Daily Forty-Niner; February 12, 2023

Passion ignites at The Beach this Valentine’s Day as couples make reservations at restaurants and buy each other gifts.

Daily Forty-NiNer

1250 Bellflower Blvd., LA4-203 Long Beach, CA, 90804

Editorial Office Phone (562) 985-8000 Business Office Phone (562) 985-1740

Christal Gaines-Emory Editor in Chief

eic@daily49er.com

Kristina Agresta Business Manager business@daily49er.com

Leila Nunez

Multimedia Managing Editor multimedia@daily49er.com

Kristina Agresta Managing Editor

managing@daily49er.com

Editors

Hannah Shields News Editor news@daily49er.com

Kadie Gurley Arts & Life Editor arts@daily49er.com

Georgie Smith Opinions Editor opinions@daily49er.com

Matthew Gomez Sports Editor sports@daily49er.com

Gisele Robinett Creative Director design@daily49er.com

Chief Copy Editor

Special Projects Editor

Photo Editor

Social Media Editor

Rosaura Montes

Sam Farfan

Renzo Pocasangre

Maureen Linzaga

Luke Wines Video Editor

Podcast Editor

Isabel Silagy

Kaitlyn Rowell Public Relations Editor

Community Engagement Editor

Richie Rodriguez

AssistAnts

News Assistants Vincent Medina

Jaylen Minnich

Arts Assistants Stacey Chen

BY MELANIE PEREZ Staff Writer

Despite the ongoing prevalence of sex positivity and liberation, studies reveal that teenagers and young adults have been experiencing a sex slowdown.

More than ever before, sexual intercourse has become a construct of human discourse — it seems as though we can’t stop talking about sex.

Sexual positivity has become the norm in modern-day society. Birth control is more accessible to all demographics than it has been in the past. Apps such as Tinder and Grindr have normalized the prospect of casual sex.

Popular television shows, such as Netflix’s “Sex Education,” have opened important conversations about contraception and reality shows such as “Love Island” now revolve around titillating physical connection. Sex is on the tip of everyone’s tongue.

Sex has been considered a common coming-ofage experience that occurs during one’s high school years. However, it has been found that the majority of high school students are not having sex.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey, the percentage of high school students who had ever had sex decreased from 47.8% in 2007 to 39.5% in 2017.

This decline is not just found amongst high school students. Young adults aged between 18 and 24 have also experienced a decline in sexual activity in recent years.

The University of Chicago’s biannual General Social Survey, surveying U.S. adults between 18 and 34 years old, has revealed a drastic decline in sexual activity in both men and women. The survey reports that over 20% of men 35 and under had not engaged

in sexual intercourse in 2021.

Similarly, 19% of women in the same age group did not experience sexual activity. This is a radical decline, as these percentages were reported as 8% and 7% for each group in 2008.

Why are teens and young adults engaging less and less in sexual intercourse, despite this generation’s optimism toward sex?

According to the authors of these surveys, it seems as though economic conditions are the common denominator.

Bleak economic conditions, which have persisted since before the COVID-19 pandemic, are at an alltime high.

According to a Pew Research Organization survey, adults stay home with their parents more than ever. The survey outlines that in 2020, 52% of young adults live with a parent due to current national economic downturns.

Living at home with family members can prevent young adults from engaging in sexual encounters, thus decreasing the percentage of young adults having sex.

The waves of sex positivity that are perpetuated by online circles, technology and social media may also play a role in this sex recession.

The use of social media provides instant gratification that is hard to match with real-life encounters.

In a scientific journal titled “Evolutionary Psychological Science,” it was reported that 80% of Tinder users had never actually had a sexual encounter through the app, even though 7 million Americans use the app frequently.

Although there is no overarching cause for the current national sex recession, there is no sign of this phenomenon stopping anytime soon.

As Americans continue to spend their lives working through an economic crisis, or living out a perfect life on social media, there is no time or space for anyone to get it on.

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.

Andrea Lopez

Opinions Assistant El Nicklin

Sports Assistants

Nicholas Broadhead

Emmanuel Barrera

Naoki Gima

Graphic Design Assistants

Copy Editor Assistants

Photo Assistants

Jasmine Lee

Luis Castilla

Kimberly Estrada

Sonny Tapia

Social Media Assistants Ani Gutierrez

Podcast Assistants

Armando Jacobo

Montse Palmerin

Video Assistants Tatiahna Bentley

Ella McDonald Lei Madrigal Aiden Swanepoel

BusinEss

Creative Director

Andy Nguyen

Purva Rao Advertising Manager advertising@gobeach.media

Jasmine Lee

creative@gobeach.media

Leila Nunez Web & Technology Manager

web@gobeach.media

Kaitlyn Rowell PR & Promotions Manager

Distribution Manager

PR@gobeach.media

Jesse Kalamian

Jazmin Gallardo distribution@gobeach.media

Jacob Mitchell Distribution Analyst distribution@gobeach.media

AdvisErs

Gary Metzker Design Adviser

Content Adviser Jennifer Newton Advertising & Business Adviser

Barbara Kinglsey-Wilson

Letters Policy: All letters and emails must bear the phone number of the writer and must be no more than 300 words. The Daily Forty-Niner reserves the right to edit letters for publication in regard to space.

Editorials: All opinions expressed in the columns, letters and cartoons in the issue are those of the writers or artists. The opinons of the Daily Forty-Niner are expressed only in unsigned editorials and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the journalism department or the views of all staff members. All such editorials are written by the editorial board of the Daily Forty-Niner.

RENZO POCASANGRE / Daily Forty-Niner

As it stands condoms are only available at the Student Health Services building on campus. As of February, other stores on campus don’t sell or vend condoms.

Young people are experiencing a “sex recession”

Available resources for students in toxic, abusive relationships

BY ANA SOPHIA PAPA Staff Writer

Long Beach State offers resources to help students and Long Beach residents who are in toxic or abusive relationships.

In the United States, incidents of sexual violence, intimate partner violence and stalking are frequent.

Approximately one in there women and one in four men have experienced sexual violence, according to CSULB’s Student Disclosures of Sexual Assault, Dating Violence, Stalking, or Harassment.

The site also estimates that one in three women and one in three men have experienced intimate partner violence.

Even when students who report experiencing sexual assault, intimate partner violence, or stalking describe their experiences using terms like “miscommunication,” “bad sex,” or “unhealthy relationship,” the psychological effects of the trauma are still evident. This was in reference to The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey conducted by Sharon G. Smith in 2018.

BY SAMANTHA CORTES Staff Writer

Online dating apps have become one of the most popular ways to make romantic connections, despite the high safety risks that it poses for its users.

About 38% of dating app users have been harassed and over half of the users believe they have come across a scammer on an app, according to Pew Research.

Dating apps such as Tinder, Hinge and Bumble allow users to swipe through seemingly endless profiles. Out of the 46% of Americans who have used a dating app or site, about half have used Tinder.

Although online dating allows users to have hundreds of options at their fingertips, harassment is still rampant on these platforms, especially for women and LGBTQ+ people.

Fifty-six percent of women under 50 who have used dating apps or sites have received unwanted sexually explicit messages from people, according to Pew Research.

Senior English education major Carina Hayes previously used Hinge and Tinder, where she occasionally received inappropriate messages from her matches.

“Men would message some things that were overtly sexual,” said Hayes. “There would be an occasional message that was gross and terrible, but nothing traumatically bad.”

Junior information systems major Ryan Maniego said he frequently receives graphic photos and messages that fetishize his race on dating apps.

“It’s generally really creepy messag-

Toxic relationships can turn violent quickly even if it is only mental or physical.

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)

Located in Brotman Hall Suite 226 (562) 985-4001

Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Online dating exposes users to a dangerous world

es,” said Maniego. “It’s more common on Grindr, of course, because it’s a hookup app, but also on Tinder.”

Many of these dating apps also lack proper background checks or profile verifications for users, which can lead to dangerous encounters with scammers or catfishes.

Shimon Hayut, known as the “Tinder Swindler,” tricked women into sending him money by presenting himself as Simon Leviev, the son of a billionaire tycoon.

After taking his matches out on lavish dates, he would manipulate them into letting him borrow money. It is estimated that he scammed approximately $10 million dollars from his victims, according to the Netflix documentary “Tinder Swindler.

Community Clinic for Counseling and Educational Services

Located in Education Building Room 155 (562) 985-4991

$15 per session $7.50 for students

USU Beach Balance Program

USU Room 309

Reserve sessions for massage chairs, blood pressure testing and more on the SRWC Go app

Match Group, which owns dating apps like Tinder, Hinge, and Plenty of Fish, partnered with Garbo last year to launch in-app background checks.

For $2.50 and an additional processing fee, users can search their match’s name and phone number through a database. Users may be able to see if their match has a criminal history or is on a sexual offender registry, which they are urged to report.

Additional safety precautions should be taken if people choose to meet up with their match in person. According to Hinge’s safe dating advice, users are urged to meet in public and tell their family or friends about their plans.

“There was one time when I was going

over to this person’s house and I sent one of my friends their address,” said Hayes. “I was like, ‘I’m gonna text you every 30 minutes, and if I don’t, then call’.”

Other precautions include not leaving personal items or drinks unattended and having reliable transportation to and from the date.

Incidents can be reported to the dating app or site, but victims are urged to call law enforcement if they are in immediate danger.

SONNY TAPIA / Daily Forty-Niner

KAT NUNEZ / Daily Forty-Niner Online dating makes it easier to meet romantic connections online, but there are many risks. Users can be more susceptible to being scammed or harassed by their matches.

Five movies to watch on Valentine’s Day (singles edition)

BY ESTHER GALVEZ Staff Writer

With Valentine’s Day around the corner, there are movies to enjoy that remind people that an essential quality to have is to love and respect yourself first.

Roses are red, violets are blue. Being single on Valentine’s Day is not a bad thing. There will be stories on Instagram about what couples got for each other, the restaurant reservations, or other plans.

Nothing quite hits a home run like having a relaxed night in with candles set, a snack charcuterie board, with a feel-good comedy ready to watch.

Learning to enjoy your own company and giving self-love to yourself is partially correct. Thankfully there are movies to enjoy that remind people that an essential quality to have is to love and respect yourself first.

You People (2023)

This new 2023 Netflix film focuses on an interracial couple portrayed by Jonah Hill and Lauren London. The comedy-drama explores the issue that may arise when two people from different races, religions and cultures fall in love and have to juggle the misunderstandings that come with bringing together families with entirely different backgrounds.

500 Days of Summer (2009)

“(500) Days of Summer,” starring Joseph Gordon- Levitt and Zooey Deschanel, is a story showcasing a painful breakup with a one-of-a-kind partner and the realities of relationship and life. This movie portrays how true love is often a construct that people project following their desires and how life continues. Some things are to be short and sweet. “500 Days of Summer” is a reality check.

How to Be Single (2016)

Written by Marc Silverstein, Dana Fox and Abby Kohn, “How to Be Single” is refreshing, relieving and astoundingly real. It portrays the lives of young adults in their early twenties, navigating the hurdles of the single life in the fast movies city of New York. It highlights how the only person anybody needs is themselves.

Call Me By Your Name (2017)

This movie includes everyone’s heartthrob, Timothée Chalamet. This heart-rending story follows a young man’s struggle to find himself as he experiences the ecstasy, pain and beauty of falling in love while clashing with his sexuality.

Someone Great (2019)

“Someone Great” is a great movie to watch if you want some laughter on Valentine’s Day. The film revolves around Jenny, a music journalist in New York City who gets her dream job. The downfall is that her boyfriend of nine years ends their relationship because he doesn’t want to move. Despite her breakup, her two best friends stick with her choices. Jenny decides to explore the city one last time before her big move. The movie celebrates friendship and how breakups can lead to something even more extraordinary.

SAYOMBHU MUKDEEPROM / Sony Pictures Oliver (Armie Hammer) and Elio (Timothée Chalamet) sitting at a café in Italy enjoying each others company.

EVERETT COLLECTION / Fox Seacrchlight Tom(Joseph Gordon- Levitt) and Summer (Zooey Deschanel) enjoying the sunset view on their date.

BY SAM FARFAN Special Projects Editor

With Valentine's Day right around the corner, ASI Beach Pride Events hosted a groovy-themed social dating event on Thursday evening, encouraging students to spark new connections through several interactive activities.

Whether they were looking for a potential romantic partner or a new friend, many students connected with other attendees on the basis of similar interests during oneon-one conversations and group mingling exercises.

"Everyone there was super lively, friendly and social, so it seemed like a good environment to hang around and meet new people," said Cris Puiu, a pre-nursing student. "I just met some people and now we're about to go to the basketball game."

Mocktails, desserts and snacks were provided for the attendees during the "Mocktail & Single Mingle" portion of the event where students were encouraged to mingle freely while enjoying the free treats and refreshments.

Beach Pride Events' main goal behind their speed dating events is to ensure that students have opportunities to socialize and network with each other in entertaining settings on campus, especially in a

Students form connections at ASI's Speed Dating event

post-pandemic world.

"The ultimate goal with these events is to enhance the student experience on campus because we understand that students want breaks from their stressful routines," said April Castro, ASI Beach Pride events coordinator. "We've seen how beneficial these events can be for the students' mental well-being and their college experiences."

Starting off the event, the enthusiastic blind speed dating game show showcased three student contestants competing to win a date with a mystery girl through a series of questions and discussions.

After asking the contestants to list their best qualities and pick-up lines, the mystery girl chose contestant number two, declaring him the winner of the game show.

"I liked the bachelor-bachelorette show they had at the beginning, that was a real kitschy and cute idea," said Ulan Tagoylo, a studio arts transfer student.

ASI's speed dating events are hosted on a first-come first-serve basis, encouraging students to attend early to skip the line.

For more information, students can check the organization's event calendar for future speed dating events as well as other student community events.

Reminiscent of old blind dating television programs. The dating show portion of the event separated the mystery girl and the contestants, adding a sense of anonymity to the contest.

BY ABIGAIL WALL Staff Writer

The Getty Museum has opened a new exhibit that features the writing of 23 student interns from southern California. Including alumna Brianna Aguilera who graduated from Long Beach State in spring 2022.

The “Our Voices, Our Getty: Reflecting our Drawings” exhibit features two reflections on historical drawings written by Aguilera.

She chose 16th century drawing “Flowers and Beetles” by Hans Hoffman. Aguilera wrote in her reflection that the drawing reminded her of memories with her grandmother in the garden.

Aguilera also chose the drawing “Waterfall in the Mountains by Moonlight” by Franz "Innocenz" Kobell as it reminded her of camping with her friends and family.

“I knew that I wanted to be an artist deep down inside, and I tried to ignore that for monetary gain and it just didn’t work out,” said Aguilera. “I just tried to follow my intuition and that led me to Cal State Long Beach and the Getty.”

This is the first display to feature interpretations written only by interns. These personal reflections shared many different voices through each art piece.

The idea for the show was for interns to not interpret art pieces from a historical point of view but rather from more personal reflections.

Edina Adam, the assistant curator of drawings at the Getty, believed that this was a way to involve interns in the making of an exhibition.

“I figured a good way of doing that would be asking them not to interpret objects from an art historical point of view, which is what we normally do in these galleries, but to write personal or very creative responses to the drawings that they selected,” Adam said.

The 10-week summer internship program has helped students learn about working in the museum industry and make connections.

“I really think it brought the group together,” Adam said. “ I think it really had an impact on them, they became a very close-knit cohort which is awesome.”

Aguilera believes that this exhibit is a good opportunity for interns to learn about museum practices.

“I was able to learn a lot about the ins and outs of the museum industry and that was important to me as an artist because I want to sell artwork,” said Aguilera.

CSULB alumna featured in a new exhibit at the Getty Museum

ABIGAIL WALL / Daily Forty-Niner Friends and family of interns, right, observe the new exhibit at the Getty. The new exhibit, above, titled “Our Voices, Our Getty: reflecting on drawings” showcases historical drawings with interns’ written reflections beside it. Visit

RENZO POCASANGRE / Daily Forty-Niner

Single and ready for self-love

BY MARYANN BRUSCHI Staff Writer

Stress, expectations and disappointment, these are some common feelings for single people on a day geared only toward couples.

In the time leading up to Valentine’s Day, single people tend to dismiss the holiday and act like they are anti-love. This is understandable though as the day has always just focused on couples, rather than on mental health and self-love.

A big reason for this added stress is the overwhelming pressure to be in a relationship, but why does the holiday have to be all about having a partner? The truth is, it doesn’t!

It is 2023 and time for a change, so whether you’re single or taken this year, it’s time to put yourself first. People always say there is nothing to do as a single person on this holiday but in reality, the possibilities are endless when you look at it as just another day to love yourself.

Here are some things that single people can do this Valentine’s Day:

First off, pamper yourself.

Whether that’s having a night in and ordering takeout, reading a new book in your coziest pajamas or putting on your favorite movie, do something that makes you feel good. Self-care is always a great option as well, put on a face mask and take a bath, or treat yourself to a nice massage

Spill the tea: How do students feel about Valentine’s Day?

BY NICOLETTE KALACHE Staff Writer

Azul Fuentes-Smith Second-year Communications major

“I think the holiday and the idea of it is fun. Personally, I’ve never felt too attached to it, whether I was in a relationship or not. It’s a nice reminder to appreciate your romantic partner in your life, but I don’t think it’s necessary.”

Elizabeth Solorzano

Third-year English Education major

“Valentine’s Day is great! Love is in the air, relationship-wise or friendship-wise. I love that it can be a day about love. I usually have work or school, but plan to celebrate on a later day when I’m free.”

Grace Lee Third-year Biology major

“Valentine’s Day is a special day, especially if you have someone to celebrate with. My girlfriend lives in Seattle, so we will be celebrating apart, but probably will FaceTime like we usually do”

or mani-pedi.

Go to the store and buy yourself those gorgeous flowers that have been all over your feed this month, then go home and bake your favorite dessert. Your space will soon enough be filled with that warm, loving scent. You could even light a candle to make everything feel more like home.

Go out!

For my extroverts, have a night out on the town with your favorite single girls, guys and theys! If you’d rather stay to yourself, you could also go out on your own, maybe visit your favorite restaurant and indulge in your best comfort foods.

The movie theatre is also a perfect selflove solo date, sit back, relax and snack on all your favorite childhood candies.

You could also do nothing.

Believe it or not, there is nothing wrong with doing nothing on a holiday. Social media has created such a pressure to have this huge day planned and do all of these post-worthy things, but who is that really pleasing?

The truth is, a lot of those cute Instagram posts that you see are just highlight reels of someone’s day.

This year we need to shift gears and move on to doing what we truly want. Be intuitive and listen to yourself, whether you want to go out or stay in is your own decision.

Mental health and self love are so important, especially on days like Valentine’s Day. Focus this year on the things that make you as an individual happy, and feed your soul the way it deserves to be fed.

Wikimedia Commons

Focusing on self love, mental health and being single this Valentine’s Day is a part of life for some people when it comes to a loving holiday.

Business Marketing Major, Connor Chavez (left), and Mathematics Education Major, Alaina Brunn (right), express their love for each other through a kiss behind a box of Valentine’s Day chocolates. There actions can all be ways that love can be displayed.

(Right) Heart hands can be used to express and support between loved ones. When two people combine to make one heart, it can be used to symbolize love and unity. (Left) Lucas Larsen, a senior Finance major (right), hands his partner Alyssa Rasmussen, a 2022 graduate as a hospitality management major (left), a box of Valentine’s Day chocolates to express his love for her. Gifts such as candy, flowers and other gestures can be used to express love and gratitude towards partners on Valentine’s Day.

Photos by Naoki Gima

February’s biggest infomercial

When all of the candy is gone, does the love remain?

BY ANA SOPHIA PAPA Staff Writer

Valentine’s Day. The one day of the month that surrounds itself by love, longing and loyalty in a distracting and colorful fashion.

The overwhelming amount of pink and red decorations could fool anyone into thinking that this holiday is anything but a larger scheme being controlled by franchises and grocery stores across the globe.

When you’re being blinded by the sixfoot teddy bears, heart-shaped boxes and influx of candy, one could say it’s easy to get wrapped up in the idea of it all.

Although it is tempting to be seduced by the prospect that Valentine’s Day hasn’t transformed itself into one big commercial, the true nature lies elsewhere. At the end of the day, the festivities mold themselves right into the hands of businesses, both big and small.

In my experience, the holiday used to be something I looked forward to because it was so wholesome for me. Whether it be the flowers, the chocolates, the cards, I loved it all.

However, in the past several years, I’ve found that the initial compassion was lost somewhere along the line and I hold large

corporations responsible for that. Because of their undying need to profit off of any holiday, they saw the opportunity for a

STAFF EDITORIAL

The gun violence epidemic is a problem uniquely American

What will it take for major gun reform to happen?

BY RICHIE RODRIGUEZ Community Engagement Editor

A theater. A place of worship. A nightclub. A dance hall.

It’s been less than two months into the year and so far, there’s been 63 mass shootings across the United States. The violence, death and injuries from gun violence is something that’s become part of life in America and at this point, we’ve become desensitized to the shootings.

Other developed nations in the world don’t live like this. The rate of gun homicides in the U.S. is eight times higher than it is in Canada, 13 times higher than it is in France, and 23 times higher than in Australia.

An elementary school. A grocery store.

The victims of these horrific acts were in a place where they were supposed to feel safe and secure going about their normal day. But we’ve seen how quickly everyday citizens become just another headline in the news without any real gun reform by lawmakers.

How do you think the victims’ families feel? Knowing that despite the ongoing death, the federal government still can’t bring about any real change for Americans to feel safe in 2023.

Americans have always claimed guns – it’s woven into the Bill of Rights as the 2nd Amendment – and yet the government hasn’t claimed a monopoly on them to reduce the unnecessary mass casualties. Why is that? Well probably because

money pit on Valentine’s Day and took it.

Alex Nguyen, a fourth-year psychology major, possesses a similar attitude

towards the occasion. “I think Valentine’s is a waste of money because it puts an emphasis on putting extra love or effort into a single day, when you could instead put that money towards other necessities,” he said.

Rather than averting money to spend on more practical commodities, people are using it to fulfill what they believe to be a sensible expression of “love.”

To introduce another related issue, I also place some of the blame on social media for smudging the criteria of what love entails and what it doesn’t. The symbolism has become so convoluted that the amount of gifts equates to the amount of love, thus feeding into the commercialized stigma. Materialism in and of itself has taken over the authenticity of the spiritual values meant to define Valentine’s Day.

Nguyen agrees with the media’s influence.

“The media tells people that they have to spend an ‘X’ amount of money or go to a super nice dinner in order to show their love, but that isn’t the case,” Nguyen said. “After holiday candy leaves the shelves, grocery stores immediately restock with heart-shaped chocolate boxes and conversation hearts. It’s a system that runs like clockwork.”

At the end of the day, it isn’t that spending money and feeding into the stereotype of the holiday is a bad thing. It’s just important to also keep in mind that Valentine’s Day isn’t all about the gifts, as it is about why you’re giving them.

the NRA spends millions every year to keep a tight grip on lawmakers.

Right-wing politicians frame the problem as a mental health issue. Other developed nations take on other tactics which our politicians just can’t bring themselves to propose. Congress did reach a deal in 2022 on limited gun reform but with the recent shootings in California, it’s clear that gun violence is embedded much deeper in the US.

In 2020, Canada banned military-style assault weapons two weeks after a mass shooting in Nova Scotia. In 2019, New Zealand lawmakers passed a gun buyback scheme, as well as restrictions on AR-15s and other semiautomatic weapons, and they later established a firearms registry less than a month after the Christchurch massacre.

The second amendment was established at a time when a gun didn’t shoot 45 rounds in one minute. It’s outdated and our lawmakers need to understand that people in this country are tired of waking up to the news of another mass shooting.

As a news and media publication, we aim to create discourse and influence the debate about the gun violence epidemic. We hope the community understands, in our reporting about the topic, not just the incident, but the broader issue that the response to mass shootings must be prioritized by lawmakers.

America has a problem. It is that the nation continually fails to address gun violence and with no clear strategy or plan in sight.

Such a shame that this is who we are as a country.

ANA SOPHIA PAPA / Daily Forty-Niner Trader Joes’ flower display providing several options for not only this holiday season, but every day.

RENZO POCASANGRE / Daily Forty-Niner

Gun safety has become a very real and prevalent topic with the growing number of mass shootings rising exponentially in the first month of the new year.

Athletics Department attempts to raise fee for all students

BY NICHOLAS BROADHEAD Sports Assistant

Long Beach State athletics are working to increase the mandatory Instructionally Related Activities Fee by $64 starting fall 2023.

The fee adjustment, which is part of their Sustain Beach Athletics initiative, will make all students pay $89 per semester for this fee, a 256% increase compared to the $25 fee students currently pay.

This increase comes from the current deficit that the athletics department been facing.

“The underlying problem that we have is we have about $20 million worth of very fixed long term expenditure commitments,” Interim Athletics Director Ted Kadowaki said. “Those are for personnel costs, salaries and benefits and scholarships to student athletes.”

Because athletics is only getting $16 million each academic year, $12 million from the university and $4 million from current fees, Kadowaki said that adjusting the activities fee was the only viable and dependable solution found.

“We need this, if this feed fee did he say this twice? increase goes through it generates just over $4 million and that’s kind of that delta between fixed expenditures and fixed revenue,” Kadowaki said.

Other revenue, such as ticket sales, corporate sponsorship, fundraising and concession sales are not a stable means to take care of this deficit, as they can be high one day and then low the next.

Kadowaki wants to focus on the athletics budget and fee revenue for long term costs to help run the department and sports teams, while those alternative revenues can be saved and used if needed for changes in the department.

“I don’t want to just say emergencies, but we have facility repairs that need to be made,” Kadowaki said, “The problem with the roof of the pyramid. The roof leaks when it rains hard.”

But in order for a fee to be adjusted, it must follow through student fee policies.

Since the Instructionally Related Activities Fee is a mandatory fee for students to pay in order to attend Long Beach State, it must face a consultation process.

According to the consultation information page on the Long Beach State website, if the president of a university feels a referendum, a vote from all individuals, is not the best way to consult and get information, alternative consultation processes can be looked into.

In this case, the alternative consultation

for athletics is a survey for students, community members and alumni to fill out. Some questions the survey asks are how important athletics are to each individual, how it affects their learning and if it brings value to someone’s degree at CSULB.

“Not just those kinds of questions, but what else can athletics do in your mind to help those areas?” Kadowaki said. “What would you like to see more of from the athletic department?”

The survey was released on Jan. 19, with an official press release being announced on the Long Beach Athletics website on Jan. 30.

Kadowaki plans to keep this survey open throughout the remainder of Febru-

ary and will deliver the results to the Student Fee Advisory Committee. Members of this committee include both students and faculty from the university.

Beth Lesen, vice president of student affairs at CSULB and a member of the fee advisory committee, says that during their meeting last Friday, Kadowaki hopes to have at least 10,000 student surveys filled before their next meeting on March 10.

Once presented with the survey results, all members of the committee will take an unofficial vote on whether the fee should be adjusted or not.

Their decision will only be a recommendation to Long Beach State President Jane Close Conoley, as she makes the final decision to approve or deny the adjustment.

If approved, a fee increase is not the only change to occur for students.

The athletics department plans to give incentives to both students and student organizations. These include continued free home game admission and increased use of the Walter Pyramid for student groups like Associated Students Inc.

The department also plans to increase work opportunities for students, both in employment and paid and unpaid internships.

“We do want to provide more internship opportunities for students that are interested in sports medicine, broadcasting, ticketing, marketing, we have a lot of areas that I think are attractive to students depending on what degree program they’re in,” Kadowaki said.

There would even be plans for athletics to have a closer relationship with both intramural and club sports on campus.

As for how that will happen, Kadowaki says he doesn’t know, but he would want to make it a win-win situation for all parties.

“You’re giving us something, we’re go-

ing to give you something, we’re going to make it work,” Kadowaki said.

Proposals on fee increases are common, as Lesen says that most semesters have at least one proposal presented to the committee and believes that students need to be know about these changes.

“I want students to be as aware as possible of the process and what the content of this conversation is, like, what’s being presented,” Lesen said.

With the search for the new athletics director to begin this semester, Kadowaki hopes that if the fee adjustment passes, it will give the new director peace of mind when it comes to budgeting.

“We want to be able to recruit somebody by saying, ‘we’ve got, you know, budget issues like all athletic departments, but we’re balanced, we have enough fixed income to pay for our fixed costs,’” Kadowaki said.

As for Kadowaki himself, he says his experience so far into this term has been eye opening and that no two days have been the same. When the time comes for him to pass the torch to the new director, he believes that they will be in good hands.

“It’ll be bittersweet when the time comes. I’m not sure I realized how much I was going to be absorbed into this role,” Kadowaki said. “I think I fooled myself.”

NICHOLAS BROADHEAD / Daily Forty-Niner

The third floor of the University Student Union building has rooms for student government and Student Affairs, which some individuals are part of the Student Fee Advisory Committee.

Photo courtesy of LBSU Athletics Ted Kadowaki has long term costs in mind when talking about the athletics budget and fee revenue.

The Beach growing stronger with 10 straight wins

BY MARLON VILLA Staff Writer

Long Beach State women’s basketball defeated Cal State Bakersfield 66-55 at the Walter Pyramid to improve to a 10 game winning streak in a game where the Roadrunners seemed to have The Beach on the ropes.

Both Ma'Qhi Berry and Kianna Hamilton-Fisher from LBSU took leading roles in the match to change the course of the game.

Berry with eight rebounds and 16 points, and Hamilton-Fisher with five rebounds and 22 points both demonstrated their experience.

“Her (Berry) and Kianna they’ve played a lot of games together, they’ve been in a lot of close games, they’ve been in blowouts together and you saw the leadership that they bring to our program,” said LBSU women's basketball coach, Jeff Cammon.

New technology in Dirtbag baseball

BY ZACH DURHAM Staff Writer

With the 2023 season around the corner, head coach Eric Valenzuela is preparing the Dirtbags for success on the field and is utilizing technology to do so.

TrackMan and Rapsodo are a radar and analytic software that provides accessible data results for players to evaluate their performance and help relay information.

The Dirtbags are looking to take advantage of both softwares, as well as working with PitchCom this season.

“It’s not always about numbers,” Valenzuela said. “But they can help with a lot of things in a lot of different areas of the game.”

Baseball has entered what many call “The Analytics Era” and collegiate programs are doing their best to keep up with the technology used in the majors.

This will be the first season the Dirtbags use PitchCom, TrackMan and Rapsodo all together in the same season. These tools help the Dirtbags keep up with the modern age of baseball, in which StatCast and analytics are taking over.

In-depth statistics provide feedback

for individual players that allows them to make the necessary adjustments to their approach. Access to this technology will be useful for the team as they make adjustments throughout their season-long journey.

“I still don’t know much about it because it’s so new to me,” freshman pitcher Kellan Montgomery said. “Having something like that is pretty awesome; I have much to learn.”

Pitchcom, unlike TrackMan and Rapsodo which evaluate performance, is a tool that allows catchers to deliver signs to the pitcher electronically without the risk of the opposing team seeing them.

It also reduces the chance of a cross-up between the pitcher and catcher, such as a curveball being thrown when the sign for a fastball was called. At the Major League level, Pitchcom first saw its introduction only last season.

“I think it’s great,” Valenzuela said. “It takes some getting used to, but it helps the pace of play and it’s a lot easier for the catchers to give their signs.”

TrackMan and Rapsodo capture real-time analytics and NextGen statistics such as launch angle, exit velocity and spin rate. These results are used to evaluate a player’s performance and give them and

It was a special night for Berry that was sure to add to her motivation as she was honored for her accomplishment of scoring her 1000th career point with a commemorative basketball.

The Beach displayed their commitment to changing the first half score having a combined total of 19 points off of turnovers as opposed to the Roadrunners who had 15 points. That extra effort was most evident in a final quarter where LBSU outscored Bakersfield 19-4 to pull away.

LBSU shot 39.6% from the field, coming out on top of the Roadrunners who finished off the game shooting 37%.

The first two quarters concluded with the Roadrunners on top of The Beach 36-25, but it was nine consecutive points made by Hamilton-Fisher in the third quarter that changed LBSU’s outcome.

MARLON VILLA / Daily Forty-Niner

The Beach women’s basketball player Ma’Qhi Berry being guarded by one of the Roadrunners players.

Cammon sees his team’s attitude towards the game as a factor in helping them flip the match.

“Our energy the way we attacked on both ends of the floor you know, we meet our standards of our effort and being competitive and communicating,” Cammon said.

10 consecutive wins from The Beach may be seen as a big thing by fans but to coach Cammon and his team, they would rather not focus on that idea too much.

“Obviously we’re excited, we're growing and getting better. I think that’s the most important thing,” Cammon said.

The Long Beach State women's basketball team (17-7, 12-2 Big West) has the opportunity to make it 11 wins in a row when they go up against UC Riverside on Feb 15. at the Walter Pyramid.

the coaches a closer look at how they can improve.

Becoming accustomed to these statistics is necessary for understanding and recognizing certain pitches, making adjustments to a pitch or swing, and being prepared for high-level competition.

“It depends on the individual player,” Valenzuela said. “Some will really dive into it and figure out some things, some don’t need it.”

For Graham Osman, a junior transfer from Arizona State, pitching relies on feel rather than data.

Blending the mental, physical and mechanical aspects of baseball is essential for successful and effective pitching.

“I use Rapsodo and video data to see where I’m at, but I don’t pay too much at-

tention or obsess over it,” Osman said.

Valenzuela and the Dirtbags have been striving to incorporate this technology into the program and are becoming more familiar with it every day.

As far as the season goes, Valenzuela is establishing a positive mentality that has one end goal: play some good baseball.

He understands “the expectations for this program are always high,” and the available technology allows coaches to prepare players for baseball at a high level and stay up to speed with the game and its trends.

The Dirtbags begin the season on Friday, Feb. 17 at Bohl Diamond at Blair Field in its home opener against Wichita State.

Advances in analytical side of the game helps Dirtbags improve heading into the 2023 season.

NAOKI GIMA / Daily Forty-Niner Sophomore Left-Handed Pitcher Jake Blawn (back) and Freshman Right-Handed Pitcher, Dylan Van Meeteren, use the speed gun and chart to catch the speed of pitches and ball movement during practices and games.