Palomar College, San Marcos, Calif. Monday april 26, 2010 Vol. 63, No. 20
the-telescope.com
$aving
INSIDE
E n t e r ta in m en t
Cash:
‘Death at a Funeral’ should have stayed buried
The inside scoop on getting grants ashley planchon the telescope
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Focus
Entertainment volunteer jobs page
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brian blakely| THE TELESCOPE
Sports Softball team success page
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O p ini o n Chelsea’s Law calls for necessary change page
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Student multitasks school, skateboard brian blakely The telescope
Many students will tell you that it’s hard to multitask hobbies and schoolwork. For one Palomar student, however, mixing his hob-
by, skateboarding, with school is as easy as the basic skateboard trick, the ollie. Alex Pedroza, 21, is a student at the San Marcos Palomar campus, but many people are unaware that he’s also a sponsored skateboarder. Pedroza said that for 10 years, he has been progressing and
learning as a skateboarder every day. “My cousin worked for a skate company when I was little,” Alex said. “He got me into skating and I just never lost interest.” Pedroza currently rides for Utility Board Shop in Poway, Dekline footwear, and gets flowed boards from the Tum Yeto distribution in San Diego courteturn to boarder page
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Palomar College offers ways to increase students’ chances of success as well as help them meet their educational goals through various grants and grant-funded programs. Students can get financial assistance through federal program grants such as the Pell Grant, the Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant and the State Cal Grant, all of which require the Free Application for Student Aid, according to the Financial Aid Office. Certain grant-funded programs are also offered at the school to students who are eligible to join them. TRIO is one such program. It provides “innovative and supportive services and programs for low-income, first-generation and disabled students, and their parents,” according to TRIO’s mission statement, listed on the program’s website. The services provided to the students involved in this program are free and designed to increase the college retention and graduation/transfer rates, and to facilitate the process of transition from Palomar to a four-year university. The services provided in TRIO include counseling, awards, financial aid, and scholarship information and guidance. Priority registration, cultural and education activities and workshops are also offered. The program does require an individual be a full-time student (taking 12 units per semester) and maintain a 2.5 grade point average. According to TRIO Coordinator Claudia Carter, the program is “made for those with an academic need.” Another program available to Paloturn to grants page
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steve treboux| courtesy photo illustration
Legos help teach computer programing melina fickas The telescope
A new program at Palomar College uses Lego robots to teach computer programming, school officials said recently. During the first five to eight weeks of the course, students design and build robots out of Legos during lab time. Terrie Canon, Palomar professor and creator of the Survey of Computer Science class, CSCI 108, said that this is the first semester that this teaching method is being implemented. “I wanted them to think like a programmer without using programs,” Canon said. “We find that people are more melina fickas | THE TELESCOPE
visual learners and doing things handson is more rewarding.” Canon got the idea to use the Lego robots in this program because she saw them in the department office and thought she should put them to use in one of her classes. Palomar had previously offered a robotics class at Poway High School, and the Legos were no longer being used. “I’d never built with Legos in my life before; my son had to help me,” Canon said with a laugh. Student Michael Wirt said he likes turn to robots page
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alan chia | courtesy photo
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|CAMPUS BEAT Drug studies scholarships
Campus Calendar Monday, April 26
• International Club at 1 p.m. in
A-15 • Mormon Club at 7 a.m. at the LDSSA Institute. • Phi Theta Kappa Chapter at 1 p.m. in SU-204 • Monday 2:30 p.m. in NS 136
Tuesday, April 27
• Fashion Club at 5 p.m. in Fash #1 • Extreme Creative Talent Club 2:15 p.m. in D-6 • Film Series at 6:30 p.m. in P-32
Wednesday, April 28
• The Jesus Club at 11 a.m. under the Clock Tower • The Black Union (BSU) at 3:30 p.m. in SU-204 • University in Diversity at 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the Student Union Building
Students enrolled in courses related to the Alcohol and Other Drug Studies program at Palomar College can apply for a scholarship to attend the 39th annual Summer Clinical Institute in Addiction Studies. The institute will be put on by the University of California, San Diego Center for Criminality & Addiction Research, Training & Application. SCI is a three-day conference, running from Aug. 3-5. According to the CCARTA website, this year’s event will feature lectures, workshops and discussion sessions from UCSD faculty and other nationally and internationally recognized experts. The AODS program at Palomar College prepares students to become certified drug and alcohol abuse counselors. Maria Miller, head of the AODS program, spoke highly of the SCI. “CCARTA puts on some great training; I have been very impressed with their work,”Miller said. Scholarships include registration, materials and attendance at all conference sessions. Students must submit a 300word essay on why they’d like to attend SCI along with a completed application, which is available on the CCARTA website.
Applications must be received by April 30 and students can expect a decision by May 14. Students can submit applications and essays via mail, e-mail or fax. Mail to Jennifer Waldon, UCSD Center for Criminality & Addiction Research, Training & Application, 5060 Shoreham Place, Suite 200, San Diego, Calif., 92122; email to jwaldon@ucsd. edu or to 858-334-4601. For more information, call 858-334-4614 or visit ccarta.ucsd. edu.
Get your pottery on at the SU Palomar is holding its Spring 2010 Student Art Sale Thursday April 29 through Saturday May 1 on the San Marcos campus. Several hand-crafted items will be on display as for sale as well. Pieces for the sale include pottery, ceramic sculptures, blown glass, stained glass, fused and slumped glass, metal work, jewelry and photography, each created by the students of the art department. Potential shoppers are asked to go to the Student Union and follow the yellow and red pennants to the sale’s location. Hours are from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. Parking will be available in lots 1, 2 (Mis-
Telescope places at state conference
Thursday, April 29
• Tifaolemoana Samoan Club at
11 a.m. in SU-204 • The Palomar Fire Club at 4 p.m. in the Public Safety Training Center • M.E.Ch.A. Club at 4:30 p.m. in SU-1 • Fashion Club at 5 p.m. in Fash #1 • Extreme Creative Talent Club at 2:15 p.m. in D-6 • The Jordan Club at 11 a.m. under the Clock Tower • PEPSO at 3:30 p.m. in NS-252
Friday, April 30
• Palomar Engineering and Physics Student Organization (PEPSO) at 2:30 p.m. in NS255 • Anime Club at 2 p.m. in P-20
Melina Fickas| THE TELESCOPE
Alejandra Jackson, Sydnie Taylor, Dan McCarthy, Eric Walker, Jarred Powell, Yvonne Lanot, and Maggie Avants (left to right) pose with their awards. The Telescope received these awards in competitions at the 2010 Journalism Association of Community Colleges state conference.
THE TELESCOPE | Monday, April 26, 2010
sion Road), and 5 (Comet Circle) without a permit for the duration of the event.All other lots will require a permit. If a day permit is needed, please visit the Campus Police. All proceeds will go towards the Art Department and students. Anyone interested in making a purchase may pay with cash, check or credit card. For any further information, please contact the Palomar College Art Department at (760)-744-1150 ext. 2302.
Skateboarders beware The Palomar Police Department is taking a stance to keep skateboards, rollerblades and certain motorized vehicles off campus for good. In April 2009, Campus Police adopted the AP 3501 Skateboarding, Rollerblades and Similar Devices policy. Citations will be given to anyone on campus violating the policy. Unfortunately, due to a lack of signage from Palomar’s Facilities Department, the policy has not yet been put into force. “To be fair to everyone, if we want to enforce the policy, the word has to be out,” Palomar Campus Police Lieutenant Mike Bea said.“We wish we could get the signage; we’ve been waiting over a year.” A total of 16 signs have been proposed to the Palomar Safety & Security Committee for approval, with six to be located at the main entrances to the campus and 10 on the interior of the campus. There is currently no timeline of when the signs will be provided. The signs will be where most skateboarders are seen now,“up toward the front of the campus by the Sprinter area, in front and behind the Student Union, by the NS Building, the Howard Brubeck Theatre, the Boehm Gallery and a few more locations,” Bea said. The prototype of the signs will be designed by a vendor who will be given an idea of what the Facilities Department and Campus Police agree on. “The funding for the signage has not been determined, but the signage in the parking lots would normally come from the parking lot supply budget and the signs for the interior of the campus would come from the safety repair budget,” said Mike Ellis, Palomar facilities director. To view Palomar Community College District’s procedure and the AP3501 policy, go to palomar.edu and search for skateboarding. The Campus Police Department can also be contacted at 760-744-1150 ext. 3972.
of activity was not permissible. On this second incident, which happened April 1, the student was given a student code violation.
P olice B lotter
Unnecessary roughness
Foul coffee
What’s up? Do you know something we don’t? Let us know. To submit story tips or events for the campus calendar, e-mail us at telescope@palomar.edu or call 760-891-7865.
An employee who was working on the first floor of the library building complained that someone had put Lysol in his coffee. Campus police said the complainant tasted Lysol when he took a drink, and saw traces of the spray near his coffee cup.
Pornography on campus
A student was cited for watching pornography on a computer in the Student Union. Campus Police said they had previously warned the student that this type
CAMPUS WEATHER Monday Tuesday April 26
April 27
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An unknown student hugged a disabled student on April 12 without her permission. The disabled student filed a police report, but no action was taken in the matter.
Medical assists
• A wood working student injured her fingers on April 2 while working on a project. The student sought medical assistance at the Health Center, but was transported to Scripps Hospital by the San Marcos Fire Department. • An employee at the Escondido campus tripped on
Wednesday
Thursday
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HSI Science Club The Hispanic Student Institution Science Club was formed in early 2009 for students in scientific and technical careers, to help them succeed in the difficult areas of their majors.The club offers mentors, tutors and counseling to members. The club focuses on first-generation college students involved in courses such as science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Ed Solis, the president of the club, said that while all current members are Hispanic, the entire community is welcome to join in and share their experiences or help out with tutoring, especially in math. According to the members of the group, they will prepare and host different workshops, field trips and other activities with professors and experts that can help them understand the core courses of their majors. The club aims to help students who are undecided about their future career, and promote among them the scientific and technologic fields. The club seeks support from the HSI federal grant to get extra help for difficult classes such as math and science. According to club members, the club is a way to get more youth involved and interested in these careers. The club meets at 3 p.m. every second Friday in Room SU-17. For information contact Ed Solis at 760-805-6232 or John Valdez at 760-744-1150 ext. 2219.ww
Celebrate diversity Palomar College’s sixth annual Diversity Celebration will be held from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on April 28 in the Student Union Building. The free annual event features live entertainment and refreshments from different cultures. This year’s theme is “Celebrating our Differences” and will feature Mark Sisson, professor of Film and Television from Southwestern College, as the keynote speaker. A live panel discussion will take place. This year’s entertainment will include Hawaiian dancers as well as the Traveling Gypsies, which is a group of former Palomar students that play gypsy jazz. For more information contact Lara Gropen at lgropen@palomar.edu or 760-7441150 ext. 2152.
a concrete planter. The employee sustained unknown injuries and refused medical treatment.
Hit-and-runs
An unknown student backed into the Campus Police chief’s unmarked car on April 14 in Lot 1. The impact caused damage to the front of the vehicle. Anyone with information on this incident is encouraged to contact Campus Police at 760-744-1150, ext. 2289. This is the second hit-and-run involving the chief’s vehicle this semester.
Petty theft
A wallet and a cell phone were stolen out of a locker on April 13 in the Wellness Center. Anyone with information on this incident can call 760-744-1150, ext. 2289.
April 29
Friday
April 30
Saturday
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May 1
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NEWS| 3
Monday, April 26, 2010 | THE TELESCOPE
robots Continued from Page 1 the hands-on approach and that his favorite part of the program is building the Lego models. “I didn’t get to do it much as a kid,” Wirt said. Some students in the program said they did not know that this class would involve building and programming Lego robots. “I had no idea. It seemed a lot more exciting than I thought it would be,” said student Emily Lambert. “It allows people for the first time to get a sense of what programming is.” The students work in groups of three to four people per Lego robot. They decide what style they want their robot to be from online resources, and tweak their robot to look and function however they like. “You can make it what you want instead of being told step-bystep what to do,” Wirt said. Students program their robots to do any number of functions, including picking up a ball, speak-
ing and giving high fives. It isn’t all fun and games though. As with most classes, there are lecture classes that student Eric Pinson said can be boring and hard to get through. Student Tyler Allan joked that actually getting the program to work is the hardest part of the class. The students will showcase their robots before they move on to start learning a programming language called Alice. “It (Alice) allows students to learn fundamental programming concepts in the context of creating animated movies and simple video games,” according to Alice. org. Canon said if the program is a success that they might continue using it in future computer science classes as an additional lab. “If you look around it’s cooperative learning; people are talking to each other,” Canon said. “It’s fun.”
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4
|Opinion
THE TELESCOPE | Monday, APRil 26, 2010
ONLINE RESULTS
SPEAKOUT!
...
Should Escondido keep its driver’s license checkpoints?
No, it infringes on our civil liberties
20%
It doesn’t matter to me either way
20%
“Yes, you want to make sure that everyone has a driver’s license. It’s not a discriminatory thing, it’s a safety hazard. You want to make sure no one is driving with a DUI or underage.” –Miguel Gomez, Nursing
“I don’t think it’s necessary. Cops should be concerned with more important things. People without a driver’s license should be the least of their concerns.” –Melina Anderson, Fashion Merchandising
“No. We are responsible students. We don’t need checkpoints. Everyone should be responsible for themselves.” –Christian Howard, Radio and Television
Palomar is having an identity crisis
Next week’s question: Do you plan on celebrating Cinco de Mayo?
lar aspects: transfer readiness, basic skills and workforce development. Something unsaid about this is that by aiming courses toward a particular genre of students, administrators are controlling the population of our school. “The only way you can control enrollment is by making cuts,” said Laura Gropen, Palomar’s interim director of Public Affairs. Four-year schools have certain admission requirements and can put a cap on the students they accept. Community colleges do not have that luxury. Enrollment is unlimited. By making cuts, community colleges are able to gear their school towards a specific audience of students. In Palomar’s case, by maintaining the courses needed for transfer and cutting courses that are just for vocational training, administrators are basically telling the community that they are a transfer-oriented in-
So what do you think? Write a letter to the editor and we’ll publish the best ones next week! E-mail us at: telescopecopy@palomar.edu stitution. If you want a two-year degree or trade school skills, go somewhere else. This shift is illustrated through recent cuts to Palomar’s Regional Occupational Program, which offers vocational courses. ROP no longer offers courses for six of their 11 programs listed online. That means over 75 percent of the strictly vocational courses have been cut. “We have removed any courses that are recreational and special topic courses,” said Berta Cuaron, vice-president of instructional services. In Palomar’s defense, administrators do work to try to keep the students’ needs in mind. “Classes for certificates and associates degree’s in things such as welding, wood working, wastewater management will not go away,” Cuaron said. There were 500 classes cut this
Focused on Palomar
Volume 63 Number 20
Monday APRil 26, 2010 Editors In Chief | Kelley Foyt Melissa LeRay Opinion Editor | Dan Mccarthy Entertainment Editor | Alejandra Jackson Focus Editor | Sara Burbidge Sports Editor | jarred powell Photo Editor | Kelley Foyt Copy Editor | MAggie Avants Cartoonist | Joseph Bonnett online editor | eric walker
60%
Vote online at the-telescope.com
Our viewpoint
This spring semester alone, 225 classes were cut from Palomar’s curriculum. Assuming there’s about 35 students per class, that’s about 7,875 students who did not get into the courses that they needed. The school is moving in a new direction, but at what cost? Our school is undergoing a change in philosophy. Administrators are modifying the definition of the purpose of a community college with a shift strictly towards transfer courses. This means that Palomar will focus less on offering two-year degrees, community education and trade school courses. Palomar’s objective focal point is prepping students for universities, which, in turn, means that if a class doesn’t fall into a transfer requirement, it’s more likely to be cut. To ensure students are successful upon leaving Palomar, the staff currently focuses on three particu-
“I don’t see why not. If you’re driving without a license then you’re asking for it. I don’t see it as bad. You should be driving with your license.” –Michelle Fields, Undeclared
Yes, it’s a legitimate safety measure
ad manager | sara burbidge Entertainment Editor | Alejandra Jackson assistant Editors | melina fickas nigel harris graianne ward distribution manager | sara burbidge instructional asst. | sara burbidge Charles Steinman Eric Walker journalism advisor | erin hiro
The Telescope is published 11 times per semester. Opinions expressed in the newspaper are those of the individual writers and do not necessarily represent those of the entire newspaper staff, Palomar faculty and staff members or the governing board trustees.
year, but in fairness, over 8,000 were offered. That means less than 10 percent of classes were unobtainable due to budget cuts, which is a much friendlier figure than what some of our neighboring schools are experiencing. However, there is an influx of students that need those classes that no longer exist. Almost every student at Palomar has experienced some level of inconvenience due to the class cuts. There is a significant number of students who are coming to Palomar purely for vocational courses and do not plan on transferring. It isn’t fair for administrators to set a common theme for classes that puts prejudice against anyone who doesn’t plan on going to a university. In addition, if administrators were to cut pre-requisite courses that don’t apply for transfer (such as Math 56 or English 10), they will Address | The Telescope, Palomar College 1140 W. Mission Road, San Marcos, CA 92069 Newsroom | Room MB-1 Phone | 760-891-7865 Fax | 760-891-3401 E-Mail | telescope@palomar.edu Advertising e-Mail | telescopead@palomar.edu Staff Writers |Roberto Alcaraz, Victor Amador, Diana Baier, America Barcelo, Camilo Barrero, Brian Blakely, Rocio Castaneda, Melissa Caston, Loghan Call, Belinda Callin, Stephanie Dao, Kirby Darland, Denny Dorsey, Christian Fortmueller, Michael Garza, Caitlin Geckeler, Amy Genduso, Bert Hansen, Evan Hatheway, Clint Jones, Brian Kay, Adam Knechtel, Yvonne Lanot, Chris Meyer, Beckett Mufson, Melody Parks, Teresa Probart, Diana Sanchez, Mark Sauders, Typhanie Sharfner, Nick Shumate, Taylor Smith, Danny Sumstine, Sydnie Taylor, Victoria Tran, Fa’amasani Unutoa Staff Photographers | Phyllis Celmer, Deb Hellman, Coral McMurtry, Victoria Tran
invariably leave out students who don’t have the basic knowledge or skills of certain course disciplines. Palomar meets the needs of our prepared students, but not the needs of those who didn’t necessarily receive quality education prior to coming here. It is great for Palomar to upgrade in its thinking and philosophy, but if doesn’t benefit all of the students, then we should rethink that course of action. Make a difference now before the courses you plan on taking next semester are cut. Tell our administrators that Palomar is a community college, and communities function as a whole. Write a letter to Palomar President Robert Deegan, and e-mail it to him at rdeegan@palomar.edu. Alternatively, you can reach him during office hours in Room LL 202 (2nd Floor) or by calling 760-7441150 ext. 2106. 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 can be e-mailed to telescope@ palomar.edu or delivered to the newsroom in Room MB-1. The Telescope reserves the right to edit letters for space and grammatical errors and not to print lewd or libelous letters. Letters must be received one week prior to the newspaper’s publication to be considered for inclusion.
Associated Collegiate PRess
CFAC
California Newspaper Publishers Association
Journalism Association California First Amendment Coalition of Community Colleges
Opinion| 5
Monday, APRil 26, 2010| THE TELESCOPE
Protecting California’s children Proposed “Chelsea’s Law” makes needed changes to state sex offender statutes Ashley Planchon The Telescope
Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher (R-San Diego) introduced Chelsea’s Law on April 12. The law aims to provide harsher penalties for sexual predators by enacting necessary changes. For far too long, parents have argued and pleaded for reforms to state sex offender statutes, and the proposed Chelsea’s Law takes a decisive stance against sexual predators that harass children. It is about time that legislators realize we need to focus more on protecting children and less on rehabilitating sexual predators — that is, if rehabilitation is even possible for these kinds of monsters. “Life without parole for a violent sexual predator is needed,” said Brent King, Chelsea’s father. “These offenders cannot be rehabilitated.They do not deserve a second chance,” Two other laws protecting children, Megan’s Law and Jessica’s Law are already in place, but Chelsea’s Law finally brings intense changes, including life without the possibility of parole for forcible sex crimes against children exist. Other penalties include lifetime Global Positioning System tracking and lifetime parole for those convicted on lesser charges (see graphic for more information on GPS devices used to monitor paroled sex
offenders and how they work). It prohibits sex offenders from recreational areas where children may be present, without prior permission from authorities. King’s death has shown Californians that the current laws no longer work. After John Albert Gardner III, who has a previous child molestation conviction, pled guilty to murdering both King and Escondido teen Amber Dubois, the point cannot be more obvious. “The primary responsibility of government is public safety,” Fletcher said. “It’s why it exists — to protect the innocent, to protect the vulnerable, to protect children. And we have to do a better job.” Unfortunately, the bill will cost the state a lot of money. The state will have to house more sex offenders for longer periods of time or for life sentences. While Fletcher’s bill has yet to describe the fiscal impact and how the state will pay for it, many Democrats and Republicans back this bill, and are seeking a way to solve this financial problem. Society needs to focus less on our checkbook and more on our children. If the cost of housing theses criminals is indeed too great, then perhaps it is time that we rethink our priorities about what we are spending our taxpayer dollars on. Our children’s safety depends on it.
Outrage: with plea deal, John Gardner got off easy roberto alcaraz The Telescope
Corrections officers say GPS monitoring devices play a valuable role in tracking locations and patterns of sex offenders. mark harrison| mct campus
John Albert Gardner III got it easy. He made a deal with the prosecutors to avoid the death penalty. Instead of death, he will spend the rest of his life behind bars. What a sweet bargain. Yes, he got one hell of a deal, and I’ll tell you why. He murdered two teenage girls and hid their bodies. For that, he will live to a ripe old age. No death penalty, no death row. He will live among the general jail population. He will be able to live a normal prison life. On death row, he would live in solitary confinement. He would have no contact with the outside world. He would spend most of his time by himself. He would have time to think about what he did. Instead, he will be making friends and playing ball with others.
Without a trial, Gardner won’t have to face the families of Chelsea and Amber. He won’t have to feel guilty or even ashamed. He won’t be reminded what he did to those girls. He won’t have to step out into the public eye. The prosecutor believes that the families’ grief was spared, but this deal, Gardner’s feelings were spared, also. He was allowed to run away and hide. Sure, Gardner will be behind bars for the rest of his life, but has justice prevailed? Hell no! The winner was Gardner. He took the lives of two girls. He took them away from their families and friends. He prevented them from growing up.The girls’ dreams ended when Gardner killed them. He has something that the girls don’t have: life. John Albert Gardner III won. We gave him that sweet deal.
The sunflower has become the symbol of Chelsea’s memory and the fight to prevent another like tragedy
bill wechter| mct campus
John Albert Gardner III, a convicted sex offender, plead guilty to the murders of teens Chelsea King and Amber Dubois. His guilty plea avoids the death penalty. rick nease| mct campus
eric chapman| mct campus
6
|Focus
THE TELESCOPE | Monday, april 26, 2010
what does it mean to you? Volunteering doesn’t have to be boring. Here are a few places and events that can go on the resume and have a blast participating in.
Public Relations Volunteer The Seany Foundations 7567 La Jolla Blvd., La Jolla/ San Diego, CA 92037 Send resumes to ttricasa@ theseanyfoundation.org Writing press releases and making phone calls for foundations. A 5-10 hour a week commitment is required. Interns must be at least 18 years old, this is an unpaid internship.
Social Media Intern Difference Makers International 449 Sante Fe Drive, Suite 252, Encinitas, CA 92024 Planning and organizing social networking campaigns on behalf of Difference Makers International. Interns should have a basic knowledge of social networking and Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator and preferably an educational background in marketing, public relations, graphic design, journalism or business.
Photography Volunteer City of Vista 600 Eucalyptus Ave, Vista, CA 92084 Take pictures for the city of Vista. Pictures will be used for promotional purposes. Volunteers need only have a camera.
Graphic Design Volunteer StandUp For Kids Oceanside, CA 92049 Volunteers are needed to help create flyers, advertisements and brochures. Volunteers should have experience with the Adobe Creative Suite, preferably CS4.
Film Industry Volunteer San Diego Film Commission 1010SecondAvenue,Suite1500 San Diego, CA, 92101 The commission is dedicated to promoting San Diego as a film-friendly region, coordinating and facilitating the permission process and serving as a liaison with local government, the community, and the production industry. Media Arts Center San Diego 921 25th Street San Diego, CA 92102-2705 619.230.1938, tel 619.230.1937, fax www.mediaartscenter.org The centers biggest event each year is the San Diego Latino Film Festival but they look for volunteers and interns throughout the year for smaller events. The centers website encourages people to come by the offce or fill out a volunteer form online.
caitlin geckler The Telescope
Years from now when everything is in order: a home, a career, maybe a family. Would that be success? By definition from MerriamWebster, success is, a favorable or desired outcome; also, the attainment of wealth, favor, or eminence. Success to Palomar students can mean different things and has changed over time. Wealth is a major goal for college graduates, but to some it is not the only priority for success. “I could have been guaranteed a job in better paying fields, but political science has always been my passion,” said Palomar student Mehrasb Farahani. “Happiness is doing what you love and if you are happy and healthy, then you are successful.” In Farahani’s view, happiness and health equal success, but not everyone sees success that way. Over the past decades, there has been a shift in the trend for success. Focus from home life has changed to a focus on education. Sixty years ago, people viewed a working man with a wife at home as success. “In the 1950s, the fact that a woman was even attending a college was uncanny and paranormal,” according to associatedcontent. com. Today, both men and women attending college is the norm. The idea of who can attend college has changed, and with it the idea of success. “To live a life that’s thriving doing something you love (is success),” Palomar student Adeline McKinley said. McKinley is currently a music major, but plans on switching to business upon transfer. McKinley explained that she loves music as well as business and following both
gives her a sustainable balance that she can use to access her goal. Other Palomar students follow a similar path as McKinley. “Giving it your best shot is success,” theater major Kyle Wright said. Wright sees himself as successful as long as he is following his dreams. Most of his classes have been towards his goal of becoming an actor. “As long as I still keep my head high, I will be successful,” he said. Success can just as easily be attained as it can be dreamed. With resources such as community colleges, success has been reached by several graduates. “I wanted to be a vet when I was younger, I felt it was very rewarding, but the schooling was too much,” said Joyce Paarman, one of the nurses on staff at the Escondido campus. She knew she had a passion for medicine and decided to pursue nursing instead. She attended Palomar in the 1970s and went on to a transfer school to finish nursing. “The comprehensive mission of community colleges makes them attractive to a broad range of people,” according to the American Association of Community Colleges. That includes high school students. “High school students consistently report that the oppor-
tunity for higher earnings is a key reason for getting a college degree,” according to the Encyclopedia website on the subject of earnings and major fields of study of college graduates. Community colleges can give people the opportunity to follow their interests, whether they are pursing political science, theater arts, chemistry or any other major their community college provides
and in Paarman and other students cases, the benefits of lighter tuition help to reach their success. According to AACC, the average annual tuition for a four-year student is $6,585, compared to a community college student who pays $2,402, allowing the student to save around $3,000 a year. “I feel very successful,” Paarman said. “I’m happy and enjoy what I do.”
illustration by ellen simonson | mct campus
Palomar offers training for ‘special inspectors’ stephanie dao The Telescope
other former members of the class. “What’s great about the program is that it gave you all the technical information, but you also learn the applications to start a business,” Cohen Losing a job or having a smaller income than before doesn’t have said. So far, Cohen and his partners have been successful; in two months, to translate to a dim future. Palomar College is offering a new training program for low-income, their business, Icarus Green Energy Solutions, has completed a dozen difjobless students that will boost household energy conservation in a green- ferent paid household energy audits. Depending on how extensive the inspections are, Cohen said that each minded economy. The Home Energy Rater System program, or HERS, allows students inspection lasts two to three hours and costs between $350 and $800. Coto become certified by the California Home Energy Efficiency Rating Ser- hen and his partners are planning to grow their business by hiring other energy raters certified by CHEERS. vices, otherwise known as CHEERS. Homeowners who take measures to make their living space more en Students must undergo a three-week training process to learn the necessary procedures and processes involved in home-energy audits, as well ergy efficient will experience up to 50 percent in lower costs of household as the rules and regulations set out by the California Energy Commission. utilities and waste reduction, according to the CHEERS website. The HERS program at Palomar accepts student referrals from the U.S. Teri Safranek, the former director of Palomar College’s Workforce and Community Development, described the rater position in a news release. Department of Labor’s One Stop Career Center, and in this way the program allows students who have limited income “HERS raters are designed by the Caliand/or are currently unemployed a chance to fornia Energy Commission as ‘special in__________________________________________ build a promising career in an economy seeking spectors.’ They assess a house for energy efficiency and come up with a rating — “What makes it so exciting is that we more green jobs. The grant presented to Palomar by the U.S. similar to the sticker on a new car that are in the very infantile, beginning Department of Labor covers funding for five sestells the miles per gallon the car will get.” stages of a future trend. ” sions of the program and will professionally train According to the CHEERS website, a total of 96 students. this program provides a variety of direct ____________________________ Debbie Allen, the director of the Workforce and indirect benefits for the economy and Community Development at Palomar, said with the addition of new jobs and environthere are still limited openings for interested students to enroll in the sesment-saving action that can be done by individuals. In addition to the certification, 30 to 50 percent of the course is dedi- sion, occurring from April 26 through May 14. As the program takes just a few weeks to complete, those enrolled must cated to showing students how to gain confidence and knowledge on how to effectively start up their own business. This is accomplished by incorpo- be “very dedicated,” according to Cohen, as the course is highly intensive rating various skills such as time and stress management, as well as good due to the abundance of information that must be covered in such a short communication, according to Steve Beyer, owner of Integrated Publica- period of time. The class takes place Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 tions and the instructor for the entrepreneurial component of the program p.m. at the Escondido campus. offered at Palomar. Under the current stimulus program, Beyer said, there are no other Beyer said many of the students taking the courses are eager to learn. “They’re very excited as a group because they are coming into a new programs like this in the county. “What makes it so exciting is that we are in the very infantile, beginfield, taking a risk and learning how to redefine and redesign themselves,” ning stages of a future trend. All statistical information tells us that we are he said. Many students who become certified from the courses are largely in- in the fastest growing area for new jobs that will exist,” he said. “These are the pioneers of the industry…It’s all about realizing the terested in working independently or heading their own company. One such student is Michael Cohen, a graduate of the first session of demand, hearing about the initiatives and creating green jobs as energyHERS classes last fall, who managed to start up his own company with two efficient work begins,” he added.
Focus| 7
Monday, April 26, 2010 | THE TELESCOPE
For students, good job prospects can be
Few and far between Maggie avants The Telescope
So it’s time to look for a job, time to get gainfully employed, time to start bringing in a paycheck. Whether it is using that degree or certificate to begin working in the field of one’s choice, or finding a part-time gig to make some fun money or help with bills, most will agree that landing that perfect position can be frustrating. One thing employers look for is a résumé, which can present a problem for those who are just starting out in the job market and don’t have any experience. Palomar student Jeff Kennedy, 19, said he looked for a job his entire senior year of high school. No one wanted to hire me because I didn t have anything on my résumé, Kennedy said. I would go into stores and ask for a manager, and they would just tell me to apply online. Kennedy eventually found a job selling cutlery, but only because he was referred by a friend who already worked for the company. Now, he sets appointments to visit people’s homes for sales calls. He makes a commission off each sale. “Nowadays, it seems like if you don’t know anybody, you don’t get a job,” Kennedy said, noting that while he enjoys his work, he will continue to look for a more steady position. Tegan Snow, 19, is studying to be an American Sign Language interpreter. Her first job was at Cold Stone in Santee, which she said she got from being persistent. “I just kept calling to see if they were hiring,” Snow said. “Then when I moved to San Marcos, I was able to transfer to this one.” Snow said she is already preparing for a job as an interpreter by networking with people in the field. Her advice was to try and “talk to people you know in the field, keep good relationships with them and see if they know anyone who is hiring.” Networking, whether in person or online, seems to have replaced the old school method of finding a job, which was by looking in the classified section of a newspaper. It used to be that one could make a few quick phone calls, and maybe even get invited in for an interview and get hired on the spot. Unfortunately, the unemployment rate in San Diego County was 11 percent in March, which means that one in every 11 people
can’t find work. According to an April 16 excerpt by Don Bauder for the San Diego Reader, retail trade, amusement, recreation, gambling and full-service restaurant jobs were up slightly in March, but overall San Diego County has lost 35,100 jobs since this time last year. This probably doesn’t sound promising to those who are among the unemployed. Job seekers need to know what will set them apart and make that potential manager take a second look at their résumé, because those bills won’t pay themselves. David Vickery, 24, said because there are so many people looking for jobs, employers want someone who stands out in the crowd. When he is not attending classes at Palomar for a degree in business management, Vickery works at Bank of America. It wasn’t easy to get the job, he recalled. “I had to apply online; then I had a phone interview, and then a group interview with eight to 10 others,” Vickery said. “If they choose you, from there you do an individual interview.” What he said got him through was asking questions. “They don’t just want someone to sit there,” he said. Palomar Career Center Coordinator Eddie Tubbs said job search methods have changed immensely. “More and more people are going to social networks like jobbing.com, et cetera,” Tubbs said. “But the best thing they can do is ‘network, network, network.’” That is why Tubbs said the Career Center is holding a job fair on May 12. The once-a-semester event has typically been combined as a college and career fair, but this year, the focus will be on jobs. Students are encouraged to attend the fair, where they can receive critiques on their résumés and cover letters.
Chris ware | mct campus
A résumé is usually one page a snapshot of their skills, Tubbs said. Students will also be able to network with area employers, as Tubbs said he is working on getting several local companies to attend, such as Legoland, SeaWorld and Oceanside’s TERI Inc. The Career Center, located in the Student Services Center, is also available to students at any time. Computers in the center can be used to search career databases and take career assessments. Tubbs said students are welcome to come in to the center to work on their résumés, and to check the career center’s website, palomar.edu/counseling/career center/, for job listings. Another place Tubbs said students can go for assistance in their job search is the San Diego Workforce Partnership, which has three centers in North County in Oceanside,Vista and Escondido, and can be found online at workforce.org. Wherever students may be in their job search, there are resources available to help guide them along their path to getting that phone call saying, “You’re hired.”
SUMMER TERM AT CSUSM
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ummer Term 2010 will offer over 150 courses in a wide range of fields and disciplines. Summer Term is open to Palomar students, students from other colleges and universities, qualified high school seniors, and community members.
Registration for non-CSUSM students begins April 19, 2010 and ends on May 24, 2010. *Non-CSUSM students must fulfill/demonstrate any course prerequisites at the time of registration.
Summer Term begins on June 1, 2010 and ends August 14, 2010. FULL SESSION - June 1st to August 14th 1ST BLOCK - June 1st to July 7th 2ND BLOCK - July 8th to August 14th
(760) 750-4020
For more information, visit us on the Web at www.csusm.edu/el/summer.
8 |Focus
Monday, April 26, 2010 | THE TELESCOPE
Before you get ready for an interview at a prospective job, your fate could already be determined — by a computer. According to an article in the Washington Post, an assessment test administered by Universal Studios, given as a screening process for prospective employees for a growing number of companies. These computerized test put prospective employees in various ranges of hirable and not. By scoring in the “green” range of customer service means a person has an 83 percent chance of getting hired; if it’s in the “yellow” range, it is a 16 percent chance; and “red” range, there is a 1 percent chance. Over the last few years, personality testing has developed from what was once only an experiment to now standard practice in many of the nation’s largest companies.
What is personality assessment testing? A personality test aims to describe aspects of a person’s character, pattern of behavior and thoughts. There are many different types of personality tests, but all have the same goal — assess an individual’s personality. Common personality tests consist of a large number of questions, where test-takers rate the applicability of each item to themselves.
Why is personality testing being used by companies? When personality tests are given to a prospective employee, it is intended to describe personality traits that are relevant to job performance. Also, an employer can decide if the prospect has the enthusiasm and motivation the employer is looking for and whether they’re going to fit in, in terms of personality, attitude and general work style. Personality tests not only give an employer a better understanding of the worker’s skills, but can also help achieve a better understanding of who the prospective employee is.
What companies are using personality tests? Small family-owned businesses to large corporations are using personality assessments. The most common are grocery stores like Albertson’s and retailers such as Target. Palomar student Monica Marciano was given a personality test by both Target and Babies R’ Us in her recent job search. “The test was easy to answer and I think it gave a good sense of my personality,” Marciano said.
What types of questions are on personality tests? Questions on personality tests differ depending on the test. Some examples of questions would be: I enjoy public speaking? True or False I have clear personal goals? A) strongly disagree B) disagree C) neutral D) agree E) strongly agree I see myself as someone who is relaxed, handles stress well? A) strongly disagree B) disagree C) neutral D) agree E) strongly agree gentry mullen | mct campus
Why do companies depend on personality tests over their own instincts?
TO_College BW:Palomar_Telescope 4/7/10 12:34 PM Page 1
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Companies depend on these tests because they can interview a large number of individuals and easily weed out the good candidates from the bad. The tests ask everyone the same questions.Tests typically require less time than interviews, and are efficient for obtaining job-related information so as to be compared with thousands of other individuals. Employers say honesty from candidates is more likely when they’re not dealing with a person because it’s common to lie face to face with an employer, but easier to be relaxed and honest when taking a personality assessment, according to an article in the Montreal Gazette.
What other ways are personality tests used?
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Personality tests can also be used to figure out what job you might be best suited for. Palomar College’s Career Center offers personality tests by appointment. “These tests are absolutely beneficial, especially those who are uncertain of their goal in life,” said Counseling Specialist Nicole Moreau. Palomar offers two personality assessments: “Please Understand Me” and “True Colors.” The most used is “Please Understand Me.” This assessment consists of 70 questions; test-takers receive one of 16 results. Once students get their result, they can visit the Career Center homepage at palomar.edu/counseling/careercenter, and a more detailed result will be given along with careers that best suit a student’s personality. According to Moreau, taking a personality test to find one’s career can help prepare students for the interviewing process. It can also make taking a personality assessment for a prospective employer less stressful because students will already be familiar with the type of questions asked. For more information on this topic students can stop by the Palomar College Career Center. - Sydnie Taylor
Focus| 9
Monday, april 26, 2010 | THE TELESCOPE
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Monday, April 26
Who: Shinehead (21+) What: Reggae When: 9 p.m. Where: Belly Up Tavern Cost: $8 Info: 858-481-9022
Tuesday, April 27 Who: The Black Heart Procession What: Blues When: 8:30 p.m. Where: The Casbah Cost: $15 Info: 619-232-4355
Wed. April 28
Who: Steel Panther (21+) What: Heavy Metal When: 7:30 p.m. Where: House of Blues San Diego Cost: $20-$23 Info: 619-299-2583
Thursday, April 29 Who: David Parone What: Jazz When: 6 p.m. Where: BlueFire Grill Cost: Free Info: 800-854-5000
Friday, April 30
Event: Find Unique Art Objects What: Art Show/Sale When: 9 a.m-9 p.m. Where: Palomar College Student Union Cost: Free Info: 760-744-1150 ext. 2302
Saturday, May 1
Event: Sweeney Todd What: Play When: 2 or 8 p.m. Where: Cygnet Theatre Old Town Cost: $42-46 Info: 619-337-1525
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Bone Thugs-N-Harmony Concert at San Diego House of Blues, June 2. Tickets on sale at ticketmaster.com.
THE TELESCOPE | Monday, April 26, 2010
Despite all-star cast, ‘Death at a Funeral’ disappoints with phoned-in performances Graianne Ward The Telescope
“Death at a Funeral” will have The script wasn’t even origithe audience dying with laughter nal, it was basically a clone of the as well as dying from boredom. British version except with black Although there were shining mo- people. ments, the movie overall was lackThe characters seemed like ing intriguing dialogue and had they were chess pieces moved zero character development. around and sacrificed for a few Director Neil LaBute tells well-executed jokes. the story of Aaron (Chris Rock), Some of the actors stepped a hard working young man, mar- up their game while others went ried to Michelle, (Regina Hall) through the motions and gruntand still living at his father’s ed and moaned when ordered. home. When his father dies, Aar- LaBute may be to blame because on being the oldest between him he couldn’t inspire the main charand his famous writer acters to stop acting like Movie review brother Ryan (Martin zombies. Lawrence), is left to orga- ‘Death At A Funeral’ Rock looked like he nize the funeral and give was the one that passed the eulogy. away with another stiff out of four stars Misplaced bodies, un- Starring: Chris Rock, performance (similar to “I invited guests, and the Martin Lawrence, Danny Think I Love My Wife”). It James Marsden, Peter best poop joke in history Glover, seems like he thinks bugDinklage, Regina Hall all happen in this relaging his eyes and standing Rated: R tively short film. The plot with his mouth open is the rarely strays from the best way to get that Oscar. average problem-solution script, Luke Wilson (Derek) and Trawhich makes the potentially good cy Morgan (Norman) both reach movie, dull far too often. a new level of annoying. Being For the most part the movies annoying isn’t something new for humor is worthy of a few chuck- Morgan but he has some redeemles with lots of disappointment, ing moments with his interactions but when “Death at a Funeral” with Danny Glover and a few funexecutes on its humor it’s quite ny lines. memorable and audiences will Danny Glover (Uncle Russell) walk away with at least a few gives a splendid performance. His good laughs. lines are few and far between, but
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(From left) Chris Rock, Martin Lawrence and Peter Dinklage star in “Death at a Funeral.” when he does speak, it’s pure spun gold. He fully took on the character of a grumpy old uncle that makes you laugh but hate him at the same time. Frank (Peter Dinklage) also was worth watching. as the mysterious guest who gazed a little too intently at the casket and who
also just hapened to be a dwarf. On a scale from “full price” to “don’t ever buy this and burn every copy you find,” the movie is a solid rental. It’s not worth copious amounts of money but has enough good acting on Glover’s and Dinklage’s part that the movie can be enjoyable if watched at home.
just one lead singer. Marsden and topping single. Richardson’s vocals easily stir up However, grab the whole CD memories of Jack and Meg White and don’t go rushing to track three, (The White Stripes). as two of the albums best songs lie The great thing about Marsden at the beginning. and Richardson is that rather than “Light of the Morning” and act as support for one another; “Death by Diamonds and Pearls” they share the stage, almost as feature familiar sounds (think equals, and with RichJack White) but thanks to a heavy dose of Richardson ardson’s strong vocal Music review talent, no one is arguthese songs pound out a distinct Skulls sound right off ing. As with any release, the bat. one song starts to For those who still need stand out, for Band of to be convinced that this is something other than Skulls, “I Know What I Am” is just that song. just another cover attempt, “Fires” is everything you Featuring a rocking Band of Skulls “Baby Darling Doll duo of Richardson want in a rock song, and so Face Honey” and Marsden, “I Know much more, combining the amazing vocal talents with What I Am” has all the out of four stars a slow, but steadily building catchy beats of a chart
beat. While the song never really takes off, it’s a great bridge into the rest of the album, which plays much softer than the start. Richardson takes center stage with “Honest,” commanding the song with strong vocals that leave you wondering when she will come out with her own solo album. While the trio rocks throughout the album, “Impossible” allows each of the band’s members talents to shine through; switching off vocals throughout to a nice steady drum beat in the background. After 11 tracks, Band of Skulls proves that they are far more than a cover band, combining a powerful duo with sounds inspired by some of the greats, for a complete debut album from start to finish.
Band of Skulls evoke rock legends on debut Loghan Call The Telescope
UK-based band, Band of Skulls nail their debut with a sound that resembles a mash-up of The Black Keys, The Rolling Stones and The White Stripes, leaving the door blown open for an encore. Band of Skulls formed in England, where Russell Marsden (guitar/vocals) Emma Richardson (bass/vocals) and Matthew Hayward (drums) met at college. “Baby Darling Doll Face Honey” has an impressive start; tracks one through four hit listeners with a wave of the greatest rock sounds in the last half century. By the song “Fires” it’s clear they have molded into something great, and by “Honest,” the listener understand why they couldn’t have
“Too Much Junkie Business”—Johnny Thunders and the Heartbreakers “Your life becomes as sickening as that mess you call your face You’re the coolest thing in town with your face right on the ground”
Johnny Thunders not only had addiction problems of his own, but he lost several close friends to drugs and alcohol. There were several times during shows that he would walk off stage mid-song and leave his guitarist to improvise until he finished a line or shot backstage. Toward the end of his career, Thunders looked as bad as the people he mocked in this song.
“Under the Bridge”— Red Hot Chili Peppers “Under the bridge downtown is where I drew some blood Under the bridge downtown I could not get enough”
Drug and alcohol abuse can often lead people to do things they would otherwise not normally do. Lead singer Anthony Kiedis was introduced to drugs at a young age, he would use drugs anywhere he could with people he hardly knew and drugs destroyed many of his relationships. He now has several years in recovery and often re-
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flects on his past trials in interviews.
“Hurt”—Johnny Cash/Nine Inch Nails “The needle tears a hole the old familiar sting Try to kill it all away but I remember everything”
Both Johnny Cash and Trent Reznor battled the lure of heroin. Both got to a point where the pain inflicted by the drug was easier to handle than the reality of what their lives had become. The haunting melody coupled with the desperation of the lyrics echo the loneliness of the heroin junkies world.
“The Drugs Don’t Work”— Verve “Now the drugs don’t work They just make you worse I’m never going down, I’m never coming down”
The end of the trip is never pretty, as illustrated in this song. Drugs and alcohol deplete the body of essential nutrients and leave the user feeling and looking old. To counteract that feeling, more drugs are
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consumed and more damage is done.
Ball and Chain—Social Distortion
“Well I’ll pass the bar on the way to my dingy hotel room I spent all my money I’ve been drinkin’ since half past noon”
Lead singer Mike Ness has drastically cleaned up his life since the release of this song in 1990. The ball and chain Ness speaks of is the effects of alcohol — hard luck and years spent in and out of rehab. —BC
NEWS| 11
Monday, April 26, 2010 | THE TELESCOPE
The downlow on Palomar’s hispanic role models What it means to be a member of M.E.Ch.A
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grants Continued from Page 1 mar students is the mentor program, which aims to help students reach their educational goals by having a faculty member mentor. These faculty members will help students with anything they need, whether it is reviewing education plans or helping with an academic question. Mentors help a student to succeed by becoming their role model and guide. Other grant-funded programs include the North County American Indian Education Council (NCAIEC) and the North County Education Opportunity Center (NCEOC). The NCEOC program is designed to identify and assist adult participants who want to enter, re-enter, continue or enroll in a postsecondary education program.
to do what I want to do and help others. All the advisers show me that they care and believe in each and every one of us.” M.E.Ch.A. is always seeking new members. “I urge [students] to come to meetings and find out about M.E.Ch.A and its contributions to [Palomar] students and the community,” said Ivan Martinez, vice president of M.E.Ch.A. “It’s not what you expected; it’s so much more. Everyone is welcome.”
Castillo echoed Martinez’s suggestion. “Anyone who is interested should come to our meetings,” Castillo said. “Elections are coming up soon; therefore, I want to invite anyone who is interested in becoming a M.E.Ch.A. officer to please do so.” Palomar M.E.Ch.A. meets at 5 p.m. every Thursday on the San Marcos campus in Room SU-19A. E-mail the club at palomarcollegemecha@ yahoo.com for more information.
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they’ve been active in the community this semester. “We’ve been doing fundraisers in order to host ‘A Latino Ceremony of Achievement’ for all the graduating Latino students [this year],” Castillo said. “It’s a major accomplishment for these students to get their [associate’s] degrees and/or transfer. Many drop out or do not continue their education, so it’s important to recognize them and show them our support.” christian Fortmueller According to Castillo, M.E.Ch.A rethe telescope cently collaborated with Encuentros “Si Se Puede,” a Spanish phrase, meaning Leadership Club to raise money for Hai“Yes, We Can,” was first coined by activists ti earthquake victims as well as other Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta as the mot- various events. to for the United Farm Workers labor union M.E.Ch.A. also worked with Paloin 1972. More recently, adopted by President mar’s Associated Student Government Barack Obama during his presidential cam- to organize an event for Cesar Chavez paign, these words have inspired millions, in- day last month. cluding Palomar College’s M.E.Ch.A. club. Member Manuel Galaviz takes pride M.E.Ch.A. stands for Movimiento Estudi- in the work the organization does. antil Chicano de Azt“M.E.Ch.A. to lán. In English, that’s me is more than Chicano Student M.E.Ch.A. is more to me than just a student Movement of Aztlán, organization,” and it has more than just a student organization. It’s a Galaviz said. 400 affiliated chapters “It’s a pathway pathway to success nationally. to success. Here, According to Palo— Manuel Galaviz leaders are born. mar professor and M.E.Ch.A Member They allow the campus M.E.Ch.A. admembers to learn viser Luis Cueva, the skills for leaderPalomar chapter has been making a differ- ship. This club is full of role models and ence in the local community since 1969. great educators. They also educate us, “M.E.Ch.A is a link between the Mexican- the students, about how to take action American community and college,” Cueva against injustices on and off campus.” said. “It is also there to provide a path of sucCastillo shared what the organizacess in careers and professional development. tion has meant to her. M.E.Ch.A. recruits and leads these students “This organization is like a family. We to ensure achievement, give the students help each other out and work together to the tools they need, and get them educated, make great things occur,” Castillo said. in hopes that one day they will return to “Being part of this organization makes their communities and make a difference in me feel I can achieve anything and that those barrio neighborhoods for constructive nothing is impossible.Without M.E.Ch.A change.” I would not have discovered my true full M.E.Ch.A. Treasurer Silvia Castillo said potential.They all give me the willpower
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Director of the Grant Funded Student Programs, Calvin One Deer Gavin, said: “It behooves the college, and all colleges and universities to seek, obtain, and faithfully implement state, federal, corporate and private foundation grants.” “Program grants provide alignment between the educational systems, help underrepresented students go to college, and decrease drop-out rates, the need for remedial courses, and lessen college students failure (…) which we need now more than ever to help boost the economy,” One Deer Gavin said. To find out more about these programs, visit palomar.edu/grants, or stop by the Financial Services Office located in the SSC Building.
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Think you missed the boat on the HPV vaccine?
boarder through Wednesday from 6 to 8:50 p.m. “It’s really not that stressful,” Pedroza said, referring to juggling school and skateboarding. “I have my schedule pretty well-balanced right now, so it works out.” But those aren’t his only two obligations. Pedroza recently finished wrapping up his part in one of San Diego County’s more anticipated skateboard films titled, “Overdose.” Filming for the video took over two years, and it premiered in February in Del Mar. “The video being finished definitely took a load of stress off my back,” Pedroza said. “It doesn’t mean I’ll stop filming though.” Pedroza continues to search for new, bigger, better sponsors, but said he’s happy where he’s at right now. “I’m just going to keep shooting photos, getting footage and maintain a steady relationship between my sponsors and professors,” he said.
Think Again If you didn’t get the Gardasil vaccine as part of your childhood immunizations, it’s not too late. Planned Parenthood now offers free or low-cost Gardasil for women who want to significantly reduce their risk of getting HPV, the leading cause of cervical cancer. To make an appointment, call 1-888-743-7526 (PLAN) or visit planned.org. Se Habla Español N W
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Planned Parenthood Escondido Health Center 347 W. Mission Ave. Escondido, CA 92025
Palomar College
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Continued from Page 1 sy of Jason “Muffin” Kuhns. Pedroza has been sponsored since he was 17, and has rode for a wide variety of other shops and companies. Not just anyone can become sponsored these days, according to Pedroza. He explained that it takes a lot of commitment and a lot of long, painful hours. “It’s cool getting free stuff, but you definitely have to work for it,” Pedroza said. “But it’s really like Christmas every time I get a package.” The scrapes, bumps and bruises on Pedroza’s arms and legs speak for themselves. “You have to pay to play I guess,” Pedroza said with a laugh. Pedroza’s friends said he works as hard in school as he does on a board. “He stays motivated in school, and still handles on his skateboard,” said Pedroza’s friend Ben Cano. “He really works for what he has.” Alex is currently working to complete his general education requirements and attends class Monday
W. Mission Ave.
|Sports
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THE TELESCOPE | monday, April 26, 2010
Palomar softball team on a roll jarred powell the telescope
Theresa Houle had a moment of clarity as she took hits prior to an April 14 softball matchup against Grossmont. There, she daydreamed the possibility of going to bat with the bases loaded in her final home game at Palomar. Her opportunity came in the fourth. Houle doubled to left, driving in two runs, the beginning of an 11-3 rout that ended by the Pacific Coast League’s emergency rule. “I was struggling with being patient my first two at-bats and to pull through when it counted most means a lot to me,” said Houle, who went 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Palomar’s Bonnie Brazee, 2-for-3 with two RBIs, hit her first home run of the season to tie the game at 2 in the second. Danielle LeBeau went 3-4 with a double and two RBIs.She also had seven strikeouts in her eighth win of the season. With the victory, Palomar improves to 17-10 overall and 9-3 in Pacific Coast Athletic Conference play.The Comets, currently in second place in the conference, have won 10 of their last 12 games, including their first win over the Griffins. Meanwhile, Grossmont (23-4, 9-2) has lost three of its last four games. “Our goal is to win conference but the bigger picture is to also go to regionals, which is what we’re about to do,” Houle said. The top two conference teams make the state playoffs. Grossmont is currently ranked first in the PCAC. The Comets can clinch a spot in the regional playoffs by winning at Southwestern and at Imperial Valley.
“Progressing throughout the season has been huge for us,” coach Lacey Craft said. “We experienced a lot more sucess against better teams, which gave them more confidence.” They swept the perennial softball power Mt. SAC in a double header in March. The second game was a back and forth battle that the Comets pulled out in extra innings. From the start of the game, it was obvious this was not the same Palomar team that was outclassed in February by Grossmont. In the second, Katrina Cutshaw attempted to score from second on a bunt that was misplayed by Grossmont. She was thrown out at home. Earlier in the season, the Comets were tentative about gambling on base running. “The way we were swinging the bats today allowed us to get runners on and to get around the bases,” Craft said. After Houle broke the tie, LeBeau followed with a single that brought in two more runs, extending the lead 6-2. Grossmont scored late in the game to make it 6-3, but Houle stayed strong, starting anPalomar’s Bonnie Brazee up at bat. other run with a solo homer in her last home Brazee’s first home run of the season at-bat. was responsible for tying up the “Words can’t describe winning game, allowing the Comets to get a your last home game as a sopholead over Grossmont. more,” Houle said.
Grossmont falls in volleyball showdown fa’amasani unutoa the telescope
Just like in their week of practice, the Palomar College men’s volleyball players stayed focused as they defeated the Grossmont College Griffins 3016, 30-21, 30-25 in a Pacific Coast Athletic Conference match in the Palomar College Dome on April 7. “We went over different defensive and offensive schemes,” coach Bjorn Dahl said. “In order to execute those schemes, we had to stay focused.” Setter Sam Richmond contributed to the win by connecting with hitters Jordon Tarantino, Marc Berry and Bryan Campbell with sets, resulting in 29 kills. This improves Palomar’s record 9-6, 7-2 in the conference and adds to their undefeated streak among teams in San Diego County. “When I’m in the game, I blank everything else out,” said Richmond. “I just really try to focus on my job.” “It’s how we practice,” said libero Jared Miller, who totaled 7 digs. “We each get our reps and we come together as a team.” Palomar was definitely united as they came together to trample the Griffins in Games 1 and 2. The Griffins threatened to come back in Game 3 with a tie score of 21 before Richmond set to Berry, who pounded the ball straight down for the Comets’ lead. Grossmont tied the match again at 24 before the Comets pulled away with a kill by Tarantino. The Comets stayed on top of the scoreboard, ending the game on a serve from defensive specialist Kevin Messer. “In the last game, coach called a time-out and told us to keep our head in the game and stay focused,” Tarantino said. “We came together and did just that.” Tarantino finished the game with 11 kills while Berry followed with 10 and Campbell with 8. Berry agreed with teammates that focus and coming together are what helped them finish on top.
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rocio castaneda| THE TELESCOPE
SPORTS ON DECK Tuesday, April 27 Baseball
vs Imperial Valley 2 p.m. Myers Field
Wednesday,April 28 Men’s and Women’s Tennis
South Regional Dual Playoff Finals, TBA
Thursday, April 29 Baseball
at Imperial Valley 2 p.m. Myers Field
Men’s and Women’s Tennis
Palomar’s Roger Engel and Steve McColum on defense in an April 7 match against Grossmont. rocio castaneda| THE TELESCOPE
“Throughout the week I make sure all my class assignments and everything else is out of the way,” Berry said. “Once everything is out of the way, I can focus on bonding with the team and preparing for the game.” Dahl was pleased with the team’s ability to stay alert as well. “When we stay focused, we are able to win and that is the key to our game,” Dahl said.
CORRECTION
South Regional Individual Championships All day at L.A. Pierce, Woodland Hills, TBA
Friday, April 30
Men’s and Women’s Tennis South Regional Individual Championships All day at L.A. Pierce, Woodland Hills, TBA
Saturday, May 1
Men’s and Women’s Tennis South Regional Individual Championships All day at L.A. Pierce, Woodland Hills, TBA
In our April 12 issue, the above photograph was mistakenly credited to Deb Hellman. It was actually taken by Hugh Cox.The Telescope regrets the error.