May 29, 2018 by Mustang News

May 29, 2018

C al Poly, S a n Lui s O b i s p o

w w w. mu s t a ng n ews . n e t

BLACKFACE BACKLASH

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

How Cal Polyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s reputation has been impacted by racist incidents

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Content NEWS

MUJERES CLUB ...........................................4 WOMEN IN BUSINESS .................................4 JESSE WILLIAMS .........................................5 RISE ABOVE PLASTICS ................................5 WAITLIST CHANGE ......................................6 PAC DONATION ...........................................6

ARTS

ECSTATIC DANCE ........................................7 FOREVER STOKED FEATURE.......................10 WOOD BURNING .......................................12 UNCLE INC.................................................16

OPINION

AMERICA ...................................................17 HAYLE Y SAK AE | MUSTANG NE W S

SPORTS

BEACH VOLLEYBALL .................................19 LINDSEY CHALMERS .................................19

Mustang News

TODAY ,S ISSUE TUESDAY, MAY 29, 2018 VOLUME O, ISSUE 29

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

During the weekend of April 13, students protest racist events at Cal Poly. Photo by Hayley Sakae, Mustang News.

MARCH | Students marched off campus April 14, boycotting a club showcase in response to agricultural business senior Kyler Watkins’ blackface.

BLACKFACE BACKLASH continued from page 1 Dan Dempster Special to Mustang News

An image of a Cal Poly student in blackface has drawn national and international attention. The university’s image and reputation have been affected as a result. While university President Jeffrey Armstrong continues to denounce the incidents, referring to another recent incident as “vile and absolutely unacceptable,” many have called for the president’s resignation. In a letter to the editor published in Mustang News, Nancy Buffum, a parent of an admitted student, echoed the call for Armstrong’s resignation. “I repeat, I will not permit my daughter to attend such a school,” Buffum. “I call for the resignation of the president of the university and the disbanding of racist organizations on campus, including fraternities and student clubs.” Buffum’s letter represents a shift in how many prospective students and their parents perceive Cal Poly. “We’ve received responses of every nature,” Admissions Operations Director Terrance Harris said. “We’ve received responses from prospective students and their parents who were disappointed, who were hurt, who were angry. We’ve received feedback of support from people who are encouraged by the fact that there is a community that wants to positively respond to a negative incident.” Buffum’s letter is one example of the negative responses the university and Admissions has received. Some students who accepted their admission to Cal Poly before the blackface incident are now withdrawing their confirmations, Harris said. History professor and Vice President of Cal Poly’s California Faculty Association (CFA)

Lewis Call cited the possible impacts the incident could have on acceptances from Black applicants, specifically. “I can understand if you’re an African-American student and you’re looking [to attend] a place like Cal Poly and you see all these racist incidents, all this racist hate language and graffiti and so forth, why would you come here? And, if you did come here, why would you stay?” Call said. Call said he knew “we were in trouble” when he saw the blackface incident as the top story on The Guardian, an international news organization in England. “If people in England have heard about Cal Poly at all, this is what they’ve heard about,” Call said. “They think of it as some racist American university, so I’m afraid it’s doing serious damage to our international reputation.” Call further cited how Cal Poly’s campus climate makes it challenging to attract and retain diverse faculty. “Just as we have trouble attracting African-American students, it’s the same with regards to faculty,” Call said. Biological sciences senior and student of color Mekai Sheffie said he did not know much about Cal Poly before accepting a scholarship offer to play football. “I didn’t know the school was 0.7 percent Black,” Sheffie said. “If I knew that, that definitely would’ve been an influence on my decision … even with the scholarship on hand.” Sheffie said he understands why a prospective student would not want to come to Cal Poly given the campus climate. “I don’t want a degree from this place. Who wants a degree from a place that doesn’t value you?” Sheffie said. “I don’t want that to be representative of me, because [then] I look like the guy that went to the school and allowed this to happen.” Some students have already heard comments like the ones Sheffie refers to. One stu-

dent caller at Cal Poly Phonathon was told over the phone they were “complicit with a racist institution.” Just as Admissions has received mixed responses, so have the student callers at Phonathon. The callers not only aim to get donation pledges, but also try to have a conversation with parents and alumni about their Cal Poly experience. “For the most part, people are generally kind of shrugging at [the blackface incident], at least on our end,” psychology senior and Phonathon Student Manager Kat Preston said. “There has been some talk about it being disappointing, but nothing too significant.” Annual Giving allows donors to direct their pledged funds towards an area of their choosing, such as the Multicultural Center or a particular student club of their choice. If a parent or alumnus has any negative responses, Preston said she encourages callers to give them an avenue to address it. “I feel as if the position that we are in as student callers, that’s the best we can do to make a helpful impact,” Preston said. In a May 4 video addressing another recent racially insensitive incident, Armstrong emphasized that such incidents are not unique to Cal Poly. “We must also acknowledge that these acts stem from the inability of any institution to adequately address historic and pervasive bias and inequities,” Armstrong said. Regardless of the varied reactions, there has been an effect on Cal Poly’s reputation after the blackface incident, and many are questioning if the school is right for them. “It was not one blackface incident alone that disturbed me, it is the lack of repercussions or honest efforts for cultural shift after a series of racist incidents,” Buffum said. “I can only conclude that the university administration essentially condones continued racist and hate mongering behaviors by students.”

Proposed Academic Senate resolution recommends clubs pay for speaker security costs more than $5,000 The Academic Senate will discuss capping security costs paid by the university for club speakers May 29 in the Julian A. McPhee University Union. Under a proposed resolution, the Senate is recommending security up to The Academic Senate will discuss capping security costs paid by the university for club speakers May 29 in the Julian A. McPhee University Union. Under a proposed resolution, the Senate is recommending security costs up to $5,000 to be paid by the university and costs more than $5,000 be paid by the club hosting the speaker. The resolution may change before it is vot-

ed on and will only be advisory to campus administration, which is revising its security spending policy. Cal Poly and the California State University System spent $86,000 on security for Cal Poly College Republicans’ and Cal Poly’s Turning Points U.S.A. chapter’s panel with Milo Yiannopolous this year and $55,000 last year for the same speaker. “I’m not against any club bringing anyone on campus, but they can’t do it willy nilly and expect the campus to pick up the tab,” horticulture and crop science professor and member of the Academic Senate Wyatt Brown said. “We don’t have deep pockets, we don’t have multi-million dollar trust funds here.” Some members of the Academic Senate Ex-

ecutive Committee are concerned adding the cost of security onto typically hefty speaker fees would further inequity for small clubs who do not have the resources to pay for both. “I don’t want to prevent any groups from bringing who they want to because they don’t have the resources,” Associated Students, Inc. President and agricultural science senior Riley Nilsen said. Nilsen said she wants to discuss the resolution with students and clubs before she decides whether she will support the resolution. Cal Poly College Republicans released a statement calling the proposed resolution a direct attempt to stifle free speech. They said security fees associated with their speakers were due to what they call ‘violent ambitions

of leftist extremists,’ and that they paid for security at their own events when they only required two police officers. “It is only the Left that engages in violence and the destruction of property, and it is only the left right-of-center that will exceed the cap AUSTIN LINTHICUM | MUSTANG NE W S

as a result,” the statement read. Psychology professor Gary Laver said he wanted to have a discussion about security spending, even though he did not think the resolution would pass in its current revision. Students who want to speak in the meeting must ask an Academic Senator to sponsor them, because there is no public comment in their meetings.

‘The Mustang in the Room’ campaign intends to create a safe space for tough conversations Molly Schrum Special to Mustang News

Cal Poly’s history of racism and issues with diversity inspired a group of 32 students to create a multimedia campaign called The Mustang in the Room. The project originated from an Interdisciplinary Studies in Liberal Arts (ISLA) class this quarter. The name is a play of the old saying, “the elephant in the room,” and the project raises issues about diversity that many Cal Poly students may struggle to talk about. The Mustang in the Room is multidimensional, and features a website that informs Cal Poly by using a Learn by Doing approach. Students can learn more by reading blog posts, listening to student-made podcasts and watching relevant videos. They can also play informational games that check personal bias and privilege. The Mustang in the Room can be found on several social media platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and SoundCloud. “Cal Poly students celebrating diversity, calling for unity” is The Mustang in the Room’s motto. The campaign is intended to provide a safe space for the discussion and education of topics pertaining to diversity. “We want to be instruments of peace in this hostile environment with the ultimate goal of ending discrimination on campus,” Muara Johnston, the professor facilitating the project,

said in a press release. Business administration sophomore and co-producer of the project Kevin Masukawa said that he wanted to pursue this topic because of the passive nature of Cal Poly students when it comes to these issues. “I’ve noticed that once the initial shock blows over, people stop caring,” Masukawa said. The Mustang in the Room has only just been released, but Masukawa is optimistic that more Cal Poly students will be encouraged to talk about diversity and issues with racism on campus long after these events occur. “The change needs to come from students, from the bottom up,” Masukawa said. In the first podcast of the series titled “Where We’re At,” students said they felt like they were talking to a void when voicing issues about diversity and issues that face each of their communities. The goal of this campaign is to host an open forum-like space where students don’t have to feel like they are speaking to a void, and can instead have their voices heard. “Racism, sexism, ableism, all forms of oppression including the silencing of dissenting opinions on this campus seem to blow over, and everyone waits until we can be ‘the happiest city in America’ again,” Masukawa said. “That’s not how it works. It is not something that should be brought up at your convenience; it should be addressed so it doesn’t happen again.”

ISSUES

KEVIN MASUKAWA | COURTE SY ILLUSTR ATION

| The Mustang in the Room was created in response to racist events on campus.

TUESDAY • MAY 29, 2018 | NEWS | MUSTANG NEWS

Aidan McGloin @ mcgloin_aidan

TUESDAY • MAY 29, 2018 | NEWS | MUSTANG NEWS

New Mujeres club creates a community for womxn-identifying students of color Political science sophomore and co founder Rosa Elena López said she would like to clear the misconception that because of the name, A new club aiming to promote womxn emit is only for those who identify as Latinx. powerment has made its way to Cal Poly. “[Mujeres] was just the name that we chose Founded Winter 2018, Mujeres was created because of our culture, and our attachment after the founders realized there was a need for through [Movimento Estudiantil Xicano De a student-run support group for womxn-idenAztlán (MEXA)],” López said. “We are weltifying students of color. The club is on track coming of all womxn of color, whatever ethnic to be officially chartered under Associated or racial background they may have.” Students, Inc. by Fall 2018. All of the co-founders of Mu“I felt like this campus needjeres also serve as officers for ed that type of club at this MEXA, an organization school, especially since promoting higher eduwe’re lacking in Latinx cation for students who We want to supclubs,” animal science identify as Xicanx. port and empower junior and co-foundLópez also said peoer Kimberly Lariz ple might see this as those who identify said. “There’s a lot of them isolating themas female students sororities, but there’s selves, but this is acno actual club dedicattually a way for womof color ed to supporting womxn xn-identifying students of ROSA ELENA LÓPEZ of color here. I just felt like color to feel like they have a there was a need for that club sense of community and supto start.” port outside of other things they Mujeres is a social club and hosts events are involved in. for members to attend throughout the year, “We want to support and empower those such as beach days and breakfasts. The club who identify as female students of color on also serves as an alternative to joining a sothis campus and also those who identify as rority for students who may not be able to gender non-binary, our trans sisters and just afford greek life. anyone that feels that they can benefit from “A lot of us aren’t financially able to be in a this club in some sort of way,” López said. “We sorority, so this is like the alternative. It’s more want them to know that this is a safe space of a social club,” animal science senior and that’s open to them and that we would be co-founder Andrea Arana said. “We can just more than welcoming to having them join us.” unite about issues that arise within the year, Meetings for Mujeres are held on Mondays or previous years, and basically just empowfrom 6 to 7 p.m. in Agriculture Sciences ering women.” (building 11, room 221). Caroline Ster @caroster7

COFOUNDERS

MUJERE S | COURTE SY PHOTO

| From left to right: Andrea Arana, Rosa Elena López and Kimberly Lariz.

Women in Business publishes ‘30 Under 30’ list recognizing Cal Poly women Caroline Ster @caroster7

The Women in Business (WIB) Wire has created the first ever “30 under 30: Cal Poly’s Most Influential Women” list. Inspired by the Forbes “30 under 30,” the goal of this list is to find and recognize 30 women younger than 30 who are leaving an impact on Cal Poly. The Wire is an affiliate of the Cal Poly WIB and aims to highlight women’s perspectives and draw attention to women that work toward closing the gender gap. Its mission is to empower women through stories about women who are doing impactful work on this campus, including both students and profes-

sors. Articles on the WIB Wire also cover topics about women in the industry. “If you look at your Snapchat or your Instagram or literally any kind of social media, a lot of those articles that are targeted toward us are Cosmopolitan type stuff,” business administration sophomore and WIB Wire editor Anjana Melvin said. Melvin was inspired to create this list when she heard about a woman architecture student who was building a center for women and children in Rwanda for her senior project. “I thought that was really cool and I don’t think that you can hear about all of the cool things that women are doing unless you know

them,” Melvin said. Nominations for “30 Under 30” were made through a form posted on Cal Poly class Facebook pages and The WIB Wire website. Melvin was pleased to see that nominations included representation from all over campus. Political science sophomore Rosa Elena López is one of the women featured on the list. “I was really ecstatic and just honored to be recognized by such a wonderful organization on campus that really works to promote women in the workplace and empower them most of all,” López said. López made the list for her involvement with multiple clubs on campus and for re-

ceiving one of WIB’s “Defining Her Future” scholarships. “I think [the list is] a great way to showcase some of the wonderful students we have on this campus and all of the many things that they are involved in and that they do,” Lopez said about the list. Electrical engineering senior and president of Society of Women Engineers Melinda Ong said she was honored to make the list and is impressed by WIB for having a program that recognizes women. “I think it’s to diversify the face of this campus by recognizing women from all of the different colleges,” Ong said. You can see the full list at wibwire.com.

HANNA CROWLE Y | MUSTANG NE W S

Cassandra Garibay @ Cassandragari

Students lined up outside of the Recreation Center hours in advance, waiting to hear social activist and “Grey’s Anatomy” actor Jesse Williams speak at an Associated Students, Inc. (ASI) Events’ discussion May 21. Williams, who has spent the bulk of his acting career on the long-running medical drama as Dr. Jackson Avery, spoke with Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs for Diversity and Inclusion Jaime Patton and chairwoman of the ASI Board of Directors Daniela Czerny about his acting career and his social justice work. Many students in attendance, such as biological sciences senior Raadhika Shah, came to know of Williams through his acting but were also excited to hear him speak about activism.

“I am a bio[logical sciences] major [and a] huge med drama fan, so ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ is definitely a big part of me knowing him, but definitely his social activism is equally, if not more, important. And it is really cool how he is able to balance both types of roles,” Shah said. Prior to the discussion, Williams spoke to Mustang News about how he has been an activist his entire adult life, long before he became a well-known actor. Williams does not only consider himself an activist, but an abolitionist as well. “We still have slavery in many different machinations in very modernized ways now, so I am against oppression, I’m against controlling and confining people’s bodies and movements and political agency, social agency, so I am fighting hard to fight against that,” Williams said. “And, you know, keeping in mind that when folks were abolitionists around enslaved people and slavery, it was legal; it was a government-orchestrated and protected and propagated offense to folks, so it is also a reminder that just because something is legal or the law does not make it right.” His passions for activism and social justice stem from his experiences as a biracial person in America and what he has learned from others over the years.

“I think it’s hard to unsee things. I am a student, I grew up a student of history and anybody who has any familiarity with the realities of how we got here ... what has occurred in world history, both globally and domestically understands the great pains folks have gone to keep their boot on the necks of other folks and how deliberately tilted the scales are,” Williams said. A few of the ways Williams has combated social injustices is through his executive production of the documentary “Stay Woke: The Black Lives Matter Movement” and Question Bridge: Black Males, a trans-media project designed to answer questions and dispel misconceptions about the Black male community. He is also on the board of directors of the civil rights organization Advancement Project. During the discussion, business administration senior Czerny asked Williams how Cal Poly can move forward as a more inclusive community after the blackface incident. Williams responded that he was unaware of the specific incident; however, he addressed the larger issue of racism across universities. “What I would say is, again broadly, we need to figure out a way to do for self, how to take care of ourselves. That means individually, that means as a collective and you can do

both. Not feed, people want attention or bring some douchebag here to talk or hang some sign or say something horrible to get a rise out of you because that is the fuel that they exist on, so if you give them no attention, they might just deflate,” Williams said. Williams also touched on what it means to be an ally and how he has had to introspectively reflect on his own privileges as well. After the discussion, students cheered and thanked Williams as he left the stage. Political science sophomore Abibat Iriafen, who became aware of Williams after his speech at the 2016 Black Entertainment Television Awards show, said she appreciated Williams’ honesty about the realities of social justice and injustice. “He gets the message out without being offensive or telling a lie. He gets it out and it’s refreshing,” Iriafen said. As Williams said prior to the discussion, his goal for the talk was to elevate the discussion around race and injustice. “Hopefully I can contribute to that [discussion] and just continue the ball down the hill of people just kind of absorbing new things, gathering new information and maybe they disagree,” Williams said. “You know, it’s a process, this is not a destination ... I want folks to dig deeper into themselves.”

Sustainability organizations collaborate on ‘Rise Above Plastics’ campaign Rachel Marquardt @ rachmmarie

A team of students from student organizations Surfrider, EcoReps and Zero Waste Club have joined together to ban one of the most abundant products on campus: plastics. The newly developed team has been meeting weekly and drafting a petition for the “Rise Above Plastics” campaign, a movement inspired by Surfrider chapters around the nation. “The overall goal of this campaign is to bring awareness to people about the impacts of plastics on our environment and on human health, too, as well as encourage people to reduce their use as well as try to implement policies that will reduce the amount of plastic consumption for those people so they do not

have to make as many conscious decisions,” environmental management and protection freshman and Surfrider Vice President Marissa Miller said. The team will be tabling and performing zero-waste audits to increase students’ awareness of the campaign. A waste audit involves student volunteers taking trash from a specific location and sorting the trash to determine if it is being sorted correctly and which items are thrown away most. According to Volunteer Sustainability Coordinator Colleen Trostle, the audits will not only help with the basic education of which bins waste goes into, but will also aid in developing a baseline and goals for their campaign. “We will count out specifically the single-use plastics and weigh them. We are going to try to take them from populated areas or loca-

tions as well as take measurements to see where the single-use plastics are going and where they are found, as well as how much there is and if it wasn’t there, how much it would change our waste impact,” Trostle said. Their first waste audit will take place May 29 on Dexter Lawn from 1 to 3 p.m. The team is looking for the majority of students, as well as staff and faculty to sign the petition once it is released. According to EcoReps member and mathematics freshman Annika Dean, who is in charge of drafting it, members have a goal of obtaining 500 signatures each. “Nothing is really official right now, but the petition will be available at tabling events. With technology, the possibilities are endless and there are so many easy ways to upload it to the internet,” Dean said. According to Miller, their campaign will

R ACHEL MARQUARDT | MUSTANG NE W S

first be looking to find alternatives for plastic straws on campus. “I see a lot of ways and areas where Cal Poly can improve, and we are advertised as a very sustainable campus,” Miller said. “I think that in order to live up to that, they need to make these changes, and I think Cal Poly getting rid of straws, utensils [is a start]. There are so many alternatives and things you can do and I want to help them get there.”

TUESDAY • MAY 29, 2018 | NEWS | MUSTANG NEWS

A discussion with Jesse Williams: Acting and activism

TUESDAY • MAY 29, 2018 | NEWS | MUSTANG NEWS

Changes made to waitlist process for Fall 2018 Michaela Barros Special to Mustang News

Significant changes have been made to the waitlist system for Fall 2018, according to the Office of the Registrar. Starting with Fall 2018 registration, students will no longer be allowed to hold spots on waitlists for more than 16 units on Plan A Student Schedule, the scheduling site on students’ Cal Poly Portal. According to an official memorandum sent out by University Registrar Cem Sunata, the waitlist will run once a day until the day before the first day of instruction. The waitlist process will be run twice a day for the first four days of the add/drop period and place students in open seats. Business administration junior Remi Crosetti said the new system will be an improvement. “I think it’s a good idea because it will help narrow it down to the students that actually need those classes instead of having people waitlist every class in the hopes of getting one,” Crosetti said.

Along with the limit of 16 waitlisted units for each student, once the quarter begins, students will be able to automatically enroll in a class without a permission number if there are open seats within the first four days of the add/drop period. Once a student is moved off the waitlist to fill an open seat, they will receive an email to notify them of their enrollment, according to the official memorandum. As stated in the official email, if a class is full, enrollment will only occur through the waitlist and not via permission numbers. It also said during the last four days of the add/ drop period, permission numbers are required to enroll in courses. In the memorandum, Sunata also wrote that if faculty members want to accept more students than allowed for enrollment, a new process will be followed. According to Sunata, faculty will need to contact their department scheduler to get permission to increase their enrollment capacity, which cannot exceed the capacity of the classroom. “This way, the waitlist process would notice the added seats to the enrollment capacity and place the students into the class through

FILE PHOTO | MUSTANG NE W S

WAITING | The new system will completely eliminate permission numbers, relying on the lists.

their ranking in the waitlist in an equitable manner,” Sunata wrote. Mathematics junior Gladys Gonzalez said the community college she attended before Cal Poly did not use permission numbers and she was well adjusted to that system. Gonzalez said when she arrived at Cal Poly, getting into packed classes was a new experience for her. “At my old community college in Merced County, that’s the way that it used to be,” Gonzalez said. “If you were number one or two on the waitlist and somebody else dropped the course, you were just automatically enrolled in the class.” She also said a new system without permission numbers would be more efficient

PAC receives largest donation in foundation history Taylor Barnett Special to Mustang News

The Performing Arts Center (PAC) is almost 25 years old and maintains its current condition because of FPAC, according to Standish. This grant helps ensure Cal Poly students can perform at this professional hall, according to Standish. “All the students who perform there have

the chance to perform at this world-class hall,” Standish said. Music sophomore Nicolai Borst has performed in the PAC and found this experience to be a beneficial opportunity for his career path. “As a music major, it helps better emulate the

for students. “I feel like this is a much faster process than getting the permission number and doing the thing on PolyLearn. I think it’s a good thing. I think it will make everything easier,” Gonzalez said. Computer science junior Logan Thatcher said it seems like the new process will give all students equal opportunity when registering for classes. “With the old system, it seemed like the waitlist didn’t mean much, and now it feels like it will mean something. It used to feel like it was somewhat up to the professors to pick students out for their class, and I feel like this system is much more fair,” Thatcher said. experience of what it will be like in a professional setting because the PAC is such a good facility,” Borst said. The Harold J. Miossi Charitable Trust values providing increased access to fine arts for San Luis Obispo community members. Howard Carroll, a trustee for the Miossi Trust, said he believes the FPAC improves the quality of life for community members and students by introducing them to art. “It’s life-changing for some, it’s the first time they’ve experienced something other than the education we’ve had of ‘one plus one equals two.’ Art does that, it’s expressing the same topics with different passions,” Carroll said.

The Foundation of the Performing Arts Center (FPAC) received a $1.5 million grant from the Harold J. Miossi Charitable Trust, Foundation officials announced May 16. This grant marks the largest monetary donation in the history of the FPAC. The donation will be used to support existing programs to ensure availability of fine arts to students, and contribute to the upkeep on the facilities, according to FPAC Executive Director Leann Standish. Harold Miossi was a lifetime resident of San Luis Obispo and his trust LEANN STANDISH is dedicated to bettering the lives of community members, according to Carroll. In honor of the donation, the Foundation Board for the FPAC renamed Sidney Harman Hall as the Harold Miossi Hall HANNA CROWLE Y | MUSTANG NE W S at a ceremony May 16. FUNDING | The Harold J. Miossi Charitable Trust donated $1.5 million to ensure students and community members have access to the arts.

All the students who perform there have the chance to perform at this world-class hall.

7 TUESDAY • MAY 29, 2019 | ARTS | MUSTANG NEWS

FEEL THE MUSIC

EMILY MERTEN | MUSTANG NE W S

| The club meets on Dexter Lawn Tuesday mornings to practice ecstatic dance, a practice of freeform movement and mindfulness, and invites all students to join.

New Ecstatic Dance and Mindfulness club welcomes all movement Emily Merten @ e_merten

Adam Simon, Jamie Himler and Maya Smigel met on Dexter Lawn Tuesday morning to let go of the day for a moment and practice ecstatic dance. With nothing but a speaker in hand, they invited friends and strangers scattered amongst the lawn to join them in movement. “No thanks,” one student on the lawn said. “I have two left feet.” “Good to hear — we need more left feet!” psychology junior Simon said. Ecstatic dance sends the message of inclusivity loud and clear. Rather than perfected, choreographed dance moves, mindfulness and emotion guide the movement. The new Ecstatic Dance and Mindfulness Club aims to spread awareness of ecstatic dance and its meditative nature to the San Luis Obispo community. “No two people move the same way,” environmental protection and management sophomore Himler said. “There’s a lot of conceptions that you have to have trained as a ballerina since you were born to be able to dance. But really, everybody is a dancer.” Ecstatic dance is free-formed movement grounded in the practice of mindfulness. There are no rules or structured choreography that define the practice. Ecstatic

dancers simply express their emotions in a single moment through whatever movement that calls. “The core of ecstatic dance is to create a container where it’s safe and judgment-free to just move your body,” Simon said. “Some people might look like lunatics, rolling around, flipping, writhing their bodies, making weird noises. And that’s what ecstatic dance is: it’s pure expression. Being able to walk into a space, take your shoes off and take off the mask that you wear as you walk around. You just let the purest essence of yourself flow through you, through your movement.” Simon, Smigel and Himler founded the club to give students a space to practice letting go of inhibitions that might hold them back. Smigel, who practiced many different dance styles growing up, said ecstatic dance grants her the most expressive freedom of all the dance forms. “It’s very different from what you would find at a [typical] dance show, where every single second is choreographed,” nutrition sophomore Smigel said. “That’s how I grew up dancing my whole life. Every movement was choreographed by the teacher. But in this type of dancing, we decide how we want to move.” That freedom to decide each movement in the moment encourages mindfulness, a

crucial component of ecstatic dance. “You are meditating as you are moving,” Simon said. “We see it as a mindfulness practice, where you are just grounded in that moment, blind to any responsibilities in the world around you.” The idea for an ecstatic dance club was born at a Yoga Club meeting. Smigel and Himler, both dance minors, led an ecstatic dance session, and it was met with an overwhelmingly positive response. “It was beautiful, and there were dozens of happy people dancing,” Himler said. “After that meeting, we thought, ‘Wow, we should do this more often. We should start a club.’” So they did. They became an official club through Associated Students, Inc. (ASI) in early May. The club held its first official meeting May 17. That night, the club founders practiced their performance for SubSession’s music festival, Life’s A Peach. It was not a typical dance rehearsal; they did not practice a choreographed piece. Instead, they brainstormed a concept, and they practiced expression of that concept through music and movement. They practiced dancing as if nobody was watching. “That improvisational skill is an important practice to be able to feel confident enough to have a 20-minute dance performance in front of a group of people

without much structure or choreography,” Simon said. The dancers performed at Life’s A Peach for 20 minutes following an improvisational dance style. The club plans to hold more performances in the future following the same loose structure. “Whatever you feel in that moment through the music when you’re performing, do that,” Simon said. “Convey that emotion the best you can.” The three founders plan to lead the club with the same fluid structure as ecstatic dance. Simon said he invites every student to share their practice of movement or mindfulness in whatever form it may take, whether it is poetry, acro yoga or traditional meditation. “It’s awesome to facilitate any of those experiences,” Simon said. “Everyone can lead. We’re all here to teach each other and to learn from each other and just experience each other.” What started as a group of three dancers on Dexter Lawn that Tuesday morning soon turned into 10. They welcomed all people and all forms of movement: crawling on the ground, shaking in place, the worm and whatever spoke to them in that moment. The club hopes to spread the same spirit that produced a dance party from a quiet morning across campus.

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TUESDAY • MAY 29, 2018 | FEATURE | MUSTANG NEWS

Forever Stoked: 20 years of sharing nature and positivity through art Emma Kumagawa @ emma_kumagawa

One step into the Forever Stoked art gallery and you are transported into a world where realist and abstract interpretations of nature live in colorful harmony. Paintings rest on the walls, surfboards hang from the ceiling, and other works of art sit around the vicinity, waiting to be devoured by the appreciative eye. Forever Stoked’s Spring Art Show was held May 19 at the art collective’s Morro Bay gallery. Visitors viewed the work that was sparked by two individuals’ shared passions for nature and surfing. The beginning Charlie Clingman and Chris Pedersen met at the age of 15 on a surf trip to an island off of Baja California, Mexico. “We stayed in these little shacks and there were some drawings on the wall that other people had done,” Pedersen said. “We took that to next level and just drew all over the entire walls. By the time we left, the walls were just covered in art.” The two kept in touch and continued to connect over their passions for surfing and art, eventually reuniting to create and sell hand-crafted goods that reflect the beauty of nature. A business is born Forever Stoked’s first items were handmade holiday greeting cards Pedersen made and sent to family and friends. Clingman loved the cards and suggested Pedersen sell them. Pedersen asked Clingman to join him in the endeavor and they founded the business together in 1998. At first, Clingman was too busy to work on establishing the business, so Pedersen took the task head-on. Pedersen thought the phrase “Forever Stoked” was a fun, positive message to put on the back of a card. “I put [$5,000] on my credit card and made these Christmas cards,” Pedersen said. “When I got them, I started walking into all these surf shops and gift stores from San Diego to Santa Cruz. Within maybe a month, we had made maybe [$10,000] and we had 60 accounts where we were selling our products.” Pedersen and Clingman did not anticipate transforming their art into a company, but people liked the name, the art and visuals, so the duo “just kept making the stuff.” The Forever Stoked gallery, located at 1164 Quintana Rd., was formed about six years ago as a result of a need for more commercial space.

Forever Stoked today Now, Forever Stoked goods consist of limited-edition paintings, paper art prints, cuffs, accessories and of course, greeting cards. The limited-edition paintings are prints on canvases. Only a set number of each painting is made, and pigment-based ink and pH-neutral canvases are used to maximize each piece’s longevity. Forever Stoked is composed of five artists and long-time friends: Clingman, Pedersen, Peter Pierce, Jordan Haughey and Dave O’Brien. All of the artists create work that reflect their love for nature, honoring San Luis Obispo’s coastline, trails and hills. “We all have an extreme love for nature — surfing keeps you very tied into that. [Nature’s] our inspiration,” Clingman said. Pedersen and Clingman both agree that their ongoing passion and accumulating experience support Forever Stoked’s success. However, they still struggle with finding a balance between work and recreation. “The most challenging thing is making money — making a living off of being an artist in general is not an easy thing — but also running a business,” Pederson said. “Sometimes I feel like I’m painting in my free time. I have to do a lot more than just create the artwork.” Typically, Forever Stoked has a winter and a spring art show each year. Works from the five main artists are featured along with the work of local artists. Each show aims to showcase new paintings and to attract new gallery visitors.

NATURE

“[Forever Stoked] is unique and different. I love the fact that it’s just a group of guys that came together and opened up their own studio, and I think they’re all hugely talented,” Spring Art Show attendee Chico Lusby said. “We drove up from Lompoc [California] just for the art show today.” Over the years, Forever Stoked has increased its involvement with the community. Artists can often be spotted live-painting at events and showing work and painted surfboards at various businesses in the county. Additionally, “paint parties” are offered at the gallery, taught by either Clingman or Pedersen. They guide guests step-by-step through a full painting and provide all the necessary materials. “We like to just break down the apprehension of doing a painting. It’s not about the painting, it’s about the experience of the evening,” Clingman said. During the summer, Forever Stoked will travel to various California festivals to sell their art. Clingman has recently been focused on designing a mobile gallery, which he says will be “a game changer” for upcoming events. In the long term, the Forever Stoked team would like to expand the company’s merchandise outreach in other stores and establish a Forever Stoked gallery store, ideally in Hawai’i or California. “Forever Stoked means keeping things that make your heart soar a priority in your day to day journey,” Clingman said.

EMMA KUMAGAWA | MUSTANG NE W S

| Gallery viewers are provided the opportunity to interpret and appreciate the dynamic environmental scenes in all the different artwork.

11 TUESDAY â&#x20AC;¢ MAY 29, 2018 | FEATURE | MUSTANG NEWS

FOUNDER

EMMA KUMAGAWA | MUSTANG NE W S

| Clingman (left) and Pedersen (right) created the gallery through passion and friendship.

CAUSE

EMMA KUMAGAWA | MUSTANG NE W S

| Greeting cards, the original Forever Stoked product, are surrounded by art they inspired.

TUESDAY • MAY 29, 2018 | ARTS | MUSTANG NEWS

Wine and woodburning workshop a hit at The Station Tabata Gordillo @ tabatagordillo

The Station wine bar and coffee shop hosted its second ever wood-burning workshop May 20. The event was hosted by local tattoo artist Jeana Jane and welcomed members of the community for an evening of wine and creative expression. The sold-out workshop was reserved by a large group of eager learners and art enthusiasts. Attendees were served a glass of wine upon arrival and were given hands-on guidance from the instructor. The group was provided with blocks of wood, stencils for tracing, and their own wood burners. The intent of the workshop was to embrace creativity while enjoying a glass of wine and each others’ company. Jane held her first wood-burning workshop at The Station in April. As a regular customer at The Station herself, Jane was asked to instruct a class by the wine bar’s event coordinator. Jane said she saw this as the perfect opportunity to share with others the endless array of possibilities that come with wood burning. “I think I wanted to teach it because of the mediums of art that I do, it’s probably the easiest to pass on to someone else and it’s also one of the cheaper things that you can craft at home,” Jane said. Jane picked up the craft about four years ago as a hobby and soon realized it was something she had a passion for. Like tattooing, she said wood burning was another way for her to push her creative muscle. “There is no backwards, you just have to roll with it and make it work,” she said. “I enjoy that you don’t get to erase it and that you do really have to work through whatever obstacle comes up in the moment.” With that in mind, Jane hoped her students would go into this workshop with a similar mentality. Lyn Matasci was one of the attendees at the event. Matasci and her two friends found out about the event through the Facebook event page and saw this as a fun opportunity to get crafty. With no prior experience, Matasci went into the workshop with only one goal in mind: to have fun. “I’m not even talking to my friends, I’m just so concentrated,” Matasci said. Matasci enjoyed her experience and said she might even pick up wood burning as a hobby in the future. “This sounds really weird, but I kind like the way it feels when the wood is burning,” Matasci said. “It feels kind of therapeutic.” While each student’s experience may have

varied, Jane’s overall goal for teaching the workshop was for each student to get some sort of artistic experience. “It would be awesome if people walked out and were like, ‘I want to go buy a wood burner and try to do other things, because I’m always interested in watching other people’s creative muscle grow,” Jane said. “But hopefully it was just a fun evening and a nice art experience and something that makes them unafraid to try other artistic things.” Like the wood burning workshop, The Station hosts a variety of art and music events for the San Luis Obispo community. Such events include watercolor painting, pottery and live DJ events. According to The Station bar associate Hannah Ermisch, The Station strives to provide a community space where people can learn more about wine while having fun. “We are really big on wine-drinking as a whole experience, and so we try to do some sort of event that matches that,” Ermisch said. The Station’s “Art Bar” and other events have become popular within the San Luis Obispo community. Ermisch said these events serve as a “wind-down” for people. “It gives people the opportunity to come with friends and unravel from the week or weekend and just relax,” Ermisch said. “It’s a really relaxing, therapeutic scene and I think that’s kind of what we hope to keep doing, to bring people in and let them kick back and drink.” Jane said she also believes The Station provides a relaxing environment where people who have deemed themselves unartistic can drink a glass of wine, loosen up and have good time. It kind of strips down some of those insecurities that we’re all taught over life that we’re not good at things,” Jane said. “It’s this really relaxing environment that lets everyone, in whatever level they’re in, to feel comfortable.”

TIM COVELLO

For Superior Court Judge

Proven Experience and Judgment Superior Court Commissioner presiding over cases in Paso Robles and San Luis Obispo Courts Criminal justice reformer who has helped implement diversion and treatment programs and presided over treatment courts designed to restore nonviolent offenders to the community and reunify families. 23-year criminal prosecutor, with 7 years as Chief Deputy District Attorney and Assistant District Attorney, having prosecuted some of the county’s most complex and high-profile cases. Endorsed by 30 judges, including 18 sitting Superior Court judges, two Court of Appeals Justices and 10 retired judges.

www.CovelloForJudge.com Paid for by Tim Covello for Superior Court Judge 2018 PO Box 13543 ¥ San Luis Obispo, CA 93406-13543 ¥ FPPC#1401192 TABATA GORDILLO | MUSTANG NE W S

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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!

Guess Who? I am an actress born in New York on May 30, 1971. I attended Tisch School of the Arts and sang at weddings beforeI became famous. I originated two roles on Broadway and won a Tony in 2004. I’ve since given voice to a frosty Disney character.

*See answers at mustangnews.net/puzzles/

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!

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

N A LW

CLUES ACROSS 1. In bed 5. Composition headings 11. Close by 12. Cannot be removed 16. Take upon oneself 17. -__, denotes past 18. Denotes ancient Greek dialect 19. “American History X” actor 24. Millihenry 25. Town in Sonora, Mexico 26. Netherlands river 27. Insect associated with honey 28. Adjacent 29. Change shape 30. Pattern in Indian music 31. Genus of finches 33. Australian clover fern 34. Caused to curve 38. Ability to make good decisions 39. King of Thebes 40. Belgian city 43. Basic unit 44. Phonograph recording 45. Flew off! 49. Moved quickly 50. Chums 51. Stick fast to 53. Megabyte 54. Perceives something not present 56. Fitzgerald and Eyre are two 58. Milliampere 59. Remain as is 60. Honors 63. Norse goddess of old age 64. Minimum 65. Rulers of Tunis CLUES DOWN 1. About Andes 2. ESPN hostess

3. Cerumen 4. Perceived 5. A right related to property 6. Blessed with 7. Mendelevium 8. Of I 9. Viscous liquid 10. Suffix 13. Bromine 14. Beverage 15. Level in an organization 20. Star Trek character Laren 21. Bad grades 22. Mars crater 23. Small amount 27. Froth on fermenting liquor 29. Bachelor of Divinity 30. Follows sigma 31. Human foot 32. Commercial 33. Company that rings receipts 34. Experiencing a sudden sense of danger 35. Taxable 36. Alternative credit investment firm 37. Ho-__ 38. Gold 40. Will not (obsolete) 41. Supposes without proof 42. Rapper __ Hammer 44. Split lentils 45. Carried out systematically 46. Condition 47. Without restraint 48. Produces reproductive cells 50. One of Washington state’s Tri-Cities 51. Spielberg film 52. Elliptic function 54. Pearl Jam song “Hail __” 55. People in a film 57. Lethal dose 61. Root beer maker 62. Tellurium

HOROSCOPES ARIES – March 21/April 20 You are in a musical mood, Aries! Good tunes keep coming your way. Sit back and enjoy the groove! Go on a long drive this Memorial Day weekend.

LIBRA – Sept. 23/Oct. 23 The end of something is near, Libra, and you’re a bit stressed. Things come and go, remember that. You’ll get used to it. Cherish the time you have. Hula hoop Tuesday morning.

TAURUS – April 21/May 21 Taurus, people are getting on your nerves this week. Take some time to yourself, you’re a great date! Go to a movie alone Saturday night.

SCORPIO – Oct. 24/Nov. 22 A relationship might be taking a sour turn, Scorpio. It’s time to admit faults, or compromise so a friendship doesn’t end. You don’t always have to be the winner. Organize a picnic for two Monday morning.

GEMINI – May 22/June 21 You are far too bold this week, Gemini. People don’t like a Gemini all up in their face. Talk a long walk Friday night. CANCER – June 22/July 22 Cancer, you are letting people step all over you! Let them know who’s boss and what you have to offer. Talk to a stranger Wednesday morning. LEO – July 23/Aug. 23 You’re a little mixed up at the moment, Leo. What is your heart telling you? It might be time to start listening to it. Write a poem Thursday afternoon. VIRGO – Aug. 24/Sept. 22 Virgo, fun times are ahead for you! Finally, a break from the unforgiving daily grind. This weekend will be a fun one with laughter and friends. Dance around Sunday afternoon!

SAGITTARIUS – Nov. 23/Dec. 21 You just won something amazing, Sagittarius! Prizes come in all forms, so don’t think this one will be overt. Celebrate yourself with a big glass of your favorite drink Thursday night. CAPRICORN – Dec. 22/Jan. 20 It’s time to branch out of your safe little cocoon, Capricorn. Do something that scares you! You will be fine. Make a meat loaf Sunday night. AQUARIUS – Jan. 21/Feb. 18 Aquarius, a situation is confusing you. Get to the bottom of it, quickly! Sorting things out will make you feel better. Go to a pet store and hold an animal Wednesday morning. PISCES – Feb. 19/March 20 You are feeling peaceful after a contentious encounter, Pisces. Live and let die, life is too short! Dress up as your favorite action hero Friday night.

TUESDAY • MAY 29, 2018 | ARTS | MUSTANG NEWS

EXPRESSION

EMMA KUMAGAWA | MUSTANG NE W S

| For Butler (left) and Holmes (right), Uncle Inc. is ultimately an outlet for them to enjoy and express themselves. They make t-shirts and stickers with funny sayings, jokes and memes.

Uncle Inc.: love for ‘distorted’ memes turned fashion Emma Kumagawa @ emma_kumagawa

“Coagulated,” “distorted,” “sub-reality” and “undefined” are words used by Cal Poly students Riana Butler and Alex Holmes to describe their company, Uncle Inc. Butler and Holmes channel their love for memes and artistic expression into creating designs for clothing and stickers. Uncle Inc. was born Fall 2017 when theatre sophomore Holmes suggested she and journalism sophomore Butler create a clothing company. The two immediately came up with the name “Uncle Incorporated,” or “Uncle Inc.” for short. “We decided to just start doing some silly sketches and go from there,” Holmes said. The first clothing product was a sketch of the two of them with “goo goo gaga” written in colorful text. Uncle Inc. now has several designs available, from both the “Primary” and the “Valentine’s Day” collections. “It’s us just spitballing phrases that we think

are funny or stupid and then just putting them from each quote as inspiration. The two then on the shirts,” Holmes said. either use comic sans or hand-write the text. Most recently, Uncle Inc. stickers have been “They’re definitely distorted. I feel like that’s posted for sale on RedBubble. just a way of reflecting like we’re ‘the other,’” ButDesign inspiration comes from memes ler said. the two enjoy and common phrases Initially, Butler and Holmes thought they say to each other. Accordthe company would simply be a ing to Butler, Uncle Inc. repfun, creative outlet to share resents their own definitions with friends. However, the People think it’s of memes. The most popular two have been pleasantly really funny and prints thus far have featured surprised to find that strangthe phrases “I’m fine” and ers have been discovering very aesthetically “Mom, can you come pick and purchasing their prodpleasing. me up?” ucts online. “I get compliments on my Butler and Holmes use InstaWYLIE HUGHS ‘i’m fine’ shirt all the time,” Engram to advertise Uncle Inc. (@ glish sophomore Wylie Hughs said. uncle_inc), and zazzle.com to sell the “People think it’s really funny and very apparel, which comes in a variety of styles aesthetically pleasing.” and colors. The figures displayed in the designs are simple, “We literally make $0.60 off of each shirt, blob-like “amoebas.” Holmes free-hands them which go for around $15 to $20 because it’s not on a sketchpad website, using the “vibe” she gets about the money. It’s about seeing people wear-

ing our design,” Butler said. Butler and Holmes said they often come across people who do not understand their humor. They agree that what holds a meaning to them may not resonate with others in the same manner. “You don’t necessarily have to understand, it’s just something we do,” Butler said. “Like, ‘Tickle my liver and call me Maurice,’ there’s nothing to get. It’s just there,” Holmes added. “They don’t have to be black or white.” Their new five-piece summer collection, “Resurrection,” will be released next week. The name comes from reviving the company after a lull, in addition to portraying the cycle of life. “Each design represents a different stage of life,” Butler said. In the future, Butler and Holmes hope to start screen-printing their clothing and want to create their own website. They want to spread the message that anything can be done with just “a cloud of an idea.”

Abdullah Sulaiman @ AbdullahOpinion

Throughout history there is one concept that has always held: you are either the colonized or the colonizer. This can be seen in many contexts including, but not limited to, slavery, imperial conquests and colonization by European nations and America. In our specific context, America is a modern-day empire. In the book “Empire for Liberty,” Richard Immerman dates this idea to George Washington, who stated that as “unimportant America may be considered at present, there will assuredly come a day, when this country will have some weight in the scale of Empires.” Imperialism has many definitions. According to the Gale Encyclopedia of U.S. Economic History, imperialism “is a policy aimed at extending political, economic, and cultural control over areas beyond a nation’s boundaries.” It can be as simple as military conquest, or something even more sinister, such as economical take over through private companies or support of despotic regimes. This detailed definition is critical in understanding how America is currently an imperial nation. If you look in the history of America, we see early examples of this in the displacement of Native Americans, the idea of manifest destiny

and ‘the white man’s burden,’ which resulted in an era known as American Imperialism and Expansionism. This new philosophy led to expansion of the US empire through events like the Mexican-American war, the coup and annexation of Hawaii and the Philippines and the further displacement and genocide of Native Americans. This era is taught as a period that started in the 19th century and ended in the early 20th century, making it seem as if America’s imperialism stopped. The reality is America never stopped. America has not abandoned its old ways. Many examples of new-age imperialism can be found in the history of the Cold War. We funded insurgencies that would overthrow newly established governments or stop Russian involvement in a nation. For example, we funded the mujahideen — which later became the Taliban— and funding the Contras in Nicaragua. Fortunately, these involvements have been noted in our history books. However, there are times when these actions are not noted. The attempt to overthrown the Iraqi government is dated many decades before its success. The U.S. funding of Kurds was not to help them actually gain independence from Iraq, but as stated in the LA Times in the ‘90s, “They preferred instead that the insurgents simply continue a level of hostilities sufficient to sap the resources of [Iraq].” This

was a long trend of trying to overthrow the Hussein regime, which was not actualized until the 2003 war in Iraq. That was a war supposedly started on false intel that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction and was funding Al Qaeda, claims that were debunked a year after the war began. The war was 11 years long. How is it possible for a nation to impose its will on another, you ask? That is where military power and aid comes in.To sustain control, you need money and power, two things which America and European powers have. Currently, America has more than 800 bases in at least 70 disclosed countries but upwards of 130 including undisclosed countries. Another example is America selling U.S. weapons to Saudi Arabia, which is fighting a proxy civil war that started in 2015 in Yemen. This resulted in a divided and destroyed country and mass famine affecting more than 14 million people. Some may read this and call this unpatriotic or say this is un-American. I ask then, is the real patriot someone who stands idle as the country they are proud of exploits others for their resource and labor, or someone who stands for truth and justice for all, someone who acknowledges the problems and tries to fix them? If you find this hard to believe, do research and look into this matter. I am writing about the reality of America

as it has manifested and continues to manifest as flawed. However, I’m not saying its founding principles are flawed. Second, I am not discrediting the good that America has involved itself in. What I do see is that in the history of our foreign policy, we seem to get involved with conflicts or peoples of other countries disproportionately more for our benefit than theirs. Thirdly, although some can argue that there are bad things we need to fix outside of this nation, I say that we need to be more meticulous when choosing how we help other nations. With this in mind, and hopefully a new perspective, where do we go from here? America’s foreign policy is decided by our politicians, as such we must strive to be more politically engaged. We need to read and understand our history and how it shapes what we do today. We also need to be more aware of global news and politics, and what our politicians support. This should matter to us because our tax money is used to fund these foreign policies. On a more basic level, it’s what is moral. We must never forget the power we have as a country nor the power of our voices. This country was founded on giving a voice to the people, the manifestation of which is the election of politicians who will truly represent our voices. So go out and be engaged, and never be complacent.

OPINION

IMPERIALISM

CRE ATIVE COMMONS | COURTE SY PHOTO

| Sulaiman argues that America’s historic and current foreign involvement is imperialistic and not in the best interests of other countries. He urges readers to be politically involved.

TUESDAY • MAY 29, 2018 | OPINION | MUSTANG NEWS

America: An unconventional empire

Jay Serrano @ jserrano94

Capping off a softball season in which she set multiple personal bests, senior right-hander Lindsey Chalmers earned selections by both the Big West all-conference first team and the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-West region third team. “It feels really great,” Chalmers said. “It kind of puts an emphasis on how much work I’ve put in over the years and it just shows that putting in that much work can really pay off.” This is Chalmers’ second time being selected to the All-West regional team, making her the fourth Cal Poly softball player to be selected more than once. “I was actually kind of shocked, I didn’t really think I would get picked this year.” One achievement that likely helped Chalmers be selected was her first career no-hitter in a 1-0 game against UC Davis April 14. Chalmers faced 23 batters, retiring 21 and letting three on base. One reached on a hitby-pitch, one reached on a walk and another reached on an error before being caught in a double play. Throughout the season, Chalmers pitched a personal best of 19 wins and 19 complete games, the second best mark in the entire Big West Conference. She was also third in starts, fourth in innings pitched and fifth in opposing batting average. She set another personal best in strikeouts with eight in a win against Maryland Feb. 9, then tied that record a month later against North Dakota.

“This year I really focused on just focusing on one game at a time and I think that really helped get a few more wins compared to prior years,” Chalmers said. “Just not thinking about the big picture and all of the games in the season as a whole.” Chalmers said her favorite moment this season was beating CSU Fullerton on the Mustangs’ senior day. Going into the game, Fullerton had won 10 conference games in a row and sat at the top of the conference. “That was a really big game for us,” she said. “Just being able to stay in there and compete with them was a really good feeling.” Chalmers pitched a complete game shut out as the Mustangs went on to win 3-0. Throughout the season, the team supported Chalmers at the plate, providing enough offense to help take some of the pressure off. “Defensively they backed me up all the time and they were always there for me,” Chalmers said. “Offensively, we hit a lot more this year, so putting up the extra runs in support was really nice and helped kind of relax the feel a little bit during the game and gave me the opportunity to give up a run or two if needed.” While this was Chalmers’ final season at Cal Poly, the business administration senior plans to finish her education in the fall and may still have some involvement with the sport and team. “I’m finishing school in the fall and I will probably be out on the softball field a little bit,” she said. “As of right now I have no plans to play any further. I’m open to it, but I really just want to focus on finishing my school and then starting to get into a career.”

Beach volleyball’s top pair earns All-American honors Lauren Pluim @ lo_pluim34

Defying expectations seems to be the Cal Poly volleyball programs’ motto this year, with sophomore Torrey Van Winden as the integral centerpiece of it all. After transferring from UCLA, Van Winden not only helped bolster the indoor team to a record-breaking season but was also a key player on the beach for the Mustangs. She and her partner, freshman Tiadora Miric, led the Mustangs to a 27-7 overall record and a No. 4 national ranking. As the number one pair, they went 19-8 during the season with six victories over nationally ranked opponents. Their success was rewarded earlier this

month, as the two were named American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-Americans May 17. The recognition comes on the heels of the pair’s selection to the All Big West First Team one week earlier. “For beach, it’s a great thing,” Van Winden said. “My overall goal was to be named an All-American for indoor, so getting it for beach was just a cherry on top.” She also earned an AVCA Honorable Mention All-American for indoor in December. But the accolades don’t end there. Each team gets the opportunity to send a pair or two to the USA Volleyball Collegiate Beach Pairs Championship. Van Winden was chosen with sophomore Emily Sonny. Van Winden’s season-long partner Miric was not eligible to play in the tournament

L AST HURR AH

L AUREN PLUIM | MUSTANG NE W S

| Despite her success on the diamond, Chalmers does not plan to play in the pros.

because she is from Canada and only has Canadian citizenship. Sonny, however, is no stranger to success on the beach and was a nice fit as Van Winden’s partner. Sonny played alongside junior Samantha Manley the entire season mostly in the second position, recording a 29-5 record with four of those victories coming in the first position. The Van Winden-Sonny matchup was a unique one, as neither player is a true defender. “Neither of us have either played defender in beach volleyball in our lives,” Van Winden said. This caused a shift defensively. Instead of the defender always staying back to defend, whoever served would defend and the other would stay at the net to block. It proved to be a disadvantage against teams with exceptional attackers who could pick on their weaknesses on defense. The pair won their pool, defeating pairs from UC Berkeley and Pepperdine. In

playoffs, they defeated UNC-Wilmington handily, sweeping them 21-10 and 21-11. They went on to defeat the Pepperdine duo again in three, coming back from a 5-9 deficit in the third set. They fell in the semifinals to LSU, the eventual champions, and then went on the defeat one of Florida State’s two pairs by the scores of 25-11 and 25-23 to take bronze. “Emily and I went in with not that high of expectations. We [had] never played together and neither of us [had] ever played defense,” Van Winden said. “We knew that was going to be our weak point and if a team was strong enough to be able to expose our defense with their shots around our big-block then we were going to be okay with that. We just really focused on our offense.” Low expectations turned into a third place overall finish and the opportunity to train with Team USA Beach Volleyball. If they are selected, they will travel to Germany to compete in the U23 World Championships.

TUESDAY • MAY 29, 2018 | SPORTS | MUSTANG NEWS

Senior pitcher Lindsey Chalmers earns allconference and all-region team selections