Oct. 31, 2017

Tuesday, Oc tober 31, 2017

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

w w w. mu s t a ng n ews . n e t

E s t a b l i s h e d 1 916

DOMINATION MUSTANGS VICTORIOUS IN BLUE-GREEN RIVALRY

Erik Engle @ erik_engle

The biggest matchup in NCAA men’s soccer returned to Cal Poly Saturday night as the Mustangs dominated UC Santa Barbara 4-1 in the latest edition of the Blue-Green Rivalry. The win was the Mustangs’ first at home in the rivalry since 2015 and their final match of the 2017 season.

Neither team had scored four or more goals in a Blue-Green Rivalry matchup since 2001, until Saturday.

Even though the Mustangs (7-10-1, 3-6-1) were eliminated from playoff contention before their match against the Gauchos (6-7-5, 4-3-3), 11,075 Central Coast soccer fans still flocked to the stadium.

The crowd was the largest of any NCAA Division 1 men’s soccer match this season and the 14th largest in the history of men’s college soccer.

BLUE-GREEN continued on page 10

MATT LALANNE | MUSTANG NE W S

More than the money: A hunt for $1,000 sheds light on Kristin Smart’s story

Sydney Brandt @ syd_brandtt

On Oct. 18, forestry and natural resources senior Reuben Brand and Cuesta College junior Brooke Glassco found the hidden $1,000 from the Dig Up the Yard treasure hunt hidden in the roots of a tree outside of the Veteran’s Memorial Building on Grand Ave. The Dig Up the Yard hunt was created by Dennis Mahon, a long time family friend of Denise Smart, Kristin Smart’s mother, and her family.

Clues to where the money was were

posted online at diguptheyard.com every three to four days. Each clue was accompanied by information on Kristin Smart’s case to get a new generation of people interested in the case. Mahon named this challenge “Dig Up the Yard” because while it was suspected that Kristin Smart was buried in suspect Paul Flores’ mother’s yard, the location was never dug up. On Oct. 18, forestry and natural resources senior Reuben Brand and Cuesta College MORE THAN MONEY continued on page 3

JAKE DOUGLAS | MUSTANG NE W S

Content NEWS

CONSERVATION CHALLENGE ...........................................................................................4 BOARD OF DIRECTORS .....................................................................................................6 ALLY FOR DREAMERS........................................................................................................6

HOMECOMING

CREATING RELATIONSHIPS .............................................................................................7 TAILGATING ......................................................................................................................8

ARTS

DEAR WORLD .................................................................................................................13 CAL POLY CREATORS .....................................................................................................13 TEDX ..............................................................................................................................14 TOP DOG ........................................................................................................................14

OPINION

MUSIC AND POLITICS ....................................................................................................15

SPORTS JOSH MARTIN ...................................................................................................................8 CROSS COUNTRY............................................................................................................18 VOLLEYBALL ...................................................................................................................18

Mustang News TODAY ,S ISSUE

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2017 VOLUME O, ISSUE 7

CONTACT EDITORIAL (805) 756-1796 ADVERTISING (805) 756-1143 CLASSIFIED (805) 756-1143 FAX (805) 756-6784 Graphic Arts Building 26, Suite 226 California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo, CA 93407

EDITORS AND STAFF EDITOR-IN-CHIEF | Naba Ahmed MANAGING EDITORS | Gina Randazzo and Brendan Matsuyama NEWS EDITOR | James Hayes ARTS EDITOR | Mikaela Duhs OPINION EDITOR | Elias Atienza SPORTS EDITOR | Erik Engle SPECIAL SECTIONS COORDINATOR | Megan Schellong COPY CHIEF | Bryce Aston COPY EDITORS | Monique Geisen | Clarisse Wangeline | Jordyn White LEAD DESIGNER | Zack Spanier DESIGNERS | Jessie Franco | Tanner Layton

Celebrate with sprinkles. #wemakememories

MORE THAN MONEY continued from page 1

Background on Kristin’s Case Kristin Smart was a freshman at Cal Poly who was last seen on May 25, 1996 at approximately 2:30 a.m.

“135 Crandall Way. That’s the party where Kristin was. She walked up that street, behind the rec center up through Perimeter Avenue, made a right, and [that’s] where she was last seen. Those are the last steps she took,” Mahon said.

Smart’s case has been an ongoing investigation since the time of her disappearance. In the year

WINNERS

Cal Poly’s response When Kristin went missing, her family never received a call from Cal Poly. After losing her daughter more than two decades ago Denise Smart was surprised to receive a phone call from President Armstrong about one month ago.

“That was pretty shocking, since it’s been 21 years and no one from the campus has ever called us. At least you want your child to be remembered and recognized and acknowledged and the campus has pretty much refused to do that other than the journalism department,” Smart said.

Smart expressed how much it meant to her family that, for the first time, someone from Cal Poly had reached out and acknowledged their loss.

After hearing about the celebration of life for Brett Tyler, who passed away in Poly Canyon Village, Smart commented on the University’s involvement with the student.

“When somebody dies and they’re a student and they’ve been part of your college family ...that’s the right thing to do, so it’s been good to see that. It’s never happened for Kristin.

Which is pretty crazy, it was on their campus,” Smart said.

Brand commented on this too, expressing his concern with the school’s involvement with the case.

“I hope that’s not Cal Poly’s mentality, is that they wanted to hide it, because I feel like if they did a thorough investigation and busted the guy then it it’s like, ‘Hey we don’t allow this at our school, this happened but we shut it down,’” Brand said. “It was kind of disturbing to read how they sent a cleaning crew in the room be-

fore they finished the investigation. Any logical person’s got to think, there’s a reason for that. I don’t know why, but somebody does.”

Although the family announced a scholarship in Kristin’s name last year on the anniversary of her disappearance, there have been few donations.

The Kristin Smart Scholarship was made for Kristin because her life was stolen from her.

Mahon said the way the Smart family wants to memorialize their child is to find a young female student with the same goals that Kristin had, and give her a scholarship so she can pursue theose dreams.

“This scholarship means so much to our family. For 21 years we’re focusing on Kristin’s circumstances of being abducted and taken away, so everything is about loss and it never had a chance to stop and really celebrate her,” Smart said.

But after everything that has happened with the case, Smart said her family’s expectations regarding Cal Poly are low and that she does not know what to ask of them anymore.

“Nobody’s offered to put ten cents into the scholarship fund and they don’t want to advertise it because it’s discriminatory,” Smart said.

Cal Poly claimed the scholarship is discriminatory because it is open only to female students, according to Smart.

“The reason it is for a woman is because other than one substitute FBI agent, there has never been a woman on Kristin’s case. And I’m sorry to say, but women have a different perspective. I’m not saying men are all wrong, but I do think you need more than one perspective,” Smart said.

Smart hopes that positive feedback will find

TUESDAY • OCTOBER 31, 2017 | NEWS | MUSTANG NEWS

junior Brooke Glassco found the hidden $1,000 from the Dig Up the Yard treasure hunt hidden in the roots of a tree outside of the Veteran’s Memorial Building on Grand Ave. On Oct. 18, forestry and natural resources senior Reuben Brand and Cuesta College junior Brooke Glassco found the hidden $1,000 from the Dig Up the Yard treasure hunt hidden in the roots of a tree outside of the Veteran’s Memorial Building on Grand Ave. The Dig Up the Yard hunt was created by Dennis Mahon, a long time family friend of Denise Smart, Kristin Smart’s mother, and her family.

Clues to where the money was were posted online at diguptheyard.com every three to four days. Each clue was accompanied by information on Kristin Smart’s case to get a new generation of people interested in the case. Mahon named this challenge “Dig Up the Yard” because while it was suspected that Kristin Smart was buried in suspect Paul Flores’ mother’s yard, the location was never dug up.

In 1997, Flores was questioned during the deposition —at the Veteran’s Memorial Building— about events regarding Smart’s disappearance. Flores refused to answer any questions, and plead the 5th amendment 27 times.

Mahon said he chose Veteran’s Memorial Building as the location for the hidden money because he wanted the location to be close to Cal Poly and connected to the case. Brand heard about the hunt from a classmate. He and Glassco, his girlfriend, started to look more into the case.

“We’ve only been here for about a year and a half, two years and we’ve seen signs and heard about [Kristin]. We ended up getting kind of super obsessed with all the details and that’s kind of what started it,” Glassco said.

Brand added that marketing the hunt toward college students was a good idea. “$1,000 is a lot for a college student, but then it really exposes them to the whole case, something in their life that they’re living in,” he said.

Mahon said the money was intended to be an incentive to inspire people to remember the case.

“What people like more than anything else is money,” Mahon said. “Years and years and years and decades have gone by, that backyard is still not dug up and I’m a nobody, what can a nobody do? You got to keep people talking about this case.”

While it only took about two weeks for someone to find Mahon’s hidden money, it has been more than 21 years since anyone has seen Kristin Smart.

3

2000, a search warrant was issued to FBI Special Agent Jack Shafer.

The warrant stated 14 reasons why there was reasonable cause to believe that Kristin Smart’s body was buried in the backyard of Paul Flores’ mother’s home at 529 East Branch Street, Arroyo Grande.

On June 20, 2000 San Luis Obispo Sheriff ’s Department began to search the property for Kristin’s remains or any other evidence related to her disappearance. Nothing was found on the property and officials left, but one fact remains: they never dug up the yard.

“The way search warrants are written, they don’t specifically say ‘go dig up a body,’” Mahon said. ”The big issue is we’re powerless. I can’t make the sheriff do what that search warrant mandates him to do.”

Despite developments in the case in 2016, Kristin’s case still remains a mystery today.

“No one knew all of the facts the way people do now,” Glassco said. “This is all of the facts, why isn’t this being handled the way it would be if it had happened today?”

Glassco and Brand said Mahon’s hunt is helping spark conversation about the case and educating people about it, simply through the use of social media.

“It’s crazy that this happened 20 years ago. I just wonder what would happen if this happened now. Everyone would have been outraged of course, but I think there’s such a different way to get it out there and for people to be aware of it,” Glassco said.

JAKE DOUGLAS | MUSTANG NE W S

| Brooke Glassco and Reuben Brand pose with the bottle containing $1,000. a way to recognize their loss publicly, by people sharing the scholarship through one of the newsletters to students, family and alumni.

“Many are still shocked at the lack of respect Kristin and our family have received. But baby steps are steps. Hopefully, they lead to more,” Smart added.

Smart said Kristin is not the only person who lost her life to sexual abuse and people need to do something about it.

“Everyone needs to be accountable for themselves and when these things come up, people just have to speak up. You just can’t keep this stuff silent anymore,” Smart said.

The Kristin Smart Scholarship is currently taking donations. Information will be available starting Feb. 1, 2018 and the first scholarship has a goal to be set in May 2018.

“It doesn’t get easier because it is fortunately an ongoing investigation, but it also means there’s never any rest and there’s never any closure and it’s always framed in pretty much bad news, because we haven’t had any good news.

The scholarship helps us focus on something that will be good,” Smart said.

Mahon has been involved with Kristin’s case since November 1997 and has been called “the strongest advocate for the Smart family.”

Mahon said this was his sixth hunt for the Dig Up the Yard Challenge. He hopes to get more people involved with each and every hunt with the goal of never giving up on Kristin.

“The more you get to know the family, the more emotionally involved you get,” Mahon said. “Next thing you know, we’re 20 years later and the big question that I always have trouble with is, when do you quit looking?”

Rachel Marquardt @ rachmmarie

In an effort to impact the daily routines of students, Cal Poly’s Green Campus Program will be holding the 10th Annual Conservation and Diversion Challenge (AC/DC) to motivate students living in the red bricks to use less electricity and water.

The students living in the red brick that uses the least electricity and water during the challenge will be rewarded a $600 ice cream party

by Green Campus.

The event runs from Oct. 19 to Nov. 8, with the ice cream celebration taking place Nov. 9. During the three weeks of the challenge, all students will be able to attend events promoting sustainable living, such as a Donuts and Documentary night, a Trivia night and a Neon Dance.

AC/DC Coordinator and business junior Rodrigo Rico organized the event, and is responsible for gathering data from the dorms.

Green Campus’ goal is to have $4,500 of net savings, $1,500 more than last year. They are hoping to reduce electricity use to 25 percent, five percent more than last year, and to increase water use redution to 15 percent. These numbers will all be tracked through meters in the red brick buildings.

“This competition is more for the students to have fun, it’s not for housing to save money really, it’s for students to realize that there are other ways to be sustainable and it’s fun to do it with friends,” Rico said.

The challenger kicked off Oct. 19 with Sustainability Day. Sustainability Day promotes aspects of green living such as sustainable eating. Sustainability Day offers events such as watching documentaries and coloring a

sustainability poster made up of 45 individual colored-in squares.

Though Green Campus is coordinating the event, they are not the only ones working to promote it.

Ecoreps, a student club that promotes sustainability on campus, is working with Green Campus to encourage sustainability in the dorms.

One way Ecoreps is promoting AC/DC through Dorm Storms where they give out Green Room Certifications. Ecoreps will be going to red bricks and asking students to fill out a survey to see how “green” their daily life is. If students complete the It’s all about the RACHEL MARQUARDT | MUSTANG NE W S survey and obtain OUTREACH | Darin Son and Ben Christensen ran the Green Campus booth. a certain score, little things, like unplugging they will receive a all of your devices from the “Green Room Ceraren’t using them, As freshmen become more aware of the tified” sticker on because it still uses event, some say they are looking for ways to wall when you aren’t their door and will energy, turning off the be competitive among their floors in order using them have a chance to win lights in the hallways to win the $600 prize. prizes in a raffle. when no one is in there, “I’ve been talking with other residents in ADRIANA LONG “This year we are trycutting down showers to 10 Tenaya, and we’ve been talking about deing to see how much Green or 5 minutes, just being more creasing the amount of time we take showRoom Certifications will help conscious about the little things,” ers. We are all pushing each other to cut AC/DC. During the event we will still Long said. them down to five minutes at least,” busibe doing dorm storms and giving out the Resident advisors in the red bricks were also ness freshman Grace Burnite said. certifications while also letting people know taught about the event and told how to motivate Burnite is in the Net Impact Club, which that there’s a competition happening,” Ecoreps the freshmen on their floor to be sustainable. focuses on reducing the impact one has on Coordinator and environmental earth and soil “I think if I can get everyone in my buildthe environment. sciences junior Adriana Long said. ing to know what AC/DC is and to know “I’m always trying to reduce my own imLong encourages students in the red bricks why we are doing it, why it’s important to pact, but now it’s on a larger scale because to understand how each resident can have a save electricity and water, that’s success in it’s between all the different dorms. I’ve alpersonal impact on not just the AC/DC chalitself because then they’ll be more aware of ways had a passion for that,” Burnite said. lenge, but the planet. it in their lives,” Tenaya Hall resident adTo stay updated on who is in the lead, all “It’s all about the little things, like unplugvisor and business sophomore Elise Mcscores and statistics for each redbrick can ging all of your devices from the wall when you Cutchen said. be found online at bit.ly/ACDC2017.

TUESDAY • OCTOBER 31, 2017 | NEWS | MUSTANG NEWS

Annual Conservation and Diversion Challenge encourages freshmen to think green

5

TUESDAY • OCTOBER 31, 2017 | NEWS | MUSTANG NEWS

6

ASI Board of Directors concerned about potential health fee increase Hayley Sakae Special to Mustang News

Student representatives on Associated Students, Inc. (ASI) Board of Directors are voicing concern over both the cost and the process behind what administration is calling a “health fee adjustment.”

The plan would roughly double the health fee to reduce wait times, increase the number of counselors and medical providers, and add new technology to the Health and Wellbeing Center.

But student leaders are saying that the process administration has chosen seems too fast-paced.

“It just seems like there’s no transparency on their end, so increasing student fees is just the automatic quick fix instead of them putting in the effort to find donors or other resources,” Board representative for College of Science and Mathematics Gianna Ciaccio said.

Administration defends the process According to Vice President for Student Affairs Keith Humphrey, administration recently chose to expand counseling and medical resources with an alternative consultation process.

Alternative consultation is a method in which administration collects student feedback on their two proposed fee increase options within 30 days. Both options would nearly double the health fee per quarter. Yearly fees would change from $315 per year to $612 or $657 for incoming students. Current students will not be affected by the increase. Administration plans to distribute 30 percent of health fee funds to Financial Aid, which will allocate the money to students who cannot afford the fee increase.

“With respect to fees, all feedback is advisory, so the university president makes the final decision whether we use an alternative consultation process or a referendum process. Both outcomes are advisory to the university president,” Humphrey said.

The Board’s suggestions In Spring 2017, the Board proposed and passed a resolution to increase campus mental health resources “without becoming a large financial burden on students.” In the resolution, they recommended that Cal Poly use alternative funding methods to increase health resources, like donations and endowments.

Instead, administration chose to expand resources and suggest a fee increase with alternative consultation. Humphrey said endowments were not a feasible option because the amount of money needed for health center improvements — nearly $150 million — would take too long to raise. Endowments can only spend money earned off their investments. A $100 million endowment earning 3 percent a year, for example, would produce $3 million to spend.

“The level of endowment that would be needed is equivalent to or greater than the gift that was given by Bill Frost to the College of Science and Math this past year,” Humphrey said.

Regardless, Board members said many students don’t understand the increase or why student input is needed within the short 30-day time frame.

“I’ve shared this information with them, and I always preface every explanation with, ‘Raise your hand if you’ve heard about this,’ and the majority of them felt like this has been rushed and they have not had adequate enough time to give feedback,” Board representative for College of Liberal Arts Rita Elfarissi said in Wednesday’s Board meeting.

On a website providing more information, the “proposed health fee adjustment” is broken down into Option A (an additional $99 per quarter) and Option B (an additional $114 per quarter). These fees would be added on top of what students already pay for health fees, $105 per quarter. However, students are also allowed to give general feedback about the proposal, essentially creating an Option C. Ciaccio, a co-author of the resolution, said

Her father was deported when she was three. Now, she’s an ally to DACA recipients Sydney Harder @ CPMustangnews

When President Trump made headlines at the beginning of September with his move to repeal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), Cal Poly administration immediately voiced support for “Dreamers”

on campus.

“We at Cal Poly remain absolutely committed to our DACA students, faculty and staff who make our university a rich and vibrant community,” President Jeffrey Armstrong wrote in his campuswide email Sept. 5.

While it is one thing to garner support from administration and faculty, hearing

she felt administration has not educated Board members or students enough on what alternative consultation entails.

“I think inherently they will try to frame the conversation as, ‘If there was a fee, which of these two fees would you prefer and where would you want that money for either of those two fees to go?’” Ciaccio said.

Board of Directors’ reservations Some Board representatives expressed concern over the administration’s choice of alternative consultation during two recent Board workshops.

Ciaccio said the proposal’s process may leave students misunderstanding the full scope of the fee adjustment.

“The way [administration] framed this process, they word it as a ‘health fee adjustment’ and there’s just a lot of jargon over it that makes it seem more friendly than it actually is,” Ciaccio said. “It’s a health fee increase, it’s not a health fee adjustment.”

In the most recent workshop, Humphrey told the Board that the idea of expanding services with a health fee increase is not new. He said administration has been exploring the option for several years after hearing student and parent concerns and conducting focus groups, among other research.

Humphrey also told the Board that administration already has prospective physicians, nurses and counselors ready to fill positions should the increase occur. However, President Jeffrey Armstrong won’t make a final decision on the fee increase until after Nov. 19.

In Monday’s workshop, Board representative for College of Engineering Maggie Cheung said she is apprehensive over administration’s intentions.

“That kind of raises a concern for me because that makes me think that they kind of already have a predisposed decision and they’re going through this alternative consult process basically because they have to,” Cheung said. words of compassion and commonality from peers can bring a deeper sense of comfort to DACA recipients.

After attending undocumented journalist Jose Vargas’ talk at Cal Poly, journalism sophomore and daughter of an immigrant father Dominique Morales understood the power of lending a voice to students protected under DACA. Like father, like daughter Morales grew up in the Bay Area with her mother, a California native, and her father — an undocumented immigrant from central Mexico.

Memories of Morales’ childhood are

Referendum vs. alternative consultation: What’s the difference?

With a referendum, the California State University preferred option, administration typically gives student body voters more time to learn about a proposed fee adjustment and vote on a decision. For example, the failed University Union referendum took nearly three years to complete.

In contrast, an alternative consultation process only takes 30 days. However, Humphrey said this method is not new.

“This is not the first time it’s been adjusted that way,” Humphrey said. “It’s also been the way that health fees have been adjusted in the CSU system over the last decade.”

Alternative consultation feedback is being collected until Nov. 19. All feedback is compiled into a report which is given to Armstrong. Armstrong then makes the final decision on whether or not to approve a fee increase after being advised by the Campus Fee Advisory Committee (CFAC).

CFAC is a committee comprised of students, faculty, staff and administration.

According to ASI President Riley Nilsen, CFAC unanimously voted in favor of alternative consultation.

“I have been working diligently to slow down the process to make sure CFAC as well as students are able to digest the complex information and be able to ask critical questions,” Nilsen wrote in an email to Mustang News.

Armstrong takes student feedback into account when making decisions through both referendum and alternative consultation methods. However, he is not required to align his final decision with the wants of the student body.

Students can give feedback on the proposed fee increase at two upcoming forums on Nov. 1 and Nov. 9. Input can also be submitted via an online portal survey or given in person at student presentations. dominated by those spent with her father, who helped foster her adventurous spirit with outdoor experiences and watching Fear Factor.

“When I was little, he and I would go camping — even in the backyard,” Morales said. “One time I really wanted to go camping, but it was far away and we had somewhere to be in the morning, so he just set up a tent for me in the back.”

According to Morales, her father would also participate in the more “girly activities,” like making cookies.

“He was my best friend,” Morales said.

DACA continued on page 7

Anna Reck Special to Mustang News

The Homecoming game, the banquets, Homecoming court—these are all small parts of a special alumni weekend at Cal Poly: Homecoming weekend.

Center, watch the Homecoming football game and even attend a brunch with President Armstrong.

Uniting faculty, students and alumni Not only is this weekend a unique opportunity for alumni to reconnect with Cal Poly, Homecoming weekend is an opportunity for current students to become more engaged with their university. “[Students are able] to participate and attend events they otherwise may not, engage with our alumni, and enjoy a spirited and vibrant campus celebrating all it means to be a Mustang,” Oberhelman said.

Alumni reconnect with their roots “As a college town with a location away from metropolitan areas, Homecoming is a very important opportunity for our alumni who do not live locally to come back to San Luis Obispo and relive college memories on-campus and in town,” Director of Athletics Don Rekindling the reOberhelman said. lationships “As a campus, we want to en“Former student gage those inathletes come dividuals and back to campus their families and we get to and welcome catch up and t hem b ack hear updates on with open their lives, and arms.” connect on our Alumni can common interest, choose any weekin this case: athletics.

DON OBERHELMAN end to come back to Homecoming is more campus and reconnect than the football game, it with Cal Poly. Howevis a week-long festival that I er, Homecoming weekend is a hope invigorates the Mustang spirit popular choice. in all of us,” Oberhelman said. “[Homecoming] is the weekend that Homecoming holds incredible meaning, is specifically devoted to them,” Vice not only within the lives of alumni and stuPresident of Student Affairs Keith dents, but within Cal Poly’s own faculty.

Humphrey said.

Oberhelman went further to describe his From Thursday to Sunday, alumni will own homecoming experience at Cal Poly, be able to visit the Farmers’ Market, stop illustrating how it has allowed him to reby the new Cal Poly Alumni Welcome connect with old friends over the years.

As a campus, we want to engage those individuals and their families and welcome them back with open arms.

DACA continued from page 6

Living as a separated family As chances of her father’s deportation loomed, her family lived in Mexico for a year as a trial run. However, Morales’ mother longed to return to their home in California.

When Morales was about three or four years old, her father was uprooted from her life and deported back to Mexico.

“He told me he was going away for a really long time, that he might not see me again and I might get a new Dad,” Morales said.

At the time, Morales didn’t understand what was happening; it wasn’t until she was 10 years old that her father’s absence was fully explained to her.

By that point, she had lost contact with him.

“For the first three years, we would send each other letters, and talk on the phone,” Morales said. The distance between them and her father’s move to a different area in Mexico, however, resulted in an eventual end to correspondence.

SPIRITED

Creating a strong familial bond investigate Morales’ father’s whereabouts, but Despite his absence, Morales’ father’s influMorales paused that pursuit for the time being. ence on her family in California persisted. Her “I’ve held off because I’m very emotionally uncles and aunts stepped in as padriven, so I don’t want to be unforental figures, giving Morales cused when I need to be foa deep appreciation for cusing on school and my family. grades,” Morales said.

“They’ve all looked She hopes to be able out for me because to use her passion of what they felt for journalism and for him, which its way of connectI think is very ing with people to sweet,” Morales one day be able to said. “That meant reunite with her faa lot to me, those ther and the siblings shared bonds that she has never met. end up influencing “I’m really inspired DOMINIQUE MORALES your life.” by other journalists Consequently, Morales who go out and find where says she never felt a sense of they’re from, or they’re undocemptiness thanks to her family’s umented and they connect with efforts to fill the hole her father left. their family,” Morales said.

By calling them aliens you actually start alienating them.

Searching for her father Morales’ mother has offered to hire someone to

CHRIS GATELE Y | MUSTANG NE W S

| Cal Poly students shout with excitement inside the Alex G. Spanos Stadium.

Being a voice for others Though not an undocumented student herself,

Morales feels for immigrants working to forge a better life in America, and for those who have been suddenly separated from their families.

Moreover, labelling people as illegal aliens, Morales says, is disheartening. “[By calling them aliens] you actually start alienating them and you don’t see them as a human, you see them as a thing,” Morales said.

Coming forward with her story and personal connection to undocumented immigrants, Morales feels obligated to speak for DACA students. Given the prevailing legal threats toward DACA recipients, Morales knows it is understandable that they are hesitant to share their personal stories.

While San Luis Obispo has made strides to be inclusive and supportive of students protected under DACA, Morales notes that getting rid of the disconnect with the community and actually getting to know these students is crucial to truly making them feel safe and at home.

“Everyone can help, and if you don’t know how, just ask,” Morales said.

TUESDAY • OCTOBER 31, 2017 | HOMECOMING | MUSTANG NEWS

Homecoming: Creating relationships and reconnecting

7

TUESDAY • OCTOBER 31, 2017 | HOMECOMING | MUSTANG NEWS

8

The Homecoming Tailgate: Tradition, pride, community Nick Dockery Special to Mustang News

Barbecue. Beer. Music. If you’ve been to a tailgate, it can seem like this is all they are. However, the Cal Poly tailgate is more than that. The tailgate brings together hundreds of people to celebrate Cal Poly tradition and pride. The community built by the celebration radiates energy and excitement.

Tradition and community Homecoming, where Cal Poly football will go head-to-head with Portland State, is just around the corner. The Nov. 4 game will come with this year’s largest tailgate. The gathering along South Perimeter Road and College Avenue is an op-

portunity for the San Luis Obispo community to come together and celebrate Cal Poly’s tradition.

For as long as Cal Poly has had a football team, there’s been a tailgate at every home game. Rain or shine, people come from all over to show their support for the Mustangs. Associated Students, Inc. President Riley Nilsen looks forward to introducing that tradition to students and building upon it.

“With the increase of freshmen and students on campus, we have an incredible opportunity to introduce them to our athletic traditions and engage them on campus,” Nilsen said. “I believe there are excellent changes being made toward making these experiences more memorable for students.”

Nilsen also wanted to encourage current

students and reaffirm that the tailgate isn’t just for alumni.

“Students should pioneer and be leading their own tailgates like Fresno State,” Nilsen said.

“From my understanding, this used to be something students could participate in and vendors like SLO Brew would be a part of the tailgating experience alongside students.”

Cal Poly pride Everyone involved, from vendors to alumni, celebrates Cal Poly pride. Every shirt bears a Mustang, and every other person has green and gold paint adorning their faces. The Mustang Band perfectly demonstrates this pride during their parade. The 200-member Mustang Band dances and shouts down South Perimeter Road at every home game. Mustang Band CEO Hannah Brown enjoys the energy and pride the band brings to game day.

“This is a great chance for Mustang fans to see the band up close,” biology junior Brown said.

“The tailgate is personally one of my favorite

moments of game day because the fans and the band pump each other up and really get the home game spirit going.”

Mustang Band has a long-standing relationship with Cal Poly athletics and supports their team at every football game and nearly all home games for volleyball and basketball.

“We do a great deal to show our university pride through our playing and performing.” Brown said. “When we put our Mustang Band uniforms on we become representatives of Cal Poly, and all of our pride for our school shows through our cheering, playing and marching.”

We’re all Mustangs “Homecoming is a week where students and alumni come together to celebrate our dedication to the Learn by Doing philosophy we all believe in,” Nilsen said.

Past or present, green or gold. Regardless of where or when or how, the Homecoming tailgate brings the community together. It’s a great day to be a Mustang.

Junior guard Josh Martin rises in men’s basketball this fall Josh Ortlip Special to Mustang News

While redshirt junior Josh Martin sprints up and down the basketball court, it is impossible to ignore his athleticism. Martin stands at 6 feet 8 inches and possesses the leaping ability to practically jump straight out of the gym. This coming season, he is arguably a key player on the undersized Cal Poly men’s basketball team.

“When you see Josh, you see a great athlete,” head coach Joe Callero said. “He flies around. He can get you a dunk and he can get you twenty rebounds.”

But Martin’s time at Cal Poly has been filled with more adversity than time on the court. Last season, he suffered a stress fracture in his foot, and after the injury, he couldn’t compete for the rest of the season. However, this fall, that setback will have nothing on him. He received a medical redshirt, keeping another full year of NCAA eligibility.

Martin’s role as a key player Martin’s physical presence on the team brings some much-needed raw athleticism that can get plenty of points in the paint and contribute on both offensive and defensive rebounds. These attributes make him a force on the wing as a power forward.

“I think he can be anything from a leading scorer to a leading rebounder and an unbelievable defender,” Callero said.

Moreover, Martin has a strong commitment to the team aside from his role strictly on the

court. According to Callero, Martin makes an Martin said. “So now that I’m playing, I see impact not only on the court but also on his things and react to them better than before. fellow teammates.

I can communicate mismatches better, un“He impacts the team because he’s enderstand defenses and overall help my team thusiastic,” Callero said. “He’s got get better. I feel like I can really contribute a great love for the game. to my team getting wins.”

He also has a tremenLooking beyond the dous work ethic. In injury fact, his injury occurred from Now that Martin is overuse. He healthy, it will be got a stress crucial that he fracture leads the team in his foot with his work from playethic and dedicaing too many tion while being hours. What cautious to not I really like overwork himself. about Josh is The adversity Martin that he embraces faced with his injury JOSH MARTIN the team culture of fueled his knowledge and our program.” helped him take his game to the next level mentally.

Martin’s character The challenge of coming back from With Martin’s enthusiasm and love for an injury is daunting, and certainly no the game, he cares for the team’s success small task. However, with his newfound second to his own. This selfless mindset perspective, Martin looks to utilize his has benefitted the Mustangs and helped athleticism, skill and genuine love for the the team improve as a program, building a game to his team’s advantage in hope of a better sense of unity. Even though Martin successful season. Since Martin has made wasn’t able to help the team on the court last his comeback, Callero emphasized the season, he was able to contribute from the importance of Martin’s performance at a sideline. He improved his understanding of high level. the game and helped his fellow Mustangs “Martin has the skillset to play at a really get better as well. high level,” Callero said. “He needs to find “Sitting on the bench helped me see things some consistency with what we’ve been that I didn’t see before when I was playing,” doing and implement that into his game.

Sitting on the bench helped me see things that I didn’t see before when I was playing.

MARTIN FOLB | COURTE SY PHOTO

With his athleticism and enthusiasm, this guy has unlimited potential.”

Cal Poly’s men’s basketball season quickly approaches with their opener against Cal State East Bay on Nov. 2. Callero’s strong defensive-oriented squad will look to improve upon last season’s 11-20 record with a more mature and experienced team.

WELCOME

Family, friends and alumni.

You inspire each of us. Thank you.

TUESDAY • SEPTEMBER 31, 2017 | SPORTS FEATURE | MUSTANG NEWS

10

BLUE-GREEN continued from page 1

Though the Mustangs ended up running away with the match, the Gauchos scored first in the 18th minute. Cal Poly freshman goalkeeper Jason Hernandez was in good position and deflected the blast from Gauchos forward Rodney Michael, but the ball ricocheted off the goal post and into the net.

Roughly one minute before halftime, a broken play worked out in the Mustangs’ favor. Several Mustangs kept the ball alive after an errant corner kick until junior forward Jared Pressley found sophomore midfielder Kenneth Higgins in the middle of the box. Higgins flicked the ball to the right post past the Gauchos’ goalkeeper for the equalizer and injected new life into the Mustangs and the roaring crowd.

“At the end of the first half, we were just happy to get the equalizer,” Cal Poly head coach Steve Sampson said. “Psychologically, that was really important for us because it allowed us to continue to believe in ourselves. To score three goals in the second half was remarkable, quite frankly.”

The Mustangs came out firing on all cylinders after halftime, still riding their momentum from the end of the first half. Just four minutes after the break, senior defender Tony Scimeca slipped the ball away from several defenders in front of the net, passing to senior defender Adam Olsen who found the back of the net to give the Mustangs the one-goal advantage.

With the momentum firmly back on the Mustangs’ side, they continued to pour it on. Just three minutes after Olsen’s goal, senior forward Kaba Alkebulan headed in a perfectly placed cross from Olsen to put the Mustangs up by two.

“We had a tough past few games so it’s good to end with a win, especially against our rivals,” Alkebulan said. “It’s an unbelievable experience to be out here.”

But the Mustangs weren’t done. In the 66th minute, Pressley blasted a rocket of a shot to the top-right of the goal, beating the Gauchos’ goalkeeper to the corner and giving the Mustangs a 4-1 advantage.

“It was a split-second decision. I didn’t think that I could stop, plant and try to take a touch with my left foot,” Pressley said. “As Coach says, you gotta make a play, and I made a play.

I made a touch behind and we scored.”

MAT T L AL ANNE | MUSTANG NE W S

Until this game, neither team in the rivalry scored four or more goals against the other since Nov. 9, 2001, when UC Santa Barbara beat the Mustangs in San Luis Obispo.

As the final whistle blew, thousands of Cal Poly fans stormed the field to celebrate with the team, the usual procedure after a Mustang win in the Blue-Green Rivalry.

“We’ve built something here over the years that I think just about every other Division 1 university in the country is envious of,” Cal Poly Athletic Director Don Oberhelman said. “We want a rival, but we want it to be based on respect, not hostility. What I saw tonight was 98 percent good and respectful.”

As for the other 2 percent of that equation, Oberhelman said some Cal Poly soccer

fans don’t seem to be aware of where the tortilla throwing tradition originated. Historically, throwing tortillas on the field has been reserved for UC Santa Barbara fans as a symbol of their mascot’s Argentinian heritage.

“The tortilla thing is a [UC Santa Barbara] tradition so I’m really not sure I have an understanding of why we have students that want to do that,” Oberhelman said.

“Our traditions are better and different and I think we need to celebrate those and not take someone else’s.”

To Oberhelman’s dismay, hundreds of tortillas rained down from the Cal Poly student section on the UC Santa Barbara players and coaches while the starting lineups were being introduced just before kickoff.

“The tortillas and some of the derogatory chants, I wish we could do a better job,” Oberhelman said. “I think Mustangs are better than that, I think Cal Poly is better than that.”

Though the Mustangs will not be moving on to the postseason, the win serves as an important capstone for the seniors this season and a building block for the younger players on the team.

“We lose five very good seniors, but we have so many quality young players,” Sampson said. “The freshman and sophomore classes are exceptional. I think the future is bright for this program.”

11

| The Mustangs’ recent win was their first at home against UC Santa Barbara since 2015.

STORM THE FIELD

| The student section stormed the field in traditional fashion after the Mustangs’ win.

T Y MENANE | MUSTANG NE W S

TUESDAY • OCTOBER 31, 2017 | SPORTS FEATURE | MUSTANG NEWS

MAT T L AL ANNE | MUSTANG NE W S

SWEET REVENGE

Sonya Jindal @ Sonya_jindal

The Dear World team took the stage in Chumash Auditorium Oct. 4, leading the audience through a gut-wrenching journey of laughter, tears and a multitude of portraits that shared the true essence of Cal Poly students.

Dear World presents portraits of people with words written on their bodies to explain their stories.

The Inspiration Established in 2010 by CEO Robert Fogarty and executive producer Jonah Evans, Dear World is a travelling storytelling project that tells the human story through the medium of portraits. The organization shares messages through their portraits to create ties between individuals around the world.

“This project started in our hometown New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina hit. We started the project with no master plan that this was going to be some global storytelling phenomenon,” Evans said. “We started with a sharpie, a camera and went to the streets — we just ran around and asked people to share a love note to the city of New Orleans.”

Many of these people shared favorite quotes and shoutouts to a beloved football team, but there was one story in particular that shaped the path of this now globally-renowned organization. A man approached them, asking to take their idea and do something a little different.

He came back with his wife to show Evans the words ‘cancer free’ written across her chest.

“His picture was captured with tears in his “There’s so much we’re involved in and so eyes,” Evans said. “It was in that moment that much that we’re doing here. Sometimes we we realized these pictures, and the stories need to just take a break and say ‘Okay, tell behind them, were much bigger than the me more about yourself,’ and this has been city of New Orleans — that we all have these our chance.” stories of hope or fear or losses or joy and Throughout the night, students shared their through these specific stories we can tell, you stories of losses and triumphs, filling the can connect in ways we couldn’t before when room with a sense of camaraderie through we just show one version of ourselves, one honest conversations. version of our mask.”

“Whenever I show these portraits I’m Dear World has captured left with two feelings. The first is, close to 70,000 portraits to ‘I wonder where these people date, and has traveled are today and what they’re internationally sharing doing.’ The second these profound mesthing, I always just feel When thinking of sages. At the end of is a profound sense of bringing Dear World to Cal each year, the comgratitude to have the Poly, the intention was to pany donates a porkind of life we have tion of its net inand to have the kind be curious about each other come to dearworld. of day that we had and connect with each other org, an organization today— to be able to on a deep level. that financially covers celebrate the stories the process of sharing that we’re living and to BRIAN HUBAIN these stories. be in this room together,” Evans said.

Bringing the Community to Cal Poly An Unexpected Impact The Dear World event was organized The event brought together many people with help from Cross Cultural Center from different walks of life, including both Assistant Dean of Students and Director faculty and students.

Bryan Hubain.

“I hadn’t heard of Dear World before this “When thinking of bringing Dear World event,” city regional planning junior Erick to Cal Poly, the intention was to be curiGomez said. “I think everyone has a story. It’s ous about each other and to connect with like a two-way street where it takes a person each other on a deep level. We don’t really that you’re trying to get to be vulnerable to get the opportunity often to learn more bebe vulnerable, but it also takes an investment cause we’re always on the go,” Hubain said. from you to dig into people.”

Art students launch Cal Poly Creators Network Kayla Berenson @ kayla_berenson

At a large university, creative students may have a difficult time finding ways to connect with other artistic-minded individuals. Two Cal Poly art students hope to make this process easier through a networking platform for creative students, known as the Cal Poly Creators Network.

Art and design senior Paul Guzman and art and design sophomore Jared Fisher teamed up in early October to start the Cal Poly Creators Network Instagram page, @calpolycreatorsnetwork.

Fisher said he knew there were many creative people on Cal Poly’s campus, and wanted to create a community for them, which led to the start of the network.

“I had this idea for something similar,” Fisher said. “It kind of turned into the Creators Network, but it was inspired by ... me having a desire to be able to work with more creatives in the area and create that community that I felt was kind of gathered and not working together. I was hoping that it could kind of let everybody know who’s out here making different things and then we could all have this sense of community and know who we can work with and collaborate with.”

Guzman said he believes the academic-centered organizations on campus can limit the artistic freedom of some students, and he hopes this network provides them with an environment to express their creativity.

“What we want to really do is create a community of people who feel free to experiment in a

creative and recreational space so they can feel free not to be judged and they can feel free to design something or compose something and just create something that has a motivation of fun and freedom added,” Guzman said.

Both Guzman and Fisher have multiple years of creative experience in various forms of art. Guzman said he believes communities like the Cal Poly Creators Network are important because they allow students to learn from each other and gain more skills.

“We all have our hands in multiple creative projects so we want to be able to have enough human power to develop them on a broader scale than we would be able to on our own because I feel like artists and creators of all types need to be oriented toward multiple skill sets and multiple areas of creative intelligence,” Guzman said.

Art and design sophomore Tanner Johnston is already part of the network. He was eager to join after Fisher and Guzman approached him.

“I thought it sounded like a great way to make connections and get involved with my photography,” Johnston said.

Z ACH DONNENFIELD | MUSTANG NE W S

The event incorporated various slideshows of Dear World participants. The last portion was dedicated to portraits of people in the Cal Poly community.

“I was not expecting the sheer emotional response I got from [Dear World]. I figured I could guess the stories behind the messages, right? When I finally heard some stories I was absolutely floored. I hadn’t even been close,” liberal studies senior David Gutierrez said. “That was the point of only having a few words written... to open up a dialogue, only a snippet of the story meant to pique your interest. Being able to participate was a blessed moment of catharsis.”

An idea sparked in New Orleans has now brought the Dear World team all over the world and published in over 30 countries.

“Throughout the past seven years, what we’ve found is that desire to share your story shows no boundary of race, religion or geography.” Evans said.

Johnston also said he believes the process of networking with other creators will be beneficial for everyone involved.

“I hope to create connections with people who share interests in what I do so I can progress with my photography while mutually benefitting other creators,” Johnston said.

As of now, the network only has an Instagram page, but Fisher said they are in the process of working on their Facebook and YouTube pages to produce content for Cal Poly’s creative students.

Fisher also said they hope to host events where people who follow their page can get together and network in person. Creative Network founders hope to create events where people can meet up and become officially involved.

“From there with meet-ups, we can start to discuss and see what types of talent and what types of skills people have, and from there, we can kind of shape what sort of meet-ups and events would be beneficial for everyone to work on something,” Fisher said.

TUESDAY • OCTOBER 31, 2017 | ARTS | MUSTANG NEWS

Dear World brings Cal Poly community together one portrait at a time

13

TUESDAY • OCTOBER 31, 2017 | ARTS | MUSTANG NEWS

14

Top Dog Coffee Bar hosts The Reboot: Storytelling ReImagined Tabata Gordillo @ tabatagordillo

Top Dog Coffee Bar, located in Morro Bay on Main Street, shared its space for The Reboot: Storytelling ReImagined Oct. 20. The event, which will continue to be hosted on the third Friday of every month, allows people to share life experiences in front of an audience. Throughout the years, Top Dog has supported the community of Morro Bay by hosting unique events such as The Reboot. Owner Pat Bietz said he believes this laid-back beach coffee shop serves as a community center for Morro Bay. “I would like to think that we are a positive influence,” Bietz said. “We give to anybody that walks in with a cause.”

According to Rachel Ross, the curator and host of The Reboot, the point of the event was to listen to and enjoy stories told by others while supporting the arts in the community.

As explained in the event’s Facebook page, The Reboot was “a curated mix of featured (invited) storytellers, open mic for novice storytellers, spoken word artists, improv comedy, character sketches, impromptu pitches and interactive games.”

Although it was the first Reboot event hosted at Top Dog, it was not the first of its kind. Ross gives credit to Bill Moylan, who was the first to propose the idea of holding storytelling nights to the owner about a year ago.

“There are some [stories] that are amazingly entertaining and funny, some of them are heartbreaking but it is a really great sharing event,” Bietz said about the previous events.

The responsibility of organizing these storytelling nights has now been passed down to Ross.

With a similar concept in mind, she took this as an opportunity to add new elements to the event. In an effort to modify these storytelling nights, Ross hosted two featured artists: writer and performer Jean Moelter and playwright and storyteller Michael Kaplan. Other performers were able to sign up for the open mic slots.

“I love playing with words,” Ross said. “I would really like for this to take off. That’s the goal.”

A night for wordsmiths and listeners The night began as friends and families walked into the coffee shop with enthusiasm and smiles on their faces. The smell of freshly baked cookies filled the air as Bietz and his employees served pastries, warm drinks and homemade chili to the small crowd.

The night’s theme was “It’s About Time”, which could be interpreted many ways, giving performers the opportunity to freely share stories of a memorable time in their lives. Performers were given 10 minutes to share their stories, which ranged from losing one’s virginity to a first time smoking weed. Audience interaction and impromptu speaking also took place. Audience members

HOMEY

TABATA GORDILLO | MUSTANG NE W S

| Patrons come to Top Dog for fresh baked treats and stories of Morro Bay locals.

laughed and grinned as performers shared their past experiences, nodding with compassion as they heard stories that resonated with them.

Ultimately, the night gave people the opportunity to catch a glimpse inside of the lives of others. However, Ross says these stories should not be interpreted in any specific way.

“It can mean many things. But it is honest; it is a true story,” Ross said.

Whether it’s enjoying a cup of coffee with

someone or sharing stories with others, unity within the Morro Bay community is the central goal for both Top Dog Coffee Bar and The Reboot.

“I think it’s just a great opportunity for people to get together and just share life experiences,” Bietz said. “How could you go wrong with that?”

The Reboot will be back at Top Dog Coffee Bar 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Nov. 17. The theme will be “What’s in a Name?”

TEDxSanLuisObispo displays student and community art through showcase Emily Merten @ e_merten

San Luis Obispo held its second TEDx conference in the Performing Arts Center Oct. 27. In addition to its well-known inspirational talks, the event featured an array of student work, from paintings to business startups.

Formerly TEDxCalPoly, the conference was rebranded to TEDxSanLuisObispo to expand its reach and impact on San Luis Obispo as a whole.

Students and community members, including artists, companies and nonprofits, were invited to set up booths on the second floor of the Performing Arts Center to showcase their ideas.

“TED actually stands for technology, entertainment and design. Bringing in the design part of it is a big part of it,” Executive

Director and recreation, parks and tourism administration senior Ashley White said. “TEDxSanLuisObispo’s mission is to bring the San Luis Obispo community together, and I think that happens from a lot more viewpoints and vantage points than just speech.”

A student art showcase was included in this year’s event. It was curated through submissions from students and professors.

TEDx accepted every piece that was entered.

Mediums ranged from sculptures to paintings to dance performances.

The showcases were displayed at intermission for guests to peruse. Guests also had the opportunity to speak to the artists and entrepreneurs.

While TEDxSanLuisObispo’s theme was “Climbing new peaks,” works submitted were not limited to the theme. White said she believes the TEDx student and com-

munity showcases gave the community an opportunity to continue working hard to climb their own peaks.

“For students and community showcases, a lot of the people setting up booths are entrepreneurs or aspiring artists,” White said. “These people are climbing their own peaks in a sense. They’re trying to achieve their goals and get their ideas out there.”

Student Showcase Director and city and regional planning junior Erina Shimanuki wanted to broaden the range of pieces showcased at intermission.

“My goal this year was to expand the student art showcase a little more and put more focus on the showcases,” Shimanuki said.

The student art showcase tripled in size, and the variety of the pieces expanded as well. Landscape architecture junior Nicholas Matson submitted a chair to the showcase, a new medium for him as an artist.

Matson’s artwork allowed him to fulfill TEDx’s slogan, “spreading ideas worth sharing.”

“Ever since I can remember, I’ve used art to express my ideas. I would always have ideas, and the only way I could really vividly show them was through art,” Matson said.

While TED is mostly known for its speakers, it now expands beyond the talks, encompassing more ideas relating to technology, entertainment and design. The student and community showcases allowed TEDxSanLuisObispo to incorporate every aspect of TED into the conference.

Liberal arts and engineering studies junior Gabriella Santiago said she believes her art is a different way to spread ideas. “[Art] can tell a story for sure, and I think TED is a lot of storytelling. So, through art, it’s an indirect way of telling a story,” Santiago said.

15 TUESDAY • OCTOBER 31, 2017 | OPINION | MUSTANG NEWS

OPINION

ZACK SPANIER | MUSTANG NE WS

The music you listen to is political Chase Dean @ Chdean96

Chase Dean is a political science senior and Mustang News columnist. The views expressed in this column do not reflect the viewpoints and editorial coverage of Mustang News.

Music has always been intertwined with politics. This is seen in songs such as Woody Guthrie’s “This Land is Your Land,” which is filled with populist lyrics, to anti-war songs of the ‘60s, like Bob Dylan’s “Masters of War,” which forewarned of the U.S. military-industrial complex. For many artists, music has been a platform to express one’s own politics and bring to light a plethora of social issues. This is why the music we listen to and the musicians we support are political choices.

During the 2016 elections, videos of former Pink Floyd bassist Roger Waters’ concert surfaced showing a large inflatable pig with the words “Fuck Trump and His Wall.” Roger Waters is one of many artists who more overtly craft their music to share a political message.

Another artist that immediately comes

to mind is Kendrick Lamar, the widely acclaimed Los Angeles rapper. Lamar’s magnum opus, “To Pimp a Butterfly,” highlights the many social injustices that the African-American community faces, specifically touching upon topics ranging from police brutality to institutional racism as a whole. Listening to artists such as Waters and Lamar is an indirect form of support for those musicians.

Therefore, by supporting their music and sharing their music, listeners are more or less also promoting their messages.

While Waters and Lamar are more overtly political in their craftsmanship, others are not so apparent.

Ed Sheeran is an artist that many people listen to, but don’t realize is often a perpetrator of immoral politics.

Sheeran, first off, has a toxic masculinity problem, one which he is enthralled

with projecting through his music.

Consider his lyrics in his song “Don’t,” in which he can’t figure out if a woman wants to have sex with him. The tune is filled with misogynistic lyrics and portrays women as a prize to be won. I will acknowledge that misogynistic lyrics appear within other genres such as hip-hop, but amongst scholars there is a debate whether the lyrics are a product of the environment, like much of rap, or if the lyrics are truly there with the intent to assert toxic masculinity.

In addition to Sheeran’s perpetuation of toxic masculinity by conveying women as simple objects, he also has a history of stealing from African-American artists. He has faced multiple lawsuits claiming he stole melodies and other aspects from artists such as Marvin Gaye and TLC. White musicians have a long history of stealing

Music has always been intertwined with politics.

musical elements from African-American artists, but in particular, Ed Sheeran is guilty of multiple ill attempts. This in itself is an example of white supremacy in action: a white artist is very clearly guilty of stealing art from a marginalized community and is still praised as an artist.

Whether accidentally supporting misogynistic lyrics, or fighting racism through rap verse, your music choice is also a political choice.

While some may argue that music and politics are two separate elements, they are in fact immensely intertwined. In an interview with Rolling Stone, Tom Morello, the guitarist for Rage Against the Machine, put it best when he stated, “100 percent of music is political. Music either support the status quo or challenges the status quo. So every artist is political.”

This philosophy that Morello shares is key to understanding the politics of music and the messages that they support or purport to convey. It thus falls upon people to be responsible listeners and critically consider what artists they listen to and whether or not they support artists’ attempt to reaffirm the status quo or challenge it.

pse of SL m i l g O ta e G

Fo

llo

w

us

on

I n sta

g ra m

@C PM

GNEWS TAN US

TUESDAY • OCTOBER 31, 2017 | SPORTS | MUSTANG NEWS

18

Volleyball defeats Hawaii for first time ever at home in front of sellout crowd couple of Rainbow Wahine attacks allowed them to catch up 24-23. Cal Poly won the second set after a Hawaii error.

The Cal Poly volleyball team took the HaThe Mustangs dominated the first half of waii Rainbow Wahine to an intense five-set the third set taking the lead 11-7, but the match (25-23, 25-23, 25-23, 25-18, 17-15) Rainbow Wahine pushed points and went on defeating them 3-2 Friday, Oct. 27 in front an 11-4 run. Tied at 23, the Mustangs could of a sold out crowd inside Mott Athletics not close out the visitors as Hawaii took the Center. This is the first time volleyball has third set 25-23. seen a sellout crowd since 2006.

Both teams rallied back and forth until they For the first time since 1985, the Mustied at seven. Cal Poly went on an 8-5 run tangs (21-2, 11-0) swept the fueled by senior outside hitter Rainbow Wahine (15-7, Raeann Greisen. She record9-2) in conference play ed six of her 20 kills this and defeated them match to help the Musfor the first time tangs take the lead They have been resilient. ever at home. With 21-15. A kill from They’ve really not allowed this win, their win sophomore outside streak is now up to hitter Torrey Van what has happened in the 16 games.

Winden sealed the past to have an impact on The Mustangs fourth game with a what is going to happen in got off to a rocky 25-18 win. start in the first set The fifth and fithe future. and struggled to take nal set was the most the lead all game, even thrilling by far. Neck and SAM CROSSON trailing 8-15 at one point. neck, Cal Poly led 8-7 at the From there, Cal Poly snuck rotation, but again Hawaii put in a few kills to lessen the deficit to up a fight to keep tying the score. The 18-22. The Mustangs could not push past Mustangs faced the match point down 15-14, their opponents and a Rainbow Wahine kill but a kill from Greisen tied the game at 15. allowed them to take the first game 25-23.

A kill from junior outside hitter Adlee Van Cal Poly started the second game off Winden pushed their lead to 16-15 and a hitstrong, but Hawaii kept the pressure on ting error from the Rainbow Wahine ended the whole time. Both teams traded points the set and match with a Cal Poly Win. The back and forth, but the Mustangs were able sellout gym erupted in cheering. to take the lead 18-13. Energy on the court “When they are in the moment, they have and in the stands began to pick up, but a the ability to play really good volleyball and Megan Healy @ MeganHealyy

SPIKED

ILIANA ARROYOS | MUSTANG NE W S

| Senior outside hitter Raeann Greisen spikes the ball over two Hawaii players.

when you’re playing really good volleyball, you’re a tough team to beat,” head coach Sam Crosson said. “They have been resilient. They’ve really not allowed what has happened in the past to have an impact on what is going to happen in the future.”

Many members finished with team and career highs this match. Greisen recorded a season-high 20 kills, hitting .306. Junior libero Katherine Brouker had a career high of 28 digs and senior setter Taylor Nelson

finished with a season-high of 64 assists and 16 kills.

Adlee Van Winden recorded a career-high of 18 digs and added 17 kills. Her sister Torrey Van Winden had 14 kills and 10 digs.

Senior middle blocker Savannah Nieman also found her groove and added 11 kills.

The Mustangs take on rival UC Santa Barbara as the Blue-Green Rivalry returns to San Luis Obispo once more Friday, Nov. 3 at 7 p.m. in Mott Gym.

Men’s cross country wins Big West title for second consecutive year; women place second Nate Edelman @ NateDog3

ROBERT HUSKE Y | COURTE SY PHOTO

The Cal Poly men’s cross country team took home their second consecutive Big West Championship Saturday. Senior Swarnjit Boyal, junior Peter Costrilios and junior Mikey Giguere finished in second, third and fourth place respectively.

At UC Riverside’s Ag./Ops course, the Mustangs won the 8K with 26 points separating them from second place finisher UC Santa Barbara. Cal State Fullerton finished third but was 57 points behind the Gauchos.

Near the halfway mark of the race, UC Davis’ Jordy Ceja lead the race with a pace of 9:48.9. By the 6.5K mark, Boyal and UC

Davis graduate transfer Thomas Madden were neck-and-neck with times of 20:31.720:31.9. Madden finished with 24:13.17 while Boyal crossed in 24:21.4.

With only one and a half kilometers left, Costrilios had the strongest kick of the day to jump from 12th place to third place. He finished in 24:39.9.

Sophomore Chas Cook and junior Sean McDermott also scored for Cal Poly with seventh and 13th place finishes, respectively.

In the women’s 6K, UC Santa Barbara defeated Cal Poly 45 to 47, which tied for the closest score in the 35-year history of this meet. Mustangs sophomore Miranda Daschian led Cal Poly as the runner-up, finishing in 20:26.8. UC Santa Barbara senior

Jenna Hinkle edged Daschian, finishing first in 20:17.8.

At the 3.2K checkpoint, Daschian moved up from fifth place to close in on Hinkle. Gauchos sophomore Katie Camarena helped UC Santa Barbara clinch the team title with a third-place finish in 20:28.8.

Freshman Sierra Brill was the next to finish for the Mustangs, taking sixth place at 20:49.5. Julia Vasquez finished 10th for the Mustangs, a seven-spot improvement from her time at the 2016 Big West Championships.

The Mustangs will now train for the NCAA West Regional Nov. 10 in Seattle.

Qualifiers advance to the National Championships in Louisville Nov. 18.

MEN’S BASKETBALL THU, NOV. 2 VS. CAL ST. EAST BAY 7 PM EXHIBITION GAME 2017-18 MEN'S BASKETBALL POSTER GIVEAWAY!

VOLLEYBALL FRI, NOV. 3

VS. UCSB

7 PM

FIRST 300 FANS IN ATTENDANCE GET A CAL POLY TRAVEL MUG!

FOOTBALL

SAT, NOV. 4 VS. PORTLAND ST.

6 PM

STUDENT TAILGATE + CONCERT (MOTT LAWN) - 3:30 P.M. FIREWORKS AFTER THE GAME!

STUDENTS GET IN FOR

FREE

CAL POLY MUSTANGS

STUDENT REWARDS

@CPMUSTANGS

CALPOLYMUSTANGS

@CPMUSTANGS

1.Sign-up for just $10 and be a member for life!

2.Get an official Stang Gang T-shirt with your membership!

3.Swipe your ID card and earn points by attending athletic events!

4.Receive great rewards when you reach certain point levels!

5.Repeat steps 3 & 4 all year long!

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