T hur sday, December 8, 2 016
E s t a b l i s h e d 1916
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MATT L AL ANNE | MUSTANG NE WS ADJUSTMENT PERIOD | Ten years ago, Heidi Harmon got involved with politics when she advocated for local environmental issues. Now, she is adjusting to the reality of being the new mayor of San Luis Obispo.
Heidi Harmon: New approach leads to unexpected win James Hayes @jimbles_hayes
On Nov. 23, Nick Andre was looking at the ballot counts just like he had been doing since the election on Tuesday. He was sitting in the County Clerk’s office when he was handed a piece of paper with the final results of the mayoral election. Heidi Harmon was spending the evening as she would any other; at home in her sweats. However, her
routine was interrupted when Andre, her campaign manager, pulled into her driveway and rushed into the house. Almost three hours north of San Luis Obispo in Sunnyvale, journalism senior Mallory St George was walking through the door of her home. Instead of greeting her mother like usual, she was glued to her phone crying tears of joy. Harmon won the mayoral race. “On some level, I’m still ad-
justing to the new reality,” Harmon said. The advocate Harmon, 30 years old, has been an early childhood educator, business owner and mother. But this is her first time holding public office. Her political activism started roughly 10 years ago when she began to advocate for local environmental issues. “I began to really understand the urgent nature of climate change,”
Harmon said. In 2014, Harmon ran for state assembly, focusing on climate change, campaign finance reform and income equality. She lost the election, but not her passion for activism. She continued to engage in local activism and work with community members in San Luis Obispo. Her political zeal strengthened when she heard Bernie Sanders speak roughly five months before he announced his run
for presidency. “I knew he was my guy,” said Harmon. She led the local Sanders campaign in San Luis Obispo and helped register more than 1,000 new voters. She was eventually elected to be a delegate for Sanders at the Democratic National Convention alongside her eventual campaign manager, Nick Andre. However, after the Democratic National Convention and Sanders’ loss, Harmon said she returned
home feeling disappointed. “I thought about giving politics up all together,” Harmon said. “But I remembered what Bernie had to say and that was go home and run for office.” Harmon did just that. She won the mayoral race by a margin of 47 votes, overcoming the five percent lead six-year mayoral incumbent Jan Marx had on Nov. 8. HARMON continued on page 2
Cal Poly splits weekend homestand
CECILIA SEITER | MUSTANG NE WS BENEFIT
| Local band Seaweed Vipers played at the benefit concert on Friday for Standing Rock.
San Luis Obispo takes a stand for Standing Rock Cecilia Seiter @cseiter17 ILIANA ARROYOS | MUSTANG NE WS SPLIT THE DEFENSE
| Junior guard Dynn Leaupepe drives for a layup in a loss to Saint Mary’s.
Erik Engle @erik_engle
After starting the season 3-0 at home, the Cal Poly women’s basketball team split the final two games of their four-game
homestand with a loss to the Saint Mary’s Gaels Thursday night and a win against the Pepperdine Waves Saturday evening. Despite a loss on Thursday, the Mustangs were able to get back in the win
column on Friday against the winless Waves in their second-to-last home game of 2016. BASKETBALL continued on page 8
Cannon Ball, North Dakota is not the place most people would choose to spend their winter breaks. For starters, winter temperatures in Cannon Ball often drop below zero degrees Fahrenheit. Clashes between law enforcement, Native American tribes and protesters created an even
more harsh environment in the Standing Rock Indian reservation town. Graphic communication senior Nate Ross plans to go anyway. “I don’t want to sit back and watch something unfold and then be like ‘Dang, that’s a bummer,’” Ross said. That “something” is the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline, a multi-billion dollar oil pipeline that, if completed,
News 1-3 | Arts 4-5 | Opinion 6 | Classifieds 7 | Sports 8
will travel under Lake Oahe — Standing Rock Sioux’s water supply — which could possibly be contaminated if the pipeline leaks. The pipeline would also run through sacred Sioux burial grounds. However, on Dec. 4 the Army Corps of Engineers announced the pipeline may be rerouted. PIPELINE continued on page 2
NEWS 2 PIPELINE continued from page 1
The Army Corps of Engineers has authority in this situation because they issue permits necessary for the pipeline construction. The pipeline is a highly controversial project, spearheaded by Energy Transfer Partners and recently endorsed by Presidentelect Donald Trump. The Sioux and other Native American tribes have been protesting the pipeline since April. Even though the Army Corps of Engineers announced that it would reroute the pipeline, with a Trump presidency on the horizon, it’s uncertain whether or not the protesters’ work is finished. The social media trend #NoDAPL (No Dakota Access Pipeline) spread messages to educate others on the issues Native Americans have tackled since Columbus first landed in 1492: colonialism, environmental racism, police brutality and land disputes. Yet, while the impact of these issues are felt by few in San Luis Obispo, local residents and students are poised to fight for the Native Americans’ cause. From Cal Poly to Cannon Ball Ross organized a caravan of students and San Luis Obispo locals to join the protests at Standing Rock from Dec. 17 to Dec. 31. He made an event on Facebook which has been shared with over 1,200 people urging community members to pack up their cars and make the 25-hour drive to North Dakota. While many people were supportive of his idea, Ross said it’s
MUSTANG NEWS hard to get people convinced to drop their holiday plans and put themselves in the line of fire. “I think there are a lot of people out there that are actually very frightened and would be very nervous about going there because of all the news that’s showing the violence that’s occurring there,” Ross said. Still, Ross said eight people had pledged to make the trip with him before news came of the Army Corps of Engineers’ change in plans. Potential caravan-goers are currently on hold to find out what their next move is. But whether or not the group still goes to Standing Rock, Ross said there are other ways to support the cause. “I’ve been c ons i d e r i ng going on a There are a lot of people California that are actually very road trip, frightened and would stopping in be very nervous about cities and talking to as going there... many people NATE ROSS about the pipeline and the way its construction can affect the world,” Ross said. “There are so many people in Los Angeles and San Diego that can make an impact on situations like this.” Kombucha for a cause Some who didn’t join the protests showed their solidarity from home. Local artists and businesses poured extensive effort into supporting the cause, hosting events to raise donations for the tribes at Standing Rock. One of these businesses is
CANNON BALL CAR AVAN
ILLUSTR ATION BY CECILIA SEITER | MUSTANG NE WS
| Nathan Ross organized a caravan so the Cal Poly community could join the protests in Standing Rock.
Whalebird Kombucha, which hosted a benefit concert and raffle at its headquarters in San Luis Obispo Friday night. Local bands played live music while guests sipped on drinks donated from various breweries and wine cellars. The proceeds from the event will go to Standing Rock as
well as Off the Grid, a nonprofit that installs solar and renewable energy systems in Native American and low-income residencies. “We want to give support, definitely, to the protesters,” Lee Wilkerson, co-owner of Whalebird Kombucha said. “But we also want the money that’s generated
to go to ... low-income housing so that these pipelines and these big oil companies don’t have the excuse [to exploit them].” Wilkerson and Whalebird Kombucha CEO Mike Durighello, were both blown away by all the support shown by the community. Almost every business
he reached out to for donations was on board, Durighello said. He estimated the event would rake in around $5,000 for donation, possibly even more. “We’re both astounded that this happened and that everyone mobilized so fast,” Durighello said. “It took on a life of its own.”
CECILIA SEITER | MUSTANG NE WS KOMBUCHA FOR A CAUSE
HARMON continued from page 1
The students A key component of her bid for mayor was her relationship with Cal Poly students. “One thing I’ve already done is be really proactive and meaningfully engage with the students,” Harmon said. St George helped lead student outreach by facilitating Facebook Live events where students could ask Harmon questions and have them answered, during which the two shared a touching moment in front of 27 people. “We were signing off and we forgot that the camera was there and we just started talking,” St George said. “I was telling her how much she meant to me and then she just started crying and next thing I knew we were both crying and then we realized ‘Oh shoot, there’s 27 people watching us cry right now!’” Now that she has won the race, Harmon hopes to improve community relations, specifically between students and long-term
| Whalebird Kombucha hosted a benefit concert where all proceeds were donated to Standing Rock as well as Off the Rock, a nonprofit that installs renewable energy systems. community members. “I’m hoping that we can create more opportunities for students who live in neighborhoods to connect with their neighbors,” Harmon said. “The feeling of the neighborhood is gone. I want to find out what we can do to get that feeling back.” St George believes Harmon is the perfect one for the job. “I can see her very successfully bridging the gap between students and long-term residents of San Luis Obispo,” St George said. “I think that’s something that — on both sides of the community — people want to have happen.” Harmon believes more student housing could help facilitate that change. “I am interested in having some conversation with Cuesta and Cal Poly about housing more students on campus,” Harmon said. The future For many of her supporters, Harmon represents a new and positive outlook for politics. “To be a good anything, you just
have to start with being a good person and Heidi is a good person,” St George said. “I know that she shares my progressive values and I want those to come to the places I love.” A large part of this positivity stems from the way Harmon and her team ran their campaign. “Heidi, over the entire campaign, wanted to make sure everything stayed positive,” Andre said. I can see her very Harmon said successfully bridging the she wanted to show people gap between students and can win on long-term residents of merit and not San Luis Obispo. by demonizing their opponents. MALLORY ST GEORGE During her campaign, she never ran negative ads against candidate Marx. “That’s just the kind of person I am and want to be,” Harmon said. “It’s commonly held advice that going negative is the way you win, so I think it’s great MALLORY ST GEORGE | COURTESY PHOTO we won by running that positive campaign.” BFFS | Journalism senior Mallory St George (left) was very involved in Heidi Harmon’s mayoral campaign.
NEWS 3
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2016
ASI supports university position to aid undocumented students
Brendan Matsuyama @CPMustangNews
Associated Students, Inc. (ASI) unanimously passed a resolution Dec. 1 supporting the creation of a full-time position dedicated to addressing the needs of undocumented students at the DREAM Center. According to Dr. Jane Lehr, women’s and gender studies department chair and member of the Undocumented Student Working Group, the proposed position would replace a fulltime volunteer position working with undocumented students. “We currently have an Americorps volunteer who’s in a full-
time position at Cal Poly,” Lehr said. “She’s 100 percent focused on building capacities for undocumented students.” However, the volunteer’s funding ends this July, leaving a space to be filled that could potentially involve up to about 60 hours of work per week that is currently spread across the Americorps volunteer and the 10 members of the Undocumented Student Working Group. Additionally, whoever fills the proposed position would receive training only available to official Cal Poly staff members. “Because [the volunteer’s] not an official staff member at Cal Poly, she doesn’t have the
training that a student support services professional would typically have,” Lehr said. The position would support the needs of undoc-
umented students at Cal Poly as well as advise on changes in laws as they pertain to issues. “The person in this position would also be heavily
I hope that the undocumented students know that we — ASI and the student body — support them... JANA COLOMBINI
involved in monitoring current and possible changes to state and federal laws that may impact our students or may impact students’ families and then advising students as well as the university on what’s happening,” Lehr said. ASI President Jana Colombini is optimistic that this resolution will go a long way in motivating Cal Poly to hire a full-time employee to fill this position. “By passing this resolution, it shows the university that that position is a top priority for students,” Colombini said. “I think that this resolution speaks volumes to show how much the student body cares about un-
documented students and the creation of the DREAM Center.” The DREAM Center was announced to open in early 2017 by Vice President for Student Affairs Keith Humphrey in Building 81 with the objective of creating a safe space for undocumented students and increasing campus inclusivity. ASI’s newest resolution has solidified the student body’s support of the initiative. “I hope that the undocumented students know that we —ASI and the student body — support them and will do what we can to make sure Cal Poly continues to be a safe space for them,” Colombini said.
Apartment laundry rooms burglarized, suspect at large James Hayes @jimbles_hayes
For many Cal Poly students, not much thought is put into where quarters go when doing laundry. But some people, quarters might be going into the pockets of laundry room burglars. Three apartment complexes in San Luis Obispo had their laundry rooms burglarized last week. According to a news release from the San Luis Obispo Police Department (SLOPD), complexes at 2828 and 2933 Augusta St. and 721 Johnson Ave. all had their laundry rooms broken into and had an undisclosed amount of quarters stolen from the machines. San Luis Obispo is no stranger to laundry room burglaries, with a total of 15 since 2014. According to SLOPD, these instances are usually committed by repeat offenders. Max Wilkins, 36, was arrested in 2014 while robbing a laundry room on Mill Street and was believed to have committed at least five of these 15 burglaries. The Arroyo Grande Police Department (AGPD) reported a similar incident on Nov. 21. A man broke into the laundry room of an apartment complex on S Elm Street in Arroyo Grande and stole quarters from the machines. AGPD reported $1,600 worth of quarters was stolen. Surveillance cameras in the apartment complex’s laundry room caught footage of the suspect. AGPD Sergeant Shawn Cosgrove said they believe there is a connection between this incident and the incidents in San Luis Obispo.
MATT L AL ANNE | MUSTANG NE WS
GOT CHANGE? | Laundry rooms at complexes 2828 (below) and 2933 Augusta St. and 721 Johnson Ave. (above) had quarters stolen from their laundry machines.
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ARTS 4
MUSTANG NEWS
Poly POV brings untold stories of students to life Carly Quinn @carlyquinnMN
Everyone has a story, but not everyone can theirs. Poly Point of View (POV) became a mouthpiece for these people. A communication studies senior project, Poly POV took anonymous submissions of Cal Poly students’ experiences and turned them into monologues that were performed Monday night in Chumash Auditorium. Communication studies seniors Jacob Corsaro, Camille Clark and Marie Campos have been working since Spring 2016 to make this show possible. “There were definitely a lot of setbacks, some not-so-positive feedback and some disheartening stuff, but at the end of the day
that’s why we wanted to do it and it motivated us to do this project,” Campos said. “I think right now, right after the performance, we’re all just really grateful about how it turned out.” Sixteen monologues were given a voice by a cast chosen to authentically represent the stories being told. Clark said that some monologues performed were personal stories of cast members but that information was confidential. Using skills from his theatre minor, Corsaro wrote the monologues based off of the anonymous submissions and worked with actors one-on-one to polish their performances. “It’s not my story to tell,” Corsaro said. “We wanted to cast people who had a certain stake in it that could really portray it
in a genuine way.” Each performance presented different issues that minorities deal with, touching on the subjects of gender, race, sexuality and religion. Wine and viticulture senior Braden Bautista performed a monologue entitled “White Washed,” a term his character was often labeled as at Cal Poly despite his Filipino and Mexican heritage. “My identity and who I am here at Cal Poly was something I really struggled with when I first got here,” Bautista said about his own experience. “I didn’t know how to identify myself, but this piece and this project helped me concretely put that into words and helped me identify myself.” Theatre junior Jennifer McClinton performed “Pick One,” bringing attention to the struggles of biracial people. “I really do believe there’s a diversity problem on campus,” McClinton said. “Cal Poly needs to open their eyes and see that these are people’s real stories coming out and being shared.” Senior project advisor and communication studies professor Jnan Blau said he was pleased
‘Mad Love’ tour
JoJo’s coming to San Luis Obispo Nicole Horton @CPMustangNews
On Feb. 20, 2017, San Luis Obispo’s Fremont Theatre will welcome singer-songwriter JoJo as a stop on her “Mad Love” tour. The tour kicks off in January and the Central Coast is one of several stops JoJo will make to promote her newest album. JoJo is well known for early
2000s hits like “Too Little Too Late” and “Leave.” Her last album “The High Road” was released back in 2006, so the debut of “Mad Love” was highly anticipated. Though it has been nearly 10 years since JoJo’s last album release, she has been busy working on the new album and touring the country alongside the all-female
group Fifth Harmony. Full of original songs and notable guest features like Wiz Khalifa and Alessia Cara, “Mad Love” has already gained significant media attention, from numerous magazine shoutouts to claiming the number one spot on iTunes’ Overall Pop Chart. Tickets will be available on Friday, Dec. 9 at 10 a.m. on Ticketfly.
with the outcome of the show. “They’ve done something that’s really important and really poignant,” Blau said. “The theatrical frame really helps deal with and talk about some of these issues in different ways that make it engaging, interesting and accessible.” The event brought a much larger crowd than the three students expected, but they all said they were happy to share these stories with so many students. “We wanted people to be able to recognize something in themselves,” Campos said. “Even if you didn’t think you’d relate to a monologue or contribute a story, hopefully you connected with some piece of the production.” Corsaro said starting a discussion was the goal for Poly POV. She hopes that it doesn’t end with the show. “Of course I’ll never have these experiences,” Corsaro said. “But in knowing that people do have these experiences and seeing how real and human it is and how it affects people, we start to want to help them and do whatever we can to make the campus more inclusive, more diverse and just embrace the differences we have.”
CHRISTA L AM | MUSTANG NE WS OUT LOUD | Actors read the anonymous submissions as monologues.
ARTS 5
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2016
COURTESY PHOTO | CRE ATIVE COMMONS
What to binge-watch this break almost cult-like following.
Sabrina Thompson @sabrinaswriting
Don’t have any plans this winter break? Here’s a list of Netflix shows you can zone out to after the stress of finals. “Supernatural” – 11 seasons This series gained a strong following after its 2005 premiere. Following two brothers who hunt the villains of the supernatural world, it’s a beyond binge-worthy show. Strong storylines with many subplots immerse viewers in an exciting new reality. Besides being a thriller, the series is full of jokes that keep it lighthearted. “‘Supernatural’ is known for having an extremely fun fandom,” art and design freshman Isabela Presedo Floyd said. “I also generally like shows where characters hunt all the things that go bump in the night.” “How I Met Your Mother” – nine seasons “How I Met Your Mother” is a long-winded story told over eight years about a group of friends navigating their way through life. It’s your typical sitcom with stock characters in sometimes outrageous situations. The cast of the show includes Alyson Hannigan and Neil Patrick Harris and often features pop culture icons like Britney Spears and Katy Perry. With countless jokes and catchphrases as well as some truly heartfelt moments, you’ll understand why the show has an
“White Rabbit Project” – one season The “MythBusters” team is back with this Netflix original series. Debuting Dec. 9, this show will be one of the newest to Netflix. Remaining consistent with the themes of the Discovery Channel show “MythBusters,” “White Rabbit Project” will star the experimental team of Grant Imahara, Tory Belleci and Kari Byron. Few details have been released regarding the show, but if it’s anything like “Mythbusters” it’s sure to be entertaining. “I’m looking forward to seeing what the ‘White Rabbit Project’ has in store,” electrical engineering senior Sanghyun Wang said. “It’ll be good to see at least part of the ‘Mythbusters’ gang doing crazy things again.” “Stranger Things” – one season Another new show to Netflix is the overnight sensation “Stranger Things.” A suspenseful show about young children facing a dangerous alternate dimension, this series is at the top of many must-watch lists. Set in the ‘80s, the series captures the culture of the era while employing modern science fiction themes. “Gilmore Girls” – six seasons The revival of “Gilmore Girls” was one of the most anticipated Netflix releases of November, especially since the first series ran from 2000 to 2007. Stepping back into the small town of Stars Hallow, the return of familiar faces
like Rory, Lorelai and Luke had “Gilmore Girls” fans on the edge of their seats. The series tells the story of a strong mother-daughter duo as they figure out life in their own special way. Many of us can relate to Rory’s struggles of figuring out what she wants to do with her life now that college is over and the real world awaits. “Gilmore Girls” is a great show to watch with friends, especially to discuss the buzz surrounding four words spoken in the last episode. “American Horror Story” – five seasons This show is one of the creepiest out there. A mixture of horror and thriller, “American Horror Story” is absolutely addicting; however, it’s not recommended to watch it in one sitting. There are five seasons with five very different storylines, but the cast stays consistent. If you can only stomach one season, “Murder House” is definitely the one to look out for. The season mixes stories of historical and present-day murders taking place in one house in Los Angeles to create a terrifying and scintillating plot. Whether you want to laugh or cry, there is an abundance of shows waiting for you to enjoy this break. Pushing through finals may be exhausting, but hopefully this list will remind you of the bright light of a Netflix screen waiting for you at the end of the week.
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#HEALTHYHACKS Stop by Tacos To-Go to customize your own burrito or salad with nutritious options like black beans, brown rice and lean proteins. Mexican-inspired goodness without the guilt! (Registered Dietitian approved)
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Come by the PCV Aliso Conference Room from 7 - 8:30 p.m. to show off your decorating skills and sneak some frosting in the process. The top four houses will be displayed in PCV dining locations and there will be prizes for the winning team. Space is limited to the first 50 students so show up early!
PLU$ DOLLARS & SENSE We are now 79 days into school! Students in residence halls should have about $223 Plu$ dollars left to spend this quarter and apartment students should have about $170 Plu$ dollars left.
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OPINION 6
MUSTANG NEWS
Fidelity in the U.S.-Cuba deal
OPINION
Elias Atienza @CPMustangNews
Elias Atienza is a history sophomore and Mustang News columnist. The views expressed in this column do not necessarily reflect the viewpoints and editorial coverage of Mustang News. Thank God Fidel Castro is dead. The communist dictator of Cuba was a madman who imprisoned political opponents, took land away from citizens, enriched the Cuban elite and allowed Cubans to starve while exiling more than one million of them. Cubans do not have the right to vote nor the right to free speech or protest. Their dehumanization extends beyond disenfranchisement, as Castro placed thousands of gay men in concentration camps and denied them basic rights such as the ability to join the Communist Party. Castro’s passing is a symbol of the end of an era; an era of economic and political suppresion that was brought to an end by Obama’s thaw of Cold-War era tensions between the U.S. and Cuba. Obama’s efforts were similar in intentions, if not in practice, to Nixon’s efforts with China. However, neither act of diplomacy went without criticism. The same people who opposed opening relations with China now oppose the Cuba Thaw. People such as Marco Rubio, Donald Trump and Ted Cruz voiced their opposition to the Cuba deal, while the president-elect has gone so far as to say that he would rip it up. However, the policy of isolationism pushed by ideologs like these has not worked. Despite 50 years of embargo, the Castro regime has continued to commit human rights violations at an alarming rate. The Castro brothers have used the Cuban
embargo to justify their positions of power, blaming the U.S. for the poor economic status of Cuba. As the Cato Institute’s Daniel Griswold wrote back in 2005, “If the goal of U.S. policy toward Cuba is to help its people achieve freedom and a better life, the economic embargo has completely failed.” History has shown us that free trade is actually better than the threat of war. I believe this unquestionable principle will inevitably turn opponents of the Cuba deal into reluctant supporters. The U.S. actually has historical precedent to continue to roll back embargoes on its Caribbean neighbor. Currently, the U.S. has diplomatic and trade relations with communist countries such as Vietnam and China. Engagement with these states fostered more open economies, that focus on central planning and capitalism. This means that the invisible hand of the market is just as pow-
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We should celebrate the death of Fidel Castro. erful as the communist state itself in terms of determining which industries draw the most workers. This international involvement is championed by all aforementioned opponents of the Cuba deal (with the exception of the president-elect). Senator Rand Paul made a nod to this hypocrisy in TIME,
MUSTANG NEWS
“The supporters of the embargo against Cuba speak with heated passion but fall strangely silent when asked how trade with Cuba is so different than trade with Russia or China or Vietnam,” Paul said. Opponents of this comparison would argue that it is unfair to compare countries that are so geographically, and thus culturally, distinct. However, Cuba’s geographic proximity actually affords the U.S. the chance to have a much greater influence on this transition to economic and political freedom. The U.S. is the ultimate lifeline that can rejuvenate the Cuban economy and if we can
COPY EDITORS Quinn Fish, Bryce Aston, Andi DiMatteo DESIGNERS Kylie Everitt, Aaron Matsuda, Tanner Layton
convince the Castro regime of this, then the ensuing wave of capital investments will bring with it more than just a revived economy. By introducing the Cuban people to the freedoms of capitalism, the U.S. gains leverage. Once the Cuban economy is given a taste of the free market, the Castro regime will no longer be able to perpetuate the myths that frozen relations with the U.S., and thus the embargo, are in the best interests of the people. When Cubans realize how strangled their current economy is, it will put pressure on the regime to do everything it can to defuse the situation and prevent a revolt. This gives the U.S. leverage and means President-elect Trump will be in a position to demand the Castro regime release political prisoners and
give their people more political freedom before Congress fully lifts the embargo. Economic protectionism, a policy of embargoes and sanctions imposed by the U.S. on Cuba, should be phased out. We should celebrate the death of Fidel Castro, but in doing so we should look forward to continuing relations, opening our borders for travel along with gradually lifting the economic embargo so Americans and Cubans can help each other thrive economically and culturally. Let us hope that a tidal wave of free trade and capitalism will push Cuba and the Castro regime to allow economic freedom and basic political rights that Americans take for granted every day.
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SAMMI MULHERN | MUSTANG NE WS RIP EL COMANDANTE
| The death of former Cuban dictator Fidel Castro should motivate people to break down the system of oppression that was left by his legacy in the country.
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SPORTS 8
MUSTANG NEWS
HANNA CROWLEY AND ILIANA ARROYOS | MUSTANG NE WS TO THE BASKET
| Junior guard Dynn Leaupepe (left) drives for two of her game-high 24 points against Pepperdine and senior forward Hannah Gilbert (right) goes up for a layup in a loss to Saint Mary’s.
BASKETBALL continued from page 1
Cal Poly Mustangs vs. Saint Mary’s Gaels, Dec. 1 Early in the first quarter, the Mustangs jumped out to a 6-0 lead, but the Gaels finished the quarter on a 22-6 run. The Gaels’ scoring was largely spurred by the plethora of fouls the Mustangs committed in the quarter as Saint Mary’s was able to convert on all eight of their free throw attempts. As a result, multiple Mustangs ended up in foul trouble early and had to come out of the game. “It was really difficult to get past that, it certainly took both [junior guard] Lynn Leaupepe and [senior forward] Amanda Lovely putting their butts on the bench so I think that hurt a little bit with our flow,” head coach Faith Mimnaugh said. As the first half continued, the Mustangs found a spark off the bench from junior forward Emily Anderson who drained three shots from beyond the arc in the first half on her way to a
career-high 12 points. “I was happy, obviously, with the performance of Emily Anderson in a substitution role,” Mimnaugh said. “I thought she came in and was a real spark for us.” As soon as Anderson entered the game, she began launching jumpers when she had open looks. “My role on this team is basically to shoot,” Anderson said. “I know that when she puts me in the game that’s what I’m supposed to do, so I just kind of shot with high confidence and they fell tonight.” Anderson, the only Mustang to connect on a three in the first half, contributed enough off the bench to keep the Mustangs within six at the half despite the team shooting a woeful 33 percent from the field. At the break, the Mustangs also trailed the Gaels in rebounds 27 to 17 and points in the paint 18 to 8. “We recognized that more in the second half we needed to take the ball to the rim and draw more fouls,” Anderson said. “We had
zero free throw attempts in the first half, so we definitely needed to change that.” Scoring and rebounding inside continued to be tough for the Mustangs in the second half, as the Gaels’ size advantage became more evident once the Mustangs’ forwards started to get tired. “They’re just huge,” Mimnaugh said. “You know, every position they’re pretty much six foot and taller. We had to battle on the boards. I’ve seen it be a lot worse so we did an okay job, but it’s obviously an area that we are still trying to focus our attention to improve upon.” After Saint Mary’s saw its lead swell to 17 with nine minutes left in the fourth quarter, the Mustangs’ defense prevented the Gaels from scoring another field goal in the game. With 35 seconds remaining in the game, the Mustangs shrunk the Gaels’ lead to just five points in large part to junior guard Dynn Leaupepe who scored a game-high 24 points with 12 points coming in the fourth quarter.
Ultimately the early lead was too much for the Mustangs to overcome. Once the Mustangs started intentionally fouling, the Gaels were able to hit their free throws and defeat the Mustangs 79-71. Cal Poly Mustangs vs. Pepperdine Waves, Dec. 3 Two days after the loss to Saint Mary’s, the Mustangs looked to get back on track against Pepperdine. The Waves came out firing from deep, hitting three shots from beyond the arc in the first six minutes of the game to jump out to an early seven-point lead. The Mustangs’ defense kept the pressure on and turned defense into offense, scoring eight points off of six forced turnovers in the first quarter. With nine minutes left to play in the first half, Dynn scored two of her game-high 22 points on a go-ahead basket for the Mustangs and Cal Poly never trailed from then on. Junior forward Mary Kate Evans helped extend the Mustangs’ lead just before half-
time as she drilled two threes and two free throws coming off the bench in the last three minutes of the quarter. At the half, the Mustangs lead 35-25, mainly due to their ability to score off of turnovers. In addition to turning 13 Waves’ turnovers into 18 points, the Mustangs only turned the ball over five times and surrendered just four points off of those turnovers. The Mustangs also had a slight advantage on the boards in part due to senior forward Hannah Gilbert’s three offensive rebounds in the first half. “When our nights kind of flow on the defense that we’re in, it kind of opens different opportunities for us,” Gilbert said. “I think we took advantage of that completely which led to more success for us.” As the second half began, the Mustangs’ pressure defense and rebounds continued to turn into points on the other end of the floor. Lynn seemed to be involved in every big defensive play and loose ball, finishing
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the game with a career-high 13 rebounds. “If I know my shots aren’t falling, I usually try to pick it up on the other ends, whether it’s rebounding or steals or even just small hustle plays,” Lynn said. “I just try to do what’s best for the team, if it’s not working for me I just go back and help out the team.” The Mustangs maintained their early lead throughout most of the game, but the Waves came roaring back to come within four of the Mustangs with four minutes left to play. That is as close as they would come to the Mustangs’ lead, however as the Mustangs continued to play solid defense down the stretch. Gilbert scored four of her eight points in the final three minutes of play and secured the victory for the Mustangs. Next week, the Mustangs will travel to Phoenix, Arizona to face Grand Canyon University Dec. 10 before returning to Mott Gym to take on University of San Francisco Dec. 17.