IMPACT Magazine 2022: People of Palomar

IMPACT

People of PALOMAR

LetterfromtheEditor

Welcomebacktocampus!

Overthelasttwoyears,aglobalpandemichasmadeonlineclassesthenorm. ChangebegantohappenwhentheFall2021semesterstartedandin-person classesreturned.Forsome,itwastheirfirsttimeoncampusandnotstaring atascreen.Forothers,itwasareturntosomethingfamiliar.Asmanyreturn tocampus,weareseeingnewfacesandmeetingnewpeople.

Forthe13theditionofIMPACT,wewantedtofocusonthepeoplethatmake PalomarCollege,whichincludestudents,athletes,professors,staff,and coaches.Thosefeaturedhereshowthedifferenttypesofpeoplewhoarea partofPalomar,andtelltheirstories.TheIMPACTteamhasbeenworking tobringyouthesestories.

ThestudentsandstaffarewhatmakePalomarCollegewhatitis,andweat IMPACTwanttohighlightthesepeople.

Sincerely,

GiovanniVallido,Editor-in-Chief

Content

ErinHiro ADVISER

NickNg MAGAZINEDESIGNER

SophiaPartida STAFFWRITER

ChristopherGallegos STAFFWRITER

TarahLachmandas STAFFWRITER

DezareLozano STAFFWRITER

MarisaPak STAFFWRITER

HayleyLawson SPORTSEDITOR

TrinaMcLeary OPINIONandBLOGEDITOR

SophiaPerun ARTSEDITOR

GiovanniVallido EDITOR-IN-CHIEF,COPYEDITOR

EmmanuelBarrera NEWSEDITOR

Wear Your Hope

Theroleofastudentdesignerinaworldclutteredwithclothing

BySophiaPartida

Mystyle?” Shelooked downatherclothes. “Verybright,”sherepliedwitha smile.Shewaswearingacropped redzip-upsweater,pinkandredtiedyejeans,whiteshoesandared shoulderbag.Hercolor-coordinated outfitmayhavebeenseamlessly arranged,butthefieldoffashionis morecomplexthanitlooks.

AlexisSolorio,22,ismajoringin FashionDesignandMerchandising atPalomarCollege.“Fashionismy creativeoutlet,it’smypassionand myjob,”shesaid,reflectingher commitmentinpushingboundaries, startingwithherownclothing. Whetherit’sacolorfulmidiskirtor amasculineoutfitwithbaggyjeans, Solorioenjoysreformingand upcyclingpieces,demonstrating thatsustainabilityshouldbea standardpractice.

PhotocourtesyofMarcusSanchez.

(Oppositepage,clockwisefromtop):StyledbyAlexisSolorio;designedbyAlexisSolorio; styledbyAlexisSolorio.(Allphotoscourtesyof@selfbysoleil.)

Growingup inafamily-oriented environmentallowedSolorio’s artisticabilitiestoflourishandshaped whosheistoday.BorninEscondido, California,Solorioandherfour brotherswereraisedbyasingle mother.“Ithinkmymomisproud thatIhavesomethingIampassionate about,”Soloriosaid.Herbestfriend andcousin,AnaliciaSaenz,describes heras“talentedandcreative.”She admiredthatonceSolorioputsherto mindsomething,shewillgoabove andbeyond.Saenzdescribedhow Soloriohasalwayslikedstyling clothesanddrawing,whichwas likelyinfluencedbyhermother,who isapreschoolteacher.

Inherentlyartistic,Solorio’sinterest infashionwasembracedfroma youngage.“I’vealwaysbeenreally intoit,”saidSolorio,recallingher earlyfondnessforfashionshows.Ifa

TrendPredictions for2022

Fashiontrendsshifteachseason,and soon,newclothesarefloodingthe market.Butifyoutakeastepback, whatwearewearingtodayreveals muchmorethanyouwouldexpect aboutourgeneration’smindset. Stylesthatmimicouradolescenceare currentlypopular.

StillridingofftheY2Kwave,weare reachingpeaknostalgiawithbright colorsandyouthfulsilhouettes.Lowrisejeansandskirtshavebeen makingacontroversialcomebackthis pastyear,butSolorioisafanofthe latter.Midiandmaxiskirtsaremustwearitemsinherclosetthisseason. Soloriosaid“flirtyandpoofy”dresses asapredictionthisyearbutreworked tofitasleek,modernlook.

Travelingfurtherintothepast, Regency-styleclothing(thinkpuffy sleevestops)willlikelyremainfor streetwearandrunwaysalike.Whether it’saboldorangeoraquamarineblue, there’snolackofcolorthisseason,so pullouteye-catchingprintsand accessoriestomatchyouruniquelook.

characterhadauniqueoutfit,shewas naturallydrawntothem.Asachild, oneofherfavoritetoyswasabook whereyoucoulddesignclothesand colorthemwithsmallstencils.Not muchhaschanged,asSoloriostill sketchesdownherideasforoutfits. Theonlydifferenceisthatshecan nowbringthemtolife.

“DearSummer”isthenameofher vacation-esquecollectionforthe FashionMerchandisingandDesign Program’sannualMODAFashion ShowatPalomarCollege.Youcan spothermaininfluencesinthese designs:vibrantcolorsfoundin natureandtropicalthemes.“Likethis colorrighthereisoneofmydresses,” saidSolorio,pointingtoan arrangementofbrightpinkflowers nexttoher.

Idealforwarmweather,her collectionmainlyconsistsofdresses andlightweightclothingmadeof chiffonsandsilks.Solorioalso addressesthechangingtimeswelive inandtheopportunitytodressup again.“Ithadalottodowith COVID,comingoutofCOVID,not beingtrappedindoors,”shesaid, emphasizingthatshe’sinspiredby ourfreedomtotravelagainandwear beautifulclothes.

Withafull-timejobandstudent responsibilities,Solorioisoutthe wholedaytomeetherdeadlines.In preparationforthefashionshowon May11,sheneedsaminimumoffive looksinhercollection,butshe’sbeen workingontheshow’smagazineand itsproductionwithheradvanced designclass.

AlexisSolorioadjustsherdesign forthe2022MODAFashionShow. (SophiaPartida/TheTelescope)

Anaveragedayforher startsat5a.m.,andshe usuallydoesn’treturn homeuntilit’sdark outside.Soloriosaidthat thelabhasbeenhectic withthestudentsrushing tocompletetheir designs,butit’salsoaveryfocusedand collaborativeenvironment.Atthelong tablessurroundedbydressformsand sewingmachines,you’dbeabletosee herintheafternoonworkingon colorfulgarmentswhilesharingtips withherclassmates.

Thisisherlastsemesterafterfour yearsatPalomarCollege,andshe hopestotransfertotheFashion InstituteofTechnologyinNewYorkor theIstitutoMarangoniinParisor London.Thisfieldisn’tthemost secure,anditexplainswhyoneof Solorio’sproudestmomentshasbeen herfull-timededicationtofashion.

“Ifeellikethiswasahardthingtoget intoatfirst…becauseI’malwaysthat personwhereitneedstobesafeandI havetomakemoney,”saidSolorio. However,shefeelsthatthisfieldhas openedheruptonumerous opportunitiesandworkingonher collectionhasallowedhertolearn usefulskills.

AlthoughSolorioworksinhealthcare, herultimateaspirationistobecomea

designerwithherownlabel,and shehasalreadystartedtobuildaname forherself.Inbetweenschool,she createsandthinksofvariousart mediumsthatwillenhanceherworkin thefuture.ThisyearSoloriohasbeen stylingandcreatingdesignsforseveral womenwithlargefollowingsonsocial media,gainingexperienceassheposts themonherInstagram@grlfrienddd.

Comingtocampus wasn’talwaysan option.WhenSoloriofirststartedher classes,shelovedcomingtoschool andexperiencingthe(essential)handsonsideofdesigning.Thenthe pandemichit.

Sinceeverythinghadtobe donefromhome,she expressedthatitwashard enoughtodelayher learningprocess.Shesaid thattheteachershavebeen flexibleandwereableto catchthestudentsup,but sheacknowledgedthat “there’salwaysgoingtobe challengesinthefashion industryjustbecauseit’s notsomethingthat’ssafe.”

Alexis’sketchbook. (PhotocourtesyofAlexisSolorio.)

OneofAlexis’pieceforthe2022 MODAFashionShow. (PhotocourtesyofAlexisSolorio.)

AlexisSolorio’s designsketchesfor the2022MODA FashionShow. (SophiaPartida/ TheTelescope)

Inthepastfewyears,there’sbeenagrowthinconcernover ethicalproblemsinthefashionindustry,especiallyregarding humanrightsandenvironmentaldamage.Isitnotpossibleto appreciatefashionwithoutyieldingourmoralstandards?The UnitedStateshasoneofthelargestapparelmarketsintheworld, whichmakesthiscrisisonlymorerelevantforus.

AccordingtotheBBCarticle“Canfashioneverbesustainable?” thefashionindustryisresponsibleforabout 8to10percent of globalcarbonemissionsand 20percent ofwastewater.The UnitedNationsestimatedin2018thatasinglepairofjeans,made outof onekilogram ofcotton,isequivalentto 10years’worth ofdrinkingwater.Thecollectiveconsumerdesirefornew clotheseachseasonhascreatedamonster intheindustry:fastfashion.TheU.S. EnvironmentalProtectionAgency estimatedthatlandfillsreceived 11.3 milliontons oftextilesandincinerated 3.2 milliontons in2018.Themaintypeof textilesinthemunicipalsolidwasteisour owndiscardedclothing.

Luckily,there’sawaytodiscoverwhich fashionbrandsaredoingmoreharmthan good.GoodOnYouisanappandwebsite designedtoeducateconsumersbyrating thousandsofbrandsbasedontheir treatmentoflaborgroups,animalsandthe environment.AGoodOnYouspokesperson emphasizedthatcitizensshoulddemand morefrombrandsthataren’tupholdingfair laborandeco-friendlystandards.Our dangerousshoppinghabitsonlyencourage thefastfashionindustry“whilemillionsof garmentworkers—themajoritybeing womenofcolour—arenotpaidfairly,” GoodOnYoustated.

Forstudentdesigners,educatingyourselfis thefirststep.“Thenstartwithyour universitydepartmentandcollegepeers,”the spokespersonsaid.“Howcentralissustainabilityto yourcurriculum?Howeducatedareyourprofessors ontheseissues?Doyourstudentsknowaboutthe harmultrafastfashionbrandsarecausingtoour environmentandtocommunitiesaroundtheworld? Canyouadvocateforchangewhereyou’reatrightnow?”

Asaconsumer,it’stimetostopcompromisingontrendy,lowpricedclothingandfinallyholdourselvesaccountableforwhat wewear.ProfessorMontiLaddisafashioninstructoratPalomar Collegewhocommentedonthreefeaturesofthisyear’sfashion show,oneofwhichispushingforsustainability.“Weareopento upcycling,weencourageit…becausewe’recelebratingthe75th yearofPalomarCollege,”Laddsaid.Sincetheschool’s anniversaryis1946,theinstructorsurgestudentstobringback thaterawithreusedclothing.

Topleft:StyledbyAlexisSolorio; photographedby@selfbysoleil. Above:StyledbyAlexisSolorio; photographedby@selfbysoleil. Lowerleft:StyledbyAlexisSolorio; photographedby@hbphotos.co.

ATailoredFuture

Solorio ispartofthenewergenerationthat ismoreactiveinsupportingsustainability, startingfromherownclothes.“It’smaking moreroomforcreativity,”shesaid.“I definitelywouldprefersomethingthatis reworkedatathriftstorethansomethingI canbuyfromShein,”whichalignswiththe movementagainstfastfashioncompanieslike Forever21.It’snecessarytonotethatwe cannotpickandchoosewhichstorestobash whileignoringour(below-par)favorites. Therearesomestoresthatenjoypopularity amongyoungadults,butcurrentlyhave worseratingsthanH&MontheGoodOnYou App,includingUrbanOutfitters,Aerie, PacsunandLululemon.

It’sokaytogetnewclothesandparticipatein yourfavoritetrends,butrememberthesevital shoppingoptions:visitvintageandsecondhandclothingshops;exploreresalesiteslike ThredUp,PoshmarkandDepop;orsimply upcycleoldclothes.Trytoinvestinaquality pieceyoucanwearmorethanahandfulof times.Mostimportantly,don’ttrashyour clothesonceyou’refinishedwiththem. Sellingclothesonline,takingthemto donationcenterslikeGoodwill,orsimply givingthemtoafriendwillsaveyour conscienceandtheplanet.

Fashionisdiverseandimperfect,butit’s hometomillionsofdesignerswhoarefacing itwithhope.ThisincludesSoloriowho wishestoworkonvarioussectorsofthe industryinthefuture,whilekeepingherlove foraestheticsandcolors.HertimeatPalomar Collegeiscomingtoanend,butthefashion departmentonlygaveheratasteofthe immensefield.She’sreadytolearnmore. P

“Fashionismy creative outlet. It’smy passion andmyjob.”

PhotoofAlexisSoloriobySophiaPartida.

asaterWants iteraryChangeL

AnEnglishprofessormakesadifferencein howdiversityisrepresentedinU.S.Literature.

ByChristopherGallegos

Dr.LisetteOrdoricaLasaterhaschangedmany livesinonlyafewyearsatPalomarCollege whereherowncollegecareerstarted.Sheisthe daughterofMexicanimmigrantsandafirstgenerationcollegestudent.AfterattendingPalomar, shewenttoCaliforniaStateUniversityofSan Marcostogetherbachelor’sdegreeandthenearned hermaster’sandPh.D.degreesattheUniversityof CaliforniaRiverside.

Lasateristheyoungestofsixchildrenandgrewup inSanJose,California,whereherfamilymigratedin the1960s.Lifewasn’teasyforherandherfamily, butthatdidn’tstopherfrommakingachange.

“Mydad workedinafactory,andmymomstayedhome andtookcareofus,”Lasatersaid.“Mychildhood definitelyhadalotoffinancialchallenges,wewerenot wealthypeople,butmyparentsjustworkedsohardto createareallysafehomeforus.Theyverystrongly believedineducationandthepowerforeducationfor oneself,andone’scommunity.”

Lasaterdidn’tmindthatherparentswerestrictabout schoolandeducation.Whilesheneverreallylikedsports, shefellinlovewithreading.Growingup,alibraryof bookswasalwayspresentatherhome.Whenherolder siblingsmovedoutwhileshewasstillyoung,theylefta lotofbooksforher.Shewouldreadfordayandnight.

“ButIneverreadanybooksthatwereaboutpeoplelike me,orpeoplelikemyfamilyandcommunity,”shesaid. “IftherewaseveraLatinocharacteritwasalwaysaside character,theywereneverthefocusofthestory.”

ThelackofdiversityinclassicAmericannovelslike “LittleHouseonThePrairie”carriedonintoher educationandhelpedherbecomethepersonsheistoday. Itwasn’tuntilattendingPalomarCollegewhereshetook aChicanostudiesclassthatsherealizedChicano literaturewasactuallyoutthere.“WhenIfirst encountereditwassoshockinganditcompletelyopened upmyworld.Ithenrealizedthatwecanbethesubjectof astory,”shesaid.

Althoughittookhersolongin herlifetorealizethatLatino peopleandcommunitiescould bethemainpieceofastory,she thoughtitwasablessingin disguise.Chicanoliteraturewas almostnonexistenttoLasater beforegettingtoPalomar College.“Itbecamemymission tobecomeaneducator,andto exposestudentstothepowerof Chicano/Latinoliteratureand alongwiththatjustthepowerof writing,”Lasatersaid.

CalebBocanegra,aformer studentofLasater,thinksthat peopleshouldknowhow passionatesheisabouthelping othersandmakingpeoplefeel represented.“Sheismiles beyondtheaverageprofessor andreallytakestheeffortto createaverypersonal experience,”Bocanegrasaidin aninterviewonInstagram.

“Also,Ithinkthatpeopleshouldconsiderherbackground whenreviewinghercourseasIbelieveherownpersonal experienceinfluencessomeofthetextdiscussedinthe course,whichI believealotofpeople relatetoaswell.”

Tohelpspread diversityaround PalomarCollege,she isapartofthePride CenterandPuente

Project.Dr.Hossna SadatAhadi,an AssociateProfessorin CounselingatPalomar whoworkswith Lasateronthe EducatorsforEquity, Diversity,andCultural Consciousness

Subcommitteeforthe FacultySenate,said thatLasateris“equityminded.”

“Shecontinuestoadvocatefordiversity,equity,inclusion, andantiracismeffortsatPalomarCollege,”saidAhadiin anemailinterview.

AccordingtothePuenteProject,“ThePuenteprogramisa nationalaward-winningprogramthathashelpedthousands ofstudentstransfertoauniversity,earndegreesandreturn tothecommunityasleadersandmentorstofuture generations.”

“Asafirst-generationcollegestudentwhostruggledto transfertoafouryear,itisverymeaningfultobeinvolved asthecurrentclubadvisor,tohelpcreatemeaningful educationalexperiencesforourstudents,”saidLasater. Edsource.orgsitesthat“MoreCaliforniaLatinostudents attendingcollege,but‘disturbinggaps’remain.“Whilethe increasesarenoteworthy,thenumberofpeopleofLatino descentcomprise39%ofthestate’spopulationand43%of allundergraduatestudentsattendingcommunitycollege andpublicuniversitiesinCalifornia,makingthemthe singlelargestracialandethnicgroupinthestate.Yetonly 14%ofthoseadultsinthestatehaveabachelor’sdegree, comprisingjust1in4studentsintheentireUniversityof Californiasystem,accordingtothereport.”

“ Ineverreadany booksthatwereabout peoplelikeme,or peoplelikemy family and community. Iftherewasevera Latinocharacteritwas alwaysasidecharacter, theywereneverthe focus ofthestory.

ProfessorLasaterlecturestoherclassabout thebooktheyarereading“HouseofBroken Angels.”(ChristopherGallegos/TheTelescope)

PhotobyGiovanniVallido

Ithinkwhen[mymom] wastellingmetorelax, shetrulymeanttohave faith,andthateverything isgoingtoworkoutand befine.EvennowwhenI findmyselfstressingout aboutthefuture,thatvery simple‘Mijarelax’is somethingthatIreturnto.

PhotobyGiovanniVallido

Lasaterbondswithherstudents,tryingtomakeeveryone whocomestoherclassfeelequalnomatterwhat,who,or wheretheycomefrom.“Iwantstudentstoknowthat Englishcouldbefun,andtonotletsomebadprior experiencesdetractyoufromexploringotherEnglish classes,”shesaid.

“Lasaterisoneofthemostkind-hearted,warmpeopleat PalomarCollege,”DylanDavidsonsaidinanemail interview,whoisthePrideCenterAssistantatPalomar. “Sheisafantasticallytoallminoritygroupsandmakes surethateveryoneistreatedequally.I’veneverhadthe privilegeoftakingoneofherclasses,butshehastaughtme alotduringourtime,andIcanonlyimaginethatshe wouldteachstudentsthesameasshetaughtme,withan openmind,heart,andspirit.”

Lifewasn’talwaysasmoothsailingforLasater.Whenshe startedheracademicjourneyatPalomar,herdreamwasto becomeaneducator,butdeepdownsheknewshewanted tobeaprofessor.Becauseshewasattendingacommunity college,shethoughtthatdreamwastoobigandfar.

“Ididn’treallyknowhowtobeagoodstudent,Ididn’t havegreatstudyskills,IevenstruggledinmyEnglish classessometimes,”Lasatersaid.“Irarelysawacounselor,

Ireallystruggledwithmathandnevergothelp,neverwent toofficehours,solearninghowtobeaneffectivestudent wasanotherchallenge.”

Whenshewasgoingthroughthetoughtimesduringher educationaljourney,hermomwouldseetheamountof stressandanxietythatLasaterhadandalwayssaid,“Mija relax,relaxmija!”Backthen,shedidn’tliketohearthis fromhermom.“ButnowthatIamolderandIrecognize everythingsheendorsedtomakeithere,andhowour challengesmayhavebeenverydifferent,andwelivedvery differentlives,”Lasatersaid.“Ithinkwhenshewastelling metorelaxshetrulymeanttohavefaith,andthat everythingisgoingtoworkoutandbefine.Evennow whenIfindmyselfstressingoutaboutthefuture,thatvery simple‘Mijarelax’issomethingthatIreturnto.”

Lasaterwantschange,notonlyfortheLatinocommunity butforeveryoneelse.Sheisalwayslookingtodothatlittle bitextrawhenitcomestomakinganythingbetter.“Pursue abigdreamthatfeelsbiggerthanyouare,”Lasatersaid. “Ifitfeelsimpossible,perseverebecauseyouwillget stronger.” P

ProfessorLisetteLasatertakestimeoutofherdaytoread“Bravura,”theliteraryjournalofPalomarCollege,intheEnglishdepartmentlibrary.(ChristopherGallegos/TheTelescope)

BehindtheBadge FromPupiltoPoliceOfficer

ByHayleyLawson

Itisimportanttohighlightthepeoplewhowork everydaytokeepussafeandtheirimpacton ourdailylives.Since2016,PalomarCollegePolice ChiefChrisMoorehasremainedthefaceofthe PalomarCollegePoliceDepartment.Heoutlines hiscommitmenttohisjobandstaffinhismessage availableonthePalomarCollegePolice Departmentwebsite.

“Theofficersofourdepartmentrepresentour diversityoncampus,youknow,we’reprobably over50%Latino/Latinadominant,andsoI’mvery proudofthatbecauseitrepresentsthecollege,andI thinkpeopleshouldknowthat,”ChiefMooresaid inanafternooninterviewinthePCPD.

Onememberofthepoliceforceincludes Officer JesusMontes.

Montesoffered astronghandshakeandwelcomesmeinto aconferenceroom,locatedwithinthePalomarCollege PoliceDepartment.Theroomfits10to12tableswitha chairateachoneandapodiumatthefront.Palomar proceduresandpoliceprotocolposterscoverthewalls.

MontesgrewupintheOceanside/Carlsbadareawherehe wasbornatTri-CityMedicalCenterandattendedthe CarlsbadUnifiedSchoolDistrictsystemuntil2005when hegraduatedfromCarlsbadHighSchool.Hegrewupwith histwoyoungersistersandparentsinasmallhomeand recallsfondmemoriesofhispetchihuahua.Hechuckled asherecalledthetimehebroughtthedogtoschoolfor showandtell.

“Itwasaveryspecialdog,”hesaidsmiling,almostasifhe waswatchingthememoriesplayinhishead.

Rightafterhighschool,Montesbeganhisjourneywith PalomarCollegeatage18whenhefirstenrolledinclasses andremainedunsureofexactlywhathewantedtopursue. HefoundhimselfinProfessorBarrett’scriminaljustice classandbecamemoreinterestedinthetopicwithevery classhetook.HerecallsProfessorPeterson,another

criminaljusticeprofessor,beinganinfluentialfigureinthe earlystepsofhiscareer.

“AndthenIrememberonetime,um,Mr,Barrettsaidthat PalomarCollegepolicewashiringfordispatch,andI thoughtyeahokaywell,thatwasprobablythethird semesterIwashere,”Montesshrugged.“SoIthoughtwhy not.”Heappliedforthejobshortlyafter.

Adispatchjobentailsconnectingandtransferringcalls fromstudents,professors,andvisitorstothecorrect location.Whetheritbeanemergencyorevenjustaperson lookingforacertainclassroomorbuildingoncampus. Monteswaitedoversevenmonthsbeforehereceivedacall fromthedispatchcoordinator.

HerecallshisdaysofworkingatBoomersinVistaasa kitchenmanagerandatDiscountTire,nowknownas America’sTire.“IrememberIwascomingoutofDiscount Tire,itwasaFriday,whenIseemyphonestartedringing soIpickedupand,um,itwasthedispatchcoordinator whowascallingme…soyeahIwas18whenIstarted workinghere.”

OfficerMonteshasworkedatPalomarCollegesincehewas18yearsold,fornearly15years. (PhotocourtesyofJesusMontes)

DuringhistimeatPalomar,Monteswasable toobtainhisassociate’sdegreeinCriminal JusticeandwouldlatertransfertoSanDiego StateUniversitytocompletehisbachelor’s degreeinthesamemajor.AtSDSU,Montessecuredan internshipthatgavehimreal-world,federal-level experiencewiththeU.S.Marshall.

“Iwasassignedwiththefugitivetaskforce,whichwas prettyinteresting.Wewouldgototheborder,sometimes evencrossthebordertopickupthewantedperson,and thentheofficersfromherewouldcommunicatewith officersinMexico,”Montesrecalledhisexperiences workinginthatenvironmentatage24.

BeforehegraduatedfromSanDiegoState,Monteswas offeredafull-timepositionasacommunityserviceofficer, orCSO,atPalomarCollegeandhasworkedforthe departmentsincehewas18yearsold:fiveyearson dispatch,sevenasaCSO,andthelasttwotothreeyearsas areservepoliceofficer.

Montes’listofaccomplishmentsdoesn’tstopthere.He recentlycompletedPalomarCollege’sPoliceAcademy program,consistingoftrainingincriminallaws,searchand seizurelaws,drivingtacticsandeverythinginbetween.He explainstherigorousscheduleofwakingupatdawn, preparingfortheacademyandbeinginformationby6a.m.

“Saturdayswereverylongdays,from5to5,”Montessaid.

ThePoliceAcademypridesitselfoncreating “ProfessionalismbyTraining”andoffersathree-module coursethatpreparestraineestoentertheworkforce. Montes,apre-existingemployeeofthepolicedepartment, gainedfirsthandexperienceasasadispatchforthePCPD beforebeinghiredonasanofficer.

OfficerGerardPerez,anotherPalomarPoliceAcademy alumniwhograduatedin1989,wasthefirstofficerhiredat PalomarCollegeattheinceptionofitspolicedepartmentin 1991.Hehasworkedonanumberofcommunityoutreach eventsalongsideMontesincluding“CoffeewithaCop”,an eventthatbeganin2016topromotethedepartment’s “relationship-basedpolicing”tactics.

Relationship-basedpolicing,accordingtothePCPD website,followssixkeypillars:buildingtrustand legitimacy,policyandoversight,technologyandsocial media,communitypolicingandcrimereduction,training andeducation,andofficerwellnessandsafety.

OfficerPerezhadnodoubtthatMontesfollowseachof thesesixvaluesonadailybasis.“Relationship-based policingisnotsomethingthatwejustreadinabookand wejustsaid‘Heylet’simplementit,it’salwaysbeenapart of,Ithinkorganically,it’sbeenpartofthedepartment,’” Perezcontinuedviaaphoneinterview.“They(thedistrict)

Palomarstudents(l-r)RosalynAdams,DulceTrejoandMiguelTiangcoconnectwithOfficerGerardPerez(l)andChiefChrisMooreattheCoffeeWithaCopeventintheSUQuadon Sept.21,2017.(TaylorSalvesvold/TheTelescope)

Ithinkit’simportant foreveryoneto knowwhatwe do…thatwe’renot justapoliceofficer butalsoahuman.

PhotobyGiovanniVallido

wantourofficerstobeengaging,andheistheperfect individual.”

Withcampussafetybeingoftheutmostconcern,thePCPD isresponsibleforprotectingandservingstudents,thestaff, andtheadministration.AlthoughPalomarCollegewas establishedin1946,thePCPDcametofruitionasurprising 45yearslaterin1991.

ApolicedepartmentcanbefoundoneveryPalomar campuswith11peaceofficerspatrollingthecommunities ofeacharea—notonlyensuringthesafetyofthe community,butactivelyreducingcrimethrough communitypartnershipsandevents.

PerezrecalledthedayswhenhefirstmetMontesin1997. “Hewasaveryin-tuneindividual,andsoIthoughtwehad averyspecialguyinhim,”hecontinued.“Becausehe wouldcomeandaskdoyouneedmetohelp,hewouldjust jumpinandhelp.”

PerezexplainsMontes’willingnesstohelpinanysituation thatwaspresented,whetheritmeantchangingaflattire,to settingupequipment,toeventuallyassistingPerezin conductingfieldinterviewsinhislateryearsontheteam.

AlongwiththePCPD’sowncommunityoutreachevents, PerezandMonteshavepartneredonaspecialcollaboration withEnglishSpanishLanguageinstructorGarySosato provideopendiscussionstointernationalstudentsfromall overtheworld,includingJamaica,Hondurasand Guatemala.Inanemailinterview,Sosaexplainedhowthe programbegansixyearsagowhenPerezcontactedSosato lookforawaytocreateamoreapproachableandless stigmatizedpolicedepartmentpresenceoncampusandto educatestudentswhomaylackexposuretolaw enforcement.

“...Youknowwhydowestopyou,orwhydoweturnthe lightson,whydidtwoofficerscomeuptothecar,soIfelt itwasimperativethattheyneededtobeeducatedonour lawenforcementsystem,”Perezsaid.

Beingbilingual,MontesandPerezarecanrelayimportant informationandclarifyquestionstoanyonewhomaybe confusedormisled.“OfficersPerezandMontesanswer everyquestionthatisasked,eventhetoughones,”Sosa continued.“Whentheydon’tknowtheanswers,theyhave alwaysgottenbacktomewithananswertopassontothe students.”

WithprogramsliketheseatPalomar,policeofficersare practicingrelationship-basedpolicingandmakinga differenceinmanylivesaroundthem.Montesrecalleda studentwhomadesuchadifference.

“Acoupleyearsbacktherewasaparent,aHispanicparent, thatcameandhekindofwantedhisteenageboytofollow

thesamepath(becomeanofficer),buthe(thestudent) couldrelatemoretomebecausehehadalanguagebarrier,” hecontinued.“Thatkiddidreachouttomeatonepoint, youknow,I’mhopinghewenttherightwayandachieved hisdreams.”

WhenaskedaboutwhetherornotMontesbelievesthereis amisconceptionsurroundingtheofficersofPalomar College,hementionedthatsomepeopleoncampusgive him“looks.”Hebelievesitisbecauseoftheuniform.With policeofficersandtheirpracticesoftenunderscrutiny, MontesbelievesthatthePCPDremainstransparentin everythingtheydo.

“Ithinkit’simportantforeveryonetoknowwhatwe do…thatwe’renotjustapoliceofficerbutalsoahuman,” Montessaid.

PerezstatedthathewouldnotbesurprisedifMontes becamethenextpolicechiefofPalomarCollegeandlooks backfondlyonwatchinghimbecomethepersonheis today.BasedontheconversationshadregardingMontes,it isclearthatheisahumbleman,whotakesprideinhis dailydutiesonthePalomarCollegecampusandinhisown life.WecanonlyhopethatmoreofficerslikeMontes decidetodedicatetheirlivestothebettermentofthe communityandtoputintheextraworkandeffortthatit takestomakeanimpactonthelivesofothers.

“HeisPalomar…he’strulyastory,”ChiefMooresaid.“If hewasadoctor,Ithinkhe’dbegoingtoforeigncountries. Ifhewasaplumber,Ithinkhesometimeswouldn’tcharge people.Imeanhe’sjusttrulyakindsoul.” P

OfficerJesusMonteschatswithskateboardersoncampusonAug.31,2020.(Photocourtesyof PalomarCollegePoliceDepartment.)

ircle Insidethe

THowonePalomarsoftballplayeristrying tomakethebestofherlastseason hesunisshiningdownonabeautifulday.It’s2p.m.ona ThursdayandPalomar’ssoftballteamisatbat.Thebases areloadedandtherearetwoouts.AlyssaDomingois watchingfromthedugout.Thisisn’talltoodifferentforher,as shewouldnormallybedoingthesamethingwithherbeinga pitcher,nothavingtoworryaboutbatting.Butitisalittle differentthistime.

ByGiovanniVallido

“So,Ihadalumponmyupperrightabdominal,”Domingosaid fromthebleachersbehindhomeplate.

Inlate2021,Domingowenttothedoctorstogetitcheckedout.

“Andtheysaidtheydidn’tknowwhatitwas,theykeptrunning testsonit,andtheyfoundoutitcouldpossiblybecancerous.”

PhotobyGiovanniVallido

Age8

Domingo hasplayedsoftballsinceshewas6yearsoldand “wasnotverygood,”sheremarked.Butshelovedthe environmentandvarietyofthegame.Whenshewas11,her dadpushedhertobecomeapitcher.“Forsoftball,itwas kindofhardonmeasapitcherbecauseI’msmallerand usuallypitchersaretallandfast.ButI’msmallerandIdon’t pitchasfast,soIhadtofigureoutwaystosetmyselfapart fromeveryoneelse,”saidDomingo,whoworkedhardon beinganaccuratepitchertomakeupforhersize.

“...Iguessyoucancallmean underdog.OnteamsthatI’ve beenon,theyalwaysputin thebigger,fasterpitcher,”she said,butinhighleverage situations,shewouldbeput intothegame.“I’mreally thankfulforthatbecausethey gettoseemyskillthatI’ve beenworkingon.”

Throughoutmiddleschooland highschool,Domingoplayed travelball,butoncethehigh schoolseasonstarted,shewas outthereonvarsity.Shewasa varsityplayerinallfouryears ofherhighschoolcareerat WestviewHighSchoolnearRanchoPenasquitosandwasa startingpitcherandcenterfielder.

“SenioryearofhighschoolIwastheteamcaptain.Wedidn't gofarinCIFbuteachyearwasalwaysafunexperience,” shesaid.

Afterhersenioryear,shecontinuedtoplaytravelball,trying tofindacollegetocommitto.Theissue,however,wasthat manyoftheschoolsinterestedinherwereontheEastCoast, andDomingowantedtostayinCalifornia.ThenPalomar’s headsoftballcoachLaceyCraftcontactedher.

CrafthasbeencoachingatPalomarsincethespringof2006 andbecametheheadcoachin2010.“Alyssacametous fromWestviewHighschoolandsheplayedonateamwhere shehadtopitch,hitandplaydefenseeveryinningofevery game,”Craftsaid.“WhenshecametoPalomar,shewasable todevelopasapitcherandrefineherskillssinceshecould focussolelyonherpitcher.”

Age21

CraftnotedthateventhoughDomingoonlystartedeight gamesherfreshmanyear,shebecametheteam’snumberone pitcherasatruefreshman.“Sheworkedreallyhardto developagreatoffspeedpitchinthefall,shehadgood commandofherpitchesandwasveryeffectiveinthecircle.”

Age13

PhotobyGiovanniVallido

Photoscourtesyof AlyssaDomingo.

DomingopraisedCraftfordoingsomuchfor herandtheteam’ssuccess.“Sheisdedicated, encouraging,andinspirational.Shepays attentiontoeverydetail,andmakessure everyoneisonthesamepage,”shesaid.“She comestopracticewithaspecificplansothere isalwayssomethingtobeworkingon.She hasaveryhighsoftballIQ.Shealso emphasizeshowweactonandoffthefieldto positivelyrepresentPalomar.Eventhoughshe isourcoach,sheisalsosomeonewecan alwaystrustandlooktoaboutourpersonal issues.NotenoughcanbesaidaboutCoach Lacey,butsheisoneofthebestcoachesI've everhad.”

Palomar’ssoftballteamhasarichhistory. FormerHeadCoachandcurrentAssistant Coach,MarkEldridge,begantheprogramin 1978andledtheteamto28conference championshipsandthreestatecommunity collegetitles.UnderCraft,theteamhaswon twostatetitles,2013and2015,andwasa runner-upin2018atthestatetournament.

PhotobyGiovanniVallido

“IknewIwantedtoplayonadedicated,hardworking teamlikePalomar'ssoftballteam,”Domingosaid,which ledhertojoinPalomar’sprogram.

Domingoplayedherfreshmanyearin2020,andtheteam wasgoingstrongwitha16-3record.Thatseason,Domingo had13appearanceswithfivewinsandtwolossesineight starts.Pitchingalittleover48inningswithanERAof2.01, Domingowasdoingwell.However,theCOVID-19 pandemicwasjuststartingandeventuallyendedtheir seasonearly.

“...wewereconfidentweweregoingtogofar,butCovid camearoundandwe’reforcedtotakeapause,”causing Domingotolosetherestofherfreshmanseason.

LikeallPalomarstudentsduringtheCOVIDlockdown, Domingowasstuckathome,takingclassesonline.She alsodidteamworkoutsoverZoom.“Itwassuchaweird experience.Butwenevergaveup,inhopestogetafinal yeartoplay.Myteamhasgrownsomuch,especiallyoutof theCovidsituation.Wearealldedicatedanddrivengirls thatwanttoshowoffourtalentandskillstoplaythegame welove,”saidDomingo.

WiththepossibilityofthelumpinDomingo’sbeing cancerous,surgeryhadtobedonetoremoveit.“Butthe firstsurgerydidn’tremoveallofit,soIhadtogoinagain likefivedayslater.”Aftertwosurgeries,Domingohadto takeafewweeksofffromsoftballtorecover.

“Iwaskindoflikestressedoutbecausethisismythird yearandit’smylastfinalyeartoplaysoftballhere.” DomingoismajoringinNursingandplanstotransferafter thissemesterwithplansoneitherattendingCalStateSan MarcosorSanDiegoStateUniversity.Hergoalistowork asanoutpatient.

“RecoveryisgoingverysmoothlyandIamslowlygetting backintocompetitiveactivity.Iamextremelythankfulmy tumorscarecamebackbenign.”Domingocannowfocus ongettingbackintothegame.Recoveredfromhersurgery, Domingowantstofocusonherpitching.“Ijustwanttobe abletohitmyspotsandbeabletoperformformyteam,” shesaid.

Atthetimeofwriting,theteamhasa25-5record,firstin theirconferenceandseventhinthestaterankings. Domingowantstohelptheteamcontinuetheirsuccess. P

PitcherFarrahSteffany(l)runswithAlyssaDomingobetweeninnings.(GiovanniVallido/TheTelescope)

Le the Way:

That’s On PeriodClub

ByTarahLachmandas

WalkingintoGabbyLe’sroom,the firstthingonewillseeisthewall aboveherbed,coveredfromtoptobottom withphotos.Someofthemareofdrawings shehasdone;othersarecharactersfromher favoritebooksandtelevisionshows.A collectionofphotos,brochures,written pieces,andartgatheredovertheyears.Inthe middleofthephotos,abeautifulpaintingof awomandonebyLe.Thephotosareall scatteredandseemtobeallovertheplace, butatacloserlook,theyhaveanorderto them—similartoherownlife.

“Everythingisabalanceandobviouslyyou can’tputyoureffortintoeverythingatonce,” Lewondered.“Iliketothinkaboutitlike this:intheamountoftimethatI’veallowed myselftotakeonthiswork,amIputtingin 100percentofmyeffort.”

BalancingabusylifeandstartinganewclubatPalomar.

Le isacurrentstudentatPalomar Collegeandtheco-founderofthe newThat’sOnPeriodClub,which wasoriginallyestablishedatRancho BernardoHighSchoolwhereshe attended.Theclubisn’tLe’sonly focussinceshedoesworkin educationandartaswell.

LegrewupintheMidwest,just outsideofAnnArbor,Michigan. Growingupinasmaller,close-knit community,ithadanimpactonher. WhenshemovedtoCaliforniaatage 13,itwasabitofacultureshock. Eventhoughmostpeopleseethe Midwestasfarmsandfields,itwas sociallyliberalandinclusive.In Michigan,sheknewallofher neighbors,andkidsinthe neighborhoodwouldgooutsideand playtogetheruntilitgotdark.Going

offandplayingontheirownwithout acareintheworld,shehadan enjoyablechildhood,fullofno worriesorresponsibilitieswhichis verydifferentfromherlifenow.

Atschool,however,shewasoneof theveryfewstudentsofEastAsian descent.HerfatherisVietnameseand hermotherisBelarusian.Withboth herparentsbeingimmigrants,itwas difficulttobesurroundedbykids whocouldn’trelatetoher.Shedealt withracism,butshedidn’trealizeit wasracismuntilmuchlater.

ShemovedtoRanchoBernardofive yearsagoandattendedRancho BernardoHigh,whichwasmuch morediversewithasignificantAsian population.Shehadfriendswho lookedlikeherandcouldmostly

relateto.Evenbeingaroundother Asianpeopleinhighschool,shestill feltinferiortothembecauseshe wasn’thighlyinvolvedinherown Vietnameseculture.

“Ialwaysfeltreallywhitein comparisonbecauseIwasn’tsuper affluentinmyowncommunity,but therewerestillthingsweconnected on,”saidLe.

Whileinhighschool,shewasableto startexpandingherhorizonsandgot alotofopportunitiesbasedonthe thingsshewaspassionateabout.She wasinvolvedinthecommunityatthe school,includingtheASBtobean activepartinherpeers’highschool experience.

GabbyLeandStephanieWuattheirThat’sOnPeriodClubtableatPalomar’sSpring2022ClubRush. (PhotocourtesyofGabbyLe)

Lealsopaintedvariousmuralsonand offcampusbecauseartissomething Lehasalwaysbeenpassionateabout andholdsanattachmenttoallher work.Duringhersophomoreyear, herEnglishteacherrecommendedher todoaTEDTalkataneventthehigh schoolwashosting:aTEDx conference.Shedidhertalkon communityempathywhichwasabig partofthehighschool’sdiversity.

“Wedon’talwaysknowwhat people’sstoriesareorwherethey’re comingfrom,soifwecouldjustbea littlebitkinder,theworldwouldbea betterplace.”saidLe.

Duringthisevent,Lemetoneofher closestfriends,BaileyShae,whowas acoordinatoroftheTEDxconference andwastheonlyother undergraduate.ShaesaidthatLe’s speechwas“incredible”andreally showedherpassioninmakinga difference.

Thisideaofmaking theworldabetter placedrivesallofthe workshedoesnow withThat’sOnPeriod ClubatPalomar.The clubwasstartedbyher friendStephanieWuto helpmenstruating womenin marginalizedand impoverished communities.Leand Wustartedtheclubat theirhighschoolin 2020.Withthehelpof theschool’s administration,they wereabletointegrate basketswithpadsand tamponsinallthe bathroomsoncampus.

“Irememberpeople remarkingthat everythingGabbydid wouldlookgreatoncollege applications,butGabbynevercared aboutthat.Sheparticipatedinallof theseimpactfulactivitiesbecauseshe genuinelycared.Shewantedtomake

differencethen,andstilldoesnow,” saidShae.

Theyhopetochangetheoverall conversationaboutmenstruationand dismantlingthestigmasaboutit. Periodsareoftenseenasunsanitary, whichmakesyoungwomenfeel uncomfortablebeinginpublicwhen theyaregoingthroughthem.Thereis alsoalackofeducationofwhat actuallyoccurstoawomanduring menstruation,whichalsoaddstoa lackofavailabilityoffeminine products.

“Theproblemisnobetteroutsideof thehome,aspublicbathroom facilities(oftendesignedbymen)can beunfitforpurposewhenitcomesto womenandgirlsontheirperiods. Manyofusmighttakeforgrantedthe rolewhichpublicfacilitiesplayin goingaboutourday-to-daylives,but noteveryoneisfortunateenoughto experiencethis‘luxury’,”according toanarticleontheInternational PlannedParenthoodFederation.

GabbyLesmilesfor cameraatherhigh schoolgraduation beforedeliveringher commencement speechonJune2021. (Photocourtesyof GabbyLe)

GabbyLeworksatherdeskinherbedroom. (TarahLachmandas/TheTelescope)

organizationcalledFarawayFriends wheretheysetupdonationdrivesfor menstrualproductsthatwerethen donatedtoUganda,whichallowed theclubtohaveaglobalimpact,not justalocalone.Sincetheyknew peoplewhoattendedPowayHighand Mt.CarmelHigh,LeandWuspread theirworktootherschoolsandwere abletopersuadethose administrationstostarttheclubs thereaswell.Allthreeschoolshave clubsthatcontinuetowork independently.

Legraduatedhighschoolin2021and wasthecommencementspeakerat hergraduation.Shedecidedtoattend Palomarsinceitwastheeasierchoice

financiallyduringtheCOVID-19

asawaytoexpandherhorizonsand learnnewskills.AlthoughLealways thoughtshewouldbeanartmajorin college,sheiscurrentlyanEnglish majoratPalomar,withaninterestin publicaffairs.Asabooklover, Englishwassomethingshewas alwaysdrawntobutalsowantstouse herexperienceasanEnglishmajorto helpwithheroverallactivism.She stillenjoysherartbutprimarilydoes itforfun.

BothladieschoseEnglishprofessor LeanneMaunu,whohasbeenLe’s Britishliteratureprofessorforthe pasttwosemesters,tobetheirfaculty advisorfortheclubwhereshehelps themcoordinateandspreadtheword abouttheirclubmeetings.

“Gabbyissuchapleasuretohavein class!WhetheronZoomlastsemester orinpersonthissemester,shehas alwaysactivelycontributedtoour classdiscussionsinBritishLiterature IandII,”saidMaunu.

pandemic.Herfirstsemesterof collegewasspentcompletelyonline, butnowthatclassesareinperson again,sheandWuarecontinuing theirworkwiththeclubatPalomar. Becauseoftheshortamountoftime theyhaveleftoncampus,theirmain missionistointegratemenstrual productbasketsineverybathroomat Palomar,aswellashavingthose toughconversationswith administrationtodestigmatizethe subjectofperiodsinordertoleave somelegacyoncethey’regone.

BesidesworkingonThat’sOnPeriod Club,Leisalsoaneditorforthis year’sBravuraJournal.Withan interestinwriting,LejoinedBravura

“Itisrequiredtohaveempathetic educatorsandadministrationinorder tohavethosetoughconversations andwewerereallyprivilegedinthe communityweworkedwithtohave thoseeducatorsthatwerewillingto listen,andnoteverycommunityis fortunatetohavethatsowehaveto spreadourmessagetothose communitiesaswell,”saidLe.

Sinceallpublicschoolsarerequired tohaveaspecialeducationprogram, Leworksasageneralclassroomaide atRanchoBernardoHigh,goinginto differentclassroomstogivestudents extraEnglishandmathsupport.She acquiredthispositionwhenoneof herteachersneededsomehelpduring summerschool,andLestuckwithit becauseshelovesteaching.

Lealsoworkswithanonprofit organizationcalledDiversifyOur Narrativeasacurriculumandcontent writer.Itwasestablishedbystudents in2020duringthepandemicandthe aftermathofGeorgeFloyd’smurder.

Theyalsodidsomeworkwithan

GabbyLeandafriendstandsoutsideofRanchoBernardoHighSchoolataclothingandmenstrualproductcommunitydriveonApril2021. (PhotocourtesyofGabbyLe)

Theorganizationworkstocreate diversecuriculumsforK-12schools tochangetheoverallnarrative taughtinthoseschools.Asacontent writer,shecreatessocialmediaposts fortheirInstagramandFacebook pages.Leisalsoontheircurriculum counseltohelpdeveloplessonplans forteacherstouse.

WhileLeispassionateaboutthe workDiversifyOurNarrativedoes, sheexpressedherconcernsabout havinganorganizationtakingplace entirelyonsocialmedia.Although theorganizationhasabout217,000 followersonInstagram,onecannot alwaysbecertainthatpeopleare actuallylisteningandretainingthe informationthattheyputout.

Despitetheoverwhelmingworkthat shedoes,sheemphasizedthe importanceofbeingabletohangout withherfriendsandnotconstantly workallthetime.

“IalwaysmakesureIhaveatleast onedayoffaweekwhereIrelaxand justdonothing.AndItrytohold healthyboundarieswithworkand school,”Lesaid,“AlotofwhatIdo, Itrulylovedoingwhichmakesit entirelymoreenjoyable.Ifeel empoweredinmyworkandseeing theimpactandpotentialchange that’sbroughtaboutbywhatI’m doinggetsmethroughit.” P

Trailblazers Wear Heels

Computerscience studentchallenges genderstereotypes whilepursuingher dreams.

ByTrinaMcLeary

There’sanoldriddle thatgoeslikethis:A fatherandsonget intoahorriblecar crash.Thedadiskilled,and thesonisrushedtothe hospital.Justbeforethe operation,thesurgeonsays, “Ican’toperate—thatboy ismyson!”

Whoisthesurgeon?

Accordingtostudies,a majorityofpeoplestruggle toguessthisonecorrectly, buttheansweris ridiculouslysimple:The surgeonistheboy’smom. Thisriddlehelpsto illustratehowtheideaof womenworkingincertain STEMfields(Science, Technology,Engineering, andMathematics)still hasn’tbeennormalized. That’swhymanytendto overlookitasarealityof the21stcentury.

“Ifyouwouldhavetoldme threeyearsago,Iwould havebeenlike‘I’mdoing what?!’”Lindsey

Rappaportsaid,chuckling attheidea,whosatacross frommeatapicnictableat thecampuscourtyard.

“BecauseI’venevercoded inmylifeandnowI’m literallyworkingasa programmer.”

Unconsciousgenderbias isjustonefeatureofabroader issuethat’srootedinourhistoryandisheavilyinfluenced bypresent-dayculture.Thepersistinggendergap underrepresentswomenintheSTEMworkforce,who makeupabout28percentofthispopulation,accordingto theAmericanAssociationofUniversityWomen.

Rappaport,18,recentlybecamepartofthisworkforceand isoneofabout20percentofwomenwhoareearningtheir degreeinacomputertechfield.Shekickedoffherjourney atPalomarCollegewiththehelpoftheschool’sSTEM program.SheiscompletinghersecondyearatPalomar andispreparingtotransfertoUCSDtocompleteher bachelor’sincomputerscience.AsamemberoftheSTEM Coreprogram,shewasgivenaccesstotoolsandresources tohelpguideher.

“Literally,Palomar,the STEMprogram— everythingheretotally justputmeinaposition thatIfeellikeIwould haveneverbeenathadI gonesomewhereelse becauseI’vebeen exposedtosomuch here,”Rappaportsaid. TheSTEMCore programisaone-year acceleratedprogram designedforstudents whohaveinterestin earningaSTEMdegree butmaybefeel unpreparedorunsureof wheretostart.Itprovidesthemwithtutoringsupport, workshops,andnetworkingopportunitiestohelpthembe readytotransfer.

“It’sreallymath-driven,”saidAngeliqueEhle,theSTEM StudentSupportSpecialistatPalomar.“Mathisamajor hurdle.Amajorhurdleandalotofstudentsdroporchange theirmajors,especiallywhentheygettotheUCorthe CSUbecauseit’stoocompetitive.It’stoodifficult.They didn’treallylearnthefundamentalsofmath.Andsothe STEMcoreprogramgetsthemprepared.”

Rappaportwasreferredforaremoteinternshipthroughthe program,attheLawrenceBerkeleyNationalLaboratoryin Berkeley,Calif.Asagraphicdesignprogrammer,herrole thereistoembedimageswithcodethatwillbeusedfor testingdata.

“I’mhelpingtodevelopthistoolthathasn’tbeen successfullyadaptedtothispoint.Whenit’sdone,which

shouldbesoon,it’sgoingtobeusedgloballybyscientists tomakenewdiscoveriesaboutdifferentorganisms.”Last year,shewashiredbytheorganization,andshecontinues toworkpart-timewithherstudies.

Shepointedoutthatsheisn’treally‘abiologyperson,’and toldmeaboutherstruggleswithimpostersyndrome.It’sa conditionthatmanypeopleexperience,regardlessoftheir skillorexperiencelevel.Impostersyndromeisthatpesky feelingofself-doubtanduncertaintyaboutwhetheroneis actuallyqualifiedenoughor‘fitforthejob.’

“Realistically,I’mnewtoit.Imean,Ijuststarted[coding] whenIcamehere,soI’malwayslike,‘Hmm,okay,hopeI madetherightchoicehere.Like,youknow,isitgonna workout?AmIgoodatthis?’I’mjustlike,constantly questioningmyself.”

Manywomenand girlsareexposed earlyontogender stereotypesthat suggestthatmenand boysarenaturally moreadeptin subjectslikemathor scienceandthat certainjobsarejust bettersuitedfor men.Asaresult, femalestudentstend tounderperformin mathtestsduetoa lackofconfidence, andtheirinterestin thesesubjectsbecomeslimited,accordingtothereport “WhySoFew”publishedbyAAUW.

“It’schallengingbutifyoustudyandyou’reputtingthe effortin,youcandoit.It’salotofworkanddedication…I justhatewhenpeoplesaytheycan’tbecausetheythink they’renotsmartenough.It’slike,youneverknowwhat youcandountilyoutryit.”

However,withsofewwomenworkingintechandinother STEMindustries,femalerolemodelsareextremelyscarce. “Ithinkit’sdiscouragingforalotofwomenwhentheyfeel likethey’realoneandtheycan’thavepeopletoturnto,” saidRappaport.“Alotofwomenmightnotfeelsafeina male-dominatedworkplaceorenvironmentandIthinkthat holdsthemback,ortheymightfeelliketheyneedtogofor thesafeoption,ortheymightfeellikethey’renotasgood astheguygoingupagainstyouknow,fortheposition,and it’sreallysad.”

Effortsarebeingmade toencourageequality,diversityandinclusion intheworkplace.HarveyMuddCollegeinClaremont, Calif.,forexample,increaseditsfemalegraduationrate from12to40percentinaspanoffiveyears.Thecollege madeadjustmentstoitscomputingcoursesandbrought studentstotheGraceHopperCelebrationofWomenin Computingconference.

WomeninSTEMisamovementthatwasfoundedin 2017attheUniversityofChicagolabschools.

Consistingof78chaptersaroundtheworldand1,400 members,itsmissionistoadvocateforgenderequality inSTEMandprovidemorelearningopportunitiesfor youngwomen.TheNationalGirlsCollaborativeProject isalargenetworkoforganizationsthatareseekingto educateandinspireyoungwomentopursuecareersin STEM.Itprovidestoolsandresourcestostrengthen developingprograms.

“Sohowcanyouadvocateforawomanifyou’renot aware,right,sojustbringingattentiontoit,you know,andmakingmenouralliesandnotfocusingon whatthey’redoingwrongbutfocusingonwhatthey’re doingrightandmakingthemouroutlets,”saysEhle, whoalsorunsPalomar’sWomeninSTEMNetworkin associationwiththeSTEMcoreprogram.Ithosts workshopsandguestpresentationsandgivesstudentsa chancetosharetheirexperienceswithoneanother.

Outsideofworkandschool,Rappaportisapublished musician.She’sbeenwritingmusicsincefirstgradeand hasnointentionsofstopping.ShereleasedherfirstEP album,“LostAgain”in2019.“Iwrotemostofthesongs whenIwaslike,14,soit’salittlefunnylisteningto themnow…Iwasactuallysupposedtorecordanother onerightbeforeCOVIDhit.Andthenatthispoint,now I’mlike,Idon’tevenlikethosesongsanymorebecauseI wrotethoseyearsago.”

PhotosbyTrinaMcLeary

Shehopestowritemoremusicsoon,butfindingthe timeisachallengewithherbusyschedule.“Specifically lastsemester,whichwasthe20-unitsemesterbecauseI hadlikezerotimeandIhadtoturndownmodeling opportunitiesandmusicopportunities.Andthatwas reallydifficultbecauseit’slike,musichasbeenmy passionmywholelife.”

WhenIaskedaboutherproudest accomplishments,sheletoutabigsighand jokinglyreplied.“Stayingsane.”Afterreflecting foramoment,sheadded,“IknowI’veworked reallyhardinspiteoffactorsthatareagainstme. AndI’mproudofcontinuingandnotlettingthat determefromthefieldthatI’min…I’mproud thatIhavesomuchonmyplateandI’vemanaged tobesuccessfulinmostofthem.”

Rappaportplanstodovariousinternshipsoverthe summersandexplorethedifferentbranchesof computerscience.Asapassionateadvocatefor mentalhealthawareness,shealsohopestobuild anappformusictherapy.“IfIcanhelpsomebody withmusic,that’salwaysbeenmymaingoal,just writingaboutthingsthatmatter.Andtryingto connecttopeoplethatway.” P

Withhermusicaltalent,LindseyRappaporthopestobuildanapp thatusesmusictherapyasamentalhealthtreatment. (PhotocourtesyofLindseyRappaport.)

“Alotofwomen mightnotfeelsafein amale-dominated workplace,and Ithinkthatholds themback.”

PhotocourtesyofJennaMohn,

The Legacy Marshall

Alookatwomen’sbasketball’sheadcoach LeighMarshall’ssuccessatPalomar.

ByEmmanuelBarrera

ItwasnotalwayseasyforthePalomarwomen’s basketballprogramtobesuccessfulastheyaretoday.

OnSept.14,2010,LeighMarshallwashiredtobe Palomar’swomen'sbasketballteam’s11thheadcoach withonlytwomonthsawayfromtheseasontostart.

Marshallhasearnedanassociate’sdegreefromOrange CoastCollege,abachelor’sinkinesiologyfromCalState Fullertonandamaster’sinkinesiologywithanemphasis incoachingfromCalStateLongBeach.Beforeshewasa coach,Marshallfeltlikeanonlychildbecauseherolder sisterwas11yearsolderandhadbeenoutofthehouse duringherchildhood.Beinginvolvedwithsportsata youngagemadeanimpactonherandkeptherbusy.

“Cominghomebymyselfafterschoolandthingslike that,youknow,andthenendedupjustgettingwiththe kidsintheneighborhood,gointotheparkplayingsports, andIhadagreatchildhood,”saidMarshall.

Basketball wasintroducedtoMarshallwhenshepicked upaballandstartedshootingatayoungageandstarted playingforherschool’steam.Shecamefromawinning culturebackhomeasaplayerandassistantcoachatCosta MesaHigh.AtOrangeCoastCollege,shewasatwo-guard player,ashootingguardandapointguard.

InhertwoyearsatOrangeCoast,Marshall’steamhada combinedwin-lossrecordof55-15,andinhersecondyear whereshehelpedherteamwinachampionship,finishing theseason30-6.“Iwantedtocontinuetogoonandbea coach,”saidMarshall,andsheknewthatsheneeded coachingexperience,whichshegotfromcoachingat OrangeCoastforfiveyearsandatElModenaHighSchool basketballfortwoyearsasaheadcoach.

“Iappliedforthisjob[atPalomar]andIdidn’tevengetan interviewandsothenSeptembercomesaround,andIgeta phonecallfromthethenathleticdirectorScottCathcart andhe’slike,‘Areyoustillinterestedintheposition?’ Marshallsaid.“OfcourseIam,youknow,socomedown here,I’dliketotalkwithyou.I’mthinking,youknow,I knewthejobhadopenedbackup,butIthoughtIwas goingthroughtheinterviewprocess.IthinkprettymuchI wastheonlyonethatwouldtakeitatthatlateofatime.”

Shewastoldbyalotofherclosefriendsandfamilytonot takethejobsinceitwasinitsrebuildingstages,anditwas goingtobeamess.“Iknewitwasmyonechancetoget intowhereIwantedtobeandbeaheadcoach,”said Marshall.Sheadmittedthatherfirsttwoseasonsat Palomarwereastruggle.Withtwomonthsuntilthestartof herfirstseason,sheneededtobuildateamsincetherewas norecruitingclass.

PalomarheadbasketballcoachLeighMarshalltalkstoherplayersduringthesecondhalfofgameagainstLongBeachCityCollegeinLongBeach,Calif.,Jan.3,2015.(StephenDavis/TheTelescope)

“Wefoundkidsaround.Weliterallysatinthequadand talkedtoeveryfemalestudentthatwouldwalkbyandask themiftheyplayedsportsbefore,pulledacouplekidsthat wayandendeduphavingateam,”saidMarshall.

Inher12yearsofcoaching,Marshallhasbeennamed CaliforniaCommunityCollegeAthleticAssociation (CCCAA)CaliforniaStateCoachoftheyearin2015,2017 and2018.OnNov.19,2021,Marshallwonher200th careerwinwiththeComets.Sheknewthatwin200was comingbutwasnotexpectingitthatnight.Whenshe foundoutthatshehadwon,shewassurprisedandfeltcool aboutit.Marshallhasbeenafamiliarfacewhengoinginto theplayoffs.Shehasmadeappearancesinthesweet sixteenseventimes,eliteeightfivetimes,andonefinal fourappearance.

Marshalllikestoprepareeachteamplayerwhetheritis watchingopponentsorpreviousgamesonfilm,orlearning andpracticingcertainstylesofdefense.Shelikestokeep herheadbusybywatchingpreviousgamesonemoretime beforeshetakesofftothecourt.“Idon’tlikejusthanging out,”saidMarshall.

BiancaLittleton,aformerCometwhoplayedunderthe wingsofMarshallandiscurrentlyPalomar’sAssistant AthleticDirector,describedcoachMarshallviaemailasa “LIONESS!!!,”becauseofherfearlessness,courage,and empoweringleadership.LittletonplayedatPalomarfor

twoyearsfrom2012to2014whereshewaspartofthe teamthatwoncoachMarshall’sfirstPacificCoastAthletic Conferencetitle.“Playingunderherwasoneofthebest experiencesinmylife!”saidLittleton.“Iwaspushedboth mentallyandphysically;however,tobeapartofComet historyiswhatmademyexperiencewithLeighMarshall bothfulfillingandrewardingthisday.”

(l-r)AssistantCoachDamianCephas,HeadCoachLeighMarshall,Chelse Ayala,andAssistantCoachChrisKroeschfollowingAyalasigningherletter ofintentwithTexasA&MInternationalUniversityonMay10,2016atThe Dome.(StephenDavis/TheTelescope)

(l-r)AthenaSotelo,RoryHetrick,SavanaSmith,KatSciacca,andAssistantCoachesChrisKroesch andDamianCephaswatchesthegamebetweenPalomarandEastL.A.whileHeadCoachLeigh Marshallcallsoutanoffensiveplay.(PhotocourtesyofMichaelPagan)

“Ithinkalotoftimes it’seasytogiveinand quitwhenthingsget difficultandyou’re rightabouttosucceed. SoIwouldjustsaykeep gettingbackupand keeppushingforward.”

PhotobyGiovanniVallido

WiththehelpofMarshall,Littletonwasabletoreceivean athleticscholarshipandcontinuetoplaybasketballat CaliforniaStateUniversityEastBay.Forher,Marshallis her“mentor,colleague,friend,”andisoneofthemost “influentialpeople”inherlife.

EvelynTerreza,apointguardwhohasbeensidelineddue toinjuries,saidinanemailthatMarshallhadhelpedher become“morementallytough.”

“ShehasalwayskeptitrealwithmeintermsofwhatIcan becomeasaplayer,”Terrezasaid.

Someteams’successisnotonlyfromallthesweatand workdoneonthecourt;itcanalsocomefromthatonefan whotakesthetimeoutoftheirdaytosupporttheteam: SusanLopez,Marshall’smother.“Iamsoproudbecause shehasworkedsohardatthePalomarprogramandearned everyaccoladethroughsweatandthathardwork,also said,Icouldn’tbeanyprouderofthecaringwomanshe hasbecome.IfIcouldhavepickedachild,itwouldbe her,”saidLopez.

“Shewasn’tabigsportsfan.Iloveditherandmydad cametoeverysinglegamelikestilltothisday,theydrive outhereanhourtocometoeveryhomegame.They’re hugelikesupportersandfans,”saidMarshall.

OutsideoftheDome,Marshallcoachesa16Uboys’ basketballteaminthesameprogramherassistantcoach directs:theCoastalEliteclub.Shehasbeenworkingwith thesamegroupofboyssincetheywereeightyearsold.

ChrisKroesch,Palomarwomen’sbasketballassistant coachanddirectorofCoastalEliteBasketballAcademy, saidthatpartofMarshall’ssuccessisherattentiontodetail whilepreparingherteamforthegame.

“Shecaresdeeplyforthoseshecoachesanddoeswhatever shecantohelpthembesuccessfulinallaspectsoflife,” Koreschsaid.“Herpassionforherprofessionandthose shecoachesshinesthrough.”

Marshallsometimesgoesbackhometovisitherfamily andfriendsinCostaMesa.Shespendsmostofhertime withhertwodogs:Harley,a9-year-oldRottweiler,and BullythePitbull,whowasarescuefromThePits,an animalrescueinSanDiego.Shewillbegettingmarriedin Junewithherpartnerofnineyearswhoisalsoa basketballcoach.

“Ithinkalotoftimesit’seasytogiveinandquitwhen thingsgetdifficultandyou’rerightabouttosucceed,” Marshallsaid.“You’rerightabouttohitthatturningpoint. SoIwouldjustsaylike,keepgettingbackupandkeep pushingforward.” P

(IllustrationbyEmmanuelBarrera)

nd

The ra vilsizer ofan E

Opportunitiesarerare,sohemadethem limitless.

ByDezareLozano

Intheearly2000s,opportunitiesstartedtoarisefor educationalleadersacrosstheNorthCountyregion.

MarkEvilsizer,aTrusteefortheGoverningBoardat PalomarCollege,wasoneoftheleadersdestinedtomake achangeforbettereducation.Hewasresponsibleforthe manychangesthatPalomarwentthrough.

Now,Evilsizerpreferstostayhomewithhiswifeandcat, planningfortravelingtripstocelebratehisretirement.

After20yearsofworkingasaGoverningBoardTrustee, heisreadytopassthebaton,bothatPalomarandthe non-profitorganizationhehelpedfound:Encuentros.

In2003,TheNorthCountyTimessentoutinvitationsto superintendentsfromcolleges,K-12districts,andmore.The invitationwastoameetingtodiscusseducationalmattersinthe NorthCountydistrict.Evilsizertookuptheofferandattended themeetinglocatedinOceanside.

"Thetopicofconversationwasthehighdropoutrateamong Latinostudents,"saidEvilsizer,whoreflectedaswebothstared atourlaptopscreensviaZoom.Hedressedcomfortably,his clothingmirroringhisrelaxedpostureandnostalgicmood. Evilsizersmiledtheentiretimehespoke,rememberingthe eventthatchangedhislifeforthebetter19yearsago.

WhilediscussingtherateofLatinossufferingintheireducation, Evilsizerandhiscolleaguesdecideditwastimetomakea change.“Wesaid,‘Youknowwhat?That’sjustatrainwreck waitingtohappen,andoursocietywillnotbenefitbynot engagingallofourcitizensingettingagoodeducationand preventingthemfromdroppingoutofeithermiddleschoolor highschool.’”

Themeetingwasfilledwithharmoniousagreements.Itwas thenthatthenonprofitEncuentroswasborn,avolunteer-driven groupthatwouldchangethelivesofLatinomalesforthebest. Theirgoal:“TocreateLatinoleadersthrougheducation.”

Thiswouldboosttheeducationgamebythehundreds.Latino studentsdonothavemuchsuccessinCaliforniastatistically,but thatdoesn’tmakethemanylessvaluablethantheyare. Unfortunately,“ThenationaldropoutrateforLatinostudentsis substantiallyhigherthanforothers…”accordingtotheNational CenterforEducationStatistics2002.Evilsizerknewhehadto workwiththestudentstohavethembecomesuccessful.

(ErikaShasky/TheTelescope)

(LouRoubitchek/TheTelescope)

PalomarCollegeGoverningBoardMeetingwithPresidentJoiLinBlake(l)andMarkEvilsizerattheSanMarcosCampusonOct.8,2019.(AdelBautista/TheTelescope)

MarkEvilsizerdiscussesan issueataboardmeetingon Sept.9,2015(above)and onOct.28,2014(left).

Latinoswerereferredandallowedtocontinuetheir education,startingatPalomarCollege,andworkingtheir wayuptoaUCorotherfour-yearinstitutes.With campusesreopeningtoaccommodatein-personclasses,it isaperfecttimetopromotenewbeginnings.

“Thisyear,we’rebackintoplanningonhavingaTeachers AcademyatCalStateSanMarcosandhavingEngineering AcademiesatbothUCSanDiegoandatCalStateSan Marcos,”saidEvilsizer.“We’regoingtohavethree academiesthisyear,maybefour,becausewewantto resurrecttheLeadershipAcademy.”

ConsideringthatbarelyafifthoftheLatinopopulationin Americadecidetocompleteafour-yeardegree,Evilsizer knewhehadsomeworktodo.LisaGarciaBedolla,a politicalscientistandLatinoscholaratBerkeley Universitysaidthatfewerthan20percentofLatinos completeafour-yeardegree“althoughmorethan40 percentofLatinosentersomesortofpostsecondary educationalprogram.”

ThatwasnochallengefortheEncuentrosleader.This passionforbettermentintheLatinocommunitycamefrom Evilsizer’sfluctuatingchildhood.“Mydadworkedfora savingsandloaninstitution…andabouteverytwoorthree yearsIandthefamilywouldmovetodifferentcitiesup anddownthestateofCalifornia,”hesaid.“Igrewup beingexposedtoalotofpoliticaldiscourseandwantingto changethestatusquoandtobemoreawareoftheneedsof people.”Hemarriedhishighschoolsweetheartand bouncedaroundseveraldifferentjobsfromagasstation workertoawaiteratBob’sBigBoy.“IgotajobatTWA washingdishesandIworkedatachemicalplant.”

Eventually,in1973duringcollege,Evilsizerlandedhis

firstlong-termjobatNorthropGrumman,anaerospace companyinHawthorne,California.Itwasperfectsince Northropcouldhelppayfortuitionexpensesandclasses. However,therewasoneproblemfortheyoung undergraduate:Northropdidn’tacceptzoologyasoneof themajorstheywouldcover.“Northropatthetimesaidwe don’tpayforzoologymajors,butwe’llmakesurewewill payforyoureducationthough,”saidEvilsizer.Previously, heplannedtomajorinbiology,sayingthatbeingawildlife biologistoraveterinarianwashisfirstgoal.Considering thatwasn’tgoingtohappenwithoutdrowningindebt, Evilsizerdecidedtochangepaths.

“Youhavetobetakingeitherabusinesscourseofstudy,or anengineeringcourseofstudy…SoItookupbusiness administrationandultimatelygotmybachelor’sdegreein businessandthenamaster’sdegreeinmanagement.”

Evilsizerfinishedwithamaster’sdegreeinManagementat ClaremontGraduateUniversityandabachelor’sdegreein BusinessattheUniversityofRedlandswhileworkingat Northrop.Hisnewprofessionalcareerwasnowinthe

PalomarCollegeTrusteesMarkEvilsizer(r)andJohnHalcónlistentoCassiePurdyandLindaFeldmantalk abouthumanrightsattheDACAworkshoponSept.19,2017.(VictoriaBradley/TheTelescope)

MembersofthePalomarCollegeGoverningBoardlistenandtakenotesasanattendeepresentstheircaseonTuesday,March10,2020.(l-r)JackKahn,NancyAnnHensch, NinaDeerfield,NormaMiyamoto,JohnHalcón,MarkEvilsizer.(AdelM.Bautista/TheTelescope)

AerospaceDefenseIndustry.“Thethingswedid…Itwas theunmannedsystemsdivisionofNorthropandwemade vehicles,aeronauticalvehiclesthatdidn’tneedapilot,” Evilsizerboomedthroughmylaptopspeakers.“And what’sfunnyistheNavywasreallynervousaboutthat. Like,what,you’regonnalandonavehiclefulloffuelon myflightdeckofmy$3billionaircraft?!Well,oncewe provethatthingcouldlandonadime,youknow,more accuratelythanahumanpilot,becauseofallthelaserguidedguidancesystemsandstuff.”

EvilsizerwasworkingwiththeX-47Bdrone,an unmannedaircraftthateventuallyjoinedtheNavyto surveyareaswithoutapilot.Healsoworkedonnumerous fighterjets,commercialaircraftwork,andmuchmore fromthe1970stothe1980s.Hesighedandsmiled contagiously,shakinghishead,“Yeah,computerized electromechanicalsystemsonthatthing.Itwasmore accurate,andtheyfinallythought:Youknowwhat?You provedyourpoint.”

OneofEvilsizer’sgoodfriends,PhilDiTrapani,who workedwithhimatNorthropin2005.“He’saverycaring person,especiallywiththeLatinocommunity,”Trapani saidoverthephone.“But,hisworstquality?Someofhis jokesareprettybad.”Trapanilaughed.

ButNorthropwouldn’tbeEvilsizer’smainworksource anymore.HewaslaidoffafterNorthropdecidedtoclose theplantheworkedatandmoveoutofSanDiego.Not wantingtomovetonorthernCalifornia,Evilsizerstayed andlookedaroundforjobs.Thankfully,PalomarCollege openeditsarmsout,andEvilsizergladlytookthe opportunity.

“OneofthethingsIdidwasItaughtpart-timeatPalomar College,”Evilsizersaid.“Itaughtcoursesinsupervision andcoursesinthebusinessdepartment.Organizational theory,youknow,businesscommunication.Yeah,things likethat.”Heworkedforfiveyearsasapart-time instructor.Duringthattime,Evilsizernoticedhowunfairly Palomarwastreatingtheirfaculty—especiallytheparttimers.“TheydidnothaveanyunionatPalomar,itwasa meetandconfer.Itwasreallyjustforthefull-time faculty,”hesaid.

ForPalomarCollegetobecomesuccessful,hebecame activelyengagedwiththeAmericanandCalifornia FederationofTeachers.“Iandseveralothersdecidedto petitionthepart-timeinstructorsatPalomarCollegeto beginaunionforpart-timers…Weworkedwithawoman whowasafull-timeAFTperson.Thatkindofhelped secureavoteforaunionandthenformaUnion.”

ItwasthenthatEvilsizer’scolleagueslookeduptohim andgavehimmoreopportunitiestochangePalomarfor thebetter.“Somefacultymembersaskedme,‘Hey,Mark, wouldyoubeinterestedinrunningforoneofthethree

seatsthataregoingtobeopenonourgoverning

board?’...SoIjuststartedgoingtosomeoftheirmeetings. ThenIsawthattheyweremakingimportantdecisions aboutemployeesandpoliciesandfiscalmatters.SoIsaid, yeah,Icanprobablydothat.”

TheroleofaGoverningBoardmemberrequiresapassion forchangeandagoodvoice,thequalitiesEvilsizerhad. AccordingtotheTertiaryEducationandManagement, “TheGoverningBoardcanbeviewedasanimportant arenaforinstitutionalchangeandisalsoresponsiblefor qualityassurance,efficiency,andeffectiveness.” Evilsizer’scolleaguesagreed:Hewasthekeytochange.

In2002,theGoverningBoardelectedEvilsizertobecome theirTrustee,andchangesatPalomarCollegewere startingtobecomenoticeable.Therewardsofbeinga Trusteewerenothingmorethanbeingabletohearthe successstoriesofstudentsaround,andforEvilsizer,that waswhatheneededtokeepgoing.

“Fromthesinglemomthatwasstruggling,youknow,who cameandstudiedforthenursingprogram,gotsupport fromaparenttowatchtheirchildsucceedintheirgoal.Or aMarineCorpsveteran,youknow,wastransitioningfrom themilitarytocivilianlifeandwantedtobecomea policemanoractuallyworkedasamilitarypoliceman.” Evilsizer’seyessparkledashespoke,excitedtorelive thosememoriesofpaststudentsandspeakoftheirchange. “So,there’salotofrewardsseeingthosesuccesses.”

EvilsizerexpandedhisandPalomarCollege’ssuccessover theyears.HebecametheChairoftheGoverningBoardfor thefirsttimein2008,hehasworkedwiththeCalifornia CommunityCollegeTrusteesAssociation,andhehas workedstatewidethroughtheCommunityCollegesystem toimprovethingsindifferentcolleges.Heusedhis platformtoopenanonprofitorganizationforLatino studentsinCalifornia,goingtomeetingsattheCounty OfficeofEducationtomakenoiseoftheLatinoAdvisory Committee.

MarkEvilsizercutstheribbonatthegrandopeningofthenewbaseballfieldwithJohnHalcón(l)and NancyChadwickandInterimPresidentAdrianGonzalestohisleft.(MichaelaSanderson/TheTelescope)

Dr.JohnHalcón,aretiredProfessorandTrusteeofthe GoverningBoard,whohadworkedwithEvilizer,saidthat hewas“patient”duringourbriefphonecall.“Itendtobea littlebitmorenon-patientasheis.Usually,hewould frustrateme,but,y’know,nineoutoftentimeshe’sright. He’safantasticguy.”Halcónsaidwithabitof nostalgia.“Thereisn’taparticularincidentor storythatstandsout[aboutEvilsizer],he’sa verywell-respectedpersonstatewide… Everyoneknewwhenwewereintown. Theywouldcomeandgreetus,andwe wouldgreetpeople.Heknows everybody.”EventhoughEvilsizeris fiveyearsintohisretirement,thiswillbe thelastyearofhistimeatPalomar CollegeandasaGoverningBoard Trustee.Hehastravelplansandhas startedalreadywhenhevisitedVegas inthelastcoupleofmonths.Hehas createdchangefortheworld,and nowitistimefortheworld togivebacktohim.

“It’stimetopassthebatontosomeotherperson,” Evilsizersaidaswewerefinishingourinterview.I rememberlookingathimonmyscreen,notwantinghis storytoend.However,noteverythinglastsforever,andit seemshe’sawareofthat.Hetooknotethattherewill alwaysbesomeonethereafterhim,looking overtheGoverningBoardashedid.

“It’simportantforboardmembersto keepfirstandforemostandallof theirdeliberationsandalltheir decisionsthat,youknow,we’re theretoservetheeducational needsofourstudentsandthe needsofourcommunitiesinterms ofwhatkindsofjobstheyneed workersfor,”hesaid,noddinghis head.“It’simportantthatwekeep thatinmindandnotgettoobogged downinunionstuffandcollective bargainingstuff.Imean,that’sall importantbutfirstandforemost thateveryonekeepsthestudent focusandthefactthatwe’re theretoserveeducational goalsIthinkthat'stheone thingIwouldurgeanyof mypredecessorstokeep inmind.” P

TheEraof AsianHate Amidsta Pandemic

Palomarstudent SteffanieYeung sharesherexperienceondealing withthefearofbeingavictimof xenophobia oncampus.

Asianshavebeengettinglotsof hateintheU.S.eversincethe COVID-19pandemicarosetwoyears ago,whichshutdownnearlyevery businessandschoolinthecountry andalmostaroundtheworld.

SteffanieYeungisanAsianAmerican whoattendedPalomarCollegeduring thepandemicandexperiencedfear andhostilitywhileenteringcampus becausesomepeoplethought COVID-19camefromChina.

Yeung hadmanyinterests,includingmusicwhereshe learnedtoplaythepianoandviolinyoungchild.Her friendslikedtodescribeherasdowntoearthwhoisvery givingandhelpfulwheneveryouareinneed.Yeunghas Taiwanese,Chinese,andJapaneseheritage.Sheembraces hercultureandappreciatesthemanywondersofbeing3 differentAsiancultures.WhatmadeSteffanieafraidof embracingherculture?

SteffanieattendedPalomarinpersonforclassesinearly 2021thatrequiredhands-onlearning.Youcanimaginethe fearshehadgoingoncampusknowingpeoplebegan bashingonAsiansforspreadingitorbringingitto America.

“IwasabitworriedgoingbackinpersonbecauseIsaw throughsocialmediathatmanyAsianswerebecoming victimsofbeingbeateninpublicfor‘causing’COVIDand bringingittoAmerica”,shesaidwithanagonizedlookon herface.“Manypeopleonlinetoowerebeingracistand beingxenophobicthroughoutthisentirepandemicsoit worriedmehavingtoattendclassesknowinghowmuch myracewasbeinghatedonforsomethingwedidnotdoor causewhilebeinghereinAmerica.”

Yeungnotonlyhadtofearforherself,butalsoforher familybecausenewscoveragehadreportedmanyAsian businessesbeingdestroyedortormentedduetotheblame. Herfamilyshopsinthesesmallbusinessesandattendingit seemedliketheyhadtorisktheirlifetogotherebecause oftheworrythatpeoplewereplanningtobeatthemjust forbeingAsian.

Inthearticle,“FightingPandemic-andAsianHate,”Ken JeongdiscusseshowmanyAsianhatecrimeshave increasedbyalmost“150percent”becauseofthe xenophobiaoccurringalongwiththe“weaponizingterms like‘kungflu’and‘Chinavirus’,”whicheggedonthe increasedhateonAsiansduringthepandemic.

Xenophobiawasoccurringthroughoutthecountrywhere Asianshadtofearfortheirlifeongoingoutinpublicand worryingthatothersweregoingtogosofarastothreaten orbeatthem.Insimpleterms,xenophobiaisthefearand thehatredtowardstrangersorforeignersthatpeopleseem tofindstrangeorforeign.Socialmediawasjustasbad wheremanypeoplecancommentmoreracialslursto Asiansandnothavetobeafraidbecauseeverybodyis behindascreen.

Amulti-talentedmusician,SteffanieYeunglearnedtoplay thepianoatage6andtheviolinatage8(oppositepage). (PhotoscourtesyofSteffanieYeung.)

YeunghadseenracismdirectedtowardsAsiansallover socialmedia,whereTikTokwasmoreapparentaboutit becauseofhowmuchpopularitytheappwasgainingsince 2019.ManypeopleweredocumentingCOVIDandtheir ownexperiencesontheapp.

Unfortunately,anyAsianinfluencers,whopostedonsocial mediaespeciallythepopularandgrowingapp namedTikTokwaswheremostxenophobiais experienced.TheseAsianinfluencers experiencedimmensehatejustforbeing Asian,wherecommentswereblamingthe personforcausingCOVIDandsayingracial commentsabouttheirlooks.Manypeople commentedontheirentirecultureonwhat theyeatbecauseofhowdifferentitwasto Americanfood.

Inthearticle,“Stopthecoronavirusstigma now”,theNatureResearchJournaldiscusses howpoliticianswhocontinuouslyblame Chinaforthepandemicareatfaultbecause “pandemicsleadtocommunitiesbeing stigmatized,whichiswhyweallneedto exercisemorecare.”Ifwecontinueto increasethestigmabyassociatingthe

pandemicwithcertaingroups ofpeoplethenitwillnotend anytimesoonbecauseinthe end,thevirusaffects everybodywhichmeans everyoneisatrisknomatterif someoneweretostartit.

“Ididn’tunderstandwhy peoplewereblamingallAsians forthecauseofCOVID,it reallymademestartlosing hopeinsocietybecauseofhow uneducatedpeoplewereduring thispandemic”,shesaidwitha broodingfacialexpression tryingtomakeoutherthoughts fromhowshefeltayearago.

“Ihadtofearformyselfonline andin-person,butsomethingI noticedwasAsiansgotso muchhatearoundCOVID,but asayearwentby,people startedpraisingAsianfashion, theirmakeup.”

Yeungwascorrectinthesuddenchangeofhatetolovefor Asians.Manypeoplehadhoppedonthebandwagonon socialmediawhereAsianswerethecauseofawhole pandemic,butthensoonforgotaboutitoncethesituation ofthepandemicsimmereddown.Peoplethenbegan accustomingtheirlifetoonlineandfollowingdifferent trendsthatmostoriginatedfromAsia.

Onecommontrendisfashion.YeungfollowedJapanese fashionforalongtime,especiallytheirstreetwearandhow popular“harajuku”wasinJapan.Peoplebeganbecoming awareofthisandpostingitonTikTokwherepeoplebegan praisingAsiansforhowtheydressandcomparingitto Americanswheremanydidnotknowhowtodressordo fashion.ThisisthesortofpraiseAsiansweregettingnearlya yearbeforeCOVID.

Yeungwassurprisedtoseesomanypeoplelovingthe streetwearAsianswerewearing.“Becauseayearagowe weregettingthemosthatearoundtheentireworldbutnow we’regettingsomuchloveonsocialmedia”,shesaid,“it kindabothersmethewaypeopleswitchuplikethatandthe waypeopleforgetthehatewegotandtheabusewehadto endurewhenwewerenotthecauseofthispandemic.”

(PhotoscourtesyofSteffanieYeung.)

Inoticedwas Asiansgotso muchhate aroundCOVID, butasayear wentby,people startedpraising Asianfashion, theirmakeup.

Inthearticle,“KungFluandRoofKoreans:Asian/ AmericansastheHatedOtherandProxiesofHatinginthe WhiteImaginary,”JuliaR.DeCookandMiHyunYoon commentedonhowxenophobiaisoccurringforallAsians notjustChinesepeople,manyoftheAsianswhoarebeing viewedbythewhitesupremacistsare“anytypeofAsian” istoblame.Non-Chineseciviliansaretheonesbeing “reportedbeingthevictimsofhatecrimesor microaggressions”whichdemonstratesthatAsianhateis happeningtoanybodywhoisclearlyAsiannomatter whichkindtheyare.Palomarwasstrictonwhocouldgo oncampusandonlycertainclasseswereallowedifhandsonlearningwasneeded.Yeungresumedherin-person classes,however,sheishesitantofenteringthecampus. HavingfeargoingoutinpublicfeltwrongforYeung becauseshethoughtitwasunfairforhertobeashamedof beingAsianjustbecauseofavirusthatoriginatedinAsia andspreadovertoAmerica.Yeunghadmixedfeelingsand thoughtsonifsheweretoexperience racismherselfbecauseitwashardto believesomethingthathorriblecould happeninyourownhometown.

“IusuallykepttomyselfbecauseIam prettyshywhenitcomestosocializingso IknewIwouldn’treallytalktomypeers sinceIcametolearn”,shesaid. “However,atthesametimeIfeltlikealot ofeyeswereonmebecausemanypeople hadtheirownopinionsonAsiansand thenspreadingitsoIfeltlikeIhadto keepaneyeoutformyselftoseeifIwas beingjudged.”

InastoryonReason.com,“DoWeReallyNeedNewAntiAsianHateCrimeLaws?”ElizabethNolanBrownpointed outinthatyoungAsianAmericanshadtoworryabouttheir familybeingattackeddueto“anumberofcrimesagainst elderlyAsianpeopleinCaliforniaweresimilarlypegged bythepress.”Evenifitwasnotraciallymotivated,itis stillaleadingfactorduetothepandemic.

Yeunghasgraduatedandhasexperiencedwhatitwaslike beingAsianAmericanandattendingschool.Shefeltthe experiencewassurrealbutshewouldnotforgetseeingthe hateshifttoloveaspeoplebegantoforgethowdetrimental COVIDissincethevaccinewasavailableandpeoplewere goingbackto“normal.” P

(PhotoscourtesyofSteffanieYeung.)

Art by Cedar

Localartistcreatesandsellsmixedmediaart.

StoryandphotosbySophiaPerun

ithherboldredlocks,CedarCovington poursherlifeexperiencesintoherart, creatingpiecesfullofcolorandpositive affirmations.Heavilyinspiredbynature,film,music, andR&Bandsoul,Covingtoncombinesmultiple mediumstoformhermixedmediacreations.

Beingopentomanymediums,Covingtonwillgive almostanythingatry.Sheusesanykindofpaint whetheritbewatercolor,acrylic,oil,orspraypaint. Othermediumsshehasusedincludeembroidery, linoleumblocks,papercollage,paintpens,markers, andgouache.Acrylicpaintandpapercollagesare herfavoritetoworkwithasyoucanseewhen flippingthroughpagesofherartjournal.

“Iwanted thesoundwhenyouopenittocrackleand crisp.Iwantedittobeoverflowinglikeabouttoripapart andithasrippedapartmultipletimesandIhadtosuper gluethepagesbackin,”saidCovington.

MuchofCovington’sartcomesfromtimesofherlifethat bringherthemostdiscomfort.Herartjournal,forone, beganafteraheartbreak.Althoughthesemomentsdocome fromuncomfortablemomentsofherlife,Covingtonseeks comfortindiscomfort.

Shealsomentionedsomeexperiencesthatremindherof herchildhoodassomeonewhogrewupwithasingle mother.“Ithinkwhenyou’reafraidofsomethinglike whenIdon’twanttowatchacertainmovie,what discomfortamIafraidisthatthat’sgoingtomakemefeel andthenpickatthatdiscomfortuntilIfigureoutwhatis actuallywrong,”Covingtonsaid.“Idon’twanttowatcha movieaboutheartbreak.WhatdiscomfortamIavoidingto feel?Idon’twanttofeelthefeelingofbeingheartbroken againandfeelthatfearofabandonment.Watchingamovie likeGlassCastle,amovieaboutadadwho’snotpresent, likewhatdiscordamItryingnottofeel?Trytofeelthat likereally,reallyfeelitandthenturnitintosomething.”

SpendingherearlyyearsoffthegridonPalomarMountain withherfamilygaveCovingtonanupbringingwherethey hadageneratorforelectricity,twomoviesonVHS,and wherehermotherchangedherdiapersbycandlelight.This lifestylehadCovingtoneagerlyturningtotheoutdoorsand toartasarelease.AfterthePoomachaFirein2007, Covingtonandherfamilylivedinapartmentsandcondos. ThePoomachaFireatPalomarMountainStatePark burneddown138homesandmorethan49,000acrestotal, accordingtoparks.ca.gov.Asalow-incomefamilymoving fromclosequarterstoclosequarters,Covington’sphysical spacewaslimitedbuthercreativity roamedfree.

“Asachild,Ifeltoutof controlofmy circumstances.Withthe kindofchildhoodI grewupin,thereisnot muchyoucandoabout it.Ithinkatruehobby orinterestissomethingthat takesyouawayfromrealityfor alittlebit.Andmakesyoutravel withoutactuallyhavingto leave,”saidCovington.

Hermother,Sabrina,sharesasimilarpointofview, acknowledgingthatartwassomethingherdaughterturned to.“Cedardidnothavetheeasiestchildhoodandartwas theperfectoutlet,”Sabrinasaid.“Livingwithanartist makeseverydayfun.ArttrulylightsCedarupandit makesherhappyinthepurestway.”

Havingtonavigateadifficultpaternalrelationshipata youngagecausedCovingtontocometotermswithpeople inherlifeaswell.“Withmyfather,it’sjustoneofthose thingswhereIwasn’tawareofalotofthebadthingsthat happenedinmychildhood,”shesaid.“Ijustknewitwas badandthenwhenIgrewupandIbecamefifteenor sixteenIbecameawareofallthebadthingsthathappened whenIwasyoungerandthatthereforeIhadtocutoffthat relationship.”

Covington’sreligiousupbringingalsohadherquestioning thingsshewastaughtandexperiencedgrowingup. AlthoughCovingtonsaysthatreligioncanbebeautifulasa childandgavehermoralsandvalues,shestrongly disagreedwithwhatwasbeingtaughtaboutsexualpurity.

“Iamaveryconfrontationalperson.Iamnotsureifthat wasbecauseofmychildhoodorbecauseIwasalways meanttobelikethat,butI’mveryconfrontational.Idon’t shyawayfromuncomfortabletopics.Iseekcomfortin

beinguncomfortable becauseIhavealwaysfelt alittleuncomfortableI think,”saidCovington.

AsCovingtonmovedon fromCatholicschooland beganattendingacharter schoolandpublicschool,she stillrejectedthenorms.Shepointed outthatthepeoplewhoweretypically praisedwerehighachievingscholarsandathleteswhich leftheranoutcastamongstherpeersagain.

InadditiontobeingagraphicdesignstudentatPalomar, Covingtonputsherartupondisplayatgalleries,coffee shops,andsellsherartatlocalshopssuchasDayDream inEscondido.Asabusiness-mindedperson,shetriesto priceherpiecesaccordinglywhilealsomakingthemas accessibleaspossible.Covingtonhasworkedjobsoutside ofbeinganartist,butshesuggeststhateveryartistsave moneyandtakesometimeofftoactontheirinspiration.

“Ithinkbeingveryantinine-to-fiveandshamingpeople forhavinganinetofiveisclassist.Peoplehavetowork, peoplehavetofeedtheirfamiliesandnoteveryonegota collegeeducation.IdoagreethatIdon’twantanine-to-

five.WhenIwouldgointowork,Ifeltlikesomeoneputa plugintomeanddrainedallofmybatteryandwas completelydead,nofeelingsjustcompletelynumband thenifIpaintalldayIamexhaustedbutI’menergized,” saidCovington.

Accordingtoarts.gov,itis3.6 timesaslikelyforanartisttobe self-employedascomparedto otherworkers.Although Covingtonacknowledgesthe practicalityofadayjob,itcan stiflethecreativityoftheartist. Withthis,however,comesthe backlashofhowartistswillmake aliving,butCovington discouragestheseattitudesabout artists.

“Peoplewouldalwayssayhow areyougoingtomakemoney? Thatisthenumberonequestion. Youhavetofigurethatoutthat’s important,butalsothesame peoplewhodiscourageartists frompursuingacareerinartor don’tseethepurposeortheneed foritarethesamepeoplethatconsumemusicfilm.People consumearteverysingleday,”shesaid.

Makingherartaccessibletopeopleissomethingimportant toher.However,withabusiness-mindset,sheensuresthat shereceivesthecompensationsheworkedfor.Withjust underathirdofartistsgettingcompensationfortheart, accordingtoartradarjournal.com,Covingtonseemstobe aheadofthecurve.Shealsoadmitsthatthebusinessside ofitallcanbediscouragingwhensomethingdoesnotsell, butshereassuresherselfwiththethoughtthattheright personwillseeitattherighttime.Shealsoseesthisasan areaofgrowthinherart.

“IthinkmyartrightnowisalittletooonthenoseandI wanttomakeitmoremurkyandweirder.IthinkIam transitioningintomakingartforotherpeopleintomaking artformyself.I’mcreative,butIhaveabusinessmindset. I’malwaysthinkingaboutwhatpeoplewouldbuyand whatpeoplewouldwant.Theartjournalhelpedmemake stuffthatwasreallyunhingedandreallyweirdfor absolutelynoreason.Evenifnoonewouldevenwantit orlookatit,it’sforme.Istartedtorealizethatpeopledo likemyartmorewhenIdon’tthinkaboutotherpeople,” saidCovington.

AsCovingtonsaid,lettinggoofshameand people’sperceptionofyouiskeywhile makingarttosell.Shealsoadvises everybodytoevaluatehowyouwanttobe heardandhowtoexpressthattotheworld.

“Everybodywantstofeelheard.Whetheran introvertandextrovert,anartistandathlete, whateveryouwanttobe,everybodywantstofeelheard,” shesaid.“Itdoesn’tmatterwhoyouare,evenifyounever talk.Youwanttofeelvalidatedinsomewayandtosaythat youdon’tisalieandtheminuteyourealizethatyoucan findyourpowerandrealizewhatyouwantpeopletohear fromyou.Howyouwantpeopletofeelandwhatdoyou wantthemtotakeawayfromtheirexperiencewithyou.”

WhileCovingtonistransitioningfromcreatingartfor otherpeopletocreatingartforherself,shereminisceson whatherarthasdoneforher.

“Inowhavememorializedthatmoment.Nowlooking backatmyartjournal,myfirstcoupleentriesthatImade lastyeararoundMay,Iwasinsuchadifferentmindset.It’s almostlikelisteningtoasongduringacertainperiodof timeandittakesyouback.Ireallyrememberthatmoment nowthatIamlisteningtothatsongsmellingthatscent,or eatingthatfoodorwhateveritis.Lookingatthatartislike puttingmyselfinthatmoment,”saidCovington.

CovingtonwillbetransferringfromPalomartoArtCenter CollegeofDesigninPasadenawhereshewillbestudying creativedirectionwhichwillofferheramixofadvertising andmarketing,andcreativity.WiththepastthatCovington carriesandhercreationstocome,Covingtonwillsurely createarttobemarveleduponbythemasses. P

Formoreinformation,visitheratwww.artbycedar.shop.

Ifyouwouldliketosee yourwork inthismagazine,joinPalomar’sJournalismprogram.

Wetrainyouhowto write,research,report,edit,takephotos and producemultimedia contentforImpact,Palomar’scampusmagazine(www2.palomar.edu/impactmagazine) andTheTelescope,Palomar’scampusnewspaper(www.palomar.edu/telescope).

Weofferjournalismclasseseverysemesterin4-week,8-weekand16-weekformats onlineandinperson.

Learnmorebyvisitinghttps://www.palomar.edu/journalism/orbyemailingJournalism Professor ErinHiro at ehiro@palomar.edu

Lookingforwriters,designersandphotographers!