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the telescope Palomar College’s Independent Newspaper
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Vol. 67, No. 13 • Monday, March 31, 2014
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the-telescope.com
Arson suspect pleads not guilty CLIFF IRELAND THE TELESCOPE
Palomar’s Women’s Studies program held events in honor of Women’s History Month regarding women in the military March 26 - 27. Photo courtesy of Daniel Bendjy/Getty images
Campus event discusses women in military “Invisible War” screening unveils visible truth in the armed forces
Panel sheds different light for the role of women in uniform
STEVE KIRCH
STEVE KIRCH
THE TELESCOPE
The Women’s Studies Department hosted a screening of the “Invisible War” as part of its Women’s History Month event, March 26-27. The documentary depicts the sexual harassment and abuse women endure while serving in the military; as well as, the lack of discretion
the military enacts to bring assailants to justice, and compensate victims of rape. Devon Smith, of Palomar’s Behavioral Sciences department, said that the film brings awareness to the role of women in the military and that the values of women shouldn’t be diminished or minimized in a
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THE TELESCOPE
To bring a close to Women’s History Month, the Women’s Studies program hosted a panel in the Governing Board Room on March 27 that focused on the role of women in the military. The panel consisted of six women of different ages, ethnicities and
backgrounds who had positive and encouraging stories to tell from their time in the military. The stories were quite different from those Palomar students heard the prior day from rape survivors in the documentary “Invisible War.” Many said that the military helped them grow and mature as a
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THE TELESCOPE
Palomar’s Women’s Studies program was denied funding by the Office of Student Affairs for its annual event to celebrate Women’s History Month. The OSA claimed there were no funds available as the reason for its denial. “Upon review the Director of Student Affairs, Ms. Titus, is sorry to report that we do not have funds available at this time. The budget is depleted,” the email read. Earlier in the year Devon Smith, assistant professor of sociology and the lead organizer for the event, was tasked with submitting a request for proposal on behalf of the Women’s Studies Department to procure resources for an event to celebrate Women’s History Month. The event, “Women in the Military: Past, Present, and Future” involved a film screening that documented rape and sexual assault within the military as well as a panel featuring women who discussed their daily experiences while serving in the armed forces. “The issue (rape and sexual assault) is an issue that doesn’t get enough attention,” Smith said. “But also there is a tremendous military presence in San Diego and on Palomar’s campus so we felt like it would be a topic that would be received well on this campus specifically.” The department asked for nearly $3,000 to cover the costs associated with the event. The majority of the money would be for refreshments and for the rights to show the film. The remaining amount would be allocated toward advertising and printing costs as well as for t-shirts for those who volunteered for the event. This particular event has been a mainstay on the Palomar campus for the past several years and has consistently counted on funds from of the student activities budget so it begs the question: What made this year different from previous years and what happened to
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Spanish program offered LOTTIESHA BLANDON THE TELESCOPE
Student activities budget depleted mid-semester RALPH CHAPOCO
Connor Ryan Cook, 18, is out on $25,000 bail after pleading not guilty at his arraignment March 18 for arson and attempted arson at the Palomar College San Marcos campus. Cook was taken into custody March 14 by the San Diego Sheriff ’s Department on suspicion of starting the fire that occurred in the men’s restroom of the P Building earlier that day. The March 14 fire was similar to a string of fires on the San Marcos campus that started in December 2013. Toilet paper and toilet seat covers were used to start all the fires in each of those cases. There were no injuries reported and no major damage in any of the incidents.
all of the money? The student activities budget is funded from the sale of Palomar Identification cards. At the beginning of each semester students who have enrolled at Palomar College are given the option to purchase an I.D. card for $15 to use for the coming semester and the purchase of the card confers certain benefits. On average, about 11,000 students pay for the use of the I.D. card and this nets the student activities fund approximately $165,000 each academic year.
Palomar College’s World Languages Department will provide students with a chance to fulfill all foreign language requirements in just one summer. Students will be able to take all three levels of Spanish this summer with the reintroduction of the intercession semester beginning May 19, the week after the spring semester ends. If Spanish 101 is taken during the intercession semester, then 102 and 201 can be taken consecutively for the remaining eight weeks of the summer semester allowing students to fulfill their entire 15 unit foreign language requirement. These classes will be offered as hybrid classes. Hybrid classes are when 50 percent of work is done in a traditional class setting, while the other 50 percent is done online. According to Palomar College Spanish Professor Kathleen M. Sheahan, Ed. D., the traditional portion focuses on speaking and listening skills while the online portion focuses on writing and reading.
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Student activities budget breakdown
Infographic by Ralph Chapoco