Daily 49er, February 9, 2017

CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, LONG BEACH

D

VOL. LXVIII, ISSUE 61 | FEBRUARY 9, 2017

49er

RENOVATIONS

La Raza Student Center reopens Thursday

By Xochitl Abarca and Valerie Osier Staff Writers

Jose De Castro | Daily 49er

After maintaining the health fee of $45 a semester for nearly 12 years, the Student Fee Advisory Committee has made the decision to raise it to $75 starting in fall 2017.

FINANCES

Health fee increases by $30 Student Fee Advisory Committee decides to raise fees in fall 2017.

By Connie Ojeda Staff Writer

Vice President of Student Affairs Carmen Taylor released a statement Wednesday that said the student health fee will be increasing

from $45 to $75 a semester, taking effect fall 2017.

After maintaining the health fee price for nearly 12 years, the Student Fee Advisory Committee, made up of members of Associated Students, Inc. and Cal State Long Beach administration, made the decision to raise it.

The revenue generated by the increase will be used “to fund increased mental health services, a part-time registered dietician, reduction of some lab fees and stress management programs,” the state-

ment said.

Aside from the Student Health Services Fee, the Student Health Facility Fee will also be increased from $3 to $5 to help pay for building maintenance and upgrades.

The school will also be adjusting the cost of living prices every three years following the fall 2017 implementation in an attempt to prevent future increases to the health fees.

More information regarding the fee increase can be found on the CSULB website under Student Health Services.

ASI

CONSTRUCTION

Students, you down with O.P.P.?

CSULB nears the end of ongoing campus renovations.

ASI officials debate over a new resolution that freezes tuition increase.

By James Chow Staff Writer

Associated Students, Inc.’s new Senate Resolution 2017-17 tries to put pressure on the California State University Board of Trustees to “freeze initiatives and the tuition increase for three to five years.”

ASI Senator-at-large Daniel Gomez introduced the resolution, dubbed Opposing Payment Peaks, on Wednesday.

“A portion of the resolution is for the ASI board of directors to urge the CSU BOT to stop the graduate initiative for 2025,” said ASI Senator-at-large Hilda Jurado. “The Board of Trustees should reevaluate the priorities of where they’re spending their money.”

see TUITION, page 3

FAST FACTS

STUDENT HEALTH SERVICE FEE CURRENT COST:

$45 a semester COST STARTING FALL 2017:

$75 a semester

Cal State Long Beach’s La Raza student resource center will be having its grand reopening today after delayed renovations.

The center has had limited availability to students this semester because of the work being done.

The renovations were mostly fresh paint and new carpeting and provided to all of the cultural centers within the Faculty Office 4 building. They started in early December and were supposed to be completed before classes began in spring.

The delays made for a rough start for La Raza, one of the last of the centers to be completed. La Raza is a cultural organization on campus that provides resources to educate students about the historical and cultural backgrounds that make up the Latinx population; however, the Raza Resource Center is available to all students regardless of club affiliation.

“Students need our resources,” La Raza Herstorian Jackie Cortez said. “We have

see LA RAZA, page 2

What’s up with all the fences?

By Connie Ojeda Staff Writer

In case anyone was wondering what is happening with all the construction fences around campus, there is news: the fences are soon to be removed, as construction crews approach the end of three renovation projects.

Construction Services Senior Manager Mark Zakhour said the various projects underway – which can be seen on Beach Drive, State University Drive and parking lots 1 and 5 – will wrap up between spring and summer.

When asked about the renovations, Zakhour gave a complete breakdown of what is going on at each site.

The construction site on Beach Drive near the Student Health Services is the campus heating hot water piping replacement project, he said.

“We are replacing one of three hot water piping loops that is serviced from the campus central plant to various buildings,” Zakhour said.

The piping replacement in the West Loop is

Jade Inglada | Daily 49er

Students pass by the closed off construction zone near the Social Science and Public Administration building between classes Wednesday. also connected to the nursing department, which is why a section of the general parking spaces in Lot 1 are currently blocked off.

Although the West Loop renovations are scheduled to be finished in March, nearly a year

after their commencement, the project may be delayed because of changing weather conditions.

Aside from Beach Drive, the fences visible on

see FENCES, page 3

2 NEWS

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CITY COUNCIL

Long Beach supports ‘Sanctuary State’ proposals

By Samantha Diaz Staff Writer

Long Beach City Council gave its unanimous support for legislation Tuesday that would, in effect, make California a sanctuary state. Long Beach is the first city to formally support the measure.

The California Values Act is comprised of two bills, the immigration bill and the religious protection bill. The bills prohibit state and local law enforcement from assisting in or performing deportations and prohibits cooperation in developing a registration based on religion or national origin.

The current immigration practice in California states that, “when there is reason to believe that a person arrested for a violation of specified controlled substance provisions may not be a citizen of the United States, the arresting agency shall notify the appropriate agency of the United States having charge of deportation matters,” according to Senate Bill 54.

The measures were introduced by Councilwoman Lena Gonzalez and was met with rallying support from the Long Beach community.

“When this [California Values Act] came to my office, I couldn’t help but support it,” Gonzalez said. “We have to take a stand … to ensure that we are known as a city that supports its diversity and inclusiveness.”

Citizens lined up to share their personal experiences and give their support for the undocumented community as well as demand that the city take even bolder steps by becoming a sanctuary city, despite the executive order signed

“

“

City Council offers unanimous support for California Values Act and Religious Freedom Act.

We have to take a stand … to ensure that we are known as a city that supports its diversity and inclusiveness.

-Lena Gonzalez, Long Beach Councilwoman

by President Donald Trump last month, promising to defund sanctuary cities.

“I’m happy to see that the council members are supporting the state bills that senators [Lara] and [De Leon] are proposing, but I want to emphasize that this should only be a start,” said Andrew Guy, a second district resident. “The people of Long Beach’s immigrant community know that the state of California will stand up for them, but they need to

know that their city will too.”

The city council also unanimously supported measure H, a tax increase that will go towards combatting the homelessness crisis and will increase the special sales tax countywide by a fourth of a cent. This increase will be implemented on July 1, but will not take place in Long Beach for another six years when measure A expires since Long Beach is at its sales tax cap.

If passed by voters on March 7, the increase will take effect almost a full year after the city declared a state of emergency to combat homelessness. Although the homeless count in Long Beach has gone down in recent years, residents feel as though there is still more to be done.

Josh Butler, executive director of Housing Long Beach, a coalition dedicated to providing affordable housing for Long Beach residents, commended the efforts of the city by saying, “We’re standing up for the little guy. We’re addressing the problem and we’re solving it.”

Councilman Dee Andrews also

LA RAZA

continued from page 1

Facebook

During preparation for last year’s Dia de los Muertos, the Raza Student Association implemented their student resource center as a workspace for banner-making.

computers, we have printers, we have a library – even just talking to each other [is a resource], especially with everything that’s going on politically in our country. We need this space to feel safe and to feel connected with our culture and our people and our students. And not having it, we just feel displaced and that our university isn’t taking priority over our students.”

According to Tony Malagrino, director of facilities management, the original work order was increased to include more rooms, causing a delay as they had to order more supplies.

Initially, the CSULB administration was discussing moving the cultural centers to another location on campus, but they were unable to find a suitable place.

“We came back to: what can we do to improve those spaces, to do some renovation as far as some

voiced his support for the measure, telling the community, “it’s not about the money, it’s about compassion. We’re in a crisis here and we’re going to have to do something about it.”

Council members also passed a motion to gather demographics on the existing workforce and hiring pool in efforts to increase the diversity in Long Beach’s working community.

The motion was introduced by councilmember Roberto Uranga, who worked as a recruitment officer in Long Beach for the police and fire departments.

“It goes without saying that the city of Long Beach is one of the most diverse, urban cities in America and we should be striving to ensure that our workforce matches the diversity of the city,” said Uranga.

The data will include gender, ethnicity, age, disability and veteran status, according to councilwoman Gonzalez and will be released to the public via the open data portal.

paint and carpet, because we know that sometimes that can make a big difference,” Associate Vice President for Student Affairs Mary Ann Takemoto said.

“This place is is like a home for a lot of us, we’ve made it our home, so we take it very personally when it’s not prioritized,” La Raza secretary Jazmin Maldonado said.

The organization combined its first general body meeting of the semester with the reopening of the center to show students the new space, Esmeralda Antonakakis, La Raza’s “Comunidad” [Community] Officer said. She said the event will also feature art from alumni and current members and a visual timeline of the organization’s almost 50 year history.

Erika Suarez, the “Conciencia” Officer [Officer of Consciousness] said that La Raza is asking for a suggested $2 donation at the event. All proceeds will be going to feed students at a Nawat School in El Salvador that has preservation project to save the Nawat language.

The meeting will start at 6 p.m. in their center in Faculty Office building 4 room 262.

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FENCES

continued from page 1

State University Drive will also be cleared off during the spring semester, as the renovations are scheduled to be done within the next two months.

The fenced off area near the Social Science and Public Affairs department is a part of the natural gas line replacement project, which was confirmed by Zakhour to be the “first phase of a campus-wide project replacing the aging natural gas piping systems.”

Although the majority of the renovations are aiming to replace aging piping systems, the affected area in Lot 5 is actually a staging area for the renovation underway in the fourth floor of the Psychol-

ogy building.

Zakhour said the staging area holds the “materials serving the Psychology fourth floor brain laboratory renovation, which will create three new research labs for the department.”

The addition of the research labs for the psychology department has generated buzz around campus, as students like Natalie Sanchez expressed approval for the renovation projects underway.

Sanchez, who is currently a freshman said, “I think it’s good [because] it will give psychology majors more opportunities to conduct experiments.”

The psychology building renovations will be the last of the three projects to be finished, as contractors expect the project to run from now through early summer.

TUITION

continued from page 1 One of the initiatives the BOT is pushing is the Graduation Initiative 2025, a plan to “improve six-year completion rates and halve achievement gaps” by establishing “new campus and system targets for 2025.”

Gomez cites Proposition 13 as one of the main reasons the university is stuck in the tuition-increase conflict. In the late 1970s, Californians passed the proposition in favor of low property tax rates.

As a result, higher education lost funding as the state relied previously on property tax for funding.

The resolution began with frustrations with the CSU Board of Trustees.

ASI officials spoke with Assemblyperson Anthony Rendon to “put pressure on the CSU BOT to freeze the tuition increase,” said Gomez. Rendon said he supported

this action.

The name O.P.P. pays homage to rap group Naughty by Nature’s 1991 single of the same name.

“People under 23 usually don’t know the song,” Gomez said. “When younger people think of O.P.P., I want them to think of the resolution that would help freeze tuition and bring the funding back to higher education in California.”

The current deadline for the BOT to vote on the tuition increase is March 21.

Gomez said he hopes for the possibility of getting the BOT to extend the decision to June or a revisit of the tuition increase at that time.

But, ASI Vice President Logan Vournas and ASI Executive Director Richard Haller are cautious of the timing of the resolution.

“We don’t know if a trustee will wait to move [the vote] until June unless the chancellor says so,” Vournas said.

Haller was concerned that the resolu-

tion wasn’t on the agenda as a first, second or third reading, meaning that it was intended to be passed Wednesday.

“The public hasn’t had an opportunity to see [the resolution],” he said.

ASI officials motioned to approve the first reading.

“This is radical change,” says Gomez.

“We’re asking for a Prop 13 reform. The time is now for something like this. The political climate in this country is waking people up in this generation. We’re as woke as we’ve ever been.”

Secretary of City Affairs Alex Bellenger also warned of signs on different campuses from Identity Evropa, a white supremacist group that has canvassed universities with its posters.

According to the ASI Media Board of Trustees, College Beat TV is in the process of becoming a YouTube partner. This gives video creators the ability to monetize their content through ad revenue, paid subscriptions and merchandise.

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4 ARTS & LIFE

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TEACHER FEATURE

Marathon-runner makes money for music

By Lola Olvera Staff Writer

For the past 27 years, Cal State Long Beach’s University Wind Quintet has had Woodwind Director John Barcellona to thank for helping fund their annual scholarships. Their instructor isn’t afraid of raising money for the department in unconventional ways – even if it means working up a sweat.

Each year, Barcellona runs a marathon to raise money for the University Wind Quintet Scholarship. This past Sunday, the 69-year-old added another 26.2 miles to his running resume by participating in the Surf City Marathon in Huntington Beach. He was among 15,000 runners from all 50 states and 17 countries.

Barcellona calls his marathon fundraiser “one of [his] best inventions ever.” He began running marathons in 1986 for the health benefits, but soon realized it could serve another purpose.

“I got the bright idea [in 1990] to use my running as a little tool to help raise scholarship money because I wanted to build... the quality of our performance majors here,” Barcellona said. “By having a wind quintet scholarship, I was hopeful that I would attract more high-quality players — and it’s worked over the years.”

Scholarships are scarce for wind quintets, and were even more so in the ‘90s.

The University Wind Quintet is made up of the finest woodwind performers in the music department.

departments on campus, musicians’ previous students. This Sunday he unions and concert-goers. discovered a flute student he taught Donors receive two free tickets to during the CSULB summer arts prothe wind quintet’s annual culminagram, who is now a flute teacher at tion concert on April 18, at 8 p.m. in Long Beach City College. They nothe Daniel Recital Hall. ticed each other around at mile 8 and “We raise as much money as we ran the remainder of the marathon can,” Barcellona said. “They usually together. get a pretty good scholarship.”

According to the Surf City MaraAfter deducting expenses related to thon race results, Barcellona completprinting and mailing the fundraising ed Sunday’s marathon in 5 hours, 59 fliers, the remainder of Barcellona’s minutes and 41 seconds. pledges goes to the quintet.

“I felt good this time,” he said. “I felt In addition strong. I trained to scholarship pretty hard for money, his stuthis one so I was dents may even comfortable all pick up some the way.”

I feel healthy... I don’t practical tips As part of his think it’s hurting me... A from him. pre-marathon lot of people my age have Barcellona entraining, Barlots of problems... knee courages music cellona does 20replacements, hip surgery, students, particmile “long runs” ularly woodwind every Saturday back surgery. Luckily I’m students, to enon the bike path fine. My legs get a little gage in aerobic along Huntingsore a couple days after activity.

After ton Beach. He the marathon but I’m running his very begins from his good. first marathon, home near the he said, ”I noSanta Ana River -John Barcellona, ticed such an imand runs north Woodwind Director provement in my as far as Warner breath capacity Ave. [and] in my flute He doesn’t see playing that I decided to keep doing himself giving up running anytime it.” soon.

He has even published an article, “I feel good,” he said. “I feel young, “Physical Fitness For Flutists,” in Flute strong... I feel healthy... I don’t think Talk in 2003, discussing the relationit’s hurting me... A lot of people my ship between physical fitness, respiraage have lots of problems... knee retion and its impacts on flute-playing. placements, hip surgery, back surgery.

“Playing an instrument is very Luckily I’m fine. My legs get a little similar to a sport because you have sore a couple days after the marathon to train your muscles to do a specifbut I’m good.” ic function,” he said. “The better in Between raising scholarship money shape you are physically the more for his students, staying healthy and efficient the playing of the instruimproving his flute playing, he says ment.” there are so many benefits associated Occasionally, he can even find with his running that he’s afraid to himself running beside some of his stop.

“

Courtesy of CSULB

John Barcellona throws out a cheer to the camera as he begins running the Surf City marathon.

The current members — all who were placed by audition — are flutist Melody Wan, oboist Spencer Klass, clarinetist Nick Cotter, horn player Jennifer Ornelas and bassoonist Emily Prather. As members, they can each expect a scholarship award.

Barcellona prefers not to reveal the exact amount each student is awarded, but he does proudly declare that over the 27 years he has raised well over a hundred thousand dollars for the wind quintet scholarship.

This year, the fundraising campaign was featured on the Bob Cole Conservatory website. People were, and still are, invited to donate any amount of their choice by check or online payment. Donors also could pledge an amount for every mile that Barcellona completes in the marathon.

Although Barcellona counts on a core of loyal donors each year, he says they are always finding more, especially through appealing to other

live music calendar

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Woodwind Director John Barcellona accomplishes his 27th marathon fundraiser.

By Jade Inglada

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ARTS & LIFE 5

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Painting the roses red ARTIST Q&A

BFA student discusses life as an undiscovered artist.

tion, chasing beauty. What’s beautiful? The interpretation of it, and youth itself. I think youth has a very profound perspective on things”

By Jason Enns

How do you stand out as an artist and get recognized?

“Well, that’s definitely the hard part. If you can make it, you can make it. I’ve been told many times that I have great work but it’s never enough, I guess, to make it as an artist. I think exposure is the number one thing you try to get out for. I’ve done shows where I’ve had to pay money just to show work. It’s just a matter of trying to get your name out there.”

Arts & Life Editor

For a student artist with the dream to one day make a living off of his work, La Rosa says getting exposure is the most important factor.

Ironic perhaps, that he would prefer us not to expose his real name, but rather the name he goes by in the art community – La Rosa. He says he thinks the focus should be on the art and not the artist.

Intrigued by his artwork currently displayed in the Dutzi gallery on campus and his pseudonym, I had a few questions for the man behind the canvas.

Why did you choose the name La Rosa?

“I think the rose is the perfect symbol for what I represent as an artist, because my art is mainly about love, broken love, the interpretation of beauty and the nature of human emotion. When I think of that, it comes to a rose, usually.”

How/when did you get started creating artworks?

“I’ve been painting my entire life. I started freelancing two years ago, but I never really started studying it until last semester. It wasn’t until two years ago that I had a falling out with my ex-girlfriend. So, after that, I kind of just went to painting and after that it was therapy for me – so, I just kept doing it and doing it. I was happy painting”

Jose De Castro | Daily 49er

Drawing and painting major Tommy Sepagan looks at La Rosa’s “Love Letter” Wednesday in Fine Arts 2.

When did you know you wanted to pursue a fine arts degree?

“I tried switching over last year [from fashion merchandising] and the people here on campus always tell me, ‘oh no it’s too late, you’re going to exceed your units.’ And after, like, three times it just got to the point where I was like, ‘I’m not happy, art makes me happy and that’s where I want to be and if I can’t study that I’m just going to drop out of this school.’”

If you weren’t trying to make it as an artist, what do you think you’d be doing instead?

“I’ve always also had a passion for coffee. Right now I’m working at a coffee shop, so I do art and coffee. I like making coffees and drinks so I can see myself there but right now my main focus is art and that’s where I want to be.”

What are your greatest influences?

“What inspires me is the nature of human emo-

How do you market yourself and try to gain that exposure?

“Whenever there’s a show I can apply for, I do it. My biggest thing [is] I meet a lot of people through is volunteering mainly for like mural festivals, like Pow Wow! we have here in Long Beach. I volunteered there last year and I met all the artists that have actually made it and are actually making money doing what they’re doing. I learned so much from them. [They said] never stop painting, never stop drawing, never stop being inspired and creative, and try to do everything to show your work.”

What are your plans for after graduation?

“I honestly don’t know. Like I said, I’m working at a coffee shop, I’ll probably still be working there until I can make it up as an artist, I guess.

In the end, what I want to do is show art, whether it’s making the money or not. That’s what I really want to do.”

6 OPINIONS

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U.S. POLITICS

Ain’t no party like a bi-partisan party Tumult over DeVos confirmation yet another example of rising partisanship in government.

By Adam R. Thomas Staff Writer

V

ice President Mike Pence made history being the first vice president ever to break a tie on a Senate vote for an executive Cabinet appointment on Tuesday.

Two Senate Republicans had broken ranks with their party to vote against the confirmation of Elizabeth ”Betsy” DeVos, president Trump’s nominee to head the Department of Education, leading to a 50-50 split. Before the confirmation vote, Senate Democrats held an all-night “talkathon” in protest, another first for an executive cabinet nominee.

But such actions were futile since, as per the Constitution, Pence only has one practical role in the Senate — and tie-breaking is it. In the immediate political sense, tiz-breaking like this is necessary for congress to function due to a political divide being amplified to the point of intractability thanks to pressure from constituents on both sides.

With a narrow majority of 52 Republicans in the 100-seat Senate, it’s quite likely that Pence is going to fulfill this function quite a bit going forward.

Three Republicans need to be flipped on any given vote for the Dems to have their way, a bipartisan bridge that’s so small, and yet so far away due to the ever growing partisan divide.

Earlier hearings for Dr. Ben Carson’s nomination to run the department of Housing and Urban Development saw Democrats who approved of Carson receiving massive amounts of flak from their base. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) went on Facebook to defend her decision to vote for Carson after coming under fire, while Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) received praise from left-leaning bloggers for taking a total resistance stance on all of Trump’s nominees.

On the conservative side of things,

Olivier Douliery | Abaca Press

Education Secretary Betsy DeVos and her husband Dick DeVos look on in the Vice Presidents Ceremonial Office in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building of the White House on Feb. 7, in Washington, D.C. Republicans are under the same pressures to rubber stamp anything, or anyone, Trump wants. Trump won Indiana “bigly,” and Sen. Joe Donnelly (R-IN), up for reelection in 2018, knows this.

Donnelly told the Associated Press on Feb. 8, “My job is to do what Hoosiers want me to do.”

Support bases pushing Republicans to be an unstoppable force and Democrats to be an immoveable object isn’t exactly new, it’s just the opposite sides taking the same stances from the Obama years with more than a touch of hypocrisy included.

Remember when causing gridlock in Congress was bad? I ‘member.

But with Democrats on such shaky ground, the only outcome is a setup for further failure. This will help reinforce the current victimization narrative on the left of, “Trump’s using totalitarian tactics!” which, in turn, pushes their base ever deeper into the partisan divide.

On the larger philosophical level, DeVos has become a flashpoint,

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even among many other controversial Trump nominees, because she represents an almost distilled antithesis to prior appointees. The potential for fundamental changes made by the federal government regarding following DeVos’ appointment is very real.

DeVos, a billionaire philanthropist activist from Michigan, has a very long history of promoting the “school choice” movement in education – a movement that promotes breaking down numerous traditions of the educational system by promoting school voucher programs, scholarship tax credit programs, private schools and homeschooling as an alternative to public schools. And while she has a Bachelor’s in Business Administration and Political Science, she has no experience working with public education.

Considering this history, it’s very likely that DeVos’ role isn’t so much as to manage the annual $68 million budget of the Dept. of Education, so much as to kill as much of it as possible.

Which of course is why Democrats

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and teacher’s unions are freaking out and turning up the heat. If DeVos begins trimming back the department, it could destroy our children’s fragile lives! Right?

Oh, no, wait – the amount of influence the Dept. of Education has on actual public schools is actually pretty limited, at least financially. According to the department’s website, only an average of about 10 percent of the budget for K-12 schools comes from federal funds, the vast majority comes from states themselves. If DeVos literally stopped all federal funding entirely, public schools would still exist, and very likely, states would step in to fill in the gaps.

More important are regulations that the federal system mandates for schools across the country. Acts like Title IX, which became increasingly controversial in its application under Obama, are likely to be less rigorously promoted or mandated from the federal government, though DeVos said during her hearing that it would be “premature” to

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make a decision on it.

So why all the brouhaha? Well, it might have more to do with the fact that DeVos and her family have had a long history of donating to the Republican party over many years. To the tune of a potential $200 million dollars, a number DeVos said “was possible” during her confirmation hearings.

This sounds horrifying to Democrats, a terrible amount of money to influence government!

To Republicans, the Democrats are hypocrites. They point to the fact that teacher’s unions across the country donate massive amounts of money to Democrats. According to Open Secrets. org, the website from the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics, The National Education Association teacher’s union is a consistent Democratic donor. The NEA donated $21 million to Democrats in 2012, $22 million for the 2014 midterms, and $28 million for last year’s election. And that’s just one union.

Gee, it’s starting to look like the real sin DeVos is guilty of may be that she’s a Republican, while teacher’s unions are overwhelmingly Democrat (and of course, school vouchers tend to move students to private school, which in turn tend to not employ union members as much).

Yet again in our system, it might not be what DeVos has done (because as of right now, she has done nothing), it’s only what she might do (and whose employment that may affect).

But mostly ,it’s that she’s in the other tribe. On the other side. Just, you know, the “other”. That’s the issue with DeVos, and with many of Trump’s nominees, and Trump himself when you get right down to it. We’ve become so tribal on so many things. Issues that might once have been non-partisan aren’t any more.

School choice programs have received massive amounts of Democratic support in the past. Just ask Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), who was allied with DeVos in the Alliance for School Choice, and has spent the bulk of his career promoting the idea, but who voted against her thanks to partisan politics.

The democratic resistance to a functioning democracy must be 100 percent, after all.

That’s how you stay elected in Washington these days.

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SPORTS 7

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2017 DAILY49ER.COM | SPORTSD49ER@GMAIL.COM

TERRELL DAVIS RUNNINGBACK

NFL

Davis elected to NFL Hall of Fame

By Matthew Simon Sports Editor

Although Long Beach State hasn’t had a football team since 1991, the college can now say it has a NFL Hall of Famer.

Terrell Davis, a member of LBSU’s final football team, was elected to the 2017 NFL Hall of Fame class.

Davis was coached by George Allen, who died after the 1990 season.

In his final season with the 49ers, Davis rushed for 262 yards and two touchdowns.

Davis’ career ended after LBSU eliminated its football program due to budget concerns at the end of the 1991 season.

With the news, Davis transferred to the University of Georgia before being drafted in the sixth round of the 1995 NFL Draft.

Along with his 1997 Super Bowl performance, Davis rushed for 2,008 yards to earn the 1998 NFL’s Most Valuable Player award.

Davis retired from the NFL before the start of the 2002 season. He finished his career with 7,607 rushing yards and 60 rushing touchdowns.

Junior guard Gigi Hascheff dribbles through a UC Riverside defender in a 55-51 victory over the Highlanders Jan. 28.

Jose De Castro | Daily 49er

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

49ers look to snap top spot

Long Beach State women’s basketball looks to take control of Big West standings.

By Estela Garcia Staff Writer

Long Beach State’s women’s basketball team will be hosting rival Cal State Fullerton tonight at 7:00 pm at the Walter Pyramid.

The Beach is entering the game on a high note as their home win over UC Irvine on Saturday afternoon improved their record to 168.

During the game against the Anteaters, senior point guard Anna Kim became the 25th player in LBSU history to score 1,000 points in her LBSU playing career.

The Titans, who are still looking for a road win this season, are in the midst of a five game losing streak. LBSU hopes to extend that streak to six.

The 49ers have already beaten the Titans (4-18) this season in Fullerton two weeks ago, 65-48.

Junior guard Jessica Gertz had a career-high 18 points scored coming off the bench in that game for the Beach.

The last time Cal State Fullerton beat the 49ers was back in 2014 during conference play.

Leading scorer for the Titans, junior point guard Iman Thomas is averaging 16.1 points per game.

The LBSU women are heading into the last weeks of regular competition before the Big West Tournament and will be seeing teams they have had success over before.

They are currently a half game back behind league leading UC Davis in the Big West Conference standings.

2017 STANDINGS

| WOMENʼS BASKETBALL

BIG WEST GAMES

W L UC Davis LBSU CSUN LBSU UC Riverside CSUF Hawaiʼi Cal Poly UCSB

8 7 6 6 4 4 3 1 1

2 2 3 3 4 5 6 7 8

ALL GAMES W

L

17 16 12 11 11 8 7 3 4

8 8 10 11 11 13 14 19 18

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Striving for road win Long Beach State men’s basketball team looks to improve its 1-13 road record when it travels to University of California Riverside today.

By Matthew Simon Sports Editor

Bobby Yagake | Daily 49er

Freshman guard Loren Jackson splits through two Cal State Fullerton defenders as the 49ers defeated the Titans 76-65 Jan. 26.

As the men’s basketball team heads to the finish line of Big West play, the 49ers are looking for their first road win.

In the comfort of Walter Pyramid, LBSU has only lost one game all year – and that was to Cal State Northridge Jan. 11.

The road troubles have been a recurring

problem that only snowballed after the team’s tough road schedule to start the season.

LBSU will look to get its first Big West road win when it travels to UC Riverside to take on the Highlanders today at 7 p.m.

In their first meeting, LBSU beat UCR 7064 Jan. 7. In the game, junior forward Roschon Prince led the team with 16 points and six rebounds.

UCR’s junior Secean Johnson led the way for the Highlanders with 16 points and five rebounds.

With a logjam in the middle of the Big West standings, this game can put the 49ers one game ahead of UCR, while a loss will put LBSU scrambling for a Big West Tournament spot.

Since their last contest, UCR has gone 5-2 and bear Cal Poly 67-65 Saturday.

8 SPORTS

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2017 DAILY49ER.COM | SPORTSD49ER@GMAIL.COM

PROJECTED 2017 STARTERS:

TIARA FALO FIRST BASE

LT TORRES

SECOND BASE

MATTIE SCHEELE THIRD BASE

Jose De Castro | Daily 49er

The Long Beach State softball team relaxes during their last practice before the first game of the season Wednesday at LBSU Softball Complex. The 49ers are looking to improve after going 33-22 during the 2016 season.

SOFTBALL

LAUREN MACLEOD CATCHER

Ready for the first pitch After spending fall preparing, the softball team is ready to get its season started at LBSU Softball Complex today.

JESSICA FLORES LEFT FIELD

By Zulema Suarez Staff Writer

SAMMI GYERMAN CENTER

JULIA LOMBARDI RIGHT FIELD

NICHOLE FRY SHORTSTOP

ANIESA MAULUPE

DESIGNATED PLAYER

With the start of a new season just hours away, the Long Beach State’s softball team has nothing less than positive thoughts about what the future holds.

Head coach Kim Sowder expressed how excited she is for the beginning of the season. Sowder, going into her 11th year coaching LBSU softball, led the team with a 33-22 record for the 2016 season.

“The team has been working extremely hard since September when practices began,” Sowder said. “I have a few key players that have had injuries recently that are getting close to being 100 percent healed.”

Along with the excitement of a new season, Sowder will have added new players – which can help if there are any more injuries.

“There is some very good depth on the team and they push each other well,” Sowder said. “This has been the best year so far in regards to the weight room and conditioning, and I’m very excited to see how all our training transfers on the field during our games.”

The team lost one of its best hitters,

Jose De Castro | Daily 49er

Junior utility Jessica Flores warms up by pitching during practice Wednesday at LBSU Softball Complex.

Darian Tataulafua who graduated last May, but Sowder seemed at ease with the situation.

“We can’t replace her, of course, but we can reload the position she held,” Sowder said. “We always need players

to be clutch RBI hitters and we have a lot of offensive potential.”

Sowder said one of those hitters is Lauren Lombardi, who is back this season after taking a medical redshirt year for a torn ACL.

Lombardi, who was out for most of last season with a torn ACL in her left knee said“It feels great being back,” Lombardi said. . “[The polls] look like most people are betting on my sister and I being a couple of the power hitters [on]the team which is a good feeling for me.”

Lombardi also mentioned that getting early season accolades only adds to her confidence.

“It’s great to know that people seem to have so much confidence in me even after an injury like this,” Lombardi said. “We also have a new pitching coach [who is] doing an awesome job. She works the pitchers hard. Of course, we miss the coach from last year, but a new coach brings a new perspective and a new outlook for improvement.”

Along with Lombardi making a comeback, Sowder said Summer Pohl and freshman Aniesa Maulupe, will add to the team’s offense.

Starting senior pitcher, Christina Clermont, also expressed her personal and team goals for her third and final season with the team.

“I want to focus on enjoying my last season,” Clermont said. “I want to give my team everything I have, leadership-wise, because they deserve that from me. As a team, I know we’re all striving for performing well [in the] postseason and winning Big West.

We’ve worked very hard since fall and we’re super excited to start the season.”

LBSU will get its season started when it hosts a doubleheader today against South Dakota. The first game will be at 10 a.m. and the second at 12:30 p.m.

UPCOMING GAMES:

VS. CHRISTINA CLERMONT PITCHER

When: Today, 10 a.m.

Where: LBSU Softball Complex

VS. When: Today, 12:30 p.m.

Where: LBSU Softball Complex

VS. When: Friday, 11:30 a.m.

Where: LBSU Softball Complex

VS. When: Friday, 2 p.m.

Where: LBSU Softball Complex