The Telescope 54.07

Monday, Oct. 23, 2000 -

Palomar College -

Volume 54, Number 7

Are British racist?

Skate bored

'Bedroom Farce'

Government Commission calls for the abolition of the word "British."

Sports video games enjoy continued popularity, we review the top ones.

The new romantic comedy begins run at the Howard Brubeck Theatre.

Sports, page 8

Opinion, page 4

Entertainment, page 5

Bustin' a anove

Task force • rev1ses parking policy

Board rejects proposal for more students on committee Laura Mitchell

Mark Harris

The Telescope

The Telescope

Under pressure from non-student groups that use the campus on weekends, Palomar's Parking Task Force has stopped enforcing a parking policy designed to relieve students of some parking lot maintenance costs.

Parking lot revenues consist of students' semester permit fees, daily fees and fines. These revenues pay for maintenance - resurfacing, painting, lighting, policing - of all campus parking lots, including staff lots. Faculty and staff do not pay for parking.

According to a survey released by the Task Force. Palomar's parking lot revenues account for 95 percent of the lot maintenance budget; 5 percent comes from the school's general fund. At City. Mesa and l'v1iramar. only 1 percent of lot maintenance budgets come from lot revenues; 99 percent come from general funds.

In an effort to shift some of the lot maintenance cost from students to non-students - particularly to non-students using campus facilities on weekends - the Task Force last Spring proposed a new parking policy to the Palomar Community College District board of governors.

Thomas Plotts, Task Force chairman, said the policy "put forward all of the issues relating to equity in payment for the lots." The board in May adopted the new parking policy, which requires parking enforcement 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

But at a public forum held by the Task Force Oct. 5, reaction to the new policy was negative.

Robert Gilson. Perfomung Arts Department chairman, directs a youth symphony that uses can1pus facilities on Saturday mornings.

He told the Task Force the new policy would discourage participation in worthwhile programs, including his symphony, and hurt Palomar's

See Parking, page 3

Arthur Andersoo I The Telescope Tm O'Hara, Travis Nafziger and Elizabeth Mayrant get the crowd fired up Oct. 17 with tbeir interpretation of Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody." Karaoke was a one of tile many events held for Comet Week.

Campus celebrates Comet Week Mirva Lempiainen The Telescope

The annual Comet Week brought some fun and games into the Student Union Oct. 16-19, along with a lot of noise. The event, that has been around about 15 years, was organized and sponsored by the Associated

Student Government. According to ASG Senator Melissa Denham, the four-day Comet Week that was named after the Palomar College mascot, is an opportunity for students to show pride in their school.

The activities started with Westem Wear Day on Monday Oct. 16 and ASG members served free ice cre<ml in the Student Union.

Tuesday was Am1ed Forces Day with some visitors from the Marines, including Sergeant Felix Garcia, who received a gift certificate to Little Caesar's Pizza for wearing and encouraging his fellow marines to wear, their official uniform. Also, a

karaoke competition was held which

filled the Student Union with loud singing and laughter. The winner of the karaoke contest was Vanessa Pates, who received two tickets to Magic Mountain.

Wednesday was Hawaiian Day featuring games in the Student Union. Free hot dogs, sodas and chips were served to studenl<>.

Campus Wide Day also took place at the same time presenting some of the clubs and organizations on cam¡ pus. such as P'.ualegal Studies Club, Calvary Collegiate Fellowship and Study Abroad Programs.

See Comet, page 7

Requests to add members to a search committee that will seek a replacement for former Palomar College President George Boggs were turned down by the governing board on Oct. 10 by a vote of 4-l.

Faculty, staff and students jockeyed to add more representatives to the comnlittee, which includes five faculty, two classified staff, two community members, two adnlinistrators, one non voting governing board member, one administrative association member and one student.

"There are over 27,000 students on this campus. We should have at least two students on the committee." Associated Student Government President Shannon Gyde said. "We have many more students than faculty."

"But only about 300 voted," said Board President Ralph Jensen. referring to voter turnout for ¡the Associated Student Government elections on Sept. 26 and 27.

Tru tee Rita White asked why there couldn't be two students on the committee.

"It's a great deal of time for a student carrying a full load," trustee Robert Dougherty replied. "It's a burden."

Gyde said there are students who care, and that she has quite a few people who are interested and would dedicate the time.

"If a student really wants to be on the committee, they will make the time." Gyde said.

"You're not the only one under-represented."

Administrative Association President Lee Hoffmann told Gyde. "The group that I represent also only has one (representative). You only have one: we

See Board, page 3

Governing board requests time for faculty union Laura Mitchell The Telescope

The desire of part-time faculty to gain health benefits, better salaries and better working conditions through unionization is clashing with the established power of full-time faculty here at Palomar. Members of the fulltime faculty asked Palomar's governing board for more time Oct. I 0 to organize against the umon.

The board offered relief when they unanimously approved askPublic ing the state's Employment Relations Board for the additional time to discuss faculty unionization. The board

also voted to ask PERB for an election regarding establishment of the union. '"Our best hope for gettint: a fair hearing is for the board to help us," said speech communications professor Pat Schwerdtfeger, who interrupted his sabbatical to speak to the board.

Schwerdtfeger said he was concerned most of the 286 fulltime faculty are just now becoming aware that they may be forced into unionization by over 828 part-time faculty members.

"I think this kind of model .. . this old industrial model .. . which pits us against them and requires a win-lose instead of a

win-win proposition is something we've been able to Palomar," avoid at Schwerdtfeger said.

Phil de Barros, director of Palomar's archaeology program, asked the board to request more time frorn PERB for the faculty to discuss unionization. De Barros asked the board not to accept the union as is, but to request an election.

Part-time faculty did not address the governing board Oct. 10. However, at a May 23 board meeting, part-time faculty asked the board to recognize them as an independent bargaining unit.

At that meeting, part-time faculty member Tobi Rosenberg said she teaches at four colleges: Palomar, Mesa and Grossmont colleges, and National University.

Rosenberg said she receives "less than a third of the salary of a full-time employee for doing the same work." She said she has no health benefits, receives no pay for office hours, has no office in which to store materials or meet with students, and has no job security.

Full-time faculty receive at least $375 in benefits a month, said Victoria Del La Torre, benespecialist for human fits resources. Part-time faculty do

not receive health insurance benefits. If 828 part-time faculty become eligible for benefits via union negotiations, the additional costs could exceed $300.000 a month.

"It depends on what the union would negotiate," said Del La Torre. "They nlight negotiate a different plan."

At some community colleges, Del la Torre said, health benefits for part-time faculty are voluntary and part of the cost is passed along to the employee.

Faculty Senate President Chris Barkley announced there will be meetings for faculty to discuss the union issue on Oct. 25 and 30th.

2

The Telescope •

Monday, Oct. 23, 2000

Campus Beat Palomar I

f

Application deadline approaching

Red Ribbon events held this week

The UC and CSU application deadline for Fall 2001 admission is just around the corner. The application-filing period begins Nov. 1 and ends Nov. 30.

After the Nov. 30 deadline many UC and CSU schools will not accept applications.

Students can pick up most applications at the Palomar College Transfer Center, directly at the CSU or UC' campus, via mail or online.

The Transfer Center has scheduled two application workshops this semester. The CSU workshop is Nov. 6 from 1 to 3 p.m. UC applicants can attend Nov. 9 from 1 to 3 p.m.

Students can also visit the center during regular operating hours for individual help in meeting the Nov. 30 deadline.

Palomar College is hosting Red Ribbon Week Oct. 23-28.

The remains of a car from a drunk driving accident will be on display in front of the Student Union with information on alcohol and myths about alcohol.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving will be on hand Oct. 25 • to answer questions and promote safe driving.

111111

Donna Williams The Telescope

Motorcycle safety class on campus A motorcycle safety class is being held on campus. Motorcycle safety organization Crain and Associates teaches the class. The class is 18 hours classroom instruction and 10 hours on a motorcycle. Crain and Associates supplies the motorcycle and supplies. The motorcycle safety class is designed to save lives and increase awareness while riding a motorcycle. · The California Highway Patrol contracted the program in 1987.

The program is state-mandated for students under 21 who will ride a motorcycle.

After students pass the class, the Department of Motor Vehicles will give them licenses. Students over 21 can take the class for safety, but aren't required to take the class.

Students can find out more about the class by calling Karen Buehler, community service assistant, at extension 2586.

Mark Brown The Telescope

Patrons seek boutique donations The Patrons of Palomar Holiday Boutique and Bake Sale will be held Nov. 15 and 16 from 8:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. at the Student Union.

This annual preChristmas sale benefits the Patrons of Palomar's fundraising.

Proceeds will be used for scholarships, campus beautification and other focuses of the group.

Donations for the Holiday Boutique are wanted in upscale condition, including: jewelry, accessories, collectibles, kitchen items, small appliances, art, sports items, stationery, toys, children's books, baby and children's items, furniture, furnishings, and Christmas items and decorations. Food items for the bake sale are also desired. All donated items are tax deductible too.

Every year the Patrons present Patrons of Palomar the Scholarships for incoming high school students. In the past, they have built the pavilion and the campus rose garden and also helped in aiding disabled students. The group is made up of volunteers and has an open membership that allows all interested persons to join. Questions can be answered by Joan Turnbull at 760-489-5820.

Sheena Prosser The Telescope

Mark Brown

New program looks to reduce crime The Palomar College Police Department launched a new program at the beginning of the semester to reduce crime on the San Marcos and Escondido campuses.

Carlos Vargas, police sergeant of PCPD, would like to see the program expand to other campuses in the future.

The program, called Campus Watch, focuses on basic crime prevention, reducing crime and the fear people feel daily toward

possible criminal activity.

"Campus Watch can work by incorporating the student body, staff, faculty and adjunct to formulate solutions in fighting crimes," Vargas said.

Vargas plans to get the entire Marcos community San involved by informing them with flyers and the PCPD Web site.

Vargas said he plans to prevent crime on campus by asking students about their concerns.

The officers that Vargas wants to train will identify issues and crimes early so the police force is ready.

"I want to create and maintain a safe environment for our community and college," said Vargas.

The basic tips for vehicle safety are to lock your car doors and park in lit areas when ever possible, Vargas said.

Mark Brown The Telescope

The Telescope

What is one thing you ltVant to do before you die?

Steve Leonguerrero Architecture & Design

Josh Pasene Business

Ben Hernandez Chicano Studies

Ruthie Ortiz Criminal Justice

Jariah Baker Undecided

"Go to the Shaolin Temples in China.

There's no cars, it's a very peaceful place."

"I want to see my last grandchild graduate from high school."

"I want to be financially stable, have all my debt paid off. I want to be able to support my family."

"I want to skydive. It looks like a lot of fun, and I've done stuff like that."

"I want to travel everywhere m the world."

The Telescope â&#x20AC;˘

Monday, Oct. 23, 2000

Parking: continued from page 1

photo courtesy Palomar Astronomy Department

Astronomy professors Mart< Lane and Jim Pesavento show off Palomar's new Digistar II planetarium projector system.

New planetarium projector brings universe to life

image in the community. "For years we have had open parking on Saturday," he said. "Parking should be open on weekends, pericxl."

Dean William Flynn, whose Community Learning Resources Division conducts motorcycle safety courses in the parking lots on weekends, asked the Task Force to exempt his courses from the new policy's provision that "all events inv~lving parkmg lots be charged the daily fee." He said "educational events," like his courses, should not be required to pay for using parking lots.

Rebecca Faubus, Associated Student Government vice-president, told the Task Force it is unfair to students that only 5 percent of lot maintenance costs come from general funds. "I would like to see 1 per-

3

Board:

cent come out of the big department budgets, including the academic departments and athletics," she said.

"I'm tired of students having to make up budget shortfalls."

Based on the comments received at the forum, Plotts said, "the Parking Task Force suspended fees on the weekends for all events involving the parking lots." The suspension remains in effect while the Task Force reconsiders parking policy. It does not affect students, who must pay any time they park on campus.

According to the Task Force survey, Palomar students pay at least 37 percent more for campus parking than do students at the other community colleges in San Diego County. A semester parking permit costs $27.50 at Palomar; $20 at Cuyamaca, MiraCosta, Grossmont and Southwestern; and $17 at City, Mesa and Miramar.

continued from page 1

only have one. I think that's low."

Faculty Senate President Chris Barkley asked the board to add two faculty members to the committee.

She also revisited a question from the last meeting and asked the board to consider taking the non-voting governing board member off the committee.

Barkley said the committee makes a recommendation to the board, so a board member should not be on the committee.

After further discussion, White agreed with Gyde and cast the opposing vote. Gyde, who casts an advisory vote on the board, also opposed the

Travis Usrey Staff Writer

The Palomar College Planetarium has recently installed a new projector called the Digistar II proJection system and will soon begin public shows throughout the rest of the semester.

Wh~t _the Digistar: does is project images - the stars and galaxy being just one ability - on the mside dome of the planetarium in spectacular fashion.

The new projector, made by Evans & Sutherland Computer Corporation, has many more capabilities than the Spitz A-3-P system it replaced earlier this year. . "It's phenomenal; (the Digistar II) is faster and very precise," said Jim Pesavento, astronomy professor at Palomar, who also directs the planetarium shows. "Now we can move about the night sky, exactly as we would if we were traveling through space."

With the new Digistar, people will be able to see a multitude of astronomical phenomena, which include: "traveling" about our solar system, a space shuttle docking with the international space station, a meteor shower, the umverse tens of thousands of years from now, different phases of the moon among many others.

All of this takes place within the planetarium dome and has an amazir:g three-dimensional feel_. Running about a mobius strip in deep space IS not something one IS likely to forget anytime soon.

One of the greatest assets of the Digistar is that all the pictures of the universe, no matter how complex, are completely accurate and precise representations of reality. The only way to get closer would be to &o outside earth's atmosphere. To be so exact, the Digistar uses two Umx-based computers to perform the computations . .J?e planetarium will be presenting hows to the general public, with the J?Igistar bemg fully operational, starting Friday evening, Oct 27. The public hows m late October and all of November will be free of charcre becrinning at 7 p.m. The planetarium staff recommend makincr reser:ation; by calling 760-744-1150 extension 2833 since the facility o~y holds 76 people and fills up qUickly. The complete schedule for the planetarium is: October 27 and 31; ovember 3, 10, 17; December 8 and 15.

Starting in December, the regular price of $3 for adults and $2 for children will be charged. The planetarium staff will schedule more shows if needed. They also have daytime shows for elementary school classes.

Telescope honored at JACC, Press Club awards Donna Williams The Telescope

The Palomar College Telescope staff garnered everal awards at two recent journalism events. Twenty four awards were won by Telescope writers, artists and photographers.

The San Diego Press Club held its 27th Annual Journalism Awards Oct. 12. This competition includes entries from more than 90 newspapers, magazines and broadcast stations from San Diego county.

Sean J. O'Connor won first place for opinion writing. Tom Chambers took second place for opinion writing. Chambers also received an honorable mention for news writing.

The Journalism Association of Community Colleges held its Southern California conference Sept. 30. The JACC conference includes seminars, guest speakers and 'two types of competitions. Twenty-eight community colleges participated in the mailin and on-the-spot competitions.

The mail-in competition allows writers, page designers and photographers to send their best stories, layouts, and photos in advance. The on-the-spot competition gives writers and page designers a chance to complete their work under the pressure of a time limit.

Three honorable mentions for

inside page design were given to Richardson Miron, Evan Blewett and Tom Chambers.

Honorable mentions in column writing were given to Amy Bolaski and Tom Chambers.

Sean Colburn received an honorable mention for his news photograph and Tom Chambers received another honorable mention for his photo illustration.

This was Tom Chambers' fourth JACC conference. "I went to place;' said Chambers, who won nine awards. Along with Chambers' four honorable mentions, he took first and third place for his mail-in editorial as well as second place in the onthe-spot editorial competition. "Two years at The Telescope and it shows," he said.

Sean J. O'Connor took third place for excellence in the mail-in column writing competition. He is content with his win, but said, "I'd rather get first!" adding the best part was seeing all of his colleagues excel.

James Rolfsen said he was very surprised when he took first place in the on-the-spot front page layout competition. Rolfsen also received an honorable mention for his editorial cartoon.

Another first place was given to Irving Martinez for superb line illustration and Johnny Rabago placed third in the bring-in photo competition.

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Code of conduct encounters arduous review process Kelli Davis The Telescope

Lack of communication and distribution is slowing down the approval process for the proposed changes to the student code of conduct. No release date is set, due to lack of input on the part of the students and faculty.

The going is slow though, as director of student activities Bruce Bishop and representatives of the student government and faculty face the insurmountable task of getting the proposal circulated.

The proposal was written entirely by Bishop who said that changes have been called for on the vagueness of some of the new articles, referring specifically to the article regarding the carrying or possessing of weapons. Students are complaining about the new classification of a weapon as "any type of object that can be reasonably assumed to be a weapon, or used as a weapon." Bishop defends this saying that some vagueness is needed and that they "must leave room to place the situation in context." He explained that a pencil, though not widely classified as a weapon of destruction, could be defined as one when it is used in an aggressive fashion.

In order for the revised Code of Conduct to be passed successfully it must first pass through Palomar's shared government model, also called "sunshining."

Once this is done, it's presented to the Presidential Advisory.

Council, which is made up of one or more representatives

from the deans, faculty and student government. Each group of representatives is given a copy of the proposal for approval and distribution. Those copies are then taken back to their respective groups and made available for suggestions; whether by members of the groups themselves or the students in general.

Some of the amendments to the original Code of Conduct are: ~ The penalty "reprimand," or a strong warning, has been removed from the code. ~ A written explanation is no longer needed when an instructor suspends or removes a student from class. ~ Suspension or removal by instructor cannot be appealed. ~ The consequence of "restitution," or repaying for damage done, has been added. ~ Violation on the grounds of forgery, copying documents and cheating are more defined . ~ "Possession or use of any firearms, explosives, dangerous chemicals or other potentially harmful implements or substances" has been changed to "possession of any type of object that can be reasonably assumed to be weapon, or used as a weapon."

This process so far is lacking student feedback.

Bishop encourages students to participate, "we operate under a shared governance model, if you don't exercise the opportunity [to suggest changes] you have no influence in the processes of the government."

Instructors are reporting a lack of circulation as well. Yvonne Anderson, associate professor of history, economics and political sciences, said that most instructors haven't seen or heard of any proposals being made; but adds that they are kept very busy. Chris Barkley, president of the faculty senate, said that she had hard copies of the proposal sent to the school's department chairs, with instructions to post them where others can read them.

Terry Humphrey, chairperson of the Behavioral Sciences Department, said she had seen a copy of the proposal, but has not yet set a date to discuss it with department for feedback.

The Associated Student Government office (SU-7), as a result, is seeing very little action in response to the proposal. When asked about the involvement on the part of the students in general in suggesting changes to the code, Renita Pitts, the newly elected executive vice president, said, "students just aren't interested."

She said she herself has yet to read the proposal. The new amendments to the code are not posted in the ASG office, nor has a circulating copy found its way to their desks. Students wishing to read the new proposal can find it posted on the Palomar Web site under Student Activities, or in the case outside of Bishop's office (SU-21). Students who have questions, comments or suggestions can contact Bishop in the Student Activities Office (SU-21) during school hours.

4

The Telescope •

•

Monday, Oct. 23, 2000

•

1n1on ------~

Editorial 'Lot' ofproblems with parking fees quality is missing here at Palomar College. Students are being exploited, used and disregarded. It's not in class, on the sports fields, at admissions or in the library- it's in the parking lots.

Students pay $27.50 a semester to park on campus. Those without a permit pay $2 a day to find their way through the maze to that perfect spot. We pay more to park than students at all other community colleges in the county, while staff, faculty and the community park here for free.

Nor are they willing to pay for the privilege to park in our lots.

The college pays more than $300 per parking space to repave the lots on campus. That cost is passed on to the students, but we aren't the only ones parking at Palomar.

Sports teams, youth orchestras and community education classes use our parking lots under a waiver- meaning they don't have to pay to use the facilities. Some community education classes actually use the parking lots for driving classes, causing more damage that the students will have to pay to repair.

Is this right? Should we be the only ones paying for the lots that everyone else parks in for free?

At a recent meeting of the Parking Task Force, this issue was brought up. Those who organize the events that use the lots for free said they were not willing to pay. They said the people who come to their events would not be able to afford $2 a day to park.

If the fee is too expensive for them, then maybe it's too expensive for students as well.

But they don't seem to care about the students - or that they are riding on our backs.

When students don't pay, we are given citations and fines. Students don't get a waiver to park for free, and neither should anyone else.

It seems pretty simple, if you don't pay, you shouldn't get to park.

E

Let the British be British

Rr

cently, a British governmentsponsored commission pubished its recommendations on minorities. It is always interesting to see how our British cousins address the same kinds of problems we have.

If the Commission of the Future of Multi-Ethnic Britain has anything to say about it, the British may not be British for much longer.

The commission recommended that Tony Blair, Britain's prime minister, get rid of the word British. It said the word British is too white, too racist. It also said the United Kingdom should "formally declare itself a multicultural state."

In his report, Lord Bhikhu Parekh, the chairman of the commission, wonders if Britishness in Britain's present multi-ethnic context has any future.

Britain has more than 4 million racial minorities in a country of 58 million. That is 6 percent of the total population. Even if Britain were to declare itself a multicultural state, more than 94 percent of its population would be white or non-minority.

The reaction of the British media was swift and biting. The Daily Mail had a headline, "British is racist" and the Times said its authors were "worthy idiots." The Telegraph called the commission "a crackbrained think-tank whose members genuinely hate Britain."

The Brits have a way with words.

Blair said the commission's work was excellent but its comments on Britishness were "a diversion from the main issues."

Nonetheless. the commission raised issues found in any society where large numbers of immigrants become part of a nation. Racism is one issue. What happens to Britain's essence or identity in a multi-ethnic state is another. What happens to its Britishness?

Inclusion, in contrast to exclusion, seems to be the current buzzword.

Editor in Chief Douglas LeClair Opinion Editor Sean J. O'Connor

Volume 54, Number 7

Monday, October 23, 2000

Campus Beat Editor Brooklyn Davidoff Entertainment Editor James Rolfsen

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 newspa- Focus Editor per staff, Palomar faculty and staff or the Governing Board.

Jason Sherrill Address: The Telescope

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Palomar College 1140 West Mission Road San Marcos, CA 92069 OFFICE: Room TCB-1 PHONE: (760) 744·1150,

FAX: (760) 744-8123 Please write: "Attn: The Telescope" E-MAIL: telescope@palomar.edu WEB SITE: www.palomar.edu/telescope

Sports Editor Arlene Martinez Photo Editors Robert Chavis Johnny Rabago

Sean J.

" it wants more, not less, of an active, multi-faith involvement in public affairs."

How does any nation - or, for that matter, any institution or organization - include people of diverse, even contradictory views, while at the same time retairring its uniqueness and strengths?

The Daily Express said, "The question is how to adapt the traditional image so that it embraces everyone."

This report strikes at the heart of Britain, its Britishness. It's a if someone were to spurn the idea of what it is to be American. The report has gone too far.

Thankfully, we have less of a problem than the British.

Our documents, the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution with its Bill of Rights. show us the way. All men (and women) are created equal. We are also entitled to "life. liberty and the pursuit of happmess." We have an American dream. We a have defined ourselves as a nation of immigrants.

Of course, all is not perfect. Our Constitution hedged on the Declaration of Independence by defming the African-American as two-thirds of a person. The 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments took care of that.

Copy Editors Mark Harris Nancy Seuschek Online Editor Tom Chambers Advertising Manager Janet Dorsey Distribution Manager Tara Hebert Instructional Assistant Tom Chambers Journalism Adviser Wendy Nelson Photojournalism Adviser Paul Stachelek

American Indians were welcomed to citizenship in 1924. We did prevent Asians from becoming citizens untill952.

Later, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 put to rest any doubts about who belonged to the United States.

Americans have a very good idea of their identity, of what it means to be American.

The American Indian, sadly, still remains our most neglected minority.

It's a problem Britain does not have to face. Someday soon, we hope, we will have a national holiday in honor of the American Indian.

In California, by way of contrast to Britain, more than 50 percent of the population is non-white The British report has 400 pages and makes 138 recommendations, which may look familiar to Americans: police, racial profiling, court conduct, affirmative action and more.

It bids Britons to avoid the situation in the United States where 40 percent of African-Americans spend time in prison, more than the number who go to college.

One difference is that it calls for the ''dis-establishment" of the established church, but it wants more, not less, of an active, multi-faith involvement in public affairs.

The commission's treatment of the Irish, one of Britain's largest and longest standing minorities, seems to be tokenism. The Irish have experienced a bitter history o~ British discrimination. Maybe members of the commission have absorbed some British racial attitudes') For now the debate over Britrshness is front and center. No doubt when the smoke clears, Britishness will still be a part of Great Britain and many of the other recommendations will be implemented. Great Britain and the world will be better for the report.

O'Connor is Opinion Editor and may be reached via e-mail at shnlin@aol.com

Staff Writers Jo Appleton, Mark Beerman, William Bibeff, Mark Brown , Melissa Case, He1di Clites, Kelli Davis, Ramin Falahi, Jon Fussell, Ben Greenstein , Mark Harris, Enn Heid, Jennifer Jennmgs, Mirva Lempiainen, Lisa Lipsey, Laura Mitchei,Sheena Prosser, Parish Rahbar, Bridgette Roncone, Mark Schneider, Joshua Sitarz, Travis Usrey, Donna Williams

Staff Photographers Arthur Anderson, Karin Braun, Tyanna Burton, Anthony Donez, Christopher Donez, Marianna M.M, Lampe, Rosalynn Landazuri ,

Staff Photographers (cont.)

Valerie McCoy, Michelle Michael.

Tristan Nickey, Tamara Pillen, Natalie Schrik, Jennifer Smee, Louie Traub

EJ:I

CFAC

Associated Collegiate Press

California Rrst Amendment Coalition

tlY ~

California Newspaper Publishers Association

~

Journalism Association of Community Colleges

The Telescope â&#x20AC;˘

Monday, Oct. 23, 2000

5

Entertainment 'Bedroom Farce' players give stunning performance Ben Greenstein The Telescope

There is only one real problem had with Bedroom Farce," the recent Palomar College production- it's title is a little misleading.

When I think of a "farce," I expect to see a lightning-fast, over-the-top blur of wit, campiness, and mistaken identity.

"Bedroom Farce" has none of these - it is somewhat slowly paced, and its plot is a bit in the romantic comedy vein.

However, I can hardly hold the production responsible for a slightly misleading title, especially when everything else about the play is so charming.

Set in England, the play is the story of four couples, each one experiencing varying levels of romantic difficulties.

Ernest (Armando Garcia) and Delia (Elizabeth Hannon), the oldest couple, bicker about small things - where to eat dinner, how much to tip the waiter, and so on.

In direct contrast, their son Trevor (John DeCarlo) and his Susannah (Michelle wife LaBombard) can hardly sta~d the sight of each other and are ready (and very willing) to go through a divorce.

Trevor's past lover, Jan (Deborah Andreasen) still feels more for him than she does for her husband, Nick (Chuck Hand), who is laid up in bed with a sprained back.

The newest couple, Malcolm (Peter Bahen) and Kate (Hope Davidson), still seem to be getting used to each other.

While Alan Ayckbourn is hardly my favorite playwright (he strikes me as the British Neil Simon, but without as much wit and character development), the talented cast really brought the play to life, especially with their body language.

My favorite actor is Armando Garcia, who gives Ernest a

Valerie McCoy I The Telescope Trevor (John DiCarlo) is caught in a romantic quandry with Susanna (Michelle LaBombard) in the romantic comedy, "Bedroom Farce."

hilarious senile-old-man waddle, and made it very clear that he was the submissive party in his relationship.

Also wonderful is Chuck Hand's performance as Nick, who, despite his debilitating back injury, is easily the least sympathetic character in the play.

Simultaneously whiny and

conceited, he also brin~s to life the obvious comedic nighlight of the play, in which the bedndden N1ck must retrieve a book which he dropped on the floor.

The female parts are all portrayed nicely as well, especially Elizabeth Hannon's Delia, whose obsession with proper British etiquette is the perfect foil for Ernest's forgetfulness.

The British accents are the only flaws in the production.

Although they all are performed without error, they seem to be somewhat distracting to the actors themselves.

One can only imagine how much better the play would be if the talented cast did not have to stay in the proper dialect.

Some energy is lost as a

result of this extra effort on the cast's part - an Americanized version with twice the energy and emotion would be far more enjoyable.

Still, one cannot criticize what a play is missing without praising what it has, and "Bedroom Farce" certainly has a lot going for it.

ext performance

Valerie McCoy I The Telescope

Susanna (Michelle LaBombard) and Kate (Hope Davidson) unexpectedly break into the bedroom and catch sight of Trevor (John DeCarlo) and Jan (Deborah Andreasen) in a sultry, amorous embrace.

6

The Telescope â&#x20AC;˘

Monday, Oct. 23, 2000

Nothing to love about Concert Review 'The Ladies-' Man' Christina Aguilera proves she's a true star at

Ramin Falahi The Telescope

'The Ladies' Man" is a perfect translation of the character who was made popular on "Saturday Night Live," but the idea of "The Ladies' Man" doesn't cross over to a feature film.

Tim Meadows plays Leon Phelps, a cool looking, smooth talking love doctor, with an unmistakable Afro.

He is the ladies ' man. Stuck in the 70s, and always drinking in style, the film revolves around this character.

Leon, a character created by Tim Meadows, comes across without fault.

"The Ladies' Man" involves the same sayings made famous on "Saturday Night Live," such as the ever popular, "Yea, that's cool," and creates some new lines.

But the way in which Meadows transforms his voice, with that distinct lisp, takes the ladies' man from the screen into the mind.

The film opens with Leon setting up drinks before speaking his mind on a Chicago-based radio love line show.

Leon speaks freely about sex and relates every topic to sex.

"The Ladies' Man," gets its humor from the wild statements that fly out of Leon's mouth.

He has a number of sexual encounters, which make for some hilarious moments.

Leon lives on a boathouse equipped with the latest love lotions from Wal-Mart and KMart.

This is an unforgettable sequence of action, but the laughs start to fade away.

This movie creates a good feel

Movie Review

The Ladies 'Man Rating:

*

(out of four stars}

rring:

Tim Meadows Billy Dee Williams Will Ferrell

Louie Traub The Telescope

Courtesy Universal Pictures

The loud screams, the green glow sticks waving in the air, the teenage girls who haven't figured out how to operate a pair of high heels. It must mean one thing: another pop concert.

This was to turn out to be not just an ordinary pop show.

Because on this cold, rainy, Southern California night at Coors Amphitheater in Chula Vista, a talented young star took the stage.

The star was none other than former Mickey Mouse Club Mousketeer, Christina Aguilera.

Before Aguilera took the stage, the group, Destiny's Child, performed an energy-filled 45 minute set, playing upbeat fan favorite songs like "Say My Name," "Bugaboo," "Jumpin' Jumpin," and their new single titled, "Independent Woman."

The group of four women almost couldn't make it onstage due to an injury to one of the band members, but staying loyal to their fans, the young women proved that the show must go on.

Just as soon as Destiny's Child

finished warming up the crowd, nineteen-year-old Christina Aguilera came out of a cloud of smoke in one of her trademark belly-baring midriff outfits and made the mood even warmer.

She opened with her hit single ''Genie in a Bottle," then went on to sing other songs from her debut self-titled album.

Songs including "Somebody's Somebody," "So Emotional," "When You Put Your Hands On Me," and her latest single, which has recently been the numberone music video on MTV's Total Request Live, "Come On Over."

She also performed a cut from her new Latin Album, "Mi Reflejo," called "Falsas Esperanzas," meaning "false hopes" in English, which had never been performed in front of a live audience.

Aguilera turned out a remarkable performance, energizing the crowd with her exceptional singing and dancing skills.

After a short speech in which Aguilera told all the ladies: "I hope you all get what you want," she closed the show with her number one single, "What a Girl Wants."

To many people, Christina Aguilera is still just another one of the myriad of blonde teen pop superstars currently flooding the music scene.

But Aguilera is the best of her class and will survive long after the others have gone on, as long as she keeps performing like she did at Coors.

Tim Meadows plays a smooth-talking radio-love show host. He sets up a few drinks before speaking Saturday-Night-Live lines.

for Meadows's character, but fails to create a relevant story around "The Ladies' Man." The scenes seem as if they were poorly put together. In the beginning, the movie goes in and out of Leon's past to establish his personality, but the scenes don't flow together very well.

It's as if the scenes were forced together with no thought. Leon faces some problems, but no true dilemma is established. Nothing of importance is happening.

The voice of Lester, who is played by Billy Dee Williams, acts as a transition into some of the scenes involving Leon.

Lester is the voice of reason in some instances. This adds a little variety to the same old scenes involving Leon.

At frrst Leon's encounters are funny, then they lose their feel.

The problem is that Leon's novelty runs out, and he becomes annoying.

Some of the characters act childishly, so their become childish.

Barney, played by Lee Evans, sums up this childish style of acting. Barney finds his wife involved with Leon in their house. Barney later loses all control, and his scenes become silly and unpleasant.

Will Ferrell, another "Saturday Night Live" actor, is featured in the film.

He adds some humor when his character is introduced, but the acting has an exaggerated style and is repeated to the point where his exit seems right.

This film will cause some laughs out loud, but the character of Leon fails to fill the void that is present.

"The Ladies' Man" was excellent on "SNL," but this film seems to give too much time to a character who is only good for five minutes.

Louie Traub I The Telescope Christina Aguilera, a former Mickey Mouse Club Mousketeer, is the talented young star now performing at Coors Amphitheater.

'Verse' provides insight into world of poetry, prose Orlando Aloma TMS Campus

"This Craft of Verse"

by Jorge Luis Borges Harvard 160 pages

$22.95 Spanish poet Juan Ramon Jimenez, it is said, was once asked by a member of the audience to explain the meaning of a poem he had just read. The poet obliged - by reading it again.

And the story goes that Faulkner, told by someone that he had read "The Sound and the Fury" twice and didn't understand it, gave the puzzled reader this piece of advice: Read it a third time.

It doesn't have to come to that, but readers who fret because they don't "get" everything -- "signif-

icant" readers with no allowance for sound, rhythm, revelation -would benefit from Jorge Luis Borges' "Thought and Poetry," one of six Charles Eliot Norton lectures delivered by the Argentine savant at Harvard in 1967-68. Transcribed from tapes recently "discovered" -- at this stroke of chance, the mysteryloving Borges smiles from the nooks of the Eternal Library where he went in 1986 ~- they now have been published as "This Craft of Verse."

"Feeling the implication" is an apt Borges description for the effects of poetry. When his compatriot Leopolda Lugones (18741938) writes, for example, that the sunset is "un violento pavo real verde," there is no need to worry "about the likeness -- or rather the unlikeness -- of a sunset to a green peacock. What is important is that we are made to

feel that he was stirred by the sunset, that he needed the metaphor to convey his feelings to us."

Speaking of which, "The Metaphor" is the subject of another one of these lectures, where Borges travels from "Beowulf'' to Byron with myriad stops and detours. For instance, a stanza from e.e. cummings.

Borges is "taken aback" by the initial, "modern" comparison of "god's terrible face" to a spoon, then sails smoothly to the final verse where the poet's existence "resembles something that has not occurred." Borges exults in the line, which conveys "the dreamlike essence of life."

"De Quincey said that all anecdotes are apocryphal," Borges argues, in explaining that some of the anecdotes told of his friends were coined by him. "But they are not false; they are essen-

tially true .... If a story is told of joy of minutiae, the nitty-gritty a man, then that story resembles of lex, and savor Joyce's gift of him." (Does this apply to the two "glittergates of elfin bone" or Stevenson's use of "sedulous"; anecdotes at the top of these lines?) defend the pronunciation of the Following that train of Latin "v" as "v" and not "w" (i.e., "vita brevis," not the "very ugly" thought, a case could be made for reading almost all of Borges "wita brewis," as purists would as fiction. Even in these scholarhave it). Or cede to -- arguably ly lectures, given without notes fair -- hyperbole in calling 16th Borges, of course, was Century's San Juan de la Cruz, blind_there is so much assump"the" greatest of Spanish poets, of all men who have used the tion and conjecture, there are so many gaps to fill, that Borges Spanish language for the purposseems to be creating at once the es of poetry." authors and the ideas and the Hyperbole that, in turn, is texts he's quoting. And there are often showered on this self-effacauthors, ideas and texts aplenty . ing illuminator who, at almost 70 as the oral Borges explores such then, said he could offer "only subjects as "The Riddle of doubts" but is nonetheless called Poetry" and "Word-Music and on the cover of this volume -with better-than-even odds Translation," groping to arrive finally at "A Poet's Creed." "probably the best-read citizen of But there is also in "This Craft the globe in his day." of Verse" the small pleasure of watching a wordsmith seek the

The Telescope •

Comet:

Make Life Simple!

continued from page 1

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Monday, Oct. 23, 2000

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Thursday was Comet Day, Palomar College football and wrestling teams along with the cheerleaders came to show their support the Comet Week and people were encouraged to wear black and red clothes to match team colors.

The "Who I Am Makes A Difference" campaign was started as a part of Comet Week to honor the people in our lives who are important to us, by giving them a blue ribbon. Ribbons are available from the ASG office. The campaign, started by a non-profit organization, Difference Makers International, has a goal to have "A Blue Ribbon On Every Heart by 2002".

(858) 495-1600

~ALIFOHI\IA COAST :~D,;

EOPS returns unused book aid to students Mirva Lempiainen The Telescope

Some students receiving aid Opportunity from Extended Programs & Services have been worried that their unused book vouchers might still count as fully used and could thus reduce the students' financial aid. Suzanne Gavin, EOP&S Gear Up director. aid there is no need to be afraid of that happening.

In fact, the state has granted EOP&S a budget increase for this academic year that allows EOP&S to return the unused portion of the book vouchers back to the students.

The book vouchers for the campus bookstore are $250 per semester for full-time students and $187.50 for students taking Jess than nine units, and they are valid for required textbooks only.

Generally students spend more than that on books and have to pay the rest themselves but if some students don't need to buy books for the whole amount, they will now receive the leftover award as a check.

EGG DONORS NEEDED Ages 20-30

$3,500 compensation

Mary San Agustin, financial aid and scholarship director, said that even though the Financial Aid Office does take all the aid a student receives into consideration, the unused book vouchers do not decrease the amount of fmancial aid the student gets. The Financial Aid Office is a government agency that evaluates students' needs for financial aid. based on the general living costs in the area surveyed by California State University San Marcos.

By collaborating with EOP&S, the Financial Aid Office makes sure the students don't get the same expense covered by many resources. EOP&S is meant to go above <md beyond the financial aid, San Agustin said.

The only resources that could be affected by the book award are student loans. which according to San Agustin. should be the last way of funding college studies, not the primary one. However, financial aid is not a welfare system, she said, and added that financial aid is meant to minimize the burden of education costs, not to support the students. If students receive aid that exceeds their needs, the excess must be paid back, San Agustin said.

To avoid any surprises, students should ask for counseling and tutoring help from the Financial Aid Office. Adjustments and re-estimates for the next semester should be made as soon as possible to solve any problems that may occur.

Crossword ACROSS 1 S1mians 5 Lot 10 Dance movement 14 Gilpin of "Frasier" 15 Alphabetical quintet 16 "Rape of the Lock" poet 17 Solid-state circuit part 19 Legal claim 20 Scram!

21 Post-Christmas events 22 Releases a grip 25 Confirmed 26 Stable female 27 That woman 28 Org. of Giants 31 Effrontery 36 "_You Be1ng Served?"

37 '\Jest-egg $ 38 Type of ove rcoat 39 "_ the season to be ... " 40 Water damage 41 Nonfiction 43 Sheep-ette 44 Escort's offer 45 Progress like The B•ob 46 Clouds' milieu 47 Architect Eero 51 Dull fin 1sh 54 Unguents 55 Needle case 56 Situational 60 Memorizing process 61 Grade-B Western 62 Austen novel 63 Flightless fowl 64 Creative movement of the '60s 65 Beams

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7 Book before Philemon 8 Geezer 9 "Ben 10 Wet impact 11 Work har·d 12 Fencer's tool 13 Writing tools 18 Benng or Ross 21 Handled 22 Strike caller?

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46 Eyelid swellings

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53 Ballerina's skirt

Street" character 48 Make ends meet?

49 Prevent 50 Actor Harrison 51 Only just

54 Cleansing agent 56 Talk baby talk 57 Ms. Thurman 58 Irving or Ta'l 59 Notes of scales

8

The Telescope •

Monday, Oct. 23, 2000

orts Sports video game culture Eight games on this month's top ten list were sports themed. Not surprisingly, Tony Hawk's new game, which debuted three weeks ago tops the list.

Arlene Martinez The Telescope

TOP TEN VIDEO GAMES FOR OCTOBER 1. Tony Hawks ProSkatr2 2 Madden NFL 2001 3 Tony Hawks Pro Skater 4 Gran Turismo 2 5 NFL 2Kl 6.Spider-Man 7. Spec Ops 8 Driver 9 WWF Smackdown' 10 Dave Mirra BMX Source: Gameweek.com

Mark Beerman The Telescope

If you are the girlfriend of a video-game player, chances are you've been stood up more than once because he was playing some sports video game.

Sports video games, for the most part, are gender-biased.

But that's a different article.

The fact is that for nearly 10 years, sports video games have dominated the video game market that caters to males.

Ever since the company Electronic Arts (now commonly known as EA Sports) created its groundbreaking John Madden football-franchise, the male population of the United States has found a new reason to stay home.

EA, who teamed up with those who produced Sega Genesis, can be credited with introducing the first consistent series of sports video games. The idea of buying a sports video game, playing it for one year, then shelling out $50 to get the same game but with updated rosters and teams sounded redundant and foolish at the time.

But every critic was wrong, dead wrong.

Courtesy Activision

Video games with sports themes top sales. Here, earn bonus points in Tony Hawk's Pro Skatr2.

EA created a new multi-million dollar market in the video game industry and basically owned this market for nearly three years.

Today, this revolution is still felt in the video game industry.

Sports video games not only sell themselves, but the consoles.

From the dawn of the Sony PlayStation )o the current success of Sega Dreamcast, sports video games have been at the forefront of the industry wars.

EA Sports has prospered from the strong sales of its Madden.

NHL, NBA Live, and Triple Play franchises on the Play Station and Nintendo 64.

So why are sports video games so popular? It is because these games allow anyone to play as their favorite athlete and to feed

the male ego by defeating their friends on a constant basis.

Add in such features as realistic stadiums and arenas, true to life playbooks, and the create-yourown-player modes, and you have the "perfect" game.

Gameweek.com, a video game industry news-gathering Web site, shows that in its weekly video game sales lists, dating back to April of this year, sports video games have sold at least 80 percent of the games ranked on its top 10 lists.

But here is the kicker about sports video games: they are only going to get bigger and more realistic.

The Sega Dreamcast, the first of the next generation consoles, showed all of the garners of the world what is now possible on

· 128-bit systems. The games look exactly like a real sporting event.

The physics behind each sport is now being incorporated into every game, so there is no difference behind what you watch live on your TV and the system you play the game on.

Now add the PlayStation 2, due out Oct. 26, with Madden 2001 being its main seller.

The line between video games and reality will only blur as time goes on.

What has been seen as a problem to parents and an addiction by girlfriends is only going to get worse. Video games are here to stay, and as the old saying goes, You can only get this controller when you pry it from my dead hands.

Finances threaten two San Diego professional teams - save the Padres Brooke Davidoff The Telescope

Two of San Diego's professional sports teams seem to be having some financial problems.

The Padres can't get the money

I just don't understand the attraction

to complete their new ballpark.

And the Chargers can't seem to sell tickets to their games ... or win them.

Every empty seat the Chargers can't sell is paid for by the San Diego taxpayers. What kind of

Courtesy Padres official web site Padres deserve their own field of dreams, according to some fans.

Sketches of San Diego's ballpark, recently halted mid-construction.

idea is that? I think it stinks.

Look at the last home stand for the Padres. The Q was packed.

The fans aren't stupid, they all knew the Padres weren't close to the playoffs. They just love to watch the Padres.

Sure, both teams made it to their playoffs a few years ago, and they both have a fan following. San Diego needs the Padres and the Chargers need San Diego.

The Padres only sold out two games this season, two more than the Chargers. Baseball is America's pastime. The Padres are San Diego's.

Let's forget the money tax payers waste on empty seats for the Chargers and give that money to build the Padres a new stadium.

Or just give the Padres the Q, and make the Chargers raise money for a new stadium.

The Padres need their field of dreams to make them a reality.

The Chargers live in a field of dreams, and the reality is a winless empty house.

People reading this might say, "Hey, what about Jr. Seau, look

at what he's done for San Diego."

I can come back with, Look what Tony Gwynn has done." You really can't compare the two, but I sit around and think about which I'd rather do: pay for the Padres field of dreams, or pay for empty Charger seats.

Well, I have to admit it took me less than a minute to come up with my choice. I love baseball, I might even be addicted to it. San Diego needs the Padres, they provide San Diego with community spirit. Not too many things do that these days. And for them to draw the crowds they did this season with mostly unknown players out there is amazing to me. More than half of the Padres were new to our team this year.

If the decision were to come down to losing the Padres or the Chargers, I know which I'd want to keep. Ask Bruce _Bochy if he thinks it's fair for his team to have nowhere to call home.

The bottom line is you can't take baseball away from us, we love the Padres. And they need a home.

We need our boys of summer.

I'm one of those girls who can watch football from 10 a.m. (or when I wake up) to the end of ESPN Sunday night football - if it's a good game anyway. To me Sundays are defined by football, the same way a sunny Thursday afternoon mid-summer is defined by a day game at the ballpark.

SportsCenter lulls me to sleep every night. Given the choice between a sitcom and a sporting event, sport will always wins. It follows, then, that I might also enjoy playing video games with sport themes.

I don't. Not only do I not enjoy playing them, I can't understand how people do.

I lived in an apartment complex in a college town. I was surrounded by handsome boys, who arrived in the fall looking trim and tan. A favorite ritual of many all-guy apartments was playing video games, and almost exclusively sports games. Up and down the halls I'd go to visit, only to see a pack of men crammed into a tiny room, enthralled with a Sony or Sega game system.

The only thing worse than playing these games all day long is watching other people play these games all day long. And that's what they would do. Watch for three hours, play half of an hour. It would mystify me.

My closest neighbors had a pool, much like an office NFL pool, where everyone predicts the point spread and the winner gets the pot of money everyone has chipped in. It was the same format, only with a video game.

How do you predict the point spread in a video football game?

Worse than losing the company of several friends, it was sad to see the deterioration in these once fine, strapping young lads.

The hours and days on end of sitting on a couch and easy chair began to take its toll. This obsession with video games (and, of course, the keg parties) made them enormously unappealing physically and a bore, too.

For me, the best thing about watc~ing sports is seeing the reactiOn of a player after a close win, or a heartbreaking loss.

Those commercials - "This is why we watch"- were made for me. I watch and am convinced I make a difference, that my faith and· belief helps my teams win (note: excluding the 2000 Padres and Chargers seasons). When Florida State was down against Miami and missed what would have been a tying field goal, I felt for the kicker. I watched him grab his helmet in disbelief, and I watched another player squeeze his shoulders, consoling his friend and teammate. And I saw Miami explode in celebration.

When the Yankees clinched the trip to the World Series it was still exciting to see the opposing team charge.

This is why we watch.

I'll never understand the fascination with sports video games.

How people can spend gorgeous days inside playing video games for hours on end will always be a mystery to me.

But I know this. You'll never feel elation and pride and passion and cornraderie from playing a video game.