The '91 Vote
Brubecl< a Hit
Special coverage of the upcoming student senate elections Page 3
Dave Brubeck and his jazz quartet gave a stellar performance last week Pages 8 & 9
The Telesco . /: G:alomar College;, ¡ 1 140 V?est Mission. Road, San Marcos CA 92069-1487
Volume 45, Number 3
Palomar strikes it rich in search for water source By Corby Stutzman Feature Editor Palomar College has struck it rich with one of California's most precious resources, water, and 250 gallons of it per minute. School officials have expressed concern over California's water shortage and how it will affect Palomar. The college has been constructing plans for a well that will help meet the campus' demanding water needs. The plans, which have been in progress for the last two years, finally came together this week. Mike Ellis, director ofbuildings and grounds, said that the test well, at only 342 of the ultimate 500 feet goal, is producing 250 gallons of water per minute. The site of the test well is at the front of the campus, although several other sites were considered. Steve Spear, an earth science instructor, evaluated other sites for their prospective water productivity. He estimated that an area at the front of the theater would be the most productive, designating the front of the campus as his second choice.
Ellis expects the high water supply will continue because the college is in the path of a watershed. Restaurant Row is at the bottom of the watershed and has its own well. Palomar even went so far as to have a well- witcher use a divining rod to make his best estimation. His first choicewas exactly where the test well is. However, Ellis said that the site was chosen because of its proximity to the athletic fields, which is the main reason for the well. The fields require a large amount of water and recent water cutbacks have made if difficult to supply the amount necessary to keep them alive. He explained that the "fields would be dead if it weren't for the March rains," and
now if they aren't sufficiently watered and kept alive, many of the athletic programs will have to be cancelled. Ellis said that the fields will be the only immediate area on campus that will receive water from the well. Channeling it to other areas would require pumping stations which would cost extra money. The excessive amount of water may be due to a hydraulic crack in the earth, said Ellis, and he can't be sure if there will still be such an abundance until the goal of 500 feet has been reached, and if there is, the actual well will be constructed. Ellis said he expects the high water supply will continue because the college is in the path of a water shed. Restaurant Row in San Marcos is at the bottom of the watershed and it has its own well which has been very productive. "If a successful well is drilled, in the future pumping stations will be considered for the rest of the campus," said Ellis. This ultimately may allow water for the campus landscaping and Arboretum.
Teri Kane/Photo Design Editor
Fred Williamson of Acme Drilling Company, Inc. surveys the new well in front of the campus â&#x20AC;˘ Drilling efforts were proven successful when the well struck water on Wednesday, releasing approximately 250 gallons of water a minute.
Faculty members seek collective bargaining union By Laura Woolfrey News Editor Hearings to establish which employees will be included in a potential faculty collective bargaining unit proceed today as administration and faculty voice their differing views. The district is opposed to the proposed collective bargaining unit, objecting that the inclusion of department chairpersons in the unit would be unlawful. The Rodda Act of 1976 first allowed public schools to have collective bargaining units. The vast majority of California community colleges have elected to form such an organization. With Palomar is one out of three of the I 03 community colleges in the state that have resisted unionization. President of United Faculty at Grossmont and Cuyamaca
Community College District Bruce Barnett said their union at first "scared the administration and governing board and the faculty almost went on strike." Barnett added there was never any debate concerning the inclusion of department chairs in their union. Despite the district's position on a collective bargaining contract, Palomar College Faculty Association members say they will continue to persue the inclusion of department chairs in the proposed unit and hope to come up with a reso!ution soon. The collective bargaining unit would give academic staff opportunity to negotiate issues relating to academics, salaries, fringe benefits and a myriad of other topics. Currently, faculty are not given the opportunity to (see UNION - page 12)