CURRENT LONG BEACH
LONG BEACH STATE’S NEWS SOURCE SINCE 1949
Vol. XCVIII, Issue 7
SPRINTING THROUGH THE
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Tuesday, October 13, 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
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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
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Jocelyn Baltazar 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 JAIME GARCIA | Long Beach Current Half marathon runner Dallas Snider runs through Shoreline Drive during the annual Long Beach Marathon on Oct. 11. Snider finished his run in an hour, 20 minutes with an average pace of 6:14 minutes per mile, placing 61 out of 14728 overall.
NEWS
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CSULB child care center to offer infant care BY CHARLOTTE LOCICERO Staff Photographer
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ong Beach State’s newly renovated Child and Family Center has opened its doors for the fall semester with expanded enrollment, larger classrooms and updated facilities for campus community parents. The facility on upper campus is now double the size, and is offering enrollment to infants – three months and older – for the first time in its history. Funded by a $15.2 million state grant, the Family Consumer Science Child Care Project broke ground in fall 2023. Construction for the larger facility was completed in May, and the center is now equipped with three additional classrooms, upgraded playgrounds, a “revamped education model” and partnerships with Campus Dining Services to provide morning and afternoon snacks to admitted children. Enrollment is now available for infants (three to 23 months), toddlers and preschool children. “In the past, we have never serviced infants, and I am happy to say that there, we hit it right on the head,” Child and Family Center director Alicia Minor said. “Our infant classrooms are completely full.”
CHARLOTTE LOCICERO / Long Beach Current
Long Beach State’s (CSULB) newly renovated Child and Family Center recently began its first full academic year, offering student parents and faculty affordable childcare programs. The renovation has expanded it center by adding three new classrooms for the newly enrolled children.
Fourth-year criminal justice student Haydi Mejia said her six-month-old infant is already learning social skills at the center. “I had him at a regular Early Head Start program; he was very disengaged. He was unwilling to attend or participate at the other center,” Mejia said. “Once my son got admitted to the Child and Family Center, it was a complete 360.” Click here to read the full story.
Land Acknowledgment Here at the Long Beach Current we acknowledge that the school we report on is located on the sacred site of Puvungna, “the gathering place.” We are on the land of the Tongva/ Gabrieleño and the Acjachemen/Juaneño Nations who have lived and continue to live here. We also acknowledge the Gabrieleño/Tongva (pronounced: GABRIEL-EN-YO/TONG – VAH) and Acjachemen/Juaneño (pronounced: AH-HACH-AH-MEN/JUAN-EN-YO) as the traditional custodians of the Los Angeles region along with the Chumash (pronounced: CHOO-MOSH) to the north and west, and the Tataviam (pronounced: TAH-TAH-VEE-YUM) and Cahuilla (pronounced: KAH-WEE-YAH) Nations to the east. We respect and value the many ways the Tongva/Acjachemen cultural heritage and beliefs continue to have significance to the living people and remind us about the sacred and spiritual relationship that has always existed here at what we now call California State University Long Beach.
Editorials: All opinions expressed in the columns, letters and cartoons in the issue are those of the writers or artists. The opinons of the Long Beach Current are expressed only in unsigned editorials and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the journalism department or the views of all staff members. All such editorials are written by the editorial board of the Long Beach Current.
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Letter Policy: All letters and emails
must bear the phone number of the writer and must be no more than 300 words. The Long Beach Current reserves the right to edit letters for publication in regard to space.
Tuesday, October 13, 2026
NEWS
EDDY CERMENO / Long Beach Current Political science professor Jason Whitehead discusses the Wassily v. Blanche case, which addresses whether asylum beneficiaries are barred from obtaining lawful permanent residency if their asylum status has been terminated during the Supreme Court Preview event at tthe Anatol Center on Monday, Oct. 5. Whitehead said if the Supreme Court agrees with the lower court ruling, this decision will prevent noncitizens from having any pathway to U.S. citizenship through the asylum process.
BY CLAIRE MORRIS News Reporter
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he Supreme Court started their new term last week, with justices set to review controversial cases involving First Amendment rights, climate change and religious freedoms. Several cases also call the court’s past rulings into question, and confront ongoing executive overreach from the Trump Administration. Justices are set to hear a historical 63 emergency cases, outnumbering an additional 56 merit-based cases. While merit-based cases can take anywhere from months to years to finalize, emergency-based cases can be closed within days or weeks, and can rapidly go into effect with little to no external interference, arguments or explanation to a justice’s ruling. The Trump Administration has introduced 43 of these emergency cases, which could allow President Trump to have immense authoritative powers following each ruling.
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The Political Science Department weighed in on these cases, their impacts and their outcome expectations at an event in collaboration with the Legal Studies Program and the Center for First Amendment Studies. Here are three cases CSULB political science professors noted to look out for. Suncor Energy Inc. v. County Commisioners of Boulder County Following the court reopening, justices began their hearing of Suncor Energy Inc. v. County Commissioners of Boulder County, which examines whether state or local governments can file against fossil fuel companies for knowingly harming the global environment. Panelists noted that this is one of two major regulatory cases on the 2026 docket from Colorado. Given the Trump Administration’s economic alignment with fossil fuel companies and energy producers, the public can expect to see pushback in the court. “[The] Administration wants to prevent Colorado from doing anything — and also doesn’t want to do anything,”
Political Science professors break down 3 upcoming Supreme Court cases
said Dr. Kathryn J. Perkins, panelist and Political Science Department Chair. Grand v. City University Heights/Saint Mary Catholic Parish vs. Roy The court is also set to hear cases like Grand v. City University Heights and Saint Mary Catholic Parish v. Roy which questions the court’s boundaries on religious discrimination within the states. Both cases will heavily involve First Amendment rights and free exercise. Perkins detailed the disputes for Saint Mary Catholic Parish v. Roy will tie back to standings found in Employment Division v. Smith, which determined the court cannot justify the First Amendment as an argument against laws that burden religious practice. “We’re likely to see the schools win here,” said Perkins. Crowther v. Board of Regents of the University system of Georgia Panelists said that preestablished protections will also be relevant to upcoming cases and local issues, like Crowther v. Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, which
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examines whether Title IX protections allow university employees the right to sue for gender-based discrimination in the workplace. “Title IX is the exact reason we’re hearing so much about that case,” said Alex Lohman, the Interim Faculty Director of the CSULB Modeled United Nations program, referencing the Cornell Lawsuit that has made headlines in recent weeks. Lohman said that the court will be hearing cases that will cause justices to reflect on their own values, as many cases could set new legal precedents by reversing past decisions. “I am not of the belief that judges are immune to politics,” said Lohman. “It’s important especially for our political science students, or just any student in general on campus, to be informed,” said Janine Rodriguez, the Political Science Department Coordinator. “Being well aware of what the issues are can get them [students] to see what they can do to help or make a change.”
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NEWS
Rain or Shine: Thousands compe
JAMIE GARCIA / Long Beach Current
Top: On Anahiem Street and Park Street, friends and families come to cheer and support at the Recreation Park Golf Course in the full marathon route during the 2026 Long Beach Marathon on Sunday, Oct. 11. Supporters fill and stand on both sides of Park Street, leading up to Anaheim Street where the route of the full marathon loops back to Marine Stadium. Right: Bryan Balderas (left) and Joe Soto run through E Ocean Blvd, hitting the 12 miles mark in the half marathon race. The two finished the 13.1 mile run in two hours with Soto average pace at a 10:05 and Balderas at a 9:07.
BY JAMIE GARCIA Staff Photographer
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mid a tropical storm warning, heavy winds and drizzling rain, the 42nd Annual Long Beach Marathon and Half Marathon persevered through Sunday morning. Event coordinators redirected 1.5 miles of the original route away from the beachfront path of the
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race for safety. The event continued at its scheduled time. The annual event, organized by TKTK, opened with a 5K race on Saturday, starting and ending the line up at the Aquarium of the Pacific. Participants ran through the aquarium and received a jellyfish-inspired medal. As organizers navigated Sunday’s weather, runners experienced some breeze and light rain, which many athletes prefer when challenging this year’s route.
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Families and local supporters also braved the weather, bringing the energy with comedic signs and supportive words through all the turns and water stops on this year’s route. The marathon and half marathon began in Downtown Long Beach at the intersection of Shoreline Drive and Shoreline Village Drive, with views of Long Beach’s iconic boardwalk. Runners were given a scenic view of Long Beach with the first six miles heading toward the Queen
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NEWS
ete in annual Long Beach Marathon
JAMIE GARCIA / Long Beach Current
Left: Valerie Ly (left) and Capri Castellanos run through Shoreline Drive competing in the half marathon during the 2026 Long Beach Marathon on Sunday, Oct. 11. The two finished their 13.1 mile run in close to three hours with an average pace of 13:27 minutes per mile. Above: Half Marathon runner Tashell Mitchell rehydrating during the beginning of the annual Long Beach Marathon on Sunday, Oct. 11. Mitchell finished the 13.1 mile run in two hours, 16 minutes and 48 seconds with an average pace of ten minutes and 26 seconds per mile, placing 4,716 out of 14,728 runners overall. Mary, providing iconic sights of the Los Angeles River, Queensways Bridge and Lions Lighthouse. The next three miles of the route continued along the coast with scenic shoreline views running through Alamaitos Beach, Junipero Beach and Belmont Shore. Splitting at the 11th mile, the half marathon finished off looping onto East Ocean Boulevard, taking runners into a celebration with local running clubs and live music towards Shoreline Drive.
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The full marathon runners took on the challenging course heading towards Marine Stadium and passing the green of Recreation Park Golf Course. The course took a loop at Long Beach State before rejoining with the 16,500 half marathon runners onto Ocean Boulevard. Race finishers were celebrated with cheers and support along Shoreline Drive, receiving their completion medal. Half and full marathon runners
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received a rectangular medal design with the event slogan “Long Beach Runs deep” on both medals. After runners were awarded their medals, they made their way toward Marian Green for a post-race celebration with snacks and drinks. 21+ participants were offered the long-standing tradition of a post-race beer.
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NEWS
Steaming temperatures rise on campus BY CHARLOTTE LOCICERO Staff Photographer
at mobile food trucks, vending machines and farmers’ market booths. Since the University Student Union remains under construction, which was fter high temperatures bore once a space for students to seek AC, down on Southern California campus communities were faced with again last week, Long Beach limited or unavailable air-conditioned State students had to brave the areas to study or sit in. heat as they made long walks across campus, waited for shuttles under “I feel like there’s not that many limited shade and searched for airindoor study spaces with AC,” Hajrah conditioned spaces. Mehmood, third-year political science After a rainy weekend, temperatures major said. “I am from the UK, so I am are expected to rise again starting definitely used to colder weather.” Thursday. Students instead turned to creative Alondra Pinzon, a fourth-year biology ways to stay cool, like umbrellas, portable major, said that while she turned to using fans and even holding towels above their campus shuttles to avoid walking across heads to offset the lack of shade on campus, many students also shared that campus. same idea. “I wish there were more trees in this “The shuttles reach capacity very area [Friendship Walk staircase] because quickly, and a large number of students it’s where I walk the most,” said Gresia are waiting for [them],” Pinzon said as CHARLOTTE LOCICERO / Long Beach Current Reyes, first-year pre-business finance she purchased a large ice water at the student, who shaded herself with an Students who are trying to escape the intense heat may opt to use umbrellas, towels, Coffee Bean mobile food truck. umbrella. jackets or even hoodies for extra shade. This heatwave is unusual for the month of Between classes, crowds of students and faculty also lined up for refreshments October with a high of 104 degrees on Monday, Oct. 5 and low of 66 degrees on Oct. 2.
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NEWS
Why more sharks, unusual marine animals, are showing up in SoCal waters
Photo courtesy of PATRICK REX CSULB’s Shark Lab crew follows a juvenile white shark in an attempt to tag it. Following the recent El Niño weather patterns, more white sharks are coming back to their inshore nurseries. Photo courtesy of Patrick Rex
BY JOSEPHINE ROBINSON News Editor
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s high tides flood the Southern California coast following a “Super” El Niño storm season, coastal residents have noticed strange visitors washing up along the shore – including more great white sharks. Subtropical marine species, including mahi mahi, manta rays, whale sharks and hammerheads – usually found along Mexico and Baja California – are turning up in SoCal waters. Last month, Olive Ridley sea turtles were spotted nesting on Seal Beach and Huntington’s shores for the first time in history. Chris Lowe, shark expert and longtime director of Long Beach State’s Shark Lab, is not surprised by these guests.
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“We have records going back to the ‘70s, and every strong [El Niño] season, like the really strong ones, people have noted these species,” Lowe said. “This is climate change pushing animals up north.” The lab studies the behavior and movement patterns of white sharks, which spend the first five years of their lives in SoCal beaches, or “nurseries,” before swimming offshore. Lowe said these species have been acting strangely since El Niño’s last strong season in 2015. He said the lab noticed double the number of juvenile great white sharks – which aren’t typically seen in coastal waters at this age – returning to local waters during summer and fall months. “We couldn’t figure out where all these sharks were coming from; they just
seemed to come out of the woodwork,” Lowe said. According to the lab, SoCal beaches are productive environments for these species, providing warmer water, easy to capture food – including stingrays, fish and squid – and safety from predators. The warm SoCal water has also attracted non-local species like hammerheads and whale sharks, which Lowe says is due to ocean temperatures down south exceeding 80 degrees Fahrenheit, becoming too hot for subtropical species. Meanwhile, SoCal waters are currently at 73 degrees Fahrenheit. “Right now, the water temperatures in Southern California are their sweet spot,” Lowe said. “That's why we expect to see this big influx, and we’re already seeing it.”
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Climate change has led to these warmer temperatures, which fuel a stronger El Niño season. Lowe said climatologists had anticipated this year's El Niño storm impacts as early as February. The lab hosted pop-ups throughout the South Bay and Orange County over the summer to inform residents about the heightened presence of local and nonlocal species. Now, Lowe says residents continue to inform the lab if they identify sharks and/or unusual species in local waters. “The whole purpose is to help people stay safe,” Lowe said. “With these animals coming back, we want to warn and prepare people for these guests that are coming in, since they’re going to behave differently than ‘the locals.’”
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ARTS & LIFE
Taking trauma to the runway: Queer fashion student heals through art
BY JAMIE GARCIA Staff Photographer
“M
achismo.” A word that has been used in Latino communities to describe a social concept that promotes hyper-masculinity, male dominance and rigid gender roles. A “macho,” or male that embodies machismo culture displays many negative traits including aggression, control over others and masking cycles of verbal and physical abuse, all of which cause silent trauma. Second-year CSULB fashion design and merchandising double major Santiago Jose Guevara’s collection named “Machismo” aims to show that the idea is more than just a word. In his first year at CSULB, Guevara won a creative concept award for “Machismo” in Campus Couture’s Spring 2026 fashion show. The collection visualizes tension and abuse through delicate, white lace pieces paired against aggressively ripped, burnt and tattered clothing. The elegance of the white lace reflects the enforced purity, romance and the silence of painful issues in Latino families while the rips, burns and tears visualize layers of generational trauma and how gender expectations are passed down among Latino men.
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“Machismo” explored controlling behavior in relationships and romanticization, as well as exploration of religion which acted as the central narrative for the collection. The piece “Provocative Mary” merges these two concepts, portraying a model dressed as the traditional religious idol with a lace blindfold over the eyes and a thigh-high garter belt around her left leg. “She’s not modest as she usually is depicted” Guevara explained as he referred to the garter belt peaking through the slit of a blue lace skirt. The design exposes the real human suffering and trauma under toxic masculinity, using the religious idol to show the exploration and violence against women in the Latino community. “A lot of Latinos love to wear crosses, put a Bible verse in their bios but don’t ever follow through with that.” Guevara said. By forming these issues into fashion pieces, Guevara believes it gives him the opportunity to put these heavy topics on display for people to care and understand. “When you’re sat in a show, you have to kind of face it,” Guevara said. Guevara draws from a plethora of personal experiences and cultures, from his biracial background to his bisexuality. Born to a Latino father and Filipino mother in San Luis Obispo, he moved to Santa Clarita around age 11.
JAMIE GARCIA / Long Beach Current Santiago Jose Guevara, a fashion design and fashion merchandizing double major student at CSULB stands with mannequins located in the Family and Consumer Sciences building on Tuesday, Sept. 29. Guevara is a second year student at CSULB in hope to pursue a career in fashion design. His parents separated at age 12 and from there, he spent most of his life living with his father. He described the divorce as impactful and has been healing by reading about trauma to help with his creative process. Following a recent breakup with an ex-boyfriend, Guevara developed his second collection, “Anoranza,” as a way to express feelings of heartbreak and abandonment. “Anoranza” is a Spanish word that translates to “a feeling of nostalgia, sadness of something or someone; a person that’s away, far or doesn’t even exist anymore,” Guevara wrote in a journal entry for his second collection. The collection follows a motherand-daughter narrative through the characters of Paloma, the daughter, and Nayeli, the mother – figures representing different relationships to Chicana identity and tradition. Throughout the collection, Guevara uses color to shape their experiences and transitions. “The colors also symbolize the split between them, — Paloma, primary colors are blue and purple, — she’s free flowing,
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open ease, able to move around,” Guevara said. When constructing this collection, it was less of a clothing capsule and more of an all-encompassing artistic expression of his emotion post-breakup. Guevara began experimenting with different mediums, adding new journal entries, poetry from his ex-lover and interludes. Rather than discarding the original vision that he first imagined, he revised it and gave the original idea new meaning. “Mi Anoranza (Rewrite: Thought & Meanings) by SJG,” Guevara wrote. “I have hurt the love of my life, I cheated and lied… I understand he does not forgive me nor do I forgive myself.” As he continues to craft “Anoranza” to his full vision, Guevara reflects on how far he has come, approaching life and his work with a newfound purpose. “I am an extreme believer that everything happens for a reason,” he said. Editor’s note: This article was updated on Oct. 9 at 4:30 p.m. to add more context and clarity about the inspiration behind Guevara’s second collection, “Anoranza.”
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ARTS & LIFE
CSULB student film explores queer love BY DOMINIC MADDAN Arts & Life Reporter
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crowded house party, a planned bathroom hookup, the quest for a lost cigarette and a true depiction of queer love… sounds like a hell of a night. These are all major plot points within “Cigarette,” an independent film project put on by the CSULB film department, starring and crewed by mostly students. The film, directed by fourth-year film major Weylin Terzoli and written by fellow fourth-year film major Eden Goldstone, chronicles Luke, played by Terzoli, and Josiah, played by Joey Grayson. The two meet for a failed planned hookup in the bathroom of a house party which turns into a search for a lost cigarette. This then leads to a love blossoming between the two. Luke and Josiah are based off of Terzoli and Grayson, who are boyfriends in real life. As the film depicts, cigarettes played a leading role in their relationship. Terzoli first pitched the film for his senior capstone project, originally set at the beach with a storyline mirroring his and Grayson’s first date. However, he wasn’t sure it was going to get far. “I gave this idea and I was like, ‘This is a lame idea, [the professor] is not going to like this.’ But then I talked to him and he was like, ‘This is a great idea!’” Terlozi said. “It was really encouraging to have this story go on,” he continued. “He was the one who thought about the house party…it definitely fits the story a bit more.” Goldstone wrote the script after connecting with Terzoli through a shared class. In an Instagram post, Goldstone said, “As I was writing, I was getting to know the director and create a relationship of trust. Because of that, I feel I was
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able to capture something intimate and genuine.” Fourth-year film major and coproducer of the film, Marissa Camacho, said that she watched Terzoli pitch and plot the film in their script development class and eagerly wanted to be a part of the project. “I immediately was drawn to the story,” Camacho said. “Weylin’s passion and closeness to the story was captivating…I approached Weylin after class and told him if he ever needed any help I would be interested. In the summer he asked if I would be interested in helping produce and I said yes!” A major goal in the characterization of Luke and Josiah is to explore a queer love story without the stereotypical sexual undertones of most mediastarring gay couples, especially in the modern day. Claire Larson, a fourth-year film major and one of the film’s producers, said in her statement for the film, “In an age dominated by hookup culture, these soft, intimate interactions are fleeting. Sometimes, you have to sit in that awkwardness in order to let something beautiful emerge.” Sarah Hua, the film’s cinematographer, boiled down the plot of “Cigarette” to a love story that happens to star two male characters. “It’s just simple, you’re not asking for much to get love and find love,” Hua said. “For this story, it happens naturally as well. It’s not primarily supposed to be like a queer story, it’s a normal story about how two people fall in love and that happens to be between two queer men.” Though the making of “Cigarette” has had many highs, especially for Terzoli and Hua, they’ve also noted the difficulty that comes with creating an entire film from scratch. The film employed roughly 15 crew members and 12 actors, including
Photo courtesy of JEREMY FERNANDEZ Crew members of "Cigarette" set up the shot before filming the first scene of the film on the first day of shooting. The films aims to explore a queer love story without the stereotypical sexual undertones of most media-starring gay couples. Terzoli, Grayson and 10 extras who played partygoers. All 27 squeezed into Grayson’s house at 4 a.m. during the initial shoot. “We had to do a night shoot and everyone had to be quiet cause there were people sleeping upstairs,” Terzoli said. “I felt so bad because they want to talk and have fun but I was like ‘Guys you need to be quiet.’” Being an independent film, it wasn’t picked up for a grant from the film department. Everything was paid for out of pocket, from a cheap disco ball to snacks for the many extras. Certain things had to be improvised, including the painting over of branded beer bottles to avoid copyright issues and the fastening of makeshift lighting equipment made out of cardboard. According to Terzoli and Hua, the most difficult part of the shoot was coordinating with more than 30 contrasting personalities and schedules.
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Camacho said even small-scale independent films like “Cigarette” are large undertakings. “[What] people may not know about the process of making a film is just how much goes into it,” she said. “The process of finding locations, shooting promos, funding and securing funds are processes that can take months, sometimes even years for a production.” Despite the ups and downs of filming, Terlozi’s message to anyone undertaking an ambitious project is simple: “You can do it.” “If you don’t know what you want to do, try it all! Pick up your phone camera, just start writing…you can do everything on your own just try it out, anyone can do this,” he said. According to Terzoli, “Cigarette” is currently in a reshoot phase, with postproduction scheduled to occur soon. The film’s final trailer should release before the “end of 2026,” preceding the early 2027 official premiere.
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ARTS & LIFE
CSULB alumna’s documentary makes festival, TV debut BY DOMINIC MADDAN Arts & Life Reporter
CSULB alumni Savannah Gasca is one of the finalists of “PBS Fine Cut,” an annual showcase where they choose one Southern Californian filmaker and air their films for the next few weeks. Gasca’s senior capstone project led her to becoming a finalist for her film, “From, Farmersville,” which will air on Oct. 15.
Footage of the town’s old city council would be seen discussing topics of self sustainability before showing an interview with Tina Hernandez, mayor of Farmersville since 2022 whose policies still align. Before she pitched the film, Gasca was unsure about what track she wanted to take as a cinematic arts major until CSULB film professor and alumna Helen Hood Scheer, urged her into the direction of documentary films. Gasca pitched the film in her second year at CSULB. “It felt like too much, especially using archival footage from the government I felt was inaccessible, but when I talked about it and mentioned this idea to [my professor], she literally told me, ‘That gave me chills. I think you should commit to this idea,’” Gasca said. Gasca hopes to shine a light on Farmersville and bring it to attention when the film premieres on television. “I want a small town like this to remind people of their strength and for them to have pride in that, I hope this does that to people and I hope that it reaches them,” Gasca said. She hopes to get the Central Valley talked about at a larger platform. “I just wish people saw that we’re people too, not just some nobodies,” said Camilo, documentary participant and high school student from Farmersville, California, whose last name was not included for privacy reasons. “Many of the people here in Farmersville are destined for success.” The documentary will make its television debut on PBS SoCal on Thursday, Oct. 15, in the fourth episode of “Fine Cut” titled “Try Again,” which will feature “From, Farmersville” alongside five other films from student filmmakers at USC, UCLA and the California Institute of the Arts.
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ine Cut, an annual film showcase presented by PBS SoCal that highlights student filmmakers, returned for its 27th year on Sept. 22, featuring 31 short films of a variety of genres made by Southern California college students. Among various films showcased was “From, Farmersville,” a documentary created by Long Beach State cinematic arts alumna Savannah Gasca. The film centered around Gasca’s hometown Famersville, a small agricultural community located in Tulare County with a population of about 11,000 people. The town was the subject of a project that began in the 1960s through the Office of Economic Opportunity, where a series of short documentary films were made about the town’s Mexican American farmworker residents and strengthening the communications between various groups of people. However, the footage was largely forgotten over time and “so was the town’s voice,” as Gasca put it in the introduction to the film. “I basically took that archival footage and compared it to Farmersville today because I grew up there,” Gasca said. “From, Farmersville,” juxtaposes these archival films with footage taken earlier this year by her and her crew. In the film, over 16 Farmersville, most of whom are longtime or lifetime residents, were interviewed, including fieldworkers who were left anonymous for privacy. The residents gave viewers a look into their lives in the town with supplementary footage and photographs of the community. These moments were interspliced with the archival footage from the Farmersville project that mirrored the current day.
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JAMES TINOCO / Long Beach Current
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OPINIONS
SoCal students, is the style worth the sweat?
Graphic by GABRIELLE LASHLEY / Long Beach Current
BY SIMONE GODSE Opinions Writer
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here is no ignoring the disgustingly hot temperatures that have swept SoCal over the past few weeks. Even in October, temperatures upwards of 90 degrees have become the new norm. Walk around any SoCal campus in October and you’ll probably see a good amount of sweaters. Now, whether or not the actual temperature lines up with the month, students will dress in accordance with how they want the weather to be. The beginning of October marks the official start of fall, at least in the minds of students. From then on, it doesn’t matter if there is a record-breaking heatwave, it’s time to break out the knit sweaters and cozy colors. When weather hits, the fashion follows. The denim shorts and strappy
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tops have not been retired for the summer season just yet. Still, while the majority of students come to campus prepped for the heat, others completely defy it. Rather than looking at those who choose a hoodie in the heat as some strange fashion choice, it should be examined as the intersection of youth culture, self-expression and the unspoken rule that sometimes, style triumphs sweat. Of course, the dedication to the “fit” is not purely about vanity. For many young people, clothing acts as a suit of armor. The oversized hoodie plays a unique role in youth wardrobe as it serves two purposes: it can provide the look of a high-fashion streetwear staple but also be a form of emotional and psychological comfort. In a world that hyper-scrutinizes young bodies and spaces that demand constant perceptions, a heavy piece of
fleece, or perhaps a pair of sized-up jeans offer a rare sense of privacy. Sometimes, students need a break from the constant idea of being watched by their peers. As much as we want our college campuses to be a safe space, some students still hold the fear of being judged. Sweating through a SoCal heatwave becomes a small price to pay not just for an aesthetic, but for the comfort of feeling safely hidden in plain sight. The use of clothing as armor can also be taken a different way. Some people view quality outfits as a sort of uniform itself. The inclination some feel to dress to the nines even for everyday wear outweighs their concern over the heat. To strip away the hoodie or jeans simply because it’s 90 degrees outside is to compromise the geometry, style and overall sophistication of the outfit. Hey, if the fit is fire, who cares if you sweat
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through it by 11 a.m.? While we can joke around about the fashion of it all, there are some real safety concerns when it comes to not dressing for the heat. Heat exhaustion and heatstroke are the risks taken when dressed inappropriately for the weather, and California students are definitely not an exception. Before you prioritize your outfit over the climate, take a second to think about your safety. Dressing a little lighter on hot days would definitely be less noticeable than fainting in the middle of class due to heat exhaustion. While some throw a fit over the heat, SoCal students instead prioritize the outfit. Finding the balance between preserving the style of an outfit and ensuring safety in the heat is an important skill for Californians to learn. After all, weather is temporary, but a perfect, balanced outfit is forever.
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OPINIONS
Graphic by SKYLAR STOCK / Long Beach Current
Lights, camera, distraction: How social media has ruined movie theater etiquette BY LEYLA CRAIL Managing Editor
I
remember first thinking about the lack of movie theater etiquette while watching “Obsession” earlier this summer. Sitting in front of me was an annoying audience member who had his phone in the seat cupholder during the entire movie, on FaceTime – full brightness, of course – calling a friend. I rolled my eyes at the distraction but then thought about the $2o I paid for my ticket, infuriated that this random guy on FaceTime was getting it for free and at the cost of everyone else in the theater. Although the movie was amazing, my experience was definitely not. So many notable films were released this summer: “Backrooms,” “Toy Story 5,” "The Odyssey" and “Spiderman: Brand New Day,” just to name
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a few. While each movie had its own captivating story, there was one terrible thing in common with my viewing of each: cellphones. Seeing distracted watchers at a movie theater is not something I always recall, and I attribute this lack of etiquette to the social media era. Studies have shown that social media usage is directly correlated with declining attention spans, making movie theater etiquette a thing of the past. A study by Raindance showed “technology has significantly altered traditional viewing habits, fostering a culture of multitasking and interactivity. Today’s audiences no longer sit passively; instead, they actively seek additional content.” Apps such as TikTok and Instagram feed off of younger users and are designed to make us “doomscroll,” showing us videos that constantly pique
our interest to keep us on the phone, whether that's during an hour-long lecture or an hour-long movie. This has contributed to the idea of “second-screening,” which is using a second screen such as a phone or a tablet while simultaneously using a primary screen such as a TV. Not only is social media getting the best of us at the theaters, but trends are, too. Participating in a trend that requires throwing popcorn or having your phone on full brightness to take a picture of the title screen to post on social media are also evidence of a loss of theater etiquette. Fourth-year English education major Veronica Martinez recalls one time social media impacted her movie experience. “When I went to go see the ‘Minecraft’ movie, there were videos
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online about people jumping up and down and throwing popcorn for the ‘chicken jockey’ meme, but I never thought it would occur during my viewing,” Martinez said. "I believe this only happened because of social media; if there wasn't a trend of going crazy throughout the movie, then it wouldn't have occurred.” Whether it’s declining attention spans, social media trends or just plain bad manners, the lack of movie theater etiquette continues to drive movie-goers out of theaters. Social media is a part of our daily lives, but we should let the movies serve as a break from the outside world. Put the phone away and enjoy the film. Just because you didn’t post it doesn't mean it didn't happen.
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OPINIONS
'No sabo' no longer a divider but a unifier
Graphic by GABRIELLE LASHLEY /Long Beach Current BY JAMIE GARCIA AND JAMES TINOCO Staff Photographers
“N
o sabo” is a derogatory term used toward Hispanics and Latinos who do not speak fluent or proper Spanish. The phrase is commonly used among Latino Americans to shame or make fun of someone who doesn’t fully fit the description of a fluent-speaking Hispanic or Latino. James: I am the youngest of four siblings. Both of my parents were born and raised in Guerrero, Mexico, in a small pueblo called Petalan, a town nearly 2,000 miles away from where I currently live. They immigrated to the U.S. and moved to Los Angeles, during the ‘90s and later moved to South Gate, Calif., a city with an extremely high Hispanic/Latino population.
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Jamie: I grew up in Bakersfield, Calif., a population of predominantly Hispanic/Latino. Her parents were from Guerrero and Zacatecas, Mexico; they immigrated to the U.S. separately but later met in L.A.. Despite growing up in different cities with different people, we had similar struggles within our environments, experiencing two different sides of being “no sabo.” Being in spaces such as school or in our homes that are to be considered safe spaces made us realize how it was seen as something frowned upon to not be able to fluently speak in our immigrant parents’ native language. We both shared similar experiences that would prevent us from being able to speak Spanish. For example, James grew up with three siblings who would only speak English to him, while Jamie was told it was unacceptable to speak Spanish
in English learning settings, stunting her knowledge of Spanish. Noticing what we shared and curious about similar stories like ours, we went out to see if other “no sabos” felt the same as us. Fourth-year illustration major Robyn Franco who grew up in Bakersfield, shared the struggles she faced being “no sabo,” reminiscing on the disconnections she felt with her classmates. “I didn’t feel I had a platform to speak; I didn’t think I had the right,” Franco said. According to Franco, she never really struggled with the identity of being “no sabo” until high school, when she would overhear her peers or family speak Spanish to her. “It’s like having a book, knowing the story, but not being able to read the story,” Franco said. That, for us, summarized the common experience of a “no sabo.”
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During the interview with Franco, she said something that resonated with us “no sabos,” seeing as it was something we’ve all questioned once. “I don’t feel like I can claim to be Mexican, because I don’t speak Spanish,” Franco said. One of the biggest struggles for those who are “no sabo” is trying to figure out what it means to be a real Hispanic. All “no sabo” have shared different experiences that have shaped us into who we are today. But one thing that cannot be denied is the similarities and mindset we share in identifying as “no sabo.” After all we have been through, we never once let “no sabo” define who we are. We continue to grow and learn by overcoming obstacles, new and old, learning where we came from and using our journey to motivate us.
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OPINIONS
Becerra, Hilton and the Trump-sized shadow over California
Graphic by SKYLAR STOCK / Long Beach Current
As the 2026 California governor race approaches, why does Trump’s shadow still loom large?
BY TYLER KOLS Opinions Writer
“A
ll you ever say is ‘Trump, Trump, Trump,’” Steve Hilton said to Xavier Becerra during the first, and only, debate in the 2026 governor race in California. The moment would go on to characterize the wider conversation surrounding Californians’ choice for their next governor. Although Californians remain uneasy about issues such as the cost of living, housing crisis, artificial intelligence, immigration and more, the state’s politics seem unable to escape Trump’s watch. California is familiar with Trump’s disdain for its strong Democratic politics. Current Gov. Gavin Newsom has often publicly criticized Trump’s policies and activity in California, with many Californians sharing similar sentiments.
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But when California is faced with many problems that go beyond Trump, should we accept our state’s leaders paying so much attention to him? The answer may not be a simple matter of “yes or no.” To investigate this dilemma, it is natural to start by asking which issues have defined California’s politics in recent years. As addressed in the debate, Californians believe the biggest problems facing the state is the cost of living. Though Hilton and Becerra commented on this issue without bringing up Trump, the conversation would soon shift to include the president’s involvement in California. The candidates’ discussion on immigration policy specifically integrated Trump into the conversation. As of January 2026, California contains 10.9 million immigrants, encompassing 22% of the immigrant population nationwide. Because of this,
when put up against Trump’s reckless immigration policies and ICE raids, Trump appears to be an important point of discussion when choosing our next governor. If Trump seeks to deport immigrants regardless of their legal status, then his immigration policies conflict with California’s enough that the next governor’s stance on it will affect the state. Given that California relies on its immigrant population, it is only natural that Californians want a governor who will stand up to Trump on key issues affecting the state. This is true for issues such as artificial intelligence, data centers and more. With this in mind, Hilton’s attacks on Becerra are rendered invalid due to the legitimate importance of the relationship between California and the Oval Office.
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Now, Californians are left to wonder which of the two candidates fulfill those expectations. Unfortunately, it seems neither of them will match Newsom’s fury against the administration. At no point during the debate did the Trump-endorsed Republican say anything to convince Californians that he would run the state differently from how Trump would want him to. When asked whether or not he agrees with Trump’s policy on AI, Hilton dodged the question in favor of a more vague stance. Becerra, although he proposes traditional left-wing policies, appears to lack the energy against Trump that his constituents have. Newsom has arguably conditioned Californians to trust that their state government will push against Trump’s policies to protect California, a precedent that will ultimately be difficult for either candidate to uphold.
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SPORTS
A fresh roster emerges for LBSU men’s basketball
LBSU junior guard Cole Farrell drives the ball through UCSD freshman guard Hudson Mayes on Saturday, Dec. 6 at the LBS Financial Credit Union Pyramid. Farrell totaled 11 points during the loss against the Tritons. ETHAN COHEN / Long Beach Current BY VERONICA MINOGUE Sports Reporter
W
ith 13 new players and an additional assistant coach, Long Beach State’s men’s basketball program will face off in its first game of the season against the University of Utah on Nov. 2 After ending their 2025-2026 season with an overall of 10-22 and finished No. 9 on the Big West standings chart, they are eager to show off their new found dedication. The roster went under a huge turnover with new players coming in from junior colleges, state universities and high school. One of the new players, senior center Noah Amenhauser is originally from Arizona where he played at Grand
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Canyon University for his freshman season. He is coming to LBSU after his junior season at Oregon State University. “I think for me, the biggest thing coming to Long Beach is just the character, the people that are around us are unbelievable,” Amenhauser said. Amenhauser explained that he will use his size to take up space on the court and be a selfless player for the team. Other additions to the team include senior guard, Jack Payne. Payne is coming from Idaho State after playing two seasons and started in 32 out of 33 games. He averaged 10.8 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. During the summer, the team spent time bonding off the court and building team culture as a foundation for the season. “I feel like this year we have a
relationship outside of basketball on a personal level,” junior guard Christian Jones said. “Everybody wants to take care of each other. Everybody wants to see each other win.” Jones is one of two returning players this year on the roster along with junior forward JJ Chaikovsky. Jones is coming off of a knee injury from last season after missing 13 games. “I’m 100% now,” Jones said. “I had surgery in April and I got cleared to start playing in July. It’s been all growth since then; all gas no breaks.” “I think the main thing for us is how fast can we get them to gel, connect, you know like each other to hopefully take care of the off core piece to translate to the encore piece,” assistant head coach Greg Howell said. Howell is new to The Beach after
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completing two seasons at Arizona State University where he was the director of recruiting and player personnel. “We’re very excited about our team,” Howell said. “We are looking forward to having a great season, coming off the previous two years here, just kind of struggling under the bar, so just trying to get Long Beach State back to the equivalent of what we’ve been in the past … The guys have been working extremely hard.” LBSU will have its first regular season game against University of Utah on Nov. 2. After its games against Utah, The Beach will have their home opener on Nov. 11 against the University of the Pacific
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AD
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Tuesday, October 13, 2026
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SPORTS
LBSU falls to Cal Poly, spoiling Alumni Night
BY DUPREE DE LA PEÑA Sports Reporter
L
ong Beach State women’s volleyball were swept in three sets in an anticipated rematch of last year’s Big West Tournament semifinals with Cal Poly San Luis Obispo on Saturday night, on Oct. 10, at LBS Financial Credit Union Pyramid. Heading into this game Cal Poly (106) traveled into the Pyramid winning their first five Big West opponent matchups as Long Beach State (12-4) dropped one conference match at Cal State University Northridge. Feeding off the split crowd of 1,545 in attendance, both teams opened with a service error of their own. “Seeing [Long Beach] Nation show up yet again, over 1500 people, is so cool,” head coach Natalie Reagan said. “A lot of different groups out there today and to see our alumni was awesome.” Alumni of LBSU contributed to the lively environment of the rivalry game. “The [alumni] screaming and cheering for us, is just a nice feeling,” LBSU junior middleblocker Pola Bujnarowska said. “We get to wear the same jerseys, be on the same court, and continue the legacy they started here.” Neither team could pull away from one another at first as a kill by LBSU’s Bujnarowska kept the set tied up 8-8.
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DIEGO PEREZ / Long Beach Current
LBSU huddles above head coach Natalie Reagan along with assistant coach Jordan Molina in hopes of a comeback during their 3-0 loss against Cal Poly Pomona the LBS Financial Credit Union Pyramid on Saturday, on October 10. Cal Poly answered immediately with a kill by sophomore middleblocker Charlotte Kelly and sparked an 8-1 run, leading to a LBSU timeout. Following the timeout the Mustangs continued to build off their lead putting the first set out of reach for The Beach. Back to back kills by Cal Poly’s junior outside hitter Kendall Beshear put an exclamation on the Mustangs first set dominance taking the set point 25-12. The second set started identical to the first set with neither team able to gain an upper-hand. After both teams traded blows, a kill from The Beach’s sophomore outside hitter Sidney Hamaker gave them a 11-8 lead. The three point lead tied for The Beach’s largest lead of the night across all sets.
Cal Poly would get kills from Beshear, Kelly, and Emma Frederick to tie the second set 11-11. The Mustangs would start to take control of the second set after an attack error from LBSU’s Bujnarowska gave Cal Poly a comfortable 20-15 lead. Attack errors would be the theme for The Beach down the stretch as junior setter Madi Maxwell with one and Hamaker with two would put the game out of reach before Cal Poly’s Beshear hit a ferocious spike for another set point at 25-17 for the Mustangs. LBSU commanded the third set almost instantly as a kill from Hamaker gave them an early 5-2 lead. The Mustangs answered back against The Beach’s fiery start by not allowing LBSU’s lead to get out of reach.
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The Beach and Mustangs would have their most competitive set with five lead changes and 12 ties. A service ace from Bujnarowska and a kill from Maxwell tied the set at 18-18. The Beach would fail to showcase any attacking offense towards the end of the third set as the Mustangs pull away with the sweep. “Cal Poly played a great game, but I think the game is completely on us,” Maxwell said. “The challenge is going to be overcoming ourselves against a good team not only playing our style of volleyball, but playing to that high level and overcoming things we’re struggling with.” LBSU looks to bounce back as they prepare for a road trip against newly added Big West opponent Utah Valley University on Oct 15.
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