t
AMERICAN INDIAN DAY EVENT Jacob Alvarado introduces his family and fellow bird singers during Palomar College’s annual American Indian Day event on Sept. 25. • Angela Marie Samora/The Telescope. • Page 3
the telescope Palomar College’s Independent Newspaper
•
Vol. 68, No. 3 • Monday, Oct. 6, 2014
•
the-telescope.com
Agency sparks controversy on campus CHRISTIAN GAXIOLA THE TELESCOPE
A visit from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in August troubled faculty members when government officials entered the San Marcos campus equipped with video cameras to survey the school grounds, various buildings and the interior of several staff offices. School administrators said it was done to ensure campus safety. During a recent faculty meeting, several Palomar staff members raised concerns about the agency’s visit, claiming it came without notice or explanation and that it demonstrated a lack of professionalism. A professor at Palomar said he’s concerned that a government agency connected with anti-terrorism entered his personal space without warning. Another faculty member, Diane Studinka, an associate professor of Child Development, said she’s not upset about the visit, but was surprised to see several government officials, with ‘Department of Homeland Security’ emblazoned on their shirts, on campus with video cameras. “Anyone can come into my office at any time,” Studinka said, “but
we should’ve been notified, along with why this is taking place. We still don’t know why they did this.” According to Laura Gropen, Palomar’s director of communications, marketing and public affairs, the visit was a routine procedure, arranged between the school’s union representatives and the DHS. She said the agency visits hundreds of schools and universities across the country to ensure safety standards and emergency preparedness. Gropen said the reason for videotaping campus facilities is to best view which tactical strategies to use in case of an emergency. When asked why the agency entered several private offices, she explained that the doors to those offices were already propped open, so the agents took it as an opportunity to look inside. “The purpose of this program is for the safety and security of faculty and students, for mapping out facilities and campuses. It’s a great opportunity for us to get the best tools in our arsenal for protecting the campus,” Gropen said. Justin Rios, vice president of the Associated Student Government, said he takes a neutral position on the matter. “I understand their frustration,”
A view from above students in the cafeteria at Palomar College San Marcos campus on Sept. 29, 2014. • Gary West/The Telescope
Rios said, referring to disgruntled staff, “but everyone’s got a job to do. And this is the Department of Homeland Security.” What’s interesting, however, is the email response from the DHS when asked to comment on the issue.
“The DHS did not visit Palomar College recently. You have the wrong agency,” the email said. Until more information is available, it remains somewhat unclear which government department entered the campus with video cameras to videotape common areas
and offices, and what, exactly, was recorded during the visit. Gropen said, “Palomar is still waiting for the videos so they can be reviewed. We still don’t know what’s on them.” CGAXIOLA@THE-TELESCOPE.COM
Cafeteria may be problem for wheelchair accessiblity SEAN HORGAN THE TELESCOPE
Two students have complained to administrators that there is a handicap accessibility problem at Palomar College and they are not getting the proper response. On Sept. 19, in the cafeteria where students purchase their meals, Shovan Vatandoust, 27, a student at Palomar, said he was unable to enter the cafeteria to purchase food. Vatandoust has cerebral palsy and has to use an electric wheelchair, which makes it difficult for him to do certain things like opening doors. According to Vatandoust, he couldn’t open the door because there were no handicap accessible doors to the cafeteria, and he had to wait two or three minutes in the heat before someone opened the door. “That’s really frustrating because when it’s hot I have to wait until someone opens the door, or if it’s raining then the same
thing,” Vatandoust said. A friend of Vatandoust, Sid Matlock, 36, president of the Child Development Club, said he was shocked when he saw Vatandoust kicking at the door trying to get in and went out to see for himself if there was a handicap accessible door. Matlock said he found that there weren’t any to the cafeteria or to the two restrooms in the Student Union Building. In response, Matlock emailed Ron Haines, the director of the Disability Resource Center, and was told that Vatandoust would have to file a complaint to have the school address the problem. Matlock said he was not happy with that answer. “Why does (Vatandoust) have to say anything?” Matlock said. “The point is that it is not handicap accessible, period. As a person, or a human being, if anyone speaks about it, that should be enough. “I’m not looking to cause an uproar (and) I’m not looking for a
big protest,” he added. “I’m looking in doing what’s right.” Haines said when enforcing policies, like the Americans with Disabilities Act, there is an emphasis on including the person with the disability to empower the student, and that jumping in and taking care of a student with a disability could be seen as offensive. Haines added that his priority of making the campus more handicap accessible is based on request. “You have to prioritize, and if someone makes a request then something can happen,” Haines said. “If they do not make a request then it is put on a lesser priority.” Vatandoust stated that he will go straight to the source if the problem isn’t solved, and that he doesn’t think it is right that he has to wait outside for someone to open the door for him. SHORGAN@THE-TELESCOPE.COM