The Telescope 72.06

Page 1

Vol. 72, No. 6

Monday, February 11, 2019

Former interim dean files lawsuit against District Ana Acosta STAFF EDITOR

A complaint was filed against the Palomar Community College District by Dr. Kathryn Kailikole, the previous interim Dean of Mathematics at Palomar on Nov. 20 2018. Timeline *Everything pertaining to this timeline has been derived from the court file complaint made against the Palomar Community College District. The situations described are current allegations made against the District on behalf of Dr. Kailikole.* 2009 Seven years before Kailikole was a professor

OPINION

The spearhead of our new democracy SEE PAGE 5

at Palomar, two physics professors, Takashi Nakajima and Arthur Gerwig were reported for inappropriate conduct against a disabled student. This incident was reported to the United States Office of Civil Rights (OCR). After the OCR found the professors guilty of discrimination, the District required Nakajima and Gerwig to undergo sensitivity training.

Conservative old-heads better get used to change because Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is the future of the Democratic Party and America. BLOGS

Shutdown effect on SNAP families

May 2017 - November 2017 While Kailikole was interim Dean of Mathematics at Palomar College, she received a report from the Physics Department Chair, Dr. Daniel Finkenthal, that two tenured physics professors had

SEE LAWSUIT PAGE 3

SEE PAGE 6

Oscars photo illustration courtesy of Disney | ABC Television Group / Flickr Commons

And the Oscar goes to... Victoria Price STAFF EDITOR

Photo courtesy of howtostartablogonline.net / Flickr Commons

Telescopenews

With the new year comes awards season, namely for film and television. While there are many different programs that honor work in film and TV, the most highly anticipated remain as the Oscars. This year will mark the 91st year of the awards ceremony, and the nominations are as diverse as the art we see around us. Some of the most coveted awards of the year are for Actor and Actress in a Leading Role. This year, the nominations for Actor include Christian Bale (“Vice”), Bradley Cooper (“A Star Is Born”), Willem Dafoe (“At Eternity’s Gate”), Rami Malek (“Bohemian Rhapsody”), and Riggo Mortensen (“The Green Book”). Malek is

The_Telescope

predicted to win, but the competition will be stiff between him as well as Bale and Cooper, both highly regarded actors, where Malek, although accomplished, still remains as a “newcomer” to the scene, with this being his first Oscar nomination. For Actress, the nominations include Yalitza Aparicio (“Roma”), Glenn Close (“The Wife”), Olivia Coleman (“The Favourite”), Lady Gaga (“A Star Is Born”), and Melissa McCarthy (“Can You Forgive Me?”). The predictions state that Close is likely to win, however, with all the success brought in by “A Star Is Born”, Gaga may take the win. With every lead actor or actress, you have their support that rounds out the cast. For Actor in a Supporting Role, the nomina-

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tions include Mahershala Ali (“Green Book”), Adam Driver (“Blackkklansmen”), Sam Elliot (“A Star Is Born”), Richard E. Grant (“Can You Ever Forgive Me?”), and Sam Rockwell (“Vice”). Ali is predicted to win the award, and I think he will take the win in that category regarding his performance in “Green Book”. For Actress in a Supporting Role, the nominations are Amy Adams (“Vice”), Marina de Tavira (“Roma”), Regina King (“If Beale Street Could Talk”), Emma Stone (“The Favourite”), and Rachel Weisz (“The Favourite”). King is slated to take the win, but there is a talented group of nominees, and it is likely that the award is anyone’s game, and we may be surprised with the outcome.

SEE OSCARS PAGE 7

In case you’ve been living from under a rock, and are unaware, our nation is currently in recovery from the longest government shutdown in history, and low-income families are being disproportionately affected.

FOCUS

The lack of help in our Veteran community SEE PAGE 10

At 66.6 percent, California had the highest rate of unsheltered veterans in 2018.


2 • NEWS

February 11, 2019

t BRIEFLY t UPCOMING EVENTS

M&O BUILDING WINS NATIONAL AWARD

COACH TO HOST SOFTBALL MINICLINIC

FEBRUARY

SAN MARCOS --Palomar’s Current Assistant Softball Coach and former player, Kali Pugh presented the 2019 Spring Offensive MiniClinic Series. Pugh is Palomar’s all-time hitter and Comet California Player of the Year. She has played for two national championships with Oklahoma City University and was named National Player of the Year in 2017. The Mini-Clinic will

Monday 4:30 - 5:30 p.m. Softball Mini-Clinic Series Comet Campus Field

Tuesday 2:00 p.m. Men’s Tennis v. Grossmont 2:00 p.m. Baseball v. Pasadena CC 5:00 p.m. Governing Board Meeting Room SSC-1

Wednesday 5:00 p.m. Women’s Basketball v. San Bernardino Valley 7:00 p.m. Men’s Basketball v. San

be held from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Feb. 11, and Feb. 25 as well as March 4, 11 and 18 at the Comets campus field. The Clinic is for all ages and skill levels, covering hitting skills and drills. The cost to participate in the Mini-Clinic is $20 per session and $85 for all five sessions (No refunds). Checks can be made out to Palomar College Softball and will be accepted at the clinic. — Krista Moore

Bernardino Valley

PALOMAR TO HOST THIRD ANNUAL SAFETY OUTREACH EVENT

Thursday 2:00 p.m. Men’s Tennis v. Mt. San Jacinto 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Sexual Wellness Education Workshop TLC Building 7:00 p.m. Men’s Volleyball v. Irvine Valley

Friday Holiday - Campus Closed 2:00 p.m. Baseball v. Saddleback 5:00 p.m. Women’s Basketball v. Mt. San Jacinto 7:00 p.m. Men’s Basketball v. Mt. San Jacinto

Monday Presidents Day - Campus Closed

Wednesday 3:00 p.m. Softball v. Mt. San Jacinto

Thursday 2:00 p.m Baseball v. Orange Coast 2:00 p.m. Men’s Tennis v. College of the Desert 7:00 p.m. Men’s Basketball v. Miramar

Monday 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. $10 Cholesterol Blood Tests SU-Quad Student Health Center 2:30 p.m. Softball v. Saddleback 4:30 - 5:30 p.m. Softball Mini-Clinic Series

Tuesday 2:00 p.m. Men’s Tennis v. San Diego Mesa

Wednesday 10:30 - 1:30 p.m. Amazon Hiring Event SU-17 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Campus Blood Drive thru March 1st.

The east side of the new Maintanence and Operations Building at Palomar College. The building is currently being furnished in preparation for future use. February 6, 2019. Sukhi Heumann/The Telescope

SAN MARCOS --Palomar College’s new Maintenance & Operations building was nationally awarded by the Engineering News-Record (ENR) Magazine as one of the most environmentally-friendly buildings. ENR announced that the M&O building placed in the “Best of the Best,”

CAMPUS-WIDE HOUSING SURVEY SAN MARCOS --Palomar College has partnered up with a real estate firm that specializes in student housing. Beginning in February, the Scion Group will be visiting the campus to allows students and employees to participate in a campus-wide survey. Along with an online survey, the Scion Group will also be conducting interviews with stakeholders as well as creating student focus groups. These surveys will be held in order to determine if student housing is a necessary factor for the campus community. — Ana Acosta

Health Center

Thursday 2:00 pm. Baseball v. Grossmont

Friday 6:00 p.m. Men’s Volleyball v. Fullerton

THIS DAY IN HISTORY 1975

Margaret Thatcher became the first female British Prime Minister.

on Jan. 7. This award was a prestigious decoration given only to 20 projects nationwide. There were over 800 submissions in the competition. The facility will be featured in ENR’s Mar. 11 issue. One of the winners will be presented on the cover as “Project of the Year,” which will be

awarded during a ceremony in New York City on March 22. The staff is planned to move into the Maintenance & Operations building in February, while a public ribbon cutting ceremony is scheduled for March. — Summer Aguirre

SAN MARCOS --Palomar will be hosting their Third Annual Safety Community Outreach on Apr. 10. The event will be held from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. in front of the new Palomar Police Station next to the parking structure. The purpose of the outreach event is to foster better relationships between the campus community and the police.

Attendees will be able to meet local Police and Fire Departments. The event will also feature a Mercy Air helicopter. The event will have live music, informational booths, K-9 Demo’s and many other activities. In the past, the police station has worked with multiple local vendors to provide the public with free food and gifts. - Ana Acosta

PALOMAR’S RADIO STATION RECEIVES 18 AWARD NOMINATIONS SAN MARCOS --KKSM radio will be heading to New York City for the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System’s 79th annual international media conference from March 1-3. Palomar’s Radio Station, KKSM, received multiple nominations from the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System’s (IBS) 79th annual media conference. IBS presented the public with the 2019 college awards nominees on Dec. 20. In this release, KKSM was nominated 16 times as finalists. The radio station will compete against two other schools for the title of Best Community College Radio Station. One of the nominations they received was for Best Underwriting Spot. “I feel really honored I’m also so grateful for all the wonderful teachers and mentors that I’ve had at Palomar College,”

Palmer Byrd, the voice for the audio commercial said. A week later KKSM received the news that they received two additional nominations leading to a total of 18 total nominations. KKSM Station Manager Zeb Navarro noted that these nominations show the dedication of those involved with KKSM. “Here we are, a twoyear community college radio station with students that work fulltime jobs taking their only day off to host their shows in a tough budget environment receiving these nominations,” Navarro said, “It feels great and it is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our staff who work hard every week to provide our listeners with entertainment, music, and amazing content.” — Jonathan Sarabia

Chief Chris Moore speaks to the community at last year's Public Saftey Community Outreach. Linus Smith/The Telescope

ASG SUBMITS RESOLUTION TO STUDENT GENERAL ASSEMBLY SACRAMENTO --Palomar’s Associated Student Government has submitted a resolution to the California State Community College General Assembly to consider for adoption, working towards resolving struggles faced by housing insecure students. Housing insecure students are gernally defined as those who do not have access to a consistent sleeping area at night.

The resolution aims to address the needs of these students through the creating an office and point of contact that students can utilize. It also aims to fulfill when possible, needs such as: - on campus showers - hotel/motel vouches - hygiene products - temporary parking lot that will allow overnight parking. - Ana Acosta


NEWS • 3

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New Learning Resource Center has opened its doors to the campus community James Lemon STAFF WRITER

Upper left: Construction worker analyzing plans for administrative offices in LRC. Taylor Hardey/The Telescope Upper middle: Students explore new study commons on the first floor. Taylor Hardey/The Telescope Upper right: Exterior seating areas of the LRC provide more study spaces. James Lemon/The Telecope Bottom left: Students can check out books from the library archives for up to 3 weeks at a time. Taylor Hardey/The Telescope

The new Learning Resource Center (LRC) has opened the doors to students. Palomar's current Library Manager, Connie Sterling, told The Telescope that the transition from the previous building to the new one was “a lot of hard work.” There were a few setbacks in September 2018. One of the main setbacks included the building failing state safety inspections, preventing the building from opening on their arranged opening in the Fall semester of 2018. The new 84,000-squarefoot building has replaced the previous Library. The LRC houses many private

areas for students to study, group study rooms, classrooms, rooms for training and meetings, and labs with access to computers. Sterling claims the best feature of the new building that students will most be excited about is the amount of charging outlets the building provides. "They are beautiful," Sterling said, "all of the floors have study areas for students. Lots of great furniture in here. During the week we are a packed house. Every floor is loaded with students who are really enjoying the study spaces." The first floor of the building opens up to an information desk, where librarians can answer any questions students have

about checking out books, other features the building houses, and more. The third floor of the new building is now the home of a new Tutoring Center, where students can find a tutor for subjects ranging from Psychology to Statistics. These services are free to all students. The fourth floor is made up of a variety of study spots dedicated to students. There is also some current construction for the second half of the fourth floor, which is assumed to be reserved for administrative offices. "We also have some really neat AGATI Pods, single-use pods for students that kinda want a little private space, the pods are made out of fabric it softens the noise they

are very very well used and liked here in the library." Sterling said. "Ten new study rooms that have 80-inch screens in them." Once the equipment is fully installed, Sterling claims that "the students are really going to love them as well." "We are always open to connecting with instructors with classroom orientations," Sterling said. But at the moment there are no events or workshops being hosted. "If you get up to the fourth floor at sunset, you're going to have your socks knocked off," Sterling explained, "it's a really really beautiful space for Palomar to be proud of." JLEMON@THE-TELESCOPE.COM

INTERIM DEAN FILES LAWSUIT AGAINST DISTRICT CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

engaged in racial and sexually inappropriate behavior in their physics lab. The professors, Nakajima and Gerwig, were reported for being involved with inappropriate conduct that included posting, or allowing others to post, racist and sexually explicit messages in their physics lab. Kailikole reported the complaint to the District, requesting that the two professors be placed on paid leave while the District pursued an investigation. The District refused Kailikole’s request to place Nakajima and Gerwig on paid leave. The District’s Investigation of Nakajima and Gerwig’s inappropriate behavior proceeded from July 2017 to November 2017. November 2017 The District determined that Kailikole and Finkenthal were credible in their accusations and Nakajima and Gerwig were found guilty of violating Palomar’s anti-harassment policies. The District's investigator also concluded that the two professors lied about their involvement with the explicit messages posted in their lab.

December 2017 Nakajima and Gerwig were placed on one month of unpaid leave. Kailikole's claim determined that this was a “toothless response,” and that the goal of the District “was not to protect students, but rather to avoid the appearance of anything out of the ordinary involving Nakajima and Gerwig.” Only a few days after Nakajima and Gerwig were placed on unpaid leave, Kailikole was also placed on paid leave. Kailikole claimed that she was escorted off campus without any explanation or information as to why. There was no mention of job performance issues on behalf of Kailikole, but she claimed she was accused of an alleged confidentiality issue. She was placed on paid leave for five months. January 2018 Kailikole hired an attorney to potentially receive information as to why she was placed on paid leave. The District refused to provide substantial information but disclosed that there was an investigation against

her that involved the Physics and Engineering Department. Kailikole believes that this decision was made in retaliation of her reporting Nakajima and Gerwig. February 2018 One week after Kailikole made the “retaliation” statement, the District decided not to renew her contract and did not provide her with reasoning for the decision. The day after the District made this decision, Kailikole was subjected to an interview with the District that regarded a previous incident involving Nakajima and Gerwig. In April 2016, Kailikole reported Nakajima and Gerwig to Campus Police for utilizing an airsoft gun in their classroom without prior permission. Nakajima and Gerwig had used an airsoft gun for a presentation in one of their classes for the two years before Kailikole was employed at Palomar. Reportedly, Kailikole had been the only administrator to take action regarding the unapproved use of the airsoft gun in their classroom. After this incident was reported to the Vice Presi-

dent of Human Resources, Lisa Norman, Norman advised Kailikole and Finkenthal to observe Nakajima and Gerwig “to determine if they were violating any rules.” According to the complaint, Kailikole sent an email to Finkenthal regarding the airsoft gun incident in order to determine if the two professor’s behavior remained appropriate in their classroom. It was then revealed that Finkenthal had forwarded said email to his wife, which created a belief that Kailikole was going against the confidentiality of the airsoft gun incident. March 2018 While still on paid leave, Kailikole received a message from another (unknown) faculty member who relayed a message that accused Jack Kahn, Vice President of Instruction, of claiming Kailikole would not be returning to her position as Dean of Mathematics. May 2018 Kailikole received a letter from Kahn, which con-

tained a recommendation for her termination. According to the complaint, the District concluded Kailikole was attempting to leak the confidential information of the airsoft gun incident. Kailikole claims that the District allegation against her was “manufactured by the District because it lacked any legitimate reason to non-renew and terminate Plaintiff's contract.” Allegedly, the District refused to renew Kailikole’s contract because of the claim that she had failed to appropriately supervise Nakajima and Gerwig in their classroom. “[Kalikole is] informed and believes that the District was angry at Plaintiff for reporting the harassing conduct by Nakajima and Gerwig because it required the District to take action against tenured professors which risked raising suspicions and questions by students and faculty if they were terminated or placed on an extended leave,” the complaint finalizes. June 2018 Kailikole’s employment was terminated by the District.

Nov. 20, 2018 The complaint was filed in court. January 2019 Palomar Community College District filed for the case’s dismissal on Jan. 22, 2019. Responses to the dismissal are due by Feb. 15 and replies to the response will be due on Feb. 22, 2019. The judge will then decided whether the case will be dismissed or continue through to its original court date scheduled on Apr. 4, 2019. In a recent interview, Finkenthal responded to news of the lawsuit and told The Telescope that he was legally unable to speak about the complaint until he viewed the court documents. “I will say this, I adore Dr. Kailikole,” Finkenthal said, “if she ever needs a recommendation letter for another dean position, I’ll gladly write one for her.” This is a developing story. AACOSTA@THE-TELESCOPE.COM


4 • OPINION The Telescope Focused On Palomar Monday, Feb. 11, 2019 Vol. 72, No. 6 Palomar College, San Marcos, Calif.

LINUS SMITH EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ANA ACOSTA

BRIAN BELTRAN NEWS EDITORS JUSTIN ENRIQUEZ NATHAN NAVIDA

OPINION EDITORS

VICTORIA PRICE GERALD LIGERALD

ARTS & CULTURE EDITORS KRISTA MOORE RYAN DAVIS

SPORTS EDITORS

MONICA NAVARRETE

FOCUS EDITOR

SAMANTHA COX

February 11, 2019

We need to continue emphasizing gun reform in 2019 EDITORIAL It is has long been the policy of The Telescope to dedicate our editorials to events and meetings which occur within our campus, and to the people who usher in change in our Palomar community. However, as we approach the oneyear anniversary of the infamous Parkland shooting, we’ve deemed it necessary to dedicate this editorial to remind everyone of what we as a people, swore we wouldn’t forget. In the weeks following the shooting that claimed 17 lives on Feb. 14 in Parkland Fla. hope for meaningful gun reform

nationwide didn’t seem far fetched. The #NeverAgain, #Enough and #EndGunViolence hashtags were trending, multiple corporations began severing ties with the NRA, and millions took to the streets to protest against gun violence and advocating for gun reform. Sixty-nine pieces of legislation were passed in over half of the U.S. states enacting stricter gun control laws in 2018. According to an article published by the New York Times, this was more than a 300 percent increase in gun reform laws passed than in 2017. On the federal level, not much was achieved, aside from a

nationwide ban on bump stocks which in effect turn semi-automatic weapons into fully automatic. However, while we may regard 2018 as a victory for gun reform, the electorate must remain vigilant if it is to see continued success, because this is not the first time where we have had a surge in gun reform laws only to see it fade back into the shadows of the national spotlight. Sandy Hook also managed to capture national outrage for a few months, and we saw the rise and decline of gun reform then too. In the year following Sandy Hook, over 50 pieces of stricter gun reform leg-

islation made its way into law, within two years, that number had fallen to 11 according to Giffords Law Center. Make no mistake, if we do not continue to push the conversation forward, it will die again. This is troubling, because among ourselves we’ve noticed a decline in both coverage of recent shootings, and (more critically) the resulting public response. People are once again becoming desensitized in the topic of gun control. At this newspaper, we are strong believers in the power of speaking out, both in a collective setting, as well an individual one.

We would urge you to take up the fight once more for the preservation of safety in our schools, and our homes. All you need to do to begin is strike up a conversation about gun reform, talk to your local politician. Spark a conversation with a friend, or post on social media, anything to ensure that gun violence remain on people’s minds moving forward in 2019. At The Telescope, we plan to continue driving a conversation about the necessary gun reform, for a safer United States. EDITOR@THE-TELESCOPE.COM

BLOG EDITOR

AUBREE WIEDMAIER

PHOTO EDITOR

EDITORIAL CARTOON

Cartoon by Summer Aguirre.

ERIN HIRO

ADVISOR

MAURICE THOMAS

OFFICE MANAGER

STAFF WRITERS

SUMMER AGUIRRE, KIERA COLARUSSO, RICHARD CONTRERAS, CHEYENNE CYR, COURTNEY DAVIS, RIPP FRIESEN, ALEX GARCIA, PUCHIE GRUPEE, KENA HAUN, HINAKO ISHII, HAYLEY LAWSON, JAMES LEMON, KIRAL LEPARD, CATHERINE LYNN, D’ANDRE MIRANDA, AIKA OMURA, PAT HARTLEY, ASHLEY ROMERO, IDETH GUERRERO, JONATHAN SARABIA, JORDAN SPURGEON, KIANA TEIXEIRA, SUNDAE VELASCO, NICOLE VILLANUEVA

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SPEAK OUT

When was the last time you had a conversation about gun control?

THE TELESCOPE WELCOMES ALL LETTERS TO THE EDITOR. LETTERS MUST BE TYPED, 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 5 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, THE EDITORIAL BOARD, PALOMAR FACULTY AND STAFF MEMBERS OR THE GOVERNING BOARD TRUSTEES.

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“I talked about it yesterday. It was about Nebraska and their governor, he allowed ... open carry, they don’t need a permit for it, because he said in the second amendment. I’m definitely pro 2a, but I do think there should be a little bit harder regulations, when it comes to stuff like that, but overall I am pro second amendment, not pro strict gun control. ” SKYLAR VERMAK, 19 - DENTAL ASSISTANT

“This morning, with my dad. I mean, for me, I’m super pro gun guy... My dad is not, so it’s an interesting debate, but my view on it is, it may be a right in the constitution, but ... people need to realize, on pro gun control and anti gun control that guns aren’t toys, they are weapons, and they need to be treated as such.” BRIAN BONAR, 19 - HISTORY

“I think the the last time I TALKED ABOUT IT was like, around two weeks ago, with my dad, cause he’s a member of the NRA and I picked up the mail and I saw the magazine that he gets, and I was like, ‘can we talk about this?’ and I started just having a conversation about what he thinks about it, because he is also a police officer for a school, so I had questions about that. ” SARAH CORDRUFF, 19 - FILM

“I do, I mean I would say I wouldn’t want somebody to take that away from them, but at least like more like background checks to make sure it’s in the right hands. Also, I am all for protection you know especially being a woman, you have to have safety, especially if it’s more towards using it for violence I’m not for that, but I do agree with the self protection, that’s something I wouldn’t want to be taken way.” LIZBET PEREZ, 20 - NURSING


OPINION • 5

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The spearhead of our new democracy Brian Beltran STAFF EDITOR

Conservative old-heads better get used to change because Alexandria OcasioCortez is the future of the Democratic Party and America. After her stunning electoral victory over the 14th District in New York, AOC became the youngest woman to serve in the United States Congress, at just 29 years old. AOC ran on a foundation of local support and grassroots tactics. While working as a waitress and an educa-

tor, AOC was severely outmatched and outspent by incumbent Joe Crowley, but this did not dissuade her from making history. A champion of the people and an activist for social justice, she is a symbol for change in a time of in-

Underrepresented by national media during her campaign and written off by Democrats and Republicans alike, AOC emerged in June as a force to be reckoned with. Not only did she beat the odds, she bolstered her social

Women like me aren’t suppose to run for office - Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

tense political turmoil. “Women like me aren’t supposed to run for office,” said AOC in the intro to her official campaign video.

media following to a combined crowd of over 5 million followers on Twitter and Instagram. In Aug. 2018, AOC was

Alexandria Ocasio Cortez speaking to a constituent photo credit by Corey Torpie / Flickr commons

challenged by conservative analyst and commentator, Ben Shapiro, to a public debate on political policies, offering $10,000 to her campaign or charity of her choosing. AOC denied the offer, citing that she had no obligation to be subjected to Shapiro’s interrogative style of debate. Shapiro accused AOC of cowardice and lack of foresight following her rejection. Her massive social media presence rallied around her stance, however, protecting the honor of the freshman congresswoman. News outlets and sitting politicians can no longer ignore the Democratic-Socialist with humble beginnings. AOC has already gone toeto-toe with President Donald Trump, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Donald Trump Jr. When interviewed by CNN, AOC said that she thought the President was obviously a racist, citing his historically controversial rhetoric as a danger to progressivism. She later took to Twitter to call out Donald Trump Jr. for using political memes to smear the congresswoman’s political stances. “I have noticed that Junior here has a habit of posting nonsense about me whenever the Mueller investigation heats up,” said AOC.

Alexandria Ocasio Cortez / courtesy of Wikipedia Commons.

This is exactly who the youth of America needs to represent their voices on Capitol Hill. AOC is proving that she isn’t afraid of anyone. With bold political stances such as abolishing ICE, implementing a marginal tax system up to 70 percent , and calling global warming, “The single biggest national security threat for the U.S. and the single biggest threat to worldwide industrialized civilization,” AOC said on CNN . AOC has hit the ground running in her young political career. Her energy and enthusiasm for change is a promising

The Netflix fall of superheroes Nathan Navida STAFF EDITOR

Netflix is starting to move away from Marvel and this is damaging to the streaming giant and it’s consumers. Marvel shows such as “Daredevil”, “Luke Cage”, and “Jessica Jones” have been put to a halt and now “The Punisher” is facing the same grim circumstances as it has not been approved for a third season. There’s some hope though if we see these shows come back onto the new Disney plus streaming service which will begin in April. However I believe the best decision for our Marvel characters should be to reboot them and their stories into the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe). The MCU includes movies such as the Avengers and Black Panther. Each of the series that were on Netflix occurred in the same universe meaning that they already

happened on the same timeline as the movies in the MCU. But the shows that were on Netflix and the movies in the MCU are very different in terms of their tones and direction of stories. The shows on Netflix usually take on darker tones than we see in the MCU which creates an entirely different atmosphere. For example in the Punisher, the story revolves around Frank Castle and his brutal war on crime because of his murky past. In the MCU, there are characters that of course also fight crime however they aren’t bent on revenge and lighter tones are created through charismatic characters and significant amounts of humor. This contrast in tone and atmosphere really separate the MCU and the Marvel Netflix series so far that they might as well have had taken place in their own universes to

“Daredevil, Kingpin, Bullseye” Photo coutresy of DD / Deviantart

begin with, and no one would’ve been upset. The MCU is starting to get a bit more complicated than when it started with Iron Man 10 years ago.

With the new big bads starting to affect the whole universe instead of just New York City keeping the MCU and Marvel Netflix seperated is getting messy.

It seems like Marvel thoroughly planned out the MCU movies but didn’t think to address how everything happening in the MCU would affect Marvel Netflix.

sign for young liberal Americans. We need powerful voices and minds spearheading the future of our country. Why should withered, stubborn members of Congress get to shape the future that they won’t be alive for? We are all fed up with the static problems of our nation. Conservative policymakers are more concerned with protecting the wealthy elites than uplifting the common people, and senior liberal politicians are no better. Young voices in office such as Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are the future we should rally behind. BBELTRAN@THE-TELESCOPE.COM

It’s thrilling to see the MCU movies all connected, but the connection between the MCU and the Marvel Netflix sticks out like a sore thumb. In the MCU you have the Guardians of the Galaxy being easily introduced to Thor, Iron Man and Spider-Man. But when they tried to bring Jessica Jones, Iron Fist, Daredevil and Luke Cage together for “The Defenders.” This proved to be uneventful and is considered trash even though the settings and the tones for the shows were very similar. That is why having the Netflix marvel characters crossover to the MCU which I would like to see Spider-Man fighting side by side with Daredevil. A fresh start for these characters in the MCU will do these stories justice instead of leaving them as dead series on Netflix. Although many people may hope to see that someday, I feel like that is far out of the way and not happening in the near future of the MCU. NNAVIDA@THE-TELESCOPE.COM


6 • BLOGS

February 11, 2019

(Left) Rotted brocollini, cabbage, and iceberg lettuce besides other vegetables at local supermarket. (Right) Packaged red meats at local supermarket. Photos by Emily Whetstone / The Telescope

The shutdown induced economic hangover for low-income families Nicole Villanueva STAFF WRITER

In case you’ve been living from under a rock, and are unaware, our nation is currently in recovery from the longest government shutdown in history, and low-income families are being disproportionately affected. The nation standoff for President Trump’s demand for funding a new border wall, put government funded operations at a halt. The ripple effect continues. This was a scary and uncertain time for many families and

workers affected. One community in particular being those who rely on the government funded program

out the support they have come to depend on for so long. In early January, the Department of Agriculture

Low income families rely on SNAP to get by and feed their children. SNAP, or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Low income families rely on SNAP to get by and feed their children. The shutdown proposed a threat of funds running dry, leaving millions of families with-

responded quickly to the fearful uncertainty. “Our motto here at USDA has been to do right and feed everyone,” said Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue on Jan. 8. His solution to food security for SNAP recipients

was to disperse February’s food stamps by Jan. 20. This meant people would have more to spend for the month of January, but would need to be cautious to stretch their food budget for the following month. The fate for March was unclear. To follow, President Trump announced on Jan. 25, that he was “temporarily,” lifting the government shutdown. With the government back in motion, the funding is back on track. At least for now. While Perdue’s solution did offer some relief, it also

comes with a cost. The early disbursement of February’s funds has caused a longer gap for the disbursement of funds for March. Where the typical wait time time for individuals and families to receive SNAP benefits is 30-31 days, there will now be a possible 40-50 day gap. For people that are already stretching their budgets thin, this longer gap brings up a lot of household stress. In-fact, many people that receive food stamps also rely on other meal assist programs because the stamps alone are just not enough. The Washington Post reported that in 2018, according to the Department of Agriculture, the average SNAP recipient receives $125.25 per person in a month. Breaking down to to less than $4.50 a day. That is what a lot of us spend on a single Starbucks drink a day, let alone a meal. This extra 10 day gap is a crisis for many.

As the ripple effect of the shutdown will continue to impact low-income individuals and families, it will also reach past to the community meal resources they will need to turn to. Food banks, along with other charities that supply food to the hungry will experience a greater strain in the weeks to come. “Feeding America,” the nation’s largest domestic hunger relief program is doing their part to support those affected by the shutdown. If you or someone you know needs food support or would like to offer help, you can visit https://www.feedingamerica.org/. Here you will find local services and information for any nutritional and hunger needs. As many are working to recover from the shutdown impact, we as a nation, can only wonder what could be dealt in a second shock wave, if the “temporary” threat proves true. NVILLANUEVA@THE-TELESCOPE.COM

Lionspack healthy cookie dough in Encinitas Samantha Cox STAFF EDITOR

(Top) Vegan birthday cake flavored cookie dough being scooped into a cup. (Bottom) Welcome board advertising popular menu item along with Instagram page. Photos taken by Aubree Weidmaier / The Telescope

Lionspack is the only place in Encinitas where you can enjoy edible cookie dough without the risk of salmonella poisoning. Not only is their cookie dough delicious, but they also offer vegan and sugar free options if you’re craving a more healthy snack. Sean W., a Lionspack customer, said the “taste and texture of your cookie dough couldn’t be any better. Especially for someone like me who has food allergies. Just baked it and the cookies came out excellent.” Girl Scout cookies may not fit into everyone’s diet. Lionspack offers Girl Scout cookie flavored dough, such as the “samoa,” which is vegan and

gluten free. You can enjoy the dough raw or cook it in the oven and bake cookies. For those who do not live in San Diego, their products can be ordered online. Online cookie dough flavors include: birthday cake, golden O’reo, pumpkin chip, and more. Nutrition information is also available online. Founders Jeff and NaKelle Denton state in their mission statement “whether it’s a way to stay on track with your diet and goals, or a way to treat yourself in a healthier way, we love being a part in your journey.” The Denton’s created Lionspack based on the belief that the world does not need any more average products. Which is why they have been able

to create such a unique business. They consider both their customers and employees family, because they have helped to make their dreams of being business owners a reality. The idea for cookie dough came about when Jeff developed an egg and dairy allergy. Jeff and Nakelle experimented with different protein bars and other snacks when they created their cookie dough. With savvy marketing and a strong passion for their craft, they were able to create a successful business. Marketing was done through Instagram and giving out free samples to the community. Within the first week, they had about 50 orders. The company has grown so much that they

are now up to about 100 orders per day. You will feel a lot less guilty eating cookie dough knowing that they have recently partnered with The Dream 2 Achieve Foundation, which is a non-profit organization that helps underprivileged youth become more involved in their community through sports and summer programs. Each month, Lionspack contributes money to this foundation based on their sales. With a variety of options catering to various diets, anyone can enjoy Lionspack without harming their body. Located in the heart of Encinitas, it is a unique place that you can take your loved ones to. SCOX@THE-TELESCOPE.COM


ARTS & CULTURE • 7

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Michael B. Jordan as Erik Killmonger in “Black Panther”. Courtesy of AntMan3001 / Flickr.

The cast of “Bohemian Rhapsody”, (L-R) Joe Mazzello, Ben Hardy, Rami Malek, and Gwilym Lee. Courtesy of deepskyobject / Flickr.

Promotional artwork for “Mary Poppins Returns” featuring actress Emily Blunt as the titular character. Courtesy of Melissa Hillier / Flickr.

AND THE OSCAR GOES TO... CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

The category of Animated Feature Film is one that usually appeals to the viewers, and it usually tends to be the category where most viewers have seen every film (unless you’re a movie buff). This year, the nominees include “The Incredibles 2,” “Isle of Dogs,” “Mirai,” “Wreck-it Ralph 2: Ralph Breaks the Internet” and “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.” This is one of the more competitive categories, with Disney taking hold

on three out of five of the categories. However, I believe it will be a close race between “Spider-Man” and “The Incredibles 2.” A film is nothing without music. Music plays a crucial part in the film’s storytelling and can help the viewer immerse themselves into that universe. Two of the awards in the lineup are for music in the areas of Music (Original Score) and Music (Original Song). For Original Score, the nominees include Ludwig

Richard Contreras

for King Robert (gold) - the third is cause for much debate between fans about whether or not it will be Tyrion, Jaime, Jon, or Missandei.

STAFF WRITER

Winter will be coming early this year for fans of HBO’s Game of Thrones. With the first episode of its final season scheduled to air April 14, there’s just a bit of time left for newcomers to binge-watch the series’ 67 episodes. While the show’s creators and cast have kept very tight-lipped about the upcoming plot, the internet has no shortage of speculation about what could be coming in the final 6 episodes. Here is a glimpse into some of the theories and plot twists floating around which may or may not be too terribly far-fetched. Be warned that there may be spoilers ahead. Will Someone Betray Daenerys? While not entirely made clear in the show, the books contain a prophecy that Daenerys will be betrayed three times - once for blood, once for gold, and once for love. While many fans believe the first two betrayals have already occurred - Miri Maz Durr when Khal Drogo dies (blood), and Jorah plotting to have her Killed

Will Azor Ahai Be Revealed? Throughout the show, fans have seen many references to the Lord of Light and the return of a legendary hero who defeated the white walkers during the Long Night. The red priestess, Melisandre, initially believed Stannis is this hero reborn, but later changes her mind in favor of Jon. There is plenty of speculation on whether or not the true identity of Azor Ahai will be revealed in season 8 and who it will be. Several theories and clues seem to point ambiguously to Jon, Daenerys, or even Samwell being “the prince that was promised.” It seems that the only thing we can expect with any certainty is that the final season will continue the show’s trend of drama, betrayal, intrigue, action, and death as it marches toward its epic conclusion. RCONTRERAS@THE-TELESCOPE.COM

First GOT theory can be found on our website

Goransson (“Black Panther”), Terence Blanchard (“Blackkklansmen”), Nicholas Britell (“If Beale Street Could Talk”), Alexandre Desplat (“Isle of Dogs”) and Marc Shaiman (“Mary Poppins Returns”). I think Desplat and Goransson are most likely to take the win, with both being accomplished in their respective areas. For Music (Original Song), the nominees include “All the Stars” by Kendrick Lamar and SZA (“Black Panther”), “I’ll

Fight,” by Diane Warren (“RBG”), “Shallow” by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper (“A Star Is Born”), and “When a Cowboy Trades His Spurs for Wings” (“The Ballad of Buster Scruggs”). Due to the popularity of “All the Stars” and “Shallow,” it’s safe to say those two will be in a tight race for the win. For the rest of the categories including cinematography, directing, production design, sound (mixing and editing,) visual effects, set and costume

design. It would be no surprise to see “Black Panther” swoop up the majority of those awards, however, “Bohemian Rhapsody” is expected to take the wins for sound. The highly coveted award of the night usually remains as Best Picture. This year, the nominees include “Black Panther,” “Blackkklansmen,” “Bohemian Rhapsody”, “The Favourite”, “Green Book,” “Roma,” “A Star Is Born,” and “Vice.”

So far, the strongest contenders for the win seem to be “Blackkklansmen,” “Roma,” and “Vice,” but the win could very well be anyone’s game. This year, the nominations are diverse and well deserved, and the opportunities for success seem to be endless. To tune in and see if your favorites will win, be sure to watch the 91st Academy Awards on Feb. 24. VPRICE@THE-TELESCOPE.COM

SAG Awards 2019 teaser graphic. Courtesy of Twitter Trends 2019 • Flickr.

Recap: Screen Actor’s Guild Awards Ripp Friesen STAFF WRITER

As Feb. 24 gets closer both actors and film buffs prepare for the Academy Awards, one by writing a possible acceptance speech and the other by popping popcorn. Before tuning into the Oscar’s we can look to the SAG Awards to give us a glimpse of the possible outcome. “Black Panther” won in two categories, the top award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture and for Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture. Chadwick Boseman accepted the award for the former, thanking his fellow cast members in his speech and confirming a sequel to the superhero film. Glenn Close won the award for Outstanding Performance by a Female

Actor in a Leading role for performance as Joan Castleman in “The Wife.” Rami Malek took the award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role for his performance of Freddie Mercury in “Bohemian Rhapsody.” Emily Blunt won the award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role for her performance as Evelyn Abbott in “A Quiet Place.” Mahershala Ali won the award for Outstanding Performance by a Male actor in a Supporting Role for his performance Don Shirley in “Green Book”. “This Is Us’ won the award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama series. Sandra Oh won the award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series for her performance as Eve

Polastri in “Killing Eve.” Jason Bateman won the award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series for his performance as Marty Byrde in “Ozark.” “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” won the award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series. Rachel Brosnahan won the award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series for her performance as Miriam Maisel in “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” while Tony Shalhoub won the award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series for his performance as Abe Weissman in the same show. Patricia Arquette won the award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a TV Movie or Limited Series for her performance as Joyce Mitchell

in “Escape at Dannemora.” Darren Criss won the award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a TV Movie or Limited Series for his performance as Andrew Cunanan in “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story.” “Glow” won the award for Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Television Series. 2018 was a year full of diverse, critically acclaimed movies and TV shows alike, so some of these nominations come as no surprise. Of course the Oscar’s will have its own set of winners and nominees, but from this year’s SAG Awards recipients there’s every possibility we may see some of them again on Sunday, Feb. 24th, for the 91st Academy Awards. RFRIESEN@THE-TELESCOPE.COM


8 • VALENTINE’S DAY

February 11, 2019

A couple holds up a paper heart. Courtesy of Wyatt Fisher / Flickr.

Rom-com season has arrived: here’s our picks Krista Moore STAFF EDITOR

It’s that time of year again where the alarming shades of pink flood the stores sending terror through men around the world. Though it is a day most dreaded, Valentine’s Day gives fans of romantic comedies an excuse to snuggle up to their loved one, or box of chocolates, and binge some of the bes rom-coms Hollywood has to offer. With so many movies to choose from it can be hard to know which one to watch so here are five of some of the best romantic comedies sure to satisfy all of your romantic needs. “While You Were Sleeping” (1995) While You Were Sleeping may be the oldest movie on the list being released in April of 1995, but is one of the sweetest movie rom-

coms out there. Directed by Jon Turteltaub, the movies follows Lucy, a transit worker played by Sandra Bullock, who saves her long time crush, Peter, from an oncoming train who slips into a coma. Throughout the movie Lucy gets to know Peter’s brother, Jack, and eventually falls for him. This oldie but goody was a one of the top movies when it was first released grossing a cool $81 million and earned a 80 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Peter Stack from the San Francisco Chronicles described it as “a lighthearted, charming nougat for romantics.” This easy going film will continue to makes generations of hopeless romantics smile. “Sweet Home Alabama (2002)” Reese Witherspoon has been dazzling audiences

for years with many of her relatable roles, but one of her best roles came as Melanie Smooter in “Sweet Home Alabama.” Released in September of 2002 this rom-com is about Melanie, who returns home from New York to Alabama after seven years of reinventing herself to finalize a divorce. Though this movie only earned a 38 percent rating by rotten tomatoes and grossed roughly $53 million, it is definitely worth a watch if your a Reese Witherspoon fan. The charming nature of the movie pulls you in and will have you laughing in minutes. “How To Lose a Guy In 10 Days” (2003) How to Lose a Guy In 10 Days is a classic rom-com which shows that falling in love can happen even when we least expect it. Centered around Benja-

min Barry, an advertising executive played by Matthew McCounaughey and Andie Anderson, a columnist played by Kate Hudson who are roped into a competition by their respective jobs. Barry is on a mission to make Andie fall in love with him while she simultaneously is try to make him dump her in 10 days. Little did they know they were falling in love. Grossing $105 million and earning them a 42 percent rating by Rotten Tomatoes this movie will make you laugh and cry all at the same time. It is timeless movie that hold to the truth that love is everywhere even when you’re not looking for it. “50 First Dates” (2004) It’s not a secret that everyone fears the possibility of a bad first date and in this comical tale of romance Henry, played by

Adam Sandler, meets Lucy, played by Drew Barrymore, who has short term memory loss and has to start over each day. Continually trying to find new ways to make lucy fall in love with him, the persistence shown by Henry warms hearts making the audience believe in true love. Grossing $196 million worldwide the heartfelt movie worked its ways on to becoming one of the best Valentine’s Day movies to annually watch. “Crazy Rich Asians” (2018) The last movie on our list is one of the most recent to grace the big screen. “Crazy Rich Asians,” released in August 2018, broke Hollywood molds by have an entirely Asian cast. The story is about a Rachel Chu, played by Constance Wu a simple Asian-American who ac-

companies her boyfriend Nick Young played by Henry Golding, back to Singapore for a friend’s wedding. In doing so she meets his family who automatically disapproves. Grossing $174 million world wide this love story earned a 91 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The theme of money can’t buy love is persistently proven in a way that will make you want to laugh and cry all at the same time. It is a timeless movie that will have generations to come believing that they too can find the type of love that has no price. Whether you are celebrating the version of Valentine’s Day most commonly known as singles awareness day or you’re celebrating a 50-year-relashionship, these movies will help you feel the love. KMOORE@THE-TELESCOPE.COM

For those about to romance, we salute you (or not) ALTERNATIVE NOTES Victoria Price STAFF EDITOR

For many, music is a way of expression, to share your feelings and to convey a certain emotion. With Valentine’s Day approaching, music is a key factor in setting the mood of your day with your special someone. Or, if you’re spending the holiday by yourself, we’ve got you covered for that too. For those of you who love the holiday and plan to spend it with your loved one, here are some songs curated by our staff to help you get into that lovey dovey feeling. So, whether you take one side or another, hopefully these selections will help make your day more memorable. VPRICE@THE-TELESCOPE.COM

Madison Beer feat. Cody Simpson - Valentine Submitted by: Nina Ishii Released: 2013 Genre: Pop Queen - Crazy Little Thing Called Love Submitted by: Victoria Price Released: 1979 Genre: Rock Odessa - I Will Be There Submitted by: Ana Acosta Released: 2015 Genre: Indie Ariana Grande - Dangerous Woman Submitted by: Monica Navarrete Released: 2016 Genre: Pop

Ryan Hurd - Diamonds or Twine Submitted by: Krista Moore Released: 2018 Genre: Country And if you’re not so into the romance, here’s some anti-romance anthems to get you through the day. New Found Glory - My Friends Over You Submitted by: Seji Gaerlan Released: 2002 Genre: Rock Action Bronson feat. Chance the Rapper - Baby Blue Submitted by: Monica Navarrete Released: 2015 Genre: Rap/Hip Hop

Maren Morris - Rich Submitted by: Krista Moore Released: 2016 Genre: Country The All American Rejects Gives You Hell Submitted by: Victoria Price Released: 2008 Genre: Rock Paramore - That’s What You Get Submitted by: Seji Gaerlan Released: 2007 Genre: Rock


VALENTINE’S DAY • 9

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Fun Valentine’s Day activities in San Diego Sundae Velasco STAFF WRITER

If you are still stuck on how to celebrate your love this Valentine’s Day, here are some San Diego based suggestions: Arts and Museums Learn something new with your boo by attending a workshop inspired by the romantic pottery scene in the film “Ghost.” You and your date will share a ball of clay to throw on a pottery wheel together for an intimate experience. Create your love pot at Ceramic Heights on El Cajon Blvd, Thursday, Feb. 14. February is also San Diego Museum Month: enjoy half-priced admission at over 40 San Diego Museum Council member museums. Visit old favorites and discover new attractions all month long with your lover. Pick up a discount pass at your local library.

Nature Take a walk and hangout at one of the local parks, like Double Peak (on Double Peak Drive) or Discovery Lake (on Foxhall Drive). Search for wildflowers at Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. Drive to Mt. Laguna and grab a pie in Julian afterwards. Cruise in a private gondola through the Coronado Cays canals. Films If you are looking for a more relaxing activity, watch a film under the night sky. Here are some options to consider (check websites for showtimes): Cinema Under the Stars Outdoor Theatre, South Bay Drive-in Theatre, and Santee Drive-in Theatre. Dining Satisfy your sweet tooth with your sweetheart in historic downtown Escondido on Saturday, Feb. 9,

The pond in Balboa Park. Courtesy of Mariyum Noor / Wikimedia Commons.

for the Escondido Chocolate Festival. Sample gourmet chocolates with local fine wines and craft beers. Runs from 1 to 5 PM, must be age 21+ to attend.

For something more simple, check out EscoGelato, a cafe also located in downtown Escondido on South Kalmia St. Their gelato is made fresh daily using quality

ingredients sourced from local farmers. They serve a variety of carefully prepared goods, from coffee and tea to cookies and paninis. So, if you need any help

deciding what to do this Valentine’s Day, check out some of these options to make your special day memorable. SVELASCO@THE-TELESCOPE.COM

You up? College in the age of online dating Monica Navarrete STAFF EDITOR

Fifty-six percent of people agree that dating Apps are common, even useful for some yet they are widely disliked by college students. Carlie Jensen would agree, she is now known as Tinder girl among the pool of potential bachelors that are defined by a swipe left or right. Jensen is on her third year studying Business administration at San Diego State University and says she hasn’t found anything “serious” in the past two years. “No guy wants anything serious on Tinder… they always just ask to fuck.” the 22-year-old stated. This modern way of dating has become a subculture infested with dishonesty and has disrupted the flow of communication within one another leaving us with nothing more than one night stands. Seventy-five percent of young adults between the ages 18 to 24 use Tinder, a dating app known for

hookups. This could be the evident cause for the “temporary fun” mentality that has been surrounding our college experience. Bumble gives sole power to women when initiating conversations within the dating app which allows a sense of control and womanhood within the female population. However, even with its prominent encouragement towards women it still falls behind Tinder at a distant 31 percent. Despite the prominent spotlight on women’s newfound leadership in the dating scene, it still seems to be inevitable for the pool of potential bachelors to leave after one hookup. Even then, there is a sense of willful ignorance that invades us and doesn’t allow for the progression of our generation towards sustainable relationships.

We then transition to the older crowd in which adults between the ages of 25 to 34 begin to transition to Match.com, the top dating app for individuals that are seeking to create serious long term relationships. Kyle Hamilton, a 21-year-old college student at the University of Los Angeles can attest to the fake facade most women put as their bios for men to more likely swipe on them. “It’s all about what you put on the bio, they (women) can easily lie and say they go to a different school and

have a stable job which can easily transfer to no school and a shitty job.” the UCLA student commented. Dating apps have transformed the word

commitment to a scary conception of its own false illusion that we have endless possibilities of dating candidates that could all potentially be a lie. With apps like these that allow for the first introduction of a person to be a picture and their own short description of themselves indicate a physiological point of view of needing acceptance from others playing into the darker aspects of social media such as depression. This only proving that being on this app is solely based on physical attraction and whether or not someone fits on paper so you can later brag to friends. Unlike Bumble, it allows that cycle to stop if not terminate it. Bringing girls to the

forefront of the decision on whether or not to contact a match creates a sense of insecurity within the male users. “It’s scary I mean,if you are used to Tinder where you just swipe, match and talk, this throws you off... the girl now decides if you are worth their time.” Hamilton added In the era of female empowerment dating apps such as Tinder have created a point of view through men that women are tangible objects and when roles are switched there is evidently wrong. As strange as it is to oversee it all, we have put our faith on dating apps to see whether or not we get laid Saturday night. And for those that have left it to dating apps to find their fairytale ending have sacrificed the true meaning of love at first sight and the chemistry that comes when approaching someone in person for the first time. MNAVARRETE@THE-TELESCOPE.COM


10 • FOCUS

February 11, 2019

The lack of help within our veteran community Kiera Colarusso STAFF WRITER

At 66.6 percent, California had the highest rate of unsheltered veterans in 2018. Much of the veteran population is still spending its nights on city sidewalks and underpasses. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Office of Community Planning and Development released that statistic in its 2018 Point in Time (PIT) report, along with several other startling numbers on the area’s rate of unsheltered veterans. According to the PIT report, last year, San Diego county had roughly thirteen hundred veterans who lacked permanent housing. This number stands in spite of a plethora of local programs designed to combat veteran homelessness. Housing our Heroes (HOH), for example, devotes itself to giving landlords incentives for housing veterans. Numerous resource cen-

Homeless veteran that was sharing bible verses at The Ferry Building Farmer’s Market in San Francisco California . Vera Yu and David Li• Flickr

ters, such at one at the San Diego public library, have been instituted to help get veterans access to support and any benefits they may be entitled to. Yet, much of the exmilitary population is still spending its nights on city

sidewalks and underpasses. According to a recent study published by the San Diego Military Advisory Council (SDMAC), San Diego has the largest concentration of military personnel and more than half of those transitioning back into civil-

ian life want to stay here following their service. The PIT report from 2018 found the rate of veteran homelessness in San Diego declined 5 percent in 2018 over the numbers from 2017.This is potentially due to the county’s

many programs designed to keep them off the streets by addressing their specific needs. The National Center for PTSD found that between 11 and 20 percent of those returning from Operations Iraqi Freedom or Enduring

Freedom suffer from some form of post-traumatic stress disorder. Of those using VA health care, 55 percent of women and 38 percent of men have experienced sexual harassment in the military. Traumas like these can make transition back into civilian life a crucial time for veterans’ success after service. Veteran’s programs designed to aid with the specific needs of former military members become critical to preventing homelessness, specifically during transition. The fall of the homelessness rate in 2018 points hopefully to continual success of these programs. Veterans Affairs encourages veterans struggling with homelessness, as well as their friends and family, to reach out for assistance. The National Call Center for Homeless Veterans can be reached at (877) - 424 - 3838 for free, confidential access to resources and counseling. KCOLARUSSO@THE-TELESCOPE.COM

Transfer Rates; Irvine Valley College vs. Palomar College 14% 100%

Ideth Sanchez STAFF WRITER

Irvine Valley College ranks first for university transfer within the state of California. Palomar College has roughly 14 percent of students transfer out, which falls short behind IVC. Palomar College has a student-faculty ratio of 27-to-1, whereas IVC has a student faculty ratio of 46to-1, going way above the average of state community colleges at 44-to-1. This clearly displays the efforts in which IVC goes to give its students what they need in order to transfer easily. Based on information from USN, Irvine Valley has a total of 13,360 students, 4,500 are full-time and 8,900 are part-time. From Palomar’s FactBook, the transfer rate of its students was about 7 percent in the year 2017. However, looking into Irvine Valley College, the school has a 100 percent transfer rate with 77 percent of retention rate within its student’s population. When looking at the factors in which are involved in having IVC students be more successful we come across some of the programs, aid and student activities that assist the transfer process. Irvine Valley College has an honors program that is very beneficial to students

who want to continue their education at a four-year college. As stated on the IVC website, “Transfer rates for IVC Honors Program students generally run between 80 and 90 percent compared to 20 to 30 percent for nonhonors IVC students.” This shows the dedication and confidence that has IVC students transferring faster than students at Palomar College. Students at IVC must maintain an overall GPA of 3.25 in order to be admitted and must also achieve a 3.25 GPA if students interests lie in the honors college. Although it is a separate application for students who apply to be in the school’s honors program, the GPA requirement and expectations as an IVC student lies in the same standards. This program is very strict and could keep students on track with their goal of transferring to the college of their dreams. Irvine Valley College has a $1,500 in-state tuition and $7,600 out-of-state. Palomar college tuition fees are $1,300 for in-state and $5,500 out-of-state. Even though Palomar’s tuition fees are about $100 less for in-state and $2,000 less for out-of state than IVC many students don’t take advantage of government funds to help pay for their studies.

Palomar College transfer rate

Irvine Valley College transfer rate

Both schools offer financial aid information and encourage students to apply. Students who apply for aid might have a relief of daunting stress being lifted from them allowing the focus of school to be prominent. This would explain the shocking transfer rate IVC has as opposed to Palomar College.

Irvine Valley has less students on campus than Palomar which could affect their transfer rate since more students will receive undivided attention from counselors and school staff. With that said, 49 percent of students are male and 51 percent are female here at Palomar College. Palomar had a total of 23,121 students enrolled in

credit classes in 2016. About 31.4 percent of those students were fulltime and 68.8 percent were part-time. Part-time students affect transfer rates because they tend to stay in school longer due to the amount of units they take each semester. Instead of completing general education in two years it can take them up to double. Palomar College has a general overall rating of 3.7 and Irvine Valley has a 3.6

overall rate out of five. Both schools have a high average of professor ratings ranging from 3.6 to 3.8. The popular Ratemyprofesor website where students rate their professors up to five stars and also rate their school in general. Students consider this website almost every time they enroll in the class. They are curious to know whether the professor makes the class difficult or not so they could earn that. ISANCHEZ@THE-TELESCOPE.COM

Palomar students line up to receive their diplomas on May 25, 2018, on the Football field. A crowd of thousands accumulated to see the massive graduating class of 2018. Trevor Nance / The Telescope


SPORTS • 11

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Comets baseball and softball back to winning ways Ryan Davis Krista Moore STAFF EDITORS

BASEBALL Palomar Baseball is already in full swing as the Comets look to repeat as Pacific Coast Athletic Conference (PCAC) champions for the second year in a row. The Comets’ 2018 season saw them win the PCAC by two games before their season came to an end at the hands of Saddleback College. Their loss in round two of the Southern California Regional Tournament came off the tails of an exciting round one series win against College of the Canyons. The team won a cumulative 28 games to 17 losses, going 17-7 in conference play. This year they have

been chosen by the conference’s sports information directors as early favorites to win the conference again, garnering four first place votes out of six. First-year head coach Ben Adams will be looking to repeat the successes so often associated with Palomar Baseball as he takes over for former head coach Buck Taylor, now Kansas State’s pitching coach. Adams had been a key member of Palomar’s coaching staff for 14 years before his elevation to the head coaching position. As is the case with most community colleges, Palomar won’t be returning many key players in 2019, rostering 19 first year players and 16 second year players. Two of those second year players, Matt Ornelia and Mitchell Moralez, were named as honorable mentions to the

All-PCAC team for their efforts in 2018. Ornelia, an outfielder, posted a batting average of .327 and racked up 12 extra base hits across 43 games. His 55 hits were third on the team last year. The infielder Moralez appeared in 36 games with an on-base percentage of .345 to go along with nine doubles. On the pitching side, right-handers Braden Olthoff and Everhett Hazelwood will return for their sophomore seasons. Olthoff was fourth on the team in innings pitched last season and was second in strikeouts with 47 in total. Hazelwood appeared in 17 games and was primarily used as a reliever. His 11.31 strikeouts per nine innings was second on last year’s squad to Olthoff’s 11.33 average. With those four return-

Allie Hughen pitches in the fifth and final inning of Palomar’s game against Imperial Valley on Friday, April 20. Amanda Raines/The Telescope

ers and a handful of promising first years, Palomar looks primed for success in 2019. It will likely to be a four team race for the conference title in 2019 with Southwestern, Grossmont, and Mesa the clear front runners with a chance of unseating Palomar. The Comets opened the season on January 25 at Golden West where they swept the season series from the Rustlers. They will play Saddleback at home on February 15 and begin conference play February 26 at Grossmont. SOFTBALL After a near perfect season Palomar’s Womens softball is back in full swing looking to claim the first place title after falling short last season. The team finished second in the state behind Mt. San Antonio College, dropping the California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) State Championship and finishing with a 41-6 record. The women were also ranked 14 in the final National Alliance of Two Year College Athletic Administration (NATYCAA). Returning players Sarah fisher, Allie Hughen, and Kylie Pignone will be key in the success of the team according to coach Lacey Craft. Returning sophomore Fisher was named MVP of the tournament and Player of the Year for both

Palomar’s scholar athletes Krista Moore STAFF EDITOR

Being a college student is no easy feat, but add the pressure of weekly practices and games and the concept of having to pass a simple english course can seem impossible. The following students recently competed in the 2018 Palomar College fall season while simultaneously completing 12 or more units and holding a 3.0 or higher grade point average. With a collective 22 men’s and women’s sports and an average of 450 participating students Palomar is has 71 Pacific Coast Athletic Conference (PCAC) Scholar- Athlete honorees. Seven of the athletes earned a 4.0 GPA for the semester including

Jolie and Mila Beentjes of the women’s cross country team, Connor Curry and Kyle Webb of the football team, Caleb Daza of the men’s soccer team and Alina Lecakes-Jones and Mikayla Seiler of the women’s volleyball team. In addition to the PCAC honor six members of the Comets football team were placed on the All-Southern California Football Association (SCFA) Academic Team, Kaainaoluikalai Lewis, Zach Morel, Devin Nilson, Nicholas So’oto, Bryce Walker and Arnold Yoder. This award is limited to sophomores who have completed two seasons with a 3.o or higher GPA. KMOORE@THE-TELESCOPE.COM

Quaterback Connor Curry looks for a pas during palomar’s 14-10 win against Citrus College Sep. 15, 2018. Krista Moore/ The Telescope

Palomar Comet’s player Mikayla Seiler, #2, during the game vs San Bernadino Valley at the Dome, Oct. 5, 2018. Aubree Wiedmaier/ The Telescope

Infeilder Mitchell Moralez batting in game against Saddleback Community College. He went 1 for 3 with 2 walks. May 12, 2018. Krista Moore/ The Telescope

the conference and the State of California. The outfielder also earned the Outstanding Hitter award after batting a .613 over the five championship games. She led the state with a .594 batting average, seven doubles, three triples, 17 home runs and 77 runs batted last season. This season Fisher will be making the jump from the outfield to the hot corner. In a previous interview Fisher said, “It feels like unfinished business.” in regards to placing second. “It’s mentally and physically demanding.” Allie Hughen, Comets’ closer and shortstop, added. The Comets’ ace closer and all around utility play Allie Hughen held a 0.00 earned run average (ERA)

through the entire regular season, 40 games, 48 innings. Hughen started the championship game, an unfamiliar role, and was tagged for 5 runs finishing the season with an ERA of 0.66. The team is also welcoming a handful of new freshman players. Craft along with the rest of her coaching staff are eager to watch and help develop some of these young players into the championship team that has won five state titles. The team’s next home game is Wednesday Feb. 22 against Mt. San Jacinto at 3 p.m. at the softball fields. KMOORE@THE-TELESCOPE.COM RDAVIS@THE-TELESCOPE.COM

ATHLETIC HONOREES FOOTBALL John Armentrout Juan Arzola Mikel Barkley Connor Curry Quinton Gaudet Giovanni Herrera Spencer Katoanga Kaainaoluikalai Lewis* Ryan McCowan Mark Meader Shea Morales Devin Nilson* Jayson Pace Quest Smith Nicholas So’oto Edwin Vorachack Bryce Walker Kyle Webb Arnold Yoder MEN’S SOCCER Chris Alvarado Bryan Covarrubias Caleb Daza Tyler Eldridge Jaime Fournier* Aaron Garcia* Seth Murphy

WOMEN’S SOCCER Keilani Hirakawa Rosa Lopez* Seika Nakatsuru* Jesse Rojas Yuliana Sanchez* MEN’S WATER POLO Caleb Barela Alexander Ceja Samuel Collins Dalton Despain Kevin McCollum Michael Mendiola Ben Nettles Nathaniel Taylor Bryce Van Camp* WOMEN’S WATER POLO Haley Balch Samanatha Roessel Emma Thomas Ciara Webb-Martin The complete list of Academic honorees can be found on our website at www.the-telescope.com


12 • SPORTS

February 11, 2019

Home run! Slam dunk! Palomar athletics are back! Krista Moore STAFF EDITOR

It’s that time of year again when the sounds of dribbling basketballs and the pings of aluminum bats fill the campus air. As teams start their season working towards the common goal of a state title, here’s a quick update on how the first few weeks have gone for Comets Athletics.

BASEBALL The baseball team ended their season last May with a heartbreaking loss to Saddleback in the Super Regional round of the postseason, but with the start of a new season and under new head coach Ben Adams, the team is off to a hot start. The Comets picked up four wins in their first four games of the season. The team is currently batting at an average of .252, and have a .387 on base percentage. They will be taking on Saddleback Feb. 15 at 2 p.m and they begin conference play Feb. 26 at Grossmont.

SOFTBALL After a second place finish last year, Comets softball are getting back to their winning ways, taking their first two games by a large margin with final scores of 11- 1 and 9-0. The team as a whole is currently batting .435 and have a .438 on base percentage. The team will be home Wednesday Feb. 20 against Mt. San Jacinto at 3 p.m.

which marks the beginning of their Conference play.

BASKETBALL MEN Men’s basketball was off to a hot start, but in recent weeks have fallen into a pattern of losing. The team currently has a 7-15 record scoring an average of 64.7 points per game, with a three point percentage of 31.1. Coach John O’Neil has a freshman heavy team this year stating in a previous interview, “It’s gonna be trying because we have to be very very patient with this team.” The team will be taking on San Bernardino Valley Feb. 13 at 7 p.m. in the Dome. BASKETBALL WOMEN

Comets women’s Basketball is coming off their fourth consecutive year winning the conference and haven’t slowed down yet, sporting a record of 18-6. The team is averaging 78.8 points per game and have a free throw percentage of 63.6. They are a very young team with only one returning player. The Comets will be taking on San Bernardino Valley at 5 p.m. in the Dome

BEACH VOLLEYBALL Palomar’s Beach Volleyball team is ready for the 2019 season. They will be taking on Santa Ana and Golden West in Feb. 15 at Huntington Beach-Newland.

MEN’S VOLLEYBALL Men’s Volleyball is just getting their season underway. With one match under their belt the team started off solid as they won the match three sets to one. Their first home game will be Feb. 14 against Irvine Valley at 7 p.m. in the Dome.

MENS GOLF The men’s golf team has gotten off to a solid start finishing second out of fifteen teams in the Point Conception Invitational in late January. The team has four returning players from last year, including 2018 PCAC Conference player of the year Jacob Montes. The team’s next tournament will be Wednesday Feb. 13 at Mt San Jacinto.

Outfeilder Matthew Ornelia bats in the fourth inning. He went 3 for 5 with two singles, one double, and one stolen base May 12, 2018. Krista Moore/ The Telescope

TENNIS Comets tennis has been practicing hard these past two weeks gearing up for their season. The men have their first match at home, Feb 12 against Grossmont at 2 p.m. and the women will be home March 14 against Grossmont at 2 p.m.

Palomar beach volleyball player, Noemi Ramos, hits the ball over the net, Mar. 23. Taylor Hardey/ The Telescope

SWIMMING This semester’s swimming team has an even mixture of returning and new swimmers. The team will have a home swim meet March 22 at 12:30. KMOORE@THE-TELESCOPE.COM Palomar golfer Kyoshiro Azumada lines up a putt on the green of hole 7 at St. Mark Golf Course, Wednesday, March 28. Amanda Raines/The Telescope

Tom Craft // Football Coach -- 1983-1993, 1997-2001

Paul Castro // Baseball, Football -- 1961-1963

With a record of 115-56-1, he’s the winningest coach in Palomar College history. He coached the team to its only 3 national championships in 1991, 1993, and 1998.

Named Palomar’s Athlete of the Year in 1963 and was named All-South Central in both sports. He helped lead the baseball team to a conference championship with an RBI triple in the 12th inning against Oceanside-Carlsbad.

Dave Funderburk // Cross Country, Track & Field -- 1965-1967

Dr. Alan Tanner // Wrestling, Football -(1976-1978)

He burst on the scene when he won the Southern California Regional Mile Run his freshman year. Was apart of many record breaking relay teams in track & field.

He was a two-time community college All-American wrestler in the heavyweight division. He also played football at Palomar in 1976 and 1977.

Tyler Lorenzen // Football -- 2006 2nd all time in Comet’s history with 3,796 total offensive yards in a single season. Went on to University of Connecticut, where he lead the Huskies to 2 bowl berths. He went on to play in the NFL for the Jacksonville Jaguars and the New Orleans Saints.

Steve Krainock // Football -- 1978-1979 He threw for 2,983 yards in 1979 under Tom Craft’s first no-huddle offense. He went on to play for Rutgers and floated on NFL rosters with the Seattle Seahawks, San Francisco 49ers, and San Diego Chargers.

Jordan Spurgeon STAFF WRITER

On Jan. 26, 2019 Palomar College inducted eight new members to its sports hall of fame. The inductees are highlighted by three time national championship football Head Coach Tom Craft and former NFL quarterback Tyler Lorenzen. JSPURGEON@THE-TELESCOPE.COM

Ginalee Davis Baird // Softball -- 2006-2007 She hit .385 with 36 RBIs her Freshman year. She came back to be an assistant coach with the team from 2010-2014.

Jimmy Clark // Football -1978-1979 Comet’s single season record holder for receptions (74) and receiving yards (1,042) in 1979.


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