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Articles by Agnes Musee
Q&A: CPP alumna designs new Monopoly game with great care
By Juan Godinez, Feb. 23, 2021 Introduced to art at an early age thanks to her artist mother’s influence, it was not long before alumna Summer Furzer (’17, graphic design) developed a love for design while attending Cal Poly Pomona. Now, as a creative designer at The Op, a board games and puzzles manufacturer, she illustrates iconic board games such as “SpongeBob SquarePants: Plankton Rising” and her latest creation, “Monopoly: Care Bears Edition,” which released this month.
Review: Studio Ghibli concocts first big flop with ‘Earwig and the Witch’
By Caden Merrill, Feb. 23, 2021 Along with Disney and Pixar, Studio Ghibli is considered to be one of the greatest animation studios in the world, if not the greatest.
CPP art lecturer animates opera production
By Aprille Gozdecki, Feb. 23, 2021 Cal Poly Pomona art lecturer Jian Lee collaborated with the Boston Lyric Opera as a character animator for its most recent production, “The Fall of the House of Usher,” last month. “It was my first time working with theatre people,” said Lee.
Alumnus rocks his career as a geologist and musician
By Conny Chavez, Feb. 23, 2021 Cal Poly Pomona alumnus Matthew Rosenblum (’16, geology) is a staff geologist by day and a rock star by night in an alternative rock trio, Poe the Passenger, that recently took over one of Los Angeles’ most famed radio station, KROQ. Throughout December, the band remained in the top three of KROQ’s Locals Only, a radio segment airing Sunday nights where host Kat Corbett ranks some of the best local music from Los Angeles.
Professor releases documentary seeking change through the eyes of bullying
By Grace Johnson, Feb. 23, 2021 A powerful documentary can often open the eyes of society to new perspectives and realizations, especially when it is aiming to retrain and unravel disparaging societal norms for generations to come. Cal Poly Pomona’s Philosophy and Ethnic and Women’s Studies professor Thomas Keith celebrated the debut of his timely documentary, “Bullied,” released on Tubi TV on Feb. 12 after receiving praise and recognition from notable film festivals.
Apparel merchandising student launches sister-owned online clothing boutique
By Jackson Pham, Feb. 16, 2021 With a passion for fashion, Aileen Velazquez, a fifth-year apparel merchandising and management student, launched an online women’s clothing boutique with her sister last summer, transforming her dreams into reality.
CPP celebrates Black History Month with virtual events
By Noemi Vargas, Feb. 16, 2021 Cal Poly Pomona began the month of February celebrating Black History Month virtually. Throughout the 28 days, various events are being planned to honor the African American community and their achievements.
CPP Asian American community celebrates Lunar New Year virtually
By Moustafa Elhadary, Feb. 16, 2021 Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Cal Poly Pomona’s Asian and Pacific Islander Student Center hosted its 18th annual Lunar New Year celebration via Zoom on Feb. 12, gathering students from across cultures to join in unison for celebration. Numerous students attended to share their own values and traditions with the campus community.
CPP students critique The Weeknd’s Super Bowl halftime show
By Brynn Sherbert, Feb. 16, 2021 The Weeknd performed during the 2021 Super Bowl halftime show on Feb. 7, leaving R&B and soul fans a show to remember despite the pandemic and a limited live audience. The artist sang several of his hit songs as he made his way from the main stage to a brightly lit maze and concluded his performance on the football field with an army of masked dancers.
Greek organizations rush for virtual spring recruitment
By Coco Chica, Feb. 16, 2021 In place of the typical on-campus excitement surrounding spring recruitment for the new prospects seeking to join Fraternity and Sorority Life, members of all Greek organizations on campus are now forced, once again, to reimagine their recruitment methods through online activities and meetings starting this week. Recruitment will resume through Zoom following local health guidelines to comply with safety precautionary measures.
Review: ‘Malcolm & Marie’ is no euphoria
By Gustavo Castillo, Feb. 16, 2021 A relationship built upon lies, insecurity, miscommunication and lack of respect is seemingly no relationship at all; however, “Malcolm & Marie” is living proof that these relationships exist. Gearing away from the typical movies about trial and tribulation, the dramatic film illustrates romantic relationships in an unusual way — a realistic way — that begs the question, “Is this love?” The simple answer is no.
CAPS virtual healing session pillows the mind
By Gustavo Castillo, Feb. 9, 2021 Cal Poly Pomona’s Counseling and Psychological Services hosted its first virtual event of the semester, “Rest is a Radical Practice,” on Jan. 25. As part of the semester-long “Healing Spaces” series, the program aims to offer support by helping the campus community feel cared for and mentally restored.
PartyNextDoor’s ‘COLOURS’ rerelease: nostalgia or microwaved seconds?
By Jose Herrera, Feb. 9, 2021 Artist Jahrone Anthony Brathwaite, better known by his stage name PartyNextDoor, released his “COLOURS” EP on all streaming platforms for the first time last month, compiling the original 2013 “COLOURS” and its 2017 follow-up, “COLOURS 2.” At first glance, PartyNextDoor fans perceived the announcement as a new project.
CPP student farmer follows roots to support community
By Maria Flores, Feb. 9, 2021 While many students returned home last March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Hugo Moctezuma-Anguiano, a third-year plant science student minoring in agronomy, remained on campus to work alongside the Don B. Huntley College of Agriculture as a farmer at Spadra Farm in hopes of supporting the community.
Drive-thru Jurassic tour brings the prehistoric back to Pomona
By Elizabeth Casillas, Feb. 9, 2021 Jurassic Quest Drive-Thru is coming to Fairplex in Pomona from Feb. 19 to 28 with more than 70 life-like dinosaurs and family-friendly attractions. This COVID-friendly event invites students to interact with various dinosaur animatronics, offering a close-up learning experience amid remote instruction. The event features life-sized dinosaur animatronics created with the help of leading paleontologists to ensure accuracy and realism.
Review: ’Bridgerton’ produces nontraditional romance for the ages
By Brynn Sherbert, Feb. 9, 2021 Period dramas reimagine a time and place in history with sumptuous storylines, leaving viewers wanting more. This is what Netflix’s newest eight-part series, “Bridgerton,” accomplishes as it captures an intriguing story of the Bridgerton family attempting to find love in high society during the 19th century. Just with the first few episodes, the series guarantees scandalous romantic drama amongst the characters.
Employee development division launches monthly podcast
By David Herbold, Feb. 9, 2021 Cal Poly Pomona’s Employee and Organizational Development and Advancement division launched a new podcast, The CPP CommunityCast, last month in hopes of reconnecting the campus amid the pandemic. The podcast, organized by the Strategic Learning and Organizational Excellence Initiatives team, explores career-defining moments of Broncos, offers professional advice and discusses development opportunities.
Roses are red, violets are blue, what better way to spend Valentine’s Day than doing you!
By Julissa Sanchez, Feb. 9, 2021 Whether one suffered a recent breakup or simply enjoys the riches of a single life, when it comes to Valentine’s Day, it does not have to always come down to spending it by somebody’s side. With social distancing regulations being enforced, those with significant others may be unable to visit or spend time with their partners, so here are five budget-friendly, at-home activities for students who are spending a solo Valentine’s Day this year.
Students recreate campus block-by-block in CPP Minecraft Challenge
By Conny Chavez, Feb. 2, 2021 A group of first-year students conquered Cal Poly Pomona’s fall 2020 Minecraft Challenge despite never setting foot on campus. The two winning all-first-year teams stunned viewers at the Dec. 18 Zoom award ceremony as they demonstrated their impeccable replicas of campus buildings in a Minecraft map.
Music department orchestrates student-run podcast
By Julissa Sanchez, Feb. 2, 2021 The Department of Music just launched its first podcast, #CPPMusicCouches, on Jan. 25 through its YouTube channel. Aiming to connect students remotely, the semester-long podcast invites familiar faces from the Cal Poly Pomona music community to ignite pre-pandemic nostalgia.
CPP community shares their newly adopted pandemic pets and plants
By Ethereal Reyes, Feb. 2, 2021 COVID-19 has brought many challenges, prompting Cal Poly Pomona students and faculty to find new ways to reduce pandemic-related stress, including adopting plants and pets. These hobbies have soared in popularity during the pandemic due to their emotional well-being benefits. A 2020 study from researchers at Princeton University found that gardening is one of the most advantageous activities to promote mental and emotional health.
Downtown Pomona named Best Arts Event Destination in California
By Coco Chica, Feb. 2, 2021 As the world spins out of control with curfews, lockdowns and outbreaks, businesses, galleries and museums were forced to find ways to creatively operate under challenging circumstances. This is exactly what Downtown Pomona accomplished this past year. The City of Pomona received the LUX Global Excellence Award as the Best Arts Event Destination in California this year.
CPP gets a new look with Pre-Optometry Club
By Aprille Gozdecki, Feb. 2, 2021 The Pre-Optometry Club, entirely student-run, launched this semester with a vision to help prepare students to get into optometry school. The club provides valuable resources for its members who are interested in pursuing a career in optometry. Free resources include Optometry Admission Test preparatory materials, shadowing opportunities, optometry school tours, online university information sessions and relevant volunteering opportunities.
CPP art lecturer showcases solo exhibition at John Wayne Airport
By Sarah Han, Jan. 26, 2021 From those scuttling to the terminals to those patiently waiting for their flights to those lured by the awestriking color combinations, thousands of passengers were witness to Cal Poly Pomona art lecturer Ann Phong’s abstract artwork showcased at the John Wayne Airport from Dec. 9, 2020 to Jan. 14. With a passion to raise awareness on global issues through art, Phong’s collection, titled “Environment,” exposes the natural destructions created by human greed.
Q&A: Alumna discusses landing on Forbes 30 Under 30
By Sarah Han, Jan. 26, 2021 To some, alumna Emma Kalayjian (‘18, computer information systems) was a cheerful student who loved decking out in pink and exploring the city with her sorority gals. To others that know her, she is also an ambitious automotive lover who now works as a user interface designer at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory and a car culture advocate at Auto Conduct.
CPP Shakespeare festival launches female-empowering ‘King Lear’ series
By Sarah Han, Jan. 26, 2021 Just as William Shakespeare churned out one of his greatest works, “King Lear,” while recovering from a bubonic plague that killed nearly one-fifth of the London population in 1603, Cal Poly Pomona’s Southern California Shakespeare Festival is pushing through with virtual performances amid a global pandemic as it kicks off the year with an all-female production.
Confessions of college drop-out: former CPP student becomes TikTok star
After leaving Cal Poly Pomona without a plan, former computer science drop-out Yash Bhure cracked the code to making viral content, racking up more than 100,000 followers on TikTok and 20 million views on the platform. After realizing his passion for content creating, Bhure left CPP in 2019 to invest more time growing his social media presence. His content features videos of him editing himself into other popular TikTok videos, conducting social experiments and sharing video editing hacks.
The year’s most binge-worthy shows provide students escapism during social distancing
This year’s pandemic has given the term “binge watch” an entirely new meaning as screen times shot up to an astonishingly high level due to social distancing becoming the new norm. Although networks and streaming companies halted the release of some programs due to COVID-19, there were still binge-worthy shows released during this whirlwind of a year.
Local events gift holiday cheer to Pomona residents
To ensure the safety of residents while still celebrating the holiday season, Pomona will be bringing holiday cheer through a new medium: drive-thru events. Two COVID-friendly holiday events located in Pomona for Cal Poly Pomona students to attend are the Elf on the Shelf’s Magical Holiday Journey and the Dashing Thru Downtown Parade. The Elf on the Shelf’s Magical Holiday Journey is an immersive drive-thru experience currently operating at the Fairplex until Jan.
Staff Council raises holiday spirit with annual toy drive
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas as Cal Poly Pomona’s Staff Council members are taking over as Santa’s helpers and partnering with the Pomona Police Department for its annual Santa Cop Toy Drive on Dec. 2, where the campus community is invited to participate and donate in the contactless event.
Review: BTS’s ‘BE’ shines with hopeful outlook during pandemic
South Korean group BTS released its second album of 2020, “BE,” on Nov. 20 along with a music video for the album’s lead single, “Life Goes On.” The album delivers a raw and intimate message of hopefulness amid the ongoing frustrations of the global pandemic. The album has eight tracks — consisting of seven songs and one skit — including “Life Goes On” and “Dynamite,” the group’s all-English songs released Aug.
CPP student artist blends music and art in zine feature
Much like a bow caressing the strings of a violin, a young Cal Poly Pomona artist is using his brushstrokes to produce music for the eyes, rather than the ears. Ethan Moll, a fourth-year visual communication design student minoring in studio arts, was featured in the October edition of the Asian American Arts Zine, a publication that spotlights artists whose work embodies themes of Asian American culture.
‘Here and There’ shines light on CPP military community
The American War Experience through California Voices held a virtual performance reading called “Here and There” on Nov. 13. The production aimed to represent Cal Poly Pomona’s Iraq and Afghanistan military-affiliated students by sharing their personal experiences, unveiling their vulnerability and garnering showers of support from the audience. Through the virtual performance, the audience caught a glimpse into the lives of the military community that the media does not often show.
Review: Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War shoots blanks
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, the most anticipated first-person shooter game of the year, failed its audience by releasing last week an unfinished game full of bugs and performance flaws. Black Ops Cold War was released on Nov. 13 on all platforms, including the latest Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5. Players can choose from three versions of the game including an Ultimate Edition version for $90, a backward-compatible version for $70 and a standard version for $60.
Students share what they are thankful for this holiday season
This holiday season will be unlike any other for Cal Poly Pomona students and their families with the COVID-19 pandemic casting a dark shadow over the season and causing many large family gatherings and traditions during Thanksgiving and Christmas to adapt to ensure the safety of everyone. Still, many students were able to look at the positive side and show greater appreciation for the smaller aspects of their lives.
Lights, camera, virtual action: CPP theatre lecturer directs virtual play
Since childhood, performing arts has held a significant place in the life of Cal Poly Pomona Adjunct Theatre Lecturer Michael Kachingwe. Kachingwe has tread steadily through this path from performing to directing and teaching, leading him through multiple successful shows including his most recent work directing “A Refugee in Detroit” last month for his alma mater, the University of Iowa.
Rona Room brings live music to social distanced CPP community
On Nov. 6, a group of Cal Poly Pomona music students hosted an open-mic event called Rona Room through Instagram Live for students to show off their musical talents. Students and alumni came together to perform with an allocated voting period and winner announced at the end of the show.
CPP’s Clothes Closet offers new stipend program to students
After the closure of its on-campus boutique due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Career Center developed a stipend program as an extension to its annual Clothes Closet to support students remotely by distributing $50 gift cards along with virtual personalized styling sessions. The program started accepting applications on Oct. 1 and has since awarded 63 students with stipends. Applications are being accepted through the Bronco Care Basic Needs portal.
Theatre department reanimates ‘Zorro’ with modern interpretation
The Theatre and New Dance Department is drawing its curtains for the second time this month with its latest virtual production, “Zorro X2,” where all viewers are guaranteed a front-room seat. Unlike any previous performances, the event will include a live talkback with the crew members, creating an opportunity for the audience to virtually engage and learn about the production. The Cal Poly Pomona community is now invited to register for the free live streaming on Nov. 20.
Console war between PlayStation and Xbox spurs heated discussion among CPP students
The time has come once again for the two largest competing video game console creators, Microsoft and Sony, to release their newest flagship models: the Xbox Series X and the PlayStation 5. Now that both consoles have been released and subsequently sold out in many stores, the inevitable rivalry between Xbox and PlayStation users spurred discussion within Cal Poly Pomona’s gaming community.
CPP students win a 1-year membership to The Huntington Library
The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens invited current college students in Los Angeles County to participate in a raffle for a chance to win a one-year free membership last month. Among the winners, 46 Cal Poly Pomona students were chosen. Each winner received a Sustaining Membership that is valued at $159. Some perks and benefits that come with the membership include one year of free admission for up to two guests, access to member-only events and a discount at the gift shop.
Fairplex transforms into COVID-19 relief center after extensive layoffs
Fairplex, a nonprofit entertainment organization in Pomona, transformed into a community-driven COVID-19 relief center to help locals meet basic and critical needs. This follows after an extensive cut in staff — with 82 employees laid off — due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the company announced on Nov. 6. The venue is left with only 28 full-time employees and the immediate future of Fairplex events are uncertain.
College students rely on streaming for pandemic amusement
Among the numerous aspects of daily life that the COVID-19 pandemic has altered, Cal Poly Pomona students’ consumption of media and entertainment has endured rapid and fundamental change. While binging a Netflix show or rediscovering childhood favorites on Disney Plus were welcome pastimes for CPP students before the pandemic, it is now a necessity to stay entertained at home. Heading to the theater for a movie night is now a thing of the past.
Kids University offers free virtual services for CPP students despite decrease in staff
Despite a significant decrease in staff, ASI’s Kids University is continuing its program in a new virtual format for the fall semester to support those with dependent children and those responsible to care for their young relatives or siblings. The childcare services are being offered for free to all Cal Poly Pomona students. Before the pandemic, Kids U employed approximately 32 staff members.
Student entrepreneurs jump into CPP’s own version of a ‘shark tank’
The annual Bronco Startup Challenge returned in a virtual format last week, connecting student entrepreneurs with mentors to develop their business ideas into reality. The virtual pitch competition gives students a chance to learn from alumni and business owners. The Bronco Startup Challenge aims to be a gateway for students to network with successful entrepreneurs from different fields while providing resources to develop students’ business ideas into a reality.
CPP professor creates mini theme park from home
Since childhood, Steve Dobbs, a Cal Poly Pomona professor in the Aerospace Engineering Department, has been enthralled by the construction of Disney’s theme parks. The intersection of engineering and art that comprises the parks inspired Dobbs to create Dobbsland, a miniature Disney-themed amusement park in his backyard for his grandchildren and their friends to enjoy, explore and learn.
Costumes, wigs and make-up kits: University Library explores the world of cosplay
Elaborate costumes, theatrical makeup and appearance changing wigs — these are only a few of the tools cosplayers use to dramatically alter their everyday look, transforming themselves into their favorite fictional characters. To fuel the love of cosplay in the Cal Poly Pomona community, the University Library held a free virtual lecture last Thursday exploring the world of cosplay — influencing attendees to unleash their inner character.
Theatre department explores virtual realm with ‘Men On Boats’
The Theatre and New Dance Department returned with its latest virtual production, “Men On Boats” on Oct. 30. Students can now register for a free ticket to attend the online performance that will run through Nov. 4. The plot of the play follows John Wesley Powell’s 1869 charting expedition through the Colorado River and Grand Canyon, featuring 10 men who set out on a dangerous three-month-long journey in efforts to reach the other side.
Review: Netflix’s ‘Emily in Paris’ is the ultimate Parisian cliché worth binging
The beautiful thing about television is that through characters, drama, romance and comedy, viewers can be transported to any time and any place in the world. Netflix’s “Emily in Paris,” a comedy-drama series by Darren Star, creator of “Sex in the City” and “Younger,” does just that as it follows the life of Emily (Lily Collins) in Paris as a social media strategist. Like any good romantic comedy, the plot is unrealistic and overexaggerated, but that is also what makes the series addictive.
CPP student skates her dreams into reality
The sun shines as she glides on the concrete, purple hair dancing around as she twirls with happiness. Kaitlin Espinoza, a fifth-year psychology student, is taking the world by storm with an Instagram following of over 81,600 people built around her passion for roller skating. In August 2019, Espinoza took up skating as a hobby before it evolved into a career. Espinoza is now a next-generation Venice Beach skater, an activist and a full-time student skating into her dreams.
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