The Telescope 65.17

t

INFOGRAPHIC

COUNTING THE HOURS

197 HOURS

A new state education plan would make thousands of hours of new work for Palomar’s already overstretched counseling department.

Average time students spend on Facebook each semester, per a 2011 nationwide study.

This graphic uses circles to compare how many hours each counselor will have to spend each semester bringing students up to speed versus other common student tasks.

336 HOURS

the telescope

Average time American students spend working per semester, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Palomar College’s Independent Newspaper Vol. 65, No. 17 • Monday, April 23, 2012 1140 W. Mission Rd, San Marcos, Calif.

DO WE HAVE THE TIME? STUDENT SUCCESS TASK FORCE

Palomar’s counselors could struggle to handle new workload INFOGRAPHIC

HOW WE STACK UP Santa Monica College, a similarlysized state school in Los Angeles, has nearly three times the help in its counseling department compared to Palomar.

At Palomar COLLEGE...

1 counselor for every 1,100 students

1 counselor for every 300 students

= 10 STUDENTS

How many work hours a counselor can work in a semester, according to the 2006 Palomar Classified Employees contract.

gio nieto & ian hanner The Telescope

Palomar counselors said they are worried they could be overrun by new requirements passed down from the state.

Counseling officials said they have already implemented the core requirements of the Student Success Task Force (SSTF) initiative, a state plan aimed at saving California community colleges money by pushing students to plan better and finish faster.

But a lack of academic advisers at Palomar—13 full-time counselors are available to service more than 30,000 full- and parttime students—left some department leaders wondering if they could keep up with new demand created by the task force plan.

Ed Plan Could Overwhelm Counselors At SANTA MONICA COLLEGE...

640 HOURS

One key component of SSTF, section 2.2, would require every new Palomar student to create an education roadmap spelling out what degree they want and what classes they’ll need to get it. The task force is still revising its plan, but the mandate is expected to stay, opening the door of Palomar’s counseling department to a flood of needy students.

Several counseling positions remain vacant this semester after a college-wide hiring freeze, leaving the department unable to handle a significant increase in student demand without help, said Lynda Halttunen, dean of counseling services.

“We only have 18 counselors for [more than 30,000] students,” Halttunen said.

“That’s not a lot of counselors.”

PUSHED TO SUCCEED A 4-part series on proposed changes to statejuniorcolleges.

Part 1: From the Top

tsne.ws/SSTFONE Part 2:

Counseling

940 HOURS

Challenges THIS WEEK

Amount of time students spend sleeping per semester, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Part 3: What’s the Cost?

NEXT WEEK Part 4: Here’s Where We’re At MAY 7

GO ONLINE FOR MORE INFO Find documents, notes and analysis and more.

WWW.TSNE.WS/SSTFPLAN

TURN TO COUNSELORS, PAGE 9

1,600 HOURS How long it will take each of Palomar’s counselors to process 30,000+ students over the course of one semester under the new plan.

SCALE 1 inch = 100 hours

2 • NEWS ART DEPARTMENT

STUDENT ART FOR SALE IN SEMIANNUAL SHOW

emma maliszewski the telescope

The Art Department will be holding simultaneous events for the public starting with its Semi-Annual Student Art Sale April 25-28.

Sales open at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, 9 a.m - 7 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday in the courtyard of the Art Department between buildings C and D. According to Boehm Gallery director Ingram Ober, “the sale is a broad overview of the various styles and techniques of student artists.”

Pottery, ceramic sculpture, blown glass, stained glass, fused and slumped glass, woodworking, bronze and aluminum sculpture, jewelry and photography created by Palomar students will be available for purchase.

“Everyone is very excited to show off their work,” said Palomar student Mariah Leslie, who is selling ceramic mugs, shot glasses and decorative garden snails.

Palomar student Ruth MacAdam will also be participating in the sale, selling ceramic animals and tie-dye shirts.

Proceeds from art sales will benefit students and Palomar, with 25 percent of the money going toward new materials, equipment and programs for the Art Department.

Leslie said, “it’s great to see everyone work together to make money for the school.”

During the week there will also be demonstrations that begin on April 25 from 3-6 p.m.; Thursday and Friday 2-4 p.m.; and Saturday 10 a.m. to noon. The live art will feature glassblowing, foundry, wheel-working, raku firing and stained glass techniques.

“There will be so many things to see and do,” MacAdam said. “It’s like a carnival with music and tons of art.”

The Boehm Gallery’s newest exhibit will also start April 25. The student show, Fresh, will feature the best work representative from each course selected by the instructors and will be open until May 12.

“Everyone needs to check out the student show, it’s a good collective example of all the work done this year by students,” Leslie said.

The Art Department will host its open house and gallery reception from 5-8 p.m on April 27. The classrooms will be open to the public and students will be displaying their work.

Alongside demonstrations, refreshments, and music.

“There is bound to be something for everyone,” Ober said.

Monday, April 23, 2012 POLICE BLOTTER Palomar had 22 cases from April 2 to April 12, including domestic violence, grand theft, stalking, marijuana possession, medical assists, vandalism and graffti.

APRIL 3 MD Building

A stalking was reported to Campus Police around 5 p.m. on April 3. The stalking was said to have been occurring from November 2011 through April 2, 2012 around the MD Building before it was reported to police. The case is still open.

APRIL 5 Cafeteria

A report of domestic violence in the cafeteria was filed with Campus Police.

The incident was reported to have happened several hours before it was reported to police at 10 p.m. on April 5.

Lot 9A

A report was filed in lot 9A of Palomar’s San Marcos campus concerning possession of marijuana. The report was filed around 6 p.m. on April 5.

A report of domestic violence was reported to Palomar Campus Police at 10 p.m. on April 6. The incident occurred in campus lot 9A.

APRIL 9 ESCO LOT AND SOCCER FIELD

There were two reports of vandalism graffiti on April 9 in the Escondido Lot 3 and men’s restroom by the soccer field on the San Marcos Campus. One was reported at 7 a.m. and the other was at 2:30 p.m.

APRIL 10 M Building

A report was filed with campus police of strong-arm robbery. The incident reportedly took place on April 10 at 4 p.m.

APRIL 11 ROOM 105 (ESCONDIDO)

A report was filed of a student code violation involving computer usage on April 11 at 5:30 p.m. in Room 105 on the Escondido campus.

Q BUILDING

A report of locker burglary was reported on April 11 at 8:15 p.m in the Q Building.

APRIL 12 G BUILDING

A report was filed of grand theft of a laptop on April 12 at 6 p.m. The theft occurred on April 4 in the G Building.

COMPILIED BY KAITY BERGQUIST AND COLLEEN PETERS emaliszewski@the-telescope.com

PALOMAR NEWS IN BRIEF

Jonathan Summers and Daniel Thompson work on a glass blowing piece on April 10. • Brian Korec/Telescope

FILM CLUB

LIBRARY

FILM CLUB STARTS DOCUMENTARIES

Palomar Library Media, Technology Class TO Exhibit Annual Project

The Palomar Film Club has started a documentary series on some of Palomar’s professors and staff members to help students get to know the personnel around the campus a little better, according to club president Juan Aguirre.

The film will also provide students with knowledge regarding the amount and type of work, the accomplishments and tips that these professionals may have in their specific fields of interests.

“I’m pretty sure there are students who are struggling and are not sure of what it is that they really want to do,” club member Dustin Serrano said.

“These documentary series can open students up to some valuable, informative and detailed information that can point them into the direction of where they want to go.”

So far they have interviewed three of Palomar’s personnel: Peter Bowman, a Political Science professor, Dr. Allan Aquallo, an American Indian Studies professor and Lindsay Koch, the Student Activities Coordinator.

“Each person has a different story and that is what really makes it so amazing,” Aguirre added. “We’re getting inspired just by interviewing and we feel like it can inspire other students, too.”

“We hope to get eight more teachers and to have a documentary series for each semester,” Serrano said. “In television, they have a season series and we’re kind of making these documentaries our season series.”

The documentaries will be shown on their online website at palomarfilm. tk or can be checked out on their Facebook and youtube channel under Palomar College Film Club. If you are interested in joining the club, please contact PalomarFilm@yahoo.com.

JACQUELINE COBLE

The Palomar Library Media and Technology LT 130 class have its annual social media projects on display in the library for all to see, Library/ Media Department Chair and Professor Linda Morrow said.

“Each group was assigned a different topic that dealt with using media in the library,” Morrow said. “For example, one group concentrated on how local libraries like MiraCosta were using Facebook and Twitter to communicate with patrons while another focused on the emerging library technologies such as virtual reference services and the pros and cons of using such a system.”

To show their findings, a lot of groups took screen shots of libraries with Facebook pages and Twitter feeds, created posters and electronics such as iPads/iPods, cell phones and even provided questionnaires for the public to fill out to help further their research she explained. Through these displays she said they could see what and how social media is being utilized to promote the library and all of its resources.

“The class had a lot of fun and were a little nervous because they knew other faculty and students could see their projects. But that quickly went away,” Morrow said.

The display will be up through the end of the month. The Library Media and Technology class meets every Thursday evening from 6-8:50 p.m. and are a part of the library’s technology program.

JACQUELINE COBLE

NEWS • 3

the telescope SEMINARS

SEMINARS

VETERAN GIVES ADVICE ON PTSD

MEDIA DAYS TO BRING PROFESSIONALS TO STUDENTS SHAUN KAHMANN THE TELESCOPE

Professionals from media outlets around California are set to converge on Palomar for Media and Communication Days April 23-26.

Hosted by Palomar College, MiraCosta College and Cal State University San Marcos, Media and Communication Days is a free, four-day event designed to cultivate interest in news media and mass communication. The event will offer students the opportunity to meet with journalists and media professionals through lectures and panels that will be open to the public.

The event will kickoff Monday, April 23 with a keynote address from Don Bartletti, a Palomar alumnus and Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer who won for his startling portrayal of how undocumented youths travel north from Mexico to the U.S. The keynote will be held in the P-building, Room 32.

Bartletti said he hopes students get a better feel for the amplitude of responsibility and profound satisfaction that can come with working in the media.

“I want to show potential photojournalists and reporters how profoundly thrilling, gut-wrenching, joyous and historically responsible this profession is,” Bartletti said in an email. “I hope that today’s communication students will be inspired and realize that they can feel the same way.”

Day two of the event will offer a series of panels focusing on subjects from investigative journalism to social media.

Panels will feature professionals opining on the emerging technologies and methodologies in the field while taking questions from audience members. The event will run from 9:30 a.m. until the final panel of the day at 4 p.m. on April 24.

Adviser to Impact Magazine and M.A.C. organizer Wendy Nelson said the event will be a good opportunity for students to rub shoulders with people who they may one day work for.

“I hope hearing people in the industry talking about their jobs will help students make a connection between their degrees and their potential careers,” Nelson said.

On April 25 Media Days moves to Cal

Retired Army Colonel Dr. Bart Billings gave presentation April 13 to raise awareness for stress disorders, ways for schools to help JACQUELINE COBLE THE TELESCOPE

Courtesy of Melinda Finn/Palomar College

such as a sense of belonging, power, freedom, having fun, learning and enjoying yourself.

“Everyone has a psychological need,” Billings said, “It’s just a matter of helping them figure out a way to meet those needs.”

Billings added that a second option the college can take is by doing a modified version of the HARRT program, in which they examine a veteran’s readiness for college by taking an evaluation of their physical and psychological state.

“If injured, what are you capable of still doing?” Billings asked. “‘Are you ready to go back to school? Is your family ready for you to complete a college program and what can you do to accomplish this’ are some of the questions that should be asked and assessed.”

Billings also suggested the creation of a class that would allow veterans of combat to gather and discuss the various ways they go about “normalizing” themselves. In the absence of a class, Billings believes there are still some ways veterans can go about seeking help: individual counseling, biofeedback, guided imagery, peer counseling and even hypnosis.

“In implementing these integrated treatments, there will no longer be a need for soldiers to feel that they have to hide what they are going through because they learn that there are others in the same situation dealing with similar experiences and stresses,” Billings said.

This May, Billings will be hosting and directing the 20th Annual International Military Civilian Combat Stress Conference at the Doubletree Hotel in Los Angeles, Calif. The 5-day conference will break up into two parts, Pre-Conference May 2-3 and Conference May 4-6 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. According to Billings, the event will bring together civilian and military medical and mental health professionals from throughout the world to share their clinical knowledge and integrative treatment approaches.

For more information, prices or to register, please visit http://store.ceutopia. com.

JCOBLE@THE-TELESCOPE.COM

Photojournalist Don Bartletti. • Courtesy Photo

State University San Marcos (CSUSM) where a panel on internships and careers in communications will be held at 2:30 p.m. in Room ARTS 240 on campus.

Associate Professor of Communications at CSUSM and M.A.C. organizer Liliana Rossman said that she hopes the event will shed some light on the opportunities communications degrees offer for students who don’t know what a communications degree can be used for.

“The real question is what can’t you do with one,” Rossman said. “I hope this will help students who are undecided figure out if they would be interested in communication.”

Finally, Media Days will wrap up at MiraCosta with a lecture called “The Secret Lives of Publicists” hosted by entertainment publicist and keynote speaker Steve Rohr. At the lecture, Rohr will chew over the trials of developing effective public relations strategies, execution and production.

Telescope adviser and M.A.C. organizer Erin Hiro said she hopes the event will empower students to ask questions, make connections and become more media savvy.

“We want to turn the tables and have students ask the journalists questions for a change,” Hiro said.

SKAHMANN@THE-TELESCOPE.COM

NATIONAL UNIV ER SIT Y

®

TRANSFERRING? FINISH SCHOOL YOUR WAY!

© 2012 National University 10794

Students learned about mental issues affecting veterans who have returned from combat during a seminar at Palomar on April 13.

Guest speaker Dr. Bart Billings, a retired Army Colonel, gave a presentation on post-traumatic stress disorder among veterans and how their peers can help them through the process of recovery.

Though the number of individuals afflicted with PTSD is considered confidential, Palomar has a substantial veteran populace. In an interview during the Fall semester, Palomar President Robert Deegan said that Palomar College was the “largest GI Bill recipient in the state.”

“I think it’s important for Palomar to be aware of the struggles of veterans so that they can provide services which enable them to move on with their life and graduate,” Billings said. “These services can also help veterans normalize themselves to the civilian world once they have returned from combat.”

According to Billings, it’s common to experience symptoms of PTSD following a combat deployment, but that given enough time, an individual can make a full recovery. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans affairs, the symptoms of PTSD can include flashbacks, mental avoidance of a memory, feeling numb, and hyper-arousal or being “keyed-up.”

While the seminar focused primarily on veterans suffering from PTSD, the mental affliction is not exclusive to servicemen. According to Billings, PTSD can manifest its symptoms when a person is unable to process an experience they went through. These experiences include violent military encounters, natural disasters, childhood abuse, sexual assault, serious accidents such as car crashes, and more.

Billings’ work as both a military and civilian psychologist has helped him acquire first-hand knowledge on the adverse reactions military personnel can acquire in service. These reactions can interfere with their performance on the battlefield and at home when they return to their families.

“When you leave you have to make sure that you’re okay, your family is okay and everything else is okay, so you can focus on your mission 100 percent,” Billings quoted from the movie “Act of Valor.”

He suggested that the college implement integrated treatments such as mental training and the Human Assistance Rapid Response Team (HARRT) program. For an hour a day, for 30 days Billings said veterans should be given mental training by trained staff. The program he said would help to educate and make returning soldiers see that these reactions are a normal cause from being in an abnormal battlefield environment.

Billings said that staff could discuss with veterans how they are meeting their life needs as well as psychological needs

At National University, we know you can’t sit in class all day or lock yourself in a library. You want to finish your degree and move on into a new career. National University makes that possible.

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THE UNIVERSITY OF VALUES

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4 • OPINION

Monday, April 23, 2012

t

OUR VIEWPOINT

Student success, noble attempt

the telescope Focused On Palomar Monday, April 23, 2012 Vol. 65, No. 17 Palomar College, San Marcos, CA

WHAT WE THINK Online resources can help

MATTHEW SLAGLE editor in chief & PAGE DESIGNER

alleviate counselor workload

KAITY BERGQUIST MANAGING EDITOR & PAGE DESIGNER

Success Taskforce

IAN HANNER NEWS EDITOR

brought on by Student

Student’s board the Breeze at the Palomar Transit Center on April 9. • Kristen Campbell/Telescope

JOEL RAMOS NEWS EDITOR

Public transportation a great way to save money

GIO NIETO OPINION EDITOR KELLI MILLER LIFE EDITOR COLLEEN PETERS SPORTS EDITOR & COPY EDitoR DAVID LEONARD DESIGN EDITOR & INSTRUCTIONAL ASSISTANT NATALIE SOLDOFF PAGE DESIGNER DEB HELLMAN PHOTO EDITOR BRIAN KOREC ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR ERIN HIRO ADVISER KIIGAN SNAER BUSINESS MANAGER STAFF WRITERS April Testerman, Cyndi Lundeberg, Danielle Taylor, Emma Maliszewski, Jessica Brooks, Jacqueline Coble, Lexy Perez, Michael Astorino, Mike Peterson, Peter Behr, Shaun Kahmann & Stephen Keck PHOTOGRAPHERS Charles Lugtu, Allyson Watson, Aden Webster, Dan Chambers, Ebony Avery, Kristen Campbell,Phyllis CelmER, RUSSELL WHITE, SERGIO SOARES ADDRESS THE TELESCOPE PALOMAR COLLEGE 1140 W. MISSION ROAD, SAN MARCOS, CA 92069 PHONE / 760-891-7865 NEWSROOM / MD-228 EMAIL / EDITOR@THE-TELESCOPE.COM AD EMAIL / ADS@THE-TELESCOPE.COM

Only 13 percent of the population uses available public amenities Mike Peterson The telescope

Public transportation is a great way to save money.

In California, simply driving somewhere is typically the most common way people use to reach their destinations. Freeways and highways stretch out across our state, most driveways have a car or two parked in it and the rising cost of gas affects just about everyone.

Even though public transportation like buses, trolleybuses and especially carpooling might take some time to reach a destination, saving money and conserving resources in the long run should be more important, especially if you are a student.

It is time to realize that, with the increasing cost of gas, a reliance on motor vehicles is unhealthy.

In the entire United States, our obsession with cars and freeways is the most obvious.

In the San Diego region alone, an Equinox Center study found that 76 percent of people drive to work alone and only 13 percent use public transportation or carpool.

It's certainly true that San Diego’s public transportation

system isn’t as all-encompassing as the ones in big metropolitan areas such as New York City, it doesn’t mean that our public transportation isn’t a good way to get to our destinations.

For Palomar College students, the location of a NCTD Sprinter station directly across the street from campus is very convenient.

With Sprinter stations and bus stops spread all across North County, it’s very easy to get to school without setting foot in a car. Palomar College students can buy a monthly Sprinter/ Breeze pass for the discounted price of $47.

If the average student drives 10 miles to school and back, five days a week, in a four-cylinder car, they’ll spend close to $60 a month, according to a gas price calculator on gasbuddy.com.

With the gas prices in our region as high as they are, it’s very easy to see that the average student can spend too much money a year to simply make it to school, without counting the trips to Starbucks or other places that a student might make.

Even without counting the extra trips a college student makes, using public transportation is still cheaper than driving a car to

school everyday of the week. For many students, having part-time jobs will sometimes only pay for gas and bills, leaving little money to spend or save.

Carpooling is another great way to save money on gas costs.

If two people carpool to school, it will cut the cost of gas in half.

Carpooling with more people just decreases the cost further.

There are even carpool benefits beyond spending less money. The various FasTrak carpool lanes throughout San Diego normally charge drivers to use them, but are free for vehicles with two or more people in it.

Even for those of us who need a car on the weekends or during our time away from campus, replacing the drive to school with a Sprinter ride or driving in a carpool can save us quite a bit of money in the long run. Especially if a student lives farther from Palomar College or drives a bigger, gas-guzzling car.

So look into taking public transportation or carpooling to school. Not only are you lessening your impact on the environment but you’re saving a few extra bucks in the process. mpeterson@the-telescope.com

THE TELESCOPE WELCOMES ALL LETTERS TO THE Editor.

Letters must be typewritten, under 300 words and include the author’s first and last names, major and phone number. Phone numbers will not be published. Letters should be emailed to editor@the-telescope.com.

The Telescope reserves the right to edit letters for space and grammatical errors and not to print lewd or libelous letters. Letters must be receieved one week prior to the newspaper’s publication to be considered for inclusion.

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.

ASSOCIATED COLLEGE PRESS

CALIFORNIA NEWSPAPER PUBLISHER’S ASSOCIATION

Map of the Sprinter track in Escondido and San Marcos, from gonctd.com/web_files/sprinter_route.gif

The Telescope believes there are some serious problems afflicting California Community Colleges and we recognize the efforts of the Student Success Task Force (SSTF) to remedy those problems, but we don’t believe the plan is without flaws.

In a news article, we explained that one of the factors of SSTF would require all incoming Palomar students to design an educational map, which details their desired degree and the classes necessary to complete it.

The Telescope is completely behind giving students a push in the right direction, but there are holes in the plans, especially involving the requirements on the counseling department.

Part of the plan is intended to have each new student sit down with a counselor to develop and plan out an educational schedule. Palomar is operating on an extremely lean counseling staff, with 18 full-time counselors servicing the over 30,000 full and part time Palomar students.

These required meetings will be time consuming and with an unrealistic student to counselor ratio, it wouldn’t take a genius to realize this new plan will crush our counseling staff.

And due to budget cuts, hiring new counselors seems to be out of the question.

So to avoid the counselor’s distress and the time-crunched meetings, we propose that all incoming Palomar students turn to online programs to create their educational plans so that the counseling department could be more supplementary in the ed plan process. This would free the counseling staff up to help students with personal issues and their other responsibilities.

There are multiple online programs such as myEdu.com and assist.org that can help counsellors with their workload. Both websites provide students with the tools and resources to develop an educational plan.

There’s no debating that the counseling staff will still be necessary. Even if students were to rely more on electronic planning programs, there would always be more intricate questions that direct interaction would require personal interaction. However, this shouldn’t be the core focus of the counseling department.

It is our belief that when the staff is free to help students with their other problems, the school will benefit in organization and the student motivation one-onone interaction with counselors will bring.

OPINION • 5

the telescope POINT OF CONTENTION

Photo Illustration by Brian Korec and Deb Hellman/Telescope

QUESTIONING HOW TO SPEND YOUR SUMMER? CON

PRO JESSICA BROOKS

SHAUN KAHMANN

THE TELESCOPE

Summer sessions at Palomar College offer determined students an advantage to graduation.

High school students, undergraduates and graduates benefit from summer semesters, but will discover the limited number of courses offered due to budget cuts.

Palomar College enrolls more than 30,000 full-time and part-time students in the fall and spring semesters and approximately 18,000 during the summer session, according to the school’s website.

Unfortunately, future Palomar will see summer classes cut due to statewide budget cuts and cutbacks at the college.

The summer session of 2011 offered 350 classes, a decrease from 600 the year before, with over 8,000 students enrolled in the summer’s courses, Palomar Marketing Director Laura Gropen said.

This left nearly 400 students on waiting lists.

The summer enrollment totalled about 8,400 students last year, which is a 37 percent decrease from the year before.

Palomar announced in early 2011 that the budget cuts have greatly affected the summer sessions, and will continue to be an issue in the number of courses offered as well as enrollment totals. The school had a budget cut of nearly $9 million from a $100 million budget.

Students previously enrolled in courses at Palomar will be the only population able to enroll in any summer course, Gropen said in the North County Times newspaper.

The option of enrolling in a summer class at Palomar benefits students on their academic road to graduation or to transfer to a fouryear university. The ability to take certain classes that are on the list to graduate, allow student to leave sooner.

Summer courses are offered in 6- and 8-week durations as opposed to a normal 5-month, semester-long course.

THE TELESCOPE

WHAT I THINK: Summer session is a valuable resource for students who are determined to get ahead, but class cuts are leaving our summers gutted. Summer session offers students the opportunity to earn extra credits quickly, putting you ahead on the road to graduation.

Students have the drive and motivation to succeed. Those student who fill their schedule with as many courses as possible depend on summer school to advance their education. Although it may be challenging, taking summer school courses at faster pace. It can leave room for other classes and that is a big gain.

Summer sessions are very beneficial to those students who are missing certain courses even after graduation.

Students from Cal State colleges, like myself, also find themselves reenrolling at Palomar during summer to make up for missing credits in hopes of transferring those credits to earn their degree.

Summer courses are necessary for determined students and those who are enrolled in college courses are. The option of sitting back while a full summer flies by is appealing, but not educationally beneficial.

It is extremely helpful for students to enroll in classes during summer to keep their minds focused and their goals on track. Students should begin to advocate for more available courses during summer at Palomar. jbrooks@the-telescope.com

Taking summer college courses may seem like a good idea to the uninitiated, but if you weigh your options, you’ll quickly learn they amount to little more than a recipe for disaster.

The allure of graduating early is a very seductive prospect, given the minimum four-year investment the average college student makes in exchange for the promise of higher wages. And while summer courses have their merits, the savvy student who does a quick cost-benefit analysis will discover the lack of variety, faster pace, and the loss of valuable time may not be worth the price of admission.

Looking for summer classes is a lot like looking for the hottest holiday gadget the day after Black Friday. Scarcity plays a major factor when it comes to what you can get done over the summer months, especially in the wake of budget cuts. The pickings are slim. And while we all would love to learn a little Cantonese in our spare time, it won’t help you earn that degree in engineering.

One group who would do well to skip school during the sunnier months are those on Financial Aid. Pell grant awards offer only so much money, and if you’re working at full-time pace or more, odds are good you won’t have excess award funds to cover the spread. It leaves students to cover the cost of summer courses on their own.

The brisker pace of summer classes also makes you more likely to fail, providing an unfortunate shock not only to your wallet, but to your GPA. And keep in mind, any unit you take brings you closer to reaching your Financial Aid limit.

Failed and retaken classes still count. Every move you make, even false ones, gets you that much closer to the cut-off point. You’re going to spend the next decade or more paying down student loans anyway.

And speaking of earnings, taking summer courses may also force you

WHAT I THINK: Attending Summer classes doesn’t leave students with many options, forcing many to take classes that aren’t relevant to their major. On top of this, summer classes drain your wallet or Finacial Aid resources, and set up students to fail if they slack off. to forgo the opportunity to dedicate those precious months to finding employment. Summertime is the perfect season to look for work, and because looking for a job is not unlike a job in its own right, free time is crucial.

Having to ask your potential employer to work around your schedule from day one puts you at a major disadvantage compared to those who have no other obligations.

Smart money says to tell your boss that you have full availability and then drop your new schedule on them once the fall hits. This approach is a little dishonest, but just because the guy sitting across from you at your job interview is content to work at Radio Shack for the rest of his life doesn’t mean you have to be. Finally, taking the summer months off prevents burnout.

The summer gives you time to let your brain cool down. Even if you land a job, it almost certainly won’t require the same mental gymnastics you’ve grown accustomed to in college. Whether you choose to take a job offer or take it easy, what you should not do is take summer classes. They aren’t worth it. skahmann@the-telescope.com

6 • LIFE

Monday, April 23, 2012

PLAY REVIEW

‘BLUEFISH COVE’ BRINGS GAY ISSUES TO LIGHT Actresses Claire Tucker as Rae (left), Hailee Byrd as Lil (middle) and Katherine Birmingham as Annie (right) perform in a dress rehearsal for the play “Last Summer at Bluefish Cove” on April 12. • Russell White/Telescope

Emma Maliszewski THE TELESCOPE

Palomar Professor Michael Mufson’s production of “Last Summer at Bluefish Cove” captured the essence of what it means to be human through the eyes of a tight-knit group of lesbians, performed by Palomar’s phenomenal cast on April 15.

This controversial performance was shocking and sweet with characters who were realistic and flawed yet lovable. They drink, smoke, swear and make no apologies for doing so.

The set design was open and welcoming, placing the audience in the ocean as the front of the stage served as the beach. Above the shore was a raised, 1970s style East Coast beach home. The intimate setting of the makeshift,

performing arts studio in O-2, had audience members at the edge of their seats, laughing out loud and holding back tears. The main theater is under construction.

Written 30 years ago by Jane Chamber, “Last Summer at Bluefish Cove” sheds light on issues in the gay community that are still prevalent today, with themes about the human condition.

The universal truths of death, infidelity, sexuality, guilt, worthiness, loneliness, marriage, commitment, and ultimately love are recurring components of the story.

The play takes place in the 1970s at Bluefish Cove, a summer vacation haven for lesbians. Lil played by Hailee Byrd, is a strong and independent woman who enjoys being single and is a notorious casanova. She is struggling with her own mortality when it’s

PLAY REVIEW What: Author Jane Chamber’s “Last Summer at Bluefish Cove” Highlights: “Bluefish” brought awareness to issues the gay community faces through the eyes of six lesbians and one straight woman who struggle with identity, infidelity and sexuality Rating: éééé

revealed that Lil is dying of cancer, and that this will be her last summer at the cove.

Lil is fishing on the beach when she is approached by Eva, played

by Taylor Cohen, a straight woman who has just left her husband of 12 years and rented a cabin at the cove. She is completely unaware of the town’s reputation.

Lil invites Eva to her party where she is introduced to Lil’s group of friends, who happen to all be couples. Each of these women represent the different stages of a relationship from the early on honeymoon phase to an old, married couple.

Each person plays a seminally traditional role within the relationship, with the only difference being that both partners are women, and face oppression by their families and society.

Once Eva learns that the residents of Bluefish Cove are lesbians she begins to question her own sexuality. She has never been independent and sees a strength in the other women that she wishes to possess, that causes the charming Lil to take her under her wing.

The material is raw and moving and the chemistry between all the women is undeniable and had the perfect balance between humor and intensity.

“Last Summer at Bluefish Cove” may push the envelope, but it was embraced by audiences who found the refreshingly real characters to be a breath of fresh air for the somewhat sensitive subject matter, it reminds us all that we share the fundamental need to love and be loved. emaliszewski@the-telescope.com

SIP OF THE WEEK

The All-American Alcoholic Punch Enjoy this fruity concoction during the warm months ahead. Be careful, this drink can really pack a punch Kelli Miller The Telescope

Baseball season is back in full swing and there’s no better way to celebrate than with an ice-cold beer and mustard-covered hot dog, or wait, maybe there is…

The All-American alcoholic punch packs a taste so tasty it’s sure to be a hit with any and all baseball lovers.

With its sweet and tangy mixture, the All-American punch will do a number on any fan’s taste buds. The fruity orange taste of the Blue Curacao goes along perfectly with the citrus flavor of the orange juice and lemonade, while the cranberry juice adds a touch of tartness.

Combined together, the juices cover up the stiffness of the hefty addition of rum and vodka, allowing this drink to go down very eas-

ily. Don’t forget the Sprite either, because the carbonation of the soda adds a little fizz to the mix, making the cocktail that much more refreshing.

Although this punch is jammed packed with ingredients, it’s very easy to recreate at home for a baseball-themed party. Simply add all the ingredients together in a large punch bowl, add ice and set out your favorite party cups.

To impress your friends even more with your hostess skills, accompany the All-American punch with baseball-themed snacks like popcorn, mini hot dogs and pretzels.

And if tailgating is more your thing, simply pour the concoction in a large to-go thermos and you’re ready to hit the road and the ballpark’s parking lot. kmiller@the-telescope.com

Ingredients (Serves Many)

Photo Illustration Brian Korec/Telescope

½ qt Blue Curacao 1 gallon of light Rum 1 gallon of Vodka ½ qt of Cranberry juice ½ qt of Lemonade ½ qt of Orange juice 1 qt of Sprite

LIFE • 7

the telescope

LIFE, LOVE & LIP GLOSS

CONCERT REVIEW

CLARKSON GIVES GREAT SHOW FOR SAN DIEGO FANS

BY KELLI MILLER

25 tips and tricks every girl should know by 25

remain a down-to-earth Texan girl with a witty sense of humor.

Cracking a few one liners to the crowd during lighting mishaps including, “Ooh this is a nice way to set the mood. Who wants to make out?” it was evident stardom has had no effect on the southern girl-next-door.

San Diego crowds were thrilled when the singer announced that their hometown would have the honor of being featured in an episode taping of an upcoming show.

Just as she did a decade ago, Clarkson will participate in yet another talent show, but this time as a judge and performer on the show “Duets.” She will join fellow judges Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles, Lionel Richie and Robin Thicke as they search for undiscovered singing partners and perform duets with them, granting the winner a record deal.

Audience members were excited to watch Clarkson perform duets with two contestants, while being filmed by a camera crew.

Clarkson also took a moment in the show to perform a new song promoting a charity called Houses of Hope, which builds safe havens for children affected by HIV/AIDS, abuse and poverty.

After the grand finale of her hit “My Life Would Suck Without You,” Clarkson took her final bow and thanked San Diego for the wonderful night.

With cheers and chants begging for more, it was obvious that the “Idol” has come a long way from being just a Texan girl from “that one singing show,” and is now a “stronger” force to be reckoned with.

I am getting old.

Seriously, I can pretty much taste my twenties disappearing! I am being a tad dramatic (it’s not like I’m turning 30), but it has started to sink in that in a matter of just a few months I am going to hit my quarter of a century milemarker.

The letter titled “Maya Angelou’s Best Poem Ever” was actually an article written by Glamour Magazine’s contributing writer, Pamela Redmond Satran. Satran wrote the article on the brink of her 30th birthday and composed a list of “30 things every woman should have and should know by the time she’s 30” and it instantly took the Internet by storm.

Women everywhere started forwarding the “list” to their girlfriends, aunts, sisters and mothers and Satran later updated the article in 2005.

So this got me thinking…

Since my birthday is right around the corner I thought it would be fun to come up with a list of 25 things I think that every gal should know or have before hitting the age of 25.

So here it goes: 1. How to master the art of walking in heels.

2. How to fill out a job application, a FAFSA and W2.

3. Owning the perfect lace bra, pair of jeans and baby pink nail color.

4. Having a favorite brand of condoms (because I know you all are practicing safe sex).

5. Knowing how to kill a spider, hangover or zombie (ya know, just in case).

6. How to do your own laundry and how to tell your boyfriend to do his, himself.

7. Having more than $6 in your savings account.

8. Actually having a savings account.

9. Knowing when you should try harder and when you should just give up.

10. Having a promiscuous weekend, summer or sophomore year.

11. Knowing that flirting with a cop won’t always get you out of a ticket.

12. Having a best friend and a pair of Spanx (even though they’re essentially the same thing).

13. That your mother really does have your best interest at heart, even though it might not always seem that way.

14. Knowing that ex-boyfriends are exes for a reason, and that they should probably stay that way.

15 . How to write a kick-ass resume, cover letter or Facebook profile.

16. Knowing that sometimes your heart isn’t always the best compass.

17. Being the proud owner of a stop-him-in-his-trackssmile.

18. Knowing that in soccer it’s a goal, baseball it’s a homerun, football is a touchdown and basketball is a… oh shit.

19. Knowing that the 5-minute look actually takes about 30 minutes to achieve. At least.

20. Knowing not to take the saying “mix and match” too literal.

21. Knowing that sleeping with your best friend’s boyfriend, brother in-law, or first cousin is wrong, really wrong.

22. Knowing what the inside of the gym that you’ve been paying for for the last six months actually looks like.

23. Knowing that being a bitch isn’t always a bad thing.

24. Knowing that Ben and Jerry won’t fix all of your problems.

25. Knowing that you will never get these days back, so live it up!

aperez@the-telescope.com

Have tips to share? Email me at kmiller@the-telescope.com

Photo courtesty of http://kellyclarkson.shop. bravadousa.com

The ‘Idol’ alum joked with the crowd and sang some of her top hits LEXY PEREZ THE TELESCOPE

It was a girl’s night out in San Diego, as “American Idol” alum Kelly Clarkson graced the stage at the San Diego Valley View Casino Center on April 10.

Mothers and daughters, single girlfriends and even the occasional man tagging along with his girlfriend were all on hand to witness the singer celebrate the end of the first leg of her successful “Stronger Tour 2012.”

Promoting her fifth studio album, appropriately titled “Stronger,” The indefatiguable Clarkson belted out tunes for an hour and a half.

“I’m so happy to be in Ron Burgandy’s territory,” Clarkson told the crowd, referring to her San Diegocentered favorite film, with a delighted smile on her face.

The Texas native proved music based solely on a melodic voice, could keep a crowd infatuated as she channeled a more “intimate” approach to her show.

Opening the show with her song “Dark Side,” accompanied by a powerful video segment of labels she has endured, including “Girl next door” and “Fat,” the singer was ready to prove she is a “stronger” force to be reckoned with in the music industry.

In addition to belting out her hits including, “Behind These Hazel Eyes” and “Walk Away,” the singer also honored other artists she believed represented real music.

“I love all music. Well, the good and real kind,” Clarkson explained as she sang worthy covers of Florence and the Machine’s “Heavy in Your Arms” and fellow American Idol

CONCERT REVIEW What: Kelly Clarkson concert Highlights: ‘Idol’ star gave a crowdpleasing show full of empowerment and great singing Rating: éééé

alum Carrie Underwood’s high-note infested ballad, “I Know You Won’t.”

Aside from performing acoustic versions of her hits, Clarkson didn’t shy away from being her inner, confident rocker self on stage. She jumped around and hyped up the crowd while an electric guitarist and drummer captivated the audience, channeling an Aerosmith rock show.

Maintaining her continuous “Girl Power” message, the singer yelled for every heartbroken woman to sing along, for she was singing for all of them. Women everywhere sang along to Clarkson’s tunes as they danced and nodded their heads in agreement to the lyrics.

Clarkson not only validated her crown of being the original “Idol,” but was proud to revel in her postidol success, as she revealed to the crowd that this year represented her 10-year career arc.

Regardless of having over 20 million albums sold with hits such as, “Since U Been Gone,” “Mr. Know It All,” and her recent girl-empowered anthem “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You),” Clarkson has still managed to

8 • LIFE

Monday, April 23, 2012

HEALTH

Adderall gains ground as a study buddy DO COLLEGE STUDENTS ABUSE ADDERALL? 80%

THE PERCENTAGE OF COLLEGE STUDENTS WHO TRY THE STUDY DRUG AT LEAST ONCE BY THE TIME THEY GRADUATE, ACCORDING TO A STUDY BY THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY.

3RD RUNNER UP

ADDERALL IS THE THIRD EASIEST DRUG TO OBTAIN ON A U.S. COLLEGE CAMPUS, ACCORDING TO A STUDY BY THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND.

18 - 22

COLLEGE STUDENTS AGES 18-22 ARE TWICE AS LIKELY TO ABUSE ADDERALL COMPARED TO NON STUDENTS OF THE SAME AGE RANGE, ACCORDING TO A NATIONAL SURVEY ON DRUG USE AND HEALTH.

14%

THE PERCENTAGE OF COLLEGE STUDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN APPROACHED BY CLASSMATES TO SELL, TRADE OR DISTRIBUTE ADDERALL, ACCORDING TO A NATIONAL SURVEY ON DRUG USE AND HEALTH

Photo Illustration by Aden Webster/Telescope

CYNDI LUNDEBERG THE TELESCOPE

Imagine a drug that could not only help stop procrastination, but boost grades and I don’t personally do it, but I know Adderall is help you stay up all night to finish any and all assignments. Many students believe that the easiest drug to get. Much easier and less that drug actually exists and it’s known as sketchy than weed or something else.

Adderall.

Adderall is an amphetamine or stimulant VANESSA MUJICA • STUDENT that is generally used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Drug use on college campuses has always been an issue and brought to light especially in recent events like the San Diego State Uni- freshman year. versity drug raid and University of North “It’s not a bad thing wanting to get good Carolina cocaine raid. grades and finding a way to do that,” he But the drug of choice is changing. Any- said. one who has been anywhere near a college According to him, a lot of students take campus recently has most likely heard, used the drug regularly or at least on occasion, or purchased Adderall, and the numbers even though taking or buying the drug are growing at an alarming rate. without a prescription is illegal.

The number of college students using ilThe price tag for one of these pills runs legal drugs has doubled since the 1990s, ac- students about the price of a coffee at $5, cording to the National Center on Addiction but with much better results. However durand Substance Abuse (CASA). ing finals, or midterms prices can soar, runAnd it’s not just any drug. According to ning students up to $20 a pill, according to a study by Alan Desantis of University of the student interviewed.

Kentucky, 80 percent of upper classmen All of the students interviewed didn’t will have used Adderall by graduation. One seem to feel Adderall was a dangerous drug reason may be its accessibility. and some scientists actually agree.

“I don’t personally do it, but I know AdIn the 2008, the Journal of Nature Sciderall is the easiest drug to get. Much easier entists said drugs like Adderall should be and less sketchy than weed or something made available stating, “We should welelse,” Palomar student Vanessa Mujica said. come new methods of improving our brain A study done at the University of Mary- function” also adding, “safe and effective land found that Adderall is the third most cognitive enhancers will benefit both the easily-accessed drug on college campuses individual and society.” following alcohol and marijuana. The But other scientists strongly disagree. main resource to getting the drug is other Adderall and its other forms like Ritalin students. and Concerta are amphetamine-based, “Getting it is as simple as sending a text,” which means they can be habit forming.

Palomar Freshmen Lexi Vallin said.

The drugs’ very addictive nature is why Besides studying, the “study drug” is the federal government lists it as an illegal abused for other reasons. drug, because of its “high abuse potential “It takes away your appetite, so a lot of and dependence profile.” girls take it to lose weight and not eat,” stuMartha J. Farah, of the Center for Cognident Marilee Reid said. tive Neuroscience at the University of PennAdderall is also being used as a party sylvania has studied the drug for years and drug. The prescription drug is a stimulant finds it’s prevalence on college campuses so it allows those who party to stay up later very worrisome. According to Farah, Adand drink more. derall increases the brain’s dopamine and “I’ve definitely known students who took affects the brain’s reward center, making it for a night out partying or the next morn- tasks more difficult when not on the drug. ing to wake them up from it,” Reid said.

“These are serious drugs with serious The main reason students abuse the side effects,” Farah said. drug is to cure the most common college But another anonymous student said usailment: procrastination. Students say ing Adderall is just temporary and won’t be“Addy,” the drug’s street name, allows them come a long-term problem. to study for hours through the night with“I’m not trying to be here [at Palomar] out getting tired. forever. I need to get good grades, and AdOne student, who chose to re- derall helps me do that.” main anonymous said he took the drug to cram last minute for exams his CLUNDEBERG@THE-TELESCOPE.COM

NEWS • 9

the telescope Counselors Continued from Page 1

Compounding the problem are several staff reassignments from positions that see students and help with academic planning, leaving just 13 full-time advisors.

Understaffing is “always a concern,” Halttunen said.

“We used to have 23 counselors plus our part-timers,” she said.

“We’ve had a number of retirements and people who have left to go to other departments and we haven’t filled their positions.

We didn’t really have sufficient counselors when we had 23. As we reduce the number of counselors available, we do the best we can.”

Staff blood-letting has left Palomar with a significant deficit of counselors compared to similarly sized community colleges.

Santa Monica College has 45 full-time counselors and 70 parttime counselors serving a student body of about 34,000, roughly the same size as Palomar, according to Brenda Benson, the Los Angelesarea college’s dean of counseling and retention.

“We feel fortunate that we have the number of counselors that we do, and that SMC has long understood the need for student support services like counseling,” Benson wrote in an email. “We think that many of the SSTF recommendations will be hard to achieve and will require additional human resources and/or more sophisticated tracking technology, but are committed to improving upon

what we already do.”

Testing edict should be easier to implement

Another part of SSTF, section 2.1, would force students to take a standardized test to gauge their college progress. Palomar already requires all students to take a placement test before enrolling in classes, satisfying the core of the testing mandate, college officials said.

Some Palomar officials think the state’s evaluation requirement codifies the college’s current testing regimen, according to Halttunen.

For example, SSTF encourages colleges to coordinate with K-12 schools to make sure incoming freshman have the direction they need.

Palomar’s Early Acceptance Program (EAP) gives incoming high school students priority registration if they take assessment tests before April 30. If applicants meet requirements for the EAP program they’re allowed to register on June 7. “(EAP testing) is required for all student matriculating as they come in. They take an assessment to find out their proper placement, the students then take the next step and make an appointment with a counselor to make an educational plan,” Assessment Coordinator Diane McAllister said. “We give them priority regis-

tration because we feel that their success will be greatly enhanced because they’ve had their appointment with their counselor and because they will be able to get their first choice classes on the days and times they want them. They won’t have to compete or crash their classes.”

McAllister said she has run this program for at least 20 years.

Testing is conducted on computer-based testing program called Compass that ranks students’ understanding of reading, writing and mathematics and determines what classes they should take first. The results are good for up to two years, according to McAllister.

College administrators said consistency has been a boon for the testing program, helping students get on the right track and monitoring skill levels of incoming enrollees.

Admin: SSTF won’t broaden the scope much

SSTF won’t fundamentally change Palomar’s approach to counseling new students, just broaden already-used practices, said Mark Vernoy, vice president of student services.

"We do a lot of the things the task force recommends, but we don't necessarily do all of it for all our students," Vernoy said. "Right now we try to assess every new

student that comes in.”

The recommendations identify a lot of things that Palomar has been doing from research and from experience, according to Vernoy.

Students have always been told to see a counselor and create an education plan, he said. But under the new plan students would be required to have one within a year of being at Palomar or lose priority enrollment.

Up to this point, the department has helped students create a rough ed plan, one-on-one with a counselor. To make up for the shortfall in the ratio of counselors to students, they’ve been offering classes that are supposed to help participants craft their own plan while getting units, and group counseling that allows one adviser to meet with 10 or more students at once.

Some people, such as the Associated Student Government, have been encouraging electronic components such as myEdu.com. If implemented correctly, these programs could significantly alleviate the workload on the counselling department.

With 18 full-time counselors for 30,000 students, the counselling department believes they will need to switch to a more symbiotic relationship with online ed plan generators if they are to fulfill their requirement under SSTF, according to P.J. DeMaris, the

counselling services chairwoman.

However, they believe they will always be necessary because people will always have questions that a “computer can’t answer.”

“It’s not unlike the situation I had last night with doing my taxes,” DeMaris said. “The information is all there and the charts are all there and the websites are all there, but you don’t necessarily have the expertise and the knowledge to bring all those pieces together and utilize them in the way that’s best for you as an individual student.”

According to Vernoy, Palomar is as ready as it can be to implement changes, but only if it doesn't require more money or more staff.

At this point, the school has made it clear to the state that if any additional programs are put in place, the school has to receive extra funds to cover its implementation, according to Halttunen.

Palomar could be facing further financial woes moving forward. Community Colleges could be facing millions of dollars in further cuts next semester, leaving the source of funding for SSTF uncertain.

The next part in the Push to Succeed series will focus on the financial side of the Student Success Task Force and try to nail down the source of funding. ihanner@the-telescope.com gnieto@the-telescope.com

10 • SPORTS

Monday, April 23, 2012 OPINION

Photo illustration by Deb Hellman/Telescope

MLB blackout leaves fans in the dark

colleen peters the telescope

I genuinely hate the MLB blackout. The rule allows for local baseball games to only be played live on television and denies fans another option for watching.

People don’t carry cable TV around in their pockets. In fact, it’s kind of impossible to carry actual cable TV around in your pocket (and if you have mobile TV it will run your data up to ridiculous levels). But, Major League Baseball and its blackout rule assume that is exactly what people do.

When I am not at home I usually have the ability to watch streaming video, which means I can watch baseball, but I obviously do not have cable. I paid for MLB.tv hoping to watch many baseball games this season. How wrong I was.

The Major League Baseball rules themselves are quite complicated. The basic concept is this, according to MLB.tv, “Live games will be blacked out in each applicable Club’s home television territory, regardless of whether that Club is playing at home or away. If a game is blacked out in an area, it is not available for live game viewing.”

I didn’t realize at the time I paid for the subscription that I wouldn’t be able to stream Padres home games because I live in the designated area. Instead, I watch the Rangers games (my other team) while I am forced to listen to the Padres broadcast, something I could do for free.

The general idea behind the rule makes sense-the home stations get the broadcast. It is good for those local stations. They get more advertising dollars because they have higher ratings.

But what happens now that Fox Sports is in practically every stadium? The station is owned by a national company. With Fox Sports regionally serving 28 states and New England Sports Network (NESN),

colleen peters the telescope

I genuinely hate the MLB blackout. People don’t carry cable TV around in their pockets. In fact, it’s kind of impossible to carry actual cable TV around in your pocket (and if you have any TV it will run your data up to ridiculous levels). But, Major League Baseball and its blackout rule assume that is exactly what people do.

When I am not at home I usually have the ability to watch streaming video, but I obviously do not have cable. I paid for MLB.tv hoping to watch many baseball games this season. How wrong I was. I didn’t realize at the time that I wouldn’t be able to stream Padres home games. Instead, I watch the

a partner of Fox Sports serving five additional states, according to foxsports.com, it is no longer the smaller, local stations that are getting the assistance.

And Fox Sports has nothing to help rectify the situation for fans.

In fact, Fox made it exponentially worse by adding this rule, “During the primetime schedule, all games scheduled between 7 and 10 p.m. EST will air on FOX locally and be unavailable to watch on MLB Extra Innings or MLB.tv,” according to awfulannouncing.com.

California is actually one of the states least affected by this rule. In San Diego, we are only blacked out for Padres games. In Los Angeles, of course, those viewers are blacked out for both the Angels and the Dodgers. And, Northern California is blacked out from both the A’s and Giants.

Both the league and the company should at least offer fans an option similar to MLB.tv that is reasonably priced so that we are able to watch our hometown teams while we are in the blackout area but not near TV with cable.

Instead of helping the fans, the rule hurts the viewer and the team. What MLB officials are doing is assuming that all fans sit at home and watch the game.

Baseball is a sport that is played for the fans; we run the industry. When the league blocks the core of the viewers, no one wins. If this rule was started because of funding worries, adding in an online option would bring in greater amounts of funding.

If this were the NFL’s blackout rule, there would be protests and public outcry. Unless baseball fans complain to the MLB and FOX about this rule, we are going to continue to be denied access to watch our favorite teams play online. cpeters@the-telescope.com @colleen_teresa

In fact, Fox made it exponentially worse by adding this rule, “During the primetime schedule, all games scheduled between 7 and 10 PM EST will air on FOX locally and be unavailable to watch on MLB Extra Innings or MLB.tv,” according to awfulannouncing.com California is actually one of the states least affected by this rule. In San Diego, we are only blacked out for Padres games. In Los Angeles, of course, those viewers are blacked out for both the Angels and the Dodgers. And, Northern California is blacked out from both the Raiders and 49ers.

Both the league and the company should at least offer fans an option similar to MLB.tv that is reasonably priced so that we are able to watch our hometown teams while we are in the blackout area

The Palomar baseball team’s mascot, a Tiki man from the Islands of Fiji named Bill, hangs out in the dugout during games to help inspire the team. • Brian Korec/ Telescope

BASEBALL

‘SCARY’ MASCOT KEEPS BASEBALL TEAM ON TRACK kaity bergquist the telescope

Put away the rabbit’s feet, horseshoes and four-leaf clovers. Palomar’s baseball team has found its good luck charm in something off the usual track of superstitious items: a fourfoot tall Tiki man from the islands of Fiji. His name is Bill.

Starting on March 15, the team went through an agonizing six-game losing streak. Almost all of the games were lost by one run, and as they fought to keep team morale up and to get back in the win column, sophomore outfielder Casey Munoz decided that something needed to be done.

“We lost six games in a row, so I was like, I need to bring him, so I did,” Munoz said of the statue. “We won the first game we brought him out, so he’s on a full scholarship right now.”

The win was a huge one for Palomar. They played conference rivals Grossmont College and beat them 7-2. Starting pitcher Julian Esquibel threw a complete game, only allowing two runs on nine hits with three strikeouts and no walks.

Since the Tiki man joined the team, they have gone 5-2 (as of April 14).

“He’s allowed out to any game he wants,” Munoz said.

Munoz is actually babysitting the Tiki man for one of his friends, who is currently living in England and getting married there. He said that his friend has no idea that the Tiki man is being used as the Comets’ mascot.

“He’s not going to know either, unless he reads The Telescope,” Munoz said with a laugh.

Baseball manager Buck Taylor is all for anything that will get his team out of a slump.

“We’re trying it all, so right now it’s the Tiki,” he said.

Munoz said that the Tiki man helps keep the atmosphere in the dugout light during games.

“It helps keep us loose because he’s actually pretty scary,” Munoz said. “He’s hand-carved out of something like driftwood and they used coconut for his hair, so he’s pretty scary to look at.”

As for the future of Bill the Tiki man, Munoz said that he’s going to keep him until his friend gets back to the States. In fact, the Tiki man will be going with Munoz and fellow teammate D.J. Zapata when they transfer to Santa Clara University in the fall.

“Hopefully he’s invited to the dugout up there, too. We’ll see,” Munoz said.

For now, the Comets will be hoping that his magic will continue to work as the end of the season and the playoffs approach. kbergquist@the-telescope.com @kaitybergquist

SPORTS • 11

the telescope OLYMPICS

LIGHTING THE TORCH: 2012 SUMMER OLYMPICS PREVIEWS natalie soldoff the telescope

Two and a half weeks, 26 sports, over 200 countries all vying for gold, silver and bronze; the 2012 Summer Olympics begins in July.

This year the games will be taking place in London; sports will range from basketball, cycling and tennis to archery, judo and gymnastics. There will be thousands of athletes, but only three from each category will walk away with an Olympic medal.

The last Summer Olympics took place in Beijing, China; the United States team walked away with a total of 110 medals, the third highest medal earning record our country has had since the modern day Olympics were created in 1896, according to nbcolympics.com.

Before the athletes start competing for the coveted gold, a time honored tradition must take place: the relay of the Olympic torch.

“It’s great to watch the relay and then see it (the Olympic cauldron) lit at the opening ceremony,” student Sean Clancy said. “It’s cool to know that the flame traveled so far, between so many people.”

This year the torch will be relayed between 8,000 people nominated by someone who finds them to be an inspiration, according to london2012. com, the official Olympic games website.

The torch will travel to more than 1,000 loca-

ARCHERY Archery is a sport that goes back 10,000 years ago, when it was used for hunting and warfare. It was used for necessity then, but is now an intense sport that is played in over 140 countries, according to london2012.com.

There has been a spike in interest of archery lately with the popularity of the “Hunger Games” book series and movie. The heroine, Katniss Everdeen, uses a bow and arrows extensively. According to the LA Times, “sales of archery equipment have increased more than 20 percent in the last year.”

THE GAME

The goal is to shoot arrows in the middle of 122-centimeter targets. The middle gold ring is worth 10 points. Archers have to shoot from 70 meters away.

There are two individual competitions, one for men and one for women. Matches consist of three arrows per archer, with best-of-five sets. The winners of each match move up to the next round. When there are only two archers left, they complete in the gold medal round. There is also a knockout phase where teams of three archers compete in best-of-24 arrows.

THE HISTORY

Archery was added to the Olympics in 1900 in Paris. It was taken out after 1908, but then put back in during the 1920 Olympics. But only for that year, as it was left out for the following 52 years. It came back to stay in 1972. In the last summer Olympics in Beijing, Juan Juan Zhang of China won the gold medal for the women’s individual competition, and Viktor Ruban of Ukraine won the gold for the men’s individual competition.

kaity bergquist

tions starting in Greece and ending in London, relayed through the means of horseback, steam train and even on a zip line according to the website.

Student Adonia Palaeio said she enjoys seeing the torch get handed off between runners.

“It’s going to be fun watching the torch travel using forms other than running, but it’s hard not to think that the torch won’t go out somehow,” Palaeio said.

When it comes to the Olympic games, everyone has their favorite countries they are rooting for.

“Of course you have to root for the U.S.A.,” Palaeio said. “But I gotta show some love for Belize too, my family is from there.”

When it come to sports, everyone has their favorites, too.

“I like watching cycling, archery and water polo,” student Mike Neill said. “It’s fun watching the final rounds when the last four competitors are going for the gold; that’s the best part about watching the Games.”

The Olympics are all about competition, but the

Games also aim to bring the world together.

“It’s cool to see all the people from different countries gathered together to see and participate in something so unique,” Clancy said.

This year the Olympics are aiming to build a better world through sports, according to Olympic. org, the official website of the International Olympic Committee. The Committee will be promoting three Olympic values: excellence, respect and friendship.

THE HISTORY The Olympic games began in Ancient Greece as a way to pay homage to the Olympian gods and continued on for 12 centuries until they were banned in 393 A.D. because the Olympic gods were considered to be part of pagan worship, according Olympic.org. The ancient games included running, long jump, the discus throw, shot put, javelin, boxing, wrestling and equestrian events.

The modern day Olympics were born in 1896 and took place in Athens, Greece. Only 14 countries participated in the games, including the United States. According to the website, an American long jumper, James Connolly, was the first person to earn a gold medal; making him the first champion in more than 1,500 years. nsoldoff@the-telescope.com

SHOOTING

VOLLEYBALL The Olympic sport of volleyball will feature 12 male teams and 12 female teams with a total of 288 athletes.

The fast-paced sport begins with two pools of six teams. Each team will play the other five teams within the pool. From there, the top eight teams advance and play in another bracket.

The winners of the semi-finals will compete for the gold.

THE GAME

Both teams are allowed to have six players on the court at one time. A roving player, called the libero, is free to rotate into the backcourt as deemed necessary by the coaches. Points are scored by the winner of every play. The winning team of each play is then the server for the next play. The point of the game is to successfully land the ball within the lines of the opposing team’s side of the court.

The net that separates both sides is 7 feet 11 inches for men and 7 feet 4 inches for women, according to vbref.org

THE HISTORY

The sport, which was started as a gentle sport, is now a fast-paced, high-intensity game. William Morgan created the game as an alternative to basketball, according to london2012.com. He used similar rules to tennis and handball. Making its Olympic debut in 1964, volleyball will be held this year at Earl’s Court, which opened in 1937, according to london2012.com.

COLLEEN PETERS

Shooting, a sport that has been included in every summer Olympic games since the creation of the modern Olympics in 1896, will feature 390 competitors aiming for gold across 15 different shooting events using pistols and rifles or a shotgun, according to london2012. com, the official Olympic website.

THE GAME

Competitors will face five pistol events, five rifle events and five shotgun events; each featuring a qualifying round and final round only.

Pistol and rifle events will feature shooters aiming at different targets from specific distances; earning scores based on accuracy relative to the center of a ringed target. Shotgun events will feature shooters aiming to hit moving clay targets launched both above and in front of them, according to the website.

The scores in each round are added together for a total score to determine the winners in both types of shooting events.

THE HISTORY

Shooting events have been featured in every modern summer Olympic games with the exception the 1904 and 1928 games, according to london2012.com.

The events were for male competitors only, until female events were added in 1984.

Currently the United States holds the record for most medals won in the Olympic games, with 105 total medals, according to nbcolympics.com.

NATALIE SOLDOFF

12 • SPORTS

Monday, April 23, 2012

ATHLETE PROFILE

TWO SPORT athlete overcomes injury ATHLETE TAKES ON THE CHALLENGES OF BASKETBALL IN FALL, TRACK IN SPRING AND LIFE Jacqueline coble the telescope

For a student-athlete one sport can be a handful, but for Palomar’s Soliaana Faapouli that’s nothing compared to the challenges that she has had to endure as a twosport athlete. If she isn’t playing basketball in the gym during the winter, then she’s out on the track throwing the shot-put, discus, hammer and javelin in the spring.

As a dual sport athlete, Faapouli has been faced with many obstacles. Not only must she keep up with her academics, but she also has to be present at physically strenuous practices for two sports, which can be hard on the body.

She quickly learned how to manage team time and study hall, juggle basketball workouts with track meets and when to make the decision to sacrifice treasured sleep to study. But she said her two biggest challenges are being a single parent and an injured athlete.

Faapouli is no stranger to the demands of athletics. In high school she was a three-sport athlete playing volleyball, basketball and participating in track and field for the El Camino High School Wildcats. But her loyalty always remained with basketball and track.

She first picked up a basketball at 6 years old. Her dad and her sister Singa, who is two years older, were the ones that introduced the game to her and she has loved it ever since.

Track, however, was a different story. Her love for it didn’t come until her sophomore year in high school when she decided to go out for the team thanks to strong encouragement from one of her coaches and after having watched her big sister make a name for herself as a jumper and shot-putter for the Wildcats. It was there that Faapouli said she first became acquainted with shot-put and discus throwing.

After playing three sports in high school, Faapouli planned to play two at Palomar, however the

ABOVE: Palomar field athlete Soliaana Faapouli reaches back to throw her javelin on March 1 at the San Diego Collegiate Challenge at the UCSD Track. BELOW LEFT: Palomar wing/ forward Soliaana Faapouli shoots the ball against Imperial Valley at The Dome on Feb. 3. • Russell White/Telescope

summer after Faapouli finished high school in 2009, she said she got pregnant with her daughter Lei and was forced to take the year off.

“Being a single parent was one of the toughest things I’ve had to overcome,” she said. “It was more of a mental thing. No one expects to be a single parent especially so young. I was only 18 years old when I had her.”

With the help of her family, Faapouli was able to bounce back and the following year she made the decision to go to Palomar to do track and field. Here, she also planned to play basketball as a second sport. At that time, Palomar women’s head basketball coach Leigh Marshall had just been hired as the coach, taking over a program that was in the process of rebuilding.

“When I got hired in September of 2010, there were no returning players and no new recruits,” Marshall said. “I tried to get any women athletes who were interested in playing for the team to come out and Soli was one of them.”

Faapouli credits her friend from high school, Sarah Duray, for getting her to try out for the basketball team. “The Palomar coaches were really interested in having me,” she said, “and I was very excited to be able to get back into playing the game I loved.”

That year, Faapouli played three games before she was sidelined once again. While going for a layup, she hurt her knee and ended up tearing her ACL-- a season ending injury.

“I was devastated,” Faapouli said. “I worked so hard to come back and get in shape from my pregnancy only to be shut down again by injury.”

Her basketball coach expressed thoughts on her injury and how because of it her role changed on the team.

“Being injured is one of the hardest things to face as an athlete,” Marshall said. “But Soli was still there for her teammates, just in a different way. She sat on the bench with us, and she would cheer them on.”

As an athlete not being able to play can be disheartening, but for Faapouli as a student and a young mother the time actually had some positives. Having to sit the year out, she explained really taught her a lot about herself, helped her build relationships and even brought her closer to her family. She praises her family, especially her sisters Tasi and Singa, for helping her out with Lei who was less than a year old when she had surgery.

Following her ACL surgery, Faapouli had to undergo rehab at Kaiser Orthopedics with a physical therapist to nurse her knee back to health. Eventually, she fell under the care of Palomar trainers Felicia Heise and Dennis Greenhill.

With rehab Heise commended Faapouli for her drive and desire to get back on the court and on the track, describing it as a part of her culture. “Her family and her just don’t give up. She is very strong willed and strong minded so once she has her mind set on something

she sticks with it. It’s because of this, I believe her recovery was quicker.”

While the recovery was not easy, Faapouli expressed how these hardships have helped her.

“A lot of things happen for a reason. I may not have understood at the time, but now I am stronger because of it,” Faapouli said. “My pregnancy and my injury were merely stepping stones in my life.”

This year, Faapouli completed a full season with the Palomar women’s basketball team. She admitted that the transition to the court was a little harder this time.

“Playing in the post, I had girls leaning on me and it was upsetting because I know I could do so much more but my knees just couldn’t,” Faapouli said. “Sometimes it would hurt but I just tried to push through it and play.”

According to Marshall, an ACL injury is hard because even though you’re back, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re fully recovered or in shape. Marshall said Faapouli was undersized in the post, so she ended up fouling out a lot. But even so, she credits her for being a captain, and a leader and she said that a lot of girls looked up to her for her strength and toughness.

Her basketball teammate Ashley Witherspoon described Faapouli as being very hardworking and encouraging but also very motherly to all the girls. “We nicknamed her Mama Sol because of the way she was always there for us,” she said. “She would make sure that I’m on my grades, ask how my family was doing and would even give us relationship advice since she has been through it all.”

“She is a family woman and very mature beyond her years because she has had to grow up so fast,” Coach Marshall said. “I

sometimes have to remind her to be a kid and enjoy herself, not to think too hard.”

With basketball season over, Faapouli has turned her attention to track. On April 7 at the University of California San Diego she placed first in javelin and third in the hammer for Palomar.

“For it to be her first year learning to throw the hammer and the javelin, and to already be ranked as No. 1 in the conference is pretty phenomenal,” throwing coach Whitney DeWeese said. “She has exceeded expectations already.”

DeWeese describes Faapouli as being extremely coachable, competitive and a huge asset to their team.

“She has raw, athletic talent and power,” she said, “but at the same time, Soli is very mature and brings a calming aspect to practices.”

Track teammate Deanna Doss said that Faapouli has not only been motherly, but helped her on the field as well. Doss explained that last year she didn’t have a teammate who could push her the way that Faapouli has, and as a result, she has improved her marks greatly this year.

“I am excited to see what she can do in conference this year. She is capable of taking the top spots,” DeWeese added.

Faapouli expressed great gratitude toward her family who have helped by taking Lei if she has to do homework or go to practices, games or meets.

“They’ve been very encouraging. My dad, for example, has shown me what God can do and continues to remind me to have faith in Him. This helped me to become strong during difficult times,” Faapouli said. jcoble@the-telescope.com