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FAIR

EDITION

Cal Polyamorous Managing plural relationships in college THE POLYCULE

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY CHRIS GATELEY | MUSTA NG NE W S

| A polyamorous relationship consists of having multiple intimate relationships simultaneously. The people pictured above are not members of the relationship depicted in the article.

Madison Agatha-Mancebo Special to Mustang News

Editor’s note: Last names and majors have been omitted to prevent family members of the Polycule from finding out about the participants’ polyamorous relationship. Meet the Polycule It’s a group that consists of David, Mary (first name has been changed to protect the source’s identity from future employers) and Heather: three Cal Poly students who are in a polyamorous relationship — having multiple intimate relationships simultaneously. The group also includes recent Cal Poly graduate April (first name has

been changed to further protect the source’s anonymity). Senior David is involved in the dance community and carries himself with a clear sense of confidence. “I had the thought train of ‘What happens if I date somebody, and what happens if I find somebody that I like more or at the same amount’ … But then being in a polyamorous relationship, you’re just like ... ‘I’m going to date both of them,’” Dan said. An unusual grouping Junior Mary came to college eager to find a girlfriend after only having heterosexual relationships. Instead, she met David

Five things to know about the Career Fair

MAT T L AL ANNE | MUSTA NG NE W S

REPPIN’ | 150 companies will be at the Spring Career Fair.

during a dance class her freshman year. Shortly after the two started dating, they both admitted to having a crush on April, their dance teacher. After bringing up the idea a polyamorous relationship to April, the three sat down to create a contract — “Polyamorous Relationship Terms and Conditions.” They call themselves a Polycule because it’s a way to visualize what their relationship looks like — a polyamorous human molecule. Sophomore Heather joined the Polycule about one year after the relationship began. As it stands currently, all three girls are dating David, and Mary and April are also dating each other.

Caroline Ster @ CPMustangnews

You’ve prepped for this. You’re wearing your most “grown-up” clothes and holding on to your resume for dear life, hoping it doesn’t look too bare compared to the others around you. It’s time for the Spring Career Fair. Being surrounded by a sea of professionally dressed students with the same goal as you and the same look of desperation can be overwhelming. To calm you down, here are some things to expect at the career fair. Time moves fast With more than 100 companies and organizations represented at the career fair, it can be difficult to know which booths to prioritize. That’s why it’s key to prep yourself before attending. Ask yourself which employers are most important for you to see before the event ends. “Make sure you know which companies you want to visit most and prioritize them so that you

“The thing I love most about this relationship is how open and expressive it is,” Heather said. “There is just so much communication, it was so refreshing.” Heather had never been involved with someone who was polyamorous before, so when she met David she said it was nice to have everything laid out in the contract so she knew what to expect. The contract alleviated some of the jealousy that can occur in polyamorous relationships. However, according to Mary, jealousy is unavoidable in any relationship, including monoamorous ones. While the contract was used in the beginning of the relationship to set boundaries and expecta-

visit your top picks even if you run out of time to see them all,” art and design freshman Isabela Presedo-Floyd said. Presedo-Floyd suggested students get a head start on research to make sure no time is wasted. “Be sure to check out the list of employers as well as their profiles, available positions and what majors those positions are open to on MustangJOBS so you can make a plan for which booths you should visit first,” she said. Quick turnaround After the Networking Open Forum from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., which allows you to connect with more than 150 companies, some companies will conduct interviews that same day from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Make sure you come to the event prepared for a same-day or next-day interview. As for companies not conducting interviews at the event, try to follow up with them as soon as possible. FIVE THINGS continued on page 2

tions, the entirety of it is no longer used, or even necessary. There are, however, two major components the group swears by: communication and consent. This applies to every aspect of the relationship, including the decisions that allowed Heather to join the Polycule and who hangs out with whom and when. Most couples in monoamorous relationships only consult their partner when planning date nights, but members of the Polycule planning to go on a date with David need to get it approved by all Polycule members. POLYAMOROUS continued on page 4

New photography installed in Baker

BRIAN LAWLER | COURTE SY PHOTO

INSTALL ATION

| The new photos will be hung in Baker this quarter.

Mikaela Duhs @ mikaeladuhs

Two large photo installations will be hung in Warren J. Baker Science and Mathematics (building 180) this quarter, both from graphic communication professor Brian Lawler. One of the new installations is

of Crater Lake while the other is of Bishop Peak. The photos are a part of Lawler’s collection of projects featured in science buildings and the Julian A. McPhee University Union (UU). BAKER continued on page 6

Layla Lopez for CAFES Board of Directors

Vote April 26th 9am to April 27th 9am on your Poly Portal.

CAREER FAIR 2

MUSTANG NEWS

FRANK HUANG | MUSTA NG NE W S

SUIT AND TIE | Dressing professionally is just one way students can prepare for the career fair. Students can also create goals, make a schedule, research companies, customize resumes and prepare pitches for potential employers.

How to create the perfect career fair game plan Jacque Bergquist @JacBergquist

Before attending the Spring Career Fair Wednesday and Thursday, students should prepare themselves to stand out to visiting employers. “I think the first thing is you have to figure out is what is your goal,” Tammy Martin, career counselor for College of Engineering and Program Coordinator for the College Specialist team said.

Create goals Depending on students’ goals for the career fair, she explained, students will come up with different plans to be successful. If students attend the career fair to learn more about networking, they should focus on presenting themselves as enthusiastic and eager future applicants. If they are vying for a job or internship opportunity, however, students should present themselves as professional and be prepared to pitch themselves.

Set a schedule Next, students need to figure out how much time they can devote to the career fair amid classes and other responsibilities. The Spring Career Fair is a two-day event from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. There isn’t enough time to speak with more than 150 employers who attend, so students have to budget their time and narrow down which employers they want to talk to. Luckily, the list of employers is available on MustangJOBS under the “Events” tab on the left-hand side. From there, students can pick which employers they want to focus on, based on personal interest, major, talents and even company location and values. Research Once students narrow the list of employers they want to meet, Martin said the next thing to do is research. It doesn’t have to be extremely detailed, but knowing basic information such as what the company does and where they are located goes a long way in impressing representatives at the career fair. If a student wants to go deeper, they should research the company’s values or what the company deems important in their work-

force. These can usually be found on companies “About” pages. Including these buzzwords in conversations with representatives shows students are knowledgeable and eager. Customize your resume Students can then tailor their resumes to the employers at the career fair. It’s extremely important that students use their research to make sure their resumes exemplify those company values. For example, if a company values teamwork, make sure to include inst ances of group projects or other extracurricular events that showcase teamwork. Use these value words explicitly, too. Martin said many companies use machines to go through applicant pools with these designated keywords and some get thrown out before they even reach employers’ eyes. As a precaution, students looking to get jobs or internships with companies should submit their resumes to Career Services before the career fair.

comfortable with employers, their pitch should be aimed at expressing gratitude or admiration for the company. If students are looking for a job, their pitch should be focused on showcasing their skills.

Dress for the job you want On the day of the career fair, students need to remember to dress the part. Students looking for an internship or open job opportunity should be dressed professionally. In addition, Martin said students should be aware that employers are already forming an opinion of them before they speak to them. Everything from their clothing to their handshake can help build a strong impression with an employer. “Career fairs are a golden opp or tu n it y because you have the opportunity to express your enthusiasm and interest in person,” Martin said. “You’re not just words on paper or in a database.” To get in-depth help, students are encouraged to attend one of the three Preparing for the Career Fair workshops hosted by Career Services. These workshops are on Monday from 5:10 to 6:00 in Poly Canyon Village in the Aliso Conference Room (171A), Tuesday from 11:10 a.m. to noon and Monday, April 17 from 1:10 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. — the former two in Career Services (building 124117). For students who can’t attend a workshop, there are career fair preparation worksheets available online at www. careerservices.calpoly.edu.

Career fairs are a golden opportunity ... to express your enthusiasm and interest in person.

Sell yourself Students should prepare their pitches. The nature of a student’s pitch will be different depending on their goal. If students are just looking to get

FIVE THINGS continued from page 1

Nerves It is completely understandable to be nervous if you don’t have much experience at career fairs. Agricultural business senior Matt Emslie explained that exposure to this kind of environment is the best way to settle those nerves. Even if you aren’t looking for a job around the time of a career fair, attending can only benefit you. The more experience that you have at these events, the less nervous you will be. “Go and put yourself out there. Practice makes perfect and the earlier you start, the

TAMMY MARTIN

According to Martin, a good pitch usually includes a few key things: a quick introduction, covering name, year, major and any other certifications; plans for the future; the steps taken toward the future; how you would benefit the employer then ending with a transitioning question back to the representative. Covering each of these will create a short, meaningful and informative pitch. From there, students can naturally interact and connect with the employer.

better you will be in the future,” Emslie said. According to a Facebook survey by Mustang News, students who began attending career fairs their freshman year weren’t as intimidated by the event and felt more prepared than they would have if they hadn’t started attending early. Competition Keep in mind that everyone is there for the same reason, so it may feel difficult to get a word in. Don’t let other students speaking to employers make you feel discouraged. Politely wait your turn in line while still looking interested and persistent.

Major representation There are many companies open to hiring all majors, but you may find there aren’t many companies targeting your major specifically. This will vary from one career fair to another. However, Cal Poly Career Services encourages students from all majors to attend. It may be discouraging if your major isn’t heavily represented, but try to go in with an open mind and know which companies to target. Now that you know what to expect, get started on those preparations. If you are planning to attend the Spring Career Fair and feel unprepared, Career Services has many resources to help you feel ready to meet employers.

CAREER FAIR 3

MONDAY, APRIL 17, 2017

Playing to your strengths with StrengthsQuest Hannah Benson @ CPMustangNews

There are many moments for students to look back at when reminiscing on their early days of attending the career fair. There was the search for the much-needed blazer, the last-minute resume adjustments, the nervousness just minutes before the beginning, all leading up to the hustle of the constant handshaking and relationship building. The Gallup StrengthsQuest assessment is often forgotten, even though it can pave the way to a successful career path. The assessment test indi-

cates an individual’s top five strengths among the 34 possibilities offered. The strengths are categorized into four main sections, called leadership domains: executing, influencing, strategic thinking and relationship building. After universities across the country adopted the program, a team at Cal Poly followed suit. The StrengthsQuest program at Cal Poly began in Fall 2014 as a collaboration between University Housing, University Advising, Mustang Success Center and Career Services. “[StrengthsQuest] is intended to help students foster engage-

ment with people and leverage their strengths rather than focusing on their weaknesses,” Career Services Interim Assistant Director Amie Hammond said. Coordinator for Center of Leadership Lauren Irwin gave a brief summary of how the assessment works. “People are asked to make choices between pairs of statements, where they are asked to pick which one is more like them,” Irwin said. “Each question is timed, meaning that people taking the test have a limited amount of time to answer each question — this is intentional to try to get people to choose the

answer that comes most naturally to them.” The assessment is primarily for incoming freshmen and transfer students to take before their first week of classes. In addition, all advising offices and some departments pay for their faculty and staff to take it so they can help students discuss, understand and develop their own strengths. “It helps facilitate self-reflection, which can make students stand out, and being more aware of their strengths can be an advantage in the workplace,” Hammond said. While working with students

in Career Services, Hammond saw many students benefit from the knowledge the assessment provides, especially when applying for jobs. Students can more easily answer the common interview question, “What are some of your greatest strengths?” According to Hammond, taking the assessment can help students understand how to approach career fair employers based on their strengths. “For those who have more strengths under the ‘relationship building’ domain, it may be easier to make connections and ‘work the room,’ while someone

with more ‘executing’ strengths could go up to one employer and have an in-depth conversation,” Hammond said. Employers may even be familiar with the StrengthsQuest program, because many of them use it as well. These companies include Stryker, Pepsi Co., Gap Inc., Cupertino Electric, Inc. and San Luis Sports Therapy and Team Movement for Life. When browsing these companies and other career options, it’s important for students to remember that their strengths do not indicate a specific career path. “It’s how you do things, not what you do,” Irwin said.

Mind your P’s and Q’s:

Resume writing tips Beth Strutz @ bethstrutz

Among the variety of jobs available in the workforce, there are a few requirements that are constant when applying for positions, regardless of whether you’re applying to work for a law firm or a local bookstore. You’ll want to have a cover letter explaining why you’re applying to the job and why you’re suited for it, proof of your eligibility to work in the United States and, almost invariably, a resume. With thousands of resume formats and templates available online and the wide array of advice from family, friends and the internet, putting together this summary of your experience and qualifications can be overwhelming. Here are some tips to relieve some of that stress:

Keep the resume to one page, if at all possible When you have a lot of prior experience or want to go into depth regarding what each of your positions entailed, it’s tempting to write a long paragraph or to cram in as much information as possible. However, a resume is meant to be an easy-to-read, concise summary of what experiences and skills you can bring to the position. Cal Poly Career Services recommends resumes be one page with 12-point font, unless the employer says otherwise. It may seem like a good idea to lower the font size to make everything fit, but this makes your resume harder to read at a glance. If employers really want more detail, they’ll contact you or ask in an interview.

Include any experience relevant to the position Your resume is the best way to share why you’re qualified, so take advantage of the opportunity. Any past employment, work experience or volunteer work relevant to the position you’re applying to is fair game. Experiences that demonstrate customer service, leadership or experience with computers, but aren’t in the same field as your desired position can still be beneficial. Use your judgement to determine which experiences employers want to hear about. Use descriptive, action-oriented verbs When focusing on clarity and brevity, verbs that detail exactly what you did and which skills you demonstrated should be used as often as possible. Career Services emphasized focusing

SPECIFICS

CHRISTA LAM | MUSTA NG NE W S

| Paying attention to the details can make a world of a difference for first-time resumes.

on accomplishments, and described ways to do this in their Resume Guide, available on their website. They recommend including “specific actions you took and the results, emphasizing how you benefited the organization or project.” If you need help coming up with unique and positive action words, a detailed list can be found in the Resume Guide. Include relevant contact information and social media, if applicable While you may have included contact information elsewhere in your application, it’s best to include it on your resume as well. This should include your full name, mailing address (in San Luis Obispo), phone number and professional email address. It’s best to list your @calpoly.edu address, since it adds a degree of professionalism and verifies that you are a student at Cal Poly. Use appropriate fonts and images Your resume is a professional document meant to motivate employers to hire you, it’s not an opportunity to use unique or fun fonts. Forbes Magazine recommends using standard fonts such as Calibri, Garamond, Arial or Times New Roman. All of

these fonts are clean, professional and easy to read. Economics sophomore Matt Kesselring, who works on campus at the College of Architecture and Environmental Design Support Shop and has applied to multiple internships in his major. He has noticed that many people get distracted with trying to make their resumes stand out through formatting. “I think the purpose of a resume is to quickly give an employer an idea of your skills and background, so the simpler the better,” Kesselring said. “This allows employers to quickly find the information they’re looking for instead of trying to figure out where everything is.” Don’t exaggerate or include false information When you don’t have a lot of past experience, your resume can look sparse. It can be tempting to exaggerate or add in experiences you haven’t actually had. However, dishonesty isn’t the way to start off any relationship with an employer. Lying early on, even if it may seem like a white lie, can have serious consequences later on, especially if your potential employers want to talk to your supervisors at past job or count on you to demonstrate skills you claim to have.

Don’t reuse the same resume for multiple applications Once you’ve decided on a general format and filled out your basic information and experience, you have a base resume, but this shouldn’t be turned in as-is for each position. Depending on the exact company and job you’re seeking, it’s a good idea to make adjustments, emphasizing and including different experiences to cater toward each particular job’s requirements. Kesselring suggests reaching out to Career Services to make your initial resume and to adjust it for different applications. “[Career Services] have a lot of experience working with first-time applicants and can get you on the right track,” Kesselring said. “From there, it’s just fine-tuning your resume as you gain more experience and apply for different jobs.” Career Services offers an array of information and advising for all Cal Poly students. Appointments are available on both a pre-scheduled and drop-in basis, depending on each student’s needs. For more details and online resources, visit www.careerservices.calpoly.edu, or call (805) 756-2501.

NEWS 4

MUSTANG NEWS

Phishing for information: How to detect and prevent attacks CHRIS GATELEY | MUSTA NG NE W S

PROTECT YOURSELF | Universities are more vulnerable to cyber attacks because of the mass amount of student data they hold. A cyber attack can come in the form of phishing, service attack, malware or spam.

Megan Schellong @ meganschellong

Every day, Cal Poly receives millions of spam messages, according to Information Technology Services (ITS) Deputy CIO Ryan Matteson. While students don’t see a majority of the spam they receive, numbers show that universities across the country are a target for cyber security attacks. According to Symantec’s 2015 report, educational institutions were the third most targeted institutions, behind retail (second) and health care (third). Why universities are targeted Universities are more vulnerable to cyber attacks because of the mass amount of student data they hold, including financial information, social security numbers, student directories and academic publications. Additionally, universities are targeted because their network system offers a service to thousands of individuals. From a hacker’s standpoint, it’s more effective to attack

a network of interconnected users, as opposed to a single individual using a home computer. “The risk-reward calculation becomes more favorable for the attacker when there are larger organizations,” computer science junior Max Zinkus said. Larger institutions like banks and corporations are also included in the mix of targets for cyber attacks. The most recent string of phishing attacks was Wells Fargo, which included messages prompting users to make changes to their account and update their finances. Compared to a university, a bank has more resources, based on the amount of money they can spend on people to audit the security system and higher quality software and hardware, Zinkus said. Nonetheless, both a university and a bank have an incentive to protect their user accounts from attacks. Attacks on universities could come in the form of denial of service attacks, malware, ransomware, phishing and spam, among others. According to Matteson, Cal Poly saw an uptick in phishing

or attacks in which a person tries to illegally obtain passwords and personal information. “We receive millions of phishing emails,” Matteson said. “(However), ITS has devices that detect and block the viruses before they’re delivered to campus.” While some features might block a majority of phishing emails, that still leaves a small percentage left unchecked. It only takes one If phishing emails reach a Cal Poly student’s inbox, it doesn’t take much for one seemingly legitimate message to become a string of harmful attacks. “It only takes one out of millions to have significant impact,” Matteson said. When one person clicks on a file in a phishing email and downloads it, the person becomes a victim, opening the door to others catching the virus. When a victim downloads a malicious file onto a desktop, the hacker can access personal accounts, passwords and desktop files, among other

account information. Once the victim downloads the file, it signals the hacker that they have access to the student’s .edu account. From this point, the hacker can send what seem to be reliable emails out to other Cal Poly students, spreading the virus or malicious file. What to look for in a phishing email The first thing students can do if they receive a suspicious email is to look at the sender’s domain. “An attacker may try to send an email that at face value looks like it’s from ‘ASI Club Services,’ but the email it was actually sent from was maliciousphisher@domain.com,” Nathan Lemay, software engineering senior and president of White Hat — a Cal Poly cyber security and hacking club — said. Often, the sender’s address will contain a series of jumbled letters and numbers. By hovering over the username, students can identify an unauthorized user. Hackers might also try to target users by sending emails from doPOLYAMOROUS continued from page 1

Communication is key Sociology lecturer Teresa Downing studied and conducted research about hookup culture and healthy intimate relationships on college campuses during her time teaching at Iowa State University. Downing stressed the importance of communication with any type of relationship, including polyamorous ones. “There are so many things that could go awry … in polyamorous relationships or open relationships,” Downing said. “You can have situations where one or more individuals in the couple or group is comfortable with that openness, but then you have another person who might feel pressured into the openness even though they’d rather be in a monogamous relationship.” As to why the Polycule is limited to four people, David has a systematic explanation for how he divides up his time between

mains they think their targets will be familiar with, Lemay said. Because some phishing emails come across as typical messages, Matteson said to pause before clicking a link or downloading a file. Because of the information and content sharing nature of universities, there aren’t restrictions on the content that can be downloaded from emails, Matteson said. This means students should be especially vigilant when opening what appear to be real links, downloads or requests. A good tip is to consult with Cal Poly’s ITS department to verify if the authenticity of the source if a user is completely unsure. How to protect yourself Each time a Cal Poly user changes a password, a mini lesson about choosing smart passwords pops up. “Oftentime people pick passwords that are supposed to look random,” computer science professor Zachary Peterson said. “The problem is humans aren’t very good at picking random things.” Because humans struggle to rehis three girlfriends. “I went with the math version of if you have seven days in a week then if you spend two days with one partner, two days with the other partner and two days with another partner, then you have one day left for yourself,” he said. Polyamory: The breakdown Polyamory is a blanket term that includes polygamy (plural marriage closely related to religion). In Latin it simply means “many loves.” According to a study titled “Polyamory: What it is and what it isn’t,” polyamory has been a part of American culture since the mid-19th century. Polygamy refers to multiple marriages and is typically related to religion, while polyamory does not necessarily entail marriage. Authors Derek McCullough and David Hall said polyamory is frequently confused with “swinging.” While the two have some similarities, swinging is “essentially recreational sex” and polyamory is not. Political science professor

member a series of mixed numbers and letters, Peterson recommends using a password manager that generates passwords. A benefit to the password manager is that the user does not have to remember them —they’re stored on the computer and controlled by one master password. There’s only one catch: the master password must be extremely complex and difficult to guess — and it must be learned and memorized by the user. Furthermore, when considering a new password, Peterson recommended choosing a longer password, rather than a random one. As a starting point, users should create a phrase familiar to him or her, Peterson said. Users can add strength to the phrase by purposefully using misspellings or adding numbers and symbols. While students can attempt to create their own passwords and rely on password managers to generate stronger pass codes, it’s ultimately up to the students to educate themselves on how to properly identify legitimacy on the web. Ron Den Otter is the author of “In Defense of Plural Marriage.” “I think as long as everything is open, experimenting with this and realizing one size doesn’t fit all isn’t a bad thing at all,” Den Otter said. “There’s never been this institution of marriage in the United States that somehow remains static. It’s always been subject to socioeconomic forces and changes.” Den Otter said if society is in favor of marriage equality and the right to marry whomever they want regardless of sex or gender, there’s no reason for numerical requirements. He also mentioned there’s not much research done on the topic of polyamory, but he always thought Americans needed to give it more of a chance. “Some people can actually do this. They can have meaningful loving relationships,” Downing said. “They enjoy having other individuals in their intimate realm with whom they can engage intellectually and romantically and sexually and recreationally in all dimensions.”

NEWS 5

MONDAY, APRIL 17, 2017

ROTC cadets conduct largest field training of the year Brendan Matsuyama @ CPMustangNews

Cal Poly’s Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program linked up with cadets from California State University, Fresno and University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) on April 7 to kick off their largest field training exercise (FTX) of the year. This FTX was a three-day event at Camp Roberts on the border of Monterey and San Luis Obispo counties and planned primarily by the programs’ fourth year cadets. The exercise included night land navigation, platoon-sized maneuvers and a road march. The program’s cadre is made up of United States Army officers and senior enlisted personnel charged with instructing and advising ROTC cadets. And they’re off For the Fighting Mustang

TROOPS

Battalion — the official title of Cal Poly’s ROTC program — the day started at approximately 9 a.m. The cadets stopped at Camp San Luis Obispo to draw weapons from the base’s armory before proceeding to Camp Roberts. Greeted by muddy roads and rolling green hills, the cadets assembled at a simulated village composed of several concrete structures and began unloading their gear. After being issued their weapons, M16A2 assault rifles and M249 light machine guns, cadets from the three schools gathered across the road from their tactical operations center (TOC) and were integrated into three platoons with a mix of cadets from all programs. Platoons are a unit in the army comprised of approximately 40 to 50 soldiers. Being a platoon leader is typically the first command held by newly commissioned second lieutenants — the

rank ROTC cadets will earn upon graduation. Once integrated, the platoons moved to a grove a short distance from the village and set up 360-degree security around their plot. For the remainder of Friday’s daylight hours, the platoons performed rehearsals individually, going over different scenarios, such as how to react when making contact with the enemy. Night land navigation At sunset, the cadets were briefed on that night’s land navigation. Armed with only a map, compass, flashlight and coordinates, teams of cadets were tasked with finding five points in the darkness. The points themselves were represented by hole punches hung on trees. Cadets had to use them to punch holes into cards they were given to verify they had found the right point.

After plotting their points and checking in, Dominique Chan from UCSB, and Spencer Christensen from Cal State Fresno, set out into the night. The moon, only a few days from being full, illuminated the darkness. Red lights from the cadets’ flashlights and headlamps dotted the landscape. Every so often, a convoy of Army Humvees — High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles — passed by, lighting up adjacent area with their headlights. Chan and Christensen found their first point almost immediately hanging from a tree, but it was within 10 meters of another point. By the end of the night, Chan and Christensen were able to find five points, though they would find out that only two of them were the points they were originally assigned to locate. Ultimately, Christensen was satisfied,

claiming that if he was tasked with finding a building, he would still be able to find it despite being off by a few meters. Once all cadets returned to their platoon assembly areas at about 10 p.m., they settled in for the night. The cadets hunkered down in their sleeping systems — a waterproof, cold weather sleeping bag — as the rain came pouring down. They had to be up at 5 a.m. the next morning to prepare for training. Reconnaissance of the village After being issued blank ammunition, the platoons marched off towards their objective rally points (ORP). Once third platoon arrived at their ORP, a seven-man squad comprised of the unit’s leadership broke off to conduct a leader’s reconnaissance on their objective. Meanwhile, the rest of the platoon established security around their rally point and waited for

their return. The leader’s reconnaissance halted approximately 1,000 meters from the village. The structures surrounded a courtyard that was occupied by the opposing forces (OPFOR), played by fourth year cadets. They were identified by black shirts and coats, while one high value target (HVT) wore a beige shirt. While observing the village, the team made note of the enemy’s movements, their number, their weapons and potential avenues of approach for the upcoming attack. After they had gathered all the information they could, the team returned to their platoon for a briefing. They hugged the treeline and the side of a hill to avoid detection from the OPFOR in the village below. ROTC continued on page 5

BRENDAN MATSUYAMA | MUSTA NG NE W S

| Cal Poly’s ROTC program participated in their largest field training exercise with USCB and Cal State Fresno at Camp Roberts. The exercise included night land navigation, platoon-sized manuevers and a road march.

ARTS 6

MUSTANG NEWS

BAKER continued from page 1

The Bishop Peak portrait project Lawler’s robotic camera box stood before him, snapping a picture every five minutes, without any assistance from Lawler himself. From 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., the photographs document the iconic picturesque view of Bishop Peak from the camera’s perch on the roof of Robert E. Kennedy Library.

A SCENIC VIEW

This is the Bishop Peak portrait project, an idea proposed to College of Science and Math Dean Phil Bailey by Lawler, a photographer and printer. Lawler wanted to take the best photograph of the hill every day for an entire calendar year. He built a water-resistant time-lapse camera box and chose the most pristine picture of the peak each day. He then stitched them together to create a photographic collage calendar.

From March 1, 2016 to Feb. 28, 2017, the camera took about 70,000 photos, which Lawler narrowed down to 40,000. He picked the best one from each day. The photos will be displayed like a calendar on six large sheets of aluminum standing 5 feet tall and 16 feet wide on the third floor of Baker. Each photo was printed on 1/16th inch aluminum plates made precisely to fit the display panels. The montage is finished and waiting to be installed by

facilities in the next month after almost a year-and-a-half in the making. The Crater Lake photo will be installed on the first floor. Past installations by Lawler The new installation is just one of the ways Lawler crafted his love of photography into projects on display for Cal Poly students and faculty. Lawler’s first installation is a panoramic photo of San Luis Obispo hung in the UU. Lawler said that ever since the beginning, these projects hold a special place in his heart and aren’t the average shots taken with the latest iOS. “It is just one image,” Lawler said. “I like the fact that the photo is so high in resolution that you can see incredible detail. For example, on the left side of the photograph you can see the Cal Poly soccer team practicing. These aren’t just ordinary

pictures enlarged.” Because the photographs are so high definition, it’s difficult to print them in their entirety. For example, Lawler’s Crater Lake photograph had to be printed in sections before it could be formatted together to form the final product. Lawler printed the sections of the photograph on aluminum sheets while College of Science and Math technicians Rob and Doug Brewster designed a framework system for the entire photo. They took individual parts and seamlessly pieced them together to create one final photograph. Each section of the photo got an individual frame designed specially by the Brewsters to be fully adjustable, able to move left, right, up and down to fit each piece perfectly into place. This framing mechanism was used in Lawler’s Mars rover photograph that also resides in Baker.

“We are a university, looking towards the future for cutting edge stuff,” Rob said. “We are trying to inspire people, showing people what has been done, what has been created. It’s a ‘wow’ factor that inspires. It’s healthy for the students because they get to see what’s done, what could be done and how you could always take it one step further.” Lawler’s artwork is included in Cal Poly’s permanent art collection that can be accessed for scholarly study in the campus art catalog. Cal Poly art curator Catherine Trujillo said installing work by faculty enriches the campus community and local community. “Creating opportunities for students to access innovative photographic works by faculty helps inspire and educates at the same time,” Trujillo said in an email.

BRIAN LAWLER | COURTE SY PHOTO

| A majority of Lawler’s Cal Poly building installations are giant photos of natural landmarks, such as Bishop Peak and Crater Lake, printed out onto large aluminum sheets.

STARBUCKS COFFEE

IN NEW LOCATIONS

Want Starbucks coffee without the Starbucks line? For your convenience, The Avenue, 19 Metro Express and Sandwich Factory are now proudly serving freshly-brewed hot and iced Starbucks coffee. Check it out and get your coffee fix fast!

#HEALTHYHACKS Pick up a freshly-prepared Grab & Go salad for a convenient and nutritious meal. At just under $5, it’s the easy choice for health nuts on a budget. (Registered Dietitian approved)

FACULTY AND STAFF MIXER

HOME COOKING RECIPE CONTEST Campus Dining is bringing a taste of home to Cal Poly. Submit your favorite home cooking recipe to campusdining@calpoly.edu by April 30 for a chance to have your dish featured in 19 Metro for one week. Our chefs are excited to review your recipes!

PASS ON PACKAGING Lessen your foodprint and save money by buying your grocery items in bulk. It’s a great way to cut costs and cut down on packaging waste at the same time.

THURSDAY, APRIL 20 4:00 – 6:00 PM Join your colleagues to mingle and enjoy a special tasting of Myron’s spring seasonal menu featuring tequila grilled shrimp skewers, roasted strawberry salad, croque-monsieur and harvest pasta plus beer and wine for a cost of $5 per guest. For more info, visit calpolydining.com/myrons.

ARTS 7

MONDAY, APRIL 17, 2017

What’s coming up this Pride Month Shanti Herzog @ CPMustangNews

Pride Month is back this April with 32 events hosted by the Pride Center, Safer and the Cross Cultural Center. Pride Month is an opportunity to celebrate the LGBTQ community. Pride Center Coordinator Charley Newel said students organize many of the events themselves, striving to create a community open to those who need a place where they feel safe and find a sense of belonging. “The students play a really big role in creating a welcoming atmosphere to anyone that comes into the Pride Center,” he said. During Open House, many parents and students asked Newel if there is a place at Cal Poly where LGBTQ students can go to feel safe. Newel was proud to share that the Pride Center was an inviting space

for everyone at Cal Poly. “It feels good to be able to ensure them that there is a place for them here,” Pride Center staff member and ethnic studies junior Jobe Williams said. Graphic communication senior Morgan Gutierrez is a performer in Original Women’s Narratives (OWN), one of the Pride Month events presented in collaboration with the Gender Equity Center. Her goal during Pride Month is to open the eyes of the Cal Poly community to people unlike themselves. “Hopefully, when people see these stories, they will realize that it’s normal for people to be different,” she said. “They have to respect that those who are different have to own their differences to have a place in this world.” Newel said Pride Month aims to go beyond affirming and validating the queer and trans com-

munity. Rather, it celebrates the lives of the unique individuals that make up the San Luis Obispo community and encourage LGBTQ people to be unapologetically themselves. “It’s about showing that the [LGBTQ] community is out here, it’s present at Cal Poly on campus, even though we don’t see it all the time,” Williams said. “Pride Month is a chance for people to know about us and see what we have to offer.” Here are some of the upcoming Pride Month events: Trans Fashion Show April 22 in Chumash Auditorium, 6 to 8 p.m. At the Trans Fashion Show, a runway will go through Chumash Auditorium, featuring transgender and gender nonconforming students and community members.

“It’s a better way to recognize all the ways that gender identity can manifest in a person and how they choose to express their gender through clothing and appearances,” Williams said. Original Women’s Narratives April 28 in Chumash Auditorium, 7 to 10 p.m., doors open at 6 p.m. OWN is a collection of monologues and scenes written and performed by female-identified students, inspired by their own experiences. The performances are written, directed, produced and presented by students. They explore subjects like culture, body image, sexual orientation and more. While some cast members write and perform their own stories, many of the show’s actors will be performing narratives written by

other students. OWN is organized in collaboration with the Gender Equity Center. Tickets are $10 at the door. Pride Prom April 29 in Performing Arts Center Pavilion, 8 p.m. to midnight Pride Prom is a prom experience for the LGBTQ community aimed at giving them a space to feel safe and welcome. There will be a DJ, food and a photo booth to recreate the classic prom experience. Tickets are $10 at the door and the event is open to everyone. Know Your Status May 11 in Julian A. McPhee University Union (UU), Room 220, 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Know Your Status is an HIV awareness event to inform the public about HIV and dissolve stigmas surrounding the disease.

It will feature an HIV speakers panel that will include medical professionals, people living with HIV and Cal Poly professors. After the speakers panel, there will be a reception with a comprehensive sexual health resource fair, including free HIV testing. The first 80 people who attend will receive a free lunch. Drag Show May 12 in the UU Plaza, 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Rebelling against traditional gender norms, drag show performers will present a wild, theatrical show complete with makeup, hair and costume changes. “Drag is a way to celebrate different ways of expressing our gender identity,” Newel said. “It’s going to be a fun celebration of our student artists and performers.”

Tibetan monks spread healing and peace on campus Carly Quinn & Emma Kumagawa @ CPMustangNews

Ten Tibetan monks ended their week-long visit to Cal Poly Friday in Alex and Faye Spanos Theatre with their “Sacred Music, Sacred Dance for World Healing” performance. While their home is at the Drepung Loseling Monastery in Tibet, the monks were forced to relocate to southern India because of the Chinese occupation of Tibet in 1950. After being endorsed by the Dalai Lama, they have taken off on a year-long tour to promote world peace and healing, and to raise awareness and funds for their civilization and culture’s unfortunate circumstances. “Everyone seems very into it, very interested in the performance,” Gesse Loden, the only English-speaking monk, said. “I noticed it was very crowded.” There were eight performances throughout the week, consisting of dancing, singing, chanting and playing instruments. Each segment symbolized a prayer or blessing the monks aim to spread across the globe. The performances featured

different indigenous music, colorful garments, ancient instruments and sacred artifacts. Receiving a very attentive and positive response from the audience, the spiritual energy could be felt throughout the room. “I came to college to experience new things,” mechanical engineering freshman Jonah Silva said. “It was unlike anything I’ve ever seen. I was pretty much in awe the whole time.” One performance, “The Dance of the Sacred Snow Lion,” included two monks inside a snow lion costume, bringing the audience together with humorous gestures and dancing until finally revealing a banner of world peace inside the costumes mouth. Another dance represented the five chakras: white, yellow, red, green and blue. While normally performed with five monks, only four were able to represent the angels of the chakras blessing the Earth. “I am looking forward to the beauty of the monks,” San Luis Obispo resident Verna O’Connell said as she waited outside for the night to start. “Their dancing, their customs and all,

we don’t get to see very often.” A portrait of the Dalai Lama stood on a table full of gifts to honor him during the performance. The back wall contained a tapestry of the Drepung Loseling Monastery, along with the Buddhist and Tibetan flags. With a monastery in Atlanta, Georgia, it is much easier for the monks to tour colleges and other establishments throughout the United States. Bringing jewelry and other goods to sell, the monks spent most of their week fundraising, speaking with students and working on the “Medicine Buddha” mandala. A succession of monks and interested community members poured the finished mandala into a stream noon this past Friday behind Poly Canyon Village. “It is dismantled to represent the impermanence of all the phenomena,” Loden said. “Impermanence is one of the best foundations for teaching in Buddhism. We can utilize the understanding of impermanence in our day-to-day life, especially when we have those challenging situations: less stressed, happier and healthier.”

BLESSED

TABATA GORDILLO | MUSTA NG NE W S

| The monks poured the finished mandala into a stream near Poly Canyon Village Friday.

OPINION 8

OPINION

MUSTANG NEWS

Return to rationality: Homosexuality and the slippery slope

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CAUTION | The arguments in favor of homosexuality aren’t completely wrong, but they focus on ambigious phrases such as “love is love” that could also be used to justify lifestyles such as incest.

COPY EDITORS Quinn Fish, Andi DiMatteo, Monique Geisen

Brandon Bartlett @ CPMustangNews

DESIGNERS Kylie Everitt, Aaron Matsuda, Tanner Layton

Brandon Bartlett is a philosophy junior and Mustang News columnist. The views expressed in this column do not reflect the viewpoints and editorial coverage of Mustang News. As the title of this column implies, I am a fan of rationality. By my estimation, rationality is the best way to find answers to the world’s biggest problems. Today, I hope to bring some rationality to a subject that has been deeply submerged in emotion than most: the acceptance or rejection of homosexuality. I will not attempt to settle the issue — in fact, I will not in this article even state my opinion on whether homosexuality is right or wrong, should be legal or should not. I will merely comment on the arguments usually used in favor of homosexuality. If I succeed in exposing a flaw in those arguments, I will merely be demonstrating that arguments in favor must be formulated differently and not that all arguments in favor are inherently flawed. As I have seen, most of the common rhetorical points in favor of allowing homosexuality are variations of four core arguments that can be bumper-sticker-ized as “love is love,” “they enjoy it and it doesn’t hurt anyone,” “sexual taboos are just social constructions anyway” and “past societies ROTC continued from page 5

Preparing for the attack After being briefed and conducting an after action review (AAR), 3rd platoon moved to a new ORP where they would stage their final attack. The platoon commander took a squad and scouted ahead, looking for a good support by fire position. Support by fire is a tactical concept in which one part of a unit suppresses the enemy with gunfire while another element assaults enemy positions. Their distance from the enemy made support by fire an ineffective tactic; they moved around the village using a dried up creek bed. While that approach was mostly concealed, they briefly took artillery fire simulated by pyrotechnic training grenades. As the team moved to observe the objective, Master Sergeant Jose Quijas, the senior military instructor for Cal State

allowed it.” Each of these arguments is strong in the sense that they are built on true premises, but they are weak as they do not prove their desired conclusion — that homosexuality should be permissible. Let me first explain why this is in an abstract way and then clarify what I mean. Whenever we, as society, attempt to expand the social border between acceptable and unacceptable — such as in the case of homosexuality — we must use arguments that imply a new border, or else we open ourselves to great danger. Allow me to demonstrate this principle through a trivial example. Currently, we have a border between those who can legally drink alcohol and those who cannot: the age of 21. I, currently 20 years old, would really prefer that line to be drawn a bit earlier (even just six months would be enough). Now, imagine I tried to change this law and imagine I tried to do so through the use of rational arguments (something that often does not mix well with college students and alcohol). There are many arguments I could choose from. I could say that age is just a social construct. I could say that I am just as responsible, if not

more responsible, than plenty of 21-year-olds that I know. I could say that people just under the drinking age have ways of getting alcohol anyway (though I, of course, would never use such methods and how dare you accuse me of doing so). I could even try to string together some far-fetched reason for why putting the restriction at 21 is part of the imperialist, white supremacist, capitalist patriarchy.

border, but merely renegotiate where it is placed. Any argument that could apply equally to myself and any five year old (who probably should not be drinking alcohol) does not constitute a good argument to lower the drinking age. Age as a social construct applies to all ages. No matter where the border is drawn, there are always those below the border just as responsible as those above. Hence, once we lower it to 20, then the same logic demands we lower it to 19, then 18 and so on. A select number of five year olds, with irresponsible parents, do have access to alcohol. And it is a truism that someone on Tumblr will eventually trace any restriction back to that imperialist, white supremacist, capitalist patriarchy. Instead, I would need to argue something like, “It is ridiculous that I am deemed responsible enough to determine the future of the country by voting, but not the future of my Friday night!” This argument, by linking itself to another equally arbitrary border, provides both the category expansion as well as the cut-off. But how does this apply to homosexuality? Well, in this case, we have the same basic situation. There was a border that divided sexually ac-

...most of the common rhetorical points in favor of allowing homosexuality are variations of four core arguments...

Fresno’s ROTC program and an observer for 3rd platoon, noticed something. “Hey, that’s the rest of your platoon,” Quijas said. In an open field below the leader’s reconnaissance, the 47man platoon that was meant to wait and then approach from a concealed area was now approaching completely exposed. The platoon’s leadership attempted to signal them to go around on their approach, but their attempts failed. Quijas radioed the cadre that were observing the exposed cadets to throw artillery simulators behind the platoon. Once the majority of the platoon arrived at the leadership’s position, the cadets were pushed back by mortar fire. Third platoon got pushed away from their rally point with some cadets having to leave behind their gear. Every time the platoon stopped to consolidate, another mortar simulator would

Even though all of these points (with the possible exception of the last one) are true, they would never work as arguments to lower the drinking age. And why is that? Because while I am attempting to merely lower the line, the above arguments dispute all possible drinking ages. I should not actually want to remove the explode, forcing them to retreat. It was at this point that the cadre and Katherine Holst, cadet battalion commander and biologcal sciences senior, instituted a leadership change. Village assault Squad leaders and team leaders were replaced with fresh cadets and the unit began planning for their final assault on the village. The support by fire team moved around their former rally point and set themselves up in a partially concealed position overlooking the village — though it was later revealed by UCSB Cadet Sara Cratsenburg who acted as an OPFOR that they were visible from the village. As the assault started, the team opened fire on the compound. Yellow and purple smoke poured out of smoke grenades that were thrown in the middle of the village. “Shift fire!” the cadets yelled

as the assault element advanced further into the village. Once the entire platoon moved into the village, the support by fire team joined them. They took cover behind a destroyed helicopter mounted on a pile of rubble, one by one moving into the village as the attack progressed. Two cadets attempted to clear a rocket propelled grenade launcher (RPG) from a neutralized OPFOR roleplayed by Ransom Cutshall, aerospace engineering senior and fourth year cadet. However, they were eliminated when it was revealed that Cutshall was wired with a fake improvised explosive device and that he had been lying in wait for a cadet to fall into his trap. As the attack progressed, more cadets fell to explosive booby traps. One frustrated cadet who had taken over 3rd platoon after the platoon leader was neutralized franti-

ceptable and sexually unacceptable behavior and while we do not want to remove the border altogether — most of us are still against things like incest — we would like to expand that border to include, at least, homosexuality. The problem is that the main arguments for allowing homosexuality do not provide a new border whatsoever. Let us take incest as our counter-example: “Love is love” justifies incest. “They enjoy it and it doesn’t hurt anyone” justifies incest. “Sexual taboos are just social constructs anyways” justifies incest. “There have been plenty of societies that have allowed it” justifies incest as many cultures, to varying degrees, have allowed incest in certain circumstances. And so, not only does the logic not work, but by never creating a new border, we open wide the doors for things that are, at best, unhealthy. This includes people identifying as mythical creatures (Otherkins), or laws, such as in Portland, allowing furries to mate and defecate in public dog parks. Each of these examples is justified by at least one of the arguments in favor of homosexuality, e.g. “they enjoy it and it doesn’t hurt anyone.” Hopefully, this has added a modicum of clarity to the nationwide discussion we have been having for the past several decades. Debate on, my friends! cally yelled for his squad leaders shortly before the end of the exercise. At the conclusion of the attack, the platoon regrouped and conducted an AAR. During the AAR, the cadre and senior cadets offered advice to the cadets. Lieutenant Colonel Travis Rayfield, the UCSB professor of military science, stressed the importance of communication and effectively delegating duties to subordinates. “Take initiative,” Rayfield said. “Force communication.” Lastly, the cadets went on to do a four-mile road march. They received instruction on certain skills, such as how to properly use a gas mask. But the training wasn’t over; the cadets were soon attacked by OPFOR along the way. The spring FTX officially ended the following day, April 9, with Cal Poly cadets returning to campus that afternoon.

OPINION COLUMNISTS Elias Atienza, Brendan Abrams, Brandon Bartlett, Abbie Lauten-Scrivner PHOTOGRAPHERS Matthew Lalanne, Sophia O’Keefe, Hanna Crowley, Samantha Mulhern, Andrew Epperson, Christa Lam, Kara Douds, Iliana Arroyos ILLUSTRATOR Roston Johnson ADVERTISING MANAGERS Maddie Spivek, Kristen Corey ART DIRECTOR Erica Patstone PRODUCTION MANAGER Ellen Fabini MARKETING MANAGER Ross Pfeifer ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS Clara Howley, Levi Adissi, Trevor Murchison, Carryn Powers ADVERTISING DESIGNERS Jacqui Luis, Habib Placencia, Kelly Chiu DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Dylan Ring FACULTY ADVISOR Pat Howe GENERAL MANAGER Paul Bittick

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SPORTS 10

MONDAY, APRIL 17, 2017

SO CLOSE

FILE PHOTO | MUSTA NG NE W S

| The Cal Poly softball team left multiple runners on base in their weekend series against the Long Beach State 49ers. The 49ers’ sweep drops the Mustangs to fifth in the Big West Conference.

Mustangs swept for the first time this season Ayrton Ostly @ AyrtonOstly

In a battle for first place in the Big West Conference, the Cal Poly softball team was swept by the visiting Long Beach State 49ers. The three losses drop the Mustangs (28-13, 4-4) to fifth in the Big West halfway through their conference schedule. Friday The Mustangs and the 49ers were locked in a pitching battle for most of the game as senior pitcher Si-

erra Hyland struck out five in 12 innings, but Long Beach State scored two runs in the top of the 12th inning to take the first game 2-0. The game was scoreless through 11 innings before Long Beach State shortstop Nichole Fry hit an RBI single to score second baseman LT Torres. The 49ers added another run as pitcher Jessica Flores scored on a fielding error, putting the game out of reach for the Mustangs. Cal Poly struggled at the plate

and went 7 of 40 in the first game. Only junior shortstop Chelsea Convissar and junior third baseman Stephanie Heyward had multiple hits, going 2 of 5 and 2 of 4, respectively. Between the seven hits and seven walks, the Mustangs left 17 runners on base over the course of the game, unable to score when needed. The second game of the Friday doubleheader was much of the same as junior pitcher Lindsey Chalmers struck out 10 batters, but the Mustangs went scoreless

again in a 1-0 loss. Tied 0-0 for eight innings, Long Beach State scored in the top of the ninth inning when Flores singled to plate Torres and gave the 49ers the winning margin. Cal Poly had little success from the plate again, going 7 of 33. Senior left fielder Courtney Tyler went 3 for 3 as the only Mustang with multiple hits in the game. Saturday Cal Poly had already lost the series after Friday’s doubleheader, but

again the Mustangs couldn’t find the scoring they needed in a 2-0 loss Saturday afternoon. Hyland threw a complete game but gave up a two-run homer in the top of the first inning to Fry. From there, Hyland kept the 49ers scoreless from the circle, but Cal Poly went a meager 5 of 24 from the plate. The Mustangs came close to scoring when Convissar and junior center fielder Amanda Sandoval hit successive singles to lead off the third inning. But both were strand-

ed by the close of the inning and the deficit remained 2-0 for the rest of the game. Prior to this series, the Mustangs had been held scoreless twice all season and were tied for first in the Big West. With this sweep they’re now in the middle of the Big West conference with three series finished. With four series left to go in the conference schedule, starting with one at CSUN (25-15, 5-4) this weekend, the Mustangs have the time to overcome being swept for the first time all year.