Daily Forty-Niner, Oct. 14, 2019

WEEKLY PRINT EDITION

DAILY FORTY-NINER CELEBRATING 70 YEARS

Vol. LXXI, Issue 08

www.daily49er.com

Monday, October 14, 2019

‘Protect our land’ Inside the

Niner

PAGE 3

SPORTS

SPORTS

Not just a fictional sport

Making a racket

pg 8 & 9

pg 14

2

MONDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2019 | DAILY49ER.COM | @DAILY49ER | STAFF@DAILY49ER.COM ON THE COVER Koyolt Serrto, 8, dances to the beat of the drum during the JetBlue Long Beach Marathon to raise awareness for develompents at Puvungna

Weekly Calendar Monday 10/14

Tuesday 10/15

Chill Lounge @ USU Sunset Lounge 12 p.m. 3 p.m.

Garage Sale @ SRWC 8 a.m. 1 p.m.

Take a SEC with the EXECS @ the Nugget Patio 12:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m.

Queer Speed Dating @ USU Room 100 5 p.m. 7 p.m.

Wednesday 10/16

Photo by HANNAH GETAHUN

1250 Bellflower Blvd., LA4-203 Long Beach, CA, 90840

Thursday 10/17

Friday 10/18

Saturday 10/19

Sunday 10/20

Career Closet Popup @ USU Ballrooms B 11 a.m. 4 p.m.

Sports

Sports

Sports

WTennis v. ITA Southwest Regionals @ San Diego, Calif.

WTennis v. ITA Southwest Regionals @ San Diego, Calif.

WTennis v. ITA Southwest Regionals @ San Diego, Calif.

Sports

Sports

Women’s volleyball v.

CSUF @ Walter Pyramid 7 p.m.

Men’s WPOLO v.

San Jose State v. GWC @ Ken Lindgren Aquatics Center

Sports

Sports

Sports

WTennis v. ITA Southwest Regionals @ San Diego, Calif.

Women’s soccer v.

UC Davis @ George Allen Field 7 p.m.

CROSS v.

Santa Clara Bronco Invitational @ Santa Clara, Calif.

Poet’s Lounge @ USU Sunset Lounge 8 p.m. 10 p.m.

Daily Forty-Niner Editorial Office Phone (562) 985-8000

Austin Brumblay Editor in Chief eic@daily49er.com

Paula Kiley Multimedia Managing Editor multimedia@daily49er.com News Editor Rachel Barnes news@daily49er.com Sports Editor Arts and Life Editor Opinions Editor

Women’s volleyball v.

UC Irvine @ Walter Pyramid 7 p.m.

Business Manager

Special Projects Editor Copy Editor

By Alejandro Vazquez Shark Bites is a CSULB inspired crossword puzzle that contains clues from the recent news stories published by the Daily Forty-Niner. Tag us @daily49er with a picture of your completed crossword for a chance to win a prize!

Down 1. Native Americans gathered on Sunday to celebrate ____ People’s Day. 4. Criseida Serpas showcased her dress collection at this fashion week event 5. students were outraged by their inability to do this to their doors 7. after the shelter-in-place, students question their ____ on campus

Across 2. this past week, demonstrators were on campus covering this issue 3. the sport our multimedia managing editor tired out for a week 6. this is being built in Downtown Long Beach for teachers 8. the last name of this Long Beach State women’s tennis sophomore 9. Christina Grace sells this on her website, TIN HAUS

Perry Continente opinions@daily49er.com

Melissa Valencia business@daily49er.com Hannah Getahun Rachel Barnes Alejandro Vazquez Ryan Guitare

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Shark Bites

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NEWS 3

MONDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2019 | DAILY49ER.COM | @DAILY49ER | NEWS@DAILY49ER.COM

‘This isn’t just about a parking lot’ The Native American community rallied against CSULB’s involvement with Puvungna.

By Rachel Barnes News Editor @ rachlbarnes

A

s part of a prayer rally, members of the Native American community picketed on the route of the JetBlue Long Beach Marathon for Indigenous People’s Day Sunday morning.

With signs that read “Respect our past and our future” and “Save Puvungna from CSULB,” they stood at the corner of Merriam Way and Atherton Street to inform the runners about the possibility of a temporary parking lot on Puvungna.

“What better way to celebrate than to raise awareness for Puvungna, our sacred site on campus,” said spiritual leader Rebecca Robles, who is part of the Acjachemen tribe.

On Sept. 20, a company contracted by the university started dumping dirt at Puvungna from the construction site of the new Parkside North Dormitory. Since then, the school has agreed to stop dumping as a part of “a good-faith gesture,” according to Jeff Cook, chief communications officer for CSULB. The university’s decision came after the Native community filed an injunction to stop the dumping. Robles said they are working on filing a California Environmental Quality Act lawsuit to find out if Long Beach State obtained the correct permits to dump on the land.

“This is the last remaining site that’s open,” Robles said.

“It’s protected and it’s precious.”

During the rally, people chanted “Protect Puvungna” and “No parking lot on sacred ground” to the runners passing by at the marathon. Some runners showed support, but most ignored the chants.

Debra Villa Becerra said she wanted to bring awareness to the possible parking lot at Puvungna because the land is like home to her. Many others in the community echoed her sentiment, including the young children that attended the rally.

Spiritual leader Michelle Castillo said having the kids out there with them was a blessing.

“More than likely, they’re going to be out here doing the same things as adults,” Castillo said.

She said that seeing the generations of the Native community coming together strengthens the feeling of family between them.

Elders fought with the university like this in the ‘90s and Castillo said they hoped they’d never have to see it again.

Many got emotional while talking about the impact the university’s involvement with Puvungna has had.

“There could be mornings where I wake up in tears,” Castillo said. “We’re in a spiritual battle...to save our existence.”

Last week, the Native American community celebrated their annual Ancestor Walk and Bear Ceremony at Puvungna. Castillo said there were about 500 people there, which is double the amount of last year. The community was worried it would be the last ceremony, she said.

The school has a specific committee, the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act Review Committee, that it consults with for matters concerning the 22-acres.

According to Robles, the NAGPRA committee is under the university with only some tribal representatives on it.

Castillo said the community knows the fight isn’t going to be over in a day, and there is a division between the committee and the community. Many, like Tahesha Knapp-Christensen, don’t think they are being included in the process.

“I don’t know if you can speak truth to power if you’re working for the university,” said Tahesha KnappChristensen.

HANNAH GETAHUN | Daily Forty-Niner

Luz Vazquez, 9, (top) particpates in the prayer rally at the JetBlue Long Beach Marathon.

Native American community (above) shows unity at the rally.

4 NEWS Petty theft, a stolen vehicle and a robbery

MONDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2019 | DAILY49ER.COM | @DAILY49ER | NEWS@DAILY49ER.COM

A bike, a laptop and a vehicle go missing in separate incidents to lead this week’s crime blotter report.

By Ramon Alvarado Staff Writer

Robbery Report Two students were arguing when one of them “aggressively” took a phone from the other and threw it to the ground during the anti-abortion demonstartion on campus Oct. 10. The victim did not want to file charges because the phone was retrieved right away. The suspect did not leave with the phone, but UPD said the incident is classified as a robbery because of the aggressive force that was used.

Petty Theft An Apple MacBook Air with an estimated value of $800 was reported stolen from a Long Beach State student inside of the Liberal Arts 1 building Oct. 10. The MacBook is silver with no stickers or case to make it stand out, according to the University Police Department. The laptop was stolen after the student left it unattended while going to the restroom.

Hit-and-Run A CSULB student was sitting inside of their Kia Optima in Lot G2 when another ran into it the morning of Oct. 7. The suspect fled the scene, and the UPD was notified right away. The UPD was able to track down the suspect and had them exchange information with the owner of the Kia Optima.

A BMX Mongoose bike was reported stolen outside Parkside College Dormitory in another petty theft incident last week. The student locked their bike to a rack using a cable lock around 11:30 p.m Oct. 7. The bike was gone the following morning and the student notified the UPD. There have been no leads for either of the petty theft incidents.

Stolen Vehicle A blue and white 1970 Ford F-250 was reported stolen from Lot E8 while the owner was on campus Oct. 8 from around 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. They noticed the car was gone after returning to the parking lot.

California Highway Patrol officers found the vehicle in West Los Angeles around 1:30 a.m. Oct. 9. There are no suspects and no information on how the car ended up in West LA.

GRAPHIC BY MIGUEL MARTINEZ

Traffic Accident A CSULB student injured their knee after a car struck them in the lower body the evening of Oct. 8. The student was walking westbound on Atherton Street near Merriam Way when the incident occurred. The driver stopped to exchange information with the injured student, then the student was taken to urgent care to treat their knee. There was no blood loss during the accident, and the injury is not believed to be serious.

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NEWS 5

MONDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2019 | DAILY49ER.COM | @DAILY49ER | NEWS@DAILY49ER.COM

PHOTOS FROM TWITTER

Students resorted to building barricades made of desks, chairs and projectors when they found they couldn’t lock the doors during the shelter-in-place Oct. 7.

Securing safety Students and faculty demand a “safe space” after the campuswide shelter-in-place Oct. 7 forced many to makeshift barriers due to lack of locks on doors.

Staff Report

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anicked students and faculty resorted to building makeshift barriers out of desks, chairs and overhead projectors in classrooms after learning via BeachAlert that there was a “credible threat” made on campus Oct. 7.

A Long Beach State student threatened via email to “shoot up the school” and forced a campuswide shelter-in-place. This caused concern among students and faculty about their safety in classrooms when they found that many older buildings on campus couldn’t be locked from the inside.

prompted fourth-year English major Alexis Wolfe to start a petition to raise awareness about the “need to have locks in the event of such threats and/or school lock-downs.”

with three exits, none of which lock…an infrastructure update is needed,” thirdyear communications major Lily Montero tweeted.

“We need something for the time being to create a safe space,” she said.

Montero described the shelter-in-place as “emotionally taxing and terrifying.”

Wolfe said her goal for the petition is to work with the school and start a “safety movement.” She said her and two friends are working with a business to formulate an “inexpensive” locking solution to present to the administration but declined to elaborate on what the solution will be.

According to Jeff Cook, CSULB chief communications officer, the school has invested around $550,000 so far to equip teaching rooms with locks. He said all “high density classrooms” or rooms with 60 or more seats on ground levels, will be equipped with locks by December 2019.

The petition has received almost 3,000 signatures from concerned Long Beach community members.

“Some doors on campus have been in place since the late 1950s…In the retrofitting process, doors may need to be replaced to meet current fire ratings, ADA accessibility needs, and even receive asbestos and leadpaint abatement,” Cook said.

“It’s scary,” said American studies professor Preeti Sharma. “I wasn’t on campus at the time, but the next day I checked the doors to three of my classrooms and one of them could not be locked from the inside.”

“I’m signing because the fear I felt today,” one signee wrote, “knowing there was a threat on campus and that our class couldn’t barricade against them was horrifying.

Some followed the official active shooter guidelines of wrapping a belt or power cord around the hinge to bind the door, but for many that wasn’t “safe enough.”

Many students and faculty turned to Twitter during the shelter-in-place to voice their fears and frustrations with doors on campus.

Cook added that there are roughly 450 rooms for teaching on campus and around 100 will be completed by December, the rest “will be ongoing.” Rooms beyond the initial 100 will require additional funding, he said.

The aftermath of the shelter-in-place

“As a student who just spent an entire class hour terrified in a lecture hall

Buildings constructed or renovated after 2017 have locking capabilities, he said.

“It’s a priority for President Conoley,” he said.

Faculty have voiced their frustrations about the timeline for the new locks.

“I do not buy the argument that nothing can be done now due to the expense of making doors lockable,” said William Griswold, assistant department chair of the English department. “Rather, its sadly seems to be a matter of priorities; note that more and more administrative offices are now secured nicely with key-pad locks and other security measures. Those got funded somehow.”

The frustrations have elicited discussions in the classroom about what to do until the doors are retrofitted. Students and faculty have proposed adding cable ties to classrooms, better active shooter training and more transparency from the administration.

“Something needs to change from the president to the students,” Wolfe said.

“Communication between the school and the students wasn’t good.”

6 NEWS

MONDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2019 | DAILY49ER.COM | @DAILY49ER | NEWS@DAILY49ER.COM

Photo from Ratkovich Properties

A rendering of the Broadway Block housing project located in Downtown Long Beach. Construction is planned to being late 2019.

‘Affordable’ housing a possibility for teachers and students Mayor Robert Garcia discusses plans to provide 980 housing units near Downtown Long Beach.

By Madalyn Amato Staff Writer

P

lans to provide new “affordable housing” for teachers and students in Long Beach are in discussion, according to Mayor Robert Garcia.

Garcia initially announced the plans during his annual “Building a Better Long Beach” event on Sept. 24.

“We currently have two projects in the pipeline for students and faculty,” Garcia said.

The first, according to Linda F. Tatum, director of developmental services for the city of Long Beach, is being referred to as the “Broadway Block.”

Located on Broadway in Downtown Long Beach, the building will provide approximately 400 units, 40 of which have been set aside as “affordable housing units.”

According to Tatum, these units are not reserved for faculty or staff, but the city hopes that as discussions continue, members of faculty at Long Beach State and Long Beach City College will be considered first for tenants. The project is scheduled to begin late 2019.

The second project will include the proposal made by Garcia at the “Building a Better Long Beach” event. Located next to the new civic center, the “mid block” project will incorporate new retail businesses along with housing units, according to Tatum.

“There are a number of projects that have a housing component targeted to the university,” Tatum said.

The approximately 60,000-square-foot building will include around 580 housing units, 10% of which will be designated as “affordable” units.

“Anytime we can help to develop and facilitate affordable housing we are excited, especially for teachers,” Tatum said.

According to statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau, the average monthly rent in Long Beach from 2013 to 2017 was $1,198 and average monthly income was $4,859.50, meaning residents spent nearly 25% of their monthly income on rent.

CSULB President Jane Close Conoley said something needs to be done to help students and staff.

“The price of housing in Southern California creates an existential crisis,” Conoley said. “We have to intervene and find partnerships with developers.”

A job board site places the average annual salary of a California college professor at $73,633, 8% above the national average. However, to live in Long Beach, 20% of their monthly salary would be surrendered to rent.

“Our teachers are being priced out,” Conoley said.

Although nothing has been confirmed, Tatum said the city is working hard to work with the developers of both projects to secure housing for teachers and staff.

Minimum wage in Long Beach is $15 per hour, $3 higher than the state, however, even if students, who make up nearly half of the hourly-wage work force according to Pew Research, were to work 40 hours per week, nearly 50% of their income would go towards rent.

This level of economic struggle is something Conoley said she worries for students. “[It’s] not good for people’s mental health or academic performance,” Conoley said.

As of now, plans do not include housing for Long Beach Unified School District employees, but Tatum said upcoming discussions will expand the scope of the project.

Chris Eftychiou, director of public information for LBUSD, said the increasing housing prices have had a direct negative impact on the district.

“We service 71,000 students now, but at our peak we had 98,000 students enrolled,” Eftychiou said. “Much of the decline is due to increasing housing costs.”

In a report by the California Department of Education, the average annual income for a teacher part of a unified school district was $74, 676.

“People want to work here,” Eftychiou said.

According to Conoley, a third project in the downtown area will provide more classroom space for continuing education programs and university classes.

Although still at the conceptual stage, Garcia continues to pull for area teachers and professors.

“The entire community can benefit from having educators in one central location,” Garcia said.

Plans for the Broadway Block are currently being examined for safety standard regulations.

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8 SPORTS

Q

What I thought was a with

By Paula Kiley Multimedia Managing Editor @ paulakileyy

W

ith a broomstick tucked between my legs, I zipped through a pack of beaters and made a run for the hoops at the end of the field, only to be stopped by a brawny keeper towering a foot and a half over me. I held on to the quaffle a little tighter as I looked around for fellow chasers, searching for a clear passing lane.

What sounds like a scene taken straight from the pages of “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,” actually took place deep in the grassy El Dorado Park amid peewee baseball games and youth dance teams.

There, you’ll find the stomping grounds for the Long Beach Funky Quaffles, an adult community quidditch team based in Long Beach. Quidditch, a fictional sport made up in J.K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter” series, made first contact in the muggle world in 2005 at Middlebury College in Vermont. The sport has grown significantly since then, with teams in over 40 countries and with an established governing body, the International Quidditch Association.

Taking elements from soccer, basketball and dodgeball; quidditch is a contact sport with seven players per team. The objective of the game is to score points by throwing a deflated volleyball (the quaffle) through any of three hoops on the opponent’s end of the field.

That’s the role of the chasers. Meanwhile, dodgeballs (the bludgers) are thrown by beaters to “knock out” chasers temporarily.

Oh yeah, and you have to keep a broom between your legs the entire time.

(Left to right) Anthony Hawkins (left) match. Paula Kiley attempts to catch

SPORTS 9

MONDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2019 | DAILY49ER.COM | @DAILY49ER | SPORT@DAILY49ER.COM

Quidditch isn’t just for Potterheads

a casual pastime for Harry Potter lovers proved to be a grueling sport. I spent three practices the Long Beach Funky Quaffles where I learned what quidditch is all about.

When I lightheartedly volunteered to participate in a quidditch practice with the Long Beach Funky Quaffles to write this piece, I didn’t stop to think of the sheer athleticism this sport demands. In all honesty, I foolishly expected to prance around on a broomstick while reciting spells in a British accent.

But there I was, sprawled out on the grassy field, covered in sweat and completely out of breath.

According to Long Beach Funky Quaffles team manager, Jordan Morrill, this misconception isn’t uncommon.

“Everyone just thinks we’re a whole bunch of nerds who gather with capes and stuff. And that’s really not true. This is a full-contact sport,” Jordan said as a beater rammed into a chaser behind her.

I spent the night before my first practice “training” for this endeavor hunched over my laptop watching YouTube clips from the Harry Potter movies.

“

Everyone just thinks we’re a whole bunch of nerds who gather with capes and stuff. And that’s really not true.

This is a full-contact sport,” - Jordan Morrill Team Manager

Quaffle. Golden snitch. Bludger?

The foreign words made my head spin. That was enough for one night. Little did I know that the vocabulary and rules would be the least of my worries.

I approached the practice field and watched as they executed a drill where three chasers go up against a beater and a keeper.

Their movements looked like a dance. Everyone seemed to know exactly where to be without saying a word. Watching the team move as one unit on the field, I found it hard to believe that only six years ago this team was a budding group composed of members with little to no experience in the sport.

Assistant team captain Hannah Moroz was a student at Long Beach State when the team was established in 2013.

“It was definitely started from the ground up,” Hannah said. “[We put] flyers on cars [and] showed up to events. That endeavor never really stopped. We’ve really picked up a lot of friends along the way and become a part of a larger community in the L.A. area.”

Only minutes after my arrival, I was enthusiastically beckoned by Jordan and several other members to join in on the next drill.

I nervously obliged. Grabbing a broomstick, I jogged onto the field and joined the other team members in line.

Jordan provided a two-minute rundown on the quidditch rulebook and off I went. My former assumptions about the sport were quickly deflated as I tried to suppress the confused expression on my face. I eventually found that the best way to learn is to dive right in.

I was one of three chasers attempting to shoot a quaffle through one of the opponents’ hoops. The ball, possessed by Hannah at the point of our triangle, was at risk of being turned over as the keeper blocked any window for her to shoot.

She threw the quaffle to me and I lunged for the ball, but my efforts were futile as I was knocked out by a bludger.

I went through about six drills, attempting to get the ball through a hoop, only to be struck by a bludger or have my pass intercepted by a keeper.

Finally, the moment arrived. It was time for me to participate in my first quidditch match.

The 20 minutes of drills and the two YouTube clips I watched the night before all led up to this glorious moment.

Jordan called me over and assigned me to a team. I quickly acquainted myself with my fellow teammates and the match began.

My head was spinning from the start, as bludgers ran after chasers flying passed me in all directions. My eyes flickered to Jordan, who had inadvertently become my quidditch den-mother throughout this undertaking.

the center of the field while both teams continued battling.

It was a jumble of bludgers and quaffles, chasers and beaters. I lost track of the quaffle several times, mistaking it for one of the two other balls in play used to knock out chasers.

“There [are] three things going on at once, but it all happens simultaneously,” Long Beach Funky Quaffle member Duc Tran explained to me. “So you can’t forget about [any one], because if you do, you’re gonna get hit.”

In my case, I tripped over my own broom.

As much as I strived to score the game-winning point to tie up this story’s arc in a pretty little bow, I didn’t stand a chance against these seasoned athletes, many of whom have played for over five years.

While the match was played well on both sides, my final statline ended with no points or assists.

Despite my pathetic attempt at playing quidditch, the overwhelming support and sense of belonging everyone offered was enough to keep me enjoying myself.

Every fall, fumble or flagrant shot was followed by an encouraging cheer or helping hand, and I’m not the only one who felt this.

Hannah, who graduated from CSULB in 2017 continues to play because of that sense of belonging.

“The way our relationships have developed into actual friendships has been the most important thing,” Hannah said. “If I were playing purely for the competition... I would’ve probably left. But I like to be with these people. You know what groups you belong in.”

I struggled to keep up with the action, occasionally taking an unwarranted breather in

AUSTIN BRUMBLAY | Daily Forty-Niner

) and Duc Tran (right) battle for possession of the quaffle. Duc Tran who often plays as a beater and Anthony Hawkins go over strategy before a practice the quaffle during a 2v3 drill. (She wasn’t successful.)

10 ARTS & LIFE

MONDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2019 | DAILY49ER.COM | @DAILY49ER | ARTS@DAILY49ER.COM

PHOTO COURTESY OF CHRISTINA GRACE

Christina Grace wears an earring she made called, “Vairochana Pearl Earrings in 14 KT Yellow Gold.”

By Suzane Jlelati Arts & Life Assistant @ suzanejletati

THE COLOR COLLECTION: Christina Grace The metals and jewelry major talks about the art of metal making and how it launched her famous jewelry business.

C

asked if she could create some pieces for her film, “The Black Ghiandola.” She created sterling silver pendants called “Film, I AM” for the cast and crew.

“It was organic, nothing was forced, I didn’t think about it, ‘Oh, what’s my next thing?,’” Grace said.

hristina Grace, a third-year metals and jewelry major and marketing minor, has turned her passion for jewelry and metalworking into an unexpected discovery to a rapidly-expanding business featured in Vogue Magazine.

TIN HAUS was then featured in Flaunt Magazine, and after receiving money from scholarships, grants and multiple exhibition winnings, Grace was able to acquire a fully functioning studio.

She learned about wire wrapping from a metalsmith she met by chance, who inspired her to pursue and ultimately fall in love with metalwork and jewelry.

She released her first collection, “Rise,” and got featured in Vogue, in 2018. TIN HAUS has also been featured in other magazines such as Vanity Fair, Tatler, House & Garden and Brides.

She then enrolled into the metals and jewelry program at Pasadena City College in 2015 and simultaneously received a scholarship to the Gemological Institute of America.

Grace began selling her work through her website, TIN HAUS in 2016. To keep her business afloat, Grace would use her winnings from various competitions to pour back into her work.

Before her first collection, she worked independently doing exhibitions, freelance and custom work on top of being a student.

Grace views her efforts as labors of love, not work.

However, she does admit to being completely drained at the end of the day.

“Part of it is organization, but part of it is having all your to-do lists in your mind and trying to find moments where you can squeeze it in,” Grace said. “When I’m not in school, I work 14 to 18 hours in my studio.”

Inspired by Bernie Sanders’ 2016 presidential run, she created sterling silver pendants called “The Bern Necklace,” and donated a portion of the profits to his campaign. His spouse, Jane Sanders, endorsed her jewelry right away which got TIN HAUS the first bit of exposure.

A couple months later the founder of Make A Film Foundation, Tamika Laminson, saw Grace’s jewelry and

Allen Malonado from, The Last O.G by Tracy Morgan, Dominique Jackson from POSE, Sharon Leal from Dreamgirls and other celebrities have worn her jewelry and endorsed her on social media.

Grace recently launched her third collection, “Matter,” over the weekend at Pasadena Art Walk.

TIN HAUS is run by a two person team, Grace and her partner Cedric Jonathan, who have been together for seven years. Recently he helped create their commercial, “Breaking Glass.”

“Seeing Christina work as an artist is truly a blessing and humbling experience,” Jonathan said. “She has the hungry mentality where if she is focused on something, she literally would be lost hours during the day trying to research and accomplish her goal to the point where she is satisfied.”

Grace may have jumped into this career unexpectedly, but she knows she wants to take her business as far as it can go.

“I would like to be the next David Yurman or the next Jennifer Fisher [well-known jewelry designers],” Grace said. ”I’ve been taking things as they come, there’s that element where you have to allow the universe to do its work for you. The action, the vibration you create as you’re doing the work, creates the pathway to what you want to do or where you want to go with your career.”

MONDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2019 | DAILY49ER.COM | @DAILY49ER | ARTS@DAILY49ER.COM

ARTS & LIFE 11

JOY ROWDEN | Daily Forty-Niner

Net Ch models a dress designed by CSULB alumna, Criseida Serpas at Sactuary Fashion Week in Los Angeles Oct. 11.

CSULB alumna brings it to the runway Criseida Serpas is the owner of Criseida Couture, a clothing company with pin-up style cocktail dresses.

By Joy Rowden Staff Writer

F

ive days after the death of her father, Long Beach State alumna Criseida Serpas showcased her dress collection at the third Sanctuary Fashion Week at the First Congregational Church of Los Angeles.

It was Serpas’ father, Adolpho Serpas, who inspired her to become a fashion designer.

A sign and banner painter, he always encouraged her creativity, complimenting the design and color choices of her outfits.

“I had plans in place for him to attend,” Serpas said. “It was in his honor really. I wanted to cancel [the show] and back out, but that’s not what he would have wanted.”

Despite Serpas’ loss, the busyness of the fashion show allowed her to take her mind off her father’s death. Serpas said she would be going on a hiatus from big fashion shows for the time being to focus on her online sales.

While the fashion designer’s journey still has a ways to go, how Serpas arrived to where she is now was a matter of discovery.

In the fall of 2017, Serpas mailed her dresses to newscasters, one of them being Fox 11’s Christine Devine. From there, Devine connected Serpas to Ivan Arce, a freelance show producer and model manager who knew founders Kenn and Korrie Gray Hayes of the Sanctuary Fashion Week show.

“It’s not your traditional way of getting into the [fashion] industry,” Serpas said.

“I’ve been working for different fashion companies as a designer assistant trying to do my own thing. I got my degree. I did [the] intern thing [and] that just wasn’t working. So, it was time to think outside the box and so that’s what I did.”

The goal of the Sanctuary Fashion Week showcase is to feature emerging talent, whether that be artists, designers or singers, a description Serpas fit.

Outside the cathedral and in front of the red carpet during the fashion show, a row of metallic-looking sculptures shaped like body parts stood, gradually evolving into people.

“The Sanctuary fashion show was themed off of religion and the evolution of the model,” said Ray Mroczkowski, artist and business owner of Ray’s Ironworks. “I had under two months to come up with these [sculptures] from nothing...It’s inspiring

to be able to do such a big thing for people that are appreciative of it.”

the best of what I came across,” Serpas said.

The female sculptures were designed heartless and blind with her back facing the church to represent that she is blind to religion, he said. The male sculpture, which resided closest to the church held a cross to symbolize that he found religion.

Besides being a fashion designer, Serpas is also a full-time bartender to help make ends meet.

Inside, Serpas was the first designer to present her collection on stage. Her pieces ranged from off-the-shoulder to classy bodycon pin-up style dresses.

“Growing up, I really liked watching old movies, a lot of Marilyn Monroe movies and I just loved how they dressed, she said. “[It] was classy and it was conservative and still so beautiful and feminine. I was going to Catholic schools...My dad always told me you don’t need to show skin to be beautiful.

That’s one of the things that drives my designs, is keeping it classy [and] keeping it covered up a little bit while still showing your figure.”

It is important for her to keep the price of her dresses low for people of low incomes as well, she said. Serpas said she tries to sell her dresses for a maximum of $125.

“I remember growing up poor, going to thrift shops, going to church donation boxes, just making the best looks, making

“I gave up a lot of my savings when I started,” Serpas said. “I still continue to do that because...everything’s going back to the buying fabric to paying the sewing contractors to [paying] fees for the fashion show. Every spare dime I have goes into it.”

Serpas found one of her models, Jessica Hennessy-Phillips, through the non-profit organization Pin-Ups for Vets, which is a community of women who dress up in pin-up style outfits and support veterans through hospital visits..

She grew a soft spot for veterans after taking care of her father who was a veteran.

“My daughter is not a model,” said Leah Phillips, a nurse. “She’s a combat veteran.

She’s a stay at home mom. She’s been out of [the military] service for a while. She was so nervous [about the fashion show].

I [tell her] ‘you know what Jessica, you can be in the military and be in Iraq and be under fire. That’s much tougher than it is to do this. Enjoy this [and] have fun with it.’”

12 OPINIONS

MONDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2019 | DAILY49ER.COM | @DAILY49ER | OPINIONS@DAILY49ER.COM

Spill the Tea is a weekly section for students to share their opinions and make their voices heard. Long Beach State students answer questions that can range from the silly to the political. We at the Daily Forty-Niner value the diverse opinions of the CSULB student body and look forward to you sharing them with us. This week, following the shelter-in-place incident, Long Beach State students weigh in on their anxieties about the incident.

Photos and Reporting by Gabriel Islas

Name: Stephanie Flores Major: Studio Art, third-year

Name: Jacky Cai Major: Graphic Design, second-year

Where were you when you got the “shelter-in-place” warning: “I was on my way to class when I got the notification. When I got into the classroom, my teacher locked the door. Other students blocked the window with a chalkboard so that people wouldn’t look inside. I was sitting at my desk waiting for notifications from school.”

Where were you when you got the “shelter-in-place” warning: “I was [on] the fifth floor of the library with my friends when I got the notification on my phone. We moved to the first floor to see what was going on and then a staff member locked the doors and we just stayed by the computer lab. My friends and I were looking for an exit in case anything happened you know. And information was vague so that didn’t help my friend who was really anxious.”

Do you feel safe on campus despite the threat?

“I was lucky my door locked, but I felt bad for the people who were in a bigger lecture halls. I know of people who were in biggers classrooms and were really scared. I was [on] the thirdfloor of [Fine Arts-4] so I felt safe there.”

Do you feel safe on campus despite the threat?

“I still feel safe but stuff like this makes you be aware in case anything happens. Just be ready to act in case anything really happens.”

Name: Manny Antunez Major: Health Science, third-year

Name: Damaris Lizama Major: Public Relations, third-year

Where were you when you got the “shelter-in-place” warning: “I was at work when I got the notification but I immediately texted my friends to see how they were doing. I texted them in the group chat but they weren’t replying so I texted them individually. The info was really vague so I don’t know if there was a bomb on campus or like someone shooting so that made things worse. My friends later told me that they barricaded themselves [in their classrooms] and turned the lights off.”

Where were you when you got the “shelter-in-place” warning: “I was in class when my friend started freaking out because she got the notification. I panicked a little but I was trying to remain calm. My professor locked the door and then some students were trying to get in but because the doors were locked they went somewhere else. I was just checking for updates on Twitter. I saw that UPD tweeted something so I was just refreshing the page.”

Do you feel safe on campus despite the threat?

“I feel safe on campus. The school has a great community and everyone looks after each other, but the whole doors not locking is a big concern.”

Do you feel safe on campus despite the threat?

“I don’t feel safe. I was lucky my door locked, but I can imagine how others felt. The school wasn’t [saying] anything either so that didn’t help.”

OPINIONS 13

MONDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2019 | DAILY49ER.COM | @DAILY49ER | OPINIONS@DAILY49ER.COM

By Manuel Valladares Assistant Sports Editor @ mannyvaiiadares

D

iscourse around abortion should not be censored, regardless of how offensive the speech may be. In fact, sometimes the aggressive messaging of the pro-life movement can alienate those they want to convert.

Abortion is a touchy topic. Though I personally believe that every person should control their own bodies, people who disagree, like the Genocide Awareness Project that recently came to campus, are entitled to their opinons.

People have the right to voice discomfort towards others’ bodily decisions, it’s free speech.

In some cases, there are groups who are so brash about their stances that it makes arguments repulse people that are willing to hear them out.

Inaccessibility and distaste most often comes from these groups distorting facts or straight-up lying, something that’s common in the anti-abortion faction of the discussion.

The ridiculousness of the arguments that anti-abortion advocates offer should be seen by the public, as they are, ironically, one of the best ways to persuade people to be pro-choice.

Long Beach State recently had an example of this, when the GAP presented a tower depicting decimated fetuses. The display dwarfed trigger warning signs that were placed just yards away.

It would have been almost impossible to see the warnings before seeing the disturbing imagery.

Signs showcasing months-old fetuses, and pamphlets comparing these actions to the Holocaust are not going to win people over. All those pictures did was disgust me and make me realize the lack of rational reasoning these people have.

They also are not able to back their beliefs up with statistical information that pertains to society, instead they base their beliefs on a gut reaction that resonates mostly with religious conservatives.

So far, the pro-abortion rights group has offered the most statistical reasoning, with a 2014 study showing that 75% of abortion patients are considered poor.

Radical voices show flaws in ideology

What this means is that most patients are aware that they can’t offer a comfortable life for their future children. The anti-abortion argument also assumes that pregnant people won’t suffer abuse. It is not realistic to assume that every pregnant person can safely bring a child to term.

With so many factors stacking up against them from a financial standpoint, I believe it’s perfectly fine for women to make that choice for themselves. It’s their burden to carry.

Statistics offer so much to the discourse in terms of contextualization. Trying to control the bodies of others by claiming that abortions have led to a mass genocide are wild and abrasive acitons that erode any authority that GAP could ever have.

Seeing anti-abortionists trying to passionately make decisions on other people’s bodies is seen as nonsensical. It’s because of this that I believe that their voices should be heard loud and clear.

For those who do not look at abortion through an archaic lense, it’s going to take a lot more than gross photos to convince people. Instead they will need statistics that give people incentive to agree.

RYAN GUITARE | Daily Forty-Niner

Students counterprotests against anti-abortion demonstartors on Oct. 9 and 10.

By Julia Terbeche Staff Writer

I

Posting wildly offensive signs with photos of abortions and genocide victims is a sleezy way of representing their beliefs.

I do not support GAP’s distortion of reality using gory images. The demonstrators tried to use scare tactics to persuade college students into believing that the right to choose is comparable to genocide.

respect and support people’s freedoms of speech and expression, even when it comes to extreme organizations whose ideas I may not agree with.

However, the anti-abortion activists at the Genocide Awareness Project make their point by spewing inaccuarate knowledge to evoke emotional reactions out of onlookers. Long Beach State should not allow people on campus who are attempting to brainwash students with radical, graphic and offensive imagery.

These anti-abortion activists are using their platform, or rather misusing CSULB’s platform, to stir emotions, not to discuss the issues.

GAP simply used fear mongering to scare viewers into inaccurately correlating abortion with genocide. Rather than civilly stating their opinions, the antiabortion activists resorted to frightening people with offensive displays.

Rather than educating students, the activists spread misleading information and failed to add to the civil discourse.

GAP display aborts discourse

Regardless, it only makes matters worse to graphically portray abortion imagery juxtaposed with pictures showing victims of genocides.

for not caring about human equality, and for having different morals.

Instead of actively participating in a civil discussion, members of the anti-abortion group passed out incendiary, offensive, pamphlets.

One demonstrator told students to email him if they disagree with the information in the pamphlet, however, he wouldn’t listen to the complaints directly in front of him. Why demonstrate if you aren’t going to open a dialogue?

Especially considering the fact that the group appeared on campus with their harsh posters on Yom Kippur, the Holocaust comparisons are extremely uncalled for.

I disagree with GAP’s method of activism because the group members had a specific agenda they were determined to spread, and they were only open to listening to people who were in line with this antiabortion agenda.

It is ironic that the demonstrators are perfectly willing to post offensive signs and tell students that it is not moral to have an abortion, while simultaneously being unwilling to listen to valid disagreements coming from the crowd.

While it is certainly true that people involved on both sides of arguments are immovable in their beliefs, the students participating in the event were there to express opinions while seeing and hearing what GAP had to offer.

For instance, one of the activists expressed her belief that it is our moral duty to save all lives possible, stating that abortion was a human equality issue.

The anti-abortion demonstrators only further entrenched people in their original beliefs, rather than opening up a civil discussion.

When a student argued that the two are separate issues, the activist called her out

Nothing of value was gained.

14 SPORTS

MONDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2019 | DAILY49ER.COM | @DAILY49ER | SPORTS@DAILY49ER.COM

Serving up success Wiktoria Rutkowska received multiple Big West accolades for Long Beach State last season.

This year she looks to build on those achievements.

By Manuel Valladares Assistant Sports Editor @ mannyvaiiadares

H

aving goals and using milestones as a way to strive for something greater is often seen in the best athletes.

Long Beach State women’s tennis sophomore Wiktoria Rutkowska is a prime example of an athlete consistently working to improve. She progressively gets better over the course of a season. In her freshman year, her progress resulted in three Big West Conference accolades: Big West Freshman of the year and All-Big West First Team in singles and doubles.

“First we won [the] Big West [tournament] and then I got these titles, it’s too many titles,” Rutkowska joked after her final match of the 2018-19 season. “[Winning the awards] felt really cool...it gives me more motivation [for next season].”

That next season has begun, and the motivation to improve still resonates within Rutkowska. Her preseason began at the UNLV Fall Invitational, where she finished third place in singles and strung together some doubles wins with sophomore teammate Emma Bardet.

Most recently in the Beach Invitational, Rutkowska had the chance to show off her skills at home at the Rhodes Tennis Center. The first day of the tournament was another successful outing for Rutkowska.

Rutkowska has shown a level of maturity on the court, having cleaned up most of the mistakes that plagued her last year. She has become a true tone-setter for matches using her technical skills and talent to outplay opponents “You see people come back and they want to replicate [what they did last year] or they want to exceed it,” head coach Jenny Hilt-Costello said. “Last year was great, it was wonderful...but this is a new year and we have to start building from today [onward].”

Since last season, Rutkowska said her freshman nerves have washed away and knows her game has improved as she has gained experience.

“We’re in good shape because of last year’s [run],” she said.

Rutkowska has showed her improved hitting strength, with a high velocity shot that positions the ball perfectly towards the baseline of the court, making it hard for opponents to react. Last season, she was not as consistent with the same technique as her shots often hit the net.

Another key improvement for Rutkowska has been controlling unforced errors, which has helped with her attitude.

She said she still angrily critiques herself after a bad play, but the effects don’t linger around as much. Last year she had a tendency to get down on herself after mistakes.

Nowadays, Rutkowska’s play coincides with the frame of mind that coach Hilt-Costello has, always lifting up her spirits with a “tough, Wiktoria,” or an uplifting, “good job, Wiktoria.”

MANUEL VALLADERES | Daily Forty-Niner

Sophomore Wiktoria Rutkowska (top) returns the ball over the net with her forehand swing. Rutkowska (above) speaks with head coach Jenny Hilt-Costello in between sets at the Beach Invitational Oct. 11.

The words of encouragement do not always bring about winning plays, but it does help with the effort, which is why Hilt-Costello finds it important to empower her players.

“We want them to feel strong, positive and empowered, even when we are talking about their weaknesses or other things we need to address,” Hilt-Costello said.

This positivity is what allows Rutkowska to take calculated risks and take shots that may not be by the book. It’s why she charges the net when possible, trying to apply pressure in ways besides her powerful shot.

This move can have a tendency to backfire, as opponents use lobs to counterattack. At the Beach Invitational Rutkowska found a way to neutralize the lob by fully utilizing her six-foot frame.

Her success early on is just the start, Rutkowska said she wants to build off each match and continue to strive for perfection with her serves, hits and communication.

“This year I want to achieve more if I can,” Rukowska said.

“I feel [the pressure] because it’s not easy to have the same accomplishments from one year to another.”

SPORTS 15

MONDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2019 | DAILY49ER.COM | @DAILY49ER | SPORTS@DAILY49ER.COM

LONG BEACH STATE SPECIAL COLLECTIONS & UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES

All-American Kristen Cummings, class of 1985, staves off a player from rival USC.

‘We were rockstars’: A history of women’s sports The women’s basketball and volleyball teams had memorable runs during the ‘80s and ‘90s. Now, the torch of success has been passed to women’s tennis.

By Manuel Valladares Assistant Sports Editor @ mannyvaiiadares

T

he Beach has long been known for its excellence in women’s sports through the years.

Women’s basketball, volleyball and tennis all had noteworthy achievements: two NCAA Final Four appearances, five volleyball national championships and 13 Big West tennis championships.

“The women’s program was treated great by the school; it felt like we were rock stars,” said former CSULB women’s basketball player Penny Toler. “We had one of the best home-court advantages.”

watch her. Pollard-mania peaked after a 60-point explosion against San Jose State in February 1987.

The love for women’s basketball continued with the high-flying duo, Brown and Toler, who took the NCAA by storm. They led the team to back-to-back Final Fours during the 1987-88 season. Both players are now in the Long Beach State Athletic Hall of Fame.

Toler continued her basketball career into the pros, becoming the first player to ever score in the WNBA and heading the LA Sparks’ front office that won back-to-back championships in 2001 and 2002.

“I’m grateful to Joan [Bovicini] and her coaching staff,” Toler said. “My experience in Long Beach was great and I couldn’t ask for anything better.”

The culture of women’s sports had its first major breakthrough in the mid-tolate 1980s, with basketball players like LaTaunya Pollard, Cynthia Brown and Toler leading the 49ers to some of its most glorious moments to date.

Players like Toler, Brown and Pollard could easily have been successful in other programs, but what allowed them to thrive was the coaching staff, spearheaded by Bonvicini.

Pollard was the first major player to come out of CSULB after being best in the nation in 1983, winning the Wade award for most outstanding woman athlete. During her senior year, fans came in droves to

“[Bovicini] gave players a chance to excel and the kids rewarded that commitment,” said Jim McCormack, former editor for the Long Beach Press-Telegram. “[For Pollard and others] it created a family dynamic

because you knew the coaches focused on your entire well being.”

Bonvicini took over the team in 1979 after being an assistant for two years. Soon after, she started laying the groundwork for a successful mid-major program.

“For the past five years CSULB has tended to be the doormat in all sports other than women’s basketball,” read a 1984 CSULB sports report.

The impact Bonvicini had on the school resulted in her becoming one of the toppaid coaches at CSULB. Her salary was similar to the football and basketball coaches at the time.

be named to four Olympic teams The 1998 team may be the most iconic due to its historic run to the title.

The year prior, the 49ers suffered a devastating loss to Stanford in the NCAA semifinals.

Throughout the 1998 season fans packed the Pyramid to watch players like star setter Misty May dominate every game. That year, the team went undefeated.

“They have the nation’s top player and the nation’s top coach,” wrote Todd D. Milewski for the Los Angeles Times in 1998. “And now they have another national championship.”

Bovicini led women’s basketball for 14 years, and by the time she left, there was already a new sport capturing headlines.

Now, the torch has been passed on to the women’s tennis team.

In 1989 and 1993 the women’s volleyball team won its first two national championships under head coach Brian Gimmillaro. In that time, Gimmillaro coached all-time greats like hitter Tara Cross and middle blocker Daniel Scott.

Head coach Jenny Hilt-Costello has the ability to develop the team into champions.

The 2018-19 season was an example of this; Hilt-Costello led a freshman heavy team to a Big West title and an NCAA tournament berth.

Cross filled the record books during her four-year tenure and claimed NCAA Player of the Year in 1988 and 1989 and became the first athlete in USA Volleyball history to

“It comes from everyone being on the same page,” said Hilt-Costello. “Working on the same goal...our goal is to always play and improve each day.”

16 SPORTS

MONDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2019 | DAILY49ER.COM | @DAILY49ER | SPORTS@DAILY49ER.COM

CHANGING OF THE GUARDS Freshmen guards Justin René, R.J. Rhoden and Shaden Knight are set to provide depth on the perimeter right out of high school.

By Ralston Dacanay Assistant Sports Editor @ RalstonDacanay

A

s the Long Beach State men’s basketball team quickly approaches its seasonopener at UCLA in November, the next couple of weeks will be as valuable as any in deciding how far they will go this

season.

From extended film sessions to on-court work including shooting drills and defensive sets, head coach Dan Monson and his staff remain committed to bringing everyone together by the time the season starts.

“This time of the year as a coach, you’re trying to get a million things done in 30 days,” Monson said. “We’re trying to slow down a little bit with the nine new guys and just simplify things.”

While maximizing the quality of time spent in practice with intensity and effort is something the team wants to do to gel quicker, making sure the players are ready for the seaon remains paramount.

“As always during these dog days, you got guys nicked up and out, so you’re trying to balance putting stuff in with just getting stuff in right,” Monson said. “This group is a very good learning group, but they got a lot to learn because there’s so many new [players].”

The Daily Forty-Niner’s player spotlights for the 2019– 20 Long Beach State men’s basketball roster continues with three more of the incoming freshmen.

Justin René, 6’3”, 175 lbs, Guard, Freshman, Long Beach Poly HS (Long Beach) René is the first Long Beach Poly product to stay home and play for CSULB since Roschon Prince transferred to the Beach in 2014.

“I think anytime you can get local players, it’s awesome because there’s a special interest in them,” Monson said.

“People can identify with them because they already know them from high school and there’s a sense of pride. Roschon Prince had ‘Long Beach’ tattooed across his chest, so they’re proud of the area and represent it in a special way.”

In a similar fashion to Prince, René was the MVP for Long Beach Poly as a senior with his superb scoring at 19 ppg, and was named the 2019 Moore League Player of the Year.

As the main scoring option for the Jackrabbits, René was able to get whatever he wanted on the offensive end—often with catch-and-shoot threes or coast-tocoast layups—with little resistance. At the Beach, he will be asked to refine his skills and establish where he can do damage as collegiate defenses make him work and those easy buckets become few and far between.

RALSTON DACANAY | Daily Forty-Niner

Freshman guards Justin René (top), Shaden Knight (middle) and R.J. Rhoden (bottom) get their photos taken at Long Beach State men’s basketball’s Media Day.

While René was excused from Thursday’s non-contact practice due to an anticipated absence, Monson spoke on the path ahead of him to make an impact for the Beach. “[Justin René is] young,” Monson said, “he’s still

learning, and I think [his game is] still going to be determined by how hard he works and how he develops. Right now he’s learning a lot of our system, and being a freshman, it’s a long ways from being able to contribute.”

Rodney “R.J.” Rhoden, 6’3”, 195 lbs, Guard, Freshman, Mainland HS (Daytona Beach, Florida) Moving roughly 2,500 miles from his hometown in Florida, Rhoden finds himself at a new beach.

“I’m getting to meet new people,” Rhoden said, “get to see another part of the world, and it’s just been a great experience so far for me.”

A combo guard with the ability to play multiple positions, Rhoden has the tools to be an effective player on both ends of the floor with his explosive athleticism.

Before Monson and his staff can evaluate what Rhoden brings to the table, he will have to prove that he can adapt to the pace of the game at the college level.

“Just like Justin [René],” Monson said, “[Rhoden is] learning, so we don’t know what they can bring us until we put them in a game and put them in a scrimmage situation. Until the game slows down, it’s very difficult for them to play.”

As one of the six players joining the team straight out of high school, Rhoden said he’s felt the family environment within the program and has enjoyed being able to learn from the veteran players.

“Just stay positive through anything,” Rhoden said.

“When you’re missing shots or anything. Not even [only] on the court, but off the court. Hang your head high, go 100% in anything you do. That’s what I’ve learned from the vets so far.”

Shaden Knight, 5’10”, 150 lbs, Guard, Freshman, Rancho Cucamonga HS (Rancho Cucamonga) Knight joins Long Beach’s roster as the smallest player and one true point guard from the incoming recruiting class.

At Rancho Cucamonga High School, Knight’s excellent speed and shooting ability was accentuated by his competitive mentality on the court. Down the line, the team believes he has the potential to be a defensive pest for the Beach, with the lateral quickness and quick hands necessary to pick up opposing teams’ primary ball-handlers 94-feet.

“I like to pride myself on defense and really try and work hard and tire out other teams’ guards,” Knight said. “Really get into them because that’s the only way we’re going to win games. If our guards aren’t guarding and [are] not disruptive on defense, we’re not going to win games.”

Whereas René and Rhoden will need to develop more mentally, Monson said Knight will need to develop more physically.

“Offensively, [Knight] impacts the game immediately with his jet-quick, different pace for us,” Monson said, “but defensively, right now he’s got to get stronger so taller players aren’t able to post him up and be able to just muscle through him.”