ASI Craft Center

While clubs are a great way to get involved at Cal Poly, there are also many other activities students can participate in, including the craft center, which is featured in this video.

A few more club profiles

Since this is my last post for a while on Cal Poly clubs, I decided to feature some of the clubs and organizations I did not know much about before starting this blog, but always thought sounded interesting.

PolyCon- If you pay attention on your way to class, you will probably see flyers posted around the campus for PolyCon conventions.  PolyCon is a gaming organization made up of Cal Poly students and alumni.  The organization was founded in 1983 and also includes the game theory club, which gamers can join if they are interested in playing or trying out new games.  PolyCon will host PolyConCon XXVIII this June.  Those who attend will have the opportunity to participate in various gaming tournaments.

Empower Poly Coalition-  According to their website, the Empower Poly Coalition, which was created in 2006, is made up of over 27 Cal Poly student sustainability related clubs and organizations.  Some of the clubs that are members of the coalition include: the Cal Poly Surfrider Club, the Fair Trade Club, and the Cal Poly chapter of the American Institute of Architects.  The coalition also encourages sustainability by offering green living tips on their website.

Progressive Student Alliance (PSA)-  The PSA is comprised of Cal Poly students who strive to bring positive change to the world.  The group encourages activism and community service by hosting events such as charity concerts.  Members get to chose what activities are done throughout the year.  This can range from protests, to getting involved with local campaigns or voter registration.

Cal Poly STRIDE-  STRIDE stands for Science through translational Research in Diet and Exercise, according to the organization’s website.  It was founded in 2007 by the Kinesiology Department and has 250 student members representing various majors.  The  STRIDE website states that “STRIDE’s goal is to support existing agencies of the central coast in promoting healthy weight across the lifespan.”  This is accomplished through the promotion of healthy lifestyle, exercise, and nutrition habits.  STRIDE also offers fitness classes for Cal Poly students as well as for the community

Nutrition Club-  Another club dedicated to promoting healthy choices is the Nutrition Club.  The club offers students who are interested in nutrition the opportunity to get to know other students, get involved with volunteering, and meet professionals in the industry.  For anyone who may be interested in joining, club meetings are held every other Thursday from 11 to 12 in building 24.

A Night in White – Cal Poly Ballroom Dance Club audio slideshow

Getting Involved with the Performing Arts

When most people think of schools with performing arts programs, Cal Poly probably does not often come to mind.  After all, this is a polytechnic university, and with a large amount of emphasis put on the schools nationally ranked engineering programs, it is easy to forget that there are also some exceptionally talented students and productions taking place in the performing arts department.

While some performing arts classes at Cal Poly are mainly oriented toward theatre majors, there plenty of extracurricular options students of any major can get involved in.  One of the most popular performing arts group on campus is Cal Poly’s improvisational comedy troop, Smile and Nod.  Students who would like to join are required to try out, and it can be fairly competitive to get in.  However, Smile and Nod encourages all students who like to laugh and have fun to attend an audition, which consists of working with the troop members and playing improv games.  The troop currently consists of 19 students whose majors range from everything from theatre, to business, to engineering.

Smile and Nod holds shows during the first half of every quarter in the Black Box Theatre inside the music building.  There are usually two shows every Saturday night, a short form improv show as well as a long form show.  The shows sell out fairly quickly, so it is best to arrive early at the door or reserve tickets online in order to secure a seat.

Another performing arts group is the Imagen Y Espiritu Ballet Folklorico de Cal Poly.  This group’s mission is to preserve and positively promote Mexican culture through dance.  It is open to anyone who is interested and holds practices several times a week.  The group also performs Mexican folkloric dances from different regions in Mexico, such as Sinaloa, Nayarit, and Jalisco at special events.  According to the group’s website, members study a minimum of three different dance styles each year.  They learn about the dances, costumes, and history of each region they study.

Students who are truly passionate about all aspects of theatre, including writing, producing, directing, and acting, may want to check out Students’ Stage.  The group also introduces students who are involved to the technical and business elements of theatre.  Students’ Stage is an entirely student run theatre group at Cal Poly.  It is open to everyone and puts on shows every quarter, some of which charge no admissions fee.

ASI

While Cal Poly is well known for its diverse variety of clubs and student organizations, few of these activities would be able to exist if it were not for Associated Students Incorporated, or ASI, as the organization is more commonly known.

ASI prides itself on being “every student’s guide to the ultimate college experience.”  ASI is accomplishing its goal of providing students with memorable college experiences by hosting events, such as game and movie nights, as well as making it possible for over 250 clubs to exist at Cal Poly.  Students can also easily get involved with school activities through ASI.  Whether they want to get a job, become active in student government, or volunteer, ASI has programs to help students be successful at whatever they set out to do.

While ASI is more of an organization than a club that anyone can join, Cal Poly would not be able to have as many active clubs as it currently does if it were not for ASI.  ASI helps keep clubs organized and trains club leaders, allowing clubs to function smoothly and hopefully attract new members.

Clubs are a large component of ASI, but definitely not the only thing the organization offers to students.  Students who would like to have some extra spending money, or who need to find a way to help pay for school can search the ASI student jobs website to see what positions are available.  Jobs range from University Union front desk assistants, to craft center instructors, to personal trainers.  The amount of working hours required per week varies from job to job, and the hourly salary starts at $8.00.

Students can also get involved with community service and leadership programs through Student Life and Leadership.  This can include signing up to be a Week of Welcome group leader, becoming active in the community or multicultural center, or becoming a part of Greek life, just to list a few of the possibilities.

For students who would like to see changes made to some of the university’s policies, ASI student government may just be the perfect organization to get involved with.  ASI elections are held each spring.  Every Cal Poly student has the opportunity to run and vote in the elections.  ASI student government positions include the Board of Directors, which is comprised of students from each of Cal Poly’s academic colleges, the University Union Advisory Board, and the Executive Cabinet.  The Executive Cabinet is made up of the ASI President, Chief of Staff, and seven other members appointed by the president and chief of staff.  These students work together to help enhance the school as well as the lives of Cal Poly students.

Cal Poly clubs quiz

Political Science Clubs

With California’s June primary elections just around the corner, it’s difficult not to pay at least a little attention to the upcoming event. Some students that tend to be particularly well informed on the issues and candidates are those who are members of political science department clubs. While the Cal Poly Democrats and the Cal Poly Republicans are the twoclubs most people associate with political science, there are actually several clubs associated with the department.

The Cal Poly Model United Nations Club not only teaches students about how the United Nations works, but also allows them to participate in Model UN conferences. According to the club’s website, members attend two conferences a year, one in-state as well as one out-of-state. By taking part in Model UN, students have the opportunity to learn more about the various issues the UN confronts, in addition to focusing in depth on a selected country which they represent at the conferences.

In order to participate in Cal Poly’s Model UN program, which is open to all majors, students must enroll in the political science 285 class. The class introduces students to how the United Nations operates. According to the Cal Poly course catalog, it also prepares them to participate in the Model UN by teaching them the rules and having them write country position papers and resolution papers.

While the Model UN introduces students to the work of a diplomat, students who are considering law school, or would just like to learn more about the law, may want to consider joining the Undergraduate Law Association. The club was founded in 1978, with it’s main purpose being to help students who were interested in attending law school research and apply to schools around the U.S.

According to the club’s website, since the club was created, it has gone through several periods of inactivity, and has been included as part of the Political Science Club for the majority of the years it has been around. However, in recent years the club underwent a revival, after receiving interest from many students, and is once again an independent club.

Another club for students who may be thinking about law school is the Mock Trial Club. Students get to experience arguing a case in court, and may even have the opportunity to participate in a Mock Trial competition.

Of course, for students who are simply interested in learning more about politics, there is always the Political Science Club. Not only are students able to meet others who share their interest, they also have the opportunity to hear a variety of guest speakers.  In election years, speakers may even include political candidates.

Activity Locations around Cal Poly

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Amateur Radio Club Interview

Amateur Radio Club is one of the oldest active clubs at Cal Poly.  Founded in 1947, the club allows members to gain experience in radio through Cal Poly’s “Learn by Doing” philosophy.  This includes working at events such as the Wildflower Triathlon, one of the world’s largest triathlons, which the club recently returned from.  I interviewed Marcel Stieber, the Amateur Radio Club President and radio DJ, to learn more about the club.

What types of radio things does the club do?

Everything! Event support, emergency communications, senior projects, tinkering, diy, transmitter hunts, repeaters, direction-finding, HF, contesting, field day, etc.

Does the club do any fundraising?

Yes.

What are some activities the club does?

Amateur Radio Licensing Sessions (one per quarter), transmitter hunts (ARDF), local radio facility tours and talks, equipment demos and instructional events.

I’ve heard that that this is the oldest club at Cal Poly, what do you think are some reasons that contribute to the success of the club?

I’m told it’s the second oldest, but no one really knows. ASI doesn’t have a single database with that info unfortunately.

Amateur Radio is time proven and is just starting to make a comeback since the FCC removed the morse code requirement from the license exam in 2006.

What are your hopes for the future of the club?

Continue providing event support for the Avia Wildflower Triathlon, the SLOBC Wildflower and Lighthouse Century bike rides, hold quarterly testing sessions to license more HAM radio operators, provide students equipment, resources, and ideas for senior projects, maintain the Emergency Communications Center of the campus, participate in regular emergency training sessions and events. The list goes on!

Anything else interesting?

We just got back from providing the entire communications for the Wildflower Triathlon this past weekend. 30,000 spectators, 7,000 athletes. Over 300 radios, fully-staffed dispatch center, GPS vehicle located systems for all ambulances and course vehicles live on a screen in dispatch, full repeater system for over 20 radio channels used during the event, etc. This one is our biggest event of the year. We’ve been providing communications for this for several years now.  Nineteen years, I think.

Club Handbook

Central Pacific Ski Club Logo

Just about every Cal Poly student has heard of the notorious Central Pacific Ski Club.  The club, formerly known as the Cal Poly Ski Club, lost its affiliation with the school due to violations of Cal Poly club policies.  In order for clubs to maintain their affiliation with the school, they must be aware of club policies and procedures, which are featured in the Cal Poly Club Handbook.

According to Tyler Parthemer, Cal Poly field hockey president and sports club council chair, about 30 new clubs become inactive each year, while approximately 30 new clubs are formed.  Once each of these new clubs officially completes the process of becoming a club at Cal Poly, they must refer to the club handbook in order to figure out what steps they should take next.

The handbook states that it is very important for clubs to promptly pay their club bills so that they portray a responsible and organized image.  Bill paying can impact a club positively or negatively for many years to come.  In order to create a good reputation, many clubs will raise funds through donations, events, and parental support.  According to Parthemer, sports clubs can also earn monetary rewards by winning league championships.

Another important guideline clubs must be aware of concerns publicity.  These rules are especially important for new clubs that are attempting to attract more members.  With approval, clubs can post sandwich boards, posters, and fliers around campus, as long as they know the requirements for doing so that are listed in the handbook.

Clubs should also be informed about equal access policies, which prohibit discrimination, hazing rules, alcohol policy, and the use of the Cal Poly name and symbol.

Hazing policies are strictly enforced, especially after the December 2008 death of Carson Starkey.  While Starkey’s death was related to a fraternity incident, not a club affiliated with the school, his death definitely increased the preventive measures that are taken by all school organizations so that another tragedy does not occur.  This is why alcohol use at any club functions or gatherings is not allowed and can result in serious consequences.

If a club should break many major rules, Student Life and Leadership will hold a judicial meeting and club sanctions may be implemented.  Sanctions can include anything from a warning, that will be put the club’s permanent file, to a probation or suspension, or in the most severe circumstances, the revocation of the club’s charter.  If this happens, the club permanently loses its affiliation with Cal Poly.