CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, LONG BEACH
VOL. LXVIII, ISSUE 44 | NOVEMBER 28, 2016
49er
D OP-ED
Remembering Fidel: a praised dictator
Photos by Yasmin Cortez | Daily 49er
Runners came out to support undocumented students with the first ever CSULB Undocu5k, held on Nov. 19.
Castro’s legacy is tempered by the political oppression he brought to Cuba. By Jorge Paniagua Opinions Editor
IMMIGRATION
Undocu5k raises $11,000 Hundreds of participants showed up to support undocumented students and families at the first Undocu5k in the CSU system. By Elizabeth Campos Staff Writer
Runners wearing tennis shoes and shirts that read “Breaking Fronteras: Undocu5k” were seen across the Cal State Long Beach campus Nov. 19 at the first ever Undocu5k, an event organized by the CSULB Latino Student Union. Senior anthropology major and one of the lead organizers of the 5k, Gaby Hernandez, said the event raised a total of $11,000 with both registration fees and donations. Proceeds will go to scholarships for undocumented students. She also said that there are plans to hold the event next year. An approximate 300 participants began running at 8:30 a.m. after a series of warm-up workouts done to
see 5K, page 3
Grupo Folklorico Mexica de CSULB performed traditional Jalisco dances for Undocu5k participants.
It was an intriguing event — crowds of Cuban-Americans and Cuban exiles gathered early Saturday morning in a neighborhood known as Little Havana in Miami, Florida shortly after finding out the former prime minister of Cuba, Fidel Castro, had died. Castro, who ruled over Cuba for over five decades and who according to Cuban officials, survived over 600 assassination attempts, died at 90. The celebration may seem objectionable to those unaware of the Cuban leader’s extensive political career; however, the festivities that have taken place since Saturday are valid in my eyes. The man was a dictator, an evil man. The revolution and change he promised to bring to the island before taking control of Cuba in 1958 turned out to be yet another one-party dictatorship — gulags and political censorship included. As reported in an article for CNN titled, “Crowds flood streets of Miami’s Little Havana to cheer Castro’s death” by Laura Smith-Spark and Jose Manuel Rodriguez, people were chanting “freedom” and “libertad” while holding up Cuban
see CASTRO, page 10
SAFETY
Alumnus death causes national safety campaign After the death of her son, Carmen Lofgren started a national campaign for bicycle safety. By Caitlyn Mendoza Staff Writer
Cal State Long Beach alumnus Gary Lofgren, 25, died on Oct. 20, 2014 due to a traumatic head injury after falling
off his bicycle while not wearing a helmet. In response, Gary’s mother Carmen created a campaign to raise awareness about the importance of wearing a helmet. “I’m very motivated to raise awareness because people don’t even realize how in one second your life will change so much and how it could have been prevented by something so simple,” Carmen said. This semester, CSULB students, staff and faculty have seen the “slow your roll” signs on campus indicating where
not to ride their devices. However, the signs don’t force any of the riders to wear helmets. Lieutenant Richard Goodwin of the CSULB University Police Department said he has not been aware of any specific head injuries on campus due to roller skating or bicycling; however, there have been sustained injuries to riders from falling off coasting devices such as skateboards. “As to whether I think there should be such rule or regulation dictating such practice, I would say yes. Information, stories, statistics and the like have
often shared the experiences of those who have fallen and been seriously injured due to their not wearing a helmet to provide better protection for their head,” Goodwin said. “Safety is not just about being careful it is about taking steps to provide a better environment to sustain a level of safety.” According to the helmets.org, a website which offers statistics about helmets and injuries, , nearly 97 percent of bicyclists who have passed away were
see BIKE, page 2
GARY LOFGREN