FRIDAY, MARCH
6, 1998
PALOMAR COLLEGE
SAN MARCOS
51,
VOLUME
NUMBER
15
Winning speech team hosts H.S. competition Jason Schock Statf路 Writer
While this year's speech team continues its winning streak, recently it was a nice change of pace for members to take a scat and hear speeches instead of taking center stage. Palomar College played host to 25 high school speech teams last month for the annual Palomar College Spring Invitational speech competition. The event, which took place Feb. 21, has been hosted by the Speech/Forensics Department since 1955. "Since we had such a good turn-out, we have a feeling we're doing things better each year we run the tournament," said competition coordinator Dr. Ray Dahlin, c;lirector of forensics. "We were chosen to host this event because Palomar is known for its 'fair stakes' tournaments," said Dahlin. "The judges involved have no interest in who wins or loses."
Being the only community college to host such an event also gives Palomar an advantage in recruiting future students. The Saturday competition, which included schools from the entire Southern California region, turned into a scheduling challenge for Dahlin. A lack of classroom availability became a problem on the already-packed San Marcos campus. "Saturday classes already fill so much space ... we had to find anyavailable nook and crannie," said Dahlin. The conflicts were overcome, however, and the competition took place without any further snags. "There were no major problems ... everything ran smoothly," he added. The overall winner was Mt. Miguel High School in Spring Valley, with top I 0 finishes from North County schools like Oceanside, Rancho Buena Vista and San Dieguito. Danielle Saullo, of Mt. Miguel, took "Outstanding Speaker" honors for excellent performance in five different categories. Trophies went to top finishers in each category.
SEE COMPETITION, PAGE 3
Philosophy teacher on the路 search for路: 'Bobby Fischer' Dustin Schwindt Staff Writer
For all of those olit there "Searching for Bobby Fischer" you might be interested in talking to Dr. Lee Kerckhove. Kerckhove is looking for five to 10 people to start a chess club on campus. A Philosophy professor and former Palomar student, Kerckhove came up with the idea after talking with a few of his students as well as others who happened by his office. Some of them were originally looking for Dr. Haydn Davis who was once the adviser for the chess club, and is now the chairman
THIS WEEK IN THE TELESCOPE
of the Behavioral Sciences Department. After Davis' promotion, the chess club fizzled out. Recently, Kerckhove and a few students decided it was time to revive it. "Anyone with even a passing interest is welcome," said Kerckhove. Admitting that he is not an expert m chess hm1self, Kerckhove is interested in havmg a club that would be diverse in talent. Mixing those talents with a desire to learn would make for a valuable experience for all people involved says Kerckhove. Why bother starting a chess club? Kerckhove doesn't necessarily give a chess-
SEE CHECKMATE, PAGE 3
Jeremy Hier
SPORTS
Comets baseball finds a homerun-sized talent in centerfielder Gary Templeton ...
Page 8 I--OPINION
"WV'"A.R.! Is it what we need in order to put Saddam in his place and keep him there, or are we once again risking American lives for a issue that's tar-less valuable?
Page 5 ENTERTAINMENT Ladies with heaving bosoms! Adult content and peverse humor! Is it the secretarial line-up at the White House? Why, no: it's "Our Country's Good," now showing at Palomar's Brubeck Theatre
Page 6
Class makes路 education its breaking news story Michael Paisner Copr J:rlitor
"Gasoline prices in the Southland are moving lower. Good morning, I'm Lisa Adkins and you're watching News At Nine, live from Palomar College." This past Tuesday morning on the set of Palomar 's television station ETV (educational television), a live news segment was broadcast throughout North County on Cox Cable and Daniels Cablevision for the first time in two years. Students from the Radio and Television News Production class (RTV 140/240) scrambled to make it happen while their teachers sat in the background and watched. Rob Branch, associate professor of radio and television , gave his impression. "The day belonged to Murphy. But with all the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, the cast got on the air. They were terrified, they were petrified, but they did it. I couldn't be more pleased," he said. Branch teaches the radio side of news,
teaming up with Mike Russo, associate producer from KNSD channel 7/39, who teaches the disciplines of TV news. "We're teaching students fundamentals. The real nuts-and-bolts of putting together TV news. From going around gathering video tape to writing (for what is on) the video tape and reporting from the scene," said Russo. Adkins, one of the reporters for "News at Nine," had mixed emotions as she got ready to go on the air. " I knew I would fumble, but I didn ' t care because I would learn something valuable from it,'' she said. Right after the broadcast, the students went back to the classroom to view the tape of their work. Adkins said she was apprehensive about doing a "post-mortem" on the effort. "Thinking that people were going to critique the tape made me nervous, but I liked the idea of getting honest, cntical feedback,"' she recalled.
SEE TELEVISION, PAGE 3
Mike Russo advises television news students during a break in filming.
New committee addresses students' concerns Staff Writer
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Photos by Steve Marcotte I The Telescope
Instructor Mike Russo (right) watches students Lisa Adkins and Paulette McNeal-Roberts polish their broadcasting skills.
In an attempt to respond to student concerns regarding Palomar's off-campus education centers, the Associated Student Government has formed a new committee. According to the ASG, the Satellite Committee is a side group formed with the best interests of the student body in mind. Roughly 20 complaints gathered from the students and the staff for Fall 1997 at the Escondido Center were arranged in order of most importance. Committee members investigate these problems and say they will try and resolve them the best they can. Oscar Lopez, chair of the committee, says "although it is impossible to eliminate ail these complaints in one semester, these issues need to he addressed." One topic that apparently concerns students is
in the area of security. Many feel more is needed. "Between five and 20 car break-ins occur each month," says James Clayton, director of the Escondido Education Center. He says he needs and wants more security specifically at the Escondido Center on Valley Parkway, however because of lack of funds in the budget, no new security is cuiTently available. The committee has agreed on several tactics to ensure that there arc open lines of communication between members and concerned students. First, a suggestion box will be placed at the three campuses the committee is working with: Escondido, Mt. Carmel and Camp Pendelton . Second, events to get the students' attention, a popcorn booth will be put in place with student representatives available at these locations. The committee feels complaints such as these are very important and something needs to be done. If students have questions such as why
Clockwise from lower left: Oscar Lopez, Laura Lopez, Thomas Chambers, Tyris Stiver, Loretta Murillo-Colton, Nima Arabani, Erica Olvera discuss solutions.
parking permit fees went up from $20$22.50, the committee members feel these questions should not be ignored. Concerned
ESL enrollment down
students arc welcome to attend the committee's next meeting, which will be held the fourth Wednesday, March 25 at 3:30p.m. in
Security Statistics at a Glance \
Rumiko Takeya SU!ff Writer
Keeping with tl1is semester's enrollment trend, lower numbers for the 1998 spring semester have also hit the English as a Second Language (ESL) program. According to the ESL Department, at least 2,530 students are currently registered for the ESL program, 92 students down from last semester. Despite the enrollment drop, the department is still grappling with a room shortage problem and the solution is still far from certain. "We have no idea when this
problem will be solved," said Marty Furch, vocational ESL coordinator. The Vocational English as a Second language (VESL) program began on campus in 1996's fall semester. While ESL emphasizes preparation for entrance into an academic program, VESL stresses preparation for a vocational program. In addition to teaching English skills this program aims at career training by teaching work behavior and the opportunities available in a field. "My class stresses job outlook. VESL students want to get better careers and they are more serious," Furch said
Traffic Collisions Suspicious Activity
1996
Stolen Vehicles Vehi.cle Tampering
1997
Hit & Run Burglary Indecent Exposure Harassment
0
10
20
15
NUMBER OF INCIDENTS REPORTED FOR SCHOOL YEAR
25 1996 & 1997
Infographic by Ashton Taylor I The Telescope