Action-movie star Jackie Chan kicks his way through his latest film 'Rumble in the Bronx'
Ready to Vote~ Check out our complete guide to the March 26 election OPINION PAGE 7
Palomar golf places 4th in Pro Golfers College Invitational SPORTS PAGE 16
THE
.......__.LESC Friday, March 1, 1996
Palomar College
San Marcos, CA
Volume 49, Number 14 ·
Admissions officials face bribery charges • U.S. Attorney General's office claim13 Palomar employees altered student records Rob Denny Staff Writer
Some unidentified Palomar employees are being investigated for their part in a scheme to fraudulently qualify foreign students for admission into the college. According to the U.S. Attorney General's office, the employees had allegedly worked with Sam Koutchesfahani, a Rancho Santa Fe business man who recently pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to defraud the United Stales Government and willfully evading the assessment of his income. Prosecutors say Koutchesfahani, who owned and operated Tan Trading and Consulting Group, used his business as a front to solicit and accept money from foreign students. He then allegedly used this money to bribe San Diego area college officials into enrolling foreign students who did not meet admission requirements. This entitled the students to enter the United States on student visas and to remain in the country if they pursued a full course of study. Palomar, Mesa College and San Diego Community College are all being investi-
gated concerning the case. Diane Michael, Palomar's assistant superintendent and vice president of instruction, said the extent of participation by Palomar employees is not yet known. According to Michael, the college is cooperating fully with the U.S. attorney's office in the investigation Because the investigation has not been completed, the extent ofPalomaremployees' involvement is not known. Already, Richard Maldonado, a San Di: ego Community College Admissions Official, has pleaded guilty to bribery and tax evasion charges involved with the case, U.S. Attorney Alan Bersin said. Koutchesfahani paid Maldonado to admit foreign students and to falsely classify them as residents, enabling them to pay substantially less tuition. Maldonado received anywhere from $750 to $3000 per student for providing these illegal services, Bersin said. Koutchesfahani also admitted to soliciting and accepting money from foreign students to bribe instructors and administrators
See BRIBERY, Page 6
ASG postpones vote on school bond initiative Suzette Clark Staff Writer
The Associated Student Government is facing a delay in its plans to pass a resolution to allow the ASG to officially endorse California's Proposition 203 in the upcoming state primary elections. The ASG was scheduled to vote Feb. 28 on the resolution, but the measure was tabled due to some members' concern about the financial impact Prop. 203 will have on taxpayers. Prop. 203, which could provide up to $290 million in revenue for local schools and colleges, is a state bond initiative scheduled to be voted on during the March 26 California primary. Palomar stands to receive a total of $15 million over the next three years if Prop. 203 passes. The ASG's endorsement of Prop. 203 would enable the student government to officially encourage the student body to support and vote for the proposition in the primary. Because Prop. 203 may cost taxpayers
upwards of $6 billion, some ASG members decided to do more research before committing their approval. "All the information that I have seen is from the proponent's side of this proposition. I am concerned about the potential tax burden for future taxpayers, and want to examine the other side of the issue before I vote in favor of the ASG taking an active role in it," Noonkester said Treasurer Dale Thistle, who voted to table the resolution. In response to the tabling, ASG president Ellen Noonkester expressed concern. "This should have happened last week," said Noonkester. "I am disappointed." "We are the only student government in California who has not yet passed this and started working on it," said Noonkester. Most of the controversy concerning ASG's
See PROP 203, Page 6
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David Wilcox holds one of his handmade signs at the corner of las Posas Avenue and Mission Road. He was cited for trespassing and detained by San Diego County Sheriff's Deputies Feb. 28 after refusing to leave the comer.
'Sign man' detained by Sheriff's Deputies Jenni KendaU Feature Editor
David Wilcox, better known to Palomar students as "the sign guy," was detained and released Feb. 28 at 4 p.m. after failing to comply with San Marcos Sheriffs Department safety regulations. Wilcox, who has spent the last month at the corner of Las Posas Avenue and Mission Road displaying handmade signs with his favorite sayings, was detained after being asked to move to the opposite side of Mission Road for his own safety. Deputy R. F. Johnson, who took Wilcox to the station, said that by remaining where he had been standing, Wilcox was trespassing and interfering with railroad property.
There are road signs posted at various intervals near the train tracks telling people how close they may stand before it becomes a safety hazard. "There is nothing wrong with what he
• The Telescope inJeroiews 'sign man' Dcwid Wilcox. See page 13 is doing. He is simply being obstinate. I have asked him several times to move,but he chose not to comply," said Johnson. The Sheriffs Department said Wilcox was cited for trespassing and released. No formal charges were filed. "He's done this all over the county. I'm sure he will be back," said Johnson.· Wilcox, who most recently displayed his signs in Poway said he has been arrested 18 times for similar violations and has never been officially charged. "I expect to get arrested," said Wilcox. Despite this, he disputes the charges of trespassing and interfering with railroad property. "It is my right to free speech," Wilcox said. "I am allowed to have five feet of public domain."