Mustang News September 10, 2021 | Back to SLO Edition

C AL POLY SAN LUIS OBISPO ’S NE WS SOURCE

MUSTANG NEWS WAKING UP

A GHOST TOWN

Students feel invigorated, cautious and anxious to revitalize a quiet campus.

SEPTEMBER 10, 2021

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MUSTANGNEWS.NET

IN THIS ISSUE

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LEADERSHIP

Cameryn Oakes

Ashley Holly

Tessa Hughes

Marta Lukomska

Sofia Silvia

Sophie Lincoln

Adam Birder

V ID EO Sofia Silva Video Manager Brady Caskey Matthew Bornhorst Ava Kershner Ariel Lopez Hayate Moro Blas Alvarado Ellie Spink

DI SC J OC KE YS Zoe Boyd Tessa Hughes Keagan Scott Liv Collom Kyle Himmelein Jaxon Silva

Editor in Chief, Mustang News

Managing Editor

Creative Director

Radio News Director/ Special Sections Editor

MUSTANG NEWS NEWS Catherine Allen Editor Lauren Boyer Assistant Editor Sierra Parr Sarah Banholzer Amelia Wu Mckenna Rodriguez Benjamin Anderson Chloe Lovejoy Brett Vollrath Grace Kitayama OPI N I ON Nicki Butler Editor Austin Ornelas Brayden Martinez Lindsey Shepard Neta Horesh-Bar Jack Clark Zoe Denton

MUSTANG NEWS

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2021

SPO R TS Diego Sandoval Editor Kyle Har Gabe Arditti Rafael Medina Derek Righetti Gwendalyn Garcia Kylie Hastings Nick Bandanza Noah Greenblatt Andrew Harlow A R TS & ST U DENT LIF E Kiana Hunziker Editor Abigail O’Branovich Alisha Nazar Elissa Luce Lauren Emo Olivia Meis Naomi Vanderlip Kate Inman Pranathi Manga D E SI G N Marta Lukomska Director Megan Anderson Kayla Olow Karen Ma Claire Lorimor Coby Chuang Zara Iqbal

PHOTO Emilie Johnson Editor Maddie Harrell Jacqueline Espitia Kayla Stuart Shaelyn Ashamalla Jack Sann Emmy Scherer Fae Bruns Jenna Pluimer Tiana Reber CO PY Grace Woelbing Zara Iqbal Audrey Ryan Elise Bodnar Sarah Chayet SO CI A L Ashley Holly Manager Kiana Meagher Daisy Kuenstler Chloe Chin Talia Toutounjian Jillian Butler Claire Han DATA Omar Rashad Lead Reporter Stephanie Zappelli Sydney Sherman Alexis Bowlby Ryan Hunter Brandon Brownell Sophie Moore Sucheen Sundaram Andrew Harlow BILINGUA L JOUR N A LI S TS José González Hayate Moro

KCPR M A R KETING & PR Sheri Donahue Marketing Director Sophie Lincoln Radio News Director Zoe Boyd Managing Editor Nicole Herhusky Art Director

UPFRONT

Keagan Scott Programming/Music Director

Social Media Manager

Video Manager

Digital Director

KC PR NE W S Sophie Lincoln KCPR News Director Blas Alvarado Alexa Kushner Tessa Hughes Ava Kershner Nikki Morgan Lauren Boyer Torstein Rehn Amanda Wernik Violet Macguire Sophie Corbett Jennie Le Nicolas Vinuela Angela Carpenter Grace Kitayama Devan Spiegel Zoe Boyd Liv Collom KCPR .ORG Zoey Boyd Managing Editor Eden Baker Editor Assistant Abigail O’Branovich Addie Woltkamp Cayley O’Brien Emily Tobiason Emma Hughes Michelle Mede Ashley Oakes Emily Brower Alina Jafri Kaelyn Bremer Lily Tenner Navie Bower

MMG BUSINESS A DVE R TI SI NG & PR Justin Vermeltfoort Director Carley Epple Marketing Assistant Brynna Barton Advertising Manager Clare Giatzis Advertising Manager Von Balanon Design Manager Michelle Kang Ad Designer Elaine Do Ad Designer Katherine Olah Ad Designer A DVI SOR S Jon Schlitt General Manager Pat Howe Adviser Brady Teufel Adviser Patti Piburn Advisor

Cal Poly is in tiłhini, the Place of the Full Moon. We gratefully acknowledge, respect, and thank yak tityu tityu yak tiłhini, Northern Chumash Tribe of San Luis Obispo County and Region in whose homelands we are guests.

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CAL POLY FACULTY SAY THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT HAVING TO RETURN TO CAMPUS Story by Grace Kitayama Designed by Kayla Olow

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SLO IS COMING ALIVE Story by Tessa Hughes Designed by Zara Iqbal

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WAKING UP A GHOST TOWN

Story by Naomi Vanderlip Designed by Marta Lukomska

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COVID-19 IS SURGING IN SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY. IS IT SAFE FOR CAL POLY TO REOPEN?

Story by Alexis Bowlby and Omar Rashad Designed by Karen Ma

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BACK IN ACTION Story by Kyle Har and Rafael Medina Designed by Claire Lorimor

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TUESDAY, APRIL 20, 2021

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STUDENTS TRAVEL FOR THE

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FIRST TIME

SINCE PANDEMIC BEGAN

K YLIE KOWALSKE | MUSTANG NEWS San Luis Obispo Airport

BY ELISSA LUCE

SHAYNA FEINERMAN Animal Science Senior

many people were traveling.

“The day we left for the airport we all had our regular masks, our N95s and our face shields and I did not take that off for ten hours straight,” Padilla said.

She said she did not feel like people were respecting others’ safety while at the airport and on the plane.

Padilla offered words of advice to those who are thinking of traveling: “If you are going to travel I think you have a responsibility to the areas you are traveling to to be vaccinated and have basic respect for where you are going,” Padilla said. “I understand the need for people to get away from their homes, just as long as they are being careful about it.”

CARLO R ASO | FLICKR The Great Beauty of Naples: Vesuvius

DENNIS SYLVESTER HURD | FLICKR Colourful Mazatlan, Mexico

ARTS & STUDENT LIFE

Animal science senior Shayna Feinerman also had the chance to travel, going to Italy and Greece over the summer. She said that it felt “weird” because Europe had stricter COVID-19 guidelines than California. “The delta variant was not really a thing yet and at that point California was completely open,” Feinerman said. “As soon as we got to Europe it was a lot more strict because they didn’t have as many vaccines available, but I was still super happy to be there.”

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2021

The delta variant was not really a thing yet and at that point California was completely open. As soon as we got to Europe it was a lot more strict because they didn’t have as many vaccines available, but I was still super happy to be there.

Feinerman said she and her family felt “invincible” and “free again” on the trip before hearing about the delta variant.

According to the CDC, the delta variant causes more infections and can spread faster than earlier forms of the COVID-19 virus. It may also cause more severe illness for unvaccinated people than previous variants.

“I feel lucky that we were [in Europe] before this new variant but I also feel kind of sad that it is still coming about,” Feinerman said.

Architectural engineering junior Sasha Padilla traveled to Mexico after she first got vaccinated and then a second time in July. Padilla said that the first time she traveled to Mexico she was extremely scared because so

MUSTANG NEWS

After over a year of being isolated due to the pandemic, many students had the chance for their first travel experiences since pre-pandemic life.

Due to the new COVID-19 vaccines being distributed across the nation, travel restrictions have been loosened and the ability to vacation has been permitted.

Liberal arts and engineering studies sophomore Madelyn Cruz said that it was difficult to not be able to travel during the pandemic.

“My family was really big on travel while I was growing up, so to not have that even for one year was just weird for us,” Cruz said. “Now that things have returned a little bit it has been a huge blessing.”

Cruz visited her family in Oklahoma as soon as she got vaccinated and flying was possible again. She said that the biggest difference between traveling before the pandemic and traveling now is the ease of the airports due to a decrease in crowding.

“I was surprised at how empty some of [the airports] were,” Cruz said. “I felt really comfortable with traveling especially because I am vaccinated and have taken the steps to wear my mask and sanitize.”

Cruz said she is really happy to see people “live a little again.”

“I know it was a rough year for everyone and we all kind of needed a little reminder of how exciting and fun the world is, despite problems like this that arise every now and then,” Cruz said.

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ANSWERING YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT CAL POLY HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR FIRST YEAR

BY ABIGAIL O’BRANOVICH

As incoming freshmen join the Mustang family in the fall, they are bound to have questions. So, here are some helpful tips that freshmen and incoming students might find useful in their first year.

ARTS & STUDENT LIFE

MUSTANG NEWS

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2021

What are the best study spots on campus?

EMILY MERTEN | MUSTANG NEWS

The Warren J. Baker Center (building 180) is always a great option. The top floors offer seating on the balconies with a birds - eye view of campus, but you can also choose the floor below if you need an empty seat. It is very well air - conditioned and offers some relaxation on those warmer days.

If you are looking for a quieter setting, head up to the fifth floor of the Kennedy Library. Or, if you like to be outside, Dexter Lawn offers plenty of grassy space.

ing the button “Drop Selected Classes,” and click the “Finish Dropping” button to solidify the changes.

What are some activities everyone should do at least once at Cal Poly?

How do I switch a meal plan?

Cal Poly Campus Dining gives students the ability to choose between three varying meal plans: First - Year Basic, First - Year Plus and First - Year Club.

If a student feels that the meal plan they initially chose is not satisfying their health and nutritional needs, they can go into their housing portal and make a one time switch in their dining membership.

Students are only allowed to make this decision during the middle of fall quarter from Oct. 27 through Nov. 15. Their new choice will go into effect the following winter quarter.

EMILIE JOHNSON | MUSTANG NEWS People gather on Higuera Street for San Luis Obispo’s Thursday farmer’s market

My first quarter seems like it has a lot of units. How do I drop a class?

Classes can be dropped through the eighth day of instruction (Sept. 29) without an affect on your academic record.

All requests to drop or withdraw from academic classes or programs

must be submitted in writing to the Extended Education Office. If a student drops a class after the class start date, a form is required.

You can officially drop a class by navigating to the “Student Centers” tab of your Cal Poly portal and clicking “Enroll”. Then, click on the “Drop” tab, select the class you would like to drop, proceed by press-

Definitely do the Tri - Tip Challenge!

Students are challenged to hike the three peaks—the Cal Poly “P,” Cerro San Luis Obispo (also known as Madonna) and Bishop’s Peak. The accumulative hike is around 7.5 miles. If a student completes it in one day, they can travel down to Firestone Grill and reward themselves with a tri-tip sandwich.

Go downtown to Bubblegum Alley and add your gum! With over 70 feet of colorful chewing gum, this is such a fun place to go with your friends and make your mark.

Venture out to the Architecture Graveyard in Poly Canyon to see the collection of experimental structures built by past students—it’s also a great place to go stargazing.

Lastly, go to the Farmer’s Market on Thursday evenings and support local vendors. San Luis Obispo’s market offers more than produce—

food vendors from popular restaurants all around town often set up booths, so it’s the perfect place to grab dinner as well. The market attracts people from all over, so try and visit if you can. Taking the bus from campus is a quick and easy way to get there.

What advice do you have for making friends?

Get involved!

Take part in the Cal Poly Club Showcase on Sept. 18. Many of the clubs that are on campus will be there and you can ask them questions about becoming a member.

One thing to know is that they have a rolling membership, meaning you can leave just as easily as you joined.

Another idea is to take part in an on-campus job. Join Associated Students, Inc. (ASI) to get involved with student government or work at the bookstore.

If you are into sports, join an intramural team. Or, join the Cal Poly Greek Life!

It is all up to you as to how much you want to be involved in. Take it in stride.

WHAT TO EXPECT

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AT WOW THIS YEAR

BY ABIGAIL O’BRANOVICH

I want to be one of the first few faces incoming freshmen see when they come to the wonderful place that is SLO.

be in person, and [they] were hanging on to that.”

At the last minute, WOW transitioned to a Zoom setting and leaders had to adjust their activities on short notice.

“It wasn’t the full WOW experience,” Sjoblom-Powell said.

When WOW switched to a virtual format last year, New Student and Transition Programs had to get creative.

“Once we received news that campus would switch to virtual, we had to pivot fairly quickly,” Kaiwi said.

Kaiwi said they had a virtual events, such as a petting zoo and magic show, but that it was definitely

different than it would have been if it were to be in-person.

Sjoblom-Powell said that she and her co-leader, theater arts junior Rylee Terry, wanted to take their wowies on a tour of San Luis Obispo.

Because of the virtual format, they opted to make a YouTube-style video visiting their favorite spots in the area instead.

When Pelleteir led WOW in 2020, she said that the virtual set-up was “daunting” and she and her co-leader “struggled to keep people engaged.”

They found that over the course of the week, about 75% of the students showed up and participated in the

When asked about how the pandemic has affected her role as a leader, Pelleteir said it made her “more excited to be more involved.”

She said she was more “willing” and signed up to become a facilitator this year, where she trains and works with future WOW leaders.

For Siecke, though, she did not get the ideal WOW experience her incoming year due to the virtual format, so she opted to change her experience by becoming a WOW leader this year.

“I want to be one of the first few faces incoming freshmen see when they come to the wonderful place that is SLO,” Siecke said.

ARTS & STUDENT LIFE

clubs and organizations available on campus.

However, nothing is set in stone, according to Kaiwi.

One thing that Kaiwi said that incoming freshmen can look out for are the required events. Staff have prepared more presentations that weren’t shared at SLO Days as well as an Awareness Gallery for the students to walk through, according to Kaiwi.

But last year’s WOW was much different.

Theater arts junior Maya Sjoblom-Powell was a WOW leader last year and she said that leaders were told “there was a possibility it could

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2021

CONNOR FROST | MUSTANG NEWS Incoming Freshmen, or wowies, high-five orientation leaders as they gather for the opening ceremony of WOW in 2018

ALEX SIECKE 2021 WOW Leader

MUSTANG NEWS

The award-winning Week Of Welcome (WOW) has undergone some changes this year, like developing condensed group activities, more outdoor engagement and mask requirements to adapt to the recent COVID-19 guidelines.

WOW will take place Sept. 15-19.

It is set to be in person this year and jam-packed with immersive activities.

Unlike last year’s virtual setup, WOW is planning on returning to some normalcy.

Environmental management and protection sophomore Alex Siecke said she is trying to bring back some of the in-person activities that WOW was known for.

She said her group wants to take their wowies, kayaking or out to dinner, but are still awaiting approval from higher sources.

“It’s all a waiting game,” Siecke said.

Siecke and her co-leader, journalism sophomore Lauren Emo, have been planning activities since May. She said that they expected things to be different in terms of the pandemic.

This year she said she feels that since we know more about the pandemic, WOW will be more organized and will call for more in-person participation from incoming freshmen.

Architecture junior Kenzie Pelletier, a WOW leader turned faculty advisor, said that she along with the Orientation Leadership Team decided to implement “smaller group activities and more outdoor events” this year.

Andrene Kaonohiokala Kaiwi, the Director of New Student and Transition Programs, is overseeing the operational efforts and working with the Vice President and the Division of Student Affairs to make sure that incoming freshmen have a fun and engaging WOW. In a recent meeting with the activities team, Kaiwi said they discussed the ideas of smaller group activities, a movie night, roller skating and collaboration with Intramurals and the

activities they had planned.

Some of the ways Pelleteir and her co-leader kept the group engaged and actively participating was by having their members anonymously send in PowerPoint presentations about themselves and have other group members guess who it was about. They also had a Netflix watch party and ate dinner together virtually.

“Though it was awkward, we wanted to show our support for our wowies and that we were there for them,” Pelleteir said.

Pelleteir said she became a WOW leader so that she could give incoming freshmen the ”community feel of it all” after going through WOW as a freshman in 2019.

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CAL POLY FACULTY SAY THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT HAVING TO RETURN TO CAMPUS

GR ACE KITAYAMA | MUSTANG NEWS Students in Professor Locascio’s ME350 Lab are required to wear masks and a face sheild to class during the 45 minute lab.

NEWS

MUSTANG NEWS

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10 2021

BY GRACE KITAYAMA

This fall, most classes will be held in person, but Cal Poly faculty were not given much choice on the matter.

Vaccines will be required for all students who will attend classes in person unless they receive an exemption. According to University Spokesperson Matt Lazier, over 91% of students are partially or fully vaccinated and the university saw no cases of transmission from in-person classes last year.

91%

of students are partially or fully vaccinated Lazier said that students who receive a medical or religious exemption will be required to take part in twice-weekly surveillance testing. In

addition, all students regardless of vaccination status will be required to present a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of moving in or arriving on campus and must wear masks indoors on campus.

Cal Poly California Faculty Association (CFA) San Luis Obispo President Lewis Call said that since the start of the pandemic, he has spent more of his time dealing with the health and safety issues for faculty.

“I am concerned about my colleagues who will be teaching in person,” Call wrote in an email.

According to Call, much of Cal Poly’s faculty are apprehensive about returning to campus, especially those with children who are too young to be vaccinated.

Another large concern amongst the faculty is about whether or not they will have unvaccinated students and if and how the masking mandate will be enforced.

“There are just so many unknowns,” Call wrote.

According to Lazier, 87% of classes will be in person in the fall. Call said that he thinks the transition to in-person instruction could have been handled better.

I think the whole motivating character of the University is marketing. It’s all about getting people back, getting students in dorms, getting enough money to pay for things — which I’m not saying is not important — but everything they present is about projecting this idea of going back to the way we were.

NEAL MACDOUGALL Facutly Rights Chair

Call said that some faculty in the Quarter Plus program may have

been exposed to COVID-19 and the University did not notify them of their possible exposure in a timely manner.

Faculty Rights Chair, Neal MacDougall said that the University made the decision this past spring to return to in-person classes in the fall before knowing about the delta variant and without asking for the faculty’s opinion.

“I think the whole motivating character of the University is marketing,” MacDougall said. “It’s all about getting people back, getting students in dorms, getting enough money to pay for things — which I’m not saying is not important – but everything they present is about projecting this idea of going back to the way we were.”

According to MacDougall, over 80% of the College of Agriculture’s courses were planned to be taught online in the fall but the college’s dean changed that and required that classes be in-person.

“Our dean said, ‘No. Parents don’t like it. Students don’t like it and students are next donors and I don’t want to upset them,’” MacDougall said. “He wasn’t asking faculty what

they thought.”

Though some professors appealed to the dean to try to teach online, their appeals were overridden and classes are 100% in-person for the fall according to MacDougall.

100%

IN-PERSON for the fall in College of Agriculture

“My level of trust in the people who run my college and the university is very low at this point,” MacDougall said.

Despite concerns raised by the faculty, Call said he is cautiously hopeful about the strategies Cal Poly has put in place regarding COVID-19 cases among the vaccinated.

“But [COVD-19 safety protocols] will only work if everyone follows the masking mandate consistently,” Call wrote.

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SLO IS COMING ALIVE IN-PERSON EVENTS RETURN TO THE CENTRAL COAST THIS FALL

BY TESSA HUGHES

In-person events are coming back to San Luis Obispo in full swing as vaccines are being administered and large gatherings are seeming more feasible.

Below is a list of in-person events happening all around San Luis Obispo County this fall.

NEWS

ANDY SHER AR | MUSTANG NEWS Fremont Theater on Monterey Street is a popular venue in San Luis Obispo for live concerts and events

SEPT

MUSTANG NEWS

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2021

OCT

CAROLYNE SYSMANS | MUSTANG NEWS Avila Beach Golf Resort hosts beach concerts, bringing in well-known artists such as Brett Young

Sept. 22 - St. Vincent (Vina Robles Amphitheatre) Rock singer St. Vincent is performing her “Daddy’s Home” album in Paso Robles. Tickets for the show start at around $40.

Sept. 24 - Whitney Cummings: Touch Me Tour (Fremont Theater) The comedian and co-creator of the Emmy nominated series “2 Broke Girls” is coming to the Fremont theater the Friday of week one.

Sept. 25 - Lost in Love Tour: MC Magic (Fremont Theater) This event will feature MC Magic, Baby Bash, Lil Rob, Jay Roxxx and Bella. Tickets start at $50.

Oct. 2 - Brett Young: The Weekends Tour (Avila Beach Resort) Country singer Brett Young will make his way to the beach and will perform with openers Maddie & Tae and Filmore. Tickets start at $47.

Oct. 4 - Saint Motel: The Motion Pictures Show (Fremont Theater) The pop alternative band will be taking over the Fremont’s stage on a Monday night and is an 18+ event.

Tickets start at $23.

Oct. 9 - San Luis Obispo Oktoberfest (Madonna Inn) Celebrate German food, music and beer the California way at this annual event. It is from 5-9 p.m. and more information can be found on Facebook.

Oct. 9 - Pennywise (Fremont Theater) The California-based punk rock band is coming to San Luis Obispo for their “Deviates the Line” tour and tickets start at $33.

Oct. 10 - Flogging Molly and Violent Femmes (Vina Robles Amphitheatre) For those prepared to rock out hardcore, this one is for you. Tickets for Flogging Molly and Violent Femmes start at $45 for lawn seats.

Oct. 14 and 15 - Sublime with Rome and Dirty Heads (Vina Robles Amphitheatre) The bands are taking over the stage for not one but two nights in October.

Tickets start at around $70.

Oct. 18 - Tanya Tucker (Fremont Theater) The country icon, who became popular back in 1972 with her hit “Delta Dawn”, is coming to the Fremont Theater with special guest Aubrie Sellers. Tickets are still available, starting at $40.

Oct 19. - Jimmy Eat World and Taking Back Sunday (Vina Robles Amphitheatre) The two bands will be rocking out in Paso Robles on a Tuesday night in October. The show starts at 7 p.m. and tickets start at $45.

Oct. 22 - Whethan (Fremont Theater) A Cal Poly favorite is coming back to San Luis Obispo. The DJ Whethan will be performing live for an 18+ show. The tickets start at $23.

Oct. 22 - Fitz and the Tantrums (Vina Robles Amphitheatre) The alternative pop band, famous for their songs “Handclap” and “Out of my League,” will take the stage in Paso Robles the same night as Whethan is in San Luis Obispo. Tickets start at $36 for lawn seating.

Oct. 31 - Summer Salt (SLO Brew Rock) Spend your Halloween with some live music over at The Rock this year!

Tickets start at $21.

Nov. 7 - Justin Moore (Madonna Inn) Justin Moore wanted to bring it back to the beach this tour, so he’s bringing his country tunes to San Luis Obispo this fall. Tickets are $42.

Nov. 11 - Hobo Johnson & the Lovemakers (SLO Brew Rock) The Sacramento-born rapper is on his “Artificial Scarcity” tour and is hitting San Luis Obispo in November, on Veterans Day. Tickets are $23 if bought in advance or $28 if bought at the door.

Nov. 14 - Chicano Batman (Fremont Theater) Tickets for this show start at $33 and Chicano Batman will be joined by the band Los Retros.

Nov. 16 - TOPS (SLO Brew Rock) For those ready to party, this one is for you. TOPS is on their “Party Again” tour after their last tour got canceled. Tickets start at $15.

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Nov. 5 - The Garden (Fremont Theater) The experimental rock band is making their way to the Fremont theater for a sold-out show and tickets are currently available through ticket exchange.

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Dec. 16 - TV Girl (SLO Brew Rock) For that post-finals release, TV Girl’s concert might be it. It is currently sold out but tickets may be available via resale.

Nov. 21 - Dawes (Fremont Theater) On their “Good Luck with Whatever” tour, Dawes is coming to San Luis Obispo along with Erin Rae right before Thanksgiving. Tickets start at $33.

Nov. 12 - Japanese Breakfast (Madonna Inn) A KCPR favorite, Japanese Breakfast is hitting up San Luis Obispo on their tour in November for this all-ages event. Tickets start at $30.

CAROLYNE SYSMANS | MUSTANG NEWS SLO Brew serves hand-crafted beers from their in-house brewhouse

AND LISTEN TO SOME KCPR FAVORITES COMING TO SLO

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CAROLYNE SYSMANS | MUSTANG NEWS Local brewery SLO Brew Rock serves hand-crafted beer, which you can enjoy while attending one of the many concerts they host on-site

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2021

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MUSTANG NEWS

SYDNEY BR ANDT | MUSTANG NEWS The historically famous Madonna Inn is hosting its first annual Oktoberfest, featuring a variety of food and beer vendors as well as live music.

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WAKING UP

A GHOST TOWN

ARTS & STUDENT LIFE

MUSTANG NEWS

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2021

STUDENTS FEEL INVIGORATED, CAUTIOUS AND ANXIOUS TO REVITALIZE A QUIET CAMPUS

K ATE K ARSON | MUSTANG NEWS Students line up in front of the Performing Arts Center to get a COVID-19 test in January. All students that accessed campus were required to get tested twice a week during last winter quarter.

BY NAOMI VANDERLIP

Walking around campus last school year, walls were empty, hallways echoed and Cal Poly was swept into a slumber — “dead” even, kinesiology junior Cossette Gibler said. Now as the first signs of life return to the campus — with athletes, summer school students and others roaming around — students feel invigorated, cautious and anxious as fall approaches.

Now returning for her junior year, Gibler, a Quarter Plus learning assistant, said she feels differently than she had expected.

“It almost feels like my second year didn’t exist,” she said.

Surprisingly to Gibler, even with the clear presence of masks wearing and the relics of pandemic life, Gibler said she does not feel the presence of COVID-19 much.

“It feels like that whole like COVID [-19] quarantine time didn’t happen, even though I know it did [because of a newfound normalcy and

routine on campus],” she said.

Gibler said she is interested to see how the dynamics of mask-wearing play out: potentially unmasking with peers or awkwardly asking others if they are vaccinated.

Even with these unknowns, Gibler said she looks forward to the simple pleasures campus has to offer: catching up with friends between classes at the dining hall, basking in the sun on Dexter Lawn and cramming for a final at the library.

Quarter Plus learning assistant and biochemistry junior Brooke Bollengier described an air of excitement on campus that’s been missing for over a year.

“People are out and about, it definitely doesn’t feel like a ghost town, especially with the [Quarter Plus students] here,” Bollengier said.

Bollengier had in-person labs last year where there would only be one class on a single floor — sometimes even an entire building.

“Now, everyone is above us,” Bollengier said. “You can hear the other

professors talking, so it definitely feels like you’re not the only one in class, which is how it felt last year.”

Now, everyone is above us. You can hear the other professors talking, so it definitely feels like you’re not the only one in class, which is how it felt last year.

BROOKE BOLLENGIER Biochemistry Junior

Quarter Plus learning assistant and physics sophomore Michael Dalsin described his first year as “very alien and bizarre” — living in

a freshman dorm on campus — but said he now feels he more embodies “the college experience.”

“Now [Cal Poly] is a place I know, but see in a different way, actually being used and utilized for what it’s meant to be,” Dalsin said.

Biking to campus each morning to avoid a hefty parking cost, opening the doors to Music Hall, greeting students and professors before beginning hours of class, and leading bonding activities for the Quarter Plus program are all aspects of Dalsin’s daily life — something so foreign to him just a year ago.

Although Dalsin befriended his freshman year roommates, some greater connection was missing — a connection to Cal Poly. “[Even after becoming friends with my roommates], I still felt like I was in a bubble — even though I was on campus,” Dalsin said. “So I’m just excited to feel like I’m part of something.”

This new in-person reality poses an unusual situation for Dalsin and

others without experience of in-person college instruction.

“I know the place and I know SLO, and I obviously have to be like a leader for the students with that, but also I don’t know what I’m doing with college classes because I’ve never been in one,” Dalsin said.

STUDENT’S CONCERNS At first, Quarter Plus learning assistant and child development junior Shay Mellor was excited to return to campus at the beginning of August.

Meeting her sorority sisters and interacting with children in the Preschool Learning Lab still excites her, yet the school’s situation is more bleak and concerning than she had hoped.

For one, Mellor sees the campus as a “ghost town.”

“You can tell there was a lot of positive, active energy here at one point, but now it’s mostly quiet and there are very few things happening

here outside of Quarter Plus and sports programs,” Mellor said. “It’s nothing like my first year here.”

You can tell there was a lot of positive, active energy here at one point, but now it’s mostly quiet and there are very few things happening here outside of Quarter Plus and sports programs. It’s nothing like my first year here.

SHAY MELLOR Child Development Junior

Yet, a recurring theme among students on campus surpasses this: a disregard for safety, she said.

“I figured the school would take the necessary precautions to keep everyone here as safe as possible,” Mellor said. “I’m slowly realizing that isn’t the case.”

While there are protocols set in place for fall and when the majority of students return to campus, many of these protocols are not being implemented during the summer.

According to Cal Poly’s COVID-19 testing homepage, on August 30 a testing site for unvaccinated Res-

ident Advisors and Quarter Plus students opened — requiring testing twice a week. However, Cal Poly’s Ongoing Testing Program offering asymptomatic COVID-19 testing is closed for the summer.

Only symptomatic vaccinated students can be tested on campus and vaccinated students who have been exposed to the virus are not required to test nor quarantine.

“I’m hoping the Cal Poly administration thinks through testing, contact tracing and other safety protocols before welcoming so many students and faculty back on campus since this has been a cause for anxiety in myself as well as other people participating in Quarter Plus,” she said.

Mellor said she believes if Cal Poly can successfully integrate safety protocols, returning in-person can be rewarding and exciting, but she’s forced to acknowledge the other option.

Right now, it’s imperative that we take every precaution to make this upcoming school year safe for everyone SHAY MELLOR Child Development Junior

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BRIAN TRUONG | MUSTANG NEWS A student walks through the University Union after campus housing was de-densified and classes were switched to a virtual format due to the onset of the pandemic in March of 2020.

“If not, I can see things going poorly very quickly with huge upticks in the spread of the delta variant and possibly student, faculty and community deaths,” Mellor said. “Right now, it’s imperative that we take every precaution to make this upcoming school year safe for everyone.”

Chemistry and theatre senior Madison Noyes said Cal Poly was unprepared to handle the arrival of summer quarter on campus.

She said students diligently wear their masks, report recent exposures on their self-screener passes and take the necessary precautions. The disregard for safety is not

among these students — but with the school.

She said not only is there a lack of concern about student safety, but few resources to keep students safe.

For the past week, this lack of preparation has been obvious to Noyes and other summer students, searching for answers amidst a time of confusion.

After attending a recent meeting with Cal Poly’s EOC team, a response group dedicated to emergency situations on campus, Bollengier seconded this frustration — sensing a disregard for safety from the school.

“It doesn’t seem like [the] admin-

istration was ready for the summer groups and are overlooking us and just looking to fall,” Bollengier said.

Bollengier said she wants to see testing more accessible for all students on campus because — as of now — Campus Health just directs everyone to the San Luis Obispo Veteran’s Hall, she said.

Although many are excited to be back on campus and in San Luis Obispo, students remain frustrated with a lack of overall guidance during the lingering pandemic, with uncertainty as to how the fall quarter will proceed.

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THE LOSS OF FRESHMAN YEAR: INCOMING SOPHOMORES COMING IN AS FRESHMEN

ARTS & STUDENT LIFE

MUSTANG NEWS

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2021

BY ALISHA NAZAR

First, the last semester of their senior year of high school was hijacked by the coronavirus. Then, their freshman year of college, a time usually known for the possibilities of new friendships and experiences, was replaced with Zoom meetings and social distancing.

Student’s first year of college can already be filled with anxiety and change, however, the pandemic added an entirely new element of stress.

With almost all virtual classes, zero social events, no roommates and COVID-19 testing, many of last year’s freshmen said they feel they were robbed of one of the most anticipated moments of a young adult’s life.

One of the most quintessential parts of college is having a roommate. Due to the pandemic, Cal Poly did not allow for any shared rooms or visitors.

Cal Poly freshmen felt lonely, but also found the bright side of not having a roommate.

“I lived alone in the Trinity halls in South Mountain,” industrial technology and packaging sophomore Kyle Wong said. “Even though I didn’t have a roommate, living on campus was a lot of fun and I met a lot of friends while at school. Most of my friends were in my dorm and I met others through mutuals.”

Even though Cal Poly gave the option for freshmen to live on campus, some students chose to stay at home, causing campus to become even quieter.

Freshmen who decided to stay at home had a very different experience than students who lived in the dorms. Although most students were online, those who chose to stay at home had even more difficulty making friends.

“During classes, I didn’t talk to many people,” civil engineering sophomore Leo Juarez said. “I only talked to people if we were in group settings and if they were only consistent group settings. I only made two friends and I don’t know anyone else,” Juarez elected to stay at home his first year of college for financial reasons. He said he stands by his decision, however, he felt like he missed out on making friends in a dorm and

being independent.

Intramural sports are also a prime way to create friendships. When intramural sports were unable to happen due to the pandemic, it was a letdown for some freshmen.

“The inability to play sports was a huge downside to me,” business administration sophomore Colin McCoy said. “I missed out on meeting more people in other grade levels because there were no classes or sports for any interaction to even occur.”

Club gatherings were also not allowed in person. Meetings were held over Zoom, but some students preferred to be in person to connect with their peers.

“The inability to get access and be part of all the great clubs was a big downside because of how much they offer,” McCoy said. “From what I have heard, they are a great way to find something you are passionate about and surround yourself with others who are equally as passionate about that exact same specialization.”

Logging onto Zoom lectures became part of the daily norm for students.

But, some students chose to not attend online classes entirely because they didn’t feel they were gaining anything from them.

“Online classes were a mixed bag but I found that they were generally not great,” Wong said. “I actually stopped going to certain classes because I found I wasn’t learning anything.”

McCoy also struggled with online learning which he said had none of the benefits of in person learning.

“Online school was definitely something I never want to repeat

again,” McCoy said. “Personally, learning through a screen was one of the hardest things to do. Unless you had someone you knew in one of your classes, you were pretty much on your own if you ever got stuck on a problem or a concept because there was really no way to contact anyone else in the class.”

Personally, learning through a screen was one of the hardest things to do.

COLIN MCCOY Business Administration Sophomore

However, as Cal Poly plans to host the majority of classes in-person this fall, many students are looking forward to a school year that resembles a somewhat return to normalcy.

“I’m looking forward to being more hands-on in the classroom, being involved in clubs and being around students,” Juarez said. “I do feel like incoming sophomores will be like incoming freshmen because for many of us it’ll be the first time living on campus and being away from home.”

As the class of 2024’s second year readily approaches, many incoming sophomores have high hopes that this school year will be an upgrade and a better introduction to Cal Poly for students who missed out on the traditional freshman experience.

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COVID-19 IS SURGING IN COVID-19 SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY. COUNTY.

THE HILL

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2021

IS IT SAFE FOR CAL POLY TO REOPEN?

K ATE K ARSON | MUSTANG NEWS Cal Poly’s Performing Arts Center offered free COVID-19 tests for students to abide by testing requirements during the 2020-2021 school year.

BY ALEXIS BOWLBY AND OMAR RASHAD

When Cal Poly reopens this month for another school year amidst a pandemic, the campus will be operating near normal, administrators have said for months.

University housing will be at maximum capacity — with about 8,000 students living on campus — and 87% of all classes will be held in-person, Cal Poly Spokesperson Matt

Lazier wrote to Mustang News via email.

Of the 22,257 students at Cal Poly this fall, 21,354 students have at least one in-person class — about 95% of all those enrolled.

The details surrounding reopening concern kinesiology junior Regina Hockert, who will be returning to campus in person this month. Hockert is immunocompromised, placing them in one of a number of vulnerable populations disproportionately

87% of all classes will be held in-person, Cal Poly Spokesperson Matt Lazier wrote to Mustang News via email.

harmed by COVID-19.

“On one hand, I do very much miss in-person learning,” Hockert said.

“But there’s definitely a very large part of me that is concerned and scared for it.”

As the fall quarter nears, it’s unclear how or to what scale Cal Poly’s reopening will impact COVID-19 cases in San Luis Obispo County.

When K-12 school districts reopened in August in the midst of COVID-19 cases surging in San Luis Obispo County, more kids contracted the virus than ever before in the pandemic, according to San Luis Obispo County Public Health data.

Countywide, 581 kids under the age of 18 tested positive for the coronavirus in the month of August — the largest monthly case total for the age group during the entire pan-

95% of students are enrolled in at least one in-person class this fall. demic. The second-largest monthly total was amid the winter surge of COVID-19 cases in January, when 548 kids under 18 tested positive for the virus.

In August, 856 people in the 18 to 29 age group tested positive for the coronavirus, the fourth largest monthly total for the age group since the pandemic began.

Together, residents under 29 have accounted for 41% of all coronavirus cases in the county in August.

According to Michelle Shores-

man, spokesperson for the San Luis Obispo County Department of Public Health, cases within K-12 schools will inevitably contribute to the rising numbers given that many kids under 12 are ineligible for the COVID-19 vaccine.

Overall, more than 3,500 people tested positive for the coronavirus in August, five times more than July when 699 people got COVID-19, according to county public health data.

At an Aug. 31 media briefing, Director of Public Health Penny Boren-

stein gave a harrowing account of COVID-19 spread in the county: 67 people were hospitalized with COVID-19, 20 of whom were in intensive care.

“These numbers supersede anything that we have seen in this pandemic, including in our winter surge,” Borenstein said. “Total number of hospitalizations, total number of individuals in intensive care units are the highest they have ever been in this [COVID-19] pandemic.”

At the time, public health officials were also investigating close to 90 outbreaks connected to schools, living care facilities and businesses.

Borenstein added that unlike in January when San Luis Obispo was closed down, the county, like much of California, has reopened since June. That increases the risk of transmission as schools reopen.

COVID-19 has highlighted the mental gymnastics that people do between convenience and protecting their fellow people and community members REGINA HOCKERT 2021 Cal Poly Junior

Hockert, the immunocompromised student, has chronic lyme disease, meaning their immune

system can be underactive at times and leave them highly susceptible to illnesses. If they were to contract COVID-19, it would likely hit them much harder than someone with a healthy immune system.

They said the vaccine mandate and mask policies do a lot to ease their mind, but they would be even more comfortable if Cal Poly also made an effort to de-densify classrooms and socially distance indoors.

Another thing they said that would make them feel safer is if Cal Poly provided a separate time for immunocompromised students to get tested, as many immunocompromised students are medically unable to receive the vaccine and having them test with the general population of unvaccinated students could put them at risk. “[COVID-19] has highlighted the mental gymnastics that people do between convenience and protecting their fellow people and community members,” Hockert said.

The risk of spreading the delta variant is a concern for immunocompromised students. The delta variant is more contagious and harmful than other strains of COVID-19 — as universities return to normal operation in the middle of the pandemic. Vaccinated students also have the ability to still pass on the virus to others.

Historically, a vast majority of Cal Poly students are not from the local Central Coast. Last year, about 92% of students were from outside San Luis Obispo County, according to 2020 CSU enrollment data.

When thousands of students converge on the Cal Poly campus this month, it will mix households and regions in a way the county has not experienced since before the pandemic — all while the delta variant is

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on the rise.

At Cal Poly, 87% of all 22,257 students enrolled this fall are fully vaccinated, Lazier wrote via email.

About 4% of students are either partially vaccinated or plan on getting vaccinated. Another 5% of students have approved medical or religious exemptions to the vaccine mandate.

The rest of Cal Poly students, a little over 3%, have not responded to the university’s outreach regarding vaccine status.

This fall, Cal Poly will only be testing unvaccinated students on cam-

about 92%

Last year,

of students were from outside San Luis Obispo County, according to 2020 CSU enrollment data.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2021

on what’s going on is if we keep monitoring.”

With so many of Cal Poly’s students coming from out of the county, Tseng said it is likely that there will be a surge in cases.

“The problem is the unknown— that we’re bringing people at different levels of risk, and we just cannot predict what’s going to happen,” she said.

Tseng, who will potentially be teaching in a classroom with no windows, said she will need to get reaccustomed to being with 40 students indoors. Despite this, she said the vaccine and mask mandate have made her feel much safer.

Tseng said she may end up teaching her course in a hybrid style — partially virtual and partially in-person.

In regards to housing and students living in communal spaces as the campus returns to normal capacity, Tseng said that people’s cooperation will determine how the experience unfolds.

MUSTANG NEWS

THE HILL

pus, just like most other universities.

However, there are institutions that have opted to continue testing all students regardless of vaccination status.

At Stanford University, all students will be tested weekly “in order to monitor the prevalence of COVID-19 at Stanford and keep campus as safe as possible,” according to their website.

Several other universities across the United States have also opted for the same testing policy, including Brown University, Harvard University and Princeton University.

Cal Poly public health professor Marilyn Tseng, who specializes in epidemiology, said it would be ideal for Cal Poly to test students regardless of vaccination status.

Not testing all students regardless of vaccination status would lead to an incomplete picture in terms of understanding the spread of COVID-19 among the college community, as well as the spread of the delta variant, Tseng said.

“To get ahead of the situation and to anticipate things that might happen, we really need good data collection,” Tseng said. “I think the only way we can really get a good handle

WOW SHOULD INCLUDE KRISTIN SMART

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TO EDUCATE STUDENTS AND HONOR HER LEGACY

BY TESSA HUGHES

... Smart was allegedly killed in a dorm just hundreds of feet away from mine over two decades before, yet most students didn’t know her name or her story...

Smart was allegedly killed in a dorm just hundreds of feet away from mine over two decades before, yet most students didn’t know her name or her story. This is because, up until the resurgence of the case due to the podcast, she wasn’t talked about ever. She was just a face some people saw on a billboard if they just so happened to be driving in the right spot down in Arroyo Grande.

I understand not wanting to turn her name into a cautionary tale, but ultimately that is what she has

THE SMART FAMILY | COURTESY

...Freshmen should be educated on how to speak up and intervene when something doesn’t seem right ... in interactions that are important to recognize. Without this type of education, progress cannot be made.

Her case and story are so deeply ingrained in the San Luis Obispo and Cal Poly community it feels almost bizarre that she is not a part of orientation education. I wish I knew about her when I was that age because it would have led to me making smarter decisions when I went out. Putting a face to a sentiment helps instill the “why” in which people should do things and Smart’s story would do just that.

It is awful what happened to her, but using her story to educate and help thousands of young women every year seems like a good way to remember and carry out her legacy.

OPINION

to be put in dangerous situations and Smart is a good way to exemplify why that is.

That doesn’t disparage the teachings to boys, however. Smart’s story can also be used to show why men should look out for their female friends. The world isn’t safe for women, which is a fact most men are ignorant too until they witness it for themselves. Timothy Davis saw Smart at the party with Flores and was one of the people she went back to campus with. He let her go with Flores, even though Smart was clearly too intoxicated and Flores was known to have a history of stalker-ish behavior. Davis has said “knowing Kristin is gone and dead is a lot of weight on me.”

By sharing Smart’s story as a part of orientation education, boys can become aware of girls’ realities when they go out and they can help them.

It is not their responsibility to, and I am not saying women need a man to save them, but raising awareness on dangers that end lives, such as Smart’s, are critical discussions freshmen should be having.

Freshmen should be educated on how to speak up and intervene when something doesn’t seem right and taught what potential red flags are

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2021

K YLE CALZIA | COURTESY A student attends a candle light vigil for Kristin Smart on campus where she was last seen. The vigil was in response to the arrest of Paul and Ruben Flores who are being charged with her murder and accessory, respectively.

turned into. One Cal Poly alum is currently using the “Your Own Backyard” podcast in her high school AP Language and Composition class as a way to preserve Smart’s memory.

Additionally, the Week of Welcome and orientation uses Carson Starkey as an example for students and to honor his memory, so Smart should be honored and discussed in the same manner.

Starkey tragically passed away from alcohol poisoning during a fraternity event in 2008 and has since become a well-known name during orientation. His death launched various alcohol awareness initiatives and served as a way to educate students on being cautious and aware at parties of how much they are consuming. It also caused a crackdown on fraternity hazing.

I think Smart’s story should be used in a similar way.

By including Smart’s story in WOW, her life can be remembered and honored similarly to how Starkey’s story is. Starkey’s story is used to acknowledge who he was as a person in the Cal Poly community and that he didn’t deserve what happened to him. That could be the same for Smart.

She was a light wherever she went and people were drawn to her and she should be remembered as such.

She shouldn’t just be a reminder of what not to do and by putting her name in WOW she can be honored adequately for who she was.

Currently, Cal Poly students are told through various channels how to take safety precautions when going out, but there is so much more power to having a face to a story to make a lasting impression. By having an orientation presentation telling the story of Smart, students, young freshmen girls especially, will take their safety and well-being more seriously.

Smart’s story is tragic, meanwhile is the prime example of what NOT to do when you go out. Don’t go out alone; be aware of what substances you consume; don’t take drinks from people you don’t know; don’t be left alone with a stranger.

The actions that followed her being left alone were not her fault and I believe that boys should be taught not to rape or murder and girls shouldn’t have to be taught how not to get raped or murder. However, the reality of the world we are living in is that girls have to be taught how not

MUSTANG NEWS

As a freshman, I walked everywhere with an unjust amount of confidence and sense of safety.

I lived in North Mountain and my friend’s dorm, where I spent a majority of my time at night, was in Yakʔityutyu, exactly half a mile away from mine.

Every night I would make the walk back to my room alone, in the dark, never thinking that anything bad would happen to me. The campus felt secure despite being poorly lit and there being lots of places for people to hide.

These feelings of safety extended to when I would drunk walk back from parties off campus. Yes, most of the time I was in a group when I was off campus, but naturally, there always came a time when my group would part ways and we would find our way back to our separate dorms.

What could’ve happened to me in the half-mile back when I was clearly not all there?

The same thing that happened to Kristin Smart.

Smart was a freshman at Cal Poly in 1996 when she attended an off campus party alone. There she drank alcohol and ended up making her way to campus with a group of people she had met that night. The next day she was reported missing by her roommate and Smart hasn’t been seen since. The last person to be seen with Smart, Paul Flores, is currently facing murder charges for Smart’s disappearance, yet her body has still not been found.

The funny thing was I didn’t even know the name Kristin Smart until I was a sophomore at Cal Poly, which was right around the time the “Your Own Backyard” podcast was starting to release episodes. The podcast reinvigorated the case; however, a student going missing, most likely at the hands of another student is something I feel like should’ve been more common knowledge amongst new students, especially female students.

34

BACK IN ACTION FALL ATHLETES EXPRESS EXCITEMENT TO RETURN AFTER HIATUS

BY KYLE HAR AND RAFAEL MEDINA

After a year and a half of uncertainty, guidelines, restrictions, and shutdowns, Cal Poly fall sports are back.

The football, volleyball and men and women’s soccer teams are ready to get back into action for the Mustangs, just in time for the 2021-22 school year.

Football

SPORTS

MUSTANG NEWS

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2021

In the spring, the Cal Poly football team decided to play a shortened six-game season against their Big Sky opponents after missing out on a normal fall season in 2020. However, the program opted out of the season three games in, as they only had 49 players to compete, which fell below the Big Sky minimum.

The team is now preparing for a full fall season in 2021 and has had its first fall camp in two years.

“It is incredible not only to cut the spring season short but the culmination of not being around each other last fall either,” head coach Beau Baldwin said. “The energy level is high, and the players put in a lot of work in the spring and summer to get to this point.”

The energy level is high, and the players put in a lot of work in the spring and summer to get to this point BEAU BALDWIN Head football coach

During their spring season, the Mustangs went 0-3 with losses to Southern Utah, UC Davis and Eastern Washington. However, they expect to see a bigger improvement with more time to get healthy and prepare.

“We were not happy with our performances in the spring,” senior linebacker Matt Shotwell said. “Having this time to have a full fall camp and

offseason, I think you are going to see a different product than you saw on the field during the spring.”

Baldwin agreed with Shotwell, mentioning the strength of the team now compared to just a few months ago.

“We are in a better position physically and mentally to have a better opportunity at some of those results that were not necessarily coming in the shortened spring season,” Baldwin said.

Outside of fall camp, the Mustangs have prepared for their first fall season under Baldwin through off-season conditioning and player-ran practices. Due to this preparation and practice, the team has seen a lot of progress both physically and mentally in the eyes of Baldwin and Shotwell from where they were during the spring season.

Physically, the team has seen significant growth in speed, size, muscle, and endurance, according to Baldwin. In addition, the Mustangs continue to grow mentally with a lot of work in meetings and studying the system.

“The biggest thing that stands out is how far ahead of where we were [during the spring],” Shotwell said.

“With Covid-19 kind of going out the back door and fully competing again without the fear of having to get shut down or having a shortened season, it is pretty exciting to have a full senior campaign.”

Volleyball

After the Big West Conference canceled both a fall season and potential spring season for volleyball, the Cal Poly volleyball team is scheduled for a full season in 2021.

The Mustangs’ opening match on Aug. 27 marked the first time they have played a competitive volleyball match since Dec. 7, 2019.

“I have been counting the days, so today (8/26/2021) is day 628 since we have put on our Cal Poly jersey and competed which is just crazy,” junior middle bumper Meredith Phillips said.

Although the team has not played a competitive match in over a year and a half, the Mustangs have prepared for a potential season throughout 2021.

With the absence of a spring season, the team is focused on a full fall

season in which they are picked to finish second behind Hawaii in the preseason Big West Coaches Poll.

“The buy-in of our girls for months and months without competitive matches has been tremendous,” head coach Caroline Walters said.

“They were unwavering in their ability to show up daily and stay committed to the process of training not knowing when that next match will come.”

For this season, the Mustangs are welcoming 13 newcomers, including three redshirt freshmen, three transfers and seven true freshmen in addition to their eight returning players from the 2019 roster. Despite a lot of players fresh to the program, the team has meshed well together early on.

“You have the returners who have

not played in over 600 days who have fire under our butts to just go out and work so hard because we have gotten our season taken away from us,” Phillips said. “The returners have high standards for these new players. The newcomers have met that standard to work hard and push to our full potential.”

While the Mustangs return FirstTeam All-Big West selections Meredith Phillips and Avalon DeNecochea, All-American Maia Dvoracek will miss this season due to a knee injury she suffered in the spring.

“When she got hurt it was devastating because she was a huge part of our team, and she still is,” Phillips said. “I think that everyone has had to take on a bigger part in this program in different ways whether that be on or off the court.”

Outside of Dvoracek’s injury, the Mustangs will welcome an advantage in “Mott Magic” as Cal Poly expects to see fans in their home stands once again.

“I cannot speak to what this community brings in terms of a home

court advantage for us,” Walters said.

“If we did play in 2020-21, we would play without fans in the gym and that is unimaginable.”

Men’s Soccer

Despite not playing a regular season game over the past 21 months, Cal Poly men’s soccer managed to find ways to stay focused, in shape and in rhythm in preparation for the start of the 2021 season.

The program opened its preseason training camp on Aug. 10, featuring a squad with six regular starters from the 2019 roster.

In the spring, the program competed in a four-game spring exhibition season, allowing the Mustangs the opportunity to play other schools for the first time in over a year.

However, from injuries to freshmen playing their first game in Division 1 soccer, the small season resulted to be a test for the program.

“A lot of [freshmen] broke down,” senior defender and team captain Josh Graham said. “I felt the morale was pretty low honestly, it was kind of a stressful time especially for myself being one of the only guys who’d been starting from the year before

with a brand new team. But I feel like we’re past that now and more than ready to go with some great additions this year.”

Graham said the new additions to the squad have not only been added to complete the roster, but to actually “make an impact and make players compete for a starting position.”

In addition to the increased amount of training sessions in the weight room, Graham said the Mustangs have been focusing heavily on learning how to play as a “possession-based team” to create chances in the attack.

In the 2019 season, Cal Poly managed to score only 19 goals in 17 games resulting in approximately one goal per game. This is a trend that Graham and the team want to change.

“I think that’s what we’ve really focused on, as we’ve been solid defensively the last couple years,” Graham said about improving on offense.

“It’s going to come down to whether we can create those opportunities and goals. If we can start popping off two or three goals a game, it’d be amazing.”

As a senior captain, Graham said

winning the Big West Conference is “all that matters right now,” being that this year will be his and his senior teammate’s last chance at a collegiate title.

He also wants the team to prove themselves on the pitch with the boosted confidence they have gained entering the season.

“I’m excited for this Fall to showcase how much of a team we are,” Graham said.

I’m excited for this Fall to showcase how much of a team we are JOSH GRAHAM Soccer captain

“We’ve all been there for each other through the highs and lows of these past few years, and I really hope we can just showcase how strong the

bond is on and off the field.”

Women’s Soccer

Over the past few months, the Cal Poly women’s soccer program was only playing against each other in intrasquad matches every Friday, training weekly and hitting the weight room.

With the start of the fall 2021 season now underway, the Mustangs finally feel a “sense of purpose” to play when it comes to competing on the pitch, according to junior forward Brooke Rubenstein “I honestly think we’re just coming out fired up,” Rubenstein said.

“We’re one of the few conferences that didn’t have a season in the winter, so I think we’re coming out guns blazing.”

Rubenstein said she is looking forward to seeing how the squad will progress thanks to everything the players learned from each other over the past year and a half without games.

During the pandemic, Rubenstein said the team took part in many virtual activities to engage in team bonding as well as a high number of at-home training sessions.

However, their morale was crushed when they received the news of the 2020 season’s cancellation.

“I think at that point it really hit everyone,” Rubenstein said. “That was

pretty devastating, to be honest.”

Once the team was able to return back to campus, they hit the ground running, practicing every day in small pods, allowing the freshmen to get the opportunity to learn from the returning players.

During their 2021 exhibition season in the spring, the Mustangs were able to play other schools, including rival UC Santa Barbara twice. This season was mainly to keep the teams in playing condition with a few competitive games, as they hadn’t played since the fall of 2019.

The ups and downs of 2020 for the women’s soccer team, despite being unfortunate, provided the team with some valuable insight.

“Something that I took away from it is to expect the unexpected and be ready for anything,” Rubenstein said. “If you can control what you can control, that’s the best mentality to have out there and I think that’s a huge takeaway for our team.”

Looking ahead into the remainder of the season, Rubenstein said that due to the large size of this year’s current roster, the competition within the squad will be a tough battle for starting spots.

Along with keeping them motivated, this will allow the team to be able to learn how to “compete consistently” in every part of the pitch for the entire 90 minutes, according to Rubenstein.

“I just think people are excited to finally play and it feels good to have a purpose out there, which is something that we’ve really lacked in the past year and a half,” Rubenstein said.

K YLE CALZIA | MUSTANG NEWS

SPORTS

Nonetheless, she is hopeful that the youth of the roster can work in the favor of the program in their search for a Big West Conference title.

“Ultimately there’s one goal and one goal only and that’s to win the Big West,” Rubenstein said.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2021

BROOKE RUBENSTEIN Junior forward

MUSTANG NEWS

I just think people are excited to finally play and it feels good to have a purpose out there, which is something that we’ve really lacked in the past year and a half

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“IT’S THE WORST FEELING EVER AND I LOVE IT”: LOCAL ARTISTS LOOK FORWARD TO THE RETURN OF LIVE MUSIC

HANK OGLE | COURTESY Local R&B band Silk Ocean rocks out on stage in San Luis Obispo. Lead singer Hakeem Sanusi is featured in the center.

KCPR

MUSTANG NEWS

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2021

BY EMILY TOBIASON

Two weeks into the COVID-19 pandemic, local jazz-pop band Honeyboys released their first song, “I Just Wanna Know.” According to lead singer Ari Eisenberg, the lyrics “I just wanna know where you wanna go” undoubtedly resonated with emotions surrounding the lockdown.

During most of 2020 and 2021, Honeyboys were unable to perform in front of a live audience.

If it wasn’t for the pandemic, however, the band wouldn’t have produced and written what they did during that time. Working together primarily over Zoom, the band released six songs over the past year and a half.

“We just kept pushing through and making some good music over the internet,” pianist Greg Gallagher said.

Rehearsals have gone back to in-person for Honeyboys. The band resumed their shenanigans of arguments, fistfights and “shoving guitar picks up each other’s nostrils,” bassist Nick Reeves said.

Although the pandemic brought Honeyboys together, it wasn’t as easy for other musicians.

Garage rock band Couch Dog went on hiatus almost as soon as the 2020 lockdown started. During the break,

two of the four original band members left, while lead singer Max Ferrer worked on the band’s music and bass player Tasha Lee went back home to Dana Point, CA. Lee said living at home in Dana Point, about 250 miles south of San Luis Obispo, made her more “enthusiastic” about playing with her bandmates.

I was just waiting and waiting and waiting until I could go back and work with my friends on music, because that’s all I wanted to do.

TASHA LEE Bass player for Couch Dog

“I was just waiting and waiting and waiting until I could go back and work with my friends on music, because that’s all I wanted to do,” Lee said.

When school began again in the fall of 2020, Couch Dog filled out their roster by adding drummer Josh Cheruvelil and lead guitarist Pablo Acosta. With the new members, the band spent time rewriting their old songs.

Given delays over Zoom and the frustration of sending sound files back and forth, the band quickly realized working online was not going well for them.

“It’s better when we’re in the room because it feels like our brains are networked,” Acosta said. “Since we’re all such good friends and we love spending time with each other it’s just like, ‘let’s jam.’”

For the last several months, Couch Dog has been practicing in person.

They are preparing to release a demo

by Halloween, along with merchandise and getting back into live performances.

“I’m just waiting for the moment where we get to play … just an honest to goodness house show where it’s so hot and muggy inside, and you can’t take pictures because it fogs up the camera,” Ferrer said. “It’s the worst feeling ever, and I miss it so much.”

Recent Cal Poly graduate Finnegan Snead — who releases music under the name Finn — put out his third album “here the sky is different” in February.

As an independent artist, Finn pro-

duced and released the album on his own.

“I thank God that I’m not in a band or something, where I rely on people for creative input, because it would have been one thousand times harder than it already was,” he said.

Finn said he struggled with the “more monotonous tasks” of creating music during isolation, like mixing and mastering. However, the added time at home allowed him to experiment with new sounds.

“Interacting with people, [which is] a big [theme] to make songs about, there wasn’t a lot of that happening,” Finn said. “It did give me a lot of time to look into myself a little bit more and write songs from that perspective.”

Finn said he plans on diving more into the live music scene and possibly getting a group to play with.

As venues begin to re-open, the upcoming year may give artists the opportunity to expand their audience and debut their new musical sensibilities.

Hakeem Sanusi and his band Silk Ocean were set to open for fellow local band High Pulp at SLO Brew Rock around the time California was first put on lockdown.

“That was us really graduating a step to play the main stage at SLO Brew Rock and then COVID[-19] hit,”

Sanusi said. “I think things were really about to take a swing, like really ramp up.”

As COVID-19 infection rates worsened, the band decided to take a hiatus. During that time, Sanusi was able to do things he felt he never had time for, like learning how to play the piano.

Silk Ocean already has several gigs lined up, including shows at Frog and Peach Pub and The Siren. Sanusi said they want to perform at wineries, as well as tour through Santa Barbara, Los Angeles and San Francisco.

“I really believe in the music that we make and the vibe that we create when we play,” Sanusi said. “Once we get our foot in the door, I’m sure they’ll want us back.”

Greg Gallagher of Honeyboys said the band will soon be performing locally at venues as well, including the Downtown San Luis Obispo Farmers’ Market and expanding their touring endeavors to Santa Barbara, Davis, San Diego and Los Angeles.

The boys also plan on releasing new music, selling more merchandise and creating CDs and vinyl records.

“There’s a new project we’re working on. [It] definitely has the same signature Honeyboys sound but a lot of different directions,” guitarist Reese Gardner said. “Stay tuned.”

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