Campus Events & Entertainment Open to the Public
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2008 | May

Multicultural Center Asian & Pacific Islander Events Run Through May
Cal Poly’s MultiCultural Center will celebrate Asian American/Pacific Islander month with a series of free and public events throughout May. Events begin May 1 with a lecture on Islamic culture. Other events scheduled include a look at Asian women and men as portrayed in film, a taiko drumming performance, a play about Japanese imprisonment in America during World War II, and a Hawaiian music and dance performance.
More on Asian & Pacific Islander Month events

Cal Poly’s Pride Center Hosts Pride Week May 4-10
Cal Poly’s Pride Center will host 14 special events for students and the public during Pride Week 2008, from May 4-10. Events open to the public include a lecture by author and activist Glenda Russell and a weeklong art display.
Details on Pride Week activities

Educator and Therapist
Speaks on America’s Gay Community May 8
On Thursday, May 8, psychologist and educator  Glenda Russell will speak on
"Sustaining Movement: Generational Cycles in the Gay Community." Russell is a psychologist, educator, author, researcher, therapist, and an activist --  and an adjunct professor at Metropolitan State College of Denver. She was a member and chair of the American Psychological Association’s Committee on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Concerns.
Details on Russell's appearance

See Local High School Idols in County Mock Rock May 8 at the PAC
Friday Night Live presents the annual San Luis Obispo County Mock Rock championships Thursday, May 8, at 7 p.m. in the Christopher Cohan Center. A fun and entertaining evening for the whole family.

UCSB Professor Speaks on Asian Women in Film May 8
UCSB Professor Celeste Parreñas Shimizu will lead a lecture entitled “The Hypersexuality of Race” as part of Asian American/Pacific Islander month on Thursday, May 8, from 4-6 p.m. in the University Union, Room 220. Sponsored by Cal Poly’s MultiCultural Center, and Student Life and Leadership, the talk will focus on sexualized depictions of Asian women in film, video, and theatrical productions. Film clips from early Hollywood cinema, gonzo pornography, stag films, and independent feminist work will be featured. Shimizu is an associate professor of Film and Video in Asian American Studies, and affiliate faculty in Film and Women’s Studies at UCSB.
More on the film studies lecture

See Quilt Exhibit at University Art Gallery
May 9-June 14
The rich and complex history of quilt-making will unfold through the quilts to be displayed at Cal Poly’s University Art Gallery from May 9 through June 14. Cal Poly’s Art and Design Department is co-curating the show with noted quilt author. Carolyn Mazloomi. “The exhibit, titled “A Tear in the Fabric: The Conceptually Driven Quilt,” features work by 25 quilt-makers from around the country.
Read more about the quilt exhibit

Youth Symphony Season Finale is May 9 at the PAC
Founded in 1965 by Dr. Wachtang "Botso" Korisheli, the San Luis Obispo County Youth Symphony remains the only opportunity between the cities of Santa Barbara and Monterey, California, for school-age musicians to receive full ochestral training.  Don't miss these gifted young musicians in their 2008 Season Finale Concert.
More on the Youth Symphony finale

'Take It SLO' A Cappella Group
Spring Concert May 10
Cal Poly's award-winning Take It SLO ensemble will present an A Cappella concert of current pop songs at its third annual Spring Concert at 8 p.m. Saturday, May 10th at Grace Church. The 16-member vocal ensemble will perform a wide variety of songs, all arranged by the students themselves, including the popular hits "Apologize" by OneRepublic, "Love Song" by Sara Bareilles, and the premiere of a “mash-up” medley of pop songs by artists such as Justin Timberlake, Rihanna, and Nelly Furtado.
More on the Take it SLO concert | Click Here to See Take it SLO on YouTube

Professor Lin Speaking on Nanoethics May 10
Cal Poly’s Nanoethics Group director, Patrick Lin, will be the featured speaker at The Discovery Institute for the Advancement of Science and Technology Education’s Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM) Showcase on Saturday, May 10, at Cuesta College. Lin, a visiting assistant professor at  Cal Poly and post-doctoral associate at Dartmouth College, will present “Nanotechnology’s Promises and Challenges.” In his talk, he will focus on the basics of nanotechnology and its applications in such areas as computing, the military, medicine, energy, environment, and food and agriculture. He will also explore the ethical and social issues arising from nanotechnology.
More on the nanoethics talk

Hear 'The Organ at the Opera' May 10 at the PAC
Experience great operatic music featuring the organ, including arias, duets and ensembles by Puccini, Gounod and Massenet, as well as sacred vocal works, all accompanied by the new Forbes organ.
More on the opera organ concert

May 12 & 13
Religious Studies Professor Speaks on Women and Islam, Life After 9/11
Zayn Kassam, chair of the Religious Studies Department at Pomona College, will give talks on Monday and Tuesday, May 12 and 13, as part of a Cal Poly lecture series on Islam in the Modern World. Kassam will present “My Journey After 9/11” from 7 to 9 p.m. May 12 in the Bioresource and Agricultural Engineering Building, Room 123. On May 13 from 11 a.m. to noon she will talk on “The Veil: Piety or Punishment,” also in the Bioresource and Agricultural Engineering Building, Room 123. Kassam is a frequent commentator on Islam in the modern world.
More on Professor Kassam's lectures

ASI Brings 'Dr. Drew' Back for Encore May 15
ASI Events presents a night of advice on sex, drugs and relationships with "Dr. Drew" Pinsky. The popular doctor will discuss topics ranging from his radio show ‘Loveline’ to the hit TV show ‘Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew.’ The event will take place Thursday, May 15 at 7 p.m. at the Cal Poly Recreation Center. The event is free for students with a Cal Poly I.D. and $10 for community members. Seating is limited.
Details on Dr. Drew's appearance at Cal Poly

‘Decoding Identity in Queer Detective Fiction’ is Lecture Topic May 15
A scholar in modern German literature will present a lecture on queer detective fiction at Cal Poly from 11 a.m. to noon Thursday, May 15, in Room 200 in the Erhart Agriculture Building. Faye Stewart will talk on “Reading the Lavender Herring: Decoding Identity in Queer Detective Fiction.” In her talk, Stewart will explain the importance of studying queer crime novels by examining the similarities between crime and sexuality. “The queer investigator takes on the tasks of decoding both,” Stewart said.
More on decoding detective fiction

Enjoy Political Satire with the Capitol Steps May 15 at the PAC
The Capitol Steps troupe returns to campus for a performance Thursday, May 15 at 8 p.m. in Harman Hall in the Christopher Cohan Center. It's the comedy troupe that puts the “mock” in democracy. Red, blue, left, or right – ­it’s all fair game when the Steps’ political satire returns to SLO for a rousing ’08 encore. Musical ditties like “The Sunni Side of Tikrit,”  “Don Imus Is A Girl’s Best Friend,” and “It Don’t Mean A Thing (If Your State’s Not A Swing)” and skits about electile dysfunction and Sunni & Cher are just part of their bi-partisan arsenal of irreverence.
More on the Capitol Steps

Cal Poly Thatre & Dance to Stage ‘Animal Farm' May 15-17, 22-30
Cal Poly’s Theatre and Dance Department will present a stage production of George Orwell’s” Animal Farm” at 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, May 15-17, Wednesday and Thursday, May 21-22, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 18, at the Spanos Theatre on campus. This theatrical version of “Animal Farm” presents an allegorical tale of revolution: the overthrow of Farmer Jones by the animals.
More on the 2008 production of 'Animal Farm'

Cal Poly Arab Music Ensemble Spring Concert is May 16
The Cal Poly Arab Music Ensemble will perform traditional and contemporary music and dance from the Eastern Mediterranean and larger Middle East at 8 p.m. on Friday, May 16, in the Pavilion of the Performing Arts Center. The ensemble will perform vocal and instrumental selections from some of the greatest composers and performers of Arab art music, including the legendary Sayyid Darwish of Egypt, the eminent Fairouz of Lebanon, and the Syrian superstar of Egyptian cinema, Farid El Atrache.
Arab Music Ensemble Spring Concert ticket info

Cuesta Master Chorale Spring Concert is May 17 at the PAC
The 100-voice Cuesta Master Chorale presents two works composed by the Haydn brothers, Franz Joseph and Michael. Cal Poly Professor Thomas Davies conducts the choir, orchestra and guest soloist. Curtain time is 8 p.m. in the Christopher Cohan Center.
More on the Master Chorale

New York Author Speaks on Midwives, Mothers, and Genetics May 20
Barbara Katz Rothman of the City University of New York will explore the world of midwives and social and political issues related to the human genome project in two separate talks, both set for Tuesday, May 20, at Cal Poly. Rothman will speak on the" Midwifery and the Politics of Knowledge" from 11:10 a.m. to noon in the Erhart Agriculture Building, Room 220. Rothman's second talk, titled "Through a Crystal Darkly: The Racial and Gender Politics of the New Genetics," is scheduled from 4:10 to 5:30 p.m., in Room 206 in the Manufacturing Building.
More on the midwifery lecture

Morro Bay, Los Osos & Laguna Choirs Concert is May 22
Students from Morro Bay High School and Los Osos and Laguna Middle Schools will perform Thursday, May 22, at 7 p.m. in the Christopher Cohan Center. Admission is free for the family-oriented event.

Professors Russell, Davies
Lead Cal Poly Early Music Ensemble May 24
The Cal Poly Early Music Ensemble will give its Spring Concert at 8 p.m. Saturday, May 24, in Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa. Titled “From Serra to Sancho: Exploring the Music of the California Missions,” the 11-voice ensemble will present music from the California Missions, with emphasis on works composed by Juan Bautista Sancho, who lived and composed at Mission San Antonio. Cal Poly Music Professor and noted California mission music scholar Craig Russell will talk about the musical selections before each is performed. Works to be performed include various Mass movements composed by Sancho, as well as several works of unknown authorship found in the mission archives in Santa Clara.
More on the Early Music Ensemble concert

Hear 'In God We Trust' May 25 at the PAC
Start Memorial Day off right with "In God We Trust," an inspiring program of American music presented by Grace Church in San Luis Obispo. The concert honors all American Veterans, past and present.

Like 'The Wedding Singer?' See the Musical May 27 & 28 at the PAC
Cal Poly Arts presents the musical adaptation of "The Wedding Singer" Tuesday and Wednesday, May 27 and 28, at 8 p.m. in Harman Hall in the Christopher Cohan Center. Flashback: It’s 1985 and you’re invited to "The Wedding Singer," where every night is a totally rad reception for Robbie Hart and friends, until he’s left at the altar. Based on the hit film and touring for the first time, Tony Award-nominated musical takes us back to the '80s: to a time when hair was big, greed was good, collars were up and a wedding singer sporting a mullet might be the coolest guy in the room.
More on The Wedding Singer performances

Panel Presents ‘Law and Media: The Michael Jackson Case’ May 28
Justices from California’s Court of Appeal and a Cal Poly media law professor will present opposing viewpoints in “The Law and the Media: The Michael Jackson Case,” a panel discussion from 2 to 3:45 p.m. Wednesday, May 28, in Room 220 in the University Union. The justices will defend their decision not to overturn the trial court judge’s decision to seal the grand jury transcript, the search warrant affidavits and other court records. They will also discuss how not sealing such documents may compromise the defendant’s right to a fair trial.
More on the journalism panel discussion

Jazz Prodigy to Perform
at Cal Poly Jazz Night May 30
One of jazz's brightest young stars will showcase the new generation's approach to jazz at Cal Poly's Jazz Night concert at 8 p.m. Friday, May 30, in Harman Hall in the Performing Arts Center's Christopher Cohan Center. Pianist Taylor Eigsti will perform with both Cal Poly's University Jazz Band #1 and the Cal Poly Jazz Combo. University Jazz Band #2 and another jazz combo will also be performing in concert.
More on Jazz Night

Ninth Annual Mustang Madness Dinner & Auction is May 31
The Ninth Annual Mustang Madness benefit dinner and auction will be held Saturday, May 31, in Mott gym. This year's theme is 'El Dorado Nights.' Mustang Madness is a fundriaser for Cal Poly student athletes, with proceeds going toward student scholarships. The evening features dinner by Chef Ian McPhee of McPhee's Restaurant and Grille, and wines from Vina Robles.
Details on Mustang Madness 2008

Go Aloha with Polynesian Music and Dance Performance May 31
A musical celebration of Hawaiian, Tahitian, and Maori culture will be presented by song and dance troupe “Na Mele o ke Kai” on Saturday, May 31, at 7 p.m., in the Alex and Faye Spanos Theater on the Cal Poly campus. Sponsored by the Pacific Dance Center and Cal Poly’s MultiCultural Center, the program will feature over 50 performers in a show entitled “Ano ai ke Aloha,” which translates to “Greeting of Aloha.”
Details on the Polynesian Dance Group

Cal Poly Symphony & Choral Concert Present 'Carmina Burana' May 31
The Cal Poly Music Department presents the Cal Poly Symphony and the Cal Poly Choir in concert together Saturday May 31, at 8 p.m. in the Cohan Center. The Cal Poly Symphony is a select ensemble comprised of students pursuing a variety of majors on campus. It performs works by composers from the Baroque through Contemporary periods, with an emphasis on exemplary repertoire for full orchestra.
Check the PAC for tickets

June

Say Hello to the Original Dolly:
Material Girl Carol Channing is at the PAC June 1
Spend an evening with Broadway legend Carol Channing, as the glitzy and glamorous dival sings, dances and delights in a special engagement on her tour to promote arts education. Curtain time is 6 p.m. Tickets are on sale now! The actress is famous for her role in the original Broadway hit “Hello Dolly” and the song “Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend,” as well as her comedic stage presence. Channing is performing across California to raise awareness for arts in education.
Order tickets

Forbes Organ Concert: June 1
Organist Paul Woodring will perform Sunday, June 1, at 3 p.m. in the Christopher Cohan Center. Cal Poly Music professor Woodring and special guests will perform “Remembrances of Things Past,” featuring music by Max Reger, Paul Hindemith, Arvo Pärt, Marcel Grandjany. Works include one of Woodring’s original compositions for organ and piano (The Shake ‘n’ Bake Rag), and Fireside Fancies, a story for narrator and organ by Joseph Clokey.
More on Paul Woodring's concert

Student Ensemble to Stage ‘Transmedia’ Theatrical Concert June 3, 5
The Cal Poly Music Department student production ensemble RSVP will stage productions of “Changes” at 8 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday, June 3 and 5, in the Pavilion in the Performing Arts Center. The “transmedia” production explores the primeval elements of music itself, said artistic director and RSVP series producer Antonio G. Barata. “This year’s production is an exposition on the virtue of love. It blends sound, visuals and staging in a series of vignettes ranging from the abstract to the humorous.”
Read more about the concert

'RSVP XIII: Changes' Digital Music and Media Performance is June 3 & 5
The Cal Poly Music Department student production ensemble RSVP will stage productions of “Change” at 8 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday, June 3 and 5, in the Pavilion in the Performing Arts Center. The “transmedia” production is the third in a trilogy exploring the primeval elements of music under artistic director and RSVP series producer Antonio G. Barata.
More on the RSVP performance & tickets

See the 'Forces' Presented by Variable Velocity Dancers June 5, 6 & 7
Join Variable Velocity Performance Group for a return engagement at the Alex and Faye Spanos Theatre. The troupe presents three authentically original evenings of dance art Wednesday through Friday June 5-8. Curtain time is 8 p.m. Their performance examines the elements that structure our lives, the forces that influence those structures, and the mysteries that keep us wondering how, what, when and why.
More on the 'Forces' performance

Cal Poly Wind Orchestra Spring Season Finale is June 7
The Cal Poly Wind Orchestra and Wind Ensemble plus featured saxophone artist Robert Caron from the Paris Conservatory present "Symphonies, Saxophones & Superheroes." Performance time is 8 p.m. Saturday June 7 in the Cohan Center. Experience what Cal Poly Wind Orchestra and Wind Ensemble members and their audiences have known all along - that music replenishes us, fills us with wonder, and makes us dance inside.
Find ticket information on the PAC web site

Russell's Compositions  to Premiere at Walt Disney Concert Hall June 8
New music by noted contemporary composer and Cal Poly Professor Craig Russell will be premiered by the San Luis Obispo Symphony at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles on Sunday, June 8. The 2 p.m. concert will also feature guest performances by renowned guitarist José María Gallardo del Rey, violinist Kathleen Lenski, and French hornist Richard Todd.
Read more about the concert

Last Week to See Chicano Art Exhibit Kennedy Library
A fascinating exhibition highlighting the Los Angeles Latino experience is coming to Cal Poly. “ChismeArte, ¡Y Que!: Expanding L.A.’s Chicano Aesthetic,” a free and public exhibit, is scheduled to run through June 16 in the Kennedy Library Gallery at the Commons.
Read more about Chicano Art Exhibit

12th Annual Integrated Pest Management Conference is June 12, 13
Cal Poly will host its 12th Annual Environmental Horticulture Integrated Pest Management Conference Thursday, June 12, and Friday, June 13. The event is put on by Cal Poly’s Environmental Horticultural Science Club and the Horticulture and Crop Science Department in the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences.Topics from expert presenters include: the light brown apple moth; new fungicides for ornamentals; pesticide compatibility with bio-control systems; pest control liability vs. professional liability; new turf grasses; non-traditional greens and fairways; alternative grasses for golf; and development of turf grass alternatives.
More on the annual IPM Conference

Updated Schedule for Spring 2008 Commencement: June 14 & June 15
The following schedule has been approved for June 2008 commencement: Saturday, June 14 - 10 a.m. -- Colleges of of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences, Education, Liberal Arts, Science and Mathematics. Sunday, June 15 - 10 a.m. -- Colleges of Architecture and Environmental Design, Orfalea College of Business, Engineering, Continuing Education Program. Both ceremonies are set to take place in the Alex G. Spanos Stadium.
Watch the Commencement Web Site for details as they become available

July

August
See the NASA Slobotics Championships in Engineering Plaza Aug. 2-3
Interested in designing a lunar backhoe? The Cal Poly College of Engineering is partnering with Slobotics to enter NASA’s Lunar Regolith Excavation Challenge. Students and community members interested in participating in this prestigious national competition are now invited to join a Cal Poly/Slobotics team. The event will be hosted in the Engineering Plaza at Cal Poly on August 2-3. Twenty Regolith teams from universities, the private sector and industry have already registered for the competition. Winning teams will split $750,000 in prize money and have the chance to contribute to NASA’s final product: an excavator that will be used to establish a moonbase by 2020.
Read more about NASA contest

September
Dairy Tech Center Hosts Artisan Cheese Making Course Sept. 9-12
Cal Poly's Dairy Products Technology Center will host Dairy Science and Technology Basics for the Artisan/Farmstead Cheesemaker Sept. 9-12. The course will cover the basics of quality cheese manufacture with an emphasis on manufacturing artisan/farmstead cheese. Session includes one day of hands-on cheese making activities, cheese sensory evaluation, and other aspects of starting a small-scale cheese making business. Location: Cal Poly Dairy Products Technology Center. Pre-registration is required.
Details on the artisan & farmstead cheese course

October

Swanton Pacific Ranch Hosts Annual Cal Poly Day October 12
Cal Poly's Swanton Pacific Ranch will host the annual Al Smith Day Sunday, Oct. 12, at the ranch, just north of Santa Cruz. Friends and Cal Poly alumni are invited to come and join in the festivities. The all day event includes train rides from 10 a.m. to - 4 p.m., plus a Santa Maria style barbecue. Barbecue tickets are $15 for adults, and $8 for children 8 years and under. For details, email Ed Carnegie.
Visit Cal Poly's Swanton Pacific Ranch Web site

Learn Dairy Technology 101 at the Dairy Tech Center October 14-15
The Cal Poly Dairy Products Technology Center will hold a Dariy Technology 101 course Oct. 14-15. Dairy Technology 101- Course will emphasize the basics of milk quality and basic unit operations in milk handling and processing. Location to be announced. Pre-registration is required.
More on the October Dairy 101 course

Annual Parents' Weekend Set for October 24-25
Parents: this year you have your own weekend at Cal Poly! Cal Poly Parents' Weekend 2008 is set for Oct. 24-25. Come down and visit your student, take a tour of campus, and enjoy a Tailgate BBQ before the Cal Poly Mustangs take on Southern Utah State in Alex G. Spanos Stadium on campus. Watch the Cal Poly Parent Program Web Site for details as events are scheduled.

November
Homecoming 2008 Dates, Game Set for November, 2008
It's official: The Cal Poly Mustangs will take on North Carolina Central in Alex G. Spanos Stadium in the big game on Homecoming 2008, Saturday, Nov. 8. Watch for details this fall, and get your tickets early - the Homecoming game sells out at least a week in advance. Cal Poly's Homecoming celebrations will be held November 6-8. Cal Poly's Alumni Relations Office is planning a 50-year reunion for the Class of 1958. The alumni office will again team up with Cal Poly Athletics for to offer the Homecoming Tailgate BBQ and Wine Tasting on the O'Neill Green in front of the Orfalea College of Business building. Mark your calendars and watch for details on the Homecoming Web Site.

December

January

February

March

April