CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, LONG BEACH
VOL. LXVIII, ISSUE 57 | FEBRUARY 2, 2017 ASI
Students fee-ling confused ASI discusses SIRF, CSULB internationals, TAP cards and the tuition hike. By James Chow Staff Writer
Bobby Yagake | Daily 49er
DANCING INTO THE SPRING SEMESTER
Kenta Tominaga dances at the CSULB Breakers booth at Week of Welcome Wednesday. To read more about it, see page 2.
Associated Students, Inc. Vice President Logan Vournas reported Wednesday the confusion around the Student Involvement and Representation Fee, labeled as a $2 student advocacy fee on MyCSULB. On ASI’s website, SIRF is listed as voluntary, but students have trouble opting out. Vournas reported that SIRF is system-wide among the California State Universities, which means individual campuses can’t opt out of it. Vournas said she is looking into informing students about what the fee is via media campaign. ASI also addressed the issue concerning the status of international students and faculty in light of President Donald Trump’s executive order on immigration. In Marvin Flores’ president’s report, which was read by Vournas in his absence, he said he will follow up with Jeet Joshee, associate vice president for International Education, about the status of international students. Also, Cal State Long Beach Provost Brian Jersky was set to “release a letter to faculty about the status of our professors that are here on green card or visa,” Vournas said. The letter, which encouraged such professors to “consider international travel with great care,” was distributed later in the day. “I feel we can voice more support for undocumented immigrants,” Estefany Flores, College of Education senator. Other issues were delineated in Flores’ report, one of which being that TAP cards will no longer be given out next year. Instead, students will receive a TAP sticker to put on their student ID. Original TAP cards will still be valid, though. The replacement fee for the TAP sticker is $5. Vournas said that students who lose their ID and wish to replace both the ID and the sticker will have
see FEES, page 2
DACA
DREAMers’ DACA status uncertain beneath Trump
By Lola Olvera Staff Writer
Michelle Javier was only a year old when she was brought across the Mexican border into the United States. Fearful of the rising violence in their home of Guerrero, a coastal state in Southern Mexico, and horrified after the murders of two relatives, Javier’s parents sought a safer alternative. Like so many other immigrants, they said goodbye to their family, enlisted the help of a paid guide across the border,
or a coyote, and crossed the border illegally. Javier is 23 years old now, juggling a job and working towards a sociology degree at Cal State Long Beach like any other typical college student, but she doesn’t take it for granted. Her ability to legally work, study and drive in the U.S. is dependent on her status under Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, which she has renewed every two years since its inception in 2012. Undocumented immigrants under 35 who were brought to the U.S. before they were 16 are eligible for DACA. This policy, passed by the Obama administration, prevents DREAMers from being deported and allows them to work in the U.S. as long as their application is renewed every two years. Now, their ability to renew their DACA
may be in jeopardy. What are purportedly drafts of White House executive order proposals were published last Wednesday by
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CSULB DREAMer responds to rumors of DACA repealment.
I can’t say I felt 100 percent safe prior to Trump because I never have felt safe. -Michelle Javier, Undocumented student
online news site Vox. One alleged draft asks for “ending unconstitutional executive amnesties,” which would effectively end DACA, an executive order
by Obama. DACA’s repealment would leave DREAMers like Javier without any documentation to legally reside in the U.S.. Although Vox admits they can not confirm the authenticity of the documents and if they are legitimate they still remain subject to revision or rejection, a repealment of DACA is closely aligned with President Trump’s expressed views on immigration. President Trump has issued executive orders related to immigration, one which orders sanctuary cities to comply with immigration officials in deportations of undocumented immigrants with a criminal record and the initiation of the building of a wall along the U.S.-Mexican border. “I can’t say I felt 100 percent safe prior to Trump because I never have felt
safe,” Javier said. “The hardest challenges have been dealing with the stigma associated [with] immigrants. It’s been difficult overcoming constant obstacles and barriers in affording my education and trying to remain a decent human being at the same time while hearing so many racial slurs thrown at me.” Trump’s presidential victory, she says, “...only intensified and amplified [her] fear.” According to the CSULB website, 39 percent of CSULB undergraduates identify as Latinx. AB 540, better know as the California Dream Act of 2011, allows undocumented high school diploma recipients who attended a U.S. high school for at least three years to pay in-
see DREAM, page 2
2 NEWS
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CRIME BLOTTER
Three bikes reported stolen in first two weeks of school Staff Writer
Three bikes reported stolen in first two weeks of semester Cal State Long Beach Police received a report of a blue and gray Giant brand bicycle that had been stolen outside the College of Business Administration between 4 and 9:45 p.m. on Jan. 25, Lieutenant Richard Goodwin said. Another student reported that their bike had been stolen from outside of Hillside building B on Sunday. The bicycle had been secured with a cable lock and the student reporting the theft hadn’t checked on the status
of the bicycle for a week before they discovered the theft. On Monday morning, another bike was reported stolen from outside the CBA building. Goodwin acknowledged that bike thefts were one of the more common crimes on campus. “The bikes, they can be an easy target if they’re not locked up properly like with a U-Lock,” Goodwin said. “They can be an easy target for criminals. It’s been an ongoing problem here for a while.” For students who may be worried about the potential theft of their own bicycle, Goodwin highlighted the effectiveness of U-locks over chains or cables. He also recommended pe-
and we have your number on your bike so it’s more easily recognizable,” Goodwin said. “Having that serial number off the bike is great because it goes into our computer system which is statewide. Let’s say the bike is picked up by an officer in Huntington Beach, and they run a serial number, that’s how they’ll check.”
Illustration by Miranda Andrade-Ceja
riodic checks of a bike if it’s parked long term and that students register their bikes at the main campus police station and the substation at the Uni-
Week of Welcome Bringing excitement and interaction to what would otherwise have been a textbook week, campus clubs and organizations came out in full force Wednesday and Thursday for Week of Welcome. Held in the quad from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m., WoW showcased dozens of booths brimming with students eager to recruit.
Isabel Ramos | Daily 49er
Week of Welcome is a two-day event that runs from Wednesday to Thursday. The event is a place for students to get involved on campus and a place of resource for them.
Bobby Yagake | Daily 49er
Week of Welcome is a two-day event that runs from Wednesday to Thursday. The event is a place for students to get involved on campus and a place of resource for them.
FEES
continued from page 1 to pay $10. A new teacher evaluation process will be tested in coming months, Vournas said. “The university will be offering
students the ability to be evaluating their professors online next semester,” said Vournas. “A select number of students are going to be testing how that process works.” The proposed tuition hike was another issue discussed by the ASI. The CSU Board of Trustees is considering a system wide 5 percent increase in tuition and will vote on
it in March. Flores’ report said that he spoke to the BOT, advocating against the tuition hike. “It was amazing to see how they barely made quorum,” read Vournas. A quorum is the minimum number of members needed to conduct business. “We do have some members on the BOT against the increase.”
versity Student Union. “It takes a couple minutes. It’s real quick. And then we give you a little tag and you can put that on your bike
DREAM
continued from page 1 state tuition at U.S. universities, state universities and community colleges. 1000 students at CSULB benefit from this act, and it’s likely that nearly all of CSULB’s undocumented students are recipients of DACA, according to Rafael Topete, the director of the Dream Success Center. Topete believes that providing accurate information is the best course of action. Rumors circulate warning DREAMers not to apply for DACA for the first time or not to travel abroad, even with an advanced parole travel document which can allow DACA students to leave the country for educational purposes. Topete recognizes that being an immigrant can be especially uncertain and overwhelming at this time. Realizing the implications of being an undocumented immigrant came as a huge blow to Javier even when she was in high school. “I was like, ‘What’s the point of graduating if I’m not gonna be anything?’” she recalls. “Like, if I can’t work, if I can’t do anything, then what’s the point?” She suffered from depression and was truant throughout most of high school before she started seeing a psychologist and began community college. “I wish I had someone back then to guide me in that direction,” Javier said. “Where … I wouldn’t have gone through the things that I’ve gone through or done the things that I did had I had someone, like a mentor.” Topete hopes the Dream Success Center can provide those kinds of resources to DREAMers on campus. He’s noted anxiety and stress among Latinx students and says that it’s understandable. “Students know that they’ve worked hard to get where they are and DACA has given them the opportunity to continue to work hard for their goals [and] their dreams,” Javier said. “Taking DACA away from some of these students will
Campus Police open case on Bathroom Vandalism The vandalism incident referred to in Monday’s issue of the Daily 49er involving derogatory speech directed at Latinxs is an open investigation according to Goodwin, who said that there are no active leads at this time.
basically not allow them to continue their dreams. If they become teachers, it won’t allow them to get a teaching job. If they become nurses or lawyers, even if they’re able to get their licensing, they won’t be able to practice because they can’t legally work in the country.” The Dream Success Center has responded to student’s fears by hosting roundtables and safe spaces where students are able to express their thoughts. Similar events are planned this semester. Future Underrepresented Educated Leaders, a student organization which supports AB540 and undocumented
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By Adam R. Thomas
Our job is to let students find the answers and let them interpret those answers, we’re not in the business of telling them do it [or] don’t do it. -Rafael Topete, director of the Dream Success Center
students, has allied with the Long Beach Immigrant Rights Coalition for a free legal clinic at the Pointe on February 11 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. “Our job is to let students find the answers and let them interpret those answers,” Topete said. “We’re not in the business of telling them do it [or] don’t do it.” Not all undocumented students have the same options. Javier, for example, could potentially join her father in Canada, where he moved to after coming to the U.S., and where he works to help support their family. They both see Canada as more welcoming to immigrants and offering more opportunities, such as easier access to healthcare, travel visas and paths to citizenship. Better yet, she would feel less anxious about her immigration status and the consequences of it, she said. “The uncertainty is emotionally exhausting,” she said. “However … it’s a hard decision to leave the place you’ve called home your whole life.”
NEWS 3
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LA judge orders halt to travel ban By Joel Rubin
Los Angeles Times
A federal judge in Los Angeles has added another legal challenge to President Donald Trump’s controversial suspension of travel from a group of predominantly Muslim countries, issuing an emergency order that forbids government officials from enforcing the new rules. Using sweeping, unambiguous language, U.S. District Judge Andre Birotte Jr. on Tuesday night granted a temporary restraining order against the executive order Trump signed late last week. Birotte’s ruling came in a case hastily filed Tuesday on behalf of 28 Yemeni-born people. The group consists of United States citizens living here and family members who remained behind in Yemen but had received visas to come to the U.S., according to court filings. Finding that the plaintiffs stand a good chance of prevailing when the case is heard in court and are “likely to suffer irreparable harm” if he didn’t act, Birotte instructed that the plain-
tiffs be allowed entry into the U.S. Birotte, however, went further, granting a request from the plaintiffs’ lawyers that his ruling be applied to anyone trying to enter the U.S. on a valid visa from the seven countries included in Trump’s immigration ban.
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Birotte forbade federal officials from ‘removing, detaining or blocking the entry’ of affected travelers or ‘cancelling validly obtained and issued immigrant visas of plaintiffs.
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The ban was signed last week by President Trump.
The executive order, which Trump has said will better protect the country against terrorist attacks, blocks citizens from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen from coming to the U.S. for at least 90 days. It also imposes a ban for 120 days on refugees from any country entering the U.S. and bars refugees from Syria indefinitely. Critics of the ban have expressed concern it will do little to improve security while alienating Muslims.
The president’s order, which polls show is supported by about half of Americans, was issued Friday and met with angry protests and confusion at several U.S. airports as border control officers refused entry to hundreds of people and detained others for long periods as they scrambled to understand the scope of the new rules. Whether Birotte’s order will have any impact is an open question. A handful of federal judges elsewhere in the country have already issued rulings that blocked aspects of the executive order, but it is unclear whether they have been followed. In one of the rulings, a judge in New York on Saturday ordered a halt to deportations of travelers who arrived at airports with valid visas to enter the U.S. countries. Despite that order, however, reports surfaced in Los Angeles and elsewhere of people being turned back. Notably, in his ruling, Birotte forbade federal officials from “removing, detaining or blocking the entry” of affected travelers or “cancelling validly obtained and issued immigrant visas of plaintiffs.” The wording would seen to mean that government officials would not be allowed to continue the practice of instructing airlines and border officials in other countries to stop people from the affected countries from
Genaro Molina | Los Angeles Times
U.S. Attorney Andre Birotte, Jr., in his office at the U.S. Courthouse in Los Angeles on March 5, 2014.
PROTEST
UC Berkeley protests force cancellation of speech By Matt Hamilton, Teresa Watanabe and Peter H. King Los Angeles Times
A speech by conservative firebrand Milo Yiannopoulos was canceled at the University of California, Berkeley on Wednesday amid violent protest on campus that sparked at least one fire. Police clashed with protesters, and much of the university was placed on lockdown. Campus police were ordering protesters to leave the area, but many were refusing. At 6:50 p.m., police used a loud-
speaker to tell the crowd that Yiannopoulous had left the campus and that protesters would be arrested if they didn’t disperse. This marks the second time in two weeks that rowdy protests have forced the cancellation of a Yiannopoulos speech. The same thing happened last month at UC Davis, prompting a debate about free speech protections and how university should response to so-called “hate speech.” Yiannopoulos writes for Breitbart News and is an avowed supporter of President Donald Trump. On his Facebook page, Yiannopoulos said that “violent left-wing protesters” had broken into a building’s ground floor, ripped down barricades and threw rocks.
“My team and I are safe. But the event has been cancelled,” Yiannopoulous said.
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I get very, very alarmed with folks who don’t treat [freedom of speech] for the treasure it is.
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Milo Yiannopoulous was to speak at the college.
-Chancellor Ralph Hexter, UC Davis interim Chancellor
In characteristic fashion, he pointed to the mayhem on campus to highlight his agenda: “One thing
we do know for sure: the Left is absolutely terrified of free speech and will do literally anything to shut it down.” The cancellation of his talk at UC Davis sparked debate about the limits of free speech and hate speech. Davis College Republicans decided it was unsafe to continue the event after a large number of protesters blocked access to the venue, according to a release from the school. UC Davis interim Chancellor Ralph Hexter said he was “deeply disappointed” by the protests and the cancellation. Hexter said he worries that outside groups are using college campuses to trigger conflicts intended for the national stage. He acknowledged the difficulty of protecting open speech
in a field rife with landmines. “I get very, very alarmed with folks who don’t treat (freedom of speech) for the treasure that it is,” he said two weeks ago. So far, the UC system has resisted calls to cancel the Yiannopoulos talks. In the weeks before Yiannopoulos’ planned Berkeley appearance, administrators received hundreds of letters from faculty, students and others demanding they bar him from speaking. One letter from a dozen faculty members argued that his talk could be canceled on the grounds that his actions — which they called “harassment, slander, defamation and hate speech” — violated UC Berkeley’s code of conduct.
CORRECTION: In the photo on the front page of Wednesday’s paper, Ali Igmen was on the right and Yousef Baker was on the left.
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Courtesy of Jeff Ogle
Jeff Ogle has this design in mind for the interactive wall display that he plans on installing on campus.
STUDENT FEATURE
Solidarity among disparity New project aims to raise awareness for undocumented students. By Carlos Villicana Staff Writer
Issues that complicate the lives of the undocumented student community may be unknown to the majority of the student body, but the Undocuversity project is looking to change that. Undocuversity is a semester long project by senior international studies major Jeff Ogle that aims to raise awareness about the rights of undocumented students and the issues they face in the United States. After spending eight years working in the auto industry, Ogle decided that what he truly wanted to do was help people in the undocumented community and he returned to school at Cal State Long Beach to do so. “I believe that it is my civic duty to support those in the community, regardless of their status as citizens,” said Ogle. “As a citizen, I have the power, just like [immigrants] do, to spread
information and educate others about the importance of their rights and the importance of them being here.” Ogle believes that immigrants are important to the United States because different cultures can bring different perspectives to issues that may otherwise be thought about unilaterally. “Having people here from other cultures really makes the country what it is today,” said Ogle. “I think that having them here and having them be in our communities and giving them the same opportunities that my ancestors did [have] is the most important thing that we can do. That means that we have to work with our state legislators, we need to work with our politicians.” He noted that changes made by the President Donald Trump affect others more than him, but that his life has now been affected by a recent action taken by the President as well. Ogle recently learned that a friend who holds dual citizenship in Germany and Syria will not be able to reenter the country because entry from Syria was suspended indefinitely by a recent executive order by President Trump on Jan. 27. “Now it’s affecting me personally and this project is really important to me, more than it was before,” he said.
Ogle said that collaboration and education of those on campus are key aspects of the project. Dream Success Center director Rafael Topete said that he commends Ogle for allowing the community to guide his research and attempting to learn about undocumented students by reaching out to them. Ogle wants to have city officials speak with students about sanctuary cities, organize a panel of immigration lawyers and conduct a research survey for the Undocuversity project. The research survey will be used to collect data on how undocumented students are engaging with resources available to them and what the university can do to improve services for the undocumented student community. Ogle noted that the survey would be conducted anonymously, as he does not want to put any undocumented students in danger by revealing their identity. “One of the major objectives is to connect with people as much as possible,” said Ogle. “I want students to find out how they can help.” Ogle wants to build an interactive display on campus that students can use to share their experiences in writing or art, or view and attempt to understand
the experiences of others. “It’s not just having discussions and talking to people. Some people interact or have dialogues different than others. They’re more hands on, they’re more kinesthetic,” Ogle said. “So this is an opportunity for someone to share what they want to say, but they don’t necessarily have to go to a discussion or talk with someone.” The display was originally going to be a wall that Ogle described as “ironic,” but he changed the idea to a series of walls that people can walk through after he received input from Chicano and Latino studies and sociology senior Norberto Lopez, of La Raza Student Association. “I don’t know how people are going to take to this wall. But it’s definitely going to be a different reaction because of who is doing it,” Lopez warned. Lopez said that if Ogle wants people to be willing to share their stories, he’ll first have to talk to them and establish a community on campus. Though it is currently in concept, Ogle hopes to finish the display by March and have it placed in front of the Speaker’s Platform. “I don’t want to walk away from this campus empty handed, and I don’t want to walk away from this campus with
FAST FACTS
IMMIGRATION RESOURCES On campus: • Dreamers Success Center (USU - 309) California Immigrant Policy Center: • caimmigrant.org American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California: • aclusocal.org Immigration Legal Resource Center: • ilrc.org the faculty and administration empty handed. I want them to learn what I learned. What that looks like in May, I don’t know,” said Ogle. With his findings, Ogle hopes to build create a constructive dialogue and bring as much awareness and support as possible to issues faced by the undocumented community.
FILM REVIEW
The end of a series that should have stayed dead “Resident Evil: The Final Chapter” marks the conclusion of the second-rate saga. By Ross Siev
Contributing Writer
Through an impressively mediocre display butchering the classic video game series, “Resident Evil: The Final Chapter” sets out to close the story on the 15-year sci-fi/horror film franchise. Similar to the previous films, heroine and apparent martial arts expert Alice
must partner up with several death-impeding survivors and the obligatory character from the video game series. Together, they must infiltrate yet another underground facility where danger lurks around every corner. Paul W.S. Andersen returns to the director’s chair, with wife Milla Jovovich to once again portray lead character Alice, who looks like she hasn’t aged a day since the beginning of the franchise in 2002. The film opens up with a recap of what has already happened, which is suitable for anyone lucky enough to forget what has happened in the series. It’s through this mess of a plot that new viewers to the “Resident Evil” films
would better be off watching “The Final Chapter” first, but a better recommendation would be to avoid the series entirely. The world continues to be in shambles thanks to the Umbrella Corporation’s goal of systematically wiping out most of humanity through the T-Virus infecting the populace. The glimmer of hope shines when a cure happens to make an appearance, and it’s up to Alice to obtain the cure before humanity goes extinct. Alice continues to remain a one-woman army capable of taking down enemies ranging from terrible CGI-monsters to kung-fu soldiers. It’s because her stone-cold expressions and
terrible one-liners that will never make her a memorable heroine. Otherwise, “Resident Evil” provides a detriment on Jovovich’s career as being the only films she’s capable of starring in. The supporting cast of survivors mainly serve as a cannon fodder to the dangers looming for the otherwise invulnerable heroine. Survivors like Abigail (Ruby Rose) and Doc (Eoin Macken) aren’t enough to provide any sort of backstory as most of the focus is on Alice. Gaming and film fans will enjoy the return of Ali Carter as Claire Redfield (sporting her Revelations 2’s game design) and Shawn Roberts as Albert Wesker, who’s now reduced to being a
henchman to series veteran Dr. Alexander Isaacs (Iain Glen). Isaacs’ return from his previous demise is due to Glen’s increasing star power role in the “Game of Thrones” TV series as Jorah Mormont, so it’s no surprise that his appearance will most likely guarantee more audience members wanting to see his attempts to perform martial arts. Every hand-to-hand fight scene focuses primarily on shaky cam footage, thus creating several intercuts of different fight angles. This results in a confusing and nauseating mess of blurred action. Since the film wants to remind the
see EVIL, page 5
ARTS & LIFE 5
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EVIL
continued from page 4
audience that it’s very much part of the horror genre, it must add jumpscares into the mix. While the jumpscares are surprising the first couple times, the next twelve became predictable. Whenever the sound goes down and Alice is alone in the dark, it’s a clear signal that a tinnitus-inducing noise will arrive to spook the audience. The ending climax provides a few surprises that manages to wrap up most of the major plot details together while some minor areas are left open as plot holes — deliberately unexplored. For all the terrible qualities that the film series has, perhaps the greatest achievement was lasting throughout the past 15 years despite every installment being an insult to both action films and video game adaptations. The only redeeming quality of “Final Chapter” is that it finally ended the series. But, with news of the films becoming a billion-dollar franchise, there’s a possibility of spin-offs, a remake or a reboot being. If it’s any reconciliation, it’s best to watch these films as an unintended comedy. Be sure to have whiskey prepared.
live music calendar
By Jason Enns
Arts & Life Editor
Go watch live music. In the words of Shia LaBeouf, “Do it.” Really, do it. Here’s a calendar with everything you need to know to… do it.
Thursday
Friday
Jupiter 2.0 The Exhibition Room 1117 E Wardlow Rd, Long Beach, CA 90807 9 p.m. Call ahead to make reservation
Saturday
Jonny Two Bags, The Wcked Wives, Dano Forte’s Juke Joint Freak Show,
Thingz Crazy Squeez Cuspidors DJ Judith Priest
Alex’s Bar 2913 E Anaheim St, Long Beach, CA 90804 9 p.m. $10
4th Street Vine 2142 E 4th St, Long Beach, CA 908147 7 p.m. Free
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The fate of the double-state PALESTINE
Ultra-conservative politicians look to erase Palestine’s existence. By Jorge Paniagua Contributing Writer
“F
rom Palestine to Mexico, all of the walls have got to go,” exclaimed a group of demonstrators during the protests at the Los Angeles International Airport last Sunday. The protests were a direct response to the executive order signed by President Donald Trump, which initially barred immigrants from seven different Muslim-majority countries as well as completely banning Syrian refugees from entering the United States. In addition, the peaceful demonstrations at LAX focused on much more than just the immigration ban — “Palestine” was a term commonly exalted through chants made by a plethora of activists present. I witnessed the Palestinian flag colors [of….] — or the flag itself — worn as garments by certain activists. Protesters displayed their trepidation in regard to the fate of Palestine under Trump’s presidency. His far-right political outlook and newfound friendship with the ardently right-wing Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu is bound to encourage illegal Israeli settlements being built on Palestinian territory. The erasure of Palestine will be a result of the ultra-conservative, far-right American and Israeli leaders currently in charge. It’s up to anti-settlement demonstrators to make their voices heard in order to save Palestine from American-funded and Israeli-backed occupation. For those unaware, Israeli settlements are both completely illegal and unauthorized. According to the United Nations Security Council, “Israel’s establishment of settlements in Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem, had no legal validity, constituting a flagrant violation under international law and a major obstacle to the vision of two States living side-by-side in peace and security, within internationally recognized borders.” Some may ask, “Is Trump anti-Palestine?” The answer is in plain sight. Trump’s recent “Muslim ban” should serve as an intense example of his and his administration’s Islamophobic perspective on matters. For those unaware, the predominant religion in Palestine is Islam with 75 percent of the population following the religion, as reported by demographics website “Maps of the world.” One issue former President Barrack Obama was consistent with since he became president in 2008
Map showing Israeli settlements in the West Bank as of December 2016. was his stance against Israeli settlements. Obama consistently advocated against unauthorized Israeli land-grabbing — a penchant which continuously discouraged Netanyahu from creating more settlements in the West Bank region of Palestine. With Obama went a presidential dedication toward making the two-state Israeli-Palestinian solution a reality through discouraging Israeli politicians from further occupying Palestinian land.
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Trump has made his “love” for Israel very public — going as far as having published a video online during his campaign proclaiming: “I love Israel and honor and respect the Jewish faith.” Yet, there has been zero “love” for Palestine or any concern for the territory on his part. To say the least, Palestinian leadership is concerned. According to an article titled, “Palestinian ne-
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gotiator: If Trump’s first week is four-year trend, God help us all,” by Jack Moore for Newsweek, “The secretary general of the Palestine Liberation Organization, the executive body of the Palestinian leadership, expressed concerns that Trump, unlike his predecessor Barack Obama, had failed to criticize two Israeli announcements of new settlement construction in the West Bank, including 2,500 new housing units.” Conservatives may argue that Trump isn’t “anti-Palestine,” but rather profusely “pro-Israel.” Let me just say: it is completely possible to be pro-Israel and denounce illegal West Bank settlements. Furthermore, Trump appointed Jared Kushner — who uncoincidentally doubles as his son-in-law — to a senior advisor position in the White House. Kushner and his family foundation have donated over $50,000 to West Bank settlements between 2011 and 2013, according to an article by Carol Morello for The Washington Post. If Trump’s administration isn’t completely intransigent — then I’m not sure what is anymore. Trump’s authoritative support of Israel has encouraged Netanyahu as well as other conservative Israeli politicians to begin discussing the annexing of more Palestinian territory — more specifically a city named Ma’ale Adumim near Jerusalem. As reported in an article titled, “Israel’s Hard-Liners Want to ‘Go Big’: Annex a Settlement” by Ian Fisher for The New York Times, “Right-wing [Israeli] politicians, emboldened by a more sympathetic Trump administration, want to annex it to Israel proper — the first formal annexation of a settlement,” Fisher writes. “Supporters of the move argue that in the long absence of negotiations, Israel cannot stand still, and Ma’ale Adumim would likely be a part of Israel in any case.” Netanyahu and Trump seem to have established a newfangled friendship — one where they both excitedly support each other’s “walls” and anti-Arab beliefs; however, if the widespread protests across the U.S. following Trump’s unprecedented win have taught the masses anything, it’s that public demonstrations are effective. Further protests against Israeli settlements in the West Bank are key to preventing them. Our voices — the anti-Trump, or at least the anti-Israeli settlement voices — must be heard. Through placatory assembly, like the kind that took place at LAX, we can continue grabbing both the media’s and federal government’s regard. It’s time to put an end to the insensitive and rather dangerous decisions made by far-right politicians. The sort of choices that display no concern for indigenous people such as the Palestinian Arabs or the dream of both a Jewish and Palestinian state. From the U.S. to Israel, far-right politicians are putting marginalized people through hell. Let’s put an end to this “conservative” mess endangering the future of Palestine through compelling activism.
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Michaela Kwoka-Coleman Elizabeth Campos Xochitl Abarca Jade Inglada Roberto Herrera
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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
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2017 DAILY49ER.COM | SPORTSD49ER@GMAIL.COM
LONG BEACH STATE
49ers take on Pepperdine at Pyramid After losing to the No. 1 team the men’s volleyball team is back at the Walter Pyramid today. By Matthew Simon
Sports Editor
Jose De Castro | Daily 49er
Long Beach State’s Javonntie Jackson goes up for a dunk against Cal State Fullerton Jan. 26. The 49ers went on to win the game 76-65 at the Walter Pyramid.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Too tired to finish
With injuries and foul trouble 49ers can’t keep up with Cal State Northridge. By Matthew Simon Sports Editor
Facing the third-ranked Big West team, the Long Beach State men’s basketball team couldn’t overcome foul trouble and its mounting injury list in a 108-98 loss to Cal State Northridge Wednesday night at the Matadome. After a back-and-forth battle with the Matadors (10-12, 5-3 Big West) in the first half, the 49ers
trailed CSUN 50-45 at halftime. The two teams were tied 11 times while neither team could breakaway from the other. In the second half, things shifted as LBSU’s junior guard Justin Bibbins had to sit out with four fouls. That led to the Matadors taking advantage of the guard’s absence as they used their athleticism to speed the game up, which led to easy baskets in transition. With Bibbins out, CSUN took a one-point lead and extended it to a 77-67 lead with less than 10 minutes left in the game. Bibbins finished with 20 points and nine assists before fouling out. From there, CSUN cruised to the win as they got easy baskets inside the paint. The loss pushes LBSU to 1-13 on the road. Along with the loss, the
49ers’ defense could not keep up as CSUN’s redshirt junior Kendall Smith, redshirt junior Darin Johnson and junior forward Tavrion Dawson each scored over 20 points to combine for 70. The performance puts a spotlight on how the losses of junior forward Gabe Levin and sophomore Noah Blackwell have hindered what the 49ers would like to do. Along with Bibbins’ 20 points, junior forward Roschon Prince had a double-double with 21 points and 12 rebounds. Junior guard Evan Payne scored 18 points after he came up limping early in the second half. Next up, LBSU will look to regroup when they host UC Irvine at the Walter Pyramid Saturday at 8 p.m.
After spending the weekend in Ohio, the No. 3 Long Beach State men’s volleyball team will be back in the Walter Pyramid to take on No. 9 Pepperdine tonight at 7 p.m. Although the 49ers lost to No. 1 Ohio State, LBSU is one of three teams that have won one set against the undefeated Buckeyes. Senior setter Andrew Sato had a career-high 23 digs against Saint Francis last week. While accomplishing that feat, Sato moved into third in Long Beach State history with 811 digs. The Waves travel to Walter Pyramid 4-2 and on a 2-game winning after defeating Cal Baptist and USC. Pepperdine will be one of 15 ranked teams the 49ers face this season. Women’s Water Polo
ROSCHON PRINCE
21 POINTS, 12 REBOUNDS
On Friday, the No. 14 women’s water polo team will take on No. 3 UCLA at the Lindgren Aquatics Center at 6 p.m. LBSU will look for an early season upset as the Bruins are currently 6-0 this season with all their wins coming against Top 20 teams. Along with UCLA’s 6-0 record, the Bruins have outscored their opponents by more than 13 goals. LBSU will need a stellar defensive performance from senior defender Christina Kotsia, sophomore attacker Tori Morrissey and junior utility Virginia Smith, all of whom have been solid early on for the 49ers. After their match against UCLA, the 49ers will head down to La Jolla to compete in the Triton Invitational Feb. 11-12.
MEN’S BASKETBALL PARTIAL 2017 SCHEDULE MATCH
LOCATION
TIME
UC Irvine
Walter Pyramid
8 p.m.
02/09
UC Riverside
Riverside
7 p.m.
02/11
Cal State Fullerton
Fullerton
7:30 p.m.
02/16
UC Davis
Walter Pyramid
7 p.m.
02/18
UC Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara
4 p.m.
02/23
Cal Poly
Walter Pyramid
7 p.m.
DATE
Follow @49ERSPORTS 02/04 for live tweeting of LBSU games.
Follow @49ERSPORTS for live tweeting of LBSU games.
8 SPORTS
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2017 DAILY49ER.COM | SPORTSD49ER@GMAIL.COM
Tom Brady
Matt Ryan
COMMENTARY
FALCONS’ DAY By Matthew Simon Sports Editor
Oh, the New England Patriots are back in the Super Bowl? Well, that’s a shocker — an unexpected twist after the hated New England team made it to the finale, although star quarterback Tom Brady was suspended from the first four games. With the head coach and quarterback duo of Bill Belichick and Brady , the recipe for success has been easy — pay less to win. It’s a success story that has led the Patriots to their four NFL Championships during Brady’s 15-year career. For years, fans across the country have learned to hate the Patriots because they’ve always found a win. Now, with the Super Bowl only three days away, people have found a new hope while wishing with
all their being that the Patriots lose. That hope is from Atlanta. In an unexpected turn of events and a hot-streak that no one foresaw, Matt Ryan and Julio Jones have led the Falcons their second Super Bowl appearance. It’s a matchup that has one experienced team and one inexperienced team. It’s a storyline similar to David and Goliath. While the Patriots are the imposing experienced juggernaut, the Falcons are the team that’s the new guy on the block. While the Falcons may be the newbies, they might have the weapons to take on the daunting Patriots. Instead of a slingshot, the Falcons have Julio Jones, Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman. With that combination of offensive weapons and a quarterback who is playing the best football of his career, the Falcons are going to win Super Bowl 51. The Falcons will beat the Patriots 27-14.
C a m p u s Vo i c e Are you going to watch the Super Bowl?
“Yes, I will be watching because the parties are always great. We play games like trying to guess the combined score at the end and bet on other things,”
“No, I’m going to Big Bear this weekend and I will probably be snowboarding,”
“Yes, I don’t usually watch football but it is fun to watch the Super Bowl with a bunch of people. I will probably get together with some friends this year,”
—Jaymi Korn, senior, human development
—Angelina Hilger,senior, art major
— Syed Haider, junior, computer science
“Yes, I’m going to a bar that my buddy works at called Shark’s Cove. I’m not a big football fan but I do get excited for the commercials. The Patriots are always in it though and I’d like to see some other teams win it. — Drew Marchese, junior, nutrition major