The Telescope 60.21 by The Telescope

the www. the-telescope.com

CAMPUS REACTS TO SHOOTINGS Palomar evaluates

Students talk about East Coast 111assacre

its safety

By John Scafetta

THE TELESCOPE

Two weeks have passed since the first shots were fired on the Virginia Tech campus in Blacksburg. It was then that Seung-Hui Cho, an English major, murdered 27 students and five faculty members before taking his own life. "I was shocked by the whole situation and was surprised, because you would never suspect something like this to happen in Blacksburg," said Virginia Tech graduate student and packaging major Jimmy Bishaw. "It was like something from a horror movie." Bishaw, who was on campus during the shootings, said the aftermath has left the campus unraveled and in disarray, but said the Virginia Tech community will overcome it. "Everyone was walking around campus like zombies," Bishaw said. "It was a very surreal feeling. The scary part is it could have been me, because I have walked through Norris Hall many times." Following the tragedy, Palomar students have felt the effect of the college massacre. "My initial reaction was shock," said Curtis Bryant, a criminal justice major. "I go to college like these other students and you have your routine. You drive to school at a certain time and you think you have control over a lot of stuff, but you really don't." While most were in disbelief, some said they felt there were plenty of warning signs to merit suspicion upon Cho, including disturbing writings and a verbal threat to commit suicide. "It doesn't surprise me," said Sara Love, a criminal justice major. ''Yeah it's scary, but the fact that he threatened people before should have opened their eyes. A lot of times I don't think people take threats seriously." Bryant said the location of the shooting disturbed him. • SEE

ELLIOT DE LISSER I TIU TELESCOPE

Palomar English major Breelyn Burns writes a message on a memorial banner that will be sent from Palomar to Virginia Tech. The banner was the centerpiece of a memorial service held at the San Marcos Campus on April 23.

Memorial event held for victims By Shahrazad Encinias THE TELESCOPE

Palomar College paid its respects to the victims of the Virginia Tech tragedy during a ceremony April 23. The ceremony was held one week after the tragedy, in front of the Student Center at noon. The Associated Student Government hosted the ceremony, which began with a moment of silence. The ASG also provided a banner for people to write messages and prayers for the Virginia Tech community. The banner will be sent to them. "It could occur at any college or university," said College President Robert Deegan, who spoke at the ceremony.

Thirty-two votive candles were lit to commemorate the 32 victims. Five of the victims were professors. Deegan told students, staff members and faculty members that the college is prepared to handle a similar situation. A counselor was also at the event to speak with students. During the ceremony, representatives from Health Services handed out a flier titled "Self-care tips for dealing with stress after a disaster or traumatic event." Jayne Conway, health services director said there are many programs on campus to help students. "We can help them," Conway said. "They don't even know the services we provide."

• SEE SAFETY, PACE 6

MASSACRE, PACE 7

SPRINGfiST Students use event to ptotest milit11ty tletuitment.

• SEE VICTIMS, PACE 7

Following the aftermath of the deadliest shooting in United States history on the campus of Virginia Tech, Palomar College officials have said they are prepared to handle a similar crisis if it were to occur here. "If something like that happened, we're as prepared as you can be," College President Robert Deegan said. "It's much more important to do what we can ahead of time." Part of that preparation is moving the annual "Immediate Action and Rapid Deployment" class forward to May 24, Police Chief Tom Plotts said. "Every year, we have a scheduled training in the summertime when the students have gone," Plotts said. "It involves a scenario of an active shooter on campus. We were scheduled originally to have that June 15, but we are now partnering with Cal State San Marcos' police department and the sheriff's department that runs the course." The first-time partnership between Cal State San Marcos and Palomar is an eight-hour course for all sworn personnel on campus. The Palomar police department consists of six sworn officers and 12 community service officers. Sworn officers are equipped with firearms, handcuffs and pepper spray whereas community service officers on campus are unarmed and observe and report, Plotts said. He said he believes the college's emergency plan, which is reviewed and updated yearly, has his staff prepared for any type of emergency. "An educational institution should be a safe haven for our students and our employees," Plotts said. "For the campus community, we need to have resources that are available, not only to act as a deterrent, but also to respond to this type of situation." Plotts said the number of officers on campus will increase as Palomar expands its facilities over the next 10 to 15 years. "We're going to be moving in the direction of giving some input related to the design and construction of these buildings for areas like security cameras, automatic locking devices, intercom systems and voice over IP," Plotts said. "We would have

•

PJIILDIIAII'S I G1111t petlotmllntes in Pa&E 6 love-themed p/11y.

• Pl&E 14

THE TELESCOPE • MONDAY, APRIL 30, 2007

Helping Mother Nature

campus

CILENDAR

•d•

• Free Film Series

11 11.

• Inter-Club Council meeting

5/1

IWfl

5/z

IWfl

5/z

IWfl

5/z Midi I

5/J

JOHN GILL I THE TELlSCOPE

Retired Palomar biology professor Jim McDaniel clears weeds in his 20th year of service to the Arboretum, during the annual clean up day April 21.

Health Services has free help for troubled students

The ICC will hold its weekly meeting at 12:30 p.m. in Room SU-18. The meeting is open to the public.

• Job Fair

The Career Center will host a job fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the clock tower. The fair is free and open to the community.

• Campus Explorations

Wilma Owens and Mollie Smith will host this week's Campus Explorations seminar from 2 to 3 p.m. in Room ES-19. The seminar is free and open to anyone. • Associated Student Government meeting

The ASG will hold its weekly meeting at 1 p.m. in Room SU-18. The meeting is open to the public.

• Concert Hour

The Palomar Electronic Music Ensemble, a group of student composers, will perform at 12:30 p.m. in Room D-10. The performance is free.

Palomar IN BRIEF

Annual job fair to be held May Z

By Colleen raroli

acupuncture points that help to lower stress, Conway said. She added that Palomar College Health Services has Yoga classes are also available. They free counselors available for any stu- are designed for healthy living techdents who may be going through a men- niques for stressed students to use, tal health crisis. Conway said. Ventimiglia recently proJayne Conway, health services direc- duced a film on these techniques, she tor, said Health Services is at Palomar added to prevent problems. If a student is sad, The Counseling Department has depressed, or having a hard time deal- classes for students that include COUN ing with stress, Conway said she would 110 - College Success Skills, COUN like other students to tell them to stop 115 - Career/Life Planning, and COUN by Health Services. 165 -Career Search. Students can get "Some students have a hard time college credit for these classes. adjusting to college and we offer help to "If they are going to students before they get carry a full load - that is too depressed," Conway ~~sometimes students not good lifestyle managesaid. "Sometimes students ment," Conway said. get overwhelmed with col- get tJrlllwhelmed with "There are some students lege, work and have rela- eo/lege, w01k 11nd that think they can have it tionship problems." all and then might have a h11ve rel11tionship Conway said some comdifficulty at home or in a 11 mon signs of depression problems. relationship and that can are a person looking like _ Jayne Conway cause stress." they are on drugs, saying HEALTH SERVICES DIRECTCJR Health Services can also strange things , flinching help students that may their facial muscles, not have drug or alcohol probkeeping up their appearance and saying lems, Conway said. violent things. If there is a severe crisis, She added that faculty members have such as a suicidal student, then repre- referred troubled students to Health sentatives can call in someone from the Services. Counseling Department, Conway said. "I think that our faculty is excellent She added that depending on the here," she said. "They have keyed into severity of the situation, Health the students in their class and they Services representatives can refer stu- have picked up when there has been a dents to outside agencies. Students are problem, and they may even refer a stuevaluated to determine if they may be a dent. We have even had faculty walk a danger to themselves or others, Conway student down here." said. She said there are medications All records are confidential and canavailable, but Health Services repre- not be given out without the patient's sentatives try to avoid using them. permission, Conway said. Tom Ventimiglia, a counselor at "Faculty went out of their way to help Palomar, has been working with Health their student and that's what we need Services on some techniques of energy to count on - is to pick it up early to psychology that work on tapping in on identify high risk," Conway said.

"Human Resources," a French film about a son who gets a management job at the factory where his father works, will screen at 6:30 p.m. in Room P-32. Admission is free.

THE TELESCOPE

There will be a job fair at Palomar from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., May 2 on the lawn area by the clock tower. The fair is open to anyone who would like to attend. It is expected that more than 100 companies will be at the fair, with a variety that could meet anyone's interests, said Eddie Tubbs, career center coordinator and organizer of the fair. He added that there will also be four-year universities attending, both private and public. The fair will give attendees the opportunity to talk to representatives from companies such as Harrah's Casino, Kaiser Permanente, The North County Times, the San Diego Zoo and Sea World. There will also be military representatives from the U.S. Anny, Navy, Air Force and the Marine Corps. Tubbs said he wanted a lot of companies at the fair so that there could be different jobs for different students. For information, contact Tubbs at (760) 744-1150 ext. 2135.

Field trip classes offered in May

The Earth Sciences Department is offering two 1-unit classes in which students will travel around California. One class, Oceanography of the Southern California Bight, consists of a four-day, three-night field trip and includes a half-day boat trip to East Anacapa Island, a rarely visited member of the Channel Islands. The class will run from May 20-23. The course code is 33223. "There is nothing like getting out in the

Midi I

5/J

In• 5/4

Kbi

5/5

Kfji

5/5

111!,1

5/6 1:':1.],1

5/7

• Musical Performance

The Palomar Electronic Music Ensemble, a group of student composers, will perform at 8 p.m. in Room D-10. Admission is $5. • Planetarium shows

The planetarium will have two shows -"The Sky Tonight" at 7 p.m. and "Descendent of the Stars" at 8:15p.m. Student admission is $1 or $2. For information, visit www.palomar.edu/planetarium • Opening reception at Boehm Gallery

Areception for the annual student art and photography exhibition will be held trom 5 to 8 p.m. at the Boehm Gallery. • President's Concert

The Palomar Symphony and the Palomar Chorale will perform at 8 p.m. in the Howard Brubeck Theatre. Admission is $8 for students, $1 0 for staff and seniors and $12 for general admission. • President's Concert

The Palomar Symphony and the Palomar Chorale will perform at 2 p.m. in the Howard Brubeck Theatre. Admission is $8 for students, $10 for staff and seniors and $12 for general admission. • Free HIV screening

Health Services will host free HIV testing from noon

field and seeing with your own eyes the processes and features," said Patty Deen, earth sciences department chairwoman. ''You can sit in a classroom for 16 weeks, see pictures, read, but until you get out and see it yourself, it isn't real." The second class, San Andreas Fault and Big Sur Coast, is a four-day, threenight trip beginning at San Simeon State Park. Students will travel up the California coast to Big Sur, then head over the coast range to the Arroyo Seco River. The class will run from May 24-27. The course code is 33310. Prior oceanography or geography classes are not required. Students will earn one unit of transferable elective credit. Students interested in either course must register by May 4. Space is limited.

Blood drive to be hosted on campus Health Services will sponsor a blood drive for the American Red Cross from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., May 1 to 4. The American Red Cross bloodmobile will be in Lot 11 between Building E and Health Services. "We save lives when people donate blood," said Maria Monsalud, a registered nurse at Health Services. "One pint of blood is important to a person that is in need. I encourage anyone that is able to donate." Monsalud said San Diego hospitals are low on blood supply. The American Red Cross requires blood donors to be at least 17 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in good health. Identification is required to donate. To learn more about the blood donation process and donor eligibility visit www.helpsavealife.org. All blood donors at Palomar will receive an American Red Cross T-shirt. To make an appointment, call (760) 7441150, ext. 2380 or sign-up at Health Services or online at www.givelife.org with the code PalomarSM.

THE TELESCOPE â&#x20AC;˘ MONDAY, APRIL 30, 2007

New rail line scheduled for completion By Allie Ryan THE TELISCOPE

The Sprinter, a lightweight train that will serve Palomar students, is eight months away from arrival. According to North County Transit District officials, the Sprinter will begin operation Dec. 16. "We're about 80 percent complete and moving ahead on schedule," said Sarah Benson, marketing representative for NCTD. One of the train's 15 stops is located across the street from Palomar on Mission Road. "We expect that it will be the most heavily used stop," Benson said. Recent construction on the Sprinter included installing canopies at each of the stations. Construction is underway to finish the tracks and the signals, and to upgrade the crossings, Benson said. She said by summer they expect to complete the main track and install fencing. She saud each station will be equipped with emergency call boxes and video cameras. The Palomar station will have a security officer who patrols the Sprinter stop as well and Palomar's bus depot, Benson said. NCTD officials expect the Sprinter to relieve traffic on the roads and freeways, making traveling easier. According to the official Sprinter Web site, the trains will have a capacity for 452 passengers each and it

is expected that 10,000 passengers will use the trains daily. The trains will run every half hour, from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., seven days per week, Benson said. Sixty-four trains will run daily and four trains per hour will stop at each station, Benson added. Each train will have an entrance ramp that unfolds and makes the trains accessible to people in wheel chairs and the trains will have storage space for wheel chairs as well as bikes, Benson said. A 22-mile bike lane will run parallel to the Sprinter's tracks. At each station, there will be enclosed bike lockers, which will be rented out, Benson said. It is the role of each city that the bike lane passes through, to maintain the lane, she said. Riders of the Sprinter will be able to purchase tickets at the stations. According to the official Web site, a one-way ride will cost $2, and a round trip pass will cost $4. Benson said Palomar is trying to reduce the cost for students, so more students will use it as a means of transportation. Benson said one of the Sprinter's goals is to make access to Palomar easier for students. Benson predicted the Sprinter will be heavily populated by Palomar students as well as Cal State San Marcos students. Benson said bus schedules and routes will change, so buses

will arrive five minutes before each train does. ''We're working on timing the bus schedule to work effectively so that students can easily transfer," Benson said. Shane Sanford, a Palomar architecture major, takes the bus from Oceanside to school. "The Sprinter is going to make traveling easier, and it's going to be so much faster than taking the bus," Sanford said.

"Plus, the Sprinter will be new, and probably way more comfortable to ride than public buses." Benson said the Sprinter trains will have a nice interior, with large windows, and spacious overhead storage racks. A code of conduct for the train is being decided upon, but food and beverages will be permitted, she said. Sanford said he thinks that

the Sprinter will have a large impact on Palomar. "The Sprinter will make Palomar more accessible to people who live in this area," he said. "Even though more people will be going to Palomar, I think parking problems will decrease. Students will probably choose to ride the Sprinter because it's cheaper than gas, and they don't have to buy a parking pass."

JEIIIIIIIFER BAUER I THE TELESCOPE

The new light rail station, on Mission Road, is under construction. Commuter trains are scheduled to run in December.

cAREER I JOB FAIIf JOBS

JOBS

Palomar College 1140 West Mission Rd. San Marcos, CA 92069 (By the Clock Tower) r

May 2, 2007 (WED) I O:OOam to 2:00pm A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR JOB SEEKERS TO; Get that dream job. Network with employers. Network with other job seekers. Get input to improve your resume Speak 1rith employers who provide tuition assistance.

OPEN AID FREE TO THE PUBLIC For more information please call the Career Center at (760) 744- 1150 ext 3125/2194/2189. YOU TOO CAN FIND YOUR DREAM JOB!

THE TELESCOPE • MONDAY, APRIL 30 2007

... c•0

E -D I T 0 R I A L

Virginia Tech should serve • as warn1ng In light of the tragic shooting at Virginia Tech, our security at Palomar College has been questioned. Palomar is not prepared for such a shooting to happen on its campuses and it should be. Police Chief 'Ibm Plotts has talked about the need of phones in every classroom if a lockdown were to occur. It's impossible to contact most classrooms now without physically walking in. Considering the size of Palomar's main campus, there should be a secure method of communication, whether it is phones or an intercom. Being able to call in or out of classrooms to spread information is critical in an emergency situation . Relying on cell phones in such situations is a bad idea. Even if Palomar had some way of contacting all classrooms via cell phone, they are frequently turned off during class. Calling out might not be an issue, but in an emergency event, the stakes are too high to risk no one in the class having a cell phone. There is supposed to be an emergency procedures guide in every classroom that instructs certain procedures in 12 different situations such as bomb threats, behavioral concerns or violent crimes in progress. Not surprisingly, all but two emergency procedure guide instructions prompt people in danger to call a number. Currently, Palomar has an e-mail alert system in place that would let faculty members and students know if a situation were to occur. This means nothing because there aren't computers in most classrooms, and even if there were, the Palomar e-mails are not checked by students on a regular basis or even at all. Students don't check their e-mail every two minutes to see if something dangerous is happening on the other side of the campus. Palomar doesn't provide perhaps the most crucial resource for preventing a tragedy like the one at Vrrginia Tech - teaching faculty members how to identify and deal with troubled students. At the All College Forum on April 24, Child Development Professor Jenny Fererro said she wouldn't know how to deal with a troubled student or what resources were available at the college. Being prepared for a worse case scenario is important, but training faculty members to recognize the signs of a possible threat to prevent a tragedy is a smarter way of dealing with the problem. This training should be mandatory for everyone working on a college campus. Palomar also needs an evacuation plan and students and employees need to be trained on it. In an emergency are we supposed to go to our cars? Run? We don't know and we should. Tragic events such as the shooting at VIrginia Tech serve as a reality check and bring us face to face with dangers we are normally content to ignore. But as memories fade, we also forget the lessons they taught until the next time they're brought forcefully to our attention. With all the construction that is planned for Palomar with the $694-million bond measure, adding phone lines to every room as well as an intercom would be easy and would drastically improve campus security. Palomar's facilities are at the right stage in their development to irqplement phones and an intercom system in every classroom. The consequences of a mass killing at Palomar are that great that these measures are necessary. We all want to feel safe, and this is the perfect time to start implementing these changes.

TeiiScope Monday, April 30, 2007

Volume 60, No. 21

FOCUSED ON PAlOMAR The Telescope is published 11 times per semester. Opinions expressed in the newspaper are those of the individual writers and do not necessarily represent those of the entire newspaper staff, Palomar faculty members and staff members or the governing board trustees. HOW TO REACH US ADDRESS THE TELESCOPE, PALOMAR COLLEGE, 1140 WEST MISSION ROAD, SAN MARCOS, CA 92069 NEWSROOM ROOM TCB-1

Guns could've stopped shooting By Pie1-re Lemieux MCT NEWS SERVICE

What do tragic mass killings of students and schoolchildren have in common? The answer is not obvious. What is obvious, to those of us who look beyond the headlines, is that mass killings were rare when guns were easily available, but have increased as guns have become more controlled. In the early 20th century, guns were easily available to ordinary people in all civilized countries, including England, Canada, the United States and France. In many cases, individuals could freely carry them concealed. But all that changed. Scotland's 1996 Dunblane massacre, for example, which claimed the lives of 16 children, occurred in a country where, after seven decades of increasing gun controls, it had become very difficult for ordinary citizens to own guns, especially handguns, and illegal to carry them virtually anywhere. Similarly, the 2006 Dawson College shootings in Canada occurred after 15 years of increasingly rigid gun controls, making it illegal to bear arms even on your own property. In the United States, where the majority of the shooting tragedies have occurred, federal gun controls have increased nearly continuously since the 1960s. None of the massacres was committed by people who were legally allowed to have guns where they committed their crimes, with many of the killings occurring in governmentmandated "gun-free zones."

EDITOR IN CHIEF JASON DUNN PHOTO EDITOR JENNIFER BAUER OPINION EDITOR ALMA HERNANDEZ ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR ASHLEY WARD SPORTS EDITOR JOHN SCAFETTA ONliNE EDITOR SCOTT ERLER AD MANAGER DOREEN SCHUll INSTRUCnONAL ASST DONNIE BOYLE INSTRUCnONAL ASST CHARLES STEINMAN

STAFF WRITERS ROY ALVAREZ, TARA ASHFORD, ERIC BENNm, JOE BRANA, CARISSA CASARES, ALEX CAVE, JOHAN DE LA TORRE, SHAHRAZAD ENCINIAS, KAREN HOEY, AMY HOLTON, AARON LANARI, CHRIS MEYER, SHAIA MOORE, KRISTINA MORENO, ALLISON PAGE, COLLEEN PAROLI, ALLIE RYAN, STEPHANIE ST. GERMAIN, ANTHONY SCHWARTZ, BRIAN WELCH

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS KATHRYN CHANDLER, HUGH COX, ELLIOT DE LISSER, JOHN GILL, JERRY HOLLIE, KURT LIGHTFOOT, OSCAR MARTINEZ

JOURNALISM ADVISER WENDY NELSON JOURNALISM ADVISER ERIN HIRO PHOTOJOURNALISM ADVISER PAUL STACHELEK

PHONE (760) 744-1150, EXT. 2450 FAX (760) 744-8123, PLEASE WRITE: "ATTN: THE TELESCOPE" E-MAIL TELESCOPE@PALOMAR.EDU ADVER11SING E-MAIL TELESCOPEAD@PALOMAR.EDU

The truth, as the tragedy in Blacksburg reminds us, is that it is impossible to be totally protected by the police against criminal maniacs, except by turning society into a prison. One important question needs to be asked, though. What if some students or professors had been armed at Virginia Tech, a school where guns are banned? Interestingly, a bill that would have allowed students and employees to carry handguns on Virginia campuses was defeated in the state General Assembly earlier this year. Virginia Tech spokesman Larry Hincker hailed the defeat: "I'm sure the university community is appreciative of the General Assembly's actions because this will help parents, students, faculty and visitors feel safe on our campus." Now what? When asked at a news conference after the killings what can be done to ensure campus security, Virginia Tech President Charles Steger indicated that there is no way to place a police guard in every classroom or dormitory. That's so true. But contrast the horrific VIrginia Tech shootings with the January 2002 killings at Virginia's Appalachian Law School. Within minutes of shooting three people in the dean's office, disgruntled student Peter Odighizuwa was stopped by two students who had retrieved handguns from their cars. They disarmed the killer and turned him over to the police. Obviously, when people are intent on massacring defense-

EJ:I ASSOCIATED COLLEGIATE PRESS

CALIFORNIA NEWSPAPER

less students, there is no sure panacea. Yet, there must be a reason such killings haven't occurred at places like the University of Utah, where people licensed to carry guns can bring them on campus, including university buildings. There might be a reason the Dawson College killer, who had a car and apparently no special reason to target that specific school, did not go instead to the National Police School, about 100 miles from Montreal, where all students are armed. We need to take a broader view. Something other than the low probability of being stopped before doing much damage must be at play. Some decades ago, most people, including unruly youths, and perhaps even most criminals, were under certain moral constraints that they were ashamed to break. Since that time, these constraints have crumbled, replaced by postmodernist nihilism and the heavy hand of government. There have always been self-deluded maniacs who, in order to seek solace and fame , wage destruction. Such was Herostratus who, in 356 B.C., and precisely for this reason, burned the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. However, I seriously doubt he would have killed schoolchildren or young women, even if he had had the power to do so. So long as we tolerate a nanny-state culture of dependency, in which people are treated as children, disarmed and prohibited from protecting themselves, senseless mass killings will continue, and perhaps increase.

The Telescope welcomes all letters to the editor. Letters must be typewritten, and must include the author's first and last names, and phone number. Phone numbers will not be published. Letters can be emailed to telescope@palomar.edu or delivered to The Telescope office in Room TCB-1. The Telescope reserves the right to edit letters for space and grammatical errors, and not to print lewd or libelous letters. Letters must be received one week prior to the newspaper's publication to be considered for inclusion.

CFAC CALIFORNIA FIRST AMENDMENT COALITION

JOURNALISM ASSOCIATION OF COMMUHllY COLLEGES

THE TELESCOPE â&#x20AC;˘ MONDAY, APRIL 30, 2007

Land bought, sought for new campuses By Jason Dunn THE TElESCOPE

Administrators at Palomar College are set to buy land for a new campus in Fallbrook while the search for land for a similar campus in the south of the college's district continues. The two new campuses are part of the plan for expanding Palomar's facilities to accommodate projected growth in the college's district until 2022. The passage of Proposition M, a $694-million bond, will make the purchase of the land possible. The intended Fallbrook site is 82 acres on the northeast corner of Interstate 15 and Highway 76. Bonnie Ann Dowd, vice president of fin ancial and administrative services, said the college

has paid $2 million for the land so far and that the college will make the final payment June 15. She said the land will cost either $52 million if graded by the developer or $36 million if ungraded. The grading process would involve creating areas of flat land on which to build, said Facilities Director Mike Ellis. Dowd said the college has hired a consultant to study which option would be best for Palomar. College President Robert Deegan said if the price of grading the land is close to $16 million, the difference between the two possible costs, Palomar is likely to take on the responsibility for grading. "If indeed it's cost effective to do that, we'd like to do that ourselves," he said. Deegan said the intended site

The Palomar Community College District as drawn in the facilities master plan.

is part of a larger parcel ofland that the land's owner would probably want to grade all at once. Deegan said the new campus might be built one year earlier if Palomar takes responsibility for the grading. Deegan said the college has also hired a consulting firm to search for a site south of Palomar's existing campuses. He said the search was originally for a site of about 100 acres, but now the college is looking for a site in the 40- to 50-acre range and. If nothing is found, Deegan said officials will search for a site of 25 to 30 acres. ''You can build a large center on a smaller site," Deegan said. He said the Escondido Center is built on 13 acres. Ellis said he thinks the search for a site around the I15 corridor is exhausted and that accessibility, which he said is a primary consideration, limits the number of potential sites. "Students have to be able to get there easily," he said. Ellis said there is more remote land available, but he's not sure if the land has sewage capabilities. "The topogr aphy's another issue," Ellis said. He said there is a lot of hilly, rocky land in the south of the district that would be impractical to build on. He also said there is a lot of protected land in the south of the district that cannot be built on.

Em ~ J);~tllt Oppo.JtaiuQS ft!

COURTESY MAP

The final payment for the 82-acre site for the new Fallbrook campus will be made June 15 and will be paid from Proposition M funds.

eit SD ~ents

.JaiiUJfoJ. ~I*IIJbills.orsimplygetajitliotfl)landgThe Palomar College GEAR UP Partnership Program is continuously accepting applications for the following positions:

Tutor/Mentor (Academic Year)

Tutor/Mentor (Summer Program)

Assist middle and high school students in subject areas (math & language arts) in-class and after school.

Provide academic assistance to students participating in the GEAR UP summer program.

Qualifications A minimum of 6 credit units for Spring/Fall semesters A minimum of 3 credit units for summer program A GPA of 2.5, or better

Compensation and other incentives $9.00 per hour, starting salary Get great work experience fo r your resume

Palomar College

t t=-

YEARS I H&-1006

Work in Sa n Marcos or Vista middle/high schools Give back t o your comm unity and you nger students Pa rticipate in fu n activities, events, and field trips Excellent d irect experi ence for future t eachers/ ed ucators Or, volunteer/serve!

To find out how you can apply, contact: Joe L. Vasquez Outreach Coordinator (760) 290-2526 jvasquez@palomar.edu

THE TELESCOPE • MONDAY, APRIL 30, 2007

Collete hosts third annual unity event By Alma Hernandez THE TELESCOPE

Balloons, flowers and leis adorned the Student Center during Palomar's third annual Unity in Diversity celebration April19. The theme of the evening was unity in diversity- work and poverty. The night was a series of speakers and performers. Francisca Gonzales, a member of Palomar's Equal Employment Advisory Committee, said the event is meant to inform the community about Palomar's commitment to equal employment opportunity. Nearly 250 people attended. "The event gets bigger and bigger every year," Gonzales said. College President Robert Deegan was one of the speakers. "I am proud of the people who organized this event," Deegan said. "I think it's wonderful that people join together to celebrate diversity." Deegan spoke about the importance of immigration to the United States. He said that some people around the world, who have no other options for ridding themselves of poverty, see immigration as an outlet. He shared his own experience of visiting Ellis Island and looking up his relatives. He added that education is the best way to get out of the cycle of poverty. The main event of the night was a panel discussion consisting of keynote speaker Sylvester Scott, Multicultural Studies Professor Carlos von Son, English Professor Barb Neault Kelber, Psychologist Homayoun Mahmoudi and Associated Student Government Vice President Joseph Park. During the panel discussion, von Son shared his personal

experience with immigration. He said that while living in Mexico he had an accident that left him unable to walk. He said that it was in a wheelchair that he came face to face with the reality of his limitations to obtain an education in Mexico. He said there weren't any ramps or access to classes and that, after being turned away by a university, he came to the United States. He said once he was in California, within 10 years he was able to earn his doctorate. The audience applauded him for nearly two minutes. "Von Son offers a great perspective on the immigration issue," said Palomar student Luis Gonzales. As the three-and-a-half hour event came to an end, audience members still had questions for the panelists. Student Claudia Covarrubias said she had questions for the panelist that she

was unable to ask because of the time constraint. "It's interesting to hear the different opinions of well educated people," Covarrubias said. Scott said he has more than 25 years of experience in speaking about unity and diversity, and that he was honored to speak for a crowd that really wanted to attend the event. "The presence of the college president and faculty shows the support toward unity and diversity," Scott said "The event was well organized, and well intended." Scott said he regretted not having dedicated more time to the impact of young adults with poverty. He added that people need to realize to what extent poverty exists. During a 20-minute break, a self-serve buffet of various foods and fruits was offered along with dessert.

Psychologist Homayoun Mahmoudi (center) speaks on a panel at Palomar's third annual Unity in Diversity event. Panelists from left to right were Multicultural Studies Professor Carlos von Son, Sylvester Scott, Mahmoudi, English Professor Barb Neault Kelber and Associated Student Government Vice President Joseph Park.

and games under the sun. ASG members wore Hawaiian-inspired outfits and passed out leis to set the Students protested military recruitment Polynesian theme. on campus during the Associated Student "It's a good environment. It's energetic Government's annual Springfest event. and fun," said student Kyra Cairns. "It doesThe two-day event was held April 17-18 in n't even feel like we're at school." front of the Student Center. The U.S. Army A hula-hoop competition, balloon-toss and sponsored a rock-climbing wall for students a slam-dunk contest were part of the event. next to their tent, which the protestors sat ASG members also gave out free kettle corn. in front of. "There were positive spirits in the "This is a good time to get my message California sun," said Robert Frederick, ASG across," said Mike Moyer, Palomar student member. and protestor. He held a sign that read Booths for local businesses and campus "Education Not Militarization! Books Not organizations provided information for stuBombs!" Another student, Stuart Long, held dents. a sign that read, "Just Say No To "There's a lot of things to get involved in Recruitment On Campus!" Other students the community," said Mike Lynch, percusperiodically joined the duo. sionist and guitarist for "Pitch Michael." "It (protesting) has inspired good-spirited "Pitch Michael" is a local band from conversation," Moyer said. Escondido that performed at Springfest on Both students demonstrated because April 17. They played cover songs by recruiters on campus have harassed them Incubus, Nickelback and other artists. They several times, Moyer said. also played their own music. It was the Army representatives did not react to the band's first performance at Palomar. protestors' demonstration. "It was fun, I love playing," said Jonathan "They have the right to say what they Pitcher, Palomar student and front man of want," said an Army recruiter who would the band. not give his name. Springfest ended with Ed Solis, ASG Away from the protesting, Palomar cele- member, performing a karaoke song by the brated the return of spring with music, food Beach Boys.

By Shahrazad Encinias

College President Robert Deegan spoke at Palomar's annual Unity in Diversity event. Deegan spoke about a visit to Ellis Island where he looked up his relatives.

OSCAR MARTINEZ I THE TELESCOPE

Protestors show up at college's annual spring celebration days TH£ TELESCOPE

OSCAR MARTINEZ I THE TELESCOPE

• SAFETY: Officers armed with guns CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

phones in each classroom, so if in fact we needed to implement an evacuation building by building, we would be able to do that." Palomar also uses an e-mail alert that would notify every student and faculty member in case of a lockdown, Plotts said. "Whenever we have these types of situations, we also have an afteraction report. As police chiefs, we are very interested in getting the intelligence of those reports and how everything played out," Plotts said. "The reason for that is it's extremely important to learn and turn something positive out of a negative." Deegan said he has been in full support of armed officers on campus and still is after the incident at Virginia Tech. "This is one of the reasons I support it," he said. "I hope no one here ever has to discharge a weapon, but in the event that something crazy happens, then you would want to have one until you could receive additional assistance." Deegan said he believes the San Marcos Campus is one that prides itself on safety, but knows anything could happen to a campus that mirrors the population of a small city. "It's very important that we estab-

lish an academic environment here that not only welcomes students, but nurtures students and supports students," he said. "I think everyone knows it could happen. I think you're putting your head in the sand if you don't think it could happen here." Plotts said he has made it clear to his staff under what circumstances they should use firearms. "Whenever an officer is in threata threat has exercised that could be of great bodily injury or possible death to himself are others - would dictate if an officer is going to be pulling his gun," he said. "There are all kinds of variables that come in a millisecond, so it's the officer's judgment if they're going to be taking their gun out of their holster." Plotts said he wants the community to know the police department will do everything in its power to ensure safety. "We really like to get the word out to the community to use everyone's eyes and ears in any type of situation." he said. "If there are any questions in your mind that you witness something or you hear something, we encourage you to report that to campus police." The campus police can be contacted at (760) 744-1150, ext. 2289.

THE TELESCOPE • MONDAY, APRIL 30, 2007

• MASSACRE: Past shootings recalled • VICTIMS: ·Police chief spoke at event CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

"At college, I think it hits home more ty to ask them to leave the class." Love, who went to high school in San than if it was at a post office or anothDiego County, said she has been er place." Bryant said he feels comfortable at through this situation before. She lived Palomar, yet like others on campus, he close to the 2001 Santana High school said he believes this could happen any- shootings, where a 15-year old student opened fire, killing two students and where. "I feel safe," he said "I don't feel any wounding 13 others. "It's always a concern when somedifferent. Even if you think about it, it would be pretty easy for it to happen thing like this happens," she said. "My immediate reaction is 'Oh here. Anything can hapyeah this could happen at pen and your world can just fall out from under "/don't think it's safe any time.' But I know once time goes by, that fear will you. This is a bad time for enough to prevent a begin to fade." anniversaries. There's shooting like that She said she also the Oklahoma City bombfrom happening." remembers the 2001 ing and Columbine Granite Hills High shootsome bad things happen Sara Love · h J H ffman, in April." CRIMINAL JUSTICE MAJOR mg W ere ason a troubled teenager, Love said she is still opened fire , wounded five skeptical in regards to people and later committed suicide in a the safety of the San Marcos Campus. "I don't think it's safe enough to pre- prison cell. "I actually lived only 10 minutes vent a shooting like that from happenaway from there," she said. "People ing, unless they were forewarned and prepared for it," Love said. "My first had heard about him joking beforethought was, 'Wow. I go to a communi- hand and no one took him seriously. ty college. It's an open campus. Anyone Having it happen on a college campus, could come on. Anyone can start open- I don't think it necessarily makes it scarier, I think it's just the fear in gening fire."' Palomar Political Science professor eral." Merhrnoush Hirbod, a dental Jared Zacharias said the shooting hygiene major who has a young son, reminded him of previous incidents. "My immediate reaction was shock said her main concern is for his future. "It was really sad for me," she said. "I and surprise," he said. "I immediately think we should have a really strong thought of Columbine again." Despite the recent events, Zacharias rule about selling guns in the United said he does not look at his students States to young people. That's really differently; however, if he were to have scary for me and for my son's future. a problem with one, he said he would What is going to happen to him?" Hirbod said she is concerned about have the college's support to take her fellow students. action. "I'm going to look at other students "We're pretty far in the semester," Zacharias said. "Maybe if it was earlier differently," she said. "I'm going to lisin the semester I might be a little more ten to them, and watch their reactions curious. If a student's being disruptive and anything they say. You can't trust here at Palomar, we do have the abili- anyone right now."

Deegan said the college will dedicate itself to helping students with emotional issues. Palomar Police Chief Tom Plotts also spoke at the ceremony. He said there is a plan that campus police review annually to prepare for such an incident. "We have mechanisms in place to call additional help," Plotts said. He also said new buildings on campus

could incorporate features to aid people if a similar situation were to occur here. "In November we were blessed by having community members pass the bond," Plotts said. "The $694-million bond will enable improvements to the campus including security tools." In the summer, campus police will take a course at Cal State San Marcos about what to do if there is a school shooting on campus, Plotts said.

Northwest Exteriors Sales Team $9 per hour plus commission Four and eight hour shifts available Monday to Saturday, please call Steve or Jason (858) 536-4200

real answers. real help.

_,_CHAPMAN --UNIVERSITY COLLEGE SAN DIEGO

Look Ahead to Your Future. Chapman University College's San Diego campus is the perfect choice to complete your bachelor's degree. Chapman University College, one of California's most highly respected universities for adult lenrners, is a lso the perfect transfer choice. New sessions start every 1.0 weeks and our exceptional programs are taught at convenient times by pwfessionally and academically accomplished faculty who are focused on your success.

BACHELOR'S DEGREE PROGRAMS Computer Information Sr terns (BS) • Criminal Justice (BA) Liberal Studies (BA) MS Teaching • Organizational Leadership (BA) Psychology (HA) • Social Science (HA) Also offering ![J'<ultwte degree, certifkute, ((nd ~"Tedenticd jn"ognmiS.

Call toll ..free 866..CHAPMAN www.chapman.edu/sandiego RSVP for an upcaming information meeting.

San Diego 7460 Mission Valley Rd. Q.opmon Un~iy ;, owedilll<l by ood ;, o member ol 1he ~ ~ ol Sd>ools ond Colleg.s. troining ond aedentiol 1""9'"'"' o.e oc.uedilll<l by !he Colilotnia Ccmmis>ion "" r.ocJ.e.- Crodenlioling.

1"""""

THE nLESCOPE

By John S. Gill THE TELESCOPE

Each semester, Palomar's landscape photography class, taught by associate professor Donna Cosentino, takes a weekend trip to a picturesque location to create 10 to 15 images for each student's final project. This year's trip to Yosemite Valley took place from April 5 to 8. The class took the opportunity to photograph the spring snow melt as it began to fill the waterfalls of Yosemite including Yosemite Falls, Bridal Vail Falls, Ribbon Falls, Vernal Falls and lllilouette Falls. In addition, the famous rock formations of El Capitan, Half Dome, Cathedral Spires, Sentinel Rock and the

Royal Arches were the subjet of many photos. The class began their studies by taking a morning hike to Mirror Lake where the rising sun was reflected off North Dome and the Quarter Domes into the shallow water. That afternoon was spent visiting the Ansel Adams Gallery at Yosemite Village and walking through the valley meadows, learning more about the use of light and shadow techniques in photography. After spending three nights either in tents, tent cabins or the Yosemite Lodge, the class members stopped on their way home Sunday afternoon at tl"l Mariposa Grove to photograph giant sequoia trees.

GLORIA HADA

The LeConte Memorial building is bathed in blue light using a technique called "painting with light."

JOHN GILL

The waters of Vernal Falls plunge 317 feet over a smoothed wall of granite.

The granite monolith El Capitan looms over the floor of Yosemite Valley. Students in Palomar's Landscape Phot

Apanoramic view shows HaH Dome, one of the well-known features of Yosemite National Park. The famous landscapes were created over millions of years by the work of 1

Eâ&#x20AC;˘ MONDAY, APRIL 30, 2007

MELANIE PARKER

Landscape Photogrpahy students set up cameras and tripods during a photo shoot in Yosemite.

BART MAGOSKI

Yosemite Creek flows over a wall of granite at Yosemite Falls. At 2,425 feet, it is one of the highest waterfalls in the world.

SARAH SEMKIN

Water rushes over boulders near the trail to Mirror Lake.

TOM DENNY

JOHN GILL

1tography class spent four days photographing the scenery within and around Yosemite Valley.

A mist-covered stairway carved out of granite allows hikers to walk to the top of Vernal Falls.

ILOIIA HADA

' glaciers carving valleys out of enormous blocks of granite rock. The subsequent melting of glaciers revealed the vistas seen today throughout the park.

THE TELESCOPE â&#x20AC;˘ MONDAY, APRIL30, 2007

!i 'Picnic' play starts summer oft right Ill

I! â&#x20AC;˘1Ill zIll

By Shaia Moore THE TElESCOPE

"From the backyards of a small Kansas town" to Palomar's Brubeck Theatre, William Inge's 1953 Pulitzer Prize winning play "Picnic" was an unpredictable and at times, even seductive surprise. The acting was great, the setdesign was impressive and the costumes were darling. It didn't hurt that the play boasted a shirtless male lead and multiple make-out scenes . "Picnic" revolves around the events that occur before, during and after a neighborhood picnic on Labor Day. The plot itself is very scandalous and the basis of the storyline is similar to that of many popular movies. Simply put, a nice, rich boy loves a very pretty girl. The pretty girl is nai:ve and pretends to love him back. Then, a sexy bad boy comes into town unexpectedly. The bad boy and the rich boy are friends. 'Picnic,' by William lnge, was performed April the Howard Brubeck Theatre. The bad boy falls in love with the pretty girl and steals her from range and proved that even bad boys the rich boy. The bad boy gets in like Carter can be vulnerable when it trouble and has to leave town, comes to love. but not before he begs the pretty Overall, Gieder's performance was girl to run away with him and believable and engaging, but it's a live happily ever after. The pretty safe bet that most women in the audigirl must then decide between a ence will be unable to tell you anysecure future with one man, or thing he said while shirtless. risk it all for the man she loves. Caitlin Kunkle played the female Every character in the lead of Madge Owens. Being play seems to have two a beautiful, mildly intellithings in common-they gent, love sick teenager is 'Picnic' are all insecure and unsure directed by not the most difficult role to Dana Case about their worth as people play, but Kunkle comand each one is using love, bined the perfect mix of or the idea of love, to find grace and attitude, makmeaning in their lives. :wwrFouRsr.ARs: ing the otherwise munThe whole cast did a dane character someone remarkable job, but four worth watching. performances really stood out. Owens steals the heart ofthe seemHal Carter, the handsome and ingly untamable Carter with a sinmysterious bad boy played by Bill gle "hello" and a romantic dance. Gieder, made quite a memorable All women think they can tame a impression. bad boy and make them fall in In Act One, Gieder walked around love, but few can accomplish that in nothing but tight jeans and cowboy feat. boots, flirted with every woman on Carter not only falls in lov e with the stage and bragged about his sex- Owens, but he also begs for a ual experiences. goodnight kiss and nearly cries With his youthful enthusiasm and when they say their farewells. Simply coy arrogance, Gieder commanded for that, Kunkle's character is worthy attention every time he came on of immense admiration. stage. He also showed great acting Stacy Michelle Walker delivered

***

ABOVE: Alan Seymour, played by Adam Scott, and Madge Owens (Caitlin Kunkle), act out a scene from 'Picnic.' RIGHT: (from left to right) Millie Owens, played by Alyssa Schindler, Rosemary Sydney, played by Stacy Michelle Walker, Howard Bevans, played by Patrick Robertson, Flo Owens, played by Lani Foerster, Hal Carter, played by Bill Gieder, and Mrs. Potts, played by Andrea Guiterrez from the play 'Picnic.'

PHOTOS BY HUGH COX I THE TELESCOPE

Madge Owens, played by Caitlin Kunkle, and Hal Carter, played by Bill Gieder, danced during a scene from the play 'Picnic' directed by Dana Case.

the most notable performance of the night. Walker played the emotionally conflicted, middle-aged school teacher Rosemary Sydney. On the outside, Sydney appeared to be a strong woman with feminist beliefs and a larger-than-life personality. In Act Two, Walker delivers a heartbreaking scene where she falls to her knees in desperation, begging her love interest Howard to marry her. "You have to marry me ," she yells over and over. Walker delivered the most powerful scenes in the play and showed the raw pain of real-life

love amidst the fictitious storyline. Played by Alyssa Schindler, Madge's tomboy sister, Millie Owens was an audience favorite. She was fun and likable , she had good comedic timing, and in the end, she had everyone rooting for her to eventually find love and happiness. Although the idea of "love conquers all" may seem corny and unrealistic, "Picnic" was sure to leave many audience members with a renewed belief in the unexplainable, unpredictable and always undeniable power of love.

THE HLESCOPE • MONDAY, APRIL 30, 2007

Two performances left for Palomar~s Concert Hour By Ashley Ward THE TELESCOPE

There are two Concert Hour performances left in the Spring 2007 semester and anyone is welcome to attend. Concert Hour is a free, weekly performance hosted by the Palomar College Performing Arts Department that features musicians, singers and sometimes dancers. The performers are often Palomar students and staff, or they are guest performers. This semester, Concert Hour show-

cased talents including "The Dirty Laundry Percussion Ensemble," MroCuban Brazilian drum and dance ensemble "Agogo," sopranos and pianist trio "Bella Sorella," the Palomar Chamber Singers and Women's Chorus and guitarist Arthur Golden. The two Concert Hour performances left in the semester are the Palomar Computer Music Ensemble on May 3 and the Music Students Honors Recital on May 10. Concert Hour starts at 12:30 p.m. and takes place in the Performance Lab, Room D-10.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

•• • t t t

•

Get 'op CASH ~

For Your;• xtbooks!

t t

Sell Your Textbooks at Your Alternative Bookstore

•• • 1450 West Mission Road in San Marcos •• Onlyoneblockwestol ralomarCollege * •• (760) 598·2665 w:n t (760) 598·BOOK • ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• ~ PmC4ege I

00]

1-zz

OFF-CAMPUS BOOKS V,£SHISSION RO

~o m

KATHRYN CHANDLER I THE TELESCOPE

From left to right: Marv Drucker, Andre Gonzalez, Karen Sweet and Jason Cormier perform in the Palomar Spectrum Pop/Jazz Singers during the Aprill9 Concert Hour.

]

& t;~' I

THERE ARE 0 GUARAN ES I LIFE.

UNLESS OU'RE lO KIN F RA

CA EE I HE l HCARE. HealtlaTrex:a c:en al•• ••altlac:oro

st••••t• ••••Y for sc.ool entl a I•• after aratl•atloa,.

flo ont kaows what fttt ftJtlrft holds. Itt wiffl ftuftltlrlu, you <~a r.st tnurn you w•n't spenj yotr cell-v• ytors stregalint t• vet ••ntJ. Mnll•frux eta prtri4t yeu with tailitn tssistoact~ •ccnletatc aorlls tad parf-thnt work tkot tiff, yo• vttuoift troi•iq. Y••'lloko 1 ;.• woitiq fot ttw ot Mi$$iot tiHfitol ontt lioitht4 witb nhttl. <til 949-364-1400 oxt.7401 to flwd out •oro. Wttttrtattttot'llib .tlet yov htor.

hi••

''"''*

( -

: zl<C

THE TELESCOPE • MONDAY, APRIL 30, 2007

'Fracture' breaks box office boredom By Allie Page THE TELESCOPE

A rare gem among today's slue of sequels and mundane remakes, "Fracture" is an intellectually stimulating drama that both intrigues and engages the audience in a way few movies do. Anthony Hopkins gave another Oscar-worthy role as a murderer who is smarter than the legal system and knows it. The movie entranced the audience as few do today, with gasps and sometimes laughs throughout the showing. 'Fracture' Ryan Gosling also i provides a powerful performance that :;; proved not only can he capture the HOPKINS AND RYAN GOSLING hearts of women everywhere as he did in "The Notebook," but he can provide a serious dramatic role and stand firmly next to Hopkins. "Fracture" leaves viewers on the edge of their seats in suspense right to the very end, where unexpected twists and turns add to the clever plot that keeps them guessing all the way through. Hopkins once again shows us his dramatic abilities, rivaling his efforts in the film "Silence of the Lambs." Hopkins plays a man who kills his wife and proceeds to not only represent himself, but not even care what is going on in the courtroom against Gosling, an over-confident D.A. on his way to a high-powered corporate job. The two masterminds face off both physically and emotionally, trying to

•...

•... **** I ST:::~~~:::::~

New album

COURTESY IMAGE

Willy Beachum (left), played by Ryan Gosling, and Ted Crawford, played by Anthony Hopkins, star in the film 'Fracture,' released April 20.

outwit each other. When one bested the other from time to time it made the audience chuckle with delight. Other portions of the film make you grip your seat, waiting to see what will ·happen during the suspenseful silence.

~Cassadaga'

By Carissa Casares THE TELESCOPE

Bright Eyes hardly needs an introduction at this point in its career. With his long locks, quivering voice, and heartfelt lyrics, Conor Oberst, the band's distinguished front man, is almost entirely responsible for bringing an emotional brand of indie music into the limelight. Oberst is heavily involved in several musical projects besides Bright Eyes, including his record label Saddle Creek,

At some points I even found myself rooting for Hopkins, the antagonist. After all, he thought everything through so well he should do well, right? But the ending is satisfying, no matte:r; who you are rooting for. Overall, this is a great film that was

both emotionally and intellectually stimulating, leaving audience members feeling fulfilled. Hopefully the academy will remember it while making out their Oscar nominees. This is a movie everyone will need to add to your collection.

brings light to Bright Eyes future

which brings us the bands Cursive and The Faint, to name a few. The band, who hail from Omaha, Neb., released its first album in 1995 and continued releasing an album each year until 2002. Two more records were released simultaneously in 2005, while 2006 produced no new Bright Eyes material, only the release of a rarities album. This year brought "Cassadaga," the band's latest and most confident effort yet. Although musically the album is more sophisticated than previous efforts,

"Cassadaga" fails to capture the emotion- horns. al intensity which Oberst is known for. In comparison with previous However, it does document a sure step recordings, "Cassadaga" seems afloat and is definitely a release from the forward for the band. Named after a spiritual community in painstakingly somber songs that fill Florida, "Cassadaga" explores lyrical practically all other Bright Eyes themes far beyond love, which Oberst albums. Particularly lighthearted in melody has written about in previous recordare the songs "Hot Knives" and "Four ings. Winds," the latter of which In a world where politics, culture and religion are con- :. stands out with an upbeat fiddle introducing the track. sistently in the forefront of ... 'Cassadaga' It is likely that Bright Eyes the news, the lyrics on "Cassadaga" serve as com- f fans are used to Oberst's obscure lyrics by now and will mentary to these types of be able to decipher them as they issues. However, Oberst's ;CvT Of F<J'JR STARSI see fit. New fans, however, will lyrics possess an arrogance have to take them as they arethat turns them into ramstrange words with an allblings rather than legitimate commentary. With Oberst knowing perspective. No matter how ambiguous some of the singing "Let us reJ o1ce (Let's rejoice!)/ln all this Pink Noise (Out lyrics are, Oberst's raw talent, which Pink Noise!)/An oscillation that we has been on display since he was a mere can pin point (We're right here)," one 14 years old playing in the now defunct may wonder just what exactly Oberst is Commander Venus, is able to shine referring to. Many of the lyrics are sim- through. This talent is particularly noteworthy ply far too obscure to appreciate. Two tracks that show Oberst's won- because it is evolving. Oberst refuses derful perception of love and longing are to stand by in his traditional folk "Make a Plan to Love Me," which rock indie niche. He expands his includes orchestral work and lovely musical talent with every album, female harmonies, and the exquisite adding new people, instruments and "Lime Tree" with its delicate strings perspectives to the mix. Now if he would just work on makand nostalgic lyrics. On "Lime Tree" Oberst croons, "When I hear beauti- ing more sense when speaking of ful music it's always from another religion, politics and culture. time/Old friends I never visit, I Perhaps he is noting that these subremember what they're jects don't seem to make sense. like/Standing on a doorstep full of Either way, Oberst managed to nervous butterflies/Waiting to be progress with "Cassadaga," but as many Bright Eyes fans will agree, lyrically, he asked to come inside." Musically, the album is proof that should probably stick to his roots. You can listen to Bright Eyes' new Bright Eyes has moved on from their unpolished, do-it-yourself style to a songs live when they come to California much more cultured sound. Many of the May 4, 5, 6, and 8 during their tour. For tracks contain strings, including fiddles, more information visit their website at as well as electric piano, vibraphone and www.saddle-creek.com/bands/brighteyes

COURTESY IMAGE

'Cassadaga,' Bright Eyes latest album, debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard charts.

THE TELESCOPE • MONDAY, APRIL 30, 2007

ntle II celebrated by women's equality By Anthony Schwartz THE TELESCOPE

On June 23, 1972, President Richard Nixon signed Title IX into law. In the almost 35 years since, Title IX has changed women's sports. Title IX is recognized mostly for its effects on sports. However, it also helps women in other aspects of life including education, employment, sexual harassment, and overall gender equity according to ti tleix.info. In hopes to have gender equity in sports, schools are measured in three main areas to determine compliance. They are participation, benefits and services, and scholarships. Currently, Palomar and Woods are working to raise participation at Palomar. "What we are doing now is building our program," Woods said. "We are adding women's sports and when it comes to the details we are in compliance." Woods said he wants to make it clear that work is being done rigorously to offer Palomar female athletes equal opportunity. "What we are trying to do is offer all the sports offered by the commission on athletics," Woods said. "We want to make sure we are meeting the needs of our female population." Women's basketball coach Sherry Titus said she notices progress being made, but doesn't believe it

is enough yet. "I think definitely there's been an effort to take care of the gender equity issues at Palomar right now," Titus said. "There are many more things we can do and if those issues are addressed and implemented, that would be great for women's athletics." Woods said women's golf will be offered fall 2007 , and a budget request has just been put forward for women's track for spring 2008. Woods also hopes to get a badminton program in place, which is not offered at the next level, as soon as possible. Palomar currently offers 11 men's sports teams compared to eight women's teams. If the proposed sports were added, Palomar would be even with 11 sports for both male and female students. Athletic Director John Woods said Palomar at one time, had a multi-campus agreement with Mira Costa College where both schools had all sports offered by the Commission on Athletics in a joint effort. Palomar took football, while Mira Costa carried Track and Field and Cross Country. "This was in place for about seven or eight years when the Pacific Coast Conference voted to discontinue the multi-campus status," Woods said. Palomar softball coach Scia Maumaosolo said she believes that Title IX is beneficial to all athletes. "I strongly believe if you're

JERRY HOLLIE I THE TELESCOPE

Jerica Fa'asua connects with a pitch in a 9-1 victory over San Diego City on Aprilll. Softball is one of eight sports currently offered for women at Palomar, compared to 11 sports for men.

qualified and have perseverance, you should be able to get what you are working for no matter what," Maumaosolo said. Coach Titus said she believes that besides empowerment, Title IX does many more great things for women. Titus said there are many benefits to women who play sports, including more confidence, a reason to stay away from drugs and early or unwanted pregnancy, and a chance for women to gain a

"Wh•t we ., tfling to do is oHBI •II sports oHetBd by the eommission on •thleties. We w•ntto m•ke sun we .,., mHting the nHds of our lem•le popul•tion." -John Woods

ATHLETIC DIRECTOR

sense of self. In March 2005, the Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights released new federal guidelines to see if schools were accommodating to the interests of females. Schools were allowed to issue an e-mail survey to find what sports women were interested in and schools could be evaluated on compliance in the area of participation. Woods talked with Director of Enrollment Services Herman Lee, who in 2005 included a survey in the application process to see what female athletes would be interested in. Of 26,843 students who have enrolled since, 13,900 females have responded. While 11,004 answered saying they had no interest in sports, 650 showed interest

in soccer, 646 in volleyball, and 621 in swimming, to name a few. Of the sports being offered next school year, 147 said they would be interested in golf while 367 said they would be interested in track and field. Woods also said the Athletic Director's Association has been discussing the inclusion of women's lacrosse. "Adding a sport like lacrosse would bring larger participation numbers," Woods said. "It seems to be an emerging sport in north San Diego County." Titus said she believes we have to stay on course. "There's been a vast improvement in terms of what now is happening," Titus said." We shouldn't lose the focus that this is a vital part of overall society."

s orts IN BRIEF

under par 69 at against conference rivals Cypress and Orange Coast. Despite the strong individual Comet golfers pick up trio play, the Comets dropped the of wins match, losing by one stroke (371The Palomar golf team picked up 370) to Cypress. Palomar fell into a three Orange Empire Conference tie with Cypress for second place victories at home at the Twin Oaks with one match remaining in the Golf Club on April 18. conference season. Kyle Inman carded a 2-over 74 Palomar women's tennis for the Comets. Tyler Lyons shot a captures title 75, while Blake Humphrey, Thomas Chu and Marshall Thompson each After clinching the Pacific Coast shot a 76. On April 21, Lyons shot a three- Conference, the Palomar College

.,sports CALENDAR M:q.],l .I 41, JO

•Men's golf Orange Emp1re Conference Championship at Los Serranos- 7 a.m.

• Baseball Palomar at San Diego City -2p.m.

• Baseball San Diego City at Palomar -2p.m.

tennis team won the conference Week for the first week of the seatournament April 19 through April son. The former University of 21 at the George Barnes Tennis Wyoming safety and former Comets Center in Point Lorna. Mara Nisinoff and Melanie Dutra all-state player led the Frankfurt led the Comets by winning the con- Galaxy to a 30-14 victory over the ference doubles championship, Amsterdam Admirals in a season opener where he gathered eight solo while finishing 14-0 in conference. an interception and also Palomar baseball comes tackles, broke up two passes.

up short in opening game

Volleyball players honored

The Palomar baseball team Palomar volleyball players Ross crushed Imperial Valley 11-3 April Johnson and Ken Barnett were 21, as Ryle Parks and Mitch selected to the Pacific Coast Blackburn combined to go 6-for-8. Conference's first team on April 3. Parks went 3-for-4 with a double, Steven Schleicher and Garret an RBI and two runs scored as the Payne were named to the second Comets rallied from an early 3-2 team. deficit to move to 21-17 on the seaComet softball edged by son and 12-8 in conference. Griffins Blackburn was 3-for-4, doubled, scored two runs and drove in a run. In a game where the Comets turned Former Comet football a triple play, they failed to hold a sevstandout excels in Europe enth inning lead, losing to Grossmont 7-6 in 11 innings on April 21. Former Palomar football player Jerica Fa'asua was 3-for-4 with Ron Rockett was named NFL three RBis and Corey Buss went 3-forEurope Defensive Player of the 6, RBI, stolen base for the Comets.

-·

KITHYRN CHANDLER/ THE TELESCOPE

After J1 years at Palomar College, including 16 years of coaching, Athletic Director John Woods will retire in August.

• Soon-to-be retired P11/om•r to/lege Athletit Direetor rei/eels on his illustrious tollthing tllreer By John Scafetta THE TELESCOPE

Nearly three weeks ago, Athletic secretary Bonnie Plein conjured up a scheme that would completely catch her boss off guard. She ordered him to clear his schedule after 11 a.m. the next day. The Palomar athletic director of 21 years obliged, without thinking twice. That Friday, as the two headed back to the office following a staff meeting, Woods was met with bewilderment. He was greeted by two wrestlers he hadn't seen in years - former Comets Edwin Dillbeck, a State Champion and AllAmerican in 1978 and Jim Hamilton, another State Champion and AllAmerican in 1979. "Athletes come in and out," said Woods. "But to see them together was just a really different feeling. I can't even describe it, because there are so many memories." Woods said the encounter was extra special due to the fact he will retire as athletic director on Aug. 31 to takeover the role of Pacific Coast Conference commissioner the next day.

FOND MEMORIES Over lunch, the three recalled some of the highlights of Woods' 16 seasons as head coach of the Palomar College wrestling team, which included a 17319-3 overall record and five state titles. "We just reminisced about some of the great matches," said Dillbeck, who was coached by Woods for two years at Orange Glen High before coming to Palomar. "He was a motivator - an extreme motivator. He just came up with bizarre situations to motivate you and they worked." One of those instances was during the 1978 season, when the Comet team traveled to Chabot College. Dillbeck said on

paper the match shouldn't have been close, but the Palomar squad received inspiration from an unlikely source . '"Rocky' comes out - the original Rocky," Dillbeck said. "So the day of the match, we go see 'Rocky.' I'm telling you, we kicked their behind. It wasn't even a close match." Palomar won eight of the 10 matches and went on to conquer its first State Championship under Woods.

NEW TRADITION

playing a winning attitude. "He ¥'Ould squeeze more talent out of someone fi1an they ever thought they had," hG said. "He really wanted to make you accomplish things for yourself and the team - and not in a selfish way." Hamilton agreed that Woods was a player's coach. "He made us understand wrestling, because he was a wrestler," he said. "He knew what it took to become good. We learned the commitment and dedication it took to become a good wrestler and we bought into his program." As a coach, Woods said that though wrestling is a team sport, it's the individual's actions on the mat that make them succeed. You control your own destiny," Woods said. "To put the effort into that will measure your success. You put it in, you get it out."

Woods began his coaching career at Orange Glen in Escondido, but it was in 1970 that former Palomar wrestling coach Tony Lynds was in need of a sparing partner for his star Frank Barnhart. "(Lynds) called me and asked me if I'd wrestle with Frank," Woods said. "Frank was very good and no one could go with him. So he'd come over after our practices at Orange Glen and I'd wrestle WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN with Frank." Lynds, also the football Despite his success in coach at Palomar, was in need coaching, Woods stressed of someone to step in as his that his life could have assistant on the football field turned out completely differas well. So Woods worked ent. under his predecessor for two As a 5'11, 160-pound sevyears on the football field , enth grader in Visalia, Woods before coming over as head looked much older than his coach of the wrestling team in 19 73 . One of a two part series age and said that was part of the reason he associated with During his era as a Palomar coach, Woods guided 58 wrestlers to All- older kids. "I was going the wrong way," he said. American status. "There was no doubt about it. I was a "It was only important to me, because I wanted them to be the best they could bad kid.'' Woods was the youngest of six chilbe," Woods said. "And to do everything I could do to get them there. You can talk dren and dealt with the precarious about winning and whether it's impor- environment the farming community tant or not. I can tell you it's very impor- offered. "The gangs were alive and well in tant. It's not everything, but it is very Visalia at that time," he said of his important." Dillbeck said Woods did his best to get hometown. "It was ugly. I was kind of the most out of his athletes, while dis- going the other way."

Life changed for Woods when he started high school at Redwood High. It was then that he stopped hanging out with the older crowd and developed his passion for athletics. Woods played four sports in high school, including wrestling, football, basketball and baseball. After being cut from the junior varsity basketball team his sophomore year, his closet friend John McMillan introduced him to wrestling.

MEETING THE MAT He made varsity his first year in wrestling and played for three years. "I was just good at it," Woods said. "I don't like to lose. That just gave me the opportunity to exercise it one on one. You're in control of your own destiny so to speak, even though it is a team sport by scoring. You're really an individual so you get what you give." His sophomore season was also the time where he met his mentor. "Coaches made the whole difference in my life," Woods said. "My sophomore year I met Bill Sickles, who was the wrestling coach and was the first real role model that I associated with as an adult male." Woods said he wanted to become a role model for his players as a coach, which was a concept they embraced. "He was like a father to some of us because of our situations and home life," Hamilton said. "It was more personal than just a coach. He provided the leadership. He made me believe in myself." Woods' skills on the mat in high school opened up the opportunity to transfer and play at the collegiate level. Although he said he thought he was stronger on the football field than he was at wrestling, his skills on the mat were • SEE ERA, PAGE 15

THE TELESCOPE • MONDAY, APRIL 30, 2007

Baseball brints back hope to Blacksburt By David Teel MCT NEWS SERVICE

April 20 was game night for Virginia Tech's baseball team - a blessed, starry and somber game night unlike any other. But before these young men competed against the Miami Hurricanes, before they attracted a record crowd to English Field and brought welcome diversion to a grieving community, they took a walk. It was 3:20 p.m., more than three hours before first pitch, when the Hokies, in uniform, strolled across Virginia Tech's sun-drenched Drill Field to pay respects to the 32 victims of April 16 campus shootings. At a makeshift memorial- 32 pieces ofHokie Stone splashed with flowers and notes, and arranged in a semicircle - the players knelt and prayed and left a pristine baseball at each stone. After a few moments, the players and coach Peter Hughes huddled and recited the Lord's Prayer. "Let's play for them," one player said quietly. "Hokies on three," said another. In unison: "One, two, three, Hokies." It was not loud or boisterous, and dozens of other mourners - all dressed in Hokies' maroon and orange on this national day of remembrance- applauded politely as the team walked away, Hughes hand-in-hand with his 10-yearold son Thomas. "That's when it sunk in to me that it really happened," junior outfielder Jose Cueto said later. ''You don't really feel it until you go there." Solemnity and sadness seemed to lift at the game, the first on-campus sporting event since the shootings, even as the Hokies fell behind 10-5. Families, students, graduates, townsfolk and more than a few puppies filled the stands and lined the hill behind the third-base dugout, producing record attendance of 3,132. People laughed and smiled and cheered. They lined up 20 deep to buy peanuts, hot dogs and Cracker Jack at

the lone concession stand. And when pinch-hitter Anthony Sosnoskie smacked a three-run, pinchhit double to bring the Hokies within 108 in the bottom of the eighth inning, the familiar refrain of "Let's go Hokies" echoed in the chill. "I've never heard that at one of our games," senior shortstop Warren Schaeffer said. Alas, there would be no storybook comeback. With Tech trailing 11-9 and down to its last out in the ninth, Miami left fielder Nick Freitas made a leaping catch at the wall to deny Schaeffer's bid for a tying two-run horner. "Our victory tonight was walking down the hill and getting the guys on the field," Hughes said, "and that's the biggest victory they'll have in their lives. It was a badge of honor for us to play for the (victims) and their families." Prior to the game, fans observed a 32second moment-of-silence, and Miami presented Virginia Tech with a $10,000 check for the Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund to aid the victims' families. Then the public-address system replayed English professor Nikki Giovanni's sternwinder of a poem from Thesday's memorial service, entitled "We are Virginia Tech." During the seventh-inning stretch, fans heard "Forever Changed Virginia Tech," a song by a band called The Season and led by Kurtis Parks, a 2003 Tech graduate and a brother of Hokies' outfielder Nate Parks. "God send your mercy this way," the lyrics said. "We're all Hokies today." Jose Vazquez agreed. He wore a maroon shirt, "VT" button and Miami cap. His son, Ben, a freshman catcher for the Hurricanes, asked his parents to be here because of the event's emotions. "We need to grieve with (the Hokies)," said Jose, who flew from Miami to Washington, D.C. and drove three hours to Blacksburg. "Today we're going to root for both teams." Chuck and Andi Parron needed to be

TED RICHARDSON I MCT NEWS SERVICE

Two Virginia Tech students payed their respects to the fallen during a memorial April 20. Some of the campus' normalcy returned that night when the Hokies played the University of Miami in baseball.

here, too. They drove from their York County home Friday. "We just felt this was the place we wanted to be," said Chuck, a 1978 Tech graduate and a football season-ticket holder since 1989. "Even if it's just for a couple of hours, the Tech family needs a sense of normalcy." Lewis and Darleene Padgett traveled from Lynchburg to watch their son Luke play for Tech, a distraction they welcomed. "If these boys were not here tonight playing baseball, the shooter would be

cheating them," Darleene said. "They can't be constantly victimized." That's precisely why Tech athletic director Jim Weaver decided to resume events this weekend, even as the international media horde continued to flock around campus they were perched on the dugout roofs Friday and Blacksburg. "To see all these people on this beautiful night, it seems right," Weaver said. Especially to the players. 'We played our hearts out," Cueto said, "even when we were down five. You can never count us out tonight and forever."

• ERA: ATHLETIC Director reminisces on coaching career before retirement in August CONTINUED FROM PAGE 14

Looking back, he said that matches," Woods reflected. "But event had the greatest impact on the one you remember the most is the one you lost." his life. Following his illustrious college ''Now that I look back, that changed my whole life," he recalls. career, Woods said by his junior ''That was a crossroad. I think if I year in college he knew he wantwould have stayed in Visalia, my ed to both teach and coach. life would have been different." Woods went on to become a three-time All-American, earning the NCAA college division nationAs a coach al champifor the first onship in his at weight class '7here is 11 eert11in energy th11t 11 time Palomar , in 1969. tDIIth gives oH th11t is just Woods said was He intrinsit. You expel it 11nd the he just wantalso NCAA ed to see his Division I kids feel it." team succeed. national run"The word - John Woods ner up in PALOMAR ATHLETIC DIRECTOR intensity lS 1969 and an very imporNCAA college tant to me," division he said. "There is a certain enernational runner-up in 1968. Yet, he said his most memo- gy that a coach gives off that is rable moment during his college just intrinsic. You expel it and the career was not one of his proud- kids feel it. And it's from your own desire to win. It's obvious. You're est. "My last collegiate match is the emotional. A lot of it was that you one that is forever cemented in wanted people to feel about you my mind," he said. ''You're in the the way you felt about some of national finals and there's 14 sec- your mentors." Woods was inducted into the onds left," Woods said. "I'm looking right at the clock and I ended NCAA Division I Wrestling Hallup losing by a point. I was leading of-Fame in 1998, the NCAA by one at that point. I'll never for- Wrestling Hall-of-Fame in 1999 and the California Wrestling get that." Woods dropped the match Hall-of-Fame in 2000. FILE PHOTO/ THE TELESCOPE ARCHIVES and the Mustangs finished fifth He said the latter was the most special honor for him, as he was in the nation. Pictured during the 1986 season, John Woods coached 58 wrestlers to All"I've wrestled in hundreds of enshrined in the first class ever, American status and garnered five team titles.

quickly recognized by Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo head wrestling coach Von Hitchcock. "He calls two weeks before school started and said 'John I have you all set up,"' Woods said of the legendary coach. "My mother was sitting in the

kitchen and I remember putting my hand over the phone and saying 'Mom, coach Hitchcock has it all set up. All I've got to do is show up. She said 'John, whatever you want to do, its fine with me.' So I picked up the phone and said I'd be there."

CARING COACH

which included his college coach, Hitchcock. But as Woods became one of the premier college wrestling coaches in Southern California, he said he looked for a new challenge. "I had seen a number of coaches in my career stay too long," Woods said of his decision to become athletic director in 1986. "They stayed too long and they lose that intensity. I had also said that when I lose that I'll step down. I know when I lose that I am not doing the service they need." Woods said he realized he was becoming more of a philosopher than a coach. "That's what kind of happens," he said. ''You got to be chasing something." With the NCAA offering only one-year contracts, he and his family had come to the decision he had accomplished enough in coaching. ''That was everything, because it was so much to me," he said. "If it hadn't been for athletics in my life, I would be completely differ-

The Lasting Legacy series pro· files Palomar Athletic director John Woods' legacy on the athletic department at the school. Woods will be retiring in August. The series finale in next week's issue will cover his career as athletic director.

THE TELESCOPE • MONDAY, APRIL 30, 2007

Story by Eric Bennett Photos by Eliott De Lisser

entire game. She has the total package." Tilt US«bi'i Although tempted by other things As the Palomar Softball team's sea- important in her life, Wright does not son comes to its conclusion, first base- want to let her team down at any man Rachel Wright is feeling pain. A costs. "I almost red-shirted this year just cracked rib has a doctor's note advising her not to play, yet she is still in because I needed to bring my grades the line up and playing not for herself, up," Wright said. "Then I said 'Screw this!' because I love these girls too but for her team and family. "I love getting dirty and I love get- much, which is different from last seating hurt." Wright said. "Right now, I son." Wright was born and raised in have been playing with a cracked rib Encinitas and attended La Costa and I shouldn't Canyon High play. But I School. Although totally adore "All my fri1nd1 who 1topp1d pl•ying parents our team this . , doing thing1 I don't w•ntto b1 her turned her onto year and I don't sports such as want to let doing. Sollb•ll h•1 k1pt m1 out of softball, soccer them down. troubl1." - Rachel Wr·ight and basketball Even if I'm PALOMAR SOffiiALL fiRST BASEMAN when she was five hurt." years old, she Wright, 19, is in her second year with the Comets kept herself in softball, she said. ·wright said she was the only one and leads the Pacific Coast Conference in many offensive categories such as out of three other siblings to stick batting average (.445) and runs batted with playing sports, but said she (35) and is not letting her head coach wanted to keep playing and become more competitive. Scia Maumausolo down. Wright's grandparents and parents "Rachel has grown the most out of any player on this team since last have been a part of her softball career year," Maumausolo said. "She has ever since the beginning. "My two grandfathers passed away matured greatly and stepped up her

BY THE NUMBERS

.44 5 AVERAGE 6

HOMERUN$

RBis

in the last couple of years, so I don't have them there anymore," Wright said. "My dad tries to see me play as often as possible, when he is not busy wit}). work." The only thing keeping her father from attending all of her games is when he is too busy destroying buildings with explosives. Wright's father does demolitions for a construction company. "I use to get nervous when my dad would come and watch me play, because I had to prove my abilities to him," Wright said. "Now I love seeing him there. It makes me feel so much better and he drives hours to go to our away games." As for Wright's mother, she is currently going to school and tries to find time. Her mother is taking classes at MiraCosta College and currently working toward a degree in Criminal Justice. Her finance is serving for the U.S Marines and is currently stationed in Japan until January 2008, Wright said. The chance to make life easier for her parents is what has been really driving Wright as of recently. "As I got older, it became a better idea to play because there are college coaches watching you and there is a chance you can go to a four-year

school," Wright said. "All my friends who stopped playing are doing things I don't want to be doing. Softball has kept me out of trouble." Wright gave up the other sports, because of her asthma and a heart condition and decided to play softball at Palomar College, she said. Maumausolo said she moved Wright from the Comets' lead off spot to No. 3 in the line up because it has put her in a better situation to score and bring batters in. "She is a hard worker and she knows what to do and how to do her job," Comets' captain Jerica Fa'asua said. "I think she should have been the captain this year, because she is a real leader for this team." Wright plans on being at Palomar through next year, working toward a child development degree, but said she is hoping the recruiting process works out. Wright is being recruited by Abilene Christian University, a Division II program in Texas. "It has been more fun (playing softball) than anything and it is going to suck not being able to play after I play at a four-year school," Wright said. "I don't know what I am going to do then but these girls and team have been my best memory."