The Telescope 66.8

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the telescope Palomar College’s Independent Newspaper Vol. 66, No. 8 • Monday, Dec. 3, 2012 1140 W. Mission Rd, San Marcos, Calif. student government

Palomar’s ASG will be looking in the parking issue next semester.

Lot 12 is shown here on Nov. 27. • Jassamyn Payne/Telescope

ASG PLANS AHEAD conner jones THE TELESCOPE

As the Fall semester comes to a close, Associated Student Government President Johnathan Farmer expressed high hopes for the year to come.

After restructuring the official ASG goals, and dedicating student government efforts toward the Nov. 6 passage of Prop. 30, it could be said that the ASG has had a successful half-term. However, events like the silent protest on the ASG and allegations that they voted to raise student parking fees could outline a rough next semester for the current body.

President Farmer said he is aware of the pressing issues bound to arise within the next semester and he has set his priorities for the upcoming Spring 2013 semester.

“The ASG is going to work on its goals, look more into the parking policy, see what’s going on with the alleged parking fee increase and see if the Facilities Planning Committee is going to implement it,” Farmer said.

Farmer said the ASG had received funding for the Grad Program, which will help those taking medicalbased classes. “[The Grad Program] is a fairly pressing issue, and it looks like the ASG got its funding to be able to promote the grad program and get information out about it,” Farmer said.

With regards to a singular issue for the coming semester, Farmer stated that, “There isn’t one pressing issue [for the Spring semester], although the parking fee problem is on the list for next semester.”

Farmer added, “The ASG is also going to look into getting maybe a two-week grace period for the parking fee increases.”

looking ahead

Palomar students walk to class on Nov. 28 in the MD building. Class sizes are one of the concerns raised by students. • Sebastian Humphreys/Telescope

LOOKING TO IMPROVE Students, faculty, Governing Board members weigh in on issues facing Palomar Kaity Bergquist THE TELESCOPE

With the Fall semester winding down and two new Governing Board members elected last month, faculty, students and staff said that class overcrowding, student participation and parking were the three main issues facing Palomar College next semester.

In an informal survey at Palomar’s San Marcos campus, some said they worried about the recession causing school officials to cut classes in recent years to balance the budget.

“I think with budget cuts and what not... the class sizes have been getting really big to the point where the people in my classes have to sit on the ground or not quite on the desk, but on a stool or something,” student Kayla Allard said. “And it really distracts me knowing that someone isn’t comfortable.”

Others said they feel better about

Palomar’s financial situation now that Proposition 30 was passed by voters in November. The tax initiative will allow schools including Palomar to maintain their budget instead of taking million-dollar cuts passed down by the state.

“We got over the Prop. 30 hurdle, so I don’t think there is one pressing issue for the next semester,” Associated Student Government President Johnathan Farmer said.

Student Adrian Vargas said his biggest issue this fall was class availability.

“It’s kind of hard to get classes within a certain time schedule. I’m here all day because of certain classes I can’t take,” he said.

Vargas’s life may be easier next spring.

The day after Prop. 30 passed, Palomar College President Robert Deegan announced that 150 class sections would be added in the Spring semester.

landscape photo trip PALOMAR’S LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHY CLASS RECENTLY TOOK A photo TRIP TO THE EASTERN SIERRAS. TURN TO PAGEs 8 AND 9 TO VIEW THEIR WORK.

If the proposition had not passed, Palomar would have lost $6.5 million in January and would have been forced to cut hundreds of classes. Registration for the Spring semester begins Dec. 4.

“The most pertinent issue would be restoring classes that had been cut during the budget crisis,” said Teresa Laughlin, lead negotiator for the Palomar Faculty Federation.

Another issue facing Palomar this semester was the Governing Board elections. The three incumbents on the board were opposed by three challengers.

Incumbent Nancy Chadwick took the first seat on the board with 18 percent of the vote, challenger John Halcon took the second seat with 17 percent of the vote, and challenger Nancy Ann Hensch took the third seat with 16 percent of the vote.

TURN TO ISSUES, PAGE 6

PAGES 8-9

Brian Korec/Telescope

cjones@the-telescope.com

WHAT’S INSIDE

4

PROP 30 RESULTS: PRO & CON

OPINION / On the pro side, money raised by Prop. 30 will help students make changes. On the con side, how do we know the money will really go to schools?

11

‘LINCOLN’ MOVIE REVIEW

LIFE / New movie based on the life of 16th President Abraham Lincoln gets four out of five stars and is described as “a movie with substance.”

16

34 YEARS AT PALOMAR

SPORTS / Coach Mark Eldridge has coached the softball, football, track and golf teams to multiple championships at Palomar over the past 34 years.

2 • NEWS

Monday, December 3, 2012

FUNDRAISER

Services

Grant approved for mental health APRIL TESTERMAN THE TELESCOPE

Staff Sgt. Aixa Escobar kneeling to place memorial flag at Veterans Day memorial service on Nov. 8 on the Student Union’s lawn. Courtesy of Sandy Abad

VETS HELPING VETS Jonathan Stroud the telescope

Palomar Student Veteran’s Organization (SVO) is donating holiday baskets to student veterans and their families who are in need this holiday season.

During the Veterans Day memorial service on the San Marcos campus, the SVO sold miniature American flags to commemorate fallen troops. By selling 400 flags, they were able to raise more than $1,200, which was used to purchase holiday dinner baskets for veteran families in need. The club received high praise from Palomar President Robert Deegan on the success of the event, according to the club’s vice president Sandy Abad.

“Veterans helping veterans,” Abad said. “There are families in need this season. We want to ensure that some of them won’t be

without a hearty meal.”

Future volunteer events include plans to help paint the Ocean Pier in San Diego and other community outreach events, according to Abad.

“Our work is continuous. We will work hard to help our fellow veterans,” Abad added.

The SVO is a new organization with only 34 members who are looking to expand their membership. The club is open to all students who support the armed services and veterans. Contact Student Veteran’s Organization for information on how to join.

“You don’t have to be a veteran to join, only have a heart for service,” Abad said.

You can make a donation by calling (760) 744-1150 ext. 2173 or online at www.palomar.edu/ veterans. jstroud@the-telescope.com

WORKSHOP

AID FOR STUDENTS PICKING MAJORS MARISSA MILLOY THE TELESCOPE

The Career Center will be hosting a Career Connections workshop as part of a five-part Career Cafe Workshop Series from 5-6 p.m. on Nov. 28 at the Career Center in SU-17 on Palomar’s main campus in San Marcos.

The goal of this workshop is to help students in the job market.

“Students can’t get a job without experience, and they can’t get experience without a job. At the CA Career Cafe, students can find ways around this Catch-22,” according to the California Career Cafe website.

Sarah Moore, a career counselor and workshop host, said the workshop will allow students to “explore ideas using CA Career Cafe that they can use to gain workplace skills.”

She added that the workshop is open to everyone.

“Whether students want an internship, apprenticeship, volunteer experience or choose to connect to a professional association; students will learn how to gather experiences that will give them a competitive advantage when they start handing out their resumes,” Moore said.

One of the things students will gain from this workshop are ways to get experience to give them a competitive edge in the job search market. There will also be an activity on internships, she added.

For more information contact the Career Center at (760)-7441150 ext. 3125 or visit the career counseling website www.palomar. edu/counseling/careercenter/ MMILLOY@THE-TELESCOPE.COM

Palomar’s Health Center recently received approval for a Student Mental Health grant from the State Chancellor’s Office.

According to Health Services Center Director Jayne Conway, the Chancellor’s Office has recognized that there is an increased amount of student mental health issues on college campuses as a result of a shortage in counseling due to budget cuts. State officials have awarded the grant to Palomar to assess mental health issues on campus and train staff on how to deal with them.

As opposed to Cal State San Marcos, where the health services fee is $95 per semester in addition to a $65 counseling fee, Palomar’s health services fee is a flat fee of $19 per semester.

“Palomar’s Health Services Center is only run on this $19 fee with no support from the college general fund,” Conway said.

Recently, there has been a 50

percent cut in Extended Opportunities Programs (EOPS) and Services, as well as Disabled Students Programs & Services (DSPS), which has resulted in the vacancies of two counseling positions in EOPS and the vacancies of three counseling positions in DSPS. There has also been a 10 percent cut in part-time counseling, according to Conway.

The Health Services Center must operate on the student health fee alone. That fee does not cover the services that the Health Services Center currently provides, which may result in some of the services being cut.

“Periodically the Chancellor’s Office indicates a cost-of-living increase, and the fee goes up by $1,” Conway wrote in an email. Palomar’s Health Center applied for the grant when it became available and “was awarded the initial start-up of developing a plan with a consultant.”

As of now, the Health Center has gotten approval to work with consultant and psychologist Dan Blumberg who is an expert in

dealing with students with behavioral issues. Blumberg is advising a drafted plan to submit to Palomar’s administration for approval.

The plan includes a Palomar chapter of the Active Mind, a student-run program that addresses different aspects of mental health issues, which has been presented to Palomar’s Associated Student Government by the Health Services Center.

According to ASG President Jonathan Farmer, the ASG is reviewing Active Minds, but has not taken a position on the program.

Conway said that the Health Services Center is exploring training Palomar’s staff in dealing with students with behavioral challenges and using the technique QPR, which stands for questioning, persuading and referring.

The Health Center is located on the northern part of campus adjacent to the Natural Science building. For more information, contact www.palomar.edu/healthservices.

ATESTERMAN@THE-TELESCOPE.COM

interruptions

Construction distracts students Valerie Cortez FOR The Telescope

Distractions in the classroom have risen to a new level this semester at Palomar College, as one might be able to tell by looking at students seated near a window overlooking one of the construction zones throughout campus.

Many students and faculty said they have been strongly affected by the multiple construction projects under way at the San Marcos campus.

Parking, walkways and general ways of focusing are only a few of the effects the projects have had for people on campus.

Jackie Hirst, a sophomore at Palomar, said, “I see the buildings being worked on every day, and quite loudly at that, but I haven’t really heard about what they’re going to be for.”

Students and faculty may view the construction as a nuisance, but school officials said it’s important for them to know why so much is being done Palomar.

The construction at Palomar is all part of a plan named, “Educational Master Plan 2022,” which was established under the passing of Proposition M in 2006, a voter-approved measure that has allowed proceeds from the sale of bonds authorized by the proposition to be used by the district only for the construction, reconstruction and/or rehabilitation of its community college facilities, according to the official analysis of the prop itself. The cost of this construction is roughly $694 million.

Kelly Hudson MacIsaac, interim director of facilities said, “The goal is to consolidate programs and faculty in larger buildings and open up more green space for students.”

Construction continues on the new Humanities building. • Jassamyn Payne/Telescope

According to the Palomar Construction website, Palomar is right in the middle of the plan, where the college will face changes including the construction of completely new buildings, or renovations to existing ones.

Once completed, the campus will be able to serve up to 48,000 students, which is about 16,000 more than what Palomar already serves.

Already completed are the Health Sciences building, the Multi-Disciplinary building and Planetarium, all of which have new, modern looks and more accessible features.

Still underway are renovations on the school’s performing arts center, and what most students have deemed distracting, the new Humanities building located directly across from MD, as well as the Teaching Learning Center near the center of the campus.

Plans for a new child development

center, library, and sporting fields are all forthcoming under the Master Plan for Palomar.

When asked about the distractions of the construction, Abel Gutierrez, a freshman, said: “It’s tough to get through class while listening to the loud work outside, and being able to look out the window at what’s going on. But I guess it will be worth it in the end for the school.”

While an official completion date has not yet been set, it may be safe to say that students at Palomar could be facing even more distractions through the rest of the Master Plan, but that it most likely will be worth it for the future of the school.

For more information on the construction plans, students and faculty may visit http://www. palomar.edu/propm/Construction.html STAFF@THE-TELESCOPE.COM

OPINION • 3

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Sex education

Colleges should encourage sex education courses

the telescope Focused On Palomar Monday, Dec. 3, 2012 Vol. 66, No. 8 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 COLLEEN PETERS SPORTS EDITOR BRIAN KOREC PHOTO EDITOR

Diana Valdez the telescope

College is the time when students embrace their freedom and start tasting the idea of being an adult. It is an exciting time with little limitation but have many consequences like unprotected sex.

One in every four college students has an STD. Whether they know or not is the daunting part.

I think that all colleges should be responsible and have available a Sex Education class each semester.

That need is apparent when nearly half of the 19 million new STDs each year are among young people aged 15–24 years according to the Center for Disease Control Prevention (CDC).

Students mostly get STDs because of lack of knowledge.

Whether it’s the lack in how to use protection or believing common myths, colleges should fill in the blanks for students and correct the problem.

Condoms and birth control are effective if one knows how to use them.

Only 60 percent of women know how to use a condom correctly and a whopping 60 percent also say they would still have sex even if their partner refused to wear a condom.

That is one of the biggest problems. Students may be using protection but they are not using it correctly.

Birth control like pills, shots, diaphragm or any other method needs to be takes as instructed, and none of these protect from STDs. The Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is on the rise, 91 percent of women have HPV mostly because

no not add it in their semester schedule.

I know we have Health 100 but they only briefly explain STDs we need a class that goes into the dynamic, teach the students how to use a condom, correct the myths that are out there about sex. We must teach students that sex is not something to be taken lightly.

But I still think it should be enforced for all students to take a Sex Education class at least once.

We have venture classes that teach how to cook, make pottery and knit.

Of those classes, you can replace one for a sex education class; no one’s dying over knitting.

Colleges need to realize that STDs are a big problem among college students and they need to take action. dvaldez@the-telescope.com

Safety

MATTHEW SLAGLE TELESCOPE TV DIRECTOR

Cell phone tickets are not worth the $160 Cynthia Green

ERIN HIRO ADVISER

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MIKE COE BUSINESS MANAGER STAFF WRITERS HaYley Elwood, Cameron Hoskins, Conner Jones, Marissa Milloy, Scott Morton, OliWia Persson, Anna Maria Petrov, Scott Roberson, Jonathan Stroud, Sydney Davison, Cynthia Green, Brittany Habeck, Pat Hartley, Diana Laine, Katherine Scordo, Nick Shumate, Diana Valdez, Susan Hamidy 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 received 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

men don’t get symptoms and it can take up to 2 years for a woman to start noticing, says the CDC. It is funny to hear men or women say that they can tell when someone has an STD because you can’t. It is not written on someone’s forehead, that is a myth.

Another myth is that as long as you use protection you won’t get an STD but it is still possible.

Colleges should also educate students that binge drinking can lead to unprotected sex. Over 45 percent of college freshmen who have been binge drinking and under the influence of alcohol failed to consider the usage of contraceptive aids when engaging in sexual intercourse, according to the CDC. If sex education classes are available in colleges that doesn’t mean a student has to take it. It’s a class, so students can still choose

california newspaper publisher’s association

Photo Illustration • Andrew Serrano/Telescope

No hand-held cell phone use while driving is a law that is here to stay. Why punish ourselves by using the cellphone while driving? It is not worth it to talk and drive, simply pull over.

Getting tickets are no fun; having to deal with the cost of the cell phone ticket, which is a minimum of $159, is just not worth it.

There are things you can do in order to help prevent getting a cell phone ticket.

Since the California Hands Free law went into effect on July 1, 2008, fewer drivers are picking up the phone while driving.

Driving with a cell phone in your hand does break your concentration from driving, even though

some of us can multitask.

A Police Officer from Palomar College said that when the cell phone law first went into effect the fee for a ticket was less expensive, $25, plus court fees.”

Today the cell phone ticket cost can range from $159 to $300, including court fees.

The best way to prevent a cell phone ticket is to not hold a phone in your hand while driving in your car. Obey the hands California Hands Free Law. You have an option to wear an ear piece that is connected to your cell phone while driving.

Commercials on television are vivid when it comes to trying to save lives, but it is really up to us as individuals to be safe drivers.

CGreen@the-telescope.com

ASG

Palomar’s student government carries out its affairs democratically Conner Jones The telescope

The Associated Student Government’s (ASG) “democracy” is a complicated subject.

ASG is a misunderstood term that leads one to believe that our Student Government is a democratic practice.

Although the ASG goes about business democratically amongst itself, the ASG officials, themselves, are not appointed democratically, which is a discerning factor when someone poses the question as to whether we have a voice in Palomar’s ASG. Now don’t get it confused, the ASG gets done what is needed for the student body. They perform in a democratic fashion.

The ASG board itself has an effective voice in the proceedings of the Palomar College campus.

Although the senators and del-

egates are not appointed through unanimous vote of their student body, they are appointed through a vote of their student government board peers, which primarily include the student-elected president, vice president and sitting senators.

The senator and delegate positions hold more overall power in the student government board than the president and vice president alone. It would seem as though we, as a student body, would be given the privilege of electing the whole student government, considering we are the body that they are appointed to serve.

These senator and delegate spots, although appointed undemocratically, are open to anyone who understands the ASG constitution and bylaws. What is missing, though, is a vote of the Associated Students of Palomar

College, or ASPC as is abbreviated by the ASG. There is currently a lawsuit underway that has hopes to reform the way the ASG appoints its members, which had been forwarded by the Palomar Student body; however this lawsuit is caught in a current stagnant state of litigation that seems to have had little recent progress.

The Coalition for a Democratic Education held a silent protest in early October, demanding student government reformation.

Their message was quite simple: “No vote. No voice.” Although the ASG understood their concerns, they could not tend to the complaints of this coalition because of the litigation surrounding the whole issue.

The ASG meets every Wednesday at 1 p.m. in SU-204, and during its meetings, all students are welcome to sit and listen. Watch-

ing them perform business can be rather refreshing at times, as they go about it with a certain charisma that is comforting.

In truth, the ASG goes about its business fairly, professionally, and efficiently. They stay within the rules and guidelines they have set for themselves, while at the same time managing to retain a friendly, wholesome environment during all of their weekly meetings. Even though unable to solve the problems regarding their process of election, they perform from a certain unbiased perspective that shows their concern for fairness in student law.

Whether one is a regular attendee to the meetings or a new face, they are greeted openly by the ASG. All in all, it will be good to see the same state of affairs carried on next semester. cjones@the-telescope.com

4 • OPINION

Monday, December 3, 2012

Con•Prop 30

PRO•Prop 30

We should be worried about where the funds are going

Passage of proposition proves students can make a change

ZacH Phelps

Matthew Slagle

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Tea partiers and wealthy people across the state could do little but cry in anguish on election night as they came to the realization that (among other things) Proposition 30 had passed.

What seemed like a defeat for conservative forces has also been championed as a huge gain for California students, teachers and school-supporters statewide.

Or so it seemed.

As many of you probably know, Prop.

30 was proposed by Gov. Jerry Brown as a way raise money for public schools, namely by increasing the income tax for Californians making over $500,000 per year and by imposing a temporary quarter cent hije in sales tax statewide.

It remained a highly controversial issue throughout the election season, with those on the left touting the necessity of such an act to bring money to a school system starved of sufficient funding, and those on the right hysterically decrying it as yet another socialist plot.

As with all political issues in our great state, nothing could possibly be that cutand-dry.

While it is hard to deny that Prop.

30 won’t benefit our classrooms in any sense, its shortcomings have failed to see much light in our media.

Beside the philosophical and practical issues of raising taxes statewide, and the arguments made against promoting business and socialism and all that fun stuff, Prop. 30 itself actually fails to properly guarantee a majority of its cash-flow toward education.

The first problem is where the money from the proposition is going. Unlike

what many probably assume, the funds generated from Prop. 30 do not go directly into our schools, but into the infamous California “general fund.”

There are stipulations for sending at least a part of that money to schools; the minimum funding for each K-12 school district is $200 per student and $100 per full-time student for each communitycollege district.

But even these numbers are miniscule when compared to the money speculated to be brought in by Prop. 30, so theoretically, there could easily be a lot of “surplus” funds just floating around, giving politicians some serious discretion on how to spend our tax dollars.

The next problem is what these funds will actually do.

Even if this money does find its way down the bureaucratic pipeline into our school system, Prop. 30 makes no demands or guidelines of what this money should be used for.

While we like to imagine that it will help improve issues as class size, course offerings and field trips, the truth is that this money could just as easily go towards boosting administrative salaries and “campus beautification” with little to no repercussions.

In many ways, Prop. 30 presents a welcome source of relief for our notoriously-under-funded schools in California, and a potential victory for education supporters.

However the lack of specifics to guide the proposition and its funding means that, in the not-too-distant future, we could easily come to see it as less of a true step in the right direction, and more of a hallow victory for our schools.

Zphelps@the-telescope.com

The telescope

California state college students can breathe a sigh of relief, but only a short one; Prop. 30 has passed, and with it comes much needed relief to an educational system that is overwhelmed, under-funded and terribly antiquated.

However, as much as Prop. 30 helps us, it by no means has solved any of the long- term problems the California Community colleges, UCs or CSUs are facing.

In fact, the only problem it has solved is maintaining the apportionment levels the college is expected to receive.

The overwhelming reason some Californians didn’t support Prop. 30 was because of the fact that the money made off the tax increases wasn’t earmarked specifically for the education fund, the money instead would be placed into the general fund.

Because of that, many speculated that the politicians in Sacramento would use that money for things other than education. That was and still is absolutely absurd.

Is there a possibility that it could happen? Yes. Will it? No. There are too many educators and administrators who need that money and if the government used the money for any reason other than as advertised they would raise hell.

For example, Palomar President and Superintendent Robert Deegan said the college faces a $6 million shortfall for the next fiscal year and a $10 million shortfall in the 2014-2015 budget if we don’t receive the funds promised to the school.

At a recent campus forum, Deegan said that if Prop. 30 didn’t pass, the school would be looking at cutting hundreds of

classes just to get the budget balanced.

There are just too many people looking at these newly created funds for them to be used any way other than what they are intended for.

The bigger issue we should be worrying about is what will happen in two years when the funding from Prop. 30 goes away and schools are back in cutting services mode.

As students, we were a driving force for the proposition being passed. We need to continue that focus and fight for our right to have an accessible and reasonably priced college system.

The state is playing Russian Roulette with the school system.

We need to demand that the state completely revamp how schools are structured and function.

We can’t afford to have presidents and superintendents who are making hundreds of thousands of dollars per year, not including benefits, plus receiving several pensions from their previous stops in the educational system.

We can’t afford to have schools be run like businesses with the bottom line being the first priority.

Schools need to be most concerned about us, the students.

Getting Prop. 30 passed is a huge win for our education in the short term, but we can’t stop now, otherwise schools will be in the same position they were in before 30, perhaps in even bigger trouble.

And when it comes to budget cuts, schools have historically cut classes first.

We’ve won round one, but to preserve those precious credits we need to continue fighting. And the passing of Prop. 30 proves we can win.

Mslagle@the-telescope.com

Parking

Faculty, staff should stick to parking in designated spots colleen peters The telescope

Imagine driving around Lot 12.

It has been a half hour since you started looking for a spot. You’re getting frustrated and wondering why you have even bothered to show up for class. “Is it even worth it anymore?” you wonder to yourself. And just as you’re about to give up, you see a hopeful sight- an empty spot and no one around to steal it from you.

As you pull up to the spot you see the disheartening sign on the ground: “STAFF.” And suddenly you’re left to bitterly search for another spot, or to go home.

A member of the staff wouldn’t know how this feels. Any empty spot is free game for them.

Rehashing the parking situation at this school is akin to beating a dead horse with a piece of plywood that has nails fastened to the end of it.

Students know it sucks. Professors know it sucks. Administration knows it sucks. However, as a student, when we arrive in the parking lot only to see a row of staff permits occupying student spaces we are left defeated

by an unforgiving, biased system.

But those spaces we use are not really student spaces, are they? No one says “These are the spots designated for students and only students,” so by parking there, staff members aren’t actually doing anything technically wrong.

Though it may be immoral and cruel.

While no one is holding spots that are only for the students, staff has spots marked specifically for them.

Plus, if students do decide to park in staff spots, they are given a ticket. Yet staff is free to park wherever they choose, oftentimes at the cost of a student space.

Anyone who has experienced Lot 12 during the first few weeks of school knows that the only way to describe it is hell. We can’t find spots even when we look all the way in the last row.

It’s a similar situation in every other lot on campus, it has gotten to the point where we shouldn’t even bother to look because we are wasting so much gas.

We have a hard enough time finding parking without the

staff’s help.

In the evening, the situation gets worse. There are a host of empty staff spots while students search for a closer spot because they’ll be in class until 10 p.m.

If nothing else, these spots should be available to students after a certain time, especially if the concrete is just there, unused.

These staff spots have become an emblem of VIP status. Anyone carrying a staff permit is suddenly noble, free to take as they please, while students are fined if we take what is not ours.

We’re forced to walk sometimes very long distances, simply because we’re the commoners.

I can’t claim to know the plight of staff when looking for a spot.

I’ve heard that it isn’t easy for them either, but it is illogical to add additional stress for students by allowing teachers and staff to park to their hearts’ content.

If the school is going to fine students for parking in staff spots, designate specific students spots (i.e. every spot currently not marked as staff) and fine staff for parking in our spots.

Better yet, open up most of the lots to staff and students alike.

Palomar staffers park in staff-only spots Lot 12 parking. • Jassamyn Payne/Telescope

Leave one or two lots purely for staff; professors who commute to different schools or campuses may suffer more than others if we don’t. Opening up

the lots may not alleviate all of the parking woes, but it certainly wouldn’t hurt.

Cpeters@the-telescope.com

OPINION • 5

the telescope SPEAK OUT

With marijuana now legal in Colorado and Washington, students were asked how they felt about possible future legalization in California.

“I don’t think it should be legal in California, because if we take their [the cartel] money from marijuana, then the cartel and drug runners are going to just start importing harder drugs, like cocaine and heroin. Bottom line, keep them busy.”

John Kedroff, 34

Illustration by Jassamyn Payne

Social Media

Is social media negatively affecting our self esteem?

Some say that social media such as Facebook and Instagram result in depressive behaviors, others argue that it actually builds self esteem

“I think it should be legal nationwide. Less people will get arrested for little misdemeanor charges for drugs. If you tax the weed, it will relieve a lot, because weed is one of the top selling things in this nation. I know so many people that smoke weed.”

Bret Cain, 24

“They should legalize it, tax it.

It’s going to be harder for kids to get it because now they have to actually get it from somewhere where they are going to have to check IDs, just like alcohol.

Alcohol is hard to get if you are under age. Now it’s going to be the same thing. Plus it’s tax driven, I think it’s actually going to be good. “ Enrique Rico, 37

“I think it should be legalized for a number of reasons. It takes the power away from the cartels by legalizing it here. The tax revenue would be out of this world. It’s a safer and a better drug than alcohol or cigarettes.”

Jackson Sanfacon, 25

“I just don’t think there’s a good argument for it. The only arguments I’ve ever heard is it’s so much better than alcohol and there are less deaths. That just doesn’t really work for me; they need to come up with something better to convince me.”

Coryll Marks, 29

Emma Maliszewski

Marissa Milloy

The telescope

the telescope

Social media is a powerful tool for communication.

Networking on sites like Facebook and Twitter give people a platform to interact with each other; these interactions build relationships, business contacts and can actually boosts self-esteem.

According to a study by Carnegie Mellon, those who have a healthy self-perception but are simply shy or have low social skills may feel more connectedness when using social media.

Social networking gives even the most introverted person an opportunity to reach millions of people or to make hundreds of friends on social media.

These sites also serve as a platform for like-minded people on different sides of the country to communicate and connect with one another, building strong connections with people is a large contributor to building self-esteem and overall happiness.

New research published on June 26 by the journal “Computers in Human Behavior,” said that the 526 million people who log on to Facebook every day may be increasing their self esteem in the process.

University of Georgia psychology professor Keith Campbell and San Diego State University professor Jean Twenge, asked college students participating in a experiment to either edit their social networking page on Facebook or to use Google Maps.

Those who spent time on their Facebook page scored higher on self-esteem. The results showed that those who spent time on their profiles endorse more positive self-views.

“Editing yourself and constructing yourself on these social networking sites, even for a short period of time, seems to have an effect on how you see yourself,” Campbell said.

While the UGA research suggests social networking sites may be a significant influence on the development of one’s personality and identity, some argue that time on social media can lead to a decrease in self esteem.

Those who think social media is negative for one’s self esteem, believe that sites like Facebook and Twitter provide a place for people to indulge in self-destructive behavior, such as comparing themselves to others, concentrating on their own weaknesses or comparing their achievements with those of others.

According to Campbell, building strong relationships and completing goals are the two largest contributing factors to boosting self-esteem.

Unless someone already suffers from low self-esteem, using social media as a tool for communication should not make someone feel bad about themselves.

It builds personal and professional contacts, provides opportunities for networking and fosters new relationships.

Society has become consumed with social media; it is the power source to an outlet of connection and communication.

But it is bad for self esteem.

The popular blog site Tumblr, for instance, recently banned ‘thinspo’ blogs and communities.

The idea behind “thinspo” or “thinspiration” (thin and inspiration combined), is that it helps “motivate” and inspire you to lose weight and become or stay thin by promoting images of fragile, thin girls and stick-thin models.

In reality, it’s just volatile and toxic to girls, especially those already struggling with eating disorders or other forms of self harm. It causes girls to have unrealistic expectations of what their bodies should look like, which only results in a breeding ground for body hate and a distorted image of self-fueling illness and insecurities.

A recent study found that the more girls use the Internet and social media, “the more likely they are to experience body shame, dissatisfaction with their weight, and lower self-esteem,” according to research done by Amy Slater and Professor Marika Tiggemann from the School of Psychology at Flinders University, Australia.

Researchers at Missouri University of Science and Technology, linked depressive symptoms in college students to their Internet usage.

Ultimately, what the research discovered was that the longer the student spent on social media sites, the more depressive symptoms were measured. When using social networks like Facebook, it’s easy to get sucked into the vortex of virtual life.

Becoming consumed with subconscious comparisons to friends, obsessing over the number of friends we have, down to how we conduct our lives on a daily basis.

Regardless of whether or not we realize it, these things do affects how we feel about ourselves.

According to a study done by two sociologists at Utah Valley University, “those who have used Facebook longer agreed more that others were happier, and agreed less that life is fair, and those spending more time on Facebook each week agreed more that others were happier and had better lives. Those who included more people whom they did not personally know as their Facebook ‘friends’ agreed more that others had better lives.”

Let’s just be frank, Facebook lures us in because we are curious about others’ lives. But the cost may be a lot more than bargained for.

Social media was never meant to replace real life, but it sure seems to be heading that way. The way we interact down to the how we act and ultimately feel is shifting with its presence.

The virtual world should be bettering our lives, not leaving a negative imprint.

emaliszewski@the-telescope.com @emmahhhh

MMilloy@the-telescope.com @Just_marissaa

CON

PRO

6 • NEWS

Monday, December 3, 2012

issues Continued from Page 1

Before the Governing Board elections, challenger John Halcon, who ended up taking the second spot on the board, said that one of the biggest problems facing Palomar was the lack of leadership.

“The only way we are going to get through the state fiscal crisis is if all campus groups work together through a shared understanding of the problem and trust that everyone is working for the best interests of the students,” Halcon said.

Nancy Ann Hensch, who took the third spot on the board,

agreed with Halcon.

“Palomar College needs thoughtful leadership that takes into consideration broader concerns by members of the community,” she said.

Student involvement is always a concern for students and faculty alike.

“The student body is a little bit spread out,” student Nile Wilson said. “There’s obviously a lot of diversity, but I don’t feel like there is enough involvement from everybody. I think I’d like to see that change.”

Psychology Professor Judy

CLASSES

COMMUNICATIONS

Wilson said that she would like to see more student participation as well.

“I would like to see more students’ voice with what’s going on campus,” she said. “I would like students to be more active in student organizations, campus governance committee and even grant-writing type of facilities. I really would like to see more collaboration between students and faculty.”

Parking is also a common complaint.

“Parking has been an issue. I think everyone can kind of relate

to that, just a lack of parking... especially in the first few weeks of school,” said student Bradley Williams.

Farmer said the ASG will be working on getting a grace period for parking at Palomar to help make parking easier for students.

He also said the ASG will be looking into an alleged parking fee increase.

But returning Governing Board member Nancy Chadwick cautioned students to remember that even with the passage of Prop. 30, the budget is still lean at Palomar College.

“We have to focus on doing the most we can for students in our community with the resources we have,” Chadwick said.

Not everyone sees only the issues with Palomar, though.

“I’m pro-Palomar; we’re a diamond-in-the-rough,” said Julie Thurston-Donaghy, academic department assistant.

Staff writers Conner Jones, Marissa Milloy, Anna Maria Petrov, Jonathan Stroud, and Scott Roberson contributed to this report. kbergquist@the-telescope.com

new learning communities offered

Radio and television classes provide paths

Palomar will offer new Learning Communities classes for the spring 2012 semester with Macroeconomics and Microeconomics (Economics 101 and 102). Learning Communities are described as linked classes designed to be taken together by a group of students that builds a community.

In addition, English Composition (English 100) and Popular Literature/Supernatural Fantasy Fiction (English 270) are being offered.

Patrick O’Brien, who oversees the Learning Communities program, said that students enjoy the communities because of “the relationships they develop with other students. They feel very comfortable asking questions and it’s easier to set up study groups.”

For more information about Learning Communities, go to http://www.palomar.edu/schedule/spring/ or contact Patrick O’Brien at ext. 3771.

Kati berry for the telescope

The world of television is calling. Answering could save Radio and Television classes.

There are many departments on Palomar’s campus which have been impacted by the economy, one of which is the Radio and Television department.

The television station on campus reaches over 1 million homes in San Diego County thanks to the help of the professors, all of whom have spent time in the industry.

Pat Hahn, the professor in charge of the station, is all too excited to share his knowledge with students from his extensive stay in the business. “The number one thing TV stations look for are people with good character and work ethic,” Hahn stated.

The department helps groom

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Well-woman exams (pap tests) Family planning • Breast health care • STD testing and treatment Emergency contraception

individuals to fit this description.

Students who come out of this department are problem solvers, energetic and most importantly, happy, according to Hahn.

“I have a steady job now,” graduated student Eddy Castillo said with a big smile as he fondly remembered his time spent in the department. “I’m a freelance journalist too, thanks to the RTV program. I would love to return someday.”

Students who participate in the program spend a lot of time doing hands-on work with high-definition (HD) equipment and other tools of the trade. Lisa Faas teaches an introduction course to the program, as well as some intense courses in the radio and television stations.

“Students often don’t realize how many hours go into producing a TV or radio program,” Faas

said.

The students in the radio classes produce and perform real radio shows that reach out to real people. It is the same with the television shows, Hahn said.

But radio and television are not the only paths a student can follow in the program.

Dan Wagner, an editor for programs such as “On the Red Carpet,” teaches several in-depth courses, one of which includes a class on the editing program AVID. “You will be given many opportunities to grow your visual storytelling skills,” he said.

One tip he gave for students is to pay close attention to the Avid ProTools class and Avid Media Composer (RTV 275) classes because these are the tools the professionals use.

Another student from the program, Alan Burley, discussed his

time in Wagner’s classes, “I had a lot of fun. He’s a professor, a friend and now a contact. I still use the skills he taught me in my own personal projects.”

Recently, some classes have been cut from the curriculum, one of which was a class Wagner taught.

The class was focused on the wires behind the equipment and understanding the flow of electricity.

When asked why this class was cut, Wagner simply said, “The economy is tough, and many may be confused which department to look for classes.”

If you want more information on RTV classes, contact the department at (760) 744-1150, ext.

2440 or go to the department website at www.palomar.edu/ communications/rtv for a list of classes.

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IN A REALLY GOOD WAY.

ADVERTISEMENT • 7

the telescope

Veterans’ Services Office

wants to give a special Thank You to: • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Robert P. Deegan, President of Palomar College Palomar College Govenring Board Members Mark Vernoy, Vice President of Palomar College Marine Wing Support Squadron 373 Color Guard Navy Region Southwest Brass Quartet band Joesph Davis , Marine Corps Retired Master Sgt, Palomar College Foundation Board Member Shan Lockett, Veteran Student Veteran Students Student Veterans Organization Student Activities Office Financial Aid, Veterans & Scholarship Service Palomar College Facilities Department Aramark Office of Student Affairs

for making the Palomar College Veterans Day Observance a success.

The Holiday Food Drive will continue to take donations through Dec. 15.

Donations and canned food can be dropped off at the Veterans’ Office in SSC or the Veterans’ Lounge SU-22.

8 • PHOTO

Monday, December 3, 2012

CAPTURING THE

Essence of the Sierras

Each semester the Photography department offers a Landscape Photography course where students spend several days in the field practicing their craft.

This Fall, Professor Donna Cosentino led the students on a trip exploring and photographing California’s Eastern Sierra from Lone Pine to north of Bishop. A side trip to the Ancient Bristlecone Pines was also part of the five days of intense, location shooting.

October brought shades of yellow and orange to the Aspen trees high on the Eastern slope of the Sierra and students honed their skills and their vision shooting mountain waterfalls.

The striking landscape of the Ancient Bristlecone Pines was white from a re-

cent snowfall and students hiked through more than a foot of snow to photograph at Rock Creek as well.

Early morning shoots brought clouds and soft color to the desert-dry Alabama Hills near Lone Pine and at night students learned how to paint with light and photograph star trails among the boulders.

Along the way, the class stopped at abandoned towns and buildings and a train museum with original narrow-gauge railroad tracks.

Most of the students had not experienced photographing in these locations, and they enjoyed this trip of discovery to the Sierras.

Next semester the Landscape class will travel to Death Valley.

Top: Waterfall at Whitney Portal, digital image on Oct. 10 by Nick Hansen. Middle: Ancient Bristlecone Pines, digital image on Nov. 13 by Nick Hansen. Bottom: Palladium print of the Manzanar internment camp on Oct. 14 by Jassamyn Payne.

the telescope

Top: Bridge at Big Pine Creek, digital image on Oct. 11 by Francois Swart. Middle Left: Rock Creek Lake, digital image on Oct. 12 by Francois Swart. Middle Right: Round Valley, Infrared image on Oct. 12 by Brian Korec. Bottom: Panorama of Alabama Hills, digital image on Oct. 10 by Christian Hicks.

PHOTO • 9

10 • LIFE

Monday, December 3, 2012

stress

holiday

Courtesy of MCT campus

5 ways to stay stress free this holiday season Deborah Netburn The Los Angeles Times

Stressed about the upcoming holidays? You’re not alone.

The American Psychological Assn. found that 44 percent of women and 31 percent of men say they are more stressed during the winter holiday season than any other time of year.

All that cooking, hosting, traveling and family time can be fun, but it’s another layer of things to do on top of your already busy schedule. And if your finances are tight, you may be wondering (and worrying) how you will afford it all.

If you feel your mind going a million miles a minute, consider turning to your computer or smartphone to relax. It may sound counterintuitive, but there are a lot of great apps, websites and podcasts out there that can help you de-stress, even if all you have is 15 minutes. Here are some of our favorite ways to unwind.

1. Skip the holiday music in the car Listen to a dharma talk podcast instead: Christmas music is fun, but to help you keep the holidays in perspective, try listening to a free “dharma talk” during your commute to work.

A dharma talk is when a Buddhist teacher speaks on a certain topic, such as “Compassion,” or “Loving Kindness,” or “Right Speech.” You’ll find hundreds of options at AudioDharma.org, which is an archive of talks given at the Insight Meditation Center in Redwood, Calif. And let me reiterate: They are all free.

2. Take an online yoga class During the busy holiday season you may not have time to commute to a yoga class, so consider streaming one online instead. YogaVibes.com has great teachers _ many of them are L.A. based _ and dozens of classes to choose from. First-time customers can stream as many classes as they like for free for 15 days.

After that you have to pay $20 for a monthly pass, or $200 to

access the site’s videos for a year.

If you’re short on time, consider Annie Carpenter’s “Chill-Out Sequence.” It’s just 16 minutes, and ends with a very relaxing body scan.

3. Download a guided meditation When you are running around like a crazy person, even just five minutes of sitting still and paying attention to your breath can help you to calm down. You’ll find free, short mindfulness meditations on UCLA’s Mindfulness Awareness Meditation Center website.

Insight LA also offers free Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction meditations on its website.

4. Do nothing for two minutes If you are looking for even less of a time commitment, check out donothingfor2minutes.com. You’ll find a picture of the ocean at sunset, the sounds of waves, and a timer that will count down two minutes. If you touch your mouse or keyboard while the timer is going, the words “fail” will appear on the screen and the timer will reset. One note of warning: Close your email before you begin. When I tried this, the timer kept resetting everytime I got a new email alert.

Also, it may feel like the longest two minutes of your life.

5. Ring the bell If you have your own meditation practice, consider downloading the Insight Timer app from Apple’s App Store or Google Play. It won’t change your life, but it does let you choose from nine bell sounds to signal the start of your meditation, and when to wind it down.

It’s hardly necessary, but for $1.99, it’s fun. And meditating is always easier when you let someone else, or something else, mind the time.

If you have other suggestions of websites, apps and podcasts that can help us stay centered during this crazy, hectic holiday season, please share them in the comments section.

Courtesy of www.bighugelabs.com

Students share their favorite holiday traditions Sydney Davison The Telescope

With the holiday season around the corner, many Palomar students plan to spend the time off with their families, though their family traditions vary.

Palomar student Michelle Berger spends every holiday season with her family. She said, “we all hang out together and cook.”

Many families travel for Christmas to enjoy the snow.

Cousins Kassandra and Yesenia Rodriguez said their holiday plans differ from year to year.

“We always do something different each year, but it is always with family. This year we are going to Big Bear to ski,” Kassandra said.

Palomar student Samantha Stout and her family join the many students who are also headed out to Big Bear to enjoy the snow, skiing, snowboarding

and the excitement of a holiday adventure.

Many students said they go out and celebrate the holiday with their family.

Palomar student Melissa Keller travels to Coronado with her family. “We go down to Coronado for a nice dinner and go to see the Lamb Player’s Christmas production every year,” Keller said.

Palomar student, Callie Richard and her family uphold their tradition of seeing a movie every Christmas day. “This year we are probably going to see the new “Le Mis” movie, it looks really good” Richards said.

Student, Nick Reynolds said he enjoys his personal tradition of going out and surfing every Christmas morning.

Some families spend their Christmas quietly at home.

Palomar student, Tyler Vanderlyke said his favorite part of the

Christmas holiday is gathering with his family and exchanging ornaments.

“Every year we wrap and trade ornaments; it’s a fun tradition,” Vanderlyke said. And student Mikale Svandsen said she enjoys spending her Christmas with a new pair of pajamas and a carton of Chinese food by the tree.

Hannah Grossman said she enjoys staying at home for the holidays. “We drive around and look at Christmas lights, open presents, watch movies, and eat lots of cookies,” Grossman said.

Every family has its own unique traditions; some are common and others unheard of.

The fact still remains that family is the most important tradition.

Families put aside their differences and come together as one unit to celebrate the holidays together. sdavison@the-telescope.com

LIFE • 11

the telescope Nursing

Nursing school is a hectic time for students Nada Sewidan For the telescope

Advice for students who are interested in nursing: “Run for the hills!” Palomar nursing Prof.

Marian Ross exclaimed as she tossed her head back in laughter.

With the classes and testing required, along with the competitiveness that comes with entering the nursing program, it seems as though the hardest part is admission.

However, students said nothing is further from the truth.

Lecture, lab and clinical along with the continuous introduction of new material are all reasons that make nursing school especially difficult.

“Nursing: It’s been the hardest thing I have ever had to do,” said a Palomar nursing student who declined to give her name.

“I thought the hard part was getting into nursing school, but that was only the beginning. Once you start nursing school, your entire lifestyle is thrown upside down.”

Palomar nursing professor, Debra Browne, compares nursing to learning a foreign language, “It is a different way of thinking,” Browne said. She explained that there is not only a lot that needs to be learned, but it needs to be learned quickly. You are no longer dealing with just words on a page, but a life that you become responsible for and that within itself is a huge sacrifice.

Nursing students are often

Palomar nursing students Erica Kosmala (left) and Kendall Varnum (right) taking a skills test during class on Nov. 27 in HS room 101. • Jassamyn Payne/Telescope

consumed with reading and studying while social lives become almost non-existent. Sleep is no longer a priority, and everything else is just a blur.

“I spend 30 hours studying, 14 hours of clinical, and 7 hours of lecture a week,” the student said.

“I don’t have any personal time, I don’t work, and I haven’t seen my family since the nursing program started.”

“As far as the workload goes, they lay on you tons of reading that it just seems impossible at the time,” said Josh Greene, a

CSUSM nursing student. “But at the same time, the different courses all collaborate and overlap into each other so you are not completely losing out if you feel like you are not reading enough throughout the classes.”

In order to help students better understand the material, instructors try to employ discussion groups, more application and real life situations.

“The main thing in nursing is the nursing process,” Browne said. “You go in and you assess the situation, then you figure out

movie review

‘Lincoln’ gets 4 out of 5 stars Conner Jones The Telescope

Drenched with historical accuracy, and drawn with powerful immersion, the movie “Lincoln” is made for the historical enthusiast.

“Lincoln” very carefully characterizes the efforts of the 16th President Abraham Lincoln as he tried to hold together a nation divided. Although the Civil War is a center piece for this film, the main focus is on Lincoln’s struggle to pass the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery.

Although this film is well produced, it is not for anyone looking for a cheap thrill. This is a movie with substance. With its drawn out scenes of political dialogue and old time rhetoric, it’s easy to get a little lost if one is not familiar with the politics of the time.

Directed by Steven Spielberg, “Lincoln,” manages to capture the troubles of the time, and if you are familiar with the film’s historical background you will find yourself swallowed up in the setting fairly early on.

The lines for the movie, although sometimes hard to interpret, all seem important.

Everything seems perfectly placed. The story of President Lincoln is not new to many people, but the way it is presented in this film makes it feel different. Needless to say the film sort of colorizes the time period.

With Academy Award Wining names like Daniel Day Lewis and Sally Field, audiences can expect to be impressed by the quality of acting. However, it’s hard to find

Courtesy of MCT campus importance in all the numerous characters that exist in the film, especially those whose names don’t stand out too much in historical memory.

Overall, this a film that will move you.

Even if you’re not a history buff, the film humanizes the 16th President and those fighting toward ending slavery in a way no other film about the era has. If you’re looking to feel humbled or in need of a boost in your national pride, go see this movie. cjones@the-telescope.com

what you are going to do about it, make a plan, and then implement that plan and evaluate whether or not it worked.”

Although nursing school is difficult, there are aspects that make it joyous as well. “It’s kind of like a big family,” Greene said.

“You are sharing each other’s struggles; we all support each other, we have our own Facebook page, and we tell each other the inside scoop about what’s really due.”

Enthusiastic staff and eager instructors also help provide a

positive environment for students. “From what I know, the teachers in CSUSM are very enthusiastic which makes me enthusiastic about it as well, which helps with the learning process,” Greene said.

Nursing school can be both a struggle and a blessing, but with determination and preparation, success in nursing school is attainable. “Live with parents, start saving, figure out childcare plans, and let your family know you are going to be insane for two years,” Browne said.

12 • LIFE

Monday, December 3, 2012

art Palomar students view artwork on display in the Faculty Art Show on Nov. 27 at the Boehm Gallery. • Brian Korec/Telescope

Caffeine

Energy drinks are not worth the money Cliff Ireland For the telescope

With finals, last-minute term papers and the holiday season fast approaching, the end of the semester can be very tiresome for most students.

According to the National Sleep Foundation, caffeine is the most popular choice of drugs to help people stay awake. One way that has recently become popular to consume caffeine is through energy drinks, but they really might not be the cheapest way after all.

With claims such as stimu-

lating metabolism, improved concentration, increased performance, fast reaction and also inexpensive prices, sales of energy drinks such as Monster, Red Bull and 5-hour Energy have skyrocketed over the past year.

Based on research from the Chicago firm Symphony IRI Group, Beverage Industry Magazine reported that between April 2011 to 2012, energy drinks such as Red Bull had a 19.4 percent increase in sales to $6.9 billion. Energy shots such as 5-Hour Energy had an increase of 8.5 percent with sales at roughly $1.1 billion.

One reason that may help con-

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tribute to the increase in sales might be the perception brought forth by these products marketing campaigns, that their drinks are the cheapest way to consume enough caffeine.

However, even though they may be relatively cheap, it is not always the case. An average cup of regular coffee in the United States costs around $1.38 per cup.

The person drinking it will consume anywhere from 95 to 200 milligrams of caffeine per cup, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Red Bull, the most popular energy drink, will cost an average of $1.75, according to Consumer Reports and has 83 milligrams of caffeine. Meanwhile, Consumer Reports states that 5-hour Energy Extra Strength will give you the most caffeine with 242 milligrams at an average cost of $3.

After doing the math, it’s easy to see that by buying just two cups of coffee not only would you get more caffeine, but you would also save money as well.

“I choose energy drinks because of their convenience to buy,” said Jessica Eddy, a Palomar College student who also

works full time. Sleeping only three to four hours a night, she drinks a combination of different energy drinks daily in order to accomplish school and work.

According to local pharmacist, Parisa Mojavor energy drinks appeal to consumers because of how quickly the chemicals found in energy drinks can enter straight into your bloodstream.

“Even though some of the drinks are mostly vitamins, they enter the body quickly when drank, thus quickly bolstering the vitamins that help with energy levels,” Mojavor said.

But students should beware.

With the Food and Drug Administration investigating reports of 13 deaths possibly related to 5-Hour Energy and five deaths possibly related to Monster, the perception of energy drinks being a good bargain because they are cheap Courtsey of MCT Campus might begin to change.

performing arts

Palomar hosts honors recital

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Student musicians have been practicing throughout the semester creating their own pieces to perform in front of a live, captive audience.

Everyone is invited to support local musical talent at the Honor’s Recital, at 12:30 p.m. on Dec. 6 in the performance lab in D-10.

The Honor’s Recital is the accumulative event of the Palomar Applies Music Program.

The Palomar Applies Music Program is a place where aspiring musicians can go and get lessons that will train students to be

proficient in a specific music skill for the purpose of moving on to a four-year school as a music major or for employment as a working musician.

On Dec. 6, the best of the best from this program will perform.

The event is free, and is open to anyone interested in seeing local talent.

Performing at the recital, will be Ian Steed on jazz guitar, Rodrigo Arreola a local vocalist, Ed Kearns on guitar, Nick Nuss on the trumpet, Rachel Holtz and Kathleen Hamilton playing flute, Mary Beth Collum on piano, Diego Guiterrez a local percussionist, and The Suzanne Klienberg Quartet with Nick Gerlock, Shan-

non Nauss and Jenny Close.

Ellen Weller, director of the event, said students should attend the event to support fellow students.

“These are the musicians of your generation that are going to be out there in the world when you are doing your thing as a professional in the world,” she said.

“These are your colleagues, and you should come out and support them so that they get used to playing in front of a large audience and so you can see the really incredible level of musicianship that we have here at Palomar College.” cjones@the-telescope.com

NEWS • 13

the telescope SUCCESS

Community colleges’ crisis slows students’ progress to a crawl Stephen Ceasar Los Angeles Times

The first course Charity Hansen is taking as a freshman at Pasadena City College is a basic class on managing time, speaking up in discussions, setting ambitious goals and then going after them.

If only she could.

It’s the only class she managed to get this semester. No math. No English. No science.

“I can’t use what I’m being taught yet because I can’t get these classes,” said Hansen, a 19-yearold from Los Angeles who hopes one day to become a psychologist.

“It’s frustrating.”

Hansen’s college education has stalled just as it is beginning. Like thousands of students in California’s community college system, she has been reduced to taking one class because there’s no room in other classes.

Instead of a full-time load of 12 units, some students are taking three units or even less.

Frustrated students linger on waiting lists or crash packed classes hoping professors will add them later. They see their chances of graduating or transferring diminishing.

It’s a product of years of severe budget cuts and heavy demand in the two-year college system. The same situation has affected the Cal State and University of California systems, but the impact has been most deeply felt in the 2.4 million-student community college system _ the nation’s largest.

At Pasadena City College, nearly 4,000 students who are seeking a degree or to transfer are taking a

Cinthia Garcia, 24, attends her web design class at Pasadena City College, Sept. 11. • Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times/MCT

single class this fall. About 63 percent are taking less than 12 units and are considered part time. The school has slashed 10 percent of its classes to save money.

The lives of some community college students have become a slow-motion academic crawl, sometimes forcing them to change their career paths and shrink their ambitions.

Mark Rocha, president of Pasadena City College, said California’s once-vaunted community college system has never been in such a precarious state.

“It breaks our hearts,” he said.

“The students who are here, we’re desperately telling them ‘Don’t drop out, don’t give up hope. We’ll get you through.’ “ Since 2007, money from the state’s general fund, which provides the bulk of the system’s revenue, has decreased by more than

a third, dropping from a peak of nearly $3.9 billion to about $2.6 billion last year.

Without enough money, course offerings have dropped by almost a quarter since 2008. In a survey, 78 of the system’s 112 colleges reported more than 472,300 students were on waiting lists for classes this fall semester _ an average of about 7,150 per campus.

California ranks 36th in the nation in the number of students who finish with a degree or who transfer to a four-year university, according to a February report by the Little Hoover Commission.

Many students drop out before completing even half of what is required to earn a typical associate’s degree, the report found.

Even for those who persevere, it can take years to graduate _ well beyond the two years it once took.

Cinthia Garcia thought she

was on the right track. She went straight from high school to El Camino College in Torrance with plans to transfer to a four-year university.

That was six years ago.

“I’ve been in school forever,” said the 24-year-old graphic design major from Compton.

At El Camino, she struggled to get classes, typically landing a spot in only two or three. The art department at El Camino began losing professors and Garcia decided she needed a change.

Pasadena City College, with a respected arts program, was appealing, so she moved to Los Angeles to be closer to school.

Still, she was unable to enroll in more advanced art classes, in part because they also were full.

She emailed every instructor in the art department, searching for a class. One responded. She told

Garcia she would help her get the last seat in a Web design class. By then, the class was full, but a few days later, someone dropped the course and Garcia was in.

“All that for just one class,” she said, shaking her head.

The crowding has rippled through the school, causing long waits to see academic counselors _ an important issue for many community college students who need advice on navigating the sometimes complex requirements to transfer to Cal State, UC or a private university.

At El Camino, Garcia said, the lines to see counselors were hours long. She’d make appointments weeks in advance, never seeing the same adviser twice, she said.

“I tried to do it on my own but I was only able to get so far,” she said. “Students are isolated because the counselors have such an overwhelming load.”

Garcia said all the delays have made her life harder.

She had a full-time job at Ikea, but cut back her hours, hoping the extra time would allow her to power through Pasadena City College.

Over the years, she has shifted her goals from a four-year degree, to a community college associate’s degree, and now to a certificate, which requires fewer credits.

That decision could cost her in the long run.

A study by the U.S. Bureau of Labor showed that in 2009, the median weekly earnings of workers with bachelor’s degrees was about $1,137 _ about a third more than workers with an associate’s degree.

Palomar/Pacific Coast Concert Band

w i n t e r d a n c e 2 0 1 2

December 7-9 WinterDance 2012 Hip Hop, Modern, Ballet, Tap, and Jazz!

Palomar dance students warm the season with original choreography in a variety of styles.

Palomar/Pacific Coast Concert Band Ring Out, Wild Bells!

The bell is considered by many to be the most fascinating instrument of celebration.

Join us as we explore the mystique with music from around the world, spanning ancient to contemporary times.

Directed by Patriceann Mead Friday, 8pm; Saturday, 8pm; Sunday, 6pm.

O2 Performance Studio, Palomar College, San Marcos campus $12 General, $10 Seniors and Staff $8 Students

December 14

December 7-9 Hip Hop, Modern, Ballet, Tap, and Jazz! Palomar dance students warm the season with original choreography in a variety of styles. .

Directed by Patriceann Mead Friday, 8pm; Saturday, 8pm; Sunday, 6pm Performance Studio (02), Palomar College, San Marcos Campus Tickets $8-12 at www.palomarperforms.com or call 760.744.1150 x2453 P r e s e n t e d b y P a l o m a r Pe r f o r m i n g A r ts SCAN FOR TICKETS

Directed by Kenneth Bell Friday, 8pm

O2 Performance Studio, Palomar College, San Marcos campus $12 General, $10 Seniors and Staff $8 Students

The bell is considered by many to be the most fascinating instrument of celebration.

Join us as we explore the mystique with music from around the world, spanning ancient to contemporary times.

Directed by Kenneth Bell

December 14 • Friday, 8pm O2 Performance Studio, Palomar College, San Marcos campus $12 General, $10 Seniors and Staff, $8 Students

www.palomarperforms.com or 760.744.1150 x2453 “Like” us at www.facebook.com/PalomarPerformingArts Follow us at www.twitter.com/PalomarPerforms

“Like” us at www.facebook.com/PalomarPerformingArts Follow us at www.twitter.com/PalomarPerforms scan for tickets

Tickets: www.palomarperforms.com, 760.744.1150 x2453 or Box Office (GJ Bldg.) Thurs. & Fri., 12 to 4pm “Like” us at www.facebook.com/PalomarPerformingArts • Follow us at www.twitter.com/PalomarPerforms

14 • SPORTS

Monday, December 3, 2012

BASKETBALL

Men’s basketball starts season with early successes

Palomar head coach John O’Neill (Center) diagrams a play on Nov. 23 during the Palomar Thanksgiving Tournament in the Dome. Palomar won 91 – 85. • Peter Ahsue/Telescope.

Scott morton the telescope

The Palomar men’s basketball team returns to the 2012-2013 season with an older team, eager to score big.

So far they are 5-4, coming in second at the Palomar Thanksgiving Tournament Nov. 25. Three of the team’s four losses have been to top 5 teams, including No. 1 Fresno College, No. 4 Mt. San Jacinto and No. 5 Saddleback.

They also lost to unranked Fullerton, but got revenge the following weekend, winning 91-85.

The team has beat Glendale, Los Angeles Trade Tech, Barstow, and Los Angeles Harbor.

“This year’s team is very passionate; we are also older. We start four

kids over the age of 20,” Assistant Coach John Hotaling said. “We have three returners that give us a lot of leadership.”

The older, more experienced members of the team will have to set an example for the younger kids on the bench.

“This year’s team has multiple guys that can score. Some games score into the 90’s, even without a fast break offense,” Hotaling said. “They are exciting to watch. Our guards are pretty athletic; they make some nice plays, and they are very energetic with the ball.”

Key players are Dejuan Ervin, Joe Vaz, and Calvin Smith, with Ervin averaging 20 points a game. He is helping lead to such high scoring games.

Smith was out last year for knee sur-

gery, but returns in full this season.

“We rely on Calvin to play a lot of positions; he is our smartest player,” Hotaling said.

And of course 7-foot-1-inch “Big Joe” Vaz returns again to tower over the key. He has already picked up more than 50 rebounds this season. He had 158 total rebounds last season.

“We’re hoping that this year’s team can be a lot tougher than last year’s team,” Hotaling said. “We’ve got to become a better rebounding team.”

As for the team’s goals this season, guard Aaron Roedel had one thing to say: “I want to put up a banner and be ranked in the state; that’s why we practice and that’s what we play for,” he said. smorton@the-telescope.com

Palomar guard Glen Gaines (32) maneuvers around a Fullerton College defender Nov. 23 during the Palomar Thanksgiving Tournament in the Dome. Palomar won 91 – 85. • Peter Ahsue/Telescope.

Palomar runners compete in the Conference Championships on Oct. 26 at Harry Griffen Park in La Mesa. • Brian Korec/Telescope

CROSS COUNTRY

Cross country finishes season at state Scott roberson the telescope

Palomar’s cross country’s women’s team finished 18th at the California Community College Cross Country Championship recently; however, the men failed to qualify for the meet.

Assistant Head Coach Hugh Gerhardt said the goal at the beginning of the season was to place in the top 10 at state for both the men’s and women’s teams.

Although both teams failed to reach their preseason goal, Gerhardt said the Comets’ future looks bright with the production of the freshman class. The sophomores can leave with their heads held high knowing they gave everything they had.

The freshmen runners exceeded expectations this season leaving the team with high aspirations; freshman runner Gerardo Alvarez is actively recruiting more talent to

the team.

Alvarez, Palomar’s top male runner, was very pleased with what the team was able to accomplish on and off the course this year.

“We were all friends and were able to learn from each other; it was a real family atmosphere,” Alvarez said. “There’s no doubt that I’m competing next season.”

“Everyone on the team was competitively friendly,” sophomore Cristal Favela said. “We all tried to beat each other, and in doing so pushed each other to be better.”

Sophomore runner Kellen Dragan believed the season went really well considering the amount of new faces on the team this year.

“We had some building to do this year,” Dragan said. “It was a real honor to watch the women compete at state because they all worked so hard; it was nice to see that the work paid off.”

Members of the men’s and women’s teams attribute the

teams’ success to Head Coach Jennifer Williams and Gerhardt.

“The coaches are amazing, and we all love them,” Favela said.

Sophomore runner Tori Dorsey said that she has complete faith in the future of the program, although her career as a member of Palomar’s cross country team has come to a close.

“Since we have great coaches, the team is going to continue to get better and do amazing things in the future,” Dorsey said.

Now that the season has come to a close, the team members will finally have the opportunity to get some much needed time to rest and heal. However, in order to meet the lofty expectations for the next season they must not take too much time.

Alvarez intends on capitalize on this time, but vows to keep himself prepared for next season.

Sroberson@the-telescope.com

SPORTS • 15

the telescope FOOTBALL

Palomar College Defensive Coordinator J.G. Aegerter coaches his players on the sideline during a game against Santa Ana College on Nov. 3 at Escondido High School’s Wilson Stadium. Sebastian Humphreys/Telescope.

Football team ends season with losing record Team looks to improve after its first losing season in seven years Matthew slagle the telescope

A losing season isn’t something the Comets football team is accustomed to.

After a 33-28 victory over Grossmont on Nov. 10, the team finished the season with a 4-6 record, 2-4 in conference. It was only the third losing season during Head Coach Joe Early’s 12-year tenure at Palomar, the last time being 2005.

There were many factors in the six losses; from penalties, to not being able to make the big play, to having close calls go against them, the team never got momentum going.

“It wasn’t one thing you can put your finger on. It was a combination of many things, and they seemed to happen all at the same time,” Early said. “We just didn’t get it done.”

For the first time in many years, the Comets didn’t have a returning quarterback, so they had to turn to freshman Ryan Lamb, who hadn’t started at the position since he played on the JV team in high school.

While he struggled early in the year and the team had to rely on its running game, Lamb picked up the offensive system and improved over the second half of the year earning the “Most Improved” award at the end-of-the-year football banquet.

“It was rough for him at times, but he got valuable experience that otherwise he wouldn’t have gotten,” Early said. “In years past he would have been a grey-shirt.

“And that’s not to take away from what he did. He was the most improved, and at the end of the day, I think he was third in our conference in passing yards and those types of things.”

Lamb was in the top 15 in the league for passing yards, with 2,399 and 20 touchdowns.

While Lamb was growing accustomed to the system, running back Chad Dobbins was tearing it up behind the sophomore offensive line.

He had three, 100-yard rushing games. Dobbins finished the season with 821 yards and four touchdowns.

Defensively, the Comets forced 17 sacks and seven interceptions with sophomore linebackers Osifa Kose, who had 86 tackles and three fumble recoveries, and Shonta Chaloux who had 65 tackles, 0.5 sacks and two interceptions leading the way.

Despite success moving the ball

And the Comets were 11 points away from a 7-3 record. They lost a game by one, three, and seven points.

“We were close. Was it frustrating? Yes,” Early said. “There are no moral victories. Our objective is to win our conference and make the playoffs every year, and we’ve got to get back to that.”

Under Early’s régime at Palomar, the football team has made the playoffs seven out of 11 years, creating a tradition of winning that he emphasizes every year with the new players.

Now that the season is over, the coaching staff has turned its focus to recruiting high school students.

With the high school football season wrapping up, Early had his coaches scouting at the section

Comets Stat Leaders Passing Ryan Lamb

GP Cmp-Att Yds

Rushing Chad Dobbins

GP Att Yds Avg. TD

TD INT

10 189-361 2,399 20 13 9 192 821 4.3 4

Recieving GP Rec. Yds Avg. TD Ryan Ena 10 43 570 13.3 6 Anthony Mount 9 38 601 15.8 5 on offense and creating turnovers on the defense, the Comets developed a chronic problem of committing penalties.

Their total of 118 for 1,049 yards this year was the 11th most in the league.

“We’ve addressed it every which way until Sunday,” Early said. “I told them I can handle some of the physical penalties; it’s the mental penalties and those are the ones we have to correct.”

Much like last year when their three losses were by a small margin, this year, five of the Comets’ six losses were by two possessions or less.

playoff games.

“We got to get our recruiting squared away,” Early said. “We’ve already had some kids come in on visits, but we need to sit down and identify what needs we have and go out and actively and aggressively pursue those.”

Every year the coaching staff tells the returning players that nobody is guaranteed a starting spot; they will have to come to summer workouts and spring practices and compete with the incoming high schoolers for a spot on the field.

Losing so many players and not having a consistent year will create a large turnover of players.

“We need playmakers at every position, and this year I don’t think we had that consistently,” Early said.

Even with the progress Lamb made during the season, Early said the coaching staff is still going to recruit quarterbacks and Lamb will need to continue to improve to keep the starting job.

“What he does between now and when we get going is going to be on him just like it is for our receivers or defensive backs or defensive tackles,” he said.

Looking toward next year, the Comets have to build an entirely new o-line and are in need of some linebackers.

But they have the core of their offense coming back including Lamb, wide receiver Anthony Mount and tight end Ryan Ena, who are all returning for another season.

Mount was a first-team AllSouthern Conference selection as a freshman.

He was the number one wide receiver on the team with 38 receptions for 601 yards and five touchdowns.

Ena was a unanimous firstteam All-Southern Conference selection; he was Lamb’s favorite target with 43 receptions for 570 yards and six touchdowns. One of the touchdowns was a gamewinning reception with 1:07 left in the game against Southwestern on Oct. 15.

Lamb was also a second-team All-Southern Conference selection.

Some of the returning defensive players are: defensive end Arnold Vo’a, who had 2.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, three tackles for loss and 34 tackles; safety Stephen Parks who had 65 tackles, two interceptions and one forced fumble; and safety Chris Lee who had 42 tackles, one interception and a forced fumble. mslagle@the-telescope.com @matthewslagle

RESULTS Sept. 1

El Camino W 20-7 Sept. 8

Riverside L 47-7

Sept. 15

Southwestern W 47-43 Sept. 22

Orange Coast L 35-28

Sept. 29

Golden West W 27-7 Oct. 6

Cerritos L 35-20 Oct. 20

Fullerton L 33-32 Oct. 27

Saddleback L 35-21 Nov. 3

Santa Ana L 34-31

Nov. 10

Grossmont W 33-28

Info and stats from Palomar Athletics website www.palomar.edu/athletics

16 • SPORTS

Monday, December 3, 2012

ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT

Eldridge creates high standards, high success in 4 sports over 34 years Long-time coach inducted into national hall of fame Those outstanding numbers are what have earned Eldridge national attention. He has been named the Community College National Coach of the Year six times throughout his career.

His induction into the NFCA Hall of Fame was the first time a community college coach had been inducted in nine years.

The Buena Vista, Fla. ceremony honored just three inductees: Eldridge and two coaches at the 4-year level.

“If there is anybody in the whole country that is deserving of that it’s Mark Eldridge,” Cathcart said. “No question. His accomplishments and his records just speak for themselves.

There’s nobody comparing to him in our state, so that’s just verification of a large body of work over the length of his career.”

was the idea.

That year he took the opportunity to start Palomar’s first women’s golf team. The excellence he expected on the softball field, Cathcart said, translated smoothly onto the golf course.

In its first year of existence, the women’s golf team boasted the conference title, two Southern California individual champions and a 3rd place team finish at the state championships- all under the guidance of Eldridge.By 2011, the team had its first state championship title.

When asked why he started the women’s golf team after 31 years at the helm of the softball team, Eldridge simply said: “I was lucky enough to be involved in state championships in three other sports; I thought it would be nice to get another sport there. It was a challenge.”

Players credit Eldridge During the First Palomar College Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Banquet Aug. 25, former pitcher Kim Ward said the 1993 state championship was one of her favorite memories as a member of the team. Ward was a two-time California State Pitcher of the Year under Eldridge.

Ward is one example of the excellence found on the field Hall of Fame inductee Kim Ward hugs Coach Mark Eldridge as she heads up to recieve her award at or course when Eldridge is the Hall of Fame dinner on Aug 25 at Shadow Ridge Country Club in Vista. • Brian Korec/Telescope leading the team. Throughout Palomar’s Athletic department, he has always had a reputation COLLEEN PETERS Beginning at Palomar of accepting nothing but the best THE TELESCOPE Eldridge said he grew up right from his athletes, according to his down the street from Palomar players.

Not many people can say they College where he spent most of “What I did on the team was have won a state championship his time watching baseball, bas- not about me, it was about the four times in any sport. Fewer can ketball and other sports. After team,” former softball player say they have coached four differ- graduating from San Marcos High Dana Tanaka said during the banent sports to state championship School, Eldridge attended Palo- quet. “It was about us coming tomar where he was a three-sport gether as a team and performing titles.

For the last 34 years, Mark El- athlete, playing football, baseball at the level that Mark expected us dridge’s presence has been a sta- and track. He then played football to. We rose to his expectations.” ple in Palomar’s Athletic depart- at Washington State and finished Those expectations, in turn, ment. Eldridge began coaching his career as a college athlete at have led to a standard of excelat Palomar College in 1976 as the Long Beach State, where he threw lence that remains unmatched in Palomar athletics.

Assistant Track and Field Coach. javelin.

“Mark has such standards that In 1978 he became the school’s Eldridge did not initially set out first Head Softball Coach. He also to coach four different sports in a haven’t been approached by anypreviously served as interim Head career of more than 34 years. He body else as an athlete and as a coach and just as somebody that Football Coach and is currently just knew that he fit in. the Head Women’s Golf Coach.

“I was really happy to be there,” has been associated with the proNow, Eldridge can add one Eldridge said. “I didn’t really think gram for so long,” Cathcart said. more accomplishment to his long about it, but I knew it was a level I “He just can’t be compared with anybody else that we currently list. On Nov. 30, he became only was comfortable with.” the third community college The bulk of his coaching career have or that has been here in the coach to be inducted into the Na- was spent on the softball field. In past.” tional Fastpitch Coaches Associa- his 31 years as head softball coach, tion Hall of Fame.

Eldridge achieved a 1,083-303- A new challenge In 2008, Eldridge took a re“Mark has had a fantastic ca- 6 record and a total of 28 Pacific reer, and Palomar is lucky to Coast Conference championships. duced role with the softball team have benefited from it,” Athletic In 1989, 1993 and 2000, Eldridge so he would have time to watch Director Scott Cathcart said. led his teams to state champion- his son Ricky play high school ship titles. baseball. At least, he said, that

effects at Palomar.

Among his former athletes inducted were three former softball players: Tanaka, Ward and Liz Mueller. Former Olympian and two-time World Record holder for javelin, Tom Petranoff, who competed in track under Eldridge in 1977 was also inducted.

Eldridge said that “wow” was a simple way to describe his feelings when he read the list of inductees.

“Just listening to their accomplishments, I coached them and I remember how good they were, but when you hear it said out loud, it’s impressive,” he said. “I was proud of them.”

But don’t mistake that for overconfidence in his coaching abilities. Eldridge said he always feels like he could have done a little better.

“I’ve had a lot of good players that shared the same vision.

Some needed more prompting to get with it, some didn’t,” Eldridge said. “Ultimately good players have always come through, and good coaches have helped me.”

Mark has had a fantastic career, and Love of sport player Eldridge coached Palomar is lucky to whoOne shared his vision for success have benefitted from it was his daughter, Rebecca. She

only played softball at Palomar for Scott Cathcart • athletic director one season, but that year she was player of the year and All-State.

To have her on the mound during important games was highly gratifying for Eldridge. He said she was able to pitch in a lot of games that season, and after a year she Cathcart said that when he earned a scholarship to Abilene thinks back upon the 34-year ca- Christian University in Abilene, reer that Eldridge has had with Texas.

Palomar so far, the values natuLooking back on 34 years of rally surrounding Eldridge are undeniable success, Eldridge has those that anyone would want to earned a place in the hearts of find within an athletic program: many former athletes. Many of “tradition, excellence, longevity who say his guidance has had a and commitment.” Cathcart said lasting impression upon their lives. those values have made his own “He was doing it (coaching) for job easier, because he can show the love of the game, for the love other coaches the level at which of the sport,” Tanaka said. “He Eldridge coaches and that expec- loved us and he wanted us to actation is already there. cept and do our best as a team. I Eldridge’s determination for really felt that from him.” excellency for the program from Though he is not done yet, his athletes has led to 153 of his Eldridge’s influence has forever athletes receiving athletic scholar- been tattooed on Palomar Colships to continue playing at 4-year lege’s Athletic department. His universities; 103 of those have drive and passion for athletics been to NCAA Division 1 schools. have created a standard here that He has also boasts 30 Community have remained unchanged and College All-Americans. will serve as a model for any fuHis influence remains un- ture coaches. matched in the Palomar Athletic “Mark has done and accomplished so much here. It’s hard to department. encompass,” Catchart said. “He has to be among the absolute best This August, 15 former Palomar softball coaches nationally... That athletes were inducted as the first has just translated right into the class into the Palomar College women’s golf program.”

Athletic Hall of Fame. Of those, four were Eldridge’s former ath- CPETERS@THE-TELESCOPE.COM letes, proving the true scope of his @COLLEEN_TERESA

‘Tradition, excellence, longevity, commitment’

The wow factor