Daily 49er, May 9, 2019

BREAKING: Graffiti found in an upper campus bathroom read “School shooter tm be warned 5-9”- page 3

D 49

er

LONG BEACH STATE UNIVERSITY | VOL. LXX, ISSUE 49 | MAY 9, 2019

a drag

star is born

A Daily 49er reporter gets an inside look on the 12th annual Draglicious hosted by Delta Lambda Phi.

Page 7-8

2 NEWS

THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2019 | DAILY49ER.COM | CITYD49ER@GMAIL.COM

INSIDE

ON THE COVER

THE

NINER

Breaking: Graffiti found in an upper campus bathroom warns of a school shooting page 3

Drag queen Sasha Tori performs Diana Ross hit “I’m Coming Out” in the USU Beach Auditorium for the 12th annual Draglicious, hosted

by Delta Lambda Phi. PAULA KILEY Daily 49er

Daily 49er Editorial Office Phone (562) 985-8000

1250 Bellflower Blvd., LA4-201 Long Beach, CA 90840-4601 Kat Schuster Editor in Chief eicd49er@gmail.com

News Editor Sports Editor

First phases of Puvungna Study includes new native flowers page 4

Lil Nuggets

Austin Brumblay Managing Editor managingd49er@gmail.com

Hannah Getahun cityd49er@gmail.com Kevin Colindres sportsd49er@gmail.com

Arts & Life Editor

Rachel Barnes artsnlifed49er@gmail.com

Opinions Editor

Sabrina Flores opedd49er@gmail.com

Special Projects Editor

Dirtbags get new Nike uniforms page 12

Business Office Phone (562) 985-1740

Multimedia Managing Editor Advertising Account Executive

Copy Editor Design Editor Photo Editor

Carlos Villicana spprojd49er@gmail.com Paula Kiley Eddie Infante d49ads@gmail.com

James Chow Claudia Mehranbod Ryan Guitare

Social Media Editor

Lizbeth Galeno

Video Editor

Adam Pacheco

Assistant Design Editor

Mia Bradford

Assistant Copy Editor

Sarah Vehrs

Assistant News Editor

Perry Continente

News Assistant

Suzane Jlelati

Deputy Sports Editor

Alex Manfredi

Assistant Sports Editor

Bryan Aparicio

Assistant Sports Editor

Sierra Martinez

Social Media Assistant

Cristal Gomez

Social Media Assistant

Brenna Enos

Web Master

Andrew Myer

Design Adviser

Gary Metzker

Content Adviser Advertising and Business Adviser

Barbara Kingsley-Wilson Jennifer Newton

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.

Answers to last issue’s crossword: Across- 3. measles, 4. stingrays, 6. volleyball, 9. Tuaniga, 10. Louie Down- 1. heptathlon, 2. scantron, 5. hearing, 7. Garcia, 8. four

Letters Policy: All letters and email must bear the phone number of the writer and must be no more than 300 words.

The Daily 49er reserves the right to edit letters for publication in regard to space.

NEWS 3

THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2019 | DAILY49ER.COM | CITYD49ER@GMAIL.COM

VANDALISM

School shooting threat found in women’s restroom Administration confirmed that there were no plans to cancel classes Thursday.

MARISOL ROMDHANE | Twitter

The image circulating social media is a photo of the threat found in the women’s restroom across the hall from Liberal Arts 2, Wednesday.

Staff Report

P

olice are investigating threatening graffiti found in a women’s restroom stall across the hall from Liberal Arts 2 that read “School shooter tm [tomorrow] be warned 5-9” Wednesday.

An official statement released by the university, sent by email at 11:17 p.m. Wednesday, stated “We are continuing to conduct our investigation, but our initial assessment is that there is no immediate threat to campus.”

President Jane Close Conoley confirmed that there are no plans to cancel classes.

“The Provost and I would make the decision about canceling classes,” Conoley said.

“If we thought the threat was credible we would, of course, cancel classes.”

The written threat was found early Wednesday evening by a senior American Studies major.

“I found this in one of the bathrooms near the Liberal Arts department at CSULB,” Marisol Romdhane tweeted around 6 p.m.

Wednesday. It’s already reported but if y’all

go to campus tomorrow please be careful!”

Capt. Richard Goodwin of the University Police Department said his team is investigating to see if this is a credible threat.

safety of the faculty, staff and students.”

President Jane Close Conoley also commented on the possible threat.

“All our police and leadership resources

CLAUDIA MEHRANBOD | Daily 49er

The message was written on a sanitary napkin receptacle lid which was removed sometime after it was first discovered.

“Any call we get, we investigate early,” he said. “This is no exception. We are investigating thoroughly to see if we have a tangible threat or a credible threat with regard to the

are working on this right now,” Conoley said in an email. “We do not deem this a credible threat but we are investigating.”

The female hygiene box that the graffiti

was originally written on has since been removed from the stall.

“I went to the bathroom and chose a random stall and came across this,” Romdhane said. “I decided to ask [the library] where I could go and the people at the front desk called campus security for me.”

The campus has acknowledged the message and responded on Twitter that the situation is being investigated.

The official statement also said there had been similar threats on other campuses.

“You may recall a similar scenario at CSUN last year,” Conoley said.

Multiple professors have cancelled Thursday classes in response to the possible threat.

The Coffee Bean in the University Student Union confirmed on Twitter that they will be closed Thursday.

“We are a corporate store and our district manager agreed the situation is too serious to risk being open tomorrow,” Melissa Niles said on Twitter.

According to the UPD Twitter, the university will increase police presence Thursday as an added precaution.

This story will be updated.

4 NEWS

THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2019 | DAILY49ER.COM | CITYD49ER@GMAIL.COM

By James Chow Copy Editor tabasfat

P

uvungna, a 2,000-year-old site, remains sacred to the native Tongva people of the land. An ancient American Indian village occupied the once 500-acre space that served as the birthplace of Missions Indians’ deity Chinigchinich. And Long Beach State sits on a morsel of that.

Today, Puvungna is relegated to a 22-acre space connected to the university. For regulars parking at G2, the unfinished dirt path and patches of grass might just be another peripheral sight on the route to class.

But onlookers today may find something new blooming on the 22-acre land. Small rows of California coastal flowers are beginning to germinate.

California poppies and desert bluebells now occupy the patch of grass nearest to the G2 lot. These blossoming flowers are the first visions of the university’s reimagining of Puvungna under the Imagine Beach 2030 initiative.

A new Puvungna study was introduced in a January meeting with university officials and the surrounding communities. Initial concerns of community members prefaced any kind of development on the land and who’d be paying for it.

“I think they continue to devalue this national registered site,” said community member Anna Christensen. “They just see it as a vacant lot.”

Concerns of land development stem from previous construction plans in the ‘90s for a strip mall on Puvungna, as documented

by LBSU anthropology professor Ronald Loewe’s “Of Sacred Lands and Strip Malls.”

According to Loewe, the strip mall dubbed the West Village Center would add restaurants, a child-care center, retail shops and housing for faculty.

This idea was shot down after years of protest, a lawsuit and a strong opposition to development from then-campus president Robert Maxson.

“The decision in the court case didn’t change one thing as far as my plans go … I’d like to see that area remain a green area,” Maxson said in a May 4, 1995 Daily 49er article.

According to President Jane Close Conoley, a newfound interest in development on the land came from a research paper by the American Indian Student Association that outlined ceremonial houses across different campuses.

“We don’t get money to build anything so this would require fundraising,” Conoley

JAMES CHOW | Daily 49er

One hundred pounds of California coastal flowers were planted on Puvungna in March. California poppies and desert bluebells occupy the entrance of the sacred land.

CULTURE

First phase of the Puvungna Study comes to bloom California coastal flowers fill the sacred land’s entrance. Talks of potential ceremonial housing are ongoing.

said in a March meeting with the Daily 49er.

“We decided with that request to look at that land. We had done something on the other side of Beach Drive with the reburial but to look at that land more holistically and say ‘could we make a long term plan for a ceremonial house?’ That land has been plowed and used for lots of different things over the decades.”

Director of American Indian Studies Craig Stone remembers dump trucks as far back as 20 years ago offloading construction debris on the land’s soil. Steel rebar and concrete stuck up from the ground. But in removing the debris, there’s a catch 22. Stone says the land’s soil is often taken to landfills and new earth is put in its place, a process which affects the maintenance and nativity of the sacred land.

The university took this issue head-on.

“What we’re allowing at this point is when they take earth out, keep it at Puvungna there,” Stone said. “They screen it and clean it. We can use that on campus, so we’re actually using the earth from here. It gets used to fill in areas and to flatten out areas, things that might be a hazard.”

To maintain and beautify Puvungna, last March, 100 pounds of native vegetation were seeded to fill in and beautify the indigenous sacred land. According to Stone, invasive plant inhabitants were uprooted and killed off to make room for the California coastal plants. Recommendations to plant more flora came from native stakeholders and a draft report from landscape architect Johnpaul Jones, who was the lead consultant on the Smithsonian Institution’s Museum of the American Indian.

Although this seems to be the first development of reimagining Puvungna, more details about the study are yet to be discussed, according to university officials. The target date for any possible development on the land is 2020.

“We are still in the very early stages of a process that explores options for the future as informed by an understanding of the region’s history, the meaning that some stakeholders have ascribed to this part of campus, and the needs of our university,” Jeff Cook, chief communications officer for Long Beach State, said in an email.

But that hasn’t stopped Stone’s excitement on what’s to come for Puvungna. He hopes by 2020, the flowering plants on the land will be akin to the touristy super blooms all over Southern California during spring.

“What we hope will happen next year is that you don’t have to drive to Lake Elsinore,” Stone said. “That’ll actually be happening here on the land. That’s a 1978 idea that is now coming to fruition in 2019.”

THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2019 | DAILY49ER.COM

5

6 ARTS & LIFE

ARTS & LIFE 7

THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2019 | DAILY49ER.COM | ARTSNLIFED49ER@GMAIL.COM

FIRST PERSON

From quotes to queens: A reporter tries on drag

By Austin Brumblay Managing Editor adbrumblay

I

perked up my bust, moved the long blonde hair out of my eyes and wiped the sweat away from my fake lashes. The spotlight blinded me as the music came on. It was time for me to perform.

But first let’s start with how I got here.

At a meeting I had pitched to the Daily 49er staff that I wanted to write a story on drag but with a twist. Instead of the traditional event coverage, I would dress in drag, enter a drag event and document the entire experience. Before, I was so naive. I thought all it required was to put on some heels, a wig and move my white hips. What could go wrong?

Well, this is my tale of procrastination, hesitation, embarrassment and transition.

One week until Draglicious

I met with Brandon Ha or Yakisoba of the Delta Lambda Phi chapter at Long Beach State, who coached me through the whole process. During our consultation, he expressed the amount of work and discomfort that goes into drag.

From sore feet to a face covered in sticky makeup and everything in between (literally in between) — I discovered that beauty is pain. I hesitantly asked him about the requirement of tucking, or when drag queens tape their penis back. He said it was painful but, luckily for me, not necessary.

She was putting on her colorful makeup and greeted me with a welcoming hug. She called herself my drag mother. I was humbled. The room was filled with bags of makeup and colorful clothes overflowing from suitcases.

Yakisoba sat me down, matched some bottles of liquid to the color of my face and began the makeup process. It smelled bad and it burned. I had never worn makeup before and I have a newfound respect for anyone that goes through that daily.

Yakisoba reached for a glue stick, and I asked what it was for. She said to give the illusion of feminine eyebrows as drag queens glue theirs down.

It was a long, sticky process, but I could feel the layers of makeup bringing out the queen that was within. Yakisoba refused to let me see myself in a mirror until she was done. And two-hours, she finally was.

I held the mirror up to my face and admired my blue and green eyeshadow as it sparkled in the light. I was Pettychini Alfredo and I loved it.

With my makeup done, it was time get dressed. Yakisoba brought out a leotard with money print and green fluffy sleeves.

It matched perfectly with the song choice. She also handed me six pairs of pantyhose, which would hide my horrendously hairy legs and help shape my hips.

It was a battle but I was finally in costume. I was a drag queen.

And I was officially crowned when Yakisoba put the bleach blonde wig on my head.

I ran my fingers through the hair. My voice raised in pitch. I put my hands on my hips and stood with confidence. Pettychini Alfredo had arrived.

PAULA KILEY | Daily 49er

Managing editor Austin Brumblay (right) gets his makeup done by Brandon Ha (left) at the LGBTQ Student Cultural Resource Center in preparation for the 12th annual Draglicious hosted by Delta Lambda Phi. “Yikes,” was my first thought. There was so much to know. I became overwhelmed with anxiety. I feared that I would make a fool of myself and offend the drag community. I could either back out now or commit myself. But I decided to stick it out.

Ha’s whimsical demeanor brought my heart rate down as he tossed around names for my “dragsona.” He explained to me that drag names often stretch from reality and can be fun and provocative.

He graciously allowed me to join his drag house that is known for having food-related names. The name “Pettychini Alfredo” quickly left his mouth and I broke out in laughter. I loved it. I asked him why that name and he said because it’s plain, white and bland. “Perfect,” I thought.

“Nothing could represent me better.”

Our consultation ended with a hug and an agreement I would learn to walk to heels and dance by the next time we met. I stood in a daze as I prophesied my failure. “How could I do all of this in a week?”

Five days until show time

Yakisoba and her friend Paradise Lahore arranged for me to practice some dance moves at the University Student Union Beach Auditorium where the event would take place.

It was big and intimidating. I laced up my knee-high heels and anticipated my likely trip to the emergency room for a broken ankle. Yakisoba glistened in the stage lights as she showed me how to move my hips back and forth while walking across the stage. It was my turn. The heels hurt, but it was a good hurt. It made the whole experience feel real.

Much to the surprise of Yakisoba and the Daily 49er crew, I wasn’t as horrible as they had anticipated. It was some much needed confidence. I quickly learned, however,

that walking is relatively easy but dancing is not.

“Crazy In Love” by Beyonce played loudly from Yakisoba’s phone as Paradise Lahore attempted to undo my years of straight-white-male wiggle I called dancing. She explained to me that my best bet for success was to dance a little on stage then hop off the stage to interact with the audience during my performance.

My moves were bad, and my choreography was worse. I was in awe of Yakisoba’s and Paradise Lahore’s ability to flow to the music. I stopped mid-dance multiple times just to watch their effortless moves.

Once the trainwreck of my dancing concluded, we discussed song choices and it was unanimous between Yakisoba and Paradise Lahore that “Bitch, Better Have My Money” by Rihanna was a good mixture of sexy and easy to dance to. “The easier, the better,” I thought. “I’m going to need all the help I can get.”

Going into the event, I knew that dancing was a requirement for the performance. What I didn’t know was you were also required to lip sync the lyrics. I was terrified at the amount of things I had to learn in the quickly dwindling timeframe.

I walked out of the auditorium, feet sore and defeated. It was all on me now.

One hour until the performance

I walked with poise from upper campus down to the USU. I watched people as they tried not to look at me. I knew though. I finally understood what it felt like to be misunderstood. I hated it, but it made me strut harder.

I was greeted at the auditorium by Yakisoba and other gor-

Throughout the week

I wish I could say here that I practiced everyday and learned everything that I needed to. I didn’t. I didn’t rehearse my routine or practice my lyrics. I kept telling myself “I’ll do it tomorrow, I’ll do it tomorrow.”

The day of the performance

I met Yakisoba at the LGBTQ center at FO-4 on campus.

PAULA KILEY | Daily 49er

Pettychini Alfredo performs in the USU Beach Auditorium to Rihanna’s “Bitch Better Have My Money” at the 12th annual Draglicious hosted by Delta Lambda Phi. Alfredo’s wig fell off mid-performance.

geous performers. I felt like a star. Yakisoba explained to me that I was in the second half of the show and walked me to a seat so I could watch the first half. I crossed my legs as I sat and tried to hide my nervousness.

I sat in awe as I watched the beautiful talent that lit up the stage. I was intimidated and star struck, but I kept telling myself, “I can do this.”

The performance

It was time. Yakisoba tapped my shoulder and told me I was next. To help calm my nerves, she said she would be guest announcing my act and would tell the crowd that I was an amatuer straight male. She got the crowd riled up and I heard my name.

My song came on and I walked down the aisle towards the stage. At the “bitch better have my money” lyric, I grabbed the sweaty fake dollars that had been in my bra for hours and threw them at the crowd. The crowd went wild! I made it to the stage and hopped up. Everything I knew had basically gone out the window. I looked out and saw all the eyes on me.

I attempted some amateur splits that the crowd seemed to love. I got up hastily and tried to flick my hair in a seductive manner.

My wig flew off!

The crowd clapped and cheered in support; Pettychini was grateful. Austin would have been frustrated at the mishap, but Pettychini took it in stride. She was a confident woman and she was in control.

I danced around with a mixture of floor moves, ass shaking and throwing sweaty fake money at the audience for another couple minutes. And in the blink of an eye, it was over. I had done it somehow.

I went backstage as the crowd continued to cheer and Yakisoba gave me a warm hug. “I’m so proud of my drag daughter,” she said. I fought back tears.

Video of Pettychini Alfredo’s journey into the world of drag will be on the Daily 49er website next week.

8 NEWS

THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2019 | DAILY49ER.COM | CITYD49ER@GMAIL.COM

STRUCTURE

Library accessibility put into question Blue ADA push plates don’t exist on multiple levels of the library.

By Katie Brown-Greaves and Haley Martinez Staff Writers

W

hile many students press the blue handicap button to open doors on campus, Laura Greenwood relies on accessibility push plates everyday. Greenwood uses a mobility scooter to get around due to a leg injury from a car accident. The accessibility push plates to get into buildings are a necessity in her life.

Maneuvering around campus is already difficult enough for students who have mobility impairments. Currently, the campus is a field of green fences that block certain pathways, making it an obstacle for Greenwood to get around.

However, Greenwood must also deal with the fact that accessible push plates don’t exist on the second to fifth floors of the University Library.

Brian Carey, assistant director for the Stephen Benson Learning Disability Program at the Bob Murphy Access Center, has helped Greenwood navigate around

“

campus throughout the semester.

“We need to make accessibility a forethought rather than an afterthought,” Carey said.

“I have very much enjoyed the process of troubleshooting accessibility issues on campus, while working alongside Laura.”

Greenwood has talked to the university administrators about her concerns on the push plates and other issues, such as construction.

“Nobody looks at anything from an accessibility standpoint,” Greenwood said. “I shouldn’t have to beg for a solution.”

However, the office of Dean Roman Kochan of the University Library, said the glass doors on the floors of the library do meet Americans with Disabilities Act requirements. There is also additional signage offering a phone number to call for the receptionist to assist them.

“The building code requirements do not require all doors to have an electronic actuator installed,” said Larisa Hamada, assistant vice president of the Office of Equity and Diversity. “Due to budgetary constraints, we are not able to add additional electronic actuators to all campus

RYAN GUITARE | Daily 49er

The blue accessibility push plates that open doors are located all over campus, but some spots seem to be lacking such as the second through third floor in the University Library. doors in our buildings.”

According to Hamada, the library administration has a list of all the doors they would like to add the accessible push plates to and are only waiting for the construction funding to become available.

“We are confident that the university is in compliance with federal and state accessibility standards,” said Lauren Williams, a communications specialist for the university. “In many instances, facilities on campus exceed the minimum standards and that is something of which we can be

proud.”

Although the library is ADA compliant, Greenwood said she feels degraded when she struggles to open a door and has to call someone to assist her.

“You have to try and crawl through a damn door…[I have to move] back and forth 15 times,” Greenwood said. “I am not even exaggerating because the angle is so tight you can’t get in and you just have to keep trying. But I’m trying to hold the door open at the same time and my arms [are] only so long.”

We need to make accessibility a forethought rather than an afterthought.

”

Brian Carey, Assistant Director for the Stephen Benson Learning Disibility Program

ARTS & LIFE 9

THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2019 | DAILY49ER.COM | ARTSNLIFED49ER@GMAIL.COM

Aida Cisneros decorates her graduation cap at the grad cap decoration event at the USU. Tianna Hampton Daily 49er

COMMENCEMENT

Graduates glam up their caps

CSULB 2019

focus forward finish

MAY INTERSESSION cpie.csulb.edu/intersession

By Tianna Hampton & Alberto Nunez Staff Writer

G

loomy weather didn’t stop soonto-be graduates from decorating their caps Wednesday afternoon at the Day of the Arts Graduation Addition event.

Put on by Associated Students Inc., Day of the Arts Graduation Addition provided a chance for graduating seniors to come chill out and deck out their grad caps. With commencement right around the corner, students were quick to check out the University Student Union Southwest Terrace.

“I think this event is an awesome event that ASI is hosting,” said Danielle Carancho, political science major. “We’ve never had anything like this before, and it really gives students the opportunity to come and create their caps. I think it’s a great event.”

Rows of tables were filled with a wide variety of art supplies for students to use to channel their inner artist. With emotions running high, some students savored the moment and took their time painting and drawing.

Others chose a quicker method by using available stencils and alphabet stickers provided by ASI. Ribbon, decorative tape, glitter paper, bows, faux flowers and rhinestones also flooded the tables for students to use.

Aida Cisneros, geography major, used the materials provided to tell her own success story leading up to graduating.

“I have four children and sometimes you have to lead by example. That’s why I’m graduating with a lot of pride,” Cisneros said.

Most students’ graduation caps were dedicated to their major and their prospective future careers, like becoming a nurse or a lawyer. Some students decided to be more witty and play with words, with caps that read things like “don’t touch this” next to a cactus.

A handful of students took a more heartfelt approach while decorating and chose to focus on their families, heritage, adversities and the opportunity to go to LBSU. “I’m doing this for my mom. I’m just trying to make a better life for me and my mom,” said first-generation graduate Jashwa Shahid, computer engineering and technology major.

Begins May 20

SUMMER SESSIONS cpie.csulb.edu/summer

Begins May 28

Register Now!

@CSULBInterSessn #csulbsessn (800) 963-2250 | CPIE-info@csulb.edu

10 OPINIONS

THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2019 | DAILY49ER.COM | OPEDD49ER@GMAIL.COM

Daily 49er

If the school wants to improve its reputation, it needs to be transparent in addressing major issues.

ADMINISTRATION

‘No comment’ just isn’t good enough Lack of transparency and failure to disclose information does more to hurt our school’s image than help it.

By Josh Sepetjian Staff Writer

E

arly last semester, one of the most bizarre and shocking events in recent Long Beach State history took place.

A former Associated Students Inc. employee was charged with the murder of his father and stepsister in Compton. His somewhat unclear connection to then Vice President of Student Affairs Carmen Taylor led to her administrative leave and eventual separation from the campus.

Taylor claims that her separation was unjust, and only occurred because she’s a Black woman. She also makes statements about fraudulent records, a misappropriation of funds, unequal pay and discriminatory hiring practices that all allegedly occured at LBSU. The school has refused to comment on the situation aside from saying that “the characterizations made are false and that the complaint is without merit.”

As a result, LBSU administration hasn’t come out looking so hot.

On the one hand, common public relations and legal knowledge dictates that commenting on unresolved litigation does more harm than good.

But, at this point, Taylor’s claims are really all we have to go on. Apart from some public relations team legalese, we don’t know anything about the school’s side of the story.

This isn’t the only time a lack of transparency has impacted LBSU’s image.

If your campus commute takes you anywhere near the 49er Shops Bookstore or the Hall of Science, you’ve probably been at least somewhat inconvenienced by the current construction in the Central Quad. The project has lasted months and is way passed its planned completion date.

Delays are to be expected in a major construction proj-

ect. This semester’s particularly adverse weather conditions probably haven’t helped either.

But as of right now, we have no idea when the construction can be expected to be finished. Hopefully it’s completed in time for the fall semester, but at this point there’s no guarantee.

The lack of communication about these delays makes LBSU and the people in charge look, at best, inactive and at worst, incompetent. This again, hurts the school’s image.

These are just two examples of how LBSU has a serious problem in how it communicates with the campus community.

Another area where information is unnecessarily obscured is parking. Ask any Daily 49er reporter who’s tried to get a statement from someone in the Parking and Transportation Office, and they’ll tell you the experience is comparable to pulling teeth.

Part of the problem might have to do with our reputation as a commuter school. Because most people don’t live on or near campus, they don’t involve themselves with campus life. As a result, it’s harder to relay information to the comparatively disconnected student body.

But the school needs to do better.

It’s a trap to think that you can better control a narrative by not commenting on or acknowledging real issues. If the school was more forthright with its intentions and honest about both its successes and failures, people would be far more likely to give the benefit of the doubt.

By going radio silent, you allow other narratives, true or not, to dictate the conversation. If Long Beach State wants to protect its image, it’s going to have to find a better way to have an open and transparent dialogue with the student body.

SPORTS 11

THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2019 | DAILY49ER.COM | SPORTSD49ER@GMAIL.COM

COLUMN

Going back to Inglewood As professional sports return to Inglewood, residents wrongly oppose the new developments happening in the area.

By Ralston Dacanay Staff Writer

Coming out of a playoff defeat at the hands of the dynastic Golden State Warriors, the Los Angeles Clippers turn their eyes to a battle taking place off the court.

As the Clippers’ current lease with Anschutz Entertainment Group at STAPLES Center nears its expiration at the end of the 2023-24 NBA season, the team has made strides to establish a new arena in the city of Inglewood. However, the Clippers and Inglewood Mayor James Butts have been met with stern backlash from those well-established in the area.

Starting in June 2017, the Clippers partnered with Mayor Butts to explore 22 acres of vacant, city-owned land near the intersection of Century Boulevard and Prairie Avenue. In passing months, their initiative gained momentum after undergoing necessary permit and environmental processes and began working on preliminary exterior designs.

While the vision has started to come together for those hopeful to bring professional basketball back to Inglewood for the first time since 1999, some local residents believe in a different idea — #HomesBeforeArenas.

When the Los Angeles Rams and Chargers announced their moves to the city in 2015, the Uplift Inglewood Coalition made it their mission to oppose the rising cost of living.

On April 26, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mary H. Strobel ruled that the coalition could move forward with its lawsuit, which alleged that the city of Inglewood violated the California Surplus Land Act by not giving first priority to affordable housing development when selling the public land.

However, as Inglewood residents can already see with the under-construction LA Stadium and Entertainment District at Hollywood Park, this battle is a lost cause.

Turning their focus toward claiming the vacant lot across the street being eyed by the Clippers won’t stop an ongoing gentrification development that’s been happen-

The Clippers play in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles in the Staples Center. ing over the years in low socioeconomic areas throughout Southern California.

With events such as the Super Bowl LVI in 2022 and the Olympic Games in 2028, which are scheduled to take place in Inglewood’s future entertainment district, replacing the Clippers’ new arena with housing still wouldn’t change the fact that more traffic and air pollution is something that city officials have signed up for.

Ultimately, the development of this new arena should be viewed as a good thing.

For one, the lot being looked at has not only been vacant for over 20 years, but

sits directly under the flight path of LAX. Not only has this been the reason why no housing or churches have been built here in the past, but it’s the reason why eminent domain isn’t a factor in this situation.

Additionally, the arena and its accompanying facilities will be 100% privately financed by the richest owner in professional sports, Steve Ballmer. This means that no taxpayer dollars will be spent while generating hundreds of local well-paying jobs.

It’s also worth mentioning the work in the community that the Ballmer and the

Creative Commons

Clippers have done in past year alone for LA. By 2021, they will have renovated all 343 basketball courts in the city, including a couple that I’ve personally seen already done in Northeast Los Angeles.

The substantial tax revenue made by the Clippers’ new arena could be used to help improve Inglewood schools, parks, libraries, and police and fire services.

While the lack of affordable housing remains to be a real issue in the city of Inglewood, moving the Clippers here should be welcomed, rather than seen as part of the problem.

12 SPORTS

THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2019 | DAILY49ER.COM | SPORTSD49ER@GMAIL.COM

AUSTIN BRUMBLAY | Daily 49er

The Dirtbags dugout cheers on after the team scores a run against TCU March 8. All of the team’s apparel has been changed to Nike after signing a new contract last summer.

BASEBALL

Dirtbags make the switch to Nike

By Armando Sanchez and Kevin Colindres Staff Writers

The Long Beach State Dirtbags will go from “I will” to “Just Do It,” after signing a new contract with Nike this past summer.

With Long Beach’s previous contract with Under Armor ending, the Dirtbags wanted to come to terms and agree on a contract that best suited the program’s needs.

In the summer of 2018, the Dirtbags signed a contract with Nike approximately worth $500,000 worth of product over a five-year span.

Nike offered the best deal that the program has ever received, according to exec-

utive senior associate athletic director Rob Clark.

“We were looking for a partnership to extend our brand but most importantly to get the highest quality uniform and apparel for the team,” Clark said. “When Nike came with an offer, we realized it was better than what we had in the past in terms of how we are being supported.”

The five-year deal is exclusively for baseball products only, which also includes Nike Elite.

“Having Nike Elite is a big deal, because most schools that have Nike Elite are power five schools,” Clark said.

From a baseball standpoint, the new deal with Nike is on par with the major schools.

“Our program is the type that should be in Omaha and hosting and playing in Regionals and Super Regionals,” Clark said.

“This is the type of contract that reflects that.”

The Nike deal covers uniforms and apparel, which includes workout clothes, socks, belts, workout shoes, cleats and hats.

Unlike previous years, the athletic administration came to negotiations with Nike.

“What has happened in the past is the contracts have been negotiated by coaches,” Clark said. “At most division one schools, the athletic administration handles the deals as far as apparel.”

Despite the Dirtbags having a rare down year, the Nike deal is a big step toward advancing and reflecting what the program represents.

“The recruits coming up are excited to be playing with the famous swoosh on their chest,” Clark said. “It’s a step that towards

the right direction.”

The deal itself has had an impact on not only current players and coaches but as well as recruits.

“The customer service and product is the best in the business,” interim co-head coach Greg Bergeron said. “Nike is the top shoe and apparel brand out there, and we are fortunate to have them. I think other schools know Nike is the premier brand and for us to be partnered with them is a huge deal.”

Clark said after a season like this one, there is a process to get back to where the program is capable of playing.

“We have our work cut out for us in the next little bit to get back on the track we want to be on,” he said. “Signing a deal like this is a part of the puzzle, part of the puzzle to get us to Omaha.”