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MUSTANG NEWS

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NEWS: CENTRAL COAST ECOSYSTEMS BRACE FOR A SUPER EL NIÑO

NEWS: FACULTY AND STUDENTS CHALLENGE YEARROUND OPERATIONS

MULTIMEDIA: BRIGHT LIGHTS, BIGGER FIGHTS

COVER ART BY VIC TORINE PHILIPPE

O C T O B E R 2 7, 2 0 2 6

MUSTANGNE WS.NET

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LEADERSHIP

Managing Editor

Amanda Avila Kadence Ly Carmen Lomas Sophia Tilghman Madeleine Munselle Danica Harper Ava Keshtkar Samantha Roach

ANIKA LOGANATHAN

DESIGN

KAYLIN O'CONNELL Editor-in-Chief

LAUREN QUIJANO

Creative Director

RIYA MINGLANI News Editor

MAYA REIKEN News Editor

CASEY MUÑOZ Digital Director

MUSTANG NEWS

MASTHEAD

MUSTANG NEWS

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2026

NEWS

Riya Minglani News Editor Maya Reiken News Editor Emi Valero Martinez Assistant News Editor Emi Obrero Kaylie Wang Emily Wang Mia Fessel Nishita Mukherjee Sam Fickett Annie Landwehr Samantha Hansen Luke Firoozye Avery Phillips Ashley Strain Seth Pintar Isabella Cefalu Oswaldo Soriano

CA GOVERNMENT TEAM

Kaylin O'Connell Government Team Editor Aaron Joncas Ainsley Nall Gabriella Anderson Izzy Moya-Gutierrez Joscelyn Martinez

OPINION

Owen Peterson Opinion Editor Ian MacDonnell Emily Niebuhr Brooke Hopwood Madi Vannucci Greta Tolich Avery Adelini Malia Mundy Satire Columnist Natalia Torres Satire Columnist

SPORTS

Joslen Jimenez Sports Content Director Oliver Marburg Sports Copy Editor Ava Acuesta Sports Video Editor Andrew Aguiniga Audio Content Director Brooke Osborn Sports Social Media Manager Isabella Fierros Leonardo Torres Quin TeSelle Delaney Renwick Liz Bennett Shayla Ibrahim Camden O'Neil Sophia Flores Colby Love Alex Kohm Jeremy Strause Lilia McCann Kevin Strobel Leah Orsini Joe Giacalone Jacob Binder

Anika Loganathan Creative Director Meher Anklesaria Mariajose Bazan-Barreda Ava Cheung Ava Donaldson Nhi Duong Ava Pesce Victorine Philippe

VIDEO

Ty Soria Audio/Video Director Aneka Edwards MNTV Class Director Chloë Schauermann Roman Noravian Naneh Grigor Madeline Crowley Gabby Gerster Dylan White Cassidy White Lauren Quijano Mia Muzzi Kennedy Lin Anna Tran Parker Cinque

PHOTO

Amery Gill Photo Editor Lloyd Esola Liz Bennett Mia Dahlgren Liam Bowman Caden Medeiros Emma Arredondo Jackson Taylor Bia Sommers

SOCIAL MEDIA

Gabrielle Ottaviano Social Media Manager Kaitlyn Knopf Social Media Assistant Lindsey Garrel Nadiya Quintos Sydney Hecht Nishita Mukherjee Olivia Roman Maya Ziv Leah Orsini Eva Grove Mackenzie Hale

DATA & INVESTIGATIONS Addison Weaver Data Editor Sophia Woodard Julia Aptekar Allan Chevalley Ronan Biggs Henry Rosen Stella Goldstein Iksha Hakoo

BILINGUAL

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KCPR

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Marley Logan Content Director Cayden Tan News Director Omar Sanchez Art Director Giselle Espinoza Programming/Music Director

IN THIS ISSUE

Riley Petrocco Marketing Director Naneh Grigor Podcast Manager Bailee Isackson Photo Editor Casey Robinson Social Media Manager

KCPR NEWS

What's on the Nov. 3 ballot?

Cayden Tan News Director Makena Locsin Assistant News Director Andrew Aguiniga Sports Director Aurora-Marie Muñoz Gabriella tapia Gabby Gerster Alexa Rios Soto Shayna Gayer Madi Vannucci Sophia Davis Camille Tucker Joslen Jimenez Harper Clark Nyla Haynie Carmen Lomas Aneka Edwards Dylan White Avery de Carion Sage DeCremer Lily Segelman Lauren Quijano Keegan Oates Collin Yan

STORY BY JOSCELYN MARTINEZ DESIGNED BY NHI DUONG

‘Local Heroes’ STORY BY IRIS LANGEN DESIGNED BY AVA DONALDSON

KCPR CONTENT

Marley Logan Content Director McKenna Zolty Editorial Assistant Iris Langen Ayla Boose Emilia Pirir Lorenzo Cano Sarah Jagielski Rowan Shumway Abigail Haddad Sage DeCremer Rachel Manning Dylan McCourt Kepler Orton Ginger Hopcus

Left at the curb STORY BY SAM FICKETT DESIGNED BY AVA PESCE

MMG BUSINESS

The semester transition is not over

ADVERTISING & PR

Tara Davari Advertising Manager Samantha Orradre Special Sections Editor Zoë Laureta Marketing and Public Relations Director Michelle Monier Marketing Assistant Quinn Guthrie Small Team Manager Preston Giang Small Team Manager

STORY BY BROOKE HOPWOOD DESIGNED BY MARIAJOSÉ BAZÁN-BARREDA

ADVERTISING DESIGNERS

Maya Shinden Design Team Manager Lucas Winger Christine Kim Kotone Takada

Entre hot dogs y comunidad

ADVERTISING ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Scott Eisenberg Cassidy Kipp Billy Hoadley Caleb King Kate Fobes Emma Fleming Maz Reeder Kyle Stefan Wesley Bea

SPECIAL SECTIONS WRITERS Samantha Orradre Editor Ava Welcher Caroline Ohlandt Ginger Perez Skye Casem Ishaani Dhanotr Anna Munro Sofia Carrillo

STORY BY KARINA PEREZ DESIGNED BY NHI DUONG

ADVISERS

Jon Schlitt General manager Pat Howe Editorial Adviser Kim Bisheff Digital Adviser Patti Piburn KCPR Adviser Richard Gearhart MNTV Adviser LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT: Cal Poly is in tiłhini, the Place of the Full Moon. We gratefully acknowledge, respect, and thank Yakʔityutyu tityu yak tiłhini, Northern Chumash Tribe of San Luis Obispo County and Region, in whose homelands we are guests.

Dear Readers, As we reach week 10 — which, if we were still on the quarter system, would mean finals and a good old-fashioned lock in — we know firsthand how tiring it is to keep up with the news. College is already a lot with classes, extracurriculars and maintaining a social life. With everything from astronauts to AI day, we understand reading the news can be one more thing to add to your to-do list. But the news stops for no one. Having a newsroom full of people who care about the work and each other helps us keep going. That community is just as important as the ones we cover. We hope you enjoy reading this print edition just as much as we enjoyed crafting it, and we hope you see a little of your own community in its pages. Thank you for being a part of ours. SINCERELY,

KAYLIN O’CONNELL EDITOR-IN-CHIEF LAUREN QUIJANO MANAGING EDITOR DESIGNED BY AVA DONALDSON

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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2026

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MUSTANG NEWS

Happy October! It feels like so much yet so little time has passed since our last print edition. With our first edition behind us, we’ve started to find a rhythm, and this issue is full of reporting, designs and photography our staff worked so hard to complete. As we look through the stories included in this edition, one thing stands out to us: community. Community matters to us because the people in these stories are not just sources or headlines. They are the people we go to school with, see at the bars on Thursday nights and share San Luis Obispo with. Their experiences make these stories real, and we are grateful to those who take the time to speak with our reporters and trust us to tell their stories. Community shows up in this edition in ways that are loud, familiar, complicated and sometimes unexpected. It can be found in the joy and connection of the Central Coast drag scene, in the small latenight traditions that become part of student life and in the uncertainty students face about Cal Poly’s future. Each story asks what makes people feel connected to a place and each other.

WHAT’S ON STORY BY JOSCELYN MARTINEZ DESIGNED BY NHI DUONG

California residents can vote new leaders into office and vote on propositions through Nov. 3 for the midterm election. Here is what San Luis Obispo residents can expect to find on their ballot.

LOCAL CIT Y COUNCIL

MUSTANG NEWS

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2026

The city council helps decide local laws and controls the city budget. Incumbents Emily Francis and Michelle Shoresman are running for the two open seats on the city council, along with candidate Brett Cross.

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 30TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT

California Assembly members represent constituents within the California Assembly. The 30th District represents most of San Luis Obispo County, along with portions of Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties. The two candidates running for these positions are Democrat incumbent Dawn Addis and Republican Shannon Kessler.

STATEWIDE ELECTIONS

MAYOR

GOVERNOR

The mayor is the chief executive of the city and oversees multiple departments. Incumbent Mayor Erica Stewart is running for re-election without opposition.

The governor oversees the state in its entirety, reviews bills passed by state lawmakers, appoints judges and oversees/proposes the state budget. The chief of staff, cabinet secretary, legal affairs secretary and more work under the governor. Positions like Attorney General or Secretary of state run their own departments separate from the governor. Currently, two candidates are in the running as Gov. Newsom’s successor. The two candidates in the running to become governor are Democrat Xavier Becerra and Republican Steve Hilton.

U.S. CONGRESS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, 24TH DISTRICT

The U.S. representative serves the district and its constituents in the U.S. House of Representatives. The 24th district includes most of San Luis Obispo County, all of Santa Barbara County and parts of Ventura County. The two candidates running are Democrat incumbent Salud Carbajal and Republican Bob Smith.

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR

The lieutenant governor position is mostly ceremonial but is necessary in case the governor steps down or is removed from office. The position serves as the President of the State

Senate and is on the higher education board. The two candidates are Democrat Fiona Ma and Republican Gloria Romero.

that shapes policies affecting nearly six million public school students. The two candidates are Richard Barrera and Sonja Shaw, and neither is affiliated with a party.

SECRETARY OF STATE

INSURANCE COMMISSIONER

The secretary of state oversees all federal and state elections, including oversight of campaign finances. The two candidates are Democrat incumbent Shirley Weber and Republican Donald Wagner.

The insurance commissioner is responsible for overseeing California’s property and insurance industries. The two candidates are Democrat Ben Allen and Democrat Jane Kim.

ATTORNEY GENERAL

BOARD OF EQUALIZATION, 2ND DISTRICT

The attorney general represents California in court and handles high-profile state and federal cases. The two candidates are Democrat incumbent Rob Bonta and Republican Michael Gates.

STATE TREASURER

The state treasurer oversees California’s budget and taxpayer money. The two candidates running are Democrat Jennifer Hawks and Democrat Eleni Kounalakis.

CONTROLLER

The controller is the state’s lead accountant responsible for overseeing the state’s spending and compensating government employees. The two candidates running are Democrat incumbent Malia Cohen and Republican Herb Morgan.

STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION

GOVERNMENT

The state superintendent of public instruction is a nonpartisan position

The Board of Equalization sets the value of property taxes across the state. The 2nd district includes but is not limited to San Luis Obispo County, Monterey County, Napa County, Ventura County and Santa Barbara County. The two candidates running for 2nd district are Democrat Sally Leiber and Democrat John Pimentel.

SUPREME COURT JUSTICES Supreme Court justices are appointed by the governor. Voters determine whether nominations become California Supreme Court Justices. Voters this year can decide to keep the justices or get replacements. The incumbent justices are Kelli Evans and Joshua Groban.

PROPOSITIONS PROPOSITION 1

Proposition 1 would allow the state to sell $11.25 billion of bonds to affordable housing programs, such as multifamily rental housing and mortgages for veterans. If passed, it could cost the state between $500 million to $600 million over the next 25 years to repay the bond. Supporters argue this will assist residents who are homeless and cannot purchase a home or pay rent. Opponents argue borrowing more money for these issues does not address the issue itself of why housing is expensive.

PROPOSITION 2

Proposition 2 would allow the state to deposit 20% of its tax fund into state reserves. It would provide funding for education, public safety and health care. The funds can also be used to pay off the state’s $20 billion federal unemployment insurance debt. State budget reserves would be higher. Supporters argue raising the state’s reserve ceiling can build a stronger emergency fund for public services in case of economic hardships. Opponents argue that politicians could use the reserves as a loophole to not give taxpayers refunds.

PROPOSITION 3

Proposition 3 would require individuals with higher incomes to pay more taxes for education and health care by making the 2012’s high earners tax permanent. The tax would impact residents filing under a single

THE NOV. 3 BALLOT? source of income making $371,000 or more. For residents filing under a joint source of income, this would affect those making $743,000 or more. Supporters argue the tax is crucial for schools financially, claiming that without the funding from the tax, this can potentially lead to program cuts and downsizing staff. Opponents argue the tax can lead to high-income Californians leaving the state due to the already high income taxes within the state

PROPOSITION 4

PROPOSITION 5

Proposition 37 would create loan programs for middle-income individuals who want to take out a mortgage on a house. Supporters argue that the proposition makes homeownership more realistic for lower-income individuals without taxing that same class. Opponents argue the proposition will not address California’s high cost of living and concerns over the state government having involvement in mortgages.

PROPOSITION 38

Proposition 38 would authorize an $8.4 billion bond to fund medical research for fighting cancer. Half of the funding would go to one University of California-affiliated nonprofit. The bond would create a projected $500 million to $600 million increase annually to repay the bond over the next 20 years and would be paid back through research profits. Supporters argue the funding is necessary for immunology research due to attempted budget cuts from the Trump administration to health science research. Opponents argue that the proposition should not just focus on one form of research and voiced concerns over why the nonprofit should receive a majority of the bond’s funds.

Proposition 39 would require citizens to show a form of government-issued identification when voting to prove they are U.S. citizens and registered to vote, which means voters would continue to register to vote by bringing a Social Security number or identification card. Supporters argue a majority of states require identification to vote and argue it will strengthen the public’s trust in voting processes. Opponents argue making identification a requirement will prevent those with disabilities or without required documents from voting in elections.

PROPOSITION 40

Proposition 40 would apply a one-time tax to billionaires. The proceeds would go to funding health care and education. Supporters argue the proposition is necessary to support low-income individuals who cannot afford health insurance due to Congress’ cuts to Medi-Cal. Support groups voiced concerns over layoffs and cuts to hospital funding. Opponents argue the proposition can cause billionaires to leave California and create a bigger decrease in tax revenue. Health care groups claimed they were not consulted in drafting the proposition and voiced concerns about unaddressed long-term financial challenges for the state.

PROPOSITION 41

Proposition 41 would create stricter special tax approvals by the state auditor. The state auditor would

review any special tax proposals before they are sent to voters. Supporters argue that despite California’s high taxes, important programs are not receiving funding and it should be the auditor’s responsibility to determine whether the programs need the special taxes. Opponents argue the tax is not about managing public program funding but instead “tricks” voters into not implementing wealth taxes on billionaires.

PROPOSITION 42

Proposition 42 would make it more difficult to create a wealth or higher-income tax in California, including for assets or property. Supporters argue that California should not tax individuals for managing retirement accounts or valuable assets. Opponents argue the proposition will lead voters to not implement a billionaire tax. If passed, the proposition can void Proposition 40, meaning no taxes will be imposed on billionaires.

PROPOSITION 43

Proposition 43 would make it more difficult to increase local taxes for local government services by increasing the percentage of votes needed to pass the tax. A measure or tax would need to pass by a two-thirds majority vote instead of the previous over 50% majority vote. Supporters argue low voter turnout in elections and special interest groups have taken advantage of former methods of voting to pass these special taxes. Opponents argue this proposition would limit local services’ ability to

raise revenue and not prioritize a majority of voters’ wants.

PROPOSITION 44

Proposition 44 would require community clinics serving low-income individuals to spend 90% of their revenue on patient care annually. Supporters argue that the proposition will require clinics to spend more on patient care than on compensation for executives. They voiced concerns over federal cuts leaving individuals uninsured. Opponents argue these fees can lead to downsizing in services and staff at health care facilities. They voiced concerns over community clinics’ federal and state legislation regulation.

PROPOSITION 45

Proposition 45 would increase the speed of environmental reviews for housing and infrastructure. Supporters argue the state’s environmental laws are “outdated” and need updates but still need to keep important environmental protections in place. They voiced concerns that delays in project reviews can trickle down to taxpayers. Opponents argue the proposition can “harm” laws that are in place to protect the environment and California residents from unsafe developments. They voiced concerns over rushed planning and reviewing falling onto taxpayers.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2026

Proposition 5 would mean voters are no longer able to choose if an elected official should be recalled and who would replace them in the same election. Instead, a second election would be held, which would delay the process of replacing any recalled state officials until a separate election is conducted. Supporters argue that recall elections should not be centered around

PROPOSITION 37

PROPOSITION 39

MUSTANG NEWS

Proposition 4 would create campaign funds for candidates at local and state elections by using taxpayer money to finance their campaigns. Tax revenue delegated for public services such as transportation, education and public safety would not be allowed to be used. Supporters argue the proposition gives candidates with less funding from private donors the incentive to run for office. Opponents argue the proposition could cause taxpayers to fund campaigns for politicians they would not want in office and voice cost concerns.

who would better suit a vacant role, but rather if that official should be recalled. Opponents argue that having separate elections would lead to the public not participating in recall elections.

GOVERNMENT

Central Coast ecosystems brace for a super El Niño

NEWS

MUSTANG NEWS

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2026

Cal Poly scientists say a super El Niño could disrupt the food chain at every level

STORY BY EMI VALERO MARTINEZ DESIGNED BY AVA CHEUNG

What scientists call the upcoming “very strong” El Niño of 2026 could affect a variety of species that inhabit the ocean and coastal land on the Central Coast. Faculty and students in the Cal Poly Center for Coastal Marine Sciences are preparing to monitor the negative effects of the upcoming super El Niño. The effects of El Niño and its resulting storms could be detrimental to the Central Coast’s marine life ecosystem and give the community a glimpse of what the oceans will look like in a few decades, according to Director of the Center for Coastal Marine Sciences Ben Ruttenberg. El Niño is a naturally occurring climate pattern where trade winds of

the Pacific Ocean reverse direction and send warm waters to California, where the water is normally cold. These warm waters are detrimental to the productivity of marine systems as they lose the cold, nutrient-rich water. The new warm water sits on top of the cold water, acting as a barrier that stops the nutrient-rich cold water at the bottom from mixing easily with the surface. The cold water at the bottom is where organic matter like dead plants, animals and waste accumulate and break down. The warm waters specifically harm the kelp forests that drive the productivity of marine ecosystems through habitats and food sources.

“[When] those waters get warmer, the kelp forest then does less well, and so the entire ecosystem that relies on the kelp forest is also going to do less well,” Ruttenberg said. When the kelp forests are less productive, the phytoplankton and zooplankton populations decrease. These two species feed the smaller prey of the ecosystem and ultimately leave some species without a consistent food source. The lack of productivity can disrupt all levels of the food chain. Strong storms are also expected during El Niño, bringing heavier rainfall to California. In addition to El Niño, Stefan Talke, a civil and water resources

engineering professor, said the Central Coast is currently at the peak of two tide cycles. “We’re at the peak in a 20-year cycle of tides right now, and so the tides are bigger than they would ordinarily be, and we’re in the peak of a 4.4-year cycle,” Talke said. “So just that effect alone, the predictions I’ve seen are anywhere from six to 12 additional inches [of sea level].” The two cycles of tides are in relation to the Moon’s orbit. When the Moon is closest to the Earth in parts of these two cycles, the tides rise. The predicted sea level is the natural equivalent to at least three or four decades of sea level rise but will eventually recede after El Niño.

The rising of the tide will cause more marine life to come closer to shore, which is a natural phenomenon called habitat compression. Ruttenberg said the Central Coast normally has cold, nutrient-rich water that goes far out from the coast, so most marine life is well spread out offshore. However, with the reverse trade winds, it is very warm offshore with very few nutrients, and it tends to be a bit cooler near the coast. This means that many marine life will gravitate closer to the coast, compressing their normal spread out habitat to just near the coast. “All those fish come in, and then the birds come in, and the whales come in, so they tend to be much, much

ALL AN CHEVALLEY | MUSTANG NEWS Source | Environmental Research Division's Data Access Program

The goal is to monitor it, understand it better, so that we can make better models and predict what’ll happen the next time something like this happens. BEN RUTTENBERG Director of the Center for Coastal Marine Sciences

toxoplasmosis that comes from both wild and domestic cat feces, as well as pesticides from our crops. “We might see things that are

harmful coming from land increasing more in that estuary,” Martinez said. “One of those things that comes from runoff is toxoplasmosis…So, it’s definitely possible that we might see an increase of those parasites affecting our sea otters.” It is impossible to predict which species may experience the most effects. The disruption may lead to a large domino effect in the food chain and the greater ecosystem. “In general, we expect, you know, seabirds, seals and sea lions, many of these species that rely on these bay fish to do much less well,” Ruttenberg said. While San Luis Obispo may see a decline in some species, tropical species have also moved closer to the California coast during El Niño. The coast has already seen sharks and manta rays off of Malibu and bluefin tuna and garibaldi fish in Morro Bay, according to Ruttenberg. In September 2026, Orange County

had the first recorded olive-ridley sea turtle nesting on the West Coast. Ruttenberg said because there have only been a few very strong El Niños, there is not much data on what may happen to marine life during them. With complex marine systems, it can be difficult to make strong predictions. Whether the predictions are shortterm or long-term, the Center for Coastal Marine Sciences is currently focused on monitoring and recording as much data as possible, according to Ruttenberg. “What’s happening with the ocean productivity, all of the coastal impacts, the coastal engineering monitoring, that’s definitely going to continue," Ruttenberg said. “The goal is to monitor it, understand it better, so that we can make better models and predict what’ll happen the next time something like this happens.”

NEWS

ALL AN CHEVALLEY | MUSTANG NEWS Source | Tides and Currents website from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2026

and saltwater meet. Morro Bay is a local estuary currently home to more than 40 southern sea otters. In the upcoming El Niño storms, the estuaries will see more freshwater input that will affect the salinity and turbidity of the water, according to Morgan Martinez, a biological sciences graduate student. The murkier water and decrease in salt concentration may affect the sea otter’s prey community by reducing overall species diversity and changing which prey items are available. Sea otters must consume about a quarter of their body weight to fuel their high metabolic rate and stay warm, as they do not have blubber. A drop or shift in prey forces otters to adapt their diet, change their foraging behavior or face population limits. The storms will also increase runoff, so different chemicals will run off of our land and into estuaries. Some examples of the chemicals are

MUSTANG NEWS

closer to the shore,” Ruttenberg said. “Things like whales then are much more likely to be close to the coast, which means they’re much more likely to be interacting with things like boats and fishing gear.” Along with habitat compression, some species may experience habitat loss. “The extreme [tide] highs also come [with] extreme lows. When we get those extreme low tides, there’s less water in these kelp forests, and so that wave energy tends to impact them more,” Ruttenberg said. “It’s more likely to tear that kelp out.” The habitat loss may specifically hurt sea otters, which rely heavily on kelp forests for food, protection and rest along the coast. Along with the kelp forest, the estuaries they tend to live in, such as Morro Bay, can also face negative effects. Estuaries are an enclosed body of water on the coast where freshwater

KCPR CONTENT

MUSTANG NEWS

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2026

ALEX BASTIDAS | COURTESY Special Forces 805 performing at their concerts.

STORY BY IRIS LANGEN DESIGNED BY AVA DONALDSON

The band quickly gained attention for their high-energy shows and powerful message. They said their crowds include people of different ages, genders and abilities — drawing in lifetime punk fans and firsttime showgoers alike. When Lange sees someone hesitating to participate, the band asks the crowd to bring them in. “It’s to make people believe in themselves more,” Lange said. Lange came up with the name “Special Forces” while on a surfing trip in Hawaii with his dad. He was wearing an army surplus jacket while changing out of his wetsuit, and the name came organically.

T YLER SHELDON Special Forces 805 Bassist

shows, it’s been incredible, really,” Sheldon said. They hope to eventually put on a benefit for Direct Relief, a humanitarian organization that provides medical aid during disasters and emergencies. Their hard work has not gone unnoticed. A few weeks ago, Lowry and Lange attended a Growlers concert, a band they had been fans of since they were kids. After the band returned to the stage for an encore, the members gave Special Forces 805 a shoutout. “This one goes out to the local heroes! Special Forces!” they said, according to Lowry. Even with school, jobs and shows competing for their time, Special Forces 805 continues to work on new songs and hopes to record again in November, with an EP or new release on the horizon. “It’s a ton of stuff that we’re balancing,” Betros said. “Planning tours, planning shows, planning practices.” “Planning our futures,” Lange jumped in. When asked about the band’s longterm goals, they agreed it’s simply to keep making music, supporting what they care about and having fun. “There aren’t many times in your life when you get an opportunity to have this much fun with your friends and get all these crazy opportunities,” Sheldon said. “You gotta ride it.” Lowry agreed. “It’s just fun,” he said. “We have a lot of fun doing it.” Sheldon had one last suggestion: “If you haven’t seen us, come be weird with us. Support your local scene. Start a DIY band. Start it with your friends and have fun. It’s awesome.”

KCPR CONTENT

“He would always mess with me about taking too long to change,” Lange said. “He was like, ‘Come on now, Special Forces, get your s--together. We gotta go.’” Lange, who has had a disability

them, this reaction means that what they’re doing is working. The band is also willing to step away from shows when other bands involved do not match its values. In recent Instagram posts, Special Forces 805 announced cancellations over concerns about inappropriate behavior from people in the local scene. They have a zero-tolerance approach towards “creeps” and anyone who makes the scene feel unsafe. “If you have a reputation or we’ve heard stories about you, it’s not worth the risk,” Betros said. The group is especially focused on making the pit safer and more fun for women. They said too often, “bigger guys take up all the space,” which can make people feel pushed out of a scene that claims to welcome everyone. Sheldon said that requires more than posting online. “My message is to stand up for your people,” he said. Special Forces 805 supports its values with action, often partnering with local organizations and playing benefit shows. Sheldon said the band has supported a range of causes, including 805 UndocuFund, Colectivo Mariposa and Disabled American Veterans. “We donated like a thousand to Disabled American Veterans,” Sheldon said. “And we do a lot of local ones.” Their most recent benefit show supported Flow Surf Academy, a nonprofit that provides adaptive surf opportunities and community for neurodiverse athletes. “We knew we wanted to have fun together and support causes that we care about. Being able to do that through these benefit

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2026

If you haven’t seen us, come be weird with us. Support your local scene. Start a DIY band. Start it with your friends and have fun. It’s awesome.

since having a stroke as an infant, thought the name was funny. He made a DIY shirt featuring a wheelchair symbol wearing a helmet, with a Special Forces patch above it. The name quickly stuck. “We knew we wanted to have some humor in it, and Special Forces embodied that well,” Sheldon said. Lange said the name gets a reaction out of people. Whether they laugh, cringe, hate it or want to ask questions, it opens up a conversation that is usually avoided. “It was a way to make a sarcastic joke while also spreading a really true message, an important message that wasn’t being said before,” Lange said. “That’s kind of the whole ethos of the band as a whole.” Their lyrics use the same method of confrontation to address issues head-on in their songs. Lange said he grew up being called names, including “zombie boy,” and now he uses lyricism to open conversations surrounding disability. “I’m different,” he said. “I feel like a lot of punks deal with that. Something in my life has made me different. But that is actually what ends up making me cool.” Lange said disabled audience members have approached him after shows to show their appreciation for the band. “At shows, people who have disabilities come up to me and are like, ‘There’s not a lot of this out there, so I feel really seen right now,’” Lange said. “And that feels really good too.” Not everyone is supportive of the band’s mission. Special Forces 805 has received backlash, mostly online through comments and Instagram messages. Rather than taking the messages personally, the members said they usually laugh at them. To

MUSTANG NEWS

At a Special Forces 805 show, the band passes the microphone into the crowd and someone is asked to scream into it. If a person near the edge looks nervous, they’re getting invited to crowdsurf. Between songs, there is banter, moshing and whatever spur-of-themoment idea the room gives the four-piece band. Their shows are not a place to stand still and admire the band from a distance. “We’re gonna make you a part of it,” drummer Micah Betros said. Made up of vocalist Jose Luis Lange, bassist Tyler Sheldon, guitarist Reily Lowry and Betros on drums, Special Forces 805 pairs ’80s-inspired punk with lyrics about living with a disability, identity and political issues. The band also supports those values by playing benefit shows and raising money for local causes. Their first record, “I’m R-------, You’re F------ Stupid” arrived earlier this year, with a Live Studio Sessions album following it. For those who have not attended one of their shows before, Lowry has a warning. “If people come up to me, or my family, or anyone is like, ‘Oh, I’ve never been to your concert. I can’t wait. Can I go?’ I’m like, ‘Yeah, just know it’s crazy,’” he said. Special Forces 805 formed their band in winter 2025 after meeting through the Cal Poly music scene. Sheldon and Lange connected within Music Production Union, a campus club where students can find musical collaborators, realizing they were both looking to make punk music. Sheldon was already friends with Lowry, and after a punk show at The Libertine, the project started to form. Betros eventually joined and rounded out their lineup.

Faculty and students challenge year-round operations

In a faculty-driven survey, 92% of students oppose the plan STORY BY LUKE FIROOZYE DESIGNED BY MEHER ANKLESARIA

review criteria. At an Oct. 13 academic senate hearing, Ben Ruttenberg, a biological sciences professor and the survey’s creator, presented his findings and also spoke on the process’s lack of transparency. He pointed out the disruptions to the Cal Poly community — including clubs, teams and Greek life — along with strain on faculty and staff and infrastructure issues such as excessive heat. Ruttenberg said “student equity is at risk,” and other academic senate members grunted in agreement. Surveyed students and academic senate members also said they were confused about the university’s decision to implement another large-scale change immediately after the switch from quarter system to semester system, especially when the university claimed a major reason was to align with the rest of

the Cal State system, according to their semester conversion webpage. Emily Rodriguez, a biological sciences senior, said she opposed year-round operations and that a slow implementation process would be the only way for it to be successful. “The only way I see [year-round operations] working is if they phase it in. They just did the change from quarters to semesters,” Rodriguez said. “It seems like a money grab.” Cal Poly initially scheduled yearround operations to begin in summer 2024, but they have delayed the transition three times and now have the scheduled start date as summer 2028 according to previous coverage by Mustang News. The Engineering Student Council sent a survey to engineering students about year-round operations in April, and it received over 1,200 responses. The survey results showed over

80% of engineering students believed year-round operations will harm Cal Poly, according to previous coverage by Mustang News. Two weeks later, Cal Poly announced they would begin taking student input on the change for the first time since its introduction nearly three years prior. The university has yet to publish an official public website detailing the transition process. The SharePoint links to calpoly.edu/year-round-opportunities, which states “page not found.” Cal Poly stated three reasons for the move to year-round operations: to serve more students, to create more choices to combine coursework with internships, study abroad and research and to allow Cal Poly to remain a leading university, according to the SharePoint. The university also claimed that other institutions have tried and

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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2026

A faculty-driven survey found that 92% of students opposed Cal Poly’s newest transition — year-round operations. Under year-round operations, Cal Poly will transition to a three-semester academic calendar in which 23 degree programs will offer three track options: fall and spring, fall and summer or spring and summer, according to an internal Cal Poly SharePoint. The faculty-driven survey found 86% of current students would not have committed to Cal Poly if they were assigned a fall-summer track or a spring-summer track. The group of faculty members also launched a letter requesting a pause on the implementation of year-round

operations, which 1,220 students and faculty members have signed. Students could write their specific concerns on year-round operations in the survey, which included lack of transparency in the decision-making process and impact on relationships between students, according to survey results. Cash Tompoles, an economics freshman, said he was concerned about the summer-fall track or summer-spring track’s effects on internships. “I would not support it,” Tompoles said. “Internships are important, and almost all of them are in the summer.” Students may change tracks through a process similar to Cal Poly’s current change-of-major process, according to the SharePoint. However, Cal Poly is still developing the necessary process and

K AYLIN O’CONNELL | MUSTANG NEWS Source | Cal Poly faculty-driven survey.

succeeded in year-round operations, such as Purdue University, Montclair State University, Dartmouth College and Northeastern University. However, Ruttenberg’s findings provided examples of universities that tried year-round operations but reverted to semesters — University of New South Wales Sydney, Florida State and University of Pittsburgh. Cal Poly recognizes year-round operations’ impact on the community through changes in housing demands and in public transit and

mobility patterns, according to the SharePoint. The university states they will continue to engage with the local community throughout the planning process but did not provide any specifics. The SharePoint does not provide a specific budget, projected revenue increase or overall enrollment target. Erin Pearse, a mathematics professor and a member of the academic senate, created a non-peer-reviewed model using publicly available data and other universities’ attempts at

year-round operations to roughly estimate its financial impact. Pearse said he asked the administration for their specific models, but they declined. He said when adding a student to a spring-summer track, for example, the university would need to move an existing spring-fall track student to fall-summer track to avoid going over capacity. However, while the university now has two students on the summer track as opposed to none, only one is new to the school

and brings new revenue. “The new addition brings more revenue, but the existing one didn’t. However, both add to summer instruction costs. You have to pay someone to teach a new summer class with 40 students, but only 20 of them are providing revenue to run the course,” Pearse said. Representatives for each college, known as caucus senators, also spoke at the academic senate meeting, each presenting similar concerns. Some members discussed faculty

and staff burnout and another redesign of classes after just doing the same for the conversion to semesters. Members, similar to surveyed students, pointed out the fact that Cal Poly’s schedule will again be out of sync with the rest of the Cal State system. Seven strategic focus teams, including academic affairs, student enrollment and administration and finance will begin in-depth planning for year-round operations this month.

MUSTANG NEWS

LÉA BOURGES-SEVENIER | MUSTANG NEWS Students walking on Dexter.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2026

SHAE ASHAMALL A | MUSTANG NEWS Cal Poly welcome sign.

FIRST L AST | MUSTANG NEWS Photo caption.

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EMILIE JOHNSON | MUSTANG NEWS Cal Poly sign.

Training ship or ‘floating prison’ Trump administration eyes Cal Poly Maritime’s Golden Bear for mass deportation

While the majority of mass deportations in the United States are carried out by air and ground transportation, the Trump administration has discussed using ships — one being Cal Poly Maritime Academy’s Training Ship Golden Bear. “It’s kind of absurd that we’re talking about putting hundreds, if not thousands of people on a [ship] and shipping them to Central or South America,” said Jared Van Ramshorst, a political science professor. The last major operation to mass deport people from the U.S. by sea was in the 1950s, when hundreds of thousands of Mexican immigrants were deported in buses, trucks, trains and ships. Van Ramshorst called the conditions aboard ships awful and is concerned about the conditions of ships in the current preliminary proposal. Seven deportees jumped off of one of the ships and drowned, leading to

a mutiny and public backlash. The operation ended in 1954 as funding ran out. GOLDEN BEAR HAS A 30-YEAR HISTORY WITH MARITIME

Carlos Arencibia, marine transportation senior and chair of the ASI Maritime Academy Council, said the academy is in constant communication with the United States Maritime Administration, but they have not heard anything yet. “Nothing was brought before them, nothing was told to them at all,” Arencibia said. “We just know it’s speculation at this point because we haven’t been contacted by anyone.” For 30 years, the Golden Bear has taken first- and third-year cadets on training voyages abroad. Its final voyage departed in May, taking 300 students across the sea, stopping in San Diego, Tahiti, Fiji and Honolulu.

He said there was a lot of concern from Maritime students on the Trump administration possibly using the Golden Bear. Arencibia said Cal Poly Maritime now uses the

Every sea you go to, there’s a student that probably trained on the Golden Bear. CARLOS ARENCIBIA Chair of the ASI Maritime Academy Council

Golden Bear as a classroom, and it is intended to remain as one through the end of the school year. However, students do not know its future plans and if they will be able to use it for another summer or not. Assembly member Dawn Addis stated her concern for the next generation of Maritime students in an email to Mustang News. “To use a vessel dedicated to maritime education undermines the next generation of maritime professionals who help protect our ports, shipping networks and keep our national economy secure,” she wrote. Rep. Salud Carbajal also disapproved of the Trump administration’s preliminary discussion. Carbajal wrote in an email to Mustang News that the proposal represents another escalation of brutal immigration tactics from the Trump administration. Carbajal wrote that he firmly

opposes the federal government using the Golden Bear or any other ship for mass deportations and wrote that he will fight the plan every step of the way. DEPORTATION IS CARRIED OUT LOCALLY

The United States conducted 980,000 deportations in the first 18 months of Trump’s second term, according to data collected by the Migration Policy Institute. Primitiva Hernández, executive director of 805 UndocuFund, said ICE has taken over 3,000 community members from Santa Barbara, Ventura and San Luis Obispo since January 2025. 805 UndocuFund is a rapid-response network for Santa Barbara, Ventura and San Luis Obispo. The organization documents local immigration enforcement activity, posts

NEWS

MUSTANG NEWS

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2026

STORY BY AVERY PHILLIPS DESIGNED BY VICTORINE PHILIPPE

CAL POLY | COURTESY

MUSTANG NEWS

[U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement] already operates without sufficient transparency or public accountability, and deploying maritime vessels as floating prisons will only open the door to potentially more abuses.

SALUD CARBA JAL U.S. Representative

from the Central Coast region since Oct. 5, when the alleged operation was launched. Hernández emphasized the financial strain put on families when someone is taken by ICE. “Most of the time, it’s the main breadwinner that is being ripped from their household, leaving families to bear their financial responsibilities alone, in addition to having to come up with large amounts of money to fight the deportation case of their loved one,” Hernández said. She also said that many at-risk community members are not as comfortable leaving their homes and only spend time outside for basic needs and work rather than entertainment, which negatively affects the local economy. “Those impacts are being felt, especially by small business owners that

depend on the immigrant community for their businesses,” Hernández said. Cities across the United States have lost up to $14 billion in consumer spending in 2025 due to ICE raids, according to research from a University of Pennsylvania professor. STUDENTS AND PROFESSORS SPEAK OUT

Cal Poly Democrats President Talie Krantz said she thinks even if someone is not affected themselves, they should stay educated about what is happening and use their privilege to speak up for others. “I think part of what’s really hard about U.S. politics right now is that you’re constantly overloaded with all sorts of negative things happening,” Krantz said. “I really want to

encourage students: Don’t disengage from it, don’t turn away just because you may not be personally affected by it.” Decisions regarding the Golden Bear’s future rest with the federal government, as it is owned by the U.S. Maritime Administration, according to University Spokesperson Keegan Koberl. Although decisions are outside of the academy’s authority, Van Ramshorst said he thinks students should be familiar with the preliminary plans for the ship. He encouraged students to research the history of maritime deportations and think about how they want to respond to immigration enforcement.

LETTER FROM EDITORS

ICE vehicles and provides financial relief for families in crisis. The organization relies on communities to report what ICE vehicles look like and where ICE is operating. Hernández said they receive dozens and dozens of reports everyday through their 24-hour hotline. “We believe we are going through a voter suppression operation known as ‘Operation Safe California’ that started on Oct. 5 here in the Central Coast,” Hernández said. “Operation Safe California” is an unconfirmed surge in ICE activity expected to last at least 45 days, overlapping with statewide elections. Federal agents were reportedly told to arrest anyone they deem undocumented, according to the California Immigrant Policy Center. 805 UndocuFund has recorded over 175 community members taken

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2026

CAL POLY | COURTESY TS Golden Bear heading toward the Golden Gate Bridge.

STRAINING UNDER PRESSURE Cal Poly football’s fourth-quarter battles are anything but predictable

SPORTS

MUSTANG NEWS

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2026

STORY BY JOSLEN JIMENEZ DESIGNED BY MEHER ANKLESARIA

Fourth-and-goal, nine seconds remaining and a game-winning touchdown hanging in the air. That was the situation Cal Poly Football found itself in during its season opener against Idaho. With the game on the line, it all came down to execution. Either Idaho’s defense would hold firm and secure the week zero victory, or the Mustangs would find a way into the end zone and complete a dramatic comeback. That’s when quarterback Anthony Grigsby Jr. connected with Tayvion McCoy for a 34-yard touchdown, securing a thrilling win in front of a sold-out Spanos Stadium crowd. Little did the record-breaking crowd know, the season-opening thriller would foreshadow a recurring theme for Cal Poly: games decided in the final minutes. What began as a breathtaking win over Idaho under the national spotlight on ESPN would become a familiar test of execution under pressure. For first-year Head Coach Tim Skipper, navigating those decisive moments comes down to a philosophy he has emphasized since day one: straining until the final whistle. Skipper first adopted the motto during his first game as the UCLA interim head coach against Northwestern. Although the Bruins began turning things around in the fourth quarter, Skipper felt his team failed to put together a complete four quarter performance to secure a win. While reviewing game footage on the plane, he began thinking of ways to emphasize playing a full game without simply just telling his players to play all four quarters. “I was sitting on the plane, I watched the tape and then I was like, ‘How in the world do I get four quarters out of these guys without saying four quarters,” Skipper said.

All it took was that one question to lay the foundation for the motto he now emphasizes in this new era of Cal Poly football. While the Mustangs have demonstrated their ability to deliver in crucial moments, as shown in the season opener, they have also found themselves on the losing end of similar situations. On Homecoming night, University of San Diego handed Cal Poly a heartbreaking loss with a game-winning field goal in the final seconds. Cal Poly could have avoided the outcome if its offense had executed down the stretch. Instead, a series of mistakes on a potential game-winning drive forced Cal Poly to punt on fourth down. San Diego pulled away 38-35. Against FBS opponent San Jose State, Cal Poly was tied at 20 entering the fourth quarter before the Spartans strung together a series of plays to come out on top 30-20. “The fourth quarter is our strain quarter and that’s where we really want to take over the game,” Skipper said. “Some we have, some we haven’t, so we’re still learning how to finish.” From game-winning touchdowns like those against Idaho and Eastern Washington, to costly late-game

mistakes, Cal Poly’s fourth-quarter performances have tested the very philosophy Skipper has worked to instill since taking over the program. Many of those game-deciding moments have fallen on the shoulders of Grigsby, the one commanding the offense in the huddle when the game is on the line. Whether facing a crucial fourth down or orchestrating a potential game-winning drive, Grigsby has been tasked with delivering under pressure all season long. He understands that one play could be the difference between victory and defeat. “In the fourth quarter as a quarterback, you have to strain both physically and mentally,” Grigsby said. “A lot of the time people think of straining as you’re straining physically for your body, but as a quarterback, it’s a lot more on the mental side.” Much of Grigsby’s mental preparation dates back to spring and summer practices. He said that the Mustangs intentionally saved situational drills for the end of practice to replicate the physical fatigue and mental pressure of the fourth quarter. What once played out on the practice field has become a familiar

reality on Saturdays. For Grigsby, those situations are less about facing unfamiliar pressure and more about trusting the preparation that began months prior. “When I have those opportunities to make those big time plays, it always just boosts my confidence because that’s the only thing I’ve ever asked for was an opportunity,” Grigsby said. “I’m the person with the ball in my hands at the end of the day, so it’s my decision what to do with it.” The combined effort between Cal Poly’s offense and defense determines which way the outcome swings down the stretch. Straining in the fourth quarter isn’t something Grigsby can do alone either, and it certainly doesn’t guarantee a win. When the pressure mounts and the margin for error shrinks, he relies on the chemistry he’s developed with wide receiver McCoy. McCoy has been on the receiving end of two game-winning touchdown passes against Idaho and Eastern Washington. Skipper described the duo as

having a “super connection,” one he says developed throughout spring and summer camp, when Grigsby and McCoy spent extra hours after practice running routes and working on ball placement. “If you saw how they interact with each other, you’ll know that it’s something special going on between the two of them,” Skipper said. Grigsby and McCoy are just two pieces of an offense that make up what strain is all about. As injuries begin to take their toll in the latter half of the season, with starters such as Jaden Green, Fidel Pitts and Mikey D’Amato sidelined, Cal Poly will need to find ways to compensate for the loss of key contributors before entering the fourth quarter when everything is on the line. “Straining is doing more than what you normally would do,” Skipper said. “It is giving every bit of sweat, every bit of oxygen, every single thing you have in your body towards whatever we’re doing. That’s how you know we’re straining.”

CADEN MEDEIROS | MUSTANG NEWS Cal Poly Football has played several games decided in the final minutes this season, testing Head Coach Tim Skipper’s emphasis on finishing strong under pressure.

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Left at the curb Cal Poly’s semester transition, citywide construction and changes in service strain bus services

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MUSTANG NEWS

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2026

STORY BY SAM FICKETT DESIGNED BY AVA PESCE

In previous Septembers, San Luis Obispo Transit switched its academic bus schedule to accommodate students. Now, because of Cal Poly’s shift from quarters to semesters, the city’s transit system implemented new route additions to complement the new schedule, which is causing delays. The academic bus service began mid-August instead of mid-September, officially launching Aug. 17. SLO Transit transferred operations and maintenance service to MV Transportation Inc., replacing the previous vendor, Transdev, according to Alex Fuchs, the mobility services business manager for the City of San Luis Obispo. The transition, coinciding with preparation for Cal Poly’s switch to semester, complicated the process, according to Fuchs. The city’s 10-year contract with Transdev expired on June 30, with no alternatives approved by the San Luis Obispo City Council. In April, the city approved a new service provider agreement with MV Transportation. This started a three-month transition window before summer service started on July 1. The vendor had 45 days between July 1 and Aug. 17 to scale up operations for early academic service. “To do all that with a new contractor in 45 days was probably not the best way to go about it, but I think we were mildly successful,” Fuchs said. Alongside the earlier academic schedule and new contractor launch, SLO Transit reinstated two tripper routes suspended during the pandemic: the SLO High Tripper and the Highland Tripper, according to a City of San Luis Obispo press release. The trippers provide specialized routes during peak school rideshare hours. Fuchs said it also added extra trips on Route 4, the busiest line, which links Cal Poly and nearby residential neighborhoods.

The first week of service was complicated by Cal Poly move-in detours, San Luis Coastal Unified School District beginning school on Aug. 20 and early service for the Express 6 route to Farmers Market, since students were returning early. “That first week was a lot of incremental changes that really made a tough start, but we really had to plan well to make sure it was executed correctly,” Fuchs said. The semester transition coincided with Cal Poly’s elimination of classes beginning 10 minutes past the hour, or “Poly Time,” shifting campus class start times to the top of the hour and 30 minutes past.

I started hearing a lot from students like ‘This is making us be late to class,’ and having issues with citywide delays in buses,” Schinderle said. “The other issue that we know has been happening is so many students are trying to use the bus that students are getting [turned away]. TANNER SCHINDERLE ASI President

SLO Transit evaluated 5-, 10and 15-minute schedule shifts for routes passing through Cal Poly to align departure times with the new class schedule.

However, planners discovered shifting bus schedules created significant trade-offs, drastically shortening windows for riders to switch between Regional Transit Authority buses, as well as Routes 1 and 2, which serve downtown and south San Luis Obispo. “What we found was essentially some of the timing improved, some of it was made worse, and then transfers between [were] shortened significantly,” Fuchs said. Fuchs, who is the staff liaison to the Mass Transportation Committee, said staff presented a “no change” proposal to the committee in July, keeping existing departure times the same while monitoring impacts during the semester. Ridership across the system remains strong and slightly above last year’s figures, with Cal Poly students accounting for two-thirds of riders, according to Fuchs. However, on-time performance has faced hurdles from citywide construction projects and longer passenger boarding times during peak demand. “There’s a lot of construction going on throughout the city right now,” Fuchs said. “That’s been challenging for us, and high ridership is great, but it takes a long time to get 40 people onto a bus. So our on-time performance has been challenged right now.” To reduce unpredictability, city officials encourage riders to track buses using the Transit app. The city partnered with the company in June to offer free premium features to local transit users, including live vehicle tracking, mobile trip planning and live location sharing. SLO Transit has received around six direct emails from students regarding scheduling, and an ASI representative reached out to discuss student feedback, according to Fuchs. ASI President Tanner Schinderle said the student government began receiving feedback during the very first week of classes regarding

bus delays and students being late to class. After hearing from students, Schinderle met with Fuchs and SLO Transit leadership to discuss the Highland Tripper, schedule alignment and citywide transit delays. Fuchs noted the earliest potential window for route adjustments is the start of spring semester, while full systemwide changes would likely wait until summer or fall. “Two-thirds of our riders are Cal Poly students, and so we focus a lot on student ridership and student satisfaction,” Fuchs said. For students who have navigated these bus routines daily for years, these delays directly impact getting to class on time. Austin Weske, a construction management senior, said full buses and longer boarding stops frequently slow down commutes. “The buses are just always full, so they’re stopping longer at stops to bring more people on,” Weske said. “They’re going a little slower. I arrived to campus right at 8:00 [a.m.], right when my [class was] starting, so I walked into class five or seven minutes late.” Weske, who rides lines like the

There’s people who get turned away at stops, the stops that I’m at and the stops that are after me in the morning,” Weske said. “If they don’t have a bus coming after in 10, 20 minutes, they can miss half of a class. AUSTIN WESKE Construction Management Senior

Highland Tripper, said overcrowding leads to students getting passed up at bus stops. While city officials promote using the Transit app, students report that real-time tracking is sometimes unpredictable. “I use the Transit app, and then it tells me, ‘Oh, you need to leave right now,’ and then I get there and I’m at the stop for like five to 10 minutes just waiting for the bus,” Weske said. “It seems really inconsistent.” Despite the timing hurdles, Weske said he is happy with the variety of routes available to get across town in his neighborhood off of Highland Avenue, though he hopes to see more buses added to heavily used lines. “I’ve been pretty happy with where I’m living now and how consistent the schedules [and] how many different routes there are to get me home and get me places,” Weske said. While SLO Transit noted that major schedule revisions may take time, Schinderle is working with city officials to identify specific problem lines and peak morning hours so faster fixes can be implemented for routes like 4A, which connects Cal Poly and nearby neighborhoods to downtown. “One of the next steps we’re doing specifically with that is we’re going to meet with [Fuchs] and his team again and identify the specific bus routes and times that we think need to be addressed,” Schinderle said. “Is there a follow bus that needs to always be following in the morning? Is there a bigger bus we can be using? What can we actually do to implement some of those changes on a quicker basis than just looking at spring?”

MUSTANG NEWS

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2026

NEWS

Bright lights, bigger fights The Trump administration rolled back Title IX protections, but Central Coast drag shows are selling out anyway

MULTIMEDIA

MUSTANG NEWS

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2026

STORY BY MADI VANNUCCI DESIGNED BY AVA CHEUNG

The U.S. Department of Education formally rescinded the Biden administration’s 2024 Title IX rewrite, which expanded protections to people based on gender identity and sexual orientation, in September. The revocation comes as queer communities across the country face uncertainty over their rights and protections. In San Luis Obispo, the drag scene has become a place where queer people can find acceptance, belonging and sometimes, a sense of family. Current Drag Club President The Shimmer was originally worried about enrolling at Cal Poly. She has performed in drag for years and was anxious about the change in community. Luckily, her anxiety did not last long. “We have such an amazing regular audience that is just so excited to show up and show out for queer anything in this area, because we know how important it is and how easily it can be taken away,” The Shimmer said. By challenging traditional gender norms, drag is often at the center of political discussions. As an art form, it relies on its visibility, making it a target for hatred. Anti-drag discrimination heavily overlaps with current political strife over transgender rights, according to Fae Fatale, a 2024 Cal Poly animal science alum. “So much of drag is born out of the most oppressed of the queer community. And the current state reminds us of the impermanence of the rights we have and all the progress we have made,” said Fae Fatale. However, drag as a whole has never been politically neutral. Drag queens, kings and things have always been at the forefront of queer activism. As a result, many drag performers double as activists fighting for their community and, many times, their lives, according to Fae Fatale. The activism has led to a growing support circle for queer students in San Luis Obispo, which has produced numerous queens, including Skinny Mocha, Norma Lee Masc, Fae Fatale and The Shimmer, who are either enrolled at Cal Poly or are now alumni staying on the Central Coast. Norma Lee Masc is the program coordinator of orientation, or as she likes to call it: the WOWie wrangler. She graduated from Cal Poly

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in 2025 with her master's in higher education, counseling and student affairs. Her experience in other drag scenes led her to set out and create a community in San Luis Obispo. “One of the most common misconceptions is that drag queens are just 'gay men dressing as a woman,’ which couldn’t be further from the truth. There are all types of drag, and all are valid. Anyone can do drag,” Norma Lee Masc said. Drag is not only nightlife art but a performance they put on every day. Its culture celebrates non-conformity and explores gender identity. “Everyone is doing drag always,” Fae Fatale said. “The choices you make every day, the way you style your hair, whether or not you put on makeup, the clothes you wear are all a performance of your gender and of your identity.” For their monthly drag trivia, Fae Fatale and Norma Lee Masc always include a current events category as their only recurring category. “As queer people, we don’t have the right or the privilege of political ignorance anymore,” Fae Fatale said. “All of the restrictions that are made on part of our community impact the rest of us.” Right now, the two are working on a voter guide for the upcoming midterm on Nov. 3. They aim to make the guide accessible to everyone. They are focusing on Santa Barbara County and San Luis Obispo County because they perform and have performers in both areas. The voter guide will include general election information as well as district information. “People fought for the rights that we have now,” Fae Fatale said. “We continue to have that power, and we continue to be the people who young queer folk remember in 50 years and appreciate the work that we do now.” The growing support circle for

queer students in San Luis Obispo has resulted in numerous queens staying in the Central Coast after graduating from Cal Poly. “I was so desperately looking for a queer community on the Central Coast,” Norma Lee Masc said. “I wanted it so bad I created it myself.” In 2023, the club grew exponentially. Former Drag Club president and 2023 Cal Poly journalism alum Skinny Mocha was largely responsible for building the club into something more. “When I joined in 2018, the club consisted of about 10 members,” Skinny Mocha said. “I was the first president to partner with organizations and entities on campus to bring drag to audiences who had not seen or heard it before.” Fae Fatale began performing drag at Cal Poly under Skinny Mocha’s presidency and attributes much of the club's success to her. “Skinny [Mocha] is truly a beacon of knowledge,” Fae Fatale said. “She was single-handedly running the entire drag club and organizing events and booking every [show] and doing interviews and protests in the community. I truly don’t know how she did it.” For newer drag queens, the sense of welcome and belonging remains just as strong as the club continues to grow. The sense of community surpasses just the performers and reaches their ever-growing audiences, according to Norma Lee Masc. “Within the last year, that community has grown from our family being the only audience members to selling out venues and having regulars at our monthly events,” Norma Lee Masc said. As the Central Coast drag scene keeps growing, they aim to build a community that refuses to disappear.

OPINION

The semester transition isn’t over STORY BY BROOKE HOPWOOD DESIGNED BY MARIAJOSÉ BAZÁN-BARREDA

OPINION

MUSTANG NEWS

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2026

Brooke Hopwood is an environmental management and protection junior at Cal Poly and an opinion columnist at Mustang News. The opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of Mustang Media Group. As midterm season approaches, I’ve found myself thinking, “Hasn’t this been going on for a month already?” Several conversations with students and staff have proven I’m not the only one. “Week three I was like, ‘You have a midterm, you have a midterm, you’re procrastinating,’ and then I realized I had weeks before my first midterm,” said civil engineering sophomore Lola Audan. Evidently, the connotation of “week three” hasn’t become any less stressful since changing to the semester system. Upperclassmen, used to the fastpaced, sink-or-swim quarter system, are still fighting off midterm dread

— and for a longer time. So are we just experiencing growing pains? It’s possible, given that the semester change seems to be garnering positive reactions overall. Most students I spoke to reported lower stress levels, better relationships with classmates and professors and more time for material to sink in. Personally, my first six quarters at Cal Poly consisted of two-week cycles — falling behind, catching up, falling behind and catching up. Especially after the first week of midterms, I spent every school day trying to make up for the hours I “wasted” hanging out with my friends over the weekend. This semester, my stress levels are far lower. I didn’t start falling behind until week six, and miraculously, I caught up quickly. I’ve had time to hang out with my friends, go to office hours and read my textbooks instead of skimming them. Many Cal Poly professors have also expressed their approval.

One of my professors said he likes going slower, being more deliberate and utilizing more in-class activities than he did on the quarter system. Even after just eight weeks, he could tell students were engaging more with the content. However, the most interesting part of his semester-system evaluation was his reluctance to share it. Despite offering rational reasons for liking the slower pace, he anticipated judgment from other professors and members of his department. The implication is that, at Cal Poly, we equate high workloads and stress levels to academic prowess. Since the quarter system has been part of our school identity for so long, we’ve learned to justify the lost hours of sleep and mid-quarter breakdowns as evidence of our resilience. Somehow, systemic exhaustion has become a source of pride. The further I dug, the less convinced I was that the midterm blues and the slow-pace shame are short-term, innocuous issues. The ghost of the quarter system is much more than a

feeling from quarters past. First of all, the relief of semester-system pacing isn’t universal. To some students, it seems that professors have opted to add another five weeks of content, maintaining the same fast pace of the quarter system. Connor Woo, a biomedical engineering freshman, reported taking a midterm during week three — clearly not midway through a 15-week semester. Without ever experiencing the quarter system himself, Woo could feel that his professors weren’t fully embracing the semester change. Shortened classes on the semester system also translate into more at-home work and less time for course material to be reinforced in the classroom setting. In other words, pacing that was already barely manageable on the quarter system now feels impossible. Another anonymous professor moved to Cal Poly from a semester-system institution and only experienced one year of the quarter system before the transition. From

her year of observation, she noticed that students on the quarter system were burning out much faster. She described the quarter system as draining and believes students’ endurance and attention spans are much healthier on the semester system. Her interpretation compelled me. Where I took every missed assignment on the quarter system as a personal failure, she focused on structural elements that were setting me up to fail. I realized many of my shortcomings as a student were connected to the sheer workload and onslaught of information I was working to process on the quarter system. I bring this up to note that after nine weeks of the semester system, we are still seeing the same levels of stress, of crashing when the workload gets too high and the semester moves too fast. I would argue that the school’s culture is still built around pushing students past healthy levels of performance. Professors are accustomed to

pressuring students to meet unrealistic expectations. Students are accustomed to blaming themselves for being unable to meet them. Instead of absorbing material, we’re focused on keeping up with due dates and “getting through this week but then locking in” (A promise that never comes to fruition). Consequently, we’re used to getting a shallow understanding of the course material. Cal Poly has yet to fully make a meaningful change in acknowledging that breaks and extra time

to process information are part of a healthy learning environment and work balance, rather than something to be ashamed of. Though the semester transition has so far been a mostly administration-led, structural change, I believe it’s an opportunity to rethink Cal Poly’s educational climate. HOW CAN WE LEARN TO SLOW DOWN?

For professors, it’s time to soften the harsh expectations for students

to adapt to “college-level” academics as a euphemism for pushing themselves past their limits. Our school culture no longer needs to promote a breakneck pace to offer a challenging education. The semester switch needs to be supported by an academic structure that aims to provide deeper understanding and avoids burnout. Spreading out assignments, assessments and course materials will make better use of the extra five weeks. For students, the culture change is

all-encompassing. Moving forward, we can take the five extra weeks to savor the college experience. In the classroom, we can rethink how we engage with course materials, especially the parts we’re passionate about. Outside of the classroom, we can spend more time getting involved in clubs, finding new hobbies and building better relationships with professors and classmates. As people fortunate enough to go to college, we can find ways to make the experience a part of long-term

growth and learning. We can take advantage of living in San Luis Obispo, a town with a strong community and endless opportunities. In any case, I maintain that the lingering symptoms from the semester change will continue unless there is a deliberate effort from the Cal Poly community. As professors and students, the semester transition isn’t over.

MUSTANG NEWS TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2026

OPINION

ENTRE HOT DOGS Y COMUNIDAD Un vendedor se convierte en parte de las noches de Cal Poly STORY BY KARINA PEREZ DESIGNED BY NHI DUONG

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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2026

Al final de una noche en San Luis Obispo, cuando los bares comienzan a vaciarse y los estudiantes buscan algo para comer, una sombrilla roja y el olor de hot dogs recién preparados atraen a una fila de estudiantes de Cal Poly. Para algunos, no es solamente comida después de una noche de fiesta. El puesto se ha convertido en una parada habitual, un lugar de reunión y para algunos estudiantes, parte de la experiencia de salir en San Luis Obispo. Detrás del puesto de vendedor, Israel Gutiérrez, padre de tres hijos, quien viaja desde Santa María hasta San Luis Obispo, junto con su familia, prepara y sirve hot dogs durante el fin de semana en el borde del campus, detrás del Centro Acuatico Anderson. Para Gutiérrez, preparar el puesto requiere más trabajo del que los clientes ven mientras esperan su comida. Antes de salir, compra todo lo que necesitas para los días que trabajas y prepara ingredientes como cebollas, chiles, tocino, salchichas, Hot Cheetos y los condimentos básicos para hot dogs. El trabajo es un esfuerzo familiar. Su esposa y sus hijos lo ayudan a preparar la comida. Algunas noches, su hija lo acompaña, mientras que otras noches su hijo lo ayuda. Su relación con los estudiantes es una de las partes que más disfruta de su trabajo. Trabajar rodeado de universitarios también le recuerda a esa etapa de su vida.

K ARINA PEREZ | MUSTANG NEWS Israel Gutiérrez cocina hot dogs para estudiantes de Cal Poly en una noche de Sabado.

“La verdad me ayuda mucho con su apoyo,” él dijo. “Es muy bonito trabajar aquí con los estudiantes. Me recuerda mis tiempos de juventud, cuando era estudiante.” La popularidad del puesto se ha difundido principalmente de boca en boca. Joel Priesz, estudiante de primer año de gestión de la construcción y Tod Carter, estudiante de primer año de economía, dijeron que era la primera vez que compraban un hot dog en el puesto de Gutiérrez. Carter recordó haber escuchado sobre los hot dogs de otros estudiantes en los dormitorios. “Escuchamos leyendas, como en los dormitorios, gente hablando de estos hot dogs famosos que tienes que probar cuando sales a divertirte,” dijo Carter. Después de probar uno, Priesz entendió por qué tenían tanta popularidad. “Creo que están increíbles,” el dijo. “Cómo que te pega inmediatamente.” Carter tuvo una reacción similar después de probar uno de los hot dogs del puesto por primera vez. “Es la primera vez que pruebo Hot Cheetos en un hot dog,” dijo Carter. “Está muy bueno.” La comida, sin embargo, es solo una parte de la experiencia. Mientras el reggaetón suena a todo volumen desde el puesto de Gutiérrez, los estudiantes esperan en fila, prolongando el ambiente de su noche de fiesta incluso mientras se detienen a comer. Priesz bailaba mientras esperaba su comida y se refería al puesto como “una continuación de la fiesta.” El cariño por el puesto de Gutiérrez

también puede escucharse en los comentarios espontáneos de los estudiantes mientras esperan su turno. Mientras estaba en la fila, un estudiante declaró, “Pago la matrícula por estos hot dogs. Estos hot dogs significan mucho para mí.” Priesz dijo que el cuidado que Gutiérrez pone en su comida también se refleja en la manera en que trata a cada cliente. “Siempre está preguntando: ‘¿Qué quieres?’ ‘¿Qué te puedo dar?’ ‘¿Cómo te puedo atender?’” dijo Priesz. “Así es como te das cuenta.” Gutiérrez dijo que intenta asegurarse de que sus clientes disfruten no solamente de la comida, sino también del momento. “Me gusta tratar con ellos y que ellos se sientan bien,” él dijo. “Disfrutando de un hot dog después de una noche de baile y fiesta.” Aunque nunca planeó convertirse en una figura reconocida entre los estudiantes de Cal Poly, Gutiérrez expresó su agradecimiento a las personas que continúan llegando a su puesto. “Yo agradezco a todos los que vienen conmigo,” el dijo. Poco a poco, la multitud comienza a dispersarse, la música se hace más callada y los últimos estudiantes se alejan con hot dogs en la mano. Después, el puesto comienza a desmoronarse. La sombrilla roja se cierra, la comida se guarda y la banqueta vuelve poco a poco a la normalidad — hasta la próxima noche o fin de semana, cuando otra fila comienza a formarse.

DOWN

2 . What maritime ship is Trump considering for deportations?

1 . Who in San Luis Obispo is running for office unopposed?

3 . What mammal in Morro Bay would be affected by El Niño?

2 . What band gave a shoutout to Special Forces 805 at their concert?

5. What is one of students’ main complaints about the bus schedule?

3. What is football Head Coach Tom Skipper's single-word philosophy?

7. Who is the current drag club president?

4. What student council sent out a survey to students about yearround operations? 6. What levels are reportedly lower for some students on semester system?

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