President’s Video Update for May 5

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Raising awareness about sexual violence, the College of Agriculture and the Southern California Tasting & Auction are highlights in President Ortiz’s weekly video update.

Last week, the campus community came together to raise awareness about sexual violence through the “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” event. Men took to wearing pumps during the march from the cultural centers to University Plaza to show their support of women, and the assistant secretary of civil rights from the U.S. Department of Education spoke, praising Cal Poly Pomona for promoting awareness and safety.

On Saturday, the College of Agriculture hosted its 75th anniversary celebration, and more than 250 people attended the event, which featured an open house at AGRIscapes and a barbecue dinner. Karen Ross, secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture, was the keynote speaker.

That was followed by the 7th Annual Southern California Tasting & Auction on Sunday. A record number of guests tasted food, wine and beer, participated in auctions and helped raise money for students’ education.

In other news:

  • Biology Assistant Professor Peter Arensburger contributed to research that was on the cover of Science magazine. He was part of a team that sequenced the genome of the fly responsible for spreading African sleeping sickness; the research may help combat the spread of the disease.
  • Theater Professor Bernardo Solano wrote a play called “Dreams Without Borders” that is being produced by the Cornerstone Theater Company’s Teatro Jornalero Sin Fronteras. Day laborers from Los Angeles will perform the community-based play through May 11 at the East L.A. Rep.
  • Merrily Murray Walsh, who teaches in the Department of Theatre and New Dance, has won the Helen Hayes Award for costume design for her work in “Mary T. and Lizzy K.”
  • Legendary coaches Darlene May and John Scolinos were named to the California Collegiate Athletic Association’s inaugural Hall of Fame class.
  • Octavious Gillespie-Bennett has coached pole vaulters Justine Ellerbee and Austin Allen to berths in the national championships, and several other athletes could also gain spots.
  • The baseball team starts playoffs this week.
  • The Alumni Association will hold its Senior Sendoff this Thursday, featuring a free barbecue dinner, games and more.

To read the entire video message, download a PDF of the transcript.