The Telescope 66.5 by The Telescope

the telescope Palomar College’s Independent Newspaper Vol. 66, No. 5 • Monday, Oct. 22, 2012 1140 W. Mission Rd, San Marcos, Calif.

ELECTIONS

PROPS APPROACH EDUCATION WITH TAXATION APRIL TESTERMAN THE TELESCOPE

This November, there are two initiatives on the ballot that could potentially affect public schools monetarily over the next four years. Proposition 30 and Proposition 38 both address the issues of budget deficits that public education are facing, but approach them in somewhat similar, yet contrasting ways. And if Prop. 30 doesn’t pass, up to $6 billion in cuts will have to be made on public schools. Prop. 30, a measure introduced by Gov. Jerry Brown, would ultimately increase the state tax by one-fourth of a percent, bumping the tax rate to 7.5 percent. It will also set four new tax brackets for those making at least $250,000 a year. The measure would generate between $6-7 billion a year. The funds are to go to K-12 schools, community colleges, California State Universities, and Universities of California, according to the Official Voter Information Guide. Approximately 11 percent will go to community colleges. For higher education, it is crucial that Prop. 30 TOP: Molly Munger/Courtesy of passes. inlandpolitics.com “When the legislature BOTTOM: Jerry Brown/Courtesy and governor put toof sdrostra.com gether the state budget for 2012-2013, they allocated $6 billion to k-12 schools, community colleges, and public safety, but that was contingent upon voters passing an initiative that calls for more tax revenue,” said Political Science professor Peter Bowman. Proposition 38, on the other hand, proposed by Molly Munger, takes a much different approach on taxation. Prop. 38, if passed, would enact an acrossthe-board income tax increase. Generated funds of about $10 billion annually would go to “schools, child care, preschool, and state debt payments,” as stated in the voter guide.

TURN TO PROPS, PAGE 3

WHAT’S INSIDE

STUDENT SUCCESS TASK FORCE

STRAIGHTENING THE LONG ROAD TO SUCCESS Photo illustration •Brian Korec/Telescope Editor’s note: The Student Success Task Force recommendations have many facets that even administrators struggle to fully understand the implications of. This is the fourth part in a series that began last semester that aims to make sense of the task force and its impact to Palomar.

IAN HANNER THE TELESCOPE

Schools are bracing themselves for the potential impact of sweeping college reform passed down from the state legislature. Moving forward from roughly a year of hypothetical planning, community colleges across California are now scrambling to implement legislation approved by Governor Jerry Brown on Sept. 27. SB 1456, colloquially referred to as the Student Success Task Force Recommendations (SSTF), has saddled administrators and faculty with greater responsibility, but no additional funds necessary to achieve the mandated changes. Last year, the state formed a task force to study the problems commu-

nity colleges were facing and devise a list of recommended solutions. The resulting list of eight recommendations, 22 subdivisions, sought to fix primarily the problems of students who linger in college without a clear plan for moving forward and schools who do little to mitigate this. “My understanding of the Student Success recommendations is that they’re part of the move for accountability that’s coming down from the state,” said Haydn Davis, the chairman of behavioral sciences and psychology professor at Palomar. “As the budgets shrink the state is asking for more documentation and more accountability to validate that, basically, we’re doing a good job. They cover a lot of different things, but essentially they’re all geared to documenting, verifying and validating that students are succeeding.” Davis is a member of the Faculty Senate at Palomar, a body of faculty members who look into matters affecting the school as part of a shared governance plan. With the passage of SB 1456, the Senate appointed Davis as a liaison to other departments at Palomar to figure out how the SSTF

recommendations will need to be implemented. Davis says he believes ultimately the introduction of this legislation is a good thing because it helps place students in environments where they won’t feel overwhelmed, but added that the recommendations do not comes without drawbacks. “We used to have a whole area of courses we offered called lifelong learning,” Davis said. “These were all sorts of things that didn’t necessarily have an academic or vocational emphasis, but they were valuable for members of the community. A lot of it was in the arts, a lot of it was in specialty classes that we’re not offering here anymore, whether it’s special philosophy or psychology courses; kind of a niche class. Those things have all pretty much gone away.” Davis said the reason for the state no longer allowing students to dwell in school is a belief that perpetual students are a drain on state resources. This is one of the major concerns that the drafters of SSTF sought to address.

TURN TO SSTF, PAGE 3

INITIATIVES

Debate heating up over Prop. 32 DANIELLE TAYLOR THE TELESCOPE

With the 2012 election nearing, the debate is heating up over Proposition 32. Prop. 32 was put on the ballot by petition signatures and prohibits unions from using payroll-deducted funds for political purposes, according to the California Election Guide. The expected fiscal impact is an increase to state and local government, potentially exceeding $1 million yearly for enforcement. “One of the best ways to do research on the propositions that students often forget is to read the actual proposition in the election guide book.” said Teresa Laughlin, professor of political sciences at Palomar. “For example, on

RAPE DEFENSE CLASS OFFERED NEWS / The hands-on defense class is free of charge and open to the public.

Prop. 32, the League of Women Voters, which is a pretty middle of the road organization, is against Prop. 32.” One of the main financial contributors to the support of Prop. 32 is businessman and lawyer Charles Munger. According to a public contribution record filed with the Secretary of State’s office, Munger has contributed nearly $10 million to the Small Business Action Committee PAC, No on 30/Yes on 32 campaigns. The largest financial contributor against Prop. 32 is the California Teachers Association donating almost $19 million to the campaign. According to the website, most of the money contributed comes from membership dues. “I look at an election like a debate.

CELEBRATING HALLOWEEN LIFE / Students plan to wear costumes and go to parties even though Halloween is on a school night.

You have one group of people saying one thing, and another group of people saying another thing, and you do your own research and you come up with your own vote,” Laughlin said. “And what they are trying to do with this proposition is to silence one side of the debate.” A yes on 32 would mean that unions and corporations could not use money deducted from payroll for political purposes. Currently, Super PACs and other exempt businesses have no restrictions on political spending, but this proposition would not apply to them. Instead, it would apply to unions and other corporations that are not exempt from these laws.

TURN TO PROP. 32, PAGE 2

FOOTBALL DOMINATION SPORTS / Runningback Chad Dobbins leads Comets in running game with 672 yards.

2 • NEWS

Monday, October 22, 2012

Foundation

defense

Group Funds Pupils

police Class to fight rape

A Palomar College group is trying to raise more money than ever to give to students, officials said recently. The Palomar Foundation works to ensure that everyone in the community can receive a quality education. The Foundation has dedicated the next six weeks to raising $300,000 that will benefit students. On Oct. 2, the Foundation kicked off its “Campaign for Student Success” with a rally in the Student Union. “The mission of Palomar College’s Foundation is to support our students and faculty,” said Foundation Executive Director Richard Talmo. “This campaign is our greatest effort ever to raise money for our campus.” The Foundation uses its donations to better the educational atmosphere and experience for students. Scholarships and book grants help students afford college in these trying economic times, Talmo said. It also provides faculty grants to enhance the student’s learning and social experience on campus, he added. “What we do isn’t build buildings. We help students of all ages so they can come here and graduate,” said Marc McGuire, a Foundation board director, during the rally Oct. 2. “The Foundation and its funds enable students who otherwise couldn’t attend school.” The campaign plans to solicit funds through phone, direct mail and alumni donations, as well as the software product Friends Asking Friends. This software will allow people to make an automatic donation and notify their friends asking for a donation as well. The Foundation is confident that their large goal is well within reach. “It is monumental what we are trying to achieve,” Talmo said. The kickoff rally itself brought in more than $6,000 from promised faculty donations alone. But it is local philanthropist Darlene Shiley’s promise to match donations up to $60,000 that has really given the Foundation a sense of determination to achieve their goal. Several call nights have been planned for the “Campaign for Student Success” where Foundation board members, as well as student volunteers will contact possible donators. Contact Kim Hartwell at khartwell@palomar.edu (760) 744-1150 ext. 2664. For information about The Foundation, log on to www.palomar.edu/foundation Sydney Davison

Photo Illustration by Jassamyn Payne/Telescope

The Palomar Campus Police Department is offering free Rape Aggression Defense (RAD) classes this month for women only, and it is open to the students and community. The class runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Oct. 13, 20 and 27. The meetings will be held in room G-8. The officer in charge of the class is Monika Forest. The RAD class offers hands-on training, defense techniques, and a free manual for each participant. There is one day of lecture, one day of demonstration of techniques and one day of practicing techniques. RAD’s objective is to “to develop and enhance the options of self-defense so they may become viable considerations to the woman who is attacked,” according to the Palomar Police Department website. Women are advised to wear gym clothes and comfortable shoes and bring a bottle of water and some snacks for the breaks. Jewelry or heavy perfumes are not advised. The Police Department suggests the students who are going to attend the classes and do not already have a parking pass, should purchase one from the Police Department before parking on campus to

RAD CLASSES

Where: San Marcos campus Room G-8 When: Oct. 27 Why: Hands-on defense classes for women Contact: Monika Forest mforest@palomar.edu avoid any issues. The RAD class is limited to 20 participants only, so register a spot ahead of time. Walk-ins are welcome, although not recommended. Email for reservations at mforest@palomar.edu. If you cannot make this class but are still interested in the services offered, RAD classes are offered several times a school year. Go to www.palomar.edu/police for more details. Susan Hamidy

Movie

‘limitless’ at movie mondays Students can get free admission to Movie Monday on Oct. 29 with a current fall 2012 student activity card, according to the Office of Student Affairs. Students can bring a friend and enjoy a movie from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. in room SU-204. A free snack will be offered to those in attendance. This month’s feature will be science-fiction thriller “Limit-

less.” After suffering from writer’s block, Eddie Morra takes a new pharmaceutical drug that allows him to tap his full potential. High stakes come with high payouts, and more importantly, high costs. Contact student activities representative Marilyn Lunde for questions at (760)-744-1150 ext. 2594. Danielle Taylor

readiness

career planning for students

On Oct. 24, Palomar College is hosting another installment in the Career Center Workshop Series from 5 to 6 p.m. in SU-17, according to the Palomar College Career Center. These workshops are designed to help students find a job based on their major.

prop. 32 Continued from Page 1

A no vote would keep the status quo, and allow unions to use a portion of payroll deducted money for political purposes. Currently, this deduction is optional among the teachers union. “If Prop. 32 passes,” said Associate Professor of political science Peter Bowman, “corporations will

It also teaches attendees how to gain and apply successful interviewing skills. Space is limited, so students must contact the Career Center in person or by phone at (760) 7441150 ext. 2194 to reserve a seat.

Photo Illustration by Brian Korec/Telescope

Danielle Taylor

Health

flu shots for students continue to be able to spend unabated while unions will be muzzled. “This will be a huge setback to unions and the labor movement in 2012.” Historically, two other propositions much like this one have been defeated by the voting public; Proposition 75 in 2005 and Proposition 226 on the 1998 ballot. dtaylor@the-telescope.com

Beginning on Oct. 15, students can get free flu shots at the Health Services Center. All Palomar, students who have paid their semester health fee can participate in the walk-in flu shot clinic Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. with extended hours on Wednesday and Thursday from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. According to the Center for Disease Control, students should get a yearly flu vaccine to have

a good defense during the cold and flu season. Although rare, some side effects can occur from the vaccination such as soreness at the injection site or a fever. The cost of the flu vaccine is usually $15, but this yearly event covers the cost, providing the vaccine free to students. Those interested can call Health Services with any questions at (760)744-1150 ext. 2380. Danielle Taylor

NEWS • 3

the telescope SSTF Continued from Page 1 “That would be terible,” said arts student Perjeah Dhevun, 59. “We should encourage lifelong learning. I’m a lifelong learning student. It’s not just for 18 or 19 year olds. You’ve got people coming back in their 40s and 50s. They’re trying to reinvent themselves.” In particular, one recommendation will push students towards transfer or certification. Recommendation 2.1 will require all incoming students go through a standardized matriculation program upon entry that assesses their abilities regarding developmental skills, such as English and mathematics. After that, recommendation 2.2 requires students develop an education plan early on that outlines the courses they need for their degree. Recommendation 2.3 requires schools implement programs to assure students are moving along with their plans and finally, 2.5 requires students to declare a program of study early on in their time at Palomar. “I have more concerns about stu-

dents than I do about me personally Rec. 2.1: Requires all incoming students to because it used to be that you would go through a standardized matriculation go to college and I don’t know any- program upon entry that assesses their body that didn’t change their major abilities regarding developmental skills. at least a couple of times,” said Tere- Rec. 2.2: Requires that students develop sa Laughlin, chairwoman of the eco- an education plan early on that outlines nomics, history and political scienc- the courses they need for their degree. es departments and lead negotiator Rec. 2.3: Requires schools to implement for the Palomar Faculty Federation. programs to assure students are moving along with their plans. “The way it is now with the Student Success Task Force is you have to Rec.2.5: Requires students to declare a have an Ed plan, you have to go program of study early on in their time at Palomar. through the plan, you can’t meander through the curriculum. The idea is that you‘re going to know at 18 what keep up with unless the school hires you want to be when you grow up more counselors. “For us it’s a matter of volume,” with no changes. Personally, I find said Berta Cuaron, the vice president that sad.” The burden of helping students of instructional services. “We don’t develop their Ed plans and ensur- have the additional resources for ing that they stick with their out- counseling, assessment or tutoring.” lined paths falls to the counseling Cuaron and others say they are department. concerned about the already delicate But in an interview last semester financial state of Palomar having to with Lynda Halttunen, the retiring take on additional expenditures. dean of counseling, there are only 18 While SSTF does not provide counselors for over 34,000 students any additional revenue to fund the at Palomar. This extra workload changes, administrators are again that will be required of the counsel- turning their attention to Proposiing staff will be nearly impossible to tion 30 on the November ballot. The

props Continued from Page 1

Munger also claimed that the initiative is “utterly deceptive,” in an interview with NBC reporter Conan Nolan. In the interview, she cleared up that the $10 billion is separate from the state debt payment funds that will also be generated from the tax increase. The funds would go directly to the Education Trust Fund, rather than the general state fund, in order to assure that the state would have to use the revenue for education, as opposed to it getting lost in the collective assembly coffers. However, Prop. 30, provides no guarantee that the funds generated will go straight to public schools. The money is apportioned for public schools and there will be ways for the public to track where the money is going, so “in that sense Prop. 30 does have accountability and transparency, but it’s not a lockbox that is earmarked for education... the legislature does have discretion on how to spend some of it,” Bowman said. But Bowman added that despite the fear that the money would go elsewhere, there would be so much pressure from the public opinion and teacher’s unions, especially the California Teacher’s Association (CTA), [the teachers unions] would see to it that those funds would go toward education. If Prop. 30 is not passed it could potentially trigger mid-year cuts that would result in cuts in 2013 class sections, according to Palomar Governing Board Secretary Nancy Chadwick. The problem is how much revenue the initiative will actually generate. Between the Department of Finance and the Legislative Analyst Office estimates range from “$855 million down to $700 million plus,” said Chadwick. “we do not know what the impact would be on Palomar, only that it is likely that we would have a midyear cut this year and less revenue for next year should Prop 30 fail.” Another issue at hand is that there is such a divide between Brown and Munger that it is feared that neither will pass. Despite Prop. 30’s recent popularity, Prop. 38 received more signatures quicker than Prop. 30 did, (in order for them to be put on the ballot), which is something supporters of Prop. 30 have taken into consideration. Chadwick also commented on how

sales tax increase proposed by Governor Brown will raise money for the California school system, but with regard to Palomar, it will only stabilize the budget rather than introducing more money. Despite this, Cuaron stresses the importance of Prop. 30 passing in November. “If Prop. 30 doesn’t pass, it will decimate the California Community College system,” Cuaron said. “I hope voters know that. I hope they don’t end up realizing that when it’s too late.” At Palomar many students appear unaware of the financial burden that schools across the state are facing unless it is reflected in class cuts and parking fee increases. However, if Prop. 30 fails, they could experience just that. According to Cuaron, Palomar has made a promise at the Board of Governors level to avoid lay-offs for faculty at all costs. She says that this could potentially mean one of the few means of balancing the budget would be class section closures.

Empirical evidence shows that actually, voters are able to distinguish between one tax measure and the other.

Students may also see different structure to their courses as a result of this legislation. “In curriculum right now, we’re working on establishing more prerequisites for courses in particular, say English and math prerequisites outside of the disciplines of English and math,” said Greg Larson, mathematics professor and president of the Faculty Senate. “For example, an English prerequisite for psychology. That’s in response to specifically recommendation 3.4, which says that students need to address basic skills needs immediately upon entering college.” There are scarce few groups at Palomar who will be unaffected by the new legislation, but one caveat may offer some comfort to students who fulfill the Ed plan requirement. “We want to put some rewards there for students who come in with a plan,” said Darrel McMullen, president of the Board of Governors. “If they get that plan, they’ll get enrollment priority.” ihanner@the-telescope.com

TELESCOPE TV WATCH IT ON THE-TELESCOPE.COM

DREAM ACT SERVICES

PETER BOWMAN • POLISCI PROFESSOR

If you came to the United States as a child and meet several key guidelines, you may request deferred action for a period of two years, subject to renewal, and would also be eligible for work authorization.

community colleges have been weary from the beginning that Prop. 38 will be on the ballot. This fear is shared among many members of the community; the idea is that since two initiatives involving tax hikes are on the ballot it may confuse voters into not voting for either. But according to Bowman, “there is evidence in political science literature that says that the idea of voters being confused, doesn’t necessarily happen. Empirical evidence shows that actually, voters are able to distinguish between one tax measure and the other,” and that the idea that neither will pass is not found within those readings. However, according to Bowman, the people behind both initiatives had an agreement to not attack each other, but Munger is going back on that agreement and has released a string of ads attacking Prop. 30. “There should be more worry about the Prop. 38 supporters attacking Prop. 30 with their ads, in terms of how Prop. 38 could torpedo Prop. 30,” he said. Palomar’s Associated Student Government has adopted the governing board’s stance and is publicly endorsing Prop. 30. The ASG is providing information on the initiative in addition to information on how to register to vote.

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4 • ADVERTISEMENT

Monday, October 22, 2012

LIFE • 5

the telescope Halloween

Chills and thrills: Students plAN HALLOWEEN CELEBRATIONS anna maria petrov the telescope

Halloween is almost here, which means it’s time for costumes, parties and trips to spooky locations. Many students plan to go to a friend’s house or to a party, however this year Halloween is tragically on a school night, so most parties and events will be held the weekend before. Palomar student Matthew Gleason said that this Halloween he plans to, “go to a party with friends.” While student Janette Delacruz said, “this weekend we have a Halloween costume party for the kids.” Student are also getting into the hoilday spirit by dressing in costume.

Palomar student Crizel Diga said, “My costume would probably be something like a zombie; I am really into the special effects makeup.” Some students are straying away from traditionally scary attire and opting to dress humorously or like a pop culture figure. Palomar student Caitlin Kerney said, “Me and my boyfriend will be Justin Bieber and Britney Spears.” While student Melissa Lytle said her favorite costume she’s seen so far is someone wearing, “a white t-shirt with the word “life” on it who hands people lemons.” Many students are planning to go to Halloween-themed parks and spooky attractions. The most popular being Knotts Scary Farm, San Diego Ghost & Gravestones Tour, Scream Zone Del Mar, Haunted Trail of Balboa Park, and The

Haunted Hotel with motion picture quality special effects that are sure to frighten attendees. Palomar student Nacer Arabshahr said, “I will go out with my friends down to the Gaslamp and check out the haunted houses.” With all there is to do this Halloween weekend, the largest event by far is the Monster Bash on Oct. 27 in the Gaslamp District. This is the 12-year anniversary for the outdoor festival that will take over eight blocks of downtown San Diego. There are still many family-oriented students who plan to spend Halloween handing out candy and spending time with their children. “I will take out my daughter trick or treating around the neighborhood,” Delcruz said. apetrov@the-telescope.com

Top Right and Center: photos courtesy of Scream Zone. Bottom Right: Employees wait outside the entrance of Knotts Scary Farm before the opening ceremony on Sept. 29 in Buena Park, Calif. • Danielle Taylor/Telescope

Day of the dead

Students Prepare for Day of the Dead holiday Sydney Davison The Telescope

Colorful alters, paper flowers, sugar skulls and marigolds will decorate the Student Union as Palomar students plan to pay homage to the deceased in a traditional Mexican celebration. MEChA, the Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán, invites the students of Palomar to join them in honoring the Meso-American cultural heritage with the celebration of Dias de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead. The celebration will take place from 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the clock tower on Nov. 2 on Palomar’s main campus. John Valdez, a Multicultural studies professor and MEChA adviser said, “It [Dias de los Muertos] is a beautiful custom where you remember the lives of your loved ones.” The festivities are usually celebrated with altars built in the loved one’s memory and decorated with sugar skulls, flowers and food and beverages. The Day of the Dead celebrations began on Palomar campuses in 1989 and have only grown more popular and extravagant as the years have gone by. Students put a lot of work and time into the celebration, he added. This year Aztec dancers will be performing at the celebration as well as popular bird singers, poetry and dancing. Some students dress up in traditional Mexican dress and others wear masks and paint their faces in the widely known skeleton face. The celebration will have cultural tables of Meso-American food and decorations. Students are also welcome to bring a photograph of a deceased loved one to remember and honor them. Valdez’s students have also been work-

A Day of the Dead parade starts in Plaza Machado in the historic center of Mazatlan, Mexico. • Steve Haggerty/MCT

ing on a replica of the transformation mural done by the MEChA students in 1980. MEChA students and students from Valdez’s Chicano Studies 101 class have been spending their spare time and weekends to finish the mural before the celebration, he said. MEChA students have also put in a lot of effort toward the library displays about Dias

de los Muertos. The displays focus on educating the students about the aspects of the Day of the Dead. Altars are constructed as well as skeletons, paper cutouts, sugar skulls and miniatures. Rodolfo Jacobo, the Department Chair of the Multicultural Studies encouraged everyone to attend the event and take in the

Photo •Steve Haggerty/MCT

tradition. “There is something important and beautiful about maintaining cultural traditions,” he said. “It [Day of the Dead] defines ourselves as Americans but keeps the roots from our Meso-American culture.” sdavison@the-telescope.com

6 • OPINION

TECHNOLOGY

the telescope Focused On Palomar Monday, Oct. 22, 2012 Vol. 66, No. 5 Palomar College, San Marcos, Calif.

KAITY BERGQUIST editor in chief COLLEEN PETERS MANAGING EDITOR & COPY EDITOR IAN HANNER co-NEWS EDITOR DANIELLE TAYLOR co-NEWS EDITOR APRIL TESTERMAN OPINION EDITOR EMMA MALISZEWSKI LIFE EDITOR GIO NIETO SPORTS EDITOR BRIAN KOREC PHOTO EDITOR MATTHEW SLAGLE TELESCOPE TV DIRECTOR ERIN HIRO ADVISER MIKE COE BUSINESS MANAGER STAFF WRITERS HaYley Elwood, Cameron Hoskins, Conner Jones, Marissa Milloy, Scott Morton, OliWia Persson, Anna Maria Petrov, Scott Roberson, Ayden Solorzano, Jonathan Stroud, Sydney Davison, Cynthia Green, Brittany Habeck, Pat Hartley, Diana Laine, Katherine Scordo, Nick Shumate, Diana Valdez PHOTOGRAPHERS Peter Ahsue, Chelsea Boothe, Mike Bricke, Joseph Canter, Guillermo Escamilla, Michelle Fields, Daniel Garcia, Anthony Guerrero, Rebecka Hebb, Sebastian Humphreys, Lisa Marlett, Jassamyn Payne, Quang Pham, Albina Rasmussen, David Santillan, Alex Semel, Andrew Serrano, Michelle Skoglund, Andrew Szikla, Jill Thudium, Robert Trousas ADDRESS THE TELESCOPE PALOMAR COLLEGE 1140 W. MISSION ROAD, SAN MARCOS, CA 92069 PHONE / 760-891-7865 NEWSROOM / MD-228 website/ www.the-telescope.com facebook/ search “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 typewritten, 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 receieved one week prior to the newspaper’s publication to be considered for inclusion. The Telescope is published 8 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 and staff members or the governing board trustees. ASSOCIATED COLLEGE PRESS

Monday, October 22, 2012

california newspaper publisher’s association

Schools need to make greater use of technology zach phelps the telescope

Now, as bright and beautiful as this whole technology fad might be, the sorry truth is that we still need some sad-sack grunts to properly run it. Let’s face it, the kind of artificial-intelligence capable of running such a wide-array of tasks just hasn’t been created yet. Maybe technology isn’t as far along as we like to think, maybe those re-runs of “I, Robot” on FX are starting to get to us. Either way, it would appear that we are going to still need humans to actually work for quite some time. For technology, as any tried and true cyber-patriot should know, is not just a series of modifications and inventions. It is not just a description for how many cup-holders your Smart car (doesn’t) have. It’s not even just a blanket term for a handful of computer chips wired to perform the same meaningless task over and over. No, my friends, technology, in its purest form, is an art. More precisely stated, technology is the art of speed. Create, overuse and immediately dispose. And that is where we can make technology’s arch-nemesis, that devil otherwise referred to as nature, work in our favor. Kids are the future, indeed, for in the bizarre realm of nature, it seems the younger something is, the longer they usually have to live. With this principle in mind, we must confess that these chil-

dren will probably be around for a while, and while we could just sit around and complain about their ignorant, snot-nosed ways, I for one recommend a different course of action entirely. Keep in mind that, for years, we humans have been trying to figure out what to do with our offspring.

No, my friends, technology, in its purest form, is art. More precisely stated, technology is the art of speed. This is a problem that preceded the advent of technology by countless millennium. Our children always want more from us; not only do they want to be fed and clothed, but they want our attention, our interaction, even our love, all of which drain parents ceaselessly. Then they grow up to be notso-cute teenagers and go on to reward all the money, time and love you nurtured them with just to show you their hate and spite. No matter how you look at it, there really is no logic to having children. Which is why nature

blessed us with hormones (don’t worry, there’s probably some piece of technology that will eradicate those soon enough). The kids keep coming, though, and they don’t show any sign of stopping their infestation. So, until we come up with a moral way to physically dispose of them, why not just make them as harmless as possible? Better yet, why not also make them a bit useful as well? Enter technology. The first step is to hook-up our kids to as many blinding interfaces and gadgets as possible. Bombard them with as much useless information as possible. Make binary code their first language. Make new operating systems more entertaining than hitting your friend in the face with a baseball bat. Make keeping your virginity seem really cool. Once they’ve been systematically force-fed all this computer nonsense over a couple years, they will have no choice but to crave doing your taxreturns and evaluating sales figures, if just for the chance to crunch more numbers and delve deeper into their technological pits. Before you know it, they’ll be too consumed doing your work and making you wealthier to cry and fuss over “normal” kid issues. And that’s why we should make greater use of technology in schools. ZPhelps@the-telescope.com

TEXTBOOKS

Digital textbooks bring hope Anna maria petrov the telescope

On Sept. 27 Gov. Jerry Brown signed the Open Source Textbook bill into law, opening a new door for students by changing the way they purchase textbooks. At first I was skeptical about this bill because politicians have proposed many things, and not all of them have been acknowledged. But after reading what this bill stands for, I think it will help students. Senate Bill 1052 and 1053 offer a better way and more advanced methods to get books for free. The bill proposes a website that will allow students to download free digital versions of popular textbooks. This brings a new meaning to technology and our future, and a better opportunities for not

just students, but faculty and staff. Senate Bill 1052 requires the Open Education Resources Council to fund 50 lower-division courses, which will provide high-quality, and affordable digital open source Illustration by Jassamyn Payne/ Telescope

textbooks. S e n a t e Bill 1053 will determine the current cost of the books. It will also supply the Donahoe Higher Education Act establishing the California Digital Open Source Library. Both were mentioned on the California Legislative Information web. The digital library would be available in 2013 with textbooks

ready for use and maybe change the financial issues that many college students have experienced. Based on an article in The Atlantic, “students have been hit with tuition increases at California’s public schools... paying more than $1,000 every year on their textbooks.” This just goes to show how much we have to pay for books, and even if they are used at times they are still quite pricey. There are many expenses that will follow us later in life. For those same reasons I am looking forward to having to worry less about textbook prices, and this bill will hopefully lessen the stress for myself and many others over how many books we need for classes and just download it for free instead of paying huge amounts of money. Apetrov@the-telescope.com

OUR VIEWPOINT

TIME TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY WHAT WE THINK Proposition 30 needs to pass. We can’t handle anymore classes being cut. The students of California have suffered years of funding cuts so passing Proposition 30 is the least the taxpayers can do. For years, the concept that tax hikes in all forms and for any reason are wrong has been creeping further into our collective unconscious. It has been said already in this election season that you cannot expect to pay for more government programs without raising the money to do so. Assuming that the voter feels it in their best interest to have a well-educated populace and good schools for their children, it is now time for a small sacrifice. Prop. 30 has been mischaracterized as a new, monetary boost to schools in California. While this would by no means be a bad thing, it is false. In reality, all it will do is raise enough money to avoid further budget cuts later this year. Later this school year, a roughly $6 billion cut will come into effect if additional revenue isn’t raised to mitigate this loss. These cuts will span from kindergarten to high school to colleges across California. Prop. 30 was proposed by Gov. Jerry Brown to benefit schools with what is ultimately a minute tax increase. The biggest component of the legislation is a sales tax increase of .25 percent, raising the sales tax to 7.5 percent. To put this in perspective, for a $4 cup of coffee, the taxpayer would be asked for one penny more. We at the Telescope don’t mind this. We imagine in the face of class, cuts the rest of the students on campus wouldn’t mind it. And any person who is no longer directly involved with the school system in California would have to be selfish to hold onto such a small amount. For a long time, higher education was seen as not just essential, but sacrosanct in America. Though we can’t pin the exact moment when this trend reversed, the very fact that education is repeatedly seen as an area where money can be cut without consequence reflects either a growing sense of ignorance or stupidity. The very success of our country depends on the education of our populace. Not just later, but now. We are the people who work service jobs, we are the people who fight in wars, we are the people who vote and perhaps most importantly, we are the people who will inherit this world. Prop. 30 is just a temporary fix for a growing problem, but to ignore that problem as a result of apathy or disheartenment is foolish. It is imperative that students are given consideration in the voting booth this November: Prop. 30 must pass.

OPINION • 7

the telescope SPEAK OUT

BILLS

How would it affect you if a significant amount of classes were cut next semester?

Zach phelps

If Proposition 30 doesn’t pass, a large amount of class sections could potentially be cut at the community college and CSU level

“I mean if I can’t get a vital class, especially since I think a bunch of the classes would be popular classes, I think in [the] interm I’d be screwed.” Tito Dukes Business, 21

“Well, seeing that I’m a senior at a CSU, it may affect me. I think that’s terrible. It jeopardizes a lot of students and their graduation requirements. I have like seven classes left, so this changes how I would vote.” Patricia Caudillo Business, 34

“The thing is, it wouldn’t affect me much because my next semester doesn’t really depend on what classes I take because I can pretty much graduate after [now]. I can transfer and take those classes [up] there without penalty.” Dylan Markowitz Computer science, 19

EMPLOYERS AND UNIVERSITIES CAN NO LONGER REQUEST PASSWORDS the telescope

The wonderfully chaotic world inhabited by online social media websites has more than its fair share of users, abusers and adversaries, but regardless of anyone’s opinion, there is no denying their importance in modern life as we know it. Not only do the sites help further the goals of attention-seekers and online stalkers worldwide, but, as we’ve seen in the Middle East recently, they can truly have social and political ramifications. As social networking has gained prominence, so has the issue of privacy infringement. Even as ordinary citizens have found ways to organize the fight against their oppressive governments in the Arab world, these same governments have begun to use these same websites to track and quiet demonstrators. It might be easy for us to stand quietly by as foreign dictators shamelessly violate the basic right every human has to privacy, but this outrageous practice is made only too real when we realize that in our own lives here in the United States, our employers, our college deans and even our sport coaches equally have every right to infringe on our privacy. Throughout this very country, it is entirely legal for an employer or university official to demand both the username and password of any applicant or current employee or student. If they refuse to hand over the information, a company had the legal right to fire the person, or a

words, and AB 1844, a bill that placed the same restrictions on employers. More bills are passing to and from the state senate than any person would care to follow, and the truth is that most will never directly affect you. But, these bills are not “just another” pair of red-tape style laws meant to address some obscure problem in the California legal system. They are laws that should concern almost every average internet user throughout the state, and across the nation. Chances are you have had some form of social networking site at your disposal and at some point in life, you or someone you know has submitted an application to an em-

zphelps@the-telescope.com

Breast cancer awareness is important The telescope

“Yeah, that’ll pretty much not only affect me but every student out there. I’m doing my general ed at Palomar right now... That’s an idiotic move by all people involved with money in regards to money that isn’t even there yet. That’s like counting your chickens before the eggs are hatched.” Javier collazo business, 38

Illustration by Jassamyn Payne/Telescope

ployer or a university. Consider this fair warning; that picture of you passed out around a pile of empty Mickey’s bottle, as an unlit spliff hangs from the corner of your mouth, might do you more harm than good in the long-run). Either way, though, any outside body could look at your social networking profile as a visitor. But imagine if someone, particularly a person with power in an area of your life, could not only see your online profile from the outside, but from the inside too. They could also access very personal information, such as private messages and almost everyone has online conversations that they wouldn’t many of their friends to see, let alone their boss or coach. This is exactly the type of abuse behind the creation of both SB 1349 and AB 1844, and, although only time will be able to tell if they are truly effective in preventing such overreaching by authority figures, they are definitely a step in the right direction for protecting our rights to personal privacy. These bills are really just the first steps in the race to limit the greed of authority. Requiring people to give over social networking usernames and passwords in lieu of punishment is still completely legal in the rest of the country, and given the conservative nature of much of “middle America,” it might be a while before anything really changes. All we can hope is that other states follow California’s lead sometime in the near future to ban this insanely exploitative practice.

AWARENESS

Katherine Scordo “As of right now, it’s already hard to get classes .... for the most part because I’m doing fire stuff. It’s like you either get the morning or the evening classesI Some classes are only offered in the fall and some in the spring and there are already a lot of guys going after them.” Justin stevens Fire Technology, 21

university could suspend or prevent the student from participating in school sport’s and extracurricular activities. Even the notoriously stagnant California state legislature was compelled to do something. In response to such abuses, Governor Brown signed SB 1349, a bill preventing universities demanding social networking pass-

Okay ladies listen closely, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and gentlemen don’t shy away just yet because studies show that men are also likely to get breast cancer. It is more important than ever to make sure that we are all staying healthy and cancer-free. A few things that you can do this month in support of breast cancer awareness is to talk with your loved ones, conduct a breast self-exam, talk with your doctor if you have any concerns, and participate in a Race for the Cure in your local area. The number one thing that can help raise awareness is by talking to others such as your friends, sisters, mother, grandmother, daughters and cousins. By talking with family, not only can you help spread awareness, but you can find out if you have a family history. Women with family history are at greater risk, but most women who have breast cancer don’t have a family history, according to the

National Breast Cancer Foundation. One question that has been on my mind is are there any early warning signs that could possibly aid in early detection of breast cancer. According to the NBCF, some early warning signs to look for are a changes in how your breast or nipple feels, appears or if you experience any type of discharge from your breast. Another important thing for women, no matter her age, is to conduct a self-breast exam once a month. Get to know your body and what is normal. That way, if during a self-exam you feel or see something that was not there before, you will know it would be a good idea to make an appointment with your doctor to get it checked out. Also, if you have any questions or concerns, make an appointment with your doctor right away. If your doctor finds any kind of abnormal lump he or she will run some tests and possibly a biopsy to have it checked further. On a brighter note, 80 percent of women who have a breast biopsy do not have breast cancer, according to the NBCF. A great way to get involved and

raise awareness is by participating in an annual Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in your local area. For information on how to sign up and where they are held visit their website at ww5.komen.org. One thing that I found shocking was that men can also get breast cancer. I had no idea. According to the NBCF approximately 2,190 men each year are diagnosed. Because awareness for male breast cancer is so limited they carry a higher risk than women do. It is just as important for men as it is women to do a monthly self breast exam and report to your doctor immediately if you think you’ve found a lump. It is so important to make sure we are all aware and support Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Men and women are affected by this every day, and it is up to each and everyone of us to stand up and raise awareness. For more information you can visit www.nationalbreastcancer.org or ww5.komen.org. KScordo@the-telescope.com

8 • SPORTS

Monday, October 22, 2012

FOOTBALL

The Comets’ game is the running game SUCCESS LIES WITHIN CHAD DOBBINS’ BIG RUNS BECAUSE THEY CAN OPEN THE PASSING GAME MATTHEW SLAGLE the telescope

Don’t let the long blond hair fool you, his hair may be Fabioesque, but his stats on the football field can be mistaken for that of a D-I starter. Sophomore running back Chad Dobbins has lead the Comets to a 3-3 record (1-1 in conference) while amassing 672 yards and three touchdowns. With a first-year player at quarterback and no returning starting wide receivers, the Comets receivers had to rely on their running game. Dobbins has filled the void, carrying the ball an average of 22 times a game for an average of 112 yards. “He is the leader of the running backs and has been great for us,” Head Coach Joe Early said. Dobbins has three games of over 200 yards rushing. Besides racking up the yards, Dobbins also brings the linebackers and safeties closer to the line of scrimmage to try and prevent him from breaking out a big run. This gives the receivers more room to run and shed their defenders to open up the passing game. “He opens up everything else because when we have an all-conference running back back there they know that. So they will be pretty heavy to stop us on the run, which opens up the passing game a lot,” quarterback Ryan Lamb said. Dobbins is a between-the-tackles runner who makes people miss in the secondary on his first move, thanks to his low center of gravity and large frame. “I don’t do a lot of bouncing and

Palomar runningback Chad Dobbins evades a defender in the game against Southwestern on Sept. 15 at Wilson Field. The Comets won 47-43. • Peter Ahsue/Telescope

RUSHING Games Attempts played

Yards

Average

Touchdowns

Long

Average

2011

178

758

4.3

68.9

2012

135

672

5.0

112.0

Average

Touchdowns

RECEIVING Games Attempts played

Yards

Long

Average

2011

171

10.7

15.5

2012

3.3

3.8

running outside (the tackles) and jukeing (sic) people out,” Dobbins said. “Once I get to the secondary, if I can, I hit the soft shoulder and cut back on the guy.” In his second season as the fulltime starter, Dobbins is on pace to best his rushing attempts and rushing yards within the next two weeks. Last year he rushed 178 times for 758 yards and five touchdowns in 11 games. His success can be attributed to being more comfortable in the offensive scheme used by the Comets. “Last year I was still developing and learning the playbook,” Dobbins said. “This year I kinda knew everything, and I knew what the

offense was going to be like. Last year I was in the learn-and-development stage and this year I’m in the get-after-it stage. “Now it all comes together and I can go out and play and not think as much,” Dobbins said. In the entire state of California, he ranks fourth in total rushing attempts, fifth in yards gained and fifth in average yards a game. In past years Early has used the passing game to be the catalyst for the offense, this year it’s a little different with Dobbins being as good as he is. “In previous years we’ve thrown to open up the run game,” Early said. “Now we run to open up the passing game. So far Dobbins has received only mild interest from D-I schools, but that’s normal as the recruiting season hasn’t started in earnest. Since last season, Dobbins said he has gained about 20 pounds in muscle, which has helped him running through the trenches and pass-blocking. “With Chad, he’s such a strong runner. But with our pass game, he’s a big guy, so he’s a good blocker for us,” Lamb said. Early agrees saying, “He gets the tough yards, even late in the game.” Coming off the team’s byeweek, Dobbins is focused on the future. “The first part of the season before the bye-week it was all clicking, so it’s not so much what I need to work on, but keeping it rolling and keeping the good games coming,” Dobbins said. mslagle@the-telescope.com @matthewslagle

CROSS COUNTRY

Comet cross country runner brings team up in rankings Scott Roberson the telescope

An athlete needs to have many attributes to be successful in a sport such as cross country. Freshman cross country runner Micaelina Sarmiento appears to possess these characteristics and has taken the role as one of the fastest runner for the Comets, according to her coaches. Student-athletes in college have to work twice as hard as those students who don’t participate in intercollegiate sports. These athletes have to stay dedicated to schoolwork, yet dedicate their free time to training. This is Sarmiento’s first year attending Palomar and she has jumped head first into the athletic department. Sarmiento has always been an athlete, competing in cross country, track and field and soccer. “She’s one of the best athletes on the squad,” said Assistant Head

Coach Gerhardt. “She’s a stud.” An athlete competing in crosscountry must have positive characteristics consisting of hard work, dedication, leadership and focus. As for the Comets cross-country team, however, she has emerged as a stalwart for the women, repeatedly finishing toward the front of an already very talented team. The women’s cross country team is now ranked 11th in Southern California by the California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA), in part due to Sarmiento’s success. “My best time for three miles is 19:09,” Sarmiento said. “I ran the 800, the mile and the two mile for the track team in high school.” Although she has experienced her fair share of success thus far, she understands it takes much more than talent to compete at a high level. “I need to work on my flat land speed,” she said.

Palomar cross country runner Micaelina Sarmeito runs to the finish during the Palomar Invitational on Sept. 6, in Guajome Park. Micaelina finshed in 18th place. • Anthony Guerrerro/Telescope

She explained that her condition for running hills is her strength, but she lacks speed to out-sprint her competitors on flat land. She is actively working with her coaches to improve this area in her game. Head Coach Jennifer Williams spoke highly of her runner. “She’s the silent leader,” she said. Williams also added that Sarmiento is a leader by example because “she does everything that needs to be done without being asked.” Williams will have another year to coach a very fast runner with the right work ethic and considers herself very spoiled to have Sarmiento return next season. The capability to triumph within Sarmiento is immense. At 18, she lacks the experience that other runners possess, but with another year under her coaches’ tutelage, there is no telling just how good she can be. After Sarmiento completes her

time at Palomar she intends on transferring to the University of California Riverside. She looks forward to continue running on their cross country team. She has high expectations in life outside of competing in organized sports. Her major is currently environmental science. “My goal is to have my degree and working as an environmental science technician,” Sarmiento said. She is a fierce competitor, but Sarmiento is very soft spoken. Also, she enjoys a good book during her leisure time. “I love books about romance,” she said, citing Nicholas Sparks as her favorite author. An avid fan of the Futbol Club of Barcelona, she also enjoys playing soccer with family and friends to pass the time. sroberson@the-telescope.com @sroberson