OPINION
FEATURE
ENTERTAINMENT
The right to light-up in California bars is about to get smoked
A look into Palomar radio station KKSM as they prepare to initiate a new five-minute news broadcast
More 'Scream'-ing with the release of 'I Know What You Did Last Summer'
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THE Palomar College
Friday, Oct. 24, 1997
Plus-and-Minus a Palomar possibility Melody Cruz Staff Writer
Palomar students may soon have to adjust to a new grading system which might give some students an academic lift while bringing others down. On Oct. 21, the legislative committee of the Associated Student Government held a seminar for students and faculty to receive more information about the longstanding plus or minus grading system proposal. Seven University of California and 17 California State University campuses currently use the plus or minus grading procedure. - If Palomar were to adopt this grading style, the current A through F letter grades would be eliminated and expanded into 12 different categories with pluses or minuses as an added option to the Jetter grade, with the exception of a "C-". The exclusion of the "C" grade
in the plus-and-minus system is because financial aid and scholarship students will end up on probation if they receive this grade, according to Xavier Corona who organized the seminar. The argument about this grading method has been around at Palomar since the mid 1980s, according to Dr. Michael Newbrough, a social science professor and advocate of reinventing the current system. "It's such an obvious benefit in the evaluation of students," Dr. Newbrough said. "It seems to me that, ultimately, it will become more universal. It's sad and that some individuals and groups find that a change toward more accuracy and fairness is somehow threatening to them." An article in the Oct. 6, 1989 issue of The Telescope that thenAssociated Student Government President John Weber vetoed the decision made by ASG senators
San Marcos, CA
Volume 51, Number 7
"Police Academy class 23-96 ... dismissed!"
Courtesy of Melinda Marchuk
Graduation ceremonies were held for the first Police Academy class to complete the new 14-month long Basic program initiated at Palomar in August 1996. For more on the grad· uation and the basic program, see pageS.
SEE GRADING, PAGE 14
Display spurs Wilson approves student fee decrease controversy Daniel Kwan Seanna Lee Staff Writers
• Mislabeled photo angers gay students Mimi Bowles Feature Editor
In celebration of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender History Month, a display featuring naked Barbie dolls, Skittles candy, and rainbow flags was set up on the first floof of the library, sparking a slew of controversy centering on who set up the display and why. Contrary to information provided in a photo caption in last week's issue of • SEE PRIDE, PAGE 14
CORRECTION:
A library display depicted in ~ photograph in last week's issue was created by Palomar's Fashion Department.
Many Palomar students enrolling next fall will carry a little more petty cash, just enough to see two movies. California's community colleges will reduce enrollment fees from $13 to $12 per unit, so a full-time student taking 12 units will save $12 a semester. Governor Pete Wilson recently signed Assembly Bill 1318, the' College Affordability Act of 1997, which freezes enrollment fees at the lower rates through the year 2000. The bill also reduces fees for the University of California system by $190 ($3,799 to $3,609) and the California State University system by $79 ($1 ,584 to $1 ,505). "This is the largest fee reduction in California state history," said Lt. Gov. Gray Davis who sponsored the bill authored by Assemblywoman Denise Ducheny (D-San Diego). "We are finally making amends for the outrageous fee hikes of the early '90s." Prior to 1984, there was no charge for enrolling in California community colleges. Between 1991 and 1995, community col-
leges fees increased from $6 to $13 per unit. Palomar officials are still waiting for orders from the chancellor of California Community Colleges as to how to implement the new rate for summer 1998 . _The legislation states that the fee will start in the 1998-99 school year; Palomar College's fiscal year begins July 1, 1998, a date well into summer semester. "The most recent interpretation is that for any class that starts on or after July 1, 1998, we will charge $12 per unit; but any class that starts before July I, we continue to charge $13 per unit," said Herman Lee, director of enrollment services. "You can imagine the kind of confusion that is going to cause students during that summer session," said Lee, referring to Palomar's late start, intercession and short term classes. "We have classes that begin just about anytime, so if a student takes two or three classes that summer, we could be involved with a situation of charging that student different fees. It also affects students who are on financial aid, the Board of Governor's Fee Waiver program, and tuition assistance." Lee said he hopes the chancellor's office will allow community colleges to charge the same enrollment fee for the entire sum-
mer 1998 semester. Fall 1998 fees will be at the new $12 per unit fee. Despite the fee reduction, Lee said Palomar's enrollment may not increase. "A few years ago, we thought going from $10 per unit to $13 per unit was going to hurt the enrollment and it didn't, so I don't think $1 is going to make much of a difference. With a strong economy, students are working more hours and taking fewer classes, so we're hoping that the lower fee will allow a student to take an extra class." Xavier Corona, vice president of state affairs for Palomar's Associated Student Government, said student lobbying contributed to the passage of AB 1318. "The government is trying show that they care about the community colleges. It's a way for them to give back to students, with the overfill of money in California at this time. It's only a dollar per unit, but those dollars add up," Corona said. After the 1999-2000 school year, Corona said he believes any initial fee increases will be marginal. "I don't think there will be any drastic increases because everybody understands we can't jump from $12 to $30 or $40. If they do try to make that jump, every student government throughout the state will fight this."