ENTERTAINMENT
OPINION
Dance Enterprise introduces Palomar to the art of Afro-Brazilian dance with "Echoes of Brazil" project Page 6
With all of the current allegations against President Clinton, is it time for Americans · to question his moral legitimacy as a Prepident of the United States? Page 5
Basketball r~·bounds from the h'')lidays ?S the men's and women's teams take it to the court once again
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THE F~IDAY, JAN.
30, 1998
PALOMAR COLLEGE
VOLUME 51, NUMBER 12
SAN MARCOS
Plus and minus gains state's OK Melody Cruz Campus Bear Ediwr
·It's been a long-time coming but the plus or minus grading system finally passed with flying colors. :rhe California Community C9lleges Board of Governors in Sacramento approved the new grading scale in December giving individual colleges the opportunity to implement the system if they want to. If colleges give the initiative the go-~head,. they can begin using the new system by Feb.ll . . However, Palomar has yet to discuss the possibility of passing the grading system. Diane Michael, assistant superintendent and vicepresident of instruction, said that she didn't recall seeing the item on the Faculty Senate agenda. "There is no interest in implementing the system until the As~nri~tP.rl Student Government and the Faculty Senate bring a recommendation to the Governing Board," Michael said. ASG President Erica Olvera made a recommendation that the
legislative committee meet with the Faculty Senate before any further action is taken towards the decision whether or not to use the system at Palomar. According to ASG Senator Loretta Murillo-Calton, the decision to implement the plus or minus grading system won't be discussed until the ASG forms a student survey. "The students have a voice in stating whether or not they want to be a part of this grading system," said Murillo-Calton. I:he ASG's legislative committee will be holding another forum to discuss the plus or minus grading system sometime in February, according to Xavier E. Corona, ASG vice-president of state affairs. "We still need to distribute information to the students about if it will help them or if it will hurt the,m." Corona said. "More than a few members of the faculty are happy that it passed," Corona said, "Who knows in two or four weeks from now it could be a line item of the agenda."
Facility changes slowed • Campus projects delayed by various circumstances Jessica Gleason Co-Ediror-in-Chi~f
Returning students may have expected to tote a hard hat along with their book bags when they began classes due to major construction originally planned to rip through the campus this month. However they can leave those hats at home because construction isn't planned to begin until summer. Renovation of the college's infrastructure will include · a 30-footlong trench bisecting the main campus and the temporary closure of the north end 9f Comet Circle. These construction sites are still expected, but have been delayed until June due 'to sevet:al unforeseen circumstances like El Nifio warnings and
an unforgiving flu epidemic. According to Kelley HudsonMaclsaac, manager of facility planning and environmental health and safety, the delays may turn out to be better for the students. "If we can work the kinks out over the summer, by the time fall com~s we should be able to handle the students and hopefully minimize the effect the construction will have on them," she said. Facilities Director Mike Ellis adds that some of the delay can also be attributed to the long process of finding a contractor who is able to work very closely with Palomar staff to figure out a renovation schedule that won't disrupt the learning process during the twoyear project. He admits the major construction will hinder students traveling between · classes, but the most important factor is that actual class time will not be disrupted. "We need to find out how we can SEE
FACILITY,
Jessica Long Feature Ediwr
Despite the recurence of parking problems and bookstore lines, Palomar's student ·enrollment for the 1998 spring semester is down from last fall's all-time hi gh. As of Wednesday, 24,074 students arc enrolled in courses offered by the eight educational centers that make up Palomar College. This is d0wn from the record 27,103 students who attended Palomar in the fall 1997 semester. "We hope that the number of students taking credit classes will go up, but right now it isn 'tlikely for us to see that much of a change. The increase, if there is an increase, will probably be duy to more students enrolling in non-credit classes." said Herman Lee, enrollment services director. Last fall, Palomar had the second highest enrollment among all 23 colleges and universities in San Diego County. San Diego State University was the onl y school to have a larger student body.
·Lee attributes the decline to a trend of fewer students enrolling in spring semesters vs. fall semesters. On a more positive note however, enrollment in for credit classes this spring is up 2 percent from last spnng. Lee :;aid lower enrollment in credit classes may also have to do with .a strong economy. More people arc working full time, leaving less time to attend school. Despite the fact that over 3,000 fewer students arc attending Palomar this Spring from last Fall, current students are still overwelmcd with the crowds, lines and the associated headaches. Starting each day by vying for a parking space is one of the constant frustrations. "I can't believe I paid for a parking pass when I can't even find a decent parking space," said one student. "l was worried about getting out of shape after high school but now I'm not because I hike to my car everyday." The deadline to enroll in Palomar is today at 4 p.m.
Rebecca Cook (left) pays for her books as Yesenia Calderon keeps the long lines moving.
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Over the course of its 50 year history, The Telescope has revised, revamped and redone Itself in
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