Cal Poly Magazine, Spring 2000

EDITOR'S NOTES usic students in the movies had Now, of course, 1984 has come and gone, Mr. Holland and his deferred opus. and 16 years beyond that have passed. I don't M I was blessed with Mr. Higby. know if Mr. Higby is still living. My own On the first day of the semester he entered mother died in 1982, her complicated illness our high school English class cloaked in a teaching me that the future is always black raincoat and wrote his name briskly on ambiguous and it's wise to take it as it comes. the chalkboard. He was dapper and dignified, I learned from Mr. Higby that there is with a closely cropped dark beard. When he truth in any genuinely creative work. As a turned to face us he slipped off his coat and New Century's resolution, I hope once again folded it inside out. The lining was scarlet. to pick up the books that used to serve as Everyone gasped. guides for an uncertain life, and to write my Mr. Higby's coat was a sign that we own fiction. And I hope you will find in this were going to be taken on a series of first Cal Poly Magazine of 2000 some stories wonderful journeys. He was that that will touch your imagination. best of teachers - demanding, fair, In addition to many alumni who are and original. We read The Red Badge supporting the community and the university ofCourage and talked about what war really with their talents and gifts, we are profiling meant. We read Animal Farm and argued alumni and Cal Poly researchers who are politics. We read The Great Gatsby and mOVing inventively into the new millennium: discovered the great American novel an architecture graduate turned international compressed into a bright, hard gem. musical performer; a husband-and-wife team I especially remember a discussion of who founded a San Luis Obispo company George Orwell's 1984. At the time I was not developing the next generation of movie film; impressed so much by the strange world professors and students who are lighting up Orwell gave us - and had no way of knOWing plastics; and two teachers bringing high-tech that the real 1984 would be, in its own way, careers into a junior high laboratory. so much stranger - as by the sheer distance Mr. Higby, sitting on the edge of his desk of the year itself. with one polished loafer across his knee, I was young enough to assume I would would say that they all are a part of our live to see 1984, but at the same time it common, mysterious future. seemed impossible. I would be really old almost 40 - and my parents would be in their 70s. Everything would be different, strange, unimaginable. I was unable to conceive of a Vicki Hanson world 20 years older. Editor ON THE COVER Alumna Trudie (Morgan) taking the movie industry SafrerlO (AGB '92) and her on a quantum leap into husband, engineer Ty Safreno, the future and bringing co-owners ofSan Luis Obispo's film experts in droves to Trust Automation Inc., the Central Coast (see story are helping develop a film beginning on page 8). processing system that is (Photo by Ron Bez) CONTENTS Cal Poly Magazine is published for alumni and friends of California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, by ~~~d~-J-J -OJ~--)~2Jv the Public Affairs Office, with support CJ': from the Cal Poly Foundation. A University Publication for Alumni Please mail letters to be edited for and Friends of Cal Poly. San Luis Obispo publication to "From Our Readers," Cal Poly Magazine, Heron Hall 204, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, CA 93407 (phone 805/756-7109; fax 805/756-6533; EDITOR'S NOTES e-mail [email protected]). Submit written "Class Notes" items to the same address or via e-mail at [email protected]. Mail address changes to Advancement 2 BEING AL YANKOVIC Services, Heron Hall, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, CA 93407. 6 JUNIOR HIGH TECH VICE PRESIDENT FOR UNIVERSITY ADVANCEMENT: 8 SEEING MOVIES William G. Boldt A WHOLE NEW WAY DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS: Jeff Bliss 10 GOING TOWARD THE LIGHT EDITOR: Vicki Hanson U CONTRIBUTORS: Ben Beesley/Alumni Relations, 1:1-19 Amy Hewes/College of Engineering, Mike McCall/Annual Giving, Chuck Sleeper/Athletics, Jason Sullivan/Sports Information 20-22 DESIGN/PRODUCTION: Karlen Design WEB SITE PRODUCTION: Shirley Howell PHOTOGRAPHY: Ron Bez, Jeff Bliss, Johnny Buzzerio, Laura Dickinson, Tony Hertz, T Colin McVey, Jack Spaulding, SO-54 Alex L. Washington, Marcia Wright PRINTING: University Graphic Systems :15-45 Correction: In the feature headed IILearning by giving back, /I fall 1999 Cal Poly Magazine, page 6, alumnus Loc Truong's correct major is biochemistry and his year ofgraduation is 1999. gCttil},g ,I},S'6C hJ.S ~efr6r&eSS' hJe86 by Jeff Bliss ~ wanted to write the "Weird AI" persona that has and fellow consummate "Boy, isn't earned him near-cult status and students used to do. No breaking Weird Al Yankovic really record sales in the millions. into funny songs about "SLO weird?" story, penning a Town." Just a calm, cool, and humorous' account of the Cal Poly ~of76eCof76;rb8 collected Yankovic taking it all architecture alumnus who has The limousine carrying in. (Later, however, he tells his gained more recognition for his Yankovic and his assistant wends appreciative audience at the music parodies than for any its way through downtown San Performing Arts Center on architectural renderings. Luis Obispo. Curled up in the campus, "Playing here brings back I discovered, however, that corner of the cavernous back a lot of memories on stage, in music passenger seat, Yankovic, 40, like licking the walls of videos, in sports his trademark slip-on tennis Bubble Gum Alley.") films, shoes, a pair of black pants, and The two-time and on a lime-green pullover shirt. As Grammy-winning television, the car passes the Marsh Street Yankovic, back at Alfred storefronts, he waxes nostalgic. Cal Poly for only the Mathew "When I was going to Cal second time since Yankovic's Poly, [San Luis] wasn't as tidy," graduating, isn't just (ARCH '80) he says Wistfully. "It had its funny riding around in the reputation for quirks and character to it. Like the back of a big, fancy manic craziness ['uniquely' decorated] bathrooms car. Every stop has not just been over at the Madonna Inn." along his 80-date well-earned, but also well There are no bizarre imperson tour is an cultivated. Off stage, the "King ations of San Luis Obispo folks he opportunity to of the Parodies" is low-key and used to know. No crazy stories of promote "Running thoughtful, a stark contrast to the strange things he with Scissors," his (Stage photos by Tony Hertz. Portrait by johnny Buzzerio.) CAL POLY MAGAZINE SPRING 2000 :s II; th,frj.tt it'$ $ to a~ ; fLJOfj,' PC 8°" 8 " to, ~t ct rc 11 cassette player in his bedroom. By 1976, and still in high schoo], Yankovic had made his first Jive appearance in Oemento's touring stage show, playing 15th album since 1983. (A World his ode to family car Wide Web site lists a complete City after rides, "Belvedere discography of legitimate and city, doesn't it all get Cruising," bootleg recordings, songs, and live old? Doesn't the road and was tracks, including "an audiO presen wear on him? Doesn't it cut tation" made on campus at Cal into his artistic forays (which Poly's 1979 Week of Welcome.) now include directing other Today Yankovic will visit three artists' non-parody music videos)? radio stations - including Cal "Not really," he says. "When Poly's KCPR, where he got his start ['m on the road, my brain is kind - and the local NBC affiliate, of on vacation. [ don't find myself becoming a KSBY-TV. He wilJ answer the same scrawling lyrics while I'm on "name player" among questions repeatedly, honor each the tour bus. I don't resent the a group of budding satirists request by a OJ or reporter to touring. It's a break from working and comedians. exhibit his trademark "Weird" on albums." At about the same time, side, and respond patiently to on the advice of his high school radio callers. peSflblbflbSS guidance counselor, class valedic The only child of Nick and torian Yankovic enrolled at Mary Yankovic, Yankovic grew Cal Poly. Just 16, he may have up in the Los Angeles suburb found himself far from familiar of Lynwood. On his seventh surroundings, but never from birthday, his parents gave him his accordion and a desire to an accordion. Seven years later, take other artists' songs and in 1973, he submitted his first "pep them up a bit." song, "Pico and Sepulveda," In 1979, he got his first big to Dr. Oemento, a nationally break. The power pop album syndicated disc jockey "Get the Knack" included the hit known for playing comedy single "My Sharona," a catchy and novelty music. No. 1 tune practically asking for Demento found a certain a parody. Yankovic set up a mini charm in the "accordion recording studio adjacent to powered ditties" Yankovic KCPR in the men's bathroom recorded on a cheap renowned for its "famed" acoustics 4 CAL POLY MAGAZINE SPRING 2000 .' (read: echoes) - and recorded his could be said was, 'Well, the , first record release, "My Bologna." last album sold a few hundred He recalls, with a touch of irony, thousand less copies.'" He being signed by Capitol Records laughs.

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