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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

STORY BY Chloe Lovejoy

DESIGNED BY Alejandro Rearte 04

EDURAIN OFFERS NEW TOOLS TO ASSIST THE YEARLY HUNT FOR HOUSING

STORY BY Archana Pisupati

DESIGNED BY Rain Mazumder

05

GRAD STUDENT CREATES CAL POLY’S FIRST BLACK-OWNED NONPROFIT

STORY BY Archana Pisupati DESIGNED BY Alejandro Rearte

06

MUSTANG NEWS OPINION COLUMNIST VS. BARBENHEIMER

STORY BY Neta Bar

DESIGNED BY Ariel Sherman

DEAR READER,

Letter from the Editor McMahon

I am currently headed into my senior year at Cal Poly. Over these past three years I’ve worn many hats: student, barista, research assistant, sales associate, intern. Trust me when I say I’ve run through the laundry list of possible part time jobs.

In September 2021 – the start of my sophomore year, freshly post-pandemic – I volunteered to be a WOW leader at the same time I joined Mustang News. This was largely in an effort to be involved and get to know our campus. It was up to my roommate and I to show thirty freshmen around SLO, talk about the wonders of life at Cal Poly and most importantly demonstrate to them that college is a navigable experience. Did I have much credibility in guiding freshmen to their future classes when I hadn’t even stepped foot in Graphic Arts, home of the very newsroom where I now spend the majority of my time? No, but I did it anyway. How else could I learn if not by being uncomfortable?

As Editor-in-Chief of Mustang News this school year, it’s evident I found my way to a vocation I love. Where I am today took a lot of trial and error – and I’ve never felt such nostalgia for that first quarter of in-person “learn by doing.”

Volunteering for WOW didn’t change just my sleep schedule, but it also forced me to set aside a lot of pride in behaving like I know it all. So, when I walked into my first Mustang News meeting and met peers who had reported for their hometown papers in high school and were already applying for internships, I realized that being uncomfortable was going to be my new normal. But I loved reporting so much, I decided to keep doing uncomfortable things. I write to you now as someone who’s sat beside

19 veterans while in flight on a World War II jet, spent hours parsing through legal documents and calling state prisons, spoken with congressmen and attended a ‘Hypnotherapy 101’ class – all while wearing my favorite hat: a reporter.

College is uncomfortable. Student reporters might be some of the most well versed in this subject, because we want to share real experiences with no censorship. My time reporting and now editing for student media has shown me time and time again that we can make it through the toughest of times, because we can withstand discomfort.

Mustang News is here to bring our readers closer together through stories that demonstrate the reality of our world. Whether you pick up our print issue every month or have only read our rather extensive St.Fratty’s coverage, we are happy to continue reporting on and sharing the SLO experience.

As you mind your own business grabbing Starbucks at the UU, know that you may be approached at some point by a Mustang News reporter, phone in hand to record a quick statement. We do so with the hope of highlighting student voices; to show the bounty of stories this community has to offer and to do it in the most honest possible way.

From mechanical engineering to wine and viticulture, each student at Cal Poly faces their own set of challenges. Our uniting factor is the goal of wearing that green cap and gown down the center of Spanos Stadium.

We know the trek to graduation is hard – we’re here to tell your journey, discomfort and all

Find us online at Mustangnews. net, on your radio at KCPR 91.3 FM or worldwide on KCPR.org. Thank you for continuing to read, watch and listen to our coverage.

CHLOE LOVEJOY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Dr. Kathleen McMahon

“Over 25 years of experience empowering students in navigating college”

Former VP and dean of students at campuses in the UC, CSU, and private

EDUrain offers new tools to assist the yearly hunt for housing

BY ARCHANA PISUPATI

Cal Poly’s housing crisis developed a large role in campus culture over the past years, especially following the COVID-19 pandemic. Some students have experienced living out of their cars, as previously reported by Mustang News, while the campus historically only accommodates for very few extra spaces for those experiencing homelessness.

In an effort to ease the stress of finding off-campus housing, the Cal Poly Off-Campus Housing Program has partnered up with EDUrain, an online platform that creates off-campus housing communities for students navigating the housing marketplace.

According to a July Cal Poly news release, “the Off-Campus Housing Program was created in October 2022 to help students successfully transition from on-campus to off-campus living in the San Luis Obispo community.”

Cal Poly Housing expects the housing hunt to be far easier using EDUrain’s platform, which offers, “a centralized and customized hub to simplify the housing search process for students” and “features such as a roommate search function, subleasing feature, credit-building program through on-time rental payments, an alternative security deposit program, and scholarship search, among others,” according to the release.

Cal Poly Off-Campus Housing

Program coordinator Sarah Bacio said in the release that she expects the partnership to ease students of the challenges they face in securing off-campus housing.

“We are confident that this partnership will help us better serve our students and provide them with a positive off-campus housing experience,” she said in the release.

Throughout the past year, Bacio led focus groups and worked with students to understand their needs in terms of the housing crisis.

In the past, Cal Poly provided links to different apartments for rent on their housing website. The list compiled recommended and frequented apartments that were popular among previous students.

Business administration sophomore Vaishali Nair deemed the search for housing as incredibly stressful.

“I didn’t realize how competitive the process was, or that there’s no way to increase any individual’s chance of getting into on-campus housing if they weren’t in one of the required groups,” she said.

A select 400 second-year students from Cal Poly’s colleges that are not part of the two-year housing agreement are granted a spot by lottery in the on-campus Poly Canyon Village apartments

Though there is tough competition among students who hope to be part of the 400 lottery winners – whether that be to reside with their friends or to ease their commute to campus

– students who aren’t guaranteed housing try twice as hard to make it in.

Nair lived in the Tiłhini residence hall her freshman year, in the yakʔityu tityu living complex. Although she is not in the Cal Poly Scholars program, she lived in the Scholar’s residential living community and met many of her friends in her building. Since the Scholar’s program is part of the two-year housing contract on Cal Poly’s campus, Nair was among the many students who hoped to secure one of the 400 spots in PCV. She started looking for housing in November, which she said was a “little late” to begin the search.

Since most of her friends were in the required groups for on-campus housing, the process felt incredibly long, she said.

After being notified that she did not receive a spot in PCV, she went back to the housing hunt in March. Nair struggled to find an apartment.

“I know many of us were in this same situation, and one of our potential roommates ended up switching housing, leaving us with an open spot in our apartment at Valencia,” she said.

She was not able to find a student who wanted to take up this single spot and Valencia Apartments administrators ended up placing a random person in their group without notifying them.

“While I was eventually able to find off-campus housing for the next year, it was definitely a whirlwind,” Nair said. “I was very worried about

where I was living, who I could live with, costs and losing my chance at a better housing option.”

She said the most stressful part of the process was the limited time she had to find a place because of how fast housing on and off-campus fills up.

came too late and she was not sure if she could live in PCV or have to commit to an off-campus apartment. EDUrain’s mission is to alleviate problems identical to the ones faced by Nair and ultimately make the process seamless for those unable to live on campus for their second year. One tool on EDUrain’s website includes a Renter’s Guide that lays out every step students need to secure off-campus housing. This includes budgets, renters insurance, credit and security deposits, according to their website. Beyond finding housing, EDUrain claims to be focused on helping students find a community.

According to the website , “Finding roommates or affordable housing can be difficult. We simplify the process by connecting vetted students with other students searching in the same area.”

SARAH BACIO

Cal Poly Off-Campus Housing Program coordinator

“The most stressful part was timing! Housing fills up extremely fast off-campus,” she said. “It can be so hard for someone new to college to understand this and be on top of it.”

Nair said that a lot of the resources Cal Poly provided about both on-campus and off-campus housing

The added tool of helping find off-campus roommates creates an alternative to posting on the Cal Poly Snapchat stories or the Cal Poly SLO (CPSLO) Housing Rentals, Sublets & Roommates Facebook Group, which can become tedious with over 5,300 individuals seeking housing.

“This new program could help students stay connected, find roommates, and see where other students typically live in order to maintain the Cal Poly community outside of academics too,” Nair said. Though, she said, she wishes it came sooner.

We are confident that this partnership will help us better serve our students and provide them with a positive off-campus housing experience.

RAIN MAZUMDER | MUSTANG NEWS

How to support those affected by the Maui fires

BY ASHLEY BOLTER

The days leading up to what Mauibased news site MauiNow described as the “nation’s deadliest fire in 100 years” were typical for Maui residents. Food science senior Sebastion Montero-Quemado was shopping with his family on French Street in Lahaina before going to see a friend in Kihei a couple days later.

“It was basically pretty normal for everyone,” Montero-Quemado said. “Everyone was working. Everyone was interacting with their families. Everyone was at home sleeping or tourists coming in and out of Maui.”

But on Aug. 8, multiple fires broke

out across Maui, with the worst one spanning 3.5 square miles and decimating the historic town of Lahaina.

As of Aug. 27, there are 115 confirmed fatalities and 388 individuals reportedly unaccounted for, according to MauiNow.

“It’s just a plethora of emotions. It’s quite devastating, but it’s quite hard to take in,” Montero-Quemado said. There are multiple ways people can help support those affected by the Maui fires.

the Maui Food Bank and Maui United Way.

Beyond supporting Maui with donations, Montero-Quemado also stressed the importance of educating oneself on the roots of Hawaii and how colonialism has impacted the islands.

“You have got to educate yourself and advocate on why Lahaina town should be rebuilt to like how it was before the colonial impact,” he said.

personal contact through a penpal or over social media could have a lasting impact on those affected, Frievalt said. Students can also get involved with the Wildland-Urban Interface Fire Institute, which is made up of Cal Poly faculty, staff and students working to address the growing frequency of fires and build safer communities through research, training and education throughout California and the West Coast.

at Cal Poly, leads some of these research projects.

“Presently, I’m working with a whole host of graduate and undergraduate students that are looking at how these fuel treatments that are being implemented across the state impact potential fire behavior but also how does that impact greenhouse gasses,” Dicus said.

Retired fire chief and Director of Cal Poly’s Wildland-Urban Interface Fire (WUI FIRE) Institute Frank Frievalt suggested reaching out to people affected, in an empathetic and meaningful way. Making

“We have a lot of projects that are going on right now that are very interesting and they’re going to be tremendously helpful,” Frievalt said. Dr. Chris Dicus, a professor of Wildland Fire & Fuels Management

Dicus said the easiest way to get into a research project is to connect to the faculty involved.

A list of these individuals can be found on the WIRE FIRE website at /fire.calpoly.edu/people. To stay up to date on projects, visit fire.calpoly. edu/news.

BY ARCHANA PISUPATI

“I saw the struggles and challenges that underrepresented students faced, and I wanted to do something to change that,” Cal Poly engineering management graduate student Isaiah Hogan said.

A San Luis Obispo native and former Cal Poly football player, Hogan recently became the CEO and founder of Cal Poly’s first ever Black-owned non-profit.

Pathway is a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering underrepresented college students to break into the fields of their dreams. They give students access to industry professionals, resources and mentorship to help them develop the skills, knowledge and networks needed to succeed in these industries.

Pathway was founded in February, but the idea came into fruition much earlier. The concept emerged after Hogan acknowledged the difficulties frequently encountered by underrepresented students when attempting to enter industries with high demand. He was inspired by the experiences he and his peers faced at Cornell during his undergraduate years and was insistent on changing the narrative for students like himself.

After recognizing these barriers, he was determined to level the playing field and created a platform with targeted resources, mentorship and opportunities to students.

Hogan said, “I believe that everyone, regardless of their background, deserves an equal chance to succeed and thrive in their chosen career.”

Hogan discussed that as a Black student-founder at Cal Poly, which

Several organizations have set up a way for people to make online donations to aid in the relief efforts, including the American Red Cross, the Hawai’i Community Foundation, is a predominantly white institution (PWI), one of the unique barriers is the lack of representation and mentorship. He emphasized the importance of having people who “look like you” in positions of success.

Without representation and access to tools such as mentors who actively face and understand unique experiences and challenges, it is difficult to navigate certain competitive environments such as Wall Street or Big 4, Hogan said.

Even so, he also said being a student at Cal Poly has given him the opportunity to discover a diverse range of ideas, valuable perspectives and opportunities that have all profoundly shaped his entrepreneurial mindset.

Cal Poly’s “Learn by Doing” mindset and environment has challenged Hogan to, “think creatively, be adaptable, and continuously learn — all essential qualities for entrepreneurship,” he said.

Pathway is in the process of beginning partnerships with on-campus organizations at Cal Poly, “particularly those focusing on promoting diversity and inclusion in various fields.” They are specifically targeting those groups which focus on promoting diversity and inclusion in various fields.

With their growing collaborations, their work over the past few months has been rewarding to their staff, according to Hogan. He said one of his most rewarding moments was to simply be seeing the impact of Pathway’s work on students.

Hogan also personally communicates with every student who joins the program.

“It’s incredibly gratifying to hear feedback from students who have gained confidence or even found a new friend through our

mentorship,”Hogan said. He fondly remembers one of his students whose father passed away. He shared the student’s story and was grateful to chat with him about his career goals and college dreams. That student was recently accepted into Cal Poly Pomona and plans to study mechanical engineering.

“This was such a rewarding experience,” Hogan said. “And we hope to guide many more students along this path.”

Pathway’s mission revolves around the success of all students and prioritizes making the playing field equal. They advise students to “stay

proactive, be persistent and never hesitate to seek help.”

Grad student creates Cal Poly’s first Black-owned non-profit

Hogan said it is important to be fearless and reach out to mentors in your field of interest.

“Networking and developing relationships can open doors to opportunities that you might not even know exist,” he said.

Students can get involved with Pathway by signing up on their online form, participating in their events and sharing their resources with peers. They are currently welcoming volunteers of any background who are interested in helping them further their mission.

ISAIAH HOGAN | COURTESY

BY NETA BAR

Destroyer of worlds, savior of cinema.

Two starkly different films, one fateful release date. Grossing a combined $368 million in their first week, Barbenheimer will go down in history as the catalyst of the movie theater attendance renaissance. “Attendance” feels like an understatement in this case; it wasn’t attendance, it was anarchy. Millions of moviegoers spent July 21st braving the two hour Barbie spectacle and Oppenheimer’s three

hour runtime in one go. I was not one of those brave souls.

However, I did watch both, and this is what a Cal Poly business major – clearly the most renowned film critic you know – has to say. Spoilers ahead, you have been warned. But really, if you haven’t watched both these movies yet, what have you been doing? Living under a rock? Playing with barbies? Constructing the world’s first atomic bomb?

Round 1: Oppenheimer

Those who watched Oppenheimer before Barbie grapple with the inherent weight of human existence on the daily. They down a cup of pragmatic ethics alongside their morning coffee like it’s their job. They entered the theater on July 21st with solemn looks and left with wizened minds.

Oppenheimer is a cinematic triumph; one of fierce dialogue, gripping performances and the first tolerable 3-hour runtime that I’ve seen in years. Christopher Nolan took his notorious style and made it work for the audience – this time.

I’ll be the first to say that I am not routinely an avid Nolan fan. I find his non sequential storytelling to be more cliché than ingenious, but I’m relieved (and ultimately surprised) to say that in this movie, the plot prevails. Christopher Nolan made a movie that made a morsel of sense. Hooray!

Scenes were immersive, disjointing the senses of sight and sound and inviting viewers to undergo an experience of genuine wonder along with Cillian Murphy and the cast. Entire audiences were holding their breath and people literally sat at the edge of their seat; that is what cinema is about and, at this juncture, Oppen-

heimer outperformed.

My only qualm is the lack of clarity in Lewis Strauss’ vendetta against Oppenheimer. To even the most engaged movie-watcher, I wasn’t sure where his malevolence for Oppenheimer came from, and from what source. At the end of the film, an explanation is hastily delineated, but for such a crucial element of the story’s resolution, the approach was not nearly enough.

Notwithstanding, the rest of the film contained masterful, satisfying and downright prodigious filmmaking. My personal favorite; the invigoratingly written character arc of Kitty Oppenheimer, from alcoholic wife and resigned mother to Robert Oppenheimer’s greatest ally. The greatest moment of dialogue in the movie occurs between her and special counsel Robert Robb.

“Through communist channels” the woman said. I had to bite my tongue so as to not audibly cheer.

As a viewer, I could tell that Nolan cared deeply about this movie and wanted to leave no stone unturned. With the exception of Strauss’ sloppily spelled out story, I put forth that he succeeded in this goal.

Round 2: Barbie

Barbie is a movie for the masses. It is a script that could be synopsized by “There’s something for everyone!” as a tagline. There comes a time when one must step back and ask whether this approach is healthy movie making. When a film is for everyone, the story must accommodate. Watered down themes, compromised plotlines, and fragmented thesis statements prevail as a result.

Blunders aside, it is my personal experience that Greta Gerwig’s Barbie was a blast. It flew by, and I speak from the heart when I say that as the closing credits approached, I did not want the movie to end. If I was paying slightly less attention, I believe that Barbie’s screenplay shortcomings could have easily passed me by.

Alas, the Barbie movie is no exception for my cinematic scrutiny. Many criticize this film for its on-the-nose messaging or uninventive take on feminism. To that I say: if you expected Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling’s Barbie movie to bring forth groundbreaking themes in feminist ideology, you were, respectfully, kidding yourself. While I do have my plights with the Barbie movie, its “basic” approach to the woes of womanhood is not where my concerns lie.

In brief, the final act of the movie

is a wreck. The fire of the story dies out, the buildup leading to too much and consequently nothing at all. The montage of home videos, while moving at first glance, felt like a last-ditch effort to convey… I’m not even sure what. Being a human is poignantly magnificent, sure, but the momentum of the movie did not set the stage for this motif.

Even the transition that precedes the montage, when Sasha bizarrely asks Mattel’s CEO “What about Barbie? What’s her ending?” speaks to the disorganization that would shortly unfold. Fragmented thesis statements are one of my least favorite cinematic defects. They convey an immaturity of sorts, as if no one was watching closely enough in the editing room. And not only are the themes in this movie fragmented, but they are also each respectively undercooked.

Greta Gerwig infused so many ideas into her film that, by the end, the engine sputtered and the vehicle died. But albeit its faults, Barbie was most evidently a movie with heart. It sparkled, it shined; entire theaters cracked up laughing and cried. The Barbie movie may have resembled a mangled car accident by its end, but best believe, this car was still alluring, energetic, alive. A charming spectacle as it lived and as it died.

New temporary study spaces take over parking during Kennedy Library construction

BY SYDNIE BIERMA

On June 16, Robert E. Kennedy Library closed its doors until fall of 2025. To provide students with alternative study spaces, Cal Poly has set up temporary study locations — some of which include pre-existing education buildings, outside study tents and the old Crandall Gym.

Parking lots C7 and H11, previously faculty lots, will hold temporary tent structures. The tents will be opened and closed every day by a staff member and will have signs where students can scan a QR code to request cleaning services for the space or leave feedback.

“Hopefully we can get some feedback on what can be done better,” senior project manager Carla Brown said.

According to Brown, the renovation is a “joint effort between our faculty, staff and students.”

The tents will have group spaces set up in tables of two or four as well as longer tables for larger study groups. All furniture used in these spaces were originally in the library. All three tents will be fully enclosed with heating and cooling and will provide an extra 700 seats of study space.

Recreation parks and tourism junior Claire Anderson lives one and a half miles from campus. In previous years, she would spend every day at the library because she didn’t have time between classes to walk all the way home.

But with the renovation, Anderson is concerned about decreased study time in the evening in the new tent structures.

“You can’t hang out late at night if you’re outside in a tent,” she said.

Architectural engineering junior

Frances Street visited the library almost every day last year. Street said she used it as a place to work with her peers and socialize. During the renovation, she plans on using the study spaces in the architectural engineering buildings to work with her peers.

“If it’s going to be a tent in a parking lot, I’m not sure why I would pick that over going to one of the labs in the ‘ArcE’ building or doing homework in my own house,” Street said.

Some other buildings that will be open to provide extra study accom-

classrooms for the growing student population. It will also have a Starbucks cafe on the first floor –alongside new restrooms, furniture, paint and carpet.

The library renovation will also add a floor to the preexisting 24-hour study space, Hub24. To temporarily provide a 24-hour space, ASI is opening the University Union (UU) Chandler and San Luis Lounges for 24 hours every day.

However, another concern for Anderson is that the UU is a freshmen-heavy space. She said, “freshmen are going to have an overwhelming study space.” The already crowded UU is going to become even more congested during the renovation.

Neither Street nor Anderson will see the Kennedy Library for the rest of their time at Cal Poly. Street said it’s going to “knock out an amenity

for people’s college experience.” However, previous library services such as interlibrary loan pick up, research desk and copy/print will still be available to students in the old Crandall Gym during the construction.

More information about the library renovation and temporary study spaces can be found on the Cal Poly Facilities Management and Development website.

MORRO BAY PADDLESPORTS

We’ll see you on the water!

modations include Baker Science Building (BLDG 180), Business Building (BLDG 03), English Building (BLDG 22), Fisher Science Hall (BLDG 33) and the Science Building (BLDG 52).

Those buildings will open at 7 a.m. every weekday and will close anywhere from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

The future plans for Kennedy Library contain additional

“It is difficult right now, but we’re looking forward to the ultimate outcome, which will be a building that can grow.”

CARLA BROWN

Senior Project Manager

CLAIRE LORIMOR | MUSTANG NEWS Temporary study tent outside of the Erhart Agriculture Building.

Public schools across California are required to provide free menstrual products: Here’s how Cal Poly is doing

BY ASHLEY BOLTER

In Oct. 2021, California passed the Menstrual Equity for All Act, which requires all California public schools to provide free menstrual products, defined as pads and tampons, to students. The law went into effect in July 2022.

All California State Universities and community colleges are required to have products available to students in at least one central location on campus and post a sign in all women’s and gender-neutral restrooms and at least one men’s restroom, explaining where products can be found on campus.

CalMatters published an article in April examining several colleges throughout the state to find out if they have actually followed through.

Mustang News investigated 172 women’s and gender-neutral restrooms on campus to determine how well Cal Poly is complying with the law.

After Assembly Bill 10 passed in 2017, which created the initial requirement for California State Universities and community colleges “to provide an adequate supply of feminine hygiene products sufficient to meet the needs of female students,” ASI published a resolution regarding access to menstrual products at Cal Poly.

“In order to best support student success, the ASI Board of Directors, as the official voice of students, recommends that Cal Poly provides feminine hygiene products in female, male, and all gender restrooms in facilities campus-wide,” the resolution said.

Six years later, however, menstrual products are still not available in every restroom.

Out of the 172 restrooms Mustang News investigated, 53% did not have products available nor did they have any signage on where products could be found.

In the restrooms that do have a sign, a QR code directs students to the food pantry, the women’s restroom inside Mustang Lanes and several different university housing locations.

Students can also get menstrual products, and educational resources from the Gender Equity Center located in the University Union.

According to ASI’s 2017 resolution, 47.2% of students use menstrual products. Not all of these students are able to afford products on their own.

A 2021 BMC Women’s Health study revealed that 14% of students experienced “period poverty” in 2020, meaning they were unable to afford the menstrual products they needed. Cal Poly students that are already struggling with period poverty might have an even harder time affording menstrual products, as ASI’s 2017 resolution estimates that products sold on campus cost $0.40 more than products sold off campus.

Architecture sophomore Monserrat Perez is a student assistant at the Gender Equity Center and leads the effort to make menstrual products available to students.

“I feel like if [menstrual products are] not accessible, then it’s kind of a barrier to people who menstruate. It’s kind of pushing them back,” she

The Sights and Sounds of Autumn: A Look into the Art and Music of Fall

BY KAT OROZCO

The Sights and Sounds of Autumn: A Look into the Art and Music of Fall Quarter

With the fall quarter approaching, new faces and an exhilarating nightlife are bringing the streets of San Luis Obispo back to life. Read on for KCPR’s guide to the events and performances of the season.

ART EXHIBITS AND MARKETS

“Through the Eyes of a Monarch”

SLO County Arts is collaborating with the Shanbrom Family Foundation, the Western Monarch Trail and the Central Coast State Parks Association for a compelling exhibit, Through the Eyes of a Monarch. The show illustrates the monarch’s charming intricacy and the challenges that climate change and deforestation bring for pollinators. The art on display aims to showcase life through the perspective of

the endangered species. Viewers can attend the exhibit at The Bunker SLO until Sept. 30.

Prior to its remodel in 2019, The Bunker was formerly an artist studio space that was inaccessible to the public. When doors opened on March 28 of this year, gallery manager and event coordinator, Kalae Neves dedicated herself to supporting non-profits and creating an inclusive community atmosphere.

“It’s really important to us that we give local non-profits a place to call their own,” she said. “They should have a spot to host events, show artwork and do fundraisers.”

For the month of September, The Bunker chose to highlight the Central Coast State Parks Association as they move into monarch season. This show was curated to bring awareness to the decline of the Western monarch.

“It is important to me that people from out of the area and students have an awareness of what is happening in nature,” Neves shared.

Artist Giovanni Oretga grew up in the deserts of California, which they describe as “the same absent environment monarchs live in.”

After a wildfire, known as the Bobcat Fire, damaged the region they called home, Ortega felt stagnat. However, their stillness swiftly transformed into creativity and they began working on their untitled piece pictured below.

“The real change is with action. Not by just envisioning, but by doing,” Ortega said.

“More

Than What We See”

More Than What We See is a collection of the late John Barrett’s finest paintings. Barrett’s interest in art developed in the 1960s when he was gifted a set of oil paints from his grandmother. The Californiaraised artist painted to capture fleeting moments, aspects of popular culture and political occurrences. This exhibit successfully documents the mundane and extraordinary instances of life simultaneously.

More Than What We See is currently

Mission Plaza Market

Makeshift Muse is a women-owned and operated market centered in San Luis Obispo and Los Angeles. Their pop-up shops allow local creators to expand their businesses and shoppers to enjoy one-of-a-kind products. Not only does Makeshift Muse assist the local economy, but the market also encourages sustainability and community building.

Founder of Makeshift Muse, Angie Boyd, hosted her first pop-up event in 2018. At the time, Boyd was unaware of how the business would

SLO

KALAE NEVES

“Untitled” (left) by Giovanni Ortega.

“When I was working on this piece I was reflecting on the individual and the distance that we have to travel mentally to get to our goal, which is change,” Ortega said.

Ortega finds humans and monarchs to be similar in their determination for survival. Despite the shifts in long-term climate trends, monarchs have remained persistent.

“This piece was really fitting for the show because monarchs, too, have births and rebirths,” they said. “At the same time, we are also going through changes as we figure out ourselves.”

For the remainder of the year, The Bunker will host SLO County Arts’ Open Studios Art Tour and showcase photography from Justin Snead, a storm chaser who captures extreme weather conditions in the Midwest.

It is important to me that people from out of the area and students have an awareness of what is happening in nature.

County Arts gallery manager

showing at the San Luis Obispo Museum of Art until Nov. 27.

Painting: Untitled by Giovanni Ortega.

transform her life and the lives of local enterprises.

“There is so much creative & entrepreneurial talent in SLO, and this platform has allowed me to tap into that network. I feel so proud to be surrounded by so many inspiring and like-minded peers,” she said.

The mission of Makeshift Muse is to cultivate prosperous businesses while providing free, inclusive community events. Boyd credits the success of her business to the passion of its vendors and the dedication of its customers.

“Shopping at our events is a great way to invest back into your community and consume more intentionally,” she said. “A healthy, thriving economy depends on successful small businesses, and that’s why I care so deeply about this work and this platform.”

Boyd looks forward to coordinating markets at Mission Plaza and Madonna Inn this year while expanding her business and reaching new faces.

“I think what makes Makeshift unique is that we are always growing

and evolving. We have worked with over 20 venues in SLO and have been able to create these experiences up and down the coast,” she said. The market’s next SLO-based event, the Mission Plaza Market, will take place Downtown on Oct. 7 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Art After Dark

The first Fridays of the month are not like any ordinary night in San Luis Obispo. SLO County Arts’ Art After Dark program invites its visitors to immerse themselves in the local art scene and admire the artistry of SLO’s creators. The free, self-guided art walk is held across several venues, galleries, restaurants and shops in SLO. These establishments exhibit original visual, performing and literary work from 5-8 p.m. The next Art After Dark will occur on Oct. 6.

Sunset Drive-In Swap Meet

Every Sunday, the Sunset Drive-In takes a break from the big screen and holds a community flea market.

From as early as 5:00 a.m., vendors can set up booths that contain a variety of products including vintage clothing, furniture, jewelry, antique goods and produce. These vendors range from individual garage sellers to local businesses. Doors are open for customers from 6-11:30 a.m. with a $1 entry fee per person or $3 to park inside.

CONCERTS

Tanukichan at SLO Brew Rock

Hannah van Loon, the voice and instrumentalist of Tanukichan, is an artist who draws influence from older generations but adds a modern twist. Alongside Toro y Moi’s Chaz Bear, van Loon produces music that finds harmony between shoegaze and dream pop, grittiness and softness.

Van Loon and Bear began working together in 2016 and have released two studio-length albums, “Sundays” and “GIZMO.” While “Sundays” consists of sweet pop melodies and prioritizes tone and atmosphere, “GIZMO” introduces roaring guitar textures and punchy percussion. Tanukichan began touring shortly after “GIZMO’s” release in March of this year. She will be performing at SLO Brew Rock on Oct. 22 with opening band Wishy.

STRFKR at the Fremont Theatre

STRFKR’s sound is partly responsible for the creation of the unfiltered, nonconforming indie scene of the 2000s. The Portland-based musicians started writing and performing synth-heavy dance-pop music in 2007, providing lively songs for folks to move to.

The band consists of frontman Joshua Hodges and multi-instrumentalists Shawn Glassford, Keil Corcoran and Patrick Morris. From

climbing the Billboard charts to being featured in television and film, the band has come a long way since their self-titled debut album. STRFKR’s catchy and carefree sound is a product of its time, yet the musicians manage to transform alongside new generations of dancers. Their fall tour takes place this October, with the four-piece band performing at the Fremont Theatre on Oct. 26.

Joyce Manor at the Alex Madonna Expo Center

Joyce Manor caused an uproar in the California punk scene when they emerged in 2008. The Torrence rock band is commonly recognized for their raw, straightforward distribution of pop punk and uniquely brief songs that aim to get stuck in listeners’ heads.

The band formed naturally when singer Barry Johnson and guitarist Chase Knobbe met and bonded over their love for Blink-182. Shortly after, bassist Matt Ebert joined the lineup and the band released their debut album, “S/T” in 2011. In the band’s most recent LP, “40 oz. to Fresno,” the musicians perfect their consistent, well-established sound while reminiscing on what makes Joyce Manor, Joyce Manor.

Johnson told Epitaph Records that the album was crafted to capture the liberating feelings of early tour life and the simple moments a band shares together after a 15-year run. The musical group will be performing at the Alex Madonna Expo Center on Oct. 18 with Tigers Jaw, AJJ and Smoking Data Guns.

Alice in Chains at the Vina Robles Amphitheater

The Seattle rock band Alice in Chains has sold over 30 million records worldwide, earned 11

Grammy Award nominations and has had five No. 1 songs on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Chart. They achieved rapid recognition during the grunge or Seattle sound movement of the ’90s for their intriguing uniqueness.

Whereas grunge music combines elements of punk and metal, Alice in Chains stands out among other bands because of their heavy metal origins. Guitarist Jerry Cantrell and former vocalist Lane Staley’s metal backgrounds are responsible for their thunderous riffs, striking vocal styles and overall distinction. Alice in Chains will be stopping in Paso Robles on Oct. 7 for their fall tour. KCPR is giving away tickets to the following shows. Information on how to enter the giveaways can be found on Instagram @kcpr913.

JAWNY AT THE FREMONT THEATRE SEPT. 22

ROOSEVELT AT THE FREMONT THEATRE SEPT. 30

KURT VILE AND THE VIOLATERS AT THE FREMONT THEATRE OCT. 4

PSYCHEDELIC PORN CRUMPETS AT THE FREMONT THEATRE OCT. 5

STRFKR AT THE FREMONT THEATRE OCT. 26

UNKNOWN MORTAL ORCHESTRA AT THE FREMONT THEATRE NOV. 4

DURAND JONES AT THE FREMONT THEATRE NOV. 11

UNTITLED | JOHN BARRETT

ANGIE BOYD | MUSTANG NEWS

Incoming freshmen student-athletes

BY JACK BYNUM

Meet four fresh faces representing Cal Poly athletics

Less than 2% of high school athletes will go onto play sports at a Division-1 level: the talent pool is stronger, workouts are more constant and the pride and will to win runs deeper.

But with fall sports approaching quickly, these four freshmen are ready for a new chapter, both personally and athletically.

WHAT DREW YOU TO CAL POLY?

AIDEN RAMOS

5-foot-10, 205 pounds Running Back, will be making his way up north from Covina to join Cal Poly Football.

Ramos committed to the Mustangs last September. He acknowledged that the coaching staff and the San Luis Obispo community helped him to reach his decision.

“I had never met a staff that was as genuine and real with me as they were at Cal Poly,” Ramos said. “I had some long conversations with Coach Wulff about what direction the program was going, it was something I wanted to be a part of. On top of that, I knew I’d be walking out with a great degree and the community loves Cal Poly so I was excited to help build the program that they support.”

BAILEY BRACHA

Clovis native Bracha is looking to add some firepower to the already explosive women’s soccer team.

“I was more excited than nervous to attend college, but there definitely were some small nerves about missing home, friends, and family,” Bracha said. “Being away from home but still having people that make it feel like home…The team was so welcoming when I visited.”

PARKER OWENS

As another addition to the young and upcoming men’s soccer league, Owens is 1,500 miles away from his hometown of Southlake, Texas.

“Learning by doing is crucial to me in the learning process,” Owens said. “I also really enjoyed this city since it’s predominantly resident to college kids and there is so much to do.”

WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCES FROM ATHLETICS AT THE HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE LEVEL?

“The biggest difference in football is the game speed. Everyone’s a little bit bigger, faster, and stronger, so the game moves quicker,” Ramos said. “Coach Gibson, our running backs coach has really helped me in film study and working on my own technique. Things like that have helped me slow the game down and perform better during camp.”

EMMA FREDRICK

Fredrick is coming from Bakersfield and is preparing to make a big impact for the Mustangs women’s volleyball squad.

“The intensity and dedication it takes to be a college athlete, all of your time is put into your sport,” Fredrick said. College sports can be humbling. Many athletes come in and expect to be the star in college like they have been on most every team they have played for, it’s a time to learn and grow.

“You aren’t the star player anymore,” Owens said. “Everyone around you is on the same skill level. It helps you become better as an individual and team player while sharpening your skills.”

WHERE HAVE YOU LEANED FOR SUPPORT IN YOUR TRANSITION TO COLLEGE?

When talking about the transition from highschool to college, Fredrick credits her teammates for making it a seamless and comfortable one.

“I wasn’t too nervous to attend college until it came time, to be honest I was so excited to start this new chapter of my life,” Fredrick said. “Honestly my teammates have made this transition super easy and comfortable.”

The nerves may creep up when so far away from home but as the team connects, the confidence grows.

“Obviously there were some nerves coming in but once I started playing with my teammates and gaining confidence most nerves went away,” Owens said.

To calm her nerves, Bracha looks to her older teammates for advice and guidance for her first year.

“The returners shared things with me they wished they would’ve known when they were freshman,” Bracha said. “Hearing them open up showed me that they all went through the same thing I’m currently going through and that they are a great resource to go to.”

WHAT DOES AN OFF DAY LOOK LIKE FOR YOU?

Off days are limited for Bracha and many of her fellow student athletes, but rest is necessary for physical and mental recovery.

“On an off day, I like to hangout at the pool at Poly Canyon Village with my roommates and teammates during the day and then head down to the volleyball courts later in the day,” Bracha said. “Just relaxing and doing chill activities to give our bodies some rest.”

Owens understands what his body needs and prioritizes his body on an off day.

“Being in and around the trainers and eating nutritious food,” Owens said. “Nothing is more important than recovering your body after a long week of training.”

Off days can also be utilized to get ahead and prove to coaches and teammates that you are willing to give it your all.

“I’ll get a light lift in and work on my mobility to help me feel fresh for the week,” Ramos said. “I like to watch practice films of different running backs in college or the NFL to see what I can learn from them.”

College is fast approaching for these freshmen, who will represent their new home for the next four years.

The story of star Mackenzie Samuel

BY ELIZABETH BOLAND

When Mackenzie Samuel arrived as a freshman to Cal Poly, she didn’t come in expecting to play. She accomplished many feats in her prep career, such as helping her team go 20-0-0 during her junior year of high school and only allowing two goals. But those accomplishments didn’t matter anymore on the first day of training camp for Cal Poly Women’s Soccer.

Many with her record and name coming into the Cal Poly program would not expect to be placed fourth on the depth chart. Additionally, she entered a program with a losing record from 2015-2019.

Samuel knew she couldn’t take it personally or let it beat her up that she had to prove herself. She did what she does best: fight.

Samuel got the starting nod with eight games left in her freshmen season in 2021 and took over a team that was 7-6.

It was not just her play that made her the new starting keeper for the Mustangs; it was also her attitude.

Samuel is that player who is both a game changer and leader for her team. She is consistent and someone other players want to be around.

Head Coach Alex Crozier noticed that Samuel made an “impact right away.”

“It was pretty clear early on that we play better with her on the field,” Crozier said.

Now heading into her junior season, Samuel – named the 2022 Big West Goalkeeper of the Year – is again taking the pitch as the starting goalkeeper for the Mustangs.

As she became more comfortable in her new setting away from home, she grew into a leader. This led to her teammates naming her a captain this season, along with senior Olivia Ortiz and junior Emma Brown.

THE TAKEOVER

Her first start as a freshman came against CSU Bakersfield and there was no looking back.

In the remaining games, they went 6-2, including wins over UCSB and Long Beach State. They reached the Big West Tournament Championship and lost against UC Irvine.

She plays her heart out when given a chance, which lead her to being named to the All-Big West Second Team.

Her accomplishments in her first season don’t end there. In her first two appearances, she shut out the opponent, including four shutouts total in her freshman season and only conceded six goals in 728 minutes.

Crozier noticed that she has grown

as a player since playing for Cal Poly. She has become “more vocal, more directing of things and coaches on the field,” Crozier said.

MORE ACHIEVEMENTS

Samuel had an inspiring second season as the third Mustang to receive the Big West Goalkeeper of the Year award, in addition to being named to the All-Big West First Team. Writing her name in Cal Poly’s books also included her tying for the third most saves in a match in program history with 13 recorded saves against Stanford.

Last season, she had seven shutouts and a streak of 416:13 minutes without giving up a goal.

Whenever she is on the pitch, she “expects the highest of [herself],” and is “always striving to be better.” Even though she has accomplished a lot and has earned the starting role, she does not feel done yet.

Samuel doesn’t think she needs to ease up on practice or training. She shows up every day willing to learn.

graduated in the top 10 percent of her class. At Cal Poly, she is majoring in engineering with a concentration in aeronautics.

With a heavy course load and the full-time commitment to soccer, she knows how to “separate school and soccer,” and when she is on the field, she “locks into [a] mindset.” For her to be the most productive the next day, she knows that going to bed at a decent hour is the best for her.

“I do know that when she’s on the field, she’s competing,” Crozier said about her multiple commitments on and off the field.

This season, her advice for the freshmen is to “Give yourself grace.”

From personal experience, she knows that players won’t be perfect all the time in practice or in games.

Samuel agrees with Crozier, saying she “took little pieces from each of their games [three goalkeepers above her] and tried to like mimic them, and I think they were really inspiring and helped me grow significantly.”

She became an even better player in her second season at Cal Poly. She received another starting nod from Crozier and started in 16 games for the Mustangs.

This season, her goal is to win the Big West Goalkeeper of the Year award for the second time.

NOT JUST A TOP ATHLETE

Off the field, Samuel’s performance matches her drive to succeed in her on-field role.

Starting in high school, Samuel pushed herself academically and

Samuel admitted that she was probably too harsh on herself and today wishes she would have given herself space to make mistakes.

“Every day, you have the opportunity to just be a better soccer player and a better person and it really helps you grow individually,” Samuel said.

Every day, you have the opportunity to just be a better soccer player and a better person and it really helps you grow individually.

MACKENZIE SAMUEL

Engineering junior

OWEN MAIN | MUSTANG NEWS Samuel has been a starter since her freshmen year for the Mustangs.

The SLO music scene welcomes you

BY ANGIE STEVENS

All students and community members quickly come to learn that SLO is pulsating with music. It takes no time at all to notice all the ways in which music is celebrated here and embraced with great fervor.

Passerbyers with headphones on quietly jam out to their playlists as they walk the streets of downtown. Enthusiasts with various musical talents come together to start their own bands, while concert venues on a Friday night are teaming with excited crowds ready to hear their favorite artists. Local coffee shops, breweries and even vintage clothing stores are turning their spaces into makeshift stages to provide opportunity for up-and-coming bands to get their names out and connect with their community.

On Cal Poly’s campus, you might hear music spilling out of dorm rooms as students meet and connect during quick jam sessions or weekly band practices. Walking around in between classes, or in the hours of a slow weekend afternoon, you can see students sprawled out on the lawn, taking in the sun and getting lost in song as they strum their guitars, alone or in a group.

And as the weekends roll around and the Farmers’ Market takes over Higuera Street on Thursday nights, the town of San Luis Obispo truly comes alive.

The music scene of SLO is everywhere, and it’s a space for everyone.

However, with shows and events marked on the calendar in great abundance, it can be confusing or daunting to know where to look to find these upcoming gigs, especially if you are new to the school or town.

But in an effort to keep the growing community of music lovers in SLO inclusive and ensure everyone is in the know, the resources one can use to discover approaching concerts, house shows and events are everywhere.

How to find live music events

Social media accounts, such as @ sloscene and @slo.underground on Instagram, are dedicated to sharing and reposting flyers of upcoming house shows and local concerts in and around SLO. Following these accounts will ensure your mid-study scrolling will result in finding new events to add to your weekend ventures, and may even muster up enough inspiration needed to put down the phone and finish the homework.

Checking the websites and following the Instagram accounts of concert venues, such as Fremont Theater (@fremontslo) and SLO Brew Rock (@slobrewlive), will also keep you updated on bands coming to town.

In the past year, performers from all around the world graced the stages of these venues, including big-name acts such as Patti Smith and Stephen Marley, as well as smaller California-based bands like Mapache, Sunroom and Drugdealer, and even the Australian psychedelic rock band Babe Rainbow. The Taylor Party, a dance party geared towards the Swifties of SLO, was also a big hit of the year as fans rushed into Fremont Theater to dance and sing along to songs from all of Taylor Swift’s albums.

Another great way to become familiar with the music scene of SLO is to become familiar with the shops, restaurants and small businesses of the town, as many of them host live musical events.

Downtown coffee shops, such as Linnaea’s Cafe, provide customers with not only drinks, food and a quiet place to study, but also a plethora of live entertainment in the evenings. There are events lined up for the upcoming months, including Jazz and Open Mic nights and poetry readings. In a similar fashion, Libertine Brewing Company, which has locations in downtown SLO, Morro Bay and Avila, hosts performers and provides live events.

Vintage stores, like A Satellite of Love (@asatelliteoflove on Instagram), play their part in organizing and hosting live performances. In the evenings of scheduled shows, a makeshift stage is created and chairs are lined out the shop and through the

store’s giant doors, as the community of SLO filters in to listen to different musicians amongst the store’s selection of vintage clothing, jewelry, records and books.

With the town booming with musicians and local performers, attending SLO’s weekly Farmers’ Market on Higuera Street every Thursday from 6-9 p.m. is another great way to discover new bands.

IMUA, an R&B, Neo-soul band based out of SLO, is just one band that frequents the market, filling the evening air with smooth vocals accompanied by the melodic sounds of the keys and guitars as people walk around eating food and buying local produce.

With local bands and musicians playing everywhere around town, engaging oneself in the music is easy. The more time you spend in SLO and the more shows and live events you frequent, the more familiar you will become with the local scene.

After seeing flyers posted around campus or your favorite SLO-based band on social media, you’ll soon be jamming out to songs surrounded by friends and other local artists, as sweat is dripping and arms are flying. You’ll look around and be welcomed by a hundred other smiling faces doing the same thing as you: letting loose in the high energy and liberating feeling that is produced nowhere other than in the room of a house show.

In this element, with lively energy booming and sonic melodies vibrating all around, meeting and connecting with others becomes a natural and effortless feat.

CINDY NGUYEN | MUSTANG NEWS

AIDAN DILLON | MUSTANG NEWS

Australian band Babe Rainbow performs at SLO Brew Rock in May.

Punk rock group Black Flag performs at the Fremont Theater in April.

What do local bands have to say?

To the local San Luis Obispo indie rock band earthship, performing at house shows and seeing the high energy and personal connections fostered there is unbeatable.

“Everyone is having a good time being themselves and we always feel that energy coming back to us,” the band said in an Instagram DM. “There’s nothing better than that, it just feels like we’re hanging out with all our friends.”

SLO’s tight knit community of music lovers has fostered special connections that are felt by both the audience and the performers. For SLO-based band Honeyboys, house shows in SLO are hard to beat.

Having performed at numerous shows outside the Central Coast, “the difference is palpable,” the band said.

“While playing for new audiences is exciting, the sense of community and connection we feel in SLO is something that can’t be replicated anywhere else,” Honeyboys said.

The small but personal setting of someone’s living room is what many believe gives house shows their unique and distinct feel.

“A 40-person crowd in a small room where everyone is in touch with the music is just as energetic and far more personal than a 500-person crowd at a theater,” local band Plywood Love said.

While large concert venues provide their own thrilling experiences, the small spaces imbue connections like no other, as audience members and performers fuse as one with the lack of a real barrier or stage.

“You, along with everyone else present, have a unique investment and interest in the music you’re listening to,” Plywood Love said.

As local band Kiwi Kannibal put it, “you start seeing the same faces at shows, and that’s what really fosters a sense of community.”

The Honeyboys, earthship, Kiwi Kannibal and Plywood Love all encourage students looking to immerse themselves in SLO’s music scene or start a band of their own to simply put themselves out there.

venues.

Bands based out of SLO and Southern California, including Krooks, Makeout Reef and Bed, are set to perform at the SLO Guild Hall on Sept. 22. Local band Suburban Dropout will be hosting an EP release festival at the SLO Veterans Memorial Hall on Sept. 29, which will feature other distinguished bands of the town, such as Couch Dog, Plywood Love and Repeater. With more and more shows beginning to pop up as new and returning students settle in SLO, the energy and passion for music they bring to town will only enliven the music scene more. As an ever-growing community that feeds off fresh perspectives, talents and interests, SLO’s thriving music scene is rewarding to be a part of. For there is nothing to lose, only endless memories to be made and mosh pits to let loose in.

Going to a show alone is not an uncommon thing, and typically, one will leave having gained new friends or reconnected with old ones. Similarly, while thoughts of starting a band can feel daunting if you don’t know any other musical people, there are always going to be others in the same boat.

As classroom doors reopen for the new fall semester, so will the doors of concert

You, along with everyone else present, have a unique investment and interest in the music you’re listening to.

PLYWOOD LOVE

AIDAN DILLON | MUSTANG NEWS Student band earthship performs at the 2023 Shabang Live Music & Arts Festival at Dairy Creek Golf Course.

COUCHDOG | COURTESY Local band Couch Dog plays a house show in March 2022.

NOEL LOPEZ | MUSTANG NEWS Local funk band IMUA performs at the 2023 Shabang Live Music & Arts Festival.

CAYLEY O’BRIEN | MUSTANG NEWS

Cal Poly graduate and artist Little Wings performs to an intimate crowd at A Satellite of Love, a local vintage clothing and home store, in 2021.

RAJA GROSSI | MUSTANG NEWS Students watch local bands perform at Architecture Graveyard for KCPR x Shabang’s Superbloom concert.

AIDAN DILLON | MUSTANG NEWS San Clemente-based rock band Repeater performs at the 2023 Shabang Live Music & Arts Festival.

New campus building developments to watch for this school year

BY ABBY GORMAN

This summer, Cal Poly Corporation broke ground on several major construction projects on campus, many of which are set to be completed within the next year.

According to a university news release, some of the projects include “building the John Madden Football Center, reconfiguring the Administration Building parking lot, renovating the interior of the University Union, expanding the Technology Park, and beginning the Kennedy Library transformation.”

Reconfiguration of the parking lot adjacent to the Administration Building began June 26. According to information on the Facilities Management and Development website, the parking lot will reopen in late fall with adjustments for vehicle and foot traffic, particularly with flow from connecting streets.

After a partial closure that began in mid-June, the McPhee University

Union will reopen to total capacity for the fall quarter. The upper floor was configured to become a 24-hour study space in lieu of the Kennedy Library, which began its estimated two-year closure on June 16.

Development of Building 19 is nearing completion, with the 1901 Marketplace set to open at the start of the 2024 winter quarter. The facility will feature nine venues, including Panda Express and Chick-fil-A.

According to the Executive Director of Facilities Planning and Capital Projects Anthony Palazzo, the new dining facility is “on par with Vista Grande, with a much more modern feel than The Avenue and 805 Kitchen,” the previous Campus Dining venues in this location.

The smaller building next to 1901 Marketplace, previously the Sandwich Factory, will include two new student lounge spaces, called the Pavilion and the Forum. Although it is an allocated library study space alternative for the next

ANTHONY PALAZZO

Executive Director of Facilities Planning and Capital Projects

two years, the ASI-operated facility will later be open for reservations from student groups, according to Palazzo.

In the western corner of campus along Mount Bishop Road, expansion of the Technology Park is underway. The facility, which opened in 2010, serves as a liaison between technology-based start-ups, companies and student researchers, including the Applied Biotechnology Institute, HaptX and SRI International.

“It’s a great way for these companies to have a presence on campus, giving access to Cal Poly students as interns, and possibly future staff members,” Palazzo said.

The estimated $11.2 million in Technology Park renovations are largely funded by a $6.7 million federal grant. With plans to open summer of 2024, the upgraded facility will include an additional 30,000 square feet of furnished office space in a new two-story adjacent building. Possible future tenants are still in

negotiation.

The John Madden Football Center, a 30,000-square-foot facility, will aim to “serve the daily needs of the team during training time and the regular season,” with a locker room, weight and training rooms, as well as help recruit student-athletes, according to the project briefing.

The current focus is on preparing the grounds for construction, which is set to begin summer of 2024. “There is significant infrastructure underneath,” Palazzo said. “Many of our storm drains and sewer lines exit there, and Internet lines go through there as well.”

As students return to campus for the fall quarter, Palazzo reiterates the importance of staying alert when walking to class.

“We make construction sites safe and provide pedestrian paths, but it is still important for students to stay aware of their surroundings,” he said.

It’s a great way for these companies to have a presence on campus, giving access to Cal Poly students as interns, and possibly future staff members.

LILY TENNER, JUILIETE SEO & EMILIE JOHNSON | MUSTANG NEWS

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