Page 2 | CSU Chancellor Joseph I. Castro resigns weekly digital print edition
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Vol. LXXIX, Issue 40
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Monday, February 21, 2022
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GRAND Re-opening Pages 6 and 7
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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2022 | DAILY49ER.COM | @DAILY49ER | NEWS@DAILY49ER.COM ON THE COVER Photo by Ulysses Villa
In the Main Gallery, Linda Besemer’s “StrokeRollFoldSheetSlabGlitch” work is showcased from June 25.
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Photo Courtesy of California State University
CSU Chancellor Joseph I. Castro resigns from his position.
CSU Chancellor resigns amid allegations of mishandling sexual harassment claims
Opinions Editor Christina Merino opinions@daily49er.com Sports Editor Thomas Murray sports@daily49er.com Creative Director Gisele Robinett design@daily49er.com Chief Copy Editor Ana Acosta Deputy Copy Editor Rosaura Montes Special Projects Editor Photo Editor Video Editor Social Media Editor
Lillian Li Ulysses Villa Reyn Ou Kristina Agresta
Podcast Editor Cindy Aguilera Public Relations Editor Kaitlyn Rowell Community Engagement Isabel Silagy Editor
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By Vincent Medina, Lauren Ramirez, Hannah Shields Staff Writers
Assistants News Assistants Hannah Shields Vincent Medina Arts Assistant Julissa Villalobos
alifornia State University Chancellor
Opinions Assistant Jonathan Bigall
Joseph I. Castro resigned on Thursday,
Sports Assistant Matthew Brown Graphic Design Assistant Eunice Barron
Feb. 17 amid claims of mishandling
Special Projects Assistant Sebastian Perez
multiple sexual harassment allegations
Social Media Assistants Krystal Ordonez
against a California State University, Fresno, administrator.
Castro said in the CSU press release that it was an honor to serve as the chancellor for over eight years, and this was “the most difficult decision” of his professional life. “While I disagree with many aspects of recent media reports and the ensuing commentary, it has become clear to me that resigning at this time is necessary,” Castro said. “So the CSU can maintain its focus squarely on its educational mission and the impactful work yet to be done.” Long Beach State faculty members started a petition on Sunday, Feb. 6 calling for the CSU chancellor’s resignation in response to his failure “to appropriately respond to six years of [a] sexual harassment complaint against Frank Lamas,” according to the CFA. Lillian Kimbell, Board of Trustee Chair, said the board of trustees appreciated Chancellor Castro’s cooperation “to step down for the benefit of the California State University system.” CSU Executive Vice Chancellor and Chief Financial Officer, Steve Relyea, will serve as acting chancellor until an interim chancellor has been named, according to the press release. The CSU Board of Trustees plans to vote at their upcoming meeting on March 22 and 23, to call for a systemwide assessment of the CSU’s Title IX and civil rights training. The Daily Forty-Niner has reached out to CSULB President Jane Close Conoley for comment. Further updates will be included soon.
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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.
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NEWS 3
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2022 | DAILY49ER.COM | @DAILY49ER | NEWS@DAILY49ER.COM
ANDREA RAMOS | Daily Forty-Niner
The class of 2022 will be graduating at Angel Stadium.
Three CSULB seniors created the spring 2022 commencement petition for a ‘traditional walk’ at Angel Stadium By Lauren Ramirez News Editor
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ver 6,800 Long Beach State students have signed the spring semester graduation petition calling for a traditional in-person commencement ceremony where graduates are able to walk across the main stage at the Angel Stadium. Xiomara Santos, a fourth-year marketing major who graduated in December 2021 started this petition in order for Beach graduates to be properly recognized for their achievements during the CSULB commencement ceremony. “After I read the commencement ceremony email, I was really upset,” she said. “I waited a whole extra semester in order to go to a traditional ceremony.” Due to student concerns over the graduation plan, the CSULB Commencement Office sent out a campus-wide survey via email to graduates on Tuesday, Feb. 15 to vote for either a traditional graduation ceremony or the current socially distanced option. The email also stated that survey responses are due on Saturday, Feb. 19 by 11:59 p.m. Gregory Woods, CSULB director of news media services, said the spring commencement ceremony will follow Angel Stadium’s “applicable health and safety guidelines [and will] be monitored and managed by the stadium partners” due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Woods also added that additional commencement information “will be sent to graduates and posted on the Commence-
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I am extremely happy that I found a group of people who share the same passion about walking the stage
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Erika Ramirez Fourth-year international business major
ment website throughout the spring [semester].” Due to the sudden news, Santos commented on a CSULB Instagram post how unhappy she was over their decision to host a socially distanced ceremony. “Being at home and having to teach ourselves was not easy, you lose motivation,” she said. “My parents have been rooting for me for the past 11 years, and I definitely want to make sure my name is going to be recognized, [so] they can see their daughter walk across the stage.” Santos also said other CSULB students felt the same way about not getting a traditional graduation ceremony. So, with the help of two other Beach graduates, Erika Ramirez and Sarah Morales, they came together and started the petition.
“[The petition] started out with Erika, Sarah, and myself,” Santos said. “We then created this Instagram group chat and have been adding people who agree with us. It’s grown to [about] 16 people now that help us organize. So it took off really quickly.” Erika Ramirez, a fourth-year international business major, helped co-create the petition because walking across the main stage means a lot to her. “This degree has taken me years to complete, and I have worked so hard to be able to finish my classes with good grades,” Ramirez said. “I wasn’t able to walk the stage after graduating [from] community college in 2020 due to the pandemic. [Instead], I had to watch a picture slide of myself on my TV with my close friends and family.”
Ramirez also said a traditional stage walk and having her “name read out loud would be such a beautiful feeling.” “No one could take that away from me,” she said. “Not to mention, my mom can see that all her efforts and support she put in me paid off.” Sarah Morales, a fourth-year criminal justice major, also helped create the graduation petition because she felt it was “unfair the commencement department planned graduation beforehand without listening to students’ perspectives.” “CSUF was able to provide a traditional on-campus ceremony,” Morales said. “After seeing how many students were heartbroken over the school’s decision to not honor [CSULB] graduates the correct way, I knew I had to help. So, I created a group chat with other people in the [CSULB Instagram post] comments. As the three creators continue to spread the word about the petition, friendships were also made along the way. Ramirez, in this case, has enjoyed working with Morales and Santos. “I am extremely happy that I found a group of people who share the same passion about walking the stage,” Ramirez said. “[All of us] have been able to do so much in terms of coming up with ideas and plans on what else we could do to make our requests happen, and every one of us has stayed driven.” The CSULB Commencement Office announced the spring 2022 graduation ceremony would be hosted once again at the Angel Stadium from May 16 to May 18. For more information or further updates, visit the CSULB commencement website.
4 NEWS
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2022 | DAILY49ER.COM | @DAILY49ER | NEWS@DAILY49ER.COM
CSULB seniors voice their concerns over spring commencement survey at ASI Senate meeting By Brandon Nakao, Melanie Rodriguez Contributors
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everal Long Beach State seniors spoke in objection to a survey regarding the spring 2022 graduation ceremony during the Associated Students, Inc. (ASI) senate meeting’s public comment on Wednesday afternoon. Gena Faranda, a linguistics and sign language major was the first to speak in protest of the survey that was sent out to graduating seniors on Tuesday, Feb. 15. “I am very livid about the survey that was sent out,” Faranda said. “The wording that they put for option three which is the more traditional option, looked very unappealing.” CSULB’s commencement survey listed three options to choose from for graduating seniors to select a preference. One option suggested having a traditional graduation ceremony where students could walk on stage. Another option suggested the current socially distanced plan, and the last students could select if they had no preference. Viviana Garcia, another graduating senior, said the survey was “completely skewed in order to convince unknowing students to pick a specific option which the university is currently advocating for.” Garcia also said the survey’s third option is “skewed” because of the wording where “students have to be in direct sun-
VINCENT MEDINA | Daily Forty-Niner
ASI Senate continues to hear students’ concerns over the commencement plan. light for four hours of the ceremony and having live music taken away.” Klara Schneider, also a graduating senior, felt that the survey was a push toward the socially distanced ceremony option and made students feel like they would not enjoy their graduation if the traditional ceremony option was chosen. “The greatest thing the university could do to show their support [for its student body] is to have a real commencement cer-
emony,” Schneider said. David Smith, a parent of a graduating CSULB student, also voiced his opinion that since masks mandates are being lifted and other public restrictions, it does not make sense for students to not have a traditional graduation. “You’re having [the graduation] in an outdoor venue,” Smith said. “[Angel Stadium] is one of the biggest ones out here in Southern California, and it makes no sense
to not allow the students to walk across the stage and have their names called. They have earned it.” In response to the graduating seniors and other advocates for a traditional-style commencement ceremony, several ASI senators agreed that the survey prioritized the university’s preference. ASI Senator, Salvador Peregrina, who is also a graduating senior, voiced his thoughts on the survey being biased towards the socially distanced ceremony. “My sister’s middle school business class has better professionalism,” Peregrina said, regarding the handling of the survey. “It seems like the entire commencement office doesn’t have any type of sensitivity towards the topic of [graduation].” Peregrina concluded his remarks by stating that he will continue working with fellow senators, the executive team, and faculty and staff to provide a proper commencement for students. “This is completely unacceptable,” Peregrina said in his closing remarks. ASI Senator, Millaray Ramirez will also be graduating this spring and agreed with Senator Peregrina’s perspective. They both felt frustrated with the survey’s wording and its commencement plan. “I [one] hundred percent feel you,” Senator Ramirez said to the fellow graduating seniors present at the virtual meeting. “I feel the same way and I know Salvador [does too].” ASI Senate will reconvene at 3:30 p.m Wednesday, Feb. 22.
Shake Smart replaces Robeks in the SRWC By Jonathan Bigall Opinions Assistant
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Shake Smart vendor opened in the Long Beach State Student Recreation and Wellness Center (SRWC) on Feb. 7, replacing the Robeks Fresh Juices and Smoothies that occupied the space. Construction for the vendor began in December of last year after the contract with Robeks expired. Shake Smart was selected to replace it because of their unique customer self-order system as well as their compatibility with student flex dollars, according to Iraida Venegas, the associate director of commercial business operations for Associated Students Inc. (ASI). The franchise has locations in 12 states, including California. Almost all Shake Smart locations are located on university campuses. According to the company’s website, Shake Smart was “started by two college students who found it difficult to find healthy options while living the college on-the-go lifestyle.” The co-founder and CEO of Shake
CSULB students sit down in the SRWC dining area in front of Shake Smart.
Smart, Kevin Gelfand, wrote in an email that he came up with the idea for Shake Smart as a student while leaving the San Diego State University Aztec Recreation Center one day. “There is an optimal 30-minute window when finishing a workout that you should consume a high amount of protein especially,” Gelfand said in the email. “ I realized by the time I finished my workout, got home, and made a shake, it was outside that optimal window.” The Shake Smart menu focuses on protein, with each item having its amount listed next to it. There are a variety of shakes on the menu, some containing fruits or vegetables and some with traditional protein flavors like chocolate and vanilla. Shake Smart also offers coffee, oatmeal,
and savory options like egg white wraps. In comparison to the Robeks menu, there are similarities, however, Robeks primarily offers blended fruit smoothies. “The difference is Robeks has smoothies and Shake Smart has shakes,” Venegas said. “So the shakes are really protein-focused.” Quinn Olesek, a third-year business marketing major works at the SRWC Shake Smart, and said they see “a lot of business throughout the day, whether customers are ordering pre-workout coffee or protein shakes.” “I really like the environment,” Olesek said. “Working somewhere where I want to go into work is super nice.” Shake Smart has a downloadable smartphone app that can be used to browse
JONATHAN BIGALL | Daily Forty-Niner
its menu as well as place an order ahead of time. Their self-ordering system also allows customers to save their orders for when they return.
Shake Smart will be hosting a “free shake day” event near the SRWC on Tuesday, Feb. 22. To learn more, visit the SRWC website.
ARTS & LIFE 5
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2022 | DAILY49ER.COM | @DAILY49ER | ARTS@DAILY49ER.COM
“An Untitled Love” brings Black love and unity to the stage A.I.M dancers Tamisha Guy and Kayla Farrish dance together in a contemporary dance performance.
Photo Courtesy of Tatiana Wills
Choreographer Kyle Abraham and A.I.M dance company performed their piece at the Carpenter Center with hopes to bring representations of Black joy and struggles onto the stage. By Christina Merino Opinions Editor
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laced on the right of the stage was a couch, black and red, as the first dancer walked onstage she fixed the plastic covering it and took her spot. As another dancer walked in, a drumroll began to play and the audience went silent knowing it was time to enjoy the performance they had all been waiting for. An Untitled Love is an evening-length work choreographed by Kyle Abraham in collaboration with the dance company A.I.M which was presented at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center located at California State University, Long Beach on Saturday, Feb. 5. Kyle Abraham is an award-winning choreographer who has presented throughout the United States and abroad at locations like the Lincoln Center, Harlem Stage, and The Andy Warhol Museum. He is commissioned by a variety of dance companies including the Royal Ballet. A.I.M is a Black-led contemporary dance company founded by Abraham in 2006. The mission of the company is to “create a body of dance-based work that is galvanized by Black culture and history.” An Untitled Love is one of their many works that the company has worked on throughout the pandemic and is now able to be put on stage. The performance is set to music by Grammy-award winning musician D’Angelo. Songs from his debut album “Brown Sugar” are used to convey a story that encapsulates Black love, community, culture, and history. “It’s a work I’m hoping honors my parents that are no longer with us and those aunts and uncles that we all have that are not blood relatives,” said Abraham in the Q&A after the show.
The work was thought out with each move introducing the characters and their relationships with one another through solos, duets, quartets, and group performances. Each piece presented the themes that Abraham wanted to convey to the audience of Black love and unity. Whether joyful or emotional moments, the A.I.M company members delivered a
ham said. Some of the dialogue was used in comedic timing or as transitions as well, most efficiently as a quick-change before the second act. Conversations about going to church, status on a new relationship, and people naming their babies after months were just a few topics that the audience could relate to in their own lived experienc-
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It’s a work I’m hoping honors my parents that are no longer with us and those aunts and uncles that we all have that are not blood relatives Kyle Abraham Award-winning choreographer
performance the audience resonated with. For example, when the dancers performed an entire dance in slow motion, the audience roared in laughter at the funny bits and gave a round of applause once it ended. “Everything was just so effortless and just it made you feel really good, I got the chills when they did the slow-motion portion,” said Jacob Averill, 30, who drove from Los Angeles to see the show. A unique aspect of Abraham’s work is that dialogue is introduced between characters to further connect the audience. “It came in after pretty much all the choreography was learned and there were a lot of moments that we just knew needed some of that fun play and banter,” Abra-
es.
The lighting in the show also helped narrate. It drew the eye to where the important moments were happening. Especially in the scenes of loss and struggles that were portrayed to acknowledge the struggles that the Black community and subgroups still face today. One of these moments was the duet between Martell Ruffin and Catherine Kirk’s characters to D’Angelo’s “Untitled (How Does It Feel).” The duet had great significance in the show. It showcased the deep and serious intimacy within the relationship of Ruffin and Kirk’s characters that the audience saw have a more playful connection before. “For me, support and vulnerability,
there’s a lot of that on both ends. Both to support someone and to be vulnerable, both of those things are one and the same so I really wanted to show that as best I could,” Abraham said about the duet. Kirk joined A.I.M in 2013. She said that one of the things she enjoys about An Untitled Love is sharing the work with different audiences and communities. “When it comes time to performing and feeling the energy and response from different audiences, hearing what they think is funny or what they might be in awe of, or reacting to and being able to have post-performance discussions and talkbacks to see what questions people have, what resonated with them,” she said. Kirk also shared that every show she hones in with the people she dances with to get herself as fully into the character development as much as she can. “We’re really tapping into each other and creating this world on stage and it definitely feels like a really safe, enlightening and fun communal space that we’re creating and then sharing out to the world,” Kirk said. At the end of the show, the audience gave a standing ovation for what they had just witnessed and experienced. Attendees who were interested stayed for the Q&A session which was moderated by CSULB Dance Department Chair Betsy Cooper. They were able to ask Abraham and the company members questions to get more insight into the work. Abraham was able to answer questions on costumes, lighting, creative decisions, certain duets and solos. There were many questions about the solo to “Untitled (How Does It Feel)” and Abraham said that “there’s a moment where Martell [Ruffin] has a groove moment and for me, it’s really the essence of what got me to dance, those moments when you really can just be in a space all by yourself and just kind of grooving and also emoting.”
Continued on page 8
6 ARTS & LIFE
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2022 | DAILY49ER.COM | @DAILY49ER | ARTS@DAILY49ER.COM
After two years of construction, Carolyn Campagna Kleefeld Contemporary Art Museum opened its doors to the public on Saturday.
Coming at the Kleefeld
together A
fter two years of construction, CSULB Carolyn Campagna Kleefeld Contemporary Art Museum reopened its doors to the public with a crop of new exhibitions on Feb. 12. The Museum is open with limited hours from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. due to COVID-19 restrictions. The opening will serve as a soft launch kickoff event to the CSULB Arts Festival, a semester-long series of arts and culture events presented that unites all the departments under the
College of the Arts (COTA), including Dance Carpenter Center and the Museum of School and Art. The newly renovated building added 4,000 square feet of space, including more galleries, work, and educational areas. A slew of artists will be showcasing their work in the Main Gallery, Mini Gallery, Community Gallery, David Campagna Prints and Drawings Room, as well as the Carolyn Campagna Kleefeld gallery. Among the artists’ work featured is Linda Besemer’s “StrokeRollFoldSheetSlabGlitch,” Rita Letendre’s “Eternal Space,” Hung Viet Nguyen’s
“Sacred Path,” Mark Bradford’s lithographs, David Campagna Prints and Drawings Room, and Carolyn Campagna Kleefeld’s “In-Between the Silence.” Another feature of the 11,000 square feet museum is the historic Millard Sheets’ 14-by-11 foot mosaic mural which was relocated from a bank in Lakewood. In addition to the space, museum facilities include more inclusive policies to reflect the community at large. Once the museum rolls out its regular open hours, they will introduce specific time brackets ranging from “loud hours, quiet hours, evening hours and
dim hours,” catered to help folks who may experience sensory issues. The theme of the festival is “Together,” which is meant to bring together The Beach community and revitalize campus in a meaningful way. “We’re really trying to come together around arts and culture, especially as the campus repopulates,” said Amanda Fruta, a public affairs and communications specialist. “We can find artful ways to activate our public spaces in a safe way.” A full list featuring the programs and calendar will be released on the COTA website and participating organizations by Feb. 18.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2022 | DAILY49ER.COM | @DAILY49ER | ARTS@DAILY49ER.COM
ARTS & LIFE 7
Gabriel Enamorado and Juliana Canty, above, glance at works by Linda Besemer. The Carolyn Campagna Kleefeld Contemporary Art Museum soft launch kickoff event, left, headlined works by Linda Besemer called “StrokeRollFoldSheetSlabGlitch” at the Main Gallery at CSULB.
Photos by Ulysses Villa
Ezra Nepveux-Kjelstrom, right, 21, recreation therapy major visits Linda Besemers “StrokeRollFoldSheetSlabGlitch.” Children partook in various educational activities, above, including finger painting.
8 OPINIONS
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2022 | DAILY49ER.COM | @DAILY49ER | OPINIONS@DAILY49ER.COM
We owe our current culture to Black queer communities As pop culture becomes increasingly homogeneous it is important to take a step back and look at where most of the culture comes from. By Kristina Agresta Social Media Editor
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verything you think you know about popular culture is wrong. Nowadays people assume that the slang they use or the things they are into comes from the mainstream internet culture, but a lot of it actually derives from black queer spaces. I am an avid watcher of the hit show RuPaul’s Drag Race (RPDR), hosted by the most visible black drag queen in the US. For 14 seasons, the show has been an outlet for queens to express their art and has acted as a stepping stone for drag culture to come into the mainstream. Visibility for queer communities, especially Black queer communities is important, but the appropriation of that culture is detrimental. Take TikTok for example, that platform would be vastly different if not for the contributions of Black creators. Earlier last year, Black TikTok creators went on strike to call out white creators for stealing their dances and taking credit for the choreography. The strike was about getting recognition for their contributions, but also about a wider problem of appropriation on the internet. Influencers like the Kardashians exploit the Black community for financial gain, yet never quite seem to learn their lesson when called out. This problem of appropriation extends past blatant racism and into parts of daily life as simple as the slang we use. What is widely known as internet slang nowadays has a lot of roots in both African American Vernacular English (AAVE) and queer slang. Terms like “bag,” “period,” and “chile” are common phrases on the internet, but rarely are their histories acknowledged. Last year there was a trend on TikTok that highlighted just how much Black drag queens have shaped and continue to shape popular culture. An audio clip from RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars started circulating in which two Black drag queens, Monét X Change and Monique Heart, were discussing how to paint a wall. The exchange had a joke about how Jesus said you have to paint up and down because that is the right way to do things, and this audio took off on the Christian side of TikTok. Many Christian creators used this audio to state that homosexuality is a sin, which is ironic given that the audio comes from the most prominent queer show on television. This is exactly the issue. People take the bits and pieces of Black queer culture that they think are funny or relevant to them without actually understanding the origin or standing with the community. This issue was highlighted in season 2 of FX’s Pose; in the 1990s Madonna brought voguing, a style of dance originating from the Black ball scene to the masses through her song Vogue. Instead of shedding light onto the ballroom scene and uplifting a population that was struggling with the HIV crisis, the song erased the history behind the dance style and voguing just became another bit of the culture that was taken to the mainstream without credit. A more extreme example of appropriation and erasure is the Russian RPDR knockoff that does not acknowledge the LGBTQ+ community. The show is hosted by a cisgender straight woman and there is even a disclaimer at the beginning of every episode referencing the Russian ban of information about “non-traditional sexual relations to minors,” which is thought to essentially be a ban on the LGBTQ+ community by many activists. People are so desperate to use the creations of Black queer spaces, yet not give credit to them or even want to associate with the origins of the content. Not all of pop culture today is appropriated, and it is totally OK to appreciate other cultures and communities. The issue is when people don’t respect the roots of these terms, audios, songs, etc. When using an “internet term” or picking TikTok audio, think critically about the origin of it and how Black drag queens have shaped our current mainstream culture.
Continued from page 8 He was also asked about the significance behind more serious sections of the work such as the song “Prayer.” “As much as I love to have a work about celebration and joy and Black love and Black joy, I also need to acknowledge the fact that we’re still being murdered unjustly so I really felt, especially thinking about the LGBTQ community. I really wanted to
GISELE ROBINETT | Daily Forty-Niner
Mainstream internet culture derives from black queer communities and must be recognized.
make that section, in particular, to honor so many people in our, my community in that way and allow that moment of reality into the work,” Abraham said. The representation of different communities was something that Abraham and the company members saw as important in their work. “I think that having people who look like me and as us, Black folk and people of color being able to connect to what we’re representing is really important,”
said Kirk. And surely many of the audience members that night left feeling seen and represented onstage. “It was a piece that just reminded you of Black love and Black existence and how wonderful it is to be Black and to just exist in the skin that we do,” said Carchena Culmer, 30, who had come to the show with a group of friends. As a dancer, what Kirk wishes audienc-
es to get out of An Untitled Love is being able to connect to it in some way. “I really just hope that people have a great time and leave with a smile on their face and I think it’s very special to have those moments in a theater especially with dance,” she said. A.I.M by Kyle Abraham will be taking An Untitled Love to UC Santa Barbara Arts & Lectures on Feb. 13.
SPORTS 9
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2022 | DAILY49ER.COM | @DAILY49ER | SPORTS@DAILY49ER.COM
Hildebrand assembles new coaching staff for 2022 season By Thomas Murray Sports Editor
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he Hildebrand era has officially begun at The Beach as the recently hired women’s volleyball coach Tyler Hildebrand has finalized his coaching staff for the Fall 2022 season. Hildebrand is a former assistant coach for The Beach as he helped coach the men’s team from 2013 to 2015. His most recent job was as an assistant coach in Nebraska where he led the Cornhuskers to a national title in just his first year. Hilderbrand is now returning to his alma mater as a head coach and his staff will feature Curtsy Le Roux as his assistant and recruiting coordinator. Kim Hill will also join the team as a volunteer assistant coach. “It means more to me, personally, we’d like to get the ball rolling,” Hildebrand said. “It’s not just another job, it means more.” Le Roux was appointed as assistant coordinator last January. Before arriving at The Beach, she was an assistant coach at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas where she helped the Rebels capture the 2021 National Invitational Volleyball Championship. She is also responsible for establishing the first professional women’s indoor volleyball league where she helped establish regulations for players and staff regarding injuries, pregnancies, and COVID-19 protocols. “The moment I got here just felt like home, just a sense of community, and just being mentored by [Nick MacRae] and Tyler…[to] be guided and mentored by so many legends,” Le Roux said. “I knew the legacy here but just the family aspect of it, I love it here.” According to Le Roux, her main focus is to establish local connections to build her team for years to come. When Hill was announced as the next member of the coaching staff, she was brought in to implement her knowledge of the game to the team. “I think because there are new girls coming in and returners, it’s about establishing a leadership, what leaders are going to pop up, what we want as a team, what we want to accomplish so that there is a standard for years to come,” Hill said. This past summer, Hill was a member of the 2020 Team USA Volleyball team at the Tokyo Olympics where she was a gold winner. In 2014, Hill received a gold medal and was named an MVP. Hildebrand also added Nick MacRae to his staff. MacRae is a familiar face for The Beach community as he has been part of the men’s volleyball program since 2013. While MacRae was a coach at The Beach, he has helped develop five All-Americans and two American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) National Player of the Year recipients: Josh Tuaniga and TJ DeFalco. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity being able to join, not only the staff, but the legacy of this incredible Long Beach State women’s volleyball team,” MacRae said.
Photo Courtesy of LBSU Athletics
Hilderbrand has finalized his coaching staff as he is set to begin his first year as LBSU Women’s volleyball head coach.
Photo Courtesy of LBSU Athletics
Hildebrand cheering on LBSU volleyball players after the team scores a point.
MacRae says he believes Hildebrand can turn the program around as the team finished 16-15 with a .516 win percentage. “He bleeds black and gold, this ship is
immediately in the right direction on a road map to greatness,” MacRae said. Last year, The Beach let go of Joy McKienzie-Fuerbringer, who was a four-year
head coach for Long Beach. After McKienzie-Fuerbringer was let go, LBSU brought former assistant coach Sabrina Hernandez to fill in as interim head coach. Hernandez ended The Beach’s season on a hot streak as the team won six matches straight. Hildebrand explained that there was interest in bringing Hernandez into his staff but after the two had talked, he explained it wasn’t the perfect fit for the team. “She was considered for the assistant position and I interviewed her, we talked, ultimately I ended up choosing [Le Roux], but she was considered,” Hildebrand said. “It just wasn’t the perfect fit for us, but very thankful for everything she did last year in the midst of, obviously, a difficult time.” With the coaching staff now set, Hildebrand’s eyes are set on a Big West title. “We have a lot of work to do, it’s been I think seven years since we won the Big West,” said Hildebrand. “We feel like with our athletic department support, our location, our gym, our legacy, we should be winning the Big West every year.”
10 SPORTS
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2022 | DAILY49ER.COM | @DAILY49ER | SPORTS@DAILY49ER.COM
Dirtbags 2022 season preview The men’s baseball team enters the 2022 season highly ranked in the nation and look to make its first trip to Omaha since 1998.
By Matthew Brown Sports Assistant
D
espite being one of the hottest teams down the stretch last year, the Long Beach State Dirtbags missed out on an at-large bid to make the playoffs. Even after starting later than almost every other college team in the nation, finishing on a six-game win streak that ended their season at 26-14 in third place in The Big West, the Dirtbags would find themselves not participating in the NCAA regionals. “It sucked for sure,” closer Devereaux Harrison said. “We thought that we had a good shot to make it but I mean, that’s baseball. It definitely gave us some fire for this year.” Eric Valenzuela will be leading the Dirtbags as head coach for a third year. Valenzuela has been the coach since 2019 when the team had an abysmal year in which they finished 14-41. Since Valenzuela has arrived at The Beach, he has yet to have a “normal season” due to the ongoing impact of COVID-19. His first full season was cut short in March 2020 and in 2021, LBSU would play their first game on March 19, almost a month later than the rest of The Big West. Despite the adversity, Valenzuela has led his team to an impressive 38-20 record. Coach Valenzuela has already left an impact on Dirtbags baseball, and the administration hopes he will continue to do so for years to come as they signed him to an extension over the summer that will keep him at LBSU until 2026. “Coach Valenzuela continues to elevate the Dirtbags baseball program to new levels,” Executive Director of Athletics Andy Fee said. “While the past two seasons have been challenging due to COVID-19, he has rebuilt the very core of our program with significant recruiting and on the field successes. In addition to the on-field performance, Eric has continued to develop a culture of growth and winning, doing so in a positive mindset.” Valenzuela is honored that the administration wants to keep him around longer, and is excited to play in his first full season as head coach for the Dirtbags. “I want to see the continuation of the development within our program,” Valenzuela said. “From a coach’s side of things, you want to see growth, you want to see the program continue to rise and get better, and you want to see the culture continue to improve.” This year, Long Beach has a tough non-conference schedule. The Dirtbags opened the season taking two of three games against the defending College World Series champions Mississippi State, winning the first two games, 3-0 and 13-3 and losing the third game, 12-4. The Dirtbags will host Sacramento State from Feb 25-27 for its home opener. Long Beach will also play UCLA, North Dakota, Pepperdine, Nebraska, and Connecticut before Big West play starts on March 15. Coach Valenzuela believes The Dirtbags boasts one of the best non-conference schedules in the country and doesn’t think his team will crack under the pressure. “That’s who you want to play, you want to play the best in their house,” Valenzuela said. “We preach in our program that the opponents are nameless and faceless. We’re just going to do our thing and go out there regardless of where it is or who it is.”
MATTHEW BROWN | Daily Forty-Niner
The Dirtbags practice taking leads and stealing from second base.
MATTHEW BROWN | Daily Forty-Niner
The Dirtbags warming up before the game.
The offense will have a mix of returning players such as Chase Luttrell, Brennan Rozell, and Chris Jimenez, as well as an exciting class of incoming freshmen like Eddie Saldivar and Tyler White. The offense is a big reason the Dirtbags have been ranked No. 24 in the country by both D1baseball.com and PerfectGame.org and picked to win the Big West Conference. “I think our ranking is not something we focus on,” Lutrell said. “As a team, we’ve been there before. I think that’s kind of how we look at it, you just play your game and rankings are ranking.” Luttrell has been a staple of the Ditrtbag’s offense ever since his freshman year in 2019. Over three seasons, the first baseman/outfielder has hit .291/.333/.429. Last summer Luttrell played in the Cape Cod League for the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox. “It was an amazing experience playing with the top talent in the world; I loved it but it was a challenge,” Luttrell said. “I learned a lot about myself as a player and a lot about the game. It kind of helps to learn from those struggles and failures.” According to Baseball America, LBSU has one of the most notable under-the-radar recruiting classes. Headlining the freshman class is Eddie Saldivar, who is ranked No. 180 of college freshman prospects. Coming out of San Joaquin Memorial High School, Saldivar is already on many MLB team’s watchlists. Many scouts believed Saldivar could have been drafted in the early rounds out of high school had he entered. However, he believed coming to Long Beach was the best route for his development. “There was definitely a thought of entering the draft and going pro, but at the end of the day, this is the best decision that I’ve ever made,” Saldivar said. “My relationship has been great with [Valenzuela]. He’s the best coach in the country, and he’s gonna take me where I want to be.” Saldivar is slated to be the Dirtbag’s opening day leadoff hitter and second baseman. Valenzuela trusts Saldivar is ready to handle the pressure. Leading the backend of the bullpen is the dominant close in Harrison. Harrison had a stellar 2021 season, leading the Big West Conference with 10 saves in 34.1 innings and holding hitters to a .175 batting average. Harrison’s performance earned him a number of accolades, including Big West Freshman Pitcher of the Year. “Last year, I was trusting every pitch, trusting the defense behind me and being committed to everything,” Harrison said. “A lot of it has to do with Coach V and what he does with pitch calling and how he prepares us for every hitter and game.” Harrison competed with USA Baseball Collegiate National Team last year. Former Dirtbag and MLB player Troy Tulowitzki was the assistant coach on the team. “It was a cool moment. I got to play with the best guys in the country,” Harrison said. “We got to play the Olympic team before they went to Japan. It was fun. It was a good environment and a lot of fans.” Harrison’s personal goal for the year is to outperform his outstanding 2021. “Every guy’s just trying to get better and better than the year before, and so far I’ve been better than the year before,” Harrison said. “So that’s all I’m trying to do is just be better than the year before and I do whatever I can to help the team. The Dirtbags seek to be as successful as the other teams at Long Beach State. Both men’s and women’s basketball are fighting for first place in the conference, men’s volleyball is ranked No. 1 in the nation, and softball is coming off a Big West Championship. “The pressure is on us now,” Valenzuela said.