Daily Forty Niner; March 11. 2024

ONE HEART ONE BEAT

Daily Forty-Niner

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Residents

to share concerns over recent 2nd Street crimes, killings

BY LINSEY TOWLES News Assistant

Sheldrake's Coffee House was overrun Thursday by residents who raised concerns about recent crimes and killings on 2nd Street in Belmont Shore following a recent stabbing at Dave’s Hot Chicken.

Street over-serving in bars, bar fights, break-ins in the area and homelessness contributing to an atmosphere of violence.

Many called for the city and local businesses to enforce stricter rules for drinking and serving alcohol, as well as adding more police patrols.

“Having moved here, we were drawn to what a great community it was,” Michelle Lago, a threeyear Long Beach resident, said. “We’ve really started to see a little bit of the darker side. We’re getting frustrated and at times, scared.”

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Letters Policy: All letters and emails must bear the phone number of the writer and must be no more than 300 words.

The Daily Forty-Niner reserves the right to edit letters for publication in regard to space.

Editorials: All opinions expressed in the columns, letters and cartoons in the issue are those of the writers or artists. The opinons of the Daily Forty-Niner 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 Daily Forty-Niner.

Long Beach's 3rd District Councilwoman Kristina Duggan invited community members to the coffeehouse for an impromptu community forum with Chief of Police Wally Hebeish on March 7.

“I am saddened and angered by the major crimes that have happened in Belmont Shore,” Duggan said. “We all are, and this will not be tolerated.”

On March 3, 20-year-old Adrian Hernandez was stabbed at Dave’s Hot Chicken on 2nd Street and later died in the hospital.

The suspect, 29-year-old Brandon Nguyen from Huntington Beach was arrested at LAX on Monday in connection to the fatal stabbing.

The incident marks the second killing in Belmont Shore in two weeks after a man was shot and killed outside Dogz Bar and Grill on Feb. 17.

“We had an incident a few blocks down and unfortunately a life was taken but we arrested the person responsible,” Hebeish said. “The mission is very clear for us. Stop crime, enhance safety and utilize all our resources.”

The recent increase in petty and violent crime has prompted responses from community members across Long Beach, many of whom attended Thursday’s meeting to ask Duggan and Hebeish questions.

During the forum, community members brought up concerns about businesses on 2nd

For lifelong Long Beach resident Andrew Noble, the increase in crime resonates with him personally.

Noble said he was attacked by a woman and knocked down while riding his bike along Belmont Shore two months ago.

“Despite video evidence, the witness statement and my own statement there has not been an arrest yet,” Noble said. “Every day that I'm out there I'm always thinking about possibly being attacked again from behind.”

Hebeish said the Long Beach Police Department is working to add extra patrol in the area to ensure fast response times and work with local business owners to deter crime.

Duggan said she plans to hold an official follow-up meeting to continue the conversation on crime prevention in Belmont Shore.

“I think it was successful,” 35-year Belmont Heights resident Rena Osborn said. “The Chief was very involved with the neighbors and answering questions. I’m very grateful to live here, but unfortunately, these things have happened.”

Since the stabbing, Dave’s Hot Chicken has reduced its store hours to close at midnight instead of 2 a.m. and stopped serving alcohol after 10 p.m.

Land Acknowledgment

Here at the 49er we acknowledge that the school we report on is located on the sacred site of Puvungna, “the gathering place”. We are on the land of the Tongva/Gabrieleño and the Acjachemen/Juaneño Nations who have lived and continue to live here.

We also acknowledge the Gabrieleño/Tongva (pronounced: GABRIEL-EN-YO/TONG – VAH) and Acjachamen/Juaneño (pronounced: AH-HACH-AH-MEN/JUAN-EN-YO) as the traditional custodians of the Los Angeles region along with the Chumash (pronounced: CHOO-MOSH) to the north and west, and the Tataviam (pronounced: TAH-TAH-VEE-YUM) and Cahuilla (pronounced: KAH-WEE-YAH) Nations to the east.

We respect and value the many ways the Tongva/Acjachemen cultural heritage and beliefs continue to have significance to the living people and remind us about the sacred and spiritual relationship that has always existed here at what we now call California State University Long Beach.

A Grand Entry dancer, adorned in traditional Native apparel, parades with others, following the Eagle Staff. The staff is a symbol of Indigenous sovereignty.

LINSEY TOWLES / Daily Forty-Niner

Dave's

Schiff, Garvey advance to Senate general election

BY ANTHONY ORRICO News Assistant

California voters cast ballots in primary elections on Tuesday, with much of what polls had predicted becoming reality.

In what many considered the most anticipated of Tuesdays races, Rep. Adam Schiff D-CA and former Major League baseball player Steve Garvey R-CA prevailed in the senate primary outpacing Rep. Katie Porter D-CA and Rep. Barbara Lee D-CA.

Schiff and Garvey are projected to advance to the general election according to the Associated Press. No results are official until the California Secretary of State certifies the vote.

Schiff, a prolific member of the Jan. 6 Committee and antagonist of former President Donald Trump, looks to take over the seat vacated by the late Dianne Feinstein.

"A little over year ago we kicked off this campaign and I won't say it was without its bumps along the way. But you had my back every step of the way. You helped us build the biggest grassroots campaign for senate in California history and I can't thank you enough," Schiff said addressing supporters in Hollywood Tuesday night.

Schiff's remarks were interrupted by pro-Palestine protesters chanting "cease-

fire now" as the congressman attempted to continue his speech. Schiff, who has been a vocal supporter of Israel, voted in favor of sending more emergency aid after the Oct. 7 Hamas attack.

In the weeks leading up the election, Schiff's super-pac spent $11.2 million on ads targeting Garvey. It has be suggested by Porter that this was an attempt to "box out" other qualified democrats.

“While the votes are still coming in, we know that tonight we’ll come up short. Our opponents threw everything, every trick, millions of dollars, every trick in the playbook to knock us off our feet. But I’m still standing in high heels," Porter said addressing supporters in Long Beach Tuesday night.

Garvey, a former player for the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres, has never held elected office and received the lowest amount of money in campaign contributions of the four major candidates, benefited largely from his public profile.

In his Tuesday victory speech, Garvey played into his past as a professional baseball player using colorful metaphors to describe the events of the evening.

"Welcome to the California comeback. What you're all feeling tonight is what it feels like to hit a walk off home run, kinda like San Diego in '84. Because the networks have called it, we're going on to the general election," Garvey said.

In Long Beach, former mayor and Congressman Robert Garcia is seeking a

During the recent primary election, Long Beach State students had the option to submit their ballots on campus in an official ballot drop box. The box was located on the upper-most part of campus, past the Macintosh Humanities Building.

second term and had a strong showing Tuesday. He advanced to to the general election along with GOP candidate and former Ocean View School Board member, John Briscoe.

Unsurprisingly, President Joe Biden and former President Donald J. Trump won their respective California primaries, as both candidates start to shift

their focus to the general election.

Proposition One was the only ballot initiative put forth this election cycle. The proposition aimed to address the issues of mental health and homelessness. If adopted, it would provide $6.4 billion to build 11,000 addiction and mental health treatment beds and provide for supporting housing for veterans.

EL NICKLIN / Daily Forty-Niner

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Garvey a former player for the Dodgers and Padres has never held public office before and benefited largely from his public profile. He will face Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff. in the general election for Dianne Feinstein's vacant seat in the senate.

Undocumented students now eligible for study-abroad programs

Several campus organizations collaborate to make study-abroad programs a more viable and seamless option for undocumented students.

BY ETHAN BROWN Staff Writer

Undocumented students at Long Beach State can apply to study abroad through advance parole, allowing them to study and possibly reconnect with loved ones in their home countries.

The Dream Success Center (DSC) has partnered with the Central American Resource Center (CARECEN) to help Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) students visit relatives and countries outside the United States. Additionally, the partnership helps faculty, staff and students' immediate relatives.

Last year, students at the Beach went to Guatemala. This year, the DSC hopes to expand its travels to El Salvador to unite more students with their remote relatives.

DACA recipients can use advance parole to temporarily leave the United States for a specific purpose and be granted parole upon return.

There are two steps for students to apply for advance parole: first, submit the application packet with a $575 filing fee and required evidence. Then, if approved, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will issue the recipient Form I-512L.

The traveler must leave and return to the U.S. within the designated time frame. An immigration inspection is undergone upon re-entry and a secondary inspection will follow up.

Advanced parole can be requested for three purposes: a humanitarian reason, such as to attend the funeral of a relative, an employment reason, including work assignments or conferences or an educational reason to study abroad or conduct academic research.

According to CARECEN College Legal Services Staff Attorney Anna Raygoza, students must submit proof of their college admission to request advance parole for educational purposes.

A regular advance parole application will be processed in four to six months. An expedited application will take six weeks, while an emergency application can process between one to three weeks.

Students can travel on advance parole even if they have been deported before. Raygoza said many of her clients have participated in this type of parole.

Fourth-year student Brianda Sicairos Ayon said she is concerned that a potential election of former U.S. President Donald Trump could lead to fewer ben-

efits and resources for undocumented immigrants.

“I’m hoping to get through my advance parole process before [Donald Trump] potentially retakes office," Ayon said. "I know he’ll get rid of all we have access to.”

Ayon is graduating this spring and wonders if her humanitarian appeal to leave the country will be sufficient. Ayon hopes to visit her ailing grandmother in Sinaloa, Mexico.

CARECEN provides free immigration legal consultations and services to college students in the greater Los Angeles area.

Serving eight of the California State University colleges, the community-based organization supplies family-based petitions, naturalization and citizenship certificates, special immigrant juvenile status, Violence Against Women Acts and U visas.

U visas are non-immigrant visas for mental or physical abuse victims who are willing to assist law enforcement in criminal prosecution.

Students can book an appointment with CARECEN on its website.

”

I’m hoping to get through my advance parole process before [Donald Trump] potentially retakes office.

Brianda Sicairos Ayon CSULB Fourth-year student

ETHAN BROWN / Daily Forty-Niner

The Dream Success Center at Long Beach State is partnering with the Central American Resource Center to send students abroad.

Israel-Hamas war impacts Long Beach residents

BY FATIMA DURRANI & IGOR COLONNO Staff Writers

Members of the Palestinian and Jewish communities at Long Beach State and in surrounding areas have expressed feelings of distress about the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, which escalated following Oct. 7.

The aftermath of Oct. 7 led to a death toll of over 25,000 Palestinians and 1,200 Israelis, according to AP News. The situation has affected people globally as they worry about the fates of relatives and friends.

The World Food Program reports that Gaza is at risk of famine due to the war. Almost 90% of children under five years old in Gaza are affected by one or more infectious diseases.

Raul Cedillo, an educator in the city of Long Beach, believes a ceasefire will be difficult to achieve but that it’s the first step to providing a chance for Palestinians to rebuild their territories. Cedillo has been a vocal supporter of Palestine on social media.

“The Palestinians are not being backed by any imperial power,” Cedillo said. “It’s only natural for there to be a resistance, as there was in the United

States when the colonizers first came over.”

As an advocate for unity within multiple communities, Cedillo said many of his own students are being negatively impacted seeing Gaza "undergo a genocide." Pro-Palestine advocates are continuing to raise awareness on social media platforms with footage in real time from Gaza and the West Bank.

“We have someone in our community who just lost 37 members of his family, and he has no one to go back to in Palestine,” said Amina Mirza, a Muslim resident in Orange County. “I pray every night for a ceasefire.”

Reuters reported an increase of anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian hate crimes by 180% since Oct. 7, which included the stabbing of a 23-year-old Palestinian at the University of Texas. Mirza said that the situation has been weighing heavy on her and everyone within her community.

“The US continues to provide aid to Israel with our tax dollars to help commit war crimes,” Mirza said. “It does take a huge mental toll on you emotionally and part of the big thing is raising awareness.”

Many Jewish people who support Israel have another perspective on whether a ceasefire is feasible, as they’ve also been dealing with emotional stress from

the situation.

Ella Tillis, an 18-year-old Jewish student at CSULB, said the war is negatively impacting her family members who live in Israel.

“They had to go in a bunker and all, because it’s dangerous out there,” Tillis said. “I was worried about my family, checking up on them and making sure they’re okay.”

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) reported on Dec. 11 that antisemitic incidents have increased by 337% since Oct. 7. The ADL recorded an all time high of 2,031 antisemitic incidents from Oct. 7 to Dec. 7., including vandalism, physical, verbal and written assaults and rallies with antisemitic rhetoric.

Tillis said that Jewish students are experiencing antisemitism in their lives, including on-campus at CSULB, and are not feeling safe.

“It's really affecting [people's] mental states and safety because there are people hurting people for being Jewish because of all this, which being Jewish has nothing to do with,” Tillis said.

Tillis said the violence overseas has always occurred and thinks the violence won’t go away soon. However, she said the best way to end the violence would be through a ceasefire.

Many student clubs at CSULB, such as Students for Justice in Palestine, the

Muslim Student Association and Beach Hillel declined to speak on the matter, expressing fear of risk to personal safety.

The following source chose to remain anonymous using a fake name, "Jack," due to privacy concerns.

Jack, a Jewish CSULB student, said the war has affected most of his friends' families and he feels very lucky to not have any family directly affected by the conflict.

“I think it has made a lot of Jews realize how badly they need their community and caused them to go search for more ways to engage with their community,” Jack said.

At school, Jack said the war has not impacted him that much, except for the protests on Oct. 25 in favor of Palestinian rights.

The promotional materials for this protest triggered him due to violent content. Jack said that justifying acts of violence is never right.

In the online sphere, Jack said that people are getting more antisemitic each day on the internet, with constant labels such as that Jews are "an international menace who control things from behind the scenes,” Jack said.

“I hope every day that the violence stops, that the people of Gaza can have peace [and] that the hostages are freed,” Jack said.

FATIMA DURRANI / Daily Forty-Niner

The Muslim Student Association at CSULB put up a "Palestine Apartheid Wall" in the central quad in honor of their Palestine Awareness Week. The display was visible to students walking through campus starting on the morning of Feb. 26.

CSULB’s VITA program provides free tax assistance and financial education

BY ALYSSA DE LA CRUZ Sports Assistant

At the CSULB VITA campus site, taxpayers can have both federal and state tax returns prepared with expert assistance. The program is open to individuals with an income of $64,000 or less. Last tax season alone, the CSULB VITA team successfully refunded over $1,000,000 to taxpayers. This was done to help maximize in-need individuals.

Sudha Krishnan, an overseer behind the program, said the project has been effective and around for a while.

“I’ve been here since 2007 and around 2013-2014 we decided to convert it into a class, VITA, but just for one semester [spring],” Krishnan said.

Recently, an alumni showed Krishnan a flyer from 1975 showing how long the program has been active.

“We also have a loyal customer who has been coming to do their taxes for the past 15 years,” Krishnan said. “Later year we helped over 900+ clients, now this year we want to pass that goal to 1,000.”

To address the time constraints faced by many clients, especially those juggling multiple jobs, the program introduced “Tax Day Saturdays.” These days happen twice during the scheduled dates for tax assistance and provide extended hours to clients.

The next “Tax Day Saturday,” which is offsite, is on March 9 at the Harbor Gateway Branch Library from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. The on-campus “Tax Day Saturday” is on March 23 from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Krishnan said the program’s collaboration with other institutions within the CSU system (CSU5), such as CSUN, Cal Poly Pomona, Cal State LA and Dominguez Hills, ensures widespread access to tax services.

Krishnan requires her students to attend four rigorous training sessions to ensure they are equipped to handle diverse tax scenarios efficiently.

“Students get trained in January. It’s IRS-approved training, often passed by professionals from firms, who update them on the latest rules and regula-

tions,” Krishnan said.

Justin Nguyen, a coordinator at VITA, joined the program last year and found it to be a rewarding experience.

“Helping others with their taxes while gaining valuable accounting insights has been fulfilling,” Nguyen said. “You learn a lot about different kinds of taxes because they may do admin stuff, retirement or some people have stocks.”

To reach a wider audience, VITA utilizes social media and campus outreach. Despite limited marketing resources, VITA strives to expand.

“We recently revamped our Instagram presence and our website on the CSULB page. We’re also endorsed by the IRS as a volunteer site,” Nguyen said.

Flexible Tax Preparation Options

According to the VITA website, they offer various tax preparation options to suit individual preferences. Taxpayers

can opt for face-to-face assistance, virtual services via Zoom or utilize drop-off services. Walk-ins are welcome, although appointments are preferred for smoother service.

The service offers Spanish language preparers, as well as preparer help in languages like Tagalog, Hindi and Mandarin.

VITA operates from Jan. 29 to April 10. The program is open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Preparation services will close during spring break, from April 1 to April 5. The program is located in Room 243 at the College of Business and parking is available in the G lots with meter fees.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, taxpayers can contact Marco Vasquez, the VITA coordinator, at vita.csulb@gmail.com or (562) 277-1146.

What You Need to Bring:

To utilize the VITA services, taxpayers should come prepared with essential documents including: Government-issued photo ID.

• Original Social Security card or documents for Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) for all family members.

• All relevant income and expense information such as W-2, 1099 and 1098 forms, tuition fees and childcare expenses.

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Helping others with their taxes while gaining valuable accounting insights has been fulfilling

Justin Nguyen Coordinator at Vita

ALYSSA DE LA CRUZ / Daily Forty-Niner

Justin Nguyen is a fourth-year accounting major and a coordinator for the VITA program, pictured with the VITA booth in COB 243.

First Fridays at Bixby Knolls returns for a night of entertainment

BY MARIANA RAMOS Staff Writer

To celebrate Women’s History Month, First Fridays in Bixby Knolls returned on March 1, which provided a space for the community to come together to share a night of live music, art, food and shopping.

This Long Beach Art Walk is hosted on the first Friday of every month from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. in Bixby Knolls on Atlantic Avenue. The Big Red Bus was in service throughout the night and offered free rides to provide attendees with transportation between all the festivities.

The event is a hot spot for small businesses with vendors set up along the sidewalks, bands performing in vibrant

breweries and groups of friends coming together for delicious food.

Brian Iglesias and Amy Cifuentes were first-time attendees, but both agreed it was a joyous experience.

“It’s lively. There’s a lot of people around enjoying everything,” Cifuentes said.

Iglesias and Cifuentes enjoyed stopping by Ambitious Ales brewery and recommend it to anyone looking for a local beer and a good food truck selection. Like Iglesias and Cifuentes, many people were drawn to the breweries as crowds filled the patios the entire night.

For Iglesias, the best part of the event was all the live music surrounding the neighborhood. Solo musicians, bands and DJs were always within hearing distance playing a range of genres for people to groove to.

Marie Noriega, a Long Beach performer, sang live at the art walk for the

first time since before the COVIS-19 pandemic began. She celebrated Women’s History Month by performing songs by prominent female musicians such as Etta James and Aretha Franklin.

“I come for the music and I love seeing everyone come together,” Noriega said.

This may have been Noriega’s first time at First Fridays as a performer, but said it won’t be her last.

Some businesses in the art walk stay open late and engage with customers; some local storefronts will also share their space with small businesses selling their goods.

Semillitas, an early education program and children’s bookstore stay open late for families and authors to come together, share stories and learn.

Maggie Solorzano-Muñeton, the owner of Semillitas, believes it is important to provide artists with the space to

share their work and uplift their voices.

“You take a piece of them, but you are also supporting a dream,” Solorzano-Muñeton said.

Vendors sell various handmade items such as clothing, jewelry and all-natural medicinal elixirs.

Nectar Azul is one of the small businesses that was stationed in front of Semillitas selling handcrafted earrings. Martha Hernandez, owner of Nectar Azul, takes inspiration from her culture, nature and current events to make intricate designs.

To match the theme of this month’s art walk, she created earrings inspired by Women’s History Month. Hernandez enjoys selling at First Fridays because it is her community and she likes being around people she is familiar with.

First Fridays at Bixby Knolls is a reccurring event in Long Beach and will be back next month with a new theme.

Photos by MARIANA RAMOS / Daily Forty-Niner

Clockwise from top: Live band plays for Rasselbock clients at Bixby Knolls, a small community within the city of Long Beach; the Big Red Bus makes one of its many stops in front of Rasselbock Kitchen and Beer Garden. The bus was free to ride and began from Beachwood Brewing in a loop to The Better Half area from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.; Marie Noriega performs her favorite songs by historical female musicians in front of Pop’N Flavors in Bixby Knolls.

sell, ARTS & LIFE PAID ADVERTISEMENT

The two-day Pow Wow weekend event attracted hundreds of guests to celebrate Indigenous culture.

Drumming and singing echoed through Long Beach State’s upper campus as Native American culture was on full display during the 51st annual Pow Wow weekend.

Kicking off Saturday morning, CSULB’s annual Pow Wow highlighted the traditions of Native American people from across the nation, hosting ceremonies and Indigenous vendors.

The Pow Wow is a collaborative effort by the American Indian Studies Program, American Indian Student Council, Division of Student Affairs, Student Life and Development and Associated Students, Inc.

The two-day event began with gourd dancing, a Kiowa warrior dance traditionally performed to honor battles. The event’s inner circle was reserved for dancing and ceremonies as vendors of all kinds took their place outside the circle.

“The gourd dancing was taken from

our people by the government and so we try and carry on these traditions today and keep it alive in memory of our ancestors. It’s very sacred to us,” said Johnny Chacon, who is also known as “Chidn,” which means ghost rider in Apache.

Vendors sold different goods, ranging from traditional Indigenous foods to handmade jewelry and clothing. For Nayely Alvarez, making and selling jewelry is a way to share her culture as a curandera, a traditional Native healer in Indigenous Latin America.

“Since I was a child I loved jewelry, and I said one day when I grow up I’m going to make some for myself,” Alvarez said. “I feel the energy from the stones. I don’t even know what I’m going to create until the stone talks to me.”

Many of the vendors travel to Pow Wows across the West coast to sell their art, such as Vicky Vasquez, an Indigenous Aztec whose family comes from New Mexico. Vasquez makes ceremonial items such as knives and arrows, many of which include feathers.

for

down

Wow returns to CSULB for 51st year

The Pow Wow is not only a place to sell, but a place to share culture and pass down long-held traditions to new generations.

“It’s super important to have these events because we’re a big community. It’s a way to keep the culture alive. Many people make handmade art, they learn to do it their whole lives and we pass it on,” Vasquez said.

Chacon said that his main motivation for coming to Pow Wows and dancing lies in sharing the sacred traditions with the spectators.

“I come for God. I come for my ancestors, for my family and friends. I come for the spectators and those who do not know our Indigenous ways,” Chacon said. “My prayers go into these dances and you will see it; you will feel it.”

While the Pow Wow serves to connect Indigenous people with each other, it is also an opportunity for non-Indigenous people to learn about the culture.

“I’m glad the Indigenous people are able to express themselves this way,” Long Beach resident Sharon Clinton said. “Indigenous people and Africans Americans, we have a lot in common, a lot has been taken from us. But we still survive and that touches my heart.”

“You Are Not Forgotten Indigenous Sisters” at the Mission Enterprises booth. Isabela, who was hosting the booth, talked about various handmade goods available there, including earrings that were created by her and her aunts.

Clockwise from top left: Two children help out their family by counting cash at the Azteca Regalia booth; Girls in traditional Native dress pause for a communal prayer; A Grand Entry dancer walks and sings with others in traditional Native dress; Grand Jaguar is a family business selling exclusively handmade goods, some of which come from Guatemala. Follow them at @Grand_Jaguar_ on Instagram; A shirt reads

Photos by:

Ellie Creighton El Nicklin Daily Forty-Niner

New Tradition brings fresh contemporary music to Orange County

BY ALEX GRYCIUK Contributor

New Tradition, a progressive pop fusion band from Orange County, embodies the flexible nature of music through their dynamic instrumentation and humble beginnings as a group.

”

We’re adrenaline junkies, so the moment that kicks in, it’s the best feeling a performer or person can experience.

Duy Nguyen-Amigo New Tradition band member

Recently, the group performed at Disneyland California Adventure during a Lunar New Year celebration. Players Duy Nguyen-Amigo, EJ Valeros, Kevin Tran, Bryan Garcia, Troy Nguyen, Jason Lien and Nathan Bernabe impressed audiences with their performances.

“When we do covers, like when we played ‘Sugar’ at Disneyland, we made it our way. It was so much fun, and I knew it was possible to do that the New Tradition way,” Garcia said.

New Tradition pairs saxophone and flute instrumentation with other traditional sounds like the guitar and drums into riveting compositions. Their covers and original music draw from iconic songs of all genres, garnering attention from fans on social media platforms.

"A lot of our song choices were based on songs that we wanted to play. So it was a lot of cover songs at first,” Valeros said.

“But as we started to rehearse more and get to know each of the bandmates throughout the process of rehearsing and rehearsing together, we realized ‘oh man, this would be amazing if we could create original music as well.’”

The band’s unconventional sound reflects the band's unprecedented start. After celebrating at a birthday dinner, the members started a jam session.

From there, New Tradition contin-

ued to meet up and create music together. In an upcoming interview on the Daily Forty-Niner's original podcast, Artist Banter, members of the band go further in depth about their one-of-a-kind start.

“I thought it was going to be kinda casual, one-off thing, but it’s turned into what New Tradition is, and it’s fantastic, it’s great," Tran said. "There are times where it can be overwhelming; there’s a lot going on.”

Since starting their band, they have had huge success in the local scene and are performing all over the state with the stars of Paris by Night. However, most members still have to juggle their role in the band with their careers.

“I have a job where I go in at five in the morning and come out at 1:30 [p.m.]. But I made it my goal to have a job with that schedule to make sure that I always have impromptu space for practice, or to record content,” Garcia said.

Though most members still have full-time jobs, performing for audiences and expressing their artistry remains a top priority.

“We’re adrenaline junkies, so the moment that kicks in, it’s the best feeling a performer or person can experience,” Nguyen-Amigo said. “I wouldn’t have it any other way to be experiencing all these emotions with these six talented gentlemen.”

Currently, there are no planned music releases or shows. If that changes, updates on concerts and music from New Tradition are announced on the band’s Instagram @newtradition_official.

“Not only are we trying to push more music out to the world, we are trying to show the world more of us,” Valeros said.

JULIA GOLDMAN / Daily Forty-Niner

From left: Duy Nguyen-Amigo, EJ Villanueva, Kevin Tran and Bryan Garcia joined Daily Forty-Niner podcast assistant, Julia Goldman for a recent episode of Artist Banter. The band members spoke about their experiences and how they decided to start the band

Study abroad: Inspire your education

BY MANUELA PASTOR Staff Writer

Many students consider leaving their native home and studying abroad, but only a few make the leap and take the opportunity.

Though the amount of students who study abroad has almost doubled since the+ COVID-19 pandemic, according to NAFSA, the number of students who study internationally still only represents one percent of all U.S. college students.

Long Beach State’s study abroad program offers a variety of options to encourage its students to study abroad. The experiences vary in length and location.

Students have the choice to study in continents like Europe, South America, Asia and Australia. They can go for a single semester, a school calendar year and even during the winter and summer breaks.

Despite the university offering plenty of resources to accommodate those who wish to study abroad, such as financial aid, scholarships and internships, most students don’t take advantage of the opportunity.

This could be for many reasons, including fear of uncertainty, language barriers and a different environment.

As an international student living in the United States, I’ve shared similar experiences to students who study abroad.

Before moving here from Argentina, I struggled to communicate with native

Imposter

English speakers. I was nervous that, once I moved here, it would be tough to adapt.

After four years, I have found myself having multiple American friends and only communicating with them in English. Living in California allows me to practice my English while still also keeping my Spanish.

Any change of environment will have its differences from your original home, but with an open mind and a good attitude, the people and the community will

syndrome: How my biggest critic turned out to be myself

BY ADRIAN MEDINA Staff Writer

People who struggle with imposter syndrome are often afraid they might be exposed as “frauds,” when in reality, that is far from the truth.

“I don’t deserve this success.” “I don’t deserve this praise.” “I am a fraud.”

I will be the first to admit that I experience these thoughts more often than not. I suffer from imposter syndrome, which has had a prevalent effect on my achievements.

According to a 2023 article published by the National Institutes of Health, individuals with imposter syndrome “cannot internalize their success and subsequently experience pervasive feelings of selfdoubt, anxiety, depression, and/or apprehension of being exposed as a fraud in their work, despite verifiable and objective evidence of their successfulness.”

These ongoing feelings and thoughts have felt like a never-ending cycle of doubt and discouragement toward goals and new projects I want to pursue.

It all started when I began making music four years ago. The first few years were filled with rough patches, but I continued to pursue my passion for music because it gave me that sense of purpose.

When I was on the brink of putting music aside, I started gaining attention and traction for my song “ethereal” after it blew up on TikTok in late December of 2022.

This was my first song to reach 1,000 streams and eventually 10,000 streams a few months later. I thought I would never reach those numbers and denied the song’s success for a long time.

Luckily for me, I had very supportive family members and friends, and a girlfriend who reminded me about the significance of this achievement.

I continued to make more songs thereafter and felt I was progressively getting better as an artist, but even after all the hard work I had put into my music, I still felt like my musical abilities were not up to par with the rest of my peers and that I simply did not belong.

I saw the number of streams rise for every new song release and felt the love from listeners, but none of that could fill the empty void I felt toward my own success.

I will never forget the day my imposter syndrome hit the hardest, which was when I performed for the first and only time last summer.

I performed in front of those same people who praised and congratulated me. There was even a crowd of people from the previous act before me who wanted to stay and watch the performance. For twenty minutes, I gave them a show with all of my favorite songs, and for twenty minutes, they cheered louder and louder with every song.

After the show, I was ambushed with praise, hugs, congratulations, high-fives and every form of approval that I could get. At the time, I was very appreciative

embrace you as one of their own, regardless of where you came from.

Remi Henry, a computer science major who came from France to study at CSULB for a year, explained that living abroad has helped him discover a new culture, practice his English and meet lifelong friends to make unforgettable memories.

“Studying abroad has been the best opportunity of my life and I’m so glad to have taken it,” Henry said.

Living abroad has shown me how to be adaptable and resilient in any en-

vironment and any student who participates in it will receive a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to immerse themselves in a new community.

This allows them to expand their perspective and fulfill personal goals while also receiving academic opportunities that could lead to career advantages in the future.

If you’re considering applying to study abroad, there are multiple different resources that CSULB has to offer to accommodate any student.

of everyone’s support.

I did my best throughout my performance and post-performance to live in the moment with the people I love, but those same recurring feelings kept pestering me.

It was hard a few days after the show to relish in my success as one would do, but that day opened my eyes to what I was dealing with internally. I realized that no matter what I achieve, big or small, I should find something to be proud of.

Nothing you do is ever is never going to be perfect, so you might as well do the best you can and stand by your efforts.

When you dive into the arts, your

biggest critic is going to be yourself. Do not let it be your downfall. It’s easy to believe that you do not belong or that you do not deserve recognition and praise. Remember that these are just thoughts in your head, not truths that should be bought into.

You are more than how you perceive yourself. Listen to the people around you and genuinely believe what they tell you.

My last piece of advice for anyone struggling with imposter syndrome is that words of affirmation are a lifesaver when you feel discouraged. You can never go wrong with the power of affirming words.

MANUELA PASTOR / Daily Forty-Niner

Students run a study abroad information tent on the CSULB campus. Students interested in studying abroad can visit Foundation Building Suite 230 for information on the programs offered.

ADRIAN MEDINA / Daily Forty-Niner Not everyone can go on a stage and perform a full concert, but if you have ever done it, you should be proud of yourself.

EL NICKLIN / Daily Forty-Niner

Over the last several years, Vice Media has gone from being a multi-billion-dollar company to experiencing bankruptcy and significant cuts and layoffs. Unless otherwise stated, the included information is from Associated Press News.

Independent news and its impending demise

Vice Media has unofficially announced their shutdown as the company has filed for bankruptcy and laid off its workers.

BY JD PRESLICKA Copy Editing Assistant

Vice Media had been deemed the digital darling of independent news. It was once a booming underground network of journalists, photographers, videographers and artists. In recent years, however, Vice Media has lost its popularity.

In 2019 a report from The Wall Street Journal claimed that Vice had made a deal with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and discussed possible collaborations between Vice and the Crown Prince to bolster the public image of Saudi Arabia. While there wasn't much media attention on this report at the time, discussions of this controversy resurfaced in June of 2023 when Vice removed a documentary about the Crown Prince from its YouTube channel.

While this series of events may not seem to be related to the downfall of Vice Media, it is indicative of a pattern of behavior that the company has exhibited in the past decade.

Vice News was known for producing documentaries on topics like underground drug rings, a child who smoked marijuana, body farms, skaters and other taboo or niche topics. Their media mission was to "tell the stories that no one else will."

The company was founded in 1994 and has collaborated with Max, formerly

” The fall of Vice Media is upsetting because the outlet was once willing to take a stance on issues that many other publications weren't willing to.

known as HBO or HBO Max, to produce cult-classic movies and publish hard-hitting articles that nobody else was willing to risk. However, a lot has changed in 30 years, including the public's trust in independent journalism.

Former Vice employee Janus Rose tweeted out a screenshot of a statement from Vice Chief Executive Officer Bruce Dixon to all employees regarding layoffs. Dixon said that Vice Media was no longer financially viable and that their platform of vice.com would no longer publish content. Currently, their YouTube and TV channels, VICE and Vice TV, are still publishing content.

"With this strategic shift comes the need to realign our resources and streamline our overall operations at Vice. Regrettably, this means we will be reducing our workforce, eliminating several hundred positions," Dixon stated.

"This decision was not made lightly, and I understand the significant impact it will have on those affected."

Vice has brought considerable awareness to underreported, often stigmatized issues. What made them a media powerhouse was that their articles were just as engaging to younger generations as their video content. Reporters were willing to take risks, and were encouraged to do so.

It is also important to consider that Vice Media encapsulated a certain aesthetic: the idea that they were raw, new and unlike the news your parents sat down to watch every night. In a sense, Vice Media was different than other outlets, but in the later years this appeal became nothing more than a marketing tactic.

In an article published by the Columbia Journalism Review in 2015, Journalist

Chris Ip wrote, "Vice has mastered the mass production of authenticity for profit. But editorial standards change when your aim is not to be an entertainment company, but a trusted source of news."

The article was published before their multi-million dollar deals Max and AWE (A Wealth of Entertainment), commenting on Vice's polished-yet-gritty aesthetic. Now, many are viewing the company in the same way as Ip.

Instagram comments such as, "This why y'all bankrupt" and "Go Woke, go Broke!" flood the comment section of @vicenews, with many criticizing their lack or over reporting on issues such as Ukraine, Palestine and and other polarizing topics. As of March 9, the Vice News Instagram page has not posted since Feb. 27.

The fall of Vice Media is upsetting because the outlet was once willing to take a stance on issues that many other publications weren't willing to. While the reporting was debatably unbiased, the subject matter being reported on showed that their investigative skills went beyond the surface.

With these issues on the reporting itself aside, an even larger issue brought to light is a lack of respect for journalists. Whether it is freelance or a long-term contract, writers work around the clock to deliver news to the public to stay well informed. Corporate news is slowly killing independent news, and it has been doing so for a while.

Beach softball loses to Princeton in high-scoring affair

BY ETHAN BROWN Staff Writer

Shut out after the 3rd inning, the Long Beach State softball team fell to the Princeton Tigers 10-7 in the first game of their doubleheader at the LBSU Softball Complex on Saturday.

After a promising beginning which included a four-run two out rally response to Princeton's three-run inning, The Beach lost steam.

Sophomore catcher Julia Dumais began her four RBI afternoon with a leadoff home run for Princeton in the top of the first inning. Karis Ford, a freshman right fielder who also finished with four RBIs, then struck a two-run shot to put Princeton up 3-0 before Long Beach first came up to bat.

Back-to-back-to-back singles set up junior third baseman South Carolina transfer Carly Robbins to belt a threerun double, evening the score. After senior catcher Jaaden Barajas drew a walk, senior San Jose State transfer catcher Lilyanna Martinez hit a single, scoring Robbins.

LBSU unravels in extra innings, falls to Utah State 4-2

BY MATTHEW COLEMAN Sports Assitant

The preseason has not been kind to Long Beach State softball to say the least after dropping the past three games at home as part of the Louisville Slugger Invitational, The Beach looked to senior starting pitcher Sophia Fernandez to put a stop to the rough weekend.

Fernandez would shine in what her head coach Kim Sowder would call one of her best games of the season. The senior would throw all eight innings, striking out four, allowing seven hits and just two earned runs in a dominant outing.

“[Fernandez] just did a really good job of mixing everything up, using all of her pitches really keeping them off-balanced and a great job in the circle,” Sowder said. “She gave us a really great opportunity to win that ball game.”

The first six innings were all about the pitching from both sides with Utah State not having a runner reach scoring position until the seventh inning.

“I mainly focused on my drop ball and staying away, as well as change-ups,” Fernandez said. “I was a little bit tired today but I’m learning to push through and using my good stuff from my warmups.”

The Aggies’ arms held their own in this matinee pitching duel with graduate starting pitcher Katie Zuniga and sophomore reliever Tess Bumiller combing for four shutout innings allowing just three hits.

Long Beach State would have opportunities to plate runs on multiple occa-

Dumais was back at it again in the second inning, doubling in junior left fielder Allison Ha for the Tigers off of LBSU senior starting pitcher Sophia Fernandez.

The Beach responded with ferocity in the third inning, turning a 4-4 deadlock into a 7-4 advantage.

Junior second baseman Jacquelyn Bickar started the big inning by smack-

ing a two-run triple, making the score 6-4 and chasing Princeton junior starting pitcher Meghan Harrington with one out in the third.

Lilyanna Martinez followed that by hitting her second RBI single later in the inning, scoring Bickar.

The Tigers responded as they had been doing all game and when the smoke had cleared, the score was 9-7 in favor of Princeton.

The Beach could not get anything substantial going for the rest of the game.

Long Beach State assistant coach Kevin Castillo was strangely ejected in the fourth inning, for reasons still unclear.

Princeton senior pinch hitter Cate Bade provided an insurance run in the 7th, making the score 10-7, and on a sunny day that became progressively more windy, that was the final.

Due to the proximity between their first and second games of the day, head coach Kim Sowder and Beach players were unavailable for an interview. The Beach takes on the Grand Canyon Antelopes on Sunday at the LBSU Softball Complex.

sions but failed to capitalize in the early innings.

In the home half of the second inning with two runners aboard, senior first baseman Cassie Camou struck a ball deep into right-center field where Aggies sophomore outfielder Kya Pratt was able to track it down to make a sensational catch to end the inning and save two runs.

A pair of walks and an infield single would load the bases in the bottom of the third where again LBSU would fail to get a runner across, with the inning coming to an end this time via the strikeout.

The trend would appear again with The Beach up to bat in the sixth inning after a leadoff double by senior left fielder Sara Olson and a pinch-hit single from freshman Erica Estrada would again set up a prime RBI opportunity with no outs and runners on the corners.

This time it would be Utah State’s redshirt sophomore relief pitcher Denay Smith escaping the jam with a flyout to left, strikeout and a groundout to end the inning unscathed, keeping the ballgame scoreless.

The seventh inning is when the bats of both teams would come alive, starting with a controversial call on an infield single putting the leadoff hitter on base to start the inning. The runner came across to score the game’s first run via a sacrifice fly from junior first baseman Giselle Gonzalez.

Down to their final out in the bottom half of the inning with a runner on first, sophomore outfielder Makayla Medellin would find the gap, plating the tying run, before getting caught in a rundown between second and third, sending the game into extra innings.

With a runner on second to start

the top of the eighth, Utah State would string together a couple of base hits to take the lead once more. Only one of the three eighth-inning runs would be earned, as a fielding error from the catcher and passed ball would be critical in the Aggies scoring.

LBSU’s agonizing day at the plate would continue in their final at-bats in a game that will be remembered for squandering multiple chances with runners in scoring position.

A walk and hit by pitch would load the bases with no outs for The Beach, but they would only manage to get one of those runs across on a fielder’s choice, losing by a final score of 4-2.

Sunday’s loss drops Long Beach State to 4-21 on the season with their first conference games against UC Riverside slated for next weekend where they look to turn their season around.

Photo courtesy of LBSU Athletics

Junior second baseman Jacquelyn Bickar celebrates her triple which was part of her 3-4 day at the plate. The Beach lost 10-7 to Princeton at the LBSU Softball Complex on Saturday.

DEVIN MALAST / Daily Forty-Niner Long Beach State softball's junior infielder Carly Robbins anticipated her teammates' hit to steal third base. Robbins would get two hits in a 4-4 loss to Utah State on Sunday at the LBSU Softball Complex.

LaTanya Sheffield: Going for gold

Long Beach State track and field head coach Latanya Sheffield has been named as the USA women's track head coach for the 2024 Olympics in Paris.

BY DAVIS RAMAGE Sports Editor

"We can't fail," LBSU track and field head coach LaTanya Sheffield said.

Sheffield was recently announced to be at the helm of the USA women's track and field team at the 2024 Olympics and is already in a winning mindset.

Sheffield has a multitude of experience when it comes to coaching at the Olympic games as she was an assistant coach in charge of the sprint and hurdle teams in Rio in 2016 and Tokoyo in 2020, but made the jump to head coach for these games.

"I can say that it's really super exciting to be able to be at the helm of the ultimate competition for track and field," Sheffield said. "I'm certainly prepared."

The move from assistant coach to head coach has not put any added pressure on Sheffield, but she said that it is an added responsibility now to be in charge of all events as opposed to just sprints and hurdles.

As a runner, Sheffield was a finalist for the USA in the 400m hurdles at the 1988 games in Seoul, so she has felt the pressure of having the USA letters on her uniform before.

"The pressures of representing your

”

I can say that it's really super exciting to be able to be at the helm of the ultimate competition for track and field.

LaTanya Sheffield LBSU track and field head coach

country in such a momentous manner on the world stage, that's a huge deal," Sheffield said.

One of those athletes who will be representing her country this year under Sheffield is Sha'Carri Richardson. The track superstar most recently took home gold in the 100m and the 4x100m relay at the World Championships in Budapest.

Sheffield said that Richardson carries the load of the country on her back, but many talented athletes alongside her will also make America proud.

"She is an amazing athlete that will represent our country very well. She is an athlete that is very resilient [and] is strong and confident, so she actually makes my job even easier," Sheffield said.

Sheffield revealed the incredible amount of logistics that go into operating an Olympic team like analysis of how far you are traveling and the correct acclimation period that coincides with that and a nutrition regimen that fuels athletes daily to prep for the competition.

Sheffield said it is her goal to not fail the people in charge of things like this as she is "doubling and tripling with support."

When it comes to coaching at The Beach, Sheffield says she receives athletes that come from all walks of life, and learning to coach those athletes has been a perk and prepared her for coaching the Olympic athletes.

"It's [coaching] a multitasking career

and being able to juggle manage mitigate some of the things that happened here on the campus will be very helpful for me as we go onto Paris, France," Sheffield said.

One of those athletes that Sheffield coaches at The Beach is senior sprinter Kaitlyn Williams who holds the second-best 60m time in program history with a 7.40.

"As a captain, I feel like she put me in a leadership role that taught me things and how to go through life," Williams said.

When Williams found out that Sheffield was named the head coach for the Olympics, she was shocked and proud that Sheffield would be operating on this huge platform and said that she deserved it.

Williams gets to work closely with Sheffield every day at practice and said that one of her best qualities is making everything fun while still preparing you mentally and physically for a race.

"It's a very inspirational thing to be working close with her," Williams said.

Looking ahead to the 2028 Olympic games in Los Angeles, Sheffield is "looking forward to watching the 2028 games from the stands."

Sheffield and the USA women's track team will be fighting for track domination at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris starting on July 26, 2024.

SAMUEL CHACKO / Daily Forty-Niner Track and field head coach of sprints, hurdles and relays LaTanya Sheffield will be the head coach of the USA's women's track and field team at the 2024 Paris Olympics. During The Beach opener on Friday, March 1, Sheffield was working hard with the sprinters, hurdles and relay team with running to prepare for Saturday's match at Jack Rose Track.