C A L P O LY S A N LU I S O B I S P O ’ S N E W S S O U R C E
MUSTANG NEWS
WOW WEEK OF WELCOME 2018
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GREEK LIFE SUSPENSION
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WOW SPECIAL EDITION
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RETIRES A FURRY FRIEND
Austin Linthicum
Lauren Arendt
Quinn Fish
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Rachel Marquardt
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N EW S Cassandra Garibay Editor Isabella Paoletto Helyn Oshrin Sabrina Pascua Stephanie Garibay Samantha Spitz Ashley Ladin Aiden McGloin Isabel Hughes Maureen McNamara Intern Hailey Nagma Intern
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ARTS Emily Merten Editor Sabrina Thompson Michaela Barros Caroline Garcia Yasel Hurtado Caitlin Scott Grant Anderson Emma Kumagawa Kiana Meagher Intern Claudia Ferrer Intern OP I N I ON Kendra Coburn Editor Zachary Grob-Lipkis Hanah Wyman Abdullah Sulaiman Bailey Barton Sierra Parr Yervant Malkhassian Brett Baron Noemi Khachian Ken Allard Lilly Leif Elias Atienza Olivia Peluso Jordyn White SP ORTS Brian Truong Editor Allison Mays Lauren Kozicki Francisco Martinez Brendan Carretero Sophia Crolla Garrett Brown Prerna Aneja Kyle Har
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P H OTO Zachary Donnenfield Carolyne Sysmans Kylie Kowalske Alison Chavez Diego Rivera Connor Frost Maxwell Morais Intern Luke Deal Intern COPY Kelly Martinez Amanda Simonich Jarod Urrutia D ES I GN Calista Lam Director Michelle Cao Solena Aguilar Julia Jackson-Clark D I V ERS I TY Monique Ejenuko Editor Sonya Jindal PR Alyssa Wilson Dominique Morales Kaitlyn Hoyer Mikaela Lincoln Tess Loarie Intern Christina Arthur Intern SOCIAL Lindsay Morris Hanna Crowley Danielle Lee Candace Lee Intern
What is your favorite Central Coast destination?
“Perfumo Canyon, you can watch the sunset and see all the way to Morro Rock from the top, then stargaze once the sun is down.” D IEGO RIVERA “Grover State Beach! It is one of the most unique places where the mountains meet the beach on the horizon. I’ve had some of my favorite memories in college either driving my car on the sand there, camping for a night, having a bonfire with friends or simply watching the sunset with some food.” L IND SAY MORRIS “My favorite place on the Central Coast would have to be Avila Beach. This was one of my first trips I took during my WOW experience and I fell in love with this area. It’s a beautiful location and a very peaceful place to go and relax. Some of my favorite things to do are study at a coffee shop and setting up my hammock with friends under the pier to watch the sunset. I would recommend Avila to any new Mustangs because it’s not too far from campus, but is the perfect getaway from the stress of school.” SYD NEY B RA NDT “Without a doubt, my favorite place to visit on the central coast is Ostrich Land in Solvang. It's a bit of a drive, but definitely worth the trip. It's exactly what it sounds like: a ranch with literal hundreds of ostriches that you can feed and pet! Every time we go, we always take some hilarious pictures.” KEND RA COB URN “There are so so many amazing places to go, but my favorite by far is Avila Valley Barn! Besides being the perfect place for an Instagram photoshoot, it’s such a welcoming place full of animals, fresh produce, and other cute trinkets in the shop. Definitely on the must-see list for new students!” A L ISON CH AVEZ “Pirate’s Cove is one of the most captivating locations on the Central Coast because of its breathtaking views. It is a must-see for new students looking for an adventure with a view.”
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“You’ve got to get out to the bluffs of Montaña de Oro with your favorite hammock, a fun book, and a bar of chocolate! School and people can get overwhelming, so the best way for me to de-stress is to spend a breezy afternoon in the trees, enjoying time with myself. MDO also has zero phone service, so it really helps me to relax and practice meditation.”
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Sunset at Avila Beach. FILE PHOTO | MUSTA NG NEWS
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IFC and PHA suspension lifted, besides Lambda Chi Alpha BY ISABEL HU G HES Cal Poly President Jeffrey Armstrong has lifted a blanket suspension for Interfraternity Council (IFC) fraternities and Panhellenic Association (PHA) sororities that was implemented April 16, eight days after fraternity Lambda Chi Alpha alumnus Kyler Watkins appeared in blackface and other members of the same fraternity dressed as gang members. However, the Lambda Chi Alpha national fraternity placed the Cal Poly chapter on suspension through April 2019 and through Cal Poly, Lambda Chi Alpha remains on interim suspension while the state Attorney General’s Office continues its investigation into last spring’s incidents on campus, according to university spokesperson Matt Lazier. The incident highlighted Cal Poly’s past, in which many other racist incidents have occurred, including a noose and confederate flags being found in an on-campus crop science house in 2008. Armstrong announced the suspension after the racist incidents made national headlines and protests and activism pervaded Cal Poly’s campus climate. The suspension did not apply to Cal Poly’s cultural fraternities and sororities. During the suspension, chapters currently sanctioned by the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities (OSRR) may only host: • Chapter meetings (one per week) • Meetings for educational purposes (e.g., workshops, discussions, guest speakers) • One philanthropic event 4
Chapters not currently sanctioned by OSRR may host: • Chapter meetings • Meetings for educational purposes (e.g., workshops, discussions, guest speakers) • Two brotherhood/sisterhood events with an alumni and/or university advisor present during Spring 2018 (e.g., any chapter event without non-chapter participants); must be registered via Verisky four days in advance • One philanthropic event during Spring 2018 • One parent/supporter event during spring quarter, if previously registered The suspension also prohibited alcohol at any events, including but not limited to, chapter facilities, satellite houses and third-party venues. “The temporary interim suspension was announced in spring quarter [2018] to give our IFC fraternities and Panhellenic sororities the opportunity to step back, examine their organizations and develop specific educational plans for how they will make diversity and inclusion a fundamental part of the fabric of Greek Life,” Lazier wrote in an email to Mustang News. According to Lazier, all IFC and PHA chapters have submitted their inclusion plans to Student Affairs leadership, and were required to create a Diversity and Inclusion Officer position. According to an email sent to members of greek life by Associate Vice President and Dean of Students Kathleen McMahon
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provided to Mustang News, the plan had to be submitted to Fraternity and Sorority Life (FSL) staff and needed to include the following items: • Defined learning outcomes and an assessment plan • Implementation timeline, including an element of permanence for future chapter member participation • A requirement for participation of all chapter members • A plan for financial support strategies for prospective/current chapter members to increase access to greek life • Acknowledgment of chapter compliance with all requirements outlined by their respective councils • Acknowledgment of chapter compliance with requirements issued by the FSL Office Chapters are permitted to implement education plans as soon as the chapter executive board and national/international headquarters deem necessary, and the plan has been reviewed by FSL staff and review committee “With this progress made, the temporary interim suspension has been lifted. Greek Life organizations will continue to work with Student Affairs leadership to enhance, refine and implement these plans,” Lazier wrote. Lazier wrote that Student Affairs is developing plans for the coming academic year to make diversity and inclusivity a priority for greek life community members, including “a variety of guest speakers and
regular training opportunities.” He also mentioned that the university did not require any chapter to remove letters from their residences because they are private and not owned by the university. The national Lambda Chi Alpha policy on discrimination reads, “Be It Resolved that membership selection on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, or disability has
After nearly five months, President Armstrong has lifted the IFC and PHA temporary interim suspension, just in time for the start of the Fall 2018 quarter. no place within Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity. The Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity, therefore, condemns all discrimination and will actively seek to prevent it in all of its Chapters.” The Lambda Chi Alpha national chapter did not respond to comment on the suspension of the Cal Poly chapter.
Student startup prepares to launch the first convertible heels BY CAROLINE STER & EMMA KUMAGAWA
The Pashion Footwear team aims to empower women and to increase their all-around confidence. CO U RT E SY | AS IA C RO S O N When Haley Pavone is not in class or at an Alpha Chi Omega sorority event, she is in Pashion Footwear’s SLO HotHouse office. Pashion Footwear, a student-run Cal Poly startup, has combined practical fashion to create a convertible high heel that can transform into a flat. The startup launched their Kickstarter July 1. “I want us to become one of the big names in footwear,” business administration alumnus,
letto. From that moment on, Pavone became fixated on the inconveniences of high heels. She began to research the market of working women who routinely change their shoes or go barefoot in the workplace. “It just seemed ridiculous. I started getting obsessed with this idea of ‘What’s really so different between a high heel and a flat other than the heel and that arch support?’ and I thought there should be a way to safely en-
Pashion Footwear’s prototypes transform from high heels to flats in seconds. COURTESY | PASHION FOOTWEAR
co-founder and CEO of Pashion Footwear Pavone said. “I think we can release annual fall and spring lines that use our technology and are keeping up with trends and just become a really dominant powerhouse in women’s footwear.”
The beginning
The story began during Pavone’s sophomore year at her sorority’s spring formal, where a sorority sister accidentally danced on Pavone’s foot with the spike of her sti6
gineer that to be removable,” Pavone said. After being accepted into the Cal Poly Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) Hatchery program in Fall 2016, Pashion continued through the other CIE programs and eventually reached the HotHouse Incubator, a two-year small-business mentorship program. She got funds for the startup from CIE competitions and the accelerator program, as well as from investors. Over the course of three months, Pavone
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and her team interviewed and surveyed about 500 college students and local women about their high heel experiences. They found that, overwhelmingly, both women and men were enthused about the idea. “I’m just excited to stand behind a product that really benefits women,” journalism junior and Pashion Public Relations Coordinator Krista Hershfield said. “It’s crazy how there hasn’t really been a solution, we’ve kind of just accepted it, and I’m proud to be a part of something that’s trying to better the everyday lives of women.” As the business increased in development, Pavone hired people from her personal network of peers and sorority sisters. The Pashion team is now composed of 20 people, 70 percent of whom are women. Business administration sophomore and Pashion Footwear Sales Manager Tori Hemphill said she likes how the company, in many ways, empowers women. “I love it because it’s a company started by women, and a lot of the shoe industry is male-dominated,” Hemphill said. “Men are designing heels and that just kind of is annoying because we’re the ones that have to suffer through it, and I have so many experiences, terrible experiences, with heels.”
The design
Shoe engineering was a collaborative effort of Pashion Footwear Designer Seiji van Bronkhorst, co-founder Tyler Unbehand and independent contractors from Portland. The shoes are being manufactured overseas in China. The heel on each shoe can be removed by a quarter turn, which prompts it to come
loose along with the sole support. The shoe’s flexible arch flattens out, transforming the entity into a sandal. The removed pieces can then be placed in a small, sunglasses-sized bag and tucked away. The process takes no longer than 10 seconds, according to Pavone. Three styles have been developed, each inspired by a different archetype. The “Pashionista” is aimed toward the event-wearer, the “Goddess” is aimed for the partygoer and the “Girl Boss” is aimed toward the working woman. “Pashionista” will come in black, champagne and Millennial pink. “Goddess” will come in black, brown suede and metallic rose gold. “Girl Boss” will come in black, champagne and red.
The Kickstarter
The Kickstarter launch occurred through the month of July. Pashion Footwear Insiders, members of a Facebook feedback group, were able to purchase shoes for $100 throughout the month. November 2018 will mark the launch of Pashion’s consumer website, where shoes will be sold for $150. Pashion held a pop-up shop at Avanti in downtown San Luis Obispo June 30. People were able to try on shoes and make pre-orders at the event. “A year-and-a-half ago, I drew a shoe on a napkin and showed it to some people and was like, ‘Hey, do you think this is cool?’ and that’s literally all it was,” Pavone said. “Now, all of a sudden, it’s going to be a real, actual product that people can buy and put on their feet and wear and hopefully make their lives better.”
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CO U RTESY | C A L PO LY CO L L EG E O F L I BERA L A RTS
Weird Al
gets star on Hollywood Walk of Fame The Cal Poly grad said in his acceptance speech he was honored to be “immortalized” in the form of a Hollywood Star. BY M I C HA E LA BA R R O S
Cal Poly alumnus Alfred “Weird Al” Yankovic was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame Aug. 27. Yankovic attended Cal Poly and was a DJ for KCPR, the student-run university radio station, where he earned his nickname,“Weird Al.” Yankovic’s whimsical approach to campus radio was not always met with support from the station’s management in the 1980s. “He had a huge following, but he wouldn’t play the current music that he was required to,” KCPR Program Director and wine and viticulture senior Ella Worley said. “He’d play it sped up or backwards or sing over it, so that made the people in charge of the station mad. It was a time when the management was trying to bring everything under control again after an alternative phase went a little too far.” Yankovic was accepted into the university when he was only 16-years-old as an architecture student. During his time at Cal Poly, Yankovic quickly gained popularity at KCPR. It was 1979, and The Knack’s song “My Sha-
rona” was one of the most popular songs of the time, playing on the station almost daily. Inspired by the song, Yankovic recorded a parody song titled, “My Bologna” in the men’s bathroom of the graphic arts building (building 26), where the radio station is located. A few months later, he signed his first record deal. During his acceptance speech in Hollywood on Monday, between jokes and banter, Yankovic paused for a moment and said he was honored to be “immortalized” in the form of a Hollywood Star. “This is just an unbelievable moment for me,” Yankovic said. “Never in my wildest dreams would I ever have imagined that one day I would be immortalized here on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, sharing the same prestigious honor as Ryan Seacrest and Wally Cox and Absolut Vodka.” The award was not paid for by any large corporations as they typically are, according to the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce
CEO and President Leron Gubler, who introduced Yankovic to the podium. “The stars always require a sponsor,” Gubler said. “Usually it’s a studio or an agent or someone like that, but the star today, all the money for this star was raised by Weird Al’s fans.” Over approximately 12 years, Yankovic’s fans collected money into a “Weird Al Star Fund” to get his name on the sidewalk. After getting denied countless times, it was finally approved. “I’m completely overwhelmed by the love and support of the fans,” Yankovic said. “This means so much to me. I’ve said this in interviews many times over the years. Having my name on a star on a sidewalk, that’s cool. [...] But just knowing that I have the love and support of the fans, people who would go through all this time and effort and money to do something completely crazy like this... that means everything in the world to me.”
“Weird Al” Yankovic, known for song parodies including “Eat It” and “Like A Surgeon,” poses with his star following a ceremony in his honor on Monday, Aug. 27 in Hollywood. CO U RTESY | WEI RD A L
Week of Welcome BEHIND THE SCENES BY SA B RI NA TH OM PSON
F I LE P H OTO | MUSTA N G N EWS
For a year, Cal Poly has been preparing Week of Welcome (WOW) 2018. The nationally-acclaimed orientation program for incoming freshmen and transfer students takes a team of more than 1,000 students to facilitate — many of whom are volunteers. “Studies show students who participate in orientation are more likely to stay [at the university],” Andrene Kaiwi, the director of New Student and Transition Programs, said. “Most of the program’s success is due to the volunteers.” From September 16-23, trained student volunteers called WOW leaders will pair up to lead groups of 15 to 30 students through a week of activities and campus events. From visiting local beaches to attending on-campus concerts, WOW groups have a chance to explore all Cal Poly and San Luis Obispo have to offer before classes even begin. The effort and planning that goes into pulling off this one-of-a-kind orientation program has evolved and changed over the years to fit the needs of the incoming student population.
Preparing for WOW
Board members are chosen one year in advance to prepare the week of events, which typically takes place mid-September. The board members train WOW facilitators during winter quarter, who then spend spring quarter training the hundreds of yellow t-shirt-clad 10
WOW leaders across campus. WOW-trained students are also given the option to become an event staff member, another way to help facilitate WOW without leading a group. The event staff help the numerous events going on on campus run smoothly. For 10 weeks in the spring, more than 1,000 student leaders spent three hours every week in Chumash Auditorium, located in Julian A. McPhee University Union (building 65), learning about their roles and responsibilities as orientation leaders. By the end of training, 920 students remained to lead 320 WOW groups. These WOW leaders-in-training explored leadership styles and had group dynamic training. They even hosted their own mini-WOW for practice, with group numbers, dress-up themes, traditions and chants. “My WOW leaders were both super invested with our group, even after WOW,” WOW leader and civil engineering sophomore Julia Cannon said. “They created this little family and I’m still close with the people in my group. One of them even became my co-[leader]. I wanted to give back to the program that helped make my first year so memorable, and hopefully pass that on to incoming freshmen.” WOW facilitators are able to learn about their abilities as effective leaders, managing not only their own group, but also holding one-on-one sessions with each leader-in-training.
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“I really like the leadership aspect as well as seeing the personal growth in [leaders-in-training], so having that role was something I really wanted to do,” facilitator and microbiology senior Chris Hammond said. “It is much more of a professional outlook.”
WOW Events
Students can expect to see yearly traditions like the Big Fall Welcome, WOW-a-Rama, and the club showcase at WOW 2018. WOW also includes mandatory presentations on drug and alcohol awareness, mental health, and sexual assault for incoming students. Campus and community organizations hold additional events like movie nights, trivia nights and Associated Students, Inc.’s WOW Concert. Some of these events are free to students, while others have participation fees. For the second year, New Student and Transition Programs will offer the Cross-Cultural Experience during WOW, with events geared toward showcasing and discussing diversity and inclusivity on Cal Poly’s campus. The program was designed to offer students with similar experiences a chance to connect. All WOW groups, however, are trained to address diversity and inclusivity. Poly POV is a monologue sketch show centered around the voices and experiences of marginalized identities. Additionally, the Performing Arts Center will hold a screening of “Black Pan-
ther” with a Q&A panel to follow. “We are recognizing that we at this campus have a group of students that are first [generation] and underrepresented minority students,” Kaiwi said. “And we feel that in orientation and in student affairs, we have to make a contribution to their academic success.” The full schedule of the activities for the week can be found at the New Students & Transition Programs website.
WOW Expenses
The total cost for the WOW program is approximately $1 million. This money comes from a $200 orientation fee for each participating student, as well as donations from fundraising. All of the funds go back into New Student and Transition Programs, paying for food, event space and equipment for WOW, SLO Days, and Open House. It also pays the four staff members who work year-round to prepare for the week. Students are also advised to bring $25 for the week to pay for various activities and participation fees. Cal Poly’s orientation programs have won awards from national and on-campus organizations for their success. For more than 50 years, they have provided leadership experience for returning students, as well as in-depth, honest experiences for those just beginning their journey at Cal Poly.
per quarter (about 10 meals per week), $100 declining balance funds distributed each quarter and $65 bonus declining balance funds per quarter. The “Mustang 80 Plan” also includes meal credits and declining balance funds reaching a total of $1,951 for the year. With this plan, a student will have 80 meal credits per quarter (about 7 meals per week), $100 declining balance funds distributed each quarter and $40 bonus declining balance funds per quarter. The “Mustang Freedom Plan” is the most expensive plan for continuing and transfer students, costing $3,001 for the academic year. This plan only includes $1,000 declining balance funds distributed each quarter (about $80 per week) and $70 bonus declining balance funds per quarter.
How it Works
FILE PHOTO | MUSTANG NEWS
Say goodbye to Plus Dollars Freshmen and transfer students have new meal plan options BY SAM A N T H A S P I TZ Cal Poly’s incoming freshmen and transfer students will have the option to choose from three different dining plans for the 2018-2019 school year. While all freshmen living on campus are still required to have a dining plan, Campus Dining switched from Plus Dollars, or prepaid funds to be used at Cal Poly venues, to meal credits and declining balance funds. There are three dining plan variations for freshmen and transfer students, a departure from the “one size fits all” approach where all freshmen were required to pay the same amount. Similar to previous years, meal credits and declining balance funds will be loaded on students’ PolyCards for immediate use. The change was primarily based on student feedback asking for more dining plan options, according to Cal Poly Corporation Communications Specialist Aaron Lambert. 12
Freshman meal plans
The “Mustang 180 Plan” includes both meal credit and declining balance funds reaching a total cost of $5,161 for the school year. This plan encompasses 180 meals credits per quarter (about 16 meals per week) and $175 declining funds distributed each quarter. The “Mustang 150 Plan” also includes meal credits and declining balance funds, but is a little cheaper — ringing in at $4,985 for the academic year. This plan contains 150 meal credits per quarter (about 13 meals per week) and $283 declining balance funds each quarter. Finally, the “Mustang All-Flex Plan” only includes declining balance funds and is the most expensive plan at $5,537 for the year. The plan includes $1,517 declining balance funds distributed each quarter (about $125 per week). Each plan includes $200 for WOW meals. These plans differ from the 2017-2018 school year, where freshmen living in the
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residence halls were given 1,400 Plus Dollars on their PolyCards each quarter. Freshmen living in the apartments on campus received 1,090 Plus Dollars on their PolyCards each quarter to spend on food. “The students now have three plan options that offer more options and flexibility than the Plus Dollar system,” Lambert said. “The meal credits will offer more opportunity to eat healthy meals throughout campus and leave declining balance dollars for purchases at the markets.”
Transfer and continuing student plans
Along with new dining options for the incoming freshmen, this is the first time there has been a specific plan for continuing and transfer students. The “Mustang 120 Plan” costs a total of $2,731 for the school year and includes both meal credits and declining balance funds. This plan offers 120 meals credits
Each meal credit provides a meal at 805 Kitchen, a buffet-styled dining venue, with savings of up to 35 percent off of regularly priced meals, or a meal equivalent, at other Campus Dining locations. Meals at other dining locations will be selected off of a predetermined menu created by each venue, including a main dish item and a beverage. Any meal credits remaining at the end of each quarter will be terminated as they do not roll over into the next quarter. The declining balance funds on the meal plans can be used at any of the Campus Dining venues including the food trucks, Campus Market, Subway, ShakeSmart, Starbucks and Yogurt Creations. Unused declining balance funds roll over to the next quarter, but funds left at the end of spring quarter will become inoperative. The base cost for each meal plan is the non-food operation costs including equipment, equipment replacements and facilities maintenance for the dining locations. In addition, students will be given the option to change meal plans if they are unsatisfied with their initial plan after fall quarter. Campus Dining plans to stick with these options for the upcoming years, but is open to feedback, Lambert said. “We don’t plan on any major changes, however, planning at Campus Dining is pretty fluid, as we are constantly taking feedback, researching other campuses and searching for better offerings for our very large and diverse clientele,” Lambert said. Plus Dollars were introduced in 2001 to give students more flexibility in locations and items to eat. Plans offered a combination of Plus Dollars and meal credits. Students could choose from multiple plans that offered different combinations of meal credits and Plus Dollars, but the total cost of all plans were the same. Beginning in 2015, all plans were declining balance through last year. Campus Dining offers 22 dining venues, three food trucks, and more than 1,000 menu options.
UPD retires good boy with honorable discharge, party and presents BY AS H L E Y LA D I N Cal Poly’s incoming freshmen and transThe Cal Poly University Police Department (UPD) celebrated the retirement of 10-year-old K-9 Xello during a private party July 25. Xello has been with UPD for two-and-ahalf years and previously served for the Morro Bay Police Department for fourand-a-half years. While on duty, Xello protected fellow officers, located drugs, and found missing children and elderly people.
Officer Xello
Officer Stephanie Pipan has been Xello’s handler all seven years of his service. “A police dog’s main purpose is to protect officers and the public,” Pipan said. “He is a police officer just as much as I am a police officer.” Pipan received Xello, a pure-bred German shepherd, seven years ago from a breeder in Germany. He was originally trained as a show dog because of his winning appearance, but when the trainers saw he had strong potential for a police dog, his course switched.
Officer Pipan and Xello spent most days together on patrol and training. COURTESY / CAL POLY
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Once Xello arrived in California, he and Pipan went through weeks of training in patrol, narcotics detection and hard surface tracking. After being sworn into the force, he continued less intensive training on a daily basis. “Patrol dogs don’t get played with — training is their play time. We’re at work most days of the week, you’ll see us on the field doing some obedience, or maybe some detection work,” Pipan said. “They need to always remember what their job is so they can’t ‘lax.” One of Pipan’s favorite moments with Xello was locating a missing juvenile. Xello was able to follow his scent over five miles and found the boy up in a tree. “The parents were so happy and the kid got to play with Xello after,” Pipan said. “It was extremely rewarding for me because who knows what could have happened to that child?”
Retirement celebration
Xello is 10 years-old — about 70 in dog years. His fur has traces of gray and his back hips are weak, giving him a slightly slower gait. Though Pipan and the other officers believe he still has the motivation to do the work, they have noticed him significantly slowing down during the past six months. Already relatively old to still be working (many K-9s retire around six or seven years-old), Pipan decided it was time for Xello to relax. “He has a badge, he was sworn in with both departments, so he deserves a retirement party. I talked to the chief and everyone agreed. They said he’s a police officer, he’s our partner and he has been there for everybody,” Pipan said. “So this is a ‘thank you and have a happy retirement.’” Roughly 20 police officers, family members and friends gathered for the event. In line with Xello’s exclusively meat diet, chicken, tri-tip and sausage were barbequed outside the UPD building. The guests laughed when dispatch officers received a call from a nearby individual who smelled the smoke and believed there was a fire, only to be informed the smoke’s origin was a police barbecue. A slideshow featuring photos of Xello
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Xello received numerous gifts during his retirement party. ASHLEY LADIN / MUSTANG NEWS
both on and off work was displayed on the lunchroom television over a table of cake (one in the shape of a bone, another with Xello’s picture) and presents. The crowd circled around Xello as he greeted most guests with a smile and a rub against their legs. Deputy Chief Brenda Trobaugh announced Xello would be discharged honorably and gifted Pipan and him a shadowbox commemorating his time in the force, which included his badge and photos of him. Chief of Police George Hughes read a retirement proclamation signed by President Jeffrey Armstrong and gifted it to Pipan. Some of Xello’s presents included a Cal Poly blanket, a K-9 stuffed animal and a large bone. Xello’s quick and enthusiastic opening of his presents prompted one police officer to jokingly ask if someone hid marijuana, one of the drugs Xello is trained to find, in a present box.
Xello will spend his retirement living with Pipan, moving from his kennel into her home. She is worried Xello will have trouble adjusting to a more relaxed lifestyle, but is excited to give him lots of attention, take him on walks, and shower him with toys.
New recruit
Xello will be replaced by a two-year-old German shepherd named Zeus who will also be handled by Pipan. Zeus is currently only trained in bomb detection, but will soon undergo training with Pipan in patrol and hard surface tracking. His first day is Monday, July 30. The officers are excited for a puppy’s energy, but Pipan said they will all miss Xello. “People were very happy to have him here — they all love him,” Pipan said. “Who doesn’t want to work with a dog?”
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DORMS OF THE FUTURE yakʔitʸutʸu opens its doors to first year students BY STE PHANIE GARIBAY
MAXWELL MORAIS | MUSTANG NEWS
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MAXWELL MORAIS | MUSTANG NEWS
KYLIE KOWALSKE | MUSTANG NEWS
The final touches are being added to Cal Poly’s newest addition, the yakʔitʸutʸu living community, which is set to be ready for students to move in by Sept. 14. Cal Poly worked with the Northern Chumash to create the yakʔitʸutʸu community, which includes seven residence halls ranging from three to five stories, all named after sites along the Central Coast as well as animals in the Northern Chumash dialect. Each building includes double, triple and quad rooms with a community center where students can cook their meals and study. “They don’t have kitchens or anything in their rooms, they just have a small refrigerator. This is to encourage students to be more social and this is also why we do not have any single rooms,” Sadie Rogers, the graphic designer for the living community, said. The buildings also include a communal all-gender bathroom with shared toilets and showers. The outside wall of each bathroom
is transparent for safety reasons. According to Rogers, Cal Poly is late to the notion of all-gendered restrooms. Most universities have already changed their residence hall bathrooms to all-gender bathrooms in order to be more inclusive of all residents. Each building in the yakʔitʸutʸu community also has a built-in wetsuit washing station, something numerous students had asked for. “We have what’s called an inner housing council, it’s basically the student voice, so they bring recommendations to us. One of the big recommendations they had for us was adding a wetsuit washing station, so we did integrate that into PCV and Sierra Madre outside, but in yakʔitʸutʸu, every laundry room has a wetsuit washing station,” Rogers said. yakʔitʸutʸu is the first residential building built specifically for first-year students on Cal Poly’s campus since 1973, when Sierra Madre was built.
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The 50 Best Public Colleges
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education, Peterson’s, PayScale.com, MONEY/College Measures calculations.
Money Magazine ranks Cal Poly in top 50 public universities BY ISAB E L LA PAO L E TTO Cal Poly is one of the best public colleges and amongst the top 100 best valued colleges in the nation, according to Money Magazine. Cal Poly ranked No. 39 out of the 50 top public universities in Money Magazine’s annual “50 Best Public Colleges” list – several spots behind Cal Poly Pomona and six other California State University (CSU) campuses. However, Cal Poly outranked other CSU schools including CSU Fresno, CSU San Bernardino and San Diego State University.
Cal Poly also ranked 64th out of 727 colleges for best value in the United States. “Cal Poly appears frequently on lists such as this, regularly ranking highly among the state’s and nation’s public and private universities and earning accolades as being among the best higher education investments for students,” University Spokesperson Matt Lazier wrote in an email to Mustang News. The university is the most competitive for admissions in the CSU system with an average GPA of 4.13 for firsttime freshmen in 2018.
Cal Poly also ranked 64th out of 727 colleges for best value in the United States. Topping the list were University of California (UC) San Diego, UC Irvine, UC Los Angeles and UC Berkeley. The study compiled data from the U.S. Department of Education, Peterson’s, PayScale.com and Money College Measures to pull median SAT and ACT scores, average price for the 201819 school year, price of school year with average grants, percent of students in need who receive grants, average student debt and early career earnings.
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The magazine analyzed main data points including graduation rates, tuition charges, family borrowing and alumni earnings. Cal Poly students finish college with an average of $18,700 in debt and earn an average annual salary of $61,100 in their early career, according to the list. “Rankings such as these can help prospective students see the longterm dividends of Cal Poly’s Learn by Doing education and help illustrate
SEPTEMBER 13, 2018 | MUSTANG NEWS.NET
why there is increasing demand from students hoping to attend Cal Poly,” Lazier wrote. This demand is apparent in Cal Poly’s record 65,000 enrollment applications for Fall 2018, an increase of 13 percent from Fall 2016. Of the total Fall 2018 applicants, 54,732 are first-time freshmen and 10,775 are upper-division transfer students. While Money lists the student population as racially diverse, Cal Poly is the least racially diverse among the CSU and UC systems, according to current enrollment data. In hopes of increasing diversity, Cal Poly adopted a Diversity Action Initiative June 7 in compliance with state Proposition 209 to move toward more accurately representing the state’s demographics: 39.1 percent Hispanic or Latino and 15.2 percent Asian. According to the most recent Cal Poly Career Services Graduate Status Report, 94 percent of graduates are ‘positively engaged,’ meaning they are either working or in graduate school. Of those students, 99 percent have found a job within nine months of graduating. In addition, 97 percent found jobs related to their major and had a starting median salary of $62,000. “More than anything, these rankings show that Cal Poly is committed to preparing its students to succeed after graduation — as they further their educations or enter the global workforce,” Lazier wrote.
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University of California-San Diego University of California-Irvine University of California-Los Angeles University of California-Berkeley CUNY Bernard M Baruch College University of Michigan-Ann Arbor University of Virginia-Main Campus University of California-Davis Texas A & M University-College Station Georgia Institute of Technology University of Washington-Seattle Campus Massachusetts Maritime Academy California State University-Long Beach University of Florida University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign SUNY at Binghamton The University of Texas at Austin University of Maryland-College Park Virginia Polytechnic Institute North Carolina State University at Raleigh University of California-Riverside Stony Brook University The College of New Jersey University of California-Santa Barbara James Madison University Purdue University-Main Campus Michigan State University California State University-Dominguez Hills Cal Poly-Pomona University of Wisconsin-Madison California State University-Stanislaus University of Connecticut California State University-Los Angeles College of William and Mary University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill San Jose State University California State University-Chico Virginia Military Institute Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo Rutgers University-New Brunswick California State University-Fresno California State University-San Bernardino University of Delaware Clemson University SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry University of Minnesota-Twin Cities San Diego State University CUNY Queens College California State University-Fullerton University of Massachusetts-Amherst
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Juggling school, work & self BY C A R LY Q U I N N Mechanical engineering senior Kylie Fernandez shares her experience with balancing schoolwork and a job. MN: When did you start working? KF: I started applying for jobs a week or two before my sophomore year started and was moving back to [San Luis Obispo]. I got a host position at The Naked Fish, a sushi restaurant downtown, and have since worked my way up to a server position. MN: Why did you want to start working? KF: Even though my rent and tuition are paid for, I needed to be able to support myself with everything else including food, car expenses, and other extracurricular activities. MN: Why is it important to have a job, in general as well as during school? KF: While earning money may seem like the obvious reason to have a job, my job has given me so much more than that. I’ve built great relationships with people outside the realm of Cal Poly and it’s important to immerse yourself in activities separate from what you’ve grown accustomed to. My time at work is also sometimes an escape from whatever pressure I might be feeling at school. MN: What does having a job teach you? KF: Knowing the value of money and basics of responsibility as well as feeling comfortable in my own skin are some life skills that will stick with me through the rest of adulthood. I continue to learn customer service and interpersonal skills. I’ve learned so much about life by interacting with people taking other routes than going to a university, most of which I meet through my job. MN: How can you incorporate shifts into a busy academic schedule? KF: If you’re able to work weekends, it’s not often the time you will be working on schoolwork anyways. I’m able to dedicate my weekdays to school and still get some hours in. It’s important to prioritize and manage your time. MN: Can you still have a social life with a job and school? KF: Yes! Getting things done early allows me to even go out after work on the weekends when I most likely wouldn’t be doing homework anyways. Putting school and your job first will obviously make social time a little harder to come by, but I find it more rewarding to be able to go out to eat or to a concert using money that I worked for. I always tell people my job is my sorority, but I don’t have to pay for it; it pays me.
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Conquering SLO transportation BY NICOLAS GONZALE Z
There are so many places to discover in San Luis Obispo, but the complicated part is that they are not all within arm’s reach. Freshman students are usually influenced to leave their personal cars at home because they are required to live in the residence halls, and are not allowed to bring their vehicles. Luckily, there are plenty of alternatives to help explore their new surroundings and get wherever they need to be.
Bicycles
SLO Transit
ZIP Cars
Amtrak
Being the more eco-friendly and cleaner option, bike usage is strongly encouraged on campus. Cal Poly has approximately 7,515 bike spaces on campus, as well as 12 bike locker locations. This comes out to about one space for every three students or staff members. Bicycle users are not forced to compete with cars for road space, either. There is a dedicated bike lane that weaves its way throughout campus. To view other bike-friendly roads and plan out your commute, the Cal Poly transportation & parking services has an interactive map that details bike-friendly routes throughout the city.
Students can utilize the San Luis Obispo city bus system for free with their polycards. With 10 routes to choose from, SLO Transit can take students wherever they need to be in or around town. Routes 4A and 4B can take students from the Performing Arts Center to downtown, with a stop on Monterey Street. The Old SLO Trolley also runs up and down Monterey Street on Thursdays from 5 to 9 p.m., just in time for the weekly farmer’s market. The trolley takes passengers Fridays and Saturdays in the warmer times of the year.
If students want a personal trip without the commitment of buying and maintaining a car, Cal Poly offers Zipcars around campus. Anyone 18 years or older can apply for this program and receive access to drive any of the 11 Zipcars located on campus. Downloading the Zipcar app allows you to see which vehicles are in the area and unlock them with the touch of a button. With a membership, members can use Zipcars outside of Cal Poly as well. The membership includes 180 miles per day; the only caveat is that members must return the cars where they found them after they finish their travels.
Planning to travel longer distances is possible now too, as Amtrak stations dot the Central Coast and extend to both Northern and Southern California. The trains have Central Coast stops in Paso Robles, Atascadero, Grover Beach, Guadalupe and Surf. Students do not have to walk to the station, as Amtrak has a bus stop located on campus as well. If you are preparing for a weekend trip to see family back home, Amtrak stations stretch all the way to Los Angeles, San Francisco, Sacramento, and the central valley.
As Cal Poly takes steps toward carbon neutrality by 2050, it will be imperative that university prioritize strategies for improved commuting options. With this in mind, Cal Poly Parking and Commuter Services contracted a campus parking study and the Planning Department is finalizing a feasibility study for an on-campus shuttle service. In addition to determining the on campus parking and shuttle needs, Cal Poly continues to see an increase in SLO City bus ridership and will be working to increase accessibility for biking, vanpool, carpool, and other alternative transportation opportunities. Working with SLOCOG’s Rideshare office, Cal Poly’s Commuter Services Coordinator manages the irideshare.org website that matches students and staff interested in carpool groups, tracks modes of travel documented, and provide incentives to staff and faculty who are recording alternative modes of travel to and from campus (vanpool, carpool, bus, walk, bike, run, electric scooter/ vehicle).
Bicycle Programs
Vanpool Program
Alternative Fuel Vehicles
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Out of over 4000 campus community members surveyed for the Poly CAP, 15% said they commute to campus via bicycle. Through programs such as National Bike Month in May, Bike to School Day, and Bike to Work day, the Cal Poly Commuter Services Coordinator was able to craft outreach opportunities to encourage and elevate the importance of biking to campus with plans to grow these efforts in the coming year.
Carpool Program
Cal Poly has twelve staff and faculty carpool spaces located throughout campus for registered carpool groups, providing an incentive to those who are willing to organize and register their own personal carpools. On campus there are one hundred and twenty two individual carpoolers registered. To view raw transportation tracking data, download the linked XLS file.
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Cal Poly currently has ten commuter vans in service taking one hundred and forty seven single-occupant vehicles off the road daily, from Paso Robles to Orcutt. The vanpool program is paid for by riders and subsidized only by the overhead of Commuter Services personnel.
Public Transportation
Cal Poly subsidizes the cost of the monthly passes for Regional Transit for the Cal Poly community, selling over 700 monthly passes every year at a discounted rate to Cal Poly members. SLO City Buses remain free for current students, staff, and faculty subsidized by Cal Poly parking fines. As the campus community grows so does ridership with an approximate 30% increase over the 2015/16 academic year. To view raw transportation tracking data, download the linked XLS file.
Due to the size and expanse of Cal Poly’s 6,000 acre campus, most maintenance functions must use vehicles to be able to provide service to the entire campus. This results in Cal Poly having one of the largest vehicle fleets of any CSU campus. To minimize the cost and environmental impact of this fleet, Cal Poly has made a dramatic shift to the use of alternative fuel vehicles, including rechargeable electric, propane, bi-fuel (gas/propane), gas hybrid, and biodiesel. Of the entire campus fleet, 27% use alternative fuels, with the largest category (25.6%) being rechargeable electric. Within Facilities, 46.7% of vehicles use alternative fuels, again with the largest category (44.7%) being rechargeable electric. By switching to electric vehicles, Cal Poly is able to reduce fuel costs by 83% (including battery replacement) and reduce vehicle greenhouse gas emissions by over 90%.
Guide to clubs and services focused on students of color BY D O M I N I Q U E M O RAL ES As a person of color, it can be overwhelming to navigate through a campus that is predominately white. However, it’s important to understand that people of color do not stand alone on campus and there are university resources designed to provide a sense of community that is inclusive and welcoming.
Cross Cultural Centers
As a student of color myself, I found that it was extremely challenging for me to find a group of people that I could relate to and feel supported by. However, one place I found myself right at home was the Cross Cultural Centers (CCC). The CCC consists of the Multicultural Center (MCC), the Gender Equity Center and the Pride Center. The MCC is as an educational space promoting diversity and using social justice as a foundation for the success of underrepresented students. The center provides a space for students to communicate across lines of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, disability, economic class, religion, and citizenship. This upcoming 2018-2019 academic year, the CCC will see a positive change regarding resources and space. The Multicultural
Center is currently located upstairs in the Julian A. McPhee University Union (building 65). However, the center’s popularity prompted the relocation, as its previous space was filled with students wanting to be part of the program. After collaborating with Associated Students, Inc. (ASI) and student focus groups, the MCC’s new home will be former Cal Poly Rose Float office on the first floor of the University Union. One of the main objective of this relocation is to make the MCC less hidden and more accessible to all students. “After the completion of this project, our hope is this space will create a home for students and will create a larger footprint for the MCC in our campus climate,” agricultural business senior and Vice Chair of the University Union Advisory Board (UUAB) Dani Diele said. The CCC creates spaces for students of color and all other students alike to explore and express their identities while promoting a diverse and inclusive space. However, they are not the only platform that Cal Poly offers for these students.
BEACoN Mentors
BEACoN (Believe, Educate and Empower, Advocate, Collaborate, and Nurture) is another program designed with students
of color in mind. Funded by the Office of University Diversity & Inclusivity (OUDI), this program offers mentorship to diverse students across the Cal Poly Campus. BEACoN’s main objective is to educate and empower underrepresented students and advocate for them as they complete their higher educations at Cal Poly. BEACoN Mentors, which consist of Cal Poly faculty, staff and professors, host multiple meetings and workshops during the year. These activities are aimed at building a sense of community, jumpstarting mentoring relationships, and provide a safe space for sharing experiences and ideas between all members.
Dream Center and UndocuAlly Working Group
Two resource centers recently added to Cal Poly’s Campus are the Dream Center and the UndocuAlly Working Group. The Dream Center offers a safe, inclusive space for all undocumented students, those from mixed-status families, and their allies. Their mission is to support, empower, and advocate for the academic, professional, and personal development and success of all undocumented students. The Center offers a range of programs and services to educate the campus
Black Student Union (BSU)
A social club that works to promote Black culture on campus by educating its members, as well as the rest of the student body, about the Black conscience.
Chinese Cultural Club
A place where people interested in Chinese culture and traditions can gather and share their knowledge.
Korean American Student Association (KASA)
An inclusive social club that explores Korean culture while maintaining a fun and inviting environment for all members.
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Multicultural Clubs
Chinese Student Association (CSA)
One of the largest cultural clubs at Cal Poly that is dedicated to embracing diversity and creating a “home away from home.”
Movimiento Estudiantil Xicano de Aztlan (MEXA)
A national student-run organization dedicated to promoting higher education amongst Xicanx/a/o-identifying students, as well as giving back to the community.
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Imagen Y Espiritu Ballet Folklorico
A club that teaches people traditional Mexican folk dancing and educates people about different aspects of Mexican culture.
Pilipino Cultural Exchange (PCE)
Members can join in performing groups, compete in intramural sports, connect with mentors in their major, or find a lifelong family.
community and support undocumented students including assistance with AB 540 (nonresident tuition exemption), the Dream Act, D.A.C.A and scholarship referrals, counseling resources, referrals to legal services and UndocuAlly training (UAWG). UndocuAlly is a group within OUDI, comprised of faculty, staff, administrators and students whose goal is to make Cal Poly’s campus welcoming toward undocumented students. UndocuAlly offers a three-part training series: “Foundational Knowledge,” “Taking the Next Steps” and “Becoming an Ally.” The three sessions focus on different aspects of supporting undocumented students. While they are meant to provide participants with basic knowledge, they also aim to define what it means to be an ally. The Dream Center and UndocuAlly maintain the confidentiality of individual students while fostering a safe and inclusive community. Also, while all of these programs are specifically designed with students of color and underrepresented students in mind, they are not limited to only those individuals. Any and every center is welcome to having students becoming allies and advocates in their program.
Thai Vietnamese Student Association
An association that warmly welcomes people of all ethnicities to learn about and appreciate the rich cultures of Thailand & Vietnam.
Japanese Student Association (JSA)
A club with a focus on spreading awareness, understanding, and interest of/in Japanese culture.
Queer and Trans People of Color (QTPOC)
QTPOC exists to cultivate a brave space for queer and/or trans people of color to explore identity, find support, and build a sense of community.
7 Things I Wish I Knew as a Freshman BY BAILE Y BARTON Bailey Barton is a political science junior and the Mustang News opinion editor. The views expressed in this column do not reflect the viewpoints and editorial coverage of Mustang News.
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Leave high school in the past.
Listen to your gut and follow your passion.
Don’t worry... too much.
College is a fresh start academically, socially, and emotionally. Don’t dwell on the accomplishments or failures of your high school days, because they really don’t matter now that you’re in college. I’ve met plenty of honors students who are failing and plenty of students who used to get C’s who are now making the dean’s list. Your high school successes and failures do not determine how these next four years will go – only your work ethic and the choices you make will do that. Just continue doing that which helped you succeed in high school and work on changing those habits that held you back.
Don’t major in something you hate just because it’s prestigious, high-paying, or makes your family happy. Not only will you be miserable in your classes, but you won’t do well in them, either. Pursue subjects that are interesting and exciting to you, that you seek to learn more about outside of academia. You’ll learn more, work harder, and do better overall. My roommate and I have changed our majors three times each, into multiple different colleges, so it definitely is possible to change your major at Cal Poly. Utilize the add/drop period to experiment with different classes and stick with those you’re excited about attending.
Stress is a part of the college experience, but feeling overwhelmed or anxious all the time isn’t normal. The Health Center is a resource available to all students that you’re already paying for. Attend a group session to learn some healthy ways to cope with stress, or schedule an appointment with a counselor to process more personal issues. Find friends who will support you and help keep things in perspective. No grade is ever as important as your mental health. Don’t put too much responsibility on your plate each quarter, and if you have to take some 12-unit quarters to ease your transition, go for it.
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Go to class!
Communicate with your roommates early on.
Go to office hours early in the quarter.
Set clear lines about what you are and aren’t comfortable with, create cleaning schedules, rules for overnight guests, and let them know what hours you’ll be trying to sleep. Don’t wait until you have a problem to confront them. Even if you aren’t friends, try to keep up some small talk every now and then so that if you do have a problem down the line, you’ll feel comfortable bringing it up with them. Because, inevitably, things will come up over the course of the year, even if it’s something small. So be prepared to communicate.
Don’t be afraid or embarrassed to show up. Going to office hours isn’t just your chance to ask questions, it’s also a great way to get to know your professor, as well as for him or her to get to know you. They’ll be more likely to go out of their way to help you with a tough assignment if you’ve shown that you actually care about their class. Plus, your professors are a wealth of insider knowledge, life advice, and professional expertise. Ask them questions and learn from their years of experience, as it’ll help you down the line when you’re making decisions about internships and jobs.
Inevitably, you’ll catch a cold or have something really fun or important come up and you’ll need to miss a few classes throughout the quarter anyway, so you don’t want to be skipping class just because you don’t feel like going. If you skip lecture, you’ll miss out on important information. Even if the professor posts the lecture slides online, they’ll say things in class that you can’t get from a PowerPoint. Attending lectures really does help you learn the information, and because you’re paying to attend Cal Poly, it’s in your best interest both academically and economically to go to class.
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Be respectful. In college you will meet people from all backgrounds, and many will seem different or strange to you. Even if you don’t agree with them, strive to be polite and respectful to everyone you meet. Now is the time to actively work on getting rid of any biases, stereotypes, or thought patterns you inherited from your family or the culture of your hometown. Use this time as a fresh start to interact with people you would never have met back home and learn from their experiences. By becoming friends with people who are different from you, you’ll grow not only in your knowledge of these different ways of life, but in your awareness of other peoples’ perspectives and your ability to accept and empathize with them.
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FALL MUST-WATCH GAMES BY B RI A N TRUONG & SA WYER M I LA M | P H OTOS: M USTA NG NEWS FILE
WO MEN ’ S S O CC ER Friday, Sept. 28th, 7:00 p.m., Big West Conference opener vs. CSUN, Pups at the Pitch Last season, the Mustangs were 7-9-3 overall; 2-4-2 in conference play and are projected to finish 8th in the conference this season. Cal Poly senior defender Chelsea Barry was selected to the Big West Preseason All-Conference Team. The Matadors are projected to finish fourth in the conference, so this will be an exciting matchup to open conference play at home in Alex G. Spanos Stadium. This game will also feature pups at the pitch, meaning lots of friendly dogs will be in attendance.
MEN ’ S S O CC ER Sunday, Sept. 30th, 7:00 p.m., Blue-Green Rivalry The Cal Poly men’s soccer team hosts UC Santa Barbara in the biggest college soccer rivalry in the nation. The game is always a sellout and has more in attendance than the national championship game. Last seas0n, the Mustangs defeated the Gauchos 4-1, making the most scored goals in a Blue-Green rivalry game since 2001. The fans will be screaming, the tortillas will be flying, and the atmosphere will be incredible. Three years ago, Cal Poly won in sudden death double overtime. Afterwards, students and faculty alike stormed the field to celebrate with the team. The games are always close, as most of the games between the two teams have been decided by just one goal. This game has set numerous attendance records and the action on the field will not disappoint.
WO MEN ’ S VO L L EY B A L L Saturday, Oct. 6th, 7:00 p.m. Hawai’i Alumni Night/Blackout - Black shirts for the first 250 fans! The Cal Poly women’s volleyball team is coming off a record-breaking season last year and are currently ranked No. 22 in the nation. Mott Magic is not just a mantra, as the Mustangs have won 13 straight home games and this matchup is sure to live up to the hype. Cal Poly is the defending Big West Conference champion and last year the team defeated Hawai’i at home in a five-set thriller. This match was sold out last season and the crowd was electric as the team pulled off epic rallies, saves, and kills. Last year, Hawai’i finished second in the Big West Conference, only losing to Cal Poly.
FO OT BA L L Saturday Oct. 20, 4:05 p.m. UC Davis Mustang Family Weekend, Battle for the Golden Horseshoe The Battle for the Golden Horseshoe returns to Spanos Stadium for the first time in two years. This is the biggest rivalry for Cal Poly football all season and there is major history between the two teams. While that weekend is also Mustang Family weekend, this game is sure to have a huge crowd on hand. The games are competitive and always exciting to witness, with big hits and electrifying plays. Although the two teams have met on the gridiron since 1939, the rivalry officially began with the 2004 game at Cal Poly. The winner of the game receives the Golden Horseshoe Trophy, which was also created in 2004 for the inaugural game. UC Davis leads the all-time series with a record of 21–20–2. UC Davis won last year’s game, so Cal Poly will be looking to avenge that loss this season. 28
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On Fútbol de Primera Radio, Sampson worked alongside Andres Cantor, Chicho Serna, Mariano Closs and Benjamin Galindo. COURTESY | STEVE SAMPSON
QUE STION & A NS W ER
Men’s Soccer head coach Steve Sampson on broadcasting for the 2018 FIFA World Cup BY F RAN C I S CO M A RT I N E Z Cal Poly Men’s Soccer head coach Steve Sampson brought his expert analysis as a Spanish-language broadcaster for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Yekaterinburg, Russia. This is not Sampson’s first time covering the world’s largest sporting event, let alone partaking in one. Sampson was the head coach for the United States at the 1998 World Cup in France and also covered the 2002 and 2014 editions of the tournament, held in South Korea, Japan and Brazil, for the Spanish language broadcaster Fútbol de Primera Radio. 30
Along with the likes of Andres Cantor, world-renowned for his iconic goal call, Sampson was off to Russia to cover the World Cup Mustang News: As a host country, how was Russia? What about hospitality? How was your experience in Russia? Steve Sampson: When I arrived in Moscow, you saw nothing in respect to the World Cup. No billboards, no advertisements on the streets, nobody walking the streets wearing Russian national team jerseys and a lot of that was because the Russian public didn’t believe that their national team was going to fare very well. They felt, actually,
SEPTEMBER 13, 2018 | MUSTANG NEWS.NET
that they were going to be embarrassed by their national team. And so, there was an enormous amount of hesitation within the country as far as their even wanting a World Cup to be there. However, when the Russian team beat Saudi Arabia in the opening match 5-0, it sent the level of enthusiasm for not only the Russian national team, but also for the World Cup in general, by the Russian public through the roof. That in itself made so much of a difference. And then, the World Cup took on this life of its own of what I feel was probably the most entertaining World Cup that I’ve seen. The World Cup’s “life of its own” Sampson described had smaller, less traditional powerhouse nations make names for themselves at the tournament. Sampson lauded Croatia and Belgium for their team cohesiveness, which led both teams to the semifinals and a second place finish for Croatia. MN: What would you attribute Croatia’s surprise run to the World Cup final? There’s Luka Modric, who was recognized as the tournament’s best player, but what other factors are there to Croatia making it that far in the tournament? SS: Well, the fact of the fact that Modric is [Croatia’s] captain and played exceptionally well and I think showed his qualities game in and game out for [his club] Real Madrid. [Ivan] Rakitic was also a complimenting player for Modric and I think that they had such great depth within the team and on the bench. No matter which player was brought into the game, there was no drop in level in their efficiency on the field. In fact, they added to the efficiency on the field. One of the most discussed topics leading up to the tournament was the introduction of a video assistant referee (VAR), and whether it would help or hurt the game. Sampson saw VARs as a significant improvement, allowing for the video referee to help make the correct decision in match-changing situations. However, VARs were only applicable in four scenarios: goals, penalty kicks, red cards and mistaken identity cases. This applicability raises the question of what the next step for VARs is. MN: There are only four scenarios in which VAR applied. Do you believe that VAR should be expanded? SS: I think it is something that is going to be looked at over the next couple of years. I think the natural evolution of VAR will be to allow each head coach at least one opportunity to inform the fourth official that they would like to have VAR used, much like what is used in the NFL when they throw out the red flag and allow for a video review. On an experimental basis, they might evolve to allowing the coach from each team one opportunity during a 90-minute game to request a video review. Many fans were also surprised by the 2018 World Cup’s lack of traditional powerhouse
nations, such as the Netherlands, Chile and Italy. For Americans, the biggest talking point was the U.S.’ absence from the tournament, as the last World Cup the U.S. did not qualify for was in 1986. In an October 2017 interview with Mustang News, Sampson expressed his disappointment and gave further insight on how U.S. soccer can prevent this from happening again. MN: In an earlier interview with Mustang News, you suggested a need to change the system itself with a focus on youth player development. What other areas do you think the U.S. can improve on? SS: I think [the U.S.] have to identify the special players at ages 13, 14 and 15. They have to put them in environments that are of the highest level of coaching, the highest level of competition and training environments. We have to put those individuals in environments where they’re being tested week-in and weekout with the highest level of competition. We have to encourage our very best players to do just that: play for the best clubs in the best leagues in the world and not worry about whether or not those players are playing in [Major League Soccer]. Despite the absence of the U.S., Sampson spoke highly of the 2018 World Cup and its legacy. Sampson pointed out that any country had an opportunity to win the World Cup, since country size matters less when compared to a team’s coach-player relationships. This emphasis, Sampson said, will make the 2026 World Cup, to be hosted in Canada, the U.S. and Mexico, more exciting when the tournament expands to 48 teams. Even while covering the best teams in the world, Sampson noted that he still remembered the Cal Poly community and the Central Coast. MN: You have represented Cal Poly as a commentator at the largest sporting event in the world. What does it personally mean to take a piece of Cal Poly and San Luis Obispo with you to Russia? SS: I was very proud to be a Cal Poly coach and to state that on the air. I made comments about the Central Coast and how beautiful it is and what a great institution Cal Poly is and how thankful I am that the people of the Central Coast support Cal Poly in all of its sports and in particular the men’s soccer team. I said on air how proud I was to be working here, having coached at the highest levels in the world. This opportunity allowed Sampson to promote Cal Poly and bring in promising talent while also giving him a chance to promote some of his players in an effort to have them play at the professional and international levels. “There’s a rich tradition of players that have played here and have gone on and done great things at the professional level. The next step is to get Cal Poly players representing our country and other countries,” Sampson said. “I would love to be a part of that process.”