millions across the country attend 'no kings' protests
see page 6
CHARLOTTE LOCICERO, JORGE HERNANDEZ, ANGELA OSORIO/Long Beach Current
Millions of demonstrators nationwide took the streets for Saturday's "No King's" protests. The Long Beach Current was present for those in Long Beach, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C.
BY ETHAN BROWN News Asssistant
Brian Katz, associate math professor in the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics department, was recently the recipient of the 2025 SoCal-Nevada Section Award for Distinguished College or University Teaching of Mathematics, given out by the Mathematical Association of America.
“I want my students to not just learn, but be able to have that meta-conversation explaining how we know what we know,” Katz said. “My classes are maybe not what people normally assume in a math class.”
This epistemological approach is one of the reasons Katz was chosen to issue a plenary speech at the 100th anniversary fall 2025 MAA SoCalNevada conference at California State University, Fullerton. He will give his speech titled “Teaching Proof as a Way of Knowing” to his colleagues on Oct. 18.
According to their website, the MAA is the largest community of mathematicians, students and enthusiasts in the world. Membership in 2024 grew 29.8% to 26,211 total members.
The SoCal-Nevada section is home to 1,599 members – making it the second-largest denomination out of the 29 sections.
To be eligible for the Distinguished Teaching Award, nominees must:
• Be current MAA members
• Teach mathematical science courses at least half-time during the academic year
• Have at least seven years experience teaching at the college or university level
Each year, three section winners are awarded the national MAA’s Deborah and Franklin Tepper Haimo Award for Distinguished College or University Teaching of Mathematics.
Land acknowLedgment
1250 Bellflower Blvd., LA4-203 Long Beach, CA, 90804
Grace Lawson
Community Engagement Editor
Katz was trained in theoretical math before transitioning to educational research. He is also the credential coordinator for undergraduate math majors who want to become teachers.
CSULB Associate Math Professor Brian Katz's favorite classes to teach are geometry and abstract because his students can dive into the philosophical nature of math on Oct. 17. Read
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BY ANGELA OSORIO Chief Copy Editor
Bouquets, colored Post-its and printed photos adorned an altar commemorating Long Beach State industrial design student Spencer Timms on Tuesday, Oct. 14.
Classmates, friends and professors walked up to the podium to comment and reflect on memories of Timms.
The Department of Design honored Timms, who died from a stabbing during an off-campus altercation on Oct. 4, with a memorial service at the Duncan Anderson Gallery, where nearly 50 faculty and students gathered to remember the 22-year-old.
Many in attendance said he was a quiet, hardworking and focused student.
Classmate Matthew Veyette said he could tell Timms had a lot of professionalism and passion for what he did.
“He really did care about giving back and about not taking things for granted. Even the smallest gestures he didn’t take for granted,” Veyette said. “He was one of us; he was one of the designers.”
Former classmate and friend Adrian Garcia took design classes with Timms and checked in with him regularly. They would discuss ideas for projects, and Timms would crack jokes and share memes.
“He would design so long that he sometimes didn’t sleep a lot,” Garcia said. “He had grit.”
Garcia said he was into cats, music artists such as Computer Data and card games.
Many classmates and friends appreciated Timms’ humor and witty comments.
Classmate Xina Weicks said as time progressed, she got to know the funnier side of Timms.
“He just comes up with the funniest jokes,” classmate Xina Weicks said at the memorial. “I feel like I could be myself around Spencer.”
Timms would hang out with students from the junior and senior industrial design cohort off campus.
“I’m so glad he got to know our whole cohort, and I’m glad we got to know that side of him outside of school … I hope he knows that he was really loved,” Weicks said.
One student recalled bonding with Timms over their love for cars.
“This weird thing with design students that love cars is that you instantly
REHANSA
An altar honoring Spencer Timms is located in the Design building. Students and faculty have left flowers and are welcomed to write a moment or thought to Timms.
The playfulness, the energy, the sense of risk-taking, all of that, I remember seeing in Spencer. ”
Royce Smith College of the Arts dean
can sort of get a gist of who they are by what they drive, and he had a sick car,”
Aidan Forsberg said at the memorial.
“He had a ‘90s Honda, a CRX.”
Timms transferred from Saddleback College last fall and was preparing to apply to the competitive portfolio review process in the Department of Design.
After industrial design students finish their lower-division classes, they must submit a portfolio review to enter junior and senior studio courses to complete their bachelor of science degree.
Garcia noted that Timms was inter-
ested in transportation design. One of his designs from a previous class, a helmet, was inspired by Volkswagen.
The helmet was later featured in the department’s student display.
College of the Arts Dean Royce Smith said the university will honor Timms with a posthumous degree at next spring’s commencement.
“The playfulness, the energy, the sense of risk-taking, all of that, I remember seeing in Spencer,” Smith said at the memorial. “We always knew that Spencer had something to say, or that some-
thing was cooking in that brilliant mind of his.”
For some faculty members, Timms’ recent passing is reminiscent of a past tragedy. In 2015, Nohemi Gonzalez, a senior industrial design student, was killed in a terrorist attack while in Paris.
Design department chair Debra Satterfield said the faculty at the department have experienced repeated tragedies with students that will never get easier, but they will never forget.
“It’s like reliving what we have lived in the past with other students [who] died, but the pain was the same. The pain was still strong; it moves you,” Matias Ocana, lecturer of industrial design, said at the memorial. “He will be missed.”
Ocana had Timms as a student for two semesters.
“[He] was an excellent student. I mean, his dedication, his work ethic, were something to admire,” Ocana said.
Ocana said Timms had a very quiet personality and was respectful, dedicated and engaged with the material.
Students from Timms’ Design 254 class, which focuses on toy design manufacturing, will assist in completing Timms’ final project, a cat toy he started. His love for cats inspired the project.
“He was excelling. He really, really was putting together an amazing job,” Ocana said.
Ocana said it may take time to retrieve Timms’ files and the project will likely be completed toward the end of the semester.
Garcia said students have discussed acquiring a remembrance plaque for Timms and taking it to the junior and senior studio. After they graduate, the plaque would be given to his parents.
Garcia made a Dia de los Muertos altar for Timms in his studio.
“I know some people, especially students here, sometimes it’ll be their first time [grieving] where they don’t know how to process their emotions,” Garcia said. “It’s the time to be vulnerable, to be leaning on each other. It’s not time to be strong right now.”
Garcia said the studio has become a safe space for design students who knew Timms, where they can open up to each other while working on projects or between classes.
“The best gift that we can give to our friend now that he’s gone is to admit that our hearts are breaking,” Garcia said at the memorial. “I think it would go better for us if we just lean on each other and just let our hearts break together.”
AIDEN REDSTEER/Long Beach Current
Officer Garrett Evans (left) demonstrates the equipment while Community Engagement Officer Corina Washington shows the live feed that is viewed on a tablet by trainers during the sessions.
BY AIDEN REDSTEER Contributor
The California State University Chancellor’s Office supplied the Long Beach State Police Department with new Axon Virtual Reality equipment during a recent decision to standardize all campus police equipment.
“We are going to be able to get almost real-life scenarios in these trainings and provide them to our officers,” Sgt. Stephen Gray said.
The new VR equipment will provide CSULB police with more training sessions on handling mental health crisis calls and scenarios that require de-escalation skills.
The first round of training with the new equipment started in September of this year, with future VR training expected to begin in the coming months.
Officer Garrett Evans, one of the first trained on the new equipment, will as-
sist in training future officers as the new Axon coordinator.
“We are trying to create realistic scenarios that mimic split-second decisions responding to critical incidents,” Evans said. “We can do it all in a safe environment and help officers be better when they respond to calls out there.”
At first glance, the Axon equipment looks like current VR sets on the market. The Axon set includes a replica of the new Taser 10, a less-than-lethal armament carried by CSULB police, and a tablet that allows trainers to view everything in the virtual space.
A Long Beach Current reporter was allowed to try out the new equipment and training sessions.
The virtual trainings supplied by Axon remove any game-like qualities. The sessions last for only a few minutes at a time and are realistic scenarios with life-like individuals in varying degrees of emotional distress.
The trainee must use rapid observation skills and critical thinking to de-escalate a variety of situations.
The training covers issues such as the
appropriate time to draw the Taser 10 or use its warning flash, and the situations that justify using the Taser 10 to subdue an individual, like when a weapon is drawn on the trainee.
Next month, the training sessions will incorporate artificial intelligence, enabling trainees to use verbal commands in the scenarios.
The life-like quality of the virtual sessions aims to be closer to actual highstakes events that occur in the field. Each session will be reviewed with the trainee to improve future actions in real-life situations.
“It’s the perfect opportunity for people to look through the eyes of the police officer,” Evans said.
Community Engagement Officer Corina Washington explained that the VR equipment could be available during future campus police events.
This would give students a chance to go through the training and increase their understanding of police work on campus.
Some training, such as active shooter training, were previously only available
every two years due to the amount of time and resources needed to conduct them. With the Axon VR equipment, these training sessions will be accessible to every campus officer at least once a year.
The Los Angeles Police Department has been using a similar technology, V-Armed VR equipment, in recent years.
The LA Public Press reported that the LAPD is planning a $10 million facility for the VR equipment and training sessions.
The CSU Chancellor’s Office purchased the Axon equipment for all 22 CSU Police Departments, but has not responded to the Long Beach Current regarding the cost of the equipment.
The Axon equipment will not require a dedicated facility. Additionally, there was no direct cost to CSULB students.
“It makes this flexible, we can do this at the station or we can do it in a classroom,” Sargent Gray said. “We can even provide students who do not understand police, some actual real-life scenarios. The possibilities are endless with this technology now.”
BY JOSH GENTLE & MARIANA RAMOS Contributors
“What’s going on?”
Lesli Morales, a first-year criminology student, recalled thinking upon seeing numerous sites of renovation across campus on the first day of fall classes.
She had no knowledge of the construction prior to that first day.
Almost everyone who navigates from lower to upper campus knows about the University Student Union renovation. However, it is unclear if prospective students know about this $315 million undertaking.
Prospective students checking out the admissions webpage might see a shot of the Walter Pyramid, a section of campus currently unaffected by any USU renovation closures. The page is free of any information about the construction.
Long Beach State might be a dream school for some. However, the social life and campus they might be expecting is plagued with construction zones instead, due to the university’s Future U Project.
Student Affairs officials have maintained that continued work is being done to make applicants aware of the Future U Project and the current state of campus.
“We’ve shared about the upcoming construction project during outreach events and campus tours,” Beth Lesen, vice president of Student Affairs, said in an email exchange with the Long Beach Current.
However, first-year students thought differently.
Morales recalled not hearing or seeing anything about the construction at her Student Orientation, Advising and Registration day, where she came to see the campus in person.
“We’re proud of this university so we work hard to be clear, direct and transparent with applicants,” Lesen said.
First-year child development major Ashley Gil Velazquez also found out about the construction only upon arriving at campus.
“I would have liked if they gave us a heads-up,” Gil said. She noted that she would have preferred if the university mentioned the construction in her acceptance letter.
Steven M. Salcido, assistant vice
”
I would have liked if they gave us a heads-up.
La said that while she did know about the construction before she accepted her offer, she found out about it from a friend, not the university.
First-year aerospace engineering student Adam Shaewitz was “a little disappointed” when he found out about the construction when he arrived on campus.
Ultimately, he said that his education was more important, so the construction wasn’t a dealbreaker.
Student Affairs officials explained that the university provides clear, accessible and direct information about the construction on their website and social media.
“Prospective students who aren't able to visit in person can find information through our admission’s prospective student website,” Salcido said in an email.
The “Prospective Students” section of the university’s website on Oct. 16. Mention of the Future U project is overshadowed by links regarding application deadlines and tuition payments. | Screenshot taken from CSULB's Prospective Students website.
The Prospective Students section of the university’s website features a tab about the Future U Project that can be found at the bottom left corner of the page, under other tabs regarding pertinent applicant information.
The tab on the prospective students website links to Associated Students Inc.’s Future U webpage that shares detailed information regarding project funding, timelines and construction. However, it is uncertain whether applicants will know what “Future U” refers to at first glance.
More in-depth information can be found at the Future U page via the ASI website. It details the timeline of the construction and features a photodeck of what the Future U can be expected to look like. It also includes information about relocated services and additional FAQ’s. | Screenshot taken from CSULB's Future U Project website.
What the website doesn’t show are the piles of dirt, earth-movers and detour routes that cover that section of campus.
Ashley Gil Velazquez First-year child development student
president for admissions, stated in an email exchange with the Current that the USU renovation is discussed during
“direct conversations with prospective students and families.”
First-year psychology student Valerie
“Students continue to choose us for the qualities that truly define a top-tier university: high academic achievement, world-class faculty, exceptional student services, and a welcoming campus environment,” Salcido said.
Is that all, though?
“This was supposed to be a pretty campus,” Morales said.
BY LONG BEACH CURRENT STAFF
Millions of people attended “No Kings" Day protests in major U.S. cities Saturday afternoon, filling the streets with inflatable animal costumes, signs protesting President Trump’s administration, people role-playing as former presidents and speakers leading crowds in chants such as "no more kings.”
The Long Beach Current covered "No Kings" Day demonstrations in Long Beach, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C.
Crowds were mostly peaceful, and protests ended within a few hours, except for LA.
Nearly 7 million people attended the protests today, according to the organizer’s press release.
The nationwide protests were a continuation of "No Kings" Day events earlier this June, with millions of people rallying in U.S. cities and small towns. Today, there were over 500 more protests than in June, according to the organizer.
Indivisible Project is the nonprofit behind "No Kings" Day, reaching coast-to-coast. Leah Greenberg, its co-executive director, said the nonprofit has trained people in safety and de-escalation.
Organizers have also coordinated with cities with a heavy National Guard presence, according to several news reports.
Long Beach
A man steps up to a microphone. His voice rings through the sea of colorful signs and cultural flags.
“No Kings 2.0!”
Within seconds, the crowd roared back in unison, their chant echoing and bouncing back and forth through both sides of the street like ocean waves.
“Donald Trump has got to go!”
Crowds of hundreds of people in the morning quickly grew to thousands by noon as protesters packed Long Beach’s Bixby Park and Ocean Boulevard, all the way down to Bluff Park.
The streets echoed with blaring horns into the late afternoon as passing cars turned into amplifiers of solidarity— each honk became a signal of support for the protesters who lined the sidewalks.
The Bixby Park protest featured multiple guest speakers, including activist and former NFL player Chris Kluwe and
Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson, who beamed with excitement as he witnessed the energy and turnout from the crowd.
“I’m proud to see Long Beach is out here peaceful, expressing themselves, expressing their freedom of speech. Stand up for what matters,” Richardson said.
Protesters expressed themselves and their views through an abundance of radiant and eye-catching signs, clothes, chants and costumes, the latter of which played a big part in Long Beach’s second showing for “No Kings” Day.
Inflatable costumes have become a symbol of resistance, allowing protesters to confront serious issues with a touch of humor. They gained recent popularity during protest demonstrations against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Portland, Oregon.
Through self-expression, protesters forged a camaraderie, uniting in defiance against President Trump and the challenges created by his administration.
Lily Hinds, a psychology major at CSULB, was one of the protesters across the street from Bixby Park. She didn’t have a sign, but was given chalk by chance.
“Somebody threw this out of their car as they were driving past, it’s a bag of chalk,” Hinds said. “It has a sticky note in it that says ‘free speech is under attack, spread the word,’ so I’ve been going around and just writing on the sidewalk
GREEN/Long Beach Current protest on Oct. 18.
CHARLOTTE LOCICERO/Long Beach Current Protesters gathered at Ocean Boulevard. to participate in Long Beach's "No Kings" Day protest on Oct. 18, 2025.
JASON GREEN/Long Beach Current Protesters express their viewpoints through signage while marching down Ocean Boulevard to Long Beach City Hall during the “No Kings” Day protest on Oct. 18
’cause I didn’t bring a sign.”
Hinds said the fight feels more personal to her as a woman.
“I’m a woman, and he doesn’t believe in legal abortions,” Hinds said. “So, I possibly might not be able to get proper birth control, and he has bio power over me, meaning that he has control over my literal body, and there’s no law about that for men. So, why should there be one for women?”
Passing protesters could see her words written in bold letters along the sidewalk, including the most defiant message of the day: “NO KINGS.”
Brandishing the Straw Hat Pirates’ Jolly Roger from the popular anime and manga series “One Piece,” a flag that has become a global symbol of resistance against governments, Dora White waved it proudly through Bixby Park and across the street.
“I chose this flag because there’s a movement across the globe of overthrowing governments that aren’t for the people, and I think that’s exactly what our government needs,” she said.
Local resident Derrick Neal garnered attention from the crowd with a sign that stated, “No matter who you are: Latino, Black, Asian, white, etc. We band together and control the weather.”
Neal, who brought his family out to support, said he chose to miss out on watching his usual Saturday college football games to attend the protest.
“A protest of any kind that would bring all people together is positive,” Neal said. “Think about this, Los Angeles, San Diego, Santa Barbara … those aren’t French names. [Latinos] were here first, and then we don’t want to talk about that ‘Carnival Cruise’ [Black people] took to come here and build America.”
Neal reiterated his written catchphrase about the importance of banding together, a sentiment shared by Anthony Bryson, event organizer and executive director of SoCal Uprising.
Bryson’s mission with Long Beach’s “No Kings” Day protest was to showcase how the ongoing struggles of many different communities interconnect with Trump and his administration’s unpopular policies.
“It’s great to mobilize, but there has to be intent behind it. What are we doing to really change the narration and the structure of things?” Bryson said. “So, it’s gotta be more than just holding up signs. It’s gotta be that call and response; it’s gotta be the engagement with community that just takes us to the next level.”
Working alongside Bryson was event organizer and childcare provider Toni Engberg.
Engberg’s voice trembled with tears streaming down her face as she spoke, pouring her heart into the message she hoped every protester would take with them.
“I hope they hear that they’re not alone,” Engberg said. “That we are all in this fight together, and keep going … it’s just heartbreaking. I get exhausted [because] there’s just too many people sitting on the sidelines. Everybody needs to be up and out and doing something to resist, because we can’t let this happen.”
Starting at Bixby Park, Bryson took the lead as protesters marched their way down Ocean Boulevard, through the streets of Downtown Long Beach and onto the steps of Long Beach City Hall for one final, peaceful demonstration to end “No Kings” Day 2.0.
“No one is better than anyone else. We all have unique talents, but when we come together, we can play like a beautiful orchestra,” Bryson said before thanking the crowd for their support.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 8
Thousands of people attended the No Kings' Day protest in Washington, D.C. on Oct. 18. Many protesters came from D.C., Maryland and other neighboring states.
The demonstration began around noon, with protesters blocking off access to Spring Street and Temple Street with vans and trucks.
What started as a small gathering blossomed into large crowds centralized in front of Los Angeles City Hall and Gloria Molina Grand Park.
The large crowds, with many people waving creative signs and adorned in colorful costumes, congregated peacefully with music and food vendors available throughout.
Protesters and organizers said the plan was for the crowd to march from City Hall to the Federal Building on Temple and Los Angeles Street at 2 p.m.
Yahdira Jimenez, an LA activist who protests at the Federal Building weekly, said she saw a total of eight white vans carrying National Guard troops arriving at the Federal Building around 12:45 p.m.
A Current reporter observed four vans arrive, all full of National Guard troops.
Crowds continued to grow and peacefully assemble until 2 p.m., when the march to the Metropolitan Detention Center was set to start.
A female officer revealed to be a rookie by a protestor identifying LAPD holds the line in front of the LA Federal Building during the evening portion of the Oct. 18 No Kings Day 2 LA protest was in full swing in the afternoon. While the protest day was relatively peaceful as evening gave way into night police would clash with protestors later past 7 p.m.
Protesters carrying signs and flags gather outside LA City Hall during the “No Kings” Day protest before marching through the streets of downtown Los Angeles on Oct. 18.
Around 2 p.m., a large truck fully equipped with speakers and a large stage for music parked in front of City Hall. A live band played music before speakers took the mic in anticipation of the march.
"If you want to see a real 'hate America' rally, just look at the White House," they said.
"We raise our voices, we raise our signs and we raise our fists and say, ‘Thank you, we will march for you, we will stand beside you, we will honor you,’" a protester said in front of L.A. City Hall, in recognition of undocumented citizens who fear attending these protests.
Around 2:45 p.m., protesters began their march toward the Metropolitan Detention Center.
Protesters could be heard chanting, "ICE out of LA," standing on Aliso Street over the 101 freeway.
After the demonstration made its way back to LA City Hall, protesters spoke to the Los Angeles Police Department officers on Alameda Street, making a stance on ICE activity.
“We’re all part of the community,” one protester yelled. “I’m a teacher, man. You’re a police officer, you’re supposed to protect us. Why do you not get it?”
About an hour later, the LAPD ran over a protester at
Alameda Street and Commercial Street.
A LAPD officer told the Current they did not know anything regarding the incident. They tried to send help, but the person reportedly left, the officer said.
On Alameda Street and Commercial Street, the LAPD began using force against protesters standing behind yellow tape, pushing a woman back with a baton.
Police also began recording protesters with a cell phone, stating it was for reference purposes to prove activity that took place, not to be used for media or to find protesters.
As the sun began to go down, one protester used an app on his phone to identify LAPD officers and their salaries, announcing the officers' information to surrounding individuals. Washington, D.C.
Hundreds to thousands of protesters gathered on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C., marching toward the U.S. Capitol, chanting “No more kings” and “Free D.C.”
Protesters held signs opposing President Trump and his administration’s actions, including the increased presence of ICE, redistricting measures and the deployment of the National Guard.
Sen. Bernie Sanders made a special appearance, giving
a speech protesting against tax cuts to the wealthy, President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill, the government shutdown and more, with the audience responding in cheers.
D.C. resident Harmony Dale said it was her first time attending a protest.
“There’s just so much going on these days, it’s hard to sit home and not be participating,” Dale said. “I just disagree with what a lot of this administration is doing.”
Marike Stokker, an urban sketcher from the Netherlands, said she arrived in D.C. yesterday and her son, who lives in the city, invited her to the protest.
Stokker was drawing live sketches of the event.
“People should let [others] hear their voices,” Stokker said.
Khoury Williams, Grace Lawson, Jason Green, Mikaela Perez, Charlotte LoCicero, Skylar Stock, Delfino Camacho, Dante Estrada, Isabella Garcia, Jorge Hernandez, Angel Pasillas and Angela Osorio
BY ETHAN BROWN News Assistant
Asystemwide antisemitism complaint against the California State University brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has some professors worried about their right to privacy.
On Sept. 25, the EEOC issued a subpoena to California State University, Los Angeles, requesting that all employees turn in their personal phone numbers and email addresses.
“Please be assured that we are responding appropriately,” CSU Chancellor Mildred Garcia wrote in a Sept. 26 email to all CSU employees about the investigation.
According to Garcia’s email, the EEOC has started directly contacting faculty and staff from all campuses to review antisemitism allegations and inquire into their on-campus experiences.
The California Faculty Association, which represents around 29,000 employees across the CSU’s 22 campuses, has demanded a copy of the subpoena to review and respond to.
A systemwide email on Sept. 26 from CFA President Margarita Berta-Ávila advised faculty members not to respond if contacted by the EEOC and to “let them know you will get back to them after you have had a chance to consult with your union or legal counsel.”
“This subpoena raises serious concerns about our members’ privacy,” Berta-Ávila said.
Lucas Wukmer, a mathematics lecturer at The Beach and current treasurer of CFA Long Beach, said it is “disingenuous to consider this probe anything other than an attempt to stifle academic freedom.”
Wukmer is also the communications director of the Caucus of Rank and File Education Workers, an unofficial caucus of active CFA members seeking to democratize the union.
He believes the antisemitism investigation is nothing more than a smokescreen by the Trump administration, which is “specifically trying to control places where history is accurately studied.”
The CFA backs this up, claiming in an Oct. 2 statement that the investigation is part of President Trump’s efforts to curb
DELFINO CAMACHO/Long Beach Current
On Sept. 26, CSU Chancellor Mildred Garcia informed the community that the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission had initiated a systemwide antisemitism complaint against the CSU.
diversity, equity and inclusion on college campuses, rather than a sincere attempt to address antisemitism.
Anthropology professor Ron Loewe, who is Jewish, has served on three hiring committees at Long Beach State and said he has never experienced antisemitism stories in hiring or firing.
According to Loewe, the “warrantless searching through faculty member databases is a violation of the Fourth Amendment – our right to privacy.”
As frustrated as the CFA has been with Garcia’s complicit nature regarding the probe, there are voices at CSULB and across the CSU system who believe the investigation is warranted.
Professor Jeffrey Blutinger, who is director of the Jewish Studies program at CSULB, is fighting antisemitism on campus as well as antisemites in the Trump administration.
“I shouldn’t be required to choose which threat I ignore,” Blutinger said. “It is a no-win situation, and both result in an end goal that is unrecognizable.”
Blutinger spoke with the EEOC in September, expressing concerns over the consistent backlash he has received for being vocal about the Israeli strug-
gle–especially since the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks on Israel by militant Palestinian and Islamic group Hamas.
“I have had my bulletin board downstairs [in FO-2] vandalized five times, there have been antisemitic speakers on campus, calling liberatory Jewish feminism an impossibility,” Blutinger said.
Whereas Loewe called the CSU Chancellor’s compliance an “indication that Garcia is happy to damage faculty and clamp down on freedom of speech,” Blutinger knows many colleagues who are afraid to speak out due to President Trump’s “fear-mongering.”
Wukmer is willing to voice his opinions because he stated, “It should fall on people who are more secure to stand up for people who are less secure.”
While Wukmer, Loewe and many CFA members across campus and statewide are worried about the EEOC accessing their personal email addresses, Blutinger contends that a simple public records request allows anyone to obtain any faculty member’s email records.
Furthermore, all faculty email addresses are publicly posted on the department website, Blutinger noted.
“Zionists have weaponized antisem-
itism for resource gain, geopolitical access to the Middle East, and their religious purposes,” Wukmer said.
Blutinger said society has “used Jews as a weapon, creating the argument that there is this Jewish conspiracy...and as the values of the society changes, the conspiracy will change.”
For Loewe, he does not consider criticism of Israel to be antisemitic.
All three Long Beach State faculty members seem to view the foreseeable future through a bleak and skeptical lens. Blutinger said he is going to flee the country when he retires in two years.
As of Monday, Oct. 13, there has been no update in the EEOC antisemitism investigation, a process that Blutinger describes as “in fact-finding mode” and might take multiple years.
“People should be cautioned about their legal rights,” Loewe said. “Unless you are subpoenaed, you do not have to respond to requests from the federal government.”
On Oct. 10, the CFA announced its decision to sue the CSU over the disclosure of Cal State Los Angeles faculty personal information to the Trump administration.
Beach Current
Students sit on benches at Liberal Arts 5 scrolling through their phones on Oct. 8. The recent changes to TikTok ownership has had mixed reactions among students over security concerns.
BY JOSHUA FLORES News Asssistant
The recent transfer of TikTok from Chinese-based company ByteDance to U.S. investors has prompted concerns among students over data collection and TikTok’s algorithm.
Despite the deal, ByteDance will still own TikTok stock but is restricted from holding more than 20% of the company’s stock. ByteDance will also have one director on the app’s seven-seat board, but will be barred from the company’s security committee.
While the deal diminishes Chinese influence in the app, it opens up privacy and security concerns regarding U.S. companies and the U.S. government.
“I think that there should be security concerns, obviously, people were concerned about China…getting access to data,” CSULB lecturer Scott Moss said. “But as we know, in America, it seems like everyone has access to our data and even the government…doesn’t need a warrant to get our data because they’re able to buy our data from data brokers just like private companies.”
Moss said the switch from Chinese to
American ownership does not address security concerns; it merely changes who will collect the data from TikTok and manage its security.
Students reacted to the change in TikTok’s ownership, which included the involvement of a US-based tech company, Oracle. The company violated its users’ privacy by selling their personal information.
“A lot of our content is getting censored and I feel like that’s because they know we’ll stand up for Gaza, so they’re starting to do this surveillance and control,” 3rd year, sociology major Sarai Rodriguez said. “To me, it seems like they’re moving onto surveillance of the app because people are becoming woke on TikTok.”
Rodriguez, along with other students, like third-year accounting major Ben Ordueño, has chosen not to delete the app despite the ongoing security concerns.
“Security issues definitely play a big role. It’s something that I definitely have to think about, especially with important information and putting myself on the app,” Ordueño said. “TikTok is a good app, and I feel like it’s the best social media.”
Those who continue to use the app, despite perceived security risks, often
cite access to news and information as their reason for not deleting the app.
“I get news through TikTok,...So will I stop using the app? Probably not, but hearing about this makes me wonder if other countries can be overlooking our information,” Ordueño said.
Others were not informed of TikTok’s ownership transfer, while some students did not have any privacy or data concerns.
Madelene Salazar, a fourth-year marketing major, has used TikTok over the past two years to follow social trends and for class assignments.
Salazar has no data privacy concerns regarding her use of TikTok because she said most companies already provide user data to other companies.
“Once you sign up [to use TikTok and other apps], you know [your] information might be leaked,” Salazar said.
When a law banning the TikTok app in the U.S. was enacted earlier this year, Salazar did not delete it. She said the ban affected people who use the platform for marketing, such as in-app shops, where users can sell items to those looking for cheaper alternatives.
After finding out TikTok will now be owned and overseen by Opera instead of ByteDance, Salazar said it will be beneficial for U.S. citizens for an American
company to own the app.
Others who have chosen to step away from social media also provided their thoughts on the app’s transfer, citing concerns about content being posted rather than security concerns. First-year accounting major Alex Noda said he deleted social media, but not because of safety concerns.
“I feel like a lot of political content gets cut out of our algorithms and does send out the wrong message, and that’s when creators come around and kind of want you to see and support their movement,” Noda said. “I feel that if people were precautious about their information on TikTok, they wouldn’t be posting about the stuff they do.”
Regardless of whether or not students are concerned about TikTok’s transfer, one thing is certain: the deal is going through, and U.S. ownership of the app is inevitable.
“I think it’s important for us to be aware of what we put on there,” Ordueño said. “It is social media, and anyone can see it, but to think that someone might be stealing our information is pretty scary.”
Jaime De Haro and Photo Assistant Eddy Cermeno contributed to this story.
BY SABRINA INFANTIS & ASHLEY TURNER Contributors
For decades, the Chartroom was a staple at Long Beach State.
Opened in 1972 alongside the original University Student Union, the restaurant was an upscale dining option for both faculty and students.
Today, however, the Chartroom’s role has shifted, as the space now serves as an office for staff involved in the renovation of the USU.
Danny Paskin, a tenured professor at CSULB, remembers meeting some of his peers in the Chartroom during his first years on campus.
Paskin described the space as “private” and “exclusive” for faculty to gather for leisure, as well as occasional events.
An outside look at the soon-to-be defunct Chartroom during its years
of operation in June 2019. Originally opened in the ’70s as a higher-end or more upscale dining experience. Photo courtesy of Beach Shop Communications
But now, the Chartroom’s days as an eatery are officially over.
There are no plans to bring the restaurant back into the space once the building is fully renovated.
The renovation will feature a modern two-story addition to the USU, according to Shannon Couey, CSULB’s communications coordinator.
The Chartroom’s road to retirement began when it closed in 2020 and became a COVID-19 care center during the height of the pandemic.
According to Couey, the Chartroom space is being repurposed yet again during construction.
The space that served the campus for nearly 50 years as an understated “fine dining” experience is now being used as its own planning center.
Currently, it is being used as office space for the contractor-architect,
design and build team, PENTA-Gensler, who is overseeing the transformation of the USU.
“The team will continue to work out of the Chartroom until the building is taken over for demolition during winter,” Couey said. “At that point, they will move into new office spaces in the foundation building.”
The Future U Project will replace the current Chartroom, University Dining Plaza and the Nugget locations with a 61,000 square-foot facility, Couey said.
The first floor will be home to ballrooms and event spaces, while the second floor will be a new food court, the Marketplace. The Marketplace will include the latest iteration of the Nugget, along with seven additional food vendors.
“The team will be moved out of the Chartroom and into the construction trailers on Hardfact Hill at the end of the year as the entire University Dining Plaza will be demolished next February,” said Melissa Soto, manager of Capital
Program Development, Design and Construction.
According to Soto, the Chartroom has served as a workspace for contractors and architects for about a year, filling the vacancy since the pandemic.
The prime appeal Soto noted about the space was its accessibility. The space, located in the center of campus, allowed for more interactions with staff, improving efficiency.
According to Soto, the Future U project should be completed by the summer of 2028.
“The only memory I have is of dining there during a scholar’s luncheon while I was a student at CSULB,” said Dianna McCluskey, CSULB alumnus and lecturer in the School of Criminology, Criminal Justice, and Emergency Management. “However, the idea of revamping the student union excites me for the students.”
The demolition of the Chartroom will mark the end of an era for CSULB while opening the door to another.
BY LILA MUKASA Arts & Life Assistant
With Halloween just around the corner, the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music Concert Band and the Hughes Middle School Wind Ensemble will fill Gerald R. Daniel Recital Hall with spooky tunes for the conservatory’s annual Spooktacular show.
The show will be held on Oct. 21 at 7:30 p.m.
CSULB students must show ID at the door to receive the discounted ticket price of $8.75, which is also available for children ages eight and under. $23.75 is
the price for non-students and $13.75 for seniors.
Children aged 13 and under who arrive in costume receive free admission; however, all audience members are encouraged to come in costume for a night of spooky fun.
Associate Director of Bands Adam Friedrich is overseeing and MC’ing the show.
“We’re just trying to make it a fun event so that everybody gets to participate in the Halloween spirit,” Friedrich said.
The concert band - which can be best understood as an “orchestra without strings,” according to Friedrich, will include wind band instruments such as flutes, saxophones, trumpets and tubas
as well as percussion instruments like cymbals and snare drum.
Graduate students David Blackinton, Matthew Garza, Benjamin Maley, Jennifer Sosa and Josue Valle will conduct the concert band.
The Hughes Middle School Wind Ensemble will take the stage first, performing pieces like the eerie yet lighthearted “Skeleton Crawl” and music from “Wicked.”
Following intermission, the concert band will first perform “Night Dances.”
The piece’s sounds simultaneously evoke a “shrouded nighttime evening walk” and vibrant flashes of color, Friedrich said.
More spooky-themed titles set to be performed by the concert band include
“Cycle of the Werewolves,” with “Nightmare Before Christmas” concluding the show.
In collaborating with local ensembles like the Hughes Middle School Wind Ensemble, the conservatory aims to “give back” to the wider community by bringing performance opportunities to local, young students with an interest in music.
Friedrich is looking forward to seeing music students of all levels do their first performance of the year.
“That’s the exciting part for me, it’s just to witness the growth and the progression from August to now, and then finally getting the opportunity for them to showcase their growth and their talents,” Friedrich said.
BY JOSH GENTLE
Contributor
Over a thousand years ago, the Sumi-e art form originated in China during the Tang Dynasty.
Later on, Buddhist monks introduced the ink painting technique to Japan.
Thursday afternoon, Sumi-e flowed to Long Beach State’s Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden.
As regular patrons made their way out just before 4 p.m., the garden filled with a peaceful silence, only interrupted by splashing koi fish and flute music that floated up from hidden speakers.
The monthly Art Days event at the Japanese Garden had begun.
Art Days occur each third week of the month, each event focusing on one specific artistic process. This month featured the ink-painting art form Sumi-e.
Traditionally, Sumi-e ink is handcrafted in a process that involves kneading soot and gelatin or resin into a thick consistency, which is then dried into hard bars. The ink is always black, never multi-colored.
To transfer ink to paper, the ink bar is ground in a small stone plate with water, where it can then be applied to a brush.
Koko Hyodo, the garden coordinator, admitted that, in a break from tradition, the Japanese Garden gets liquid ink from Amazon.
Sumi-e attempts to capture the essence of nature with calculated brushstrokes.
“It’s not always about the details, but maybe more about gesture and [the] general shape,” said Catherine Kinkela, a student assistant at the Japanese Garden.
The Japanese Garden also uses special paper to ensure a proper transfer of ink.
“It’s texturized so the ink doesn’t spread too much, [it just] helps [the ink] soak into the paper easier and faster,” Kinkela said.
Hyodo said that event turnouts usually vary. Last time, 20 people showed up to practice Sumi-e.
Of the five people who showed up for Thursday’s event, one was True Dang, a senior-year supply chain management student. She felt strongly about attending the garden’s events.
“I think every student should [come here], you take it for granted,” she said.
Dang spent her time this Art Day try -
Senior supply chain management major True Dang drew
This was Dang's third time visiting the garden.
ing to capture a lively scene of the garden’s structures and greenery.
“They really try to make the experience nice for students,” she said, commenting on the presentation of the art materials.
The garden put together red carrying trays for attendees that included the supplies needed for Sumi-e, ink, brushes and paper.
Along with a brief explanation of how to use the supplies, it is customary for the garden to send attendees on a self-guided exploration of the art form.
There was no communal feeling to the event. Attendees branched off into different corners of the garden on a solo adventure. Sumi-e is meant to be introspective and to deviate from any set of rules.
“They pick the spot, and then they just, you know, draw,” Hyodo said.
On Saturday, Nov. 8, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., the Japanese Garden is hosting its Chrysanthemum Event, which is set to feature craft activities and live music.
It’s not always about the details, but maybe more about gesture and [the] general shape. ”
Catherine Kinkela Student assistant at the Japanese Garden.
BY LEYNA VU Opinions Editor
Note: This advice column draws on the insights and experiences of the Current’s staff, offering practical and relatable guidance. As the column grows, we plan on featuring questions and stories from our readers, creating a space for honest conversation and shared experiences with a little support when you need it most.
Q: We are halfway through the semester, yet I feel so overwhelmed with my course load. How do I keep up with my peers who always seem to know what is going on?
- So Confused
A: I understand. The stress might be high
at the moment, but I can assume that your peers feel the same way that you do—they probably do a better job of hiding their worries for the semester ahead.
I understand your apprehension about having lots of homework, exams and other assignments due for each of your classes.
Rather than thinking about everything you have to do this semester, I recommend taking it one day at a time. Every large endeavor can be broken down into smaller steps, and those steps can always be broken down into even tinier steps.
The moment you get confused in your classes, make note of what exactly you were confused about.
Sometimes, I fall into the trap of not knowing what I don’t know, but knowing when and where the confusion begins will
allow you to make the most out of tutoring, office hours or self-study.
For complex subjects, there is no shame in going to tutoring. Some may say that tutoring was not helpful for them, but you won’t know until you try.
Office hours are another great way for students to try to learn the material quickly. Your teachers know the curriculum the best, so they are naturally the best tutors out there.
If you are scared of attending office hours on your own, I recommend going with a friend, because not only will you have the resolve to actually attend office hours, but you will both do better on the exam.
And finally, the people who seem to do it all never actually do. Sometimes, it is a
matter of knowing what to prioritize at a given moment.
If two big assignments are due on the same night and you do not have the time to put your full effort into both, prioritize the assignment that would have the largest impact on your grade.
Remember, school is by no means easy and you deserve to be here. Diana Lee Huynh, graduate programs specialist at the College of Business, said flexibility and resilience are key traits that allow students to be successful on campus.
“Life happens, and it can get hard balancing school, work and life responsibilities,” Huynh said. “Students who are able to adapt, ask for help when needed, and keep moving forward are ones that usually thrive and overcome their obstacles.”
CHARLOTTE LOCICERO/Long Beach Current
StopByeCafe is an Indonesian Fusion food truck that has prices ranging from $3 to $13, parked on the lower side of campus on Sept. 4.
BY JOSHUA MIN Opinions Assistant
Gone are the days of El Pollo Loco’s Street Corn Chicken Bowl, Subway’s customizable sandwiches and Carl’s Jr.’s “More Bang, Less Buck” value menu on campus.
The 2025-26 academic year at Long Beach State brings us vending machines, food trucks and farmers’ market vendors who pack up before 2 p.m.
Despite the university’s attempts to provide food options, they haven’t quite hit the spot.
There are a couple of missing ingredients in the food merchant stew the school put together.
Convenience and price.
I wish not to cape for big fast food, but the restaurants inside the University Student Union had affordable prices and supported mobile ordering.
During my first semester at CSULB, I’d fire up the El Pollo Loco app and place an order to be ready for pickup by the time my class let out. I did all this before class started, of course.
I rarely exceeded $10 or 10 minutes to get lunch in hand. Nowadays, the 10-10 club is a thing of the past.
The Outpost Grill, PizzaForno vending machine, farmer’s market and various food trucks are all located on lower campus—which has limited seating capacity.
That puts our well-rounded students based in upper campus at a severe disadvantage, especially the ones who have
classes, club meetings and events to attend.
Another impacted demographic is the students who are in class late morning and early afternoon. Once the clock hits 2 p.m., many of the friendly faces you see feeding the public are gone.
In its place are the convenience stores, such as the Beach Hut, and the ones inside the Outpost and bookstore.
The Beach Hut offers refrigerated food in the form of salads and sandwiches, but those convenience stores get congested, and the people yearn for “fresh and hot” food.
In order to get something hot, we are limited to instant ramen and the InstaChef vending machine, which heats pre-packaged meals.
The USU’s food court was not simply a hangout spot—it was a reliable place to grab a meal for all students, regardless of their schedule.
None of the options provided on campus are friendly to students’ wallets. The vendors understandably have a bottom line, but eating consistently on campus will add up.
Other schools in the state have made remarkable strides in feeding their students. UC Davis has a food truck that offers free and healthy meals every week-
day. Students have the liberty to pay any price.
Fullerton College students can scan their student ID to receive a free meal that includes a bottle of water and a bag of chips.
Prior to fall 2024, Fullerton students had a daily $12 credit in the cafeteria that could be used on food, snacks, drinks or coffee.
When funding for that program ran out, Fullerton remained committed to alleviating that financial stress by continuing to provide free meals—just in a different manner.
Another option the school threw at us is the Beach Community Meal Bundle. The menu is vast and accommodating of dietary restrictions, but reaching the dining halls is somewhat of a voyage.
Taking a shuttle bus to get to one of the dining halls is not ideal.
The university’s plan to mix in a bunch of dining options has not bore much fruit.
When the Nugget Grill & Pub returns in 2028 alongside the new USU, it will surely be a success, but until then, the school must continue to figure out how to do a better job at feeding the current student body.
BY JUNIOR CONTRERAS Sports Assistant
Long Beach State (14-5) overpowered the University of Hawai’i (6-12) in a sweep on Friday, Oct. 17 in front of over 2,500 fans at the Walter Pyramid and a national audience on ESPNU.
The Rainbow Wahine, who lead the Big West conference in service aces, welcomed themselves into the Pyramid with an ace from sophomore libero Victoria Leyva to begin the final LBSU home conference game between the two longstanding rivals, as Hawai’i is set to leave the Big West following this season.
LBSU freshman middle blocker Sidney Hamaker had three of her four first set kills to respond early, giving The Beach a 4-2 lead that they never returned back to the Wahine.
LBSU dominated Hawai’i in every aspect, going on a 9-0 run led by kills from redshirt freshman opposite and four-time Big West Freshman of the Week LBSU Logan King and multiple service aces from sophomore set-
ter Madi Maxwell.
“When I’m serving, I’m literally just like, ‘I’m going to hit my serve, I’m going to hit a flow,’” Maxwell said. “I don’t need an ace, if an ace happens it happens.”
The Beach offense continued to flow, as they led by as much as 11 before taking the first set 25-16.
Hawaii came out firing in the second as three-straight kills and a service ace from Leyva tacked up an early 4-0 lead, forcing LBSU to use a timeout.
“I saw some lack of urgency and some hesitation that looked a little too familiar, so we just stopped it,” LBSU head coach Natalie Reagan said. “I think the timeout for me is just to give them the opportunity as leaders to talk about what they want to change in that moment, I thought they did a great job of that.”
Rainbow Wahine freshman outside hitter Cha'lei Reid, who leads the Big West in service aces with 31, took control of the Hawai’i offense with six of her team-high ten total kills in the set, helping her squad take a 14-11 lead.
However, in similar fashion to the first set, The Beach offense flowed
REHANSA KULATILLEKE/Long Beach Current LBSU senior middle blocker Rhiann Sheffie celebrates The Beach's victory during the final set. LBSU defeated Hawai'i 3-0 on Friday, Oct. 17 at the Walter Pyramid.
through the Wahine defense with a 4-0 run to take the lead at 20-17 after Maxwell’s third ace of the night.
Knotted up at 23 apiece, the seventh attack error in the set from Hawai'i took The Beach to set point in a back and forth set that featured a total of five ties, before LBSU senior middle blocker Rhiann Sheffie killed the Wahine’s set two victory dreams, 25-23.
“That’s some LB grit right there,” LBSU senior outside hitter Elise Agi said.
Agi’s grit transferred over into the third set where she had five of her game-high 11 kills on the night,
BY TIMOTHY HESSEN Sports Editor
As the 2025 Big West women’s soccer regular season heads to a close, teams race to finish at the top of the conference standings ahead of the postseason tournament, starting on Nov. 2.
With no host school set for either the women’s or men’s soccer tournaments, Big West schools have the rare opportunity to play to earn a home playoff game, with the No. 3 and No. 4 seeded teams hosting the No. 6 and No. 5 seeds, respectively, in the first round.
After the top two-ranked Big West teams receive a bye through the first round, the semifinals and finals will take place at the home of whichever team
takes the regular-season crown, incentivizing teams to earn home-field advantage in their aim to capture the conference title.
However, this opportunity is not afforded to any other programs in the Big West, as every other sport has a designated site for the postseason tournament, set before the year even begins.
While this setup may be more convenient for all parties involved, it often robs campus communities of their chance to support and be involved in the biggest games of their favorite team’s season.
Long Beach State will be the host of the championship tournaments for women’s volleyball, women’s water polo and track and field, but other programs like men’s volleyball, the crown jewel of LBSU athletics, will not get the chance
to host a playoff game regardless of how well they play.
Last season, LBSU’s race against the University of Hawai’i for the No. 1 seed was a must-see showdown between two of the top-ranked teams in the nation, with The Beach narrowly finishing a game ahead to win the regular season crown before losing to the Rainbow Warriors in the conference title game.
Despite LBSU surging ahead of Hawai’i in the conference standings, the match to decide the winner of the stacked Big West men’s volleyball conference was hosted by the Warriors, as the location was predetermined before the season began.
While the 2025 men’s volleyball season brought major hype and excitement to campus all season long, LBSU fans de-
allowing The Beach to sweep Hawaii 25-19, without giving the Wahine a lead or tie once in the final set.
“I think [we’re] in a really good place, motivation wise, and I think these wins, it does nothing but help them show up for practice,” Reagan said. “We’re constantly finding ways to move that needle and make sure that we’re holding the progress standard.”
LBSU’s victory over Hawai’i was its first since the 2023 season. The Beach next head to Cal State Northridge next on Thursday, Oct. 23 as they look to improve their conference record to 8-1 on the year.
served an opportunity to cheer on their team in their home of the Walter Pyramid in the postseason.
Adopting the format that soccer already has in place for other sports in the conference would create exhilarating stakes late in every sport’s regular season and would result in much more engaged student fanbases for the great student athletes who call the Big West home.
BY MONICA BADOLIAN
Sports Assistant
Long Beach State club hockey picked up a hard-fought 5-4 win over Chapman University on Friday, Oct. 17, fueled by strong offensive performances at Lakewood ICE.
The action started early, with Chapman striking first at 19:12 in the opening of the period.
However, the lead did not last long, as just two minutes later freshman forward Boston Parcher tied the game for The Beach, finishing off a clean pass from junior forward Na-
than Compton in front of the net.
LBSU continued to press offensively, outshooting the Panthers in the early minutes. Midway through the period, senior Sergio Grotano added another goal, assisted by senior forward David Nguyen to give The Beach their first lead of the night.
Physical play ramped up soon after, with both teams trading penalties and big hits. After Chapman capitalized on a 4-on-4 situation to tie the game at 2-2, Compton responded quickly, slicing through the Panthers traffic on a breakaway to restore the LBSU lead.
LBSU senior forward David Nguyen battles for the puck in front of the
Chapman net during the second period in The Beach's 5-4 victory over the Panthers on Friday, Oct. 17. Photo courtesy of Sierra Pena of LBSU Club Hockey
I kind of just cavemanned through it,” Compton said. “I had a few guys grabbing me and just put it on net and it went in."
A series of key saves from LBSU sophomore goalkeeper Jacob Ribeiro helped save the advantage as the period ended 3-2 in favor of the Beach.
The Panthers came out strong to open the second period, scoring the equalizing goal to make it 3-3.
But LBSU regained control midway through the frame when Parcher scored his second score of the night, finishing a perfect set up from junior JT Hester and Compton.
Despite taking a late interference penalty, LBSU’s goaltending held firm, keeping the score 4-3 heading into the final period.
Early in the third, Compton also got his second goal of the night, assisted by Hester to extend the lead to 5-3.
In moments like those, you just have to score them, every little one counts," Compton said.
Chapman refused to go quietly, scoring shortly after but LBSU’s defense held strong down the stretch to secure the 5-4 win.
The teamwork and chemistry between The Beach's star trio of Compton, Hester and Parcher was on full display in the victory.
“We’ve been playing together for like three or four games now,” Parcher said. “Over time we’ve just built chemistry, knowing where we are, communicating. The more time we spend together, the chemistry just builds.”
With this win, The Beach will look to continue to build on momentum heading into their next matchup against San Diego State University on Saturday, Oct. 18.
“It’s going to be a grind for sure,” Parcher said. “They’re going to be way faster and more physical, so we’ve just got to go in with the mindset that it’s going to be tough and be ready to grind.”
BY MONICA BADOLIAN Sports Assistant
“Intentness” was the word chosen to represent senior Levi Taylor during a team-building exercise for Long Beach State cross country. Cross country assistant coach Devin Elizondo said the word captures who Taylor is both on and off the course.
“It was specifically something that he does well that I wanted his teammates to hear from him; how he does it,” Elizondo said. “He pushes himself really hard; he cares about this and wants to do it well.”
Taylor’s dedication to his sport goes beyond cross country, showing deep commitment to year-round training. Elizondo commented on the rarity of Taylor’s workload.
“Very few NCAA athletes are three-sport athletes. Most do one sport, maybe two, but [Taylor] is training year-round to reach these heights in cross country, indoor track and outdoor track,” he said. “It’s exciting to see this group push themselves and build a championship culture.”
In just the second meet of this season, Taylor posted the eighth-fastest 8K meter time in Long Beach State history at the UC Riverside Invitational on Sept. 27.
2025 has been a banner year for Taylor, as the star runner has excelled in not just cross country, but also track and indoor track and field.
He ran the sixth fastest 1500m time in Long Beach State history,
posting a 3:45.75 time to finish seventh at the Big West Championships on May 17.
“Every time we pull up in the mornings to the flagpole, I’d look at the starting line of the 1500 and visualize starting on the track,” Taylor said. “I remember being on the line in the 1500 final, just looking at the line I had visualized throughout the whole year and saying, ‘This is the moment.’ It was rewarding to look back on my training and know I did the work.”
He also recorded the sixth fastest 3000m time in Long Beach State history in 8:31.14 to win the event at the Trojan Invitational on March 22, and posted a career-best 4:10.16 in the mile at the Steve Scott Invitational to place third on May 2.
Taylor has quickly established himself as a focused, disciplined athlete whose mindset is setting the tone for the program. Transferring from Iowa State University, he saw Long Beach as the perfect place to push himself both physically and mentally.
“The mindset here is different,” Taylor said. “[Elizondo] really emphasizes accountability and effort.
Every rep, every run, it’s about giving everything you have.”
That relationship runs deeper than just Taylor’s time at LBSU. Elizondo has known Taylor since he was a sophomore in high school, having met him at summer camps before following his development as an athlete.
“Watching him from those high school days grow into this athlete and this person has been really cool,” Elizondo said. “It’s easy for teammates to lean on him in training or ask his advice when things aren’t going well.”
Taylor’s discipline extends to his weekly training schedule, which includes double-threshold workouts, interval sessions and long runs up to 15 miles.
His teammates, especially his training partner, senior Cameron Gill, play a key role in keeping that energy and motivation high.
“He’s one of those guys that I can have any conversation with, dump my emotions on him, and he can dump his emotions on me,” Gill said. “And that’s why I love the sport, because you go out there, you’re not on tech-
nology, you’re just out there running with your best buds, and I think we have a special bond because of that, and especially since we’ve done it for over a year.”
Beyond his individual success, Taylor has become a driving force for the program’s culture and future. Elizondo emphasized Taylor’s impact on his teammates and the team’s leadership.
“I see that fire from [Taylor]. He knows he only has so much time left before he graduates, and he wants to do it all,” Elizondo said. “It’s a lot of conversation, trying to build the structure, keep him healthy, and keep him doing what he loves to do, and then being able to pass that on to the next group and the next group.”
As for Taylor, the drive to reach his full potential continues to fuel him.
“On the start line, I want to run the race with no regrets, that’s what my dad always says,” Taylor said. “And that’s my drive. I want to reach my full potential, and every time I’m on the line, that’s an opportunity to get closer to my potential.”