A Month of Culture
Palotnar at 45 -
Palomar College celebrates Afrikan-American History Month in February Lifestyle/page 9
Looking back on Palomar College's first 45 years of history Special section inside
HE Friday, January 31, 1992
ELESCOPE
Palomar Community College, 1140 West Mission Road, San Marcos CA 92069-1487
Volume 45, Number 14
Resignations, ousters follow recall effort Johnson resigns presidential seat By Mike LaJoie Staff Writer Associated Student Government PresidentErik Johnson resigned from his position on Jan. 28 during Palomar's Governing Board meeting. Johnson's rt.;signation came as a surprise because at last week's Associated Student Government meeting, he had challenged the validity of a recall effort organized to oust him. Last November, Johnson and three other student officers were put on probation after beer cans were found in the ASG office. At the end oflastsemester, Honor Society President Darlene Schuck-Larimer petitioned to have the four officers positions recalled, and collected over 500 signatures. Less than 400 were needed to initiate a recall election.
Johnson drew sharp criticism from other student officers regarding his efforts to impede the recall~ charged Johnson was afraid to face the election. Despite his withdrawal from the ASG, Johnson said he intends to maintain an interest in the student government activities. ''I'm still going to stay involved in student politics and attend the meetings." "I thought it was better for everything that I resigned." he said after the meeting. Palomar President/Superintendent Dr. George Boggs said he thougfitJohnson might have tried to stay in his position. "I was surprised to hear he changed hts mind and resign~d," Boggs said after the meeting."I respect his decision, though. He had his decisions for doing that. He had other priorities to take care of." With Johnson's resignation, Paul Raineri succeeds his position as president.
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Remaining senators voted out By Mark Wiberg News Editor The Associated Student Government, under new president Paul Raineri, voted out tw<? of the four officers who were targeted by a student recall effort. ASG President Erik Johnson and Treasurer Anthony Montroy resigned earlier in the week. Citing a by-law from theASGconstitution, Raineri asked the senators to vote on whether senators "Lowell Kepics and Tom Turk
brought "discredit and disrespect" when caught with empty beer cans in the student government office. Johnson and Montroy were also involved and all were put on probation. A four to three vote in favor of removing them from office passed. "We should be, whenever possible, self regulating," Raineri said. He added that this Article 9, Section 6 by-law allowed the ASG to do just that. Turk called the vote "pretty drastic". Both Montroy and Turk were not happy â&#x20AC;˘ see VOTE, page 3
GregSkinner!Sta/!Photographer
Associated Student Government Vice-President Paul Raineri, left, is sworn in as president at Wednesday's ASG meeting by Senator Denny Ngo.
Owen's Peak, Palomar 'P' maY become history Students and community begin fight to save landmark By Roman S. Koenig Editor-in-Chief
Public Information Archives/Photo Courtesy
Students take a look back at the Palomar "P" on Owen's Peak after liming it in 1952. The top of the mountain and the college landmark may fall to development soon. ¡
A long-time Palomar College landmark may become part of history if the mountain it rests on succumbs to development, according to a former student official and the chairman of the San Marcos Land Conservancy. Both said this week that the Palomar "P" atop Owen's Peak may be replaced by homes if the property's owner decides to develop the area. Michael Slavinski, chairman of the San Marcos Land Conservancy, is looking to take a more conservative approach to saving the land. Former student senator Tom Turk wants to rail y students up port to preserve the landmark. "The timing's good," said Slavinski of the effort begun to save the land as open space.
"What we do is get involved in a project at the beginning stages before development is approved by the (San Marcos) city council," he said. Once the project gets to the city council and is approved, however, Slavinski said, options to preserve the land are limited._ According to Slavinski, a San Marcos resident since 1968, further action on the part of his group hinges on a response from the owners of the property, who have received a proposal concerning alternative uses of the land. "The land owners seem to be very responsive to us," he said. "But, of course, we can't come up with a plan until they give us a response and how much it's going to cost." The owner of the property, Gerrie Ryan, could not be reached for comment concerning possible development or preservation of the property. â&#x20AC;˘ see lllSTORY,page 3