San Luis Obispo

Times
TUESDAY, MAY 1, 2012

Surfs up at Avila beach competition. ARTS, pg. 4

Officials will let nature take its course on gray whale washed up near San Simeon
By Kassi Luja kluja@slotimes.com

Whale Survives

www.SLOTimes.com

Runners make their way through San Luis Obispo streets for run

A dead gray whale just over 30 feet long was discovered on a beach south of San Simeon Saturday. By Monday morning, the leviathan was reportedly already fairly decomposed and stinky. The whale is on a state park beach about 300 yards south of Vista Del Mar, the southernmost street in San Simeons motel and residential areas, and approximately a mile north of
See WHALE, page 10A

We started running together about six years ago and caught the marathon bug, Millier said about her and Cassies run-

San Luis Obispo Marathon Run

2,800 runners gather for a marathon route starting in downtown San Luis Obispo
By Kassi Luja kluja@slotimes.com

Under fog-hazed lighting, people stretched, jogged in place or talked excitedly with friends and strangers gathered for the inaugural San Luis Obispo Marathon. Barely before 6 a.m., the downtown crowd buzzed with excitement. Jennifer Millier and Rosemary Cassie headed toward the starting line, wearing black trash bags to stay warm. We started out running together about six years ago and caught the marathon bug, said Millier, who

together and talk the entire time, Millier said. Millier and Cassie didt scope the course out before and werent in it Honestly, Ive never seen for the competition. They expected a first-year event go so to complete the race in five hours. Nearby, Andrew Murray of well, be so well thought Sydney, Australia, also expected out and so well supported to come in at five hours. Murray by the community. wore the Australian flag as a cape Jane Smith for patriotic pride; he had just on the SLO Marathon flown in the week before to comdescribed herself as a weekender pete just for fun. from Los Osos. This is Milliers An air horn blared to signal the 11th marathon and Cassies seventh. start of the race, and it was growWe like running long distances ing light out when the last of
See MARATHON, page 12A

There are signs of an entanglement scar on the caudal peduncle, but they look old and partially healed.

Drama Teacher Retires

By Kassi Luja kluja@slotimes.com

Surrounded by drama students, Robyn Metchik offers a quick update to those recently returned from spring break. We have a show in three weeks, believe it or not, Metchik tells the students. While trying to reach the shows

choreographer on the phone, she simultaneously sorts out some of the roles.

If youre going to be a bottle dancer, you need to start rehearsing with the top hats and the bottles, Metchik says. The students are preparing for The Laramie Project, a Nipomo High School show that runs May 3-5. But Metchik will also direct Schoolhouse Rock, a show put on by her students at Paulding and Mesa middle schools. And after
See RETIRES, page 15A

Campus President
By Kassi Luja kluja@slotimes.com

John Doe on the dead whale

After introducing Cal Poly to a slew of lime green T-shirts and fending off a last-minute competitor, Katie Morrow captured the Associated Students, Inc. (ASI) presidency Thursday afternoon. The new president-elect shared hugs and kisses with her supporters and family. Morrow will start her

See PRESIDENT, page 10A