Issuu

Haniger selected in first round of MLB Draft. SPORTS pg. 6

Thursday, June 28, 2012

Volume LXXVII, Number 1

www.mustangdaily.net

The new dean’s list Two colleges will see new deans this fall, and both say they are prepared to Learn By Doing

COURTESY PHOTO

VICTORIA BILLINGS

victoriabillings.md@gmail.com

Two new faces are set to join Cal Poly’s deans this fall: Christine Theodoropoulos and Douglas Epperson will replace College of Architecture and Environmental Design (CAED) dean Tom Jones and College of Liberal Arts (CLA) dean Linda Halisky, respectively. Both Theodoropoulos and Epperson were selected after yearlong searches following Jones and Halisky’s announced retirements last year. Both candidates were selected due to their commitment to Cal Poly’s interdisciplinary vision, Theodoropoulos and Epperson both said. Epperson, who currently serves as dean of Washington State University’s College of Liberal Arts, said Cal Poly’s philosophy and reputation appealed to him. “The primary draw was the quality of the students (and) the commitment of the institution to undergraduate education and the Learn By Doing model,” Epperson said. Epperson is also committed to Cal Poly’s mission of giving students a comprehensive polytechnic education and incorporating multiple disciplines in every student’s instruction, he said. Epperson made his commitment to this vision clear during his interview process, he said.

Douglas Epperson Job Title: Dean of the College of Liberal Arts

Previous Experience: Washington State University College of Liberal Arts Dean

Degrees: bachelor’s degree in philosophy (1973) and master’s in educational psychology (1976), both from the University of Utah.

Will begin in: August Fun Fact: Is a member of the American

Psychological Association, the Association for Psychological Science and the Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers.

COURTESY PHOTO

“That commitment was critical to me because I believe the College of Liberal Arts is absolutely central to Cal Poly being a comprehensive polytechnic university,” Epperson said. Halisky laid out this vision for the CLA in a master plan for the college during her time as dean. Epperson was selected in part because of his ability to continue this vision, Halisky said. “I think he understands where our college is, and I think he’s prepared to step right in and keep moving us forward,” Halisky said. The first part of moving that vision forward is to revise the strategic plan, Epperson said. Though the future CLA dean doesn’t have a “fixed game plan” for when he starts in August, Epperson’s first priority is re-examining the CLA’s goals and aligning them with those of the university. Cal Poly itself recently revised its strategic plan, and it’s now up to the CLA to reexamine its own, Epperson said. “We’ll be looking for ways to integrate ourselves more fully into the university community,” Epperson said. Epperson’s experience in other university communities played a large part in his selection as well, said CLA Associate Dean Debra Valencia-Laver. Before his time as dean at Washington State University, Epperson was

Christine Theodoropoulos Job Title: Dean of the College of Architecture and Environmental Design

Previous Experience: University of

Oregon Architecture Department head

Degrees: bachelor’s degree in civil

engineering from Princeton University (1979) and a Master of Architecture from Yale University (1985)

Will begin in: September Fun Fact: Taught architecture at California Polytechnic State University, Pomona from 1990-97.

see DEANS, pg. 2

San Luis Obispo Farmer’s Market to grow this summer ANDREA KANG

andreakang.md@gmail.com

Weaving through the crowd during San Luis Obispo’s Farmers’ Market may get a little easier this summer. The Thursday night tradition will expand its borders to include Morro Street between Higuera and Monterey streets from July 1 to Sept. 30. The San Luis Obispo Downtown Association joined the San Luis Obispo County Certified Farmers’ Market Association in a plan to provide space for up to eight new vendors. The Downtown Association proposed the expansion to its board of directors after community members expressed

a desire for more produce at farmers’ markets, Thursday Night Promotions Event Coordinator Diana Cotta said. “(Farmers’ Market) is an event that we’re constantly looking to build upon even though it’s been in existence for 29 years,” Cotta said. “It’s important to be cutting edge and listen to the needs of the public.” Local residents have requested a more organic approach to produce, she said, since many San Luis Obispo supermarkets carry more organic produce than Farmers’ Market. The new local vendors will address this issue, bringing in specialties including grass-fed beef, sheep’s milk ice cream and soft cheese, hydroponic greens, heirloom produce

and vegetable and fruit juices. Grass-fed buffalo and edible flowers are no longer anticipated specialties, as these vendors cancelled their participation for unknown reasons, Cotta said. The Downtown and Farmers’ Market associations will treat this three-month expansion as a sort of trial run, Cotta said. She said they hope for the change to be successful and may continue it after evaluating the benefits when the trial is finished. “We chose July through September … because there’s typically a wider variety of produce,” Cotta said. “It’s a different spin … we’re hoping it will go well and (we’ll) be able to continue it.” see PRODUCE, pg. 2

ARTS, pg. 3

COURTESY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO DOWNTOWN ASSOCIATION

The San Luis Obispo Farmers’ Market will include Morro Street this summer in an effort to enlarge the already prominent event so that it can get a more organic approach to produce, according to Thursday Night Promotions Event Coordinator Diana Cotta.

Tomorrow’s Weather:

Burning James hits Concerts in the Plaza.

sunny

high Partly Cloudy partially cloudy

75˚F

INDEX News.............................1-2 Arts.................................3

Opinions/Editorial...........4 Sports.............................5

low 54˚F cloudy

foggy

windy

light rain

rain

thinderstorm

snow

MDnews 2 DEANS continued from page 1

associate dean of Iowa State University’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. “He’s had quite a bit of experience at a few institutions, and we see that as a good thing,” Valencia-Laver said. Theodoropoulos, on the other hand, will be taking a dean’s position for the first time, leaving her position as head of the architecture department at the University of Oregon in Eugene. Although being a dean will be new to her, Theodoropoulos is confident her experience working with other deans and university administration as architecture department head will help her, she said. Like Epperson, Theodoro-

poulos was also drawn to Cal Poly not only because of its reputation for excellence but also because of the multidisciplinary education, she said. “My own background is in engineering and architecture,” Theodoropoulos said. “Cal Poly’s mixture of disciplines is really quite unique.” Theodoropoulos’ own diverse background was part of her appeal as a candidate, Cal Poly President Jeffrey Armstrong wrote in a press release. “Christine’s blend of academic and professional experience as a teacher, university administrator, architect and civil engineer make her an excellent choice to lead our College of Architecture and Environmental Design,” Armstrong wrote. “Her career has embraced the kind of multidisciplinary approaches that will enrich our Learn By

(Theodoropoulos’) career has embraced the kind of multidisciplinary approaches that will enrich our Learn By Doing programs. JEFFREY ARMSTRONG CAL POLY PRESIDENT

Thursday, June 28, 2012 Doing programs.” For Theodoropoulos, that multidisciplinary approach is evident in CAED’s different majors, she said. Both architecture and architectural engineering are two halves of a whole system of designing buildings, while landscape architecture focuses on environmental concerns and construction management “takes the score and leads the orchestra,” Theodoropoulos said. “That is really exciting for me because there’s so many interesting opportunities for the college to be highly integrated,” Theodoropoulos said. And while Epperson’s priorities include revising the CLA’s strategic plan, Theodoropoulos said her first priority when she joins CAED will be to get to know the other people involved. Her first few weeks on the job in September will be shaking hands and meeting people, Theodoropoulos said. “Initially what a person has to do is get to know the people because a college is it’s people,” Theodoropoulos said.

Graduate gets sheepish with ice cream business

VICTORIA BILLINGS/MUSTANG DAILY

Cal Poly alumna Alexis Negranti graduated in 2009 with a degree in agricultural science, but said she knew she never wanted to be a farmer. VICTORIA BILLINGS

victoriabillings.md@gmail.com

What’s better on a hot summer day than a cold bowl of ice cream … made of sheep’s milk? The College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences (CAFES) Center for Sustainability (CFS) celebrated sheep’s milk ice cream last weekend at the Seventh Annual Taste of the Future Fundraiser when they honored Cal Poly alumna Alexis Negranti with the center’s 2012 Farmer of the Year award for her work at Negranti Dairy and Creamery. Negranti, who graduated in 2009 with a degree in agricultural science, had the inspiration to start making sheep’s milk ice cream a year and a half ago because she was miserable working at her desk job, she said. Though she studied agriculture, she never intended to become a farmer, she said. “I had never milked anything in my life, let alone a sheep,” Negranti said. Nevertheless, she said she heard that sheep’s milk ice cream was popular in Europe and Australia, and no one had begun producing it in the United States yet. She decided she would be the first, and pitched the idea to her husband, Wade Negranti. Her husband was naturally skeptical, especially since neither had milked a sheep before, Negranti said. “He looked at me like I was crazy,” Negranti said of her husbands initial reaction. Before the idea, Negranti was more of a dress and heels woman than boots and coveralls, she said. But a month later, in January 2011, the Negrantis picked up their first three ewes. Now, they own more than 35 ewes, and their ice cream can be found in local establishments such as New Frontiers, Nature’s Touch or McPhee’s Grill, among others. Negranti plans to continue growing her creamery, dou-

PRODUCE continued from page 1

Before any plans for the expansion, Morro Street was reserved for entertainment on Thursday nights. The entertainment will be moved to the end of the produce section. With a certified farmers’ market, Cotta said, a contiguous format must be utilized; entertainment cannot be in the same section as the produce. Although the main focus of Farmer’s Market is the produce, downtown businesses on Monterey Street are also looking forward to the foot traffic the expansion may bring.

bling her flock every year and expanding the flavor choices, she said. In the meantime, the 2012 Farmer of the Year award is an indication that she made the right choice leaving her desk for the farm, she said. “It’s just reassuring that we’re doing the right thing and we’re moving in the right direction,” Negranti said. Negranti was selected for the award because of her unique vision and commitment to local and sustainable agricultural practices, CFS director Hunter Francis said. The award was created last year by the Center as a way to honor Cal Poly graduates who are both innovative and committed to sustainability, two criteria that Negranti fit well, Francis said. “It’s just wonderful,” Francis said. “She has some creative flavors and she sources her ingredients locally at farmers’ markets.” Negranti’s ice cream is also appealing because of its rarity, Francis said. “You don’t find sheep milk ice cream that often,” Francis said. In addition to producing a quality product, Negranti has a unique tale about how she became a dairy farmer. CFS also wants to honor a

young graduate who has an inspirational story that current students can look up to, Francis said. Negranti’s journey from office to farmhouse fits that bill, Francis said. Finally, CFS chooses to honor a younger graduate involved in agriculture or natural resource management as a way to help give them some publicity, Francis said. “It helps let the community know what they’re doing,” Francis said. To celebrate, Negranti’s ice cream was served as the dessert at last weekend’s Taste of the Future event at Hearst Ranch. Negranti’s ice cream was incorporated into a dish along with fruit from Cal Poly, Francis said. Negranti’s former professors are also proud of her achievements. Agricultural communications professor Scott Vernon said he’s not surprised to see Negranti being honored for her hard work and “independent streak.” “Alexis is an industrious young lady who herself is very creative,” Vernon said. As for Negranti’s product, Vernon is a huge fan, he said. “It’s phenomenal,” Vernon said. “Her biggest problem right now is that she can’t make enough of it.”

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY VICTORIA BILLINGS/MUSTANG DAILY

“I had never milked anything in my life, let alone a sheep,” Alexis Negranti said of her idea to produce sheep’s milk ice cream. “I think it will benefit us in the long run,” Coalition store manager Josh Martin said. “We’re already kind of hidden from the main strip so during Farmers’ Market it does get busy for us, but not really, just because everyone stays on that main strip. So if it moves on Morro Street … we’ll definitely get some more business. I’m pretty stoked on that.” RetroFit, a used, vintage and consignment store at the corner of Monterey and Morro streets, has hoped for more foot traffic on Thursday nights, but has not yet seen results, according to sales associate Kristin Melancon. Many people simply

walk past the store after using the parking structure behind the business, Melancon said. “They don’t really stay on Morro, so it’s not really bringing business in the store,” she said. “But with Morro right there, (the expansion) might really help.” San Luis Obispo residents are also anticipating more room to explore during Farmers’ Market. “Farmers is always pretty crowded, so sometimes I’m not in the mood to go park and then wait in line for all the good food,” Cal Poly alumnus Patrick McDonough said. “I think it’s good they’re adding more space.”

MDarts 3

www.mustangdaily.net

Downtown Mission Plaza burns with Funky Flames SAMANTHA SULLIVAN

samanthasullivan.md@gmail.com

Old-school funk rocks downtown San Luis Obispo once again when Burning James and the Funky Flames return to Concerts in the Plaza Jun 29. James Scoolis (guitar and vocals) said the band plays music that is personally interesting to him. Their music isn’t stuff that’s been done over and over again, he said. “Burning James” performed at Concerts in the Plaza last year. He said the crowds’ energy makes for a really fun concert. He also said that the interaction makes the band play better. “It’s a party,” Scoolis said about Concerts in the Plaza. “It’s festive. The crowd is large and everyone is coming to have a good time.” “Burning James” has been together for more than two years. Scoolis said “Burning James” is his favorite band he’s played in. According to him, the music is interesting and kind of tricky. Scoolis said there aren’t many other bands in this part of the country that do what Burning James does. “I think it’s a unique niche we’re filling,” he said. “I’m feeling really happy about it.” Scoolis was working with Chaz Matisse (bass) on a different project before “Burning James.” They both have an appreciation for James Brown, Scoolis said, and started looking for a drummer. Eventually, they found Rick Pitmann (drums and vocals), the house drummer for the Clubhouse. “We wanted to play old-

school funk and we wanted to play it right,” Scoolis said. Scoolis’ fascination for guitar driven rock n’ roll started in the earlier ‘70s, back when the Rolling Stones were in their twenties and Eric Clapton was a young punk, he said. Scoolis said rock n’ roll is based on soul, funk and R&B that’s challenging. Scoolis started following people who were better than him and eventually got his own band. “I followed that tune until I got good enough to do it,” he said. This year, Burning James and the Funky Flames partners with Concerts in the Plaza sponsors Creeky Tiki. This is Creeky Tiki’s fourth year sponsoring Concerts in the Plaza. Brett Butterfield, owner of Creeky Tiki, said in these economic times, Concerts in the Plaza is a good free event that brings the community together. “We learned in year one we needed to step up and support (Concerts in the Plaza).” Managing Partner Mike Marquez said Creeky Tiki sponsors Concerts in the Plaza because, as a business in the Downtown Association, it’s about giving back to the community and Cal Poly. Marquez said the event is unique because all the musicians from the area and there aren’t usually any issues. “I try to sneak away from work to go see everything,” Marquez said. Concerts in the Plaza takes place at Mission Plaza in downtown SLO and is hosted

COURTESY PHOTO

Burning James and the Funky Flames returns to the Mission Plaza this Friday evening at 5 p.m. for a night of funk rock. From the left: Chaz Matisse, James Scoolis, Scott Andrews and Rick Pittman. by the SLO Downtown Association. Concerts in the Plaza has rocked in the Plaza for 17 years. The concert series started as a promotion for the SLO Downtown Association to bring people downtown in hopes they would patron other businesses afterward to eat or shop, Sarah Ragan, promotions coordinator for the Downtown Association, said. “We take pride in being the

premiere summer concert series on the Central Coast,” Ragan said. Ragan said 70 bands applied for the slots this year. To be chosen for Concerts in the Plaza, bands are required to fill out an application and send in a demo. A selection committee for the association looks for many things when deciding a performer; some qualities are stage presence, sound quality

of vocals and acoustic and local following. In order to support local bands, all the bands selected are either from SLO or Santa Barbara counties, Ragan said. Every Friday until Aug. 31, Concerts in the Plaza has a mixture of returning bands as well as new bands. “We are proud to bring back local favorites, but we also bring in new bands,” Ragan said. “We like to mix it up ev-

ery year.” Concertgoers can expect to have a good night, with great food, drinks and live music, Ragan said. Concerts in the Plaza is a free, all ages event that’s great for socializing and meeting new people, she said. “We have the best local bands, best beer, best wine and best food vendors,” Ragan said. The free concert begins at 5 p.m. at Mission Plaza.

Student-built Bike Arch threatened by city and vandalism SAMANTHA SULLIVAN

samanthasullivan.md@gmail.com

The house of 880 Upham St. was easy to spot thanks to a rainbow-colored archway made entirely of bicycles. The community supports the Bike Arch, according to the builder; however, regulations and vandalism threaten its continued existence. Mechanical engineering senior Rory Aronson said he and his roommates ride their bikes to school everyday and attend all bike month events and causes in town. He decided their house needed a grand archway—one made of colorful bikes. “We’re very active in the biking community,” Aronson said, “and I’ve always liked rainbows.”

Andy Olson, one of Aronson’s roommates and 2009 Cal Poly alumnus, was out of the country at the time the arch was built. However, he said he really appreciated the arch being out there. “I think the arch is a wonderful example of creativity and individual expression,” Olson said. “It embodies our love for biking as an alternative lifestyle.” Aronson said the arch is well accepted within the community. Both him and Olson called the arch a landmark item. Not a day went by without someone giving him a thumbs up sign, taking a picture or coming up to the porch to compliment the arch, Aronson said. “It’s fun to be out on the front porch because people are

always coming up and asking about (the arch) or about us,” Olson said. However, at the end of May, a complaint was filed with the city about the Bike Arch, Chief Building Official of the Community Development Office Tim Girvin said. “We received a complaint about several issues at the site about what was described to us as a ‘dangerous bike structure’ in the front yard,” Girvin said. The city responded by doing an inspection of the arch. Girvin said regulations allow items to be only so tall and wide and the arch surpasses those limits. This means Aronson will need a construction application and a building permit. Aronson said he doesn’t

COURTESY PHOTO

The Bike Arch could be subject to a minimum $209 permit fee.

NHA HA/MUSTANG DAILY

Now mangled and unfixable, the Bike Arch sits in Aronson’s driveway. He plans to rebuild the Arch within the city guidelines. know who complained or what their intentions were, but the city was just doing its job. In order to keep the arch, Aronson has to get the City of SLO Community Development Director John Mandeville to make an exception to a few clauses in the zone regulations, he said. Girvin said the exception being looked at is one dealing with fence height. Girvin said a fence was the closest thing the arch could be compared to. “You have to admit this is a bit unusual,” Girvin said. Normally, Girvin and his staff enforce codes for conventional materials, he said. When they come across something built in materials not in the codes, he said they are forced to go in another direction and get more information. “There’s nothing in the codes

about if something is built of bicycles this is how it should look and be safe,” Girvin said. To get an exception, Aronson needs to show why he should keep the arch. The easiest way to do that in the 21 century — create a Facebook event. “Rally for the Bike Arch!” has 549 people “going” to the event, and support is growing everyday, according to Aronson. He sent his application to the city with over 70 testimonies and 340 names gathered from the event, he said. “It shows the support the community has (for the arch),” Aronson said. “Their words and names mean so much more than what I can say.” Complaints aren’t the only issues plaguing the arch. Recently, the Bike Arch suffered from vandalism, Aronson

said. “It appears someone hung from the arch and bent it pretty bad,” he said. Aronson said the famous rainbow colored arch was beyond repair. However, Aronson is working with the city to obtain a building permit to rebuild the arch “stronger and more legitimate than before.” Girvin said Aronson has been asked not to put the arch back up until he gets approvals to do so. The Bike Arch could be subject to a minimum building permit fee of $209, according to Girvin. So, the big question remains: will the Bike Arch be resurrected? “I have good hopes the city will come around and grant the exception,” Aronson said, “and that the community will support us if we need help doing anything.”

MD sports 4 MUSTANG DAILY Graphic Arts Building Building 26, Suite 226 California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo, CA 93407

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Thursday, June 28, 2012

Three players selected in MLB First-Year Player Draft STEPHAN TEODOSESCU stephanteodosescu.md@gmail.com

Three Cal Poly players were selected in this year’s Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft in early June, while former left-handed pitcher Kyle Anderson signed as an undrafted free agent with the Toronto Blue Jays. Former shortstop Mike Miller was selected in the ninth round by the Boston Red Sox and Nick Grim was nabbed in the 17th round by the Baltimore Orioles. Former center fielder Mitch Haniger was also drafted, as he became the second highest pick in program history when he was taken 38th overall by the Milwaukee Brewers in the first compensatory round. All four players recently signed contracts with their respective organizations to play professional baseball. Miller, the 301st overall selection, led Cal Poly with a .354 batting average and scored a Big West-leading 56 runs to go along with 87 hits in 2012. He owned the Mustang’s longest hitting streak of the season at 14 games en route to earning first-team All-Big West Conference honors. Miller started all 56 games and had 27 multiple-hit contests, including a 5-for-5 showing against Pacific on April 28. “He’s very deserving (of the draft pick),” Cal Poly head

coach Larry Lee said. “He had a great year and it’s a great opportunity for him and the Red Sox organization.” After spending a year at Cuesta College, Miller transferred to Cal Poly as a sophomore in 2010. The 5-foot-8 shorststop started his academic career at Cal Poly in 2009, but quickly realized he missed playing baseball at a competitive level. Having not been scouted for Division I baseball out of high school, Miller was granted an opportunity to play for the Cougars at the junior college level. Following a standout year at Cuesta where he earned firstteam All-Western State Conference North Division praise, Lee offered Miller a scholarship to play at Cal Poly. Per NCAA regulations he became dual enrolled in the fall of 2010 to finish with his degree from the junior college before starting what would be a successful NCAA career. Miller’s selection pushed the number of players to be drafted in the first 10 rounds in Lee’s 10-year tenure to 17. He has been designated for assignment for the shortseason Class A affiliate of the Red Sox, the Lowell Spinners. The 17th-rounder Grim shined as the set-up reliever last season compiling a 3-2 record with a 4.74 ERA in 24.2 innings pitched. He recorded 19 strikeouts and pitched more

MUSTANG DAILY FILE PHOTO

Kyle Anderson pitched 92 2/3 innings last season with a 3.40 ERA, 61 strikeouts and a 10-1 record. He signed a free agent contract with the Toronto Blue Jays this offseason. than one inning in relief on three separate occasions. “Grim is a power arm,” Anderson said. “That’s what a lot of people look for with that heavy fastball in the low-tomid 90’s.” Grim, a junior transfer from Monterey Peninsula Community College, was drafted for the second time in as many years after being selected by the Florida Marlins in 2011. He turned down that offer to complete his junior year at Cal Poly. Grim’s fellow hurler Anderson had a breakout season with the Mustangs in 2012. He owned a career-best 10-1 re-

cord with an ERA of 3.40 as the Cal Poly Saturday night starter. His senior campaign marked the only winning season of his Cal Poly career, as the Aptos High School graduate took advantage of being tabbed a weekend starter in 2012. Anderson, a 2002 Little League World Series participant, signed with the Blue Jays immediately following the Draft on June 6th. He pitched two complete games for the Mustangs in 92 2/3 innings last season and went 16-12 in his four year collegiate career. “Kyle was just one of those guys where we played well when he pitched,” pitching

coach Jason Kelly said in a phone interview last month. “As a group we were ready to play when he set the tone with his energy.” His success can be attributed to the evolution of a four-pitch set that was developed in recent years, said Kelly. This past season Anderson improved on his curveball as a fourth pitch to augment his fastball, slider and changeup — a combination that Kelly believes can garner him post-collegiate success. “We totally re-tooled him,” Kelly said. “He has a completely different arsenal from when he was in high school, and he’s bigger and stronger.”

Former coach Stevenson’s death has campus in disbelief MUSTANG DAILY STAFF REPORT mustangdailysports@gmail.com

Former Cal Poly volleyball head coach Jon Stevenson, one of the most successful coaches in his six years with the program, was found dead Sunday in a Van Nuys home, according to the Los Angeles County Coroner’s office. Stevenson was 54. While an autopsy has been performed, the cause of death will take several weeks to determine. The coach was relieved of his duties in September 2011 amid a 2010 report — which surfaced following a public records request — detailing alleged sexual harassment of his players. In the report, players accused Stevenson of alleged inappropriate conduct. It concluded that he had acted “unprofessionally” regarding his coaching duties. When the report first came out, then athletics director Alison Cone decided to retain Stevenson as head coach, albeit with some restrictions to the amount of contact he could have with his players. But, just four matches into the 2011 season on

Sept. 1, Stevenson was formally dismissed. “It’s unfortunate it had to end that way, but I still think the good things that he did for the program outweigh what he was accused of doing there,” former Cal Poly volleyball player Chelsea Hayes said. “I think in time the good memories stay and I don’t think the bad things that happened at the end will hold much weight.” Cal Poly paid Stevenson $133,980, most of the salary he was to receive this year, and gave him hundreds of due vacation hours as part of the separation agreement. Stevenson had led the Mustangs since 2005 earning NCAA Tournament berths in 2006 and 2007. He guided Cal Poly to its first Big West Conference title since 1986. Hayes, a current professional beach volleyball player, heard the news of Stevenson’s death on Monday and it came as a shock. The two had plans of reuniting on the professional beach volleyball circuit and had talked about their future on the beach recently. “We were talking about train-

ing on the beach together,” Hayes said. “We had plans for that this next week. I’m just shocked.” Stevenson was a professional beach volleyball player for 16 years before he began his college coaching career with Sonoma State in 2000. In 1983, he became one of the founding members of the Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP), served on the organization’s Board of Directors from 19841995 and was named Executive Director in 1995, according to the AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour Facebook page. Stevenson experienced success throughout his volleyball career, winning several prestigious awards such as the 1989 AVP Defensive Player of the Year and was inducted into the California Beach Volleyball Association Hall of Fame in 1986. He led Sonoma State to its best record in program history in 2001 before making the move to Saint Mary’s and coaching the Gaels to the 2003 NCAA Tournament. When Stevenson joined Cal Poly, he helped establish the Mustangs as a powerhouse on the west coast. He

I still think the good things that he did for the program outweigh what he was accused of doing there. CHELSEA HAYES FORMER CAL POLY VOLLEYBALL PLAYER

directed the team to a 115-61 overall record and went 66-26 in Big West Conference play. “He was known for turning around programs and coming to schools that were struggling with their volleyball teams and making a huge impact really quickly,” Hayes said. “He put Cal Poly back on the map as far as volleyball is concerned and I think (Cal Poly) will stay there for a while.” Hayes began her collegiate volleyball career at Saint Mary’s in Stevenson’s final year of tenure there and, by coincidence, joined the coach at Cal Poly in 2005 for her sophomore campaign. She currently plays on the Jose Cuervo Pro Beach Volleyball Series and in the National Volleyball League (NVL). At Cal Poly, many coaches

within the department are in disbelief from the death. “He took the team to national 25 rankings consistently in his first years. The excitement around the program was contagious and they often packed Mott Gym with screaming fans,” women’s assistant basketball coach Kerri Nakamoto said. All-American junior and middle hitter, Jennifer Keddy, said he was a great coach and she wouldn’t be where she is now without him. “I am truly grateful and honored that I was able to be coached by him,” Keddy said. “Even though it was only for a short time.” Brittany Woodard and Stephan Teodosescu contributed to this article

Thursday, June 28, 2012 Volume LXXVII, Number 1

MD op/ed

Interest rates for students could double with no action This editorial appeared in the Los Angeles Times on Tuesday, June 26. With just days to go before the clock runs out, Congress appears ready to forge a reasonable compromise to keep interest rates low on federally subsidized college loans for the coming year. Without action, the rates would double from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent on July 1. Under the compromise, Congress would keep the interest rates at their current level, raising much of the $6 billion it would cost to fill the gap by charging companies more to insure their pension

programs, with proceeds to go toward the student loans. In addition, loan requirements would be toughened slightly by cutting off eligibility for students when they take more than six years to earn a bachelor’s degree. There are other steps Congress could reasonably take to keep rates low while minimizing federal spending. It might make sense to allow a small increase in the rate to go forward. A 1-percentagepoint increase would cost students less than $1,500 over the life of the loan, for example, even if they borrowed the maximum allowed under the program. Advocates of the

low-cost loan program have made it sound as though any rate higher than 3.4 percent is unthinkable, but in fact the rate has been that low only for this past academic year; the year before, it was 4.5 percent, and no one was complaining that the rate was exorbitant. Everyone is familiar with the stories of graduates coming out of college burdened by crushing $100,000 debts. But federally subsidized loans represent only a small proportion of all college loans. The top amount that can be borrowed is $23,000, and most students take considerably less. The savings generated by keeping rates low are

easily wiped out by rapidly rising tuition rates. Congress may have bought some time for college students, but rather than wait another year for another last-minute legislative jam, it should begin to address the underlying issue of college affordability. Perhaps colleges that want to qualify for the program should have to justify price increases that exceed the cost of living. Congress is also entitled to information about whether colleges are using their financial aid dollars effectively, by giving them to genuinely needy applicants rather than to compete for star students.

Above all, Congress should be cracking down on college programs that have become virtual machines of loan default. A relatively small number of loans go to students attending for-profit colleges, but those tend to be for the largest amounts and represent a grossly disproportionate number of eventual defaults, because many of the programs often do not effectively prepare students for careers. Congress should consider restricting subsidized loans to programs with reasonable default rates; the nation should not invest in bad loans and ineffective educational institutions.

MD sports 5

Thursday, June 28, 2012

MIDWEST BOUND:

Haniger selected in first round by Brewers

BRIAN DE LOS SANTOS bdelossantos.md@gmail.com

And while Haniger was at Cal Poly, he did just that. In that process, he was thrown

DESME V. HANIGER Former Cal Poly outfielder Grant Desme had one of the best statistical seasons by a Cal Poly player during the 2007 season. However, this year, Mitch Haniger’s numbers weren’t too far behind.

.405 15 53

ILLUSTRATION BY BRIAN DE LOS SANTOS

under the microscope by an onslaught of scouts. This season marked the end of a threeyear audit, with scouts analyzing every part of his personality and skill set. It wasn’t the first time, as Haniger was selected in the 31st round by the New York Mets as a senior out of Archbishop Mitty High School, but this time it was a bit different. Numerous teams were in the conversation to select Haniger. The Chicago White Sox and Boston Red Sox were two of the teams closely following the outfielder, but many were unsure as to where he would exactly be selected. “Some teams saw me in the second round,

HOME RUNS RBIs

BATTING AVERAGE HOME RUNS RBIs

HANIGER

PHOTO COURTESY OF CAL POLY MEDIA RELATIONS

.346 13 64

BATTING AVERAGE

DESME

Mitch Haniger still can’t describe it. That moment he felt as his name flashed across the bottom of the screen during this year’s Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft was too much to digest. In the middle of cheers from a group of friends and family, it took the breath out of him, stunned him and reminded him of what he had spent the past three years in San Luis Obispo working toward: The Major Leagues. “Everybody was screaming and yelling,” Haniger said. “It was just a great time.” As a compensatory selection of the Milwaukee Brewers in the first round (38th overall) of the MLB Draft on June 4, Haniger became the highest player drafted out of Cal Poly in the school’s Division I tenure, the program’s second highest overall. He was one of three players from Cal Poly drafted (Mike Miller, 301st overall, and Nick Grim, 522 overall), with another — Kyle Anderson — signing a free-agent contract. The selection seemed on par for Haniger after the outfielder posted eye-opening numbers on the diamond in 2012. Haniger led the conference with 13 home runs and a .626 slugging percentage, also finishing second on the team with a .346 batting average. Those numbers paved the way for him to become the third-ever Cal Poly player to be named Big West Conference Player of the Year. He also received second-team All-America honors from Baseball America — the only player from the conference to be named to any of Baseball America’s three teams. “Mitch had an unbelievable season,” Anderson said. “He put up some numbers that haven’t really been seen at Cal Poly in a while. He set himself apart from a lot of other outfield prospects in college and we knew he was going to be high draft pick. Once we saw him on TV that first day it was crazy to see, but we weren’t surprised.” Haniger received a reported $1.2 million signing bonus and was as-

signed to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, the Class A affiliate of the Brewers, to start his minor league career. But regardless of the venue, he is still leaning on the crutch that made him so successful at Cal Poly: his motivation for more. “It’s just about staying hungry, not being satisfied with how things are going,” Haniger said. “ You just have to go at it every day and do your best to put your team in a place where they can win.” He did that for Cal Poly, leading the team to one of the best finishes in recent memory. The Mustangs went 36-20 (16-8 Big West) with Haniger, placing just behind Cal State Fullerton in the conference standings. During that year, Haniger set himself apart from the rest of the competition out west in the eyes of head coach Larry Lee. Lee said Haniger put forth one of the best statistical seasons he has seen in his 10 years with the program, one comparable to what Grant Desme did in 2007. Desme received conference player of the year honors that season after winning the triple crown, leading the Big West in batting average (.405), home runs (15) and RBIs (53). “If you compare the best the west has to offer, he is on top,” Lee said. “And if you compare him to the Big West Conference, he really put some distance between himself and the next nearest hitter when he came to any power offensive category.” Haniger was just as stout defensively. Lee’s coached quite a few outfielders that ended their Cal Poly careers as high draft picks in the MLB, but Haniger’s defensive tools made him stand head and shoulders above the rest. “He’s always had a tremendous outfield arm, probably the best arm that I’ve coached,” Lee said. “It was just a matter of him developing his approach at the plate, refining his hitting mechanics.”

other teams saw me in the supplemental,” Haniger said. “Luckily the Brewers saw me in the supplemental round, so it worked out great.” To say Haniger worked for that selection would be an understatement. Haniger’s work ethic made him the player he is today. Even after the season, he took just one day off, and hit, ran and lifted every day until he flew out to his minor league assignment. That work ethic didn’t go unnoticed at Cal Poly. “The longer I was around him, the more I appreciated what he brought to the team,” Lee said. “He is a hard worker, works every day on trying to get better at his game. Good student and good person.” Haniger now has an opportunity to exercise that work ethic at the next level. The glory and bright lights of the Major Leagues are Cal Poly outfielder Mitch Haniger placed himself above every other pro prosthree call ups away, but right pect in the conference after last season. He led the Big West in slugging percentnow Haniger is set on his age by almost .100 points, had more than seven home runs than the next batter season in Wisconsin. and had 20 more RBIs than the next placed hitter in the conference. The As of this moment, the rankings below prove how dominant Haniger’s past season actually was. bright lights can wait. “I haven’t really thought about my future. My only goal is to have a good summer, Home Runs RBIs Slugging Percentage Average hopefully make it through the minors as quickly as possible *Rankings are based on conference statistics and sign a contract once I get into the major leagues,” Haniger said. “I just have to focus on ILLUSTRATION BY BRIAN DE LOS SANTOS these games coming up in these next couple months.”

BEST IN THE WEST 1st

1st

7th