Lauren RabainoJuly: Saudi contract signed
A controversial contract to develop and implement a new engineering program at Jubail University College (JUC) in Saudi Arabia was signed by Cal Poly in early July. However, almost six months lateer, JUC has yet to sign its portion so the contract is not finalized and remains private, raising concerns as to whether the deal will actually go through. The five-year contract would bring $5.9 million to Cal Poly, but opponents worry the deal will lead to discrimination against minority groups including Jews, women and homosexuals.
September: Poly Canyon Village opens
The brand-new Poly Canyon Village complex opened for move-in last week. Besides apartments for sophomore students, the village features a resident-only pool and restaurants including Jamba Juice, Peet’s Coffee and Tea, Einstein Bros. Bagels and a market.
August: Olympics
Cal Poly graduate Stephanie Brown-Trafton won the discus event at the 2008 Summer Olympic games in Beijing and became the first gold medalist from Cal Poly after posting a mark of 212 feet, 5 inches.
Brown-Trafton, a 2004 engineering graduate and three-time All-American at Cal Poly, had failed to advance to the final round in 2004 and was entered as the 16th seed in 2008.
September: Budget meltdown
Due to California’s budget crisis and an overall recession, the California State University system was forced to cut its budget. Provost Robert Koob responded by cutting the budget of each college in Cal Poly by 2.5 percent, leading to fewer courses and fewer teachers.
October: Racism protested
A noose and a confederate flag hanging from the balcony of the on-campus Crop House sparked a massive protest and campus-wide debate about racism and diversity on campus. A forum was also held to address student concerns.
The residents have vacated the building but any punishment would be an affront to first amendment rights according to Cal Poly.
November: Election
Cal Poly students turned out in large numbers to help propel Barack Obama to win the election and become the United State’s first Afrian-American president. Students also went against the grain by voting overwhelmingly against Proposition 8, the proposal to ban gay marriage, which passed in the state.
November: Heartbreaker loss to Cal Poly
Although the Cal Poly football team beat Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I-A) teams like UTEP and San Diego State during the Rich Ellerson era, it took things to another level on Nov. 22, 2008.
The Mustangs, at the time ranked third in the Football Championship Subdivision (I-AA), tried to become just the second FCS team since 2001 to beat two FBS squads in the same season.
They nearly pulled it off, never trailing before the final play of a 36-35, overtime loss.
The Camp Randall Stadium crowd of 80,709 in Madison, Wis. surpassed the previously largest audience in Cal Poly sports history by 48,173.
For the latest on Cal Poly football, see the sports section. To check out an audio slideshow featuring the game, go online to mustangdaily.net.
December: Two student deaths, two days
Two student deaths within several days of each other rocked campus in December. Architectural engineering freshman Carson Starkey died after attending a Sigma Alpha Epsilon event, a fraternity he was pledging. The fraternity has been indefinetly suspended.
Mechanical engineering sophomore Favian Mora died in his on-campus apartment two days later. The death was a result of a bacterial infection.
Candlelight vigils were held for both students.