FRIDAY, APRIL
24, 1998
PALOMAR COLLEGE
SAN MARCOS
Pipe break shuts down Palomar Jessica Gleason Co-Editor in Chief
Students found plentiful parking spaces and empty classrooms when they arrived on Thursday morning. A break in the campus main water line left the college without water and resulted in cancelation of all Thursday classes. According to Kelley HudsonMaclsaac, manager of facility planning, the pipe broke at about 5 p.m. on Wednesday. Macisaac said they thought the problem had been fixed overnight but when they turned the system back on this morning it broke again. "They're still working on it now," she said. "They're covered head to toe in mud but they're still working." Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations prohibit Palomar employees from working when there is no water. Not to mention, said Macisaac, that the school can't have thousands of students on campus without operational bathroom facilities. Director of Facilities Mike Ellis said they are working on locating repair parts and stabilizing trenches. "We repaired it but we are dealing with 40-ycar-old pipes," he said. "These lines were put in in the '50s and they arc detioriating." Although it was anticipated that the actual repairs will be completed by late Thursday, night classes were still canceled. Ellis said even after the pipe is fixed it takes about two hours to bring the campus back on line and operational. Students continue to arrive Thursday ready for classes only to find cancelation notices posted on classroom doors and around campus. "I thought it was a Phil Plash I The Telescope hoax," said student Tanya Goldstone. Jesus Lopez, a plumber from the college's Facilities Department, uses a "All I saw was a handwritten sign and I Bobcat to search through a pool of muddy water that erupted from a broken didn't think that was a good excuse for water main gasket Wednesday evening. The broken gasket left the campus my teacher-we had a test." without water, forcing the cancelation of all classes on Thursday.
VOLUME
Jessica Gleason Co-Editor in Chief
Earth Day events may have been officially canceled on Palomar's campus but two of the college's clubs decided to take matters into their own hands and show appreciation to the Earth in their own way April 22. Up until this year Palomar's clubs joined forces under the Inter-ClubCouncil to hold annual Earth Day events featuring live music, cultural dancing, various venders and food. However, due to lack of club support and limited ICC leadership efforts, this year's official day to thank the Earth was left up to independent efforts by Club Success and the Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOpS) Club. Although the two c lubs didn't work together they both choose a similar way to spread the environmental word to students- through plants.
Club Success members planted a Japanese Silver tree in the Arboretum and EOPS sold various plants to students in the Student Union. "We want to make a tatement abo ut the importance of the environment in our
lives," said Club Success Adviser John Dise during the planting ceremony. The tree was donated by Brigg Tree Co. and Wholesale Nursery while loca l public defender Genaro Lara, a frequent Club Success supporter, donated money for a plaque to commemorate the event. "We wanted people to have the opportunity to have a plant since plants are what give us life," said EOPS Club President James Tellez. Although he was disappointed by the canceled Earth Day events and resulting lack of turnout, Tellez feels that the sale was a good contribution to EOPS' annual fundraising. The money earned helps the c lub throw a Christmas party for underprivileged chi ldren. "EOPS is still going strong, even though other clubs may not be," said Tellez. "I feel that if we are going to do something we should be faithful and do it no matter what."
-Illustration by Pam Winters - Additional reporting by Dustin Schwindt
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20
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FallASG nominees hold press conference in SU year," Murillo-Colton said. "As student government treasurer, I made the ASG accountable for their finances and made sure funds are used responsibly for stu"Students first" was the common theme dents." When asked about her leadership as candidates for the fall Associated Student experience, Murillo-Colton simply stated, Government positions spoke to the students "I am a mother of fo ur daughters. What · in an open forum on April 22. Each candimore do you need'l That shows that I can date approached a set-up microphone in the maintain their needs and mine while going Student Union to share their personal to school-to serve the students." strengths and reasons for running for office. Erica Olvera, the current ASG president, Elections will be held April 29 and 30 in was present to make a brief case for her the Student Union from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. reelection. "I never let personal feelings get Xavier Corona, current ASG vice presiinvolved with ·my position, " Olvera said. dent of state affairs and one of the four canOlvera said that she felt she has been a good didates for president, was first to speak to leader because she has been followed. the students. "Student representation is my The two, vice president of state affairs dedication," Corona said. Corona talked candidates discussed how they would work about his involvement in the ASG during for students. Marisol Felix-Marquez said, "I the last two years listing his experience as a · will study policies that will affect Palomar representative to California Student and inform the students." Mary Paulet Association of Community Colleges talked about her past experience with lob(CalSACC) and as a member of the board of bying for the college as well as her future directors of American Student Association goals. "I will do my best to make sure stuof Community Colleges (ASACC) as some dent concerns are heard on and off campus," Paulet said. of his qualifications for the position. Tom Chambers, current ASG executive One of the other highly contested posivice president, gave his experience with the tions, vice president of social events, was ASG as well as past experience with high represented on stage by three candidates. school student government as qualifications Elaine James, the current vice president of for his candidacy for president. Chambers social events, made her case for reelection also made a point to stress his commitment by simply asking the crowd if they liked the to the students. "The ASG exists to serve the events during the past year. students, not the members of the ASG," Humberto Tamayo and Michelle Raisor Chambers said. were the two candidates looking to unseat Loretta Murillo-Colton , current ASG James next year. Tamayo gave loyalty and treasurer and candidate for pres ident, responsibility as some of his qualifications stressed her commitment and concern for for the position. students, in addition to stating her qualificaRaisor talked about her outgoing nature tions. ''I'm not afraid to voice the needs of and said that students would always come - - --the students-and I've proven tliat this pasi - first. --
Dustin Schwindt
Stqf( Writer
New Center plans underway Beatriz Banuelos
Earth Day gets a little recognition
51,
Staff Writer
The approval process to build a Southern Education Center in Poway, which will focus on high technology and Internet classes, is underway. According to Dean Michael Rourke, mathematics and the natural and health science, "The facility could be a multiple learning center offering high technology, video applications, engineering, animation, and Internet classes." Internet classes would add an immediate daytime presence in the Poway community. A committee made up of Palomar faculty members bas been collaborating and brain storming to develop a letter of intent to submit to the state chancellor's office and CPEC (California Post-Secondary Education Commission) for approvaL Funding for this newest of Palomar's education center would come from redevelopment money and private fundraising through The Palomar Co11ege Foundation. According to the Facilities Department, Palomar College has control of over $6 million of redevelopment money for the
city of Poway. Redevelopment money comes from agreements made with· surrounding cities. The cities agree to give the school a certain percentage of money for redevelopment that occurs in the city. As of now the only stand-alone center Palomar has is the Escondido Center. Seven other centers are housed in schools or other government facilities. The importance of an independent or "recognized" center is the eligibility it will have for state maintenance and operation funds for buildings, grounds and capital outlet fund to do remodeling and building. If proposals. are accepted and completed the Poway locaticn would become a recognized center. Originally there were 10 sites chosen for the Southern Education Center. Once the site is finalized. purchased and the funding is approved, the next step is to develop a master plan. The master plan is then sent to the t<hancellor's office for a final approval. Dean Rourke said, "We are moving forward with the projects but additional participation from faculty is needed."
Nearly $100,000 in parking fines issued by Campus Security Natalie Petrovic Sttl{j' Writer
We've all gotten them and cursed o urselves after it was too late. An "F'' in Chemistry? No, we're talking <_~bout a parking ticket. Citations are issued for inadequately displaying a permit, or not having one at all. The overall fine for parking tickets is $20, however the highest fine is $275 for parking in a disabled spot. In 1997, Palomar's Campus Security issued 4,750 parking tickets to delinquent parkers. Since the minimum fine for any violation is $20, it is estimated that the 4,750 tickets issued last year could have brought in at least $95,000. T he revenues collected from tickets and parking permits go into two restricted accounts held by Campus Security. One account funds the payroll of Campus Security, the other pays for things like repairs, operating fees, materials, printing
and postage. The number of parking citatio ns issued varie~ from month to month. In February 308 tickets were issued on the main campus compared to the 33 c ited in January. Ninetynine tickets were issued in December of '97 compared to the 556 tickets handed out in November. According to Campus Security Secretary Patty Ward, 778 tickets were issued in October because parking violations are more frequent at the beginning of the semester. If citations aren ' t paid within 2 1 days they are sent to a collection agency for processing and sending notices out to those who haven't paid. If, after 15 days a citation sti ll isn't paid a $10 late fee is added to the fine. DMV holds can be placed on vehicles if the parking ticket goes unpaid further and this wi ll prevent the registration of the vehicle until a ll outstanding fines arc paid. The most popular violation tickets are
issued for failure to display a valid permit, taking thi s into consideration, Campus Security will dismiss one student per calendar year, but only for that violation. A Parking C itation Appeal form can be picked up from Campus Patrol, if filled out and returned within five days the appeal form will then go to an internal reviewing committee consisting of students, staff and faculty who will read both the appeal form and the officer's explanation and decide if an appeal should be granted. If they deny the appeal at that point a request for an Administrative Review can be made, however the value of the citation and any penalties must be paid before the process will go any further. A $ 13 or $23 fee will have to be paid depending on if the student wants to write out an appeal or have a personal conference with the San Diego Mediq_tion Center. If the Center also denies the request, the last step would be to appeal to the San Diego Municipal Court which would cost an additional $25.
The process and cost for appealing a citation Internal Review hv Palomar Stan Individual mav challenge Internal Review decision and request Administrative Review. Face value of citation and penalties llf anvJ must be paid prior to proceeding to next review stage at cashier's office.
$25.00
Individual mav challenge Administrative Review decision and request AdJudication hv Judge
$25.00
Adjudication hv Judicial Procee~ing SAN DIEGO MUNICIPAl COURT lCIIIIll
The average citation fee, if paid without attempting an appeal, is $20.