WELCOME TO CAL POLY SLO MUSTANG NEWS’ GUIDE TO NAVIGATING COLLEGE
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KCPR FALL CONCERT GUIDE ALTERNATIVE SHOWS YOU CAN’T MISS AS YOU RETURN TO CAMPUS
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CAL POLY’S KENNEDY LIBRARY NEARS COMPLETION OF TWOYEAR TRANSFORMATION
LEADERSHIP
ARCHANA PISUPATI Editor in Chief
JEREMY GARZA Managing Editor
AVIV KESAR Creative Director
CAROLINE OHLANDT Print Editor
LEILA TOUATI Digital Director
MUSTANG NEWS
NEWS
Carly Heltzel News Editor
Bella Cox Assistant News Editor
Kaylin O’Connell Assistant News Editor
Abby Gorman
Alan Ko
Alexander Kohm
Angel Corzo
Ashley Strain
Ella Steere
Emilia Valero Martínez
Everlynn Dionne
Ginger Perez
Grace Gillio
Katy Clark
Maya Reiken
Nishita Mukherjee
Rebecca Von Tersch
Riya Minglani
Sam Fickett
Seth Pintar
OPINION
Landon Block Opinion Editor
Ash Pickett
Kaylie Wang
Larena Tannert
Maddie Kuhns
Mariko Garrett
Shayna Gayer
Madi Taylor Satire Columnist
Malia Mundy Satire Columnist
SPORTS
Amanda Avila Sports Content Director
Charlie Wiltsee Sports Editor
Dylan Allen Sports Video Editor
Matthew Muren Assistant Sports Editor
Ty Soria KCPR Sports Director
Joslen Jimenez Sports Social Media Manager
Ali Tafesh
Ava Acuesta
Rocco Brichler
Ava Keshtkar
Tyler O’Neal Westerweck
Amery Gill
Giada Mennucci
Noemi Bascara
Javin Hennessy
Jonathan Oliver Marburg
Andrew Aguinga
Paolo de Lancelotti
Lilia McCann
Ashley Strain
Quinlan TeSelle
Isabella Fierros
Luke Firoozye
Samantha Roach
Grace Nishanian
MUSTANG MEDIA GROUP
DESIGN
Aviv Kesar Creative Director
Meher Anklesaria
Natalia Celebrini
Ava Cheung
Ava Donaldson
Nhi Duong
Julia Hazemoto
Anika Loganathan
Kennedy Ray
Maya Shinden
Elena Vaughan
VIDEO
RJ Pollock MNTV Director
Parker Cinque
Sedona Harris
Mia Muzzi
Roman Noravian
Lauren Quijano
Chloë Schauermann
Dylan White
PHOTO
Soha Roy Photo Editor
Chloe Briote-Johnson
Emma Arredondo
Léa Bourges-Sevenier
Ben Robledo
Dijia Wang
Bia Sommers
Henry Miller
SOCIAL MEDIA
Gabrielle Ottaviano Social Media Manager
Chloe Gilb
Kaitlyn Knopf
Leah Orsini
Olivia Roman
Sedona Harris
Sophia Pero
Sydney Hecht
Maya Ziv
Eva Grove
DATA & INVESTIGATIONS
Alie Hall Data Editor
Julia Aptekar
Dilraj Dhaliwal
Cameron Hafer
Beck Schemenauer
Amy Truong
Kaviya Veerasingam
Addie Weaver
Nicole Yee
BILINGUAL
Evelyn Santa Rosa Bilingual Editor
Suri Moreno
Addison Uhl
Isabella Beltran
KCPR
LEADERSHIP
Kat Orozco Content Director
Fiona Hastings News Director
Linnaea Marks Art Director
Amelia Nored Programming/Music Director
Jeremy Okmin Marketing Director
Ben Shane Podcast Manager
Bailee Isackson Photo Editor
Peyton Kelly Social Media Manager
KCPR NEWS
Fiona Hastings News Director
Riley Sullivan Assistant News Director
Ty Soria Sports Director
Delaney Ridder
Giselle Espinoza
Diego Puga
Evelyn Santa Rosa
Lauren Quijano
Ryan Giocamini
Dylan White
Mackena Locsin
Katy Clark
Randi Ingoglia
Alyssa Parikh
Amanda Avila
Brendan McCann
Charlie Wiltsee
Keegan Oates
Cayden Tan
Lia Griffiths
Lily Segelman
KCPR CONTENT
Kat Orozco Content Director
Marley Logan Editorial Assistant
Angie Stevens
Asmahan Karam
Ayla Boose
Ella Giuliani
Elsa Fuentes Virabyan
Emilia Pirir
George Meza
Iris Langen
Ishaani Dhanotra
Joe Forrestdavis
Olivia Nieporte
Lorenzo Cano
Max Brode
Rebecca Von Tersch
Sarah Jagielski
MMG BUSINESS
ADVERTISING & PR
Logan Teixeira Advertising Manager
Sydnie Bierma Special Sections Editor
Zoë Laureta Marketing and Public Relations
Director
Nicolas Parrott Marketing Assistant
Ruby Beye Small Team Manager
Angie Ho Small Team Manager
ADVERTISING DESIGNERS
Alex Nishida Design Team Manager
Christine Kim
Teia Kornienko
Lucas Winger
Maya Shinden
ADVERTISING ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES
Katelyn Carrera Senior Account Executive
Tara Davari KCPR Account Executive
Quinn Southall
Janalee Taguia
Julia Moore
Ruby Beye
Maz Reeder
Kyle Stefan
Wesley Bea
Akshay Perumal
SPECIAL SECTIONS WRITERS
Sydnie Bierma Editor
Kate Roarke
Lillian Dolph
Allison Weil
Abby Moran
Julia Nunez
Samantha Orradre
Maxine St. Sure
Ishaani Dhanotra
Ava Welcher
Ginger Perez
Letter to Cal Poly
DESIGNED BY KENNEDY RAY
If you told me that I was the editorin-chief of Mustang News three years ago, I would have laughed and buried my head back into a story draft. When I first joined Mustang News, I had no editorial experience and vividly remember not having any idea what AP Style, the standardized writing system for journalists, was. Hundreds of Google Docs later, I’ve learned to navigate the newsroom with my own AP (Archana Pisupati) style. I’ve worked as a breaking news reporter, data and investigations reporter and most recently, social media manager. Now, it is an unimaginable honor to lead an organization of bright and talented young
journalists alongside Jeremy.
The voices that reverberate from the newsroom, our radio station KCPR and MNTV studios each contribute something inimitable to Mustang Media Group. Now more than ever, it is crucial to acknowledge that our perspectives shape the narratives we present; and nobody understands students the way other students do.
No matter what section we’re part of, MMG members are meticulous and strong-willed with a desire to change the world. Our ears are open and ready to learn, knowing every voice has something to teach us. I’m excited for us to start the conversa tion and for you all to continue it.
DEAR
Thank you for picking up the first edition of Mustang News in print for the academic year. And a special thank you for reading the news! It has been a long journey reaching this goal, and it is a privilege to write this letter to the audience that we have grown to love over the last three years. We’re excited to learn as much about as many of you as possible. This upcoming school year, our university will face historic changes. Last year, Cal Poly made national headlines at Capitol Hill, in the swimming pool and beyond anything we could’ve predicted. This year, we can expect major changes – impending semester conversion, new modular housing, integrating with Cal Maritime – and things are
As a cocky freshman, if you told me three years ago that I would be leading Mustang News alongside Archana, I would probably say “true” while stoned in my dorm room. But, I have had many instances of doubt — in myself and in the news machine — over the years. I even dropped journalism as a major for a few quarters. Shoutout to political science, but I never dropped Mustang News.
In Mustang Media Group, I’ve worked as a news reporter, data investigator, weed columnist and DJ on KCPR. A student last quarter stopped me as I was speed walking to the newsroom from the UU to thank me for my articles on Cal Poly’s efforts to be a Hispanic Serving
Institution. Others have stopped me about my local city coverage. And people, of course, talk to me about the furries.
I get a jolt of energy every time one of you approaches me saying that you saw my story. Sometimes positive and sometimes negative, but nonetheless important seeds have been planted. That feeling fuels me to do the best work I can.
As managing editor, I will work alongside editors and their staff to get you the best coverage possible. Please do not underestimate college media or young and hungry reporters. And please consume the news, national and local.
coming that we can’t possibly anticipate. During times of uncertainty, we’ll bring you news that matters. We’re dedicated to bringing you ethical and accurate coverage that will make your voices heard.
We invite you to contact us regarding any questions, comments and concerns you may have about our coverage, especially areas in our coverage that you think are lacking. You may also submit a letter to the editor online during the year.
We hope you take something away from Mustang News, or that you teach us something we can implement for future issues. We loved curating this year’s first print edition for you, and hope you enjoy reading it too!
PSST! WE RECORDED A PRINT PODCAST.
“POD FROM THE EDITORS, SEPT. ’25”
Usually just writing a letter to Cal Poly, this year, we decided to produce a special podcast as well. Listen along while reading Sept . print!
ARCHANA PISUPATI, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
JEREMY GARZA, MANAGING EDITOR
ARCHANA PISUPATI
JEREMY GARZA
WELCOME TO CAL POLY SLO
Mustang News’ guide to navigating college
STORY BY GABRIELLE OTTAVIANO DESIGNED BY NATALIA CELEBRINI
Each back-to-school season, the air stirs with a familiar mix of change and anticipation. Whether it’s reconnecting with friends to compare class schedules or simply feeling those ‘Sunday Scaries’ that last all of September, the start of school can be daunting. As you enter the unknown of being a college student, be sure to use Mustang Media Group as a resource.
Mustang Media Group is Cal Poly’s fully integrated, student-run media organization. Bringing together the teams at KCPR radio, MNTV and Mustang News, our organization provides accurate and timely information about campus and community happenings.
Here is our detailed guide collecting various student resources, orientation highlights and student advice. Use this guide to navigate the unfamiliarities of your college transition.
ACADEMIC RESOURCES
At Cal Poly, academic advising is tailored to meet the unique needs of students at different stages in your college journey. Regardless of whether you’re a first-time freshman or a transfer student, there are dedicated resources in place to support your academic success from day one.
The Mustang Success Center is a freshman-only resource to help advise students from any major. For transfers, there are numerous advising centers based on each academic college: CAFES, CAED, CENG, BCSM, CLA and OCOB. In addition to academic college advising, transfer students can also access Transfer
Academic Coaching, a program dedicated to helping transfer students adjust to Cal Poly through one-to-one peer coaching sessions.
Beyond academic help, Cal Poly offers other advising centers for student success including Career Services, Multicultural Engineering Program, Financial Aid Advising, Study Abroad Advising, Academic Advising and Pre-Health Career Advising to guide new students in their preferred direction.
HOUSING
The hunt for future housing begins almost as soon as students step on campus. While Mustang Move-In takes place in mid-September, you should start to secure your leases for the following school year as early as October. Housing in a college town is competitive, so it is essential to explore various options to find the best fit for the following school year. Rising second-year students in CAED, CAFES, or CENG academic colleges, as well as Cal Poly Scholars, student-athletes and TRIO Achievers, are required to live in on-campus housing based on their major or program. These residences are assigned to on-campus Cerro Vista Apartments or the Poly Canyon Village (PCV) Apartments.
If you aren’t guaranteed housing, prioritize your housing search as early as October. Cal Poly utilizes a platform called EDUrain to guide students towards different off-campus housing options and potential roommates. The university also compiled a list of nearby property managers to help students with the search.
Mustang Village is a popular choice among second-year students due to its proximity to campus and furnished units. The apartment complex offers a wide range of floor plans to meet different needs and sizes of roommate groups. However, spaces for the following year fill up quickly.
FOOD
For first-year students, meal plans are required. These meal plans allow students to purchase food from any of the dining establishments
on campus, though other forms of payment are also accepted. You are also able to purchase plans beyond your first year. Most first-years gravitate towards Vista Grande Dining Complex and 1901 Marketplace, as they are the closest to the freshman dorms, but beyond that, food trucks near the PAC or Mott Lawn, Scout Coffee and Shaksmart are popular options.
Many students frequent local grocery stores, including Trader Joe’s, Ralphs or Costco with the help of CalFresh, a state food assistance program. CalFresh provides EBT, or Electronic Benefits Transfer cards, which many grocery stores accept. Students can apply to determine how much money they will receive each month. EBT is a great resource for students seeking financial assistance.
Cal Poly also offers The Basic Needs Initiative, which helps students in applying for and learning about various programs and resources, including Cal Poly’s Food Pantry, CalFresh programs, SLO Food Bank and Meal Voucher Program.
Cal Poly’s Food Pantry is another free resource you may access to grab packaged and canned foods, frozen meals, fresh produce and hygienic items by swiping your student ID to get in.
CLUBS AND COMMUNITY
Finding a sense of community and belonging is crucial for the college experience. Students can browse over 400 student organizations that connect students through shared cultures, interests or hobbies on the Cal Poly Now website.
New students can personally explore all available clubs at the Club Showcase during WOW. The showcase allows students to get connected with clubs they may be interested in before the school year kicks off.
The Student Affairs office offers resources and a “supportive, inclusive, and empowering space,” through Student Diversity and Belonging and the Multicultural Center to meet the needs of those with diverse cultural backgrounds.
Beyond clubs and affinity groups, Cal Poly has on-campus events that can help foster friendships. Another way students can come together is through the Recreation Center, which offers free workout classes, exercise equipment and a lounge and lap pool.
HEALTH
Living in close quarters, freshmen in the residence halls are prone to sickness. Cal Poly Health Services provides both walk-in and scheduled appointments to serve your medical needs. Located in Bldg. 27,
open Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., the center offers immunizations, STI testing, sexual and reproductive healthcare, gender affirming care, radiology, pharmacy services and nutritional counseling, among other resources.
All general medical care is free for students as long as they have paid the appropriate mandatory Health Services Fee on the Cal Poly portal. Along with this, Cal Poly Health Services also offers Counseling and Psychological Services to meet the emotional and mental health
needs of students. With the busyness of college, CAPS provides clinical, educational and consultative services. These services include individual therapy to emotional well being workshops and self help videos.
PARKING
First-year students are not allowed to bring their cars to campus unless they have an approved circumstance. Transfer students are eligible to bring their cars on campus if they have purchased a parking pass. There are various parking structures
Central Coast Hotline: 800-783-0607.
Text START to 741741 for a 24/7 national Crisis Text Line.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988
Trevor Lifeline: 866-488-7386 (for LGBTQ+ young adults) Trans Lifeline 877-565-8860
Nurse Response Line: 888-439-2012
911: any Emergency Services or Police Department that respond can help you, including the Cal Poly Police Department.
University Police Department at 805-756-2281: For general non-emergency situations where police assistance might still be needed
on the campus for students to use for the day for $12 daily. There are also parking meters throughout campus that charge by 15 minutes, and can be accessed through the ParkMobile app.
There is an additional option for non-freshmen students to purchase a parking permit for the school year. Depending on the permit type, parking location and duration of the pass, the prices will vary. However, spots are limited and work through a waitlist system.
YAKʔIT yUT yU
Cal Poly resides on the lands of the Yak Titʸu Titʸu Yak Tiłhini
Northern Chumash Tribe of San Luis Obispo County and region, and the yakʔitʸutʸu dorms on campus have been named in their honor. When entering Cal Poly, it is important to honor the land acknowledgment. Students can connect with the tribe and learn more about its history that spans thousands of years.
One way students can get involved and support the tribe is through the Landback Campaign. This campaign moves the tribe towards reclaiming their land in hopes of creating a lasting impact that protects their land and culture.
Bldg. #Name Site Meaning
A tsɨ tkawayuCambria Place of the horses
B elewexe Paso RoblesNamed for swordfish
C tiłhini San Luis Obispo Cultural capital Place of the full moon
D tšɨ łkukunɨ tšCarrizo PlainPlace of the rabbits
E nipumuʔ Nipomo Place of the big house
F tsɨ tqawɨ Morro BayPlace of the dogs
G tsɨ tpxatu Avila BeachPlace of the whales
INSIDER SCOOP
MMG managers shared their top three go-to spots
Landon Block, Opinion Editor
“Without fail, I spend my Wednesday nights at Brain Stew Trivia at KROBAR competing like my life depends on it. Every week I look forward to the chance to hoist the championship belt (yes, there really is a belt). After using up all my brain power, you can find me refueling with a breakfast burrito and chips from Taqueria Santa Cruz or at Trader Joe’s for a real grocery run.”
Gabrielle Ottaviano, Social Media Manager
“As a Cal Poly student, I have spent most of my time at Avila Beach soaking in the sun — whether it be at sunrise or sunset. Beyond that, I consistently find myself working at Nautical Bean for my coffee fix, or at Trader Joe’s to get my essentials for the week!”
Caroline Ohlandt, Print Editor
“After a morning of surfing at Pismo Beach, my go-to pickme-up in SLO is an açaí bowl from The Açaí Project. For special occasions, Giuseppe’s Cucina Rustica is the perfect place to celebrate with incredible Italian food. And when it comes to the best ice cream in town, nothing beats McConnell’s!”
Carly
Heltzel,
News Editor
“I love sitting on the shady patio couches at Linnaea’s for some coffee and studying or hammocking on Avila Beach pier to fully unplug. If I’m feeling more ambitious, hiking along the bluffs of Montaña de Oro State Park brings views that never disappoint!”
Archana Pisupati, Editor-in-Chief
Fiona Hastings, KCPR News Director
“Ever since I had Scout Coffee on campus freshman year, I haven’t looked back. Their matchas and lattes are unmatchable and never fail to deliver, especially when you need a quick pick-me-up. High Street is always at the top of my list when anyone suggest getting food in SLO — it hits all the right spots. Whether you are going to the beach, exploring the neighborhoods of SLO, or going up to one of my favorite places, Prefumo Canyon, High Street will make that experience 10 times better. One last thing, Prefumo Canyon, in my opinion, has the BEST view of all of SLO, espe- cially at sunset!”
“A Linnaea’s recommendation coming from me is a tale as old as time. I can’t get enough of their oat milk rose matcha. When I’m not in the newsroom, you will usually find me at a Muse Market to buy jewelry or at Avila Valley Barn for all the autumn vibes!”
Cal Poly state funding cut by $9.7 million
California reduced the 2025-26 Cal State system budget by $144 million, as the system faces a $2.3 billion budget deficit.
STORY BY JEREMY GARZA DESIGNED BY ANIKA LOGANATHAN
State funding to Cal Poly’s operating budget will be reduced by $9.7 million this year, according to university spokesperson Keegan Koberl. The Cal State system is facing a $144 million reduction in state funds, or 3% of the total budget, according to Chancellor Mildred García.
Cal Poly is currently evaluating areas for cost savings and budget reductions across the university, Koberl said. The university does not anticipate students will see any impact in course offerings, but there are no additional details publicly available at this time about possible personnel changes or effects on student-facing services, according to Koberl.
The state provided $204 million in allocated appropriations for
the 2024-25 operating fund, out of Cal Poly’s $528 million total base operating budget, according to Administration and Finance data.
Additionally, Cal Poly received $16 million last year from the state for enrollment growth and additional appropriations. Other sources of funding come from tuition, college based fees and other fees.
The second and third largest contributions to Cal Poly’s budget come from tuition and non-resident tuition, $141 million and $41 million last year, respectively. The Cal State Board of Trustees voted in September 2023 to increase in-state and out-of-state tuition by 34% over the following five years.
Economics lecturer Solina Lindahl said, despite the 34% tuition increase over five years, the money isn’t going where students need it most, Mustang News previously reported.
“Money that’s raised in that tuition
[Cal
State] is committed to maintaining our unwavering focus on student success and academic excellence.
MILDRED
GARCÍA Cal State Chancellor
has been spent towards capital improvements, administrative costs, etc,” Lindahl said. “The only portion of the budget that’s dropped in the last five years is funding for academic instruction.”
Even with the tuition increase, the Cal State system is facing a $2.3 billion budget deficit due to growing labor, energy and education expenses, as reported by CalMatters. The system is trying to spend less, including merging Cal Poly with Cal Maritime to keep the latter, now known as Cal Poly Maritime Academy, open amid rising costs and declining enrollment.
BUDGET REDUCTION IN RESPONSE TO $12 BILLION STATEWIDE BUDGET DEFICIT
Governor Gavin Newsom’s original budget from January proposed a $375 million cut from the Cal State budget. The budget proposal was later revised in May to the reduced amount of $144 million.
“The final state budget is a welcome improvement over earlier proposals and puts the CSU in a better position to mitigate challenges we continue to face across the system,” García said in a press release.
The state is deferring $144 million from the Cal State budget that is a part of a planned 5% annual base increase from 2022–23 through 2026–27. The state is expected to provide the system with one-time payments in the 2026–27 and 2027–28 academic years as part of the deferral agreement, according to the Legislative Analysts Office.
The University of California system is facing $130 million in deferred funding this year. California faced a $12 billion budget deficit this year in part due to soaring costs for social services and President Donald Trump’s
tariffs strategy.
“Deferred funding is never a guarantee,” Meredith Turner, UC’s senior vice president of external relations and communications, wrote on social media. “The real test will come next year — when we’ll look for them to make good on the promise to backfill what’s been deferred.”
“California is under assault,” Newsom said at a press conference in May. “We have a president that’s been reckless in terms of assaulting those growth engines. We are projecting impacts because of the uncertainty that has led to a downgrade in our projections. The impacts of these tariffs have yet to be felt.”
Five things to know about the Cal Poly and Cal Maritime merge Amid Cal Maritime’s declining enrollment, Cal Poly integrated with the university.
STORY BY BELLA COX DESIGNED BY JULIA HAZEMOTO
THE HILL
Cal Poly Maritime Academy, formerly known as California State University Maritime Academy, merged into one university with Cal Poly on July 1, according to Cal Poly’s Maritime integration FAQ webpage. In a year, once the 2026–27 academic year rolls around, the first Maritime Academy students will be enrolling as Cal Poly students.
However, both organizations will remain two separate legal entities until the formal integration takes place in the summer of 2026, Dora Mountain, one of ASI’s coordinators for public relations, communications and marketing, told Mustang News.
WHAT WILL THE COMBINED UNIVERSITIES LOOK LIKE?
Once the integration of both institutions is formally complete in the fall of 2026, they will operate under a single administration, budget, academic senate, Associated Students Inc., alumni association and philanthropic foundation, according to Cal Poly’s Maritime integration FAQ webpage. Cal Poly President Jeffrey D. Armstrong will serve as president of the integrated university.
As for department alignment, Cal Maritime faculty have been given positions that most align with their disciplinary expertise; for example, English professors will join the English department in San Luis Obispo, Rachel Fernflores, the faculty engagement coordinator for the integration, told Mustang News. Additionally, no faculty will be eliminated from either university due to the merger, Fernflores told Mustang News.
WHY IS CAL MARITIME INTEGRATING WITH CAL POLY?
This decision was due to Cal Maritime’s declining student enrollment over recent years. The California State University Board of Trustees voted to approve the integration of Cal Poly and Cal Maritime on Nov. 21, 2024, according to a universitywide message.
Cal Maritime lost 31% of its student population since the 2016-17 fiscal year, dropping from 1,107 to 761 in fall 2023, according to CalMatters. If Cal Maritime were to continue operating at a reduced enrollment rate, its budget would need to increase by $30 million, on top of its current $52.3 million budget.
WILL THIS CHANGE AFFECT COURSE CURRICULA AND ACADEMIC DEPARTMENTS?
Each of Cal Poly’s academic colleges will have some departments combined with Cal Maritime’s to shape future student success. No departments will be eliminated in this process; instead, faculty reporting structures will change.
One of the key focuses of this integration is to help ensure that all academic departments will continue supporting student success and maintain academic quality while the campuses sit 250 miles apart, according to the integration FAQ webpage.
None of these changes should affect students’ daily life, but could, in turn, bring opportunities to connect with new faculty and students alike across campuses.
WILL CAL POLY HOUSE CAL MARITIME STUDENTS MOVING FORWARD?
Students located at Cal Poly Maritime Academy will not be living on the San Luis Obispo campus. The Cal Poly Maritime campus is located in Solano County and will be known as the Cal Poly Solano Campus housing the Cal Poly Maritime Academy.
HOW HAVE STUDENTS AND FACULTY BEEN INVOLVED IN THE INTEGRATION?
Before the integration of the two universities was approved in fall 2024, that summer, four faculty leaders from each university were invited to help monitor the integration process. The faculty members helped analyze alignment topics: from course data in order to prevent academic programming duplicates to the retention, promotion and tenure review processes, Jerusha Greenwood, Cal Poly academic senate chair, told Mustang News.
Greenwood and three additional faculty members developed course planning for the integration: Dustin Stegner, English chair and CSU statewide academic senator; Phil Nico, College of Engineering caucus chair; and Tom Gutierrez, immediate past chair of Cal Poly Academic Senate.
Cal Poly’s Associated Students, Inc (ASI) and Cal Maritime’s Associated Students Cal Maritime Academy members have been actively involved with the integration process since it started, according to the integration FAQ webpage.
Cal Poly doubles freshman housing over the past decade
Freshmen will pay at least $11,000 for housing. Ten years ago, freshmen paid $5,000.
according to University Housing.
STORY BY ALIE HALL
DESIGNED BY MAYA SHINDEN
When students apply for housing, University Housing intentionally prioritizes the term residential learning community (RLC) to encourage student community rather than focusing on the building features. Students can rank their top RLCs to live with others who share the same field of study, career aspirations or identity. However, they are not given information about where they will be living until the RLC assignments are published in June, which also means they will not know their housing costs until that time, according to University Housing.
The cost of freshmen housing at Cal Poly has more than doubled in the last decade, with the most affordable option now topping $11,000 a year, according to a Mustang News analysis.
Most freshmen students are given a space to live in a residence hall,
Depending on how many students are admitted into each class, some first-year students may be housed in campus apartments such as Poly Canyon Village (PCV) or Cerro Vista, typically meant for second-year or transfer students.
During the 2017-18 academic year, the majority of students who lived in a triple room with two roommates in Yosemite, Sierra Madre towers, North or South Mountain, students paid $5,109 a year for housing, according to the University Housing website.
Now, nearly 10 years later, the cheapest option incoming freshmen have for housing has doubled in price. A student living in a yakʔitʸutʸu quintuple room, with four roommates, will pay close to $11,000 a year.
During the 2017-18 academic year, freshmen students paid at most $7,889 for a private room in a PCV apartment for the entire academic year, with amenities such
the most
as a kitchen shared with at most five other students and a room all to themselves.
YAK ʔIT Y UT Y U: DOUBLES TO TRIPLES AND QUADS TO QUINTS
When the yakʔitʸutʸu dorms opened in fall 2018, they offered double and quadruple rooms, meaning two students or four students could be assigned to rooms. In the years following the opening, nearly all of the double rooms turned into triple rooms, with a lofted bed and an extra desk. In fall of 2023, five years after the dorms originally opened, all quadruple rooms were converted to quintuple rooms, placing five freshmen in each room.
OTHER RESIDENCE HALLS
In contrast to the yakʔitʸutʸu dorm price fluctuations, the other freshmen residence halls stayed the same price as each other. Despite the other
residence halls being constructed earlier, students still pay $11,290 to live in older accommodations with fewer amenities and two roommates.
POLY CANYON VILLAGE HOUSES SOME FRESHMEN
A limited number of freshmen this year are living in PCV, for the first time since the 2017–18 academic year, according to the University Housing website. Throughout the years, Cal Poly’s campus housing website has maintained that some first-year students may be housed in campus apartments depending on enrollment. This year is the first time since yakʔit ut u opened that freshmen have been housed at PCV. Prior to the opening of the yakitutu dorms, freshmen in the 2017–18 school year had the option to live in private or double rooms, which would house six students in one apartment, with four rooms, according to the University Housing website. However, PCV has tripled in price
since the time when it was the most affordable option for freshmen. Firstyear students living in a PCV double in fall 2017 paid $4,645, and this year PCV double suite costs $13,414. The suites were remodeled since 2017.
THE FUTURE OF HOUSING AT CAL POLY
According to the University Housing website, the university plans to add 4000 new beds for student housing within the next 10 years. This should accommodate all firstand second- year students to live on campus, with the additional goals of “ease existing demand, accommodate future enrollment growth, and address aging campus housing facilities.” Cal Poly has not addressed how this additional student housing will affect prices of existing student housing or the expected prices of new housing, but has stated their grant program to support low-income students with housing will continue to increase by $1 million a year.
WHAT’S NEXT FOR CAL POLY SWIM AND DIVE?
After a $15 million shortfall, supporters are pushing to get the swim and dive team back in the pool.
STORY BY DYLAN ALLEN DESIGNED BY AVA DONALDSON
Keira Scott is dealing with a rare case of déjà vu as she begins her sophomore year at Cal Poly.
The Toronto native committed to swim at Loyola Marymount University (LMU) during her senior year of high school, but LMU cut its women’s swim team — along with five other varsity sports — before she could step foot on campus.
In need of a new school, Scott chose to be a Mustang.
After a year of swimming at Cal Poly’s Anderson Aquatic Center and contributing to a record-breaking season for the swim program, Scott said she “found her family” before the program was abruptly cut on March 7.
“I remember that day vividly,” Scott said. “I can’t even put into words how much that day sucked.”
The financial burden from the House vs. NCAA settlement was outlined as a main reason for the cut, as the NCAA and its affiliating conferences have started back-paying
$2.8 billion to current and former student-athletes who were withheld name, image and likeness (NIL) earnings beginning in 2016 through June 2025.
The settlement will see the NCAA pay roughly half the damages over the next decade, with schools paying around $550,000 annually to make up the rest.
Colleges have the option of opting into the House settlement, and those that do will be able to pay student-athletes directly from revenue generated by the school. There’s
an annual cap of $20.5 million each school can distribute, but there are no rules on how the funds can be spread across sports.
According to The Athletic, most Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) schools will pay 75% of their revenue to football, 15-20% to men’s basketball, 5-10% to women’s basketball and the rest to Olympic and non-revenue sports. Cal Poly, like many schools outside the Power Four conferences, will struggle to create enough funds to revenue share in the new era of professionalism in college athletics.
With the college landscape constantly changing, the swim and dive community is taking new routes in hopes of reinstatement, including legal action, leveraging a federal order and creating a long-term fundraising plan.
TITLE IX ALLEGATIONS AMID STUNT PROMOTION
The attention of program supporters recently turned to the Title IX allegations against Cal Poly, which were sent by advocacy groups Champion Women and sports law firm Equity IX in late June.
CEO Nancy Hogshead of Champion Women and Leigh Ernst Friestedt of Equity IX signed the letter and called for immediate reinstatement of the women’s swim and dive team. They also asked for more scholarships and opportunities for women student-athletes at Cal Poly.
According to Freistedt, Cal Poly was non-compliant under Title IX even before the swim and dive cuts. She says the university would have needed 141 more women student-athletes, based on roster counts done from Go Poly.
It illustrates how you can’t just cut women’s programs. Financial problems have never been an excuse to not comply with civil rights laws in this country.
LEIGH
ERNST FRIESTEDT Equity IX Founder
“Many of the universities in this country are not currently compliant with Title IX,” Friestedt said. “There’s no accountability.”
The advocacy groups found that women made up 39.2% of athletes at Cal Poly in the 2024-25 year, meaning they were impacted more even though the men and women cuts were equal (29).
University spokesperson Matt
SAVE CAL POLY SWIM AND DIVE | COURTESY Pictured from left to right: Junior Rhian Neitzel, Junior Olivia Sundgren, Junior Mia Filipovski, alumni Sarah Jacobson.
Lazier acknowledged the difference in an email to Mustang News, explaining they understand the “percentage of total female athletes impacted was slightly higher.”
The university declined further comment on the situation, referring questions to the Aug. 1 announcement of STUNT moving from club to varsity. It is unclear whether or not the university views themselves as Title IX compliant after the STUNT promotion.
The STUNT program, which has been at club level since their inaugural 2010 season, has been extremely successful at Cal Poly. They won a club national championship in 2023 and have seen national success almost every year.
Head coach Annette Laron-Pickett is very excited for the move, saying STUNT has big goals in their first season at the Division I level.
“Our plan is to make the national championship,” she said. “We hope to be within the top three [teams] in the nation.”
Some parents, including Keira Scott’s mother, Lisa Oberding, anticipated that STUNT would be promoted when swim and dive was cut.
“Originally, we asked ‘What are they going to try and do if Title IX is pulled?’” Oberding said. “We thought they would promote STUNT.”
FEDERAL PRESSURE AROUND THE COUNTRY
Another part in raising more attention for the program is using President Donald Trump’s executive
order aimed at protecting college sports.
Issued July 24, the executive order states that universities cannot prioritize larger sports like football over nonrevenue and women’s sports due to financial reasons and the House vs. NCAA settlement.
In Texas, six women student-athletes are suing Stephen F. Austin University under Title IX after three women’s sports were eliminated. The judge ruled in favor of the athletes, ordering the school to preserve all women’s varsity teams.
According to Friestedt, the facts of Cal Poly and Stephen F. Austin are “very similar.”
“It illustrates how you can’t just cut women’s programs,” Friestedt said. “Financial problems have never been an excuse to not comply with civil rights laws in this country.”
into an endowment, interest returns would be able to fund the yearly costs “forever.”
Meanwhile, the STUNT program was noted as a “cost-effective sport model” by recently retired athletic director Don Oberhelman.
The door has been left open by the university. We just have to reach the [$15 million] fundraising amount.
TREVOR CARDINAL
Swim and Dive Alumni
The advocacy groups sent a second letter on Aug. 4 alleging that the university is now violating the executive order.
Using the order as leverage, swim parents rallied supporters to send a pre-written letter to the White House website. It calls for Trump to “make an example of Cal Poly” and reinstate the program.
As sports are continuing to be eliminated across the country, student-athletes are beginning to stand against universities.
FINANCIAL UNCERTAINTIES FOR THE PROGRAM
The future for the swim and dive program remains murky, but plans for fundraising the $15 million are underway by alumni.
Trevor Cardinal, who swam at Cal Poly from 1999-2003, explained there was not enough time after the program was cut to fundraise as best as they could. Now, with more time, Cardinal and a group of alumni are establishing an updated database to contact all former team members.
“The door has been left open by the university,” Cardinal said. “We just have to reach the [$15 million] fundraising amount.”
While the number seemed large for a program that had an operating cost just over $250,000 in the 2023-24 year, Cardinal explained the $15 million is “less outlandish” than people realize. That number excludes coaching salaries and scholarships.
According to the former swimmer, if the amount was reached and put
We deserve to be a team at Cal Poly. Getting our team back would light a fire under us. We are competitors.
KEIRA SCOTT
Swim and Dive Sophomore
Lazier noted it is “premature” to address the costs of STUNT at the moment.
California Baptist University, the only other Division I STUNT program in California, cost $179,000 in the 2023-24 season, according to federal data.
Another area of concern for parents and alumni is the money within the Dick Anderson Swimming Scholarship Endowment.
As of Feb. 28, Mustang News reported there was $435,000 in the endowment. Dave Caneer, the co-chairman for the fund, he worries
“it may be used for another program.”
Caneer, a Cal Poly swim alumnus, said university president Jeffrey D. Armstrong has the final say in what happens to the money. The university did not address the money in response to an email from Mustang News.
“I would like to see it returned to the donors,” Caneer said. “They donated for an aquatic scholarship, not a football team or any other athletic program.”
ATHLETES RETURN TO CAMPUS
Only a handful of the 58 student-athletes that didn’t graduate have made the choice to leave Cal Poly.
Big West Champion Drew Huston was the first to go, transferring to USC in March. Junior Austin Lathrop and sophomores Krishna Clarke are both leaving Cal Poly as well.
Out of at least 16 recruits that were committed to be Mustangs, five will be coming to attend the school in the fall.
Scott will be coming back to San Luis Obispo too, this time out of the pool.
Even with all the uncertainty, the international student says she does her best to understand the university’s side as well as her team’s viewpoints. After going through one program elimination before this, Scott just hopes to see her “family” get back into the waters together.
“We deserve to be a team at Cal Poly,” Scott said. “Getting our team back would light a fire under us.”
SAVE CAL POLY SWIM AND DIVE | COURTESY With the college landscape constantly changing under the recently approved House vs. NCAA settlement, the swim and dive community is taking new routes in hopes of reinstatement, including legal action, leveraging a federal order and creating a long-term fundraising plan.
KCPR Fall Concert Guide
Alternative shows you can’t miss as you return to campus.
COUCH DOG
STORY BY MCKENNA ZOLTY
DESIGNED BY ELENA VAUGHAN
Amid the chaos as new students arrive on campus each fall, San Luis Obispo has great opportunities to break away from studying or to simply adjust back into your routine. With multiple venues along the coast, there are many opportunities to explore a genre or a potential new favorite band. Here are our recommendations from KCPR.
at SLO Brew Rock
Looking to dance, sing and cry on the first day of fall quarter? Cal Poly alumni, Couch Dog, is returning to its original stomping grounds on Sept. 18 to perform at SLO Brew Rock, with support from San Luis Obispo county locals The Let Downs and Avalynn.
To kick off the summer, the Dogs released its newest project, Unraveler, in late June. The five-track EP offers a new electronic hyperrock sound for the band. Once a DIY staple in the San Luis Obispo music scene, Couch Dog performances are always an undeniable, rowdy good time.
Tickets for this event are 18+ and are available for $20.79.
Indie-Folk band The Head and The Heart is performing at the Vina Robles Amphitheater on Sept. 26, with support from John Vincent III and Tyler Ballgame.
Earlier this year, The Head and The Heart released its sixth studio album, Aperture, a classic Americana folk-indie album. An ideal concert to lay back and chill amid the busyness of the school year, this is an all-ages event.
Tickets are still available starting at $55.
THE HEAD AND HEART SONG RECOMMENDATIONS:
BEACH FOSSILS
at SLO Brew Rock
Kicking off the fall season, New York-based alternative dream-pop band Beach Fossils is performing at SLO Brew Rock on Oct. 2, with supporting acts Laundry and Girlpuppy for a night of alternative-indie classics.
After a brief hiatus, Beach Fossils is returning to embark on a West and East Coast tour. Its most recent release, a single titled “Inside Out,” is a rich-dark dreamy arrangement of classic DIY indie. Over its 15-year career, the band has explored different realms of indie sub-genres, from jangly melancholy lyrics to gritty arrangements, enduring the DIY staple.
Tickets for this event are 18+ and are available starting at $36.46.
BEACH FOSSIL SONG RECOMMENDATIONS:
“DOWN THE LINE” “TANGERINE" “WHAT A PLEASURE”
BROOKS NEILSON
at Fremont Theater
Brooks Neilson, frontman of the Southern California-based band The Growlers, is returning to the Fremont Theater on Oct. 4 for another fall tour. Although the Growlers haven’t released music since 2020, Neilson has gone on as a solo artist, releasing four records since 2022. The tour will likely have a mix of Neilson’s solo music and The Growlers’ hits. Fans can expect to hear a new shuffle set of the acclaimed Beach Goth genre, known for drawing inspiration from psychedelic and surf-rock sounds, as it continues to maintain the underground California sound.
As an all-ages event, tickets are available at the Fremont Theater website starting at $60.74.
BROOKS NEILSON SONG RECOMMENDATIONS:
“TROPICAL COWBOY” “BLACK MEMORIES” “ONE MATCH LEFT”
MANNEQUIN P
at Fremont Theater
With a weekend full of Fremont Theatre shows, Mannequin P demands to be heard. Set to perform on Oct. 5, the band will receive support from Ecca Vandal, as the final stop on its North America tour.
The group’s most recent project, I Got Heaven, aspires to bend and push norms through its music.
The Philadelphia-based four-piece band successfully captures a rough, gnarly-slashing electric sound. The album tethers between a punk to alternative-rock sound, encouraging an immediate urgency against the status quo.
Tickets are available on the Fremont Theater website starting at $39.11.
MANNEQUIN P SONG RECOMMENDATIONS:
STARCRAWLER
at Club Car Bar
The rising alternative Los Angelesbased band, Starcrawler, is performing at Club Car Bar on Oct. 25. This five-piece band is currently on tour with Garbage and occasionally stops in cities for headlining shows. Strawcrawler has opened for other major headliners such as My Chemical Romance, Foo Fighters and Beck.
Infusing a variety of genres in its music, they dive into the loud classic, grunge-glam electric ruckus while the full band stays true to the raw-alternative energy. Starcrawler does not shy away from theatrics in its live performances. Lead front woman Arrow De Wilde is known for her unpredictable stage presence, whether it’s fake blood to hospital gowns to spirited antics. Starcrawler is a band you’ll regret not seeing.
WILLIS
at SLO Brew Rock
TikTok breakout artist WILLIS is performing at SLO Brew Rock on Nov. 6, with support from Winyah. You might not realize you are familiar with WILLIS, but we bet “I Think I Like When It Rains” rings a bell. The viral anthem used on TikTok still periodically appears on some users’ ‘For You’ pages. The viral audio helped the Nashville-based band gain popularity. The band’s sound is a mix between classic psychedelic-indie with R&B sound, creating a unique and pleasurable listening experience.
Tickets for this all-ages event are available for $32.36 at SLO Brew.
WILLIS SONG RECOMMENDATIONS:
THE FRIGHTS
at Fremont Theater
The final concert to have on your radar is The Frights, who are performing at Fremont Theater on Dec. 5, with supporting artists Lily and Buddha Trixie.
The Frights also gained attention from social media over the years, with the chorus of Tongues imprinted in the minds of listeners. The San Diego-based band formed in 2012 and has had many of its songs reach over a million streams. The combination of upbeat tempos and catchy lyrics creates the perfect atmosphere to let loose.
Tickets are available all ages for $33.96 at the Fremont Theater.
THE FRIGHTS SONG RECOMMENDATIONS:
“TONGUES” “YOU ARE GOING TO HATE THIS” “LET THE KIDS DANCE” OCT.58PM OCT.257:30PM NOV. 6 7 PM DEC. 5 8 PM
“I GOT HEAVEN” “CONTROL” “FEAR/+/DESIRE”
Tickets for this event are all ages and still available at $22.35 at Club Car Bar.
STARCRAWLER SONG
RECOMMENDATIONS:
“ROADKILL” “THURSDAY” “LEARN TO SAY GOODBYE”
“FIGHT THE VEGANS” “BALLAD OF THE BASEMENTS” “WAITING"
Cal Poly’s Kennedy Library nears completion of two-year transformation
The $78 million project brings new study zones, 24-hour hubs, classrooms and a cafe to the heart of campus.
STORY BY RJ POLLOCK DESIGNED BY MEHER ANKLESARIA
Cal Poly’s Robert E. Kennedy Library is nearing the end of its two-year, $78 million transformation that will reopen the campus hub for fall quarter 2025.
When the library doors open on Sept. 15, students will find more seating options, new study zones and upgraded technology throughout the building. Expanded 24-hour hubs on the first and second floors will provide around-the-clock access, while new ground-floor classrooms and a Julian’s Cafe add both academic and social spaces.
The major renovations include all-gender restrooms, seismic upgrades and climate control improvements, along with new accessibility features such as updated elevator infrastructure, added ramps and a redesigned floor plan to make it easier to move through the building.
“It was time for a renewal of systems and, most importantly, time to make changes that better serve the student needs in the 21st century,” Project Manager John Sandman said in a November 2024 interview.
CLOSURE AND RELOCATION
The Kennedy Library closed to the public on June 16, 2023, marking the start of the two-year relocation and renovation process. That same summer, Cal Poly began moving roughly 260,000 books out of the building.
About 240,000 titles went to a storage facility in Sacramento. Roughly 10,000 of the most-checked-out books stayed on campus, available by request from the Corporation Warehouse, while 12,000 architecture books were moved to Crandall Gymnasium. During the library’s closure, the university also expanded its online Interlibrary Load system, which allows students to request educational materials from other
JUN 2023
Kennedy Library closes for renovation. Most books are relocated, and temporary study spaces open on campus.
institutions.
Digital research assistance moved entirely online, with a 24/7 live chat connecting students to research
librarians both on and off campus.
Child development sophomore Sarah Vali said the shift to online help shaped her entire Cal Poly experience, since she has never had access to the library as a student.
It was time for a renewal of systems and, most importantly, time to make changes that better serve the student needs in the 21st century.
PROJECT MANAGER
JOHN SANDMAN
“Since being at Cal Poly, I haven’t had the library so honestly I don’t know what to expect,” Vali said. “The university has been working on it since I’ve been here, but now that I’m a second year I’m excited to have more study space open again.”
WHAT STUDENTS CAN EXPECT
When students return in September, the library will look familiar from the outside but feel different inside. Expanded hubs on the first and second floors will stay open 24 hours, while a new cafe and classrooms will add both study and gathering space.
Sandman has acknowledged that the closure has been difficult for some students, particularly those in the senior class of 2025, but said in a
2024 interview that future classes will benefit from the changes.
“The thing I am most excited about is completing construction and giving the building back to students and staff,” he said.
Landscape architecture senior Lexi Breault said she is eager to see whether the changes will be noticeable once the building reopens. “I’m curious to see what’s new,” Breault said. “The university has been pretty vague in terms of what’s different and every day I walk past it the outside is the same, so what’s really new.”
STUDYING WITHOUT THE LIBRARY
By late 2023, the university set up temporary spaces, including white study tents near Dexter Lawn, rooms in Crandall Gym and expanded seating in the University Union (UU) to replace library work areas. The university also began offering 24-hour UU access and as of now,
DEC 2023
Students adapt to new study habits, with some moving off campus to find quiet spaces.
NOV 2024
The project manager reports construction is ahead of schedule and the library is set to reopen in fall of 2025.
plans to continue that service after the reopening.
To help students find available seats, Cal Poly promoted the Waitz app, which shows real-time occupancy in study areas. Still, many reported crowding in popular spots, pushing some to study off campus in local coffee shops and other places around San Luis Obispo.
Vali said she tried studying in the campus tents but found them uncomfortable during warmer months.
“I tried to use the tents around
campus, but they got really warm during some parts of the year so I mainly resorted to using my dorm,” she said.
She added that she did not know about the Waitz app until later, which might have helped during times when the University Union felt overcrowded.
Some students said the library’s absence left a gap in campus life, as its tiered noise-level floors and academic-focused atmosphere were difficult to replicate in other locations. Others criticized the
FEB 2025
Students continue using relocated resources and online research assistance while awaiting reopening.
appearance of the white study tents and the lack of clear communication from administration about alternative study options.
Breault said even the added seating and extended hours did not solve the problem of overcrowding. “While it was nice the UU opened 24 hours, it still didn’t feel like enough,” she said.
For some students, the solution was to skip campus altogether. History and political science senior Patrick Henry said he preferred studying at home. “Living off campus, I mainly studied at home, it was just easier for
me and less burdensome than finding space on campus,” Henry said.
The university said temporary resources will remain available until the reopening. The Kennedy Library is scheduled to officially reopen Sept. 15.
WHAT CHANGED INSIDE
Construction began in summer 2023, under contractor Hensel Phelps and architect from the Miller Hull Partnership, with the project pursuing LEED certification for
SEP 2025
Scheduled reopening of the renovated Kennedy Library.
sustainability. Major work occurred, including a roof replacement, a new main circulation staircase and “reimagined courtyard” according to Administration and Finance, the details of which are not fully known.
Much of the work focused on infrastructure, from roof and seismic upgrades to a new main staircase, but students will notice the difference in how the building functions. Redesigned study areas, new classrooms and updated technology aim to make the space more adaptable for group and individual work.
ABBY KING | MUSTANG NEWS Students walking in front of the library construction site last spring.
HOW CAL POLY ADDRESSES STUDENT DEATHS and why it matters for a campus navigating loss.
STORY BY EMMY BURRUS, EMMA MONTALBANO, AMELIA WU DESIGNED BY KENNEDY RAY
This story was previously published as a senior project feature story on Mustang News. For the full multimedia story, featuring video and other visuals, visit mustangnews.net.
The email arrived Monday evening, from the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs. The subject line: Death of Student Sofia Padoan.
The notification reached campus community members — students, faculty, alumni and parents of students. On the Cal Poly Facebook parent page, an administrator reposted the email, prompting hundreds of messages expressing sympathy and shock.
But Sofia’s younger sister, now-Cal Poly sophomore Giulia Padoan, knew all 318 words of the email weeks before the university hit send. The dean of students at the time, Joy Pedersen, called the Padoan family to draft the message about eight hours after Sofia’s passing, according to Giulia. Following their first conversation, the family and Pedersen continued to correspond over email and phone calls.
“[Pedersen] expressed her condolences and then she verified the cause of death and ran by us anything that we wanted to send out to Cal Poly and community,” Giulia said.
According to the mission statement of Cal Poly’s student death procedures, when a student dies, “it is incumbent upon the university to respond in a sensitive and caring manner, recognizing that individuals respond to death in different ways.”
While the university’s policy primarily focuses on logistical
procedures, including account closures and class withdrawals, Pedersen emphasized that their approach centers on supporting the family’s wishes.
These campuswide messages are just one aspect of Cal Poly’s student death procedures, which, according to its mission statement, aim to balance administrative requirements with compassionate outreach.
Cal Poly has navigated this process 17 times in the past ten years, according to records from the university. Seven of those emails came this academic year.
‘A LITTLE COG IN A DIFFICULT TIME’
Luke Soulie experienced the process firsthand when he lost his brother, James Soulie-Washburn, in December. The two brothers, both transfer students to Cal Poly, moved into an off-campus apartment together.
During their first quarter, James would play his guitar while Luke made dinner for the two of them — James was the creative older brother, fluent in three languages and played seven instruments.
The apartment, once filled with music, fell silent in December when James took his own life.
“I was the first one to know,” Luke said.
The weeks that followed his brother’s death were a blur, he recounted.
In the immediate aftermath of his brother’s death, Soulie worked with the Cal Poly Campus Assessment, Response & Education (CARE) team.
One of his first interactions with CARE involved temporary housing in a Poly Canyon apartment.
Reports of a student death first go to the Cal Poly Police Department to confirm before they notify the VPSA and University Communications and
Marketing, according to the procedure. Then, the Dean of Students will contact the family within 24 hours of the confirmation of death.
“I walked in this room, and it’s just empty,” Soulie remembered. “There’s like no sheets or anything. I literally told my friend, ‘This is just like a prison cell, I’m not staying here. I’m going to go to a hotel or something.’”
Cal Poly’s procedures stated that the Dean of Students can offer hotel arrangements and reimburse up to three days of lodging for the deceased student’s family when needed.
The CARE members were attentive and did the best they could, Soulie acknowledged. But what followed was what Soulie described as an “unnecessarily complicated” process while juggling academics. He found himself coordinating emails to professors to arrange
accommodations for final exams, a week after his brother’s passing.
“It was just a lot at the moment,” Soulie said.
The dean of students coordinates campuswide messages with family members following a student’s death. While they provide guidance and support, the decision to send an email is up to the family.
The Soulie family advocated to include the cause of death in the campuswide email about James, but the school ultimately chose not to.
Instead they included a link to the In Memoriam website, which included a message from the family.
Luke explained that more than anything, he and his mother wanted the email to spread awareness about suicide prevention.
“I didn’t really care to say much,” Luke said. “All I wanted was to have
some sort of support for students and suicide awareness. Really, that’s all I cared about.”
Every email consistently includes information about the health center, memorial page and service plans, Pedersen said. Other details, such as cause of death, are typically included at the family’s discretion, but Pedersen emphasized that the university aims for a delicate approach to avoid distress to anyone opening their inbox.
Luke’s family worked with David Groom on campus wide communications. Groom has served as the interim dean of students since Dec. 1, 2024, when Pedersen assumed the interim role for Cal Maritime. He continued in this position until July 1, 2025.
“I think maybe there’s a misperception that we send an email for
In the past two school years, campus community members have received nine emails announcing the death of
AMELIA WU | MUSTANG NEWS
a student.
every student death or there might be a question about why we send it sometimes and not others,” she said.
“It’s really that is really driven by the family and what feels most respectful and appropriate for them.”
Despite the emotional weight of this responsibility, Pedersen said she found meaning in working with the families and supporting the campus community.
“I’ve tried to reframe this part of my job as not only one of the hardest, most challenging things I do, but one of the most important ways that I can help families, students and our community,” she said.
Once the dean of students and family members draft the campuswide email, university spokesperson Matt Lazier provides a final copy edit, focused on spelling, grammar and style.
According to Lazier, some faculty and administrators receive an internal notification before the message is distributed to the entire campus community. Patrick O’Sullivan, the director at the Center for Teaching, Learning and Technology, is on the mailing list and forwards the emails along with specialized grief resources to department chairs.
O’Sullivan noticed a gap in resources for faculty and staff at Cal Poly. He stressed that the support should differ, considering their position of influence and credibility in a classroom.
“As a former faculty member, it wasn’t difficult for me to imagine how that might be walking into a classroom, seeing the empty chair of the student who was not there, and not knowing what to do,” O’Sullivan said.
He first encountered guiding a classroom through grief on Sept. 11, 2001, while teaching at Illinois State University.
“I walked in the classroom,
probably about five or six years into my career as a professor, and I realized I was really unprepared,”
O’Sullivan said. “But, I knew instinctively that the thing to do was not to pretend nothing happened.”
O’Sullivan said he compiled grief sources that detail what a teacher can do to support a student in grief and how faculty can support their own mental wellbeing to help bridge the resource gap. These include loss and mental health based articles from Education Corner, Heal Grief and the Jed Foundation.
“I’m just a little cog for this particular aspect of supporting faculty and students at this difficult time,” he said.
The university does not maintain a log or tally of current-student deaths, according to the Cal Poly records office. Additionally, the Cal State system does not track student deaths on a system-wide level, according to the system’s spokesperson Hazel Kelly.
‘HOW TO LOSE:’ INSIGHTS FROM A GRIEF COUNSELING PROFESSIONAL
SLO Hospice Community
Education Manager Denise LaRosa analyzed three emails on student deaths from Cal Poly’s VPSA office. LaRosa offered advice on how the university’s message could be framed to better support the campus community.
Denise LaRosa suggested university communications about student deaths should go deeper than just achievements and involvements.
“I think it needs to have the heartfelt warmth of who the person is, not just what they did,” she said. “We get caught up in that so much. What motivated them? What enlivened them? What made them come alive?”
LaRosa noted the strength of the university’s provided counseling services in their communications. She specifically recommended implementing group grief support, which can act as a space to start the healing process, she said.
“It would be really nice for students to have a place to go where they could support each other and have somebody who can guide that support and let them know all the different ways that grief affects people,” LaRosa said. “People don’t really understand that. We teach people how to get, gain things, but we don’t teach people how to lose.”
Approximately one mile away from Cal Poly’s campus, the SLO Hospice Center offers free grief counseling services for San Luis Obispo County residents in a historic family home. According to LaRosa, each counseling room and office is decorated to
create a comforting, homey feel. “Death isn’t their specialty,” LaRosa said about Cal Poly. “It’s my specialty.”
‘THE BEGINNING OF A LONG RELATIONSHIP:’ THE AFTERMATH OF A STUDENT DEATH
In the wake of a student’s death, families have the option to receive a posthumous degree on their behalf.
In June, the College of Engineering conferred five posthumous degrees during its commencement ceremony. Family members and supporters appeared on stage, some holding framed photos of the students, and were handed a framed diploma by President Armstrong.
Al Liddicoat, during the College of Engineering commencement ceremony, read the names of those honored: Christina DeChalk
for computer science, Giovanni Martinez for computer science, Kenneth Taylor for mechanical engineering, and Aubrey Murray for electrical engineering.
“Though they are no longer with us, their pursuit of knowledge and their impact on the Cal Poly community remains,” Liddicoat said.
Under Cal Poly’s posthumous degree policy, which was first approved in 2013 and revised two years later, faculty in a student’s major department can recommend to the president that a degree be awarded to the family. To be eligible, the student must have completed at least two-thirds of their coursework, though the president can make exceptions in special circumstances.
Cal Poly plans to continue reviewing its student death procedures every two to three years, according to Pedersen. The university has not announced any specific changes to current protocols.
Pedersen explained that she is still in touch with nearly all of the families that she has worked with over the last several years, adding that several families are coming to commencement this year to accept posthumous degrees for their students.
“I’m in touch with almost all the families that I’ve worked with over the years,” Pedersen said. “The first day that I make the call is often just the beginning of a long relationship that I have with these families.”
AMELIA WU | MUSTANG NEWS
AMELIA WU | MUSTANG NEWS
Sequel Tea is brewing up teas and a taste of home
Why I’m excited for Sequel Tea’s permanent location on campus.
Kaylie Wang is an English sophomore and Mustang News opinion columnist. The opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of Mustang Media Group.
STORY BY KAYLIE WANG DESIGNED BY AVA CHEUNG
I looked forward to one thing every Monday and Wednesday of my freshman year: a banana hojicha cream top with brown sugar boba from Sequel Tea’s pop-up on Mott Lawn. This was a drastic shift for me. Even though I grew up surrounded by boba tea shops in Southern California, I never cared for bubble teas before college, much less matcha or hojicha. But once I got to Cal Poly, it wasn’t long before I developed a love for these drinks. These drinks weren’t just fun little sweet treats to help me through a long day of classes — they were reminders of home.
It’s ironic that my love for boba tea blossomed during my first year at a predominantly white institution, now historically white institution, and predominantly white town. But, that’s also the point. I relied on Sequel Tea for authentic Asian flavors that Campus Dining heavily lacks.
In June, I was ecstatic about the new permanent storefront of Sequel Tea opening on campus. This is an exciting and important step towards diversifying Cal Poly’s on-campus food options to better reflect student demographics, especially with the growing Asian American student population.
Students will now be able to enjoy Sequel Tea more frequently, compared to their previous pop-ups that only came to campus twice a
week and often conflicted with class schedules. This addition also solidifies a permanent home for Sequel Tea at Cal Poly.
When I came to Cal Poly, I missed authentic Asian food more than I expected. The Asian-inspired food served at Panda Express and Vista Grande hardly live up to the food
I’m used to in Orange County. Back home, a quick 15-minute drive would bring me to hotpot at Boiling Point, malatang at Zhangliang, dimsum at China Garden or Taiwanese beef noodle soup at A&J.
Sequel Tea filled me with the nostalgic and comforting flavors I grew up with: mango, lychee, black sesame and brown sugar. I love how Sequel’s founder Justin Chan draws recipe inspiration from his own Chinese and Taiwanese heritage, making these flavors authentic.
SEQUEL TEA OFFERS COMFORT AND CULTURAL CONNECTION
I am excited for Sequel Tea to continue providing comfort for other students missing home, just as it has for me. The move from an area with a large Asian population to a community that doesn’t reflect the diversity I grew up with has not been easy. When attending a school that lacks diversity, it’s that much more important for Campus Dining to be culturally diverse.
When attending a school that lacks diversity, it’s that much more important for Campus Dining to be culturally diverse.
KAYLIE WANG
2nd Year English
Among all public universities in California, Cal Poly’s student population is the least racially diverse, according to CSU and UC systems’ enrollment data. However, Cal Poly’s diversity is increasing. The 2022 incoming class was the most diverse in Cal Poly’s history. Campus increased from 2,565 Asian
American students in 2016 to 3,151 Asian American students in 2023, according to institutional data.
Sequel Tea’s move was announced amid the presence of the university’s growing Asian American population. Whenever I pick up my drink from Sequel, there is a line on Mott Lawn, convincing me that many other students share these same sentiments. Their popularity is proof that students appreciate diversifying Campus Dining options.
Expanding on-campus dining options is a positive step towards making our campus more welcoming for students of color. I am confident that this move will inspire other businesses to collaborate with Campus Dining to provide authentic food from different cultures.
On a more lighthearted note, I also hope that Sequel Tea’s permanent location will inspire more students to try bubble teas for the first time. I tried matcha and hojicha for the
first time in college and have been obsessed ever since.
If you’re hesitant about trying any of Sequel Tea’s drinks, remember that the point of college is to expand your worldview and give you the opportunity to learn about other cultures. I find that the most enjoyable way to explore a culture is through trying their cuisine.
Next time you need your daily caffeine fix, skip your typical Monster Energy and try a drink from Sequel Tea. Bubble tea is also easier on your heart, according to Harvard researchers. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed.
JDAWG SAYS: Dorm room essentials
You won’t find these on typical
packing lists but are lowkey must-haves.
STORY BY JDAWG
DESIGNED BY JULIA HAZEMOTO
The Monday Manure is a satire column created to find the humor in the daily life of Cal Poly students. This is the first satirical advice column by JDAWG. This content is intended to be satirical and does not necessarily represent the views of Mustang News.
Hi, WOWies! Welcome to Cal Poly — San Luis Obispo of course, not Pomona or the other one. Now, whether you were chosen to brave the Red Bricks or live in the four-star yakʔitʸutʸu hotels, you are going to have to fill your dorm with items to show your personality and style.
If your personality is lacking, I have been so kind as to give you some basics that will give you a head start on building community and finding 'your people.' Read below and really absorb this content.
Taylor Swift Merch
Matcha set
Buying matcha from Scout is one thing, but making your own drinks in the dorm is next level performative. This is the best way to show your new roommates and new friends that you are cultured and affluent
If you are not different, bring all your merch from the Swift-verse (Taylor, Sabrina, Gracie) to wear to class with gleaming pride. Trust me, no one in your 8 a.m. will care if you're humming “Paper Rings” or the The Summer I Turned Pretty soundtrack all morning.
Clairo or Marías Vinyl
Same as above, you have to prove to your new friends that you are actually different by putting these albums on your wall, even if you don’t have a record player.
Blue Jeans
Whether you are feelin’ eugenics like Sydney Sweeney and American Eagle or you are failing at learning the KATSEYE Gap dance, denim will be all the rage this fall.
Labubu
You probably expected this to be on this list — these little freak dolls have taken over belt loops and purse straps. Don’t listen to the haters who think these are corny or contributing to the overconsumption crisis.
SLODOCO Labubu
Donut
If you can’t convince your dad to buy you a Labubu, this donut could be a good alternative. But, be warned, the shelf life of a donut is not nearly as long as the plastic real thing —basically a millennium.
To beat SLO’s September heat, nothing hits better than a Bensoon Boone back flip double waffle cone. But who knows, by the time this runs in print, this could be as old news as access to abortion or gay rights.
Stockpile of vapes
For any out-of-state vaper, flavored vapes are hard to come by in California. Come prepared with an assortment of fruity flavors, or else you’ll never be cool at a party.
Just
Halloweekend Costumes
Since we are on the quarter system, Halloweekend sneaks up on us quickly. Make sure you have the Shein app
“find out who you are” and “explore your inner self” — whatever that means. There may be some truth to that, but it might just be easier to follow the TikTok microtrends some days.
As the saying goes, “If all your friends jump off a bridge, would you?” Some of you would.
Tomorrow’s Campus, Taking Shape Today
You’ve probably noticed a lot of construction happening across campus—that’s Cal Poly’s Accelerated Master Plan at work. We’re transforming the university with new classrooms, labs, housing and community spaces designed to empower students, faculty and staff to thrive.
This academic year, we’re proud to open:
• Kennedy Library
• Plant Sciences Complex
• Animal Health Center
• John Madden Football Center
With one of the highest enrollment demands in the California State University system, Cal Poly is expanding access for more students while maintaining our Learn by Doing distinction. Each project reflects our commitment to sustainable growth, innovation and student success. Together, we are shaping a campus that will serve generations of Mustangs and strengthen California’s future workforce.
Scan to learn more.
Future Goals, Coastal Backdrop
STUDY ABROAD Fair STUDY ABROAD Fair
THURSDAY, OCT 2 10 A. M . - 2 P.M.
COME LEARN ABOUT CAL POLY STUDY ABROAD PROGRAMS!
KENNEDY LIBRARY
Convenient access to the SLO Ranch Farms & Marketplace Studio and one bedroom units available!
Learn more at harvest-loft.com
Access to community amenities like the Harvest Club—featuring a gathering space and pool
Residents have easy access to SLO Transit busses, which provides free rides to Cal Poly faculty and staff.
