Daily Forty-Niner; October 16, 2023

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Vol. XCV, Issue 9

1949

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ON THE COVER LINSEY TOWLES / Daily Forty-Niner Participants in the 39th annual Long Beach Marathon on Oct. 15 run through a parking lot on the Long Beach State campus.

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NAOKI GIMA / Daily Forty-Niner CSULB student protesters from the Protest for Palestine march down the Friendship Walk portion of campus with signs and chants to get attention from witnesses and raise awareness for their cause.

Students hold ‘Protest for Palestine’ amid international conflict

BY LINSEY TOWLES News Assistant

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protest for Palestine was held Tuesday afternoon across the Cal State Long Beach campus after President Jane Close Conoley released a statement condemning the event, referring to it as a “glorification of war.”

Violence in the Middle East between Israel and Palestine made national headlines Saturday morning when the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched an assault on communities near the Gaza Strip.

The protest lasted for over two hours and occurred after an email was sent from President Conoley.

“A student group here at the university recently posted messages on social media that expressed support for recent attacks against Israel,” said the email. “For many, these posts and an event the group is planning for this afternoon, are deeply offensive in light of the loss of life and unspeakable violence during this conflict.”

The latest email followed on the heels of Monday’s statement from Conoley where she alluded to possible demonstrations on campus, stating, “Please remember that as a university we have standards of conflict related to the time, place and manner of public events.”

In light of the international situation, La F.U.E.R.Z.A Student Association released a call to action on Monday and hosted a “Protest for Palestine’’ at the Go Beach Sign on Tuesday at 1:30 p.m.

The protest was described as “CSULB students united against apartheid,” according to their Instagram post.

The call drew over 50 protesters with Palestinian flags and signs. They demonstrated for an hour

at the Go Beach sign, before marching through campus.

Protesters made it known that they would not speak with the media present, which included local TV stations such as ABC7 and KNX. Protesters with megaphones read from written speeches condemning the Israeli occupation of disputed Palestinian territory and chanted, “from Palestine to the Philippines, stop the U.S. War machine” and “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.”

“The real terrorists are the Zionist state that have spent 75 years imprisoning and oppressing the rights and resources of two million Palestinians in Gaza,” said one protester.

Some protesters debated with people outside the protest, though the protests did not garner a counter-protest.

“They have the right to protest,” said Leo Gruber, Co-President of Beach Hillel, a national Jewish organization for college students. “I disagree what they’re protesting about. I want to thank them for keeping it peaceful.”

Gruber said that he feels the protesters do not understand the civilians’ lives being lost.

“They don’t recognize that innocents are being killed. I personally feel that soldier versus soldier, or soldier versus terrorists is unfortunate, but it’s a part of war. But civilians should not be involved in this.”

During Tuesday’s event, protesters responded to the second email from Conoley stating their protest was not to celebrate and glorify the violence occurring in the Middle East and that the group condemns all forms of antisemitism.

The protest traveled from the Go Beach sign to the Liberal Arts building as students continued to chant and march through campus. The protest remained peaceful and dispersed after almost three hours.

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.

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ARTS NEWS

A brief history of Israel and Palestine

BY ACSAH LEMMA News Assistant

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efore World War I had officially ended, the Ottoman Empire, a member of the defeated Central Powers, was split between the Allied Powers: Britain, France, Greece and Russia, according to Britannica. Palestine, a territory formally under Ottoman Empire rule, was given to the British Empire by the League of Nations to oversee.

A predecessor to the United Nations, the League of Nations was established in 1920 and created the “Mandate system,” according to The United Nations Office at Geneva. In the mandate system, a Member state; Great Britain, France, Greece etc., was given a mandated territory by former German colonies and Ottoman Empire territories to “guide” until they could become independent states.

Britain was appointed to rule over Palestine in 1922. Chaim Weizmann, president of the World Zionist organization at the time, “persuaded the British government to issue a statement favoring the establishment of a Jewish national home in Palestine,” according to the National Archives. Many Jewish people had supported the Allied Powers in World War I, and was seen as a reward for their assistance. The statement later became known as the “Balfour Declaration.”

Palestine was chosen to be the new homeland of the Jewish people for many

Photo illustration by EL NICKLIN According to the World Population Review, Palestine is recognized by 138 of the United Nations' 193 member countries, compared to the 165 member countries that recognize Israel. reasons, with the main being its historical significance. According to the Jewish Virtual Library, Jerusalem, a city in Ancient Israel, was first declared the capital of the Jewish Kingdom by King David in 1000 BCE. However, after the reign of King David and later his son Solomon, ancient Israel would be conquered time and time again by nations such as Babylon, Persia and Greece. By 1517, the Ottoman Empire had control over the land until the dissolution of their empire in 1917.

"Most Palestinians don’t accept that their national identity was created in 1920 when it officially became 'Mandate Palestine.' Their national identity

started earlier than that," said Steven Rousso-Schindler, a professor of cultural anthropology who teaches about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Many Jewish people who immigrated to Palestine around this time mostly came to the area from Russia and Poland due to the beginning of widespread antisemitism.

Although there was a small Jewish population already living on the land, the mass migration stirred up fear within the Arab population of Palestine. Guerrilla warfare broke out between the two groups throughout the 1930s. To maintain peace, Britain issued a white paper in 1939 that limited the quota of Jewish people allowed into Palestine.

“Britain wanted to maintain population balance,” Schindler said.

Eventually, the United Nations, formed in 1945, set up the Special Committee on Palestine in April of 1947. The UNSCOP recommended that, “the British mandate over Palestine be ended and that the territory be partitioned into two states,” wrote the National Archives. Not agreeing with that plan, the League of Arab States moved its troops to the Palestinian border.

Though the plan didn’t have the support of the Arab population, it had the support of United States President Harry S. Truman, and thus, the plan was passed by the U.N. General Assembly in November of 1947.

“On May 15, 1948, the first day of Israeli Independence and exactly one year after UNSCOP was established, Arab armies invaded Israel and the first Arab-Israeli war began,” wrote the National Archives.

The ethnic population of Palestine changed rapidly during these tumultuous times. Pre-British mandate Palestine had a Jewish population of about 6% according to Al Jazeera which increased to 33 percent by 1947.

Before the first Arab-Israeli war, “[Palestine] owned 94 percent of historic Palestine and comprised 67 percent of the population,” reported Al Jazeera.

Following the war, Israeli military forces captured 78 percent of historic Palestine and expelled at least 750,000 Palestinians from the area. The West Bank and the Gaza Strip accounted for the remaining 22 percent under Palestinian control.

The attack on Israel is felt at home Professor Jeffrey Blutinger shares his thoughts on what is now known as “the greatest loss of Jewish life in a single day since the Holocaust”

BY ELIZABETH BASILE News Assistant

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effrey Blutinger said he only takes his news from print sources now. Press coverage of the massacre in Israel over last weekend has left him trying to stay updated on the safety of his friends and colleagues abroad while avoiding exposure to the most gruesome details. Blutinger said watching TV news puts him more at risk of seeing disturbing information.

Blutinger, who runs the Jewish studies department at California State University Long Beach, has personal connections in Israel where over 1,000 people have been killed during an invasion by Hamas militants.

One example he gave was the deaths of the daughter and son-in-law of one of his teachers.

“The kibbutz where they live was overrun and their two daughters had made it to the safe room and their 16-year-old son was exposed and so they

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threw themselves over him,” Blutinger said. “And they were shot and killed but then the bullets passed through their bodies into their son but he survived and he was wounded.”

Blutinger said he was able to use FaceBook Messenger to communicate with friends in Israel.

He was able to make sure that his friend was alright in Tel Aviv this way.

Blutinger said his friend’s location meant he was “pretty far from the front lines,” but still being shelled. .

Jewish campus community members have had to deal with antisemitism on top of their grief, Blutinger said, due to recent events on campus.

“Jewish faculty, Jewish students, we’re all you know, broken and in mourning,” Blutinger said. “It’s been a very difficult few days, it wasn’t made easier by the antisemitic rally yesterday, which was adding insult to injury, literally.”

Blutinger was referencing the protest organized by La F.U.E.R.Z.A. on campus in support of Palestine. The attack on Israel was carried out in the name of Palestinian liberation. According to the Daily

Forty-Niner, the group walked around campus, chanting pro-Palestinian phrases as well as carrying a banner that looked like the Palestinian flag that said “When people are colonized resistance is justified,” referring to the attack.

According to the Daily Forty-Niner, protesters said they condemned antisemitism and were not glorifying the attack.

However the event has been under public censure on and off campus including

by CSULB President Jane Close Conoley.

“For many, those posts — and an event the group is planning for this afternoon — are deeply offensive in light of the loss of life and unspeakable violence during this conflict,” she said in an email.

Blutinger also said he thinks that antisemitism outside of the Middle East will escalate after events like this.

“Whenever there’s been a conflict in Gaza we’ve seen an uptick in antisemitic incidents throughout the world,” Blutinger said.

Blutinger gave education as a method of combating antisemitism in America.

“Most people don’t have background

Monday, October 16, 2023

Courtesy of JEFFREY BLUTINGER Jeffrey Blutinger is a professor from the Jewish studies department at CSULB. to know what’s really going on in the area,” Blutinger said.

Blutinger said the personal impact of the attack was more intense because the Jewish community is very small and close.

“I don’t know every Jew in the world but you know people talk about six degrees of separation, in the Jewish community it’s a lot smaller than that,” Blutinger said.

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ARTS NEWS

ANTHONY ORRICO / Daily Forty-Niner Union members and students protest outside the chancellor's office in Long Beach during the board of trustees meeting on Sept. 12. Members of CFA plan to protest again on Nov. 7.

California Faculty Association set to vote on labor strike authorization

BY ANTHONY ORRICO News Assistant

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he California Faculty Association is set to hold strike authorization vote Oct. 21 through Oct. 27. If approved by the majority of union members, it would grant the legal authority to strike if the statutory process fails.

The CFA is currently in the fact-finding stage of the statutory process. This is the final stage before any job action can be legally authorized. Public employees only have the right to strike if they go through this statutory process or prove illegal labor practices.

The union declared an impasse in the bargaining process on Aug. 24 as the two sides failed to come to an agreement on a new labor contract. Among other things, the CFA is asking for a 12% general salary increase (GSI), an increase to the minimum salary for their lowest paid faculty and a full semester of paid parental leave.

According to the Chancellor's office, during the last negotiations, they offered a 5% GSI over the next fiscal year or a 12% raise over the next three years.

The Long Beach chapter of the CFA

held a town hall meeting Monday to update members on the state of the labor negotiations with the CSU. The town hall was led by Kelly Janousek, the CFA faculty rights chair and Beka Langen, the CFA field representative for Long Beach.

If a strike is authorized, Janousek says it would be a “rolling strike,” meaning that not all campuses would be striking the entire time. Campuses in Long Beach and Dominguez Hills could strike one day and Bakersfield and Los Angeles could strike the next day.

Unlike many other labor strikes around the country, the CFA strike will not necessarily be an indefinite strike such as the recent Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike, although that is not being ruled out, according to Langen.

“Ultimately, that decision is going to be based on what gets us the most power, what is going to be the thing that helps the most,” Langen said.

Janousek and Langen said faculty members are being asked to begin talking to students about the possibility of a strike in their classes and what that may mean for them.

There will be a number of options for professors and lecturers who do choose to strike as far as keeping their classes running such as pre-preparing material

for days the faculty will be striking.

“It seems like most of you have your syllabus, like jam packed, something is being taught every single day. And if you're on strike for two days, how do you deal with the fact that what you were going to teach those two days won't be taught,” Langen said.

Ultimately they said the days that Long Beach is striking, faculty members are expected by the union to do no work related to the university and will know well in advance the days Long Beach is expected to strike.

“You do not use Canvas while you’re on strike. You do not do email while you’re on strike. You literally do no work,” Janousek said.

Langen added there will ultimately be union members who choose not to strike and not to honor the picket line.

She addressed how this would affect students who choose not to cross the picket line. Students will still be able to come on campus during any strike.

Back in 2016 when the union was five days away from striking, Langen said the group had worked out a deal with President Jane Close Conoley where students would not feel pressured to cross the picket line based on the fear their academic performance would suffer as a result of missing class.

“We will be doing that again, because

the overwhelming majority of students were clear that they were not going to cross the picket line. If a faculty member wants to be scab, that's their choice. They shouldn't create conditions that would cause a student to feel like they’re going have their grades impacted,” Langen said.

However, according to Langen, Conoley does not have the authority to dictate what professors do, academically speaking.

“She can't actually tell you what to do in your class. So it's a little bit of a, you know, kind of an honor system,” Langen said.

Conoley said in a email to the Daily Forty-Niner that she hopes the two sides can reach an agreement in a way that doesn’t impact student's success.

“I want our Beach faculty to be fairly paid, to be sure. I also know that our students depend on faculty mentorship in so many ways, that any disruption of instruction could threaten student success,” Conoley said.

The chancellor's office said in a statement to the Daily Forty-Niner, “The CSU is aware of the CFA’s decision to hold a strike authorization vote and respects that decision as part of the union’s rights within collective bargaining.”

CFA members plan to rally outside the chancellor's office on Nov. 7.

”

Ultimately, that decision is going to be based on what gets us the most power, what is going to be the thing that helps the most.

Beka Langen Long Beach CFA field representative daily49er.com | @daily49er

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ARTS NEWS

SAMUEL CHACKO / Daily Forty-Niner This semester, there are 30 CSULB students living at the Hotel Current. Located roughly one mile from the university, the hotel contains a pool, multiple parking locations and apartments.

University students face a worsening off-campus housing crisis

BY VIMBAI MOYO Staff Writer

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tudents at CSULB often find themselves living in a hotel instead of a dorm room for a semester.

Those who had hopes in securing a affordable and convenient off-campus housing are forced to adjust their plans due to the lack of alternatives.

Abigail Wall, a CSULB student residing at Hotel Current, was one of the students on the paid waiting list for the dorms. She is currently on spot 237 and her position was not moving.

“One of the emails I received from the housing office mentioned hotels partnering with the school so my mom and I emailed them and here we are,” Wall said.

This is the first full academic year where the option of residing at the hotel is available to students.

The students living at Hotel Current, one of the hotels partnering with the school to provide off-campus housing, are given the choice of 30 rooms within the hotel, some being double occupancy.

The university reached out a couple years ago to the hotel for assistance with the rising number of students who needed off-campus housing assistance.

Last semester, over 5,200 students applied for on and off-campus housing.

However, out of 2000 returning applicants, spots were only granted to the first

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600. The rest were placed on a the paid waitlist.

A service fee of $275 was needed to secure a spot on the waitlist although dorming was not guaranteed. Some students were not given much time to sort out their living situation and they had to accommodate accordingly.

This semester, there are 30 students residing at Hotel Current. There are two tier options that students get to choose

manager at Hotel Current said. “Some students sign up for a year, some only do it for a month. We look at each case differently.”

The exact cost of living at the hotel is unclear as it varies depending on the students’ needs.

The number of students applying to the college campus has been increasing over the years. According to the annual report from CSULB, the school received

Last semester, over 5,200 students applied for on and off-campus housing. However, out of 2000 returning applicants, spots were only granted to the first 600. from, an unfurnished studio or a semi furnished option.

The choices presented for students aren’t much different than if they were trying to dorm through the campus itself, however, the circumstances are not identical.

“We do a minimum of two months and then after it becomes a month-tomonth agreement,” Wayne Nagel, hotel

over 115,000 applicants in 2022 and over 120,000 applications for 2023, making it a 4% increase.

With CSULB leading Cal State campuses in applications, off-campus housing is becoming even more scarce.

Hotel Current is about a five-minute drive from campus and approximately a 13-minute bus ride. While the distance is not too far, it can come with its own set

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of issues for students.

“I have a dining hall pass but I don’t have a car right now,” Wall said. “There have been some nights where I have gone hungry because I can’t go and get food because I can’t leave.”

There is also an issue when it comes to disposing of garbage since it's not as easy as throwing it away at the dorms.

“We have to drive to the back of the building to throw away our trash,” Wall said. “We have to gather all the trash in my roommate’s car, unlock the dumpster and throw all of our stuff away really fast.

It’s a traumatizing experience.”

The inconvenience of living away from campus is weighing heavy on some students as it can be a difficult situation to adjust with.

Even with university assistance, students have to change their financial needs at short notice at these off-campus residences.

“There is a laundry room here but it only takes quarters and it takes two dollars for the wash and two dollars for the dryer,” Wall said. “It’s much cheaper at the school and we don't have to beg for quarters so we wait until we desperately need to do laundry and our friends who live at Hillside let us in.”

The housing office at CSULB does provide assistance for students who may be having difficulty with their living situations.

Wall would like to reapply for campus housing for the spring semester but there will be more applicants, making it a more difficult situation.

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ARTS NEWS

Photos by LINSEY TOWLES / Daily Forty-Niner As they pass by Walter Pyramid, runners in the 39th annual Long Beach Marathon keep a smile on their face despite the heat and miles to go.

Thousands take on 39th annual Long Beach Marathon

BY LINSEY TOWLES News Assistant

T

he 39th annual Long Beach marathon kicked off early Sunday morning, covering 26.2 miles of terrain across the city, including the Long Beach State campus.

This year's race saw one of the largest turnouts, with 18,000 people gathered at the starting line on Shoreline Drive at 6 a.m.

One runner, Tyler Vale, traveled from Santa Barbara to participate in the race.

"I did it last year and I trained last year so I was more prepared," Vale said on mile 20.

"It's going good so far, it's hotter this year, but I'm having fun."

Runners in the full marathon started in downtown Long Beach and made their way towards the Queen Mary through Shoreline Village before heading to Belmont Shore. They then completed a 5K loop around CSULB before heading back to Ocean Boulevard for the finish.

Parent-in-laws Jane and Steve Detrick and Cindy and Jerry Horn waited with a custom-made sign in hand for their recently married kids to pass by the Walter Pyramid.

"We're here from Oakland Hills and Elk Grove, we're supporting our son and our daughter in law," Steve Detrick said.

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"We're just the parents coming down to support our kids the way we've been doing for over 30 years."

For the young couple, Kristen and Nick Detrick, this year's marathon marks their first year of marriage and their first time running a marathon together.

"They're our biggest supporters," Nick Detrick said, when the couple met with their parents during the race.

While some runners were experiencing their firsts, others were running their 73rd marathon, like runner Lindsey G. "It's a little hot, but besides that, it's going well," Lindsey said on mile 21.

Onlookers and runners alike endured the heat this year to participate in the event, like 7-year-old Mason Cruz and 3-year-old Audrey Cruz who cheered on their dad, Alex Cruz, near Walter Pyramid.

The "Finish Line Festival” celebration awaited runners at Shoreline Village where victors received their medals and celebrated their accomplishment.

In the full marathon, 23-year-old Ryley Fick, who runs track at Cal State Long Beach, won the women's race with a time of 2:58:30. Jason Yang won the men's race with a time of 2:27:04.

During the marathon, other races took place, such as the half-marathon and bike race. In the half-marathon, 25-year-old Ayrton Ledesma of Azusa won the men's race with a time of 1:05:27.

Jennifer Sandoval, 24, of Fontana won the women's race with a time of 1:18:11.

Runners keep up the energy on mile 17 as they pass Walter Pyramid and continue the race.

Audrey Cruz, 3, and her aunt Araceli Gomez cheer on Audrey's dad in the Long Beach marathon near Walter Pyramid.

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ARTS ARTS & LIFE

NATASHA CASTANEDO / Daily Forty-Niner BMAC, which celebrated its 50th anniversary with a ceremony on Oct. 13, is located on upper campus across from Faculty Office 3. Each year, BMAC services a little over 2,300 students with disabilities.

BMAC celebrates 50 years at The Beach with five new Hall of Fame inductees

BY NATASHA CASTANEDO Arts & Life Editor

S

ince 1973, the Bob Murphy Access Center (BMAC) has been on a mission to empower disabled Long Beach State students to succeed at the collegiate level.

Through their dedication to providing equitable access and inclusion, BMAC has assisted over 14,000 students in earning their degrees from Cal State Long Beach.

Testing accommodations, note-taking assistance and sign language interpreters are just a few examples of services that BMAC offers disabled students to ensure the completion of their studies.

“The accommodations, specifically for testing, is something that I’ve seen that helps them [students] a lot because we do accommodations like extra time, to even them just getting a private room,” said Paola Ulloa, a Support Services assistant.

“We have some students that need to just pace around or talk to themselves while they think and they can’t do that in the classroom, so it’s something that really relaxes students and helps them manage their disabilities.”

This kind of laser-focused care that can be found at BMAC uplifts students in an unparalleled way, as it was the first program of its kind within the CSU system.

With 50 years of service underneath its belt, BMAC celebrated their dedication to inclusivity and inducted five alumni into its Hall of Fame on Oct. 13 at the Steve and Nini Horn Center.

These five individuals – Mary Zendejas, Deaka McClain, Keyon Ander-

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son, Anthony Vasquez and Caitlin Cutt – were all once students in search of equitable campus resources to aid them in their studies. Their respective searches all led them to BMAC, formerly known as Disabled Student Services (DSS), where they were met with dedicated disability advocates.

Since graduating, each inductee has not only excelled in their personal careers, but has also continued to highlight the need for inclusivity by championing

ceremony included attendees like BMAC employees, members of the Bob Murphy Foundation and sponsors, all of whom arrived in formal dress for a sit-down dinner.

The event also showcased performances by Infinite Flow, an award-winning Los Angeles-based dance company that employs disabled and nondisabled dancers with diverse identities.

Following the performances, each Hall of Fame inductee was introduced

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I can confidently say that because of the BMAC, I am where I am today, an elected official of this beautiful city.

Mary Zendejas Long Beach District 1 Representative marginalized communities.

“What we're able to do here that is so special is really showcase our alumni so our students that are out in the community doing fantastic things get to come back, and we recognize them for the things that they've done,” BMAC Director Mary Nguyen said.

“Our job here is to really bring awareness, to highlight their stories and to create understanding of their disability identity as being part of their journey and part of what makes them so unique and what makes them strong.”

The accomplishments of the honorees, coupled with BMAC’s support, had the Horn Center buzzing with excitement on Friday evening. The sold-out

and shared speeches about their inspiring journeys.

Councilwoman Mary Zendejas was diagnosed with polio as an infant, and went on to become the first Latina wheelchair-user elected to a public office. She currently resides as the representative of Long Beach’s District 1.

“I can confidently say that because of the BMAC, I am where I am today, an elected official of this beautiful city,” Zendejas said.

Keyon Anderson was diagnosed with dyslexia and entered high school with a second-grade reading level. When he arrived at Long Beach State, DSS assisted him in receiving both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work. Ander-

Monday, October 16, 2023

son has dedicated his career to promoting positive change and personal success of African American youth.

Anthony Vasquez graduated from CSULB in 2010 with his bachelor’s degree in journalism and Chinese studies.

Vasquez did not let his blindness inhibit his mission to learn Chinese, as he worked tirelessly with DSS to acquire Braille textbooks for Chinese learners.

Deaka McClain received her bachelor’s degree in journalism and a master’s degree in public administration. McClain was born with cerebral palsy and dyslexia, and once she found the services at DSS, she became unstoppable in her drive to prove others wrong about her capabilities.

“Whenever ‘no’ was in the conversation, my mindset of thinking once I began to believe in myself was always ‘how can I make it a yes,’” McClain said.

The honoree currently sits on numerous advisory boards that advocate for disabled citizens.

“If it wasn’t for BMAC, I would not have matured into the advocate that I brand myself as today. It is an honor to be inducted into the hall of fame with my fellow inductees.”

Caitlin Cutt was born with a heart condition that led her to seek out the services at BMAC. Cutt graduated from CSULB with a bachelor’s degree in comparative world literature. She currently serves as a story producer for the Netflix series “Unsolved Mysteries.”

For 50 years, Cal State Long Beach has been a leading voice in utilizing a human-centered approach to aid every student towards success. The care that BMAC has offered these individuals is a testament to the kind of community that is fostered at The Beach.

“There is something special about Cal State Long Beach where there's more heart here,” Director Nguyen said.

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ARTS ARTS & LIFE

Last Frantone’s standing: Meet the family-owned restaurant

BY SAMUEL CHACKO Managing Editor

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rantone’s has been operating since 1964, but the community and employees still feel a huge impact to this very day.

Frantone’s began in Downey in 1964 with 6,200 square feet, a dining room that seats 260 and a team of 35 employees, according to Frantone’s website.

“When Frantone’s opened, I was 8-years-old, so I was just a kid,” Frantone’s owner John Tesoriero said.

“As time went on, I went to school and came out of school and came into the business at 21 and worked all the way through since I was 12.”

The Downey location was opened by his mother and father, while he and his brother-in-law took over the business roughly 10 years later.

Tesoriero said the business is family-oriented, with his brother and sister

as his business partners.

Six months ago, it was announced by the Downey Patriot that the Frantone’s in Downey would be closing, leaving one last Frantone’s location in Cerritos.

The Frantone’s in Cerritos is about a block away from Cerritos College and was opened in 1990. The Frantone’s on campus opened in 1992.

“Come as you go, c’mon in and the pricing is good,” Tesoriero said, “We’re not just a pizza place, we’re more than that because we do serve a lot of stuff on the menu.”

He said that Frantone’s is very friendly, “You can come in with a family of five with a large pizza, a pitcher of soda at a very good price. You can feed a family of five for $6 a piece.”

Amy Stewart, the server at Frantone’s, has worked there for around 28 years. Stewart first got into Frantone’s through a mutual friend. The mutual friend turned out to be one of the owner’s daughters. The weekend of Frantone’s grand opening, they asked Stewart

to be a busser.

“I said yes and then I wasn’t 18 yet, so a few months later, she said there’s a position that was open and I came and took the position,” Stewart said.

Stewart said that the family is very understanding and points to a time

love the customers and the family.”

As a people-person, Stewart is happy that she isn’t stuck in one position all day, stating “I feel like this gives me more freedom to walk around, talk to people and be more out in the open with the public.”

SAMUEL CHACKO / Daily Forty-Niner The Frantone’s restaurant in Cerritos is the last one standing in California and first opened in 1990. There’s also a location on Cerritos College’s campus that opened two years later in 1992 and every time you stop by, you’ll hear the music on your way at the door. when her daughter did school during the COVID-19 pandemic at Frantone’s banquet.

With multiple TVs and tons of space, Frantone’s is a place to relax after a long day of work or school and hang out with some friends.

Stewart said that Frantone’s is friendly and family-orientated.

“I’ve always loved working here, I love my customers, I become friends with a lot of them,” Stewart said, “I truly

“The people that come around, even in Downey for 60 years, we have people that met there, we have grandkids and great grandkids, generations have gone through Frantone’s,” Tesoriero said.

“We know most of the people that come to our restaurant because it’s an independent restaurant and it’s real easy to know everybody so it’s very friendly.”

Visit Frantone's website for more information.

Hidden gems: The best thrift stores in Long Beach

BY IGOR COLONNO Staff Writer

S

econd-hand clothes allow consumers to craft exciting new wardrobes with up-cycled items, transforming one mans trash into new treasure.

In the city of Long Beach, there are many stores for shoppers to choose from, and we have compiled a comprehensive guide to some of the best thrifting stores in the LBC. Tattered is a buy, sell and trade store that accepts pieces as young as two years old up to a decade old. They only welcome quality pieces that have not been refurbished and are sold in their original state.

This thrift store specializes in clothing from popular name brands such as Zara, Urban Outfitters and Nike. They also offer a wide selection of retro clothing from the 2000s for both men and women.

The store carries clothing ranging from shirts to jackets and shoes. For styles appealing to a younger audience, Tattered offers old sports jerseys, baggy jeans and trendy shoes from brands like Converse and Nike.

Store owner Leah Zahn said that early 2000s apparel has been peaking recently in the store, becoming a must buy for most customers.

“Low rise pants for women, cargo pants for men, oversized cropped tops for men, cartoon graphic, these are all early 2000s trends that are strong right now,” Zahn said.

Prices are a bit higher than their competitors ranging from $14 - $30 for shirts, but Zahn said the prices are due

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IGOR COLONNO / Daily Forty-Niner Interior of Clark & Atherton Mercantile, women’s clothes section. The store opened in 2015 by Christian Outreach in Action. to the quality of the clothing.

“We have an assortment of pricing. It depends on the brand,” said Zahn.

The store is open every day from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. and is located at 5555 E Stearns St Suite 106, Long Beach, CA 90815.

This thrifting store is owned by Christian Outreach in Action, a Christian community that helps unhoused people in Long Beach with food and clothing distribution.

Susy DeLucca, store manager, said that anybody can donate clothes, and depending on the state of the clothes, the store donates them to unhoused people through community service.

Clark & Atherton Mercantile has vintage clothing that appeals to younger and older audiences, and also keeps

jewelry items, houseware, furniture and home décor in stock.

The store’s strongest point is its price, selling women’s tops for as low as $1 and pants with equally low price tags.

Students from Long Beach State can also save some extra bucks by showing a student ID, with a 20% off sale for every purchase that they make in the store.

Clark & Atherton Mercantile is open every day from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. except for Sundays, opening from 12 to 4 p.m.

Clark & Atherton Mercantile is located at 772 Clark Ave, Long Beach, CA 90815 Out of the Closet is a run of the mill community thrift store with clothes, appliances, accessories and apparel to shop, but with its own unique twist that sets it apart from other stores.

This store is also a clinic and phar-

Monday, October 16, 2023

macy that provides free HIV and STD testing. Out of the Closet a worldwide AIDS organization that helps people with STD’s.

Michael, group store manager, said that out of every dollar the store makes, 96 cents is donated to combat AIDS. “We’re the largest AIDS provider in the world,” Michael said.

The store features lower prices compared to others, with stickers indicating sale items. A green sticker means 30% off, blue is 50% off, and a red sticker signifies a dollar discount.

The most prominent styles of clothing at Out of the Closet are women’s vintage clothes like heels, dresses and skirts.

For men, they have vintage shirts and casual suits.

Out of the Closet also has a points system for its customers where every dollar spent is a point that can be redeemed for future purchases.

The store is optimal for people who are trying to save some cash, as it has some of the best prices in the area.

Out of the Closet is open every day from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. apart from Sundays when they close at 6 p.m. The Long Beach location can be found at 3500 CA1, Long Beach, CA 90804.

Thrifting has been huge on the campus lately as it’s very sustainable, environmentally friendly and brings a new taste to old fashion.

Yasmin Castillo, 24-year-old fashion designer major said that she thinks thrifting is popular with students because of affordability and rare finds.

“Just take your time when you’re thrifting. If you’re in kind of a hurry, you might miss a lot of cool stuff,” Castillo said.

9

ARTS & LIFE

Photos by SAMANTHA CORTES / Daily Forty-Niner Chef Paul Blanco explains the history of tamales in Latinx culture during his step-by-step cooking class at ASI Beach Kitchen.

Students learn to make authentic Mexican tamales in hands-on cooking class

BY SAMANTHA CORTES Arts & Life Assistant

S

Charred onions, peppers and tomatoes were available for students to make salsa at ASI Beach Kitchen's tamale-making class on Thursday.

ASI Beach Kitchen volunteer Shane Silva teaches students how to begin preparing tamales during a cooking class on Thursday.

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tudents learned how to make sweet and savory tamales during a hands-on cooking class with Chef Paul Blanco on Thursday.

The tamale-making class wrapped up ASI Beach Kitchen’s series for Latinx Heritage Month, which aimed to highlight various cultural recipes throughout September and October.

Blanco delved into the vast history of the dish, which is believed to have been eaten by Aztec warriors as they prepared for battle over ten thousand years ago.

The eight attendees helped Blanco prepare masa, a corn flour used for the base of the tamales. Yams were mixed into some batches for a sweet twist.

After students spread masa on the corn husks, they were able to customize their savory tamales with fillings like mozzarella cheese and poblano peppers.

Blanco said that other common additions include beef, chicken and pork.

Attendees experimented with the creation of their salsas, adding extra serrano and habanero peppers to ramp up the heat. Various mild, medium, hot and extra hot salsas were made to enjoy with their tamales.

Third-year business administration major Enrique Martinez attended the class to socialize with other students and learn about the history of the dish. Martinez enjoyed cooking tamales and preparing the salsa alongside Blanco.

Monday, October 16,

“The dish has a connection with my culture,” Martinez said. “It [the cooking class] actually gets other students a chance to experience other cultures, foods and cooking overall.”

As a chef with 25 years of experience, Blanco has taught over ten classes at ASI Beach Kitchen in addition to running his own culinary business. He hopes that students were able to gain insight into Latinx culture through the hands-on cooking class.

“Everybody that’s Hispanic knows what tamales are and everybody has their own versions,” Blanco said. “It is a very festive and deep-seated cultural meal.”

Blanco hopes that the school continues to promote different cultures to build community throughout the campus.

“When you eat together, it’s like going into someone’s living room where you’re socializing and getting to know one another on a more intimate level,” Blanco said.

ASI Beach Kitchen volunteer Ashley Moreno believes the series has helped elevate Latinx culture on campus and educate students on traditional dishes.

“Many of us have grown up seeing how tamales are made but we’ve never actually made it ourselves,” Moreno said.

“I think this is a great opportunity for us to learn.”

ASI will continue to host events with Sustain U this semester, including instructional classes on preparing spiced chickpea Buddha bowls and hummus pita pizzas.

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OPINION

Gas prices strike again, hits university students hard

BY NATE MARTINEZ Staff Writer

L

ast week, while filling up my 22-gallon tank, I was forced to look away in shock as the price of gas total kept rising

and rising.

It felt like an eternity but by the time my tank was full, I was down $140 wondering if this was some cruel joke.

I half expected someone to run out with a camera yelling you got pranked!

Unfortunately, that was not the case.

The recent hike in gas prices has largely impacted my way of life, especially since I drive an SUV with horrendous gas mileage.

With every purchase I make, I have to be conscious of whether the item is a necessity and if so, whether there are any cheaper options.

Eating out has become a thing of the past while driving anywhere outside of school and work comes with a noticeable price tag.

On the bright side, being forced to take every one of my expenses seriously

SAMUEL CHACKO / Daily Forty-Niner Gas prices continue to soar with prices rising to around $5-6, as seen at this Chevron located in Hawaiian Gardens. isn’t the worst thing in the world. A career in journalism does not scream fame and fortune so learning how to tighten my wallet will undoubtedly help me once I live alone.

Despite this glass half-full takeaway, the bottom line is these gas prices suck and other CSULB students seem to agree.

“It almost doesn’t seem real,” Kennedy Lee said, a second-year computer science major.

Lee lives in Garden Grove and it is about a 20-minute drive from campus.

He has to stay on campus for nearly five hours, despite having only two classes on Mondays and Wednesdays.

“It’s just not worth it to drive home and back. I’d rather save my money,” Lee said.

Otto Rivera, a geography major in his final semester, shares that sentiment.

“I don’t want to stay at school in between classes, but I kind of have to now to save money,” Rivera said.

Rivera plans to move out once he graduates so saving every dollar is a point of emphasis for him.

As expensive as gas is now, it appears the price will be dropping.

The price of oil dropped by 5.6% on Oct. 5, which is an incredibly large decline as far as oil goes. Prices at the pump should similarly drop in the coming weeks.

“I hope they stay low this time because I don’t know how much longer I could afford the current price,” Rivera said.

It seems there is light at the end of this dark and expensive tunnel, providing timely relief for drivers everywhere.

The pumpkin spice obsession needs to end Spooky season is here and what’s scarier than a seasonal fixation on autumnal spice?

BY ULKU SIMSEK Staff Writer

I

t’s been 20 years since Starbucks debuted its infamous seasonal beverage everyone seems to be losing their mind over every year. The pumpkin spice latte. A drink that will probably outlive us all.

It’s not just about the pumpkin spice latte from Starbucks anymore, it’s the “let’s-put-pumpkin-spice-on-everything” campaign that’s getting out of hand. If you thought that pumpkin-scented candles were the worst thing, then wait until you find out about pumpkin spice trash bags, pumpkin spice body wash and pumpkin spice wet wipes.

The most disturbing one for me is the pumpkin spice hummus. That is cultural appropriation for me at this point.

If you were overwhelmed by how many times I said pumpkin spice since the start of this article, then you can perhaps understand how I feel every time I walk into a Trader Joe’s during the month of October.

Pumpkin spice lattes seem harmless in the sense that it’s a hot beverage that

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ULKU SIMSEK / Daily Forty-Niner Starbucks did not include real pumpkin in its pumpkin spice latte until 2015, which was 12 years after its first debut.

Monday, October 16, 2023

fits the traditional autumn perception and to some, a tasty treat. It feels cozy and the wave of nostalgia hits you immediately with the first sip. It makes you excited for the upcoming holidays.

However, pumpkin spice lattes are far away from being harmless. They’re harmful to your health actually. In a Starbucks’ 16-ounce PSL, there are 50 grams of sugar. Double the amount of daily intake recommended by the American Heart Association.

What does 50 grams of sugar look like? It looks like 12 teaspoons. It also looks like 112 M&M candies.

The capitalistic greed has turned this fall favorite into a disturbing disaster for me. Every year the seasonal beverage comes back earlier and earlier. Starbucks even launched its pumpkin season on Aug. 24 this year.

The following week after the launch, Long Beach saw near-hundred-degree weather. Gone are the days of PSL and sweater weather combo.

You are not a bad person or a basic human if you enjoy a cup of PSL, like what you like. There are worse things in the world that people obsess over.

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OPINION

LIZBETH CORTES-GUTIERREZ / Daily Forty-Niner Shopping for costumes online is not for everyone, luckily there is a Halloween City about 15 minutes away from CSULB.

Overused costumes to stay away from when looking to be creative Halloween begins the moment you start decorating, consuming pumpkin spice everything and shopping for your costume. So, it is important to have fun with the process and be creative.

BY LIZEBETH CORTES-GUTIERREZ Staff Writer

J

ust because a Halloween costume is overused doesn’t mean that it is bad, if creativity is the goal though, it might be a good idea to stay away from these costumes.

In a world full of cats, be a dog.

While popular costumes are great, I think going against the norm can make going out on Halloween both fun and unpredictable.

Every Halloween, crazy cat people come out to trick or treat, but I have yet to see anyone dressed up as a dog. Some beloved dogs that you could recreate are Scooby-Doo and Snoopy, but you can pick your own favorite. There are also various dog onesies available on Amazon, from Pugs to Bernese mountains.

Another pair of costumes that I see every year is the angel and devil duo.

Although this pairing is a classic, maybe even timeless, it has lost its uniqueness over the years. I would recommend finding a new epic duo to dress up as instead, unless you don’t mind los-

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ing them at a party or even worse, on the chilly streets while trick or treating.

The famous inflatable dinosaur costume is like a joke that has been told multiple times. Spirit Halloween has multiple options of inflatable costumes, so why be the popular dinosaur when you can be

“Witch costumes topped Google’s list of most popular Halloween costumes.” As an essential part of Halloween, I cannot propose a different costume but instead different thinking.

Choosing a famous witch to impersonate can make a costume stand out

”

As an essential part of Halloween, I cannot propose a different costume but instead different thinking.

Mike Wazowski, or the famous Garfield, now that’s a cat I would love to see.

Witches and ghosts are difficult to stay away from during this time of year.

On Oct. 31, it’s their world and we’re just living in it.

According to a Billboard article,

at a Halloween party. Some examples might include Bonnie Bennett from the “The Vampire Diaries” or Greek mythology sisters Clotho, Lachesis and Atropos, better known as the Fates.

As for ghost costumes, I really enjoyed the trend of bed sheet ghosts wear-

Monday, October 16, 2023

ing sunglasses. To add some uniqueness to these costumes though, I would get my hands on the purple flowered Target sheets that Taylor Swift’s ghost used in the “Anti-Hero” music video.

For a scarier look, fake blood and a fake knife can always do the trick, but the creativity lies in whatever you choose your ghost’s death story to be.

Contrary to what I had said before, I definitely do believe that the new film, “Barbie,” deserves some special attention.

Now let’s talk about the doll in the room.

Everyone can expect to see multiple Barbies storming through the Halloween streets, with or without Ken, and this popular costume I am on board with. I think everyone that has seen the movie can understand that one of the main points of Barbie is being just like every girl or what people on social media are calling a girl’s girl. I, for one, am excited to hear the resounding greetings of “Hi Barbie.”

Halloween begins the moment you start decorating, consuming pumpkin spice everything and shopping for your costume. So, it is important to have fun with the process and be creative.

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OPINION

Favorite Fall Activities

F

rom costumes to family traditions, students at Long Beach State share their favorite things to do during the spooky season.

BY SYDNEY HOOPER Staff Writer

Fourth-year students Amelia Ay (right) and Lisa Nguyen (left) were eager to share their Halloween traditions.

"I usually do group costumes with my cousins," Ay, a math education major, said. "Last year we did witches, and this year we are doing Care Bears."

"My neighborhood has a lot of kids, so we hand out candy on Halloween and sometimes will even decorate our house," Nguyen, a psychology major, said.

Jordan Waymire, a fourth-year creative writing major, celebrates the fall season close to her German roots, by making mashed potato candy with her family.

"We take mashed potatoes, powdered sugar and peanut butter, and we roll it up and cut it into swirls," Waymire said.

Waymire has never met anyone else who makes this traditional candy, even though both of her parents participated in this tradition before they met.

For Gizzelle Del Rio, a first-year undeclared major, fall is an important time as it holds space for Day of the Dead.

"Our extended family all gathers together at my house as we put up the Ofrenda for our family members who have passed away," Del Rio said. "We also buy treats and eat pozole and tamales."

Audrey Yoshimura (left), a second-year pre-nursing major, usually takes her younger brother trick-or-treating on Halloween.

"My family is going to be doing 'Lord of the Rings' as a group costume this year," Yoshimura said. "I am the shortest in the family, so they are going to be elves and I am going to be a hobbit."

Yoshimura and her roommate, Andrea Alcantara (right), a second-year psychology major, will also be celebrating the fall season by carving pumpkins into cute fairy houses.

As the weather changes and students look forward to the upcoming holidays, fall is a time to get together with family and friends to make some memories.

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Monday, October 16, 2023

13

SPORTS

SAMUEL CHACKO / Daily Forty-Niner Long Beach State women’s volleyball defensive specialist Savana Chacon points at the UC Riverside misplay during the second set at the Walter Pyramid. Chacon scored a game-high 11 digs against UC Riverside.

Get out the broom

LBSU improves to 5-2 in Big West with 3-0 sweep over UC Davis

BY NAOKI GIMA Photo Editor

T

he Long Beach State women’s volleyball team hosted UC Davis and the Aggies at the Walter Pyramid on Friday night in the first game of back-toback home conference games.

The Beach swept the Aggies 3-0, as they improved to 5-2 in the Big West Conference and 11-6 overall just behind Hawai’i and UC Santa Barbara.

The Beach dominated the Aggies in just about every team statistic possible and it showed early on in the game as The Beach would win the first set 25-10, setting the tone early.

The second set was much more competitive, however, with the score ending at 25-19 in favor of The Beach capped off by a kill by graduate outside hitter Katie Kennedy.

The third and final set was similar to the second set as The Beach would close out the game with a score of 25-20. The Beach

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recorded their most efficient scoring night this season with a .404 attack percentage and 48 kills overall.

“They [UC Davis] are one of the better blocking teams in our conference. Teams don’t hit well against them,” LBSU head coach Tyler Hildebrand said. “We hit .404 tonight, which is the first we hit over .400 in a match since I’ve been here.”

Sophomore setter Zayna Meyer recorded seven kills, 35 assists and 10 digs as she embraced a more tactical approach as a scorer on top of playing her role as the primary playmaker.

“Usually when I dump, I don’t really look. Sometimes I do, but it’s usually the fact,” Meyer said.

“We were working on it the last few days of me feeling the blockers where they are and I was definitely able to implement that.”

The Beach players, coaching staff and fans wore pink Friday night’s game in support of Breast Cancer Awareness month and those who have been affected by breast cancer.

“Everyone has someone that’s been touched by breast cancer and affected by that,... I had one of those in my wife’s mom,” Hildebrand said. “It’s cool when you’re able to bring recognition to that and to have played the way we did, I’m proud of that. There are more important things in life than volleyball.”

Glenn continued her hot streak The Beach dominates leading the team with 10 kills while putting up a .556 kill percentage. in sweep of UCR at The Beach has won five out of their last six games and is now tied with Hathe Pyramid waii for the lead in the Big West with a

BY MATTHEW DICKSON Staff Writer

T

he Beach women’s volleyball swept the UC Riverside Highlanders 3-0 in dominating fashion at The Walter Pyramid on a Saturday night in which Outober and the LGBTQ+ community were being celebrated.

Long Beach State’s defense played a massive part in their success as they out-blocked the Highlanders 11-2. Riverside did not get a team block until the third set.

“We didn’t block as well last week because we were focusing on a different part of blocking to try to get better at that part,” said Beach head coach Tyler Hildebrand. “We got to be better at what we’re actually pretty good at, which isn’t system blocking, and they were able to focus on that and make that change.”

The Beach has won its last four home games, and the rowdy energy in the ‘Mid plays a huge factor in that, and Saturday night was no different.

“It gives me more confidence to just keep going and playing with joy is also a big thing that I kind of focus on,” said junior outside hitter Natalie Glenn.

Monday, October 16, 2023

conference record of 6-2.

“I try to attribute our success all year to the fact that we’ve been working on things for a long time now.

18 months now and [...] every week, something starting to click a little bit more and that’s how it goes,” Hildebrand said.

Redshirt sophomore setter Zayna Meyer was a huge factor again for The Beach as she orchestrated the offense all night and filled up the box score with 28 assists, six kills, four digs and three blocks. She was distributing the ball all over the court setting up five hitters to earn five or more kills and even added six kills herself.

“Tonight, our goal was to come out and not just get by not just get away and it was to continue to prove ourselves and define our team,” said junior outside hitter Abby Karich.

This is exactly what The Beach did as its smallest margin of victory in a set was eight points and its largest was 11.

“The fact that we have a target on our back, we proved ourselves and now everyone wants to beat us,” Karich said. “So we know teams are gonna come out and play hard against us. And we’re ready for that. And we love that challenge.”

A challenge is exactly what The Beach will face as they hit the road on Thursday evening at 7 p.m. against conference foe UC Irvine before heading back home next week.

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SPORTS

NAOKI GIMA / Daily Forty-Niner Long Beach State women’s soccer junior forward Summer Laskey looks for her teammates making runs towards the goalie’s box against Utah Valley at George Allen Field.

Laskey finished the game having played 65 minutes and assisted in the only goal for the Beach.

Beach Baller of the week: Summer Laskey

BY DAVIS RAMAGE Sports Editor

W

The junior forward helped fuel a bounceback win for The Beach with a goal and an assist against CSUN on Sunday.

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ith the help of junior forward Summer Laskey, The Beach picked up its first win in three games against CSU Northridge.

“She was MVP of the game where she had a goal and an assist and she also cleared one off the line to keep the game 2-1,” said head coach Mauricio Ingrassia.

The Beach had been struggling of late, with its last win coming on Sept. 24 against UC Santa Barbara.

Laskey came off the bench against CSUN and only played 44 minutes, but was able to be impactful, as she does so often.

Coming off the bench is something Laskey is used to as she came off the bench 12 times last year and flourished, netting six goals and three assists.

“We don’t really settle until 25 minutes in, so that’s when I can go in, already settled and bring back the energy and hopefully put some [goals] away,” Laskey said.

She has been a starter more often than not this year, starting 10 of the 15 games that The Beach has played.

“I want to reward her hard work. She is a starter, but she is more effective off the bench,” Ingrassia said.

Ingrassia said that when she starts, she gets caught in the settling beginning moments of the game, but when she comes off the bench, she can use her

Monday, October 16, 2023

energy and motor to change a game.

“She shows up right around this time.

This is where you really see the Summer.

I tell her all the time, ‘it’s Summer in October,’” Ingrassia said.

Laskey grew up in a soccer household with her father playing semi-professional soccer. Knowing the game very well, her father always helped her improve her game with honesty.

“Growing up I was always on the sidelines of his games and I think that made me love the game more,” Laskey said.

With the transfer portal becoming so prevalent around college sports, it is becoming more rare to see a player stick with a program for multiple years. Laskey is an exception to the majority and has been with The Beach for all three years of her college career.

“The program here is really great and I love all my teammates a lot, that’s the big part,” Laskey said.

Staying loyal has paid off for her as she has really improved her mindset in her time at The Beach. She described her mindset as a huge key to her success.

“In the past when I would mess up I would freak out and really focus on it, but just being chill and not worrying about it as much has really helped me a lot.”

Laskey is and will continue to be a huge part of a Beach team that is fighting to get their groove back in Big West conference play.

“We are climbing to get momentum back and she’s a catalyst for sure,” Ingrassia said.

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SPORTS

JASON GARCIA / Daily Forty-Niner The student section cheers as the women’s volleyball team scores during a game at Walter Pyramid. Long Beach State Athletics has increased overall attendance in the Fall sports semester.

Sandpit’s impact for Long Beach State Athletics

BY SEBASTIAN GREWAL & JASON GARCIA Staff Writers

T

he Sandpit is a studentcreated and led seating section made to help increase student involvement. Students will be able to embrace campus life thanks to athletics.

Assistant Athletics Director, Rich Loza, refers to it as a mission to bring the students together at Long Beach State’s sporting events.

“Students are showing up to the game. Some of them would sit in the corner over here and there,” Loza said.

The Sandpit was the driving force of record-breaking attendance Long Beach State experienced in 2022.

“One of our men’s basketball games, we had the highest student attendance since 2016, with over 1,300 students attending that game,” said Associate Director of Marketing, Juliana Hernandez.

According to LBSU athletics, 10,200 fans have attended the first five women’s volleyball home games this season.

The Sandpit school’s athletics social

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”

You just spent the whole week in class and you’re looking for something fun to do. What’s better than watching your own school play?

Nick Toral Student co-leader of The Sandpit media promote giveaways, themed nights and a designated seating section.

The Sandpit’s has a goal to support the schools’ sporting events to try and unify student participation, while creating a fun atmosphere.

Loza encourages students to attend games while they can and have no regrets after graduation. “‘I wish I would have gone to more

events’ because when they think about it, those are the things that come to mind,” Loza said. “Those are the first memories they have…I was there for this game.

That’s a historical game for our school.”

Loza emphasizes how Long Beach is a unique, special spot that everyone takes pride in.

According to Loza, the Sandpit is currently working with Beach XP – an

Monday, October 16, 2023

initiative designed to help first-year students – Long Beach ASI and the university dorms to embrace school athletics.

According to Hernandez, Nick Toral will be the new student co-leader of The Sandpit, while the other student leader position will be filled later in the year.

Toral is a sophomore Civil Engineering major and is in his first semester as a leader of the Sandpit. He wants to bring awareness to Long Beach State sports.

“You just spent the whole week in class and you’re looking for something fun to do. What’s better than watching your own school play?” Toral said.

With a formal presence inside Walter Pyramid, students boost athlete’s morale when playing.

Long Beach State athletic events are free to students who present their student ID. “It’s one thing to make the games as fun as possible for the students that attend, but it’s also for the athletes,” Toral said. “They play a lot better, they play a lot harder when they [get] a big crowd of fans behind them.”

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