The Telescope 53.11 by The Telescope

• Palomar's 1 0-year bowl game winning streak ends . as Bakersfield w1ns, 2124. • Comets commit five turnovers as QB Cicero throws three interceptions in final quarter. • Renegades make two big offensive plays to win. • Complete Potato Bowl coverage on page 10.

Monday, D ec. 6, 1999

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Palomar College -

V o l ume 53, Number 11

San Marcos, CA

Spring gets bumpy start

Two arrested for lot 12 burglaries Claimed they stole from unlocked cars, authorities still looking for victims

Sched ules two weeks late, system test done incorrectly

Tom Chambers

Editor in Chief

Two Palomar students were r arrested just before Thanksgiving for burglarizing cars in parking lot 12. The students, arrested on Nov. 19 and Nov. 23, are being charged with eight counts of burglary, said Benny Cruz, San Diego Sherrif's · detective. Cruz said the two claimed they only stole items from unlocked cars, but they are still being charged with burglary. The Sheriff' s Department has recovered more items than were reported stolen, leading them to believe the two students were 1 responsible for more burglaries than they are being charged with. One of the items is a surfboard that Cruz said may have been stolen property to begin with. Bruce Bishop, student activities director, said the arrested students were 18 and 19, and attended -., Palomar full time. The two students were removed from their classes and asked not to return to Palomar. Bishop said the students would walk through the parking lot looking for unlocked cars. If someone saw them, they would run to a .-::; friend's house near campus. The two were caught when a female student saw one of them in her car and started to scream, Bishop said. A nearby male student, thinking she may have been attacked, followed them to the geta-way house and called the authorities. The two students posted bail and 1 · an arraignment date has not been set. Cruz said students should report stolen property. "When they suffer a loss in the parking lot they should spend a few minutes and call us," Cruz said. "Then we can recover the property." Campus Patrol refused to comment on the issue.

Tom Chambers I The Telescope

Palomar officials display six of the eight fake permits confiscated in the last month.

Students suspended for using fake permits Tom Chambers Editor in Chief

Palomar College suspended eight students over the past two weeks for using fake parking permits. "It's been since late October that this has become a big problem," said Bruce Bishop, student activities director. "I don 't even know of any prior to that." The students have all been young males, ranging in age from 18 to 22. They have been suspended for the last two weeks of the semester, forced to pay fines, and required to purchase an official permit.

"Typically, they received between two and three parking citations," Bishop said. "A student receives one citation for having an altered, stolen or counterfeit permit, and then they receive a second citation at the same time for not having a valid permit." Bishop said the fake permits have ranged from photocopies to computer scans. 'They' re easy to copy, but Campus Patrol is on the lookout for and is finding the_m ," he said. "One student admitted he took last semester's parking permit, scanned it and then altered the number and the date to make it

'Fall 1999' instead of 'Spring 1999."' Another student said the color of Palomar's permits was difficult to copy on a scanner. Bishop said some of the students caught with fake permits were remorseful, while others denied even having them. "Most students don' t see it as a big deal," Bishop said. "But they are countert"eiting a college document." As a result of the rash of fake permits, Campus Patrol has increased its efforts to spot fake permits, Bishop said. Campus Patrol refused to comment on the issue.

Palomar College's new softare system was still giving administrators headaches as they prepared for spring registration which starts this week. The admissions office ran a test of the Phone and Register (PAR) system last Tuesday, and it failed - but not because the system doesn't work, said Stan Malley, director of information services, the department implementing the new system. "The test was run incorrectly," Malley said. Palomar has 24 phone lines set aside for people to call PAR from campus and 72 phone lines for offcampus calls. The admissions test last Tuesday overloaded the on campus phone lines. "We set up 60 cases - we got 60 people on campus to call," said Herman Lee, director of enrollment. The 60 people calling the PAR line dialed the 24 on-campus lines. "We had 60 calls competing for 24 lines," Malley said. Malley said tests on the entire system have worked, and he doesn't anticipate any problems. "We've run tests on problems from the fall - they should all be fixed," Malley said. "It is working." Palomar purchased new administrative software from the PeopleSoft Company last year for $4.6 million. Last summer and fall the college had problems registerting students for classes as they switched over to the new software. Palomar also had problems finishing the spring class schedule on time. "Well, it's not really late," said Norma Bean, director of marketing, the department that produces the schedule. "It's due to be distributed on Monday (Dec. 6) under our revised schedule." Bean said the goal was to have the schedule out two weeks before registration, but the instruction office had prob-

!ems getting the class list done on time. "Basically it was due to the conversion to the new program," said Diane Veach of the instruction office. "We had to do a lot of manual input that we normally didn't have to do." Veach said learning the new program caused delays because it required more information. "At that point we revised the timeline," Bean said. Palomar prints 90,000 class schedules, about 23,000 of which are mailed to students' homes with registration appointments. The schedules were mailed Nov. 29 and 30 and were on campus Dec. 1, Bean said. Registration appointments were mailed on Dec. 1, five days before registration begins. Students enrolled in Disabled Students Programs and Services, Extended Opportunity Programs and Services and TRIO were scheduled to enroll Dec. 3, but many had yet to receive appointments and schedules. Mary Tuttle of DSP&S said her department is telling its 1,500 students when to register as they come in. However, she said they wouldn't see all the students. "If students call the PAR number, it will give them their registration time, you just have to listen to all of the recording," Tuttle said. Even though Palomar officials expect the system to work, they aren't taking any chances. A help line has been set up at (760) 744-1150, ext. 3143 for students having trouble with PAR. In addition, admissions has set up a walk-up window where students who haven't been able to register through PAR, Lee said. With the new software, the college no longer sends intent-to-register cards to students. Instead, PAR appointments are given to all currently enrolled students. Students can call (760) 471-2421 to register or fmd out when their appointment is. Phone registration begins Monday, Dec. 6 and goes into next semester.

· 2

Campus Beat

The Telescope Monday, Dec. 6, 1999

Palo1~1ar

Regional Occupational Program...

in brief

'Season of Light' celebrates winter During the winter solstice, the darkest and coldest time of the year, Christians celebrate Christmas and Jews celebrate the Hanukkah. Other religions and cultures celebrate this season in different ways. This is the theme of the "Season of Light" show at the Planetarium, Dec. 10 and 17. The program begins at 7 p.m. Since there is limited seating, please call to make reservations at (760) 744-1150 ext. 2833 or ext. 2516. Mark Brown Staff Writer

: Dean receives : doctoral degree The Palomar College Governing Board congratulated Doris Pichon for completing requirements for the doctorate program at the University of Texas at Austin. Pichon is the dean of human arts and sciences at Palomar College. Pichon received her associate degree from Grossmont College, her • bachelor 's and master 's degree from SDSU. Pichon received her doctorate in the Education Administration and Community College Leadership program.

Mark Brown Staff Writer

:· Pay library fines :.. with donations If students have debts on overdue books, donations of non-perishable food items such as canned goods, pasta or dried beans can waive the fines. Donations of baby diapers could also wipe out debts. The program starts Nov. 29 and ends Dec. 11. This program applies to late books but not to lost books. Alexis Ciurczak, public services librarian, said the library has recouped many books in past years. She said the library received one book last year which came due in 1963. The donated foods will be given to Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS) Pantry. Sean 0 'Connor Camp us Beat Co-Editor

AIDS Quilt on display in library Three AIDS quilts will be hung in the library from Dec. 1 until Dec. 13. The purpose of displaying the quilts is to remind people AIDS is still on the rise and to create an awareness of the problems of this disease. Over 2 million people died of

AIDS last year and 5 million were infected. Red ribbons will be distributed to help remind people about this disease. The AIDS quilts are sponsored by Health Services, the library, the Gay and Lesbian Association (GALA) and Phi Theta Kappa.

Sean O'Connor Campus Beat Co-Editor

Cultures of Africa offered Philip de Barros is offering a course Cultures of Africa. De Barros taught and conducted research in Africa for 12 years. He illustrates the course with slides he took in Africa and recent films and videos. He is also offering archaeological surveying, which is field oriented. For more information call (760) 744- 1150 ext. 2343.

Sean 0 'Connor Campus Beat Co-Editor

Jcnn11y RabagoThe Telescope

Academic Department Assistant Tawtt Gregg takes down the details for studettts wanting to take courses in the Regional Occupation Program at Palomar College. Over 500 students from the community have registered for ROP courses since registration began Nov .. 15 ..

Free admission to Magic Mountain Magic Mountain is offering free admission to anyone bringing a new, unwrapped toy valued at $10, Dec. 4, 5, 11 and 12. Free admission includes unlimited use of the park 's roller coasters such The Riddler 's Revenge, as Superman, The Escape, Batman, The Ride, Colossus, Viper and pintsized rides for kids and more. The United States Marine Corps Reserve, KVE A Los Angeles, KLV E- FM and Magic Mountain are sponsoring the Toys for Tots drive. This is the 15th year of the program. It has collected more than 379,000 toys for children.

Sean 0 'Connor Campus Beat Co-Editor

English Center open for tutorials

------,------------------~------.·~--··-----·-~~~~.~ t ) It':

WorkShops

TRANSFER CENTER These schools will be on campus for students to consult concerning transfer requirements and procedures at the times, places and dates indicated. For further information, contact the Transfer Center at (760) 744-1150 ext. 2552. United States International University (USIU)- Dec. 7, 11 a.m. to I p.m., Student Union National University- Dec. 7, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Student Union Park College- Dec. 7, 11 a.m. to 1 p .m. and Dec. 9, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Student Union UCSD TAG WORKSHOPS- Dec. 6, 1 p.m., Student Union-17; Dec. 7, 5 p.m., Transfer Center; Dec. 8, 5 p.m., Dec. 9, 1 p.m., Student Union-16; Dec. 10, 1 p.m., Transfer Center. Call for appointments at (760) 744- 1150 ext. 2552 LffiRARY Internet Workshop-The workshop is offered Thursdays in the library's computer lab from 12 p.m. untill: 15 p.m. Repeat workshop as often as needed.

Students needing help in writing research papers, basic English compositiOn or other problems in English are welcome on a walk-in basis to the En glish Department Writing Centerffutorial Center in Room S-1. At the center, students may use computer stations and Internet access. Graduate student tutors are there Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Students may contact Cindi Spencer or stop by the Writingffutorial Center for more information. The service is available throughout the year. Michelle Yates Staff Writer

ASG Docket From the Associated Student Goverment meeting held Dec. 1. The ASG meets every Wednesday at 1 p.m. in Room SU- 18. o The ASG voted down a proposal to purchase 100 turkeys for needy students at a cost of $500. Vice President of Social Events Tambia Jones-Johnson moved to reconsider the proposal and ASG members voted it down again.

Members approved a resolution of $1,500. o

send Phi Theta Kappa to a conference at a cost

F.V~Info SPRING 2000 REGISTRATION Phone and Register (PAR) appointments and class schedules have beem mailed. PAR begins December 6. The first day of the spring 2000 semester is JM.. 18. ADDING A CLASS Only registration in short-term or open entry/open exit classes is permitted. If a class is closed, secure instructor's signature. DROPPING A CLASS No drops are allowed from Oct. 16 through the end of the semester. An evaluative grade of(A,B.,C.,D,F) or "I" must be given. AUDITING A CLASS A signature of the instructor and the dean is required to audit a class. Not all classes are available for aud iting. There is no deadline for original registration in audit status. Changing from audit status to credit status is not permitted.

SPRING 2000 GRADUATION The deadline to apply for an AA degree or a certificate is March 1. SEMESTER GRADES Summer grades can be obtained by submitting a selfaddressed stamped envelope in a drop box in the Admissions lobby. Spring 1999 grades can be obtained by calling 47 1-9608. Spring grades are available on the Intem et. Any discrepancies in grades should be resolved as soon as possible.

. '

Compiled by Tom Chambers

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Speak Out! Who is the most influential person in the 20th century?

Eric Roseborough Business "Nelson Mandela. After what he went through, I felt if he could make it, so could I. He went through a lot of things. He spent 20 years in jail."

"Dwight D. Eisenhower. He stood for integrity. He made positive relationships with other countries. A strong leader. Thoughtful. "

" I am not re lig ious. Although he is dead, Jesus still has tremendous influence in the 20th century. He has more influence than anyone else."

Elec. Engineering

Business

"Clinton and Kennedy. By stirring up a big controversy in the White H ouse, they stirred things up and they rattled the trees."

"John F. Kennedy His youthfulness. His idealism. In so many ways, he was a role model. People looked up to him. He gave people hope."

"Sandra Day O' Connor, In • a new book, 'Women' there is a picture of her with the • president in the back- , ground. Women are now out in front."

The Telescope •

Monday,. Dec. G,. 1999

Palomar hosts private English language school Sean J. o•connor Co-Campus Beat Editor

There is a small private school on the Palomar College campus. It recruits students from abroad to study English here. It has been on the Palomar campus for nine years. The school is the California English School. CES and Palomar College are part of a joint venture arrangement. "It is a private school but the instructors are hired by Palomar College," said Yasue' O'Neill, a former admip.istrator at the school. O'Neill is now the adviser to the international students at Palomar , - College. ·- Palomar employs the English instructors while CES is responsible for marketing and recruiting international students and taking care of host family arrangements. Palomar College leased its land to Mike Onuma, president of CES, ( . for $1 a year. Onuma took the responsibility for erecting an administrative building and a large classroom building at his own expense on the leased land. "A lot of colleges have a similar arrangement. I'm satisfied with the relationship," William Flynn, dean of community services, said. Flynn said, however, he would like a broader base of international students. The overwhelming majority of students attending the school are Japanese. Fumie Davis is the on-site administrator. She is also vice president of CES. Karen Tran the program's curriculum coordinator and two English-as-a-Second-Language instructors, Carole McDermott and Diane Tebbetts are responsible for the academic program at the language school. Palomar College employs Tran, McDermott and Tebbetts. Although most CES students are college bound, several also come for certificates, which enable them to work in hospitality, travel or computer industries, McDermott said. Students must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) to be admitted to Palomar, MiraCosta, CSUSM or other colleges. At Palomar, students must pass the TOEFL with the target score of 4 70 or above. There are exceptions. If students are below 470 and · McDermott, Tran or Tebbetts consider them promising students, they may be recommended to Palomar College. At other colleges, the score may be lower or higher contingent on their admission regulations, Davis

said. O'Neill said Palomar gets from 12 to 15 students annually from CES. Davis explained instructors at the CES help foreign students become acquainted with methods and instructional materials used in American colleges. In order to be admitted to CES, the international student must be 17 years old but the average student is between 18 and 22. As part of their program, students have gone on field trips to Balboa Park, the Del Mar Fair, the beach, downtown San Diego and other areas. The California Highway Patrol has also given lectures on how to get a driver's license. The students also have had lectures on health services, aids and drugs. The lectures serve a two-fold purpose of getting students to listen to English and getting them acquainted with other parts of American culture, Davis said. Unlike Palomar, which has two semesters and a summer session, CES operates on a trimester basi . Each trimester lasts 16 weeks. The tuition is $3,150 per 16 weeks. It recruits from 25 to 40 students each trimester on an open-enrollment basis. There are presently 27 students enrolled at the CES. Of the 27 students, two are Taiwanese, one from Vietnam and one from the People's Republic of China. The rest are

Japanese. Tebbetts said in the past the school has had students from many different countries such as Spain, Morocco, Malaysia, Turkey, Greece and Mexico. Tran said there are problems getting · visas from some countries in the Middle East such as Lebanon and Afghanistan. There are not many tudents from South America or Europe. "I think we have a good solid program," Tran said. Tran has been with the program for nine years. "Most of those who want to continue on to college, go to college. Some just come for enrichment," she said. All three Palomar educators, Tran, McDermott and Tebbetts meet all the qualifications Palomar College requires for its ESL program. Tran takes care of testing and placement of students and has spent her professional life in teaching ESL. McDermott has been teaching three and a half years. Tebbetts has been teaching nine years at California English School. McDermott and Tebbetts also teach ESL in the evening at Palomar College. CES is located on a small knoll near the maintenance facilities. Few students at Palomar College students notice CES because it is hidden by trees and located on a road used only by maintenance personnel.

What do CES students say? Rumiko Takeya, ajournalism at Palomar and a former student at CES, said Japanese stu-

Sean J. o•eonnor Co--Cwnpuv Beat Editor

m~jor

Ichiro Tokashiki. photography major, said about CES, "It was a good experience." He said there were many students from other countries. Tokashiki will graduate from Palomar in June 2000 and intends to return ro work in

dents surrounded her and she found it difficult to learn English. She also said although CES is located on the Palomar campus, she felt isolated. She didn't feel well prepared for Palomar College when she started taking courses. She improved her TOEFL score by 30 points over a 16-week trimester. She will receive her cer~ tificate in journalism at the end of this semester. Chie K.osaka. a Palomar office infonnation services major, said she did not like CES. She said almost everyone there was Japanese, even the office staff. However, she said she did like the teachers. Yuko Sotoyama said she felt comfortable at CES where she spent 32 weeks. She also said the school was too small. There were only "two teachers, two levels and two classes.11 Sotoyama will be going to Palomar spring semester.

Japan. Hiroko Yamada, a university graduate from Japan, is now a student at CES. She said, "I didn't expect there were going to be so many Japanese. I like the teachers very much. I have gone to the art gallery and we make use of the library." She said, "We don't have many chances to meet Americans on campus except the teachers." She also said she and others tried to join the International Club on campus but were not allowed to participate because they were not students at Palomar College. She hopes to enroll at Palomar College and major in international business for spring semester 2000

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Opinion

The Telescope â&#x20AC;˘

Monday, Dec. 6, 1999

Shouldn't Editorial 1----------------~ Holiday What does Palomar have to hide? hree storiesÂˇ in the news this week were almost incomplete, but it's not because the reporters didn't do their job. The stories are incomplete because the Palomar officials with the correct information won't release it, or hide it in beaurocratic dou blespeak. Although two students were arrested for burglarizing unlocked cars in the parking lot and eight students were suspended for usmg fake parking permits, Campus Patrol refused to give the information to Palomar students. Not only do police organizations have a legal obligation to provide information to the public, they have a moral obligation to release information that concerns the safety and wellbeing of students. Last week the admissions office ran a test of Palomar's Phone and Register (PAR)

system that failed because they ran the test inconectly. When we first asked about the test, we were assured that nothing had gone awry. However, when we later questioned the admissions official more pointedly about the test, the story had changed. Lastly, spring class schedules are two weeks late - but not according to officials in the marketing department They say the release date was revised, and the class schedules came out on time. Revised or not, the class schedules were released two weeks after the original release date- and that is late. We don't understand why college officials have to dodge questions about such noncontroversial issues. The information only serves to help students and make them aware of what's happening on campus and what's happening with their classes - the whole reason we attend Palomar.

~~ .(eleacape

it be Christmas?

celebration founded on Christmas

Michael Paisner

Amy Bolaski

News Editor

Copy Ediror

Tom Chambers Editor in Chief

We'd like to say that it's beginning to feel like Christmas, but it really isn't. It is, however, beginning to feel like "Happy Holidays" - the politically correct, generic term we're expected to use now in place of a traditional holiday greeting. Please. Since when has "Merry Christmas" become an expletive? Or, for that "Happy matter, Hannukah?" Many companies and organizations have instituted policies requiring employees and members to refrain from using any greeting specific to any religious group or affiliation- you won't be seeing any angels hanging in the Library. Palomar employees aren't allowed to decorate with anything that might "offend." 1t is socially acceptable to say "Happy Valentine's Day" and "Happy Halloween." Why not "Merry Christmas"? And what if we don't believe in ghosts and witches? Halloween is a holiday with pagan roots. That can be fairly offensive, but we certainly don't stop anyone from wishing others a good day. Western culture as a whole developed from a foundation originally built upon Christian roots and values. It's sad that we are , as a country, losing that in the name of "multi-culturalism" and that inevitable buzz-word, "tolerance," all in the name of preserving some overly-sensitive toes. We believe in Christmas, the ideats behind it and therefore the celebration of it. If that happens to include a well-meant "Merry Christmas", so be it. It's hard to believe that anyone has the time or the ener-

t-- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - --1 gy to bother getting upset over so insignificant a thing as a greet-

Focused on Palomar Monday, December 6, 1999

Volume 53 Number 11

Editor-in-Chief Tom Chambers News Editor Michael Paisner Campus Beat Editors Sean O'Connor Rumiko Takeya Opinion Editor Patricia S. McAvoy Entertainment Editor Evan Blewett Sports Editors Anthony Saavedra Mike Stevens Feature Editor Dustin Schwindt Photo Editors Johnny Rabago Mikael Wiley Copy Editors Amy Bolaski Sean O'Connor Online Editor Tom Chambers

Advertising Manager Janet Dorsey

Distribution Manager Tara Hebert

Instructional Assistant Daniel Kwan Lew Photojournalisl'l'l Adviser Paul Stachelek Journalism Adviser Wendy Nelson Staff Writers Janise Deleon, Anne Hathaway, Shigehiro Kondo, Courtney Adams, Joel Christoffersen, Sean Johnston, Nancy Seuschek, Sam ir Roy, Brendan Fisher, Tiffany Hendren, Derian Messard, Mark Brown

Photographers lchiro Tokashiki, Jessie Diliberto, Jennifer Gordon, Sean Colburn, Jessica Tennis, Chris Weedon, Robert Burns, Jason Hunter Cartoonist Irving Martinez

The Telescope welcomes all letters to the editor. Letters must be typewritten (no more than 300 words) and include th e author's name, major and telephone number. The Telescope reserves the right to edit letters for space, a nd not to print letters containing lewd or libelous comments. Letters must be re~eived by Monday at 3 p.m. to be considered for publication the next Monday. The Telescope is published weekly on Mondays, except weeks containing holidays or exams. Signed opinions are those of the individual writers and do not necessarily represent those of the entire newspaper staff, Palomar faculty, and staff, and the Publications Board or the Governing Board.

ADDRESS: The Telescope Palomar College 1140 West Mission Road San Marcos, CA 92069 OFFICE: Room TCB-1 at the north end of campus PHONE: (760) 744-11 50, Ext. 2450 FAX: (760) 744-8123, "Attention: The Telescope' E-MAIL: te lescope@ palomar.edu WEB S ITE: www.palomar.edu/te lescope/

tlY ~

Associated Collegiate Press

Calif. Newspaper Publishers Assoc.

eF AC

t California First ....:::...=..:.fi::..=-=- Amendment Coalition

Journalism Association of Community Colleges

Not all , celebrate Christian lwlidays

ing. It's somewhat akin to becoming upset because someone said hello to you. Deal with it-there arc really bigger fish to fry, and if you find yourself getting that upset over a "Merry Christmas", realize there are so many other truly offensive things that people do and say that you could focus your energy on. If someone comes along and throws out a "Happy Hannukah," more power to them. We aren't Jewish, but we have the maturity to realize that people simply want to share their excitement over something important- it really doesn't matter what package the words come in. Âˇ Last time we checked, the right to free speech was still a fundamental right of the American people, one that we still value. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hannukah or Winter Solstice, the point is to celebrate, not waste time being childish and intolerant of others' good intentions. You may not celebrate Christmas, but we do, so please respect our values as much as we do yours. Merry Christmas!

The tyranny of the majority on the minority. You may think that this is a bit harsh when talking about Christmas, but to the minority, it's not. From the perspective of the "outsider," those that don't celebrate Christmas, it seems like the whole world is throwing a party and we're not invited. Not that my view comes from sour grapes, It doesn't. It's just that it seems like a way for the majority to work their religion into everyone else's life. I come to Palomar College expecting to find a religion free campus. In large part, I believe this country's roots are in the separation of church and state. It is time to remove all references to God from the pledge of allegiance, swearing in of public servants, and our money. This may seem extreme, but having God involved in our government is now having negative consequences. The people wanting to decorate government buildings, to hang the ten commandments and to pray in school are the people who want to shove their religion down everyone else's throat. They are well aware that if you want to put your agenda into effect, you have to start small-one person and one building at a time. This is how the Nazi's got their doctrine accepted by a nation. An extreme statement you say? Are you aware that church's pas.> out ballot endorsements in their services for weeks before an election? What happens then? People voted into office are politically sympathetic to those who put them their. The agenda of the minority then rules the country. It is time for government to divest itself of any religion whatsoever, and you might think of doing the same. Here's why. Christmas to the non-believer looks like a marketing ploy, not a religious event. Big business tries to garner your wages through television, radio, and billboard ads; little is aimed at celebrating the birth of Jesus. As a non-follower, I think that I have more understanding of the holiday than the majority of the red-andgreen-wearing holiday wishers. I discovered that this was a good day to take time and express to my friends how much I love and appreciate them. So that's what I do on Christmas day. I call them to say how rich my life is because they are part of it. No love expressed by the size of the gifts I give. No hollow tidings. No holiday cheer that evaporates when the day is over. So please, be considerate. Don't wish everybody a "Merry Christmas." I don't believe in Jesus and neither does the majority of the world population. If you must wish everybody something, make it "happy holidays ." That way, the rest of us can wish you the same and really mean it.

Forget the past, live the moment

s we approaci1 the end of the semester. not to mention the millennium, it seems only appropriate that the future is the direction to turn all attention to. I know, I know, this hardly an epiphan y. But bear with m e. So many times we all get caught up in tha t sticky web we call the past, a nd in doing so forget how many things are left to be done, seen and savored as much as possible. I'm leaving Palomar after five semesters and embarking on what I hope is the last leg of this journey toward that elusive piece of paper called a degree. When I finish that degree, I will be 25. I have found myself often wondering why it's taking me so long, why I didn't finish at 2 1 and why I didn't do a million things .... and why I did do so many others. The only answer I've come up with is: I'm not perfect. l'm only human, born to mistakes (as the song goes). I've spent more time berating myself for poor choices and uncertain outcomes that I forgot what really counts, and I forgot at times to simply live . A ll of those ch oices, regardless of undesirable consequences, have brought

Amy Bolaski

me not only pain and indecision, but experience and memories I wouldn't trade for anything . Most of all, they have brought me to the place that I am in today, and I am very happy. Someone once gave me a key chain as a gift, and it simply says, "B loom where you are planted." It seems quite a mantra to live by. It doesn't really matter what didn't work out, or what yesterday or the week before brought us, or what we brought to it by stumbling through it. Author and poet Maya Angelou said once that we should study the past, reflect on it and learn from it, but not dwell in it. Reflection and study are often what leads us to make the choices we make .... and the ones we do not.

Life is just that-it's life. It is an adventure, and it's meant to be really lived, not spent regretting things, or becoming bitter because of the cards we were dealt (we often make choices that affect the dealer). It's also not meant for the overly cautious, or for ruining the what could -have- beens because of chances not taken. You'll never know until you try, and if you screw it up, get over it. R eally. Fear and regret can be the biggest crutches throughout your travels, whether real or in your imagination. We have nothing but time to fill with bigger chances and better choices. Millennium fever is everywhere, and offers a perfect opportunity to begin anew. Millennium or not, ever yday is a choice and a chance to make it betterand to have fun. I don't want to miss out on a second of that because of what occurred four years ago, last month, or this morning. So as 2000 approaches, make the best of it, and remember to live in the moment as well as for the completely unpredictabl e fu ture, because you might miss the important stuff along the way if you don't. Enjoy the ride.

The Telescope •

Monday~

Dec.

Letters

WHIL~

C.or-JSUM1Nb ~IS HOT DAIRY BEVE!:~E JoL CHlP5

At-'IO¥, AT SAN\A

to the editor Outraged at 'Dogma' review Dear Editor: (Re:Arts & Entertainment, "Heaven and Earth collide in 'Dogma"') I'm writing in regard to the "glowing review" (and I use this phrase quite loosely) Dustin Schwindt gave to Kevin Smith's wanton waste of celluloid entitled "Dogma." While I can appreciate and even applaud Mr. Smith's constitutional right to the freedom of speech and expression, I must forcefully voice my outrage at his deliberate attacks on Catholicism and Judaism by extension. For Schwindt to review so favorably a film that glorifies homicide on a mass scale, infanticide and such foulmouthed profane epithets that come from a non-existent "thirteenth apostle" played by Chris Rock would make anyone in his/her right mind scream bloody murder. Were this movie to take potshots at Muslims, AfricanAmericans, the homosexual community or any other minority group, I can guarantee you that they would call for an immediate boycott of any and all theaters which show such a film. As was the case with Schwindt's review of "Stigmata," I do not mean to imply that Catholics condone such things as blasphemy, mass murder (such as what Charles Manson et al committed), infanticide nor profanities. Far from it. However, to give such reviews as Schwindt did to movies such as "Dogma" is, in effect, not only giving other like-minded producer directors a green light to take potshots at C9-f~stianity in general and Catp91icism in particular. John F. Tashjian

Bicycle riders have safety, access issue Dear Editor: I write regarding a safety hazard on campus. I ride my bicycle to campus four or five times per week. The sidewalk on the north side of Mission Road was completed a few months ago. When I enter at the Comet Circle entrance, I either have to share the road with some extremely inconsiderate, careless and fast drivers or I have to have to get off my bicycle and lift it over a curb going into Lot three. There is a big rock and s sign blocking the entrance to this lot from Comet Circle. A student on the Associated Student Government has told me that the reason for the placement of the sign and rock is to detour drivers from going out the wrong way onto Mission Road from Comet

Circle. My concerns were taken to the Safety and Security Committee on campus when it had its October meeting. This student informed me that the committee was not planning to do anything about this rock anytime soon. I would like to know what the purpose of a Safety Committee is if they are not going to address simple problems when they arise. I do not think that it is a very difficult measure to move this rock and sign or to cut back the curb so as to provide access to students who ride their bicycles to the campus and enter via Comet Circle.

Dennis Theriault Sociology Major

Disabled students to be allowed to tape record class lectures Dear Editor: I am writing regarding an unfavorable experience i had on campus. I have always been able to tape record my teachers' lectures without even asking, but when 1 tried to record one class this semester the teacher stopped me. I let the teacher know I am a Disabled Student Programs & Services (DSPS) student and that I was allowed to tape record lectures for my future reference and additional study. The teacher still would not let me record because I was "disrupting" the class. Whose class is it? Who pays for the class? I do, along with the other 34 students in this particular class. I was told the DSPS had a contract stating that when a student recorded in a class they would only use the information for their own study purposes. 1 spoke with my DSPS counselor the next day. She gave me the contract, which I took to the teacher the next class meeting. The teacher looked at the contract and said he would make some phone calls regarding it in the future. In addition to not letting me record lectures he, also would not allow me test facilitation at DSPS. Someone should bring to his attention that making accommodations for students with disabilities is the law, whether those disabilities are physical, mental, emotional or a learning disability. I ended up dropping this class because I did not want to deal with these problems. In conclusion, I would like to say to other students here at Palomar, if a teacher does something that you think is wrong, do not hesitate to bring it to someone's attention. There are many avenues to rectify faculty/student issues. Melissa Denham Medical Assisting

Letters must be typewritten (no more than 300 words) and include the author's name, major and telephone number. The Telescope reserves the right to edit let· ters for space, and not to print letters containing lewd or libelous comments. Letters must be received by Monday at 3 p.m. to be considered for publication the next Monday.

D12. K'S HOOSE, CLAUS.

MAKES. A

D•-scove.RY •••

Illustration by Irving Martinez I The Telescope

Give Confucius' philosophy a try

have just finished the book, "Confucius Lives Next Door," by T. R. Reid, which left me with a startling conclusion: Let's introduce Confucius into our public schools, not just as required readings or a course, but as a philosophy, which the public schools could adopt. Few would dispute many of our public schools are in disarray. We have only to witness some of the high school shootings that took place in Oregon, Kentucky and Colorado this past year. Many attribute this breakdown in public schools to a lack of value-based curriculum. In our effort to be fair to all groups, we have maintained scrupulous neutrality with regard to values in our schools. Many are looking for other schools with a value-orientation some may go to religious schools rather than the public school. Maybe, just maybe, Confucianism may give us a few answers to our dilemma. Confucianism is an ethical system, which is not anchored in any religious dogma or doctrine. He said he had enough to do on this earth and refused to speculate about heaven, hell or the life hereafter. Confucius saw himself as a teacher of the ethics on how to li vc in society. Confucius is now a universally respected figure in the world along with Socrates, Plato, Jesus, Mohammed, Ghandi and other great teachers. The studious Chinese scholar is legendary both in China and the United States. It is part of the Confucian legacy. A few years ago, at the University of California in Berkeley, some professors wanted to know why Asian students did so well in mathematics while non-Asians in the same classroom seem to lag behind. What they found was Asians got together after class and studied the lectures in groups. They helped each other out, while the non-Asians went their separate ways. Anyone acquainted with Confucianism would not be surprised. Asian cultures, which have a Confucian base, always acted in concert or in groups. Unlike in the United States, Asian university students tends to stay together all day long in the same classes. They share the same dormitory. On holidays, they have parties and celebrations together. In essence, the class for their time at the university acts as a family unit. The word "gung ho" is a Chinese word. It

Sean J. O'Conno

means to work together cooperatively. But acting as a group does not begin to tell the Confucian story. [t is the spirit of Confucius that is important. Confucius stressed such virtues as loyalty, respect, honesty, cooperativeness - and I would say politeness. Confucius may have never used the word politeness, but it underlies just about everything he did or said. In defining the role of Kennedy was askparents and ing us to see our children, he stressed obligation to socichildren ety when he said, should honor "Ask not what your their country can do for parents.These virtues were you, but what you transferred to the classroom can do for your where the country." teacher acted m loco parentis and John F. Kennedy was deserving 1961 of great respect. Confucius stressed harmony, the ability to get along with each other above all else. Confucius definitely did not believe in the adage "Spare the rod and spoil the child." In this regard he was 2,500 years ahead of Western educators. He avoided punishment as a means of control. Confucius appealed to the decency of students. If students failed their duties, they would also fail before the group. A loss of self-respect both in the students' own eyes and the eyes of the group would engender a sense of shame. A virtuous leader, does more to prevent the spread of evil in society than harsh punishment or laws. The same applies to teachers. Duty and obligation to the group come naturally to the Chinese because of Confucianism. It is a form of consideration for others. In John F. Kennedy's 1961 inaugural address,

Registration process lose Michael Paisner

The Telescope welcomes all letters to the editor.

OpinionS

1999

News Editor

I realize this is only one person's story, but it has to be told. As Curly from the Three Stooges used to say, "I'm a victim of soicumstanse" Something should be done. Last January, 1 discovered Palomar offered training to become a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer. Since I have been a computer technician for 10 years, I tried to enroll in the spring registration. They sold out before I could. In the summer, I qualified to have my Palomar Phone And Register appointment in the first group. At 8:45 a.m. on the first PAR day, I attempted to register. First problem, none of the pay phones would dial PAR. I deposited 35 cents and dialed in. After an hour of. punching in numbers, receiving no response, hanging up and trying again, I gave up. The next day, I called Herman Lee, director of admissions, in an attempt to get the classes that PAR would not let me register for. Mr. Lee explained there was nothing that he could do for me. I asked about a back-up plan in case PAR failed. He said the idea was mentioned, then killed in February. He suggested I call Richard Stegman, director of computer sciences and information services. I called

when he used the words, "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country," he was actually uttering a very Confucian idea. He was asking us to see our obligation to the larger society. This was a far cry from the rugged, self-reliant, self-sufficient individualism Americans so often tout. As individuals, unlike Confucius, we like to fight for our individual rights and downplay our duties to the group or our obligations to the larger society. Our system is inherently adversarial, not exactly a picture of Confucian harmony. During this past year, there were bizarre shootings of students by students in our high schools. When analyzed, authorities pointed out the perpetrators felt left out or disconnected from the student body. They were loners, something that Confucius would find abhorrent. Confucianism with its sense of politeness and harmony in group relations could have gone far in reaching out and including such individuals as part of society. My solution: a small dose of Confucianism might go a long way. We have much to gain and little to lose. Maybe some of the excesses of rugged individualism could be tempered by more of a feeling for the group - and the group toward the individual. Our ideal of the rugged individual has its place and it has its strengths in terms of selfreliance and resourcefulness. But it also has its hazards. The hazards are loneliness, selfishness, accumulating wealth without any feeling of giving back to the larger society, a disdain for the poor and homeless and, of course, the terrible and terrifying · and inexplicable shootings on the part of students shooting students taking place in our society. · When accreditation time rolls around for a school, the question is always asked what the philosophy Of the school is. Too often, the question is posed in the context of what subjects we should pursue - knowledge accumulation in this or that area. Perhaps we should focus more on how well we can live together. The accreditation process would be a good time to raise the philosophy of Confucius ,and involve faculty and students in a discussion on the different educational philosophies in America. Confucius would also have something to say to us about our quality of living.

lose situation

Mr. Stegman. Mr. Stegman explained that these classes had prerequisites, and I didn ' t qualify for them. I pointed out that there was no mention of prerequisites in the class schedule. He told me it was an oversight that his department had nothing to do with it. Besides, he said, the classes were not really offered to the general population. I never understood why. He suggested I call Community Services, that they offered each of the six classes for $400, compared to $22 through CSIS. I hung up and called them. After giving my credit card number (mandatory to hold a place in the class), I started to attend classes in July. After taking three classes, money got tight. I asked if they could wait a week or two before they charged my card. I was told no. I told them I would have to make arrangements and call them back. Later that day, I did and got their answering machine. I left the message I couldn't afford the class and not to charge my card. That night, I talked to the teacher to let him know I had to sit out a month, and to find out what book to read while I was gone. When the teacher found out what happened, he told me to sit in the class. He felt it more important that 1 get the education, particularly if I was going to pay later. After two weeks, all

my checks started bouncing. Community Services had charged my debit card $400 (removed from my checking account) without telling me. Once I ~ound out, they reversed it. By the time this got cleared up, I could no longer afford the class. I sat out the second two weeks. Now it was the beginning of November. I was waiting for some money to arrive, so I called Community Services and said that I would like to attend class, but I was still about two weeks away from having the cash. They impolitely explained that I had screwed them, so obviously I was prone to do that again. I explained that I acted in good faith. To show more good faith, I called Mr. Stegman and asked if it would be okay to give them a post dated check. They told me that Mr. Stegman has no authority-it would be Dean William Flynn's decision. They told me they would call Dean Flynn to see if a postdated check would be okay. Later they called to say no. The bottom line is this. I am out of the MCSE class. Palomar is out the $800 for the two classes I'll now miss. This is a lose-lose situation for everybody involved. Community Services should take a lesson from the diligent people in administration that do anything they can to help. What they did was not Community Service.

S Feature

The Telescope

â&#x20AC;˘

Monday, Dec. 6, 1999

Online shopping allows people to buy all their gifts while avoiding the holiday rush Dustin J. Schwindt Peature Editor

Christmas shopping traditionally brings to mind thoughts of crowded malls, traffic jams and lines. People usually spend the joyous season cursing as lhey hun-y from store to store desperately trying to fill their holiday orders. There is an alternative to all the madness that :::ames with the holidays. The alternative lies in the little machine that is part of so many homes today in America...the home computer. For years, the Internet has been making its way into every facet of daily living and now it has brought shopping from the malls and department stores right into people's dens. Almost every major store has a Web site for consumers to browse and a large percentage of these Web sites give the consumer the opportunity to order products for home delivery. People shopping for Christmas this year can either browse the sites and make their list before heading out or take full advantage of the new computer capabilities and get all their shopping done without ever having to get dressed. For those who decide to utilize online shopping this Christmas season there are an array of sites to choose from. Yahoo.com is a good first stop for shopping . Although no orders can be 'PI~! SHOPPING. made through the Web site, Yahoo is a great source of information. It provides links to several other shopping Web sites and allows shoppers to search for sites by category of the product. Yahoo.com also provides recommendations for gifts and gives tips on how to shop safely during the holiday season. Snap.com is another general shopping Web site. Unlike Yahoo.com, Snap.com allows shoppers to place orders. Snap.com is set up like a virtual mall offering a wide selection of products such as electronics, office supplies, computers and toys. Shoppers can choose goods from different merchants and combine their selections into one transaction. Snap.com also provides users with a secure environ-

ment where their credit card information is protected. Many of the major department stores are also represented on the Internet . Although most of the stores provide online shopping, there are still some who have to catch up with their competitors in this area of the market. Montgomery Ward and Mayco (which includes Robinsons May) both have Web sites but no shopping capability. Wal-Mart is a little further along with its Web site. Wal-mart.com provides internet users with a complete inventory and in January 2000 will be

WAL*~

shoppers, the main concern for parents and relatives of young children is toys. ToysRUs.com is available for parents trying to avoid the long lines the actual store presents during the holiday season. Unfortunately, because the Web site is sometimes lacking with its inventory, shoppers have found a trip to the actual store more reliable. One of the best sites for shoppers looking specifically for toys is eToys.com. This Web site asks shoppers to enter a key word and then lists the products that relate to the area of interest. The toys listed on eToys.com are grouped in categories such as toys, books, software and video games. EToys.com also offers gift recommendations and allows users to shop for a specific age group. There are many Web sites to choose from this holiday season. Nordstrom, Macy's, Eddie Bauer and Victoria's Secret all have Web sites for shoppers to visit. FTD even has a Web site for people wanting to send flowers instead of presents. If used right, the intemeL can be a Pl1oto lllu,lralion by Michael Wiley I !he Telescope great tool for holiday shopping. Ideally, consumers can sit down at the computer, go capable of receiving and shipping orders. through their gift list and place their orders all in a Sears.com and JCPenney.com have similar Web sites matter of hours. Most Web sites ship their merchandise that allow you to move between varwithin three to five days making it possible for some - - ious depa11ments and fill up your last minute shopping as well. "shopping cart" as you go. Both sites There are many benefits to shopping online, but also allow the u er to apply for credit. consumers need to be careful about what kind of sites The differences between they use for purchasing gifts. Scars.com and JCPcnncy.com can be When shopping online, people need to make sure found in the products they focus on. that they are using a site that is secure for giving credWhile Sears.com stresses more appliances, parts and it card information. Users should be aware of any site tools, JCPcnncy.com sticks with apparel, toy and home asking more questions than are needed to make a decorating products. transaction. Although clothes are a large area of concern for holiday

JCPenneyÂˇ

many different origins Tom Chambers Edilor i" Chief

Mary sits by the Christmas tree, rocking the baby Jesus as snow falls to the ground. Joseph hangs mistletoe and holly around the manger as the animals rattle the, bells hung on the walls. The wise men come caroling as the angels deliver Christmas cards. Sound like your manger typical scene? No, but that may be what the first Christmas would be like if it took place today. The traditions that surround the Christmas season ate what make it feel like Christmas. Snow, mistletoe, bells, caroling, etc. are all associated with the holiday. However, many of our Christmas traditions didn't originate with Christmas at all, and have 'been added to the celebration of the holiday through

time. The very day we celehrate Christmas bas no association with the holiday. No one is absolutely sure about the time of

year the birth of Jesus may have taken place, but theologians are pretty sure it wasn't Dec. 25. Most estimates place Jesus' birth sometime in October, or in the spring. Winter celebrations were popular in many ancient cultures including Rome. The festival, called Saturnalia, was a celebration of the winter solstice and the return of the sun that lasted for weeks in December. In 336 AD, as Christianity spread through Rome, Pope Julius I set the date of Christmas to Dec, 25 to replace the Roman celebration. Mistletoe, too, comes from ~cient traditions. The Scandinavian godÂˇ dess of love, Frigga, was strongly associated with mistletoe and was celebrated in the winter. ln Rome, where

Througi:tout the Middle Ages, Eve in Germany, Luther was so mistJctoe was banned from usc in moved by the beauty of the stars the Roman church because of its in the sky that he took a fir tree ties to other religions. As a substi- home and attached candles to its branches to remind the chiltute the church suggested dren of the heavens. decorating with holly. Ancient peoples in Christmas cards were first northern Europe also used used in London in 1843. They made their way to holly to line their America in 1846. About 2 dwellings and ward off evil spirits during winter. ..__ _ __ billion Christmas cards are

r--=-.---=-.--.

During many of the mid-winter celebrations, ancient peoples used bells to ward off evil spiritc; as well. As the sun went down and the

brations. lt is believed that Mattiu Luther, the reformer, was creator of the Christmas

the tradition of kissing under the mistletoe comes from. it was a symbol of peace and love.

tree. While walking one Christmas

exchanged each year now in the United States. Another tradition that usually is not thought to have come from the actual holiday is the use of 'x.' when writing Xmas. The shortened form for Christmas actually became popular in Europe in the 1500s. The Chtist is Xristos which the 'x' in Xmas refers to. Our Christmas traditions have come from many places and many time periods. One can only guess how our celebration of the holiday will change a!> we reach the next centu1y and the next millennium.

Local program offers shelter for the holidays evening meals as well as a packed lunch during the day. They also receive bedding to There are may places that people sleep on, any personal hygiene can go this winter for shelter, but products they need and their launthere is a group of people in particdry is done with needed. To become eligible for the proular that are working very hard to keep them really warm. gram the families first meet at the These people are part of the Interfaith Shelter Community office and arc then picked up by drivers to Interfaith Shelter Network Program. There are many churches that partake them to the host church. They are brought in at about 5 ticipate in this program which acts as a rotational shelter. p.m. but must by 8 a.m. The ISN program runs "This is a terrific leave for eight weeks at a time During the day and is for families with program because the children must children. be in school, if it helps people Peg Walden is a church they are enrolled, secretary for one of the who want to help and the parents churches participating in must be searching themselves." this program. for a job and a "This is a terrific prohouse or apartgram because it helps . Peg Walden ment to live in. people who want to help On Saturday themselves," Walden said. morning of the In order to become a part of the program there is a class presented ISN program, each family must first on finances, budgeting and job findbe screened. ing. The church will also provide Since the program is just for families, single people are not allowed them with an organized activity durto participate, but they will be ing the weekend. The people in the program work directed to another program geared hard to keep families out of the cold towards singles. In the ISN program families are and assist them in improving their hosted for two weeks by individual quality of life. "It has helped a lot of people," churches They receive morning and Walden said.

Courtney Adams Swj) Writer

The Telescope

•

Feature 7

Monday, Dec. 6, 1999

•

Bethlehem walk lets visitors take In the sights and sounds of the first Christmas Patricia S. McAvoy FeaTUre - Bethlehem

On a cold crisp night a short walk transports visitors to the historic town of Bethlehem. Travelers are returning to their ancestral home to be registered for the census decreed by Caesar Augustus, the Roman fmperor.

Upon entering the city a Roman soldier checks travel documents and a census counter collects the taxes due. The city streets are crowded with travelers weary from their journey eagerly seeking a place to rest for the night. As the travelers continue their search, the sights, sounds and aromas surrounding them heighten their senses to the hushed excitement in the whispers of the shopkeepers and people in the streets. This Bethlehem is not thousands of miles away but located within the patio area of the First United Methodist Church

of Escondido. Each December, the church re-creates the town of Bethlehem with full-color backdrops, live animals, authentic costumes and booths with shopkeepers. Over 300 church members participate with I 00 acting as residents of Bethlehem. Visitors gather in the church sanctuary to await their tour. While waiting they are entertained with informational videos and singing. Tours begin every five to eight minutes at which time e11ch person is given their travel documents. A personal guide begins each tour by explaining, "Once you pass through this door you enter the Bethlehem of 2,000 years ago." And like magic, you can instantly smell the hay, hear the sounds of woodworkers, ironworkers and others at work in their

utes transports you back in time to capture shops. You will see beggars hands outstretched the meaning of Christmas and back again to as they sit by the paths and shepherd boys the present day. This year, Bethlehem Walk is Dec. 10 passing the hushed word of a mysterious through 12. Tours begin Friday, 5 :30p.m. star they have seen. 9 p.m., Saturday, 4:30 p.m. - 9 p.m. and The guide will lead you to the various Sunday, 4 p.m. 8 p.m. shops to see the shopkeepers making their The First United Methodist Cl:lurch is craft. You will speak with merchants selling located at Fourth Street and Kalmia in raw wool, leather sandals and other goods. You will meet a Jewish family, visit a Escondido. For reservations and information call Synagogue, potter, and baker to taste the (760) 745-8434. Reservations are suggested fresh bread. because over 2,000 people visit each year As you continue through the streets and shops you will find sheep, goats and doves but walk-ins are welcome. available for travelers to barter or buy to be used as sacrifices in the Temple. Roman soldiers will be marching through the streets adding tension to the air, ready to spot check travelers' documents. The tension and expectation will excite the child in each of us as you travel to the inn and find no room for weary travelers and be led back into the night passing wandering hepherds and donkeys penned for the night. Rounding the back street an angel will appear and announce the birth of the Christ child and then will disappear. Then you will see Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus before you finish the tour. Following the walk, refreshments are available in the social hall for all the visitors. The tour in mere minPhotos Courtesy of First United Methodist Church of Escondido

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BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY

Work at Home - Sewers needed for bridal gowns and women's formal wear. Own machinery, sample of work and references required, contact Angela Jackson at "Signature Bridals by Angela," Temecula, CA. (909) 302-3479.

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Front desk. Need part-time to answer receptionist phones, greet members, etc. at Fitness for Her in San Marcos. Located minutes from Palomar Coll ege campus. Early shift: 5:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. weekdays and Sunday mornings 7 a.m. to noon. Personal trainer also needed. Flexible hours. Ask for Christine when calling (760) 591-4437.

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WANTED Help a Needy Child This Holiday Season. Please contribute to the Palomar Police Academy toy drive to benefit the children of Casa de Amparo, a local shelter for abused and troubled children. Drop off unopened, unused toys at the Police Academy Administrative Office by December 16, 1999 at Palomar College, Building IT, Room 7. If you have any questions, call (760) 744-1150, ext. 2288.

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Entertainment

Take a trip through 'Wireless City'

Canapus Calendar What: "A Celebration of Carols" by the Palomar Youth Chorate When: Fridayt Dec. 10 at 8p.m. Where: Howard Brubeck Theatre What: "Sing Noer by the Patomar Chorale When: Saturday Dec. 10 at8 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 11 at2 p.m. Where: Howard Brubeck Theatre What: "Holiday Favorites Concert" by the Palomar Symphony Orchestra When: Sunday, Dec. 12 at 2 and 7 p.m. Where: Catlfomia Center for the Arts, Escondido What: "Jazz Academy Concert'' by the Palomar Jazz Ensemble When: Wednesday, Dec. 15 a1 8 p.m. Where: Howard Brubeck Theatre What: 'Winter Camival Concerf' by the Palomar Concert Band When: Thursday, Dec. 12 at8 p.m. Where: Howard Brubeck Theatre

Heather Badillo (left) prepares an experiment on Irvi ng Martinez as Jamie Cholaki helps to restrain him in, "Wireless

ogy in order to keep up. We get locked into it, and it becomes a cycle." The show addresses issues that are difficult Technology: Do we control it or does it to ignore, such as where does the desire for control us? technology come from, and how is it implantStudents at Palomar will find out as the ed into our thought processes? At what point Performing Arts Guild presents "Wireless do we decide that enough is enough? What City" in Rm. D-10 on Friday, Dec. I 0 and are the consequences of this exponential Saturday Dec. 11. increase in technology? Billed as a "performance installation," "Wireless City" also focuses on society's "Wireless City" looks into the past, present influx of technology from an ecological and future and examines the course our soci- standpoint. ety is headed based on the ri e of technology. "The product of technology in our con"We keep buying into the idea that technol- sumption is going to these huge landfills ogy is going to make our lives easier and bet- somewhere that we would rather not think ter," said Michael Mufson, director and co- about," Mufson said, "At a certain point that conceiver of the project. "At a certain point has to become a reality and we can't just prewe just have to keep buying the new techno!- tend it doesn't exist."

Evan Blewett

Arts & Entertainment Editor

The idea of a performance installation is not exactly a new one. Although the concept found its roots in visual arts 30 years ago, installations like "Wireless City" are new to Palomar College. "Early ones were treated more or less like walking into a gallery, where there would be art all around and you could walk around from place to place and see different art pieces," Mufson said, "The pieces that you see, they become performance installation by virtue of the fact that the artist is there, present in the work of art." "Wireless City" will be anything but a mere gallery. The installation will resemble a hybrid of different presentational art forms: a play, a concert, a dance and an art exhibition. "It's an event, as opposed to a piece of the-

atre where the audience goes there to sit and observe passively, a performance installation is highly structured but anything can happen," Mufson said. To that end, members of the audience will, at times, have to involve themselves in the action. They will have to move from one side of the room to the other to see what's hap~ pening. There will be times when. in the middle of the performance, a audience member will become part of the performance. At times, things will be sold to the audience. Th6 actors may also try to convince the audience to come into their section as opposed to some other section to see what's happening. In addition, computer video sta tions will be set up around the room allowing audience members com~ municate with someone on the other side of the room. The idea provide& a little taste of the future of videophones via the Internet. Sounds chaotic? Maybe, but "Wireless City" comes together as ~ cohesive event by virtue of the fact that all the images are thematically connected, according to Mufson. "Walking into Wireless City is actually going to be like walking City." into a little microcosm of a world. It's a world which is not really how we see the future, but it's using the idea of how where are in history right now." ' The players in "Wireless City" include Heather Badillo, Peter Benelli, Tony Bevacqua, Jamie Cholaki, Cori Faulkner, Tori Johnson, Irving Martinez, Ian McAlpine, Chris Navarro, Mary Stanley, Noelle Watson and Peter Gach, who shares credit in the show's conception. A Web site has also been created that can be visited at http://daphne.palomar.edu/mmufson/wireless_city_entrance. Tickets are $6 for students with ID, $8 for seniors and staff and $10 for general admission. For tickets and information, call the theater box office at (760) 744-1150, Ext. 2453.

Eastern values through Western eyes Sean O'Connor

• Campus Beat Co-Editor

' '

"Confucius Lives Next Door" is about the social miracle taking place in East Asia. T.R. Reid, the Tokyo bureau chief : for The Washington Post, recounts : experiences he and his family had in Japan and other areas like China, Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, and Malyasia. Then he , deftly describes the larger picture behind these experiences. His search brings him to the heart of ancient China, the land of Confucius. Buddhist missiOnaries from China brought Confucian ideals to Korea and Japan. Overseas Chinese who immigrated in large numbers spread his teachings over the wide areas of East Asia and other parts of the world. In the beginning, Reid and his family had experiences similar to many other tourists. They laughed 1 at the way Japanese and English

phrases were reshaped. Inside the airport bus they read the phrase, "Enjoy your life on this bus." Others were connected with the verb "Lets ... " It seems the Japanese can take any noun and connect it with "Let's" "Let's Recreation," "Let's Sex," "Let's Business Meeting." The first cultural jolt when his 10-year-old daughter announced she was going to Tokyo's Disneyland with her Japanese friend. It meant a 90minute trip, changing three different trains and traveling in a city of 27 million people. They went alone and returned safely at 10 p.m. And so it went. After a while, the

family left their bikes unlocked. They didn't pay attention to that stranger walking behind them at night. There were no car alarms or home security systems. They didn't keep their luggage close to them in the bus station. They learned not to be afraid. Reid marveled at these conditions and wondered why, What Reid came to see was they were tied to a community, not isolated individuals. Each member of the community was responsible to the group. The actions of an individual brought honor or shame not only to the individual, but to the whole group. Confucius, above all, valued

mutual respect on the part of everybody, but especially of children toward their parents. The ruler rules only when he has a "mandate of heaven." People must honor the ruler but the ruler must also honor the people, otherwise he forfeits his mandate, or his right to rule. For Confucius, a moral standard set by the leader made for far more effective government than strict laws and harsh punishment. To this day, the followers of Confucius have an aversion to law, quite a contrast to the West's enshrinement of law. Reid missed an opportunity to point out how many major and minor legalisms in American society are crippling our productivity and paralyzing our sense of freedom. Reid sees a No Parking sign outside the home of another neighbor. "We're sorry, but we must respectfully request that owners of honorable cars not connected to this household cooperate by refraining

• • 'Angela's Ashe s' a moving memoir Amy Bolaski Copy Editor

Frank McCourt's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, a memoir of his poverty-laden Irish Catholic childhood, is undoubtedly one of the best to come out of the late 20th century. Spellbinding in both its simplicity and its tone, "Angela's Ashes" chronicles the pain and desperation of a childhood lacking in both material and emotional needs with an ironic humor that's as touching as it is witty. As a master of dialogue, McCourt pays attention to even the most casual conversation makes for an engrossing read. "Angela's Ashes" is detailed and lyrical without ever becoming long-winded. Although the content is serious and often

sad, McCourt's recountings are vivid and precocious enough to make even the most cynical reader laugh out loud. The novel chronicles Frank McCourt's young childhood in 1930s New York, and his journey back to the poor town of Limerick, Ireland where he was raised. The oldest of six children, three of whom died before they were even toilet-trained, McCourt grew up with an alcoholic father who drank away the dole money (the equivalent of American welfare) each week, leaving the family hungry, cold and hopeless. Sugar water, weak tea and stale bread, along with the eternal fag and the all-consuming pint, were the only staples in a life lived in a dilapidated, one-room apartment. Frank's mother Angela, weary from

birthing six children, losing three and coping with an always drunk husband and little hope for the future is perhaps the most pitiful of all the McCourt family. "Angela's Ashes" remembers a time, and a culture, many of us have no idea existed, and hardships that we would find unimaginable. Filth, hunger and consumption caused by poor nutrition and damp air were just part of life for the poor sector of Irish-Catholic families Frank McCourt was born into. McCourt moved to America when he was 18 in search of something better-and waited nearly 40 years to document his experiences. "Angela's Ashes," published in 1996, will undoubtedly become a classic in its own time, and is a bo~k well deserving of the acclaim it has received since.

from parking in front of our humble driveway." In America, it might read, "No Parking. Violators will be towed." The value of harmony and the importance of treating each other with respect are absolutes with Confucius. And it is up to the government and the school to transmit these values. In Japan, there are also several annual rituals , which reinforce group harmony and emphasize the individual's duty to the group. One of the rituals happens on January 15 when Japanese men and women attend a "Coming of Age Ceremony." Young men dress up in business suit!). Young women dress in expensive adult kimonos. On this day, they become adults. They can buy property. They can vote. They can drink. But they also have responsibilities to obey the law, to work hard, to protect the environment and to look out for the welfare of their community. Reid would like to see this cere-

mony adopted in the United States. Reid referred to his own coming o age. He turned 18. A letter came in the mail. He had to register for the draft. If he didn't, he could be sent to prison, The Japanese ceremony was Confucian. The American rite was: do it or go to jail. Reid points out emphasis on values in America seems mainly restricted to the walls of the school or church. Perhaps, not even in the schools. The American government, in contrast to Japan, is also minimally involved. This book is an excellent resource for a tourist or for someone plan~ ning to live in East Asia. It can be an excellent addition to a course on Asian studies, In view of the fact that we are on the cusp of the 21st century, which is now being called the Asian century, perhaps most American citizens should read thi book. Perhaps it is also time tt1 study and make some of the Confucian ways our own.