PALOMAR COLLEGE, SAN MARCOS, CALIF.
MONDAY NOV. 16, 2009
FOCUSED ON PALOMAR
VOL. 63, NO. 10
the-telescope.com
New student leader optimistic about end to troubled times for gov’t YVONNE LANOT THE TELESCOPE
KELLEY FOYT | THE TELESCOPE
Gerardo Hernandez, a mechanics major, works on a Honda Accord at the Palomar Industrial Technologies building during free time in his Automotive Technology 100 class. Hernandez and his twin brother, Luis, are both enrolled in mechanic classes at Palomar.
Student Mechanics: Auto program teaches do-it-yourself skills HOLLY MEZA THE TELESCOPE
Hundreds of Palomar students drive to school — and most likely every day there is at least one driver that has car trouble, but may do not have the knowledge to fix the problem themselves. At Palomar, students have a program where they can learn these skills. In the Automotive and Diesel Technology program at Palomar, students can learn how to solve these problems themselves. The
INSIDE
ENTERTAINMENT ‘Call of Duty’ blows away competition
PAGE 8
OPINION What to do about Pendleton bison?
PAGE 4
FOCUS
Students break it down in the Extreme Creative Talent Club
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SPORTS
What it takes for a wrestling workout
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automotive technology program offers 15 classes, from specific lessons in automotive electricity and automotive air conditioning to general knowledge taught in auto maintenance and minor repair. Although there are many people who take auto classes to excel in their major, quite a few of them enroll in the program to simply have an understanding of how their car functions for emergency situations. The program is funded like any other at Palomar. Although it has received Perkins money (finan-
After the current president resigned from the Associated Student Government on Oct. 21, former Vice President Ann Hong took over the vacant presidency position. Hong serves while Palomar officials investigate claims the ASG was mismanaged by the Office of Student Affairs. Ann Hong is a 20-year-old international student from Korea who, four and a half years ago, arrived alone in America. She said that she believes she is very lucky to have the opportunity to be living in America, especially given her new position as the ASG President. Hong graduated from Orange Glen High School in Escondido and is
cial aid) for equipment, the classes have suffered from financial cutbacks. Mark Coppedge, a professor in the program, explained how he has five classes, and each has approximately 40 students. “Each of those classes should be two classes,” he said. Palomar student Kawika Aledo has recognized the effects of such large class size. “It’s difficult to get anything done in (auto) shop when there’s TURN TO
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currently in her second year at Palomar. As president, Hong said that she aims to keep the ASG on schedule to accomplish set goals. “I am really happy with the things happening in ASG right now,” Hong said. “I honestly think that there are a lot of people who support me. Everyone is really helpful; they always give me positive comments on things.They definitely help me out.” When she ran for ASG Vice President last May, Hong said that she had no expectations of being president. “Honestly, when I ran for vice president I really wanted to be the righthand for the president and work together … that’s why (becoming president) came to me as a surprise,” Hong said. TURN TO
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ROYNON TILTON | THE TELESCOPE
Job training program slowly phasing out AMBER VARNES THE TELESCOPE
Palomar College’s vocation training program is being phased out despite the need in a shaky economy, school officials said recently. The school’s Regional Occupational Program (ROP) allows students and members of the community to obtain tuitionfree classes in the area of their choice. But Palomar’s ROP district will be phased out by 2011. Although there are about 23 ROP districts in the North County area, Palomar will no longer be one of them. Associate Professor Jackie Martin-Klement said this is mainly due to the state wanting to put more focus and attention on high school students. “The funding and foundation of ROP was first geared toward high school students and because of our economic crisis, is choosing to return to the high school level and will no longer exist at the community college level,” MartinKlement said. According to Palomar’s ROP
homepage, it is a tax-supported its services and gain a free educastatewide public education voca- tion for as long as possible. tional training program. It serves Black, who takes care of enrollall California residents 16 years of ment, registration and scheduling age and older. for ROP, said that Palomar’s ROP “This program is geared toward district offers six areas of study helping students transition into that students can takes classes the career field of their choice,” from: auto body repair/finishing, said Ponnice Black, Palomar computer applications, computerCollege’s ROP Office ized graphic design, Specialist. cosmetology, culiPalomar College’s nary arts and optiPalomar’s ROP Director Paul Kelly Regional Occupation cal. classes said that students Program’s “Due to our budginclude auto body et, we had to cut have the option of taking classes for repair, computer appli- down on the number college credit, also cations, cosmetology, and variety of coursand optical studies. tuition-free and will es we offer quite a Computer technoloappear on a Palomar gy, drafting, diesel, and bit. Hopefully we transcript. Credits optical technology are can change that,” may be applied no longer offered. Black said. toward numerous The classes that For more information degree and certifi- on ROP courses and regis- are offered through cate programs at tration, visit the Web site Palomar’s ROP are Palomar. All ROP www.palomar.edu/rop. essentially the same courses that are in terms of traditionavailable for college al lectures and labs. credit conform to the school’s cur- However, an important part of riculum standards. ROP training is the focus on pracWhile there are only a few tical hands-on experience. semesters left to Palomar About 50 percent of ROP stuCollege’s ROP, students are dents are traditional-aged college encouraged to continue to utilize students and the other 50 percent
are students returning from the workforce. Martin-Klement said that the instructors in ROP are known for the amount of assistance they give their students. “Many students have said that without ROP, they would be afraid to come back to college,” she said. Microsoft Office Suite and Related Programs is the most demanding class Martin-Klement teaches. It prepares students to be computer-literate for their personal and academic life. There are many classes that are offered that assist students to prepare them for the competitive workforce. In our tough economic times, don’t miss the opportunity to take a job search class. MartinKlement, who teaches the job search class said she helps with resume and cover letter writing, business cards and interviewing. Spring 2010 ROP classes are posted online and registration begins at 8:30 a.m. on Nov. 10. There only requirements are the student must at least 16 years of age and a California resident. Register online at www.palomar.edu/rop.