The Telescope 58.12

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HAMPS • PA&E 16

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DroP. in enrollment • continues

By Donnie Boyle

TH1 TELESCOPE

DOMINICK ULLOA I THE TELESCOPE

Construction crews working on the new science building are working to break through several feet of rock. Project coordinators said they are making progress, but cannot determine when the noise levels will drop.

Students, faculty cope with noise

By Jessica Halston

TH1 TELESCOPE

Spring is off to a noisy start as construction crews continue work on the new science building on the Palomar College San Marcos campus.

The $28.7 million project, led by San Diego-based C.E . Wylie Construction, faced temporary setbacks due to recent rain, but construction supervisor Chris Miller said work is still on schedule.

Miller has been keeping faculty and administrators informed with

weekly e-mail updates titled "High Tech What's Up" updating the building's progress.

In the Jan. 21 update, Miller reported that workers were in the process of breaking through rock to complete the grading phase of the project. He added that portions of broken rock have been hauled off the campus, and some of the larger boulders are being kept for future landscaping projects.

Facilities Director, Mike Ellis said the rain led to the discovery of

aquifers, or underground water deposits. "(Construction workers) have been working on two large rocks," Ellis said. "They could discover more rocks the farther down they get before grading."

Miller said he has received few complaints about the noise level created by the rock breaking.

"Everyone is putting up with the noise because they realize it's a short • SEE CONSTRUCTION, PACE 2

For the third consecutive spring semester, enrollment is down.

Enrollment dropped 1.6 percent for credit classes and 5.2 percent for non-credit classes.

As of Feb. 2, enrollment stood at 23,121 credit students and 27,115 non-credit students. Herman Lee, director of enrollment services, said the numbers will change during the coming weeks.

"There is some lag time for non-credit classes, so the numbers will hopefully go up," Lee said.

Last fall, California community college students were hit with a tuition increase that raised fees from $18 to $26 per unit. It was the second increase in as many years and Lee said the drop in enrollment the past few semesters was likely a result of the hikes.

Lee said that based on past experiences, he looks for that trend to change in the near future .

"Usually, after a fee increase, enrollment drops ," Lee said. "Then after things stabilize, students return." that Gov. Arnold Lee added Schwarzanegger has not proposed another fee increase for the next school year, so things should stabilize.

• SEE ENROLLMENT, PACE 2

Teachers union to sign contract • l-ye11r b111tle 11lmost over; r11ises on the horizon lor lulltime 11nd p11rt-time l11tulty

By Andrew Phelps

TKE TELESCOPE

By Donnie Boyle

TH1 TELESCOPE

Palomar College's new president, Robert Deegan, comes to Palomar with one thing on his mind growth.

Mter being contacted by Palomar's presidential search committee, Deegan began to research Palomar College and its potential.

"I was impressed with the college," Deegan said. "At this time in my career it was a good fit. My skills meet the needs of the college."

One of those skills is facilitating growth. Deegan

Negotiators for the Palomar College district and the teachers union have been hammering out small details in the conclusion of a longtime contract dispute. Both sides were expected to sign the contract by Feb. 3, officials said.

If ratified, full-time faculty members could see a 17-percent pay raise. Health benefits and workload would remain largely intact.

For now, the contract settles three-and-a-half years of sharp disagreements in about 100 pages of carefully manicured language. Faculty ratification is expected by the end of the month, with governing board approval planned for March 8.

"I think it's a good first contract," said Mary Ann Drinan, a full-time professor and negotiator for the Palomar Faculty Federation.

Drinan, who has sat at the table since nego-

spent 19 years at Irvine Valley College, the majority as a professor of counseling and applied psychology. His last few years at Irvine Valley he also served as interim vice president of student services.

In January 1999, Deegan took over as vice president of student services at Santiago Canyon Collegea position he held until coming to Palomar.

Throughout his 25-year career Deegan worked closely with deans, vice presidents of instruction, and other administrators.

• SEE PRESIDENT, PAGE 3

DOMINICK ULLOA I THE TELESCOPE

• SEE CONTRACT, PACE 10

New president Robert Deegan was recently hired after a year-long search.

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• ENROLLMENT: Previous fee hikes could be reason for drop CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Enrollment numbers usually are down from fall to spring.

But it is the year-to-year trend that administrators look at to determine future strategies.

The drop from fall to spring can be explained by a number of factors.

During the fall semester, a lot of recent high school graduates enroll who choose not to return in the spring. For many students , it may be financial hardships that keep them from returning.

Mary San Agustin, financial aid director, said getting students to return from semester to semester is a major factor.

"Many of our students from the fall fail or do not complete their classes and lose their eligibility for financial aid for the spring," Agustin said.

Despite the drop in enrollment, more students are applying for financial aid.

"The money is there and more students are realizing they can get aid," Agustin added.

Agustin said she hopes the number of students staying in school will increase as they learn more about what is available.

Many students register and then are forced to drop out due to the high cost of books and gasoline, she said.

The Board of Governors Fee Waiver is available all semester. If a student applies at any time during the semester, they can get a 'retroactive refund, Agustin said.

Mea Daum, director of marketing and communications said that the drop follows a stepped up media campaign aimed at increasing enrollment.

The campaign included advertisements in newspapers throughout North County and community papers available near learning centers.

Daum also said that the college is looking into mailing class schedules to former and current students - a practice that was halted due to cost.

However, Daum said the decrease is most likely due to the fee increases.

"We will be doing everything we can to let students know what we have to offer," Daum said. "What students should realize is that Palomar College is still a great deal - even at $26 per unit."

Lee said fee increases and marketing are considerations when analyzing the drop in enrollment, but it comes down to the individual.

"Fee increases are certainly a major factor - but we have financial aid available," Lee said. "But, it may come down to the fact that some people are not placing school as their No. 1 priority."

Many administrators have turned their sights toward the fall semester. The financial aid office is processing applications for the fall, and Daum said the Marketing Department will do everything it can to let potential students know what Palomar has to offer.

And, as of this semester, Palomar has another recruiting tool in its arsenal - new College president Robert Deegan.

Enrollment determines state funding, and Deegan said he plans to work with everyone to help the college grow. This process will include adding new

JOEL NAVARRO/ THE TELESCOPE

Students stand in line at the admissions office during the first week of schooL

class sections and recruiting new students.

Growth starts with new enrollment, and this spring Deegan will write a letter to thousands of local high school graduates trying to sell them on what Palomar has to offer.

"We want them to see Palomar as a viable option and a great place to start - to explore and assess their goals," Deegan said. ''Whether they are looking to earn a certificate or transfer, we want them to make Palomar their first choice."

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• CONSTRUCTION: Four to six feet of rock left to remove

1 i 11fJ

time nuisance," Miller said. He added that while no fixed date has been set for the conclusion of the grading phase, the noise level should lower within the next few weeks.

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"The noise level will drop soon," Miller said. "They have to grade down another three or four feet."

Ellis said the Facilities Department received one complaint from a local homeowner, but San Marcos city noise restric-

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DOMINICK ULLOA I TH£ TELESCOPE

Construction workers have been working for the past four weeks clearing rocks and brush to make way for the science building. Noise levels will improve as soon as the larger rocks are removed.

tions allow for the volume between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Archeology Professor Philip de Barros teaches nine classes in the BE Building, which backs up against the site. De Barros said the noise has made for a difficult learning environment, with some students clearly bothered by the distraction.

"It's a wonderful rock concert," de Barros said. "It's difficult teaching next to it because I have to talk louder, and after a few classes, I'm losing my voice."

De Barros said the Art Department provided teachers with classes in the area with earplugs for walking between classes.

"If you were walking next to someone, you couldn't hear them," de Barros said.

Anthropology student and Palomar freshman Alison Hraneck said de Barros just encourages students to bear with the noise.

"It's a loud background noise," Hraneck said. "But he just says it'll be done soon."

Students also faced temporary congestion on the walkways between the FBuilding, SU-Building and the library as workers tore up the concrete to secure underground utility connections for the new building.

"We had very limited pedestrian access and the rain prevented concrete from being poured," Miller said.

Palomar freshman Tania Belmonte, whose Human Sexuality class is in the BE Building, said she hasn't encountered any problems with the construction.

"I haven't really been effected by it," Belmonte said. "The noise hasn't been that bad during my class."

Both Belmonte and Hraneck said traffic around the site hasn't been any worse than normal despite the construction.

THE HLESCOPE • MONDAY, FEB. 7, 2005

3

• PRESIDENT: Robert Deegan to work closely with the governing board on bond measure CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Deegan said he will work with all involved to help Palomar meet its expectations for future growth.

High on Deegan's list of priorities is to work with the governing Board to place a bond measure on the ballot.

The bond measure would be used to pay for renovations and new facilities.

"New facilities and upgraded facilities are very important for success - they are the keys to growth," Deegan said.

While at Santiago Canyon College, Deegan was actively involved in a successful bond campaign that provided $337 million in funds to the college district.

Deegan said the impact was immediately felt with the addition of seven new buildings, some of which were completed within 20 months of the bonds passing.

This will take place two months after the governing board unanimously selected Deegan as the new president, awarding him a three-year contract.

"He has a long history in the community college system and values the highest quality of education," said governing board president Nancy Chadwick.

Chadwick added that the board and the 22-member search committee, which also unanimously recommended Deegan, have been impressed by him.

"Based on what we have seen so far, he is off to a good start," Chadwick said. "He is a people person and gets along with everyone. That is important if you want to be a leader."

Deegan echoes those sentiments toward the college.

"I have been very impressed

DOMINICK ULLOA I THE TELESCOPE

Robert Deegan talks to school employees during the first week of classes. Deegan said a top priority of his is to get a bond measure for Palomar in the next election. The bond measure would aid future growth at Palomar.

with all of the groups and the students," Deegan said.

Deegan said that he wants to work with all of these groups to create an environment that welcomes students and promotes their learning and success.

He will also work with the community and local businesses to develop friendships that are beneficial to the college, he said.

Deegan begins his term as college president during an active time. There are multiple construction projects, including the new science building, which Deegan said he was pleased to see going up.

Deegan also emphasized the

importance of resolving facul- our foremost concern," Deegan ty negotiations and passing added.

Deegan's background in stuthe new faculty contract.

"Hopefully that will be dent services may be the key taken care of to improving quickly and "/ h11ve been very student sucour faculty cess at will have their impressed with 11/l olthe Palomar. contract groups 11nd the students. 11 Palomar's which is welldirector of student servdeserved," - Robert Deegan ices, Bruce Deegan said.

PRESIDENT Bishop, said Deegan said the philosohe will use his experience in instruction and phy of student services is differstudent services to improve ent than that of instruction.

"That is what I am excited the climate on campus.

"We will work together as about - we don't need to sell friends and colleagues to him on what we are trying to make sure student interests is do," Bishop said. "He is

focused on the students and what we as a college can do to keep the focus on students."

Deegan himself said that the focus should be on students. "We are all committed to making sure the students get what they need - from proper assessment to available classes."

Deegan stressed the importance of community colleges to Californians - including his family. His wife, Pam, is vice president of instruction at Miramar College.

His youngest son Taegen, 23, utilized the community college system to help him graduate from UC Santa Cruz with a degree in film. Taegen recently completed an internship with filmmaker James Cameron.

Deegan's older son Sean, 24, took coursework in a drywall apprentice program at a community college and now runs a drywall business with his uncle. And Deegan himself is a product of Rio Hondo Community College.

Deegan said he has been meeting as many people as possible and plans to hold two forums in the near future.

"Working as a faculty member and a counselor I learned never to take a student for granted- each student is different and deserves attention," Deegan said.

Deegan also said he wants to be accessible to everyone, especially students, and will be pos.~ing. office hours.

Located in his office is a sixfoot-tall photo easel, which Deegan will update with new pictures throughout the year.

"I always want to be reminded of why I am here and remind everyone of why we are all here - students," Deegan said.

SI00,000 contribution given to school

By Matt Null

TII'E TUESCOPE

The Palomar College Office of Student Affairs recently received a $50,000 contribution from Follett Inc. that will be used to buy a large electronic marquee to be placed near the student center.

Follett, which runs the Palomar College bookstore, also donated another $50,000 to the college for "whatever it wanted," said Steve Pribyl, senior vice president of sales and operations with Follett.

Pribyl flew in from Follett's corporate headquarters in Chicago to attend the Jan. 11 governing board meeting during which the money was donated.

"It was an awesome experience to be able to represent Follett and personally award the checks," Pribyl said.

The money was part of a new five-year contract that Follett and Palomar College had recently signed according to Bruce Bishop, director of Student Affairs.

The governing board was due to ratify the contract but tabled the discussion until the Feb. 8 meeting so the board

COURTESY PHOTO

Recently the office of student affairs received a $50,000 contribution from Follett to build a marquee.

could get more information surprise as Pribyl handed over the two large checks. from Follett.

"It was a very Bishop said quick and he is certain the "/ hope to h11ve contract is in signilie11nt progress of unplanned event," said governing the best intermember est of the col- instlllllltion by the end board Mark Evilsizer. "It lege and he of the semester." expects the gov-Bruce Bishop was a very genererning board STUDENT SERVICES DIRECTO'R OUS gift."

The marquee members will approve the contract after the has been in the planning stages Follett presentation Feb. 8. since late 2002, Bishop said.

The donation took the audiHe said the donation will cover ence and governing board by about 90 percent of the mar-

quee's price tag, and he is looking for other companies to pay for advertising on the marquee.

"We are going to try and sell ad space for the sides of the marquee," Bishop said. "Along with the ad space, if a company like Aramark bought some space, we would also advertise specials or sales on the marquee for them."

Bishop said he sees the marquee as a major tool to communicate with the student population.

"This will go a long way to communicate with students," Bishop said. "We can use it to inform students about book buybacks or for an upcoming election."

He also said it would not be limited to student affairs business .

Campus clubs and academic departments would also have use of the marquee.

Bishop and Facilities Director Mike Ellis are searching for different high-traffic locations on campus where the marquee will be highly visible to students and faculty.

Bishop said he is also in the process of finding a vendor for the sign.

"I hope to have significant progress of installation by the end of the semester," Bishop said. "So that we have it for the beginning of the next semester."

Shortly after the contribution was made, the governing board formally accepted the $100,000 gift.

It was the largest single donation to the college since 2001, when the Palomar College Foundation accepted a million dollar check from the estate of Geraldine Bessie Masinter Hill.

4

THE TELESCOPE • MONDAY, FEB. 7, 2005

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Empty lots lie aliead Each semester begins the same, with students ready to make a fresh start. Students shell out hundreds in tuition and books. Parking always overflows into the dirt lot and last-minute crashers hope to add the one class that will make their schedule perfect.

Yet after the first few weeks, the over populated Palomar community reverts into a quaint academic hideaway as z numerous students drop out.

0 Are students really this apathetic? The ... phenomenon occurs repeatedly as numerous students postpone their future for another semester. Students must take their academic duty seriously in order to advance a credible career path.

There's no edict demanding students have to go to college after high school, but too many people wander onto campus waiting to be handed a degree.

It's actually a good thing that students disappear before becoming too invested into a new schedule. Many students have difficulty becoming acclimated to the college environment. Although community college is an easier transition than a university, it's still higher education .

New students can look forward to escaping the mundane busy work associated with high school. Although in its place, students shouldn't complain about the 20-page term papers and multiple hours of reading each week, either.

Everyone's busy with their own lives and juggling work and social calendars. However, for a few days per week, all of that baggage takes a back seat to getting an education.

It doesn't matter to any professor whether a student's love life is in shambles. It doesn't matter whether a student comes to class. If someone doesn't want to be here, then they shouldn't be.

This other breed of college student is lulled into a false sense of security by doing the bare minimum and playing catch-up before finals . Starting out with good intentions, the whole experience bores them and they stop coming to class. However, the end result is disastrous to their GPA as it is riddled with D's and C's.

College is the time for students to enjoy life and discover what they are truly passionate about. For some people, they Too just aren't passionate about college. If that's the case, they shouldn't waste time and money, as well as time of professors and other students, by acting like they care. Some people don't need college for their career. If that's the case, go home.

For those actually trying to get a degree, it is time to stop planning the weekend and start planning for the rest of your life.

Sure class can be boring but beyond the general requirements for the associates degree or a transfer, class is actually pretty interesting.

While students are still trying to figure out what they want to do with their lives, Palomar offers numerous opportunities that best fit each individual. If someone's interested in basket-weaving, they can take basket-weaving. Or someone may take a class on a whim and discover he loves a trade that they never even considered To borrow a phrase, take the sour with the sweet. Shut up and deal with the math class that may never be used again.

Try to stay awake through that lecture and think about what consequence the performance in this class will have when applying for a scholarship down the road.

Despite how futile it feels now, the work done here will impact work done at a university or in the job market. Take college for what it's worth, beyond the thousand spent on books and tuition. Embrace the skills and knowledge you learn here and apply it to everyday life.

=

m11ny people w11nd11 onto tllmpus w11iting to be h11nded 11 deg11e.

Teliicope Monday, Feb. 7, 2005

Volume 58, No. 12

FOCUSED ON PlllOMIIR The Telescope is published weekly on Mondays, except weeks containing holidays or exams. Signed opinions are those of the individual writers and do not necessarily represent those of the entire newspaper staff, Palomar faculty and staff or the governing board.

•

1 10'5 TREY BANNON I THE TELESCOPE

The passion of the Oscar • l1sus g1ts snubb1d lor Hollywood's top honor Bv Ben Greenstein

THl TELESCOPE

Since the 2004 Oscar nominees were announced Jan. 25, the most noticeable issue has been the shock of many movie viewers at Mel Gibson's "The Passion Of The Christ" not receiving the top nomination.

Nearly all Christian groups in the country are up in arms about the issue.

They argue that a successful and important film like Gibson's is too good for a measly three nominations .

They also argue that the snub is an example of Hollywood's liberal bias.

It's easy to dismi ss these outbursts.

I could easily point out that the same people who are protesting "The Passion's" lack of inclusion would be equally upset if "Fahrenheit 9/11" had received the nod.

Moore's film was equally controversial, and also very successful.

The real reason these protests are comical is simpler. Complaining about the fact that your favorite film didn't get enough nominations is like complaining when your friends don't like your favorite song.

One of the most common arguments is that, as one of the highest grossing films in history, "The Passion" deserves a nomination.

That is ridiculous - rarely in the past has a box-office smash received the top nomination.

"Titanic" is the only film that comes to mind.

tompl11ining your l11vorite film didn't get enough nomin11tions is like eompl11ining when your friends don't/ike your l11vorite song.

EDITOR IN CHIEF MATT NULL NEWS EDITOR DONNIE BOYLE OPINION EDITOR JOHN ASBURY ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR CHRYSTALL KANYUCK FOCUS EDITOR JESSICA HALSTON SPORTS EDITOR JAIME HARVILLE ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR MARWAN RAZOUK ONLINE EDITOR KYLE HAMILTON PHOTO EDITOR DOMINICK ULLOA COPY EDITOR ANDREW PHELPS AD MANAGER ROGER RENKAS INSTRUCTIONAL ASST TOM CHAMBERS INSTRUCTIONAL ASST CHARLES STEINMAN . JOURNALISM ADVISER WENDY NELSON

EJ:I ASSOCIATED COllEGIATE PRESS

"Titanic" has something else that "The Passion" doesn't - about $300 million.

Although people are talking about Gibson's film as if it's some kind of recordbreaker, the film is certainly not the most successful in film history.

It comes in about ninth place, barely ahead of"Jurassic Park."

What's more, it's not even the highest grossing film of the year.

"Spider-Man 2" and "Shrek 2," both released this year, made far more money than "The Passion."

"Shrek" made $436 million, "SpiderMan" made $407 million, while "The Passion" made $370 million.

So why aren't these other films nominated?

Not only were they seen by more people than Gibson's movie , but they both received almost exclusively positive reviews.

Reviews of "The Passion," on the other hand, ranged from excellent to terrible.

Clearly, it's a matter of personal preference.

Many people loved "The Passion" and loved it enough that they were hurt when it didn't receive the nominations they were hoping for.

But look - none of my favorite movies have ever been nominated for "Best Picture."

Rather than complaining and griping about this, I've just come to terms with the fact that the Academy has different tastes than my own.

I don't give any thought to which films they select.

I suggest the outraged fans of "The Passion" do the same. Just because the Academy doesn't like your favorite movie , doesn't mean that you can't continue to enjoy it.

~

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THE TELESCOPE • MONDAY, FEB. 7, 2005

5

Student loans not to be taken lightly In college we are constantly reminded of the dangers that face us - alcohol, drugs and sexually transmitted diseases, to name a few. But there is something else, something we do not find out about until it is too late - student loan debt.

Federal student loans are one of many alternatives available to qualified students. Other benefits include grants, scholarships and a variety of waivers and vouchers. Unlike loans, none of these other alternatives need to be paid back.

Getting an education is one of the most important things people can do if they want to be successful.

Financial aid is often necessary to achieve that goal. However, over-borrowing cannot only be counter-productive toward your goals, it can lead to decades of grief.

If you need to take out loans to achieve your goal, do it. But do it wisely.

The most common student loans are Federal Stafford Loans. There are two types of Stafford Loans - subsidized and unsubsidized. With subsidized loans, you borrow a certain amount per semester and there is no interest until you graduate and begin paying them off.

With unsubsidized loans, interest accrues immediately. In other words, interest is building up the entire time you are in school. This type of loan should be avoided at all costs.

The problem is that both loans are easy to get. If you fill out your financial aid forms and you qualifY for the maximum amount, you can take out both at the same time. The amounts vary from level to level.

My personal journey into lifelong student debt began in 1994. The maximum was $3,750 per semester. When I transferred from Palomar to a Cal State University, I was allowed to borrow a maximum of $5,500 per semester.

From the start I received the full package- CAL Grants, Pell Grants and loans.

Here is where the plot thickens. My grants paid for everything I needed tuition, books, etc. In spite of this, I still took out the maximum subsidized and unsubsidized loans every semester.

TREY BANNON I TilE TELESCOPE

When you are young and don't have $3,750 per semester and a few years at a money, it is hard to turn it down when four-year college borrowing $5,500 per people try to give it to you. It is easy to semester adds up. take student loans lightly.

When you graduate, your monthly payTo begin with, graduation seems far off. ment will likely be close to $1,000 per You assume that when you graduate from month. If you ignore it for 90 days, you are college you will instantly get a job that in default. When your loans are set for colpays enough for you make your payments. lection, your life will change instantly.

It is also easy to lose sight of the total If you have ever been late paying amount borrowed. your mortgage, car payIt seems like just a ment or credit-card bill few thousand here When you lite young 11nd you have the unpleasant and there. But it adds don't hiiVe money it is h11rd experience of dealing up! And if you take to turn it down when with creditors.

As out unsubsidized unpleasant as that was, loans, the interest, people tty to give it to you. it could not possibly' have builds while you are prepared you for what still in school. will happen if you When you take out student loans, they default on your student loans. make you sit through an hour-long workIf you default, you will owe money to the shop every semester. Basically, they tell Department of Education. You owe the you what will happen if you default (fail U.S. government money. You are not Syria to pay your loans back). And, in case you or Libya - there is no debt forgiveness for miss it, filing bankruptcy does not affect you. You are the enemy! student loans.

They call your home and work several If you decide to borrow the maximum, times per day. They seize your income tax understand what you are in for. Two to refunds. And their most powerful tactic three years at Palomar taking out they garnish you wages or salary. They

can find you anywhere at anytime.

If you get a new job, their computers will know the second your W2 is filed.

Your salary will be attacked by the time you get your first paycheck. Many employers look down on employees who have an attachment.

Between a bad credit report and a boss who does not trust you because you are "in trouble with the government," it can make career advancement difficult. Which is ironic because you took out the loans to get a career. My point is - don't mess wi,t h th,eJP.. . ,, , .

In fact, the Department of Education should lead the war on terror. It is scary to know that some of the Sept. 11 hijackers were on a federal terrorist watch list, entered this country using their real names, disappeared and then used those same names to enroll in flight schools and train for the attacks without being found.

If the government is serious about catching terrorists in the United States, they should forget about the "FBI's 50 Most Wanted List" and place the terrorist's names on the Department of Education's list of student loan defaults.

College life is more than high school with cigarettes

By Aaron Litchfield

TIU TELESCOPE

Who hasn't joked about "Palomar High School?"

What does it mean? Why do we do it? Does it ease the pain and suffering of attending community college? What's so bad about community college?

Fortunately, despite the lack of appeal, there are many benefits to first attending a twoyear school.

I've driven to San Luis Obispo a few times to visit my girlfriend who attends Cal Poly. I saw hundreds of students displaying their school spirit on sweatshirts.

Students are proud to go there. I've never seen a car with a bumper sticker that read, "My daughter and my money attend Palomar College." It isn't the same with community colleges.

The media has a definite impact on youth behavior - if anything, the media plays a huge role in determining what is and isn't cool. They have decided that community college is not cool.

In movies and TV, high school seniors go away to college. Poor

Emile Hirsch from the film, "The Girl Next Door" was sad because he wasn't a socialite and couldn't land a girlfriend.

We suffer with James Van Der Beek in the film, ''Varsity Blues" as he deals with his newfound social stardom as the starting quarterback.

Lead characters in teenage films very rarely attend community college.

The story doesn't dare explore why a student would need to stay home and go to school.

Going away to college is a rite of passage here in America. It's something high school students spend years looking forward to.

If anyone here at Palomar is like I am, they felt left out at the end of senior year when peers went away to supposedly bigger and better things.

And again, if you're like me, you don't know much about Palomar that isn't said in class.

Before I began to research student involvement for the school newspaper, I wasn't the least bit involved.

UCLA explains on its Web Like most Palomar students, I drive to school, park a mile site that it "gives highest prioraway and walk to class. I don't ity to students who are transplay sports. I don't know about ferring from California upcoming events. I don't talk to Community Colleges or other many people and I don't get University of California involved in study groups.

Campuses."

Honestly, I just come here to Poor high school performance isn't the only reason peodo my time before I transfer.

I'm beginning to believe that ple go to school here. this mindset isn't Some would prefer to stay conducive to high academic perform- Community eo/lege is at home and with parance. gtellt bee11use there live ents. It can be Studies have difficult to shown that stu- lite old people, dents who live in young people, stupid leave longtime friends, girldorm rooms their friend or freshman year people 11nd even 11 boyfriends, and have a greater like- lew geniuses. in our case, San lihood of getting a Diego. degree.

What's more, Palomar offers But we're adults and we know corporations won't waive great diversity. a necessary college degree on My brother once told me grounds that attending com- that community college is great because there are old people, munity college just isn't hip.

Community colleges can young people, stupid people, work for students who put in and even a few geniuses. the effort.

Two years ago, I took an I have a friend who is now oceanography class with a man attending USC after transferring who had been laid off from a from Grossmont College. The two job he had for 20 years. He was years at home saved his parents one of the best students.

He always had something to about $50,000 in tuition.

contribute; much came from his years of experience in the workforce.

People like him are what make community colleges worth attending.

Because of him, I think our class learned humility as well as what pulls the ocean back and forth.

Many Palomar students are more mature than me.

They don't have a complex because their school doesn't have a football team that plays on TV. For those of us who have kicked ourselves for mistakes made in the past and have come to Palomar with a chip on their shoulder, we need to forget about it.

There are many advantages to attending this school. There are plenty of great teachers and students alike.

We may transfer to a fouryear college someday, but our time will be better spent if we make the most of our opportunities here.

Besides, it's not just high school with cigarettes - our parents aren't called when we skip clas¡s.

6

THE TELESCOPE • MONDAY, FEB. 7, 2005

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By Katy Goodwin THE TELESCOPE

Sinuous lines, deep shadow and inspirational beauty are prominent in the photographic art hanging in Palomar's Boehm Gallery.

"Visions" by Tom Millea and "Affirmations" by Donna Cosentino are inspirational >- ,.....----.., black-and-white I 'Inspirations' photographs that ;I! BLACKANDWITE capture a spiritual ~ PHOTOGRAPHY BY and real tone that ~~~~L~6:tJ!i:No is rarely seen.

SHOWINGTUES.-SAT. Millea's work UNTIL FEB. 19. FOR focuses mainly on FREE the female figure. ~....._ _ __..

The lines and shapes of their bodies capture the essence of femininity.

While the women portrayed are not necessarily beautiful, Millea has shown their true nature through film, with beautiful end results.

"He captures an interaction between himself and the model," said Lindsay Utt, a model and family friend of Millea.

"He can really tell what that person is feeling."

The womens' natural expressions and the postures in which they are framed are like moments frozen in time.

Simple scenes, like a woman putting up her hair or a grandmother and baby together are slices oflife, as though seen through your own eyes.

Millea, originally from the east coast, lives in Carmel Heights, California.

He uses the platinum-palladium method of film development, which

produces a detailed and sharply contrasting piece of art with heavily defined light and shadow.

The platinum-palladium method is a very tedious and expensive way to develop a photograph.

It can take up to 40 hours just to develop one print, according to Rodney Utt, Millea's friend.

"It's been ten years since I've put together a show like this, full of new platinum-palladium work," Millea said.

"It's very unusual for there to even be a show because platinum prints usually go straight to private buyers."

This may be the reason why there were so many people at the reception Jan. 29.

Cosentino's art is no less spectacular. "Affirmations" is a collection of black--and-white photographs depicting beauty and simplicity in nature.

Cosentino's visuals are diverse.

On one end of the spectrum, she has Palomar Garden Series #2, a close up of a leaf with a very soft contrast between light and shadow.

The subtle shades in this photo convey a feeling of complimentary harmony.

The opposite can be seen in Tree Shrouded Path at Big Pine Creek.

The piece is a dark path surrounded by trees.

The shadows are extremely deep, starkly contrasting the very bright stalks of the plants.

"I go to places I love and make

Ani DiFranco

~Knuckles Down~

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ERIKO NISHIMURA I THE TELESCOPE

A wide variety of inspirational black-and-white photography is now on diplay at The Boehm Gallery. The exibit features art by Donna Cosentino, a Palomar photography instructor, and Tom Millea, noted west coast printer.

myself open to whatever's there. I let (the art) come to me," Cosentino said.

Cosentino's work exudes many different emotions.

Her soft, curving leaves give off a feeling of growth and life- whereas her sand dunes create a peaceful, soothing feeling. "(The art) leaves the imagination open to what life is," said Micah Hayes, a music major at Palomar.

Cosentino has been a photography instructor at Palomar for the past 24 years. Many of her former students and photography teachers from other colleges came to see her work.

Peter Garwin, a fellow photographer and friend of Cosentino, said he's happy to see her finally take the spotlight.

"She puts herself in second place, always trying to promote other photographers," Garwin said.

Garwin seemed surprised that Cosentino's work wasn't more journalistic in nature, since she teaches photojournalism.

"Her work is minimalist; she looks for natural essences in what she sees," he said.

Both artists share a deep passion for their work, which is evident in the quality and subject matter of their pieces.

Millea captures the beauty of the human spirit through his view of the female body, and Cosentino portrays the essence of nature through growing plants and moving water.

for her new record

Bv Ben Greenstein

TKE TELESCOPE

Reviewing Ani DiFranco albums is something of a pain- not because they're :1: ,.....----.., hard to listen to - far from it! ;!

'Knuckle But because there's just way ;; Down' too much to talk about. !:! iOUT Of FOUR 5'ARS! You see, DiFranco releases her albums like magazinesANI DIFRANCO she puts out between one and RlGHTEOUSBABE three per year- which means RECORDS that you can't just compare the new one to one of her old albums. You have to compare it to all 20 of them.

So, a better approach would probably be to avoid mention of the previous albums altogether, and simply take the new one on its own merits.

On "Knuckle Down," DiFranco invited her friend and fellow songwriter Joe Henry to co-produce - the first time DiFranco has not done the job on her own.

Henry's presence doesn't change much - the songs are still clever, quirky and highly literate.

The songs also still revolve around DiFranco's bizarre but excellent style of bluegrass-meetsfunk acoustic guitar.

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This style is most evident on the title track, which opens the record at high speed. DiFranco plucks her guitar strings hard enough to form a percussive rhythm. There are no drums on the song, but there's no way to tell with the way she's playing.

The catchiest songs on the record are "Manhole," a fun put-down of a pick-up artist that has nothing to do with its title, and the nos-

talgic ballad "Paradigm." This last could be considered a political protest song if it weren't so intimately personal.

While I'm not usually a big fan of DiFranco's characteristic spoken-word poetry, "Parameters" works extremely well because of its eerie harmonic guitar line and powerful imagery.

While there are really no bad songs, the album isn't quite consistent, either. The main problem with this record is that many of her songs feel like the same old thing, written as kind offormulaic Ani DiFranco song.

While DiFranco's sound is definitely cool enough to make even a by-the-numbers song passable, the truly amazing songs on the album tend to overshadow everything else.

Still, "Knuckle Down" is much less repetitive than some of her other albums, and even the weaker tracks on this album have top-notch guitar playing and lyrics.

Many critics, unfamiliar with DiFranco's extremely rootsy folk influences, compare her to Bob Dylan.

A better analogy in the rock world is Jimi Hendrix. Her compositions are not always as great as they could be, but she plays a mean enough guitar that it hardly matters.

San Diego has plenty of offerings for the most educational time of the year. . ~

The Serra Museum in Presidio

_.lilru__

Park is the local history spot. It displays unique artifacts in honor of Father Junipero Serra, founder of many historic California missions.

~ The Oceanside Museum of Art on JllitlUL the pier charges only three dollars r for admission, and offers concerts as well as a variety of contemporary art.

r~ " The Museum of Making Music in ~ Carlsbad emphasizes a hands on ~ musical

~

Quail Botanical Gardens in Encinitas has unique and endan-

~==l gered plants from around the world,

experience. It displays vintage instruments and offers guided tours of last 100 years of music history.

and admission is free on the second Tuesday of the month.

~

The Mingei International Museum

c:;:::;::::;:::;-:;: The San Diego Museum of Art in

has locations in both Balboa Park and ---'- downtown Escondido, and aims to show "art of the people," which is the translated meaning of the name of the museum.

the Great Goddess: The Divine Female in South Asian Art." including traditional Hindu sculpture.

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....--'

ITlli Balboa Park is featuring "Visions of

THE TELESCOPE • MONDAY, FEB. 7, 2005

7

Police move into new station 8

T

Eli Conroe

TELESCOPE

The eight full time peace officers of the Palomar College Police Department, and the support staff have moved into their new station.

The station, which is located in parking Lot 1, is now a place our campus Police can call their own.

The project suffered several delays. The original contracAurora Modular tor, Industries, filed bankruptcy and the January rainstorms delayed it further.

The station is complete except for a few last-minute touch ups .

There are a few sections of the interior roof that are incomplete. The alarm system is not installed, and the blacktop on the east side of the building is still curing.

Interim Police Chief Tony Cruz said that once the "cosmetic projects" are completed, there will be an open house at the station. The projects should be done by May, Cruz said.

Palomar's interim vice president of finance and administrative services, Joseph Newmyer, said there is a "distinct benefit" in having the police headquarters located on campus.

Newmyer said these benefits

include increased visibility and efficiency.

Interim Sergeant Mike Vafeados agrees, saying that before their new headquarters were built, the officers had to commute from a San Diego Sheriff Department station two miles away.

"We needed to be back on campus," Vafeados said. "We used to waste gas and time, commuting to the campus."

"The people we serve are here," he said, referring to the students, professors and staff at Palomar.

"Moving to this building gives us the ability to consolidate our manpower and equipment resources in order to effectively serve the needs of the college campus," Cruz said. "It makes good budgetary sense."

Cruz said now that they are on campus, the department will be able to place their full concentration on covering the campus jurisdiction.

"The staff, officers and CSOs (Community Service Officers) are happy, and morale is good," Cruz said.

Cruz said that there will be no difference in the response time, since officers have always spent their shifts on campus. Only the chief's office and administrative offices were off campus.

Though there will be no dif-

JOEL NAVARRO I THE TElESCOPE

A new police station recently opened on the San Marcos campus. It is the first time police headquarters has been on campus since 2002. There are still minor touch-ups to be made, but police said they expect to have an open house in May.

ference in response time, Cruz said that being together in one building instills unity, teamwork and cohesiveness.

Cruz said the station will benefit the department in many ways.

"Another thing is that we don't have to utilize our patrol vehicles as much. We will

spend less on gas, and there will be less wear and tear on the vehicles."

The vehicles will be used for patrolling the common circle and parking lots Cruz said.

Consequently the department will be more assertive in their foot patrols, increasing their visibility on campus.

"We now have the ability to serve the college community with efficiency and effectiveness," Cruz said.

There are many new offices including a ''bullpen" for squad briefings and roll calls, a dispatch center, an evidence room, a lost and found , locker facilities and a break room.

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TKE TELHCOPE

In a rural agricultural region of Baja California with few paved roads, a mother will carry her sick child several miles on foot to see a doctor.

At the Centro De Salud, a Mexican social-service and hospital facility, student volunteers from the Palomar College Pre-Med club treated patients while hosting a free medical and dental clinic the weekend of Jan. 8.

A team of 47 dedicated students and volunteers from Palomar, San Diego State University and UC San Diego traveled by car caravan through a powerful winter rainstorm to Erendira, a coastal farming community, about 150 miles south of the San Ysidro International border. The town sits next to a migrant farm worker village.

Palomar's Pre-Med club administers the Erendira clinic one weekend a month under the auspices of the Flying Samaritans , an organization providing medical and dental care in rural communities throughout Baja Mexico since the early 1960s.

"Palomar students have been invaluable in the operation of the clinic," said Tisha Bullock, coordinator of the Erendira clinic for the Flying Samaritans. Bullock said the students are in charge of administrational tasks, recruitment of physicians and fundraising.

"They are really and truly making the clinic happen," she said.

Palomar student Verena Schandera, on her fourth trip to Erendira, said she enjoys applying what she learned in the classroom to help make a difference in the world.

Palomar student Verena Schandera measures a young boy's temperature. Club members saw 35 adults and children during the clinic on Jan. 8.

Club members went knocking on doors at the migrant worker village to let families know about the clinic and available supplies.

David Haist and fellow clubmembers wrapped more than 600 presents the Friday night they arrived. This is the first year the club distributed gifts since its first trip in 1994.

''You're not just reading it in a textbook- you actually see it going on," she said.

Working with American doctors and Mexican medical school interns, the student volunteers take patient's blood pressures and vital signs, as well as interpreting the findings in Spanish.

In a supply room, a pharmacy technician was busy checking medicine containers for expiration dates.

Many of the patients the team saw during the rainy weekend complained of flu symptoms. An ophthalmologist from San Diego examined patients with eye complaints, including a young girl born without an eye. A dentist pulled another child's tooth using light from a portable light kit and an assistant's flashlight.

"One of the challenges of doing this clinic is the lack of modern conveniences," said Tracey Nosko, pre-medical club president and Erendira clinic coordinator. "You get to use your creativity and try to find answers to problems," she said.

Walter Kaiser, a retired physician who has been attending Flying Samaritan clinics for nearly 20 years, removed cactus thorns that were embedded in a man's hand for three years.

Along with providing care to patients with acute symptoms, the team also cares for patients with chronic conditions, such as diabetes and respiratory disease, Nosko said.

In addition to hosting the clinic, the team spent several hours gift-wrapping hundred of donated toys, clothes and toiletry items, then surprised the children at the farm worker village with the brightly-wrapped packages the next day.

This trip was the first club members gave gifts t children. Plans call for th giving to become an ru holiday season tradition.

The Palomar Pre-Med began its hum:-!litl involvement with the co1 nity of Erendira in 1994 the efforts of Erica Acke1 a former Palomar stl whose family owned a there, Bullock said.

After Ackerman grad1 from Palomar, club im ment with the clinic ;va~ radic, until Nosko becamE president and clinic coor tor two years ago.

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MONDAY, FEB. 7, 2005

ever gotten up and running again," said Pre-Med club adviser and life science professor, Carey Carpenter. "She is an incredible leader."

The January clinic was Nosko's last as clinic coordinator as she steps down to focus on nursing classes. Schandera and fellow club member Gary Garcia will share clinic coordinator duties this spring.

The Pre-Med club provides students a chance to learn about careers in medicine and allied health professions through volunteerism, lectures and networking opportunities with healthcare professionals.

"If you can take out the time to help people in need, it's a

benefit for yourself and a community that's less fortunate," Garcia said.

The Pre-Med club meets at 2 p.m. in room LS-9 on the second and fourth Friday of the month on the main campus.

For more photos from the Pre-Med club's trip to help migrant workers in Mexico, check out the Telescope Online at

the-telescope.com

A produce truck heads to market along Calle 13 De Diciembre in Erendira, Mexico. The small town is located about 150 miles south of the international border. Student volunteers worked at the Centro de Salud, a Mexican social service and hospital facility in Erendira.

Children anxiously await bags of goodies. Over 300 children received toys, clothes, candy and toiletries during the club's three day stay.

A mother and child wait in line for gifts. The student volunteers served the community of Erendira and a nearby migrant farm worker village.

A doctor performs minor dental surgery while an assistant stands by with a flashlight. Pre-Med club president Tracey Nosko said one of the challenges of running the clinic is the lack of modern conveniences. Student volunteers worked alongside American doctors and Mexican medical school interns.

10

THE TELESCOPE â&#x20AC;˘ MONDAY, FEB. 7, 2005

EOPS book vouchers cut by S I 50

By Amelia Vincent

THE TELESCOPE

Recent budget cuts to Equal Opportunity Programs and Services, a program designed to help those in need, have resulted in a reduction of services offered to students.

In the past, EOPS offered its students textbook vouchers worth $350. This semester the vouchers were reduced to $200.

Anne Stadler, EOPS services director, said the program is receiving less money from the state primarily because of salary and benefit increases in the district.

"For benefits alone, an extra $1,000 is being spent on each teacher," Stadler said.

EOPS supervisor, Lorraine Lopez, said they received $211,888 for book vouchers.

The money is then divided by the number of students in EOPS. With more students and less funding, book vouchers were reduced. Due to advertising more students are aware of what EOPS has to offer, Stadler said.

Two donations were made to EOPS following news of the budget cuts. The Angel Society was set-up by an anonymous donor for students in dire need of educational materials. It was intended for extenuating circumstances that required the $150 cut from last semesters voucher. That fund is now depleted.

The other donation provides four, $200 scholarships to single parents in good academic standing. The money was

JAIME HARVILLE-ASTL/ THE TELESCOPE

Trudy Meriedth (left) and Angela Stanley help student Suanny Espinosa Jan. 28. EOPS recently cut book vouchers for students.

donated anonymously by a member of the campus community in late December and was recently distributed to selected students.

EOPS is a supplementary program not intended to fully support a student in need,

Stadler said. The decrease in book vouchers is part of the funding cycle.

"It fluctuates every semester," Stadler said.

To qualify for EOPS, students must receive a Board of Governor's Fee Waiver, enroll

in 12 units and have California residency. Stadler said the first step a student should take when seeking financial aid is to fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid- FAFSA. Eligible students receive $2,000 per semester.

Stadler said many EOPS students are eligible to receive aid but do not apply. "There are different requirements, but they are very similar," Stadler said.

Students enrolled in EOPS programs at other community colleges receive less money for books. At San Diego City College EOPS students receive vouchers for $150, MiraCosta $200 and Southwestern gives $100 vouchers to new students and $200 to continuing students.

The program at Grossmont College issues $250 vouchers - $50 more than Palomar.

At local colleges the book voucher allowance varied from $100 to $250 depending on the number of students enrolled.

Some students worry that $250 may not cover the cost of books with some books costing more than $100.

"I spent $362 on books and school supplies, this semester," said Palomar Student John Houx. Houx is a full-time student taking 14 units.

"We've exceeded the amount required for book vouchers by the state every semester," Lopez said.

Last spring, students received supplies and $350 for books. "In the past, we've given survival kits with educational supplies like backpacks and pencils."

Stadler and Lopez said there have not been any complaints from students due to the budget cuts. "I haven't had any complaints, just students looking for more money."

Lopez said.

â&#x20AC;˘ CONTRACT: Both sides pleased with outcome, ratification is next step CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

tiations began, said the faculty did not back off from its earliest demands.

The district originally proposed to cut teachers' medical benefits in response to rising healthcare costs.

"That was always the key issue to our full-time faculty," Drinan said. "In the past, faculty here had always been making some concessions ... with salary in favor of benefits."

PFF Co-President Rocco Versaci said the college has seen a 30-percent rise in benefits costs - which the district must absorb.

"It's just the cost of doing business," said Wilma Owens, a district negotiator and the dean of career education. She also said those benefits are for all employees, not just teachers.

Both sides said they are satisfied with the contract.

"It's a win-win as far as we are all concerned," said Darrell McMullen, a governing board member who traditionally votes in support of the district.

McMullen said the new contract is something the district "could live with," in large part because of a recent $2.1 million windfall for the college.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger awarded the money to Palomar in his fiscal 2005 budget to balance out the hugely disproportionate funding for community colleges statewide.

The district long argued that statewide budget cuts in education made it difficult to negotiate.

The 17 .4-percent salary increase is made up of retroactive cost-of-living adjustments, called COLA, and growth money. It also depends on a maximum of 2.5 percent of expected growth money for the 2004-05 year, which could shrink or fail to materialize. Colleges receive finan-

11

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11/l eonee1ned. 11 IN REFERENCE TO THE NEW FACULTY CONTRACT

Darrell l\1cl\1ullen

GOVERNING BOARD MEMBER

cial bonuses for adding more students to their rosters. A drop in enrollment would mean no growth money.

David Forsyth, a PFF negotiator and the Business Department chairman, said the growth money might not be realized until the next school year. The PFF has agreed to wait until March 2006 to ask for it.

For the 2001-02 academic year - the year the teachers unionized - teachers receive money from a 3.9 percent COLA and 3.5 percent in growth.

The college saw no growth between 2002 and 2003 but a spike in 2004-05.

Teachers get a 3.1 percent boost from that growth, as well as a 2.4 percent COLA. Part-timer teachers also get pay raises under the new contract. Most part-timers have already received a raise - more than $4 per hour- since December 2004.

Part-timers received the raises after the district unlocked a block of state parity money last year. The district had used the parity money as leverage in negotiations.

Part-timers will also receive a 1.5 percent pay increase, Drinan said.

The PFF also negotiated 49-percent pay raises for Palomar's Child Development Center workers, who formerly received the lowest wages in San Diego County. Those

workers have received the extra pay for more than a year.

Forsyth said a salary boost was critical.

When he came to Palomar in 1981, he said, the college ranked in the top 25 percent of comparable colleges for salary.

But as of last year, ''we were next to dead last," he said.

Salary and benefits will be up for renegotiation as soon as the start of the next school year. Drinan and Owens said both sides will fight hard when that time comes.

Class sizes will grow under the contract, but work hours will remain the same, Drinan said.

Drinan tried to quell worries about class size increases, saying only some classes would grow and they would do so "marginally."

Classes to see growth would likely be science labs that already have 60 students, Drinan said.

Plus, a number of small rooms on campus have small occupancy limits and would physically constrain growth. ''We're not going to pack rooms in those cases," Drinan said.

Contract talks picked up steam last summer after months of impasse. Many teachers pegged the newfound energy to changes in management structure.

The election of Ruth Larson, a newcomer and faculty favorite, shifted the governing board's 3-2 split to a majority of faculty-backed trustees.

"There's been a change since that election," Drinan said.

She added, "One of the previous board members was very critical of faculty," apparently referring to Ralph Jensen.

Drinan also said former president Sherrill Amador created a dividing line when she came to the bargaining table for the district.

Opposition to Amador intensified when a majority of faculty members voted "no confidence" in Amador in April 2003. She resigned midway through her contract in July 2004, ushering in an interim president and launching a cross-campus search for a permanent replacement.

Forsyth praised the interim president, Richard Jones, for speeding up the talks.

"He felt things had gone on for a long enough period of time," Forsyth said. "He wanted a clean slate for the guy that would come in."

"The guy" is Robert Deegan, the new president, who has come to a campus still healing from the wounds of division.

"It's been a very tough three years and I'm ready to move on," Versaci said. "It's time we all pull together and stop tearing each other apart."

But McMullen said the contract resolution boiled down to more than personality.

"From a financial standpoint, things have settled down in education," McMullen said, referring to the state's budget problems. "We're all going to get the short end of the stick, but it's not short as it used to be."

McMullen added: ''Whether we got a new president or not, it got to the point where it had to be settled."

THE TELESCOPE â&#x20AC;˘ MONDAY, FEB. 7, 2005

11

Democratic club gains membership

By John Asbury

TH'i TmSCOPE

Regardless of the outcome of the Nov. 2 election, the Democratic Club at Palomar College is gaining momentum.

Formed at the beginning of the fall semester, the club has grown from two founding members to seven officers, about 20 active members and an e-mail group in the triple digits.

Political science professor Peter Bowman is the club's adviser and said he hopes the organization will be an outlet for the progressive wing of the political system.

"We want to make our existence better known to establish a partnership and relationship with democratic organizations in San Diego County," Bowman said.

However, Bowman said his role as club adviser does not have any impact on his role as a professor and that his job as professor is much more important than adviser.

"My goal is not to persuade, but to present both sides and give legitimacy to both sides," Bowman said.

Both founding members, President Brian Van Riper and club officer Cody Campbell are active on the state Democratic level.

Van Riper was recently selected to serve as a two-year delegate to the state assembly,

JOHN ASBURY I THE TELESCOPE

Democratic club president Brian Van Riper (sitting) signs up a new member during Club Rush in front of Ute Student Center Feb. 2.

where he will attend the state convention in April. With the consent of the Palomar Democrats, he will elect the next party chair.

Campbell is a member of the California Democratic Party's governing board and was a non-partisan candidate for the Vista school board.

"I'm not extremely liberal, but the Democratic Party is the way to go for working-class people," Campbell said.

Bowman said young people have to realize the quality of their lives, including healthcare and education, is directly impacted by the decisions government makes.

"What better evidence than the last four years," Bowman said.

The Democratic club offers an alternative to the Republican club, which is also very active on campus.

Campbell said both clubs are

very accepting of each other and that the Democratic club is here to stay.

The club is looking to counter past trends of apathy among young voters by attacking issues that matter most to today's youth.

Bowman said there are several issues being decided right now that young voters should pay attention to.

Bowman points to education as a prime example. He said

untenured faculty are in danger of being laid off and students of modest means face increased fees and taxes.

Bowman also said this generation should focus on social security and health care reform.

"Young people are part of the 43 million Americans without healthcare insurance," Bowman said.

Bowman also said the war in Iraq and possible future military action also has a direct impact on young voters.

Bowman said that currently a military draft is highly unlikely given a bipartisan consensus in congress.

"However, if this administration should stretch troops too thin, it could be very plausible," Bowman said.

The club is part of the statewide California College Democrats organization that endorses local and state candidates to try to influence elections. They contribute funds for materials to local chapters such as Palomar.

Palomar's Democratic club is establishing a Political Action Committee to raise funds for local campaigns.

"The public is looking closer and asking, 'Is this where we want the country to be going?'"

Campbell said.

The club meets every other Monday at 11 a.m. in Room S7. For more information visit the club's Web site at www.palomarcollegedems .org.

12

THE TELESCOPE mMONDAY, FEB. 7, 2005

Book prices equal to tuition costs produce and may only sell in the thousands," Hildebrand said. "A 40,000 seller is a best seller. Mass-mru·ket novels are inexpensive to produce and frequently sell in the millions."

He disputed the criticism that new editions are put out frequently and with very little new material.

New editions are typically published every three or four years and contain updated information necessary to their fields, he said. ''What has changed about math in the last 1,000 years? Nothing," Hildebrand said. "But let's look at the application. One thousand years ago they were worried about the speed of a sailing ship. Fifty years ago they were worried about the speed of a bullet. Today, we're doing space shots. The applications change."

Students and administrators have also complained about books that are sold in bundles for specific courses, which drives the prices up. For example, a package of books for an advanced biology class costs $215. Hildebrand said publishers bundle books based on orders from professors or college committees.

By !\'like Jackson

KRT li!IWS SERVICE

Lance Wiley paid about $400 in tuition this semester to attend community college.

Then he went to the bookstore.

"I spent another $400 on textbooks for my courses," said Wiley, 19. "It's outrageous that textbooks cost that much."

Wiley, a student at Collin County Community College, seems to speak for the masses when it comes to college textbooks. Wholesale prices have increased 33 percent since 1998 and will continue to rise, according to a survey by the National Association of College Stores.

Students have long complained about the costs, but the hue and cry peaked recently when Congress held hearings on textbook prices. The Government Accountability Office, the investigative rum of Congress, began its inquiry into textbook pricing last semester.

Publishers and college administrators said they are working on ways to offer more affordable books. But high-dollar texts are likely to remain on the shelves for a while.

At community colleges, where students flock for inexpensive educations, they're feeling the pinch.

"The science textbooks are the worst," said Ty Rollins, 21, a student at Richland College in Dallas. "Even the used ones cost $108."

On average, full-time students in the Collin County Community College District pay about $500 in tuition for one semester, said Thorn Chesney, interim vice president for academic affairs. Their book bills often top tuition.

"Even before they enroll, they see tuition, fees and books as being too much," Chesney said. "We know that some students try to get through the

MELANIE BURFORD ! KilT NEWS SERVICE

Fauzia Khan, 18, sorts through textbooks at PJ's Campus Bookstore in Plano, Texas, on Jan.l/. Only needing one more book, Khan was frustrated that it was only available in a bundle of three books that sold for $90. courses without the books."

After Richard Abney enrolled his daughter, Sasha, 18, at Collin County Community College, he expected to spend about $120 on books, he said.

He figured wrong.

"When the cashier rang it up, she said, '$560,"' Abney said. "I said, 'What? Can I take out a loan?"'

Students complain that cheaper used textbooks aren't always available. They say they're often forced to buy the publishers' new editions.

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"Textbook publishers put new editions on the market frequently - often with very few content changes - making the less expensive used textbooks obsolete and unavailable," said a report by the California Student Public Interest Research Group. Members of the U.S. House of Representatives referred to the report during hearings last summer.

The report also criticized publishers for adding "bells and whistles that drive up the price of textbooks."

Textbook publishers acknowledge the expense but say the complaints aren't new.

"Everybody who ever went to college can remember saying that their textbooks cost too much," said Bruce Hildebrand, executive director for higher education with the Association of American Publishers.

But Hildebrand argues that the books, tmlike popular novels, often require the work of dozens of experts in specialized fields, which is costly.

And publishers can't rely on high-volume sales to drive down prices, he said.

"Textbooks are incredibly expensive to

Cheaper options Publishers and administrators have been toying with affordable alternatives.

Used textbooks are still a good option, said Dave Husted, director of Collin County Community College's bookstore.

They make up about 25 percent of the store's sales, he said. Students can also buy or sell directly to one another.

"It's an important part of om business," Husted said. ''It saves students money. It's good for everybody."

Publishers and bookstore managers have also talked about more basic texts published only in black and white and without photographs and graphics that drive up production prices.

"If it contained the same material, I think students would choose the cheaper, no-frills books," Husted said.

Some publishers have begun breaking up textbooks into parts, Hildebrand said.

One publisher's calculus text, for instance, runs about $130, but it is used over three semesters. To reduce the cost, the publisher breaks it up into three books and sells them in softcover or in a spiral notebook.

Publishers also offer some electronic texts or abbreviated versions, he said.

"If there is a demand for modified texts, we provide it," Hildebrand said. "We'll drive the cost down as far as we can."

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THE TELESCOPE 1111 MONDAY, FEB. 7, 2005

Palomar College literary magazine, is accepting submissions for its spring 2005 print and online issues.

The magazine invites students to showcase there writing, art and photography. The The Palomar Foundation has deadline for submissions is raised $3,324 since the estab- March 15. lishment of its Tsunami Relief Cash prizes for the best subFund on Jan. 4. missions will be awarded at the The fund benefits the victims 41st annual celebration of of the Dec. 26 tsunami disaster, Bravura on May 16 at 7 p.m. at which killed at least 165,000 the Brubeck Theatre. and left millions homeless.

Bravura's purpose is to proThe money was forwarded to vide literary and artistic the American Red Cross' options for students at Palomar.

International Relief Fund.

According to Bravura's Web "We made a press release, site, "Bravura has published an and sent a campus wide e-mail array of literary works and to spread awareness of the provocative images by students fund," said Palomar Foundation for over thirty years. coordinator Pam Grasso.

Bravura reflects our commit"We've been very fortunate to ment to celebrating the diversihave people respond to it." ty of creative voices at Palomar Staff, faculty and community College and the ongoing desire members were among those to enhance the cultural life of who donated, said Grasso. our community."

"It was suggested at our last Douglas Pancini, a student in board meeting that the founda- the Bravura literary magazine tion should match the funds col- class, described his experience lected," Grasso said. with the magazine as "absolute"Unfortunately, our by-laws ly amazing and terrific." state that the foundation's Bravura is published annualfunds must be exclusively used ly at the end of the spring for the college." semester. It is produced and The Palomar Foundation is edited by students under the still accepting donations and supervision of English profeswill continue to do so as long as sors, Rocco Versaci and Carlton needed, Grasso said.

Smith.

Donations may be made in For more information, call person at Pam Grasso's office in Rocco Versaci at (760) 744Room A-4B or the foundation 1150, ext. 2971 or visit the office in ST-17.

Bravura Web site at Or the can be mailed to the www. palomar.edu/English/Bra main campus "Attn: Palomar vura.

College Foundation," at 1140 Mission Road, San Marcos, CA - Caitlin Strong 92069-1487 .

Checks are to be made payable to the Palomar College Foundation and tagged "Tsunami Relief Fund."

Tsunami fund • ra1ses more than $1,000

-

Thomas l\1ay

Student literary journal taking submissions Bravura, the award-winning

-Kaly Goodwin

Health Services join the faire to offer free condoms Telescope!

Feb . 14 is not only Valentine's Day - it is also National Condom Awareness Day. In the past , Palomar College Health Service s department has offered a basket of free condoms in its office.

In an effort to reach more stu-

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dents and educate them about safe sex, Health Services will be promoting Condom Awareness Day Feb. 9 at Campus Wide Day. Campus Wide Day will offer booths for clubs and groups to hand out information to students.

Health Services will have a booth dedicated to educating students on various health topics and issues . Sexually Transmitted Disease awareness and safe-sex information will be available.

Brochures and pamphlets explaining what STDs are, how to prevent them, and what the symptoms are will be available for students. And Planned Parenthood will be supplying the Health Services booth with free condoms as a way of promoting safe sex.

Due to a limited supply Health Services has asked that students take only two condoms.

Condoms are also available at three Health Services vending machines on campus. Machines are located in the Student Union, Admissions and the Health Services building. The Escondido campus also has one machine near the Health Services office.

Brochures and educational material will be available along with any leftover condoms in the Health Services building after Feb. 9.

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13

Police offer free gun locks to community The Palomar College Police Department is offering free gun-lock kits to students, employees and members of the community.

The kits were awarded to the police department by Project Child Safe.

"Disabling home guns is a simple but effective way to increase the safety of children who live in households where guns are present," said Officer Brian Herritt, who is coordinating the program for the department.

The kit includes an adjustable lock, key and gunsafety information.

The locks adjust to fit any

gun type and are easy to use .

Palomar Police received 700 gun lock kits from Project Child Safe, a nation wide program supported by a grant from the U. S. Department of Justice and the National Shooting Sports Foundation This program is a component of Project Safe Neighborhoods .

"We are inviting the Palomar College community and our neighbors to visit the police department to pick up free gun lock kits," Herritt said. "Individuals may have more than one lock. The important thing is to protect our children by locking all guns."

To pick up a free kit, interested gun owners should visit the Police department which is located at the front of Parking Lot one. For further information, call 760-7441150, ext. 2289 .

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14

THE TELESCOPE II MONDAY, FEB. 7, 2005

= Wo111en's basketball falls short .....

-

0

A.

Ut IIII

E

0 w

Bv Marwan Razouk

Haley found Koepke inside. Koepke scored with three seconds left to send Palomar into the locker room Leading 47-43 with 5:10 remaining with a 29-25 lead. in its conference matchup with "I felt like we did a good job in Grossmont, the Palomar women's the first half," Haley said. "I basketball team would not score thought we outplayed them." again, dropping a 53-4 7 decision to The intensity would thicken in the Griffins Jan.29 in the Dome. the second half.

Despite Grossmont head coach Karen sa playing the GRIFFINS Caires received a technical foul for 47 rest of the COMETS verbally abusing an official, giving season with Palomar two free throws and posa skeleton crew of seven players, the sessiOn. Comets (10-11 overall, 2-3 in Pacific Clarivel Morales made one of the Coast Conference) were in position two foul shots to cut the Lady to defeat Grossmont (16-5,4-1) late Griffins' lead to 41-40 with 8:50 in the second half. remaining.

"We're like a M*A*S*H unit right The Comets would regain the now," said co-head coach Roger lead 44-43 after Jackie Witt's offenMoses . "We gave everything we sive rebound and layup. could, but we're limited in what we All seemed well after Koepke can do." drained a three-pointer to give After starting the season with 18 Palomar a 47-43 lead with 5:10 left players, the Comets are down to only in the game. Koepke's basket seven roster players. proved to be the final points for a Moses said three players were lost fatigued Palomar team. to injuries and are now sidelined Despite poor foul shooting from redshirts due to medical reasons. He the Griffins in the final two minalso said that eight others left for a utes (Tashauna Howell, 2-6 FT) variety of undisclosed reasons. and multiple missed second chance "It complicates everything about a opportunities, Palomar could not team," he said. "We have to pick and put the ball in the basket, losing in choose how we substitute. The playthe process. ers we lost would have made an The Comets will travel to San impact."

Diego Mesa Feb. 9 before returning Palomar played well in the first home to face Cuyamaca Feb.12. half, controlling the glass and out"I'm disappointed with every hustling the Griffins.

ROGER RENKAS I THE TELESCOPE loss, especially those you could Fernanda Morales led Palomar Palomar's Emily Koepke attacks the basket in the Comets 53-47 loss to Grossmont Jan.29. have won," said Kostlan. "It's not with 11 rebounds to go along with The next women's home game is Feb. 9 at 7 p.m. against Cuyamaca College. the first time this season we her 13 points. haven't finished what we started.

The Comets forced jump balls on Palomar executed well on fast which came late in the first halffrom There's always next game of two Grossmont possessions, one of breaks in the first half, led by Kostlan to Emily Koepke to give course." which came against Griffin standout Caitlin Haley (5 assists) and Kacie Palomar a 27-23 lead.

She added, "I'm tired of saying Kayla Henry late in the half.

Kostlan (15 pts, 6 steals), one of In the waning moments of the half that."

Til'£ TELESCOPE

WEEKLY SCHEDULE BASEBALL

NAME: Michael Perez YEAR: Sophomore SPORT/POSITION: Basketball/Point Guard HIGH SCHOOL: St. Bonaventure in Ventura MAJOR: Undecided LIFE AFTER PALOMAR: To play at a 4-year school and earn a bachelor's degree

Tue., Feb. 8 at Golden West Z p.m.

Sat., Feb. I Z at Cypress I p.m.

MEN'S BASKETBALL Wed., Feb. 9 vs San Diego City College 7 p.m.

Sat., Feb. I Z at Grossmant 7 p.m.

Wed., Feb. 9 Tee-OH Classic Los Serranos Country Club 7 a.m.

Fri., Feb. II Rio Hondo Invitational Rio Hondo 8 a.m.

SOFTBALL Wed., Feb. 9 at Saddleback J p.m.

Sat. - Sun., Feb. I Z - I J Green/Gold Tournament Irvine Time: TBA

FAVORITE MEAL: Anything my roommate makes FAVORITE MOVIES: "Hoosiers", "Remember the Titans", "Friday

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Night Lights" Wed., Feb. 9

HOBBIES: Playing basketball, going to the beach, watching movies

FAVORITE ON-COURT MOMENT: Going to the CIF semi-final game in high school.

MOST INFLUENTIAL ROLE MODEL: "My parents. They work hard for everything we have. They put me where I am today."

at San Diego Mesa

SWIMMING Fri. - Sat., Feb. II - I Z Border Invitational Home All Day

7 p.m.

Sat., Feb. I Z vs Cuya•aca College 7 P·•·

GOLF

MEN'S VOLLEYBALL Fri., Feb. II vs Oraage Coast 6 P·•·

Mon., Feb. 7 Tee-OH Classic Los Serranos Coaatry Clab 7 ••••

•

THE TELESCOPE • MONDAY, FEB. 7, 2005

15

Comets even record in conference

By Donnie Boyle

TKE TELESCOPE

After falling behind in the Pacific Coast Conference, the men's basketball team evened its record at 4-4 with a 98-77 win over San Diego Mesa College Jan. 29.

The win constituted the Comet's first back-to-hack victories of the season.

The previous win was on the road against MiraCosta Jan. 26.

The winning streak could have been three games if not for an overtime loss to Imperial Valley College - a OLYMPIANS 77 game that some players said COMETS 98 lit a fire under the team.

"We knew we should have won against Imperial Valley," said forward/center Manny Montano. "We knew we had to turn it around."

Associate head coach J .J. Santa Cruz credits the players' resolve as the key factor in their current success. Santa Cruz also said the teams commitment to a faster-paced offense has turned things around.

"It is something we wanted to do for awhile," Santa Cruz said. "The guys started running more, and once they saw what it could do the light switched on- they are actually enjoying the game now."

One of the keys to the offense has been the presence of point guard Michael Perez.

"His vision and leadership on the floor and the bench has shown us a lot," Cruz said.

Head coach John O'Neill also praised Perez for his assist-to-turnover ratio, which is nearly 3-1.

He said that all of the players have shown improvement and are contributing to the team's success.

"Charles Lawrence is leading the league in rebounding, nearly averaging a double-double and Nick (Charles Nickolei) has been great," O'Neill said.

Nickeloi scored 29 points and grabbed 10 rebounds against Mesa after a 21-point, 12-rebound performance three days earlier.

With six games left in the season the team is approaching the stretch run with a completely different mindset. Santa Cruz said evening the team's record made a difference.

"They believe now," Santa Cruz said. "They see their potential greatness and feel like there isn't a team that can beat them."

JOEL NAVARRO I THE TELESCOPE

The Palomar College men's basketball team practices in the Dome on the San Marcos campus. The team just evened its record to 4-4 on Jan. 29 with a 98-n win against San Diego Mesa. The next home game versus San Diego City College is Feb. 9 at 7 p.m.

However, the players and coaches say they are not satisfied with a .500 record.

"Our goal was to get to .500," Santa Cruz said. "Now we are looking for a winning record."

Santa Cruz said that in all of his years in basketball, he has not be around a group of players who like each other and work as well together as this team does.

O'Neill and Santa Cruz also emphasized the teams health.

Throughout the early season the team was plagued by a series of injuries and illnesses. With the team at full strength, coaches and players say now is the time.

Their motto is one of unity. They see themselves as a "closed fist." Santa Cruz said that if an open hand hits a wall it will break. But if a clenched fist with its five fingers (players) hits a wall it will smash it.

The Comets will take their now-or-never philosophy on the road for the next two games against Southwestern College and San Diego City College- two teams that are tied for second place in the conference.

Guard Josh Knight said the team is ready.

"We feel like we belong on 'the court, no matter who we are playing," Knight said. "Before we were hoping to win. Now we expect to win."

Palomar athletes gear up for the spring season • Optimism begins spring semester for the Comets B

Ma1·wan Razouk

T E TELESCOPE

SOFTBALL Like thoroughbreds held at the starting gate, the Palomar softball team will have to wait to start the season, as the Jan. 29 season opener against Orange Coast was cancelled due to rain.

The 19-time defending Pacific Coast Conference champions will open their quest for 20 in a row March 2 at Grossmont.

"We'll have to wait until Wednesday," said head coach Mark Eldridge.

MEN'S TENNIS Men's tennis will attempt to repeat as PCC champions this spring despite losing their top two players from a year ago.

Chris Auen, Gary Garcia, Tom Yancey, and Ryan Fraser all return for the Comets, who finished last season 18-2 overall and were undefeated in conference, going as far as the state quarterfinals before exiting.

Yancey and Garcia will be

the top doubles team for the Palomar men.

"If we play as well as we're capable of," Coach Ronnie Mancao said. "It should come down to us and (perennial rival) Grossmont for the conference. "

WOMEN'S TENNIS The women's tennis team will return its top player this season, Christy Knudsen, and will add a Division I transfer.

Eliza Caguioa will join the Comets after transferring from UC Irvine, and will be the teams' No. 2 player.

The two will also be the top doubles team for Palomar.

The Comets will have to go through Grossmont for the PCC title. The Griffins have built a perennial powerhouse through international recruiting.

"We like to recruit locally," Mancao said, who coaches both tennis teams. "We can be successful while still giving local players a chance."

MEN'S VOLLEYBALL With the head coaching situation unclear, Palomar men's volleyball will look to improve on last year's dismal performance.

Outside hitter Erik Joller

JOEL NAVARRO I THE TELESCOPE

The spring sports line up consists of baseball, golf, softball, men's and women's swimming and tennis and men's volleyball. _

and setter Nick Rubacky return for the Comets.

BASEBALL After a second-place finish last season, Bob Vetter's Palomar baseball team will look to capture its fifth league title in the last eight seasons.

First Team All-American third baseman Erich Kemp will return to lead the Comets, who opened the season last week in the Palomar Invitational.

Two Palomar players have

signed early letters of intent with Division I programs.

Catcher Dylan Parzyk will become a Kansas Jayhawk next season while pitcher Brandon Adams will join the Cowboys of Oklahoma State.

"I think we have a chance to do something special," Kemp said.

GOLF Head coach Jon as Crawford begins his fourth season as head coach of the Palomar golf team.

The team begins the season today in the Tee-Off Classic at Los Serranos Country Club in Chino Hills.

Last year's team MVP Markus Wendel returns to lead the Comets. Wendel, who is originally from Sweden, placed second in the Orange Empire Conference in scoring last season.

Five returners join Wendel along with five freshmen, including Lyndon Joseff F. Barril, from the Phillippines who has played in two Asian PGA tour events.

16

THE TELESCOPE â&#x20AC;˘ MONDAY, FEB. 7, 2005

Cheer team wins national championship

By John Asbury

T!fE TELESCOPE

While many students relaxed during winter break, Palomar became home to the latest national champions of coed cheer in the community college division.

The coed squad and the all women's team left Jan. 13 for the College National Cheerleading Competition in Orlando, Fla. The coeds were named national champions after competing Jan. 15 against Snead State from Boaz, Ala. and Wallace State from Hanceville, Ala., including other community colleges in their division.

"It's an honor to compete with those schools, because they offer scholarships to their students," said Paul Groom, student activities coordinator.

"Our kids raise their own budget."

The cheer teams teach camps throughout the year to raise the majority of their funds.

The women's team raised $15,000 to compete for the first time at nationals. However, the returning coeds' entire trip was paid for by placing first in their qualifying bid.

PHOTO COURTESY OF PAUL GROOM Cheerleaders are usually The coed cheer squad performing the routine that cinched its win in the Junion College Division at the College National Cheerleading Competition in Orlando, Fla. expected to maintain a 50-hour In addition, Palomar's all-female cheer squad placed third in the All-Girl Division II. Individual cheerleaders also placed eighth and 13th places in Partner Stunts. workweek between practice and classes. The team competed team. He went on to compete made strong by being uniform, the University of Kentucky or she expected and that it's much throughout winter break in nationally for championship clean and crowd oriented.

Morehead State, both nation- more difficult than it looks. between holidays. teams at He also said that voice pro- ally renowned schools for Groom, who has competed Sixteen of the "Not m11nylootb11ll Morehead State jection, flips and a unique cheerleading. since 1987, said the difficulty of 19 members of the University.

Arkansas played football at the team's routine might have pyramid formation contributed coed team compet- pl11y1rs tlln do wh11t we This is his first to their success.

San Marcos High School and also won the competition. ed to bring the do. It's 11 lot h11rd1r year back at "The team is the best at competed with the All-Star "Every year everyone comes title back to Palomar to coach everything they do: school, Bullets cheerleading squad gunning for Palomar," Groom b11l11nting 11 girl on Palomar. the teams. cheer and time management," where he was recruited by said. "Competent coaches with "This team is your he11d th11n pushing Groom said Groom said. "If they do their Groom to compete at Palomar. two to three titles on their belt the most talented 11 linem11n." that the team was best everyday, they stand the "It's not just the rah-rah rub off on the kids." of all Palomar able to stand out best chance at flawless execu- everyone thinks it is," Arkansas The women's team placed teams I've seen," - Joseph Arkansas and place first tion during competition." said. "Not many football players third in their first competition at CHEERLEADER because of a cresaid cheer coach Groom also said this would can do what we do. It's a lot nationals. ative submission give them the best chance at harder balancing a girl on your Jeremy Pecoraro.

Pecoraro said the growth of A former Palomar cheerleader video and a strong routine. head than pushing a lineman." national scholarships. the program would produce the himself, Pecoraro said this team "Palomar is on the cutting Cheerleaders Joseph V:ilaboy said she was recruited best results that we want. was given the most opportunity edge of collegiate cheer," Arkansas and Jennifer Vilaboy because she was small.

Rindy Hardy of the women's of any team in past years.

Groom said. "We've become a hope to earn scholarships as Originally a dancer, she said team said that the competition Pecoraro originally competed real powerhouse m the they plan to transfer next she never knew anything about didn't expect them to do well, for Palomar in 2001 and was nation." competitive cheer. Since join- "but we blew them out of the semester. part of the championship 2002 He said that the routine is Both hope to attend either ing, she said it was more than water!"

Football teaJD sends 16 players to four-year schools

By Christopher Allmaras

TH"E TELESCOPE

After a disappointing 3-7 season, the Palomar football program found a bright spot as 16 players recently signed or verbally committed to fouryear schools.

Head Coach Joe Early called his players a good group who stuck with it during the season and earned an opportunity to have their educations paid for by football.

Early also said he never expected to have such a bad year. However, he said his men were not quitters and finished strong against Cerritos with a 30-7 victory.

Seven players earned transfers to Division I schools, six to Division I-AA, while three others landed with NAIA programs.

Defensive captain and starting safety Josh Gomez garnered several honors, including first team J.C. Grid-Wire AllAmerican, Mission Conference American Division Defensive Player of the Year, Palomar Most Valuable Player and Defensive Player of the Year honors.

Gomez has transferred to San Diego State U:qiversity to play for former

COLIN ERIE I THE TELESCOPE

Defensive end Soli Lefiti (96) has verbally committed to the University of Utah Comets to sign or commit to a Division 1 football program.

Palomar head coach Tom Craft.

Gomez boasted an impressive stat line including 107 tackles (84 solo), two interceptions, two fumble recoveries (one for a touchdown), three forced fumbles and a blocked kick.

He earned the praise of Early, who labeled him an "impact player."

Sophomore standout tight end John

one of seven

Mulchrone led the team with 50 receptions and 382 yards receiving and will join the University of New Mexico.

Defensive end Corey Mace, who collected 51 tackles and 7 sacks last season, has transferred to play at the University of Wyoming.

Punter Ryan Hotchkiss, who earned Grid-Wire All-America honorable men-

tion and first-team All-Mission Conference American Division honors, has signed with and will kick for the University of Texas at El Paso.

Cornerback Cole Marton led the Comets with four interceptions and will be moving on to Las Cruces to play for New Mexico State.

Starting quarterback Tony Paoli passed for 962 yards and six touchdowns while completing 58.4 percent of his passes has transferred to play at the University of Buffalo.

Palomar's 6-foot 5-inch 255-pound defensive end Soli Lefiti was honored as the team's "best lineman" and has verbally committed to the University of Utah.

Lefiti finished second only to Gomez in tackles with 65, and led the team in sacks with 11.

Utah's 12-0 record and top five finish, along with the Utes' appearance in a BCS bowl game was a major factor in Lefiti's decision, who is originally from Kaneohe, Hawaii.

He will be pursuing a criminal justice degree and is looking forward to working hard with the expectation of starting at the defensive end position.

"I gained commitment and dedication at Palomar College," he said. "I'm a little nervous about big time football."