It is essential for students to find ways to balance rest and work as finals season approaches. The Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden is one place where people can go to take a break from studying.
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Long Beach State is currently looking for a new permanent location for the Cultural Resource Center. The center will house all cultural groups on campus so students can easily access information and resources in one location.
Three locations that are currently being considered are the University Student Union after the renovation project, the lower level of the University Library and the Foundation Building.
“The university has no preference as to which of the available spaces is settled upon as long as the feedback has been incorporated from all historically minoritized groups,” said Melissa Kawamoto, director of special projects for student affairs. “The goal is to meet the needs of as many students as possible.”
The school has already consulted with over 80 students, according to Kawamoto.
The current decision-making process is to collect as much feedback from students as possible and have discussions with student representatives about each location. From there, student affairs hopes to make the final decision.
“Safety and community have been emphasized in almost every conversation,” Kawamoto said. “All student groups have said that the centers should be inclusive and inviting places where students can create friendships, study, have events, learn and support one
another.”
Feedback shows that students want a location that would create a safe environment.
“They also recognize that these centers could be the target of harassment by some groups and would like that to be considered when selecting a location,” Kawamoto said.
Anayeli Hernandez, president of the Latinx Student Union, said the USU would be the best location for the cultural resource center.
“One biggest student concern is that we don’t want our cultural centers to be pushed down in terms of visibility. We want students to have the most accessible option. We want incoming students to be able to have really a hub for support,” Hernandez said.
Hernandez said the USU building would offer more visibility and accessibility to the Cultural Resource Center. She said that, currently, the LSU does not have a specific center, which makes it hard for students to find.
This is the same for many cultural clubs that are currently placed randomly around campus. Hernandez emphasized the importance of student involvement in decision-making and said she really wants to push more students to voice their thoughts on the project.
She hopes that the new Cultural Resource Center can provide a space that feels like home for underrepresented students
Hernandez said, “I think that a lot of that would be helped if we were to be able to come together in a space where we feel like we’re in a safe space, where we feel that we’re at home,”
Here at the 49er we acknowledge that the school we report on is located on the sacred site of Puvungna, “the gathering place”. We are on the land of the Tongva/Gabrieleño and the Acjachemen/Juaneño Nations who have lived and continue to live here.
We also acknowledge the Gabrieleño/Tongva (pronounced: GABRIEL-EN-YO/TONG – VAH) and Acjachamen/Juaneño (pronounced: AH-HACH-AH-MEN/JUAN-EN-YO) as the traditional custodians of the Los Angeles region along with the Chumash (pronounced: CHOO-MOSH) to the north and west, and the Tataviam (pronounced: TAH-TAH-VEE-YUM) and Cahuilla (pronounced: KAH-WEE-YAH) Nations to the east. We respect and value the many ways the Tongva/Acjachemen cultural heritage and beliefs continue to have significance to the living people and remind us about the sacred and spiritual relationship that has always existed here at what we now call California State University Long Beach.
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Construction around the Long Beach State campus is moving forward with a campus safety initiative to create a safer space for students along with better roads by adding bike lanes, wider sidewalks and new pavement.
According to the Legislative Analyst’s Office, the CSU system was allocated $325 million in deferred maintenance funds between 2021 and 2022. This money is used to fund this deferred maintenance project even though the Legislative Analyst’s Office said that the term maintenance can be broad.
Deferred maintenance projects are maintenance projects that have been put off by the campus to tend to other projects they deemed more important or necessary.
“We will be adding more bike lanes as projects allow because, typically, we add them onto other projects,” said Michael Gardner, architect for Long Beach State.
According to Gardner, the effort to add bike lanes is to reduce emissions and promote a healthier environment around campus. These projects along with others around campus have caused distress among some students as time has gone on with the process.
One of the other projects the school has been working on is in Brotman Hall.
The Brotman Hall courtyard construction project is nearly complete, according to Melissa Soto, manager of the CSULB Capital Program Development Design. The renovation project includes new palm trees along the outer and interior spaces of the courtyard.
“The new palm trees are in and our grounds department is waiting for them to root a little more before the fronds are untied,” Soto said.
Fronds are the leafy part of a palm which must be tied in order to protect the plant when it is rooting or in transit from the nursery.
The CSULB Master Plan shows that multiple buildings will be built on lower campus by the University Student Union and toward Parkside North.
These plans have no set date as of now, but the Master Plan is underway. So far, the campus roads plan has been completed, which repaired cracked roads and created wider sidewalks for bike lanes.
Another part of the renovation is the installation of a bench and 82-inch display monitor on the east wall in Brotman Hall.
Since the beginning of construction there have not been any issues other than the paint curing time taking longer than expected due to the rain, Soto said.
The Brotman Hall project is worth $125,000, but the funds for this project are
coming from facilities maintenance funds and some Total Return Portfolio funds.
TRP funds are allocated based on certain investments the CSU system makes and how well they do. Some of the investments include renovating certain parts of campus over others or placing money into programs for students.
If an investment does well, meaning it gains profit through student participation or revenue through events, more money is added to the TPR funds.
This then allows the school to decide what projects to send the money toward.
The project as a whole is not going to be finished on time based on what the timeline says on the construction website for CSULB. The Brotman Hall project should have been finished in January 2023, but due to the heavy rains in February and March it has been extended with no expected final date.
Gardner added that some other projects that are being planned include adding bike lanes near the music building near a service access road.
“There’s a beat-up paved road down there where we will be adding some sidewalks and designating some bike routes down there as well,” Gardner said.
This part of the plan focuses on the same idea as the bike lanes around campus, but will not be started until after the spring semester in late May.
Catalyst Cannabis, a local business in Long Beach, focuses on giving back to the community despite heavy regulations and taxation from the city.
Party on Pine was a block party hosted by Elliot Lewis, CEO of Catalyst Cannabis, which focused on uplifting the community and reviving a once lively Pine Avenue, packed with businesses. The family-friendly event brought together various local and licensed vendors together, and all proceeds went straight to revitalizing Pine Avenue.
However, increased regulation fees imposed by the city pressured Lewis to shut down the event.
“They made it super cost prohibited,” Lewis said. “They wanted 11 fucking cops all on overtime, to watch a party that had zero incidents.”
Catalyst has worked to bridge the community together through various events and its outreach branch of Catalyst Cares. This outreach program has provided services and products such as backpacks, food and even Christmas trees around the holidays.
“People aren’t seeing the Catalyst Cares side of it," Lewis said. “Catalyst Cares really is the heartbeat of who we are.”
Despite the small setbacks with the cancellation of Party on Pine, Lewis continues pushing forward and garnering momentum on their weed for the people movement.
Catalyst has long been working within the legal guidelines provided by both the Senate and the Department of Cannabis
patients
The Medicinal and Adult-Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act works as the framework of regulation for the Department of Cannabis Control. Catalyst Cares acts as a conduit to help provide medicinal cannabis at least once a month for medical patients in need as written in the law.
Legislative Senate Bill No. 34 states “existing administrative law provides an exception to this prohibition for specified medicinal retailers and microbusiness licensees to provide access to medicinal cannabis patients who have difficulty accessing medicinal cannabis goods, as specified."
Many of the shops Catalyst now manages across California were previously independent dispensaries that were drawn toward Catalyst’s mission. Lewis and the whole of Catalyst's extensive staff have tak-
en on the role of advocates for other localized cannabis businesses across California.
Catalyst's most recent victory was April 18 at the Long Beach City Council meeting, where city council members voted unanimously to provide qualifying Long Beach cannabis dispensaries with a new tax-relief program.
Catalyst continues to struggle with excessive taxation on local businesses, even within a progressive city like Long Beach. Big cities like Long Beach have been continuously increasing taxes, which directly affects cannabis workers and sellers in the city, driving more and more customers to buy illicitly.
“The little cities are a little more sympathetic to if they want to make 5% in tax and they need the money to plug the shortfalls, then fine,” Lewis said. “As I looked into the budgets here and I started speak-
ing out, that's when we got the heat, this is unique to Long Beach.”
Taxes are often the primary reason legal cannabis prices have skyrocketed, especially in the city of Long Beach, which passed Measure MA in 2016, the same year cannabis was legalized in California. Measure MA is one of various local cannabis taxes unique to Long Beach that dispensaries must pay in order to be considered in the legal market.
"Their version of equity is something that gets them votes," Lewis said. "It's not equitable to take money from people that make $70,000 to $80,000 a year, basically confiscate their property and give it to public sector unions to keep you in power that live in fucking South Orange County."
Measure MA sets a 6% to 8% tax on medical marijuana gross receipts, 8% to 12% tax on recreational marijuana, 6% to 8% percent on distribution, processing, transportation, or testing of marijuana and $12 to $15 taxation per square foot of cultivation.
All of these added surcharges directly affect local bud tenders and cannabis specialists from achieving the goal of living wages.
These actions threaten the livelihood of many that work under the legitimate business of Catalyst Cannabis and those that believe in Lewis' outspoken movement for weed for the people.
Catalyst is a miracle-child of the cannabis industry that managed to stay afloat by raising money through organically built locations across California. The unwonted success of Lewis' business has placed him in a unique position to represent local cannabis shop owners throughout California. Long Beach officials did not respond upon reaching out for comment.
ALong Beach State student who was charged with three misdemeanor counts for taking illicit photos and videos of men in the bathroom on campus will not be charged with a felony if similar cases arise, prosecutor says.
“Invasion of privacy in California is considered a low-level misdemeanor,” said Long Beach City Prosecutor Doug Haubert. “Unfortunately, many of our laws are misdemeanors that carry, sometimes, light consequences.”
The details of the incident all fall under the California Penal Code Section 647 (j) PC where Romuloromel Almazan Receno filmed students in a private area like the bathroom without their consent. Therefore, he will only be charged with multiple counts of misdemeanors if more victims come forward.
Receno, 22, was arrested on Feb. 21 after filming a male resident showering at Parkside North. When the resident confronted him, Receno fled. Police later
BY MELANIE PEREZ Staff WriterAs students head into the summer season, Long Beach State student hair trends are heating up, with bold and vibrant colors, playful cuts, and bold accessories taking center stage.
Whether you’re looking to make a bold statement or embrace a more natural style, the latest hair trends are sure to turn heads and spark conversation.
Hair ribbons are undoubtedly one of the most popular fashion accessories of the moment. They have become increasingly trendy in recent years, appearing on runways and in street-style looks around the world. Ribbons offer a versatile and stylish way to elevate any hairstyle and add a feminine touch to any outfit.
If you’re looking for a way to incorporate a bow into your hairstyle, a ponytail or half-up style is always a reliable option. However, for a more daring and unique look, consider going big with an oversized bow. This bold choice instantly creates a statement and adds a touch of elegance and sophistication to any outfit, especially when paired with a sleek, minimalist silhouette and monochrome colors.
There is no better place to display your creative side than on the back of your head. A dyed buzz cut is the perfect hairstyle for anyone seeking to make a bold statement
found Receno after receiving two statements from CSULB students, according to the prosecutor.
“The school took this very seriously from the moment they learned about it,” Haubert said, who commended the University Police Department for their response. “They did a very good and solid, thorough job of investigation.”
Besides the resident who primarily reported the crime, another CSULB student gave their statement which led to finding Receno. He was caught the same day the report was filed.
“While we benefit from a welcoming and safe campus, this incident is a reminder to stay aware of your surroundings and
report suspicious behavior,” said Corry Colonna, executive director of Housing and Residential Life, in a statement. “We are grateful to law enforcement for acting quickly and appropriately.”
CSULB officials did not respond for comment when asked to provide a statement on Receno’s enrollment status.
Resident Julie Sanchez said she heard conversations circle between other residents about the incident but it was not confirmed until she read news articles online. Sanchez said she did not recall receiving an email from Housing and Residential Life regarding the situation.
“Men are taught to be shameful of events like that, so they don’t really come
out,” Sanchez said. “I applaud the student who said something because it takes a lot of courage to talk about something like that.”
If a student finds themselves as a victim of invasion of privacy, Haubert said they should go and provide their statement to the university police. UPD’s 24/7 non-emergency line is (562) 985-4101.
Receno has been out on bail since Feb. 22. According to Haubert, the investigation is still ongoing, and more details will be released after Receno’s arraignment on May 4 at the Governor George Deukmejian Courthouse.
whilst maintaining a relaxed hairstyle.
“By dying a buzzcut, you can make your hair a topic of conversation and keep reinventing new designs every few weeks when you need a haircut,” CSULB student Reilly Gallagher said.
This style is ideal for individuals who are uncertain, but have a knack for making a bold fashion statement that will turn heads. Unleash your inner artist and shave that head!
While buns are not a new hairstyle, there are a variety of buns that can provide a drastically different look. Whether you are going for the coveted “clean-girl” look for the summer, or want something edgier and reminiscent of the Y2K era, there are many types of buns to convey different styles.
“A normal bun is very simple to achieve— To get the look, simply pull your hair up into a high ponytail, twist it into a bun, and secure it with a hair tie,” says Sweet 1017 Hair Salon employee Emma Sharman. “To achieve a Y2K look, you can sharply part your hair and slick it back with gel while tying it up into a bun.”
With a wide array of trending hairstyles to choose from, Long Beach State students are set to have a summer full of self-expression and style.
The year is 2003. A 6-year-old brown-eyed girl rides in the backseat of a rusty pickup truck covered in quilted blankets, fluffy pillows and the scattered residue of cheddar Ruffles. Her short legs are packed between those of her two sisters as they share giggles.
The wind danced through their dark hair as they rode to Mexico. Each bump in the road sent the luggage strapped atop of their mother’s truck in slight suspension.
For Long Beach State ceramics student Ruby Gomez, these short trips to see family slowly morphed into inspiration for the foundation of a budding art career.
As the now 26-year-old prepares to finish her senior year, she oscillates between her past and the present to influence her future artistic direction. Challenged by Long Beach State professors, Gomez works through her adolescence to bring a fresh, distinct style to the art scene.
“Everything I’ve made has everything to do with my identity and culture. It has everything to do with growing up and processing my life,” Gomez said.
Her most recent gallery, titled “I find you in every lifetime,” is best described as a harmonic blend of her culture, upbringing and relationships.
“I have all of these little memories and past things that have happened, and I’m taking them into the present with me. I
want to cement those moments in a way because I want them to exist forever,” she continued.
While Gomez has been experimenting with various art mediums since high school, creativity runs in her blood.
“My mother was an oil painter. I remember waking up early in the morning and going to the garage to see her doing these big paintings. She would let me help here and there,” Gomez said.
It wasn’t until the young artist-to-be turned 13 years old that she picked up a paintbrush and finally caught the bug. But as a ballet dancer from an early age, her days were consumed by stretchy leotards, pink slippers and pliés.
Inevitably, the bug slept quietly on the back burner, where it’d fester for years to come.
Younger sister Kayla Gomez watched the process first-hand.
“Ruby was always naturally gifted creatively. I think it became most apparent when she started art classes in high school,” her younger sister said.
“As a kid, I think Ruby had very big emotions that she didn’t always know how to express. And I can tell she really found something that she can really pour her heart into,” Kayla said.
Before transferring to CSULB, the Coachella Valley native grappled with unanswered questions. Was a career without art the right one? Gomez reminisced about the ceramics courses she took for fun during her high school years.
The feeling of wet clay hardening around her fingertips took up every cor-
ner of her mind. She thought of the texture, the sound of throwing it on the pottery wheel, the scent of the glaze and the warmth of the freshly lit kiln. Just like that, the bug was out of hibernation.
Not only was it awake, but it had since multiplied.
“I took every single art class that I could because I didn’t want to let it [art] go,” Gomez said.
Soon enough, the transfer student found herself pursuing ceramics full-time.
After all, Gomez saw the effects of the creative critter that didn’t make it out alive. A tale as old as time — the artist devoid of a vision. The writer who could no longer write. The grumpy forty-something who couldn’t properly express their emotions. It’s all the same.
Gomez wouldn’t become a cliche. So she dove head-first, drowning in every piece of work she created. One of which she spent the entire summer making.
It began with a drive to the mountains with her uncle back home in the valley.
Together, they scoured the peaks for
soil, collecting generous handfuls to throw in the bed of their truck. Afterward, she spent hours sifting through the dirt, watching the impurities fall from the pile.
Gomez gathered cups of water and bags of asphalt to emulsify the thick element, and she noticed how the small rectangular mixtures lost their porosity and moistness.
The process was strenuous and time-consuming, but it was also primal. It represented everything she loved about art, from the labor to the fulfilling intentionality.
Like every bit of art she had put out before, it gave her purpose. It stood for something greater: connection.
While not everyone can relate to Gomez’s childhood and experiences, the artist hopes viewers find bits of themselves, their friends and their families through her pieces.
“My end goal is to be happy and to keep making work that resonates with everybody without sacrificing myself,” Gomez said.
Long Beach has a wide array of relaxing spaces, perfect for a finals study date, fulfilling meals or private meditation.
BY CHRISTAL GAINES-EMORY Editor in ChiefStudents attending Long Beach State have the opportunity to enter the Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden for free. The garden features a wide variety of vibrant flowers, seating areas, photo opportunities and the beloved koi fish. The garden also offers many mental health activities throughout the year, including yoga on the lawn
and meditation classes. Reservations are required to visit the Japanese Garden, to reserve a spot visit their website. A reservation allows up to six guests to visit the garden.
CHRISTAL GAINES-EMORY / Daily Forty-Niner 2nd and PCH offers many retail store options as well as casual seating with a marina view.
The Seal Beach Animal Care Center offers volunteering opportunities, allowing visitors to spend time with cats and dogs. Petting animals has proven to naturally reduce stress by lowering cortisol levels as well as lowering blood pressure. SBACC is a nonprofit,
non-kill animal shelter with plenty of animals to nurture. Anyone interested in volunteering for SBACC can apply online, they can choose to volunteer for either cats or dogs and attend an orientation.
CHRISTAL
The 2nd and PCH shopping center offers opportunities for retail therapy along with different cuisines including homemade pasta, sushi and modern Mexican food. Overlooking the bay, 2nd and PCH is a popular place for study dates and
hang out sessions. With free Wi-Fi, ample parking and a variety of dining and drink options, 2nd and PCH is a great spot for CSULB students to escape from campus.
The Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve offers visitors an ideal respite in nature, complete with snowy egrets, small fish and natural landscapes. From mudflats to marshes, the reserve provides habitats to hundreds of different species of plants and an-
imals. The Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve offers wildlife viewing, tours and five miles of hiking trails all for free. Located at 18000 CA-1, Huntington Beach, the reserve is a short and scenic drive from the CSULB campus.
As college students, many of us have taken out loans or received financial aid to fund our education. I have experienced both, but taking out loans in my name was terrifying because I was unaware of what it could do to my credit score and history.
Although I did understand what it meant to have a loan, I did not feel educated enough to know what loans could do for my future, including how they would affect future purchases of a car or home.
As a first-generation student who does not know anyone personally with student loans or a credit history, I was a bit nervous to apply for a credit card at the age of 20.
I was not aware of the resources we have as Long Beach State students. Although they are not well known, CSULB does have a financial literacy program that can help students make smarter decisions with money.
The CSULB financial literacy program includes workshops available for students. To access these resources, visit csulb.financialliteracy101.org and use the access code “CSULB-ALL”.
This online and in-person program is available to all CSULB students for free. As of right now, this is the only financial literacy program we have at the Beach. As a part of the SOAR orientation program, this is offered for incoming students to the university, but it isn’t talked about enough.
According to the Financial Literacy Program description, the program offers financial aid and credit management workshops. Although the program offers credit management assistance, the university should also offer resources about choosing between credit cards and what certain terms mean.
A year and a half ago, a friend encouraged me to apply for credit cards meant for students. I had heard about
student credit cards but I was not sure if I would qualify for credit. He had been using credit cards since his senior year of high school and has been responsible with his use, improving his credit score.
This advice inspired me to apply for a student credit card so I could get ahead at the start of the future I want to live.
What is a student credit card, and how does it differ from a regular credit card?
Student credit cards are designed for college students who are looking to start their credit history and score. These types of cards are easier to be approved for with no credit history and usually come with a low to medium credit line to responsibly manage it.
I recommend doing the research beforehand on what type of student credit cards cater to your needs. Some credit cards have benefits for traveling, others have cash back on restaurants or gas and some are catered toward general use.
I applied for the Chase Freedom Student credit card with a credit line of $500. This has been the best decision I have ever done for my future, as I only need this for everyday purchases. After using this card for over a year, I have a credit score of 679 which falls in the range between fair to good. My credit line also rose to $800 after making reasonable payments and not using my entire credit line.
After I graduate and move into my career, a goal of mine is to pay off my loans as soon as possible and purchase a home and a car. By starting my credit history during college and being responsible with it, I have set myself up for success.
I encourage any students who are reading this to apply for a student credit card and not wait until after you graduate. Get ahead of this part of being a responsible adult now so you don’t have to catch up later.
LUIS CASTILLA / Daily Forty-NinerSome students at Long Beach State speculate that food trucks on campus are charging more than off-campus ones, but these high prices actually correspond to the rise in food and gas prices in California.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, over the last year, the food index has increased by 8.5%. Food and energy rose by 0.4% during the month of March.
Food trucks used to be known for their affordable prices. They are also known for being convenient because they stop by universities and work sites. In other words, food trucks are known for their accessibility.
Since recent economic changes, it makes sense that food trucks have had to charge more to continue making profit from their businesses.
StopBye Cafe stopped by at CSULB, and although they were not able to answer questions in person, they answered via email.
“We [have been] affected by the rise of products, gas, [and] everything,” said a StopBye team member via email.
In late 2022, gas prices rose, causing many to be affected. The California Energy Commission listed some of the reasons for high gas prices. Among these reasons is that gasoline inventories were at low levels during 2022. Through September and Oc-
tober, four California refiners conducted planned maintenance, which reduced the crude oil capacity by 55,000 barrels a day.
At the end of September 2022, California experienced two weeks of high gasoline prices. By October 2022, the state paid $2.60 more per gallon than the rest of the United States.
A few months into 2023, gas prices have decreased a bit. However, there is no doubt that the state still has high gas prices.
Because food trucks are vehicles, they are affected by the rise in food prices and gasoline prices.
Usually, the food trucks that come to campus have several stops, which means they use up gas while going from stop-tostop. Then there are some that stay for longer periods of time on campus. As a result, the number of food trucks that are significantly affected by gas prices may vary.
Christole Clark is the owner of Stacked Pasta, another food truck that visits CSULB. Clark explained that she has been more affected by the higher food prices than gas prices.
Additionally, as a food truck owner, it is important to make profit from your food. Therefore, her alternative was to raise her prices by one to two dollars to keep her business going.
When comparing the prices from off-campus food trucks to the ones that come to CSULB, there are food trucks with similar prices. For instance, Tacos Los Abundis was one of the food trucks outside campus that had the lowest food prices, ranging from $7.50 to $10, with tacos at
$3 each. Their drinks ranged from $1.50 to $2.70. For those who come to campus, Crepes Bonaparte was in a similar lower price range. Their menu items ranged from $5.50 to $10, and their drinks were $3 to $5.
There were other outside food trucks that had similar prices to these businesses, but many had meals that were more expensive. Some had meals up to $15 or $19, with drink prices similar to Tacos Los Abundis.
La Chiva Colombian Lonchera had some of the highest prices off campus. Their prices were between $12 to $32, while their drinks were $3, with the most expensive drink at $5.
There was a pattern in the food trucks on campus. Some food trucks had prices as low as $12, but they also included meals
that were above that. For instance, Stacked Pasta’s cheapest meal was their peanut butter and jelly sandwich, which was $6. They had a $13 meal, and their highest price was $25 dollars.
Other food trucks like Cali Caribbean had prices that ranged from $11.99 to $22.99.
With these numbers, it is up to students to decide whether they are being charged more by food trucks on campus.
Based on the numbers, there might be other factors affecting the prices of food trucks that come to campus. For example, some food trucks might buy from different companies, their meals may require more ingredients or they have more stops, to name a few.
The latest economic changes in California have affected food trucks, causing them to raise their prices.
Here’s a brief look at on-campus and off-campus food truck prices.
Skateboarding has become a convenient way for students to get to class in a timely fashion at Long Beach State. However, some misuse the privilege to skateboard on campus and that can lead to serious accidents.
There are definitely benefits to skateboarding. Not only do skateboarders add personality and life to campus; students also have the opportunity to practice a hobby while getting from class to class.
Skating also has health benefits such as improving flexibility, coordination and physical endurance.
A study by the USC Pullias Center for Higher Education found that skating improves mental health by relieving stress. It also brings a sense of community as people connect with others through this shared passion. Skateboarding also encourages resilience, a trait that skaters can apply to all aspects of their lives.
Although skating is a wonderful creative outlet and has many benefits, students should be able to walk around campus freely without the fear of a skater approaching them at quick speeds.
This does not mean that students should not be able to skate on campus, but skaters should be mindful of students on campus while they skate, skating only where the activity is permitted.
The university police website has a skateboard policy posted which delineates the rules that skateboarders must follow.
Skateboarders must yield to pedestrians at all times and must not exceed five mph. Rolling down the hills on East Campus Drive and West Campus Drive is
BY MATTHEW GOMEZ Sports EditorThe Long Beach State women’s basketball program took the opportunity to introduce the newly hired head coach Amy Wright to players, alumni, staff and the media Thursday night at the Anna W. Ngai Alumni Center.
“So why Long Beach,” Wright said. “It’s the only NCAA institution with the name beach in it, it is the only place where you get to play basketball in a pyramid and so it’s already unique. It’s already unique in itself.”
Before Wright took the podium she was introduced by both Interim Athletics Director Ted Kadowaki and LBSU President Jane Close Conoley.
“Her energy and enthusiasm are sure to be an asset to the program as she seeks to develop her players on and off the court and build a winning culture certainly on the court but also in the classroom,” Conoley said.
Wright is adopting a team that lost five key seniors and though she mentioned you don’t replace players it’ll be hard to fill that void. LBSU’s final game this season was a loss to the University of San Diego Toreros in a game where
also not allowed. The policy also states that riding devices, such as skateboards, for any type of stunts is prohibited, as well as using devices in pedestrian-only zones.
In addition, the policy lists, “Coasting devices may not be used in any manner that places pedestrians at risk.” Unfortunately, this means that skaters
can’t skateboard as freely as they wish on campus, because pedestrians may get injured.
As tempting as ramps might be to roll down on, rolling down ramps is a hazard that could lead to serious injuries for other students and skaters. Anyone would feel awful injuring a fellow student by accident.
Skating is an art form and so many amazing tricks can be performed, but campus should not be the place for that. Skaters should let their creativity flow at skateparks and other public places where they know they can safely skate without injuring others.
the seniors made up 132/200 minutes played and four of which were starters.
“I think we have the tools in place, obviously, there’s opportunity to bring others in. But it’s got to be the right people,” Wright said. “There’s nothing I want to do less than take away what they’ve already built as a collective unit… this is a team that’s unified.”
Former head coach Jeff Cammon had four final recruits coming to The Beach whom Wright said will all still have their offers honored.
Cammon also took the entirety of his coaching staff along with him, leaving Wright in a tough position. A new staff will need to be selected and hired after she decided to not bring along any staff from Oklahoma sticking to local options instead.
“There is a true sense of community and passion for Long Beach State athletics,” Wright said. “While Long Beach may be a mid-major school. This is a power five program with Power Five expectations that we won’t settle because we stand on the shoulders of giants.”
The conference concluded with Wright welcoming all of her players to the podium and having them introduce themselves individually to the audience.
Women’s tennis head coach earns her 400th career win after defeating UC Davis in the regular season finale.
BY MARK SIQUIG Staff WriterAlready earning 13 Big West Tournament Championships and nine Big West Regular Season Championships, Long Beach State Women’s Tennis head coach Jenny Hilt-Costello achieved another milestone by picking up her 400th career win in charge on April 22.
Hilt-Costello started her coaching career at the Beach in 1995 as an assistant coach but was later named head coach in 1997. Since then, she has transformed LBSU into a successful program.
“It feels pretty good. It makes me reflect on a lot of years of hard work and teams that have come together and had successful seasons,” said Hilt-Costello. “It’s a nostalgic moment for me as well.”
She has also been named Big West Coach of the Year nine times as well.
Players under Hilt-Costello have confidence in her coaching because of the way she approaches practices and the matches. Her coaching experience is the thing that stands out to her players.
“Our coach is really experienced, she won a lot of Big West titles,” said junior Sarah Medik. “The way how we practice, the way how we play our matches and how she prepares us gives me a really good feel-
ing for our Big West Conference.”
Junior Mathilde Tranberg highlights Hilt-Costello’s dedication to coaching the team and how she prepares them for the Big West Tournament coming up.
“Coach is very dedicated on her work and she comes in everyvday early to practice and very prepared to make us all better tennis players,” said Tranberg.
Tranberg’s singles match victory was the clincher for her coach’s 400th win. She was very happy for her coach and being the one to win it for LBSU.
“I was actually her 400th win so I am very happy about that and I said to her that I hope she remembers me,” said Tranberg.
“But overall, I think she is very dedicated
and she is a really inspiring coach and she really makes us the best version of ourselves.”
Hilt-Costello reflected on her time at the Beach, as she has been coaching the program for over 26 seasons. She is proud of being able to coach one team for so many seasons and has fallen in love with the Beach.
“I am thrilled that I can say that I am a coach that’s been at one school, and a school I love so much,” said “Hilt-Costello.
“I love the area here, I love the university and I can’t imagine living anywhere else or coaching any other program so to have 400 at the same school is really for me quite exciting.”
Even after reaching this milestone, Hilt-Costello and her team are locked in for the Big West Tournament in San Diego. Their main goal all season was to learn and build from the week before.
“We are just trying to build on some of the things we learned from last weekend and for us that’s kind of been the goal all year and learn from the previous weekend and how can we get better,” said Hilt-Costello.
The LBSU women’s tennis team will be traveling to San Diego on Friday in hopes to win a Big West Tournament championship.
