Pro-Palestinian protestors vandalize Financial Aid office

Author

Carly Heltzel
June 05, 2025

Good morning. It’s Thursday, and I’m reading about the return of Phineas and Ferb with a new season dropping after a 10-year hiatus today (and tomorrow on Disney+). Onto the five Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and California stories you need to know for today.

1.

Pro-Palestinian protestors spray painted graffiti on walls, windows, furniture, computers, carpets and floors in the Financial Aid and Student Accounts office yesterday in an event the University President Jeffrey Armstrong called “traumatizing” for students and staff present. The five vandals fled when police arrived, and two suspects are in custody for questioning. Armstrong said those responsible will be expelled and arrested. “Anyone who views this kind of shortsighted, disgusting and illegal activity as acceptable has no place at Cal Poly and will be rooted out,” Armstrong wrote.

2.

Amtrak Pacific Surfliner  is lowering its train fares in a pilot program that aims to decrease traffic along Highway 101. The fares dropped by roughly 75%, with tickets from SLO to Grover Beach going from $11 to $3 and the tickets from SLO to Guadalupe going from $17 to $4. Officials are hoping to boost ridership from the average 2.13 to 5.18 people that ride between these communities daily. The company is looking to expand the fare decrease more soon.

3.

California needs more bilingual teachers to meet demand, and a new state bill hopes to ease the barriers. Under the proposal, an existing teacher exchange program with Mexico would expand to bring more Spanish-speaking teachers into the state’s classrooms. But the state department would still have to approve their temporary visas, a prospect that seems increasingly unattainable. Education officials have set a goal for three out of four students to be multilingual by 2040. 

4.

California’s gubernatorial race is already shaping up. Six hopefuls vying to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom (who is termed-out) met last night on a panel to discuss housing costs, high-speed rail, tariffs, climate change and homelessness; there were four Democrats and two Republicans. The primary election will take place a year from today. Candidates largely aligned with their parties, and the most evident divide between the Democrats was whether to raise minimum wage. There was a notable absence as former Vice President Kamala Harris decides whether or not she will run.

5.

Film crews will be running around the Madonna Inn this week, as the independent film “Totally Ghosted” is shot at SLO’s iconic hotel. The movie is a romantic comedy that explores love, loss, and healing, and its creator hopes it embodies the larger-than-life “magical realism” that the Madonna Inn emanates. “They've just been so wonderful, welcoming us and the community as well,” the director, producer, co-writer and lead actor of the film said. It’s independent, what did you expect?