FOCUSED ON PALOMAR
the telescope Monday, April 25, 2011
Vol. 64, No. 20
Palomar College, San Marcos, Calif.
Student proposal to ban smoking on campus sent back to lower committee
MARK SAUNDERS THE TELESCOPE
To the distress of Palomar’s Associated Student Government smoking is still allowed on campus—in designated areas— for now. After years of planning, study and maneuvering by the ASG to craft a “smokefree campus” policy, campus planners declined to review the proposal, effectively killing it for this year. The proposal would
Photo Illustration by Deb Hellman and David Leonaard
Planners tell student gov’t to
have banned smoking on campus altogether, a step further than the current policy that corrals smokers into specific areas for smoke breaks. ASG President Channing Shattuck said that Robert Deegan, the college turn to SMOKE, PAGE 10
New learning center coming to San Marcos campus
Students study at the Escondido TLC. (Chris Gebhardt/The Telescope)
Obama to pitch budget message to Calif. voters
The president speaks on April 19 in Virginia. (Olivier Douliery/MCT)
Kelli miller THE TELESCOPE
PETER NICHOLAS McClatchy newspapers
Palomar’s Teaching and Learning Center offers students a comfortable atmosphere with an outstanding staff to promote and ensure a successful studying environment, according to staff at the Escondido-based center. Accounting major Carol Cornell said she uses the TLC both before and after class as a place to study without the distractions of everyday life. “There are too many distractions at home,” Cornell said. “The dishes, the phone, the
WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama opened his sales pitch to voters on a plan for reducing the nation’s deficits, visiting the first of three crucial states this week to argue against a competing Republican plan he has charged would shrink the government’s basic health safety net for senior citizens and the poor. Obama also used the town hall-style meeting in Virginia on Tuesday to recover lost ground with voters after his public approval rating fell
turn to TLC, PAGE 4
turn to OBAMA, PAGE 10
2 [News]
Monday, April 25, 2011
News Digest (Deb Hellman/The Telescope)
Palomar student killed in car accident Palomar college student Junethea Crystal Centeno died on April 12. The 18-year-old died after her car struck an unprotected barrier on Interstate 15 near the Felicita Avenue on-ramp in Escondido, Channel 10 news reported. Centeno was driving her Honda Civic at around 3 a.m. when her car hit the barrier at a speed of 70 or 75 mph, officials said. She was killed instantly. Many of Centeno’s friends on Facebook and Tumblr, a blogging network, commented on a wedsite set up to commemorate her life by her family. “RIP Junethea! You are a beautiful person inside & out,” Gen Rinugay posted on her page.
The “R.I.P. Junethea Crystal Centeno” page on Facebook that has received 26,563 likes so far. Many of her followers on Facebook and Tumblr, who had never met her aside from the posts and videos she posted on her pages, attended an April 19 memorial service organized by her family and friends. --Joel Ramos
Hands across California On April 17, Palomar’s Associated Student Government took part in Hands across California to create awareness of community colleges and raise funds for scholarships. ASG representatives joined other students, faculty and administrators up and down the coast to demonstrate the importance of
community colleges in the face of harsh budget cuts. “We are trying to wake California up, and show them that a huge portion of their future workforce, taxpayers, and voters will come from community colleges,” Channing Shattuck, ASG president, said in an email. Shattuck said in the same email the ASG is trying to promote the idea that, if you text “HANDS” to 27722, $10 will be sent to your local college’s scholarship endowment fund, which will be matched by half by the OSHER Foundation. The texting donation will be available until June 30. The ASG said it is important to get everyone to do this at least once to support a better academic future. “We are trying to let everyone know that for every $1 you in-
vest in this education, you get $3 back,” Shattuck said. “We are trying to give California’s students a chance to succeed!” -Mark Saunders
Students perform ‘sonic sampler’ Student composers in Palomar’s Electronic Music Ensemble will perform on April 27 at 8 p.m. in the Performance Lab at Palomar’s Concert Hour in D-10. General admission at the door will be $5. A total of 12 students from all levels will be playing in the concert on Wednesday night and 10 at the Concert Hour performance.
A variety of music will be played including acoustic instruments and music played from computers. There are also performances that incorporate a multimedia presentation of music that will play simultaneously with a DVD on a projection. Student composers have been working for the entire semester in preparation for this performance. “I think the most exciting thing about this is that this concert really allows students to express who they are individually,” said Madelyn Byrne, the shows director. “For people who are interested in what technology can do with music it’s a really interesting and fun concert to go to because you see people using (technology) to express their creative ideas.” --Joel Ramos
This Week at Palomar Tuesday
Wednesday April 27-30
April 29
LGBTQ Pride Event
Student Art and Craft Sale
Palomar Symphony Show
Palomar’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered and Questioning club will hold its second annual Pride Event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Student Union Quad. The event will feature speakers from the North County Coalition and the Vista Community Clinic. There will also be games and prizes, music and an open session for students to share experiences and address what they take pride in to the crowd. The Vista Community Clinic will providing free HIV and STD testing from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the LGBTQ Resource Center, room ST-72.
A student art and craft sale will take place Wednesday through Saturday in the art department courtyard between the C&D building and parking lots 1,2 and 5. On Wednesday, the event will take place from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. On Thursday the event will take place from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. On Friday the sale will be open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon. Visitors will be able to purchase handmade glass, ceramics, jewelry, sculptures and more. Demos will also be held throughout each day.
April 26
Friday
The Palomar symphony orchestra will hold a performance from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Howard Brubeck Theatre. The show will consist of performances of Blue Cathedral by Jennifer Higdon, Symphony in E minor Op. 32 by Mrs. H. H. A. Beach and the world premier of Prior’s Waltz by Ellen Weller. Tickets are priced $8 to $12 and can purchased online at www.palomarperforms.com or by phone at 760-744-1150 ext. 2453. For more information contact Kimberly Loya at 760-744-1150 ext. 2316.
Police Blotter March Campus police reported totals of: 21 Grafitti crimes 7 Student conduct violations 6 Medical assists 4 Lost key and Information only reports 2 Vehicle burglury and vandalism crimes 1 Petty, grand theft, and found, lost property reports.
April (up to April 18) Campus police reported totals of: 8 Grafitti crimes 3 Student conduct violations 1 Found and lost property reports. Contact campus police at 760-744-1150 ext. 2289 for more inofrmation. Dial 911 when reporting an emergency.
Notable Reports: March 1
- Student made derogatory sexual comments about a Community Service Officer. - Student reported losing her flute at the San Marcos campus. -Staff member reported hearing popping sounds that was later determined as a BBpellet gun. Glass shards were found.
March 3
- A unknown suspect stole a student’s purse from her husband’s car in the soccer field parking lot. -A student reported a piece of metal proturding from the ground had punctured the front left tire of his vehicle.
March 4
- Student had severe diarrhea in the restroom. Student Health Serices responded to assess her.
March 7
- A staff member had their keys clipped on her purse. She noticed they were gone after she returned from lunch. -An unknown person keyed the passenger door of a student’s Nissan in Lot 14.
March 11
- Student was contacted after being reported as intoxicated by an instructor.
March 31
- A student was reported using an altered permit. -A DSPS (disabled student programs and services) student reported saying terrorist threats.
April 5 - Skateboarder advised not to ride on campus by officer. Skateboarder refused and started arguing with officer of his rights to ride on campus.
April 6
-Students were reported having sexual intercourse in a vehicle located near Lot 9A. - Health and Science property found in a backpack picked up by a Community Service Officer.
April 14
-A student was arrested for delaying and obstructing justice after being apprehended for smoking a controlled substance. The student began an on-foot chase and was found to not have any drugs on his person.
April 15
- A suspect was arrested after stealing from the campus bookstore. Police said the suspect has been stealing from the bookstore for the past month. A fight ensued in a parking lot and officers were injured. The suspect was apprehended and taken to jail. -Mark Saunders
[News] 3
the telescope
Palomar begins speedy degree programs State bill to ease requirements for degree, transferring students Mark Saunders THE TELESCOPE
Sorry, but you have to take more classes here before you are able to transfer out. Students familiar with this phrase need not worry about the hidden requirements en route to transferring to a four-year institution. State senate bill 1440-- also known as the Student Transfer Achievement Reform Act (STAR)-- was passed on June 22, 2010 and Palomar plans to start offering transfer degree programs this fall semester. Gloria Kerkhoff, articulation officer at Palomar’s transfer center, said there are still a lot of issues that need to be addressed. “We need to resolve reciprocity issues community college to community college,” Kerkoff said. “If a student starts at MiraCosta and halfway through transfers to here...can a student bring (credits) with them and still get the (certificate)? All of that still has to be resolved.” Students can receive an “associate’s degree for transfer” equivalent to the traditional course path community colleges have instilled in order to achieve an associate’s before leaving. One student remained skeptic about the program’s ability to effectively speed up the degree path. “Seems like it would be harder,” Student Aaron Trost said. “Many four-year schools are different. There probably would be a lot to change.”
How it works The degree can be achieved by having 60 transferable units including the CSU general education pattern and 18 units in a major or area of emphasis. “An associate’s degree requires that a student complete our general education and all of our district requirements and then the major prep,” Kerkhoff said. “So the student is left with still completing 39 to 45 units to transfer. “So this is streamlining it...by taking away the district requirements and saying its basically a transfer pattern and major work.” The law permits priority admission to a local California State University campus and to a program that is similar to a given major or area of emphasis. The act also prohibits a CSU campus from requiring a student repeat courses that are similar to courses completed as
part of an associate degree for transfer. “Then when the student transfers to a four-year school, the four-year school cannot make the student take more than 60 units,” Kerkhoff said. “So it is indeed a 120-unit degree.” Faculty from CSU campuses and community colleges will get together in order to decide which classes will make up the pattern for transfer students to take and leave with an associate’s degree. Student Rob Barnes said he thought the overall plan to speed up the degree process could work well. “It would be more difficult,” Barnes said on his way to his business management class. “It seems as though it would be more of an incentives to get to a four-year university.”
When will Palomar begin This fall, Palomar plans on assembling degree plans for psychology and sociology. Pending approval, the degree programs will be offered for the Fall 2011 semester. “Next year, we’ll be working on AJ (administration of justice), communication, math and kenisiology may be coming up,” Kerkhoff said. “This is what we think. The departments who have the time to sit down and work with me, we’ll come up with a transfer major for them.”
Program not for everyone either San Diego State University has elected not to participate. Kerkhoff said that due to the impacted nature of SDSU, many students will find it difficult to get in. “Impaction criteria is still in place,” Kerkhoff said of CSU San Marcos’ higher GPA requirement compared to Palomar’s. Kerkhoff also credits difficulty with getting programs together between community colleges and four-year institutions to the budget cuts handed down by the state legislature. “As long as there are section cutbacks it slows students up to a certain degree,”
By the Numbers:
Palomar transfers in Fall 2010
709
transferred
CSU San Marcos
54
transferred
SDSU
32
transferred
CSU Northridge Photo Illustration (Mark Saunders/The Telescope) Kerkhoff said. The University of California system has also elected not to participate. “A lot will be determined if this plays out with the CSU,” Kerkhoff said. “If it’s very successful... then maybe the UC will consider it.” Also, the time frame given to community colleges to begin incorporating these programs is very short, according to Kerkhoff.
“Legislation said ‘you will do this and you have to have two in place by Fall 2011,’” Kerkhoff said. “So we (faculty) all have to start working on something where the bumps in the road have not been smoothed out...and yet there are still so many unanswered questions.” Contact Mark Saunders, news editor, at msaunders@the-telescope.com
News to Know (Mel Melcon/MCTCampus)
1,300 possibly exposed to TB According to an April 14 article in the San Diego Union-Tribune, approximately 1,300 people are being notified by the San Diego County Health Services Agency after being potentially exposed to tuberculosis at the San Diego American Indian Health Center in downtown. The no-cost testing for the people exposed between Oct. 1, 2010 and April 1, 2011 will be done at the American Indian Health Center located at 2630 First Ave. Symptoms of active tuberculosis include persistent cough, fever, night sweats and unexplained weight loss. Though, as the disease can affect different organs, different symp-
toms may persist. For more information, call the San Diego American Indian Health Center at 619-2340648 or the County TB Control Program at 619-692-8621.
“Chop from the top” saying that the universities have rewarded administrators while punishing the students and faculty. The planned 10 percent hike will raise fees to $4,884 per semester.
Cal State protest against higher education cuts
Balboa walks into the digital age
Around 200 students, staff and professors congregated at California State University San Marcos to rally against proposed cuts to higher education as a part of statewide demonstrations at each of the 23 Cal State campuses. According to an April 13 article by the North County Times, the protestors chanted
Balboa Park has been a source of pride for San Diegans for years, and now, provides another reason to brag. “We’re the first air and space aviation, aerospace, whatever you want to call it – museum to have 100,000 digitized images online,” said James Kidrick, president and CEO of the San Diego Space Museum, in an April 17 article by the San Diego Union-Tribune.
“It allows access from anywhere.” Over the past year the museum’s images located on flickr.com, have received more than 2 million hits. The Air & Space Museum and the 19 other institutions in Balboa Park are on the World Wide Web via the Balboa Park Online Collaborative (BPOC). The BPOC was launched in 2008 thanks to a $3 million grant. To keep up with changing technology and to stay relevant, museums have started making their collection digital and available via the changing technology. -Matt Slagle
4 [News]
Monday, April 25, 2011
Departments move to cut half of summer schedule
Massive transportation review underway for San Diego county
Students wait to board the Sprinter at the Palomar transit on Jan. 17. Officials are reviewing how the Sprinter will run in the future. (Trever Reyes/The Telescope) chris nichols north county times
A Palomar student looks over a class cancellation card. More classes will be permanently cancelled. (Deb Hellman/The Telescope)
Admin asks faculty to decide where cuts would hurt least Kelli miller THE TELESCOPE
Department heads and professors are making tough choices about which classes to cut in the face of an expected $8.6 million reduction in state funds for the coming year. Administrators called for 300 classes to be cut from the summer schedule, asking departments to slash about half of the courses they offer. Transfer, technical and vocational-related classes are being guarded as officials grapple with a 10 percent cut in funding. Students will be limited to taking just seven units in the summer, college officials said in an April 18 email blast. An enrollment cap of 19 units for the fall and spring semesters is under discussion, admissions officers said. “I know it’s going to be rough on everyone – students and faculty particularly,” said Jay Wiestling, the Mathematics Department chair. The Mathematics department was asked to cut 20 classes from its summer schedule – a request officials begrudgingly obliged. “My advice would be, if students can take the summer off, do it,” Wiestling said.
The class cuts will bring Palomar’s enrollment numbers down to 18,000, about 2,000 less than attended this academic year. Another 150 classes each will be cut from the fall and spring semesters. All 35 academic departments were given until April 22 to make the cuts, department heads said.. Math, English, Speech andHhistory have already decided which classes to cut from their summer schedule. English will each cut about 20 classes, Speech will cut 13, andHhistory will cut 1e. The administrators said theis main philosophy is to protect classes in fall and spring semesters, wheedthe majority of enrollees are Palomar students. Approximately 30 percen% of students attending summer classes are not regular Palomar students,o Vice President Berta Cuaron reported. Thas 30 percent consists mainly of students from other colleges and universities who takeeclasses at Palomar over the summer to fulfill general education requirements, Cuaron said Wiestling said about 50 percent of the students he teaches during the summer are from other schools. The administrator said they are”trying to protect the “golden four”:(English composition, critical thinking, mathematics and oral communication classe).oAll Palomar students needs to take these classes, whether they plan to transfer, get an associate’s degree, or gain technical or vocational skills.
Some departments will not offer any summer course , allowing them to keep all of their fall and spring classes. Priority registration will be given to students who are full-time and have been attending Palomar longer, Cuaron said.eShe encourages students to use their early registration datesyto get first dibs on classes. Student Bobby Gustafson said he believes this could be a good thing for students. “It’s actually a negative and positive,” Gustafson said. “It forces students to be more proactive.” Students will have to make sure they are by the computer and ready to register on their specific day, making them more responsible, he added. Cutting classes is only one tool administrators are using to save money, Cuaron said. The class cuts will only savs about $1.8 million. The Strategic Planning Councilsis scheduled to discuss other cost saving methods in the coming months. Despite these cuts, Palomar has continued hiring new employees. The college is currently in the process of hiring 20 new full-time faculty members. “They (faculty) are who students depend on for advise, counselin, and office hours,” according to Cuaron. A recent Governing Board decision to create a new technology manager position drew the ire of the Palomar Faculty Federal, the campus teacher’s union, who complained that administrators were flippantly opening up new hiring slots without going through the correct procedures. PFF President Shayla Sivert wrote a message to the college trustees cautioning them against approving the position, which will cost the college $78,000 in salary, because the issue hadn’t been given proper consideration by campus planning groups. The trustees countered that the college was in desperate need of another technology infrastructure manager, and voted unanimously to approve the new position.dCuaron saidlthe college still needs to fill some open positions. A rash of recent retirements brought faculty staffing levels down to the minimum level, creating a staffing crunch for departments, she said. “These decisions do not come easy,” Cuaron said. “We do a lot of soul searching to maintain (services) and serve students the best we can with the budget available.”
Contact Sydnie Taylor, opinion editor, at staylor@the-telescope.com
A plan that outlines how everything from bicycles to bullet trains may one day navigate the San Diego County region is chugging toward several public hearings this spring. The draft 2050 Regional Transportation Plan, which includes a $109 billion mix of mass transit, road and freeway proposals, is set to be released for public review April 22. It includes plans in the next decade or so for widening North County’s Interstate 5 and Highway 78, plus double-tracking the county’s coastal railway. Its longerterm vision is to add a second track to the Sprinter light-rail line from Oceanside to Escondido and develop high-speed rail along North County’s Interstate 15. The draft is the result of projects considered feasible over the next four decades and selected by the San Diego Association of Governments, the region’s transportation planning agency. SANDAG’s transportation com-
mittee on Friday is expected to discuss how the upcoming public hearings -- tentatively set for June -- will work. Once the draft and its environmental reports are released, a comment period would begin, during which the public can submit questions and concerns. A final SANDAG board vote is tentatively set for late October.The agency updates its regional transportation plans every four years. SANDAG’s board last year voted to include one of the largest options for expanding Interstate 5 in North County within the draft 2050 RTP. That endorsement called for adding six new I-5 lanes from Del Mar to Carlsbad, two or four lanes from La Jolla to Del Mar and four lanes from Carlsbad to Camp Pendleton. The state is expected to strongly weigh SANDAG’s endorsement when it decides this summer how large an expansion to build; its options include adding none, four or six lanes along the 27-mile stretch of interstate, at a cost of up to $4.5 billion.
TLC Continued from Page 1 dog, the kids. Everyone here leaves me alone unless I need something, so I can do my work and focus.” The center came about After a school committee, created i in 2009 to meet the needs of students struggling with basic math, English and ESL skills. The committee’s research showed that only 15 percent of neg students are prepared for a transferable math classhand a startling 65 percent of new studentstare not ready to take a transferable English course. “We wanted to create a space outside of the library where students could study and get the tutoring help they need,” ESL professor and TLC coordinator Gary Sosa said. One of the many services provided by the TLC is one-on-one tutoring in English, math and ESL. Student Silvester Rodriquez is a regular at the center and said he uges it three days a week for about five to six hours at a time. He said he has seen an incredible amount of improvement since taking advantage of English tutoring. “I took English 10 and couldn’t even write a paragraph, but they helped me learn my verbs and pronouns to make complete sentences,” Rodriquez said. “Then I took English 50 and they helped me write more than a paragraph, like a couple of pages.”
Another benefit of the center is that counselors are readily available for on-the-spot meetings without making the usual two-week appointment beforehand. Additionally, TLC employees offer regular workshops in resume writing, career and strategic planning, study skills and math anxietp. The large center is filled with mane desks and computer stations loaded with up-to-date software. eetudy rooms are also easily accessible for students to study in groups or work on team projecte. The center staff is comprised of professors, counsilors, tutors and Palomar graduates willing to hel.. “The staff here is great, I’ve been to tutoring (at a different center) before and ran out of there because the tutor belittled and embarrassed me,” Student Annette Escobar said. “It’s already hard to ask for help, but here I’ve never felt uncomfortable or judged.” The Teaching and Learning Center is locatednat Palomar’s Escondido campus at 1951 East Valley Parkway in room ESC-500. It is open from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Fridays. For more information, call (760) 744-1150 ext. 8171.
Contact Kelli Miller, staff writer, at kmiller@the-telescope.com
[A&E] 5
the telescope
MARK YOUR CALENDAR Looking to have some fun, get some culture, and live it up in the North County? We’ll help. Former Blink 182 drummer Travis Barker performs during the T-Mobile Block Party, in Columbia, South Carolina, Friday, September 19, 2008. Barker was injured in a private jet crash where four people are confirmed dead in West Columbia, S.C., in Sept. 2008. (Brett Flashnick/MCT campus)
Another Barker solo album Camilo Barrero The Telescope
It can be unusual to think that one of the most acclaimed drummers in rock history went from punk-rock star to producing a hip-hop album, but when the goal is to showcase talent, Travis Barker made it clear that he can handle more than one genre. “Give The Drummer Some” is a solo album by Blink 182’s drummer Travis Barker released on March 15 on Interscope Records. After the project was delayed due to Barker’s recovering from a plane crash, the album finally made it and debuted at the ninth position on the Billboard 200 chart. Although Barker shows his skills throughout the album and reflects Barker’s musical background, the album comes short in terms of genre versatility, targeting the album to a smaller audience and leaving fans craving more. Depending on the musical taste
of the listener, the album can feel unbalanced at times. On the other hand it is interesting to see a big group of artists like Lil Wayne, Snoop Dogg, Busta Rhymes, Ludacris, Cypress Hill, The Transplants and Lil Jon among others come together for musical collaborations. Some tracks have up to five artists per track for an album, that unlike most hip-hop and rap albums has real drum beats and indisputable talent. “Can a Drummer Get Some?” the first single of the album, “Let›s Go” or “Cool Head” featuring Kid Cudi, with a deep but also strong sound are amid the most significant songs creating different ambiences and a good motion between artists. Videos for two for the songs have been released on 3D as well as standard video versions, and a third official video is expected after the “I Am Still Music” Tour. Standing out are “On My Own” with
Corey Taylor and “Misfits” with Steve Aoki because these are the only two songs that work with a different genre and Barker’s dexterity can be appreciated from a different angle. The record comes with 12 tracks including original art for each song, a deluxe version is also available with 16 tracks, including a hidden song featuring Barker’s children that can be heard a few minutes after the last song ends. The production of the album was done by Barker and at least 10 other DJs and producers. To sum up, with “Give The Drummer Some” Barker shows a completely new facet and his talent doesn’t fall short of his reputation. But even with a lineup like the one he gathered for this album, the lack of genre versatility will put this album out of the sight of a broader audience. Contact Camillo Barrero, staff writer, at cbarrero@the-telescope.com
Student art sale: April 27 - 30 Art department courtyard The semi-annual Palomar student art and craft sale coincides with the Boehm Gallery student exhibition and Art Department open house. The courtyard is located between the C and D buildings. Free parking is available in lots 1, 2, and 15. Cash, credit and checks accepted. Art Department open house: Friday 5 p.m. - 8 p.m. Opening reception: Friday 5 p.m. - 8 p.m. Art sale: Wednesday 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Thursday 9 a.m. - 7 p.m., Friday 9 a.m. - 8 p.m. Saturday 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. Live art demos: Wednesday 3 p.m. - 6 p.m., Thursday & Friday 2 p.m. - 4 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Catch a show: April 26 C hildish Gambino @ Belly Up, Solna Beach April 29 Big Bad Voodo Daddy @ Anthology, Little Italy April 29 Dengue Fever @ The Casbah,Little Italy April 30 Mudhoney @ The Casbah, Little Italy
Get cultured: April 30 David Sadris Perennial favorite and best-selling author David Sedaris is back in San Diego with his singular wit and spot-on observations. Sedaris arrives on the heels of his newest release, Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk: A Modern Bestiary. The Loft @ UCSD, Admission: $55-$75
SCOPE TELE E H T an |
ellm Deb H
April 29 Faust Sell your soul to the devil, and there will be hell to pay! San Diego Opera season continues with Gounod’s masterpiece, with American tenor Stephen Costello; his real-life wife, soprano San Diego Civic Theatre - Classical Music, Downtown, Admission: $35 - $195 Beli
nda C all
in -
THE TELE SCOPE
April 30 Vintage Surf Swap Meet Longboard Collector Club and museum host event with vintage surfboards, photographs, magazines, posters, aloha shirts, and more offered in parking lot just east of museum. 760-721-6876.California Surf Museum Oceanside, Admission: Free
6 [A&E]
Monday, April 25, 2011
Myra Zamara (left) is seen here playing agent Alfonzo with Tyler Harmon (right) as Pepin in Act one of Dreamlandia at a dress rehearsal on April 13, 2011. Zamara also played the role of Blanca. (Deb Hellman/The Telescope)
Palomar players on the stage Eva David (top) as Dolores is a ghost that comes to Lazaro (below) played by Hossein Kaikehabadi during his dream in act one of the dress rehearsal on April 13, 2011. (Deb Hellman/The Telescope)
Act one of the Palomar production “Dreamlandia” opens on the Rio Grande River, performed by students Aurora Sevier, Claire Tucker, Brenda Moreno, Abby Whitehead and Anna Perez. “Dreamlandia” was performed at the Brubeck Theatre from April 15 to April 24, 2011. (Deb Hellman/The Telescope)
Hossein Kakehabadi, playing Lazaro, begins the play spending his life being held captive as seen during the dress rehearsal on April 13, 2011. (Deb Hellman/The Telescope)
[A&E] 7
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the telescope
The art of the Tarot
They wanted answers. (The cards) were created to entertain, but people wanted something to help influence life decisions and get answers.
Shirin Hassani PALOMAR STUDENT
(Illustration by Johnny Nguyen/ The Telescope)
The art of the Tarot reflects the history of each society it has touched Natalie Soldoff The Telescope
Tarot cards were born during the Renaissance and in the same spirit the cards of the tarot embody a mixture of mysticism, art and religion. The concept of the Tarot is based on the cosmos and Plato’s concept of the soul, according to “Fool’s Journey: The History, Art and Symbolism of the Tarot” by Robert M. Place. Placing the cards down in certain patterns allows the reader to give insight to one’s life journey. The art represents the voyage of the human soul. “In the right hands, the cards can be helpful or they can confuse, even scare you,” student Violet Yamashiro said. “It depends on the interpretation and whether or not you believe in them.”
The Birth
During the 14th century Europe was introduced to cards via China, “Fool’s Journey” explains. Each of the European countries created their own type of cards. Each set had the four suits; swords, cups, coins and staffs. Each suit included 10 numbered cards and three royals. Italy coined Tarot cards by taking traditional playing cards, adding
what are known as trump cards and putting illustrations throughout the deck. The cards, as drawn by the Italians, are based on Roman Gods like Cupid, Apollo and Mercury. They represent Christian moral themes including commitment, honesty and virtue. The tarot deck was made to play as a game similar to bridge, but also holds powers of divination according to “Fool’s Journey.” “They wanted answers. (The cards) were created to entertain, but people wanted something to help influence life decisions and get answers,” student Shirin Hassani said.
The suits, what they stand for Suit of Swords
The website notes that the suit of swords represents air. “Swords cut through air, and are used in battle,” Zimerly said. Swords are double sided and can bring victory as well as destruction she added. Tarot-authentique points out that the sword represents intellect, enforcement and authority. Biddytarot.com say the art exhibits mental conflicts such as humiliation, curiosity, heartbreak and depression.
Suit of Cups
According to tarot-authentique.com, cups represent water. They signify emotion and relationships. “There’s always drinking during celebrations with friends and family,” student Ryan Nguyen said. “When we celebrate and interact with people we share emotions and our inner thoughts.” According to biddytartot.com the art centers on love and loss, fulfillment and regret and comfort and abandonment.
Trump Cards
The most recognized trump is the fool, often shown as a jester or tattered vagabond. “The art on the card is pretty straight forward,” student Nicole Zimerly said. “It’s telling you to open your eyes and learn from your mistakes.” The 21 trump cards, each feature depictions of life’s journey. “Fool’s Journey” notes the art is based on an ancient Roman tradition called triumphs, which were after-war celebrations of warriors and citizens marching through town in victory. During the Renaissance these took the form of street carnivals. “Art is always based on social happenings of the time,” Zimmerly said. People understood art’s symbolism because it had social significance, she added. Since the first Tarot deck, the Tarot of Marseilles, several artists have put their own spin on the depictions to be understood by cultures of the time.
Suit of Coins “I’ve seen a couple of different packs,” Yamashiro said. “I think it is great that there’s a lot of different interpretations.” The tarot is an ancient tradition; their symbols represent the human condition. “Fool’s Journey” explains their prophecies only hold meaning if you believe. More importantly the cards are a peek into the Western World’s relationship between symbolic art and a transcendental tradition that has lasted over 500 years. Contact Natalie Soldoff, staff writer, at nsoldoff@the-telescope.com
Coins represent the Earth. “Coins are man made from minerals and metal,” Nguyen said. “Society is run by money, life revolves around money,” he added. Biddytarot.com notes that these cards represent trade and material possession. The art embodies luck, charity, wealth and security.
Suits of Wands
The wand or torch represents fire, according to tarotauthentique. “Fire is life,” Nguyen said, “It provides light, heat and fuel. “It can also represent love and passion,” he added. Biddytarot.com shows that these cards revolve around work and our egos. The art personify determination, ambition, progress and leadership. * According to tarot-authentique.com.
8 [Focus]
Monday, April 25, 2011
The College Student’s
Hangover Survival Kit Colleen Collins The Telescope
Between the Sheets by Joel Ramos
The rules of three Having two girls in bed with them is most guys’ fantasy. Two men and a woman is a great way for a woman to really explore her sexuality and experiment. Then there are the all male or all female sex-capades in the threesome realm. For many, a threesome is something they have at least contemplated. For some it’s something that either a girlfriend or boyfriend suggests. However you stumble into the land of three, there are definitely some rules and etiquette to follow in order to have the best sex-ploration into this tantalizing form of sexuality. First off, if there is a couple involved, they should be well established in their relationship. You should be very open about what both of you are comfortable doing, whether it is doing or watching. Remember the meaning of this is fun and experimentation, but be aware of and set limits before, during and after the act. Second thing to remember is to be safe. Know the third party well enough to not put you or your partner in any danger of contracting any STD’s. Nothing says ‘strong relationship’ like matching herpes outbreaks. Third, talk to the third. Make sure the visitor is well aware of his alien status, he or she is only here on a visitor’s visa and not here to stay. That said, make them feel welcome and give them attention, however make sure your partner gets more. As the third person, which is just along for the ride, the key thing to remember is that you are not here to stay. You have the opportunity to explore the freest of all. Without a relationship to worry about, your only role in this is to be the spice in a recipe for a tasty treat in sexual exploration. There are many different positions that can be fun for three-way sex. A fun term I came upon while researching this topic is “spit-roasting.” For this position someone is penetrated by one person, either vaginally or anally, while performing oral sex on another person. For any lucky lady who is willing to get a little wild having one guy in the front and one guy in the back can be the most exciting way to use your sensuality to feel sexy and, in the best sense of the term, like a porn star. Finally, explore, explore, explore! This kind of thing doesn’t happen every night, so really have some fun with it. Use different positions and never stay “unoccupied.” Be sure to relax. Nothing will kill the situation more than nerves, so make sure you find a way to relax and enjoy. Contact Joel Ramos, Assistant News Editor, at jramos@the-telescope.com
Nausea, headaches, dizziness and confusion are many symptoms students wake up with at least once in their lives. These are not symptoms of a serious illness. This is a hangover. Luckily, there are thousands of methods for avoiding and surviving hangovers. In order to cure a hangover, you have to HOW TO know what causes it. “Think about it, alHelping cohol dehydrates you,” you do the Palomar student Mark Cochran said. “The only stuff you way to counteract that is always to drink water.” wanted to Alcohol dehydrates the body, because it is a diuretic, according to the Mayo Clinic online. The thirst and dizziness are caused by dehydration. Alcohol irritates the lining of the stomach, which causes morning after nausea, and the alcohol can cause the blood vessels to expand causing a morning after headache, according to the Mayo Clinic. “In the morning, it feels like my brain is on fire,” student, Kristine Rackleff said. Before you go out eat a decent meal. “If you’re busy digesting steak, your martini will be delivered to your bloodstream more slowly,” according to WebMD. com “giving it less of a chance to accumulate to the headache-worthy levels.” Many people claim that eating after drinking alcohol will help lessen the effects of the alcohol. It may make you feel more sober, but it’s not going to reduce the amount of alcohol that has already reached the bloodstream. The purpose of eating before drinking
alcohol is to coat the stomach, making the body absorb the alcohol at a slower rate. “Don’t drink sugary drinks,” student and bartender Jason Clark said. “The more sugar; the bigger the hangover.” Alcohol causes a person’s blood sugar to fall and added sugar causes instability in the body. Other pre-hangover suggestions included taking aspirin bed. Ibuprofen, a pain killer without the acetaminophen, will be safer for the liver to break down, which is already breaking down the alcohol, according to WebMD. But, you passed out last night and forgot your usual remedy.The next step is surviving the day. The myth of having another drink only adds to the problem. The alcohol is still causing the body to be dehydrated and, the liver still needs to break down the enzymes. Overall, this “cure” is only causing a delay to what will now be a worse hangover. After throwing up all morning (and sometimes all night), a body needs to replace those lost electrolytes. A drink with electrolytes may not cure the hangover, but it won’t make it any worse. “My old boss used to tell us to drink Pedialyte in the morning,” student Valerie Cortez said. “I did that once... and it kind of helped me.” Everyone has tricks that make them feel better the morning after a big night. But there is no real cure for a hangover. “There’s no magic vitamin that you can take,” Stephanie Brooks, a nutrition consultant in San Francisco said in a WebMD article. “If you’re going to drink a lot, you’re going to pay the piper eventually.” Contact Colleen Collins, staff writer, at ccollinsthetelescope.com
Spoilin’ your pet
Lesson No. 1: Meet your new best friends
(Melina Finkas/The Telescope)
cheap ways to keep your pet’s tail waggin’ William Hageman Chicago Tribune
Whether it’s for a pet’s health, comfort, or just to help them look good, there’s a nice selection of new products on the market. Here are a few: • Slumber in fashion: Made by Up Country, these indoor pet futons come in four sizes and more than 30 designs. They’re lighter than traditional dog beds and can be rolled up or folded for travel. Prices range from $54 to $99; upcountryinc.com. • Good doggie! Modeled after a horse’s bridle, the British-made K9 Bridle provides a way to control ornery dogs. It fits on the dog as a bridle fits on a horse, and, from what one user tells us, is a better method of keeping her young pit bull mix in line. (Her dog gets riled up by traditional training collars, she says, and seems to behave better in the K9 Bridle.) A strap under the chin connects to your dog’s collar, so if he somehow escapes the bridle, you still have control. Comes in four sizes; about $27 at k9bridle.com. • Collars that click: Buckle-Down has expanded its line of seat-beltbuckle products to pet collars. They come with a small seat-belt buckle that looks stylish and is functional as well, and there’s a matching line of leads. The collars and leashes, made of sturdy nylon, come in a variety of colors and designs. Our favorite: Death or Glory, featuring flames and skull-and-crossbones designs. Cost: $20-$30; available at Petco, specialty stores and buckle-down.com. • Water safety: Originally created for kids, the Safety Turtle is a small sensor that attaches to a cat or dog collar, with a wireless base station that works at distances up to 200 feet. If a pet falls or ventures into the water, an alarm is sounded at the base station, allowing the owner to respond to the distressed animal. The cost is $235 at safetyturtle. com or at pet and pool/spa stores. • Keeping up appearances: Little Spanky wants to celebrate the Fourth of July, but that outdated collar he’s wearing _ the one with shamrocks _ will have his playmates at the dog park snickering and turning up their noses. The solution? The Pawsibilities collar system.You buy one collar ($11.99), then choose from among the 45 interchangeable top bands (using fabric fastener) to keep Spanky in style. Prints, stripes and seasonal designs (yes, stars and stripes for the Fourth) in four sizes, all priced at $9.99, online at pawsibilitiescollars.com.
[Opinion] 9
the telescope
FOCUSED ON PALOMAR
OUR VIEWPOINT
the telescope
NO MORE BUTTS--BAN SMOKING NOW For years, The Associated Student Government has been trying to enact a smoking ban on campus. Unfortunately, their latest attempt was shot down by the Strategic Planning Council. The Telescope supports the ASG’s effort. Not only would a campuswide smoking ban be better for the health of the smokers, but it will also help Palomar become a cleaner and more environmentally conscious campus. Smoking has been a hotly debated issue on campus for a number of years. Past solutions included the institution of designated smoking areas, but the areas were inconvenient and uncomfortable for the smokers. At first, the ASG tried to give the designated areas more promotion so that smokers would utilize them, but it was completely unsuccessful. Walk anywhere on campus and smokers can be seen puffing away as they migrate from class to class. Many smokers don’t seem to notice, or otherwise care, about the fact that there are designated areas for their poisonous habit. We’ve tried being reasonable and making concessions. We tried the designated smoking areas only to discover that smokers ignore them. Non-smoking students shouldn’t have to get up and move whenever smokers decide to light up where ever they please. Every past Palomar ASG has been in favor of instituting a smoking ban. The current ASG said that they pushed for the ban because the majority of the complaints they receive are cigarette related. Smoking bans are not new. Mira Costa College, San Diego Mesa College and GrossmontCuyamaca Community Colleges have already implemented the bans. Smoking is banned in all California restaurants, bars and nightclubs. It has also been banned in beaches and parks around San Diego County. Instituting a smoking ban for Palomar would be healthier for the people affected by secondhand smoke and for the environment. We all know the health risks associated with smoking, though many smokers choose to continue to smoke regardless of the risks. With the ban, smokers would have a much harder time finding a place to smoke and ultimately it may encourage them to quit. The ASG was even willing to offer students alternatives to smoking including patches and gum. We aren’t operating under the illusion that a smoking ban will help every smoker on campus quit. Shame on the SPC for not allowing the ASG to go through with the smoking ban. The ASG put a lot of man-hours and research into this and discovered that a campus-wide smoking ban would be the best solution for Palomar’s smoking problem. If it works for other colleges, why wouldn’t it work for us? Smoking on campus as been a persistent problem on campus for years. How long are we going to fight this fruitless battle before we finally accept the inevitable? We need now, what we have always needed, is a campus-wide ban on smoking.
Monday, April 25, 2011 Vol. 64, No. 20 Palomar College, San Marcos, Calif.
David Leonard
Editor In Chief
Matthew Slagle
Managing Editor
Mark Saunders
news Editor
Joel Ramos
Asst. news Editor
SHAUN KAHMANN
Opinion Editor
Natalie soldoff
asst. opinion editor
melina fickas
Illustrations courtesy of MCT
“American Idol” is prejudice against average Americans Hannah Villaruel the telescope
Apparently, “American Idol” contestants aren’t the only ones being judged by their looks. During last week’s show, an “American Idol” employee told Ashley Kauffman, 19, she could not sit in the front row during a taping of the show because she was “too big,” according to dailymail.com. “Idol” has gone too far. Discrimination toward someone’s weight is ridiculous, especially considering the girl’s age and the fact that she was an audience member. It’s wrong to say that to anyone, let alone a young girl. Occurrences like these are the reason why so many women starve themselves to stay thin. When a person, especially a female, is told she is overweight, it stays in her mind forever. No one wants to be haunted that way. So many women have been hurt by someone telling them they are “too big,” or something similar. People need to learn to keep their mouths shut. Who cares if it is true; does it really need to be said? Maybe the employee acted alone. But then where
did he/she learn to tell a girl that she is “too big” to sit in the front? In all likelihood, the employee was told by a higher up to tell the girl she needed to sit somewhere else. Some may contend that “American Idol” has the right to remove any audience member they like for any reason. But “American Idol” has had no less than four finalists who are arguably more overweight than the audience member they removed. Why should the health requirements of their audience exceed that of the contestants? According to the Center for Disease Control, the average American woman has a waist size of about 37 inches and a height of 5 feet 3 inches, which is about a size 15. Not exactly petit. By moving Kauffman, they were trying to maintain their “perfect” image, but they only ruined it by making themselves look like a company that discriminates against average Americans. “American Idol” is trying to push an ideal that does not exist in America. Maybe the next time “Idol” airs, Americans should just go for a jog instead. Contact Hannah Villaruel, staff writer, at hvillaruel@the-telescope.com
focus editor
belinda callin
a&e Editor
nick shumate
asst. a&E Editor
matthew slagle
sports editor
kaity bergquist
Asst. sports editor
Sydnie Taylor
Online Editor
laura davis
copy editor
deb hellman
photo editor
sara burbidge
office / ad manager
Charles Steinman
Instructional Asst.
Erin Hiro
Journalism Adviser
Staff Writers| Camilo Barrero,
Casey Byrne, Colleen Collins, Christine Foronda, Juliet Freyermuth, Jeremy Hill, Natalie Hintz, Margaret Madrid, Daniel Martin, Vanessa Mujica, Kelli Miller, Anthony Schwartz,Colleen Teresa, Nicole Vickers, Hannah Villaruel
Staff Photographers|Kristen Campbell, Phyllis Celmer, Rosa Galvan, Chris Gebhardt, Julie Lykins, Johnny Nguyen, Trever Reyes, Nathan Serrato, LeighAnne Severson, Kiigan Snaer, Brian Tierney Address | The Telescope,
Illustration by Carlos Maldonado
TSA pats down dangerous 6-year-old shaun kahmann the telescope
Ladies and gentleman, we got her. When 6-year-old Anna Drexel tried to return home to New Orleans with her parents after vacation, the keen-eyed Transportation Service Agency personnel-- knowing they had a code-orange on their hands-, decided to give her a pat down. The girl’s parents, Todd and Selena Drexel, filmed the incident and uploaded the video onto the Internet. As the video gained popularity it started receiving national attention. The parents are now saying the TSA should change its policies to accommodate children. Accommodate children? Seriously? The last time I checked, an M16A203 grenade launcher is just as deadly in the hands of a 6-year-old as it is in the hands of a grown man. Democrats and Republicans alike supported the patriot act. What exactly are we complaining about here? We wanted more security. Now we have it. It isn’t as if this sort of thing doesn’t happen all the time. Last year, a Michigan man with bladder
control problems was asked by TSA agents to remove his urostomy bag, causing his bag to break open and spill its contents on himself in front everyone in line, according to MSNBC. Where was the outrage then? According to a poll conducted by CBS News, 63 percent of respondents said they support “racial and all other forms of profiling”. We’ve already given up on privacy and equality, what’s one more little girl in the grand scheme of things? Times are tough. We decided as a country that our collective peace of mind was worth sacrificing the dignity of individuals. Why should this little girl be any different? They say that 9/11 changed everything. But if there’s one thing it didn’t change it’s this; for abuses by government agencies to gain national attention and outrage, they must first be perpetrated on young, pretty, white females. The ugly truth isn’t that a young girl was patted down by the TSA. It’s that they did it with our consent. Contact Shaun Kahmann, opinion editor, at skahmann@the-telescope.com
Palomar College 1140 W. Mission Road, San Marcos, CA 92069 Newsroom | Room MD-228 Phone | (760) 891-7865 Fax | (760) 891-3401 E-Mail | telescope@palomar.edu Advertising e-Mail | telescopead @palomar.edu 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 MD-228. The Telescope reserves the right to edit letters for space and grammatical errors and not to print lewd or libelous letters. Letters must be receieved one week prior to the newspaper’s publication to be considered for inclusion.
Associated California Newspaper Collegiate PRess Publishers Association 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.
10 [News]
Monday, April 25, 2011
SMOKE Continued from Page 1 president, incorrectly sent the smoking ban proposal straight to the Strategic Planning Council, a top campus planning committee staffed by faculty and students, skipping over the lower Policy and Procedures Committee. The SPC sent the proposal back down to the Policy and Procedures Committee so that it could take the correct path through a review process that would eventually bring it to the Governing Board for a vote. Shattuck said he was told that skipping committees was an “anomaly.” “What ends up happening at the SPC meeting (is) a motion is made to send (the policy) to policy and procedures,” Shattuck said. “So basically a bunch of time got wasted.” The SPC will not meet in time to review the policy again before the end of the current semester, shelving the ban until next fall. Shattuck credited Deegan’s intervention with the policy’s path through Palomar’s shared governance system for the delay that will set back ASG’s efforts to pass the policy. Deegan was unavailable for comment at the time of print. Mark Vernoy, vice president of student services planning council, said that after the student services planning council reviewed the smoking policy they had to SPC instead of the policies and procedures committee but did not elaborate as to why. Shattuck said he wanted the SPC committee to recommend the smoking ban to the policy and procedures committee but that request failed by an eight to nine vote with one abstaining vote. Shattuck said a council member commented that they didn’t know they could abstain but when
Palomar student Andrea Sorensen and Christopher Narvaez take a cigarette break between classes in front of the library on April 20. (Deb Hellman/The Telescope)
BY THE NUMBERS
1 in 5
deaths in the U.S. are from cigarettes
15 billion
cigarettes are sold daily worldwide
23 percent of U.S. adults are smokers a recount was requested, the request went unacknowledged. More abstaining votes would have led to more debate on a recommendation.
What will happen now
For the policy to pass, it must first make its way through the policy and procedures committee, SPC and then the Governing Board. The next ‘procedures’ meeting is on May 13, after the May 3 SPC meeting and May 10 Governing Board meeting needed to pass the policy before the ASG adjourns for the summer. “Our fear is (the policy) is basically going to die (at policies and procedures),” Shattuck said. He added that a request for an early policies and procedures meeting was denied by Deegan—who is the chairman of the policies and procedures committee. “(Deegan) tells us next year we’ll get it through. That doesn’t help us at all,” Shattuck said. “This year is when we did all the research, all the visits and discussions. “By just pushing it off to next year basically delays it like all the other ASGs. It always gets delayed.” This semester is Shattuck’s last term as ASG president. Vernoy said he believes it is unlikely the policy will die over the summer. “There are plenty of delegates to carry this forward,” Vernoy
said. “This is the first ASG to make it this far.” Vernoy said, for the sake of the shared governance process, the governing board needs to feel confortable making the change. Shattuck also called attention to dual positions members on the SPC and the policies and procedures committee hold. Monika Brannik sits on the council, policies and procedures and the Faculty Senate—which was the only campus entity to recommend the policy only apply to students, according to Rocky Brady, ASG Senator and head of Solving Student Issues committee in ASG. “I have no problem if ASG passes a no smoking policy,” Brannik said. “I don’t think (the policy) will die. But here we have to worry about accreditation, budget cuts, cutting classes and we spend 50 minutes talking about a smoking policy?” Brannik said the policy was a surprise agenda item at a meeting scheduled to address an “important accreditation issue.” “The good thing is that (the policy) was sent to Policies and Procedures without prejudice,” Brady said. ASG’s main worry Shattuck said he feels that after this situation, the system has proven that it still has problems that need to be solved. “Does the administration really have power to say where items go through?” Shattuck said, pointing to a chart outlining the path policies must take to be approved. “It basically says ‘you guys can do anything you want, as long as we can say where it goes.’” “So far both the people running for president support a no-smoking campus,” Brady said, who had a heavy hand in developing ASG’s no smoking policy. “I’ll still be a senator next year so I’ll still be trying to take up the issue if for some reason we can’t get it passed come June.” Both ASG members agreed that a summer break would severely weaken the group’s influence on the matter. “It’s something we’ve been fighting so long for…it’s 5 years—and beyond—worth of data,” Shattuck said. “It’s always the same story.
And you start to wonder, are we even being fairly treated. Or are we being fairly treated when we’re complacent.” What could have been The policy formed stated that Palomar-- and its satellite campuses—would be smoke free with the intent to “promote the safety and health of students, employees, and the public.” Shattuck prepared a statement addressing 19 questions regarding how a smoking policy would affect Palomar. The question and answer statement addressed costs, smoker rights and enforcement to name a few. “Sure you have the right to smoke but it ends when there’s someone else not wanting to smoke,” Shattuck said. Brady said that many aspects were examined—from designated areas to alternatives—when forming the policy. He added they tried to address smokers’ concerns, including the need for awnings and general cleanliness of the areas. “We looked at (improving smoking areas) last semester,” Brady said. “We found that there’s nobody willing to put up the funds to put up a cover over them.” Brady also said that the Master Plan 2022 posed problems in finding a non-high traffic area for smokers to have a designated area. ASG also spent time researching e-cigarettes, nicotine patches and nicotine gum. Brady said, however, that e-cigarettes have been found just as unhealthy as cigarettes. “In all honesty, it’s not that we have something against smokers,” Shattuck said. “But it’s not fair that people who have never smoked in their life have basically smoked a cigarette whether they wanted to or not. “We really need the students’ support on this. We’re hoping that students, faculty and administrators will come together…and will say ‘yes I smoke but I’m willing to drop it in the hours that I’m here at school where I actually affect the lives of others.’”
Contact Mark Saunders, news editor, at msaunders@the-telescope.com
OBAMA Continued from Page 1 to historic lows in opinion polls. Obama’s standing has been battered by high gasoline prices and a fragile economic recovery. Taking questions from students at a community college, Obama expressed empathy for Americans facing gas prices that are nearing $4 per gallon in national averages. He took pains to explain the forces behind rising prices, while conceding he is unable to take action that would provide quick relief at the pump. “You know, Secret Service doesn’t let me get out, and they don’t let me drive anymore,” said Obama, who took off his suit jacket for the mid-morning visit. “But it wasn’t that long ago that I did have to fill up my gas tank.” Obama leaves Wednesday for a western swing through California and Nevada. While California is likely an easy win for the Democratic incumbent, it is also a rich source of campaign money and volunteers whom the White House political operation wants to keep motivated. Nevada is a swing state that
Obama captured in 2008 but is considered up for grabs in the 2012 campaign. In recent days, Obama has seen some of the most disturbing poll results of his presidency. Gallup last week showed his approval rating at 41 percent, the lowest rating in five months. A new Washington Post-ABC News poll shows that only 28 percent believe the national economy is improving, compared with 44 percent who say it is getting worse. The numbers suggest that recent dips in the unemployment rate and improving hiring statistics are not registering with the broader population. Few politicians turned out for Obama’s appearance in northern Virginia. One no-show was former Democratic National Committee chairman Tim Kaine, an ex-Virginia governor who is now running for a U.S. Senate seat. A Kaine official said the candidate had a “full day of campaign activities in another part of the state” and could not attend. In his speeches this week,
Obama is trying to strike a difficult balance. He wants to draw clear distinctions between his plan to cut the deficit and that of his chief rival, Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis. But if he demonizes Republicans, he could poison the political environment for a deal on the budget and the next big congressional fight: raising the cap on the debt ceiling. Obama also wants to explain the nuances of a federal budget that most voters don’t grasp. Geoff Garin, a Democratic strategist, said that polling shows most voters mistakenly believe the deficit, which is estimated at $1.5 trillion this year, can be closed by eliminating waste and fraud. “This is a bully pulpit moment for the president,” Garin said. So Obama is striving for a civil tone. Casting his own approach as more reasonable, Obama said he would cut a total of $4 trillion in spending over the next dozen years, but avoid gutting education and jeopardizing the nation’s network of roads and bridges.
the telescope
MATT vs. Matthew slagle The Telescope
l l a b Soft
[Sports] 11
I am 6 foot 4 ½ inches tall and I like sports. Because of this people think I play sports. Yeah… not so much. Since I write and talk about sports all the time, let’s see if I can back it up with ability. To test my athletic ability each week I will take on a Palomar athlete in his or her sport. Not that I have any chance to win, but it might be fun to see how badly I lose. Two weeks ago I was made into a fool racing against the women’s track team, and since I like being beat by girls at sports so much I thought it would be a good idea to challenge the softball team. Again, not so much. This week I took on starting pitcher Danielle LeBeau. LeBeau is the Comets No. 1 starting pitcher with a 7-4 record with 78 strikeouts in 76.1 innings with a 2.75 ERA. Having played baseball for 10 years, and softball being one of my favorite sports to watch, I was confident that I would have more success than I did against the track team. Injured Comet pitcher Monica Villarreal wished me luck as I walked toward the plate, which was nice as The Telescope staff contingent there was pretty negative, thank you Mark Saunders, news editor. When I talked to Coach Lacey Craft, she scared me when discussing LeBeau’s pitching arsenal. “If I told you that, that would be cheating ,” she said with a laugh. “Danielle has a lot of pitches in her pocket, so
Comet starting pitcher Danielle LeBeau pitching to Matt Slagle on April 14. Slagle went 2-for10 making contact with four pitches, though an improvement from the race against Women’s Track Team. The team is preparing for the Conference playoffs that starts the first weekend in May. (Kristen Campbell/The Telescope) she likes to mix it up and you’re probably going to see a lot of off-speed (pitches).” Her advice was a bit more helpful, “Shorten the swing up, and don’t try to hit a home run… Good luck,” Craft said. When I talked to LeBeau before the competition and asked if I would have any success. Her answer wasn’t encouraging, “Maybe,” she said, again with a laugh. Good luck.” I am starting to get used to being laughed at. I got into the box and with the team cheering on LeBeau and Saunders and crew laughing at me, the first pitch was thrown. I told myself that I wouldn’t swing at the first few pitches so I could get a feel for the movement and speed of the pitches. Of course the first pitch was the best pitch of the entire competition, and I didn’t swing.
Slagle getting ready to swing at a pitch from LeBeau. (Kristen Campbell/The Telescope)
I watched the first few pitches go by, then I took a swing at pitch number three, fouling it off onto Mission Road. From beneath her mask, the catcher, Sarah Lamb, told me to start my swing earlier in LeBeau’s delivery. Which would have worked—if she threw a fastball—which she didn’t, it was some sort of off- speed pitch. Good thing I checked my swing. I fouled off another pitch, before I ripped an inside changeup into center field for a very solid single, potentially a double if I had ran as hard as I had celebrated. After the first hit the only contact I made was a one hopper to the first baseman--or woman in this case. I ended the day going 2-for-10, having made contact on four pitches. Not bad considering I haven’t touched a bat in over two years and was previously a terrible baseball player for my short-lived career. After the competition LeBeau said she was pitching at 80 percent either she was pitching around 50 percent, or she was telling the truth and softball is really easy, which I doubt. If softball is that easy I might have to try out for the team next year.
Slagle fouling off a pitch from Comet pitcher LeBeau. (Kristen Campbell/The Telescope) Afterward LeBeau said she was “pretty impressed” with my showing at the plate ---a backhanded compliment which I will take. My 2-for-10 showing is not good at all. As much as I want to give myself half a win, it’s still a loss, but an improvement none the less.
You can check out the video of the competition on the watercooler blog. Blogs.the-telescope.com/watercooler Suggestions for what athlete Matt should face next? Email him at mslagle@the-telescope.com
12 [Sports]
the telescope Monday, April 25, 2011
Swimmers push for championship win Teamwork is essential for success in playoffs; coach emphasizes focus from distractions Left: Jacob Lammont rests during a meet March 18 at the Wallace Pool. His best event is the breaststroke 100 yards with a time of 59.7 seconds. He has one of the best times in California for community colleges. (Deb Hellman/The Telescope)
Colleen Collins The Telescope
Palomar’s swim team spent all season training for the conference championships. Freshmen Kody Moffatt, Alexandria Rodriguez, Kristen Maples and sophomore Jacob Lammott are hoping that all of their training pays off. Palomar’s men and women’s swim teams will compete in the conference championships in late April. “That’s what we train for all year,” Coach Jem McAdams said. “That is when we swim our fastest.” Although swimmers have individual races, swim is not an individual competition. The whole team must swim well in order to advance
to state championships. “It’s really a team sport,” Lammott said. “If one person on the team is not working out, then it really hurts the whole team.” Lammott competed in the finals of the state championships last year. He hopes to make his return this year, along with some of his fellow Palomar swimmers. The team has 43 swimmers competing at the conference championships this year. And there are even numbers of men and women. “We’ve got more swimmers than ever,” McAdams said. Seven male and 11 female swimmers are also water polo players. McAdams said that this helps them to stay in shape for swim season. Moffatt and Rodriquez are dual athletes, they both are water
polo players. Lammott said that he played water polo in high school, but did not continue at Palomar. The four players chose to play at Palomar for similar reasons. There aren’t many swimming programs at local community colleges. And, it didn’t hurt that McAdams has a good reputation as a coach. “I heard the coach was really good,” Rodriquez explained. “So that helped.” But, they also chose Palomar because financially, community colleges are still cheaper than four year universities. The four swimmers noted that part of their decision was based on cost. “With the economy the way it was, it was a much smarter decision to go the community college route,” Moffatt explained.
The four swimmers hope to transfer to four-year universities and continue to swim. They have schools in mind that they want to attend, but the freshmen know that they have time to think about it. Lammott said he knows that his time is short. He plans to transfer to UCSD, but also applied to UCLA and is waiting for a response. Initially, Lammott wasn’t sure if he wanted to compete after high school. His experiences at Palomar have made him want to continue, and he plans to try to swim at whichever school he attends. Different than Lammott, Maples took time off school and has two children. This year she decided to attend college, for the first time, and swim. “It’s an adjustment after being out for 10 years,” Maples said. “It’s fun and exciting, but definitely an adjustment.” Getting back into shape for swimming hasn’t been an easy task. But, with a smile on her face, she said that she does intend to keep swimming. But, there is some adjustment to college athletics for most athletes. “Time man-
agement,” Moffatt explained was his largest adjustment. “You really have to set aside your time here well.” Rodriquez noted that being able to choose your class times made it easier to manage time in college. But, they all said that keeping up with classes and practice was slightly more difficult than in high school. The four swimmers have adjusted to college athletics and are looking forward to excelling in both the conference and state championships. McAdams hopes to win the conference championships this year. In their dual meets, Grossmont is the only team in the conference that Palomar has lost to. McAdams said he is focused on the right now. If the team can ignore distractions and swim their best, winning the conference championship is possible. Contact Colleen Collins, staff writer, at ccollins@the-telescope.com
Above Right: Kristen Maples swims in a meet March 18. Her best event is the freestyle 200 yards with a time of 203.5 seconds. Above: Kody Moffatt pauses during practice April 19. His strongest event is freestyle at 200 yards with a time of 147.5 seconds. Right: Alexandria Rodriguez at a meet March 18. Her best event is backstroke/free with a time of 30.3 seconds at 50 yards. The men’s swim team’s record is 2-2, and the women’s swim team’s record is 3-1 (as of April 20). (Deb Hellman/The Telescope)
Sports On Deck
Tues., April 26
Tues., April 26
Thurs., April 28
San Diego CC 2 p.m. @ San Diego CC
San Diego CC 3 p.m. Myers Field
San Diego CC 2 p.m. @ San Diego CC
Softball
Baseball
Baseball
Fri., April 29
Women’s Track and Field Foothill Conf. Finals Noon @ Antelope Valley