long BEach currEnt
1250 Bellflower Blvd., LA4-203 Long Beach, CA, 90804
Phone (562) 985-8000
Dante Estrada
Grace Lawson
Beach Current
Khoury Williams
Isabella Garcia
Editorial Office Business Manager Managing Editor Editor-in-Chief Community Engagement Editor
Haley Lopez
Multimedia Managing Editor business@gobeach.media managing@lbcurrent.com eic@lbcurrent.com community@lbcurrent.com multimedia@lbcurrent.com
Editors
News Editor
Annette Quijada news@lbcurrent.com
Delfino Camacho arts@lbcurrent.com Arts & Life Editor
Leyna Vu opinion@lbcurrent.com Opinions Editor
Sports Editor
Design Editor
Chief Copy Editor
Photo Editor
Social Media Editor
Video Editor
Podcast Editor
Timothy Hessen sports@lbcurrent.com
Luis Castilla design@lbcurrent.com
Angela Osorio copy@lbcurrent.com
Charlotte LoCicero photo@lbcurrent.com
Erinna Lam social@lbcurrent.com
Skylar Stock video@lbcurrent.com
Gianna Echeverria podcast@lbcurrent.com
A customer sits inside Shannon's Bayshore Saloon on Second Street in Belmont Shore after visiting bars in the area on the night of Nov. 12. Shannon's closed three hours before their usual closing time of 2 a.m., as many bars in Belmont Shore voluntarily closed early due to the city's attempt to mandate a curfew following recent violent activity.
Fourth-year journalism major Khoury Williams, pictured on May 16, will complete his first semester as editor-in-chief of the Long Beach Current in December.
SAMUEL CHACKO/ Long Beach Current
Letter from the Editor: Finding warmth, facing challenges during the holidays
BY KHOURY WILLIAMS Editor-in-Chief
placed on members of our community and the importance of addressing them with empathy, awareness and action.
News Assistants Ethan Brown
Anna Kuchison
Jayden Sandstrom
Joshua Flores
Nasai Rivas
Arts & Life Assistants Ni Baliness
Jason Green
Michael Heiter
Lila Mukasa
Opinions Assistant Joshua Min
Sports Assistants Monica Badolian
Xavier Constantino
Brianna Apodaca Alan Ibarra
Junior Contreras
Brooke Williams Design Assistants
Rebecca Lavond
Leyla Crail Copy Assistants
Photo Assistants
Sasha Marantz
Diego Perez
Eddy Cermeno Rehansa Kulatilleke
Jorge Hernandez
Ethan Cohen
Social Media Assistant Valentina Villarreal
Video Assistants Mikaela Perez
Kiara Fillingim
Bryan Viteri Podcast Assistants
Victor Alcocer
Ava Richards
Brandon Rodriguez
BusinEss
For many students, fall break signifies the official start of the holiday season and the unofficial beginning of finals season. As the halfway point of the academic year, the end of the fall semester is both a cause for celebration and a period of reflection on the successes and failures, both as individuals and as a greater community in support of one another.
The holiday season always brings a sense of warmth and familiarity. However, it can also highlight economic disparities, stressors and the realities faced by those navigating food insecurity, financial hardships or limited support systems.
Throughout this issue, you’ll find a variety of stories centered around the holiday season, including resources for students facing food insecurity, a list of things to do when celebrating alone and students’ favorite holiday songs.
This issue will also feature stories about Long Beach officialsdropping their bar curfew ideas , microfarms offering hope to the Los Angelees food scene and the retirement of University Police Chief John Brockie.
Brendan Nelson Advertising Manager advertising@gobeach.media
Alicia Taylor Creative Manager
Web & Technology Manager
Anita Demirci
Ericka Lacy PR & Marketing Manager
Distribution Manager
assistants advisErs
Seiana Spencer-Kendrick
Josephine Kim distribution@gobeach.media pr@gobeach.media web@gobeach.media creative@gobeach.media
Gary Metzker Design Adviser
Barbara Kingsley-Wilson Content Adviser
Jennifer Newton Advertising & Business Adviser
This year, those pressures feel especially present due to the recent government shutdown, in addition to rising costs and resource shortages that affect our communities at CSULB, Long Beach and beyond.
These pressures are not just logistical hurdles; they serve as reminders of the burdens
land acknowlEdgmEnt
As the semester comes to a close, it’s important to acknowledge our shared responsibility in maintaining a campus environment built on compassion, support and understanding. The Long Beach Current remains committed to telling stories that reflect the values and realities shaping the lives of our CSULB community.
Whether celebrating on your own, with loved ones or navigating a holiday season that feels unlike years past, the Long Beach Current staff wishes you and yours a joyous and happy holiday season and success on your finals.
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 opinions 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.
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.
Chief Brockie to retire after 28 years of service
After nearly three decades in law enforcement and four years as CSULB police chief, Brockie plans to put down his badge this December.
BY NIKOLETTA ANAGNOSTOU Contributor
In the aftermath of the 2020 antipolice protests, Long Beach State Police Chief John Brockie was sworn in, hoping to strengthen relationships between law enforcement and the campus community.
In his four years as police chief, Brockie has been the catalyst for multiple community-oriented initiatives, including launching a mobile mental health team, creating a community engagement center and hosting events promoting education and accessibility between students and police.
Now set to retire on Dec. 30, Brockie said he has interesting endeavors lined up after retirement.
Brockie’s 28-year police career began in 1998 at Cal State Fullerton. By 2019, he had been promoted to captain before transferring to CSULB, where he maintained his rank.
Less than three years later, he succeeded former Police Chief Fernando Solorzano in 2021.
However, before he turns in his badge, Brockie has one more project in the works—a training program to prepare newly hired officers for campus policing across the CSU and UC system.
“[Police officers] are required to go to the same police academy and all of the same classes, and there is a requirement by law that community college and K-12 officers have to go through an additional program,” Brockie said. “[I was] looking at the program, and was thinking, why doesn’t CSU or UC police have their own program?”
Brockie said many officers who come out of the police academy, which focuses on metropolitan policing, often feel on edge or even combative.
Brockie said this prospective training program would ease officers into university policing and teach them valuable skills related to the campus force.
The program would include a one or
NIKOLETTA ANAGNOSTOU/Long Beach Current
CSULB Police Chief John Brockie holds the President's Team Achievement Award, which was given to the Campus Assessment and Stabilization Team for their efforts in responding to mental health crises.
two-week course for new hires fresh out of the police academy, covering universityspecific topics including the campus’s structure, the First Amendment, crowd control and sexual assault.
Brockie also wants to include professors and other university professionals to discuss mental health and student life.
His goal is to get the program certified by the California Peace Officers Standards and Training so the course can be reimbursable. The University Police Department would cover the cost of officers’ course attendance, and then POST would reimburse the department.
Brockie hopes to have a draft of the program ready by early December, in time for the annual meeting of CSU and UC police chiefs. Still, after retirement, he plans to see this program to
completion, whether he’s “on the payroll or not.”
“I try to finish things that I start, especially when I’m the one who pitched the whole program and got other people involved,” Brockie said. “I’m committed at this point.”
Although Brockie is working on his last project, those working alongside him said he has had the most significant influence on the department through his community-oriented projects, diversity efforts and education initiatives.
CSULB Chief Financial Officer Scott Apel cited the Campus Assessment and Stabilization Team program as one of the most notable achievements of the police department under Brockie’s leadership.
The program was initially designed in 2020 but lacked funding. In 2022, Chief Brockie partnered with Student Health
Services to secure a $400,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, which jump-started its implementation.
“[Brockie] and his partners in the Division of Student Affairs went out and got a grant, and that really helped us with startup money. And, you know, that’s just above and beyond. It’s one thing to come up with a plan like CAST. It’s another thing to go get funding for it.”
Brockie said he hopes the CAST program continues to grow.
“I hope that our very victim-centered approach continues, [along with our] community outreach and our community policing approaches. [I hope] that those continue to be taught and continue to be practiced.”
Long Beach drops 2nd Street bar curfew, explores other options
Watch Video Here
BY ANNETTE QUIJADA News Editor
Long Beach city officials will explore ways to increase late-night safety in Belmont Shore following an increase in crime and resident concerns.
Councilmember Kristina Duggan had suggested imposing a curfew on Second Street, but retracted this during Tuesday’s city council meeting.
Despite no curfew set in place, four bars will be voluntarily closing at midnight until after Dec. 7: Panama Joe’s, Shannon’s Bayshore Saloon, Dogz Bar & Grill and Legends Restaurant & Sports Bar.
“The fact that the four bars and actually more businesses that are open on Second Street till 2 a.m., including liquor stores, have agreed to a 30-day voluntary closing at midnight, is bigger than a temporary solution that we would have gotten,” Duggan said in an interview with the Current.
The late-night safety concerns come after multiple incidents over the past few years, including an altercation last month that resulted in the shooting of 32-year-old Jeremy Anthony Spears outside the 100 block of La Verne Avenue.
“Over the past few years, since I’ve been in office, I’ve heard loud and clear from residents that late-night issues in Belmont Shore have intensified,” Duggan said during the meeting. “They’re more frequent, more disruptive and harder to manage. I live in Belmont Shore too; I’ve seen the change firsthand.”
Duggan said she spent last Friday night on Second Street from 11 p.m. to
Shannon’s Bayshore Bar banner lightens up as the sun set on Nov. 12. Some bars are voluntarily closing early in response to crime on Second Street by the Long Beach City Council after a shooting occurred near Second Street.
almost 1 a.m. with one of her staff members to take a firsthand look.
“There were hundreds of people on the sidewalks and in the street,” Duggan said. “I counted at least 20 opened alcoholic containers while I was walking.”
In an interview with the Current, Heather Kern, executive director of the Belmont Shore Business Association, said that following the pandemic, they have observed an increase in uninvited businesses, including people playing amplified music on the street, pop-up food sales and unauthorized retail vendors.
“We think that that has really increased the amount of activity outside of the bars,” Kern said. “And it’s an unfortunate consequence that the bars are sort of on the line for this.”
Kern said the association is very thankful to Councilmember Duggan for taking these issues to the council.
Duggan is asking the council for a safety plan that would include:
DUI enforcements that are aligned with peak bar times
An increase in Long Beach Police Department on-foot patrolling
An enhanced, targeted late-night enforcement of nuisance issues that include public drinking and unauthorized vendors
During the meeting, several community members called for additional police presence, to which Long Beach City Police Chief Wally Hebeish responded that police have already been working mandatory overtime for nearly two years.
“What we are seeing now in Belmont Shore in terms of crime statistics shows a reduction in crime, a reduction in the number of homicides … for the entirety of the East [Patrol] Division, we’ve had two [of them],” Hebeish said. “We had
Riley’s on Second Street is fully operational, serving residents on Nov. 12. The city is discussing potential safety plans after residents have voiced complaints about crime.
seven last year; that’s a significant reduction as well. So while there’s a reduction, we are here to hear from obviously all of you and our community members.”
Duggan said there isn’t a budget issue when it comes to the need for police officers.
“The city of Long Beach has the budget; if 100 police officers who were qualified came to Long Beach, they could be hired because we have the budget,” Duggan said. “It’s a matter of other cities needing officers.”
Duggan said she will continue to meet with the chief of police to discuss the prospective safety plan. The council is set to return with updates on a plan for Belmont Shore in 45 days.
“We can’t wait until 45 days to imple-
ment [a safety plan],” Duggan said. “And the chief of police, Chief Hebish and Commander Benson already have plans in place. It’s just more formalizing [the plan].”
Duggan also acknowledged that Second Street has been a staple for Long Beach State student nightlife.
“We just want to keep it safe for all students; I think being aware of what’s going on is very important,” Duggan said. “Second Street has that history for students and young people to go out and have fun, so we don’t want to take away from that. We just need to take a pause right now to make sure everything stays safe and [we] formalize the operations to keep it safe.”
Photos by JORGE HERNANDEZ/Long Beach Current
CURRENT LONG BEACH LEAP INTO THE HOLIDAYS
DIEGO PEREZ/Long Beach Current
Retired four-time Grand Prix Final medalist, Nobunari Oda, from Osaka, Japan, attends a private training session at the Lakewood Ice Rink on Nov. 8. He trains in order to perfect his routine for a performance later this year.
NEWS BY ETHAN BROWN News Assistant
8 luminous Long Beach events to linger at this holiday season
Price: Parking costs $15
Several Christmas celebrations will take place throughout Long Beach to finish off 2025.
Residents and visitors alike can revel in the holiday season and channel the cozy spirit with these nine local events.
All events are free unless stated otherwise.
Annual Tree Lighting and Santa’s Arrival
When: Nov. 20 | 5 to 8 p.m.
Where: On Seaport Way at the 2nd & PCH shopping center
A family-friendly way to ring in the holidays, this event is outdoors and weather-permitting. Santa will make his first appearance of the season at 6:15 p.m., followed by a Christmas tree lighting at 6:30 p.m. and fireworks to finish off the night.
Long Beach Home & Holiday Show
When: Nov. 22, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. | Nov. 23, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: Long Beach Convention Center
A wide array of exhibitors and workshops are solely focused on helping homeowners transform their living spaces into festive retreats. Join Home Show Consultants for a convention that educates and inspires at the intersection of holiday decorating and home maintenance.
Small Business Saturday in Belmont Shore
When: Nov. 29 | 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Where: Belmont Shore
After Black Friday, shop at the Shore on a day dedicated to supporting small businesses and communities, as part of the national "Shop Small" movement. Find special gifts for your loved ones on Second Street, home to 28 blocks of businesses.
41st Annual Belmont Shore Christmas Parade
When: Dec. 6 | 6 to 9 p.m.
Where: Second Street commercial area in Belmont Shore
Starting at 4 p.m., spectators can begin setting up chairs and blankets for the long-running Christmas parade, which returns to one of the most beloved
areas in Long Beach. This year’s theme is “Jingle Jammies,” so make sure to wear your pajamas.
The main straightaway on the parade route will be on East Second Street, before looping around at Bayshore Avenue and heading back.
"A Christmas Carol" Play
When: Dec. 6–21 | Starts at 8 p.m., with 2 p.m. matinee on Sundays
Where: Long Beach Playhouse
Charles Dickens’s beloved tale “A Christmas Carol” returns for its annual residency at the Mainstage Theater. This highly theatrical version endears the audience to household Christmas names like Ebenezer Scrooge, Bob Cratchit and Tiny Tim. Evening showings take place on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays with a double showing on Sunday.
Winter in Willmore
When: Dec. 7 | 4 to 8 p.m.
Where: 953 N. Park Circle, Long Beach
A holiday market at the historic Bembridge House highlights the decorative spirit demonstrated in Long Beach. Santa, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert will be awaiting your visit, with falling snow and local vendors present.
The free event is put on by Long Beach Heritage, the Office of Councilmember Mary Zendejas and Willmore City Community Association.
71st Annual Daisy Lane Christmas Parade
When: Dec. 13 | Starts at 5 p.m.
Where: Daisy Lane between Hill Street and PCH
Presented by the City of Long Beach and Councilmember Roberto Uranga, the parade is the pride of the Seventh District and Wrigley Area Neighborhood Alliance. As part of a long-standing tradition, the parade proceeds along Daisy Lane between Hill Street and Pacific Coast Highway.
Naples Island Christmas Boat Parade
When: Dec. 20 | Starts at 6 p.m.
Where: Alamitos Bay, Los Cerritos Channel Arguably the most impressive light display in Long Beach, this year’s theme is “A Tropical Winter Wonderland.” All the boats drifting by are bedazzled, but so are the Naples Island homes that provide the backdrop. The best places to view the parade are bridges, such as the one on Appian Way, and waterfronts, like Alamitos Marina.
Holiday food support available through Long Beach Community Table
BY ETHAN BROWN News Assistant
Californians are set to have their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits reinstated; however, the dates for reinstatement are unclear.
As the holidays near, food insecurity heightens the already stressful time for many students and their families.
On-campus resources, including the Basic Needs program and the Laurén Chalmers ‘83 Beach Pantry, are ready to accommodate Beach-goers in need. Still, the impending fall break may leave many students searching for supplies in the greater Los Angeles area.
Long Beach Community Table, a nonprofit cooperative with a warehouse in north Long Beach, now provides produce, meat, dairy products and more to 7,000 people every week.
The organization’s executive director, Kristen Cox, began her career as a nurse and got into politics before becoming a clinical psychologist. Yet, she knew her calling had always been with social justice reform.
Cox and her husband founded the Community Table in 2018, donating food to 25 people on the first weekend. Despite growing exponentially since then, Cox has stayed true to her mission of “growing sustainable community with compassion and dignity.”
“A month and a half ago, we were at 5,500 [people]—but joblessness is up, rent is up, inflation is up, cost of living is up,” Cox said. “SNAP benefits being taken were the last straw for a lot of people.”
SNAP impact
Cox has seen a dramatic spike in donations of food, clothing and basic essentials since the government shutdown began at the start of October.
JORGE HERNANDEZ/Long Beach Current Volunteers at the Long Beach Community Table picks out varieties of fruit for each resident’s request placed on Nov. 14. Residents are receiving food and other resources as the holiday reaches near.
Community Outreach
The focus on efficiency and organization has led Cox to seek out partnerships with other nonprofits.
“Maybe you have a surplus of vegetables, and we have a bunch of starches,” Cox said. “The more of us who come together to work on a [food] grant, the stronger we are.”
Some recipients of the Community Table’s large-scale food acquisitions may qualify for their home delivery program, the Homebound Program. However, applicants are screened to make sure no household members are physically able to pick it up.
“We try to make it as clear as possible that we have very few resources,” said the operations manager of the home de-
“Just yesterday, I spoke to Southern California Edison negotiating for a lower rate due to our nonprofit status,” Cox said. “There are hundreds of people relying on us for food, and our 50 freezers and refrigerators working at commercial strength make for a high electric bill.”
livery program, who wished to be referenced by his first name, Asher.
The warehouse and delivery program will be closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas this year, according to Asher.
“We’ll be receiving some whole turkeys on the Friday before Thanksgiving, and a lot of seasonal food items like Christmas cookies will also be in stock,” Asher said.
How you can get involved
Long Beach Community Table currently has about 600 to 700 volunteers, many of whom are college students interning in nutrition or human development.
“You start getting the same people on your route every week, develop relationships with them, and they look forward to that,” Cox said. “Socialized isolation is one of the worst things for you.”
Cox has been overjoyed at the
amount of support her initiative has received in the past few months. Local businesses are hosting food drives in addition to eight fundraisers around Long Beach.
Cox expressed gratitude for community humanitarians delivering food to around 600 houses every week, and shared her desire to give more people the ability to cook healthier meals.
“Teaching people how to grow, cook and preserve their own food is my next goal,” Cox said.
Anyone can pick up food at Long Beach Community Table—no application, ID or appointment necessary. Popup locations, listed on their website, can be found on the weekends.
“Food is freedom—it gives you the ability to pay for your prescriptions, or put fuel in your car,” Cox said. “For many who rely on us, it helps them reintegrate into society.”
ARTS & LIFE
Make the holidays competitive with these board games
BY JASON GREEN Arts & Life Assistant
The holidays provide families and friends with extra time to spend together, and competitive board games offer a fun way to make the most of that time.
Even in the digital age, board games are a popular group activity. Some people play on occasion, but for others, board games are a dedicated hobby.
The complexity of players varies, allowing anyone from children to adults to participate.
While the global board game market was valued at $14.36 billion in 2024, it is projected to reach $15.82 billion by 2025, according to a Fortune Business Insights study.
With thousands to choose from, it may be difficult to select a single board game.
Long Beach State Tabletop Game Club members shared the games they play during the holidays with their families and friends, beyond board game staples like Uno and Monopoly.
1. Brendan Cheng - Tabletop Game Club president / senior film major
Cheng played board games with his family growing up, so he was surrounded by a wide variety of games.
For the holidays, his family plays games with larger parties.
“The heaviest thing we probably bring out [for the holidays] often is Camel [Up],” he said. “Which is a racing game where there’s a bunch of camels and they stack on top of each other and get moved along. So the camels on top,
get extra moves based on the camels, below them and so like they stack on and off.”
Cheng also recommends the social guessing board game, Wavelength, for families.
The game is split into two teams and involves a dial where players must locate a scoring area on the dial. The scoring area is decided by the psychic on a team. Psychics choose a card from a deck. The card has two spectrums of words, such as “forbidden” and “encourage.” The Psychics would give a clue to their teammates to find the scoring area.
He also recommended My Favorite Things.
My Favorite Things is a card game where there are no number values, but the values of the cards are listed from one to five favorites in different categories.
One is the highest. Zero is the lowest, and there is also a dislike card. Players are given a deck of another player’s cards.
Players don’t know the value of the cards and must guess the one with the highest value as they play it. The value is revealed after.
2. Eli McInerney - sophomore English
education major
Like Cheng, McInerney likes to play board games with their family.
They even have an all-time favorite holiday game.
“Well, it’s not technically a board game, but my favorite holiday game of all time, I play with my grandmas, with my parents, everybody, is Cribbage, which is like a card game,” they said.
The objective of the game is to reach 121 points by grouping combinations of cards.
McInerney has only attended two Table Top Club meetings so far, as they were occupied with taking part in “Carrie: The Musical,” playing the character Stokes. The musical came to an end on Halloween.
3. Miles Murray - Tabletop Game Club vice president / English literature graduate student
Murray usually plays board games with friends because their family does not love board games, but they do play games such as Sorry! and The Game of Life.
“But if I’m seeing my friends [over the holidays], I tend to go for longer
games where we have more time to play,” they said.
Some long-form board games that he plays include Dune (2019), a strategic board game, and Food Chain Magnate, which is about building a fast-food chain.
4. Ariana Conner - Tabletop Game Club communications manager / sophomore design major
Connor did not have any board game recommendations for the holidays.
“I think holiday-wise, honestly, I don’t have any preferences towards board games in the holidays versus like in the seasons,” she said. “I think, if you can play the board game in the summer, you can play it over the holidays, and it’s no different.”
However, Connor mentioned that she does play the Chinese tile-based game Mahjong with her family during the holidays.
“The Mahjong specifically keeps me sort of in touch with my mom’s side of the family. And it’s a part of me that I only have so many ways I can keep in touch with and so I do whatever I can.”
The Tabletop Game Club meets every Thursday from 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. in Liberal Arts 5, Room 265.
JASON GREEN/Long Beach Current
Dylan Simpson, a senior cinematic arts major, plays Jenga at the Nov. 6 Tabletop Game Club meeting.
It’s time! CSULB reacts to Christmas music’s role in community
BY SKYLAR STOCK
Video Editor
Ready to resurrect familiar tunes like “All I Want For Christmas Is You” or belt out the chorus to “Feliz Navidad”?
Coming soon to retail shops nationwide: Christmas music.
No longer waiting until December to sound off, some locations start with holiday music before Halloween items are even off the shelf. While some people turn up the holiday tunes, others steer clear.
“Mariah Carey is breaking out of her ice already,” Mario Cuellar, first-year public relations major said.
Often placed in a narrow box, Christmas music actually transcends genre, cultural and even religious lines. What evolved from Yuletide traditions has turned into a worldwide phenomenon.
Christmas traditions like caroling can be tied back to ancient Roman pagan winter solstice celebrations. Soon, religious hymns made their way onto the scene.
In the United States, Christmas Day only became an official federal holiday in 1870 after a failed ban campaign led by the Puritans. Originally enacted as a day of rest, it also created a sense of community during a time of rapid industrialization, according to Time Magazine.
Holiday songs even led to a World War I Christmas miracle, when dual trenches came to a truce after German and English soldiers sang “Silent Night” in unison.
To many modern listeners, Christmas music blends genres.
Each year, there is a new remake or cover of a classic that provides a fresh take.
Cuellar doesn't put himself in a box when it comes to holiday tunes. He finds
himself having “Every Snowflake is Different" by My Chemical Romance in his holiday rotation, a more alternative take on Christmas music. At the same time, he doesn’t stray away from the iconic sounds of “Last Christmas” by Wham!.
“We're all people," Cuellar said. "We all enjoy music as an art form. So, I think no matter what style or genre you'd vibe with the most, you're still gonna get the same message.”
For some, religion ties into the equation when searching for the perfect holiday song.
Tristin Baeza is a 2024 music education alumnus who now directs choirs. As a Catholic, Baeza values his faith when considering holiday music choices, especially ones honoring Advent.
“The favorite one that I like to do is 'O Come, Emmanuel,'" Baeza said. "It's about the birth of Jesus and redeeming the world."
On top of that, Baeza enjoys some of the secular tunes that the season brings. He cites Michael Bublé as one of his gotos to bump during the time.
With many popular Christmas songs outliving their performers, and oldies consistently topping the charts, it is clear that childhood memories play into this seasonal musical nostalgia.
Isabella Olmos, a second-year psychology major, participated in Christmas pageants from first to eighth grade. Now, the iconic oldies she sang then are tied to those moments.
“It kind of just reminds me of when times were simpler,” Olmos said.
Similarly, third-year music education major Doug Lue comfortably allows himself to fall into nostalgia when the holidays come around. One note of “Carol Of The Bells” and Lue is immediately taken back to his family.
“For me, it's the instantaneous pleasure of hearing Christmas music, it just brings me back to my own childhood,” Lue said.
SKYLAR STOCK/Long Beach Current
As the Christmas season approaches, the Mariah Carey defrosting process begins. Her song, "All I Want For Christmas Is You," is widely considered a classic and is consistently No. 1 on the Billboard Holiday 100.
While iconic to some, others get sick of the annual Christmas tunes due to the repetitiveness.
“I avoid [Christmas music] as much as I can,” Rain Esterline, second-year music performance major, said.
After performing songs like “Sleigh Ride” over and over throughout the years, Esterline is now immune to the Christmas music bug. Esterline also pointed out the high volume that holiday music is played at throughout the season, particularly while working.
“Retail and fast food sort of jobs, you hear it for two months straight, it’s too much,” Esterline said.
Lue challenged the notion of disliking Christmas music, saying there is so much more to be discovered.
“I feel like a lot of people don't like Christmas music because they're so used to the same repetitive motion," Lue said. “[People] don't get exposed to a variety of Christmas music and that's not their fault.”
Lue invites Christmas music haters to explore a different way to listen. He recommended minor alterations of Christmas songs, as they offer a “dark taste” twist to the traditionally peppy tunes.
One thing is clear – the phenomenon of Christmas music is a staple in American culture.
“Everyone can get behind a good Christmas song,” Almos said. “I do feel that it's kind of a unifying factor.”
Tuesday, November 18, 2025
Watch Video Here
ARTS & LIFE
Alone over break? 7 ways to have a happy holiday season solo
BY ANNA KUCHISON News Assistant
As the holiday season approaches, some people spend the holidays with friends and family, and others spend the time alone. Celebrating the holoidays alone can be just as exciting as celebrating with others.
From watching a movie with a celebrity, giving back to your community, enjoying nature or going to a rave, here are seven ways you can celebrate the holidays solo.
A Nostalgic Night With Macaulay Culkin (Nov. 22)
“Home Alone” is one of the most iconic holiday movies of all time. The 1990 classic follows the mischievous adventures of Kevin McCallister when he is mistakenly left at home alone over the Christmas holiday.
What better way to enjoy this joyful Christmas classic than with Kevin McCallister himself?
On Nov. 22 at Terrace Theater in the Long Beach Convention Center you can experience the magic of Home Alone with Macaulay Culkin, the actor who played Kevin McCallister.
The event is part of the “A Nostalgic Night With Macaulay Culkin” tour, where Macaulay Culkin will be hosting screenings of this holiday classic in various movie theaters across the U.S. in honor of Home Alone’s 35th anniversary.
Tickets can be purchased starting $68.35.
Enjoy Long Beach Nature
If you’re looking for a fun way to spend the holidays solo, consider spending a day at the beach or going for a hike through a park.
Long Beach is known for its breathtaking nature, including beaches, parks and nature reserves.
A great local park for hiking is the DeForest Wetlands, which features a nature trail and several sports amenities, including a basketball court and volleyball court. Another great park is the El Dorado Nature Center, which is described as an “oasis of natural habitat.”
Some great local beaches to visit include Bayshore, a very popular and lively beach located near the bustling 2nd Street shopping district. If you’re looking for a more cozy and intimate vibe, Mother’s Beach is a small beloved and charming beach located in Alamitos Bay.
CHARLOTTE LOCICERO/Long Beach Current
Colorado Lagoon is a 29-acre public park in the Alamitos Heights neighborhood of Long Beach, pictured here on Nov. 11.
If you can’t decide between a beach day or nature day, you can have both at the Colorado Lagoon. It is a nature reserve surrounding a saltwater lagoon that is home to many animals, including stingrays, jellyfish, egrets, and pelicans, just to name a few. One of the best things about enjoying nature for holidays is that it is free.
Enjoy Thanksgiving lunch at the Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific (Nov. 27)
The Aquarium of the Pacific is hosting a buffet-style Thanksgiving feast on its Rooftop Veranda overlooking the Rainbow Harbor. Each guest must reserve a one hour time between 10:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.
Tickets cost $95 per adult, $72.50 per child, $70 per adult with membership and $47.50 for a child with membership. Apocalypse Zombie Land (Nov. 28 and Nov. 29):
A bit of an unconventional way to celebrate Thanksgiving, the Apocalypse Zombie Land music festival is a two-day rave happening on Thanksgiving weekend at The Queen Mary.
Whether attending alone or with friends, a rave is a very exciting way to celebrate any occasion and will definite-
ly make for a memorable Thanksgiving. Rave culture strives to make everyone feel loved and accepted through P.L.U.R. (Peace, Love, Unity and Respect).The lineup boasts several acclaimed EDM artists including Illenium, Excision, Dimension, and many more.
The lineup boasts several acclaimed EDM artists, including Illenium, Excision, Dimension and many more.
Two-day general admissions tickets start at $228.99.
Attend the Los Angeles Auto Show
The L.A. Auto Show is one of the most attended auto shows in the world.
This year features several exciting exhibits, including Hall of Sparq, an AI-powered automotive system, a showcase hall featuring custom vehicles, rare exotics, show-stopping luxury vehicles, supercars, hypercars, restomods and more. Ford Bronco Build Wild, a ride through a dynamic obstacle course in a Ford Bronco. An exhibit on the return of Scout Motors.
Adult any one day admission tickets start at $25.
The Rinks, Lakewood Ice Strap up some laces for solo ice skating this holiday season.
Part of the larger rinks Develop-
ment Program, first developed in 2009, the Lakewood Rinks location is only a 16-minute drive from Long Beach State.
The rink offers public ice skating sessions, as well as lessons.
The location is offering a deal available from Nov. 17-23, where patrons who bring five canned food items receive a free skate rental, although regular admission still applies.
General admission prices vary from $17 for a 90-minute session to $19 for a 120-minute session. Regular skate rental is $8.
Volunteer
Volunteering is a great way to engage with the community over the holidays.
Great places to volunteer for the holidays include the Long Beach Rescue Mission, an organization that assists community members experiencing homelessness, and the Long Beach Community Table, which provides food to community members facing food insecurity.
The L.A. Regional Food Bank, which provides food to community members in the greater Los Angeles area, is another option, as is the Long Beach Animal Care Services, which provides care to animals in need.
Mariah Carey is not the 'Queen
of Christmas'
BY JORDAN BROWN Contributor
Saturating the charts, endlessly streamed across every platform, Mariah Carey’s holiday hit has become seemingly unavoidable. Her chart-topping single “All I Want For Christmas Is You” stands as the unofficial anthem of the holidays, reclaiming the No. 1 position on
Billboard’s Hot 100 every December for the last six consecutive years.
Released in October 1994, the record has sold over 16 million copies worldwide, cementing its place as the bestselling Christmas song by a female artist and one of the most successful digital singles of all time.
Climbing well past 800 million views on YouTube, the track shows no signs of slowing, boldly resurfacing each year, hailing another “Mariah Carey Christmas.”
PAID ADVERTISEMENT
DANTE ESTRADA/Long Beach Current
According to People Magazine, Mariah Carey’s "Merry Christmas" album, led by the chart-topping single “All I Want For Christmas Is You,” earns an estimated $2.5 to $3.5 million every year.
Carey, who co-wrote both the lyrics and the melody, built a holiday empire around the song, one that fuels everything from her financial success and streaming spikes to her return to the cultural spotlight.
The California State University, Long Beach Auxiliary organizations have completed their annual financial audits by an independent certified public accounting firm. In accordance with Education Code, Section 89900 and Title 5, Section 42408 (c), the audited financial statements for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 are available for review at the following locations:
California State University Long Beach Research Foundation
• University Library, Circulation Desk, 1st Floor
• Research Foundation Building, 6300 E. State University Drive, Suite 332, Long Beach, CA 90815, Reception Desk
• California State University Long Beach Research Foundation website: https://www.csulb.edu/research-foundation/financial-information
FY 2024-25 Audited Financial Statements
https://www.csulb.edu/sites/default/files/2025/documents/ document_fnd_finstate_25.pdf
Long Beach State Foundation
• University Library, Circulation Desk, 1st Floor
• Brotman Hall, 1250 Bellflower Blvd., Room 387, Long Beach, CA 90840 Long Beach State Foundation website: FY 2024-25 Audited Financial Statements https://www.csulb.edu/long-beach-state-foundation/transparency
California State University Long Beach 49er Shops (dba Beach Shops)
• University Library, Circulation Desk, 1st Floor
• University Bookstore, 6049 E. Seventh St., Long Beach, CA 90840 (562) 985-7700
• California State University Long Beach, Beach Shops website: https:www.csulb.edu/beach-shops/corporate-information
FY 2024-25 Audited Financial Statements http:www.csulb.edu/sites/default/files/2025/documents/Beach%20Shops%20Fi nancial%20Statements%20and%20Supplementals%206.30.25%20FINAL.pdf
California State University Long Beach Associated Student, Inc
• University Library, Circulation Desk, 1st Floor
• California State University Long Beach Associated Students website: https://asicsulb.org/corporate/resources/financial-reporting
FY 2024-25 Audited Financial Statements and Supplementary Information https:www.asicsulb.org/corporate/documents/discover/policies/6-3025%20ASI%20CSU%20LB%20Financial%20Statements%20w%20Supp.pdf
The song’s dominance and return have almost become as predictable as the season itself, unofficially crowning Carey with the title “Queen of Christmas,” a role she’s publicly embraced with open arms.
But, for all the popularity the track has brought her, not everyone agrees that Carey deserves the crown.
Among her critics is Elizabeth Chan, a singer-songwriter who has built her career exclusively around Christmas music.
In 2022, Chan publicly opposed Carey’s attempt to trademark the title “Queen of Christmas,” telling Variety that “no one person should hold onto anything around Christmas or monopolize it in the way that Mariah seeks to in perpetuity.”
Others may point out Darlene Love, a holiday legend who paved the way long before Carey’s time. Love’s 1963 classic, “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home),” has remained a holiday staple for decades, celebrated as one of the defining Christmas songs of its era.
Carey once proclaimed Love as the true “Queen of Christmas,” though the two later reconciled after disputes over the title. Love, in the end, responded, posting to Facebook, “I’m HONORED to share the Queen of Christmas title with you and all the other talented performers on earth!”
If we’re talking about Christmas royalty, no discussion would be complete without mentioning Bing Crosby. His 1942 classic, “White Christmas,” remains the best-selling single of all time, having sold over 50 million copies worldwide, surpassing even Carey’s reach.
While Carey’s record may dominate the digital era, Crosby’s classic is a reminder that music’s true power lies in its ability to endure, not just to trend.
Still, there's Nat King Cole, an icon of the jazz era whose silky rendition of “The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas to You)” redefined holiday warmth for generations. Sixty-two years after its original release, the track reached No. 9 on Billboard’s Hot 100 in January 2023, proving that the best Christmas music isn't bound by time, but carried through.
Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” continues to spark cheer across generations, while modern artists like Kelly Clarkson, Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter have each carved out their own space in the ever-expanding world of holiday music.
So, is Mariah Carey really the “Queen of Christmas”? Or has the crown become less about legacy and more about cultural dominance, a reflection of who owns the season's spotlight?
In the end, maybe Christmas doesn't need a popularity contest, a crowned single monarch to rule until holiday cheer ends. After all, the holiday’s magic has always belonged in its ability to be shared, in the music, in the memories and the cheer.
ARTS & LIFE
Mini farms make major impact as L.A. neighbors foster food, hope
BY DELFINO CAMACHO Arts & Life Editor
It was the birth of his daughter in 2018 that inspired Jamiah Hargins to grow his first garden.
Already a successful Los Angeles stock trader and recruiter, the new father was concerned about access to fresh produce and its nutritional value.
“Essentially, I did not want a world where food was that precarious; it’s losing its value in nutrients, it’s hard to acquire,” Hargins said. “We all know this month, SNAP benefits are being removed for many people. We can’t rely on a system like that anymore. It’s not fair to the next generation.”
So, he grew his own.
Pleasantly surprised by how much produce his L.A. yard yielded, Hargins organized a local “crop swap” in 2018 where neighbors traded homegrown fruits and vegetables.
Crop Swap LA, a globally recognized but community-based organization that helps build mini-farms in L.A., was born.
Hargins shared his story and passion for microfarms during this month’s First Wednesdays lecture at the Aquarium of the Pacific.
Realizing he could expand the farm beyond his neighborhood, Hargins worked with a mentor and friends to design his first three flagship microfarms.
The first was Asante Microfarm, which they started in a friend’s front yard in the View Park neighborhood of L.A. in 2021.
“All of our microfarms are solar power and water recycling,” Hargins said.“That means the solar power is used to pump our tanks, then those pumps move the water efficiently, using gravity to return it. I want to encourage people to think about urban survival, creating something on your property that’s valuable.”
The Asante Microfarm alone captures about 800 gallons of water per rainfall, distributing it through overhead sprayers and gravity-fed channels to nourish chard, kale and other greens.
The property now produces enough food for 11 families every week, thanks to crop rotation, which maximizes yield.
Less than a mile away from Asante, the smaller La Salle Microfarm is named after La Salle Lofton, the late husband of property owner Beverly Lofton.
While property owners are responsible for an upfront fee (up to $5,000), Crop Swap works with them to establish attractive tax breaks. Hargins estimates a single avocado tree can create $700 in tax write-offs.
In addition to a lack of accessibility, the nutritional value of store-bought produce has declined over time.
During the lecture, Hargins highlighted a 2024 study that described how soil depletion and long transport chains reduce the vitamin and mineral content in crops.
Self-growing, Hargins insists, ensures access to fresh, nutrient-rich food.
“I was really adamant about staying local, because I personally believe that if the grandmother across the street can see the food, then she deserves to have the food,” he said.
Crop Swap LA offers paid produce deliveries to its members, but limits them to a two-mile radius from the farms.
Members can pick up their produce or receive it via an electric vehicle delivery every Sunday. The remaining harvest is sold at a farm stand in L.A.
“If you’re not within two miles, you can’t buy the food on delivery,” Hargins
explained. “But non-members can come to a farm stand.”
Long Beach resident and First Wednesdays lecture attendee Diane Burkholder said the talk inspired her to continue fighting for food equality, even in local farmers’ markets.
“I live by Bixby Park,” Burkholder said. “That market is twice a week on Tuesday and Saturday. There’s no Market Match there and the few times I’ve asked to get the runaround.”
Market Match is California’s healthy food incentive program that matches customers’ CalFresh nutrition assistance benefits at farmers’ markets and other farm-direct sites.
“So the markets that are available to me three days a week, I cannot access them within my EBT, so therefore I don’t really buy produce from them,” Burkholder said.
Another attendee, Keenan MacInnes, is currently completing a climate sustainability fellowship. He was drawn to the self-sufficient farming approach and hopes to take part.
“I wish I could farm,” MacInnes said. “To spread his program to Long Beach would be kind of interesting.”
While Crop Swap LA remains local, Hargins hopes to expand it through lectures and the “Your City” mentorship program, which offers coaching to help people start microfarms in their communities, charging a one-time fee of $150 for six months of guidance.
Hargins insists that to move forward, in terms of food, society has to take a step backward toward self and community reliance.
“Nowadays, I’m a little bit less gentle with folks when I hear them make excuses like, ‘I kill all my plants’ or ‘I got a black thumb,’” Hargins said. “I usually say something cheerful but also say ‘get back in the game, keep on going.’ This is life or death. It’s essential that you try.”
Crop Swap LA weekly farm stand: Buy fresh produce with no membership required
When: Every Monday from 9 a.m. to noon Where: 3753 Degnan Blvd., Los Angeles
Payment options: Cal Fresh EBT, cash, credit card and Venmo Follow @lacropswap for regular updates and information
Photo courtesy of CROP SWAP LA Crop Swap LA founder Jamiah Hargins (left) presents a workshop on mini farms to a small class of community members on Nov. 13.
As student journalists covering issues on campus, we count on administrators, faculty and staff to answer questions—but when they become hard to reach, the reporting suffers.
DANTE ESTRADA/ Long Beach Current
Administration should not ignore student journalists
BY LONG BEACH CURRENT EDITORIAL BOARD
From the closure of the University Student Union and a potential renaming of the Walter Pyramid to the appointment of a new interim president and the highest student population in the university’s history, our campus has undergone a myriad of changes this semester.
As the university's longest-running student newspaper and a trusted source of record, our readers count on us to inform them of these ongoing changes at Long Beach State.
The Current is dedicated to keeping the community informed, from profiling new food options and providing readers
updates on construction to reporting on day-to-day events and local news.
However, the Current relies on campus administrators, faculty and staff to help us give readers the answers they need, and they are key components of our reporting process.
As student journalists, we deserve to know what is happening on campus as much as our readers.
From campus construction to housing updates or public records, student reporters should not face large gaps in communication, waiting days or weeks for email responses to schedule a short interview.
Administrative sources should not be asking reporters for advance questions, degrading the value of a face-to-face interview.
Reporters should not be expected to sift through dozens of scanned police paper logs that are not properly main-
tained in an Excel sheet.
As a publication that focuses on covering a wide range of campus life and is dedicated to unbiased reporting, we rely on our sources to relay crucial information and provide background and context to ensure our stories are well-researched, accurate and fair.
We understand that the administration is working through a busy season with the largest student population in campus history and ongoing changes, but this only exacerbates the need for students to know that their administration cares about communicating important changes and internal operations.
Including administrative sources supports our stories and gives them more credibility, letting our readers know that we are backing our reporting with evidence-based detail.
Journalism relies on communication. When university officials are willing to
extend themselves as resources for student reporters, it strengthens our relationship with the administration and allows for thorough reporting that prioritizes facts, ensuring we communicate stories from our university the most accurately.
Administrators can help journalists understand institutional policies, decisions and procedures, which is why reporters often seek administration for an explanation on procedures that might be obscure or complex to the campus community.
With the Current’s large audience and the university’s population of over 41,000 students, communication to the CSULB community should be a joint effort between the student newspaper and the university administration.
This story was written by Community Engagement Editor Grace Lawson on behalf of the Long Beach Current Editorial Board.
Serbian transfer student finds his shot at The Beach
BY TIMOTHY HESSEN Sports Editor
Petar Majstorovic knows ball. At just a year old, Majstorovic and his family moved from their hometown of Sombor, Serbia, to France as his father, Bosko Majstorovic, pursued a professional basketball career.
From then, the 6-foot-8 forward recalls playing club basketball as early as 2 years old, following in his father’s footsteps.
After competing for several seasons at the Amateur U21 level in France, Majstorovic made the move to the U.S. in 2024, joining the prestigious Syracuse University.
“Honestly, the game is a lot more physical, athletic and skilled over here,” Majstorovic said. “The league I played in [in France] was more focused on plays and teamwork, so the ball was moving a lot more than in America, but the game here is a lot faster.”
On the Orange, Majstorovic was a solid bench piece as a true freshman, shooting 41% from beyond the arc and playing 13.3 minutes per game.
However, ahead of his sophomore
force the ball or make a bad decision, but ultimately I want him to be more aggressive and look for his shot more,” Acker said. “I’m looking forward for him to start ascending in that direction.”
But according to Majstorovic, playing his brand of basketball, moving the ball willingly and setting screens for teammates, is just what comes naturally to him.
“I feel like basketball is meant to be played with five players; it’s not a oneon-one game, so if the ball is moving, you’ll get your shots when you’re open,” Majstorovic said. “I’m never going to force a shot, I’m always trying to find the best solution.”
True to his nature on the court, off the court, Majstorovic is an affable guy.
The Serbian forward arrived late to the team’s offseason practices, as he wrapped up his international play over the summer in France, but immediately endeared himself to his teammates, establishing himself as a vocal leader within the team.
“I think that leadership permeates through the program and his IQ is going to make everyone else smarter,” Acker said.
Looking forward to his career at The Beach, Majstorovic hopes to grow his game under Acker’s tutelage.
Coming from a multicultural background with ties to both France and Serbia, the growth of the international basketball scene has left many international athletes, like Majstorovic, inspired for their futures.
The last seven MVP awards in the NBA have been given to foreign players. In the 2024 Paris Olympics, both France and Serbia shared the podium with the U.S., winning silver and bronze, respectively.
“Seeing how European and international basketball is developing and trying to catch up to America is really interesting,” Majstorovic said. “For [international players] to see that, it’s like we’re all going to have a chance to maybe play at the highest level one day.”
PAID ADVERTISEMENT
season, the young Serbian sought bigger opportunities, entering the transfer portal and ultimately finding his way to Long Beach State.
LBSU assistant coach John Montgomery was the lead on Majstorovic’s recruitment and explained why mid-major programs like The Beach can target promising international athletes in the transfer portal.
“A lot of these international guys come over and it takes a while for them to catch up to the United States game,” Montgomery said. “Sometimes they go to a high major level, and they’re just not getting opportunities right away as a freshman.”
Ask any coach who’s worked with Majstorovic and they will tell you the defining traits of his game are his high IQ and unselfish play.
While at Syracuse, Majstorovic would receive calls and messages from friends and family, urging him to focus more on looking for his own shot.
Even in his young career at The Beach, LBSU head coach Chris Acker has emphasized that while the sophomore’s unselfishness has a great impact on team chemistry, he wants to see a more aggressive side of Majstorovic throughout the season.
“Guys don’t think he’s ever going to
Photo courtesy of Dylan Blane | LBSU Athletics
Sharpshooting forward Petar Majstorovic joins The Beach in his sophomore season after transferring from Syracuse University.
Big West Conquest: The Beach aim to defend their throne
BY TIMOTHY HESSEN Sports Editor
One year ago, No. 7 Long Beach State men’s water polo shocked the Big West, entering the postseason tournament as the No. 5 seed before upsetting three higher seeds in a row to steal the conference title and earn an NCAA Tournament playoff berth.
But in 2025, the tides have shifted in the Big West power structure, as The Beach (15-8) have established themselves as the powerhouse of the conference, going undefeated in Big West play to earn the No. 1 seed and a first-round bye in this year’s tournament.
However, the results of this regular season are far from the mind of USA Water Polo Hall of Famer and LBSU head coach Gavin Arroyo.
Despite going from 2-3 a season prior to 5-0 in the conference this year, Arroyo emphasizes that in a stacked conference like the Big West, which features five of the nation’s top 15 ranked teams, anyone can be beaten on “any given day.”
“It's just a matter of happenstance,” Arroyo said. “Come next weekend, all bets are off and it’s an even playing field. [No. 4 seed] UC San Diego could easily win this tournament.”
Leading The Beach into battle will be the reigning Big West Player of the Year Gabi Acosta.
After leading the conference in goals in his freshman season with 63 en route to helping LBSU capture the Big West crown, Acosta has continued to add to his growing resume with 61 goals and 16 steals.
Along with Acosta, the junior breakout season for attacker Caleb Francisco, who has racked up 57 goals, has formed a powerful scoring duo for The Beach, making LBSU the only team to have two scorers in the top four in goals per game in The Big West.
“I think the team really trusts in me and [Francisco], they pass us the ball a lot, but we have a lot of players that are scoring and that’s really good for the team,” Acosta said.
After Acosta and Francisco, the sibling duo of senior utility Toring Stanley and sophomore center Corbin Stanley rank third and fourth on The Beach in goals this season with 30 and 29, respectively.
Despite their success this season, The Beach have come up just a few overtime periods short of securing several statement victories over NCAA Tournament staple programs.
LBSU suffered a 19-16 overtime loss to No. 3 Stanford University on Sept. 20, a heartbreaking sudden death loss to Pepperdine University after erasing a seven-point halftime deficit on Oct. 3, and most notably, a missed opportunity to avenge its NCAA Tournament last year against Fordham University, losing
REHANSA KULATILLEKE/Long Beach Current
LBSU senior utility Toring Stanley ranks third on the team with 30 goals this season, helping lead The Beach to the No. 1 seed of the Big West.
in sudden death to the Rams on Oct. 21.
According to Acosta, these momentary setback losses have been a trial by fire that has prepared them for the Big West Tournament and beyond.
“I think it was nice to put ourselves in those situations and learn about tough losses,” Acosta said. “I think we improved and learned but let’s see how we manage our emotions in the [tournament].”
The Beach have alternated between two goalkeepers for the majority of the season, with junior William Whitstone in the cage for 341 minutes and sophomore Joe Jenness trailing behind at 275.
However, Jenness may see more time patrolling the goal front in the tournament, as the Naperville, Illinois native starred late in the year, being the second goalie named as the Big West Player of the Week this season after
shutting down UC Davis with 12 saves to help secure the No. 1 seed on Nov. 8.
After skipping through the first round, The Beach will play the winner of the quarterfinal matchup between No. 13 UC San Diego and No. 15 UC Irvine in the semifinals on Nov. 22, with the championship final taking place on Nov. 23.
After taking the program’s third Big West championship in program history and first since the sports reinstatement in the conference since 2023 last season, Arroyo has stressed to his squad that when the playoffs begin, regular season track record goes out the window.
“Like I told [the team] in practice, nobody remembers who the regular season champs are, they only remember who wins the tournament,” Arroyo said.
Catching The Wave: The Naughty and Nice list of LBSU sports
BY TIMOTHY HESSEN Sports Editor
This fall semester has seen some highs and lows for Long Beach State sports, and in the spirit of the upcoming holiday season, this week’s edition of “Catching the Wave” presents the Naughty and Nice list of Long Beach sports.
Nice: Natalie Reagan’s high-speed offense
If you were to describe LBSU women’s volleyball head coach Natalie Reagan’s offensive philosophy in one word, it would be: fast.
Early on this season, junior outside hitter and Boise State transfer Anabel Kotzakov remarked on the challenges of finding her footing in the unique offensive style The Beach deploys.
“The offense Long Beach runs is so fast compared to any other team, so it definitely took me a little bit to get used to it,” Kotzakov told The Current.
In exchange for the longer learning curve, Reagan and her coaching staff have fielded an offense that ranks near the top of the Big West in every metric.
LBSU ranks second in kills per set at 13.58, second in points with 17.29 and third in hitting percentage at .240.
After clinching a playoff berth on Nov. 13, The Beach will put their high-flying offense to the test in their pursuit of a Big West title.
Naughty: The people of Long Beach
With a new expansion minor league baseball team coming to Long Beach in 2026, the team’s ownership group provided fans with a fun opportunity to help decide the name for the club.
However, the people of Long Beach did not meet the moment.
The three finalists of this naming competition are Long Beach Coast, Parrots and Regulators.
While the Regulators is a very cool-sounding name,
inspired by minority owner and rapper Warren G’s hit song “Regulate,” it’s unlikely to be chosen due to how easily ownership of a team can change.
Excluding that idea, the Coast is unoriginal and far too similar to The Beach, the name of the majority of LBSU’s programs, and the Parrots would immediately rise to the top of the list of least intimidating sports team names of all time.
Nice: Gabi Acosta, men’s water polo
It’s rare for a player to be arguably the best player in his conference through his freshman to senior season, but that may end up being the case for Gabi Acosta.
After being named Big West Player of the Year as a freshman with 63 goals, the 6-foot-4 center from Barcelona added 61 goals as a sophomore this season.
Acosta is ranked 25th in career goals for the program after just two seasons, and if he can continue at his current pace, he will shatter the LBSU record of 231 goals held by Kyle Kopp.
King rules at the Pyramid this freshman season
BY JUNIOR CONTRERAS
Sports Assistant
Hailing from the town of Newmarket in Ontario, Canada, Long Beach State redshirt freshman opposite Logan King is making her mark at the Walter Pyramid.
Volleyball runs in the King bloodline as Logan’s mother, Sarah King, played collegiate volleyball at Kent State University and her sister, Payton King, plays at the University of Guelph in Ontario.
“My family has always been super sports-oriented … and then my sister played, and I kind of followed my sister through everything she did, and I think volleyball just ended up being one of them,” Logan King said.
King might never have ended up in volleyball—she started in soccer and only joined the volleyball team after being encouraged by her parents.
“At a young age, I could see how coordinated and athletic she was, left-handed and destined to be tall,” Sarah King said. “That’s like finding a unicorn in the volleyball world; she had too many unique attributes for me not to introduce her to volleyball.”
Sarah King said she gave her daughter a choice between soccer and volleyball, although they both agree on volleyball being the more successful sports path.
There were several “unknowns” during Logan King’s recruiting process, with the Ontario native looking to embark on a new journey to the U.S.
“It was a whole ‘nother ball game for me … I didn’t know these schools, they didn’t know me, because I don’t think that there’s a lot of in-depth recruiting into Canada from the NCAA,” Logan King said.
To gain recognition at the NCAA level, the opposite hitter would create videos of her game footage and invite coaches to attend tournaments in both Canada and the U.S.
Logan King had to overcome the pressure of playing well in front of coaches who had possibly never seen her play before.
After arriving from Canada, the freshman saw the Walter Pyramid for the first time and immediately sensed it was the place where she would
make her mark.
However, the Pyramid was not the biggest selling factor for Logan King.
“It was when I came into the Pyra-
mid, the team had stopped their whole practice, and they all came to individually introduce themselves and gave me a hug,” Logan King said. “That kind of eased all the worries I was having of what it was going to be like, playing in a different country.”
Logan King said it meant a lot to her that she felt welcomed by The Beach family, which allowed her to see LBSU as the right place for her.
“We knew when we recruited her and we knew when she came to the gym in August of last year that she was going to be a force to be reckoned with,” LBSU head coach Natalie Reagan said.
Before Logan King’s success this season, she redshirted, allowing her to learn under former senior outside hitter Natalie Glenn, who was awarded 2024 First-Team All Big West honors.
“I learned that it matters how you play, regardless of whether you get recognized or how much you get recognized for it,” Logan King said. “Just because it’s not your time now doesn’t mean it’s not going to be your time later.”
Logan King proved just that, as the five-time Big West Freshman of the Week leads the conference in recognition this season.
She ranks third in the conference in kills per set with 3.58, and hopes to lead The Beach to a Big West Championship as well as make a push into the NCAA Tournament.
Logan King is no stranger to being recognized on the highest stages, having been named Best Opposite at the U21 Pan Am Cup while representing the Canadian National Team this summer.
Receiving the award was a confidence boost for Logan King, as playing against different countries means adjusting to and learning various styles of volleyball.
“I want to play well for Canada, and I want to represent our country well...and trying to do my best for the team and for the flag was definitely something I had to adjust to, but I think it was a cool opportunity to have,” Logan King said.
As Logan King continues to establish herself at The Beach, her parents remain grateful to the Long Beach community for welcoming their daughter into the fold as she settles into her new home away from home.
DIEGO PEREZ/Long Beach Current
LBSU star freshman Logan King ranks third in the Big West for kills per set this season with 3.58.