ELESCOPE Friday, March 20, 1992
Palomar Community College, 1140 West Mission Road, San Marcos CA 92069-1487
Volume 45, Number 19
·Jesse Jackson addresses student leaders Student Government members attend Washington, D.C. conference By Mark Wiberg News Editor Three Palomar student representatives and their adviser recently met and listened to Rev. Jesse Jackson, at the annual USSA conference in Washington D.C. in
March. Associated Student Government President Paul Raineri, Senators Denny Ngo,Robert Jenkins and ASG adviser Jim Bowen attended the speech given by Jackson to kick off National Student Lobby Day. According to Jenkins, Jackson spoke to the students from around the nation's colleges and universities to stress the importance of student voter registration. Jenkins said Jackson talked of
visiting campuses nationwide to promote the influences tudents can have on legislation. "I have his number," Jenkins said. ''I'm going to coordinate with community colleges and universities in this area to bring Jesse Jackson here." Jenkins said he hopes this will encourage and make it easy for Jackson to visit San Diego County campuses. Jackson was first of several speakers on the issue of student voter registration and lobbying. "We met up there," Jenkins said, "went to workshops. They taught us how to lobby effectively." Senator N go said the conference was worthwhile. "The USSA is a very strong organization that not only represents four-year universities, but all schools."
Crucial issues discussed at capitol conference By Kathy Combs Contributing Writer
MENDING FENCES Rusty Low (foreground) and Rodrigo TeDes of Frontier Fencinginstan ac:hain•tinkfence at parking lot 8 on March 11. The fencing was put up along sections of Comet Circle to keep students from
jaywalking across the road, according to Mike Ellis of Facilities. The project came about after a near-fatal acddent when a student crawled under a railing and was almost hit by a car, Ellis said.
Transit Center moving slowly Editor's note: This is the last installment in a three-part series about planned construction projects at Palomar College. By Roman S. Koenig Editor-in-Chief According to an official with the San Diego County Transit District, the process to begin construction of a transit center on campus has _ been less than speedy. Steve Ron, senior transportation specialist for the Transit District, ·said the long wait for the center resulted from the death of the project's architect nearly two years ago and a three-step approval process by the Office of State Architect. "The third (step of approval) is supposed to be completed this month, but we've heard that from them before," said Ron. The first
J. OST IN J..IMIIO? two steps were approved in January, he said. The third step involves approval of the building structure. After that process is completed, Ron said it will take about three months to make any changes in design as prescribed by the Office of State Architect and advertise for a contractor to construct the building. Ron said construction could start this summer and take a year to complete. Plans for the estimated $1.5 million transit center call for four bus bays and a drop-off for the disabled in front of the theater. The entrance of the college would also be moved east with a new stoplight installed at the intersection of
Mission Road and the entrance. Ron said initial planning for the project began back in 1982, when a study of five area cities was conducted to determine where a transit center could best be located. San Marcos was chosen. The project was dormant until 1985, when planning began in earnest, he said. Then the setbacks occurred. "There was not much we could've done," he said about the college's and the Transit District's efforts to work around the setbacks. "We all tried." Last September, Palomar President/Superintendent Dr. George Boggs said the long wait for the center was a lesson in patience. Ron indicated that the Transit District is optimistic about fmally getting the transit center project off and driving. "We're looking forward to it," he said.
Financial aid, budget cuts and reel tape were major issues for Palomar's representatives attending the annual United States StudentAssociation in Washington D.C. this month. According to President Bush's 1993 proposed budget, $9 5 million will be slashed from educational assistance programs affecting half a million students. Paul Raineri, president of the Associated Student Government attended the conference. "President Bush says he is the educational president," he said. "But tuition is increasing, classes are being cut,
and funding for fmancial aid is being cut or eliminated. Actions speak louder than words." Raineri and ASG senators, Robert Jenkins and Denny Ngo joined 600 students from community colleges and universities to express their views to Congress at the conference which was held March 3 through 6. One issue concerning the USSA was reduced funding for federally funded grants and loans. The association's position papers warned students attending the conference that budget cuts would eliminate Pell Grants for over 400,000 eligible recipients and another 140,000 students would • see ISSUES, page 3
In this issue 'Gladiator' no heavyweight Money wasted on flick that lacks punch Arts~ Entertainment/ Page9