Read the Spanish version here. On February 23, multiple dance groups at Cal Poly participated in Illuminate, a dance showcase. Many groups, such as the folklórico dance club, used this opportunity to bring culture and tradition to the university community. At Cal Poly, folkloric dance serves as a vibrant expression for Latinx students, allowing them […]
Category: Features
Posted inen Español
Resiliencia ante el miedo: La comunidad latina del condado de SLO enfrenta las nuevas políticas federales de inmigración
Find the English version here. Traducido por Kathryn Hutchinson and Emilia Pirir. Yessenia Echevarria ha dedicado los últimos 11 años a empoderar a las mujeres latinas en el condado de San Luis Obispo como fundadora y directora ejecutiva de su organización sin fines de lucro, Mujeres de Acción. Cuando el presidente Donald Trump anunció sus […]
Posted inFeatures
JunkGirls finds beauty in the broken
This is a cross-published piece with KCPR, more information can be found here. Jenny Kompolt and her partner Melissa James left the corporate world of steady paychecks and health insurance to pursue their passions in 2009. The two created JunkGirls, a brand built on creativity, art therapy and sustainability. Kompolt’s idea for JunkGirls came from […]
Posted inFeatures
Performing at Illuminate, a showcase uniting cultural dance communities
This is a cross-published piece with KCPR, more information can be found here. In a nook of the recreational center to the loading docks between buildings, Cal Poly’s dance teams spent months perfecting their steps to match the beat of the music and every single pointed toe. Their dedication will culminate in one moment: the drawing […]
Posted inMNTV
More than a salon: Texture is a cultural hub celebrating Black hair and identity
In downtown San Luis Obispo, Texture is more than just a hair salon — it’s a space where Black beauty is celebrated and nurtured. Tamesha Lee has been a regular customer since the salon first opened in the summer of 2023. She said that one of the first things she did before arriving in San […]
Posted inTop Stories
Inside Cal Poly’s Furry Club
Students in Cal Poly’s new furry club are aiming to create a safe space for students interested in the furry community. After many years of being an unofficial group for Cal Poly students and alumni, students decided to register the club with the university, according to Trev, a co-president of the club. Trev and a […]
Posted inFeatures
The lead up to MERGE’s jazz performance at Illuminate
This is a black-tie event–but not the kind you’re thinking of. “Five, six, seven, eight!” Seina Haruta, president of MERGE, shouts as she counts the dancers in with music bumping against the walls of studio 2. Black ties lay across dancers’ chests, draping over their leggings and Nike sports bras, as they prepared for Illuminate […]
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Cal Poly’s United Movement gives dancers a home away from home
Ten years ago, Katrina Swenson-Aguirre locked herself in her bedroom, determined to teach herself how to dance with nothing but YouTube and a dream. “I always wanted to dance, but I was a really shy child,” Swenson-Aguirre said. Now, English senior Swenson-Aguirre is the co-president of one of Cal Poly’s largest dance teams: United Movement, […]
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ShanWu’s last dance
Rumor has it the traditional Chinese dance group, ShanWu, is performing for the last time. “That is what is going around,” Shanwu coordinator Syd Tan said. But they are hoping somebody will step up and change that after they graduate. The group was formed four years ago to make traditional Chinese dance more accessible at […]
Posted inFeb Print 2025
Nature’s Hollywood species needs help
When Danielle Bronson was a little girl, Pismo Beach Monarch Butterfly Grove was home to about 250,000 monarchs. Now the state park interpreter at Pismo Beach, Bronson’s grove only welcomed 500 butterflies this year. Western monarch butterflies experienced their second-lowest population count in history this season, according to Bronson. The all-time low occurred in 2021. […]
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Valentine’s Day: Trading out flowers for fright
The typical elements of Valentine’s Day are tried and true – flowers, gourmet chocolates and fancy dinners. For those looking for an alternative way to spend their evening, a haunted house awaits lovers (or friends) in Atascadero. The Haunt operates primarily during Halloween, but during this season of love, members of the volunteer team put […]