Pg. 07
WHO IS UNITED MOVEMENT, THE DANCE CLUB THAT HOSTS ILLUMINATE
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TRUMP’S IMMIGRATION POLICIES SPARK FEAR, UNCERTAINTY IN SLO COUNTY
Pg. 18
‘I WAS A GROWN MAN CRYING’: LUKA WICK’S ROAD BACK TO WRESTLING
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STORY BY ARCHANA PISUPATI
DESIGNED BY LIZ RIDLEY
Cal Poly’s St. Fratty’s Day made national headlines due to a roof collapse at the annual block party in 2015.
Nine years later, St. Fratty’s resulted in over $24,000 worth of damages at the Red Bricks residence halls. This year, Cal Poly and City of San Luis
Obispo announced a new approach: prevention over containment.
The city created a taskforce to address the destruction, and has since implemented a plan to stop the block party and move the festivities onto campus. Now, the primary countermeasures involve an on-campus alternative event and double fines under a city safety enhancement zone.
The St. Fratty’s block party in 2024 saw a record high of 150 reported criminal offenses, including unruly gatherings, public urination, noise control and possession or consumption of alcohol in public.
Reactions were swift the following days. University President Armstrong sent an email condemning the extensive damage done to the various residence halls, particularly Muir Hall.
WATCH THE INTERVIEW
“‘No more warnings’: what to know about this year’s st. fratty’s crackdown” OR ACCESS ON YOUTUBE AT MUSTANG NEWS’ CHANNEL
INTERVIEWED BY
ARCHANA PISUPATI
Mustang News talked with Mayor Erica Stewart and University President Jeffrey Armstrong about their perspectives on the St. Patrick’s Day celebrations and the alternative event. The text is pulled from written transcripts and edited for clarity.
What were some of the things you were feeling right after St. Patrick’s Day last year?
STEWART: I was very grateful and we were all very grateful that no one was hurt. First and foremost, that’s the most important aspect. When we talk about March 17 and the frustration around the parties — around St. Patrick’s Day — this is based off of the frustration from many, many parties, gatherings. This is not the first thing.
ARMSTRONG: The vandalism and the destruction on campus was extremely disappointing and many students said, ‘Well, it wasn’t me.’ Well, they were your visitors. And there were some cases that were students. We need to make sure that, privacy issues aside, people know that accountability does occur. And that led to looking at an alternative event. But again, we want to get to the point where there are not people getting up at 4:00 a.m.
What are the efforts to prevent the block party? Will there be increased police enforcement?
STEWART: We have an increased amount of law enforcement officers from the police department in San Luis Obispo, from outside of SLOPD, as well as from the on-campus police department.
We have also increased the safety enhancement zone. Fines start at $700 to $1,000 depending on the infraction. The goal was, ‘We’re not kidding, we’re very serious. This needs to not be happening in our community anymore.’
ARMSTRONG: We know this is not a Greek event. It may have started that way years ago, but it’s really visitors, it’s a lot of people in the community, other communities and our students.
We’re trying to set up an environment where people want to go there instead of the neighborhoods and clogging up the neighborhoods and waking up people or even worse, unsafe behavior or people getting hurt, property being damaged.
How did last year’s St. Patrick’s Day influence Cal Poly’s approach to the event this year?
STEWART: I think for us as the community, we heard loud and clear for our members of our community, students or non-students, whether you live here for a few years or for many, many decades, people would like to be able to sleep in their own homes in a safe manner.
Mayor Stewart, at city council meetings, during open hall conversations, locals have expressed distress about this event. How do you expect them to react to this event happening on campus?
STEWART: Partnering with Cal Poly and hoping that this music festival in the morning will help people get out of the streets, the neighborhoods. The 4:00 a.m. music may be challenging for some. Again, that is hopefully better on campus than in the middle of the street. Again, we have the safety enhancement zone that has been increased and there will be bigger fines. This is not a year we’ll have warnings.
The goal was ‘We’re not kidding, we’re very serious.’ This needs to not be happening in our community anymore.
ERICA STEWART
Mayor of San Luis Obispo
What does the future of this event look like right now? Is it something that you want to plan again in the future, or is it a one-time thing?
STEWART: Realistically, 4:00 a.m. music in the morning is probably not what anyone wants to see here, but if this is what works, then we’re willing to continue to partner.
That [the alternative event] is hopefully better on campus than in the middle of the street because of the illegal street gathering. I think that has been the biggest issue, along with the property damage and the noise.
ARMSTRONG: The other thing that’s happening in ‘26 is we move to semesters. So we won’t have this time in March again where there’s the potential right before finals. But we’ll just have to see.
President Armstrong, on top of not being able to stay at those residence halls, what are some other things the university will be doing about those kinds of damages that happened last year that might happen this year?
ARMSTRONG: We’re going to have shuttles to the Cal Poly Alternative Music Event. We really would also say to students: If you’re in the neighborhood and you’re heading to the alternative event, get out of the neighborhood as quickly as you can. Make a B-line to the intramural fields because SLOPD, UPD—they’re going to be out. We work hard without warning. We don’t want an illegal street party. So, get to the event.
Make a B-line to the intramural fields because SLOPD, UPD — they’re going to be out. We work hard without warning. We don’t want an illegal street party. So, get to the event.
JEFFREY ARMSTRONG University President
What impact do you hope this event will have on Cal Poly’s public reputation and safety? What do you hope that reputation will be like after this event?
STEWART: As an alumni, I really hope that my degree is not from a party school. It is from a school where we’re continuing to be Cal Poly Proud.
ARMSTRONG: Our reputation is critical. The best way our reputation is built is the success of our graduates, our alumni. It’s also making sure that all students feel welcome here. I mean, there are some students, they don’t want anything to do with this type of thing. They may say, ‘You know, I’m not coming to college.’ But so far, we have huge demand. We have amazing faculty and staff who care deeply about our students.
Mustang News published a series of stories on Illuminate, a cultural dance performance showcase, which took place on Feb. 23. The three print stories feature different teams in the performance. More stories, along with the ones published, can be found on mustangnews.net.
VIEW THE FOLLOWING PAGES:
Who is United Movement, the dance club that hosts Illuminate?
Conectando con las raíces culturales a través del Folklórico en Cal Poly ShanWu’s last dance; Illuminate was the dance group’s final performance
STORY BY KAYLIN O’CONNELL
DESIGNED BY JULIA HAZEMOTO
Ten years ago, Katrina SwensonAguirre locked herself in her bedroom, determined to teach herself how to dance with nothing but YouTube and a dream.
“I always wanted to dance, but I was a really shy child,” SwensonAguirre said.
Now, English senior SwensonAguirre is the co-president of one of Cal Poly’s largest dance teams: United Movement, also known as “UM.”
The club unites diverse individuals under their shared interest in dance and culture. Through their annual dance showcase, Illuminate, United Movement uplifts Cal Poly’s cultural clubs within a historically white institution.
“It’s really rare to find a group of people as diverse as we are,” said Lea Graham, United Movement vice president and an environmental management and protection junior.
Graham said Cal Poly’s racial makeup differs drastically from her high school experience.
“It’s not even the fact that there are minorities in UM,” Graham said. “It’s the fact that everyone is so accepting and welcoming towards people of all different backgrounds.”
Illuminate brings different clubs together on campus while also highlighting their cultural aspects, according to Crystal Doan, United Movement co-president and an architecture junior.
“It’s just really important to be able to share those cultures not only with an audience but within each cultural club and share our experiences with each other,” Graham said.
The club began in 2014 as Hip-Hop Congress, a name coined by the club’s founder, Daniel Phil Kim. After multiple name changes, the club became United Movement in 2022.
The team is non-audition and non-competitive. United Movement’s determination to provide a comfortable and non-judgemental environment welcomes both those with no experience and those who have danced their entire lives, said Swenson-Aguirre.
“A singular sequence of movement will look different on anyone’s body,”
Swenson-Aguirre said. “Seeing it in different variations on different people just expands your mind.”
For many, United Movement provides a space for past dancers to rediscover their passion for dance again. That was the case for industrial engineering junior Natalie Murai. She grew up with a strong dance background but felt hesitant to continue the sport in college.
“I came to Cal Poly not even knowing if I wanted to continue to dance,” Murai said. “Coming to the club made me fall in love with dance all over again. It’s been so much fun.”
Murai’s hesitancy to continue dancing in college is a common theme for many dancers before they discovering United Movement. This often stems from the competitiveness of the dance community.
“Outside of the Central Coast, the dance world is very competitive and a little bit tense,” Swenson-Aguirre said. “I feel like UM is like a sanctuary in a sense where it’s less competitive, less pressure.”
On the other hand, Doan took a few beginner classes before she came to Cal Poly. She used dance to get out of physical education classes in high school, but became fond of with the art.
“UM is just trying to be a first step for a lot of people to get into dance,” Doan said. “We’re hoping to be a place that dancers from different backgrounds can come to flourish and nourish [their] skills.”
The bond between United Movement members makes the team special, Doan said. Members found some of their best friends within the group and a “home away from home,” Swenson-Aguirre said. “There is just an authenticity,” Swenson-Aguirre said. “Everyone’s present because we’re all there because we share a love and passion for dance.”
Coming to the club made me fall in love with dance again
United Movement vice president
STORY BY SYD SPENCER
DESIGNED BY JOLINA CHEN
This story was first published on mustangnews.net. Read the most updated version of this story there.
Rumor has it the traditional Chinese dance group, ShanWu, is performing for the last time.
“That is what is going around,” said ShanWu coordinator Syd Tan. But they are hoping somebody will step up and change that.
The group was formed four years ago to make traditional Chinese dance more accessible at Cal Poly. Along the way, it created a space to celebrate Chinese culture through dance.
However, it’s now in danger of disappearing, and they’re determined to go out with a bang.
SHANWU’S STRUGGLE TO FIND LEADERSHIP
Tan is the coordinator for ShanWu, a Cal Poly dance group that blends classical Chinese dance with contemporary elements and traditional folk dance. The group’s name originates from a Chinese proverb, “neng ge shan wu,” meaning multi-talented and versatile, according to Tan.
Tan is the only dancer in the group
with professional training who stepped up to take on a coordinator role. As it stands, no one on the team will be filling those shoes.
“There is a level of training involved,” Tan said. “There is a level of cultural appreciation that’s involved. You don’t want to be getting off on the wrong foot.”
ShanWu’s style differs from other
dance groups due to its emphasis on storytelling. Dancers aim to communicate the essence of Chinese culture through visual storytelling while bringing diversity to the dance communities on campus.
“When you’re trying to emulate the dance to the audience, you’re also trying to tell a story at the same time,” Tan said.
The group first started with five close friends and quickly grew into a team of 18, debuting in 2021 at Illuminate. Since then, they’ve performed quarterly— at Culturefest every fall, Illuminate in winter and Lantern Festival in spring.
Since Tan is studying abroad next quarter, the group will not be performing at Lantern Festival. “It’s kind of disheartening sometimes too because now I hear people being like, ‘wait, I was gonna do it next quarter’ and I’m like ‘why didn’t you do it this quarter,’” Tan said.
With this year’s Illuminate potentially being ShanWu’s last performance at Cal Poly, some students knew they had to get involved.
“When I heard it was like the last
When you’re trying to emulate the dance to the audience, you’re also trying to tell a story at the same time
quarter, I was like I have to do it now,” said Claire Bak, a business junior.
To Bak, dance is more than just a form of exercise.
“I made so many friends in my freshman year in these dance clubs and so it’s like my way of seeing them and catching up with people that I don’t normally hang out with, which is really nice,” Bak said.
Other dancers expressed how ShanWu provided them with a space to connect with Chinese culture.
“ShanWu was sort of a return to my roots, but also like trying something very new in terms of style,” said Jacob Kwong, a graphic communications senior.
Kwong joined ShanWu for Illuminate last year and has helped plan everything from announcements to clearing studio space for this year’s performances.
This winter’s dance showcase, ShanWu, is bringing a change of pace to their performances.
“Last year we went with a more peaceful, lighthearted style of pieces, and this year we’re hoping to go with
a little bit of a different direction,” Tan said. “Maybe a little bit mysterious. Maybe a little bit dark.”
Over the summer, Tan and Kwong decided that they wanted to implement themes of horror into their
more narrative aspect of art and dance in general.”
A lot of Chinese dance is based on folklore, and this year, ShanWu is “tapping into the darker side of that,” according to Kwong.
ShanWu dancers said they have been pushing themselves outside of their comfort zone as Illuminate approached. The audience can expect pink masks with gold trimmings covering dancers’ faces, along with long fans flowing with their movements.
Chinese dance.
When I heard it was like the last quarter, I was like I have to do it now.
CLAIRE BAK
ShanWu Dancer and Business Major
performance at Illuminate.
“ShanWu is the most theatrical,” Kwong said, compared to other groups they perform with. “I was a theater kid, so it really brings me back to that storytelling, and that
For some in the group, like Bak, a new dancer with ShanWu, incorporating elements of long fan is unfamiliar.
“I have never done something so difficult, like, it’s completely different than anything I’ve ever done before,” Bak said. “So learning the mechanics of it has been really difficult but also been really interesting and cool to learn.”
When most people think of traditional Chinese dance, it’s the ads plastered over street signs and billboards for the touring group Shen Yun. But that’s not what ShanWu is about.
Tan said Shen Yun has “exotified”
“I think that it sort of perpetuates this idea that Chinese dance isn’t accessible,” Kwong said. “I think Shen Yun kind of perpetuates this idea that to perform and to do this high-value art, you have to be the peak of flexibility, and like the peak of performance and everything has to be perfect.”
The group strives to dismantle this perception.
“That was the whole point of wanting to open ShanWu to more people was so that more people could learn about the style of dance and appreciate it for what it is,” Tan said.
Tan has played a pivotal role in creating a space for this dance style at Cal Poly, Kwong said.
“It’s really a blessing that Syd [Tan] came in and has like all this knowledge about Chinese dance and is willing to sort of teach us and show
“I would really enjoy it if people would come to watch our performance without thinking about those stereotypes and thinking about what Chinese dance necessarily has to be because there’s so much to Chinese dance,” Tan said.
With Illuminate potentially being ShanWu’s last performance, the group encouraged everyone to come watch.
“Come watch us with an open mind,” Tan said. “That’s all I ask.” They hope it won’t be the last.
ESCRITO POR ARACELI ARONIN DISEÑADO POR KENNEDY RAY
El 23 de febrero, varios grupos de danza en Cal Poly participaron en Illuminate, una competencia de danza a nivel nacional. Muchos grupos, como el club de danza folklórica, aprovecharon esta oportunidad para traer cultura y tradición a la comunidad universitaria.
Los estudiantes de Cal Poly están participando en Illuminate para exhibir su talento y compartir la riqueza del folklórico.
En Cal Poly, la danza folklórica sirve como un vibrante medio de expresión para los estudiantes latinx, permitiéndoles conectarse con su herencia cultural mientras fomentan un sentido de comunidad. Con aproximadamente 25% del cuerpo estudiantil identificándose como hispano, la visibilidad de estas tradiciones es más crucial que nunca.
“El folklórico está arraigado en la tradición y las formas indígenas de canto,”expresa Luke Mendoza, un estudiante de cuarto año que estudia gestión y protección ambiental y co-presidente del club folklórico. “Encarna el orgullo mexicano, permitiéndonos mostrar nuestra cultura y herencia.”. Para muchos estudiantes, el viaje hacia el folklórico comienza temprano. Itzel Vazquez, estudiante de tercer año en ingeniería mecánica y su tercer año bailando folklórico en Cal Poly compartió su historia que comenzó antes de ser miembro del club. Ella contó que se enamoró de la música y el baile durante la escuela primaria.
Para ella, el folklórico sirve como un medio para preservar la identidad cultural.
“Con menos personas indígenas representadas, danzas como ‘La Baile de la Piña’ están volviéndose menos comunes,” dijo Vazquez. “El folklórico ayuda a preservar nuestra cultura e infunde un sentido de orgullo en nuestra identidad.”
Andrés Ochoa, estudiante de segundo año en desarrollo infantil, siempre quiso bailar folklórico después de ver a su hermano en el escenario. Para él, es una forma personal de expresión y conexión con sus raíces.
Esta conexión entre la danza y la identidad cultural se ve reforzada a través de la vestimenta, que no solo embellece la presentación, sino que también profundiza el vínculo de los bailarines con sus raíces.
El vestimento, más que simples adornos, son coloridos trajes que reflejan la historia cultural y la identidad de diferentes regiones de México, convirtiéndose en un símbolo de felicidad y tradición.
Cada región de México tiene vestimenta única que cuenta una historia. Mendoza explica cómo los trajes de Jalisco, la región que se destaca en sus presentaciones, muestran diferentes movimientos y actuaciones, aumentando así la visibilidad y apreciación de la cultura.
“Compartir la vestimenta en Cal Poly crea una visibilidad impactante y efectiva para nuestras tradiciones,” dijo Mendoza.
“Una vez que te pones el traje, te
sientes más feliz y más conectado con tus raíces mexicanas,”dijo Lizette Ibarra, una estudiante de segundo año en administración de empresas. “Es una forma de mostrar nuestra cultura en Cal Poly.”
Participar en folklórico crea una comunidad donde los estudiantes pueden expresar sus identidades y conectarse con otros que comparten experiencias similares.
“El folklórico ayuda a preservar nuestra cultura e infunde un sentido de orgullo en nuestra identidad.”
ITZEL VAZQUEZ Mechanical engineering junior
Edith Villegas, estudiante de primer año en arquitectura y en su primer año de bailar en Cal Poly, resalta cómo el folklórico ha creado un sentido de comunidad al reunir a personas de la misma cultura para celebrar sus raíces.
La evolución del club de folklórico
en Cal Poly muestra un creciente interés por la representación cultural, con las estudiantes entusiasmadas por participar.
“Ver presentaciones donde los estudiantes pueden verse representados fomenta un sentido de pertenencia y orgullo,” dijo Villega A través de la danza, la música y la comunidad, los estudiantes no solo celebran sus raíces, sino que también aseguran que su cultura permanezca viva y vibrante para las futuras generaciones. La música juega un papel vital en el folklórico, sirviendo como el latido del baile.
“La música es esencial; guía nuestros pasos y da vida a la danza. Cuando me presento, no solo pienso en la música; me siento viva,” dijo Vazquez.
Y ESPIRITU BALLET FOLKLORICO PRACTICE
The annual audit of the Associated Students, Inc. and the University Union for fiscal year 2023–24 has been completed.
Public information copies of the financial statements are available at the ASI Business Office (Bldg. 65, Rm. 212) and at the ASI Membership Services Front Desk at the Cal Poly Recreation Center (Bldg. 43). Available at asi.calpoly.edu
Student Ombuds Services is a safe place where students can seek confidential guidance on university related concerns or complaints.
An Ombuds is a neutral person who listens to a student’s issues or conflicts off the record and helps them to explore different solutions.
LOCATION: Building 26 Room 111
HOURS: Monday – Friday | 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
VISIT: ombuds.calpoly.edu
E-MAIL: ombuds@calpoly.edu
PHONE: (805) 756-1380
STORY BY BELLA COX AND CAROLINE OHLANDT DESIGNED BY KENNEDY RAY
Yessenia Echevarria dedicated the past 11 years to uplifting Latina women in San Luis Obispo County as the founder and executive director for her nonprofit, Mujeres de Acción.
When President Donald Trump announced his new immigration enforcement policies after taking office in January, Echevarria was filled with fear — not just for herself, but for her community.
On Jan. 21, Trump authorized the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE) to enter schools and churches — places previously designated as “safe zones” for undocumented immigrants under the Biden administration.
“When this new administration won the election, it definitely shifted the energy here in SLO County, and that energy has been one of anxiety,
fear, stress, uncertainty, as well as a sense of breathing,” Echevarria said.
As of March 2, there have been no confirmed ICE raids in the county since the policy change. However, an unconfirmed suspected raid occurred at a Paso Robles apartment complex on Jan. 29. Witnesses claimed ICE agents were involved, but police stated on Feb. 19 that the arrest was carried out by a different federal agency, according to the San Luis Obispo Tribune.
Mustang News contacted ICE multiple times regarding this arrest and did not receive a response.
There are nearly 27,000 documented and undocumented immigrants living in San Luis Obispo County, making up almost 10% of the population, according to a San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce report. An estimated 9,000 undocumented residents live and work in the county, according to SLO County UndocuSupport.
As the daughter of two immigrants, this issue is deeply personal for Echevarria.
“When my parents came to this great country, we received a lot of help in those hard moments,” Echevarria said, holding back tears. “And in those moments, it’s about humanity. It’s about having someone who’s going to care.”
Over the past month at Mujeres de Acción, Echevarria has focused on addressing her community’s need for communication and information.
Since Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20, she said their group has gained 1,900 new members and has tailored its messaging to assist undocumented and mixed-status families.
“It’s scary for us because we don’t know how aggressive this administration will be,” Echevarria said.
“All we can do is be prepared as first responders, and that’s the role that we have taken in the community.”
Now that ICE can enter schools and churches, emotions are running high within these communities.
The San Luis Coastal Unified School District has observed increased anxiety among students and their families, impacting student attendance, according to Shannan McFaddenSullivan, an English learner teacher in the district.
“Some of our students are feeling unsafe and worry that raids may separate them from their loved ones, which makes it difficult for them to focus on learning,” McFaddenSullivan said.
On Feb. 3, during “day without immigrants,” the school district saw a noticeable drop in attendance, McFadden-Sullivan said. The protest encouraged immigrants nationwide to keep their kids home from school, skip work and avoid shopping, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Some local businesses also recognized the protest. Corazón Cafe SLO closed its doors in observance of the day.
In this county, we are so blessed to have meaningful people that have come together in the worst of times. That’s the beauty of our community.
YESSENIA ECHEVARRIA
Mujeres
de Acción Founder
“We decided to close out of solidarity because our immigrants are valuable in a million different ways,” said Sara McGrath, co-owner of the cafe. “Speaking as a restaurant owner and just as a human being who eats food every day, the entire food chain depends on immigrant labor.”
McGrath expressed her frustration with the current situation.
“To think that my brown-skinned husband or anybody else I know who looks Latino should walk around and be sure they have additional documentation just to prove who they are is outrageous and gut-wrenching,” McGrath said. “Unfair is putting it mildly.”
To provide support, the cafe distributes “red cards” with information on what to do if approached by an ICE officer.
“As a business, we continue to make efforts towards putting it out there in any way that we are a welcoming place, and that we are an inclusive and safe space during all this chaos,” McGrath said.
Ricardo Gonzalez, pastor at a local church, Casa de Oración, offers his support by praying that the promises
of God will keep those affected safe.
“Our goal is to help people that don’t have too much orientation or information, and we need to help them as much as we can,” Gonzalez said.
Beyond San Luis Obispo, Santa Maria saw over 100 students protest federal immigration deportation policies on Feb. 18, advocating for a two-mile protection zone around churches and schools, according to the Santa Maria Times.
Before the Trump administration authorized ICE to enter schools and churches, CalMatters asked all 58 of California’s sheriffs if they would cooperate with ICE. Under California law, local law enforcement is not required to assist federal immigration enforcement efforts.
“Unless the law changes in California or federally, I will continue to follow the current law,” San Luis Obispo County Sheriff Ian Parkinson wrote in an email to CalMatters.
While Parkinson’s statement was made before the new immigration policies took effect, Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Tony Cipolla said this statement still stands.
As for how these federal immigration policies could affect Cal Poly, the university does not engage with federal immigration enforcement without a judicial warrant present.
“At the end of the day, we can put this all in as politics, but these are people’s lives,” Echevarria said.
“These are people’s livelihoods.”
For Echevarria, one positive has emerged from this situation: a stronger sense of community.
“In the midst of this situation, we have been able to create partnerships and relationships that had never been created,” Echevarria said.
“In this county, we are so blessed to have meaningful people that have come together in the worst of times. That’s the beauty of our community.”
For those who do not understand what immigrants will be experiencing under the Trump administration, Echevarria said she hopes they will recognize the human impact.
“We’re dealing with people who have made this place their home. This is their community and they have built relationships,” Echevarria said. “Humanity is seeing people for people at the end of the day.”
ESCRITO POR: BELLA COX Y CAROLINE OHLANDT
DISEÑADO POR KENNEDY RAY
TRADUCIDO POR: KATHRYN
HUTCHINSON Y EMILIA PIRIR
Y essenia Echevarria ha dedicado los últimos 11 años a empoderar a las mujeres latinas en el condado de San Luis Obispo como fundadora y directora ejecutiva de su organización sin fines de lucro, Mujeres de Acción.
Cuando el presidente Donald Trump anunció sus nuevas políticas de aplicación de las leyes de inmigración después de asumir el cargo en enero, Echevarría sintió miedo, no solo por sí misma, sino por su comunidad.
El 21 de enero, Trump autorizó a la agencia de Inmigración y Control de Aduanas de los Estados Unidos (ICE, por sus siglas en inglés) a ingresar a escuelas e iglesias – lugares que previamente habían sido designados como “zonas seguras” para los inmigrantes indocumentados bajo la administración de Biden.
“Cuando esta nueva administración ganó las elecciones, definitivamente cambió la energía aquí en el condado de SLO y esa energía ha sido de ansiedad, miedo, estrés, incertidumbre, así como una sensación de contención,” dijo Echevarria.
A partir del 23 de febrero, no se han documentado redadas de ICE en el condado de San Luis Obispo desde el cambio de política. Sin embargo, el 29 de enero hubo un rumor de una posible redada en un complejo de apartamentos en Paso Robles. Testigos afirmaron que agentes de ICE estuvieron involucrados, pero la policía declaró el 19 de febrero que la detención fue realizada por otra agencia federal, según el San Luis Obispo Tribune.
Mustang News contactó a ICE en múltiples ocasiones respecto a este arresto, pero no recibió respuesta.
Según un informe de la Cámara de Comercio de San Luis Obispo, hay casi 27,000 inmigrantes, tanto documentados como indocumentados, viviendo en el condado, lo que representa casi el 10% de la población.
Se estima que 9,000 residentes indocumentados viven y trabajan en el condado, según SLO County UndocuSupport.
Para Echevarria, siendo hija de dos inmigrantes, este tema es profundamente personal.
“Cuando mis padres llegaron a este gran país, recibimos mucha ayuda en esos momentos difíciles,” dijo Echevarria, conteniendo las lágrimas. “Y en esos momentos, se trata de humanidad. Se trata de tener a alguien que se preocupe.”
En el último mes, el trabajo de Echevarría con Mujeres de Acción se ha centrado en abordar la necesidad de comunicación e información de su comunidad. Desde la inauguración de Trump el 20 de enero, su grupo ha sumado 1,900 nuevos miembros y ha adaptado su mensaje para ayudar a las familias indocumentadas y con estatus mixto.
“Nos asusta porque no sabemos qué tan agresiva será esta administración,” dijo Echevarria. “Todo lo que podemos hacer es estar preparados como rescatistas y ese es el papel que hemos asumido en la comunidad.”
Ahora que las escuelas e iglesias ya no son consideradas lugares seguros para los inmigrantes y ICE puede ingresar a ellas, las emociones crecen en estas comunidades.
El Distrito Escolar Unificado de San Luis Coastal ha notado un aumento en la ansiedad entre los estudiantes y sus familias, lo que ha afectado la asistencia estudiantil, según Shannan McFadden-Sullivan, maestra de estudiantes de inglés.
“Algunos de nuestros estudiantes no se sienten seguros y temen que las redadas los separen de sus seres queridos, lo que les dificulta concentrarse en el aprendizaje,” dijo McFadden-Sullivan.
El 3 de febrero, durante el “Día sin Inmigrantes”, el distrito escolar observó una notable disminución en la asistencia, según McFaddenSullivan. La protesta incentivó a inmigrantes en todo el país a no enviar a sus hijos a la escuela, faltar al trabajo y evitar realizar compras, según el Los Angeles Times. Algunos negocios locales también reconocieron la protesta. Corazón Café SLO cerró sus puertas en solidaridad.
“Decidimos cerrar en solidaridad porque nuestros inmigrantes son valiosos en un millón de maneras diferentes”, dijo Sara McGrath, copropietaria del café. “Hablando como una dueña de un restaurante y como un ser humano que come todos los días, toda la cadena alimentaria depende del labor de los inmigrantes.”
McGrath expresó su frustración con la situación actual.
“Pensar en que mi esposo, que tiene la piel morena, o cualquier otra persona que parezca latino debe caminar asegurándose de llevar documentación adicional solo para probar quién es, es indignante y desgarrador”, dijo McGrath. “Llamarlo injusto es quedarse corto.”
Para brindar apoyo, el café distribuye “tarjetas rojas” con información sobre qué hacer si un oficial de ICE se acerca.
“Como negocio, seguimos esforzándonos por demostrar de todas las maneras posibles que somos un lugar acogedor, inclusivo y seguro en medio de todo este caos,” dijo McGrath.
Ricardo González, pastor de la iglesia local Casa de Oración en San Luis Obispo, brinda apoyo a su comunidad rezando, confiando en que las promesas de Dios mantendrán a salvo a los afectados.
“Nuestra meta es ayudar a las personas que no tienen mucha orientación o información, y debemos apoyarlas lo más que podamos,” dijo González.
Más allá de San Luis Obispo, en Santa María, más de 100 estudiantes protestaron contra las políticas federales de deportación el 18 de febrero, abogando por una zona de protección de dos millas alrededor de iglesias y escuelas, según el Santa Maria Times.
Antes de que la administración de Trump autorizo a ICE a ingresar a escuelas e iglesias, CalMatters preguntó a los 58 sheriffs de California si cooperarían con ICE.
Según la ley de California, las fuerzas del orden locales no están obligadas a ayudar en la aplicación de las leyes de inmigración federales.
“A menos que la ley cambie en California o a nivel federal, continuaré siguiendo la ley vigente,” escribió el sheriff del condado de San Luis Obispo, Ian Parkinson, en un correo
DIJIA WANG | MUSTANG NEWS
Corazón Cafe SLO’s display reading ‘Everyone Welcome’ in Spanish outside their business.
electrónico a CalMatters.
Esta declaración se hizo antes de que entraran en vigor las nuevas políticas federales de inmigración, pero según el oficial de información pública de la Oficina del Sheriff, Tony Cipolla, sigue vigente.
En cuanto a cómo estas nuevas políticas federales de inmigración podrían afectar a Cal Poly, la universidad no colabora con la aplicación de leyes migratorias federales sin una orden judicial.
“Al final del día, podemos ver esto como política, pero estamos hablando de vidas humanas”, dijo Echevarria. “Estamos hablando de los sustentos de las personas.”
Para Echevarria, hay un aspecto positivo que ha surgido de esta situación: un sentido de comunidad más fuerte.
En este condado, somos tan afortunados de tener personas significativas que se han unido en los peores momentos. Esa es la belleza de nuestra comunidad.
YESSENIA ECHEVARRIA Fundadora de Mujeres
de Acción
“En medio de esta situación, hemos podido crear asociaciones y relaciones que nunca antes se habían formado”, dijo Echevarria. “Para quienes no comprenden lo que los inmigrantes experimentarán en los próximos cuatro años, Echevarría espera que reconozcan el impacto humano.
“Estamos tratando con personas que han hecho de este lugar su hogar. Esta es su comunidad y han construido relaciones aquí,” dijo Echevarria. “La humanidad es ver a las personas como personas, al final del día.”
STORY BY JOSLEN JIMENEZ DESIGNED BY JOLINA CHEN
When freshman Ana Moleon Hidalgo first got on a call with Cal Poly’s recruiting staff, she was listening for good news and translating in real time for her parents.
As the coaches laid out their vision for her, she paused between sentences, relaying everything in Spanish so her parents could follow along.
Still not fully fluent in English, she got a glimpse of what life would soon become, which meant navigating conversations and an entirely new culture in a language that wasn’t her own.
“It’s been hard trying to adapt to the language and having a new routine and different things to do every day,” Hidalgo said. “Now, my days are really different from how they were in Spain.”
The biggest challenges for Cal Poly’s international basketball players don’t always come on the court. From struggling to keep up with fast-paced conversations in a second language to longing for home-cooked meals thousands of miles away, they navigate more than just a game.
Adjusting to a new culture,
balancing academics and bridging language barriers overwhelm the transition.
Every player shares a love for the game, but for four international teammates, that passion led them far from home. On the Cal Poly Women’s Basketball team, four international players moved to the United States to pursue their passion for American basketball.
Sophomore guard Jordan Billing made the journey from Australia to California’s Central Coast to join Cal Poly as a freshman, becoming the first international player under third-year head coach Shanele Stires. This past season, she was no longer alone, as the Mustangs welcomed three more international freshmen: Hidalgo, Carmela Fontes and Nora Perez.
While the dream of playing Division I basketball in the U.S. is a powerful motivator, it comes with challenges.
Trying to process commands in a second language added extra pressure on defense because a split-second delay in understanding could be the difference between a blocking foul or drawing a charge.
Off the court, even the simplest tasks felt foreign. With dining dollars required for freshmen, ordering a meal became a daily test, hoping their choice wouldn’t be a disappointing surprise. Beyond campus, adjusting to life in the Central Coast came with another realization: the lack of diversity and Spanishspeaking people, overwhelmed by the feeling of missing home.
When recruiting, coaches and programs rely heavily on a network of relationships to identify, assess and eventually bring international players to their teams. This system is no different for international basketball players.
Associate Head Coach Samba Johnson mentioned that they have built relationships with several contacts overseas who keep them updated on the student-athletes they work with throughout the year.
Reviewing game footage is another crucial step in the recruiting process, allowing coaches to assess a player’s skills, playing style and potential fit
for their program without making a trip abroad.
Johnson explained that the coaching staff watches film together to evaluate which players best meet the needs of their program before beginning the process of reaching out to them
Johnson added that the time differences mean late nights or early mornings talking to prospective players and their families overseas.
For many international players, the idea of playing Division I basketball in the U.S. is a dream they’ve held for years.
Growing up in a country without a clear path to both higher education and competitive basketball meant moving away to fulfill that dream.
The U.S.’s structured college athletics system was the perfect embodiment of a place where academics and basketball could thrive side by side, offering opportunities they couldn’t find anywhere else.
“In Australia, we have nothing like college sports,” Billing said. “There is really no pathway unless you go pro right away.”
As a result, coaches find that
convincing these players to move away from their families isn’t particularly difficult.
“It’s kind of an easy sell because they’ve already grown up wanting to come over here,” Johnson said.
Reflecting on the recruiting process, Hidalgo from Elche-Alicante, Spain said it was difficult for her parents to talk with the coaches due to the language barrier.
Regarding family concerns, Hidalgo’s mother was initially hesitant about her daughter moving to the U.S. for college, worried about the challenges she would face. However, her father, who had also come to the U.S. to study, understood the experience firsthand and was more supportive, knowing the opportunities it could offer.
Language remains a significant hurdle for international athletes as they navigate both their sport and daily life in a new country, one of many concerns Hidalgo’s mother had.
Hidalgo picked up English by listening closely to her teammates and jumping into conversations. After about two months with the team, she finally felt confident enough to communicate on the court. But even with that progress, adjusting to the language has been an ongoing challenge.
“Honestly, I still don’t feel confident talking as much,” Hidalgo said.
Nora Perez is from Donostia San Sebastian, Spain, and learned English in school growing up but said it didn’t fully prepare her for real-life conversations.
“They teach you grammar and things like that, but when you come here, it’s not like that,” Perez said. “You need to be able to speak with people and maintain a conversation, but in Spain, they don’t teach that.”
Having already gone through the challenge of learning English in high school, Fontes arrived at Cal Poly with an advantage over Hidalgo and Perez. Her familiarity with the language made the transition smoother, allowing her to not only adjust more quickly but also become a source of support for her international teammates as they navigated the same language barriers she had once faced.
“During summer and even now, when they wouldn’t understand something, I would either translate it or help them understand, and they were able to pick it up pretty fast,” Fontes said.
Hidalgo shared that it was reassuring to have Fontes around because it felt comfortable to have someone to talk to in her own language to help her better understand what was going on.
Fontes moved from Empalme Olmos, Uruguay during her sophomore year of high school after being scouted by a coach who saw her play for the Uruguay National Team.
Before moving to the U.S., Fontes did not speak any English, making
the transition to American high school life daunting both on and off the court. However, attending Woodside Priory School, a boarding school in Portola Valley, California, eased the adjustment since she was surrounded by other international players who faced similar language and cultural barriers.
“We were all adapting as a group, so I think that’s why it was easier,” Fontes said.
Fontes’s struggles with the language barrier extended beyond the classroom and into her performance on the court, where communication was essential. Early on, she found herself hesitant to speak during games, unsure how to articulate her thoughts in the moment.
They
teach you grammar and things like that, but when you come here, it’s not like that. You need to be able to speak with people and maintain a conversation,
but in Spain, they don’t teach that.
NORA PEREZ Freshman
“In the beginning, I didn’t really talk,” Fontes said. “I didn’t know what to say on the court, so I wouldn’t talk as much. I was able to understand what coach was saying, but I mostly found it hard talking on defense.”
She gradually picked up the language through daily conversations with teammates and classmates and structured learning in school.
Over time, as she became more fluent, she gained confidence in calling out plays and responding instinctively, but in those early months, the game’s rapid pace often left her feeling one step behind.
Hidalgo says Perez and Fontes have been her biggest source of support since moving to the U.S., finding comfort in their shared language. “It’s really good to have someone to talk to in your own language,” she said. “It makes everything feel a little more like home.”
On the other hand, Billing doesn’t have to navigate a language barrier like her teammates, but that doesn’t mean communication always comes easily. The sophomore from Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia often finds herself the subject of lighthearted teasing when she mispronounces words that sound perfectly normal back home.
“I guess I say ‘capsicum,’ and you guys say ‘bell peppers,’” Billing said. “Same thing with tomatoes and bananas. Some words like that, the girls laugh at.”
Perez spoke about the mental toll of living so far from her family, highlighting how isolating it can feel at times. But she also stressed the importance of opening up and being vulnerable with friends. She said that talking about her feelings after a tough day helps lighten the emotional weight and makes the distance a little easier to manage.
Perez and Hidalgo call their family daily, keeping in contact and sharing photos and moments from their life to help bridge the distance.
Despite staying connected through video calls, Hidalgo found that the phone calls didn’t do justice to the comfort of being physically close to her family. No matter how often
they spoke, the virtual connection couldn’t replace the sense of support and familiarity she missed.
“Not having them around is the hardest part,” Hidalgo said. “Sometimes you just need to be with them.”
Having experienced the emotional toll of being away from her family during her first year all by herself, Billing understood the feeling of the early struggles of being far from home. She says the girls have built a nice community with each other, fostering their support for one another.
“I’ve dealt with it a lot by myself last year, so they come to me for a lot of things,” Billing said. “Whether it’s support for classes or when they’re feeling homesick, they know they can come to me whenever they have any issue, and it’s nice to know we’re all in it together.”
To fill the void of missing home, Hidalgo keeps herself busy by focusing on her training, spending time with teammates or going downtown, channeling her energy into the things she loves.
After about three months in San Luis Obispo, Perez felt she had finally settled in. But mentioned how the food culture shock remains a challenge, something they are all still adjusting to as they navigate life far from home.
“Since I have dining dollars, I need to eat on campus,” Perez said, “But that is kinda hard because I don’t really like the food.”
The Central Coast doesn’t have many options for diverse, authentic food either. Unfamiliar meals and missing the authenticity of home added to the challenges of living in a new country. But, like their approach to the game, they’re learning to adapt.
Perez still tries to keep the Spanish tradition alive during holidays, where she says she and Hidalgo prepare Spanish meals together. A specific dish is the tortilla de patatas, which
Perez describes as the “Spanish omelet.”
For these players, Cal Poly has become more than just a school; it’s become their new home.
While the transition from their home countries hasn’t been without struggles, they’ve found support in their teammates, who have become like family. The guidance of their coaches and the close-knit atmosphere of the athletic program have allowed them to find a home away from home.
Senior guard Annika Shah discussed how the team goes out of its way to make international players feel comfortable and bring a piece of home alive for them. By incorporating elements of their culture, like using phrases such as “vamos” or “hola” and playing music by artists like Bad Bunny, the team helps create a welcoming environment of their home away from home. These small but meaningful gestures foster a sense of belonging and allow the players to maintain a connection to their roots while easing their transition into the team.
“Using some of their terminology and implementing it into basketball has been super fun, and we all get a smile out of it,” Shah said.
The international players all spoke about the strong sense of support within the team, saying that everyone genuinely looks out for each other. Without cars or the ability to drive, they rely on their teammates to help them get around, which has created a family-like atmosphere and made the transition to a new country a lot easier.
“Our teammates and coaches have really helped us with the transition,” Fontes said. “We know that if we need something, they’re always there for us.”
STORY BY RJ POLLOCK DESIGNED BY AUDREY WALCH
Elsa Panning stood at the bus stop, checking her phone anxiously as the minutes ticked by. The bus was late—again. She knew from experience that it might not show up at all. After waiting for what felt like forever, she gave up and called a friend for a ride.
“I specifically don’t take the bus because of how long I have to wait,” said Panning, a biology sophomore. “It’s just easier to ask a friend or roommate for a ride to campus rather than wait and be late.”
Students relying on SLO Transit’s bus lines consistently face overcrowding, primarily on the 3 and 4 lines, leaving many stranded at stops during peak hours.
The issue, rooted in a nationwide bus driver shortage exacerbated by low wages and funding challenges, has yet to see a full recovery since the COVID-19 pandemic—despite it being five years since the pandemic began.
Despite a slight improvement in the past year, the nationwide shortage remains severe.
As of September 2024, there were
12.2% fewer bus drivers compared to September 2019, according to the Economic Policy Institute.
Additionally, the median bus driver earned 43% less than the median weekly wage for all workers in 2023, with wages continuing to decline— down 2.8% since 2019.
Sometimes it feels like the routes are random, and changing drivers at the transit center takes way too much time. It makes me late on occasion to campus.
ALEX YAN Biology graduate student
Adding to the challenge, public transit providers across North
America are facing a shortage of operators and mechanics, straining budgets and forcing agencies to reduce service. This shortage has been further exacerbated by economic instability and the tail ends of the pandemic, according to the American Public Transportation Association.
For Cal Poly students, the impact has been immediate and disruptive.
The 3 and 4 lines are among the most affected, serving key routes through campus and downtown.
Consequences on students are particularly acute, affecting class attendance, work schedules and daily routines.
“Overall, the bus routes are okay, but during rush hour, they need more capacity to support the demand for students,” said Alex Yan, a biology graduate student. “During the weekends, it’s frustrating trying to get to places downtown with limited buses running.”
SLO Transit officials acknowledge the difficulty of recruitment but emphasize ongoing efforts to expand services and accommodate Cal Poly’s future plans.
“We’re 90% complete with our short-range transit plan … it includes
things like operating B routes on weekends, more frequent service on the 4A in the morning, the 4B in the afternoon, and doing year-round service in advance of Cal Poly moving to their semester system and yearround operations,” said Alex Fuchs, mobility services business manager for the city of San Luis Obispo.
Fuchs noted, however, that ongoing hiring efforts can be slow.
“It seems like hiring efforts are being successful, but it’s like a six- to eightweek onboarding process from when someone starts their training to when they are road-ready,” Fuchs said.
Additionally, the city is looking
toward long-term goals for public transit. By 2032, all of their fossil fuel vehicles will be replaced with electric vehicles, Fuchs said.
“Right now we have two electric vehicles and we have eight more on order... in a year and a half or so, more than half of our fleet will be battery electric,” Fuchs said.
While these efforts point to a better future, students continue to bear the brunt of limited capacity and inconsistent service.
For now, the frustration among students lingers as they wait for solutions to move from planning to reality.
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‘I was a grown man crying’
STORY BY MATTHEW MUREN
DESIGNED BY ISA CORDOVEZ
On the second day of the U23 World Team Wrestling trials loomed, Luka Wick’s body was fighting against him.
His already-sore hip screamed out in frustration as he limped on an elliptical, but he had no choice but to carry on.
Day two of the trials came, but Wick was in too much pain to warm up. He stepped onto the mat for his first bout of the day, a match he wouldn’t walk away from.
Wick collapsed as soon as he stepped off the mat, and when he got back to Cal Poly, he got the bad news. He’d need hip surgery for a torn labrum and would likely never wrestle again.
“Realizing I have to miss an entire college year, especially when I was feeling so good, it hit hard,” Wick said. “Because people don’t really come back from this injury.”
But over a year later, Wick is ranked No. 25 in the country at
165 pounds and is doing the best wrestling of his life.
However, his rise back to the top of his weight class was not a smooth one, and two months after Wick’s first surgery, he couldn’t get through a week of hard practice.
“I’m in a practice, switching my lead leg to my left side, doing everything I can to just make it through,” Wick said. “I was a grown man crying, and it just wasn’t working.”
The injury brought Wick back
to when he began wrestling over a decade prior, a time when he remembered dreading stepping onto the mat.
“The first eight years of wrestling, I despised it,” Wick. “Wrestling was my worst enemy. I hated it. I wanted to do anything else except wrestle, but I had to.”
He was following in the footsteps of his twin brothers, Evan and Zander, who both had multiple All-Americans under their belt by
the time they committed to wrestle at Wisconsin.
Luka said he didn’t start to enjoy the sport until he started to put on size in eighth grade. For the first time since he started the sport, he felt like he was able to improve.
He matched and exceeded the success of his older brothers, placing second at a national tournament in Tulsa.
Luka had also started lifting weights with his father, Bill Wick, throughout
I’m in a practice, switching my lead leg to my left side, doing everything I can to just make it through, I was a grown man crying, and it just wasn’t working.
his dominant run.
Bill helped guide Luka through the process, but even he was surprised at the progress his son was making.
“I felt like I was feeding this kid steroids or something, because he was literally a machine,” Bill said.
Once he found his rhythm, Luka was hooked on wrestling.
So, being forced to sit on the sidelines and wonder if his pain would be permanent took a toll on Luka, sending him into a few months of depression.
“An injury will mess you up mentally, and it did make me hate wrestling for a while,” Luka said.
Finding a solution, and one that lasted, was the main goal for Luka coming into the 2024-25 season.
Wick had already gotten a cortisone shot to reduce inflammation in his hip, and repeated shots can lead to permanent damage to cartilage in the affected area.
His final option was a platelet-rich plasma injection that would speed up the healing process and reduce his pain if successful. For Wick, it was his final chance to get back on the mat.
“It helps, but it hurts, bad,” Wick said.
The shot did end up helping Wick, and after a year of waiting on the sidelines, he got the green light to start competing again.
Wick’s healing process was unique, but his initial injury was a known problem.
Luka’s hip injury stemmed from a genetic issue at the joint, and his brother also underwent surgeries on both hips during his time in Wisconsin.
His father got a different hip
surgery a week after Luka, and they went through rehab together.
That strong support system played a big role for Luka throughout his recovery process, with both the wrestling team and his family helping him every step of the way.
Bill’s hip replacement did mean, however, faster recovery and jokes at his son’s expense.
At 57-years-old, Bill’s quick recovery made it easy to give Luka a hard time, saying “‘Yeah, what’s taking you so long to get back?’ I’m over here squatting, and I’ve been out of surgery for, you know, eight weeks.”
He’s dealt with a lot of adversity and setbacks, but, you know, he’s done it with a smile on his face and is not one to complain. He just does the best he can with what he has
JON SIOREDAS Wrestling Coach
Luka’s family ties run deep into the world of wrestling. His brother Evan is a two-time NCAA All-American and three-time national qualifier during his collegiate career at Wisconsin.
Evan also works as a coach for Cal Poly Wrestling, and has a different
Luka returned to competition in November with dominant performances, going 10-6 with a 6-bout win streak highlighting the middle of his season.
The difference in his wrestling has been clear to see, according to head coach Jon Sioredas.
“Less protecting, more taking risks and actually enjoying it, having fun and now he’s starting to free up and let loose a little bit,” Sioredas said. “When he does that, he’s one of the best.”
His new approach in competition has been on full display this year, as Luka has forced four falls across his 10 matches.
Despite a history of hip injuries and two total years of medical leave while at Cal Poly, Sioredas noted that none of Luka’s challenges have affected his commitment to the team and to
improving himself.
“He’s dealt with a lot of adversity and setbacks, but, you know, he’s done it with a smile on his face and is not one to complain,” Sioredas said.
“He just does the best he can with what he has.”
Luka’s change in style has also had an effect on his demeanor off the mat, and while he was in pain and struggling to compete a year ago, he’s now free to work on and off the mat with no obstacles.
Luka’s coaches and teammates have seen the immediate difference in his approach to the sport.
“They’re like, ‘Dude, you’re so happy, what changed?’ And I was like, ‘Dude, I’m not in pain,’” Luka said. “Like it’s kind of been miserable and now I can really find my love for the sport again.”
perspective on Luka’s journey.
“But I think with time off, it seems like Luka gets better,” Evan said. “He challenges himself to kind of make up the ground he lost when he was hurt.”
MATTHEW MURREN
Luka Wick is 10-6 since returning from injury, including a six-bout win-streak in the middle of the season.
STORY BY ELLA GIULIANI
DESIGNED BY AVIV KESAR
Jenny Kompolt and her business partner Melissa James left the corporate world of steady paychecks and health insurance to pursue their passions in 2009. The two created JunkGirls, a brand built on creativity, art therapy and sustainability.
Kompolt’s idea for JunkGirls came from her experiences with art therapy, while for James, it grew from her love of handcrafted treasures.
“I was itching to take my talents that I learned in the years of corporate and use them to build something that was very meaningful for myself and others,” Kompolt said.
As a young girl, Kompolt escaped
her tough childhood by playing in the creek behind her house. She found refuge and comfort while searching for little treasures hidden in the ground. When she grew older, Kompolt recognized a connection between the overlooked and discarded items, seeing value in what others often ignored.
Despite a successful corporate career as the Creative Director for Netflix and raising over $22 million for charity through her graphic design agency, Komplot struggled with all-consuming anxiety and depression. Recognizing the need for a solution, Kompolt found a therapist who introduced her to art therapy, a path towards healing that brought new purpose to her life.
There’s beauty in everything, no matter how damaged.
JENNY KOMPOLT
JunkGirls co-founder
said, reflecting on her healing journey.
Art therapy, which uses creative processes like painting or sculpture to help individuals express complex emotions that are difficult to articulate with words, became a key tool in Kompolt’s recovery.
While searching for a medium to explore, Kompolt was reminded of her childhood love for found objects, leading her to assemblage art. This form of sculpture repurposes everyday objects, transforming them into a cohesive work of art.
Kompolt found great joy in taking something that others might not consider art or beautiful and
showcasing it in its raw form. She felt it allowed people to see things from a different perspective.
“There’s beauty in everything, no matter how damaged,” she said. Kompolt’s art is rich with layers, which is why she’s drawn to older items with stories to tell. For Kompolt, there is a unique character and message woven into each piece of her artwork, waiting to be uncovered by those who make an effort to look deeper.
For James, it’s all about finding something you love and diving deep into that niche. Her favorite part of JunkGirls is creating personalized metal stamping, which allows her to connect with customers.
“Try to find that one thing that
really makes your heart sing,” she offers to those interested in pursuing their passion projects.
The JunkGirls journey began in the couple’s garage, while they participated in local craft fairs and vintage shows. In December 2014, they opened their first storefront in Cambria. A few years later, in 2018, JunkGirls relocated to its current space in the historic Muzio building in downtown San Luis Obispo.
Known for Kompolt’s innovative art and Melissa’s metal stamping, JunkGirls has built a reputation for using recycled, repurposed and vintage materials.
“There is so much material out there that can be reused,” James said about their eco-friendly practices.
Komplot explained that transforming something from its original purpose into something new is a great way to embrace sustainability in art. Ultimately, it prevents waste from ending up in landfills while creating something beautiful.
After over 13 years of building JunkGirls, Kompolt and Melissa continue to explore ways to give back to their local community and share the power of art therapy through a new branch of their company: The Junk Girls’ Non-Profit. Its focus will be on mental health, working with both children and adults to promote creative expression and social-emotional growth.
“It’s a great joy to use what I’ve learned as a way to give back to others and inspire them to find
their creative path,” Kompolt said. “Helping others continues to heal me.”
The act of creation has served as a vehicle for Kompolt to express her internal struggles and provide a cathartic release. For those struggling with depression or feeling numb from the pressures of academia, she offers valuable advice. She has learned that all forms of creative expression, such as writing or even dancing, are great ways to release emotions.
Try to find that one thing that really makes your heart sing.
MELISSA JAMES Junkgirls co-founder
“It doesn’t matter what you do ... even if you go to the beach and draw stick figures,” Kompolt said her therapist once taught her. She explained it’s all about being a coping mechanism, not a competition.
“No one has to see it,” Kompolt said. “Just do it for yourself.”
SATIRE BY ERIN YARWOOD
DESIGNED BY JULIA HAZEMOTO
The Hoof is a satire column created to find humor in the daily life of Cal Poly students. If you’re looking for news, this is not it. If you’re looking for sports, this is kind of it, because we’re having a ball. Ha. Puns.
Internship searching season has arrived! Interviews are in the middle of your Tuesday morning lab and the rejection emails are rolling in. As college students across the nation weigh the pros and cons of every bright, shining internship opportunity that floats their way, it’s important to take a look at the breakdown of your options.
I present to you a ranked list of types of summer internships, from worst to best. You need to know what you’re getting into.
The first internship on our list isn’t even really an internship at all. You searched and searched, but after months of bad luck, you’ve returned to an old position. Your job title: Aquatic Safety Intern. Your very important position entails a variety of responsibilities including crisis management, certification courses and customer service. Everyone else you know calls it lifeguarding at your local public pool.
The “Is this even legal?” internship
Congratulations! You’ve obtained a summer internship. Sure, you work 40 hours a week with no pay, but at least you can get course credit—right? Plus, that LinkedIn post looks great on your page, and your parents seem real proud. You’re learning a lot, mostly about labor laws and whether your internship is violating them, but hey, experience is experience.
Ranked second-to-last for good reason, this internship is a little too sketchy to be true. Maybe the company cold-emailed you or reached out on LinkedIn.
Maybe the website is a little barebones or the interviewer had a green screen background on Zoom, but how bad could it really be? A week before your start date, all contact is lost and the website is gone. They no longer exist, and your bank account is down a couple hundred dollars. Weird coincidence?
A remote internship is the best of both worlds! You get to stay in sunny San Luis Obispo over the summer while gaining experience in your future profession. The first few weeks run smoothly, but perhaps a little too smoothly. Halfway through the summer, you realize you haven’t seen your boss’s face on camera in a while, and you’re running out of tasks to give yourself. Your second coffee of the day is a necessity to make sure you don’t doze off while keeping your status active on Slack.
The “startup”
Working for a startup is exciting! The rush of breaking boundaries for a new company and the freedom of loosely-set guidelines are enticing for a college student who isn’t 100% sure what they want to do. Now, you get to dip your foot into every area.
That is, until halfway through the summer, when the startup runs out of money. Thank goodness you have your Aquatic Safety Intern position awaiting your return.
The “How TF did you get this??” internship
This isn’t just any regular internship. It’s a company you’re inspired by, with good pay, in a beautiful city and a job offer at the end of your summer. It’s a dream come true.
Your mentor cares about your future and walks the perfect line of a professional you look up to who is also personable enough to approach for help and advice. Either you really deserve this or you’re just super lucky. Whichever it is, congratulations!
Meeting new coworkers, fulfilling passion projects and enjoying your time away from class are all internship perks to be grateful for! Whatever internship you get your hands on, remember to cherish your summer experience.
The “roommate’s uncle’s company” internship
Growing desperate entering spring quarter with no summer plans, you decided to flex your connections. Now, you’ve ended up working for a friend of a friend. ‘Everyone knows how you ended up here and they despise you for it,’ you tell yourself in the mirror every morning. Don’t feel too bad. This is how everyone in the real world gets their job.
Kaylie Wang is an English freshman and Mustang News opinion columnist. The opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of Mustang Media Group.
OPINION BY KAYLIE
WANG
DESIGNED BY
AUDREY WALCH
The Amtrak is highly underrated. Since the beginning of this school year, I have taken the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner nine times. I live in Orange County; so the journey from and to San Luis Obispo is a sevenhour train ride.
So far, the Amtrak has been my favorite way to get home because of its affordability and the fun experience.
During the Palisades fires in January, I flew from the SLO County Airport to San Diego to avoid traveling through Los Angeles. My round-trip flight cost $486, significantly more expensive than the $131 Business class train round-trip.
Plus, I experienced a lot of turbulence on the flight due to the heavy winds. I get motion sick easily, typically when on a plane or in a car, so I also appreciate the smooth ride on the Amtrak.
The two other ways I have traveled between San Luis Obispo and home are driving with my parents or flying to San Diego and then driving to Orange County.
My parents dislike driving because the estimated trip is around five hours, but ultimately it takes more time because of the Los Angeles traffic and bathroom breaks.
Another benefit of Amtrak is the beautiful sights of the Central Coast.
I take the train that departs at 4:12 p.m., which allows me to watch an ocean sunset from my window seat.
With this sunset view and smooth ride, I have found the Amtrak to be very relaxing.
Since my ride is seven hours, I have plenty of time to nap, but also for work. The tray tables and charger under the window create a conducive work environment.
I need to acknowledge that my experiences are especially enjoyable because I rode in business class.
Compared to a one-way coach seat that costs $48, a one-way business seat costs $73.
In the business class cars, the walkway and seats are much more spacious, and there are always fewer people; many times I have enjoyed propping my feet up because the seat next to me is empty.
It also means Amtrak provides a complimentary snack box and a drink. In the past, I have received fig bars, pretzels and beef jerky in the snack boxes.
If you’re planning on taking the Amtrak for spring break, book your seat as soon as possible.
PRICE COMPARISONS
FROM: SLO
1 The Amtrak WiFi isn’t the most reliable, so use a phone hotspot to work on a laptop or tablet.
2 Save $14 when purchasing your ticket on the Pacific Surfliner website. Under the promotional code, select the option of CA student discount.
3 The in-train cafe serves food from hamburgers to sweets. However, I prefer ordering sandwiches and pastries from Starbucks to eat on the ride. Starbucks food is packaged in bags and not too messy, so I can easily store them.
4 Bring headphones for music or to watch movies and a portable charger for your phone (perhaps even a charger for your other devices).
5 Share a ride to and from the train station with other students for safety— you can also split the price of the ride.
6 Exit the train from the same doors you came in from. The train doesn’t open every door, so make sure you can leave at your stop. You can ask the train staff to confirm where you should exit.
7 Call an Uber or Lyft roughly an hour before your train departs so you can get to the train station early. Expect the train to be busier on Fridays, so expect the Ubers may take longer, too.
8
9
Bring an extra layer to bundle up because the train gets cold at night.
Tip from Kaylie’s dad: Place your bag in the overhead compartment across your row, so it faces you at all times and you can keep an eye on it.
TO: SD
