C A L P O LY S A N LU I S O B I S P O ’ S N E W S S O U R C E
MUSTANG NEWS FIRE, POWER OUTAGES & PROTESTS KICK OFF WOW
Get to know ASI President Jasmin Fashimi SEPTEMBER 20, 2018
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Opportunity Fee launches Fall 2019 to assist low income students University looks to boost diversity by covering campus fees BY EM I LY M ERTEN University President Jeffrey Armstrong announced today that Cal Poly will implement a new fee for newly enrolled out-of-state undergraduate students starting Fall 2019. The Cal Poly Opportunity Fee will increase the amount of financial aid allocated to low-income and first-generation students in California, according to Armstrong. Funds will help cover campus fees and expand the Cal Poly Scholars Program, which aims to recruit and retain high-achieving, low-income students from California high schools. “There are some barriers that can’t be torn down and there are some barriers that can be removed,” Armstrong said in an interview with Mustang News. “One barrier for our low-income students is finances. It doesn’t seem right or moral to have barriers to a certain group of California students simply because they can’t afford to come to Cal Poly.” The decision to charge out-of-state students was made based on limited funding from the state. Armstrong said the university’s first obligation
regarding financial aid is to in-state students because their families pay California state taxes. Additionally, more in-state students have financial need. Approximately 6 percent of outof-state students qualify for Federal Pell Grants, compared to 22 percent of in-state students, Armstrong said. “Many times, you have to make difficult choices,” Armstrong said. “We are choosing to put our resources behind low-income California students.” Roughly 80 percent of Cal Poly Scholars are first generation college students, while they only make up 20 percent of the general campus population. By expanding the program, Armstrong said he anticipates this number will increase. The fee is also aimed to increase diversity on Cal Poly’s predominantly white campus, according to Armstrong. “If you look at the demographics of our student body and you look at the demographics of the neediest students, they’re majority minority,” Armstrong said. “It will have an impact on diversity.”
This fee is one of multiple efforts to foster a more diverse and inclusive environment on campus after incidents involving racial prejudice sparked international headlines and student backlash in Spring 2018. “The goal is to reach the breadth of California,” Armstrong said. “The goal is to remove the barrier for our low-income students. They also happen to be the most diverse students.” Armstrong said this is one way they will attempt to increase diversity while still being compliant with California Proposition 209, which prohibits public institutions from granting preference based on race, sex, or ethnicity. “We have a moral obligation to open our doors to the broadest cross-section of California’s academically qualified students as we can,” Cal Poly’s Vice President and Chief Officer for Diversity and Inclusion, Jozi de Leon, wrote in a university press release. “These new funds go a long way in meeting that obligation. A more diverse student body will only help in our efforts to maintain a campus community that is inviting and welcoming to all.”
COURTESY: ICONA POP
Icona Pop to headline ASI Welcome Back Concert BY MICHAELA BAR R O S
CONNOR FROST | MUSTANG NEWS
Helicopters and planes work to extinguish hot spots in the Reservoir Fire as students moved in to their dorms and met their WOW groups.
Fires, power outages and protests kick off WOW 2018 BY CASS A N DRA GA R I BAY New residence halls, brush fires and power outages gave a warm welcome to incoming students on move-in weekend. The yakʔitʸutʸu living community finished the final touches Sept. 14, just days before freshmen were scheduled to move in. University Housing worked with the Northern Chumash to create the yakʔitʸutʸu living community, which includes seven residence halls ranging from three to five stories, all named after sites along the Central Coast as well as animals in the Northern Chumash dialect. There is a range of double, triple and quad rooms with a community center where students can cook their meals and study. In addition to the buildings, the new community has a sand volleyball pit, a basketball court, walkways and open grass areas. Freshmen moving into the yakʔitʸutʸu community were also able to witness Direct Action Everywhere's protest of the J & G Lau Family Cal Poly Meat Processing Center (building 155). The protest took place Saturday at 1 p.m. on the corner of Grand Avenue and Slack Street. Protest organizer, 15-year-old Zoe Rosenberg, has protested the Meat Processing
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Center before. This time, her and other activists held signs up, calling for the center to be shut down. The protest took place during WOW in hopes to reach out to new students, according to the Facebook event. The following morning, The Reservoir Fire, two brush fires set a combined 51 acres ablaze north of Cal Poly. The cause of the fires is under investigation. Helicopters and planes helped extinguish the two fires and it was fully contained the same day. Students took to Twitter and multiple parents posted in the Cal Poly SLO Mustang Parents' Facebook group with concerns and comments about the fires. While the fires were burning, Cal Poly experienced a power outage that affected 285 customers in San Luis Obispo, according to PG&E. An emergency alert sent by Cal Poly said the campus power outage occurred as a result of the two fires, however, Karly Hernandez with PG&E told KEYT that Cal Poly's outages were not caused by the Reservoir Fire and an "equipment issue" on Cal Poly's end may have been involved. Later in the day, PG&E said the cause of the outage was under investigation. The power was restored to all customers, except Cal Poly, by 10:11 a.m. The universi-
SEPTEMBER 20, 2018 | MUSTANG NEWS.NET
ty's power was restored incrementally due to the campus size and was completely restored by 12:30 p.m. Despite the fires and power outage, WOW activities continued as usual and new students ended their first weekend at Cal Poly at the Big Fall Welcome, an annual tradition. New Student and Transition Programs offered the second ever Cross-Cultural Experience (CCE) during WOW this year. The events at CCE are geared toward showcasing and discussing diversity and inclusivity on Cal Poly’s campus. Although the program was designed to bring together students with similar experiences, all WOW groups, however, are trained to address diversity and inclusivity. The nationally-acclaimed orientation program also includes Wow-a-Rama and mandatory drug and alcohol awareness, mental health and sexual assault presentations and a club showcase. The suspension of Interfraternity Council Fraternities as well as Panhellenic sororities, aside from Lambda Chi Alpha, was lifted weeks before the showcase. In addition to the campus activities, Cal Poly and the San Luis Obispo community come together to host a variety of fun events to show freshmen as well as transfer students the surrounding area.
Swedish pop DJ duo Icona Pop is set to headline a Welcome Back Concert in the Cal Poly Recreation Center Main Gym (building 43) on Saturday, Sept. 22 at 8 p.m. The duo’s top song, “I Love It,” featured vocals from pop singer Charli XCX and was featured on the Billboard Hot 100. The concert is free to all students with a valid Polycard. Week of Welcome participants should ask their leaders for details. ASI said they intend to create a welcoming environment to start off the 2018-2019 academic year. “This concert symbolizes and celebrates the kickoff of the school year, and Icona Pop is the perfect fit to offer that welcoming environment,” ASI Musical Entertainment Assistant Jenna Diaz said in a press release Sept 13.
New dining hall delayed to Fall 2019 BY ASHLEY LADIN
The new Vista Grande dining hall, which was originally projected to open Fall 2018, has been delayed a year, to open Fall 2019. The dining hall will be replacing the old Vista Grande Cafe which closed in Summer 2016, offering twice the space in a three-story building with market and restaurant components. Facilities Management & Development Spokesperson Jessica Hunter wrote to Mustang News regarding factors affecting the construction timeline. The main issue the construction team faced was an extended plan approval process through the Office of the State Fire Marshal. The university expected a quicker approval process and planned to be cleared for construction in November 2016. Actual construction did not begin until July 2017, nine months behind schedule. Hunter also stated the team had to extend the construction timeline to cater to complexities of the building's design that required exact sequencing for a successful build.
REAL FOOD BY REAL PEOPLE. Open for Breakfast Lunch and Dinner Vegetarian, Vegan and Gluten Free options available We proudly serve Cal Poly eggs, Crops and Organics
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Protesters would like to see the Animal Science Department change its focus to caring for animals and veterinary science.
Animal Science Department responds as protesters are present during WOW BY SABR I N A PA S CUA & STE PHA N I E GA R I B AY As incoming students arrived on campus Sept. 15, animal rights activist group Direct Action Everywhere protested for the shutdown of the on-campus J & G Lau Family Meat Processing Center (building 155). “We want to make sure that all the new incoming students know that there is a slaughterhouse on campus and that they have the power to join us and speak up to shut it down,” local Direct Action Everywhere organizer Zoe Rosenberg said. The protest is part of 15-year-old Rosenberg’s ongoing campaign against Cal Poly and the Meat Processing Center. In April, Rosenberg was arrested after she chained herself to the Meat Processing Center and demanded Cal Poly save a cow named “Justice” from slaughter and release the cow to live at her animal sanctuary. On Sept. 15, Rosenberg returned to Cal Poly, holding up signs that read “#Where Is Justice” and “Shut down the Cal Poly Slaughterhouse.” “I don’t want it to move, I just want it to shut down and for our county to be a role
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model for counties all over the country — and the world — that animal agriculture is a thing of the past,” Morro Bay resident and activist Jenny Jones said. “It’s not the future and it’s not necessary.” However, some students in the Animal Science department are required to take at least one Meat Science course. The meat processing center plays an integral role in the education of animal science students, but protesters are asking these students to become the “farmers of the future.” “There’s no reason why we have to kill animals anymore for food. There’s no reason that students need to be taught how to kill these innocent beings,” Rosenberg said. “I would encourage students to reconsider their major.” Protesters would like to see the Animal Science Department change its focus to caring for animals and veterinary science. Instead of learning meat processing, protesters want students to learn plant-based agriculture, such as the production of alternative and animal-free meat products. With nine different concentrations for Animal Science, only a number of students focus on animal production.
SEPTEMBER 20, 2018 | MUSTANG NEWS.NET
Animal Science Department's response The department sent an email to all incoming animal science students about the public demonstration, using it as a teaching moment. “We really believe strongly that everyone has a right to voice their opinion and our students need to know that, too. This is an open campus and an open society where everyone should be respected for their opinions and their viewpoints,” animal science professor and department head Jaymie Noland said. For Noland and Cal Poly’s Meat Processing Center Manager Jim Douglas, the recent protest was an opportunity to show students the importance of respecting other point of views. “I’m really proud of the students that have been a part of this difficult time, they have handled it with such dignity and class," Douglas said. "I get goosebumps just thinking about it, they have been fantastic." The Animal Science Department has been teaching students the science of breeding and caring for farm animals since Cal Poly’s first classes were taught in 1903. Since then, Cal Poly built the center in 1953 to be able to give students a more hands-on experience
on how to safely handle livestock. “Not only us as educators but the industry as a whole focuses a great percentage of time on the handling of animals. At one point, we were worried about pathogens in our food; today, we've come such a long way in controlling that now we focus a lot on animal handling,” Douglas said. The U.S. Department of Agriculture hires veterinarians to oversee the handling of livestock at every meat processing facility. Cal Poly is one of the few universities that has an on-site inspector at the facility every day. “When we handle the animals, they’re with us watching. They’re not watching us cut pork chops. When it comes to handling our livestock, it’s a big deal,” Douglas said. The Animal Science Department has worked with experts to figure out how to build a safe and comfortable environment for the animals, especially when it comes to the butchering part of the process. “The faster and quieter it is, the happier we are. We really try to make it the least amount of stress to the animal. It’s better for the animal, but also better for the quality of the meat,” Noland said.
ASI President Jasmin Fashami works to empower student voices BY CON N O R Mc CA RT H Y With the 2018-2019 academic year beginning, newly-elected Associated Students, Inc. (ASI) President Jasmin Fashami outlined her administration's plans to address a variety of issues on campus. Fashami sat down with Mustang News where she was asked what students should expect from ASI this year. She discussed plans to tackle issues of diversity, plans to improve city-campus relations, and the Opportunity Grant Fee, all while keeping her campaign promise of empowering student voices. But one of her main focuses this quarter will be encouraging students to get out and vote in this year’s midterm elections. Fashami's platform, ACT, stood for "Access to a voice, Creating initiative, Together as one community." “Last year when I was campaigning, I ran on the ACT platform, and it was all about empowering student voices,” Fashami said. “One of my first initiatives is actually voter registration and civic engagement through our 'Flex Your Rights' initiatives.” The Flex Your Right initiative registered more than 3,000 students to vote in 2016. This year, Fashami’s new goal is to register 6,000 students, keeping with the theme of em-
powering student voices. She said she hopes students will realize the large impact Cal Poly students can have on local elections. “I’m from Orange County and in a much bigger city, you know, sometimes one vote might not seem like it makes all that difference," Fashami said. "But here in [San Luis Obispo], actually two years ago, when the mayor was voted in, it was just over 40 votes. That’s because the students came forward and pushed their voices out into local government.” When it comes to city and campus relationships, Fashami has a strong connection with the mayor and the City Council after being part of the Student Community Liaison Committee. This committee meets once a month with city leaders and local community members to address each others' needs. “One of my goals this year, since we have really big elections happening in the city, is to meet with every single candidate for City Council and for mayor just to form those really positive relationships right off the bat,” Fashami said. She wants to put forward a positive image of Cal Poly so whoever wins the elections will have a positive image of the university going
MUSTANG NEWS FILE PHOTO
WINNER | Jasmin Fashami won the May 2018 ASI presidential election in a landslide victory.
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MUSTANG NEWS FILE PHOTO
into office. Cal Poly’s image was in national and international headlines Spring 2018 after a student was allegedly seen in blackface, which ignited a debate about diversity and inclusivity on campus. This incident impacted the ASI election, where students overwhelmingly voted for Fashami, who campaigned to help fix issues of diversity on campus. Fashami’s cabinet allocated $15,000 to social justice program funding. Any organization on campus from clubs to departments can apply for up to $2,500 for any event that will educate Cal Poly on issues of diversity and inclusion. The secretary of diversity and inclusion, who works under Fashami, is focusing on educational campaigns. Fashami said one month will be called “The month of We,” which will focus on educating issues of campus tolerance and microaggressions. Finally, Fashami touched on the recently approved Cal Poly Opportunity Grant (CPOG) and Opportunity Fee (CPOF). Last year, University President Jeffrey Armstrong went to ASI with a proposal to add a fee for out-ofstate students to help fund scholarships for low-income California students. ASI turned down Armstrong's original proposal, but after some revisions and suggestions from ASI, he
was able to get the California State University Chancellor to sign off on the fee. “One of the aspects that was changed was this would only be affecting undergraduate students rather than graduate students because of the cost of living,” Fashami said. When it comes to funding, Armstrong created a flat rate students would be charged instead of increasing the fee over time. The money from this fee will help as many as 3,000 new students who are admitted into Cal Poly each year. “I'm really hoping that not just giving scholarships to bring students in, but providing the resources to stay here and feel included and part of this campus,” Fashami said.
DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE See the interview with Jasmin on the first episode of Poly this Week on mustangnews.net
Everything you need to know about President Armstrong's raise BY AIDA N Mc GLO I N
The California State University (CSU) Board of Trustees recently approved raises for campus presidents to match salaries from public universities nationwide, yet not all trustees were on board. The $324,000 increase in spending due to the raises brought the total cost of CSU presidents and chancellors salaries to $10.2 million and increased President Jeffrey Armstrong’s salary to $429,915 with a $12,000 car allowance and a house. The CSU system's governing body agreed to the raises to prevent campus leaders from leaving for better job offers. “I know that you share my belief that attracting, recruiting, retaining quality leadership for the Cal States is a significant concern,” CSU Chancellor Timothy White told the Board. However, not every member of the Board thought presidents were likely to leave for better salaries. “We may be trying to fix a problem that so far doesn’t exist,” Trustee Douglas Faigin said. Concerns were voiced by both Gov. Jerry Brown and California Speaker of the House Anthony Rendon. “This is not the kind of increase that the California State University system can afford weeks after it was warned of cuts to vital programs that serve its mission,” Brown wrote in a letter to the Board. Armstrong had no input on his salary and declined to comment, Cal Poly spokesperson Cynthia Lambert said, because the raises were a systemwide initiative. No CSU president discussed the raises, according to CSU Director of Public Affairs Mike Uhlenkamp. Comparison colleges CSU policy requires salaries to be guided by comparison institutions, or schools with similar enrollment, budget, pell grants and other factors. The institutions have been chosen by Sibson Consulting, a private human resources and benefits firm contracted by the CSU system. Sibson compared Cal Poly to the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Cleveland State University, James Madison University, Ball State University, Portland State University, Boise State University and Illinois State University. Presidents of universities in this comparison grouping have an average salary of $440,894, according to Sibson Consulting. The other seven CSU presidents in Cal Poly’s
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mid-sized grouping have salaries between $350,000 and $300,984, far below average for their group. For large-sized CSUs, only the president of San Diego, with a salary of $428,645, is close to the comparison average of $499,680. The other presidents are paid between $380,275 and $324,029. Three of the seven small-sized CSU campuses, with presidential salaries between $327,181 and $305,450, are close to their group’s average of $357,219. The other four presidents receive between $296,614 and $271,601. Average compensation for public university presidents nationwide is approximately $437,000, according to the Chronicle of Higher Education. Although the pay raises are to ensure that executives do not leave their positions, they can ask for salary decreases. When White joined in 2011, he requested and received a 10 percent pay cut because, he said, he understood the financial difficulty for CSU employees and students. Faculty and Executives “I think it’s unfortunate that the CSU [system] is giving these raises to executives who are already very highly compensated,” President of Cal Poly’s California Faculty Association, Professor Lewis Call, said. "To me, it seems like a matter of misplaced priorities." Professors in the CSU system are paid at the market average, according to Sibson Consulting, but Cal Poly has been hiring less professors over time. According to the Cal Poly Fact Book, there were 10 less professors at Cal Poly in 2017 than there were in 2007. Cal Poly has hired temporary faculty to make up for the shortage, but they are paid less money, do not have guaranteed work and are not considered in Sibson’s analysis. Sibson Consulting’s exclusion of lecturers shows an incomplete picture of faculty pay, according to Call. Call referenced the slow pay growth for the CSU system faculty detailed in a 2017 auditor's report. The report called for stronger oversight of the CSU system’s budget and reiterated past recommendations to decide presidential pay from total compensation, not just base salaries – which is how the Board currently measures pay. Average compensation for CSU faculty also grew the least between 2008 and 2017,
SEPTEMBER 20, 2018 | MUSTANG NEWS.NET
according to the audit. Average compensation for presidents and chancellors increased by $20,804, or 6.3 percent, while average compensation for faculty increased by $1,871, or 2.8 percent. That relates to $1.3 million more spending on presidents and chancellors and an additional $128.6 million on faculty. Is president turnover a problem? The only three presidents who left the CSU system recently for a reason, excluding retirement, received a pay increase the Board could never provide, Faigin said. “All three of those presidents left for compensation that were far, far beyond anything that we could even, that we’ve been considering, or have ever considered,” Faigin said. A presidential turnover analysis has not been conducted, so there is little evidence that more pay is necessary to retain current presidents. Supporters of the raises argued that if they did not give raises, other organizations could outpace the CSU system later on, even if they are not currently taking away presidents. “If we’re in a position where we don’t give presidents raises for years and years on end, inevitably you’re going to be in a position where that base salary is so low that you just can’t possibly compete for talent,” Trustee Peter Taylor said. Only 6 percent of tenure-track faculty left the CSU system after five years, according to a 2014 Sibson Consulting analysis, which is 10 percent below the national average. Yet the comparison excluded lecturers and has no comparable study with CSU presidential turnover rate. Trustee Jane Carney asked for turnover comparisons in discussions to create a new spending policy, saying she believed faculty had higher turnover than presidents, but would like to see data to confirm it.
“We haven’t had high turnover over the presidents other than those who just retire,” Carney said, adding that the Trustees should increase salaries to recognize the president’s work. Discussions to change policy Sibson Consulting recommended four models to improve compensation rather than general across-the-board raises in the Board of Trustees' discussion to change the executive salary policy. One of the models would have brought all CSU presidents' salaries to 85 percent of the average salary among peer institutions and would have cost $975,000. A second model would have cost $2.2 million to bring all presidents to the exact average among comparison institutions. The third would have tracked all presidents to a percent of the market average based on years of service and the fourth would have tracked all presidents to a percent above the average based on years of service. Sibson recommended the first model, but the Board of Trustees delayed the vote after they asked the firm to compare salaries against total compensation of other campus presidents. When doing so, they only compared base pay and ignored house benefits, foundation pay, car stipends and other forms of payment. The auditors recommended looking at total compensation in both a 2011 and 2017 audit of the CSU system. A new budget The new state budget granted the CSU system an additional $179 million after adjusting for inflation. The raises only took up 0.2 percent of the budget increase, but with a system that is already stressed for money, Gov. Brown urged a vote against the pay increases
CSU Presidential Pay Raises Old Salary Raise
made, something you have touched, is right now orbiting our planet. It works and was launched successfully.”
COURTESY: POLYSAT
CubeSat DAVE is roughly the size of a softball and will be running experiments in microgravity conditions.
CubeSat DAVE successfully launches aboard Delta II PolySat builds and integrates CubeSat DAVE, launches along with NASA’s satellite ICESat-2 BY ASH L EY LA DI N Students from student-run on campus organization PolySat successfully designed, built and integrated CubeSat DAVE, launched into orbit September 15 from Vandenberg Air Force Base. The on-campus organization and research laboratory has been working on the launched satellite DAVE (Damping and Vibrations Experiment) since 2008. A CubeSat is a miniaturized satellite made up of one or multiple 10-centimeter-by-10-centimeter-by-10-centimeter cubes. Through the ELaNa (Educational Launch of Nanosatellites) program, Cal Poly, along with UCLA and University of Central Florida, were able to have their CubeSats attached to the Delta II rocket.
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This rocket also launched ICESat-2, a satellite mission part of NASA's Earth Observing System, which will measure Earth’s changing ice sheets for climate change purposes. Many students who worked on DAVE traveled to Lompoc to watch the launch. Stavros Diamantopoulos, aerospace engineering senior, stood in a VIP viewing area with other Cal Poly students. Diamantopoulos, integration lead for DAVE, said he was particularly proud of PolySat for having a satellite orbiting space during Week of Welcome. “There was a lot of adrenaline watching — we knew we had something on the rocket that was ours,” Diamantopoulos said. “It is really amazing to know something you helped
SEPTEMBER 20, 2018 | MUSTANG NEWS.NET
What is DAVE? DAVE is a CubeSat, a miniaturized satellite made up of one or multiple 10cm x 10cm x 10cm cubes. DAVE is a 1U (one cube) CubeSat, roughly the size of a softball. All satellites are comprised of two parts: the bus and the payload. The bus is the body and features of the spacecraft which protect the payload. The payload — the object of interest — is the part of the satellite that carries its purpose. DAVE’s payload is an experiment that will test the effects of particle damping in microgravity conditions. Particle damping is a technique that stabilizes sensitive scientific instruments. The strategy is used successfully on Earth, but has never been tested in space. Particles are used to minimize or “dampen” vibrations in order to steady instruments — think cameras or telescopes — that need to be stable for precision. Michael Fernandez, a physics junior who assisted in integration for DAVE, explains particle damping by comparing it to a McDonald’s ball pit. If someone were to directly shake you outside the ball pit, you would get the full effect of the force. However, if someone were to shake the ball pit with you in it, the balls would create a cushion, absorb some energy and cause you to move around less. To test this principle in microgravity, DAVE’s experiment consists of three beams, small bars that each have an aluminum mass on one end. The amount of particles (a very fine tungsten metal dust) on each beam differs. The control beam has no tungsten, the other two have slightly different amounts of tungsten. Each beam vibrates and collects vibration data to send down to laboratory. If vibrations are weaker on the beams with tungsten, particle damping will be taking place. Cal Poly students not only designed and built DAVE’s payload and bus, they also integrated DAVE and built DAVE’s depolyer. Integration is a process of check-ups to insure a satellite will be healthy and functional once in orbit. This is done through a series of tests and simulations. It also includes putting a CubeSat into its deployer. A deployer, also known as a p-pod, is a small, spring-loaded box which is attached to the side of a rocket. It holds the CubeSat inside and pushes it out into orbit once in space. While other colleges build their own CubeSats, deployer building is unique to Cal Poly’s program. What’s next Even after DAVE is successfully in orbit, there is more work to be done. Students were in the PolySat lab as early as 5 a.m. the day after DAVE’s launch in order to locate and communicate with it. Chris Gerdom, PolySat member and electrical engineering graduate student,
believes communicating with spacecrafts in orbit is a crucial component of the PolySat program. “The big thing is this is all student-run, all of these satellites are managed and designed and built by students,” Gerdom said. “DAVE is one of our first in a while, which gives us a chance to start talking to a spacecraft again and get a whole new generation of students used to talking to spacecraft that are actually flying in space.” PolySat members are primarily focused on locating DAVE at this time, which is difficult given DAVE is traveling at 7 kilometers a second. Students will only be able to communicate with DAVE when they know its exact location and there’s a good “pass,” which means DAVE needs to be unobstructed from the lab’s view of space. This only happens for a couple minutes every day. Once communication is made, students will check the health of DAVE and be able to download and analyze vibration data, which will be compared to the control beam and particle damping ground tests. Downloading data is the primary mission objective, but once complete, students will move on to secondary mission objectives such as taking photos of Earth. Cal Poly's PolySat PolySat is a student-run organization that works to develop CubeSats. PolySat has an on campus laboratory located in building 196, room 101. Anyone interested in seeing the lab or hearing more about the organization can stop by for a tour. There is also an exact replica of DAVE in the lab available for viewing.
COURTESY: STAVROS DIAMANTOPOULOS
Michael Fernandez working on DAVE in the lab. Fernandez hopes more students will be inspired by what PolySat doing and show interest in joining. “We want people who are motivated and curious. People who do well in here spend a lot of time in here, lots and lots of hours, and ask a lot of questions,” Fernandez said. “The opportunity is here for people, it's accessible and it's a hell of a good time. We’re here, we love space — come talk to us.”
EMILY MERTEN | MUSTANG NEWS
A RT AF TE R DARK
Eat, drink and view local art downtown BY EMILY M ERT EN
Downtown San Luis Obispo comes alive on the first Friday night of each month for a free night of art, music, food, and drink. More than 25 downtown businesses, all within just a few square miles, open their doors from 6 to 9 p.m. for a night celebrating local art at Art After Dark. Local organization ARTS Obispo hosts the monthly art walk to connect community members, businesses, and artists. Downtown businesses of all kinds — restaurants, galleries, boutiques, salons, and more — showcase artists of their choice and turn their storefronts into spaces for visitors to eat, drink, and
celebrate art. "Art After Dark is really art beyond the walls,” President of ARTS Obispo Peggy Sonoda said. “It takes it to places where people go, where people eat, where people get their hair done. It makes use of alternative spaces." Wanderers should expect to see much more than paintings hanging on walls. Many businesses get creative for the night and offer interactive events or performances. In May, community members came together to paint a mural on the walls outside of East Wellbeing & Tea, a luxury spa on Monterey Street. On July 6, aerial dancers twirled above viewers' heads in the very same parking lot.
EMILY MERTEN | MUSTANG NEWS
GETTING CRAFTY | Pipsticks craft store held a rock painting party at July's Art After Dark.
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"When we come to Art After Dark, it’s a wonderful experience because we get to see all these people who are really focusing on their craft,” East Wellbeing & Tea owner Jill Stollmeyer said. “It inspires each of us to reignite those flames and realize that we all have that creative flow.” July’s featured event at East Wellbeing was made possible by the aerial dancers at Levity Academy, an aerial arts school in San Luis Obispo. Dancers of all ages took to the silks to show off their skills. "It’s probably the most spirit-filling adventure I’ve been on," dancer Sara Kinsey said of performing. "You just become a different character. You escape into this world in the silks." Just a few doors down, ceramics studio Anam Cre invited guests to throw clay pieces on the wheel, followed by raku firing — a form of Japanese pottery — right in their parking lot. And right across from the flames, ballerinas from the Ballet Theater San Luis Obispo performed in front of SLO Provisions. Local artist W.B. Eckart has attended Art After Dark since it began years ago. Over the years, he said, he has watched the monthly event enhance and expand its scope. In July, his paintings were exhibited at the 4Cats Cafe & Gallery. “There [are] a lot more places to go to now," Eckart said. "And the variety of artwork is really impressive. It’s a great venue for artists to have their work seen by a lot of different people. Plus, it’s a fun
evening out." The crowd at Art After Dark is made up of all age groups, according to Sonoda. From rock-painting parties at Pipsticks to live music and chocolate and wine tasting at Mama Ganache Artisan Chocolates, all viewers can celebrate art in its many forms on this night. The program continues to expand. At September’s Art After Dark, ARTS Obispo cut the ribbon on their brand-new event space downtown on Court Street called The Hub. Here, ARTS Obispo can host their own exhibitions at Art After Dark. ARTS Obispo president Sodona said the organization hopes to foster a strong connection with Cal Poly students. Events like Art After Dark and spaces like The Hub provide ample opportunities for students to talk with local artists and even display works of their own. Environmental protection and management junior Grace Gubbins said Art After Dark provides not only a night of entertainment, but also an important opportunity for students to engage in the local art scene. “I think it’s important for students to be involved in the community and the arts community in San Luis Obispo,” Gubbins said. “It’s a booming community and if students are involved in that, it’s an easier way to connect everyone in San Luis Obispo.”
Most underrated on-campus resources BY CARLY Q U I N N
Cal Poly offers a variety of services to help students adjust to different aspects and stages of life throughout students' college careers, as well as during the formational transition to the college lifestyle.
Health Center
The Health Center sees countless students daily, but most are unaware of the extent of services offered inside beyond Band-aids and allergy medicine. Counseling Services are offered for students who may be struggling with various mental and emotional challenges. The services put an emphasis on promoting the development of holistic student emotional health. Whether it be to see a psychiatrist, counselor or to simply have a calm place to breathe, the staff are ready to help students with any problems they may come across. The Health Center (building 27) also offers access to a reasonably priced pharmacy, three board-certified physicians, six nurse practitioners and four physician assistants. Almost all services are free for students to utilize. These resources are available from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, except on Wednesdays when they open at 9 a.m. Call (805) 756-1211 to reach the after-hours nurse advice line.
PULSE
Right alongside the Health Center is PULSE, or Peers Understanding Listening Supporting Educating. This nationally awarded Health Education program includes four teams: Sexual Wellbeing (EROS), Mental Wellbeing (REAL), Nutrition and Physical Activity (HEAT), and Alcohol & Drug Education (TLC). The Peer Health Educators are students professionally trained and certified by the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators. Through private, one-on-one consultations, these educators are dedicated to giving evidence-based educations to students. They also provide tabling events and presentations for the community as well. Peer Health Educators are in the PULSE building, located underneath the Health Center, and are available during the same hours as the Health Center for walk-in support.
Cross Cultural Centers
The Cross Cultural Centers (CCC), located in the Dean of Students office in the Julian
A. McPhee University Union (building 65), includes the Multicultural Center (MCC), the Gender Equity Center (GEC) and the Pride Center. Each provides a safe space, educational programs and peer discourse for any and all students who wish to be a part of this. The GEC offers support as well as programs for all women-identified students. They focus on education, social justice and exploring identities through an intersectional point of view. The Multicultural Center strives for intersectional education, success and support of underrepresented students and a more inclusive campus. With inclusion, diversity and equity as their core values, the MCC is an incredibly important resource for marginalized groups on campus. The Pride Center caters to the needs of the LGBTQ members of the campus community to address their exclusive needs, academically and socially. The Pride Center has built a strong community of LGBTQ persons, allies and any other students who want to join this group to empower LGBTQ students.
Disability Resource Center
The campus is determined to ensure every student can accomplish the campus-wide standard of Learning by Doing. The Disability Resource Center (DRC) offers students disability services to conquer any barriers, whether they be mental or physical. Accommodated testing, transportation and other tools to help students get to and from class are available to students who apply for DRC services. You may apply online or in-person. The center recently added a new student portal, the DRC Online Portal, as an attachment to the Cal Poly portal page where students can apply. Their hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Cal Poly Food Pantry
The Cal Poly Food Pantry addresses the pressing issue of student hunger by ensuring all students have access to nutritious meals. Although it is only a short-term service, the Food Pantry is able to support students who are facing financial struggles and food insecurity. When students are unsure where to go or who to talk to, the Student Ombuds Service is readily available to assist. Located on the first floor of the Robert E. Kennedy Library (building 35), the ombudsperson takes no record of the informal consultation and is able to speak about any problem students may have.
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MUSTANG NEWS FILE
SLO's best study spots BY KATH ERI NE FL I TSCH
With so many new students joining campus this year, the pre-existing scarcity of on-campus study space will be even more strained. Here are some popular off-campus study spots you might want to check out for yourself as an alternative to fighting for a seat in the Robert E. Kennedy Library or Julian A. McPhee University Union (UU).
SLO Donut Co.
With a delicious variety of donuts for cheap, 24/7 open hours, designated study space, it is not hard to understand why SloDoCo is a popular off-campus study hotspot. Try it out for yourself, but keep in mind that seating is limited and some students find the frequent bustle and loud volume to be distracting, so be sure to bring headphones.
Kreuzberg
There is something about subtle lighting, an artistic cappuccino and the hum of conversations set against a backdrop of music playing and baristas calling out names that makes coffee shops the perfect destinations for focused studying. For those Sundays when the overwhelming fruits of a weekend’s procrastination hit hard, or for those days when the library and UU just aren’t enough, an environment fostering much-needed motivation can be found in each of Downtown San Luis Obispo’s various coffee houses. Kreuzberg is a Cal Poly favorite because of its artistic atmosphere and impressive, but relatively pricey, menu. Unique light fixtures give off a gradient of lighting, from the airy, open table spaces, to the cozy, overstuffed couches in the lounge, to the low-lit, secluded rear loft space. With ample seating, a wide coffee selection, and a full menu of delicious breakfast and lunch
plates, Kreuzberg is a practical place to camp out for a day of studying.
Scout Coffee Co.
Scout offers a relaxing and house-warming environment with its brick walls and tasteful decor. Study spaces are located in booths, which are backed with white panels and soft cushions. There’s also seating in the front, where you and a friend can study together. If you’re looking for a bite to eat or a sip of something sweet, Scout will definitely serve it up.
Ascendo Coffee
Ascendo has seating in both the entrance and the side room. Ascendo’s atmoshpere is peaceful and quiet; it even has a “community space” where visitors are encouraged to unplug from technology and indulge in conversation. Ascendo offers a wide variety of baked goods and exclusive coffees for a reasonable price.
BlackHorse Espresso & Bakery
BlackHorse, “home of the blackhorse foam” is known for its delectable and artistic macchiatos. It’s another chill, caffeine-accompanied study spot of Higuera Street. It also has several other locations scattered throughout San Luis Obispo. The seating is limited in the Foothill location, but has tables and chairs for your studying needs.
Front Porch
Situated just off campus, beyond the Recreation Center and Health Center, Front Porch provides Cal Poly and Cuesta students with free coffee and tea in a comfortable space, which offers a coffee shop vibe, and of course, free Wi-Fi. There is also a game room that’s perfect for study breaks, and when students get hungry, they have access to an industrial kitchen where they can store or prepare their own food.
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AIDAN MCGLOIN | MUSTANG NEWS
OPINION
To the Class of 2022: Do you miss it yet? BY MAT T HEW DO CKERY
This letter reflects the opinions of English alumnus Matthew Dockery. Letters to the editor do not necessarily reflect the viewpoints or editorial coverage of Mustang News. Do you miss it yet? That’s a question I get a lot now that I’m not at Cal Poly anymore – and I don’t really have a great answer. I mean, what is it? School? The college life? Campus? Friend groups, going out, partying, WOW, classes, papers, assignments, reviews, meetings, advisors, professors, the food (no, definitely not the food), San Luis Obispo, the Central Coast, Mustang Band? I feel like that’s a lot to unpack – and I don’t think anyone’s going to get the answer they want out of me. I kinda miss it. That’s about all I can really say if I want to be truthful. Well, would you go back? F*ck yes, I would. Why? That answer’s a long one – but, I think that you all, the incoming freshman class, are the ones who need to hear it. Because this is one of those times you’re going to get some advice, from a fellow Mustang who
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can’t be there anymore. Maybe it won’t be quite what you expect, though. So here goes: When you finish WOW and you’re staring down a four-year-long tunnel, at the end of which is a degree and a graduation ceremony (well, you hope it’s four years, but it will probably be more), there are some things that you deserve to know. You’re going to learn a lot of amazing things about this school. And I mean that in a very literal sense of the word. You will be told stories, see social media posts, hear about college antics which will amaze you. Often, in an endearing way – but the amazing times that matter, that really matter, are the ones which amaze you in the wrong way. In the five years I was at Poly, we made national news at least once a year for something terrible. My freshman year it was a party that simultaneously appropriated a Native American tribe’s name and degraded the women who attended it – just with the name of the party. Last year was a doozy, too. Racist posters were put up around campus, a student wore blackface at a fraternity event, a student was accused of sexual assault by seven different women, and the university is still embroiled in diversity is-
SEPTEMBER 20, 2018 | MUSTANG NEWS.NET
sues which continue to bleed over from last year’s Open House. Last week, the university released its Annual Security Report, which reveals that in 2018 there were more rapes, more sexual assaults, more burglaries, and more alcohol-related incidents on and near campus than in the prior two years. And in the coming year, when the 2018 data is added to next year’s report, hate crimes should be added to that list. This university has a diversity issue. That cannot be disputed. As you look around at your friends, classmates, professors, and dormmates, remember that many of them will feel unwelcome – in some cruel, ironic twist after the Week of Welcome. A majority of students on your campus belong to an intersectional group – women, members of the LGBTQ community, students of color, and students of non-white ethnic backgrounds. And they will feel unsafe at some point during their tenure at Cal Poly. Unless you do something about it. Over the next four years, you have the power to change that. Your class can be the one that learns to prevent a quarter of your female classmates from experiencing sexual harassment or assault. Your class can be the one that stands up to racism – from its most overt to its most ubiquitous instances. Your class can be the one that bolsters a desire to learn about the diverse cultures around it, and to respect them. I can’t lie to you and say you’ll be able to change everything. There will be times when you feel like your hands are tied – like when administration held us hostage as it allowed hate speech to be protected with
our tuition money. Because they were protecting “free speech.” Or when your Title IX case has to undergo a three-to-four month investigation, only for it to be determined that there will be no sanctions. Worse yet, when some semblance of justice is served, the person who assaulted a fellow student may be let back into the school because a judge overturned the sanctions. But never let that stop you from trying to do something. The administration isn’t going to fix everything just because it should be fixed. You have to make them, and you need to show them what those fixes should be. Do it by embracing that change. Don’t let hateful speech, or even ignorant speech, go unnoticed. If you see a poster attacking other students because of the color of their skin, rip that sh*t down. Don’t let a single person feel like they are unwelcome at Cal Poly. The only person who doesn’t belong at Cal Poly, is the one that thinks it’s okay to hurt another student. Hateful voices carry far, but that doesn’t mean they’re the only ones talking. When one person writes a social media post or a comment to try and hurt a fellow student, drown them out with words of support and encouragement. Don’t forget the power of publications like this one. It’s a place to make your voice heard, so write that letter or that opinion piece. Why not? Make sure those students and the prospective students of next year know that when they’re here, they will have a community behind them. Attend events which celebrate the diversity on your campus and also teach you about the difficulties your friends face. In the past, events like OWN have been a touchstone for our campus, so be sure to support it when it comes again. The Cross Cultural Centers also hold workshops on how to better become an ally, how to cope with discrimination, and how to further mobilize the student body for good. The university will give you some of the tools and training you need to make a difference, but it’s only a small piece of the puzzle. Use whatever you can get your hands on – whether it’s an app or an escort van – and then demand the university do more to help keep your fellow students safe. Never let someone go through an assault alone – and stand up when you think one is about to happen. If you join a fraternity or a sorority, don’t worry about living up to its standards. Make sure it lives up to yours. Because the truth about this school – and about this world, as far as I can tell – is that it won’t change unless you do. My answer to the question of why I wish I could go back and do it again – all five years of it – and my advice to you are the same. I wish I had done more to make that school into what it should be. So whatever you end up doing, whenever you feel like something isn’t right, do more.
Voted Poly Picks ‘Best Breakfast’ in 2018.
San Luis Obispo’s favorite neighborhood cafe serving local and organic breakfast and lunch since 2009.
(Students show us this ad with your student ID for $2 off your meal!)
Proudly serving Cacti Coffee Roasters
1804 Osos St @sallyloos
Protheroe sets career highs, Jenkins has a triumphant return in Football's first win of the season
OWEN MAIN | COURTESY PHOTO
Senior Fullback Joe Protheroe ran for a career high 228 yards in the 44-15 win over Brown. BY B RIA N T R U O NG
On a rare Friday night game in Alex G. Spanos Stadium, Cal Poly found its first victory of the season in a 44-15 win over Brown University. Last year, Cal Poly’s only win of the season did not come until November. This year, the Mustangs earned their first win just three games in. “We definitely needed to start this year off right,” senior quarterback Khaleel Jenkins said. “The first two losses kind of hurt and we were hungry to get one tonight, so it was nice to come out on top.” The first ever meeting between the Mustangs (1-2) and the Bears (0-1) remained close throughout the first half. Early into the second quarter, Cal Poly broke the 3-3 tie when when sophomore slotback Broc Mortensen caught a kickoff on the 99-yard line, took off through center and darted past Brown’s defense for the
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kickoff return touchdown. Despite Brown’s sophomore quarterback Michael McGovern completing nine out of 15 passes in the second quarter, enabling the Bears to score 15 points, the Mustangs were able to maintain the lead. Senior fullback Joe Protheroe carried in two of his game-high three touchdowns in the second quarter, as Cal Poly led 24-15 going into halftime. Protheroe recorded career highs with 43 carries and 228 rushing yards. Protheroe made sure to credit the driving force of the Mustangs' offense. “[Jenkins] was a general out there, he made the right reads, so he just opened up opportunities for me,” Protheroe said. Just 13 days earlier, in Cal Poly’s 2018 season opener, Jenkins returned to the starting lineup after being sidelined by a season-ending knee injury just five games into the 2017 season. Jenkins suffered another injury, forcing him back to the side-
SEPTEMBER 20, 2018 | MUSTANG NEWS.NET
lines. Cal Poly head coach Tim Walsh had Jenkins marked as game-time decision against Brown. Walsh had asked Jenkins if he was ready to play against Brown. “[Jenkins] said, ‘Coach, I want this more than anything,’” Walsh said. “That’s all I needed to hear, his confidence that he was ready to play.” Jenkins connected on five of nine passes for 81 yards and rushed for 69 yards on 13 carries, leading the Mustangs to his first ever win as a starter for Cal Poly. “It’s been a long time coming, but it was a team win tonight, so I’m just happy that we got some confidence going into the conference,” Jenkins said. “[Jenkins] showed people the flashes of what he can be,” Walsh said. “He can play better than that, and he knows it. So I think you’ll see a better performance by [Jenkins] each and every week.” Despite starting the second half with a
24-15 lead, the Mustangs were determined to stifle the Bears’ offense. “We just got really simple on defense,” Walsh said. “They threw so many weird formations at us, unbalanced stuff. Some things we didn’t really know to prepare for so we didn’t prepare for it. And when you get them all, we made a lot of mistakes in alignment and assignment.” Cal Poly kept Brown off the scoreboard in the second half while expanding its lead. Jenkins and Protheroe both carried one yard for a pair of touchdowns. In the final minute, redshirt freshman quarterback Kyle Reid scored his first touchdown as a Mustang on a three-yard run for the 44-15 win. The Mustangs will begin Big Sky Conference play on the road against the no. 6 ranked Eastern Washington (2-1) and will return to Alex G. Spanos Stadium to host Montana (2-1) on Saturday, Sept. 29.