Feb. 20, 2018

Februar y 20, 2018

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

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CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH DESPITE LESS THAN 2 PERCENT OF CAMPUS

IDENTIFYING AS AFRICAN AMERICAN

Sydney Brandt @ syd_brandtt

During the month of February, Cal Poly celebrates Black History Month to acknowledge the importance of black history in America, according to MultiCultural Centers’ (MCC) Lead Coordinator Jose Leon. Events run throughout the month to recognize the Black community on campus.

“I think that there’s a saying, especially in cultural center communities, that every month is a history month of every community. We can’t just say that February is Black History Month; every month is Black History Month. It’s just that this month we’ve decided to place special acknowledgement on all of the efforts and contributions that the

Black community has made to this country,” Leon said.

Established in 1986, the MultiCultural Center was created as a result of student demands to the university to address issues that many students of color and marginalized students experienced on campus, according to Leon.

This month, the MCC is putting on events to celebrate Black History Month.

The month started out with a Martin Luther King Jr. event, highlighting contributions of the civil rights movement specifically through the efforts of Martin Luther King Jr. Then the “Black and Brown Get Down” was hosted Jan. 25 in the Julian A. McPhee University Union (UU) room 207 to build community and demonstrate solidarity on campus.

The MCC put on screening of a Black history movie screening to “I Am Not Your Negro” in room 220 of the UU Feb. 1. Another Type of Groove (ATOG) held a Black History Month themed slam poetry night in Chumash Auditorium Feb. 7.

At the end of the month, the MCC will put on an event called “The State of Blackness,” discussing the state of affairs and the state of the Black community at Cal Poly.

“I think being at a predominantly white campus, one of our main responsibilities is to educate and allow everyone to understand that communities of color and [marginalized] communities have made contributions to this nation and this campus specifically and this campus has benefited from the diversity that’s offered through ethnic and racial minorities,” Leon said.

MLS DRAFT

WOMEN AT THE WALL

Three men’s soccer players are hopeful for a phone call from professional leagues.

An empowering community of women take over the climbing park every week.

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According to Leon, the purpose of Black History Month is to acknowledge and understand that Black people have impacted and shaped this campus in positive ways, whether through protest and activism or contributions to research and science, Cal Poly has been impacted by the presence of the Black community despite the community’s size at the moment.

Currently, black students make up less than 2 percent of the student body, according to Leon. The number hovers at about 300 out of approximately 20,000 total students, counting individuals who fall within the mixed race category.

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Content NEWS

ENTREPRENEURS’ PRESIDENT...................4

ARTS

LUNAR NEW YEAR .......................................5 APPENDAGE AND BOUGH ...........................6 “STRANGER THINGS”..................................7 WOMEN AT THE WALL ................................8

If you don’t have staff and faculty and peers on this campus, it’s difficult and hard to build community.

OPINION

BLIND FAITH ..............................................11

SPORTS

MLS DRAFT ................................................14 BIG LEAGUES.............................................14

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Mustang News

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TODAY ,S ISSUE TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2018 VOLUME O, ISSUE 18

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... I feel like it’s still representing what’s in our small population that we have and we just celebrate because we don’t forget. o

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EDITORS AND STAFF EDITOR-IN-CHIEF | Naba Ahmed MANAGING EDITORS | Gina Randazzo and Brendan Matsuyama NEWS EDITOR | James Hayes ARTS EDITOR | Mikaela Duhs OPINION EDITOR | Elias Atienza

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SPORTS EDITOR | Erik Engle SPECIAL SECTIONS COORDINATOR | Megan Schellong COPY CHIEF | Bryce Aston COPY EDITORS | Monique Geisen | Clarisse Wangeline | Quinn Fish LEAD DESIGNER | Zack Spanier DESIGNERS | Jessie Franco | Tanner Layton

BLACK HISTORY continued from page 1

ON THE COVER

Black History Month takes on new meanings for Black students on a predominantly white campus.

Illustration by Hanna Crowley and Zack Spanier, Mustang News.

“It makes a major impact, just because it’s not that many African Americans, the community doesn’t have a lot of us, so maybe the outlook on it may not be as big on Cal Poly’s campus compared to, like [Historically Black Colleges and Universities], but I feel like it’s still representing what’s in our small population that we have and we just celebrate because we don’t forget,” sociology freshman DeJon Stuckey said.

Leon said from talking with students and looking at the 2014 Campus Climate Survey, Black students are among many groups impacted, by the lack of community presence.

“If you don’t have staff and faculty and peers on this campus, it’s difficult and hard to build community. There isn’t a

Black community within San Luis Obispo for people to turn to, so people typically usually turn on campus internally to each other whether it’s staff or faculty or students,” Leon said.

Cal Poly’s campus climate could be improved to increase the number of Black students on campus, according to Leon.

“We could do better by the Black community in terms of our admission rate and our retention and graduation rates, and I think that’s what we’re moving towards as a campus, understanding that we need to fix those disparities internally and understand[ing] that the richness that Black people bring should also come through the celebration through graduation, promotion into graduate school and full-time employment,” Leon said.

Additionally, the Black Student Union re-

emerged on campus, an active organization that represents the needs of Black students.

A sign of the uptick and the increasing number of Black students.

Integrating the importance of Black history and cultural awareness into Cal Poly’s curriculum is the first step to improving the lack of diversity on campus, Leon explained.

“Often times, we think it’s limited to history and themes of sociology, but we need to acknowledge that Black folks have contributed to all areas, especially the sciences and engineering, which our school is known for ... Just as many times as contributions of women are forgotten in science, so are that of Black folks,” Leon said. “It’s just doing a little bit of research, there’s all of these things at your fingertips to be able to provide a richness that may be lacking from the current fields of study at Cal Poly.”

Aidan McGloin @ mcgloin_aidan

Associated Students, Inc. (ASI) student government candidate filings are open until Feb 23. Students can run to serve on the Board of Directors or as ASI president for the 20182019 academic year.

To apply, students must fill out packets available on the ASI elections webpage and send them to asielections@calpoly.edu. Students must be enrolled in a minimum of nine undergraduate or four graduate units per quarter next year to maintain a position. To qualify for scholarships in an ASI leadership position, students must earn 12 undergraduate or eight graduate units each quarter next year.

Applicants must also have a minimum 2.0 overall GPA and a minimum 2.3 quarterly GPA.

The 27 Board of Directors representatives, which will be reduced to 24 next year, provide oversight of ASI corporate activity and advocate for students, according to the ASI website.

“We’re known as the official voice of the student body, and that’s really what we are, we represent students,” chair of the ASI Recruitment and Elections Committee Chair and biomedical engineering senior Denae Dupray said.

Colleges are given a number of seats on the board dependent on their student population.

Campaigning will begin in April and elections will be held April 25 and 26.

ASI student government is composed of three branches, the Executive Cabinet, Board of Directors and University Union Advisory Board (UUAB). The Executive Cabinet is headed by the ASI President and works to

We’re known as the official voice of the student body ...

‘Fake News’ panel canceled after Cal Poly College Republicans secure Milo Yiannopoulos as replacement panelist Jarod Urrutia @ CPMustangNews

The joint fake news panel organized by the College of Liberal Arts (CLA), Associated Students, Inc. (ASI), Cal Poly Democrats, Cal Poly College Republicans (CP College Republicans) and the League of Women Voters entitled “Fake News Panel: What is it and Who Decides?” was canceled Feb. 9 following the withdrawal of all sponsors save for the Cal Poly College Republicans after they replaced canceled panelist Bill Whittle with political commentator and writer Milo Yiannopoulos. Yiannopoulos spoke on Cal Poly’s campus in February of 2017, an event which was heavily protested.

“These were petty reactions to our willingness to make this panel discussion a success and we have learned that collaboration at Cal Poly only happens if you concede to their agendas,” CP College Republicans wrote in a press release Feb. 13.

The panel was set to feature panelists sponsored

by Cal Poly Democrats, CP College Republicans, ASI, the League of Women Voters and CLA. Specifically within CLA, journalist Alicia Shepard was sponsored by the CLA Lottery Fund and support from Cal Poly’s Interdisciplinary Studies in the Liberal Arts and the Science, Technology and Society Minors Program.

However, the Cal Poly Democrats withdrew their sponsored speaker because of the CP College Republicans’ choice of Whittle as a panelist.

“This action is in response to the [CP] College Republicans’ invitation of a panelist who routine-

ly publishes racist and Islamophobic commenrepresentative and a League of Women Voters tary,” the Cal Poly Democrats wrote in a Feb. 6 representative — Feb. 9. Following Whittle’s canFacebook post. “We condemn these statements cellation, the CP College Republicans revealed as false and hateful and stand in solidarity that they had secured Yiannopoulos as a replacewith the individuals and communities ment panelist. they affect.”

“After revealing our speaker to Panelist Sue Mitchell backed the rest of the co-sponsors, out following the Cal Poly we were bombarded with Democrats’ departure, insults from the Dean The Cal Poly College according to the press of Liberal Arts, Doug release from CP ColEpperson,” the press Republicans found a lege Republicans. release continued.

The event was orig“His role as a represpeaker who was willing to inally set to proceed sentative of Cal Poly fill in as their panelist on with three of the five is to uphold the stanoriginal panelists — dards of the Universiextremely short notice.

Alicia Shepard, Chip ty, especially concernCP COLLEGE REPUBLICANS’ Visci and Bill Whittle. ing student’s and student PRESS RELEASE Mustang News originally group’s rights to free speech. reported that Whittle withHis personal perception of our drew from the event Feb. 9 due to speaker overshadowed his ability the controversy surrounding his invitation, to identify that he is a victim of the fake however according to the CP College Republinews media.” cans’ press release, this was not the case.

Epperson denied the CP College Repub“Bill Whittle had to cancel due to unforeseen licans’ claim. circumstances at the last minute,” they wrote in “The group did authentically communithe press release. “This was not in response to cate deep disappointment and feeling bethe negative media or the democratic cancellatrayed, but no one, including me, hurled tion. The Cal Poly College Republicans found a insults as the [CP College Republicans’] speaker who was willing to fill in as their panelist press release suggested,” Epperson wrote on extremely short notice.” in an email to Mustang News. “It is most The CP College Republicans then met with the unfortunate that the [CP College Republiremaining sponsors — the Dean of Students, cans] mistook genuine expressions of frusthe Dean of CLA, a Journalism Department tration, disappointment, and betrayal as representative, an ASI Student Government derogatory insults.”

Epperson said he and every other university sponsor at the meeting found the CP College Republicans’ choice of Yiannopoulos to be unacceptable.

The remaining co-sponsors, including CLA, immediately withdrew.

Epperson added that the co-sponsors specifically asked CP College Republicans to bring an appropriate panelist and they assured the panelist would not be Yiannopoulos.

In response, the Journalism Department organized “‘Fake News,’ the First Amendment, and a Crisis of Trust” for Feb. 13. This event was eventually canceled as well, following a meeting within the Journalism Department.

“We thought we would move forward on our own, but really we weren’t considering the whole group,” Journalism Department Chair Mary Glick said. “This is why we are backing off now and canceling the revised panel.”

Though a fake news panel did not happen Feb. 13, the Journalism Department plans to discuss the issue of fake news in later events.

“We fully intend to address the issue of fraudulent news and journalistic integrity at the Jim Hayes Symposium in October,” Glick wrote in an email to journalism faculty, staff and students Feb 12.

The CP College Republicans also relayed plans to host their own panel on fake news.

“The Cal Poly College Republicans view this unsuccessful event as a lesson well-learned and are excited to announce that we are planning our own Fake News Panel,” the press release concluded.

3 TUESDAY • FEBRUARY 20, 2018 | NEWS | MUSTANG NEWS

ASI student government candidate filings open, campaigns begin in spring

carry out the president’s goals. The Board of Board representative for the College of SciDirectors upholds the voice of the student ence and Mathematics Mitchell Collins co-aubody. The UUAB oversees financial issues and thored a resolution this year, with Executive makes policy recommendations to university Cabinet Secretary of Inclusivity and Diversity leadership.

Nimrah Aslam, which recommended Cal Poly While they represent the student body, provide religious accommodations for many students feel they do not students who fast during finals know about ASI. week. The idea came afEnvironmental engineerter the Muslim Student ing freshman MackenAssociation asked for na Rawlins was asked religious accommowhat she felt about dations and were student leadership. declined by admin“I think leadership istration last year. is good because it’s “We wrote a resoalways good to have lution saying, ‘Hey, a democratically this is something elected leader,” Rawthe university needs lins said. to be taking into their DENAE DUPRAY However, Rawlins said consideration,’ and because she does not know that’s something I am rehow ASI student government ally proud of,” statistics senior affects her, she would not vote.

Collins said.

In 2017, ASI is responsible for the addition Collins and Dupray both said this resoluof 500 new bike racks around campus in parttion was the accomplishment they were most nership with the University Police Department, proud of. the maintenance of the floor of Chumash AuAccording to Dupray, four students ran for ditorium to hold more students, and the impleASI president last year and 54 ran for ASI mentation of “Buck the Stigma” week.

Board of Directors.

TUESDAY • FEBRUARY 20, 2018 | NEWS | MUSTANG NEWS

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Meet Alexa Rozell, Cal Poly Entrepreneurs’ leading woman Alyssa Mavor Special to Mustang News

Alexa Rozell is unshakable.

On a Friday afternoon, the economics junior attempted to follow a homemade bread recipe. She removed one hand from kneading a gooey mass of bread dough and skeptically added more flour to the blob.

“No one teaches you how to do this,” she said, her head full of dark curls shaking as she laughed.

Rozell’s approach to making bread for a friend’s dinner party is similar to her approach to leadership: diving into it wholeheartedly and getting her hands dirty.

2), room 210 nearly erupted with shouts and giggles as students acted out imaginary scenes and practiced mirroring each other’s dance moves. Rozell laughed along with the rest.

Odd one out Despite being the current face of entrepreneurship at the university through leading Cal Poly Entrepreneurs, Rozell had no prior experience with the field before college.

“I didn’t know what entrepreneurship was when I got here,” Rozell said.

Rozell first got involved with the club when members conducted a workshop in her residence hall her freshman year.

She soon found herself regularly going A new leader to club meetings where she developed Rozell is the first woman president of the friendships with some of the officers.

Cal Poly Entrepreneurs, a club for the At that time, there were only two other courageous innovators of Cal Poly. The women members who regularly showed role is not one for the faint of heart. Club up to club meetings. Sometimes Romeetings regularly see 50 members and zell brought her roommates to even out aim to get attendees out of their the balance. comfort zone.

A few months after she Her influence is reflectjoined, Rozell’s officer ed in the club. Rozell friends in Cal Poly Endelegates tasks so trepreneurs convinced each meeting runs her to join the board. s m o ot h ly w it h She was elected to a multiple members brand new position, of the executive member experience team tackling difand recruitment, ferent jobs. where she examined Rozell also interns who attended meetat the Hatchery, an ings and why. Pretty on-campus incubator soon, she noticed an inALEXA ROZELL for student startups. For teresting disparity among the past year and a half, her the officer group. boss, Lori Jordan, has watched Ro“It hit a point where I was the only zell help students tackle the challenges of female on the board, so that was weird bestarting a new business. cause I wasn’t used to getting comments “She trusts people to do what they say about it,” Rozell said. they are going to do,” Director of Student The disparity seemed to bother other peoInnovation Programs Jordan said. “They do ple more than it bothered her. As a woman things because she expects a lot of them.” studying economics, Rozell was used to beThough she leads with poise and confiing outnumbered by men. dence, Rozell’s humorous spunk also shines Rozell did experience some challenges on through. A recent Cal Poly Entrepreneurs the board relating to her gender. She often workshop featured a series of high-energy had a different point of view than the rest improvisational games to teach students of the group. how to think on their feet and adapt to “I was often on my own during whatever situations. Cotchett Education (building decision was being made,” she said.

No one teaches you how to do this.

LEADER OF CHANGE

Z ACH DONNENFIELD | MUSTANG NE W S

| Only two other women went to club meetings when Rozell first joined.

To infinity…

Still, Rozell was comfortable in her leadership role and soon found another. During fall quarter of her sophomore year, she served as the back of house chair at TEDx San Luis Obispo.

According to Ashley White, executive producer of the TEDx, Rozell took the reigns backstage. She built and managed teams, planned the stage design and wrote scripts, among other responsibilities.

“She will do great things. I imagine she will do what she loves,” White said. “She will definitely be in a leadership role.”

And lead she would. Later that year, Rozell was elected the entrepreneurship club’s president. She soon brought on her own executive board. It was half women.

The result was not on purpose, she said; people were selected based on merit. Nevertheless, she may have pioneered the future of the club. Recent presidential elections for next year’s officers revealed a second woman president.

Jordan said Rozell will go “anywhere she

wants” in life.

“One day I’m going to open up the New York Times and there will be an article about how she got where she is today,” Jordan said. … and beyond Twenty-year-old Rozell will graduate this spring after only three years at Cal Poly. Like everything else, she tackled school with fierce determination.

“She always seems to blow me away with how talented she is,” her father, Brett Rozell, said.

Though she does not know exactly where she will end up, Alexa has dreams of running a “Dirty Jobs”-type show for artists and creators.

“I like working with my hands, so I’d love doing that instead of sitting at a desk,” Alexa said.

One thing is certain: spunky and poised, Alexa Rozell is nothing but determined. The aroma of fresh-baked bread that floated out of her apartment later may well waft out of her C-Suite one day.

Cassandra Garibay @ CassandraGari

Red lanterns and calligraphy stencils filled the tables as Cal Poly students and members of the San Luis Obispo community gathered around to eat food and watch live performances, celebrating the Lunar New Year.

Cal Poly MultiCultural Center (MCC) members hosted the first-ever Lunar New Year celebration in Chumash Auditorium Feb. 12.

Lunar New Year is celebrated by many Asian cultures that use the lunar calendar, rather than the solar calendar the American New Year follows. Lunar New Year takes place Feb. 16, however many cultures start the traditions early. Comparative ethnic studies junior and MCC student assistant Riley Wang helped put on the event.

“In the past years we haven’t had a very specific Lunar New Year event ... so it is nice to have such a big thing for a lot of students,” Wang said. “We haven’t had an event like this and we wanted to bring a little bit of home to school with us.”

Although the MCC celebration was in recognition of a multitude of Asian cultures, the event focused on Chinese and Vietnamese traditions.

LION DANCING

“The way we set up the event is very Chinese and Vietnamese centered, and we didn’t want to exclude other cultures, when those other cultures were very, very crucial and important to how our own traditions were formed,” Wang said.

The goal of the event was to provide a space for Asian students to celebrate the holiday away from home. The event was also a way to educate the public, particularly those who had not previously experienced a Lunar New Year celebration or the customs that come along with the holiday, Wang said.

“The main purpose is purely to celebrate, and also to raise awareness for the different cultures that celebrate this event and be able to highlight how important how important this event is to us,” Wang said.

According to Wang, each year is associated with one of the 12 zodiac animals, which refers back to the story of “the Great Race,” an ancient tale about the animals and their characters. This year is the year of the dog.

Another traditional story, centered primarily around Chinese customs, is the story of Nian. Wang explained, that Nian means “year” in Mandarin and was the name of an ancient Chinese monster. It was fabled that loud noises from pots and pans and firecrack-

ers as well as light from red lanterns would scare the monster away. As a way to honor this tradition, the Lunar New Year event had stations set up for people to create paper lanterns using red envelopes.

Along with the paper lantern stations, the event had calligraphy stations and pamphlets to educate attendees about different traditions celebrated throughout different Asian countries.

Celebrations of Chinese New Year In addition to MCC, other cultural groups on campus celebrated the Lunar New Year with their own customs. The Chinese Christian Fellowship (CCF), a club founded with the goal of helping Chinese international students adapt to Cal Poly, hosted their annual Dumpling Night in celebration of the Chinese New Year Feb. 10.

The fellowship hosts weekly potlucks and bible study groups open to all students interested in learning about Chinese culture or Christianity. CCF Women’s Bible study leader and child development junior Amanda Louie explained that Dumpling Night is one of the club’s largest outreach events.

At Dumpling Night, attendees assist in hand making traditional Chinese dumplings with their peers.

“I saw dumpling night as a way to get together with people that are interested in the same thing as me and get great food,” general engineering sophomore Brian Ho said.

The dumpling, according to Chinese lore, is representative of the ingot, the ancient Chinese currency. According to Wang and Louie, it is believed that the more dumplings you eat during the New Year festivities, the more wealth you will acquire in the upcoming year.

For students interested in another opportunity to celebrate the Lunar New Year, CSA will be hosting their 61st annual Chinese New Year Banquet March 3 in Chumash Auditorium.

Tickets cost $12 for adults and $10 for children 12 and under. The banquet will have food catered from Golden China and performances from the CSA Lion Dancing team, hip-hop group “Take Out Kids” and acapella group “Variations.” The event will also highlight a traditional play about the zodiac dog performed by CSA members.

“This is a great opportunity for [people] to step out of their comfort zone and experience something really different for a night,” CSA President and business administration senior Jason Lu said.

CA SSANDR A GARIBAY | MUSTANG NE W S

| The Chinese Student Association Lion Dancing team performed a traditional lion dance at the MultiCultural Center’s Lunar New Year event Feb. 12.

TUESDAY • FEBRUARY 20, 2018 | ARTS | MUSTANG NEWS

Students celebrate Lunar New Year through ancient traditions

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TUESDAY • FEBRUARY 20, 2018 | ARTS | MUSTANG NEWS

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Appendage and Bough offers vintage and quirky products to San Luis Obispo Riley Rhodes Special to Mustang News

Hidden away on the corner of Pismo Street and Walker Street, just down the way from High Street Deli, three San Luis Obispo locals assembled Appendage and Bough from the inside-out. Ryan Ratzlaff, Tim Beebee and Malik Thorne have filled the space with various treasures they find at swap meets, estate sales and flea markets.

The store’s wide-open garage door allowed a breeze to brush past visitors who flipped through an array of recycled books, ironon patches of famous cities and bands, and classic rock ‘n’ roll vinyl. Ratzlaff smiles as he tells the story of the wooden table he made using parts he collected from various junk yards.

“I have a hard time throwing things away,” he said.

Bits and pieces of Ratzlaff and his partners’ personalities are displayed throughout Appendage and Bough — a collection of vintage, repurposed and homemade items the owners describe as a lifestyle store.

“I just like hunting for things,” Ratzlaff said. “I like finding interesting things, and hopefully somebody who sees it here can enjoy it, too.”

Ratzlaff, garbed in a weathered denim button-up and a local brewery’s baseball cap, has a passion for building and collecting things he finds valuable that others may not.

In 2011, Ratzlaff channeled his passion by starting Appendage and Bough, which, at the time, meant building and selling furniture through the online craft sales platform Etsy. As online sales increased, Ratzlaff was prompted to call on his friend of 15 years, Beebee, to help him with the business.

The two maintained an online presence before finding and moving into their garage-front nook in downtown San Luis Obispo in 2015, where their online sales turned into physical ones.

“It’s a challenge,” Beebee explained as he crossed his arms with a pencil tucked under his hat, his black dog, Luke, attached to his hip. “But you learn a lot. You learn a lot about yourself. Building and being creative is the best part of it.”

Their shared passion for building and creating gave life to the name Appendage and Bough. Appendage means “arms” or “hands” and bough means “limb of a tree.”

Beebee and Ratzlaff laughed as they explained that the interesting word choice can be attributed to a lack of available website domains and the help of a thesaurus.

Beebee and Ratzlaff build their products in Visalia, California where they operate their own woodshop.

CL ASSIC

ALI HE STON | MUSTANG NE W S

| Appendage and Bough started off as an Etsy brand and now offers a collection of vintage, repurposed and homemade items.

To find materials for their projects, the two salvage wood from a variety of locations including old buildings, floorings and barns. They call this collection their own “personal lumberyard.”

“I’ve always been interested in the history of stuff — who designed it, where it’s been found,” Ratzlaff said.

While self-made items are a big part of the Appendage and Bough operations, most of the store’s inventory is from local artists and vendors.

Walking through the store, visitors will find a ceramics collection of colorful plates and bowls made in Atascadero, vintage leather wallets from an artist in San Luis Obispo, and handmade scented candles collected from a vendor in Santa Cruz, California.

Many of these connections are through Thorne, the third owner who was brought on to operate the storefront in San Luis Obispo.

“Once you make stuff and share stuff, you connect so many people so fast,” Thorne said.

Thorne, who has worked at the record shop Boo Boo Records for 15 years, is a familiar face to many San Luis Obispo locals.

His love for music, books and people brought a new vision to Appendage and Bough. Thorne has filled the shelves with books, from James Baldwin novels to camp-

ing how-to’s. His broad range of music taste is displayed through the vinyl collection, which ranges from classic rock to African hip-hop.

“Having a space where I can do a small show and invite people or get some art up on the wall from someone who’s just starting out, or even just create a space where people can come in and find some things and talk about music or books, for me, that’s it,” Thorne said.

All three owners agree that impacting every customer that walks through the door keeps their business alive.

“The people that work there are extremely approachable and really take interest in you,” business administration student and frequent Appendage and Bough customer Claire Lorentz said. “Going there is a much different experience than any other store in [San Luis Obispo].”

Thorne sits on a rusted yellow stool and recalls a moment he shared with a customer who he said embodies what he values so much about his job.

“We had someone here the other day … we both had this passion for Neil Young. We just talked and sat and watched Neil Young videos from ‘The Last Waltz,’” Thorne said.

The two then exchanged band recommendations. “It was such a nice moment to just share that with someone else. It’s that. It’s

that communication — that you get to meet so many different people and learn.”

The owners count on this type of connection as well as word of mouth to make up for their isolated location.

Despite the disadvantages of a more isolated storefront, Beebee, Ratzlaff and Thorne value their little garage on the corner for more than just its affordable rent.

“We like that it’s a forgotten part of town,” Beebee explained. “We think it really fits our brand.”

The three also value the absence of nearby neighbors, which allows them to host events like pop-up art shows and intimate concerts.

Being an active part of the community is a staple value of Appendage and Bough. Hosting events like this allows them to connect with the community.

“Being a part of your community is really the biggest thing you can do,” Thorne said. “It’s an important part of civic duty in some ways.”

With success in both online and in-store sales, the men of Appendage and Bough feel accomplished.

When asked about plans for the future, Ratzlaff, Beebee and Thorne agree they want to let any expansion happen naturally.

“I think it’s happened pretty organically up to this point, so it’s hard to say,” Beebee said. “But we like the direction.”

SHAY VENK ATR AMANI | COURTE SY PHOTO

SUBJECT 11 | ISLA 240 created a multimedia platform based on the show. creator Reynaldo Hermawan said.

The students were allowed to create whatever they believed was appropriate “Mouthbreathers with a Mic.” “Demablog.” for the project, as long as they worked “Are You Strange Enough?” both independently and collaboratively These are just a few names of the “Strangto bring their visions to life. er Things” media elements that have been Industrial technology and packaging jucreated by the Introduction to Media nior Navin Kuppamala created an original Arts and Technologies (ISLA 240) class, song called “Everything Stranger,” dediwhich were officially released to the public cated to people who feel they do not beFeb. 13. long in the world. The entire class plans ISLA 240 merges art and technology, to release a music video for the song that encouraging the expression of both arshowcases individuality. eas through creative processes. ISLA 240 “I really like how free [the class] is,” professor Muara Johnston wanted her Kuppamala said. “I’m a creator and first course at Cal Poly to reflect it caters very well to my tala contemporary teaching ents. I don’t have a lot of style that implemented classes where I really the various commuget a Learn by Doing nication mediums experience.” available today.

The 13 students “[Technology has] and Johnston aim changed so drastito share the project cally in the last 10 with as many peoto 15 years,” Johnple as possible by ston said. “I wanted expanding the class’ students to not only Upside-Down Fan NAVIN KUPPAMALA understand new technolClub. As the site gains ogies and how to use them, traction, they will review but also have new experiences.” the analytics regarding their Johnston first had the class vote on a audience’s responses. subject for the project and then divided “Stranger Things” content will be posted the students to work on different aspects weekly on the website and social media of the multimedia project. The project’s accounts for the rest of Winter 2018. When focal point is its website, which provides week 10 ends, the continuation of the projinterrelated platforms related to the ect will be up to the students.

Netflix show: a blog, podcasts, videos, Above all, Johnston said she wants her games, memes and links to different social students to learn the importance of techmedia accounts. nological relationships when telling a stoSeveral students had no previous expery. She said she hopes her students learn to rience with creating such media elements ask important questions about what they and acquired new skills, such as coding. consume and produce.

“We had to learn a little bit of CSS and “It’s very difficult to figure out what the HTML, which is basically a little bit of truth is anymore,” Johnston said. “We code for the website,” liberal arts and enhave to be responsible for the stuff we put gineering junior and online trivia game out there.”

Emma Kumagawa @ emma_kumagawa

I’m a creator and it caters very well to my talents.

TUESDAY • FEBRUARY 20, 2018 | ARTS | MUSTANG NEWS

Release of Cal Poly class’ ‘Stranger Things’ multimedia project

7

Women at the Wall: Cal Poly’s climbing program for women Tabata Gordillo @ tabatagordillo

Women of Cal Poly gathered around in the climbing park located outside the Cal Poly Recreation Center Feb. 8. The sun began to set as woman climbers of all skill levels reached for the top of the rock walls. It was an environment filled with confidence, support and determination.

Since the start of Winter 2018, Cal Poly’s climbing park has scheduled an extra hour from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursdays to encourage woman students to come out and climb. Though the name is not official, the event has been referred to as “Women at the Wall.”

This weekly event was proposed by earth and soil science junior and climbing park staff member Adriana Long.

“The idea started last year,” Long said. “There had already been some kind of women’s night before, but it didn’t really take off.”

It was not until Long spoke to the founder of a similar club, Women in Wilderness, that she felt determined to make Women at the Wall a consistent event.

“I talked to her and thought that, on my end, I could do something at the wall since I work there,” Long said.

Long and the three other woman staff members at the climbing park pitched this idea to Associated Students, Inc. Coordinator of Outdoor Recreation Matt Eaton.

“We’ve held this event in the past, but it’s real-

CLIMB

ly dependent on the student staff because they really do a lot of the work. Everything is free for Cal Poly students if they come through the rental center in front of the [Cal Poly Recreation] center,” Eaton said.

The plan was put into action after Long typed up a document offering more detail about the proposition. Feb. 8 marked the fourth Women at the Wall of the quarter.

According to Eaton, this event is meant to provide a more inclusive and diverse environment at the wall.

“We just want to create a good female presence there for women that are either experienced climbers who just want to come and climb in the company of other women, or for women who are just breaking into the sport,” Eaton said.

This event gives women students an opportunity to feel supported while getting the help and information they need to get on the wall.

According to climbing park staff member and biomedical engineering junior Grace Boyes, each event covers a different topic.

“We try to make it so that each time we come out here for women’s night, we’ll go over something a little bit different about climbing and everybody gets to learn something that way,” Boyes said.

Economics sophomore Madison Kliewer began her climbing journey last year as a way to bond with friends while taking a break from her studies.

“Women at the Wall is really fun because it’s all

TABATA GORDILLO | MUSTANG NE W S

| Economics sophomore Madison Kliewer makes her way to the top of the wall.

TABATA GORDILLO | MUSTANG NE W S

GIRL POWER | Women at the Wall was started to provide a more inclusive environment. women,” Kliewer said. “It’s a lot less intimidating, so I can bring my girlfriends along.”

According to Kliewer, the women staff provide the attendees with useful tips on how to climb.

“Last week they gave us a little print-out with climbing terms to learn,” Kliewer said. “It’s very accessible and kind of introductory.”

Kliewer said Women at the Wall provides her with the opportunity to push herself and see her improvements.

“I was an athlete growing up, so I was always used to pushing myself to see results,” Kliewer said. “Since I stopped playing sports, it’s been really hard to find that, but in climbing you can push yourself.”

Through social media and word of mouth, Women at the Wall has been a huge success its first month, reaching as many as 30 female climbers at a time.

“The turnout has been really strong,” Eaton said. “We just want to increase and improve

HELPING HAND

our outreach.”

Similarly, physics sophomore and fellow climbing park staff member Lisa Swartz hopes this event encourages female climbers to be confident in their practice, regardless of their abilities.

“The climbing environment can be kind of hard because you’re really putting yourself out there and you’re surrounded by a lot of macho people,” Swartz said. “It can sometimes be hard to see your worth, but we hope to build that here.”

Women at the Wall will continue every Thursday night through the rest of the quarter.

The event’s continuation will then be determined by this quarter’s turnout and the Spring 2018 schedule.

“Now is the perfect time to keep it going,” Boyes said. “The purpose of Women at the Wall is to get strong and to encourage women climbers to help build a supportive community where you can come and not be as intimidated while being in a positive environment.”

TABATA GORDILLO | MUSTANG NE W S

| Climbing park staff member Adriana Long helps climber adjust her harness.

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Blind Faith: religion and state Max Reichardt @max_reichardt

Max Reichardt is a communications studies senior and Mustang News columnist. The views expressed here in this column do not reflect the viewpoints and editorial coverage of Mustang News.

Imagine a fair, compassionate, shrewd and benevolent government. Such values embodied in the highest office would be exemplary and would provide guiding principles in our lives.

However, real government isn’t the best source of values. Instead, an endless loop of teaching and learning values comes from stories, our parents, media and religion.

Many values are consistent across religious faiths, including the famous “Golden Rule” of reciprocity and empathy. This rule is found in Christian, Buddhist, Confucian, Hindu, Islamic, Jewish and even Satanic stories. While specific origin stories, deities and rules vary, it’s fair to say the world’s religions are more similar than they are different.

So, what’s wrong with injecting religion into politics? If these ideologies are predicated on values like empathy, love and self-efficacy, it sounds like they would be excellent guiding principles for a benevolent government.

Statistically speaking, it doesn’t look bad. The 90-percent Christian-affiliated United States Congress crafts legislation to be signed by the Christian President, to then be followed by the 70 percent of the U.S. identifying as Christian. These laws, should they be challenged, will be met by a Supreme Court with five Catholics, three Jews and the religiously-ambiguous Neil Gorsuch on the bench — another Christian plurality. We are a representative democracy, making decisions for the greater good based on majority rule, are we not?

Frank Shirley, Clark Griswold’s scrooge-like boss in “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” put it best: “Sometimes things look good on paper, but lose their luster when you see how it affects real folks.”

A Christian majority in our country and all three branches of our government is no guarantee of the fairness, compassion, empathy or benevolence that a religiously-motivated government should ideally provide, even though many constituents are supposedly like-minded.

OPINION

RELIGION IN GOVERNMENT

CARSTEN FRAUENHEIM | MUSTANG NE W S

| Reichardt argues that religion should not be a dominating force in how government conducts itself.

We are no theocracy and were not intendreligious values that should be exhibited by an ed to be so. The founding fathers enshrined overwhelmingly Christian government. clauses for “establishment” and “free exercise” Take, for example, the scandal over Alabama regarding religion in the First Amendment Senate candidate Roy Moore last year, who to the Constitution. This two-sided, almost was accused of numerous relationships with laissez-faire approach allows the teenage girls while he was in his 30s.

U.S. to regard religion both Meanwhile, Moore’s spokesman directly and indirectly. We is on record saying homosexrespect and acknowledge uality should probably be We are no its existence and promillegal because “It’s a sin, ise not to restrict it or okay?” This sort of hytheocracy and were establish a national repocrisy exemplifies the ligion, on paper. blurring lines between Unofficially, we unvalues-informed legislanot intended to derstand that a religious tion and unjust religious majority exists and is interference in governbe so. highly influential in our ment. Scores of women, politics, regardless of what white Evangelicals and other the Constitution posits.

Republican voters disregarded the This majority wouldn’t be an issue allegations against Moore and vowed to if religiously-motivated politicians could stick vote for him anyway. to universal values, i.e. ‘What would Jesus do?’

Consider abortion rights, arguably the most and inform their policy decisions with true contentious and religiously-motivated policy religious morality. facing the U.S. today. Even a perfectly just and Unfortunately, what we see much of the time moral government would face a conundrum from these individuals instead is hypocrisy and regarding abortion legislation. all but a bastardization of objectively positive However, I believe even they would think

that allowing people the freedom to make their own decision on the matter is right. Tyrannical, falsely-religious legislation is what is immoral.

Unfortunately, President Donald Trump became the first sitting president to address the “March for Life” this year, and stated his commitment to battling Roe v. Wade.

Next, consider the federal legalization of samesex marriage. Despite the Supreme Court ruling in favor back in 2015, Evangelical conservatives condemned the ruling as “judicial tyranny” and called on constituents and colleagues to defend “religious freedom.” The ruling doesn’t prohibit the free exercise of any religion, though — it only prohibits zealots from depriving citizens of their rights.

Religion and its expression are flawed. Statistical arguments are flawed. Governments are flawed and people are flawed as well. We cannot vilify all religious politicians, nor can we stand idly by while misguided policy is pushed and immoral individuals are defended in the name of religion. We must hold our officials accountable for pushing a false religious agenda. We must reign in religious extremists who give all religious politicians a bad name, or we must fall on our own holy sword.

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!

Here’s How It Works:

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!

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

Guess Who? I am a pop singer born in Barbados on February 20, 1988. I had a tough childhood and sold clothes in a street stall with my father. I started singing at age 7 and released my first album in 2005. My first hit was about a device that blocks the rain.

*See answers at mustangnews.net/puzzles/

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

O B L O D

CLUES ACROSS

CLUES DOWN

1. Emperor of Russia 5. Abounding in rocks 11. Increase in speed 14. Music app 15. Not nice 18. Tables (Span.)

19. Decomposes 21. __ student: learns healing 23. Nursemaid 24. Joke-teller 28. Male parent 29. Group of countries (abbr.)

30. “Rambling Rose” actor Lukas 32. Midway between south and southwest 33. Cartoon Network (abbr.)

35. Peacock network 36. Principal ethnic group of China 39. Made of fermented honey and water 41. Exclamation of surprise 42. Evaluates skill or knowledge 44. Stage in ecological succession 46. Ethnic group of SE Asia 47. Not small 49. A cat is one 52. Broken piece 56. French president 58. Artist’s workroom 60. Ability to apply knowledge and skills 62. Visually stunning 63. Ancient region south of Dead Sea

1. Used to pour beer 2. Con game 3. Skin disorder 4. Communists (slang) 5. Subjects to hostility 6. A major division of geological time 7. Hitting statistic (abbr.)

8. British thermal unit 9. Influential envoy to Woodrow Wilson 10. Fits on neck of animal 12. Fertile soil 13. Type of battery 16. Khoikhoin peoples 17. Consist of two parts 20. Small group of trees 22. Execute or perform 25. Millihenry 26. 007’s creator 27. Associated with esoteric doctrine 29. Electronic countermeasures 31. Schenectady County Airport 34. No (Scottish) 36. Position of leadership 37. Statement 38. Raccoons belong to this genus 40. One who diagnoses 43. True mosses 45. Blood type 48. Albanian 50. Emergency response notification system 51. College reservists 53. Away from wind 54. Tough outer layer 55. Art __, around 1920 57. Born of 58. The greatest of all time 59. Georgia rockers 61. Natural logarithm

HOROSCOPES ARIES – Mar 21/Apr 20 Stressful week, Aries. But you’ll manage, you’re a pro at juggling a million tasks at once. Brush twice Sunday morning.

TAURUS – Apr 21/May 21 Taurus, you’re missing home big time. Make an effort to call a good friend or family member that you’re missing extra hard. Try a new brand of soap Wednesday afternoon.

GEMINI – May 22/Jun 21 Your breath isn’t the only thing that’s been smelling this week, Gemini. People are sick of your nasty attitude. Get it together! Swish with extra mouthwash Tuesday night.

CANCER – Jun 22/Jul 22 You’re up for an adventure, Cancer! There’s one waiting right around the corner. Say “yes” to more things! Buy a new toothbrush Monday night.

LEO – Jul 23/Aug 23 Financial discipline is what you need this week, Leo. You’ve been a big spender and it’s time to tone it down. Don’t forget deodorant Wednesday afternoon.

VIRGO – Aug 24/Sept 22 Virgo, get social this week and hit the dance floor. A new friend is going to be delighted to have you around, don’t be afraid to let loose!

Floss every night this week.

LIBRA – Sept 23/Oct 23 A cutie fa shao is looking your way, Libra. Don’t be afraid to make the first move. People like confidence! Make sure to chew on lots of gum and mints Friday night.

SCORPIO – Oct 24/Nov 22 A friend might have disappointed you lately, Scorpio. Give them the benefit of the doubt, they may have problems that you don’ t know about. Treat yourself to a fun soap Thursday morning.

SAGITTARIUS – Nov 23/Dec 21 Sagittarius, school or work has taken a back seat lately, you need to get back on the ball!

Get focused and make lists, it will do you good.

Apply hand sanitizer Saturday afternoon.

Stanford

ENVIRONMENTAL & WATER STUDIES SUMMER PROGRAM JUNE 26 – AUGUST 18, 2018

CAPRICORN – Dec 22/Jan 20 You’re running at one million miles per hour, Capricorn. Take a breather and some time for yourself, you deserve it. Take a bubble bath Tuesday night.

AQUARIUS – Jan 21/Feb 18 You’re forgetting something major, Aquarius.

Remember what it is quick, or there might be consequences. Wear some perfume Thursday night.

PISCES – Feb 19/Mar 20 This week is for you to unwind and kick back, Pisces. Take a trip to somewhere you’ve always wanted to go. A new place is waiting to be seen! Wash your face three times Wednesday morning.

STANFORD ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING WEB:

ewssummer.stanford.edu

QUESTIONS? EMAIL EWSSUMMER@STANFORD.EDU

TUESDAY • FEBRUARY 20, 2018 | SPORTS | MUSTANG NEWS

14

The journey to ‘The Bigs’ Lauren Pluim @ lo_pluim34

When former Cal Poly baseball relief pitcher Justin Calomeni was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the ninth round of the 2016 Major League Baseball (MLB) Draft, it was, as one would suspect, one of the most anticipated days of his life.

“It was unbelievable,” Cal Poly baseball alumnus Calomeni said. “It was a dream come true.”

While most who get drafted have similar feelings of elation as Calomeni, others are more subdued. Slater Lee, who was drafted in the 24th round to the Oakland Athletics, exhibited a more subdued reaction.

“I was just sitting at my desk in my room listening, but had no anticipation of it happening — if it happened, great. If not, then there’s more to life, but, you don’t really anticipate something like that until it happens. It kind of hits you when you get out there and there’s a big life change.” Cal Poly baseball alumnus Lee said. “I just called my parents and was like, ‘Hey, by the way I just got drafted,’ and they were like, ‘Cool, congratulations’.”

Players’ reactions to being drafted are not the only things that differ. Depending on what round a player goes in, they may face different challenges.

Spencer Howard, second round, pitcher Cal Poly baseball alumnus Spencer Howard’s success came suddenly and unexpectedly.

“I wasn’t a top prospect the entire season

or all through college. I had no idea [getting drafted] was going to happen, so I kept my same thought process through the whole thing: just keep trying to grind,” Howard said.

Howard was drafted in the second round by the Philadelphia Phillies in July 2017.

Because he wasn’t expecting to be drafted, Howard said he does not feel there are any additional pressures due to the round he was drafted in. However, he said he does believe that each person deals with their own challenges.

For Howard, it is trying to adjust to different coaching styles. “[The challenge for me is] just coming in and trying to make a new set of coaches happy and trying to take what they say and use what you think will make you better,” Howard said.

In addition to the coaching adjustments, the rigorous schedule of playing in short-season was also a shock for Howard. The continuous travel and minimal rest time between starts is a jarring change from playing in college.

Justin Calomeni, pitcher, ninth round Calomeni’s journey started with his childhood dream of playing professional baseball. It was always his goal, it was just a matter of achieving it.

“We all took this opportunity because when we were kids and we started playing baseball, [we wanted] to grow up to be professional baseball players,” Calomeni said. “When you finally get that opportunity, sometimes it’s hard to remember that this is what you wanted when you were little.”

The goal for men’s soccer seniors: Scoring a professional job Megan Healy @ HealyMegan

After the 2016 postseason NCAA playoffs, four men’s soccer seniors were drafted to professional teams; three to Major League Soccer (MLS) teams and one to a United Soccer League (USL) team. Those four seniors — Kip Colvey, Chase Minter, Wade Hamilton and Matt LaGrassa — proved that making it to the pro leagues after Cal Poly was not just a dream — it was an attainable reality.

According to Coach Steve Sampson, current seniors forward Kaba Alkebulan, defender Adam Olsen and forward Tyler Savitsky were the players with the most potential to continue play into the professional leagues this year. Unfortunately for the former Cal Poly soccer stars, none of the three players were selected in the MLS

SuperDraft.

“I like to be a player with a chip on my shoulder,” Alkebulan said. “I can hold on to it [to] motivate and push me forward.”

According to Sampson, the lack of a postseason berth in the seniors’ final season definitely hurt their exposure to MLS clubs.

“Anytime your team does well, it only adds value to their exposure ... it would have given them more opportunities,” Sampson said. “I’m not happy that we didn’t make the playoffs this year just because of that.”

Even if the team did make playoffs, earning recognition from professional clubs would not be guaranteed. Sampson said there are two factors that make being picked up by an MLS team difficult. Firstly, there is pressure from the MLS teams to select their own academy players who decided not to go to college. Secondly, several North

Calomeni said he finds his biggest struggle is staying healthy.

“Everything started off really well at the beginning of spring training and then it all started crashing down when I hurt my shoulder,” Calomeni said. “It’s been very stressful.

It’s been a lot for this last year now that I’ve had the labrum surgery … there’s nowhere else to go but up for me, so in my opinion, it’s a fresh start for me in pro ball.”

Calomeni also agrees the short-season schedule is rigorous. Finding time to work out between games and always having to be mentally prepared to enter a game as a relief pitcher has also posed challenges.

JACK DUFF Y | COURTE SY PHOTO

Slater Lee, pitcher, twenty-fourth round Lee’s journey had similarities to both Calomeni’s and Howard’s. He worked towards playing baseball his entire life, but also was not sure he would be picked in the draft.

“It’s cool to see it all come to fruition because it’s been a few-year-long process.

It wasn’t just, like, a one-year thing where everything worked out,” Lee said.

Lee was drafted in the 24th round by the Oakland Athletics in June 2017. He said he does not think the draft round necessarily matters as much as how much effort put towards moving upwards.

“There’s no school involved, so literally everything you do on a given day is dedicated to going to the field and preparing to for that day … but, once you get into a routine everything’s kind of the same,” Lee said. “It’s just a different environment for sure, but

once you adjust to it, it’s just baseball at the end of the day and ... just the realization that this is what you do and getting used to that is probably the biggest change.”

Slater attributes a lot of his success to Cal Poly head baseball coach Larry Lee. “People have this notion that they’re almighty because they got drafted. I attribute a lot of it to Coach Lee because the way he coaches is so humble and he never gloats about anything,” Slater Lee said. “When someone tells him, ‘Congratulations, you just broke some record,’ he’s like, ‘I don’t care’. That’s how it is for a lot of the Cal Poly guys.”

What it really comes down to is the effort put in.

“In the end, the draft is the draft, but the hard work is what gets you there,” Slater Lee said.

American Soccer League teams are folding, creating a surplus of players on the market.

“It’s not just about being the right player,” Alkebulan said. “It’s about being the right player at the right time for some of these teams.”

Even though Alkebulan, Olsen and Savitsky were not drafted, they are still experiencing the anticipation and pressure of landing on a team. Even some of the players who signed professional contracts in 2016 are in the same boat as contracts expire and new opportunities arise. In the meantime, all athletes can do is train and wait for that phone call.

“I could get a phone call and be gone tomorrow,” Olsen said. “But that hasn’t happened yet.”

Once a player gets a call from a professional club, they can either be invited to preseason tryouts or combines, mass showcases where athletes perform mental and physical tests in front of coaches.

“It’s less about the draft and more about how you show in these tryout situations,” Sampson said.

Time is running out for some of these players as MLS and USL teams will solidify their teams within the next couple weeks, and Cal Poly’s senior soccer class is focused on staying in shape for any opportunity that may arise.

So far, Alkebulan has been invited by the San Jose Earthquakes to a combine and has trained with Sacramento Republic and the Las Vegas Lights. Currently, he is looking to improve his play and log minutes with a solid USL team.

“It’s a difficult thing,” Alkebulan said. “It’s both physically taxing and mentally taxing.

There’s no room for doubt.”

Olsen also tried out with the San Jose Earthquakes and USL teams such as Orange County and Sacramento United. Sampson believes he has a good chance of going into L.A. Galaxy or Sporting Kansas City preseason within the coming weeks.

“I’ve just been training, staying fit, I’ve been to some combines, but there was no draft day excitement for me,” Olsen said.

Both Alkebulan and Olsen have been able to get some reps and advice from former Cal Poly men’s soccer goalie Hamilton who just spent the last two years with the Portland Timbers.

Savitsky is currently in preseason with Reno 1868 FC, an affiliate of the San Jose Earthquakes.

Going forward, Olsen hopes the team in future years will be able to mesh together and start creating a presence in the NCAA tournament.

opportunity grant & fee

OPEN FORUMS The Cal Poly Opportunity Grant is a new initiative that will provide financial aid for campus-based fees to highly qualified, low-income California students. The Cal Poly Opportunity Fee is a proposed, new, campus-specific fee that would apply only to newly enrolled out-of-state students. Current students would not be affected.

Cal Poly strongly believes that all qualified students deserve a chance to attend the university, and that all students benefit from learning in a diverse environment. Employers want to hire graduates with the cultural competency to effectively communicate and work with a diverse population. Cal Poly can only provide that education on a campus that reflects the demographic diversity of California and its workforce.

Students are urged to learn more and share their ideas via the Cal Poly Portal through March 14.

ALL ARE WELCOME TO LE AR N M O R E AT THE O PE N FO RU M S: Friday, Feb. 16, 1:10 to 2 p.m. in the Baker Center (No. 180), Room 114.

Thursday, Feb. 22, 11:10 a.m. to noon (UU Hour) in the Baker Center (No. 180), Room 102.

Thursday, March 8, 6:10 to 7 p.m. in Fisher Science Hall (No. 33), Room 285.

Out-of-state students are invited to attend this open forum: Friday, Feb. 16, 9:10 to 10 a.m. in the Science Building (No. 52), Room E-28.

opportunitygrant.calpoly.edu | opportunitygrant @calpoly.edu

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

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SENIOR NIGHT

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ADMISSION IS FREE FOR STUDENTS! 1.Sign-up for just $10 and be a member for life!

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FOR MORE INFO OR TO JOIN, VISIT GOPOLY.COM/STANGGANG!