SATELLITE VIEW
ENTERTAINMENT
Check out the new section devoted to Palomar's North County Education Centers
Star Wars trilogy back for an encore performance
SEE PAGE 3
SPORTS
SEE PAGE 10
THE
ELESCOPE Pa lomar Co llege
Friday, Jan. 31, 1997
San Marcos, CA
Volume 50 , Number 12
1\ing dethroned~ • Sentenced to 10 months for tax fraud Suzette Clark Co-Ediwr-ln-Ciiief
For the last 23 years, Michael King has counseled students on their plans for the future. Now his own future is in jeopardy. Palomar College's Governing Board announced King's dismissal Tuesday night following his felony conviction for federal tax evasion. Earlier this month he was sentenced to serve I0 months in federal prison, and pay a line of $14,000. Cow1 documents unsealed Jan. 9 reveal that King. an associate professor of counseling, pleaded guilty to one count of tax cva~ion in May 1996. In exchange for the guilty plea, prosecutors agreed to not pursue additional
charges of selling grades, the sale of fraudulent ly obtained high school diplomas, and soliciting and accepting bribes from foreign students. While college officials were aware of the on-going investigation, the news nevertheless left faculty and administrators shocked and saddened. "This situation has been very damaging to Palomar's reputation," said Dr. George Boggs, president/superintendent of Palomar College. "We want an environment where there is trust among the faculty and staff." The news broke on the final day of a national conference hosted by Palomar on innovative learning techniques pioneered at the college. According to the released documents, King admitted to receiving
ASG moves tD oust leader James Grumbach
Bowen, director of student activities, indicates some of these alleged Impeachement proceedings Constitution and Bylaw violations against the president of the Asso- stem from contradicting policies. ·'Asmuchaswewouldlikethem ciated Student Government will begin next week, announced David to be, the Bylaws and Constitution Espinoza, vice president of state are not perfect documents. There are inconsistencies!" wrote Bowen. affairs Wednesday afternoon. Although Arrezola was notavailA memo drafted by Espinoza outlined charges against Berenice able for comment, Leroy Miranda, Arrezola. ASG president, includ- a member of the Native American ing failure to uphold the Constitu- Student Alliance believes these action and Bylaws, and the failure to tions are uncalled for. ;'Berenice had legitimate reasons allow members to vote on whether to oppose Proposition 209, the for her actions. She wants to make California Civil Rights Initiative. sure that procedures are followed In addition, the Vice President of consistency by everyone," Miranda State Affairs seat was declared said. vacant without an ASG vote, Members of NASA plan to atwhich members allege violates the tend u.pcoming ASG meetings to show their support for Arrezola, constitution. A memo distributed by Jim said Miranda. Sports Editor
between $84,000 and $142,000 in unreported income between 1989 and 1994 which he intentionall y fai led to declare on his income tax ret urns. He 'disputes the allegations regarding the source of the unreported income however. "I absolutely did not sell grades, and plan to appeal this dismissal immediately," said King emphatically. "I earned the money by tutoring students and proctoring exams. It is all pretty well documented." Prosecutors say in court documents however, that the money was earned through criminal activities that included the sale or passing grades, false proctor certifications to foreign students, bribery, and immigration violations that have allowed foreign nationals to remain in the country with student visas.
See KING, Page 12
File photo
Associate Professor Michael King, seen here in his Palomar office, recently pleaded guilty to felony tax evasion charges.
Dairy fanner's bequest praised Chris Tribbey Mallagi11g Editor
Palomar president George Boggs, library director George Mozes and other assorted officials from the college were nothing but smiles on Monday, Dec. 16 when they met at the Escondido education center to receive a bequest of $150,000. Those smiles grew even wider when the check from the Ernie Allen Trust turned out to $50,000 more than the college expected. Palomar College was one of eight recipients to get part of a $1.5 million trust fund left to be divided among chosen charities by Ernest J. Allen, a retired dairy owner who
passed away in March of '96 at the age of 85. "It was Mr. Allen's intention to provide the charitable recipients selected by the committee with a perpetual funding source," said a spokesperson of the trust. The $200,000 will be used to purchase books at the Escondido education center library and the library will be named the Ernest J. Allen Library. The Escondido library is widely regarded as no more than a study hall with practically no books and no library materials. The bequest matches the largest single donation at Palomar College, the first coming from Sam S. Stein in 1991 . That money was used
by the college's nursing program. Two charities. Valley Center Community Church and Casa de Cuna, were specifically chosen by Allen, when he set up the trust in 1990, to receive part of the $1.5 million. "I thought it was going to be a few hundred dollars," said VC Community Church pastor Dale Meador. At I 12 years, the church is the oldest in Valley Center. Eight other charities were to be chosen by a selected committee. Palomar was one of 122 businesses and charities to apply for the trust. To be considered for the trust money.
See MONEY, Page 3
Feature Story mid the hum of engines and the chime of ·door ajar' reminders, Steve Bertram moves from under the hood of one broken car to another whi lc he supervises one of his many auto shop classes. Right now he is teaching his tunc-up class and showing his students how to usc engine computer scanners to diagnose drivcability problems. Although some students arc already working on a ·91 ParkAvenueandan'82TransAm, a small group of students is hovering around an engine on a test stand. trying in vain to start it. The engine turns slowly. until finally the battery is drained and the starter solenoid begins to click in protest. Steve walks over to the students and says,"C'mon guys, give it a rest." He grabs the battery charger in the corner of the shop, hooks up the charger's cables to the battery, waits five min utes, then casually reaches for the key on the contro l pane l and cranks the engine. It roars
A
Holding Shop Sean Bush to life, and as the computer sets the engine to fast idle speed, the students nod with approval. "Let it run for a while so that the battery has time to charge." Steve says as he walks over to the Trans Am to check his students' progress. Even though at35 he is a fCw years older and wiser. a few people at Palomar College remember Steve Bertram from his college·days. Some may remember him as a young student majoring in Ind ustrial Arts, but others simply rem em-
ber him as the son of Larry Bertram, Palomar College's head auto shop instructor for 27 years. Although there arc many current students that think that Steve has simply ·inherited' the position from his father, nothing could be farther from the truth. There is little doubt that Steve's. father has had an intluence on him, if not the position that he holds . "I'd have to say my father had a lot to do with it," Steve says, "He was the instructor
here for many years, and the money was good." Born in RcJondo Beach NAS. later moving with his family to Escondido. Steve Bertram grew up around cars. The memories of working with his father on fami ly cars and various projects still brings a smile to his face. ''I remember we always had a dune buggy." Steve says," We'd work on it and take it to the desert on weekends." After graduating from Escondido High School, Steve attended Palomar College. Naturally, he took many auto shop classes to expand his knowledge about ever-changing car technology. Many people were worried that auto mechanics would be a dying brced."Whcn computer controls came on the scene some guys thought it would be the end of the world," Steve remembcrs,"But actually, they've made our job easier. It's just a matter of having the right tools."
See SHOP, Page 6