The Telescope 64.2 by The Telescope

Palomar College, San Marcos, Calif. tuesday sept. 7, 2010 Vol. 64, No. 2

the-telescope.com

Free ‘RAD’ rape defense class now at Palomar

College remains on warning status for accreditation

yvonne lanot the telescope

sydnie taylor the telescope

turn to rad page

Palomar’s accreditation remains on warning status until the college can adhere to recommended areas of improvement. In June, the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges put Palomar on continued warning status because Palomar did not complete certain requirements. Palomar was responsible for completing four recommendations of improvement by ACCJC, but only completed three. Palomar still needs to improve “integrated planning, evaluation and resource allocation decision making,” according to the Palomar website. This ACCJC recommen-

to regain good status. “Students should not be worried about our accreditation,” said Berta Cuaron,Vice President of Instructional Services. “We continue to provide our students with a strong teaching and learning experience with faculty and staff dedicated to supporting the success of our students.” According to Cuaron, Palomar faculty and staff has done a great job improving all areas recommended by the ACCJC. The staff at Palomar understands how important it is to meet all requirements. “Palomar should be following all recommendations, but at turn to report page

Building for the future... Palomar planning new facilities, completing others

Robert Deegan. The site features an office building with more than 100,000 square feet, as well as a threestory parking garage, he said.

david leonard the telescope

With a focus on the future of the college, the Palomar administration is planning a new center in Rancho Bernardo to serve students in the southern end of the district. This center, along with the newly opened Health Sciences building and nearly completed Multidisciplinary Instructional building, is part of a broader effort to expand the capacity of the college over the next 12 years. The newly purchased Rancho Bernardo site is projected to be opened to students in Spring 2013, according to Palomar President

INSIDE...

Slamin’ education page

too.” If Palomar loses its accreditation, students will lose the credibility of their classes. Credits will not be transferrable if Palomar is not accredited. When community colleges, like Palomar, diverge from specific academic requirements, they are placed on warning status. Fortunately, Palomar does not lose its accreditation when put on warning and is given the opportunity

joseph bonnet | THE TELESCOPE

Be safe. Be aware. This motto, said by Karen Boguta, Palomar dispatch records coordinator, is something that should be taken seriously by all, especially women. Boguta, who works for the Campus Police, said that the best way to be truly safe is to take a Rape Aggression Defense class, also known as RAD. Palomar offers this free course to any woman ages 14 and older for three consecutive Saturdays starting Sept. 4. RAD. consists of learning the basics of self defense, then having real hands-on training, ending with a fullcontact, simulated-assault scenario on the last day of class, according to the Palomar Campus Police website. Boguta said she thinks every woman should know how to keep herself protected. “It’s important for people to know how to keep safe,” Boguta said. “They should know the basics of learning how to defend themselves and should know about the buddy system and to even take advantage of our escort service that is offered at Palomar.” Student Britania Mendoza said she likes that these courses are at Palomar. “I think it is a good idea that Palomar is offering this class,” Mendoza said. “It’s so close, so any students who want to take it can come and not have to drive out to far places to go.” Not only does RAD. teach how to defend against an attacker it is also a good way to network with other RAD. members and take more advance classes in the future, according to Boguta. With the RAD. program having been offered at Palomar for a few years now, Boguta said this is the first time that they were able to open up an advanced class for those wanting to further their learning experience in learning how to defend themselves. “We’ve been wanting to add an advanced class for some time,” Boguta said. “Most of the advanced classes are only offered in the East Coast, so it was nice to finally get someone certified to teach the class down here.” Palomar student Emalynn Tagulal said she finds this free course a good learning experience for the women of today. “I think it’s a good thing for women to be informed about these types of situations,” Tagulal said. “With

dation requires Palomar to put together a plan that incorporates all major budget processes into one operation, according to the Palomar website. Palomar has already developed this plan, but it has not yet been implemented. Not putting this plan into action is what placed Palomar on warning status in the first place. “Palomar’s failure to do their homework doesn’t just affect them,” student Lisa Coster said. “It affects us,

Palomar student Ian Erskine, who expressed enthusiasm over the location chosen, is a member of the group benefiting most from the planned center: those students who currently commute from Poway, Ramona and the surrounding communities. “I work in Rancho Bernardo, and it would be very close. That would be great,” he said. The 23-acre site was identified for use as the southern education center of the district after a long search for the opportune plot. A general location for the site was

Time warp to the ’80s page

photos by deb hellman | the telescope

Building a new center

Construction on the Health Services building was completed this year. The current building is shown above, and the building is shown under construction to the left. Classes are being held this semester in the new building. laid out in the Palomar Master Plan for 2022, which calls for an ongoing expansion of the facilities in the district to take on an influx of students over the next 12 years. “We quickly found that there were no suitable large sites for a college campus (in the southern end of the district),” Deegan explained. He said that there are opportunities for expansion of the site beyond the current building, including two large concrete bases that could be used to build similar-

Duo directs team page

ly sized buildings as necessary. The purchase of the Rancho Bernardo center was made mostly with money from Proposition M, a 2003 voter approved measure that provided the college with $694 million for modernization projects.

Updating campus

our

current

Prop M funds are already at work on the San Marcos Campus, turn to buildings page

A really expensive sponge page

|CAMPUS BEAT

Remember Sept. 11

Seeing Red

Campus Calendar Tuesday, Sept. 7

• Coffee Night, 5 p.m. t o 7 p.m., Escondido Campus lobby • Project Walk at 10:45 a.m. starts in the Student Union Quad • Inter-Club Council meeting at 12:30 p.m. in Room SU-204

Wednesday, Sept. 8

• ASG Meeting at 1 p.m. in SU201 • Be Green event at 10 a.m. in the Student Union Quad • Skills for Study Workshop, 4 p.m. in Room 500 at the Escondido Campus

Friday, Sept. 10

• Remember 9/11 display

out all day in the Student Union Quad lawn area

Monday, Sept. 13-17

• American Red Cross Blood Drive, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., in Parking Lot 11 • Free Build Your Note-Taking Skills workshop at 5 p.m. in Room 500 at the Escondido Campus

Tuesday, Sept. 14

• Hoop It Up at 11 a.m. in the

Student Union Quad • Inter-Club Council meeting at 12:30 p.m. in Room SU-204

Wednesday, Sept. 15.

Palomar Health Services and the American Red Cross are teaming up to host a blood drive from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Parking Lot 11 on the San Marcos Campus Sept. 13-17. Only about 3 in 100 people in America donate blood and every donation makes a difference, according to the American Red Cross. Donors must weigh at least 110 pounds and are encouraged to eat a full meal and drink plenty of fluids before they donate in order to ensure a successful donation. Potential donors must make a appointment and can sign up either by logging onto givelife.org and entering the code: palomarsm or in person at the Health Services building near Parking Lot 11. Donors should allow approximately one hour to complete their appointment. Interested donors without a parking pass can call campus police at 760-744-1150, ext. 2289 or visit their office.

New president, new policies

courtesy PHOTO| MCT Campus

Visitors walk through a field of flags representing the victims of the attacks on September 11, 2001. (Chuck Kennedy/MCT) Join the Office of Student Affairs in remembering the fallen victims of 9/11, Sept. 10 in the lawn area between the Student Services Center and the Student Union Quad. USA flags will be set up around the walkway. A booth with Remember 9/11 stickers will be set up for students, faculty, and staff . “This will be a quiet, static event as a reminder to remember 9/11,” Lindsay Koch, Student Activities coordinator said. Student volunteers are needed at 6:30 a.m. that day to assist with placing flags. Contact Koch at 760-744-1150, ext. 7509 to assist.

Calling all job seekers Come one, come all job seekers to Palomar College’s first job fair of the 2010-2011 school year. Palomar’s Counseling Center will host a free job fair from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Sept. 15 on the sidewalk area between the Student Services Center Building and the Student Union. At press time, 25 companies, from Harrah’s Casino to the San Diego County Sherriff’s Department, signed up to have booths set up with brochures and information for attendees. In previous years, fees have ranged from $100 to $175 depending on the company, but this year it is free for vendors. Career Center Coordinator Eddie Tubbs said he did a marketing survey and was told many companies that had attended previous job fairs no longer

THE TELESCOPE | tuesday, sept. 7, 2010

had budgets for the job fair. “In wanting to help our students, we want to promote our job fair, so we decided that if we waived the registration fee and made it free for companies and businesses, that we would entice them to come,”Tubbs said. Entice it did. Four companies originally paid and once the fee was waived and vendors were notified, the number jumped to 25. The four that had paid were refunded. Parking is available for vendors in parking lot 1. Students are required to get a visitor’s pass from the campus Police Department. Contact Tubbs for more information at 760-744-1150, ext. 3125 or go to palomar.edu/counseling/careercenter.

The Associated Student Government held its first meeting of the fall semester Aug. 25 for the election of new officers and to discuss a new policy for clubs when requesting money. Clubs now have three days to come before the ASG and give a formal presentation to request funding. ASG chose Sept. 15, 22 and 29 as funding request dates for all clubs. The new policy will allow ASG to organize spending for clubs and to process requests in a timely manner. “This does not mean that clubs cannot choose other days on which they want to present their monetary request. Rather, this merely means that on these assigned days, ASG has set aside other concerns and will be fully ready and focused on the clubs needs,” according to official documents. The ASG welcomed new president Channing Shattuck, who ran the meeting. Contact ASG at 760-744-1150, ext. 2594 or attend a meeting at 1 p.m., Wednesdays in SU-201.

Go Green or go home

The first of a two-part series “Mission 2 B Green” project for the 20102011 year will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sept. 8 in the Student Union Quad. This first event, Be Green, sponsored by Palomar and the Office of Student Affairs, “will allow Palomar College to stay clean and welcoming to our visitors as well as inviting to all students attending classes,” said Lindsay Koch, Student Activities coordinator. The second part of the “Mission 2 B Green” series is scheduled for Spring 2011 at Earth Day. Be Green will consist of 30 community vendors, Palomar departments and clubs that will have booths set up with informtion for attendees on

how to contribute to keep the environment clean. The Office of Student Affairs booth will be promoting campus activities and the student activity card as well. Clubs can earn money by forming a team consisting of two to five members and performing projects ranging from collecting recyclables to removing gum off cement around campus. Each act will earn points. At the end of the year, the total points will equate to money for the club. For more information on how to participate, contact Koch at 760-744-1150, ext. 7509 or by going to the Palomar online page, Student Affairs web page, and clicking on “Mission 2 B Green.”

• ASG Meeting at 1 p.m. in SU-

201 • Free job fair at 10 a.m. in between the Student Services Center and Student Union • Project Walk at 10:45 a.m. Starts in the Student Union Quad

There were three bikes stolen over the summer, on July 14, 19 and 26. The bikes had been chained up.

Thursday, Sept. 16

• Coffee Night, 5 p.m. t o 7 p.m., Escondido Campus lobby • Constitution Day, 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Student Union Quad

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.

kelley foyt | THE TELESCOPE

Campus Police officer Mike Harun issues a ticket at the Escondido campus.

CAMPUS WEATHER Tuesday Wednesday Sept. 7

Sept. 8

73°/58°

73°/57°

sunny

Thursday Sept. 9

88°/62° sunny

You weren’t alone. 1,047 cars were ticketed during the first week of the semester for not having a permit displayed. Despite the fact that this was the first semester that Palomar did not offer a parking permit grace period, there were 347 less parking tickets issued than last fall semester. Karen Boguta, Dispatch Records Coordinator, credited the fewer tickets with the fact that more students are aware. “The point is not to write tickets, but to let everyone know that we shouldn’t have to,” Boguta said.

A student was found digging up plants out of a planter to bring home. The student was sent to Student Affairs.

A fire alarm was set off near the soccer fields on June 4. No other details are known.

On June 20, a vehicle was broken into at the San Marcos campus. The front window was broken and electronics were stolen. On June 29, there was another burglary at the Escondido campus. The front windows were smashed in on the driver’s side door and an iPod was stolen. There were four more similar burglaries in July.

A non-student subject was issued a citation for marijuana possession on Aug. 5 near the soccer field. On Aug. 19, a subject was cited and released for knife possession. No other details are known.

On Aug. 8, a subject drilled a hole into a men’s restroom located in the F Building. No details are known. On Aug. 29, a delivery truck backed up into a loading dock at the San Marcos campus.

A subject with multiple warrants out of Florida was arrested on campus and transferred to the Vista Detention facilities on Aug. 10. There are no other known details available.

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Monday

87°/62°

87°/62

85°/62°

85°/61°

Sept. 10

sunny

Sept. 11

sunny

Sept. 12

Sunny

Sept. 13

Sunny

news| 3

tuesday, sept. 7, 2010 | THE TELESCOPE

Palomar creates free counseling program natalia Vasquez the telescope

Depression in young adults has risen nearly 10 percent in 10 years, according to a study released this year by the American Psychological Association. In response, Palomar’s Health Services Department created the Brief Personal Counseling program this year. “We don’t have extensive mental health services like at the CSUs because there is a lack of state funding for community colleges,” said M. Jayne Conway, Director of Health Services. The program consists of a oneon-one visit where students can seek a lifeline during a semester of chaos. The program is an evaluation process for students who are not already under a physician’s care, and accessible to everybody attending Palomar. Brief Personal Counseling allows Health Services to better refer students to resources within the county. “We have information about community services available like state-funded therapy,” Conway said. Programs like Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous and other specialized groups provide a support system for people free of charge. A poor economy sends stress levels to an all-time high, resulting in anxiety and depression, accord-

ing to Conway. “Working retail in a slow economy takes me from full-time to part-time,” fine arts major Christina Dunagan said. “The classes are cut, my paychecks are smaller. It’s a lot to manage.” Conway suggests Palomar programs like Extended Opportunity Program Services, where students who are receiving mental health counseling can also get disability benefits.This can lighten the blow of the financial troubles plaguing students across campus. There is an urgent need for universities to develop specific treatment plans because of the increase of depression among college students, according to the American Journal of Psychiatry. Health Services offers meditation sessions on CD as well as healthy choices workshops, two programs Conway considers alternatives to medication. “A meditation CD sounds cool, like talking to you super peaceful. I’d be down,” said Palomar student Jake Bennett. Studies by the APA have also shown a 13 percent increase in psychiatric medications among young adults. “My medication helps me in school, but it took a year before my body regulated to it,” said history major Tess Ryan. “Our mission is to treat the whole student, not just jumping to medication to solve a problem,” Conway said.

movement. A New York Times article reports that the rally was “surprisingly apolitical.” Speakers included Sarah Palin, Dr. Alveda King, Marcus Littrell and Beck. On the 47th anniversary of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s historic speech, around 87,000 people attended the Restoring Honor Rally held on Aug. 28 in Washington, D.C. The driving forces behind the rally were the Special Operations Warrior Foundation and Glenn Beck. The event, located on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, packed the National Mall and tied up D.C. traffic for the entire day. Touted as a non-political event to “restore the values that founded this great nation,” according to Beck’s website, many who attended have been a part of the Tea Party

A man from Poway and his friend died in a plane crash in Arizona on Aug. 26. According to the North County Times, Shawn Muscat, 27, of Poway, and his friend and pilot Glen Slagoske, 47, of San Diego County, went flying in a homemade plane to conquer Muscat’s fear of flying. When Slagoske lost control of the plane it crashed, killing the two men on impact. Muscat, 2001 graduate of Poway High School, leaves behind a wife and his two children. A trust

Photo illustration courtesy of casanova | mct campus

A poor economy can send stress levels to an all-time high, resulting in anxiety and depression, according to M. Jayne Conway, Director of Health Services. Palomar has recently creating a Brief Counseling Program to deal with this stress. The program is free. Students agree that meditation is more beneficial than medication. “I’ve never tried meditation or taking medicine but with pills you might get addicted depending on your stress level,” said Palomar student David Islas. The CDs can be checked out of the Health Services office by any student so they can take the time to relax in a place that is comfortable for them. The mind and body working together as one is proven to manage stress according to Kaiser Permanente’s own stress management

has been set up for the Muscat family at Shawn Muscat Memorial Trust, P.O. Box 963, Poway, Calif. 92074.

WhileSanDiegoconstructsnew carpool lanes on the Interstate-15, the rest of the United States (and the world) have turned to traveling by high-speed rail. In South Korea, Spain, Japan, London, France, and from Boston to Washington commuters can effortlessly travel between major cities. The phenomenon does not seem to be spreading quickly enough to the West. According to an article on CNN.com, the Department of Transportation has given 31 states the opportunity to develop high-speed rail service in the form of $8 billion.

workshops. “I haven’t heard of the new counseling program, it(is?) cool they’re giving us some kind of mental health option,” Dunagan said. Of the 13 people interviewed, none had heard of the new program. Christine Skow, APA attendee, said early coping skills encourage less destructive ways to manage stress, combating the risks of drug and alcohol abuse. She encourages parents to begin coping skills from a young age. Coping with stress is the No. 1

A high-speed rail project proposed by the California HighSpeed Rail Authority would run from San Diego to Sacramento, hold 1,000 passengers, go 220 mph, over 800 miles of track. The proposal is projected to be up and running by 2020. Close to 2,000 people have gotten sick with salmonella poisoning, according to a CNN.com article. The problem stems from contaminated shell eggs, which have been traced toWright County Egg. Recently, new laws have gone into effect to prevent this sort of outbreak, however, the outbreak could have altogether been prevented had the eggs been cooked enough to kill the bacteria. Wright County Egg has recalled over 380 million eggs.

way to acquire a healthy mind and body, according to studies within medical profession. “Meditation sounds so much better, pills are bad for you,” student Julie Garcia said. President of the American Psychological Association Carol D. Goodheart outlined the plan for action. “If we give our practitioners a sound structure, a 21st century home that provides us with everything we need to do our best work, psychology will flourish and improve the lives of the people we serve.”

Those hoping to get through another fire season in southern California unscathed can think again. A series of fires started by lightening storms have been burning in the state over the last few weeks. A fire in northeastern San Diego County near El Capitan and another just north of San Luis Obispo caused the surrounding areas to be evacuated, including El Capitan reservoir and few campgrounds. According to an article on the North County Times website dated Aug. 25, the El Capitan fire came within a mile of homes in the Barona Mesa community. Mike Watkins, a weather service forecaster to the North County Times stated, “The thunderstorms fizzled out, but they can come right back.” -SB

|Opinion

THE TELESCOPE | Tuesday, sept. 7, 2010

OUR VIEWPOINT Cutting Class Community colleges cut classes every semester, but when Palomar cuts classes that are major-specific, things get tricky. While many students plan to transfer to universities, there is an abundance of students coming on campus here to get an associate’s degree. If a class is major-specific, there should be more leeway on of how many students are required to register for the class before the start of the semester. By Palomar cutting classes before the semester starts, it takes away from students needing the class. As we all know, every class the first few weeks of the semester will have crashers. Palomar administration should wait until two weeks into the semester until they decide to cut a major-specific class.

Not the Enemy

Approved: New Rancho Bernardo Center Attention all students in the southern end of the district, we are receiving an urgent message from the Palomar administration... you have not been forgotten! Indeed, the administration efforts in purchasing a new site in Rancho Bernardo are a laudable step toward providing all students of the college with a reasonable commute to class. Many of us know the stress associated with fighting morning traffic to make that 8 a.m. lecture. The Rancho Bernardo center will help students get to class on time, without rushing, and for that we are thankful. The three-story parking garage and 100,000 square-foot building only sweeten the deal. Thumbs up Palomar administration, for making student concerns your own.

The new semester has begun and some classes are standing room only. Not all classes have functioning air conditioning and not all windows open. Professors are diving into lessons and handing out permission codes like candy. As students, we’re more than Palomar’s protectors are failaware of the hardships that a new ing big time. semester creates, but the teachers The Campus Police, under a are really the ones who carry the guise of protecting and serving weight. the campus commuBill Jahnel wrote in e-mail that nity, are instead he had visions of “students wanting bullying and inpermission codes as zombies shoutc o nve n i e n c i n g ing ‘BRAINS!” students for no apKudos to all of the Palomar profesparent reason. sors who have dealt with all of these While it’s certainly ‘zombies’ over the past few weeks. laudable to enforce rules and keep order, when there’s an explicitly labeled secGreat job Palomar, tion of the parking lot for visiwe’re still on warning. tors and one for 20-minute parkWho needs ac- ing, there’s no excusing police creditation? Oh wait, blockading the entrance to the school and refusing to even allow we do. We need those long, pickups and drop-offs at certain hard units we took for count- times of day. Some officers have even given less semesters to transfer over. No one wants to go into the Transfer false information about whether Center and find out that this college they were citing for permits the doesn’t accept that credit because first week or if they offered the usual one-week grace period this Palomar screwed up. Only seven more months until semester. It’s not the best way to bring the next check up by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Ju- in the new school year. It can nior Colleges. We can only hope this be hard enough to find suitable time Palomar will actually be ready parking without having to deal and finally get us off that warning with lying, brutish police officers status to become the upstanding ac- in the process. “To protect and serve” indeed. credited school we should be.

To Protect and Bully

Heads Up

don bartletti | mct campus

U.S. Border Patrol agent Jerome Conlin gazes across the base of Otay Mountain in California on Jan. 11, 2010, at a recently completed stretch of the U.S./Mexico border fence. The 3.6-mile-long, 18-feet high barrier through rugged terrain east of San Ysidro cost $57.7 million to construct.

MONEY SPENT, MONEY THROWN ERIC WALKER The Telescope

Isn’t throwing money away just grand? It’s the new great American pastime. Wait, it’s not? Then someone had better inform the Senate. A $600 million boost to border security was approved by Senators Charles Schumer and Ben Cardin, who apparently feel that the best way to stop a problem is to conveniently ignore the faulty piping, and just put a really expensive sponge at the end of the hose. That this passed with such unanimity just shows how easily swayed the American public can be. It’s just a desperate scream of “Look, we’re doing something, vote for us again!” By creating a scapegoat of the border, we eschew ourselves of the responsibility to actually do anything productive. There’s no denying that Mexico is in dire straits at the moment. Drug-related violence is rampant and more than 28,000 murders in

Focused on Palomar

Volume 65 Number 2

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.

the past four years have been connected to the drug cartels. To put that in perspective, Palomar has approximately 30,000 students attending it. As of 2009, the murder rate in Mexico was more than twice that of the United States, and the rate has only increased. With both accomplices and victims flitting across the border, more than 10 percent of Mexico’s population has been lost to either emigration or drug violence. When even the local police are corrupt and participating in the killings, the knee-jerk reaction for us is to say “adios” to our neighbors down south and block the entryway, continuing to live in blissful ignorance of what’s going on down there. But the fact is, they’re still coming through, and a few more unmanned aerial vehicles won’t stop them. People love to complain about the illegal immigrants for, say, stealing jobs and jacking up taxes

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 | Camilo Barrero, Casey Byrne, Marina Cantarelli, Denny Dorsey, Davon Hollis, David Leonard, Daniel Martin, Joseph Melson, Jarred Powell, Mark Saunders, Nick Shumate, Victoria Tran, Michael Treadway, Natalia Vasquez, Emilie Vurik, Chris Wafer Staff Photographers | Layan Ammouri, Breanna Avella, Jennifer Bacon, Steven Balubar, Brak Blevins, Austin Castillo, Ian Chalmers, Christina Dugdale, Rosa Galvin, Tina Hernandez, Doug Holstein, Christopher Kennedy, Reginald Legaspi, Rachel Martin, Rachel Munoz, Huy Nguyen, Mathew O’Neil, Christian Provano, Stacey Prince , Heather Skaggs, Kirgan Snaer, Leslie Surek, Brian Tierne, Allyson Watson, Joshua Yepez

by leaving unpaid hospital bills. But the true problem immigrants are those who are involved in the drug trafficking cartels. By tightening the borders, we’ll drive up our prices and deny hard-working people jobs while doing little to solve the actual problem. And blow $600 million in the process — while we’re at it. What we need to do instead is attack the source, if anything. We’re focusing on saving nations halfway across the world that often don’t want us there to begin with, while a more immediate threat looms much closer to home. Either we as a nation need to leave them be and let them stand on their own feet, solving their own problems, or we need to get out of the Middle East and focus on more productive nation building. Not only do they need us more, their affairs affect us directly. But hey, by all means, keep throwing money at the border. Maybe a bigger wall will do it.

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. Lettesr must be receieved one week prior to the newspaper’s publication to be considered for inclusion.

Associated Collegiate PRess

CFAC

California Newspaper Publishers Association

California First Journalism Association Amendment Coalition of Community Colleges

Opinion| 5

tuesday, sept. 7, 2010 | THE TELESCOPE

Speak Out!

How do you manage stress?

“

Community college students stay too long

I play with my son and do yoga.

“

”

— Kristi Walz Nursing

I’m not very stressed out.

”

— Max Rimple Undecided

photo illustration by brittany stockham & eric walker | the telescope Kelley foyt The Telescope

Incoming freshmen beware: Palomar is a trap. They sucker you in, telling you that they’ll take you under their wing and take care of you. It’s okay that you can’t afford a university, or that you didn’t make the cut for your top school. It’s hard to argue with the perks of open admissions, flexible scheduling and cheaper tuition. With a community college’s helping hand, a successful transfer is just two years away… Right? What the administration doesn’t tell you is that as a community college student, you are 36 percent less likely to obtain a bachelor’s degree than your university counterpart. On top of that, only 26 percent of CC students who planned on getting a bachelor’s degree actually have that degree a full nine years after they first began schooling, both facts according to a July 2009 article from The Regional Economist. I take more than a full workload every semester; 15 units is a minimum for me. I’m an overachiever, and I have a 3.8 GPA. I’ve had numerous appointments with counselors, and I’ve been told that I was on the right track.

I always told myself that Palomar was temporary; I swore I would be out in just two years. And yet, I find myself enrolled in my third year of classes. I’m not alone. I have plenty of friends in their fourth, fifth and even sixth years. Out in two years? Yeah, right. The transition from high school to community college is easy. It’s the leaving part that’s hard, and it’s not because we love Palomar so much. I’m not bashing community colleges. I am, however, criticizing their program set-up. It’s overwhelming. Palomar offers transfer classes for both in and out-of-state universities, two-year degrees, certificates, classes that are just for fun, the line between community colleges and four-years is even beginning to blur. Seventeen states have let community colleges award bachelor’s degrees. On top of that, there are community colleges that have been transformed into four-year institutions, according to a May 2009 article from the New York Times. Incoming freshmen have spent their entire educational career working towards graduating from high school, and now that they’ve done that, the possibilities can seem endless.

But remember need to focus. Decide what matters. Take into account friends’ and family’s opinions, but in the end, remember that the decision is your own. If you want to transfer, decide where you want to go now. At the very minimum, decide if you want to go to a UC, CSU or out-of-state school. Decide if you want a certificate or an associate’s degree. And then find out the specific class requirements that you need, and plan out each of your semesters accordingly. I cannot stress enough that students need to know exactly which classes to take each semester. Flip flop the courses around if necessary (based off of enrollment availability), but don’t just stumble into Palomar blindly. This is my last semester at Palomar. I’m enrolled in all of the classes that I need for my transfer requirements as well as my associate’s degree. I planned on being out of here before summer began, and in hindsight, I should have planned it out better, because it could have been done. Two years at this school is enough. It’s monotonous, repetitive and draining. Don’t stay longer at this school than you need to. And don’t say that you weren’t warned.

“

I play ice hockey and stay physically active.

“

”

— Chris Saunders Fire Science

I do a lot to relieve stress, listen to music and run.

”

— Rich So’oto Undecided

“ ”

I hang out with friends.

— Jamie Jacobs Undecided

Have something more to sayabout Palomar? Have you also been affected by the Campus Police or the admistration?

Vote in our online poll at www.the-telescope.com or write us a letter to the editor eric walker | THE TELESCOPE

|IN DEPTH

THE TELESCOPE | Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2010

Clubs come out in force to recruit Discover Palomar 2010 marked the beginning of a new semester. Aug. 23 and 24, clubs congregated in front of the Student Union center to catch the eyes of new recruits. Members waited at tables with pamphlets and sign up sheets. The Extreme Talent Club laid out a mat in the shade and danced and ForRent.com served up hot pizza to any student with an activity card. Clubs not only offer activities and information, but they offer support and a chance to make like-minded friends. Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society

Extreme Creative Talent Club

To recognize and encourage scholarship among To provide student-to-student interaction through two-year college students various styles of dance Mondays at 1 p.m. in NS-145 Tuesdays and Thursdays at 3:30 p.m. in D-6

M.E.Ch.A.

To promote learning through education, cultural and political awareness, and community involvement while inspiring unity among members Thursdays at 5p.m. in SU-17

“

There is more to learn than what you can learn in a college class, things you can only learn by being involved. — Bobby Shuster

”

President of Phi Theta Kappa

LGTBQA

Palomar Engineering and Physics Student Organization (PEPSO)

To further the education of the engineering and physics student Thursdays (starting Sept. 23) at 3:30 p.m. in NS-225

Encuentros United

To create a safe, supportive and enriching To encourage and support education, leadership environment for all students of all sexual orienta- and ourselves tions, lifestyles and genders. Mondays at 3 p.m. in SU-304 Tuesday at 4:30 in SU-204

International Club

To provide support to International Students First and third Mondays at 2:30 p.m. in A-15

Palomar College Fire Club

To further enhance the Palomar College students through fire service-related experiences that otherwise are not available in the classroom palomarcollegefireclub.com

Environmental Student Organization

To help the community, our members, other students and the environment through our events and projects Mondays at 2:30 pm in NS-136

Palomar Film Club Photos by Kiigan Snaer | THE TELESCOPE

Top left: Aug. 23 and 24, 2010, marked Palomar College’s Discovery Day club showcase. Bobby Shuster, president of Phi Theta Kappa, awaits prospective club members to stop at the Phi Theta Kappa booth. Top right: Architecture major Andres Cornejo (left) fills out forms to join the Palomar Architecture Club (PAC) while Courtney Augustus (right), Co-president of the club, outlines the details. Bottom right: Biology major Anthony Neonan signs up for the LGBTG club. He said he did not know the club existed and is excited to hear about the support the club offers. Bottom left: Rosa Casadas (left), Isabel Diaz (center), and other M.E.Ch.A. club members await the arrival of prospective club members while the Exteme Talent club dances in the backround.

To explore, enjoy and promote the art and science of film through education and cross-cultural awareness Fridays at 3:30 p.m. in SU-17

Fashion Club

To act as a resource for students interested in all aspects of the fashion industry Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5 p.m. in Fashion #1

Apple Club

To promote Apple computer products Monday at noon in SU-204

Political science professor slams his way into student’s minds Mark Saunders The Telescope

master’s degree in public policy, Limer said he knows the stresses and constraints of his It’s not often one walks into a class to find students. He too has fallen victim to less than a professor rapping, especially about political enthusiastic instructors. “I feel students’ pains,” Limer said. “I science. Political Science Professor Joseph Limer dreaded being a student in the past. But I get raps and his lyrics show, there is more to polit- excited to come here and teach.” Professor Limer uses poetry and “political ical science than lectures and papers. There’s slams” to better reach students. He said it is heart. As a SDSU student working toward a his way of encouraging students to ask questions and crave knowledge. “The poetry and political slams “When you ask a question you never help better people and create better functioning people,” Limer know what question will be asked in return. I teach to help students decide said. At least one student has taken what to do in the future.” -Joseph Limer notice of his eagerness to educate. “He’s a very engaging professor,” said Steven Gravitt, a current student in Limer’s POSC 101 class. “He’s outgoing, a good teacher.” Limer has taught at Palomar for nine years. Before becoming a political science professor, he lived in West Virginia and attended law school. He interned for both the U.S. Mark Saunders| THE TELESCOPE Senate and the state legislature.

After graduating from law school he became a criminal defense lawyer, where he realized he wanted to teach. “I felt that I wanted to use everything I learned from political science and law to help students understand the system they live in,” Limer said. Limer has also culminated experience working for the National Endowment for the Humanities in Georgia, writing for a constitutional law professor, and working with civil rights groups for Asian-Americans and ArabAmericans. When asked about his decision to not practice law, Limer said he is comfortable with his choice. “Law was leading me a certain way I didn’t want to go,” he said. “My parents had a tougher time dealing with it than I. I still have law friends and I see them weathered. I can’t see myself having any other job.” Limer’s passion for teaching is reinforced by his motivation to help students develop their own political philosophy. He explains that political science is not all black and white and it is important to teach students about the interactions between political ideologies. “He gets students to critically think and

has been a wonderful personal counselor for political science majors or students in need of good academic advice,” said Political Science Senior Faculty Member Peter Bowman. “His work ethic is unbelievable. ” Professor Limer said he believes that if you show honesty with a student, the student will be honest back. “If a student had to work a double shift and needed help understanding material, I’d rather be told that than have no work done and be lied to,” Limer said. “It hurts me to fail students.” One student commented on Limer’s animated and dedicated approach to teaching. “He seems in your face, but not in a bad way, in a good way,” freshman Cheandall Wieve said. Using his experience in politics, law and as a student, Professor Limer said he hopes that the collaboration of questions between himself and his students will ultimately aid them in deciding what they want to do with their lives. “When you ask a question you never know what question will be asked in return,” Limer said. “I teach to help students decide what to do in the future.”

Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2010 | THE TELESCOPE

Entertainment|

Sara Burbidge The Telescope

Smurfs, asteroids, Bill Cosby, Jazzercise, neon — these things are all too familiar to a child of the 1980s. Touted as a musical journey through the ’80s, Lamb’s Players Theatre’s (LPT) latest play “miXtape” is much more. About 20 minutes into the play the lights are dimmed and three figures appear on stage, the lights go up, neon flashes and the band starts playing “Physical”byOliviaNewton John and “Manic” made popular by the movie “Flashdance.” The actors are dressed in ridiculous ‘80s workout outfits complete with leg warmers, Walkmans and headbands. They sing, dance and sweat when Richard Simmons (Spencer Rowe) suddenly runs down a ramp and a wave of chills runs over the audience as his nasally voice bombasts previously happy ears. From then on the stage becomes a melee of the cast of “Chips” in short shorts, serial killers and a Tom Cruise impersonator, underwear and all. The actors, caught in a time warp, escape down memory lane and come to question their own lives.They reminisce about making mixtapes and living the good life in the ’80s. One character boasts that in the ’80s, “no one can call me, beep me or tweet me.” Another tells the audience, “stress wasn’t in my vocabulary.” “We’re exploring music as a marking of your memories. Music as a time machine. Music as empowerment. Music as your secret place. It tells us where we’ve been, and it helps us move forward,” playwright Jon Lorenz said in an interview with LPT marketing director Ed Hofmeister.

The actors throw themselves into their performance. Members of the audience will be out of breath as the costume changes become more and more ridiculous and hilarious. A live band performed all the music and the musicians are an active part of the play, dressing one moment as serial killers from popular ’80s movies and then as popular musicians or teenage heartthrobs. The writers of miXtape, Lorenz and Colleen Kollar Smith, started on the play two years ago. They interviewed friends who grew up during the time period about their favorite bands, TV shows, their parents, popular culture and news to see if cultural references matched up. “You select things from culture that express something personal to you. We don’t do that today. We drag and drop. We create playlists. But a mixtape is really a labor of love. You have to pick your songs. You have to push record. Play, pause, rewind, fast forward. The messiness of it,” Lorenz said. For Generation Xers the show is a trip back through adolescence. More than half of the audience appeared to be over 40 but everyone there was clapping and singing along with the performance. If permitted no doubt some people would have jumped at the chance to dance in the aisles. “We need that personal connection, which is one of the reasons we tend toward nostalgia…We’re looking for a common ground — a simpler time, a simpler place,” said Smith in an interview with LPT marketing director Ed Hofmeister. The play is running through Oct. 24 at the Lamb’s Players Horton Grand Theatre in the Gaslamp District. Show times on Friday and Saturday are at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. and it runs for about two hours.

Playreview

miXtape

HHH out of four stars

Top Left: Creators: Jon Lorenz and Colleen Kollar Smith. Photo by Kristen Lynn. Top Right: Cast members perform a Richard Simmons-like dance. Photo by J.T. MacMillan. Bottom Left: Cast member Luis Pardo, who depics a nerd. Photo by J.T. MacMillan. Bottom Right: The full cast of miXtape, who pertray the 1980s. Photo by J.T. MacMillan.

8 |Arts & Culture

Tuesday, Sept. 7

Who: Big Sonic Chill Sponsored by FM 94.9 When: 11:30 p.m. Where: Air Conditioned Lounge Cost: Free Info: 619-501-9831

Friday, Sept. 10

Who: 25th Hour What: Rock When: 6:30 p.m. Where: Soma, San Diego Cost: $8 and up Info: tickets.somasandiego.com

Thursday, Sept. 9

What: Board Game Night When: 5 p.m. Where: Reds Espresso Gallery Cost: Free Info: 619-523-5540

Monday, Sept. 13 Who: The Styletones What: Alternative When: 9 p.m. Where: Bar Pink Cost: Free Info: 21 and up 619-564-7194

Friday, Sept. 3

Who: Melissa Etheridge What: Rock/Pop When: 8 p.m. Where: Copley Symphony Hall Cost: $49-117 Info: 619-235-0804

‘Other M’: Odd departure from series norm Eric Walker The Telescope

You can’t go wrong with space ninjas. In one of the most unexpected and controversial moves to rock the video gaming world in recent memory, Nintendo teamed up with Team Ninja to produce the latest entry in the “Metroid” series, “Metroid: Other M.” The combination is an odd one: Nintendo is traditionally a familyfriendly company, famed for the “Mario” games and such, while Team Ninja is known more for games featuring copious blood and bouncing breasts. But somehow, it works. Released on Aug. 31, the game was designed with three major things in mind: making a modern action game that’s easy to learn without being mired down with complex controls, fusing story and game play seamlessly and giving the series protagonist some serious character development for the first time since the character’s inception in 1986. It succeeds on all three points, though a few technical aspects bog down the game at times. Players step into the boots of intergalactic bounty hunter Samus Aran, who answers a distress call from an abandoned space station. While still reeling from the events of ”Super Metroid,” she meets up with a few old friends and works with them and get to the bottom of what happened to the station, which naturally ends up putting the entire galaxy in danger. Unlike previous entries in the series, the story is injected through cinematic scenes throughout the game.The voice acting and dialogue vary from tolerable to awkward, but it’s rarely a problem, as they don’t last long and actually depict a fairly surprising storyline. Series veterans will be in for some definite twists, though newcomers may feel a bit lost. The game is played entirely with a single Wii Remote controller, sans the attachments most games of its

Sat., Sept. 18

Who: Paramore What: Alternative When: 6:30 p.m. Where: Viejas Arena Cost: $26-$36 Info: ticketmaster.com

NOW ON SALE Lingerie Football

San Diego Sports Arena, Oct. 22 Tickets on sale at ticketmaster.com.

Gabriel Iglesias

Humphrey’s Concerts by the Bay, Oct. 22 Tickets on sale at ticketmaster.com.

dan mccarthy The Telescope

What: Rolando’s Where: Loma Portal/ Rosecrans Street Price: $4.90 plus tax Rating: 4/5 Burritos Off Interstate 8, Rosecrans Street exit, near a cavalcade of strip clubs, potholes, homeless folks and a van promising “Fast Divorce” is Rolando’s, a small nondescript former Rally’s burger joint at which I find one of the county’s best burritos with equally noteworthy salsa, food preparation time and service. In all ways Rolando’s does their burrito right. The meat is well seasoned; cheese is melted; salsa fresca is, egad, fresh; french fries soft on the inside; guacamole is present; there is an inordinate lack of grease and the tortilla is somewhat fluffy and just slightly charred. When you

Courtesy Photo

Samus roundhouse kicks an alien pirate in Team Ninja’s latest game.“Other M” introduces melee combat to the series for the first time. ilk require. Only three or four but- allows Samus to pull off “Matrix”tons will be needed at any given like maneuvers to avoid attacks, time. This seems to dumb down the which always feels satisfying and game-play at times and can make responsive. it obnoxious to perform any given “Other M” is fairly lengthy. move when six others share the “Metroid” games have always been same button, but again, it’s short-but-sweet experirare that this actually beences with emphasis on Video Game review replaying to get a betcomes a problem. The game is evenly ter completion time, but spread between action and this one foregoes some exploration, with countof that to offer a longer, less hidden items strewn more immersive and difthroughout the levels. Comficult experience. “Other M” bat focuses on shooting and It’s certainly not an Wii dodging as usual, but for easy game, either. While the first time Samus is cathe progression is more out of four stars pable of grappling, kicking linear than usual, actuand otherwise engaging in ally getting to a destinaclose-quarters combat. It’s compa- tion can be quite contrived, and the rable in many ways to Team Ninja’s boss battles are intense and chalacclaimed “Ninja Gaiden” series, lenging without being frustrating. though with more of an emphasis Sometimes the aliens just take on ranged weaponry. “Other M” too long to kill, though — until also introduces a dodge feature that Samus acquires her third weapon,

HHH

think of “California Burrito” this is what you expect. There isn’t a silver bullet for Rolando’s success; everything just works well together. Their salsa fr-

esca makes an uncommonly proper use of cilantro, insomuch that it doesn’t overpower the tomato and onion, but complements it.The combination of cheese and guacamole brings a certain creamy texture to the burrito that contrasts nicely with the chopped carne asada, which, in its own right, is good enough to eat by itself. The burrito is also appropriately portioned, filling enough for a legitimate lunch. The potoatoes and beef are layered well, deftly avoiding the pitfall of having fries on one side and meat on the other. Rolando’s flavor and texture stacking surprisingly shows careful thought.

But all California Burritos are only as good as the hot sauce you dump on it, and Rolando’s certainly adheres to that rule. Like most taco shops, they offer a red and green hot sauce, the former is chili based and the latter is made from tomatillos. In general, I do not care for tomatillo salsa in any form, although it has a very earthy flavor and is not particularly spicy. Whether that differs from the norm is a mystery to me, but it is certainly more accessible to those who lack an iron tongue. Their red colored hot sauce, however, differs from the standard watery and white-seed-laden variety greatly, as they use a different chili to create a black-speckled and

thicker recipe that really enhances the present flavors and gives their sauce a distinct smoky signature. It is also, and arguably most importantly, quite spicy, supplying the eye

enemies just feel tedious to battle as they absorb countless shots and barely shrug. This problem is alleviated later on, which begs the question of why the game is harder in the beginning than toward the end. Aurally, the game is a mixed bag. Aside from the aforementioned finicky voice work, the soundtrack ranges from nonexistent to epic. Battle themes are fitting and dramatic, but while wandering through the halls of the ship players will find only silence or atmospheric, barely audible tunes. The series has been widely praised for its soundtrack, but this entry falls short in that field. ”Other M” is a departure from series norms in many ways — thankfully, most of them are good. Series purists will bemoan the differences, but those willing to look past the changes and see it for what it really is will be pleasantly surprised.

Photots By Dan Mccarthy| The Telescope

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2010| THE TELESCOPE

watering heat needed to fully enjoy a California Burrito. Worth mentioning also is the ordering experience, as Rolando’s will work with you to add or subtract components from their burrito to make it something worth writing home about. Want carnitas instead of carne asada? Want a triplet of rolled tacos stuffed inside? No problem. With the base line burrito as good as it is, shifting the main protein or adding more guacamole or cheese to the finished product is certainly worth the extra couple bucks and time to ask for it. Although too far to make a quick lunch run from any Palomar campus, Rolando’s is great for a bite down in the Sports Arena area. It shan’t disappoint — this burrito is top tier.

Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2010 | THE TELESCOPE

Diversions| 9

Selected Works of XKCD.com

Comics courtesy of Randall Munroe | xkcd.com

10 | NEWS

THE TELESCOPE | tuesday, sept. 7, 2010

buildings

report

rad

Continued from Page 1

evidenced by the extensive construction underway in many places along Comet Circle. The recently completed Health Sciences building, located adjacent to the Student Union, is the first structure completely funded with Prop M dollars, according to Deegan. Professor Wendy Nelson, who teaches communications in the new building, said the rooms made it a lot easier for her students to work, and appreciates that the technology is easy to work with. She added that it was in a great location on campus. The Multidisciplinary Instructional building, situated just north of the new Health Sciences structure, is also nearing completion.This facility, which was built with money from a different state fund, is scheduled to open in Spring 2011. It will be the largest building on the San Marcos Campus, with 107,000 square feet of instructional and office space. The Health Sciences building was completed on time and under budget, Deegan said. The administration estimates that the Multidisciplinary Instruction building will be completed in a similar fashion. The savings from construction will be used to outfit both buildings and the student union with solar paneling as an example of the college’s focus on sustainability, Deegan added. With numerous other projects in the works, including a new center in Fallbrook, and a planned “face lift” on the Escondido Center, Deegan expressed hope that the new facilities and construction efforts would “meet the need of the students for many years to come.”

least they are doing well in all the other areas,” student Monica Marciano said. Palomar needs to create a comprehensive strategic plan, according to the recommendations. Also, Palomar should modify the process of how the budget is developed. This should be changed so that the college’s strategic plan priorities are in the center of this process. Palomar should also find ways to evaluate the college’s planning and resource allocation in hopes of improving all processes. ACCJC states “accreditation is a status granted to an educational institution that has been found to meet or exceed stated criteria of educational quality.” Accreditation status is not required for community colleges, but it assures students that their credits are valid and able to transfer. “I’m proud of all that we have achieved in the past year and look forward to being removed from warning so that we can focus more of our meeting discussions and efforts on how we can better serve the needs of our students,” Cuaron said. Palomar will submit another follow-up report in April 2011 and ACCJC will return in April 2011 to check on the status of Palomar. If Palomar makes the necessary changes, ACCJC will accredit good status back to Palomar. “We have appreciated the time and effort all the faculty, staff, and administrators have put into this accreditation process as we have all recognized how important it is to satisfy this last recommendation.”

all the abductions and kidnappings that have happened in this area it’s important for girls and women to be defensive and learn how to survive and get away in those type of situations.” With the recent murders of locals Amber Dubois and Chelsea King, safety awareness has increased. Daisy Vu, a finance major at Palomar, said she believes that this will help make women more confident when they’re at risk of being attacked. Boguta agreed with Vu. “This program allows women to bring out their inner strengths,” Boguta said. “It helps in bringing out what you are truly capable of.” To learn more about R.A.D., check out the official website rad-systems. com or contact officer Monika Forest at 760-744-1150 ext. 2289.

photo illustrations by doug holstein | THE TELESCOPE

Jesica Siefers and Jon Holstein act out a staged assault and defense to get the word out on upcoming RAD classes at Palomar.

tuesday, sept. 7, 2010 | THE TELESCOPE

| 11

|Sports

THE TELESCOPE | tuesday, Sept. 7 2010

Divergent styles fill soccer puzzle

Co-captains Johnny Topete (left) and Gabriel De Silva Duarte (right) practice their game on the soccer field. Topete is a high-scoring defender, while Duarte is an aggressive offensive player.

Rachael Martin | THE TELESCOPE

Co-captain Topete leads men’s soccer in goals matthew slagle The Telescope

He smiles and tries to play it off like he doesn’t know what they’re talking about, denying what they’re saying is true, but his smile deceives him, he is enjoying the spotlight. Sophomore Johnny Topete is the real deal. Not only is he the best player on the team, but he is the captain and the man teammates will follow because they know they should listen to what he says, if they want to win. “He just loves winning,” head soccer coach Carlos Hernandez said. “When the

team isn’t working as hard as he feels they should be working, he gets on their case, and nobody argues with Johnny because he leads by example.” “He is the type of player you like having on your team, it makes you feel confident about yourself and you know he’s got your back,” said freshman midfielder Angel Carronza. Freshman forward J.C. Orozco agreed: “You know you have that one player you can always count on.” Just watch the team warm up and you will notice who takes point: it’s none other than the captain, the “quar-

terback” of the defense. Despite that, he’s also the leading scorer — as a defender. Find a team whose leading scorer is the sweeper (the last defensive player before the keeper) and you either have a bad team or a really great player; in this case it’s the latter. “He knows when to go up at the right time, it is very unusual for a defender to lead in scoring,” Hernandez said. “I told my guys, jokingly, it’s embarrassing that you guys are out there and have the (first) opportunity (to score) and he comes in and

SPORTS ON DECK

Brazil native Duarte flies on the field, in the sky matthew slagle & Dan mccarthy The Telescope

Leadership is not always flashy. There is invariably that one guy with a certain je ne sais quois that pulls the team together; the quiet man whose skill and work ethic is just there. No baggage. No shenanigans. A

coach’s dream. For the Comets, that man is Gabriel De Silva Duarte. Entering his last semester at Palomar, Duarte leads the men’s soccer offensive section, paired on the field with co-captain Johnny Topete, the defensive front man. Their styles are at times worlds apart – Topete is the team’s firebrand, while

Duarte is more subdued in demeanor — but their results and goals are the same. Huddled with teammates, he almost blends in — just another one of the guys. But when he starts to talk, that visage of anonymity is betrayed by his knowledge of the sport’s intricacies. “He’s a very mature guy who has a lot of pride in his

Sports On Deck

scores.” Topete, whose position was described as “the whole field” by his teammates, is the one difference maker needed on a successful team, according to Coach Hernandez. He said that the difference between an above average player and just a regular player is “the ability to do just about anything he wants on the field.” He has his teammates’ support. Even as Topete hesitates to describe his athletic game,” Head Coach Carlos Hernandez said. “He understands to adapt, he knows he needs the guy next to him to be able to make a good play. He brings a lot of maturity up on top.” That doesn’t mean, however, that he’s a pushover when the rubber meets the road — or more appropriately, when the cleats hit the grass. “He wants the ball when the pressure is on,” Hernandez added. “He is an intense player.” With his quick feet and talented teammates, Duarte is a playmaker, with the mindset to pass selflessly when possible and to strike when opportune. “He’s very quick and agile,” freshman midfielder

prowess, his friends jump in and are quick to praise him: “You know where it says the alumni on the website? In a few years it will have Johnny Topete there, I guarantee it,” Carranza said. On top of being the best he can be on the field, he is a star in the classroom. He has received honors as a scholar athlete, something his coach is proud of. Hernandez encourages his progress in the classroom: “From day one I have

said I want him to finish his education; guys like him get tempted to go and try to become professionals and they get lost in the shuffle. “I tell him at the end of the day his education will stay with him for the rest of his life. He’s got the talent, and he knows it, but I don’t want him to use that and take shortcuts,” Hernandez said. Topete cracks a smile and teammates continue to praise him.

Angel Carronza said. “He’s just a hard worker.” As a student athlete, Duarte extends that solid work ethic to his coursework, no doubt a vestige of his go-getthem attitude that landed him in sunny Southern California. Born and raised in Porto Alegre, Brazil (the same city international soccer star Ronaldinho hails from), Duarte started playing soccer at the age of 5, but it was not until later that his passion and love for the sport blossomed. When a four-year relationship tanked and his tolerance with his school in Brazil withered, Duarte, at the urging of his cousin, moved out to California and began to work on his pilot’s license. He has since earned his private aviator’s license and

now works toward his commercial license, with future plans to either work as a professional pilot or turn pro in soccer. He has yet to decide between the two considerably diffenet career tracks. “I only take it one or two days at a time, never much further” Duarte says — but his options are certainly open and his for the taking. With an admittedly uncertain future, one factor is concrete for Duarte: If he finds himself in a dream Major League Soccer job or behind an aircraft’s flight stick, he will take to it, as he has in Palomar athletics, with the same grinding work ethic, toiling without complaint, pretense, baggage or shenanigans.

Wed., Sept. 8

Thurs., Sept. 9

Friday, Sept. 10

Sat., Sept. 11

Miramar 2 p.m. Wallace Memorial Pool

Mt. SAC 5 p.m. Minkoff Field

Riverside CC 5 p.m. Minkoff Field

San Diego Mesa 6 p.m. Wilson Stadium, EHS

Woman’s Water Polo

Men’s Soccer

Football