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
YEAR OF THE WOMAN
FOUR WOMEN WILL SIT ON SLO’S CITY COUNCIL FOR THE FIRST TIME PAGE 4
NOVEMBER 13, 2018
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MUS TA NGNE WS.NET
SMOKEY SKIES OVER CAL POLY STUDENTS AFFECTED AS 3 FIRES RAGE ACROSS CALIFORNIA
Austin Linthicum
Lauren Arendt
Quinn Fish
Rachel Showalter
Rachel Marquardt
Claire Blachowski
NE WS Cassandra Garibay Editor Isabella Paoletto Helyn Oshrin Sabrina Pascua Stephanie Garibay Samantha Spitz Ashley Ladin Aidan McGloin Isabel Hughes Jake Wener Maureen McNamara Intern Hailey Nagma Intern
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ARTS Emily Merten Editor Sabrina Thompson Michaela Barros Caroline Garcia Yasel Hurtado Caitlin Scott Grant Anderson Emma Kumagawa Kiana Meagher Intern Claudia Ferrer Intern Ally Madole Intern OPINION Kendra Coburn Editor Zachary Grob-Lipkis Hanah Wyman Abdullah Sulaiman Bailey Barton Sierra Parr Yervant Malkhassian Brett Baron Noemi Khachian Ken Allard Lilly Leif Jaxon Silva Olivia Peluso Jordyn White SPORTS Brian Truong Editor Lauren Kozicki Naythan Bryant Francisco Martinez Sophia Crolla Garrett Brown Prerna Aneja Intern Kyle Har Intern
IN THIS ISSUE
TUESDAY • NOVEMBER 13, 2018 | NEWS | MUSTANG NEWS
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Social Media Managing Editor
Video Managing Editor
PR Manager
P H OTO Zachary Donnenfield Carolyne Sysmans Kylie Kowalske Alison Chavez Diego Rivera Connor Frost Maxwell Morais Intern Luke Deal Intern COPY Kelly Martinez Amanda Simonich Jarod Urrutia
AUST I N LI N T H I CU M | MUSTA N G N EWS
Smoke rolls in over Alex G. Spanos Stadium on Nov. 10 as the death toll rises from historic wildfires across California. BY S AMAN T H A S P ITZ
D ES I GN Calista Lam Director Michelle Cao Solena Aguilar Julia Jackson-Clark D I V ERS I TY Monique Ejenuko Editor Sonya Jindal PR Alyssa Wilson Dominique Morales Kaitlyn Hoyer Mikaela Lincoln Tess Loarie Intern Christina Arthur Intern SOCIAL Lindsay Morris Hanna Crowley Danielle Lee Candace Lee Intern A DV I S O RS Paul Bittick General Manager Pat Howe Print Advisor Brady Teufel Digital Advisor
Three major fires in northern and southern California have set ablaze thousands of acres prompting evacuation orders for more than 250,000 people. Since Thursday, Woolsey Fire and Hill Fire have burned a combined total of more than 87,000 acres in western Los Angeles County and southeastern Ventura County. According to Cal Fire, Woolsey Fire is only 10 percent contained and the Hill Fire is at 70 percent containment. Journalism junior Jake Davis got word from his family Thursday night that they were evacuating his house in Agora Hills because of the fire. “I kind of felt like it wasn’t even happening. I went through the motions and called my parents to check in and they’re okay, but it still hasn’t even registered with me,” Davis said. “It’s so surreal and doesn’t really hit you until it’s actually happening in your neighborhood.” Davis’s family relocated to his uncle’s
house in Marina del Rey temporarily — they moved safely back home to Agora Hills on Sunday. “Last time I checked my house was still there, but there were a few in my neighborhood that went down. I think the not knowing was the worst part,” Davis said. According to Cal Fire, The Camp Fire, located in Butte County, has burned 109,000 acres and is only 25 percent contained. CBS News reported a devastating 23 fatalities confirmed as a result of the fire, as well as 115 people reported missing. The flames have destroyed 6,453 residences and is still tearing through the area. Business administration freshman Liam Tveit’s aunt lost her home in Paradise, California to The Camp Fire. “It’s tough to see family lose everything they own to a fire because it’s one of those things in life that seems like it only happens to other people,” Tveit said. “At the end of the day I am thankful that my family and the majority of families affected are safe
because you can rebuild a house, but you can’t rebuild a life.” PG&E Meteorologist John Lindsey said strong Santa Ana winds in Southern California are bringing the smoke up to San Luis Obispo while northeast winds are blowing the smoke from northern California towards the coast. This smoke is then brought down into San Luis Obispo by north westerly winds. “There is a lot of smoke up in the middle part of the atmosphere, so it blocks out the sun,” Lindsey said. “But since the smoke is higher up in the atmosphere it hasn’t really diminished the air quality here in [San Luis Obispo] unlike up in the Bay Area and down in Southern California.” Firefighters are still battling these fires that are continuing to burn through California’s hills and canyons. “When the smoke will clear in [San Luis Obispo] is more of question for when the fires get put out,” Lindsey said. “I mean if the fires keep burning, then they’ll keep pumping smoke into the atmosphere.”
ALL WOMEN ELECTED TO SLO CITY COUNCIL
STUDENTS COMBAT HUMAN TRAFFICKING
FURNITURE DESIGN COMPETITION
FOOTBALL UPSETS IDAHO STATE
SENIOR POINT GUARD DONOVAN FIELDS
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DIVERSITY PLANS RELEASED
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BY AIDA N M CGLO I N Cal Poly administrators want student input on their plans to change campus diversity. Strategy groups have released 23 recommendations, including hiring more staff to recruit underrepresented minority students, developing a mentoring program for faculty and staff of color and requiring diversity effort considerations for faculty promotions. Part of the plan is to get students involved in changing the campus culture. “This is how you get buy-in, it’s by making sure they [the students] are getting invested,” Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion Jozi de Leon said. The recommendations include using data collected by advising to target students in need of support, considering new faculty hires on their inclusiveness, giving the Cross Cultural Centers two more employees and $150,000 in additional funds, and requiring exit interviews for all employees. The recommendations also call for the university to do more strategic recruiting, to create a committee to analyze the campus climate and to work with San Luis Obispo to diversify the city. 239 participants at the Collective Impact Forum Nov 2 heard the recommendations and were able to provide feedback. One participant said she would like to see more food options and food trucks. “I want a bahn mi, I want a real taco,” Director of Procurement Pay at Strategic Business Services Bernadette Monterrosa said. “I’m talking about feeling like you are at home.” Also included in the recommendations is more student training in diversity, coordination of diversity efforts across campus and a second United States Cultural Pluralism course for students to complete as part of their General Education. Administrators are already working on some aspects of the recommendations. The new Vice President of Student Affairs Jamie Patton taught mandatory diversity training sessions during Week of Welcome, in combination with a required online freshmen training program, called DiversityEdu.
A I DA N M CGLO I N | M USTA NG NE WS
AS HLE Y LAD IN | M USTAN G N E W S
McLaughlin-Smith speaks to a student after her morning session.
DIVERSITY SPECIALIST KIMBERLY MCLAUGHLIN-SMITH RETURNS BY A S H L EY LA DI N Diversity and inclusion specialist Kimberly McLaughlin-Smith returned to Cal Poly’s campus Nov. 8 to facilitate two discussions on allyship and cross-cultural respect. “How can people who do what I do help? I want to inspire courage and truth telling,” McLaughlin-Smith said. “Truth telling digs up that underbelly and shows people who they are on the inside. If I can’t see myself, I can’t see my demons so they stay and live inside of me. They need to be addressed.” McLaughlin-Smith is the Diversity and Inclusion Specialist at the University of North Carolina, a predominantly white campus. She first spoke at Cal Poly during the Baker Forum last spring, after being invited to address the alleged blackface incident. During the talk, she introduced “The Journey to October,” a six month long consultation plan to help Cal Poly become a more inclusive environment. Vice President of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, Jozi DeLeon, told Mustang News Journey to October did not happen. Instead, the office is now focusing on a broader Journey to Inclusion, which does not have a deadline and involves more guests. “We’re now bringing in more speakers, but her involvement is still critical,” De Leon said. “Her consulting is not ongoing as discussed, but it is her presentations and having her come and provide learning opportunities.” McLaughlin-Smith said the original plan was altered after accounting for student needs and time. “Journey to October was a concept I developed based on the information I was
given at the time,” McLaughlin-Smith said. “After talking to a lot of students on campus and looking at their needs, a reshuffling and reconfiguration happened in terms of timing and what was possible. Journey to Inclusion will be ongoing beyond my work.”
Allyship talk and training
During the morning session in Chumash Auditorium, McLaughlin-Smith lead a discussion on white allyship. The talk was geared toward faculty and staff, but students were also present. McLaughlin-Smith spoke on the importance of identifying why you want to be an ally and acknowledging your own implicit biases, as well as practicing patience with those who have opposing views. In her words, “woke takes a minute or two.” She played videos of her colleagues Dr. David Campt and Debby Irving. Campt developed a White Ally Toolkit with allyship guidelines that Cal Poly faculty and staff will now have access to. Irving is a white woman who speaks on coming to recognize white privilege in her own life in her Tedx Talk, “Finding Myself in the Story of Race”. “Sometimes white population members feel as if they don’t have a voice and don’t belong in these conversation, but they do have a voice and we need those voices,” McLaughlin-Smith said. “We need allyship because the kind of freedom that comes in the skin of someone who is majority can sometimes open doors to let people who are not like them come through.”
Respecting different cultures
McLaughlin-Smith’s afternoon session in the Performing Arts Center Pavillion focused on engaging with and respecting people of
different backgrounds and cultures. The talk was created with students in mind and utilized spoken word poetry. McLaughlin-Smith encouraged students to listen empathetically and consider how words can affect people differently. “Empathetic listening means bringing your ears your mind and your heart to engagements with people who don’t think like you think, who don’t look like you look and who don’t live like you live,” McLaughlinSmith said. “And don’t listen with response in the forefront of your mind, listen in order to understand people and to ask questions instead of make assumptions.” The audience watched videos of spoken word performances by D Knowledge and Amal Kassir. D Knowledge focused on the United States treatment of indigenous people and Kassir spoke on the importance of accepting people in their full humanity and avoiding assumptions.
McLaughlin-Smith’s reflection
Referencing her diversity work at other universities, McLaughlin-Smith said she does not think Cal Poly’s problems are unique. “There is not a lot that stands out at Cal Poly in terms of what is going on here, as it relates to people who are different from one another relating poorly,” McLaughlin-Smith said. “That is common at college campuses across the country.” While she said she believes the university is going in the right direction, she hopes Cal Poly will invite her back if more racially insensitive acts happen in the future. “I would like Cal Poly to see me as an ongoing resource,” McLaughlin-Smith said. “When Cal Poly calls, I will come.”
TUESDAY • NOVEMBER 13, 2018 | NEWS | MUSTANG NEWS
TARGETED RECRUITING, NEW STUDENT & STAFF PROGRAMS INCLUDED
TUESDAY • NOVEMBER 13, 2018 | NEWS | MUSTANG NEWS
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C AROLYNE SYS MA N S | MUSTA N G N EWS
Newcomer Erica Stewart, a Cal Poly employee, was elected to city council. Stewart received 20.93 percent of votes in San Luis Obispo.
SLO ELECTIONS ECHO NATIONAL TRENDS
FOUR WOMEN WILL SIT ON SLO’S CITY COUNCIL FOR THE FIRST TIME BY I S A B EL H U G H E S Echoing the pattern across the nation, San Luis Obispo’s midterm election brought about notable firsts, including the first time San Luis Obispo City Council will consist of four women. It is also believed that Erica Stewart is the first Black woman to serve on the San Luis Obispo City Council. Mayor Heidi Harmon was reelected and received 60.65 percent of votes according to
the County of San Luis Obispo. Carlyn Christianson was also reelected for San Luis Obispo City Council and received 27.19 percent of votes, followed by Stewart who received 20.93 percent of votes. Stewart said she was both excited and shocked when she heard the tentative election results. She said she remembers feeling particularly inspired to run for city council when she heard former United States President Barack Obama’s farewell speech, in which he
said “be the change”. Despite this not being a new sentiment, Stewart said it was especially resonant. Before running for city council, she trained with Emerge California, a program with a mission “to increase the number of Democratic women leaders from diverse backgrounds in public office through recruitment, training and providing a powerful network,” according to their website. Stewart has served as the Cal Poly Director
of Parent and Student Philanthropy since 2016 and will start a new position as the Associate Director of Personnel and Marketing for Campus Health and Wellbeing this week. She said she does not believe the position will conflict with serving on city council, and if city council ever has to vote on something specific in her department, she would recuse herself. “I think the key is for anyone that works in a state, city, county or other public sector job, is you are being paid through public dollars. So you have to respectful of making sure that the time is separate,” Stewart said. As a Cal Poly alumna and employee, Stewart said she aims to figure out how to better reach students. “Not every single issue probably matters to students, I get that. But there are issues that affect the students and when those come about what’s the best way to really get feedback and input?” Stewart said. As the first black woman to serve on San Luis Obispo’s City Council, Stewart said she hopes to serve as someone young women of color can relate to and see themselves in. “When I was a kid, I don’t know how old I was, but still barbie-age, so barbies were out all over. And I remember going into this one department store… and I saw the Whitney doll, and it wasn’t Whitney like Whitney Houston, it was just called Whitney. And it was the first African American doll I had ever seen,” Stewart said. “I remember thinking like oh my gosh, someone that has my hair. I mean she was much darker than me but it was just something I could relate to, where I couldn’t relate to the other barbies.” The results of the national midterm election included milestones such as the election of the first openly gay man as governor, the first Native American congresswomen and the first Muslim congresswomen, amongst many others. Ultimately, Stewart said the milestones that have been reached locally and nationally demonstrate that running for office and getting involved in politics isn’t as foreign anymore, especially with the prevalence of social media. “It’s a concept that you can be a part of change. If you don’t like something, be a part of changing it. People are not going to sit back anymore,” Stewart said.
INSIDE THE RACE WITH POLITICAL SCIENCE EXPERTS BY I SA B EL LA PAOL ETTO
HE I DI HARMON | INSTAGRAM
Erica Stewart, Heidi Harmon and Carlyn Christianson stand together prior to the election. Harmon said the national trends suggest Americans are in the middle of a huge political shift, which is reflected on a local level as well. “It’s a mandate, and it’s not a mandate just for me, of course. It’s a mandate for the policies that we’ve been supporting. It’s a mandate for inclusivity, it’s a mandate for other modes of transportation. It’s a mandate for supporting bicycle transportation, it’s a mandate for prioritizing climate change. It’s really a mandate for a new, fresh, inclusive vision of San Luis Obispo.” Harmon said. Harmon also said that more representation in politics demonstrates that the United States is not just a country for white affluent men, but a country for everyone. Christianson agreed that the election results both nationally and locally indicate a political change. “After the dark Trump, the last two years of the Trump presidency, they’re a ray of hope that not only will good people run but that the voters will actually elect
them. It to me means that the pendulum has swung over as far as its gonna go in one direction and now we get to have it swing back again,” Christianson said. She added that just because someone is a woman or is part of a marginalized group does not necessarily mean that their politics are automatically better, but that she is confident the four council women and councilman Aaron Gomez are taking San Luis Obispo in the right direction. Christianson said she hopes to continue working on housing and transportation issues as a city council member. She said tackling these issues simultaneously in a way that is both “environmentally and resource wise” inevitably leads to tackling climate action as well. Harmon will be releasing a list of goals in front of San Luis Obispo City Hall at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 13. The goals will pertain to the following topics: energy conservation, affordable housing and development, economic prosperity and opportunity, democracy and civic engagement and diversity and inclusivity.
KY LI E KO W ALS KE | MUSTANG NEW S
In 2016’s mayoral election, Heidi Harmon won by only 47 votes.
Democrats secured the majority of House seats in Tuesday’s Midterm elections, ending Republican majority rule in Washington and giving them the power to determine the course of the nation’s agenda for the next two years. Democrats took control of the House by securing 235 seats, only 17 more than the needed 218 for a majority. The Republican party secured 197 seats, giving up 30 of their previously held seats, according to The New York Times. The now-majority Democratic party secured key districts from Florida to Arizona; of the 80 total key races, 29 districts flipped from Republican to Democrat in this election. This sort of party change in midterm elections tends to occur after a presidential election. This election in particular, however, may have more meaning to people, Cal Poly political science lecturer Douglas Pierce said. “First of all, the big picture is that this typically happens in midterm elections, so the party that’s in power usually takes a hit at the polls,” Pierce said. “On one hand, what we saw last night wasn’t all that unusual, but given the current political climate in our country … there might be a greater meaning to this election.” Since Republicans still hold the majority of the Senate, one of the largest effects that could come out of this election is more partisan gridlock, Pierce said. “It’s just going to be that much harder to get anything passed because everything has to go through both Houses and then everything has to be compromised on between the two and it depends on what the Democrat’s governing strategy is,” Pierce said. “So, if they really do wanna work with Trump and wanna find middle ground and compromise, then it might be a workable, divided government. My instinct is that it’s not gonna be very workable.” While on a national level the House turning blue will result in more partisan gridlock, it is very unlikely that it will have any effect on San Luis Obispo, since the congressional incumbent for the district and Democrat, Salud Carbajal, was reelected. However, the intensified partisanship could affect people locally in their interpersonal relationships, Pierce said. “Everyone has their personal stake in the matter, in the sense of who they’re rooting for and who they’re supporting. Just the regular transfer of power won’t affect us policy-wise, but it will affect us in our relationships with our friends, our social networks, on social media,” Pierce said. “This is probably gonna make a lot of Republicans upset and Democrats happy, and so there might be some more tense moments at the Thanksgiving dinner table.” The new Democratic majority has pledged to provide a check on President Trump’s power, which could include a subpoena into unanswered questions of Russia’s involvement in the 2016 election.
On Wednesday, Trump announced the firing of Attorney General Jeff Sessions. The acting Attorney General, Matthew Whitaker, will now be in charge of special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into whether or not Trump is guilty of conspiring with Russia, according to NBC News. The president announced on Wednesday intent to use a “warlike posture” against Democrats if they use their majority in the House to investigate his economic or political involvements. “The House of Representatives will hold hearing and subpoena things. We’ve already seen that Donald Trump is not going to cooperate with those investigations or will probably work very hard to undermine them,” Cal Poly political science lecturer Scott Englund said. “I would suspect that he’ll pick an Attorney General that is more aligned with that thinking than maybe Jeff Sessions was. I would expect that it would be very contentious, very divisive next couple of years.” Fine arts freshman Beatrice Astle, on the other hand, sees the recent political split of Congress as a good thing and a check on Trump, despite the possible political gridlock. Astle said she still isn’t hopeful Trump’s “polarizing” and “hostile” rhetoric will help the bipartisanship of government. “I think that people need to focus less on the labels of Democrat and Republican and focus more on the issues, and I don’t know if that’s gonna get done with the split of the Senate and the House,” Astle said. While Cal Poly recently won the Secretary of State’s Ballot Bowl, with more students registering to vote than at any other participating California college, civil engineering freshman Emily LaDue still believes that young people aren’t voting enough. “People think ... ‘oh one vote doesn’t make a difference’, but in the races I was keeping up on, it was really close. All the people who didn’t go in to vote, that really did make an impact,” LaDue said. “Everyone who is voting and is older probably [doesn’t] have the same views as you, so what you think probably isn’t gonna be encouraged.” Historically, voter turnout for people 18 to 24 tends to average in the 20 percent range, according to The Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning & Engagement (CIRCLE). However, for the 2018 midterm elections, CIRCLE estimates that youth turnout was around 31 percent, making this the highest level of midterm youth-voter turnout in the last 25 years. “It’s especially important for our generation because we are the ones who are most impacted by the current government, especially in terms of the environment,” Astle said. “I feel like a lot of times older generations vote more than younger generations because they know the impact that it can have.”
TUESDAY • NOVEMBER 13, 2018 | NEWS | MUSTANG NEWS
HOUSE ELECTION
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TUESDAY • NOVEMBER 13, 2018 | STUDENT LIFE | MUSTANG NEWS
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HOW ‘EARN WHILE YOU LEARN’ BECAME ‘LEARN BY DOING’ CAL POLY’S SLOGAN STARTED AS A WAY FOR STUDENTS TO EARN MONEY FOR THEIR SENIOR PROJECTS BY A I DA N M c G LO I N If you were a mechanics student at Cal Poly in 1903, odds are you were laying foundations and hammering together buildings. If you were studying agriculture, you were building roads and planting trees. In a couple of years, you or your peers were delivering the mail, cleaning the floors and emptying the trash. The history of Cal Poly’s “Learn by Doing” slogan — as told through archival newspaper articles and annual reports — details the rise and peak of a fully student-run polytechnic campus. Cal Poly’s educational philosophy existed since before the university was chartered. Local journalist Myron Angel described a need for schools to “teach the hand as well as the head.” Through Angel’s activism, Cal Poly was chartered in 1901 by the state of California with an emphasis on agriculture and experiential learning. “It began in agriculture,” Robert E. Kennedy Library archivist Laura Sorvetti said. “They knew it would be an agricultural school, and they knew they wanted to do practical learning,” In letters to the State Board of Education, Leroy Anderson, the first Director of Cal Poly, wrote “all instruction should be as largely as possible through the medium of actual performance by the pupils themselves.” Leroy also said Cal Poly should not have tuition costs. “It would seem eminently proper that the tuition in the school be free,” Anderson wrote. “Rent and board may be required, but only to cover actual costs, and students should work no more than four hours a day to achieve a work-
life balance.” Room and board cost $25 a month, and books and supplies were maxed out at $35. This created an annual cost of $260, or $7,000 in today’s money, according to the 1906 course catalog. In 1924, Ray Crandall became university president and brought with him a project system that continues to this day. The name of the slogan was not “Learn by Doing,” but “Earn while you learn.” Each project was expected to last at least 60 days, and were primarily agricultural startups. “It was all about giving students the opportunity to work on campus, to earn [their] way through school,” Sorvetti said. The school kept 50 percent of the profits from these enterprises, and the rest was given back to the students who ran the programs. The mantra of “Learn by Doing” emerged on Cal Poly’s campus in 1930, when there was still no charge for tuition, and total cost of a year-long education was $429, according to the 1930 California Polytechnic Bulletin, or $6,500 adjusted for inflation. Students were now permitted to keep all the money they earned from their enterprise projects after paying back whatever loans they received from a local bank. Many of the students could pay their own way through Cal Poly with the money they earned from their projects, but a 1932 report from the state education department still called the cost per student excessively high and called for the abolishment of Cal Poly as a learning institute. Cal Poly President Julian A. McPhee took over from Crandall in 1934, bringing a heavy agricultural background with him. McPhee was the chief of the State Bureau
of Agricultural Education and was involved in Future Farmers of America (FFA), which emphasized practical learning, Mark Shelton, horticulture and crop science professor emeritus, said. Shelton was Cal Poly’s beekeeper and worked as the associate dean of the College of Agriculture for 18 years. “We really are a product of the FFA and 4-H approach, the hands-on, experiential learning,” Shelton said. In 1934, students raised and sold 621 animals at a combined value of $273,000 in today’s money. Students overhauled five airplanes between 1934 and 1935, McPhee reported. The work was estimated at a value of $3,000, or $56,500 in today’s money. Electrical industry majors operated the campus’ power plant, and 85 percent of students enrolled worked on campus as groundskeepers, auto shop workers or in other vocational jobs. These students on average would earn $12.40 monthly, $228 in today’s money. McPhee’s reports do not say how many hours these students worked per month. No outside work was permitted on campus since all the tasks could be easily done by students, a 1935 report from McPhee stated. From maintenance to farming, the campus was student-run, and “earn while you learn” had expanded past its agricultural roots. In 1947, Cal Poly enrolled 2,229 students and employed nine administrators. Peruvian and Argentine ambassadors came to Cal Poly to learn from the campus’ educational model. The Cal Poly Foundation, which has evolved into the Cal Poly Corporation, provided a bil-
lion dollar fund for students to draw from. The Foundation was managed entirely by faculty members. But the time of a campus-wide Learn by Doing program had already reached its peak, according to McPhee. In annual reports to the state education board, McPhee said a lack of space and adequate facilities, as well as a decrease in agricultural enrollment, caused smaller proportions of the student body to engage in projects than they had in the 1930’s. “The increasing popularity of the Engineering Division and the growth of the Science and Humanities departments contributed to the trend toward a lessening in project participation by Polytechnic students,” McPhee wrote. Despite McPhee’s claim, Learn by Doing continued as the main model of Cal Poly. “I think Learn by Doing is still our motto, and it’s still our leading principle,” Shelton said. Meanwhile, other principles have faded with time. Anderson’s initial model of no tuition and high affordability is no longer present. Yearly tuition — once zero — is now $9,000, and the total cost of attending Cal Poly, including housing, food and supplies, is estimated by Cal Poly’s financial aid website at $27,000. In 1903, it was $7,000. In 1930, when a report called the cost of attendance extreme, the total cost of attending was $6,500 in today’s money. The history of Cal Poly’s Learn by Doing is long, persistent and still being written. From its beginnings as a vocational school, faculty leaders have encouraged experiential learning. “It’s throughout campus now and I don’t see that ever changing,” Shelton said.
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STUDENTS WORK TO RAISE AWARENESS FOR SEX TRAFFICKING BY OL IV I A N ELS O N A group of Cal Poly students is working to make a better campus and “A Better World” by raising awareness against human sex trafficking. The students started an on-campus club called “A Better World” as a project for a political science course and are now seeking members to help advance their mission. There are 100,000 to 300,000 U.S. born youth currently being sex trafficked, according to a study by the Department of Justice. Sex trafficking is considered the fastest growing crime in the world. Although the club began this fall, the idea’s origin traces further back. Club president and political science junior Haley Schmidman got the idea after attending the Women’s March in San Luis Obispo. “It sparked my interest — the lack of knowledge on sex trafficking within the nation, and even locally,” Schmidman said. “There’s a need for awareness, action and change in our community. I decided to tackle this special injustice because I think sex trafficking gets overlooked and people forget that it is happening in their community and is growing.” Following the Women’s March, Schmidman enrolled in POLS 316: Political Participation. The course asks students to “lead social change through collective action” by organizing a campaign, according to the course syllabus. Schmidman saw her opportunity to assemble fellow students to raise awareness about the prevalence of sex trafficking in our county. She informed the class of her plans to start an anti-sex trafficking club for her
project and asked whether anybody would like to join in her efforts. Eight students joined the group. One member, Anna Kraemer, said she was on-board the moment she heard Schmidman’s idea. Kraemer, a political science sophomore and the vice president of the club, said she did not know the extent of the issue and saw a great need for education. “The first step to solving any problem is acknowledgment of the problem so that you can then take steps to fix it,” Kraemer said. “If we educate people that this exists and it’s a pervasive problem in our community, that goes a long way towards eventually fixing it.” Club member and political science senior Connor McMurdo said the club will work to make more information about human sex trafficking available in San Luis Obispo. “The club will educate students on the signs of human trafficking and what they can do if they suspect it,” McMurdo said. The team is in the process of organizing an event in Dec. and is designing educational posters to raise awareness. In the meantime, the “A Better World” club will host its first meeting on Thursday, Nov. 29 at 11:00 a.m. The location has yet to be determined. Kraemer said she hopes students will join and become “social justice warriors.” “Clubs like ours are very important because we, as students, are the next generation, so we inherit this crazy world,” said Kraemer. “We have to figure out how to fix the problems because no one else will do it for us.”
TUESDAY • NOVEMBER 13, 2018 | STUDENT LIFE | MUSTANG NEWS
KY LI E KOW ALS KE | MUSTANG NEW S
Connor McMurdo and Haley Schmidman said they hope the club can solve the issues of tomorrow.
TUESDAY • NOVEMBER 13, 2018 | ARTS | MUSTANG NEWS
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CONNOR F R OST | MUSTA N G N EWS
Each Vellum participant, all of whom are Cal Poly architecture students, is encouraged to create an original furniture design to showcase their craft.
CON N OR F R OST | MUSTA N G N EWS
Participants upmake furniture out of old materials.
ARCHITECTURE STUDENTS COMPETE IN FURNITURE DESIGN COMPETITION BY CA RO L I N E GA R C I A From an empty keg turned into a cycle-powered washing machine to an old Mustang News newsstand converted into a lightbox, the work of architecture students radiated creativity at Cal Poly’s 15th annual Vellum Furniture Competition and Exhibition. Downtown San Luis Obispo held a space for architecture students to showcase their designs for the annual competition Nov. 2-3. With warm weather and a clear blue sky, the event took place both inside and outside a studio on Monterey Street in Downtown San Luis Obispo. Each participant in the competition, all of whom are Cal Poly architecture students, is encouraged to create an original furniture design to showcase their craft. For the past 15 years, the College of Architecture and Environmental Design (CAED) has teamed up with Vellum Design Build — a San Luis Obispo design-and-build firm founded by Cal Poly architecture graduate Paul Abbott — to co-host the exhibition. Vellum Design Build and the CAED first began the Vellum Furniture Competition back in 2004. Now held every fall quarter, Vellum is an annual public reception for artists to showcase their skills and compete amongst other students of the college. Students are asked to construct projects that range from tables and chairs to light fixtures, toys and other furniture. This year architecture senior Granite
Landis created a mid-1950’s inspired record player composed of stone. With no experience building a record player, Landis was up for the challenge and excited for its creation. “Most of the work was studying and planning the functionality,” Landis said. “It took about two months-worth of drawings and sketches.” Architecture senior Mitch Rincon also designed a music-inspired piece, building an electric guitar with an aesthetic redwood body, maple neck and rosewood fretboard. Rincon said he was inspired to create the guitar by his lifelong love of music. Rincon also said many of the student artists’ creations in the exhibition pertain to their senior thesis. “It bridges the gap between what a lot of students have done in the past four years with their senior project,” Rincon said. The event continues to offer great experience for emerging designers. While being exposed to the industry and competing in the field, artists undergo a true Learn by Doing experience. Tom Di Santo, a professor in the Cal Poly architecture department, also highlighted the exhibit’s advantageous Learn-by-Doing aspect. By working within real design timelines and budgets, Di Santo said students are able to get a feel for the architectural industry and experience what many will encounter after graduation. Di Santo said he was pleased with the turnout and success of the event. He has helped run the Vellum Furniture Competition since
its initiation. Many of his students also competed in the exhibition. “My favorite part about it is that it brings the community together,” Di Santo said. As a well-known, annual event — and because it fell on San Luis Obispo’s monthly “Art After Dark” event this year — the 15th annual Vellum Furniture Competition
brought the San Luis Obispo community together. Students were able to inspire, inform and entertain locals, visitors, students and others of all kinds with their art. Thanks to its artists and supporters, the 15th Vellum Furniture Competition was yet again a public success. Who knows what next year’s artists will bring to the table.
CON N OR F R OST | MUSTA N G N EWS
By working within real design time-lines and budgets, students were given a feel for the architectural industry.
SUSTAINABLY-SOURCED SURF WAX COMPANY WITH MISSION TO CLOSE THE SURF PAY GAP
AL IS ON C HAVEZ | MUSTANG NEW S
Thursday afternoons are a chance for students from any art backgrounds to come together and paint.
A BREAK FROM THE BOOKS
POP-UP PAINTING IN KENNEDY LIBRARY BY SABR I N A T HO M PS O N The Kennedy Library Atrium is mostly quiet, save for a few hushed conversations between studying students. Those who needed a break or some free art supplies to work on a project have gathered for Pop-Up Painting. A walk-in event hosted by the librarian of the College of Architecture and Environmental Design (CAED), Jesse Vestermark, Pop-Up Painting gives students an opportunity to take a break and enjoy themselves by painting with watercolors for a few hours. “We are at a polytechnic science-focused institution, and so my goal is to give them something to balance that out,” Vestermark said. Vestermark founded this program primarily in the Sequoia dorms as a way to engage CAED students outside of their classwork in 2011. He moved it to the library in 2014, where it has occurred since. “I would do once a quarter for the first couple years I was here,” Vestermark said. “Then I decided to move it to the library because I could do it more frequently and have more control over the facilities, chairs, tables and scheduling.” It is now a weekly event on Thursday afternoons from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. for students from all majors and art backgrounds to come together to paint. Vestermark said many who attend use it as a way to relax away from the books.
“I really like to paint and I never have time to do it,” ethnic studies freshman Audrey Sargent said. “And it’s really relaxing and it’s free, so I was like, oh I’ll come.” Most who attend came because they happened to see the event as they passed by through the library or through advertisements around campus and online. For Vestermark, a successful event has a healthy attendance of approximately 20 people, and seeing those people who have never met connect and get to know each other. “The most rewarding thing is meeting people, and just getting a break, but still feeling like you are doing something,” art and design junior Kat Schroeder said. Schroeder used the Pop-Up Painting event on Nov. 8 as a chance to make a painting for her brother who is expecting a baby. Sitting with Schroeder was crop science alumnus Jordan Marcellus, who was painting his employer’s logo. Individuals from all levels of experience are welcome to join. Some people traced out their paintings beforehand, while others worked freehand, painting whatever they felt in the moment. The full list of Pop-Up Painting events can be found on the library’s website at lib.calpoly.edu, or on the event’s Facebook page. The next session will be held Nov. 15 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
AL IS ON C HAVEZ | MUSTANG NEW S
DEMI C A STA N ON P H OTOGRA P H Y | COU RT ESY
BooBees usues beeswax as the base for their surf wax, not petroleum or bleach.
BY M A DDI E RA B AGO With environmental issues at the forefront of surfing culture, the industry and its customers are making moves toward sustainable products and practices to protect the ocean. Cal Poly biological sciences alumna Rose Badrigian is doing this with her surf wax, BooBees. Surf wax, one of the most essential products in the surfing industry, has not changed in 50 years due to lack of research and development, Badrigian said. She began her entrepreneurial journey in typical Silicon Valley fashion — out of her garage. Badrigian said she noticed most surf wax is petroleum-based, which is damaging to the ocean, and became curious about environmental issues surrounding the surfing industry. Her passion for surfing, feminism and the environment inspired her to create a commercially viable, environmentally sustainable and women-empowered surf wax. BooBees’ polarizing name is a play on words with the specific intention of sparking a conversation about women’s rights, bee conservation and the ocean — three issues she said she is passionate about. “I wanted to create a product that gave women a place in the industry,” Badrigian said. Badrigian explained that competitors have already sexualized the surf market, so she thought she would, too — but in a way that would empower women. Instead of “calling men out,” Badrigian said she wanted to “call men in” to educate them on gender equality without chastising them. BooBees is an early stage company in Cal Poly’s Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship SLO HotHouse program. The company has successfully secured funding after getting two investors on board. They hope to sell to local surf and coffee shops on the Central Coast by January 2019. Badrigian found the surf industry underpays its female surfers. In 2018, the United States reported a 20 percent wage discrepancy between men and women. This gap is more than doubled in the surfing industry, with fe-
male competition winners earning 40 percent less than their male counterparts. On Sept. 5, World Surf League announced equal pay for women in their surf competitions. Although this is huge news, most of the gender inequality lies within the same big players who dominate the industry, according to Badrigian. Instead of celebrating women for their athletic abilities, brands like Billabong and Roxy have sexualized female surfers in marketing campaigns. Badrigian also discovered pesticides have killed off more than 30 percent of beehives annually over the last decade. An estimated 1 percent of BooBees’ proceeds will go towards bee conservation, joining other efforts of conservation that have sparked recently. Badrigian said she hopes it can go towards private research at Cal Poly in the future. Badrigian said with BooBees she also plans to push toward environmentalism with both their product material and fiscal structure. Since the rise of social media, many developing countries with world-class surf spots have experienced an increase in tourism and exploitation, Badrigian said. Badrigian said the company has plans to set up small manufacturing facilities near popular surfing spots to employ local residents and ultimately boost the local economy to bridge the gap between developed countries’ tourism and developing countries’ poverty. “The culture is so different and it’s a huge barrier for women to surf,” Badrigian said. “It’s also super unsustainable. Sex Wax and Sticky Bumps are both shipped. There, it costs $7, versus here [where] it’s around $1.50.” BooBees is working to engineer a product that ensures ease of production anywhere in the world with minimal importing and technology. The company aims to have their surf wax available in Japan by 2020, just in time for the 2020 Summer Olympics. “If you’re not gonna do something that betters the world, then what’s the point of doing it?” Badrigian said. “I love empowering women, I love the environment, and I love women. [BooBees] embodies everything I care about.”
TUESDAY • NOVEMBER 13, 2018 | ARTS | MUSTANG NEWS
ALUMNI CREATES BOOBEES SURF WAX
9
OPINION
WHERE IS NCAA MEN’S VOLLEYBALL? BY NOEMI KHACHIAN Noemi Khachian is a communication studies sophomore and Mustang News columnist. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of Mustang News. “Cal Poly Men’s Volleyball are the NCAA champions of the season!” Unfortunately, this is something no Cal Poly student has ever said or heard. Why is this, you may ask? Because surprisingly, Cal Poly does not have a men’s volleyball team. Why not? Is it due to a lack of student interest? The social stigma that volleyball is a “women’s” sport? Or, is it perhaps simply a matter of a lack of funds? I don’t have any personal connection to volleyball. I am not a passionate volleyball player, nor have I ever been a committed fan in the stands. But when I heard the Cal Poly women’s team was undefeated and recently beat the number-two nationally ranked team at the University of Hawaii, I immediately wanted to see how the men’s team was
doing. To my surprise, I learned that Cal Poly has no official men’s volleyball team. We only have a club team, which is far more casual than any D1 team and is responsible for its own financing and organization. Nationwide, there are 22 Division 1, 24 Division II and 68 Division III volleyball programs for men. Cal Poly is not one of them. There is no good reason for this deficiency in campus sports — volleyball is one of the fastest-growing sports in NCAA history. If you have ever watched the summer Olympics, you probably noticed how much coverage volleyball receives on network television. The United States’ team has been successful in recent years, earning medals in women’s and men’s indoor and beach volleyball. Cal Poly already has a successful women’s department. The program behind the women’s team already has the court, the net, the poles, the referee stands and the balls. It seems that, with an audience and equipment already secured, all a men’s team would need is some players, uniforms and a coach.
4 EVENTS I N 3 D AY S !
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Friday, Nov. 30, 8 p.m. | Performing Arts Center Introducing Christopher J. Woodruff, new director of bands. Nearly 300 students will perform, from Cal Poly’s Wind Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, Chamber Winds and Mustang Marching Band.
BAN
BANDFEST
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AR A B IC M US I
TUESDAY • NOVEMBER 13, 2018 | OPINION | MUSTANG NEWS
10
CHOIRS’ HOLIDAY KALEIDOSCOPE Saturday, Dec. 1, 3 p.m. | Performing Arts Center The choirs will be by joined by three local high school choirs: Cabrillo (Lompoc), Morro Bay and San Luis Obispo. Additional special guests will be featured!
ARAB MUSIC ENSEMBLE Saturday, Dec. 1, 8 p.m. | Spanos Theatre Introducing Samuel Shalhoub, the group’s 2018-19 acting director. The Chookasian Folk Music Ensemble will be featured on a set of Armenian music.
THE SYMPHONY DANCES Sunday, Dec. 2, 3 p.m. | Performing Arts Center The Cal Poly Symphony explores the rhythm and vibrancy of dance across the historical spectrum. Featuring two guest artists: harpist Marcia Dickstein, and flutist Suzanne Duffy. Tickets for all events at the Cal Poly Ticket Office: 805-756-4849, tickets.calpoly.edu. For more event information, call 805-756-2406 or visit music.calpoly.edu/calendar.
MEN’S SOCCER
WOMEN’S SOCCER
WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL
MEN’S VOLLEYBALL
J U L I A J AC KSO N - C LA RK | M USTA N G N EWS
Some people may argue that men’s volleyball is not as popular as women’s, but this simply isn’t true. Cal Poly men’s club volleyball is as popular as it is successful. The team plays at a prestigious level despite its “club” status. Last year, the Cal Poly men’s club team placed second in the country. A lot of these players had the opportunity to play D1 volleyball elsewhere, but overrode that chance to stay at Cal Poly and focus on their studies. Title IX funding for a new men’s team may also be difficult to secure. Title IX addresses, among other things, college sports — specifically, the idea that the amount of money spent on men and women’s sports should be equal. Men’s sports include foot-
for men’s athletics goes to the most popular sports. This is why, at most schools, there simply isn’t enough money for a men’s volleyball program. The popularity of not only women’s D1 but also men’s club volleyball indicates that establishing a men’s D1 program would benefit Cal Poly, however. There is school-wide support for the undefeated women’s team. Both the women’s D1 and men’s club team generate publicity, ticket sales and school spirit. The attention towards women’s sports seems to be evenly spread among all sports teams, with heavy skewing of interest only in certain sports. But for the men, the attention is heavily focused on certain areas and then forgotten in others.
Essentially, most of the money for men’s athletics goes to the most popular sports. This is why, at most schools, there simply isn’t enough money for a men’s volleyball program. ball, which has the potential to consume almost 50 percent of a university’s funding and scholarships due the large size of teams. Women’s teams typically do not have as large of programs. With no flagship program, the women’s teams can share their funding more evenly. For example, Cal Poly does not have a women’s football team consuming a large quantity of the women’s athletics budget. Essentially, most of the money
You might be thinking, “Well, why isn’t the club team enough?” Our men’s club volleyball players have the talent and drive to play at a higher level. The student fans have the passion to support their school team and be present at sports events. Creating a men’s D1 team, one level higher than club (at the NCAA level), will increase school publicity and spirit, as well as generate income from ticket sales for Cal Poly athletics. If the Cal Poly athletics program chose to create a D1 team, it is likely a lot of student athletes and fans would support the decision. The Cal Poly women’s D1 and the men’s club volleyball teams are both performing exceptionally well and gaining popularity among fans. The only thing missing is a men’s NCAA-regulated team. We should establish a men’s team now while there is already so much public support for it. The demand for a Cal Poly men’s volleyball is there — it simply needs to be met.
11
OPINION
BY BAILEY B A RTON Bailey Barton is a political science senior and Mustang News columnist. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of Mustang News. On October 1, 2018, Governor Jerry Brown signed into law Senate Bill No. 826, requiring all publicly traded companies to have a minimum amount of women on their board of directors. By the end of 2019, publicly traded companies whose principal executive offices are located in California will be mandated to have at least one female director. By 2021, companies with five directors on their board must have two female directors and companies with seven or more members must have three female executives. The point of this law was to achieve greater gender parity in a vastly male-dominated arena. One-fourth of California’s public companies in the Russell 3000 index have no women on their board of directors; and for the rest of the companies, women hold only 15.5 percent of the board seats. This new move by California is a win for the state, both for women’s rights and for the economy. It has been shown in numerous studies that having women serve on a company’s board
of directors improves the company’s profitability. This is likely because having a more diverse group of people making key decisions about a company can allow for greater innovation and new ideas. It can also allow companies to better serve the needs of diverse customers. A 2017 study by MSCI found that United States’ companies that began the five-year period from 2011 to 2016 with three or more female directors reported earnings per share that were 45 percent higher than those companies with no female directors at the beginning of the period. It also lessens the possibility of diversity related scandals, such as Bic Pen’s infamous “Pens for Her” product that features pink, bedazzled ballpoint pens that cost up to 70 percent more than Bic’s standard pens. It does not seem too hard to believe that if a single woman had been on the board at the time of this idea, it would not have gone through. Similarly, Doritos’ embarrassing “lady-friendly Doritos” product claimed to be “low-crunch” and produce less dust powder on your fingers, as well as be specially designed to go in a woman’s purse. This simply further plays into stereotypes and societal expectations that women should be quiet, dainty and embarrassed about eating. The internet roasted the product so much that it is
now not going to be made, but again, having women on the board would likely have prevented the entire public relations nightmare. Besides the economic gains, having more women on corporate boards allows for more women to move up, and opens the doors for more female CEOs. It is 2018, and it is time that we push for greater gender equality in the business world. With the recent nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court despite allegations of sexual assault, it became clear that more needs to be done to reduce sexual harassment and increase the safety of women in the workplace. Having more female board members would improve the overall workplace environment, potentially making women feel safer and more comfortable speaking up about sexual harassment. It would also make it less likely that women in the company would be paid less than men, and allow more women to feel comfortable asking for a raise. According the the Pew Research Center, Asian women make 87 percent as much as white men, white women 82 percent, Black women 65 percent and Latina women only 58 percent. By removing the option of only men being in power, it changes the overall culture of the workplace and makes it more likely that these kinds of
changes will be implemented. SB-826 does face some legal concerns regarding whether or not it is actually constitutional. Technically, the law discriminates based on gender, which means it is subject to intermediate scrutiny by the courts. This places the burden of proof on the CA government to prove that the law serves an “important” state interest and that the legislative classification is “substantially related” to the goal of placing more women on corporate boards. This is typically difficult to prove, though not as difficult as strict scrutiny, which is applied to cases of race discrimination. However, regardless of if the law remains or is deemed unconstitutional, the message it sends is clear. More women need to be put on corporate boards. This bill has and will continue to increase awareness about the problem and why it’s important to have more women on corporate boards. The more visibility this issue gets, the more customers will put pressure on companies to make changes. Companies that claim they are liberal and supportive of women’s rights will need to actually act on those claims in order to keep customers. Even if SB-826 does not last, the message it sends is clear and will remain until corporations finally start making equality on their boards a priority.
TUESDAY • NOVEMBER 13, 2018 | OPINION | MUSTANG NEWS
CALIFORNIA’S NEW FEMALE-DIRECTIVE LAW IS A WIN FOR THE STATE
PUZZLES Sudoku Fun by the Numbers Like puzzles? Then you’ll love sudoku. This mind-bending puzzle will have you hooked from the moment you square off, so sharpen your pencil and put your sudoku savvy to the test!
Guess Who? I am an actor born in California on November 11, 1974. I began my acting career as a child in commercials and educational films under the name Lenny Williams. I rose to prominence in several 1990’s films, including a titanic hit.
Here’s How It Works: Sudoku puzzles are formatted as a 9x9 grid, broken down into nine 3x3 boxes. To solve a sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must fill each row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box. You can figure out the order in which the numbers will appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes. The more numbers you name, the easier it gets to solve the puzzle!
Word Scramble Rearrange the letters to spell something pertaining to care.
V S T S I I
CLUES ACROSS 67. Make a mistake 1. Type of toast 68. Puerto Rican genre of music 6. Peter Griffin’s daughter “La __” 9. A group 13. Ancient Greek unit of weight CLUES DOWN 14. Small amounts 1. Insect drawn to flame 15. Ready and __ 2. A Spanish river 16. Right 3. Reduce (Brit. sp.) 17. Asian antelope 4. Wish well 18. Cambodian monetary unit 5. Robots are an example 19. Type of leather 6. Young women 21. Secret clique 7. The tip 22. Cabbage and cole are two 8. Young women’s association 23. Burmese ethnic group 9. One who is suspicious 24. Empire State 10. A child’s apron 25. Be in debt 11. Not dirty 28. Italian monk’s title 12. Fightin’ Irish football coach 29. Asian plants 14. People from Taiwan 31. Everyone has one 17. Harry Belafonte’s daughter 33. One who can’t sleep 20. Santa’’s helper 36. “Glengarry, Glen Ross” 21. Cereal plants playwright 23. Respectful address 38. Shock therapy 25. Unit of electrical resistance 39. Cavalry sword 26. Used to managing without 41. A must-have 27. Type of chair 44. Type of fabric 29. London footballers 45. French composer 30. Vaccine developer 46. A type of pen 32. 10 meters 48. Snout 34. Type of story: __ fi 49. One of the six noble gases 35. Covering on birds’ beaks 51. Married woman 37. Small freshwater fish 52. Register formally (Brit.) 40. Confederate soldier 54. Greek sorceress 42. Female sibling 56. Depository library 43. Belgian city 60. A tightknit group 47. An electrically charged atom 61. Ancient units of measurement 49. A way to entertain 62. He was Batman 50. Regenerate 63. Dry or withered 52. Highly flammable liquid 64. Margosa tree 53. Mark 65. Tables (Span.) 55. Not good 66. Large jug 56. Eloquent Roman orator
57. Absence of difficulty 58. Kazakhstan district 59. Plateau 61. Midway between northeast and east 65. Military policeman
PROTHEROE BREAKS SINGLESEASON RUSHING RECORD BY F RANCISCO MARTINEZ
AL IS ON C HAVEZ | MUSTAN G N EWS
Raiya Taha Thomure first learned to powerlift on the Internet just a year and a half ago.
MEET THE NATIONALLY-RANKING FRESHMAN POWERLIFTER BY KIANA M EAG HER When freshman Raiya Taha Thomure first started powerlifting just a year and a half ago, she never would have dreamed of becoming a nationally ranked competitor by 17 years-old. In October, she came in second place to the World Record holder in every single event at the United States Powerlifting Nationals (USAPL) in Spokane, Washington. Thomure self-trained during her first year of powerlifting using YouTube and the Internet. “I did a lot of research,” she said. “I didn’t have the money to hire a coach or a personal trainer or anything. So I had to write my own programs.” Her dedication paid off. Now, she holds Missouri state records in the bench press, powerlifting total and deadlift — her personal favorite. “I was really really proud of that and I broke my own three state records, so that was pretty fun,” Thomure said. Though she started as a basketball player, she said she saw little improvement in her performance. Adding weight became a form of motivation when she went to the gym. Though she is already accomplished, Thomure said she is constantly setting new goals for herself. Her biggest goal? To beat the national deadlift record in the United States Powerlifting Association. She wants to hit a 400-pound deadlift within the next year, before she turns 20 years-old. “I’m currently at 330 pounds, which is the national record,” she said. “So next time I compete, I’m smashing it.” For Thomure, life is anything but conventional. Cal Poly is the tenth school she has
attended. Having a father in the Navy allowed her to live in many places, from Louisiana to Dubai, most recently. While she enjoyed exposure to various cultures, Thomure said she never found a true sense of permanence until she found the powerlifting community. “[At] the gym that I’ve belonged to for the past year, there were people who compete in the world championships, so it was awesome to be there,” she said. “Then I come here to school, and there’s a whole powerlifting club. Wherever I go, I’m always going to see other powerlifters, so it’s really cool to see that.” For parents, many hope to see their child find comfort in a home away from home as they navigate college. Thomure’s mother, Hanada Taha, has seen the growth and maturity powerlifting has given her daughter. “The happy twinkle in her eyes after each new personal record she sets and her determination to be the best she can be makes me the happiest mother,” Taha said. Upon coming to San Luis Obispo, Thomure joined the Cal Poly Powerlifting Club, which is composed of about 40 members. They meet on Thursdays from 11 a.m. to noon in the Construction Innovations Center (building 186, room C100). “They just provide so much knowledge that I just don’t have because I’m new to the sport,” she said. Led by Powerlifting Club President Adam Weiss, the team has been growing with 20 to 30 new members every year. “She’s a great addition,” Weiss said. “She always shows up very enthusiastic to our club meetings and off-campus workouts.” Women — or as Thomure calls them, “some crazy strong women” — comprise about a
third of the club. Thomure said the women’s powerlifting community is one of healthy competition and positive support in a sport largely dominated by men. “I’m a part of huge Facebook groups and follow Instagram pages,” she said. “You’ll have women who are 85 years old who are lifting 250 pounds! You have all sorts of women, and it’s so inclusive and diverse. I think it’s really awesome.” As for the future, Thomure looks forward to increasing the sport’s popularity among women to help develop strong young women. Weiss said the international powerlifting community has grown to become more gender inclusive towards women. Within the club itself, Weiss said she hopes to add more women to the powerlifting club in an effort to match the “approaching 50/50 demographic in the powerlifting community.” “My hope is that the club will be balanced demographic-wise,” she said. The club is welcome to anyone interested in health or personal well-being. Club meetings include guest speakers such as physical therapists and nutritionists who help the athletes understand how to take care of their bodies. “You don’t have to compete in lifting to be a part of the club,” Thomure said. “You just learn more about nutrition and health and proper lifting form so you don’t get hurt. There’s a lot of knowledge we get through the club, and all of that is really valuable — especially to college students who tend to have really unhealthy habits.” Her one piece of advice? “When you’re in the gym, just know that no one is looking at you,” she said. “They’re looking at themselves in the mirror, so don’t be afraid to do what you want to do.”
Senior fullback Joe Protheroe entered Cal Poly Football’s history books Saturday evening as the the Mustangs (4-6, 3-4 Big Sky) upset Nos. 24/25 Idaho State by a final score of 37-14 in Alex G. Spanos Stadium. Protheroe passed James Noble to have the alltime record for most yards rushed in a single season with 1,627 yards and a game left to play. Protheroe is now second all-time in total career yards and is just 118 yards shy of breaking Craig Young’s record. In addition to breaking the single-season rushing record, Protheroe also rushed for a career-high of 260 yards, breaking his previous record of 228 yards against Brown earlier this season. He also rushed for one touchdown against the Bengals, scoring on a one-yard drive in the second quarter of the game. Junior wide receiver JJ Koski had two touchdowns in the game, with one coming off a 36-yard pass from senior quarterback Khaleel Jenkins in the third quarter and a 28-yard run to seal the win for the Mustangs in the fourth quarter. The Mustangs defense forced the Bengals offense to commit four turnovers, with two fumbles and two interceptions. “We played so well that we took [Idaho State’s] game out,” head coach Tim Walsh said about the team’s victory. “They didn’t look like the team that they looked like on film all year long, and that’s a great credit to our players.” Despite his record-breaking night, Protheroe was quick to attribute his records to his teammates that made it possible and spoke highly of the bond he’s forged with them. “It’s really no friends, just all family,” Protheroe said about his teammates. “We take a lot of pride in [the Memorial Rock] over there, and play for the guys that came before us and we play for the guys to the right and left of us.” The Mustangs final game of the season is on Nov. 17 against Southern Utah at 4:05 p.m. in Spanos Stadium. For Protheroe, the gravitas of his last game as a Mustang hasn’t fully settled in. “It hasn’t hit me yet,” Protheroe said. “I’m probably going to be crying and stuff afterwards but … to be able to strap up and get a win, it’s gonna be big time.”
JOE PROTHEROE BY THE NUMBERS
1,627 4,088 22
yards rushed in a single season total career yards rushed (2nd all time)
games Protheroe has rushed for 100+ yards
13 TUESDAY • NOVEMBER 13, 2018 | SPORTS | MUSTANG NEWS
FOOTBALL UPSETS IDAHO STATE
The Mountain Air
BALLOON SALE! Saturday Nov. 17th
20%–50%
OFF ENTIRE STORE Each balloon will have one discount coupon worth 20%, 30%, 40% and 50% off. One balloon per purchase. No double discounts. Limited to stock inventory on hand. No returns or exchanges during the balloon sale. Excluding YETI Coolers and Tepui Tents.
San Luis Obispo 667 Marsh Street 543.1676
1 DAY
ONLY!
Opening Early 9am–6pm
Plenty of FREE parking www.themountainair.com
15 TUESDAY • NOVEMBER 13, 2018 | SPORTS | MUSTANG NEWS
“Always play hard. If you make a mistake, it is always about what you do after that mistake.” MUSTANG IN FOCUS
DONOVAN FIELDS
GET TO KNOW THE MEN’S BASKETBALL SENIOR POINT GUARD As told to KY L E HA R & P R E R N A A N E J A Mustang News: Why did you choose to come to Cal Poly? Donovan Fields: I got a phone call from [head coach Joe Callero] in July of my freshman year at junior college. I had never been to California before so I came on a visit, and the place is just beautiful. It was something I had never experienced, never seen before. I ultimately decided, basically because of the weather. The weather out here is perfect. Good basketball and good education led me to choose Cal Poly. MN: What was it like growing up in New York and then moving to California? DF: It’s a lot different. It is way different. Just the pace and the speed of life of everybody. I am from Newburgh, about an hour north of New York City. Being on campus, I see a lot of people, but it’s nothing compared to New York. The main difference is the weather — it is a lot colder and when it does get hot, it is humid. MN: You guys are a relatively young team. How has the team chemistry developed? DF: It is getting a lot better. It is not perfect yet, but we are still in the early stages of our team. We go to the beach and go hang out at the basketball courts. We are pretty much building it day by day. Playing with each other and helping each other out definitely helps us build chemistry. MN: What is the best advice you have ever gotten? DF: The best advice I ever got was to stay confident in myself. Sometimes you might go into a
FREE THROW PROWESS Among all NCAA DI players with a 92.6 free throw percentage last season.
30 points
REACHING NEW HEIGHTS Career-high versus Menlo College Wednesday, Nov. 7.
I have grown as an individual and a player, by just speaking up more now. MN: You scored a career-high of 30 points against Menlo College. How did you feel after the game realizing this accomplishment? DF: It did not hit me until today. A bunch of people texted me and hit me up and everything. But at the end of the day I know it’s just one game. I have to get it out of my mind, just forget about it, and work hard with my teammates in practice. MN: What is the team’s goals for the season? DF: Definitely to win the Big West Conference championship. Definitely get to the NCAA tournament like the the team did in 2014. MN: How do you get yourself mentally prepared for a game or practice? DF: I try to treat every game like a regular game. We all know it is a different level, but I try to just calm myself down and have confidence in myself. I have my teammates that have my back, and they believe in me too. I just know that every single game is just a basketball game at the end of the day. MN: Do you have any message to the San Luis Obispo community? DF: Keep doing what you guys are doing. We love the fans. Keep coming out to all the games and keep supporting us throughout the season.
4.1 assists
PLAY MAKER Team leader in assists per game last season.
M USTA N G N EWS | F I LE
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shooting slump or you might doubt yourself. That is the hardest thing to control, that voice in your head because that is the voice that talks to you the most throughout your day. Quieting that voice is one of the biggest things my dad and coaches have told me to do in the past. MN: What advice have you given to the younger players? DF: Always play hard. If you make a mistake, it is always about what you do after that mistake. Nobody is perfect. You’re going to turn the ball over or miss a shot here and there. It is always about what you do after you make that mistake. MN: What advantages and disadvantages do you experience being an undersized player? DF: I don’t like saying disadvantages, but definitely getting to rebounds and blocking shots. Being my size, I am a lot quicker and lower to the ground. It’s harder for those taller guys to get to my level. I kind of like to bring them down to my size. MN: How does your size affect how you make plays, like going in for a shot? DF: I’m always thinking like, how am I going to get this guy to think I’m going this way, and then go the opposite way? I try to be unpredictable every time I go to the basket. MN: How have you grown from your freshman year to your senior year? DF: I am a really quiet guy, so I used to get yelled at by my coaches when I was a freshman for not talking enough or telling my teammates where to go, since I’m the point guard. I definitely feel
#16
VOLLEYBALL
vs. UC Riverside Friday, Nov. 16 at 7 p.m.
Faculty/Staff Appreciatio Night FREE Admission for Cal Poly Faculty/Staff!
FOOTBALL
vs. Southern Utah Saturday, Nov. 17 at 4 p.m.
Senio Day #16
VOLLEYBALL
vs. Cal State Fullerton Saturday, Nov. 17 at 7 p.m.
Senio Night
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