ELECTION EDITION
Thur sday, Oc tober 27, 2016
E s t ab l i sh e d 1916
w w w. mu s t an gn e w s . n et
ELECTION EDITION
Prop Pot How Prop 64 will affect San Luis Obispo Emily Holland Special to Mustang News
Faded curtains blocked the afternoon heat from seeping into the apartment. Four bodies melting into the couch winced as the front door opened and sun spilled into the living room. It was the boss. He moved around the cluttered space with purpose — adjusted piles of paperwork, large bags of product and heaps of forgotten messes as he headed to the back of the house. The scene easily imitated a typical, disheveled college apartment and a group of friends who liked to have a little too much fun. However, it’s more than that. It’s a business — a business that sells medical marijuana. He swung the back door open and was met face-to-face with his creation, an abundant jungle of greenery twice his height. He smirked as he meticulously grabbed a branch to show off the leaves. “See that? See how it’s crystallized?
This one’s ready to harvest.” Nicolas Pitchon, computer science senior, owns the medical marijuana delivery service called Slo Dro Co. This upcoming election, a California proposition could change the way his business operates. If Proposition 64, the Adult Use of Marijuana Act, is passed, adults 21 and over will be able to possess and grow recreational marijuana. However, Pitchon and many others in the industry are opposed to the bill. The details of the proposition have sparked controversy within the cannabis community, with concerns including taxes, bureaucratic control, local regulation and more. The proposition would create two new taxes, one on marijuana cultivation and another on the retail price of the products. The revenue generated from the taxes would go towards the administration and enforcement of the measure as well as drug research and treatment. Continued on page 3 MATT GOULDING | COURTESY PHOTO
Fish are friends and food
MATT L AL ANNE | MUSTANG NE WS UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL
| Sitting at a sushi bar and seeing sushi handcrafted in front of you is a unique experience that adds a customized touch to your meal.
Carly Quinn @ carlyquinnMN
Living next to the ocean, San Luis Obispo locals are spoiled with delicious seafood and a plethora of sushi restaurants. Sushi making is a form of art, replacing paint with rice and fish and brushes for a sushi roller. “I’ve worked in a lot of different restaurants,” general manager of Naked Fish sush i re st au r ant D an ny Cardinale said. “Without question, sushi restaurants are the most inspiring and artistic.” Sitting at a sushi bar is a unique experience in itself. Seeing food made in front of you can add a personal touch to the meal. “I try to tell people the difference between sitting at the sushi bar and sitting at a table, because they don’t understand,” Cardinale said. “When you sit in front of a sushi bar, your sushi is, more often than not, kind of custom.” Continued on page 4
Blocktober: Volleyball’s best month of the year Ayrton Ostly @ AyrtonOstly
Stop by Mott Gym on a Thursday, Friday or Saturday night this October and you might witness a youth revolution. The Cal Poly volleyball team has strung together a performance on the court in the past two seasons that is unmatched in the program’s past five years. In 2015 and 2016, the Mustangs’ consistent success in October powered them to a top three status in the Big West conference. In 2015, Cal Poly wrapped up September with an
8-4 record, 0-1 in conference. What ensued in October was unprecedented for the Mustangs since head coach Sam Crosson joined the program in 2012. The Mustangs rattled off seven straight wins on their way to an 8-1 record in that month, compiling an overall set score of 266. With a 16-5 record, including 8-2 in conference matchups, the Mustangs fought the likes of Long Beach State and perennial power Hawaii for the top spots in the Big West conference. Continued on page 8
IAN PEARMAN | MUSTANG NE WS SUCCESSFUL REIGN | The Cal Poly volleyball team entered October with a 7-6 record, and continued their streak winning six games in a row.
News 1-3 | Arts 4-5 | Opinion 6 | Classifieds 7 | Sports 8
NEWS 2
MUSTANG NEWS
EMILY SWEETMAN | COURTESY PHOTO
Laps for L ve LOVE SHOULDN’T HURT
| Alpha Chi Omega, along with SAFER and the San Luis Obispo’s Women Shelter, organized Laps for Love. The event was geared toward raising awareness about domestic violence.
raises more than $3,000 for domestic violence awareness Megan Schellong @ meganschellong
“When people think of domestic violence they think of physical harm, but it’s more than that,” Alpha Chi Omega Vice President of Philanthropy Livi Ramirez said. Ramirez and her sorority organized Laps for Love, a new philanthropy event benefitting the San Luis Obispo Women’s Shelter, in hopes of bringing the community together to address misconceptions about domestic violence. “We wanted to be really inclusive [of the community],” sociology senior Ramirez said. “We usually have booths
on campus and that spreads awareness, but I wanted to do something that would promote this throughout the whole community of San Luis Obispo.” The event took place on Sunday afternoon at the Cal Poly track and raised an estimated $3,152. More than 300 participants, including members of Alpha Chi Omega, Phi Kappa Psi, Kappa Alpha Theta, Delta Upsilon and Delta Chi, came to the event. Of these greek chapters, Delta Chi had the largest participation. To recognize their turnout, Alpha Chi Omega awarded Delta Chi with $150 to give to a philanthropy of its choice.
The San Luis Obispo Women’s Shelter provides legal counseling and support services to victims of domestic violence. The money raised will fund the shelter’s day-to-day operations, vans for transportation, clothing, groceries and counseling services. Between July 2014 and June 2015, the San Luis Obispo women’s shelter helped 1,017 adults and children, according to its website. Participants at Laps for Love paid a $5 fee, which went directly to the shelter. There were also T-shirts available for purchase
for $15, in which case one-third of the cost was given to the women’s shelter. The shelter will receive additional donations from Meathead Movers’ sponsorship of the event. The company plans to pay Alpha Chi Omega $100 per 100 laps. Collectively, participants walked 1,433 laps, the equivalent of 360 miles over the course of three hours. SAFER and a women’s shelter representative were also present at the event. Pamphlets were available to provide participants with resources on do-
mestic violence. Interfraternity Council SAFER Liaison Nick Paiva spoke on the importance of college students being educated on this topic. “I think this is an issue for men and women. It’s not a single-sex issue; everyone needs to be aware of what’s going on on college campuses, specifically in regards to sexual assault and dating violence,” wine and viticulture senior Paiva said. “And men specifically need to take a more active role in preventing it.” One major goal of the event was to get as many people out
to the track as possible. “We wanted to try and get something that is more accessible for the community to be a part of, so anything that could get on-campus and other organizations involved as well as the SLO community,” Alpha Chi Omega President and agricultural communications senior Lindsay Robson said. If you or anyone you know is experiencing domestic violence, the women’s shelter 24hour crisis line can be reached at (805)-781-6400.
EMILY SWEETMAN | COURTESY PHOTO
LOVE WINS | Participants walked 1,433 laps and raised more than $3,000 which will be donated to the San Luis Obispo Women’s Shelter.
NEWS 3
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2016
I think it’s really important for students to know that you can’t get extremely intoxicated and go to class. JANA COLOMBINI
What “wet campus” really means K ATELYN PIZIALI | COURTESY PHOTO POLY PUB
| With the arrival of Mustang Station, students and faculty can grab a drink on campus. President Armstrong hopes it will encourage students to be on-campus even when they are not in class.
Vinny Van Patten Special to Mustang News
It’s 2013, and the sun sets over the Julian A. McPhee University Union (UU). By this time, most students are done with class and eagerly made their way home. The campus is quiet. Flash forward to 2016. At the same time of night, the UU is crowded. Freshmen and sophomores watch Monday Night Football at Mustang Station, Cal Poly’s new food and drink hub, alongside upperclassmen who enjoy pints of beer fresh from the tap. It’s a new era at Cal Poly. Mustang Station, Cal Poly’s on-campus bar that serves beer and wine, opened at the beginning of this quarter. However, questions remain about how the campus environment will change, what alcohol policies look like now and if this is the start of more on-campus pubs.
New policies, new rules Mustang Station creates a lot to look forward to and brings new rules regarding what students can do in the UU. However, alcohol
policies on the rest of campus will generally remain the same, Associated Students, Inc. (ASI) President Jana Colombini said. “Nothing has changed on campus regarding alcohol policies since 2013-2014,” Jana said. New policies were implemented in the 2013-14 school year, allowing alcohol only in certain on-campus locations, such as VG Cafe/Sage Restaurant, the Christopher Cohan Performing Arts Center and football tailgate areas. With the creation of Mustang Station, alcohol can now be taken into the seated areas of the bowling alley, but cannot be taken outside into the plaza or upstairs into the UU. There is also the issue of drinking responsibly, and what happens if someone crosses the line. “I think it’s really important for students to know that you can’t get extremely intoxicated and go to class, because now you’re drunk in public,” Jana said. “UPD does have jurisdiction to walk in there, so you can get in trouble just like you could drinking in neighborhoods.” Jana said she feels students will
treat the rules with respect, and won’t take it to the level that they might at a bar downtown. She doesn’t think students getting too drunk should be a problem.
The push for a wet campus Jana Colombini thinks the pub is a great start for what she’d like to see moving forward. “It’s the beginning of an era where our upperclassmen actually enjoy being on campus,” Jana said. In 2013-14, then ASI President Jason Colombini, Jana’s older brother, made a push to begin transitioning away from being a dry campus. Rules slowly began to change after Jason worked closely with Cal Poly President Jeffrey Armstrong and then-Vice President of Administration and Finance Stan Nosek to create a committee on the matter, Jana said. Beer and wine were allowed at certain events. Tailgates became popular before football games and alcohol was permitted in certain on-campus apartments where all residents were 21 and over. “That was a test to see what students would do with that. Would it increase violence and ambulance
calls?” Jana said. The test run went well and from there, ASI worked in collaboration with Cal Poly Corporation to turn Ciao into Mustang Station this past summer.
The start of an on-campus pub Mustang Station serves as a hub for students and faculty to meet up before and after athletic events or for casual drinks on weekday afternoons. It provides a variety of beer and wine options, but no hard alcohol. “I think this pub kind of give students a bit of that taste of what these big 50,000 student schools are on the East Coast. We’re a bit more conservative in that sense, but I think it’s a nice small start,” Jana said. While he only has one year to enjoy it, business administration senior Morgan Hathorn agreed that Mustang Station brings a new vibe to campus. “Something that I envied at other schools when I was looking at colleges was that feeling of camaraderie and college tradition, which I think having a pub on
campus brings,” Hathorn said. Students 21 and older are fortunate enough to immediately be able to take advantage of Mustang Station. For students under 21, like chemistry sophomore Chris Durbin, it is just another reason to look forward to their 21st birthday. “Even though I’m not 21, Mustang Station is a laid back place to hang out and watch games if I have a late class or something,” Durbin said. “Obviously I am excited to turn 21 though and be able to get a drink on campus.” For President Armstrong, bringing more amenities like Mustang Station on campus is the beginning of what he called a more 24/7 campus — a place where students will want to hang out other than just go to class. “We want to be a more residential and diverse campus,” Armstrong said. “My first fall, I talked about bringing more of the world to Cal Poly and taking more of Cal Poly to the world, and that means more international students.” To attract international students, Armstrong said it was natural to think about bringing features such as movie theaters
and restaurants to campus, as well as including places for students to drink responsibly.
New beginnings With how much Cal Poly has transformed in the last few years, like adding food trucks on campus and redesigning dining facilities such as Campus Market and The Avenue, both students and administration feel that this is the beginning of something new for Cal Poly. “It is my hope that we will have more than one location [pub] in the future,” Armstrong said. Like President Armstrong, Jana envisions another pub down the line, preferably closer to Spanos Stadium. “There’s actually an old powerhouse down there,” Colombini said. “I think it would be really awesome to go in there, make it a full bar, and call it like the Powerhouse Pub. Make it very Cal Poly spirited with green and gold everywhere, hang up jerseys, put up trophies; something that students really connect to where they will be full of pride with their fellow Mustangs.”
MATT GOULDING | COURTESY PHOTOS GOT POT?
| Proposition 64 will allow adults who are 21 years and older to possess and grow recreational marijuana. However, it will not allow large growers of more than one acre farms until 2023.
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In an effort to slow monopolization within the cannabis industry, the proposition wouldn’t license any large growers—those with over one acre of an outdoor farm or 22,000 feet of indoor canopy—
until 2023. “I feel like it’s a big pile of compromises,” Pitchon said. “On one hand, I’m worried about big businesses taking over the industry, but on the other hand, the tax money seems like it’d be going to the right places. When I vote ‘no,’ it’ll send
them back to the drawing board.” However, an online poll from the LA Times shows a majority of registered California voters want to legalize marijuana. Among the 1,909 respondents, 58 percent said they would vote “yes” to Prop 64. The poll was conducted September 1-8 in both English and Spanish. Four states currently have legalized recreational cannabis: Alaska, Colorado, Washington and Oregon. In the upcoming election, five more will have the chance to follow suit: California, Arizona, Maine, Massachusetts and Nevada. In addition, four other states--Arkansas, Florida, Montana and North Dakota--will be voting to legalize medical marijuana. Even if Proposition 64 is voted into law, things may stay the same in San Luis Obispo County. The proposition states that a city and/or county may “enact and enforce reasonable regulations to reasonably regulate” the six-plant limit placed on individuals that grow marijuana. However, no city and/or county can completely prohibit citizens from engaging in cannabis use within a private residence that is enclosed and secure. San Luis Obispo County Sheriff Ian Parkinson is “significantly
concerned with the lack of accurate information on the negative effects of legalizing recreational marijuana use in the state of Colorado, and the impacts on the younger population,” he said in a statement after attending a conference in Colorado. In 2010, San Luis Obispo banned public smoking in indoor and outdoor public areas, as well as outdoor areas within 20 feet of indoor areas. “The ban on smoking in public places applies to smoking anything, it’s not strictly tobacco. Prop 64 would not change the law currently in place,” San Luis Obispo Mayor Jan Marx said. There were 16 drug-related citations/arrests and 22 drug related judicial referrals at Cal Poly in 2015. While the University Police Department doesn’t categorize the report into different types of drugs in each case, the department reports that the vast majority of such cases involve marijuana, according to University Spokesman Matt Lazier. Criminal sentencing will be divided into three categories: adults 21 and over, adults 18-20 years old and minors. As long as adults 21 and over follow the rules laid out — an allowance of less than one
ounce of cannabis, less than eight grams of concentrate and less than six homegrown plants—there will be no criminal penalties. The only time an adult 21 and over would be fined is smoking in public or smoking anywhere where tobacco is banned. Eighteen to twenty year olds that possess, grow or publically smoke under the same restrictions as those 21 and older will receive a fine between $100 and $250. If they possess, grow or sell more than the restrictions in place for adults 21 and over, they will receive a $500 fine, six months in prison or both. Minors will generally be treated with counseling, community service, or drug education under the laws set forth by Prop 64. “The university will follow all appropriate state laws and CSU policies,” Lazier said. Bureaucratic concerns also trouble growers. Proposition 64 includes a clause regarding California’s water shortage and how cannabis farms will affect the drought. It proposes implementing a unique identifier for each plant which can then allow government programs such as the State Water Resources Control Board to track and trace how
much water is used. In addition, it ensures the plants are only issued to identifiers in areas that have sufficient water to support them, and “if a watershed cannot support additional cultivation, no new plant identifiers will be issued for that watershed,” according to Proposition 64 legislation. However, currently that is not the case, according to Pitchon. “The problem with the California Valley where my farm and other farms are located, is that it’s an alkaline desert. People have been setting up farms and then bringing water in or buying from people and it’s draining the wells,” Pitchon said. “If Prop 64 passes it’d be nice to see everyone follow the rules I’ve already been following.” Aside from conflict in the industry, some Cal Poly students are hopeful the proposition will pass. “It doesn’t make sense that we’re wasting tax dollars imprisoning people with marijuana charges,” business administration sophomore Sierra Scolaro said. “Plus, in the prohibition era, banning alcohol just increased the illegal activity of it.” Proposition 64 is among 16 other propositions up for vote in California on Nov. 8.
ARTS 4
MUSTANG NEWS
A latté laughs at Kreuzberg, CA Mikaela Duhs @ mikaeladuhs
their craft. Young comics are welcome to test out new ideas in a comfortable environment. Though the art scene in San “Like anything, comedy is a craft,” Luis Obispo is long established, Fox said. “Whether it’s at KreuzKreuzberg Coffee Company is berg or other venues, or traveling putting comedy on the map after outside of San Luis Obispo to do a year of weekly comedy shows, stand up, the more you get on stage, performed by both amateur and the more you improve.” experienced comedians. People may sign up to perform Comedians originally performed by talking to either Fox or Zalusky. at Kreuzberg’s open mic night on The more established KreuzWednesdays. berg comedians often workshop This changed as writers, lyricists to refine their best ideas. The coland poets began to feel that laborations allow comedians comedians were taking to notice flaws in their over their place of acts that they may expression. have glossed over. It's cool I finally The contradicThe workshops found my thing that tion between create a friendly emotional piecvibe, one where I can say 'I'm weird, es and crude comedians of but in a cool way. comedy made all skill levels are artists want to welcomed. NELSON LIN separate the two. “In this comedy “It was always a scene, it’s not terribly juxtaposition between ‘here is competitive,” Fox said. “It’s very some graphic, sad child abuse,’ and nurturing and everybody wants then somebody will be like ‘here is everybody to do well. When your my wiener,’” Kreuzberg comedian friends are doing well, the scene is and mechanical engineering senior doing well.” Nelson Lin said. Comedy nights have helped To compromise, Kreuzberg start- several Kreuzberg comedians ed a comedy-only show on Friday break out of their shells and find nights hosted by Cal Poly alumni a network of like-minded people. Evan Fox and Michael Zalusky. “My favorite thing about beBy giving them a place to ing on stage is probably having perform, Kreuzberg has become a voice, being able to express a space for comedians to hone myself in front of others, and it’s
helped me a lot in other parts of my life,” aerospace engineering junior Sean Reilly said. “If you do comedy, when you do other public speaking, it’s a joke because you don’t have to make people laugh.” Comedy allowed Lin to discover more about himself. According to Lin, his comedic inspiration came from a desperate need for validation from other
people. When he realized he was able to make people laugh, he found that validation. “I was always socially awkward. It’s cool I finally found my thing that I can say ‘I’m weird, but in a cool way,’” Lin said. Though Kreuzberg is the budding scene for off-campus comedy, students still have a way to get involved on-campus. Cal Poly’s Comedy Club is run by
a few of the school’s passionate comedians, who encourage new comics to try out the craft. “We absolutely welcome new members and host exclusive writing sessions on a regular basis for people who regularly show up to shows hosted by the club on campus,” said Reilly, who is vice president of the Comedy Club. “Over time, we hope to get our members on
the big stage to perform for their peers in audiences of over 100 people.” The Comedy Club also puts on a show monthly to showcase their comics as well as feature bigger professional comics from cities such as San Francisco and Los Angeles. Check out the Cal Poly Comedy Club’s Facebook page for their calendar of shows and upcoming events.
Each sushi roll is unique. There can be variations from chef to chef or restaurant to restaurant. The fish and vegetables that go into the roll and the sauce drizzled on top can be used to express a chef 's style. “Every chef garnishes a little differently, they make their own sauces, the way that they plate their dishes are a little different,” Cardinale said. “They all
have their own style that reflects their personality a little bit and that’s because they believe in what they do.” Knowing which ingredients pair well is another important aspect of sushi chef training. Not just any combination of food is going to taste good. Mata emphasized that texture and not overloading the roll with too much fish are both
important things to consider. “You wanna stay pretty basic with fish,” Mata said. “You don’t want to overdo it to keep the essence of the fish.” Sushi rice is different than regular rice. It has to be prepared with sugar, oil, salt and vinegar to give it a sticky
consistency, ensuring that the roll won’t fall apart during its journey from the plate to your mouth.
“It takes a lot of dedication and focus,” Mata said. “There’s a lot to know about fish, texture, flavor and sauce.” Next time you head downtown for a dinnertime treat, try out a seat at the bar instead of a table to see the artists at work.
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Talking to and getting to know the chef can create a more intimate experience and make the meal more enjoyable. “I’ve been on both sides of the bar, obviously,” Aisuru sushi chef Ingrid Mata said. “It’s a lot more fun when you try to get involved with them in a personal way.”
MIK AEL A DUHS | MUSTANG NE WS SOMETHING TO SMILE ABOUT
| Performing stand-up comedy helped mechanical engineering senior Nelson Lin learn about himself.
Every chef garnishes a little differently... they all have their own style. DANNY CARDINALE
MATT L AL ANNE | MUSTANG NE WS HANDCR AFTED
| Each sushi chef makes and presents their rolls with their own stylistic flair.
ARTS 5
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2016
“Denial” fascinating history meets mediocrity
Greg Llamas @ CPMustangNews
Seeing a mediocre movie can be a weird experience. You’re never enthralled or invested in it like a great movie, you’re never offended or enraged at it like a terrible movie and you’re never able to ironically enjoy it as much as the so-bad-it's-good movie. Mediocre movies fade out of your memory after blankly staring at the screen for two hours, leaving no impression other than the possible regret of wasting $10. Unlike true abominations, you don’t actively try to repress the memory of mediocre movies; they forget themselves for you. After seeing director Mick Jackson’s “Denial,” I think, at long last, I’ve found something that I thought was never possible. I’ve finally discovered the most mediocre film of all time. On a scale from Trevor Wall's animated film “Norm of the North” being the worst and Irvin Kershner's “The Empire Strikes Back” being the best, “Denial” sits feebly between the two, setting a benchmark for what true mediocrity is. If that sounds like low praise, it sort of is. But it’s actually impressive how in such a short span of time, a film can have such fascinating content with such incredibly boring characters. Remarkably unremarkable, “Denial” is more of a long and repetitive episode of a courtroom drama like “Law & Order” than a two-hour film. The film opens by introducing Deborah Lipstadt (Rachel Weisz), a Jewish historian and professor at Emory University. While publicly speaking about her new book on the Holocaust, Lipstadt is confronted by prominent Holocaust denier David Irving (Timothy Spall), asking for a debate. She refuses the challenge, but not before Irving promises $1,000 to anyone who can prove that Jews were gassed at Auschwitz. Lipstadt avoids contact with Irving until she learns that he has sued her and her publisher for libel. The lawsuit comes with a twist: Lipstadt was sued in the United Kingdom, Irving’s native country, where the law dictates that the defendant must prove their innocence against their charge. Aided by top legal minds Anthony Julius (Andrew Scott) and Richard Rampton (Tom Wilkinson), Lipstadt fights against Ir-
ving, who represents himself. The conflict puts the authenticity of the Holocaust on trial. There are plenty of docudramas like Tom McCarthy's “Spotlight” that have a wealth of information to share on a subject that isn’t well known. “Denial” is no exception to this trend. The film touches on Jewish attitudes toward the Holocaust along with the differences between American and British law. It’s interesting how during the case some Jews wanted to leave the memory of the Holocaust in the past and move on, pleading with Lipstadt to settle with Irving, while some survivors wanted to testify in the case. Being able to see Lipstadt’s legal team plan their attack on Irving is also interesting. Watching the clash between emotional kneejerk reactions to Irving’s claims and the cool logic of Julius’ plans against him offer a dynamic of conflicting emotions. With so many moving parts,
immersion of a decent scene with melodramatic garbage like that? After the Auschwitz scene, the film takes an interesting (but not in a good way) turn in its portrayal of Lipstadt. Even though Weisz has first billing, she takes a confusing backseat to the rest of the action. I say “action” in the loosest sense possible, since the last half of the film takes place almost exclusively in the courtroom. In a film that’s supposed to be about her case and struggle, Lipstadt instead takes on the most passive role as a main character I’ve ever seen. Her legal team seems to replace her as the main character. There’s very little to like about her other than she’s on the right side of the fight and Irving’s a jerk; it’s perhaps the worst and most manipulative reason to like a character. The only thing Lipstadt accomplishes during the court proceedings is sitting and complaining to Julius for not letting her or the Holocaust survivors testify. Way to go, girl! The whole of “Denial” feels unsatisfying to watch from beginning to end. Not bad, not good, but completely free of any true tension. That’s certainly to be expected, as Irving comes off as a clown rather than a lawyer and doesn’t have much of a case. There’s no sense of accomplishment like that in “Spotlight,” where the reporters have to work their way through different obstacles and struggle with relationships. Rather than struggling, the legal team in “Denial” puts in much better arguments than Irving without really trying too hard. For being a courtroom drama, there’s not much to go around. During one of the last courtroom scenes, Lipstadt asks perhaps the most philosophical question to ever leave someone’s lips: “What the f--just happened?” Good question, Deborah. Those were my exact thoughts leaving the theater. I just saw one of the most informative films in quite a while, packaged together with some of the least compelling narrative and character aspects I’ve seen. Those words resonate with me. What did just happen to create the most mediocre thing in existence?
“Denial” could have done the topic more justice as a documentary rather than a two-hour courtroom drama
it feels like “Denial” could have done the topic more justice as a documentary rather than a twohour courtroom drama. Though the movie is more of an educational experience, at times it seems that “Denial” had some potential to feel like a real film. The best scene is when Lipstadt and her legal team travel to Auschwitz to gather evidence for the systematic killings that took place there. Being Jewish herself, the visit is especially difficult for Lipstadt, with the somber atmosphere accentuated by the falling snow. With the majority of the film focusing on courtroom antics and legal planning, this scene is the only one that has any soul in it. The only thing that detracts from the scene is a zoom-in on a drop of water dripping from a fence like a tear while she mourns. Why try to ruin the
PROMOTIONAL FROM BLEEKER STREET STUDIO DON'T DENY IT
| The premise of "Denial" is a courtroom battle between an author and a Holocaust skeptic.
OPINION 6
MUSTANG NEWS
Constitutional overreach Elias Atienza @ elias_atienza
Elias Atienza is a history sophomore and Mustang News columnist. The views expressed in this column do not necessarily reflect the viewpoints and editorial coverage of Mustang News. Last week, the United States Navy fired missiles into Yemen against Houthi rebels. This was in response to missiles being fired at U.S naval ships from Houti-held territory.
The catch? The Department of Defense doesn’t know who fired the missiles. The Yemeni Civil War is in full swing, between the Houthi-lead rebels and the deposed government of President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Al-Hadi. The Houthi rebels are allegedly supported by Iran while the Hadi government is supported by a Saudi Arabian lead coalition of Arab states. The United States is also supporting the Hadi government by providing intelligence and arms for the Saudis. The conflict
has killed at least 10,000 people, a third of them civilians. At least 1,000 children have been killed as well. Al-Qaeda, the group responsible for 9/11 and the Charlie Hebdo shootings, controls a third of the country. The unanswered question here is simply “Why is the United States intervening in another civil war?” The United States has a rather horrible history of intervening in foreign countries, with the cases of Libya and Iraq being the best exam-
PETE SOUZA | WHITE HOUSE COURTESY PHOTO ROYAL PAIN
| President Obama meets with King Salman bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia in Riyadh.
ples in recent history. Civil wars are raging in Syria, Yemen and Libya as well. Iraq seems to be heading into chaos with the Iraqi offensive into Mosul leaving doubts between the Kurds, the Sunni tribes and the Shia majority. In acting against the Houthi rebels, the United States is effectively intervening on the side of the Hadi government. In addition, they have supported the Saudi Arabian coalition bombing campaign with inflight refueling and giving the Saudis intelligence. The Saudi Arabian troops have bombed schools, a Doctor without Borders hospital and a funeral in the last week; killing 140 people and wounding 600. It has gotten so bad that 64 members of the House of Representatives wrote a letter to the Obama administration asking for them to delay arms sales to Saudi Arabia because the actions that the Saudis have taken might amount to war crimes. Regardless of whether or not the president complies with this minority group of congressmen, the Obama administration has already effectively supported this bombing campaign by providing over $100 billion dollars of arms to the Saudi Arabians, along with a $100 billion in arms sales just a few weeks ago. By providing these arms, the United States has become implicit in the carnage, watching as the Saudi Arabians commit war crimes in the name of stability. The editorial board of The New York Times wrote that American support for the Saudis is “indefensible” given the civilian casualties and the Saudi war crimes. Senator Chris Murphy said that there is “an American imprint on every single civilian life lost in Yemen.” Furthermore, Congress has not formally authorized the President to intervene in the Yemen Civil War. The U.S intervention in Iraq and Syria is covered under the Authorization of Military Force issued by Congress in 2001, though there is still debate on whether or not that is permissible. Journalists and columnists writing for news
sources such as Politifact, The Atlantic and The New York Times, called U.S intervention into Libya “illegal” and a violation of the War Powers Act of 1973, to say nothing of the Constitution. Our Congress has to be given some blame because the majority of them have abdicated their role in determining whether the United States intervenes in foreign conflicts. While the Iraq War is considered a failure by most of the public, it had Congressional approval. Even the stalwart anti-interventionist Ron Paul voted in favor of the invasion of Afghanistan. But aside from a few voices like Senators Rand Paul, Chris Murphy and Mike Lee, along with Representatives Justin Amash and Ted Lieu, Congress has effectively allowed the Obama administration and any future administration to wage war without official congressional approval, setting a dangerous precedent. Obama himself warns of how a future president can wage unjustified wars, despite his record of bombing more countries than Bush. “And it troubled me, because I think you could see, over the horizon, a situation in which, without Congress showing much interest in restraining actions with authorizations that were written really broadly, you end up with a president who can carry on perpetual wars all over the world, and a lot of them covert, without any accountability or democratic debate,” Obama said. In the end, the United States intervention in Yemen is an unjustified use of military force, without congressional approval. History shows us that United States intervention in foreign conflicts has led to our country being an accomplice to war crimes, as well as devastation across the affected region.
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The unanswered question here is simply “Why is the United States intervening in another civil war?”
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SPORTS 8
MUSTANG NEWS
[The Mustangs] have a chance to contend for a top finish in the Big West Conference for the second year in a row. Jump from page 1
This season, the team is at it again. Following a tough pre-conference slate of games that included four matchups against teams ranked in the country’s top 20, the Mustangs entered October with a 7-6 record and 0-2 in conference. They proceeded to notch six wins in a row and dropped just three sets, compiling an aggregate set score of 18-3. Unfortunately, this year’s Big West conference leader, Long Beach State, put an end to the streak last Saturday night. But with one game left Friday night at home against UC Santa Barbara (13-9, 4-5), the Mustangs are 13-7 and 6-3 in the Big West. With a victory against the Gauchos in Mott Gym, Cal Poly would remain in third place in conference and within distance of catching Long Beach State and Hawaii. A huge part of the success in the past two years for the Mustangs was the performance of their young players. Crosson became head coach after serving as an assistant at UC Berkeley. His main focus in the Bears’ program was to develop the program’s setters and middle blockers. Since last fall, the Mustangs have had promising talent for both positions in addition to younger athletes for outside hitter. Junior setter Taylor Nelson leads the Big West conference in assists per set (11.6) after ranking second in conference last year. Senior Taylor Gruenewald and junior Savannah Nieman are two standout middle blockers that
Crosson can rotate over the course of a match, and provide the team with the blocking presence to seal games defensively. The depth at outside hitter is what really sets this unit apart from teams in years past. Junior outside hitter Raeann Greisen plays the role of veteran leader this season after two years of development that included two All-Conference honors. The team relies on her in clutch situations, such as in last Friday’s game against Northridge when she scored nine points in the final set. Beyond Greisen, sophomore outside hitter Adlee Van Winden continues her Big West Freshman of the Year performance from 2015 to sit fifth in conference in kills. Gonzaga transfer sophomore Alexis Clewis has been a welcome addition to the team at outside hitter as well, notching 200 kills this season. Between Van Winden, Clewis and Greisen, the Mustangs have a mix of youth, experience and talent to wreak havoc on opposing defenses. A team as talented as the Mustangs’ squad this season has the potential to contend for the Big West now and in the coming years. The offense will only get better as the younger players at outside hitter continue to progress and the veteran leadership will help the team be prepared for high-stakes situations. With another great October come and almost gone for the Mustangs, it looks like they have a chance to contend for a top finish in the Big West conference for the second year in a row.
IAN PEARMAN | MUSTANG NE WS