointment is necessary to attend, and all students are welcome. For more financial aid questions, contact the department at (760) 891-7510 or email fnaid@ palomar.edu.

Group aims to raise awareness

Rare Brighamia insignis flowers, native to Kaua’i, similar to those found in front of the TLC building. Image courtesy of Google.

Roberto Reyes said, “It’s interesting to learn how controversial everything is. New studies come out all the time with new information and nothing is set in stone.”

Friends of the Arboretum is currently accepting applications for new members. Individual membership for one year is $25, and a lifetime membership is $500.

For additional information about Arboretum events and membership details for Friends of the Arboretum, visit palomar.edu/arboretum.

JGREENE@THE-TELESCOPE.COM

Where preparing to return to the workforce balances with

“I have two young kids.”

The International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) held a forum on Jan. 27 at the Palomar Planetarium, to discuss the growing problem of light pollution.

It also raised awareness of not only the problem of light pollution, but how easy it is for the community to make a difference. It showed that IDA has and will continue to push this issue to the forefront of community concerns.

“Controlling light is going to be the wave of the future,” IDA CoFounder Dr. David L. Crawford explains.

Dr. Crawford expanded further the potent impact careless lighting on has on human health and the energy waste accumulating if it continues. Dr. Crawford explains that, “it may not seem like an issue to people now, but it will be.”

Steve Flanders of Palomar Observatory’s Public Affairs was next to highlight the disappearing ability to conduct notable scientific studies and discoveries the Palomar Observatory was once so renowned for.

“Once we protect the night skies for the observatory, we protect them for everyone. Everybody wins,” Flanders said.

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park’s Sally Theriault closed off with a glimpse at the scope of influence IDA has already established. The

state park has worked to become the first International Dark Sky Community in California, a leading example for the rest of Southern California.

Career workshop accessible to students 24/7

The Palomar College Career Center has a new workshop to help give students a helping hand on finding their ideal career.

The new interactive workshop Student Lingo is a virtual career workshop that students can access from the career center website 24/7. The workshop covers career exploration, resumes, cover letters and student success skills. It also has a workshop specifically for Spanish-speaking students, focusing on college student success skills.

Rosie Antonecchia, career center director, said she learned about Student Lingo from a sister community college and found the idea very useful, so she adapted the workshop for Palomar.

“I liked the idea of reaching out to students that have classes during the times we offer our workshops and cannot attend because of a time conflict,” Antonecchia said.

To access the workshops, go to https://www.studentlingo.com/ palomar, and type in your first and last name.

New committee looks to promote safety on campus

Palomar College has a new committee set to create a safer and more educationally aware campus for students and staff.

The Behavioral Health and Campus Wellness Committee, which reports to the Student Services Planning Council, is looking for volunteers to help form the committee. The committee’s role is to promote a safe and healthy learning environment through collaborative, preventive and supportive resources and activities that facilitate behavioral health and campus wellness.

The committee meets from 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. on the second Thursday of every month. For a full description of each committee, or to volunteer for one of the open positions, go to http://www. palomar.edu/facultysenate/coc/

Police Blotter: Jan. 23 - Feb. 5

© 2014 National University 13818

1. At 11:20 a.m. on Jan. 27 a student conduct code violation in the form of a lewd act was reported to have occurred on the third floor of the library.

• • • •

2. Medical assistance was 5. Medical assistance was needed at 1:17 p.m. on Jan. needed at 3:38 p.m. on Jan. 27 in the FCS building.

28 at Health Services.

Students can transfer at any time Transfer scholarships are available One-course-per-month format 28 campuses plus online programs

Learn more at nu.edu/transfer

6 Campuses in San Diego County NU14_13818-29_CC_PrintAd_SD_Palomar_5p25x6p5_K.indd 1

4. At 1:11 p.m. on Jan. 28 harrassing phone calls or notes were reported. They were said to have occurred between 3:00 and 3:45 a.m. on Jan. 15.

Where quality meets flexibility™

(855) 355-6288 1/31/14 11:20 AM

3. An altered parking permit was reported at 6:00 p.m. on Jan. 28 in parking lot two.

6. Petty theft was reported to have occurred at 4:31 p.m. on Jan. 28 at the Escondido campus.

NEWS • 3

the-telescope.com

New Governing Board president looks to bridge gap between staff and students this year CHRISTOPHER BULLOCK THE TELESCOPE

Heading the Governing Board of a major community college is no easy task.

F o r t u n a t e l y, P a l o m a r College has elected a man who is no stranger to hard work.

Paul McNamara, who was elected to Governing Board president in the last winter board meeting, took the role knowing the challenges ahead would define his legacy as a leader.

After serving multiple roles during his first term as a Palomar College trustee, he said he felt that running for board president was the next logical step.

“During this first term, I wanted to experience as many of the board duties as was possible, so I ran for board president,” McNamara said via email.

As the Governing Board president, his job is to monitor Palomar College’s implementation of the Integrated Planning Model, (which is linked to the allocation of the school’s resources), ensure the college creates programs that improve student progress and actively participate in legislative advocacy for community college issues.

Recently, as part of fulfilling his legislative duties, he attended the Community College League of California Legislative Conference in Sacramento to show support for Governor Jerry Brown’s proposed budget for community colleges.

Coming from a family that wasn’t

the most wealthy, McNamara said he understands the importance of what the budget means for the school and the students.

“My parents didn’t pay for my college. I had to work, earn scholarships and take out loans,” McNamara said. “I have real empathy for what a student must do to earn a degree, so when it comes to discussions that impact a student, I have a real connection to what the consequences may be.”

Governing Board Vice President John Halcon echoed some of the same sentiments when it came to his assessment of McNamara.

“He understands the difficulties and challenges associated with first generation college students and the opportunities available to those willing to work hard to succeed,” Halcon said. “He knows that every decision we make on the board

will affect students, so he is careful to think things through before he acts.”

A veteran himself, McNamara served nearly three decades in the Marine Corps, working with various organizations and huge staffs.

He credits this for building his knowledge in public budgeting challenges and policy implementation.

After transitioning from the Marine Corps, he worked in the private industry, first as the vice president of Shee Atika Technologies (focusing on program management) and currently as general manager of Pueo Group, a defense and space business.

He is also a graduate of the University of Wisconsin (B.A. in Literature), has served as a foreign area officer in Latin America and was president of the Escondido

Democrats Club.

As president, he understands that in order to run a successful board, communication is the key.

“The normal monthly meeting, due to its nature and structure based on legal constraints, does not allow a lot of interaction with the Trustees,” he stated.

One of the goals he would like to accomplish is more attendance at their workshops, which focus on various subjects.

Last year, the board moved its meetings to a bigger room, which permitted better dialogue between members of the campus and the board in terms of needs and directions.

“This year I want to continue that policy and encourage more attendance,” McNamara said.

CBULLOCK@THE-TELESCOPE.COM

What your student government is working on: • Recently appointed former Senator Shant

Soghomonian as the new vice president.

• Election process starts in March. Interested students should visit SU-201 to pick up an application to join.

• Website is progressing and will be complete within the first few weeks of February.

Sta rt Yo ur Stor Y tod aY Speaker Teri Louden informs guests of the equal opportunities that San Diego offers for women in the Tech industry, on Feb. 1 at Liberty Station. The event that was held by American Association of University Women • Yolanda Granados/ The Telescope

Confidence is key for career seeking women LOTTIESHA BLANDON THE TELESCOPE

Think like a man, act like a lady, work like a dog.

It’s an expression High Tech= High Pay Panelist and Louden Network President Teri Louden has used throughout her career.

Around 40 women gathered Feb. 1 at the Women’s Museum of California in San Diego for the High Tech=High Pay for Women event.

The American Association of University Women’s (AAUW) San Diego branch sponsored the program.

AAUW identifies high tech trends in San Diego and helps women connect with careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

“The principle is we still lack gender equity in the United States and one of our missions at AAUW is to promote gender equity,” Palomar

Professor and AAUW Technology Outreach Chair Lillian Payn said.

“We want to close the gender gap, we want to promote woman STEM, show where the opportunities are, provide leadership opportunities, networking opportunities and role models like our panel today,” Payn said.

Guests were able to hear from Palomar College STEM adviser Mireya Gutierrez-Aguero and California State University of San Marcos’ STEM adviser Celia Martinez.

Their goals include increasing the number of STEM degrees earned by students by providing them with a supportive environment.

“STEM is intimidating so what we want to do is demystify STEM and make it real for them,” GutierrezAguero said.

A panel of STEM women answered questions based on their career paths and discussed what

their lives were like growing up.

The panel gave their recommendations and encouragements for women who want to obtain careers in STEM. “Women need to have more confidence...shut down the talking in your head and just believe you have the capability and the confidence to do it,” Chocheles Consulting Group CEO June Chocheles said.

The program concluded with Lisa Vaughn-Olstad of the marketing firm AQUENT, who discussed social networking strategies such as getting a LinkedIn profile, and encouraged guests to Google themselves.

Vaughn-Olstad also gave attendees tips on making sure their résumés were superb.

“We can have gender equity in the workforce and contribute. Just think of what we’re losing in our society by women not contributing,” Payn said.

LBLANDON@THE-TELESCOPE.COM

California State University San Marcos Extended Learning is offering a number of degrees and certificates that lead to jobs and career enhancement as well as personal enrichment courses.

F r ee e d u c ation F a ir a nd S a mple c l a SSeS SATURDAY, MARCH 1 11:00 AM TO 2:00 PM THE MCMAHAN HOUSE 333 S. TWIN OAKS VALLEY ROAD SAN MARCOS, CA 92096 FREE PARKING 760-750-4020 WWW.CSUSM.EDU/EL Learn about our programs, attend sample classes, speak with Academic Advisors and Financial Aid officers and enjoy refreshments.

w w w.c susm .edu/el

4 • OPINION

t

Tattoos shouldn’t be taboo PAIGE HARVEY THE TELESCOPE

the telescope

Focused On Palomar Monday, February 10, 2014 Vol. 67, No. 10 Palomar College, San Marcos, Calif.

CLIFF IRELAND EDITOR IN CHIEF MARISSA MILLOY MANAGING EDITOR CHRISTINE FORONDA NEWS EDITOR CHRISTOPHER BULLOCK NEWS EDITOR JORDAN GREENE COPY EDITOR JAVIER PEREZ OPINION EDITOR LLOYD BRAVO A&E EDITOR SUSAN WHALEY SPORTS EDITOR RALPH CHAPOCO FOCUS EDITOR SCOTT COLSON ONLINE EDITOR STEPHEN DAVIS PHOTO EDITOR YOLANDA GRANADOS PHOTO EDITOR WENDY NELSON ADVISER DEB HELLMAN BUSINESS MANAGER STAFF WRITERS ARIANNE ANTONIO, LOTTIESHA BLANDON, MEGAN BUBAK, PAIGE HARVEY, STEVE KIRCH, JOSHUA LAPORTE, JOHN LARA, MICHAIL MARININ, REBECCA PETERS, JOSHUA RAY, DAVID SHRUM, JUAN ZUNIGA PHOTOGRAPHERS JOSEPH DAVIS, STEVE PORTER, LUCAS SPENSER, LUCY WHEELER ADDRESS THE TELESCOPE PALOMAR COLLEGE 1140 W. MISSION ROAD, SAN MARCOS, CA 92069 PHONE / 760-891-7865 NEWSROOM / MD-228 WEBSITE/ WWW.THE-TELESCOPE.COM FACEBOOK/ SEARCH “THE TELESCOPE” TWITTER/ @TELESCOPENEWS EMAIL/ EDITOR@THE-TELESCOPE.COM AD EMAIL/ ADS@THE-TELESCOPE.COM THE TELESCOPE WELCOMES ALL LETTERS TO THE EDITOR. LETTERS MUST BE TYPEWRITTEN, UNDER 300 WORDS AND INCLUDE THE AUTHOR’S FIRST AND LAST NAMES, MAJOR AND PHONE NUMBER. PHONE NUMBERS WILL NOT BE PUBLISHED. LETTERS SHOULD BE EMAILED TO EDITOR@THE-TELESCOPE. COM. THE TELESCOPE RESERVES THE RIGHT TO EDIT LETTERS FOR SPACE AND GRAMMATICAL ERRORS AND NOT TO PRINT LEWD OR LIBELOUS LETTERS. LETTERS MUST BE RECEIVED ONE WEEK PRIOR TO THE NEWSPAPER’S PUBLICATION TO BE CONSIDERED FOR INCLUSION. THE TELESCOPE IS PUBLISHED 8 TIMES PER SEMESTER. OPINIONS EXPRESSED IN THE NEWSPAPER ARE THOSE OF THE INDIVIDUAL WRITERS AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT THOSE OF THE ENTIRE NEWSPAPER STAFF, PALOMAR FACULTY AND STAFF MEMBERS OR THE GOVERNING BOARD TRUSTEES.

ASSOCIATED COLLEGE PRESS

Monday, February 10, 2014

CALIFORNIA NEWSPAPER PUBLISHER’S ASSOCIATION

Appearances are often deceptive and first impressions happen, it is an inconvenient reality. Employers should not judge people and their ability to work based on them having tattoos.

Tattoos do not measure any trait that is a key factor to acquire any job, such as persistence, motivation or your ability to perform your job well. People with tattoos are employed in a variety of different industries, from entry-level to executive positions.

Body art should not be a workplace issue. Having visible tattoos does not say a thing about the employee that is relevant to the quality of work he or she puts out.

Tattoos are becoming more and more accepted as a form of art and expression.

According to Workingworld.com, 30 years ago, 1 in 100 people in the United States had a tattoo. Today, 1 in 10 Americans have them.

In a recent survey on TheVault. com, it revealed that 60 percent of employers said they were less likely to hire a candidate with visible tattoos or piercings.

It’s not fair for the average everyday worker who has a visible tattoo to be discriminated against because he/she has a piece of art on their body.

Some employers are still having a hard time wrapping their heads

Photo illustration by Steve Porter/The Telescope

around body art in the workplace, while Google, the number one ranked place to work in 2013, according to CNN, does not have any policy on tattoos.

Other reputable and world renowned companies such as FedEx, Barnes & Noble and Trader Joe’s are all body art friendly employers.

Employers argue that tattoos and piercings in the work place are inappropriate.

However, having a tattoo on your biceps or back will not affect your

work ethic or your qualifications on paper that meet job requirements.

A study from the Pew Research Center found nearly 40 percent of people between the ages of 18 and 29 have at least one tattoo. That is almost half of the entry-level working force.

In a perfect work world, you should be judged solely on the merit of your work. Not the fact that you have a tattoo that represents or means something to you.

When looking for a job you

should be most worried about the base pay, bonus potential, and benefits the company offers. But a survey conducted on Salary.com showed that 23 percent of people surveyed first look at a company’s permissiveness regarding tattoos and body piercings when deciding where to apply for a job.

Tattoos should not be the one thing holding you back from getting a job you are completely qualified for.

PHARVEY@THE-TELESCOPE.COM

Student loans: the looming financial crisis DAVID SHRUM THE TELESCOPE

The rise of student loan debt is a major issue for millions of Americans and in an already burdened economy that has practically stalled out it is becoming more difficult for those who have student debt to pay their bills.

Although our nation’s leaders have addressed the situation with some financial relief programs, it’s still not enough to curb the impending impact that the student loan bubble will have on the economy once it bursts.

According to the Department of Education the average college student graduates with over $26,000 in debt, and that can have an undesirable impact on their life choices.

According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) website, student loan debt topped $1 trillion nationwide in July of 2013, most of which is federal student loan debt.

As a veteran and student with over $40,000 in student loans and no guarantee of a career position once I graduate, this is an extremely alarming situation.

Even those who have graduated with master’s degrees are having a hard time finding a well paying position, and the fact that they are struggling to pay the copious amounts of student debt makes it that much harder to enter into their desired career field.

It is estimated that approximately

In 2008, more than $900 billion of taxpayer money was distributed to bail out banks and big businesses, and we’re still paying for it.

Photo illustration by Yolanda Granados/The Telescope

37 million Americans have outstanding student debt and 5.4 million Americans have at least one past due student loan account according to the American Student Assistance (ASA) website.

Student debt is practically unforgivable though there are a handful of exceptions, such as proving that the debt is causing undue hardship, which is extremely difficult to prove by the way, or a crippling permanent disability that doesn’t allow one to work, or even death.

Even in the event of death, private student loan debt may or may not become the responsibility of the cosigner depending on the

policy of the lender.

The White House has addressed the issue of the student loan crisis.

The creation of legislation such as the Bipartisan Student Loan Certainty Act of 2013, maintains low interest rates on federal student loans.

The government has also introduced the income based repayment program that allows people to pay back their federal debt based on their income.

Private lenders often don’t let their borrowers refinance their loans, nor do they offer alternative payment plans that provide financial relief to those especially in need of it; and the longer debt goes unpaid, the more

money that must be paid back.

In some cases, the borrower ends up owing twice as much as what was originally borrowed due to unfair interest rates.

According to the ASA, those with student debt are less likely to buy a home, get married, have children, save for retirement, and enter a desired career field because of their debt; student loan debt is limiting young people’s ability to achieve financial success.

In 2008, more than $900 billion of taxpayer money was distributed to bail out banks and big businesses, and we’re still paying for it.

Student loan debt will have a detrimental impact on the economy nationwide, one that could compound the problems that the 2008 housing market crash posed on the U.S. not very long ago and we cannot afford to go through again.

DSHRUM@THE-TELESCOPE.COM

OPINION • 5

the-telescope.com

Valentine’s Day: Headache mixed with Heartache JAVIER PEREZ THE TELESCOPE

Ukrainian protesters raise a national flag over a barricade on Grushevsky Street in Kiev during clashes with riot police on Jan. 25. • Sergei L. Loiko/Los Angeles Times

Let Ukrainians decide their own fate MICHAIL MARININ THE TELESCOPE

Freezing temperatures, armed riot police, water cannons, and threats of fines and imprisonment.

Civil rights activists faced this in the United States, but now Ukrainian protesters are the ones with the fire hose turned on them. The Ukrainian government is using deadly tactics to attempt to disperse the protesters, but so far it has been to no avail.

On November 21, 2013, Ukrainian citizens started protesting against the Ukrainian federal government because President Viktor Yanukovych declined to sign an association agreement with the European Union.

Today’s protests are completely anti-Yanukovych because on Dec. 17 he signed a trade pact with Russia.

These protests are called EuroMaidan because the first protests took place in the Maidan Square in Kiev.

As an American resident who has visited Ukraine and has family and friends living there, it is terrifying to see what extreme measures the Ukrainian government is willing to use to try to disperse the protesters.

The government has made threats of shutting down methods of electronic communication for citizens. This could leave people around the world with loved ones in Ukraine without a way to communicate with them.

Even after the dismantle of the Soviet Union, Ukraine has not attempted to stand alone without the support of Russia. An agreement between Ukraine and the EU would just replace its dependency on Russia with the EU. Ukraine needs a chance to be independent from any foreign entity.

This is why it’s crucial for other countries to stay out of the situation and let the citizens and government resolve the issues, and let Ukraine

have a chance at true independence.

While visiting Ukraine I had the pleasure of talking to a wide variety of Ukrainians. Everyone was kind, warm, welcoming and eager to help.

To see these people being put through so much pain and hardship by their government is terribly unsettling. They staged peaceful protests, but when the police forces attempted to clear the protesters with force, they had no choice but to respond with violence.

Police forces including the Ukrainian Special Units, Berkut, were given permission to disseminate and attack the protestors on Nov. 30. According to the Ukrainian Deputy Prosecutor General Anatoliy Pryshko, there were 79 people injured in these initial attacks.

The government and the police forces are suspected of mass corruption by most of the Ukrainian population.

The extent the wealthy are able to get away with by just throwing money at their problems is unheard of in most first world countries.

The middle and lower-class are left with almost no way to improve their financial situations.

To be accepted to the top universities or hired into the largest companies usually requires paying the “proper” people and having connections in the right places.

Unfortunately, the judicial system hasn’t escaped the same fate.

Since the authorities are unwilling to change their practices, Ukrainian citizens enforced their right and responsibility to take action against the government.

The current government is fighting to maintain its status-quo of shady practices while the protesters are fighting to live in a society that isn’t ruled by the corrupt.

THE TELESCOPE

With their “Thank-you Mom” advertising campaign that will take place during the Olympics, the company Proctor and Gamble (P&G) continues to show that ignorance is still acceptable in society.

Although the intentions may have sounded good in the planning stages, the final results show they believe the image of a mom has increased from the cooking and cleaning to also being the only parent present for children who play sports.

This is not the first time the campaign has aired and even though it may be successful, acting upon the stereotype that fathers do nothing and mothers do everything doesn’t seem very appropriate for one of the biggest companies in the world.

During the Winter Olympics of 2010, I watched a very emotional commercial campaign released from P&G that thanked moms for all their hard work, dedication and support of their children while they were playing sports.

They were great commercials and because I played sports growing

Still of “Thank-you Mom” ad by Proctor and Gamble • Image courtesy of Google

up, I really connected with them. I appreciated the message even though I knew it was just a marketing ploy.

However, as the Olympics continued, I realized there were no commercials thanking dads.

So I wrote them an email asking why and their response back was: “The “Thanks Mom” campaign takes a broad, inclusive view of moms.

It’s intended to celebrate that special person in our lives who cheers for us and supports our dreams.

For some, it may be Mom; for others it may be Dad, an aunt, uncle, or grandparent.

No matter what we call them, it’s about the love and care they’ve shown over the years.”

Maybe it’s different in other parts of the U.S., but I call my dad, dad. I call my mom, mom.

I can only assume that the P&G’s Olympic Marketing Team do not call their parents names like that.

Instead of the words parent, dad, aunt, uncle, grandma, grandpa, they use mom to mean them all.

Maybe because the words dad and parents are relatively new, P&G felt they were too inappropriate to use in their commercials.

After all, according to MerriamWebster.com, those words have only been used since around the 1500’s, so they still must not be considered proper English.

For a company who on its website claims to have 4.8 billion customers out of the 7 billion people in the world, they don’t seem to care that men not only take on more of the family chores now, but also are starting to do more of the household shopping as well.

In their 2013 Retail Trends Report, global media agency BPN states that 40 percent of men surveyed now do the day-to-day shopping.

Also, 44 percent of men are claiming that they share equally in the house cleaning as well.

If you are single, get ready to have the amount of happiness in your life measured by every other person around you.

While it still might not be as much as the women, it’s still is a huge amount of men that are choosing which products to buy.

Specifically the ones that are made just for men, like certain Gillette razors, so why wouldn’t you thank them. Mother’s across the world should be celebrated, there is no argument for that.

But when you isolate the billions of fathers in the world, then your company truly does not understand that dads too, play an important role in a child’s life.

For a company who in their purpose statement says their goal is to serve the rest of the world’s population, their responsibility to be an ethical company seems to be just another marketing campaign.

Hopefully the next time Proctor and Gamble launches a huge marketing campaign, they will thank more than the moms.

Dads, aunts, uncles, grandparents, and whoever else that may be involved in helping raise children with sports, will probably appreciate it a lot more than they think.

Feb. 14 is dreadful because it has become an obligation. If you are a man in a relationship, you are caught in an exponential and always escalating pursuit to impress the lady in your life.

If you are single, get ready to have the amount of happiness in your life measured by every other person around you.

It is an inherently stupid premise of waiting an entire year to show that special someone that you care about them for just 24 of the 8765.81 hours in the year. Or the odd and perverse appreciation and excitement that women get when presented with a bouquet of slowly dying vegetation which they will carry through the day like a trophy.

Also, add to the mix a day of having an invisible sign that tells everyone “hey I am single, bring on the loaded awkward stares” or “hi I am in a relationship, and the person whom I am with is disappointed I didn’t outdo last year’s ridiculous broad romantic gesture.”

Valentine’s Day also subliminally makes couples address the proverbial “where is this going?” question, which, unless you are with the perfect person for you, will be an uncomfortable conversation to say the least.

Feb. 14 is your guaranteed annual headache. The only thing sweeter than not acknowledging it, is the candy sold at half price in massive quantities the day after.

CIRELAND@THE-TELESCOPE.COM

JPEREZ-TORRES@THE-TELESCOPE.COM

MMARININ@THE-TELESCOPE.COM

‘Thank you mom’ commercial campaign neglects fathers CLIFF IRELAND

Valentine’s Day is an annually emotionally d a m a g i n g checkpoint that makes the social pressure to be in a relationship unbearable.

In case you weren’t stressed enough during the recent holidays, now you have to worry about what special gift your significant other wants on a day designed around showing how much you love them.

Set aside the fact that this celebration is based on the unnecessary death of a third century Roman priest (spoiler alert: Saint Valentinus had to die to be martyred) and the anniversary of a bloody massacre in Chicago during the ‘20s, Valentine’s Day is a neurotic day that single people and couples alike must endure, each in different way.

6 • A&E

Monday, February 10, 2014

Students perform ‘The Glass Menagerie’

Actress and Palomar College student Abby Fields portrays Laura Wingfield during the dress rehearsal of The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams on Jan 30. • Lucas Spenser/The Telescope

Tom ( left, performed by Sean LaRocca and Laura (right, performed by Abby Fields) gently wakes her brother during the dress rehearsal of The Glass Menagerie, at Palomar College. • Lucas Spenser/Telescope.

JOSHUA LAPORTE THE TELESCOPE

Both bottom Right Photo and Bottom Left Photo, Abby Fields(Left) and Ryan Balfour (right) perform as Laura and Jim O’Conner during dress rehearsal for The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams at The Howard Burbeck Theater at Palomar College. • Lucas Spenser/Telescope.

The new, student run Palomar Theatre Ensemble made it’s debut with their performance of Tennessee Williams’ play “The Glass Menagerie.”

Director Jared Spears and his entirely student comprised tech crew put together an excellent show for audiences as actors Sean LaRocca, Abby Fields, Heidi Bridges, and Ryan Balfour took to the stage.

Utilizing a minimal and stylized set and skilled lighting, the Palomar Theatre Ensemble brought Tennessee Williams’ story to life.

The actors did an excellent job pulling out the unique quirks of their characters, breathing vivid life into each character’s interaction with each other. The play ran from January 31 until February 2.

JLAPORTE@THE-TELESCOPE.COM

Actresses Abby Fields (left) and Hiedi Bridges (right) performing as mother and daughter in The Glass Menagerie playing at Palomar College. • Lucas Spenser/The Telescope.

A&E • 7

the-telescope.com

Fashion Spotlight: Flair for European Style JUAN ZUNIGA THE TELESCOPE

Fashion design student Vicente Guzman, 33, describes himself as an outgoing, blunt, flirtatious and easy going, with an easy but original personal style.

“I don’t dress for people. I dress for myself, but with style,” Guzman said. “Even though I am not trying to impress anyone, I’m not trying to look like a clown.”

Guzman spoke to the Telescope about his personal style, as well as his views on fashion.

the denim on their jeans. But I don’t have a specific store I like to shop at. I don’t limit myself. You can be wearing Givenchy, but look bad. So, it is not who you wear, but how you look.

What is your favorite piece of clothing or accessory? I like rings, watches, and socks, but I would say my socks are my favorite. Socks allow you to have fun with your style, even at church. I like to show that I am playful, even though I’m serious.

I get complimented on my socks.

Art History Professor Mark Hudelson in his office on campus Jan 27. • Lucy Wheeler/The Telescope

From dream to scene LLOYD BRAVO THE TELESCOPE

How do you describe your fashion sense?

European style, high fashion European. I’ve seen that (in Southern California) people don’t like to dress up. When I moved to San Francisco, I dressed in Abercrombie & Fitch and American Eagle.

One time, I went to Powell, and I felt like I wanted to hide under a rock. San Francisco made me realize my style. Most people say that my style is very fashion forward.

Where do you get your inspiration from?

I get my inspiration from couture because it’s unique. I don’t like to be like anyone else.

I get inspiration from the environment, not from people. I don’t like to follow a trend and try to look like a model, like an Abercrombie model.

Where do you shop? I like the Armani Exchange and GUESS retail stores because they have better fabrics, like

What makes a person stylish or fashionable?

You have to see yourself as who you want to. There’s always someone’s style you’re going to follow, but you have to make it your own.

Is fashion important?

Yeah, everyone is dressing up somehow. Fashion is important because it dresses you, either simple or high fashion.

Who is there to say thatwhat you’re wearing is wrong, when fashion is always changing.

No one can ever tell you what you’re wearing is not fashion.

JZUNGIA@THETELESCOPE.COM

Photo by Yolanda Granados/The Telescope

For Palomar College Art History Professor Mark Hudelson, his love of paintings and pictures and the many stories they tell inspired him to create his own art through his passion of films.

Since 1996 Hudelson has been writing screenplays that have been nationally recognized and have won awards for their creativity and imaginative take on history. His historic heist film, “Missing Mona Lisa,” is in talks to be produced and turned into film later this year.

“All I do in class is show pictures and tell stories. I’ve always loved movies and so it’s a natural progression to go into screenwriting,” Hudelson said.

Hudelson gets his movie ideas from the films he loves watching. “I like big epic movies like Braveheart, Gladiator, Ben Hur...Everything I have written so far has been a period piece, not contemporary, and will have some epic quality to it, something beyond the everyday,” Hudelson said.

It wasn’t a deep-seeded passion or lifelong drive that drove Hudelson into screenplay ring, but a day at a bookstore.

“I never realized what a screenplay looked like until in the 90s. I was in a bookstore and came across ‘Reservoir Dogs’ Quentin Tarantino script, (and I thought) this is amazing, I can visualize this, and I stared writing from there,” Hudelson said.

Since that day Hudelson has written three full-length screenplays,

the biblical adventure, “Three,” the mythical, “Raft of the Medusa,” and the periodic heist, “Missing Mona Lisa.”

Although it is the dream for any script to be produced into a film, “Missing Mona Lisa,” has been anything but. Almost 20 years has past since Hudelson’s idea, but the wait is almost over as production seems emanate.

Larry Thompson, executive producer and CEO of Larry Thompson organization, only had praise for Hudelson. “(He is) very gifted, and is a truly inspired writer.

It’s unusual to read a script by a writer that is not in the ‘main stream’ of the business and be perfectly done,” Thompson said.

Thompson met Hudelson four years ago, when his script for “Missing Mona Lisa,” was in limbo with another production company.

After reading the script, Thompson bought the rights and is hoping to put the film in production later this year to coincide with the actual theft of the Mona Lisa 100 years ago.

“I firmly believe, and having read three of his scripts, once ‘Missing Mona Lisa’ is made, it’ll get a lot of attention to the film and ascend Mark into the big time,” Thompson said.

The three screenplays that Hudelson has written come from a basic structure that proves to garner success.

“You can’t start a script until you know the ending,” Hudelson said, then added that an ending starts with a premise and blooms into story. “I come up with an idea, something that can hook you, then I do my research…and find the conflict,”

Hudelson said.

In a screenplay one page written equals approximately one minute of screen time. Hudelson writes 120 pages focusing on his hero’s conflict, accomplishments and overall journey. This culminates into a full script, but it is up to the writer to find ways to be creative.

“A good artist will learn the rules, follow those rules, unless there is an interesting way to break the rules,” Hudelson said.

“Mark is going to be a very well paid Hollywood screenwriter that can be nominated for an Academy Award,” Thompson said.

Although this is the ultimate accolade for anyone pursuing a career in screenwriting, Hudelson is more humble with his intentions.

“I just want to have fun with [writing]. With all the double crossing and backstabbing with my first producer, I got a vivid view of how Hollywood’s underbelly works, and I have no desire of that to be my full time job,” Hudelson said.

For those aspiring screenplay writers, Hudelson has given some advice. “Read screenplays…[and] watch a lot of movies to get a sense for what works dialogue-wise…”

Though the future looks bright for the Hudelson, he’s not packing his bags to live in Los Angeles just yet. “I love teaching and I love what I do at Palomar. I just like to dip my big toe into Hollywood once in a while to have fun and hopefully see if something happens,” Hudelson said.

LBRAVO@THE-TELESCPOE.COM

Concert Hour: Improvisational pianist tickles ivories JASON KLINGERMAN THE TELESCOPE

Palomar College’s Performing Arts Department kicked off its spring Concert Hour series with one of San Diego’s own, the pianist Joshua White, on Jan. 30, at the revamped Howard Brubeck Theatre.

White’s set included compositions from the numerous groups he plays with around San Diego as well as two original compositions and a souped-up rendition of Thelonious Monk’s “‘Round Midnight.” White’s performance earned him a standing ovation and a call for an encore.

Several Palomar faculty members

and staff attended, including drawing and watercolor instructor Doug Durrant, who brought his class to the event.

Durrant was impressed by White’s speed and strength. Following White’s third composition of the hour--a swill of pulses and punches with a serene finish--Durrant said, “What a treat!”

Known for his improvisation skills, White kept his listeners on the edge of their seats wondering what he would do next as his fingers cruised up and down the keys. “I just think of the first note,” White said.

Whether that note is low or high, a cluster or a chord, White said he

knows that it will tell him everything he needs to know for the piece.

He said it opens the sonic door and allows him to access the whole environment.

White finds his inspiration in many places. He listens intently to jazz legends like Eric Dolphy and contemporary pianists like Jason Moran, but he also reads poetry and studies visual art to help him develop as an artist. “It’s all the same medium,” White said.

White demonstrated this during his second composition when, like a William Blake poem, he began to set up a pattern of notes only to break that pattern moments later

with a swift change in direction, a major jump or dive in pitch, or an unexpected hit off the beat.

At times it seemed White even surprised himself.

White has made a habit of covering Thelonious Monk’s work in an up-to-date way.

Brandon Cesmat, a poet, musician and instructor at California State University San Marcos and Palomar, saw White and his band perform a Thelonious Monk cover at a house party event.

Cesmat said, “(it was) as if he knew that if a jazz composition is worth anything, it defies nostalgia and swings in the moment.”

Cesmat and Durrant both expressed enthusiasm about the direction the young pianist is heading in the San Diego jazz scene.

“There’s some incredible technique in San Diego, but good technique can blur at speed, which is where a lot of technique goes,” Cesmat said.

“His technique resides beside the greats.”

Durrant said to keep an eye on this rising star, given the praise White received while getting called back from behind the legs for an encore.

JKLINGERMAN@THE-TELESCOPE.COM

8 • NEWS CCSF

CONT FROM PAGE 1

Rafael Mandelman, who was elected to the CCSF Board of Trustees in November 2012, said that before the July 3 decision, the school had restructured the administration, balanced the budget, cut faculty salaries by 5 percent, and passed a .79 cent parcel tax proposition, which would generate $14 million a year for the college.

“This was a coup... we addressed every one of the 14 sanctions from

OBITUARY CONT FROM PAGE 1

master for the Student Theatre Ensemble’s first-ever play, “The Glass Menagerie.” He was set to be assistant stage director for Palomar’s next musical theatre performance, “Cabaret.”

Details for a memorial fund are being worked on, either going toward his burial costs, or to a scholarship in his name.

A celebration of life was held on Feb. 9 at the Howard Brubeck Theatre.

The memorial started in the courtyard, as a celebration of his life.

From there, the memorial transitioned to the theatre, where

Monday, February 10, 2014 2012,” Mandelman said.

On July 3, 2012, CCSF was hit with the ACCJC’s most severe reprimand, a “show cause” sanction for “excessive administrative and financial deficiencies,” and was given eight months to show why it should remain open.

CCSF feels this is retribution against the school by the ACCJC for being an adamant opponent of the SSA, when the Student Success Task Force came to CCSF for an open forum on May 13, 2012.

Ariel Hiller, who has been a friends and family of Hopkins and a minister led the eulogy.

The finale of the memorial was an encore performance of “Anthem of the Stars,” led

by Sally Husch Dean, director of the Palomar Chorale.

The song was Hopkins’ favorite piece from the chorale performance last semester, “Behold That Star!”

According to Sinnott, Hopkins was well respected and loved by all the students and staff in the department.

“Everyone here was all the better for having known him, and no one would miss a second of the time they spent with him,” Sinnott said.

CBULLOCK@THE-TELESCOPE. COM

student at CCSF for seven years, said that when the college was hit with the show cause sanction in 2012, the school was forced to make students pay for enrollment prior to the first day of class, or enter into a payment plan with fees and finance charges.

“Students who have problems with money and like to pay at the end of the semester when they have the money were forced to drop out,” Hiller said.

A report by the state’s Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team in 2012, said the school was

losing $400,000 a year in unpaid enrollment fees by students.

Since 2012, CCSF’s enrollment has dropped 34 percent, which is causing them to cancel classes, layoff faculty, and lose state funding.

“The ACCJC said the sanctions were supposed to help us become a better institution for learning... all it’s done is crush us,” Farrar said.

Despite decline in enrollment, CCSF typically enrolls more than 80,000 students and is one of the largest schools in the country, with 12 campuses and over 200

educational facilities.

During a Q&A at the forum, a student asked, “Why should we at Palomar care about City College?”

“Because this is a fight we can’t do alone. We need support,” Mandelman said.

On January 2, 2014, Superior Court Judge Curtis Karnow granted a preliminary injunction sought by San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera, against the closure of the school by the ACCJC. SKIRCH@THE-TELESCOPE.COM

ASG VP CONT FROM PAGE 1

Memorial set up outside Howard Brubeck Theatre for Alan Hopkins. • Stephen Davis/The Telescope

“(Soghomonian) is an outstanding worker and I believe he will be one of the semester’s strongest assets,” Gilroy said.

Soghomonian said he became interested in being part of the ASG after being asked by its board members. He soon began attending the ASG meetings to show his enthusiasm in joining the organization.

Soghomonian said he feels that he can be a voice of reason for the ASG. “I have no problems voicing my opinion and speaking my mind,” Soghomonian said. “I’m very blunt and very honest.”

Soghomonian’s primary goal while serving on the ASG board is to encourage the student government members to communicate, cooperate and become a unit.

He suggested that the ASG pay a visit to a paintball course on Camp Pendleton and have the Marine Corps instructors put them through team training so that the student governing body can experience what it’s like to communicate effectively and operate in unison. “(The ASG) is supposed to be a productive, positive force and that’s what it’s going to be this semester.

We’ve already started off in a really strong foot and we’re going to be running the whole time,” Soghomonian said.

Soghomonian plans to transfer to the California Polytechnic State

New ASG vice president Shant Soghomonian • Lucy Wheeler/The Telescope

University of San Luis Obispo and train to become a forester, which “is kind of like an engineer of the forest.”

According to Soghomonian, he has learned an important lesson from his experiences in the military and in school.

“Always get what you love.

Always do what you love,” Soghomonian said.

He added, “Just keep moving forward and always have that optimism. No matter what’s happening, you always believe you can win, you can succeed.”

For more profiles on ASG Senator Reza Nemovi and Secretary Andrea-Nicole Schmidt, please visit the Telescope at www.thetelescope.com.

DSHRUM@THE-TELESCOPE.COM

NEWS • 9

the-telescope.com

Student may have ‘the Force’ to be mayor MARISSA MILLOY THE TELESCOPE

It’s not every day a college student seeks to run for local government.

Alex Fidel, 22, is looking to break through that wall with plans to enter his name into the ring for mayor of Encinitas in 2014.

Fidel and his family moved from New Jersey to Encinitas when he was 13-years-old. Growing up in a conservative home, it wasn’t until the 2008 elections, when he discovered Libertarian candidate Ron Paul, that he became more politically inclined.

“I think coming to the Libertarian viewpoint was kind of a rebellion...,” Fidel said. “I think the Libertarian viewpoint just means non-aggression and self ownership.”

His interest in politics peaked in 2011 when he interned for Gary

Johnson, the Libertarian Party nominee for President of the United States in the 2012 election.

Some of the biggest issues he supports and would change are laws addressing cannabis and drug enforcement, as well as limiting policing duties which he feels infringe on civil liberties.

On Fidel’s websiite, www. freeencinitas.org, he stated, “I oppose police state measures and will not allow the Dept. of Homeland Security to bribe our city with armored vehicles, bigger guns, or policy mandates. Police officers should be held accountable for civil liberty violations.”

Having never run or held public office before, Fidel doesn’t see his inexperience as a bad thing.

“Well I guess I’m not qualified, I don’t have any experience taking

Alex Fidel photo courtesy of Facebook

bribes or thinking I have the right to rule other people or anything like that,” Fidel said. “So in that sense I’m unqualified, but going back to my viewpoint I just don’t think politicians know what’s best.”

Fidel added that qualified or unqualified, he does not believe he has the right to rule other people.

He said, “I think people should rule themselves and then we have a peaceful society.”

If elected into office, Fidel said he will opt out of receiving any mayoral benefits, and would only accept the equivalent of a 10-hour-a-week minimum wage job. “(I would take) 90 percent reduced pay, and I would probably live in the mayor’s office to avoid paying rent and I wouldn’t take any of the benefits, healthcare, pension, nothing,” he said.

Fidel is not an official declared candidate as of now because the filing period isn’t until Summer of 2014.

He mentioned that for now he is campaigning and fundraising.

It may seem like an ambitious venture for a young, twentysomething college student to be running for local government, but Fidel said he doesn’t think much of it.

“I mean I guess it ties into my philosophy that politicians aren’t special people, I don’t think they know what’s best, I don’t think they should have extra rights, just me being me I guess,” he said.

Fidel donned a ‘Star Wars’ themed shirt which read “Join the empire,” pictured with Storm Troopers in which he made a correlation to how he views current government.

“The difference between presidents is the difference between sith lords, Bush is Darth Maul and Obama is Darth Vader, they’re both evil, but I have light sabers.”

MMILLOY@THE-TELESCOPE.COM

Students opting out from expensive textbooks KATY MURPHY MCT CAMPUS

Despite new technologies and a 2012 California law promising college students relief from soaring textbook costs, students’ bookstore spending is higher than ever, now about $1,200 for books and supplies.

And a new survey shows that students are responding with a cost-cutting measure that could seriously hurt their grades: They’re leaving the costly textbooks on the shelf. Two-thirds of college students surveyed said that they hadn’t bought a required textbook at least once because it was too expensive, according to a national report released Monday by the Student Public Interest Research Groups, a coalition of statewide student organizations.

“I had to borrow from friends sometimes,” said Caroline O’Callahan, a University of California, Berkeley, junior from Redwood City who didn’t buy a biology textbook last semester that cost about $120. “It was tricky because I was relying on lectures and notes of my own.”

Some professors use opensource materials for their courses, but others select books that are regularly updated, making used

copies hard to come by.

College bookstores commonly offer rentals, but those prices can be steep: It costs $88.92 to rent a used physics textbook from the UC Berkeley campus bookstore and $185 to buy it new.

Between 2002 and 2012, textbook prices shot up 82 percent, nearly three times the rate of inflation, in part because of quizzes and other online applications often included, according to the federal Government Accountability Office.

Two California laws meant to ease the pain have languished unfunded for nearly a year. The pair of open-access textbook laws by state Sen. President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg , Senate Bills 1052 and 1053, promised to help by making available faculty-approved online textbooks for 50 popular college courses, starting this academic year. But the project got off to a late start because of a funding delay, and students will have to wait at least until next January for the first books to hit the open-access library managed by the California State University system.

A faculty council charged with finding or developing free materials for UC, CSU and community college courses and then urging professors to assign them, was to

hold its first meeting this week.

“One of the goals of this project is to get the word out to people that there are good materials available,” said Bill Jacob, chairman of the UC system’s Academic Senate.

Jacob said he has used opensource textbooks for years in his math classes at UC Santa Barbara _ often assigning a collection of out-ofprint books posted online with the authors’ consent. But that approach takes time.

“You have to go out and find them,” he said.

As more colleges create openaccess digital libraries and develop new, open-source textbooks, that task should become easier, he said.

San Jose State’s library runs a campaign to encourage the faculty to use free or low-cost texts. SJSU students spend an average of $750 per year on books, and 70 percent reported not buying a textbook because of the cost, according to the campus.

The program saved 3,289 students about $90,883, $28 each, on average, in the spring of 2013, SJSU estimates.

A larger initiative at Rice University in Texas, OpenStax College, reported last spring it had saved 40,000 students $3.7 million, and that 300 institutions had signed up for its free, peer-reviewed

Students gain insight on scholarship process JOSHUA RAY THE TELESCOPE

The Scholarship Workshop held at Palomar College’s Escondido campus gave insight into scholarship writing and a hands-on experience for students.

Cari Martinez, a part-time counselor, held the workshop on Jan. 29. More than 20 students attended to learn about Palomar’s scholarship application process, tips on what to write in their personal statements and where to find scholarship opportunities.

At the workshop, students learned where to find the different scholarships available from Palomar

and other outside sources. Other sources included the Association on American Indian Affairs, Aspiring Police Officer Scholarship, Camp Pendleton Officer’s Wives Club and many more.

Nancy Novis, a psychology major, was at the workshop to find new information about scholarships for her and her daughter.

“I just need financial aid badly,” Novis said. “Navigating the website is difficult sometimes because there is so much information… just seeing the website on the board makes it so much easier.”

“Students don’t know what they are doing half the time (referring to finding scholarship information),”

Martinez said. “I have students thanking me for helping them… I think the workshop works out pretty well.”

Calvin Lew, who was in charge of informing Palomar students about the workshop, did a great job, according to Martinez.

“A year ago we were getting maybe six students,” Martinez said.

To find out about available scholarships, check palomar.edu and click on the tab financial aid/ scholarships, attend a Palomar College Scholarship Workshop or schedule to meet with counselor. The cutoff date for applying is Feb. 11.

materials for the 2013-14 year.

A Statistics I textbook, which typically costs $90 used and $150 new, would be free for the 120,000 California students who take the course each semester if their professors used the OpenStax version available now, said Dean Florez, president and CEO of the 20 Million Minds Foundation, which has underwritten some of the new OpenStax courses.

Jacob said California faculty will review the OpenStax textbooks, and others. Florez said he hopes faculty leaders approve them ahead of schedule by early April, when

professors adopt their books for the fall term.

Professors have good reason to bring about change; they see the consequences of textbook-skimping, said Beth Smith, chairwoman of California’s Intersegmental Committee of Academic Senates, which is involved in the state’s openaccess initiative.

“I think if you speak to any faculty member, they will tell you that students, for a variety of reasons, can’t or don’t purchase the traditional textbooks,” Smith said. “It has a devastating effect on their ability to keep up with the course.”

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10 • FOCUS

Monday, February 10, 2014

Economics of undocumented workers RALPH CHAPOCO THE TELESCOPE

They wait under the cover of darkness to make their move. They hide under and within anything they can find, out of sight from both the elements and from law enforcement who are constantly on the lookout for any movement or for any signs of life in the vast territory.

They rely on smugglers who know the lay of the land and they paid handsomely for their guidance. Some have given all they possess and others have given up their very freedoms for a time for the chance to make the crossing. Some will die of thirst or hunger. Others will die of starvation, drowning or the heat.

They are the undocumented immigrants of the United States and nearly all have an opinion about them. To some Americans they are a nuisance that need to be dealt with and to others they are the brave people who risk everything for the chance to live their dream.

The very lucky ones will reach their destination and work in a variety of capacities. Nearly all however will work for meager wages, be under constant scrutiny, and will be at the mercy of their employers.

The debate is contentious, the intensity will only continue. The stakes could not be higher and it’s fair to ask: who are they and more importantly do they contribute to this country or simply drag it down?

The profile

Based on three separate reports published by the Department of Homeland Security, National Public Radio, and the Pew Research Center’s Hispanic Trends Project there are an estimated 10.8 million undocumented immigrants living in the United States and they are concentrated in three states: California, Texas, and Florida. The majority, nearly 61 percent, are adults between the ages of 25 to 44 and are mostly male, almost 60 percent.

They are less educated than other sections of the United States population. They also work in different sectors of the economy and they earn less than their legal counterparts, about $36,000 per year versus $50,000 earned by U.S. born residents.

It is this demographic makeup that makes immigration such a controversial issue.

The economic argument

When Rob Luton, an immigration analyst with San Diegans for Secure Borders was asked about undocumented immigrants he said: “Illegal immigrants are having a negative effect on people who are already here.”

The classic economic model states that for a given demand of labor increasing the supply of workers limits opportunity for everyone. After all, jobs are in limited quantity and undocumented immigrants entering the U.S. decreases the likelihood others will be hired for the same position.

Take the example of construction; “I know contractors who are struggling to find work because there are undocumented immigrants who are competing for the same bids as the

Residents marched for National Day of Action for Dignity & Respect in downtown San Diego on Oct. 5, 2013 for immigration reform. • Yolanda Granados/The Telescope

people I know,” Luton said.

Illegal immigration also has a wage effect.

The larger the pool of available workers, the lower the wages for everyone will be. Since employers know there are an abundance of available workers they have no incentive to increase pay, they simply hire the next applicant.

Not everyone agrees however, opponents argue that the blue collar jobs that undocumented immigrants compete in are diverse and in some fields there are not enough domestic workers to fill all of the openings.

Carlos Maldonado, community worker with California Rural Legal Assistance (CRLA) said, “If you don’t have these illegal workers… how much do you think you will pay for an avocado, because of supply and demand?”

His implication is that picking produce is difficult work and few domestic workers are willing to do those jobs so wages would have to increase, exerting upward pressure on the prices that we all pay.

“If we don’t have these low wage workers it’s going to cost us more as consumers to buy everything that we want,” Yolie Rios, another community worker with CRLA said.

The entire labor market is complicated, much more complicated than a simple model and some will win while others will lose. We enjoy lower prices for food but some of us may pay for it with jobs.

The contribution argument

At the heart of the immigration debate is the role that undocumented immigrants play in shaping this country. Are they taking in more than they are contributing as some

Bacerra, David Androff, Cecilia Ayόn, and Jason Castillo concluded that undocumented immigrants contribute more than they ever consume through employment, purchases and tax revenue.

The bottom line is that numbers are very fluid and both sides use different numbers to prove their point.

The bill and the future

Jesus Silva waves the American Flag in a march to celebrate National Day of Action for Dignity & Respect on Oct. 5, 2013. • Yolanda Granados/The Telescope

suggest or are they vital to keeping this country going?

Steven Camarota, Director of Research with the Center for Immigration Studies said, “This is a population who arrives in the United States with modest levels of education and a lot of issues, a lot of things flow from that fact. The majority don’t have a high-school education. They’re going to be quite poor, regardless of legal status.”

The suggestion is that since they (undocumented immigrants) are low income they will consume a large amount of social services such as welfare and will contribute very little in the way to tax revenue.

The Federation for American Immigration Reform published a study in 2004 detailing the fiscal effect of undocumented immigrants in California.

The study estimated that undocumented immigrants contribute about $1.7 billion to the

state through a combination of sales, payroll, and property taxes.

However, they cost California over $10 billion in the form of education, medical care, and incarceration expenditures.

The opposition clearly disagrees with those estimates and argues the calculations do not factor in all that undocumented immigrants have to offer or are offering to this country.

Wendy Feliz, Communications Director at the American Immigration Council said, “An analogy might help.

These people will tell you that your roommate uses water and electricity, and acknowledge that he pays half the rent but leave out that he buys the groceries sometimes or that he cooks sometimes.”

Published in the Journal of Sociology and Social Welfare a paper titled “Fear vs. Facts: Examining the Economic Impact of Undocumented Immigrants in the U.S.,” university researchers David

Ironically enough the one aspect that both sides agree on is the Immigration Reform Bill that was passed by the Senate just last year: both sides have problems with it.

Pro-immigration groups dislike the border provision because it would reinforce the border fence at crossings that people find more amenable, forcing them to find entry points at more dangerous locations along California, Arizona and Texas.

“A lot of people have died trying to cross the border, this bill will increase that,” Enrique Morones, Founder and Director of Border Angels, a proimmigration group said.

Critics argue the point of reinforcing the border with a double fence is to keep undocumented immigrants from entering the U.S. Conservative groups detest the provision that permits citizenship for those who have been in the U.S. for a specified period of time, the so-called “amnesty provision.”

In the meantime undocumented immigrants will still attempt to cross the border and work in the U.S. illegally, risking their lives for their own chance at the American dream and those who are already living and working in the U.S. remain in limbo.

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SPORTS • 11

the-telescope.com

Professional players mentor Comets JOSHUA RAY THE TELESCOPE

Professional baseball players use Palomar College training facilities for off-season workouts.

Ben Rowen (call-up pitcher for the Texas Rangers), BK Santy (Minnesota Twins minor league) and Stephen Gonsalves (Rookie pitcher Minnosota Twins minor league) visited Palomar’s training facility doing workouts with the team last month.

Palomar College’s Head Coach Buck Taylor said Nick Vincent (Padres MLB), Brandon Webb (Palomar 2009, Baltimore Orioles minor league), Danny T. Bethea (Boston Red Socks minor league) and Tyler Saladino (White Sox minor league) also returned to Palomar to participate in workouts this season and in previous seasons.

“I hope to show the team that during the offseason a player can keep up with the training regime even when coaches aren’t there telling you what to do,” Rowen said. “I hope I can show them that just in my work ethic alone.”

BK Santy, a former Palomar player from the 2009 and 2010 season who is now a top rookie for the Minnesota Twins organization, was also available to the players for questions.

Taylor said having the professionals at camp has a big impact.

“They are here to help and our guys get to ask them questions,” Taylor said. He said he hopes his players continue asking questions because they are young and have a lot to learn.

Jared Hunt, Palomar’s third basemen, said he likes to be able to ask the professionals questions. He said he gets to learn and hang out with them, which helps his development as a player.

Freshman starting catcher Francis Christy said he feels the experience is good for the team and he has been helped in the past by similar exposure to professional players at other locations.

Dillan Smith, Comets outfielder, said he benefits from

the exposure he gets from talking with the pros. “It is really important; from their guidance you can see what it takes to become a great player.”

Stephen Gonsalves is currently pitching for the Minnesota Twins organization. He grew up in San Marcos and worked with Taylor since he was 12 years old.

Gonsalves, a fourth round draft pick last year, played for Central Catholic High School. He said he was at Palomar’s baseball field to get ready for the upcoming season.

“I’m actually meeting another player from the Twins organization, getting ready to start throwing again,” Gonsalves said.

Taylor said the team is full of men who do well in the classroom, which normally translates to how they perform on the field.

“They need to mature as young men, as athletes and mature as students.

This is the good part of the job to see all of these guys throughout that maturation process,” he said.

Taylor will keep the doors open to Palomar’s former players who want to come for workouts. This is something he will keep doing and encouraging to help develop his team.

For a recap about the first home game for the Comets visit the-telescope.com.

Professional baseball player Stephen Gonsalves throws a pitch during Palomar baseball’s practice on Jan. 24 at Myer’s Field. • Scott Colson/The Telescope.

JRAY@THE-TELESCOPE.COM

Extreme sports, potential risk at Sochi Winter Olympics DAVID WHARTON MCT CAMPUS

The trouble started somewhere in the middle of a switch triple rodeo.

Or maybe an instant before that, as Gus Kenworthy launched himself, spinning, twisting, off the jump.

The American halfpipe and slopestyle skier tried to complete his midair trick but slammed down with a thud. Curled into a fetal position, clutching his chest, he slid 20 yards before coming to a stop.

“Broke my sternum,” he says, recounting his fall at last year’s X Games Aspen like it was no big deal.

“I’ve been hurt before.”

Broken legs. A broken collarbone.

Wrist injuries. At 22 years old, the world-class free skier knows that wipeouts happen and snow can be as unforgiving as concrete.

Which makes the Winter Olympics a dangerous proposition.

“The injuries are real and they for sure hurt,” he says. “But it’s one of the inherent risks.”

Skiers careen down the mountainside. Bobsledders scream along a frozen track. Snowboarders vault themselves high into the air.

The athletes at the 2014 Sochi Games will face a simple risk-reward scenario: If things go right, they might walk away with a gold medal; if things go wrong, they might not walk away at all.

“If you’re not scaring yourself,”

Canada’s Alexa Loo competes in the Ladies’ Parallel Giant Slalom snowboard event during the 2010 Olympic Winter Games Canada at Cypress Mountain in West Vancouver, British Columbia Feb. 26, 2010. • Jason Payne/Canwest News Service/MCT

halfpipe snowboarder Scotty Lago says, “you’re not doing it right.”

Hours before the opening ceremony at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, a luger from the former Soviet republic of Georgia was taking a practice run when he flew off the track and smashed into a post.

“We’re a really small community,” American luger Julia Clukey says. “It was really hard for all of us.”

The addition of more and more extreme sports to the Olympic program has increased the risk of injury.

A 2010 study published by the British Journal of Sports Medicine found that nearly 300 athletes were hurt in Vancouver. And that doesn’t include all the skiers, sliders and snowboarders who suffered major falls while preparing for the Games.

In an effort to minimize out-ofcompetition injuries, snowboarders learn tricks on trampolines. At a training center in Utah, aerialists jump off carpeted ramps and land in a pool, but even that can be dicey.

Dylan Ferguson came down awkwardly one day and knocked

himself unconscious.

“I was in the water, sort of floating there with my life jacket,” he says.

“Luckily, my teammates brought me to the side.”

Not everyone has a safe way to practice. Downhill racers must go full-speed, and ski jumpers must take flight. Even when things go right, it can be painful.

“If it’s really far,” American jumper Jessica Jerome says, “I’m thinking about how much my knees are going to hurt when I land.”

Duck your head. Grab hold.

When a bobsled flips over, the riders try to stay inside, even if it means getting trapped against the ice, the friction burning through their suits.

“It’s your safest place,” says Jazmine Fenlator, an American pilot. “That’s the name of the game.”

Veterans of the sport try to warn newcomers. Fenlator heard so many horror stories when she began racing on ice, it got to the point where she welcomed her first wipeout.

“The longer your career goes without a crash,” she says, “the more nerve-racking it can become.”

If training can be risky, competition only ups the ante.

Olympians will try anything to shave .01 of a second off their time or add an extra spin for the judges.

American downhill star Lindsey Vonn will miss the Sochi Games after reinjuring her knee in a World

Cup race last month. The reigning men’s figure skating champion, Evan Lysacek, will skip the Games because of a hip injury.

Bobsled ranks among the most dangerous events, along with free skiing, hockey and short-track speedskating, according to the British study. Heads, spines and knees take the hardest beating.

Don’t get the wrong idea. It can be scary up on the mountain, especially when the wind blows hard and heavy storms limit visibility.

Elite athletes have ways of dealing with fear.

Some downhill racers say they ignore the brightly colored crash fencing on either side of the run.

Snowboarders think of their tricks as “calculated” risks.

Besides, danger has its upside for athletes who crave the rush that comes with pushing the edge of the envelope. Van calls it an “addiction” and Alpine skier Travis Ganong says he cannot find that kind of thrill anywhere else.

Kenworthy loves his sport so much that he returned to competition soon after his X Games fall, jumping despite his cracked sternum.

Like other athletes hoping to be in Russia next month, the free skier will look forward to a bit of risk.

“I don’t think we’re hillbillies or anything, but we’re all adrenaline junkies,” he says. “We want to scare ourselves.”

12 • SPORTS

Monday, February 10, 2014

UPCOMING PALOMAR HOME GAMES MEN’S BASKETBALL Feb. 19 vs. Grossmont Feb. 21 vs. Mira Costa

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL Feb. 14 vs. Grossmont Feb. 21 vs. San Diego Mesa

BASEBALL Feb. 13 vs. Fullerton Feb. 18 vs. Santa Ana Feb. 20 vs. COD Feb. 22 vs. Southwestern

SOFTBALL Feb. 21 vs. Grossmont Palomar’s head softball coach Lacey Craft talks to the team before their first home game against Saddleback College on Jan. 29 at Palomar. • Scott Colson/The Telescope

Comets pitching a new season

Feb. 25 vs. Citrus Feb. 26 vs. Southwestern Feb. 28 vs. Imperial Valley

LLOYD BRAVO THE TELESCOPE

Palomar College softball coach Lacey Craft is getting ready for the challenges that lie ahead for another season of Comets softball.

After an emotional season last year, Craft and her talented players clawed their way back and won their fourth state championship.

Craft believes regardless of the loss of most of the players from last season, who moved on to four-year universities, the Comets will be ready once the season starts.

“Going into the season the (team) is going to be able to compete and play ball at a pretty high level and that’s what I’m looking forward to,” Craft said.

There is no expectation to compete on the same level as last season, according to Craft.

However, she praises her new recruits and their efforts since practicing last year.

“We are trying to win that conference championship every year... Fortunately we have talented kids that give us the opportunity to do that again this season,” Craft said.

One of the four returning players from last season is 19-yearold first baseman Paige Falconieri, a Business/Advertising major.

Falconieri is ready to compete and start the season.

“I’m really excited. I feel like a have a lot of talent this year and have the potential to go really far with this team,” Falconieri said.

Falconieri’s experience will be a welcoming addition. “(In) the games she (played) she hit home runs and her clutch RBIs

MEN’S TENNIS Feb. 20 vs. Victor Valley Feb. 21 vs. Saddleback Feb. 27 vs. COD

WOMEN’S TENNIS Feb. 11 vs. Irvine Valley Feb. 18 vs. Mt. San Jacinto Feb. 25 vs. San Diego CC

MEN’S VOLLEYBALL Feb. 12 vs. Southwestern Feb. 14 vs. Moorpark Palomar pitcher Carlie Daniel hits a 2-run home run in the first inning against Saddleback College on Jan. 29 at Palomar’s softball field.

Daniel reached base three times and pitched two shutout innings in the Comets’ season opening 7-5 win. • Scott Colson/The Telescope

were just that, ‘clutch.’ They won huge games for us,” Craft said.

Craft has high hopes for the returning sophomore. “I anticipate her to be more consistent (this season). She is going to be a huge hitter and defensively lead in the infield.”

Coming back from her dominant debut season, pitcher of the year Carlie Daniel is prepared for the challenges ahead.

After being called a key factor in last season’s championship team

by Craft, Daniel is modest about her performance.

“I mean there were others on the team that helped and I never felt that it was all about me,” Daniel said.

“I’m excited for (the season to start). We have good hitters and quite a few pitchers, and I can’t wait to see what happens,” Daniel said.

Both Daniel and Falconieri are highly competitive players and they strive to be the best.

“You always want to try to outdo the other person or keep up with them. Everyone just kind of makes each other want to be better,” Daniel said.

“We all make each other better everyday. We have so many talented people it just makes you want to work harder,” Falconieri said.

The season is just beginning and a lot of team developing still

needs to be assessed, but Craft feels her to team is ready.

“We have done a lot to prepare and train and we have been able to challenge [the team] with strategy and different things we want to incorporate, including defense, into our game this year.” Craft said.

“It’s a great feeling as a coach and program to feel that we are ready to play.”

The players are ready, but they understand the difficulties that can be presented this season from being champions.

“The coaches expect us to do our best, but in the league there is a target on our back,” Daniel said.

LBRAVO@THE-TELESCOPE.COM

Feb. 20 vs. L.A. Trade Tech Feb. 26 vs. Irvine Valley

SWIMMING Feb. 28 vs. Southwestern

WOMEN’S TRACK & FIELD March 1 Mangrun Invitational @ Cal State San Marcos