Daily Forty Niner; March 4. 2024

DAILY FORTY-NINER EST

Vol. XCV, Issue 21

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A decade of Conoley

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fter 10 years of serving the campus as president, Jane Close Conoley reflects on her experiences thus far. From the COVID-19 pandemic to mascot changes and various controversies, Conoley shares her highs and lows.

See Conoley, Page 5

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Monday, March 4, 2024

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ON THE COVER NAOKI GIMA / Daily Forty-Niner Long Beach State University President Jane Close Conoley will celebrate 10 years as president this spring 2024 semester. She was announced as the new president in January 2014 and took over the job in July of that year. She is pictured in October 2022 presenting CSULB employee Cindy Masner with a commemorative jersey at Walter Pyramid.

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

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

Assistants News Assistants

Arts & Life Assistants Opinions Assistants Sports Assistants Design Assistants Copy Editor Assistants

Photo Assistants Social Media Assistant Video Assistants

Podcast Assistants

Elizabeth Basile Acsah Lemma Anthony Orrico Linsey Towles Samantha Cortes Leila Alarcon Cheyenne Elizarraras Maya-Claire Glenn Matthew Coleman Alyssa De La Cruz Matthew Gomez Luis Castilla Nuelle Obaseki Nick Broadhead Jaylyn Preslicka Khoury Williams Mark Siquig Marlon Villa Maher Basharahil Zachery Durham Steven Matthews Talia Brandon Ellie Creighton 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 Naoki Gima distribution@gobeach.media

MARLON VILLA / Daily Forty-Niner Students and organizations such as La F.U.E.R.Z.A marched across campus together in protest of the tuition increases. The march began from Brotman Hall and continued around the entire campus until arriving back at Brotman Hall.

T

hanks for picking up this edition of the Daily Forty-Niner! In this issue, we're exploring multiple resources on campus, highlighting a few leaders at Long Beach State, as well as recapping the recent tuition protest. We also have multiple opinion pieces on current events and sports stories highlighting LBSU Athletics.

With a heavy focus on news and campus resources, this edition of the Daily Forty-Niner aims to keep students and faculty informed on all things CSULB. From stories about new coaches welcomed at CSULB, President Jane Close Conoley working on campus for a decade, recent citations and more, this issue has something for everyone.

This issue features multiple longform news pieces, it is our hope that students and faculty will be more informed on campus occurrences after reading our content. It has always been a goal of the Daily Forty-Niner team to keep our readers up-to-date on CSULB, this is an ever-changing campus and there is always something new to learn.

Please enjoy this edition of the Daily Forty-Niner! Students interested in pitching stories, contributing opinion pieces or submitting CSULB relevant news tips can email me directly at eic@daily49er.com and we can further discuss.

For daily news content, visit our website, subscribe to our newsletter, or follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook @daily49er.

CHRISTAL GAINES-EMORY Editor-in-Chief

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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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, March 4, 2024

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NEWS ‘No more greed’: Walkout protests CSU tuition hikes

BY LINSEY TOWLES News Assistant

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tudent organizations took to Long Beach State campus Wednesday afternoon in protest of the yearly 6% tuition increase approved by the CSU Board of Trustees in September.

The walkout, announced last week and advertised by a sign in front of the University Library, began and ended at Brotman Hall, attracting dozens of students armed with signs and shouting chants.

History major Alanah Enriquez said the yearly tuition increases could jeopardize her future at Long Beach State University.

“There are a lot of people in Long Beach that choose to come to CSULB because it’s affordable,” Enriquez said. “If the tuition hike goes through, I won’t be able to go here and I’ll have to end my education with an associate’s degree.”

Students Against Tuition Hikes, a coalition within La F.U.E.R.Z.A and Students for Quality Education led Wednesday’s protest which included speeches from selected speakers.

Sociology major Jennifer Chavez said the tuition increases highlight problems with the college’s student body and its

BY SAMUEL CHACKO & ELIZABETH BASILE Managing Editor & News Assistant

MARLON VILLA / Daily Forty-Niner Long Beach State students and community members gathered outside Brotman Hall Wednesday afternoon to protest and gather signatures in an attempt to stop the planned tuition increase. educational standards.

“We are demanding that President Conoley, the chancellor and the Board of Trustees reverse the tuition hike,” Chavez said. “Tuition is inherently racist and its history is rooted in racism. We’re out here fighting because our tuition is rising but the quality of our education is not.”

In September, the CSU Board of Trustees met in downtown Long Beach to approve the tuition increase plan to try and close a $1.5 billion budget gap in the CSU budget.

In a 15-5 vote, the measure was approved and tuition is set to increase 6% every year beginning in the 2024-2025 school year. By 2029, tuition will have increased by 36%.

Tuition increases prompted protests and demonstrations to take place before and after the decision was officially made.

Animation student Ashbie Martinez said she’s protesting to help make an impact in Long Beach State.

“I come from an immigrant family,” Martinez said. “This is our way of mobilizing, of having a direct path to make some change.”

LBSU contains one of the most diverse student populations in the CSU system, with 48% of the student body being Hispanic/Latino and 28% being first-generation students, according to the CSULB website.

“I’m a low-income, first-generation student,” Chavez said. “I worked so hard

Campus childcare seeks new assistant teachers

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sabel Patterson Child Development Center has struggled to maintain student assistant teachers who are directly tasked in taking care of children.

The child development center can hold up to 185 families at a time, said Miles Nevin, associate vice president and executive director of student auxiliary enterprises.

According to an email from Taylor Buhler-Scott, associate director of programs and communications for ASI, there are currently 108 student parents.

Maria Rivera, the assistant director for the IPCDC’s administration office, said student assistant teachers often can’t fill the block scheduling required. “[It] can be very hard because we have a center [that] has a lot of children here,” Rivera said.

The center’s infant/toddler student assistant teacher job posting has been open on the ASI website and ranges from $16 to $16.75 hourly.

Lisa Harris, assistant director of the infant and toddler program for the center, said she looks for people who can work from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. or 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

The priority is to maintain familiar faces for the kids, AlecSandria Colchico, director of the IPCDC said.

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SAMUEL CHACKO / Daily Forty-Niner (Left to right) "Lisa Harris, assistant director for the Isabel Patterson Child Development Center, AlecSandria Colchico, administration office director and Maria Rivera, administration assistant director. The IPCDC has been struggling to fill student assistant teacher positions following the COVID-19 pandemic.

“When they first come [children], they don’t know us,” Colchico said. “A few weeks in, they are so bonded to the new children that they’ve met and the caregivers because they see this as a safe space to be in.”

The post-COVID years have become an issue for the IPCDC, with students being less available to work for the full shifts.

“That’s a challenge in and of itself and then trying to figure out how I can utilize staff without having too many adult faces with young kids,” Harris said.

Rivera said it is hard for the children to create personal relationships or secure attachments with the adults when they are constantly rotating.

The center is seeking people to serve as primary caregivers, who are assigned

Monday, March 4, 2024

to get here and I want to graduate. I was told this was the dream, and it’s not. Instead, I’m here fighting for my rights.”

Dante Verdin, president of For Undocumented Empowered Leaders (F.U.E.L) and a speaker at Wednesday’s walkout, shared the impact of tuition increases on his community.

“I’m an undocumented student and I say that with pride,” Verdin said. “The marginalized communities get impacted when these decisions are made. When they choose to increase tuition we feel it first.”

Wednesday’s protest traveled across lower and upper campus, concluding at Brotman Hall. Protesters hope the demonstration will bring attention to the student’s needs.

infants and toddlers to feed or change diapers.

Nevin said the IPCDC has the potential to expand its infant and toddler program, but is limited.

“The center is only so big and the capacity is only so high,” Nevin said. “If we had more capacity and funding, we would expand our infant program [...] we have a lot of students on this campus with really young children who need care.”

Part of the students’ ASI fee helps fund the IPCDC program, Nevin said.

The ASI Consolidated Operating Budget shows the center has approximately $2.4 million in projected expenses for the 2023-2024 school year.

“Last semester, we got a tentative agreement from the federal government for a $3.5 million grant that will help us repair all of the facilities of the childcare center,” Nevin said.

Buhler-Scott said in an email the funds for the $3.5 million grant will be formalized when Congress adopts the 2024 fiscal year budget.

New hires go through a two-day, eight-hour training process that builds the new hire’s skillset to engage with children.

Colchico said students who work for the program are unaware of the differences they could make for the children.

“The skills they are going to learn are going to just really make an impression on them to become better adults,” Colchico said.

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NEWS

SEAN DUFRENE / CSULB Strategic Communications Long Beach State President Jane Close Conoley congratulates graduates during the spring 2023 commencement ceremony at Angel Stadium in Anaheim.

Conoley reaches 10 year anniversary as president

BY CHRISTAL GAINES-EMORY Editor-in-Chief

J

ane Close Conoley has faced a number of challenges in her decade at Long Beach State, from a pandemic to a commencement controversy. Through it all, Conoley has kept in her heart the fundamental idea that education can make positive changes in people’s lives.

In January 2014, Conoley was appointed as president of Long Beach State by the CSU Board of Trustees. After serving CSULB for 10 years, Conoley has achieved many of her goals, but has also faced her share of obstacles on campus.

After serving as interim chancellor at University of California, Riverside (UCR) for 10 months, the trajectory of her entire career changed and she knew her goal was to change the lives of students.

When former CSULB President F. King Alexander relocated to Louisiana State University A&M, Conoley jumped at the opportunity to lead Long Beach State.

“While at UCR, that was the first time I had been at a university with that level of student diversity,” Conoley said.

“That’s when I thought, ‘college has a chance of really changing some of these student’s lives dramatically.’”

This realization led her to CSULB, where she had a mission to increase educational attainment in the area and improve community outreach.

When asked what her greatest accomplishments on campus have been, she passionately expressed the community engagement has improved drastically since her appointment.

“I feel like I’ve moved us into closer

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”

Education made the biggest change in my life, and that’s true for many Beach students too.

Jane Close Conoley CSULB President partnerships with the city and we’ve seen the advantage there,” she said. “I’m told by the older alums that Cal State Long Beach used to be called the ‘Mausoleum on the Hill’ since we were so separate from everyone else. I’m happy we’ve been able to improve that.”

Along with civic engagement, Conoley had hopes to improve sustainability efforts on campus when she first arrived at CSULB. With multiple sustainability campaigns implemented during her tenure, President Conoley is proud of the results.

“I’ve been pleased with the number of projects we’ve been working on towards sustainability,” Conoley said.

From energy-efficient buildings, to reducing grass and utilizing drought-resistant plants, Conoley believes that the CSULB administration has been putting in the work to help mitigate climate change.

Although Conoley is proud of these accomplishments, she has a few regrets

from the past 10 years, including the handling of the mascot switching from Prospector Pete to Elbee the Shark in 2020. After years of controversy, Prospector Pete was retired in 2018.

“I don’t know if I could’ve handled it better, but we went through that period where we changed mascots,” she said.

“We tried to encourage lots of interaction. We had surveys, focus groups and a student referendum, but there is certainly a leftover feeling among the older alumni that it wasn’t done well.”

After much deliberation among students, faculty and alumni, it was decided that the mascot was to change due to the symbol of Prospector Pete being associated with genocide during the California Gold Rush. This led to the implementation of Elbee the Shark as the CSULB mascot.

This change was welcomed by many, but some alumni felt as though the school was attempting to erase its history.

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“I wish we could’ve done it better in a way that didn’t alienate some of the older folks. I still feel that it was the right thing to do, but I wish it hadn’t been so upsetting for others.”

Conoley also wishes that she had been more involved in mentoring others early in her career at CSULB. In addition to more mentorship of her peers, she would have liked to have taken more of an active and aggressive role in fundraising and developing close relationships with donors.

Although Conoley has faced a variety of obstacles, including various infrastructure concerns on campus, ASI President Mitali Jain has been impressed with Conoley and her work at CSULB. According to Jain, President Conoley has shown a great deal of strength in her position on campus.

“As a student, when I look at the president, I admire her resilience.” Jain said.

“That is something as a leader I admire in her along with her strong leadership.”

Jain also expressed how grateful she has felt to work with President Conoley.

“She brings a wealth of experience and she always has something new to say about campus,” Jain said. “President Conoley is always so positive, that’s one of her strengths.”

In honor of her 10-year anniversary at CSULB, Conoley expressed her love for her job and her passion for education.

“It’s not an easy job, but it’s a meaningful job,” Conoley said. “Helping to set up an environment based on the needs of students and faculty here at Cal State Long Beach, like lactation rooms and gender-neutral bathrooms, that makes the difference.”

“Education made the biggest change in my life, and that’s true for many Beach students too.”

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ARTS & LIFE

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Monday, February 26, 2024

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NEWS CSULB cited over $10,000 for violations within mental health services

BY LINSEY TOWLES News Assistant

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ong Beach State has been cited with a $10,125 fine from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for violations in assessing potential workplace violence within the Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) satellite program.

The citation comes after OSHA discovered that CAPS failed to “implement procedures” for finding and assessing dangers related to possible workplace violence.

What was the CAPS Satellite Program?

Launched during Fall 2023, the CAPS satellite program was an initiative that placed counselors and case managers in “satellite locations” around campus, according to the CSULB website The program would have given students access to CAPS services from several locations including the Residence Halls, University Student Union, Student Recreation and Wellness Center, Student Health Services and Academic Services.

Issues arise Before the program could be officially launched, an OSHA complaint was filed on July 19, 2023, after concerns regarding faculty safety and students’ confidentiality in the satellite program arose.

According to OSHA, the investigation into the satellite program concluded that a “serious violation” had been made, as CAPS did not establish a plan for evaluating “workplace violence.”

CAPS also received a violation in “correcting unsafe or unhealthy conditions, including possible hazards associated with potential workplace violence in the...satellite office.”

Investigation fall-out On Jan. 3, the university was fined $10,125 by OSHA for serious violations and was required to correct the violations by Jan. 23.

According to OSHA, the university is not required to pay the fine until the Appeals Board has submitted a final order.

On Jan. 12, the university submitted an appeal to the investigation.

“The issue was not the procedures but rather we felt the previous stipulated settlement was not required at the satellite locations,” an email statement sent to CAPS employees said. “Once we were given the mandate from CalOSHA, we corrected the discrepancies in a timely manner.”

When a serious OSHA violation is issued, the employer must sign a statement acknowledging that the violations found in the investigation have been resolved, known as a letter of abatement.

On Jan. 30, this letter was sent to the Department of Industrial Relations

SAMUEL CHACKO / Daily Forty-Niner CSULB Counseling and Psychological Services was fined $10,125 by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration over the implementation of a satellite program that would install offices throughout campus. The university appealed the fine. CAPS is located in Brotman Hall, room 226. at the Long Beach District office from Long Beach State claiming CAPS has addressed the violations.

“We conducted a risk assessment at all satellite locations and have resolved concerns from each inspection,” the letter said.

According to OSHA, the abatement was accepted on Feb. 26.

As of the publication of this article, corrections to the cited violations have not been made public. The satellite program has since been pulled back and

only two CAPS counselors and one case manager are working from the satellite office in the Student Health Center.

Since August, all other CAPS counselors formerly in the satellite offices have been moved back to the main CAPS building at BH-226.

Long Beach State’s Chief Communications Officer Jeffrey Cook said, “This matter is still being reviewed and discussed with CalOSHA, so we do not have information to share at this time.”

BSU continues to find ways to celebrate Black History

BY ACSAH LEMMA News Assistant

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lthough Black History Month has ended, celebrating Black culture and its impact is a year-long commitment at Long Beach State.

With organizations such as the Black Student Union (BSU) and the Black Resource Center (BRC), achieving that goal isn’t a solitary endeavor.

“Black History Month is a time to reflect on the history, the leaders who have made the sacrifices and also made the advancements and achievements that have led us to this point in history today,” Paul Carter, assistant director of the BRC said.

During Black History Month, the BRC hosted a multitude of events, starting with the Black History Month Cookout. Attendees enjoyed food, music and dancing while also having an opportunity to meet new people. Carter described it as “almost like a family reunion.”

Other events included a Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration where students learned about some of the more historical elements of the month.

“It’s a celebration because I think of Black history and joy as an act of resilience,” said Carter.

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GEORGIE SMITH / Daily Forty-Niner Long Beach State's Black Student Union (BSU) supports various African-American organizations on campus, including the National Panhellenic Council, National Society of Black Engineers and Africana Studies Student Association. The BSU also has numerous upcoming events for students to explore.

The BRC and the BSU work hand in hand to provide Black students with not only a physical space to gather but also a community to connect with.

BSU president, Michael Anaya, came into his presidency with the goal to “make sure I left the community better off in a sense of togetherness.”

While president he expanded the intake of interns that BSU can hire and made more of an effort to turn BSU into a political organization.

Members of the club attend local city council meetings as well as on-campus protests. Most recently, BSU was at the protest against tuition hikes held on Feb. 28.

“We’re just trying to make sure our community is informed because that is, at the end of the day, our main goal,” Anaya said. “Make sure our community

is informed enough to take action.”

While the BSU is separate from the BRC, they do make sure to show out and support events hosted by the BRC, according to Anaya.

An upcoming event on the BRC’s calendar in March is “Don’t Touch My Hair,” created by the Women’s & Gender Equity Center.

“It’s an event that’s going to focus on Black hair, as it relates to microaggressions, but also the celebration of Black hair and rich diversity within Black hair and culture,” Carter said.

The Black Consciousness Conference (BCC) is also scheduled for April 27 when BSU brings in speakers to host panels and allow students to engage and network within the space.

Atani Nelson, BSU membership development coordinator, says that events

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like the BCC help to uplift the Black community as well as “educating them in terms of how we are perceived throughout the world and even here on campus.”

Held in January every year, BSU board members represented the school at the African Black Coalition Conference (ABCC) this year. Since the conference rotates the location yearly, attending can be costly. In an effort to have more of its members be able to go, BSU is hosting its first-ever spring formal to fundraise for next year’s ABCC. While celebrating Black culture and history is always at the forefront for these organizations, Anaya said Black History Month is a, “checkpoint…to reflect on where we’re at, where we plan on going and how we’re going to get there.”

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PAID ADVER

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RTISEMENT

ARTS & LIFE

Photos by LUIS CASTILLA / Daily Forty-Niner Clockwise from top left: Luchador masks hang outside a stand on Olvera Street. Olvera Street is home to shops that sell authentic Mexican goods. Paper lanterns speckle the canopies of the Little Tokyo Japanese Village Plaza. Paper lanterns are seen as a symbol of good luck in Japanese culture. A 19-foot-statue of former Los Angeles Lakers player Kobe Bryant points skyward outside of the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The statue was unveiled earlier this year to celebrate the life of Bryant who died in 2020.

BY LUIS CASTILLA Design Assistant Boyle Heights at 11 a.m.

Just before the 6th Street Bridge that leads into downtown rests Boyle Heights.

The crown jewel of Boyle Heights is Mariachi Plaza.

The plaza is frequented by elderly people enjoying the views and enjoying their meals. On most days, mariachi groups will be out and about looking for gigs.

Olvera Street at noon Known as the birthplace of Los Angeles, Olvera Street is a historic area that houses the city’s first church, theater and firehouse.

Olvera Street hosts dozens of small shops that sell authentic Mexican goods including traditional Mexican clothes, toys and food.

In recent years, many of the street’s shops have closed, leaving many stands empty and devoid of the color they once added to the historic site.

DTLA at 1 p.m.

Skyscrapers line the skies above downtown L.A., but down below, a bustling metropolis beckons with surprises at every turn. With a little bit of every-

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thing, DTLA has no shortage of options for fun.

Little Tokyo has long been a beacon of Japanese culture with history dating back to the 1880s and is home to the largest Japanese-American population in the country.

Its famous Wishing Tree was ordered to be stripped of its wishes earlier this year.

East L.A. at 2 p.m.

Far from the towering skyscrapers of downtown and away from all the action lies East L.A., known throughout the community for its unsafe streets and history of gang violence. While this was the case long ago, today, East L.A. is a neighborhood with friendly people from humble upbringings rich in local history and a culture that has permeated beyond its rough exterior.

Often overlooked, East L.A. has been the site of many historical events within the Mexican-American community such as the Zoot Suit Riots of 1943, the East L.A. Walkouts of 1968 and the National Chicano Moratorium of 1970.

Los Angeles is a city of opposites. It is in a constant struggle to find a balance between gentrification and preservation.

“The Wall That Speaks, Sings and Shouts” by muralist Paul Botello glistens as it overlooks Ruben Salazar Park in East Los Angeles.

Artwork above the exterior of The Smell music venue in downtown Los Angeles. The Smell opened in 1998 and has served as a launching pad for local artists ever since.

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ARTS & LIFE ‘VOICES’: Disabled Artists Showcase raises standard for representation, accessibility in performing arts

BY MAE KAIL Staff Writer

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tomping Ground L.A. (SGLA), a community arts center located in the El Sereno neighborhood of East Los Angeles, held its first iteration of the Disabled Artists Showcase - a subset of the already running “VOICES” project.

According to their website, SGLA, “..is a community arts center for professionals and the public to engage in artistic work and inspire all people to lead creative and expressive lives.”

The project began in February 2022 and has produced a variety of showcases that represent artists within the Black, Latinx/Indigenous, Asian American and Pacific Islander and LGBTQ+ communities.

“The idea for these showcases stemmed from my time as coordinator of CSULB Affinity A.I.D.E when I was in my undergrad program at Cal State Long Beach. It was a dream of ours, meaning the members of Affinity, to be able to host showcases that displayed the voices of our underrepresented and marginalized communities,” said “VOICES” creator Derrick Paris.

The event hosted artwork that included different mediums like dance, poetry, photography, acting, filmmaking and an acapella performance. The common thread between all of the works was that the artists had some form of disability, both visible and invisible.

Alena Nemitz, a 24-year-old artist living with endometriosis, read poetry from their new prose poetry book “I Don’t Want to Have to Die Again,” which is set to be published this summer.

Nemitz explained their experience as an artist within the showcase and what the event’s accessibility measures meant to

BY DIEGO RENTERIA Contributor

MAYA UMEMOTO GORMAN / Daily Forty-Niner Rowan O’Bryan, recent graduate from the UCLA Fine Arts program who lives with cystic fibrosis, shares their photo series titled “An Invitation to Share” with guests of the event. her.

“It meant the world to me, as an invisibly disabled artist to sit on stage with an ASL interpreter and know that that night, that space was for us. There was a space I could lay when my pain flared from moving all day. There were people that understood without me having to say anything. I danced outside in the rain after, I cried, I rejoiced,” Nemitz said.

As an event geared towards representing and showcasing the talents of individuals with disabilities, the producers made it a point to make the showcase as accessible as possible to the artists and audience.

“We discussed that it begins from the

root, essentially stemming from us,” Paris explained.

They provided ear plugs, seat cushions, an ASL interpreter for all spoken-word pieces, captions for all visual art and a sensory room for guests to tend to their mental or physical needs. They also made it a masked event to ensure the safety of immunocompromised individuals.

Paris also explained that they provided an accessibility form in the application process for artists to share their needs, as well as a similar form for guests.

Vanessa Hernández Cruz, a disabled Chicana dance artist, disability justice activist and CSULB alumni, performed

49er Driven and owned

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n any given Sunday in Los Angeles County, car enthusiasts and car clubs of all kinds congregate at their local car show or meet spot. 49er Driven, a car club at Long Beach State, hit the streets and made an appearance at Shore Shifters’ Cars and Coffee event at Junipero Beach on Sunday, Feb. 25.

49er Driven is a student-run car club that brings together car enthusiasts who attend CSULB. “Our club was founded in 2011, but the formula has stayed the same,” 49er Driven president and business management student Spencer Kendrick said.

“It is an informal social club that meets weekly to able to talk and hang out while being around cars.”

The club has 400 members, of which about 100 members are active and present. The large organization size brings a diversity of car models.

“We allow any car to join, but we are predominantly a mixture of European and Japanese cars because they are more affordable,” Kendrick said.

Engineering student and club mem-

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DIEGO RENTERIA / Daily Forty-Niner Current 49er Driven President Spencer Kendrick parks his Blue Subaru BRZ next to future President Bryan Muñoz’s Black Toyota Supra. ber Mo Dadabhoy brought a modern Toyota Supra at the car show.

“I usually drive my Mazda Miata or Mazdaspeed3 to our meets, but today I decided to bring the Supra out for a day like this,” Dadabhoy said.

All members of 49er Driven, including Dadabhoy, joined to express their adoration of cars.

“I loved cars when I was a kid, and my

father was always into cars as well, so it was safe to say I was always going to love cars,” Dadabhoy said.

49er Driven allows its members to find people who have a common interest and develop strong bonds. However, car shows are not the only events that the club takes part in. According to Kendrick, they have also done a few mountain cruises and autocross events.

Monday, March 4, 2024

in the showcase and shared what “VOICES” meant to her.

“Oftentimes, disabled artists and audiences are left out of events & opportunities because of inaccessible space. I am thankful for Shan and Derrick for creating access from the beginning all the way to the end,” Cruz said.

Typically, the “VOICES” showcases are held as five individual events throughout the year. This year, “VOICES” will be transitioning to a biannual format, hosting all five communities twice a year.

The next “VOICES” showcase will be known as “VOICES Fest” and is set for June 2024.

Many other universities have introduced their own student-run car clubs, including Chapman University, California State University, Dominguez Hills, California State University, Fullerton and University of California, Irvine.

Computer science major and club member Arnav Mishra said that car clubs at other universities differ from 49er Driven.

“You can notice which schools have a bit more money than others,” Mishra said. “Some schools like Chapman and UCI have a large group of members and some of their members have some pretty high-end cars.”

49er Driven tries to collaborate with some of these schools to build a bigger community in the student car enthusiast space.

“SoCal is such a massive hub for car culture. Besides universities and colleges, some community colleges have also begun to create their own car clubs as well,” Kendrick said. “We try to shoot for a collaboration with other universities about once a month or so.”

The 49er Driven car club hosts weekly meetings in parking lot G8 across from the Walter Pyramid. For more information, check out their Instagram account @49erdriven.

11

ARTS & LIFE

Community powers sculpture program despite setbacks

BY SAMANTHA CORTES Arts & Life Assistant

I

nside the fine arts studios, fabric scraps resembling human intestines are draped across wooden ceiling beams. The whirring of a 3D printer and the looping distortion of a fuzzy guitar amplifier fill the nearby hallway, while a toy train circles endlessly on a track in one of the exhibition galleries.

Through the exploration of unconventional mediums and techniques, students in Long Beach State’s sculpture program have pushed artistic boundaries to deliver thought-provoking pieces.

Its tight-knit community of students and professors has cultivated a supportive space for creation, but the program has felt the heightened pressure of rising supply costs and limited student assistant hours.

Program head Katie Grinnan grew up as a drawer and painter in Virginia, where the small art scene encouraged her to create more conceptual work. She weaved elements of science, art and architecture in her pieces as a young artist, gradually evolving them into the third dimension.

“I thought art could be this umbrella of all of these different disciplines, even when I was little,” Grinnan said.

“It just seemed like this thing that held all these possibilities.”

By the time she began her Master of Fine Arts at the University of California, Los Angeles, Grinnan’s work was an interdisciplinary mesh of visual, kinesthetic and cognitive experiences.

“These three things sort of work together, but then at the same time, there’s sort of these disjunctive moments,” Grinnan said.

Grinnan began as an adjunct professor and was hired full-time at LBSU in 2015, eventually alternating the program head position with Bryan Crockett. The two teach and oversee the students in the renowned sculpture program.

Housed inside of the deceptively plain exterior of the Fine Arts 3 building is a playground for innovation, including a 3D digital printing lab, a woodshop, a metal fabrication and foundry section,and mold-making facilities. Students are encouraged to experiment with these different mediums to defy the conventions of traditional sculpture.

Art has always been a channel of expression for BFA student Farzad Faraneh, whose passion for the three-dimensional has led him to create work with innovative techniques and charged social commentary. Faraneh chose LBSU’s sculpture program because of his fascination with Grinnan and Crockett’s art, as well as its comprehensive curriculum and advanced facilities.

Faraneh found that the program’s close group of faculty and students especially encouraged him along his artistic journey.

“There’s a sense of camaraderie within the department, where everyone is supportive of each other’s artistic endeavors and eager to learn from one another,” Faraneh said.

As a part of the Fine Arts department, which was under fire last fall for inadequate building conditions, the sculpture program grapples with its own set of challenges. With inflation rates

12

Photos by SAMUEL CHACKO / Daily Forty-Niner The body lying down is by Jennifer Geruso, titled “decayed state of mind,” and the material lists include prescription bags, nature’s elements and plaster bandages. reaching staggering heights during the post-pandemic years, including a 40year record high of 9.1% in June of 2022, the cost of classroom materials has been a key drawback.

“The problems with the facilities go beyond just air conditioning. It goes into our shop tools and being able to keep those up,” Grinnan said. “If a tool breaks, sometimes we don’t have the money to fix it and that gets really difficult.”

The rising price of sculpture materials like metal and wood has limited how much the program can provide for stu-

Gonzales’ sculpture relates primarily to food and the human body, sourcing most of his fiber materials from local second-hand shops. Beyond the rising cost of supplies, Gonzales said that he and other instructional student assistants in the program have had their hours cut significantly within the past few years.

ISAs help other students with tools around the workshops, allowing the program to hold extended hours for students to work in the shops and labs.

Technicians are also hired to demo equipment, repair tools and maintain a

Julia Garcia, a major in studio arts and minor in graphic design, creates palm leaves for one of her assignments. dents, according to Grinnan. Data from Trading Economics shows that the price of lumber per thousand feet has risen from approximately $392 in January of 2020 to $565 in February of 2024.

Despite this, the program has been resourceful to continue providing for its students, even taking in the university library’s covid-era plexiglass dividers for their laser cutter. BFA students like Kai Gonzales have felt the squeeze, but said that he and other students have managed.

“If you don’t have enough of something, you’re gonna figure out a way to make it work,” Gonzales said. “If I don’t have enough of a certain fabric, I’ll just reuse something that I’ve done before … or usually, one of us (students) will be able to help out if we can.”

safe working environment. Both groups play critical roles in keeping the space running.

“Every semester, they cut our hours again, even though our program needs it the most,” Gonzales said. “We used to have hours during class times and there would be techs or student assistants that could help if a professor was busy with something. Now the professor has to just be everywhere.”

Grinnan and other program members have felt the impact, often struggling to maintain the space and attend to each student.

“It’s a liability issue. Oftentimes, faculty are sort of scrambling,” Grinnan said. “We’ve got welding in one area and the woodshop in another and you can only have so many sets of eyes.”

Monday, March 4, 2024

Despite the overwhelming challenges the program faces, it has still proven to be a creative safe haven for students and faculty alike. Reflecting on his final semester at LBSU, Faraneh said that it has been a transformative experience that has allowed him to grow as an artist and a person.

“I love this place. For me, the signature of the art department is community,” Faraneh said. “I’m learning intellectually and hands-on making art and sculpture… and we have a very good faculty here that is supportive and kind.”

Gonzales said that the innovative curriculum has allowed him to experiment with his work and find his artistic focus.

“I previously came from somewhere very traditional, where we went through all the formal sculpture techniques. Here it is very conceptual and more about what you are trying to say,” Gonzales said. “I think that really helps in evolving your work.”

The sculpture program has successfully led students to distinguished MFA programs, including Yale University, CalArts and schools within the University of California system.

Matthew Taylor Williams, who graduated from the sculpture BFA program in 2012, enjoyed his experience and said it pushed him to think of art from a more interdisciplinary lens. Williams got his MFA at UCSD in 2022 and now teaches at San Diego State University.

“I really resonated with the faculty members there and their approach to art,” Williams said. “You could always see what other people were working on and ask for advice.”

Grinnan’s passion for art and dedication to her program runs deep. She is proud of the community she has helped foster at LBSU and optimistic about their future, no matter what setbacks they may face.

“I love the students here and I am really passionate about what we do,” Grinnan said. “Being a program head, you just fight for them and you make things happen.”

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OPINION Feigning support through performative activism on social media

BY CHEYENNE ELIZARRARAS & MAYA-CLAIRE GLENN Opinions Assistants

U

tilizing social media has become a prominent tactic in spreading awareness ofpolitical and social issues that require minimal effort. But is it only for appearances?

"In a world filled with controversy and polarizing topics, people often turns to social media to voice their opinions.

The pressure to address political and social issues on social media websites including Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and X (formerly known as Twitter) has become more prominent in recent years.

During the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020, people used social media to spread information and speak out on social and political conflicts.

On June 2, 2020, Instagram users decided to participate in “Blackout Tuesday” in solidarity of the movement.

While social media can be a powerful tool for raising awareness about social issues, the change it can spark has limited range.

According to a study conducted by the Pew Research Center, 34% of social media users have taken part in online social activism concerning issues they see as important to them.

NAOKI GIMA / Daily Forty-Niner Many bystanders pulled out their phones to record the Protest for Palestine to spread awareness of the issues that are happening between Israel and Palestine.

In comparison, only 14% of users have looked up information about protests and rallies happening in their area.

For many people, a simple repost on their Instagram story is enough peace of mind as a way to feel some sense of control and contribution, but what happens when posts expire and we continue about our day?

People tend to forget about social issues after they are off their timeline and move on to the next cause. This leaves behind a graveyard of important topics that people no longer dedicate any attention to.

It is one thing to share informative posts from trustworthy accounts

to spread awareness, but it’s another to mindlessly click repost for the sake of maintaining an internet persona. Infographics allow viewers to understand quickly and casually tap into the next one.

Many celebrities took to Instagram after the Re’im music festival bombing on Oct. 7 to voice their support for Israel.

One of these celebrities, Justin Bieber, made the mistake of sharing a post with the text “Praying for Israel” pasted over the rubble of a building in Gaza.

Bieber’s mistake shows how reposting information can easily lead to rampant misinformation.

When reposting information from more reputable accounts, you are bound to find a follower who was unaware of the issue or event who can repost it to larger audiences.

Reposting information from reputable accounts can be beneficial in getting a message across to as many people as possible. However, if those people are surrounded by a limited group of people, it can become an echo chamber of misinformation.

If transformative content is in the right hands, social media can be beneficial to obtain a larger audience.

For many, keeping up with each social issue can feel overwhelming. Whether it is the ever-changing politics of LGBTQ+ laws in the United States, the latest on Israel and Palestine or the nearly forgotten war between Russia and Ukraine, online social activism can become a lot to handle.

Many people mean well when they use their social media platforms to speak up on controversial issues. However, it is also important to recognize that making a post can only go so far. Meaningful action in the real world is necessary, too.

Advocacy beyond performative social media posts includes voting, educating others and directly supporting those affected by oppression and marginalization.

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*Answers posted Friday on Instagram @daily49er

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Monday, March 4, 2024

13

OPINION

Heart of fire: Aaron Bushnell’s sacrifice for Palestine As the death toll rises in Gaza and Israel’s actions go unchecked by the United States, forms of extreme protest such as that of Aaron Bushnell will only increase in intensity until the violence is stopped.

BY ACSAH LEMMA News Assistant

W

ith mass atrocities being committed in Gaza with the aid of U.S. taxpayers’ money, are Aaron Bushnell’s actions so shocking? Senseless death does not seem to trigger the “empathy” of the American government unless they have a U.S. passport.

On Sunday, Feb. 25, 25-year-old active-duty Air Force member Aaron Bushnell set himself on fire in front of the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C. In a self-taped video that can be found all over the internet, Bushnell can be seen calmly talking to the camera as he walks towards the embassy.

“I am about to engage in an extreme act of protest, but compared to what people have been experiencing in Palestine at the hands of their colonizers, it’s not extreme at all,” Bushnell says in the video.

“I can no longer be complicit in genocide,” he adds. Bushnell then puts his phone down, proceeds to douse himself with a flammable liquid and sets himself on fire.

While on fire, he chants “Free Palestine,” on repeat until he succumbs to the flames and is no longer able to speak. He has sadly died from his injuries.

Self-immolation is not a new concept.

It has a history of being done in countries around the world as an extreme form of protest.

A man who self-immolated started the chain of events that led to Arab Spring, a wave of pro-democracy uprisings and protests that occurred in the Middle East and in North Africa from 2010 to 2012, according to Al Jazeera.

In this case, Bushnell wasn’t the only one to commit this act in support of Palestine, as an unidentified woman in Atlanta did the same last December.

Consul General of Israel to the southeastern U.S. Anat Sultan-Dadon responded to the incident by saying, “‘It is tragic to see the hate and incitement toward Israel expressed in such a horrific way.

The sanctity of life is our highest value,’” reports The Sun. I have never read a more ironic statement. The death toll in Gaza is close to reaching 30,000 Palestinians, according to The Guardian. The remaining 1.4 million Palestinians are trapped in the Rafah crossing, essentially waiting for death.

It is also ironic here that the Rafah crossing is where they were advised to go by Israel to seek refuge and escape the bombardment. Now, the starving population survives on animal feed and

ACSAH LEMMA / Daily Forty-Niner According to the New York Post, friends of Aaron Bushnell described him as being kind, gentle and a man of principle. Bushnell set himself on fire in front of the Israeli embassy in Washington, D.C. in support of Palestine on Sunday, Feb. 25. He has since died from his injuries. the limited aid they are able to receive from United Nations trucks that make it through the Strip without getting obliterated by Israeli bombs, according to AP News.

Seeing this horrific treatment of human life leads me to believe that Bushnell’s sacrifice was not unprovoked.

We have never seen a genocide happen before our very eyes. Social media allows us to witness what is happening in Gaza in real time. Even when videos pop up on our Instagram or TikTok timelines showing the corpses of children or homes turned to rubble, there are people that still deny the atrocities being committed in the name of Israel’s “self-defense.”

What Aaron Bushnell did was bring

that violence to the home front, to the United States. It’s increasingly more difficult to deny the genocide occurring in Gaza with U.S. support when you have an active-duty U.S. solider lighting themselves on fire as an act of protest.

Yet, there are still those who don’t care. Those who say things like “he wasted his life” and “this won’t change anything.” I disagree.

Those who did not care previously about the death of 30,000 Palestinians are not likely to care now.

What Aaron Bushnell did was more for the people who do care, who do boycott and who do protest. It is a call to action to continue the fight and affirmation that if the deaths are not stopping, we

should not either.

Slavery, Jim Crow, the horrible treatment of Indigenous people, South African apartheid, the Holocaust, all these events and many more are examples of the worst of humanity. Times where the sanctity of human life was discarded and greed, bloodlust and genuine evil took over.

What is happening in Gaza and what has been happening in Palestine for decades are more atrocities to add to that list.

We’re leaving a legacy behind, whether we like it or not, and I for one hope that I look back at my past with pride and not shame.

”

It’s increasingly more difficult to deny the genocide occurring in Gaza with U.S. support when you have an active-duty U.S. solider lighting themselves on fire as an act of protest.

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Monday, March 4, 2024

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SPORTS New staff, same ol' Dirtbags An off-season makeover for the team's coaching staff won't stop the pursuit of a postseason appearance.

BY ZACH DURHAM Social Media Assistant

T

he Dirtbags entered 2024 in the midst of a transitional period for the coaching staff. Eric Valenzuela resigned as head coach with three years remaining on his contract as he returned to Saint Mary’s where he previously coached from 2014 to 2019.

The university did not take too long or look too far to find his replacement.

Bryan Peters had been an assistant on Valenzuela’s staff that primarily focused on the offense. Now at the helm of the program, Peters puts an emphasis on what it means to be a Dirtbag.

“The history, the tradition, all the success has gone from the past, hopefully into the present and our intention is to be able to lead it into the future,” Peters said.

Joining Peters’ staff are hitting coach Bryan Prince and pitching coach Jeff Opalewski. Prince was an assistant coach at Georgia Tech from 2008 to 2017. Opalewski spent two seasons at Miami University with previous experience at Central Michigan University and IMG Academy.

Kevin Suarez was hired by Peters as an offensive assistant and serves as the team's first base coach. Jordan Aboites retained his previous role with the staff as the director of player development and operations under Valenzuela.

Projected to finish eighth in the Big West Preseason Coaches’ Poll, the Dirtbags are 5-1-1 after taking two of three

SAMUEL CHACKO / Daily Forty-Niner The Dirtbags' assistant coach Bryan Prince watched the team warm up with the pitchers throwing with one another and the players grouping up before a game. With the help of a clutch RBI single at the bottom of the seventh from junior designated hitter Cole Santander, Peters and the Dirtbags swept Omaha with the score of 4-1 at Bohl Diamond at Blair Field. games from University of Washington and sweeping University of Nebraska-Omaha. Game three of the series versus Washington resulted in a 17-inning stalemate.

The only loss on the season thus far came on Feb. 28 after UCLA erased a seven-run deficit to beat the Dirtbags 12-11 on a walk-off single in the 10th inning.

“I don't talk about winning the Big West championship or going to a regional or going to Omaha because if we just start with winning every day, which includes practice and every game, that's going to lead us to really good things,” Peters said.

Originally coined by former head coach Dave Snow, the nickname “The Dirtbags” refers to “the program’s style of play and success against higher profile programs,” according to a 2016 Beach Magazine article.

Snow laid the groundwork for rebuilding the program during the 1989 season. He led the team to a 50-15 record in his first season after they finished 14-45 the previous season under John Gonsalves.

The Dirtbags won their first conference title in nearly two decades at the time and made the College World Series for the first time in school history, going undefeated in their regional before losing to college baseball powerhouses University of Texas and Louisiana State University in the opening games of a double elimination bracket.

At the beginning of that season, the team lacked a singular home stadium as they played at Long Beach Community College, Cerritos Junior College and Blair Field. Many practices were held at Heartwell Park on all-dirt infields and players would return to the clubhouse covered in dirt, hence the nickname.

The nickname resurfaced during the 1993 season as Snow’s squad was three outs away from the National Championship Game before LSU sparked a threerun comeback. Long Beach defeated Kansas University and Texas A&M en route to the semifinals and established themselves as a mid-major powerhouse.

“A Dirtbag is a mentality,” Opalewski said. “It's a code, it's a set of standards where you just don't care about what it

takes. It takes what it takes, period.”

Albeit a small sample size of seven games, the Dirtbags' pitching staff has held opponents to 3.34 runs per game compared to 4.41 in 2023. Sophomore starting pitcher Kellan Montgomery leads the team with a 0.75 earned run average and 12 strikeouts through 12 innings pitched.

“I can’t explain how much of an impact they’ve had, they’re so good at taking the best parts of each and every one of us and letting us run with it,” Montgomery said about the new coaching staff.

The staff is determined to bring the Dirtbags back to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2017 and to Omaha for the first time since 1998.

“This is one of the best places in all of America to play or coach college baseball; I've never changed my perspective of that,” Opalewski said.

“I love the fact that we don't have the nicest things [compared to Power Five conference programs], but we can still achieve things on a national scale, by going back to that Dirtbag mentality.”

Women's golf looking to close out historic season strong

BY SOLEIL CARDENAS Contributor

T

he Long Beach State women’s golf team has placed first in two tri-dual matches, giving head coach Alyssa Waite high hopes for the remainder of the 2023-2024 season.

Entering her third season as head coach, Waite has built a culture of support for her golf team at LBSU. Waite’s foundation for her team at Long Beach has been focused on turning a group of individuals into a team that feels supported without judgment.

“Having the right community allows us to be successful because you're happier, you know your teammates are supporting you, people aren’t judging you," she said.

"Especially with females, we run into the judgment and concern of what other people think. Being able to create a culture where there is constant support

Courtesy of LBSU Athletics Long Beach State women's golf player Janae Leovao finished tied 37th overall and placed second highest on the team only behind her twin sister Jasmine.

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Monday, March 4, 2024

from everyone is extremely important.”

At the start of last fall, she was unsure of how the team would perform with new additions; not knowing how the team would mend and support each other. Waite noticed the foundation she set working in New Mexico last fall.

During the team's success at the tour-

nament, the chemistry improved and the players began transforming. The team became more process-oriented as the players began to put the lessons learned during practice into action.

Freshman Andee Avery and sophomore Janae Leovao have greatly contributed to the team's success over the

past four matches. Leovao individually has placed within the top three in each match.

LBSU has been able to set itself apart from the competition by being efficient around the green, Avery said, which is where most teams lose the most shots.

Focusing on their wedges (shorter, more accurate shots) has helped the team bring their overall scores down.

According to Leovao, the team's mental coach, Kevin Sverduk, has also helped with bettering the team's game.

“It’s really exciting for us to have four in a row, but for us, it’s how do we continue to keep moving forward," Waite said.

"Realistically they are now in the past, let's celebrate them but let's keep moving on because we have bigger and better things we want to accomplish.”

Waite said it’s important for her team to focus on each tournament before looking at their long-term season goals.

The women's golf team has four tournaments remaining in their spring schedule until potential postseason play.

15

SPORTS

Graphic by MARY CATIPAY / Daily Forty-Niner

The championship-minded vision of Natalie Reagan

BY DAVIS RAMAGE Sports Editor

"O

ur vision is ultimately to win the Big West tournament and then go deep into the NCAA tournament," head coach Natalie Reagan said.

Natalie Reagan was announced as the new interim head coach of the women's volleyball team at Long Beach State on Feb. 9.

Reagan was hired as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator in January 2023. After being with the team for just over a year, Reagan was promoted to head coach.

The keys to the program are being handed over to her by former head coach Tyler Hildebrand who brought excitement back to women's volleyball at The Beach and is taking his talents to USC as an assistant coach.

Hildebrand went 40-19 in his two seasons at the helm and reached the inaugural Big West Championship, but fell to Hawai'i.

"I am so grateful for the year I got to work with Tyler, he is an incredible mentor and he did so many amazing things for this program," Reagan said.

"I truly believe under his leadership this program is back to a foundational place

16

SAMUEL CHACKO / Daily Forty-Niner During the Feb. 9 match against UCLA, the interim head coach for The Beach's women’s volleyball team, Natalie Reagan, received a warm welcome from The Beach. Reagan will replace Tyler Hildebrand after he leaves Long Beach State. where we're able to succeed."

While Reagan said "There'll be a little spice," added to the team, she made it clear that the identity of the program and its players do not have to change.

"It's been really important to us that we (the staff) communicate to them (the players) that they are enough and who they are is enough and they don't need to change," Reagan said.

Reagan's credentials include assistant director of volleyball operations at Oregon State, technical coordinator at Nebraska and assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for four years at Loyola Marymount University.

Nebraska is widely known as the nation's powerhouse when it comes to women's volleyball and Reagan got to witness firsthand what championship DNA looks like when she helped them to a national championship as technical coordinator in 2015.

"I think something that makes Nebraska really special is the tradition that they have there and the accepted culture that they have within that program, and I think that's something that we're building at Long Beach [State]" Reagan said.

Culture in college sports is different now than it was years ago as the new transfer portal rules can change the im-

Monday, March 4, 2024

mediate trajectory of a program.

"The transfer portal can be a blessing and a curse," Reagan said. "We are constantly on the portal, however, it is not something that we are actively looking at right now."

The transfer portal allows players to leave whenever they want and when a team is in a transitional period like Long Beach State is right now, players often do leave.

Reagan said that to keep players from leaving she wants to make whatever her players are promised in the recruiting process come true daily.

Reagan said the recruiting process is "a really important coaching philosophy," and it does not stop because players have an opportunity to leave as they want.

One of those players Reagan would love to retain is redshirt junior setter Zayna Meyer, who is coming off a year where she was named "Big West Setter of The Year."

Meyer said her relationship with Reagan is "growing and pretty awesome."

"Natalie brings emotional aspects to this team that we didn't really have before and she connects with each of the girls in a really special way," Meyer said.

Reagan hopes to settle into her new role and fulfill her vision of winning the Big West Championship in the 2024 season.

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