January 21, 2014

Johnson’s last-second shot rims out see page 10

IAN BILLINGS | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Tuesday, Januar y 21, 20 14

Volume L X X V III, Number 2 9

w w w.mus t angne w s .net

PHIL JONES WILL RIDE AGAIN Benjy Egel

@BenjyEgel

Phil Jones doesn’t do much to blend in. If Cal Poly students don’t recognize his bright orange hair or full sleeve tattoo, they should be able to pick up on his prosthetic right leg.

The industrial technology senior returns people’s stares with a smile, assuming they’re wondering why his skin meets a carbon-fiber leg midway up his calf. Curiosity is fine. Pity is not.

“I don’t want them to feel bad for me, because I don’t feel bad for myself,” Jones said. “People are going to stare, but it’s not something I can control. It’s not every day you see someone walking around with a prosthetic on.”

On May 20, 2013, Jones finished working out at the Recreation Center at approximately 3:30 p.m. After showering, he decided he wanted a Gatorade and hopped on his motorcycle outside his apartment on Foothill Boulevard.

When crossing the intersection of Foothill and California Avenue, Jones moved into the right lane to avoid a Vespa in front of him. As he rode through the intersection, he noticed a black SUV speeding down the left turn lane from California onto Foothill.

“I’m like, ‘She’s coming awfully fast. But she has to stop; it’s the law,’” Jones said.

“Next thing I know, I just see this big black thing, and I’m just like, ‘Oh shit.’” see JONES, pg 2.

JOSEPH PACK | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Alleged assault leaves rugby club’s events in limbo Mustang News Staff Report @CPMustangNews

JOSEPH PACK | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

COURTESY PHOTO

WINNER, WINNER: Women’s basketball and wrestling take weekend matches Mustang News Staff Report @CPMustangSports PREVIEW The Cal Poly women’s basketball team used 30 points from junior guard Ariana Elegado to beat Long Beach State 107-102 on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the wrestling team snapped a three-match losing streak with a 29-9 victory against Menlo College in Mott Athletics Center.>>

see RECAP, pg 9.

FILE PHOTO | MUSTANG NEWS

The Cal Poly rugby club’s activities are on hold after administrators learned of a student allegedly being assaulted by at least one member of the team, according to a New Times report.

The alleged assault occurred at an off-campus gathering prior to this past weekend, the report says, and all team activities are on hold in the meantime, including Cal Poly’s home game that was scheduled to take place Saturday against UC Santa Cruz.

University spokesperson Matt Lazier said administrators received the report this past week.

“The university is in contact with the San Luis Obispo Police Department, which is conducting an investigation into the incident,” Lazier told New Times. “...Cal Poly’s Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities is also conducting an investigation into the matter, which will involve meetings with the complainant and members of the rugby team and will take into account the results of the San Luis Obispo Police investigation.”

All team activities will be suspended as the investigation unfolds.

Entering the season, the team was ranked 10th nationally by RugbyMag.com and are scheduled to play six more home games. Cal Poly’s next game is scheduled for Feb. 1 at UC Davis.

Jacob Lauing contributed to this report.

Seinfeld brings act to PAC Kelly Trom @kttrom PREVIEW World-renowned comedian Jerry Seinfeld will bring laughs to the Christopher Cohan Performing Arts Center on Jan. 23.

The actor and comedian is well-known for the hit television show, “Seinfeld.” Comedian Tom Papa will open the night.

The show is set for 7 and 9:30 p.m. Tickets begin at $99. The doors will open half an hour before the show.>>

see SEINFELD, pg 4.

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

NEWS | 2

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Woods Humane Society features cats at Petco Emma Patterson @eypatterson The Woods Humane Society will have four to six cats per week on display at San Luis Obispo’s Petco within the next three weeks, increasing the visibility of felines for adoption to the public and giving students yet another way to volunteer with the humane society.

There are multiple ways for students to “get their fur fix” at the humane society, Community Programs Director of the Woods Humane Society Steve Kragenbrink said.

Students can volunteer at the Woods Humane Society during its hours of operation – noon to 6 p.m., seven days a week – but placing cats in Petco will also allow students to stop by the store, located in the Madonna Shopping Center, to show some love to the felines during store hours — Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

“We’re always looking for help, and students are perfect for it,” Kragenbrink said.

Students can volunteer at the Woods Humane Society by bringing their homework to the humane society and studying with animals in private rooms, playing with or washing dogs, spending time petting cats in their indoor and outdoor living area, and even taking dogs out on runs or hikes through the humane society’s

Jones continued from pg 1.

Jones’ left ankle was shattered upon impact with the SUV. His femur was broken in two places, sticking out through the front of his shin and the back of his thigh.

To prevent himself from skidding across the road, Jones hit the bike’s throttle and sped into a Volkswagen Bug waiting to turn out of Mustang Village.

He smashed his face into the front fender at 40 MPH and fell under the car, trapping his foot beneath a tire. The driver drove off Jones’ foot in an attempt to set him free, but ripped his foot from the rest of his leg.

“I look down and I see my foot hanging on by one tendon, twisted around three times and facing the other way,” Jones said. “And I’m just screaming, ‘My leg’s gone!

My leg’s gone!’”

With his femoral artery squirting blood onto the road, Jones’ friends picked him up from the armpits and carried him to the sidewalk. But none of them had the medical training to help him any further.

Just as he really started panicking, a woman ran over and instructed Jones to take off his shirt. She tied it into a tourniquet and pinched his femoral artery for 15 minutes. Without her help, Jones said, he would have bled out in five.

“She wasn’t in the police report; nobody knows her name. I would love to know who it was,” he said. “Supposedly she was a nurse somewhere.”

All of a sudden, Jones stopped feeling pain in his leg. Everything

offsite volunteer program, which requires completion of a training program prior to participation.

The Woods Humane Society, located at 875 Oklahoma Ave. – three and a half miles west of Cal Poly off Highway 1 – moves 180 cats and 120 dogs through the shelter each year. With space for 45 cats and 63 dogs at any one time, the society relies heavily on volunteer contributions.

The mission of the humane society is “to serve, protect and shelter homeless companion animals, to place animals into humane environments, to promote responsible pet ownership, provide humane education, to reduce animal overpopulation and to celebrate the human/animal bond,” as stated on the Woods Humane Society website.

“There are so many homeless pets … desperately seeking loving homes,” Kragenbrink said.

Cats are harder to place than dogs, Kragenbrink said. Since adopting an animal is a retail transaction, having animals in a retail setting like Petco will allow for the cats to be out and seen by the community, hopefully increasing the amount of adoptions.

Though finding the perfect homes for pets is the ultimate mission of the society, Kragenbrink – who has been working with the humane society for seven and a half years – dissuades students from adoption and instead went numb as he began to feel tired and peaceful.

When the woman saw Jones’ reaction to his blood loss, she began peppering him with questions to keep him awake — Where was he from?

What were his parents’ names?

What did he do in his free time?

The woman kept him alert until paramedics reached the scene.

Once they loaded him into an ambulance, the blood loss caught up with him and he blacked out.

The mystery savior is tattooed into Jones’ arm, an angel with her face covered. Just to the left is a scroll with the Roman numerals V XX MMXIII (5/20/2013) wrapped around an hourglass, a permanent reminder of how quickly our time on earth can run out.

Jones was airlifted to Stanford University Medical Center, where doctors amputated his left leg midway up his calf. His one request was that they cut below his tattoo of a peace sign intertwined with a skull, symbolizing peace of mind.

After 25 days of recovery at Stanford, Jones began rehabilitation in his hometown of Mill Creek, Washington, where he went through what he called a triangle of happiness, anger and sadness.

During the happiness stage, Jones said he felt total empowerment over his body. But the next minute, he’d fall into a deep depression or rage without any warning. “(Doctors) told me it was just psychological,” he said. “Just getting hit — losing your foot — is such a traumatic accident.”

Jones didn’t have a prosthetic leg for seven or eight weeks after the accident. He moved around on crutches with straps, which he still

SOPHIA LIU | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

FELINE FIX | “There are so many homeless pets ... desparately seeking loving homes,” Steve Kragenbrink said. suggests students volunteer at the humane society.

Students often want to adopt a pet while at school because they miss their pet from home, Kragenbrink said, but they don’t think about what the animal is going to be doing while they’re at school or at work, or how the animal will live with other students, which can often add stress to the animal’s life.

The humane society’s Caring Companions Foster Program of-

fers an alternative to adoption, but with the same benefits of an at-home comrade. The program helps to enrich the lives of pets left behind when their owners pass. While the humane society actively looks for a new home for the animal, a foster owner looks after the pet in their own home.

Keeping the animals in a home environment makes for a smoother transition to a new owner.

Love isn’t all the Woods Humane Society is looking for; they

are also in need of expertise, Kragenbrink said.

There are many opportunities for students to learn and grow while helping the humane society in their field of study, including work for graphic designers, mathematicians and architects.

Those who wish to stop by and pet the cats or visit with the dogs are always welcome, Kragenbrink said.

“Come out and pet a cat for an hour,” he said. “I guarantee it will make you better.”

uses to get in and out of bed.

Near the end of August, he switched to a single strapped crutch. In November, he switched from a crutch to a cane, then got rid of the cane over winter break.

The Department of Motor Vehicles took away Jones’ driver’s license after the accident, but he recently regained both his automatic and manual licenses.

foot,” he said. “They’re super supportive. They’re my bros.”

Computer science senior Ryan Gilbert, Jones’ roommate and his big brother in Sigma Pi, said members of the fraternity made an effort to include Jones in everything from just hanging out to brotherhood.

If Sigma Pi brothers drive by Jones as he’s walking down the street, they pull over and offer him

“(It’s only given) if something is in play that prevents them from getting the same education as other students.”

The collision wasn’t the first time Jones cheated death. Three years before the accident, he landed in the hospital with a ruptured appendix.

After cleaning him out, Jones’ doctors told him he was free to go. But that was just the start of his problems.

In the first nine days after his release from the hospital, the already lean Jones lost 12 pounds.

After 11 days, his body temperature fluctuated between 96 and 104 degrees Fahrenheit.

On the day before his high school graduation, Jones felt worse than ever before. He asked his mom to take him back to the hospital.

Blood tests and a CAT Scan revealed the doctors hadn’t fully cleaned Jones out after removing his appendix. He had a seven-centimeter infection where the appendix had been.

“They told me, ‘Uh, you should have been dead five days ago. We don’t know how you’re alive,’” he said.

After the infection was drained through a tube, Jones’ high school principal came to the hospital to deliver his diploma.

While Jones is capable of doing almost everything he could before the accident, he has one more goal waiting for him down the road: He’s determined to get his motorcycle license back and ride again.

“Riding was my favorite thing to do, ever. Every time I had stress or wanted a homework break, I’d just go out and ride a couple miles,” he said. “I’m gonna ride again. I don’t know (about) on the street, but at least on dirt, I’ll ride again.”

“I look down and I see my foot hanging on by one tendon, twisted three times and facing the other way...”

PHIL JONES| INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY SENIOR Next on Jones’ to-do list is running. Though he played sports all his life, learning to run has been awkward and even comical.

“It’s pretty much one of the funniest things you’ll ever see; it’s really weird-looking,” he said, laughing. “But I can pretty much do whatever I want when I put my mind to it.”

Jones credited members of his fraternity, Sigma Pi, for helping him transition back to Cal Poly after the accident.

Sigma Pi members have helped Jones with school, helped him in spots where he had limited mobility and been his support team during the transition, he said.

“They haven’t treated me differently at any time … I’m still the same Phil, I’m just missing a

JOSEPH PACK | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

a ride, Gilbert said. Most of the time, though, Jones will push the limits of what he can do on his own.

“Once in a while, you can tell that his leg’s hurting him, but he’ll refuse to use a crutch or anything,” Gilbert said. “He’ll just walk through the pain. He wants to keep going.”

The Disability Resource Center (DRC) gave Jones a disability visa, which includes priority registration so he could pick classes near his apartment at Watson Manor.

Senior Front Desk Program Assistant Danny Brosnahan said the DRC provides a variety of services to Mobility Impairment students like Jones, ranging from transportation to note takers in classes.

“Very few people get priority registration,” Brosnahan said.

JOSEPH PACK | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

TATTED| “They told me, ‘Uh, you should have been dead five days ago. We don’t know how you’re alive,’” Phil Jones said. The date of his accident (5/22/2013) is inked onto his right arm.

NEWS | 3

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Two skaters, two viewpoints Students weigh in on campus skateboarding policies Celina Oseguera @celinaoseguera Daniel Lomayesva, now a mechanical engineering freshman, once made his way to the top of a large hill in his friend’s neighborhood.

He looked out in front of him. Houses sprawled out below as he stood on the hill that suspended him above the neighborhood. He was a high school senior at the time.

Lomayesva got on his skateboard and started down the hill. As he carved down the steep, curvy roads, he felt like he was on top of the world.

“I remember feeling awesome,” he said. “All the neighbors outside mowing their lawns were giving me the weirdest looks, like, ‘What is this kid doing?’”

As he got further down the road, Lomayesva noticed something — he was hurdling toward a blind intersection.

This intersection was known for being busy and he did not want to risk getting hit by a car. But he was going too fast to stop or turn out of the way.

The only way to avoid the intersection was to abandon the skateboard completely.

“I was like, ‘OK, I’m just going to dive for it and do a tuck and roll,” he said.

That thought is the last thing he remembers before waking up in the hospital.

Lomayesva later learned the impact from hitting the ground fractured his C5 vertebrae and the back of his skull.

“The part that fractured off my neck was extremely close to hitting my spinal cord, which would have paralyzed me,” he said.

Because of his experience, Lomayesva views the current university skateboarding policy, which prohibits skateboarding on campus, as reasonable.

“It sucks that we can’t ride longboards to class and stuff, but, like, really, it’s there to save lives,” he said about the policy.

Other Cal Poly students have their own opinions about the skateboarding policy.

In October, Associated Students, Inc. (ASI) sent out a poll that gauged exactly how many students approved or disapproved of the policy, as well as student responses on other big issues. Approximately 69 percent of students surveyed opposed the ban on skateboards, longboards and scooters.

After seeing these results, ASI President and agricultural business senior Jason Colombini and his executive cabinet

CELINA OSEGUERA | CONTRIBUTING WRITER

69

SKATER BOYS | Daniel Lomayesca (left) and Dylan Schuyler (right) have opposing views on Cal Poly’s skateboarding policy, which has received backlash from students. decided to tackle the problem.

ASI is currently working to see if a policy change is even possible. In order to do this, the ASI executive cabinet will start communicating with organizations on campus such as the University Police Department (UPD) to see if a policy change is in Cal Poly’s future.

“It’s basically a lot of meeting around,” Colombini said about the process.

Even if the executive cabinet cannot get enough information to vouch for a policy change this year, Colombini still wants to build a foundation for future presidents.

“Hopefully, we can set up future groups so they can work on skateboarding as well, if it’s not something we get to this year,” he said.

If ASI were to gather enough information to propose a policy change, the ASI Board of Directors would have to approve it before it becomes official.

Dylan Schuyler, a construction management freshman, is hoping for this outcome.

Schuyler had his first exposure to skateboarding when he was about 5 years old. His parents bought him his own skateboard when he was 7.

Once he got that first board, there was no turning back — he was in love.

“Skateboarding is really cool because you are pretty

connected to the ground,” he said. “It kind of takes you away from stuff, like problems and troubles you might have. It’s a distraction.”

Schuyler’s love for skateboards and Cal Poly’s noskateboarding policy did not mix well. Because of this, he said he would support a change in policy.

“They are a great form of transportation,” he said of skateboards. “They’re fun.”

He mentioned how a skateboard’s small size makes it an ideal mode of transportation.

“With skateboards, you can easily keep it in your room,” he said. “You can easily hold it, walk, go to class if you want.”

To Schuyler, skateboards are more versatile than bikes in some aspects. For example, he said, a skateboard can be used to skate from one place to another without having to be locked up. The skater can put their board in a bag or walk with it.

University Police Department Chief George Hughes expressed his own opinion about the possibility of a policy change.

Hughes said having skateboards would be beneficial in some aspects.

“The positive of allowing skateboards on campus is, of course, it provides another means of alternative transportation on campus,” he said.

PERCENT OF STUDENTS SURVEYED BY ASI WHO OPPOSE THE CURRENT BAN ON SKATEBOARDS But there would also be negative consequences, Hughes said.

“Allowing skateboarders to travel in the very congested areas of campus, especially with

pedestrians, is creating the opportunity for collisions and injuries,” he said. “In addition, we also have a very hilly topography on campus where skateboarders can easily pick up

very fast and dangerous speeds without being able to stop.”

Colombini said he sees both the pros and cons, as well, but he ultimately supports a policy change.

ARTS | 4

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

‘Hello, Jerry’ Brenna Swanston @Brenna_Swanston World-renowned comedian Jerry Seinfeld will take the Christopher Cohan Performing Arts Center (PAC) stage Thursday night, performing stand-up comedy which draws from even the most mundane details of daily life.

Fruit science senior Leah Van der Heide has been a fan of the television show “Seinfeld” her whole life and is excited to finally see Seinfeld perform in person, she said.

“I grew up watching Seinfeld with my family every night,” Van der Heide said. “I can’t believe that I’m actually going to see him do stand-up comedy.”

Van der Heide has also dabbled in Seinfeld’s current project, “Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee.” The show’s premise is exactly how it sounds: Seinfeld drives with a variety of guest comedians, candidly chatting on their way to a coffee shop.

“I think it’s really funny,” Van der Heide said.

“I’m excited to see how much of his stand-up is going to be new stuff like that, and how much is going to be old stuff.”

Van der Heide has her fingers crossed for the relatability of Seinfeld’s comedy, she said. At 59 years old, some of his jokes might go over college students’ heads.

“I know that he’s older,” Van der Heide said.

“I’ll get a lot of it, but I hope that it’s not totally unrelatable to a college student.”

A comedian herself, Van der Heide has performed with Smile and Nod, Cal Poly’s improvisational comedy team, since her freshman year. Seinfeld has played a hand in Van der Heide’s comedic influences, and she

hopes to learn even more from seeing him live, she said.

“When I watch stand-up, I take a lot of notes in my head,” she said. “I note how he transitions into stuff and his topics. I’m currently writing my own stand-up, so it’s cool to see it as a viewer, but also as a student.”

Aerospace engineering sophomore Garrett Klunk will also attend Seinfeld’s performance.

Having bonded with his dad over the television show, “Seinfeld,” it will be a memorable experience to see the show’s star in person, Klunk said.

“While some children were raised on ‘Teletubbies’ and other kids’ shows, I grew up watching ‘Seinfeld’ every night with my dad,” Klunk said.

The inter-character relationships in “Seinfeld” were the show’s big selling point for Klunk, he said.

“I think what entertained me most about the show as a kid were the characters,” Klunk said.

“Kramer was off the wall, and I thought the rivalry between Jerry and Newman was absolutely hilarious.”

Most of Klunk’s familiarity with Seinfeld’s stand-up comes from the clips of it which show throughout each “Seinfeld” episode, he said.

His favorite part of the humor is its simplicity and relevance to everyday life.

“My attraction to Jerry’s humor specifically is that it’s a simple observation of life’s stupid little things,” Klunk said.

Klunk hopes Seinfeld’s routine lives up to the reputation his dad has given it.

“My dad always told me that the funniest live comedy he’s ever seen has been Jerry Seinfeld,” he said. “I really hope that’s still true.”

San Luis Obispo will welcome Seinfeld’s only California show Jan. 23 at 7 and 9:30 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 23 at 7 and 9:30 p.m.

COURTESY PHOTO

ARTS | 5

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Pepper shakes things up at SLO Brew Sara Natividad @s_nativi Reggae-rock bands Pepper and Lionize turned up the volume at SLO Brewing Co. this past Friday night.

During the show, Pepper said both bands played at Warped Tour in 2011 and they all felt a strong connection.

“They were very gracious hosts, and we got along together,” Lionize lead vocalist and guitarist Nate Bergman said. “When they invited us to go on tour with them, it made sense.”

Lionize woke up the crowd and stirred up the energy early on in the show.

Bergman infused the crowd with passion as he sang “If you could just throw me a bone,” as the crowed cheered and shouted, “Hell, yeah.”

Keyboardist Chris Brooks got the crowd clapping and dancing with his solo. Bassist and vocalist Henry Upton joined in, and soon enough, every musician poured every ounce of passion into their instruments. The notes and crowd grew louder and louder until SLO Brew seemed as if it was going to explode ... and then it stopped.

The tempo quieted and slowed. Brooks took a sip of water, and Bergman wiped

the sweat accumulating on this forehead, looked up, took a deep breath and yelled, “If you could just throw me a bone” — and the crowd and band went wild again.

After approximately 20 minutes of waiting, headlining band Pepper walked on stage and the crowd went crazy upon hearing the first few chords of “Bring Me Along.”

When the trio strummed the first few chords to its famous “Give It Up,” the beat was familiar, but the intensity of the song was absent, prompting fans to scream, “Play it faster, louder!”

Pepper acted innocent as vocalist and bassist Bret Bollinger asked, “But this is supposed to be a sensitive song, right?”

The crowd screamed in protest and, at last, the notes grew louder and everyone screamed in unison, “Why don’t you have some dirty, hot sex with me?”

The energy in SLO Brew grew, the fans and band fed off each other and the dancing became wilder.

But as the middle of the dance floor was slowly transforming into a mosh pit — and with a warning look from security — Pepper decided to bring the tempo down a notch.

Bollinger soothed the crowd with his carefree tone and simple words, “Relax,

“In 1999, no one would give us a gig and this place gave us our first one.”

KALEO WASSMAN | VOCALIST AND GUITARIST

ALL PHOTOS BY Z ACH MAHER | NEWS PHOTOGRAPHER

it’s Friday,” as they hit the reset button.

“Now I see why you guys are the happiest fucking town in America,” vocalist and guitarist Kaleo Wassman said.

During another break, the band asked to switch the lights off for a moment as they searched for dim cellphone lights. One lone cellphone was found.

“This is why I love SLO: There’s only one asshole with his phone on,” Bollinger said.

“Thank you, SLO, for being fucking musical.”

Pepper jammed for more than an hour, playing mostly old hits with only a few songs from its latest album, and left the stage while the crowd boomed with cries of protest.

The band walked back on stage shortly after it exited.

The trio gave the fans three more songs, ended with “F**k Around (All Night)” and left the stage with Wassman’s final words: “Thank you everyone for giving three fucking Hawaii boys the best job in the world.”

Pepper went outside after the show and Wassman was surrounded by swarms of fans — mostly dreamyeyed women — asking for autographs and pictures.

Pepper’s love for San Luis Obispo was apparent throughout the show, and when asked why, Wassman responded: “Because we have our deepest roots in this place. In 1999 no one would give us a gig, and this place gave us our first one.”

Z ACH MAHER | NEWS PHOTOGRAPHER

GETTIN’ PEPPY | Reggae-rock band Pepper took the SLO Brew stage this past Friday.

ARTS | 6

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

And the Grammy goes to ...

Economics senior and Mustang News music columnist Parker Evans weighs in on who he thinks should and will win at this year’s Grammy Awards on Jan. 26.

Parker Evans @parker_d_evans

The audio files As America’s musical tastes diverge, the Grammys are struggling for relevance. The industry is no longer sure who it’s catering to. Is it the Belieber and future consumer? Or is it the tastemakers on the fringes of pop music? Either way, it’s important to remember that, like any artistic awards show put on by its own industry, the ceremony on Jan. 26 is intended to be a grueling three and a half hours of recording artist bigwigs congratulating themselves. Will host LL Cool J make the process interesting with sharp commentary and insightful analysis?

Probably not. Fortunately, I’m here with Grammys predictions and preemptive complaining about the recipients.

Album of the Year nominees

The Blessed Unrest – Sara Bareilles Random Access Memories – Daft Punk Good Kid, M.A.A.D City – Kendrick Lamar The Heist – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Red – Taylor Swift

Song of the Year nominees

“Just Give Me a Reason” – P!nk (ft. Nate Ruess) “Locked Out Of Heaven” – Bruno Mars “Roar” – Katy Perry “Royals” – Lorde “Same Love” – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis (ft.

Mary Lambert)

Best New Artist nominees

James Blake Kendrick Lamar Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Kacey Musgraves Ed Sheeran

Record of the Year nominees

Who will win

Who should win

If the Grammys want to be considered a culturally relevant event that truly captures the musical zeitgeist of America, perhaps its eligibility window shouldn’t allow three albums from October 2012 to qualify for an award presented in January 2014. That said, I can’t think of a surer bet all night than The Heist taking home the prize. It checks every Grammys box: it’s a socially conscious “important album” by a charismatic, nonthreatening artist. If you’re betting on one award, this should be it.

For all the hype and subsequent backlash The Heist received, it’s not an overstatement to consider it a landmark album.

Unfortunately for Macklemore, Kendrick Lamar’s Good Kid, M.A.A.D City is possibly the best rap album of the past decade. Kendrick’s album is socially conscious without the street preacher vibe, emotional without the melodrama. It’s the rare album with exactly zero weaknesses. Every song is a tour de force, from the radio-friendly “Swimming Pools” to the ambitious 12-minute “Sing About Me, I’m Dying of Thirst.” Random Access Memories may have some fun songs, but even “Get Lucky” sounds like a funeral dirge next to the unrestrained energy of “Backseat Freestyle.”

Who will win

Who should win

After the inevitable self-deprecating comment lamenting the absence of “Accidental Racist,” LL Cool J will invite someone up to read the nominees for Song of the Year. Considering blog buzz, radio airplay and staying power, it seems to be a three-way race between Katy Perry, Lorde and Macklemore.

While it’s certainly a well-crafted pop song, I’d be surprised if “Roar” took the prize. The remaining two songs cover a similar demographic, but ultimately this is the Year of Macklemore. “Same Love” brought about an actual conversation about homophobia in hip hop without compromising musical quality, which is quite a feat. There’s no way the Academy doesn’t set out to make a statement and give the award to a song that launched a meaningful social dialogue.

“Same Love” would be a worthy winner, but “Royals” has an ever so slight edge in being a tighter, denser pop song while maintaining a similarly complex cultural angle. It was the song this year everyone could agree on, from Pitchfork to Billboard. With little more than some finger snaps and a translucent beat, “Royals” managed to simultaneously embrace and reject hip hop culture and couture.

Who will win

Who should win

This year’s nominees for Best New Artist (or as it should be known, Best New Artist That Your Mom Asked You About) make for the least predictable major category this year.

James Blake probably doesn’t have the popular backing and Musgraves is in a genre ghetto, though she ought to take home Best Country Album. Ed Sheeran has an outside shot, but he’s a bit limited by his one-dimensionality. Between Kendrick Lamar and Macklemore (again), this time Lamar’s larger body of work is an advantage. Macklemore has been relatively quiet outside The Heist, but Lamar spent 2013 delivering devastating guest verses with A$AP Rocky, Pusha T and, most impressively, Jay Electronica.

The Academy gets this one right. No individual artist had a better 2013 than Kendrick Lamar. He vaulted from being the hyped kid under Dre’s wing to the self-declared King of New York while staying true to his Compton roots. I think his star is so big right now the Academy doesn’t have a choice.

Who will win

Who should win

There’s always a bit of confusion as to the difference between Song of the Year and Record of the Year. The official Grammys website notes that Song of the Year is awarded to the songwriter, whereas Record of the Year considers the artist’s performance as well as the producer and sound engineer.

“Get Lucky” would appear to be the frontrunner with that sweet, sweet guitar tone and pitch-perfect ‘70s schmaltz, but the Academy loves forward-looking pop, and no pop song was a better embodiment of 2013 than Robin Thicke’s “Blurred Lines.” The Academy should (rightfully) be impressed by the restraint shown in the song representing the latest entry in the sleazy modern pop/R&B lovefest.

The only mainstream pop song more minimalist than “Blurred Lines” was “Royals.” The latter’s whispering beat is admirable and instantly catchy, but what carries that song is Lorde’s mature, effective songwriting. “Blurred Lines” notoriously drew criticism for some supposedly sinister undertones regarding consent (“I hate these blurred lines / I know you want it”), but a lack of profound insight doesn’t take away from the song’s unmistakable mastery of pop sensibilities.

“Get Lucky” – Daft Punk (ft. Pharrell Williams & Nile Rodgers) “Radioactive” – Imagine Dragons “Royals” – Lorde “Locked Out Of Heaven” – Bruno Mars “Blurred Lines” – Robin Thicke (ft. T.I. & Pharrell)

OPINION & ARTS | 7

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

It’s time to reconnect Eric Stubben is a mechanical engineering sophomore and Mustang News conservative columnist. These views do not necessarily reflect the opinion or editorial coverage of Mustang News.

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EDITORS & STAFF

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF J.J. Jenkins

For thousands of years, humans have traversed, invented and innovated all around our great planet.

Currently, only a third of a percent (.33 percent) of all people who have ever lived are living and working inside the United States. Yet, the present state of rapid innovation and advanced technology makes us — our current generation of Americans — one of the most important groups of people to ever live.

But are we really doing our best with the skills, technology and freedom we’re given? Or is technology and apathy driving our path away from what the past centuries have given us?

The most distinguishable feature separating our generation from prior generations is our constant thirst for instant information.

There’s no more waking up early to enjoy a newspaper and coffee. Now, most college students find themselves staying up late, refreshing their Twitter and Facebook feeds, just in case something utterly important happened in the split second since the last refresh.

Social media drives our news intelligence and opinions. Biased pages, blogs, articles and authors constantly bombard us with their “credited” opinion without citing any knowledge or sound reasoning.

Conspiracy theories and government “scandals” are repeatedly falsely created and passed around various websites, “poisoning” the minds of their users while riling an awful distrust in our government. Internet and social media also allow users to criticize others and deflect blame as they hide behind usernames to mask their identity.

“Likes,” “favorites” and “retweets” are taking the place of civil action, physically signed petitions, and

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the right angle interaction between legislators and their constituents.

A recent article on Politico. com asked what would have happened if Martin Luther King, Jr. and segregation were alive in this technological era. Would King and the Civil Rights movement be the next “Kony 2012?”

Would his words fall among apathetic brains and amass millions of likes with no action? It’s fair to wonder if a civil event to the scale of the March on Washington would ever happen in this day and age. We’re a technological society full of mouse clickers, with a diminishing group of physical leaders.

This “easy and apathetic” culture has already affected a wide array of industries.

The music industry finds itself selling more “hot singles” than entire albums because it’s much less work to buy one song off of a list rather than purchasing an album and individually judging each song.

Our postal system is going through a major shift as well. Far too often, we opt for easy and impersonal emails to commemorate significant moments and

events. Letters, cards and notes are much more personal and meaningful, but the effort of putting on a stamp, finding the address, and actually addressing an envelope just seems like too much work.

Just wait until consumers start demanding for the agriculture industry to produce their crops quicker!

Now how does all of this relate to politics?

Politicians pushing bills from desk to vote as fast as possible dominates our current political scene. Bill lengths are skyrocketing while their time to move from drawing board to final vote is dropping. Most politicians rarely read the entirety of any 600-page bills (or more) that arrive at their desk. But when the time comes to vote each bill, an apathetic vote along party lines easily suffices (hence our Congressional gridlock).

The same can be said for voters at home. Whether the ballot comes in the mail or it’s time to arrive at the nearest voting precinct, it takes time to research every candidate for every avail-

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able position. Voters tend to align themselves as either a Democrat or Republican, and vote for either a “D” or “R” rather than voting for specific candidates based on experience, views and plans for action.

Politicians are stuck at a crossroad between swift action and thorough action.

The instant media culture forces the needs and wants of citizens in politicians’ faces, but the reality is that politics doesn’t work that way.

For example, recall the post-Sandy Hook gun control push. As news outlets shoved opinions into the brains of those willing to listen, pressure mounted on Congress to improve gun control. In reality, few argued that gun measures needed reform, but a poorly crafted bill went up for vote in the House. Noticing the shortcomings in the bill, Republicans shot it down.

But that’s not the only time a poor bill was rushed through Congress. Foreseeing a Republican House takeover during the midterm elections, President Obama rushed to get his

signature Affordable Care Act (ACA) bill through a Democratically-controlled Congress. A 1,200-page bill full of “to be determined” and “established later” clauses seeped its way through the cracks of Congress, sneaking its unread pages into public law. In hindsight, it wasn’t such a good idea. Since the law’s implementation last October, President Obama has amended fourteen different parts of the ACA. Americans are in dire need of reconnection. We need inventions worth dreaming for, political policies worth working for and a government worth waiting for. As a whole, we are like fishermen sitting at the mouth of a river catching any small fish that will bite. We need to gain patience, giving our government time, waiting for the big law, or the big fish, that will truly make a difference. We are the one-third of a percent, let’s not derail everything the previous 99.7 percent of humans worked so hard to give us.

Cal Poly can haz cat videos Laura Wilkinson @vivalaurita From Colonel Meow to Keyboard Cat, it seems that farcical felines are everywhere these days. And just when you thought cats couldn’t permeate your life or your Facebook feed any further, the Internet Cat Video Festival tour is coming to the Christopher Cohan Performing Arts Center on Jan. 21 at 7:30 p.m. Yes, cat ladies (and gentlemen) rejoice.

As the name suggests, the main event of the festival is a 75-minute video reel of more than 80 Internet cat videos.

Will Braden, creator of popular cat video series “Henri Le Chat Noir” and this year’s festival host, said the viewing is a uniquely fun affair for all.

“It’s a whole different experience from watching maybe 20 seconds at a time of cat video by yourself in your room,” Braden said. “The reel is specially crafted into categories and has a certain flow that makes watching it very cathartic.”

In addition to the film, the festival will include a catthemed costume contest and showcase cat-related vendors and representatives from lo-

cal animal shelters and humane societies. Proceeds from the $20 ticket price will also go directly to the Cal Poly Cat Program.

“If there are going to be funny cat videos, then I’m definitely interested,” computer science senior and cat owner Matthew Werner said.

However, others were less enthusiastic about the festival.

“It’s disturbing that there are festivals centered around digital media distractions that take the focus away from real world problems such as food insecurity, water pollution and tyran-

nical governments,” economics senior Derek Rieger said.

He hopes, at the very least, the money will be put to good use by the campus program and help improve the cats’ quality of life.

The Internet Cat Video Festival was started in 2012 in Minneapolis, Minn. by the Walker Arts Center. Since, it has toured to a number of metropolitan cities across the U.S. Those interested in more information can use the hashtag #catvidfest to keep up to date on all festival news and highlights.

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SPORTS | 9

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Weekend recap: Women’s basketball prevails in OT Mustang News Staff Report @CPMustangSports Junior guard Ariana Elegado led the team with 30 points and six assists, which propelled Cal Poly women's basketball to a conference victory against Long Beach State on Saturday night. With the win, the Mustangs improved to 3-1 in Big West conference play and 9-8 overall.

Long Beach State fell to 2-2 in conference play and 10-8 overall. Center Molly Schlemer had a double-double as she scored 16 points and pulled down 10 rebounds for the Mustangs.

“I don’t know if I’ve seen as quality play from both teams,” head coach Faith Mimnaugh said. “It really was a game of possessions and I’m glad we came out on top. It could have easily gone either way.”

The Mustangs received 21 points from their bench, led by sophomore Beth Balbierz, who provided 16 points in 17 minutes of play. Long Beach State had four of five starters in double figures and was led by guard Lauren Spargo, who scored 20 points. Long Beach State's bench also contributed 35 points and was led by Hallie Meneses, who scored 19 points in 28 minutes of play.

The Cal Poly defense forced 21 turnovers while only turning the ball over 12 times themselves. The Mustangs were able to capitalize on the turnovers as they scored 27 points off the gifts.

On the final play of regulation, the Mustangs were down by three, but Meneses sent the game into overtime with 3-point shot with one second left.

Cal Poly outscored Long Beach State in overtime 1611 and hit 10 of 11 free throws in the period to seal the victory. The Mustangs now look ahead to another conference opponent in Cal State Fullerton, who they face at home next Thursday.

“It feels great to come back home, especially being 6-0 at home,” Elegado said. “We know with our crowd, with our band and just the feeling playing at home makes us feel so much better.”

Wrestling pins Menlo The Cal Poly wrestling team earned a dominating 29-9 victory over Menlo College in a non-conference dual meet Saturday afternoon in the Mott Athletics Center.

The Mustangs snapped a three-match losing streak and evened their dual meet mark at 3-3. Menlo fell to 3-6.

Impressive performances

by Devon Lotito, Luke McDonald and Nic Johnson spurred the Mustangs to victory, ending a three-match losing streak and evening their dual meet mark at 3-3.

Lotito earned his second fall of the season with a pin of Juan Zorilla in 1:29. Lotito pinned his opponent on the third try, after scoring a takedown and three-point nearfall on his first two attempts.

Luke McDonald cruised to a 13-1 major decision over Christian Franks at 157 pounds, earning three takedowns, an escape and five near-fall points.

Other Cal Poly winners included Britain Longmire at 125 pounds, Kyle Chené at 149 and Kent Beecham at 174. The Mustangs look to continue their success with non-conference dual meets at Wyoming

on Friday and Northern Colorado on Sunday.

Millard plays in allstar games Former Cal Poly linebacker Johnny Millard recovered a fumble in the East-West Shrine Game held at Tropi-

cana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla. this past Saturday.

Millard, a member of the East squad coached by former NFL coach Jerry Glanville, recovered the West’s fumble on its second play from scrimmage to set up a 31-yard field goal early in the

game. The East won 23-13.

Millard is the fifth Cal Poly player to play in the Shrine game’s 89-year history.

The former Mustang standout was playing in his second collegiate all-star game in as many weeks.

He also participated in the

inaugural Medal of Honor Bowl in Charleston, S.C. on Jan. 11, where he earned three tackles for the National All-Stars.

Millard graduated from Cal Poly this past December with a bachelor’s degree in business administration.

FILE PHOTO | MUSTANG NEWS

WORKIN’ OVERTIME | Senior guard Jonae Ervin scored 17 points in Saturday’s overtime win at Long Beach State.

SPORTS | 10

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Men’s hoops comeback falls short

IAN BILLINGS | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Evan Morter @EvanMorter The Cal Poly men’s basketball team saw its 16-game home winning streak in Big West play come to an end in a 63-62 loss to Long Beach State on Saturday. Cal Poly now finds itself in second place in the conference, behind only UC Irvine.

The game came down to the wire with senior guard Jamal Johnson’s shot rimming out as the final buzzer sounded.

“It felt good,” Johnson said.

“It looked on track. Sometimes you have them go in, sometimes they go out. I guess it was one of those days it goes out.”

Cal Poly (7-10, 3-1 Big West) rode a 16-game home win streak in conference play and had won 17 of its previous 18 games overall in Mott Athletics Center before the loss.

But the Mustangs didn't go down without a fight.

With Cal Poly trailing by one, Long Beach State's Mike Caffey missed a free throw with five seconds left on the

clock. The ball landed in Johnson’s hands.

“I looked for a couple open teammates,” Johnson said.

“It scrambled out, the shot opened up, and I took my shot. I’m going to hit the next one. If it comes my way and I’m blessed with the opportunity to take the next shot, I’m going to hit it.”

Cal Poly jumped out to a 19-9 lead with 10 minutes left in the first half. However, the 49ers fought back into the game with a 17-0 run near the end of the period.

Long Beach State out-

rebounded the Mustangs 41-28, which head coach Joe Callero attributed to his team's struggles throughout the remainder of the game.

“We gave up 18 offensive boards,” Callero said. “You can’t just give a team six or seven extra possessions. It’s such a momentum builder for them.”

In the second half, the pace slowed and the 49ers established a presence in the paint.

The game began to slip away from the Mustangs late. They found themselves down 10

with two minutes remaining in regulation.

However, Cal Poly fought back to bring the game within five with one minute to go.

The Mustangs deployed a high press with just seconds left, forcing a five second in bound violation which gave the Mustangs the ball.

On their next possession, Cal Poly’s catalyst, senior forward Chris Eversley, delivered with a 3-pointer with 13 seconds left to pull his team within one point and the near-full capacity crowd erupted.

“Tonight was the loudest I’ve heard it in a long time,” Eversley said. “It was great. The atmosphere was great. That’s the type of crowd we want all of the time.”

But the run was short lived as time expired, leaving Cal Poly on the wrong side of the decision.

The Mustangs will look to get back on track when they travel to Cal State Fullerton on Thursday and UC Riverside for a Saturday night contest.

“This is just one loss,” Johnson said. “We have a long road ahead of us.”

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