weekly print edition
DAILY FORTY-NINER EST p 1949
Vol. LXXI, Issue 24
www.daily49er.com
Monday, March 9, 2020
RELOCATION FRUSTRATION
Inside the
Niner
As plans for a new on-campus facility become more concrete, student organizations that face relocation voice concerns. page 4
NEWS Coronavirus causes campus concerns PAGE 3
ARTS & LIFE Van living, CSULB student’s life on wheels PAGES 6 & 7
2
MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2020 | DAILY49ER.COM | @DAILY49ER | STAFF@DAILY49ER.COM ON THE COVER A proposed 130,000-square-foot building may replace the spaces untilized by student organizations currently housed in Faculty Office-4, Faculty Office-5 and Peterson Hall. Illustration by EMMA DIMAGGIO
Weekly Calendar
1250 Bellflower Blvd., LA4-203 Long Beach, CA, 90840
March Monday 3/9 Sports MGOLF vs Lamkin San Diego Classic (First and Second Rounds) San Diego Sports WGOLF vs Arizona Wildcat Invitational (First and Second Rounds) Tucson Sports SB vs Boston University Louisville Slugger Invitational CSULB Softball Complex 10 a.m. Bob Cole Composer’s Guild @ Daniel Recital Hall 8 p.m.
Tuesday 3/10 Sports MGOLF vs Lamkin San Diego Classic (Final Round) San Diego Sports WGOLF vs Arizona Wildcat Invitational (Final Round) Tucson Sports WBB vs Big West Tournament Big West Tournament @ Pyramid Sports WBVB vs Univ. of Utah vs CSUN CSULB Sand Courts Sports WTEN vs Memphis Rhodes Tennis Center 2 p.m.
Theater Arts “Blood at the Root” by Dominique Morisseau Mar. 5 through Mar. 14
Wednesday 3/11 Sports WBB vs Big West Tournament Pyramid Sports WTEN vs Abilene Christian Rhodes Tennis Center 2 p.m. PT ASI Farmers Market 10:00 a.m. 2:00 p.m. ASI Coffee with the Candidates 11:30 a.m. 1:00p.m. ASI Movies on the House: Parasite Carpenter Center Ann Hampton Callaway, “The Streisand Book” @ 7:00 p.m.
Thursday 3/12 Sports SB vs Boston University Easton Invitational Fullerton 5 p.m. Sports WWPOLO vs Bucknell University Ken Lindgren Aquatics Center 7 p.m. ASI MVB vs UCSB 7 p.m. ASI Coffee with the Candidates 11:30 a.m. 1:00p.m.
Friday 3/13
Sports Sports ITRACK ITRACK vs NCAA vs NCAA Championships Championships Albuquerque Albuquerque Sports WBB vs Big West Tournament Big West Tournament Anaheim ASI WTEN vs Youngstown State Rhodes Tennis Center 2 p.m. ASI BB at Tulane New Orleans 4:30 p.m. PT ASI SB vs Sacramento State Easton Invitational Fullerton 4:30 p.m.
ASI Movies on the House: Parasite Bob Cole Concert Band @ Daniel Recital Hall @ 7:00 p.m. Carpenter Center Ann Hampton Callaway, “The Streisand Book” @ 7:00 p.m.
Saturday 3/14
ASI MVB at UCSB Santa Barbara 7 p.m. Bob Cole Faculty Artist Recital Alexander Hahn, Bass @ Daniel Recital Hall @ 8:00 p.m.
Sports WBB vs Big West Tournament Big West Tournament Anaheim Sports WWPOLO vs Wagner College Aztec Invitational San Diego 8:40 a.m. Sports SB vs Cali. Baptist Easton Invitational Fullerton, Calif. 10 a.m. Sports BB at Tulane New Orleans 12 p.m. PT Sports SB vs Harvard Easton Invitational Fullerton 1:30 p.m. Sports WWPOLO vs Bucknell University Aztec Invitational San Diego 2:30 p.m.
Daily Forty-Niner
Sunday 3/15 Sports WWPOLO vs George Washington University Aztec Invitational San Diego 10:30 a.m. Sports BB at Tulane New Orleans 11 a.m. PT Sports WWPOLO vs Harvard University Aztec Invitational San Diego 2:15 p.m.
Sunday 3/15 Bob Cole “Beyond Borders” @ Los Altos Methodist Church @ 8:00 p.m. Carpenter Center An Evening with Anne Lamott @ 8:00 p.m.
Interested in having your event featured in the calendar? Reach out to design@daily49er.com for more information on how to get it featured.
Shark Bites By Rachel Barnes Shark Bites is a CSULB inspired crossword puzzle that contains clues from the recent news stories published by the Daily Forty-Niner. Tag us @daily49er with a picture of your completed crossword for a chance to win a prize! Down 1. The CSULB vertebrae lab gets donations of animal carcasses from this zoo. 2. La ________ is one of the student organizations that would have to move due to the demolition of PH-1, FO-4 and FO-5. 4. A classical Indian dance that Tanvi Bollavaram trained for 10 years. 5. Students talk about inspirational women in their lives in Spill the Tea this week for International _______ Month.
Across 3. Armand lives in his 1988 Volkswagen ________ to save on costs while he goes to school. 6. One of these was reported stolen from the College of Business last week. 7. Dirtbags pitchers can ignore these from the catcher because of their skill level. 8. Ethan Siegfried ranks ________ on CSULB’s men’s volleyball team for kills.
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NEWS 3
MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2020 | DAILY49ER.COM | @DAILY49ER | NEWS@DAILY49ER.COM
The Beach braces for coronavirus As the number of diagnoses increases, the university prepares for the reality of an outbreak. LONG BEACH STATE
CSULB has installed several hand-washing stations around campus as a precaution against coronavirus.
By Madalyn Amato News Editor
L
ong Beach State officials reported cases of the novelcoronavirus potentially impacting the campus Saturday. Kimberly Fodran, co-director of Student Health Services, said that 10 students and two community members attended an event earlier in the week in Washington, D.C. where three of those on the trip, who Fodran said were not associated with the campus, have tested positive for coronavirus. “Out of an abundance of caution and in coordination with public-health officials, our Beach community members who were in attendance are now in self-quarantine,” she said. “Because one of our attendees at the event in Washington lives in student housing, that facility is also being specially cleaned as a preventative measure. As noted in an email to campus yesterday, our campus has initiated additional cleaning protocols across campus.” “We will continue to be in close and ongoing communication with the affected students and assess if they develop any symptoms.” According to CSULB strategic communications, it believes there are still no cases of coronavirus in Long Beach. School officials had announced
March 6 that they had begun preventative measures to secure the campus in the face of a potential coronavirus outbreak. In response, the California State University system has cautioned individual campuses to review their travel policies. CSULB announced that it will not be allowing students to travel to countries for business or academic related reasons that are heavily affected by the coronavirus outbreak. “Following CDC guidelines, we will not be authorizing any members of our community to travel to China, Iran, Italy and South Korea on university business or for academic programs. Only essential travel will be authorized for Hong Kong, Japan, Macau, and Mongolia,” Student Health Services wrote. “The university is in contact with those members of The Beach community who are currently abroad, including assisting students in Italy and South Korea in returning to the United States.” According to the SHS, several students are currently studying abroad in Italy. As of March 4, the country has closed all schools and universities and its death toll from the virus has reached over 100. “Two of our 14 students visiting Italy have returned, we have also asked that 15 students studying in South Korea return,” said Jeet Joshee, associate vice president of International Education and Global Engagement. “We are asking that students who travelled in these countries stay home for two weeks as
a precautionary measure, in keeping with guidelines outlined by CDC.” The travel restriction will be in place until April 15, but officials said that depending on directives from the CDC and the State Department, the guideline might change. George Alfaro, director of environmental health and safety at CSULB, sent an email to staff and faculty Friday morning briefing them on the steps the university is taking to prevent an outbreak. According to Alfaro, the school’s cleaning and disinfection procedures have been revised to refocus janitorial efforts on “high-touch areas.” New hand sanitation stations have been added across campus along with a map to show where those locations are. Custodial cleaning supplies have also been bolstered to better prepare for the chance of an outbreak. SHS staff created a webpage to help educate students about outbreak scenarios. The page states that the university is considering closing its physical campus and ushering classes online in the case of an outbreak. “Should the university become directly impacted by the illness in a meaningful way, we will implement a variety of protocols including alternative instruction delivery,” said Lauren Williams, senior communications counsel. The webpage also details the school’s academic continuity contract, which encourages faculty to consider transferring their academic lessons online.
Other campuses, such as Stanford University, University of Southern California and the University of Washington have already begun to shut down physical campuses in attempts to prevent an outbreak amongst the community. “We recently placed constraints on large public events at Stanford, and now, in order both to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 and to ease anxiety in our community as winter finals approach, we are taking new steps regarding course instruction,” Stanford Provost Persis Drell wrote in a press release. “For the final two weeks of the winter quarter, beginning Monday, March 9, classes at Stanford will not meet in person. To the extent feasible, we will be moving classes to online formats in place of in-person instruction.” Charles F. Zukoski, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs for USC released a statement Friday. “With this in mind, we will test our online lectures and seminars starting Wednesday, March 11 through Friday, March 13,” Zukoski said. “The online modality will replace in-person classes for those three days. Please work with your instructors if special technical accommodations may be needed.” Health officials are urging people to practice common flu prevention techniques such as washing your hands with warm water and soap, avoiding contact with others if symptoms arise and to seek medical attention as soon as possible.
“For students, healthcare workers at Cal State Long Beach’s Student Health Services will assess if testing is necessary,” according to the SHS webpage. “Staff and faculty who feel they should be tested can be examined and assessed by their off-campus healthcare provider.” Barbara Ferrer, director of public health, is urging people to stay alert and continue best practices prescribed by health officials. “As more cases are identified, we are asking everyone to do their part: stay home if you are sick and keep your children home if they are sick, take time now to plan for the possibility of school and business closures and be sure to follow and additional directives issued by Public Health and or local officials,” Ferrer said. “By working together, we can try to slow the transmission of novel coronavirus.” Long Beach city health officials declared a local health emergency on March 4 in response to six patients being diagnosed with the novel-coronavirus in Los Angeles County. The city published a press release soon after Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger signed a declaration of a local health emergency for the county. “We are prepared and continue to plan to address any possible spread of the coronavirus,” Mayor Robert Garcia said. “We continue to take proactive measures that will protect, treat and care for our residents, especially those most vulnerable.”
4 NEWS
MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2020 | DAILY49ER.COM | @DAILY49ER | NEWS@DAILY49ER.COM
Illustration by EMMA DIMAGGIO | Daily Forty-Niner
Student organization members have been briefed that they may be moved out of their current locations in Faculty Office-4, Faculty Office-5 and Peterson Hall-1 due to construction of a new 130,000-square-foot building.
By Dillon Hulse & Madalyn Amato Staff Writers
Disheartened over displacement Student organizations are worrying about being forced to relocate due to proposed construction.
S
tudents and faculty that reside in Faculty Office Building-4, Faculty Office Building-5 and Peterson Hall have expressed growing concerns over their upcoming relocation as the university plans to replace those buildings with a 130,000-square-foot structure for the College of Health and Human Services. The PH-1 Replacement Building Project remains in limbo, however, pending the passing of Proposition 13, a proposed $15 billion California schools construction bond. The proposition is not expected to pass with a current 55% count of voters against it. There are a few different plans the university is considering for the relocation project. • The first would relocate organizations from FO-5 and PH-1 into the new HHS building. • The second would relocate groups from FO-4 to the Horn Center. A new parking lot to accommodate the new facility would then take the place of FO-4. “I know my first year, I was just like, ‘Wow, I’m just a number here, I’m my ID number, and that’s all I’m ever gonna be to this school,’” said Anais Rocha, a fourth-year international studies major. “A lot of times, that’s what all of us feel until we find our own community, and then to be scared of it being taken away is really heartbreaking.” Rocha is a member of La Raza Student Association, a social, cultural and political organization based in FO-4 which strives to build community among Latinx students. “It becomes really important because this is where you form lifetime relationships with people,” Rocha said. “I know this happens in all the centers, I’m not just speaking for La Raza.” Initial reports and emails to the cultural centers spoke only about the building being torn down and didn’t mention any other plans for relocation. Without any context regarding the future of their centers, members of the organizations feared the worst. “We reached out to alumni and started building our network to see how we were going to tackle this issue,” Rocha said. “It was just really disheartening because we didn’t know that this was actually something that was going to happen.” Gered Jones, a first-year communications major, is a member of the Asian American and Pacific Islander Student Cultural Resource Center and said he too doesn’t know where the association will end up. “The only thing I was told [was] that this whole building would be demolished for construction; they haven’t really explained where we’re gonna go,” Jones said. Mark Zakhour, director of design and construction
services, said that the concern is most likely a case of miscommunication. “They won’t be left without a home,” Zakhour said. “I think it’s people getting excited because they don’t have the information, or they’re getting ahead of things and making assumptions that aren’t necessarily right.” Zakhour did recognize that students’ concerns were valid and understandable. “They have all rights to be up in arms if they want to be, but the truth of the matter is we haven’t really started communicating – we haven’t started a full strategy because we don’t even know if we have a project,” he said. Michael Gardner, director of campus planning and sustainability, said the issue at hand isn’t anything new. “People move around on campus, you know, it happens,” Gardner said. “If there’s a current occupant of a building and we take their building down, they’re going to get a new place.” The campus Space Committee looks at all the needs of the campus and then develops priorities for who goes where whenever a space vacates. Backfill space will be located in newer, more permanent buildings and will be freshly remodeled. Rooms in FO-4, FO-5 and PH-1 currently face various seismic, accessibility and maintenance problems. “In my vision, in the campus plan, they would all be together sharing one nice space somewhere,” Gardner said. Zakhour said that the university will utilize backfill space – classrooms vacated through a move to a different facility – to house the cultural centers down the line when officials schedule FO-4 to be demolished. Eliana Touch, a first-year pre-psych major, said that she’d prefer the centers to be moved to a more central location, such as the University Student Union. “This is where I go all the time, it’s so important to us that we have these resources,” Touch said. “If we are going to have a different setting, in terms of where we are going to move, I hope that it’s more accessible, for not just the AAPI room, but also for all the other cultural centers, as well.” Jones said that whatever the outcome is, he’s just happy they’ll have a home. “As long as they’re not throwing us in a janitor’s closet, we would probably be OK,” Jones said. “But, in the future, obviously for all the clubs, it should be somewhere permanent.” Travis Tamasese, chief of staff for student affairs, said in an email that discussions were held last fall to hold focus groups at the Student Cultural Resource Board meeting. Tamasese and John Hamilton, assistant vice president of university access and retention, will be heading up those focus groups in March and April. “Ultimately, the students who utilize the centers remain a high priority for us,” Tamasese said. “We understand that the centers play a unique role in the reflections of their heritage and identities, and we are committed to working together to find [a] resolution.”
NEWS 5
MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2020 | DAILY49ER.COM | @DAILY49ER | NEWS@DAILY49ER.COM
Behind the scenes: The vertebrae lab Thousands of preserved animals call the basement of the Hall of Science home.
By Madalyn Amato News Editor
I
MADALYN AMATO | Daily Forty-Niner
A water deer skull, top, is part of the vertebrae lab’s unique collection of skeletons and skins. Suellen Jacob, lab technician, pulls a frozen specimen, middle, out of her specialized refrigerator where she holds newly acquired animals before preparing them to become part of the vertebrae lab collection. Skulls of small rodents, above, tagged and associated with a matching stuffed animal in the drawers of the vertebrae lab.
n the basement of the Hall of Science, lab tables are lined with the skins of exotic animals. In another room, jars of amphibians are suspended in liquid. In another, cabinets are full of preserved animals. Behind the locked doors lay some of the world’s most exotic animal species. From an elephant skull to stuffed koalas, Long Beach State’s vertebrae lab has one of the most vast and varied collections of specimens for classroom and research use in the California State University system. Suellen Jacob, an instructional support technician, is the caretaker of the lab. Originally from the East Coast, Jacob was looking for a job that matched her interests in studying wildlife. “Since I was interested in collections, those jobs are super rare,” Jacob said. “If you really want one, you have to apply nationwide.” After receiving her master’s degree at the University of Cincinnati, Jacob decided to pursue a career where she could have hands-on experience with unique specimens. Some of the specimens date back to the founding of the university in 1949, others are brand new. Roadkill, donations from the community and animals from wildlife rehabilitation facilities are all sources of additions to the collection. Jacob said that the top animal supplier at the moment is the San Diego Zoo. “They take good care of their critters, but you know, it’s the end of life for everyone,” she said. “So about once or twice a year I’ll drive down there and they will hand over a bunch of carcasses.” Each specimen that comes to the lab goes through an extensive preparation process, carried out by Jacob and her graduate assistants. Once received, they are kept in freezers on the third floor of the HSCI separated by size and species. Right now, they are filled with birds, rodents and even a warthog head. Jacob then decided when the best time to begin prepping the specimen is and begins by defrosting the specimen. After the animal is defrosted, Jacob goes to work on skinning and removing the innards of the animal. Sometimes skeletons are kept depending on its rarity, otherwise, they are disposed of. The skins are then treated and dried accordingly. What remains is stuffed and prepped for classroom and research use. Jacob uses a variety of materials from cotton to wires to give the animal a “life-like” appearance.
Each animal gets the same treatment as long as they’re going in the “dry” specimen collection. Other creatures, like fish, amphibians and reptiles are kept in jars full of isopropanol, a less harsh and safer alternative to formaldehyde. “Being able to learn from this kind of stuff is really valuable,” Jacob said. “Educationally, I think this is really the best way to teach students about different animals and the differences between them.” Hannah Rabitoy is one of Jacob’s graduate assistants who is currently working on her master’s degree in biology. “I am considering going into teaching or writing research, so it’s great to just get to handle all these specimens,” Rabitoy said. However, the vertebrae lab doesn’t just serve students in the science department. “We also have research collections, which in total, I believe, we have approaching 40,000 preserved vertebrates,” Jacob said. “We also have used the collection’s specimens for faculty research.” Jacob also runs an online database that catalogs all specimens that come in and out of the lab. “Anyone around the world could search our records,” she said. “And specimen records are considered especially valuable because they’re backed up by an actual critter.” Jacob came to the university in 2012 just after the HSCI was built and said that the collection was worse for wear. “When I came here, most of them actually did not have much in the way of labels, they just had this little piece of paper that has a number on it, which makes it very difficult to sort break them up to be associated by the skin and then see where it goes,” Jacob said. Since she’s taken over, Jacob has begun cleaning out older, dated specimens that weren’t as well-preserved to make room for new items to add to the collection. “We have taken small collections from other institutions who were trying to clear out, they had a couple hundred, maybe 100 specimens,” she said. “Then, of course, we have to get rid of specimens and have to send them and further up the chain to the L.A. County Museum of Natural History.” For Rabitoy, the collection is giving her the chance to prepare for her future career. “We can learn so much information from these types of collections,” Rabitoy said. “It’s so great that we have such a nice, comprehensive collection here.” Jacob said she continues her work in the lab to benefit future generations of species. “It’s the study that’s associated with dead things, but the results of the research can benefit the living ones,” Jacob said.
6 ARTS & LIFE
MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2020 | DAILY49ER.COM
The sche
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Armand lives out of his 1988 Volkswagen Vanagon GL full time. Originally a passenger van, Armand converted it into a full-time home with a sink that has running water and two gas burners to cook. Armand keeps a cooler behind the passenger seat to store refrigerated food. The van is fitted with a queen-sized bed that also doubles as a couch.
hatchback. Armand’s feet hang off of his m and poke out of his covers, soaking warmth of the sun’s rays. He has l this same van for about three-and years now, a lifestyle choice that him many of these beach day opp ties. “I’ll leave the door open and I’l bed with the ocean breeze flowing in Armand, a third-year industrial desi dent at Long Beach State. “I’m in my and it’s just like heaven.” Armand, who asked to withhold name due to policies against van livi native of the Los Angeles-area and ed Santa Monica College prior to tr ring to CSULB spring 2017. He dec live out of his van to save money w made the move to Long Beach. “The whole reason I did this is t uate debt-free,” Armand said. “It very calculated for me to be able to here and provide financially in a m that doesn’t compromise my educat It was an ordinary passenger van he purchased it, but Armand has si designed the interior of the vehicle ate a home on wheels. He did the renovation on his own, using only a and a power drill. The 3,600-pound vehicle houses a top with dual burners fueled by pro
M | @DAILY49ER | ARTS@DAILY49ER.COM
VAN-tastic!
ARTS & LIFE 7
mobile lifestyle gives Armand a rent-free approach to college and allows him the eduling freedom to enjoy outdoor activities such as mountain biking and surfing.
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Story by CHANCE SINERIUS Photos by RYAN GUITARE sink with running water and a full-length cushioned bench that can fold down to make room for a nearly queen-sized mattress. The van also has a custom high-top roof that Armand crafted, which allows him to fully stand up while cooking and provides additional storage room. Living out of a van not only gives Armand a rent-free approach to college, but also allows him more freedom in his schedule to do outdoor activities he enjoys, such as mountain biking and surfing.
“I generally like having an ‘adventure’ kind of lifestyle,” he said. “I always kind of fantasized this idea [of living in a van]. This is a justifiable and really sensible reason for doing it.” Although the van has a certain comfort to it, Armand said that the lack of space has spurred him to be more active in his study habits on campus. He spends the majority of his time outside of the van, working on projects at the industrial design studio. “[Living in the van] has helped my education tremendously,” he said. “It’s a cozy
“
space but I don’t want to spend all day in here. I don’t really have a space to be lethargic.” Between semesters, when he’s not busy with his academic design projects, Armand works on the interior of other van dwellers’ mobile homes. This has been his main source of income over the past few years, as he has modified or renovated an estimated eight different vans. But Armand had a passion for building long before it became financially beneficial for him.
You can literally park right in front of the water … It’s just this representation of California and the coast. I just feel really privileged any time I have those days.
”
— Armand
Third-year industrial design student
“Since he was young we’ve noticed that he’s quite handy overall,” said Anto, Armand’s older brother. “It’s a good talent that he has … He’s got a knack for it [building].” He credits his coursework in the CSULB design department with helping him gain the experience to better renovate the vans at a faster speed. “Now, with the shop we have here and everything I’ve learned, I can build cabinets in a week,” Armand said. When it comes to amenities such as a restroom and a shower, Armand relies mostly on public facilities or the Student Recreation and Wellness Center. On occasion, he will visit a friend and get a shower in before he leaves their home. “I am an excellent guest, so they never mind having me over,” he remarked with a grin. “And if I don’t have access to running water, the baby wipe shower is the last resort.” However, the availability of a warm shower might not be a concern for much longer. Armand is always looking to make new additions to his transportable home and plans to add an outdoor showerhead to the van, along with a heating attachment for the water tank. The most recent installation to the van is heated floor-paneling controlled by a switch. Regardless of all his labor and the additions made to the van, the simple ability to pick up and head to the beach in the comfort of his own home has helped produce some of Armand’s fondest memories. “Those were some of the best days I’ve ever had,” he recalled. “You can literally park right in front of the water … It’s just this representation of California and the coast. I just feel really privileged any time I have those days.”
8 NEWS
MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2020 | DAILY49ER.COM | @DAILY49ER | NEWS@DAILY49ER.COM
A cart collision; a verbal disturbance; and grand theft By Reina Esparza Staff Writer
Hit and run misdemeanor An individual who was driving a university cart reported that a vehicle had backed into them near the housing office on Feb. 26 at approximately 9:52 p.m. The vehicle allegedly fled the scene. No injuries were reported. The University Police Department is investigating the incident. Found property A caller reported that they saw what seemed to be prescription drugs next to a white Tesla in the Palo Verde Parking Structure on March 2 at 12:07 p.m. An officer went to investigate and met with the reporting party. The pills turned out to be vitamins and were taken to lost and found.
Verbal disturbance A call was made to UPD to report that a man, who appeared to be homeless, was yelling and screaming outside the gates of the Isabel Patterson Child Development Center on Feb. 27 at 3:16 p.m. Officers arrived on the scene and spoke with the individual, and advised him to leave the area because he was causing a disturbance. The man complied with the officers and left. Grand theft A projector with a value of $2,500 was reported stolen from the College of Business on March 2 at 9:44 a.m. The room where the projector was housed did not show any signs of forced entry, but the mount that held the projector was damaged, officials said. UPD is investigating the matter, but there are no suspects at the moment.
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ARTS & LIFE 9
Bollywood at the Beach The newly recognized dance team at CSULB, fosters a sense of community and culture for both Indian-Americans and international students. PAULA KILEY | Daily Forty-Niner
By Paula Kiley Arts & Life Editor
W
hen second-year kinesiology major Gauri Deshpande was a child, she would spend hours huddled around the television with her family. Her eyes would dart across the screen as energetic, colorful dance routines grew in size and extravagance. “Growing up, we’d watch these cheesy Bollywood movies and laugh at them or just have fun [watching] them,” Gauri said. When Gauri was nine, her mother, who wanted to become a dancer as a child, took note of Gauri’s interest and enrolled her in a Bollywood dance team. Today, Gauri serves as co-captain of Beach Bollywood, an all-
girls dance team at Long Beach State. According to Tanvi Bollavaram, team co-captain, the main purpose of the club is to create a sense of community and share Indian culture with the campus community. “I feel like here most people don’t know about Bollywood or Indian culture,” Tanvi said. “So our club is portraying Indian culture through dance.” Tanvi, a second-year information systems major, is an international student from India and has trained for 10 years in kuchipudi, a classical Indian dance. For her, the club is a way to feel at home in a foreign country. “It’s hard [being away from home],” Tanvi said. “It’s… like going back to my home place when I dance.” But for Indian-Americans like Gauri, the team is an opportunity for her to connect to her roots in India, her parents’ home country.
Beach Bollywood dance team member Jubilee Munozvilla, top, practices a routine in the quad outside the Kinesiology Building. Second-year kinesiology major Gauri Deshpande, above, dances with the Beach Bollywood dance team March 5 on the University Student Union North Lawn. Deshpande serves as the team’s co-captain and has danced Bollywood since she was 9 years old.
According to Gauri, her active involvement and interest in Bollywood films and music allow her to connect with her relatives in India. “I feel like Bollywood helped me connect [to my culture],” Gauri said. “It’s definitely like a bridge between cultures.” But perhaps what’s most important for the co-captains is promoting a sense of community for their team members who are primarily composed of first and second year women who commute to campus daily. “It’s a sense of community for the girls here,” Gauri said. “A lot of our new girls are freshmen and they’re like, ‘Oh I didn’t even know this existed. I want something to do outside of class.’”
Although Beach Bollywood has danced together for roughly five years, the group was finally recognized as an official club spring 2020. The group performed together for the first time as a recognized club at the Culture Fest hosted by Associated Students Inc. March 5. On the University Student Union North Lawn, the Beach Bollywood dance team members arranged themselves in straight rows and columns. Vibrant Bollywood music bounced off the walls of the USU as the group exploded into an energetic dance routine. Strings of gold sequins hooked onto their hip wraps jingled along to the lively beats. A sizable crowd huddled around the group with enthusiasm sim-
ilar to the way Deshpande and her family would do around their television. The routine looked like a scene taken straight out of a Bollywood movie. Off to the side, a woman watched intently with a bouquet of flowers tucked under her arm. Her eyes followed a dancer adorned in a purple hip wrap— her daughter, Gauri. “I couldn’t be more proud,” said Gauri’s mom, Priya Deshpande. “It takes a lot, because they grew up here. They’re born here. So I think it’s harder for them to adapt to [Indian] culture and keep it alive. I’m so proud of all the girls [for] keeping it alive.” The team can be best reached through its Instagram, @CSULBBeachBollywood.
10 OPINIONS
MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2020 | DAILY49ER.COM | @DAILY49ER | OPINIONS@DAILY49ER.COM
Spill the Tea is a weekly section for students to share their opinions and make their voices heard. Long Beach State students answer a question that can range from the silly to the political. We at the Daily Forty-Niner value the diverse opinions of the CSULB student body and look forward to you sharing them with us. This week students talk about women in their lives who have inspired them for International Women’s Month.
Who has been the most inspiring woman in your life? By Ashley Javelosa
Nicole Mababa Second-year, health care administration major “The woman that has inspired me and impacted me the most is my mom because she’s an immigrant and starting here wasn’t always easy. Without the sacrifices that she has made, the obstacles that she has overcome, I wouldn’t have the good life that I have … with endless opportunities.”
Yesenia Duarte Third-year, chemistry major
Fernando Ramirez Bello Transfer, mechanical engineering major
Michael Molina Third-year, food science major
“The woman who has inspired me [is Lorena Fonseca]. She’s the program coordinator for the STEM center at my community college. During my academic career, I’ve faced many hardships and she’s the only person I’ve known who’s gone above and beyond. She does a lot, whether it’s being there for emotional support, whether it’s looking for internships, seeking tutoring, whatever the case may be, she always steps up to the plate.”
“Mostly my mom, the way she works hard. She’s a real workaholic [and] she really drilled [that] into my head. I’ve seen her come home late from work. She immigrated here with me. She brought me over. So, to really see how hard work pays off. We’re living better now thanks to her.”
“My grandmother, and it has to do with a moment a few years ago when we went hiking up Mount Bali. About halfway up, I had asked my grandma, who was in her early 50s at that time, and I kinda didn’t think that she’d be able to do it. So I asked her, ‘Hey is this, like, not hard for you? Are you tired?’ She turns around and tells me, ‘Mikey, I’ve been through worse things than this in life.’”
Sitting on a Tree BY ENACIO DIAZ
SPORTS 11
MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2020 | DAILY49ER.COM | @DAILY49ER | SPORTS@DAILY49ER.COM
CAIN HERNANDEZ | Daily Forty-Niner
JOHN FAJARDO
Dirtbags freshman right-handed reliever Devereaux Harrison, left, leads all bullpen pitchers with 13 strikeouts. Freshman right-handed pitcher Luis Ramirez is 2-0 this season with a strong performance agains then-No. 6 Mississippi State March 1.
YOUNG GUNS The pitching efforts from freshmen pitchers Luis Ramirez and Devereaux Harrison are leading the team to a 2.44 ERA; this time last year the team had a 9.57 ERA.
By Jacob Powers Staff Writer
A
typical first-year college athlete usually sees minimal playing time as they adjust to the speed and competitiveness of collegiate athletics. That hasn’t been the case for the Long Beach State Dirtbags young pitching core this season. The No. 17 Dirtbags (10-4) have yet to lose a series behind their No. 21 ranked ERA in the nation, fully entrusting its young guns, freshmen RHP Luis Ramirez and RHP Devereaux Harrison. This time last year the Dirtbags had a 9.57 team ERA. “It’s really nice to have competitive freshman like them that aren’t afraid to go out and get it done like they have been so far,” head coach Eric Valenzuela said. “When they are on the mound, I have trust and faith in them until they let us down.” The Dirtbags called upon freshman RHP Luis Rameriz March 1 to deliver in a tough predicament; securing a series win against then-No. 6 Mississippi State. In seven innings pitched against the Bulldogs, Ramirez allowed two runs and showcased his off-speed pitches after the
bumpy start in the first inning. Through 18.1 innings, the freshman is 2-0 and holds a steady 3.44 ERA, good for 14th in the conference. “Coach Valenzuela is huge on letting us do our thing out there when we are pitching which is awesome,” Ramirez said. “In the off-season, I pitched against the team, I showed coach what I got to prove my spot.” Valenzuela’s coaching style of the bullpen has been unique to the Dirtbags program, having nearly every pitcher see time on the bump and giving freedom for the pitcher to make the call. Players have earned the trust to be able to shake off a sign that is given from the catcher, which is unheard of for many programs. The Dirtbags pitching staff currently holds the second-best ERA in the Big West Conference at 2.44. UCSB currently ranks first with a 1.97 ERA. “It’s really cool,” Harrison said. “We are able to shake off our catcher’s sign at any time because at times, you’re really feeling a pitch and you go with that.” With the most appearances and innings pitched out of the bullpen, Harrison is leading all Dirtbags pitchers that have seen significant playing time with a 0.84 ERA in 10.2 innings. The freshman has struck out 13, given
up five hits and only walked five batters in his six appearances. Before the season’s start, Valenzuela and the coaching staff placed extra emphasis on holding runners on the bases, especially on back picks to second base. After every pitch, Dirtbag pitchers look to their middle infielders, who give non-verbal cues to let them know if a runner has too big of a lead. “We take our pre-game very seriously,” Ramirez said, “unlike other teams we have played that just mess around.” Each of Ramirez’s wins this season have come against NCAA top-25 ranked teams; Mississippi State and Wake Forest. In the three relief innings Harrison pitched against both teams, the freshman didn’t allow a run. “Part of letting our guys call pitches is to force them to grow up and go with what they feel in the moment,” Valenzuela said. “One thing, why we’ve been so good on the mound, is we can throw any pitch in any count at any time. Our guys still have a lot to learn but we are off to a good start.” The Dirtbags will travel to New Orleans, Louisiana to take on Tulane University at Greer Field at Turchin Stadium starting March 13 at 4:30 p.m.
Big West ERA Rankings 1.UC Santa Barbara
1.97
2. Long Beach State
2.44
3. Hawai’i
3.32
4. CSUN
3.40
5. UC Irvine
3.70
6. Cal Poly
3.79
7. UC Davis
3.98
8. UC Riverside
4.10
9. Cal State Fullerton
4.53
CSULB #21/299 D1 Baseball teams
MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2020 | DAILY49ER.COM | @DAILY49ER | SPORTS@DAILY49ER.COM
SPORTS 12
YOU’VE BEEN SERVED The flyin’ Hawaiian Ethan Siegfried is a force on the service line this season.
By Teran Rodriguez Staff Writer
“R
ow! Row! Row!” The Walter Pyramid is drowned with the deafening chants from fans and teammates alike as Number 19 calmly walks to the service line. No. 4 Long Beach State (10-1) men’s volleyball is rich with tradition, but a new trend has taken over when junior outside hitter Ethan Siegfried is up to serve. On the sideline, teammates can be seen imitating a rowing motion while fans raise to their feet in anticipation. “It was freshman year, I think it was [former player] Matt Butler started doing [the rowing] as I got in to serve,” Siegfried said. “I don’t know where that inspiration came from, but I love it, it’s fun.” Siegfried has an all-around game that keeps him on the floor. He ranks second on the team in kills with 115 with a team-high 3.03 kills per set, and is fourth in digs per set at 1.60 and tied for third in overall blocks with 21. But what sets apart the 6-foot-1-inch undersized outside hitter is his menacing jump serve that can fluster opposing teams. “As he got more and more comfortable in our gym, the one thing that kept standing out was how well he was serving the ball and how much problems he was causing us in practice on the other side [of the net],” head coach Alan Knipe said. So far this season, Siegfried is second on the team with nine service aces with .24 service aces per set. In his freshman year with the Beach, Siegfried only played in 38 out of 101 sets, but tallied nine aces when he burst onto the scene with crucial contributions in the 2018 postseason run. “That became something we needed to try to start using in matches,” Knipe said. “It ended up being great for us and it came up really big in the playoffs.” Siegfried followed up his breakout rookie year by playing in 82 sets as a sophomore, becoming a full-time contributor while tallying 18 service aces, 79 kills, 63 digs and 21 blocks. A native of Honolulu, Hawai’i, Siegfried was introduced to volleyball when he was 10 years old, playing in the backyard with his dad Christian and his older brother Noa. At age 12 he officially began playing competitive volleyball. Siegfried grew up a fan of the University of Hawai’i men’s volleyball team, frequently attending matches that
AUSTIN BRUMBLAY | Daily Forty-Niner
Chants of “row, row, row” fill the Walter Pyramid as junior outside hitter Ethan Siegfried unleashes a jump serve against Hawai’i April 12, 2019.
grew his excitement for the sport. Despite being a fan of the Rainbow Warriors, Siegfried came to Long Beach State because of coach Knipe’s historic coaching background, which includes coaching the 2012 U.S. Olympic men’s volleyball team. “It felt like I was given a better opportunity here being an undersized outside hitter, and I bought into the culture [Knipe] was selling me,” Siegfried said. “I felt like it would be the best fit to try and become the best player I could be.” Transitioning from Hawai’i to California was smooth for Siegfried, who attended Punahou School in Honolulu. Siegfried already knew of players going to the mainland from Hawai’i, such as outside hitter Taylor Crabb, who played for the Beach from 2011-14 and is currently playing in the Association of Volleyball Professionals. Back in his prep days at Punahou in 2015, Siegfried and the boy’s volleyball team faced Huntington Beach High School in the Clash of the Titans event. Former Long Beach players TJ DeFalco and Josh Tuaniga both played for the Oilers that year. “Seeing them was pretty wild, just being a sophomore and hearing about them was crazy,” Siegfried said. “Seeing
them in person and knowing of their reputation was unreal to play against.” Their first meeting wasn’t the nicest being on opposite sides of the net, as Siegfried recalled he went in and set the ball three times, but Tuaniga stuffed him on each kill attempt. “Once I got [to Long Beach], I asked them about it and they were like, ‘Oh yeah that’s right,’ and we were just laughing about the whole game, but it was fun,” Siegfried said. As one of few returning players from the back-to-back NCAA championship teams, Siegfried is making sure to pass along the knowledge he learned from his predecessors. “When we lose one or two points in a row, we need to be able to flip that mindset of next ball mentality,” Siegfried said. “[We try] to do whatever we can to win that next point because that was something TJ and Josh and those seniors [from last year] were really good at.” Long Beach begins Big West Conference play at home against No. 3 UC Santa Barbara Thursday, March 12 at 7 p.m. at the Walter Pyramid.
