Long Beach Current; February 3, 2025

CURRENT LONG BEACH

LONG BEACH STATE’S NEWS SOURCE SINCE 1949

Vol. XCVI, Issue 17

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LUCK OF THE NEW MOON

Monday, February 3, 2025

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 Luis Castilla 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 Christopher Canche Chan Mayra Salazar Nasai Rivas 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 Angela Osorio Copy Assistants Timothy Hessen Bella Garcia Madison Yang Photo Assistants Lauren Benson Justin Enriquez Devin Malast Mark Siquig Social Media Assistants Igor Colonno Selestino Andrew Miller Video Assistants Eduardo Contreras Jr. Skylar Stock Kimberly Perez Podcast Assistants Gianna Echeverria Alexandra Gryciuk Cj Womack 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 Kingsley-Wilson Advertising & Business Adviser Jennifer Newton

ON THE COVER

Photo credit: JULIA GOLDMAN / Long Beach Current The Westminster Tet parade’s opening ceremony on Feb. 1 began with firecrackers, drums and the traditional Vietnamese lion dance, which is intended to ward off evil spirits and bring good luck for the Lunar New Year.

NEWS

For story concerns email: news@lbcurrent.com

Keeping the dream alive: Honor MLK’s legacy at CSULB

BY JADYN GILES Contributor

L

ong Beach State’s ASI and Black Resource Center are preparing to kick off their 26th annual Martin Luther King Jr. celebration event, in honor of Black History Month.

Every year, since 1999, students and staff come together to celebrate the legacy of MLK and honor the five founders of this ongoing CSULB tradition. The founders are five Black female LBSU faculty members recognized by the names of Valerie Bordeaux, Renee Mcdonald, Marie’ Burks, Ruby Leavell-Hartley and Carol Elston-Brown.

The MLK Celebration is a free informational event, open to all students, staff, and faculty. The purpose of this event is to honor the past while leaning into the future generation’s dreams to help create a bright and impactful future. “The three components of this event are to celebrate, educate and dream,” Paul Carter, assistant director of the Black Resource Center said. “We strive to keep the dream alive.”

The event structure typically remains the same because the committee tries to maintain the event’s history. Many traditional elements have been carried on over the years, including singing the Black national anthem, keynote speakers, roundtable discussions and cake cutting. The ever changing element of the celebration is who the guest speaker is.

This year’s guest speaker is Kayla Mason.

She is the regional director at the Hidden Genius Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preparing young Black males for the field of

STEM. As stated on the Hidden Genius Project website, “Black male youth demand, and are working towards, a future where their genius is celebrated, realized, shines every day, and is no longer hidden, suppressed or belittled.”

The Hidden Genius Project also stated that tech is the future, and STEM opportunities have become the fastest-growing area of employment.

Insight will be given to encourage all black youth to continue to move forward and grow with the ever-changing world of technology.

Although the event structure remains similar to what it once was in 1999, the content changes to keep up with the growth within the Black community.

Each year, the planning committee chooses a quote from Martin Luther King Jr. and bases the program’s content around it. In the celebration’s recent history, the planning committee chooses a quote that aligns with the nationwide Black History Month theme of the corresponding year.

While history is an important component of this event, the planning committee makes it a point to move forward. “A committee of people comes together with hopes of bridging the gap between MLK’s work in the past and the dreams of the future generation,” Carter said.

Each year, the event concludes with singing Happy Birthday and cutting a cake to honor MLK. “We sing the version of Happy Birthday that Stevie Wonder wrote,” Carter said “ He wrote it to support the campaign to make Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday a national holiday” Stop by the USU Ballrooms on Thursday, Feb. 6, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. to enjoy an afternoon filled with learning, celebration and inspiration.

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, February 3, 2025

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 ASI prepares for change as construction of Future U approaches

BY ANNETTE QUIJADA News Assistant

T

he Future U project has entered their relocation phase as they prepare to break ground in summer 2025.

The University Student Union will close during construction this summer, and its programs, services and dining will have different homes on campus.

The Associated Students, Inc. services will be relocating to the following buildings: • Basic needs, Beach Pride events, ASI communications, Puvungna Resource Center, student government, etc. will move to Peterson Hall 1 • ASI administration will move to Faculty Offices 5 • Associated Students Business Office and Associated Students Human Resources will move to the University Bookstore • The E-Sports lounge will move to the University Library • Meetings and conferences will be relocated/take place at The Pointe Conference Center/Anna W. Ngai Alumni Center • Beach Pantry will be relocated to Student Health Services Additional resources moving to these locations can be found on the ASI website.

ASI communications manager Shannon Couey said they have been working with campus leadership, department heads and external partners to temporarily relocate student essential services to alternative spaces.

“Ensuring that student resources operate without disruption is a top priority for everyone involved,” Couey said. “By

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Photo courtesy of Associated Students Inc. Communications This mock up of the new University Student Union is from the perspective of the east side of the building, Friendship Walk Stairs.

These are conceptual designs and have not been finalized, they are subject to change. coordinating efforts across the campus community, we’re working to provide a smooth transition with minimal impact on [students] experience,” Couey said.

Couey said there is a detailed plan in place to ensure that student resources continue to operate seamlessly during this time period. ASI will be actively communicating updates to students through email, social media and in-person outreach to ensure everyone knows where to find the services they need.

Penta and Gensler have been selected as the design, architect and construction companies for the project. They designed the new Parkside North student housing building, the renovations of Los Cerritos and Los Alamitos and they built the Alumni Center.

“In the selection of the team for the Future U project, Penta and Gensler did a great job in showcasing how they would center students throughout the design and construction process,” Couey said.

ASI vice president of finance Andre Achacon has been a part of the design aspect of the process. Achacon said a major point of emphasis for him is the sustainability of the building.

“We’ll have improved water lines and better energy systems,” Achacon said. “It’s a huge step forward, not just

for Long Beach, but for the [California State University] system, because globally there is a need to move towards more sustainable buildings that protect our planet.”

As a student, he is looking forward to the upcoming dining experience the construction will bring.

“On the south side of the building we are building up, and that’s going to allow so many food opportunities,” Achacon said, “We are going to turn it into a food hall, there will be more vendors and updated restaurant spaces. It will refresh the food options we have currently.”

Achacon said they have sent out information to local vendors to gauge their interest in becoming a part of the new USU, as well as other corporations.

Dining options will continue to be available throughout campus. ASI is looking at food trucks, food stands, as well as collaborating with Beach Shops for food services.

According to Achacon, ASI is committed to spending as little money as possible on relocation efforts because they want the money to go to permanent investments, such as the Future U. What has stood out to Achacon most while working on this project is the amount of student involvement. ASI has

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prioritized student voices by being part of the design process, the finance and choosing vendors.

“The project was initiated by students, it’s being carried out by students and it’s going to benefit students in the end, along with faculty,” Achacon said.

According to Couey interactive information kiosks will be set up around the worksite once the construction fencing goes up. The kiosks will update students with essential information and project activities. Construction milestones will be celebrated with fun activities including ice cream socials.

Construction will begin on the east side of the USU building at the friendship walk stairs from April 14 to Aug. 30 to create additional pathways compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. “Design and Construction Services and the entire Penta and Gensler team want students to know we are designing your Future U to celebrate the unique culture of CSULB, creating a place that sparks creativity and connection, a true home away from home for all,” Couey said.

Construction of the USU will take approximately three years, with an expected grand opening scheduled for summer 2028.

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NEWS

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Monday, January 27, 2025

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NEWS

Trump’s executive orders reshape higher education

BY ETHAN COHEN & JACK HASLETT News Assistant & Sports Assistant

P

resident Trump has issued a barrage of executive orders since his inauguration, from pardons and mountain renaming to repealing dozens of Biden-era policies.

Every executive order will impact the entire nation. However, college students and university-specific programs may experience a more direct effect than others.

One of the first actions Trump took upon returning to office was signing an executive order rescinding 78 Biden-era executive orders and actions, many of which had shaped higher education policy.

Executive orders affecting education: The “Guaranteeing an Educational Environment Free From Discrimination on the Basis of Sex, Including Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity” was designed to protect students from discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation and gender identity in educational institutions.

Its revocation may weaken protections under Title IX, potentially impacting LGBTQ+ students’ rights on college campuses, including access to facilities, participation in sports and protections against harassment.

The “White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity for Hispanics” initiative aimed to support Hispanic students and Hispanic-serving institutions, including Long Beach State, by increasing access to educational resources and economic opportunities.

Rescinding it could reduce federal support for programs assisting Hispanic students, affecting funding for scholarships, research initiatives and institutional improvements.

The “White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity

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for Native Americans and Strengthening Tribal Colleges and Universities” order focused on expanding access to education for Native American students.

Its repeal could result in decreased federal funding and support for Native American students, making higher education less accessible for Indigenous communities and limiting available resources.

The revocation of these orders signals a shift away from federal policies that aimed to enhance equity and inclusion in higher education, potentially affecting funding, student protections and institutional resources.

Executive orders affecting international students: The “Protecting the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats” order increases scrutiny for anyone applying for visas, including F-1 visas, the more common form of U.S. student visa, and J-1 visas, which permit international students to live and study in the United States as part of an exchange program.

The increased requirements in security vetting for visas could make it more difficult for international students to be approved to study in the U.S. This order could also make it more difficult for international students already in the U.S. looking to renew their visas.

Executive orders affecting immigration: The “Protecting the American People Against Invasion” order takes direct aim at people—and by extension, students—who are undocumented, including institutions that provide aid to people who are undocumented.

The order requires that grants and other forms of federal financial support provided to organizations “supporting or providing services, either directly or indirectly, to removable or illegal aliens” be reviewed and possibly rescinded.

CSULB provides several services to students who are undocumented,

Graphics by EL NICKLIN/ Long Beach Current most notably through the Dream Success Center, which provides free immigration legal services to “all current students, staff (state and auxiliary), faculty, immediate family members of current students… and newly admitted students,” according to the center’s website.

Trump’s order could potentially impact services provided by the Dream Success Center in the future through a loss of federal funding.

Efforts have been made at state and local levels across the country to combat the anti-immigration reforms that have thus far come from Trump’s second term.

Earlier this month, the city of Long Beach passed new policies strengthening the city’s sanctuary city status, which is a term that refers to an area’s policy of protecting immigrants in the area from deportation.

California declared itself a sanctuary state in the past, in addition to Long Beach’s policies at the local level.

Trump has ordered the Department of Justice to prosecute state and local officials who interfere with federal deportation and ant-immigration efforts, likely bringing federal and local governments in conflict with each other.

Executive orders affecting transgender communities: The “Protecting Children from Chemical and Surgical Mutilation” order prevents any person under the age of 19 from receiving transition procedures or gender-affirming care, including the use of puberty-blockers, hormones such as estrogen or testosterone to alter one’s body and surgical procedures to transition one’s sex.

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The “Defending Women from Gender Ideology and Extremism and Restoring the Biological Truth to the Government” order declares that the federal government only recognizes two binary sexes and does not recognize transgender people.

While it may be too early to tell, this order could conflict with Title IX in colleges and universities, which includes protections from discrimination for transgender college students.

Executive orders affecting diversity, equity and inclusion: The “Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing” order and several repeals of Biden-era Diversity, Equity and Inclusion policies may affect diversity programs at universities.

Trump and several other Republican leaders have criticized DEI policies and how they affect universities.

Republican leaders have criticized learning materials in schools, including public universities, and sought to slash funding for what they have considered DEI-related material.

Active CSULB students are unlikely to be directly affected by the executive order. However, it threatens the university’s DEI initiatives by restricting considerations of race and ethnicity in key programs.

This order could impact outreach, support services and resources designed to foster a diverse student body, potentially reducing opportunities for historically underrepresented groups.

It is important to note that executive orders are not permanent laws and can be challenged in court, potentially leading to their reversal in the future.

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NEWS

The Rape Aggression Defense program is led by eight instructors, five of whom are employed by the University Police Department.

Photo Courtesy of CSULB UPD

UPD self-defense classes part of 2025 safety plan

BY CHRISTOPHER CANCHE CHAN News Assistant

R

ape Aggression Defense classes are being offered at Long Beach State as part of the University Police Department’s 2025 public safety plan to promote self-defense and personal safety.

The program, which has been offered for years, provides women with a four-day self-defense course for a onetime fee of $10 for students, staff, faculty and alumni. Non-CSULB affiliates can enroll for $20.

Corina Washington, UPD communi-

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ty engagement officer, said the training course focuses on practical self-defense techniques and applying them using real-life simulations.

“The students learn techniques that will help them in a situation if they’re ever needing to protect themselves,” Washington said. “Whether it’s rape, aggression or an assault rather, or if they’re a victim targeted for physical altercation.”

Washington’s comments on the program come as plans move forward for another round of training sessions in spring 2025, with dates and times yet to be announced.

Christina Chavez, a liberal studies major, said the training helps women build confidence and develop skills to better protect themselves.

“Especially at night–being a female student, it’s kind of scary. I know there are police escorts, but you never know in situations like this,” Chavez said. “It’s not that we don’t trust male students, but it feels like women are sometimes targeted.”

This sentiment is not only shared by students such as Chavez but also influenced by reports like the university’s 2021-23 annual safety report, which showed five rape cases and four incidents of fondling.

However, UPD Chief of Police, John Brockie, said while the safety report shows reported crimes, it would be naive to believe the report accounts for all crimes of that nature.

Despite the negative reasoning for having such a class available, Brockie

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said, “Over the years, it’s been incredible to see people go through the class, learn techniques and become empowered to feel more confident.”

“Sometimes they share their stories, and it’s incredibly powerful. It’s a good feeling to be a part of that,” he said.

Chavez echoed Brockie’s sentiments and said being better equipped for situations such as assault is beneficial for women in the long run and that CSULB officials should implement more longterm programs.

“Yes, there should be more because I feel like that’s why girls gravitate together, especially at night,” Chavez said. “You hear stories on campus, like ‘Hey, FYI.’ I appreciate the warnings, but let’s maybe do something more to prevent that.”

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ARTS & LIFE

For story concerns email: arts@lbcurrent.com

CSULB expands reptile biology studies with new assistant professor

BY JULIA GOLDMAN Arts & Life Editor

A

s a child, Bree Putman loved dinosaurs.

The fascination, she said, began with the 1993 film, Jurassic Park. Rewatching the movie over and over, it wasn’t long before a young Putman knew every dinosaur, their classifications and all of their names.

“My parents were great, they were really supportive of that,” Putman said.

“They ended up buying me pet lizards and snakes - they figured that was the closest thing to a dinosaur that they could get for me.”

Putman joined Long Beach State this spring as the newest assistant professor in the biology department to teach and further her studies in herpetology, the study of amphibians and reptiles.

A California native from Mission Viejo, Putman went to California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo for her bachelor’s degree, where she majored in biology and minored in Spanish.

Eager to work with animals, Putman joined a professor in her biology department who researched rattlesnakes.

“I thought that was really cool, and I joined her lab,” Putman said. “They are actually quite easy to work with - they are scary, but they are just one long tube. As long as you get the head under control, it’s fine.”

After completing her bachelor’s degree, Putman continued studying rattlesnakes through a joint-doctoral program in ecology at San Diego State University and the University of California, Davis.

There, Putman studied rattlesnake hunting behaviors and how they move around and interact with their environment.

For her postdoctoral fellowship with The National History Museum of Los Angeles and the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, Putman shifted away from rattlesnake biology and focused on the research she primarily does today - how animals respond to human-induced environmental change.

Following her degrees, Putman began her position as an assistant professor in the biology department at California State University, San Bernardino. She also previously worked as a lecturer at CSULB in 2018-2019, teaching vertebrate

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Photo credit: JULIA GOLDMAN/Long Beach Current Bree Putman sits behind the Hall of Science on Jan. 27. Inside, Putman teaches herpetology for the department of Biology.

”

I really want to do research that has a direct impact on the community.

Bree Putman Biology Department Assistant Profesor zoology and herpetology.

Now within her first month as an assistant professor at Long Beach State, Putman said she’s been welcomed with awesome and eager students, with many expressing interest in joining her research efforts at her very own “BREE Lab” on campus.

Putman’s research of how animals respond to human-induced environmental change explores three main points: how animals respond to urbanization, wildfires and the introduction of invasive species.

For urbanization, Putman said she

seeks to explore how animals deal with the drastic change of the environment and wants to discover what makes some animals better than others at dealing with it.

“Long Beach is a great location because we are an urban campus... There are lizards here that we work with, and there are rattlesnakes too, so potential for that,” Putman said. “It’s centrally located near a lot of habitats, coastal ecosystems, the ocean is not far, and even desserts aren’t that far away.”

Regarding wildfires, Putman said she seeks to explore the inner play of

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enhanced risk following a fire, and how the climate and thermal environments of these areas change due to a lack of vegetation.

For invasive species introductions, Putman said she plans to research how non-native lizards and geckos interact with native California species.

She cites the alligator lizard and western fence lizard as two native lizards that can be found on campus, and said that invasive lizard species like green anoles, brown anoles and Italian wall lizards can be found throughout Tustin, Irvine, Orange County and San Pedro.

Eventually, Putman said the BREE Lab will have lizards for her and her research team to study with behavioral trials.

Looking towards the future, Putman said she’s happy to be teaching at CSULB and is excited to start her lab.

“I really want to do research that has a direct impact on the community,” Putman said. “Not only for wildlife conservation, but also for improving the broader community - getting the public involved, working with local organizations, having a space for students to come in, where they are from this community - just giving back.”

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ARTS & LIFE

BY JULIA GOLDMAN Arts & Life Editor

E

leven years ago, 47-year-old Albert Daniel said he lost it all.

The anniversary marks the time when Daniel returned home to discover his car was destroyed, his job closed and his home was being sold.

This same month, 11 years ago, Daniel also decided to pursue his dreams of crafting high-end chocolates and confectioneries.

Since then, Daniel’s creations have been seen at Disney, the Grammy Awards and The Ritz-Carlton in San Francisco and Los Angeles.

Now holding the winning title of Hulu’s Baker’s Dozen episode one, Daniel owns his very own chocolate factory in Downtown Long Beach.

“With no job, no car, no house ….

[I decided] I’m going to start my business,” Daniel said, recounting the difficult month. “Just watch me, I’m going to make it. I’m a fighter, and I never give up.”

As a first generation immigrant from Las Piñas, Philippines, Daniel learned English as his second language at the age of nine and went on to study recreation administration at Long Beach State.

He described his time in college as difficult, working in the service industry to support himself and carefully budgeting an allotted $30 a week to eat in order to make ends meet.

After graduating from college in 2002, Daniel worked at various jobs in his field before beginning his role as a personal trainer at Equinox in Manhattan Beach, where he remained for 14 years.

It was on Easter, in 2013, that Daniel saw cake pops at a coffee shop and said to himself that he wanted to make them.

“10 hours later, I made 40 of them.

I was like, ‘No, I’m never doing this again,’” Daniel said. “ But I brought joy to so many people - so what if I did it again?”

While continuing to make cake pops as a hobby and simultaneously working as an Equinox trainer, Daniel landed his first customer, Micheal Strahan, through a coworker.

The former NFL player who went on to host ABC’s Good Morning America ordered cake pops for a party.

This new connection led Daniel to cater his cake pops to famed clients including Bruce Springsteen and the Grammy

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Pursuing dreams in the face of homelessness: Long Beach confectionary chef shares his story

Photo credit: JULIA GOLDMAN/Long Beach Current Chef Albert Daniel poses with a tray of his handmade Pâte de fruit on Nov. 19, 2024.

Awards, all within six months.

Daniel left Equinox at the end of 2013, and began working as a teacher at the charter college Career Colleges of America teaching others how to become a personal trainer while also building his cake pop business.

Then, during his Christmas break that year, Daniel took a three-week vacation to Australia, where he returned to find out that a drunk driver had totaled their car into his home’s garage - destroying Daniel’s car in the process.

Following this, his landlords divorced and decided to sell the property he lived at, leaving him briefly homeless.

Then, a few days later, CCA closed and filed for bankruptcy - meaning Daniel had lost his job.

Within the first two weeks of 2014, Daniel had lost his car, his home and his job.

“I thought, this is it. I’m going to say

Photo credit: JULIA GOLDMAN/ Long Beach Current Boxes of French gourmet fruit jelly, Pâte de Fruit, can be purchased at the Partake Collective storefront in Downtown Long Beach. Handmade by Chef Albert Daniels, the jellies come in flavors of passionfruit, mango, guava, raspberry, calamansi and kiwi. goodbye to my cake pop business,” Daniel said. “I remember crying and praying, I thought all of this struggles and pain

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was supposed to be something bigger.”

At this time, Daniel said his siblings, parents and family urged him to quit his business, and told him that he would not amount to anything.

It was this discouragement that served as his motivating factor to invest in his dream and continue forward.

In 2017, Disney discovered Daniel online and asked him to pitch an idea for Guardians of the Galaxy.

“I spent 40 hours making them by hand - then got approval of what figures they wanted,” Daniel said. “[I] spent hundreds and hundreds of dollars, I didn’t have much, thinking, praying that I would land it.”

Placing an order for 1000 units, Daniel fulfilled his order to Disney and catered his cake pops to the back of the studios and the whole cast.

Now, Daniel and his creations have appeared across notable Southern California locations and media, from appearances on KTLA Morning News to collaborations with companies such as Netflix, Estée Lauder and Hyundai.

David gives thanks to his friends who supported him during his economic hardship, including 66-year-old David Reynolds, who allowed Daniel to stay at his townhouse for free until he got back on his feet.

Reynold, who used to work for Long Beach Unified School District, said that during this time, he would often see Daniel pull all-nighters to get work done.

“He was working extremely hard and finding time where he could just sit back was challenging for him,” Reynold said.

“I’m sort of amazed by all the progress he’s made until now...sometimes I tell him - do you ever look back on how far you’ve come? Nothing surprises me with him - nothing will surprise me - I know it’ll be forward, but it’s going to be good.”

Today, Daniel said he typically works 14 hours a day in his kitchen on Elm Avenue, answering phone calls, doing video shoots, developing product menus, cooking and doing dishes.

Still, Daniel said he knows he will soar higher.

“When I was younger, my driving force was anger,” Daniel said. “Now that I am successful - I have a commercial kitchen now - all of it is paid off, no loans, no investors, this is my money.

Now, it feels good to be where I am today... I persevered.”

To follow along with Daniel,you can check out his Instagram, @albertspetitesweets.

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ARTS & LIFE

TikTok timeout: Campus reacts to popular video app’s brief ban

BY DELFINO CAMACHO Arts & Life Assistant

Campus Reactions: A 2024 survey from intelligent.com found that 47% of college students aged 18-24 use TikTok daily, while 41% oppose a general ban.

The Long Beach Current spoke to the campus community to get their views.

Javier Moreno, 20 – Mechanical Engineering, B.S. Moreno does not use TikTok. While he sees negative consequences from overuse, he does not support a ban.

“Small businesses use it; a lot of people use it to actually make money. It’s big enough now where people use it to share and communicate every day, even if I do feel like it’s affecting people in a negative light,” Moreno said.

Jorge Rodriguez, 19 – Communication Studies, Communication, Culture and Public Affairs Option, B.A. As a frequent TikTok user, Rodriguez was not surprised by the ban but was shocked by how quickly it returned. The message praising Trump left him confused.

“It just seemed really vague, it didn’t seem like something professional, I would say,” Rodriguez said. “It just named him and said, ‘Oh, thank you to Donald Trump,’ OK? But more information would be preferred.”

While Rodriguez disagrees with the TikTok ban, he understands the security concerns.

Duke N., 22 – Theatre Arts, B.A. The ban surprised Duke, a regular TikTok user, because he never took the threats seriously. He believes security risks are overblown and does not agree with the ban.

“It’s not only great for entertainment, but it’s really helpful. I’ve gotten a lot of cooking videos, arts and crafts videos, and lots of tips and tricks that help

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Graphic by DELFINO CAMACHO/Long Beach Current After years of political debate, TikTok was briefly banned earlier this month before returning hours later. Its future in the U.S. remains uncertain. me through the day,” Duke said.

Jennifer Lara, 24 – Sociology, B.A. Lara uses TikTok regularly and does not think it should be banned. Lara believes the app only faces unfair scrutiny for being Chinese-based.

“As for the whole spy conspiracy, I don’t believe in that, and I’ve learned so much more than on other apps, like the whole presidential election, politics, the whole immigration issue going on right now. It’s all over my Tiktok, but somehow it’s not popping up on other [platforms],” she said.

Scott Moss, 63 – CSULB lecturer Moss does not use TikTok but teaches a class called “AI, Algorithms and Media,” examining the impact of new technology on media.

“To my understanding, it was banned because it’s a Chinese-owned company, and in China, the government can just require that a company turn over its data,” Moss said. “...There’s also the fear that China will be able to influence American opinion or thought through, call it propaganda, or modifying public opinion in ways that are not in our na-

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tional interest.”

Moss worries that false information on the app contributes to declining trust in institutions and thinks people are more susceptible to persuasion than they realize.

But as for a ban, he remains uncertain.

“I mean, it’s not a simple yes or no, but I think it’s important for people who are like, ‘How can you ban my TikTok? I love TikTok,’ to think about the reasons they want to ban it, and not just dismiss them because they like the program,” he said.

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ARTS & LIFE

Little Saigon carries on Vietnamese legacy with Tết Parade

BY JULIA GOLDMAN Arts & Life Editor

B

eneath cascading winter morning sunshine on Feb. 1, Bolsa Ave. echoed with popping firecrackers, live music and percus-

sion.

Called to its rhythm were displays of jiving lion dances, glimmering floats and rows of Vietnamese and American flags, in celebration of the Vietnamese Lunar New Year at the City of Westminster’s annual Tet Parade.

For over two decades, the parade has attracted thousands to join the cultural celebration, through a showcase of local school districts, community foundations, city officials and more across Orange County.

Following an opening lion dance ceremony, attendees dressed in colorful hues of the traditional Vietnamese formal wear, áo dài, began to occupy the viewing points alongside the near one mile parade route.

Securing a front row spot before the ceremony was 62-year-old Thanh Tâm Nguyen, who traveled from Portland, Ore. to celebrate Tet at the parade.

Every year, Nguyen travels to the festival to celebrate the

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Vietnamese New Year.

Though she knows every city and state has their own celebrations, Nguyen said Little Saigon’s festivities are the biggest, and most fun.

“I left my country over 33 years [ago] and every time the Lunar New Year comes, I miss the fun,” Nguyen said.

“The lion dance, the festival, even the parade... to have that feeling, to find that feeling - [it’s] closer to what we have in our country.”

Nguyen, whose father was a Vietnamese refugee, left behind her hometown in Southern Vietnam and came to America in 1991 with her family.

She gives thanks to the United States, for welcoming her family, and giving them a chance to start their life here with freedom.

In addition to preserving the Vietnamese culture in the U.S., Nguyen urges other Viet-Americans to not forget those living in Vietnam.

“Pay attention about what’s going on Vietnam,” Nguyen said. “If you can raise your voice, fight for the freedom for the people in Vietnam.”

A self-described activist, Nguyen has spent the last 10 years speaking out, interviewing and traveling to fight for Vietnam’s freedom and human rights.

“I had a channel before where I interview other activist, mostly in Vietnam or

the USA or a different country,” Nguyen said. “Now, most of them are in prison.

I had to stop because I put their lives at risk if I continue to interview them.”

As the parade continued into the early afternoon, some attendees took to local businesses to eat, quench their thirst and buy firecrackersto light in the empty parking lots.

Cooling off in the shade was 17-yearold Tony Pham and 16-year-old Alan Hua, students who participated in the parade earlier by holding the banner for their school, Westminster High School.

Though it was their first time at the parade, both said they celebrate Tet, and that this time of year is for family.

“The older people, they bring their

Monday, February 3, 2025

sons and daughters with them. What I can take away today is that if they didn’t take them to the parade today, it’s like losing part of your family history,” Hua said.

Pham and Hua wish to build better relationships with their parents and teachers this year, and to also improve their grades.

Looking at celebration, Nguyen expressed worry and hope, that the future of Vietnamese culture will continue even overseas.

“Please learn and pass that down to your kids and grandkids,” Nguyen said.

“It doesn’t matter how long that we live here, we are still Vietnamese. The blood runs in our body.”

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ARTS & LIFE

Clockwise from top left: On the side of the Asian Garden Mall, an American and Vietnamese flag monument reads the year, 1975. The year commemorates the fall of Saigon and the end of the Vietnam war, which carries its 50th anniversary this year in April. The City of Westminster’s float wishes a “Happy New Year” at the Tet Parade on Feb. 1. A woman pets the head of a Vietnamese lion dancer at the Feb. 1 Westminster Tet Parade’s opening ceremony. Moments before, she “fed” the lion a lucky red envelope, resembling a gesture of good luck. Christine and Tâm Nguyen celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary at the Westminster Tet Parade on Feb. 1 by renewing their wedding vows. Emcee for the parade, and president and owner of the Advance Beauty College, Tâm ended his vows with the phrase, “Let’s grow old together.” On the sidelines of the parade, several participants handed out gifts including lucky red envelopes to children watching. This boy, dressed in a blue áo dài, gave out candy to fellow kids in the audience.

Photos by

JULIA GOLDMAN lbcurrent.com | @lbcurrent

Monday, February 3, 2025

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OPINION

For story concerns email: opinions@lbcurrent.com

Graphic by ANDREW MILLER & EL NICKLIN/Long Beach Current Choosing between degrees and trades: Gen Z faces the ultimate crossroads in education and career-building.

Skip the cap and gown: why Gen Z should build America, not debt

BY CJ WOMACK Podcast Assistant

L

et’s face it: the old “go to college, get a degree, secure a job” mantra is as outdated as a flip phone in the year 2025.

With tuition skyrocketing over 600% in 40 years and student loan debt surging to over $1.6 trillion, many question the true value of a four-year degree.

Here’s the kicker: while graduates drown in debt, the demand for skilled trades is booming.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports nearly 60% of jobs require more than a high school diploma but not a four-year degree.

Industries including construction, manufacturing and skilled trades are desperate for workers, with construction alone expecting 663,500 job annual job

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openings between 2023 and 2033.

It appears to be dollars and common sense.

The median annual wage for electricians was $61,590 in May 2023, with the top 10% earning more than $104,180.

Compare that to many liberal arts graduates who, despite their degrees, end up in lower paying, unrelated jobs: the classic “Starbucks worker” scenario.

Narciso Martinez, a political science major at Long Beach State, illustrates student disillusionment.

“I can say that I have been able to find real-world value in what I am studying,” Martinez said. “At least not yet, I don’t feel that as undergraduate students, we are getting the real-world education we need to be ‘political scientists.’”

Martinez plans to pursue a career in politics but remains skeptical about the direct utility of his degree.

“I want to believe that I will employ my major into my life’s work, but I’ve

come to realize that’s not always the case,” he said.

Trade schools offer a more direct, affordable path to in-demand careers.

The average cost of a trade school program is approximately $15,000, much less than university tuition, allowing students the opportunity to gain valuable skills without the crippling debt of a four-year degree.

“A liberal arts degree does not guarantee me a job or career once I am outside the walls of this institution.” Martinez said. “Students pursuing a liberal arts degree should not have to pay these ridiculous tuition fees, just as someone in the STEM field.”

Critics, including organizations like the American Council on Education, argue that college provides a well-rounded education and fosters personal growth.

They highlight the value of liberal arts in developing critical thinking, communication and problem-solving skills,

Monday, February 3, 2025

essential for navigating a complex and evolving workforce.

Proponents of traditional higher education assert that the campus experience cultivates social connections and cultural awareness, preparing students to be engaged citizens.

It is time to challenge the outdated notion that a four-year degree is the only path to success.

High schools should expand vocational training programs, policymakers must incentivize apprenticeships and society must recognize and celebrate blue-collar work as a respectable, rewarding career choice.

America does not just need more degrees– it needs more skilled professionals who can build, repair and innovate.

So, why follow the crowd into debt when you can pave your own way with a trade? The future is in your hands–literally.

lbcurrent.com | @lbcurrent

OPINION

Photo credit: MATTHEW MEDINA/Long Beach Current The Los Angeles Dodgers celebrate their eighth World Series in franchise history on Nov. 1, 2024 near Downtown Los Angeles.

LA Dodgers free agency: good for the competitive balance?

lbcurrent.com | @lbcurrent

BY HERMES AUGUSTIN JR. Contributor

T

he Los Angeles Dodgers are making big splashes in recruiting top talents, but some Major League Baseball fans are upset.

The World Series champions are ensuring their dominance in the NL West and loyalty from fans by signing free agents this off-season.

Notable deals include a five-year contract for SP Blake Snell (two time Cy Young winner), a three-year deal for UTL Hyeseong Kim (Korean international free agent) and the signing of Japanese ace Roki Sasaki.

The Dodgers also re-signed RP Blake Treinen (two-year) and OF Teoscar Hernández (three-year).

As a long time Dodgers fan, it is exciting to see my team invest in talent during this off-season while deferring contracts to maintain a competitive edge.

However, not all MLB fans are happy with the Dodgers’ strategy, accusing them of gaming the system.

The Dodgers have used this strategy since 2020, signing OF Mookie Betts to a 12-year, $365 million deal with $45 million deferred by 2025.

Additionally, fans took particular notice after last year’s unprecedented 10-year, $700 million deal contract with TWP Shohei Ohtani, deferring $136 million to be paid between 2034 and 2043.

Fans are calling for MLB to reform the practice of signing and deferring contracts.

They’re asking the MLB commissioner to implement both a salary floor (setting a minimum spending requirement for teams) as well as a salary cap (capping the maximum amount teams are allowed to spend).

Richard Tizo, a fourth-year Long Beach State student majoring in Japanese language has been a longtime Los Angeles Angels fan since the early 2000’s, and he isn’t surprised by the Dodgers retaining dominance through deferrals.

“I’m not surprised about the Dodgers spending a whole lot of cash on talented players… It’s something you don’t see a lot since probably the 90’s Yankees,” Tizo said.

“I honestly wished that the Padres were able to spend like them,” Monse Palacios, a fourth-year family and consumer sciences major and avid San Diego Padres fan, said.

She knew firsthand how badly the fanbase wanted a World Series, as they are one of only five teams without a title.

Monday, February 3, 2025

MLB owners and the Major League Baseball Players Association will discuss the salary floor and cap at the next Collective Bargaining Agreement meeting in the 2026 off-season.

When asked if implementing a salary floor and cap would increase competition, Tizo responded optimistically but cautiously.

“If it means that the Angels can be competitive again, I’m also kind of worried that the owners could be using [the salary cap to] stuff even more money in [their own] pockets,” Tizo said.

Palacios, however, offered a passionate reply.

“I hope it does happen soon. San Diego needs to win for once,” she said.

The current CBA has no rule against teams deferring multiple contracts.

The Dodgers are free to sign any agents and defer contacts as long as both parties agree to the terms.

I believe the Dodgers have showcased the gap between them and the other 29 teams in how they spend on free agents, revealing the competitive imbalance plaguing the league.

Deferral contracts will only affect them once they’re completed, but until then, they’ll do whatever it takes to clinch another title in Los Angeles.

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SPORTS

For story concerns email: sports@lbcurrent.com

LBSU collapses late in heartbreaking 80-75 overtime loss to UCI

BY MATTHEW COLEMAN Sports Assistant

O

ne of the strongest performances of the season so far from Long Beach State men’s basketball quickly turned into a heartbreaking 80-75 loss to UC Irvine in a matter of minutes on the floor of the Walter Pyramid Thursday night.

The Pyramid reopened its doors after a two-week hiatus following structural damage as The Beach welcomed the 18-3 (8-1 in conference play) conference-leading Anteaters to town. The Black & Blue rivalry brought 2,012 fans into the arena to witness a thrilling contest.

The energy of the packed building was felt early on and translated to a strong opening frame with The Beach’s backcourt connecting on three consecutive triples to begin the game.

Senior guard Devin Askew led all scorers at the half with 13 points as he was going at the Anteaters aggressively, hitting multiple shots from the midrange with defenders draped on him.

A 10-0 UCI run capped off by back-toback threes by sophomore guard Myles Che late in the first half propelled it to a seven-point advantage. LBSU countered the run with a push to even the score at the half at 34 apiece.

During halftime, a reversed call initially ruled a goaltend multiple minutes prior was overruled, subtracting two points from LBSU and giving UCI a two-point lead at 34-32, two points that wound up being critical down the stretch.

In 42 minutes of action, sophomore forward Derrick Michael Xzavierro put together his best showing in an LBSU uniform with a career-high 14 rebounds to go along with 12 points and three blocks.

“I come to the game with the mindset, I need this win,” Xzavierro said. “I’m trying to play hard every single time, if I make a mistake I just want to move on.

Rebounding is my role.”

A three from junior guard TJ Wainwright put The Beach up 64-54 with five minutes left to play. From that point, the UCI outscored LBSU 14-4.

Che led the charge getting to his spots on the floor and nailing jump shots to invoke a 7-0 UCI run.

The Anteaters had the opportunity to hold the ball for the final shot of the game and The Beach forced a miss from Che and secured the rebound with five seconds left. Once Askew crossed half-

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Photos by MARK SIQUIG/Long Beach Current LBSU junior guard TJ Wainwright finished the game with 14 points, but it was not enough to beat the UCI Anteaters. Wainwright is averaging 13.2 points this season for The Beach. court on the attack, head coach Chris Acker used his final timeout with three seconds remaining.

With a crowd of 2000 plus on their feet, Askew was called for traveling, turning over the ball, and giving UCI one last shot with a second to play. The Anteaters failed to convert, missing a foul line jumper and sending the game to overtime.

“We turn the ball over with those three seconds left, we drew up a play and we didn’t execute it, maybe it was the way I drew it up,” Acker said. “We haven’t been in those situations often, I’ll get better to make sure we are more organized in those situations.”

A triple from UCI redshirt senior forward Devin Tillis at the start of overtime deflated the home crowd, as an uphill battle ensued in the period.

“I think Irvine has four of five seniors on the court, they’ve been through a lot of battles together,” Acker said. “When you look at the statistics across the country, we have the lowest rate of continuity, we don’t have a lot of guys that have played together for a long time.”

A stolen inbounds pass from graduate forward Austin Johnson created a final opportunity for The Beach down just a single possession, trailing 78-75.

Their first three-point attempt rimmed out and was rebounded by John-

LBSU sophomore guard Varick Lewis reacts to the collapse in a overtime loss to UC Irvine 80-75 in the Walter Pyramid on Thursday night. son and passed back out to Askew for a look at a contested triple that fell short, as did the overtime comeback.

It’s The Beach’s fifth consecutive loss and seventh in their last eight games,

Monday, February 3, 2025

dropping them to 3-7 and 7-15 overall.

LBSU looks to carry over the positives from this contest into their next game on the road against UC Santa Barbara on Saturday.

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SPORTS

Photos by DEVIN MALAST/Long Beach Current Freshman setter Moni Nikolov setting in warmups before a match against Saint Francis on Jan. 10. By definition, Nikolov is a setter, but the things he does on the court cannot be defined by just one position.

Freshman setter Moni Nikolov smiling after a point against Saint Francis. Nikolov plays with joy on a nightly basis, the same joy that is inspiring a new generation of volleyball players.

The Bulgarian Prince: Moni Nikolov

BY DAVIS RAMAGE Sports Editor

B

eing appointed “The Bulgarian Prince,” and “The Prodigy,” is high praise to live up to at just 18 years old, but freshman men’s volleyball setter Moni Nikolov has proved why he is the future of volleyball in his short time at Long Beach State.

The 6-foot-8-inch Bulgarian has taken the volleyball world by storm with his creativity and decision-making above the net and his freak athleticism.

His game consists of composure and expert decision-making mixed with violent attacks and serves, even setting the NCAA record for the fastest recorded serve at 80 mph.

His mixture of IQ and athleticism earned him a spot on the Bulgarian national team at just 17 years old.

LBSU head coach Alan Knipe compared Nikolov to the trailblazers of other sports like Magic Johnson, Kevin Durant

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and Michael Vick, who revolutionized their respective sports with their never-before-seen athleticism at their position and size.

One example of the exceptional volleyball IQ of the 18-year-old is his ability to fake sets on a nightly basis, letting the ball go over the net leaving the opposing team fooled.

“Most of the time, most of my more successful plays are in the moment,” Nikolov said. “It’s just something that I think I have better than you know some other players.”

Knipe realizes that in order to maximize Nikolov’s extraordinary skillset, he needs to “let him be who he is athletically and not box him into a system that we’re forcing him to play in that doesn’t allow him to shine.”

Nikolov’s play style already has young volleyball players trying to emulate the things he does on the court, and the mention of inspiring the next generation of volleyball players puts a smile on his face.

“It feels amazing, it feels like refresh-

ing to see people try new stuff,” Nikolov said. “It’s just how I play, and I guess it’s joyful to the eye, so it feels good, but it’s not my number one priority.”

All of the attention Nikolov has gained from the younger generation has led to an Instagram following of 100,000 and countless videos on social media platforms like TikTok that have thousands of views and likes.

Even he has been scrolling and seen videos of himself. He says it is nice to see people enjoying the way that he plays, but he is not doing anything special, he is just playing the way that he plays.

Nevertheless, he expresses that he does not feel that pressure because volleyball is a craft that he has been working on his whole life. Nikolov made a comparison to studying for a test.

“The more you study, the more you’re gonna get better about it and not be nervous,” Nikolov said.

Nikolov hails from Sofia, Bulgaria, where he and two other LBSU men’s volleyball players attended Vasil Levski Sport School, a high school that treats

Monday, February 3, 2025

their sports like a college does as it shapes your schedule around your sport, ultimately prioritizing your respective sport.

Nikolov’s brother, Alex Nikolov, played at The Beach during the 20212022 season, and was a major influence in Moni’s commitment to LBSU. “Obviously, he was very positively minded about being at Long Beach,” Nikolov said. “He helped me a lot in terms of telling me what to expect and everything when coming here.”

It was during the same 2021-2022 season when LBSU defeated a John Speraw-led UCLA team in the semifinals.

With Moni being a young prospect, the Nikolov brothers’ father went to introduce Moni to the legendary coach Speraw, but Speraw “showed no interest” in Moni, deterring Moni from UCLA. With Speraw resigning in September of this year, Nikolov will not get the opportunity to play against him and beat him, but he and The Beach will get two shots at taking down the reigning national champions on Feb. 7 and Feb. 12.

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