Cal Poly fails to break application record this year

Author

Carly Heltzel
March 30, 2026

Good morning. It’s Monday, and I’m reading about a 100-year-old underground fruit garden in Fresno. Onto the five Cal Poly, SLO and California stories you need to know for today.

1.

Cal Poly received less applications than last year, but it still surpassed the 80,000 mark for only the second time ever. This year there were 81,095 applications submitted, just 815 applications shy of last year’s all time record. This is the first year since 2020 that the number of applications hasn’t broken the previous year’s record. Applicants will hear back on a rolling basis before April 1. 

2.

Thousands gathered for SLO’s third No Kings Day protest since President Donald Trump took office over a year ago. This was one of thousands of protests held across the country on Saturday. At the event, a transgender athlete from Arroyo Grande High School spoke on the Trump administration’s actions to limit rights for trans people, and a Vietnam War veteran spoke on the current war in Iran calling it “another war of choice.” 

3.

A SLO resident sued Cal Poly for the locations of satellite fraternity houses after the university allegedly refused to give it to her when she requested the public records. The resident is an outspoken advocate against these satellite fraternity houses in medium- and low-density housing areas. Cal Poly had already given her the list of registered events at official fraternity houses, but she wants the data on unofficial ones so she can determine if they are operating without proper permits.

4.

There’s a path forward for SLO schools to continue receiving a tax from Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant. State Sen. John Laird, who represents SLO, introduced a bill in California’s senate that would approve the continuation of the tax. This would fill part of the SLO school district's multi-million dollar funding gap. The tax expired at the end of 2025, when the power plant was originally supposed to be decommissioned, and local officials had their hands tied since Diablo Canyon is overseen by the state. 

5.

Cal Poly’s annual Tomato Spectacular plant sale is this Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Horticulture Unit. Students grew the 5,000 plants from seed in greenhouses on campus and will sell the 4-inch tall plants for $7 each. Over 90 varieties of tomatoes are for sale, including some new offerings. There will also be basil and pepper plants for sale.