CURRENT LONG BEACH
LONG BEACH STATE’S NEWS SOURCE SINCE 1949
Vol. XCVIII, Issue 5
REJOICING IN OUR
ROOTS PAGE 5
lbcurrent.com
Monday, September 21, 2026
Long1250BBellflower each Current Blvd., LA4-203
Long Beach, CA, 90804 Angela Osorio Editorial Office Editor-in-Chief Phone (562) 985-8000 eic@lbcurrent.com Skylar Stock Multimedia Managing Editor multimedia@lbcurrent.com
Leyla Crail Managing Editor managing@lbcurrent.com
Valentina Villarreal Community Engagement Editor community@lbcurrent.com
Monica Boerger Business Manager business@gobeach.media
Editors
News Editor
Josephine Robinson news@lbcurrent.com Arts & Life Editor Joseph Lee arts@lbcurrent.com Opinions Editor Christian Robledo opinions@lbcurrent.com Sports Editor Brianna Apodaca sports@lbcurrent.com Design Editor Gabrielle Lashley design@lbcurrent.com Chief Copy Editor Sasha Marantz copy@lbcurrent.com Photo Editor Rehansa Kulatilleke photo@lbcurrent.com Social Media Editor Bella Beltran socials@lbcurrent.com Video Editor Mikaela Perez video@lbcurrent.com Podcast Editor Bryan Viteri podcast@lbcurrent.com Assistants News Reporters Jayden Sandstrom Claire Morris Sol Virgen Alexa Partida Josephine Kim Arts & Life Reporters Ni Baliness Dominic Maddan Mason Mangus Nataly Valencia Lila Mukasa Opinions Writers Tyler Kols Simone Godse Sports Reporters Dupree De La Peña Veronica Minogue John-Wyatt Cristan Ervin Alan Ibarra Gabriel Duarte Design Assistant Ellie Nakamura Copy Assistants Ayah El Reda Annabelle Qi Isaac Cordon Maizi Merklein Staff Photographers Eddy Cermeno Diego Perez Charlotte LoCicero James Tinoco Jamie Garcia Social Media Assistants Eva LeBlanc Alexis Munoz Jana Truong Video Reporters Arianna Jackson Eli Vice Podcast Assistants Monica Garcia Victor Alcocer Alejandra Guerra
Business
Advertising Manager Creative Director Web & Technology Director
PR & Marketing Manager Distribution Manager
Jocelyn Piz advertising@gobeach.media Alicia Taylor creative@gobeach.media Melanie Cativo web@gobeach.media Mikayla Hubbard pr@gobeach.media Seiana Spencer-Kendrick distribution@gobeach.media
Advisers Design Adviser Gary Metzker Content Advisers Barbara Kingsley-Wilson Ashley Hopkins Advertising & Business Adviser Jennifer Newton
ON THE COVER
CHARLOTTE LOCICERO/Long Beach Current Fourth-year Itzel Huerta, a studio arts and pre-graphic design major and CSULB’s Vice President of Finance, performs a dance called Folklórico on Sept. 16. Folklórico is a traditional Mexican dance style that developed many years ago.
NEWS
For story concerns email: news@lbcurrent.com
O.C. declares local state of emergency BY JOSEPHINE ROBINSON News Editor
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range County declared a local state of emergency last week after severe erosion and high surf from Hurricane Marie battered the coast and damaged several homes and public infrastructure. The declaration comes after Laguna Beach, San Clemente and Dana Point recently declared their own local emergencies and county officials continue to assess damages. The declaration formally requests support from state and federal resources to rebuild and prepare coastal communities for El Niño’s 2026-27 winter storm season, which could begin as soon as Oct. 1. “The County’s declaration frees up resources, streamlines permitting, and accelerates our ability to support cities and residents as they face future storm surges this winter,” Orange County Board of Supervisors Vice Chair Katrina Foley said in a press release. The National Weather Service warns there is a greater than 90% chance that El Niño storms will likely be more powerful than previous years, due to record-breaking ocean temperatures resulting in Kelvin Waves, King Tides and increased storm presence. “With a super El Niño Storm season coming, we must act now to protect our coast and prepare for historic storms,” Foley said in the release. “In
MARLON VILLA / Long Beach Current
Victoria Beach is located inside of Laguna Beach, where it provides a private beach experience compared to the rest of the shoreline.
Orange County, sand is infrastructure. We need help accelerating sand replenishment and shoreline protection to protect our homes, beaches, and infrastructure.” Foley went on to urge Gov. Gavin Newsom to approve an executive order that would expedite critical coastal work before winter, including debris and sediment removal, vegetation management, channel maintenance and bridge protection. “A State of Emergency proclamation from the Gov. would strengthen state coordination, increase resource and assistance availability, and expedite recovery and protection work for local governments,” Foley said.
Land Acknowledgment Here at the Long Beach Current we acknowledge that the school we report on is located on the sacred site of Puvungna, “the gathering place.” We are on the land of the Tongva/ Gabrieleño and the Acjachemen/Juaneño Nations who have lived and continue to live here. We also acknowledge the Gabrieleño/Tongva (pronounced: GABRIEL-EN-YO/TONG – VAH) and Acjachemen/Juaneño (pronounced: AH-HACH-AH-MEN/JUAN-EN-YO) as the traditional custodians of the Los Angeles region along with the Chumash (pronounced: CHOO-MOSH) to the north and west, and the Tataviam (pronounced: TAH-TAH-VEE-YUM) and Cahuilla (pronounced: KAH-WEE-YAH) Nations to the east. We respect and value the many ways the Tongva/Acjachemen cultural heritage and beliefs continue to have significance to the living people and remind us about the sacred and spiritual relationship that has always existed here at what we now call California State University Long Beach.
Editorials: All opinions expressed in the columns, letters and cartoons in the issue are those of the writers or artists. The opinons of the Long Beach Current are expressed only in unsigned editorials and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the journalism department or the views of all staff members. All such editorials are written by the editorial board of the Long Beach Current.
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Letter Policy: All letters and emails
must bear the phone number of the writer and must be no more than 300 words. The Long Beach Current reserves the right to edit letters for publication in regard to space.
Monday, September 21, 2026
NEWS
CSUF student dies after attending fraternity event BY JOSEPHINE ROBINSON News Editor
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ullerton police are investigating the death of a Cal State Fullerton student on Sunday, Sept. 13, after he reportedly attended an un-affiliated, off-campus fraternity party. Anthony Joseph Balas, 18, was a firstyear student who had started at CSUF just a few weeks ago. According to his family, Balas was reportedly rushing Delta Chi fraternity, and had been accepted Saturday, Sept 12. While Fullerton Police say they do not suspect hazing resulted in Balas’s death, Sgt. Ryan O’Neil confirmed in a press release that alcohol consumption was a contributing factor. Investigators reported that Balas was seen with a “large gathering” Saturday, Sept. 12 near Associated Road and Milton Avenue, an intersection close to CSUF campus where several unaffiliated fraternities are located. The Orange County Sheriff’s Department was called later Saturday night and admitted Balas to St. Jude Medical Center Sunday at 12:07 a.m., Fullerton police said.
MASON MANGUS / Long Beach Current
Fullerton Police are investigating the death of a CSUF student. Police say thestudent attended an un-affiliated, fraternity party on Sunday, Sept. 13.
Balas was reportedly unresponsive upon admission. Fullerton Police officers arrived shortly after, pronouncing Balas dead. While it is not yet confirmed whether a fraternity may be involved in Balas’s death, Delta Chi Fraternity members located at the intersection where Balas was found when officers arrived are currently under investigation. Delta Chi has been unaffiliated with CSUF since 2021 and is not currently listed as a chapter by the Delta Chi national fraternity. A Long Beach Current reporter visited the intersection Saturday and reported that while there is no visible emblem associated with a fraternity outside Delta Chi’s house, there was music playing and people inside. “Cal State Fullerton is aware of the death of a student that occurred over the weekend at an off-campus residence,” CSUF told The Daily Titan in an official university statement. “Our hearts are with the student’s family and the campus community during this incredibly difficult time.”
Third-year human development major Lauren Dobbert, stocks jars of peanut butter at the Laurén Chalmers ‘83 Beach Pantry on Thursday, April 16. Nourish AI., a student developed app, was designed to generate healthy meals for students using ingredients from the Beach Pantry.
Students develop recipegenerating app
EDDY CERMENO / Long Beach Current BY MATTHEW CHISHOLM Contributor
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tudents may be able to plan their meals ahead of time thanks to student-developed recipe app, NourishU AI. which is designed to generate easy and healthy recipes from available food pantry ingredients found at Long Beach State’s Beach Pantry. Designed by CSULB students Naveen Palanisamy, Amit Kumar and Riya Bhatia, the app was a finalist for the
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2026 Sunstone Innovation Challenge, an annual campus-wide “Shark Tank” style business plan competition for students to gain real world business pitching experience. Winning teams receive up to $15,000 in startup funding and up to $20,000 in professional services and mentorship. Although it is still in its development stage, the app would allow users to take a picture of or manually select ingredients they are considering picking up at the pantry. The app can then generate
recipes for users to make with available ingredients. “Something that could help students figure out what to make out of a set of ingredients could be really helpful for people who don’t have enough time to eat,” Leonard Elms said, second-year marine biology student and a student assistant at the pantry. “I would definitely use it.” Students can supply personal information like weight, height and dietary restrictions so the algorithm
Monday, September 21, 2026
can generate recipes that match their profile. The app also provides step-bystep cooking instructions from recipes it generates, ranging from quick meals to more complex ones. “I would be a more intelligent shopper,” Aimee Santamaria said, a fourth-year student who was shopping at the pantry. Click here for the full story.
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NEWS
Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Horizon cruise ship is shown docked at PortMiami, April 9, 2021, in Miami.
WILFREDO LEE / Associated Press
Man jumps off cruise ship headed to Long Beach BY SKYLAR STOCK Multimedia Managing Editor
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Carnival cruise spokesperson told the Long Beach Current that the Carnival Panorama ship was traveling from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico to Long Beach for a five-day cruise. A 56-year-old man reportedly overboard from the cruise ship Carnival Panorama off the coast of Mexico late Friday night, according to the US Coast Guard. When Carnival Cruise Line received confirmation of a missing passenger on Saturday, they made a U-turn, and notified the U.S. and Mexico Coast Guards. The status of the overboard passenger has not yet been confirmed by Carnival. According to passengers onboard, the man had a wife and kids.
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Passengers said loudspeaker announcements started at 11 a.m., asking the missing man to meet up with his family. Onboard passengers were then ordered into their rooms around 3 p.m. Staff checked the rooms looking for the missing passenger. After reviewing CCTV footage, the captain revealed via loudspeaker that the man jumped, according to passenger Shawna Williams. “On this ship, it’s very hard to fall over. Some of the railings come up to here on me,” Williams signaled to just under her collar. “And I’m 5’8. For me to go over, it would take a lot.” Passengers eventually docked at the Carnival Cruise Terminal in Long Beach on Sunday morning. “It really changed the tone,” said Dave Allen, a passenger onboard with his wife. “There were moments where you just felt the somberness out of it.”
In 2019, 25 people went overboard on cruise ships according to a 2020 Cruise Lines International Association report. The chances of going overboard are relatively rare, clocking in at less than 0.000001%, according to data comparisons from that report. “It was very somber because you realized that somebody lost their life,” Williams said. “It was very sad to find out when he actually jumped.”
This is still a developing story. Check back for updates. This story was updated with the Coast Guard response.
WATCH THE VIDEO
By Eli Vice,Video Reporter
People exiting the cruise told the Current other passengers held a small memorial onboard. Carnival said in a statement that they are “providing support to the family who was traveling with the guest, and our thoughts and prayers are with them and their loved ones.” The US Coast Guard is coordinating search efforts with the Mexican Navy and commercial vessels in the area. The search remains ongoing at this time.
Monday, September 21, 2026
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NEWS
Latine Welcome builds community among students, faculty and staff ISABEL MURTY / Long Beach Current
Mariachi Los Tiburones de CSULB perform in front of the Speakers’ Platform at the Latine Welcome Event on Sept. 16. The Latine Welcome intends to build community at The Beach through music, arts and food.
BY ISABEL MURTY Contributor
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ong Beach State held its annual Latine Welcome Wednesday, Sept. 16 encouraging students to build community and get to know Latin-based organizations on campus through performances, informational booths and games. “I think the Latinx welcome is a great event to put Hispanic organizations out there to students who are passing by so they could get more information,” said undergraduate psychology student and Sigma Lambda Gamma sorority member, Rubi Gomez Hernandez. “I think it’s also a very good way to start off Hispanic Heritage Month.” The event was held at the Speakers Platform lawn and was hosted by the Latine Resource Center, the Latinx Student Union and the Office of Belonging and Inclusion, who held games for attending students to play, raffles to win prizes and performances from Mariachi Los Tiburones de CSULB and Grupo Folklorio Mexica. “The first thing that comes to mind is community,” said Latinx Resource Center’s assistant director Alondra
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ISABEL MURTY / Long Beach Current
Grupo Folklorico Mexica dancer Yliana Teresa Canales (left) performs alongside Itzel Huerta during the Latine Welcome on Wednesday, Sept. 16. Free food, games and prizes were offered to help create a community for students. Enriquez. “Being able to unite not just our students, but our faculty, our staff, our administration.” Students also had an opportunity to talk to informational booths from the Chicanx and Latinx Studies student
associations, Latinx Faculty & Staff Association, Dream Success Center and Society for Advancement of Chicanos/ Hispanics and Native Americans in Science club. Students had a chance to learn about Latin-based fraternities and sororities
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who attended the event as well, like Lambda Theta Phi Fraternity, Lambda Theta Alpha and Sigma Lambda Gamma sororities. “It [Sigma Lambda Gamma] was started by nine Latina women,” Gomez Hernandez said. “We try to do events correlated to academics, community service, social interaction, and cultural awareness.” CSULB’s student-run bilingual publication, ENYE, also attended the event to hand out magazines to passing students. “I’ve always wanted to belong to a place where I can talk about the stories in my community,” said Feri Hernandez Lira, a fourth-year linguistics and Spanish student who is also a student volunteer for ENYE. “The fact that there’s a magazine that talks about that and to be a part of it is a great feeling.” Hernandez Lira went on to share her experience being part of the welcome. “It’s such a great environment,” Hernandez Lira said. “I love seeing my culture because I am Mexican myself, it feels very welcoming.”
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ARTS & LIFE
Long Beach architecture tour highlights historic downtown landmarks BY CHARLOTTE LOCICERO Staff Photographer
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ong Beach Heritage’s monthly “Downtown Architectural Walking Tour” took place Saturday, Sept. 19, offering guests a twohour tour of historic architectural landmarks in Downtown Long Beach. Established in 1980, Long Beach Heritage aims to preserve the history of Long Beach through advocacy and education. You can join their architecture tour every third Saturday of the month. During the tour, attendees are guided through notable downtown landmarks. The tour also stops at the Insurance Exchange Building, Farmers Merchants Bank, Willmore, First National Bank, Psychic Temple and more. The Long Beach Current joined the tour to learn more about these historic landmarks. Here are six iconic spots you can visit on the tour. “Recollection at Long Beach” mural The first stop was a mural called “Recollection at Long Beach,” located at 185 E. Third Street, Long Beach. The tour guide shared details about the artwork’s origin story and how it landed in the middle of downtown Long Beach. She pointed out one detail: the mosaic tiles, of which there were more than 400,000, were color sorted. The blue tiles were boxy; the green tiles sharp and thin, each color revealing a different shape. The U.S. Post Office & The Arts Building Moving along, the guide took us along a walkway headed toward the U.S. Post Office. On the way, she stopped at “The Arts Building,” which she explained was remarkably different in style than the post office. When we compared the
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two, it was evident that the latter was more ornate. The building formerly known as Acres of Books Less than a block away, we walked to a 12,000-square-foot barn on 240 Long Beach Blvd., which remains vacant to this day. It was built in 1924 and served as a neighborhood market until 1933. In 1934, Bertrand Smith occupied the building, establishing Acres of Books, one of the largest independent family bookstores in the U.S, home to over 1 million second-hand books. The bookstore was immortalized in Ray Bradbury’s 1989 essay, “I Sing the Bookstore Eclectic,” which exists only as a Reddit thread today, describing the space as “the best walk-through multimedia experience, if not on Earth, if not in all America, at least in the western part of the United States.” Before the bookstore closed in 2008, Smith donated the rarest books of its extensive library to the City of Long Beach, including a two-volume facsimile of the Gutenberg Bible dating back to the 15th century, which is now housed in the Billie Jean King Main Library. Pacific Southwest Building After a short walk, we arrived at the Pacific Southwest Building, which was built in 1928 and became the first skyscraper in Long Beach. Designed by renowned architect W. Horace Austin, the building’s U-shape was designed with natural sunlight filtration and air flow in mind. The Psychic Temple After stopping at the Pacific Southwest Building, the tour guide stopped at a very interesting location: The Psychic Temple, built in 1905 and serving as the headquarters for an early 20th century cult called Society of New or Practical Psychology. The cult was also known as The Holy Kiss Society due to the manner in which
CHARLOTTE LOCICERO / Long Beach Current
The historic Long Beach Main Post Office, located at 300 Long Beach Blvd. in downtown Long Beach, still operates as an active post office. Built in 1934, it survived the devastating 1933 earthquake. members of the society would greet each other— with a kiss. The cult only lasted three years, following a legal battle between cult leader William C. Price and his followers in an effort to collect unpaid stock purchases supporting his cult. Within moments, the tour had arrived at its next stop. Noting that college-aged students were on the tour, the guide pointed out a specific detail about the Edison Theatre, a notable landmark in downtown Long Beach. Edward Killingsworth, an architect who worked on numerous projects for Long Beach State, contributed to the building’s current design. In 1966, he took his notably modern style to Downtown Long Beach, where he helped revamp the Italianate building. He converted the ground level to a simple arcade with a series of open archways while maintaining the top of the building. The Willmore Finally, we arrived at our last stop: The Willmore.
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We took an elevator toward the old yet fashionable building’s solarium, which overlooked downtown Long Beach. From there, we could see the vast landscape of the city from a small balcony. After spending some time in the room, featuring pistachio and creamcolored walls, and appearing to be untouched by time, we took a short trip toward the rooftop stairs. There, we could see all of Long Beach, from the crest of Signal Hill to the San Pedro Bridge. The tour also covered the Bradley Building, Edison Building, Traders’ Finance Corporation Building, Californian Condo, First Congregational Church and Middough’s clothing store for Men and Boys, providing an one of a kind experience for newcomers and Long Beach locals. You can purchase tickets for the tour here, with prices starting at $12.51.
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ARTS & LIFE
Are movies back? Exploring film’s resurgence in 2026
Graphic by SKYLKAR STOCK /Long Beach Current
BY DOMINIC MADDAN Arts & Life Reporter
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typical summer night has many classic activities: an evening picnic in the park, a nighttime fireworks display on the beach or having a barbecue by the poolside. One pastime that has been largely forgotten about since the pandemic hit has been going to see the latest blockbuster flick with a crisp Coca-Cola and popcorn surrounded by friends. This may have been revitalized with the resurgence of the film medium both as a cultural cornerstone and as a cashmaking outlet for studios this past year. The box office return has been higher than any year since the pandemic began; but why is that? In recent years post-pandemic, terms such as “franchise fatigue” and “superhero fatigue” have been arising online, initiating a larger conversation
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about the lack of originality and cultural relevance for movies in theaters. Major films recently have mostly been relegated to only one or two a year and are mostly franchise or sequel films with very few exceptions, however, this seemed to have changed starting around March 2026, when “Project Hail Mary” hit theaters. The sci-fi blockbuster adapted from Andy Weir’s popular book of the same title, was the highest grossing nonfranchise film since “Oppenheimer” in 2023, earning over $685,000,000 at the box office. It seemed to have kickstarted a trend of original movies that aren’t sequels, remakes or connected to any franchise making big money at the box office. “Michael” released in April, a documentary on the life of legendary musician Michael Jackson, made over a billion dollars at the box office, becoming so popular culturally and financially that
it was in theaters for nearly five months, ending its run in late August. Director Christopher Nolan’s latest flick “The Odyssey,” based on the ancient Greek epic, also brought in the bucks at the box office, making over $2 billion, with casting decisions that made the internet talk for months both negatively and positively. This year was also the year for independent movies and young up-andcoming filmmakers with breakout films “Obsession” and “Backrooms,” directed by 26-year-old Curry Barker and 20-yearold Kane Parsons respectively, making their mark on the horror genre. Countless memes, theories, cosplay and conversations arose out of the two films, cementing new horror icons like the slasher scream queen Nikki Freeman, played by Inde Navarrette, and nihilistic furniture salesman Clark, portrayed by Chiwetel Ejiofor. “Obsession”’s popularity even caused Nikki to be a roaming character among
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other horror favorites at Universal Studios’ “Hollywood Horror Nights” this fall season, acting alongside Michael Myers, Art the Clown and characters from the “Scooby Doo” franchise. Even though countless movies in the past few years made billions of dollars at the box office, 2026 was the first year since the pre-pandemic days where it seemed like theaters were packed and everyone was talking about the next “big movie.” Upcoming non-franchise films such as “Verity” and “Wicker,” alongside franchise favorites such as “Dune 3” and “Avengers: Doomsday,” are also projected to impact the box office, keeping 2026 as the year that many refer to as “the year that revived cinema.”
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ARTS & LIFE
Oldies but goodies: Belmont Shore Car Show celebrates 35 years MASON MANGUS /Long Beach Current A 1964 Chevrolet Impala Super Sport uses hydraulic suspension to bounce at the 35th annual Belmont Shore Car Show on Sunday, Sept. 13. Hydraulic suspension is a defining pinnacle of customary lowrider culture and serves as the foundation for dancing and hopping.
BY MASON MANGUS Arts & Life Reporter
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aking its return for its 35th year, the Belmont Shore Car Show brought out the best of the car community in Long Beach on Sunday, Sept. 13. This year, more than 800 participants filled over 650 parking spots at the show, welcoming car types of all kinds, both new and old, stock and custom.
Automotive clubs Many participants within the show were members of automotive clubs. One example is the Suicide Kings, a group that has been around for 10 years. Charles Chung, an active member of the group’s Los Angeles chapter, said the club focuses primarily on the models produced from ‘61 to ‘69, the ones with the “unique doors.” The unique doors in question are called “suicide doors,” hence giving the club its name. The Suicide Kings had dozens of their Lincoln Continentals on display, all of them featuring the classic slab-side look and the iconic suicide doors. Among the several car clubs present, one that stood out was the Bel Air Car Club. Similar to the Suicide Kings, they focus on a set range of production years. President of the club, David Aguirre said, “We are a car club focused on the Chevy Bel Airs from ‘55, ‘56 and ‘57. The club has 125 members currently, and
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MASON MANGUS / Long Beach Current
A 1962 Dodge Brothers Funeral Car sits on display at the 35th annual Belmont Shore Car Show on Sunday, Sept. 13. we are based in the Southern California area, specifically the Orange County area.” Standout cars One of the most memorable and one-of-a-kind cars at the 2026 show was the Patty Hearse. The century-old 1926 Dodge Brothers funeral car caught the attention of several onlookers throughout the day. What made the car so admirable was the amount of original components still existing within, such as the original handcrafted solid-wood coach and the original funeral coffin that lay inside.
This was the third year that Patty has been displayed at the Belmont Shore Car Show. Owner and caretaker Rin Traviglia said,“Patty wouldn’t be here without the help of my sons Bryan and Adam and their devotion to their crazy mom!” Another car was “Sally,” a 1967 Lincoln Continental Coupe. This Continental stood out among the rest not only because of its two-door body style, but also because of its incredibly ornate paint job. Featuring an intricate purple geometric pattern on the hood, yellow scalloping throughout, a design made of
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skulls on the top of the car and purple flames on the back, “Sally” is anything but basic. Owners KC Carlson and Donna Carlson have owned Sally for 15 years. Donna Carlson said, “The car originally had a green top and was matte black.” According to the Carlsons, this paint job was worked on in layers over the last three years and was recently completed. Car owner Tony Natale had two eye-catching cars to show off this year. Starting with his 1974 Volkswagen Thing, the car is filled with custom elements, most notably its grass interior and lowered stance. The paint job featured several layers of paint sanded down to reveal each individual layer. His other car, a 1957 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia, features live video footage displayed on the inside of both the driver and passenger doors, along with a Hot Wheels display inside the rear around the engine. V-Dub Things Co., an air-cooled automotive enthusiast community reflected on the event with a post made to its Instagram account on Monday, Sept. 14th. “This is one of those shows you just don’t forget. Incredible cars, great people, packed streets and nothing but good vibes from start to finish. When it comes to Southern California car culture, this one definitely ranks among the best!” they said.
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ARTS & LIFE
Fourth-year Alfonso Robles, an environmental science and policy major (left), and Nicolas Chiem, a political science major, battled each other in the Mario Kart World Esports Tournament to compete for the top spot on Sept. 18. The tournament was won by Alfonso Robles, winning a gift bag and an Amazon card from Game Center. CHARLOTTE LOCICERO /
Long Beach Current
CSULB kicks off fall esports tournament BY CARLOS ACEDO Contributor
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he Associated Students, Inc. Games Center began their fall esports tournament series on Friday, Sept. 18, with a Super Smash Bros. Ultimate tournament for four hours of competition. The event ran from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. and used a double-elimination format. Players who lost in the opening bracket moved into a losers’ bracket, giving them another opportunity to remain in the tournament before a second loss eliminated them. Organizers had expected between 20 and 25 competitors, but participants kept rolling in, pushing the tournament closer to 35 players. Nicolas Chiem, general manager of the esports program’s Super Smash Bros. branch, felt that the turnout was encouraging, since many participants were new to Long Beach State or had never competed in a Super Smash Bros. Ultimate tournament before. “Our Smash branch is welcome to all levels,” Chiem said. “We just like to have everybody come to just play it for fun.” Alfonso Robles, a fourth-year environmental science and policy
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student, was crowned the eventual champion. Robles initially came primarily to have fun and see his friends, but enjoyed the competition aspect as well. “I just think it was a blast overall,” Robles said. “I do like winning for sure, but I’ve changed the way I play, and it’s fun figuring out different ways to play with friends.”
Gabriel Nunez, a master’s student and longtime esports participant, finished the tournament in third place. Nunez has been part of the esports program for about seven years and said he continues to attend because of the quality and friendly atmosphere of the events.
CHARLOTTE LOCICERO / Long Beach Current Esports top eight players for the ASI Esports Tournament Mario Kart World, hosted by Games Center in PH1 201, on Sept. 18. The event ran from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
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“For me, they get their matches running quickly,” Nunez said. “They get food and good vibes going.” For Chiem and Nunez, the event was about more than determining a winner. They hoped participants would not become discouraged when their performance wasn’t what they expected. “This is definitely something for esports as a whole, but we hope that everybody makes friends and makes new connections,” Chiem said. “It’s not about placement but it’s rather how you play and be happy with the progress you’re making with your playstyle.” The event was the first of five tournaments in the Games Center esports fall series. The schedule continues with Mario Kart World on Thursday, Sept. 25, Rocket League on Oct. 9, Splatoon 3 on Oct. 23 and League of Legends on Nov. 13. The tournaments are completely free for CSULB students, and all skill levels are welcome to either play, watch or connect with other students. Regular esports events are typically held on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, with special tournaments held by ASI.
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OPINIONS
Sydney Sweeney: The damage is done
Sydney Sweeney poses for photographers at the Armani beauty event during the 83rd edition of the Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy, on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026.
SCOTT A. GARFITT / Associated Press BY SIMONE GODSE Opinions Writer
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ithin the past year, Sydney Sweeney has become the trouble-making princess of the internet. First there was her problematic commercial with American Eagle, and now, a new campaign with the sports-predicting app, Novig. From pushing the practice of eugenics to objectifying women, Sweeney just cannot seem to make a normal commercial for the life of her. Sports have always been a tough industry for women. Whether it is the sexualization of female athletes, the dumbing down of female fans, or the overall dismissal of women’s involvement, they face adversity at every level. This commercial does not help at all. With this Novig campaign, Sweeney is shown with little to no clothing, using
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only sports equipment to censor herself. This not only enraged the internet, but also puts into question how female athletes would feel, possibly seeing Sweeney as undoing decades of work they have put in to be taken seriously in their field. While we can place blame on the grand scheme of systemic misogyny and not just athletics, but all our social institutions, that does not leave Sweeney scot-free. Some argue that it’s understandable to do the commercial, assuming she was provided copious compensation. This would be a valid argument if this were about Sweeney and her body alone. However, when she chooses to do an advertisement catering to the male gaze, she is directly harming others. The chanting nature of Sweeney’s lines in the advertisement, which almost exclusively consisted of “sports,
sports, sports,” has only added to the demeaning of any contributions women who are fans of sports have to make. This dialogue mimics the harmful sentiment that women have little to no idea what they are talking about when discussing sports, leaving them to only add vague statements to conversations. This commercial has caused several female athletes to speak out about the harm it’s doing to the community by reverting back to the sentiment that women must use their sexuality in order for their sport to deserve attention. What really is infuriating to think about is that Sweeney very well could have prevented all of this from happening. As a conventionally attractive, wealthy, white woman, it is difficult to theorize that she did not have the opportunity, nor the place, to speak about how this commercial could cause further controversy.
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She could have chosen to drop out of the campaign, or proceed to do it but with a different narrative and message. As a woman with a platform and privilege, she had the opportunity to create change and fight against cornering women into a box when it comes to sports. Unfortunately, she did not take that opportunity; an opportunity that many women wish they could have in their lifetime. Instead, she opted to take part in a damaging, generalizing narrative. Sweeney is allowed to make her own choices. We run into an issue when those choices actively work to reinforce the institutions used to oppress women.
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OPINIONS
What if social media disappeared tomorrow?
BY TYLER KOLS Opinions Writer
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t is undeniable that social media is the dominant form of communication and connection in the 21st century. Despite this, it has often found itself in the middle of some of the most heated debates in modern culture. It was a little over two years ago when I downloaded Instagram for the first time. At the time, it didn’t seem like such a big deal to me. I only got the app because I needed to communicate with a group while organizing a high school Model United Nations conference. Little did I know that getting just a small taste of one of the biggest global social networks would change the way I see the entire world. Many have long argued that the harms of social media far outweigh its benefits, leading one to wonder: What would you do if social media disappeared tomorrow? Acknowledging the hardship of the adjustment, third-year communications major Sierra Mason shared just how drastic life would be. “[I’d] probably be really, really upset for a little bit and then slowly, like an apocalypse turning green again, come back and start going to the beach, and hang out with friends in person and do stuff,” Mason said. For third-year criminal justice major Danny Orozco on the other hand, a day
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Graphic by GABRIELLE LASHLEY / Long Beach Current without socials would prove fatal. “I’d probably die, bro,” Orozco said. Arguments against social media are not a new concept, especially among older generations. However, our wide range of responses from CSULB students suggests that the world may be more prepared than we think to disconnect from social media, with some even expressing an interest in this disappearance. Fourth-year health science major, Manha Hasan said, “I feel like I wouldn’t touch my phone as much and I’d probably just go outside. Probably enjoy the moment more.” According to first-year hospitality management major, Jade Goze, this disconnect would only be beneficial, letting people be connected in the present. “I think that’s what most people are really lacking right now,” Goze said. Social media’s harm to human connection has long been observed,
making for an effective argument in bringing down usage. Social media in its most popular form dates back to the launch of Facebook in 2004. Since then, platforms like Instagram and TikTok have given people several ways to connect and share photos and messages with friends, family and even complete strangers. Though social media usage has skyrocketed over the past two decades, people have only recently grown aware of its harmful effects on mental health, attention spans and privacy. Knowing this, we’ve continued to use it because it gives us powerful and addictive ways to connect with people over large distances. Our awareness of social media’s harm suggests that we may already have alternatives figured out if it were to disappear, even if we don’t consciously know it. It was not even over three decades ago that in-person socialization was more common than it is now.
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Although social media has proven its dominance over modern culture, there are zero practical restrictions on our ability to disconnect. The only thing holding back disconnection from social media is the mental addiction various platforms create. Of course, this is by design so that users will continue to spend more time on the platform. Ultimately, social media platforms need us far more than we need them. The only entities that truly benefit from our use of it are the corporations creating addictive algorithms to keep us using their product. With this in mind, we should be open to being less reliant on the products that have proven to be harmful to how we connect with one another.
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OPINION
What can you buy with Trump’s hypothetical $5,000 check? BY TYLER KOLS Opinions Writer
I
f Donald Trump’s Republican National Convention for the upcoming midterms was not unconventional enough, the president stood in front of an only partially-filled stadium and pledged to give every U.S. adult a $5,000 check if the Republicans won the midterm elections. Immediately, the media was quick to point out the flaws in his claim. Comments flew in accusing the president of buying votes, as well as reports that such a dividend would not only require approval from Congress, but also add $1.3 trillion to the national debt. If Trump is willing to make such payments to the American people, it is only logical that such funds are to be used for purchases that are equally nonsensical. The thought brought me back to a feeling I would have in my childhood, imagining what I would do with such a gift. After all, $5,000 is far more money than I would ever need in my life at a time when I was still learning how to count to 20. Years later, I have to imagine there are so many things to do with $5,000. You can attend a semester at CSULB At CSULB, a university that has been praised for relatively affordable tuition costs in the U.S. undergraduate tuition fees for the 2026-27 school year is priced at $3,419 per semester. Accounting for other fees such as parking for commuters, textbooks, materials, etc., Trump’s $5,000 check would only be able to support a CSULB undergraduate student for a single semester. By the time you pay off a semester at CSULB, you’d be out of funds received from the check. Business Insider reported that Trump had previously suggested even more checks to the American people but have yet to come to fruition. If they were, it would provide another $7,000 to Americans, providing even more cash to spend
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JULIO CORTEZ/Associated Press President Donald Trump gestures as he finishes his speech at the Republican convention Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, in Dallas. You can go unemployed for a few weeks As of 2026, the minimum wage in California is $16.90/hour. A 40-hour work week would pay at around $676. We all know that the job market is becoming more scarce by the day. Why stress about it when Trump has promised to give out money to everyone? Of course, the concept is as absurd as it sounds. Go on a luxury getaway to Mexico If you’re going to be out of work for a few weeks, you might as well grab your passport and treat yourself to a nice trip across the southern border. On the other side awaits a week-long, luxury getaway to Cabo San Lucas. If the administration
is so kind enough to give out free money, why wouldn’t you want to stop your job search and forget about your problems for a week? By now, it is safe to assume that Trump’s checks are beyond illogical and desperate. Of course, this is hardly the first time Trump has blatantly lied to the American people. With this in mind, Trump’s rash pledges are indicative of a growing recklessness in the administration and Republican Party as the country approaches one of the most important midterm elections in recent history. $5,000 is not worth the price of letting Republicans keep control of Congress for two more years.
Monday, September 21, 2026
WATCH THE VIDEO
By Mikaela Perez,Video Editor
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SPORTS
MacRae selected as U17 head coach for USA Volleyball
PHOTO COURTESY OF LBSU ATHLETICS Long Beach State men’s volleyball head coach Nick MacRae watches from the sideline during a match at the LBS Financial Credit Union Pyramid. MacRae was recently selected to serve as head coach of the USA Volleyball Boys U17 National Team.
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BY BRIANNA APODACA Sports Editor
L
ong Beach State men’s volleyball head coach Nick MacRae will take his coaching experience to the national level this summer as head coach of the U.S. U17 team. After 14 years working within the USA Volleyball pipeline, MacRae will lead a group of young athletes through their first opportunity to represent the U.S. His goal extends beyond reaching the podium, as he hopes to prepare players for future opportunities within the national program. “The ability to celebrate Long Beach State legacy and represent Team USA and have those two hats coincide is one of the most special experiences,” MacRae said. MacRae’s connection with USA Volleyball began in 2012 and has developed alongside his coaching career at LBSU. During that time, he has worked with different levels of the national program while spending 13 seasons on The Beach coaching staff. In December 2025, MacRae was named LBSU head coach following the retirement of longtime head coach Alan Knipe. Knipe also has ties to USA Volleyball, having served as head coach of the U.S. men’s national team from 2009 to 2012. MacRae credits Knipe, along with the Olympians who have come through LBSU, for influencing his own path with the national program. “This comes from my mentor, [Knipe], who was the Olympic coach,” MacRae said. “This comes from all the Olympians that have come through our program.” LBSU assistant coach McKay Smith said MacRae’s selection was not surprising after watching him work with both programs throughout his career. “I was not surprised because of all the work he has put in,” Smith said. “Not only his body of work with Long Beach State, but also with the USA program over the last decade.” MacRae will bring parts of the coaching approach he uses at LBSU into his role with the U17 team. He pointed to work ethic, direct communication and a willingness to put his ego aside as qualities he hopes contributed to his selection. Smith said ownership and building trust are also central to MacRae’s approach. Those qualities will become especially important this summer as
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MacRae works to bring a new group of players together in a limited amount of time. “It comes down to ownership, first and foremost, building trust,” Smith said. Despite working with a different age group and having less time with his players, MacRae does not plan to change his coaching style. “I will go there being unapologetically myself,” MacRae said. Coaching the U17 team also means introducing young athletes to the expectations that come with representing the U.S. While reaching the podium is an immediate goal, MacRae views their development as an equally important part of his role. “That’s the pinnacle of my craft,” he said. The position comes during MacRae’s first year leading LBSU after spending more than a decade working under Knipe. Smith said MacRae had been preparing to become a head coach long before receiving the title. “Nick’s been ready for the position way before he got the title,” Smith said. “He’s just continuing on the Long Beach State legacy and putting his own twist on it.” MacRae will now balance that legacy with his own goals for both programs. At LBSU, he is pursuing a 2027 national championship and sustained success. With USA Volleyball, he wants his U17 players to learn how to respond to the expectations that come with representing their country. MacRae describes those expectations as “positive pressure,” something he believes can help athletes grow when they face uncomfortable situations or are not performing at their best. “We get to grow through positive pressure,” MacRae said. “How do we handle ourselves when we’re under positive pressure?” By the end of the summer, MacRae said he will look beyond wins when determining whether his time with the team was successful. He wants his players to understand how to handle adversity while continuing to pursue opportunities within USA Volleyball. For some, that pursuit could eventually lead to the highest level of the national program. “I hope they leave with a growth mindset while also falling in love with the process of going after future Olympic goals that don’t have guarantees for them,” MacRae said.
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SPORTS Catching the Wave
The game I grew up loving looks different from the sidelines PHOTOS COURTESY OF BRIANNA APODACA Long Beach Current Sports Editor Brianna Apodaca grew up watching games at Dodger Stadiumbefore later pursuing sports journalism.
BY BRIANNA APODACA Sports Editor
S
ports have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I grew up going to games and watching them on TV. Long before I knew what I wanted to do for a career, I knew sports were something I loved. Eventually, watching from the stands turned into standing on the sidelines and sitting in press boxes. Now, as sports editor of the Long Beach Current, A piece of my childhood is becoming part of my career. But lately, I’ve been thinking more about what it means to be a woman entering the sports industry. A Good Good Golf advertisement that came out last month depicted a male golfer shoving a woman to the ground after she reached for his driver’s golf club. More recently, an AI-generated video depicted Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian slapping longtime ESPN reporter Holly Rowe. Around the same time, Sydney Sweeney appeared in a sports betting campaign posing with sports equipment covering parts of her body, prompting another conversation about how women are represented in sports advertising. The Rowe video stuck with me the most. Rowe has spent decades building her career, reporting from the sidelines of college football games, the NCAA Women’s Final Four and the Women’s
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College World Series. Watching a respected female sports journalist turned into the target of a violent joke was difficult to brush aside. Texas quarterback Arch Manning also drew attention for his reaction to the AI-generated video. When asked about it during a press conference, Manning laughed and said, “That was a good one.” He later apologized for his reaction, acknowledging that it was insensitive, and spoke privately with Rowe, who accepted his apology. Maybe I notice these things differently now because I’m beginning to enter those same spaces. I’ve stood on the sidelines, interviewed athletes and coaches, and walked into media areas with a credential around my neck. Becoming sports editor has only made me more excited about where this career could take me. But these incidents have also made me more aware of what women can encounter in an industry we have worked so hard to be a part of. The Good Good Golf advertisement was another reminder. Whatever humor was intended by showing a woman being shoved over a golf club, violence against women shouldn’t serve as a punchline to promote a product. Women have spent decades fighting for opportunities and respect in sports, both as athletes and as professionals covering them. That progress makes it frustrating to still see women portrayed in ways that reduce them to their appearance or make
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violence against them part of the joke. Sexualization has also followed women in sports for years, often shifting attention away from their work and accomplishments. The reaction to Sweeney’s campaign brought that conversation back into focus, but it’s far from a new one. When I was younger, I didn’t think about any of this. I wasn’t sitting in the stands wondering how women were treated in sports. I was watching the game. Sports were simply something I loved. Growing up and becoming a journalist hasn’t changed that. Now I get to interview the people I once watched from the stands, tell their stories and help shape how Long Beach State athletics is covered. I also get to see how many women already occupy these spaces. Women are athletes, coaches, reporters, photographers, broadcasters and editors. I’m becoming one of them. These recent moments don’t make me question whether sports journalism is where I want to be. They make me more aware of the industry I’m entering and the progress that still needs to be made. Sports have always felt like a place where I belong. I want the next generation of girls watching from the stands to grow up feeling the same way.
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