Daily Forty-Niner; October 23, 2023

DAILY FORTY-NINER EST

Vol. XCV, Issue 10

1949

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Monday, October 23, 2023

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Monday, October 23, 2023

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El Nicklin

Samuel Chacko

ON THE COVER Top photo by JOSH GENTLE / Bottom photo by MARY CATIPAY / Illustration by EL NICKLIN Above, the band Concave, with members James Gonzalez (left), Ruben Franco (middle), Anali Mosquera (right) and Anthony Aguilar (drums), prepares for a backyard set. Below, indie supergroup boygenius, featuring members Phoebe Bridgers (left), Julien Baker (middle) and Lucy Dacus, performs an acoustic set at Fingerprints Music.

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Editor in Chief eic@daily49er.com

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Managing Editor managing@daily49er.com

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Community Engagement Editor Director of Business Operations community@daily49er.com business@gobeach.media

Editors News Editor Juan Calvillo news@daily49er.com Arts & Life Editor Natasha Castanedo arts@daily49er.com Opinions Editor Georgie Smith opinions@daily49er.com Sports Editor Davis Ramage sports@daily49er.com Design Editor Mary Catipay design@daily49er.com Copy Editor Jazmin Arellano Gallardo copy@daily49er.com Photo Editor Naoki Gima photo@daily49er.com Social Media Editor Maureen Linzaga socials@daily49er.com Video Editor Alina Ti video@daily49er.com Podcast Editor Aidan Swanepoel podcast@daily49er.com

SAMUEL CHACKO / Daily Forty-Niner Liane Domingo showed up to one of the multiple flu clinic events at the University Bookstore with Raul Barriga, Radiology Tech and Nursing Staff for CSULB's Student Health Services.

Long Beach State hosts free flu vaccine clinics

Assistants News Assistants

Arts & Life Assistants

Elizabeth Basile Acsah Lemma Anthony Orrico Linsey Towles Samantha Cortes Renzo Pocasangre

Cheyenne Elizarraras Maya-Claire Glenn Sports Assistants Matthew Coleman Alyssa De La Cruz Matthew Gomez Design Assistants Luis Castilla Nuelle Obaseki Copy Editor Assistants Stacey Chen Jaylyn Preslicka Nick Broadhead Photo Assistants Mark Siquig Marlon Villa Social Media Assistants Maher Basharahil Jahir Olvera Video Assistant Steven Matthews

With flu season quickly approaching, CSULB will hold several flu clinics on campus during the fall semester.

Opinions Assistants

Podcast Assistants

Julia Goldman Lei Madrigal

Business Advertising Manager Izzy Ahmed advertising@gobeach.media Creative Director Jennix Bien creative@gobeach.media Web & Technology Manager Leila Nuñez web@gobeach.media PR & Promotions Manager Nicollette Combre beach.pr@gobeach.media Distribution Manager Sofia Ingegno distribution@gobeach.media

Advisers Design Adviser Gary Metzker Content Adviser Barbara Kinglsey-Wilson Advertising & Business Adviser Jennifer Newton

Letters Policy: All letters and emails must bear the phone number of the writer and must be no more than 300 words.

The Daily Forty-Niner reserves the right to edit letters for publication in regard to space.

Editorials: All opinions expressed in the columns, letters and cartoons in the issue are those of the writers or artists.

The opinons of the Daily Forty-Niner are expressed only in unsigned editorials and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the journalism department or the views of all staff members. All such editorials are written by the editorial board of the Daily Forty-Niner.

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BY SOFIA CUEVAS Staff Writer

S

tudent Health Services at Long Beach State is offering free flu vaccinations to all students, faculty and staff at their on-campus flu clinics.

The flu vaccinations will be provided by licensed nurses to participants who registered in advance for each event. CSULB students, faculty and staff can sign up to receive a vaccination on the Student Health Services website, under the RSVP links located on the flu clinic event pages.

Long Beach State's flu clinics are being hosted from Oct. 3 until Nov. 28, aligning with the start of what is often considered the start of flu season in the United States.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of flu cases in the United States tends to increase in October. Although there are no specific dates for when flu season starts and ends, it usually peaks during fall and winter.

Student Health Services recommends that students take additional steps to protect themselves from catching the flu.

Some hygiene practices health services recommends include washing hands with soap and warm water, avoiding touching the face and mouth, cleaning cell phones often and always cover coughs and sneezes with elbows instead of hands.

"Often students will say to us that 'it's no big

deal' if they get sick," Heidi Girling, a health educator at Student Health Services, said in an email.

"However, we want to remember that by preventing the flu in ourselves, we can help protect those people around us who are elderly or have serious health conditions."

Students get vaccinated at CSULB's clinics for a variety of reasons, but many do it in hopes of protecting themselves and .

"I get it for the sake of my family and friends," said Isobel Maehler, a pre-illustration major who received a flu vaccine at the clinic on Oct. 17. "I really don't want to get anyone sick."

Clinics are held at different locations across CSULB's campus and are open on different dates.

The following is a list of clinics for the next two weeks: Tuesday, Oct. 24 at the C-PACE Courtyard from noon to 2 p.m.

Wednesday, Oct. 25 at the Main Library from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 26 at the USU Escalator from noon to 2 p.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 31 outside Parkside Dining from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Wednesday, Nov. 1 at the Outpost Lawn from noon to 2 p.m.

A full flu clinic schedule, including dates and locations, can be found on the Student Health Services website.

Land Acknowledgment 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.

Monday, October 23, 2023

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ARTS NEWS

Israel’s critics find similarities to occupied land in apartheid South Africa

LINSEY TOWLES / Daily Forty-Niner A protest for Palestine was held last week on campus as a response to the international conflict between Israel and Hamas. Reuter reports that over 4,000 Palestinians have been killed since the Israeli strikes began in Gaza on Oct. 7, 2023.

With the growth of Israeli settlements into historically Palestinian land, the hope of an establishment of a future Palestinian state drifts further and further away for Palestine advocates.

BY ACSAH LEMMA News Assistant

W

ith borders lost and gained, Israel and Palestine’s positions on the map are never concrete. Known for its ever-changing borders, the map of Palestine is coined by Al Jazeera as resembling “Swiss cheese.”

This geographical confusion, however, can be attributed to Israel’s annexation of Palestine.

What is internationally considered Palestinian land is based on the Green Line, or, “the de facto border between Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories,” according to Princeton University. This land makes up the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

Split into three official areas, Area A, Area B and Area C, significant portions of the West Bank are heavily controlled by the Israeli government. Palestinians living in the West Bank are isolated from the Israeli people by what is called the “separation wall” according to Al Jazeera.

This wall - which has yet to be fully constructed - encroaches on Palestinian land in the West Bank and severely limits freedom of travel for Palestinians. The wall partially surrounds East Jerusalem, which will be the capital of a future Palestinian state according to Steven Rousso-Schindler, professor of cultural anthropology and instructor of ANTH 443, The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict at Long Beach State.

Jerusalem is also home to both the

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Temple Mount and the Al-Aqsa mosque.

The Temple Mount is the most holy site in Judaism while the Al-Aqsa mosque is the third holiest in Islam. But since Israel has control over the area, it limits Palestinian access.

“It’s very often a flashpoint for con-

el claims these roads are for security reasons, “Palestinians believe this is just another one of Israel’s apartheid strategies seeking racial segregation,” he added.

Palestinians in the Gaza Strip experience this same restriction on their freedom of movement.

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A lot of people consider it to be an open-air prison because they have no control over their borders and are forbidden by Israel to build an airport.

Steven Rousso-Schindler Israeli-Palestinian conflict instructor flict,” Rousso-Schindler said.

Palestinians in the West Bank also experience segregation due to a number of factors, including the separation wall.

“Israel creates bypass roads that only Israelis are allowed to use. Palestinians are not allowed to use them,” Rousso-Schindler said. “Israel also builds roads in Palestinian lands for the exclusive use of military vehicles.”

Although Rousso-Schindler said Isra-

“I think there are now 2.1 million people living there, in a place they said is the size of Philadelphia,” Rousso-Schindler said.

While the West Bank is mostly surrounded by Israel and Jordan, the Gaza Strip is surrounded by Israel, Egypt and the Mediterranean Sea. “A lot of people consider it to be an open-air prison because they have no control over their borders and are for-

Monday, October 23, 2023

bidden by Israel to build an airport,” Rousso-Schindler said. “They don’t have freedom of movement outside of the Gaza Strip, and so the people are mostly trapped in there.”

The Gaza Strip is run by Hamas, a militant group and one of two major political groups in the Palestinian territories, according to BBC. Hamas has been in control since winning an election over the Fatah party in 2006, the other political party in Palestine. There have been no elections since Hamas won, writes the Council on Foreign Relations.

Unlike the Fatah party, Hamas does not recognize Israel’s statehood. They are committed to establishing a Palestinian state through “attacks on Israeli soldiers, settlers and civilians both in the occupied Palestinian territories and in Israel,” writes Al Jazeera.

Although there have been no Israeli settlements in the Gaza Strip since 2005 according to Israel’s plan of unilateral disengagement, the situation is different in the West Bank. According to a report conducted by the United Nations, “From 2012 to 2022, the population of Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, had grown from 520,000 to over 700,000.”

This act of settlers displacing Palestinians from their homes is illegal under international law. Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention states, “The Occupying Power shall not deport or transfer parts of its own civilian population into the territory it occupies.”

“That’s disputed by Israel, whether it’s occupied, but almost everybody else besides Israel considers that to be occupied land,” Rousso-Schindler said.

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ARTS NEWS

Annual security report attests to campus safety According to CSULB, motor vehicle theft was the most occurring crime on campus in 2022.

BY NATE MARTINEZ Staff Writer

M

aybe it's not quite to the scale of Grand Theft Auto, but according to the Jeanne Clery Annual Security Report, car theft seems to be CSULB's most pressing issue.

The federally mandated report was recently released and the university mostly lacked any major standouts in each of the varying categories of crime.

The report requires all colleges and universities, public and private, to detail any crimes that were committed either on campus, on non-campus affiliated property or on public property within campus lines.

Although non-campus property is included in the report, it is outside of the University Police Department’s jurisdiction.

In 2022, CSULB reported under five accounts in nearly every crime category.

For the major crimes, there were no reports of manslaughter, one account of rape, one account of robbery and five arrests for weapons law violations.

However, one crime statistic noticeably stood out from the others: motor vehicle theft. In 2022 there were 15 reports of car theft on campus, with another one occurring on non-campus property and two more on public property.

Those numbers were significantly higher than the numbers reported in 2021 and 2020.

“Looking at it, it’s hard to say why,” said John Brockie, Chief of the University Police Department (UPD). “As different [car] models come out, we see different trends.”

Brockie mentioned that the current trend highlights Kia as the car brand most susceptible to theft.

This is because models from 20112022 lack an engine immobilizer, which prevents the car from starting without the presence of a key.

Bike theft is also a major issue at the university, but because bike theft statistics are not required in the report, those numbers were left out. However, UPD is

SAMUEL CHACKO / Daily Forty-Niner The University Police Department, located on campus, is responsible for providing all of the statistics used in the Jeanne Clery Security Report. From 2020-2022 there were 26 car thefts on campus, the most reported crime during those years. all but too aware of the situation.

“We’ve identified that bike thefts are an issue here, and so we looked at ‘how do we combat that?’” Brockie said.

Brockie pointed out that the vulnerability of cable bike locks combined with the fact that most bikes are not registered with the UPD resulted in the initiation of the U-Lock program.

The program incentivizes students to register their bikes with the UPD with a bike U-lock, which is much harder to break.

Also included in the security report is a list of policies and programs. Any policy or program the university may employ to help promote campus safety must be included and explained.

CSULB offers a myriad of programs on topics such as crime prevention, sexual assault prevention as well as equity and diversity promotion.

In light of a suicide committed on campus in November 2022, one new policy that has truly made a difference, but was not included in the report, is the addition of signs throughout campus with the phone numbers of the suicide hotline and a separate hotline that goes to campus resources.

“We look to our community to assist us,” Brockie said.

He said that since those signs have been posted, two lives have been saved from committing suicide.

The UPD’s efforts to keep CSULB

safe have not gone unnoticed.

“I feel pretty safe on campus,” Weibo Zhang, a second-year computer science major, said. “I used to leave campus around 7 p.m. - 8 p.m., and it would be pretty dark, but even then I felt safe.”

While theft seems to be the university’s only pertinent issue, Brockie pointed out that theft only entails stealing unattended items as opposed to robbery, which includes the use of fear or intimidation. With proper care, the number of thefts would decrease, leading to an even safer CSULB. “Really, just protecting their items, that would be my recommendation,” Brockie said.

Motor Vehicle Theft based on Recent Clery Reports Year

Campus Residential

Campus Total

Noncampus

Public Property

2020

0

9

0

0

2021

0

2

2

0

2022

0

15

1

2

NATE MARTINEZ / Daily Forty-Niner / Graphic by Iconpacks Last year motor vehicle theft proved to be the biggest safety issue on campus. Stolen cars are not often recovered, and when they are, they have usually been stripped for parts.

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Monday, October 23, 2023

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ARTS NEWS

SAMUEL CHACKO / Daily Forty-Niner The Hotel Current is one of many alternative options that can be a cheaper replacement for students and applicants to live in for the 2023-2024 academic year. For one hotel room at Hotel Current, students could pay $1,800 to $2,000 a month. Additional housing is planned for 2026.

Hotels serve as a growing housing option for California students An abundance of applicants and scarcity of beds has led to universities outsourcing housing options.

BY LEILA ALARCON & ERIKA FIGUEROA Staff Writers

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alifornia universities lack of available student housing has turned local hotels into an alternative option.

Long Beach State is no exception to the student housing crisis.

5,200 students applied for housing during the 2023-24 academic year, but there were only 3,176 beds available. Out of the 2,000 returning residents that applied, only 600 spots were available on a first come first serve basis.

This left many students looking for affordable off-campus housing. However, the cost of living is rising all over the state.

In the Long Beach-Lakewood area the median gross rent in 2021 was $1,549 a month. Paired with other expenses such as utilities, gas and groceries, off-campus housing seemed to be lacking possibility.

“When we realized we could not

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meet the need for housing, we decided to work with nearby hotels to see if they could give our students a better price for those who may not be able to live on campus,” Corry Colonna, Executive Director of Housing and Residential Life, said.

At Hotel Current, the students sign a lease for a minimum of two months. Depending on the room type, furnished or unfurnished along with other students’ needs, students pay between $1800 to $2000 a month.

Golden Sails offers a rate of $67.00 a night to students with an added 13.20% tax. The rooms offered are similar to the dormitories with a bed, desk, a TV, an ironing board, a bathroom, Wi Fi, pool and gym access and parking space.

“They asked for the best rate we could provide, it’s the lowest rate available,” Vicki Arreguin, Golden Sails Hotel Director of Sales & Catering, said. “A special CSULB lodging rate.”

Even with the hotels being open to housing students, they may be denied.

“The parent/guardian of the student, is usually financially responsible,

so they must pass the basic credit/background checks and meet the other requirements,” Berda SooHoo, from Hotel Current, said.

At Cal Poly Humboldt, Comfort Inn, is listed as an official housing option on their housing website. The hotel, which is closed to the public and only houses students, has resident assistants, free shuttle and bus transportation and university police patrolling the property.

“We also provide off-campus housing services to students with a dedicated off-campus housing coordinator and student staff to support the program,” Aileen Yoo, Cal Poly Humboldt Director of News and Information, said. “The program directs students to resources such as rental listings and a weekly newsletter featuring local rooms and properties for rent.”

City council documents show San Jose State University is considering the purchase of the South Tower of the Signia hotel to use as university housing.

Other California campuses such as UC Santa Cruz and UC San Diego have also been among the schools with reports of

Monday, October 23, 2023

housing shortages.

Despite the hotels willing to house students, universities are looking for a more permanent solution that’ll last through incoming classes. Cal Poly Humboldt has already announced their plans for a student housing project that will add space for 1,000 students.

As for Long Beach State, additional housing is planned to open by fall of 2026. The new housing will add an additional 424 beds available to students.

“Constructing residence halls is quite expensive and it takes about three years from design to completion,” Colonna said. “Finding the right location for that housing is also a challenge.”

In the meantime, Colonna, Arreguin and SooHoo have expressed their willingness to continue to discuss student rates and boarding for the upcoming academic year.

“We’ve already had students living here for several years prior to the university approaching us,” SooHoo said.

“Even if they didn’t ask, we will continue to house qualified applicants.”

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ARTS ARTS & LIFE

NUELLE OBASEKI / Daily Forty-Niner Short film directors, actors and friends from the CSULB showing of the Collegiate Showcase posed for the press with bright smiles following the debut of six CSULB short films at the Newport Beach Film Festival.

CSULB filmmakers debut compelling short films at Newport Beach Film Festival

BY NUELLE OBASEKI Design Assitant

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SULB alumni displayed short films discussing generational womanhood, street vendor safety, the journey of a rocket-building club on campus and more at the Newport Beach Film Festival.

The 24th annual Newport Beach Film Festival highlighted emotion on the big screen with an eight-day gathering from Oct. 12 to Oct. 19, that captured and celebrated multi-faceted accomplishments within cinema and storytelling.

Newport’s highly-anticipated lifestyle festival was hosted by the NBFF, a 501 (c)3 non-profit organization with a mission to bring the best in independent and international films. Over 58,000 film and food enthusiasts enjoyed the film screenings, industry events, awards programs, cultural celebrations and after-parties, catered by over 60 participating culinary partners.

Screenings took place at a variety of theaters within the Newport area, including THE LOT, Regal Edwards Big Newport, Starlight Triangle Cinemas and The New Port Theater. Award ceremonies, industry gatherings and after-parties scattered within the packed schedule were held at Fashion Island, Lido Marina Village, The Resort at Pelican Hill, Balboa Bay Resort, Sherman Library and Gardens and Time Nightclub.

The screened primary categories included 41 feature documentaries, 46 short documentaries, 60 feature narrative films and 133 short narratives, in

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addition to the spotlight and centerpiece categories.

The collegiate showcase was the designated category that premiered short films from Cal State Long Beach students on Sunday, Oct. 15. Six short films, no longer than 13 minutes, were displayed from primarily alumni who graduated during spring. The films included “Fight for a Dream (Luchar Por Un Sueño),” “Good Boy,” “Gutterpunks,” “My Moth-

“It was inspiring to see the culmination of hard work from fellow FEA students and classmates on the big screen,” said Keyan Madani, a student at CSULB minoring in film and electronic arts.

“None of the films were the same, in terms of genre and theme, which was cool to see.”

Despite commonly associating the acronym “BLT” with a savory sandwich, the cast and crew for “The Sky’s the

”

It was inspiring to see the culmination of hard work from fellow FEA students and classmates on the big screen.

Keyan Madani FEA minor er’s Daughter,” “The Sky’s the Limit” and “Adversary.”

Between solemn moments of silence during the heart-wrenching murder of a street vendor in “Fight for a Dream,” or delighted laughter during the self-discovery of a self-proclaimed Satanist in “Adversary,” every emotion could be heard during the screening at the Big Newport theater.

Limit” likely think of the Beach Launch Team on campus. The film, directed by Luke Pajari, documents the STEM student organization’s journey in building and launching a rocket.

“It [the film] demonstrates the spirit that even if you have the cards stacked against you, it is important to shoot for the stars and follow your goals,” Pajari said.

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NBFF’s event schedule was jampacked this year with industry legends, novice filmmakers and attendees who celebrated star power in entertainment with a slew of public and private events.

A special screening of the blockbuster animation film, “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,” was presented and followed by a conversation with two of the screenwriters, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller. Rainn Wilson discussed his most recent book at an Author Talk.

Mark Ronson also filmed a live taping of a podcast, whilst receiving an award for Outstanding Achievement in Music for scoring “Barbie,” to name only a fraction of events that were hosted by the festival.

Attendees are encouraged to purchase a NBFF pass that grants early access to festival tickets, provides exclusive access to year-round screenings and special events and unlocks a streaming archive of more than 100 festival alumni films, industry Q&As and periodic alumni screenings, as well as special NBFF programming.

A total of five packages, ranging from $15 for short film entry to an inclusive $50 for spotlight films and party admission, provided unique tiers to the festival experience for fans to enjoy. If being immersed in a dark theater watching multiple films back-to-back does not seem enjoyable, a party admission-only ticket is available for $30.

For the casual and die-hard fans of cinema, or anyone just looking to celebrate during a weekend in early October, NBFF will be hosting eight days of film, food and fun for their silver jubilee, marking their 25th anniversary next year.

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ARTS ARTS & LIFE

MARY CATIPAY / Daily Forty-Niner Indie supergroup boygenius performs a sold-out live acoustic set at Fingerprints Music in Long Beach on Oct. 13. The performance, promoting the release of their EP, "the rest," had an intimate quality, with the band explaining their songwriting process behind the new tracks.

boygenius gets personal during acoustic set at Fingerprints Music

BY MARY CATIPAY Design Editor

F

rom performances at Coachella and Taylor Swift’s “The Eras Tour,” to selling out Madison Square Garden, boygenius has had a whirlwind of a year.

The indie supergroup, consisting of Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers and Lucy Dacus, released their debut full-length album titled “the record” in March, followed by its four-song companion EP “the rest” on Oct. 13.

On the evening of Oct. 12, Fingerprints Music announced via Instagram that boygenius would perform a live acoustic set in-store to celebrate the EP’s release.

To attend, fans needed to pre-order “the rest” on vinyl from the record store.

10 minutes after the initial announcement, Fingerprints posted that the event was sold out.

Hours before the performance, the line of fans extended around the corner of Fourth St. and Linden Ave. With all three members identifying as queer, much of boygenius’ discography reflects themes of friendship and queer joy.

As a result, the band has amassed a large, dedicated fan base within the LGBTQ+ community.

For Long Beach resident Katie

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Brown, much of the band’s appeal lies in their reliability and lyricism.

“They are three of the greatest songwriters of their generation,” Brown said.

“I feel very connected to the storytelling and music that they put out, and I think they do great things for the queer community.”

sat crowded together on the floor of the warmly-lit record store, surrounded by CD and vinyl racks, with the room at full capacity.

The band took the stage with Bridgers’ dog Maxine, and asked the crowd to snap in lieu of clapping and cheering, to avoid frightening her.

”

Them coming out here and explaining the songs for the first time makes you feel like you’re one with the music.

Liz Elze Concert attendee During their U.S. tour over the summer, many of boygenius’ shows were wild, energetic affairs, often ending with the band members chasing each other around the stage, or diving into the crowd.

The acoustic set had a more peaceful and intimate atmosphere. Attendees

Dacus held Maxine in her lap for the majority of the set, later handing her off to an audience member during the final song.

Throughout the evening, the band performed songs from “the rest,” with added commentary explaining their meanings and songwriting process'.

Monday, October 23, 2023

“You don’t know how you got to your position, you don’t know how you have the power or disadvantage that you have either,” Baker said of their new song “Powers.”

“You just are, and you’re expected to just deal with it without questioning the origin of why.”

Apart from the new EP, the band closed the performance with two songs from “the record,” with the melancholy track “Cool About It,” and the upbeat, existential “Not Strong Enough.”

Attendee Maria Alvarado found the experience to be unlike anything she had seen from the band before.

“Their songwriting and the performance just feels so refreshing, so honest,” Alvarado said.

“There’s nothing like it, and just to see their friendship is so wholesome.”

For Liz Elze, who had attended a concert by the band MUNA the night before, where boygenius made a surprise appearance for a couple of songs, the acoustic performance was a welcome change of pace.

“That was so amazing and intimate,” Elze said.

“You just feel so close to it when it’s so raw. Them coming out here and explaining the songs for the first time makes you feel like you’re one with the music.” boygenius’ next concert is scheduled for Oct. 31 at the Hollywood Bowl, supported by openers 100 gecs and Sloppy Jane.

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ARTS ARTS & LIFE

A deep dive into the L.A. local music scene with Concave

Photos by ALEX GRYCIUK / Daily Forty-Niner Clockwise from top: Concave, an L.A. based band prepares for their backyard concert. James Gonzalez (left), Ruben Franco (middle), Anali Mosquera (right) and Anthony Aguilar (drums) tune their instruments and complete a sound check to prepare for the set. In true DIY-fashion, Concave sets up their backyard stage with drums, amps and speakers. Sounds of guitar, drums, bass and vocals were combined by the band members to create their melodies.

BY ALEX GRYCIUK Contributor

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or many students, going to a concert means traveling to a large arena and spending hundreds of dollars to watch their favorite artists. However, a more attainable concert experience thrives with groups like Concave, a small, L.A. based band that offers a closer look into the indie music scene.

Surrounded by red photography lights and large amps, lead singer Ruben Franco, bassist Anali Mosquera, drummer Anthony Aguilar and guitarist James Gonzalez delivered a stand-out backyard show for a handful of early fans on Sunday, Oct. 15.

Concave originally began as a solo

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musical project for Franco. It wasn’t until the rest of the band members met through mutual friends and Instagram that the group began to play music together.

Since their official start in July 2023, the band has performed with various musicians from the Los Angeles music scene, such as The Vlasics, Bliss Hour and Cursed Suns. In true indie-fashion, the group has mainly played backyard or house shows.

“We just put ourselves out there fully and then we just met a bunch of people,” Franco said.

The band agrees that the best part about playing backyard shows is the tight-knit community that help each other book gigs and advance their careers.

Many musicians befriend other performers, adding to the camaraderie amongst local L.A. bands.

What sets Concave apart from other indie groups is their complex, interesting take on the music-making process.

“We just try to stay super open-minded because we [members of Concave] all have different tastes in music,” Aguilar said.

A wide range of heavy metal, smooth jazz, indie, Spanish rock and punk elements contribute to a manifestation of uniquely rhythmic, emotional songs that audiences can relate to.

“If you’re there, you’ll hear it, you’ll get it,” Aguilar said.

Each member also takes after numerous artists to construct an entertaining stage presence.

“The musicians that surround me give me inspiration,” Mosquera said.

While the guitarist might reflect the style of teachers and bandmates, Franco and Aguilar find that their stage pres-

Monday, October 23, 2023

ence is greatly influenced by idols Omar Apollo, The Police, Santana and Freddie Mercury.

The desire to express musical interests and artists motivates the evolving band to continue finding joy in performing exciting sets.

“No matter what energy, no matter what kind of crowd, we always just go to give it our all,” Aguilar said.

“That’s what we do.”

To stay updated on upcoming shows and music releases, Concave encouraged readers to follow @concave_band on Instagram and stream their music on all major platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music.

“Tell your grandma, your mom, your dad, your sister, your brothers, your dad and your cats,” Franco said jokingly.

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ARTS ARTS & LIFE

Shirley's Temple: Signal Hill's first alcohol-free bar

BY WINNIE HOHAN Staff Writer

S

hirley’s Temple Deli & Mocktails had its debut opening on Sept. 9. and has continued to take off ever since.

Catering to those who are sober curious, in a lifetime of recovery or anyone who simply wants an alcohol-free drink, the spot has something for everyone.

Creator and business owner Stephanie “Essie” Evans grew up in Pennsylvania but has lived in Long Beach for over 12 years. Evans has a history in hospitality and started as a bartender before she moved to corporate roles.

At the beginning of her business endeavor, Evans struggled to find like-minded mentors to aid in her idea.

"Everyone kept telling me to find someone in my shoes, a black woman and entrepreneur but it's very limited in this area," Evans said. "I had a hard time finding anyone who was like me or looked like me that I could lean on. I hope I can be that for somebody else in the future."

Despite enjoying the occasional cocktail herself, Evans recognizes the need for balance and the idea that alcohol isn't required to have a good time.

"Sometimes if you go out in mixed crowds, the people drinking ask questions or look at you funny," Evans said. "There's social pressure that we should be drinking and sometimes we might not want to. I want people to feel comfortable."

WINNIE HOHAN / Daily Forty-Niner The inside of Shirley's Temple is '40s Hollywood themed with comfortable seating and plenty of references to the restaurant's namesake.

"Sometimes I want to go out with friends but not drink and I don't want to feel left out," Evans added. "If you're not drinking, you can still engage in a nice beverage without alcohol here."

The wide range of menu options allows customers to explore intricate flavors without having to worry that a beverage contains alcohol, which may happen at other restaurants.

"Some restaurants are catching on now," Evans said. "They will have a small mocktail section but usually it's two or three drinks, very limited and not as aesthetically pleasing. I want to make sure we have something for everybody here."

Ingredients such as botanical syrups,

edible flowers, espresso and non-alcoholic spirits are used to expand your taste palate. The concoctions offer a new look at classic syrup cocktails.

The idea that non-alcoholic beverages can only contain juice is something Evans wants to prove wrong. Before committing to the recipes that she created, she tried different cocktail companies' alcohol-free beverages with newer ingredients that don't include juice.

Limited-time mocktails will be introduced each season and are themed depending on the month. For October, Evans introduced the featured drink "ghouls & glamour," which contains house-made blackberry and sage syrup,

lemon, Ghia soda and activated charcoal.

The thought put into decor applies to not only the menu but also the restaurant's appearance. With a 1940s theme, Shirley's Temple has an old Hollywood inspiration.

"Many people don't know what a mocktail is but everyone knows what a Shirley Temple drink is," Evans said. "It's the most classic non-alcoholic drink that you could get. I knew her name would be something people immediately recognize."

The environment offers comfortable dining and operates similarly to a cafe for customers who want something to drink other than coffee. During the day, many guests bring their laptops and use the space to relax alone or in groups.

Every Sunday from 3:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. are "Sober Sundays," which include a drink tasting with a three-for-$25 deal along with R&B, soul and jazz tunes.

A special Halloween event will be held at Shirley's on Oct. 28 from 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Those dressed in costume will be entered in a raffle with free gift certificates and free drinks.

CSULB students will be offered a $2 discount for any mocktail with a student ID. Evans hopes that in the future, more nightlife events like this will be scheduled.

"We're hoping to have some live music, game nights and we have had sober groups customize their experience here.

Anyone can reserve an alcohol-free party," Evans said.

ARTS OPINION

Comfort zones

I

t is easy to remain within the bubble of one’s own comfort; students shared their experiences from when they decide to step out of that bubble.

BY NUELLE OBASEKI Design Assistant

Cayden Clark (left) is a civil engineering major and Pablo Alfaro (right) is an aerospace engineering major; both are first-year students. Clark said that joining clubs and meeting new people has helped expand his comfort zone socially. Alfaro described how the transition of moving from Sacramento to Los Angeles County was a major change that fostered a great appreciation for home and taught him new things about himself.

“You just get to understand who you are more and you find things about yourself that you did not know and that’s the best part of going beyond your limits,” said Alfaro.

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Briana Neri, a fourth-year mechanical engineering major, had a similar experience as a shy introvert who wanted to become more involved on campus. She is now the active vice president of MAES, Latinos in Science and Engineering.

“I felt like taking on VP would take me out of my comfort zone, so I did it,” said Neri. “It has been a lot of socializing which is great for me because I feel that it helps with my interpersonal skills.”

Monday, October 23, 2023

Denver Davis, a third-year aerospace engineering major, last stepped out of his comfort zone on Sept. 17 when he gave a speech for a friend’s wedding.

He became increasingly worried about how the vibe of his speech would compare to the best man’s, who spoke right before him. To Davis’ relief, the groom was delighted by both speeches and thanked Davis and the best man afterward, saying that they were amazing and had made his night.

“It made me really happy,” said Davis.

“Pushing myself out of my comfort zone for him was one of the best things I did.”

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OPINION

National Horror Movie Day: Celebrating the best genre of film

BY SALYSSA DURAN Staff Writer

T

here’s no better time to watch a horror movie than in October, where scary reigns supreme.

When I was a young girl, I despised horror movies. I could never shake off the image of Kayako Saeki’s horrifying stare and deep croak from the 2002 film, “The Grudge.” I’d sleep with the lights on and pray that when I reopened my eyes, there wouldn’t be some horrifying entity in the corner of my room looking to devour my soul. I was afraid of the dark most of my elementary school years.

Now that I’m older, I can appreciate a good scare. Whether at home or in the theater, I can’t help but be excited about horror films. They keep me on the edge of my seat and have become a fun activity for myself, my friends and family.

Fear is not always bad, it also has its benefits. For me personally, the adrenaline kick and quick feelings of fear and excitement that horror movies evoke give me a boost of serotonin.

According to Mathias Clasen, director of the Recreational Fear Lab at Aarhus University in Denmark, horror gives us an adrenaline rush along with

SALYSSA DURAN / Daily Forty-Niner Horror movies are the one time where we can truly let out fear and have fun at the same time. learning about how to deal with scary situations in a safe environment. It’s all in good fun.

However, are horror movies overrated? It seems that the genre hasn’t been able to shake off the reboot and sequel phenomenon that has been taking over cinemas for years. For example, how many more versions of “Scream” does

Persevering to find light in the darkness Sometimes our fears stay with us our whole lives and develop into something even scarier. We may never find a solution to them, but the importance lies in the resilience it takes to face them.

LISBETH CORTES-GUTIERREZ / Daily Forty-Niner Beyond childhood fears of the dark, the night can be full of dangerous experiences, particularly for young women. Still, there are ways to fight these anxieties to avoid living in fear.

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there really need to be?

Regardless, horror is still the most exciting genre in modern day film.

No other genre has evolved and pushed the limits the way that horror has. Every year, a new director comes along and helps broaden this genres catalog of well-rounded movies. Some of these popular directors include Ari

BY LISBETH CORTES-GUTIERREZ Staff Writer

As

a little girl, just like almost every other kid in the world, I feared the moment when my parents would kiss me goodnight and turn off the lights. Unlike most kids, my monster did not live in my closet. My imagination grew wild when I was left to nothing but my thoughts and fears.

Of course, I never saw a monster, but the anxious buildup of possible danger was enough for me. In the midst of what I thought were the worst nights of my life, I only knew one way to protect myself in the dark. My illogical reasoning convinced me that hiding under my blanket would fend off any monster.

As we grow up, I think we continue to find illogical ways to protect ourselves from our fears.

In my teenage years, I realized I was only afraid to go out at night if my father was not there. I started to pay more attention and realized that my mother had the same fear. I noticed this through small actions that I have adopted through the years. In fact, I think many women might know what I am talking about. Holding your keys in between your fingers, calling a family member or friend, constantly checking your surroundings as if someone is out to get you.

All these things became normal to me because I have seen women on the news who were harassed on the street.

One evening on my way to work, a stranger who looked around 40 approached me at the bus stop. I was 18

Monday, October 23, 2023

Aster, Jordan Peele and Danny and Michael Philippou.

In the realm of horror, I am a firm believer that there is genuinely something for everyone. Through a variety of different sub-genres such as comedy, psychological, paranormal and gore, the options for you to find what you enjoy are endless.

and confused as to why this man was asking me for a date. I said no thank you.

I learned from other girls’ stories that it is important to not make men angry because you never know how they will react.

Even after my polite decline, he insisted. I remember the moment I felt unsafe.

“I’ve been watching you for a while,” he said.

I do not remember anything he said after that. My fear would not let me.

As an adult who now drives, I have adopted even more small actions to protect myself in the dark. I look underneath my car when I approach it. I never touch anything that is left on my car. I immediately lock the doors when I get in my car.

I do all this while also remembering the basics I learned as a teenager.

With bad comes good, and I have had many great experiences going out at night. These include driving along the beach with the windows down while listening to Taylor Swift, going out for dinner with my friends and driving around with my little sister to different beaches in search of bioluminescence. As I grew older, I discovered that nighttime is my favorite time of day. That is not despite the dark - it is because of it.

We live in a world that is statistically more unsafe for women. In 2019, a national survey was conducted called Measuring #MeToo. The survey revealed that 71% of women have experienced sexual harassment in a public space.

I have watched how many girls and women walk through life, light or dark, and survive. The resilience I see day-today is inspiring. It’s led me to decide to

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SPORTS

Ryley Fick: From alumni to 2023 Long Beach Marathon champion

BY ALYSSA DE LA CRUZ Sports Assistant

In

a twist of fate, what started as a simple invitation to join the Track and field team freshman year of high school with her best friend turned into a lifelong passion for Ryley Fick, who never anticipated that running would take center stage in her athletic journey.

Most runners start at a young age with their athletic journey but Fick’s story was a little different. She started off running until she began high school and she was able to show her talents to the Director of Track and field, Andy Sythe.

They came into contact when she was visiting the track with her family around spring time.

“Her times were below standards but I had full trust in her and our coaches to get her to where she needed to be,” Sythe said. Bringing walk-ons on the team rarely ever happens.

Fick was able to get to those high standards and now holds five records for LBSU Track & Field and led the team to the NCAA Regional three times, and to the Big West conference in 2022 and 2023.

Through the streets of Long Beach,

Photo courtesy of RYLEY FICK LBSU alumni Ryley Fick poses at the finish of this month's Long Beach Marathon, holding two medals given to her as the winner of the race. the participants set out on their journey to complete the grueling 26.2-mile course. In a thrilling display of endurance and determination, Fick emerged as one of the triumphant winners of the 2023 Long Beach Marathon with a time of 2:58:31.

Fick’s experience and exceptional training paid off as she steadily increased her lead throughout the race.

“When I was able to turn at the 'u-turns' to see who was behind me, I realized I was in the lead by myself,” Fick

said. “That is when I started to believe I could win this race within the first couple of miles.”

Fick, with her trademark of determination, had been training relentlessly for this moment.

“She has always been known as a hard worker, she gets you to places where you’d like to be,” Sythe said.

Fick isn’t known for her long-distance running skills but for her mid-distance running skills where she can run 800 meters in 2:09 mins which is an

LBSU school record.

With all these records that Fick holds and winning the Long Beach Marathon, it took a lot of training to get the win she received. Fick trained almost every day for 13 weeks, started slowly, then increased the number of miles she was running.

“I didn’t take off right at running 26 miles, I slowly progressed and saw where my times were,” Fick said.

Even on her birthday trip to Big Bear, she kept that dedication to training.

“She prioritizes her training over many things that a person in their young twenties isn’t willing to do,” Anitha Graves said. “Best words to describe her are passionate, competitive, and committed.”

After the race, Fick felt her legs were so achy from running, she had emotions going all over the place, she didn’t know if sitting down who held her at the moment but all she felt was relief that everything was done. Her winning prize was $1,000 and an electric toothbrush.

Fick’s plans after this win are to get back into some track meets in the Spring and be able to qualify for the Olympic trials. Overall Fick had an amazing experience and she believed that doing this marathon one time would be enough.

“It felt so good just to be back on track, I see myself doing this again,” Fick said.

Beach baller of the week: Kameron Bacon

BY DAVIS RAMAGE Sports Editor

J

unior middle blocker Kameron Bacon has been Long Beach States women’s volleyball’s defensive anchor all season long.

She recently came out hitting in last week’s two conference wins, as she filled up the box score with 15 kills and 12 blocks in these games. Her performance earned her Big West Defensive Player of the Week honors.

“I obviously don’t play to get awards, but it’s cool to be recognized. I’m just happy that we’re winning a lot of games right now,” Bacon said.

The Beach have won six of their last seven games and have swept their last three, and the defense, lead by Bacon, has been a major part of their success.

“The improvement on defense has changed our defense as a whole,” said LBSU head coach Tyler Hildebrand. “We were a medium defensive team last year and we are a very good floor defensive team now.”

Bacon has made an instant impact since the moment she arrived on campus.

Before her first game as a freshman in

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2021, The Beach’s starting middle blocker got injured in warmups in their first game of the season vs. UCLA, thrusting Bacon into the starting role.

“I feel like it adapted me because we only had two middles, there was no other option,” Bacon said. “And I think it helped me not be scared of competition at a high level, and it just made [the transition] a little bit easier for me.”

Hildebrand expressed how much Bacon has grown since she’s been on campus, saying that she has grown physically as a result of being in the weight room, and as a player in general.

“We have a growth mindset, learningcentric team, and when you commit to that, she is a great example of that can turn into a positive,” Hildebrand said.

She started 30 of the 31 games she played in as a freshman and finished an outstanding freshman season 10th in the Big West in blocks (96) and average blocks per set (0.87).

“Kam gives us physicality as a blocker.

We’re not a super physical blocking team, so her ability to stress attackers and stress the other team is one of the impacts she has,” Hildebrand said.

Hildebrand became the head coach after the 2021 season and Bacon noted that Hildebrand influenced her to take blocking more seriously than in years

NAOKI GIMA / Daily Forty-Niner Long Beach State women’s volleyball junior middle blocker Kameron Bacon (center #6) stares down the UC Davis attack during a matchup inside the Walter Pyramid on Oct. 13, 2023. Bacon recorded a combined 15 blocks and 12 kills between the matchups against UC Davis and UC Riverside. past and even retaught her blocking all together.

Bacon is not just contributing defensively, she is fourth on the team in kills and first among non-hitters.

Offense is something that Bacon said she has struggled with in years past, but this season she is trying to be more aggressive offensively and feels she has made a lot of improvements to her game.

Her older sister, Karson Bacon, is a middle blocker for the University of Oregon. The two played high school and club volleyball together growing up, and Bacon expressed how important it was to have her ‘baller” older sister to follow in the footsteps of.

“She’s so good and there’s so much

Monday, October 23, 2023

to learn from her and I think she was a really good person to look up to for volleyball and she taught me so much,” Bacon said.

Even with a coaching change after her freshman year and the uncertainty that came with it, Bacon had no thoughts of linking up with her sister at Oregon and chose to stay loyal to The Beach.

“I just love it here,” Bacon said. “We have gotten the most amazing staff over the past few years and it’s just a great place.”

With The Beach looking to make a final push for the Big West regular season title, Bacon hopes to continue to fry the competition and keep this winning streak going.

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SPORTS

Photos by SAMUEL CHACKO / Daily Forty-Niner Throughout the game, The Beach constantly rushed to the ball as outside hitter Natalie Glenn (#83 white) and defensive specialist Savana Chacon dove to the ball at the Walter Pyramid. Chacon had five assists and Glenn scored eight kills, which was the third highest on the team.

Five takeaways from LBSU’s sweep of Cal State Fullerton

BY MATTHEW COLEMAN Sports Assistant

T

he Beach is in the midst of their second four-game winning streak of the season, following Saturday’s match against the Titans. What is even more impressive is the way they are getting it done, The Beach has gone 12-0 in those sets and is surging to the top of the Big West standings, now sitting at (8-2) and (14-6) overall.

Going Streaking The two teams that matched up on the floor of the Walter Pyramid Saturday are ones that have had quite opposite seasons and are currently each on streaks of their own. LBSU has been riding high during their four-game stretch of dominance displayed on the rest of the Big West.

Cal State Fullerton however has struggled in the 2023 campaign, posting a (0-10) conference record and a (118) record overall. After tonight’s loss, they’ve now dropped twelve straight games. Fullerton, a relatively young team, with virtually no upperclassmen, is led by head coach and Long Beach State alum, Nicole Vargas Polster.

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Prepare and Perform LBSU entered the match with an advantage they had not experienced since the early stages of this season, which was not playing in the second half of backto-back games. Following their matchup with UCI on Thursday, The Beach had a day in between to recover, prep and scout the Titans.

“It was a good mental prep day to shift our focus towards Fullerton, come together as a team, and put some work in at practice,” graduate student opposite/ outside hitter Katie Kennedy said.

“It was also great for our bodies too, I think some people have had some nagging stuff getting treatment. Getting that little break is pretty awesome to be feeling fresh for the next game,” said redshirt sophomore setter Zayna Meyer.

It would show early, as the Beach jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead, grabbing set one by a score of 25-16.

Offense Clicking “Our offense starts with passing…

Some girls have made some improvements in passing and it’s making a difference, and it goes to Zayna, she’s as good as any setter in the country, I say it all the time, but it’s true,” head coach Tyler Hildebrand said following the win.

LBSU has also hit above .300 seven different times this season, and in those

Long Beach State women’s volleyball outside hitter Elise Agi shows her emotions on her sleeve as she celebrates one of many points The Beach scored against Cal State Fullerton. matches they are undefeated.

They took the second set 25-13, the largest margin of the night, fueled by a late 7-0 run.

Steady Kennedy Since returning from injury in late September, Katie Kennedy has proved to be a driving force on both sides of the ball for The Beach. Coming off of a big game in Irvine on Thursday, she followed up that performance with a team-leading twelve kills and five blocks.

Fortress LBSU has fed off of the electricity

Monday, October 23, 2023

brought by the home crowd this season, they have not dropped a set at home since Sept. 23, going 15-0 in that span.

A play that encapsulated the evening occurred in the third set when junior Jenna Giambi made a sensational effort diving onto the scorer’s table to make a play on a ball which led to The Beach earning the point. This sent the Walter Pyramid into a frenzy, it felt as though the roof would come off.

Long Beach State would ultimately take the third and final set by a score of 25-16.

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