Long Beach Current; August 31, 2026

CURRENT LONG BEACH

LONG BEACH STATE’S NEWS SOURCE SINCE 1949 LONG BEACH STATE’S NEWS SOURCE SINCE 1949

Vol. XCVIII, Issue 1 Vol. XCVIII, Issue 2

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Monday, August 24, 2026 Monday, August 31, 2026

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Long Beach, CA, 90804 Editorial Office Angela Osorio Phone (562) 985-8000 Editor-in-Chief eic@lbcurrent.com Skylar Stock Multimedia Managing Editor multimedia@lbcurrent.com

Leyla Crail Managing Editor managing@lbcurrent.com

Valentina Villarreal Community Engagement Editor community@lbcurrent.com

Monica Boerger Business Manager business@gobeach.media

Editors News Editor Josephine Robinson news@lbcurrent.com Arts & Life Editor Joseph Lee arts@lbcurrent.com Opinions Editor Christian Robledo opinions@lbcurrent.com Sports Editor Brianna Apodaca sports@lbcurrent.com Design Editor Gabrielle Lashley design@lbcurrent.com Chief Copy Editor Sasha Marantz copy@lbcurrent.com Photo Editor Rehansa Kulatilleke photo@lbcurrent.com Social Media Editor Bella Beltran socials@lbcurrent.com Video Editor Mikaela Perez video@lbcurrent.com Podcast Editor Bryan Viteri podcast@lbcurrent.com Assistants News Reporters Jayden Sandstrom Claire Morris Sol Virgen Alexa Partida Josephine Kim Arts & Life Reporters Ni Baliness Dominic Maddan Mason Mangus Nataly Valencia Lila Mukasa Opinions Writers Tyler Kols Nicholas Nieto Simone Godse Sports Reporters Dupree De La Pena Veronica Minogue John-Wyatt Cristan Ervin Alan Ibarra Gabriel Duarte Design Assistant Ellie Nakamura Copy Assistants Ayah El Reda Annabelle Qi Isaac Cordon Maizi Merklein Staff Photographers Eddy Cermeno Diego Perez Charlotte LoCicero James Tinoco Jamie Garcia Social Media Assistants Eva LeBlanc Alexis Munoz Jana Truong Video Reporters Arianna Jackson Eli Vice Podcast Assistants Monica Garcia Victor Alcocer Alejandra Guerra

Business Advertising Manager Jocelyn Piz advertising@gobeach.media Creative Director Alicia Taylor creative@gobeach.media Web & Technology Director Melanie Cativo web@gobeach.media PR & Marketing Manager Mikayla Hubbard pr@gobeach.media Distribution Manager Seiana Spencer-Kendrick distribution@gobeach.media Advisers Design Adviser Gary Metzker Content Adviser Barbara Kingsley-Wilson Advertising & Business Adviser Jennifer Newton

ON THE COVER

JAMIE GARCIA/Long Beach Current LBSU senior outside hitter Kendal Murphy stretches for a dig during the open match for UCLA at Pauley Pavilion on Saturday, Aug. 29. Murphy concluded the night with a total of five kills during LBSU’s seconds match of the season against UCLA.

NEWS

For story concerns email: news@lbcurrent.com

La Playa residents respond to hotel stay

BY JOSEPHINE ROBINSON News Editor

H

undreds of students moved into the new La Playa dormitory on Saturday, after two rescheduled move-in dates and nearly a week living in hotels.

On Aug. 23, the original move-in date, students were told the building was not ready and were relocated to hotels near the Long Beach Airport.

While some students had a negative hotel experience, describing it as isolating and disappointing, others said it was a minor inconvenience.

“It feels like a jail cell,” said Aidan Shapiro, a second-year public relations student. “You know people are in the hotel, but you don’t see them. It’s just very lonely.”

Experiences also varied per hotel; for example, Holiday Inn had a fee for laundry services while Staybridge Suites was free.

“It’s not the end of the world. The hotel has been cool. There’s transportation back and forth every 10, 15 minutes,” said Riley Scott, a third-year journalism transfer student.

Some students said the shuttle services were spotty. The Passio Go app does not track their specific shuttle, so students don’t know when they will be picked up.

A university official maintained Wednesday that the building was “very close” to completion.

“I am assured by multiple professionals that we are very close, but there is just no way for me to offer an accurate timeline yet,” said Vice President of Student Affairs Beth Lesen in an email sent

MIKAELA PEREZ /

Long Beach Current

An inside look at Holiday Inn Long Beach Airport

by IHG. to residents. “I personally walked around the building and it is looking good, but we are still awaiting the certificate of occupancy before we move anyone in.”

After the dorm’s delayed move-in, the university Housing Office told residents they would consistently communicate with them “every day” until the facility is ready for move-in.

Students said the only communication they had received was that there were still no updates on the building’s completion.

Mikaela Perez contributed to this story.

Click here for the full story.

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 Acjachemen/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.

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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.

Monday, August 31, 2026

NEWS

CSULB president shares graduation goals, promises updates on construction

BY JOSEPHINE ROBINSON News Editor

S

ince starting his term in May, President Loren J. Blanchard has hit the ground running.

In just the past month, he has created an international partnership with a university in Taiwan, secured students with no-charge dental services and hosted presidential listening sessions to hear out campus concerns.

Blanchard said he is dedicated to helping students achieve their academic goals, including reaching the graduation stage, and finding success beyond it.

“Student success is making sure students have the knowledge, skills and dispositions that empower them for readiness,” Blanchard said. “For graduate and professional school and the workforce, as well as leadership in their fields and their communities, degree completion matters tremendously.”

Blanchard also addressed ongoing campus construction, including the La Playa Residence Hall delay. Students were set to move in on Sunday, but families who arrived on move-in day were told the building was not ready and were subsequently relocated to hotels.

“We are continuing to work with construction in order to make sure we’re able to get all the final inspections and the final approvals done,” Blanchard said. “We’re very hopeful that we’re going to get good news sooner than later, but the reality is that we don’t have a time frame yet.”

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REHANSA KULATILLEKE/Long Beach Current

President Loren J. Blanchard outlined his plans for student success this year, including helping students remain on track to graduate.

While Blanchard has no confirmed move-in date for residents, he maintained that Student Affairs is communicating with impacted students and families about how the university can accommodate residents during their time living off campus.

“We don’t want any new thing to stand in the way of their success, especially as they’re beginning,” Blanchard said.

students have the tools they need to be successful at Long Beach State.

Blanchard said the university is committed to pointing students in the right direction should they get off track in their academic pursuits, including through summer courses, emergency grants and on-campus jobs.

Blanchard said these strategies are a product of the Beach 2030 campus planning effort, an initiative that was

”

We don’t want any new thing to stand in the way of their success, especially as they’re beginning.

Loren J. Blanchard CSULB President Blanchard went on to highlight a new initiative, the Student Success Framework.

The framework is guided by datainformed research strategies to ensure

founded in 2018 to strengthen the future of CSULB and connect the campus to the larger CSU system.

Blanchard emphasized that not all students’ needs are the same, and that

Monday, August 31, 2026

data-informed decision-making provides crucial information to pinpoint where specific students’ needs are, and how the university can meet them.

“Especially on the equity front, if there are pockets of students, be they Black students, be they Hispanic students,” Blanchard said. “We want to make sure we’ve got the data that really allows us to look at where students are performing well, what strategies are working to make sure that they are performing well, versus those that are not.”

Blanchard added that the university is working toward providing students with more on-campus resources, like affordable on-campus food vendors, spaces to host events, and overflow parking lots for those driving to campus.

“I’ve been looking very carefully at ways in which they [the university] are making sure students are being accommodated,” Blanchard said.

Blanchard said the university will work harder moving forward to provide more regular updates on construction progress, especially Future U, which he says remains on track to be completed by fall 2028.

“I will make sure that we are working to provide those regular updates for the USU and any of the other student-facing facilities,” Blanchard said.

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NEWS

Black Student Union says event was shut down by Huntington Beach law enforcement

BY CLAIRE MORRIS News Reporter

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ong Beach State’s Black Student Union said Huntington Beach Police shut down their annual “Beach Day” celebration on Aug. 22.

“What we experienced was blatant racism, prejudice and discrimination, which is the same treatment that Black people continue to experience every single day” the BSU said in an official statement on Instagram. “There was absolutely no reason that a gathering meant to bring Black students together needed to be met with the level of hostility that we experienced.”

The BSU’s annual “Beach Day” event is a back-to-school celebration meant to foster community between new and returning members.

The event began last Saturday at 12:30 p.m. in Huntington Beach, welcoming roughly 200 to 250 students with food, music and games.

However, BSU said the event ended two hours early after Huntington police arrived and told event organizers that they needed to leave.

Confrontation began when an officer approached a student who brought alcohol to the event, which was not provided or encouraged by event organizers.

“From the jump, [the Huntington Beach police] were immediately hostile,” said Rebecca Adebayo, a fourth-year health science student and BSU president. “Rather than asking to call me or speak to anyone they saw with an open bottle on the beach, they immediately went up to the person, snatched it out of her hand, dumped the bottle out, then threw the bottle on her feet.”

Officers told students they would be arrested if they remained at the beach, saying that they were causing a disturbance and that they were being “embarrassing.”

“At the end of the day, the action of one person does not define the crowd of 200 we have with us,” Adebayo said.

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EDDY CERMENO/Long Beach Current Black Student Union President Rebecca Adebayo (right) discusses her experiences when interacting with police officers in Huntington Beach after they approached attendees of the annual BSU Beach Day event with hostility and aggression while shutting down the event on Saturday, Aug. 22.

By 4 p.m., eight police vehicles had arrived at the scene.

“We didn’t get any warnings or anything prior,” said third-year health science student and external vice president Jada Payne. “Nobody knew what was going on until they got on the loudspeaker and told us that we weren’t allowed to be there anymore.

After law enforcement told students to leave the beach, one officer began searching through attendees’ bags.

“Now you’re coming into our space, infiltrating, trying to find something to further escalate the situation,” said BSU secretary and third-year English education student Aniyah Brown.

The Office of Communications for the Huntington Beach Police Department did not respond to requests for comment. Officers allegedly searched student’s personal belongings without consent, opening bags and pouring out bottled liquids onto the group’s items.

“One of them [a Huntington police officer] looked me — just dead in the eye and said, ‘I’m gonna walk away from you before I do something I’m going to regret,’” Adebayo said. “I will never forget his face.”

BSU said law enforcement remained on the beach until the group left.

“They were waiting until literally everybody — every Black person was off the beach,” said fourth-year communications student and BSU’s leadership development director, Benjamin Jackson.

While many attendees shared sentiments of shock and fear, some students, like social media team member and second-year sociology student Selah Burnley, were not surprised.

“This is not anything new for any of us,” Burnley said. “It’s truly just an everyday thing being Black in America.”

Monday, August 31, 2026

Members of the BSU maintained that they would not allow their light to be dimmed.

“We were not going to let the situation control the whole narrative, so we relocated to Belmont Shore,” said BSU’s internal vice president and a fourth-year business marketing student, Joseph Bass.

While the incident left students feeling afraid and disappointed, the BSU continues to rise and create space for their community.

“I think it sucks that an example was made out of us,” said Kaila Grant, BSU’s social media team lead and a fourth-year public relations student. “Although it was really unfortunate what happened at the beach, it represents exactly what we have BSU for and why we have to be a union and stand in solidarity with each other.”

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NEWS

Biological studies professor helps restore Seal Beach wetlands

CHARLOTTE LOCICERO / Long Beach Current

Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge protects habitats that rely on wetlands to survive. Although this National Wildlife Refuge is on Military land, it is limited to public access, requiring people to request access ahead of time to visit the land.

BY SOL VIRGEN News Reporter

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fter a decade-long research project, a biological studies professor and her team of researchers have helped reverse the effects of sea level rise at Seal Beach wetlands.

Christine Whitcraft has led the project since 2016, helping endangered ecosystems return to the wetlands, including the light-footed Ridgway’s rail.

The project is part of the larger Wetlands Ecology Lab at Long Beach State, studying “all things wetlands,” including how human activity influences the structure and function of salt marshes, or coastal wetlands.

Whitcraft is the principal investigator of the lab, and worked alongside the Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge to research how the wetland’s surrounding urban environment and rising sea levels was impacting the marsh.

“Some systems like Seal Beach just have a real challenge,” Whitcraft said.

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“[The wetland] can’t move backwards, there’s homes, there’s military, there’s Pacific Coast Highway.”

The refuge also plays a critical role as a winter home and stop-by for thousands of birds traveling along the Pacific Flyway each year. Among these birds is the endangered, light-footed Ridgway’s rail, which relies on Seal Beach’s salt marshes to nest.

However, because of rapidly rising sea levels and the surrounding urban location, the wetlands’ larger ecosystem has been struggling to thrive, and the rail is unable to nest.

With this, Whitcraft and her lab team began collaborating alongside the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to address sea level rise at the refuge, located in the Naval Weapons Station.

“The U.S. Fish and Wildlife team and Navy station started to notice problems of sea level rise being too high in the base,” Whitcraft said. “The tides were too high on the marsh and lasting too long.”

What came from their collaborative effort was a 10-year-long sediment implementation strategy to raise the marsh above the tide.

“How do we see the problem? Can we measure it? And then, how can we be creative and design a solution? That’s how the plan came about,” Whitcraft said.

The team sourced sediment from the dredging of the harbor entrance and tested it for contaminants before being reused. The sediment was then placed atop the affected marshes so they were high enough to not be submerged, even during high tides.

After the first five years, they noticed a noticeable increase in percent cover of plants. Now, 10 years later, the lightfooted Ridgway’s rail has returned.

“This year, for the first time, there is one of those endangered birds nesting on and using that site where we put the augmented material,” Whitcraft said.

For Whitcraft, the return of the endangered bird was what made the

Monday, August 31, 2026

project’s progress tangible. She recalled standing out on the marsh, hearing the rail’s call echoing across the wetland.

“When we first heard the bird calling out there and we realized they were coming back to use it, that was really exciting,” Whitcraft said.

While the return of the light-footed Ridgway’s rail shows a promising recovery for the marsh, rising sea levels continue to shape Seal Beach’s coastal environment, making the area a local example of how California’s coastline is changing.

“This method has potential to work for Southern California wetlands,” Whitcraft said. “It is not going to be the solution for every single wetland, but in the case where we had a real need to protect the infrastructure around the marsh and to protect a federally endangered bird, it was a really great solution.”

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ARTS & LIFE

The Carpenter Performing Arts Center at Long Beach State will host a series of events throughout the Fall 2026 semester. The first event will be “An Evening with Elizabeth Gilbert” on Sept. 19. Gilbert is a best-selling author of “Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman’s Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia.”

EDDY CERMENO/ Long Beach Current

The stage is set: The Carpenter Center has something for everyone this September

BY MASON MANGUS Arts & Life Reporter

T

Words of wisdom he 2026-27 season kicks off with “An Evening with Elizabeth Gilbert,” taking place on Saturday, Sept. 19 at 8 p.m.

Elizabeth Gilbert is a bestselling author of two books, “Eat, Pray, Love” and “Big Magic.”

Gilbert will discuss the creative restrictions that come with searching for what can be defined as a purpose.

Following the discussion, the audience is invited to participate in a Q&A

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session with Gilbert. When purchasing event tickets, buyers have the option to include a signed copy of “All the Way to the River” for an extra $25.

To purchase a signed copy of “All the Way to the River” click here.

To purchase tickets to this event click here.

New music for your playlist On Thursday, Sept. 24 at 8 p.m., Grammy Award-winning R&B singersongwriter and producer Bilal takes center-stage with a set rooted in funk, jazz and soul. Bilal plans to perform with material both old and new. Opening

for Bilal is R&B and soul artist Yaya Bey, performing songs from her latest album “Fidelity.” Both artists have made appearances on NPR Music’s Tiny Desk Concerts.

To watch Bilal’s full Tiny Desk Concert performance, click here.

To watch Yaya Bey’s full performance, click here.

To purchase tickets to this event click here.

Old roots run deep The seven-piece ensemble, Live from Laurel Canyon, is known for covering American folk-rock legends such as Neil

Monday, August 31, 2026

Young and The Mamas & the Papas in their tribute performances. On Sunday, Sept. 27 at 3 p.m., Live from Laurel Canyon will not only perform original songs, but also relive the historic legend of folk-rock supergroup Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.

Throughout the night, Live from Laurel Canyon will also perform songs from the solo catalogues associated with Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.

To purchase tickets for this event click hereTo purchase tickets for this event click here.

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ARTS & LIFE

Currently Happening

7 free campus events in early September

JAMES TINOCO/Long Beach Current The Student Recreation Wellness Center rock wall provides students with hammocks, recreational yard games, and popsicles. Students and staff get the chance to relax every Tuesday during the warmest month of every semester.

BY MASON MANGUS Arts & Life Reporter

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re you new to CSULB or looking for something to do?

The Beach has an amazing selection of events occurring in the coming weeks.

Grab your friends and see what’s Currently Happening!

twisting creations or even a photo in the photobooths alongside playing carnival games with prizes, free food and special giveaways for students.

When: Thursday, Sept. 3 Time: 5 to 7 p.m.

Where: SRWC Entry Plaza Price: Free for students with a student ID

Rec & Relax Feeling the heat? Cool down with Rec and Relax at the Student Recreational and Wellness Center. This event will occur every Tuesday in September, allowing students to relax with provided hammocks, beat the heat with popsicles and enjoy recreational yard games.

Bowling with the Games Center If you’re looking for a night of fun competition, look no further than Bowlero Cerritos. Bowling with the Games Center will be offering free bowling nights to students who RSVP with Events & Orgs.

When: Starting Tuesday, Sept. 1 Time: 1 to 6 p.m.

Where: SRWC Rock Wall Price: Free for students

When: Starting Thursday, Sept. 3 Time: 7 to 9 p.m.

Where: 18811 Carmentia Road, Cerritos, CA 90703 Price: Free for the first 30 students who RSVP through Events & Orgs

Rec Fest Also at the SRWC, the Rec Fest offers a variety of amenities, resources and activities for students . Here you can get henna tattoos, caricatures, balloon

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Art Park Sketch Crawl with SIPS Join the Student Illustration Production Squad and Carolyn Campagna Kleefield Contemporary Art

Museum with an afternoon of sketching themed around the various sculptures of upper campus. The museum is happy to supply all participants with all the necessary art supplies needed during the sketch crawl.

When: Wednesday, Sept. 9 Time: 1 to 2:30 p.m.

Where: Robert Irwin’s Window Wall by the Art Store Price: Free for everyone ¡Vente a la Carne Asada!

The Latinx Resource Center is hosting a night of free food, music and opportunities to make connections within the community at the Beach.

When: Friday, Sept. 11 Time: 6 to 8:30 p.m.

Where: Anna W. Ngai Alumni Center Price: Free for students 25th Annual Smorgasport Back for its 25th year, Smorgasport will offer an evening of fun opportunities for students. Enjoy carnival rides and games in our own campus parking lots.

Other provided activities will include

Monday, August 31, 2026

henna artists, caricatures, balloon twisting creations, photo booths, food trucks.

Bring a student ID and a signed waiver for entry.

When: Friday, Sept. 11 Time: 6 to 10 p.m.

Where: Parking lots G3 and E1 Price: Free with student ID and signed waiver Second Saturday Community Day The Carolyn Campagna Kleefield Contemporary Art Museum is hosting free tours through the Art Park and the fall exhibitions. The museum is also offering free activities with making various types of art. Art Park tours are scheduled for 11 to 11:50 a.m. and 1 to 1:50 p.m while exhibition tours are scheduled for 10:00 to 10:50 a.m. and noon to 12:50 p.m. All art projects will be facilitated by docents throughout the entire event.

When: Saturday, Sept. 12 Time: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Where: Carolyn Campagna Kleefield Contemporary Art Museum Price: Free for students

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OPINION

Have people become too comfortable commenting on someone else’s appearance?

Graphic by GABRIELLE LASHLEY/ Long Beach Current

Speaking on others’ appearance has never been OK. In the age of social media, it seems the addition of a screen gives some the nerve to criticize and suggest alterations to even the simplest of details on strangers’ bodies.

BY SIMONE GODSE Opinions Writer

O

n our weekly pizookie run to BJ’s, my friends and I witnessed a swarm of girls beat us to a table.

All perfectly dressed to appear in a Hollister commercial, we theorized that they simply pressed copy and paste on their ensembles as we watched the sea of wide-legged sweatpants and slick-back ponytails pass by. While we did voice this opinion to one another, we never voiced the sentiment that they would look better if they tweaked a few things.

After all, who were we to tell them to change?

Apparently, though some do not comment on others’ appearance, others have not yet learned the lesson.

The established makeup brand Tarte recently sent out a controversial PR package containing their new contouring and sculpting product to several makeup and beauty-focused influencers.

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The other contents of this package were disturbing, to say the least.

The crucial difference between the insensitive PR package and the BJ’s runin is the intent behind the opinions.

Tarte decided their best shot at advertising this new product was to point out any flaw they saw in these women and offer their monetized solution right to their doorstep. My friends and I decided it was not our place to dictate how a group of girls should dress after observing a simple pattern.

Inside the PR package, pictures of each respective influencer were printed out and drawn over with dotted lines carving cheekbones and contouring noses were sent right to their doorstep – like a pre-op Polaroid fit for a plastic surgeon’s office.

To me, this was a disturbing addition to the broader conversation happening concerning who has the authority to say how someone should improve their appearance. Or rather, the question: Does anybody have that authority?

With the rise of social media, people seem very comfortable abusing the sense of anonymity given. They feel as though there are no repercussions for what they say, and for the most part, there aren’t.

With this in mind, people feel a little too comfortable offering unsolicited advice to anyone and everyone. Whether it’s suggesting that someone would look better as a brunette or with thinner brows, these comments are typically unprompted by the receiver of this advice.

Conversations around this concept of authority have become more frequent.

Ozempic, plastic surgery, Photoshop and Instagram filters are just a few of the topics discussed over the past decade. In each of these instances, people tend to suddenly gain the confidence to directly tell people, especially women, how they should live their lives when it comes to appearances.

The topic of weight loss has specifically become fuel to help people feel entitled to a position of authority.

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The main issue in these conversations lies in the contradictory pressure women feel to adhere to societal vanity standards while also being ridiculed for trying.

This is not to say we are not allowed to criticize someone. However, there is a not-so-fine line between providing a piece of criticism and pointing out what is wrong with someone’s appearance by suggesting improvements you would like to see made.

Being able to distinguish criticism from this false sense of authority is an important skill to have in this day and age. It comes in use when both deciphering current discussions surrounding vanity as well as making your own comments and observations.

You want to ensure that you aren’t overstepping into pointing out flaws and offering your improvements.

It’s human to have opinions. It’s dystopian to mail them to someone’s front door.

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OPINIONS

Stop thanking the U.S. President; hold them accountable

BY TYLER KOLS Opinions Writer

T

he recent discussion of MAGA’s critics is the report of Natalie Harp’s apparent obsession with President Trump. Harp, one of Trump’s aides accompanying him across varying personal and professional tasks, reportedly wrote letters to Trump expressing an oddly blind devotion to him.

After hearing this news, it isn’t hard to predict the first question many Americans had: Why Trump?

However, another inquiry crossed my mind as I examined the situation: Does any president deserve this kind of appreciation?

At first, the answer might seem like an obvious yes. After all, at a young age we are taught to express gratitude and reciprocate kindness. And who better to receive our patriotic gratitude than our commander-in-chief? However, upon closer inspection of the relationship between the public and presidents, the answer might shift in the opposite direction.

Currently, expressions of gratitude or criticism of the president are a measurement of satisfaction with the administration. However, systems and polls are already in place to collect this data. When given the opportunity to communicate directly with our leaders, it is best as constituents to continue advocating for changes that are always needed within a democracy.

When Joe Biden appeared in 2024 at the Democratic National Convention

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Graphic by GABRIELLE LASHLEY/ Long Beach Current Constituents shower President Trump with love, ignoring other issues. to endorse Kamala Harris’ candidacy for president, he was met with rousing applause and countless signs saying “Thanks Joe!” Despite this acclaim, it’s important to note that he was still president at the time. Though thankfulness is nice, it is more important for ourselves and our country to voice our concerns rather than enthusiasm.

A May 2026 report from the Pew Research Center highlighted the declining satisfaction of both Democrat and Republican parties. Additionally, a report from August 2026 found that Trump’s approval ratings are at a historic low.

No matter what a president or political party has done, the public always recognizes the country is in need of improvement.

With this in mind, Harp’s apparent obsession with Trump is not only questionable, but harmful to the functions of a democratic society. There is little purpose in giving rapturous acclaim when there is still so much work to be done. When the government is established by the people, bestowing the president with praise feels more like patting ourselves on the back and exclaiming “Yay! I chose right!”

At a time when the Trump administration has generated intense outcry from Americans outside MAGA, his supporters feel a need to raise him up and meet his critics with their own passionate, undying love for their president. Though this kind of support makes sense on the campaign trail, it is illogical when the subject is holding office. We are constituents, not

Monday, August 31, 2026

cheerleaders. The role of a cheerleader is to represent one person or a group of people. Meanwhile, constituents are the ones being represented. Although this distinction is important, it has gone largely ignored by the left and right.

We live in a time where pressing issues seem to have no end in sight, including Trump’s conflict with Iran that has continued for six months despite the president insisting it would be over quickly. In addition to handling other military conflicts, climate change, diseases and more, no president has ever completed their job to the holistic extent that would warrant such gratitude from the general public.

By acknowledging our role as constituents expected to hold the government accountable, we can be better represented by our leaders.

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SPORTS

LBSU swept by UCLA in second matchup of opening weekend

JAIME GARCIA/Long Beach Current LBSU junior setter Madi Collins sets the ball for senior middle blocker Reagan Hope as UCLA attempts a block at Pauley Pavilion on Saturday, Aug. 29. The attack saved set point for The Beach late in the second set against the Bruins.

BY BRIANNA APODACA Sports Editor

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fter losing Friday’s season opener in four sets, The Beach traveled to Westwood for a rematch against the Bruins, where UCLA completed the sweep 3-0.

Long Beach State found itself trailing early in the first set before responding with a run that gave it an 8-5 advantage. Sophomore setter Kinga Ziolkowska entered the match and helped spark the offense, with kills from senior outside hitter Kendal Murphy and sophomore outside hitter Sidney Hamaker contributing to the early lead.

UCLA eventually worked its way back and tied the set at 14 before beginning to pull away. The Bruins took a 22-18 lead, but The Beach continued to fight and cut the deficit to 23-21 on a Chloe Johnson kill.

The Bruins responded by scoring the next two points to take the opening set 25-21.

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LBSU’s closest opportunity came in the second set.

UCLA jumped out to a 5-1 lead, but the Beach slowly chipped away at the deficit. An ace from Ziolkowska brought The Beach within two before the Bruins again extended their advantage.

The Beach continued to battle and eventually evened the set at 11 before taking a 16-14 lead.

Neither side was able to create much separation from there as the teams traded points late into the set. LBSU reached set point at 24-23, but could not put the Bruins away.

The back-and-forth battle continued beyond 25 points before UCLA eventually closed out the set 30-28 to take a 2-0 advantage in the match.

Head coach Natalie Reagan said the Beach struggled to execute offensively when opportunities presented themselves.

“Our offense broke down in tough moments, so we got to take a look at that,” Reagan said. “Defensively, they

were a good offensive team, and so being able to keep the ball off the ground is very important.”

UCLA carried its momentum from the extended second set into the third and controlled the final frame on its way to a 25-16 win and the sweep.

The Bruins finished the night hitting .232 compared to .148 for LBSU and held a 12. 5-6 advantage in blocks.

Hamaker led the Beach offense with 13 kills on a .267 hitting percentage after recording 14 kills in Friday’s season opener.

“We see Sydney every day in practice, and we know what she’s capable of,” Reagan said. “She’s a really, really great hitter, so we’re gonna lean on her a lot this year, regardless of left, right, middle.”

Junior setter Madi Maxwell recorded her second consecutive double-double, finishing with 23 assists and a matchhigh 15 digs. Freshman middle blocker Kyler Birkelbach added seven kills for The Beach.

Monday, August 31, 2026

Reagan said playing strong opponents early in the season is something the program continues to prioritize.

“We know that we want to play top teams no matter what, and it’s important to us that we continue that legacy and bring good teams to our schedule,” Reagan said. “Competing against the best in the nation is always what we’re looking to do.”

For Birkelbach, the two losses did not change her confidence in what the Beach can become as the season progresses.

“We’re such a skilled team, and it’s gonna get good,” Birkelbach said.

“We’re just at the bottom right now, we’re gonna climb.”

LBSU will travel to Salt Lake City next weekend, beginning with a matchup against Eastern Illinois University on Friday, Sept. 4.

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SPORTS LBSU senior forward Cherrie Cox attempting to make a goal against Weber State on Aug 29. marking her second goal of the game.

VERONICA MINOGUE/Long Beach Current

This women’s soccer star scores goal and never slows down

BY ALAN IBARRA Sports Reporter LBSU’s women’s soccer team has an undefeated record of 3-0-1 thanks to the superstar power of senior attacker Cherrie Cox, who has contributed to the success of the team. In the first four games she scored four goals in eight shots.

From the four goals she scored a hattrick not missing a single shot against Fresno State in a 5-0 blowout. The last recorded hat-trick was on Aug. 13, 2023 by alumni forward/defense Elysia Laramie (2018-2023).

The Torrance native quickly made a name for herself with the program in her freshman year, being named 2022 Big West Freshman of the Year, scoring five goals, five assists and tying second in points with 15.

Since her career at The Beach, she has been actively taking over the record leaderboards as she is now tied seventh with alumni attacker Lena Silano (20182022) in goals (27) and in points, placing in seventh (65) above her.

Cox is also now the seventh in gamewinning goals (6).

She has also been part of many Big West mentions, with her most recent being part of the Big West Player(s) of the Week award, alongside her teammates sweeping the weekly award after her hat-trick against Fresno State in a road game having all three shots find the back of the net.

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“It’s always going to be the team first, but it’s exciting, it’s some kind of motivation to always be better and to do whatever it takes to help this team win,” Cox said.

Before all of the star-studded activity, she started playing soccer alongside boys at the age of three, being the only girl out there.

“I think just starting at such a young age, the competitiveness being the only girl with all the boys, just running around, that kind of sparked it.”Cox said, Growing up, Cox played club soccer, starting at the American Youth Soccer Organization and later playing for the Fram Soccer Club until eighth grade.

Shortly after, she came on to the scene with Beach Futbol Club, becoming a role player, then coming in due to injuries affecting the team.

“I had a team that was three years older than I was coaching,” head coach Mauricio Ingrassia said, “We had some injuries, so I asked Cherrie to guest for me and she started playing for us pretty much fulltime, that’s how I got to know her and she was excelling with players three ages above.”

In eighth grade, she committed to LBSU with a verbal confirmation in a nobrainer decision.

“I was already in touch with some of the coaches, and I loved the environment and the vision they had for me,” Cox said. “It’s something I wanted to take into my college career, and [Ingrassia]

made it super easy to come here, and it’s close to my family too.

Cutting it close to the deadline, Ingrassia acquired a verbal confirmation and honored it until they were able to communicate with her again in her junior year of high school, according to NCAA rules.

“She had like 48 hours to tell me, I sat her in one of the lockers here [CSULB] and I said, ‘This can be your future,’ and she told me right away, ‘Okay I want to come.’” Ingrassia said.

In her junior and senior year she played at West Torrance High School.

There, she went on to win back-to-back Pioneer League Championships, led her team to CIF D3 State Championship and set the school record for single-season and career goals with a total of 40 in her senior year.

Her real work started at The Beach, becoming a freshman phenom and taking the field by storm.

In her sophomore year, she upped the stakes as she had the best season by far, being named the 2023 Big West Offensive Player of the Year, having a breakthrough year with 30 points, 13 goals and four assists in 17 games.

In 2024, Cox decided to step away from the game she loved when mourning the loss of her brother and focus on family.

The absence of Cox and her electric athleticism felt like a missing piece to the puzzle at George Allen Field.

Monday, August 31, 2026

She went on to pick up another sport being golf and play pickup soccer and tournaments, but never returned.

She returned to represent The Beach in 2025, nearly matching her freshman year, playing only 10 games and still receiving a mention as a 2025 Honorable Mention All-Big West.

Fast forward to today, Cox is not slowing down as she has scored four goals for the season so far.

Her and The Beach have blown past their opponents not allowing any goals so far.

For her, mentions and accolades are just pluses of the game. Although her team swept the weekly award, she keeps her eyes on the Big West Championship Trophy.

“The main goal is what’s best for the team and our individual goals,” Cox said. “If it helps us win championships and if it helps our team’s goals, then I’m in for it.”

After this season, Cox looks to continue playing soccer at the highest level.

“I would want to play, hopefully in California and NWSL, if not, then I’d want to go overseas,” Cox said, “Angel City [FC] or the [San Diego] Wave.”

She later stated that Spain is also on the list for an international destination.

Cox looks to add on to her amazing start along with The Beach, who look to keep their streak alive on Saturday, Aug. 29, at 7 p.m. returning to home soil against Weber State at George Allen Field.

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SPORTS

3 fall athletes to watch

Graphic by DANTE ESTRADA/ Long Beach Current

BY BRIANNA APODACA Sports Editor

W

elcome back to Catching the Wave! A new semester means new classes, new faces, packed schedules and, of course, another season of Long Beach State athletics With the fall semester just beginning, there is no better place to start than with the athletes who could make the biggest impact this season.

These are three athletes everyone should be watching closely this fall.

Cherrie Cox — Women’s Soccer If you have not yet been paying attention to Long Beach State women’s soccer, now is the time.

Senior forward Cherrie Cox entered the season as one of The Beach’s biggest returning stars, and has wasted no time proving why. Cox was named to the Preseason All-Big West Team after leading Long Beach State with five goals in just 10 appearances last season. She also entered 2026 with 23 career goals and 57 career points.

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Through the first few games of the season, Cox has already given fans plenty of reasons to keep watching.

After scoring the game-winning goal against Colgate, Cox recorded the first hat trick of her career in a 5-0 win over Fresno State. She was subsequently named Big West Offensive Player of the Week.

Cox is not exactly a secret weapon anymore, but if her start to the season is any indication, Cox could be one of the biggest names in LBSU sports this fall.

face some serious competition right away. The Beach opens the regular season Friday against UCLA at the LBS Financial Credit Union Pyramid before traveling to Pauley Pavilion for the second game of the home-and-home series.

If Long Beach State wants to turn its preseason No. 2 ranking into a deep postseason run, Maxwell will be one of the players I’m watching to see whether The Beach can live up to those expectations.

Madi Maxwell — Women’s Volleyball LBSU women’s volleyball enters this season with high expectations after finishing third in the Big West last season with a 22-9 overall record and a 14-4 conference record.

The Beach was picked to finish second in the conference this season, and junior setter Madi Maxwell is a major reason why. Maxwell was the only setter selected to the 2026 Preseason AllBig West Team.

For a team returning with four starters, having an experienced setter is especially important.

Maxwell will have the responsibility of helping organize an offense that will

Gabi Acosta — Men’s Water Polo Want to know who might be the top pick on this list?

Look no further than Gabi Acosta.

The junior center is a two-time reigning Big West Player of the Year and led The Beach with 68 goals last season, scoring in 24 of his 25 appearances.

The expectations are high because they have to be. LBSU was picked to repeat as Big West champions in the 2026 preseason poll, receiving four firstplace votes.

Acosta is also joined on the Preseason All-Big West Team by sophomore center Corbin Stanley, giving The Beach one

Monday, August 31, 2026

of the conference’s most intriguing returning combinations.

The season begins Aug. 28 at the Triton Invitational, where LBSU will play six games over the weekend.

If The Beach is going to repeat as conference champion, Acosta will almost certainly be at the center of that effort.

What should Long Beach State fans watch this fall?

There is no shortage of storylines heading into the semester.

Long Beach State soccer is already unbeaten.

Volleyball enters the year ranked second in the Big West preseason poll. Men’s water polo is looking to defend its conference title.

Cross country is preparing to begin its season Sept. 5.

These three athletes are just the beginning. The best part about a new season is that there is no way to know exactly who will become the next star.

Maybe one of these three takes over the season; Maybe someone completely unexpected forces their way onto the list.

Either way, the fall is here, The Beach is back and there is plenty to watch.

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