The Telescope 64.19

the telescope Palomar College, San Marcos, Calif.

Vol. 64, Issue 19 April 18, 2011

A PEEK INTO THE

HEAVENS

Palomar’s updated Planetarium will open in Spring 2012.

Turn to Page 4 for more info on its construction and features.

Photo courtesy NASA.gov

COLLEGE TO CUT 600 CLASSES NEXT YEAR

STUDENTS JOIN HANDS ACROSS THE STATE

INSIDE HOW TO DYE AN EGG Kick off Easter with childish fun

[Pg. 6]

Palomar students will be faced with 600 permanent class cancellations over the next year, unlike this temporary one. (Deb Hellman/The Telescope)

DAVID LEONARD THE TELESCOPE

Catastrophic budget cuts are forcing Palomar officials to eliminate 600 classes over the next year, leaving more students to compete for fewer spots in essential general education and transfer-prerequisite courses.

A breakdown in negotiations last month between legislators and the governor in Sacramento slashed revenue projections for next year by almost $9 million, about 10 percent of the college’s overall budget. Officials responded by postponing registration dates for this summer until May 2 to give turn to CUTS, PAGE 11

BY THE NUMBERS

$8.9

million in cuts

10%

smaller budget

300

fewer summer classes

Student government representitives hope to gather students to hold hands and form a statewide chain. (Photo Illustration by Deb Hellman)

DANIEL MARTIN THE TELESCOPE

Members of the Associated Student Government have high hopes for an event that could possibly make history, and break a world record.

They are participating in Hands Across California, an event in which people will hold hands in a line that spans 1,500 miles, from San Diego north through the central valley, and south through San Francisco all the way back to San Diego, in order to raise awareness of community colleges.

“This is going to be the biggest thing we’ve

Student gov’t pres. hopes event will unite community college supporters done in California for community colleges,” said Channing Shattuck, the student government president. “The objective is to fill the line, the consequence is awareness.”

At 2 p.m. on April 17, a planned 1.5 million people will take part in this event, including students, teachers, turn to HANDS, PAGE

PLAY ON CAMPUS Palomar produces “Dreamlandia”

[Pg. 8]

GOING AFTER GUNS A spirited debate on current gun

[Pg. 10]

2 [News]

Monday, April 18, 2011

News Digest (Brian Tierny/The Telescope)

ASG elections approach Palomar’s Associated Student Government, a student-run organization that encourages political involvement and solves campus-related issues, is holding elections for next semester’s executive officers.

In this election, students will have the opportunity to vote for ASG president and vice president.

At noon on May 4, an official forum will be held in the Student Union. At this time, students will have the chance to talk to the candidates running for the top two ASG positions and ask them questions.

“This will be the last and final opportunity the candidates will have to sway the student body for a vote,” Angel Jimenez, chairperson of the committee, said.

Voting will take place online from May 9 to May 12, according to Jimenez. On May 13, the new ASG president and vice president

will be determined.

The newly-elected executive officers will begin take office in Fall 2011.

--Christine Foronda

Survey measure success Palomar was recently chosen to take part in a nationwide survey that will be used to collect data concerning student engagement for community colleges all around the United States.

The Community College Survey of Student Engagement, otherwise known as CCSSE, will be taking place this year, and students here will be offered a chance to take part in the nationwide survey covering student study habits, class participation and how students relate to their teachers. This year, 436 community colleges will be participating, according to the CCSSE’s website. This is the largest amount of

colleges ever surveyed in this study since 2008, when 316 colleges participated.

This means information from Palomar will be used to find out how students are learning at the community college level, and in turn will be used to improve learning conditions at college’s nationwide.

President Deegan expressed that this survey is very important to the Palomar administration.

He said that it helps them stay focused on student success, and helps in planning programs.

“It’s helpful information; (it) helps us in our planning to help students succeed academically.”

Deegan said.

He also mentioned that he wants to see every student succeed here at Palomar, and that this survey helps answer the question: “What are the strategies we can do to increase (student) engagement?”

According to Michelle Barton, the director of the research department here at Palomar, the CCSSE is a standard survey that students complete. The results are then summarized, and an analysis is sent back to Palomar.

This information is primarily used by members of the Strategic Planning Council, who in turn consider the information in the decisions they make.

--Daniel Martin

Pride at Palomar Palomar’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered, Questioning, and Allies club invites you to their second annual LGBTQ Pride Event.

The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesday, April 26 in the Student Union Quad.

LGBTQA aims to bring the Palomar community together to support equality and acceptance of

those who identify with being lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender through education and celebration, according to John Jones, president of LGBTQA. “The purpose of this event is to show pride in being a member of the LGBTQ community and to show pride in being who you are,” Jones said.

Speakers and organizations such as the North County Coalition and the Vista Community Clinic will be present at the event.

There will also be games and prizes, food, music and an open mic session open to all students to give speeches and share their experiences based on the theme of this event: What do you take pride in?

In addition, free HIV and STD testing will be provided by theVista Community Clinic during the event from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the LGBTQ Resource Center, room ST-72.

--Christine Foronda

This Week at Palomar Monday

Thursday

Saturday

GradFest

Fashion Show

Arboretum Beautification

The Palomar bookstore will hold the first annual GradFest from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.. Students can purchase graduation caps and gowns, graduation annnouncements, class rings and other bookstore merchandise.

Students who purchase their caps and gowns during the two-day event will recieve 10 percent off their purchase.

The first 200 students to buy their cap and gown will recieve a free keychain tassel.

Contact the bookstore at 76-744-1150 ext. 2220 for more information.

MODA annual fashion show to be held at the California Center for the Arts on from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

The marketing and design fashion show will showcase pieces from high school students, Palomar college designers and classes.

In the past the venue alotted to the show was too small, but this year it will be held in the large concert hall, which will make the runway visible to all attendees.

Tickets are on sale at the Center for the Arts ticket office or online at www.artcenter.org/performances.

Students are invited to pick up a rake, and shovel, put on some gloves and get dirty beautifying the Arboretum.

The event will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Patron’s Pavillion in the Arboretum.

Student volunteers will be pulling weeds, raking, trimming and other general maintenance.

Volunteers are encouraged to bring sunscreen and hats.

Those wanting to participate should RSVP to Tony Rangel by April 21 by email at arangel@palomar.edu.

April 18 & 19

April 21

April 23

Palomar’s accreditation journey (thus far) Palomar began its journey to correct the suggestions levied by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges in June 2009.

A letter from the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges outlined its suggestions of areas Palomar must improve on before June 2011.

Since then, campus officials have been working to correct these defficiencies.

The areas of work included planning, student learning outcomes, distance education and policies held by Palomar’s board of trustees.

An accreditation site team visited Palomar on April 1 to review a follow-up report submitted by the college, addressing how ACCJC’s suggestions were implemented.

--Mark Saunders

2009

2010

2011

Palomar recieves “warning status” by the Accreditiong Commission for Community and Junior Colleges.

“Warning status” does not take away the college’s accreditation, only places requirements on the collegee to improve upon or lose its accreditation.

Integrated Planning, Evaluation, and Resource Allocation DecisionMaking Model; Resource Allocation Model; Annual Planning, Resource Allocation, & Evaluation Timeline and Technology Plan 2016 approved

by Student Planning Council.

The SPC also approved Strategic Planning Priority Funding requests.

Modifications to faculty evaluations, code of ethics and benefits were also made. A letter of action was sent to ACCJC outlining actions taken thus far to address the June 2009 recommendations.

A follow-up report was agreed upon by Palomar’s Governing Board to submit to The Western Association of Schools and Colleges, a corporate entity the ACCJC operates under.

Two site visitors come to Palomar to review the follow-up report and documents and interview staff members about the campus.

After reviewing the documents, conducting interviews and making campus observations, the site team will prepare a report and submit it to ACCJC. Palomar officials will find out in late June if the “warning status” has been lifted from the college.

Palomar President Robert Deegan, Accreditation Liason Officer Berta Cauron and Institutional Research and Planning Director Michelle Barton stand before the ACCJC to deliver a final address and recieve the commission’s final decision on whether to lift the college’s warning status.

Robert Deegan, Palomar president, said he believes the campus will have no problem passing the evaluation and remains “optimistic” the site team was pleased with what they saw.

[News] 3

the telescope

Transfer students face more limitations Chewing away school budgets 2009 University of California and California State University systems are slated to recieve 20 percent less state funding.

UC system responds by raising student fees nine percent and cutting at least $300 million from budget of ten campuses. CSU plans to cut 40,000 students over the next two years.

2010 California State University system announced campuses would not accept student applications for Spring 2010 and Winter 2010 term.

Palomar decided to offer 200250 class sections without state reimbursement to meet student demand.

CSU, UC systems deliver enrollment cuts, GPA increases Natalie Soldoff The Telescope

Four-year universities in California are getting ready to make some changes that will make getting accepted a bit tougher.

California State Universities have decided to cut enrollment by 2.4 percent for the 2011-2012 school year, according to a March 22 article by the San Diego Union-Tribune.

That small percentage may not seem large, but it adds up to about 8,000 students statewide.

The UT points out that local universities -Cal State University San Marcos and Sand Diego State University- will face enrollment cuts of almost 200 full-time students each.

Cal State San Marcos, specifically, plans to reduce enrollment by more than 10,000 students in response to recent budget shortfalls in 2011 and 2012.

CSU system campuses are being asked to cut $281 million from their budets in addition to enrollment reductions.

“Schools were pushed to do this,” student Chris Schatz said. “Narrowing the gap of acceptance is going to hurt the system and slow down student progress.”

Admission cuts, combined with statewide budget cuts mounting to almost $500 million, will likely mean an increase in competition when applying to a university.

“Students need extracurricular activities, something else to catch the eye of universities other than good grades,” student Alex Greenlee said.

“Impacted campuses in the CSU system admit students via a tier process,” Karen Huskey, Palomar transfer center director, said.

The first priority is the campus’ local community colleges. Once the campus has admitted the in-service students, then they admit out-of-service area students based on GPA, Huskey explained.

The CSU system is not alone in facing changes.

Many community college students depend on transferring to a University of California school through the use of the transfer admission guarantee system, known as TAG. According to universityofcalifornia.edu, community college students can be accepted to most UCs as a junior if they meet certain requirements set by each campus’ TAG system.

“The TAG requirements can very each year,” Huskey said.

UCSD has made the decision to raise GPA requirements to 3.5 for their TAG applicants for Fall 2012 due to increases in TAG applicants and continued funding reductions, according to Mae Brown, the vice chancellor of admissions and enrollment at SDSU. “UCSD is raising GPA requirements because they want to be able to sustain the program,” Huskey said.

“The decision will ensure that the university is not over capacity, so that each student can meet the requirements to graduate,” Brown said.

When UCSD began their TAG program,

they only accepted applicants from community colleges in San Diego and Imperial counties, according to a March 18 article by the UT. In 2009, the UCSD opened the program to all 112 California community colleges, according to the UT. “Students from California community colleges make up more than 90 percent of our transfer applicants and admits,” Brown said.

The wider TAG availability combined with a new computer-based application process, has created a huge overflow of candidates.

The UT showed that UCSD TAG applicant numbers have grown from 443 applications five years ago to 8,715 applicants in 2011.

“This doesn’t mean they (UCSD) are cutting back on transfer students,” Huskey said.

Huskey said she believes community college students should remember to stay committed during these tough times.

“The best thing students can do is work hard to keep up their GPA,” Huskey said.

“Go see a counselor and have a Plan B school.”

Knowing where your grades stand, planning ahead and being aware of transfer requirements can be a helpful tool during a time when students face increased uncertainty when applying for a California college.

Contact Natalie Soldoff, assistant opinion editor, at nsoldoff@the-telescope.com

Politics, economy debated at ‘Days’ Two-day event hosts expert discussion from local professors, leaders

2011 Gov. Jerry Brown announces $1.4 billion cut to California’s higher education system. Community colleges will take a $400 million cut while California State Universities and University of California campuses will lose $500 million a piece.

Palomar officials report the college will recieve a $5 million cut and likely increase course fees from $26 to $36 a unit.

2011 A measure to allow voters to vote to extend Prop. 98 taxes set to expire in June failed to pass, increasing the amount Palomar must cut from $5 million to $13 million. Palomar will now evaluate classes to close during the following summer, fall and spring semesters.

California State University announces a 2.4 percent cut in enrollment. University of California announced an increase in the required GPA to transfer from 3.2 to 3.5.

Shaun Kahmann The Telescope

Hundreds of eager students lined-up en masse to attend Palomar’s fifth annual lecture series, “Political Economy Days” on April 7 and 8, that featured many notable speakers and professors from local universities.

Political Economy Days serves to highlight economical and historical issues of global significance and offers students an opportunity to network with upper division professors while earning extra credit.

Some lectures featured food and music.

One of this year’s major draws wasYaja Boren, an author and Holocaust survivor, who spoke on her experience living in a Nazi concentration camp.

So popular was her lecture, that they reached standing room only capacity and many students were turned away.

“We’re very lucky to have Yaja here,” Peter Bowman, political science professor, said. “I know there were students that were in tears. There were students that were absolutely fixated on what she was saying. They weren’t moving a muscle.”

Other lectures drew large crowds as well and many students like Andy Mauyn, 20, had to arrive early if they didn’t want to get turned away.

“I hated how crowded it was. It was pretty packed,” Mauyn said.

Mauyn was attending a lecture on China’s economy. He said he learned many things about China he never knew.

“I learned about how China has started surpassing other countries, and how in the last hundred years they were behind,” Mauyn said.

Many of the lectures touched on hotbutton topics, including homosexuality.

Bill Jahnel, associate professor of history, is the author of the lecture “Gay Before Gay,” that focuses on the history of the term “homosexuality” and the nuances

Bill Jahnel, an associate professor of history, spoke about the historical creation of the homosexual identity and models of research into homosexual history. (Deb Hellman/The Telescope) behind its meaning.

Jahnel said he was happy to have the opportunity to speak on a subject so close to his heart in an academic environment. “(Political Economy days) is an opportunity for students to be exposed to subjects that can’t be approached in the classroom,” Jahnel said. “We’re providing them with information that they may never come into contact with.”

“Gay before Gay” was among the most popular lectures given Russell Barrett, 20, said that-- for him-- it was the most memorable.

“It made me question what it is to be gay and how other cultures view it,” Barrett said. “It kept me interested. Jahnel has a way with words.”

Jahnel, as well as instructors from local campuses including the University of San Diego, San Diego State University and

others, lent their time and energy to arming students with information at no cost to them.

“We’re just 40 minutes away from an academic gold mine,” said Bowman. “(Speakers) never ask for any honorarium for doing these lectures…they’re doing it for the love of their discipline and their research.”

In addition, the lectures were meant to give students insight into how their education will evolve after transferring, according to Teresa Laughlin, economics professor.

“The idea is not necessarily to help students when they get out (of Palomar), but to show what their future studies will be like,” Laughlin said.

Contact Shaun Kahmann, opinion editor, skahmann@the-telescope.com

4 [News]

Monday, April 18, 2011

PALOMAR’S NEW PLANETARIUM

Shows at the Planetarium will be projected on a 50-foot dome which will completely surround visitors.

The new office complex will have high-tech computer rendering and sound recording equipment to allow the facility’s director to create custom shows.

A professional box office will replace the folding table used to sell tickets at the old Planetarium.

New, larger bathrooms will serve the thousands of kids who visit the Planetarium on field trips each year.

Photos courtesy STOCK XCHNG; Planetarium rendering courtesy Mark Lane, Palomar College

Project Timeline July: Old Planetarium demolished

December: Gov. Board approves plans June: Ground broken, construction began October: Construction expected to finish Spring: Planetarium to open

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

DAVID LEONARD THE TELESCOPE

Mark Lane is passionate about the new Planetarium.

After the old Planetarium was demolished in 2008 to make way for new buildings, the whispy director and astronomy professor helped the college craft a plan for an updated astronomy education center.

The new building, funded by Propositon M construction money, will cost about $8 million to complete. Construction will wrap up in October, and the center will open in Spring 2012.

Lane tramps up two flights of stairs in the Natural Sciences building every day to look over the construction progress.

He said his investment in the project runs deeper than just a professional’s attachment to a new workplace.

“It’s a little bit like a legacy for me,” Lane said, recalling that the founder of the original Planetarium was remembered for decades by visitors.

“Half of my career will be spent in that building,” he said.

the telescope

The history of Earth Day Natalie Soldoff The Telescope

Millions of Americans gathered in schools, auditoriums, beaches and parks on April 22, 1970 to protest for a cause.

The cause was the environment and that day was the first Earth Day. Now 41 years later, Palomar will be hosting its own Earth Day event on April 21.

“Thirteen clubs will participate and have booths,” Leena Barrientas, Child Development Club president and event co-chair said in a email.

“It will look like a farmer’s market; each booth will focus on an environmental issue and be selling goods to raise money for the clubs,” she said.

Businesses that will also be in attendance include Menchie’s and the San Diego Zoo. Watch out for a special animal guest, Barrientas added.

“Earth Day is about trying to get everyone to take care of our planet,” student Matt Herman said. “We need to appreciate what we have, not put Earth in a worse state.”

The original Earth Day was the brainchild of Wisconsin Sen. Gaylord Nelson who wanted to bring environmental issues to the public’s eye, according to the website nelsonearthday.net.

“If no one knows about the issues no one

will recognize the importance of protecting the place you live,” student Carli Buchaald said.

During the 1960s pollution was rampant, damaging the air, water and American’s health.

In 1966, 80 New Yorkers died when warm air raised smog levels past human tolerance levels, according to pollutionissues.com.

The website points out that in 1969 the Cuyahoga River in Ohio spontaneously bursted into flames because of unmonitored chemical levels in the water.

Luckily, the first Earth Day was a success and helped influence the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency that same year.

The 1970s saw the creation of clean air and water acts, pollution control and environmental science.

The website notes that Earth Day is now celebrated in over 80 countries worldwide.

“It (Earth Day) reminds people that nature is very close to where we live, sometimes right within our community,” said Brian Ketterer, the San Diego Superintendent of the California State Park Foundation.

“It allows each of us to explore nature and give back to it,” he added.

There are many simple ways to be ecofriendly during Earth Day. “Take the bus or ride a bike to save gas

and emissions,” student Roderick Wiggins said. “You can recycle and pick up trash off the ground.”

Student Herman had another suggestion, “Try not to use energy. Go outside and be active.

“Get outside to participate in local events raises awareness and entertains,” Herman added.

Another event scheduled for Earth Day this year is at SDSU. The so-called Greenfest is a social and environmental responsibility festival. The free event from 4-7 p.m. will feature carnival rides, an eco info zone, food, activity booths and a beer garden, according to sdsu.edu/greenfest.

On April 23, the Alta Vista Gardens will host a free Earth Day Festival from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. It will feature tours of the botanical gardens, a medieval village, eco workshops and a beer and wine garden.

No matter how you choose to celebrate, participating in taking care of our Earth is what is most important, students said.

“Earth day cannot be thought of as just one day,” Ketterer said.

“It’s wonderful to reflect and contribute, it keeps nature relevant and provides time for reflection.”

Contact Natalie Soldoff, Assistant Opinion Editor, at nsoldoff@the-telescope.com

Illustration by Junie Bro-Jorgensen/MCT

[Focus] 5 What is Easter?

Hannah villaruel The Telescope

Easter symbolizes different things for different people. At Palomar, students are split on what the holiday, April 24 this year, means to them.

According to an informal survey of 25 Palomar students conducted on March 31, 45 percent said it’s a time for family, 30 percent said it’s a religious day and 25 percent don’t celebrate the holiday.

Students who celebrate Easter as a religious holiday view it as a remembrance of the day that Jesus Christ rose from dead.

“I don’t do the bunnies and eggs thing,” student Ted Kovach said. “I celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, and it so happens that in America we celebrate it on Easter… I go to church in the morning like I do every Sunday, then I hang out with family the rest of the day.”

Students who consider Easter a time to spend with family, often participate in the tradition of hunting for Easter eggs, something that seems never to get old.

Interestingly, some people do not know why they search for eggs.

The tradition traces back to Ancient Egyptian and Roman times, when eggs symbolized new life and fertility. The eggs were used during their spring festivals and many traditions have sprung off from that, according to the website infoplease.com.

“I don’t really know why we celebrate it, I kind of just see everyone else do it… I have a regular Easter; celebrate with family and we do Easter egg hunts for fun,” freshman Eric Garcia said.

Students can do a variety of things with their families during Easter, but barbecues and picnics seem to be the most popular events.

Student Shelby Dudek said: “My family has a barbecue with all my aunts and cousins: all my family. We do Easter egg hunts for the little ones, because I have a lot of cousins like 3 and 4 years old, so it’s fun for them.”

Whether they celebrate Easter or not, for most students, it is still recognized as a time for family.

“I don’t celebrate. I’m not religious, but a lot of my family does, we paint eggs and whatever,” student Charles Bernes said.

Some students don’t recognize the holiday at all.

“I don’t celebrate, it’s not my tradition,” Student Leslie Cota said. “My family has never celebrated it, ever.”

For several students, Easter has also become a childish holiday, and they have grown out of the concept of the Easter bunny and eggs. But for other students, it will remain a celebration for many people to gather their family together, go to church, and have Easter egg hunts.

Contact Hannah Villaruel, staff writer, at hvillaruel@ the-telescope.com.

DRINK OF THE WEEK

Caramel Apple Martini

The Caramel Apple Martini (Kelli Miller/The Telescope.)

Fair season is just around the corner and we have a perfect cocktail to make the wait a little more enjoyable, the Caramel Apple Martini.

This drink adds an adult twist to the classic summer treat and tastes exactly like the snack minus the mess and the stick.

The sour apple pucker not only gives the martini a bright, vibrant color but adds a sweet and sour kick.

The tartness combines perfectly with the smooth buttery taste of the butterscotch schnapps to create this delicious treat in a glass.

While The Caramel Apple Martini just might have you craving funnel cakes and fried Twinkies, it tastes just as good paired with microwaveable kettle corn.

So if you want a taste of the fair without the long lines and screaming kids, it’s very easy to make this cocktail at home.

To make it even sweeter add green apple sugar candy to the rim of the glass.

You can take this drink to the next level by rimming the glass with caramel then dipping it in crushed nuts.

So the next time the guy behind the counter asks how you want your caramel apple, your reply should be chilled and in a glass, please.

Disclaimer: You must be at least 21 years old to enjoy this beverage. Do not drink and drive. Please drink responsibly.

Contact the staff at focus@the-telescope.com.

Caramel Apple Martini Ingredients:

2 parts butterscotch schnapps 2 parts sour apple pucker 1 part vodka

Directions:

Add all of the ingredients into a shaker, shake and strain into a chilled martini glass.

6 [Focus]

Monday April 18, 2011

How to dye Easter eggs Sydnie Taylor The Telescope

Dying Easter eggs is not just for kids – college students can enjoy it as well. For a fun and cheap way to dye Easter eggs, follow these simple instructions.

Materials needed:

Water Hard boiled eggs White vinegar Food coloring Small bowls or cups Spoon White crayon (optional)

Set Up

Set aside an empty egg carton or dry paper towel. This is what you will set your finished eggs in.

Set aside a small bowl or cup for each color that you plan on using to dye the eggs

Step 1. Fill each bowl with about ½ cup of warm water. Make sure not to fill the bowl too high or the water will overflow when you dip the egg.

Step 2. Add 1 tablespoon of white vinegar to each bowl.

Step 3. Add food coloring to each bowl or cup until you see the desired color and stir.

Step 4. If you would like, draw a design on the plain egg with a white crayon (The design will show up when you dye the egg) Step 5. Dip each egg into one or multiple colors and let it sit for a few seconds (Use a spoon to pull the egg out of the dye) Step 6. Place the colored eggs on the empty egg carton or paper towel and let dry. *Also, instead of hard boiled eggs you can blow the eggs. Poke a hole in the top and bottom of the egg with a large needle and make sure you break the yoke. Then, blow out the insides of the egg. Follow steps 1-6 to dye the egg. Just be careful because the eggs are more fragile when you use this method.

(Sydnie Taylor/The Telescope)

Contact Sydnie Taylor, Online Editor, at staylor@the-telescope.com.

[A&E] 7

the telescope

Paint your future bright Margaret Madrid The Telescope

Above: Caracturist Ricardo Vasquez has been drawing for three years and does it as a hobby and for gallery work.

Right: Solangel Olguin works on a painting in the Advanced Painting Class, April 12. (Kiigan Snaer/The Telescope)

Palomar offers a class for oil and acrylic painters of all levels that explores the differences and similarities of both arts.

Professor Stephen Curry, who attended San Francisco Art Institute, teaches a combination class of Oil Painting I and II and Acrylic Painting I and II.All four courses are covered in a three-hour class two days a week.

“I am taking classes now to build a portfolio to transfer to an art school,” student Rachel Schaefer said.

Many students want to go to art schools in L.A.,” Curry said. “Art Center in Pasadena is the school they all want to go to.”

Art careers are usually grouped in two different categories: fine and commercial art.

“You’re kind of doing what you want to do, exploring your own ideas with fine

art,” Curry said. “Commercial art would be making products that have to do with print or other media such as product design.”

Fine art careers include art that is created out of enjoyment and passion, working for a single commissioner instead of a company and is usually displayed in art galleries.

Unlike fine art, commercial art careers include art created on computers, working with companies and is usually displayed in magazines and on television.

“I want to focus more on concept work for movies and video games,” Schaefer said.

Ricardo Vasquez is an advanced acrylic and oil painter and professional caricature artist on the side. He said he is taking classes to gain more drawing skills.

“I want to do character design for Dis-

Tips for artistic success

1

Be passionate about the arts.

2 Take drawing first because a strong drawing background is key in painting.

3 Double major in a fine art school and commercial art school.

4 Start selling work at a couple hundred dollars.

5 Pitch artwork in coffee shops.

6 Submit artwork in art competitions and juried shows.

7 Visit local art galleries in downtown San Diego, La Jolla, or Del Mar. 8

Visit New York City and Los Angeles, they are the art capitals of the U.S.A. *These tips are according to Professor Stephen Perry

Robert McDonnell works on a painting in the Advanced Painting Class, April 12, 2011. (Kiigan Snaer/The Telescope)

ney,”Vasquez said.

Eric Birmingham is a deaf student who said he is majoring in art.

“I hope I will be in a gallery one day,” Birmingham said through a translator. “I am really benefitting from this teacher; his art can be kind of dangerous.”

Oil Painting I and Acrylic Painting I focus on the fundamentals like brush holding, use of color and interpretation.

Oil Painting II and Acrylic Painting II are advanced classes that concentrate on a painter’s application of techniques and creativity through projects.

“I mainly want them to become excited about painting whether they decided to pursue it as a profession or not,” Curry said.

Contact Margret Madrid, staff writer, at mmadrid@the-telescope.com

8 [A&E] MARK YOUR CALENDAR

Monday, April 18, 2011

Dreamlandia at Palomar, now

Looking to have some fun, get some culture, and live it up in the North County?

We’ll help.

Dreamlandia: April 15 - 23 Howard Brubeck Theatre This play, written by Octavio Solis takes place along the Rio Grand river in Texas. It addresses issues of drug dealing and addiction, but more directly adresses the concept of trasnsending the borders between the U.S.A. and Meico, between life and death and between truth and lies. Tickets can be purchased at the window, online at palomar.edu/performingarts or by calling 760-744-1150 ext. 2453 Showtimes are as follows: Thursdays @ 4 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays @ 8 p.m. Sundays @ 2 p.m.

Catch a show: April 19 Local Brews, Local Grooves @ HoB, Downtown April 19 The New Regime @ The Casbah, Little Italy April 20 Fake Problems @ The Casbah,Little Italy April 20 Lost in the Trees @ The Loft, UCSD April 20 Chrisette michele @ Anthology, San Diego April 21 Iration w/ Mike Pinto @ Belly Up, Solana Beach April 22 In Every Breath @ Soma, San Diego April 22 Mandorico @ Brick by Brick, Linda Vista April 23 The Peacemakers @ HoB, Downtown April 23 MiMosa @ HoB, Downtown April 24 The Devil Whale @ The Casbah, Litlle Italy

Get cultured: April 21 MODA Fashion Show Pieces designed by Palomar students will be shown off by 30 models. The show will also feature a guest speaker, Zandra Rhodes, who is an internationally known British fashion designer. Concert Hall at California Center for Performing Arts (CCAE) $12-15 in advance and $20 at the door. Tickets can be purchased online at artcenter. org/performances/ or at the CCAE box office.

April 22 Super! A Heros and Villans party Festival of International Dress as your favorite super hero or villian. Prizes will be given out in a contest for the best costume. @ Mission Valley Resort Hotel “Mission Room” $10 at the door before 10:30 p.m.

“This play can only be described as Quentin Tarantino meets Inception meets Mexican Mythology.” - actor Eva David The cast of Dreamlandia is seen here at a late night rehersal for their upcoming performance. The play is directed by Michael Mufson and can be seen at the Howard Brubeck Theatre and will run from April 15-24. The play begins with the birth of a child to a coke addict and a coke dealer. The complications from this birth lead into a struggle of life and death, truth and lies, reality and dreamlandia. (Johhny Nguyen/The Telescope)

Augustana will “Steal your Heart” with self titled album Matt Slagle The Telescope

Despite average songs, Augustana’s new, self-titled album has vocals and a rhythm section that are quite pleasing to listen to and great background music when writing an essay at the last minute or cramming for a big test.

Looking to follow up on its success in 2005 with No. 1 album “All the Stars and Boulevards”, which had two, Top 40 hits and was certified platinum, “Augustana” will release its third album April 26.

The first song on the record “Steal Your Heart,” is the lone standout.

It grabs your attention with an exciting, upbeat tempo and an accompaniment that gradually builds from a single guitar and maraca to an entire ensemble of sound.

That song leaves you excited for the rest of the songs, but unfortunately the other nine songs are average.

The other track worth mentioning is the one titled “On the Other Side,” which has the same tempo and feel as the lead song.

It is one of those songs that

inspires and pumps you up, due to the message within the lyrics.

Not to say that it is a bad album, which it isn’t, but after awhile the songs blend together and sound like any other pop/rock track that can be bought on iTunes.

The soothing and natural sounding vocals are a nice reprieve from an industry ruled by the practice of Auto-tune (enhancing vocals using electronic means) and the background accompaniment not only doesn’t take away from the lead singer Daniel Layus, but they are the platform that features him.

If you are a fan of Augustana or a big fan of pop/rock then this album is for you, if not just spend the $1.29 for the first track “Steal Your Heart.”

Album cover courtesy of Epic Records

Contact Matt Slagle, sports editor, at mslagle@the-telescope.com

[Opinion] 9

the telescope

Drugs are Drugs

OUR VIEWPOINT

UNPAID INTERNSHIPS ARE DANGEROUS In today’s competitive workforce, internships are extremely important to landing a job after getting a degree. In our field of journalism, like many others, these internships are often unpaid.

Rather than offer their hardworking interns minimum wage, many companies partner with colleges to give course credit.

And credits don’t come cheap -- an internship class at Palomar costs about $100. At a private four-year university, those costs can jump to $2,000 or more.

These internships are dubiously legal at best. In the worst cases, they’re just an opportunity for companies to get a free worker to grab coffee and make copies. And that is definitely illegal.

These companies should either buck up and pay up, or change their policies to make on-site internships less menial and more instructive.

Among unpaid internships, there are two main categories: those that are meant to replace a full-time employee (i.e. photocopier duty), and internships that offer genuine instruction and impart onto students reallife work experience.

As a student, you should look out for and avoid internships of the first variety. Companies that don’t value your work, and teach you nothing, are just looking to gain some free labor to shore up quartely expenditure reports.

These internships are both morally wrong and very illegal.

California and federal law forbids businesses from hiring interns to perform the job of a real employee for no pay. Internships have to have some educational value, For example, journalism students interning in a newsroom shouldn’t just run memos from office to office, or go out and get lunch for the staff.

Rather, interns should gain a broad understanding of what being a reporter means -- going out and finding sources, fact checking stories by phone, rigorous copy editing practices, and so on.

These kinds of internships are valuable, and desirable.

Seek them out. Look at the job description before you apply for any position. Ask around -- have any other students taken an internship at this same company?

What were there experiences?

The institutions that post internships--counseling centers, career centers and student activity offices--should also be aware of what they are posting.

These institutions are charged with guiding students through the perilous waters of unpaid work -- they should take that task seriously.

The inescapable truth here, though, is that companies are gaining money and students are losing money. Companies get free help and you, the student, are paying these companies to help them.

Don’t stand for that sort of thing.

Know your rights, and make sure nobody takes advantage of your services. Not feeling like you are getting the most out of your internship? Find another way into the industry.

Legal or otherwise

FOCUSED ON PALOMAR

the telescope Monday, April 18, 2011 Vol. 64, No. 19 Palomar College, San Marcos, Calif.

DAVID LEONARD

EDITOR IN CHIEF

MATTHEW SLAGLE

MANAGING EDITOR

MARK SAUNDERS

NEWS EDITOR

JOEL RAMOS

ASST. NEWS EDITOR

SHAUN KAHMANN

OPINION EDITOR

NATALIE SOLDOFF

ASST. OPINION EDITOR

MELINA FICKAS

FOCUS EDITOR

BELINDA CALLIN

A&E EDITOR

NICK SHUMATE

ASST. A&E EDITOR

MATTHEW SLAGLE

SPORTS EDITOR

KAITY BERGQUIST

ASST. SPORTS EDITOR

SYDNIE TAYLOR

ONLINE EDITOR

LAURA DAVIS NATALIE SOLDOFF THE TELESCOPE

We celebrate with alcohol. We party with drugs. And we take five with tobacco.

We view each substance with different eyes and attitudes, but why?

The answer lies within twists and turns of America’s relationship between society, economy and substance.

Alcohol has a long history of providing a pathway for people to celebrate, bond and be merry. But it also has a long history of crime and addiction.

During the 1800s, alcohol consumption began to be viewed as immoral and destructive by those who faced the darker side of drink.

It was a side that lent itself to violence and deadly accidents.

By the early 1900s, prohibition outlawed alcohol in an attempt to purify the nation.

The movement proved just the opposite.

It led to crime and corruption, including gangsters, speakeasies and booze smuggling from Canada and the Caribbean.

“...tobacco, alcohol and legal drugs stand on equal ground.”

Photo courtesy Stock Xchng

By the Great Depression, the government and citizens alike saw an easy opportunity to boost the economy by producing and taxing liquor.

Alcohol again became a legal mainstay in our country. Glasses were once again hoisted up in jubilation and have stayed there ever since.

Allowing the widespread negative effects of legal alcohol to be trumped by monetary benefits made alcoholism seem trivial. Alcoholism is a deadly disease that kills nearly 90,000 people each year according to drugwarfacts. com.

Tobacco got its start as a cash crop in colonial days. It has sparked a never-ending debate between its

economic significance and health dangers.

It is ironic that legal tobacco claims the lives of hundreds of thousands each year, according to drugwarfacts.com, and yet is viewed as an excusable vice because it brings in the big bucks for corporations and government.

Alcohol and tobacco are never seen as direct causes of death, only gateways to deadly diseases like cancer and liver disease. This is another reason to excuse the ill effects of these substances and keep raking in the cash.

One can overdose on a hard drug, an immediate the cause of death. This makes drugs seem even more evil and immoral than alcohol or tobacco when in reality they all can have deadly outcomes.

Hard drugs have a long and controversial history. Opium and drugs such as cocaine and methamphetamines played a vital role in the development of medications.

People came to depend on controlled substances to feel better physically, mentally and emotionally.

The country soon came to realize too much of a good thing is exactly that. Drugs began to drag people obliviously into deadly addiction.

By the 1900s, anti-drug acts were put in place to reel in druginduced violence, addiction and death.

Over the years, illegal drugs have become part of our culture.

Americans grow up learning narcotics are dangerous and glamorous, instilling an accepted contradiction of the way people view them.

Programs like D.A.R.E. educate children about drug, gang violence and addiction. At the same time, people see drugs glorified in film and television.

Both legal and illegal substances lead to addiction and destruction, yet are viewed with adoration because of the pleasure they bring.

People often times ignore the consequences until it’s too late.

Its time to acknowledge that tobacco, alcohol and legal drugs stand on equal ground. Each may seem like a friend now, but will be an enemy later.

Contact Natalie Soldoff, assistant opinion editor, at nsoldoff@the-telescope.com

COPY EDITOR

DEB HELLMAN

PHOTO EDITOR

SARA BURBIDGE

OFFICE / AD MANAGER

CHARLES STEINMAN

INSTRUCTIONAL ASST.

ERIN HIRO

JOURNALISM ADVISER

STAFF WRITERS| Camilo Barrero,

Casey Byrne, Colleen Collins, Christine Foronda, Juliet Freyermuth, Jeremy Hill, Natalie Hintz, Margaret Madrid, Daniel Martin, Vanessa Mujica, Kelli Miller, Anthony Schwartz,Colleen Teresa, Nicole Vickers, Hannah Villaruel STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS|Kristen

Campbell, Phyllis Celmer, Rosa Galvan, Chris Gebhardt, Julie Lykins, Johnny Nguyen, Trever Reyes, Nathan Serrato, LeighAnne Severson, Kiigan Snaer, Brian Tierney ADDRESS | The Telescope,

Palomar College 1140 W. Mission Road, San Marcos, CA 92069 NEWSROOM | Room MD-228 PHONE | (760) 891-7865 FAX | (760) 891-3401 E-MAIL | telescope@palomar.edu ADVERTISING E-MAIL | telescopead @palomar.edu 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 MD-228. The Telescope reserves the right to edit letters for space and grammatical errors and not to print lewd or libelous letters. Letters must be receieved one week prior to the newspaper’s publication to be considered for inclusion.

ASSOCIATED CALIFORNIA NEWSPAPER COLLEGIATE PRESS PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION 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.

Monday, April 18, 2011 10 [Opinion] THE DISPUTED TRUTH A spirited debate on the issues that affect students

Should the federal government issue universal guidelines concerning police use of deadly force?

Illustration of gun shooting bullet through a man’s hand (Mike Miner/MCT)

YES NATALIE HINTZ THE TELESCOPE

Violent crimes, including murder and non-negligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery and aggravated assault, have decreased in recent years.

However, police forces are continuously increasing their use and possession of deadly weapons.

According to the FBI, the nation’s crime rate decreased 6.2 percent from 2009 to 2010. The Department of Justice estimated that in 2009 there was a 5.3 percent decrease in violent crimes, about 1,318,398 nationwide.

At the same time there was an increase in the amount of deadly weapons that police officers carry. From 2005 to 2009 the total number of firearms police carry went from 344 to 403, said the U.S. Department of Justice.

If crime rates have declined, why are the police upping their arsenal? The Federal Government should be mandating stricter policies involving police use of deadly weapons. The more weapons that police have access to, the more opportunities they will have to misuse them.

Over 2,000 arrest-related deaths occurred between the years of 2003 and 2005. It was reported that these suspects were killed after trying to get away from the police. From these 2,000 suspects being arrested and killed, 55 percent of the deaths were due to “homicide by state and local law enforcement officers,” according to the Associated Press.

Police officers are trained to assess situations and make sure that they, and the people around them, are safe.

What happens when they misinterpret the situation? They could end up harming innocent people. A New York man was shot 41 times while reaching for his

wallet because the police mistook it for a gun. Beuase of the police’s rash and unprovoked decision, an innocent man is now dead.

Given that police misuse of firearms is on the rise, there should be a stricter policy on when deadly force can be used. If the police are unable to exercise deadly force privileges appropriately, then action should be taken to limit those privileges.

Every police department has a unique culture. The way a department’s culture develops depends on many factors, not the least of which is how well defined its rules regarding excessive and deadly force, according to justice. gov.

If the culture of a department does not view the use of force as unusual, or views the general public with disdain, they may develop an adversarial relationship with the public and/or the press. There are far too many police organizations that do not respect the rights of average citizens.

Police organizations always go to bat for their officers who have been accused of excessive force, even when presented with nigh incontrovertible evidence.

Being a police officer isn’t easy--no one is saying that it is. It isn’t supposed to be. And there is little doubt that federally-mandated policies will make life harder for police. This is a good thing.

Because if there is anything history has taught us about law enforcment, it is that the easier it is to be a cop, the harder it is to be a citizen.

Contact Natalie Hintz, staff writer, at nhintz@the-telescope.com

NO COLLEEN TERESA THE TELESCOPE

There has been a 13 percent increase in police officer deaths by gunfire between 2009 and 2010, according to The National Law Enforcement Officer’s Memorial Fund website.

Police officers do not need to think twice before shooting an armed suspect. If there were federal laws restricting the police use of deadly force instead of the current rules set by each department, thinking twice may become their reality.

“Most police officers will go through an entire career without discharging their weapon in the commission of their job,” according to the headline for the PoliceOne.com webpage. “But on a daily basis, every single officer thinks about being in a gunfight.”

Currently, there are conditions for the use of deadly force; every police department sets its own restrictions. However, the rule used by all departments is that deadly force is only appropriate when it is the only viable option; the officer’s life, or that of another person’s, must be in danger, according to an article written by John Wills on Officer. com.

Federal regulations about the use of deadly force could leave officers questioning themselves before shooting. Officers don’t have time to go through a checklist of requirements to shoot a suspect

when their own lives are at risk.

Most officers already have personal requirements for using deadly force. And that personal judgment will be more powerful than any training or rules.

Different populations of people can be found in each state.

A large state, such as California, may have a greater number of police officers killed or injured than a small state would. There were 519 officers killed or assaulted in California in 2009, according to fbi.gov. Compare that to Maine, which had zero. What may be an appropriate regulation in California, may not apply in Maine. Because the population varies from state to state, stricter regulations are needed in those states with a higher crime rates.

If a federal regulation on deadly force becomes a law, it could endanger police officers. In critical situations, the recollection of new rules could be difficult. The current regulations have been proven to be efficient. With an increase in violence against police officers, additional training on specific departmental regulations is the only necessary change. Overreaching federal directives have the potential to confuse an officer in the field. We need members of our police force to be quick to react and quick on their feet. And most of Contact Colleen Teresa, staff writer, at cteresa@the-telescope.com

[News] 11

the telescope hands Continued from Page 1 faculty members, administrators and other members of community colleges statewide.

Imani Floyd, a marketing major shared her thoughts on the event: “It will definitely get attention, I’d be down,” she said of attending.

Everyone was invited to take part in this event. There were also several celebrities who were said to be participating, including Ryan Seacrest, George Lopez, Guy Fieri, MC Hammer, and many more.

“All proceeds go to students; they become scholarships,” said Juan Sanchez, ASG senator. “We’re gonna make history.”

Caycee Foss, 19, said it’d be great if officials would focus on community colleges because of the large amount of students coming back to school.

“I think that’s really cool,” Foss said about the event.

People can donate money toward scholarships by texting hands to 27722 until June 30. Each donation goes toward scholarships that stay local.

Each donation is tracked by area code, and then awarded to students in the area from which the money was donated.

AT&T is coordinating text message donations. For every $13,500 donated, students will receive a scholarship.

Marvin Martinez, a biology major, shared that he feels this event would be more successful if more attention were brought to it.

Also that it was important be-

“

This is going to be the biggest thing we’ve done in California for community colleges.

Channing Shattuck Student Govt. President

cause at community colleges, “we are hurting.”

He was referring to state budget cuts that will result in less funding for Palomar.

This event is backed by the Palomar Foundation, as well as many corporate sponsors such as UPS, AT&T, Clear Channel, Yahoo!, Southern California Edison and the Foundation for California Community Colleges.

UPS trucks will be marking way points, or places in which people can meet up prior to lining up, and UPS truck drivers will act as line marshals.

For more information on the event, go to HandsAcrossCalifornia.org.

Cuts Continued from Page 1 department heads time to decide what classes should be cut.

This so-called “all cuts” budget will force administrators to turn away about 2,000 students in 2011 and 2012.

Half of the 600 classes normally offered in the summer will be cut, and another 150 classes each will be cut from the fall and spring semesters.

The college is looking to keep as many transfer-prerequisite and general education classes as possible, college President Robert Deegan said at an April 12 Governing Board meeting.

College administrators were “working closely with the dean and the department chairs to address this,” consulting them on where classes could be most easily removed from their programs, he said.

“We looked at trying to take a larger bite out of the summer to maintain the continuity of programs for the fall and the spring.”

College officials asked departments heads to protect transfer, vocational and technical-skills classes, Deegan said.

This across-the-board class reduction will be just one of a number of new budget-slashing measures that Palomar students will face in the coming months.

Calif. Gov. Jerry Brown’s budget also sets students up for a $10-per-unit fee hike starting in the next academic year, and summer students will no longer be offered federal Pell Grants to help pay for summer classes.

Federal lawmakers are expected to spare the Pell program from deep cuts in the fall and spring semesters, spelling out one bright spot for college students faced with crumbling financial aid and state funding systems.

The college is targeting the summer schedule because many of the students who come during that session do

not return for regular term, said Berta Cuaron, the college’s vice president for instruction.

“This is not a path we wanted to go down. But there’s just no getting around” affecting the students, Cuaron said.

Deegan has promised not to lay off faculty despite massive cuts expected for the coming year, and the possibility of even more cuts to future budgets on the horizon.

But the college is currently negotiating with the faculty’s union, the Palomar Faculty Federation, to hash out the details of faculty members’ contracts for the coming years.

Officials signaled that they might ask for concessions from the faculty union in response to the budget cuts, but offered no specifics.

Contact David Leonard, editor in chief, at dleonard@the-telescope.com.

Contact Daniel Martin, staff writer, at dmartin@the-telescope.com

Palomar students, Nathan Serrato freshman (left) and Fernando Bennitez sophmore (right) came out to support the Day of Action at the Palomar San Marcos campus on Thursday, March 4, 2010. (Stock Photo/The Telescope)

12 [Sports]

the telescope Monday, April 18, 2011

Freshman tennis duo set the pace Captain Mardee Littrell and doubles partner Karleyne Ishima-Oien have lead the Comets to a 14-4 record belinda callin The Telescope

Palomar’s top women’s double duo predicts the entire tennis team will make it to the state competetion.

Team captain Mardee Littrell and doubles teammate, Karleyne Ishima-Oien, are both in their second semesters at Palomar and both played high school and club tennis.

Littrell said that she and Ishima-Oien played doubles even before attending Palomar.

“We have great camaraderie, our games match up,” IshimaOien said.

Assistant tennis coach Thomas Yancy said that Littrell is a good all-court player and that Ishima-Oien is an aggressive baseliner but is versatile and can adapt to different types of opponents.

“Mardee is a devoted player, she is always on time and a very good team player,” Yancy said.

Littrell’s father is a teaching pro and she has been playing since she was 5 years old, so being captain of the team comes naturally to her.

As captain, she values the encouragement of her teammate.

“Karleyne is so supportive,” Littrell said

Tues., April 19

Tues., April 19

San Diego CC 12:30 p.m.

Softball Field

Southwestern 3 p.m.

Myers Field

Softball

Contact Belinda Callin, A&E Editor at bcallin@the-telescope.com

Mardee Littrell (left) and Karleyne Ishima -Oien (right) play in their doubles match against San Diego City College on March 17. (Belinda Callin/The Telescope)

Karleyne Ishima- Oien hits a serve against San Diego City College. (Belinda Callin/The Telescope)

Sports On Deck

of Ishima-Oien. “She will pause in between a match, look around and congratulate the other players on the court.”

The women’s tennis team is currently second in the conference. They have lost only two matches the entire season, and both of those losses w e r e against the same t e a m : Grossmont.

“They were handsdown the hardest team we’ve p l a y e d ,” Ishima-Oien said.

Littrell said that the other team they are watching out for is San Diego Mesa.

“They are pretty tough, but our top players are better,” Littrell said.

Ishima-Oien said that the reason San Diego Mesa is difficult is that they change their lineup often. She said that means that they never know who they are going to be playing against. .

“They gave us a good run,” Ishima-Oien said. “That was our toughest win yet.”

Both girls said that college athletics is an exciting and inspiring way to pursue the love of the game.

“One thing I have to say is that if anyone has a love for tennis, if it is something they look forward to, just go for it,” Ishima-Oien said.

Both Ishima-Oien and Littrell said they hope to be picked up for a tennis scholarship at the university level.

Baseball

Fri., April 22

Men’s, Women’s Swimming PCAC Meet 9 a.m. @ Fullerton

Fri., April 22

Women’s Track and Field

Foothill Conf. Prelims 12 p.m. @ San Diego Mesa