February 9, 2015

Monday, Febr uar y 9, 20 15

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Firestone Walker: Tapping the local market

Mariah Bravo Special to Mustang News

There’s no better time to brew beer — at least not according to Matt Brynildson, brewmaster at Firestone Walker Brewing Company.

Firestone Walker in Paso Robles has become a leader in the growing craft brewer y phenomenon. Less than a decade after Firestone Walker opened in 1996, it received the World Beer Cup Champion award for midsized breweries in 2004, 2006 and 2010. Men’s Journal highlighted the Firestone Walker Pale Ale as the “Best Beer in America” in 2006.

Firestone Walker’s success is partly due to its emphasis on quality, brand and preference to stay local, and doing so in a place where brewing is relatively new.

“It’s interesting because when I go to Europe, a young brewery would be 150 years old,” Brynildson said. “So a lot of us in craft brewing are in that infant stage.”

Though the brewery is in its juvenile years, Brynildson said that has never kept its founders from focusing on the ultimate goal — quality control.

see BEER, pg 6.

FIRESTONE WALKER BREWING COMPANY | COURTESY PHOTO CRAFTY

| Though Firestone Walker is relatively young, its owners are seasoned veterans on the wine and beer scene. The brewery’s success is partly due to its emphasis on quality, brand and local following.

Former DSP president pleads no contest to drug charge Mustang News Staff Report

JASON HUNG | MUSTANG NE WS ACTION | University administrators will decide whether or not to accept the STATUS pl an

by Feb. 1 3 , at w hi ch p oi nt g re ek org an i z at i ons may b e t a ke n of f s o ci a l prob at i on.

15 takeaways from greek sexual assault action plan Samantha Pryor @sammpryor

Student leaders in Cal Poly greek life submitted the first draft of the Students Taking Action Towards University Safety plan (STATUS) to administration on Feb. 1. It is currently being reviewed by administrators and will be returned to greek life by Feb. 13. If the plan is approved,

sororities and fraternities will be taken off of social probation.

On page 2 are some of the main points taken from the first draft of the STATUS plan. These points are subject to change after administration edits the plan.

see TAKEAWAY, pg 2.

Nutrition senior and former Delta Sigma Phi president Gear McMillan pleaded no contest Friday to felony possession for sale of marijuana, according to a press release from the San Luis Obispo District Attorney’s office.

According to the San Luis Obispo Tribune, in exchange for the no contest plea, prosecutors dismissed a felony charge of possessing a controlled substance — unidentified prescription pills — for sale.

McMillan will return to court for sentencing on April 17 and will be sentenced to no more than one year in county jail – one of the terms of his probation grant.

Additionally, McMillan will have to register as a drug offender and could be fined between $300 and $10,000, the San Luis Obispo Tribune reports.

McMillan’s arrest came while investigating the armed robbery attempt at the Delta Sigma Phi fraternity house on Aug. 10, in which five Cal Poly football players were arrested.

@CPMustangNews

SLO POLICE DEPARTMENT | COURTESY PHOTO

According to a San Luis Obispo Police Department press release from September, investigators were told that part of the motive for the attempted

News... 1-3 | Arts... 4-6 | Opinion... 7 | Classifieds... 8 | Sports... 9-10

robbery may have been to take cash and illegal drugs from the fraternity house.

The case of the five football players is still pending.

Monday, February 9, 2015

NEWS | 2

Professor speaks out in opposition to new registration policies Samantha Pryor @samanthapryor94

Mathematics professor Harvey Greenwald will step before the Office of the Registrar and the Academic Senate to present his opposition toward the new registration program this Tuesday.

“Students will be adversely affected, and I don’t think they’ve thought about that,” he said. “I want to hear that there is an acknowledgement that there is a problem and (the registrar) is willing to try to create a solution before it becomes a problem for students.”

Greenwald has two concerns with the new registration process. First, he believes there was no Academic Senate involvement prior to the development of the registration.

“I have talked to the present and past chair of the senate and the instruction committee,” he said. “None of them were aware of this prior to the announcement of the new policy.”

Psychology and child development professor Gary Laver, who serves as the Academic Senate chair, said that the senate arguably was not directly consulted.

However, Laver stressed that the registrar consulted different constituents including faculty, students

and departments.

“He was correct that the senate proper was never brought into the process,” Laver said. “That’s not to say there wasn’t campuswide involvement. It is incorrect to make the argument that no input was collected,” he said.

Second, Greenwald views the new policy as a “zero sum game” because it does not create new sections, but rather puts certain groups of students at a disadvantage. “ This system rewards students for making progress towards degree, and there are a lot of students in a lot of categories who through no fault of their own are not able to take as many classes as others,” Greenwald said. “Not only are things hard for them, but we are in the process of making things harder.”

According to Greenwald, the disadvantaged students include at risk students, change of major, first generation, part-time, study abroad, low income, self-support, veterans, students with disabilities who

have not yet been approved for disability status and students who take leave for

policy was done without proper consultation and therefore wants

to delay full implementation of new registration until there is a plan to protect those at-risk students who will be disadvantaged by (the) new registration system,” he said.

On the other hand, Cal Poly Registrar Cem Sunata believes that students are not at risk.

“This system is much more efficient than the other system because the goal is to graduate the s t u d e n t s ,” he said.

In response to Gre e n wald’s concerns, Sunata says veterans are entitled to priority registration by law. Additionally, he does not think the new registration process will put students at a disadvantage simply based on students’ differential progress in relation to their major-specific flow chart.

“Students closer to graduation are going for a level of classes that is different than the students coming after them,” Sunata said.

My request to the registrar is to delay full implementation of new registration until there is a plan to protect those at risk students who will be disadvantaged by new registration system Harvey Greenwald serious or compelling reasons.

Greenwald believes the new

a strategy to help students who will be hindered.

“My request to the registrar is

“Seniors are taking senior-level classes; they aren’t taking juniorlevel classes.”

The Academic Senate meeting will be held from 3:10-5 p.m. on Tuesday in the University Union (UU 220). During this meeting, Sunata will be reporting to the full senate on the nature and timing of the new registration policy and procedure. A Q&A session will follow, opening the floor to those interested in voicing their opinions.

Greenwald plans to address his concerns at this time.

“If I am satisfied with the response that there is a recognition of a problem and that we need to formulate a strategy to protect the at risk students, then I’m probably okay,” he said.

However, if Greenwald is not satisfied, he has the opportunity to submit his proposed draft to the senate executive committee which is in charge of determining whether proposed resolutions go to the floor of the senate for adoption or rejection, according to Laver.

“I do think it is fully appropriate for anyone that suspects a problem to come in and ask the registrar what their take is on that,” Laver said. “He is very much welcomed to send the resolution.”

TAKEAWAYS continued from pg 1.

Expectations of the university

Expectations of greek chapters

Expectations of individual members

Expectations of individual councils

1. Educate members of

1. Create chapter pro-

1. Introspectively assess

1. Collaborate with ad-

greek life about the pro-

grams that address sexual

one’s own attitudes of

ministration to revise the

cess of sexual assault in-

assault if they are not al-

sexual assault.

party registration policy

vestigations.

ready in place.

regarding alcohol con2. Be open to work with

2. Inform greek life of the

2. Review chapter policy

others to understand the

consequences following

to judge if sexual assault

severity of the problem.

sexual assault.

among members is punished harshly enough.

3. Update greek life on 3. Create a position in

rent investigations.

each house to act as a Safer representative.

2. Work with Safer to create sexual assault prevention training.

3. Take knowledge from educational sessions and

any policy changes or cur-

sumption.

apply to the real world.

3. Host forums for both greek and non-greek students to voice concerns.

4. Participate in all Greek programming.

4. Create a task force to investigate current social issues such as the “hookup culture.”

5. Add mandatory education events about sexual assault.

Monday, February 9, 2015

NEWS | 3

ORFALEA COLLEGE OF BUSINESS | COURTESY PHOTO AWAY FOR NOW | Students in the Silicon Valley Entrepreneurs program live in the southern Bay Area for seven weeks throughout the quarter. The entire program gives students eight credits for two courses.

‘Hogwarts for entrepreneurs’: Cal Poly’s Silicon Valley Entrepreneurs program people from all walks of life,” he said. “We had a person building a nuclear battery, we had someWhile the rest of their classone come talk to us who was a mates are continuing their member of both teams that won education in San Luis Obispo, the 2011 Nobel Prize for physics, a group of Cal Poly students is and his team was responsible for immersing itself in the “unprethe discovery of the accelerating dictable” business world as a universe theory and the implicapart of the Silicon Valley Ention of dark energy.” trepreneurs program.

York said one of the most imThe pilot program is a portant things students will cooperative effort begain during this experiI probably average about four tween the Center for ence is the networking, or five hours of sleep per night.

Innovation & Entreprehe said.

But I’ve never waken up or gone neurship (CIE) and Ex“I mean every day to bed more energized in my life they’re meeting some tended Education, said of the top technology Jonathan York, Orfalea just because every day here College of Business propeople, some of the top is inspiring fessor and founding facinvestors, some of the top Nick Sinai ulty director of CIE. startup folks who come Business administration

by Draper U as part of the “I kind of like to think of it sophomore as a boarding school for entreprogram. They may not need a preneurs. So it’s like Hogwarts resume — a lot of these students for entrepreneurs,” York said. are going to start their own busiVice Provost of International figured out how to make it work nesses, work with startups, so the Graduate and Extended Education with their academic plans and experience will be something that will serve them well when Brian Tietje compared the program stay on course for graduation.” to study abroad, where students exOne of these “pioneers” is busi- everybody asks, ‘What have you perience a new culture while still ness administration sophomore accomplished?’” York said. receiving credits.

Nick Sinai.

Sinai has already realized the The 10-week program starts at Sinai is currently at Draper impact these people may have Cal Poly, where students receive University taking part in the on his life. eight credits for two courses. program, where he has already “When you’re meeting people They then travel to Silicon Val- noticed significant differences be- that are changing the world, it ley and receive four units for the tween Silicon Valley and San Luis kind of broadens your mind and seven-week entrepreneurship Obispo. He laughed as he recalled gets you in this state of living “boot camp” run by Draper Uni- being punished for showing up a 10x lifestyle and having 10x versity, an organization founded late to one of the activities. ideas. And 10x is a term that I by venture capitalist Tim Draper.

The program participants first heard at Google that basi“Silicon Valley is clearly a dif- picked cards out of a hat to see cally says take everything you ferent culture,” York said. “It’s what the punishment would be. know and scale it up 10x. You the epicenter for technology and He ended up being blindfolded know, change the world, don’t innovation particularly around for the entire day, a clear message improve a product. And it’s kind technology in the country.” not to be tardy in the future. of cool being immersed in that “We’ve done Hackathon; we’ve 24/7,” Sinai said.

York describes the program as an exposure to all things related done team-building activities; we Not only are students being to innovation, entrepreneurship, do public speaking every single exposed to top names, but they technology and venture capital. day; we have to get up in front are also meeting other students “It’s all about finding the inner of our group and in some way, from around the world. Sinai entrepreneur within yourself,” shape or form speak about our said that besides the 17 Cal Poly York said. ideas,” Sinai said. students, the Draper program In order to get involved, stuSinai summed up the program’s includes one other student from dents had to go through an ap- ideal goal as being able to pitch to America and the rest are from plication and interview process in billionaires and meet people who around the world. which 17 students were selected. are influencing the world.

Tietje pointed out that Cal Poly These students vary in both age “You know, it’s not just business works hard to create a campus and major, York said. development talks — we’re get- that has a safe and predictable “We have been working hard on ting hands-on experience from environment. But that doesn’t Lindsy Mobley @lindsy_mobley

getting this for about six months or so but we pulled it together pretty quickly at the end,” York said. “So there wasn’t a whole lot of time for students to plan and prepare etc., so we got a group of pioneers there now who sort of

always necessarily foster the entrepreneurial startup culture that these students need to experience. So he believes this program is an opportunity to immerse students in an environment that has dynamic elements to it, that are more unpredictable and challenging but still safe, Tietje said.

“I probably average about four or five hours of sleep per night.

But I’ve never waken up or gone to bed more energized in my life just because every day here is inspiring,” Sinai said.

At the end of the seven weeks, students will pitch their ideas to a panel of real investors for the actual potential to raise funding and make these ideas a reality.

The panel includes investors from Draper Fisher Jurvetson and Draper Associates, among other venture capitalists Tim Draper has in his network, Sinai said.

Some people may even stay in Silicon Valley after the program to bring their ideas to life, Sinai said.

“People are really preparing themselves. It’s one thing to think about it, but when you’re pitching in front of someone with a billion dollars who’s investing their time into you, and you really don’t want to ruin those connections, it’s a lot of pressure,” Sinai said.

Sinai took second place in CIE’s Startup Weekend SLO. He and a few others plan to bring that same idea to the panel at the end of the seven weeks.

“We’re working on something called ‘Clock’d.’ And that’s basically a web and application platform that allows employees to be clocked in and out of work automatically and this creates perfect time records, which decreases employer liability and maximizes business efficiency by the applica-

tion of time and location data,” Sinai said.

Even though this is only a pilot program, it seems to already be a success. Tietje is hopeful that the program will continue in the future. They don’t have a specific timeline of if and when that might happen, but he hopes that if it’s successful they will be able to set up another opportunity the next academic year, he said.

“The No. 1 thing that the program has done is to help me understand where I have to go to become a better leader and a better team player,” Sinai said.

“This has been one of the most frustrating experiences, as far as projects and one of the most rewarding. Recently I’ve kind of learned the value of what it means to dive into something and make it happen. I’ve realized how pivotal those are to being a successful entrepreneur.”

Monday, February 9, 2015

ARTS | 4

The Audio Files: The death and rebirth of quality music Steven Pardo

Annie Vainshtein @kcpr913

DYLAN SUN | MUSTANG NEWS

Song recommendation: “Swerve ... the reeping of all that is worthwhile” by Shabazz Palaces.

As we tread into our third quarter as DJs and second year of college, Steven and I have come to a scary but ultimately incredible realization: quality is dead.

As young, angsty teens, we ourselves dabbled in the dark arts world of experimental beat production via Garage Band. We both yearned to be the Ratatat of our squad. Clearly, it didn’t work out.

The sad truth about the future of electronic music and most rap music is that the barrier to entry is incredibly low — a tod-

dler with an iPad could hurdle it. As such, we now live vicariously through ketamine-popping, Arizona-Iced-Tea-slurping trap producers, most of them born in a millennium distinctly different from our own.

We’ve thought a lot about this and come to the understanding that the industry has shifted. Circa 2012, the empire fell and the Great Wall of Lil Wayne crumbled to its foundation. And from its ashes emerged a phoenix — one sick drops and floppy-fitting bucket hats. As Kanye became mainstream, the underground filled with soot and people like

Valentina Vertemara Sophomore Liberal Studies

“I can read about news that’s relevant to me and my school.”

Kreashawyn, Lil Debbie, Riff Raff, Danny Brown and Migos — basically all the “artists” you hear playing off of someone’s iHome at their parents’ house during a high school party you begrudgingly attend when you’re home for break — rose to the top.

It’s not about quality anymore; anyone can have it. It’s about personality and the lifestyle. Have you listened to a Mos Def interview? Probably not. The yuppies want spunk. The yuppies want edge. We want poorly produced EPs from guys who live in their mom’s basement in Fresno. We want them to be all about Dairy Queen blizzards, pre-looped samples, 2001 video games and Supreme Box logo hoodies.

Just as the modernist painters did in the past, these musicians are pushing the barriers of art.

They force us to question our preconceived notions of beauty, lyrical prowess and aesthetics.

In 2014, Annie joyously attended a Yung Lean concert.

In that same year, Steven voluntarily went to a Riff Raff concert in an effort to immerse himself in the underground music world of Los Angeles. Upon his arrival, he realized that what he perceived to be the cutting edge of art was none more than a get-together of young Pac Sun-loving teens from Orange County — teens who didn’t care to do much more than drink Four Lokos and grind upon scantily clad members of the opposite gender.

We went to these concerts expecting more than a Tumblr meetup and were disappointed to find that even that was a bit grand in expectation. In real-

DYL AN SUN | MUSTANG NE WS A FALLEN EMPIRE | The definition of ‘quality music’ is constantly changing, and maybe it’s time we start changing with it.

ity, what we perceived to be the cutting edge was little more than fitter fotter for trash.

But that trash is gold. Because in the end, the fact that we don’t fit in is exactly why we love it.

And why we’ll continue to go.

Being a misfit isn’t necessarily bad; it forces you to reevaluate what you consider good and creative. In a world where all music sounds alike, these artists are expanding our cultural and musical horizons and encouraging all of us to take ourselves a little less seriously.

This is what makes it so human. Through it, we discover ourselves and realize that most, if not all, of our pretension is unfounded — that art isn’t about what you think you like, or what you think is good. It’s about pushing the limits of what you perceive and teaching you to be open to new things.

Keep your Versace eyeslits open.

Sincerely, Steven and Annie (Dude-Fil-A and Dunkers, show every Monday from 12-2 p.m.)

Monday, February 9, 2015

ARTS | 5

Flack’s strong performance wows baby boomers at the PAC Frances Griffey @cpmustangarts

The auditorium was abuzz.

Looking at the crowd, it was difficult to spot who didn’t sport a bald head or graying locks. Old friends exchanged smiles, waves, hugs and “how are yous.”

One man sitting next to me squinted at his iPhone while a woman in front of me dropped hers. Instinctively, I held my breath and waited to see the damage, but there was none — it was a flip phone. Another woman in her late 50s or 60s passed her phone off to a friend, saying, “Take a selfie!”

One thing became immediately clear: This was a show for the baby boomers.

Nonetheless, Roberta Flack shined at the Christopher Cohan Performing Arts Center (PAC) Wednesday night, her voice still as soulful as it was more than 30 years ago. If anyone from the audience arrived unsure of what to expect from the jazzy vocalist who was popular back in the ’70s, they certainly left in awe.

Cal Poly Arts Director Steve Lerian came on stage and introduced Flack as one of his “favorite performers of all time” before the music began. At first, we heard her voice, but the singer was nowhere to be seen.

Then, right before the opening song’s chorus, Roberta Flack was spotted walking across the stage with a little aid from one of her backup singers.

She may be in her 70s, but she’s still kickin’.

There was a round of applause as Flack took her seat at the piano and perched her fingers delicately on the keys.

The entire stage was bathed in blue light except for Flack, who commanded the spotlight. An audience member yelled, “We love you, Roberta!” She responded by gazing at her crowd with the biggest, warmest smile.

After her second song, Flack shared some childhood stories.

She reminisced about her North Carolina childhood, where there wasn’t much to do besides make and listen to music.

“On Saturdays, when our neighbors went out clubbing, (my family and I) were in our backyard having the best time,”

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she said.

At the start of each song, the audience erupted into applause of recognition. These people, who had grown up listening to Flack’s music, had an unspoken connection with her.

The feeling of support was almost tangible.

After belting some of her classic tunes, Flack sang her own rendition of “Forever Young,” along with a few Beatles covers including “Here Comes the Sun” and “Dear Jude.” The covers appeared on her recent album, “Let It Be Roberta.”

In last week’s interview with Lerian, he said, “We often like to bring artists form other eras who still have great performance chops. It’s a nostalgic kind of thing for community

audiences.” And Flack’s performance definitely flooded the audience with fond memories. “‘First Time’ brings back memories. We sang it all the time,” Ed Zirvel, 76, said of him and his wife, Carolyn. “We married in the ’60s and have been listening to her albums since then.”

For Diana Pallari, 71, Flack’s music reminds her of when she and her husband were young.

“It brings back memories of more youthful times — romantic times,” Pallari said.

The performance was romantic for Marilyn Webb, 80, who’d celebrated her anniversary the day before.

“We remember her music from a long time ago,” she said.

“It brings it all home.”

Flack’s jazzy vocals are her trademark, and her voice was easily recognizable and sounded just as good to the audience as it did when they heard it on the radio.

“I thought she did a marvelous job,” said Pallari. “I’ve seen other performers her age and was surprised by her strong voice.”

Many were impressed that her talent hadn’t faded away with age.

“It’s lovely that she’s still singing and sounding wonderful,” Webb said.

Flack’s final song, “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face,” was met with a standing ovation.

I think it’s safe to say that Flack left her fans satisfied — and a bit nostalgic.

Monday, February 9, 2015

ARTS | 6 BEER continued from pg 1.

Quality over everything The brewing company may be young, but its owners are not new to the wine and beer market. Adam Firestone, co-founder alongside David Walker, comes from a winemaking family that owned Firestone Vineyard in Los Olivos.

Brynildson said Firestone and Walker’s emphasis on quality control spreads out to the rest of the team.

“If you took a tour of the brewery, you saw the laboratory. We probably have more quality control man hours per barrel of beer than any brewery our size,” he said.

Firestone Walker performs nearly 200 individual quality control tests before the beer touches store counters.

“It’s an industry where good beer is just popping up everywhere, and there’s always little micro-breweries popping up,” said Tyler Madson, the packaging analyst in the quality control lab at Firestone Walker. “We got to stay with the competition.”

Craft brewing certainly did create a more competitive market. Not since 1870 have there been more breweries in the U.S. than there are today. The craft brewing phenomenon has made

FIRESTONE WALKER BREWING CO. | COURTESY PHOTO BONDING OV ER BRE W S | Packaging manager Will Crosby (middle) enjoys one of Firestone Walker’s own.

complexity a must for micro and mid-sized breweries. “(Customers) are looking for new twists on old classic styles, and so it’s a little more difficult,” Brynildson said. “It’s a little more fun for a brewmaster because I’m still looking for drinkability and balance, but now I need to bring in originality (and) creativity into that.”

Craft brewing took off when President Jimmy Carter exempted taxation of home-brewed beer for personal use during his administration in 1979. Hobbyists became more creative with their tastes and flavors. Before then, the 21st Amendment left out laws about home brewing, so it was still illegal.

“Craft brewing is only a few de-

FIRESTONE WALKER BREWING CO. | COURTESY PHOTO LOCAL ROOTS | The brewery brewed its first beer in 1996 in Santa Barbara County. It is now located in Paso Robles, Calif.

cades old at best, and most of the action has happened in the last 10 years,” Brynildson said.

Building the brand Firestone Walker continues to get creative as craft brewing spreads through the market.

The company releases a limited edition anniversary beer each year because its oak-aged beer 10 — commemorating the brewery’s 10th anniversary — was so well received in 2006.

Building on its reputation for rarity, Firestone Walker sets itself apart from any other brewery in the country with its oak barrel, union set fermentation — a process the company has patented.

Union set fermentation is when barrels are “linked together in a yoke of connected vessels (and) as fermentation proceeds, excess yeast and beer are pushed out of the barrel … into a common trough. From there, the beer is channeled back into one of the barrels, mingling the beers somewhat,” according to All About Beer Magazine.

The magazine also said Firestone Walker is one of two breweries in the world to use a union set fermentation process but is the only brewery to use the process and allow the oak to influence the flavor of the beer. Firestone Walker customers, such as Ken Lieber, attribute the fer-

mentation process to the beer’s unique flavor.

“The oak barrel fermented (beers) were absolutely awesome,” Lieber said. “It’s a whole new taste and the flavors just dance in your mouth.”

Besides uniqueness and quality, Brynildson said building a brand that was “approachable” is a huge component of the brewery’s success, particularly the 805 beer.

“I think what helped us remember the brand (was) the name of it being the area code,” Shannon Alcott, 44, of Orange County said. “We would start asking for it down where we are at stores and nobody had it. Actually, the guy at the store where we went looking ... wouldn’t carry it because his ex-girlfriend lived in the 805. And now in the past six months it’s all over Orange County.”

Keeping it local “I think 805 demonstrated to us what we already knew,” Brynildson said. “Someone is willing to give up six-pack beer … made by ‘Mega-brewery X’ made far away for a local brewer who’s making quality beer.”

Firestone Walker started canning the 805 beer last year, which was not its ideal choice of packaging. However, the company quickly realized the benefits of canning.

“Cans are completely impermeable to light and oxygen,” Madson said. “Light increases oxidation reactions, which decrease the shelf life.”

Cans will also help the brewery disperse its beer to small markets such as beachside breweries and golf courses that do not carry glass beverages.

As Firestone Walker succeeds in California, Brynildson said local markets are the ones he wants to remain focused on for the time being.

“From a brewmaster’s per-

FIRESTONE WALKER BREWING CO. | COURTESY PHOTO

spective, I think sometimes we grow a little faster than I’m comfortable with, to be honest … because our job is to make the same quality or better each year. The faster you grow, the harder that becomes,” he said.

Brynildson believes spreading the beer out to farther markets will disturb the quality, which he is not willing to sacrifice.

Firestone Walker does sell some of its beers across the country, but for now the owners have no immediate plans to become “too big.”

“Beer is this perishable food product, and we forget that as beer consumers sometimes,” Brynildson said.

To keep dominating in the local markets, Firestone Walker

has given consumers a new project to anticipate: the opening of a restaurant and brewery in Venice Beach, California, in mid-2015.

According to Firestone Walker’s website, its goal is to do what it’s known for — offering a unique experience for craft beer enthusiasts.

Visit MustangNews.net for the full multimedia story

Monday, February 9, 2015

OPINION | 7

MUSTANG NEWS

Why I didn’t root for any team to win the Super Bowl

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Amelia Parreira @CPMustangSports

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Monday, February 9, 2015 Publishing since 1916 ©2015 Mustang News “Kelly, your butt called me. Bitch”

Super Bowl Sunday is one of my favorite days of the year.

There’s nothing quite like gathering in the living room with my family and friends as we insanely scream at the television, while a bunch of 300-pound guys plunge head-first into another bunch of 300-pound guys.

Most importantly, it’s one of the only days of the year where I can scarf down three chili cheese dogs without a single ounce of guilt.

Even more importantly, however, is that feeling of pride and joy I get when that one team I cheer for earns the championship title.

I had never thought that there would be a year where I absolutely could not take a side — until this year.

I am a huge San Francisco 49ers fan, so I naturally have negative feelings regarding their main rival, the Seattle Seahawks.

But putting loyalty to my own team aside, I feel as though I still cannot bring myself to have a soft spot for the Seahawks.

To me, team sportsmanship and good character are more important than keeping topnotch statistics. This is something the Seahawks have yet to achieve. Sure, maybe not all of them reflect poor personalities, but the only ones who take the spotlight in the media do, making it difficult for the whole team to have anything but

a bad name.

Take cornerback Richard Sherman, for instance.

After winning the 2014 NFC Championship Game over the Niners by a score of 23-17, Sherman reacted by shouting angry remarks in an interview with reporter Erin Andrews directed at wide receiver Michael Crabtree.

How does someone earn an incredible title like that and still throw a tantrum afterward?

It still leaves me in awe.

And, of course, it wasn’t just that one time. No, Sherman went on to plenty more interviews with the same attitude. For example, in an ESPN interview with host Skip Bayless, Sherman refused to answer questions and only took advantage of the moment to insult Bayless, calling him “ignorant,” “pompous,” “egotistical” and other related terms.

Sherman is not the only Seahawk with appalling behavior.

Running back Marshawn Lynch has gotten an exceeding amount of attention for being constantly uncooperative with the media, speaking a word, if anything at all, in interviews and press conferences. I’ve heard people say it’s just because he’s shy, but I say that’s bull. Lynch appeared on a recent episode of Late Night with Conan O’Brien with Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski, not showing any struggle to keep up the conversation. Heck, he even smiled! That just shows that maybe he has just been acting like a stubborn hardhead all

along. Come on, either stay on terms with your contract or get off the field.

I am just so glad the Seahawks lost.

Now, the Patriots — I have never been too fond of them, either, and I certainly don’t hate them as much as the Seahawks, but my respect for them has especially plummeted over the

past few weeks. I don’t know how they managed to get away with under-inflating footballs in a big championship game, much less any game, but all I know is that it’s wrong and never should have happened. A true winning team wins with integrity, not because it created an advantage over another team and cheated its way to the top. I don’t have

too much else to say about the Patriots because, well, it’s pretty much self-explanatory.

Maybe this Super Bowl win will give them enough confidence and security to stop feeling the need to cheat. Probably not, though.

I just hope that next year’s Super Bowl is actually worth my attention.

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Monday, February 9, 2015

SPORTS | 9

Cal Poly women’s softball off to solid start

FILE PHOTO | MUSTANG NE WS HY PERFORMANCE

| Sophomore pitcher Sierra Hyland continued her fine form from last season in the Kajikawa Classic this past weekend, striking out 35 batters while giving up just one run in three games.

Nick Larson @njlarson8

The Cal Poly women’s softball team began its season this past weekend at the Kajikawa Classic hosted by Arizona State.

Heading into this year, a lot remained uncertain for the Mustangs after losing multiple starters to graduation. But after the first weekend of play, it looks as though they’ll be a contender.

The Mustangs went 3-2 in their five games over the weekend.

On Friday, sophomore pitcher and reigning Big West Conference Pitcher of the Year Sierra Hyland dominated Creighton in her first start of the season. Hyland held Creighton scoreless while striking out 14 batters. Freshman center fielder Amanda Sandoval took matters into her own hands on the offensive side, notching the game-winning solo home run in the fifth inning — her first ever collegiate hit.

In the second game of the Friday double-header, the

Mustangs were unable to hold down Oregon without Hyland on the mound. The Ducks went off for eight runs while holding the Mustangs offense scoreless.

Hyland and sophomore second baseman Ashley Tornio were both able to muster two hits, but with no further results.

Saturday would play out similarly for the Mustangs.

They opened the day with a 3-1 win against BYU with Hyland on the mound once again. She struck out 11 batters while giving up six

hits and her first and only earned run of the season. Senior outfielder Emily Ceccacci — Cal Poly’s other preseason Big West first-team AllConference player — knocked in her first run of the season in the game as well. The leadoff hitter will look to follow up her breakout junior campaign with a strong finish to her collegiate career.

As brightly as the day started, it would once again fade in the afternoon matchup. The Mustangs dropped the late game 8-4 against another Pac-12 opponent, Califor-

nia. The Golden Bears exploded for 14 hits against Cal Poly’s freshman pitchers Lindsey Chalmers and Stephanie Heyward, who picked up the loss after giving up four runs in 2.2 innings of work.

The Mustangs’ final game on Sunday would be another daunting task against Pac-12 side Oregon State. Hyland threw yet another gem, going 8 innings while striking out 10 and giving up just one hit in the Mustangs’ extra-innings 1-0 win.

The hero of the game, however,

was Ceccacci. The outfielder was up in the bottom of the eighth with runners on the corners. Ceccacci belted the second pitch she saw to the outfield, scoring the runner on third for a walk-off victory.

The stars came up big for the Mustangs over the first weekend of play. Cal Poly will get a few days off before returning to action at the Feb. 13-15 Stanford Nike Invitational. Cal Poly begins play Friday at 10 a.m. against Pacific, then later in the day against the host, Stanford.

Monday, February 9, 2015

SPORTS | 10

Cal Poly women’s basketball falls to first-place Hawaii

IAN BILLINGS | MUSTANG NE WS SENIOR STUD | Senior guard Ariana Elegado dropped a team-high 18 points in the Mustangs’ loss to Hawaii on Saturday night. She is averaging a team-high 15.4 points in her final season in a Cal Poly uniform.

Jesse Summers @CPMustangSports

Despite three players scoring in double figures, the Cal Poly women’s basketball team (11-10, 6-3) fell from its first-place spot in the Big West Conference on Saturday night after a 79-64 loss to Hawaii (15-7, 7-2) who now stands alone in first place.

Senior guard Ariana Elegado scored a team-high 20 points but shot just under 40 percent from the field. Elegado has carried much of the scoring burden for her team this year, averaging a team-high 15.4 points per game.

Fellow senior guard Kristen Ale, the Mustangs’ secondleading scorer, put up 18 points, eight of which were from the free throw line. Senior forward Taryn Garza joined in on the action as well, contributing on both the offensive and defensive boards, achieving a dou-

ble-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds.

Besides those three players, the Mustangs struggled to put points on the board in many other ways and were outdueled by a more even attack from Hawaii.

Senior guard Shawna Lei-Kuehu carried the Rainbow Wahine for most of the game on her 10-for-12 shooting night for 22 points. LeiKuehu has led her team in scoring this season, but not by much.

The even distribution of scoring on Hawaii’s side has propelled it to the best record in the Big West so far, including against the Mustangs on Saturday.

Although Lei-Kuehu scored twice her average points per game — and both senior guard Ashleigh Karaitiana and junior forward Destiny King, two regular scorers, put up their normal numbers — the Hawaii bench was the difference in the game.

They outscored the Mustangs’ reserves 42-7, including the 22 points from Lei-Kuehu, who came off the bench.

Hawaii also shot 48 percent from the field throughout the game, much better than the 36 percent mark put up by Cal Poly.

The Mustangs also took many isolated shots, attempted without team play. They only recorded four team assists — as opposed to 14 by Hawaii — a clear indicator of rushed and flustered play.

Cal Poly relies on hot 3-point shooting, but they went just 2-for-13 from behind the arch — both of which were sunk

by Elegado.

Hawaii now stands alone in first place, ahead of a four-way tie for second that includes Cal Poly. The outcome of the season standings will certainly come down to the wire

and is ultimately up for takers at this point.

Cal Poly will travel to play Cal State Northridge, the defending

Big West champions, on Thursday. Game time is set for 7 p.m.