Mustang News January 8, 2019

C A L P O LY S A N LU I S O B I S P O ’ S N E W S S O U R C E

MUSTANG NEWS

S ’ O H W G N I H C WAT YOUR ?

K N I R D

RECENT CASES EMERGE OF STUDENTS BEING DRUGGED IN DOWNTOWN SLO

PAGE 6 JANUARY 8, 2019

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MUS TA NGNE WS.NET

Austin Linthicum

Lauren Arendt

Quinn Fish

Rachel Showalter

Rachel Marquardt

Claire Blachowski

Editor in Chief

Print Managing Editor

Digital Managing Editor

NE WS Cassandra Garibay Editor Isabella Paoletto Rose Romero Lauryn Luescher Sabrina Pascua Stephanie Garibay Samantha Spitz Ashley Ladin Maureen McNamara Hailey Nagma ARTS Emily Merten Editor Sabrina Thompson Michaela Barros Caroline Garcia Yasel Hurtado Caitlin Scott Grant Anderson Emma Kumagawa Kiana Meagher Intern Claudia Ferrer Intern Ally Madole Intern OPINION Kendra Coburn Editor Zachary Grob-Lipkis Hanah Wyman Abdullah Sulaiman Bailey Barton Sierra Parr Yervant Malkhassian Brett Baron Noemi Khachian Ken Allard Lilly Leif Olivia Peluso Jaxon Silva SPORTS Brian Truong Editor Lauren Kozicki Naythan Bryant Francisco Martinez Sophia Crolla Garrett Brown Sydney Finkel Prerna Aneja Intern Kyle Har Intern SPECIAL SECT I O NS Isabel Hughes Editor

IN THIS ISSUE

TUESDAY • JANUARY 8, 2019 | NEWS | MUSTANG NEWS

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Social Media Managing Editor

Video Managing Editor

PR Manager

V I D EO Justin Garrido Video Editor Sawyer Milam Sports Video Director Reid Fuhr Sports Video Producer Sydney Brandt Video Producer Kallyn Hobmann Kayla Berenson Jack Berkenfield Lauren Powers Intern Lily Dallow Intern P H OTO Zachary Donnenfield Carolyne Sysmans Kylie Kowalske Alison Chavez Diego Rivera Connor Frost Maxwell Morais Intern Luke Deal Intern COPY Kelly Martinez Amanda Simonich Jarod Urrutia D ES I GN Calista Lam Director Michelle Cao Solena Aguilar Julia Jackson-Clark D I V ERS I TY Monique Ejenuko Editor PR Alyssa Wilson Dominique Morales Kaitlyn Hoyer Mikaela Lincoln Tess Loarie Intern Christina Arthur Intern SOCIAL Lindsay Morris Hanna Crowley Danielle Lee Candace Lee Intern A DV I S O RS Paul Bittick General Manager Pat Howe Print Advisor Brady Teufel Digital Advisor

TOM Z A S A DZ I N S K I | COU RT ESY

Unable to communicate through language, characters on the float use musical instruments to share their message of goodwill with aliens.

SPACE-THEMED FLOAT WINS EXTRAORDINAIRE AWARD STUDENT-CREATED ROSE PARADE FLOAT TELEVISED TO MILLIONS

BY M I CH A ELA B A RROS Cal Poly Rose Float won the Extraordinaire award for their “Far Out Frequencies” float at the 130th New Year’s Day Rose Parade in Pasadena, Calif.

This is the first time Cal Poly has received the award.

For eight consecutive years, the float constructed by both Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and Cal Poly Pomona has been recognized as California Grown certified, with at least 85 percent of its materials being from California.

The “Far Out Frequencies” theme was selected out of more than 150 ideas submitted for this year’s float.

The theme celebrates the 2019 parade theme, “The Melody of Life,” by paying homage to music as a language for all.

This is the fourth time the float has had

a space theme in Cal Poly’s 71 years of participation.

The float featured two towering astronauts who communicated through musical instruments and was over 16 feet tall and 48 feet wide and had several animatronic components.

Cal Poly Rose Float President and mechanical engineering senior Sara Novell said the team was extremely happy about this year’s performance.

“People [were] walking by our float and saying, ‘Oh my god, it’s a beautiful float,’” Novell said. “The judges even complimented our float during the judging — and that’s not very common.

It [was] amazing.”

Rose Float officials estimated in a press release that about 700,000 people attended the event, while over 44 million Americans and 28 million people

internationally tuned in on television.

“We know the Rose Parade’s worldwide audience appreciates the students’ creativity and workmanship,” President Armstrong, who attended the parade, said. “I also hope viewers see this float as a metaphor for what Cal Poly students bring to the world: leadership, technical precision, an ability to solve problems and an uncompromising work ethic and zest for life.”

TOM Z A S A DZ I N S K I | COU RT ESY

STUDENT FOUND DEAD IN MONTAÑA DE ORO

STUDENTS DRUGGED IN DOWNTOWN SLO

INSIDE THE CAMP FIRE AFTERMATH

HOW ONE STUDENT IS WORKING TO SAVE SLO OAK TREES

BREAKING RECORDS SINCE 1984

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STUDENT FOUND DEAD IN MONTAÑA DE ORO

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BY CASS A N DRA GA R I BAY Twenty year-old industrial technology and packaging senior Michael Kullman was found dead in a remote area of Montaña de Oro State Park on Friday, Jan. 4, according to a San Luis Obispo Sheriff ’s Department news release.

Kullman was reported missing on Thursday after his car was found at Montaña de Oro. The sheriff ’s search and rescue team, State Park Rangers and California Highway Patrol began searching at about 4:30 p.m. on Thursday. He was found just after midnight, Friday morning.

The cause of his death is still under investigation and no further information is available at this time, according to the news release.

However, investigators do not believe foul play was involved.

Kullman grew up in Arroyo Grande and was an active member of the Cal Poly community.

He was president of the Industrial Technology Society and worked at Metals Fabrication as a lab technician. A campus-wide email sent Friday afternoon sharing news of his passing said he was also involved in his local church.

The email wished his family condolences and listed resources for students. The email also included a link to a memoriam page with information about Cal Poly students who have passed away this academic year.

A vigil was held the evening of Jan. 4 at Grace Bible Church in Arroyo Grande. A GoFundMe page for the grieving family was set up on Friday, with a goal of reaching $20,000.

As of Sunday, Jan.6, $15,615 has been raised.

M I C H A E L KU LLM A N | FACE B O O K

Industrial technology and packaging senior Michael Kullman was president of the Industrial Technology Society and actively involved in his church.

C RYSTA L A LLSTOT | COU RT ESY

Greek Row leadership team members Crystal Allstot and Hudson Albert pass out blanket supplies to member Ryann Adrian.

INTRODUCING GREEKS TO GOD

GREEK ROW TALKS RELIGION, GIVES BACK TO THE COMMUNITY

BY PR IYA S O DLAP U R

On a Tuesday night, dozens of students can be seen crammed into Front Porch coffee house animatedly talking about God. They all have one thing in common: being a part of Cal Poly’s greek life.

Greek Row is a non-denominational organization created to make a unique community where members of greek life feel welcome and comfortable regardless of their relationship with God. For biomedical engineering senior Hudson Albert, a member of Greek Row’s leadership team, the goal is to create a space where students can talk about things with one another that typically are not talked about in a regular church setting.

“We all struggle with very similar battles, and having a community where greek life and faith overlap provides a truly incredible space to tackle those battles together,” Albert said.

What really sets Greek Row apart from a traditional church setting is the structure of their gatherings. Rather than listening to a preacher, the organization hosts various speakers, has members share their experiences with God and facilitate various group discussions. In an effort to create a vulnerable and honest community, the members hear personal issues and inspiring stories from other members.

“When we talk about some pretty heavy issues like faith, conviction, and accountability, the conversational feel brings out so much vulnerability,” Albert said. “It’s beautiful.”

Albert recalled a particularly unique speaker, who used mathematical vectors to explain how their properties are similar to how he believes God uses random events and people in our lives to point us in a direction closer to “Him.”

For nutrition senior Kim Tuckness, Greek Row helped her figure out how to navigate college while being in a sorority and having faith.

“It’s one thing to know the 300 other girls in your sorority, but to share this common value of faith amongst a few makes you feel fully known,” Tuckness said. “Greek Row allows relationships to dive deeper and gives space to support and do life with other sorority, fraternity members.”

Currently, the organization has representation from every single Panhellenic sorority and approximately half of the fraternities on campus. Each meeting sees anywhere from 70 to 100 students who join in on these discussions surrounding faith.

“It’s a time I can listen to others around me, learn and understand different walks of life among our community,” Tuckness said.

“I think so many people in our society today forget to listen.”

Tuckness recalled the hesitation and nervousness she felt when she first started coming to meetings, followed by the warmth and comfort she felt being squished together with 80 others who embodied a community of constant love and support to her.

“I went to the first meeting and knew this was a special place,” Tuckness said. “Right when you walk in, instantly people want to welcome you and make you feel included into the family they create among Greek Row.” Tuckness, who has been a part of the Greek Row community since her first year at Cal Poly, has seen it grow immensely with meeting sizes, almost tripling since she first arrived.

“There is a sense of joy that is radiant from the sorority and fraternity members that walk away from the meetings and I think others have picked up on this,” Tuckness said.

In addition to Tuesday night meetings, the

members also take part in retreats, social events and philanthropy. In the past, they have held events like a retreat to Lopez Lake, where members spent a weekend near the lake sharing stories about faith.

In an effort to serve the San Luis Obispo community, the group also actively hosts volunteer opportunities to help those in need.

Recently, the group came together to make fleece blankets for local homeless people on Nov. 27. More than 100 members crammed into Front Porch and gathered around tables to tie and cut fleece.

In line with the holiday spirit, volunteers dressed in Christmas sweaters and celebrated with music and food while — working to make as many blankets as possible resulting in a total of 40 blankets to give.

In the past, club members have also partnered with Povertees, a company that aids unemployed women in Los Angeles through the sales of their customizable pocket tees.

Greek Row worked with the founders of this company to help sell the tees and raise money for these women.

While the community is structured around a relationship with God, members of the leadership team said they do not expect anyone to be Christian or even have a prior relationship with God to join the organization.

The group strives for their community to be not only welcoming, but also the place where “greeks meet God.” “We try to promote a freedom in belief and acknowledge that each person’s relationship with God is going to look different from the next,” Albert said. “Religion is often such an uncomfortable and touchy subject and by creating the most inclusive and welcoming environment, we’re able to see so much vulnerability and honesty in our Greek Row community.”

TUESDAY • JANUARY 8, 2019 | STUDENT LIFE | MUSTANG NEWS

MICHAEL KULLMAN’S DEATH STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION, NO FOUL PLAY SUSPECTED

TUESDAY • JANUARY 8, 2019 | COVER STORY | MUSTANG NEWS

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R O M U R A N A H MORE T LO OFIED IN DOWNTOWN S STUDENTS RO

BY CA SS A N D RA GA R I BAY Trigger warning: sexual assault and rape Two weeks after his 21st birthday, in early Sept. of 2017, environmental earth and soil sciences senior Jordan Weeks realized date rape drugs, often referred to as “roofies,” are not only a concern for women.

“It’s kind of almost a stereotype that, because I’m privileged to be male on this campus, that I don’t have to worry about those kinds of things. [That is] not the case,” Weeks said.

“That whole memory still, the image of that guy, I can’t get out of my head.”

Weeks was at Frog & Peach Pub with a group of friends when he was roofied. A stranger sat down next to him at the bar, which Weeks

The center assured Weeks that, based on tests, he had not been sexually assaulted or raped. He then ordered an at-home drug test, which tested for a number of date rape drugs and Gamma hydroxybutyric acid (GHB), often referred to as “liquid ecstasy.” He said he tested positive for GHB, which kicks in about 15 minutes after consumption and only requires very small doses to last three to four hours. High doses can cause unconsciousness and nausea, among other symptoms, according to the US Drug Test Centers.

According to the San Luis Obispo Police Department (SLOPD), there have been only four reports of roofies in 2018. Two victims were men, two were women and only one incident was said to have happened downtown.

It’s kind of almost a stereotype that, because I’m privileged to be male on this campus, that I don’t have to worry about those kinds of things. [That is] not the case. said he found strange because the bar was otherwise empty. The man, who looked like he was in his late 20s, began talking to Weeks while Weeks’ friends were talking amongst themselves.

Their interaction quickly became physical, making Weeks feel uncomfortable.

“He started to touch me, my shoulder and then he like grabbed my thigh and I was like, I said, ‘Hey man, I’m sorry, I’m not really about that,’ and at that moment I knew I should have gotten up and walked away,” Weeks said.

“But — there’s always a but — but my friend came over, the one I came with, and started talking to me about something and I made the mistake of swiveling in my chair, leaving my drink open on the bar. And that’s the last thing I remember.”

Weeks woke up in his bed with no recollection of what happened or how he got home. After throwing up and responding to his friend’s panicked “Where are you?” text messages, Weeks went to The Center for Health and Prevention to be tested for rape or sexually transmitted diseases.

However, instances of roofies often go unreported. Weeks, for example, chose not to report to the police because he could not obtain footage from Frog & Peach and said he felt his claim would be dismissed without video surveillance.

Another student, who wishes to remain anonymous, said her friend was drugged at a downtown bar. According to the woman, around late January of 2018, her male friend was roofied at SLO Brew. He said he began to feel weird after a stranger bought him a drink.

When he brought it to his group’s attention, someone who had been previously roofied themselves told him to drink water and urinate into a cup.

The next morning, he delivered his urine sample to a drug testing center in San Luis Obispo and tested positive for another date rape drug, PCP. PCP is a hallucinogenic, and similar to Ketamine — a commonly used date rape drug — it is considered a dissociative anesthetic.

Dissociative anesthetics do not often render the consumer unconscious and instead

distort their senses and put them in a state of confusion. They also cause loss of memory, according to the US Drug Test Centers.

According to the anonymous source, he did not report to the police because he was underaged and used a fake I.D. to enter the bar the night he was roofied.

He did not return Mustang News’ request for comment.

However, a senior who also wishes to remain anonymous and was allegedly roofied at SLO Brew Saturday, Oct. 27, felt inclined to report the incident to the police.

“I went to the [San Luis Obispo] police station the next [Tuesday] to file a report against what happened, just to kind of inform them in case this is part of an ongoing investigation — because I had heard from friends that it had been the fourth weekend in a row people had gotten roofied at SLO Brew,” she said.

Mustang News has not been able to confirm whether there have been multiple instances of people being roofied at SLO Brew. However, several sources told Mustang News they have heard of at least six other students who believed they were roofied in downtown San Luis Obispo from September 2018 to October 2018.

The student who reported her instance to the police said all she remembers of the night was having one drink before Ubering downtown with her friends, dressed up in a Halloween costume.

When she and her friends were at SLO Brew, she was given a drink she said she believes was spiked with a date rape drug. Neither she nor her friends remember who gave her the drink, but bank records show she did not purchase it herself.

After that drink, her friends described her as acting strange and easily agitated.

She told her friends she was going to the bathroom and was out of their sight for about 20 minutes. In that time, she had walked from SLO Brew to Mother’s Tavern, where her roommate was just across the street.

When she arrived at Mother’s Tavern, she could hardly stand or open her eyes and the bouncer refused to let her in. Her roommate immediately took her home. “[When I woke up], there were gashes in the back of my head,” she said. “It felt like I had been kicked behind my neck. My entire back hurt. It was like the muscle part felt like . . . when you have a flu and it’s just like your entire body hurts. So I couldn’t figure out what was happening, and I was like, ‘This is not normal.’ I couldn’t remember the entire night.”

Her friends had not noticed the cuts the night before because she was wearing fake blood as a part of her costume, she said.

The following Monday, she went to the oncampus Health Center where she was told she had a severe concussion and metal fragments in her head.

She said she believes she fell in the 20 minutes she was alone. However, the doctor

I know that a person of my size would not get blacked out from four shots. I just completely don’t remember a single thing, and [the next day] I started to clue in, like, ‘Oh my God, I think I was roofied.’

What began as a fun Halloween festivity ended in a concussion and seven cuts along her head.

“I know that a person of my size would not get blacked out from four shots,” she said. “I just completely don’t remember a single thing, and [the next day] I started to clue in, like, ‘Oh my God, I think I was roofied.’”

said she was likely hit on the head, given the alignment and severity of the cuts.

When she asked if she could be tested for roofies, however, the Health Center told her the drug would not still be in her system two days later, especially since the concussion had caused her to throw up many times. They also said even if she were to be tested, the

Health Center can only test for the three most commonly used roofie drugs — Rohypnol, GHB and Ketamine, according to the US Drug Test Centers. The doctor, however, told her her symptoms described the “classic roofie.”

“Not knowing what happened kind of gives me a little peace of mind, because then I can be like, ‘Oh, maybe I did just fall and nothing like [sexual assault] happened.’ That is a big relief.”

She reported the incident to the police the day after going to the Health Center. She said

Ketamine and Benzodiazepines, including Rohypnol.

Rohypnol, the namesake of “roofies,” is now illegal in the United States and the pill is made to change the color of any liquid it is dissolved in to. The drug usually kicks in 30 minutes after consumption and symptoms include trouble standing, slurred speech and going unconscious.

More comprehensive drug tests can test for all of the above in addition to a range of opioids, sedatives, over-the-counter drugs,

Advertise with

We want [everyone] to know we’ll take a report no matter what. We can begin a paper trail. when her mother asked if the police could acquire security footage from the night, the police told her it would not likely help. She did not report the incident to SLO Brew.

According to University Spokesperson Matt Lazier, the Health Center is able to test urine for flunitrazepam, also known as Rohypnol, and GHB. The test must be ordered through a medical provider and would cost the student $204 or $87 depending on the test. The results take one week to obtain and could come back negative if the chemicals have already broken down by the time the test is taken. The Health Center could not accommodate for an interview.

According to US Drug Test Centers, there is a wide range of drugs that can be used as date rape drugs. However, basic date rape urine or hair drug tests include testing for GHB,

WHAT TO DO IF YOU SUSPECT YOU HAVE BEEN ROOFIED

hallucinogens and cannabinoids.

SLOPD Officer Fred Michael said if anyone is roofied, it is important they report it to the police.

“We want [everyone] to know we’ll take a report no matter what,” Michael said. “We can begin a paper trail.”

He said to avoid the risk of being roofied, people should always tend to their drink, never accept drinks from strangers or even acquaintances and keep a hand on their drink at all times.

If someone thinks they have been roofied or sexually assaulted while under the influence of roofies, Safer — Cal Poly’s confidential sexual assault reporting resource — said it is important the survivor not blame themselves, according to Lazier. Safer and RISE offer counseling for sexual assault survivors.

Quinn Fish contributed to this story.

Editor’s note: Given the sensitivity of the story, Mustang News allowed for sources to remain anonymous if they wished to do so.

Most drugs are traceable for up to seven days after consumption.

However, date rape drugs can leave a person’s system in 72 hours or less, according to the Health Center website.

In San Luis Obispo, Star Testing offers drug tests. And Respect. Inspire.

Support. Empower. (RISE), the Center for Health and Prevention and SLOPD all offer Suspected Abuse Response Team (SART) exams. According to the San Luis Obispo County website, a comprehensive SART exam includes a medical history, description of the assault, head-to-toe assessment, photographic and forensic evidence, preventative sexually transmitted disease treatment and potential counseling.

The Center for Health and Prevention, RISE and Planned Parenthood also offer sexually transmitted infection testing and treatment.

For details see www.mustangnewsbusiness.net SOL ENA AGUILAR | MUSTANG NEW S

TUESDAY • JANUARY 8, 2019 | STUDENT LIFE | MUSTANG NEWS

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JARED S MI T H | MUSTA N G N EWS

“Powerlifting has allowed me to be more comfortable in my own skin,” Johnson said. She attended nationals and placed third in her group.

FINDING STRENGTH

STUDENT OVERCOMES EATING DISORDER BY POWERLIFTING

BY J A RED S MI T H As she picked the barbell up off of the floor, psychology sophomore Bella Johnson could not help but think about her mom.

Johnson did not like the way she looked in the mirror as a child. She thought she would be prettier if her thighs did not touch. At age 10, she had attempted multiple diets to lose weight or to look different than the reflection she saw in the mirror.

Johnson said she felt this pressure from society to look a certain way. She said she would often see models portrayed as beautiful and wish she looked like them.

She discovered she was naturally better suited for strength training over cardio training and began to look for ways to use this newfound skill.

Powerlifting is different than the jerky, fast movements that can be seen in olympic weightlifting. While lifts can be fast when training for a meet, lifts are slow at the meet because the weights are much heavier than the weights used to train with. Johnson’s uncle was a state championship powerlifter — this is where her mother got the idea.

The sport also has less to do with aesthetics, which was a large part of why Johnson said she was dieting in the first place. Powerlifting is more about pushing the body to see what one is capable

Powerlifting is a way to become the strongest version of myself physically and mentally.

At the age of 13, Johnson was restricting herself to eating 500 calories a day — essentially a starvation diet — and began to induce self-vomiting. Before long, she went to therapy. She was never diagnosed as bulimic or anorexic because she had the symptoms of both.

Therapy helped, but Johnson said she still did not feel fully recovered.

It was not until Johnson’s mom got her started powerlifting that everything started to change.

of, according to Johnson. Johnson’s mom began looking for meets for her to have an outlet to help her recover from her eating disorder.

Johnson and her mom found a Washington State Championship meet in 2014; she signed up. Johnson was amazed at what her body could do and she took four state records at her first meet.

For Johnson, powerlifting became a form of self-love.

“Powerlifting is a way to become the strongest version of myself physically and mentally,” Johnson said. “Powerlifting helped me take that last step into recovery.”

After the Washington State meet, Johnson joined a powerlifting gym in Washington, and has been powerlifting for five years since.

“Powerlifting has allowed me to be more comfortable in my own skin,” Johnson said.

Now that Johnson is a powerlifter, she feels differently about the models and views society has on beauty.

“There’s something empowering about rebelling against femininity norms that induced or triggered my eating disorder,” Johnson said.

Cal Poly Eating Disorders Treatment Coordinator Sarah J. Park said that while social media is not the only trigger for eating disorders, she is hearing more and more about the role of social media when it comes to these disorders.

“It’s never been easier to compare ourselves to others than it is now. Our social media presence is usually our best self,” Park said.

Park said she hears many people respond to eating disorders with, “Oh, just eat normally,” but Park stresses that it is much more complex than that.

“It’s all about the food and not about the food at all. It’s about control and perfectionism,” Park said.

As a female powerlifter, Johnson said there

is a misconception revolving around heavy weight training and femininity. She said the biggest misconception is that women will be bulky from the weight training, which is not true. The training will just tone and tighten the body up, according to Johnson.

Johnson’s coach, Brenna Patterson, said powerlifting has helped her put a purpose to her gym routine. Even in high school, Patterson had broad shoulders and looked muscular. She felt this was odd for a girl. Powerlifting helped her feel more comfortable.

“It’s nice to put a purpose to everything and be proud of the muscle I gained,” Patterson said.

Johnson would eventually go to nationals, a large powerlifting event that has thousands of competitors. Before nationals, Johnson’s mom was diagnosed with cancer. In early May of the same year, she went into hospice care. Just four days before nationals, Johnson’s mom, the one who got her into powerlifting in the first place, died. Johnson told herself that she would go to nationals because it was what her mom would have wanted for her.

Johnson placed third in her weight class and age group.

“I did it for her,” Johnson said.

The meet solidified Johnson’s belief in powerlifting. While she was there, the meet director took the microphone and spoke to the crowd for a minute. He talked about the meet in general, but he also talked about how Johnson had just lost her mother. Johnson broke into tears and the crowd stood and applauded her.

“It made me hold powerlifting that much closer to my heart,” Johnson said. “It kept me afloat.”

While Johnson loves her sport, she said balance is important for sustainability and happiness. Singing is a passion of hers and she recently donated $6,000 to cancer research from six songs she released on iTunes. All the songs were dedicated to her mom.

“When life knocked me down, powerlifting helped me find the strength within to pick myself back up,” Johnson said.

J A R ED S MI T H | MUSTA N G N EWS

UPD REPORTS RISE IN STUDENTS BEING SCAMMED MORE ONLINE, PHONE AND HOUSING SCAMS REPORTED IN FALL 2018 THAN PREVIOUS QUARTERS

BY LAURYN LUESCHER University Police Department (UPD) saw significant increase in the number of scams students reported in Fall 2018 compared to previous quarters. Some of the major scams reported included kidnapping scams, online sales scams, phone calls about arrest warrants and requests for personal assistants.

“Being in a college community is like Disneyland for criminals,” UPD Officer Frank Herrera said. “They see easy targets and they just go for it.”

According to Herrera, students have received phone calls saying either a friend, family member or roommate has been kidnapped and that the student needs to deposit a certain amount of money, or they will kill the individual.

It is a similar protocol with the arrest warrant scam. Students will receive a phone call saying there is a warrant out for their arrest and they need to pay a certain amount of money.

Herrera explained that one of the best things for students to do in this situation, whether it be a phone call regarding kidnapping or an arrest warrant, is to always get the authorities involved and never send money. The police are not able to intervene once the money is shipped overseas.

“A lot of time the money is sent overseas to other countries and there’s nothing we can do once it leaves, even when you purchase these cards and you send them out and you learn that it is a scam, businesses aren’t going to refund you the money, so it’s a lost cause,” Herrera said.

The personal assistant scam was not often seen before Fall 2018, Herrera said. Students reported receiving emails asking for a personal assistant. The scammer would send the student a check and tell them to keep half for themselves, deposit half to an iTunes card or Google play card and send the person the card numbers. Usually by the time students realize it is a bad check, it is too late, Herrera said.

“The reason they target a lot of students is because they know that students are in need of money,” Herrera said. “They know they are having to pay for school and it’s an easy way to make cash without even realizing that it is a scam.”

Herrera said that online sale scams were particularly common last quarter. Students who sold items on Craigslist or a public marketplace would receive a check for too much

and the buyer would ask for the excess money through Western Union or iTunes cards. Once the student has given the person their money back, they realize the check they get in return is a bad check. Another common example of this is students buying something and not getting any product in return.

As students begin searching for housing for the next school year, UPD also saw scams related to housing. People posted listings for new places that are not actually for sale and still took deposit money.

Cal Poly almuna and current program coordinator at the Cal Poly Upward Bound Program Melissa Giddens said people were knocking on her door in San Luis Obispo saying they filled out an application for the house and were checking out the place they were going to move into next year, when in fact no one in her house put the property on the market nor moving out.

As far as Giddens knew, no one has given these people money yet, but students filled out applications with all of their personal information.

“It is scary to think of what they could be doing with that information,” Giddens said.

“They ask for first month’s rent and the way that they want you to send it is they give these people a bank account number and say, ‘Just deposit it in this account you’ll be all good and the house is yours.’”

People have been showing up at her house since Spring 2018. She has personally been there for three or four different groups of people coming to her door. Giddens, along with those who were scammed, filed the incident with the police. However, nothing can be done unless there is true financial loss.

Giddens explained some things that are important for students to think about when looking for housing based off of her experience.

“Meeting someone is better. It is not good to go off of someones contact information or email,” Giddens said. “This lady always says something like, ‘I’m in Texas managing another property’ and never seems to meet anyone.”

While UPD can only do so much in response to these scams, they use social media as a platform to inform students on the current trends in what the police are seeing through their safety tips posted on both Twitter and Facebook.

The San Luis Obispo Police Department posts on a weekly basis on @CalPolyPolice on both Facebook and Twitter to help better inform students on how to be safe and avoid scams.

TUESDAY • JANUARY 8, 2019 | FEATURES | MUSTANG NEWS

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One town that lie in the Camp Fire’s path was Paradise, California, which was almost completely consumed by the blaze, losing nearly 14,000 homes.

The Camp Fire, the most destructive fire in California’s history was 100 percent contained on Nov. 25.

A total of 85 people lost their lives in the Camp Fire, making it America’s deadliest wildfire in a century.

PARADISE, CALIFORNIA ONE MONTH AFTER THE CAMP FIRE

Mustang News photographer Connor Frost traveled to Paradise from his nearby hometown to capture the devastation.

The number of acres burned during the Camp Fire grew more than 350 percent during its second day, Nov. 8.

A partially burned rabbit sculpture sits on the front lawn of home in Paradise, California.

The Camp Fire killed nearly three times the amount killed in the Griffith Park Fire, a record that stood for 85 years.

Strong winds carried embers across Paradise and spread too quickly to contain.

A brick and mortar chimney is all that remains of this home that was consumed by the Camp Fire.

FORESTRY SENIOR WANTS TO SAVE SLO COUNTY’S OAKS

BY QU I NN FISH

Fifty million — about the number of kangaroos in Australia, people in South Korea and Facebook users whose information was breached in September. Fifty million is also about how many trees are estimated to have been killed by Sudden Oak Death on the West Coast alone.

That number is rising every day.

Forestry and natural resources senior Raymond Lee is determined to stop this trend from ever reaching San Luis Obispo County.

Lee spent his final quarter at Cal Poly predicting where Sudden Oak Death’s pathogen would affect San Luis Obispo County. By creating a risk map of where it would likely exist, Lee said he hopes to be proactive in treating the deadly disease.

Plants get pathogens just like people; some are killed, and some are not. Sudden Oak Death, caused by the plant pathogen Phytophthora ramorum, affects more than 100 species but only kills a certain few. Lee is focusing on California bay laurel — a plant native to the golden state — because it is phenomenal at spreading Sudden Oak Death spores, but does not die from it.

Though officials believe the pathogen has not yet made it to the county, it teeters on the San Luis Obispo County and Monterey County line, according to CAL FIRE Forest Health Specialist Kim Corella.

“Once it’s here, there’s nothing we can really do,” Corella said. “It’s here to stay.”

Sudden Oak Death acts differently in each species, but in tanoaks, coast live oaks, Shreve’s oaks, California black oaks and canyon live oaks, the disease typically lies dormant for years before showing signs of infection. It then kills the tree in a matter of weeks, according to the California Oak Mortality Task Force.

For these species, the disease enters through the trunk — or the leaves, in the case of tanoaks — and causes red or brown cankers that ooze

black or red sap before killing the tree altogether.

Because trees have circulatory systems that are far different from that of humans, antibiotics would not work to treat them, according to forestry and natural resources professor Richard Cobb. Even if they did, it would be impossible to treat 5 billion oaks and tanoaks in coastal California, he said.

“There’s no cure and people don’t want to hear that,” Cobb said.

Though the disease is not necessarily curable, Cobb and Lee said they hope knowing at-risk regions in the county can help officials change their surveillance. Cobb described the pathogen as the most important biological source of tree mortality in the coastal range.

Impacts

Cobb, who mentored Lee through his senior project, said Sudden Oak Death is a serious threat to landowners and land managers throughout the county. He said Lee’s project is something county and state officials have been requesting for some time now.

Corella explained that the culmination of drought and high temperatures have put incredible stress on trees in California. Because of this, Sudden Oak Death is killing trees that would have otherwise survived these conditions. Oaks are some of the most drought-tolerant trees, but climate change and extreme temperature patterns are devastating decades of growth that are hard to get back.

Because the county is so biologically diverse, Corella said they are unsure how devastating the pathogen will be once it gets here. What they do know is that it will have a huge financial impact, because it is expensive to maintain and move trees or provide prescribed burns, which are currently the only options for treatment, according to Cobb.

More importantly, the death of mass amounts of oaks will cause the loss of the keystone species coast live oak, Lee said.

“Imagine going out to some park or reserve and there are just no oak trees,” Lee said. “You’d have a hillside that’s just bushes. And if you don’t have trees, it’s like, ‘Where am I gonna get my shade?’”

Cobb said the areas that would most likely be affected would be parts of Poly Canyon, oak forests on Bishop Peak and some oak forests on Cuesta Ridge, all of which he considers “places that are pretty paramount to the community’s access to natural lands.”

Greater than aesthetic and recreational value, the loss of oak forests would have devastating effects on the ecosystem. According to Cobb, we rely on forests for water quantity and quality, as well as for fire dynamics of the area, and food and shelter for different wildlife species.

Cobb said he believes Sudden Oak Death could have been a factor in the 2008 Basin Complex Fire near Big Sur, as well as the 2017 Sonoma County fires. He said he sees that as his department’s responsibility — to anticipate problems as they come up and to then help local agencies come up with solutions.

“That’s why I was paying attention in [San Luis Obispo] County with this risk map,” Cobb said. “I said, ‘Yes, you do [need one].’ Step one.”

Prevention

Corella suggested hikers and bikers be diligent about cleaning their shoes after going out to prevent the spread of Sudden Oak Death. Because the pathogen’s spores can drop off and stay in the ground for years, if hikers go out in Monterey or Humboldt Counties, where the pathogen has killed millions of trees, there is a good chance it can be spread to San Luis Obispo if shoes are not cleaned. She also suggested not moving firewood.

Stay educated by visiting suddenoakdeath.org and participating in the county’s SOD Blitz in May 2019, where volunteers will be educated on the pathogen before being sent into the county to collect samples of trees that may be affected by the disease to be lab-tested.

The project

The beginnings of Lee’s project were humble — they started with failure.

In a geographic information system (GIS) class, Applied GIS (NR 418), during Fall 2017, Lee’s group was assigned to work on the very project he is working on now. However, the first time around, the group’s compilation of jumbled data only led them wayward. He said they went in the wrong direction and used all of the wrong methods for weeks. He stayed through Thanksgiving break and missed his brother’s birthday.

“That was a very difficult quarter. Straight up, that is one of the three classes I broke down in and was like, ‘I straight up can’t do this right now.’ That

KY LI E KOWA LS K E | MUSTA N G N EWS

Lee spent two months exploring potentially affected areas in San Luis Obispo County before finishing his research.

13 TUESDAY • JANUARY 8, 2019 | FEATURES | MUSTANG NEWS

KYL IE KOW ALS KE | MUSTA N G N EWS

Forestry and natural resources senior Raymond Lee hopes to find a career after graduation in December that will allow him to ride his bike.

was hard. It was worth it, though,” Lee said.

Lee went to Cobb after the quarter ended and decided he would try again with their data for his senior project.

The team — Lee, enthusiastic to get on his bike and get some fresh air, and curly-haired Cobb, also a cyclist and one who prefers to be shoeless — are a spirited duo. The team said they were excited to get started on something that could be realistically applied to the county.

From there, Lee spent six months sitting in front of a computer screen searching maps and databases for the likelihood of bay laurels and modeling data, and two months out in the field on his bike collecting data.

The two displayed their research at the California Forest Pest Council Meeting at University of California, Davis on Nov. 13-14.

They said they hope once they translate their research into more digestible information, they can make their maps public and their methodology can be used in other counties as a more efficient, inexpensive way to map risk.

Lee graduated in December and hopes to do something with GIS or some form of research post-graduation. Ideally, he said, he would be able to be somewhere where he can spend time on his bike exploring the landscape.

His greatest takeaway from the project: the uncertainty of it all. The first-hand research experience gave him a healthy glimpse of that.

“That’s science: we’re mostly sure this is the right answer,” Lee laughed.

Deal of the Week

OPINION

BY J AXO N SILVA Jaxon Silva is a freshman civil engineering major and Mustang News opinion writer. The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of Mustang News.

GUEST COLUMNIST AIDAN MCGLOIN | MUSTAN G N EWS

Greening is active in at least two clubs, four county-wide committees, bi-weekly city council meetings and monthly San Luis Obispo Council of Government and Regional Transit Authority meetings.

QUESTIONS WE NEED TO ASK BEFORE ACCEPTING LIFE WITHOUT A LIBRARY

BY ERIC G REEN I N G Students may have seen him walking around Cal Poly wearing a beret and speaking with students on Dexter Lawn. Seventy-one yearold Atascadero resident Eric Greening uses Cal Poly as a venue to tutor community members in humanities, social sciences and biology. Greening said he opposes the potential twoyear closure of the Robert E. Kennedy Library.

The views expressed in this column do not necessarily reflect those of Mustang News.

This has been edited for clarity.

What would our campus be like without a library for two years? This prospect looms not because of a natural disaster, but to accommodate a renovation we are told is needed.

Before a decision is made that could lead to such an outcome, countless questions must be asked and not ignored.

Has any other comparable university ever closed its library for two years? “Comparable” means one that, like Cal Poly, has one centralized library serving all departments, not one that, like UC Berkeley, has dozens. If any university has done this, we need a detailed report on the consequences. If not, how have all others managed to avoid this fate, despite the natural aging and evolution of buildings everywhere?

The CSU five-year Facilities Renewal and Capital Improvement Plan gives two types of justification for the closure: inadequate study space and natural cooling, and that libraries must change in the digital age. Wayne Montgomery was our last old-school head librarian: a dedicated and effective gatherer and steward of a significant trove of research

material. It is argued that change is required because circulation of library materials has significantly dropped. But one wonders to what extent this is a result of, rather than a valid excuse for, the unrelenting erosion of available collections, the unrelenting dismantlement of bookshelves and the unrelenting conversion of space from collections to offices, classrooms and areas for students to use laptops. Have academic libraries that have resisted such changes also resisted plummeting circulation? Why can’t Kennedy Library be, first and foremost, dedicated to what only a library can do, and why can’t our Master Plan process be tasked with providing for the space needs elsewhere on campus, of functions currently encroaching on those unique to a library?

Can better cross-ventilation be provided, a floor at a time, by converting inward-facing windows to accommodate transoms? This, and other fixes, should not be beyond the capacity of our world-class architecture department; why not offer them the challenge?

Were this two-year closure to take place, how many employees would be out of work for the duration? How many would be permanently lost as economic necessity forces them to take positions elsewhere?

Where, exactly, on campus would the classroom, office and study space uses currently accommodated in the library be relocated?

How are all such locations currently being used, and where and how would those uses continue? Are physical changes to those relocation spaces needed, and, if so, does the $50 million price tag of the renovation cover such changes? If the funding must come from elsewhere, exactly what would be sacrificed?

How far in advance of any library closure

must preparation of alternate spaces begin?

How would the closure affect the stated goal of increasing campus diversity? What prospective students would be deterred from attending by the prospect of no library during much of their time here? Would those laser-focused on a straight-line path to a lucrative career be undeterred, while those with a wide-ranging curiosity and a readiness to evolve in unexpected directions— in other words, the most open-minded prospective students— stay away? How would this affect the campus climate?

Is there any way project funding could be redirected to restoring and updating the collections and restoring lost bookshelves, while retaining ample study space for those actively consulting the collections? Could some of it be used to create needed study space elsewhere on campus for those not using library resources?

Has the Administration at all levels become excessively focused on capital projects when the most vital ongoing needs are operational?

What public process, if any, will precede the final decision on whether to go forward with the closure? Yes, there was some public outreach about renovation design, but none that dug into the questions above or allowed for exploration of alternatives to the closure.

It is imperative that a Learn by Doing university not teach, by example, hasty, sloppy decision-making that ignores so many relevant questions and the information efforts to answer them might provide. No decision to move forward with this closure should be made until the entire campus community has ample opportunity to debate, and weigh in on, full consideration of the questions above and many more.

There’s a quote attributed to James Madison, founding father and one of the largest influences on the U.S. Constitution, “If men were angels, no government were necessary.” I’ve always felt that quote could be applied in an arena of different fields, as it seems that no matter one looks, one finds examples of misdeeds.

There are many examples. In the late 1980s and early 1990s there was public outrage regarding scientists, especially ones who studied medicine. Numerous instances in history have shown public outrage with the U.S. government.

However, there is a largely unspoken outrage these days with the news media, particularly

With the splintering of American politics, most Americans seem to be split on what sources they get their news from, brandishing the call “Fake News” on the other side. news dealing with politics and national/international policy. With the splintering of American politics, most Americans seem to be split on what sources they get their news from, brandishing the call “Fake News” on the other side.

The more outspoken and motivated of either side, the more finding fallacies and examples of wrongdoings on the perceived aggressor.

Because of this, it has fostered an attitude of apathy amongst most average Americans.

Most people don’t believe one side to be correct over the other; they believe both to be wrong. Why try to see through the mess to the truth of it all, or worse, talk about politics with others if all it will bring is heated debate and feelings of anger?

The fact is that they are all right.

It has been noted that there are four ways the media influences the perception of a story: filtering, choosing what stories to present each day and what not to present; framing, what details are included and what are not; Continued on page 19 

TUESDAY • JANUARY 8, 2019 | OPINION | MUSTANG NEWS

CYNICISM WITH NEWS ISN’T A SOLUTION

17

PUZZLES Sudoku Fun by the Numbers Like puzzles? Then you’ll love sudoku.

This mind-bending puzzle will have you hooked from the moment you square off, so sharpen your pencil and put your sudoku savvy to the test!

Here’s How It Works: Sudoku puzzles are formatted as a 9x9 grid, broken down into nine 3x3 boxes. To solve a sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must fill each row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box. You can figure out the order in which the numbers will appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes. The more numbers you name, the easier it gets to solve the puzzle!

Guess Who? I am a shock rocker born in Ohio on January 5, 1969. I first worked for a music magazine while trying to break into journalism. My stage name blends two cultural icons of 1960s, and I am known for theatrical concerts and stage makeup.

*See answers at mustangnews.net/games-answers/

Word Scramble Rearrange the letters to spell something pertaining to fireplaces.

H A W T R M

CLUES ACROSS 1. Homestead 5. More (Spanish) 8. Type of notification 12. Approves 14. Mandela’s party 15. “Mom” actress Faris 16. Predatory insects 18. Where honey goes 19. Canadian flyers 20. Of an earlier time 21. Indigenous people of Australia 22. Organize 23. All over 26. Made it through 30. Between-meals food 31. A quantity upon which an operation is performed 32. German mythological god 33. “Heavy” type of rock music 34. Pharmacy chain Duane __ 39. First responders 42. Mysterious 44. Leisurely stroll 46. Most naughty 47. Plant tissue 49. Small fish 50. Men’s fashion accessory 51. Distant planet 56. Destroy 57. Location in Norse mythology 58. One who is deliberately cruel 59. __ Romeo, car 60. Of the ear 61. Former name of Tokyo 62. Male children 63. French/Belgian river 64. Tide

CLUES DOWN 1. Grave 2. Alright 3. Sharp tooth 4. Bird genus 5. Important 6. One who studies carefully 7. Not very big 8. Astronomy unit 9. A way to open up 10. Trap 11. Handle of a knife 13. Indicates one from a part of W. Africa 17. Lucky number 24. Doctor of Education 25. Legendary Cubs broadcaster 26. Female parent 27. Mimic 28. Connects to the rim 29. Small constellation 35. Indicates near 36. Consumed 37. Criticize 38. Shock therapy 40. Type of cigarette 41. The fashionable elite 42. Shed tears 43. Arm or branch of a bone 44. Quell anger 45. Where rock and rollers play 47. “The Alchemist” author Coelho 48. Choppers 49. Lacks brightness 52. Port in Yemen 53. Brood of pheasant 54. Approves food 55. A type of sign

 Continued from page 17

Not because every single one necessarily has some sort of agenda or evil purpose, but just because humans are flawed.

MEET THE VAN WINDENS A FAMILY BREAKING CAL POLY RECORDS SINCE 1984

2018

1984 C AL P OLY AT HL ET ICS | COURT ESY

to never knowing the truth and give up all hope of understanding? Absolutely not. If the point to you is to find the source that isn’t fake news, then you are missing the point. Sure, credible sources are hugely important, but so is having a multitude of sources from every side of the political spectrum. Only reading one source will most definitely skew your viewpoint, no matter what source it is. And regardless of the sources one reads, one needs critical thinking to cut through the priming that every story is written with.

Putting one’s head in the sand and claiming everything to be false does nothing to advance our democracy and only makes our political polarization grow further. It’s not easy these days to discern fallacy from truth, and it seems that almost every thought of politics is filled with hate. Yet it is necessary. As the old adage says, the only way is through, and the only way we are going to get through this is together.

We don’t need to be experts, but we can act smarter than we are now and not let ourselves get swept in the hoopla of falsehoods.

We don’t have to agree, but we can appreciate that an understanding from both sides is always more enlightening than only agreeing with ourselves.

We don’t have to be politicos, but we can rise above our apathy and take the reins of this country for ourselves. We have the power and will only grow in power in the future. It’s time we take charge now and shape the world as we want to see it. We have a lot of work to do, but it can’t get done if we don’t get up and try to make sense of the world around us. All of it. It won’t happen if we are not willing to accept opposing viewpoints and accept the facts.

Kelly Van Winden was an All-American outside hitter and team captain for the Mustangs in the 1980s.

BY S O P H I A CROL LA This season, the Cal Poly Women’s Volleyball team made history by recording the best start in program history at 19-1 — a record that has remained untouched since 1984. One person in particular was elated to see this record-breaking season unfold: Kelly Van Winden, an All-American outside hitter, Cal Poly volleyball alumna and one of the teammates to secure Cal Poly’s first Big West Championship in 1984.

Here is where it gets interesting: two large contributors to breaking the 1984 win-streak record this season are Torrey and Adlee Van Winden, current Mustang volleyball all-stars and daughters of Kelly Van Winden — the previous owner of the record.

Upon hearing that her daughters and their teammates broke her win-streak record, Kelly said she was “beyond thrilled.”

“The program has gone up and down and it’s definitely in an upswing right now,” Kelly said.

“It’s really exciting to see the team regain notoriety nationally. I’m so happy for everyone in the program.”

Senior outside hitter Adlee Van Winden reiterated that the support from both her mother and the rest of the 1984 Cal Poly volleyball team was immense.

“It’s special ... my mom always says records are meant to be broken, so I think she’s very happy that it’s us [who] did it,” Adlee Van Winden said.

Adlee said a close group of her mother’s past teammates and friends, who call themselves the “SLO-Mamas,” met up with the current Mustang team to say congratulations and show their support for the program.

“There’s really no sense of competitiveness or anything like that,” Adlee said. “They’re just proud to know the people who did it and to have a relationship with us.”

OWEN MA I N | COU RT ESY

Torrey and Adlee Van Winden lead the Mustangs to two-straight NCAA Tournament appearances.

Though there may not be a sense of competitiveness between the current players and alumni, Torrey and Adlee’s childhood dynamic proved to be quite the opposite.

“Oh, we were definitely competitive growing up, and not just in volleyball,” Adlee said. “Even walking to the mailbox every night was a race for us.”

Although their childhood playfulness may seem like a thing of the past, both of the Van Winden sisters agreed their competitive nature was channeled through volleyball and molded into something very constructive. Building off of each other’s play and learning to do what the other was more skilled at, the Van Winden sisters became a phenomenal duo on and off the court. Torrey, who transferred to Cal Poly after playing volleyball at UCLA for two years, felt that leaving the Bruins for the Mustangs was ultimately the best choice for her as a player.

“I knew once I went to UCLA that I wasn’t enjoying playing as much when I wasn’t getting to be competitive with [Adlee] on the court and that I wanted to be back playing with her,” Torrey said.

While the sisters’ togetherness on the court has turned the duo into a well-oiled machine, it is ultimately their differing personalities and playing styles that drive their success.

“Adlee is a silent leader — she works exceptionally hard, but she is silent and focused,” Kelly said. “Torrey is more vocal. Sometimes she is very intense, but always with a purpose.”

“Our playing styles have always been very separate,” Torrey said. “I’ve always been a technically based player. I’ve always been interested in how I can get my hitting percentage higher and Adlee was the opposite. She was always just naturally gifted with the game.”

Many of Kelly’s former teammates, who still attend the Cal Poly volleyball matches, say the sisters’ personalities and playing

style on the court runs in the family.

“Some people I used to play with at Cal Poly have seen the games and have said, ‘Oh my gosh, I see so much of you in them,’” Kelly said.

“I guess their movements and excitement and the way they talk to their teammates on the court is like [what] I did. It’s definitely a compliment, but I was surprised to hear it, because I really didn’t think we were all so similar. I don’t think my daughters would be too happy to hear that they’re so similar to me.”

Although Torrey and Adlee take after their mom through their volleyball skills, they may also have their father to thank for their athletic ability. Jim Van Winden, coming in at just under seven feet tall, played for the Cal Poly Men’s Basketball team.

“My husband and I met at Cal Poly,” Kelly said. “We never thought our daughters would attend Cal Poly. We never pushed it on them.

But we are so happy that they are [here] and playing for such an incredible program.”

While the family members were all in agreement when it came to describing each other’s personalities and playing styles, a few differing opinions were expressed when asked who the best player in their family is.

“I would say my mom is the most knowledgeable about volleyball and she was probably the best all-around player,” Torrey said.

“Adlee is probably the best all-around volleyball athlete — she knows the game so well,” Kelly said.

“Honestly, my dad might be the best player,” Adlee said. “His height definitely gives him an athletic advantage, and he’s amazing on the beach courts.”

Whether or not they agree on who gets the trophy for best family athlete, one thing is certain: Cal Poly’s Mott Athletic Center will always be home to the Van Winden family.

TUESDAY • JANUARY 9, 2019 | SPORTS | MUSTANG NEWS

priming, how a story is written and what words are used; and slant, what angle the story is trying to persuade the reader of.

Now. Here is the kicker: Almost every news corporation is going to use these.

It’s a given. Not because every single one necessarily has some sort of agenda or evil purpose, but just because humans are flawed. Even the most well-intentioned people still aren’t perfect, as there will still be a little of the four influencers almost everywhere you go. Only the Associated Press could be the most impartial news service, but they don’t have any analysis in what they write.

So does this mean we resign ourselves

19

TUESDAY • JANUARY 8, 2019 | SPORTS | MUSTANG NEWS

20

BASKETBALL STRUGGLE THROUGH WINTER BREAK SCHEDULE

B R I A N T R U O N G | M U S TA N G N E W S

Crosson turned the Mustangs into a dominant force in the Big West Conference.

VOLLEYBALL HEAD COACH DEPARTS

BY FRA NCI SCO MARTINEZ

D I E G O R I V E R A | M U S TA N G N E W S

Cal Poly Men’s Basketball lost four of their five games played over the winter break.

BY B R I A N T R U O N G The Cal Poly Men's and Women's Basketball teams will both be looking to change their fortunes in the new year, as both programs only recorded one win over winter break.

Men's Basketball

Cal Poly Men's Basketball (4-9) lost four out of five games in the span of three weeks. The Mustangs' packed mid-December schedule began on the road against California (5-9) on Saturday, Dec. 15. Despite a game-high 26 points from senior guard Donovan Fields, the Bears took a 67-66 win over the Mustangs.

With California's eventual game-winning shot being made with 3.8 seconds left on the clock, Cal Poly was unable to convert on the final possession.

Just three days later, the Mustangs traveled to CSU Bakersfield (10-5) on Dec. 18. The Mustangs were unable to recover from trailing 23-39 after the first half. Despite freshman guard Junior Ballard leading the Mustangs with a career-high 21 points, the Roadrunners took the win 74-61.

On Dec. 21 inside Mott Athletics Center, Cal Poly allowed its nine-point lead to slip away in the final six minutes of regulation against Texas-Arlington (4-11), who eventually took the 75-70 win. The Mustangs led 39-33 after the first half, but committed 29 personal fouls throughout the game. The Mavericks shot 2334 from the free throw line and outscored the Mustangs 14-9 in overtime.

The Mustangs ended 2018 with a 75-54 loss at Siena (5-10) on Dec. 29. However, Cal Poly opened the new year with a 68-47 win over Holy Names (4-9) on Jan. 4 inside Mott Athletics Center. After allowing the Hawks to take a 12-4 lead early in the game, the Mustangs responded with a 25-2 run to

take a 33-21 lead at halftime. The Mustangs did not let up, with senior guard Marcellus Garrick recording a game-high 19 points.

The men's basketball team will open Big West Conference play at UC Santa Barbara (11-3) on Wednesday, Dec. 9 before hosting CSUN (6-10) on Saturday, Dec. 12.

Women's Basketball

Cal Poly Women's Basketball (3-9) began the break by picking up its third win of the season, taking down Seattle University (0-11) 60-50 on Dec. 17. Junior forward Hana Vesela made an immediate impact in her first game as a Mustang with a teamhigh 17 points and seven rebounds. After trailing 26-27 at halftime, the Mustangs held the Redhawks to only six points in the third quarter. Senior point guard Dye Stahley dished out a game-high six assists in the 60-50 win.

The Mustangs then suffered a 81-35 thrashing at the hands of UCLA (9-5) on Dec. 28. The Bruins began the game with a 15-0 run and never looked back. The Mustangs trailed 17-48 after the first half and were held to two points in the fourth quarter.

On Jan. 5, The Mustangs hosted UC Irvine (11-2) inside Mott Athletics Center, but ended up starting 2019 and Big West Conference play with a 75-59 loss to the Anteaters. After leading 38-32 through the first half, the Mustangs saw their lead disappear in a second-half collapse. Cal Poly only made seven of 29 shots from inside the arc and one of five from three-point range.

Senior guard Devin Stanback recorded a team-high 17 points.

The Women's Basketball team will host UC Santa Barbara (3-11) on Saturday, Jan. 12 inside Mott Athletics Center.

Sam Crosson stepped down on Dec. 19 as head coach of the Cal Poly volleyball team to take over the head coaching position at California.

Crosson was responsible for helping turn around the volleyball program at Cal Poly.

After he finished his first season in 2012 with a record of 4-26, he coached the team for four straight winning seasons from 20152018, going 90-23 in that four-year span.

Crosson leaves the program after having coached the Mustangs at two consecutive appearances in the NCAA tournament in 2017 and 2018, including a first round win in 2017, while bringing home two straight Big West Conference championships as well.

This past season, Crosson coached the

Mustangs to their best start in program history at 19-1 and oversaw the team’s highest ranking since 2008 in the AVCA polls at No. 11. The Mustangs also extended their winning streak at Mott Athletics Center to 19 matches under Crosson, dating back to the 2016 season.

He leaves the Mustangs with an overall record of 114-83 over the course of seven seasons. Crosson will be taking over a Cal program that finished 15-16 overall and finished 10th in the Pac-12 last season.

Caroline Walters was named as the new head coach of the Cal Poly Volleyball team on Dec. 21. Walters brings in 10 years of experience on the coaching staff for the Mustangs, as an assistant coach for eight seasons and as associate head coach for the past two seasons.

THE WINTER BREAK GRIND FOR STUDENT ATHLETES

BY GA RRETT BR O WN For many students, winter break is the light at the end of finals week. For Cal Poly student athletes, however, it can be slightly different — especially if their sport is in season.

Due to scheduling, student athletes can be required to stay in San Luis Obispo or travel to participate in away games while other students are at home or on vacation.

“We don’t really get a winter break,” Women’s Basketball senior guard Dye Stahley said. “We do get a spring break, but we don’t get a Thanksgiving break. So while everyone is at home chilling with their friends and family, we’re here and we have practice.”

If their sport is in season, student athletes spend their breaks practicing and playing games in San Luis Obispo or on the road.

This can cut the time that students typically spend with family from three to four weeks to three to four days.

While this does limit the time that could be otherwise spent with friends and family, some student athletes expressed a positive

outlook toward the situation.

“We only get four days off, which makes you realize if you love basketball or not,” Men’s Basketball senior forward Kuba Niziol said.

“Right after finals, students go home. We just stay here and grind. This will be my fourth Christmas in a row in the U.S. away from my family, but I don’t really feel like I’m missing anything because I’m here with my team.”

Men’s Basketball senior guard Marcellus Garrick gave a more personal example of a positive part of spending much of his winter break on the basketball court.

“The good thing about this break is that my mom lives in New York now,” Garrick said. “So[when] we play Siena in New York, she’ll be at that game. I know she’ll be happy about that.”

For many teams, this time of year provides valuable bonding time because every member of the team is going through the same experience.

“It helps us be closer than we already are,” Garrick said. “I think this year this team is by far the most positive team I’ve ever been on.”

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