The Telescope 54.11

Monday, Dec. 4, 2000 -

Palomar College -

Volume 53, Number 11

Merry Christma$?

Tainted blood ·

Grinched!

Christmas' true spirit is being lost in all the commercialization.

A Palomar student's battle with hemophilia gives hope to others.

Jim Carrey reinvents Dr. Seuss's holiday cartoon classic in this new flick.

Opinion, page 4

Focus, page

~~

Entertainment, page 8

Senator resigns to side step impeachment I

. .

Tom Chambers The Telescope

Senator Melissa Denham gave a tearful resignation at the Nov. 22 meeting of the Associated Student Government.

"I' ve decided to resign from ASG, even though I don' t want to," Denham read from a letter of resignation.

Denham said the other members were about to impeach her for installing software on student government computers.

ASG Accordi ng to the Constitution, members can be removed from office for breaking the Student Code of Conduct, which forbi ds students from installing soft.)¥are on campus computers.

"I was told that eight people on a list were ready to impeach me for breaking the code of conduct," Denham said. "The real reason is because they don't like me."

Denham said she brought Microsoft Office 2000 fro m home to use on the ASG newsletter. When she brought it in, she loaded it onto one computer in

the ASG office and then she said she asked Shannon Gyde, ASG president, if she wanted it on her office computer. Denham said Gyde let her install the software on Gyde 's computer, and another computer in the office.

Denham said that if she was about to be removed for installing the software, then the other officers involved should take some responsibility as well.

Gyde declined to comment about the software installation and whether Denham was going to be removed because other ASG officer didn't like her. She did say she had heard a rumor to that affect.

"In the heat of the moment, she (Denham) resigned because she heard about impeachment and didn' t want that to happen," Gyde said.

Denham said Bruce Bishop, director of the Office of Student Affairs, told her that if she resigned from office the college wouldn 't discipline her for breaking the code of conduct..

See Resignation , page 12

Faculty divides on vote for union Mark Harris The Telescope

Palomar faculty will decide over the next three weeks whether or not to have a union represent them in collective bargaining with the district.

In response to a petition by Palomar Faculty Federation , California's Public Employment Relations Board is conducting a secret ballot to decide whether the district will recognize Palomar Faculty Federation as the faculty's exclusive representative agent.

In addition to full-time and part-time faculty, the proposed bargaining unit includes counselors, coaches, librarians and child-care center teachers employed by the district during 2000.

The board mailed ballots Nov. 27 to the homes of 1,171 eligible voters. Ballot choices are either Palomar representation by Faculty Federation or no representation. Voters must return their ballots to the board no later than Dec. 20 at 3 p.m. The board will count the ballots Dec. 21. A majority of voted ballots will decide the question.

Palomar Faculty Federation is a local affiliate of California Federation of Teachers, which is a statewide affiliate of American

Federation of Teachers, AFLCIO. In ·May, Palomar Faculty Federation petitioned for recognition as representative agent for part-time faculty only. The district declined to voluntarily recognize the proposed unit.

According to Jack Miyamoto, vice president for human resource services, the district preferred a single bargaining unit representing both part-time and full-time faculty.

In September, Palomar Faculty Federation resubmitted its petition, amended so as to include full-time faculty, counselors, coaches, librarians and child-care center teachers. The district took the position that it is "important that each faculty member get to vote," Miyamoto said. So the district again declined to voluntarily recognize the proposed unit. As a result, the Public Employment Relations Board called . an election to decide the question.

Under the existing system called meet and confer - the faculty senate designates a committee to negotiate salary, benefits and working conditions with the district's representatives.

Chris Barkley, associate professor of English, believes the existing system has produced better working conditions for full-time faculty than are avail-

Balancing act: Douglas LeClair Staff Writer

College is a costly investment, but many students add to the financial burden by carrying the debt of tuition and living expenses on credit cards.

A recent survey found approximately one in every three students owns orie or more credit cards.

The dangers of credit cards

And it is almost impossible not to have one. As many students turn 18, solicitations from credit card companies eager to extend hundreds and thousands of dollars of credit begin rolling in through the maiL Applications are cleverly tucked away inside shopping bags at college bookstores, "pre-approved" applications

arrive in mailboxes, and tables at campuses with free incentives to indulge new cardholders.

According to a study by the American Consumer Credit Counseling every American . receives an average of seven credit card applications per year.

See D e bt, page 1.4

Parking policy to be changed next semester Laura Mitchell The Telescope

Palomar College students may have to start carrying a copy of the parking policy with them in order to keep up on where they can legally park.

The parking policy in use last spring semester is not the policy being used this semester. This semester's policy will not likely be the policy in use next semester.

"We're at a point right now that we need to revisit this," said Tom Plotts, chief of police at Palomar.

Plotts said the new policy addresses a few problems with the original policy, like inconsistency and community use issues.

Plotts said the new policy increases free visitor parking from 30 to 113 spaces. Parking lot 15,

between Mission Road and the ing community volunteers," said theater, would be changed to Steve Wheeler of San Marcos, · exclusively free visitor parking referring to the policy in use now.

"I'm not a student or employee. I'm with a new incoming entrance.

The new policy also calls for a a community member who uses 20 percent contribution from gen- Palomar's facilities."

Wheeler said he is a member of eral fund money, an increase from 5 percent. General fund money is Kiwanis and has supported Special unrestricted and can be used · as Olympics, both of which use needed by the governing board. Palomar's parking facilities. He Plotts said 20 percent is the aver- also said he has raised money for age general fund contribution . improvements at the college. among other community colleges "Yet they want me to pay for in San Diego County. these parking fees," Wheeler said.

The policy changes last May Faculty Senate President Chris came on the heels of a parking fee Barkley said the faculty didn't increase which, at the time, made have enough time to look at the student parking permits at Palomar policy changes. She said the the most expensive for a commu- Faculty Senate believes the new nity college in San Diego County. policy will affect parking at per"I believe the best place to take forming arts and athletic events.

The board is expected to vote on that (parking lot) repair money is from somewhere other than charg- the new policy at it's next meeting.

2

The Telescope •

Monday, Dec. 4, 2000

Cam us Beat Library· gets telecom upgrade

Free film features mom

Telecommunication services in the library will get a makeover next semester.

Library electrical services are being reworked to better support growing communication needs and to fix damage done to cables by mice.

The plan consists of: • The installation of a 200 pair telephone feed cable to fix existing communication problems.

• Cables being replaced and a total of 235 new data lines added.

• Phone lines will be added to each floor of the library making a total of 135 lines.

• There will be 59 new digital phones and 34 new analog phones added.

The state has given Palomar College a $400,000 grant for the Telecommunications data upgrade.

The work will be done at night and on the weekends to avoid inconvenience for students or staff.

Rick Sanchez, information systems specialist, said the upgrade is scheduled to begin Feb. 1, 2001 and will be completed by April 1, 2001.

--Sheena Prosser

"All About My Mother" is showing for free Thursday, Dec. 7, in Room P-32 at 6:30p.m.

This story about one mother's life changing adventures is the last movie of the Fall 2000 Film Series.

Manuela is mourning her son Esteban's death when she decides to read his personal notebook. She finds her son was sad to have never known anything about his father. She told Esteban his father had died before he was born. This was a lie, so in memory of her son Manuela decides to find Esteban's father.

First she must inform him that he had a son named after him and he just died, then she mu.st tell him that the boy's last written words were to the father he never knew.

Manuela's journey is filled with drama and comedy unique to the style of director Pedro Almodovar.

"All About My Mother" won the 2000 Academy Award for best foreign language film.

Starring: Cecilia Roth and Penelope Cruz and was released in Spain in 1999. It is rated R. --Donna Williams

Class seeks Spring 2001 answers to registration big problems starts Human values, comparative religion and the environmental crisis are issues that will be discussed at the Global Concerns Learning Community during the Spring semester.

The new class will seek solutions to such global problems as energy . use and technology, the family and population management, land use and diet, human employment, animal rights, pollution and the ozone layer. Also, traditional values of the good life will be re-evaluated and compared with views from other cultures.

The class will examine Western, Asian, and other world views for causes of, and possible solutions to, the environmental crisis.

Students will earn six units by being a part of the Learning Community which combines two classes, Religious Studies 101 and Philosophy 101.

The instructors will be Gene Sager and William Leslie, both in the Behavioral Sciences Department. • --Mirva Lempiainen

Registration for next semester begins Dec. 5. Continuing students received the Spring 2001 class schedule and a Phone And Register appointment card by mail at the end of November.

The number for the PAR line is 760-471-2421. When calling, students need to know their Palomar Identification Number and their four-digit Personal Identification Number.

According to Sandy Nannige, the Supervisor of Admissions, PAR is the only way to register, and students must call at the time specified on their appoinment cards.

Students m Extended Opportunity Programs and Services, and Disabled Students Programs & Services can preregister Dec. 4.

The class schedule is available on campus and online, although it is not yet possible to register using the Internet. "We're working on it real hard," Nannige.

--Mirva Lempiainen

What's your biggest problem with t~e opposite sex?

Louie Tl:aub I The Thkstope

Students relax between classes in ifle Student Union dining~. Since its comPkdion, along with 1he Dome, in 1959 ihe Student Union has been home on campus for generations of students. The building$ were financed witb a $685,000 bond approved by 75 percent qf dis-.

trict voters in October 1957. The June 3, 1959 issue of The Tetescope reported a speech by a member of the governing board: "Let's take a look back Mel briefly touch the higblights (of 1959). Palomar College's •new geodesic dome building and the Student Union is ~nee of the gn,wttt in Palomar as tbe influx of students demartds a greater and greater expansion of teachers and facilities to 'accommodate this new gn,wth." The dining area is scheduled to be demolisbed anct ~ed with a two-story structure. Work wiD begin in June 2001 and $houfd be comptewd by January 2002. the new building will be paid for by student funds.

The current cost estimate for the new bUilding is $3.3 million.-Lisa Lipsey

Space short on campus · The campus is suffering a classroom shortage and a general lack of space. Mathematics especially is affected.

Thirty new faculty members will start working at Palomar Fall Semester 2001. According to Kelley Hudson-Maclsaac, facility planning manager, just finding offices for the new staff will be tough.

The classroom shortage is limiting the number of classes the Math Department can offer, said Mona Smith, academic department assistant. There are 25-30

sections of intermediate algebra, beginning algebra and prealgebra offered each semester, she said.

Math 56 is a new course that fits in the same category as the most popular math courses. However, there will only be three sections of it in the Spring. There is no room for more, Smith said.

About a third of the Math Department space in the E-building, is occupied by computer labs. A plan for turning the labs into classrooms has been approved, but is not funded, Smith said.

Remodeling of the E-building will have to wait, since the work must be done between semesters, Smith said ..

--Mirva Lempiainen

Concert hour stars voices, guitars This week's concert hour is the music honor recital.

Performing students will be Camille Arnold (voice), . Adam Fonseca (voice), Melissa Jones -(voice), Mary Reed (voice), George Gonzalez (voice), Eric Marchuk (guitar), Scott Wolf (guitar), Stephen Knoll-Gentry (voice), Jamie Knowles (voice), Viola Rohling (voice).

The recital is Thursday, Dec. 7, at 12:30 p.m. in Room D-10.

--Donna Williams

Naaim Abbasi Financial Planning

Darren Cooper Computer Science

Victoria Muedano Literature/Spanish

Harlen Justice II International Business

Tammy Quintanar Business

"They are unpredictable and unreliable."

"Different styles of communication."

"They don't listen."

"The social factors placed upon us by society influences the different styles of communication."

"Men ·don't know how to communicate."

The Telescope •

3

Monday, Dec. 4, 2000

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The Telescope • . Monday, Dec. 4, 2000

4

•

•

1n1on Editorial Reward student government?

They should do something first (

n what was one of it's most productive meetings this year, the Associated Student Government gave its members a $500 scholarship, staff parking spaces and refreshments at their meetings.

At the same meeting, student government officers told students from MEChA that their request for money to host an annual Christmas party was being held up because the ASG was missing a treasurer.

If there's no one there to approve spending for student clubs, then why is the student government spending money on itself? If ASG officers can decide to spend $10,000 on a new floor for the Admissions Office, and up to $8,000 to pat themselves on the back, why can't they pass student requests for money without delay?

MEChA did get its money, but only after approaching the ASG to ask why it was taking so long.

It's wrong for our student government leaders to spend so much on themselves when they can't figure out how to give student groups money without a treasurer. Don't they realize they are spending students' money? Shouldn't it be spent on the students?

It's also wrong for them to think they deserve a reward. Beyond buying a new floor for an administrative building and a video camera for the Athletics Department, this student government hasn't dom~ very much.

They still have trouble running their meetings, not knowing when to move and second resolutions.

They say they are still learning, and that's right.

We are all here to learn, but at some point we have to expect them to stop learning how to do their jobs and start doing them.

A school year isn't that long, and our leaders need clear cut goals, and clear cut plans to accomplish them. The longer they sit around and do nothing while they "learn," the longer the students' business isn't being done.

Unless things turn around, these student leaders don't deserve a scholarship, parking space or cookies at their meetings.

The people on student government need to take the semester break as a chance to figure out what they are going to do with the little time they have left. It's time to stop using excuses. and start u 'ing the opportunity the students have given them.

I

Monday, December 4, 2000

@~n~Gfl (50011bD3 '1![:1J~

Do we really celebrate Christmas? ast December, I .· entered a La Jolla mall with the intention of enjoying a good meal in the food court.

As I rounded the comer, an array of Christmas lights decorating San Diego's palm trees greeted me. There were reindeer, too, outlined by a network of lights. In the distance was Santa Claus and seasonal music filled the air.

Given this time of year, I anticipated an uplift of spirit.

Alas, such was not the case. Far from being filled with joy, I experienced revulsion.

Unprepared for such a strong reaction, I tried to ignore the feeling. All I wanted to do was to have supper, read my news.Paper and go home.

But the feeling would not quit.

Halfway to my destination, I turned on my heels and headed for my car.

The reaction puzzled me. Why did I have such a strong reaction?

A strange emptiness seemed to permeate the mall. The toys seemed cheap, fragile, plastic, destined for the scrap heap shortly after they were to be opened.

Santa with his reindeer and elves seemed like such a crass commercial ploy. I felt more like retching than rejoicing.

Scrooge is right. Humbug!

Humbug! Humbug! And more humbug!

No wonder so many people say they wish the holidays would just go away. One more time, humbug!

And what of the madness involved in our frenzied, obligatory gift-buying, gift-wrapping and gift-giving?

Everybody knows of See's box of candy or the fruitcake. or. God help us. the fifth of whiskey, \\ hich makes its way through a dozen hands, which, .fust posSibly. ends up with the donor of origin.

L

Opinion Editor Sean J. O'Connor

Online 'Editor Tom Chambers

Campus Beat Editor Mark Harris

Advertising Manager Janet Dorsey

Volume 54, Number 11

1140 West Mission Road San Marcos, CA 92069 OFFICE: Room TCB·l PHONE: (760) 744-1150, Ext. 2450

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

Something is missing here.

Something?

It is obvious.

Christmas is no longer Christmas.

There is no longer any relationship between Christmas and the origins of Christmas, the birth of Christ.

How we celebrate Christmas is a good example of how we should not celebrate diversity. We are celebrating a common denominator of meaningless commercial muck where we have compromised ourselves to death.

Of course, we are a land of many peoples, cultures and religions. During this month alone, we celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and Ramadan.

Each of these has universal values and insights from which we can learn hO\v to live more purposeful and productive lives.

Copy Editors Nancy Seuschek

Entertainment

Palomar College

It is time to take another look at Christmas and search out its meanLng.

Editor in Chief Douglas LeClair

The Telescope is published weekly on Mondays, exce pt weeks con- James Rolfsen taining holidays or exams. Signed opinions are those of the individual writers and do not necessarily represent those of the entire newspaper Focus Editor staff, Palomar faculty and staff or the Governing Board.

Brooklyn Davidoff

Address: The Telescope

Sean J.

Edi~or

Distribution Manager Tara Hebert

Let us celebrate, not adulterate, our diversity.

While our First Amendment prohibits any government involvement in public institutions, with regard to religion, there is no prohibition against private groups-such as a mall-from allowing diverse groups to giving expression to their basic beliefs.

Christmas should call everybody's attention to poverty, not trade or commercialism.

It is a celebration of the value of being human, no matter how poor a person may be, a message we cannot hear too often.

And Christmas is a story beyond our imagination, of the divine being born in the form of a baby in humble circumstances. It is also an occasion for joy and hope and promise.

To update the story, more likely than not, the baby would be born in a place like East San Diego or in a downtown shelter, so often the object of conversational derision.

There is enough suffering, misery, poverty and mean-spiritedness in this old world of ours. It is time to take another look at Christmas and search out its meaning.

It is not by accident we celebrate Christmas during the period of the winter solstice.

It is during this, the coldest time of year, we celebrate the feast of warmth and love. In this, the darkest time of the year, we celebrate the feast of light.

And during this. the darkest and coldest time of year. when we can see the stars more clearly, wise men still search the heavens in their quest for wisdom and follow their star.

All of us need the spirit of Christmas.

O'Connor is Opinion Editor. and can be reached by e·mail at shnlin@aol.com

Staff Writers Jo Appleton, Mark Beerman.

William B1beff, Mark Brown.

Melissa Case, Heidi Clites. Kelli Davis, Ramin Falahi, Jon Fussell, Ben Greenstem, Erin Heid, Jennifer Jennings, Mirva Lempiainen, Lisa Lipsey, Laura Mitchei,Sheena Prosser, Parish Rahbar, Bridgette Roncone, Mark Schneider, Joshua Sitarz, Travis Usrey, Donn a Williams

Instructional Assistant Tom Chambers

Sports Editor Arlene Martinez

Journalism Adviser Wendy Nelson

Photo Editors Robert Chavis Johnny Rabago

Photojournalism Adviser Paul Stachelek

Staff Photographers (cont.)

Valerie McCoy, Michelle Michael, Tristan Nickey, Tamara Pillen, Natalie Schrik, Jennifer Smee, Louie Traub

EJ:I

CFAC

Associated

California Rrst Amendment Coalition

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

tlY ~

California

!.

Newspaper Publishers

Journalism Association of Community

Association

Colleges

The Telescope •

Monday, Dec. 4

2000

5

Should we keep the Electoral College?

The Electoral College shows the genius of the Founding Fathers Tom Chambers The Telescope

W

ith all the shenanigans going on in the state of Florida, and a popular vote leaning toward the candidate who lost the election, many are suggesting we scrap the Electoral College and have Americans elect their presidents directly. Chief among these is Senator-elect Hillary Clinton, who, out of ignorance, called for the demise of our system.

Clinton and company need to take Political Science 101 all over again. It may be harsh, but ignorant is the word to describe the thinking of those who seek to change a system that has worked for more than 200 years.

Just because the politicians, the talking heads on TV news and the American people don't understand how our Constitution works, is no reason to throw it away.

Our nation is called the United STATES of America. Each state is sovereign in its powers, and is looked upon equally by the federal government.

We are not a direct democracy, and changing to one threatens our freedom, and the power of our citizens, ALL citizens, to vote.

Many have forgotten that they are also citizens of the state they live in.

They forget that there is some equality between the states, and that this system has worked and will continue to work.

It's doubtful those seeking direct democracy would go as far as to dissolve the Senate, where each state, regardless of size, has an equal vote. If that were to happen, Hillary Clinton wouldn't have an office to go to in January.

The founding fathers devised the Electoral College system to stop the

large states from dominating presidential elections. Their concern was that states with high populations would wind up ruling this country-and therefore rendering all the other states powerless.

If the votes cast in California and New York, our most populous states, were deleted, Al Gore would not win the popular vote by a huge margin. Likewise, if this election were held under a direct democracy, California and New York would be choosing the president.

Candidates wouldn't need to focus on the needs of voters in the "fly-over country." They would just have to sell a message to California and New York, and then win the presidency. Then, as president, they would cater to the two largest states to get re-elected.

Is this representative democracy at work? Where does the power of our votes go when entire states are· left out of the equation? What happens to the rights of the farmer in Kansas when the people in California and New York are making all the decisions?

Our founders were wise to fear direct democracy. They knew that some checks had to be in place to stop mob rule and to preserve our rights and power as voters.

It's stupid to trash the system our founders gave us - a system that has sustained the longest lasting ·democracy in the world.

Under a direct democracy, we would be faced with recounts and contests nationally. Local control of elections would surely be lost. Those weary and tired of the happenings in Florida surely don't want that opened up to the entire nation.

The Electoral College provides a safeguard to voter fraud. With each state running its own election, the possibilities of tampering with ballots for national elections are few, and ineffective. If the election were nationalized, what's to stop the ruling party from skewing the results?

This is not the time to be rash. Close elections happen, and those on the losing end shouldn't call the system corrupt. It has worked this far, and to good ends.

Sore losers shouldn't claim to know more than our founding fathers who gave us the miracle that is the Constitution.

1

Political parties choose electors at state conventions.

2

When the people vote for president, they are choosing a slate of electors who represent the candidate of their choice.*

3

The electors for the candidate that receives the most popular votes is appointed.

4

In mid-December, the electors meet in their state capitol to cast their ballots. The ballots are counted before Congress.

5

The candidate who receives a majority is inaugurated.

The Formula: There are 538 electors in the Electoral College. The total number of each state's representatives and senators plus three for Washington, D.C. *In Maine and Nebraska two electors are chosen by the statewide popular vote and the rest are chosen by each congressional district.

The Electoral College is a relic of the past Donna Williams · The Telescope

hange is just around the comer.

Soon political eyes will be fixed on all 538 members of the Electoral College.

They will decide for the American people. Yet the majority of the U.S. population has no idea how or why the Electoral College chooses the president and vice president.

First, a brief summary on how our president is really elected. Voters do not vote for the president, they vote for electors who cast their votes in the Electoral College.

Electors are selected at the national party convention when party nominees are selected. Electors are equal in number to the states' 100 senators, 435 members of the House, plus three electors from the · District of Columbia, totaling 538.

Electors are committed, not reqUired by federal law, to .vote for the candidate in their representative state who takes the most popular votes.

It is a system created by our forefathers 200 years ago. Akil Amar from Yale Law School said it was "a brilliant 18th century device that cleverly solved a cluster of 18th century problems."

"We confront a different cluster of prob-

C

lems, and our constitutional machinery of presidential selection does not look so brilliant," he said.

The framers of the Constitution preferred the electoral system because in the 18th century travel was difficult. There were also no national party organizations. They feared ordinary citizens were often too easily misled and uninformed.

Today, voting is made easy for the ordinary citizen. Party information is at our fingertips, or better yet, in our face.

The most obvious fault of the Electoral CoUege is that a president can be elected without the majority of the popular vote. It might happen this year. Bill Clinton was elected twice without a majority.

Maybe that is where the "my-vote doesn't-count" attitude comes from.

The Electoral·College overrepresents Voters in rural states.

In 1988, the three least populated jurisdictions had 21 electoral votes, the same number as Florida, a state three times the population of all three.

A citizen's vote has more weight in a state with low voter turnout because the Electoral College vote still prevails.

The Electoral College depreciates the value of the individual vote.

The Constitution allows electors to use discretion when casting their final vote.

There is always the possibility that one may cross over and vote for his or her personal preference rather than the people's choice.

The Electoral College is a winner-take-

all type of arrangement. It favors the two major parties and does not show the strength of a third party With the Electoral College, a third party could sweep the popular vote and win zero electoral votes, losing in the end.

It sounds like a superb tactic for keeping either Democrats or Republicans in office whether the people like it or not.

David Kidd investigated this interesting aspect of the Electoral College while preparing his run for Congress. He noted that getting information out of the two main parties about Electoral College delegates was nearly impossible.

It should come as no surprise though, why would they say a word? /.

The system is purposely set up to ensure that third party candidates cannot get elected.

The current system has managed itself quite well, but is clearly flawed. The democratic instinct is in favor of the majority vote.

The Constitution is an amazing piece of work, but changes must be made to fit our changing society when necessary.

We have efficient party

organizations and technology today that can fairly calculate the direct popular vote.

Maybe the pathetic 49 percent voter tum out today would increase if the results actually reflected the people's choice.

It is time to change the system now, once and for all.

.V

6

The Telescope •

Monday, Dec. 4

2000

Instant family or instant insanity? echnology these days has grown to an almost unreal level. People across the world are connected immediately by the click of a button on a mouse. People are forming intimate relationships with others they have never met face to face .

It's a great thing to influence someone's life with only words. It's what authors do for a living. But when you're on the Internet reading someone else's words, sometimes you begin to realize that we are not so different.

So nightly people sit at their screen pouring out their heart to each other.

The screen supplies their support system and they are driven to the computer, and each other's lives.

Thousands of people fill chat rooms daily to talk about everything from politics to sex.

The Internet is the ultimate breakdown the walls medium. Sure people choose their chat rooms because of their own interest, but then they get to know each other.... or do they?

You hear about it all the time, people meeting people that way. How do you know if your Instant Messenger best friend is who they say they are?

How can you tell if your IM boy friend is even male? The thing is you have no idea. And the more you talk to these people, the more you realize why they live their lives through the Internet.

T

Brooklyn Davidoff

Thousands of people fill chat rooms and talk about everything from politics to sex.

Some of them are computer addicts, and most of the ones I've talked to have emotional problems.

I have an IM friend who claims to be a 20-year-old male .. He's a Yankee fan.

We met in a baseball chat room. He claims to love me and he says he wants to be with me forever. Hurnmm. Well maybe if I were 15 I would think it was cute, and I might talk about him like he was a real person.

But the truth is I have no idea who he is. I get poems and e-mail from my new friend. He quotes all the hot new bands to me on-line such as the Backstreet . Boys and N'sync that I doubt 20-yearold guys quote. I hope.

"Staring into your eyes/ I can't believe it/ I see a beautiful person/ inside and out/ I put my arms around you/ I fell in love with the perfect girl."

Imagine getting things like this from people you've never met.

Kinda cute maybe, but then they start getting mad because you don't want to be on the computer until 4 a.m. talking.

And you want to go out on Friday night with your friends.

"You've captured my heart/ you've captured my love."

My advice to him is to get a life. You can't fall in love with someone you've never seen, someone you wouldn ' t recognize if they were sitting a chair away from you.

If you 're searching for love on the computer, you need to spend more time with yourself.

You don't need a distraction to pretend you're not alone, you don't need someone else to make you complete, especially not a psycho on the other side of the computer.

Davidoff Is the Focus Editor and can be reached by e-mail at brooklyngtitter@hotmall.com

Student leaders caught on themselves any students on campus don't care about what goes on in the Associated Student Government - and probably with good reason. If you Tom think student government is self-serving, you're right. If you see it as a giant waste Chambers of time, you're right again. If you think student government members see themselves as members of an elite club, you've hit it right on the nose.

For the past two weeks the members of frustration or are forced out for clashing Palomar's student government have been with the power-hungry groupies.

I've watched the student government caught up in applauding themselves.

They passed three resolutions, unani- from my perch at the newspaper for more mously, to give themselves $500 scholar- ¡ than two years. For a year before that, I ships, refreshments at their meetings and served as an ASG officer. I've seen the stustaff parking permits. At the same meet- dent government accomplish great things ing, they told members of the club for the students: passing the new Student MEChA that a monetary request for an Center to be built next year, stopping the annual Christmas party hasn't been administration from taking the student passed yet because there is no treasurer, lounge for staff training, blocking a stateand therefore, no one to pre-approve wide organization from taking a quarter of student representation fee funds. I haven't budget allotments.

What was disturbing was the attitude seen much of this in the past year, but, of our representatives, when this dis- being the constant optimist, I watch, hopcrepancy was brought up. They were ing our leaders will accomplish something pompous, rude and indignant. The worst for the students.

But, more often than not, they seek to examples were the vice presidents, serve and protect, themselves. They get Rebeccah Faubus, Trisha Carlson and Renita Pitts. These three chose to attack lost in personality conflicts and battles the person asking questions. When a stu- within the organization. At the beginning dent seated behind her asked a question, of one recent meeting, a good 15 minutes was spent encouraging one another to get Carlson wrenched back, "We aren't talking to you!" As the student persisted, Faubus claimed she was being harassed.

Pitts said she knew that certain students were at the meeting to "cause trouble."

Faubus, Carlson and Pitts are too much on the defensive. They are so caught up in what little power they have they've lost the reason they are there. It's scary, the way they shut down students who disagree with them. It's also scary, the way these three demagogues tell students that their way is the only way - "don't listen to those harassers who show up to cause trouble" seems to be their message. It was distasteful, the way they glared and snarled like a pack of rabid dogs guarding their precious little rear-ends.

The business of our representatives doesn't have to be this way. We, the students, give our leaders an awesome opportunity to affect the way Palomar College operates. We give them the chance to really serve the students, to make our voices heard and to listen to our concerns. This opportunity is too often wasted - clouded by the egos of those who claim to serve us.

For the most part, student government attracts two different kinds of people: those who sit and do nothing, and those who seek the job for power. This year we have a good mix of both, dominated by the latter. Those who run for office to actually do something for the students don't usually last very long. They either quit out of

M

along. One of their hardest-working senators was just quit because the re t of the group didn't like her.

Walking into an ASG meeting is like walking into a day care center full of twoyear-olds - except these kids are much older, and behave much worse.

A large dose of maturity and a teaspoon of humility would be a good prescription for this bunch. They have another semester ahead of them to still really represent the students, and accomplish their goals.

To do so, they need to learn to set their petty differences aside. They don't have to like each other, they just have to be united under the students' banner. They need to learn to listen, and not just assume they know everything.

If you snap at students who come to meetings, students will stop corning. They also need to put a moratorium on their "pat ourselves on the back" agenda until they have the ability to give other student organizations the money they have a right to.

Will it happen? I may be too optimistic, but I hope so - and I expect it to happen.

Serving the students is a great opportunity, and it can be fun and rewarding if you're willing to take your eyes off yourself and focus on what the students want.

Chambers Is the Online Editor and can be reached by e-mail at tommychambers@hotmall.com

Kelli Davis

Can you possibly live without television?

No television for three years. and she doesn't miss it t is undisputed that the television has become the focal point of much, if not all, of our lives. But not everybody's life has focused on it, or even near it.

I have not owned a television, nor watched a full day's worth of programming, for over three years.

People who do not own a television are a dying breed. And I don't mean people who don't have a set and have to walk next door to their friend's house to watch the latest episode of "Dawson's Creek"-of which I have yet to see, even the opening credits.

I'm talking about the hardcore livin' in a cave-no-TV-access kind of people.

Being in this situation, I have taken the position of a neutral observer, an outsider looking in, not unlike the only sober person in a room full of drunks.

Now, I am awake to the more subtle effects of television, such as the growing callousness that is arising with regard to casual sex, drinking, smoking, violence and crime.

As a side note, I am not saying these situations don't take place, but the way in which they are presented on screen seem to add an undue glory to them.

If you prick your finger enough times, you will get a callus. If you become a doctor, you get used to the sight of blood.

If you see enough people die on a television screen, there will be no more shock. By age 18, you will have viewed over 16,000 murders.

When a poll on the impact of television on small children was taken, 91 percent said they felt upset and/or scared by the violence they saw.

I don't believe the general public realizes the impact television has on them. The idolized supermodels and rockstars, the glorified life of sex, drugs and rock-and-roll, the perfect families with their cute little life lessons and hour upon hour of perfect happy endings has its effect on us.

The impact is a jaded and stupidly optimistic generation of kids who think all of life's problems are a circus act and can be solved in 30 minutes, minus commercial breaks.

I have come to these conclusions not from watching television. Anybody who takes part in something and then judges it is a hypocrite.

I came to this decision by watching people who watch television.

As more and more people are falling victims to the violence, lack of universal truths and crass commercialism of a televised world, one can only wonder where it will all end.

Where will we draw the line? When is enough, enough? I decided not to wait for the television industry to give me its answer.

I, for one, don't want to watch television anymore. I saw sex. I saw violence. I saw the ads, the girls, the boys, season premieres and the reruns.

Frankly, I don't want to see more.

So, do yourself a favor. Kill your television.

I

Davis Is a staff writer and can be reached by email at slvrrocket@hotmall.com

The Telescope •

7

Monday, Dec. 4, 2000

Entertainment ' r1nc ' 1s a mean one I

I

Kelli Davis The Telescope

From an endearing children's book to a questionable movie, the film "Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas" is a bit of a stretch.

The book, written in 1957 by Theodor Seuss Geisel, is about a creepy monster type character that detests Christmas and attempts to ruin it for the small town ofWhoville and it's inhabitants.

Directed by Ron Howard and produced by Imagine Entertainment and Universal studios.

The movie follows along the same plot, but faced the dilemma of converting an approximately 12-page book into a movie 102 minutes long.

The feat was accomplished by adding tons of new scenes, characters, and story ideas, resulting in a movie totally unlike the book.

"In normal book-to-movie situations, the movie resembles the book, but, in this case, the book resembles the movie.

As the story is somewhat butchered and stitched back together with a shaky new story line.

These alterations can be cumbersome at times, as it becomes obvious that the writers, Jeffery Price and Peter Seaman, juggle the new characters and dilemmas and try to make them all tie in together.

One such attempt is the addition of the supporting role of Cinde Lou Who, a small girl in Whoville, played by Taylor Momsen.

In the book, she has one line.

In the movie, she almost takes over as a lead role.

Movie Review

Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas Rating:

**

(out of four stars)

Starring:

Jim Carrey Molly Shannon Taylor Momsen Cinde feels sorry for the Grinch, and tries to make him a part of Christmas through a series of heartfelt songs and meaningful attempts at friendship.

These scenarios combined with her overly sweet and melodramatic innocence make the movie absolutely sticky with a homogenized cuteness.

Other additions include a flash-back sequence to the Grinch's childhood explaining how he went bad, which was a fairly interesting and funny addition, and a character named Martha May Whovier, Christine Baranski, who becomes a "loveinterest" for the Grinch.

This last one, though very contrary to the original story, was harmless and even cute.

As a whole, the additions were cute, but very hard to swallow.

Universal Pictures Jim Carrey puts on his best Grinch face in the multi-million dollar movie adaptation of the Dr. Seuss' classic Christmas tale "How the Grinch Stole Christmas."

They were also devoid of any substantial humor.

That, however, was rectified with the addition of Jim Carrey as the Grinch.

Behind all the green makeup and fuzz it is almost impossible

to tell that it is him, but he brings the character to full Technicolor brightness with his quick humor and amazingly sarcastic manner.

In the end, Carrey really pulls the film together.

The new scenes and characters

make the movie slow at times, and again, it runs a little thin on the funny stuff.

But the movie is very appropriate for younger children and adults with lots of patience and slightly lowered ex-pectations.

Suspense and drama fill 'Thirteen Days' Erin Heid The Telescope

A movie most inspmng and exciting, 13 Days replays one of America's most delicate issues of the time.

Set in 1962, the movie starts with an airplane overhead taking aerial pictures of an unknown object. The music with this scene formulates suspense to the audience.

Minutes later we see Kevin

Costner, who plays Kenny O'Donnell, a political agent to John F. Kennedy. They both find out that ·the unknown objects are launch pads in Cuba.

Thirteen Days portrays the Cuban Missile Crisfs and it's effect on America, focusing on the president, his brother, Robert, and O' Donnell.

Through the story, we see many different opinions from the Army General, the president's cabinet, his advisor's and family.

The biggest difference of opinion was from the Army General's side and the political advisor's side.

One significant line by O'Donnell was that the Army Generals were pushing war to make up for what happened at the Bay of Pigs, meaning the Army Generals wanted to make up for their own mistakes.

Through history, we all know this issue ends positively. To view the wrap-up of the crisis

makes the audience feel a part of it.

The most stirring scene is at the United Nations meeting, where the United States Representative and the Cuban Representative are conversing.

The United States Representative demands to know if Cuba has missiles, and the Cuban Representative won't answer the question.

Finally, the United States Representative pulls out evidence of the missiles in Cuba and the Cuban Repre1!entative is

Movie Review

Rating:

**** (out of four stars)

Starring:

Courtesy New Line Productions

Robert F. Kennedy (Steven Culp), John F. Kennedy (Bruce Greenwood) and Kenny O'Donnell (Kevin Costner) strike presidential poses in "Thirteen Days."

Kevin Costner Bruce Greenwood

StevenCulp

speechless. It took a total of Thirteen days to complete and solve the issue.

The performance and ·position of characters were important elements of the film. The performance was excellent, from the sleepless expressions of the characters to the annoying southern accents.

Although most of the film is in color, certain scenes were displayed in black and white.

The difference between the color and black and white scenes have significant meaning to the audience. The black and white scenes were all scenes of people getting out of cars, presenting themselves to the press, and other events outside of the White House for the general public to view.

These scenes show the characters calm and collected and prepared for their job.

These are the parts that the American general public got to see.

In the color scenes, we see the more hectic side of the issue, where the characters are trying to figure out what they are going to do, what was going on inside O'Donnell's home, and all the characters among their stress.

Overall, this was an excellent film, and full of important symbolism.

8

The Telescope •

Palomar Music .a nd l)ance,.to present •

iVarlOUS

holiday

events Ben Greenstein 1'/le Telescope In the month 'Of December, 'there will be several productions by the Palomar music and dance departments - some in the theme of Christmas, some independent of the holiday season.

There should be enough diversity to appeal to a good crosssection of students.

The Theatre Box Office can be reached at (760) 744-1150, extension 2453, from 12:00 noon to 5:00pm.

Monday, Dec. 4, 2000

Local group gets signed Travis Usrey The Telescope

First Nations, a local band, has recently signed with Ghost Town Records to produce its first album, The type of music the band performs could be classified as "Post Industrial" or "Gothic."

The Music is similar to the band, Sisters of Mercy, It makes for an interesting mix of various components in music, from hard rock to alternative.

Currently the group consists of two members, lead singer and bass player, Rod Cruz, age 29, and the guitarist, Craig Vendeville.

Cruz is a Palomar student The band hopes to add a third member, Alan Larabie, as the permanent drummer shortly.

Past accomplishments of the band include a recorded single in 1997 that debuted and was successful for Canadian radio stations in Vancouver.

They have worked with Wayne Tweed, who was a bass player for Smokey Robinson and was on the "Arsenio Hall Show."

They also had a small part in the NBC miniseries: "The Sixties" in 1998.

Cruz has had a strong background in studio work as welL As many people imagine, the music industry can be a challenge and just getting started is a big accomplishment Cruz agrees. "Severe challenge, The music industry is very nepotistic (the_ need to know someone to become successful)," Major record labels of today, want a band that mirrors a popu-

lar look and plays an acceptable style of music.

A dislike of the music industry that Cruz has is being, "treated like a commodity more than a person, It has gone from an art to commercialism."

First Nations has had its share of setbacks.

Besides having to juggle family, school, work, and music; there is a tremendous amount of moving around, and persistently seeking opportunities.

Unlike the current label, past record deals have fallen through, especially after the support in Canada stopped.

Solidifying the position for drummer has also been a problem in the past and the band has had to rely on a drum machine.

Ideally with Alan Larabie as drummer that will change for the

Dance Enterprise A dance production performed and produced by some of Palomar's dance students.

December l & 2 at 8 pm, Howard Brubeck Theatre.

Deck The Halls- A Holiday Celebration An collection of inspiring holiday music served from a variety of sources - the Palomar Youth Chorale. the Palomar Brass the Palomar Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra, the Civic Youth Symphony Orchestra, and a to-be-announced guest.

December 2 at 8 pm, California Center Of The Arts Concert Hall, Escondido.

Garland Of Carols Another. collection of holiday

music, this one performed by the Palomar Chorale, the Chorale Chamber Ensemble, and the Palomar Women's Chorus.

December 9 at 8 pm and December 10 at 2 pm, Howard iBmbeck Theatre.

~azz

With Salsa

Presumably more festive than the other December music performances.

Performances of Latin salsa 'Style jazz by the .J ,alomar Jazz ,E nsemble and the R~pertory Jazz Ensemble.

Features a new jazz composition with another surprise guest.

December 4 at 8 pm, Howard ,Brubeck Theatre.

·R hapsody In Blue Artist in Residence Peter Gacb Joins the Palomar College Concert Band for a perfonnance of George Gershwin's most famous piece, , "'Rhapsody In BlueY December 7 at 8 pm, :Howard Brubeck Theatre.

Guitarist Craig Vendeville and lead singer I bass player Rod Cruz of the band First Nations.

better.

Yet with all the hassles and hardships, Cruz is very upbeat and optimistic.

He is indeed grateful for all the aid and support shown him through the years.

He considers the band fortunate for the blessing they have received, since things could be a lot worse.

He understands the importance of fans for, "without a fan base (music) is impossible," Cruz said.

One of Cruz's greatest likes about the music industry is the enlightening qualities it gave him.

As he puts it, he grew up, "in the middle of no where, was given an opportunity to dream and achieved those things set out for."

Music has been an inspiration and more to Cruz, which is why he has decided to make this his career, Cruz offers words of encouragement for other individuals finding themselves frustrated by the challenge of the industry, "It takes tenacity, luck, fate, Be appreciative of everyone who has ever been supportive, not critical, but constructive. Stay true to yourself Be open." .

First Nations will probably finish work on the album then hopefully create a fan base in San Diego, Cruz said.

Although ·going on tour could be a possibility, doing such would disrupt many things, including schooL Oddly enough Cruz' major is music and his classes are centered around that They include such like:'Music I 71: World Music and Great Musicians Through Film.

First Nations is focused on producing the album. which requires copious amounts of studio work.

But it still may be possible to find Cruz at Mikey's Coffee Shop in Poway on "Open Mike Night," on the rare occasions when he has some free time.

'Run of the House' shows at the Boehn1 Ben Greestein The Telescope

When I first caught word of the "Run Of The House" furniture exhibit, I was doubtful that it would be one of the more entertaining Palomar features of the semester.

For myself and most others not involved in carpentry, furniture is not usually considered to be an entertaining form of art However, the work on display at the gallery proved to be more than simple chairs and cupboards - each of the pieces was a product of hard work, and as much an intricate piece of art as "The Last Supper" or "Dogs Playing Poker."

The award winning Cabinetmaking and Furniture Technology Department takes creative liberties with their work - the pieces on display came in all shapes and sizes, even showing influence from foreign and ancient cultures.

One chair and table set, titled "Lords And Ladies: Gather Ye," had a clearly medieval flavor, complete with tiny stained glass windows on the backs of each seat The "Pagoda Set Of Drawers," on the other hand, was an eastem~style cabinet in the shape of a Japanese pagoda.

In addition to furnishings, sev.-

era! woodworking tools were on display - a shaving horse crafted

by Palomar teacher Russ Fillbeck featured prominently, and the art piece -"Transition From A Killing Tool To A Building Tool" cleverly created a hybrid of a bow and arrow and a bow saw.

The other works on display were not as eclectic, but were no less intriguing, The "Newport Secretary" by William C Cox was an enormous, beautifully crafted cabinet, and the "First Sergeant Armoire" (used in exhibit to display an equally well-crafted sword) looked as though it must have been carved out of a sirrgle piece of wood.

I know it might sound ridiculous to some to hear someone extol the beauty of what most see as simple decoration, but I honestly think that these furnishings on display are at least as beautiful as the art which features in famous museums, The free-admission show will be on display in the Boehm Gallery in the art department through December 15th, The gallery is open from 10-4 on Tuesday, 10-7 on Wednesday and Thursday, and from 10-2 on Thursday Also, available at the show is a catalogue of information for the woodworking classes being held next semester.

Tyanna Burton I The Telescope Instructor Russ Filbeck gives a quick woodworking lesson.

'

The Telescope •

9

Monday, Dec. 4, 2000

Professor's Web site wins Virtual Campus award Stephen Keller Contributing Writer

Palomar professor Dr. Dennis O'Neil received the California Virtual Campus's first Teachi!)g Site Award for his online Physical

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Springer Show, which wanted him to be ari adviser based on his marriage and sex tutorial. "Needless to say, I turned them down," O'Neil said.

Beyond the tutorials, students interact through a

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accessibility, was given to The amount of interaction O'Neil on Oct. 23. may even be higher than in a O'Neil's site is multimeregular classroom, as studia in the truest sense. dents may not feel intimiStudents can log on to the dated asking questions, Dennis O'Neil; Instl·uctor O'Neil said.

Web site and view a number of in-depth "tutorials" that The one major stumbling go with the material in the 1------------------~--------------t block O'Neil faces is testBehavioral Srientes Department, Palomar College ing his students. Because class' text, as well as interWeb pages for this cotuse have been optimized for Internet Explorer 4 and 11bove, there is no way to verify act with their professor and each other on a Web-based 800 X600 resolution, .medium font size, and high colot graphics. who is actually taking the This page Wilt last updated on Fnday, July 21,2000. test over the Internet, stumessage board.

The course is an introducCopynght © 2000 by Dennis O'Neil. All rights tuerved dents have to come into tion to physical anthropolonot class to take them. gy and covers a range of worldwide. His site features multimedia including pronunciations of difficult words. Students can choose from topics beginning with the one of three times to take basics of evolution through The tutorials cover a variety wide. tests to accommodate dif"Most of the visitors are not ferent schedules. characteristics of primates and of topics, ranging from the clascurrent human evolution. sification of living things to sex in the class," said O'Neil, O'Neil said his class attracts O'Neil said he has spent about and marriage. Every tutorial whose hit counters placed the a lot of students with long work four years researching and writ- contains sound clips, practice total number of visitors to his hours or schedules that make it ing each tutorial, originally writ- quizzes and glossaries that are site at over 380,000. O'Neil difficult to take regular classes. ing them for standard lecture linked to from the text. O'Neil said links from educational sites One such students is Scott . classes. He began the process of said he is working on getting brought the largest number of Hensiek, 36, who is majoring in putting them online about a year video online. visitors. archaeology. Hensiek works and a half ago. The online class is The tutorials are so popular This has led to some offers during the day and has a 4-yearin its second semester. that they are being read world- from places . like the Jerry old child, so being able to

Growing internship program lets students explore career interests

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In just its second year, the Palomar Internship Program is a success for students and local businesses.

With around 50 major-specific subjects, and over 60 faculty advisers, the program is sending many students down the road to their desired careers.

"If you're interested, come see me," says Palomar internship coordinator Bob Ebert.

Ebert, a 30-year Palomar veteran, is part of one of the most successful Cooperative Education departments among all community colleges in the county.

Throughout last year, the program set up 90 successful major-specific internships, and Ebert says that number is expected to more than double this year.

"The biggest mistake students make is not spending enough time in the Career Center," Ebert said.

Ebert says those students are encouraged to explore their interests in future careers, while keeping a close eye on the needs of today's job market. Ebert said he feels that it is important to go after what you want to do, but to also be aware of the hot spots in today's job market.

The hottest, Ebert says, is computer science. The computer-specific areas of study in the program range from computer hardware to computer program-. ming and Web design. The Palomar program is hooked up with a few growing computer software companies, such as Hunter Industries, who seek as many qualified volunteers as they can get.

The internship program is run through a class called

Cooperative Education 150 Internship, which is headed by 60 faculty advisers. The class pairs students with a faculty adviser to match the student's interests and major. The adviser puts the student in contact with businesses that seek interns in the ·student's field of study.

Although there are paid and unpaid internships available, the Palomar program encourages businesses to have paid internships to mirror the actual career as much as possible. Most businesses will pay knowledgeable interns, Ebert said.

Businesses include the Carlsbad Outlet Centers, the San Diego City Chamber of Commerce, Xerox, and the Poway Center for the Performing Arts.

Kevin Barrett, an associate professor for the Administration of Criminal Justice program, has set up ties with such departments as the Escondido and Oceanside police, the Vista courthouse, and the federal jail in downtown San Diego. To get an Associates degree in Criminal Justice through Palomar, one must have at least one internship, Barrett said.

Also through Barrett and the internship program, it is possible · to become a part of the Palomar police force for credits and experience.

Ebert encourages students with definite majors, and even undecided students to evaluate the program.

For more information about the internship program contact Bob Ebert at 760-744-1150, extension 2299 or stop by the ·internship office in ST-57. For more information on the Criminal Justice program, contact Kevin Barrett at 7 60-7 441150, extension 2795.

attend a class several times a week can be hard.

Hensiek said he particularly liked the speed at which O'Neil would respond and interact with students. "You post a question, and he's got an answer right away."

O'Neil said he checks the message board several times a day, in addition to keeping up with the large amount of e-mail he receives.

O'Neil regularly updates his tutorials with "late-breaking news" and information. New research is always ongoing and he is able to stay on top of rapidly-developing things like progress on the Human Genome Project. "There's not a textbook on the market that's up to date," he said.

While he was originally worried about taking an online class, Hensiek said that it has turned out to be just what he was looking for. "It's really easy to get into, real easy to read."

The California Virtual Campus is a group funded from the Chancellor's Office of the California Community College System. It acts as a catalog of the various online and distance classes throughout California.

O'Neil's site is at http://daphne. palomar.edu/anthr olOO/default.htm

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The Telescope n Monday, Dec. 4, 2000

10

Focus Drugs Experimenting or secretly playing with addiction Brooklyn Davidoff

The Telescope

The bell rings, school is out and the teen's run free.

Some go to after-school organizations. Some go to their jobs. Most of the ones who go home will end up going to an empty house. Many teens are unsupervised for many hours in homes where both parents work.

Many teens have way too much free time on their hands and nothing to fill it with. Some teens tum to drugs for a little excitement, because they say there is nothing else to do.

The Oregon Health Division conducted a survey in 1997 about teens and drug use. Eleven percent of the participants admitted to trying marijuana before they were 13 years-old. The amount of young kids starting drugs in 9th grade or earlier has doubled in the past four years.

The number of "latch key kids" is growing. More than 1/2 of the country's mothers with school aged children work. According to Joel Wells who wrote "How to Survive with your Teen-ager," only 19 percent of Americans live in families where the mom stays home and the dad works.

"My parents were never home," Jillian Loveridge a Mt. Carmel High School senior said. "They both leave for work when I leave for school in the morning, and don't come home until after 6 p.m."

Using drugs is easy "The first time I smoked pot was in 5th.grade," Chris Johnson also a Mt. Carmel High School senior said. "I still smoke, usually more than once a day. My parents know and I've been caught a bunch of times. But they're not home and they can't stop me."

According to the OHD more than 40 percent of the teens had smoked marijuana, and 23 percent had smoked in the last 30 days. A small amount of them even admitted to smoking marijuana on their school campus.

"You can get anything on campus, during school, from pot to acid even heroin, and cocaine if you know who to talk to," a former Mt. Carmel High school student said.

The effects of cocaine are long the faster the absorption the shorter the high lasts. The high from snorting lasts from 15 to 30 minutes. Smoking it lasts from 5 to 10 minutes. After the high comes the "coke crash" which includes depression, irritability and fatigue.

The popular drugs Thirty five percent of the Oregon participants had been offered, sold, or been given an illegal drug on school property.

"Smoking pot makes it easier to talk to people, and you don't think about what you say before. It's like you say all the things you think about the person, but try not to tell them;" Loveridge said.

If teens are depressed and they want to feel better the drugs come into play. By taking drugs people often think they can be who they want to be.

"Kids our age smoke pot all the time. There is no clique dubbed the 'stoners' because everybody does it.

We' haven't got the inhibition or pressure from society to stay clean from drugs and sex that earlier generations had. Sex and drugs aren't bad anymore. They're more like party favors," said one student from the OHD sur" vey. ¡ According to monitoringthefuture.org the use of MDMA better known as ecstasy, is on the rise with older ¡ teens. Ecstasy is also known as a "club drug" called that because of its popularity at raves and dance clubs. Last year 4.4 percent of the high school lOth graders reported use of ecstasy in the past 12 months. According to drugfreeamerica.org Use of ecstasy has doubled among teens since 1995.

"The first time I did it I only took one pill, when I felt myself coming down I automatically took another. It's like I fell in love with it then." a Palomar student said.

Photo illustration by Tamara Pi/len/ The Telescope

"Yeah it's expensive, but it's well worth it. It's the most intense feeling I've ever felt," he added.

Ecstasy's short term effects include psychological difficulties, confusion, depression, sleep problems, drug carvings, paranoia. While under the influence teeth chattering, nausea, blurred vision, chills, sweating, and muscle tension. Ecstasy is linked to damage in the brian's critical and thought-memory.

"Ecstasy, it's definitely addictive, after the first time I tried it I decided not to smoke pot anymore and save my money for "E" every weekend," Loveridge said.

"Raves and all night dance party's have been around for a long time, look at Studio 54. It's just a way to feel good and release stress. Kind of like a way to break free from reality," a Palomar student said.

According to a study by the Drug Treatment Program at the Philadelphia Psychiatric center, among American adults the use of drugs such as heroin, cocaine and LSD has increased by 33 percent in the last 20 years.

When adults are abusin~ \lfugs tb.ey can not convince their children it's a bad thing to get involved with.

"My dad still smokes pot, so when he catches me with my friends he can't really tell me not to, because I know he does. We catch each other all the time. And we both know he experimented when he was a teenager, and that's all me and my friends are doing," Price said.

According to drugfreeamerica.org LSD is the most comIlion hallucinogen used. LSD users often experience flashbacks, they occur suddenly and without warning.

Flashbacks can happen anytime from a few days after its

taken, to years after taking the drug. It is not considered to be addictive because it does not produce drug-seeking behavior like cocaine or heroin.

Heroin can be used in a variety of ways, it can be injected this creates a feeling of euphoria, accompanied by a warm flushing of the skin, and dry mouth. Then one will become drowsy, and their mental function will become slowed and foggy due to the depression of the central nervous system. Other effects include slurred speech , impaired night vision, and vomiting.

"My friend OD'd from heroin a few years ago, he would have been a junior in high school. Adults don't want to see the severity of the problems in their children these days."

Johnson said. "It's like they look away because they think it will go away. It's scary to see what some of my friends have become."

Is it really a problem Teens were asked by youthspecailties.com what they thought were the worst problems in schools. They did not think drug abuse was a big problem. Sixty four percent thought the students didn't respect the teachers and authority. Fifty eight percent thought selfishness, and people not caring about others' rights was a big problem. The students also mentioned too much emphasis on subjects students don't care about and a lack of government funding for school, and not enough discipline for students.

The Telescope •

11

Monday, Dec. 4, 2000

I

HEMOPMILIA What 1s hetnophUta? Hemophilia is a hereditary bleeding disorder where one's · blood does not clot normal~}'.

People with severe hemophilia can experience serious bleeding into tissues, muscles, joints ahd internal organs, often Without any obvious ttauma.

Palomar College student Jesse Bennett Ill, 1980 • 2000

How many people are infected?

One in 10,000 people are born with hemophilia. As of 1995, there were 13,000 people with a factor VIII blood-clotting deficiency; this is what Jesse Bennet Ill had. There are 7,000 deficient in factor IX.

Liz Bennett Contributing Writer

yellow front loader picked up my brother's white casket, up up, floating off the ground, closer to the heavens , slowly down six feet in San Marcos Cemetery.

I kneeled on the ground in a white dress, watching until the casket reached the bottom of the grave. I laid down next to it and put my arms out, the way they teach you to save a drowning person. Leaning over the grave I dropped four white roses in a line to symbolize the four that my family had always been, two sunflowers in an "X" over his heart, and a yellow rose where his head was. Goodbye Jesse, I love you.

My brother, Jesse Neilson Bennett III, born Jan. 5, 1980, died Aug. 15. He was 20 years old- a Palomar student interested in art and writing, your typical guy on campus except for one thing, Jesse was a hemophiliac.

Hemophilia is a blood-clotting disease that is caused by missing factors in the plasma. Jesse was factor VIII deficient. To treat this deficiency he was given Factor VIII, a concentrated blood byproduct intravenously.

Unknown to us, the blood supply was tainted during the 1980s, and Jesse was infected with HIV and hepatitis B and C. I remember being in kindergarten sitting on the edge of the sandbox and feeling my bottom hurt. The day before I watched my parents bend over and get vaccinated against hepatitis B. The doctor stuck me too as my 3-year-old brother looked on.

According to Elaine DePrince, author of "Cry Bloody Murder: A Tale of Tainted Blood," nearly 100 percent of hemophiliacs contracted hepatitis, and within the first five years, approximately 10,000 - 12,000 hemophiliacs were infected with HIV. "Unfortunately these concentrates were made from pooled plasma from large numbers (thousands per batch) of plasma donors," Dr. Jan Vangrov, Jesse's pediatric hematologist, said.

"Any virus in only one of these donors was transmitted to the recipients of the concentrates.

Hepatitis was the big problem for the first 10-15 years. Then came HIV. What was going to make hemophiliacs' life normal cruelly turned into a tragedy."

Jesse's mother, Elaine Bennett said, "I remember being shocked to learn that he had AIDS. I wanted to believe that he was going to be one of the lucky ones. I wanted to believe that there was some Factor out there that was safe. In the beginning I thought hemophilia was a death sentence, then AIDS came along and it surely was."

Jesse's father, Jesse Bennett II said, "You never think about how many sirens are on the road until you realize that one of them might be needed to protect your child when you're not there."

Jesse tested positive for HIV when he was 8 years old. Around this time people were paranoid about AIDS. Another hemophiliac, Ryan White, whose life story was well publicized in the 1980s, was kicked out of school and later someone shot a bullet through his house. Similarly, the

A

Life and Death: Hemophilia in the Family

How 1s hemophilia treated?

There Is no cure for hemophilia.

The only way to stop the bleed· ing is through an infusion of clot· ting factor created from human blood byproducts.

HEMOPHILIA AND HIV How many hemophiliacs contracted HIV? Almost all who used clotting factor prior to 1985.

Why did hemophiliacs contract HJV? Because the Factor treatment hemophiliac injected Into patients was made from pooled blood plasma, up to 40,000 donors per batch. If one donor was infected with HIV and/or hepatitis, the whole batch was tainted.

Could this have been prevented?

Yes. In 1995, a report by the tnstitute of Medicine of the Academy of Sciences conclud· ed: "Heat-treatment processes to prevent the transmission of hepatitis could have been developed before 1980, an advance that would have prevented many cases of AIDS ln individuals with hemophilia." Also, most of the blood used to make the Factor concentrates was taken from paid blood donors in prisons, poor areas of large U.S. cities and third-world countries where AIDS was already an epi· demic.

Courtesy of Elaine Bennett

I straightened my brother's collar before his high school graduation on June 25, 1999. At age 2, my life changed when my hemophiliac brother, Jesse, was born. At age 22, my life has changed again with his death.

Ray family in Florida had their blood pooled.

"When he was little he used to house burned down after it became public knowledge that scream. It used to drive me their three little boys with hemo- crazy," Jesse's father said. "I philia had tested positive for wanted to tear the doctors and HIV. My parents were scared. nurses in half as they poked nee"Church people didn't want to dles in my son. It was a major be around AIDS. School people improvement when your mom didn't want to be around AIDS. If taught him to saw 'Ow,' and he you sneezed or looked at them would say 'Ow' with every cross-eyed they were afraid they'd breath he took." catch it. I couldn't tell anyone at As kids Jesse and I were not work because then no one would allowed to play like other chilwant to have anything to do with dren. We were not allowed to me. We decided we wouldn't tell wrestle, to play sports, or even anyone. It didn't feel safe. Things ride bikes because Jesse could get out and society was out of con- get hurt. This was a big concern trol," Jesse's father said. for my father, who said, "When My parents pulled Jesse and I he was younger, before we out of school at the - - - - - - - - - - learned how to do end of the year to the Factor treathomeschool us. ments at home, Jesse was finishing there was the rush second grade; I to emergency for was finishing treatment: The ice l packs, ace bandagfourth grade. They l'fi never told us why. l es, crutches, and "I couldn't tell wheelchairs; spend the kids because the night in emerthey'd tell a friend gency, come back, who'd tell a parchange clothes, and to work. ent, and soon -Dr. Jan Vangrov, Jesse's go there'd be a riot at pediatric hematologist Sometimes it school or in front would be so late of your house, and as soon as that that I'd go from the hospital to started, you couldn't get out of work." it," Jesse's father said.

Life rolled on like a big ball of I learned that Jesse had AIDS chaos. My parents: afraid to tell when I was 15. My parents told someone, afraid that Jesse would Jesse shortly afterward because get sick and die, and afraid to get he was going to hemophilia to know anyone. Me: angry at my camp again. Many of the boys parents, angry that I wasn't Jesse had known previously from allowed to play sports, and in camp had died. · denial about my brother's condition. Jesse: accepting of the doctors, the crutches, and the silence.

Life with Hemophilia "We were living as an action to Life was always difficult, even a reaction," Jesse's father said. before my parents knew that Hepatitis C Jesse had HIV. Because Jesse was a hemophiliac, he would bleed internally, usually in his In 1996 Jesse was tested for joints, which would swell as the hepatitis C. It came back posi-

"What was going to make hemophiliacs' e norma cruelly turned into a tragedy."

tive. Jesse's mother said, "I never worried about that because it did not sound as bad as AIDS. After all he had hepatitis B when he was 3 years old and lived through that."

Jesse's father said, "When we found out about the hepatitis C we were surprised. We shouldn't have been. It was just another inconvenience to go along with the rest of them. The AIDS thing always overshadowed everything so drastically."

Jesse always said that he did not like being sick; he did not want these diseases, he did not ask for them, but he had to live with them.

There is no cure for hepatitis C. It is a bloodborne virus, more contagious than AIDS, but is spread the same way as AIDS: mainly through blood and sexual fluids.

As of 1996, according to the Centers for Disease Control, 3.9 million Americans have been infected with hepatitis C. As my mother remembered my wedding in June, she said, "He appeared more tired and his complexion was pale with a greenish cast. It bothered me to look at him. I realized, just like at my own mother's graveside service, I was sitting outdoors, on white chairs, listening to the same minister. It was ominous.

"I couldn't help but think, 'uh oh, here we go again. I suppose it won't be long before we're sitting at another funeral.' I guess I'm lucky that I was at your wedding at the time because when I cried, people would think that I was happy."

As Jesse's sister, I am very lucky that he was in my wedding.

He died a month-and-a-half later from hepatitis C, on my parent's couch, as my father held his head and my mother massaged his feet. He was 20 years old, too young to die.

HEPATITIS C What is hepatitis c?

Hepatitis C, a viral infection, is the most common bloodbome virus in the United States. It is a deadly disease without a cure.

Hepatitis C causes inffamma~ tion of the liver.

How is hepatitiS C spread? lt is transmitted through blood and other body fluids.

How many people are infected?

As of 1996, it has been estimat~ ed that 3.9 million American~t have been infected witfl Hepatitis C, and ot those, 2.1

miiJion are chronicalty Infected..

FOR MORE IIIFORIIATION: Jesse'S Men10rial Page www.~.(:Om

~····~ ~.

.ww.~ma..a '""

The Committee 'Of

Teo 'ThoUsand. rep~ " bertl<ilphiliacS Witb HIV

www.tott.org

Sources: Centers for Disease Control; Elaine DePrince, "Cry Bloody Murder: A Tale of Tainted Blood"

12

The Telescope •

Rail planned between Oceanside, Escondido Lorenzo Tano Contributing Writer

Most students have faced it: seemingly moving only inches at a time on state route 78 during rush hour and most people are getting fed up.

As an answer to this problem the North County Transit District and the San Diego Association of Governments has planned an Oceanside to Escondido light rail project.

The $250 million project to be completed in 2004 would run between Coast Highway and Center City Parkway. It would run 72 diesel passenger trains a day with service every 30 minutes, NCTD officials said.

The plan would also include a stop at California State University San Marcos.

Some residents think it is about time Southern California got with the mass-transit program. "It seems that they have been dragging their feet," said Joe Fetterly, a computer science teacher at Palomar College.

Fetterly has his CSIS 105 class send letters to lawmakers or representatives and other officials concerning local issues, including the light rail project.

Fetterly's students write on current issues using word-proCPSSing techniques learned in class.

"It's interesting to see how they respond to the letters," said Fetterly.

One of his previous classes

wrote about the rail system, and he received some responses.

"Sometimes we get responses, sometimes we don't," said Fetterly. "You just have to keep on sending them."

It is estimated that the rail would accommodate more than 10,000 daily riders.

According to a CalTrans study, almost 9,000 commuters use route 78 during peak hours. The highway also carries more than 100,000 trips per day. CalTrans reports predict that the number of trips per day would rise to 150,000 in the year 2020.

Fetterly lived in Boston before moving to Oceanside .. He said mass transit is a way to get around faster.

"I used to go to Harvard. It took me 40 minutes to go from there to Logan Airport," Fetterly said. "But it took me about eight hours to get from Los Angeles Airport to Oceanside."

Students could also use the rail line to avoid traffic. "I usually get up early to avoid the traffic," said Jenny McMullen, a California State University San Marcos student. But during the rain, she said she uses side roads. "Isn't driving on highways supposed to be faster?" McMullen asked.

But students might not give up driving for a mass transit system.

"I'd ride it...sometimes," said student Patrick Johansen. He and other students say that the rail line is a good idea, but it is just not for everyone. "It would free up the freeway for us die-hard drivers," Johansen said.

Monday, Dec. 4, 2000

New head for Palomar GEAR UP Sheena Prosser The Telescope

The GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness for Undergraduate Preparation) program was started at Palomar in a partnership to provide benefits to San Marcos Middle School students in their preparation for college.

In August 1999, Palomar was awarded the GEAR UP grant, which is $4.5 million for five years of funding, by the U.S. Department of Education.

Palomar College was ranked number one in a list of California schools to receive federal funds and was 16th on the list of schools nationwide to receive funds.

Palomar started the program Sept. 1 with six full time employees, including counselors, tutors, advisers and administrators.

The program's goal is to provide San Diego North County 6th-11th graders and their parents important college preparatory insights and to

Resignation continued from page 1.

Bishop wouldn't say whether Denham had faced disciplinary action from the college.

'Those kind of issues are confidential between the student and the college," he said.

Bishop did say that some students on ASG had asked him about impeaching other officers, but he didn't say who those students were.

'There was some discussion about impeaching her (Denham),'; Bishop said. "In order to pre-empt that she took a higher road by resigning."

help the families develop academic skills and plans for entrance needed to get into college.

Enacted in 1998, GEAR UP funds partnerships between colleges and low-income middle schools, plus at least two other partners - such as community organizations, businesses, religious groups, parent groups, or non-profits - to increase college-going rates among low-income youth.

These partnerships provide tutoring, mentoring, information on college preparation and financial aid, an emphasis on academic preparation and scholarships.

Palomar hired Calvin One Deer Gavin to head the federally funded program.

Gavin will work with several GEAR UP partners: Doug Hall, principal at San Marcos Middle School; Franz Weiz, principal of San Marcos High School; Sue Aldana, executive director of the San Marcos Boys and Girls Club; Dick High, publisher of the North

County Times; Tom Forester and Julie Jackson of the San Marcos Chamber of Commerce; and Joe of Cox Gabaldon Communications.

"GEAR UP is an opportunity for the entire community to get involved and committed to the higher education goals for future students," Gavin said. "Given the competition for this grant, Palomar is fortunate to have such an opportunity."

For several . years, Gavin has contributed significantly to the federally funded outreach and grant programs at California State University, San Marcos. His grant writing experience will benefit Palomar's effort to receive additional support for student outreach in the K-12 and college student retention efforts at Palomar.

This academic year, GEAR UP will serve over 750,000 students nationwide and President Clinton has requested $325 million in 2001 to serve 1.4 million children.

Denham said other ASG officers complained that she spent too much time in the ASG office, and they were looking for a way to get rid of her.

Rebeccah Faubus, vice president I Inter-Club Council chairwoman, said she didn't know about any personality conflicts between Denham and any ASG officers.

"All I know is that she resigned," Faubus said. "I didn't have anything to do with this, I don't kn9w anything about it, and I didn't think it was my business to ask."

Gyde said there has been personality conflicts, but they haven't really affected the stu-

dent government. She said some students did "blow up" at the end of the semester, but that wasn't characteristic of the entire term.

"This whole year has gone smoothly, nothing has been stopped because of conflicts," Gyde said. "Everyone seems to speak up with problems."

Denham said she hopes to rejoin the student government next semester.

"My goal was to serve for a full year," Denham said. She added that there are many things she would still like to see the ASG accomplish, like filling the students' spots on campus committees.

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The Telescope •

Monday, Dec. 4, 2000

.Student government adds more perks to members' coffers

13

'

Tom Chambers

total $8,000 ifall 16 members are eligible.

But Kevin Farrow, the senator who sponsored the resolution, said that's not likely to The Associated Student Government happen. Only members who stay for at least passed three resolutions adding to the perks one year in good standing will be able to of its member's offices at the Nov. 22 meet- receive the scholarship. ing.

Farrow also said the money for the scholThe three measures give student govern- arships would come from next year's budget, ment officers faculty and if needed, they parking permits, $30 to could be scrapped to buy refreshments at fund other activities.

"I think _ before we're their meetings and a While all three reso$500 scholarship for so trigger happy with lutions passed unanimembers who serve mously, Tielens said the out their terms. $8,000 we should look officers should have Most of the discusthought about what sion at the meeting to see where that they were doing. focused on the scholar"I think before we're money could be used ships. so trigger happy with "This is an incentive $8,000 we should look (for students) to run for for the students. We to see where that office and stick it out," signed up to make a money could be used said Rebecca Faubus, for the students. We vice president I Inter- difference, to help the signed up to make a difClub Council chairference, to help the stuwoman. "We do a lot students." dents," Tielens said. of work. It's a small He said student govreward for what we do, - Wesley Tlelens ernrnent officers work and a way to say 'well · Vice President of Social Events hard and deserve a done."' reward, and that no Executive Vice other groups on camPresident Renita Pitts pus were asking for agreed and said that with the time she spends money. working on student government business she "It was one of our only monetary ideas," could be able to get a part-time job.

Tielens said. "No one else was asking for "I feel that 1 deserve that," Pitts said. ''I'm money." here because I love the students and I love The resolution to give ASG officers staff what I do." parking permits still has to be reviewed by Wesley Tielens, vice president of social the college's Parking Lot Task Force to events, asked the board if the amount of the receive approval. scholarships was too much, which could The Telescop e

We're looking for writers, photographers, editors, Web page designers, advertising representatives, cartoonists · and graphic artists.

Call 7 44-1150, ext. 2451 or stop by the newsroom in TCB-1 for information.

PHOTOJOURNALISM TAKE PHOTO 140 NEXT SPRING MONDAYS & WEDNESDAYS 11 a.m. - 1:50 p.m.

3 UNITS Instructor: PAUL STACHELEK Have your work published in The Telescope,- Palomar's award-winning weekly newspaper.

Call ext. 2966 for more information

14

The Telescope •

Monday, Dec. 4, 2000

$5 cover charge. $30 for drinks. $10,000 drunk driving arrest.

Debt continued from page 1

_ "We live in a debt society. If you can't pay for it we are taught to go ahead and buy it [on a credit card]," said Amy Martin-Small, a Palomar financial aid adviser.

Many credit cards try to lure in new members by offering a low temporarily fix percentage rate balance - usually around 2.9 percent, but this rate expires after a period of three to six months.

The card rate then increases to its normal annual percentage rate, usually in the neighborhood of 13 to 19 percent.

"It is important to read the fine print on your credit card agreement. Some cards will revert back to the regular rate from the introductory rate if you are late on just one payment," MartinSmall said.

And as interest rates climb, it gets harder to pay down high balances. Many credit cards have increased their fees as well. The industry standard late payment fee is now $29 on most cards.

Martin-Small recommends decreasing reliance on using credit cards.

"Try to save a little bit of money each month and get in the hahit of putting some money away. So you are able to handle an automobile or medical emergency," Martin-Small said.

She believes students should continue to do this even after they have paid down their credit card

balances so they will have money , in case of an emergency.

It is also important, MartinSmall said, to check your credit report at least once a year for inaccurate information and outstanding accounts. If you open an account, even just for a promotional offer, and leave the account open without a balance, other creditors and lenders may count that card as "possible debt" that could be incurred.

Outstanding accounts and incorrect information can add "points" and damage your credit rating.

"Only · have one card, rather than having a card for each store," Martin-Small said.

You can write to Trans Union (http://www.transunion.com/) or E qui fax (http://www.equifax.com/) to receive a free credit report once per year. You can order the reports online and get instructions how to request a copy through the mail.

One of several assistance organizations for debt relief is' the Credit Counselors of California. The non-profit group was established to assist people in organizing and overcoming their debt. They are located at 3443 Camino Del Rio in San Diego and can be reached at 619-280-4416.

Union

You can't put a price on a safe ride home.

Impaired driving is a leading cause ot death for people under the age of 30 The added tragedy is that drunk and drugged drivmg 1s ent~rely pr~ventable There are alternatives:

• Designate a sober driver.

• Call a taxi cab.

• Stay the night: where you are . .

If you don"t fmd a safe way home, cons1der yourself lucky 1f you are arre!>ted . If you drive after drinking or using drugs. you can lose your hfe .

Remember: When You Drink & Drive. You Lose.

Earn 2 movie passes! Are you 18-25?

Did your parents seperate and divorce after you left home?

If so, contact Stephanie 858-623-2n7 ext. 714

CrossWord 1 5 11 14 15 16 17 1B 20 22 23 24 26 27

continued from page 1

able at unionized schools.

"Nowhere in any literature distributed by union advocates have I seen any plan better than the system we have now," she said.

Brent Gowen, associate professor of English, believes the existing system shortchanges part-time faculty.

"Faculty unionization is the best available approach to improving the professional lives of part-time faculty," he said.

"An improvement in the lives of part-time faculty means an improvement in academia, which means, of course, an improvement in the quality of students' educations."

Barkley disagrees. ''Many of the improvements in working conditions desired by the parttime faculty are either not possible ... or are easier to accomplish through our current system of shared governance than in the adversarial atmosphere of union negotiations," she said.

"Many of the benefits adjuncts would like to have ...would take much less time to secure through our current system."

The faculty senate maintains a Web page with opinions representing both sides of the unionization question: daphne. palomar.edu:8080/-faculty.

Here's a new class for the Spring:

ENGLISH 270: Comic Books As Literature For more info, contact Dr. Rocco Versaci at: 760-7 44-1150 x2971

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53 or rversaci@ palomar.edu

Be sure to visit his web site at: http://english.palomar.edu/versaci

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discovered by Tasma11 Custard tart Larger-than-life Provoke Visualizes Bask

15

The Telescope •

Monday, Dec. 4, 2000

orts Women's polo makes splash at state They had to overcome the loss of assistant coach Kathy Sheehy to the Olympics for a month, but Palomar women's water polo team still captured its second straight Pacific Coast Conference title, and finished fourth in the state.

It was the first state appearance for the Comets, who are in their fifth season as a state sanctioned sport.

"We had a wonderful team to work with this season and we were ready to learn," coach Patti Waterman said.

"Some of the success was not only having Sheehy back from the Olympics with new play ideas, but having five girls from the previous championship year."

Two Palomar records were broken this season (see box on left). Three players were selected as

PCC players of the week. Having that many players from one team win the honor isn't an easy feat, considering there are eight colleges in the conference and six fall sports.

Sandy Onweller was chosen for the week ending Oct. 1. Hilary Horman received hers for the week ending Nov. 12. Goalie Jessica Moody received her selection for the week ending Nov. 5, after her 12 blocks against Mesa clinched the conference title for the Comets.

The team ended the season with an overall 19-7-1 record, and a perfect 5-0 record in conference, beating conference rivals Mesa, Grossmont and Southwestern College in every meeting for the second season in a row.

-Heidi Clites

Tom Chambersfrhe Telescope

Broken Records

Hilary Horman

Sandy Onweller

(sophomore)

(sophomore)

Assists

Scoring

Leader

Leader

With 51 assists, Hilary Horman broke the Palomar College record for most assists in a single season.

Horman's three goals, eight assists, and 14 steals in the Southern California Regionals gave her Pacific Coast Conference player of the week honors for the week ending Nov. 12.

A nice cap on a season for the 1999 Palomar MVP. Horman's been looked at

by UC Irvine, but she's hoping to continue her collegiate water polo career at Long Beach State.

Sandy Onweller set the record for most goals scored in a single season with 94, breaking the 1998 record of75 by 19.

The offensive star led the Comets to their first-ever state appearance.

On weller was named Pacific Coast Conference player of the week for the week ending Oct. 1 for her high scoring performance at the Mesa Tournament (Sept. 29-30).

She's looking to keep playing, eyeing UC Riverside, Long Beach State and UC Los -Angeles.

Palomar women's water polo team in a midseason 11-7 win over Long Beach Community College.

Pinning their hopes on one guy

at 133 lbs. This season, competing in the 141 lb. weight class, Guizar finished the 2000 campaign with a 26-2 mark and will be one of the focal points Coach Ismay hopes to use in-order to capture a state title.

"We need to put at least two guys in the finals and hope everyone else places. We could have some not place, but that would make winning the state championship more difficult on us," said Coach Ismay.

Guizar, the only returning starter from last season, will need to be at his best if Palomar wants to win the state title.

-Mark Beerman

Cotter, Wasano lead women's volleyball team

It was a season of overcoming obstacles. · Palomar College women's volleyball team wrapped up the 2000 season ranked No. 12 in the Southern Region Conference. Overall the team finished 24th in the state.

"We had a very good season. We were very athletic, The Palomar the most athwrestling letic team I've team's season ever had as a largely coach," coach depends on Karl Seiler what haps a i d Loss to Grossmont knocks out . pened at the "Everyone . State finals, men'$ water polo team played well held tl:;lis past together." weekend.

The Palomar men's water polo team just The battery This season has seen the missed a berth in the Southern California for the team sophostraight state title.

Comets win Regionals, in a tough 10-8 loss to was Melia Season kill leader Cotter the Pacific Coast Grossmont. They reached the final round more who Conference, going undefeated with a 6-0- after they beat Southwestern and Miramar Cotter, led the team in kills and Brooke Wasano, record, and finish with an overall record in dominating fashion, 25-4, 25-7.

The Comets finished the season with a the team's assist leader. of 12-4. The team won both the Santa Ana 16-14-2 overall record and 2-2 in Pacific _With a handful of games remaining, and West Valley lnvitationals.

Coast Conference play.

Cotter led the conference with 3.53 But if they want to make this season The offense was led by Alex kills per game average and 3.89 in contruly momentous, they'll have to win the state title to back-up their No. 1 state Marjanovec's 88 goals, a team high, and ference play.

Other strengths of the team were in Danny Hoag (63). Erin Ortega had the ranking. most assists with 52 and Danny Drazil the serving .

"It's going to be real competitive," said had 41. Xavier Pacheco recorded the most "We had an awesome server this year, coach Joe Ismay.

Erika Widmark. She was by far the The real key .to Palomar's success could steals (90) and Drazil added 80.

Blake Dorse had 189 blocks in the leading scorer (in serves)," Seiler said. ride on how well James Guizar finishes.

The Comets· overcame many obstaLast year, Guizar finished No. 1 in state net. ·

cles. The team only played with nine members, compared to the usual 12.

According to Seiler, aside from the numbers disadvantage, the trouble with the team was not having everyone healthy.

Said St<iler: "We dealt with adversity very well. Everybody filled out her role and contributed."

Prospects for the team look good next year.

"I have been getting many inquiries from the local high schools," Seiler said.

He believes there will be a good turnout for the team next season.

-Heidi Clites

Women's soccer finishes the season strong Coach Cern Tont's Palomar women's soccer team went on an offensive binge to overcome San Diego City, 15-1, in its final Pacific Coast Conference match to finish with an 8-4 record.

Brenda Butler scored four goals and Melissa lvicenic addd two.

Earlier in the week, Palomar blanked Southwestern, 5-0, led by Candice Johnson, who had two goals, and Gina Archimede with two assists.

Casey Torres finished among the conference's top four offensive leaders.

-Palomar College Athletic Newsletter

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16

The Telescope •

Monday, Dec. 4, 2000

The· Back Pa e A rookie Comets football team makes it 8-of-9 I 2000 Mission Conference Champions I Record 7-4 overall, 4-11eague Arlene Martinez Sports Editor

Palomar clinched the Mission Conference title, giving the Comets division titles the last eight of nine seasons.

The Comets earned a bowl bid after defeating Golden West 56-7 on Nov. 18. The win put Palomar in a tie for first place with Orange Coast, but with a better overall record, the team entered the Southern California Bowl sitting alone on top (the game was held this past Saturday at Chaffey College in Rancho Cucamonga).

The team had lost to Orange Coast earlier in the season, a game in which four, Palomar touchdowns were nullified by penalties. ''I'm personally' gratified," Palomar coach Tom Craft told the North County Times.

"For the program to go through as many changes as we did with coaches and players and then come back and compete ... We've got a chance to accomplish something we didn't do last year, and that's win a bowl game."

With a win, it will be the team's lOth bowl victory. Last year, Palomar suffered its only defeat in bowl h\story, a 24-21 loss in which QB Greg Cicero threw three interceptions in the final quarter.

With the season's end, Palomar players look to regroup for next year. Many will be visited by colleges. And if lllstory visits again, many will sign.

After the 1999 season, 18 football players accepted scholarships to four-year universities. It marked the third straight year the Comets football team produced 18 signees.

"A year from now, this could be one of Palomar's great teams," Craft said at the beginning of the season.

A year early, he was right.

Comet battles a Golden West player for the ball.

Photos by Tristan Nickeytrhe Telescope Palomar College's 56-7 victory over Golden West. While the victory secured another Bowl appearance for the Comets, the season wasn't as kind to Golden West. The team hasn't won a game since 1997. Palomar won its eight conference title in nine years.

Andy Goodenough Quarterback 6-foot-3, 210 lbs.

Regular season stats 12,339 yards~ 19 touchdowns ..

I Passing percentage rate 68.3 (led the;nation)

Notable

I Set the high school passing record at Oregon's Corvallis High fl

Freshman Andy Goodenough led the pack of 21 rookie starters to a 73~. 4-1 season, beating out ~ophomore Scot Austin for the starting role. Ile • earned that distinction afterjust the second game, when he had ~A369~yard passing performance, hittil)g 30-of-40 passes against Riverside. ' · Goodenough, whose high school QB .coach was Chargers ooach M:i)<.e Ritey's brother. was U~Ul:\~ co-player Qf the ye~ in the Mission Central Conference.

.,.

Coach's quote . ,

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.

1 "This year, hers somewhere in the top :five, and I think he lias a chance to be one of the better ones we've ever had next year."

-CQach

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Sports right next door Arlene Martinez

Here at "The Telescope" we decided to use "The Telescope" as our byline, forgoing the usual titles you see at college papers Staff writer, Editor in chief, Feature editor. I was not involved in the decision but in retrospect, I'm sure it was the right one.

Cohesion, team spirit, etc, etc.

But for this, my final issue, I am using the title. Leaving Palomar after this semester, I don't know what life has planned for me. Who knows if I'll ever hold the position of sports editor again.

So for one shining minute of glory, I would like to hold that title right under my name.

I'm proud of it. I'm proud to be associated with sports.

Here at Palomar we had another great fall sports assemblage.

We captured four division titles (women's polo, men's wrestling, football, women~s volleyball).

Out of 11 teams, that's four that sat on top. I bet they wish more of you guys were there to witness it.

It's too bad the Comets don't get a lot of school support. I realize in the junior college, commute atmosphere, you don't pay mcuh attention to them unless you're playing them. But you're missing some quality athletics, right next door to your history (or chem or math) class.

Winter and spring sports promises to bring more glory.

Check out the men's basketball team. Led by fust-year coach Virgil Watson, the team made it to the first round of state playoff action before being knocked out last season. Look for a more seasoned coach and team to go even further.

12 players of last season's state-winning softball team (487 -1) accepted scholarships to schools all over the nation.

Coach Mark Eldridge recorded his 800th victory last season, en route to his third state title. 818206-6 is the career record Eldridge brings into Spring 2001. How many coaches can boast nearly a 75% winning percentage?

The men's baseball team goes for their fourth straight Pacific Coast Conference title (32-11 last season, second in state).

With several key players gone, it will be interesting to see what coach Bob Vetter will do with another round of youngsters.

Vetter, who received his SOOth career win last spring, owns a 412-319-6 record with the Comets. Success like that doesn't come from one crop of talented athletes.

In this Olympic year, it's been a crazy semester in the world of sports. The Chargers win one game (and only one game as of press time), Tony Gwynn declares free agency, Bobby Knight gets fired. A young Romanian girl gets stripped of her gold Olympic medal.

But then, on any given day, on any given month or year, you could say that.

It's been fun trying to bring you sports, at the local level.

I hope you've enjoyed it.