THANK YOU
Danny Lemos, Keya Allen, Sylvana Cicero, Beach Pride Center, KBeach, College Beat, ASI Media Board, James Ahumada, Sean the I.T. guy, Yesenia Arroyo, Cesar Jimenez, Alfredo Castaneda, Jose Sandoval, Sergio Burstein, Elizabeth Campos, Blake Pinto, Samantha Neou, Jordan Scott, Francisco Lopez, nothingbutwordssatire, Marisol Samayoa, Kealie Mardell, Hal Tars, Mitchell Edwards, Jaime Wright, Taylor Caceres, Connor Reischl, OC DIY, Xpressions, Alaina Tinnirello, Nohemi Gonzalez, Niran Jayasiri, Jean Jullien, Jorge Martinez, Maximo Gonzalez, Chris and Parker Viola, Natalie Ordaz, Peter R. Clark, Christian Bourdeau, Paige Lapp,
Karrie Comfort, Becca Pincolini, R. Ray Robinson, Ricardo Alejandro Pulido, Fernando Ramirez, Joseph C. Petitt, Rebecca Komathy, Jonathan Beltran, Maria Jimenez, Catherine Kim, Stephen Lee, Daniel Schrader, Daniel Colón, Kirstie Ishikawa, Brittany Imaku, Angel Mae Elchico, Joe Eurell, Emily Ibrahim, Rachel Chauvin, Juliann Jimenez, Veronica Craft, Vanessa Moore, Ramiro Romo, Rebecca Ruiz, Yoshino Jasso, Tam Cao, Benz Ananthasukhon, Sean Dundas, Isaac Garland, Bryan Ayala, Fergie Rosales, Matt McNeese, Marilyn Ramirez, Hannah Suarez, Leslie Leon, Sean Dundas, Andrew McGivern, Michelangelo Landgrave von Gensokyo, Kiliko (never again, Christopher), Elizabeth Ortiz, Melissa
“Meggy” Duron, Beatriz Villa, Kate Bruins, Brittany Lieberman, Brandon “B” Richardon, Samwell Favela, Eliza de la Flor, Alfred Pallarca, Athena Robinson, Zach Phelps, Teresa Arteaga, Crystal Rodriguez, Lilly Nguyen, Chestina Craig, Henri Haycraft, Adam Clease, , Cody Vogel, Viridiana Prado, Elizabeth Ayala, Ashwin Bhosle, Genesis Rivera, Jose Salazar, Ricardo Perez, Justin Man, Cesar Melchor, Ellen Chou, Denise Moreno, Mark Anthony, Dominique Roberts, Daniel Barajas, Meagan Meylor, Camille Hove, Stephany Medina, Mary Cruz, Stella Garcia, Peter Macaulay, Jordan Scott, Kimberly Jimenez, Xavier Madrigal, Helena Garnett, Jorge Anthony Negrete, Frances Payne, Katia Swihart,
Colin Rogers, Richies Tan, Jennifer Teloya, Jacky Elrich, Anthony Hodge, Tony Le, Kyle Ho, Thomas Forman, Sahar Kachroo, Alma Sanchez, Cody Stegemiller, Indigo Vu, Alejandra (Alex) Peréz, Anna Elaine Abella, Sarah LaPoint, Allison Meyer, Alyson Camus, Zane Roessell, Suzie Lopez, Tony Acero, Cindy Cruz, Alex Pham, Gonzalo Saucedo, Galileo Gonzalez, Lilit Grigoryants, Anneke Van Ommering, Alex Mraz, Justin Wu, Lawrence Liu, Katie Leyba, R.R. Crosby, Erika Henderson, David Teubner, Matias Ocana, Alysia El Nagar, The Associated Press Stylebook, and Valley Printers.
We also couldn’t have done this without: Whitney Houston, Muy Muy Donuts, Pocky, Frank the Skeleton, the Nugget bartenders, McDonald’s for serving breakfast for 24 hours, Bryant, Hiccups, The Lactation room, Adele, Drake, Kanye West, Brown sugar Pop-Tarts, The person
Christmas paper, Pinterest, Celine Dion, Bananagrams, Mario and Beca’s sweaters, jelly donuts, Carl’s Jr. breakfast sandwiches, Tight Pants, Red Gatorade, Joel’s conspiracy theories, Lauren for telling me how to live my life, Rockstar and Red Bull, Mac and Cheese bites, Jack
Daniels, Jose Cuervo, The Spirits, the piece of plastic in my chicken sandwich, Spotify, fake hoverboards, Matt and Veronica for bringing me food that one time, Puppies, Cats, Tinder, Grindr, Capri Sun, Bean, Pad Thai, Pabst Blue
Ribbon, Boba, Fox Mulder, Raptor costumes, Tumbles, Buzzfeed, Jar of Change, Soft Knees, Dick Weiners Esq. and last but certainly not least, MVB! (Most Valuable Beca).
Issue 77.14
Intro
3
Katie Cortez, Editor in Chief editorinchief@lbunion.com Richard Mejia, Managing Editor manager@lbunion.com Renee Schmiedeberg, Assistant Managing Editor/Social Media Manager assistmanager@lbunion.com Trevor Desrosiers, Advertising Executive advertising@lbunion.com Ashley Rodriguez, Advertising Intern ashley.lbunion@gmail.com Nathan Zankich, Web Manager web@lbunion.com ART & DESIGN Sam Orihuela, Art Director artdirector@lbunion.com John Mueller, Graphics Illustrator illustration@lbunion.com
Graphic by Sam Orihuela
WE KNOW WHEN THAT HOTLINE BLING It’s kind of hard for me to believe that this semester is rapidly approaching its end. This is our last issue of the fall semester, but it
a presidential “scandal,”
EDITORIAL
together, laughed together, and shared many at the Union and striving to make it better than it has been in the past is exhausting and
Joel Martinez, Community Editor community@lbunion.com
William Odis Martin, Athletics Editor athletics@lbunion.com Madison Gallegos, Arts Editor arts@lbunion.com
and a Parisian
more hours at my second job, I plan on doing
Elizabeth Nguyen and Rebeca Vega Opinions Editors opinions@lbunion.com
Bailey Mount, Campus Editor campus@lbunion.com
Criminal Minds and drank a lot of beer—really living up to my
I’m still having trouble grasping the
anything. I get a lot of comments from friends Union Weekly “sucks” because I spend the majority of my time each
part of our family.
at Union spring, and hope that, you stick around to see Sunday morning, sure, I’m tired, but more don’t have to come
Andrew Linde, Entertainment Editor entertainment@lbunion.com
done this semester. Nine of our editors had
Elliott Gatica, Music Editor music@lbunion.com
journey together in August, and they’ve all
Ktez
Jack Villalba, Lifestyle Editor lifestyle@lbunion.com Amanda Dominguez-Chio, Literature Editor literature@lbunion.com Mario Lopez, Travel Editor travel@lbunion.com Kaila-Marie Hardaway, Food Editor food@lbunion.com Aubrey Graham, Grunion Editor STAFF WRITERS Lauren Hunter, lauren@lbunion.com Cesar Cadenas, cesar@lbunion.com Sylvana Uribe, sylvana@lbunion.com Emily Ayers, emily@lbunion.com Jordan Daniels COPY & ASSISTANT EDITORS Carissa Pope, Karen Ruiz, Sheila Sadr, Abril Burstein, Michelle Ha CONTRIBUTORS Alex Mraz, Justin Wu, Lawrence Liu, Katie Leyba, R.R. Crosby, Erika Henderson, Tom Garcia, Alaysia Lewis
COVER AND FEATURE DESIGN BY: Sam Orihuela COVER PHOTO BY: Sam Orihuela
CONTACT US Long Beach, CA 90815 E-mail: lbunion.info@gmail.com
@UnionWeekly
Disclaimer and Publication Information: The Union Weekly is published using ad money and partial funding provided by the Associated Students, Inc. All Editorials are the opinions of their individual authors, not the Union Weekly, ASI nor CSULB. All students are welcome and encouraged to be a part of the Union Weekly staff. All letters to the editor will be considered for publication. However, CSULB students will have precedence. Please include name and major for all submissions. They are subject to editing and will not be returned. Letters may or may not be edited for grammar, spelling, punctuation, and length. The Union Weekly will publish anonymous letters, articles, editorials, and illustration, but must have your name and information attached for our records. Letters to the editor should be no longer than 500 words. The Union Weekly assumes no responsibility, nor is it liable, for
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Opinions
Mini-Pinions
Dear Union Weekly Union Weekly
Justin Wu,
Introduction by Elizabeth Nguyen
Photographs by Rebeca Vega
A Special Thanks Alex Mraz Contributor Anonymous
Kyle Ho,
To WGSS 365, “A feminism class? I guess that can be
Lawrence Liu,
Elizabeth Campos Contributor
Katie Leyba,
“This class is the equivalent to ‘choose a job you love and you’ll never have to work a day in your life.’ It’s the epitome of what a class is supposed to be...”
Arts
5
Actions Speak Louder Than Words CSULB’s Dance Department showcases their semester’s work Story by Renee Schmiedeberg Assistant Managing Editor
Photos by Gregory R.R. Crosby Contributor
controversy is not easy. There are a multitude of ways to interpret a piece of artwork, even more so if the piece doesn’t contain words.
in an adolescent age, attending school student recognized for talent, but repeatedly disappoints himself and those around him in a struggle to succeed academically. As someone who automatically turns to written language to convey meaning and school’s dancers are able to interact solely through body movements and music. the music stopped and their heavy footfalls Long Beach ladies gracefully perform “Current” with choreography by Lorin Johnson At the end of every semester, our school’s Dance Department combines pieces students have been working on all semester in one great show, CSULB Dance in Concert at the Martha B. Knoebel Dance Theater. All the choreography is original and entirely composed by dance department
Two of Countless Scenarios,” is the only piece to utilize video. During this performance, the dancers made handgun gestures and playfully shot at each other, while a video of a dog owner similarly shooting at a small pup echoed on the widescreen. The dancers continued these light-hearted, comical gestures, while saying Gradually, the atmosphere transitioned into one of fear and suspicion as their stances took on those of a homicidal, sharp-shooter. The transition between these two disparate feelings, love and fear, was expertly done, occuring slowly and evenly.
White Boy,” (who doesn’t get excited at a name like that) had to be the closing piece. This dance was bouncy, fun and keeping a narrative intact. The colorful stage and lights bled into each other, while the dancers folded their movements into one another against the backdrop of a buoyant, uplifting song. At the end, the dancers ran out into the audience and began clapping, then returned to the stage and sat at the edge, only a few feet Anyone could see all the dancers were having a riotous time and didn’t want anyone in the audience to miss out on it either.
Laughter is contagious in “Folk Dance for a Gay ex-Methodist White Boy;” choreography by Andrew Vaca
thinking, how can anyone in this room be a in a bad mood with this going on? Be sure to check their website closer to the date for times and ticket prices, this show is known to sell out fast.
swathed in a pinkish, warm glow until the second of the two segments came on, this time bathing the stage in a subtle blue light.
expertly conveyed.
Dancers prove that words are futile “Gather Up the Fragments;” choreography by Rebecca Lemme
and entering a home while the dancers expressed hesitant, curt movements. rolled across the screen as the man described took center stage. The other dancers surrounded him, hardly allowing him to enough room to breathe. Along with the caption, this led me to believe this piece is a response to the recent surge in coverage of gun violence in the U.S. Dancers passionately portray “ASKQUESTIONSLATER;” choreography by Rebecca Bryant
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Campus
‘Why it Hurts’ Entire department remembers Nohemi Gonzalez On Friday, Nov. 13, the design department at California State University, Long Beach was shaken to the core. Hundreds of people gathered on campus, Sunday, Nov. 16 to mourn the loss of 23-year-old design student, Nohemi Gonzalez, who was fatally shot during the Paris terrorist attacks. Since her death, the design department has been been in a state of shock and deep sorrow at the loss of one of their most treasured students. “In this department we are very family-oriented. We are a small department everybody knows everyone,” design professor Matias Ocana said. “I had her as a student, I had her as an assistant, it really was like losing one of my own kids, in a way.” Gonzalez, a senior, was a teacher’s assistant for three of Ocana’s courses over her time at CSULB: DESN 151 (Design Materials & Tools), 154 (Model & Prototype Technique), and 254 (Production Materials & Technique Processes), as well as the always “encouraging people to step out of the box,” Ocana said. “She had this quality
problems any student may have and was able to guide them and help them.” As a TA, Gonzalez touched not only the lives of the professors she assisted, but her kindness and passion for design was passed down to her students as well. “She was very
Story by Katie Cortez Editor in Chief
cuts, I think about how it was something she helped me to do,” El Nagar said. “This memory is almost tangible because of that moment.” In order to cope with the loss, students and professors are joining together to know her and remember the girl they once knew. “One thing that amazes me is how one person can have such an
“She was a little intimidating, but it was because she was such an awesome human being.” passionate and organized and liked to keep her shop clean, and she taught us that,” design sophomore Alysia El Nagar, 25, said. “She was a little intimidating, but it was because she was such an awesome human being.” El Nagar fondly remembers a time when Gonzalez helped her learn to use a laser cutter for one of her design projects. “Now, every time I see that dragon with the laser
people,” design professor David Teubner said. “Students knew her as a mentor and a friend, knew her as someone who would stay late and help them with their projects, go the extra mile for them.” “We’re trying to continue in our lives and move on, but then you hear comments about war. I don’t think any of us are thinking about that,” El Nagar said. “She was taken away from us.” Some members of the CSULB design
loss of Gonzalez than others. One unnamed student cannot come to school because she needs time to process the whole situation. “We want to reach out to her and hold her, but we can’t,” Teubner said. “She can’t deal with it yet.” The design community here at home is shocked, but it’s much worse for those students who still remain overseas. “We lost one student tragically, but it traumatized our entire building, at least four other students who were there. I’m concerned about them,” Teubner said. One of those students was Gonzalez’s best friend, the other was in the restaurant at the time of the attack. Both students were Skyped into the CSULB vigil via cell phone. “We have a lot of students who come and go, but Nohemi was not just a student,” Teubner said. “She impacted everyone at every level. That’s what was amazing, that’s why it hurts. They took someone away from us who was just such an important part of everything we do and everything we believe in.”
Practicing Law CSULB Moot Court prepares law students for real trials Story by Karrie Comfort Contributor Not many people ask to stand on trial. However, To be fair, they aren’t standing on trial for a crime. They are instead in front of a panel of judges, presenting a case for an issue. In short, moot court is appellate advocacy. Students compete in teams of two by presenting a hypothetical case involving two constitutional issues. The petitioner of the team then presents these cases
to the judges. The respondent team they compete against then has an opportunity to present their side of the issue. The trial proceeds back to the petitioner, who has an opportunity for rebuttal. The judges are permitted to ask questions at any time during the trial. “Sometimes the judges just look at you,” said competitor Justin Adofina,
“So you just have to say the same thing over and over.” the case law is from real past decisions and represents real precedent, adding pressure to competitors to be concise and knowledgable about their cases. Adofina currently represents the CSULB moot court along with his partner, Julieta Hernandez. Upper Midwest Regional Tournament, one out of 10 regional tournaments. Their team them for the upcoming tournament nationals.
to the class POSC 417-Legal Practices: Moot Court, taught by Dr. Lewis Ringel. “He’s the reason we’re doing so well,” he said. to win the national title here at home, State’s good reputation. “Gracious in defeat, humble in victory… and we always shake hands,” he said. But so far this season, they have only had to be gracious once. The moot court national tournament will be held on campus on Jan. 15 and 16.
Athletics
7
Beach Basketball Story and photos by William Odis Martin Athletics Editor
Women’s Basketball: 5-1
Men’s Basketball: 3-3 The LBSU men’s basketball team started the season with a promising three-game winning streak by defeating BYU Hawaii, BYU, and Seton Hall, but have dropped three straight games on the road since. Two of the three losses were against Oklahoma State, and the other was against a nationally ranked Virginia team. The 49ers’ speed and athletic prowess were key elements to the quick start but once the new-look Beach faced No. 6 Virginia at the Gildan Charleston Classic in TD Arena on Nov. 20, their speed was not enough to overcome a lackluster shooting percentage and poor transition defense, losing 87-52. Virginia proved to be the bigger, faster team and ended up taking first place in the tournament defeating George Mason University who was looking for an upset. Five players for Virginia scored in the double-figures, led by Marial Shayok who dropped 17 points on 7-of-9 shooting from the floor. LBSU scoring-standout Nick Faust led the Beach with 13 points against Virginia. It was a bad shooting performance for the Beach, who went 5-of-21 in the first half, but improved slightly in the second half going 10-of-27, finishing the game with a 31 percent team shooting percentage. The 49ers then faced off with Oklahoma
State for third place at the Charleston Classic. The Cowboys were led by guard Jawun Evans who finished with 21 points. Faust led the Beach in points with 15, but the true highlight of the game was five 49ers finished with double-figures. The shooting percentage improved but the poor execution at the free-throw line continued to plague the 49ers. Sophomore guard Justin Bibbins has looked great at point this year with his decisive play-making, high basketball IQ, and blinding speed. 6’8” freshman forward Mason Riggins has been impressive in his first collegiate games for the Beach. The big man from Texas will need to continue to contribute with the loss of Temidayo Yussuf who re-injured a nagging foot injury against Seton Hall. Two of the best traits this team has shown so far is their fierce competitive attitude and their incredible depth. Coach Dan Monsoon nicknamed them “America’s Team” because they were composed of players from all over the country but the chemistry is that of a squad that grew up balling together. LBSU’s next game will be at home against San Diego State on Dec. 1 at 7:30 pm. The Beach are 2-0 in Walter Pyramid and look to get back to its winning ways.
The women’s basketball team bounced back from a loss in Baton Rouge against the LSU Tigers to defeat Northern Arizona and Northwestern State in the Aggie Hotel Encanto Thanksgiving Classic. LBSU women started off the season 3-0 for the first time since 1985-86. In those three wins, LBSU made 29 threes to top the Big West Conference, averaging a little over seven 3-pointers a game. Through the first four games of the season, their stout full-court defense has created havoc for their opponents, forcing 25.3 turnovers a game. The Beach rank first in forced turnovers, turnover margin and steals. Their impressive turnover margin of +9.5 is ninth in the nation. The Beach overcame a 18-point deficit in the third quarter to steal a win over Northwestern State led by Madison Montgomery who scored a season-high 14 points, including a game winning steal and score to end the game.
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Literature
The Tail of Squirrel Girl This unlikely hero defends Earth by battling notorious villains in the Marvel Universe Story by Cesar Cadenas Staff Writer Illustrations by Erika Henderson
Whenever most people imagine a Marvel superhero, they always imagine someone cool who kicks a lot of ass. Maybe they’ll think of the Invincible Iron Man or the Amazing Spider-Man. I believe that the popularity of superhero movies has given the movie goers the misconception that all superheroes are all supremely powerful characters with hulking muscles and incredible strength. But I want to highlight a lesser known character who is just as powerful as Iron Man. Actually, I want to highlight a character who is more powerful than Iron Man, the Hulk, and Thor combined. A character who has fought the biggest threat to the universe and won. A character who, despite appearances, is a legend in her own right. Obviously, I’m talking about the Unbeatable Squirrel Girl.
Squirrel Girl, a.k.a “the Slayer of All That Breathes” (a moniker that accurately describes her) is Marvel Comic’s secretly most powerful superhero. Her powers include superhuman strength and agility, a large prehensile squirrel tail, and razor sharp claws. Squirrel Girl’s main power is her ability to communicate with squirrels and it is with this power that our murine heroine is able to defeat the strongest of villains. She has defeated Dr. Doom in a one-on-one perspective: Dr. Doom is one of the Avengers’ most powerful villains. Very few heroes can team of heroes to take down Doom. This is a villain who has actually managed to wield Thor’s mythological weapon, Mjolnir. This
is a villain who recently became a literal god, was defeated by a group of squirrels. Earlier this year, Marvel printed Squirrel The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl written by Ryan North and illustrated by Erika Henderson. North is the writer of the Adventure Time comic which has won an Eisner Award for Best Publication for Kids. I really liked The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl. Marvel is well aware that Squirrel Girl is a joke character, so they treat her as such and published a comedy book. In her book, Squirrel Girl, whose real name is Doreen Green, attends college at the balance between college student life and
her secret role as a superhero. Her super-life has taken a turn for the worse as she now faces her toughest villain: Ratatoskr, the evil god-squirrel from Norse mythology who has a horn on this forehead. Unfortunately, Marvel Comics has Unbeatable Squirrel Girl right when it was getting good. Fortunately, Marvel Comics will start publishing volume two on Dec. 8. Marvel Comics decided to revamp their entire lineup, which means Squirrel Girl’s book had to get canceled. You can still buy volume one on Comixology, a comic book app. You can buy the entire collection for $16 or individual issues for $4.
FEATURE
Happy Holidays Warm tales of favorite winter traditions By Richard Mejia
With the holiday season in full swing, nostalgia and fuzzy feelings are on the rise. The sounds of Christmas music and shimmering decorations are almost inescapable around this time and serve as a constant reminder of past holidays. For college students, the holiday season brings great relief and all the projects and exams are over with. Students can reset their body and minds while enjoying time with their family and friends over the course of a few weeks. It’s during these times with loved ones that we feel comfort as familiarity overloads our senses during traditional activities. Some of these activities can be dated and traced back several decades, while others can be brand new on the cusp of repetition. Regardless of the timespan, holiday traditions are the reason why anyone looks forward to this time of year. Over the past three years, I’ve had a tradition of
listening to Christmas music almost exclusively throughout the month of December. I know it might sound strange or maybe even a bit cliché, but as a child, I never had the opportunity to play Christmas music, nor did I have much familiarity with the lyrics. When December rolls around, I have my playlists ready. Whether it is in my car or at home, it’s constantly Christmas. That is one of the great things about the holidays. Not only are you surrounded by people you love, you partake in activities that take you back to your childhood or generally better times. For many college students, this is a much-needed release from the heavy demands of school. We’d like to share a few favorite holiday traditions that have brought us joy throughout the years. Cheers!
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10
FEATURE
By Lauren Hunter It is finally that time of year again. Jack Frost is making the air chill, it is snowing in places outside southern California, and it is the time to start lighting the fireplace and all the Christmas lights. It is finally my favorite time of the year and I am overjoyed. I love nothing more than being bundled up with a jacket on, boots, and a beanie. With this time of year comes family time, family time that is way better than Thanksgiving Day. Growing up, my family did not really get together Christmas Day. My family would get together Christmas Eve. There would always be a ton of food and laughs. We would all go to my great aunt and uncle’s house and the tree would always be the tallest thing I had ever seen. Presents would make his famous Stunt Pullers that were some southern alcoholic beverage his family used to make growing up. Christmas Eve was always the highlight of the year. The party would always go until really late and normally we would not even remember
getting home and going to bed, and the next thing would be Christmas morning. Christmas morning was my mom’s favorite day. My mom still goes all out even though my brother and I are grown-ups. My mom’s favorite things are the stockings. Our stockings are always filled to the brim and there is even a bag on the ground next to eac with even more goodies. And my mom does not just do candy and simple things. We get gift cards and small presents or even accessories for any electronics we get from “Santa.” This tradition started with my great aunt. She always went all out for stockings since her and my grandma had a rough upbringing. Because of that, my mom has taken over for her. My mom not only makes stockings for my brother, my dad, and me, but she also still makes them for my great aunt and grandma. My grandma still makes my mom hers. It is a tradition I cherish. This is a tradition that I will carry on when it is my turn and I will do it for my mom and later if I have kids for them. Another tradition we do is a draw. If you
are a high school graduate, then you are entered into the draw. We do a secret Santa. My parents, both aunts, and both uncles, my brother, my two cousins, and I are now in the draw. We get together with my mom’s side of the family every other year. We use a website that automatically draws for us and we can add our wish lists on there. So on that Christmas we exchange. It is always a blast to see whom each other got. This is a tradition I now do with all my friends. It makes it fun and exciting. Even though I now do not get a ton of presents from everyone, it is nice that it is not just about the amount of presents we receive. It is about being together and having fun, which is what Christmas should be all about. Whether you are religious or not, whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa, I hope you have a very nice holiday! See you next year, CSULB.
Photos by Tal Heruty
Traditional menorah from the Heruty family: A new candle is lit during each of the eight consecutive nights of Hanukkah. “My mom always says you’re not allowed to use the candles for their light, so she always keeps the lights on while they’re lit,” Heruty explains.
FEATURE
11
By Emily Ayers The events signaling that the year is ending have come and gone. Thanksgiving was just celebrated with amazing food and family, and Black Friday underway. Christmas is in fact my favorite holiday and time of year for many reasons. I am drawn to the cold weather, the gifts, the decorating, the music, and the continuous making of memories and traditions. To me Christmas ensues joy and gratitude all rolled into one. As I have gotten older, the meaning of Christmas has evolved. As a child, it mainly centered on the gifts I was going to receive. I anxiously waited to
same if it weren’t for the music. My family and I gifts because you want them to like it, but it is also exciting to see their reaction. After our big Christmas breakfast, my family and I do another unusual thing and that is going to
the car or around the house when we were cleaning or hanging out. We would belt out the words to Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas,” or “Feliz Navidad.”
and watch movies. The energy from being out on
Of course Christmas decorations add to the holiday season as well. I can remember as a child the
fun and enjoyable. Another element of my family’s Christmas tradition is choosing our tree. We head to the
us around and see Christmas lights. This tradition has been something my family continues. We make walk around to see the elaborate adornments that
with me as an adult, but now it is because of the little traditions that I look forward to Christmas.
favorite one to bring home; the one unbending rule being that it has to be real. I love the smell of a real Christmas tree because it adds to the holiday
belief that Christmas was a celebration of the day that Jesus was born. Sometimes my family attends
forward too. My mom and I never had a matching set of ornaments. Instead, we had a mismatched
to the religious side of our holiday celebration, we
The most carried out tradition my family has is
sleighs with Rudolf. where you can walk or drive in a neighborhood
at lights is something that will always remind me of the holidays with my family.
One of my family traditions that my friends always thought was strange was that my family gather around the tree and share food and gifts with one another. My friends were often jealous because
machines she would combine them, roll them and decorate them. She would then give them out to family and friends. Because of how delicious they
their gifts. For me it was always fun because I knew
family and is something we all look forward to
breakfast. I always enjoy giving gifts to my family and friends. It is nice to see that something you
I have also realized that Christmas wouldn’t be
Whether the holidays signify religious celebrations a takeaway for everyone. It closes the year out on
life.
12
Lifestyle
Starting Over Again With Someone New His description and thoughts of a new realtionship
Her account of what this could turn out to be
Story by Tom Garcia Contributor
Story by Alaysia Lewis Contributor
yourself
Lifestyle
13
Holiday DIY With Flourish Cute Pinterest-y ways that can save the day this winter Story and photos by Sylvana Uribe Staff Writer
Pine Cone Centerpieces Rather than fool myself into a regrettable trip to the crafts store where I’ll spend more than I should, I instead stroll through the park and collect pine cones. The confused stares from families feeding ducks at the pond are worth the money I save every time I place another pine cone in my tattered grocery bag. I give the pine cones a quick rinse for safe measure and arrange a few into cylindrical glass eventually create Pinterest-worthy centerpieces. Or at least that’s what I tell myself. To even add a little more some lovely fake up the “fancy” factor.
Avoiding headaches over holiday party planning is a high priority as I tackle on the season. A crucial part of that is to simplify the planning process and cut costs whenever possible. With regards to decor, my go-to items that satisfy my holiday DIY needs are twine and pine cones. Both items are inexpensive and fool people into thinking I’ve adopted a rustic vibe. OK, sure. Totally meant to do that. Not only does it look rustic, it makes it appear that I’ve put in more time and money than intended.
Glass Jars The simplest way I like to use twine is by converting glass jars into utensil holders. I create two layers of twine around the top of a glass jar between the layers. The twine jars would also more appealing than an array of plastic forks and spoons. It’s not just twine that gives it that slight glimmer, it’s the glass itself. Glass can be
always decorate. Whether it’s twine, a light glitter spray, or even the glass itself, these items can spark up any holiday decorations.
14
Travel
Bang, Bang Reliving the wedding chapel massacre Story and photos by Bailey Mount Campus Editor “This is me at my most masochistic,” I thought when I woke up. Now, I thought this for two reasons: the The
franchise of mine. Kill Bill
porch
sweet” on was
tree
that
the
Massacre at Two
Capturing Salvation A follow-up series of photos to the article: “Fear and Loathing in the Salton Sea” found in Volume 77.12 Words and photos by William Odis Martin Athletics Editor
Travel
15
Rollin’ Down the Street Story and photos by Sylvana Uribe Staff Writer
Rediscovering the old neighborhood I’ve only ever known one home and it’s been an area dubbed as the origin of Snoop Dogg. It’s a fact that every salesperson who knocks on our door throws out as an attempt to ease into a conversation with me. Sorry sir, but you knowing that sliver of my neighborhood’s history still won’t convince me to purchase your carpet cleaning services. My mom occasionally jumps into the celebrity
bandwagon by boasting to friends that Jenni borderline exaggeration and mostly a result estate agent. My mom has kept one of her black and white headshots preserved in an that she should have taken a picture with Rivera, but she probably didn’t have a reason to those twenty-something years ago. How could she have known the late singer would have been such a success? I hold my scarf closer to my chest to block out the cold air as I set out on the are certain spots where the cement has been cracked and lifted as the tree roots underneath ache to reach the surface. As a kid, my neighbors and I loved these broken sections because we’d convert them into skate ramps. We’d get a running start and
were ever seriously injured as we tended to zoom past driveways unaware of the cars that raced in and out of them. After climbing over a few more sections of broken cement and avoiding houses with angry dogs, I reach a sign that caused my friends and I a lot of grief in high school. During my freshman year, a huge storm convinced its gusty winds would cause the trees to snap and crush everything
had warned me against. Oops. Once the storm cleared, the only reminders of it were the signs on the corner of Lewis Avenue and 20th Street, which were no longer parallel to the streets they were suppose to identify. My friends and I watched as construction workers came to
night, we grabbed brooms and tried to hit the
the vulnerabilities of people as they fight the chaos that awaits outside their door. But it’s also a place where I’ve witnessed people bring in mariachi bands, tribal dancers, and Khmer feasts as a way to cling onto traditions and celebrate a sense of community. It’s not a slice of suburbia, but it’s allowed me to acknowledge a diverse reality without any filters.
minutes of senseless nudging. Looking back, we could have probably some weird way, I think we didn’t pick up the phone because we wanted to leave it to fate. It was an odd storm that created the sign mix up and we held onto the belief that it’d be restored if it that’s what fate intended for it. It’s a silly thought to entertain, but so was the idea that a bunch of girls in pajamas could repair a sign with broomsticks. I haven’t grown up in the best of neighborhoods, but it’s one that has completely embedded itself into me. Drug use, gang activity, and low-income families fighting to stay together definitely knocked my neighborhood out of the white picket fence status. It’s a place where I’ve been exposed to
Wicked Wonderland A sublime sight with a deceitful promise
Story by Rebeca Vega Opinions Co-Editor
My first encounter with snow was at 17 during a science camp trip to Yosemite. I was an imposter with no intention to study science past the practical knowledge that fire burns and gravity exists. A friend had passed me a pamphlet before cross country practice and explained that her teacher was looking for participants with the right GPA. As soon as I read the section listing boots and a weatherproof jacket as required gear, I knew I had to be on that bus. My goal was onefold: see snow. It took us about four hours to get to the part of the trip where you drive slowly up through switchbacks and keep your eyes straight ahead to avoid feeling sick. Looking
out the side windows means peering about a mile down toward a river and contemplating
whole world opens up. If you’ve ever seen pictures of Yosemite, you would recognize it as the spot where entire families sit on a wall of polished mundi of serene sky, Yosemite’s most famous peaks, and the valley below. It’s a good place to stop and stretch your legs before getting back in the car and heading down to cabins that remain dark and cold for most of the day We descended from the hills at sunset
Illustraton by John Mueller Graphics Illustrator
and parked in a lot full of other bewildered city kids jumping out of buses. Curry Village couldn’t be real. It was a Norman Rockwell that incited nostalgia for this place I’d never visited, but had seen on cookie tins.
to the inside of my throat, and trickle into my chest. From there, it reached up into my head and down into stomach. It gave me brain freeze and cramps at the same time. I was entranced, but also felt deceived. Snow is solid, but liquid to the touch. My
blue. Neon snow paled and absorbed the artificial glow of our headlights. I stepped out of our white van that looked gray in comparison to the ground. I was Neil Armstrong climbing out of Apollo 11. I could see the cold it sitting in the air, making dandelions out of the light posts.
could not dig deeper than a couple inches before hitting what felt like asphalt. I saw it fall without making a sound, but heard it crack under my feet. It covers the world in a blanket that is neither warm nor cozy. I’ve seen snow a couple times since that trip, and
felt it take up space in my mouth, mold itself
most important lessons have been that ice burns and hypothermia exists.
16
Music
Red Bull Sound Select Presents: Night 21 at the Hollywood Palladium Big Sean, Finding Novyon, and Mick Jenkins take the stage Story and photos by Kaila Hardaway Food Editor
Red Bull Sound Select’s 30 Days in L.A. made its way to the Hollywood Palladium on Nov. 21. Despite its already withstanding presence in Los Angeles, those in attendance on this night were guaranteed a great night of music courtesy of Big Sean and Sound Select artists Finding Novyon and Mick Jenkins. Finding Novyon is a 23-year-old rapper from Minneapolis, Minnesota. During his
as a bit preachy in the laid-back setting that Finding Novyon created and Big Sean would later enhance. The artist of the night, however, was Big Sean. During an impressive 27-song set, Big Sean performed everything from his newest album, Dark Sky Paradise, to songs that can
Novyon served as a great opener for the two well-known rappers who were to follow. Finding Novyon performed songs from his latest mixtape, #THEFOODNETWORK, and carried an immense amount of energy during most of it. With his infectious party-styled raps, he got most of the crowd dancing and maintained a very positive attitude during his entire performance. Mick Jenkins brought a lyrically-deep, more philosophical view to the night, however. Jenkins’ last two mixtapes, The Water[s] and Wave[s], are centered around the universal theme of water representing truth. Jenkins made this clear throughout much of his performance. “We all have a need for both truth and water to live life and that’s what my mixtape’s about,” he noted in the beginning of his set. He then asked the audience to participate in a call-back phrase, where Jenkins shouts, “Drink more” and the audience responds with, “Water.” Sadly, this failed and didn’t seem to interest the audience despite his many attempts. Although I enjoyed his set much more than his recorded music, Jenkins’ message-heavy lyrics came across
The anticipation for this show was sky high, and many people were curious to know who Big Sean would be bringing on stage as a surprise guest. In the end, he brought out R&B singer Jhene Aiko for a performance of the duo’s song, “I Know,” from his newest album. That wasn’t the only surprise of the night, however. Halfway through his set, he granted the crowd an exclusive sneak peek of two unreleased songs, one of which included a feature by Atlanta rapper Future. Throughout his set, Big Sean recounted his journey as an artist, including the rejection he’s faced and his eventual opportunity to sign with Kanye West in 2007. It was Big Sean’s gratitude, however, that made his performance especially memorable. “I feel like I’m in a relationship with y’all,” Big Sean said. “A lot of musicians told me
as a whole was a clear reminder that he has
better than ever. That’s all thanks to you guys.Thank you for letting me take care of my mom.” energized performance that left the crowd, and myself, in awe.
Music
17
BlockBustin’ Bangin’ Moves Korean pop band wins the hearts of concert goers at Club Nokia Story and photos by Natalie Ordaz Contributor The South Korean hip-hop group Block B (A.K.A Blockbuster) had their U.S tour a week ago. This tour began on Nov. 11 in San Francisco and ended their tour in Los Angeles at Club Nokia on Nov. 15. When the lights went out, a sea of yellow
The song “Mental Breaker” was also were learning choreography to “Happy” by
which got the crowd excited. The sub-unit along with yellow glow bracelets. The show the stage in jailbird attire as they began to sing one of their hits, “Very Good,” which kicked out lyrics at the top of their lungs, dancing, their songs “Wanna B?” and “Halo” which to show up on the screens and I thought they Afterward, they toned it down and sang a few of their slower songs, but it kept the fans singing. A break occurred during the concert for
that such as “Her,” which had the entire area dancing along to the signature dance in the pit
keep up with the very high, very long notes during the chorus. “Be the Light”
along with the band. The group closed with their song “Movie’s Over,” along with a credits video which had a few because the show was over and also because
and people were still singing along, trying to keep up with the long and high notes. It is safe to say peoples’ voices were gone the next day after trying to sing along.
do this song justice. The two-hour went by a little too quickly, but that happens when you dancing along with the group. Overall, it was a wonderful
the show ended, the group was a video that had the crowd following even though voices were starting to give out. I
over and the crowd chanted “Block
hoarse voice.
we were following instructions. However,
25 Reasons to Listen to Adele Just the perfect album to eat ice cream and bawl to Story by Jordan Daniels Staff Writer It’s been four years since Adele left our hearts bleeding through its stitches. Creating what
Oct. 18 hit and during the British X-Factor, a
the entire record with just a “Hello”, we know that we’re about to be taken on a ride.
screen and lyrics to “Hello” playing on it. I, and the entire Internet, had broken into a lyrcis, “When the pain cuts too deep/When Would it be just as heartbreaking as 21? Was
25 is out and is playing its way back into our hearts.
that she would break up so she could bust
the record does not hesitate to pull on all of our heart strings. Though it’s described as
But don’t worry, she’ll never know. Now 21 broke records and received accolades
yourself and the relationship you had. With the lyrics, “Hello/How are you?/ It’s so typical of
And she is. “Million Years Ago” is another beauty wonderful french-y sound, like it belongs
there is a clear that you can sip tea too while looking at the
broken heart. With all this prestige, I’ll be the
to have another one out. I was always on the lookout for Adele news. I knew that she was good at keeping her personal life personal
our current and past relationships. It entitles us to a sense of selfforgiveness in what we didn’t do and gives us credit for what we did in
was going to go unnoticed. Throughout the
she used to act and how she’s changed. “When We Were Young” is another in on a relationship and how things have changed for her and her past love were together. “It was
taking our hearts by their hands. Beginning
These are only just a few of the songs on
relationships both past and present, and look into the beauty that is Adele.
18
Entertainment
In Theaters Now: The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 An uneven end to a thrilling series Story by Lauren Hunter Staff Writer Illustration by John Mueller Graphics Illustrator The Hunger Games
Game of Thrones Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Mockingjay
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 Run Time: 2 hrs 17 mins Directed by: Francis Lawrence Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Woody Harrelson, Josh
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1 The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2
Donald Sutherland, Julianne Moore, Elizabeth Banks
Hunger Games
Why You Should Catch Up With The Flash This CW spin-off shouldn’t be ignored Story by Sheila Sadr Staff Writer
Illustrations by John Mueller Graphics Illustrator Arrow
Order Arrow
The Flash
The Dark Knight The Flash Smallville
Glee The Flash The Flash
Law &
Food
19
Through the Eyes of a Chef Story and photos by Mario Lopez Travel Editor
This past week, my good friend, Manuel “Manny” Zamora, a sous chef, invited my
blissful taste in my mouth, but it did, and in that moment everything made sense.
in Santa Monica at Michael’s restaurant. From the outside, Michael’s seems like any other restaurant that does not stand out, with its awkward building structure and early Christmas lighting. But, as we walked into the intimately-lit restaurant, where we were greeted by Dave, the general manager, we became self-conscious of our casual attire as we were surrounded by the elegant design, striking art and people in their suits and
Manny into my home to sit with him one-onone to talk about his experiences as a chef and the restaurant industry in general. As we spoke, I became aware of how oblivious I was to the happenings inside the kitchen, where Manny works to please his patrons. His tenacity, as a chef of only 25 years, even in minute things like passionately talking about how much he disliked us getting the dessert menu twice before he was done sending out all of our dishes, is the perfect personality for the cutthroat nature of the industry. He mentions that there are some kitchens where people just go in and get their check. “As big as the kitchen industry is here in LA, it’s still such a tight-knit group that at one spot, any restaurant you go to, there will be those people that take shortcuts and everyone notices,” Manny said.
a tranquil patio where we were asked if we’d prefer regular or sparkling water. That’s when we knew the food was on the expensive side of the spectrum for a couple of college students, with only part-time jobs to supply their income. Regardless, we ordered our braised pork belly tacos and the Michael’s burger as we sipped also sent us a variety of other dishes: shrimp scampi, grilled shishito peppers, skirt steak, beet salad, a bone marrow dish, and a tuna dish. Among the choices, my palete raged with delight for the Bone Marrow the gelatinous marrow, I was taken back to my childhood when I would make tacos of the marrow in the bone of my mother’s caldo de res (beef stew) sprinkled with sea salt. I felt like that one dude in Ratatouille. Just when I thought I had reached food nirvana, I paired the marrow with the cherry sauce on the side. The feeling was indescribable. I didn’t understand how these two things could combine to ignite such a
, the bat, then ran into three people that knew one of his old chef’s cooks and a sous chef he used to work with. “Automatically, one: They’ll know your work ethic, and two: They’ll relay the message back. They talk. I’ve worked with people I fucking hate, but I still play nice,” Manny said. He has worked with others that have burned so many bridges with their poor work ethic that should own their own restaurants. That is why Manny has always kept a mindset of learning from others, working cooperatively, and not helping those that show they are not willing to learn. He says, “Sometimes I feel like a dick, too. Outside of work it’s chill, and when they can’t keep up, some come to me and say, ‘I thought you were my homie,’ and I’m like, ‘Yeah outside of work, man, we’re cool. Here? I’ve done what I can and you don’t want to listen, so it’s on you.’” It is clear hard work gets you in the industry and keeps you there, but as he
describes when he cooks, “I guess it’s the reason why I even cook. There’ll be nights where we’ll be busy. I have tickets here, I have shit I have to put up with within a certain time. It’s a rush. It’s a weird fucking rush because at the end of the night, I go out I have a smoke, and I sit down and I look back I’m like, ‘Holy shit, I just served 200 people,’ and I look back and it goes like that. Time just seems to slow down when I cook.”
food went out, at the same time I’m scared they won’t like it, then that passes, then I’m of food?” Not only is it the work that matters, it is the passion and drive he has to serve good food that keep him going. That is all we really want, right? Good food, cooked with a purpose.
Volume 77 Issue 13
Monday, November 30, 2015
LBUNION.COM
DISCLAIMER: SURE, YOU USED TO CALL ME ON MY CELLPHONE, BUT HEY, I CHANGED MY DAMN PHONE NUMBER. I TRIED TO GET AT YOU THROUGH FACEBOOK, BUT MY DIAL UP IS SLOW AF DOE. This page is satire/parody and does not represent ASI nor the CSULB campus. Submit articlez to grunion@lbunion.com.
Man Recalls Unfortuante Day at CSULB; President Conoley Induces Many Tears It was never supposed to… EW THERE’S S O M E T H I N G CRAWLING ON By Johnson & Johnson THIS BENCH!! Ok, ok, it’s gone. It was never supposed to be like this. One minute I’m on top of the world. I was the
some godforsaken…OMG IT’S BACK! THE CRAWLING THING IS BACK! SIR!
WELL DON’T KILL IT! I DON’T KNOW!
I’d pay for those, that way I didn’t look
ma’am.” “Well, I think you learned your lesson. Why don’t we grab a beer at the Nug? How does that sound?”
out, I had forgotten about the jellybeans and…
I said, invigorated with passion found anew, “I think I’m going to pass.” “Really?”
been paid.” “Really?” I said. “By who?”
together a fundraiser like no one has ever seen! Here’s what we’re going to do: we’ll
J.C. … Could this be? Was this whole fallen nature? Did J.C. stand for Jesus Christ and his redemptive love for all lost souls? Is this whole story just one big analogy to Jesus Christ paying the debt
31 States Oppose Syrian Refugees; Nobody Wanted to Live There Anyway the middle east, more than 11 million people
By Tiger Uppercut
against allowing these refugees to live within their boarders. When asked about these outspoken
Jane Close Conoley, as I began running
same sentiment. “Am I offended that these states won’t
it’s dead! Geez, you just killed one of our nationality? A bit, but am I upset that for anyway? Manslaughter. Right. Well, what’s that? No, no I’m ok. Where was I? Oh right. Here I am
for Media Board wasn’t going so well. TWO DAYS AGO…. “Matt we need to talk about your progress in raising money for ASI Media,” said some person in ASI Government.
savior, J.C. As I walked into the foyer, there stood none other than a blond haired,
heavens toward Brotman Hall. woman, with a professorial demeanor that suggested “Yeah, I’m disappointed with you, but I’m totally going to treat you
“Hello Matthew,” said the woman. replied. “So I hear you’ve had quite a day,” she said, listing my plights, “attempting
ASI Media; is that right?” “Yes ma’am.” get ASI Media some real money by going
golden wings spread wide, she let out a
“do you know what you did was wrong?” “Yes ma’am.” “You know there are you even ask for any help from people
“Yeah, I’m disappointed with you, but I’m totally going to treat you to a few beers at the Nug.”
guns in the streets, I would have just stayed in Syria.” One woman stated. so long, why do you think that I would
himself. I wouldn’t want to live in that shit “I don’t want my family to have to
will make settling in our new home even harder.
the struggle that my people have been through, like Washington or Colorado. I mean, yes, it’s a little bit farther of a
even when it seems too hard?” “Yes
YEAR-END GARBAGE REVIEW
POOT LOVATO ESCAPED IT’S BASEMENT HOLDING CELL TO WARM HEARTS
MANBUN EPIDEMIC CREATED A NEW GENERATION OF SCUMBAGS
TRUMP AND PEPE THE FROG ARE LEADING GOP POLLS AT YEAR’S END
YOUTUBE BECOMES INACCESSIBLE BECAUSE HIS NAME IS JOHN CENA!