THE
ELESCOPE Palomar College
Friday, Oct. 18, 1996
San Marcos, CA
Volume SO, Number 5
Students react to Dole's debate tactics • University of San Diego students have mixed feelings after town hall meeting Suzette Clark Nell".\" Eduor
Suzanne Block Sw.lf \Vriter
Ralph W. Lincoln I The Telescope
University of San Diego students who did not get in to see the presidential debate, which only allowed 120 pre-selected undecided voters, watch from a big-screen T.V.
Over 1.000 enthusiastic students watched as former Senator Bob Dole was ted no time in throwing the lirst punch at President Bill Clinton during Wednesday night's debate. The students, who watched the debate from Sports Center at the Universfl.y of San Diego, cheered and jeered as the candidates made their final appeal to the undecided voters of America. USD sophomore Sabrina Andreacchi , accounting, ·ummed up the sentiment of many voters, students and non-students alike. "T came here to make up f11Y mind. My bigge ·t concern is money for school. I came here to sec how the candidates are going to address this issue," said Andreacchi . Shiley Theatre was the site of the Town Hall Meeting, a format in which the audience asks questions of the candidates. The Gallup Polling Firm chose the 150 uncommitted San Diego voters - one-third leaning towards Clinton, one-third towards Dole, and onethird undecided. "You could see the electricity at the uni verstty th1s morning, as moderator Jim Lehrer acquainted the voters with the format ," said Paul Kirk, co-chairman of the Commission on Presidential Debates. Dole began the debate attacking Clinton 's White House staff for their alleged ethics violations.
"There is no doubt about it that many American people have lost their faith in government. They see scandals almost on a daily basis," Dole said. Although Clinton did not respond to Dole's attack, his student supporters were not as reluctant to voice their views. ''I get so annoyed," said freshman Jenny Wright, undecla red . "Dole cannot answer a question without bringing up Clinton's ethics. If he were told he could not bad mouth Clinton, hc '·d have nothing to say. He 's scared." Dole supporters disagreed, believing thatthis is exactly what is needed to energize the campaign, as it enters the final 20-day stretch. "Dolecouldn'tbesubtlewithhismessagc.Thc character issues need to be addressed," said junior Corbin Muschinski, communications. Strategists from both camps had plenty to say about Dole's methodology as well. "Tonight, before 65 to 80 million Americans, Bob Dole connected. He sold his economic plan, and made it much more difficult for the President to scare seniors with his medi-scare techniques and the attack ads that he uses . Bob Dole did this in a charming, effervescent way that connected with the American people," said John Buckley, communications director for the Dole campaign. Democratic strategists describe Dole's new campaign technique as a failure after tonight 's exchange.
See Debate, Page 5
Board accused of complacency Suzette Clark Ne11·.v£diwr
Allegations ofcompla<.:cn<.:y and "rubber-stamping'' distri<.:t policy recommendations surfaced at Tuesday night ' s Governing Board Candidates' forum. when three incumbents were met with criticism for reportedly approving policies without conducting independent research and being satisfied with the status quo. ··we need to keep moving forward. Being rated one of the top three community colleges is honorable. but why not try to be number one?" asked David Rockwell, a
Students Speak Out over Food Fight
Palomar alumnus and student advocate. "We don ' t want to become complacent when we can do so much more.·· Rockwell '· ·tatement came after incumbent board member Ralph Jensen touted a list of awards, recognition and a<.:hicvcments made by Palomar. "Palomar College was chosen by tlic Community College's Journal as one of the top three <.:ammunity colleges promoting student learning," Jensen said. He also noted that Palomar alumni who go on to California State University and University ofCaliforniasystem earn higher grade point averages than
the students who were there for their lower division. Jensen added. "We have the numberoneCEO[Dr.GeorgeBogg) in the country. We must bedoingsomething right. I'd like to remind you what that wi ·e old philosopher once said, 'If it ain't broke, don't fix it." Other Governing Board members embraced the "Learning Paradigm,'' a shift in educational philosophy started at Palomar. Incumbent board members support the paradigm that emphasizes student learning instead or instruction, and said Palomar's reputation in the educationcommunityha~broughtthem
See Board, Page 6
Wilson asks colleges to be enforcers Jessica Gleason SwjfWriter
Find out how your opinions of the Cafeteria stack up against our poll.
See page 5
Ralph W. Lincoln I The Telescope
RIGHT: Bob Hahn, Chairman and CEO of First National Bank of North County, and head of Palomar's President's Associates organization asks candidate Ralph Jensen to respond to a question at the Oct. 15 meeting.
Governor Pete Wilson recently gave an executive order which includes a request that all California public colleges and universities deny undocumented immigrants a college education. The executive order Wilson signed in August asks state agencies to follow in the footsteps of President Clinton's recent welfare reform. The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconci liation Act of 1996, signed by
President Clinton, mandates that individual states may on ly provide. services to illegal immigrants if the state passes a statute granting such admissibility. ''Today, California takes a step forward in reforming a welfare system so that it once agam encourages personal responsibility and no longer rewards those who break the law by entering this country illegally,'' Wilson said. Some people believe that Wilson is using immigrants for political purposes. "His actions suggest to me that he is trying to make politi<.:al
hay by playing on the fears and resentments of people who see their way of life being threatened by California's multicultural makeup. ·'Since directly attacking legal immigrants isn't as politically legitimate, undocumented immigrants make safe targets." said Katheryn Garlow, English as a second language professor. Wilson asked univcrsitiesandcollcges to abide by federal law, but has no statutory authotity over how
See Wilson, Page 7