Long Beach Current; November 18, 2024

CURRENT LONG BEACH

LONG BEACH STATE’S NEWS SOURCE SINCE 1949

Vol. XCVI, Issue 13

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Monday, November 18, 2024

Long Beach Current 1250 Bellflower Blvd., LA4-203 Long Beach, CA, 90804

Editorial Office Phone (562) 985-8000

Acsah Lemma Editor in Chief eic@lbcurrent.com

El Nicklin Multimedia Managing Editor multimedia@lbcurrent.com

Linsey Towles Managing Editor managing@lbcurrent.com

Sam Farfán Community Engagement Editor community@lbcurrent.com

Kristina Agresta Director of Business Operations business@gobeach.media

Editors

News Editor Juan Calvillo news@lbcurrent.com Arts & Life Editor Julia Goldman arts@lbcurrent.com Opinions Editor Joannah Clemente opinions@lbcurrent.com Sports Editor Davis Ramage sports@lbcurrent.com Solutions Editor Jaylyn Preslicka solutions@lbcurrent.com Design Editor Mary Catipay design@lbcurrent.com Copy Editor Khoury Williams copy@lbcurrent.com Photo Editor Samuel Chacko photo@lbcurrent.com Social Media Editor Jazmyn De Jesus socials@lbcurrent.com Video Editor Dante Estrada video@lbcurrent.com Podcast Editor Aidan Swanepoel podcast@lbcurrent.com Assistants News Assistants Ethan Cohen Annette Quijada Mayra Salazar Arts & Life Assistants Delfino Camacho Grace Lawson Diego Renteria Opinions Assistants Lizbeth Cortes-Gutierrez Romi Mathews Christine Nader Sports Assistants Matthew Coleman Alyssa De La Cruz Matthew Gomez Jack Haslett Design Assistants Soleil Cardenas Luis Castilla Copy Assistants Timothy Hessen Bella Garcia Madison Yang Photo Assistants Lauren Benson Justin Enriquez Devin Malast Mark Siquig Social Media Assistants Matthew Gregory Andrew Miller Video Assistants Eduardo Contreras Jr. Kimberly Perez Podcast Assistants Gianna Echeverria Alexandra Gryciuk

Business Advertising Manager Andrea Contreras advertising@gobeach.media Creative Director Jennix Bien creative@gobeach.media Web & Technology Director Leila Nuñez web@gobeach.media PR & Marketing Manager Nicollette Combre beach.pr@gobeach.media Distribution Manager Joseph Vargas distribution@gobeach.media

Advisers Design Adviser Gary Metzker Content Adviser Barbara Kinglsey-Wilson Advertising & Business Adviser Jennifer Newton

ON THE COVER

JUSTIN ENRIQUEZ / Long Beach Current Beverley Hansen, director of restoration and stewardship at the Bolsa Chica Land Trust, paddles across a small river with volunteers to reach Site 2 at the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve on Oct. 26. See page 6.

NEWS

Managing post-election student stress, anxiety

BY LARISSA SAMANO Contributor

S

tudent stress and anxiety levels have risen on campus stemming from the results of the 2024 presidential election, but there are ways to fight it.

The stress from election uncertainty comes right between the stress of midterms and finals for students at Long Beach State.

A first-year child development major, Karina Guevara, voted in her first election this year.

She said the stress of voting was something she did not need to add to the stress she already has.

“We should be in a society where what our current president says shouldn’t be something we are just okay with and I feel like not everyone is informed and it ends up affecting us, so it’s pretty stressful,” Guevara said.

Marwa Azab, a psychology professor at CSULB, has been the chair of the “Peace of Mind” community event and has created a plan for students to de-stress after elections. She explained how stress and anxiety comes from a lack of confidence for a desired outcome in a post she published on Psychology Today.

Anxiety can be a difficult feeling to dissipate, and Azab noted COVID-19 had increased not only the longevity, but intensity of anxiety symptoms.

In her article, she explained the “moral burden” that comes from the fear of making the wrong decision. Her writing explained that students can battle those emotions with her 8 Strategies to Manage Election Anxiety.

Azab wrote that embracing your journey and using tools given to you help to navigate uncertainty.

Senior biology major, Mya Tovar, said she could not find comfort in what the election process awakened in American politics.

“I’m scared. With the way things are playing out, I’m just scared.” Tovar said.

Joshua Kim, a first-year psychology major, said the media created a stress buildup leading up to the election.

“I think my stress was mostly because there were a lot of discussions online about what would happen if either side won. It wasn’t very fun to look at,” Kim said.

Students struggling to overcome their stress and anxiety can visit Azab’s post to take charge to transform election anxiety into opportunities for self growth.

Land Acknowledgment Here at the Long Beach Current we acknowledge that the school we report on is located on the sacred site of Puvungna, “the gathering place”. We are on the land of the Tongva/Gabrieleño and the Acjachemen/Juaneño Nations who have lived and continue to live here.

We also acknowledge the Gabrieleño/Tongva (pronounced: GABRIEL-EN-YO/TONG – VAH) and Acjachamen/Juaneño (pronounced: AH-HACH-AH-MEN/JUAN-EN-YO) as the traditional custodians of the Los Angeles region along with the Chumash (pronounced: CHOO-MOSH) to the north and west, and the Tataviam (pronounced: TAH-TAH-VEE-YUM) and Cahuilla (pronounced: KAH-WEE-YAH) Nations to the east.

We respect and value the many ways the Tongva/Acjachemen cultural heritage and beliefs continue to have significance to the living people and remind us about the sacred and spiritual relationship that has always existed here at what we now call California State University Long Beach.

Editorials: All opinions expressed in the columns, letters and

cartoons in the issue are those of the writers or artists. The opinons of the Long Beach Current 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 Long Beach Current.

Monday, November 18, 2024

Letter Policy: All letters and emails

must bear the phone number of the writer and must be no more than 300 words. The Long Beach Current reserves the right to edit letters for publication in regard to space.

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NEWS

KHOURY WILLIAMS/Long Beach Current Archives University Partnerships and Civic Engagement Director Ricki Burgener (right) greets students with laughter and joy as she gives out prizes during the “Ballot and Boba” event on Oct. 29.

Post-election support events, services for students

BY KHOURY WILLIAMS Copy Editor

F

ollowing several months of encouraging students to vote, various departments from Long Beach State’s administration and Associated Students Inc. are now shifting their focus toward supporting and engaging students beyond the election.

In addition to personal and group therapy sessions hosted by Counseling and Psychological Services, CSULB’s Residential Life staff are putting together a workshop called “Beads of Boundaries: Identifying and Communicating Boundaries for Peace,” which will allow students to learn about talking to people with differing political views.

“It will be a facilitated space where students can make a bracelet and learn

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more about setting intentional boundaries, especially ahead of the breaks where they may be interacting with loved ones with different political views,” Residential Engagement and Staff Training Assistant Director Hannah Elliott said in an email.

She said the event is expected to happen before fall break, with an official date confirmation to be announced on CSULB Housing’s Instagram account.

CSULB’s Civic Engagement team, led by University Partnerships and Civic Engagement Director Ricki Burgener, participated in over 10 events from the start of the semester to raise awareness on statewide ballot propositions, local measures and district candidates.

Additionally, the Civic Engagement team helped encourage students to register to vote as part of the statewide college Ballot Bowl competition.

Long Beach State ranked sixth over-

all and seco nd among California State University colleges with 1,591 newly registered voters.

University of California, Berkeley, ranked first overall with 2,422 new registered voters and CSU Fullerton ranked first among CSUs with 1,709 new registered voters.

While Civic Engagement has no future planned events, Burgener said she will soon meet with her team to discuss plans for the 2025 spring semester.

“It’s one thing to plan for the general elections... [but] we still have to plan on what we’re going to be doing during the offseason, and so right now, we will be chatting about some ideas,” Burgener said.

Events based on climate change, mental health and encouraging students to get involved with local government meetings and policy decisions are among early ideas of the Civic Engagement team.

Similar to the Civic Engagement team, Lobby Corps is an ASI subcommittee focused on student civic engagement through education and advocacy. Both teams worked closely to encourage students to vote.

ASI President and political science

Monday, November 18, 2024

major Nikki Majidi said ASI is not planning any current election events. Still, Majidi reiterated that campus administrative services, including CAPS, plan to roll out more student support events following the election results.

Separately, Majidi said Lobby Corps will have more civic engagement events during the spring semester.

When speaking on the importance of advocacy and voting, Majidi said students can make change and influence decisions even if they do not realize it.

“What you think you don’t have the power [to do], you really do; and your individual voice, it might seem one of many, but there’s so many different factors that are in play when you’re voting,” Majidi said. “You’re affecting so many different things.”

ASI Chief Legislative Officer and political science major Nicholas Nieto said civic engagement and the general idea of voting is more than voting for political parties.

“People have taken on the impression that it’s either Democrat or Republican, but when you look at it on a local level, that’s really not the case,” Nieto said. “You’re not voting a party. You’re voting policies.”

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NEWS

ISABELA ZUNIGA/Long Beach Current The Dream Success Center shared career guidance and upcoming events in addition to the immigration resources for students during the Reflect and Reset: Processing Political Change Together meeting in SSSC-122. The Long Beach Current was not allowed to observe the meeting due to student privacy concerns.

Student media barred entry at post-election support and debrief event

BY ISABELA ZUNIGA Contributor

T

he Office of Belongings and Inclusion, the Dream Success Center and the Counseling and Psychological Services provided a space for students to reflect and reset following the results of the 2024 election.

When Long Beach Current reporters arrived to collect interviews, there was a rejection for all media despite the website not mentioning any restrictions.

The website, now changed, says “these spaces are not open to media.”

When approached for a comment about why media was not allowed, Vice President of Student Affairs, Beth Lesen, said the organizations would take this into consideration and change the description.

According to the event coordinators, the main concern was the safety of any undocumented students present, especially after Election Day.

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Associate Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Students, Jeff Klaus, apologized for the mistake and said that Student Affairs wanted to create a space where students felt safe, comfortable and had confidentiality.

“Having student information shared without their knowledge could have been a concern,” Klaus said.

Norma Salcedo, director of the Dream Success Center, said at the event, a conversation was moderated by CAPS who shared resources on how to cope during and after the election.

The DCS provided information regarding free immigration legal services for Long Beach State students’ and their immediate families in collaboration with the Central American Resource Center in Los Angeles.

Resources such as community spaces and one-on-one consultations were available to students.

“It is important for us at DSC to create spaces for students impacted by immigration policy to process and debrief events like the presidential election so

that they have an opportunity to express how they feel in a safe and private environment,” Salcedo said.

The DSC also shared information on upcoming events and financial aid support. Salcedo said elections can be stressful on marginalized communities, and not knowing how elections will impact someone can create uncertainty and concern.

“Regardless of what is to come, the DSC will continue to consider the well-being and support of all students, ensuring they have access to the resources and opportunities they need to succeed,” Salcedo said.

A fourth-year political science student who wished to remain anonymous for safety reasons said that she attended the event because she wanted to learn more about what people’s emotions were following the recent election results.

“When I first came to campus everyone was fine, and I thought maybe I was overthinking it,” she said. “Other people shared their opinions about it, and everyone was stirred up about the results,

Monday, November 18 2024

and it made me feel a little bit more at peace that I’m not the only one that feels the results of the election is going to affect you.”

The anonymous student also said she witnessed others’ reactions to the results on campus before attending the event.

“I just came from a class and the professor was sort of rethinking his career and all the years of devotion he put towards,” she said. “[He’s] teaching students that they do have a voice and that their vote matters.”

Klaus said it is important to communicate to students beforehand if media is permitted at these events because then students may not feel comfortable coming to these spaces.

“Students are going [to these spaces] to process something personal to them, we want to make sure everyone is clear on what the space is,” Klaus said. “If we don’t want the media present because of that type of space where we want students to feel comfortable and confident, then we need to do our part to let you know in advance.”

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NEWS

CSULB Interfaith Center’s inclusivity called into question

BY JAYLYN PRESLICKA Solutions Editor

T

he Interfaith Center at Long Beach State is advertised as an open resource for students of all religious denominations, however, based on reporting from the Long Beach Current, that is not the case.

According to CSULB’s website, “[the] Interfaith Center members work cooperatively, respecting the integrity of all traditions.”

Despite being advertised as a center for students of all faiths, the space remains predominantly Protestant and Jewish due to the two current religious organizations occupying the space, the Cooperative Protestant Campus Ministry (CPCM) and Beach Hillel, a Jewish student campus organization.

When entering the center which is located in the fifth floor of the University Library, the dominant presence is Beach Hillel. Multiple Israeli flags adorn the center, symbolizing traditional Judaica, among other Christian symbolism.

The two desks in the office are for Beach Hillel’s Executive Director ChayaLeah Sufrin, and CPCM’s Executive Director Adele Langworthy. Both directors are not employed by the university, but through their respective organizations.

The Interfaith Center has always had a lock on the door, according to Sufrin.

Due to complications with students trying to access the center, Sufrin requested a keypad instead.

While the space is open to the general student body, only those who frequently use the space or are a part of either organization have access to the code.

Sufrin said CSULB’s Interfaith Center isn’t an Interfaith Center in the traditional sense. Instead, “It’s really a space for different religious clubs to use. That’s how it’s always been,” Sufrin said.

“We’re a public university so I don’t

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think the school ever meant to create an interfaith space. They weren’t going to pay a staff member to run the space until this year.”

Sufrin said, “They should probably not call it the Interfaith Center. They should probably call it, faith room.”

There is no current director of the Interfaith Center publicly listed on the university website, only the two aforementioned director’s of their respective programs.

Jeffery Klaus, the associate vice president of student affairs, noted the center used to house other religious groups such as Catholic and Muslim organizations, but the groups have since chosen to leave the space.

Klaus said that when the facility is open, “a student can absolutely go in there.” “Their staff [CPCM and Beach Hillel] receive the codes, and I’m not sure if they provide those codes to students or not,” he said.

Due to the access codes not being publicly listed, in order for students to enter the space, they must be allowed inside by those already inside, or receive the code from Sufrin, Langworthy or a student who already has access.

According to Klaus, issues could potentially arise from this arrangement.

“At this point those two groups are the primary users. As we develop the future of the Interfaith Center, that’s why we would want to make sure it’s a nondenominational space,” Klaus said. “I hope that people would feel welcome at our current Interfaith Center … but I’d have to look at that in terms of access.”

While the lock on the door, and lack of other religious representation, lends to the perception that the Center is not a genuine interfaith space, Sufrin had made it clear that any student is welcome in the space, and accessing the code would not be a difficult process.

Sufrin said if a religious organization wanted to occupy the center, they could contact Langsworth, Klaus or herself for accommodations. Klaus explained he would “connect the dots” if asked for space in the center. No other clear pro-

SAMUEL CHACKO/Long Beach Current Cooperative Protestant Campus Ministry and Beach Hillel both have desks inside the Interfaith Center. They are the only two organizations that occupy the center. cedures or steps are given for outside groups to seek space in the space in the center.

In describing the Center and possible upcoming expansion, Sufrin spoke of Jessica Spence-Moss, the assistant director of the similarly-named student resource, Interfaith Programs. While both resources offer religious-based services, they are under different jurisdictions.

“Jessica’s [Spence-Moss] job I don’t think is connected to this room. So when they say they are expanding the Interfaith Center I don’t know what that means. … There are two separate things going on but they are not really connected,” Sufrin said.

“The direction in the future will be the Interfaith Center in a more traditional sense. We won’t necessarily have specific religious groups in there,” Klaus said. “Moving into the future, there will be a space that is non-denominational and has the staffing like Jessica [Spence-Moss] to help support students.”

Spence-Moss noted the center is supposed to offer the space to any student of any religion, but said that it is “physically inaccessible” due to the lock on the center’s door.

The Current approached Vice President of Student Affairs, Beth Lesen, for

Monday, November 18, 2024

information on whether or not Spence-Moss is able provide further insight on the Interfaith Center, or if someone else could comment on the record.

The Current then received an email from Associate Vice President of Student Affairs, Daria-Yvonne Jackson Graham, stating, “Our stand response is to request to receive your questions via email ahead of time. Being new to her role, Dr. Moss may not have been aware.”

“This allows us to ensure any information provided is as thorough and accurate as possible. We’re committed to being responsive, and this approach will allow us to address your questions directly,” the email reads.

The brief interview with Spence-Moss was prior to this information being known.

According to Klaus, Spence-Moss was hired to assist in the transition of the center, but there was no clear clarification on what transition exactly would be taking place.

Klaus said there is no current timeline for when the center will be converted to a non-denominational space. The transition plans intend to give respect to the organizations that already occupy the center, but there is no information on how this will be enacted.

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NEWS

Volunteers restore bird habitat at Bolsa Chica Reserve The California Department of Fish and Wildlife helps restore a nesting place for endangered bird species

BY JUSTIN ENRIQUEZ Photo Assistant

V

incent Charles, with bags of invasive plants in tow, paddled across the river to clear Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve of its troublesome weeds on Oct. 26. His efforts– with the help from volunteers– are part of a broader mission to help protect endangered birds in the area.

The California Least Tern and the Western Snowy Plover are endangered species protected under state (CESA) and federal (FESA) law.

Data provided by the State and Federally Listed Endangered and Threatened Animals of California cities that a total of 238 animals are threatened or endangered under state and federal law.

The California Least Tern and the Western Snowy Plover like sandy habitats, but human activity makes it difficult for them to nest along the coast.

“Unfortunately all of our beaches are covered with people…they can’t use that as habitat anymore,” Vincent Charles, Fish and Wildlife Technician said.

Volunteers worked to make the nesting process easier by removing invasive plants such as a weed called White Sweet Clover.

“Part of that means removing native plants, but they will eventually regrow and take over the sides [of the island] which will help with erosion control,” Charles said.

The breeding season for the California Least Tern is from April to September, while the end of September to March is when the removal of vegetation helps them have an area to nest. Non-profit organizations like Bolsa Chica Land Trust and Re:Wild helped the California Department of Fish and Wildlife with the removal.

Alicia Newland, President of Re:Wild club at Long Beach State, helped to bring CSULB students to the event.

“We’re taking out most of the invasive plant species here to clear out the area so that the birds have a place to nest,” Newland said.

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JUSTIN ENRIQUEZ/Long Beach Current Beverley Hansen and Pete Hendrickson help each other put the invasive weeds in bags. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife put the bags in area where they can decompose.

Tania Vasquez, a grad student majoring in international affairs, explained that she was browsing through the CSULB events page and was interested in the habitat restoration event.

“I think it’s really important to get involved in activities that can improve the environmental situation,” Vasquez said.

BCLT and Re:Wild are some of the organizations that help with restoring habitats for endangered species like the Snowy Plover and the Least Tern.

CDFW manages five islands with different non-profit organizations assigned to each different one. BCLT and Re:Wild have an island called site Number 2.

Beverly Hansen, director of restoration and stewardship at BCLT, spec-

ified that the efforts of the NPOs and CDFW have helped raise the population of species such as California legless lizards.

Bolsa Chica Land Trust is an NPO that uses community based initiatives to educate, involve and preserve Bolsa Chica.

To arrive at the destination, volunteers crossed a small river and kayaked to get to the island. Once there, volunteers were given bags and tools to remove plants and start digging.

“We use volunteers to do all the work, that makes it a slow process, but moving slower reaps better rewards...we’re paying attention to how things are growing and how things are doing. All the weeds

Monday, November 18, 2024

are removed by hand. So it’s a lot of work to get done,” Hansen said.

BCLT hosts its habitat restoration events twice a month and organizes other programs ranging from educational efforts to beach clean ups.

There was a significant decrease in the number of volunteers after the pandemic, dropping from an average of more than 100 to as few as 50.

Bolsa Chica history dates back to 9,000 years ago when Native American tribes Tongva and Acjachemen lived on the land. The Spanish took over the land and built ranches in the 1900s. After that, the land became a game reserve owned by businessmen from Los Angeles. Since then, infrastructure has disrupted the habitat, ranging from houses being built to oil drills scattered across the wetlands. “[The oil drilling company] try to be good neighbors and cooperate with CDFW, and participate in some of the nesting sites to help remove weeds, and are pretty good about being careful with their infrastructure…obviously we don’t want it here, it’s not pretty to look at and in some way disturb the birds– keeps them out,” Hansen said.

The California Least Tern and the Western Snowy Plover’s natural predators range from coyotes to small insects such as Argentine ants. However, the greatest threat to their survival is human activity.

The Pacific Coast Highway– which cuts through the sand dunes linking Bolsa Chica to the beach– it also affects an area where the Snowy Plover is meant to nest.

In 2006, a restoration project reconnecting the tidal basin with the ocean helped restore the habitat and bring back species once prized by hunters. Despite this, ongoing human activity and rising sea levels pose an even greater threat, making continued efforts to protect Bolsa Chica and its endangered species essential.

“Because we use the beach, because we like to recreate there, because we’ve built parking lots and use infrastructure they have nowhere to go,” Hansen added.

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NEWS

BY LILLIAN NGUYEN Contributor

T

he Long Beach State Academic Senate approved a proposal to introduce a doctorate of public health degree program to the university, with 37 out of 49 senators voting to approve the new program.

According to Academic Senate Chair Neil Hultgren, the proposal must be signed by CSULB President Jane Close Conoley for the new program to be officially implemented into the curriculum.

If approved, the proposal will introduce the fourth doctorate program to the university and the first-ever public health doctorate program in CSU history.

“Today...we make history,” Alaei said.

“We’ll be the first among 23 CSU campuses that will have a state-support doctorate in Public Health.”

According to the proposal, the postmaster program will consist of hybrid courses taught primarily by the Health Science Department. Full-time students are expected to complete 48 units within two years, six semesters, while part-time students will complete the units within three years, nine semesters.

Additionally, students applying for the doctorate of public health program will be required to enroll in one out of three areas of concentration, which include Public Health Informatics and Technology, Global Health or Health Policy and Management.

During the meeting, CSULB Health Science Department Chair Kamiar Alaei said there will be a 3:1 student-to-faculty ratio in the program.

Alaei said there will be 30 students total in the program, meaning the Health

Academic Senate votes in favor of establishing public health doctorate program

LILLIAN NGUYEN / Long Beach Current Health Science Department Chair Kamiar Alaei, answers questions about his proposal for a public health doctorate program at CSULB during the Academic Senate meeting on Nov. 7.

Science Department will only need 10 faculty members to teach the program.

There are also 13 faculty members outside the Health Science Department who have shown interest in teaching interdisciplinary courses for the program via

email.

The senate also discussed revisions to CSULB’s policy on master’s degrees.

Hultgren said it had been over a decade since the previous revisions to the policy.

“It’s just a very long policy—eight

pages long—and we take the changes really, really seriously,” Hultgren said. “So, it takes a long time to get through that.”

Hultgren said the addition of appeals in the university’s graduate program was the most important policy revision approved at the meeting. These appeals would be applicable during the admission process and instances of repeating and deleting courses at the graduate level.

“We really work to be inclusive, to get everyone on the same page and figure out the best language so that people aren’t confused in the future,” Hultgren said.

During the meeting, CSULB Graduate Studies Advisory Committee Chair and Academic Senator Deepali Bhandari wrote a policy revision to make grade forgiveness available for graduate students at the university.

“As of now, we do not allow grade forgiveness for our master’s students,” Bhandari said. “Which we felt—you know, life happens—so they should get at least one chance.”

According to Bhandari, the CSU Chancellor’s Office allows each CSU campus to determine how to deal with grade forgiveness at the graduate level, and many CSU’s permit grade forgiveness for one course. Grade forgiveness is already available at the undergraduate level at CSULB. At the meeting, 40 out of 41 senators voted to approve Bhandari’s revision.

Hultgren said Conoley must sign the revised master’s degrees policy for the appeals to go into effect.

“I don’t want to overestimate the success of our work, but I do think it’s possible that we could complete [these revisions] by the end of the semester,” Hultgren said.

”

Today...we make history. We’ll be the first among 23 CSU campuses that will have a state-support doctorate in Public Health.

Kamiar Alaei CSULB Health Science Department Chair lbcurrent.com | @lbcurrent

Monday, November 18, 2024

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ARTS & LIFE

JULIA GOLDMAN / Long Beach Current Clockwise from left: Decorated for the holiday season, the University Bookstore held their annual open house. Ashley Ulloa and Christy Cardoso, two friends and coworkers at the Outreach department on campus, chat while getting their caricature portrait drawn. The two both came from work to attend the bookstore’s open house together on. On the upper level of the bookstore, attendees pose with festive props alongside the university’s mascot, Elbee.

Bookstore open house brings discounts, 75th celebrations

BY JULIA GOLDMAN Arts & Life Editor

G

arlands, Christmas lights and shopping baskets full of gifts for the whole family filled the University Bookstore on Nov. 15 for this year’s Holiday Open House celebration.

As a part of the annual tradition, this year’s celebration welcomed students, alumnus and the greater Long Beach community to shop the discounted merchandise with free hors d’oeuvres, a caricature artist and a photo booth.

The sale included a 25% off discount on all merchandise in the store excluding tech. There were also some items throughout the store that were up to 75% off.

Shoppers who spent above $50 received a free gift dependent on the monetary tier of their purchase, ranging from plushies, goodie bags, mugs and higher value items like Long Beach letterman jackets.

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The event also honored and celebrated the University’s 75th birthday, with archival photos, yearbooks and a book signing featuring author and faculty member Barbara Kingsley-Wilson for her coffee table history book, “Long Beach State at 75” for attendees to peruse.

Kingsley-Wilson’s book reviews the notable developments, controversies, accolades and people within the university’s growth across 75 years, through archival history and interviews with core community pillars.

While some shoppers scoured each subsection of the store with shopping baskets in hand, some attendees stopped to chat amongst each other, enjoying refreshments and hors d’oeuvres like charcuterie bites that floated around the bookstore.

Others lined up to get their photo taken at the photo booth with the elusive Elbee or have their essence drawn by caricature artist, Micheal Garisek.

The event, according to Rosa Hernandez, the associate executive director of administration for the Beach Shops, is really a way to launch the holiday season

and welcome back alumni and the Long Beach State community.

The University Bookstore falls under a division within Beach Shops organization, which is a nonprofit auxiliary of CSULB, according to Hernandez. Within this partnership, all funds the bookstore generates is returned back to the university - either through physical allocations, scholarships or donations.

Though the classification may currently consider them as separate entities, Hernandez said the bookstore concept has always existed within the history of the campus.

“The 75th anniversary is also special for the bookstore. It’s intimate for us, for what it means for us to be here for 75 years,” Hernandez said. “Clearly, a lot has changed, but the commitment to the university is strong.”

Attending the event, with a basket of Long Beach State emblazoned sweatshirts in the Beach Family section of the bookstore was Jill and Luis Toth, who said that they attend the open house every year.

An alumnus herself, Jill graduated from The Beach in 1995 after transfer-

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ring from Cypress College.

Within her shopping basket full of sweatshirts, Jill said she had picked out one for herself and another for their grandson, who is graduating from high school this year and will soon be going to college.

Responsible for the outreach toward alumnus and greater “friends” of The Beach community for the event was Director of Alumni Engagement, Noemi Guevara.

According to Guevara, the bookstore’s open house has been an annual tradition for over 30 years, with extra celebrations this year for the 75th birthday of the university.

Though the bookstore’s open house won’t pick up again until next year, Guevara said they are planning to host a Long Beach State night with the Anaheim Ducks in February.

Guevara encourages people to keep an eye out for that event, and future ones at their 75th anniversary celebration website, csulb.edu/75.

Editor’s note: Barbara Kingsley-Wilson is one of the faculty advisors for the Long Beach Current.

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ARTS & LIFE Students snag deals at Lost and Found Flash Sale

BY ANDREW AMAYA Contributor

T

ables were stacked with discounted items at Long Beach State’s annual Lost and Found Flash Sale in front of the Student Recreation and Wellness Center on Nov. 14.

For over a decade, the sale has featured unclaimed items from the lost and found that students can purchase.

According to the event flyer, all net proceeds from the sale will be donated to student scholarships in the CSULB General Scholarship Fund.

The items sold at the sale varied from school essentials, such as calculators and binders, to more premium items, such as water bottles and hoodies.

Higher-value and more in-demand items, such as bicycles and electronics, are auctioned off online via Public Surplus until the end of the second week of November.

According to Chad Keller, CSULB’s public relations and communications specialist for Parking and Operations, high-value items dropped off at the lost and found are held longer, while lower-value items are held for less time.

Keller said most items are generally

ANDREW AMAYA / Long Beach Current Hydro flasks, Stanley cups and other reusable water bottles filled nearly two tables at the flash sale held on Nov. 14. held for one-to-three months.

“The main purpose of the sale is to clear our warehouses of old items that were never claimed throughout the year,” Keller said. “The second purpose of the sale is to offer a sustainable alternative to purchasing a new item from a store, and therefore decreasing the amount of waste in our environment.”

As students shopped around and waited in line to purchase their finds, organizers at the flash sale constantly refilled the tables and racks.

Students, including second-year aerospace major Christopher Lopez, learned about the sale while walking around campus.

“I was walking to the gym and saw a bunch of clothes and thought it looked

sick,” Lopez said.

Lopez purchased a hoodie for only a dollar and said it was worth shopping at the flash sale.

“It’s a bunch of stuff from the lost and found, so it’s secondhand, but it’s the same thing as thrifting, and, honestly, it’s way cheaper,” Lopez said.

Although the items on sale are secondhand, Keller said all items are cleaned and inspected before they are placed on sale. He said electronics are sanitized and checked to see if they function before being displayed.

The low prices also stuck out to Jadeene Santillana, a second-year business major, who attended the sale after walking by the SRWC after class.

“I just saw a flash sale, and I was like,

”

‘Okay, let me go look at the prices,’” Santillana said. “Then I saw the prices, and I was like, ‘Okay, I’m going to keep looking.’”

Santillana said that with winter approaching, she was mainly interested in the low-priced sweaters on the racks around the tables.

Keller recommends that students contact the Lost & Found office if they lose something on campus.

Students who find a lost item can turn it in at one of the eight drop-off locations throughout campus.

“It is great karma,” Keller said. “You might just have saved someone’s term paper or at least a lot of worry and frustration for them in trying to replace the item.”

It’s a bunch of stuff from the lost and found, so it’s secondhand, but it’s the same thing as thrifting, and, honestly, it’s way cheaper.

Christopher Lopez Aerospace major lbcurrent.com | @lbcurrent

Monday, November 18, 2024

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ARTS & LIFE

DELFINO CAMACHO / Long Beach Current The cast of the show Clyde’s minus the titular Clyde on stage in the Studio Theater during Nov. 12 dress rehearsal of the show. Starting from left are student actors Lucca Carr-Varamo as Jason, Theodore Taylor III as Montrellous, Nayeli Martinez as Letitia and Gigi Navarro as Rafael.

Cal Rep’s semester finale ‘Clyde’s’ serves up sandwiches, second chances

BY DELFINO CAMACHO Arts & Life Assistant

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read. Ham. Bread.

Some sandwiches are boring. But in “Clyde’s”, California Repertory’s final Fall 2024 production, sandwiches are anything but simple.

Their last show of the fall semester revolves around a group of former felon employees, each working at Clyde’s, a hole-in-the-wall truck stop diner. Between lunch rushes and attempts to relaunch life post-incarceration, the group of cooks participates in an in-house competition/mission—crafting the perfect sandwich.

“It’s about a group of formerly incarcerated people trying to make a way for themselves after being released, that’s the surface,” Director Keiana Richàrd-Bartolomë said. “But even in [playwright Lynn Nottage’s] description, there’s a lot of references to a spiritual journey that these characters, these people, go on. Below the surface, it’s not just about redemption, it’s about allowing ourselves to move into the next chapter.”

Nottage, the only American and

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woman playwright to win the Pulitzer Prize for Drama twice, premiered the play in 2019 under the name “Floyd’s.”

Following George Floyd’s death in 2020, the show reopened as “Clyde’s” in 2021.

Run by unsavory and unsympathetic boss Clyde, the diner serves as a literal and metaphorical pitstop for the employees. All but one of the cooks seem unable to shake off the remnants of their past and re-enter life.

Much of the conflict in this comedy is drawn from debates, both literal and metaphorical, between the unforgiving Clyde and the eldest and wisest employee at Clyde’s, Montrellous.

“It’s not binary, I don’t want it to be like good versus bad,” Richàrd-Bartolomë said. “It’s just the two ways of people dealing with the world around them. You know, Clyde’s like, ‘this is a harsh world, I’m going to put on my armor.’ Montrellous says, ‘this is a harsh world, but there is beauty in this world, and I’m going to try to stay open to the possibilities.’”

Fourth-year student Theodore Taylor III, 22, who is majoring in theater arts performance and minoring in journalism, plays Montrellous. The young actor, who hails from Compton, said it’s “fun”

portraying someone 25 years his senior.

“You get to source from people you know who are in that age range, they’re demeanor or physicality and whatnot,” Taylor said. “It’s a very comedic play. I think people like stories about redemption and these are five people who are trying to adjust after leaving the system.”

A mentor of sorts to the other three characters in the play, Taylor plays Montrellous quiet and dignified, but alive in a way the other characters aren’t.

Third-year theater arts performance major Bobby Brannon, 20, plays Clyde, the diner owner who torments, harasses and even threatens her employees. Clyde serves as a moral opposition to the optimistic and empathetic Montrellous.

“I think she’s a very mean person, but deep down I don’t think she’s a bad person. I don’t think she wants bad things for people,” Brannon said. “She wants good things for people, but she doesn’t think that the world is going to allow them to have that and so she doesn’t treat people like a good person would because she’s like, ‘well, that’s the way the world is.’”

The other three characters in the story; single mom Letitia, love-sick Rafael and newcomer Jason find themselves, appropriately, sandwiched between the

Monday, November 18, 2024

two opposing point-of-views, unsure of which path to take.

“You know, these are not bad people but I mean, we’re damaged, we haven’t worked past some of our traumas, and we’re making decisions based on the options that we have,” Richàrd-Bartolomë said.

This final Fall 2024 show is the latest in a semester full of plays with a comedy theme. “[Nottage] typically writes dramas, but Clyde’s was her first production that was really heavily a comedy and so I find that a lot of the comedy is very grounded in reality,” Brannon said.

Taylor describes the play as a mix between The Bear and Shawshank Redemption.

“I think if you come to the show... you’re gonna get a good laugh, something that really hits home for me is I’m really glad that this is my last play [because] this play has a black playwright, a black director and three black actors in the cast,” Brannon said. “There are some cool black themes in there, but it’s still something that applies to everybody, despite your ethnicity.”

Shows will continue until Saturday, Nov. 23. Tickets are available here.

lbcurrent.com | @lbcurrent

OPINION The notso-magical Disneyland pass price increase

BY JUNIOR CONTRERAS Video Assistant

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isneyland released their 202425 “Magic Key” annual passes for the first time on Nov. 6 with over a $100 increase in all four pass types, leading to uneasy emotions from current passholders looking to renew and first-time seeking passholders.

There are four different types of Magic Key annual passes that Disneyland offers.

The cheapest Magic Key is the “Imagine Key” for $599, which is only available for Southern California residents living in zip codes 90000 to 93599.

The Imagine Key was $499 from 2023-24, and for 2024-25, the price increased to $599.

This chart shows the Disneyland Imagine Key benefits and their one and only change for their 2024-25 benefits.

Graphic credit: Junior Contreras The second cheapest Magic Key is the “Enchant Key” for $974.

Last year, the Enchant Key was $849, making it a $125 price increase from 2023.

Then, there is the second highest Magic Key pass– the “Believe Key” for $1,374.

The Believe Key was $1,249 in 2023, making a $125 jump this year.

The last and most expensive Magic Key is the “Inspire Key.” The Inspire Key is $1,749, whereas in 2023 it was $1,649, making it a $100 in-

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EL NICKLIN / Long Beach Current Disneyland is known for being the happiest place on Earth, but is it really the happiest if there is no clear motive to provide refreshing experiences to Disney goers? crease.

Having viewed the different benefits with all the Magic Keys from last year to this year, it is clear that there are no major changes in the benefits for passholders.

With the high changes in prices and the very low changes in benefits, this led to current passholders and new seeking passholders to rethink their decision on their purchase of a Magic Key, including myself.

I currently have the Enchant Key and I believe it was worth it this past year. It was $849 and paid for itself in about five visits.

The Enchant Key price increase of over $100 made me do a double take on my decision of renewing. With no major park changes or benefits, I questioned what I would be paying an extra $125 for.

This also led Valentina Enriquez, a fourth-year kinesiology exercise science major and Magic Key passholder, to have a “serious” conversation with her family about the pass being worth it this up-

coming year.

“When we found out that tickets did increase, we had a talk as a family because we all have passes. I come from a family of four, so it does get pretty pricey. But ultimately we did decide to renew our passes,” Enriquez said.

Family time is a huge reason why Enriquez and her family renewed their passes.

Spending quality family time was also a big reason why Hannah McClung, Magic Key passholder and third-year nursing major, chose to renew her pass.

“My sisters and my mom have a pass, and then my boyfriend [does] too. So, that’s a place for all of us to come together,” McClung said. “Especially [since] I’m older in college and my sisters are both in high school, so there’s not a lot of time and things that we have that bring us all together, and that’s just a place where we can always spend the day together.”

Enriquez, McClung and myself all certainly relate to the fact that we renewed our passes mainly to have these

Monday, November 18, 2024

rare opportunities of quality time with our families. However, we all believe that renewing or buying a pass this year is certainly not worth it.

If it was just myself having a pass, I certainly would not be renewing it. But being able to share the joy of having a pass with my family, keeps me renewing it.

McClung said she doesn’t believes the Magic Key pass is worth it for the average college student. “My mom financially supports most of my pass, so if I had to buy it on my own money, I wouldn’t be able to afford it. So for the average college student, no. If there’s somebody helping you buy it, it’s fun,” she said.

With every Magic Key pass increasing at least $100 in price this year, no new rides being added to both parks (aside from the redesign of “Splash Mountain” into “Tiana’s Bayou Adventure”) and lack of a greater change in benefits for passholders, I believe it is not worth it to buy a Magic Key pass if you are currently considering it.

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SPORTS

d’Arnaud is coming home, signs with Angels

BY JACK HASLETT Sports Assistant

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ravis d’Arnaud, a Long Beach native and former All-Star catcher, is coming back close to home.

The 35-year-old World Series champion d’Arnaud signed a two-year, $12 million deal with the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday, Nov. 12.

The deal brings d’Arnaud home to the West Coast for the first time in his major league career since a one-game stint with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2019. d’Arnaud attended Lakewood High School, graduating in 2007, before being drafted in the first round, 37th overall by the Philadelphia Phillies.

“Travis just stuck out for us as someone that could not only play at a high level, but for his makeup,” Angels General Manager Perry Minasian said in an article by the Associated Press. d’Arnaud was inducted into the Lakewood Youth Hall of Fame as co-athlete of the year in 2007, according to the City of Lakewood. His high school career was capped off by a senior season in which he slashed .413, .476, .779 with seven home runs and 52 RBIs in 33 games. d’Arnaud was part of the 2006 Lancers team that won the CIF championship for the fifth and most recent time in school history.

“He’s been on winning teams. He knows what winning teams do. He’s got the ability to affect the locker room in as positive a way as anyone I’ve ever been around,” Minasian said. “He’s just an awesome guy, and a hometown guy who lives 25 minutes away.” d’Arnaud has played 12 major league seasons and been part of the New York Mets, Tampa Bay Rays, Los Angeles Dodgers and Atlanta Braves.

He was chosen for a Silver Slugger, an award given out in the American League and the National League to the best hitting player at each position, in 2020 after hitting nine home runs and finishing with a .919 OPS. in 44 games during the COVID-19-shortened season.

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Photo Courtesy of Bryan Green via Wikimedia Commons Travis d’Arnaud standing in front of home plate while playing for the Tampa Bay Rays. The Rays are one of the four teams he has played with in the past, the Angles are set to be the fifth. d’Arnaud was a National League AllStar in 2022, and a crucial part of the 2021 World Series Champion Atlanta Braves.

He finished the 2024 season with a .238 batting average and 15 home runs, tied for fifth among National League catchers. d’Arnaud’s signing is the latest move of an active offseason for the Angels, who finished last in the American League West division with a 63-99 record in 2024.

Editor’s note: This story was corrected at 12:00 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 14 to correct Travis d’Arnaud’s background information and add his time with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

He’s been on winning teams. He knows what winning teams do. He’s got the ability to affect the locker room in as positive a way as anyone I’ve ever been around.

Monday, November 18, 2024

lbcurrent.com | @lbcurrent

SPORTS

LAUREN BENSON / Long Beach Current LBSU guard TJ Wainwright (left) and The Beach fought hard to come back against Portland in Saturday’s game at the Walter Pyramid, but ultimately fell short. The final score was 63-61 with Portand walking away with the win.

LBSU drops third straight game in loss to Portland

BY CARLOS YAKIMOWICH Contributor

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ollowing two tough road losses to South Dakota State and the University of San Francisco, Long Beach State’s losing skid continued with a 63-61 defeat to the University of Portland on Saturday at the Walter Pyramid.

The Beach struggled early shooting 2-for-6 (33%) from the field which led to an 11-5 deficit after five minutes. They managed to make four of their next seven shots, narrowing the gap to four midway through the first half.

Senior forward Cam Denson’s impact off the bench shifted The Beach’s momentum and helped them close the half with a 35-30 lead. Denson finished the

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first half with a team-high 10 points and added two steals.

“Every time I step on the court, whether I’m starting or coming off the bench, I want to come out and bring energy and play hard,” Denson said.

Portland was led by freshman forward Austin Rapp who hit five first-half three-pointers and ended the game with 18 points.

The Pilots struggled to start the second half, shooting just 1-for-6 (16%) from the field in the first five minutes.

Long Beach State cut the deficit to one (38-37) after a 7-3 run sparked by three-pointers from junior guard TJ Wainwright and sophomore forward Derrick Michael Xzavierro.

The turning point came midway through the second half as The Beach struggled from the field, which they made just two of their next nine shots

from the floor. Portland capitalized and went on a 16-7 run to take a 10-point lead (54-44).

The Beach fought back to within two points but their fate was decided in the final seconds trailing 63-61 with 11.5 seconds left. They fouled to extend the game and got a last-second chance after Portland missed a free throw.

Senior guard Devin Askew grabbed the rebound and raced down the court, getting a switch on to the 6’10” Rapp off a pick-and-roll. With time expiring, Askew took a step-back three for the win but missed the contested shot, leaving The Beach with their third straight loss.

Head coach Chris Acker said he would have preferred Askew to attack the basket in that situation and force the referees to make a call, but he respected his confidence in taking the game-winning shot.

Monday, November 18, 2024

“I’m just going to continue to instill confidence in him [Askew],” Acker said. “Hopefully we’re in those situations more where we can then put ourselves in better positions to score.”

The Beach struggled at the freethrow line, shooting just 52% at the charity stripe and 38% from the field.

These inconsistencies highlight the team’s growing pains as it works to build chemistry with the 13 new players in the program.

LBSU heads to Spokane, Washington to face 3-0 Gonzaga on Nov. 20, at 6 p.m.

Gonzaga is currently ranked fourth in the nation.

“We have to put this game to bed on Monday and then move forward towards putting ourselves in a position to be able to go on the road and win in one of the hardest college basketball environments in the country,” Acker said.

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