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THE SMOKE STOPS HERE? Read how the city ban on e-cigarettes might affect Palomar students • Page 3
the telescope Palomar College’s Independent Newspaper
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Vol. 68, No. 6 • Monday, Nov. 17, 2014
Palomar’s policy on concealed weapons could allow students who have a permit to legally carry one on campus. MIKE PETERSON THE TELESCOPE
How would you feel if your fellow classmate was carrying a concealed weapon? Although weapons of any kind are normally not allowed on college campuses, a section of California’s penal code allows for individuals with a concealed weapons permit to legally carry one on campus. While it is technically allowed, concealed carry weapon (CCW) permit holders still need to get exclusive permission from either the Palomar police department or the president of the college, according to Palomar’s chief of police Mark DiMaggio. “Other than that, you cannot be carrying on the campus even if you have a CCW,” DiMaggio said. While every state has some provision allowing concealed carry on college campuses, California is one of 20 that normally ban weapons on campus, according to website for the National Conference of State Legislatures, ncsl. org. Many groups across the country actively advocate being able to conceal carry on campus, which would give students and teachers “an effective means of self-defense,” according to Students for Concealed Carry. These pro-concealed carry groups run on the platform that “gun free zones” disarm law-abiding citizens who would normally
be able to protect themselves. Derek Tesdal, a business major at Palomar, said the fact that people could carry concealed weapons doesn’t bother him at all because “If you have a concealed carry permit, you have it for a good reason because California is extremely strict with it.” But college concealed carry definitely has its opposers, whose numbers have grown the wake of school shootings on both college and high school campuses. One such group, the Campaign to Keep Guns off Campus, focuses on stopping statewide legislature that would force colleges and universities to allow hidden weapons on their property. “In my opinion, it’s not a good thing.” said Kevin Nogueira, a Palomar student, “Lately there have been school shootings, it could make it easier for something like that to happen.” But while college concealed carry has its supporters and opponents on the political spectrum, the practical issues and problems associated with carrying a weapon on campus are apparent. “I think {the campus} would be more dangerous just due to a couple of factors,” said DiMaggio. According to DiMaggio, the mere sight of a hidden gun is enough to cause panic and confusion on campus, which could lead some to believe there was an active shooter situation and instigate a police response. A response that, with no real danger, would
be wasting the time and resources of Palomar police and other local law enforcement. A similar event happened at Cal State San Marcos in August when police were called about a potential shooter who actually just happened to be carrying an umbrella. Events like these can cost a city tens of thousands of dollars, according to an Associated Press article. There are other concerns as well. “Think about this: what if the gun somehow slipped out of … however you were carrying it, it falls on the ground and an accidental discharge occurs,” said DiMaggio. “You can imagine the traumatic effect that would have on the entire campus.” According to DiMaggio, there has been no problems with concealed weapons or CCW holders on campus during his time as chief of police. Although he did admit he has only held his position since May. “We want to keep the panic down to a minimum and make sure that we’re providing a safe and secure environment for the campus community,” DiMaggio said. President Robert Deegan told The Telescope that, in the ten years that he’s served at Palomar, a request to carry a concealed weapon by a non-law enforcement officer has never been approved. MPETERSON@THE-TELESCOPE.COM
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Concealed weapons conditionally allowed on campus
2 • NEWS BRIEFS
Monday, Nov. 17, 2014 CAMPUS-WIDE POWER OUTAGE ON NOV. 10
What is your student government up to?
Finals taking over, workshop to help ease pain
Are finals stressing you out this semester? The Teaching and Learning Center at the San Marcos campus is holding a workshop, dubbed “Acing Your Finals”, from 11 a.m. to noon on Nov. 18 in TCL-112. The event will give students information that they can utilize to assist them with finals preparation. Presenters will inform students on how to review for an exam, use flash cards and necessary skills for taking tests. For more information email SanMarcosTLC@palomar.edu or call (760)-744-1150 ext. 3931.
The Associated Student Government holds an open meeting every Wednesday at 1 p.m. in SU-204. This is what they are up to: • No meeting was held Wednesday Nov. 5. At the Nov. 12 meeting: • No meeting minutes have been approved for the semester as of yet. • Request for more money out the fund for Strategic Planning Priority Funding, SPPF, was sent last week for:
Students performing a flow of orchestra music
The Palomar Symphony Orchestra will present its second waterinspired show with “Water Music II: Flow of People,” directed by Ellen Weller. The featured music is influenced by the geography and cultural unification of America. There will be a pre-concert lecture at 6:15 p.m. on Nov. 21 and 22 in the Howard Brubeck Theatre. The concert will begin at 7 p.m. Tickets A power outage on Nov. 10 sent Palomar College in the dark for nearly two hours, from 10:38 a.m. to 12:26 p.m. The reason for the blackare $10 for students, $12 for seniors out is still unknown. The power outage resulted in classes being cancelled, but teachers were ordered to stay on campus. School officials and staff, and $15 for general admis- are now in the process of fixing emergency protocols due to this incident. • Yoshikazu Yamashita/The Telescope sion. For more information, call (760) PalomarSM) considered exceptional contribu- nate non-perishable food to the 744-1150 ext. 2453 or visit www. tors to their community. This years OSA in room SU-201. palomarperforms.com. Annual Gala, a night for award winers are retired U.S. MaThe Palomar College Food Bank fun and fundraising rine Corps Major General Anthony is there for students in need to reBlood Drive week at the The Palomar College Foundation Jackson and World War II veteran ceive food once a month. San Marcos campus will be holding its 23rd annual gala, Jack Port. For more information contact Interested in donating blood to promising a night of “fun, food and Proceeds from the event will go lkretchman@palomaredu help save lives? frivolity” to attendees. Single tickets towards textbook assistance, scholCome to Parking Lot 6 (near the start at $300. arships and other student assistance Setting and accomplishTLC building) from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The fundraising gala and dinner programs. ing realistic goals the week of Nov. 17-21 to take part will be held at 6 p.m. on Nov. 22 at For more information, visit Having trouble creating goals for in Palomar College Health Services the Rancho Bernardo Inn with the www.palomar.edu/foundation or yourself and achieving them? Centers and Fire Club’s November theme of this year’s gala being “Dis- call (760) 744-1150 ext. 2732 Come to the Career Center from Blood Drive. covering the Magic of Education.” 11:00 a.m. to noon on Friday, Nov. Donors will receive a gift for The gala will feature a silent and Food bank for students 21 in room SU-17 to attend a Student their contributions. The ‘bloodmo- a live auction, food and local wines, is accepting donations Lingo Workshop Series. bile’ will also have extended hours and local entertainment. The Office of Student Affairs is This workshop will feature on-deon Nov. 18 and Nov. 20 from 7:30 Items being auctioned include hosting a food drive from 10 a.m. mand teachings to help students with a.m. to 6:45 p.m. vacations, jewelry and passes to to 1 p.m. on Nov. 20 in the Student their academic career goals and beTo schedule your appointment, sports events. Union. yond. For more information contact call (760) 744-1150 ext. 2380 or Every year, the Foundation reStudents can also come by any- Pippa Pierce at ppierce@palomar.edu visit www.redcrossblood.org (code: wards the “Comet Award” to people time throughout the week and do- or call (760)-744-1150 ext. 3125
- $20,000 for electronic charging stations in the Student Union. - $8,000 for banners and brochures to promote the ASG and help recruit more students to be involved. • ASG meetings will potentially meet once or twice next semester at the Escondido campus • The Palomar College president selection committee will only have one student representative, which usually comes from the ASG. The Governing Board has requested the student representative on the committee is to be a returning student for the Fall 2015 semester. As of now, no current ASG members are returning next Fall. • If students have not met federal financial aid requirements, they will also lose the state BOG Waiver in Fall 2016. • E-cigs will be incorporated into the current tobacco policy on campus soon.
Staff, students show support for veterans despite power outage CHRISTOPHER BULLOCK THE TELESCOPE
Retired USMC Master Gunnery Sgt. Andy Garcia stands among the miniature American flags watching the Palomar College Veteran’s Day Ceremony on Nov. 10 at the San Marcos campus. • Paul Nelson/The Telescope
Despite the power outage that gripped the campus, the Palomar College Veterans Service held its annual Veterans Day ceremony as scheduled Monday. With this year’s theme being Support of the Veteran, plenty of Palomar students and staff showed up to the event to pay homage to those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for freedom. Ryan Williams, Veterans Services coordinator, opened up the ceremony and talked about the support the school has given him and his fellow veterans. “It’s not just something they say on Veteran’s Day or in back office meetings; Palomar really does put their word to the pavement and lives true to that,” Williams said. Guest speakers for the event were
Sid Matlock, Lindsay Kretchman and Tony Teravainen. Matlock, who served four years in the Marine Corps, is currently attending Palomar as a child development major, and is president of the Child Development Club. Kretchman works in the Office of Student Affairs and is married to a Marine veteran. Teravainen, who served in the Navy for eight years as a submarine engineering supervisor, is now president and CEO of the Support the Enlisted Project, which helps veterans as they try to adjust to life during and after their Armed Forces careers. His speech was very personal, bringing up his father’s struggles as he transitioned from life as a Marine, as well as his own. However, throughout his speech, he kept it positive, making sure people understood how thankful he was to the Armed Forces. “No matter how much it sucked
at the time, my submarine days were my best days,” Teravainen said. After the speeches, the music department struck a gong 33 times, one for each name on the school’s Veteran’s Memorial. Traditionally, the clock tower bells would sound, but due to the power outage, organizers of the event were forced to improvise. One of the veterans who attended the event, Etheridge James, said he is thankful for the support he gets from the school and Veterans Services, and said he hopes this event serves as a call to arms for non-veterans. James, who served 11 years in the Navy (eight in active duty), said that “we need to do this so that the future people of the next generation look at how we treat our veterans today ... and by seeing this they would hopefully be more willing to volunteer to join the military.” CBULLOCK@THE-TELESCOPE.COM
NEWS • 3
the-telescope.com
Palomar College inhaling new e-cigarette policy THE TELESCOPE
On campus there seems to be some muddiness regarding the nosmoking policy, the usage of electronic cigarettes, also known as ecigarettes. According to Adrian Gonzales, assistant superintendent and vice president of Student Services, the current policy does not include the use of e-cigarettes but that may change. Policy dialect changes have been considered, however Gonzales stated that Palomar wants to stay in alignment with the city of San Marcos. On Oct. 28 at the San Marcos City Council meeting, an ordinance was adopted to ban the use of e-cigarettes in public places. This ordinance will become effective on Nov. 28, 2014. In order to include e-cigarettes in the current policy at Palomar the issue must be reviewed and approved by first the Policies and Procedures Committee, then the College’s Strategic Planning Council and then to Palomar’s Governing Board. “We do have plans to move the discussion forward,” Gonzales said. “In fact the non-smoking policy is on the agenda for the next committee meeting.” Although Gonzales anticipates it may be sometime during the Spring term before a final decision is made. The current campus policy states: “There shall be no smoking or use of tobacco-related products on Palomar Community College District property. The District shall provide and maintain a workplace and learning environment that is smoke and tobacco-free to promote the safety and health of students, employees, and the public.” Until a change in the current policy is made regarding e-cigarettes a citation cannot be issued to students for the use of e-cigarettes on campus.
“Often times when I’ve seen groups of students, it’s typically one or two people smoking, not the entire group,” Gonzales said. “If we can encourage our peers to remind each other ‘hey, you really shouldn’t do that on campus’, hopefully we can reduce the number of students that violate that policy.” If students choose to ignore the current policy and continue to smoke on campus the next stage would be to institute a fine. Gonzales said they are approaching that issue delicately. He is very reluctant about adding a monetary fine, not wanting to add to their financial burden, but to assure a safe, healthy environment a fine may be the next step. According to Gonzales, a campaign is in place to discourage smoking on campus. The campus police have been handing out more citations in problem areas, and signage also has been increased to encourage compliance. Associated Student Government President Jason Hosfield said via email that enforcement on campus is still an issue with both traditional and non-traditional tobacco consumption. When it comes to the use of ecigarettes, the lines become blurred when discussing the risks versus benefits to the smoker and to the public. Some students do see it as a positive alternative to using regular cigarettes. According to Edward Neumeister, a student at Palomar and an ecigarette smoker, said “It’s a healthy transition to getting off cigarettes.” A nonsmoker agreed it is better than traditional cigarettes. “The odor is different, not as uncomfortable as regular cigarettes,” said Carmen Perez, a dental technician student at Palomar and a nonsmoker. A recent study was conducted and reported in the July 31, 2014 edition of the journal Addiction.
The study was a review of electronic cigarettes content, safety, effects on smokers, and the potential for harm and benefits. The conclusion of the study states that regulating e-cigarettes as strictly as cigarettes is not warranted based on the current evidence. They encourage health professionals to consider recommending e-cigarettes as an alternative to
smoking and a “possible pathway to complete cessation of nicotine use”. E-cigarettes are marketed as an alternative, but some view “vaping” as a way to circumvent smoke-free laws by enabling users to smoke anywhere. Non-smokers are still bothered by the vapors, even though they evaporate quickly. Lenka Schanka, staff assistant at Health Services, said there is a
smoking cessation program available at the Health Center to help students quit smoking. The use of e-cigarettes is not offered as an alternative or encouraged, rather, nicotine patches are provided at a minimal charge and nicotine gum is provided at no expense to the student. FMENEZES@THE-TELESCOPE.COM
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4 • A&E
Monday, Nov. 17, 2014
Palomar celebrates Day of the Dead Top: Day of the Dead altars are often decorated with sugar skulls and small mementos of the deceased.
Bottom Left: Decorations from Palomar Colleges Day of the Dead celebration, Nov. 5, 2014.
Left: Nine-year-old Berenyce Salgado of the Grupo Azteca Yoloti has performed at Palomar College’s Day of the Dead celebration two years in a row, Nov. 5, 2014.
Bottom Right: Edgar Godoy gets his face painted during the Day of the Dead festivities at Palomar College, Nov. 5, 2014.
Photos by Angela Marie Samora/The Telescope
A&E • 5
the-telescope.com
Churchill’s Pub hosts Beer Week in San Marcos STEVEN BURIEK THE TELESCOPE
As Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, winner of the Noble Prize in literature, and one of the greatest wartime time leaders in the 1920s, Winston Churchill is revered for his momentous words and actions. If you ride down San Marcos Boulevard by Restaurant Row, you will see a glamorous pop-art mural of the man himself by artist “Tez.” Churchill crusades as the mascot and inspiration behind hot spot pub in San Marcos, Churchill’s Pub & Grill. Ivon Derezin, beer aficionado and owner of Churchill’s, said he was inspired by English pubs in the U.K. and wanted to bring a re-creation of that old pub-feel and décor to San Marcos. Atmosphere adheres to customers young and old who are transported and given a taste of England in this “public house.” It taps not only over 50 craft beers from around the world, but excellent food and fresh kitchen fare provided by head chef Ryan Adams. “All things being equal, atmosphere is really what really makes Churchill’s stand head over heels over our competition.” said Derezin. For those who look for a purely craft-beer-serving location, Churchill’s is a prime location for the true beer connoisseur. Joseph Lianas, a beer distributor for Churchill’s, informed The Telescope that when Churchill’s opened 10 years ago, it was open to domestic beers. However, soon afterward, the owners decided that they would not fall victim to the monolithic outreach of Anhueser-Busch and its outpour of domestics, Budweiser, Coors and Miller were eliminated. Now, Churchill’s stands as a strictly craft beer serving location. Churchill’s recognized the benefit of craft beer dominance having only the desire to supply beers of a higher standard fitting into their preference and tastes, the atmosphere in the pub is defined in accord with the brews they provide. This pub can fit over 100 people in the outer area with blazing bon-
Tony Dowson (left), Richard Burhouse (middle), head brewer of Magic Rock and co-owner Jonathan Shoefelt (right) aka “the engineer” • Steven Buriek/The Telescope
from overseas Magic Rock Brewing Company. Head Brewer Richard Burhouse and Jonathan Shoefelt,“The Engineer,” spoke with The Telescope “Always remember that while enjoying the fruits of labor of fellow brewers and beer-lovers alike. I have taken more out of “It’s old, and it has a wide variety of alcohol than alcohol has demographics.” Rose Algove, 23, said. taken out of Me.” The connection between Churchill’s and Magic Rock was born WINSTON CHURCHILL three years ago. The media exposure coupled with an unlikely meet where Tony Dowson, fires next to a mural of Churchill, in- a bartender at Churchill’s and fellow side English décor coupled with old Englishman from Skipton, recogwooden tables, pool, darts and dim nized Richard Burhouse in neighborlighting. Lots of mirrors provide good ing brewery, Lost Abbey. It created a accommodation to frequent drinkers, business opportunity for Churchill’s to reflecting ones’ face to view affects of showcase Magic Rocks fantastic brews intoxication, reminding one to not get for 2014 Beer Week. too carried away. “I found them on Twitter. Social 11 days, 11 breweries and 11 events, media is everything.” Burhouse Churchill’s kick-started notorious Beer said. Week a day earlier than the rest of Ranging from over five different North County to accommodate guests beers on tap from Magic Rock, these
beers were kegged and shipped overseas for Beer Week. The Bourbon Barrel Bearded Lady came highly recommended. A taste from the Imperial Stout, dark, robust with rich coffee notes, vinous berry flavors and a subtly soft spicy hop profile, solidified my reasoning behind choosing craft beer over all others. “It’s aged in Sherry barrels, you will never see this in the U.S. again.” Burhouse said. These seasoned Magic Rock brewers shared enthusiastically and abundantly the knowledge behind their brewing science during the stay, with many kinks and processes in their brewing trade. “We are bringing an American twist to U.K. beers.” Shoefelt said. Lianas, 33, an employee of three years starting as a bouncer and now assisting with the distribution of craft beers, gave insight to the popularity of Churchill’s in the brewing world and
how sought after connection’s with this pub is cherished. “We don’t usually ask them for their beers, they come to us.” Lianas said. Jon Avella, 34, and the general manager of Churchill’s spoke with The Telescope on why the location of San Marcos was chosen. “San Marcos was deemed the best beer location two years ago. It’s right by big colleges, Restaurant Row, off the coast but not totally inland.” Avella said. Not only is it in a prime location; Churchill’s was voted Best Bar of North County in the Sign On San Diego’s readers poll in 2006. Beer week will continue for Churchill’s until the 16th of November continuing to supply many more interesting and outstanding beers flooding in from renowned breweries locally and around the world. SBURIEK@THE-TELESCOPE.COM
Danny Holt performs during Concert Hour MEG BUBAK THE TELESCOPE
On Nov. 6, modern pianist Danny Holt came to perform at Palomar College. Holt performed Mozart’s Sonata in F Major, Mendelssohn’s Variations se ‘rieuses and multiple other pieces. He is well known for his energy and his enthusiasm to bring new life to classical music. This is the second time this year Holt has performed at the San Marcos campus. The first time was with Steven Vanhauwaert as an energetic duo called 4handsLA. They played on Feb. 20 at the Howard Brubeck Theatre where the pair performed
Igor Stravinsky’s “Rite of Spring”. This time, Holt performed alone in the performance lab. Along with several classical compositions, he also played a selection on contemporary pieces composed by Mike Garson. Garson is another pianist based out of Los Angeles who is famous for working with David Bowie and other rock stars. The next Concert Hour is the Electronic Music Ensemble with students from Palomar playing some of their own compositions. The performance will be hels at the Performance Lab on Nov. 20 from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. MBUBAK@THE-TELESCOPE.COM
Danny Holt plays the piano at Palomar College on the San Marcos campus in the Performance Lab on Nov. 6 • Adam Haas/The Telescope
6 • OPINION
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U.N. needs to pitch in to fight ISIS SEAN HORGAN THE TELESCOPE
the telescope
Focused On Palomar Monday, Nov. 17, 2014 Vol. 68, No. 6 Palomar College, San Marcos, Calif.
SUSAN WHALEY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF MIKE PETERSON OPINION EDITOR MEGAN BUBAK A&E EDITOR CHRISTOPHER BULLOCK SPORTS EDITOR EMILY RODRIGUEZ ONLINE EDITOR BRIAN O’MALLEY PHOTO EDITOR ERIN HIRO ADVISER DEB HELLMAN BUSINESS MANAGER STAFF WRITERS MIKE ADAMS, LEAH BAENA, HANNAH BARKER, STEVEN BURIEK, BROOKE CRAWFORD, CHRISTIAN GAXIOLA, SEAN HORGAN, KIRK MATTU, FERN MENEZES, GERALD TOVAR, HAYLEY ULLE PHOTOGRAPHERS MARCELA ALAUIE, HARIM ARJON, EVAN CAST, CASEY COUSINS, DIRK CALLUM, JOSEPH DAVIS, CERISSA FARIN, PHILIP FARRY, ADAM HAAS, MEREDITH JAMES, PAUL NELSON, ANGELA MARIE SAMORA, ERIKA SHASKY, JUSTIN SUMSTINE, GARY WEST, YOSHIKAZU YAMASHITA ADDRESS THE TELESCOPE PALOMAR COLLEGE 1140 W. MISSION ROAD, SAN MARCOS, CA 92069 PHONE / 760-891-7865 NEWSROOM / H-103 WEBSITE/ WWW.THE-TELESCOPE.COM FACEBOOK/ SEARCH “THE TELESCOPE” TWITTER/ @TELESCOPENEWS EMAIL/ EDITOR@THE-TELESCOPE.COM AD EMAIL/ ADS@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 RECEIVED ONE WEEK PRIOR TO THE NEWSPAPER’S PUBLICATION TO BE CONSIDERED FOR INCLUSION. THE TELESCOPE IS PUBLISHED 8 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
Monday, Nov. 17, 2014
CALIFORNIA NEWSPAPER PUBLISHER’S ASSOCIATION
The international community must come together to fight off a tyrant that has been terrorizing the Middle East. The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, otherwise known as ISIS, has proven to be a massive threat to the Middle East and to the international community. For the past few months, the U.S. and its allies have been trying to combat the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq, but the militant group still remains at large in both countries. This is why the United Nations should have a more leading role than the U.S. in the war against ISIS. According to the Department of Defense’s website, airstrikes that were conducted by the U.S.-led coalition, has stopped ISIS’s large convoys while also deterring its members from congregating in large groups. While this is definitely great for the U.S. and all of the other countries fighting ISIS, the DOD also mentioned that stopping ISIS could possibly take years. The U.S. cannot afford to be engaged in combat with ISIS while it is trillions of dollars in debt. According to a 2013 article in Reuters, the Iraq War alone cost about $1.7 trillion with an additional $490 billion owed to Iraqi War veterans. These expenses could even exceed $6 trillion within the next four decades. If the U.S. were to deploy a massive amount of ground troops in Syria and Iraq, it would probably cost them trillions more. The U.S. wouldn’t have to spend as much money if the U.N. had a more prominent role in the conflict. Different countries around
Editorial cartoon by Drew Shenemen • MCT Campus
the world could provide financial support to the U.N.’s peace keeping force, which would relieve the amount of money that the U.S. would have to spend, and it gives the U.N. the resources that it would need to fight ISIS. In turn, the U.S. would have the opportunity to spend taxpayer money on domestic issues. Moreover, the money that the U.S. and its allies are spending to assist the Syrian rebels, the Kurdish forces and the Iraqi military will be wasted if there is no strong infrastructure. According to a 2014 Washington Post article, the infrastructure of the rebel group, dubbed the Free Syrian Army, has shown to be weak due to the fact that many of their members have surrendered or defected to al-Nusra, a Syrian extremist group linked
to Al-Qaeda. The Washington Post published another article in 2014 which described the Iraqi military’s retreat from the town of Hit in Iraq. The article went on to attribute many of the Iraqi military’s defeats to desertion, corruption and the absence of moral. The lack of structure is everpresent in many of the fighters that the U.S. is supporting. A strong U.N. defense force would have the manpower to adequately provide the Iraqi military, the Syrian rebels and the Kurdish rebels with recourses and reinforcement to combat ISIS. It would also help provide U.S. allies with the tools to build an infrastructure that they need before and after the conflict. Currently, the U.N. does not possess a strong defense force. Ac-
cording to the U.N.’s website, the U.N. has nearly 10,000 troops, with the U.S. only contributing 76 of them. Lack of funds is another problem that the U.N. faces. According an article on stimson.org, a “think tank” that helps find global solutions for global security challenges, the U.S. was $400 million short in funding for U.N. peacekeeping operations which hindered their ability to effectively achieve their goals for global security. The international community needs to allow the U.N. to have the ability to effectively raise the troops and funds that it needs from its members to have a more proactive role in global security challenges, such as the threat of ISIS. SHORGAN@THE-TELESCOPE.COM
Why you should learn a new language MIKE ADAMS THE TELESCOPE
¿Puedes leer esto? Could you read that? Did you understand it? If the answer is yes, it’s likely that you can grasp some of the Spanish language and are, at the very least, bilingual. The benefits to multilingualism are plentiful. The ability to communicate in multiple languages is a valued attribute when it comes to looking for jobs, especially in multicultural areas like Southern California. In addition to professional advantages, speaking a second language enhances you in both mental and social aspects. Being able to speak two languages can broaden the horizons of who you can communicate with, the cultures you’re exposed to and even strengthen the cognitive muscles in your brain. Despite these benefits, there is a controversy for promoting multilingualism in the United States, even though there is no official language in the country. In the 20th Century, the push against people learning more than one language was due to the fact that it was thought to interfere with the complete understand-
In addition to professional advantages, speaking a second language enhances you in both mental and social aspects. ing of one’s native language and thus hindered a person’s chance of success in their own society. Studies during this time showed that being able to think in different languages created a ‘cognitive overload’ that bogged down the brains functioning power, and linked bilingualism to a lower intelligence level. Most of the detractors to bilingualism seem to think that to promote the learning of a language in addition to English would detract from English itself. However, in this current century, these studies have since been discredited, due to the fact that they did not create an equal testing environment for monolingual and
bilingual students, often failing to take the socioeconomic factors into consideration. Ellen Bialystok, a professor of psychology at York University in Toronto, conducted research that found that having the capacity to process different languages actually improves multitasking skills. Further testing by Bialystok and her colleagues also found that bilingualism can help combat and delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease later in life, as it helps how your executive control system handles and reacts to the need for quick decision making. As it stands now, according to the National Center for Educational Statistics, 21 percent of school-aged children speak a language other than English at home. That number of bilingual speakers is projected to increase in the coming years. Living in a state like California, you’ll often see or hear languages other than English as you go about your day. The drawback of being monolingual is that you are not able to understand what is said or written in other languages, and that can create a confusion that can lead to
misunderstandings and poor communication between you and your classmates or coworkers. Being bilingual is an easy remedy to those problems, as it serves to expand the range of people available to interact with. This gives one the advantage when looking to add friends to their social circle, and can make them stand out as a candidate when searching for a job. As technology improves the globalization of business, employers are looking for versatile employees capable of working in different languages. In the end, what is the reasoning against learning a language to supplement the one you already know? While the majority of Americans know how to converse fluently in English, the benefits of bilingualism outweigh any added strain or effort that learning a language could incur. Speaking more than one language introduces you as a citizen of this newly globalized world, and the opportunities that are offered to bilingual speakers are too numerous and beneficial to pass up. Ahora, ¿qué esperan? MADAMS@THE-TELESCOPE.COM
OPINION • 7
the-telescope.com
‘All About That Bass’ needs some more treble EMILY RODRIGUEZ THE TELESCOPE
If you’ve listened to the radio recently, you’ve most likely heard Meghan Trainor’s song “All About That Bass.” It’s a catchy tune with a retro vibe that helped it reached No. 1 on Billboard. It’s also received immense praise for sending a positive message to girls about body love. If you actually pay attention to Trainor’s lyrics, though, you’ll realize there’s hardly anything uplifting about them. Let’s start from the top. So the song begins with a catchy chorus and a du-wop-inspired sound with the lyrics “Because you know I’m all about that bass, ‘bout that bass, no treble,” repeated several times, which sounds like jargon for a bias against skinny girls and for big girls. But the purpose of Trainor’s song is supposed to be to promote selflove. While it’s doing that for some women, it’s doing the exact opposite for other women. It’s encouraging thicker women to embrace their curves and at the same time, making girls who aren’t curvy feel bad about themselves because they don’t belong to the group of women who have a little more to love. Trainor is being lauded for her crusade against non-curvy women, singing lyrics like “I’m bringin’ booty back, so go ahead and tell them skinny bitches that.” With the popularity Trainor has gained and the tremendous influence the media has on adolescents, this kind of song has the power to convince listeners that all skinny girls are indeed ignorant, conceited bitches. But that’s not the case. Is working out, eating healthy and wearing makeup a sign that someone is stuck up or rude? That’s like questioning whether everyone who eats junk and lacks a fitness routine is nice. The answer is an obvious no.
(It) just doesn’t make sense if she’s putting down one group of girls down to make another bunch feel confident.
Photo courtesy of Epic Records.
There is so much pressure in today’s society to be thin and pretty that it’s not surprising to see faces transformed through plastic surgery and people undergoing rigorous diets. Then the battle becomes shaking off the negativity that comes from trying to boost one’s confidence. Furthermore, there seems to be a belief that only big people get teased about their weight. Artists sing songs in regards to this, it gets praised by many people and it even becomes OK to call thin girls ‘skin-
ny bitches’ like they’re evil creatures who are to be hated on because they work hard for (or just naturally have) slim bodies. But what happens to bulimia, anorexia and the skinny kids who also get their share of bullying? Does that all suddenly become nonexistent? I, personally, was teased as a kid for being too skinny. My mom had a hard time finding clothes that fit me well. I was a very active child and I happened to prefer fruits and vegetables over the other junk that was
available. As a result of this, I was called names like ‘stick,’ ‘twig,’ and ‘skeleton.’ I’d go home from school and eat spoonfuls of peanut butter straight from the jar even though I hated the stuff because I wanted to have a ‘normal body’ and stop from being teased. So I’m all for Trainor trying to encourage thick women to love the bodies they live in, but does she really have to put thin girls down to do so? Think about it this way – if you
write a song bragging about having “all the right junk in all the right places” that “all the boys chase” and “bringing booty back,” that means you’re happy and confident with the body you have. But when you try to put the girls who don’t have this ‘junk’ and ‘booty’ down, that’s a bigger sign of insecurity and envy than it is confidence. But God forbid an artist like Katy Perry or Taylor Swift write a song replacing the word ‘skinny’ in ‘skinny bitches’ with ‘fat’ because they’d be viewed as ignorant, selfish and judgmental people. So why is Trainor receiving so much praise for doing it? And not only is the shade Trainor throws at skinny girls questionable, the affirmation she is trying to give girls is pretty ridiculous. Take these lyrics for example: “Yeah my momma she told me don’t worry about your size. She said boys like a little more booty to hold at night.” So girls should seek validation from men to feel confident about their bodies? It’s great that Trainor is defying Hollywood’s standard of beauty but performing a song encouraging girls to be confident in their bodies just doesn’t make sense if she’s putting one group of girls down to make another bunch feel confident. Dear Meghan Trainor, how about being all about that bass and that treble? ERODRIGUEZ@THE-TELESCOPE.COM
SPEAKOUT
This holiday season, what are you thankful for?
“I’m thankful for our local government, because of the opportunities I’ve had with school and health. I’ve been able to use a lot of different resources this year, like Medicare and FAFSA, and I’m really grateful for the things we’ve put in place as a community, I think its just great.”
DANTE ROUSH
“I’m thankful for basically coming here to Palomar, I’m the first kid out of my family to go to college and I enjoy it.”
“I’m thankful for my family, and I’m thankful for having a job, and just for all the people who have helped me.”
“I’m thankful for my family and my friends, and I’m grateful that (they) support me with everything, and I’m grateful for life.”
BRANDON ANDERSON
RABEKA KADEL
DAISY MEDINA
“I’m just thankful for humanity, I mean, people are just the best thing that ever happened, but they can also be the worst thing that ever happened, so I’m thankful for people and I love people.”
IVAN GUTIEREZ
8 • SPORTS
Monday, Nov. 17, 2014
From sinking ship to kings of the swimming pool CHRISTOPHER BULLOCK THE TELESCOPE
As famous rapper Drake said in his song “Started From The Bottom,” the Comets men’s water polo team started from the bottom, and now “they’re here” on top. After suffering through a 2013 season in which they tied for fourth in the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference, the team grouped together to post a 19-8 record (7-3 conference) and claim the PCAC championship. Chad Aronen, in his second season as head coach, said he has seen a big difference in his sophomore season, and credited it to the eight returning members from last season. “The returners already understand there’s a big jump between high school and junior college water polo,” Aronen said. “They know the difference, they’ve already had the experience and they’re passing it on to the freshmen.” One of those returning players, utility player Rich Farley, has been a guiding force for the championship team, Aronen said. Farley, who is currently being recruited by University of California San Diego, said that the team gets along a lot more compared to last season, when most of the team were freshmen. “The compatibility of the team is a lot different than it was last year,” Farley said. “It’s easier to work with other people who are here to push themselves and succeed.” The team finished their regular season on an eight-game winning streak. Starting with a win against Riverside City College at the 10th annual RCC Mini-Tournament, the team then won four straight to claim first place at the Saddleback Tournament. The last two wins, coming against San Diego Mesa and last season’s
Members of the men’s water polo team taking a dive during practice at Wallace Memorial Pool Nov. 10. The team went 19-8 to win the PCAC title. • Casey Cousins/The Telescope
PCAC champion Grossmont, turned out to be the most important. Not only did Palomar clinch the PCAC championship, the players have also secured a spot at the SoCal regional tournament. The team, currently ranked 13th in California out of 76 community colleges (sixth in Southern California), owes a lot of its success to its recruiting. Freshman starting goalie Ryan Lozano, a product of Vista High School, said that Palomar’s past suc-
cess was a huge factor in why he came to the school. “I think that they have one of the strongest upcoming programs, getting the best players from a lot of the local schools,” Lozano said. With 12 of the 20 members being freshman, the squad has had its share of struggles this season, but Coach Aronen said he feels they have done a great job contributing to the team’s success. “The new freshmen are doing the
best they can, following the sophomores’ lead, and some are even exceeding expectation,” Aronen said. Sophomore Kody Moffatt, a utility player, echoed the coach’s sentiments when it came to how he felt about the growth of the freshmen. “I think there’s been constant improvement throughout the season,” Moffatt said, while adding that it’s been three years since he’s been in the pool himself. The true test for this team will be
Women’s golf prides itself on winning mentality MIKE ADAMS THE TELESCOPE
Since it’s creation in 2006, Palomar’s women’s golf team has been a powerhouse in the Orange Empire Conference (OEC). Winning five of the last six conference championships and the 2011 state tournament, the winning mentality that’s implemented by storied Palomar coach Mark Eldridge and his staff helps the golfers acclimate quickly to the collegiate level. “We’ve been fortunate to have very talented players who combine their ability with a willingness to work to get better,” Assistant Coach Mark Halda said. Palomar finished third in the OEC regular season standings, qualifying for the California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) State Championships held later this month. Since early September the team has played two matches per week on Mondays and Wednesdays while practicing every Tuesday and Thursday. Having the opportunity to play in a program such as Palomar attracts golfers from local high schools and across the region to come to the school. Alumni from previous seasons such as Vanessa Honnes, who was part of last year’s conference championship team,
Sophomore Jessica Campbell • Meredith James/The Telescope
now plays at Cal State Fullerton and has been able to move onto the next level after gaining valuable experience at Palomar. That is what drew in players such as sophomore Jessica Campbell. “(Before coming to Palomar) I played on my high school team and started talking to Coach Eldridge,” Campbell said. “I was really interested in this program and the great history that this team has.” Coming to Palomar from Chaparral High School in Temecula, Campbell has aspirations of continuing her collegiate golfing career at a four-year university. A three-sport athlete in college
himself, Eldridge has been involved in the athletic department at Palomar for more than 30 years and has been the golf team’s only head coach. For his time as the Comet’s softball coach, he was inducted into the National Fastpitch Coaches Hall of Fame. Along with assistant coaches Mark Halda and Jonathan Fleming, both former college athletes as well, the three work with the team to continue Palomar’s winning tradition. “It’s a great experience (playing for these coaches), they’ve taught us a lot of skills and techniques to use on the golf course,” said freshman Deanna Bird, who also has hopes of playing at a four-year university while working to become a dental assistant. A big point that the coaches stress is controlling the golf ball and having the team focusing in practice the same way they would in a match scenario. Visualizing a practice green the same way they would an 18th hole prepares the squad for the inevitable high pressure situations so often seen in golf. Playing at different courses around Southern California, the golfers must learn how to play the different course styles and sizes. “Our team captains have us stay focused, we always have team meetings and texts to keep our minds off bad
things and have good vibes when we go into a match,” Bird said. The mental side of the game can be, much like other sports, a key factor in winning or losing matches. “That’s probably the hardest thing at this level is when something bad happens ... how do you deal with it,” Halda said. “If you’re able to put it all aside and just focus on your game then good things will happen.” Even though they play individually, members of the golf team work together to provide support and competition. The camaraderie the team exhibits has been important in getting through the long season. At various moments each member of the team has had to step up and deliver a crucial shot or putt. “It’s nice. If you happen to hit a bad shot you don’t worry about it because you know the team is behind you and they always have your back,” Campbell said. With the CCCAA state championships being held in Morro Bay on Nov. 17-18, the squad is confident that they’ll continue the program’s success and replicate their 2011 campaign. “I think we’re gonna beat everyone,” Bird said. MADAMS@THE-TELESCOPE.COM
the SoCal regionals, where they will be facing third-ranked Los Angeles Valley College in the opening round. Moffatt, who will be attending Azusa Pacific in the Spring to earn his master’s degree in physical education, said he feels confident in the team’s chances to further succeed. “All around, I think we’ve kinda left the valley and we’re heading to the mountaintop,” Moffatt said. CBULLOCK@THE-TELESCOPE.COM
PALOMAR COLLEGE SPORTS ON THE GO
The ‘Jessicas’ run their way to state
The Comets’ cross country team will be represented at the California Community College Athletic Association’s State Championships in late November by two Jessicas. Palomar College’s Jessica Steinhoff and Jessica Betancourt, from the women’s cross country team, both qualified for the state meet after placing in the top 100 in the Southern California regional meet on Nov. 7. Steinhoff and Betancourt, the team’s two top runners, placed 16th and 80th respectively in the 177-runner women’s race, with times of 18:59 and 20:38. Matt Bellah, the men’s top runner, finished with a time of 22:28, good enough for a 115th place finish out of 207 runners. None of the men qualified for the state meet. The CCCAA State Championships will be held on Friday, Nov. 21 at Woodward Park in Fresno. COMPILED BY CHRISTOPHER BULLOCK.