U.S. Border Protection to recruit at the career fair

Author

Carly Heltzel
October 09, 2025

Good morning. It’s Thursday, and I’m reading about a Santa Barbara donut shop’s large-scale search for Leonardough, its tiny pet turtle and unofficial mascot, after a customer stole him from his fountain. Onto the five Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and California stories you need to know for today.

1.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection will be at Cal Poly’s career fair on Oct. 22 “solely for recruiting purposes,” a university spokesperson said. CBP is different than Immigration Customs Enforcement, or ICE, focusing more on hiring border patrol officers among other roles. CBP was scheduled to recruit at Cal Poly Pomona’s job fair, but it was postponed after immense criticism about its presence from students.

2.

Campus Health & Wellbeing is offering free flu shots around campus during October, with three sessions left. This push is the largest vaccination effort the CH&W has pursued, expanding out from the Health Center and reaching students where they’re at. All students need is a PolyCard. During one session at the UU, the pop up vaccinated 140 students. “We want to get as many people living in such a congregated environment to be vaccinated as possible,” one nurse said. 

3.

SLO homeowners are stressed new local fire codes that designated a significant portion of the city a “very high” fire hazard zone. The Wildfire-Urban Interface code will be enforced by complaints only, and residents have to pay a fee for a city staffer to inspect their home to see if its in compliance with fire safety protocols. People worry the cost and lack of accountability will prevent safe fire habits and fees will pose an equity issue.

4.

Cal Poly’s Hispanic-Serving Institution Symposium didn’t shy away from the big topics. The day-long event featured speakers who talked about federal funding cuts to minority designations and fears of racial profiling by immigration enforcement during keynotes, speeches and student panels. Cal Poly reached the 25% Hispanic enrollment required for the designation last year but students and faculty warned that support can’t stop at achieving that percentage. “We are not just a number, we are people,” one student panelist said.

5.

A Cal Poly student’s 3,251 piece Italian Rivera LEGO design hit stores across the world, retailing for $299.99 and debuting with 4.9 stars from 25 reviews. He’s the 67th person to have their LEGO design approved and manufactured through the LEGO Ideas program. Reviewers say the set is “brilliant” and “just really fun to build.” It features a modular Ligurian fishing village with bright pastels, 10 minifigures and Easter eggs from the student’s life.