Palomar College
Volume 35 No. 19
A Publication for the Associated Students
College not puzzling for 13 year old genius "I kind of thought that Alan might be a little special when he was putting together jig-saw puzzles of 50 to 60 pieces at the age of two. But then he was the first child, so I didn't have any one to compare him with." Todav Jean Comer is very a ware that her son is indeed a unique individual. Alan who attends Palomar as a freshman is only 13 years old. "Actually," explains Mrs. Comer, "he didn't do well in grade school. His grades would fluctuate between C's and A's. If the teacher was giving instruction in a n area that interested Alan he would excel, otherwise he would just complain about being bored." Alan, who moved from England six years ago, is in agreement with his mother's appraisal of the situation. "Unit] now I found my classes to be rather boring, so I never really excelled. I'd do my work when I wanted and then I'd generally get an A. Then I'd have to sit and wait for everybody else. It got so I just couldn't be bothered with it." It wasn't until the eighth grade that Alan's true potential was fully realized. After taking the Iowa State 'achievement test in October of 81, Alan was chosen to participate in the SAT test for the University of Arizona. When he scored 600 in math and 370 in English his mother was quick to react. " I showed the scores to one of the counselors at Palomar and then h e contacted the principal at the high school. Since Alan wasn't feeling challenged on the high school level, we decided that he should attend college for his math and computer science," says his mother. But explains Alan, "I'd much rather just stay in one place and not be going back and forth from one school to another." ¡. As far as the classes that he is currently enrolled in, the young freshman sees no problems. His classes include Astronomy I, Music 18, College Algebra, Psychology I, and beginning swimming. According to Alan, Psychology I takes up the majority of homework time. "Psychology usually takes a long time because I have to read all those chapters for the tests. His youthful personality comes bursting forth when he adds,"Yeech, it's sickening when you see pictures of this brain being cut up." Like any other student, Alan had his fears about starting college. "At first I was scared that I wouldn't pass the classes." Smiling broadly he continues, "I'm passing, but for the first time it's actually hard for me to get an A in math." Interacting with teachers hasn't been a problem for him. "The high school was worried about that and so were my parents. But after talking with the teachers here, my
Boehm Gallery has exhibition, art show A special exhibition and sale of original graphic art will be presented May 13 in the foyer of Boehm Gallery. Marson Graphics of Baltimore, Maryland, specializes in exhibiting for sale a distinguished collection of original etchings, ¡woodcuts, lithographs and serigraphs. Featured will be works by Chagall, Daumier, Fantin-Latour, Maillol, Rouault and Whistler. For further information, call Russell Baldwin, Boehm Gallery director, at 744-1150 or 727-7529
Alan Comer parents felt it would be alright." Fidgeting with his folder , Alan grimaces when h e admits that he is much more comfortable attending college than high school. "I don't know why but I don't always get along with kids my own age. It's hard. Normally I get along a little better with people older than me. It used to bother me, but now I really don't mind so much." Computers are obviously his real love. He speaks about them with the enthusiam that is usually reserved for baseball in other kids his age. "I have a computer at home that belongs to my mother. I play on it until she shuts me off." Programming games, especially adventures, is what really thrills Alan. With all the liveliness of any 13 year old he explains his goals. "I couldn't get into any computer classes this semester, but next semester that's what I want to take. I want to program games, and I've already started a space invaders game. Computers are really how I want to make a lot of money." With obvious excitement Alau continues on. "I have a radio license so I've made friends over it who like computers. It's fun because we can trade games over the radio. The radio Alan refers to is a small ham radio which his father, who designs radios, has encouraged him to take an interest in. Alan seems amazingly unaffected by his high IQ, dismissing it in a matter-of-fact way. "I don't mind it, but then I guess I just don't think about it too much." Being a bit ahead of his time can create problems. Getting to school is one. In all seriousness he declares, "I will have to wait for my mother to graduate first, because she is the one who drives me here." His mother, who is also attending Palomar laughs, then says, "The way things are going, it looks as if Alan will be ready for a university before he is ready for a driver's license." Becoming comfortable with people appears to be one difficulty that Alan will have to overcome. Vacillating between being a college freshman and a excitable 13 year old can be difficult. The young boy in him was quite visible when at the end of the interview a puppet show was being set up nearby. When the show started Alan was right in there with the other children and adults who had come to watch the show. Grinning with delight he remarked, "I guess this is one of tlie times when I really do fit in quite well ."
Friday, May 7, 1982
San Marcos,
Mayfair sponsors festivities for a II "Let your hair down and be a kid for a day ," says J . C. Lowery, coordinator for the Mayfair '82 celebration which began yesterday. Two more days of events will be presented by campus clubs and other student organizations. "Real kids are invited, as well as big people who just like to act like kids occasionally," Lowery emphasizes. The major event is a fashion/talent show tonight at 7 p.m. in the college Dome. Other events scheduled are relay races, exotic foods, live broadcasting, softball games, belly dances and more. Informational events, such as hypertension screening a nd biorhythm charts are also planned. The Fair will be open to the public at 11 a.m. on May 6 with a concluding dance in the evening on May 8. The annual extravaganza will include numerous contributions from various organizations and centers on campus. MEChA (Movlmiento Estudiantil Chicano de Astlan), plans food, arts
and crafts, and a lowrider display. The Latter Day Saints Student Association will hold relay races a nd feature various foods and a water dunking booth. The American Indian Organization will offer food, arts and crafts, a children's art display , and the Cahuella Birds dance group. There will be singers and peon games (oldtime Indian gambling games). KSM-99 radio' s master of ceremony will be roving about the campus during Mayfair broadcasting live happenings of this event. "If you don' t know about such games. as 'Jungle Board' and 'Bumper Pool'," said Lowery, "yo u may be surprised to find yourself throwing metal rings at coins on the table or shooting an eight ball with the cue ball between two bumpers." Other groups participating are the Black Student Alliance, featuring soul food; the Student Nurses Association with hypertension screening; the Women's Center with an art show/ sale and a saladbuilding contest; and the Ecology
Club will feature health food , juices, bumper stickers, and information on anti-nuclear weapons. The Language Department will feature a foreign language lab; the Child Develepment Center will present a puppet show; Graphic Communications will have free bookmarks, handouts and graphic communication information. For additional information about Mayfair, call 744-1150 or 727-7529, Ext. 2595.
Programs offered Students interested in finding out about National Universitis degree programs, are invited to drop by and visit with Caro l yn Hess, Academic/ Admissions Counselor for National University. Hess will be here May 13 from 2 to 6 p.m. in RTCB-1. For further information and assistance Hess can be contacted through the EOPS office, by calling 744 -11 50, Ext. 2234.
Patrons sponsor Spring sale Jazayer to play "Pink Elephants" have a way of emerging from the closets during spring cleaning. Old clothes, rarely used exercise equipment and that lamp that never was the right color seem to end up in a big pile with no place to go. Fortunately, the Patrons of Palomar have a home for these unwanted items. They will be conducting their annual Pink Elephant Sale May 13 and 14 in the dome and are in need of donations. Items should be taken to the main library on campus and marked with "For Patrons". To have larger donations picked up, call the chairman of the Pink Elephant sale, Phyllis Nimmo at 744-7822.Patrons is a non-profit organization, so all donations are tax deductible. To receive a receipt include a note with name, address and telephone number attached. "The Patrons will use the funds," explains Nimmo, "to benefit our scholarship program, and contribute funds to special campus activities, publications, campus beautification and assist wherever and whenever we can in the best interest of Palomar College."
This year the Patrons are including a booth featuring handmade handcraft of all kinds. People wi.th a hobby that they would like to share should contact Val Dis parte at 746-4484. A "Faculty Wives Bake Sale" table will also be available. Help will be needed with baked items . Contributions can be brought to the dome lobby before 8 a.m. on either day of the sale.
Art sale set for front fawn Varieties of planters, vases, dishes, mugs and other functional and non-functional art objects will be for sale beginning May 13. The sale is scheduled for three days, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursday, May 13; 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, May 14; and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 15. Sponsored by the college art guild, the sale will contain more than 2,000 original pieces including ceramics and glass.
classical music Classical music of the Middle East will be presented by the group J AZA YER May 8, at 8 p.m. in the Palomar College Theatre. Composed of musicians and musician-dancers , Jazayer emphasizes the traditional music of Egypt, Turkey, Armenia and other countries of the Middle East, in addition to the urban style Middle Eastern dance, better known as "harem" or "belly" dance. The troupe has performed extensively in the San Francisco Bay Area, and has toured Hawaii and the Pacific Northwest. Admission is $4 general and $2.50 for students and seniors. Tickets are available in advance from the theatre box office or at the door on the day of the performance. The box office hours are 2-5 p.m. each week day and one hour prior to the performance. For further information please phone the music department, Ext. 2317.
Telescope takes five awards Competing against 64 colleges and over 680 students, the Telesc;pe walked away with two staff and three individual awards at the twenty-fifth annual Journalism Association of Community Colleges (JACC) convention held in Fresno. The Telescope sent six delegates to the convention which lasted three days. Those attending were Andy Wright, Branden See, Roland de Beque,Mike Pedretti, Betty Hollman and instructor Fred Wilhelm. The Telescope received a fourth place in the state in the general excellence category for large college newspapers, this category combimes scores from six categories; news, feature, and sports writing, layout and design, photography and headline writing. In these categories the Telescope received three "excellents" and three "Goods"
citations. The judges who were editors and reporters for the San Jose MercuryNews commented that the Telescope "Was well written and covered highlights with good variety." The other staff award came when the Telescope was presented a fifth place award for headline writing in the state. "I am extremely pleased with our showing, especially since we were competing against large schools," commented Andy Wright, the current Editor-in-Chief. Another highlight came when Roland de Beque brought home the first place trophy for on the spot layout and design in which over 80 people were entered. Other individual awards went to Hollman, seventh place in feature
writing and Wright who placed eighth in editorial writing. By being classified as a large school, Palomar had to compete against such large schools as Pasadena, Long Beach Pierce and Los Angeles Community Colleges. The Telescope, which recently underwent major changes in layout and design, plans to make more changes beginning next year. "We have a few more ideas on the drawing table, but to initiate these ideas we need more staff members. If we can get people to sign-up, we can really move even further up being number one is within our reach," said Wright. "The staff is to be commended for the awards . They indicate that our journalists are continuing a tradition of excellence," said Wilhelm.