May 8, 2018 by Mustang News

May 8, 2018

C a l Po l y,

San Luis Obispo

w w w. m u s t a ng n e w s . n e t

E s t a b l i s h e d 1 916

ASCENSION CAL POLY STUDENTS BUILD FIRST INTERPLANETARY CUBESAT PAGE 2

Content NEWS

CYBERSECURITY..........................................4 SLO MARATHON ..........................................5 CROSS CULTURAL EXPERIENCE .................5 MARIJUANA RETAIL LAWS ..........................6 SIGMA NU DIVERSITY CHAIR .......................7

ARTS

“DONNA” BAND ..........................................8 SHABANG FEATURE ..................................10 THE THRIFT QUEENS................................12

OPINION

TRUMP’S FOREIGN POLICY ......................16

SPORTS

AYZHIANA BASALLO ..................................17 BROOKE TJERRILD ....................................17 SIMON BÖEHME ........................................19

Mustang News TODAY ,S ISSUE TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2018 VOLUME O, ISSUE 28

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

ON THE COVER

A Vector rocket stands on campus during the Cubesat Developers Workshop. Courtesy Photo by Luca Soares.

LUCA SOARE S | COURTE SY PHOTO

LAUNCH | PolySat members Alex Nichols and Maddie Tran discuss their CubeSats during the CubeSat Developers Workshop.

Cal Poly students build first interplanetary CubeSat, launched on mission to Mars Cal Poly CubeSat is making Mars exploration history as their first interplanetary CubeSats heads to the red planet after launching the morning of May 5 from Vandenberg Air Force Base. A CubeSat is an approximately 10 centimeters by 10 centimeters by 10 centimeters satellite which can be developed at a low cost, allowing students to participate in space exploration by launching CubeSats with the support of different organizations. The CubeSat team partnered with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL) to create the first two CubeSats of their kind, collectively called Marco. These were the first CubeSats to ever leave Earth’s atmosphere. “Marco is a technology demonstration ... the first time we have ever sent an interplanetary CubeSat, and its purpose is to relay information from the inside as rapidly as possible,” Instrument Manager and Instrument Systems Engineer for NASA’s Heat Flow and Physical Properties Probe (HP3) Troy Lee Hudson said. HP3 is an instrument attached to InSight along with Marco that will drill into Mars’ surface to survey how much heat is flowing out of the planet. Marco is onboard the United Launch Alliance Atlas V 401 rocket with NASA’s robotic InSight lander, designed to study the interior structure of Mars.

“The CubeSat organization, including students and paid staff members, actually help put both Marco spacecrafts inside their deployers, [and] made sure that they were good to go,” computer science grad student and CubeSat and PolySat co-lab manager Noah Weitz said. The deployers Marco travels in are developed by Tyvak, a company founded at Cal Poly in the PolySat program that develops nanosatellite and CubeSat space vehicle products. After the rocket approaches Mars in late November, the PolySat team will be working on the operations of Marco and gathering the information concerning InSight that Marco sends back from Mars. “Not a lot of information has been released yet, but what is known is that PolySat will be conducting operations for Marco using the Deep Space Network of JPL,” PolySat member and computer engineering junior Luca Soares said. Weitz and physics and astronomy professor Louise Edwards said the opportunity to interact with the material and data they will be using in their future careers speaks volumes about the opportunities the CubeSat and PolySat program provides. “Students at Cal Poly actually helped put together pieces of these CubeSats that are going with InSight to Mars. This is Cal Poly students with their hands on the material that is being launched into space and going to Mars. It speaks to the amazing opportunities that are available to students here at Cal Poly,” Edwards said.

What exactly does it do? Marco will be relaying data from the lander back to earth in its early stages right after landing on Mars.

NASA’s Insight lander On the morning of April 28, Hudson visited Cal Poly to speak about InSight. “InSight is trying to understand the forma-

Rachel Marquardt @rachmmarie

tion and evolution of terrestrial planets like Earth and Mars by looking inside Mars, specifically by looking inside Mars and finding out about its core, mantle, crust and the things that make the planet what it is,” Hudson said. InSight has two main instruments: the Seismic Experiment for Interior Structure (SEIS)which will measure seismic waves, and HP3, which will measure temperature changes on Mars. “I think keeping people informed on the scientific exploration that is still happening today is very important. There’s still so much about the universe we still do not know, and I personally believe the more we understand about the universe, the more beautiful it becomes,” Hudson said. InSight’s mission ultimately aims to understand how Mars was formed. Honoring the CubeSat The CubeSat Standard began in 1999 as a collaboration between Cal Poly professor Jordi Puig-Suari and Bob Twiggs, a professor at Stanford University’s Space Systems Development Laboratory as a way to give students access to space. Since then, the standard has been adopted by hundreds of organizations worldwide, including private firms and government organizations. Cal Poly hosts a CubeSat Developers Workshop each year, this year being the 15th workshop named “All Grown Up.” The workshop included presentations as well as an array of booths from professional CubeSat companies such as Tyvak, Vector and JPL. If all goes as planned, Atlas V carrying two CubeSats integrated by Cal Poly students will touch down just north of the Martian equator Nov. 26.

Sydney Brandt @SydneyBrandt_

For many Cal Poly seniors, June 16 will mark the day that they get their degree, enter the “real world” and start their careers. For Brandon Facon, graduating means moving to Indiana to get his second liver transplant. In only 10 days, Danielle Facon, Brandon’s sister has raised $24,610, nearly half of her $50,000 goal through GoFundMe. The money she raises will go toward the extra expenses from the new liver her younger brother will hopefully receive this summer. But, this won’t be the first time. General engineering senior Brandon is living with three autoimmune diseases: autoimmune hepatitis, primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) and Crohn’s disease. He suffers daily from nausea, jaundice and extreme fatigue. In 2012, Brandon had his first successful liver transplant, but there is no cure for these diseases and he will soon need another. “I got my first transplant to hopefully suppress and cure that disease … but unfortunately the disease has just come back,” Brandon said. “It’s gotten back into my liver, reactivated, so I basically have another acute version of that in this new liver, so we’re kind of back in the same process.” Brandon’s story At 8-years-old, Brandon was diagnosed with three autoimmune diseases. “It kinda just started out out of nothing,” he said. “It was kinda just like regular tests, I wasn’t feeling too well here and there … in fact, when I was a kid my parents didn’t really tell me about it, they kinda just said, ‘Oh there’s nothing wrong,’ and I just lived my life normally.” Autoimmune hepatitis is a disease that occurs when the body’s immune system, which ordinarily attacks viruses, bacteria and other pathogens, instead targets the liver and causes inflammation. PSC is a disease that essentially closes all of the veins and pathways in the liver, preventing it from filtering out waste. Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory disease of the digestive tract. To put it simply, Brandon’s liver was in extreme danger. It was not until high school that Brandon noticed how acute the effects were. During his sophomore year, Brandon was unable go to school because he was sleeping about 20 hours per day. “At that point I didn’t really have an immune system. I was constantly sick, I was constantly having a cold, I was constantly just battling illnesses and flus,” Brandon said. “I didn’t really have much energy. It’s hard to feel productive and have a, I guess, fulfilling life.” When senior year came around, the Facon family started searching to find Brandon a new liver. California’s long wait times for transplants made moving out-of-state the only option. “My family actually moved to Indiana, across

the country, to get a liver faster,” he said. “[It] was kind of our last option, it was not something we wanted to do.” In California, the approximate wait time for a liver is two to three years. In Indiana, Brandon got his new liver in less than four weeks. Indiana is an “opt out” state, meaning residents are automatically organ donors unless they “opt out.” In California, drivers must elect to become organ donors. “The transplant process is pretty interesting. It’s this mix of, you have to be healthy enough to get the transplant and survive, but you have to be sick enough to actually warrant a transplant,” Brandon said. To get on a transplant list, Brandon said he first had to go through the ultimate physical exam. “They kind of run you through the gauntlet. They give you every single test they can throw at you,” he said. “MRIs, CAT scans, X-rays, blood tests, transfusions, biopsies — they kind of pick you apart and kind of see how healthy you are.” There is an ordered list of names for liver transplants, but potential recipients do not know exactly where they are on the list. Each transplant candidate is given a Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score, which measures the risk of each patient with an extreme liver disease. “You do normal blood work and they take values out of your blood work under liver function, your blood count and antibodies and they kind of give you a score that says, ‘You are this sick and this is how you relate to other people on the list,’” Brandon said. “There isn’t really any other way of distinguishing you on the list, whether it’s how much money you make, what type of insurance you have.” Sitting in a hotel room in Indiana, all Brandon and his mom could do was wait for the call that would potentially save his life. Brandon said the hardest part was learning what he has control over. “When you don’t have control over it, you really start thinking about death and how that’s never something you have control over, so it’s not something to be afraid of,” Brandon said. New beginnings On Aug. 10, 2012, Brandon received a new liver from Erica, who was killed in a car accident and donated five of her organs. “Someone else has to pass away for me to survive and to have a second chance at a life,” Brandon said. “For me, my angel was a 22-year-old girl named Erica. She was from Indiana and she had three kids. She liked chocolate cake, ATVs and karaoke, and she was the person who saved my life.” Brandon stayed in Indiana for several months after his successful transplant before coming back home to San Diego. After taking the year off to recuperate from the transplant, he started college at Cal Poly. “Not having a liver to having a liver was a very humbling experience. You don’t really understand all the things an organ really does until you don’t have it,” Brandon said. Despite the seemingly successful transplant,

BR ANDON FACON | COURTE SY

STAYING POSITIVE | “There wasn’t so much sadness, it was just like okay, this is just something we have to do,” Brandon Facon said.

Brandon’s body was not fully healed. “You end up going on a bunch of immunosuppression medicine, you end up again not having an immune system because I had an organ in me that wasn’t mine,” Brandon said. “My body wanted to fight it, my body wanted to reject it. It just didn’t recognize it as my own.” Preparing to begin his second liver transplant journey, Brandon said he simplified many as-

pects of his life. He called the process, “letting go.” While getting a liver transplant was never his plan, Brandon said he has remained positive throughout his journey. “I looked at the people in my life that really added to my life but I also just looked … at what supported me,” he said. “I was kind of happy and ready for a new beginning because nothing else was an option.”

TUESDAY • MARH 13, 2018 | NEWS | MUSTANG NEWS

Brandon Facon awaits his second liver transplant

TUESDAY • MAY 8, 2018 | NEWS | MUSTANG NEWS

California Cybersecurity Institute combats sex trafficking with immersive training Ilianna Salas Special to Mustang News

A small white room with dirty walls and thin mattresses strewn on the ground. Leftover takeout boxes piled up in a corner. On a wall to the right a table with names and dollar amounts. Clothes and shoes thrown all over the floor and a stale smell lingers in the air. For many victims of sex trafficking, this could be a reality. The California Cybersecurity Institute (CCI) facility at Camp San Luis Obispo helps train law enforcement officers who tackle sex trafficking to prepare them for the job and increase the likelihood of prosecution. Roughly 200 people have participated in CCI programs to date and it is the only program of its kind on the West Coast. Other courses are available for law enforcement, but lack the immersive training and digital forensics components. Sex Trafficking in San Luis Obispo In 2016, 1,051 cases of sex trafficking were reported in California, according to the California Department of Justice. According to the FBI, California is home to three of the top 13 cities where child sex trafficking is most prevalent: San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego. San Luis Obispo has become a common location for sex trafficking as a halfway point between San Francisco and Los Angeles. “Through the years, we’ve really discovered that it’s more of a problem than we initially thought,” San Luis Obispo Police Department Captain Christopher Staley said. The department has completed multiple sex trafficking sting operations in recent years. In a case from 2013, two underage, runaway girls were trafficked from Fresno, California and forced into prostitution. However, they were rescued after one girl managed to escape and was able to alert authorities. This is not the case for all victims of sex trafficking in San Luis Obispo. Because San Luis Obispo is a tourist city, many victims go unnoticed. “When you think about the issue of human trafficking, numbers are difficult to find because it’s lucrative and people are hidden behind closed doors,” CCI Business Services Coordinator Danielle Borelli said. Law enforcement often has a difficult time proving human trafficking is occurring because of how difficult it is to provide evidence. Victims are controlled and manipulated by their traffickers and often do not want to testify against them out of fear. Digital evidence such as online advertisements and communication on cell phones and laptops between traffickers and clients can provide important evidence for prosecution. It is important officers understand the latest technology and communication tools to idenitify and properly collect evidence.

MONITORS

KELLY JACOBS | MUSTANG NE W S

| The massage parlor office is set up with computers so the traffickers can monitor everything going on in the rooms.

The CCI Program The CCI provides training courses in cyber security for law enforcement, first-responders, military officers and decision makers. One of the workshops the CCI hosted was in partnership with the Polaris Project, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit working to “eradicate modern slavery.” This four-day training for law enforcement specifically tackled ways to combat sex trafficking. Once training is complete, officers use the CCI’s “immersive training environments” to hone their skills. The CCI built two replicas of illicit massage businesses, one resembling an apartment and one a brothel. Participants collect hard and digital evidence that could be used in court, such as text messages on phones between clients and victims. Every detail in the room is taken into consideration to create an environment that is believable for participants. Actors play victims, traffickers and clients while participants interview them and look for evidence. Condoms, shoes, clothes and bras are placed throughout the room to mimic the environment. Money is stuffed in empty pringles jars and expired air fresheners. Passports, makeup and leftover takeout boxes are scattered around the room giving participants important clues that sex trafficking is occurring. CCI Interactive Communications Coordinator Ciera Dixon was part of the project team that built the illicit massage business replicas. Dixon previously worked for Disney in technology and operations and learned the importance of storytelling. She applies

this principle when making these immersive training environments. “You are building your own little world for people to suspend disbelief when entering the experience,” Dixon said. “The ways I go about doing this are by playing to the senses.” As a Cal Poly affiliate, the CCI uses the Learn by Doing philosophy in its training courses. “The biggest thing is that [law enforcement] feel better equipped. For many of these participants, this is the first time they are in such an environment. They had never had handson experience before and it really sets it apart for them that they are following the Learn by Doing pedagogy,” Borelli said. The CCI has plans to use augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies to improve immersive training environments. Tools like these make it easy to customize an environment without having to completely

rebuild and start from scratch. Participants will still get the full experience and have the ability to engage with different characters and gather evidence. Live actors are sometimes difficult to arrange and being able to use VR would eliminate the need for them. There is no evidence yet that these trainings have affected rates of human trafficking because the CCI is training law enforcement from across the country and gathering data on human trafficking from various locations is challenging, according to Borelli. Borelli said it is important for the public to report anything that may seem suspicious. Tips to law enforcement can save a victim stuck in sex trafficking. “If people see any suspicious activity, don’t hesitate to call the police department,” Borelli said. “If something just doesn’t look right, don’t just ignore it.”

5 TUESDAY • MAY 8, 2018 | NEWS | MUSTANG NEWS

WINNER

TRAVIS GIBSON | TRIBUNE COURTE SY PHOTO

| Anthropology and geology junior Lindsey Arrillaga won the SLO Marathon women’s division after signing up the night before, with a time of three hours and 14 minutes.

Cal Poly junior wins SLO Marathon women’s division without training Cassandra Garibay & Hannah Glazer @ CPMustangNews

Months of preparation, structured training schedules and a carbohydrate-heavy diet are just a few things a typical runner does to prepare for a big race. Computer science senior Landon Woollard won the 2018 SLO Marathon men’s division. For the past two and a half months, Woollard trained by running eight to 10 miles most days, with a biweekly run of 16 to 20 miles. He does faster-paced “tempo-runs” on off-days and has experience with 50-mile Ultra-Marathons. “I felt pretty stoked after the race. All that hard work paid off,” Woollard said. However, for anthropology and geography junior Lindsey Arrillaga, signing up the night before the SLO Marathon was the only preparation it took for her to race the 26.2 miles

and win. Arrillaga took first place for women in the SLO Marathon Sunday, April 29 with a time of 3:14. Arrillaga had intended to participate in the annual half marathon, but the night before the race, a friend convinced her to double the length. “I’ve always loved running my whole life. It’s just like, I like running outside, being in nature and the mountains and it’s really relaxing for me and puts me in a good mood,” Arrillaga said. Prior to running the marathon, Arrillaga had no technical training and at most had run 10 or 11 miles. “I had no expectations going into it because I had never run even close to a full marathon before, so I just kind of ran whatever pace felt good and someone part way through was like,

‘Oh, you’re the third girl,’ and I was pretty surprised,” Arrillaga said. Arrillaga then caught up to the two women in front of her and decided she would keep pace with them for as long as she could. Toward the end, she realized she could push forward to pursue first place.

Finishing strong For Arrillaga, the key to running any endurance race is a positive attitude. Arrillaga said she stayed positive throughout the race in part because of the people on the sidelines and other runners cheering her on. “I think with big races like that, everyone is in the same boat, everyone’s hurting a little bit so the whole spirit of it kind of helps everyone through,” Arrillaga said. “I was pretty happy the whole time, it was a pretty day and a pretty run.”

Arrillaga’s family was visiting and were expecting to watch her run the half marathon that day. Her father called her when she was on mile 21. To his surprise, she answered the call mid-run and let him know that she was toward the front of the pack. “I was so excited because … he was able to be at the finish line and that was so special,” Arrillaga said. In the future, Arrillaga said she would happily run more marathons for fun, not necessarily with the intent to win. Although she is surprised she won, Arrillaga says running is more about the accomplishment than the first place title. “For me, sometimes getting too stressed about the competition takes the joy out of it. So I think either way, if anyone finishes, it is an accomplishment for everyone,” Arrillaga said.

TUESDAY • MAY 8, 2018 | NEWS | MUSTANG NEWS

Students trained to lead a Cross Cultural Experience for Week of Welcome Caroline Ster @ caroster7

New Student and Transition Programs (NSTP) is training about 40 returning students to lead the new Cross Cultural Experience (CCE) for Week of Welcome (WOW). Starting Fall 2018, Incoming students can choose to be a part of a CCE WOW group. The program was created to form a community for students who identify as members of an underrepresented group. Beyond the information sessions, bonding activities and events that make up the traditional WOW experience, students participating in CCE will attend additional workshops, activities, discussions and a multicultural resource fair. While CCE was offered Fall 2017, the program was implemented in the middle of the summer, not leaving time for WOW leaders to be trained specifically for the program. Fall 2018 will be the first time having CCE leaders that were part of facilitator groups during spring training. “It encompasses all of these marginalized groups that don’t necessarily identify as a Cal Poly student because it’s a predominantly white institution,” animal science junior and CCEWOW leader Tim Guerzon said. “This program helps further immerse themselves in the community that we have here in terms of cross cultural experience, centers and other resources.” Guerzon said the CCE program will build on the original CCE program offered last year and will feature a more organized program by requiring a formal training for these WOW leaders. CCE leaders are required to attend four of the following supplemental workshops: Why Pronouns Are Important,

OPTIONS

CHINE SE STUDENT A SSOCIATION | COURTE SY PHOTO

| The CCE program offers a community for marginalized students during WOW by training its leaders during this year’s spring training.

Dreamer Ally, Navigating Our Identities, How to Succeed at a Predominantly White Institution, Free Speech vs. Hate Speech and Cultural Competency Practical. “These workshops all have very contrasting themes, but they all pertain to how people of color, how marginalized students coming in here who don’t feel adequate or feel curious and apprehensive about Cal Poly, how we can make them feel more comfortable and gain a sense of community,” Guerzon said. Given the recent events at Cal Poly, many people believe that this program was built in response to current campus climate. Ac-

cording to graphic communication junior and CCE leader Marco Sevilla, NSTP had wanted to move in this direction for a while. “I think that it scared some people off, but also gave some people a sense of purpose,” Sevilla said about events that occurred earlier in the quarter. “It was kind of like, ‘How can I be an ambassador for the school when I don’t even feel safe?’ But I feel like it installed my purpose to stay as a CCE leader and create as much of a welcoming environment as possible for any underrepresented students that happen to be in my WOW group.” In one of the developmental workshops for

CCE leaders Sevilla attended, they discussed how some could argue that this is dividing students further. “It sounds counterproductive to segregate underrepresented students at first, but it’s like a process of segregation and integration,” Sevilla said. “If they have a sense of community, they’ll feel more comfortable being on [campus], versus just being thrown into ... a general WOW group.” Sevilla believes this is an important step for NSTP and CCE is an example of taking tangible steps towards teaching people how to respect other identities.

San Luis Obispo one step closer to allowing recreational marijuana storefronts Megan Garcia @ CPMustangNews

San Luis Obispo City Council approved the first reading of a foundational draft ordinance for bringing recreational marijuana storefronts to San Luis Obispo May 1. If the draft is approved in the second reading May 15, as many as three storefronts will be permitted to sell recreational or medical marijuana in San Luis Obispo. Regulations would prohibit stores from within a 300-foot radius of residential areas or a 1,000-foot radius of schools and parks.

“I think the City Council took the public input into consideration carefully and they had a detailed discussion about the future of the cannabis in the city,” San Luis Obispo’s Community Development Director Michael Codron said. The proposed storefronts would be on arterial roads such as Higuera Street, Broad Street and Tank Farm Road. None of the locations would be downtown. If the ordinance is passed, the city would also allow 70,000 square feet of indoor cultivation collectively in the city and would continue home delivery services. Home delivery

is especially important to many who are not 21 years old and have a medical card. Even with a medical card, a customer must be 21 years old to purchase from a retail store. Many of those who attended the meeting voiced their opinions on a range of topics, such as setting the age limit to 21 for stores selling marijuana products. San Luis Obispo resident Dave Garrett drew attention to the differentiation between recreational and medical marijuana and its ability to fight pain. “I’ve been using medical marijuana for over 30 years, and it is all that keeps me mobile,”

Garrett said. He also mentioned examples of other uses for medical marijuana, such as in treating Parkinson’s disease, sports injuries and PTSD. A set of regulations preventing large signage for businesses would be put in place along with the proposal, if passed. Cannabis-related events would also be prohibited in San Luis Obispo. Depending on the November elections, if a tax revenue measure and the second reading are approved, San Luis Obispo can continue forward with introducing marijuana shops.

Ashley Ladin @ ashleyladin

Sigma Nu members elected Amman Asfaw, electrical engineering sophomore, to fill the chapter’s newly created position of diversity chair April 15, becoming the first Cal Poly greek chapter to officially create and fill a diversity position. “My hope is that Sigma Nu will pilot this position for future chapters,” Asfaw said. “If I’m the only one doing this it doesn’t mean anything. I hope that by taking this position, people will follow suit and it will create a chain reaction. That’s when we create change and it becomes a better school, a better place and a better community.” At this time, Interfraternity Council (IFC), Panhellenic (PHA) and United Sorority and Fraternity Council (USFC) chapters are not required to create diversity positions. According to the requirements of the current greek life probation, all chapters need to “develop and implement a long-term education plan that addresses topics of diversity and inclusion,” but does not specify that the plan needs to include the creation of a diversity chair. Sigma Nu created the diversity chair position before the probation conditions were released on April 25. Kyle McBerry, biology junior and Sigma Nu chapter president, said the chapter does not consider the addition of a diversity director as their entire diversity plan. “We put Amman into the position before we knew we had to come up with a diversity plan, so that’s something separate we are working on,” McBerry said. “Even though

[a diversity chair] is not required, it’s something that we thought would be very proactive and helpful for the overall situation in Greek life right now, so we decided to go ahead and move forward with one.” At the April 15 Sigma Nu meeting, which occurred on the Sunday directly after the blackface incident, the members motioned to create the diversity chair position. The idea was inspired by the suggestion of a chapter diversity chair in both an IFC meeting (IFC is currently in the process of accepting council-level diversity director applications) and during the emergency town hall meeting. Directly after the motion passed, Asfaw was nominated and elected to fill the position. He has been officially serving as diversity chair since his election and will continue serving as the chair next year. The bylaws detailing the position’s exact responsibilities were officially approved at a Sigma Nu chapter meeting this past Sunday, May 6. Main responsibilities for the diversity chair include working in tandem with other chairs in the chapter to incorporate and consider diversity, increasing overall chapter diversity and collaborating with at least one on-campus cultural organization every quarter. Asfaw has already begun to take action as diversity director. Every year Sigma Nu puts on Turn the Tables, a philanthropy event which raises money for RISE, a non-profit organization which provides treatment services to survivors of sexual assault. In the past only PHA sorority chapters have been invited to participate in the event, which involves purchasing and

painting tables. Asfaw worked with Sigma Nu’s philanthropy chair to extend the invitation to include Black Student Union (BSU), Society of Women Engineers (SWE) and all USFC sorority chapters. The price to buy a table will also be reduced for members from these organizations since their organization budgets are much smaller than PHA chapter budgets. “This is the first thing that we have tangibly done to try and help the situation, and it’s just the beginning,” Asfaw said. “We can’t do everything at once — we wish we could fix everything with a snap of the finger, but it takes time so this is just the first step.” Since the position was established halfway through spring The goal is to quarter, the current ASHLEY LADIN | MUSTANG NE W S allocated budget choose a cultural for diversity chair life and overall education organization each is only $75. on cultural issues. As the “I’m looking into first, and currently only, quarter... how I can spend diversity chair in greek AMMAN ASFAW the $75 to support life, he has no guidelines to any cultural organizafollow. tion. For future quarters it “It’s not easy [to be diversity could be more, we’ll to see,” Asdirector], because one — it’s a senfaw said. “The goal is to choose a cultural sitive issue and sometimes an uncomorganization each quarter that the money fortable topic to talk about and two — it’s goes towards, whether it’s donated or helps something new. You can’t just do what pay for an event that is co-hosted by [Sigma someone did in the past, you have to figNu and a cultural organization].” ure it out,” Asfaw said. “So it will be hard Other ideas Asfaw hopes to implement as and it will be challenging, but it will be diversity chair is a platform for members worth it. I just hope somebody — no, not to speak up and educate other members somebody, several people, step up and are on their cultural backgrounds, education courageous enough to lead the change and on resources and events outside of greek be the change they want to see.”

Armstrong addresses campus about fraternity Snapchat video ridiculing blackface incident Mustang News Staff Report @ CPMustangNews

In a campuswide video address May 4, President Jeffrey Armstrong announced the university has learned of another racially insensitive incident. The university is turning this incident, among several other reports of racially insensitive behavior, over to the California Attorney General for investigation. “I am disgusted to share with you today that we have learned of a new incident of an image taken by a single individual and posted on a private Snapchat amongst a fraternity group that appears to ridicule the blackface incident by imitating it,” Armstrong said in

his video address. Armstrong said the university is taking immediate action. According to university spokesperson Matt Lazier, the university handed the cases over to the Attorney General to “ensure a thorough, fair and neutral process.” “This incident, the entire Lambda Chi [Alpha] incident, as well as several other reports from fraternities and sororities, has been turned over to the California attorney general for investigation,” Armstrong said. According to Lazier, the university retained the California Attorney General’s Office to conduct the investigation pursuant to the procedure and policy set forth in CSU Ex-

ecutive Order 1097. The Attorney General’s Office will also investigate whether Cal Poly’s fraternities and sororities have violated the CSU’s non-discrimination policy for student activities, set forth in CSU Executive Order 1068. Lazier also noted that if the students are not found in violation of university policy and/or the student code of conduct, there will be no disciplinary sanctions issued. He added that if the behaviors engaged in constitute lawful free speech under the First Amendment, there will be no disciplinary sanctions for such behavior. “The university has no intention of violating students’ individual free speech right or rights to freely assemble and associate,” Lazier said

in an email. Armstrong said the university will report the results as they are permissible by law once the investigation is complete. He also asked the Cal Poly community to join him in “outrage” over the incident and encouraged viewers to join him at the Baker Forum at 2 p.m. today at the Performing Arts Center. The forum will be a conversation with Kimberly McLauglin-Smith on campus climate. “We will not allow this act to impede our forward movement,” Armstrong concluded. According to Lazier, the university cannot provide further information about the video because an investigation is ongoing.

TUESDAY • MAY 8, 2018 | NEWS | MUSTANG NEWS

Sigma Nu becomes first Cal Poly greek chapter to create a diversity chair position

TUESDAY • MAY 8, 2018 | ARTS | MUSTANG NEWS

“donna” revamps sound in new album Tabata Gordillo @ tabatagordillo

“I’d say our relationship is extra-marital. No one’s got a prenup,” Lennon Fanning said as he and his six bandmates laid on the bed, bodies smushed together. The group of friends and roommates teased each other, smiled and joked as they described making music together. Evidentely, there is never a dull moment at the little blue house on Donna Way. After discovering their common interest for music during the start of their college carrers, this group of friends came together and formed a band to express their passion through song writing and garage jam sessions. Formally known as “The Super Somethings,” the band decided that after over a year of making music, it was time to bring in a fresh new sound to their songs. Scratching off the old name and songs completely, “donna” was created. The band consists of Cal Poly students Tyler Hentges, Ryan Kraemer, Lennon Fanning, Davis Leach, Collin Moore, Brenden Sallstrom and UCSB junior Cameron Segel. Each member brings a vital element to “donna” that has shaped its musical development. For anthropology junior Fanning, it was his group of friends who impacted his love for music and encouraged him to perform for the first time. “I never played an instrument before meeting these dudes but they were like, ‘Okay let’s start a band,’ and I got forced to be lead singer so I had to pick up singing and I had to learn how to play the keys also,” Fanning said. Inspired by artists like The Growlers and The Beatles, the band has progressively developed their sound and made it their own. According to Fanning, the creative process is individualistic. Each member writes their own songs and presents it to the band. “These guys are some of my main inspirations but I mostly write songs inspired by whatever I’m feeling at the time,” Fanning said. After more than a year of songwriting and playing together, the band decided it was time for a change. They wanted their new experiences to cross over in their music.

A new sound Unable to hold their usual garage jam sessions while several of the band members studied abroad, the band was reunited in January, ready to play. However, in the midst of their reunion, The Super Somethings questioned their original musical process. As everyone came together to share their new experiences, the band ultimately decided to start over as donna. “We didn’t like the music that we were making so we decided to change our style and and put a new name to it,” Fanning said. The Super Somethings was more of what agribusiness junior Hentges refers to as “beta,” or a test run of what being a band would be like. According to environmental management junior Leach, the style of the music they produce as donna is significantly different. “I think [the sound] is less poppy; it’s not as up-beat,” Leach said. “There are some slow songs and it’s a little more mellow. You can kind of tell that we’re not just, like, way too excited.” No one has had more firsthand exposure to the band’s progress than industrial engineering junior Moore, donna’s manager. “I’ve been friends with these guys since freshman year so I’m kind of stuck with them,” Moore said. “It’s pretty cool to watch them progress as musicians. Their new sound is really, really good and one that I’m proud of.” As for the band’s new name, they chose something close to home. “We chose ‘donna’ because we identify with it, living on Donna Way,” Hentges said. “Basing ourselves out of this house where our music has been made and brought to life is important to us.” As the artists continue to explore their new sound, the blending of their individual musical expression is what helps donna grow. “Everyone’s collaborating really hard and everyone has their own influences which is why I think it works well because we never really seem to get bored of the songs we’re making,” Leach said. “I think it’s like the diversity of interest and like musical genres that we all have is what makes it interesting for us.” The Album The new and improved band, debuted by coming together during spring break to record their new album, simply titled “donna”.

TABATA GORDILLO | MUSTANG NE W S

SIX PACK | Pictured left to right and top to bottom: Collin Moore, Brendan Sallstrom, Ryan Kraeme, Lennon Fanning, Tyler Hentges and Davis Leach.

The recording and production of the album was done by the band itself. All they needed was an empty living room, mattresses to line the walls for better sound, and their equipment. Although recording the album only took four days, the process consisted of sleepless nights and what seemed to be endless jam sessions. Making the album was something that resonated with communications junior Kraemer and bassist for donna. “Making the album was super cool,” Kraemer said. “Getting like super delirious and tired and only working on one thing with the same people for like 80 hours total in a room with everyone was pretty wild.” The band members recognized the amount of work that took place post-recording, as vocalist and guitarist Segel also took on the role of donna’s producer during the making of this album. “Getting to produce and mix the album has been a super fun and creative endeavor for me, audio engineering is a big passion of mine and being able to indulge that passion on a project that is our own music has been very fun and I can’t wait for everyone to hear it,” Segel said. Although the full album is scheduled to release soon, donna recently debuted their first single, “Sleepy”.

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Making Memories During their time together as a college band, the muscians have experienced countless moments together that have solidified their musical passion and their friendship. One of their fondest memories occurred last year, when they performed at a sold-out venue in Eugene, Oregon. According to Kraemer, this performance had a lot more energy than their usual gigs. “You kind of feed off that [energy],” Kraemer said. “Normally we play at SLO WWDo Co, so having three stage divers was a pretty milestone moment.” According to environmental engineering sophomore Sallstrom, the weekend trip allowed the band to connect better and experience a bigger crowd. However, Sallstrom believes that the dayto-day occurrences that the band experiences together are the most memorable. “I think fondest memories is just like, very mellow times when you just like jam and almost explore music, explore our own sounds, ‘cause we’re all figuring it out.” Similarly, the rest of the band members are grateful for the opportunity to express themselves musically alongside their best friends. “Playing music is fun on its own but when it’s like, with your best friends, there’s nothing

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TUESDAY â&#x20AC;¢ MAY 8, 2018 | ARTS | MUSTANG NEWS

SHABANG X: The evolution of

f a local music and arts festival Tabata Gordillo @ tabatagordillo

This past weekend, Shabang came back, bigger than ever before. The bi-annual San Luis Obispo music festival held its 10th event at Laguna Lake Park. The event featured local music and art collectives to embrace a shared passion for music, art, nature and community. The history Shabang was founded Spring 2014, when friends Carson Stone and Greg Golf decided to host a concert at the top of Cuesta Ridge during their sophomore year of college. Their goal was to throw an event where they could enjoy music outdoors. What was once a concert quickly turned into a small festival held twice a year. By Shabang IV in 2015, nearly 300 attendees made their way up to Cuesta Ridge to share their love for music. According to Shabang’s Public Relations and Media Outreach Coordinator Myles Franklin, though the event was informal, people rapidly caught on to what was happening on top of the mountain. “This awesome festival was happening on top of Cuesta Ridge,” Franklin said. “You can’t just have a concert on top of a mountain and expect to get away with it.” After Shabang V, the Parks and Recreation Department of San Luis Obispo gave the founders federal misdemeanors for holding the festival at Cuesta Ridge. According to Shabang Outreach Director Ryan Snow, the founders wanted to come up with a new, secluded location, so Shabang could live on. Shabang VI was held at Laguna Lake Park, and the event has been held there ever since. “We kind of stuck to our roots by basically going back into the trees, but still having our own little area,” Snow said. Shabang continued to get bigger and bigger. By Shabang IX, nearly 2,700 people attended, according to Snow. Four years after its creation, Shabang has expanded to one of the most highly anticipated events for music lovers of San Luis Obispo. “It’s really evolving as far as it being an official music and arts festival,” Franklin said. “Everything that you would expect as far as a smaller music and arts festival is what you can expect at Shabang.” The evolution Shabang X welcomed nearly 4,000 people who came together to celebrate music, art and each other. The event offered live music, local artists, vendors and Cal Poly clubs, including the slack line club and the hammock club. Although many of the traditional ameniPHOTOS BY CHRIS GATELEY | MUSTANG NE W S

ties Shabang has provided throughout the years carried over, this latest festival gave attendees a whole new experience. Unlike prior festivals, Shabang X decided to take it to the next level by partnering with local music and art collectives Respect the Funk and SubSessions. Shabang X was the first to have this collaborative musical experience. Respect the Funk hosted their NVRLND: A Silent Disco Experience on the Janky Barge, a large “art car” they brought all the way down from Burning Man festival. Snow said the Shabang coordinators’ goal was to create a more enjoyable and engaging environment. The NVRLND stage had two DJ decks and a large immersive art experience. Attendees were given headphones to enjoy music from local DJs from KCPR’s Club 91 and SubSessions. SubSessions is a student-run music and arts events planner platform that recently emerged in San Luis Obispo. According to SubSessions’ production and project manager and business administration junior Kelly Ridder, this platform evolved after he and his friends noticed a gap in the San Luis Obispo electronic music scene. “We wanted to create a platform to showcase what they were doing and take all of the behind the scenes work out of their hands,” Ridder said. “We are basically active event planners.” With that in mind, Ridder and the other SubSessions members decided Shabang X would be a perfect opportunity to simultaneously contribute to the growth of Shabang as well as the electronic music scene. What’s next? Shabang X proved that the festival has the ability to reach new heights in years to come. Though nothing has been set in stone, Shabang would like to move into new locations as it continues to expand. “We have a lot of different ideas,” Snow said. “We want to expand the amount of music that we can have and the amount of vendors we can have because it’s all about the creativity side of it.” Although what Shabang has in store in the future is still uncertain, the festival continues to stay true to their mission: to support, embrace and uplift local art and local music. Franklin said though Shabang will continue to embrace its local and community roots, the festival strives to continue to grow into something much bigger. “I want it to be a legitimate and talked about music festival that people really look forward to and have it keep growing,” Franklin said. “I think we’re on a good path.”

TUESDAY • MAY 8, 2018 | ARTS | MUSTANG NEWS

The Thrift Queens: How two Cal Poly students turn “trash” into treasures Sonya Jindal @ sonya_jindal

Rummaging through a pile of colorful, avant-garde clothing articles, graphic communications sophomore Emma Norland had a sharp glint in her eye. As she pushed her blonde, wispy hair from her eyes, she let out an animated shriek upon hearing exciting news from her business partner: “The ‘Wrangler’ shirt I found sold for triple its worth!” Norland, alongside civil engineering sophomore Sarah Raykhman, have meshed together their artistic minds to create their own clothing business — thrifting and ‘upcycling’ clothing pieces for the fashion forward. “[Norland] and I take thrifted pieces from our personal closets or thrift stores and upcycle them online for people who are either too lazy or don’t like thrifting but appreciate vintage fashion,” Raykhman said. How they got into it Prior to establishing their business, the two women had a long history of experience with these vintage goods, each developing their love for the process through different narratives and exposure.

THRIFT QUEENS

“I come from a family of serial thrifters,” Norland said. Norland reminisced on growing up with thrift-savvy parents, dragging her from store to store as they scoured for their next big find. Living with a mom who collected and sold antiques, Norland spent much of her childhood in thrift shops. The lifestyle eventually seeped its way into her everyday. She would choose these unique, cheap clothing articles over indulgent, brand-name pieces. “Being cheap as heck and turning that cheapness into something pretty is something I’ve grown up watching,” Norland said. “I admire the crap out of it. It’s impressive.” As for Raykhman, the notion of true individuality peaked her interest in the world of thrifting. Growing up in Orange County, Raykhman had a hard time removing herself from what she called the Brandy Melville-clad clones surrounding her. “I started going to house shows and concerts where there was a community people who expressed themselves through unique and eclectic fashion choices,” Raykhman said. “My friends and I loved it and [I] stopped caring about what other people thought.” Raykhman eventually found herself thrifting

SONYA JINDAL | MUSTANG NE W S

| Raykhman and Norland started their thrift business in January 2018.

almost every weekend, planning trips to Los Angeles and San Diego just for flea markets. “Thrifting is the cheapest way to shop and also helps the environment by recycling clothing,” Raykhman said. “You can find the coolest vintage pieces.” The process The two women sell their items on the online app and website DePop. According to their mission statement, DePop is an online forum “where the world’s creatives come to buy, sell and discover the most inspiring and unique things.” Raykhman created the DePop handle @sarahlol back in high school. However, the two have shared the account and collaborated on the aesthetics since January 2018. Landscape architecture sophomore and close friend of the women, Sarah Maloney, has a strong love for the business. “I’d say [@sarahlol] is trendy, hip, funny and affordable for the most part,” Maloney said. “[The business] creates a really fun aesthetic and has a strong sense of style.” While out thrifting for their own clothes, the business partners keep an eye out for trendy or vintage brand-name items. Once purchased, they take turns modeling and taking pictures

of their new finds, spending time styling the item in an aesthetically pleasing manner. “Right now, we do our own thing and upload separate pictures with varying backgrounds,” Raykhman said. “But we’re looking to get more professional since our follower base is growing and hopefully [we will] start using a photo studio.” After customers have gone through their loot and claimed items for themselves, the women then move on to what they consider the more difficult part of the process: mailing. “Shipping packages are so expensive and when I go to the post office, I’m shipping, like, 20 things, so I need to allocate an hour and a half usually to get it all done,” Raykhman said. “The people that work at USPS know our faces.” The girls strategically upload their items on DePop, taking into consideration the style, time and amount of pictures they post at a time. “It’s very laid back and everything is up to us. We get to be creative — where we take photos and how we caption our items — but we’re still responsible for always being available to customers with questions and shipping things on time so that we maintain our good reviews,” Norland said.

SONYA JINDAL | MUSTANG NE W S

| The women scout their hometowns and shops in San Luis Obispo for thrifted items.

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CLUES ACROSS

Guess Who? I am an actress born in New York on May 9, 1979. I made an appearance on “Sesame Street” as a child, and also appeared In the controversial film, “Kids.” My career has included “Sin City,” “Seven Pounds” and the film adaptation of “Rent.”

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

MGNETEI

1. As fast as can be done 5. WC’s 9. Religious retreat 11. Warfare 13. One you wouldn’t expect 15. Disease-causing microorganisms 16. For each 17. Grammatical term 19. One point east of southeast 21. __ Dern, actress 22. Popular HBO drama (abbr.) 23. Shampoo 25. Scale drawing of a structure 26. An enclosure for confining livestock 27. Goat-like mammal 29. Cigar 31. Appear 33. “Westworld” actress __ Rachel Wood 34. Leaked through 36. The highest adult male singing voice 38. Musical group __ Soundsystem 39. Aurochs 41. Crazy (Spanish) 43. Swiss river 44. Strains 46. Frock 48. Found in most body tissues 52. Cool! 53. Reasons behind 54. Christian recluse 56. Removes 57. Repents 58. Energy 59. Tailless amphibian

CLUES DOWN

1. Not awake 2. Type of dessert 3. They __ 4. Retired Coast Guard admiral 5. Gene positions 6. Exclude 7. One who is bound 8. Where drinks are served 9. Small vipers 10. Blackbird 11. Adventurer 12. Shade 14. A way to gain 15. A salt or ester of boric acid 18. Monetary units 20. Removed 24. “My country, tis of __” 26. Horses 28. Drives back by force 30. Bold, impudent behavior 32. Rates 34. Types of nerves in males 35. A ridge of sand created by the wind 37. Wind instrument 38. Pakistani city 40. Dry or withered 42. Delivered a speech 43. Peak 45. Small waterbird 47. Days falling in mid-month 49. Elvis’ daughter 50. Flat and smooth 51. Dallas Cowboys great Leon 55. What cows say

HOROSCOPES ARIES – Mar 21/Apr 20 Aries, you feel like absolute garbage. Pause for a while and reset. Get strep medicine Monday morning. TAURUS – Apr 21/May 21 You are tired, Taurus. Some exercise could help you get out of this funk. Try a smoothie with vegetables in it Tuesday afternoon. GEMINI – May 22/Jun 21 You’re causing more pain than pleasure, Gemini. Treat people better. Look into getting contacts or new glasses Saturday night. CANCER – Jun 22/Jul 22 Sadness is your roommate this week, Cancer. Lift your spirits by doing something that’s always made you happy. Hug a good friend Sunday morning. LEO – Jul 23/Aug 23 You have enough energy to take on the world, Leo. Put it to good use and do something you’ve always wanted to do. Try bungie jumping Friday afternoon. VIRGO – Aug 24/Sept 22 Someone special is looking your way, Virgo. Take the time to open yourself up to people. Write a poem Thursday afternoon.

LIBRA – Sept 23/Oct 23 Libra, productivity is your game this week. Do something ambitious and get out of your comfort zone. Make a delicious recipe Wednesday night.

WE ARE

SCORPIO – Oct 24/Nov 22 Scorpio, don’t let an opportunity go unseized. There’s something really exciting waiting for you around the corner. Paint a wall Tuesday night. SAGITTARIUS – Nov 23/Dec 21 You are itching to move somewhere new and exciting, Sagittarius. Reign in your expectations but still shoot for the stars. Rollerblade around Thursday afternoon. CAPRICORN – Dec 22/Jan 20 Capricorn, a surprise might be coming your way soon. Be prepared but don’t go snooping where you know you shouldn’t. Read a chapter book Wednesday morning. AQUARIUS – Jan 21/Feb 18 Aquarius, talking might not be what you want to do with people this week. It’s OK to keep to yourself sometimes. Have a picnic Saturday afternoon. PISCES – Feb 19/Mar 20 Career choices are overwhelming you, Pisces. Make some pro and con lists to help you figure out what direction you want to take. Listen to a new band Friday morning.

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TUESDAY • MAY 8, 2018 | OPINION | MUSTANG NEWS

OPINION

CONTR ADICTORY

MELINA MAR A | COURTE SY PHOTO

| Atienza argues Trump’s foreign policy has been inconsistent but has had its successes, specifically with North Korea and ISIS.

Trump’s Foreign Policy in the 21st Century Elias Atienza @ elias_atienza

Elias Atienza is a history junior and the Mustang News opinion editor. The views expressed in this column do not reflect the viewpoints and editorial coverage of Mustang News. When Donald Trump was elected president, I outlined a cautious optimism for his foreign policy. While I did not believe he would adhere to many of his campaign promises, Trump advocated for a foreign policy that seemed to dial down the foreign interventions of the past and ensure our allies were carrying their own weight. I wrote, “While I am not going to believe every word he says, I will continue to keep an open mind on his foreign policy and look forward to seeing him enact it. Only time will tell if he will be any different from the last two presidents.” Nearly a year and a half later, we have a sense of Trump’s foreign policy. In some ways, it is a continuum of the Obama legacy, with expanding secret wars and disregard for congressional authority as exemplified by the Syrian strikes and the continued United States’ support for Saudi Arabia’s war in Yemen. In other ways, it is different, as exemplified by the North Korea breakthrough. Trump will meet with Kim Jong Un, the first time a U.S president will meet with the head of the reclusive state. I will not lie. I’m conflicted about Trump’s foreign policy. For one, though his foreign policy has led us down some dangerous paths, it has had its successes. ISIS is less of a threat to the U.S. and is no longer the boogeyman it once was during the Obama presidency. And though this came primarily as a continuation of the Obama strategy, there were a few changes in the rules of engagement which gave American commanders more leeway

when it came to driving out the terrorists from their strongholds. Journalist David French wrote in National Review, “Trump promised to defeat ISIS and he has delivered a tremendous victory.” Though there was threat of a new war with North Korea — recall the infamous button tweet — the recent breakthrough with North Korea is nothing short of astonishing. Just a year ago it seemed as if we would be on the brink of war and now North Korea is discussing denuclearization and formally ending the Korean War. Does Trump deserve all the credit? In a way, yes. His erratic behavior has forced North Korea to pivot toward South Korea for some assurance there won’t be a war. Additionally, Kim Jong Un has dropped his demands that the U.S. remove all 28,500 troops from South Korea, a remarkable turnaround from the usual dramatics of the region. The summit is promising, as it will allow Trump and Kim Jong Un to directly communicate with each other, instead of through surrogates and 3 a.m. tweets. What will come out of the summit is anybody’s guess, but having talks is better than starting a new war. The promise of a “denuclearized” Korean peninsula and the signaled end of the Korean War may be Trump’s crowning achievement. One of the unsung successes of the Trump presidency is forcing the nations of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to be more responsible for their own defenses. Trump’s continued reluctance toward protecting our European allies has reduced their reliance on the U.S. to pay for their defense, making them increase military spending. However, there have been more failures than successes. The continued threat of a trade war with China and our European allies has made the global economy uneasy, which also threatens to increase prices for American consumers and businesses. His policies on immigration have damaged our

relationship with Africa, which is rapidly modernizing and appears to be the future of global economic development. But what is most disappointing about Trump’s foreign policy is the continued interventions and escalations. American military assets still support Saudi Arabia’s war in Yemen, where thousands of civilians have been killed and millions more are facing famine and disease. The president has also escalated the war in Afghanistan, which I’ve argued we should end as it will only continue to shed American and Afghan blood for no good reason and goes against Trump’s initial instinct of withdrawal. Trump’s missile strikes in Syria have contributed to the constitutional crisis of presidents ordering military action across the world without congressional approval. It has also continued the expansion of executive powers, which conservatives once railed against, but have now fully embraced in the age of Trump. Trump, who once spoke against Obama’s foreign conflicts without congressional approval, has now continued his legacy. Congress has the blame as well, for it has abdicated its responsibility of restraining the powers of the executive branch. As Rep. Justin Amash (R-MI) tweeted, “Each successive president ignores the Constitution and congressional leaders let it happen. We must elect a speaker who will defend the separation of powers and respect the American people.” If there’s one word to sum up Trump’s foreign policy, it is this: contradictory. He has turned the world on its head in some positive ways, but for the most part, he has continued the interventionist policies of his predecessors while also dragging us into an economic slugfest with our allies and China. There are two more years of this presidency and so far, it does not look good.

Brendan Carretero @ Brendan_breezy3

As she stepped up to the podium at the 2017 California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) State Track & Field Championships, then-high school senior Brooke Tjerrild was overjoyed. She was being recognized as one of the state’s best female pole vaulters in front of her friends and family in her hometown of Fresno, California. With a second place overall finish to cap off her career at the athletically prestigious Clovis North High School, she knew things would change as she headed off to college to start a new chapter in her life. Coming into a new environment and balancing all the new changes freshman year brings, it would be natural for any athlete to not succeed right away. But that was not the case with kinesiology freshman Tjerrild. So far this season, she has five wins under her belt. These victories came when she won four straight meets before taking second place at the Rafer Johnson/Jackie Joyner-Kersee Invitational April 12. She also took another win at UC Santa Barbara in a Blue-Green Rivalry Dual Meet April 28. Confidence is key Having experienced immense success so early on in her collegiate career, Tjerrild has surpassed the expectations of many — except her own. “I’ve kind of been surprised in some ways, but I also know what the work I put in leads to, and I think that’s what really pushes me,” Tjerrild said. “I’ve seen, in a lot of people, a very direct correlation between how hard they work and the results they get. I think a lot of people have the tendency to kind of drop off

their freshman year just because there’s a lot of new things to get used to in college and a lot of distractions, so my goal has been to try and improve, but also to just stay focused on track and field.” One of the people who has aided her training during her stellar season has been track and field assistant coach Brad Pickett, who oversees pole vault and high jump. As a former Mustang pole vaulter and NCAA competitor himself, Pickett understands the nuances of the sport. “I think that she’s exceeded our expectations in that it’s never easy for a freshman to come into a program and just pick up where they left off and keep doing well because there’s a big lifestyle adjustment from high school to college,” Pickett said. “It’s never an automatic thing for any good athlete to all of a sudden come into college and expect they’re gonna do well, but I expected [Tjerrild] would be based on the tools I saw she was working with and her mentality. But she exceeded my expectations in how consistent and tough she’s been and really how nothing has phased her.” By qualifying for the NCAA Regionals and being named Big West Conference Athlete of the Week twice in her rookie season, she has drawn some attention with the heights she has cleared and the wins she has racked up. Tjerrild’s marks are among some of the best in the country. She is also within the top four amongst collegiate freshmen. “I think in some ways there is [pressure], but I think I put the most pressure on myself rather than other people putting pressure on me just because I really like the taste of winning and I just want to make sure that all my work pays off,” Tjerrild said.

Freshman point guard Ayzhiana Basallo transfers to San Jose State Brian Truong @ _BrianTruong

Following a breakout college debut season, freshman point guard Ayzhiana Basallo will be leaving the Mustangs, bringing her talent and relentless work ethic to San Jose State for the 2018-19 season. Basallo, a San Francisco native, said she is transferring to be closer to home due to personal reasons. “I really enjoyed the atmosphere, the smallknit community that Cal Poly gave me and all my coaches who kept working with me and making me a better person overall,” Basallo said. “My teammates are going to forever be my sisters.” In her first year of collegiate play, Basallo

became the first player in program history to earn the Big West Sixth Woman of the Year award. The 5-foot-5-inch Basallo was the Mustangs’ best three-point shooter — draining 41 percent of her three-point attempts. She has been described as an offensive spark from off the bench, a “little silent assassin” and a “gym rat” by her teammates. “[Basallo] practically lived in the gym,” head coach Faith Mimnaugh said. “She constantly worked on her game. Even on scheduled off days, you could find her in the gym ... the sky is the limit for [Basallo].” “She made that shooting machine work,” junior point guard Dye Stahley said. “It was really encouraging to see her, as a freshman, come in and put all that dedication into what she had.”

Cal Poly entered the season projected to finish sixth in the Big West Conference and exceeded expectations by finishing second in the regular season. As a freshman, Basallo broke into the lineup to add instant offense and a positive presence for the Mustangs. “She’s always trying to get us hyped, that’s definitely something that’s gonna be missed,” Stahley said. “She brings so much happiness into the locker room.” While coming off the bench for 27 of the 29 games this season, Basallo averaged 7.6 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game. She averaged a 40.8 field goal percentage and shot 80.5 percent from the free throw line. Basallo scored a career-high 21 points against UC Riverside Jan. 4, when she played a teamhigh 39 minutes.

17 TUESDAY • MAY 8, 2018 | SPORTS | MUSTANG NEWS

Freshman phenom Brooke Tjerrild’s rise to prominence

Leaving a legacy Success is nothing new to Tjerrild. She was amongst the highest-ranked pole vaulters throughout most of her high school and collegiate careers. Tjerrild, who qualified for USA Track & Field National Junior Olympics last summer, has consistently surpassed the 13foot mark throughout the season. At the Cal Poly ShareSLO Invitational March 24, Tjerrild earned a personal record (PR) by clearing 13 feet, 7.25 inches, just 3/4 of an inch away from breaking the long-standing Cal Poly record of 13 feet, 8 inches set by NCAA champion Paula Serrano almost 20 years ago. Whether it is lifting, sprinting or pole vaulting several days of the week to maintain her level of fitness, Tjerrild’s main goal is improvement. “Honestly, clearing a new bar as a PR is probably one of the most amazing feelings in the world and I think anyone in pole vaulting that has done that can tell you how great it feels,” Tjerrild said. “There is so much work, blood, sweat and tears that you were willing to put in just for that 5 to 10 seconds when you know as you’re falling into the pit.” Tjerrild has a good chance to continue improving with the help of a track and field program that has a history of building successful pole vaulters. In fact, alongside the family atmosphere of the team, Tjerrild chose Cal Poly for its strong program despite being highly coveted by other large schools. Although she has not been a Mustang for very long, Tjerrild’s career goals, along with the goals of the coaching staff, remain at the high standard she has set for herself throughout her time in the sport. “Our goal is to have her be NCAA champion and preferably multiple NCAA champion over a couple of years, and that’s absolutely realistic for her. I mean, she’s well on

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her way,” Pickett said. “And as far as after, competing professionally and possibly in the Olympics, she has all the physical tools and I’d say, because of her mentality, she has everything possible to go to the Olympics at some point in the future.” Tjerrild dreams of becoming a physical therapist one day, but she also looks to continue her sport. “I’m definitely open to continuing my track career after college, but it’s going to depend a lot on how well I do these next four years,” Tjerrild said. “But I love the sport right now and I don’t really see that changing, so the Olympics would be great. I would love to be a sponsored athlete and be able to compete at the highest level.” “Of course, I pictured her breaking records here at Cal Poly, but her happiness and well-being are more important to me than any record she may pursue,” Mimnaugh said. “San Jose State is lucky to be acquiring that great work ethic, a creative playmaker and a dynamic scorer.” Basallo said she believes she will continue to fulfill the same roles as a Spartan. “I’ll bring the same aspects that I’ve brought to Cal Poly … being a leader, since I’m a point guard, and controlling the game,” Basallo said. San Jose State competes in the Mountain West Conference at the NCAA Division I FBS level. Basallo will likely have to redshirt the 2018-19 season due to NCAA transfer rules. “I want to thank all my teammates, the coaching staff and trainers for supporting me with this decision and with my first year of college,” Basallo said. “I probably wouldn’t have made it without any of them. I’m going to miss them tremendously and I hope nothing but success for them.”

A goalkeeper to keep an eye on He is said to be the most sought out goalkeeper in the nation this next season. Cal Poly men’s soccer senior goalkeeper Simon Böehme has come a long way to get where he is now, according to men’s soccer head coach Steve Sampson. He’s got one more season to go in order to live up to the high expectations. He and his coach are confident that he can. A Swedish soccer start Böehme was born in Aalborg, Denmark and started playing at the age of three. Both his parents played volleyball; at one point, his dad played for the Swedish National Team. However, regardless of the sport, they helped facilitate their son’s athletic aspirations. Böehme’s father coached Böehme and his sister’s early soccer teams and provided encouragement and support. His grandmother took him to his first-ever soccer practice and his slower pace of play landed him in the box for the first time. “[The coaches] were like ‘Ah this kid is kind of slow, let’s put him in the goal,’ and I happened to be okay at it and kept going from there,” Böehme said with a laugh. His first official soccer jersey was the Danish

national goalkeeper jersey and his love for the position continued. The 6-foot-four-inch, 188-pound athlete was part of former head coach Paul Holocher’s recruiting class of 2014. In his freshman season, Böehme redshirted and didn’t get to see much of Alex G. Spanos Stadium’s field. However, his time spent on the sidelines paid off. In the 2017-18 season, Böehme had a combined 62 saves and stopped 76 percent of the shots on goal for the 16 games he played and started. “His ability to distribute the ball and play out of left back, but it’s really those game-saving shots that he’s able to stop that makes him so special,” Sampson said. The goal box and its goalie According to Böehme, it takes a certain mentality to be a successful goalkeeper. “If you have stuff in the back of your mind from the previous play, you are not going to get the next ball, get that next important save,” Böehme said. “I guess short-term memory is important to be a goalkeeper.” This strong-willed thinking didn’t happen right away. In fact, Böehme said he often found himself bored and lonely when he was first trying out the position at a young age. From there, he figured out that he had to stay in constant communication with his

teammates to keep his head in the game. Now Böehme is never afraid of taking on the responsibility of being a goalkeeper, even when facing a penalty kick. “If you save it, you’re a hero, but if it goes in, I don’t think a lot of people are going to blame you,” Böehme said. Böehme said there’s one thing that keeps him playing. “The rush,” Böehme said. “Getting caught in the moment when you have a big save is amazing. That is what you play for especially in big games.” A bright future The Cal Poly men’s soccer team has seen well-rounded goalies play in the box and Böehme is no exception. He takes after former Mustang Wade Hamilton, who now sports a Los Angeles Galaxy jersey. “I think the goalkeeper position has really been filled with outstanding players here and [Böehme’s] got some big shoes to fill,” Sampson said. But learning from the alumni is something the team prides themselves on. With the alumni game coming up May 12, the Mustangs are preparing to show the veterans the continued strength and cohesiveness of the team. “You get that humbling experience of working your way, learning from the guy in front

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of you, maturing as you go, on and off the field,” Böehme said. Böehme is currently in recovery from a shoulder injury. He dislocated his shoulder and tore his labrum during a game against blue-green rival UC Santa Barbara in October 2017. For now, he is taking a backseat and will work on physical therapy in the spring to fully recover for the fall season. “Sometimes you might get down on yourself in tough situations like with an injury or sitting on the bench, but just staying in the moment and knowing that it will come back ten-fold at some point,” Böehme said. Physical and mental strength, determination and humility fuels this rising soccer star and might propel him to a promising future. “We have a lot of depth, but I fully expect Simon to be our starter, to be our captain and to be one of the best goalkeepers in the country,” Sampson said.

TUESDAY • MAY 8, 2018 | SPORTS | MUSTANG NEWS

Megan Healy @ HealyMegan

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