CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, LONG BEACH
VOL. LXVIII, ISSUE 50| DECEMBER 7, 2016
49er
D
CHARLES REED
OBITUARY
THANK YOU
Bobby Yagake | Daily 49er
Psychology major Zoe Klopfer writes about what she is thankful for life on the “You” wall outside the psychology building Tuesday. An anonymous group put the “You” wall up Tuesday morning. Students passing by were given Sharpie pens to write about what they were thankful for in spirit of the upcoming holiday season.
PARKING
Parking apps to launch at CSULB Parking apps for CSULB will soon be available for students early next year.
Former CSU chancellor dies at 75 Reed served as chancellor of the CSU for 14-years and was considered imperative by his colleagues. By Michaela Kwoka-Coleman News Editor
By Daniela Alvarez Staff Writer
“
Early morning traffic backed up along West Campus drive. will be made available to students for free. “Our parking program has many complexities, so [developers] are having a hard time finding a reasonable solution [to make the apps simple and efficient],” Uhlenkamp said. Uhlenkamp said parking is too complicated to be part of the current CSULB app, which provides traffic updates and shuttle and public transportation arrival times, so creating two separate apps is necessary for students, faculty, staff and visitors.
see PARKING, page 3
Bobby Yagake | Daily 49er
“
The daily struggle of campus parking has been noted by Associated Students, Inc. and the Department of Parking and Transportation Services, and the two are working on creating two parking apps for Cal State Long Beach. CSULB’s Executive Director of News and Digital Media Michael Uhlenkamp said the two apps are being developed separately, one by parking services and the other by an outside developer. The first in-house app will be for tracking open parking spots in the parking structures on campus. Since parking services is a self-sustained department and therefore does not receive any kind of state funding, Uhlenkamp said the cost of developing the app will come from revenue obtained by citations and parking permits. A beta version is scheduled to be released by early January. The second app will be a mobile app for purchasing parking permits, checking expiration time and other parking-related actions. A beta version for the app is also scheduled for release early next year, but the plan, according to parking services, is for the final version to be released next fall. The cost for developing the app is still unknown, according to Uhlenkamp, but both apps
We’re trying to alleviate some [parking] challenges, so we’re doing the best with the resources available. -Michael Uhlenkamp, Executive Director of News and Digital News Media
Former California State University Chancellor Charles Reed died Tuesday, according to a press release from the CSU Office of the Chancellor. Reed, 75, was the sixth chancellor of the CSU and served from 1998 until 2012. Timothy White, the current CSU chancellor, offered his condolences to the Reed family and described Reed as instrumental to the CSU system. “Our thoughts and prayers are first and foremost with Charlie’s family and loved ones,” White said. “Charlie will always be remembered as a formative figure in our university’s history and as a tenacious, passionate champion of public higher education.” The Reed family has established a scholarship fund for CSU students and are asking for donations to the fund in lieu of flowers. Donations can be made on the CSU website.
2 NEWS
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2016 DAILY49ER.COM | CITYD49ER@GMAIL.COM
EDITORIAL
The good, the bad and the ugly The top five news stories from this semester. Daily 49er Staff
T
hroughout the semester, Cal State Long Beach students have been filing away homework assignments, drafting multipage papers, navigating group presentations and bringing their studies to life. Just in the way that finals are a cumulative review of the material presented over a semester, the Daily 49er staff has created a roundup of the biggest stories shared with the student body. 1. Trump Wins the President-elect After a long year of debates, name calling and mixed emotions about the election, Republican Donald Trump won the presidential election. His win spiraled into a series of protests, anti-Trump t-shirt designs and crying – whether it was out of fear and heartbreak or absolute joy. Following the Nov. 8 election, a crowd of almost a thousand gathered Nov. 12 in Bixby Park to protest Trump’s plans to federally defund sanctuary cities. Sanctuary cities, such as Los Angeles and San Francisco, do not prosecute undocumented immigrants for solely breaking federal immigration laws. Protesters held up signs that read “We reject the president-elect” and “this is what democracy looks like.” Others displayed LGBT, Mexican or U.S. flags while beating on drums. A Facebook page called Long Beach United Against Trump - March in Unity and Peace was used to inform the community about the march. The Facebook page was established by Maii Ware and Tonii Rae Engberg, local activists and protest organizers. “This is the way we make change.
Demonstrations like this [are] bringing us together and down the same path towards a common goal,” said Long Beach resident Alondra Mims. Protesters and bystanders spilled onto Long Beach city streets, causing a bottleneck at Ocean Boulevard and Pine Avenue as police shut down traffic to accommodate the crowd. The protest concluded peacefully around 9 p.m. that night. 2. Cancellation of NWC The controversial play N*W*C* was cancelled Sep. 7 by Cal State Long Beach President Jane Close Conoley due to negative feedback from ethnic studies faculty regarding whether or not the play was a worthy medium to spark race conversations. The play was scheduled to perform at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center as part of the academic curriculum for the fall 2016 semester. CPAC Executive Director Michele Roberge stated that the cancellation of the play was an act of censorship on behalf of the administration. “I was floored, flabbergasted,” Roberge said. “We announced the show in March, it went on sale in March, we started selling tickets, in May I got a call from [College of the Arts Dean] Cyrus Parker-Jeannette – the dean, my boss – saying: ‘the president wants you to cancel the show” Subsequently, Roberge resigned from her position after 14 years of working with CPAC. After reports of the cancellation spread through social media, CSULB community members voiced their opinions whether in outrage or relief. Parker-Jeannette put together an open panel discussion called “In Context: Art, Race and Censorship” on Sept. 29 to address the cancellation of the play. “Once the performance of N*W*C* was cancelled I sought to do something constructive,” Parker-Jeannette said.
getting 40 percent of students to graduate in four years by 2025. Norberto Lopez, an organization leader for Student for Quality Education, said that his group’s message is getting through the CSU Board of Trustees. Lateefah Simon, a Board of Trustee Member, sympathized with SQE and expressed solidarity for their advocation. The tuition proposal’s priorities include investing in enrollment growth, campus infrastructure, employee compensation and mandatory costs that increase from inflation and CSU statutory mandates. Benjamin Hammerton | Daily 49er
5. Opening of Beach Pantry Members of Associated Students, Inc. celebrated the grand opening of the ASI Beach Pantry Oct. 26. ASI Vice President Logan Vournas and former Vice President Miriam Hernandez spoke in front a crowd of students and faculty at the southwest terrace of the University Student Union about the process of creating the Beach Pantry. They said they wanted everyone to understand the steps it took to create the pantry. “In terms of sustainability and supporting students that are food insecure, as a campus, we are doing a great job,” Dean of Students Jeff Klaus said. The celebration concluded with a ribbon cutting ceremony at the front of the pantry, where canned and packaged non-perishable food is stored. ASI Recycling Specialist Eric Bryan told the story of how he was living in his car when university services gave him a job and helped him off the street. He said he believed Cal State Long Beach students will not go hungry. The program has expanded to include emergency housing on campus and hotel vouchers in addition to offering employment to students. The pantry is located in the USU room 302 and is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. and 5 -7 p.m.
Long Beach State women’s soccer team celebrates its Big West Championship win Nov. 2.
3. Women win The 49ers’ Big West Big West win Long Beach tied as the largState’s women’s est victory marsoccer entered gin in Big West the Big West history. Championship against Cal State 4. Students, Northridge Nov. faculty protest 2. Within 12 tuition hike minutes of the Fearing a game starting, possible five the only goal was percent Cal scored by LBSU State University junior forward system tuition Ashley Gonzaincrease for les, with the help undergraduate, DONALD TRUMP of teammate, junior graduate and doctorforward Jessica Vincent. al programs, students and faculty from After beating CSUN 1-0, the 49ers various CSUs protested at the CSU advanced to the final round of the tourOffice of the Chancellor in downtown nament. They then played UC Irvine, Long Beach Nov. 16. beating the Anteaters 3-0. Some protesters chanted “students, LBSU scored early, leading UCI by not customers!” while others held up the end of the first half. Overall, the signs shaped like headstones in the 49ers defense allowed only four shots grass representing each CSU campus. the whole game. They read “R.I.P. to CSU Sacramento” “We’ve worked hard all week for [the and “Here lies Humboldt State.” win],” Gonzales said. “We talked about The tuition proposal report released it and talked about it, but to execute it by CSU Chancellor Timothy White on was amazing. To see us putting away our Sept. 29 states that the revenue from tuset pieces, it was just amazing.” ition raise will help facilitate the goal of
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What Your Teachers Never Taught You Thankfulness Dr. George A. Kuck (galbertk@aol.com)
This is the last article that I will be publishing this year. I am very thankful that it helped some of you think about what I wrote. I must admit that I am disappointed that none of you chose to challenge me on what I wrote to engage me in civil debate. I love civil feedback on what you are thinking. Try to make a New Year’s resolution to e-mail me with your comments and challenges How many of you recognized that today is Pearl Harbor Day? It is 75 years since our fleet was attacked and demolished at anchor. I am thankful for my parents and their friends who fought and died to keep us free. You may wish to thank a veteran on this day. I am thankful for the 49’er staff that has helped me for the past 3 years that I have been buying the space to publish this column. They treat me professionally. Bev, you are a jewel. I am thankful that the revolution that we had in this election did not turn more violent. This country was built on civil discussion and only had one war when two parts of the country could not agree on slavery. I am thankful my great grandfather wore the Blue Uniform of the North. For my ex-students (who are probably graduated by now), the blue uniforms were worn by Republicans who died to free the slaves. Twenty-five percent of my students did not know that President Lincoln was a Republican. They thought Lincoln was a Democrat! I am not thankful that the leftists in this country who rioted after president-elect Trump thumped Hillary Clinton in the election. We need to resolve our differences in civil discussion, not violent action. Did any conservatives riot when President Obama was elected? I’m an evangelical Christian. Thus I am thankful for God and I follow Him and His Word, the Bible. Christians are trained to be thankful even when they hurt such as when I visit my long term friend in the VA hospital near CSULB and when my dog died at 13. We are allowed to mourn the loss of our friends, our parents, and parts of our lives. Be thankful for your trials because they help you grow. Use your trials in school to help you. Finally, for what are you thankful? Let me wish you all Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I am thankful for you all. As Tiny Tim told Scrooge in Dicken’s Christmas Carol, “God Bless Us, Every One."
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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2016 DAILY49ER.COM | CITYD49ER@GMAIL.COM CRIME
California KKK leader arrested in stabbing By James Queally Los Angeles Times
The leader of the Ku Klux Klan’s California chapter, who led a “white lives matter” rally that erupted in violence in Anaheim, Calif., this year, was arrested last week in connection with a North Carolina stabbing hours before a Klan parade in a nearby town to celebrate Donald Trump’s election, authorities said. William Hagen and another man were charged with assault after they stabbed another Klan member, shortly before the white-supremacist group held a parade in Roxboro, N.C., to celebrate Trump’s victory, according to Capt. Frank Rose, who oversees criminal investigations for the Caswell County Sheriff ’s Office in North Carolina. Hagen and Chris Barker, who experts described as a national Klan leader, were involved in an argument with a man named Richard Dillon at Barker’s Yanceyville, N.C., home, according to Rose. The clash turned violent, and Hagen and Barker are accused of stabbing Dillon several times, according to Rose. Dillon reported the assault to sheriff ’s deputies around 3 a.m. on Dec. 3, Rose said. Barker was arrested at his home a short time later, and Hagen was arrested later the same day during a motor-vehicle stop, Rose said. Both men are charged with assault
FAST FACTS
NEW PARKING APP What: Two parking apps in the works for CSULB Who: One app by Department of Parking and Transportation Services and the other by outside developers When: Beta versions to be released early January 2017
Luis Sinco | Los Angeles Times
William Hagen, right, shown at a Ku Klux Klan rally in Anaheim in February, was arrested and charged with attempted murder in North Carolina while attempting to attend a Klan rally in support of President-elect Donald Trump. with a deadly weapon with intent to kill or inflict serious injury, Rose said. They are both being held in the Caswell County detention center in lieu of bail. Hagen is the “Grand Dragon,” or state leader, of the Loyal White Knights faction of the Klan in California, according to Carla Hill, an investigative researcher with the Anti-Defamation League, which tracks members of hate groups. Barker is
the “Imperial Wizard,” or national leader, of the Loyal White Knights, a faction of between 150 and 200 white supremacists across the country, Hill said. Dillon, the person who was stabbed, is also a known Klan member from Indiana, she said. Hill said many Klan members had traveled to North Carolina to participate in the pro-Trump rally. Hagen, who also goes by the name William
PARKING
continued from page 1 During the previous academic year, ASI members discussed the idea of a parking app during the monthly Parking and Transportation Committee meeting, drawing on similar apps available at Cal State Northridge and Fresno State. “We’re trying to alleviate some [parking] challenges, so we’re doing the best with the resources available,” Uhlenkamp said. “We’re almost at ca-
Quigg, often travels to attend Loyal White Knights rallies, and was spotted at a white supremacist gathering in Georgia earlier this year, she said. The parade, which gained widespread attention after a reported surge in hate crimes following Trump’s election night victory, involved about 20 or 30 vehicles driving through Roxboro waiving flags and praising the president-elect, Hill said.
pacity, so we’re also trying to decrease our carbon footprint.” Uhlenkamp referred to the electric car charging stations and the upcoming construction of solar panels for parking structures as ways to decrease that carbon footprint. The solar panels will be constrained to Parking Lots 7 and 14 and are expected to be operational by late 2017. Junior social work major Roxanne Sanchez says a parking app is needed. “[The apps] will definitely make parking easier and more efficient,” Sanchez said. “It’d be a great service for students to use.”
Trump has received support from a number of white supremacists and ethno-nationalists over the course of his candidacy. Earlier this year, a white nationalist from Los Angeles was mistakenly listed among Trump’s California delegates. The president-elect has repeatedly denounced the adulation of such fringe groups, but critics contend he has not been forceful enough in his distancing himself from their support. In February, Hagen was one of five Klan members involved in a rally that quickly turned bloody in Anaheim’s Pearson Park. Counterprotesters set upon the Klansmen as soon as they appeared, and a rolling brawl erupted along a street adjacent to the park. Three people were stabbed by Klan members, but Orange County prosecutors later decided they had acted in self-defense. Seven counterprotesters were charged with assault or resisting arrest in connection with the February rally. Hagen was on scene that day, and could be seen fighting with protesters for control of an American flag. He was thrown to the ground at one point and kicked by counterprotesters, but later rescued from the assault by Brian Levin, director of California State University San Bernardino’s Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism. “How do you feel that a Jewish guy just saved your life?” Levin said he asked Hagen that day.
“We’re trying to alleviate some [parking] challenges, so we’re doing the best with the resources available,” Uhlenkamp said. “We’re almost at capacity, so we’re also trying to decrease our carbon footprint.” “We’re trying to alleviate some [parking] challenges, so we’re doing the best with the resources available,” Uhlenkamp said. “We’re almost at capacity, so we’re also trying to decrease our carbon footprint.” “We’re trying to alleviate some [parking] challenges, so we’re doing the best with the resources available,” Uhlenkamp said. “We’re almost at capacity, so we’re also trying to decrease our carbon footprint.”
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4 ARTS & LIFE
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2016 DAILY49ER.COM | ARTSNLIFED49ER@GMAIL.COM
End fall with a ball... Dodgeball Students, staff and faculty gear up for the annual dodgeball tournament.
Illustration by Miranda Andrade-Ceja
Find your fate at the CSULB speed date By Saul Torres Staff Writer
Feeling lonely and want to meet new friends? Want to go out and have fun with like-minded people? Then Speed Dating could be right for you. Speed Dating is an event for students to learn about one another and have a venue to interact with each other; it provides an easier solution to dating on campus. For six years Associated Student Inc. and the Beach Pride have been holding Speed Dating every semester in the University Student Union Ballroom. It’s usually in late November to early December during the fall semester and late April to early May in the spring. According to lead program assistant for Beach Pride Events, Kaila-Marie Hardaway, the reaction of the students have been great and they are usually very surprise that Cal State Long Beach has an event where they might find their significant other or just make
By Saul Torres Staff Writer
Dive away from the aerially approaching rubber ball, scoop another off the ground and give it all you’ve got as you throw it at the opposing team. The Student Recreation and Wellness Center will host its third annual dodgeball tournament at 6 p.m. in the main gym court A. Cal State Long Beach, senior Sandra Mendez said the dodgeball tournament has shown her discipline, as well as her weaknesses and her strengths. It’s also given her a chance to create new friends. “I really enjoy this tournament because it has allowed me to develop many things but the best reward from this is meeting new friends,” Mendez said. The dodgeball tournament is open to all ages. Student, staff and faculty can participate and there is no entry fee. Registration is available through BeachSync. Each round of the tournament will take about 20 minutes, and the event will run for a total of about three hours. The max of players for each round will be six people per team. Students can create their own
new friends. “Speed Dating might sound intimidating on the surface, but generally those who go have a really great time even if they don’t end up talking to anyone after the event,” Hardaway said. This semester’s coffee-themed event was inspired by the popular television series “Friends,” something participants will want to gain from this event. “The purpose of the event is to help students connect to, create and maintain friendships with their peers at CSULB,” said third year communication studies major Rebecca Macareno. “Especially because we’re a commuter school, these sorts of events are really important for that.” During speed dating people will a chance to talk to someone different every 3-5 minutes as they rotate. Participators in this event are doing so by registering on BeachSync. Applications are due in advance to manage the limited capacity for the event. This semester, about 140 people applied but organizers capped it at 100 total participants – 20 of whom belong to the LGBT community. If there are no-shows, they do have a waiting list the day of event. The Speed Dating event will be Dec 7 in the USU, Ballroom from 7-10 p.m. You can find more information about Speed Dating on the ASI website, Facebook and Instagram.
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California State University, Long Beach
monday, aprIl 11, 2016
We avoided the largest strike in higher education history. The largest strike that actually didn’t happen. -Jennifer Eagan, California Faculty Association president
STRIKE OUT
DAILY 49ER California State University, Long Beach
Perfect
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Monday, February 22, 2016
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Tuesday, January 26, 2016
no smoking
This weekend saw the Long Beach State men’s basketball, women’s basketball, baseball, softball, men’s volleyball and women’s water polo teams all find success. LBSU played 13 total games from Thursday to Sunday and won nearly all of them. Read about the Dirtbags’ opening series win and the women’s basketball team on page 8 and find out how the softball, women’s water polo and men’s volleyball teams picked up their wins on page 7.
The 49ers roll to six wins in a row with their win over the rival Titans. By Will Hernandez Assistant Sports Editor
K aren Sawyer | Daily 49er
By Ariana Sawyer News Editor
CSU-CFA labor deal
What the CFA got: w 5 percent general salary increase as of June 31 w 2 percent general salary increase as of July 1 w 3.5 percent general salary increase as of July 1, 2017 w 2.65 percent service salary increase during the 2017-18 academic year for eligible faculty w Minimum raise upon promotion will go from 7.5 percent to 9 percent for tenure-line faculty
chapter Douglas Domingo-Forasté said the chancellor took a mostly hands-off approach to the bargaining process during the last 11 months, but that he called Eagan to restart negotiations as the result of the fact finder’s report, subsequent pressure from various other sources and the realization that faculty were serious about striking next week. “He called Jennifer Eagan, who had tried to call him [and] get him involved many times before, she said,” Domingo-Forasté said. “So, that’s when things got done — when he decided to be personally involved.” The terms of the agreement include a 5 percent general salary increase June 30, a 2 percent general salary increase one day later on July 1 and a 3.5 percent general salary increase on July 1, 2017. The June and July increases will take place at the end of this fiscal year and the beginning of the next, respectively. Cal State Long Beach Department of Interna-
Editors Designers Copy editors Photographers DAILY 49ER Videographers
California State University faculty would receive a 10.5 percent salary increase over the next three years in a tentative agreement between California Faculty Association labor leaders and CSU management, but whether the raise will really solve the faculty wage crisis, especially among non-tenuretrack professors, remains uncertain. CSU Chancellor Timothy White and CFA President Jennifer Eagan announced the terms of the agreement in a joint press conference in Sacramento Friday morning, averting the five-day strike that would have begun Wednesday. “What the CSU faculty has done is historic,” Eagan said. “We avoided the largest strike in higher
What the CSU got: w Salary increase will not be retroactive to the 2015-16 academic year w Faculty hired after July 1, 2017 receive full retirement health benefits with 10 years of service, as opposed to the current five.
education history. The largest strike that actually didn’t happen.” White said he was delighted that the CSU and CFA had reached a tentative agreement. “The ratification process is next, and I know that I will be commending this agreement to the Board of Trustees, and I know that the CFA leadership will be doing the same to their members,” White
Vol. lXVII, Issue 91
News 2
Arts & Life 5
said. The CFA and CSU management announced a 48-hour blackout period on strike planning, communication efforts and news last Monday to allow negotiations. In that time, the chancellor stepped in to actively participate in the negotiation process for the first time. President of the Cal State Long Beach CFA
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OpiNiONs 7
see DEAL, page 2
wednesday, march 16, 2016
spOrts 8
P hotos by ben h ammerton Daily 49er
Junior guard Anson Moye (top) pulls up from behind the arc in front of the 49ers’ bench. Senior guard Nick Faust (bottom) keeps the ball out of Titans’ forward Jamar Akoh’s reach in LBSU’s win over Cal State Fullerton on Saturday inside the Walter Pyramid.
teams LBSU beat this weekend
Tobacco-free transformation CSULB will follow more than 400 American colleges and universities that have already banned all forms of tobacco – including e-cigarettes – from their campuses. By Seth Perlstein Contributing Writer
he unmistakable smell of e-cigarette vapor wafted from around the corner of the Vivian Engineering Center at California State University, Long Beach. The invisible, nanoparticle- and carcinogen-infused exhalation flowed freely down the narrow corridor, past the glass-encased Mars rover exhibit, and into the semi-enclosed quad along Deukmejian Way. At the inception point of the gaseous trail sat Hernan Lozada, a CSULB civil engineering major, who prepared his digital nicotine-delivery device for another hit. But Lozada, and other 49ers who smoke, won’t be able to indulge his habit on campus for much longer. This fall, The Beach will transform itself into a tobacco-free university during a three-year process. “I don’t like it, because it takes away my smoking,” Lozada said disapprov-
ingly. “I am addicted.” More than 400 American colleges and universities have already banned all forms of tobacco – including e-cigarettes – from their campuses, according
to the American Lung Association. California State University, Fullerton became the first smoke-free CSU in 2013. Other CSUs such as California State University, Northridge, San Diego
State University and Sonoma State University soon followed suit. CSULB will join its smoke-free Southern California brethren when it rolls out its new tobacco policy in Au-
$118,850 for Breathe campaign The anti-smoking campaign aims to eliminate tobacco and e-cigarette use on campus by the fall semester. By Sara DeLeon Staff Writer
2016 semester, but President Jane Close Conoley has already informed the campus and is raising awareness on the CSULB website and Beachboard. Enforcement of the policy will not take place all at once, according to Mike Uhlenkamp, exec-
gust, which will begin with the removal of all ashtrays and designated smoking areas from campus. But the new program will have a three-year grace period that will allow smokers to continue their on-campus nicotine intake unpunished through 2018. “[Jane Conoley, CSULB president] really wanted it to be a positive experience,” said Scott Apel, CSULB associate vice president of human resources. “She didn’t want to punish smokers. She didn’t want to stigmatize people. She wanted us to help people with education and cessation efforts.” CSULB students voted to ban smoking – which causes more annual deaths than HIV, illegal drug use, alcohol use, motor-vehicle injuries and firearm-related incidents combined, according to the Center for Disease Control and
Submit resume and DAILYcompleted 49ER DAILY 49ER application* Round two for Madness begins safety talks to Micayla Vermeeren by see BASKETBALL, page 8 News 2
Arts & Life 4
OpiNiONs 6
spOrts 7
A new campaign implemented by the Cal State Long Beach Tobacco and Smoke Free Task Force is aiming to give CSULB students a healthier campus environment. The Breathe Campaign will officially launch in the Fall
News 2
Vol. lXVII, Issue 86
monday, march 7, 2016
The Long Beach State men’s and women’s basketball teams wrapped their seasons up on Saturday with both teams heading into the Big West Tournament riding winning streaks. The women’s team enters the tourney as the No. 3 seed after its second consecutive 20-win season. The men’s team also enters its tournament as the No. 3 seed after winning nine of its last 10 games.
spOrts 8
wednesday, march 23, 2016
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The university will hold an open forum after a student pulled a knife in class.
A student leader-led forum will be held today to further discuss campus safety.
By Ariana Sawyer News Editor
This forum will be the second attempt at creating an open dialogue between the campus community and Cal State Long Beach administration — but this time around, student leaders will orchestrate the conversation. Black Student Union President Justin Bradley organized the second forum alongside President Jane Close Conoley and Vice President Carmen Taylor as well as several other student organizations such as La Raza Student Association, Students for Justice in Palestine and the Muslim Student Association. Those groups will also speak at the forum.
Dec. 7, 5 p.m.
Assistant Sports Editor
Staff Writer
The Long Beach State men’s basketball team overcame an 11-point, second-half deficit to defeat Hawai’i 74-72 Saturday to finish the regular season 18-3 and 12-4 in the conference. After knocking off Hawai’i for a second straight time, the 49ers finished the season winning nine of their last 10 games. With that type of momentum, LBSU head coach Dan Monson said he likes the team’s chances going into the tourney.
The Long Beach State women’s basketball team finished its regular season 23-7 after defeating UC Davis 74-64 on Thursday and Cal State Northridge 79-69 on Saturday. The 49ers also finished 12-4 in the Big West, winning their last five games heading into their Big West Tournament opener on Wednesday as the No. 3 seed. LBSU and Hawai’i ended the season tied for second place in the con-
see HAWAI’I, page 8
see FINALE, page 8
see KNIFE, page 3
K aren Sawyer | Daily 49er
Vol. lXVII, Issue 95
Getting to the point
Vice President of Student Affairs Carmen Taylor invited Cal State Long Beach students in an email Friday to an open forum Thursday to discuss campus safety concerns after a student brandished a knife in class. The forum will be the first in a series, Taylor said. The administration’s effort to reach out came after students took to social media over the last several days to criticize the university’s lack of communication regarding the Feb. 25 incident in which a 20-year-old male student “displayed” a knife to a female student in a sociology class on race, class and gender. Much of the criticism stemmed from the fact that the altercation was not disclosed to the campus community in a timely warning email, and that the incident was perceived to have been racially motivated. “A careful assessment of [perceptions of race in] the reported event bears further scrutiny,” CSULB President Jane Close Conoley said Sunday in an email. The student was asked to leave, and the rest of the class was cancelled, according to Terri Carbaugh, a university spokesperson with the Office of Public Affairs. Whether the student is still on campus remains unclear. According to Conoley, who addressed the incident at last Thursday’s Academic Senate meeting, a timely warning was not issued, but she acknowledged that there should be a system to present the information to students. She refuted claims on social media that there was another incident with the same person last week. “The timely warning was not issued because according to the protocol of the threat assessment, there was no clear and present danger to this campus,” Conoley said at the meeting. “This is based on a protocol we use in every single incident on campus.” Conoley said University Police cleared the student to carry the knife on campus. “That doesn’t take away from the perception the people in the class had,” Conoley said. “This student did go and ask: ‘May I carry this?’ And he was told ‘Yes,’ so, in his experience — that’s what I’ve been told; this will be investigated.” Campus standards of conduct section 41301: b, 13, state that students may not bring knives to campus unless they are approved by the campus president. However, the president said she has delegated this task to CSULB Chief of Police Fernando Solarzano. “I’ve done this so the police can investigate the situation that might be causing a student to feel unsafe,” Conoley said in an email. “I’m not able to do that with any expertise, but our University PD can accomplish this with great skill. When the police chief works with a student about a unique situation, he can better assess whether the student should be allowed to have a weapon. He can also offer advice, protection, and prevention efforts to keep the student safe.” Conoley said she regretted not sending an email out right away and called it a “lesson learned.” “I would say to any student, you don’t need to bring anything that looks like a knife, acts like a knife to a class, alright?” Conoley said at the Academic Senate meeting.
Megan Stevens, a Psychology major at Cal State Long Beach, yells at organizers of the anti-abortion demonstration,the Genocide Awareness Project, Tuesday on the Free Speech Lawn.
A LAWN DIVIDED
bobby yagake | DaiLy 49er
see TOBACCO, page 3
OpiNiONs 6
California State University, Long Beach
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LBSU guard Nick Faust goes up against Hawai’i guard Sai Tummala in the 49ers’ two-point win over the Rainbow Warriors on Saturday inside the Walter Pyramid.
see SMOKED, page 3
Arts & Life 4
California State University, Long Beach
California State University, Long Beach
The Cal State Long Beach Free Speech Lawn drew hundreds of students Tuesday. The latest iteration of the antiabortion demonstration, the Genocide Awareness Project, was set up on one side of the lawn, drawing dozens of student protestors. [More on page 4] Across the sidewalk, Safe Space CSU encouraged students to make their own signs countering the message of the demonstration. [More about Safe Space CSU on page 6] On the other end of the lawn, more students gathered, some to watch, some to voice dissent with several street preachers that had set up on campus. In between both groups. the American Indian Student Council played drums and encouraged students to ignore both religious demonstrations.
P hoto by trang L e | DaiLy 49er
Senior communications major Eric Kim takes a smoking break in front of the library on Monday.
is now hiring: T
“Fight For Five” protestors including members of CFA hold signs outside of a Board of Trustees meeting in the California State University Office of the Chancellor Nov. 17, 2015.
CSU faculty won’t see a salary increase until July at the earliest with new labor deal.
With point guard Justin Bibbins back in the starting lineup, the Long Beach State men’s basketball team beat Cal State Fullerton 70-57 Saturday inside the Walter Pyramid. The 49ers (15-12, 9-3) led 42-39 with 12:52 remaining in the game, when Bibbins nailed his first three pointer of the game and ignited a 21-9 second-half run for the 49ers. “First half, [Bibbins] was trying to feel his way back,” LBSU head coach Dan Monson said. “But in the second half I thought he took control of that game.” Bibbins agreed with his coach and said he was fighting off nerves in his first start since Jan. 30 against Hawai’i. “First half I was jittery and excited to be back out there but in the second I calmed down,” Bibbins said. “I saw the floor better, lanes opened up and I was able to play my game again.” Bibbins entered the game against Cal State Northridge on Feb. 6 just to shoot free throws after junior guard Bradford Jones went down with an ankle injury. But after missing three of the last four games, Bibbins was the sparkplug for LBSU’s second half run. The 5-foot-8inch guard scored 10 of his 12 points in the second half and dished out three assists. Bibbins also pushed the tempo on a couple fastbreak plays after the 49ers forced several Titan turnovers. LBSU scored 20 points off of seven CSUF miscues. With 7:56 remaining in the game, freshman guard Noah Blackwell’s
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Students take a chance at romance every semester with this USU mingle.
teams by either arriving to the tournament with a group or join a group once they get there. Sophomore, Junior Castro says he was very involved in his high school but after leaving to college he thought it would be difficult to make friends. Yet, after he got involved in the dodgeball tournament, it was easy for him to make new friends. “It was very exciting to meet new friends, friends that liked similar things I liked,” Castro said. But the best reward is that we are [now] roommates and everything has worked out great.” Students who are new to the school can use this opportunity to network. Freshman Jorge Fernandez is excited to be part of this year’s dodgeball tournament and meet new people since it’s his first semester on campus. Fernandez says that he hopes he will be part not only of this event but also of many more to come. “I can’t wait to release some stress with new friends and attack some enemies and win this tournament before getting ready for next week’s finals,” Fernandez said. SWRC employee Allyson Yoshinaga said these events has been successful, just like other events in past such as October “Zombie Tournament.” “Seeing the faces of the students and how these events bring many students together makes me feel good,” Yoshinaga said. Come out on Dec. 7 to the Rec Center and brush off your stress with some dodgeball before we enter the world of terror: finals.
L aLig Tarbinian | DaiLy 49er
Junior forward Madison Montgomery looks to go up and score in LBSU’s win over UC Davis on Thursday inside the Walter Pyramid.
By Miranda Andrade-Ceja Arts & Life Editor
Student leaders from cultural and political organizations are organizing an open forum between students, faculty and administration regarding campus safety concerns. The forum will take place today at 5 p.m. in the USU ballrooms and will go on until 6:30 p.m.
see FORUM, page 2
S we e t e n i n g t h e
Cal State Long Beach students remain a captive audience for soft drink advertisement and limited beverage options. By Kevin Flores Special Issues Editor
Gareth F uller | Pa Wire | Zuma P ress | tNs
The ‘90s tagline “Always Coca-Cola” takes on a new meaning at Cal State Long Beach, which has been branded a Coke campus through at least 2021 after recent contract negotiations. This designation as a Coke campus means that the university, under the terms of what is colloquially referred to as a “pouring rights agreement,” must exclusively sell Coca-Cola beverages campuswide, notwithstanding some strict and limited exemptions. In return for their commitment to Coca-Cola, Forty Niner Shops receives a yearly sponsorship fee of $195,000 (or about $5.21 per student per year) for the extent of the contract, commissions on all vending machine sales and “incentive funding” for every case of product purchased from the bottler past a certain threshold. The Forty Niner Shops made $76,638 in vending machine commissions last year but did not meet the volume threshold required to receive incentive funding. Proceeds from Coca-Cola are split between the Forty Niner Shops and the Athletics Department and the nonprofit uses its share for operating costs such as utility bills and building maintenance as well as donations to the university, according to Kierstin Stickney, the director of marketing and communications for the Forty Niner Shops. The current contract signed in 2006 was set to expire in August, but was extended this month for an additional five years through an amendment added earlier this year, a move which went mostly unannounced to the student body. The 2006 contract included a clause that would have extended exclusive selling rights to Coca-Cola for
Members of the public gather at the Place de la Bourse in Brussels to leave messages and tributes following the terrorist attacks on Tuesday, March 22, 2016.
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Hot out West
The 49ers shot 42.9 percent from downtown as they handed Hawai’i its first road loss in conference play Saturday.
The 49ers picked up a pair of 10-point wins to close out their regular season as the No. 3 seed in the conference.
By Will Hernandez
K aren Sawyer | Daily 49er
“God loves Fedoras” but “hates hoes” says the street preacher on the freedom of speech lawn on upper campus.
Trang l e | Daily 49er
Students and counter protestors from CSU Safe Space challenge Beach Newman and the Center for Bio-Ethical Reform Tuesday during their presentation of the Genocide Awareness Project.
By Grester Celis-Acosta
Arts & Life 5
OpiNiONs 7
With yet another international terrorist attack hitting way too close to home, what are we to do? By Micayla Vermeeren Opinions Editor
How many mornings will there be where I wake up, look at my phone’s notifications, check my email, read a headline and think, “Oh, my loving God?”
And I’m an atheist. I really don’t know what there is left to say at this point. Between living in the Netherlands this past summer, having my sorority sister lose her roommate Nohemi in the Paris terrorist attacks this fall and hearing my best friend tell me he’s scared to walk into work at Disneyland today, this sort of headline is familiar, but still painful. I don’t know how I’m supposed to absorb it. And I know I’m not the only one.
see BRUSSELS, page 6
BoBBy yagaKe | Daily 49er
Safe Space CSU advocates protest street preachers and the Genocide Awareness Project outside the Hall of Science.
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Arts & Life 5
OpiNiONs 6
see COKE, page 4
spOrts 7
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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2016 DAILY49ER.COM | ARTSNLIFED49ER@GMAIL.COM
‘Moana’ misses the mark
The new Disney animation is loved by most, but not all. By Jason Enns
Arts & Life Editor
The new Disney film “Moana” has been acclaimed by audiences and critics alike, so I realize it’s an unpopular opinion to print a negative review, but here we go. I’m afraid of coming off ignorant by saying anything negative about the film, considering it is embedded with Polynesian culture. For me, that is one of the elements that make this film enjoyable, even though I know nothing about the culture. Unfortunately I still don’t think it was on par with some of the other animated flicks that have come out in recent years like “Zootopia,” “Frozen” and “How to Train your Dragon.” “Moana” has a few good qualities. The protagonist Moana is the first Polynesian Disney princess – sorry, Lilo doesn’t count as a princess. Moana is the heiress to her tribe; she was raised to take over for her father as chief. Lilo is just a girl with an alien. The writers are commendable for ignoring the urge to incorporate a
Courtesy of Walt Disney Animation Studios
Muana and Maui learn to cooperate with eachother on their long voyage to save Te Fiti.
romantic element. Moana and the demigod Maui create a buddy cop type dynamic. The two have drastically different personalities and goals, but forced to work together. But, other than its display of spirited Polynesian culture, “Moana” had very little else going for it. Occasionally, for no good reason, a random Disney movie song can get stuck in my head. Just today I was
singing a song from “Hercules.” That will never happen with “Moana.” The songs just weren’t all that catchy, and I couldn’t understand half the lyrics. The underlying message of “Moana,” as far as I can tell, is “be who you are.” It’s not a particularly unique lesson for the youth audience or even very prevalent. It doesn’t compare to the obvious duality in “Zootopia” to civil rights and race relations. It’s not
as clever as the alternate point-ofview story in “Frozen,” empathizing with the character that in a traditional fairy tail would be seen as the evil, ice witch. In the film, Moana is chosen by the ocean — the ocean has sentience by the way — to return the heart (a glowing stone) of Te Fiti back to her. Moana is yet another character like Harry Potter or Luke Skywalker; she’s
the chosen one, the only one who can restore balance to the universe. She didn’t work hard to become chief, she was born into it as per cultural tradition. She didn’t have to find Te Fiti’s heart, the ocean literally handed it to her, and the ships she needs are all conveniently built already and just hiding in the cave. Nearly every step of the way, when she hits an obstacle, the ocean bails her out. Call me skeptical, but I think we should stop telling our children, “You are inherently the best, you are the chosen one.” We should teach kids that hard work is necessary to be the best, and your destiny isn’t just going to create itself, essentially the opposite of Moana. In “How to Train your Dragon,” Hiccup climbs the social viking ladder by reading books, and getting first hand experience with his dragon — which he caught only after he had failed enough times to become the town liability. That is the type of hero that should be in children movies, ones who had to work, and even fail to accomplish their goals. “Moana” is a pleasant enough movie, I mean Dwayne Johnson sings so you know you’re in for some quality entertainment. But Disney can do better. The 4 percent of Rotten Tomatoes critics that voted it rotten probably thought the same.
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6 OPINIONS
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2016 DAILY49ER.COM | OPEDD49ER@GMAIL.COM
Dear Santa: please don’t grade this letter This year I’m asking St. Nick for more than presents — I need an academic miracle. By Karrie Comfort
D
Contributing Writer
ear Santa Claus, It’s been an interesting semester, to say the least. I got in a car accident within the first few weeks of school and lost a good portion of my school work stashed in the trunk. As a result of the unfortunate event, my grades plummeted from merry A’s to naughty C’s. I was being shuttled to and from school and work by friends, coworkers, and occasionally my mom — it would’ve really helped if you had lent me Blitzen for a few weeks. I mean, or Comet. I was far from being picky at the time. After all, I know your loyal reindeer are on paid leave until at least mid-December, so I would have appreciated the lift. But, I held out because I know that you only bring presents once a year, and I am nothing if not patient. In fact, I think you and I have quite a few things in common. For example, I know you truly put in only around two weeks of work each December while you’re tidying up the nice and naughty list. Just like you, I too, only work two weeks or so out of the year: it’s called finals week for me. Instead of diligently working throughout the year like your talented and often forgotten elves, I was drinking coffee at shabby chic cafes on Second Street. I might have hung out with friends instead of studying — I would constantly tell myself that I would “do it in the morning.” Since you see me when I’m sleeping, and know when I’m awake, I’m sure you know that I never did it in the morning. I mean really, some of us are just not built with the steady countenance of an elf, to continually build toys each day, or, in my case, write papers constantly. That’s the reason, I know, that you only deliver presents once a year and not on some kind of North Pole installment plan — biweekly for every new pay period. That being said, Santa, just like you can’t shuffle out gifts for every Johnny and Sally out there every few days, neither could I get most of my school work done this semester. All I want for Christmas is for the hard work I put in for these
Photo illustration by Trang Le, Jade Inglada and Miranda Andrade-Ceja
last two weeks of finals to be the only thing that counts toward my grades this semester. I promise to work extra hard and put in quite a lot of coffee-infused sweat and tears. I don’t want you to think we don’t notice how hard it is for you to cram all those present deliveries into one night. I mean, as I try and cram 16 weeks worth of study material into two nights — I’m thinking of you the entire time.
Let’s make a deal: I’ll leave out a plate of cookies and milk for you if you can leave out a 24 oz Vietnamese coffee so I can get some serious studying done. Seems like a good exchange — after all we both need fuel, right? Please and thanks, Santa Claus, I know I can always count on you. Since I know you only work on a once a year kind-of-basis, I have one last request in advance: can you help me again in May? I promise to save you a ticket for commencement.
Is it better to give or receive the perfect gift? The age-old holiday question, answered. By Sabrina Mongiello Contributing Writer
I once read an book titled, “29 Gifts” based on the true story of Cami Walker, a woman diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, a disease where nerves in the brain and spinal cord are severely damaged. Amid all of the pain Walker constantly went through, coupled with her severe depression, a South
African healer she knew prescribed her with a therapeutic way of dealing with her condition — giving rather than receiving. The woman advised Walker to give 29 gifts to others in 29 days. These gifts did not have to be extravagant, Cami could check the giving box off each day by giving something as simple as a belly rub to her pet cat. The lesson learnt here was that Cami became much happier and more involved in life after giving to others with no expectation of receiving anything in return. During the holiday season, many people may find themselves asking — is it better to give or receive the perfect gift? I’m convinced giving the perfect gift is always more
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fulfilling than receiving one. Nothing compares to witnessing the gratefulness in a loved one’s eyes after they open a thoughtful present from you. The joy that comes with gift-giving starts from a young age. A recent study published by psychologists at the University of British Columbia titled, “Giving Leads to Happiness in Young Children” reported that even young children are happier while giving rather than receiving. I believe this stems from the fact that all childhood friendships are essentially run on a barter system. The kind of system where questions like “We can play four square together if you give me some of your Fruit Gushers” are common.
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In the aforementioned study, researchers found that “toddlers did not find giving aversive; rather, they exhibited greater happiness when giving treats ... than when receiving treats themselves.” But really, what’s better than spending days searching through countless stores, shops and websites for that perfect gift you know your loved one will appreciate? Hearing them say something along the lines of, “Oh my God, this is so me” when they open their gift, in turn, ends up making the giver feel like the special one. In the end, it’s been proven that we as people inherently enjoy giving gifts — both material and immaterial — to those who mean the most to us. Giving ends up being the best gift of all. Happy holidays, everyone.
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Editorials: All opinions expressed in the columns, letters and cartoons in this issue are those of the writers or artists. The opinions of the Daily 49er 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 49er.
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SPORTS 7
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2016 DAILY49ER.COM | SPORTSD49ER@GMAIL.COM BASKETBALL
Walter Pyramid will be full house Long Beach State men’s and women’s basketball teams host games.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
By Matthew Simon Sports Editor
Long Beach State’s Walter Pyramid will be busy today, as both the men’s and women’s basketball teams host games. Kicking off the afternoon of action, the women’s team will welcome Pacific University for a non-conference contest that starts at 5 p.m. The women are coming off of a win over Boston University Sunday at Arizona State University Classic that ended a four-game losing streak. Senior forward Jewelyn Sawyer filled the stats sheet at the ASU Classic with 23 points, 14 rebounds, eight assists, five steals and two blocks. The senior has been a consistent force for the 49ers as the team has dealt with player injuries. LBSU’s (4-4) opponent, Pacific, is led by senior forward Sarah Curl, who is averaging 18 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. The Tigers are coming off a 67-51 win over Pacific Lutheran Saturday, which ended a twogame losing streak. After the women’s game ends, the men’s basketball team will take on Pepperdine at 7:30 p.m. The men’s team (1-9) is coming home after a tedious ninegame road trip that included games against several of the topranked teams in the country. The strength of the schedule showed as the 49ers didn’t win on the road. The team battled in a few games, but weren’t able to pull out wins. LBSU is coming off a tough 93-85 loss to New Mexico State Saturday. In the game junior point guard Justin Bibbins led the 49ers with 18 points. Sophomore guard Noah Blackwell also had a big performance scoring 13 points. Pepperdine (4-4) comes to Walter Pyramid on a two-game losing streak with losses to Belmont and Portland State. The Waves are led by senior guard Lamond Murray Jr., who is averaging 22.8 points. Murray Jr. is followed by senior forward Chris Reyes, who is averaging 15.3 points.
Benjamin Hammerton | Daily 49er
Long Beach State’s junior guard Justin Bibbins, preseason All-Big West team member, is expected to be a catalyst for men’s basketball team.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Small stature, big game Junior guard Justin Bibbins expects to help Long Beach State win Big West. By Christian Gonzales Assistant Sports Editor
If you have watched Long Beach State men’s basketball, you will have noticed a player on the court, one who has natural instinct to pass the ball to set up his teammates at the right spot and moment. That player is the 49ers’ guard Justin Bibbins, who lists himself as 5 feet 8 inches tall. Despite being overlooked by other schools due to his height, Bibbins has overcome the expectations of others on the court. Bibbins’ height never stopped him from being a star on the court in high school and at the college level, it’s his mentality that helps him succeed in the game. Bibbins started playing basketball at the age of five, when his dad Kenny coached him until the age of 10. When the guard played AAU basketball, his dad was a part of the game tagging along with Bibbins. “My dad has taught me a lot how to compete, how to battle and never back down,” Bibbins said. “I think him spending so much time in the gym with me, teaching me and believing in me has taught me a lot about myself and how to play the game of basketball.” In high school Bibbins attended Bishop Montgomery in Torrance, where his older brother also played. Knights head coach Doug Mitchell taught Bibbins to be more vocal as he averaged 21.3 points, 5.4 assists and 3.8 rebounds as senior. LBSU head coach Dan Monson saw
Jose De Castro | Daily 49er
Junior guard Justin Bibbins directs the offense during Long Beach State Homecoming game against CalTech at Walter Pyramid on Nov. 5. that Bibbins was always winning when he attended game and that led him to make an offer to Bibbins to play at Long Beach State after his senior year. “Coach Monson believed in me and didn’t care about the height,” Bibbins said. “When somebody does that you have to take it.” The transition from high school to college didn’t go as planned, as he struggled in his first action as a player. Bibbins admitted he was small and needed to get bigger; he talked to Monson all the time about being vocal and an example for the team and [he] was in the weight room all the time his first season to take that next step. “I think when he got here he realized that he wasn’t going to be able to go the things he was used to,” Monson said. “But last year he made the necessary adjustments and knew what he could
and could not do on the floor.” His sophomore year was that time for Bibbins to step it up in the locker room and on the court. He led by example for the the team and this year is about accepting that role and running with it. Last season, the skilled guard averaged 12 points per game and averaged 5 assists per game, dishing out 164 assists the third-most in school history. A moment that he won’t forget is his sophomore year when the 49ers traveled to Hawai’i. Even though he left the game in the first half with a hamstring injury. LBSU defeated the Rainbow Warriors, 78-64, in front of sellout crowd of 10,300. Bibbins will always remember that and having fun with his team inside the locker room celebrating the tough win. Over the summer, Bibbins took his
talents to the Drew League when his former AAU coach had a team and called Bibbins to join the roster. He played and learned alongside Miami Heat Center Hassan Whiteside, Denver Nuggets guard Will Barton and professional basketball player Dorell Wright. Now in his junior year, Bibbins is averaging nearly 10 points and four assists per game. Bibbins has played against top programs in the country playing Wichita State, North Carolina, Louisville, UCLA and Kansas. Monson prepared a tough schedule for his squad to find their identity on the nine-game road trip. The 49ers are 1-9 and are focused on the Big West conference to punch a ticket to the NCAA tournament. Bibbins and company will host Pepperdine University at 7:30 p.m. today in search for a win.
8 SPORTS
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2016 DAILY49ER.COM | SPORTSD49ER@GMAIL.COM
Jose De Castro | Daily 49er
Long Beach State’s senior forward Jewelyn Sawyer plans to use her all-around game to help 49ers win Big West title.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Sawyer uses skill set to succeed Sawyer’s defense can help lead LBSU to a championship. By Grester Celis-Acosta Contributing Writer
What makes a great defensive basketball player? It may be stats like blocks, steals and rebounds or how a player can disrupt opposing players by forcing them to commit a turnover or having them take difficult shots. All those factors are true, especially for senior forward Jewelyn Sawyer. Sawyer won Big West Defensive Player of the Year last season, finishing with 47 steals and 15 blocks. Her defensive prowess helped the 49ers win 24 games and reach the semifinals of the Big West Tournament. It also cemented LBSU as a top defensive team in the Big West by leading in the league in turnovers forced, steals and finishing second in blocks. “I didn’t expect [to win defensive player of the year] because coaches vote,” Sawyer said. “I’m not saying I don’t try to play defense, but I didn’t go out and think I was going to win defensive player of the year. I just wanted to play hard, where our team could win and if I get a personal accolade on the way that’s nice, but it’s not like the biggest thing. I want us to win more than like me getting per-
FAST FACTS
SENIOR FORWARD JEWELYN SAWYER
2016
— Named Big West Defensive Player of the Year for 20152016 season.
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sonal awards.” Head coach Jody Wynn, on the other hand, was not surprised when Sawyer won the award. “I definitely think that she’s the best defender in the league,” Wynn said. “She can defend [the whole court] and we put her in positions in the full court, half court, [she guards] point guards and centers. She disrupts people’s offense through our presses as well as our half-court defense. She rebounds the ball and she has great length, her wingspan is 6 feet 5 inches.” Sawyer attended Gahr High School in Cerritos where she averaged 18.1 points per game, 4.7 assists, 12.4 rebounds, 4.2 steals and 5.4 blocks in her senior year. She also helped the Gladiators reach the CIF Championship game her senior year. According to Wynn, Sawyer was a versatile player in high school thanks
— Career-high for points scored.
47
— Number of steals Sawyer had during 2015-2016 season.
to her height and natural athleticism, but a key reason for her recruitment was her character. “[She’s a] long, lengthy, athletic player, but before any of that her character,” Wynn said. “She was a good student that was awarded through her high school. She gained several awards for her character, for her community work, for her success academically over at Gahr High School. When you combine that with a ball of potential, which is what she was, we were just excited.” Some of the awards that Sawyer won in high school were L.A. Sports Council High School Achievement award, CIF-SS Champion of Character award and was a two-time selection for the ESPN High School/CalHi Sports All-State team. Her character is one of the many reasons why the team voted her to be one of the two team captains.
30
— Total number of games started during 20152016 season.
“I was captain last year and I was voted captain again this year,” Sawyer said. “I don’t find it as having pressure because most people say a captain is the person who can talk to the coaches and talk to the team. I have to make sure that I’m fulfilling my role.” Despite feeling there is no pressure as a captain, Sawyer says that she rarely has time for herself outside of school and basketball. “Since we’re in season, all you pretty much just have to do is focus on school and basketball,” Sawyer said. “When we’re not in season you’re training to be in season. It’s really hard because basketball goes over both semesters and then summer [is] usually the prime time to work out and to get better as a basketball player.” Even though she’s always busy, Sawyer has a positive outlook on things. She stays relaxed, calm and laughs
about practically anything. Sawyer recalls a time back in her freshman high school summer basketball camp when one of her coaches would make her run because she would smile and laugh in serious moments. She said it sucked to run, but it taught her when to laugh and when not to laugh. Teammate and senior guard Raven Benton mentioned that Sawyer loves food especially Krispy Kreme. “She eats anywhere,” Benton said. “She don’t really like restaurants that much because she [doesn’t] like sitting down so it has to be a fast food restaurant. She loves going to Krispy Kreme. That’s her favorite place to go.” Sawyer defended herself by saying she hasn’t gone to Krispy Kreme in a while, but says she loves cronuts, a croissant-donut mashup, and recommends them to everyone. All food aside, Sawyer’s goal for the season is to win the Big West Championship. “We haven’t had that feeling of cutting down the net,” Sawyer said. “And even in high school I was that short. I was in the CIF Championship and I lost. This year I want to make it to the championship game and win it and have that feeling of finally cutting down the net because I’ve never won a significant title. So I want to try to win at least somewhere.” Sawyer hopes that this will be the year she’s able to help her team to a title.