CSULB SOAR Guide

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California State University Long Beach 2020-2021


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CONTENTS 04 05 06 10 12

Introduction Services Buildings Clubs Coupons

16 17 18 20 22

Sports Transfers Gap Time Parking Who to Follow

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WHO ARE WE?

We’re here to help you! The CSULB survival guide is a pocket essential for all new students at Long Beach State. Maybe you’re a transfer and don’t know what you need to do. Or maybe you want to join a cultural club. We’ve got you! This guide is a collaboration between DIG MAG, DÍG en Español and the Daily Forty-Niner. As the most reliable campus sources of news, lifestyle, sports, arts and cultural content, we wanted to help students like you adjust to this new environment. CSULB is its own little big world, and it’s easy to get lost! We hope that as you grow and flourish through college, our publications can remain your go-to sources for information about all things campus-related. Now go out there and not only survive, but thrive! Publication info: For those who want the 411: The Daily Forty-Niner is CSULB’s longest running news source. For 70 years, the paper has documented the history of the campus and continues to do so with up-to-date coverage of CSULB news, culture and events. Website: daily49er.com For the trendsetters and go-getters: If you’re looking for the best local coffeehouses or an idea for a weekend trip, look no further than DIG MAG. DIG is the student’s guide to lifestyle on campus and in Long Beach. Turn to DIG for tips, reviews, profiles, photography and more. Website: digmagonline.com For coverage of all things Latinx: DÍG en Español is the newest publication at CSULB and the only Spanish language publication in Long Beach. DÍG en Español covers topics ranging from lifestyle to serious issues affecting the Latinx community on campus and beyond. Website: digmagonline.com/digenespanol Note: This issue was compiled prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, many of the activities or locations offered in the guide may not be available until the university, along with the rest of Long Beach, resumes operations as normal.

4 Introduction Letter


MINDING YOUR HEALTH BY NICHOLAS KIM

Student services on campus can help you maintain your physical and mental health. Stress. Depression. The common cold. As a college student, you might find yourself coping with all of the above. And although you may think you need to tough it out, I’m here to say: Drop the act and seek help. You’re paying for it anyway! As a CSULB student, you can take advantage of a variety of services and programs offered through Student Health Services, or SHS, and Counseling and Psychological Services, also known on campus as CAPS. SHS offers everything from acupuncture and blood tests to regular check-ups and reproductive health services. These programs are paid for by students through mandatory health fees, and students can use the services or programs as much as they need to, at a low cost. “Students come to SHS if they have any problems regarding their health, and we also offer wellness programs to help improve health and well-being,” said Angela Girard, a registered nurse and co-director of SHS. The main goal of CAPS is to help students meet the challenges relating to career and life goals with mental health counseling. Counselors at CAPS help students work through issues with relationships, academic goals, loss of motivation and anxiety. If students want to see a counselor, they can drop in or call for an appointment. CAPS director Bongjoo Hwang said the department is there for students who want to improve their mental health. “Students find what might be the best options in improving their mental health considering many factors and aspects of the issues that they are dealing with,” Hwang said. Note: Due to COVID-19, CAPS is offering telehealth services, and SHS is offering services for acute illness only. Please visit: web.csulb.edu/divisions/students/ shs/ or web.csulb.edu/divisions/students/caps/ for more information. 5


CAMPUS TOUR BY ANTHONY MORENO AND SYD INGRAM

Learn the history behind a few of the most important and iconic buildings on campus.

Bob Cole Conservatory of Music

Brotman Hall Physician and philanthropist E. James Brotman began donating money to CSULB while watching a “60 Minutes” segment where a petroleum executive told children he’d pay their way through college if they graduated. “I looked around to see where I could do the most good,” Brotman told The Beach Review. The university’s administrative headquarters was built in 1975 but was renamed in 1998 because of Brotman’s donation of $3.7 million. 6

Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden Opened on April 3, 1981, the garden was named in memory of Earl Burns Miller. He and his wife, Loraine Miller Collins, loved gardening, the outdoors, travel and art. Collins donated $250,000 toward the construction of the garden.

CSULB’s School of Music was renamed in 2008 due to the $16.4 million contribution by Long Beach resident Bob Cole’s estate. Cole was a real estate investor, longtime music lover and amateur pianist who died in 2004. “This conservatory will forever honor a Long Beach man who looked to the promising futures of students at our university and wanted to help them succeed,” said former CSULB President F. King Alexander in a 2008 Long Beach PressTelegram article.


SURVIVAL GUIDE CAMPUS TOUR

Walter Pyramid Carpenter Performing Arts Center Built in 1993, The Richard and Karen Carpenter Performing Arts Center hosts films, musicals, and theatrical performances. The center was named after siblings Richard and Karen Carpenter, alumni of CSULB and members of the musical duo The Carpenters. Seating 1,074 people, the Carpenter Performing Arts Center is a staple of CSULB and was intended to draw the community to campus.

Horn Center This campus hub was named after CSULB’s third president, Steve Horn, who served from 1970 to 1988. He was also a U.S. congressman and professor of political science from 1988 to 1992. The Horn Center was built in 1993 but renamed in 2003 after the university recognized all that Horn and his wife did for the school. The building was originally known as the university’s north campus library.

The Walter Pyramid was built in 1994 and renamed in 2005 after Mike and Arline Walter showed support for the athletics program. The Walters and five other couples donated $3.3 million to athletics and academics. “Do all that you can to help others in the place that you are,” Mike Walter said in the Long Beach Press-Telegram. Both of the Walters were university professors. Mike was also named dean of the College of Business Administration in 1993 and retired in 2000.

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LIFE SAVERS BY JILLIAN GRONNERUD

Have fun on a budget at these local attractions, all of which offer student discounts. Let’s face it, sometimes you need to take a break from studying for a few hours. But going out can feel like too much of a splurge when you’re living on a student budget. That’s where student discounts come in: Several spots around Long Beach and Los Angeles, from movie theaters to yoga studios, offer special pricing if you present a valid student ID. Here’s a short list of our favorites.

AMC Marina Pacifica 12

6346 E. Pacific Coast Highway, Long Beach

Tickets: $12.49 for all screenings after 4 p.m. Recently refurbished, this theater features a full bar in the lobby and reclining seats in the screening rooms. You’ll find mainstream movies here, including most of the top box-office hits.

Aquarium of the Pacific

100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach,

Admission: $27 at the ASI Ticket Center This local landmark recently opened two new attractions: Pacific Visions, with interactive exhibits focusing on sustainability, and Coral Reefs: Nature’s Underwater Cities. It’s a great place to spend an afternoon alone, unwinding and relaxing while watching stingrays and sea lions.

Kava Yoga

4005 E. Fourth St., Long Beach

Class fee: 10% off This studio offers a variety of classes, ranging in style from hatha to vinyasa. Classes run all day long, starting at 8:30 a.m. and running through 7:30 p.m.

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SURVIVAL GUIDE LIFE SAVERS

Los Angeles County Museum of Art 5905 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles

Admission: $16 With more than 142,000 art objects spanning 6,000 years in its collection, LACMA is the largest art museum in the Western United States. After you view the treasures inside, make sure to visit the sculptures located outside: Both “Levitated Mass” and “Urban Light” make for great photo opportunities.

Long Beach Museum of Art 2300 E. Ocean Blvd, Long Beach

Admission: $8 Located in a historic home on the bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean, this museum features rotating exhibits spotlighting the creations of local artists working in many different media, from sculpture to photography to watercolor.

Natural History Museum

900 Exposition Blvd., Los Angeles

Admission: $11 online, $12 in person Dinosaur Hall, with three T. rex skeletons and more than 300 ancient fossils, is enough to draw any nature-lover to this museum. But there’s plenty more to see, including a nature garden filled with native plants that attract all kinds of birds, butterflies, and other creatures.

United Artists Marketplace 6 Theater

6601 Pacific Coast Highway, Long Beach

Tickets: $11.95, Monday through Thursday This theater is known for showing a variety of art house and independent films, along with documentaries. 9


STUDENT ASSOCIATION CLUBS BY ALEJANDRO VAZQUEZ

BSU

Black Student Union is a student cultural club that serves to help Black students at CSULB build a safe space, create community and connect with fellow Black students at school. BSU, through academic excellence, cultural consciousness, social responsibility and rebuilding the family, helps students connect with their culture on campus. BSU encourages all students to visit their judgment-free zone. Instagram: @csulb.bsu

International Student Association is a student association that helps international students become more involved on campus and find a community here in the states. ISA welcomes everyone, whether you are an international student or not, to join their club to make more friends. ISA hosts events, like prom, to expose international students to American traditions and culture. Instagram: @isaofcsulb

PIA 10

ISA

Pacific Islanders’ Association is a cultural organization that invites Pacific Islander students to come together, celebrate their culture and heritage, and empower themselves. PIA helps students find a community away from home. PIA hosts different art festivals that focus on the art and music of the community. Instagram: @csulbpia


Q&A

Queer and Allies is a social club on campus where people come and join in order to get their mind off of the stress of life. The club not only welcomes members of the LGBTQIA+ community, but also allies. The goal is to help educate students on the community and create a safe space for LGBTQIA+ students to socialize. Q&A hosts several events like hikes, bowling and movie nights. Instagram: @csulb.qanda

Taiwanese Student Association provides a positive atmosphere for people who are Taiwanese, as well as those who admire the culture. TSA helps CSULB students to come together and make new friends, build connections and participate in different events. TSA strives to ensure that no one is left out on campus. TSA hosts different events like karaoke nights and ice skating nights. Instagram: @csulbtsa

LSU

TSA

Latinx Student Union is the composite of all the Latinx organizations on campus. LSU invites students to attend one of their meetings to learn about the different Latinx clubs on campus and help plan their events.LSU hosts events like the Undocu 5K, which is a run that helps fundraise for scholarships for undocumented students. Instagram: @lsucsulb

Pilipino American Coalition invites students to join their coalition and become a part of their family. PAC helps students build a community and safe space where they can get the most out of their college experience through different meet ups. PAC hosts events like Wednesday study nights and the “Olympacs,� where members come together and play different sports. Instagram: @lb_pac

PAC 11


STUDENT DISCOUNT RE BY FORTY-NINER STUDENT MEDIA

The Student Discount Resource Guide, SDRG, is our way of helping st businesses. For more discounts, scan the QR code, and bookmark dail


ESOURCE GUIDE

tudents get a great deal while promoting local ly49er.com/csulb-student-discounts.



connect with

DIG MAG @DIG.MAG @DIGMAG

@DIGMAGAZINE

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WHY STUDENTS SHOULD GO TO BEACH GAMES BY NICHOLAS KIM

Nothing beats going to a CSULB sports game. Whether it’s a volleyball game at the Walter Pyramid or a Dirtbags baseball game at Blair Field, sports games are a must for students who care to support their school. The most recent game I went to see was a men’s basketball game between Long Beach State and the Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Mustangs. Both sides fought with everything they had to score points. People around me were cheering, grabbing a bite and taking pictures and videos. Hearing the live cheers from the crowd and the excitement from the announcers is an experience you can’t get from watching TV at home. In the end, The Beach won 80-73. The team was behind by 14 points during the first quarter, but they began to slowly make their comeback and were in the lead until the end of the game. It was exciting to see that they went from losing to winning. I mean, what a comeback. While non-students have to purchase tickets online or at the games, students get access to games for free—all they have to do is show their student IDs at the entrance and they’re in. Students should take advantage of this! College is hard, and those who succeed need to have a little break from the stress of studying. Not only is the main event fun to watch, but there is also a halftime show that’s sure to get you on your feet. At CSULB, they showcase our cheer team. Sometimes ASI plans special halftime events as well. Sports fans are also competitive by nature. When fans from opposing teams are in the same stadium, there is usually a high chance there will be smack talk and camaraderie from both sides. Going to sports games is not just about hyping up the team players, but it is also about the experience. For my last year at CSULB, I want to have fond memories at my school, and I know watching college sports games will give me exciting moments to remember. 16


A SEAMLESS TRANSITION BY DELANEY TRAN

Tips to help transfer students smooth their first semester at The Beach. If you’re a recent transfer to Long Beach State, congratulations! Transferring from a community college is no easy feat; it takes a lot of determination and drive. Now that you’re here, though, you’ll have to quickly learn the ropes on a whole new campus. Don’t worry—we’re here to help with a few pointers to make your journey at The Beach a little easier.

Take the GPE/GWAR ASAP Your score on the Graduate Writing Assessment Requirement Placement Examination (GPE) determines whether you need to take extra writing courses or just a writing intensive capstone. It’s best to take it the summer before enrollment; if that’s not an option for you, make sure to take it during your first semester. Otherwise, you may be hit with a class registration hold. Want to brush up before you sit down for the exam? The University Writing Center (SSC - 245) holds workshops. Dates are listed at http://web. csulb.edu/divisions/students/testing/gpe/.

Meet With Your Department Advisers Your orientation leader will probably recommend that you visit the counselors in your college (students in the College of Liberal Arts, for instance, get advising help from ATLAS). These college-based programs are helpful, but they tend to give you general advice and might not be fully aware of the specific requirements of your major. That’s why it’s a good idea to also meet with the academic advisers in your department. They can help you map out your schedule and keep you on track to graduate.

Always Get Help If You Need It

You’re probably familiar with how college works, but you might find the pace and environment at a major university overwhelming at times. If you’re concerned about your grades or find yourself falling behind in a class, don’t hesitate to attend your professor’s office hours. Most professors are happy to go over class concepts and assignments and can even connect you with opportunities on campus or in your field of study. Get to know them well enough, and you’ll have someone to ask for letters of recommendation when you start applying for jobs or graduate school. 17


WAYS TO KILL TIME DURING YOUR GAP STORY: ANNIKA BRANDES | ILLUSTRATIONS: STEPHANIE HOLT

Breaks in your schedule can be the best time to get out and explore campus. Long Beach State is known as a commuter campus; most students tend to park, hike to class and then dip as soon as it’s done. Unfortunately for some of us, we’re stuck with hours of break time between classes. But these gaps don’t have to be all bad. Here’s how to use the time to get the most out of what the school has to offer.

Fuel Up With Food

Eating is a must in order to get through the day. Some favorites on campus are Starbucks, convenience stores, the University Dining Plaza and the University Student Union. Fun fact: The Chartroom is a buffet behind the UDP that serves all-you-can-eat lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Friday, for only $12!

Play Some Games at the USU

On the first floor of the University Student Union is the Games Center, where you can bowl, play billiards, watch TV and more. You do have to pay a small fee to play these games, but it’s affordable and a fun way to kill some time with your friends. If you’re feeling brave, you can swim in the “awkward pool,” viewable from above by students walking to class.

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SURVIVAL GUIDE GAP TIME

See Amazing Art

If you feel like taking a stroll, the Carolyn Campagna Kleefeld Contemporary Art Museum in the Horn Center hosts free art exhibitions. On the opposite side of campus, you can view student art at the Student Art Galleries in the Fine Arts buildings. Occasionally, students will also sell their work!

Workout at the SRWC

The Student Recreation & Wellness Center is on the southeast corner of campus, but well worth it if you’re down for the walk. Along with all the regular gym equipment, the rec center has group exercise classes daily. Post workout, you can visit the Beach Balance office, where they have massage therapy, aromatherapy and guided meditation sessions.

A Nap Is Highly Necessary

It’s college; you’ll get used to seeing students napping around campus. Feel free to catch up on some sleep anywhere you can make yourself comfortable. Some favorite spots: the arm chairs on the fourth floor of the library (a.k.a. the quiet floor), under the trees in grassy areas, the large chairs in the Horn Center and your car when you have to come early for parking.

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A DECADE’S WORTH OF PARKING TICKETS STORY: ASHLEY RAMOS | ILLUSTRATION: STEPHANIE HOLT

Which types of parking citations do students get the most? We looked at the data from 2010 to 2019. Ruben Vergara, an English major, regularly takes the bus, but he had missed his bus. Since it was the first day of classes, he was afraid of getting dropped, so he parked on campus and ended up with a ticket for “no valid permit.” “In retrospect, having to pay $60 isn’t that bad compared to what I could’ve lost,” Vergara said. A “no valid permit” citation is actually the most common citation given out at Long Beach State. According to data from Parking and Transportation services, in the last decade, 175,652 tickets were handed out on campus. Out of those tickets, 95,568 tickets were “no valid permit” citations. The citation “no valid permit” means that students parked and did not have any type of short-term or long-term permit linked with their vehicle. The second-most-common ticket was for parking in employee lots without an employee permit, which totaled 21,315 tickets. Student permits are only valid on employee lots after 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and on weekends. The cost of a semester parking permit has increased $52 since 2016, according to CSULB annual parking rates.

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SURVIVAL GUIDE PARKING WOES

However, the campus still has the sixth-cheapest student parking permit out of the 23 CSU campuses, said Amy Gerety, the director of parking and transportation services, via email. There are 11 lots for employee parking and 14 for general parking. In the 2018-2019 academic year, there were approximately 14,064 parking spots available for students, staff, and visitors. According to Gerety, CSULB does not plan to expand the number of parking spots on campus at any time in the near future. That kind of expansion, she said, does not align with the goals of the campus Climate Action Plan. “The direction the campus is going in is better use of current parking infrastructure,” Gerety said. This includes improved class scheduling and improved awareness of sustainable transportation. Jocelyn Gonzalez, a first-year computer science major, explained how she bought a permit but forgot to register her car. Consequently, she got a ticket. When she tried to contest her ticket, she was denied and had to pay the $40 fine. “It’s something you have to pay,” Gonzalez said. “It kind of hurt me, my wallet, but I paid for it anyway.” Lauren Berny contributed to this story. 21


BE A FOLLOWER Dozens of organizations across campus have their own social media accounts, and it can be hard to decide which ones to follow. Start with these eight, which will provide general information about Long Beach State and will help you discover the university groups you want to join.

CSU Long Beach

Instagram: @csulongbeach Facebook: @csulb Twitter: @CSULB

CSULB Library

Instagram: @csulblibrary Twitter: @CSULBlibrary

CSULB ASI

Instagram: @csulbasi Twitter: @CSULBASI

CSULB Student Life

Instagram: @csulb.sld Twitter: @CsulbSld

49er Shops

Instagram: @49ershops Twitter: @49erShops

Dig Magazine

Instagram: @dig.mag Twitter: @DIGMAG

DIG en EspaĂąol

Instagram: @digenespanol Twitter: @DigenEspanol

Daily Forty-Niner

Instagram: @daily49er Twitter: @daily49er

Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, & Facebook! 22


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12� inch unlimited topping pizza for students 5555 E Stearns St, Long Beach, CA 90815



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