Palomar College, San Marcos, Calif. Monday FEb. 8, 2010 Vol. 63, No. 14
the-telescope.com
More than just grades fact checked on UC apps
INSIDE SPORTS High hopes for upcoming tennis season page
lisa m. krieger mct campus
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OPINION
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courtesy photo | University of tennessee health science center
“Meth mouth,” as shown above, is used to refer to the effects of the drug methamphetamine on a users’ teeth. Meth use shrinks blood vessels, which is part of the cause for the tooth decay. Meth is the fastest growing drug abuse problem in the United States, according to the Frontline Web site in a story entitled “The Meth Epidemic.”
ENTERTAINMENT
Poor chemistry hurts ‘Dear John’ page
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FOCUS
Pucker up, meth mouth Technology shows students drugs’ physical effects christine byers mct campus
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9 V-Day for boys?
Sheriff deputy Larry Michaels has tried everything to teach students about the dangers of drugs and alcohol - but nothing has held their attention quite like a new computer program that shows them what they will look like after they use methamphetamine.
“I’ve never seen the look of shock on their faces like I have with this,” Michaels said, shortly after several Windsor High School students volunteered to have their faces digitally altered during a health class to show how they would look after six months, one year and three years of meth abuse. Face2Face mimics the physical effects of the drug. The health class initially laughed and giggled when the images first appeared on the screen. But the laughs soon subsided, eyes widened and comments began. “Why would anyone do that?” “Oh, my God, that’s horrible.” High school senior Jessica Ack-
Surviving the storms: graianne ward the telescope
Rain, hail and winds that drew tornado warnings swept through North County recently, causing trees to tumble and several accidents. Students said that they faced lightning strikes close to their homes, pools almost over-flooding and impaired vision due to the weather. “I hydroplaned making a right hand turn into an apartment complex and crashed my car,” said Greg Paramore, 20. “I don’t know how I survived it … I got lucky.” Anthony Keeter, 20, had a rough time as well.
ermann said her face altered to simulate three years of meth abuse resembled a zombie from Michael Jackson’s music video for “Thriller.” In the six-month simulation, her fair skin faded to an even lighter pallor. After one year of meth use, her forehead had pronounced wrinkles. Dark circles formed under her eyes. After three years, her eyes bulged, lesions covered her face and her cheeks sunk and sagged. Jessica said it was unlike any other anti-drug presentation she had ever experienced. turn to METH page
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Did you donate profits from your violin recital to support a homeless shelter? Were you part of a deer rescue squad during a forest fire? Was that you who donated blood to the Red Cross? Well, if you said so on your University of California application, you better be ready to prove it. Unlike any other higher education system, the University of California has a team of auditors that review the accuracy of randomly selected applications - and may yank embellished applicants. Their biggest weapon: the fear factor they may pick yours. “We expect integrity,” said Han Mi Yoon-Wu, admissions coordinator for the university system. “Students need to know that they might be selected, and they should make sure that everything on the application is accurate.” In January, UC sent letters to 1,000 applicants asking them for evidence to support their “personal statements” and accomplishments. The office gets daily deliveries of a wide array of evidence from those who have been challenged. There are photos, certificates and DVDs, theatre playbills, pay stubs and newspaper articles. California’s top students offer stunning accomplishments, and the vast majority are honest, said Yoon-Wu. “But there was concern that some kids would start to pad their applications to make themselves look better,” she said. turn to UC page
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Students share their stories
“(I) broke my car driving through a mud puddle. My axel snapped in half, so that kind of pissed me off,” he said. Traffic was considerably heavier and roads were closed throughout most of the week. “There was a tree that fell on Buena Creek and South Santa Fe and a power line that fell over the tracks,” said James Gordon, 28. “So the new trolley couldn’t run to Palomar and the buses couldn’t run on Santa Fe for probably about 3 or 4 hours. I didn’t get to crash class that day or get what I wanted.” Despite the weather conditions, students still attended class. This dedication has been evident of previous Palo-
mar students as well, Mike Ellis, Palomar’s facilities director, said. From the ‘80s to the early ‘90s every time it rained, it would flood the campus in certain spots. The brick walls students often sit on are there to retain water, according to Ellis. In 1991, an earthen dam above the college broke and flooded classrooms with two feet of water. Instead of calling it quits and going home, most students lifted their feet turn to STORMS page
3 courtesy photo | flagstaffotos