Women win conference, men in state final. Page 9
November 19, 2015
Volume 89, Issue 6
Published Since 1927
College reacts to Paris attacks Cal State student dies in France and brings the reality of terrorism closer to home.
students and the people of France during this extremely tragic time.” Last Summer, LBCC students participated in a study-abroad program where the school was able to send multiple students to Paris for 30 days with By Jon Peacock French-born language professor MaCo-editor in chief rie-Laure Hinton. Twitter: @jonjpeacock9 Hinton is “outraged about what happened.” In honor of the Cal State Long Beach stuKatherine Murrine, international dent killed in the Paris terror attacks, LBCC student coordinator, has been trying lowered its flags to half-staff Monday, Nov. to extend the study-abroad program at 16, and the LBCC’s president attended a press LBCC, however with the Cal State Long conference in her memory. Beach student dying in France, she said Study-abroad student Nohemi Gonzalez, she doesn’t think she can restart the 23, was one of at least 129 people killed in Paris program anytime soon. on Friday, Nov. 13. “I don’t think we should look at the “It was devastating, it truly was a terror- world like that. … This could happen ist attack,” said Associated Student Body LAC anywhere,” Murrine said. Vice President Robert Hewitt, 28, a business International student Ritah Nakamanagement major. He served eight years of matte from Uganda, 25, a diagnostic active duty with the U.S. Army and is in the medical imagery major, said, “Since reserves. America is the great“But because not only “We should be supportive. est country, they have were the French people to have a great relaaffected, but also there The loss of any human life tionship among other were Americans there.” is devastating.” countries.” The attacks, ensuing International Mus-Robert Hewitt police raids and raised ASB vice president lim student Anas and a veteran tension in Europe conElshari, 20, studying tinue. English at LBCC, said Wednesday “We should be supportive. The loss of any Nov. 18, “It’s not just Muslims, … human life is devastating. … The U.S. should it just depends on the person. It is support France as best as it can with any type not about the religion.” of aid it may need, with any type of support Elshari said he felt “miserable” they need,” Hewitt said. about the attacks: “They were huGonzalez is the only confirmed American. mans, people who didn’t do Cal State President Jane Close Conley said anything bad, whether they Gonzales was studying abroad at the Strate were from my country or College of Design. not, they are people.” Gonzalez’s mother Beatriz Gonzalez Elshari is at LBCC betold CNN, “She was very secure and strong cause of the current “war” through all the issues that we went through in going on. “We are losing our life. … She always focused on her school people from everywhere,” and her goals.” Elshari said. Gonzalez was at a restaurant when she was Turkish citizen Can wounded and died on the way to the hospital. Demirci, 20, a computLBCC President Eloy Oakley attended the er science major, said, press conference with Conley and later sent an “There is no perfect email to LBCC employees Monday, Nov. 17: solution, you cannot “She was known as a “shining star” in her de- do this with airpartment. In honor of Nohemi and all of the strikes ... you victims of the Paris attacks, LBCC will be fly- cannot decide ing all of our flags at half-mast today.” where you are “Please join me as we send our thoughts attacking.” and prayers to Nohemi’s family and friends, to our Cal State Long Beach colleagues and
EDITORIAL
As the world falls apart, we must unite Topics in the media fade in and so we want to show our support for out quickly. The 24-hour news cy- them. But we should stand not only cle is a real timetable. with Paris, but also with the world. It is specifically evident when Cal State Long Beach’s Nohemi events like the attack on Beirut Gonzalez was unfortunately part of on Thursday, Nov. 12, simply get the long list of people who were killed glossed over. in Paris. It’s a tragedy that has caused The attacks on Paris have the attack in Paris to truly hit home for grabbed the majority of attention Long Beach residents and Americans from the public. Social alike. media has been domiWhile we would like nated by conversation on to see balanced attention the attacks. given to the world’s events, Left relatively unnowe understand at the same ticed has been the attack time that due to the sheer on Beirut that left 40 numbers involved with dead the day before the Paris, it’s natural that the Paris attacks. events would earn more of The world lit up in the public’s attention than Nohemi the colors of the French the other attacks. Gonzalez flag. The Cal State Long Events that have local Cal State Beach Pyramid was lit connections are always Long Beach up in blue, white and going to be more importstudent red. Facebook offered ant to people. We should users to change their profile empathize with all the victims though, pictures to the colors of the not just Gonzalez. French flag with one-click. We shouldn’t be prioritizing who Massive support has been of- and what tragedies we grieve over. fered toward France. None Every human life is important and of the gestures were of- should be valued the same regardless fered the day before for of religion, race or any other differencthe Beirut attack. es. We are all human. We bring up the conIt’s still unfortunate that it takes trast not to diminish the grief-stricken events like the Paris atseverity of the attacks on tacks and the 9/11 attacks before them Paris, but to point out to garner national and worldwide atthat what happened in tention. It’s unfortunate that it takes Paris is one of many horrific numbers to get people to care. tragedies to occur People should invest their time in across the world. the world. We would even settle for Paris has been people investing in their country, but a longtime ally generally just show some concern for of the U.S. humanity. and stood Go to the LBCC political science with Amer- professors and ask questions, pay atica through tention to what is going on, educate the 9/11 yourself, voice opinions on matters, attacks, get involved and don’t be a bystander to the world.
Photo Illustration By Brandon Richardson/Viking/Twitter: @_Brandon_E
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