Daily 49er, January 30 2019

D 49

LONG BEACH STATE | VOL. LXX, ISSUE 26 | JANUARY 31, 2019

er

A semester

THROWDOWN

Students are treated to a cluster of activities, clubs and organizations at ASI’s Week of Welcome.

page 6 & 7

2 NEWS

THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 2019 | DAILY49ER.COM | CITYD49ER@GMAIL.COM

INSIDE

ON THE COVER

THE

NINER LBSU students struggle to park after losing overflow lot page 3

Christopher Irwin (red and white) and Jordan Nguyen (black and white) members of the CSULB jiu jitsu club demonstrate take downs on a mat at Week of Welcome.

RYAN GUITARE Daily 49er

Week of Welcome’s second day is cancelled due to rain page 6

Daily 49er Editorial Office Phone (562) 985-8000

1250 Bellflower Blvd., LA4-201 Long Beach, CA 90840-4601 Kat Schuster Editor in Chief eicd49er@gmail.com News Editor Sports Editor

Arts & Life Editor

Demetrius Mims transitions from basketball champion to Division I team page 10

Opinions Editor Special Projects Editor Multimedia Managing Editor

48

Advertising Account Executive

HOURS

Copy Editor

in Long Beach

Design Editor Photo Editor

Tickets are now available Feb. 2 through April 13 to participate in an interactive comedy murder mystery dinner show aboard the Queen Mary. At The Dinner Detective, participants will attempt to solve a crime while dining amongst the villain. Tickets are $79.95 per person.

MOLAA.org

Austin Brumblay d49ernews@gmail.com Kevin Colindres sportsd49er@gmail.com Jeremy Porr artsnlifed49er@gmail.com Rachel Barnes opedd49er@gmail.com Carlos Villicana spprojd49er@gmail.com Paula Kiley Eddie Infante d49ads@gmail.com

James Chow Claudia Mehranbod Ryan Guitare Lizbeth Galeno

Video Editor

Adam Pacheco Mia Bradford

Assistant Copy Editor

Sarah Vehrs

Assistant News Editor

Hannah Getahun

News Assistant

Suzane Jlelati

Deputy Sports Editor

Alex Manfredi

Assistant Sports Editor

Bryan Aparicio

Assistant Sports Editor

Sierra Martinez

Assistant Photo Editor

Sabrina Flores

Social Media Assistant

Cristal Gomez

Social Media Assistant

Brenna Enos

Design Adviser

Gary Metzker

Content Adviser

The Museum of Latin American Art presents Her Concert, a night of music with performers EL Rio and Entre Mujeres set to their exhbit “Judithe Hernández: A Dream is the Shadow of Something Real.” Doors open at 7 p.m. and tickets are $20 for general admission and $18 for museum members.

Samantha Diaz Managing Editor managingd49er@gmail.com

Social Media Editor

Assistant Design Editor

thedinnerdetective.com

Business Office Phone (562) 985-1740

Advertising and Business Adviser

Barbara Kingsley-Wilson Jennifer Newton

Editorials: All opinions expressed in the columns, letters and cartoons in this issue are those of the writers or artists. The opinions of the Daily 49er are expressed only in unsigned editorials and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the journalism department or the views of all staff members. All such editorials are written by the editorial board of the Daily 49er.

Letters Policy: All letters and email must bear the phone number of the writer and must be no more than 300 words. The Daily 49er reserves the right to edit letters for publication in regard to space.

NEWS 3

THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 2019 | DAILY49ER.COM | CITYD49ER@GMAIL.COM

Parking lot G4 is at capacity during the first week of school.

RYAN GUITARE Daily 49er

TRANSPORTATION

Parking concerns still an issue at LBSU With no overflow option this semester, students continue to battle for spots.

By Rachel Hanna Staff Writer

A

s another semester begins at Long Beach State, many students still find themselves in the same struggle with parking.

Spring semester parking has become increasingly impacted. There are 14,090 parking spots on campus and 20,000 permits are sold a year, according to Robyn Ames-Woodyard, director of operations, finance management at a community meeting earlier this month. Ames-Woodyard said last year LBSU rented space next to Lowes off Bellflower Avenue for overflow parking, something the school is

considering for another semester.

“We sold 370 permits and we maxed out about 80 percent in terms of the spaces we used,” Ames-Woodyard said. “So now we know of those 370, we are only really using 180 spaces or so every day so we are going to look at it some more.”

According to Ames-Woodyard, there are about 10,000 students who ride LBSU transit and a metro program was put into place.

“We sold 250 permits and only 12 of those students actually had vehicle permits as well, so we are really trying to get them to take sustainable transportation when they can to free up the space on the campus,” she said.

Last year, overflow expenses cost $12.8 million and only $12 million was brought in, Woodyard added.

As a commuter-campus, most students depend on spaces on campus to be open so they can get to class on time. According to Fabian Ambriz, a sophomore chemical engineering major, he experiences the hardest time finding parking between 12 p.m. and 2p.m.

“One time when I was walking to my car, a girl asked me to take her to my spot so she could park in it when I left,” Ambriz said.

Bonnie Raunav, a junior liberal studies major, said finding a spot takes upward of 30 minutes which sometimes results in her being late to class.

For students that live off-campus at the Beachside dorms and shuttle to campus, parking isn’t as big of an issue.

“I don’t have to deal with the stress of traffic,” said Julia Campbell, a junior family life education major. “I don’t use gas, so I fill up every three weeks instead of two weeks and I’m not rushing to class because the shuttle stops are in front of my classes.”

Many students such as Campbell who live at Beachside, or who take the bus benefit from not having to be a part of the chaos of fighting for a parking spot on campus and hurrying to get to class.

“Taking the bus to campus is beneficial,” said Kierra Cortez, a junior child development and family studies major. “I don’t have to go far, it’s only about a three minute ride and I’m not late to class. There aren’t enough spaces on campus and the permit is too expensive to buy.”

4 NEWS

THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 2019 | DAILY49ER.COM | CITYD49ER@GMAIL.COM

Long Beach Long Necks advocate Dominic Hure promotes for the mascot in a giraffe suit at Week of Welcome.

PAULA KILEY Daily 49er

SENATE

By Perry Continente Staff Writer

ASI discusses potential mascot replacements The Senate gives Pete the boot and appoints a new senator.

Associated Students Inc. Senate discussed possible methods of sourcing a replacement for Prospector Pete including a school-wide vote during Wednesday night’s meeting.

Long Beach State is replacing longtime mascot Prospector Pete due to his association with the gold rush prospectors he represents and their role in the genocide of Native Americans.

Last September, the university confirmed its disassociation from the 49er following a growing argument that the mascot is a symbol of genocide. Although it is unclear when, the statue is set to relocate to the developing Alumni Center.

Sen. Matthew Major expressed concern about students voting, mentioning “The Escalators” as a mascot suggestion that has become popular online.

“In the unlikely case that that is one of the most popular choices, is there some way we could respond to that?” Major asked.

ASI Senate Chair Leen Almahdi reassured Major, “That’s why we are still developing criteria.”

Outside the meeting, Almahdi considered the ramifications of Pete’s removal and its possible effect on other gold rush themed parts of LBSU such as The Nugget and the 49er shops.

“The change is something the 49er shops would have to respond to,” she said.

The Senate also appointed Sen. Yamin Yee as the new representative of the University Student Union Board of Trustees.

The board consists of five members who oversee the USU and the Student Recreation and Wellness Center. Responsibilities include monitoring the budget for the USU and creating fees for facility use.

Senators nominated each other during the meeting leading to two front-runners for the position: Sen.Yee, who was nominated by Sen. Brianna Guzman, and Sen. Omar Prudencio Gonzalez, who nominated himself.

When asked to confirm his nomination of himself, Sen. Prudencio Gonzalez responded, “I sure do.”

After the nominations, both candidates made the case for themselves.

“I really believe that I fit to this board,” Yee said. “The USU is one of my favorite places that I love to hang out.”

She mentioned the Beach Pantry as a project that she is especially passionate about and expressed her interest in working with faculty.

Gonzalez opened his statement by mentioning his previous attendance at the board as well as his involvement with several projects with the USUBOT. “[The board is] logistically where we get to change that policy,” he said, “I can help bring that knowledge to the board.”

The Senate was in favor of Yee, and when an initial round of voting made her victory clear, Gonzalez rescinded his candidacy and nominated Yee for the position.

The final vote was 18-0-2 confirming Yee to the board.

The next ASI meeting is Sunday at 3:30 p.m..

NEWS 5

THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 2019 | DAILY49ER.COM | CITYD49ER@GMAIL.COM

ACADEMICS

The Golden Girls get facelift in new LBSU course

By Austin Brumblay News Editor adbrumblay

Online media binging may finally pay off for Long Beach State students as the university is set to offer a class based on the popular 1980s sitcom “The Golden Girls” this spring.

The curriculum will focus on the social effects of aging, applying concepts from the Emmy Award winning show based on four elderly friends. The class, FCS 490 and 590, will be co-taught by “The Golden Girls” enthusiasts Long Wang and Maria Claver and will be a combination of undergraduate and graduate students.

“I discovered that we had a mutual admiration more like obsession with the show,” said Maria Claver, director of the Gerontology program. “I had been scheming to create a class about women and aging using ‘The Golden Girls’ as a springboard for several years. Since joining the faculty in 2007, our program had not offered a class about women and aging.”

NBC Universal

Long Beach State now offers a class based on the hit television show “The Golden Girls.”

According to Claver, the 20-seat class will begin every meeting by watching an episode from the show to compliment the readings

and inspire discussion. Claver described the class as “ahead of its time” in regards to aging women, engaging in “sensitive” topics of

sexuallity and addiction.

Claver added that the class will satisfy requirements for the gerontology minor, bachelor’s and graduate degrees, but students for all majors are welcomed to take the course.

“We invite faculty from across campus, Osher Lifelong Institute members and community partners to participate as well,” she said.

The university has offered a cinema-based analysis class before that placed an emphasis on the “Harry Potter” franchise; however, the class was cancelled after a two-year stint.

LBSU students had differing views on the new class.

“I think that’s pretty cool that they would have a class on the show,” said Nancy Manzo, a junior health services major. “I can see how it would be beneficial to the subject. I love that show.”

“It doesn’t offer value for myself and other STEM majors,” said Yoseph Dawit, a graduate student.

According to Claver, the class is still open for students to enroll for spring semester.

FCS 490 meets Wednesdays 6-8:45 p.m.

6 ARTS & LIFE

ARTS & LIFE 7

JANUARY 31, 2019 | DAILY49ER.COM | ARTSNLIFED49ER@GMAIL.COM

Clockwise from the right, Week of Welcome is an event where students can find out information about various clubs. Sam Colon, a mechanical engineering major demonstraits his guitar skills at the Music Club table.

Although the first day of Week of Welcome was a success, the second day is canceled due to a high chance of rain. Physics major Fernando Garcia (right) and art history Lisette Cuamani (left) dance salsa to recruit new members for the CSULB Salsa Team.

PHOTOS BY RYAN GUITARE | Daily 49er

By Rachel Barnes Opinions Editor rachelsalien

SABRINA FLORES | Daily 49er

ACTIVITY

Don’t rain on my Week of Welcome PAULA KILEY | Daily 49er

A 100 percent chance of rain brings 100 percent chance of cancellation for the second day of the event.

A

fter a busy first day, Associated Students Inc. decided to cut Week of Welcome short due to weather forecasts.

The National Weather Service predicted a 100 percent chance of rain for Thursday. Jonathan Ibarra, lead program assistant for ASI Beach Pride, said that the rain caused them to cancel the second day of the event, and will not be rescheduled.

ASI announced the cancellation on social media around 5 p.m. and emailed the participating clubs. The cancellation was also announced at the weekly senate meeting.

“We were going to keep going rain or shine if it was under a 50 percent chance,” Ibarra said. “When it’s 100 percent chance, there’s nothing we can do.”

Two-hundred and sixty clubs and campus organizations were scheduled for both days during Week of Welcome and had to change their plans. Clubs paid $10 to register for the event and will not be refunded, according to James Ahumada, senior communications manager for ASI. Despite the excitement on campus, the threat of showers on Thursday loomed throughout the event. Ibarra said this is the first time ASI has cancelled either day of Week of Welcome in the six years that they’ve held the event.

Paco Ellaga, general officer for the Video Game Development Association, said that he wasn’t informed of a potential cancellation at his 10 a.m. check-in Wednesday.

“It’s unfortunate,” Ellaga said. “We’d really like a second day.”

Other clubs said they recognized it was going to rain, but that ASI did not inform them about the was a chance of cancellation.

Danny Curry, vice president of the Long Beach Maker Society, said they had a good turn-out the first day and that they were really looking forward to the second day.

“The second day has usually brought us as much or more sign ups as the first day,” Curry said.

Despite the cancellation of the second day, the first day provided students an array of booths featuring a mixture of music, sports and games for students to take part in.

Salsa dancers and roller skaters entertained students as they walked past various booths, learning about clubs and organizations while stocking up on free swag.

“There are things I would have never thought we had on campus,” said Sierra Foy, a first year fashion merchandising and design major.

The Central Quad was filled with clubs looking to recruit new members.

“It definitely builds a better community for college students here,” said LaVanton Gilmore, a first year undeclared student.

Gilmore added that he was glad to have the opportunity to experience all that the campus can offer to new students. He said he was looking forward to joining one of the many clubs on Wednesday so he could get more involved this semester.

Alpha Phi Omega member Eddie Mendoza said the club alumni return to offer current members internships, which he finds helpful.

Ibarra said he enjoys planning the Week of Welcome event because it’s how he was introduced to ASI. He said it helps students find their “home away from home” at LBSU. “I’m very proud of Week of Welcome,” he said. “It’s my baby.”

8 ARTS & LIFE

THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 2019 | DAILY49ER.COM | ARTSNLIFED49ER@GMAIL.COM

Piotr Kowalski’s neon sculpture, “Pour Qui?” illuminates the University Art Museumduring the opening reception of “Call and Response, When We Say...You Say.” TIANNA HAMPTON Daily 49er

GALLERY

Slanguage highlights art accessibility “Call and Response, When We Say … You Say” exhibit will be open through April 14.

By Tianna Hampton Contributing Writer

O

ver 50 attendees gathered at the Long Beach State University Art Museum Sunday for the latest exhibit, “Call and Response, When We Say…You Say,” a multi-phase project that combines “pop culture and high art” to create interactions between the audience, the art and artists.

After a brief call and response discussion, art curated by California State University, Los Angeles alumna Karla Diaz and University of California Irvine alumnus Mario Ybarra Jr. was released to the public.

Diaz and Ybarra Jr. are co-founders of Slanguage, a group of artists based in Wilmington that “emphasizes community building, education and interactive art exhibitions,” according to the group’s website.

The name, “Slanguage,” came from the idea of a new street language inspired by street inventions and performances. What started out as a former storefront to a bakery shop slowly grew into a studio and eventually, a place of public engagement. The artist-run space has helped pave a way for not only upcoming artists, but for youth and the community, as stated in the museum.

“It was important, and at the heart of what we do at ‘Slanguage,’ to be able to understand and bring about conversations and redefine art in education,” Diaz said.

Torrance resident Alonso Garkhan is one of the many artists featured in the exhibit, with his mask pieces such as “Block” and “Moth Eater.” Both combatant style pieces are made of leather and thread, stitched by hand to combine reused materials including metal pipe and wood.

“The point was to prove to myself that I could make something from scratch,” Garkhan said. “My inspiration came from indigenous and African tribes with a military influence.”

There is also a classroom set up for attendees and artists to utilize for dialogue.

Guests can also look forward to “Pour Qui?”, a neon and plexiglass piece by Piotr Kowalski and Andy Warhol’s screen print, “Sitting Bull A70.”

While Ybarra Jr. was unable to attend the opening, he developed the three-step art focus for the latest exhibit that emphasizes love, time and access.

“Love is the source of our practice and what we do. We need time to think about our ideas and time to make them work,” Diaz said, speaking on Ybarra’s behalf. “And access is so important on so many different levels, especially access to conversation.”

Because it is a multi-phase project, both curators are still finishing their pieces.

Guests can expect to see them added to the gallery in early February, according to Diaz.

The UAM Artist Tour will take place Feb. 12 from noon to 1 p.m. and the exhibition will be open through April 14.

OPINIONS 9

THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 2019 | DAILY49ER.COM | OPEDD49ER@GMAIL.COM

CLOTHING

Fast fashion is so last season Cheap clothes have such a short life cycle that they’re not worth the environmental and moral impacts.

By Suzane Jlelati News Assistant suzanejlelati

The fashion ‘f’ words, make my skin crawl because of how dirty they are.

The words I’m talking about are fast fashion.

Fast fashion is mass produced inexpensive clothing that emulates styles that recently hit runway. It is a manipulative industry that throws out new trends way too quickly for anyone to keep up with, causing consumers to spend too much money on poorly constructed clothing made in sweatshops, some out of animal fur and using synthetic textiles.

There is no shortage of documentaries showing the ugly side of fast fashion and all the resources it wastes. A popular documentary, “The True Cost,” showcases the people who make the world’s clothes and how clothes impact our society.

One method for reducing our carbon footprint and switching over to a sustainable and ethical lifestyle is buying clothing through secondhand shops. According to the Climate Action Business Association, 40 billion pounds of clothes are produced every year, and one kilogram of cotton requires 20,000 liters of water to make one T-shirt and a pair of jeans.

Not buying from fashion brands like Forever 21 and H&M removes yourself from the toxic fashion industry process. Buying secondhand also gives clothes another chance at life and gives consumers cheaper options in clothes.

The purpose of a secondhand shop is to reuse gently used clothes to give them a second life instead of being thrown out into landfills. Just like everything else, clothes require a lot of care. For a piece of clothing to have gone through so many steps just to be thrown away is not only a waste of money, but a waste of the Earth’s resources.

In a recent article by The Good Trade, author Audrey Stanton talks about the resale market for secondhand clothing and how it is just a pit stop for fast fashion before it ends up in landfills. Fast fashion is still fast fashion no matter if it’s new or secondhand.

It is made out of cheap material and without ethics, so sporting these fast fashion brands, even if secondhand, gives others the idea to buy their own similar pair at fast fashion brands.

I rarely ever buy fast fashion clothes anymore and if I do, I make sure it checks off some qualifications: Is this an item I will wear more than once and will the material last?

I recently bought a pair of luxury jeans from a secondhand shop that were about 80 percent off the original price. The jeans were made of durable denim which will last me years, and they were stylish yet casual enough for me to wear comfortably.

However, there’s also a negative side to shopping at a secondhand store. The ethics of buying fast fashion clothes in secondhand shops is still a grey area, because even though you aren’t directly paying the fast fashion company, it still went through a toxic cycle and that you are inadvertently contributing to. It feels like a lose-lose situation in the world of fashion.

RYAN GUITARE | Daily 49er

Bufflalo Exchange is a second hand store that sells clothes from fast fashion brands.

In America, 90 percent of clothing made from cotton and polyester have health and environmental impacts from the manufacturing and production process, according to a research paper by Rachel Bick, Erika Halsey, and Christine C. Ekenga.

“Textile dyeing results in additional hazards as untreated wastewater from dyes are often discharged into local water systems.” according to the researchers. “The average American throws away approximately 80 pounds of clothing and textiles annually, occupying nearly 5 percent of landfill space.”

When fast fashion is sent to secondhand shops, it’s just another step in its life cycle before it ends up in the trash. Although clothing from fast fashion outlets will be a bit more affordable, the cheap material will eventually wear out and end up in a landfill.

Ethically made and sustainable clothes are making their way into the fashion indus-

try and although they are a bit pricey, they are made to last, to wear every day, out of sustainable textiles and in ethically conscious factories. These types of clothes can also help change the way we shop.

Buying fewer clothes that are made to last for years and can be worn everyday, no matter the current trends, is more sustainable than buying cheap clothes that ruin in the wash. Everlane, an online clothing store, has pledged to stop using newly manufactured plastic in packaging and in clothing made of synthetic fibers.

The fast fashion epidemic is a continuing problem that will probably never disappear due to its low costs. But, as our institutions begin to change and consumers find more ways to shop ethically, it will not be uncommon to buy expensive, yet sustainable clothes that last longer and will still be stylish in next year’s trends.

10 SPORTS

THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 2019 | DAILY49ER.COM | SPORTSD49ER@GMAIL.COM

A

s the only true freshman on the roster, Demetrius Mims has begun his college basketball career on a path of his own.

He’s listed at 6-foot-6 and doesn’t look like the

traditional college freshman. At 180 pounds, “Meech” Mims appears to weigh more when you see his chiseled frame. Inked with a full sleeve of tattoos on his right arm that represents his Baltimore roots, Mims makes his way around campus with an air of confidence. He can be seen during pregame warmups doing 360-degree and between-the-leg dunks, easily setting himself apart as one of the

‘I’m just staying the course’ Freshman Demetrius Mims adjusts from winning high school basketball titles to a smaller role at the college level.

By Alex Manfredi

Deputy Sports Editor alexmanfr3di

most high-flying guys on the team.

The Long Beach guard grew up in a rough Baltimore, Maryland neighborhood and attended Baltimore Polytechnic Institute high school. Transitioning from north Baltimore to the Parkside dorms was a breeze for Mims, going from the inner city projects to living on Earl Warren Drive. The move became even easier when he immediately joined the Long Beach State men’s basketball team. “[Long Beach] is a lot nicer than where I’m from,” Mims said. “It’s just a chill, nice environment. My teammates are real welcoming too, so it’s been easy.” see FEATURE, page 11

AUSTIN BRUMBLAY | Daily 49er

Demetrius Mims shoots a free throw against Southern Utah on Friday, Dec. 5. The 49ers defeated the Thunderbirds 82-71.

SPORTS 11

THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 2019 | DAILY49ER.COM | SPORTSD49ER@GMAIL.COM

COLUMN

Long Beach’s defensive mojo is missing The absence of Yussuf has taken its toll on the 49ers.

By Kevin Colindres Sports Editor kevinjcolindres

Ever since Bobby Braswell was hired as an assistant coach, the team has put an emphasis on defense. Overall the team has held all opponents to an average of 77.6 points a game, so why did the team take a huge dip in the last four weeks?

Long Beach has given up an average of 86 points in its last three Big West conference games.

This comes after the 49ers have held opposing teams to 73 points a game in its first two conference games.

Redshirt senior center Temidayo Yussuf’s absence from the court may be a part of the team’s recent lapse. The 6-foot-7, 265 pound senior isn’t the 49ers’ best defender, but his presence in the post makes a difference on opposing slashers who attack the rim. Yussuf is the 49ers’ scariest sight down low, intimidating opponents with his strong frame. Over the last three games, Long Beach has given up 50, 40 and 42 points in the paint to Fullerton, Northridge and Santa Barbara, respective-

ly. The 49ers’ defensive presence in the paint has took a hit since Yussuf has been suffering from knee soreness since Dec. 29.

Senior center Mason Riggins hasn’t been able to play that part, and senior forward KJ Byers isn’t big enough to guard true centers. Long Beach has been exposed in the pick and roll, with Riggins not being able to pick up the ball handler and Byers not big enough to contain the roll man.

Byers has brought good energy, but his blocks in the interior post only come when he rotates as the help man on defense.

Since Yussuf has been out, Long Beach has clearly tried out-scoring its opponents.

The 49ers have relied on senior guard Deishaun Booker to put up 25 or more points a game to keep them afloat. Long Beach gave up 92 points in overtime against Fullerton and stopped playing defense, focusing on solely scoring. A few defensive plays could have gotten Long Beach the win at home.

It doesn’t look like Yussuf will be coming back anytime soon, so the 49ers will have to adjust their defensive gameplan to go on a run in Big West conference play and turn their season around.

FEATURE

continued from page 10

Founded in 1883, Baltimore Poly has a rich history, one in which Mims made his mark on. He is currently the school’s all-time leading scorer with 1,516 career points throughout his time as a four-year starter on varsity. Mims played the lead role in Baltimore Poly’s back-to-back Class 3A state championship in 2017 and 2018. The success of his senior year was followed with him being named the Baltimore City Player of the Year and the Maryland State Player of the Year award. As a senior, he averaged 18 points and seven rebounds per game.

“We are going to miss him dearly,” Mims’ high school coach Sam Brand said to news publication DelmarvaNow in his senior year. “When he leaves, he will have left his mark not only with what he’s done on the floor, but what he’s done with his teammates.”

Fast forward a year and Mims has gone from being the face of a basketball program to learning the ropes of Division I basketball, getting less than half the playing time he’s been used to his entire life. So far this season, Mims is averaging 1.3 points in 4.8 minutes throughout 16 games.

“I’ve gone through trials and tribulations, it hasn’t been easy at all making the adjustment,” Mims said. “I’m just staying the course, really just trying to keep finding myself and keeping a positive attitude toward it. That’s really the biggest thing that keeps me going.”

The adjustment period Mims is going through is not some-

AUSTIN BRUMBLAY | Daily 49er

Senior forward KJ Byers finger rolls the ball into the basket Saturday against UCSB.

thing out of the ordinary. Many freshman struggle in their first year going from high school to the Division I college level. Players are bigger, faster and more skilled; coaches are tougher, stricter and more demanding.

“You definitely have to be a lot smarter with your play,” Mims said. “In high school, I could get away with making a few mistakes, and just making it up on the offensive or defensive end pretty easily. In college, pretty much everybody can score the ball at a high clip and everybody plays pretty smart, so you have to adjust with being sure of yourself and being sure with the ball.”

What’s important for players to realize in their first year of college basketball is that they usually are no longer the best player on their team. You get right back to work after earning a scholarship out of high school. With an open mind and willingness to reach his full potential, Mims is aware of the areas he can improve, with being able to create more space on offense at the top of his list.

“A lot of dudes at this level are very long and athletic,” Mims said. “I have a lot of athleticism to match that, but just knowing how to use my athleticism more.”

This past summer, Mims moved to Long Beach in July to get acclimated and start working on his skills. Spending most of his time in the Gold Mine and the Walter Pyramid, he began to realize the amount of work he has to put in and surprised himself with some of his abilities.

“They would have me making shots running at full speed, something that I didn’t even know that I was capable of doing,” Mims said.

But he still has more to learn if he wants to make his way into the seven to eight man rotation that head coach Dan

Monson uses in Big West conference play. Mims has played in two conference games so far, but played in 14 games in the preseason. Monson, along with many other coaches, tightens up his rotation for Big West play every year. After an 82-71 defeat against UC Santa Barbara where eight players saw action, Monson acknowledged he should look to play Mims and redshirt freshman Milos Apic more.

“We gotta bring along the freshmen Milos [Apic] and Demetrius Mims better to get a little more depth because I think as we got the lead, it took a lot out of us,” Monson said.

Mims earned his first collegiate start Dec. 5 against Southern Utah where he only played eight minutes, scoring one point, one block and committing four fouls. He earned the start from Monson after performing well in practice leading up to the game.

“Demetrius was all over the place the last two days in practice,” Monson said. “You know as a freshman, he’s gonna make mistakes and he’s not quite ready, but he earned it.”

Even with limited minutes in Big West play, it still helps with Mims’ development, giving him the live-game action he needs to grow. While adjusting to getting little to no playing time, he looks to associate head coach Myke Scholl for advice.

It’s what’s reminded him that he has a family here after traveling almost 3,000 miles from home.

“Coach Scholl, he’s been a big support for me,” Mims said.

“He’s the one that did a major part of my recruiting and getting me here. He’s always looked at me as family. I talk to him a lot; we can talk about anything.”

It’s up to Mims to decide where his work will take him, as he can become a crucial part of Long Beach State basketball for the next three years.

12 SPORTS

THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 2019 | DAILY49ER.COM | SPORTSD49ER@GMAIL.COM

WOMEN’S TENNIS

Long Beach hopeful to retain strong start The 49ers will face a tough task in the undefeated Aztecs.

By Manuel Valladares Staff Writer

SAMANTHA DIAZ | Daily 49er

Freshman guard Jasmine Hardy waits for the referee to make a call during a match up against Northern Iowa Friday, Nov. 23.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

LBSU faces challenge against streaking UC Davis

By Mark Lindahl Staff Writer

The Long Beach State women’s basketball team will be travelling to The Pavilion at UC Davis Thursday hoping to put a halt to its three-game losing streak.

The Aggies will enter the game on a four-game winning streak and have won the last two matchups between the schools last season.

Redshirt senior forward Morgan Bertsch is the unquestioned leader for Davis (13-6, 5-1 Big West), as she leads the team in scoring with 23.8 points per game and averages almost six rebounds and two assists.

Defending bigs in the interior is a consistent problem for Long Beach (5-13, 2-3 Big West), which was exploited by CSUN’s centers getting whichever shots it wanted in the paint.

This presents a big problem, as Bertsch has explosive scoring potential, evidenced by four games of 30 or more points, in-

cluding 40 points in only 22 minutes versus Sacramento State.

Consistency is another area in need of improvement for the 49ers, as the team often starts off games well but ends up digging themselves into a hole by the fourth quarter.

“We teach our young ladies to play through the whistle and no matter what happens, to play through,” said head coach Jeff Cammon. “It’s a young team, you know, they’re very hard on themselves and they do care, so when they’re out there ... sometimes in the middle of competing, they’re thinking about the mistake instead of the next play.”

One area where the 49ers do excel is on perimeter defense, with relentless on-ball pressure implemented with a full court press and running shooters off of the three-point line.

Bertsch is a capable shooter, averaging over one three pointer a game at 56 percent from deep, along with 51.4 percent overall on field goals and 84.3 percent on free throws.

If the 49ers can limit fast break opportu-

nities for the Aggies and defend the three point line, then shutting Bertsch down will be the only roadblock as no other player for the Aggies averages double digits in points.

Sophomore forward Naomi Hunt will most likely draw the job of guarding Bertsch, which could result in a shootout between the two squads.

Hunt is easily the best perimeter shooter for Long Beach, averaging almost five three-point attempts a game and knocking them down at 42 percent.

It will be a challenge, but if Hunt and sophomore lead guard Shanaijah Davison can get in the zone and limit the scoring of Bertsch and her Aggie teammates, the 49ers have a good shot of turning around their conference record.

“From high school to college it’s a big difference,” Cammon said. “I don’t care if they played in the preseason or not. [The] Big West conference is a different season, just like the postseason is different, so the best teacher is actually going through it and experiencing it. And they’re getting the experience now.”

The Long Beach State women’s tennis team travels to the Aztec Tennis Center to face off against undefeated San Diego State Friday.

The 2 p.m. match will end with one team earning its first loss of the season.

San Diego (3-0) has played all of its games at home, dominating all opponents with a 7-0 advantage. The Aztec’s most recent win came against the UC Riverside Highlanders, which the 49ers beat 5-2 Saturday.

With San Diego coming in with its first spotless doubles record in more than 25 years, Long Beach (1-0) will have to focus its efforts on outlasting the Aztecs.

The 49ers have room for optimism, with their only singles loss belonging to freshmen Wiktoria Rutkowska and Dominique Meyer, the same pair who went undefeated in the Beach Invitational.

In singles, Long Beach will need to keep an eye on San Diego senior Jenny Moinard, who had an overall record of 23-7 last season, going 1-0 against nationally ranked players.

Although the 49ers haven’t been as dominant, they have shown the tenacity to pull out wins. During regular season, the freshmen have shown signs of comfort and success, sporting a 3-2 record in singles and doubles matches combined.

Head coach Jenny Hilt-Costello said she believes the team is just “shaking off the cobwebs since we’re just starting season.”

Another note from Hilt-Costello was that the team is still getting acclimated to the influx of freshmen it has, making up half its roster.

After facing San Diego State on the road, Long Beach will head back home for an 11 a.m. matchup Saturday to face off against University of San Diego.