FEATURE
OPINION
SPORTS
You see the smooth fashionable characters on campus. Find out just where they come up with the styles they sport.
Credit card companies are setting up tables on college campuses, making it easy for students to sign up. Are credit card companies preying on college students? Page 5
The nationally ranked No. 3 Comets are in the hunt for a championship. They recently romped Orange Coast 42-17.
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1'IIE FRIDAY,
OCT.
9, 1998
PALO
COLLEGE
SAN
Jessica Gleason M01wg;11gEditor
Rumiko Takeya Srciff Writer
The Palomar College reading center is a bridge for students to improve reading skills. According to Stan Levy, director of Palomar's reading center, over 600 students enroll in reading programs each semester and most students succeed in improving reading skills. "We see student's positive change," Levy said. The center's goal is to provide a viable program for readers at all levels of proficiency and aid students in entertaining the skills necessary to successfully encounter higher education course work in academic, technical and vocational areas. Levy said that the reading center is not only for students who have reading problems but also for those who want to improve reading skills. He said that the programs goals are to increase memory, speed and critical thinking in reading. The reading center is not only for students. M<.1.ny faculty and staff members also receive benefits from the reading center. The reading center offers nine different classes such as vocabulary development and and spelling. Levy pointed out that three classes such as power reading, fundamental reading skills and reading improvement are main classes. Reading 110, a power reading class, is for assisting students to increase reading rate and flexibility, develop comprehension skills and analyze critical thinking. While students can expect to enhance their reading comprehension skills through computer aided instruction, the reading improvement class helps students brush up on their college level reading and ~tudy skills. ''We are a voluntary program," Levy said. However, there is no doubt that the program has many advantages for students. "Our classes are highly recommended by the counselors," he added. The reading center is full of useful materials. Computers, videos and print resources arc available for students. "We have the best stocked reading center with adult level reading materials at all different interest levels and all different types of subjects west of the Colorado Rockies," Levy said. The reading center offers some classes at the Escondido Educational Center and the Mt. Carmel Education Center as well. The reading center is located between the Snack Shack and Disabled Student Programs & Services building in room RC- I.
Swjj Writer
Palomar College has about$ I 00,000 in ,;cholarships available for students attending school each year. Last spring, 78 scholarships were awarded to 179 students at the San Marcos campus, a few totaling $11,500 to transfer students. Almost all of the money each year is awarded, and the lowest value for a scholarship is $100 dollars. Maureen Holden, Palomar scholarship ..:oordinator, wants to let students know the opportunities available through the scholarship program. "I would like students to know exactly what is available. I encourage students to apply because there is a lot of access to money for school," Holden said. Most of the scholarship funding for l ,1lomar comes from outside donors such as women's groups, clubs and community members. These groups award money
52,
VOLUME
Palomar students with access to the Internet can now avoid yet another line on campus . Students who need a copy of their grades or current schedule can retrieve them from the comfort of their own home, via the Palomar Web page. "Part of the master plan of the college is to make information more available to students online," said Lynda 1-Ialttunen, the director of matriculation for the past IO years and the driving force behind the newly implemented Student Online Grades and Schedules program. After linking onto Palomar' College's Web page at www.palomar.edu , students only need to click on the SONGS icon to enter the computerized world of Palomar grades. A student's social security numher and the month and year of their date of birth acts as the student's password for access to information. Once in the system, students can receive a grade report from any semester within the last year, a printout of their current schedule and information on eligibility status and account balance. The SONGS program is replacing the eight Palomar Automated Self-service Stations which, prior to this semester, were found on the San Marcos and Escondido campuses. According to Halttunen, the PASS stations were receiving about J8,000 hits per semester and were unable to keep
up with this large amount of grade and schedule requests. "I knew that the PASS stations were falling apart," said Halttunen. 'The computers were jamming, paper wasn't coming out of the printer, the staff had to take time to reboot the systems and they were still in the shop every other week." According to Halttunen, the time had come to either spend $10,000 on upgrading or replaci ng the systems or move to a different method. "I made a decision and I unplugged all the PASS stations - they cost too much, they ' re failing and we are not going to put our resources into this old technology anymore," said Halttunen. "SONGS has all the functional ity the PASS stations had," said Halltunen. "But now every computer with access to the Palomar Web page functions as a PASS station." While the PASS stations were unplugg ed and the SONGS program was still in the experimental stages , students had to get grade printouts from the Palom ar ID card center, counselors or admissions office. During a Governing Board meeting in June, the fact that the college was lacking an established grade generator program came to the attention of Association Student Government President Xavier E. Corona who addressed it in a public forum. Coron a's attention to the problem helped
See INTERNET, Page 3
NUMBER
5
Richards on Miron / The Telescope
Students can now get their report cards online.
Study shows that, students credit problems on the rise
FENCING OFF PHASE ONE
Credit Handbook," interv iewed parents of college students to get their opinions on Co-Editor in Chief how easily their children can obtain a credSeleena Lewis, 19. has dumped her stuit card. "T he parents I talked to are dent credit cards. "I got Discover, shocked," Det weiller said. "Their kids get MasterCard and Visa my freshman year . r credit easier than they do." went crazy," said Lewis. Industry sources estimate that two Lewis said she ran up bills of Sl,500 on decade s age, fewer than IO banking instituclothing, spring hreak vacations and "nontions were active in the student cred it card sense," and is still paying off her debts. market. Today, at least 40 major banks seek Lewis' story is not an extreme case of stuout student applications. dent credit gone Reasons given bad; in fact, com for the increased pared to the average effort put towards mean she is not that recruiting first time bad off at all. credit users are that A survey con the "adult" market ducted by student is already saturated loan provider Nellie with credi t cards Mae found that 14 and that college stu-Gerri Detweiller percent of underdents are the next Author, "The Ultimate Credit Handbook " graduates have pr ime area for bank debts ranging growth and profi t. between $3,000 and $7,000 by the time they Nationwide, about two -thirds of all colgraduate. This is up from the 7 percent last lege students have credit cards, and about a year. The average credit card balance for an quarter of those have four or more cards, undergraduate is $2,000. according to the Nellie Mae survey. An Palomar students often have the opportuaverage debt balance for a first time credit nity to apply for credit cards when compacard holder is abou t $500, said Diane Saunders, spokeswoman for Nellie Mae. nies such as Associates National Bank offers MasterCards on campus. The compa"What we're seeing is a greater percentage of students borrowing at higher levels," nies set up tables in the student union near high traffic areas to attract students. A venadded Saunders. However, MasterCard spokeswoman, dor fee is paid which benefits various clubs on campus. Gerri Detwe iller, author of "The Ultimate See CREDIT CARD, Page 3
Jessica Long
"Theparents I talked to are shocked. Their kids get credit easier than they do. "
Warren Allen I Th~ Telescope
Robert Orona and Jose Tejada erect a fence in preparation of the first stage of construction beginning at Palomar College.
offers broad range of scholarships
Rebecca Gresh
MARCOS
Grades now available on Internet
Reading center helps students improve skills
Palomar
MAR
to students, who fit their criteria. In order to be considered for a specific scholarship, certain characteristics must be met. For example, to be eligible for the American Association of University Women scholarship, the applicant would have to be a woman. Holden says it is very important that the student fit the requirements for the scholarship, since those who do not fit the criteria will not be considered. lf, in a rare occurrence, there weren't any students who meet the criteria for a particular scholarship, then the money is put on hold until the next semester. CASHE, a computer data service engine, is also available lo all college students. CASHE acts as a search engine, looking for scholarships that fit individual characteristics. The charge is $15 and all the money goes back into the scholarship fund for Palomar College. Holden also suggests that students go to the financial aid counter where stu-
PopularScholarships • American Association of University Women Scholarship
Wheredoyoulit in? The following information about Palomar College's student population was compiled in fall 1997 from 27,244 students.
• CASHE Scholarship
Students by Age
• Sam and Rose Stein Nursing Scholarship
Age
• Ivie Frances Wickam Scholarship •Vivian Smith Memorial Schalarship
dents may apply for scholarships and receive help forming their autobiographies. Holden will also be posting a scholarship newsletter where more information will be given concerning available scholarships. That should be in circulation during November. For more information , contact the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office in the Student Services Center, or call (760) 744-1150, ext. 2366.
Students by Gender Gender
Headcount Percentage
Headcount Percentage
19 or less
6,335
23_3%
20-24
6,710
24_6%
25-29
3,296
12.1%
30-34
2,388
8.8%
35-39
2,100
7_7%
Female
14,658
53_9%
40-49
3,130
11.5%
Male
12,517
46.1%
50+
3,276
12.0%
69
0%
9
0%
27,244
100%
27,244
100%
Unknown Total
Source: California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office
Unknown Total
Daniel Kwan / The Telescope