Daily 49er, September 20, 2018

D 49

LONG BEACH STATE | VOL. LXX, ISSUE 6 | SEPTEMBER 20, 2018

er

monumental

SILENCE

Artist Lauren Woods puts “American MONUMENT” on hold after the firing of University Art Museum Director, Kimberli Meyer.

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2 NEWS

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INSIDE

Daily 49er

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NINER Q&A with the ASI President and CEO page 5 Ceramics explored in latest School of Art Galleries page 8

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ON THE COVER

Lauren woods talks about her art installation, American MONUMENT, on display at the University Art Museum in Long Beach, Sunday, September 16, 2018.

Cover photo by Kelly Smiley | Long Beach Post

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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.

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NEWS 3

MUSEUM

Artist halts show on police brutality after firing of UAM director Lauren Woods says “American MONUMENT” cannot resume without the co-creator and collaborator, pauses show indefinitely.

By Samantha Diaz and Kat Schuster

directly following Wood’s lecture.

“It is important to understand that the departure of Kimberli Meyer is unrelated to the exhibit’s contents,” the statement read. “We view our campus as an ideal n response to the sudden termination place for important — and sometimes difof Long Beach State University Art ficult — discussions to take place. While Museum Director Kimberli Meyer Ms. Meyer’s artistic vision is supported by on Sept. 11, artist Lauren Woods said she the College of the Arts, the day-to-day and will “pause” her project on police brutalilong-term operation of a university musety, “American MONUMENT.” um demands more.”

Over 100 students, staff and faculty The statement claimed Woods and gathered in the University Theatre Audiher research assistant found the recordtorium Tuesday to hear Woods talk about ings “upsetting.” She also added that the “MONUMENT” and the controversy surtermination had nothing to do with the rounding it, a lecture that lasted well transcriptions, but were requested so the over three hours. university could determine if it should “I never envisioned myself pulling my provide counseling to students as a result work from a show,” Woods said to her of the monument. audience. “... it was a violent act to reIn response, Woods said that transcribmove [Meyer], and I felt [I] couldn’t proing the audio and listening to the multiceed ethically.” media piece by free will in a public space Woods’ multimedia monument was is not a fair comparison. scheduled to open Sunday, and included “You have to experience it in the consights and sounds from 25 cases of potext, not in transcripts,” Woods said. “It’s lice brutality, experienced through audio a very different thing to have to transcribe captured from various arrests and the it than listening to it in a public space. legal documents behind each case. After They’re not equivalent so that statement RYAN GUITARE | Daily 49er announcing at the opening reception that doesn’t make sense.”

“American MONUMENT” remains open, but stands silent following artist Lauren her installation had been put on pause She also implied that the university Woods’ decision to pause the show after the termination of former University Art indefinitely due to the termination of never supported Meyer’s vision for the Museum Director, Kimberli Meyer.

Meyer, Woods shut off the record players UAM. in the museum and walked out.

“This whole issue with Kimberli being Woods was adamant about the monuings, a request they both said was very unusual. fired, that really starts with her trying to ment being put on “pause,” since the project was created “I don’t want to say that they demanded it,” Woods said. institute this vision and this goal, so it starts from before to grow as more records and recordings became available.

“They asked for them, but we couldn’t say no.” the monument,” Woods said.

Without Meyer, the project will remain stagnant.

She elaborated that her student research assistant was Cyrus Parker-Jeannette, the College of the Arts’ dean, Once Woods finished explaining the inspiration for and tasked with transcribing the audio and found its content to said that while she could not comment on Meyer’s relaevolution of the project, she told attendees that Meyer was be emotionally disturbing. Due to the intensely emotional tionship with the UAM, the entire ordeal has been emonot only the museum director, but a key co-creator and nature of the recordings, Woods said her assistant had to tional for her and many others involved. collaborator for the project. Meyer has filed an appeal with take several breaks, causing the transcription to take lon“I cried a lot. I’m conflicted in my many roles,” Parkthe university to get her job back. ger than the deadline they were given. er-Jeannette said. “Ultimately, what I’ve been saying to “They got the transcription Monday, Kimberli was fired “If I’m not here and the other person who knows all the people all day is that I feel a lot of responsibility in my job Tuesday,” Woods said with tears in her eyes. “You can’t tell intricacies of the project isn’t here, then what else can I as dean, as an artist, is to uphold art.” me they aren’t connected.” do,” Woods said.

In the meantime, Catherine Scott, curator of public enIn response, Meyer said during a phone interview that “American MONUMENT” was meant to be the project gagement and participatory practices for the UAM, enshe could not confirm whether or not the late arrival of the to kickoff Meyer’s goal of bringing content to campus that couraged the public to still visit the monument, saying that transcriptions had anything to do with her termination. would “take a public stand on ending police brutality and the pause provides a different experience.

“I have no idea,” Meyer said. “I couldn’t say that it was the culture and practice of anti-Blackness,” according to “During this pause, come and visit us in this process and true it’s just the timing that makes you think about it.”

Woods. It was also the first exhibit booked by Meyer, after commit to its emergence and understand that the pause She also said that the university did not give her a reason having hosted the shows brought to the UAM by the preis an opportunity for a moment for reflection, not action,” as to why her employment was terminated. vious director.

Scott said.

Terri Carbaugh, associate vice president of public afBoth Meyer and Woods confirmed that university adfairs, sent a statement to the Daily 49er from the university ministration asked for transcriptions of the audio recordJames Chow and Paula Kiley contributed to this article.

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4 NEWS

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REMEMBRANCE

A musical farewell to Dr. Carolyn Bremer

Campus members place flowers and notes in memoriam of former music professor Carolyn Bremer.

RYAN GUITARE Daily 49er

Students and faculty will celebrate the life of Carolyn Bremer Friday with a variety of musical performances.

By Sierra Martinez Staff Writer

A memorial will be held Friday to commemorate Carolyn Bremer, the former associate director of the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music, who died Sunday, Sept. 2.

The event, meant to celebrate her life, will be at 10 a.m Sept. 21 in the Carpenter

Performing Arts Center and will be open to the public.

“Carolyn was an amazing person who made our conservatory the center of her life for many, many years,” Bob Cole Conservatory of Music Director Johannes Müller Stosch said in a statement on the conservatory’s website. “She touched so many lives with her compassion, positivity and sense of humor.”

The singing bowls, a staple in the life of Bremer, will be played at the beginning of the event. Stosch plans to open the celebration of life, followed by a variety of presentations from Bremer’s family, co-workers and students.

Performances will showcase poetry, photos, music and vocals, including pieces written by Bremer herself. Current members of the Bob Cole Chamber Choir,

University Choir, Bel Canto, Air Force Choir and orchestra are included in the memorial program. Alumni of the school will return to the stage to pay their respects to Bremer.

A reception will follow the memorial and be held on the patio in front of the Daniel Recital Hall. More information about the event can be found under Bremer’s name on the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music website.

NEWS 5

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Q&A

ASI’s new president advocates for the underrepresented Student body president Genesis Jara plans to be a voice for the underrepresented communities on the Long Beach State campus.

Genesis Jara hopes to help students facing homelessness by kick starting the creation of an overnight housing center during her tenure.

Courtesy of ASI

By Amanda Moreno Contributing Writer

A

fter snoozing four different alarms over the course of an hour, Genesis Jara frantically gets dressed and rushes to do her hair — it’s time to get to work. Jara was elected as Associated Students Inc. president in March 2018.

Having just received a standing ovation at the annual convocation in August, Jara said she is humbled, honored and excited to be the ASI President & CEO for the 2018-19 school year. Her goal is to advocate for underrepresented communities and display ambition and empathy through each decision she makes. The Daily 49er sat down with Jara to discuss her plans for the campus.

Why are you so passionate about representing underrepresented communities?

I started participating in student government at such a young age. I was involved during elementary school, middle school, high school and now at Long Beach State. I credit my passion to my parents and the way they raised me. They have always told me that I can be anything I want to be and they made me feel like an equal when it came to me and my brother; whatever my brother can do, I can do too. I have a very competitive nature, but at the same time, they instilled humility, compassion and respect in me. I love that I have ability to make change in other people’s lives and make sure that people like me are represented where we are not normally represented.

Can you describe the moment you knew this was your calling?

How do you balance such a busy schedule? Any advice for fellow students?

Summer 2017, I did a program at USC [University of Southern California] through their policy school. This selective weekend was all about social justice through the public service sector. This experience made it very clear that this is what I am supposed to be doing with my life. This was the moment I realized I wanted to be involved in politics and be an elected official.

It took me a lot of practice to get to this point. I have always had a busy schedule, I have been interning, working and [have been] involved since my freshman year here. Those experiences taught me how to prioritize my life. I use a planner to plan out my days hour by hour. Everything is in there, from my ASI meetings to chapter readings for my classes to hanging out with my boyfriend. Everything has to be in there for my own sanity. I truly believe that you become stressed because you try to keep everything in your head; a planner eliminates that.

What specific changes do you want to make on our campus?

One of our goals is to create an overnight housing center on-campus for students facing homelessness. This is a big project that we’re not sure we’ll see through our term because it is a long-term project. Right now, our Basic Needs Program has the Student Emergency Intervention and Wellness Program, but there are so many qualifications you have to meet in order to get help. One of the qualifications is that you have to have exhausted all of your financial resources, including loans. So we are putting a student in debt in order to help them and, to me, that does not make sense. We want to create something that is more easily accessible, with no application process and proof of income requirement. Another goal of ours is to tailor our class schedules more toward non-traditional students. Parking is a huge issue because everyone is here at the same time. We are a commuter campus and have students who work full-time and would appreciate more night classes or weekend classes. I want to have a wide variety of classes to offer. It would allow those students to take the classes they want and it would also alleviate the parking issue.

What do you want to do when you graduate?

I want to get my master’s right after my undergraduate degree. I would really like to do it at USC, but for affordability reasons, I do not know if that would be the best option. After getting my master’s, my goal is to invest in properties; I do not want a traditional 9-5 job. Throughout my college career, I have been saving up my money to get the ball rolling with that as soon as I graduate, so I can have a steady income for what I really want to do, which is local city government. I want to run to be on city council for either Downey or Long Beach. After I have completed my terms there, my ultimate goal is to be a state assembly member or a state senator.

6 ARTS & LIFE

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ATTRACTION

Universal Studios puts a terrifying twist on horror movie classics Halloween Horror nights welcomes visitors for a night full of jumpscares and entertainment.

JORGE VILLA | Daily 49er

A creepy clown follows visitors inside the Hollywood Harry attraction at Hollywood Horror Nights.

By Cristal Gomez

Assistant Arts and Life Editor gomezcristal98

T

errified screams and roaring chainsaws could be heard in the Universal Studios backlot, as visitors of Halloween Horror Nights ran for their lives.

Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights is going into its 12th year, delivering fresh doses of fear this season with mazes inspired by horror movie classics such as “Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers” and the “Universal Monsters” films, which was accompanied by music from Guns N’ Roses lead guitarist, Slash.

Entering the park, you immediately feel an eerie sensation. Visitors make their way down through the first scare zone: “Hell’s Harvest.” The attraction makes attendees face scarecrows with chainsaws and creepy rag dolls carrying metal pipes, swinging at visitors who dare walk down the path.

Those who survive “Hell’s Harvest” will be met with a maze based on the classic “Universal Monsters” horror films, each attraction continued with the original settings for its respective monster. The Wolf Man, Invisible Man, Mummy, Frankenstein and Dracula leave their cute animated personas behind and take a terrifying new face.

Entering the Egyptian-style room, there is a tall golden tomb inside a mummy wrapped in tattered bandages. Across the room there is a glass case filled with spiders that begin to move with a blink of an eye.

“Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers” expertly mimics the movie from beginning to end. The repair shop in the maze was identical to the one in the movie, particularly in the illusion where Dr. Samuel Loomis is confronted with Myers.

Modern horror movies and shows were also incorporated into this year’s themes.

The Netflix original sci-fi horror show, “Stranger Things” debuted with wait times lasting over two hours opening weekend.

Erica Hammill, a first-time attendee of Horror Nights, said she was in awe with the work Universal had done for “Stranger Things.”

“I am honestly impressed with what Universal did. The maze is exactly like the show,” Hammill said. “I only wish there was more space between each group. I had an idea when a jumpscare was coming. Seeing the Demogorgon right in front of me was honestly scary.”

Venturing on to the rest of the park, there are two attractions from the cult classic “Trick ‘r Treat.” One is a scare zone and the other is a maze. In the scare zone, visitors can see the bus massacre, while the dead children run around and scare visitors.

The detail that was placed into Horror Nights is incredible, especially in Mr. Kreeg’s house. An identical box of photos of the children from the bus massacre that is seen in the movie can be found in the maze.

Small details like this make the experience exceptional, knowing the creator put time and effort to get the maze done correctly.

As visitors make their way to “The Horrors of Blumhouse: Chapter 2,” “The First Purge” and “Poltergeist,” you must get through a series of scare zones. The first scare zone, “Toxic Tunnel” keeps visitors on their toes as they face dead cops and construction workers tormenting visitors who dare to pass. Another scare zone, “Holidayz in Hell,” features a fog effect that snakes through the maze, disabling the vision of those roaming around all the while giving each holiday from Cinco de Mayo to Easter a frightening twist. In the Christmas section, Krampus roamed the halls on stilts, terrifying visitors and bringing horror into the usual jolly holiday.

The Blumhouse Production company is going into their second year with Horror Nights creating “The Horrors of Blumhouse: Chapter 2.” This year, the maze featured the movies “Truth or Dare” and “Unfriended.”

A section of “Truth or Dare” places you in Rosarito, Mexico where you’re followed by nuns who have the iconic creepy smile from the film.

Surviving “The Horrors of Blumhouse: Chapter 2,” visitors will come across two other mazes: “The First Purge” and “Poltergeist.” Going through “The First Purge” the iconic sound of the purge is heard throughout the entire attraction with sights of various horrific crimes being committed by those who are purging.

“Poltergeist” followed the movie sequence very well, starting off in the house and leading to the end where the Indian corpses appear in the backyard.

The permanent attraction highlighting AMC’s “The Walking Dead” is based on the show’s first season and follows the episodes where the main characters try to survive the zombie apocalypse through Atlanta, the countryside and the jail house.

Down in the backlot of Universal Studios, the “Terror Tram: Hollywood Harry’s Dreadtime Storiez” brings a mobile fright to visitors. Stopping the tram halfway through the usual route, riders are welcomed to get off and walk through the set of what is usually “Whoville,” only to be confronted with men in dog masks wielding chainsaws. Visitors can walk near the “Bates Motel” and up to the “Psycho House” for a photo with Norman Bates himself.

Attendees can end the night with a live performance from hip-hop dance crew Jabbawockeez, the winners from “America’s Best Dance Crew” season one. This year, Jabbawockeez created a storyline about invading the cyberspace. Earth is threatened by a virus and it is up to them to save Earth.

Their performance includes music from Childish Gambino, Drake, Cardi B, Dr. Dre and Tupac.

“I had seen them last year and it was pretty good,” Erick Hernandez said. “I liked how they interact with the audience, getting someone to dance a small bit for them. It’s cool, the entire show went by too fast.”

Halloween Horror Nights is running through Nov. 3. Students can buy discounted tickets starting at $61 online using their .edu email their university has provided.

ARTS & LIFE 7

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EXHIBIT

Ink’d: A Runway Show features Latinx art in a unique way Museum of Latin American Art hosts an event that showcases fashion, live music, lowriders and more.

By Delaney Tran Staff Writer

Latinx culture is as much a part of California as the beaches are. The Museum of Latin American Art is blending fashion and Latinx culture into one with Ink’d: A Runway Show Saturday, Sept. 22.

The event has never taken place at the museum and will include four Latina fashion designers: Elvira Zamora from Wardrobe Divas, Vanessa Acosta from Wasi Clothing, Dorys “Dee” Araniva from DXCollective and Loretta Vampz. “[The show is] presenting Latinx identity through tattoo and fashion,” MOLAA Events Specialist Jennifer Alcántara said.

The show not only features women of

color designers, but a wide range of fashion styles and designs. To honor the tattoos on the models, each piece of clothing was specifically designed for the art on their bodies while representing each designer’s unique style.

Zamora uses recycled materials, fabrics and clothing for all of her designs in support of sustainable fashion. Her lineup will have form-fitting design with lace patterned pieces and fabrics to show off the ink on the models.

“I love creating a story through fashion and style,” Zamora said.

Acosta creates handmade clothing inspired by her Bolivian heritage. All of the fabrics she uses for her apparel are shipped from Bolivia. She makes all of her clothing from scratch which are available for purchase online.

Araniva incorporates the culture of South

Central Los Angeles into her lettering and graphic design apparel. She will present digitized prints on bandanas along with her signature style of applique form, a process of cutting graphics from a fabric and stitching them on clothing. “[It’s] handmade since day one, raw and real… I want to let [my art] speak for itself,” Araniva said.

Vampz currently works as a designer, model and stylist. She describes her style as “dark culture,” a blend of avant-garde, gothic as well as keeps to the roots of different cultures that inspire her, including New Orleans’ Mardi Gras. At the event, Vampz will be showcasing her style in big headpieces, religion and gas masks.

There will also be food, tequila tasting and a car show featuring lowriders and bomb cars. Vendors will be in attendance for guests to purchase apparel from the design-

ers as well as live performance from DJ Tina Harlow and Los Angeles Latin ska reggae band, Roncovacoco.

“It’s mixing traditional Mexican music with Bob Marley and Reel Big Fish into one sound,” Alex Villanueva, Roncovacoco lead vocalist, said.

The eight member band will be performing their song “Photos and Memories,” as well as a variety of others from their “Presenta” album.

The overall display of Latinx art, food and music is fit for any attendee looking to broaden their knowledge of a multifaceted heritage.

“Art is for everyone,” Vampz said.

Tickets can be purchased online at $50 for general admission and $40 for museum members. The event will last from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

8 ARTS & LIFE

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Althea Fultz’s “Split Bottle,” below, features various ceramic sculptures inside a larger ceramic vase, inspired by Minoan and Crete pottery. A portion of Fultz’s “Still Life with Almonds,” right, displays white, black and grey etchings in ceramic sculptures.

Another angle from “Split Bottle,” bottom, showcases the engravings on the outside portion of the vase.

GALLERY

‘Odd Things’ challenges the concept of ceramics The latest School of Art gallery revels in the lack of unity within its pieces.

By Brenna Enos Staff Writer

I

n many art exhibits, it is the similarities in artwork that brings a gallery together. But for Long Beach State ceramics majors Althea Fultz, Corrie Wille and Yoon Hwang, the dissimilarity in their artistic styles brought their exhibit “Odd Things” to life.

Approached by Fultz and Wille with the idea to collaborate, Hwang already desired doing a student art gallery and liked the idea of combining their art together, despite their vastly different styles.

“It was really random,” Hwang said. “I thought, ‘let’s see where this can go.’”

The three worked to combine their styles — Fultz’s historically influenced pots, Hwang’s glazed green figures and Willie’s rainbow wall pieces. Each element of the gallery proves itself to be vastly different from the next, but the three believe that their exhibit is a juxtaposition worth experimenting with.

Post-graduate art major Danielle Miceli appreciated this variation and especially favored Wille’s piece “Landscapes,” composed of nine rainbow ceramic wall sculptures in ambiguous shapes.

“It’s definitely eye-popping and innovative,” Miceli said, motioning to Wille’s sculptures. “I haven’t seen something like this at the school yet — they were definitely thinking outside the box.”

Placed across from “Landscapes” are Hwang’s two glazed ceramic pots “The Green Things.” While creating the pieces, people fre-

quently asked Hwang if “The Green Things” functioned as pots due to the opening at the top of the sculpture, but he wanted his art to look like more than just a functional pot.

“I tried to take away their function by covering the top,” Hwang said. “I put faces on them — they’re more like cartoon characters than just a pot.”

Differing from Hwang and Wille’s art, Fultz’s six Minoan and Crete-inspired pots and ceramic sculptures make up the rest of the gallery. These sculptures range from a tall, intricate white sculpture “White Urn with Stick,” to tiny, bead-like figures in a ceramic bowl titled “Still Life with Almonds.”

Balancing between historical influences and her own personal style, Fultz’s art features earthy tones and intricate detailing which is a nod to ancient Minoan and Crete pottery and paintings.

“I used to be fascinated by historical costumes,” Fultz said. “History influences me.”

While each component of the gallery varies entirely from the next, the ceramic material is what unites all of the styles together.

Fultz, Wille and Hwang believe “ceramics” is a vague term for the type of artwork they create, and this belief is conveyed through the drastically different styles of artwork featured in their exhibit.

“Odd Things” is among four other student galleries that can be viewed from noon to 5 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, and from noon to 7 p.m. Wednesday. These galleries are located at the School of Art galleries in the Fine Arts Buildings between FA3 and FA4.

OPINIONS 9

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REAL ESTATE

Proposition 5 is a sham for the housing market LEZLIE STERLING

Paul Anderson, a first-time homebuyer, looks around a house for sale with agent Becky Lund of Lyon Real Estate in 2016. Proposition 5 on the Nov. 6 ballot would expand a property tax break on home sales in California.

The Sacramento Bee Editorial Board

I

f more older homeowners moved, it might make more houses available for younger families and ease California’s housing crunch.

Proposition 5, however, is not how to make that happen. Instead, the Nov. 6 ballot measure would make property taxes even less fair while devastating the budgets of local schools and governments. Voters should reject it.

Under existing law, a home’s tax value is only changed when it is sold. Property taxes are set at 1 percent of the purchase price, and that tax value can only increase by as much as 2 percent a year. Since Proposition 13 passed in 1978, that has produced huge disparities in property tax bills between identical houses, depending on when they were bought.

Since Proposition 13 became law, voters also added further protections for seniors. Homeowners who are older than 55 – or who are disabled or whose house has been destroyed by natural disaster – can make a onetime “transfer” of the tax value of their home to a new house, as long as its market value is not higher than the old one.

Proposition 5 would allow all homeowners older than 55 to use this same tax break to buy a more expensive house, as many times as they want. Also starting Jan. 1, it would allow transfers from anywhere in the state. As of November, only 10 counties will allow transfers from outside counties, none in the Sacramento region.

Homeowners – including those older than 55 – also have another tax shelter because in 1986, voters prevented reassessments for transfers between parents and children, which happens about 70,000 times a year. Even if they don’t want to live in houses they inherit, beneficiaries can convert them into rentals or vacation homes and keep the tax break.

The bottom line is seniors already have plenty of protections from steep property tax increases and don’t really need another tax shelter.

Proposition 5 is sponsored by the California Association of Realtors, whose members would profit from increased home sales. The campaign committee it is sponsoring has raised $7.2 million so far.

The association says that California has an “unfair moving penalty” that makes it unaffordable for many seniors to move when their homes are too big or too far away from family. It says this measure would “unlock” the housing market.

But the independent Legislative Analyst’s Office points out that 85,000 homeowners older than 55 already move to new houses each year.

Plus, the LAO projects that Proposition 5 would initially reduce property tax revenues to schools and local governments by $100 million a year and eventually by $1 billion a year. The loss from homeowners who would have moved anyway would be far larger than gains from higher home prices and more homebuilding.

That’s money going to public safety, schools, services to seniors, and even to build and subsidize affordable housing.

Because of the potential impact on their members, SEIU California has put $1 million into the no campaign so far and the California Teachers Association has sunk another $500,000.

It should be a telltale sign to voters that many housing advocacy groups are not backing Proposition 5. Opponents argue convincingly that the measure isn’t going to help the vast majority of Californians who are being squeezed by the affordable housing crisis, including the working poor struggling with rising rents.

Instead, many homeowners who would profit from Proposition 5 have already benefited from property tax breaks over the years and would get a huge windfall when they sell their houses.

Here’s an example from the LAO that explains the impact: A 55-year-old couple bought their home 30 years ago for $110,000. After the 2 percent annual increases, it now has a tax value of $200,000, so their bill is $2,200 a year.

That home has a market value of $600,000. Under current law, if the couple sells it and buys a home for less than that, they can transfer the assessed value of their old house, so their tax bill would stay at $2,200 a year.

If Proposition 5 is approved, the couple could buy a more expensive house and still get the tax break. On a $700,000 home, the new tax bill would be $3,300, instead of $7,700 without it.

Proposition 5 is a reminder that California’s property tax system does need to be made more equitable.

But this measure would only make it worse. That is the wrong direction for California.

10 SPORTS

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MEN’S BASKETBALL

Long Beach lands two commits

By Alex Manfredi

Assistant Sports Editor alexmanfr3di

Although the upcoming season hasn’t begun for the Long Beach State men’s basketball team, there’s already some buzz about two new players who will suit up in black and gold for the 2019-20 season.

Two players gave a verbal commitment this week to attend Long Beach on scholarship next year. A commitment from 7-foot center Trever Irish came first via Twitter from his junior college assistant coach Sunday. Irish is entering his second season at Central Arizona College after averaging 14 points and eight rebounds per game in his first year.

After finishing high school in Lewiston, Maine, the center attended Valley Prep Academy in Arizona. It’s common

for players today to attend prep school for a year after high school in order to develop their skill and gain more experience before attending college.

With Long Beach senior forwards Temidayo Yussuf and Mason Riggins graduating after this season, the addition of Irish will fill a big hole for Long Beach. Men’s basketball donors and supporters will finally get a big center they’ve coveted for many seasons, as Long Beach has had teams that are considered “undersized” at the forward and center position for the past few years.

The second commitment for Long Beach came from Rodney “RJ” Rhoden, a high flying 6-foot-5-inch guard out of Mainland High School in Daytona Beach, FL. The news broke Monday night from Verbal Commits, and was announced by Rhoden himself via twitter Wednesday morning. Rhoden’s roster spot next season will likely re-

place current redshirt senior guard Bryan Alberts.

While Alberts’ sharp shooting and experience will be missed, Rhoden brings athleticism, size and the ability to get to the basket at the guard spot.

Per NCAA policy, head coach Dan Monson cannot comment on any recruits until they have officially returned a signed National Letter of Intent.

The next signing window for basketball opens in November.

This season, Long Beach will be loaded with talent at the guard position with Alberts, Ron Freeman, Jordan Roberts and Demetrius Mims.

With Rhoden coming to Long Beach next season in addition to CENTRAL ARIZONA COLLEGE Freeman, Roberts and Mims return- Trever Irish attempts a layup for Central Arizona Coling, Long Beach State has many sea- lege. He has verbally committed to play at LBSU next sons of elite guard play ahead. year.

SPORTS 11

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2018 | DAILY49ER.COM | SPORTSD49ER@GMAIL.COM

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL

AUSTIN BRUMBLY | Daily 49er

Long Beach State celebrates its 3-0 sweep against UC Riverside Tuesday night. This is the first time in two years that the 49ers have won their first conference game of the season.

Dominant start to Big West play The 49ers begin their season with a win against UC Riverside.

By Kevin Colindres Sports Editor sportswriterkev

Less than halfway through the first set, the match was decided. UC Riverside’s junior outside hitter Kaiulani Ahuna limped off the floor with an apparent knee injury, giving the Long Beach women’s volleyball team an undeniable advantage.

Ahuna averages 5.25 kills per set, second in the Big West and fourth in the NCAA. Without her, the Highlanders could not maintain the pace the 49ers set with their well-rounded offense.

Long Beach (9-5, 1-0 Big West) never looked back and earned its first conference win 25-17, 25-21, 25-21.

“We’re happy we were able to start off our conference at home,” head coach Joy McKienzie-Fuerbringer said. “Our performance

BIG WEST STANDINGS

Cal Poly

Long Beach State UC Irvine

wasn’t our best, but we had a really spread out offense.”

It was a busy weekend for the 49ers, playing four games in the last six days, but there was a different feeling on the floor going into conference play compared to last year. An 8-5 overall record before conference play is an immense improvement for a team that came into conference play 3-10 last season.

The team looked like they were relaxed during warm ups, smiling and talking before the match.

“We came in a lot stronger this season and with our play the last two weeks we have a lot more confidence heading into conference play,” McKienzie-Fuerbringer said.

The starting lineup has a mixture of freshmen and veteran players, with junior outside hitter Hailey Harward and fresh-

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L

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1

11-1

1

0 0

1

0

7-6

9-5

CSU Northridge Hawaii

UC Davis

men outside hitter Kashauna Williams leading the way.

In addition, Long Beach has a much healthier squad this season, something that hindered its overall performance last year.

The last time the 49ers started conference play 1-0 was in 2016, when Harward and junior middle blocker YiZhi Xue were freshmen.

“The teams that we played in non-conference gave us a gauge of the teams that we’re able to break … we’re ready to compete and take on whoever’s across the net,” senior outside hitter Tyler Spriggs said.

The team is playing at a much faster pace this year with the help of freshmen setter Carly Aigner-Swesey orchestrating the offense.

Connections are being made quicker between freshmen and upperclassmen, making the 49ers a more coherent team.

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1 0

0 0

5-8 4-5

0

1

8-5

“Our leadership is strong, which has helped our freshmen who have a lot of pressure to perform right away,” McKienzie-Fuerbringer said.

The third and final set of the match was the most competitive. The 49ers have struggled with closing games the last two years.

While it didn’t hurt the team this time, it’s something that the 49ers have been trying to figure out. Fortunately, Long Beach was able to capitalize in the middle of the floor, with Xue’s 11 kills on .588 hitting.

Harward had a relatively quiet night, with seven kills on .300 hitting and 14 digs, while Williams added 11 kills.

“I thought we were consistent, having our setters match up with our hitters,” Harward said.

Long Beach will have a few days to prepare for its first conference road game at 7 p.m. Saturday against Cal State Northridge.

UC Santa Barbara

Cal State Fullerton UC Riverside

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OVERALL

0

1

0

1

8-5 6-7

0

1

5-7

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2018

DAILY49ER.COM