SPORTS
OPINION
ENTERTAINMENT
Get behind the mask of Comets' catcher Nick Herz who is slugging away at playing serious hardball on both sides of the plate ...
Freedom of Choice? Palomar ·college may offer a wide range of choices in education, but as far as soft drinks sold on campus, it's strictly Pepsi and no Coke. Should CokeHeads be denied? Page 6
Shakespeare takes a turn for the lighter in "A Midsummer Night's Dream."
Page 10
Tl:1E· FRIDAY, APRIL
17, 1998
PALOMAR COLLEGE
SAN MARCOS
VOLUME
51,
NUMBER
19
New Student Union depends on votes Michael Paisner Copy Editor
Participants in full traditional regalia dance during the March 28 Pow Wow which was held inside the Dome.
,Pow Wow wows Palomar Jessica Gleason Co Editor-in-Chief
Neither rain, blistering wind nor hail could prevent .spectators from attending this year's Pow-Wow, held in the Dome. The sound of flutes playing and beating drums reverberated throughout the Dome as the 15th annual Pow-Wow commenced Saturday March 28, celebrating 25 years of Native American history. A Pow-Wow is a Native American gathering that focuses on dance, song and family celebration and welcomes all people including non-Indians. The annual Pow-Wow, sponsored by the Native American Student Alliance and the American Indian Science and Engineering Society, focused on family celebration and honored Native American elders who pass down tribal traditions to younger generations. Around I ,000 people showed up to watch and participate in the Pow-Wow celebration. Before the dancers and drummers could start their celebration, spiritual adviser Ron Christman, a Kumeyaay Indian, burned sage to bless the outside of the arena. As the drums began the Grand Entry song, dancers in full regalia entered the
Eighteen-month-old Jack Ramirez was not too young to participate.
Dome proceeded by the color guard with eagle staffs and an American flag. After this official start of the celebration the center circle filled with dancers in their traditional ,clothing. Those highly decorative and elaborate dance outfits are called regalia or outfits, never costumes. This Pow-Wow also featured about 20 vendors inside the Dome selling Indian artifacts, jewelry, T-shirts, and offered ear
piercing by a registered nurse. Outside the Dome food vendors sold Indian fry bread, tamales, burritos and tacos. Although the turn-out for this year's event was less than previous years, it was still a success, said organizers. Mark Coleman, the arena director, said "There is good crowd participation this year, people usually leave at 10 p.m., but this crowd is sticking around." Drumming is an integral part of the PowWow because it is believed to carry the heartbeat of the Indian nation. Eight or more men surround a drum and strike it with their mallets in unison while they blend their voices to create a song. The winners of this year's drum contest and the $300 prize money were the Young Nation Junior drummers. NASA member and Kiowa descendent Jenny Lindsey was happy with the Pow Wow overall. She said, "The crowd was great this year, every Pow Wow is different... this year we had a Jot of giveaways which was nice." Palomar student Mark Stevens enjoyed the vendor's merchandise and the participant's regalia but felt the overall feel of the Pow Wow would have improved if it was held outside. "It kind of gave me a weird feeling this year, like I was intruding." - Additional reporting by Dana Bellafaire
This week, students will get the chance to change Palomar College for generations to come. Beginning Monday, April 20 through Friday, April 24 the Associated Student Government wants students to "Share the Vision" by voting to add a maximum $10 per year fee for the construction of a threelevel student center where the current Student Union now stands. According to Erica Olvera, president of the ASG, "This will allow the students to do something for generations to come." The new fee will be put together with an estimated $20 million provided by the state of California to fund the new facility. In order to get the money, 20 percent of the students enrolled at the main campus must vote, and two thirds of those must say yes. Should the future Student Center be approved, plans Will be drawn up as soon as possible. Students are expected to occupy the facility in approximately three years. The new facility will stand in the place of the Student Union building, which was
Fate of the Union Students will have lbe ehance to vote on a proposallhat Will lund lhe
conSb'Uctlon of a new Student Union
When: April 20 - 24 Where: In classrooms and the Student Union throughout the week
HIt passes: Students will pay a $1 fee per unit to fund the construction. The fee will be capped at $1 o per academic year.
In order to pass: 20 percent of the student body must vote. Of the votes, two-thirds must be in favor of the proposal.
SEE STUOI;;NT UNION , PAGE 3
Complaint nothing to cheer about Dustin Schwindt Staff Writer
Complaints from Palomar Athletic Director John Woods about what he sees as a lack of support from the cheerleading squad during sporting events has Jed the ASG to reevaluate the role of the current cheerleaders. At the ASG's April 1 meeting, Woods told the board that he believed tha,t the cheerleaders' role as a competitive show-cheer group conflicts with the need of sports teams. "They are an important part of athletics, but under the present format it's not working out," Woods said. Woods suggested that a second squad be formed under the control of the Athletic Department to support athletics and be present at other Palomar events. At this week's meeting squad adviser Sheldon Price responded to Woods' statements by stating that although the cheering
squad is nationally competitive its top priority is still supporting sports. "Taking games away is like taking the whole foundation of cheerleading," Price said. "I thought of increasing squad size to cover more events but it looks like now I've been stonewalled." Some members of the ASG expressed their worries about funding two squads but Woods explained that if the squad was controlled by the Athletic Department there wouldn't be a need for concern. "The Athletic Department has no problem raising funds. That is what we do," Woods said. "My concern is to have a representative body at games and they're not doing anything for us," Woods said. "I'm not really concerned how it's done," he said, "but we need a visible physical body on campus." Woods described a specific incident where Price's squad backed out of a half-time performance due to a wet field. According to SEE
CHEER,
PAGE 4
Earth won't have its Day at Palomar Second to none ... Jessica Gleason Co Editor-In -Chief
also.
On April 22 people all over the world will take time out of their day to honor Mother Earth and all the resources she provides for us, while here at Palomar it will be business as usual. Earth day or not. This year's annual Earth Day events have been cancelled due to lack of support, club participation and chairperson disorganization according to Palomar's Program Coordinatl:r Debra Schanck and ASG representatives. "The ICC chairperson didn' t get as involved as he should have," said Schanck. "A few clubs offered to sponsor the event but ended up backing out. It's coming up so quickly that rather than have a notso-good event we decided to focus on next year." An Inter-Club-Counsel sponsored event, Palomar's Earth Day celebration was originally scheduled to be held on Tuesday April 2 1, one day
However, this year Palomar students will have to take their Earth appreciation into theiJC. own hands. "Earth Day is still Earth Day it is just unfortunate that Palomar won't have any events," said Loretta Murillo-Colton, ASG treasurer. "This is an ICC event but at the last ASG meeting there was no quorum to vote. ICC's popula· tion of clubs has dropped down to zilch." ICC Chairperson Nima Arbani was unavailable for comment. Lack of club participation is a growing concern on campus according to Zeda Barrett, Palomar student and representative for the budget and finance committee. "The real problem seems to be lack of motivation but there are a lot of different forces contributing to student disinterest, )'l said Barrett. She adds that student activities tends to make it diffi-
before the actual Earth Day. In the past, clubs organized under ICC would collaborate to set up the event which has included live music, cultural dancing, drum circles, various vendors and food. The day is geared towards focusing on our planet and appreciating the resources it provides. Representatives from recycling programs, environmental groups and animal rights advocates are usually part of the day 's lineup
S EE EARTH, PAGE
3
Courtesy of the Palomar Police Academy
Although about half the size of the class that graduated before them, Palomar Police Academy's second Basic class underwent the same 14-month long training program, testing both their mental and physical abilities. The 15 cadets who made it out of the more than 30 who started graduated on Tuesday, April 7. For photos from Academy training, see page 3.