Daily 49er, April 5, 2018

CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, LONG BEACH

VOL. LXVIX, ISSUE 65 | APRIL 5, 2018

49er

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BEACH BUCKS

Swipe for change Cal State Long Beach envisions a campus where students use their ID cards to make most of their purchases.

By Wayne Camp

A Lesson in Culture

Staff Writer

While many Cal State Long Beach campus members routinely use their identification cards for bus fare and knocking the sales tax off food, the university has launched an application for the plastic cards that is expected to make life easier for students.

Since February, students have been able to deposit money online through the Blackboard Transact Mobile eAccounts app.

According to Cyndi Farrington, ID card services manager at Forty-Niner Shops, the decision to launch a multipurpose “OneCard” ID was part of a bigger Smart Campus Initiative, which aims to give easy access to technological service to the stu-

A member of Heart of the Islands teaches a student a traditional Pacific Islander dance routine during the Asian American and Pacific Islander Month Kick-Off Wednesday. The event was part of ASI’s Respect Diversity Week. A member of Heart of the Islands, right, leads the traditional Pacific Islander dance with the beat of his drum on the Southwest Terrace.

Photos by Hunter Lee Daily 49er

see MONEY, page 3

SENATE

Hate speech resolution stuck in limbo ASI senators question how much they can control white supremacy on campus.

By Lorraine Debbas Staff Writer

The sight of inked swastikas and racist rhetoric on bathroom stalls is no longer shocking for most Cal State Long Beach students. The Associated Students Inc. senate has tried to prevent hate speech in the past, but the new resolution against white supremacy sparked

debate in the senate Wednesday.

Some senators argued that the resolution isn’t proactive enough, that it only defines what white supremacy is and does not provide practical measures to take after a racist act has been committed.

“The resolution talks about what will happen when white supremacy continues to belong on campus but not what we will do to prevent it,” said college of the arts senator Camryn Hohneker.

Co-authors of the resolution, senators Thulani Ngazimbi and Leen Almahdi, quickly rebutted the argument by pointing to lines in the resolution that added practical steps to help marginalized

students feel safe and increase ally training.

“The intention of this resolution is to provide similar opportunities to students on this campus,” Ngazimbi said. “This resolution is intended to outline specifically what things should happen in order for those students to be taken seriously.”

ASI President, Sofia Musman, questioned if the resolution should directly address white supremacy or be revised to assess all oppressors.

“When we say that ASI stands against white supremacy, that’s powerful,” said Almahdi, health and human services senator. “By

saying we are against white supremacy and other forms of oppression makes the resolution weaker. White supremacy is the root cause of many oppressions.”

College of liberal arts senator Quentin Pestner argued that the title of the resolution should include more than white supremacy because his identity of being queer has been affected by many races.

“As a queer man, I should not be discluded from this conversation,” Pestner said. “I have faced discrimination not just from white people but from every ethnicity for being queer.”

College of Natural Science and

Math Senator Ian Macdonald encouraged the senate to pass the resolution with the same title because the resolution has been stuck in the senate.

“We need to pass this now because it has been more than half a year that we have been sitting on this issue,” Macdonald said. “We need to get this through the senate so our students know that we can be decisive.”

Musman suggested that the resolution be tabled and have the co-authors put in the suggestions before it’s passed. The senate was encouraged to be prepared to vote on the resolution for next week’s meeting.

2 NEWS

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CONTEST

Psyched to learn about the brain Annual research fair provides insight into department.

By Grant Hermanns Staff Writer

Students were “psyched” Wednesday to dive into a full day of activities demystifying human behavior.

The 46th Annual Psychology Day kicked off at 11 a.m. as attendees filing in were greeted by psychology majors and graduate students alike.

The event took place in throughout the entire Psychology Building and offered a variety of activities, ranging from workshops to a $5 potluck. The event concluded with a presentation by keynote speaker, Lindsey Schier, Ph. D from the University of Southern California, in the Beach Auditorium.

Eleanor Mutuc, a second-year psychology major, believes that while the event is great for students to “geek out” over their shared major, it also gives other students an insight into the work being done in the field of psychology.

One of the biggest activities of the event was the Research Poster Competition held in the Psychology Building’s quad, where around 30 psychology majors presented their projects to fellow students.

The presentations were split into various categories of research including completed, proposed and graduate. They were judged based on various elements including “poster content and overall professionalism,” according to Mi-

Hunter Lee | Daily 49er

Graduate psychology student Martina Hollearn presents her research project to another student. The research competition was one of many events hosted during the 46th Annual Psych Day.

chelle Kim, president of PSA. Some presentation winners will earn cash prizes, certificates and recognition at the upcoming Psychology Banquet May 3.

In addition to the research presentations, there were also multiple workshops held in various parts of around the building that covered more than just psychology-related topics.

One workshop hosted by Matthew Gonzales, a counselor from the Career Development Center and College of Liberal Arts, offered students assistance in drafting resumes and cover letters for

future employers.

In addition to the research presentations, there were also multiple workshops held in various parts of around the building that covered more than just psychology-related topics. One workshop hosted by Matthew Gonzales, a counselor from the Career Development Center and College of Liberal Arts, offered students assistance in drafting resumes and cover letters for future employers.

Juan Barraza, a senior psychology major and president of the Psi Chi Honor Society, believes having students present their work is

a great experience for demonstrations in the field.

“It’s really a great way for students that are doing research here at CSULB in giving them an opportunity to present what they’re researching and preparing them for future events,” Barraza said.

While some found that the process of presenting to be “nerve-wracking,” they also said it was a great experience.

“It makes me feel really good, proud and excited, because I’ve been working on this for about eight months, so it’s nice to see the whole process and being able

to tell people about it,” said Alexis Castro, a sophomore psychology major.

Additionally, she believes that this event is a great opportunity for those who may be isolated within their majors to get outside and involved in other areas of campus.

“It’s a great networking opportunity for collaborating,” Castro said. “I’m really all for interdisciplinary studies, and possibly collaborating with engineers, or computer scientists or people in nutrition. That’s my end goal, personally.”

CAMPUS EVENT

Free food and dog therapy: a life worth living Project OCEAN aims to help students de-stress and take advantage of mental health resources on campus.

By Sarah Vehrs

Assistant News Editor

As the midpoint of the semester crawls past, it’s not uncommon for students to feel drained and anxious. Luckily, Cal State Long Beach’s on-campus emergency assistance network will bring free massages, emotional support animals, hammocks and games for a pick-me-up.

Project OCEAN, will host the eighth annual Live Your Life Day Tuesday, April 10 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the Speaker’s Platform lawn. This organization is part of the Counseling and Psychology Services, and their goal is to educate students on suicide prevention and overall mental and physical wellness.

According to Event Coordinator Amaris Baker, they will help provide resources

Courtesy of CSULB Project OCEAN’’s Facebook

A student breakdances during Project OCEAN’s Live Your Life Day 2015. The event will return to campus April 10 with free massages, support animals and other activities on the Speaker’s Platform lawn from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

for emotional, physical, social and spiritual wellness on campus and in the community.

“We want students to feel like they can relax, and to let them know that they have people to turn to when they are struggling

with mental health issues,” said Baker, a marriage and family therapy graduate student.

Also included will be free lunch, a photo booth and dances performed by student

groups.

Danny Alderete, a senior majoring in human development, is helping to coordinate with volunteers for the event.

“I decided to work for Project OCEAN because I personally struggle with mental health issues, so that pushed me to learn more and get involved,” Alderete said. “I felt that it was important to educate people, because the suicide rate for college students is so high.”

According to Baker, the second leading cause of death for people ages 18 to 24 is suicide. The group hopes to combat these statistics by educating students through resources, such as trainings, workshops and peer-to-peer programs.

Students looking to volunteer can sign up on their website and will receive free food and an official OCEAN T-shirt.

Amanda Phou, an undergraduate peer advocate, said that they expect to see at least 500 participants.

“I’m excited to see the student community come to the event,” said Phou, a senior psychology and human development major. “We put in a lot of work so that we can spread awareness for suicide prevention.”

NEWS 3

THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 2018 DAILY49ER.COM | CITYD49ER@GMAIL.COM NATIONAL

Guard plans for border in the works

By Noah Bierman and Brian Bennett Tribune Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration announced a hastily assembled plan Wednesday to deploy National Guard troops along the southwestern border, hoping to make good on a promise the president made a day earlier that caught many in the military by surprise.

Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said that troops would be deployed “immediately” and that she had already spoken to four governors whose states share the border. But by day’s end, none of the four had publicly committed to deploy a specific number of guard units.

At least one, California Gov. Jerry Brown, heard from Nielsen about the issue for the first time on Wednesday, according to a spokesman. Without key details — including the number of troops, the duration of their deployment and the cost — the Democratic governor was unwilling to commit to the effort, his spokesman said.

The administration’s request “will be promptly reviewed to determine how best we can assist our federal partners,” California National Guard spokesman Lt. Col. Tom Keegan said in a statement.

Administration officials who described their plans to reporters

Olivier Douliery | Abaca Press

Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen announces that President Trump will soon sign an order to deploy National Guard troops to the U.S. southern border during a press conference in the press briefing room of the White House on April 4 in Washington, D.C.

were insistently vague about the number of Guard personnel who might be sent to the border. And while they offered a detailed account of what they see as the main current problem there — a rising number of Central American refugees making claims for asylum — they left unclear what troops could do about it.

“The president is frustrated” over continued illegal immigration, Nielsen said, adding, “He has been very clear that he wants to secure our border.”

The president is frustrated.

He has been very clear that he wants to secure our border.”

“

Kirstjen Nielsen, Homeland Security Secretary

Trump signed a proclamation Wednesday night to allow the deployment, but the decisions have to be made in conjunction with the governors of the four border states, Nielsen said.

The hurried moves came a day after Trump surprised the military and some of his own staff with talk of deploying troops to guard the border.

“Until we can have a wall and proper security, we’re going to be guarding our border with the military. That’s a big step,” Trump

MONEY

continued from page 1 dents and faculty.

“Imagine a time where students can just use their IDs as if it’s Apple Pay — just a simple tap at the cash register and off you go,” Farrington said. “That is something that we discuss in our meetings. It would just make the lines more efficient; everyone is happy.”

According to Farrington, the idea for the app came after meeting with a student President’s Scholar in the design department.

“She was saying how inconvenient it was for her to have to go all the way to the Outpost or the student union to put money on her card, and it would be better if there was an app available,” Farrington said.

Currently, campus members with these cards can receive discounts of at least 10 percent at off-campus locations including George’s Greek Cafe and The Brix on Second Street, Marketplace Grill and Lazy Acres.

Farrington said the university aims to encourage more students to take advantage of these cards, but they haven’t quite figured out just how to convince students to use them more.

“That’s a big question for us:

Photo Illusration by Hunter Lee | Daily 49er

While you can swipe your ID card at numerous campus locations, you still cannot use it to withdraw money from the ATM.

how do we get students to use their ID cards in other ways besides just for printing?” Farrington said. “We want to provide more deals to our students. Students can already get discounts at many eateries ... the bookstores and other shops across Long Beach just by showing their ID card.”

Hector Prado, a junior finance major, said he doesn’t usually use his card when he’s not at the university.

“If I am off campus, chances are high that I’m not going to be pulling out my ID card from my wallet,” Prado said. “At the same time however, I could be at fault for not knowing about the deals

that supposedly come with the ID card.”

Over the past two academic semesters, the university has partnered with many businesses, such as El Pollo Loco, Subway and Coffee Bean to offer student discounts by using the Beach Bucks on their ID cards.

From yoga classes to sushi —

said at a White House ceremony Tuesday.

Later that day, White House officials said that what Trump was actually referring to was deployment of National Guard units, much as President George W. Bush did in 2006 and President Barack Obama did in 2010.

National Guard personnel would not be allowed to arrest people crossing the border — something barred by federal law — but could provide support to the Border Patrol. In previous deployments, Guard troops have been used to help build roads, keep watch for illegal crossings and scout smuggling routes.

Trump’s call to bring in the military mirrored other recent policy and personnel announcements that have forced advisers to scramble. It came after several days in which the president stewed over the lack of congressional funding to build his promised border wall and suffered criticism from some of his nationalist allies for failure to win more money for the project.

In briefing reporters, Nielsen said the administration had recently seen an uptick in illegal border crossings after a steep decline last year. The numbers are not definitive, and monthly figures often fluctuate. But officials appear concerned that illegal crossings could mount quickly in the spring, the season when they typically peak.

these cards benefit students off campus, too.

Some students living on campus voiced a preference to using the cards as a paying method on campus.

“You have to take into account ... how can we make things easier for our students,” said Anthony Kash, a sophomore political science major. “For someone like myself who is currently living on campus, it is more convenient just to have money on one paying method instead of needing multiple methods.”

The campus ID Card Services, Housing and Residential Life and the Division of Information Technology are partnering up to work on a project for the Beachside dorms that would allow students to use their cards for electronic door access.

“Students would be able to use the mobile app or their campus ID card to access their rooms at Beachside, reducing the need for additional keys,” Farrington said.

“This project moves the campus toward its ‘OneCard’ goal over time, one of the ‘Smart Campus’ initiatives underway.”

In the near future, the plan at the university is to let students personally customize their ID by allowing ID photos submissions online, and allow the cards to be used for Uber and Lyft.

James Chow contributed to this article.

4 ARTS & LIFE

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PROFILE

An illustration of culture and tradition Art student Talin Tanielian explores a different side of life in an all-paid trip to Japan.

By Shyanne Riberal-Norton Assistant Arts & Life Editor

Every student dreams about an overseas journey during their college career, studying the subject they love and diving into a new culture. Funding these trips yourself can be difficult, but having a fully-funded adventure is even more of a rare phenomenon.

Cal State Long Beach MFA student Talin Tanielian is one of the lucky ones whose life changed when she experienced this journey come true.

Tanielian was chosen for a Japanese exchange program dedicated to promote mutual understandings of culture beyond the borders. The program, KAKEHASHI Project, is fully funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan and was looking for a student interested in Japanese culture.

Tanielian has shown this interest through a number of her pieces in her years studying at CSULB. For an art project last year, she created illustrations from Japanese words that had no literal meaning when translated to English.

“I tried to emulate the beauty of these words into images that the viewer could get lost in,” Tanielian said.

Noticing her interest in Japanese culture, her professors Aubry Mintz and Mark Michelon nominated Tanielian when the Japanese International Cooperation Center contacted the school about the exchange opportunity. After

Courtesy of Aubry Mintz

Talin Tanielian was one of 25 students from around the country chosen for a travel program in Japan to study the culture and art.

being picked, she joined 24 other colipate in several workshops that exlege students from all over the United plored the depths of Japanese culture States participating in the project. such as mochi making, Japanese calligIn January, she and the other chosen raphy and sake tasting. students traveled During some Our host family to multiple large of their time cities in Japan in Japan, those taught us so much including Toparticipating about humility, kyo, Kyoto and in the program kindness and generosity, all by Takashima. each stayed with They visited doing the simplest of tasks.” a host family to important landget a first-person marks includexperience of life Talin Tanielian in the country. ing temples and MFA student Students brought shrines and even explored the Ongifts from their sen, or traditional Japanese bath houshometowns, known as omiyage, for the es. host families and during their stay they The group also was able to particinteracted in ways like doing house-

“

hold chores with their host parents.

“Our host family taught us so much about humility, kindness and generosity, all by doing the simplest of tasks,” Tanielian said. “Despite there being a very strong language barrier, we all got emotional when we had to part ways.”

The students were also able to get involved with Kyoto Seiko University, a school where students learn to draw manga, which are popular comics in Japanese pop culture.

She noticed small differences in the schools, including the cheap price of the lunches provided by school administration.

“It was so cool to see that administrators were thinking of the wellbeing of their students rather than the cost,” Tanielian said.

While at the school, those participating in the project spoke with students attending the university. This one-on-one time allowed both parties to learn about the cultural and artistic differences between the two. Tanielian learned about how the Japanese students wanted to shed awareness on the struggles facing the LGBTQ community which is still frowned upon in Japanese culture.

Tanielian was moved by her visit to the Fushimi Inari Shrine where she and her fellow participants learned about the Japanese gods and traditions.

“Walking through the shrine was so peaceful,” Tanielian said. “I have never felt more present or at peace in a place in my life.”

Tanielian kept a vlog of her time overseas and said she left Japan with a new insight and new friends.

“I went in with no expectations and came out with absolutely no disappointments,” Tanielian said. “I got to live out a fairy tale in real life.”

FILM

‘Gemini’ explores different sides of Los Angeles

By Mark Olsen

Los Angeles Times

A politely sleazy thriller, the new film “Gemini” is a gripping murder mystery that reveals new dimensions of Los Angeles on-screen. Its examination of the world of celebrity and the contemporary slippage of identity is set against a vision of the city that is both glossy sleek and comfortably lived-in.

Written and directed by Aaron Katz, the film focuses on a young Hollywood assistant, Jill LeBeau (Lola Kirke), who cleans up the personal and professional messes of her celebrity boss, actress Heather Anderson (Zoë Kravitz). A dead body shot with Jill’s gun leaves behind a lot of suspects from Heather’s life, including a frustrated filmmaker (Nelson Franklin), a jilted boyfriend (Reeve Carney) and a secret girlfriend (Greta Lee). A low-key detective (John Cho) sifts through the messy possibilities.

With its unusual mix of genre plot propulsion and odd character moments, the

film makes for an eccentric alchemy. Katz is an avowed devotee of watching movies on VHS as well as literary crime fiction by writers such as John Dickson Carr. As reference and inspiration, he mentions such thrillers as the San Francisco-set “Jade” and the Florida-set “Body Heat” alongside L.A.-set movies such as “Dead Again,” “American Gigolo” and “Bad Influence.”

“It feels like thrillers have this great capacity to express something about the city that they are taking place in,” Katz said while recently tucked into a back booth at Tonga Hut, the North Hollywood tiki bar seen in the movie.

“Maybe in part because geography is really important in a thriller and the mechanics of how you get from here to there has an outsized importance in the plot,” he added. “So I feel like you get to see a lot of the city and immerse the movie in the fabric of what it means to live in the city at a particular time.”

Katz, 36, is originally from Portland, Ore., and after emerging with two well-received micro-budget features, 2006’s “Dance Party USA” and 2007’s “Quiet City,” he first

stepped into genre territory with the slacker detective sibling mystery “Cold Weather” in 2010. His next film, “Land Ho!” was a road comedy set in Iceland co-directed with Martha Stephens. After moving to Los Angeles in late 2012, he began working on the script that would become “Gemini” as a tribute to the city as he was exploring its lesser-seen corners.

On the day after the film’s recent L.A. premiere, Kirke and Cho met up at Frank’s Coffee Shop in Burbank, a location where their characters have a pivotal conversation in the movie.

“When you come back to a location, I’m never quite sure what’s us, what production put up, and what is the original restaurant,” Cho said. Looking around the room, he added, “There’s always less.”

Both Kirke and Kravitz grew up with show business and the attention it can bring as part of their lives. (Kirke’s father is Bad Company drummer Simon Kirke and her mother is designer Lorraine Kirke; Kravitz is the daughter of actress Lisa Bonet and musician Lenny Kravitz.) The exploration in “Gemini” of the unusual

I like seeing a story that shows if you don’t have your feet on the ground and you get swept up in it, you can find yourself in a very unstable place emotionally.”

“

Heather Anderson Actress dynamic between a celebrity and an assistant — the blurred boundaries between the personal and the professional, on-duty and off-hours — was something they both instinctively understood.

“I think that’s something the movie does really well in general, show you different sides of things you think you really know already,” Kirke said. “It shows you a different side of celebrity and it shows you a different side of Los Angeles.”

“There is such an intriguing balance of see MYSTERY, page 5

ARTS & LIFE 5

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RESIDENT COLUMN

Let me tell you about my bar friends A part of me died on Interstate 5.

By Joel Vaughn Staff Writer

Going to a brewery isn’t just a means to an inebriated bus ride home, it’s also a means for me to tip bartenders into talking to me.

Moving to Los Angeles County left me with a sense that I lost something after passing Camp Pendleton on the five freeway.

I left behind a real connection I made with a city and replaced it with smoggy freeways and loneliness. Even if the only notable thing I can say about North County San Diego is that they have good beer and good people serving it, it’s more than I can say about El Monte at this point. The day-to-day routine at Cal State Long Beach consists of class, student media and home. San Diego at least had a boozy pit stops in between with decent beer and a cast of interesting characters behind the bar. Mainstreet in Vista hosts a variety of breweries, some so large that they’re border-

line-corporatized, others small and unheard of outside of San Diego County. I can write about one of these breweries, but I don’t expect you to come here. In fact, I don’t want you to even know the brewery’s name, I just want to put the bartenders on my overly convoluted word stage. When you’re in California, you can find a brewery regardless of what city you’re in. What’s truly valuable finds are bartenders that keeps you coming back.

The people: Miguel was an eccentric art-school drop, personified acid flashback, prévoir of unlicensed pop-culture merchandise — bartender. He figuratively and sometimes it seemed literally lived at this brewery. Whether he was smoking bowls just outside the backdoor, preaching nihilism at the patrons or hosting trivia, the Miguel archetype was always there. Lyn was a former ‘90s industrial-goth poet that gracefully grew into her 30s, holding onto her green hair and adopting a motherly perso-

Courtesy of Wavelength Brewing Company

While there are bars and breweries on nearly every corner, what sets one place apart from another are the bartenders.

na. Responsible and gregarious, she refused to take anyone’s shit.

Like a guardian angel, she only took her eyes off the bar for cigarette and cappuccino runs. Ron was in the navy, saw the world

When I came back over the break, the familiarity and closeness I thrived off of before was no longer there.

“

and then settled on San Diego. A cracked smile was always settled behind his Head and Shoulders with Old Spice scented beard.

Like an unconsciously zen monk practicing a moving meditation,

he seemingly floated on a cloud of worldly calm from beer tap, to inpatient customer, to dish sink never breaking that aged smile.

I came back over the break, the familiarity and closeness I thrived off of before was no longer there.

All that we shared was a hello, a beer order and a longing for a subject of conversation.

They were still actors playing the same roles on the same beer stained stage — I wasn’t. I was in a new theatre, in a new city and reading a new script. I may as well have been a stranger. I remember their lines, but my own monologues were lost to me.

On one of the drives over the five freeway to or from San Diego, part of me died. Distance and time made me disappear from their hearts and minds. Walking

MYSTERY

continued from page 4

light and dark here, emotional light and dark,” Kravitz said by telephone from Los Angeles.

“And I think what Aaron did was kind of look at both sides of a lot of things, seeing the positive and the negative sides of all those things. It is a hard thing to capture, but I think that’s what this story is about, is looking at everything from both sides.”

The production covered a lot of ground: from a parking lot off Western, an apartment building in Koreatown, an elaborately tiled house in Laurel Canyon, a glamorous retreat in Topanga Canyon, a house above the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood and El Matador State Beach.

Along with Tonga Hut and Frank’s, restaurants and bars such as Yamashiro, Casa Bianca Pizza Pie and Star Karaoke are all featured prominently.

Katz’s own house in Eagle Rock served as the house of a film director — that’s his Spirit Award seen as set dressing in the background as well as the computer on which he edited the movie — and his local coffee shop, Found

A screen grab from the mystery thriller “Gemini.”

Coffee, is in a scene as well.

The Tesla and Mercedes featured as celebrity cars cost well more than Katz’s earliest movies.

The small Nissan hatchback that Kirke’s character drives in the film was a rental that Katz also used to get to and from the shoot, driving Kirke and cinematographer Andrew Reed along the way.

Though he had never met her, Katz wrote the part of Jill with Kirke in mind after seeing her in Noah Baumbach’s “Mis-

tress America.” Once Kirke was signed on, she suggested Kravitz, a friend, for the role of Heather.

(Katz had already met Kravitz for a project that never materialized.) From there, Katz rewrote the roles based on input from his actresses, collaborating on their characters and their world.

“There is something really particular about Aaron as far as filmmakers go, particularly male filmmakers, there is a complete lack of ego in the most incred-

Courtesy of SXSW Film Festival

ible way,” Kirke said. “He’s so open to collaboration and open in general. And those were really refreshing qualities to see. I definitely think Aaron is an auteur, but none of that auteur ego lives within him.”

Katz acknowledged that Kirke and Kravitz already knew more than him about the world of fame and its orbit just from their own lives. So, he said, it made sense to ask them for input on anything from dealing with pushy paparaz-

into this place that I once called a home away from home immediately and painfully confronted me with the realization that I was entering a personal past that was long gone; I guess that’s what you call nostalgia. I hate it because I remember and know that I’ll never have that place again.

This is where the column would typically end, but my editor insisted that I construct a more positive outro and she’s probably right.

I saw a new therapist last weekend partially for the sake of getting my head shrunk on this sense of loss, but mostly because I’m generally fucked up. On the myriad of talking points she hit was the idea that loss begets change. Maybe I should keep that in mind.

zi on the street to when and how to assert celebrity privilege to gain special treatment.

“I think fame is a very complicated thing,” Kravitz said. “I like seeing a story that shows if you don’t have your feet on the ground and you get swept up in it, you can find yourself in a very unstable place emotionally.

Which is where we find Heather.

And yet I think she is also very much addicted to being famous and having that kind of attention on her.

“And I relate to it in some ways,” she added. “But I think fame is something whether you are famous or someone who kind of participates from afar and watches celebrities, I like the idea of looking at. It’s a bizarre thing, it’s not normal.”

A murder mystery, a study of characters and celebrity and an essay on the city itself, “Gemini” captures the enigmatic nature of life in Los Angeles, from the fringes to the center of the action.

“L.A. is a mystery, there are so many things going on here,” Cho said. “It’s confusing, and it isn’t well planned, but it’s wonderful and awful, and it’s filled with incredible successes and tragic failures and strange pockets of life.

So enigmatic is right. Everything is slippery in this town.”

6 OPINIONS

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TELEVISION

Sinclair’s growth strangles the airwaves The corporation’s must-read script is more than just creepy, it’s a cause for concern.

By Daniel Green Opinions Editor

O

ne of the growing fears in journalism is the expansion of news as a business. As corporations scoop up newspapers and stations, some wonder how news media can remain a nonpartisan source dedicated to informing the public.

In the past month, worries about corporate control of the media were given credence when reports came out that Sinclair Broadcast Group, one of the largest media companies in the country, sent out a “must-read” script to its stations.

This went largely unnoticed until Deadspin released a video of local news anchors from numerous Sinclair stations reading the script to their audiences. In the video, the anchors recite the same script, aside from the location, word for word about the dangers of bias in the media.

The video splices the clips into an eerie montage of anchors criticizing the “national” media for pushing “biased or fake news” with one voice. After a few sentences the tape would jump to a new anchor reciting the next part of the script, before overlaying all their voices over each other.

One by one they express some concerns such as: “some media outlets publish these same fake stories…stories that just aren’t true, without checking facts first.”

The anchors also claimed that “some members of the media use their platforms to push their own personal bias and agenda to control ‘exactly what people think’…

Courtesy of Deadspin

It was recently discovered that Sinclair provided the identical scripts for all their reporters to read off during broadcasts in different locations.

This is extremely dangerous to a democracy.”

There are a couple reasons these claims are worrying.

One is the unsubstantiated claims that their colleagues in the media are publishing fake news, pushing their biases or trying to control how people think.

The stations made these allegations in the attempt to differentiate themselves as a source of truth and quality news. Unfortunately, the anchors provide no facts or examples of these supposed fake news stories.

Without any evidence, their claims come across as a tactic to discredit their rivals by fanning the flames of fake news. In an era where public trust of the media is at an all-time low, this is an especially short-sighted and selfish tactic to sway the audience in their favor.

This is alarming, considering the size of the Sinclair Broadcast Group.

For those who don’t know, the

Daily 49er Miranda Andrade-Ceja Editor-in-Chief eicd49er@gmail.com

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Sinclair Broadcast Group is the largest owner of television stations in the United States. With 172 stations under its ownership, the company controls about forty percent of the market.

The stations made these allegations in the attempt to differentiate themselves as a source of truth and quality news.

Unfortunately, the anchors provide no facts or examples of these supposed fake news stories.

“

That means that Sinclair’s size gives them the ability to push this narrative to a large portion of their audience.

Sinclair is set to increase its already impressive influence with their potential purchase of

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Tribune Media, which would bring dozens of news stations under their control. The merger will increase the number of stations to over 200. This means that the group would be able to reach more than 70 percent of households.

With Sinclair positioning themselves as the only honest source of news, this increase of influence is truly scary. It risks creating an audience that is distrustful of any news sources but the ones broadcast by Sinclair-owned stations.

Along with the fears of Sinclair’s influence and message is the claims of unfair treatment.

Federal law forbids any broadcast provider from reaching more than 40 percent of households.

However, the Federal Communications Commission has done little to slow down the merger, and has made exceptions for Sinclair. Some have claimed that this is sign of favoritism toward the

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company, which has been more sympathetic to President Trump and conservative views.

While the FCC seems to be working to create loopholes for Sinclair it has actively worked against the merger of AT&T and Time Warner Cable. While many have been critical of this merger, eyebrows were raised when the FCC asked Time Warner to sell off CNN, one of the stations that has been critical of Trump and his administration.

According to a source to CNN it seems like this is a direct result of the company’s coverage.

“The only reason you would divest CNN would be to kowtow to the president because he doesn’t like the coverage,” the source said. “It would send a chilling message to every news organization in the country.”

Overall, this creates an uncomfortable image of Sinclair gaining influence, while pushing a narrative that harms journalism as a whole. More discomforting is the fact that no one seems to be interested in stopping them.

The unfortunate thing about all this is that the script speaking out against fake news is not necessarily a bad thing. The public should be more aware of how to spot fake news and be more aware of it.

However, accusing rival news sources of bias comes across as fear mongering rather than a service to the community.

The most disturbing thing about Sinclair’s growth is the single vision being sculpted by the company. As it absorbs more and more outlets, it drowns out conflicting views and values for their own.

In observing this trend, it’s easy to see why federal law tried to prevent one company from gaining so much influence.

Rather than aid Sinclair, the FCC should be enforcing its own laws and maintaining the integrity of the airwaves.

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SPORTS 7

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Sophomore pitcher Cielo Meza is having a strong first full season in the pitcher’s circle, bringing charisma, passion and 157 strikeouts so far this season.

Grant Hermanns | Daily 49er

PROFILE

There’s no stopping Cielo Softball pitcher Cielo Meza is blazing a trail in her first full season.

By Grant Hermanns Staff Writer

After being limited to the outfield in her youth softball career, Cielo Meza decided to try out pitching after being advised by her coaches. Meza found that through a lot of hard work and a bit of natural talent, being a pitcher was a perfect fit.

In her five years of standing in the pitcher’s circle, Meza has had quite the hot streak in her softball career thus far. This talent has earned her numerous awards during her high school years. During her senior year at St. Bonaventure, Meza was able to record 348 strikeouts and keep her ERA as low as 0.57 while recording 21 wins.

As a child, Meza was sports-minded and fostered an interest in basketball, soccer and even volleyball — but it was softball that was her true passion.

Meza said that her father served as a key role model, someone who greatly influenced her to pursue her talent for softball.

“It was a good journey,” Meza said. “He is my biggest supporter, my biggest fan and my biggest critic as well. He made me who I am today.”

Meza also said her love of competition propelled her into playing softball at Long Beach.

“I grew up playing with my cousins and [my hometown].

Luke Ramirez | Daily 49er

Long Beach sophomore Cielo Meza delivers a pitch during the 49ers game against UCLA on March 11.

Fillmore is a small town, so I was a big competitor [and] I always played with those girls growing up,” Meza said. “I thought that through softball, I could be the best, it’s that competitive side of me.”

Head coach Kim Sowder has noted this passion from Meza is one of her strongest traits when she’s in the circle, saying that any pitcher is to lead the team in a game, and that she gives the team a lot of confidence.

Sowder was impressed with Meza’s ability to put a lot of movement on the ball after seeing her pitch during a recruitment visit.

“Her coach had mentioned to

take a look at a couple of their pitchers, the minute I saw Cielo there was no doubt in my mind that we were going to do everything we could together,” Sowder said. “She’s got a talent and that competitive spirit and mental toughness that you want in a pitcher.”

The 2018 season marks Meza’s first full-time return to the circle following a season-ending injury in 2016 that affected her going through the 2017 season. Sowder was relieved to see Meza return to the circle, and applauded the young pitcher’s physical and mental journey to get back onto the field.

Since her return from her rotator cuff injury, Meza has had an impressive season in the circle.

She’s racked up 157 strikeouts across 118 innings pitched, and has maintained a 1.36 ERA while holding a 16-2 record. She even broke the school’s record with 17 strikeouts against Hawaii on March 30, the previous record set

by Brooke Turner in 2008 with 15 strikeouts.

Senior catcher Lauren MacLeod has watched Meza grow from her start at LBSU and found that after her injury, Meza returned to the field with power.

“Her presence in the circle is a lot more dominant than before,

and her strength has improved an insane amount,” MacLeod said.

“Her energy [has] calmed down a bit, but she’s definitely controlled herself and she seems so much more composed, which is good.”

Pitching coach Danielle Spaulding, who began coaching for Long Beach toward the end of Meza’s injury, said that though Meza was eager to get back out there, the team struggled to hold her back from pushing too hard.

“When we got her for season last year, it was like one inning here and there, and then you raise it, and then she was ready for conference,” Spaulding said. “We still kind of had to hold her back a bit, because she was getting sore and pitching in a game is different from pitching in practice.”

Spaulding also mentioned that one of the biggest things involved with coaching Meza is the pure passion the sophomore has for the game.

“She exudes that [passion], and I get that from here, whether it be striking out somebody or whether she’s mad at herself for giving up a hit,” Spaulding said. “You can’t beat that and you can’t teach that.”

Meza felt that her return from her injury was amazing, saying both her and her dad cried when she finally returned to the circle and that, though it carried a heavy emotional toll, it was a great experience. “[I look forward to] bringing a lot of fight,” Meza said. “I really believe in this team and I think we’re going to do really well in conference and make it far in the postseason.”

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