To comply with local health and safety regulations, the Associated Students Incorporated (ASI) announced its decision to postpone Bronco Fusion, Cal Poly Pomona’s annual fall concert, to late spring. This information was announced by ASI President Lucy Yu in a video message posted on the student government’s Instagram account.
According to ASI Associate Director of Programs Sharon Rocacorba, it is still unclear of how the event will be hosted. If the virtual instruction gets extended to the spring semester due to the COVID-19 pandemic, ASI may conduct another student survey.
“If we get the approval to hold the event on campus and we can confirm we can host a safe event, then we’ll start planning,” Rocacorba said. “In any case, we’re all going with the flow and still hoping to provide a variety of online experiences for our students, whether or not it includes the Bronco Fusion concert.”
With COVID-19 outbreaks that began in March, gatherings of more than 10 people have been prohibited in hopes to stop the spread of the virus. Schools across the globe have gone virtual, concerts have been canceled and sporting events have recently resumed without live fans.
For students that were anticipating attending Bronco Fusion, this has made a negative impact on their on-campus college experience.
Gisel Herrera, a fourth-year sociology student, expressed disappointment as she recalled her memories of the event. “Bronco Fusion was the first event I went to as an incoming freshman. Now going onto my senior year, I was really excited about it…because it gives me the exciting feeling of starting a new year,” Herrera said.
Adriana Kosonoy, a fourth-year psychology student, expressed similar feelings knowing that this was the last chance for her to attend the concert. “I’m sad that I won’t be able to see my friends or get to experience Bronco Fusion because I graduate this year. Also, it was a great way to kick off school,” Kosonoy said. “Now, it just sucks that we can’t experience it.”
Since 2003, Cal Poly Pomona has hosted Bronco Fusion as a welcome-back social event for the campus community. From incoming freshmen to transfer students, the concert has been one of the most anticipated events of the year.
Bronco Events and Activities Team (BEAT) — a division in ASI — plays a pivotal role in organizing the iconic event that offers a live music performance throughout the night. Bronco Fusion also has an impressive history when it comes to artists it has hosted in the past — such as DJ Carnage, RL Grime and Amine. Regardless of the artist headlining the event, students have always been welcomed back in an upbeat setting.
Although the future of Bronco Fusion remains uncertain, ASI and BEAT are preparing to consider all possibilities.
