March 13, 2017

C a l P o l y, S a n L u i s O b i s p o

Monday, March 13, 2 017

w w w. m u s t a n g n e w s . n e t

E s t a b l i s h e d 19 16

ALE X KING AND ALDEN SIMMER | COURTE SY PHOTO

MAGIC SCHOOL BUS | Mechanical engineering seniors Alex King and Alden Simmer bought the Denali Bus last summer and live in it on and off. They plan to drive it to the tallest mountain in North America: Denali.

ALE X KING AND ALDEN SIMMER | COURTE SY PHOTO

Allison Royal Special to Mustang News

Mechanical engineering senior Alex King may not have a house, but he has a home. He has all he needs — a couch, dining table and bed — just not an address.

King lives in a bus.

Parked in Morro Bay, California, the bus has been an onand-off home to King and his friend, mechanical engineering senior Alden Simmer. The two

purchased the bus last summer and are constantly improving the vehicle to make their home more comfortable.

Ultimately, the pair plans to drive the bus to the tallest mountain in North America: Denali, the inspiration for their home’s unique name, the Denali Bus. Life on wheels “I’ve learned to be more adaptable to new situations and hurdles that get thrown at you,”

King said. “There’s always a way around whatever comes at you.

It’s a bus, but it’s a metaphor for real life.”

King is no stranger to life on wheels. Two years ago, he lived in a van he converted himself.

“It’s Learn by Doing I guess, but in a different way from classes at Cal Poly,” King said.

King and Simmer parked the bus at friends’ houses during fall quarter, but recently moved the bus out to Morro Bay after the

city of San Luis Obispo issued them multiple 72-hour warnings to move their bus.

“We probably got, I don’t know, 10 warnings,” King said.

“There were a lot.”

King grew up building and remodeling different machinery with his family in Trout Lake, Washington. Now, King has graduated to building solar panels on top of the bus.

“It’s more than just a school bus [to me],” King said. “I’ve spent a lot of time in it — learned every in and out of it.

Put a lot of work in it, so yeah, it has a lot of sentimental value.”

Bus life has some cons, such as parking and the undesirable gas mileage of a large vehicle. However, King said the challenges are worth it.

Simmer recalled a time when their bus broke down after a long trip to Mount Shasta. It cost them $400 to tow the bus to a nearby s hop and $1,300 for a repaired injector pump.

“You can still get stuck anywhere in the bus, but you still

have a place to live,” Simmer said.

“There’s comfort in the chaos.”

The two say their $7,000 investment in the Denali Bus and its renovations will pay off financially in the long run.

“Whether you live in it for a day or a month or 10 years, it’s a cool learning process,” King said. “Go for it.”

Before the rise of the Denali Bus, Simmer befriended King in a chemistry class during their sophomore year at Cal Poly. The next weekend, the two went on an impromptu camping trip to Mount Whitney where they first discussed the possibility of buying a bus.

More than just a home Simmer said bus life taught him that less is more, and that memories are more valuable than closet space.

“This will probably be one of the biggest parts of my life,” Simmer said. “Today, I don’t know what will happen next, but I’ll look back on this and cherish it.”

Despite the benefits, such as

the mobility and potential to save rent money in an expensive college town, Simmer said others should see the bigger picture.

“There’s a lot of glamour involved in the Instagrams of all these buses and vans whereas in like reality, sure it’s cozy sometimes, but you’re missing a lot of things you get in a house,” Simmer said.

The bus gave Simmer more than just shelter, but also life lessons.

“I feel like in a lot of our lives, we’re afraid to make mistakes and I sure was a lot,” Simmer said. “I’d be afraid and I wouldn’t want to do something on the bus or put something on the bus because I was afraid that I would mess up on it and Alex kind of taught me, ‘Hey, it’s okay to mess up, but you can keep going,’ and that’s part of the process. You’re gonna mess up.

You’re gonna trip over something. You just gotta get back up and keep building.”

DENALI BUS continued on page 3

New student band hits KCPR open mic night stage Nicole Horton @ CPMustangNews

Six friends met in a dimly lit garage to bond over their favorite tunes, from classics by the Beatles to ballads by John Mayer and up-tempo songs by the Growlers.

What began as casual get-togethers to jam quickly transitioned into songwriting and music arrangement practices. Eight weeks into the San Luis Obispo music scene, The Super Somethings performed

live at KCPR’s quarterly Open Mic Night March 9.

The band consists of sophomores Davis Leach, Lennon Fanning, Ryan Kraemer, Tyler Hentges, Brenden Sallstrom and Cameron Segel, whose self-described sound of “garage pop” took flight after taking on their drummer, Sallstrom.

Guitarist and environmental management and protection sophomore Leach said the majority of The Super Somethings started making music during

their freshman year. However, once Sallstrom was introduced, their jam-sessions became more organized.

“Making a band just seemed like the next step to take from just jamming together,” Leach said.

“It happened super naturally, not forced at all ... Bringing him into our jam sessions really solidified us as a band.”

SUPER SOMETHINGS continued on page 4

MAT T L AL ANNE | MUSTA NG NE W S

NOT ENOUGH | Donovan Fields and the Mustangs couldn’t come up with a win against UC Davis.

Mustangs eliminated from Big West Tournament Erik Engle and Brian Truong @ CPMustangSports

Both the men’s and women’s basketball teams were eliminated in the first round of each Big West Tournament this week.

The women’s team lost 71-50 to Hawaii and the men’s team lost 66-55 to UC Davis.

FULL HOUSE

SAMMI MULHERN | MUSTA NG NE W S

| The band is larger than most, allowing some members to play the same instruments and layer the sounds.

Women’s tournament Senior forward Hannah Gilbert’s game-high 26 points solidified her ranking at sixth in scoring and rebounding, but wasn’t enough to secure a victory for Cal Poly (11-18, 7-9 Big West) in the first round at Walter Pyramid Tuesday night.

Gilbert made her veteran presence known immediately as she opened up the scoring for the Mustangs with two baskets on offense and a block on the other end. However, the Warriors converted more of their possessions to points and lead the whole first quarter, ending the first 10 minutes up 13-8.

Senior forward Amanda Lovely got the lid off the basket in the second quarter, driving for a layup after a pump fake and drawing a foul. She made a free throw to bring the Mustangs within two points of the Warriors.

Junior guard Lynn Leaupepe grabbed a defensive rebound

News 1-3 | Arts 4-5 | Opinion 6 | Classifieds 7 | Sports 8

that led to another basket by Gilbert, who continued her hot streak with three more jumpers in the next three minutes to help the struggling Mustangs.

Lynn put in a pair of free throws to make it a four-point game, but the Mustangs were shut down for the rest of the quarter and went into halftime down 28-21.

After the break, Gilbert started Cal Poly’s scoring once again with a layup to open the third quarter. Both defenses clamped down from there, with no points scored for the next two minutes.

BASKETBALL continued on page 8

NEWS 2

MUSTANG NEWS

Can the California higher education system eliminate tuition fees?

Austin Linthicum @ austinlinthicum

As the California State University’s (CSU) Board of Trustees debates increasing tuition to fill a gap in state funding, a new plan argues for the opposite.

Reclaim California’s Master

Plan for Higher Education advocates for tuition-free higher education, which would cost the median-income California family an additional $48 per year.

The plan seeks to restore the Donahoe Act of 1960, which recommended state colleges, including Cal Poly, remain tu-

ition-free for in-state students.

In 2015, more than half of University of California and CSU seniors graduated with more than a diploma: they also carried $1.3 billion in student debt. According to the report, the state’s public university students have accumulated $12 billion in debt

since 2004. textbooks cheaper.

It would cost $9.43 billion in “People think the likelihood 2016-17 to fully fund projected of any version of free college enrollment rates and eliminate is low,” Newfield said. “On tuition in all three segments of the other hand, it went from California’s public higher edu- a fringe idea to a mainstream cation system. This can be covered through an annual income tax surcharge that would cost two-thirds of state households less than $150 per year and households in the top five percent about $7,100 per year.

This would eliminate almost all new student debt, according to the report.

Report author and University of California, SanCHRISTOPHER NEWFIELD ta Barbara English professor Christopher Newfield said affordability is what sets his program apart.

“We want today’s generation of students to have the same deal Democratic campaign idea in we had years ago,” Newfield said. the space of a few months in “We don’t think it’s fair for mil- 2016. We had free college in lennials to be the first generation California and most states unto start life with massive debt for til the 1980s, and we can have doing what they were told to do, it again.” which was to finish college.”

Another recent report initiated When asked about opposition by assemblyman Kevin McCarty from higher income brackets, takes an alternative approach in Newfield said we should shift reducing total debt college stuto using the tax system and not dents carry. Under the Creating the college financial aid system a Debt Free College program, to support public goods like California could help students bachelor’s degrees. get through college without debt “Some people argue against — but at a hefty proposed cost of free college by saying, ‘Do you $3.3 billion annually, according want Donald Trump’s son not to the California Legislative Anto pay tuition to go to college?’ alysts Office (LAO).

My answer is ‘Yes, I do.’ DonAuthor and analyst for the LAO ald Trump’s son should get Paul Golaszewski said that moving free college, too — as long as to cover both tuition and living exhis father pays his income tax,” penses would carry a significant Newfield said. price tag and that implementing California legislators have the plan in full force is unlikely. introduced at least three doz“We could have a much more en bills this year aiming to modest, scaled down version make college more affordable, of the program,” Golaszewski including proposals to freeze said. “California could set aside tuition, demystify student a fixed amount of money and loan statements and make distribute it to the most neediest

students first.”

The report proposes several variations, including limiting the time spent in college to four years and modifying requirements for part-time students.

Comparing the Debt Free report to that of Reclaim California, Golaszewski advises that the latter focuses exclusively on eliminating tuition.

“The report that I worked on is more targeted towards students who demonstrate financial need and would provide all of their college costs — tuition and living expenses,” Golaszewski said. “Forty eight dollars only looks at getting rid of tuition and would be broadly for all students.”

Currently, the Cal Grant funds about $2.3 billion of tuition for students. At Cal Poly, 12,571 undergraduate students receive financial aid, covering an average of 93 percent of their tuition costs.

Business administration freshman Jose Hernandez said increasing income taxes to pay for college is great while he is in school, but feels that having the entire state pay extra taxes when they are not in college is unfair.

“People already pay a lot for taxes and I feel like for a lot of families this would not be affordable,” Hernandez said.

On the other side, aerospace engineering junior James Rockett said most families would be willing to pay more in taxes to make it so everyone living in California has equal access to education.

“Education is really important and paying for school shouldn’t prevent people from reaching their full potential,” Rockett said.

We don’t think it’s fair

for millennials to be the first generation to start life with massive debt.

NEWS 3

MONDAY, MARCH 13, 2017

Mothers for Peace want Diablo Canyon closed by 2019 Erica Hudson Special to Mustang News

For the San Luis Obispo Mothers For Peace, motherhood isn’t just about raising children– it’s an attitude and value system. Motherhood embodies a moral obligation to protect the planet for future generations to come.

The Mothers for Peace tried to close Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant down before it was even built. When Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) released the joint proposal announcing the closure of Unit 1 by 2024 and Unit 2 by 2025, some of the mothers were upset they weren’t included in the initial conversation.

Jane Swanson, president and spokesperson for Mothers For Peace, said she doesn’t want their name on the agreement to run the plant for nine more years; the group wants it to cease operation by 2019.

“That five-year difference means five fewer years of risking the next event of an operating nuclear plant.

Five fewer years of generating radioactive waste with nowhere to go. Five fewer years for an aging plant to have a problem that would DENALI BUS continued from page 1

Sharing the Denali Bus Forestry and natural resources senior Sienna Streamfellow first experienced the Denali Bus for herself when she accompanied King and Simmer on their eventful road trip to Mount Shasta.

“I think it’s awesome because it makes you realize what you truly care about and what’s important to you,” Streamfellow said.

Streamfellow is no stranger to alternative living. She grew up on a boat with minimal belongings and space. Her time on the Denali Bus inspired her decision to drive to South America after graduating from Cal Poly.

endanger workers, the community and cost the ratepayers a lot of money,” Swanson said.

The grassroots organization formed in 1969 after a concerned mother wrote a letter to the editor of the San Luis Obispo Telegram-Tribune expressing her frustrations with the Vietnam War death rate.

The group participated in anti-war movements until 1971 when their attention turned to Diablo Canyon.

Sandy Silver, a former member and intervener, said the group learned about nuclear energy from her husband, Gordon Silver, a Cal Poly physics professor at the time. Gordon continued to educate the mothers on nuclear power as they prepared to file as legal interveners against the licensing of Diablo Canyon.

“In the early days of our participation in trying to stop the licensing of Diablo, we were looked upon as hysterical little ladies,” Sandy said. “We’d arrange to have men speakers who, in some cases, didn’t know a heck of a lot about Diablo, but were willing to lend their voices and prestige to the anti-nuclear movement. Often they would defer a question about Diablo to one of

us to answer.”

Spokesperson Linda Seeley said although the group is not concerned with money, talking finances is the only way they’ve been able to get their voices heard. For decades, they have been involved in litigation and public hearings concerning the construction, licensing and operation of the facility.

“Knowing on that earthquake riddled coastline that we have all that nuclear waste,” Seeley said. “It’s a moral action we’re taking to shut it down. Not for ourselves, but for future generations. [The Nuclear Regulatory Commision (NRC)] is not an advocate for environment or protection of the people. It’s a tool of the industry, but it’s all we have.”

According to Swanson, Mothers For Peace have received phone calls throughout the years from anonymous Diablo Canyon workers who are apprehensive about the safety of the plant.

“Some conscientious people who work there call us because they want us to solve the problem,” she said. “But again, they don’t give their ID because they like their salaries. We’ve had some calls recently that are very very serious around

“It’s nice because it just reminds you like, ‘Oh, I really don’t need all this other stuff in my room,’” Streamfellow said. “That’s fun, but this is what I need to actually have a good life and be truly happy.”

Liberal arts and engineering studies senior Petra Knapp, along with five other friends, joined King and Simmer on the Denali Bus for a mountain biking trip in Santa Cruz last fall.

“Their bus is so rad,” Knapp said. “The bus also attracts tons of travelers and those with outgoing curiosity. It brings on a greater sense of freedom than renting a stationary room.”

The Denali Bus has inspired a number of people, even strang-

ers. On a road trip, King and Simmer parked the Denali Bus in a Safeway parking lot in Portland when an intrigued mother and daughter asked if they could come inside to check out the bus.

“The daughter saw [the bus] and said, ‘This is exactly what I want to do!’ and we saw her on Instagram two months later with a van of her own, so it was kind of cool seeing the passing on of mobile life,” King said.

King and Simmer plan to gather friends and head on a threemonth road trip this summer before eventually heading to Denali. “[The bus] makes our imaginations run wild with the countless adventures that are now so much more than possible,” King said.

DOWN WITH DIABLO

FILE PHOTO | MUSTA NG NE W S

| Mothers for Peace wanted to get rid of the power plant before it was built.

worker intimidation and that’s a recurring theme over the decades.”

According to local PG&E representative Blair Jones, the company is further committed to the safety of their workers and the public after the San Bruno pipeline explosion in 2010.

“We want San Bruno and all the communities we serve to know that we at PG&E have committed ourselves to a goal of transforming this company into the safest and most-reliable energy company in America,” Jones said. “In support of that goal, we’ve hired

some of the best gas safety experts in the country to help guide this effort. We’ve invested billions of shareholder dollars in gas safety improvements.”

CONTINUED ONLINE mustangnews.net

NEWS 4 SUPER SOMETHINGS continued from page 1

Leach added that even though The Super Somethings have more members than most bands, this works in their favor.

Each member brings something special and necessary to the group’s music.

“Having more people in the band, especially more guitar players, makes our sound more unique,” Leach said. “All three of us guitarists play different parts for each song and it definitely adds a new layer of complexity, unlike other bands.”

The Super Somethings quickly dove into writing original pieces to find their sound.

Lead singer and anthropology and geography sophomore Fanning said The Super Something’s songwriting process doesn’t always start the same way, but usually begins with a

MUSTANG NEWS chord progression idea.

“Usually someone will have an idea and just start running with it,” Fanning said. “Then they’ll bounce it off the rest of us and we’ll collaboratively start adding parts. Everyone puts their

The Super Somethings wowed the crowd with their alternative-rock sound and contagious personalities

little touches on a song, but the root of it is always just an idea.”

Guided by musical influences such as the Arcs, the Beatles and the Growlers, the band put

their minds together with the hope of creating unique songs to share.

“We try our best to create catchy Beatles-like choruses, but try to make our verses deeper and [a] little more thought-out,” Leach said.

With a few original pieces under their belts, The Super Somethings took the stage for the first time at an open mic night at SLO Donut Company.

“It went a lot better than we thought it would,” Segel said.

“There was a pretty big crowd and we just had a lot of fun playing up there. It was a great time.”

The Super Somethings wowed the crowd at their debut shows with their alternative rock sound and contagious personalities In coming months, the band wants to fit in studio time to record their music and tackle Shabang in the spring.

L AYERS OF SOUND

| Cameron Segel (above) is one of the three guitarists in The Super Somethings.

SAMMI MULHERN | MUSTA NG NE W S

Lambda uses EDM to support food bank Rebecca Ezrin @ CPMustangNews

Lambda Chi Alpha’s philanthropy events such as Lambda Cabana and Watermelon Bust have been successful in raising money for several charities.

This year, the fraternity tried something new.

On Saturday, Lambda Chi Alpha hosted its first Feeding America FOOD Festival at the Avila Beach Golf Resort. The event replaced last year’s Make-A-Wish Concert philanthropy.

Lambda Chi Alpha External Vice President Matthew Meredith said the fraternity wanted this event to be greek-wide, not just associated with Lambda Chi Alpha.

“I want it to be an all-inclusive thing,” liberal studies senior Meredith said. “We are really badass, all of greek life. We raised almost half a million [dollars] this past year, but we didn’t collaborate together.

If we work together, that’s huge. I figured this could be my last chance to bring the greek organizations together with the community so they understand that what we do is not just a social scene.”

The event featured four Electronic Dance Music (EDM) DJs: Shhh, Wax Wane, Alt 9 and Syence. Food vendors from around San Luis Obispo contributed to the fundraising, with 15 to 25 percent of their profits donated to the Food Bank Coalition of San Luis Obispo (SLO Food Bank).

According to SLO Food Bank volunteer coordinator Caroline Johnson, 40 percent of the people SLO Food Bank serves are children and 20 percent are seniors. Johnson said the Feeding American FOOD Festival is a great way to help provide nutritious food to community members in need.

“A lot of times, there’s a stigma with individuals who are homeless and that’s just not the case for us,” Johnson said. “A large portion of who we serve is also college students. This is a great opportunity for San Luis Obispo residents to join with Cal Poly greek life and really be involved.”

Some performers at the festival were also tied to greek life at Cal Poly, including Syence, made up of two Cal Poly graduates and one

Lambda Chi Alpha alumnus.

Brayden James and Zach Montoya met in a science class and collaborated to remix a song ironically named “Chemistry.” Syence’s remix of the song has about 400,000 plays on Soundcloud. Their song “The Rival” was featured in a Toyota commercial for the RAV4.

Syence has performed at about two dozen Lambda Chi Alpha events.

“I know from experience holding positions in Lambda, there’s a lot of pressure on greek life,” James said.

“The more we do in the community, the more the community and U.S. can realize there is a lot of good coming from greek life.”

CONTINUED ONLINE mustangnews.net

FOOD

THE BEST OF SLO

1. Best Slice of Pizza

11. Best Hangover Food

2. Best Bargain Meal

12. Best Vegetarian Resturant

3. Best Sushi

13. Best BBQ

4. Best Thai

14. Best Food on Campus

5. Best Mexican

15. Best Place for Late Night Munchies

6. Best Italian

16. Best Dessert

7. Best Burger

17. Best Grocery Store

8. Best Sandwich

18. Best Fries

9. Best Breakfast

19. Best Wings

10. Best Salad

20. Best Acai Bowl

SCHOOL- RELATED

ENTERTAINMENT

1. Best Movie Theater

1. Best Movie Theater

2. Best SLO Radio Station

2. Best SLO Radio Station

3. Best PAC Event

3. Best PAC Event

4. Best ASI Event

4. Best ASI Event

PAMPERING

AUTO

1. Best Nail Salon

1. Best Auto Shop

2. Best Haircut

2. Best Car Wash

DRINK

ACTIVE

1. Best Coffee House

1. Best Bike Shop

2. Best Happy Hour

2. Best Beach

3. Best Local Beer

3. Best Golf Course

4. Best Local Winery

4. Best Rec Center Class

5. Best Bar

5. Best Getaway

6. Best Sports Bar

6. Best Hike

7. Best Weekly Bar Deal 8. Best Liquor Store 9. Best 21st Birthday Drinkk

SHOPPING

MONEY

1. Best Women’s Clothing

1. Best Bank

2. Best Men’s Clothing 3. Best Thrift Shop 4. Best Tattoo Parlor

MISC. 1. Best Place to be Spoiled

by Your Parents 2. Best New Business 17’ 3. Best Hidden Gems of SLO

Bring this ballot into Mustang News Office (26-223) for the chance to win a gift card!

Drawings will happen every Friday during Poly Picks voting.

Sponsored by

OPINION 6

MUSTANG NEWS

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How the world sees International Women’s Day HIDDEN FEMINISTS

TABATA GORDILLO | MUSTA NG NE W S

| International Women’s Day is a day to celebrate the achievement and advancement of women, but outright equality is still a long ways away.

In Turkey, peaceful female protesters who rose against the government’s ban ... were met with rubber bullets.

Abbie Lauten-Scrivner @ CPMustangnews

Abbie Lauten-Scrivner is a journalism sophomore and Mustang News columnist. The views expressed in this column do not reflect the viewpoints and editorial coverage of Mustang News.

Every March 8, women around the world take a day to commemorate female achievement. Since International Women’s Day was initiated more than a century ago, women in many parts of the world have made

extraordinary advancements away from being treated like accessories to actual autonomous individuals.

In addition to this celebration, March 8 is also a day to recognize the persistent global inequity women continue to face. It is vital to acknowledge that the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women International Women’s Day celebrates are not internationally equal.

In China, International Women’s Day is commercialized: the day marks hefty discounts on femaleoriented merchandise, enticing women into exercising their purchasing power. Simultaneously, China silenced female protesting power by shutting down the feminist account “Women’s Voices” on the country’s version of Twitter.

The country gave no explanation.

The message this sends is that women may be appreciated for their monetary value, but may not vocalize opinions.

Women in Lebanon marched

in protest of lack of appropriate punishment for rapists, domestic abuse (which roughly half of Lebanese women are subjected to) and a patriarchal law preventing women who marry foreigners from passing citizenship to their children. This highlights an inability to see women as dignified human beings and demonstrates a lack of empathy.

International Women’s Day was canceled in the Gaza strip by Hamas, a militant fundamentalist Islamic organization that now governs Gaza. Under the previous Palestinian National Authority, it was a national holiday. Though Hamas provided no explanation for the cancellation, revoking the celebration of womanhood is a defacto devaluation of the female identity. It tells women that they are not significant enough to constitute a day of appreciation.

In Turkey, peaceful female protesters who rose against the government’s ban of International Women’s Day were met with rubber bullets.

These blatant demonstrations of disrespect and violence against women who advocate for basic human rights appear to me as a testament to the critical need for educated, intersectional feminism across the entire world.

Likewise, findings show that gender equity is nonexistent worldwide.

In 2015, the World Economic Forum measured female status in 145 countries. The study considered female participation in the workforce, pay, healthcare, education, political power and representation in government. A score of zero signified complete disparity, while a score of one meant gender parity.

Iceland ranked the highest, with a score of 0.88. The United States was number 28, scoring 0.74. For a nation christened “the leader of the free world,” it is evident that even the U. S. must respect and acknowledge the persistent protests of the less free so that it may actually come to one day deserve this title.

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WRITE A LETTER

The selfish case for feminism Neil Sandhu @ CPMustangnews

Neil Sandhu is a biomedical engineering senior and Mustang News opinion editor. The views expressed in this column do not reflect the viewpoints and editorial coverage of Mustang News.

I’m a pussy.

At least that’s what I’m sure a few people will call me for writing this piece. It seems as though there is a slur for every identity that is perceived to be self-hating: an African American who doesn’t presuppose that they are oppressed by the majority is an “Uncle Tom,” a caucasian who chooses to recognize their own privilege is a “cuck” and a man who identifies as a feminist is a “pussy.” So sure, call me whatever you want.

But understand this: There are more reasons to be a feminist than self-hatred, or even altruism. In fact, one of my strongest pulls toward feminism stems from an entirely selfish motive.

I want to live in the best world possible simply because

I’m selfish. I want my life to be enriched by the organizations and bureaucracies that we trust to run our society. I want the fastest computers and the most steadfast judicial process. I want the richest food and the most durable phone. The only way I’m able to obtain any of these superlatives is if every position is filled by the best possible candidate. This is currently impossible.

Women are overlooked from a young age. It isn’t always malicious and it isn’t always on purpose, but it is undeniably systemic. You know the drill: boys get Legos, girls get dolls, and suddenly when they grow up, women make up 48 percent of the workforce, but less than a quarter of the STEM field. Now, the stalwart defenders of capitalism will argue that our society has moved toward a meritocracy and that is partially the case. Some employers focus purely on ability and no longer overlook potential

employees for immaterial qualities such as tattoos, dyed hair, or you know, being non-male.

But this has yet to translate to a statistical equivalence between genders in the workforce, hiring pool or even schools.

On Wednesday, women across the country walked out of their jobs both in solidarity with

I simply want the best for the world I live in and myself, and that necessitates that I demand equality for women. each other and in protest of the system that takes them for granted. Productivity grinded to a stop, the Dow Jones Industrial average dropped and some

ignoramuses claimed these provocateurs were holding the economy hostage.

Now, before you cry “havock” and let slip the dogs of war on these protesters, remember this: women are missing from the workforce every single day.

Every day, we are held back because we are unable to choose the best candidates for jobs. Every day, we are forced to settle for the second or third or seventh best choice because the other six spent their childhoods being told they are pretty instead of smart.

Every day, I am deprived of a better electric car, or more a sustainable irrigation plan because women are overlooked at ever y level of our economic system.

I am not a man-hater and I’m not quite sure how being a feminist turns me into a “pussy” but I am almost certain I’m not one of those either. I simply want the best for the world I live in and myself, and that necessitates that I demand equality for women.

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MONDAY, MARCH 13, 2017 BASKETBALL continued from page 1

With seven minutes left in the third quarter, junior guard Dynn Leaupepe finally got on the scoresheet with a traditional threepoint play, cutting the Mustang deficit to six.

But the Warriors continued to dominate the quarter, outscoring the Mustangs by seven and holding a 51-37 lead going into the final quarter. The teams traded baskets in the first three minutes, but the Mustangs were unable to gain any momentum.

The Warriors continued to outpace the Mustangs, leading by as much as 22 with a minuteand-a-half remaining.

Though the Mustangs had an incredible 40-8 advantage in points in the paint, the Warriors knocked down 10 of their 22 shots from three-point range. The Mustangs couldn’t overcome that and missed all of their 11 shots from beyond the arc.

Men’s tournament Senior guard Ridge Shipley lead all scorers with 19 points but the seventh-seeded Mustangs were unable to pull off the upset against No. 2 and eventual conference champion UC Davis in the first round of the Big West Tournament.

The Mustangs, who were the seventh seed for the fourth straight year, fell behind early; the Aggies jumped out to a 7-2 lead just over four minutes into an incredibly physical game.

After sophomore point guard Donovan Fields connected on a layup for the Mustangs with 15:17 on the clock, both teams went scoreless for almost five minutes. Fields converted another layup to bring the Mustangs within one at the 10-minute mark in the first half.

This was as close as the Mustangs came to a lead in the first half. The Aggies maintained their lead through their consistent effort on the offensive glass that resulted in multiple second chance oppor-

SPORTS 8

tunities. Though they held the Ag- Poly responded quickly with 11 and one of the best players in the game, Shipley was called for a fell to 10-14 all-time in the Big gies to only 33 percent shooting in straight points to tie the game Big West. As a team, the Mustangs blocking foul, his fifth of the game, West Tournament and have lost the first half, the Mustangs were behind two buckets from deep held Moneke to just 11 points on after he got run over and took an in the first round in three conoutrebounded 24-18, 10-4 on the by Shipley and one from junior 4 of 15 shooting from the floor. elbow to the face from UC Davis secutive years following their offensive boards and gave up 10 forward Luke Meikle.

With 6:06 remaining, the guard Lemar Brynton. His vocal 2014 season, their only berth in second-chance points.

Shipley came out of the break Mustangs’ chances of a comeback disagreement with the call led to a the NCAA Tournament.

“To be down five, I was amazed,” on fire, putting behind his 1 of 4 seemed to slip away after Joseph technical foul and the Aggies conAs the men’s basketball team’s Cal Poly head coach Joe Callero shooting performance in the first went down with a right ankle verted all four ensuing free throws season comes to a close, the said. “We have no chance without half to score 16 points and drain injury. Joseph, who laid on the to seal the victory.

Mustangs will look to replace competing on an equal basis on four of his seven attempts from court for several minutes after “I thought this senior year he did two key players next year after the boards. There’s no doubt that beyond the arc. the injury, would not return to a wonderful job of not worrying losing Shipley and Gordon, who we have been small all year. We’re Despite Shipley’s stellar play in the game after being assisted off about what have you done, but will both graduate in spring. playing four guards who are [6- his final game as a Mustang, the the court. what can you do,” Callero said. “It “Cal Poly is a blessing, I would foot-1] and under.”

Aggies began to pull away as the “I don’t think I’ve seen that kid was his best as a leader, as a player, never be able to go here if it Fields dropped another layup game continued. They pushed go down on the court more than as a defender and emotionally.” wasn’t for basketball,” Shipley to end the scoring drought and their lead to 52-41 with 7:30 to play, one time in my life,” Callero said.

Though the Mustangs limited said. “It’s been a while since I’ve bring the Aggies’ lead to one, but Cal Poly senior forward Zach “So when he went down and stayed Moneke’s scoring, the Big West had some time off and have been but the Aggies reeled off a 6-0 Gordon immediately responded down, then it’s a bad ankle. I’m sure Newcomer of the Year had an- able to enjoy a regular student run to open up a 14-6 lead. The on the other end of the floor with he won’t be able to play [for] two other dominant game on the life, so it’s exciting.”

Mustangs kept the deficit in single an emphatic dunk to bring the to four weeks. Had we won the boards, finishing the game with a As for Gordon, he set his digits throughout the first half Aggies’ lead back to nine. game, I think you would have seen career-high 18 rebounds and his sights on playing professional and junior guard Victor Joseph Gordon was a key contribu- another starting lineup of five guys 15th double-double of the season, basketball in Europe after narrowed the Mustangs’ deficit to tor for the Mustangs in his final who haven’t started at all.” best in conference. graduation. six after he connected on a layup game, recording nine points, 12 Despite losing one of their most “He knew we needed a mon“I’d like to play overseas,” Gorwhile crashing to the floor from rebounds and five blocks. He also prolific scorers, Shipley’s clutch ster effort on the boards and we don said. “I know I have the a hard foul. Joseph converted the took on the task of defending Chi- three-point shooting propelled challenged him,” UC Davis head skill and the talent, too. I have following free throw to cut the ma Moneke, the Aggies’ statistical the Mustangs to within four coach Jim Les said. “Generally, some friends who play overseas.

Aggies’ lead to 26-21 with one leader points of the Aggies’ lead with less when we challenge him he rises If that doesn’t work out, I’ll go second before halftime. than two minutes to play. to the occasion.” back to school and become a The usually high-powered With just 19 seconds left in the With the loss, the Mustangs chiropractor.”

Mustang offense was lethargic through the Both the men’s and first half as they only women’s basketball connected on one three-pointer and shot teams were eliminated just over 30 percent from the field before in the first round of each the break. Though the Mustangs have Big West Tournament been one of the best teams at holding on to this week. the basketball this season, they uncharacteristically committed seven turnovers in the first half compared to just four from the Aggies.

“We have been that way all year, we’re capable of beating anybody but we have to make about 10 three-pointers and have a high shooting percentage,” Callero said.

“Thirty-four percent is not going to get you in the tournament.”

The Mustangs continued to look sluggish offensively after halftime and the Aggies capitalized with an 8-2 run to get their first double-digit lead of the night with MAT T L AL ANNE | MUSTA NG NE W S 16 minutes left in the game. Cal FAN ZONE | After the losses in the Big West Tournament, students will have to wait until next season to watch the basketball teams play.