April 24, 2018

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Tuesday, April 24, 2018

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SEVEN-YEAR SENTENCE Gianna Brencola imprisoned for vehicular manslaughter of Kennedy Love PAGE 3


Content NEWS

MILO SECURITY............................................4 CSU TUITION ...............................................4 HISTORY OF SOCIAL ACTIVISM ...................5 ASI PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE ........................6

ARTS

CONCRETE CANOE .....................................7 IDM FEATURE ............................................10 ARTISTIC EXPRESSION .............................12

OPINION

LETTER TO THE EDITOR ...........................16

SPORTS

LARRY LEE .................................................17 NEW FOOTBALL COACHES .......................17 BEACH VOLLEYBALL .................................18 NCAA INVESTIGATION ..............................19

Mustang News TODAY ,S ISSUE TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 2018 VOLUME O, ISSUE 14

CONTACT EDITORIAL (805) 756-1796 ADVERTISING (805) 756-1143 CLASSIFIED (805) 756-1143 FAX (805) 756-6784 Graphic Arts Building 26, Suite 226 California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo, CA 93407

EDITORS AND STAFF EDITOR-IN-CHIEF | Naba Ahmed MANAGING EDITORS | Gina Randazzo and Brendan Matsuyama NEWS EDITOR | Austin Linthicum ARTS EDITOR | Mikaela Duhs OPINION EDITOR | Elias Atienza SPORTS EDITOR | Erik Engle SPECIAL SECTIONS COORDINATOR | Megan Schellong COPY CHIEF | Bryce Aston COPY EDITORS | Monique Geisen | Clarisse Wangeline | Quinn Fish LEAD DESIGNER | Zack Spanier DESIGNERS | Jessie Franco | Tanner Layton

ON THE COVER

Gianna Brencola was sentenced to seven years in federal prison at the San Luis Obispo Superior Court April 18. Photo by Zach Donnenfield, Mustang News.

SPINNING FOR SEEDS

R ACHEL MARQUARDT | MUSTANG NE W S

| Nutrition freshman Carolyn Reddington gives a student her succulent prize after spinning a wheel during Earth Week.

Earth Week highlights Cal Poly’s sustainability commitment Rachel Marquardt @ rachmmarie

To celebrate Earth Day, sustainability leaders on campus planned Earth Week with 10 different eco-focused events on topics such as green careers, how to make an office space more sustainable, a mixer to broadcast the future campus Community Garden and solar energy. The events lasted from April 17-19. More than 30 student-run organizations, along with faculty and professionals, developed Earth Week to help all of Cal Poly become aware of campus sustainability efforts and how students can take part. Some student-run groups that participated included the Real Food Collaborative, Surfrider’s Cal Poly chapter, Green Campus and the Honors Program. “It’s really important that students know that Cal Poly is trying to become a leader in climate action and going climate neutral,” Sustainability Coordinator Kylee Singh said. Students like environmental management and protection freshman Marissa Miller are raising awareness of sustainable practices through their clubs. As vice president of Surfrider, Miller turned students’ attention to the ocean by hosting the Save the Waves Film Festival as one of the week’s activities. “Sometimes people think about protect-

ing the ecosystem on land, but they don’t necessarily think about the ocean,” Miller said. “It’s an issue that’s really not at the front of their minds. I think film is a really cool way to inspire people and make them aware of things that they might not otherwise think about.” Students from the Honors Program also served as sustainability leaders as they promoted the development of the Community Garden, which is in early development with a confirmed location in Poly Canyon Village. “It’s a great opportunity for students to grow their own food and know exactly where their food is coming from. It makes them more aware of locally sourced food, seasons, how to eat [healthily] and cook what they’re growing, and all this stuff that can really add to their overall wellbeing,” nutrition freshman Carolyn Reddington said. The Sustainability Festival overflowed Dexter Lawn Thursday morning with more than 30 booths. Bliss Cafe and other booths distributed free food and groceries. Students could make their own own face masks and learn more about 30 different sustainability-focused clubs, organizations and internship opportunities on campus. “I want Cal Poly to be carbon neutral and understand how they can be involved to make that happen — sustainable transportation, reducing waste and supporting zero

waste efforts and more,” Singh said. Each event was set up with zero waste stations as Zero Waste Ambassadors along with student volunteers continued their path to meeting the state sustainability mandate. Ambassadors addressed this same goal, diverting 90 percent of waste from being sent to the landfill at Open House April 14. “[Open House was] an amazing opportunity to really get face time with incoming students about what zero waste really is,” Sustainability Volunteer Coordinator Colleen Trostle said. “We are supposed to meet the state mandate to be diverting 80 percent of waste by 2020, so we really need to get that interaction with incoming freshmen so that when they come in, they are aware of this and practice these habits in their life.” Recreation, parks and tourism junior Theo Staats, a member of student environmental advocacy group Eco Reps, represented Cal Poly’s Zero Waste Ambassador Program during the event, focusing on educating students on zero waste and changes Eco Reps and other organizations plan to advocate in the next year. “We are here to represent Cal Poly in a good way and to display that in 2018 we are addressing these important issues,” Staats said. Staats plans to use his passion for zero waste and the planet to bring zero waste to Farmers’ Market.


KENNEDY LOVE CASE continued from page 1

3 TUESDAY • APRIL 24, 2018 | NEWS | MUSTANG NEWS

Cassandra Garibay @CassandraGari

Eighteen-year-old Los Osos native Gianna Brencola was sentenced to seven years in state prison Wednesday for hitting and killing Cal Poly student Kennedy Love while driving under the influence last year. An emotional hearing Silence dominated the crowded courtroom before Kennedy’s mother, Dorthanna Love, rose to the podium. “This is my son, Kennedy Love, with his guitar and infectious smile. I wanted to put a face to the name and tell you about him,” Dorthanna said, holding up a photo of Kennedy for the judge to see. Kennedy, a landscape architecture junior at the time, was killed Aug. 29, 2017, while riding his bike on Foothill Boulevard around 11:30 p.m. Brencola, 17 years old at the time, hit Kennedy with her car while driving under the influence of alcohol, and then drove away, leaving Kennedy to die. Kennedy was an active member of the campus and San Luis Obispo communities. According to his mother, he went to Bosnia with Cal Poly’s Engineers Without Borders program and shortly after took a gap year from school to “travel the world and love people.” In the courtroom, Dorthanna continued to share Kennedy’s life through pictures and memories, telling the courtroom that this past Sunday was his birthday. “April 15 would have been his 23rd birthday, and instead of celebrating with him, we had to go to his grave site,” Dorthanna said. She spoke of the hundreds of lives her son touched through generosity, music and adventure. The sentencing was moved to a larger courtroom due to the overwhelming number of family and friend who showed up to support Kennedy. Kennedy’s only sibling and older sister, Candise Wade, took the stand next to share her testimony and ask the judge to sentence Brencola to the maximum sentence of 10 years in state prison, trying her as an adult. “We don’t believe you’re a bad person or unworthy of love and a long beautiful life,” Wade said directly to Brencola, who had been sobbing. “We hope that you have a redemption story and a family of your own, freedom and joy, and that ultimately in the long run that this won’t define who you are, but you have to take responsibility of your choices.” Amid tears, Wade laid out her reasoning for the maximum sentence, pointing to five instances where Brencola could have potentially avoided Kennedy’s death by making different choices. Brencola’s crime and defense In the end, Brencola was tried as an adult on the account of vehicular manslaughter, driving under the influence and a felony hit and run. Brencola’s defense acknowledged and took responsibility for Kennedy’s death, but asked the judge to consider Brencola’s age as reason

SENTENCING

Z ACH DONNENFIELD | MUSTANG NE W S

| The prosecutor explained to the judge why he believed Brencola should be sentenced to seven to 10 years in prison.

to serve her time on probation. However, the judge agreed with Brencola’s probation report, recommending seven years in state prison. She was sentenced to seven years in state prison along with several thousand dollars in fines for her actions. To make a decision, the judge weighed the family’s testimonies, the written probation report and prior court hearing reports, along with Brencola’s prior record. Brencola was at fault in a head-on collision four months prior to the accident, though no one was severely injured. She also admitted to drinking heavily several times a week, but had no prior criminal record and, according to her probation report, behaved well during the nearly six months she served in jail leading up to her sentencing. On the day of Kennedy’s death, Brencola had reportedly been drinking since the morning and was offered alternative rides home, yet she declined and drove while still under the influence. After hitting Kennedy, she kept driving and stopped at a nearby Panda Express parking lot where, according to Dorthanna, witnesses heard Brencola say, “I hit him with my car,” several times. Brencola was then picked up by a friend and attempted to hide the incident, lying about how her car had been damaged. According to the judge, Brencola’s blood alcohol content was 0.15 percent, nearly double the legal limit. The judge said he felt Brencola did show remorse and hopes this will turn her life around. Friends and family speak after the decision After the sentencing, Mustang News spoke to Kennedy’s sister and friends. “I wish we didn’t have to be here. I wish that Kennedy was here and that Gianna didn’t have to

Z ACH DONNENFIELD | MUSTANG NE W S

STUDENT SUPPORT | Kennedy’s friends were moved by his family’s statements at the sentencing.

be in jail. I don’t feel a sense of resolution knowing that she is being punished. I don’t feel a sense of resolution with this process. I think, like, I’m just glad it’s over,” Wade said. “I really hope that it’s a transformative experience for her and not just, like, seven years wasted.” Kennedy’s friends gathered around his family and hugged his mother and father, who thanked them for showing their support for their son. “[Landscape architecture students] become a family because we are literally in [the studio] for hours and hours and got to know him very well and saw his spirit through his daily living, his joy

that he brought to all of us, so hearing this was really hard,” friend of Kennedy and landscape architecture junior Morgan Tashjian said. Another friend of Kennedy, sociology junior Chloe Gurgel, shared her admiration for his liveliness and giving character. “I still feel like it hasn’t really hit me yet,” Gurgel said. “He literally has given his shirt off his back to someone—he has literally done that. He was just the most selfless, unique, special person. I’ve never met anyone like him.” A bike in memory of Kennedy remains at Front Porch, where he frequently visited.


TUESDAY • APRIL 24, 2018 | NEWS | MUSTANG NEWS

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CSU will not increase tuition in 2018 Caroline Ster @ caroster7

The California State University (CSU) system will not increase tuition for the 2018-2019 academic year. Instead, CSU Chancellor Timothy White is making a case to lawmakers to fund the priorities of the 23-campus system. “Cal Poly as a CSU campus is helping fulfill the CSU mission and supporting California better than ever before,” university President Jeffrey Armstrong wrote in an email to the Cal Poly community April 20. According to a CSU press release, the system is retaining, enrolling and graduating students at record levels. Armstrong said the system cannot maintain these levels of success without sufficient funding. Earlier this academic year, the CSU budget requested an increase of $263 million to fund the university’s highest needs. In January, the budget proposed by Gov. Jerry Brown included an increase of $92.1 million. Because this budget fell short of what the budget sought, the CSU system considered increasing tuition. “We all want high-quality degrees to meet the needs of the state’s economy and society, today’s and tomorrow’s. We all want faculty and staff to be fairly compensated. These shared priorities are shared responsibilities for California,” Chancellor White wrote in a message to the CSU community. White is now looking towards each campus for support to show state leaders that funding for the CSU is “key to California’s future.” Armstrong wrote in his email that Cal Poly will support the efforts of the CSU over the next two months to persuade lawmakers. According to university spokesperson Matt Lazier, Cal Poly has already been in close contact with State Senators Bill Monning and Jordan Cunningham. Armstrong, Associated Students, Inc. President Riley Nilsen and ASI Secretary of Student Advocacy Jasmin Fashami visited Monning’s and Cunningham’s offices in Sacramento to take part in CSU Advocacy Day, supporting a fully funded university system, March 7. “These efforts will continue in support of the broader effort to persuade state lawmakers to sufficiently fund the CSU,” Lazier said.

SWAT TEAM

OLIVIA PROFFIT | MUSTANG NE W S

| The University Police Department spent almost $16,000 on security when Yiannopoulos visited Cal Poly Jan. 30, 2017.

Heightened security, SWAT team planned as Milo Yiannopoulos returns April 26 Austin Linthicum @ austinlinthicum

Students can expect the same or a slightly greater police presence than last year when Milo Yiannopoulos returns to campus April 26. Yiannopoulos is participating in the Cal Poly College Republicans’ Fake News Panel in Mott Athletics Center. Yiannopoulos last spoke at Cal Poly January 2017 as part his “Dangerous Faggot” college tour, drawing a large protest and approximately 100 police officers. At an Associated Students, Inc. Board of Directors meeting April 18, the University Police Department (UPD) Chief George Hughes outlined his department’s strategy for covering this controversial event. “I have to prepare for what might happen, not what I know will happen and that takes a lot of people,” Hughes said. UPD is planning on having a large number of officers, including SWAT team, on standby for situations ranging from clashing political groups to emergency situations. Hughes also said he expects fences and spotters on roofs of buildings near Mott Athletic Center.

“That takes a lot of people and I hope to never have to use those people and I hope you never see them,” Hughes said. “I plan on having a little bit more than we did last time because of the current climate that we have.” Hughes said while last year was successful in that no one was hurt and free speech was ultimately protected, UPD could have been more transparent in how they responded. “I wish I had prepared this campus for what to expect when they walked on campus that day,” Hughes said. “[Being alarmed by the police presence] is a perfectly natural response to have.” The costs for this year are still unknown, but Hughes predicts they will be similar to the $55,000 to $60,000 spent in 2017. Much of this expense is a result of paying additional officers from other California State University campuses overtime and travel costs to assist. Under current Cal Poly free expression policies, student organizations are only responsible for fees connected to normal security required for an event of similar size and location, a trend among other universities across the country. “As soon as I, chief of police, say I’m con-

cerned for the safety of the campus […] so I’m going to require we have another 50 officers, that’s not fair to charge you for that,” Hughes said. “If I deem that I need extra, then that is on the campus.” This policy is currently under review. Hughes drew on the events at University of California, Berkeley following Yiannopoulos’ appearance at Cal Poly to support increased security. “They did not do everything proactively like we did. The campus literally burnt. People were hurt, people went to jail. For damage to property, it was triple the amount for the cost of that than we spent on security beforehand,” Hughes said. “It’s like an insurance policy; we’ll pay several thousand dollars upfront so we’re not paying hundreds of thousand dollars down the road, past the litigation, because someone got hurt.” The Fake News Panel is a collaboration between the College Republicans and the Cal Poly chapter of Turning Point USA. In addition to Yiannopoulos, the event will feature conservative YouTube personalities Austen Fletcher, known online as Fleccas, and Carl Benjamin, known as Sargon of Akkad. Tickets are required to attend.


Ashley Ladin @ ashleyladin

Every Mustang has their own reason for choosing Cal Poly. Many claim they were drawn to the university for a specific program or the environment of San Luis Obispo. However, student activism is not normally a reason for enrollment; protests throughout Cal Poly’s history are shockingly few in number and small in size. Social Sciences Department chair Terry Jones, has been at Cal Poly since 1998. In an email to Mustang News, Jones wrote of protests that he remembers “next to none here in

my first ten years,” remembers “next to none [protests] here in my first ten years” and the ones he did witness were “not disruptive — that is they were not really protests.” While his early years at Cal Poly did not produce memorable protests, he wrote, “it seems to me that activism has significantly increased on our campus, particularly in the last five years.” Not all professors believe activism is on the rise. Timothy Barnes, a history professor who has taught at Cal Poly since 1969 said he, has seen little growth in activism. “In my 50 years here, I’ve noticed no change whatsoever. Protests have always been at a minimum, even in the midst of the Vietnam War. University campuses across the country

erupted and there were just small protests here,” Barnes said. The recent protests did impress the professor, however. “I was very pleased to see the reaction of students being offended. It restored my faith in young people,” Barnes said. Sociology sophmore Maggie Cox, who participated in recent protests, said she thinks Cal Poly’s culture needs to change for student activism to increase in the future. “I feel like people are getting more enraged at this moment and are more willing to get involved because things have gotten to a tipping point,” Cox said. “But at the same time, campus culture isn’t centered around any kind of advocacy or activism, so it’s hard to make that sustained.”

TIMELINE OF STUDENT PROTESTS: 1960s -2018

This timeline is based off Cal Poly archives and is not comprehensive.

FILE PHOTO | MUSTANG NE W S

•1963 October: Between 800 and 1,000 students “yelled and sang songs” to protest the suspension of three men for attending an off-campus fraternity party. •1965 November: Approximately 50 architectural engineering students protested the cutting of eucalyptus trees on Perimeter Road chanting “Save the trees, it’s only right.” •1967 March: About 30 protesters staged a sitin during the ROTC annual formal inspections to protest the Vietnam War. They “sat quietly [on the] edge of the library lawn assembled under a peace symbol” and “several protesters carried signs reading ‘LOVE-brings peace.’” •1968 February: More than 400 campus community members gathered in front of the Administration Building “to protest, speak, heckle and observe.” The main protesters were part of Students for New Action Politics (SNAP) and were protesting the Vietnam War. This protest was sparked by the visit of Dow representatives, a company which made napalm, a chemical weapon used in the Vietnam War by U.S. troops. •1970 February: “About 40 pickets marched in a circle in front of the Men’s Gym” to protest a wrestling match between Cal Poly and Brigham Young University. The protest was sparked by the Mormon Church’s decision to ban Black priests. •1972 May: Navy recruiters on campus were met with 15 anti-war protesters. •1979 November: About 30 students marched through campus in protest regarding 60 American hostages in Iran.

•1981 April: Roughly 100 students and members of Movimeinto Estudiantil Chicanx De Aztlán, a Chicano-student organization, assembled outside the Administration Building to protest the History Department recommending a Laxtinx professor Shirlene Soto not be promoted from assistant professor to associate professor. •1981 May: Roughly 500 Cal Poly students and faculty members marched down Grand Avenue to the Discovery Inn, where there was a Nuclear Regulatory Committee hearing, to protest the possibility of Diablo Canyon Power Plant starting low power testing. The protesters were “carrying signs, chanting ‘Diablo, no!’ and singing.” •1982 March: About 150 students met on the Robert E. Kennedy Library lawn to protest U.S. intervention in El Salvador. •1983 November: Roughly 200 students marched to university President Warren Baker’s office to protest the unexplained, forced resignation of the Dean of the School of Architecture and Environmental Design George Hasslein. •1992 April: Approximately 300 to 400 students marched to protest the potential cutting of their departments, Home Economic and Engineering Technology.

FILE PHOTO | MUSTANG NE W S

•1992 May: Roughly 70 students protested the verdict in the Rodney King trial, while a crowd of 300 looked on. They carried signs that read “Racism — Court Approved,” “No Justice” and “What Must It Take.” •1994 May: About 60 to 75 students marched for “several multicultural issues,” including a formalized racial harassment policy for the university and in favor of tenure for political

science professor Phil Fetzer. Protesters chanted, “Students, united, will never be divided and “We want Fetzer.”

otry and hate,” in response to President Trump’s election.

FILE PHOTO | MUSTANG NE W S

•2001 October: About 50 students protested the U.S’. decision to go to war in Afghanistan. Protesters “waved the American flag with peace signs instead of stars and chanted “black, Latina, Arab, Asian, white, no racist war, no more, no more, protect our civil rights.” •2008 October: Hundreds of students and faculty members wore black shirts and protested during Julian A McPhee University Union (UU) hour in response to the on-campus crop science house displaying a noose, Confederate flag and a sign with racial and homophobic slurs as party decorations.

HANNA CROWLE Y | MUSTANG NE W S

•2017 January: Protesters lined the fence in front of the Preforming Arts Center in protest of alt-right speaker Milo Yiannopoulos. •2017 February: Approximately 50 students marched to protest President Trump’s immigration ban and plan to build a border wall. •2017 April: About 20 students from Students for Quality Education (SQE) and the Queer Student Union (QSU) protested “rising fees and social inequalities on campus.”

•2010 March: Roughly 60 students participated in a walk-out to protest nationwide educational budget cuts. They also demanded Cal Poly-specific changes, including ending pay cuts and tuition hikes.

•2017 May: Hundreds of students from QSU, Triota, Empower Poly Coalition, SQE and Cal Poly Democrats marched to protest rape culture on college campuses in response to conservative speaker Lauren Southern on campus.

•2015 November: Roughly 130 students gathered to protest the Free Speech Wall, which included derogatory statements.

•2017 November: More than 20 clubs met in response to the Free Speech Wall to march “against hate, bigotry and white supremacy.”

•2015 December: Many students participated in a Unity march from the Robert E. Kennedy Library to the UU Plaza in response to a death threat received by a SLO Solidarity leader. Hundreds of students and faculty met them in the UU Plaza.

•2018 April: A group of 15 Cal Poly students traveled to Sacramento to march with roughly 1,000 other students to protest lack of funding for the CSU system. Protestors started the day outside of Governor Brown’s house chanting “No funding. No peace. No funding. No peace,” and then moved to the state capital building.

•2016 November: Students from SLO Solidarity, Triota and Cal Poly Queer Student Union (QSU) gathered to protest the Free Speech Wall. •2017 January: Roughly 200 students marched from campus to downtown San Luis Obispo in a walk-out “against big-

•2018 April: A weekend of protests ensued after a member of Lambda Chi Alpha wore blackface. Hundreds of students participated in the Farmers’ Market protest and Open House Day of Action, protesting administration’s handling of the event and the “culture of racism” on campus.

TUESDAY • APRIL 24, 2018 | NEWS | MUSTANG NEWS

History of social activism at Cal Poly

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TUESDAY • APRIL 24, 2018 | NEWS | MUSTANG NEWS

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ASI presidential candidates Will and Fashami debate oncampus issues DEBATE

Ashley Ladin @ CPMustangNews

The two Associated Students, Inc. (ASI) 2018-2019 presidential candidates met at 11 a.m. Thursday, April 19, in the University Union (UU) Plaza to discuss issues and advocate for their platform. Political science sophomore Jasmin Fashami and political science junior George Will were asked both pre-written and audience-submitted questions. Each candidate was given two minutes to respond to each question, as well as an optional 30-second rebuttal in response to their opponent’s statement. Here are some of the candidates responses to current issues on campus. Opening statements Fashami spoke first and started off the debate stressing the need for all student voices to be heard. She highlighted her role as the 2017-2018 ASI Student Secretary of Advocacy, where her responsibilities entail “listening to the student voice and making sure students understand what their rights are at the local and state level.” She also detailed her platform of ACT: A stands for access to a voice, C stands for create initiative and T stands for together as one community. Will followed with a statement regarding the “critical point in our history” and how the campus “can choose to stay divided or choose to come together as a school to begin the difficult process of healing our university.” Detailing his platform designed to “unify the campus,” his main priorities will be school spirit, safety, connectivity, culture and innovation. He also stated three “concrete ideas” he has to improve the campus, including a stimulus package for safety, a quarterly assembly for students regarding the state of Cal Poly and a campus climate and safety committee.

ASHLEY LADIN | MUSTANG NE W S

| 2018 ASI presidential candidates answered pre-written and audience-submitted questions in the UU Plaza.

Encouraging diversity Fashami said as a woman of color and first-generation immigrant to the United States, she strongly empathizes with the underrepresented communities on campus. However, she stressed she did not want to assume the experience of anyone on this campus, which is why she plans to take the time to listen to all voices. Fashami highlighted the importance of not just “throwing money” at a problem, but giving students the right resources for inclusion. Will said his “tangible, concrete plan” for increasing diversity is the campus climate committee. This committee would be cochaired by President Jeffrey Armstrong, ASI president, a member of Safer, a member of greek life and three members from multicultural organizations. In a rebuttal, Fashami said that while the idea “sounds nice in theory,” “due to ASI bylaws, it is not possible to create a committee like this.” She also stated that just three individuals from multicultural organization was not enough, as “there are more than three cultures on this campus.” Will responding by stating he understood the ASI bylaws and that “nothing is stopping us from forming a committee that focuses on building a better campus climate.” Most pressing campus issue Fashami said a sense of community is lacking at Cal Poly campus-wide. She hopes different organizations will begin to communicate with one another and partner up for more events. She also noted that diversity and inclusion are big problems on this campus. She believes that when organizations feel “empowered enough to work with others and to understand perspectives of minority students on campus” the campus will become more inclusive. Will stated he believes the most pressing issue on campus is “groups on campus who do not feel safe.” He asserted his

proposal of a stimulus safety package will provide “funding for sexual assault prevention, people of color safety and general student body safety.” He plans to get the funds from the ASI financial reserves, taking the money “out of the bank account and put it to work for the students.” In a rebuttal, Fashami stated the ASI reserves has “are not up for the discretion of the ASI president to decide.” The Student Success committee must be in agreement with the president, which includes a representative vote from people of every college. She also stated it is important to remember that it is the administration’s job to make the students safe, not ASI which focuses on community building. Will responded by saying he believes every member of the Board of Directors and every college will agree to the proposal. He also reiterated his point of view that, along with administration, it is the job of student leaders to bring safety to campus. Greek life Will said as a member of greek life, he can affirm that members of greek life are devastated by recent events and are accepting of change. He stated that as ASI president he would be able to work from within greek life to create positive and effective change. Fashami, who would like to see greek life continue, said that she “stands in solidarity” with the groups who were affected by recent activities within greek life and also supports the Interfraternity Council’s self-probation. However, she believes discrimination is a problem that extends beyond greek life, and the administration’s decision to suspend greek life does not address the campus-wide issue. Campus sustainability Fashami stated she is “very interested in working with groups on this campus who are passionate about sustainability.” She

said this year ASI started a roundtable which works with student organizations who are taking strides to make Cal Poly a green campus, which she would like to continue. Will stated his intent to work with a vendor to create Cal Poly Hydroflasks, which would increase sustainability and school spirit. He also would like to increase recycling competitions between dorms and work with facilities to ensure recycling bins are taken out regularly. Closing statements Fashami closed by recognizing her struggle of finding a community at Cal Poly during freshman year. She would like to see communities working together to understand one another and “create policies that are supportive of one another.” She said through ACT she will give access to a voice to underrepresented communities on campus who have been “hurt by administration for several years” and create a sense of community on campus. Through these changes, she believes “we can stand as a campus of 20,000 strong.” Will closed by reiterating his three main plans: a student assembly, a Campus Climate committee and a Safety Stimulus package. He stated that “we cannot erase what has been done,” but that we can channel this energy into “creating a new Cal Poly community.” He called for “a renewal of unity, a renewal of spirit and change” on campus. All Cal Poly students will be able to vote for the 2018-2019 ASI President via their Cal Poly portal or the ASI website starting April 25 at 9 a.m. through April 26 at 9 a.m. There will be a meet-and-greet Tuesday, April 24 at 11 a.m. in the UU Plaza, where students will be able to speak with the presidential candidates and ASI Board of Directors candidates. To watch the full debate, go to mustangnews.net


Cassandra Garibay @ cassandragari

Hundreds of hours of work paid off for Cal Poly’s concrete canoe and steel bridge teams April 11 to 14, where both teams placed first in the American Society of Civil Engineers regional competition at Arizona State. According to project manager and civil engineering junior Brandon Friedman, the concrete canoe team has made top five for the past 11 years and won Nationals last year. The steel bridge team has made it to Nationals since 2006, according to captain and civil engineering senior Sarah Schaffer. The concrete frisbee team also placed first in regionals this year. Steel bridge captain and civil engineering senior Luke Nazaroff attributed part of the steel bridge team’s recurring success to Cal Poly’s space and resources, such as the Aero Hangar and Mustang 60. Another important factor is transferring knowledge to underclassmen by mentoring them throughout the process. The team received their rulebook in August and hit the ground running, designing their bridge and looking into past competitions for inspiration. This year’s team included about 14 students, made up of civil engineering senior captains, a project manager and volunteers. This year, the rules changed from requiring a 20-foot bridge to a 17-foot bridge. Team members felt this change allowed for more schools to compete and felt that it was not as challenging in past years. The teams are judged on structural efficiency and construction economy, which is the amount of time it takes to build multiplied by the number of people used in construction. Cal Poly built their bridge in two minutes and 41 seconds with four people. The team will head to nationals May 2526 in Champaign, Illinois. The team is allowed to make modifications to their bridge before nationals. However, the team said they are satisfied with the bridge and will continue

PADDLE ON

CASSANDRA GARIBAY | MUSTANG NE W S

| The concrete canoe team will head to San Diego to compete June 23-25 in Nationals, which they’ve placed top five in the past 11 years.

to practice setting it up as fast as possible. Similar to the steel bridge team, the concrete canoe team typically begins their work during fall quarter. After reading through the rules, they begin the design process, one of the construction captains and civil engineering senior Hailey Bond said. “[It comes down to] following the rules exactly. It’s a deductions game,” Bond said. Once the design is laid out, they begin casting a test canoe, allowing for trial and error before making the final product. They use the test canoe for paddling practice as well. The team, comprised of about 13 students, is judged on four categories which are weighed equally: oral presentation, design

paper, aesthetic of canoe and a paddle race. This year, the team chose a Vincent Van Gogh theme for their canoe. “We thought it would be a really good way to elevate our aesthetics of the canoe because that’s something that everybody kind of struggles with is how do we make concrete look beautiful?” Bond said. “Van Gogh was pushing the boundaries of painting and changing painting when he as an artist and so like we are kind of doing the same thing with concrete.” A rule that prevents the team from staining the canoes posed a challenge for the team. Rather than paint the canoe after it was finished, the team mixed in powdered

color with the concrete to incorporate Van Gogh’s style into their canoe. The concrete canoe team will head to San Diego to compete in Nationals June 23-25. Unlike the steel bridge team, the canoe team cannot make any changes to their project between now and Nationals. However, they will continue to practice their paddling skills and oral presentation. “This is so much more valuable than the regular senior project. We learn some of the traits for construction,” project manager and civil engineering senior Michael Clark said. “Its a lot less theoretical and much more practical to take this design and see it assembled in real life.”

TUESDAY • APRIL 24, 2018 | NEWS | MUSTANG NEWS

Concrete canoe and steel bridge are headed to Nationals

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APRIL SUPERFOOD Meals too bland? Don’t know how to cook but want tasty food? Herbs & spices are the perfect addition that’ll take any meal from a 2 to a 10. Stop by Campus Dining restaurants this month to enjoy our April Superfood!

#CHOOSEWELL Snack attack! Remember to pack healthy snacks when you head to class. This will help you avoid vending machine pitfalls, especially when you’re on campus all day!

SAVE THE DATES! It’s time to get serious about Spring. Our no-nonsense eating shenanigans begin with Rice Bowl Tuesday & Thursday followed by our Campus Market BBQ & Chef’s table on Wednesday. For more, visit https://www.facebook.com/ CPcampusdining/events

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TUESDAY • APRIL 24, 2018 | FEATURE | MUSTANG NEWS

10

IDM:

It’s more than a party

It’s a community

creation,” IDM creative lead and theatre jutheir audience. nior Cleo Mayer said. “The incorporation of “I have my best friends here and we showed all of this art now is really making it more of up to support [IDM]. It’s a really fun, outgoAccording to the psychological principle of a community.” ing event and we ended up making a lot of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, self-actualization, To keep the music of IDM separate from the friends,” Cal Poly alumnus and Focal Point or experiencing personal growth and finding art and philanthropy aspects of the company, goer Holly Turner said. “None of us have meaning in life, is one of the most important Fullerton created OmniMind, a DJ collective ever painted before, so we just get to express human necessities. Cal Poly graduate Ryan Fuland record label. OmniMind consists of Fulourselves, hang out, have a girls’ night and lerton created Innovative Dance Music (IDM) lerton, or DJ Lovesponge, and three other DJs: just feel free.” Productions to provide people with a place to DJ ROA, DJ McDougall and DJ Nozu. “Lately, a lot of our events generally attract soul-search and connect with one another in IDM has been working on holding events people that are [ages] 18 to 25 and we’re trying a community-based setting. once a month and hosted two events in April, to expand that from kids all the way up to IDM is an event company in San Luis Tech Resonance and Focal Point. 60-year-olds, and I think art’s a great way to Obispo that hosts concert expeTech Resonance was held at do that,” Fullerton said. riences circulating around The Graduate April 11 and Fullerton finds creative inspiration in music, art and philanwas a collaboration with music festivals, which he said are providthropy. Santa Barbara DJs who ing “the most cutting edge music there is “I feel that a lot of focus on techno muin the scene.” He hopes to eventually conpeople, yeah, they sic. Fullerton wanted vert IDM Productions into a music festihave their basic to see how the audival company, relating his vision to transfood and water, but ence would respond formational festivals such as Lighting in a they don’t know to a genre of music Bottle and Burning Man that incorporate where they belong that is typically less spiritual teachings. … they just want to prominent in the “We’re really doing this for community be a part of a comelectronic scene. development and I think it’s super importRYAN FULLERTON munity. I feel like that’s IDM’s most recent ant for people to have a sense of belonga gigantic need that needs event, Focal Point, was ing,” Fullerton said. “I feel that, for myself, to be addressed, not just in held April 15 at Bang the I was able to find that sense of commu[San Luis Obispo], but everywhere,” Drum Brewery. nity and belonging that felt authentic at Fullerton said. People of all ages were encouraged to join music festivals.” Music has always been an integral part of Fulin on the live music public murals, henna tatIDM is continuously encouraging people lerton’s life, and he began to DJ recreationally toos, crystal wire wrapping, painting, Reiki to attend local events and is aiming to travel during his freshman year at Cal Poly. What energy healing, fire spinners, vegan food and more throughout California this year. More originated as a hobby soon began to transbeer for attendees over 21. information can be found on the IDM website form into a career when Fullerton invested in Fullerton said incorporating art expanded or Facebook page. ART FOR ALL | Everyone, regardless of artistic ability, production equipment, such as a sound system, lighting and generators. He had initially planned to launch IDM after graduation, but he decided there was no use in holding back. IDM was officially born November 2016. “It’s something I always knew was my calling,” Fullerton said. IDM’s first real public event was in January 2017 at The Grange in collaboration with the nonprofit Along Comes Hope. The event featured live music and painting. Since then, IDM has hosted 12 events and has “evolved into multifaceted experiences with interactive art.” The IDM team is composed of several different members from Cal Poly and the community. Positions include DJs/co-producers, creative leads, an art director, art leads, a build lead, a customer service lead, and merchandise designer. “The more I’m working with the company and the more I’m making more things, the more I’m able to create with different materials and step up my game as far as design and LIFE IN COLOR | At their latest event Focal Point, IDM emphasized the importance of coming together and celebrating life through various form Emma Kumagawa @ emma_kumagawa

I was able to find that sense of community and belonging that felt authentic...


11 TUESDAY • APRIL 24, 2018 | FEATURE | MUSTANG NEWS

EMMA KUMAGAWA | MUSTANG NE W S

y, was encouraged to express themselves at Focal Point.

EMMA KUMAGAWA | MUSTANG NE W S

m of art, from musical performances to paintings.

EMMA KUMAGAWA | MUSTANG NE W S


TUESDAY • APRIL 24, 2018 | ARTS | MUSTANG NEWS

12

Self-empowering female art front and center at Libertine’s Art After Dark Tabata Gordillo @ tabatagordillo

Political science senior Abby Ahlgrim sits on the front porch of her home and spreads out print copies of her work. Each piece is a unique glimpse inside her mind, over the course of many years. For Ahlgrim, art has always been a dynamic outlet for self-expression and reflection. From watercolors and acrylic paints to photography and knitting, Ahlgrim said creating is a critical source of empowerment. Valuing the arts was something that was instilled in Ahlgrim from a young age. As a student at Waldorf School of the Peninsula, a school focusing on creativity and artistic expression, her K-12 education was not by any means conventional. According to Ahlgrim, the curriculum provided students with all types of artistic classes, which gave her the opportunity to master a variety of artistic mediums. “It’s a pretty epic educational system that is really infused in the arts,” Ahlgrim said. “It was my biggest privilege by far.” With Waldorf School of the Peninsula as her foundation in art, Ahlgrim found security in artistic expression. “Art is a really critical outlet for me as a full functioning, holistic individual,” she said. Although Ahlgrim decided to take a different educational path at Cal Poly, she continues to incorporate it as much as she can in her daily life. As a political science student, much of Ahlgrim’s artwork is reflective of her political beliefs. “When you’re a political person and care about political issues, I think that your art is innately political,” Ahlgrim said. Although it is not manifested in all of her pieces, much of Ahlgrim’s work is inspired by womanhood. “I think that I’m really inspired by pretty radical feminist artwork,” Ahlgrim said. “Artistic expression is such a rich, dynamic and holistic form of outlet.” Although some of her art evokes certain political undertones, Ahlgrim best describes her work as personal. “It’s multifaceted and it comes with a lot of context to it,” Ahlgrim said. “Whether or not it’s visible from the outside, I think that your activism as expressed through your artwork is not necessarily transparent because that may not be [the] point.” Ahlgrim said art was always something she did for herself. It was not until about six months ago that she began to share her art in San Luis Obispo for peers and other members of the San Luis Obispo community to see. Through social circles, Ahlgrim has show-

cased her work in house shows and local businesses such as SLO Donut Company. “I think that [San Luis Obispo] is a really small town and it’s cool that by one degree we pretty much know everyone here,” Ahlgrim said. “There are a lot of young artists in [San Luis Obispo] doing really cool stuff, whether it’s music, multimedia art, spray paint or clay. It’s all across the board, there’s so much going on.” This exposure to San Luis Obispo’s rich art culture inspired Ahlgrim not only to share her work with the community, but to also instill these values in others by encouraging them to find this artistic expression within themselves. About two months ago, Ahlgrim did just that by encouraging three young women to showcase their creations for the San Luis Obispo community. As an employee at Libertine Brewing Company in downtown San Luis Obispo, Ahlgrim said she felt she could incorporate art in her place of work. She pitched the idea of hosting Art After Dark at Libertine Coffee Bar to management a couple of months ago. With her employers on board, Ahlgrim, along with Libertine Coffee Bar manager Rob Torres, organized Libertine’s first Art After Dark April 6. According to Torres, Art After Dark at Libertine had always been a thought, but it was a challenge to find artists who would showcase their work. “I was kind of giving up on the idea and [Ahlgrim] approached me saying that she wanted to do it. Then she said she had some art she wanted to show,” Torres said. “[Ahlgrim] was definitely more a part of the younger artistic community.” As she manifested this event, Torres was exposed to a side of Ahlgrim he had not seen before. “I have been working with [Ahlgrim] for over a year and I knew that she was interested in that kind of stuff but I had never seen it,” Torres said. “It was kind of cool to showcase that.” Ahlgrim took it upon herself to find artists for the event. Civil engineering junior Brittany Ciauri was one of the young women who was chosen to display her art and was recruited by Ahlgrim after they met at an art show where their pieces were set up next to each other. According to Ciauri, this was the second Art After Dark she participated in. “Libertine had such a great energy during the event that it was easily my favorite,” Ciauri said. “I think it’s the ultimate compliment to be asked to show your work somewhere, so it absolutely aided my confidence as an artist.” Both Ahlgrim and Torres were pleased with the outcome of the event. “It was a huge hit and it was really cool to have seen that manifest into a piece of culture and to participate in the creation of that,” Ahl-

R ADICAL FEMINISM

TABATA GORDILLO | MUSTANG NE W S

| Abby Ahlgrim said her pieces are inspired by feminist artwork.

grim said. “I think it’s a really cool platform for the young women who are artists who maybe haven’t shown stuff before or maybe have only a few times or just don’t have the platform.” Ahlgrim said she hopes to continue organizing Art After Dark at Libertine Coffee Bar and is already organizing the event for next month. “With this new opportunity at Libertine, I really hope to open up space for young artists to show their art,” Ahlgrim said. “I think it is really important for us to value our art and for us to value our time and to set aside time to create art and community and I want to place external value on young artists’ art.” With only a few quarters left at Cal Poly, Ahlgrim said she hopes she can influence other young artists to feel confident in their expression. “It’s really easy to judge your artistic identity. People always say, ‘I’m not an artist,’ all

TABATA GORDILLO | MUSTANG NE W S

the time, but literally everybody is,” Ahlgrim said. “That statement is so full of fallacy and I think that despite whatever cultural, social or personal barriers are placed in front of us, setting aside time to practice expression — if and when it’s possible — is so important.”

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PUZZLES Sudoku Fun by the Numbers Like puzzles? Then you’ll love sudoku. This mind-bending puzzle will have you hooked from the moment you square off, so sharpen your pencil and put your sudoku savvy to the test!

Here’s How It Works: Sudoku puzzles are formatted as a 9x9 grid, broken down into nine 3x3 boxes. To solve a sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must fill each row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box. You can figure out the order in which the numbers will appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes. The more numbers you name, the easier it gets to solve the puzzle!

CLUES ACROSS

Guess Who? I am an actor born in Alabama on April 26, 1980. As a child I was very active in sports. Although I received a full football scholarship, I went into modeling. A job in a nightclub inspired my role in a popular ladies’ night out film.

*See answers at mustangnews.net/puzzles/

Word Scramble Rearrange the letters to spell something pertaining to comedy.

ULB C

1. Genus of beetles 5. Time units (abbr.) 8. Fiddler crabs 11. Remove weapons from 13. Express delight 14. Energy 15. Roman general 16. Returned material authorization (abbr.) 17. Mortgage group (abbr.) 18. Parts 20. Leavened bread cooked in a clay oven 21. Type of cloth 22. Frankness 25. Causes disgust or hatred 30. A member of the British order of honor 31. Folk singer Di Franco 32. One’s looks 33. Provokes 38. Partner of flow 41. Japanese warrior 43. Easy to perceive 45. Meet with one’s agreement 47. Bird’s jaw 49. Ballplayer accessory 50. Sword 55. Swiss river 56. Comedienne Gasteyer 57. Beat icon Ginsberg 59. Clinches a victory 60. Split lentils 61. Jewish spiritual leader 62. Book of the Bible (abbr.) 63. Electronic warfare-support measures 64. Fibrous plant material

CLUES DOWN

1. Annoy 2. Two-toed sloth 3. Precipitation 4. Barbary sheep 5. Large stinging paper wasp 6. Balkan country 7. __ Doherty, actress 8. Arm bones 9. Women’s undergarment 10. Genus of dabbling ducks 12. Time zone 14. Newts 19. Sound unit 23. Dab 24. Puzzlement 25. Defensive nuclear weapon 26. Actress Ling 27. Natural solid material 28. Burmese ethnic group 29. Puts within 34. Belonging to us 35. They __ 36. One of twelve sons of Jacob 37. Grab a seat 39. Rich fabric 40. Fruits 41. Very fast airplane 42. Large primates 44. Flammable jelly 45. Less common 46. Supplements with difficulty 47. Chinese automotive company 48. Every one of two or more things 51. Swiss river 52. Speak incessantly 53. Italian Island 54. Fighters against authority 58. Egg of a louse


HOROSCOPES ARIES – March 21/Apr 20 You are appreciating the sunshine on your face, Aries. Soak it all in, the weather might turn cloudy before you know it. Pick flowers Monday morning.

LIBRA – Sept. 23/Oct. 23 A virus is coming for you, Libra. Stay strong and fight it with all your might. You’ll be better before you know it. Surf some waves Monday afternoon.

TAURUS – April 21/May 21 It’s Taurus season baby! Celebrate yourself because you are a great friend and human being. Lay in the grass and watch clouds Tuesday afternoon.

SCORPIO – Oct. 24/Nov. 22 Someone is sneaking around behind your back, Scorpio. Your sleuthy nature will get to the bottom of it, though. Play a spirited round of outdoor Bocce ball Thursday night.

GEMINI – May 22/June 21 You are bringing stormy weather to any occassion with your attitude, Gemini. It’s not a good look. Stay indoors all day Friday.

SAGITTARIUS – Nov. 23/Dec. 21 Sagittarius, the world seems to be moving one million miles per hour for you. Take a breather and relax. Climb to the highest peak in your city Wednesday morning.

CANCER – June 22/July 22 Big news is headed your way, Cancer. Brace yourself and be prepared to listen to something heavy. Take a walk through an orchard Wednesday morning. LEO – July 23/Aug. 23 Leo, your energy is infectious lately! Spread your bold, bright attitude to someone who needs a friend right now. Do cartwheels in an open field Saturday afternoon. VIRGO – Aug. 24/Sept. 22 Seems like the same old routine, Virgo. Shake it up with something fun this week and break out of your shell. Dance on the beach Sunday morning.

CAPRICORN – Dec. 22/Jan. 20 Work has slowed for you this week, Capricorn. It might be the calm before the storm, though, so get ready. Do yoga in a quiet garden Tuesday night. AQUARIUS – Jan. 21/Feb. 18 Aquarius, you will get to see someone you haven’t seen in a very long time soon. It will be a very emotional reunion! Climb a tree Sunday afternoon.

NOW HIRING

PISCES – Feb. 19/March 20 Molehills feel like mountains this week, Pisces. Keep your head up and power through. You can do anything! Float in a body of water Friday afternoon.

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS AD CONSULTANTS SEND YOUR RESUME TO HCHIU01@CALPOLY.EDU EMILY.MUSTANGNEWS@GMAIL.COM


TUESDAY • APRIL 24, 2018 | OPINION | MUSTANG NEWS

16

OPINION

Letter to the Editor: Where college and freedom of speech meet

Sydney Gray Special to Mustang News

This letter reflects the opinions of biomedical engineering sophomore Sydney Gray. Letters to the editor do not reflect the opinion or editorial coverage of Mustang News. On Dec. 15, 1791, the Bill of Rights was adopted by a newly formed United States of America. The First Amendment states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.” It seems that many people in this country have lost sight of what this amendment stands for and what the Constitution should mean to all Americans, regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation or gender. Freedom of speech is the right to express any opinions without restraint. This principle supports the right that an individual has to express their opinions without fear of censorship, or, most importantly, retaliation. Colleges around this country are faced with a tough decision: to

uphold the First Amendment or to surrender to the mainstream culture of questioning what truly is free speech. University of California, Berkeley seems to be at the epicenter of this discussion. The Free Speech Movement of 1964 formed when students at Berkeley demanded their right to free speech and academic freedom after the university tried to ban on-campus political activities. In February 2017, Milo Yiannopoulos was invited to Berkeley but was unable to speak because of violence and actions created an unsafe environment. An individual should have the right to speak without fear of retaliation, yet it seems as if those in Berkeley have neglected that. Recently, Cal Poly has become the focus of nationwide attention with the events of the past few weeks. It has led many of us to question what free speech is and if we should truly be defending it, especially if we disagree wholeheartedly with it. Although I, in no way, condone the ignorant actions of Kyler Watkins, he had the freedom of speech and expression to do so. Cal Poly President JeffreyArmstrong received heat because of his response to the incident. However, I believe that Armstrong responded in a more-than-appropriate way.

In an email sent to students he wrote, “there are times when values conflict — when we are torn between a duty to oppose hate and a duty to protect free speech. As individuals, each of us can choose which value to put first, but as a state university, the law makes that choice for us.” Armstrong set aside his personal beliefs and feelings to look at the facts and the law that was set before us by our Founding Fathers. My father always told me while I was growing up that if you want the ability to speak freely, then you must be willing to defend the rights of others to speak freely, even if their very beliefs or words contradict yours. In recent years, the Cal Poly College Republicans have challenged the norms and brought controversial speakers to campus. Although Armstrong did not necessarily agree with the speakers or the thoughts that the speakers shared, he nevertheless supported the rights of the the club to bring these speakers to campus. I will always support any school administrator who defends the First Amendment, especially when they handle it with such poise. I would like to thank Armstrong for always supporting the freedom of speech on our college campus, especially when others around the nation do not.


Cal Poly baseball icon Larry Lee earns 500th career win said. “There are some very motivating stories about what it took to get there and the discipline and the sacrifice. If you want to play at the highest level possible for your skills, you have to put in the necessary time and this is what the individual players did before you.” Despite all of his prior success, Lee’s passion for developing young players into major league talent has never wained. While Lee might not have been pressing to reach win 500, his current players pressed a little more to earn this particular win. “Coach Lee is like another dad to us,” senior designated hitter Elijah Skipps said. “We really wanted to get it done at Pepperdine, his alma mater. It didn’t work out but we were glad that we not only got the 500th win but ended up sweeping Long Beach as well. As a San Luis Obispo native, Lee attended San Luis Obispo High School before earning his bachelor’s degree from Pepperdine. He returned to his old stomping grounds for a master’s program at Cal Poly, finishing the program in 1985. Given his deep roots in the Central Coast, Lee doesn’t outwardly show any desire to coach elsewhere. “I don’t really think about it,” Lee said. “As long as I enjoy coaching here, I would like to get this program back to the point it was a few years ago. That’s really all I’m thinking about at this point in time.”

Cal Poly football hires three new assistant coaches

Cal Poly’s young defensive front seems to be a question mark in spring camp after losing six of its seven starters from last year. However, Brown says that having a young, fresh group of players to work with may be helpful for Jones. “The good thing is, with a new coach, he gets to mold those guys how he wants them,” Brown said. “So instead of having to break habits [the player] has previously been taught, he’s starting from scratch basically, which is good.”

session, which often kept him working into the early hours of the morning. Walsh noted that his work ethic and willingness to help makes him deserving of a coaching position. “Doing the things that he’s done showed that he truly wanted to pursue this,” Walsh said. “He’s learned the game by being around us all the time.” McMillan’s familiarity with the offense is a strength, according to Walsh. The in-house promotion of McMillan to coach fullbacks and tight ends is an indication that the triple-option offense will be largely unchanged. The Mustangs hope to return to the level of production that ranked them first in the country in rushing. “I’m trying to get us back to the Cal Poly offense that I know and love,” McMillan said. “Hard-nosed football, grinding the gears and running the ball up the middle, getting it pitched and running the triple the way we do.” The Mustangs expect to return senior quarterback Khaleel Jenkins and redshirt senior fullback Joe Protheroe, which will help McMillan in his quest to bring back Cal Poly’s rushing dominance. Cal Poly football started their spring camp earlier this month and will wrap it up with the annual intrasquad spring game scheduled for April 27. Since key players like Jenkins and Protheroe will see limited to no action over spring, the spotlight will likely shift towards evaluating a fresh defense.

LIVING LEGEND

LAUREN PLUIM | MUSTANG NE W S

| For Larry Lee, 500 wins is just his latest accomplishment with Cal Poly.

Erik Engle @ Erik_Engle

With a steady, soul-piercing stare, Cal Poly baseball coach Larry Lee has carefully surveyed the scene at every game inside Baggett Stadium for the last 16 seasons and counting. Throughout his journey with the Mustangs, Lee lifted the team to its first appearance in the NCAA Tournament in 2009 and returned to the postseason again in 2013 and 2014 in backto-back 40-plus win campaigns. He earned the Big West Coach of the Year in 2014 and even coached the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team in 2017.

Dan Dempster @ DanDempsterMMJ

Cal Poly football added three new coaches to their staff to fill vacancies from off-season coaching departures. James Jones III and Matt Ta’ufo’ou will coach the defensive line and outside linebackers respectively. Kenneth McMillan will coach the fullbacks and tight ends after serving as a student assistant for the previous five years. James Jones III Jones left his defensive coordinator position at Northern Colorado to coach the defensive line for the Mustangs. He replaces Payam Saadat, who left Cal Poly to take a defensive coordinator job at Portland State. The Northern Colorado defense gave up an average of 35.2 points per game in two years under Jones. In 2017, the Bears finished 10th

out of 13 teams in the Big Sky conference for total defense (474.4 yards per game) and 12th in rushing yards allowed per game (248 yards per game). “[Jones] has been a coordinator against the teams that we need to beat and compete with on a weekly basis,” Cal Poly head coach Tim Walsh said. “We’re looking forward to the thoughts and ideas that he’s going to bring with him.” Despite the unflattering numbers under his leadership at Northern Colorado, Jones adds a wealth of experience to the staff going into his 22nd season of coaching. In addition, he comes to Cal Poly from within the same conference. His experience and familiarity with Big Sky opponents brings an advantage that would not come with any other new hire. “He knows what the types of offenses we’re going to see in this conference,” defensive coordinator Josh Brown said. “He’s got a pretty good grasp on what other teams are trying to do to attack us.”

Matt Ta’ufo’ou Ta’ufo’ou joins Jones in his effort to mold a fresh defensive front seven. Ta’ufo’ou’s enthusiasm has also impressed Walsh. “His energy and his positive attitude, I think, [are] going to be infectious and contagious,” Walsh said. Before his coaching career, Ta’ufo’ou played linebacker for three years at Iowa State. After his playing career, he coached linebackers at College of San Mateo for four years before taking the job at Cal Poly. His time coaching at San Mateo gives the Mustangs a new recruiting connection in northern California. Kenneth McMillan McMillan served as a student manager for five years under Walsh before receiving his promotion in early April. McMillan’s previous duties included signaling plays and editing hours of game footage for the team’s film

TUESDAY • APRIL 24, 2018 | SPORTS | MUSTANG NEWS

Now, after the Mustangs’ April 20 win over Long Beach State, Lee has passed another monumental milestone in his coaching career with more than 500 wins as Cal Poly’s head coach. Unsurprisingly, Lee was not very interested in relishing in the personal achievement, nor did he take much credit for the accomplishment. “[I am] just interested in how we are doing this year,” Lee said. “I never really think about career things. It’s probably something that I’ll look back on when its all over.” Lee is a proven mentor who has developed dozens of players into major league talent. Since 2005, 28 former Cal Poly baseball players have signed a professional contract after leaving

San Luis Obispo, all under Lee’s tutelage. “It’s about the team, it’s about the players,” Lee said. “When you have good players it makes you look good as a coach. My job is to try and develop them as well as myself and my staff can.” In last summer’s draft, two more Mustangs, pitchers Spencer Howard and Erich Uelmen, were drafted in the top five rounds of the draft. Currently, Lee’s best-performing alumni in the MLB is Seattle Mariners’ right-fielder Mitch Haniger, who was also a first-round pick in 2012. While many former Mustangs are working their ways through the minor leagues in hopes of ending up where Haniger is, Lee takes a relatively hands-off approach when communicating with his former players. “We stay in touch, but not on a consistent basis,” Lee said. “It’s their livelihood, I stay away from it unless they need some advice for something. I throw out the occasional text if they do something well, but usually, I just watch from afar.” All of Lee’s accomplishments and success have created an expectation of winning, dominance and professionalism both on and off the field for Cal Poly baseball players. According to Lee, instilling this mindset in the young players on the team is one of his main keys to becoming a perennial powerhouse. “You tell the stories of the progression and their journey through the minor leagues,” Lee

17


TUESDAY • APRIL 24, 2018 | SPORTS | MUSTANG NEWS

18

Beach volleyball keeps rolling Lauren Pluim @ lo_pluim34

In what has become typical Cal Poly beach volleyball fashion, the No. 4 Mustangs swept both of their opponents Friday, April 20 during the Mustangs’ senior day. The Mustangs were set to play the Vanguard Lions, San Jose State Spartans and Feather River College Golden Eagles but Feather River did not show and therefore canceled their match against the Mustangs. The Mustangs started off strong against the Lions, taking them down easily. The Mustangs held the Lions to single-digit set scores for the majority of the match. Senior Raeann Greisen and freshman Macy Gordon defeated the Lions’ pair of Eliana Johnson and Charity Dennis by scores of 21-2 and 21-13 in the No. 3 position. Senior Taylor Nelson and junior Adlee Van Winden played in the No. 1 position, defeating the Lions by 21-10 and 21-5. The Mustangs went on to sweep the Spartans, winning all but one of their matches in two sets. Sophomore Emily Sonny and junior Samantha Manley took down Ciara Reistad and Julia Golbeck in

the No. 2 position with scores of 21-12 and 21-9. No. 5 pair of senior Hannah Hubbard and sophomore Heather Pembroke held on to the sweep for the Mustangs, taking down Ryann Thomison and Summer Avery narrowly with scores of 21-13, 19-21 and 15-8. For seniors Nelson, Hubbard and Griesen, it was a bittersweet moment. “It’s very sad, there are a lot of emotions. [We] spent a lot of time at this beach, but it’s been a great season, so [we are] just hoping to finish the season strong,” Nelson said. The Mustangs are now looking toward their final regular season tournament, which is the Big West Tournament taking place in Honolulu, Hawai’i where they will likely square up against No. 3 Hawai’i for the second time this season “I think if we play our game, we definitely can [beat Hawai’i or UCLA],” Nelson said. “They’re both very good teams, but everyone is beatable out here, so if we just fine-tune this week and focus on the little things and have a good match about them, I think we can beat anyone.” The wins lift the Mustangs’ record to 25-5 overall, but they remain at 5-1 in the Big West Conference.

LAUREN PLUIM | MUSTANG NE W S

RECORD-SETTERS | The beach volleyball team finished the season 25-5, their best record ever.


Nate Edelman @ NateEdelman

Just as the college basketball season was about to enter March Madness earlier this year, players from more than 20 Division I men’s basketball programs were identified by Yahoo! Sports as having possibly broken NCAA violations uncovered by an FBI investigation. Schools identified by Yahoo! Sports include Duke, North Carolina, Kentucky, Texas, Michigan State, USC and Kansas. Players identified include Michigan State sophomore Miles Bridges, Alabama fresh-

man guard Collin Sexton and former Utah Ute forward and current Los Angeles Lakers’ forward Kyle Kuzma. Players linked to the possible violations were the recipients of unallowed benefits. University of Arizona freshman, and future NBA lottery pick, DeAndre Ayton was reportedly paid $100,000 by the university to secure his recruitment. The NCAA’s board of directors has established that all Division I institutions must examine their men’s basketball programs for possible NCAA violations. Although Cal Poly’s basketball program does not boast the same stars as some of

the nation’s top-flight programs, the team’s example, the FBI stated, ‘We have your athletic program is sponsored by Adidas, a playbook, we know how things are done company which found itself in hot water for now.’ They don’t have the playbook, they allegedly paying players earlier this season. have a playbook of a way to do it for a comDon Oberhelman, Cal Poly’s director of pany,” Callero said. athletics, emphasized that Cal Poly’s athletic Callero said he is fine with his players program has different standards. meeting with agents, but does not want “I’ve talked about it with coach Joe Calthem to get trapped into receiving bribes lero a little bit, we feel very confident and or gifts. comfortable on where we are,” Oberhelman “It’s OK to meet with an agent,” Callero said. “I am 100 percent behind our coaches said. “It’s not illegal to meet with an agent when it comes to their integrity and how and get educated. It’s illegal to take money they operate and all that.” behind the scenes. The most illegal thing Oberhelman said academics hold a great — when you get gifts — you have tax isweight when determining a scholsues. You’re dealing with a federal arship-level player. income tax evasion item.” “We operate differently Like Oberhelman, Calthan what you see most lero takes pride in his universities do,” Oberplayers’ strong acahelman said. “Academic values. demics really mat“We’re batting ter to us and you about 95 percent hear other schools on our guys getsay that, yet they’re ting their college admitting the bare degree,” Callero minimum 2.0 [GPA] said. “So people high school student we recruit have a as an NCAA qualifier tremendous desire to DON OBERHELMAN and we’re not going to do go to a high academic that. So for us, we can’t just school. Many want to be find who the best athletes are; pros, we’ve had guys go to the they also have to be pretty exceptionally NBA now, we have guys playing overseas, gifted students.” but they know that even that ends. Most of Oberhelman said he believes that players our guys are going to have to play throughsuch as Ayton are a rarity and that there out their senior year, graduate, try to get a are not many “sure-fire locks” to make the job in Finland, Malaysia, Mexico or another NBA worth paying. foreign country.” “There’s not one in our conference even Oberhelman made a point that a “one size let alone one at Cal Poly,” Oberhelman said. fits all” mentality does not work when it “Those kinds of guys­­­— one-and-done, topcomes to assessing collegiate recruiting. 10 picks — that are worth investing that “The methodology is very different sport kind of money in. But...to sacrifice your to sport,” Oberhelman said. “For volleyball integrity for them, they better be good.” these days, young women are committing Oberhelman said players like Cal Poly baswhen they are 14 or 15 years old. We have ketball alumnus and current NBA player no idea what that person’s transcript is goDavid Nwaba are hard to come by. Oberheling to look like in three years, so we have man said,“There are not that many. Nwaba to be cautious and careful and we have to was barely recruited out of high school. We be honest and say, ‘These are our current were able to land him here and he continues numbers and what we are looking for [in] to develop and hone his skills and now he’s academics. We like everything you’re doing, starting in the NBA.” thanks for committing to us, but we can’t Cal Poly men’s basketball coach Callero, sign you.’ ” who is in his 31st year of coaching, said Callero sees this scandal as a positive for boosters were often involved in the “pay Cal Poly because of the program’s committo play” method for players, but now shoe ment to stay clean. companies have taken center stage with their “What’s going on doesn’t affect us except sponsorships of Amateur Athletic Union in a positive way. Every time somebody gets (AAU) basketball teams and AAU coaches. busted, every time there’s a controversy, that Callero realizes the severity of the invesmay give us a better chance to have a kid, tigation pertaining to the schools who were a family, a coach to say, ‘Cal Poly’s been caught, but does not think the FBI knows clean for years and we’re going to continue what is going on all the time. to be clean and continue to graduate guys,” “The thing about the current scandal, for Callero said.

I am 100 percent behind our coaches when it comes to their integrity and how they operate and all that.

CHRIS GATELE Y | MUSTANG NE W S

CONFIDENT CALLERO | Joe Callero said the investigation could help Cal Poly’s recruitment.

TUESDAY • APRIL 24, 2018 | SPORTS | MUSTANG NEWS

What is Cal Poly’s response to recent NCAA basketball investigations?

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