Daily Forty-Niner; March 18, 2024

TIME TO DANCE

The Beach is headed to the "Big Dance" for the first time since 2012 in one of the most improbable runs in recent history.

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Two new CSULB faculty targeted with flyers

BY ACSAH LEMMA News Assistant

In a developing story, additional flyers sharing similarities to flyers deemed “antisemitic” by Long Beach State President Jane Close Conoley were spotted on the same bulletin boards in the Liberal Arts budlings, in addition to Peterson Hall.

The original flyer that prompted Conoley to send out a campus-wide email on March 13 targeted Jewish Studies professor Jeffrey Blutinger.

On the flyer, a picture of Blutinger is posted with the statements “genocide denier” and “The CSU accepts violent zionists, white supremacists, colonizers and genocide deniers.”

While the flyers featuring Blutinger were taken down on March 13, they were back up again the next day.

professor Blutinger who was “...preparing to speak about finding a peaceful resolution between Israel and Palestine among the conflict in the Middle East,” according to the article.

Pro-Palestinian supporters protested the lecture, calling Blutinger a “Zionist,” according to the article. The altercation involving Roth and a protestor occurred during that lecture.

The lecture was shut down prematurely by the SJSU police department and Blutinger was escorted out of campus by armed police officers according to the article.

No information is known at this time that connects Lesen with the other targeted individuals featured on the flyers.

Aware of the new flyers featuring her face, Conoley said “I think these actions are cruel and cowardly. We have offered spaces for scholarly discussions of a humanitarian disaster. We will continue to do so.”

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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.

On March 14, the original flyers were accompanied by new ones focusing on Conoley and Vice President of Student Affairs Beth Lesen.

The flyer picturing Conoley was posted on a bulletin board right next to the Daily Forty-Niner newsroom, LA4-204.

Phrases including “Jane Colonist” and “disrespects Indigenous culture” were written under the photo of Conoley, along with other statements seen in the original Blutinger flyers.

Another flyer featuring San Jose State Professor Jonathan Roth was also spotted on the Liberal Arts building bulletin boards.

While Roth is not a CSULB faculty member, an online video shows the professor in an alleged physical altercation with a pro-Palestinian protestor during a lecture at San Jose State University (SJSU) on Feb. 19, according to the Daily Spartan.

The main speaker at the lecture was CSULB

Long Beach State Chief Communications Officer Jeffrey D. Cook says that incidents like these are "antiethical' to what the campus represents and the kind of community they want the university to foster.

“Others speak openly about their views. The people behind these attacks are attempting to silence others instead of doing what university scholars do — learn from multiple perspectives,” Conoley said.

Cook says, “we embrace diversity of thought and vehemently support the right to free expression, yet flyers targeting specific members of the Beach community are deeply troubling."

Cook additionally issues a warning to the individual or individuals responsible for creating and putting up the flyers.

“These incidents are being investigated by our Office of Equity and Compliance,” he said.

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.

JOHN

Long Beach State men’s basketball head coach Dan Monson cuts the net off of the basket to celebrate the team’s Big West Championship win over UC Davis. The Beach will go to the National Championship tournament for the first time since 2012.

SAMUEL CHACKO / Daily Forty-Niner Peterson Hall 1 was one of many locations where posters were put up of Long Beach State President Jane Close Conoley and San Jose State University Professor Jonathan Roth calling them "genocide deniers" and "violent Zionists."

ASI executive candidates hold debate ahead of upcoming elections

Candidates for ASI president, executive vice president and vice president of finance addressed student issues Wednesday night in the Beach Auditorium.

BY ANTHONY ORRICO News Assistant

Student basic needs like housing and food, campus issues that need addressing and candidates' use of connections within city of Long Beach were topics tackled during the March 13 Associated Students Inc. (ASI) executive branch debate.

This was the only debate between the candidates ahead of the March 18 to 20 election.

The event was co-hosted by the Long Beach State Forensics Department and moderated by communications professor Michael Eisenstadt.

Candidates for the positions of vice president of finance, executive vice president and president held separate 25 minute debates, discussing issues ranging from housing and food insecurity to how if elected, the candidates would manage ASI's $28 million budget.

In each debate the candidates were given the opportunity for a 60 second opening and closing statement. The same questions were asked of each candidate and each were given 60 seconds to answer.

Candidates for ASI president include current ASI Executive Vice President Teresa Falcon, current Senator for the College of Education Johnny Baéza, current Senator for the College of Liberal Arts Nikki Majidi and Archie Sehgall, a computer science major.

The ASI presidential election has the most candidates of the three major executive branch elections.

All candidates acknowledged the increasing cost of living and the need to assist students in both housing and food insecurity. Some highlighted the recent decision by the CSU Board of Trustees to increase tuition next academic year.

Baéza focused his attention on working with the city government and Mayor Rex Richardson to provide more affordable housing for students.

"Working with Mayor Rex Richardson, that is something that he mentioned at the State of the City address, it was working for affordable housing. And that's something that we can do I believe they have a coalition of alumni, students, alumni that work with the mayor," Baéza said.

Falcon echoed that sentiment in her response adding already existing university research should inform any solution the university or ASI should put forward.

“I think we can foster partnerships off campus through apartments and ho-

ASI elections will take place on March 18-20. Students can cast their vote by visiting the CSULB ASI elections website. Winners will be announced at noon on March 21 at the USU south plaza.

tels to offer opportunities for students, and overall just support our students throughout this really difficult time in their lives," Falcon said

Sehgall also highlighted the need for research when addressing this problem, but said he wanted to make it easier for students to apply for emergency housing and food grants.

"Being a man of science, I would like to probably start with research as to why we're having such housing and food insecurities across campus. But as a solution to it, obviously more food is always an answer. Just get more resources like campus pantry, [which] is a good resource. But since it’s donation based, we need to urge more people to donate to it," Sehgall said.

Majidi addressed the rising costs of tuition and how that is contributing to lack of access to basic needs for students.

"I had a really profound conversation with someone in higher education, where they spoke about how a lot of other issues fall on higher education. Food insecurity falls on higher education. Affordable housing falls on higher education. So I would fight for lower tu-

ition costs, because affordability means accessibility, expanding basic needs access and also improving infrastructure," Majidi said.

The candidates for vice president of finance included Andre Achacon, current member of the ASI Business and Finance Committee and ASI senator atlarge; Mohaddisa Naqvi, former Cerritos College student body president and Jaimin Suthar, a mechanical engineering major.

Vice president of finance oversees the ASI Business and Finance committee, which is largely responsible for the approving of grants for student organizations' events. The position also recommends a budget to the ASI senate and oversees that budget once approved.

All candidates were in agreement on most of the issues presented but differed in the solutions they plan to enact if elected.

To increase ASI engagement with students, Achacon, if elected, said he would do direct outreach with student organizations and community stakeholders to make them more aware of the many events that ASI organizes.

Suthar said he hoped to increase engagement through different cultural events on campus as well as general improvements to the University Student Union (USU).

Naqvi emphasized the need for more student services to run through the USU. She included things like mental health check-ins and job workshops. She also said there is a need for more events but for those events to focus more on student needs.

Only two candidates are running for the positions of executive vice president, Sheesh Dhawan a computer engineering major and Matt Melendrez, an ASI senator at-large and ASI lobby corps senate representative.

Executive vice president is chair of the ASI senate as well as a voting member. The senate serves as both a legislative body representing the students of the university and as the board of directors for the corporation ASI. Both Dhawan and Melendrez put to rest the idea of the potential conflict of interest saying they will always put their role in representing the students first.

"I'm a student first before anything, and student issues will always be first. However, I will want to work with administration and work with staff members. But again, students will always come first," Melendrez said.

Dhawan also emphasized in his statement the importance of his representation to students but mentioned the corporation (ASI) side of his potential responsibilities more than his opponent.

"So I think the corporation is also trying to do the best for our students. And so being transparent with everything that's happening in our student body, and making sure that all their concerns are being heard and being solved by the corporation would be of utmost importance to me," Dhawan said.

LINSEY TOWLES / Daily Forty-Niner

(Left to right) Johnny Baeza, Teresa Falcon, Nikki Majidi and Archie Sehgall debate at the Beach Auditorium Wednesday night. The four candidates for ASI Executive President answered questions on tuition, housing and food insecurity ahead of the election.

Long Beach State sustains its identity as a commuter college

BY LORI HARVEY Staff Writer

Some students travel on the road long before the ground fog has lifted and the sun remains nowhere to be seen. The crisp stillness of the air before first light waits for them as they prepare to hit the freeways for their hours-long commute to college at Long Beach State.

CSULB is known as a commuter campus with the majority of students opting to drive to campus. Some drive from Huntington Beach and other nearby areas.

Other students have a burdensome drive of over three hours each way. According to a 2022 CSULB Student Transportation survey, 80% of students are commuters.

That same 2022 survey revealed that 34% of CSULB students are considered “super commuters,” meaning they drive over 16 miles to campus.

Marcela Carrillo is one of many super commuters on campus as she travels 240 miles roundtrip from Coachella Valley twice a week. Carrillo spends seven hours on the road, depending on traffic.

She gets up at 4 a.m., leaves in her 2022 Toyota Camry by 5 a.m. and arrives on campus at 8:30 a.m. Carrillo said he spends about $140 per week on gas.

When asked if she thought she had any health effects, Carrillo said she has

BY SAM FARFAN Community Engagement Editor

Following the death of 60-year-old custodial services employee Rodger Lee Watkins on Feb. 20, Long Beach State staff community members continue to mourn the loss weeks after the downtown traffic collision.

Custodial services employee Lori Donaldson was a close work friend of Watkins. They would park their cars together on the far end of the Beach Print Shop parking lot everyday before work.

The night of the crash, Donaldson noticed Watkins' usual parking spot was still empty by the time their midnight graveyard shift had started at Beach Building Services (BBS). She assumed he simply couldn’t make it in that night.

“I knew something felt off, but I just figured I’ll catch up with him tomorrow," Donaldson said.

It wasn’t until after the end of her shift roughly around 8:30 a.m. that she was informed of Watkins’ death the night before.

“It’s such a tragedy that he’s gone," Donaldson said. “I have met thousands and thousands of people in my life, and there is no one in this world that is anything like Rodger. He was that special.”

According to several staff members, Watkins had a memorable personality and had "the kind of smile that sticks with you." His love for his family was apparent in conversations he would have with others as he would often update them on what went on in his grandchil-

discomfort from swollen feet after the drive but elevates them when she gets home.

"I became a full-time student, a fulltime caregiver and then commuting on top of that," Carrillo said.

As the daughter of a migrant farmer, long-distance drives are not new to the Carrillo family. Her father worked 647 miles away from their home.

Carrillo said she lived closer to campus when she first attended Long Beach State but eventually decided to move away.

"I didn’t start out driving this far.” I used to live five minutes away from campus with four roommates," Carrillo said. “The shared housing situation didn’t work out."

After her dad's advice to look for an apartment failed to come about, they had to make a difficult choice.

“Prices in Long Beach are so high, we

decided I would move back home," Carrillo said.

The high cost of housing in Long Beach makes driving to campus from long distances the only option for some.

The average cost of renting an 800-square-foot apartment in Long Beach is between $1,884 and $2,943 per month, according to Zillow.

Carrillo will continue making the commute until graduation.

CSULB student Krystyna Ramirez shares a home with her family in Riverside County. She drives her 2019 Toyota Camry twice a week for two to three hours depending on traffic.

Ramirez said she spends approximately $180 per week on gas and is grateful to have a fuel-efficient car.

“My family thinks I’m crazy. They ask me why I drive so far," Ramirez said Her commute begins at 7 a.m. to make it to campus in time for her 9:30

CSULB staff mourn death of co-worker following fatal car crash

dren's lives.

Vice President of Administration and Finance Scott Apel recalls his interactions with Watkins at staff events over the years.

“When I talk to employees, a lot of times its about work or what they’d like to see change in the organization, but not with Rodger. It was always about his family,” Apel said.

Custodial service employees work late at night to prepare classrooms and offices for operational services for the following morning. But regardless of the limited sleep Watkins would get before

a staff event, Apel said he would always attend looking his best.

“Rodger would work all night and then he would come back and always be dressed in a suit and tie," Apel said. "He always outdressed me. You know, I have to dress up for this job, but Rodger always put me to shame."

BBS Lead Custodian Louis Mendoza worked closely with Watkins, oftentimes working graveyard shifts and overtime together. When they both worked the same events, Mendoza said he would often "bust out moves" whenever music played and Watkins would often show

a.m. class. Ramirez said listening to her music playlist makes her commute more enjoyable.

“That’s the good thing about me, I love being alone and I love music in general, so yeah I just go listen to music,” Ramirez said.

Ramirez said driving to campus is not without its challenges.

“When I’m stuck in traffic, I start overthinking a lot. I need to get this done or I’m behind with assignments or life in general. The drive back home is harder because I’m tired,” Ramirez said Ramirez works a regular job in addition to a television internship in Burbank.

Despite facing long commutes to Long Beach State, students Carrillo and Ramirez have not let the high cost of living in Long Beach or their proximity to campus deter them from achieving their academic goals.

him his Michael Jackson impersonations.

“Even though he was a lot older than me, you’d be so surprised how much energy [he had],” Mendoza said.

Mendoza said custodial services at BBS held an early breakfast gathering for Watkins' family and staff on March 6, celebrating Watkins' 61st birthday.

“His wife and daughter came down and spent an hour [with us],” Mendoza said. “We shared moments with Rodger’s wife, and I talked about the time I spent with Rodger.”

Watkins, Donaldson and Mendoza became California State University Employees Union stewards at the Long Beach Chapter around the same time, attending rallies together and advocating for cost of living raises for staff. Donaldson said Watkins was instrumental in getting people involved.

“He’s my best friend at work,” Donaldson said. “If everyone who loved Rodger didn’t show up for work, there wouldn’t be anybody in the yard. That’s how loved he was."

According to the LBPD Media Relations Detail, no new case details have been publicly announced regarding the identity of the driver or potential arrest charges since the the original press release was posted.

According to the memorial website his family created in his honor, Watkins leaves behind a wife, five adult children and four grandchildren.

Watkins' memorial service was held on March 14. For information regarding his funeral services and internment, visit Watkins' memorial website.

NAOKI GIMA / Daily Forty-Niner

The 710 freeway north and south bound traffic near the Willow Street overpass at night time. Many Cal State Long Beach students commute to campus from out of town and have to take highways to get to and from campus.

Courtesy of LORI DONALDSON

Rodger Lee Watkins (left) and Lori Donaldson at a Long Beach State staff winter holiday party in 2021. Watkins and Donaldson worked together in Custodial Services at Beach Building Services for five years.

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Car problems like waking up way too early to beat traffic aren’t your problem anymore. Save on bus rides with the Go Beach! Pass from Long Beach Transit, only for CSULB students.

Scan the code to learn more or visit ridelbt.com/csulb

Skating through the lens of Ed Templeton

BY DIEGO RENTERIA Guest Writer

Modern-day skateboarding has evolved from a niche sport to a fullblown lifestyle and culture. Ed Templeton, a professional skateboarder and businessman, captured what this “lifestyle and culture” was like during part of its golden era.

The Long Beach Museum of Art is hosting his work as skateboarding’s chronicler. In his first solo museum exhibit in the United States, Ed Templeton presents: “Ed Templeton: Wires Crossed: The Culture of Skateboarding. 19952012.”

This exhibition of photos takes us through the lens of Templeton as he photographs the adventures, accomplishments, debauchery, trials and tribulations and everything in between in the life of skateboarding.

As a professional skateboarder himself, Templeton had the best access anyone could have to view and experience the world of the extreme sport he loved and dedicated himself to.

At the beginning of the photo exhibit, Templeton greets his viewers with a prologue. In his words, he talks about what skateboarding means to himself and millions of other skaters across the globe.

He talks about how he was exposed to photo books in his early career. He mentions how it inspired him to “document his life and the life of others,” and that he “picked up a camera to remember his youth as a skateboarder.”

The photos on display were mainly taken on “skate tours” that Templeton and the company he founded, “Toy Machine,” would go on. Other photos are

of Templeton and the Toy Machine gang exploring Southern California looking for the next best skate spot.

Templeton would shoot anything that would catch his eye. That includes friends playing practical jokes, what the life of a skater looks like or the debauchery that comes included in the lifestyle of skateboarding.

Throughout the exhibit, Templeton featured excerpts of his own words. Each one of his excerpts talks about the different themes of skating in each room viewers walked through.

One thing to note when looking at Templeton’s photos is that it is a virtual who’s who of the world of skateboarding. Some notable faces in the photos are Mark Gonzales, Lance Mountain, Andrew Reynolds and Elissa Steamer amoungst countless others. These intimate photos allow his viewers to see some of their favorite skaters they grew up with from a completely different perspective.

Templeton would also caption his work in the margins of his photos. He tells his stories as if they had just happened to him the week before and gives insight into what he captured. In one caption, he told the story of how a fellow pro-skater, Chad Muska, would sober himself up from a night of heavy drinking with copious amounts of marijuana.

Besides photos, Templeton also curated an array of trinkets and memorabilia that he had amassed throughout his professional skateboarding career and more. In one instance, he pinned a destroyed pair of pants to the wall next to photos of other skateboarders wearing their destroyed pants during a skate session.

“Ed Templeton: Wires Crossed: The Culture of Skateboarding. 1995-2012” will be on display at The Long Beach Museum of Art from Feb. 2 to May 5.

Photos by DIEGO RENTERIA / Daily Forty-Niner

Ed Templeton's personal style is clear in his exhibit at the Long Beach Museum of Art. The photographer curated and set up most of the photos presented in the exhibit, capturing Long Beach skate culture.

Templeton's photographs depict many icons in the world of skateboarding, such as Jake Phelps, the founder of the world-famous Thrasher Magazine who died in 2019 of a Fentanyl overdose.

Pro-skaters Mark Gonzales and Lance Mountain exchange a dollar with one another on a night out.

La Parolaccia Osteria: James Beard Award nominee and beloved Long Beach restaurant

BY NATASHA CASTANEDO Arts & Life Editor

In the highly saturated landscape of Italian cuisine in Southern California, La Parolaccia Osteria has set itself apart by sticking to tradition.

Since 2006, the Procaccini family has served the Long Beach community a taste of homestyle Roman cooking with authentic family dishes that represent owner Stefano Procaccini’s Italian upbringing.

Now, after their recent nomination for “Best Chef: California” from the James Beard Foundation, Stefano and his son Michael are set on continuing to offer customers honest, simple and delicious food.

As one of the most prestigious institutions in the culinary world, the James Beard Foundation recognizes restaurants and chefs for their exceptional talent and achievements in the culinary arts.

“You just kind of always think that this stuff happens to famous people, or, like, trendy stuff, things in LA. You know, we’re just here as a mom and pop,” Michael Procaccini said.

While Stefano mans the kitchen and Michael works the pizza oven, daughter

Francesca orchestrates the front of the house, working in tandem with one another to provide their customers with unforgettable dining experiences.

Calling on the simplicity of rustic Roman cuisine, the menu at La Parolaccia deviates from Americanized Italian classics and instead highlights the kind of food that Michael and Francesca grew up eating with their family.

Traditional dishes like Cannelloni al Forno, a rolled pasta filled with spinach and ricotta, or Melanzane Parmigiana, a fried eggplant layered with cheese and tomato sauce, are the kind of menu options that make La Parolaccia so exciting.

“Having an honest product … eventually like any good art that is pure it will find its lane and eventually get people that are on board with it,” Michael Procaccini said.

Yet for many years, lesser-known dishes like suppli, a rice croquette stuffed with mozzarella and beef ragu, would often get overlooked by patrons. Noting the attention the restaurant has received on social media along with its James Beard nomination, Michael has seen a heightened interest in dishes that challenge what Americans have come to associate with Italian food.

“There’s a lot of things on the menu that we tried doing maybe ten years ago but they didn’t take because people didn’t know what it was, so, it never got

ordered,” Michael Procaccini said.

Nestled on the corner of a residential neighborhood in Bluff Heights, La Parolaccia transports visitors to Italy with its wooden tables, exposed red brick, warm gold walls, Vespas and photos of the Italian coastline. Intent on preserving the integrity of their Roman roots, the Procaccini family has never compromised on offering customers a true taste of their home, and this includes the ambiance.

“We try to make people feel like they’re at home in Italy. Sitting in Italy in someone’s home,” Michael Procaccini said.

What first began as a 20-seat restaurant has now expanded into five connected rooms that are filled with happy diners day in and day out.

“We’ve grown with the community. Especially during COVID, it was all the community. People taking to go … it was all the neighborhood,” Michael Proccacini said.

According to Michael, becoming a pillar within the community can be attributed to the family’s mission to not reinvent the wheel when it comes to Italian food, but to instead showcase why traditions stand the test of time. With family restaurants and pizzerias in Rome, Stefano came to Long Beach with a vision of recreating a piece of home here in Southern California using food as his vessel.

Passing down his love for Italian food to his son, Michael has worked at the restaurant since he was a teenager, and remembers cooking as being a pivotal part of his family’s life. Now as an adult, Michael’s love for food, specifically his love for pizza, has continued to blossom.

Listing Pizza Rosa, Pizza Bianca and Pizza con Patate as a few of his favorite Roman dishes, Michael finds immense joy in cooking the food that he grew up eating.

As a former student, and now instructor at the Sede Nazionale della Scuola Italiana Pizzaioli in Parma, Italy, Michael has honed in on what bread and pizza mean not only to himself, but to the Procaccini family.

With dual citizenship, the family makes frequent visits to Italy. Michael has found that it is often a time when he can recalibrate his palate back to his roots and bring that knowledge with him to the restaurant.

“Food is a story. Even if you don’t understand someone’s language… food is a universal language,” Micahel Proccacini said.

La Parolaccia Osteria is open Monday through Thursday from 4 - 9 p.m., Friday from 4 - 10 p.m., Saturday from 2 - 10 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 7 p.m. It is located at 2945 E Broadway, Long Beach, CA 90803.

Photos by MARLON VILLA / Daily Forty-Niner

Clockwise from Left: Son Michael Procaccini (left) and father Stefano Procaccini both work in the restaurant alongside their employees to serve a wide variety of italian dishes; La Parolaccia Osteria is a simple, art lined local mainstay serving neapolitan pies and traditional Italian dishes with wines; the restaurant has both delivery and takeout options for customers.

The Australian music scene comes to Southern California

BY ALEX GRYCIUK Guest Writer

Australian indie rock band Teenage Dads showcased their eccentric personalities and high-energy music to an audience at The Observatory on March 10.

The band’s U.S. and Canada tour kicked off earlier this month, supporting funk, indie-pop band The Brook & The Bluff on select dates.

Members Jordy Finlay, Connor McLaughlin, Vinnie Kinna and Angus Christie hope to perform for audiences and expand their fandom cross continentally.

“It’s been really fun meeting new people and trying to make friends internationally because we’ve done so much touring in Australia,” Christie said.

With a common interest in music, the members jammed out in high school together and decided to form a band. When a former guitarist posted a song on the Australian radio station triple j, the band received recognition.

“We got a gig offer from [posting our song] and we thought, ‘well, we can’t play covers.’ So we wrote like six really bad songs in a week. That’s kind of how we started,” McLaughlin said.

Six months later, the band posted new songs and formed a group under the name Teenage Dads.

“I don’t feel like I am a ‘Teenage Dad’.

That’s, you know, it’s just like, that’s just the name for it [the band],” McLaughlin said.

Rather than letting the name tell the story of their dynamic group, Teenage Dads allow the music to express their fun personalities, especially in concert.

Groovy hooks and energetic melodies are woven into contrasting genres that each member found interest in. Elements of heavy metal, classical rock, 60s folk, psychedelic and early 2000s rock amalgamate into songs such as “Elevator,” “Speedracer” and “Weaponz.”

“Our tastes have grown closer together and found this thing that we feel like, this is our sound that we like to do,” McLaughlin said.

Members of their growing fanbase across America, Europe and Australia find themselves jamming out in person or through streaming services.

“[Our music] is very easy to get into live, very danceable without being dance music. It has a lot of groove behind it,” Christie said.

Teenage Dads will continue their tour with The Brook & The Bluff for three shows in Boulder, CO, Fort Collins, CO and Columbia, MO. They will perform on the East Coast as a headliner starting March 20.

To stay up to date on all upcoming show announcements and merchandise sales, follow @teenagedads on Instagram. Posting on all streaming services regularly, fans can listen on Apple Music, Youtube and Spotify

During the show, Teenage Dads shortened their setlist to include their top five songs and a cover. This show, they played notably new song Weaponz, Speedracer and Video Killed the Radio Star by the Buggles.

Photos by ALEX GRYCIUK / Daily Forty-Niner

Was college even worth it?

Almost four years later, I am conflicted about attending university.

BY JACQUELINE MAZARIEGOS Guest Writer

Generally speaking, a college experience is a fouryear journey with the purpose of graduating with a degree and improving one’s chances of landing a secure job. For a lot of college students, this means being enrolled at least part-time.

It is my last semester as a communication studies major with a minor in public relations. I will have graduated in three and a half years, having taken 15 to 18 units per semester, as well as winter and summer courses. This by no means has been an easy task.

Consider a full-time college student who works part-time job. They work a minimum of 15 hours each week while attending four classes. It doesn’t appear to be much to some employers and they might not find you interesting just because you manage to juggle school and work.

Entry-level jobs that are available to college graduates are not so entry-level in terms of years of experience. For example, Gunn Jerkens Marketing Communications’ entry-level social media coordinator job description on LinkedIn requires applicants to have at least one to three years of prior experience in social media content.

A student might then look for opportunities to gain experience and internships are your best bet. It increases your chance to impress hiring managers with your resume. I started applying to internships last year and finally landed one this spring with our athletics department. I achieved this by emailing their associate communications director and asking if they had any openings. After a few emails and two phone calls later, I became their newest intern.

It is worth mentioning that their communications director was a guest speaker in one of my classes and we were able to speak briefly. I included this information in the initial email. I cannot help but think that, in doing so, this made me an appealing candidate. It proved how far networking can take you.

You might need connections and networking to reach that point. In college, joining a school organization that allows you to interact with other students and industry professionals may help you land a job.

I thought I increased my chances of landing another internship. However, the truth is that I have applied to multiple internships and received either no answer or a polite rejection email. I thought my resume was sure to stand out among other applicants. Since then, I have learned that sometimes an impressive resume is not enough to land a job.

According to The Labor Market for Recent College Graduates, among recent college graduates between the ages of 22 and 27, the unemployment rate is 4.4%. For all workers, the unemployment rate is 3.6%. Statistics show that recent

college graduates are struggling to find a job, even more so than other workers.

We must also consider that 45% of companies plan to eliminate bachelor’s degree requirements for some positions in 2024, according to a survey released by Intelligent.

Other key findings in the survey included that 55% of companies eliminated bachelor’s degree requirements in 2023 and that four in five employers value experience over education when

evaluating job candidates.

Reflecting on your college experience, it is frightening to consider the possibility of being unemployed after graduating. It is also terrifying that your college degree might be worthless since companies are eliminating their bachelor’s degree requirements.

I cannot help but wonder, “was college even worth it?”

Since I want to work in public relations, I know a job will not consider me

unless I have a college degree. Yet here I am, a few months from graduating, with no job lined up in the field I majored in. I am conflicted since I have invested time, money and energy for the past few years and I have yet to see the payoff.

Regardless, I keep applying to internships and jobs. I am not giving up. I confidently believe that college was worth it, especially for my own career path.

I wouldn’t have gotten to where I am now without it.

JACQUELINE MAZARIEGOS / Daily Forty-Niner I will be the first college graduate in my family and feeling the cap and gown in my hands is a feeling like no other. My bachelor’s degree will forever be mine.

Professional Women’s Hockey League proves demand for women’s sports

The recently launched league is seeing record-breaking numbers in its inaugural season. If hockey can do it, why can’t other sports?

BY ETHAN HAYASHIDA Guest Writer

Women’s sports are undoubtedly at a high in terms of media coverage and publicity.

With the recent launch and success of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL), it is obvious that there is a demand for organized, well-funded and televised leagues in women’s team sports. Creating leagues similar to the PWHL would not only be beneficial for business investors, but also for women everywhere.

On Feb. 16, the PWHL saw a record attendance of 19,285 fans at the PWHL Toronto vs. PWHL Montreal game. PWHL games are also broadcast on Bally Sports and YouTube.

Although female hockey players and fans celebrated this, athletes of other sports unfortunately did not have the same opportunities.

For many female athletes, playing the sport that they love stops before or after college. One of the main reasons for this is the lack of viable paths for them to pursue.

Long Beach State softball senior pitcher, Sophia Fernandez, resonates with this.

“I definitely see that roadblock with a lot younger athletes who are deciding if they want to continue playing in college,” Fernandez said.

For softball players, the two main options to play after college are Women’s Professional Fastpitch (WPF) and Athletes Unlimited (AU).

Although WPF provides softball players with a professional, organized league after college, it is not broadcast on television.

Instead, games are blocked behind a paywall, which can make it difficult for fans to access and watch them.

AU is broadcast on national television.

However, it also has its flaws. Its players switch teams every week due to the

league’s format, making it difficult to market teams and create merchandise.

Until recently, women’s volleyball players have faced similar issues. That said, in comparison to softball players, they have a few more favorable options.

Although volleyball players can also join an AU league, which has the same issues as the AU Softball league, they now also have the option to play in the Professional Volleyball Federation (PVF).

Similar to the PWHL, the PVF is having its inaugural season this year. It broadcasts on CBS, Bally, Stadium and YouTube.

For many business investors, creating women’s sports leagues is intimidating as they are unsure of how stable the market is.

However, through studying the PWHL and the PVF, not only can we see what makes them successful, but also the positive impact that such leagues can have.

Creating leagues of elite female talent is beneficial because it can bring new eyes to both the sport and the industry

of female sports, as well as be a positive influence for young girls.

Not only would the leagues provide role models, but they would also facilitate skill production as girls would start playing at younger ages and with more funding.

With the PWHL’s impact on the next generation of female hockey players, hopefully investors will look to create leagues in other sports as well.

CSULB volleyball senior outside hitter and defensive specialist Kailia Lopez feels hopeful about the trajectory of women’s sports.

“It makes me excited for my future if I ever have daughters,” Lopez said. “It makes me hopeful for them, giving them a better future and a better experience than I did.”

The industry of women’s sports is destined to continue to grow. As fans, it is our job to continue our support to prove to investors that women’s sports are in demand and profitable.

It worked for the PWHL, so it should work for more sports.

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

13,136 fans attended the PWHL Minnesota vs. PWHL Montreal at Xcel Arena in St. Paul, Minnesota, on Jan. 6.

The Beach sends a statement, wins two in a row over No.1 Hawai’i

BY DAVIS RAMAGE Sports Editor

Back-to-back sellout crowds at the Walter Pyramid saw the No. 2 Long Beach State men’s volleyball team drown No. 1 Hawai’i with two enthralling performances (3-0, 3-2).

The Beach won in dominating fashion on Friday night, sweeping Hawai’i in straight sets (25-22, 25-20, 30-28) and extending their win streak to five along the way.

The 3-0 Beach win sent a statement to the country that Long Beach State is a force to be reckoned with atop the AVCA/NVA National Collegiate rankings.

Sophomore opposite hitter Skyler Varga led the team in kills with 12 while adding a block and an ace to his outstanding night.

“Skyler was an absolute beast all weekend in every part of the game,” head coach for Long Beach State Alan Knipe said. “There was times throughout the last two nights that we jumped on his back and he carried us.”

Long Beach State dominated the box score as it led in every statistical category including assists (42), aces (5) and blocks (10.5).

A thrilling third set that ended 30-28 in The Beach’s favor closed out the game and handed the Rainbow Warriors their first conference loss of the season.

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Saturday night’s game would not go as smoothly for The Beach as the Rainbow Warriors took two sets, but it was not enough to deter a Beach team that had around 4,000 people willing it on to a 3-2 victory [25-20, 20-25, 25-23, 24-26, 15-13].

The second two-day game saw junior outside hitter Sotiris Siapanis lead Long Beach State in kills with 17, contributing to another impressive hitting performance in which The Beach would outhit Hawai’i again, .279 to .248.

The Beach’s presence at the net played a huge factor in prevailing over the Rainbow Warriors as they put up 20.5 blocks on the game including 10 from senior middle blocker Simon Torwie and eight from junior middle blocker DiAeris McRaven.

The ever-steady senior libero Mason Briggs added seven digs to The Beach’s total of 41, giving him 16 on the weekend.

In a match that had been tightly contested from the start, the fifth and final set was no different as there were

four ties. However, The Beach was never down in the set and came out on top 1513, closing out the game and sending the Rainbow Warriors packing.

“It’s great volleyball and it is played at the highest level [...] when you combine that, that’s must-see sports,” Knipe said.

With no games next week, The Beach is back in action against UC San Diego at the Walter Pyramid on Friday, March 29 at 7 p.m.

LBSU rugby director Jason Reynolds finds success amid financial odds

BY NATHANIEL MARSHALL Staff Writer

Jason Reynolds, formerly the head coach and now the director of Long Beach State Club rugby, faces the club’s challenges head-on.

Reynolds has demonstrated success within the university’s club rugby program, boasting a track record of several championship wins.

Being an LBSU alumnus and a former club rugby player himself, Reynolds possesses knowledge of the club on campus. His journey with the team has traversed the landscape of collegiate club rugby, often navigating through challenges posed by limited financial resources.

“It’s a struggle this year actually...but President Conoley moving up to the top level, breaking into the top 20, her office gave $10,000 to help us with travel,” Reynolds said.

Despite this, Reynolds is working to secure more funding and support for his team’s endeavors.

Under his coaching and direction, Long Beach State’s rugby program has achieved success with a resume of accomplishments that includes 22 league championships and 31 tournament wins.

Reynolds continues to seek out opportunities to elevate the program to new heights as the new director of the rugby club. Reynolds said his long-term goal is in recruitment.

“Coach Jason always made me feel welcome and molded me into the player I am, I’d say he’s done everything he can to make us champions and greater men,” graduate student second-row and flanker Sean Anthony said.

Although Reynolds has stepped down from his duties as head coach and is now focusing on his role as director, the current head coach Peter Sio, has given him confidence that the club will still have a successful future ahead.

For Reynolds, the measure of success lies not only in championship wins but in the impact he has on his players and the broader rugby community.

Reynolds’ dedication extends beyond the field as he strives to provide his players with opportunities for growth and development both on and off the pitch.

BRIAN JACKSON / Daily Forty-Niner

Long Beach State Club Rugby Director Jason Reynolds on the practice field watching his team win at the highest level of club rugby. Despite the wins, Reynolds said he hopes to leave a lasting impact on his players and the rugby community.

“Every other year we go overseas and play,” Reynolds said.

Through these experiences, Reynolds aims for a club recognition that is to the sport of rugby. Reynolds remains steadfast in his commitment to securing the resources necessary for the team’s success.

For collegiate rugby, Reynolds stands

as a leader, showing generations of players the ins and outs both on and off the field.

His commitment to the club and his players is shown through the success of Long Beach State Club rugby and the legacy of Reynolds’ coaching and direction.

SAMUEL CHACKO

Daily Forty-Niner Senior libero Mason Briggs shows his emotion on his sleeve after junior outside hitter Sotiris Siapanis got the final point in overtime for The Beach. Briggs helped with three set assists and seven digs as Long Beach State took down Hawai’i in overtime 3-2 at the Walter Pyramid.

Long Beach State punches its ticket to NCAA Tournament

The Beach will play Arizona in the first round Thursday at 11 a.m. in Salt Lake City.

BY MATTHEW COLEMAN Sports Assistant

Ending a 12-year NCAA Tournament drought, The Beach caps off a 74-70 upset win in the Big West Championship game over UC Davis during an emotional roller-coaster week. All amidst the news of head coach Dan Monson being let go after this season, seemingly galvanizing the team.

“We had an up and down year, but they came in here and they played for each other,” Monson said. “We quit playing together and started playing for each other.”

LBSU will be making their 10th appearance in the NCAA Tournament in large thanks to clutch performances from senior guard Marcus Tsohonis with 25 points and junior forward Lassina Traore, who finished with a career-high 25 points on an efficient 12-17 shooting night.

Neither team would score in the first four minutes of the game until junior forward Aboubacar Traore threw down a poster slam dunk on top of Davis’ junior seven-foot forward Francesco Borra to get The Beach on the board.

UC Davis would open just 1-12 from the field, LBSU would take advantage and open up a double-digit lead early going up 15-5 behind an early scoring flurry from Tsohonis.

The No. 2 seeded Aggies would reinsert themselves back in the contest with a 20-2 run lead by Big West Player of the Year, senior guard Elijah Pepper. The 18-point swing completely flipped the game’s momentum.

Playing their third game in as many days, The Beach would weather the storm, managing to limit the damage going into halftime only down by five. Tsohonis kept LBSU afloat scoring 15 firsthalf points as he was willing his team into the break.

After the Aggies opened up their largest lead of the night at eight points, the defensive activity on the LBSU side would ramp up starting with a big block from junior guard Jadon Jones.

The Beach would reclaim the lead after a three-pointer from Jones, amid a 13-2 run, getting the Long Beach State fans in attendance at the Dollar Loan Center all onto their feet.

UC Davis junior guard Ty Johnson did all he could to keep the Aggies alive after going down by six in the final minutes, scoring a season-high 30 points. The Beach would counter by feeding the “big man” Lassina Traore, scoring 19 points in the second half.

A turnover on an LBSU inbounds pass would turn into a Pepper three, cutting the lead in half with 2:36 left, with The Beach up 66-63. Johnson would follow up with a lay-up on their next trip down the court to cut the lead to a single point.

Long Beach State would respond with a Lassina Traore bucket, proceeded by Tsohonis being fouled on a mid-range fadeaway as the shot clock expired, sending him to the line to extend the lead four.

From then on, UC Davis would have to play the foul game. LBSU would be solid from the line all night going 14-16 en route and cling on to the 74-70 victory to clinch the Big West Championship.

As for Monson, the team prevails and

lives to see another day of his illustrious 17-year coaching tenure at The Beach, in a rigorous road to the top that saw them beat UC Riverside and knock off No. 1 seeded UC Irvine.

“I don’t think this is my last [run], I love coaching, I love teams, I need a new challenge. It’s life, it’s onto the next chapter,” Monson said postgame. Indicating that this will not be his last year coaching once his time is up in Long Beach.

Photos courtesy of @lbsumbb via Instagram Long Beach State men’s basketball on the podium to receive their first Big West Championship trophy since 2012. First-team All-Big West Aboubacar Traore recorded the first LBSU triple-double since 1990 in the team’s quarterfinal victory over UC Riverside.

Junior forward Lassina Traore celebrates a clutch late-game basket with teammates Marcus Tsohonis [left] and Jadon Jones [right]. Traore would finish with 25 points, nine rebounds and one steal in the title-clinching game.