Nov. 16, 2015 by Mustang News

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Going the distance:

Cal Poly alumna hikes John Muir Trail in search of passion and presence Madi Salvati @madisalvati

She walked in search of solitude and food to feed her happy-camper soul — what she found was both of these and a few other perks of hiking the John Muir Trail (JMT). Cal Poly alumna Cauri Hammer, a 2015 environmental management and protection graduate, had only been backpacking once before in Big Sur, California. “I knew I really wanted to do something adventurous and out of my comfort zone after I graduated,” Hammer said. “A really big backpacking trip seemed like a big challenge physically and mentally.” Like something out of the book “Wild: From lost to found on the Pacific Crest Trail” by Cheryl Strayed, Hammer was going the distance alone. “I think it was the only way to do it for me,” Hammer said. “I was kind of anxious,

camping alone. And it was kind of terrifying, but that wore off.” She set out on the trek of a lifetime, intending to find solitude in hiking alone, but Hammer didn’t realize the community and friendships that would form along the way. “The first couple of days were kind of hard,” she said, referring to hiking by herself. “But I met two girls from Canada and became super close with them. I also spent a couple of days with them on the trail.” She found friendship with others as well. “I met so many incredible people,” Hammer said. “That was the most surprising part about it.” Hammer hiked a total of 215 miles in 18 days, starting in Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite National Park and ending her journey on top of Mount Whitney. “It was a really big challenge in the best way possible,” she said. “Within the first 20 minutes I started walking, I saw a

bear and it was like, ‘Welcome to the JMT!’” Hammer said the hike was partly a fundraiser for the Ecological Farming Association. She is passionate about locally grown food, so she was pleased she was able to incorporate her passion for food into something like backpacking, where everything you need to survive is being carried on your back. “I raised about $1,500 to help raise awareness about local food and farming systems,” Hammer said. “I highlighted that I used local produce to make dehydrated meals for the trail.” Along with fundraising and finding solitude, Hammer’s intention of hiking the JMT was also a family affair. “I hiked the JMT specifically because of my grandfather,” she said. “I really wanted to go to all the places he went along the trail.” Continued on page 5

CAURI HAMMER | COURTESY PHOTO 215 MILES OF WILDERNESS | Starting in Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite National Park and ending on Mount Whitney, Hammer hiked 215 miles in 18 days, making unforgettable memories and friends along the way.

Cal Poly brings back Golden Horseshoe

CHRISTA L AM | MUSTANG NE WS RIVAL S

| Cal Poly erupted for 674 total yards to defeat UC Davis 55-38 on Saturday afternoon.

Eric Stubben @EricStubben

MUSTANG NEWS FILE PHOTO UU UPGRADE | Students will have the opportunity to vote on changes to the UU, as well as higher fees.

Students to vote on UU changes in Winter 2016 Naba Ahmed @CPMustangNews

Associated Students, Inc. (ASI) is planning renovations to improve the Julian A. McPhee University Union (UU). In winter, students will be able to vote on whether they would like these changes — and whether the university can increase a UU fee to make it happen. The plans are part of the ASI facility master plan, which includes assessing all facilities on campus. The UU has been a central part of campus since 1971, housing student organizations and study spaces. To get student feedback about the UU renovations, ASI began with a

series of surveys, focus groups and outreach activities, UU Advisory Board (UUAB) Chair and child development senior Sevelyn Van Ronk said. “It all really started with figuring out what students are interested in improving, and from that we discovered what the University Union was lacking and that there needed to be more space,” Van Ronk said. “The UU is such a central part of our campus and used so often by students, improving it would really make sense.” The next step began in Spring 2015 when more than 4,800 students took the UU survey. Students were asked about their current usage of the UU, what they would most like to

see in a renovated and expanded facility and if they were likely to vote in favor of a fee increase to renovate. Students said the UU is crowded and outdated with significant shortfalls in lounge, study and programming spaces. Sixty-eight percent of respondents said they would be in favor of a $185-205 per quarter fee increase. A majority of students — 84 percent — indicated it was a moderate to high priority to improve the UU. The UUAB submitted a petition to Campus Fee Advisory Committee (CFAC) to adjust the UU fee through an advisory student referendum. Continued on page 2

After a two-year hiatus, the Golden Horseshoe is coming back to San Luis Obispo. In defense of its “Faceless except for Davis” season motto, the Cal Poly football team racked up 674 total yards in its 55-38 victory against UC Davis on Saturday. The win marked the Mustangs’ (4-6, 3-4 Big Sky) first victory over the Aggies (1-9, 1-6) since 2013. Senior quarterback Chris Brown led the way for the Mustangs as he passed, caught and ran for a touchdown for the second time in his career. Brown threw for 153 yards and 3 touchdowns while tacking on 160 rushing yards and one 30-yard touchdown reception thrown by junior running back Kori Garcia. The late afternoon matchup between the two rivals started quickly with 35 points scored in the first quarter. Both teams raced out to a 14-14 tie, but the Mustangs led 21-14 at the end of the first quarter. The Mustangs’ first three touchdowns all came on long plays: A 56-yard pass

from Brown to senior wide receiver Willie Tucker, a 47-yard run by Garcia and the 30-yard pass from Garcia to Brown. The Mustangs scored two rushing touchdowns in the second quarter — one by Brown and the other by freshman running back Malcolm Davis — to go into halftime with a 34-14 lead. Coming out of halftime, the momentum shifted. UC Davis scored the first touchdown of the half, but the Mustangs fired right back on a 65-yard touchdown pass from Brown to Tucker. That’s when things began to change. With the Mustangs up 41-21 midway through the third quarter, the Aggies began to claw back. From the end of the third quarter through the beginning of the fourth, the Aggies rattled off a 17-0 scoring run that put them down 41-38 with 14 minutes remaining in the game. With the Aggies charging, it was the Mustangs’ time to regroup. Two long, sustained drives by the Mustangs ended in a 5-yard touchdown pass from Brown to Tucker and 19-yard touchdown

News... 1-3 | Arts... 4-5 | Opinion... 6 | Classifieds... 7 | Sports... 8

run by junior running back DJ Peluso. With 2:45 remaining in the game, the Mustangs were up 5538. Neither team scored again, resulting in the Mustangs escaping a tough battle in Davis with the Golden Horseshoe. Brown’s 153 passing yards and three passing touchdowns were both season highs for the Mustangs. Tucker’s 126 receiving yards and three touchdowns were his season highs as well. As a team, the Mustangs — the FCS rushing leaders at 410.2 yards per game — ran for 491 yards. Brown led the way with 160 rushing yards on 17 attempts. Peluso added in 77 rushing yards and sophomore fullback Joe Protheroe pitched in 75 rushing yards of his own. Defensively, senior linebacker Tu’Uta Inoke led the way for the Mustangs with 10 tackles, including one tackle for loss. Senior linebacker Burton de Koning tacked on eight tackles. The Mustangs finish their season at home next weekend against North Dakota. Kickoff is set for 6:05 p.m. in Alex G. Spanos Stadium.

Monday, November 16, 2015

NEWS | 2 Continued from page 1

The CFAC is composed of the ASI President Owen Schwaegerle, members of the ASI Board of Directors, the chair of the Academic Senate, human resources staff, Vice President for Administration and Finance Karen Webb, the budget director, academic advisors and the associate vice provost for systems and resources. After a unanimous choice, the committee recommended a student fee for the changes to the UU to Cal Poly President Jeffrey Armstrong. Armstrong approved the decision, which will give students the opportunity to vote on whether they would like the upcoming changes to the UU, Board of Directors vice chair and agricultural science junior Jana Colombini said. “That is one of the big things in ASI, we are all about student input,” Colombini said. “Students have a chance to vote on changes because it is for the students, by the students.” With that in mind, ASI is focusing on making sure students are fully informed, according to Assistant Director of ASI Programs and Government Affairs Michelle Crawford. ASI is educating students about the survey results. “It’s our due diligence in making sure they understand the entirety of what the student body said last year when they completed the survey,” Crawford said. To provide diverse input about what students are looking for in an upgraded UU, the UU Advisory Council (UUAC) was created. The council consists of 23 students from organizations across campus such as the Cross Cultural Centers, greek life and ASI. “They are the stakeholders in the project that students are going to be most impacted by,” Crawford said. “We tried to get the best cross section of students that can speak on behalf of all their fellow constituents for the

need of the future UU.” While this council will have a voice for the student body, every student needs to be aware of the process. “The importance of every students being educated on this process is by far the most critical thing for students right now,” Crawford said. All of the information will be available on Monday, Nov. 16 on the ASI Student Government page. With a focus right now on the educational campaign, ASI is reaching out to organizations and the residence halls to ensure all students are informed. Van Ronk has already been speaking to students, she said. “The biggest educational campaign won’t begin until winter quarter where we’ll involve street teams and go to clubs, classrooms, sororities, fraternities,” Van Ronk said. The Recreation Center went through a similar expansion process in 2008. With a lack of space at the old center, students voted in favor of the referendum for expanding the Recreation Center. It was possible because of student support, Van Ronk said. “I get to enjoy the Recreation Center every single day I’m here on this campus, and so it makes me a little excited to be involved in the same kind of process that happened with the Recreation Center,” Van Ronk said. “This project allows us to find out more about what students have to say and that’s how they can have the biggest impact on this campus.” By being a part of the process to expand the UU, students are affecting the future of Cal Poly. “If the referendum does pass, students that took the surveys and were part of this process will never see the results,” Colombini said. “But it’s really kind of cool that we are providing for the future, and that they are here to make an impact and will affect campus for a really long time.”

ASSOCIATED STUDENTS, INC. | COURTESY PHOTO

Monday, November 16, 2015

NEWS | 3

Out-of-state students offered a home away from home Elena Wasserman @ElenaWasserman

ASHLEY LEKKERKERK | COURTESY PHOTO HOME | Ashley Lekkerkerk and her second mother, Julia Starkey.

A home away from home has taken on a new meaning for out-ofstate students at Cal Poly. Cal Poly’s Community Connections program will match out-ofstate students with local sponsor families. It aims to give students a support system for their first year in a new state, Counseling and Guidance graduate coordinator Taylor Gregg said. “Out-of-state students who come here have no roots, so having a support system is really important to the whole Cal Poly experience,” Gregg said. Julia and Scott Starkey, who start-

ed Aware Awake Alive after their son Carson’s hazing-caused death in 2008, created the Community Connections program last year. Their son Hayden became involved in a similar program while away at the U.S. Naval Academy. “The whole time he was there he had a sponsor family and being a parent, that was very helpful,” Starkey said. “Out-of-state students need a place to fall back on; they’re a long way from home and they need a safe place with friendly faces so they can get away from their academic surroundings from time to time and get in a home setting.” The program offers opportunities for students to eat a home-cooked meal, explore their

community and have a support system nearby. Civil engineering freshman Veronika Krahe is planning on using the program. “I’m looking forward to getting to know the area better, anchoring down and feeling more at home here,” Krahe said. Next year, the program will start earlier so students can have a support system going into their first quarter. For now, signups are still available for any out-of-state students who want a local s ponsorship family. Communication studies sophomore and student liaison for Community Connections Ashley

Lekkerkerk was one of the first students to try the program last year. “Just knowing that I had a home away from home was so amazing,” Lekkerkerk said. Students can sign up for the program by contacting Gregg at ttgregg@calpoly.edu.

Monday, November 16, 2015

ARTS | 4

Students’ originality shines despite nerves at KCPR’s Open Mic Michelle Zaludek @michellenistic

Under dimmed green, red and yellow lights, KCPR’s quarterly open mic event broadcasted the voices of students to the world. Thursday night’s event brought a mix of 14 performances, including musicians, comedians, poets and other performers. The night began with Cuesta College sophomore Griff McConal singing and playing the banjo. “This is the first time I’ve ever played a song I wrote in front of (an audience) — not a coffee shop, or just my close friends,” McConal said before beginning. It was a night of many firsts for the performers, with several having to look back at the big audience on their own for the first time, including mechanical engineering senior Julia Hall. “I’ve just been trying to get out of my comfort zone,” said Hall, who said that she had previously performed with choirs and the Arab Music Ensemble. “But performing solo is extremely new.” Furthermore, a few performers brought in some of their earliest works. McConal, for instance, played the first song he wrote, praising it as his personal favorite. “It’s what I consider to be the best song I’ve written so far and the one I’m the most comfortable with,” McConal said. “And a lot of the other ones are about either like, breakups or kind of sad stuff, and I felt like there were going to

be a few of those tonight already. So I decided to pick one that was more out of left field.” And though a few sad songs were featured, there was a wide variety of material, which included both original works and covers like Hall’s rendition of “California” by Grimes. “I listened to the album and I was like, ‘Wow, that’s a great song,’” Hall said on choosing what to sing. The event filled the room to capacity — with approximately 250-300 people watching live at any given time — and listeners occupied whatever available space they could find. Additionally, the live-streamed broadcast on KCPR’s website brought in approximately 2,200 total views. “It’s great exposure,” said Shoot the Mariner bassist Matt Hahn. “And, you know, you don’t really think about it (while performing).” However, performing in such a packed setting and knowing that the world could literally be watching was rattling for some. “I was nervous,” Hall said. “But it was a really receptive audience … it was fun, and the sound guy was really good.” Hahn, a 2012 Cal Poly kinesiology alumnus, agreed with Hall’s sentiment that facing a crowd can be nerve-wracking. “The audience’s eyes sort of stares into your soul, so it gets a little big daunting at times — but it’s pretty fun,” he said. However, Hahn, who has been

playing with the band since 2014, added that despite this being the largest crowd Shoot the Mariner has played for, it’s not always the audience that rattles a performer. “I think the lights are the biggest thing to me,” Hahn said. “Just because there’s lights shining right down on you — it’s pretty tough.”

ALEX MCCR ACKEN | COURTESY PHOTO CONQUERING NERVES | Many of the 14 performers stepped out of their comfort zones to display their talent to an audience for the first time.

Monday, November 16, 2015

ARTS | 5

Authenticity overcomes hurdles of space and time in ‘The Little Prince’ Brendan Abrams @brenabrams

“It is only with the heart that one can see rightly,” whispered the Fox to the Little Prince. “What is essential is invisible to the eye.” While the Fox’s words may ring true for the vast abyss of life, they certainly did not apply to the production of which he was a part. In the Cal Poly Theatre and Dance Department’s production of “The Little Prince,” all the essentials were both present and highly visible as the cast and set came together to provide an experience that was, at once, thematically lavish and refreshingly straightforward. These traits were expected, though, considering the source material. The story originally took the form of an enormously popular 1943 novella by the French activist and author Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, and it observes a crash-landed aviator and an otherworldly prince as they trade realizations about adulthood, empathy and friendship while stranded in an African desert. Each of these universal human struggles is reconciled by imaginative and even magical situations that are insightful, yet

maintain childlike simplicity. The struggle of adulthood served as the backbone of the story, and took on a multifaceted appearance. It was tackled far more deftly than fans of Peter Pan (of “I won’t grow up” fame) might hope. From beginning to end, the Little Prince (played by Miranda Ashland) and the Aviator (Jacob Corsaro) encountered representations of everything wrong with adults in the traditional sense. In the opening scene, the Aviator recalls how adults in his life refused to understand his love for drawing. Later on, the Prince tells about the types of adults he met during his travels to other planets; a narrative played out with hilarity and absurdity by highly animated puppets. There’s the conceited man who wishes nothing more than to be admired; the businessman who’s too busy doing “important things” like counting his money and coming up with ways to make more, to appreciate the stars he claims to own; the geographer who is so set on his pretentious job title that he refuses to go out and discover the things he ought to be mapping. The Prince seeks authenticity and innate value in an innocent, but persistent

fashion, and Ashland portrayed the character perfectly by maintaining a look of youthful wonder when delivering her lines assertively. “I play a lot of kid roles, but this was a lot different from your annoying, bratty 10-year-old kid,” Ashland said. “(The Prince) has all this wisdom and knowledge, but he’s very curious so I really had to balance that.” That personality set the stage, so to speak, for an unbelievably adorable encounter with the top-hat-sporting Fox — a heartwarming character who wishes deeply to be tamed so that he can be understood and loved. “Aw”s and “oh em gee that was so cute”s echoed around Alex and Faye Spanos Theatre. There was rarely time for reactions of this sort to last long, because “The Little Prince” zipped through time and space at an almost dizzying speed. The set design managed to match the pace of the story with its mostly stationary, spacey backdrop, exposed functional gears and human setpieces. “There’s the celestial feel and the sense of the gears and how people are interconnected even if they’re from different planets,” said technical and lighting director Clint

Continued from page 1

She even took pictures in the same spots her grandfather had. “I felt a really strong connection to him even though I never got to meet him,” Hammer said. While following in her grandfather’s footsteps, Hammer recalls the incredible feeling of standing where he had once stood. “It was seriously amazing,” she said. “Especially being in specific places he had been.” Hammer learned a lot about herself on the trail — feeling more connected to her grandfather was only one experience. The two Canadian girls Hammer met on the trail had an impact on Hammer and her learning experience.

CAURI HAMMER | COURTESY PHOTO FOOTSTEPS | Hammer visited areas where her grandfather had hiked.

“Both of them had painted three dots next to their eyes along their temples,” she said.

“Each dot represented an intention for the trip and prompted them to talk about their goals.”

ILIANA ARROYOS | MUSTANG NE WS GROWING UP | The Aviator and Little Prince evaluated problems related to adulthood.

Bryson. “(I) had this blank canvas and got to paint pictures and ideas on top of it.” Normally, having actors embody trees or wind appears slightly comical and elementary, but here it worked seamlessly, allowing the human characters to reach new destinations with ease. The focal point of the set was a round projection screen that displayed what the Aviator drew on his notepad in real time. It hovered above the actors like a high-definition thought bubble, and truly highlighted the

Hammer also received three dots painted next to her eyes. “I came up with some goals for each dot, too,” Hammer said. “One dot stood for being present and cherishing each moment. The second dot stood for not second guessing myself and making a decision without dwelling on it. The third dot represented being confident to be on my own.” These dots proved to be great points of learning and reflection for Hammer, so much that at the end of her trip, she had the three dots tattooed on her wrist as a reminder of her goals. “The trail taught me to be less competitive and to be present,” she said. “It was the perfect place to practice being present.” With those goals in mind,

show’s emphasis on the value of imagination. The Aviator returned to his childhood thought process with the help of the Prince to access the beauty the world has to offer. Beauty is fleeting, however. Memories of the things and people we love will eventually be all we have. That’s OK, according to the Little Prince in his tearful farewell to the Aviator. The Prince quotes the Fox when he concedes, “It runs the risk of weeping a little.” That’s how we know it was all worthwhile.

the scenery and raw beauty of the high countr y captivated Hammer. “The scenery was majestic,” Hammer said. “It was kind of crazy because many areas are barren toward the south end of the trail and you are completely exposed.” Thinking back on everywhere she trekked, it was hard for her to pick out a single spot that was her favorite. “There’s super lush pine trees and alpine lakes and crystal blue water,” she said. “One of my favorite places was Thousand Island Lake in the Ansel Adams Wilderness.” One of the most memorable parts of the trip for Hammer was being atop Mount Whitney. When asked about how

it felt to stand on top of the mountain, she grew a little quiet before replying. “It was pretty surreal,” she said. “There was a huge meteor shower as we were hiking up to the summit, shooting stars everywhere. It was also the coldest I had ever been in my life and it was pretty special.” As as a recent graduate of Cal Poly, Hammer encourages others to follow their passions when it comes to embarking on the next chapter in their life, whether it is moving somewhere completely new or, in her case, hiking 215 miles on the John Muir Trail. “Don’t think too much into it,” she said. “If you have some sort of goal or challenge to take on, then go for it.”

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Monday, November 16, 2015

OPINION | 6

Red, the color of angry Christians Brandon Bartlett @CPMustangNews

Brandon Bartlett is an English sophomore and Mustang News conservative columnist. These views do not necessarily reflect the editorial coverage of Mustang News. As I ordered my mandatory holiday-themed Starbucks coffee, I was utterly taken aback when I saw their cups; they were red. No pictures of snowmen, no ornaments telling of joy and hope, nothing. Just that pagan siren calling me back for another cup of overpriced caffeine. I was appalled. Don’t they know it is my right to have my deeply held beliefs exploited just so that stockholders can make a quick buck? And how dare they end the annual (dis)respecting of Christ’s life by perverting his memory with the yeast of consumerism? To what has this nation come? But, satire aside, we all know that the reaction wasn’t really about the cup; it’s about the conflict between differing paths to unification: homogeny versus the appreciation of diversity. However, before we begin passing judgement, let’s establish an understanding for both sides of the dispute. And let us start with an understanding of our shifting culture. The percentage of Americans who identify as Christians has been on a steady decline for the past 70 years, and has been especially precipitous over the last decade. This backs claims of figures like Bill O’Reilly that the “War on Christmas” is very real. Consequently, we should expect nothing less than a shift in the way people celebrate a holiday which has been traditionally religious. But why is the rhetoric of “war” and “persecution” being employed? This is because, generally, people’s expectations about future events are constructed from past experiences, and a violation of those expectations, especially when the expected end is desirable, feels like a shift from normalcy. Hence, when a whole generation of people, especially a generation which is more likely to be religious than its counterparts, is raised with Christmas seeming to be a nearly universal holiday, the ever-growing violations of those expectations are going to feel like some sort of a perversion of tradition. And this is only further exacerbated by the lingering persecution complex that was sparked within the Evangelical community during the ‘90s.

So regardless of the possible misnomer, we can certainly be sympathetic to the group who, justified or not, truly feels as though their symbols and values, which have brought so much joy and fulfillment to their own lives, are being eroded by the growing secular portion of society. And they are not without good reason to be saddened and angered by this. The natural human response to turmoil, for which humanity is running a surplus, is to attempt to amplify tribal unity through homogeny. And this would make sense, since homogeny, especially in terms of religion, can be psychologically beneficial for the individual. However, this group has a problem. Though many would not like to admit it, times are changing, and not everyone believes that jingle bells rock quite as much as they used to. Yet, it is not as though this is a new phenomenon; there have always been people on the outskirts of culture who have been excluded by Christianity’s monopoly on social consciousness within America. People are now becoming aware of it. And given the fact t hat

ingroup/outgroup power dynamics are what fuel so much of domestic (and international) conflict, it makes sense that other people would desire to be more inclusive on issues which, within a civil context, merely don’t matter. Just because someone is of a different faith doesn’t mean that you cannot, as the bumper sticker says, coexist. This mindset is, also, not without good reason; for not only can someone alter their mind-

set to embrace a greater level of “tolerance” without it harming their ability to relate to those around them, but this can also increase a society’s ability to produce and adapt to changes. The case is settled diversity done well is a good thing. Though, it must also be noted that attempts at diversification can also further reinforce prejudice biases, ultimately leading toward the oppression of one group by those in power. So then, what ought we to do? Unfortunately, as with most issues, this doesn’t have an easy answer. How can we both respect people’s deeply held beliefs and desire for unification and solidarity within their society, and yet, hold in tension that such a mandate will inevitably lead to discrimination of those outside of the cultural norm? How can we both express ourselves and leave room for others to express themselves? These are the questions at the foundation of our modern “culture wars.” And these battles are not waged between good and

evil, enlightened and stupid, progressive and conservative, but between good people who merely have different understanding of how we can make society better. Okay, with that said, let’s get to what you have all been waiting for: What does this all-knowing and infinitely wise student columnist believe we ought to do? Don’t worry, your patience

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return to rationality

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has not been in vain. (Did you catch the sarcasm? I hope you caught the sarcasm.) First of all, we need to stop acting as though saying “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holidays” is a microaggression. And I’m not claiming that such could not, theoretically, be done offensively. However, I think we

can all agree that in most cases such language is really only meant to convey warm feeling. Wishing someone a Merry Christmas even if they do not celebrate the holiday is like wishing someone a good afternoon before the clock has struck 12. it’s a polite way to convey care regardless of its factuality. And yet, we must still be sympathetic to those who are annually bombarded with incessant reminders that they don’t quite mesh with the general trend of culture. I mean, just try to put

yourself into their shoes. Remember that kid in middle school who was just way too into Pokemon? He had the Pikachu backpack and the Poke ball binder, and never understood that you didn’t care what he did on his Gameboy last night? Yeah, it’s like that. Only instead of it being one kid, it’s everyone all the time. Imagine trying to go about your daily life for nearly two months (can’t we wait until after Thanksgiving?), and everything familiar has utterly transformed itself: the music in stores, the movies on television, the way your friends are dressed, those beaming lights on all your neighbors’ houses, all of it foreign and reminding you that you don’t quite fit in. Now, this doesn’t mean that you should not celebrate Christmas, nor that our yearly façade is a bad thing; but maybe we should reconsider our dogmatic requirement of keeping things inclusive. Maybe decorating a huge evergreen and calling it a “holiday tree” is not an attack on the traditions of Christmas, but an attempt to broaden them. Maybe it is not a declaration against anything, but an invitation to the outsider, an outstretched hand saying, “You don’t need to believe the same things that I do in order for us to both stand shoulder-to-shoulder in celebration of love, whether that love be from God, humanity or both.” And maybe, just maybe, a plain red cup is not a political stance, but an opportunity for those who have always been excluded to join in the great and universal celebration of something much larger and more important than Christmas.

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SPORTS | 8

Freshman leads Cal Poly in NCAA West Regional

Ayrton Ostly @AyrtonOstly

The Cal Poly cross-country team notched top-15 finishes in both men’s and women’s races at the NCAA West Regional Championship on Friday. Freshman Peyton Bilo led the women’s side and finished 12th in the 6K in 21 minutes and 0.5 seconds. She was one of 38 runners from across the country to receive an at-large bid to the NCAA Championships in Louisville on Nov. 21. The top four finishers in each region received automatic bids.

Junior Ashley Windsor finished 62nd in 21:44.7, sophomore Sydney Szabo finished 67th in 21:51.5 and senior Sara Van Dyke finished 89th in 22:16.0 to pace the Cal Poly women’s team, which finished 13th overall. For the men’s side, junior Nick Woolf led the team for the second meet in a row and took 56th place in 32:13.8. Close behind him were junior David Galvez in 66th (32:24.0), redshirt freshman Garrett Migliozzi in 68th (32:25.2) and Devon Grove in 71st (32.29.3). As a team, the men finished 12th overall in the 10K.

CAL POLY ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS | COURTESY PHOTO KENTUCK Y BOUND

| Freshman Peyton Bilo finished 12th in the NCAA West Regional Championship on Friday. Bilo will compete in the NCAA Championships in Louisville on Nov. 21.