Cal Poly saw a torrent of rainy weather as four storms hit San Luis Obispo County throughout winter quarter, resulting in a growing number of building damage and mold reports. The university currently has 137 ongoing work orders for leaks affecting 11 buildings across campus since January, as of March 23. There were 211 work […]
Category: The Hill
Cal Poly announces temporary study spaces amid Kennedy Library renovation
The upcoming multi-million-dollar renovation of Kennedy Library has forced Cal Poly to find temporary study spaces for students — including in a campus parking lot. The library renovation is scheduled to begin this summer and to be finished by Fall 2025. The project’s budget is currently set at $77 million, a number that’s steadily increased […]
‘It’s coming out of the shadows’: Cal Poly has among the highest reports of sexual assault in the CSU system
The first of three articles in an investigative series on sexual assault at Cal Poly and the university’s response. To view the full series, go here. It was May 2011. Three rapes on or near campus had been reported in the span of just nine days. The university responded with condemnation, with President Jeffrey Armstrong […]
Students call upon Cal Poly to update sexual assault prevention trainings
The second of three articles in an investigative series on sexual assault at Cal Poly and the university’s response. To view the full series, go here. Sociology junior Paige Ackerman has gone through three rounds of required yearly prevention modules at Cal Poly. She knows students mute these training or distract themselves while going through […]
‘Position of power’: Employees say Campus Dining failed to respond to sexual harassment complaints
To former Campus Dining employee Bobbi Gibson, the new executive chef seemed “really nice and friendly” at first. “I eventually realized he was being too friendly,” said Gibson, who worked at Campus Dining from 2015 to 2020, as both a student and Cal Poly alum. “The first time I met him he was asking about […]
Students feel ‘powerless’ over Title IX system as not all reports investigated, data shows
The third of three articles in an investigative series on sexual assault at Cal Poly and the university’s response. To view the full series, go here. After physics junior Juliet Tate was assaulted, she spent multiple hours on a six page Title IX report. She detailed each instance and conversation, reliving them as she penned the […]
How outdated CSU policies secured a tenured position for Joseph Castro
“I guess we (OCOB) didn’t really get a say in this,” said the student assistant, who declined to be named in fear of retaliation from their employer. Joseph Castro stepped down as the CSU Chancellor one year ago, after a USA Today investigation revealed his failure to respond to sexual assault complaints during his seven-year […]
Cal Poly Housing receives more than 100 mold reports in January, relocating students
When environmental management and protection freshman Ryan Graul first saw mold covering his windowsill and wall surrounding his bed in his dorm, he said he felt his nose was “burning.” With his asthma, Graul said the mold prompted him to feel sick. In January, there were 105 student-filled reports of mold – 60 of which […]
‘In it for each other’: Understaffed SLO Days leaders raise concerns of unpaid overtime
This story comes from The Hill, a team of data analysts and reporters focused on data-driven and investigative stories at Mustang News. Click here to read more stories from The Hill. For liberal studies junior Lindsay Gonor, Cal Poly Orientation’s SLO Days program symbolizes the connection between incoming freshmen and students already adjusted to college. It was […]
Cal Poly set to expand its two-year campus housing requirement despite student opposition
This story comes from The Hill, a team of data analysts and reporters focused on data-driven and investigative stories at Mustang News. Click here to read more stories from The Hill. Editor’s note: This article was updated on Sept. 27 to correct the title and display of pie charts. Ellie Angold opened her laptop to register for […]
Black alumni criticize Cal Poly’s use of their images on banners
Zane Ellis-Rector remembers how relieved and excited he felt walking at his graduation ceremony last year in June. Most importantly, his family was there to see it all — including his 82-year-old grandfather. He could hear his mother cheer excitedly in Spanos Stadium when his name got called. When he met up with her later, she […]

