The Telescope 33.07

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Creationist-Evolutionist debatedraws 1200 . By Nancy Leman "Scientific evidence supports the concept of special creation and contradicts the theory of evolution" was the premise debated November 7.

Twelve hundred people braved heavy rain to hear CreationistEvolutionist proponents defend their views in the Dome. Four debaters were given 30 minutes each to speak, followed by five minutes rebuttal, and then questions from the audience. Dr. Gary Parker, Professor of Biology at Christian Heritage College, led off with a challenge to evolution to explain the complex reactions between amino acidprotein molecules which form the "building blocks oflife." He cited the

complete organization within the cell and asked, "Is this the kind of relationship you would expect from time, chance and natural processes?" ·Parker claims there is natural reason for DNA and protein molecules to line up precisely as they do, except by "creative design and organization." Parker called the variations among species a problem for evolution because mutations, if left to chance, would be harmful to a specie's development, not helpful. Dr. Duane Gish, Associate Director of the Institute for Creation Research, continued the Creationist viewpoint by noting a scientific irony. When an arrowhead is found by a scientist, it is assumed to be created by human hands . Yet, when

looking at the Indian who made the arrowhead, the scientist says human existence is a matter of time and chance. Gish discounted the evolutionary view that an ordered universe emerged out of a chaotic void by citing the second law of thermodynamics. This physics law states that "order cannot come from disorder, that only further disorder can ensue from disorder." Gish claims , "to deny this is to deny your science." Dr. William Thwaites , Professor of Biology at SDSU, countered the Creationists by stating it would have taken one million generations for the animals and four humans whom the Bible said walked off the arc to repopulate the world if the

it was half bird , half reptile. Gish denied this , saying that since it had main flight feathers , that it was wholly a bird. Evolutionists claimed a record of evolution exists in the walls of the Grand Canyon, since it had to have been formed over a period of millions of years. Dr. Awbrey claimed the Bible's flood story could not stand up to the sedimentary findings . Gish , however, challenged any and all evolutionists to go to the walls of the Grand Canyon and dig out the transitional fossils that would document evolution, "because there aren't any." Awbrey claimed that the trees in the petrified forests could not have been carried by a flood or they would not have landed upright with soil on their roots . Gish contends that recent work by Dr. Harold ,Coffin shows that the trees didn't grow where they are found but were carried to this site by mud flows . Dr. Thwaites contended the Grand Canyon had to have been San M arcos, CA made and dried in layers over a period of millions of years . Dr. Parker countered this by mentioning th e Scablands in Washington which geologists had assumed to be millions of years in formation, and the fact that it was just discovered to have been made by a tremendous volume of water in about two days, probably during the ice age. During the rebuttal, Parker poked fun at scientific dating techniques telling a story about some clams that testing showed to be thousands of years old. They were, however, very much alive. Awbrey responded by pointing out the limestone and other materials forming th e clamshell a re very old. At the conclusion of the 3 1/2 hour debate, a TV news man folded his equipment, while photographers zipped up cameras and spectators unfolded from bleachers and folding chairs. Reactions to the presentation were mixed . Only time will tell how many minds were changed or positions abandoned as a result of this debate.

genetic structure were at all like modern mans and animals. But this length of time, he said, is longer than the earth is thought to have existed. "All of the Creationist's evidence could just as well point to some technological society somewhere that just decided to create life," concluded Thwaites. . The last speaker, Dr. Frank Awbrey, SDSU Professor of Biology, claimed that layers of sediments in the Mediterranean Sea and the Grand Canyon show the earth must have dried out before other layers were added. If this were true , he continued, one large flood could not have been the cause of all sedimentation. He countered Gish's view that there are no transitional fossils by citing the Archeaoptryx, saying

THE TELESCOPE P alomar College

Volume 33 No. 7

A Publication for the Associat ed Students Friday, Nov. 16, 1 9 7 9

Paper plane contest set Alpha Eta Rho will sponsor the Red Baron Design Your Own Paper Airplane Contest on Tuesday, November 27 at12:30p.m. in front of the planetarium. Judges for the contest will include The Red Baron Mr. Gene Kropf, Dr. Kent Backart, Patti Kennedy , and Ca ndi Chamberlin . Entries may consist of any type of paper product, anything from notebook paper to corrugated cardboard is allowed. Glue, tape, string, felt pens, a nd paint may also be used . Prizes will be awarded in the following categories: Acrobatic- plane must be a ble to do any maneuver classified in the acrobatic category. Planes must also exceed six G's in maneuver. Best Design - create a new innovative design such as the Gossamer Condor, or the Concorde. Smallest Airplane - capable of straight and level flight of more than two feet. Largest Airplane - anything from a B-47 to anL1011. Design your own craft. Plane must be airborne for more than fiv e seconds. Best Powered Flight - propelled solely by the use of rubber bands longest flight wins. Most Original N arne - such as the Gossamer Condor, The Vari-Eze, etc. Best Paint Job- any color combination and/or design allowed. Entry in each category is fifty cents. Anyone is allowed to enter as m any times as they wish. Entry fees must be paid prior to the judging date to either Dr. Kent Backart in room ES-23, the Earth Science secretary in room ES-6, or to Candi Chamberlin, Alpha Eta Rho president. All proceeds go to h elp support the Palomar College Flight Team.

Relations worlcshop set by Women's Center For women who want to successfully leave their relationship, a workshop will be held November 29 from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. in room R-1. The workshop will begin with the decision to leave, how to begin, what to expect, and what to do. Other topics will include the right to make ch oices, th e r ejected male, emotional obstacles to leaving, strategies for leaving, how to solve money and career problems, legal points a n d help agencies. Lynette Trier will head the workshop which is free of charge. There will be an Open House December 5 from 10 a.m . to 2 p.m. in room R-1. Skits, music, information, and refreshments will be presented. For further information, contact the Women's Center at ext. 257.

Consumer hotline offers suggestions PROUD - Displaying trophies won at Biola and Pasadena tournaments are forensics team members (L to R) Coach Ray Dahlin, Michelle

Backer, Laurie Jones, Bruce Schuknecht, Ross Miyashiro, and Blake Hubbard. (Photo by Joe Abreu)

Holiday burnout program topic Homosexuality "Holiday Burnout : Prevention and Reduction " will be Dresented tomorrow at Allstate S~vings & Loan Association, 105 S. Rancho Santa Fe Road, San Marcos from 8:15a.m . to 4:30p.m. Specific areas will examine causes and effects of holiday burnout, a situational overstress. Specific ap-

LOCa l o rches tra ope ns season The Palomar College Community Orchestra, directed by Robert Gilson , opens its 1979/ 80 season with a concertoffamiliar, well-loved music by Mozart, Brahms and Dvork, in the new theatre. Performances will be Saturday, November 17 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, November 18 at 3 p.m. The Brahms Academic Fes tival Overture is a fantasy of German student songs, familiar to many concertgoers, as are the Dvork Slavonic Dance in G Minor and the New Wo rld Symphony. Mozart's Piano Concerto in E Flat offers a new twist in that there are two pianos. The soloists are Dorothy Roberts and James Weld. Other highlights of the season are a concert of Christmas Music on December 9 and a special children's concert on April 27. For ticket information and reservations , please call the Music Department at 744-1150 or 727-7529.

proaches and techniques will be offered to assist participants in devising appropriate strategies for preventing holiday burnout. Robert Pater, creator of "Relaxation Is More" Seminars, will instruct the workshop. Certificates will be awarded to confirm attendance. Community members and students are welcome to attend part or all of the program. Fees are $5 for Palomar College Students and senior citizens, $10 for community mem hers and $35 for health professionals (includes lunch and beverage). Lunch will be available to all others for $4. For further information contact Selma Zarakov, ext. 453.

Chamber Singers present concert in new theatre The 24-voice Palomar College Cham her Singers, directed by David Chase, will present a concert Wednesday, November 21 , at 8 p.m. in the new college theatre. The program will include music by Palestrina, Gluck and Billings with a variety of madrigals . A novelty item will be the Geographical Fugue by Ernest Toch, and the program will feature Mozart's R eginal Coeli with strings and woodwind ensemble. Admission to the concert is $2 to the general public, $1 for students and senior citizens.

myths explored No vember 2 8 Facts and Myths About Homosexuality will be the title of a workshop to be held November 28 from 3 to 5 p.m. in the Student Women's Center, Room R-1. The idea grew out of a group discussion regarding the fact that many people are curious about homosexuality, but are unable to deal with the feelings in a rational way because clear, open information in this area is inaccessible to most people. There will be a panel of four men a n d women from the San Diego Gay Center for Social Services. Topics will include the problems and pleasures of being Gay, discussion of the stereotypes society has placed on Gay people, and how these oppressive stereotypes conflict with their reality. There will be an open · discussion during the workshop and questions will be welcomed. Some instructors will be giving extra credit for attendance at this workshop . A written report will be required of the students seeking the extra credit. Students are advised to check with their instructor.

Pat Law is offering a "consumer hotline" in her Family Income Management class every Friday from 9-11 a.m. Students from the class will man the hotline to answer consumer and household questions. Law wants to stress that her students will attempt to answer all questions, although some answers may have to be researched and other questions referred to more appropriate agencies. A special referral source is to be developed for people needing legal advice. The consumer hotline will operate from Women's Programs, San Marcos Outreach Office, located at 245 N. Rancho Santa Fe Road, Suite 207, San Marcos, 744-6590. The hotline began November 2 from 9-lla.m. If preferred, personal interviews may be scheduled by phoning the above number.

INewsScope I Volunteers are needed to take part in an entertainment program which is to be part of Women's Programs Grand Open House Celebration on November 14. Anyone interested should come to theW omen's Center as soon as possible and speak with Ruby Lowe. Students from the Music and Art departments are especially encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity to display their artistic abilities. ·

*** Science fiction is the theme of a Science Fiction Fantasy Display in the main library through December. Books, magazines, and student works are being presented.


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