Squid found in dorm light fixture

Author

Carly Heltzel
November 19, 2025

Good morning. It’s Wednesday, and I’m watching a video about Cal Poly’s goats that are herded throughout campus to graze. Onto the five Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and California stories you need to know for today.

1.

After a foul odor stunk up the first floor of a red bricks dorm, a Cal Poly custodian removed the source of the stink: a squid placed in the light fixture. Students in the hall said it was likely a “frat thing” and also “classic Red Bricks behavior.” The university provided box fans to air out the hallway, but one resident said he wasn’t phased by the smell of the squid’s rotting flesh. “I’m pretty nose blind living in this hall,” he said, referencing the stench of some peoples’ rooms.

2.

Cal Poly received high rankings from several big name outlets this year, but students don’t seem to care much. Money Magazine, U.S. News & World Reports and Forbes all gave Cal Poly the same or higher rankings than last year. Mostly, students said they looked at curriculum, athletics and learning philosophy before applying and ultimately coming to Cal Poly, though people acknowledged that it’s nice their school was recognized.

3.

A 4.1 magnitude earthquake hit SLO County yesterday morning, centered in Templeton. People reported feeling a big jolt, rather than a slow shaking like previous local earthquakes. Across the county, glasses broke in winery tasting rooms, an employee in a forklift felt like he had been “hit by a truck,” and a woman in her bedroom felt “like my roof was going to cave in.” One elementary school had just recently completed their earthquake training drill and the principal said they were well prepared. 

4.

Cal State is voting today to bump pay for university presidents by increasing their base salaries to be competitive with similar universities and adding an extra 15% presidents could earn through incentives. The employees union is furious that Cal State is considering this while student and office workers are in negotiations for additional raises. The average president’s salary is $453,000. “We are going to knock the doors of our legislators so hard there will be holes in them,” one union rep said.

5.

A mustang named Chase has lead Cal Poly’s football players out onto the field for the past 12 years. At Saturday’s home game, Chase will ride across Mustang Memorial Field for the last time after fans get their chance to say goodbye at the Mustang Corral pre-game barbecue. His replacement will be announced next fall, while Chase lives out his remaining years grazing at Cal Poly’s equine center. “He will ride into a well-deserved retirement,” a university press release said.