The Telescope 63.22

Palomar College, San Marcos, Calif.

Monday may 10, 2010

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An inside look at a motorcycle course

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Vol. 63, No. 22

the-telescope.com

INSIDE Larry Wentzel |the telescope

Focus

A snapshot of Yosemite: Photography class trip

8&9 Sports

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page Baseball team finishes strong

Following a cut of 225 classes that took effect this semester, the Palomar Governing Board has approved the removal of an additional 37 accredited courses starting in the fall. In addition, there were 23 new courses approved for the fall curriculum.

The changes come at the same time as discussion about a shift to Palomar offering upper-division courses in addition to the programs that it already offers.

“I’m not certainly opposed to it, in specific discipline. It’s open to conversation. However, I don’t want to dilute the work that we’re doing in our lower division — work in preparation for a bachelor’s degree,” Palomar President Robert Deegan said.

Overall, students viewed the change as being new, but beneficial. turn to change page

brittany stockham | for THE TELESCOPE

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joseph bonnet |THE TELESCOPE

Summer Stylin’

Celebrating survivors

Palomar fashion club shares insight on trends Palomar’s honor society

runs in 24-hour relay for life

turn to fashion page courtesy photo |mct campus

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Cancer doesn’t sleep and neither did members of Palomar’s honor society during the Relay for Life in a fundraising event for the American Cancer Society.

Escondido’s Relay for Life, held the weekend of April 24-25, began at 9 a.m.

Saturday and ended at 8 a.m.

Sunday. The event was organized to raise cancer awareness in the community, as well as raise funds for cancer research. Several members of Palomar’s Phi Theta Kappa formed a team to participate.

“One person’s efforts can be futile but a community’s efforts pooled together can make a difference,” said Palomar student and Phi Theta Kappa Relay for Life project leader Lowell Anderson.

Anderson’s father died of Lymphnode cancer when Anderson was 11 months old. He and his wife, Palomar instructor Laurel Anderson, have counted a minimum of 14 people in their family who have been personally affected by cancer.

“It amazes me that we can go into space but we can’t cure cancer,” Anderson said.

The event opened with a survi-

TELESCOPE

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The seasons are changing and the fashion world is to moving on to its summer collections. Members of Palomar’s merchandising and design program offered some summer fashion tips.

Rita Campo-Griggs, a Palomar fashion instructor, said the summer will consist of soft, feminine summer dresses, hats, sunglasses and light scarves.

For the guys, she said it will be cotton shirts and shorts that do not sag.

Fashion Club President Elias Rivera sensed that there will be a lot of prints for the summer.

“I see a lot of geometric and architectural designs,” Rivera said. “And for bathing suits, there will be prints, especially prints that are inspiration from movies.”

For example, a movie-inspired print would be a themed bathing suit from “Alice in Wonderland” with hearts, diamonds, clubs and clover print top, with a striped bottom.

Chetna Bhatt, a designer and Palomar design instructor, agreed with Rivera.

“Prints and floral are going to be a

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yvonne lanot the telescope

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Kelley Foyt the telescope

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|CAMPUS BEAT

Palomar is Emmy-azing!

THE TELESCOPE | Monday, May 10, 2010

Listen up!

Starting next semester, there will not be a grace period for parking permits.

Remember to buy your permits if you plan on parking on campus to avoid getting a ticket.

Palomar’s Radio/TV (RTV) and Cinema students have been nominated for six Emmy’s.

These nomination into the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, Pacific Southwest chapter, Emmy Awards is not unfamiliar territory for Palomar College.

In the past 20 years, Palomar’s RTV and Cinema departments have won 34 Emmy awards.

Students were nominated in two categories: student production, news; and student production, non-news.

In the news category, Loghan Call, David Dean, Justin Kranz and Cyrila Richardson were nominated for producing different episodes of Prep Sports Live, a product of RTV. Palomar students, faculty and commuThe show airs live Tuesday nights on channity members are urged to show their supnel 16 during the fall. port at the second annual “Touch A Truck” Also in the news category, Fa’amasani event June 5. The event will be held at Torrey Unutoa was nominated for his report on Pines High School in Carmel Valley from 10 North County News, which is created and a.m. to 2 p.m. run by students of RTV 245. In the spring, “Touch A Truck” is an event put on by RTV 245 students produce NCN; in the fall Max’s Ring of Fire, a 501(c)3, tax-exempt pubsemester PSL takes over. lic charity for pediatric cancer fundraising.

In the non-news category, Steven James MROF was founded in 2008 by Andy and MeHoff, David McMinn, lissa Mikulak in honor of their late son, Max. Paul Salmos and Max was diagnosed with neuroblastoma Travis Cowell at the age of 3 and battled the disease for four were nomiyears until he passed away in Aug. 2008. nated for their Admissioncosts$5andraffle film “Method.” tickets range from $1 to $50 and Levi Benare available for purchase online, nett and Samanin the mail or at the event. tha Johnson were The charity event will consist also nominated for their of a cakewalk; bake sale and more film, “Dead Man Walking.” than 50 vehicles. Event-goers can race Only one other area college a San Diego Fire Department fire truck, a was selected; San Diego FBI command center trailer and “cage” car State University’s film, “The and possibly motorcycles, with many more Last Vaquero.” trucks for climbing in and checking out.

The Pacific Southwest The main entertainment is being perchapter has close to 450 formed by the San Diego Star Wars Society, members, according to its which is providing Star Wars characters website and includes San Diego, at the event in their brand new Star Bakersfield, Palm Springs and Las Wars bus. One hundred percent of the Vegas. The awards ceremony will money raised goes to pediatric cancer retake place June 26 at the Hard Rock search.

Hotel in San Diego.

For more information This is the first time go online to maxsringofPalomar College has courtesy graphic| MCT campus fire.org or call 858-342swept the student 1432. categories.

‘Touch A Truck’ New airliner in and save lives North County Starting late this year or by early 2011, a new airliner will be offering commercial flights from Carlsbad.

California Pacific Airlines will operate out of Palomar Airport. Initial plans have flights going to Sacramento, San Jose, Oakland, Las Vegas and Phoenix, accordMelina Fickas| THE TELESCOPE ing to its website flycpair.com.

Carlos Gomez, a much-praised Spanish instructor, is retiring from Palomar after 33 CPA will debut with five, 70-passenger, years of teaching. An avid writer of poetry and short stories, he claims that poetry is twin-engine planes, which will be the quietbetter in Spanish than English. A party was held for him on May 5th to not only celest jet aircrafts flying out of Palomar. The ebrate Cinco de Mayo, but also to recognize his contributions over the years. Gomez airplanes feature just two rows of seats, offically retires at the end of the spring semester. giving passengers no middle seats and more legroom.

Once CPA begins operation, the airliner plans on starting flights to Mexico soon after.

This will be the first San Diego CountyPalomar College is hosting a free Job be offering free resume and cover letter based airline to provide non-stop service Fair May 12 at 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. services. to California and Arizona cities in nearly 25 Company representatives will set up For more information or to register a years. tables between the SSC building and the company for appearance, call 760-744CPA is a longtime dream of a North Student Union area.

1150. ext. 3125 or email Eddie Tubbs at County entrepreneur,TedVallas.In 1980,he During the event, the Career Center will etubbs@palomar.edu. received air carrier permits from the FAA to operate out of Carlsbad.

Now 30 years later, the project is nearing completion.

Vallas bought the El Camino Country The Telescope, Palomarʼs award-winning Club in 1958 and turned it into a PGA tourstudent newspaper, wants your nament course. The 89-year-old was recently named“Entrepreneur of theYear”by creativity. Do you write? Draw? theAmerican Business Defense &Advisory Take pictures? Design a mean Council in Washington D.C., and in Februinformational graph (hey, ary the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce somebody does it)? Call us honored him with the “Lifetime Business at (760) 744-1150 ext. 2450 Achievement”Award. or write ehiro@palomar.edu.

Job fair for students

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NEWS| 3

Monday, may 10, 2010 | THE TELESCOPE

fashion

change

Continued from Page 1 part of the summer trend,” Bhatt said.

Color is another thing to look for this season.

“I think that there will be a lot of light-pale colors for this season,” said student Jessica Ison, a fashion design major.

“There will be a lot of yellows, peaches and fuchsia.”

While Ison said the summer will consist of pale colors, Campo-Griggs foresaw bold colors emerging.

“Black with neon colors will be back,” Campo-Griggs said. “There will be a lot of metallic, silver, gold and copper. I think for this upcoming summer season the 1970s look will be back.”

There are different shopping options students can use.

Rivera said a parent’s closet is a great place to look for clothes because they typically have nice vintage things.

For some cute, cheap summer clothes and bathing suits, fashion design student Ines Reyes said Target, H&M and

Kohl’s are all great places to shop.

For southern California, the sun and heat are always one of the larger issues for the summer. Campo-Griggs gives advice on this is, “Wear lightweight fabrics.”

“Lightweight natural fabrics like cotton; clothing that will let your body breathe is the best way to keep cool in the summer. So stay away from any synthetic fabrics,” she said.

But the one thing that will make the entire summer outfit is confidence.

“Be comfortable,” Rivera said. “Be comfortable with yourself. Express yourself in any way you want. Fashion is a lifestyle and you should be comfortable in anything you wear.”

To see what these and other Palomar merchandising and design students have created check out The Telescope’s “Moda Fashion Show” story at the-telescope.com.

relay Continued from Page 1 vor’s lap, where survivors led the way around the track. Being a part of the opening lap allowed survivors to celebrate what they’ve overcome while inspiring and motivating their community to fight.

Survivors are proof that cancer can be defeated, according to RelayforLife.org.

Bobby Schuster, Palomar’s Phi Theta Kappa chapter president, lost his grandmother, Mima, to lung cancer in 2001.

“Our team has been on the track the whole time,” Shuster said, while gesturing to the blisters on his feet. He said his society will continue to participate in this event every year.

The American Cancer Society’s goal is to eliminate cancer, according to its website.

The organization has funded 38 Nobel Prize winning researchers. Eighty percent of money raised goes to research and only 20 percent goes to administration, according to Mark Umek, Escondido Relay for Life chairperson.

Palomar Phi Theta Kappa projects leader, Nathan St. Clair lost his mother to breast cancer in 2004; she was 47 years old.

He also had a cousin who died from a malignant tumor

at the age of 25.

“My feet hurt but as soon as it gets hard, I think of what my mom had to go through,” St. Clair said.

His friend and Palomar athlete Nestor Zapata participated in the full 24 hours to help St. Clair honor his mother.

Before the event, teams sold luminaries, which were lit during a ceremony devoted to remembering those who lost the battle. Right before dark on Saturday night, the bags were lit and all members of the event joined in a commemorative walk around the lap, according to Sandy Umek, a member of Team Redwood.

Palomar Phi Theta Kappa member John McClure, 48, joined in the walk to honor his father who died in 1997 of cancer that had spread to his brain.

“They turned the lights off and I found the luminaria with my dad’s name on it; it really hit home why we were here,” McClure said.

Schuster summed it up Sunday morning, shivering with his feet propped up in a chair: “It’s hard to walk with blisters on our feet and charlie horses; it sucks, but we are survivors.”

Continued from Page 1 “I think Palomar College is the best community college in, well, the country. If it (Palomar) wants to have them (four-year degrees), it should,” Jordan Sheline, a Palomar student who is working on general education, said.

“I’d probably take advantage of the offer.”

Another student, Amy Genduso, said she wouldn’t take advantage of the offer because she is finishing up her degree in anthropology, but thought the idea was valuable.

“It could be potentially good.

Admission is more selective in 4-year schools, so it’s harder to get the degrees we need. But I’d need more information to be sure,” Genduso said.

The thought of a one-stop shop for a bacholor’s degree at Palomar was tempting for Elaja Starks, an oceanography major.

“It would be pretty cool. I might still transfer, but it’s a lot easier for people to have everything here,” Starks said.

Deegan said this would be controversial, because the state would have to fund Palomar equivalent to a California State University or University of California school.

It is very early to determine whether Palomar will offer fouryear degrees. The concept of a community college offering fouryear degrees is relatively new.

Last year, 95 community colleges in 11 states offered bachelor’s degrees, according to ABC news.

The transition has occured over the last decade, according to the article “Something New: A 4-Year Degree at a 2-Year College” from the New York Times.

San Diego Assemblyman Marty Block wants community colleges to offer four-year degrees in specific areas like nursing, according to Block’s official website.

“[Block] has put forward legislation to start a pilot for that,” Deegan said.

The bill would allow some community colleges to provide students the courses needed to complete their bachelor’s degree.

Block said this would allow students rejected by four-year institutions in California to continue their education, and it would increase the number of students who successfully complete a bachelor’s degree, according to Block’s website.

There are some opposed to the transition, however.

“Given the severity of the state’s financial woes, the starting point of any public policy debate has to be how to best use limited resources,” the Union-Tribune staff wrote in an article dated January 17, 2010.

The staff argues that, according to the National Center for Developmental Education, about two-thirds of new community college students need basic remedial help, and giving these students access to four-year degree programs is a waste of funds.

Students who don’t have a clear path to a university fresh out of high school still have a straight path to a four-year program through the programs that community colleges currently offer.

“Block simply hasn’t made the case that the state’s educational infrastructure is inadequate to meet the needs of Californians,” the staff wrote. “We acknowledge that Marty Block’s anti-SDSU crusade seems popular. But that doesn’t mean his critique makes sense.”

Course removal and inclusions will take effect this fall. For a complete list of effected courses, visit the governing board’s website at palomar.edu/gb

Detroit Free Press |mct campus

4

|Opinion

THE TELESCOPE | Monday, may 10, 2010

Our viewpoint

SPEA K O U T ! ...

What do you think of the proposed $14 per unit increase at Palomar, and do you think there are alternatives?

“I think that it isn’t really that bad of an idea. Comparatively speaking, university students pay much more per unit than we do now. So $14 is a lot of money for some of us but you can get financial aid, and there’s all kinds of scholarships­— there’s lots of options. Education isn’t cheap. So comparatively speaking we are in a pretty good place.”

Amber Rallins, 23, Accounting “As we discussed in my class, my professor said that we should raise the tuition to $400 (per class) because towards the end of the semester kids stop showing up to class and teachers get kinda upset.

So $400 a class would be better because if you do better in the class, the school will give you the money back. And for all the people who don’t show up to class or ditch class don’t get that money back.”

Andrew Buckner, 21, Mathematics “We could possibly raise taxes or we could just take regular tax money or money that the government is getting anyways and allocate it better to schools so that it is spent better and we don’t have to spend any more money or cut any classes.”

Christine Harvey, 20, Political science

“I believe the school could switch to $32 a unit and make it a slower transition between $26 to $40 a unit.”

ONLINE POLL RESULTS

Kyle Holtz, 21, Accounting and business administration

47% It is upsetting, but I have no choice except to pay it

27%

13% 13%

I get financial aid, it doesn’t bother me

It’s fine, prices were low anyway I won’t be able to afford to attend this school anymore

Focused on Palomar

Volume 63 Number 22

Monday may 10, 2010

Editors In Chief | Kelley Foyt Melissa LeRay

Opinion Editor | Dan Mccarthy Entertainment Editor | Alejandra Jackson

Focus Editor | Sara Burbidge

Sports Editor | jarred powell

Photo Editor | Kelley Foyt

Copy Editor | MAggie Avants

Cartoonist | Joseph Bonnett

online editor | eric walker

ad manager | sara burbidge Entertainment Editor | Alejandra Jackson

assistant Editors | melina fickas nigel harris graianne ward distribution manager | sara burbidge instructional asst. | sara burbidge Charles Steinman Eric Walker journalism advisor | erin hiro

The Telescope is published 11 times per semester. Opinions expressed in the newspaper are those of the individual writers and do not necessarily represent those of the entire newspaper staff, Palomar faculty and staff members or the governing board trustees.

Tuition hikes are not the only option for lean budget years Coming this fall, you’ll be paying more for less.

The harsh truth is that funding is being cut just as enrollment is skyrocketing.

California’s Legislative Analysts Office have proposed a $14 per unit fee increase, effective this fall. That means students will be paying $40 per unit, an amount doubled from that of 2009.

Plus, Palomar is cutting 37 accredited courses this fall, a decision made by the school’s governing board in a meeting on March 9. This year alone, our college will have cut 262 classes.

It seems a little backward that our education is being budgeted by people who are decreasing the amount of classes offered while simultaneously increasing the cost of the classes that do remain.

The state’s budget is in crisis – the government is taking from everyone. But community colleges should be spared. They are imperative in ending the recession because they provide a low cost option for the unemployed and those trying to retool for the new economic environment.

Community colleges nationwide, including Palomar, are experiencing increases in enrollment because of the recession. There are more students straight out of high school that can’t afford a university and use Palomar as a financially-friendly alternative. Also, as unemployment rates grow, there have been more students returning to school in order to reenter the work force with a different degree.

Many of the students who attend community colleges are not financially stable. In fact, 65 percent of students cannot pay their tuition upfront, and need assistance from financial aid, parents, scholarships or loans, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

Eighty percent of community college students are also concurrently in the workforce, based off of statistics from the Foundation for California Community Colleges website. Community colleges enroll some of the state’s lowest-income students. Full-time students have an annual median income of $16,223, with one-fourth having incomes of less than $5,544 per year, according to the FCCC website.

While some might argue that the $40 per unit is miniscule when Address | The Telescope, Palomar College 1140 W. Mission Road, San Marcos, CA 92069 Newsroom | Room MB-1 Phone | 760-891-7865 Fax | 760-891-3401 E-Mail | telescope@palomar.edu Advertising e-Mail | telescopead@palomar.edu Staff Writers |Roberto Alcaraz, Victor Amador, Diana Baier, America Barcelo, Camilo Barrero, Brian Blakely, Rocio Castaneda, Melissa Caston, Loghan Call, Belinda Callin, Stephanie Dao, Kirby Darland, Denny Dorsey, Christian Fortmueller, Michael Garza, Caitlin Geckeler, Amy Genduso, Bert Hansen, Evan Hatheway, Clint Jones, Brian Kay, Adam Knechtel, Yvonne Lanot, Chris Meyer, Beckett Mufson, Melody Parks, Teresa Probart, Diana Sanchez, Mark Sauders, Typhanie Sharfner, Nick Shumate, Taylor Smith, Danny Sumstine, Sydnie Taylor, Victoria Tran, Fa’amasani Unutoa Staff Photographers | Phyllis Celmer, Deb Hellman, Coral McMurtry, Victoria Tran

compared to the $4,650 per year at Cal State San Marcos, Palomar’s students would feel differently because most of them are working and going to school at the same time.

Analysts argue that they’re trying to balance the budget. By increasing unit costs at community colleges as well as decreasing funding to universities, there will be $150 million in additional revenues for the system, according to a Feb. 25 article from California Watch.

However, there are cost-efficient alternatives.

Internet classes can be used to meet the needs of a growing population of students. There is a cap on online courses, but it isn’t as bad as the limit on a traditional course. By increasing both the quantity and quality of online courses, Palomar would be able to attract more students to the flexible learning environment, and theoretically wouldn’t have as much of a need to increase fees.

Adjunct faculty members are cost-effective in comparison to fulltime faculty. While not an ideal solution, colleges should be gearing up for survival mode during these tough times.

There are also simple steps the college can take to save money. A financially and earth-friendly solution is to simply cut down on paper usage by combining printing and copying machines. Palomar has also squandered countless dollars on frivolous expenses. For example, in 2008, Palomar bought two T3 scooters for Campus Police. The school spent at least $2,000 on a couple of glorified Segways. How often do you see the scooters actually being used?

Analysts have the wrong mindset. Community colleges are vital to our society, and are a fundamental key to ending the recession. They act as an irreplaceable tool for returning, vocational and financially restricted students.

Community colleges are defined by the fact that they offer higher education to all citizens. The fee increase and curriculum cuts are completely counterproductive to this goal, especially when there are other options out there.

Plain and simple: different budgeting ideas need to be implemented.

If the fee increase is a big deal to you, let officials know.

The Telescope welcomes all letters to the editor. Letters must be typewritten, under 300 words and include the author’s first and last names, major and phone number. Phone numbers will not be published. Letters can be e-mailed to telescope@ palomar.edu or delivered to the newsroom in Room MB-1.

The Telescope reserves the right to edit letters for space and grammatical errors and not to print lewd or libelous letters.

Letters must be received one week prior to the newspaper’s publication to be considered for inclusion.

Associated Collegiate PRess

CFAC

California Newspaper Publishers Association

Journalism Association California First Amendment Coalition of Community Colleges

Opinion| 5

Monday, may 10, 2010| THE TELESCOPE

Little bang for our buck Proposed cameras for Natural Science building give minimal security for nearly $100 thousand

adam knechtel The Telescope

With concerns over campus safety, a coalition of teachers and staff working out of the Natural Science Building suggested installing 17 additional security cameras near the building. The suggestion was made to the Palomar Faculty Federation at an estimated initial cost of $90,000 to $100,000.

Candi Francis, the Palomar instructor who introduced the project, said the original proposal would only install cameras in and around the NS building in an attempt to “deter campus crimes and increase campus safety.”

Two seemingly noble and agreeable intentions, right?

It is not plausible to assume that spending up to an initial $100,000 for additional security surveillance in just one of more than 50 buildings on Palomar’s campus will lead to an overall increase in student and faculty safety, as the vast majority of campus is left unsupervised, or at least unmonitored.

Installing 17 security cameras in the NS building would not raise campus safety in the MB modules, it would not reduce vandalism down by the A Building, and it would not cut down on hit-and-run traffic accidents or stolen cars in the many parking lots scattered around Comet Circle.

It would simply prevent a small level of crime in one selective area of the campus, entailing an incred-

ibly high cost for a shockingly small area of benefit.

Palomar Campus Police Sergeant Vic So’oto, was asked if the proposed cameras would be a worthwhile investment to Palomar.

He had only one question in response: whether Palomar would install those cameras in the campus parking lots, which have a greater number of security incidents than the rest of the campus.

Aside from stolen books and other items in the library (which already has security cameras installed), vehicle thefts, accidents and burglaries are Palomar’s primary criminal incidents.

As such, all areas need to receive the attention of the PFF, regardless of a theoretical crime spree poised to hit the NS building.

The new cameras, if installed at all, need to go where they’ll do the most good.

But they won’t.

The original suggestion will dramatically increase safety in only one small fraction of an otherwise unsupervised campus.

Spending upwards of $100,000 for 17 security cameras that will act as a disciplinary form of security at best is a far-fetched idea in and of itself, especially with an ailing budget which has been the source of unpopular class-cuts and continually increasing cost-per-unit spikes.

To centralize each and every camera into one exclusive building and proclaim campus safety augmentation is beyond ineffective.

Kurt Strazdins | mct campus

On a meager budget, English comes first As budget cuts ravage California’s public school’s funds, luxury programs, like bilingual education, need to go mike garza The Telescope

Parents are coming together in San Diego to bring back bilingual education at Cesar Chavez Elementary School. The school had bilingual education in the past, but the classes are no longer offered.

Parents who want their children to be fluent and literate in their home language, in addition to English, are taking action.

Supporters of bilingual education expect California’s school districts to bend over backwards to make their children excel in other languages besides English.

Although it is an ongoing process, the duty and goal of our school districts at the elementary level is to make students fluent and literate in English.

According to the 2000 census, Spanish is the language most commonly spoken at home after English.

English-only speakers accounted for 60.5 percent of the population while 39.5 percent spoke a language other than English.

Within that 39.5 percent, 25.8 percent of Californians speak Span-

ish at home.

The numbers illuminate the fact that California has the highest number of English language learners in the country.

With all of this said, it comes as no surprise that Californians are fighting for bilingual education.

The main problem with bilingual education in California is that many citizens associate it only with the Spanish language. The numbers make it a valid assumption, but also a very poor one.

We cannot simply ignore the 10 other foreign languages that also appeared on the 2000 census simply because Spanish is the majority.

From a strict budget standpoint, the idea of filling the staff and curriculum with bilingual classes to fit the 11 foreign languages on the census is simply not feasible.

Bilingual parents who support the idea of bilingual education say that children who are not fully literate in their home language will not properly learn English either.

Let’s not forget that psychologists have a general consensus that language is best learned in childhood.

Bilingual education is actually

a great idea, but not in our public school system.

Now do not confuse bilingual education and the teaching of foreign languages. Foreign language classes are offered throughout our state but focus on learning a new language in addition to English. Bilingual education teaches students the school’s curriculum in their native language as well as English during the students learning of proper English.

With no surprise, English is the official language of California as well.

Don’t mistake this as language prejudice or giving foreign languages the cold shoulder. Being bilingual is an extremely valuable asset, especially with the demographics in California.

However, teaching a language other than English to our younger students is a luxury that our school budgets cannot afford.

If parents want their children to be literate in their language spoken at home, that is simply the parent’s prerogative.

Parents should use their own resources to fulfill their desire and not the state’s bank account.

diane solis | mct campus

6

|Focus

THE TELESCOPE | Monday, May 10, 2010

Students open up about prescription drug abuse and their after effects Staff The Telescope

Most people desire nice and new.

When things get old and boring, a pickme-up is sought after. If a child appears unusually hyper, pills are prescribed. If a night has become a bore, pills are popped.

If something in life becomes hard to manage, pills can be the easy answer.

Prescription drug availability is at an all time high and continuing to increase, making prescription drug abuse more likely than ever, according to The National Drug Intelligence Center.

Palomar student Cara Golden was prescribed Xanax and Norcos after a car accident that left her with injury induced scoliosis.

She said it took a long time for her to realize she was under the influence and not in control.

“I had to take a month leave of absence from everything,” she said. “I couldn’t function. It wasn’t because of the pain— I just wasn’t in control. I didn’t even understand what I was doing or thinking about.”

Prescription drugs were once used for major injuries or to help manage pain. It seems now they are prescribed more frequently to help manage moods.

Palomar psychology instructor Rachael Lapidis said that personal characteristics aren’t taken into account enough during dosing.

“The misuse of prescription medication is very dangerous,” she said. “What could be the correct dosing for someone could be an overdose for someone else.”

The plethora of side effects from these prescribed drugs are often ignored.

Withdrawal symptoms, adverse effects of suicide, and physical dependence are all things that could be encountered while taking prescription drugs.

“It can make you sleepy, it can make you groggy it can make you faint,” said Palomar nurse Maria Monsalud. “If you are on one or two of these medications, you are bound to feel this way.”

Taking prescription drugs can have long-term side effects even after stopping the medication.

“After so many years of taking Ritalin it had broken down my immune system. I was now allergic to so many things,” said Palomar student Joshua Barat. “I already had eczema so the medicine created new allergies exacerbating my eczema. Now I can’t enjoy a lot of activities like working out and going to the beach to go swimming.”

The Food and Drug Administration ordered that there be a distinct warning put on the label of many prescription drugs, to bring awareness that these medications increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in adolescents who take them.

dennis balogh | mct campus

Students prep for finals

knowledge out so that I study in sections.”

Patrick Newsome, a graphic arts major, struggled with cramming until he changed The school year is winding down which his study habits two years ago. means that final exams are just around “I would use study guides, go over homethe corner. Most students are making their work and test before,” he said. “Now I gradsummer plans or have already made them. ually study throughout the year and my However, the more serious Palomar student grades and test scores have improved.” is preparing for their final exams.

At times, life can get in the way of school It can be the most stressful time of the priorities. With the way the economy has school year for most students. The final been many students might need to work exam can make or break a student’s school as well as go to school, which can interfere year or decide whether or not they pass or with study time. The best way to combat fail a particular class. this type of procrastination is to organize “In my classes, I stress study skills and early — your notebook that is. try my best to help If you have an organized notestudents develop good book you have already won the study skills that will battle. help them succeed in Secondly, get ahead early my class as well as in during class time. Pay special any other college class attention to what the profesthey may take,” said sor hints about in class as far Alan Trujillo, profesas how he or she grades, his — Patrick Newsome sor of earth, space Graphic arts major or her attitude toward various and aviation sciences. topics and extra credit opporSome of the study tunities. skills Trujillo sugMost importantly, relax. If you’re around gested can be found on Blackboard for the stressful people, it can put you in a bad classes he teaches.

They include things a college student frame of mind when it comes time to take should know, like coming to class every day, your final; make sure you take time to chill. taking detailed notes and recopying notes Take a day or so as a complete mental break from class, as well as eating healthy. Extra from school. On this day, do not allow yourtips offered include suggestions on how to self to think or talk about school. Wake up avoid cramming and how to use flash cards the next day and act as if you’re starting all over. properly.

Remember, stay organized, manage your The biggest problem that most students time wisely, avoid stressful people, take run into is cramming.

“I like to space things out,” said Allison good notes. And some relaxation will help Hix, a criminal justice major. “I spread the you avoid the finals jinx.

Jarred Powell The Telescope

“

I gradually study throughout the year.

”

Focus| 7

Monday, May 10, 2010 | THE TELESCOPE

Single parent students find hope on campus America Barcelo Feldman The Telescope

Single parent life is not easy. It’s even more challenging for those who choose to go to college to pursue a higher education in an attempt to improve their lives and provide a better future for their children.

Alberto Nunez is a 29-year-old engineering student and single father of a 10-year-old boy. Nunez struggles with the dual life of being a role model and completing his college courses.

After graduating from high school in 1998, he studied for a career in technology, which led him to work in industrial design.

He stayed in that field for 10 years until he was laid off last summer.

“I was forced to change my life, and I decided to return to college to get an engineering degree,” he said. “I want to be better prepared and have more opportunities. I think higher education helps to get success.

But the hardest part for me is combining my studies with the care and education of my son.”

Single-parent students at Palomar share the typical college routine of running to classes, doing homework, studying for tests and participating in campus activities.

However, they have something else in common: the responsibility to care for, love, support and educate their children.

Even still, single-parent students move forward in their efforts with tenacity.

For some, being a parent and a student has been the best thing that happened to them, but for others, it is very challenging.

“I come from a family where no one has gone to college, so I have little support and knowledge,” Nunez said. “However, I have the goal to complete a degree, and now (financial aid) is helping me to become a better father.”

Nunez also gets help from his mother. He shares household expenses with her and is able to work a little as an industrial drawings contractor.

“I have a lot of struggles as a full-time student, and getting some jobs as self-employed, but the most difficult part of my life is learning to be father,” Nunez said. “Some-

times I make a joke saying that my fifth class is when I get home and I have to raise my son.

“Luckily, he is very responsible, y photo and he understands courtes our responsibilities Elena Cardenas as students. When he sees me doing is a 27-year old my homework, he does the same; I can see Palomar nursing that my example is helping him.” photo il student and lu s tration Nunez is just one of many single-parent by amer mother of a girl ica barc students at Palomar. elo feld and boy, ages 4 But her response came after she met one man | T HE TEL Elena Cardenas is a 27-year-old nursing of her classmates, a young woman who also ESCOPE and 5. student and mother of a girl and boy, ages was a single mother and full-time student.

4 and 5.

“She told me about the REACH proAfter several setbacks in her marital life, gram, they showed all the possibilities that she decided to fulfill her dreams of obtainwere available for students like me. They group; all of them support each other. They ing a degree.

“I am certainly grateful to have returned explained about assistance programs for see that they are not alone,” she said. low-income parents and how to fill out apAccording to Wright, Cal Works is one of to school,” she said.

For Cardenas, being a single mother and plications to get government help. But most the most successful programs with a graduastudent has not been a problem; on the con- important was I felt I was not the only one tion rate of 10 percent each year.

Between 80 and 90 percent of these stutrary her situation has helped her to grow in this situation. (Now) they guide me and support me any time I need them.” dents stay in college between semesters to and find balance.

“Without these aid and programs I complete certificates, associate’s degrees or When she was 19, Cardenas came from could not be a full-time student,” she said. transfer to a university.

Mexico with her family. In her hometown, “REACH program has helped me a lot…I “We have a large number of successful she finished high school, but always had dreams of pursuing a college degree. After feel blessed to have found them. (It) gives graduates,” she added. “This program truly her divorce three years ago, she enrolled at me the tools to learn how to be a better helps all student parents in need.” mother as well to succeed in college,” Palomar.

REACH (now called Cal “When I got here, my life changed,” she Works) has been at Palosaid.

She was married and had two children, mar for 13 years. Annually, and said she put her dream of college tem- it serves 175 low-income porarily to the side while she fulfilled a dif- student-parents between the ages of 18 and 60, according ferent role as mother.

After four years of marriage, she di- to Brenda Wright, Cal Works counselor supervisor. vorced.

The program offers im“Despite how negative it was, I thought ‘I am free to do whatever I want’ and it was mediate help such as paying money for books, parking time to go to college,” she said.

“I had no idea where to start, I knew that permits, counseling services being here was what I wanted, but I was and support to get resources scared because my priority was my children. for child care and medical sercourtesy photo So I had no idea how to be a student and vice, Wright said.

Alberto Nunez, 29, is shown above with his 10-year old son. Nunez is “Students are part of a a single parent and engineering student. mother.”

Emmy award winner speaks to class loghan call The Telescope

For those looking to print out Jim Zrake’s resume, you might need to buy a new ream of paper. Zrake has been working in television for more than 40 years, compiling a career that spans across the globe and back. As a producer, Zrake has worked for every major network, five Olympic games and won two Emmy’s.

Zrake visited Palomar’s Intro to Radio and Television class (RTV 100), late last week. While an Escondido resident, Zrake has spent most of his time on the road. “During the peak of my career, I was gone 250 days out of the year,” he said.

His path was never set on the Television industry. In fact, he enrolled at UCLA to become a dentist. “I was taking all these courses that I was terrible at, sitting with guys putting rocket ships together, while I was playing baseball,” Zrake said. After a year of feeling out of place in science classes, Zrake’s career path changed when he landed a job with CBS. Zrake worked with CBS as an Usher for shows like “The Carol Burnett Show” throughout the four years he was a student at UCLA. While his work was basic, Zrake spent countless hours off the clock watching the producers and directors behind the scenes, learning the business and establishing contacts.

While working at CBS, he was offered a high paying job in the prize department, away from the production and the television sets. For the time, the offer was very good, but Zrake decided to take a job offer with KTLA so he could work hands on with a local TV station. This move served as

a launching pad for the rest of his career. His best piece of advice: “Don’t go for the money, it’s easy to do that, but not necessarily you’re wisest (move),” he said.

Since starting his career with KTLA, Zrake has worked with Fox Sports, CBS Sports, NCAA productions, ESPN, NBC Sports, Channel 4 (Cox), Atlanta and Sydney Olympic Broadcasting Organizations, and perhaps most notably, he served as executive producer of sports and entertainment for the USA Network in its founding years.

Throughout his career in sports, Zrake worked with icons such as Dick Enberg, Jerry Coleman and Don Drysdale. “As I began to grow in the industry, we became peers which was strange (for me),” Zrake said. “Here I was a kid watching them on TV as athlete’s and now I’m working with them, what a joy that was.”

While his career is not as hectic as it once was, Zrake still has one more job he’d like to do—the 2012 Olympic games in London. “With all of the stuff I’ve done, when it’s all said and done, the Olympics will probably be the highlight of my career,” Zrake said. “Hopefully, I get one more chance in London.”

During Zrake’s speech with the RTV class, he had many pieces of advice about the industry and maintaining contacts in the industry. He also offered advice for any line of work.

“If you work hard, things will work out for you,” he said.

“Be influential, whatever business you go into, if you can be influential in other people’s lives, go for it. It’s very important. Be significant and be relevant, don’t be lazy.”

While Zrake spent plenty of time away from home during his career, his work influenced his 20-year-old son Garrett into the same field. Garrett is looking to follow in his Dad’s footsteps as a producer, and is currently a student at Palomar College.

loghan call | THE TELESCOPE

Jim Zrake holds one of the two Emmy’s he has earned over the course of his fourty years working as a television producer. Zrake has worked on five Olympic plroductions. He spoke to the Radio and Television students last week about the lessons he has learned and his love for the entertainment and sports industry.

8 |Focus

Monday, may 10, 2010 | THE TELESCOPE

Landscape photography students capture the beauty of Yosemite Valley Each semester the Photography Department at Palomar offers a landscape class in which the students spend at least four days in the field photographing with instructor Donna Cosentino. During the semester, students study the history and the various techniques of landscape photography and work on improving their skills in the area.

This spring’s trip was to Yosemite National Park. The students put their skills to practice while visiting beautiful and well known places

Merced River

Yosemite Valley

Half Dome

such as Mirror Lake, Fern Spring, Yosemite Falls, Vernal Falls, the Merced River and the many meadows and forests that are part of the magnificent valley. The photographers were fortunate to have great weather between snowstorms and on the final day, a few students were able to capture newly fallen snow on the valley floor.

Portfolios of images will be viewed for finals week. In the fall semester, the class will be photographing in Las Vegas and the surrounding desert.

barbarawentzel | for THE TELESCOPE

Travis burke | for THE TELESCOPE

Dana Lopez | for THE TELESCOPE

Path to Vernal Falls

sheldon lou | for THE TELESCOPE

Focus| 9

Monday, may 10, 2010 | THE TELESCOPE

ron lacy | for THE TELESCOPE

Mirror Lake

Yosemite Valley

brian tierney | for THE TELESCOPE

Yosemite Valley

brian tierney | for THE TELESCOPE

Nevada Falls

Near Bridal Veil Falls

Dana Lopez | for THE TELESCOPE

Travis burke | for THE TELESCOPE

10 |Focus

Monday, may 10, 2010 | THE TELESCOPE

How to ride a motorcycle in three days or less...

The inside look at a reporter’s experience in a community motorcycle course Sara burbidge The Telescope

“You’re all a little psycho for giving up that street cage and getting on a little tiny bicycle,” said instructor David Crouch as he chuckled to himself. “Then again, I have been doing it for 30-plus years.”

My personal experience with motorcycles has always been on the backseat, but my dreams have always included me in the driver’s seat. When given the opportunity to take the Basic RiderCourse at Palomar last weekend, I jumped on it.

The first night set the stage for the weekend, I would need to work hard both in the classroom and on the riding range.

“I’m what they call a facilitator; the responsibility of learning is on you,” said Crouch at the beginning of the first class.

The Basic RiderCourse consists of two evening classes and 15 hours of on-cycle experience, which familiarizes students with the motorcycle controls and basic skills like shifting, stopping, cornering, swerving and safety procedures.

The time spent in the classroom consisted of reading the handbook and looking up answers to the questions in the back of the book, supplemented by short videos that visually reinforced each section of the handbook.

“Safe riding is a matter of attitude and only you can provide that,” according to the Basic RiderCourse rider handbook.

“Riding on a motorcycle is more than just being the operator you have to maintain your physical and mental state, your gear and your bike,” said Crouch.

By the end of the first class on Friday night I knew I didn’t want to end up with ”ass hands,” and I was serious about learning how to ride.

“Ass hands” refers to wiping out without proper safety gloves and replacing the lost skin from your hands with the extra skin from your buttocks.

Behind the wheel of a car, it’s easy to forget that driving isn’t necessarily intuitive—but in this course you won’t be able to forget it. It is reinforced in the handbook, video and even when riding on the range.

“You don’t get a second chance with a motorcycle, a motorcycle will never win with a car,” emphasized the risk module of a video put out by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation, which we watched during class.

I had a wave of different emotions run through me the first day of riding. At first I was thrilled to be accomplishing my dream but nervous to tip the bike over. Riding takes a lot of coordination—it is like driving a stick shift with your hands and feet while the engine is vibrating underneath you.

Holly Ross, who took the class with me, said, “The only ex-

perience I have had on the bike was riding on the back of my dad’s bike before but I had never actually driven a motorcycle until this class.”

Out of the 36 students in the class, about one-third of them had driven a motorcycle before.

“I think it gives you a really good foundation of skills that you are going to continue to using throughout the whole time you are riding and I would rather learn it right the first time so I don’t develop bad habits,” Ross said.

Teaching the rider course seemed like a second nature to the rider coaches and class instructor. Like a coach for a sports team, they knew when to encourage and when to be strict.

I got frustrated, sad and happy throughout the day but rider coach Andy Kenefick reminded me that the only person you need to make happy is yourself.

“It’s not perfection, it’s progress,” Kenefick reiterated. photos by deb hellman | THE TELESCOPE “For each of the 18 exercises a different skill is learned,” said owner Al- Rider coach Fritz Cassell instructs Kellie Schrick in basic motorcycle skills at parking lot 12. lison Tyra, and each of the coaches is an active motorcyclist. in a July 15, 2008 article on the Motorcycle Hall of Fame web“Good motorcyclist eyes never stop moving, you’re reacting if your eyes are communicating with site.

May is Motorcycle Awareness Month and July will be Womyour mind,” Crouch said.

Fellow student Colleen Bechtel, 48, said, “I would say prob- en’s Motorcycle Month. I couldn’t have picked a better time to ably using both rear and front break simultaneously. I didn’t learn how to ride.

Crouch said when you become a motorcyclist you are part of realize if you are in a curve and you apply the front brake that a fraternity, you wave to each other, you make a commitment, you can definitely cause an accident.”

We learned during classroom time that 37 percent of total there is a sense of belonging and a lot of passion involved.

The course is it is offered year-round and is usually capped motorcycle fatalities involve running off the road, usually in a around 36 students. curve, according to the Basic RiderCourse rider handbook “If you were to call today you could get into a class in two On Sunday I was exhausted after five hours of riding followed by on-cycle riding test but I passed the course success- weeks which is a really short wait time compared to other fully and now I can go to the DMV and take the written test courses offered in the area,” said Tyra.

When learning how to ride Tyra said she thought of it as a only because the skills (on-cycle) part of the test is waived by stepladder. “Take the Basic RiderCourse, and then come back taking the class.

“I was physically exhausted at the end of both days and I and take the Experienced RiderCourse,” she said. “It builds am in really good shape because I spend over an hour a day your confidence to ride on the street.”

The Basic RiderCourse costs $250 or $150 for riders under working out and consider myself to be in really good shape,” 21. The Experienced RiderCourse is $125.

Bechtel said.

Classroom instruction is in the evening during the week I was surprised that almost half the class consisted of womand range riding times are scheduled on the weekend. To en.

“There are more than 4.3 million women motorcyclists on learn more visit decartmoto.com or call Venture Workforce the road today, and more are joining our ranks every day,” said and Community Development Department at (760) 744-1150, Beth Hazen, a motorcyclist and Nationwide Insurance agent ext. 2702.

There are diffrent kinds of motorcycles to choose from when taking the Basic RiderCourse. Decart Inc. offers gloves and helmets as well as upwards of 40 bikes for student use becaue most students don’t do not yet own a bike.

Financial Aid Applications are accepted throughout the semester!

Apply Early – don’t delay.

• Apply for federal aid on-line – “FAFSA on the Web” • Apply for an Enrollment Fee Waiver (i.e., BOGW) – “Apply for BOGW Fee Waiver” link

ays to

Pay all feesfe at the time you register for classes. y es a pa

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• Students will be ticketed. There will be no grace period.

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Purchase parking permit before 1st day of the term ister • 1 eg

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• Students will be dropped from classes for non-payment 10 days after registering*.

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Important new college policies, effective Fall 2010!

Staff is available at the San Marcos campus and the Escondido Center to provide assistance.

Note:*

Students registering after August 5th will be dropped for non-payment on August 15th.

®

Financial Aid & Scholarships Go to www.palomar.edu/fa/

Need

Money for college?

12 |Entertainment

Alejandra Jackson The Telescope

The big trend in Hollywood these days seems to be rebooting classic films. A reboot, for anyone still pounding away on their Macintosh II and watching movies on VHS, is a new version of a film made but with completely new ideas and storylines. This is usually a hit or miss process (I’m looking at you, “Planet of the Apes”) but when done right, it can be a sublime experience; such is the case with Samuel Bayer’s revamped version of “A Nightmare on Elm Street.”

In the film, a group of teens discover that they are all being stalked in their dreams by scarred and burned killer Freddy Kruger (Jackie Earle Haley).

“A Nightmare on Elm Street” takes the iconic “Nightmare” franchise first imagined in 1984 by slasher movie guru Wes Craven and saves it from going down in history as the sad caricature it became by the end Haley at 5 feet 5 inches makes a more imposing and terrifying killer than Robert Englund ever came close to being— even with eight films worth of practice.

Instead of cracking tired and obvious jokes, the new Kruger stalks his prey with Haley using his signature growl to optimum effect.

Freddy Kruger’s real potential is finally realized when the audience gets

Monday, May 10, 2010 | THE TELESCOPE

its first good look at the famed killer in the floor beneath her quiver and shake sleep-deprived teen Kris Fowles’ (Katie and turn into a viscous pool of blood, Cassidy) dream. there’s no question that this is what CraHaley is supported by a cast of some- ven must have originally imagined when what-knowns with just enough credits he created his vast dreamscape. under their belts so as not to be instantVisually, the movie is stunning—a ly recognizable but enough to make surprising feat for a horror movie, a audiences wonder where genre where the focus is usually they’ve seen them before. on maximum blood splatter and Movie review Despite being little elevating the gross-factor. more than cows waiting for ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street Kruger operates in a world of the slaughter, Cassidy and cool blues and electric yellows Thomas Dekker, as Jesse that help to clearly draw a line out of four stars Braun, do a good job of between the real world and his Starring: Jackie Earle Haley, looking tired (which in this realm.

Kyle Gallner, Rooney Mara, Katie movie is actually a good If “A Nightmare on Elm Cassidy, Thomas Dekker, Kellan Lutz, Clancy Brown thing) and managing looks Street” has any major flaw, it’s a of believable terror. lackluster midsection.

Rated: ?

Story-wise, this is a much The film adroitly builds sussharper telling of the origipense for almost an hour but nal. The director chose to go with a dif- then some of the fear is lost as the two ferent back story for Kruger, one that main characters go through the motions Craven had originally considered but of finding out the real reason why they changed out of sensitivity. are being hunted by Kruger.

The reveal of Kruger’s human identiMara is also slightly unbelievable ty was also done well—Bayer chose to do as she becomes the film’s heroine. Afit in another of his well-crafted dream ter simpering in the background for an sequences. hour, her turn for brazen savior will have “Elm Street” also manages to take ev- viewers groaning in disbelief instead of erything that was good about ‘80s slash- cheering. er films and do them one better with the Whether the reboot trend will last benefit of the new millennium’s technol- has yet to be seen, but “A Nightmare on ogy.

Elm Street” deserves to go down as one When Nancy (Rooney Mara) runs of the best to come from this particular through a darkened hallway only to have fad.

HHHH

Entertainment| 13

Monday, May 10, 2010 | THE TELESCOPE

Rethinking the

Melody Parks The Telescope

he collaboration of many Palomar students T bring together a creative and powerful approach to a festival dedicated to the Performing

Arts Department.

The department celebrated its 20th year through a three-day festival titled “American Dream 2.0.”

The talents were displayed by performances that took the audience through an amazing journey of music, theater and dance. The festival, which ran from April 30 through May 2, had performances from all ends of the spectrum.

The audience was broken into different groups, and each group was labeled with a colored sticker to distinguish what rotation each person was going to start in. The groups were greeted by the Palomar String quartet playing “Amazing Grace” and everyone was instructed to write their own American dream on a luggage tag.

The luggage tags, according to Palomar student and actor Jonathan Whalen, displayed what dream every person coming to America wanted to bring with them.

“We all bring dreams. Luggage tags symbolize what you bring with you. Every group of people brings their different dreams with them to America,” Whalen said.

The first activity was called “The American Dream 2.0 Video Game Show” in which a contestant had the opportunity to win showcases that were stereotypical of the American dream. The four corners of the room represented the four elements of the American dream.

The choreography of the actors resembled a combination of martial arts, square dancing and brides and grooms hoisted above the rest in chairs. Although some of the choreography was mediocre, it was an interactive approach to getting a point across: the extent to which people will go pursue their idea of what they want their American dream to include.

The event’s host had an entertainingly outgoing personality but the performance added a somewhat tacky effect that didn’t add up to college-level potential.

One of the stations involved a wide variety of sound bytes put together by students, which ranged from techno with a twist of Michael Jackson side effects to an uplifting jazzy mix tape.

The audio was also a disadvantage because throughout the night a couple of the rooms’ festivities either had the bass blaringly loud or the sound just wasn’t working at all.

The “American Dream Theatronauts” did an exciting and riveting reenactment of when the immigrants first arrived to America. On opening night the audio did not turn on, but it proved that the actors could overcome that obstacle and probably did better without it.

There was also a well-thought-out use of props as the performers spoke about consumers’ wants and needs and how simplistic issues how turned into a distorted view of money. As the dream starts to revolve around materialistic things, you see some of the minority groups such as the American Indians’ dreams being deprived from them.

The concept was an excellent one but without sound; it did seem a bit lengthy and was easy for one to find the actors getting lost throughout the performance.

This would have been the logical approach to ending the night’s festivities of “American Dream 2.0” but then everyone was directed to the front of the theater where the Palomar drum and dance ensemble performed.

The final performance, held in the Howard Brubeck Theatre, was the upbeat and exciting Palomar Jazz ensemble.

The only problem with that idea is that there wasn’t much of a message behind their performance — ironically, the luggage tags came out at this point. Each attendee was asked to take a different one other than his or her own.

Overall, the first night of activities showed a semester’s worth work of masterpieces. Although there were certain flaws throughout the night, “American Dream 2.0” was enjoyable in many aspects with at least one element that anyone would enjoy.

Sara Burbidge | THE TELESCOPE

Photo Illustration byVictoriaTran | THE TELESCOPE

Top left: A poster for the “American Dream 2.0” production.

Top right: Nicole Krause practices before the first night of performances Bottom left: Students work on one of the installations Bottom right: The stage used in the production was hand-painted by a Palomar student

Sara Burbidge | THE TELESCOPE

Caitlin Geckeler | THE TELESCOPE

Sara BurbidgE | THE TELESCOPE

14 |Entertainment WHAT’S HAPPENING Tuesday, May 11

Who: Ben Folds What: Alternative When: 7 p.m.

Where: House of Blues San Diego Cost: $32 Info: 619-299-2583 Who: Trainwreck What: Rock When: 8:30 p.m.

Where: The Casbah Cost: $10-12 Info: 619-232-4355

Wednesday, May 12 Who: Willovealot What: Soul/Blues When: 8 p.m.

Where: VFW Post 5179 Cost: Free Info: 619-262-0566

Thursday, May 13 Who: The Ruse What: Indie Rock When: 7 p.m.

Where: The Casbah Cost: $8 Info: 619-232-4355

Event: Shanghai Ghetto What: Film Festival When: 7 p.m.

Where: Oceanside Museum of Art Cost: $20-25 Info: 760-435-3720

Friday, May 14

Event: Channel 933 Summer Kickoff What: Variety Show When: 6 p.m.

Where: Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre Cost: $31-91 Info: 619-231-4343

Saturday, May 15 Event: Wild West Fest What: Festival When: 11 a.m.

Where: Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic Park Cost: $5 Info: 760-476-1042

NOW ON SALE Cage The Elephant

Concert at House of Blues San Diego June 9. Tickets on sale at ticketmaster.com.

THE TELESCOPE | Monday, May 10, 2010 |

Not worth the trip back in time Caitlin Geckeler The Telescope

The popular TV show “Glee” has procured a large fan base with its musical addition to evening television, yet that popularity may have given them too much confidence in taking on a powerful music icon with their recent album release “The Power of Madonna,” which just feels powerless.

As the name suggests, “The Power of Madonna” seems to be an attempted tribute album to Madonna. With songs rangMusic review ing from her earlier albums such as “Like a Prayer” and “Like a Virgin” to a more recent album “Hard Candy,” the cast of Glee takes on her powerful songs and gives listeners a performance on par Various Artists with that of a high school “The Power of Maddona” musical Opening up with “Express Yourself” leads the out of four stars listeners to believe that the decision to make this song first on the album was just for the title and nothing more.

The television show is know for the Glee Club’s constant fight for the freedom to ‘express itself’ yet this song is more of a ballad to the young lovers of the show, which the listener would only appreciate it if they had watched the show. The misleading title makes the listener believe that the song will be directed towards the members and not as a love song.

As this short eight track album continues, the music tends to start sounding the same, yet the songs vary in meaning. The background keyboard-sounding tempo seems to be consistent in tracks one, two, three and six, making them boring and redundant as opposed to their original sound which was different and expressive.

The album again tries to throw in another Glee Club oriented song that touches on the more personal level of what the Club seems to stand for on the show.

HH

With the song “What it Feels Like For a Girl,” the cast may have taken on a song above the casts heads. Certainly in the show they have touched on the matters facing young men who just don’t feel right the way they are, but seemingly not to the extent that this song was meant for.

There is hope for the listeners when they get to the more well-known Madonna singles.

“4 Minutes” brings back what viewers and listeners love about “Glee.”This hip, fresh, younger version of the pre-released cover song makes it almost worth it sitting through the first four tracks. The high school band sound gives the feel that you are watching a half-time performance at a football that is worthy of attention.

Not only do they have one powerful song, but attention should be brought to their version of “Like a Prayer” which is a beautiful rendition featuring most of the cast powerful singers, once again renewing the affection the listener has for the Glee Club members.

All in all,

the album has not met the powerful standard that Madonna accumulated over the years.

It lacks the impression that Madonna has accomplished through her singles. If anything, certain songs can stand alone, but placed together became less effective as a whole.

‘Splinter Cell’ mows over competitors with improved gameplay Taylor Smith The Telescope

The recent release of the new game “Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Conviction” should be a great warm-up for gamers looking to find some fun games to play this summer.

Storyline-wise, the game has quite a new feel to it from the previous releases. Sam Fisher, the game’s main character, is more of a rebel with a cause in this one, taking a short leave from his retirement to get even with some of his enemies.

One thing to note about “Splinter Cell” games is that they are fairly different than other shooter games. Charging down waves of enemies with your machine gun firing on all cylinders as seen in other games such as “Call of Duty” or “Battlefield: Bad Company” is not something that will be seen often in “Splinter Cell.”

Instead, “Splinter Cell” games deal mainly with stealth and close quarters com-

“Fires”—Band of Skulls

“We are fires in the night Let us bathe you in our heart, ‘Cause we are fires in the night”

The first pick in the summer mix, is a brilliant bonfire song. “Fires” gives beachgoers a great slow, but steady song to chill out to by the fire after a long day of fun in the sun.

“Death (Chase & Status Remix) ”— White Lies “I Love the feeling when we lift up, Watching the world so small below”

While it might not fall into the fun and uplifting summer category, this remix gives you and your friends the ultimate beat to bump to in the car as you head out to the club. The original is great as well.

“One More Drink (ft. T-Pain) ”— Ludacris

“Surrender to da woman, End up bringin’ me home, Cause’ she started lookin’ better every shot of Patron (Yep)”

You know you might find yourself in

bat, sneaking around with various silent right trigger while moving the cursor (also tactics and the occasional interrogation of used to aim at targets). This will place a red one of many formidable foes. “Tom symbol over those targets heads’ Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Conviction” if they are within range. Now all only enhances what the series did that is needed is the press of a Video Game review so well in its previous games, while button and Fisher will take out also introducing a couple of interthose enemies with quick sniper esting new features. shots.

One of the new features “ConThis feature is perfect for a viction” offers is a mark-and-exegame like this, providing a new cute system. The basis for this sysway to progress through a setem of gameplay revolves around quence. The variety that most enhancing the game’s close quargames provide in the weapons a Ubisoft ters combat. player can use to kill an enemy.

Fisher lacks much of the heavy “Splinter Cell: Conviction” “Conviction” provides more of a firepower needed to destroy encombo system, where the player emies in large quantities. Due uses an ability in order to perout of four stars to this problem, Fisher must use form an even better ability. quite a lot of hand-to-hand combat This type of combat system to take down many of his enemies. pushes the player into more fastAfter taking down an enemy with a hand- paced playing. Players who fail to kill eneto-hand combat ability, he is able to mark mies quickly will be cornered and outnumup to four targets for execution with the bered.

HHHH

Ludacris’s situation this summer…one more drink and you might be taking someone home with you. Ludacris and T-Pain nail this song, it’s great for parties, Friday night’s and hey, maybe in the car with your new one-nighter.

Banana Pancakes — Jack Johnson

ix

Summertime M

“Waking up too early, Maybe we can sleep, Making banana pancakes, Pretend like it’s the weekend now”

No summer mix is complete unless Jack Johnson makes an appearance. During summer you can often relax by staying in bed. Relax further by letting Jack Johnson tell you it’s okay.

“Young Forever (Mr. Hudson)”— Jay-Z

“Just a picture perfect day that last a whole lifetime,

and it never ends ‘cause all we have to do is hit rewind”

While we might not be young forever, summertime is a playground for the young.

During the summer we feel as though we will be forever young. So download the song and stay forever young (at least this summer)! — LC

Stephanie dao the telescope

President Barack Obama recently signed an executive order that sets sustainability goals for federal agencies to make improvements to their environmental, energy and economic performance, according to a White House news release dated Oct. 5, 2009.

Palomar College may not have received the executive order but there is a general goal of lessening the college’s environmental footprint by different groups on campus that are trying to go sustainable.

Walter Della-Santina, the bookstore director, said the bookstore proves itself to be a strong follower of living sustainably by avoiding the use of Styrofoam, which is not biodegradable, and by opting for newsprint as the main padding for outgoing packages.

“Another thing the store does is reuse boxes multiple times, turning them inside out and restapling them for further use,” he said.

“We recycle 100 percent of everything that we can, from toner cartridges to our own soft drink bottles, to bags that we use within the store,” Della-Santina said. “We’re trying to minimize our footprint on the campus as a community as much as possible.”

The bookstore also offers a sustainability section of school supplies that are made of recyclable materials.

A few examples include recycled paper notebooks, green books (a blank essay booklet made from recycled paper), recycled material pens and backpacks made from recycled materials.

The store also has recycling containers for cardboard and plastics in the back.

Bookstore staff offers an option for students who wish to continue circulating old textbook editions by offering a donation box. The box is run by Phi Theta Kappa, the college’s honor society.

The organization supports the green movement primarily in recycling old textbooks and funding a number of green events on campus.

Phi Theta Kappa works in conjunction with Better World Books, a social enterprise group that gathers used novels, textbooks, dictionaries and other written works and markets them online to fundraise for schools, libraries and scholarships worldwide.

Better World Books also partners with literacy organizations, such as Books for Africa, in recycling or recalculating used textbooks.

The Books for Africa program ships English dictionaries, reading narratives and math books to areas in Africa with little literacy and math development. The textbook donation box is in front of the bookstore’s double glass doors.

“We started this program four years ago,” said Marilyn Lunde, chapter advisor of Phi Theta Kappa.

“We donate books to those in third world countries so that they can have an education, and at the same time keep the books out of landfills,” Lunde said.

For more information on the Books for Africa program or Phi Theta Kappa, visit the Office of Student Affairs in SU-21 or call 760-7441150, ext. 2594.

Textbooks Go Digital Danny Sumstine the telescope

Carrying heavy textbooks to class may change with the release of Apple’s iPad; the future could be in digital textbooks.

On April 3, the iPad became available to the American public. One its features is the ability to display virtual textbooks for consumers. Leading publishing companies such as Mcgraw-Hill, Penguin, and Hatchett Book Group have all announced that they will be teaming up with Apple in order to make this possible.

This new type of technology can affect the way high school and college students read.

Chris Zigler, a current student at Palomar College said, “It will just be so much easier to tap the screen and begin reading.

As long as the digital copies are at a reasonable price, students like me will definitely buy them.”

Another thing that may be affected, in a good way, is the environment.

Digital textbooks could decrease the demand for paper.

courtesy photo |mct campus

Campus groups minimize carbon footprint

photo illustration by loghan call |the telescope

NEWS| 15

Monday, may 10, 2010 | THE TELESCOPE

“My back and the trees around me would really be in favor of something like this,” Zigler said.

Not all students seem to be jumping on this technology bandwagon, though.

There are some skeptical students, such as Joe English, who said he believes the iPad could break anytime and then the student would be stuck without a textbook.

“If you have something tangible and an actual copy, you always have access to it,” he said.

“People are beginning to rely on the Internet too much these days. Pretty soon there is going to be nothing people have to hold on to. Things like movies and music will only be available in digital form, which is (kind of) sad,” English said.

Teachers have their own opinions on this subject as well.

“If books become digital, I won’t have a job. There will be no need for libraries other than online,” said Nancy Tubbs, a librarian at Rancho Buena Vista High School and a former teacher.

16| NEWS

THE TELESCOPE | Monday, may 10, 2010

Students GEAR UP Palomar students help local high schoolers plan for life after graduation molly morgan the telescope

As a high school senior, one may ask, what is next? For some students these questions are easily answered but others may find themselves unsure of what their future holds.

The Palomar GEAR UP program prepares students for entering college or a career out of high school, according to the program’s mission statement.

Kathleen Goldstein, an outreach coordinator for Mission Hills High School said she sees GEAR UP as a way to provide students with the knowledge to be successful, whether that is going to Palomar, another university or finding a job.

The program caters to four high schools in the San Marcos and Vista school districts, including San Marcos High School, Vista High School, Mission Hills High School and Rancho Buena Vista High School.

This year’s students in the GEAR UP program started in sixth and seventh grade as cohorts when they introduced to the staff. The role of staff members is to then follow and support the cohorts or students until they graduate from high school, according to Cecilia Rocha, GEAR UP supervisor.

Through the years cohorts spend in the program, they participate in college field trips, tutoring and workshops for financing and testing, Goldstein said.

“We try to plan events based on student needs and location; part of our job is to outreach,” she said.

Recently, the program has experienced some difficulty due to California budget cuts, Rocha said.

“Our program’s budget isn’t directly affected by the state’s budget crisis because we are federally funded. However, indirectly we are impacted because

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the schools we work with have limitations on spending which hampers their ability to help us match the funds we spend. We are required by law to match dollar for dollar,” Rocha said.

Despite the budget strains, Rocha said the staff continues to be made up of outgoing, energetic college graduates and students who have a passion for helping students reach their fullest academic and career potential.

Yesenia Mora, a Palomar student and staff member at San Marcos High School, said she has gained a lot of good experience from the program, and recommended that other college students participate as well.

“One of the most wonderful rewards working as a tutor is when students tell you how much they appreciate your help, and the positive impact you are making in their lives,” Mora said.

Trevor Smith, another Palomar student and tutor for the program, said being on the staff has been a very rewarding experience for him.

“I have formed a strong relationship as a mentor and role model and have felt like I’ve been a positive influence to all of my students,” Smith said.

Several students at San Marcos High School said they share goals of going to universities, ranging from California State University, San Marcos to University of California, Santa Barbara.

Goldstein said she feels that the GEAR UP students benefit from the knowledge they gain from this program.

“You need to know what your plans are and our goal is to have that figured out before they go,” she said.

Students interested in participating in the Palomar GEAR UP program as mentors can visit palomar.edu/gearup.

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NEWS| 17

Monday, may 10, 2010 | THE TELESCOPE

hanako sato for the telescope

There are more than 180 names on her Facebook friends list; all are students of Fumiko Tachibana, a Japanese language professor at Palomar College.

Unlike many college students who rarely see their professors after finishing a class, Tachibana’s former students are still willing to keep in touch with her and ask for help.

“I don’t act like a teacher in my class,” Tachibana said. “I am more like a mediator who gives the students a wide range of ways in which to master the Japanese language and culture through a community.”

Xandra Hollander, a former student, pointed out that her teaching strategy compels students to take an interest in Japanese culture through class activities.

“She showed us that learning with fun is more efficient than with seriousness or pressure,” Hollander said.

In 1989, Tachibana came to the United States with teaching experience from Japanese high schools and universities. She has taught at MiraCosta College as well as at Palomar.

Her love of Japanese culture and a desire to share is seen through a variety of activities she provides for students in order to expose them to the Japanese language.

For example, Tachibana held an intercultural party with visiting students from Japan.

“She gave us a great opportunity to communicate with native speakers inside and outside of class and get involved in an international community,” said Takao Dean, one of her students.

Another example is the San Diego Japphoto illustration by melinda finn photos by melinda finn and fumiko tachibana |courtesy photos

anese Speech Contest that she has hosted every year since 1996. She encourages Japanese language students to participate.

Five students from her class participated in the contest and all of them ended up winning prizes for their speeches.

Since she believes community is an essential tool in teaching, she has established the Tachibana Language Center, which is a nonprofit organization to promote friendship among Japanese and English language students.

Uzuki Yamazaki, an assistant for T.L.C., has great respect for Tachibana.

“Becoming a teacher like Professor Tachibana is my dream. Her consideration for students is differential, and I have a lot of things to learn from her,” Yamazaki said.

Her work has been recognized through honors and awards. These include a Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching at Palomar College, a nomination for the Asian Heritage Award in Education in 2006 and recognition by the Board of Directors of the San Marcos Chamber of Commerce in 2007.

Tachibana likens students to runners at the starting line of a race and her role as just providing the needed push to cross the finish line.

“With this approach, many of the students will succeed in exploring a new field of learning,” Tachibana said.

She said that it takes time to get feedback on what she’s done for her students.

However, she said she definitely feels that she has influenced a new intercultural community of learners through her commitment and her love of teaching. Her connection with her students will always challenge her to be better, she said.

Retiring faculty: melissa caston the telescope

Palomar mathematics instructor Shannon Lienhart has held many roles at the school since starting her tenure 19 years ago.

Lienhart began her career at Palomar after graduating from San Diego State University with a bachelor’s degree in applied mathematics and a master’s degree in theoretical mathematics.

Math is a passion of Lienhart’s.

“Statistics is my favorite class to teach because the subject is powerful, interesting and accessible,” Lienhart said. “Statistics is one of those subjects where students learn to question the information they are exposed to. They also learn how to present a logical agreement — one based on fact and analysis, not emotion.”

Her other roles include Palomar Faculty Federation president, Tenure Evaluations and Review Board member, Strategic Planning Council member, Budget Committee member, chief faculty grievance officer (for one more week as of print time) and professor of statistics and calculus.

Another passion that is important to Lienhart is her work with the PFF. Positions she has held in PFF have been the chair of the Committee on Political Education; member of the negotiations team; and member of the executive board. She has been the full-time faculty copresident for four years.

Lienhart said her work with the PFF is driven by her belief that higher education and accessible public education are important factors in protecting our democracy.

Jay Wiestling, chair of the Mathematics Department, said Lienhart is persistent because of the battles she has fought with the district in her role as union president.

“The district has not always fought these battles fairly,” Wiestling said. “It has taken and will continue to take persistence to keep up with them.”

PFF co-worker Shayla Sivert had one word to describe Lienhart, “dedicated.”

“Before working with Shannon melinda finn |Courtesy photo and the PFF, I had no idea how much work was involved,” Sivert said. “Shannon continues to put in many long hours, talking with people who come to her with concerns, researching, helping those of us working with her to understand an issue more clearly.”

Sivert said that she and Lienhart managed to squeeze in a bike ride along the coast once last summer; however, most of their time together has been spent working on behalf of the faculty union, either in meetings on-campus or on our way to local conferences, she said.

“Perhaps once her tenure as PFF co-president is up, she’ll find more time for bike rides,” Sivert said.

Whether Lienhart is taking bike rides, teaching mathematics, or working with the PFF, she said retirement is not on her mind.

“I’m not planning on retiring any time soon, so I haven’t really thought about what I would do if I did retire,” Lienhart said.

Lienhart was born in Roswell, New Mex., to now-deceased parents Jody and Ken Lienhart, and she has one brother and one sister.

She loves to garden and riding her bike is something she does a lot.

“I’ll go for 30 mile rides on the weekend,” she said.

To contact Lienhart or the PFF, call 760-744-1150, ext. 2432 or go to www.palomarfacfed.org.

• Martha Evans, Professor, World Languages. 34 years at Palomar • Carlos Z. Gomez, Professor, World Languages. 34 years at Palomar • Eduardo J. Peixoto, Professor, World Languages. 36 years at Palomar • Irene Stiller, Professor, Nursing Education. 31 years at Palomar •Anita Sugar, Assistant Professor, Regional Occupational Programs. 21 years at Palomar

Thank you for your contributions to our college.

Sports|

18

Monday, may 10, 2010 | THE TELESCOPE

Softball team overcomes economy, remains hopeful for next season christian fortmueller the telescope

Palomar’s softball team came into the 2010 season carrying only 11 players on their roster, the majority of them freshmen.Head coach Mark Eldridge and assistant coach Lacey Craft assumed this would be a season of learning and improving. It was.

Despite struggling early, the Comets finished strong, (20-11 overall and 12-3 in the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference), taking second in the PCAC and earning a spot in the regional playoffs, where they faced off against Saddleback College in the first round.

Eldridge said he was pleased with the team’s development.

“We really were not very good at the beginning of the season,” Eldridge said. “We had a lot of players that were unable to play because of the economic situation; they needed to work. The girls we did have were talented, but a good majority of them had been out for a year or more since high school, so they had to readjust. But over the last month and a half, we’ve developed into a really good team.”

Craft credited the players’ attitudes and work ethic for the turnaround.

“We had a big learning curve to overcome, but they’re all hard workers,” Craft said. “They’ll do whatever you ask them to, and with their fullest effort.”

The Comets improvement didn’t go unnoticed. Pitcher/ infielder Danielle LeBeau was named PCAC softball Player of the Year and selected to firstteam all state. LeBeau’s first-team teammates include infielders Theresa Houle, Ashley Dawson and Kelli Starr, along with utility player Jen Mathis and pitcher Kristen Tenwolde. Starr was also named first-team All-Southern California.

Second team selections included catcher Bonnie Brazee, infielder Marissa Valdez and outfielder Regina Norris. Outfielder Katrina Cutshaw received an honorable mention.

No matter how things play out in the post season for Palomar’s softball team, they can take pride in all they’ve accomplished. With eight players returning next season, the future looks bright for the Comets.

deb hellman | THE TELESCOPE

Palomar’s Theresa Houle tags out Saddleback’s Blyth Ashby as she slides into base during the second game of the series on May 2, 2010.

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Sports|19

Monday, may 10, 2010 | THE TELESCOPE

Track and field team succeeds — fieldless taylor smith the telescope

It has been two years since Palomar revitalized its women’s track and field team after a 20-year drought.

The team has had to cross some hurdles since then. There is no track field on the Palomar campus, and no plans for one are in the works.

For now, coach Jennifer Williams and the team are left with a trip over to the California State University, San Marcos track to practice because even the dirt track that Palomar once had has been torn up for the remodeling of a new practice field.

“It’s the equipment in general,” Williams said. “Everything is kind of lacking, plus not having a facility and not having a facility planned in our future.”

Even on the practice field, however, the team lacks athletes for certain events.

“I would love to see some field event athletes,” Williams said, “Some jumpers, some throwers; field event athletes in general. We need those athletes to come out.”

The team currently fields three main areas

for their meets: sprints, hurdles and long distance.

For what the track team lacks in numbers, however, Williams makes up for it in knowledge. She is in her 10th year of coaching track and cross country, having spent seven years coaching at Cuyamaca College and the last three at Palomar. She also has a master’s degree in physical education.

If that was not impressive enough, she has also excelled as an athlete herself at the collegiate level at San Diego State University and San Francisco State University. Williams set a San Diego State stadium record in the 3,000-meter steeplechase and was an all-conference 5,000-meter runner at San Francisco State.

Williams said that the knowledge that she gained from her experiences has been a great asset to her coaching. She said that she has learned through the years that every athlete is different in terms of training.

“You have to treat every athlete as their own individual athlete,” she said. “Every year is different, every athlete is different.”

One athlete who stands out in particular is Adriana Paz. Paz is currently eighth in the

state in the 400-meter hurdles and said she has no intention of slowing down as championship season rolls around.

“The goal is to win state, but we’ll see,” Paz said.

Much like Williams, Paz has some experience on her side as she placed fifth in Southern California in the 400-meter hurdles last year.

Paz is also a part of several other events for the team. She competes in the open 400-meter sprint, as well as both the 4x100 and 4x400 meter relays.

Paz certainly has a lot on her plate, including hopes for transferring to a four-year in the near future. Paz said she hopes to go out of state; specifically, to the University of Arizona.

There is a resilient nature that can be attributed to athletes of all sports. There is an even greater resiliency that can be attributed to athletes that overcome obstacles to perform at their highest level.

Palomar may not have the means or a plan to build a track and field, but it has not stopped the track team itself from providing future athletic plans for its athletes.

deb hellman | THE TELESCOPE

Palomar’s Adriana Paz is a standout runner for the Palomar track and field team.

Conference Conquest

Women’s tennis brings home two Pacific Coast championships melissa caston the telescope

The Palomar women’s tennis team kept the tradition of winning alive during the spring 2010 season bringing home the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference (PCAC) Dual Team Championship and PCAC Tournament Champions.

The Comets went 10-0 in conference play and had four singles players and two doubles team advance to the All Conference Tournament.

Singles players that advanced were Brooke McBride, Pam Cademas, Emily Kamphaus and Tori Vande Vegte. The doubles teams consisted of McBride and Cademas, and Kamphaus and Vande Vegte.

Freshman Brooke McBride, who came from Torrey Pines High School, took home the Player of the Year award for the PCAC conference, the Comets MVP award, and the singles championship going undefeated during conference play. McBride advanced to the singles competition for the State Individual Tournament May 7-8, the results of which were not known as of print time.

Winning the PCAC Dual team

and tournament championship is a big deal for the Comets because they are all freshman, which according to head coach Ronnie Mancao, was a huge difference from last season.

“Last year we had three sophomores and three freshmen, therefore we had guidance with the sophomores helping the freshman,” Mancao said. “The freshmen weren’t sure what to expect, weren’t sure what a tradition of winning and our past results and understanding how important our season is and that we win a lot of championships and send our players out for scholarships to four year schools, which our two players did last year.”

The loss of Arina Polovonikova and Shoko Hachiya, both 2009 All Americans, was a big hit to the team, but the 2010 team pulled through for Mancao. Mancao has also coached the men’s tennis team for 15 seasons and is on his 10th with the women.

Mancao is proud of his team.

“This was the first time with all freshman and they have come together and worked well,” he said, “and they all got along.

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Palomar player Brooke McBride swings at an incoming ball at the campus’s tennis court.

20 |Sports

THE TELESCOPE | monday, may 10, 2010

st

Despite rough start, young team streaks into the playoffs loghan call the telescope

From the start, the Comets baseball team was faced with an uphill battle.

Unlike last year’s team, which was loaded with experienced talent, this year, the Comets struggled early before settling down. While head coach Buck Taylor is used to having a new team every year, he said seasons like these can be challenging, especially early in the season.

“We were young, we lost over 300 innings on the mound from last year’s club,”Taylor said.“It was more growing pains than anything.”

As the Comets battled the challenge of molding a young group of players into a playoff caliber team, the season kept rolling with minimal results. The Comets stumbled out of the batters box to an 8-9 record, at one point losing four straight games.

“Things were not going our way, we weren’t getting any calls,” Taylor said. “It was tough early on.”

Things quickly turned for the Comets. Taylor’s squad bounced back as they compiled a 19-5 record down the stretch. Playing together as a team, and not giving up even after tough games, was key. The Comets are now in the Southern California Community College Playoffs as a 14th seed.

“We kept grinding, that was our key word, grinding and getting through (the) rough patches,” Taylor said. “We felt like we were better then the teams we were being beat by, the kids believed that and they hung in there.”

The hard work paid off: at print time, the Comets were playing their

photo illustration by melina fickas, deb hellman and loghan call | THE TELESCOPE

Coach Buck Taylor (right) andassistant coach Ben Adams. The two coaches successfully led the Palomar baseball team to the playoffs despite numerous setbacks and lack of experience. round one-playoff series in Oxnard. combined for 12 home runs, 78 runs Pacific) and pitcher Patrick Smith fielder. As long as we fill the gaps, Taylor planned on working his team batted in, and 86 runs scored.

(University of San Diego). we should be okay.” hard through practices leading up “It’s been a great group — (bat“Out of high school, not many of Having spent time working as a to the weekend, then let his players ting order) one through nine, our these kids had options,” Taylor said. coach at the four-year level, Taylor just play ball on the weekend. guys figured it out. But those three “That’s our No. 1 job here, to retain enjoys the challenge of coaching a “If we go out there and our start- guys (Casillas, Cline and Baum) our student athletes and transfer community college team. ing pitching is good, we’ll be alright, have been our main guys,” Taylor them.”

“I like our kids, I love my coachbecause our relief pitching is really said.

With the players leaving, the cy- ing staff and I love coaching and good,” Taylor said.

At the end of every season, a por- cle of putting together a new team teaching here, it’s a challenge every In their regular season final, the tion of Taylor’s players moves to the will start all over again next season. year, I wouldn’t want to be anywhere Comets destroyed Imperial College next level. So far, six players have “Losing Casillas is going to be else,” Taylor said.

36-8. Taylor said that the offense already committed to four-year tough, but I really like our pitchThe Comets finished with a 22has had plenty of success this sea- schools: pitcher Scott Myers (Okla- ing next season. It should be our 13 record, and was second in the Pason, thanks to three key contribu- homa University), catcher B.K. strength,” Taylor said. “But we have cific Coast Conference, (17-8) San tors: Alfonso Casillas (.392 batting Santy and shortstop Ty Afenir (Uni- some holes to fill, we’ll have to fill in Diego City College was first (19-6). average), Jeremy Cline (.327), and versity of Washington), first base- shortstop and second base, as well Playoff results were not available as Derek Baum (.347). The three have man Alfonso Casillas (University of as a couple catchers and an out- of print time.

deb hellman | THE TELESCOPE

Palomar baseball playerTerrence Buchanan slides into 3rd base in an April 27 game against Imperial Valley College.

deb hellman | THE TELESCOPE

Cameron Buford getting congratulated for his first home run, also the last point in a home game, of the season.

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