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Articles by Maya Hood
Senate updates academic standing policy
The Academic Senate announced April 24 an update to the Academic Standing Policy that eliminates the need for students to submit an appeal when they are placed on probation, which often presents obstacles for students. Julie Shen, Phyllis Nelson and Sharyn Fisk clarify the updated information in the Academic Standing Policy update.
Keeping the faith as college students
There are many historical misconceptions about different religionsthat seem to heighten more during times of religious holidays, such as the recent Easter and Passover holidays and upcoming Ramadan. Although currently there isn’t a designated space for prayer, there are faith clubs on campus working together to get a reflection room. It will be a space where anyone can come if they’re stressed out — to take a moment for themselves.
Empowering with story at United With Differences
People of all abilities gathered at Ursa Major on April 17 for the United With Differences (UWD) event for empowerment through storytelling. Paul An, a fourth-year business administration student and founder of UWD, created this event to allow other people with disabilities, besides himself, share their stories.
Send Silence Packing sends loud message about suicide awareness
To raise awareness on the impact of suicide and mental health, Active Minds, a nonprofit organization dedicated to shedding light on students who suffer in silence with suicidal thoughts and depression, visited campus with a clear visual of their message. One thousand backpacks peppered University Park as part of a traveling exhibit focused on raising awareness on mental health and suicide.
Students of various degrees and majors share their post-graduation plans
This year’s graduation is fast approaching for seniors, but that doesn’t mean that other students who are not graduating now aren’t already planning for what they’re going to do after they get their diplomas. Kate Vallin | Second-year civil engineering student “I hope to graduate top of my class and have an internship in engineering that will spark creativity, excitement and fun.
Kellogg descendant to be honored
Susan Kellogg-Bell is this year’s recipient of the Jim Hicks Agricultural Achievement Award. She will be honored at the 5th Annual Farm to Table Spring Harvest Dinner on April 27, which brings together students and culinary experts around the community to honor student success. The award was established in 2015 in honor of Jim Hicks, who has been a strong supporter of agriculture and agricultural education.
Non-binary marker available
University faculty, staff and other employees now have the option to choose non-binary instead of the traditional male or female descriptor on their employee records. The Pride Center. (Eileen Qiu / The Poly Post) Senate Bill 179 — California’s Gender Recognition Act, was signed into law Oct. 15, 2017. Originally, it made it easier for people who identified as transgender to change their preferred gender to male, female or non-binary.
AGRIscapes’ problem with orange and avocado theft
Dawn Taccone, manager of the Farm Store, takes a lot of pride in Cal Poly Pomona’s oranges. The production of oranges — which are sold at the Farm Store — is important because of the success of the store’s orange juice, which is juiced and packaged onsite. “We have trees all over campus, but if students are taking them [fruit], then yeah, they’re stealing from the Farm Store,” Taccone said.
Sexual misconduct investigation procedures revised
A recent California State of Appeals decision has caused all California colleges and universities to revise their sexual misconduct investigation procedures. The state appellate court ruled that all schools must allow accused students the right to a hearing and cross-examination. A campus-wide email was sent out on April 11 to all students, informing them of the updated sexual misconduct procedures.
Students win Draper Competition for Collegiate Women Entrepreneurs
A team composed of Cal Poly Pomona students won at the annual Draper Competition for Collegiate Women Entrepreneurs on April 5. Bryan Giberson, Olivia Bouffard, Shiying Li and Nastaran Simarasl get their prize money from the competition. Courtesy of Nastaran Simarasl Going against 48 schools and 500 other students at Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts, three CPP students won at the annual Draper Competition for Collegiate Women Entrepreneurs.
Senaratne elected ASI president
By Taylor Boomsma and Elizabeth Hernandez Almost three times the number of students cast their votes in the 2019 Associated Students Inc. (ASI) elections, compared to the 2018 election season. A total of 2,306 students, or 8% of the student body, voted for the upcoming year’s student leaders. Pasindu Senaratne, third-year business student and current ASI vice president, along with Rachel Hunter, third-year political science major and current senator pro-tempore, won the election with 911 votes.
Experienced group looks to make third straight final four
After another successful season, the men’s soccer team has one goal on its mind for the upcoming season, and that is getting back to Pittsburgh. Over the last two years under head coach Adam Reeves, the Broncos earned themselves consecutive trips to the final four, but fell short in the semifinals both years. After suffering the heartbreaking loss against West Chester in overtime, the team ended its 2018 season with an overall record of 17-7-0.
Endgame most anticipated finale ever
Movie premieres seem to get bigger and better every year, especially when the film is one piece of an entire franchise, but “Avengers: Endgame” is one of the most anticipated movies of all time. Past franchises such as “Harry Potter,” “Rocky” and the “Twilight” saga have had people around the world waiting in mile-long lines outside the theater to try to be the first to see it.
Three new provisional marks set at Bryan Clay Invitational
The Broncos set three new National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) provisional-qualifying marks, all on the women’s side this past weekend at the Bryan Clay Invitational hosted by Azusa Pacific University. To go along with the new marks, CPP also improved on previous provisional marks that have been set earlier in the season.
Stop picking poppies for ‘gram
Spring is finally here. The rain has stopped and there is warmth in the air which means the super bloom has finally come. This is the biggest super bloom since 2017, and it is beyond beautiful. I visited the fields in Carlsbad during a recent weekend and the rainbow colors of the flowers were unbelievable. With this super bloom came all the tourists. (Elizabeth Aquino / The Poly Post) There were so many people there when I went, and only a few were there to admire. Most were there for a photo shoot.
Broncos split series against the Wildcats
The Broncos headed to Chico State on Thursday to split a four-game series against the Chico State Wildcats. After the series, the Broncos have fallen out of the top six in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA), and the Top 6 will continue on to the CCAA Championship Tournament. On Thursday, the Broncos got the scoring started in the second inning when sophomore center fielder Nick Peifer blasted his first triple of the game to right center.
Tutoring tools for finals
The semester might be coming to a close but there’s still some time to get up to speed before finals week arrives. The Learning Resource Center (LRC), located on the second floor of the library (Building 15), supports students through tutoring, workshops, test preparation and academic skills tutoring to ensure students succeed in their courses.
Foundation dabbles in real estate
Homes are now for sale through Cal Poly Pomona Foundation, Inc. to assist faculty and staff recruited from out-of-state with housing. Assistant Director of Real Estate Randy Wallace Jr. said the program began in early 2000 in an effort to recruit professors and other members of faculty from the Midwest. He and the director of real estate Sandra Vaughan-Acton said the university president at the time, Bob H.
Lanterman site carries years of mental care history
By Christian Arredondo and Ruth Olivares More than 90 years ago, many people who were described as “feeble minded” were detained in the Pacific Colony facility, now Cal Poly Pomona’s Lanterman Developmental Center. The treatment of mental health has come a long way. Now, mental health is spoken about openly on our campus, which is a topic that would have been avoided at all costs years back.
Academic Senate makes changes to GE policy
In a 24-2 vote, the Academic Senate passed a resolution on March 27 to make changes to Area C in the General Education (GE) policy to ensure academic requirements are equal for all students. Instead of dividing Area C into two sub-categories, it will now be combined. Mahmood Ibrahim, chair of the Academic Senate’s General Education Committee, said combining areas C. 2a and C. 2b do not affect departments or the courses that are within these two areas of Area C.
Graduation rates on the rise
Hard work pays off. Students can attest to this as graduation rates at Cal Poly Pomona are at an all-time high following the implementation of several initiatives to increase graduation rates.
Abortion bill passed by Senate Health Committee
The state Senate Health Committee passed Senate Bill 24 (SB 24) known as the “College Student Right to Access Act” on Wednesday, April 3. The bill was sponsored by State Sen. Connie Leyva, D-Chino, and requires all 31 California public universities to offer the abortion pill at their on-campus health centers. The bill was passed in a 7-2 vote and seven Democrats voted for the bill, while two Republicans opposed it.
Introducing your ASI 2019 candidates
By Taylor Boomsma and Elizabeth Hernandez ASI elections for the 2019-2020 academic year are coming up. Elected positions include ASI president, vice president, senators for the eight colleges and for four at-large councils. In previous years, voter turnout has been abysmal. Last year, 3% of the student body participated in the election.
Students share their opinions on university admissions scandal
Many wealthy and celebrity parents resorted to bribery and fraud to guarantee their children admission into elite schools such as UCLA and USC. Many student accounts are under review. Mariecris Parado | Third-year hospitality management student “It’s sad but not surprising it happened when it’s involving celebrities with endless resources. It’s unfair for a lot of students because celebrities have the upper hand, while other students must take out loans and work multiple jobs.
CPP Connect rolled out
Advisors and tutors have a new tool to facilitate communication and measure their students’ progress. Cecilia Santiago-Gonzalez, director of strategic initiatives for the Office of Student Success said CPP Connect allows academic advisors to better connect with students. She said it’s a holistic support platform that provides students with the ability to conveniently schedule appointments with their academic advisors as well as access tutoring services.
Alumnus gives back to his roots
Anyone who has walked around the Las Vegas strip or through many popular shopping centers in Southern California has come into contact with the landscape architecture of Donald Brinkerhoff. With more than 20 notable works in Las Vegas, such as The Mirage and the Bellagio, as well as the Grove in Los Angeles, the work of CEO and founder of Lifescapes International, Inc. can be found across the globe. The Mirage was one of the largest projects that first put Lifescapes on the map.
New SHWS director to bring big changes
Rita O’Neill, recently hired director of the Student Health & Wellness Services, said she comes with fresh ideas for change. Rita O’Neil outside the Student Health Center. (Courtesy of Nestor Gama) O’Neill is only in her first month on the job and before making any big changes, she said she wants to make sure she gets a good understanding of the operation first. She said she intends to integrate and improve services at the Student Health & Wellness Center.
Tapingo now offers food delivery
University Village residents no longer have to deal with long lines at The Den by Denny’s, as Tapingo, the food delivery app, now offers to-the-door delivery. Residents can now order a complete meal from their smartphones and in 15 to 20 minutes, their orders will be ready at their door. Maya Perez of The Den by Denny’s delivers a meal to Sonny Quintana, who ordered via Tapingo.
Last second miss ends season in first round
The women’s basketball season came to an end Friday night after suffering a devastating loss to Azusa Pacific University, 62-60, in the quarterfinal of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II West Region Championship tournament. With the loss, the Broncos ended the season with a 25-6 overall record, and 19-3 in their conference. “It was a great game, I’m so proud of these girls.
Broncos hand Gators first loss of the season
The Broncos dropped the first three games of the series against San Francisco State, but on Sunday afternoon the Broncos broke their six-game skid and handed the Gators their first loss of the season. Tim Holdgrafer pitched 5.2 innings allowing seven runs on 10 hits in Friday night’s loss to San Francisco State.
Death wish humor isn’t that funny
Hey young people, it’s time to stop wishing for death anytime something mildly inconvenient happens and then laugh about it as a coping mechanism for some other possible underlying issues. If you or someone you know are having suicidal thoughts or are going through hardships, speak up and let others help. Don’t hide behind a meme. It’s OK to use humor as a coping mechanism. Laughter is the best medicine, but not if the punchline includes self-harm or death.
Broncos bounced in the first round
Men’s basketball watched its season come to an end Friday after falling in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) opener 61-50 against UC San Diego. William Christmas, who was named to the Division II CCA All-Region Team, led the Broncos with 19 points and five rebounds. The team struggled in the opening frame as it went cold for the first five minutes, allowing UCSD to jump out to an 11-0 lead. Christmas was able to get the Broncos on the board with back-to-back points in the paint.
Fields sets personal best in first place finish
Lane eight is not where a sprinter wants to start. The outer lanes are reserved for the slower seeded athletes, while the runners expected to win are usually found in lanes four or five. With 100 meters left in the men’s 400-meter hurdles race, freshman Ryan Fields, who started in lane eight, sat in fourth place with three hurdles left. Fifty meters later, Fields took the lead and held on for the win.
Students challenge mental health stigmas at Movies for Mental Health
Students from different backgrounds came together last week to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental illness by declaring different ways each student can individually promote mental wellness. On Tuesday, March 12, Art with Impact, a charity that promotes mental wellness, hosted a mental health seminar for students at Cal Poly Pomona.
Don’t waste time between classes
We all know the feeling of wanting to go home after a long day of classes. In between class times most of us go on our laptops or smartphones, go back to our cars or wait in an empty classroom for our next class to start. Spending our free time in between classes should not be this dull or apathetic. Our school has so many different colleges, centers, services and beautiful areas of nature that are much better ways worth spending your free time.
Living green with Students for a Sustainable Future
When Gracie Chan transitioned to veganism, she noticed CPP didn’t have a club that was focused on students living a sustainable lifestyle. “I wanted to be more involved on campus about sustainability and find people that are involved [with] sustainability and when I looked, I couldn’t really find a club,” Chan said.
Campus queens strut their stuff
By Jacqueline Ayala and Jessica Araujo From Ariana Grande’s “Greedy” to Selena’s “Si Una Vez,” the fourth annual Drag Show hosted by the Pride Center brought a high level of energy to CPP. Coming back to host the Drag Show was none other than Roxy Wood — who along with seven other drag queens — performed a variety of songs. Their dancing, splits and even death drops brought the audience to cheer them on from start to finish.
NASA research enhances learning experiences
Bronco researchers are making substantial moves that not only expand their own knowledge but innovate student learning experiences. Sidharth Lalla taking colony counts of bacteria in professor Rakesh Mogul’s research lab. (Taylor Johnson / The Poly Post) Professor Rakesh Mogul of the chemistry department conducted research for NASA recently. Mogul reflected on how he took a chance to work with NASA for a summer fellowship, where there was no guarantee to get hired.
Kellogg Drive closures imminent
Slow lanes, rows of cars and frustrated commuters are what can be imagined when the familiar “Road Work Ahead” neon orange signs begin to appear on the side of the freeway. In past months, the neon orange signs have made their way closer to campus and nearby surrounding areas. The San Bernardino I-10 freeway’s Kellogg Drive on and off-ramps will soon be closing for Caltrans’ carpool lanes expansion plan.
Master plan to change campus
In a few short years, the campus as we see it today will look very different as decisions are being made now regarding the Campus Master Plan. Some of the changes to come are meant to resolve difficulties with parking and traffic on the I-10 freeway, improve shuttle routes, include accessible routes, improve transit connections and add additional bike lanes — all as a result of increasing student enrollment, according to a master plan update from earlier this year.
Students share their thoughts on celebrating women during Women’s History Month
Zane Landin | Third-year science, technology and society student “International Women’s Day is kind of like Valentine’s Day. I feel like we should appreciate women every day the same way we should be romantic to our partner all the time, not just on Valentine’s.” Ciara Bell | Fourth-year apparel merchandising and management student “I celebrate women every day. International Women’s Day is just an excuse to celebrate us more.
Perspectives on using technology effectively in and out of the classroom
With the constant evolution of technology, there are many ways that professors are able to fuse elements of it into their courses. “I like it when professors are really engaging with technology,” said Fion Chan, a fourth-year microbiology student. While working two part-time jobs in addition to going to school, Chan said it is helpful when professors have technological resources available. One thing that has helped Chan better understand her course material is when lectures are posted online.
ASI bylaws passed
Potential changes in bylaws were discussed again at the Associated Students Inc. (ASI) Senate meeting on Thursday, March 7. The debate over a major change in the position requirements of senator pro tempore reached an agreement when a motion to keep the original duties of secretary of internal affairs passed in a 7-5 vote.
American Physics Society names CPP a top school for physics
The American Physics Society (APS) has recognized Cal Poly Pomona as a top school for physics students, ranking in fourth place for students earning a bachelor’s degree in physics and second place for underrepresented minority (URM) students. Based on data from 2015 to 2017, APS found that the university has an average of 26 physics graduates and three physics URM graduates per year.
Finding beauty in the discarded
The identity of Vietnamese people who fled Vietnam by boat and risked their lives in the ocean is one of the subjects of Ann Phong’s pieces. Phong is a visual artist and adjunct professor in the art department at Cal Poly Pomona. In her work, Phong views herself like the ocean — being both still and calm, courageous and tempestuous — and remembers that life isn’t always perfect. She visualizes this in her detailed paintings to portray the flaws of the world that are out of our control.
Professor brings out the joy in math
Jennifer Switkes wants to share the joys of math. A professor of mathematics and associate chair for the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Switkes received a Mathematical Association of America’s Deborah and Franklin Tepper Haimo Award, also known as the Haimo Award for Distinguished Teaching, this year. It serves as a reflection of the enthusiasm she puts into teaching.
MSA celebrates World Hijab Day
Wearing the hijab comes with many stereotypes and is seen by some as a symbol of oppression toward women who are thought to be only wearing the hijab by force. The Muslim Student Association (MSA) wanted to open the discussion about why Muslim women wear the hijab to deconstruct those stereotypes. Zareen Ahmed helps tie a hijab for Kristina Pekson at the MSA’s World Hijab Day event.
Hospitality Uncorked features wine wonderland
A whimsical world of wine greeted guests at the JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. Live at this year’s “Hospitality Uncorked” gala on March 2. The annual event benefits the Collins College of Hospitality Management, which according to the Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Education, is ranked ninth in the country in hospitality and tourism graduate programs. The gala, which is in its 24th year, was also featured in a segment on last week’s KTLA’s Morning News.
Kellogg exit closure to affect commute
Students share their thoughts on how the Kellogg exit closure on interstate 10 will impact commutes. Stephanie Garcia | Fourth-year food science and technology student “I don’t normally take the freeway, but it sounds like my traffic wait will be a lot longer than maybe two hours.” Scott Kelly | Fourth-year marketing student “It will probably delay me.
Route D to increase shuttle system efficiency
Parking & Transportation Services introduced a new shuttle bus route, Route D, on Feb. 25 to better serve the transportation needs of students. Students boarding a Bronco Express shuttle. The new route will serve the overflow lots. (Ashley Rowles / The Poly Post) It is designed for students parking in the overflow lots at Innovation Village.
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