Vol. 73, No. 5
Monday, December 9, 2019
Fiscal analysis reveals Palomar District is in a $12 million deficit Ana Acosta Summer Aguirre
and that’s what I really hope to get across to you tonight,” said Michelle Giacomini, a FCMAT analyst that presented the report at the Nov. 12 Governing Board meeting. Institutions that receive over 40 percent on the fiscal health risk analysis are considered to be at a high risk of insolvency in the near future, according to the report. The Palomar district received a 44.5 percent ranking.
STAFF EDITORS
‘SILA,’ Performing Arts’s new play discusses humans and their effect on the climate crisis. Photo courtesy of Ken Jacques Photography.
Reality of climate crisis showcased in new Performing Arts production Summer Aguirre STAFF EDITOR
With a compilation of Inuit mythology, raw spoken word and a cast passionate about the impact of climate change, Palomar Performing Arts’ latest production brings the reality of the crisis to life. “SILA,” the first play of playwright Chantal Bilodeau’s eight piece cycle of
shows, is set in the Baffin Islands of the Arctic Circle. It illustrates the obstacles brought upon the high north by rapid transformations in the environmental and political climates. It also demonstrating the consequences of human loss of connectivity with the natural world. “It has all kinds of layers to it, just like ice... emotional, psychological
mythological layers to it,” said Michael Mufson, the production’s director. “Ultimately, the play wants to point us on the path towards healing, healing ourselves as individuals, healing our culture, healing our planet,” he said. The word “sila” is the Inuit concept of the breath that connects all life, which is captured by the
The Palomar district is in a $12 million deficit and nearing fiscal insolvency, as revealed through a recent risk analysis report. The Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team (FMCAT), a state entity that provides financial assistance and services to local educational agencies, was enlisted by Palomar to analyze the district’s fiscal health and presented the report at the meeting. “The clock is ticking,
SEE FISCAL CRISIS ON PAGE 4
intertwining lives of eight diverse characters, ranging from a climate scientist to two polar bears. Mufson said they are all facing similar challenges, such as denial, disconnection and broken families, largely stemming from their sacrifices and climate activism.
SEE SILA ON PAGE 9
Michelle Giacomini presents the FMCAT report at the Nov. 12 Governing Board meeting. Adel Bautista/The Telescope.
Police encourage students to be vigilant on campus after two assaults Ana Acosta Summer Aguirre STAFF EDITORS
The Palomar College Police Department has released more information on the two assaults that occurred on the Palomar San Marcos campus on Aug. 26. The suspect was incarcerated at the Vista Detention Facility on Aug. 27 and pled guilty to both crimes on
Sept. 16. While his exact sentence is unknown, Palomar Police Chief Chris Moore estimates it could be around three years. The perpetrator was identified as a 20-year-old Oceanside resident named Adam Christian Johnson. He is not a student of Palomar and is a high-risk registered sex offender, according to the case report.
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The first assault occurred between 3:30 and 4:30 p.m. on Aug. 26 in room C-13, a media lab located at the southwest side of campus. The first victim stated that Johnson entered the room, claimed to be a student and sat next to her. Johnson proceeded to inappropriately touch her upper leg and chest, according to the case report.
The victim stopped Johnson from touching her, so he moved behind her and began to masturbate. The victim shared she was “too afraid to leave when he started touching her” and that “she feared he would follow her after class.” The victim left for her next class and reported the assault to Officer Christopher Dillard at 4:45 p.m.,
LIFESTYLE
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an hour after the incident occurred. She said she never gave Johnson permission to touch her and that she desired prosecution. The C-13 Instructional Advisor who was nearby said she did see the incident and that the name Johnson used to sign in to the media lab was illegible. The PCPD sent out a description of Johnson to all
San Diego law enforcement agencies. They received a response from Johnson’s probationer, Officer J. Webdell, who helped identify him as the perpetrator. Johnson was wearing an ankle monitor that malfunctioned, so they could not locate him at the time of the incident.
NEWS
The new champions of the water
Local brewery provides families with a friendly environment
A new path towards a Palomar degree
The Women’s Water Polo team dominated at the PCAC championships.
My Yard Live brewery brings a comfortable and fun-loving space for locals to gather.
The Palomar Pathways program hopes to assist students towards degree completion.
SEE ASSAULT ON PAGE 3 SEE PAGE 4
2 • NEWS
December 9, 2019
t BRIEFLY t UPCOMING EVENTS
FROM FASHION TO TELEVISION: A LOOK INTO PALOMAR’S MEDIA DEPARTMENTS
Wednesday 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Love on a Leash SU-Quad Area 12 - 1 p.m. Wednesday Wellness Workshops H-314 The Media Days tour led students to Palomar’s Fashion Department. Students were greeted with cookies and information about the Fashion Design and Manufacturing classes at available at Palomar. Dianna Webb/The Telescope.
Zeb Navarro, KKSM Radio Station Manager, speaks to students about available digital broadcasting classes provided at Palomar at the Media Days tour on Nov. 15. Kurt Lapid/The Telescope.
Assistant Professor Scott Richison, shows students available equipments and facilities at the Palomar TV Station during the Media Studies Open House on Nov. 15. Nadim Zureik/The Telescope.
Students toured through the Fashion Department building at the Nov. 15 Media Days. Students in class were at work designing and creating fashion pieces in the Fashion Lab. Dianna Webb/Telescope.
Thursday 4 - 6:30 p.m. “SILA” Studio Theatre
Friday 7 p.m. - 10 p.m. “SILA” Studio Theatre 7:30 - 10 p.m. Winter Dance Howard Bruebeck Theatre
‘SILA’ PLAY EMPHASIZES CHANGING ENVIRONMENT SAN MARCOS --Palomar Performing Arts will be hosting SILA, a play that emphasizes what happens to the natural world as a result of human influences on the climate. The play, set in the Baffin Islands, will showcase a climatologist, Inuit activist and two polar bears that are dealing with “a rapidly changing environment and world.” SILA was created by Chantal Bilodeau and is directed by Michael Mufson. Performances will be held at 7 p.m. on Dec. 13, 5 p.m. on Dec. 14 and at 2 p.m. on Dec. 15 at the Studio Theatre. Ticket prices range from $10 to $15 and can be purchased at palomarperforms.com or you can call the box office at (760) 214-9109. — Ana Acosta
LOVE ON A LEASH DOGS TO RETURN IN TIME FOR FINALS SAN MARCOS --Is there any better way to deal with stress than playing with dogs? “Love on a Leash” Pet Therapy will be returning to campus. Students are invited to join Palomar College Student Health Center and the Love on the Leash therapy dogs to relieve the stress from finals. The event will teach
CORRECTIONS NOV. 12 In the article entitled “Faculty members calling for President’s resignation” an error was made. Evilsizer believed Amador “deserved an opportunity to change.” We regret the errors made.
students new ways to take care of themselves mentally and help reduce the stigma surrounding mental health disorders by playing with sweet dogs on your study breaks. This event will be held on Dec. 11 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the Student Union grass area at the San Marcos campus. — Natalie Lopez
THIS DAY IN HISTORY 1965
“A Charlie Brown Christmas,” is the first Peanuts animated special to premiere on CBS in the US.
WINTER DANCE SETS THE STAGE FOR THE HOLIDAYS SAN MARCOS --- The Palomar Performing Arts will be hosting their Winter Dance performance and concert. Palomar Dance faculty and students will help you get into the holiday spirit with outstanding original choreography. The performance will feature a variety of dance styles ranging from Hip Hop, Modern Ballet, Tap, Jazz, World Dance, and Musical Theatre forms. The performance is directed by Patriceann Mead. This event will be held at 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Dec. 13 and 14 in the Howard Brubeck Theatre. Tickets will be available at the box office. Ticket prices range from $10 for students, $12 for seniors and $15 for general admission. Parking is free and will be available around campus for the performance. For any questions regarding this event, you can call the box office at (760) 214-9109 or check out the website www. palomarperforms.com for more information. — Natalie Lopez
NEWS • 3
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ASSAULT
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Community members gathered at the Nov. 12 Governing Board Meeting as faculty members present a resolution calling for President Blake’s resignation as a fiscal analysis report reveals the district’s $12 million deficit. Adel Bautista/The Telescope.
Resolutions and Insolvency: tensions rise amongst campus community as Palomar enters a fiscal crisis Ana Acosta STAFF EDITOR
Palomar faculty members presented an official resolution calling for the president’s resignation after which a report revealed that the district is in a serious financial crisis. Over 90 community members gathered in the small board meeting room on Tuesday night, and others were instructed to stay outside SSC-1 as a result of reaching maximum capacity. The meeting lasted for four hours due to ongoing discussions regarding President Joi Lin Blake’s leadership and the district’s $12 million financial deficit. Fifteen members of the community took to public comment to share their concerns about campus climate issues as well as to request new initiatives. The Fiscal Crisis A recent financial report revealed that the Palomar district is in a $12 million deficit and is at a high risk of entering fiscal insolvency. A Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance (FMCAT) report was completed to give an overview of Palomar’s current financial issues. If the district continues to practice similar spending habits, Palomar will “consume 100% of the unrestricted general fund revenues in three years,” according to the report. Michelle Giacomini, a FMCAT representative, presented the report during the board meeting. Giacomini provided recommendations on how the district can reach financial stability. She shared that she did not predict Palomar would receive a high risk ranking, but the report indicated otherwise.
Districts who are considered high risk for fiscal insolvency receive 40 percent or higher on the report. Palomar received a 44.5 percent risk ranking. “You definitely have a spending problem at Palomar College,” Giacomini said. As a resolution to the $12 million deficit reported, Giacomini recommended that the board take salaries and benefits for campus employees into serious consideration. At the current spending rate, nearly 96.2 percent of Palomar’s expenditures are spent on salaries and benefits. Giacomini said Palomar should try to get that num-
Trustee Nina Deerfield responded to the recommendation of cuts to salaries and employee benefits. “I feel like cuts and fiscal responsibility should start at the top and not at the bottom, which is what it feels like we’re doing,” Deerfield said, receiving applause from attendees present at the meeting. The Resolution Craig Thompson, the Faculty Senate President, presented the final resolution calling for President Blake’s removal. The resolution called for board members to “thoughtfully but expeditiously” remove President Blake and to find an interim
President Blake responded to the vote during her report, saying that as a former faculty senate president, she understood why faculty members decided that they have no confidence in her leadership. “I understand why you don’t have confidence in my leadership,” she said. “Because, you know what, I would be derelict in my responsibilities as CEO of this college if I continue the practices that we have engaged in over the last decade.” “I am unapologetic for the decisions I have made,” Blake continued. “I have done what is best for this campus, for our students and this community.”
“I understand why you don’t have confidence in my leadership.” - President Joi Lin Blake ber under 90 percent to decrease their risk of insolvency. During her response to the call for her resignation, President Blake said that she will be taking action to resolve the budget issues. “The board has directed me to stabilize the budget and the institution,” Blake said. “As I’ve shared on many occasions and on many forums, it’s not that I’m a hard person, or that my team’s a hard person, we’re just in a hard place.” Blake then went on to say that employees at Palomar have “one of the richest health and welfare packages in the State of California for employees.” “Whether I’m here or not, we have a $12 million deficit, that doesn’t change,” Blake said. “Action has to be taken immediately.”
dean until the position is permanently filled. The resolution claims that Blake has failed to “maintain a fiscally responsible budget; consistently follow shared governance policies; work collaboratively on faculty hiring processes; as well as retain talented and diverse administrators.” Anel Gonzales, President of the Council of Classified Employees (CCE), reported that classified employees also do not have confidence in Blake’s leadership. “Over the past three years, Dr. Blake has engaged in numerous management practices that have negatively impacted staff, students and the community,” Gonzales said. “As a result, the CCE does not have confidence in Dr. Joi Lin Blake.”
Trustees Norma Miyamoto and Nina Deerfield also responded to the resolution, requesting that the board should discuss the vote of no confidence in more depth during closed session. “The Senate’s vote of no confidence also must be addressed by the board,” Miyamoto said. Trustee Nancy Ann Hensch interrupted Miyamoto’s report that the evaluation of the Superintendent’s performance “has been discussed extensively in closed session.” Hensch then cited board policy 2315, which says that discussions made in closed session are confidential and should not be discussed in open session. Miyamoto asked to continue, saying that she is only requesting that Blake’s
performance be a matter of discussion in future closed sessions. “I’m not placing all the blame on Dr. Blake,” Miyamoto clarified. “We as trustees ask for different information that members of the public come and share and then nothing happens.” Miyamoto concluded her report by requesting that the secretary of the board keep note of request made by the public and to determine how and when the information will be provided. Trustee Mark Evilsizer did not comment on the vote results, but said that he is open to meet with constituents. Trustee John Halcón was absent. “I’m heavy hearted to say that I want to get this on the agenda to talk about the resolution as a board,” Trustee Nina Deerfield said. “I think we have enough feeling on this campus to move forward with the resolution.” Deerfield continued on to say that she’s heard that Blake’s leadership is “abusive” from previous employees who have left the district. Trustee Hensch warned Deerfield that those remarks should only be made during closed session. “Any evaluative statements about the Superintendent/President need to be discussed in closed session,” Hensch said. Blake also responded, saying that the district is willing to discuss “the reasons those individuals separated from the district.” “I think there’s an overwhelming cry here for help from everyone that works here,” Deerfield concluded. “I think it’s a board obligation to listen to the many, and that’s all I’m going to say tonight.” Read more online at the-telescope.com AACOSTA@THE-TELESCOPE.COM
Shortly after hearing from Webdell, dispatch received an email from Sgt. Mark Green of the San Diego College Police Department, saying that Johnson was previously arrested on their campus for indecent exposure. The PCPD was notified at approximately 10:30 a.m. on Aug. 27 of a second assault. The victim, a 17 year old female, reported that she was sexually assaulted by the same suspect at 12:45 p.m. on Aug. 26. The victim was reportedly sitting on a bench located outside the D building along Comet Circle West when Johnson sat next to her. He proceeded to inappropriately touch the victim, and persisted when she tried to move away. Johnson began bouncing his leg under the victim’s and became “sexually excited by looking at her.” According to the case report, the incident lasted for approximately two hours because the victim was “fearful of what he would do when she left.” In a police interview with Johnson on Aug. 29, he claimed that he had an erection and that he didn’t touch the victim after he determined “she wasn’t into it.” Johnson pled guilty to both crimes on Sept. 16, according to the San Diego District Attorney’s Office. Chief Moore encourages students to be aware of their surroundings and also of the conduct of others around you. Moore says students should take safety measures to find a well lit route to walk on campus, find a friend to walk with and to let others know their location. “When something like this comes up, we’re always in prevention mode,” Moore said. If students feel unsafe on campus, they can call a Police Escort at extension #2289 on a classroom phone or PCPD dispatch at (760) 891-7273 or (760) 890-6150. AACOSTA@THE-TELESCOPE.COM SAGUIRRE@THE-TELESCOPE.COM
4 • NEWS
December 9, 2019
Palomar Pathways to help students earn degrees more efficiently Jordan Spurgeon STAFF EDITOR
The path to getting a degree at Palomar College is changing. The goal of Palomar Pathways is to help students follow a more direct line to earn their associate degrees and transfer to four-year schools. One reason for this switch is to help eliminate class cuts in smaller programs. The reason for most class cuts is low enrollment. Jack Kahn, Assistant Superintendent/Vice President of Instruction, said that before cancelling classes with less than 20 students enrolled, the deans of that department looks at all the options to make sure students can
still fulfill their transfer and degree requirements. “We’re aware that we make mistakes sometimes when we cancel a class,” Kahn said, “But over the past two years we’ve made progress on offering our main classes. Guided Pathways are going to help fix the more specific programs.” Palomar Pathways is in the works to be implemented by Fall 2020. The goal of this change is to decrease the number of cancellations by helping classes fill up, rather than spreading the classes out with lower enrollment. “The college can’t exist with a lot of classes with less than 20 students enrolled,” said Kahn, “We are trying to merge more classes together to keep each
class enrollment higher, so that this college can exist.” The way the school is funded is changing. It’s been based on enrollment, but now funding is more dependent on students completing their degrees. With that, there needs to be a school culture shift to adapt to this change. When most classes get cancelled, it frees up room for other classes that might be full, to be added so that students can take it. In Fall 2018 there were 1,058 students who were affected by a class cancellation, but 935 took another class, and 123 didn’t. The students who found an alternative class ended up taking more units that semester than they normally would have. Kahn said, “In Fall 2018
we cancelled 126 sections, but we added 22 other sections… this is to help limit waitlists on classes that students need.” The number of class cancellations hasn’t negatively affected transfer rates. The percentage of students admitted to UC San Diego rose from 66 to 68 percent from Fall 2018 to Fall 2019. It has stayed at 21 percent for San Diego State University. One issue that Kahn said really affects students is that they don’t always know exactly when classes they need are being offered. Some classes might only be offered during certain semesters. The fix to this is to create an online map for students and counselors to use so they can see exactly when their
major classes will be offered each semester. Palomar will be adding a mapper tool to the website in order to make it easier for students to find the right classes for their major, and see exactly when those classes will be offered each semester. This tool is also supposed to help create more continuity between the counselors and the students. Smaller programs are seeing issues with the amount of required classes needed for their degrees. Digital broadcast arts student Blake Howard is only one class away from earning his associates degree, but the last class needed has been cancelled for the foreseeable future. “It sucks when required classes get cut because
sometimes there isn’t an alternate class that can be used to fulfill the requirements,” Howard said. In order for programs to be successful, they need individualized structured pipelines, according to Dr. Kahn. This comes from more attention to detail in the demographic of students. The smaller programs need to change their curriculum in order to match the needs of their students. “We want you to graduate and they [the departments] want you to graduate,” Kahn said, “But sometimes their structure doesn’t work anymore with the direction of the college.”
unreviewed before purchases are made, and that budget reports do not accurately show department funds. “Although the district has begun reducing expenditures, it has no feasible plan in place to reduce and/or eliminate total estimated deficit spending,” the report
said. In the 2018-19 fiscal year, Palomar had a $1 million deficit. This deficit has increased to nearly $12 million, according to the report. The report suggested that in order to decrease this deficit, the 96.2 percent of the district’s funds that are spent on employee benefits and salaries should be decreased significantly for the district to remain fiscally solvent. “In two years, the district will have consumed all reserves and will be forced to borrow $6.5 million from an external source to remain solvent,” the report summarized. Giacomini provided recommendations on how the district can reach financial stability during the board meeting. She shared that the funds spent on employee salaries and benefits for their employees is significantly higher than other districts. Nearly 96.2 percent of Palomar funds are spent on salaries and benefits, the report showed. Giacomini recommended that Palomar officials should decrease this number to 90 percent or lower to achieve financial stability. For comparison, San Diego Community College spends 79.6 percent on salaries and benefits, according to their 201920 adopted budget. If Palomar continues spending using current practices, these costs will consume 100 percent of
the unrestricted general fund revenues in three years, the report suggested. She also shared that Palomar’s current enrollment rates can no longer support the current budget, and that the District needs to seek long term financial programs. “FCMAT encourages an intentional focus on long-term enrollment strategies such as implementing middle college high schools and other long-term goals,” the report said. President/Superintendent Joi Lin Blake, who recently received a vote of no confidence from faculty and classified members, said that she is prepared to do whatever is necessary to prevent Palomar from fiscal insolvency. “The board has directed me to stabilize the budget and the institution,” Blake said. “As I’ve shared on many occasions and on many forums, it’s not that I’m a hard person, or that my team’s a hard person, we’re just in a hard place.” As a result of the current financial crisis, Palomar administrators initiated an employee hiring freeze. Teresa Laughlin, CoPresident of the Palomar Faculty Federation, responded to the report in an email to faculty members, saying that “everything that has to do with salaries and health benefits must be negotiated.”
Further, Laughlin wrote that because there is a hiring freeze for faculty members, then “we would like to see the administration lead by example.” Laughlin shared that Palomar administrators can do so by not hiring administrative positions, including not hiring for the Instructional Dean position that was on the recent governing board agenda. “Our biggest obstacle toward resolving this problem is the lack of trust and confidence in the leadership of the College,” Laughlin wrote. “It is crucial we stay engaged and united in this struggle.” Board trustee Nina Deerfield also responded to the recommendation of cuts to salaries and employee benefits at the recent governing board meeting. “I feel like cuts and fiscal responsibility should start at the top and not at the bottom, which is what it feels like we’re doing,” Deerfield said. Deerfield received applause in response to her comment. “It’s going to take time and planning and decision making and everybody working together,” Giacomini told board trustees and meeting attendees. “There are some really, really big decisions ahead.”
JSPURGEON@THE-TELESCOPE.COM
FISCAL CRISIS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
Graphic courtesy of Maurice Thomas/The Telescope.
The areas on the analysis that had ‘no’ answers revealed specific areas where deficit spending was found. These sections included deficit spending, enrollment and attendance, and multi year projections. Palomar’s ranking was determined by 127 yes-
or-no questions that assessed the risk of insolvency. Numbers above 40 are considered bad, and Palomar received a “no” on 57 questions. The report further showed that some departments at Palomar do not participate in budget development, that 400 CalCards which are mostly
AACOSTA@THE-TELESCOPE.COM SAGUIRRE@THE-TELESCOPE.COM
OPINION • 5
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The Telescope Focused On Palomar Monday, December 9, 2019 Vol. 73, No. 5 Palomar College, San Marcos, Calif.
VICTORIA PRICE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ANA ACOSTA MANAGING EDITOR NEWS EDITOR RIPP FRIESEN OPINION EDITOR SOPHIA BAUDER ASSISTANT OPINION EDITOR ALEX GARCIA ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR JORDAN SPURGEON SPORTS EDITOR SUMMER AGUIRRE ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR NICOLE VILLANUEVA LIFESTYLE EDITOR KRISTA MOORE SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR KIANA TEIXEIRA PHOTO EDITOR ERIN HIRO ADVISOR MAURICE THOMAS DESIGN MANAGER
Dr. Cornel West greets Senator Bernie Sanders and his family after giving a rousing introduction for the candidate in the parking lot of Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego on Jun 5, 2016. Joe Dusel/ The Telescope.
Why America needs Bernie Sanders: an argument about money being well spent Dre’as Sanchez STAFF WRITER
STAFF WRITERS
NICHOLAS CASADONA, CHEYENNE CYR, ENRIQUE DELEON, KYLE DYER, PATRICK FULLER, HALEY HARDY, ERIK LENNOX, NATALIE LOPEZ, MIA MCGREGOR, KOLETTE MOREHEAD, DRE’AS SANCHEZ, SEBASTIAN VENEGAS
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ADDRESS THE TELESCOPE PALOMAR COLLEGE 1140 W. MISSION ROAD, SAN MARCOS, CA 92069 PHONE / 760-891-7865 NEWSROOM / H-103 WEBSITE/ WWW.THE-TELESCOPE.COM FACEBOOK/ “THE TELESCOPE” TWITTER/ @TELESCOPENEWS EMAIL/ EDITOR@THE-TELESCOPE. COM AD EMAIL/ ADS@THE-TELESCOPE. COM THE TELESCOPE WELCOMES ALL LETTERS TO THE EDITOR. LETTERS MUST BE TYPED, UNDER 300 WORDS AND INCLUDE THE AUTHOR’S FIRST AND LAST NAMES, MAJOR AND PHONE NUMBER. PHONE NUMBERS WILL NOT BE PUBLISHED. LETTERS SHOULD BE EMAILED TO EDITOR@ THE-TELESCOPE.COM. 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. THE TELESCOPE IS PUBLISHED 5 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, THE EDITORIAL BOARD, PALOMAR FACULTY AND STAFF MEMBERS OR THE GOVERNING BOARD TRUSTEES.
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When we considervoting for a President of the United States, we should be open minded about whom we want to vote for. I would argue our main concern when choosing the POTUS should be what the President plans to do with our money. Yes, I said it, OUR money…. Your money, your parent’s money, your neighbor’s money, my money…ALL of our money. Picture the government like a big ass church, or a group you belong to that you pay monthly dues to. At some point in your life you will want to ask, “what is the money I give to this group being spent on”? We all pay our “dues” in different forms called taxes. So where is our money that the government receives, being used at? The answer to these questions should all be of great importance to us, which brings us to why we need to elect Bernie Sanders. This man has a plan for our money to be spent in the right places. For example, why does Germany, France, Sweden, Japan, Canada, and the UK all have Universal Health Care, Free College, Paid Maternity Leave, Paid Sick Leave, and Paid Vacation and the USA has none of it? The reason is all of
the above requires some sort of taxpayer dollars (because nothing is free) and/or some type of workers union that can demand corporations pay and give benefits to workers in a fair way that truly compensates their time and labor positively. Enter Bernie Sanders. He has decades of consistent experience serving the working class and he will restructure the system to work for the majority rather than continue the status quo which allows the rich to pay the least amount of taxes of all time in the United States and sets our country on a dangerous path of oligarchy. At a recent speech given at George Washington University by Bernie Sanders, he said, “In 1944, FDR proposed an economic bill of rights, but died a year later and was never able to fulfill that vision. Our job, 75 years later, is to complete what Roosevelt started. That is why today, I am proposing a 21st Century Economic Bill of Rights. A Bill of Rights that establishes once and for all that every American, regardless of his or her income is entitled to: · The right to a decent job that pays a living wage · The right to quality health care · The right to a complete education
Senator Bernie Sanders addresses his supporters at a ralley in the parking lot of Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego on Jun 5, 2016. Joe Dusel/ The Telescope.
· The right to affordable housing · The right to a clean environment · The right to a secure retirement And let me also be clear, the only way we achieve these goals is through a political revolution – where millions of people get involved in the political process and reclaim our democracy by having the courage to take on the powerful corporate interests whose greed is destroying the social and economic fabric of our country. These are my values, and that is why I call myself a Democratic Socialist. At it’s core is a deep and abiding faith in the American people to peacefully and democrat-
ically enact the transformative change that will create shared prosperity, social equality and true freedom for all,” he said. If these reasons aren’t enough to convince you to vote for Bernie think about this…a current major issue when it comes to money is the US Government spending it on endless wars and major corporations not paying their fair share in taxes. Well, Bernie is not for sale –he is the first to call out corporations and put pressure on them to pay their employees more. Think about Bernie pressuring Amazon with litigation unless they paid their workers more and what do you know, Amazon raised their minimum wage to $15 an hour. Think about Bernie Sanders being the only independent and one of
133 which voted no, out of 432 possible votes opposing the war with Iraq. If you want an Economic Bill of Rights that will protect you, if you want security in the form of universally accessible adult education, tax payer funded health care for all, guaranteed secure retirement and jobs to provide you with the same benefits the rest of the world is receiving, and you want someone who will stand up for the middle and lower class working people and who will oppose sending our citizens to endless wars----then vote Bernie Sanders in 2020. Enough said. DSANCHEZ@THE-TELESCOPE.COM
6 • OPINION
December 9, 2019
Trust broken: the overspending of Dr. Joi Lin Blake Ripp Friesen STAFF EDITOR
With the rapid decline of respectable and trustworthy figures in America, it comes with no surprise that one of Palomar College’s own is one of them. Palomar College Superintendent/President Dr. Joi Lin Blake has repeatedly shown that she is unfit to be the head of the school and this time is no different. It may seem like a small and trivial issue, but money is still money. Us-
ing money that students and faculty spent from vending machines, Blake bought an array of candy, home delivered fruit baskets and an expensive retirement celebration for public elected Governing Board officials. According to an article published by Steve Horn at Medium.com, documents were obtained by the San Diego Bulldog that show the total of these gifts may have cost up to $2,831. This may seem like a small amount but instead of using that money and
putting it back into the school to improve the lives of students and faculty while here, she frivolously spent it on gifts for public elected officials. Not only has she used school funds to give gifts to the Governing Board but in the last two years, she’s spent over $33,000 in travel expenses, says Shannon Lienhart on the Palomar Files Blog. Shannon writes, “For example, Blake requested reimbursement for two meals for a total of $182.74.” One of the receipts for
the reimbursement show that she spent $235.00 on punta mita ceviche. Blake’s spending also begs the question, why isn’t she using her own money on these gifts? Why is she using money from the school to fund candies, and flowers, and fruit baskets and a retirement party? According to Transparentcalifornia.com, a website that shows you the salary of any public employee in the state of California, Dr. Joi Lin Blake makes in total, $298,831.00 a year.
She clearly has enough money to purchase both gifts and other amenities. If she wants to give lavish and expensive gifts then so be it, but she should be using her own money to do so, not the schools. Within the last month, 40 members of faculty signed a petition show their support to have Blake’s authority and position looked at. When you become a person of power, it is your responsibility to uphold that power, gain the respect of your peers and
the people you’re supposed to be working for, gain our trust and do everything in your power to support and protect the wellbeing of the people you want to help. You are a reflection of Palomar College, the faculty and the students. It’s becoming more and more apparent that there needs to be a change in the higher management of Palomar College. RFRIESEN@THE-TELESCOPE.COM
Attorney General Kamala Harris speaking at the San Diego County Democratic Party Convention in Escondido on October 24, 2015. Joe Dusel / The Telescope.
Commentary: Kamala Harris had her issues, but seeing her drop out of the race is depressing Carla Hall MCTCAMPUS
I’m not surprised that Kamala Harris has dropped out of the presidential race. Sinking poll numbers, dwindling finances... That can only mean a death spiral for a campaign. But I’m deeply disappointed. Other people have left the race and I’ve thought, “Wait _ they were still in?” But poll numbers aside, Harris was a candidate with a unique presence. And how exhilarating to see a smart, accomplished, powerful senator who is also a black woman running for president.
Why has it even taken this long? And for a minute there, she was on fire. There she was, onstage for the second debate, amid a bickering, cross-talking crowd of candidates, when she shushed the stage with the line, “Hey, guys, you know what? America does not want to witness a food fight. They want to know how we’re going to put food on their table.” The audience erupted in applause, and the next night her crack earned an admiring “Damn ... .” from late-night talk show host Seth Meyers, one of the most clever and insightful political commentators on television. It was exciting to see her
rise above the crowd. And I loved that she flustered the avuncular, overly confident Joe Biden by reminding him of his opposition to courtordered busing and that she made the whole country take a week to revisit segregation in schools then - and, unfortunately, now. Political pundits I know who grade the performances of presidential candidates on whether they laid out their cases like rigid geometry proofs scoffed that she did a bad job that night, yet her poll numbers skyrocketed. I loved that, too. She quickly nailed the ultimate honor: She became a character in a “Saturday Night Live” skit, por-
trayed by Maya Rudolph. Who wouldn’t have loved to see Harris debating Trump? She is fierce and smart and knows how to put older male rivals in their places. That would have been fun to watch. But she couldn’t maintain that momentum in the debates that followed. She was terrific on some things (abortion rights, for example) but alarmingly fuzzy on other issues. Her polls numbers _ and her performances _ plummeted in a spectacularly awful descent. I read the devastating report in the New York Times about her inability to pick a message and stay with it, about her failure to ride herd over her warring campaign heads (one
of whom was her sister, Maya, a civil rights attorney and former advisor on Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign), about firing people who had just moved for the campaign. We all know presidential campaigns are brutal, but this one seemed primed to self-destruct. It was annoying to see Harris not take better control of it. Still, I think, how is she out and Tulsi Gabbard and Marianne Williamson and Tom Steyer are still in? OK, Steyer has endless money. For all of them, the sheer visibility alone is enough. If their campaigns crash and burn, so be it. Harris needed to cut her losses before she went
from a front-runner to a joke. And she really needed to get out before the late December deadline to be included on the California primary ballot. If she had gotten crushed in her own state, that would have been humiliating. Now, the question is how she will retool her image. Depending on who is slated to get the nomination, she could be a vice presidential candidate. And she’s still a sitting senator from California. Let’s see if the lessons she’s learned on the campaign trail help her on that Capitol Hill stage. EDITOR@THE-TELESCOPE.COM
LIFESTYLE • 7
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Modern Maker Market located in Escondido specializes in Ecofriendly, reusable products and offers a variety of classes and workshops throughout the week. Elvin Diego/The Telescope.
Modern Maker Market supports sustainable lifestyle Cheyenne Cyr STAFF WRITER
Escondido’s Modern Maker Market is described as an “herb shop,” but it’s much more than that. Established in July 2018, this local shop embodies a homestead atmosphere, providing a variety of naturally-made products and educational workshops. Scott Bates, the co-owner of the store alongside his wife, describes the shop and
its wares as “a blend of oldfashioned homesteading skills with new-school sustainability and zero-waste products.” Some zero-waste products include lychee soap nuts, DIY kits for making your own vegan cheese, needle-felted wool dryer balls, essential oils, and much more. The best-selling products are the cold-pressed soaps, containing medicinal herbs and lotion glycerin, effectively doubling as a
moisturizer. The shop also offers varying workshops. Including how to make your own kombucha or fermented vegetables. How to weave textiles by hand or naturally dye clothing. And how to make natural soaps. The price for these workshops can vary from around $20 to $70 based on time, skill, and materials needed. Not only do they offer homesteading skills, but the products are created for
multi-use. Dryer balls made out of needle-felted wool, which can be reused in several loads of laundry. You can also find metal straws, and air plants. All these products help to reduce one’s carbon footprint and make the world a cleaner and healthier place to live. There’s a massive wall’s worth of medicinal herbs for customers to make their own homeopathic tonics. Customers can also refill their existing bottles of
kombucha on tap with one of three flavors: Lemon turmeric, Apple beet ginger, or Orange citrus. When asked about the overall origin story of why Scott wanted to do this work, he responded, “It’s not necessarily a ‘who’ or ‘what’ or ‘why’. It’s a journey.” A journey to inspiring people to be more concious about their daily habits and the planitary effects of such habits. He and his wife hope to
make a difference for the good of the environment. Modern Maker Market’s hours are Tuesday-Friday 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. and SAT 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. For more information on the store and what workshops they offer, you can visit their Facebook profile at https://www.facebook.com/modernmaker. market/ or their Instagram @modernmaker.market. CCYR@THE-TELESCOPE.COM
(Left, to right) Photos depicting kids and adults enjoying their time at the My Yard Live restaurant located in San Marcos. Patrick Hartley/ The Telescope.
San Marcos’ new family-friendly brewery creates a buzz Nicole Villanueva STAFF EDITOR
Just a short ways from Wild Barrel Brewing and The Lost Abbey, San Marcos has newly opened brewery that takes over the expansive layout where a Hometown Buffet once stood. My Yard Live opened earlier this year and it brings a new concept of community and family entertainment to the neighborhood. Family men and life long friends Mark Mclarry and Jamie Minotti imagined up the concept of
MYL based on their love of music and desire to create a space that would be inclusive to people of all tastes and ages. And the result is a brewery, sports bar, live music venue, arcade, outdoor lounge, kids playground, and restaurant all wrapped into one. Did they leave anything out? Although MYL is a great place to bring the kids they layout is spaced and planned out in a way that you can sit up at the bar and not feel like your at Chuck E. Cheese. Aside from the bartop, there’s a variety of com-
munal type seating. Think massive indoor picnic tables, big couches, and an outdoor space that feels like your neighbor’s backyard barbeque. This is an order at the counter service style restaurant. It may not be ideal for a first date, but it’s a great pick for groups or a casual, fun night out. You can count on catching the seasons biggest games on one of the many big screens. It’s the Sunday-Funday epitome. The menu is what you’d expect from a hip sports bar. Burgers, wings, soups and sandwiches plus some
token healthy-ish options. The quality of food is decent with some hits and misses. They boast housesmoked meats on the menu and there’s even a vegetarian/vegan section. Inclusiveness is the theme here. There’s different specials offered throughout the week like Taco Tuesday, Wing Wednesday and “Chill out Friday, “ which includes your classic favorites smothered in chili. Catch live music Wednesday through Sunday. They offer a variety of genres from Jazz, Country, to Rock n Roll. Check
the calendar on MyYardLive.com to plan accordingly. It’s also notable that the company strives to be eco-friendly and source their products from other businesses that support sustainability as well. They are almost entirely plastic-free and use a waterless urinal system that helps save 40,000 gallons of water per fixture a year. They repurpose the left-over grains from their beer brewing process and use it to bake fresh bread on site. They source poultry
and produce from family operated business such as Specialty Produce and Mary’s Free-Range Chicken Farm. The community has taken well to the new business. Even as the weather grows colder, people still come here to eat, play and drink. It isn’t a total win for the beer and foodie enthusiasts, but it’s fun-loving atmosphere and the plentiful menu-offerings are enough to win over the mass of patrons. NVILLANUEVA@THE-TELESCOPE. COM
8 • ARTS & CULTURE
December 9, 2019
College degree: Follow your heart or follow your wallet? Sophia Bauder STAFF EDITOR
Today’s world seems to be all about the moneyhow to make money, how to save money and how to spend it. I’m sure we have all thought at least once before when choosing our major: “what degree can make me the most money?” Let’s take a look at the most and least valuable college degrees. The top money-making degrees are biomedical
engineering, biochemistry, and environmental engineering. I’m sure this will not come as a shock to many of you, considering that these are quite complex careers. The starting pay rate for a biomedical engineer is $53,000 with a growth of 82 percent in pay over the course of this career, according to Forbes.com. A biochemists starting pay is $41,000 with a growth of 103 percent in salary, according to Forbes. An environmental engineer’s starting pay is
$51,000 and a total of 71 percent growth in pay. From 2018-2028 the projected growth of employment for a biomedical engineer is around four percent, the projected growth of employment for a biochemist is six percent, and for an environmental engineer the projected growth of employment is five percent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Some of the least valuable degrees consist of film, video and photographic arts, fine arts, and liberal arts degrees.
All of these majors have the same starting salary of $30,000-$32,000, a considerably lower rate than those more valuable degrees. The unemployment rate for film, video, and photographic arts are strikingly high at 12.9 percent with fine arts trailing right behind with a 12.6 percent unemployment rate. Graphic design is also not far behind these unemployment rates with its own being 11.8 percent (Forbes.com). Film, video, and pho-
tographic arts employment levels are projected to decline six percent from 2018-2028. Fine arts, however, is not subject to decline or experience much change because it ultimately depends on the stability of the economy and whether or not people will spend their money on these programs. Don’t get discouraged yet, graphic design is ac projected to have an employment growth of three percent from 2018-2028. Whether you choose a major that is projected
to be the most valuable or least valuable, monetarily speaking, your career choice should not be solely based on how much money you will make. Deciding on a career should be chosen in regards to how much happiness and fulfillment it will bring you. Keep in mind that money comes and goes, so you don’t let that pesky consumer culture swallow you whole. SBAUDER@THE-TELESCOPE.COM
Start the season out right with these holiday favorites Krista Moore STAFF EDITOR
It’s that time of year again when we get to rock around the Christmas tree and decorate with as many colored lights as possible. As we do these festive activities it’s nice to have some tunes, so here’s a list of ten songs to add to your holiday playlist. 1. “What Christmas Means to Me” by Stevie Wonder This classic Christmas tune is one that everyone can dance to. This song was originally released in 1967 on Wonder’s “Someday at Christmas” album. The low bass paired with the jingle of holiday bells can make anyone want to get up and dance. 2. “Christmas C’mon” by Lindsey Stirling featuring Becky G. This song released on violinist Lindsey Stirling’s “Warmer in the Winter” album in 2017 is an upbeat song that will make you want to grab a loved one and dance. The classical violin contrasts with the pop vibe of the rest of the song, giving it a romantic touch. 3. “Jingle Bells (a Hip Hop Carol)” by Kyle Massey While this song may not be everyone’s cup of tea, it’s a fun twist giving the old classic a youthful feel. The hip hop and rap breakdowns make this a definite favorite for those looking to freshen up their playlist. 4. “Winter Things” by Ariana Grande Grande nailed California winters in this original song off of her 2015 “Christmas and Chill” album.
The easy strum of the ukulele will make you feel like you’re on a beach. The lyrics describe what a warm winter is like and will get you in the mood to do some ice skating under the warm California sun. 5. “Present Without a Bow” by Kacey Musgraves ft. Leon Bridges This sweet duet between Musgraves and Bridges off of the “A Very Kacey Christmas” album is an appreciation song describing how a holiday without a bow wouldn’t make sense. The pair of delicate voices are easy to listen to to get you in the holiday mood. 6. “Like it’s Christmas” by the Jonas Brothers The Jonas Brothers continue with their trend of new music by releasing a holiday song. It’s upbeat and will make anyone to dance. It’s a love song that captures what it feels like around the holidays spending each and every moment with your loved ones. 7. “The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don’t Be Late)” by Alvin and the Chipmunks This Alvin and the Chipmunks original is the oldest song on the list and is probably the one most likely to get stuck in your head. It describes what every child is thinking around this year as each day passes in preparation for Christmas.
8. “Winter Wonderland / Here Comes Santa Claus” by Snoop Dogg & Anna Kendrick Who doesn’t love a good mash up? This song premiered in the second installment of the “Pitch Perfect” movies and tends to get lost in a sea of songs from the film. The mix of Snoop Dogg’s easy going hip hop feel with Anna Kendrick’s delicate voice combine for a perfect match. 9. “I am The Grinch” by Tyler the Creator ft. Fletcher Jones Out of the newest adaptation of “The Grinch,” this hip hop creation makes you almost like the green monster himself. Tyler the Creator took this character and gave him a theme song that anyone would want. This new song gives a new point of view on a familiar character that isn’t represented. 10. “The Christmas Song ( Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire)” by Nat King Cole Let’s be honest, is it a Christmas playlist without this song on it? It’s a classic and captures every aspect of Christmas, from the feel of the winter air to the smell of every home. The slow tune will always bring you back to that holiday feeling. KMOORE@THE-TELESCOPE.COM
The cast of “Knives Out” features, from left, Katherine Langford, Toni Collette, Jamie Lee Curtis, Don Johnson, Michael Shannon, Riki Lindhome and Jaeden Martell. [Lionsgate] Lionsgate/Akron
New murder mystery kills the competition this fall Krista Moore STAFF EDITOR
The new mystery and suspense drama, directed and written by Rain Johnson, “Knives Out” was released Thanksgiving Day, carving out a space for itself in theaters right away. It’s no wonder the movie received a 97 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes with its star-studded cast, including Daniel Craig (or James Bond, if you prefer) and Chris Evans, famously of the “Avengers” film series. Ana de Armas, Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael Shannon, and Toni Collete were also among the long list of famous names in this feature. The main premise of this film is based upon the assumption that it looks as though suspense novelist Harlem Thrombey, played by Christopher Plummer,
has committed suicide. However, the characters soon realize it was a murder. As the viewer, you are taken through a series of investigative interviews in Thrombey’s ominous home office with a ring of knives as the focal point of the room. Conducted by Detective Benoit Blanc, played by Daniel Craig, the family is grilled on the details of Thrombey’s last moments. The setting of Thrombey’s mansion in a secluded forest perfectly captured the ominous feeling of a murder mystery movie, but it was the dialogue that really pushed this movie over the edge. Johnson was able to write a movie in such a way that it had that perfect balance of dramatic and corniness. While it could swayed in the way of a bad parody film, it never completely did.
In addition to the great script, the costuming for this movie was nicely done. Each character had a unique style that fit their character but was not so that it took the attention away from other aspects of the movie. Like all good murder mystery films, by the end of the movie you’re stumped. The plot reveal will be eye opening while simultaneously making you feel like you should have known what was coming. The borderline corny feel to this movie, the great casting and even better script will make you want to see this movie more than once. If that doesn’t work, then the charm of Chris Evans definitely will. KMOORE@THE-TELESCOPE.COM
ARTS & CULTURE • 9
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The latest ‘Star Wars’ game better than the ones from the past Alex Garcia STAFF EDITOR
With the new Star Wars movie being released Dec. 20, Respawn Entertainment has released its newest game called “Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order” to get fans excited and ready for the movie. If you are thinking about purchasing the game here’s a few things to help you make the right decision. The game was released on Nov.15 on PC, Playstation 4, and Xbox One. This game is a thirdperson action adventure game with a single player story. Let’s talk about what kind of game this is and what the mission is, as this is not like the most recent Star Wars games that have been released in the past such as Star Wars Battlefront II (2017). In the previous titles it was almost the complete opposite. It was a team battle royale-style, where
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order (Electronic Arts). Photo Courtesy Electronic Arts • Mctcampus.com
you were either on the Jedis or Rebels, and battled it out with either a lightsaber or gun. The team with the most kills at the end of the round wins the game, which many people who bought the game were disappointed by. In this new adventure, you begin as a young padawan Jedi named Cal Kestis, played by Cameron Monaghan who is
most known for his roles in “Shameless” and “Gotham.” Cal is being hunted all throughout the galaxy by the Second Sister, an Inquisitor trained by Darth Vader. The game takes place shortly after “Episode III: Revenge Of The Sith” in which Cal is trying to complete his training and restore the now wipedout Jedi order.
As you take control of Cal, you visit new and existing worlds in the “Star Wars” galaxy such as Kashyyyk and Dathomir, as well as make new friends and allies along the way. You are accompanied along the way by a droid named BD-1. He helps by tossing you healthkits and exploring some of the crammed parts of the world that Cal can’t.
human connection. Palomar student Connor Nolan, who plays Coast Guard Officer Thomas in the production, expressed that preserving the environment isn’t directly opposed to economic matters. “It’s not a black or white issue of either saving the environment or saving the economy…[they] can be done with respect to each other,” he said. The environment, as a result, has a significant
presence in the production. Susie Burchill, in her first semester at Palomar, described how ensemble animates the “breath of life.” With fabrics and sound, Burchill and the ensemble crew embody icebergs, water, air, and a storm to illustrate the Arctic environment. “It’s got a lot of pain but it’s ultimately a very healing show...and I think people will leave with a sense, both of urgency and hope,”
Mufson said. “SILA” is showing Dec. 12-14 at the Howard Brubeck Theatre on Palomar College’s San Marcos campus. Tickets are $15 for general, $10 for students, and $12 for seniors and staff. For show times and more information about Palomar Performing Arts, visit www.palomarperforms.com or call (760) 214-9109.
The game is designed for the player to “jump into situations” and deal with them with a lightsaber, force powers, and the help from your droid. This game has some pretty cool mechanics such as being able to run along walls, while using the force to stop a fan so that you can pass through without taking any damage. You can also use your
lightsaber to deflect the opponents shots back at them taking them out. As you work through the game you earn and find points to upgrade Cal’s abilities along the way. Your abilities are split between your lightsaber,the force, and survival. There are a couple of downsides to the game, if any, and that goes for the people who are fans of the dark side. This is because ou can’t have Cal be on the dark side if you don’t want him to be a Jedi, and some of the mechanics when you run along walls seems weird. If you are a huge “Star Wars” fan, then this is a game for you. With the holidays approaching as well, “Star Wars” can make a great Christmas present for anyone who enjoys not only the franchise but gaming in general. AGARCIA@THE-TELESCOPE. COM
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He hopes to elicit an empathetic response in the audience and to send them on an “emotional journey” with the characters, ultimately igniting an urge to take action and make a difference in light of the environmental crisis. “Climate collapse is a symptom of a bigger structural problem,” he said, explaining that the economic system has built a distortion of values that places materialism above compassion, empathy, and
SAGUIRRE@THE-TELESCOPE.COM
Two of the actors perforing in “SILA.” Photo courtesy of Ken Jacques Photography.
Bend the knee Netflix, the mouse is claiming the throne Nicole Villanueva STAFF EDITOR
Let’s cut to the chase. Do you really need Disney + ? I offer you a resounding, yet somewhat reluctant yes. The question is no longer “should I stick to cable or stream,” but rather “what streaming service should I use?” An article in Forbes Magazine titled, “More Americans Now Pay for Streaming Services than Cable TV” reported that scales have finally tipped in favor of consumers who spend money on an internet streaming service as
opposed to the latter. Disney has finally stepped up to bat and brought their A-game. The first thing you’ll notice when you sign up is the low price. The basic, commercial-free package is available at only $6.99/month compared to its biggest competitor Netflix, who charges a monthly fee of $8.99 for its most basic service and $15.99 for its premium option. The premium option with Netflix offers you the ability to stream on up to four screens at the same time along with HD or 4k screen quality.
But if you go premium with Disney for only $12.99 a month you get an entire additional streaming service, Hulu, and ESPN+ access. The sports lovers in your life are definitely covered. That’s the beauty of Disney +, it covers a wide range of interests. The most obvious might be the kids, but really, it might be you. You may be excited to dive deep into a pool of warm nostalgia, floating by familiar favorites like “Bambi,” or the original “Ducktales.” Anything Disney you ever watched is there.
I’m talking “Johnny Tsunami,” “Fantasia,” “The Mighty Ducks,” the off -the-grid, old-school Disney. It also appeals to the superhero and action loving Marvel fans. The Marvel universe has a long list of box-office heavy hitters and they all live here, in Disney +. Add everything and anything “Star Wars” to that list and it’s easy to see why Netflix might be getting a little nervous. But wait, there’s more! Disney + even has National Geographic documentaries. Even the most stick-
ler, educational purposes only TV watching person is going to find something here to enjoy. The thing is, any of the components mentioned above would be enough to gain a strong support of subscribers alone, but Disney has them all. I foresee them dominating the streaming world. Thus the slight reluctance in my recommendation to sign up. Disney is a strong powerful corporation, monopolizing the entertainment industry. As you agree to their terms and services you can’t help but feel like you’re signing away your
childhood soul to the devil, except this devil has two round ears rather than two spiky horns. When you log-on and see the long list of your childhood favorites alongside today’s biggest feature films it is a bit overwhelming and something about the Disney novelty loses its magic. At the end of the day, it has everything the modern consumer wants: ease, quality, and affordability, along with a tight pull on our heartstrings. NVILLANUEVA@THE-TELESCOPE.COM
10 • SPORTS
December 9, 2019
Comet freshman “putt”-ing in work on the greens Eric Lennox STAFF WRITER
Top: Kathy Henderson checks her surroundings before driving a ball on Sept. 25, 2019/ Photo courtesy of Hugh Cox.
Bottom: Kathy Henderson poses for a portrait in front of the clocktower at Palomar College. Kevin Mijares/The Telescope.
Kathy Henderson has brought a burst of talent and youth to the Palomar women’s golf team this semester. Henderson is a business management major who has had a great freshman season for the Comets golf team. She has been golfing for 10 years influenced by her father who is a golf instructor himself. During high school, Henderson left the golf team after her freshman year and continued on to play tennis for the rest of her high school career. Henderson thinks she is better at golf and sees more opportunity with it but she is still plan to join Palomar’s tennis team next semester as well. Managing competitive golf, school, and a job leads to a lot of time management. “My first semester I have taken online classes,” she said. “Dedicating time after practice just to work on
homework. It’s been a lot of scheduling and balancing.” Henderson has already made a name for herself on the golf course. She finished 5th overall in the Orange Empire Conference and made first team all conference. She qualified for the CCCAA State Championships by finishing T-7 overall and second as an individual at the Southern California Regional Championships. Bonding with her new teammates before the season started was helpful for Henderson’s success this year. “This year it has been awesome, we all bonded before the season started and we know each other and can help each other through situations,” she said. “If one of us is sick we all coordinate and talk amongst our group chat.” Henderson is one of the three freshmen on the 4 player roster. Her teammates include freshmen Hailey Bjerknes, Kumi Higuchi and sophomore Maricel Nabor. Nabor’s
seniority has helped the team. “She has definitely put in her work,” Henderson said. “As we are freshmen, she guides us.” Henderson is coached by Palomar’s Women’s Golf coach Mark Halda. Coach Halda has helped Kathy improve her game. It takes a lot to be a student athlete with managing school, social life, work, practice and competition. Henderson stays in tune with golf outside of school by working at Vista Country Club which gives her free access to play golf. Off the greens you can catch her at the beach or on a fun car ride with her friends. Overall she just enjoys just being herself. Her favorite show on Netflix right now is New Girl. If she could choose to go to one place in the world, she would choose to go to Bali because the culture there is is great for vacations. ELENNOX@THE-TELESCOPE.COM
NCAA athletes deserve a path to actual revenue streams Haley Hardy STAFF WRITER
College athletes should be compensated for their hard work, but many feel that paying them is a mistake. They worry if payments are involved, student athletes would not focus on their education, that it would be unfair to less talented student athletes and that it would burden the colleges financially, possibly restricting how many scholarships they would be able to offer. However, student athletes don’t need to be paid by the colleges, they could be fairly compensated by the advertisers who make money off their name, image or likeness and by the National Collegiate Athletic Association. According to NPR. com, the NCAA, after years of reluctance, announced that it will allow college athletes to earn compensation for the use of their name, image and likeness. In fact, California is a leading state in the adoption of a law, the Fair Pay to Play Act, that will ban
schools from preventing student athletes from earning money from advertisers and allow them to hire agents. This is great news as student athletes would be able to financially support themselves without getting a job, giving them more time for their education as the practice and play of college sports involves a tremendous amount of time. During playoffs, students may miss several days of schooling. According to CBS News, student athletes can spend up to 42.1 hours per week just on their sport. By allowing students to receive compensation, they would not have to get a part time job to pay for regular day to day expenses not covered by scholarships. This would allow them more time to study and earn the college degree they are there for. Another argument against student compensation is possible inequality in pay. As in the world of real sports, some players are more talented than others. Some singers make more money than other singers, some artists
make more money than other artists, some teachers make more money than other teachers and some coaches make more money than other coaches. In every field, there are extremely talented people who earn more than others. Should the talented be punished? I don’t think so. Exceptional talent should be rewarded so that it is pursued. It is interesting to note that student musicians can make money off their skill, student journalists can freelance and student artists can sell their art without retribution from the college, while a student athlete can not. The NCAA was established under the idea that providing scholarships for education is sufficient compensation to student athletes for their participation in sports. The argument that scholarships would be reduced from payment to student athletes is hard to make. According to ESPN, there was a $10.8 billion deal between the NCAA and CBS/Turner Sports for March Madness between 2011 and 2024.
That is approximately $11 billion for three weekends per year. That amount of money is plenty to provide for scholarships as well as the bloated pay checks of coaches and NCAA staff. Also, compensation may allow the student athlete the ability to continue their education to completion with less temptation to join the professionals. Ultimately when you
look at the facts, it is clear that it is not okay for coaches, schools, and agents to make millions off of student athletes who risk injury and work hard for their talent while they receive only a scholarship for the college that is basically employing them. Housing, schooling and meals are paid for but day to day expenses are not met. College coaches are routinely paid accord-
ing to how well they have lead their teams and in turn how much revenue the team has earned. Student athletes should also receive compensation for how much revenue they have brought to their team and college. It is definitely time for student athletes to receive Fair Pay to Play from the advertisers and NCAA. HHARDY@THE-TELESCOPE.COM
SPORTS • 11
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Women’s basketball keeps ball rolling Sophia Bauder STAFF EDITOR
The Palomar women’s basketball team have been on fire this season with an astounding record of eight wins and only one loss. Some key players that have been an asset to the team are sophomores Nikki Mayoral, Taylor Williams and Aaliyah Taylor. So far this season Mayoral has racked up 98
points, with 26 rebounds, 15 assists and five steals. Williams has contributed 75 points, with 24 rebounds, 36 assists and 10 steals. Taylor has 77 points, with 40 rebounds, 7 assists and 7 steals. Although these individual stats have helped the teams progress, Coach Leigh Marshall said team success is more important. “No one cares about who gets theirs or what their stats look like. The
only stat that matters is the win,” Marshall said In the past, the team experienced minor setbacks with player injuries, but that hasn’t seemed to stop them from achieving major wins this season. The women’s basketball team is on a warpath and it has its sights set on going farther and hopefully winning a conference title. “The keys to us having a successful season is hard work, team connec-
tion, and continuing to get our IQ and skill level up as the season goes on,” wrote Marshall. The team hopes to end the season strong. For them, finishing strong means winning a conference title and getting back to regionals, with the ultimate goal being to win a state championship. SBAUDER@THE-TELESCOPE.COM
Top: The Comets celebrate their Palomar tournament championship after beating east Los Angeles 81-49 on Nov. 19. Patrick Hartley/The Telescope. Bottom: Taylor Mayoral attempts a layup in practice. Dianna Webb/The Telescope.
The city of Oceanside delivers two titles to North County Jordan Spurgeon
Left: Oceanside High School players pose with their championship banner aftre winning the Division I champinship. Jordan Spurgeon/The Telescope.
STAFF EDITOR
Bring out the championship parade in Oceanside. High school football in San Diego has been mostly dominated by San Diego County schools over the past decade. This year, however, two North County teams from Oceanside brought home CIF hardware. El Camino High School and Oceanside High School won the Division II and Division I championships respectively. Oceanside now has 17 championships and El Camino has nine. The El Camino Wildcats came in as the number seven seed in the Division II playoffs. They beat Valley Center, San Pasqual, and Vista on their way to the championship game. They beat the number one seeded Bishop’s Knights 75-59 in the championship on Nov. 29 at Southwestern College. This wasn’t an easy
Right: El Camino Head Coach Michael Hobbs celebrates with the CIF trophy after winning the Division II championship. Jordan Spurgeon/The Telescope.
win for the Wildcats. They trailed 45-20 at halftime because the Knights’ superstar quarterback Tyler Buchner scored six touchdowns, and ran for nearly 300 yards. But the Wildcats refused to quit. Head Coach of the Wildcats, Michael Hobbs, was fired up at halftime and told his team that he still believed they could win if they could get some stops on defense. They went on to score 36 unanswered points within the final 18 minutes of the game. They forced an interception and two turnovers on
downs. This was the highest scoring game in San Diego Section championship history, with 134 combined points. The Oceanside Pirates played on the following night for the Division I Championship. They came into the playoffs as the number nine seed. They beat Eastlake, the number one seed Steele Canyon Cougars, and Madison en route to Southwestern College on Nov. 30. Their opponent was the reigning Division II champion, the Lincoln Hornets. The Pirates beat
them 28-10. They were tied 7-7 at halftime. Both defensive lines were getting pressure on the quarterback, which made it difficult for either team to move the ball. Oceanside Head Coach David Rodriguez told his team to clean up the pass protection and trust the defense, which took over in the second half. The Pirates forced two turnovers in the second half and the offensive line kept quarterback Jakob Harris off his back. Junior stand out running back Kavika Tua ran for
two touchdowns. Tua was just happy to help his team win. “Honestly, I was happier when Ramsey had the fumble recovery, than when I was making plays,” he said after the game, “Everyone looks to me to make plays, but I love when my brothers succeed out here and we win.” These two games showed San Diego that North County teams are able to compete with anyone. Coach Rodriguez said that people constantly make memes about the Avocado League, but they won’t be “making
guacamole” after these two teams took home CIF Titles. Coach Hobbs, while getting ready for his team’s regional championship game aginst Temecula Valley, said he feels proud to bring a championship to North County since other teams tend to bash Avocado League teams. Both teams look to continue this season’s success and move forward as perennial powerhouses in San Diego once again. JSPURGEON@THE-TELESCOPE.COM
12 • SPORTS
December, 9, 2019
Women’s water polo drowns the PCAC competition Jordan Spurgeon STAFF EDITOR
The 2019 Women’s Water Polo team had one of the best seasons in Palomar history. They finished the season as PCAC champions with a record of 19-9 and 6-1 in Conference. They won seven straight games to finish the regular season. They made it to the Southern California Regional Championships, before losing to Citrus College 17-9 on Nov. 14. Before the season started, the program was struggling to fill a roster. At least seven players are needed to play, and they ended up with nine. “When you look back it’s really interesting to see how it evolved from pre season to now,” said Head Coach Mandy Simon. Simon was named PCAC Women’s Water Polo coach of the year. She said she owes at least half of the credit to her assistant coach, Lucy Gates.
The women finished with six PCAC All Conference players. Freshman Julia Miller, Sydni Dickson and Harley Young all earned first team honors. Sophomores Ciara Webb, Sophie White and Haley Balch all earned second team honors. Young was also named PCAC Women’s Water Polo athlete of the year. She finished with 110 points, 65 goals and 45 assists. She also had 45 steals. “Being a part of a smaller team forced us to be better conditioned than most other water polo players, because we didn’t have as many subs,” said Young. She also said that the team became really close which helped them play better together down the stretch. Playing together as a smaller team also helped them develop well-balanced skills. Simon said that with minor injuries throughout the team, players had to step up in other positions that they normally
wouldn’t play. Being conference champions is something that this team will remember forever. “We came in as the underdogs in conference,” Young said. “We lost to Grossmont by 10 the first time we played them, so coming back and playing them and beating them the second time around was a great feeling. It showed us that we really have become a solid team.” The season is now over, but the process of getting ready for 2020 is just beginning for coach Simon. Her goal for next year is to increase the number of players on the team and go further into the regional playoffs. To accomplish that, she plans to be more involved around local high school water polo so that more players know who she is and understand that they can play the sport at a high level at Palomar Collge. JSPURGEON@THE-TELESCOPE.COM
Top: Assistant coach Lucy Gates discusses the gameplan with the team during a timeout against Miramar on Nov. 30, 2019. Ashley Rupp/The Telescope. Bottom: Harley Young scores a goal against Miramar on Nov. 30, 2019. Ashley Rupp/The Telescope.
From JUCO to university; the journey continues now Jordan Spurgeon STAFF EDITOR
The football season is over, but the journey for many of the Comets is just beginning. The dream for many JUCO athletes is to be able to earn a scholarship to four year universities and continue playing the sport they love while earning an education. The football coaching staff at Palomar places a high priority on helping their players transfer to a four-year school. Their goal is to get 100 percent of their team to transfer. Derrick McMahen is the defensive backs coach and recruiting coordinator for the football team. His focus is to help get players offers to universities. Part of being a coach at a community college is helping guide young men to be the best versions of themselves they can be, both on and off the field. Palomar football coaches focus on that part of coaching more than anything else. “Our number one goal here at Palomar is to grow
Palomar football players during the national anthem before their game against El Camino College on Nov. 2. Kevin Mijares/The Telescope.
and develop young men so they have a positive impact on the community,” said McMahen. The Palomar coaches focus on four key components that athletes need to be able to showcase to other schools: high quality character, good grades, quality game film and good health.
McMahen has compiled a prospect list that he’s been constantly sending out to schools. That process is heating up now that the early signing period has begun. Giovanni Hererra was one of the captains of the 2019 Comets Football team. “I feel like playing for Palomar these last
couple of years has prepared me academically, athletically and mentally for the four year level and for life outside of football as well,” he said. He also feels that the coaching staff has done a great job giving them exposure to other schools by sending out game film every week and prospect
lists as well. Hererra is just one of many from this team who is already being contacted by schools. That list includes players who came to Palomar as “bounce backs” from four-year schools. They have to climb uphill, because they have to get an Associates degree
before they can transfer. The hard part is obtaining that degree quickly in order to still be eligibile to play at a four-year school. One bounce back is quarterback Rodney Thompson. He ended up at Palomar after attending Northern Arizona University. Thompson learned a lot about being an athlete by coming to Palomar college. The coaching staff helped him develop off the field life skills this season. “They helped me define what work ethic really is,” he said. “At the juco level nothing is going to be handed to you, you really have to work hard for what you get.” He also said that as far as recruiting goes, he just wants to find the best school that wants him, not one that just needs him. Recruiting season is an important time for athletes, who will be deciding where they will be spending the next two or more years of their life. JSPURGEON@THE-TELESCOPE.COM