ELESCOPE Friday, April 23, 1993
Palomar Community College, 1140 West Mission Road, San Marcos CA 92069-1487
Volume 46, Number 19
Earth Day events fete environment By Bill Wisneski
Contributing Writer Palomar's fourth annual Earth Day exposed students to environmentally-sensitive bands, speakers and one lethargic llama this week. The festivities, held April 2122, marked the frrst time two days have been used for the celebrations. Twenty-three years after the first Earth Day, the event continued to play a vital role in increasing environmental awareness, according to an Earth Club member. "This year we had nine speakers, eight bands and 20 booths, far too many to encompass only one day," said Earth Club Vice President Devon Barlow. One controversial booth which attracted many students was operatedbyNORML, theNationalOrganization for the Reform ofMarijuanaLaws. 'The response was very posi-
tive. Over 100 people signed petitions for marijuana's decriminalization," said David Pilch, a NORML member. The booth offered free pamphlets about the medical uses of marijuana NORML members also handed out hemp rope, seeds and oil, which could be obtained for a small donation to NORML. Director of Student Activities Jim Bowen said; "Initially, I asked the hemp booth to leave campus, but was persuaded by their arguments of free speech." Most students agreed thatPalomar is becoming more environmentally-conscious, but some argued more could be done. 'The styrofoam in the cafeteria has got to go," said Earth Club Secretary/Treasurer Krystyne Turner. "It's incredibly harmful to the environment" Barlow said that the cafeteria switched to paper cups but then later returned to styrofoam. 'The cafeteria maintains that
Michael Bagsted/Sralf Photographer
Geoffrey, a 4-year-old llama, ''kisses" Racheal Barnes, an employee of the Child Development Center. The llama was popular among participants of all ages during the Earth Day festivities on April 21. the styrofoam can be recycled, but no recycling bins (for styrofoam) exist on campus," he said. A recent USA Today survey found 75 percent of Americans to considerthemselvestobeenviron-
mentally-conscious. However, critics charge that while many people think they care about the environment, the whole concept of Earth Day has become "trendy."
"Getting the information out is what is of importance," said Barlow. "People need to realize that the individual can make a difference in their own communities. If that's trendy, so be it"
ASG senators object to task force operation By Kathy Combs
Staff Writer Sparks flew over a proposal to add an ASG member to a Palomar task force at the Associated Student Goverment meeting April21. The task force STANDUP (Students and Teachers Actively Nurturing Diversity for Uniting Palomar) is aimed at raising the number of minorities on staff and faculty position on campus. The task force was formed earlier this month as part of an agreement between Palomar administrators and student protestors. The force includes students and faculty members. The measure submitted by ASG Senator Garrett Collins passed with a 7-3 vote with two abstentions. According to Collins the measure would insure that all groups are equally represented. "The ASG is the voice for the student body," Collins said. He noted that other minority groups such as gays, lesbians and veterans are not members of STANDUP. Although ASG members are already on the task force, Co_llins said they are only
representing historically under-represented groups, not the ASG. He warned that these groups may not be represented when new student officials are elected Collins also said that the Afrikan Amerikan Student Alliance and MEChA have 50 percent of the voting power. Robert Jenkins, vice president of social affairs, agreed to adding an advisory member, but he was against Collin's plan to add a full member who would be allowed to vote. 'The only person who can have understanding for historically under-represented groups is someone who has been historically under-represented," Jenkins said He also said the ASG had shown little support during the 11-day protest. "If the way to qualify (for the task force) is having to sit out in the protest we would have to remove faculty members," argued ASG President Lowell Kepics. "It's a gesture. We're asking for across- the-board fair treatment." "It's like saying only students who protest fee hikes should have their fees reduced," said Tom Anderson, vice president of state affairs.
Illegal actions disqualify ASG hopeful's campaign By Roger Fregoso
Staff Writer A candidate for next week's spring elections has been disqualified from running for president of Associated Student Government, the Election Committee announced April16. Presidential hopeful Mike Royce, a political science major and Latter-day Saints Student Association member, was barred from the election after the committee found sufficient evidence that he allegedly booked speaking engagements and campaigned too early.
TheASG bylaws reads that candidates may not campaign until two weeks prior to the elections. "It's not fair," said Royce after being disqualified. "I was robbed because they knew I had enough support among the students." In a formal hearing Apri116, in which Royce was charged by the Election Committee, he was allowed the opportunity to contest the allegations. Election Committee chair Jackie Sopp said that the decision by the ASG-appointed committee was an appropriate one because a student knowingly broke the rules.
"I believe we made the right decision after deliberating for over two hours," Sopp said. "Everybody on the committee put a lot into it. He broke the rules after he was aware of them. If he decided to screw up, that's the consequences." There were three formal charges brought against Royce. The committeehad verbal confrrmation that Royce campaigned at the Gay and Lesbian Association's meeting March 9. The committee agreed that Royce illegally campaigned after he obtained a copy of the bylaws from ASG President Lowell
Kepics. Sopp added he was also advised of the rules pertaining to campaigning. He was also chargedwith filing misleading information about his grade-point average. Each candidate must sign a form that indicates they are eligible to run for a position. lnastatementreleasedby Sopp, "(By signing the statement, Royce) knowingly misled the committee's officiators to believe that he was eligible to run for an ASG office when he was not" The third charge alleged that
• See ILLEGAL, page 11
Mike Royce