The Telescope 68.1 by The Telescope

CHECK OUT MORE UPCOMING EVENTS ON PAGE 2

INTERACTIVE ART ON CAMPUS A new art exhibit opened in the Boehm Gallery at the San Marcos campus showcasing an artist from New York and a local artist from Encinitas, Calif. • Page 5

the telescope Palomar College’s Independent Newspaper

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Vol. 68, No. 1 • Monday, Sept. 8, 2014

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Arsonist sets fire as ‘way out’ of school

NEW ASG PRESIDENT

CHRISTIAN GAXIOLA THE TELESCOPE

Associated Student Government President Jason Hosfield prepares for the challenge of being a student leader and student trustee. • photo illustration by Erika Shasky/The Telescope

New president to lead student body SUSAN WHALEY THE TELESCOPE

With the support of his family and significant other, Jason Hosfield decided to run for president of the Associated Student Government at Palomar College. He was elected the new ASG president after running uncontested

at the end of last Spring semester. “(My mother and father) encouraged and challenged me to be committed to the organizations that have interested me,” Hosfield said in an email. He added that his brother “was almost entirely responsible for helping me develop leadership skills in workplace situations.” His significant other and “future

wife”, Lindsay Sylvester, gave her support to Hosfield and it was with her blessing that he dedicated himself to the ASG. Hosfield is 29 years old and was born and raised in Vista, Calif. He went to Rancho Buena Vista High School and competed in speech and debate in his junior and senior years. Hosfield enrolled at Palomar in

2003 for its speech and debate program. After a few years he decided to leave and finish school when he was 25 so he could receive financial aid as an independent. “Financing school is always an issue,” Hosfield said about paying for college.

JUMP TO PRESIDENT PAGE 6

President Deegan issues update on injured students CHRISTOPHER BULLOCK THE TELESCOPE

Five international Palomar students injured in a deadly single-car accident Aug. 21 have been released from the hospital, according to school officials. In a letter sent out Aug. 25 by school president Robert Deegan, Deegan said he has been in contact with the families of those involved. Out of respect for the families’ wishes, the school will not release the names of those involved in the accident. “We know that many of you would like to reach out to these students, their families and loved ones,” Deegan wrote in the letter. “However, the families are asking for privacy at this most difficult time.” Late Thursday Aug. 21, eight

Palomar President Robert Deegan • Stephen Davis/The Telescope

international students from the school were involved in a single-car accident on State Route 78 between El Camino Real and College Boulevard in Oceanside. The car had veered off the highway into an embankment, then ran into a power pole, severing the pole in half. The driver and two passengers died on impact, with the five surviving students being transported to local hospitals. CBULLOCK@THE-TELESCOPE.COM

A day of remembrance will be held at 7:30 a.m. on Sept. 11

Connor Cook, 19, the Palomar College student accused of lighting a series of restroom fires during the Spring 2014 semester, has admitted to starting at least one of the fires, and exclusively told The Telescope why. “I was overwhelmed with school. I wanted a way out,” Cook said during a recent phone interview. Connor said he has always been a good student, but college classes were putting unusual pressure on him. Within just weeks of starting school, he found himself falling behind while other students pushed forward. Rather than seeking help or dropping classes, he decided to do something extreme. “I thought it would help me catch up,” he said. “I never intended to burn down the school, or hurt anyone. I was just trying to help myself. And it was the wrong thing to do. It was all based on bad judgment.” Unfortunately, Cook’s actions didn’t make college life any easier. He was arrested on March 14 and charged with arson and attempted arson for a fire he started in the men’s restroom of the P Building. The small blaze was built with toilet paper and toilet seat covers, similar to a number of previous fires that were started on campus as far back as December 2013. Cook said he was booked into the Vista Detention Facility where he spent five days thinking about what he’d done and worrying about his future. “I prayed that somehow God would help me through the mess I was in,” he said. Cook’s parents came to his aid and posted his $25,000 bail. They also pulled together enough cash to hire an attorney.

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2 • NEWS

Monday, Sept. 8, 2014

CAMPUS LIFE

ASG News • Keren “Meeko” Moore sworn into ASG as new senator and Inter-Club Council Chairperson Aug. 27 • Water bottle filling station in the Student Union in process of completion after $2000 cost. • Rancho Bernardo campus refered to as “South Center” is scheduled to be completed in the Fall 2017 semester after a $30 million renovation. • ASG wants to be a bridge to help students enroll in extra curricular classes to help improve low enrollment on campus.

The new Humanities Building at the Palomar College San Marcos campus opened over the summer for classes. A grand opening is scheduled later in the fall. The construction was part of the $694 million facilities bond. Aug. 20, 2014 • Evan Cast/The Telescope

BRIEFS

Escondido center hosts blood drive On Sept. 8 and 9, the Escondido Center of Palomar College will host a blood drive sponsored by Health Services and the Emergency Medical Service Club. The Emergency Medical Service clubs’ main purpose is child development, but they also support many other community outreach projects with Palomar College. From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the first parking lot, the Red Cross will be taking volunteers who have signed up prior to give blood. The volunteers will receive a Sports Clip coupon for a free Varsity haircut. Sign up by contacting Red Cross representative Paige Brusso or by the Red Cross website.

Training for old and new clubs begins next week Whether it’s creating a new club from scratch or helping keep a classic one afloat, on Sept. 9 workshops for officer training will begin. These workshops will cover everything from club requirements to basic knowledge of the Brown Act and Robert’s Rules of Order. The counselors will also explain how the Associated Student Government and the Inter-Club Council work together. They will also cover how to manage club finances, event planning and much more. This event is hosted by the Office of Student Affairs.

Find help discovering your career path The Career Center helps students take control of their situation and find the career that is right for them. The workshop they are holding on Sept. 9 will provide the information and tools needed that will help students succeed when finding jobs outside of Palomar College. The center takes a ‘holistic’ approach that will analyze students’ situation and develop comprehensive plans to meet their needs and reach their desired goals. where what time?

Remembering 9/11 This year marks the 13th anniversary of the tragic events that occurred on September 11th. You can volunteer to help set up the flag display on the Student Union Lawn, to honor those lost, but have never been forgotten, as well as the first responders and those who have served or are currently serving in our military. Hosted by the Office of Student Affairs, the remembrance event will begin at 7:30 a.m. and end at 9:30 a.m. For more information contact Lindsay Kretchman.

California native lands “Integrating California Natives into Your Landscape” will be a free lecture event with special guest Teresa Everett from Moosa Creek Nursery. It is sponsored by the Friends of the Palomar College Arboretum at the San Marcos campus. This free lecture and walk is open to the public and there is free parking for

SALES REPRESENTATIVE Needed ASAP Perfect Schedule for Student: Appointments are Weekdays afternoon/evenings & Saturday day. $$ Make Excellent Commission $$

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attendees for this event only. There will be another lecture in room NS139. Contact Tony Rangel if you are planning to attend this lecture/walk. Email: arangel@palomar.edu or call: (760) 744-1150 ext. 2133.

Steinway piano debut After two years of tireless fundraising, along with generous support from the Palomar College Foundation, the Howard Brubeck Theatre received a Steinway piano. Peter Gach will debut William C. Bradbury’s Dedication at 2 p.m. on Sept. 14 in the theater, specially composed to showcase the beauty of the gorgeous piano. Gach will also master Frederic Chopin’s Ballade in Gminor and famous A-flat Polonaise on the beautiful instrument. Ticket prices are $15 general, $12 seniors and staff and $10 students. For more information, go to the Palomar Performing Arts Website.

#100HappyDays Can you be happy for 100 days in a row? Tell the Student Activities traveling cart on Sept. 22 what makes you happy and receive a free snack if you flash your Fall 2014 student activities card.

Concert hour The “Son de San Diego” Concert Hour on Sept. 11 is at 12:30 p.m. in the Performance Lab (D-10). According to the performing arts website Son de San Diego is a quartet that performs songs in the “Son Jaro-

the telescope

Focused On Palomar Monday, Sept. 8, 2014 Vol. 68, No. 1 Palomar College, San Marcos, Calif.

SUSAN WHALEY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF MIKE PETERSON OPINION EDITOR MEGAN BUBAK A&E EDITOR CHRISTOPHER BULLOCK SPORTS EDITOR BRIAN O’MALLEY PHOTO EDITOR

cho style, a traditional musical genre from Veracruz, Mexico. Instrumentation will include Jarana, Guitarra de Son, Punteador and Tarima.” The Concert Hour on Sept. 18 at 12:30 p.m in D-10 is called “Hear in Now.” It is a Midwestern string trio performing unique and avantclassical compositions. This group has performed and/or recorded with Anthony Braxton, George Lewis, Nicole Mitchell and Vernon Reid. From a Midwestern trio to organist extraordinaire Michael Munson, this semester promises both divine quality and entertainment for everyone who attends, Randy Hoffman director of publicity/program coordinator for the performing arts department said. The works range from classical to pieces written by David Bowie to appeal to a wide audience. “What I always try to do with Concert Hour is to show how big the world of music is, which is a daunting task,” Hoffman said. The complete schedule for Concert Hour is posted on the performing arts website.

Kick off to clean campus Mission 2B Clean and Green is a project to keep up the recycling efforts on campus. The task will begin on Sept. 18 at 10 a.m. If you and your club are looking to get points, this event can help. Campus clubs have to register their teams at the Office of Student Affairs, then fully complete a campus clean up assignment. Contact Lindsay Kretchman for more information at lkretchman@ palomar.edu.

ERIN HIRO ADVISER DEB HELLMAN BUSINESS MANAGER STAFF WRITERS MIKE ADAMS, LEAH BAENA, STEVEN BURIEK, BROOKE CRAWFORD, DANIEL GAGLIO, CHRISTIAN GAXIOLA, MIKE HAMERSCHLAG, SEAN HORGAN, DANIEL MARTIN, KIRK MATTU, FERN MENEZES, FRANCINE MORENO, EMILY RODRIGUEZ, DOUG SANCHEZ, GERALD TOVAR, HAYLEY ULLE PHOTOGRAPHERS MARCELA ALAMIE, HARIM ARJON, EVAN CAST, CASEY COUSINS, DIRK CALLUM, JOSEPH DAVIS, CERISSA FARIN, PHILIP FARRY, BRIAN GRIFFITH, ADAM HAAS, MEREDITH JAMES, PAUL NELSON, ANGELA SAMORA, ERIKA SHASKY, JUSTIN SUMSTINE, GARY WEST, YASHIKAZU YAMASHITA ADDRESS THE TELESCOPE PALOMAR COLLEGE 1140 W. MISSION ROAD, SAN MARCOS, CA 92069 PHONE / 760-891-7865 NEWSROOM / H-103 WEBSITE/ WWW.THE-TELESCOPE.COM FACEBOOK/ SEARCH “THE TELESCOPE” TWITTER/ @TELESCOPENEWS EMAIL/ EDITOR@THE-TELESCOPE.COM AD EMAIL/ ADS@THE-TELESCOPE.COM

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ADVERTISEMENT • 3

“Don’t Want to Be an American Idiot!” Learn about YOUR government at:

onstitution Day C Wednesday, September 17, 2014 10:00 am – 1:00 pm

• In front of the Student Union • Constitution Theme Booths! • Free Constitution booklets! • Free Hamburgers, Chips, and Drinks for 1st 300 students and guests!

Come and test your knowledge of the United States Constitution Learn about and discuss your government, query history and political science Professors, and learn about courses confronting the U. S. Constitution (History 101 and Political Science 101).

4 • A&E

Monday, Sept. 8, 2014

Crude humor distracts in ‘Life of Crime’ BROOKE CRAWFORD THE TELESCOPE

What do you do when your husband refuses to pay a ransom to get you back? Never complain, never explain. The film “Life of Crime,” had a good story line, but was masked with crude and insenstive humor. Throughout the movie, there seemed to be a underlying misogynistic theme as well as blatant racial slurs that made me question not only my taste in films, but also the world’s view of what is acceptable. Written and directed by Daniel Schechter, “Life of Crime” is an American drama set in 1978 Detroit with major actors including Jennifer Aniston, John Hawkes, Isla Fisher, Yasiin Bey and Will Forte. Mickey Dawson, played by Aniston, is a well-known socialite and the person of interest in a botched kidnapping by a pair of ex convicts. Louis Gara (Hawkes) and Ordell Robbie (Bey) attempt to kidnap Dawson to get rich quick from her husband’s illegal real-estate dealings. The pair run into a snag when they realize that Mr. Dawson (Robbins) refuses to pay the $1 million ransom because of his impending divorce and current relations with his mistress Melanie (Fisher). The criminal pair must then find a way to turn around the scrambled kidnapping in their favor. The film spirals into a series of swindling and unbelievable twists that leaves viewers in a state of confusion and suspense. The soundtrack was perfectly se-

Jennifer Aniston (left) and Will Forte (right) star in the crude “Life of Crime” film which also feature Tim Robbins, Isla Fisher and Will Forte. • Photo courtesy of Roadside Attractions

lected and the acting was believable, but the hidden innuendo ruined the film. The film sets a tone that women are inferior to men, seen as objects instead of human beings and do not have the option to voice their opinions or feelings. Although Aniston seems to come into her own near the end, that does not give this film any more credit. I find it interesting that Aniston was

comfortable working on a film with such a deeper meaning than meets the eye. Another alarming issue was the disregard for the racial slurs that were outwardly and overly offensive. There were a few scenes in which certain characters discussed a particular race and religion with a nonchalant air of amusement. Although Americans no longer live in the past, I do not believe

that it is politically correct or acceptable to poke fun at any race, religion or gender. These themes were paramount because media is one of the primary routes in which concepts are delivered to America, regardless of validity. The plot held many interesting parts that did provoke me to think about things beyond what was on the screen. The positive thing about presenting controversial issues in a film

such as this is that it presses the viewers to consider topics that are typically taboo. Despite its flaws, I would recommend this movie solely because I believe that cultural awakening and diversity are key to growing separate from what is deemed acceptable as a social norm. BCRAWFORD@THE-TELESCOPE.COM

Metacognition Is The Key: Learn How To Learn Student Workshops

Metacognition: The Key to Acing Courses! Thursday, September 18th 6pm - 7:30pm MD-157 or Friday, September 19th 3:30pm - 5 pm MD-157

Tutor Workshop

Meeting the Challenges of Providing Effective Tutoring and Study Group Sessions: Strategies that Work! Friday, September 19th 1pm - 2:30pm MD-157

Space is limited! Register now to save your spot. Made possible by the Title V/HSI STEM Program & North County Higher Education Alliance (NCHEA).

Faculty Workshops

Get Students to Focus on Learning Instead of Grades: Metacognition is the Key!

Thursday, September 18th 2pm - 5pm MD-157 or Friday, September 19th 9am - 12pm NS-137

Workshops open to faculty, students & tutors from Palomar, Mira Costa College, & CSUSM. Register now by sending an email to stemprogram@palomar.edu

Presented by Saundra McGuire, Ph.D. (Ret) Assistant Vice Chancellor & Professor of Chemistry Director Emerita, LSU Center for Academic Success

A&E • 5

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New York-based artist Alex Callender presented her work “Everything Has Its Nature” at the Boehm Gallery on Aug. 21, 2014 as part of the first show of the fall semester. • Photos by Paul Nelson/ The Telescope

Boehm Gallery offers students an interactive encounter SUSAN WHALEY THE TELESCOPE

The first exhibit of the semester at the Palomar College art gallery welcomes students to interact with the art work from two different artists. Alex Callender from Brooklyn, N.Y. and local artist Greg Holden Regan from Encinitas, Calif. have their pieces on display at the Boehm Gallery until Sept. 19. in a show titled “Oblique Intentions.” Callender’s show called “Everything Has Its Nature” is an expression of humans’ relationship to the natural environment. In the back corner of the room is the main piece of her exhibit. She used some of her old art pieces to put together a three-dimensional paper jungle of gray and white material objects entwined with a tree. Unusually bright flowers popped out, which Callender used to express the idea that people romanticize and have a “fetish” about an idea of nature, but rarely do we see these bright reds and blues in real nature. The material objects she entangled in the paper cut-out jungle are “un-precious items of consumer life” that we normally walk past everyday without taking notice of, such as hammers and chains. It is a blend of industrialism and consumerism with the idea of nature that people have created in their minds. This creates a “new nature,” Callender said. Callender said her biggest challenge is that everything she creates eventually collapses and gets recycled into something new. “Nothing is ever done,” she added. At the other end of the Boehm Gallery is Regan’s exhibit called “See-

ing Thought Bubbles with Peripheral Vision” that add an entirely new perspective to the spectrum of interactive art.

“With this process (of creating work for the exhibit) I started to write more on my art ... Getting rid of old feelings.” GREG HOLDEN REGAN • LOCAL ARTIST

With most of his paintings, he left an open space using chalkboard paint so anyone can add to the life of the piece. Chalk is placed next to the ones that can be drawn on. Regan said he wants people to feel comfortable expressing themselves and his artwork invites them to do that. He said he struggled with dyslexia as a child and still does. Expressing himself through art and writing words in some of his pieces help him lose any inhibitions and getting over the “chalkboard” fear of spelling in front of a classroom. “With this process (of creating work for the exhibit) I started to write more on my art ... Getting rid of old feelings,” Regan said. A woman at the opening day of the gallery spent a lot of time drawing on a piece titled “Read the Mind of a Superhero and you are a Superhero”, which turned out to be one that was not supposed to be chalked up. Regan said he didn’t mind at all

Interim Director of the gallery, Sasha Jonestein (left) and artist Regan (right) at the “Oblique Intentions” Exhibit on Aug. 21, 2014.

because that is the whole point of all this experience. The art evolves and Regan said he likes seeing the process. Within 10 minutes of the gallery opening on the first day, many people were writing and drawing on his paintings. Michelle Hausworth, a ceramics major at Palomar who works at the Boehm Gallery, said there are usually a lot of people who come to the gallery and opening day was a successful turn out. Many art teachers at Palomar give extra credit to students who attended. “This show has been so much fun to be a part of,” Hausworth said. SWHALEY@THE-TELESCOPE.COM

Alex Callender prepares her art installation in the Boehm Gallery on Aug. 19, 2014.

6 • NEWS

Monday, Sept. 8, 2014

Colleges look for alternative ways to cut cost of textbooks MCT CAMPUS AND TELESCOPE STAFF It’s the middle of summer and while many other students are hanging out at the beach or preoccupied with jobs, Elizabeth Rodriguez is emailing instructors for information about the books she will need as a junior this fall at California State University, Dominguez Hills. Her method is to find the books early and cheaply through online sites such as Amazon.com and Ebay rather than paying full price for texts that can cost upward of $300 at the school bookstore. Leon Smith, an undeclared major who’s attended Palomar College parttime for 15 years, must pay for his own textbooks as well as his daughter’s, also a Palomar student. “And we don’t receive any financial aid because we make too much money,” Smith said. The strategy is much simpler for Cal State, San Marcos, senior Jeffrey “J.J.” Gutowski. He’s stopped buying books altogether, unless he is

PRESIDENT CONT FROM PAGE 1

He continued to be involved with the speech and debate team as a volunteer coach even after he left Palomar. Palomar College Professor and Speech and Debate Coach Brandan Whearty, was a vital teacher in Hosfield’s life Hosfield said. Whearty said in an email, Hosfield is one of the best student leaders that Palomar has produced over the last decade. “(He) manages to marry the ideals of activism with functional pragmatism, making him one of the

convinced he needs them to pass a course, and then he will share a classmate’s text or rent one online. Such pushbacks to the soaring costs of textbooks have not gone unnoticed by officials at California State University, which began a new effort recently to offer more affordable options such as digital textbooks, rentals, buy-back programs and, most significantly, incentives for faculty to redesign courses to use low-cost or no-cost alternatives to textbooks. The 23-campus Cal State system is also leading a joint endeavor with the University of California and community colleges to develop an online library of free textbooks in 50 popular courses. As colleges look to reduce the overall cost of education, many are centering efforts on course materials, which, according to Cal State officials, sets an average student back more than $1,000 annually. That’s an 18 percent addition to an undergraduate’s annual $5,472 tuition. According to the UC website, students pay about $1,500 for textbooks and supplies, adding about

11 percent to the $13,200 in overall tuition and fees. And at California community colleges, many students can pay more for textbooks than for course fees, officials said. A national student survey released in January by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group Foundation found that 65 percent of respondents said they didn’t purchase a textbook because it was too expensive – even though most feared that their grades would suffer. Jaileen Mae Peter, an 18-year-old midwife nursing and international business major at Palomar, rents her textbooks on websites like Chegg. com and Barnes & Noble. But she has had to resort to extreme measures at times in order to afford her textbooks. “I have to sell cans in order to get my textbooks because it’s too expensive,” Peter said. Making course materials more affordable has become key to increasing student success, said Gerry Hanley, Cal State’s assistant vice chancellor for academic technology services. “My goal is to cut costs by 50 percent for all students,” said Hanley,

who oversees the initiative that helps faculty find low-cost teaching materials. “My real desire is to make material free for everyone, but I recognize that the creation of content and publication is real work.” Students saved an estimated $30 million total in 2013-2014 in Cal State bookstores by using digital textbooks, renting print copies, buying used ones and using other sources, Hanley said. Bay Smith, a 29-year-old business management major from Palomar, photocopies his textbooks at the school library, and has stopped buying his textbooks altogether, choosing to use alternative methods like sharing with his classmates. “I didn’t see the value of buying the book if I could find a cheaper, alternative source,” Smith said. A student looking for the intermediate accounting textbook at the Dominguez Hills bookstore, for example, would find a new copy for $318.75 and a used one for $239.25. Renting a new copy would cost $191.25 and a used copy $153, while a digital version of the text costs $59.49. Last spring, about 50,000 digital text-

book titles were available to Cal State students and faculty system wide. More than 200 of the campus’ 750-member faculty have revised their courses to offer low-cost or nocost alternatives to costly textbooks. For M. Keith Claybrook Jr., a lecturer in Africana studies, that means using scanned articles, drawing chapters from full textbooks to create customized readers and using e-books available for free through the campus library. Material for an introduction hip hop class taught in the spring retailed for $95.74 but students got them free. “My role as an educator is to make sure (students) have the tools and resources needed to maximize learning,” Claybrook said. “I don’t want to penalize my students who have financial hardships or limitations that prevent them from getting course materials; I’m not here to make the bookstore or publishing company rich.”

few student leaders in Palomar College history who works effectively to solve problems at all levels of our organization,” Whearty added. “ASG is the same as speech and debate,” Hosfield said. It is building and maintaining relationships, understanding hierarchies of power and following a set of bylaws, he added. Hosfield also delved into other trades after leaving school such as retail management and construction management. All these things have prepared him for leadership, he said. Returning to Palomar in the Fall 2013 semester Hosfield declared a double major in speech communica-

tion and political science. His goal is to transfer to San Diego State University and if not there then Point Loma University or University of California San Diego. Hosfield said he wants to stay local when he transfers and eventually return to Palomar to work as a professor. Palomar is a great school that has offered him many opportunities, Hosfield said. Outside of school Hosfield said his hobbies are San Diego sports and music. He is a “diehard Chargers, Padres and SDSU Athletics fan.” Big tasks and obstacles are ahead as Hosfield serves his first term as ASG

president. Everyone from last year is gone so Hosfield started with no members. Elected Vice President Shant Soghomonian has reportedly moved to a different state, but continues his education at Palomar through online classes. No comment was made on communication between Soghomonian. and Hosfield, but after missing three ASG meetings a member will be terminated from their position on the student government. “Recruiting is number one,” Hosfield said about his main goals for ASG. He must build a staff before projects can start and get completed.

A few years ago there was a “massive breakdown” in the ASG and its bylaws according to Hosfield. His job now is to bring it back to life and get more involved with students on campus. “Most people don’t know it (ASG) exists,” Hosfield added. Another goal Hosfield has for the future of ASG is to make it a sustainable student body influence. Even after he leaves Palomar, Hosfield wants the changes he implements and projects he starts to be carried out by the staff that he recruits now.

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Cook said he then placed everything in his life on hold, including an internship with a local radio station to attend court hearings and a psychological evaluation. Meanwhile, investigators with the San Marcos Sheriff ’s Department continued to gather evidence—video footage, incriminating statements, a lighter found on his person and even fingerprints left at the crime scene. “Until then I had been lying to everyone,” Cook said. “But I had to come clean. I told my parents first, then my girlfriend. They were supportive and wanted to help.” Cook eventually received a plea bargain from the District Attorney’s office. He was offered a chance to avoid prison time by pleading guilty to the charge of second-degree burglary and accepting five years of supervised probation. It was a deal he couldn’t refuse. So, he entered a plea of guilty and was scheduled for sentencing on Sept. 5. When asked how he felt about what he’d done, Cook responded, “I’m sorry. I’m not that kind of person. I’m the kind of person that likes to help people. I would make it up if I could, and now I just want to make a better life for myself.

Connor Cook appeared for sentencing on Sept. 5 after admitting to charges • Photo courtesy of Cook

“I’ve been going through the hardest time of my life and I just want to put it behind me,” he added. “I want a career and a family, just like everyone else. Family always comes first. And I’ve definitely learned my lesson.” Connor said his biggest priorities now are to work hard until his legal fees are paid off. Then he’d like to continue his education and pursue a career in digital broadcasting. “I’d love to go to MiraCosta,” Connor said, “but what college would want to enroll a guy known for starting school fires?” CGAXIOLA@THE-TELESCOPE.COM

NEWS • 7

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International students say they feel safe at Palomar College MCT CAMPUS AND TELESCOPE STAFF LOS ANGELES — The University of Southern California on Friday announced new measures aimed at better protecting its large international student population, as well as the rest of the campus, after the slayings of three Chinese graduate students over the last two years. The move comes two weeks after a 24-year-old graduate student was beaten to death just blocks away from campus, an attack that renewed demands from USC’s Chinese community for increased security. USC has the largest foreign student population of any U.S. university; about 3,000 of its 8,000 international students are from China. Out of the roughly 30,000 students enrolled at Palomar College, roughly 300 of them are international students from 49 countries, according to the school website fact sheet. “I have not dealt with one hate crime while working here,” said Judy Gervasio, staff member at Palomar’s International Student Office. USC will now require international graduate students to take ‘extended safety education’ programs, create an international student safety advisory group and train campus police about the different cultures of students on campus. John Thomas, chief of USC’s Department of Public Safety, said he hopes improved cultural understanding on both sides

will keep students safer. Some students come from countries where crime is less common, he said, while others are raised in cultures where the police are feared. Ena, 19, a Japanese student said that she got into Palomar College easily and since being here for the past year has had a good experience. “The weather is good and so are the people,” she said. Campus safety experts agreed that university administrators should pay particular attention to the needs of international students. David Perry, the president of the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators, said some may not understand basic precautions taught in the U.S., being aware of one’s surroundings, for example. “You’re trying to give them an extra edge to help them with safety in a new environment,” Perry said. Bofeng Liu, 20, a Chinese student at Palomar College, said that he felt safe on campus since he saw the police roaming around everywhere. He’s been at Palomar for about a year and stated that his classmates have been very friendly to him. Other security measures announced by USC include more patrols by campus security and Los Angeles Police Department officers in the neighborhoods around the campus, expansion of a free ride service offered to students and more staff members to monitor surveillance cameras.

You’re trying to give them an extra edge to help them with safety in a new environment. DAVID PERRY • PRESIDENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CAMPUS LAW ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATORS

The university will also now extend the deployment of unarmed security “ambassadors” to summer months. They were previously only in place during the school year, which drew criticism after the death of Xinran Ji, an engineering student from China who was fatally beaten with a baseball bat about 12:45 a.m. July 24. The changes mark the latest in a string of security improvements that USC has made since 2012, when two students were shot and killed during a botched robbery near campus. Six months later, a man opened fire outside a Halloween party on campus, injuring four people who were not students. Security on and off campus was amplified. The university installed dozens more surveillance cameras and license-plate readers. The LAPD created a 30-officer task force focused on the campus and the sur-

rounding neighborhood. USC also limited public access to campus in the evenings and added fingerprint scanners at dorm entrances. About 1,500 feet of fencing went up along the school’s 2-mile perimeter. USC reported a drop in property crimes in 2013 that officials attribute to the actions. A Los Angeles Times analysis of LAPD crime data showed violent crime also dropped. The campus has been on edge since Ji’s death. Four teenagers have been charged in his slaying, which authorities said began as a robbery. Ji’s death was particularly hard for USC’s Chinese community. In 2012, Ying Wu and Ming Qu, two 23-yearold graduate students in the electrical engineering program, were shot to death about 1 a.m. while sitting in a parked BMW just west of campus. The students’ parents filed a wrongful-death suit against the university, saying the school misled them when it said it ranked among the safest in the nation. The suit was dismissed. After Ji’s death, Wu and Qu’s parents called for the Chinese government to issue a “study advisory” which would alert Chinese parents of the safety risks they said came with attending USC. Xu Yuan, the president of USC’s Chinese Students and Scholars Association, said university officials formally met with his group twice to discuss their safety concerns. His group wrote one of two online petitions that called on USC to take action; their demands were among the

new measures announced by the university. “So far, USC has shown that they are taking what we’ve petitioned for very seriously,” Yuan said, calling the new measures a good step. But, he cautioned, it was too early to know if these measures would be enough to prevent something from happening again. “Only time will tell,” he said. Shelley Wu, a graduate student, helped write a second petition that called on the university to take more responsibility for Ji’s death. She was skeptical whether the new measures would be effective. Ji’s “death happened not because the technology was not advanced enough, there are already a lot of cameras in the area,” she said. “The question is, even if you have cameras and high-end security technology all over the place, how do you prevent something like Ji’s death from happening again?” At USC on Friday, many students said they had not heard about the increased security measures. University officials said they planned to send a letter to students when they returned to campus for the school year. Sarah Suzuki, 20, recently arrived at Palomar and is hoping to get her associate’s degree in music. She said that it has been great being here and enjoys the weather in California. TELESCOPE STAFF MEGAN BUBAK AND BRIAN O’MALLEY CONTRIBUTED TO THIS REPORT

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8 • SPORTS

Monday, Sept. 8, 2014

Palomar water polo looks to start 2014 with a splash CHRISTOPHER BULLOCK THE TELESCOPE

The 2014 season is a redeeming kind of season for this year’s Palomar College men’s water polo team, while the women’s water polo team adjusts to changes in the coaching ranks. Last season, Coach Chad Aronen and his men’s squad struggled compared to their 2012 season, when the team went 21-7 and made it to the California Community College Athletic Association State Community College Tournament. That team sent six players to four-year schools. Last year’s squad finished third in the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference, going 7-18 overall with a 4-4 conference record, losing to rival San Diego Mesa College in the thirdplace game of the conference tournament. This season, returning key players Rich Farley and Evan Dean look to lead the team to success as they start out with a tough schedule. They start their season against San Diego Mesa, then on to the Golden West Tournament before playing their first

home game Sept. 10, when they host Southwestern College. Coach Aronen expressed confidence in his team and the season ahead. “I feel that no matter the result, we (the team) will play up to our full potential,” Aronen said. The women’s water polo team looks to build on its successful 2013 season, where it went 17-10 overall, with a 16-9 conference record. The team lost to Grossmont College in the PCAC Championship game, then advanced to the CCCAA State Community College Tournament, where they lost to Los Angeles Pierce College in the opening round. This year’s team is being led by longtime Palomar swimming coach Jem McAdams, who takes over for Kathy “Gubba” Sheehy. Sheehy, a former Olympian who was inducted into the USA Water Polo Hall of Fame in 2010, is recovering from surgery. At the time of print, the women’s water polo roster had not been released to the press. Palomar men’s water polo coach Chad Aronen goes over strategy with both teams during a joint practice. • Harim Arjon /The Telescope

CBULLOCK@THE-TELESCOPE.COM

2014 gets off to a running start for Palomar’s cross country teams at the Mort Covert Classic CHRISTOPHER BULLOCK THE TELESCOPE

The 2014 season for Palomar’s men’s and women’s cross country has already started, but things look to be promising for this year’s squads. In their first meet of the year, the Mort Covert Classic, both teams raced to a 12th-place finish in their respective fields. The meet, hosted by Cal State Fullerton, was a combination of community colleges and Division I schools, including Loyola Marymount University, University of Southern

California (USC) and San Diego State University. Palomar women’s team finished the meet with 339 points, with returning runner Jessica Steinhoff as their top finisher. Steinhoff ran the 5K course in 19:49.4 to finish 42nd out of 147 entries. Steinhoff, the lone returnee from the last season’s team, along with coach Jennifer Williams, look to build on last season’s success. That 2013 women’s team tied for the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference Championship with San Diego Mesa College due to a controversial ending in the conference champion-

COMETS FOOTBALL FINDS ITS SHINING STAR

ship meet. The controversy ended with conference commissioner John Woods declaring that both schools were co-champions. The men’s cross country team finished its meet with 358 points. Sophomore Matthew Bellah earned top honors for the team, finishing the 8K course in 28:42.3, which placed him at 88th out of 169 runners. Coach Hugh Gerhardt and his team, with seven returning players, look to improve on last season. The men’s team finished fourth in the PCAC last season. CBULLOCK@THE-TELESCOPE.COM

Women’s volleyball to be road-tested MEGAN BUBAK THE TELESCOPE

Outside hitter Rachel McFarland in Fall 2013. • Telescope file photo

The Palomar women’s volleyball team will be ‘road warriors’ for almost half the season. From the end of August to Oct. 3, Palomar only hosts one game, a nonconference game against Irvine Valley College on Sept. 10 at the Dome. Although there are nine new players on the team this year, head coach Karl Seiler has big ideas set for them. “We have the goals of winning

our conference and going to the state playoffs,” Seiler said in an interview via email. “Even though these are huge dreams, if we can find the right rhythm, we do have the right players to go the distance.” On top of the nine freshman, Palomar does have five returning players, including all-Pacific Coast Athletic Conference middle blocker Maci Lerno. Last year’s team went 12-11 overall, with an 8-6 conference record. MBUBAK@THE-TELESCOPE.COM

Brett Hollingsworth, starting quarterback for the 2014 Comets. • Gary West/Telescope

Look for Brett’s profile story in our next sports column, issued Sept. 22

UPCOMING PALOMAR HOME GAMES SEPT.9

SEPT.10

SEPT. 10

SEPT.12

SEPT. 19

Women’s soccer vs. El Camino Compton Center 4 p.m. @ Minkoff Field

Women’s water polo vs. Southwestern 2 p.m. @Wallace Memorial Pool

Men’s water polo vs. Southwestern 3:30 p.m. @ Wallace Memorial Pool

Women’s volleyball vs. Irvine Valley 5 p.m. @ The Dome

Women’s soccer vs. Southwestern 2 p.m. @ Minkoff Field

Men’s soccer vs. Consumnes River 2 p.m. @ Minkoff FIeld

Women’s soccer vs. West Los Angeles 3:30 p.m. @ Minkoff Field