Dean Charles Coutts retires, plans to travel Palomar'sfirst science teacher winds up career By Richard Medugno Charles Co utts, Dean of Science, Technology and Business, will retire at the end of this semester after 25 years of service to the college. Coutts, 68, came to Palomar the year the college began inl946. He was one of the original 15 instructors that taught the 150 students when they first held class at Vista High School. "We use to think if we could get a thousand students together we'd have a big school. I remember in 1959, we had 800 daytime students and we all thought that was a real advance," reminisces the educator. The dean plans to spend his retirement traveling. His first stops will probably be New Zealand and Australia where he has friends. A native of California, Coutts was born and raised in South Pasadena. He attended Occidental College, majoring in Chemistry and Mathematics. He attended the graduate schools of University of Colorado and USC. He came to Fallbrook in 1935 to teach high school after a stint with Tidewater Associated Oil Company as a petroleum engineer. In 1941, Coutts joined theN avy as an aviation navigator. During the Second World War, he was an exchange officer with Britain's Royal Air Force. "It was kind offun. I was the only American in the whole organization," comments Coutts. After the war, Coutts returned to Southern California and became Palomar's first chemistry teacher. Coutts and long-time friend Godfreid Mortimer, now retired, for many years were the Math and Science Department here. In 1950 with the break out of the Korean Conflict, Coutts was called back into the service. His military career is most impressive as he is a full Captain Reserved (Ret.) After the conflict he spent some time in Colorado. In 1958, the college asked Coutts to return. He did so and in 1959 he was named to the Dean position. As Dean of Science, Technology and Business, Coutts' "main job is to see that things go smoothly" with the Business, Chemistry, Earth Science, Life Sciences, Mathematics and Physics & Engineering Departments. Fellow educator and close friend, Dr. John Schettler says of Coutts, "He knows how to run a good program. He knows you need good teachers and you have to treat them well and also he knows you have to equip and maintain the departments." Schettler continues, "Charlie
THE TELESCOPE ___ __ Palomar College
Volume 32 No. 21
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The Theatre Arts Department will sponsor two plays over the summer. The Summer Theatre Workshop will produce Cole Porter's Can-Can. Auditions are June 25 and 26, 7-10 p.m. in the cafeteria. Performance dates are August 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18. The Junior Theatre Musical Play will be Rodgers and Hammerstein's The King and I. Youngsters ages 8-
Friday, June 8, 1979
San Marcos, CA
ASG President Mcfadden
has passion for challenge
DEAN RETlRES- Charles Coutts, !Jean of Science, Technology and Research will end his long term association with the college at the end of the semester. Coutts joined the staff in 1946. deals with people well." Describing the Dean's character he states, "He's a Scot. Friendly. Thoughtful. Frank. No beating around the bush. Even tempered. Hard working, that's no doubt and an impressive teacher." Schettler states, "He's been the key man in the Science Department and getting them equipped. The fact that we have a Planetarium and all the other science facilities is solely due to Dean Coutts." Coutts has traveled extensively through Europe and the USA. His other hobbies besides traveling are collecting old science textbooks, photography and gardening in Julian where he lives. Coutts states about his retirement, "I think 43 years (of working) is just about enough. I'm sure I'll be able to find enough to do." College President, Omar Scheidt speaks of Coutts' departure, "He's been very active in the college's growth. We hate to see people of his caliber leave." Schettler concurs, stating "You just don't find men with all the knowledge he contains." Coutts' expertise runs from the fields of Chemistry, Math, Physics to Geology, Navigation and Engineering. Dean Coutts predicts for _?alomar's future, "It will continue to
NewsScope Commencement ceremonies will be held on June 16 at 10 a.m. in the Dome. Guest speaker will be U .S. Congressman Clair Burgener. Graduates will be presented diplomas from college president Omar Scheidt. The college will also give out faculty awards and honorary degrees . •Graduates can pick up caps and gowns at the bookstore.
A Publication for the Associated Students
grow, though not as fast as in recent years. Academically, it's in good shape and I see no reason why it shouldn't continue to do so. As far as the science departments go I think our labortories compare with anywhere you could go." The Dean concludes, "I'll miss associations (of Palomar College). I certainly will miss being around young people which I think is good for anybody."
By Mike Johnson "Organized" and " friendly" are two words by which the new ASG president describes herself. A beautiful blonde with a passion for challenge, Donna McFadden wants to change the Associated Student Government. "I want to turn around a feeling that ASG is unorganized and made up of uncaring people," she said. "I see a lot of student apathy." The nineteen-year-old Vista resident was elected last month by the slim margin of one vote, receiving 51 o/o or 122 of the 242 ballots cast. Only 2% of Palomar's 15,000 students voted in the election, which failed to yield a complete legislature. McFadden was the only official candidate running for president. Regardless, Palomar's first female president wants to make students more aware of what ASG can do for them , "so that students can depend on us to give them the information they need ." She believes that ASG is necessary as an information and leadership center. McFadden sees student apathy caused by a lack of publicity. "I don't think the past ASG and the legislative body made an all-out effort to let students know what issues they were handling. I think they were keeping it behind closed doors ." She wants to change that impression with a more casual , comfortable, yet professional atmosphere. "I don't want it to be like an official
office," she said. "I want it to be more like the Student Help Center." A business major in her second semester at Palomar, McFadden became interested in student government as tutorial coordinator for the Student Help Center. She served on a committee that helped the center acquire additional funds to remain open until the end of this semester. (Without the extra funds , the Student Help Center would have shut down in early April.) Originally a tutor of English, Spanish, and algebra, she volunteered on the staff until a position was available. "It's the kind of job where you work more hours than you get paid for." A former two-mile runner in high school track, McFadden is one who accepts the responsibilities that go along with her challenges. Although her position on ASG is voluntary, she stated that she would not hold a job while in office. "In the current condition it is in, I will have to donate a lot of time and a lot of effort to get ASG back on its feet." To increase student awareness, she wants to see weekly articles in The Telescope about what student government is doing. She also plans to have all legislative members write out progress reports. As far as student activities, she feels that more programs are n eeded from campus departments, such as music, drama, and art. "We need more coordination," she explained. "I'd like this to be a
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~------U9~P~~~------~ Frank Martinie
Tim Ulman
Gene Jackson
Jim Hammond
Tony Lynds
16 can audition June 25, 1-4 p.m. in the cafeteria. Both plays will be directed by instructor Buddy Ashbrook and they will be performed in the cafeteria in a cabaret style.
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Justus Ahrend, associate professor of Photography here, will present a photographic seminar in cooperation with North County Travel Service this summer. The seminar will be held whil~ on tour in Mexico. Three units may be obtained by registering for the summer course, Comparative Foreign Culture and Photography Tour, offered by the Photography Department. Information concerning the tour can be obtained by calling Peggy Helgrsen at North County Travel Service, 436-4911, or Justus Ahrend at Palomar, 744-1150 extension 308.
REDFORD LOOK-ALIKES? - These six professo rs , known affectionately as Palomar's "Handsome Sixsome," are using their classic fa ces for a good ca use. They are entries in the speech team's "URliest Professor on Campus"
contest. Pictures of these handsome devils are pasted on one-gallon bottles in front of the Student Union and students are asked to vote for the most hideo us teacher by dropping money into the jars .