Daily Forty-Niner; August 21, 2023

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Now that the 2023-2024 school year has finally arrived, I’m excited to continue sharing important stories with the Long Beach State community.

the paper for a second year in a row. I’m grateful for the opportunity to return to this position and continue to uplift student voices.

Although my staff has changed with this new year, many of my goals remain the same. My team and I will continue to produce high quality content in a timely manner. We will aim for excellence in every single piece, and we will work tirelessly to ensure that all voices are heard.

Mark Siquig

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The Daily Forty-Niner is an editorially independent, student-run, multi-platform publication that covers CSULB and local news, breaking news, arts and life, sports and opinions. As the “paper of record” at CSULB, it is our job here at the Daily Forty-Niner to ensure that students are informed at all times.

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Letters Policy: All letters and emails must bear the phone number of the writer and must be no more than 300 words. The Daily Forty-Niner reserves the right to edit letters for publication in regard to space.

Editorials: All opinions expressed in the columns, letters and cartoons in the issue are those of the writers or artists. The opinons of the Daily Forty-Niner are expressed only in unsigned editorials and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the journalism department or the views of all staff members. All such editorials are written by the editorial board of the Daily Forty-Niner.

From our coverage of last year’s graduation protests, to crimes on campus, to artist spotlights, we believe in the importance of sharing information and knowledge. Through ethical, fact-based journalism, we provide this community with answers to previously unanswered questions and foster an environment of growth and understanding within the campus.

Knowledge is power, and we aim to empower you all by sharing our stories.

This year will mark my final year attending CSULB, as well as my second and final year as the editor-in-chief of the Daily Forty-Niner newspaper. Last year, I was hired as the youngest EIC to ever lead the Daily Forty-Niner. Now, I am not only the youngest EIC, but also the first to return to lead

In this issue, Daily Forty-Niner staff covers a variety of subjects under the overarching theme, “Back-to-School,” including a piece about the annual Convocation ceremony, a story about campus safety, dorm hacks, parking updates, athlete profiles and more.

I hope you all have a wonderful start to the semester! For story pitches, questions, comments or concerns, please feel free to email me at eic@daily49er.com. Your ideas are welcome and your voice deserves to be heard.

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Land Acknowledgment

Here at the 49er we acknowledge that the school we report on is located on the sacred site of Puvungna, “the gathering place”. We are on the land of the Tongva/Gabrieleño and the Acjachemen/Juaneño Nations who have lived and continue to live here.

We also acknowledge the Gabrieleño/Tongva (pronounced: GABRIEL-EN-YO/TONG – VAH) and Acjachamen/Juaneño (pronounced: AH-HACH-AH-MEN/JUAN-EN-YO) as the traditional custodians of the Los Angeles region along with the Chumash (pronounced: CHOO-MOSH) to the north and west, and the Tataviam (pronounced: TAH-TAH-VEE-YUM) and Cahuilla (pronounced: KAH-WEE-YAH) Nations to the east.

We respect and value the many ways the Tongva/Acjachemen cultural heritage and beliefs continue to have significance to the living people and remind us about the sacred and spiritual relationship that has always existed here at what we now call California State University Long Beach.

Students ascend the steps of Brotman Hall, filled with anticipation for the new school year ahead.

CHRISTAL GAINES-EMORY Editor-in-Chief

RENZO POCASANGRE / Daily Forty-Niner Fourth year journalism student Christal Gaines-Emory is beginning her second year as Editor-in-Chief at CSULB’s student-run newspaper, the Daily Forty-Niner.

Lei Madrigal

Annual Convocation covers campus belonging, policy changes and new programs

BY JUAN CALVILLO News Editor

California State University Long Beach’s 2023 Annual Convocation covered a new structure to tackle student-campus belonging, Academic Senate policy changes and introduced a new pilot program, Beach XP.

The Annual Convocation is a yearly gathering that highlights new projects, new university members and upcoming administrative goals. Other California State University Long Beach achievements highlighted include the Associated Student Inc. approval of expansion to the University Student Union and the Beach Wellness resource.

Creating student belonging at CSULB is part of the university’s values and priorities. One of the innovative, new approaches to create belonging is the Beach Experience Program.

“Beach XP, short for Beach Experience, is an all hands on deck initiative designed to bolster retention of our Beach students during that critical first year,” Karyn Scissum Gunn, CSULB Provost, said.

The program launches this fall and is focused on first-time, first-year students at CSULB. It will help create peer net-

works, enhance learning, build career connections and give students a chance to build a community.

“Students will be in their cohorted college classes and attend with the same peers each week. This is designed to establish connections and connect our Beach XP students to the campus and to one another,” Miranda Bates, Senior Communication Strategist for the Office of the Provost, said.

CSULB President Jane Close Conoley said she has proposed a structure for creating student-campus belonging. The proposal will work by focusing on a collective network of information gathering through campus convenings and feedback sessions.

The structure is still in the proposal stages and has not been implemented at the time of this writing. The end goal would be to have something prepared by the end of the fall semester. The network would flow from the university’s core values and strategic priorities and be made up of the following:

- Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility work across campus.

- Steering Committees, that would promote support and guidance.

- DEIA collaborations to build on what already is in place.

- Subcommittees to address specific needs.

Pei-Fang Hung, chair of the Academic Senate, said the senate has noted the need to improve processes to recruit and retain the best faculty. This means the senate will work on improving appoints, promotions and tenure. There is also additional policy work to accomplish.

“For example, we (Academic Senate) will work on revising departmentalization policies, certificate policies, appeal procedure, masters policy just to name a few,” Hung said.

The Academic Senate is continuously working towards creating institution changes as well as focusing on moving forward with student-faculty success, diversity, equity, inclusiveness and accessibility.

The Beach Wellness program is focused on giving students, faculty and staff the chance to have their mental and physical health taken care of at the university. The Counseling and Psycho-

logical Services, CAPS, Basic Needs and Faculty Affairs have put together the Wellness Ambassador Certificate. It prepares faculty and staff to be able to better address the needs of students.

“As our students return to campus they will need support more than ever, and it’s a beautiful thing to see so many of our campus members responding to be prepared for this call,” Gunn said.

Mitali Jain, president of ASI, said the Future U project, started a year ago, and has garnered information on proposed changes to the University Student Union.

“After a year of active engagement connecting with more than 70,000 campus stakeholders this project has been approved,” Jain said.

JUAN CALVILLO / Daily Forty-Niner CSULB President Jane Close Conoley addresses campus concerns and the implementation of new programs, such as Beach XP, during the 2023 annual Convocation.

JUAN CALVILLO / Daily Forty-Niner Pei-Fang Hung, chair for the Academic Senate, going over some of the proposed policy changes the senate is working on.

Long Beach State tuition increase conversation continues

BY CHEYENNE ELIZARRARAS Opinions Assistant

Long Beach State ASI team leaders President Mitali Jain, Executive Vice President Teresa Falcon and Finance Vice President Alvin Tu sat at the roundtable with Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis to express students’ concern for the possible 6% annual tuition increase.

“I hear students say all the time they don’t have $100 in their bank account,” Kounalakis said.

Since the CSU Chancellor’s Office presented the tuition increase, Lt. Gov. Kounalakis voiced her concerns for the students and families who already struggle with finances.

The tuition increase proposal raised concern among many students across the 23-campus CSU system, including the possibility of students not graduating.

From July 8 through July 9, CSSA hosted a meeting at the Chancellor’s Office in Long Beach for ASI government and CSSA leaders to discuss the needs of the students. All 23 campuses opposed the increase.

“Nearly 50,000 CSU students are homeless, and one in five struggle to eat. Raising tuition would disproportionately impact those already vulnerable,” CSSA President Dominic Quan Treseler voiced at the meeting. “The proposed tuition increase threatens to undermine this vision of the inclusive, thriving society California prides itself on being.”

In addition to the many other financial, emotional and personal struggles, international students fear the possibility of increased tuition could mean the end of their education at CSU. For CSULB, that has the potential of altering the lives of over 1,200 international students.

“I am a student who doesn’t receive any government funding whatsoever, so I am part of that 40% of students who would be impacted,” said CSULB ASI President, Mitali Jain. “If tuition fees go up, I won’t be able to afford CSU anymore.”

As Jain advocates for the students alongside Lt. Gov. Kounalakis, ASI is currently working on a senate resolution that opposes the increase.

“After the meeting, I feel like we have an ally, someone who understands our concerns. I feel very hopeful, she was very receptive to our experiences,” Jain said.

- Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis (second from left in bottom row) met with various passionate student leaders at the Cal State University Los Angeles campus.

If tuition fees go up, I won’t be able to afford CSU anymore.

”

CSU faculty labor negotiations stall

BY ANTHONY ORRICO News Assistant

Negotiations between CSU faculty and CSU management stalled on Monday as both sides failed to reach a deal on a new collective bargaining agreement.

Several labor unions represent the various CSU employees. The largest union is the California Faculty Association (CFA), representing 29,000 tenured, tenure-track, lecturer, counselor, librarian and coaching faculty at all 23 CSU campuses.

The Teamsters 2010 represents about 1,100 skilled trade workers. The California State University Employees Union which represents covers 16,000 support staff. United Academic Workers (UAW) which represents graduate student workers, Academic Professionals of California (APC) represents 3,000 professional support staff and UAPD representing physicians and dentists. All the unions work as a coalition but negotiate separate contacts for their members.

This was the fourth meeting involving both sides in this series of negotiations. CFA asked for a 12% raise in salary over the next fiscal year. According to an email from the CSU chancellor’s office, they offered a 12% raise over the next three years with no reduction in retirement pay or healthcare coverage in response.

“CFA leadership, unwilling to move off of its initial demand of a 12% increase in this fiscal year, has since filed a request for an impasse determination with the California Public Employment Relations Board,” said Interim Chancellor Jolene Koester via email.

According to the chancellor’s office, CFA was not willing to consider a multiyear deal. As a result, CSU offered a 5% raise over the next fiscal year, up from the previous 4% they offered previously.

“We’ve had almost 15% inflation over the last couple years and their offer is 5%, so basically their offer is another 10% cut in pay,” said Michael Harris, Teamsters 2010 union representative for Long Beach and Cal State Long Beach project painter.

Along with the increased salary, faculty are asking for improved paid family leave for new parents, greater campus safety for students and faculty and a defined workload for all staff.

“They (CSU Management) insist they cannot offer raises for subsequent years without guaranteed state funding when they have done so in previous contracts. Skilled trade workers kept campuses maintained during the pandemic, and in turn, CSU wants to take away emergency pay and the opportunity for workers to increase their pay,” said Aimee Baror, communications director for the Teamsters 2010 chapter.

With Monday’s meeting yielding little in the way of compromise, the next step in the negotiation process is set to bring in a state-appointed third-party mediator to try and resolve the dispute.

If that fails to move the needle, factfinding would be the next step in the process. CFA must submit to both mediation and fact-finding before any job action can be taken, according to an email sent to union members.

“The CSU will continue to negotiate in good faith with the express goal of reaching an agreement that provides

our employees fair and appropriate compensation within the funding constraints that we face,” Hazel J. Kelly, strategic communications director for CSU, said via email.

With Monday’s meeting yielding little in the way of compromise, the next step in the negotiation process is set to bring in a state-appointed third-party

mediator to try and resolve the dispute. If that fails to move the needle, factfinding would be the next step in the process. CFA must submit to both mediation and fact-finding before any job action can be taken, according to an email sent to union members.

“Simply put, the demand for a oneyear general salary increase of 12% is unreasonable because it would grossly undermine the CSU’s fiscal stability,” Koester said.

According to the email from the chancellor’s office, CFA’s proposal would cost $380 million in the first year of implementation.

Some union members like Michael Harris believe this is all heading towards a labor strike.

“Every day negotiations stay the way they are, we get a lot closer to a strike and we’re basically waiting for all the contracts to line up where we can all legally strike together because the negotiations are a joke,” Harris said.

Currently, CFA have suspended bargaining and are moving on to the mediation portion of the process.

More information about the negotiations can be found on CFA’s website as well as the CSU website.

COURTESY OF THE TEAMSTERS 2010 CHAPTER CSU faculty members protest outside a board of trustees meeting in Long Beach on July 11, 2023. CBA negotiations between the two parties have been going on since February of this year.

We’ve had almost 15% inflation over the last couple years and their offer is 5%, so basically their offer is another 10% cut in pay.

Michael Harris Teamsters 2010 Union Representative

”

New school year brings changes to campus parking policy

BY LINSEY TOWLES News Assistant

An email in late July from Parking and Transportation Services details the changes to the parking program on campus and consists of four key changes.

Parking permit prices are set to remain the same as last year and not increase as previously expected by the department. This “fee freeze” has been implemented to apply to all permits available for purchase, including daily, monthly, semester and academic year.

This comes as a result of a faster recovery of permit sales following the pandemic than predicted by the five-year parking free increase plan adopted in July 2021 by Parking and Transportation Services.

Following the 2023-2024 school year, the department is expected to propose an annual permit price increase plan based on Consumer Price Index or 5%, whichever one is less, according to the department website.

An evening/weekend permit option was launched on July 1 for those parking on campus after 5:30 p.m. on weekdays and all-day on weekends for $10 per day.

Daily permit privileges have also been expanded to be valid in any lot where they are purchased or sold, including all general lots, parking structures and all employee lots after 5:30 p.m. Previously, daily permits were restricted to a single

Long Beach State receives several upgrades around campus

BY ANTHONY ORRICO News Assistant

Long Beach State students returning for the fall semester have found new additions to campus, as a number of construction projects were completed over the summer.

The Hillside buildings have received a number of upgrades in the interest of student safety. Fire alarms in all Hillside buildings and the Hillside International House have been upgraded from a simplex fire alarm system to a newer notifier system. Hillside buildings A and B have received renovations to their bathrooms as well.

The Student Health Services building is also receiving safety-related updates including a new sprinkler system and updates to the fire alarm system. Lot G3 near Student Health Services is also receiving 12 new parking spots. Both projects are expected to be completed in June 2024.

The Music Access Road on the upper side of campus near the Walter Pyramid was repaired and upgraded with new a new sidewalk, storm drains and a repaving of the roadway.

Smaller improvements around campus include a new University Police substation by the University Bookstore, which was completed right before the end of the spring semester. Two new 80-foot tall cell towers were constructed across the street from the liberal arts buildings along West Campus Drive. East campus central plant turnaround upgrades will include a new concrete curb ramp, bike ramp and signage and delineation for a shuttle drop-off and pick-up zone.

Both the College of Liberal Arts and the College of Business have added new outdoor study areas that include a lectern, tables, benches and overhead canopies.

One of the bigger additions to campus is the renovation of the Kinesiology East Gym. The renovations include the replacement of the floor, new retractable bleachers and an overhead

lot use.

Also new this year are drop-off and pick-up zones. There is now a “no-fee cell phone waiting area” where individuals can wait for 15 minutes without purchasing a parking permit while they

contact the person they are picking up.

“These zones will make it easier, safer and more convenient for students and visitors to be dropped off and picked up around our campus as well as remove traffic and unsafe pedestrian situations in areas of high vehicle congestion,” Parking and Transportation Services said in an email to students.

The new cell phone waiting area is located at the South Campus Turnaround.

Any students with questions about the parking program should contact Parking and Transportation Services at 562-985-4146 or email ParkingGeneral@ csulb.edu. The department’s main office is located on Merriam Way, adjacent to the Pyramid parking structure and College of Business.

The new pick-up and drop-off zones are located at:

• South Campus Turnaround

• Liberal Arts Buildings/ West Campus Dr. Family and Consumer Sciences/Beach Dr.

• Walter Pyramid

• Carpenter Performing Arts Center East Campus Turnaround/ Power Plan

media platform structure. The gym is also getting a new scoreboard, wall pads, A/C upgrades and electronic locks. The renovations are still in progress and are expected to be completed by the end of the month according to the Building Services Department. The gym remains closed during renovations.

Fine Arts Building Number 1 is receiving a renovation to its second floor, including interior alterations and mechanical, electrical and plumbing modernization. Liberal Arts Building 1 has received its own renovations to

its first floor which will now house Atlas Advising and the Geography departments. Much of the building was closed last year but will be open for the fall semester.

To view all projects completed last year and those planned for the future students can visit the Beach Building Services website and view the construction project map.

LINSEY TOWLES / Daily Forty-Niner

In an effort to relieve traffic congestion, new drop-off and pick-up zones have been added to various locations on campus at Cal State University Long Beach.

ANTHONY ORRICO / Daily Forty-Niner Located in between the Pyramid parking structure and the College of Business, this new outdoor study area offers students a shaded area to work on campus.

Campus safety powered by new, tried tested tools

BY JUAN CALVILLO News Editor

Anew bicycle U-lock program and electronic locks are some of the tools the University Police Department and Beach Building Services will use to keep campus safe this fall. Long Beach State’s UPD is also addressing car break-ins, theft and personal safety as the semester begins.

The U-lock program on campus is completely free and provides students who register their bicycles with the UPD a free lock. The locks are provided on a first come, first serve basis.

Natassaja Dolgorouky, the community engagement officer for the UPD, said students applying for the program need the bicycle’s serial number, make, model and color. Interested students can apply for the program online. There are over 1,000 locks available for students. Students who register their bike on move-in day will receive their locks on Aug. 18 through Aug. 19. This will mark the beginning of the giveaway. After move-in day, students who register their bicycles can pick up locks from the UPD or the Housing Office.

“Our goal is to get every student to register their bike so that if it [a student’s bicycle] is located in somebody else’s hands that don’t belong to them, then we will be able to safely return the bike to the student,” Dolgorouky said.

Bicycles, tricycles, unicycles and class one, two and three electronic bikes qualify for the program. Motor bicycles do not count towards the program and are considered vehicles on campus.

Law enforcement on campus is addressing car break-ins and theft by increasing patrols in the areas that have a higher concentration of these types of incidents. These foot patrols are called patrol checks, which will be conducted by UPD officers and Community Service Officers.

CSO’s are student workers who wear light blue uniforms and will perform patrol checks assigned to them during their down time hours. CSO’s have a direct line to the UPD dispatch and can report situations they encounter.

Dolgorouky said there are some basic tips for keeping personal items and student cars safe while parked on campus: Students should lock all car doors and roll up the windows.

• Valuable items shouldn’t be left in plain view.

Valuable items should be stashed in

trunks for safe keeping.

• If students aren’t able to stash items in a trunk, items should be shielded from view.

Cars should never be left unattended while running.

The 2019 - 2021 Clery Annual Security Report for CSULB stated motor vehicle thefts have gone down since 2019. In 2019, there were 13 motor vehicle thefts on campus, while 2020 had nine thefts. There were two on-campus thefts and two non-campus thefts in 2021. Additional information on various other crimes and definitions can found in the report posted as a PDF on the UPD main page. Beach Building Services is working with colleges on campus to install electronic locks on outside entrances. Josh Cichuniec, facilities management director at BBS, said this type of lock typically addresses access control at various colleges on campus. The new locks are part of over 300 electronic locks throughout campus and have also shown up at student dormitories.

“This lock will allow college-approved users to access the building after normal business hours while maintaining building security,” Cichuniec said.

He said the College of the Arts and the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics are getting exterior locks. The College of Health and Human Services is receiving interior electronic locks.

“The installation is just about complete on the exterior applications. BBS funded the CNSM installation. The other exterior location was co-funded by BBS and COTA,” Cichuniec said.

The UPD provides additional safety training and programs throughout CSULB’s campus. She said departments, students and organizations can ask for

Active Shooter Preparedness training, which is typically done in group settings. This type of training is conducted by an officer, the Emergency Preparedness manager and the Community Engagement officer.

The UPD also provides a Safety WalkThrough on campus. Dolgorouky said the walk-through consists of both an EPM and CEO going through an area on campus and checking spaces for places of safety and best exits for emergencies. This includes insuring that doors actually lock and places to hide. She said the EOC is in charge of this type of training and it isn’t part of the UPD’s purview.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the UPD had large training sessions for active shooter situations. These included the Long Beach Police Department and were led by the UPD on campus. COVID-19 changed these trainings, but the department is due for one. Dolgorouky said there are some things students should consider during an active shooter situation:

• Student safety is paramount. Get to safety.

Text 911 to contact the dispatch center to seek help.

Students don’t need to stay on campus. Students near transport should remove themselves from the area. BeachALERTS, the campus-wide emergency notification system, gives information on situations on campus. Messages will become more specific with each one sent out.

• Spouses, partners, friends and family can subscribe to BeachALERTS.

BeachALERTS automatically enrolls all current students, faculty and staff.

There are additional personal protection training and tools students can

make use of at CSULB. For example, new students might not know about the Rape Aggression Defense program. The RAD program is a 12 hour hands-on course that is led by the UPD. This program costs $10 dollars for students, faculty, staff and alumni. For more information on the RAD program students can check the UPD website. The first class is on Oct. 17.

“I would highly recommend that [RAD program] for any currently enrolled students or faculty, but public is allowed to take those classes too. I took the class and it’s great and I highly recommend it,” Dolgorouky said.

CSULB also has about 300 emergency blue phones throughout campus. These phones are connected directly to the dispatch at the UPD. Safety escorts are provided any time day or night and students can ask for CSO escorts if they feel unsafe on campus.

“[Students] would call the dispatch non-emergency line which is 562-9854101 and request a safety escort. All they’re going to have to provide is their name and student ID number and their location,” Dolgorouky said.

The service is an on-campus service. There is no off-campus escort. When a CSO is unavailable, a police officer will be sent to the student in need.

The CSULB campus also has more than 100 security cameras located around the grounds.

“Security cameras on campus can be monitored by dispatchers, police officers, and investigators,” Lieutenant Johnny Leyva said.

A new bicycle U-lock program and electronic locks are some of the tools the University Police Department and Beach Building Services will use to keep students safe this fall.

JUAN CALVILLO / Daily Forty-Niner

The University Police Department at Cal State University Long Beach gives away over one thousand U-locks to students who register their bicycles with the department.

Incoming Guardian Scholars hit ground running with Move-In-Day event

BY STEVEN MATTHEWS Video Assistant

The Cal State University Long Beach Guardian Scholars held their Move-In-Day event on Aug. 18 to celebrate foster youth students starting the new semester at CSULB.

This year’s event, held at the College of Business, is the first year the Guardian Scholars partnered with Ready To Succeed LA, Make Good Inc. and Lincoln Avenue Capital, all with the goal of helping the incoming foster youth.

Candi Marsh is the associate director of Guardian Scholars, a group at CSULB that provides support and services to current and former foster students that are taking classes at the university. The goal of the group is to ensure that these students have the same support structure as their peers on campus.

“Sometimes when you’re moving in, it’s traditionally like grandma, auntie, mom, dad and siblings there just cheering you on,” Marsh said. “That’s not always the case

with our Guardian Scholars. We are their guardians, and we’re there to be their mom, their auntie, their everything, right?”

Volunteer help at the event was provided by Lincoln Avenue Capital and helped the new students move into their rooms. Ready to Succeed LA pledged support and mentorship services. Make Good Inc. provided dozens of blue duffel bags full of supplies for the dorms.

The essential item duffel bags contain dorm necessities like bedding, sheets, towels, bathroom essentials, school supplies and basic dorm appliances.

“We want to make sure, head-to-toe, that these kids are ready to start,” said Ruth

Tropical Storm Hilary brings heavy rain and flooding to Southern California

BY ANTHONY ORRICO, SAMUEL CHACKO, & MAYA-CLAIRE GLENN News Assistant, Managing Editor, & Opinions Assistant

For the first time in 84 years, a hurricane is going to make landfall in Southern California. In September of 1939, a tropical storm named El Cordonazo hit Long Beach, California.

With Long Beach State students moving into the dorms and preparing to start the fall semester, they also are bracing for Hurricane Hillary’s impact.

AccuWeather calls this a possible “once-in-a-lifetime tropical storm landfall” and the impact being “disruptive, damaging and dangerous.”

Long Beach State Professor Benjamin Hagedorn, an Associate Professor in environmental geochemistry, said the news of Hurricane Hurricane Hilary was surprising and called it a rare phenomenon in California.

“Hurricanes usually require certain conditions to be met for them to cause damage and one key condition is warm sea surface temperature,” Hagedorn said. “California doesn’t see those too often because we have colder sea surface temperature.”

Hagedorn said the “north-south trajectory” was unusual. Based on his expertise,

the key damage points would be flooding and less extreme winds.

He suggested that people shouldn’t be traveling on the freeways, especially the 10 or 210 and that people should stay at home unless it’s “life-threatening or dangerous.”

“Charge all your electronic devices right now [...] it’s a good idea to have a lot of electronic devices charged up so you can at least receive warnings and communicate,” Hagedorn said.

The storm is set to impact much of Southern California by Sunday night according to AccuWeather forecasts and the National Hurricane Center.

The University put out an email to Long Beach State employees and students on Aug. 18 stating, “We are actively monitoring weather forecasts related to Hurricane Hilary, which will be approaching Southern California over the weekend.”

“At this time, there is no change to normal operations for the coming days, including Monday,” the email said. “We will continue to assess conditions.”

Vice President for Administration and Finance Scott Apel asked students and faculty to make sure their contact information is up to date, since they’ll be sending emergency information via text and email.

The City of Long Beach put out a press release on Aug. 18 explaining how they’ll be preparing for Hurricane Hilary. As of the press release, the hurricane was located

Stalford, founder and executive director of Make Good Inc. We believe in, you know, an equitable society, and how do you do that? You make sure that everybody has what they need when they need it.”

In addition to the duffel bags, Stalford says the students will also be able to select clothing items at the Make Good Inc. store over the weekend. The clothing will all be free to the incoming Guardian Scholars.

These donations support incoming freshmen foster youth like Ari Tippett, who grew up in the foster care system and is planning to major in education at CSULB.

“I’m really grateful for this opportunity because I don’t have to stress about buying

these things,” Tippett said. “Just to have people be not only supportive, but also help you with those things, it makes it less scary to have to experience the brand new journey of, you know, college and stuff.”

Rudy Hernandez, who plans to focus on math education at CSULB, is another incoming foster youth freshman. He says that some of the major concerns for foster youth is stability and security.

“This entire event, it just takes a huge load off of me,” Hernandez said. “Being able to go into the school year without having to worry about my necessities being me, it changes the world.”

off the coast of Mexico.

“The weather event is expected to bring significant rain and wind throughout Long Beach with increased swells along the oceanfront,” Long Beach City’s Public Information Officer Jake Heflin said. “High winds and intermittent periods of heavy precipitation and also anticipated citywide.”

Empty sandbags are available at all neighborhood fire stations in Long Beach. Sand and sandbags are available at the following fire stations: Station 7 (2295 Elm St.), Station 12 (1199 Artesia Blvd.), Station 13 (2475 Adriatic Ave.), No Station 14 (5200 Eliot St.)

Sandbags are only available to Long Beach residents and I.D.’s are required. There is a limit of 10 maximum sandbags per person.

Hagedorn emphasized not to overreact

and thanked all of the agencies responsible for relaying information to the public.

“We live in an area where multiple national disaster risks, earthquakes, fires and now hurricanes in the summer so the extreme events are likely to occur more frequently in the future so that’s something we should probably be aware of,” Hagedorn said.

Gov. Newsom declared a state of emergency early Saturday night enacting emergency measures to aid response, relief and recovery efforts.

An evacuation advisory has been issued by Los Angeles officials for Catalina Island; officials are urging visitors and residents to evacuate on the Catalina Express.

Residents can get updates on the storm by visiting the National Hurricane Center’s website, the National Weather Services’ website or Longbeach.gov.

STEVEN MATTHEWS / Daily Forty-Niner

Guardian Scholars Jacob Parks (right) and Rudy Hernandez (left) head to their dorms flanked by Alexander Gedney, a Guardian Scholars Student Ambassador.

CHRISTAL GAINES-EMORY / Daily Forty-Niner Signal Hill, CALIF: Clouds cover the Long Beach city skyline during Tropical Storm Hilary on Sunday, Aug. 20.

UTC construction is underway and is scheduled to extend through the fall 2023 semester. Students can expect the UTC to be

first-year’s will get to experience the new FEA curriculum this fall.

New FEA curriculum for a new year at The Beach

BY RENZO POCASANGRE Arts & Life Assistant

Chair of the Film and Electronic Arts, Adam Moore, is looking to make waves at The Beach with a renovated UTC in production and a new curriculum for incoming students.

As another semester at the Beach rolls in, incoming film students have a lot to look forward to with a revamped film program.

“There’s a new 33-unit foundation curriculum, focusing on five critical studies courses,” Moore said. “Regardless of what you’re going to study one day, everyone is going to get to have a shot to work on and make a short film”

There will be 21 unit specializations in different areas including creative nonfiction, directing, cinematography, screenwriting, post-production, critical studies and producing.

With the previous curriculum for film students, only 28% of students were taking the same courses within the film major, where the curriculum required 51% as per the CSU chancellor’s office. Changes were necessary for students to not only meet this executive order, but to be more well rounded in their studies. In addition, many classes in the old film program were also locked and reserved for specific tracks like creative nonfiction and narrative production.

This shift in curriculum is meant to address equitability for film students at

The Beach who previously encountered many roadblocks with the narrative production track.

“We felt for a while there was this sort of elitism that was happening in the department,” Moore said. “There was the elite narrative production students who could study directing and cinematography and then everyone else.”

Moore worked extensively with other film professors in the department to address this for incoming first-years.

“That’s not what Cal State Long Beach is all about,” Moore said.

Another big change for this semester is that the film minor will no longer be available for the time being. Current film minor students will be the last cohort to go through the film minor track due to the massive overhaul of courses that is on the way.

“One thing that I’m personally committed to is I want to create a screenwriting minor,” Moore said. “There’s so many students from all around the campus, creative writing majors, journalism majors, they come and they want to take

screenwriting courses.”

Moore will be working to make this a reality by fall of 2024 to address these changes and better reintroduce the different aspects of the film minor.

First-year film students at The Beach for fall 2023 will get to experience the new curriculum and some of the brand new spaces that have been developed for productions. The brand new 2,400 sq. ft. soundstage is currently accessible for film students when the semester begins, where directing and production courses will be held. Accompanying the new soundstage in 2024, there will be a fully renovated UTC for film students to experience and work with.

Resources have been challenging for the film department to source at the Beach, but the adaptability and creativity of our film students is what really has motivated Moore to push for these rapid changes.

“We think that it’s not the technology that makes a good filmmaker, it’s the craft,” Moore said. “Our students can

run circles around USC students because they’ve learned how to light something with one LED light, a bounce board and a decent camera.”

Renovations are slated to complete at the start of spring 2024 for the UTC. This means construction will stretch through the fall semester. These renovations will bring new classrooms along with more faculty offices, a spacious computer lab, new foley stage and audio mixing suites for students.

Moore wants to empower film students to be prepared for when the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes come to a close. The film industry will rapidly need more screenwriters, PA’s, set coordinators and production crews to meet the needs of whatever conclusion is reached during labor negotiations.

“How can I strike while the iron’s hot, when the strike is over, because when these strikes end, productions are starting immediately,” said Moore. “Are you ready to go? As soon as these strikes are over are you ready to hit the ground running and start that hussle?”

RENZO POCASANGRE / Daily Forty-Niner

made available in the spring 2024 semester, but

We think that it’s not the technology that makes a good filmmaker, it’s the craft.

Adam Moore Chair of Film and Electronic Arts

CSULB film professors express support for SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes

BY SAMANTHA CORTES Arts & Life Assistant

Amidst nationwide strikes by unionized writers and actors, CSULB film professors have expressed support for the movement and its goal of improving workers’ rights.

The Writers Guild of America, a labor union that represents thousands of writers in film, television, news and online media, went on strike on May 2. The union had failed to reach an agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, comprised of major streaming services and studios like Netflix and Disney.

WGA members have taken to the streets to demand an increase in residual compensation, greater contributions to pension plans and health funds, and the regulation of artificial intelligence to produce material.

Professor and WGA member Matt Montoya was a film student when the union last struck in 2007. He has since witnessed the takeover of streaming services and a decrease in residuals due to their lack of transparency with show ratings.

“Studios can get away with a lot if it’s not stated in the contract,” said Mon-

toya. “I was on a network show that was on cable T.V. after it ended, but when they moved it to streaming services, we didn’t know how many people were watching what we had written.”

The Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists joined the strike on July 13 after weeks of unsuccessful negotiations with AMPTP. The union is fighting for an increased general wage to account for inflation, protection against artificial intelligence and updated pension plans.

This is the first time the two unions have simultaneously been on strike since 1960. As a result, the two groups gained health plans and the ability to earn residual payments.

Professor and California Labor Federation member Ben Huff has worked closely with the striking members of SAG-AFTRA and WGA. Huff, along with the activist organizations he is a part of, supports the picket lines by marching with strikers and providing them with food and drink donations.

“The vast majority of actors are living paycheck to paycheck, just like any other working-class folk,” said Huff. “There’s enough money to help support them, but greed has just made this standoff happen to see which side gives in first. The workers won’t give in. This is a fight to the end.”

The WGA strike recently passed

Dorming at The Beach? Here’s what you’ll need

BY LINSEY TOWLES News Assistant

Whether you’re at Hillside, Parkside or Beachside, some items are essential for any dorm situation. The Daily Forty-Niner has compiled a list for you to cross off before you arrive at The Beach.

Health

About 32% of all U.S. college students catch a cold or virus while in school, according to a report from Statista. While all dorming students are required to submit their immunization records, being around new students can result in the common cold. Being prepared can go a long way.

- DayQuil/NyQuil or other coldrelief medicines

- Advil/Tylenol or other pain relievers

- Benadryl or other allergy relievers

Student Health Services also offer care and over-the-counter medicines for reduced prices at the pharmacy located at 1250 N. Bellflower Blvd. Call 562-9854771 for more information.

Kitchen

All dorms come with a microwave and mini fridge. Hillside and Parkside also have communal kitchens. By bringing the right items, students can supplement their meal plans in the dorms.

- Single-set dishes (plates, bowls, cups)

- Single-set cutlery (fork, knife, spoon)

- Tupperware

- Water bottle

- Dish soap

- Sponge

No open-coil, open-flame or high-wattage appliances are allowed. This includes toasters, rice cookers, air fryers, crock pots, hot plates or electric grills.

Bath

Depending on your room, you may be sharing a bathroom with four to five people, or a whole floor. No matter the situation, these items will get you through the experience.

- Shower shoes

- Shower caddy

- Towel set

the 100-day mark. The union met with AMPTP last week to discuss a recent counterproposal presented by the association, but details of the meeting have not been made public.

According to SAG-AFTRA, AMPTP has refused to negotiate fairly and has not reached out to resume discussions.

“They (studio executives) do not help create, yet they will happily take the money that we helped make them,” said Montoya. “They’re not the performers or the writers, and certainly not the crew that shoots these projects for grueling 12 plus hour days to bring these projects to life.’’

The two unions have continued to strike at studio headquarters across Los

Angeles County, such as Fox, Warner Bros. and Sony.

The rallies have garnered tremendous encouragement from supporters across the country and strikers have remained optimistic throughout the movement, according to Montoya.

“The Hollywood industry has all this glitz and glamour, but these are also workers’ rights we are fighting for,” said Montoya. “Nobody wants their work to be taken advantage of and we should always support those who are just trying to fight for fair benefits.”

SAG-AFTRA AND WGA have continued to support each other’s movements as their fight for better working conditions continues.

Bed

All beds are 80’’ twin XL with storage underneath. Whether you sleep with one pillow or five, you’ll need these bedding items.

- Pillow

- Pillowcase

- Sheets

- Comforter

Other

These items are time-tested as necessities for the dorms.

- Floor or desk fan

- Desk light

- Steamer/Iron

- Garbage bags

- Laundry soap, dryer sheets

Don’t panic if you happen to forget something from home. The Beach Shops on campus offer many of these items for purchase. There are also a variety of stores surrounding CSULB where these items can be purchased.

More information about housing and residential life can be found on the housing website, including information on what not to bring. By following this guide, your dorm necessities are sure to be covered.

SAMANTHA CORTES / DAILY FORTY-NINER

The ongoing strikes by unionized writers, actors and other media professionals has halted the production of numerous films and television shows.

LINSEY TOWLES / Daily Forty-Niner Popular

WGA writers and SAG-AFTRA actors reveal the cracks under Hollywood’s streaming model

BY RENZO POCASANGRE

& Life Assistant

Film and television has captivated audiences through decades of storytelling and technological advances.

Studying screenwriting was never my dream, but working with film and television has always seemed like the closest thing to it. As is the case with many others, picketing the streets of Hollywood and New York. What many would describe as their dream careers and an opportunity of a lifetime has been overshadowed by the realities of job security, the threat of AI and the death of creativity.

The film and television industry forced new and old writers alike to go from cable television where seasons were longer and could last for years, to streaming services where the seasons are shorter and could be canceled on a whim.

Studios have been also using AI tech-

nology, such as ChatGPT, to write screen adaptations and pass the product to entry level screenwriters. This eliminates the need to host normal writers rooms for brainstorming.

AI also has its shortcomings with lack of execution when it comes to writing comedic dialogue or other nuances that comes with screenwriting. With the new model of shorter seasons and longer episodes, writers are under a time crunch to edit and write with fewer human resources and have limited access to studio sets.

Danny Tolli, a volunteer for the Writers Guild of America who was picketing outside Netflix’s headquarters on Sunset Boulevard, described some of the conditions that screenwriters are currently going through.

“We’re all breaking story for 10 weeks, and then just being let go. We’re not getting set experience,” said Tolli, “We’re not getting the opportunity to write the scripts.”

Writers for production companies like Netflix and Paramount often find themselves in sessions coined “Mini Rooms,” which act as a miniaturized ver-

sion of a writers room.

These Mini Rooms have become increasingly prevalent, with writers walking into big streaming service studios like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Paramount, and NBCUniversal only to be greeted by an isolated structure separate from the environment of a film set.

This structure is daunting for new writers, especially when the rate of pay on even a successful series is so low. Living wages are non-existent for screenwriters, being paid as low as $259.71 for one episode of a successful Nielsen record breaking show like “Suits.”

The work that goes into crafting a successful and binge-worthy show takes countless hours and writers. The show “Suits” was actually created for broadcast television under the standard structure and practices of gaining on-set experience where screenwriters worked with post-production and had a full writer’s room. Many other shows like “Suits” have recently found success through streaming services like Netflix, but are undercutting compensation and experience in the process.

Alicia Carroll, a WGA volunteer de-

scribed the huge contrast between standard practice to the current model.

“That pipeline of apprenticeship through promotion has kind of just disappeared,” said Carroll. “Now rooms are 10 weeks, 14 weeks instead of 30 to 40 weeks out of the year.”

WGA and SAG-AFTRA are striking in solidarity, not only for living wages and better working conditions, but to help preserve the essence of creativity that goes into creating quality films and television.

Where does the value in a six episode limited-series lie when compared to a long running broadcast show like “The Walking Dead” which can surpass ratings and viewership by simply being dropped on streaming.

The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) has finally begun the collective bargaining process this fall. They are starting contract negotiations with Writers Guild of America on Friday, Aug. 11.

This is only one step forward in the uphill battle in the center stage of workers’ rights in the entertainment industry.

Arts

RENZO POCASANGRE / Daily Forty-Niner

Friday, Aug. 11 marked day 102 of the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Signs that read “AMPTPetty” openly criticized the organization that represents production companies, taking to the all too famous Sunset Boulevard to protest Netflix.

For the first time in 60 years, the Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA are striking in solidarity for better wages and job stability, shattering the illusion of fame.

BY EL NICKLIN /

At the beginning of the school year, there are often long lines of traffic going into the parking lots of

actual classrooms is also an inconvenience.

The CSULB parking epidemic continues to infuriate students

BY MAYA-CLAIRE GLENN Opinions Assistant

The prices for parking at Long Beach State have long been contested by students. Even with the recent “fee freeze,” they’re higher than they should be.

The price of parking at Long Beach State has long been a contested issue, starting in 1959 when students were furious about having to pay $13 per semester for parking, approximately $134

when adjusted for inflation.

Current students were grateful to hear when the campus initiated a “fee freeze” that would keep parking prices the same for 2023-2024 as they were for 2022-2023. This would keep the cost for commuters at $250 per semester and $300 per semester for on-campus residents. Parking prices today are about double what they were in 1959, accounting for inflation.

Students who are already paying $8,160 per year minimum for on-campus housing are being punished for wanting to bring a vehicle on campus. This disproportionally affects students

CSU vs. UC - what’s the best choice?

BY ACSAH LEMMA News Assistant

Ihad the tough decision to pick between Cal State Long Beach and UC Berkley, here’s why I picked Long Beach State.When I applied to universities as a transfer student last year, I only applied to four schools.

Among those four, I applied to Long Beach State and UC Berkeley. I got into both and was left with a difficult choice to make.

With the help of my family and friends, I decided that Cal State Long Beach was the right choice for me and proceeded with enrollment.

Although it was a difficult decision to make, I looked at it in terms of two factors: finances and the student’s quality of life.

My family just barely crosses the threshold to qualify as middle class and so, unfortunately, we’re in a gray area where I don’t get much financial aid.

Knowing my family and I would

have to bear the brunt of the financial burden, the yearly cost of attendance for each university played a huge role in my decision.

With UC Berkeley, the cost of attendance was a little over $15,000 a year, which included the minimal financial aid I was granted.

I also knew that paying for the housing costs in the Bay Area was a whole other physical and financial problem I would have to deal with.

“Nationally, 43% of students at fouryear universities experienced housing insecurity in 2020, the Associated Press reports.

“Students reported being unable to pay utilities, rent, or mortgage, living in overcrowded units, or moving in with others due to financial difficulties.”

That wasn’t something I was looking forward to dealing with so I pivoted towards Cal State Long Beach and looked over their cost attendance summary.

The cost of attendance for CSULB was about $7,000, and when I

who may not have other housing options if they live further away from Long Beach or are coming from out of state, as the cost of apartments in the Long Beach area are not the most affordable.

Not every on-campus resident has a vehicle – many opt to carpool or use public transportation – but for some, bringing their own car makes the most sense. The cost should not be $100 higher for the year for students already paying more than the annual undergraduate tuition fee in housing costs.

Pricing is not the only issue. With tens of thousands of students attending classes in person, parking can be

limited, and even if you can find a spot, it may still take you 10 to 15 minutes or longer just to walk to class. On days when the temperature is reaching over 100°F or it’s raining heavily, getting to class can be tiring, stressful, and difficult.

CSULB prides itself on being a campus for the students, but more needs to be done to assist with the struggle of finding parking as well as paying the hefty price. Small steps can be taken such as lowering the cost for student workers and on-campus residents, but more needs to be done.

looked at the individual costs, I knew that I could reduce that number by buying my textbooks online and using public transport instead of driving my car.

In the end, that lower cost really drew me more to Long Beach State. Coming from a local community college and living at home, I was really looking forward to living the real “college experience.”

So when I was deciding between the two universities, I was also taking into account which school would be the best for balancing my academics as well as my leisure time.

Based on social media and having friends that go to UC Berkeley, I knew that the courses there were rigorous.

An opinion piece from The Daily Californian, a Berkeley-based student

newspaper, reports that “Over time, the frequency of cheating may increase as students may become stressed to stay afloat in their classes.”

Although I knew I could have balanced my school life with my personal life, I was not interested in the sheer academic difficulty of UC Berkeley, especially when competition between classmates was inevitable.

In the end, I decided on CSU Long Beach. I don’t believe a good education is worth being in debt for the rest of the foreseeable future.

Long Beach State aided me in almost every area that I was struggling with understanding, and that experience alone really cemented my decision.

After committing to CSULB, I wasn’t thinking of the new school year with a sense of dread, but instead, with excitement.

Daily Forty-Niner

Cal State University Long Beach. The distance from the parking to the

@arriannacerv / Redbubble (left) Berkeley Rep Logo Collection / Cliparts (right)

MARY CATIPAY / Daily Forty-Niner

Unlocking the GE Treasure: A CSULB Student’s Roadmap

BY MAHER BASHARAHIL Social Media Assistant

Welcome to the newest members of the Long Beach State community! As you stand at the threshold of a transformative academic adventure, a question might loom large: what about the general education (GE) requirements?

Today, we simplify this integral aspect of your college journey, ensuring you stride forward with confidence.

Imagine the GE program as CSULB’s grand tapestry, where each thread represents a unique subject and experience.

Beyond credits, it’s a gateway to disciplines that could light unexpected passions and interests.

Whether it’s delving into the arts, diving into humanities or exploring the sciences, each general education course adds depth and dimension to your academic palette.

A nugget of wisdom often whispered among the university’s halls: begin with a few GE classes in your first year. For those still mapping out their academic direction, your required courses can be inspiring.

They might reveal interests you hadn’t pinpointed or offer a fresh perspective on familiar subjects. As you progress, you’ll find that several specialized courses often draw from the foundational knowledge that GEs impart.

Additionally, mixing those GEs with your major subjects can introduce

a delightful rhythm to your academic journey, ensuring you are both challenged and refreshed.

The task of choosing the right GE courses might appear daunting, but it can be an exciting endeavor.

Engage in conversations with seniors, join CSULB’s online communities or participate in those lively campus discussions.

These interactions, rich in experience and insights, can serve as your compass, pointing you toward fulfilling and resonant courses.

The GE options at CSULB mirror our commitment to offering students a holistic education.

So, when plotting your academic journey, embrace a spirit of adventure. Courses on global art, sustainability or contemporary issues might surprise you with their relevance and intrigue.

For those leaning towards digital convenience, CSULB’s array of online GE courses is worth exploring.

They promise in-depth exploration, paralleling the quality of their classroom counterparts, but with the flexibility that modern students often seek.

If ever you find yourself at a crossroads, remember: academic advisors are your allies. Their expertise and guidance are tailored to ensure your academic needs align seamlessly with your aspirations.

GEs are more than a requirement at CSULB; they are an opportunity. An opportunity to explore, learn, and grow.

So, as you tackle this new chapter, take a moment to savor the possibilities.

Welcome to CSULB, here’s to a journey brimming with discoveries!

A stack of textbooks at the University Bookstore, reflecting the wide variety of courses students can take to fulfill their GE requirements.

New to CSULB? Navigate the general education (GE) maze with ease and start your academic journey on the right foot!

The Beach welcomes Bobby Smitheran as new Executive Director of Athletics

BY NAOKI GIMA

Photo Editor

Bobby Smitheran was officially welcomed as the new Executive Director of Athletics on Aug. 11. Many CSULB officials attended the press conference, such as CSULB President Jane Close Conoley and Vice President of Administration and Finance Scott Apel. Former interim executive director of athletics Ted Kadowaki was also in attendance, extending Smitheran a warm welcome to The Beach.

Scott Apel gave the opening statement expressing his excitement to have Smitheran and his family here at The Beach.

“It’s just a wonderful time for me to be able to welcome Bobby back to Long Beach and to his roots and his family,” Apel said. “And we’re just very excited to have him here at Long Beach State.”

CSULB President, Jane Close Conoley spoke at the event and expressed her gratitude to Ted Kadowaki, the former interim executive director of athletics, for his work last year and assisting Smitheran as his successor.

“I do want to thank Ted and Ted’s

family for stepping in,” Conoley said. “Ted is a veteran staff member from The Beach and he came back and got a number of things accomplished.”

She also expressed her excitement for Smitheran and looks forward to what he can do in the next coming years to push the athletics program to continue the storied legacy of Long Beach State sports.

“Bobby brings the experience knowledge and skills necessary to lead a program with a sustained history of national prominence and to help our student-athletes fulfill their enormous potential. Both on and off their various skills of play,” Conoley said. “He’s the right person to leverage a decade-long tradition of athletic achievement, so Long Beach State can continue to soar but soar to new heights.”

Smitheran closed out the event with an opening statement, afterwards he answered questions from the media.

He gave thanks to his friends, family, colleagues and the greater Long Beach community for their support while also expressing excitement for the opportunity to take the Beach athletics department to new heights.

“I am humbled by the leadership opportunity that you have entrusted me

with and the outpouring of support that I’ve received from friends, colleagues and the Long Beach community,” Smitheran said. “I have the best job in the country. That’s because of this institution, this community and the achievements of those who came before me and because my feet are firmly planted in Long Beach. Go Beach!”

Smitheran approaches running the athletics department with four core values: Integrity, vision, collaboration and hope. He believes that these four principles will drive the program forward for the foreseeable future.

When asked about the Walter Pyramid, which had leaking issues during the rainy season last year, Smitheran stated that every possibility

should be considered but it will be some time before a definitive plan will be set.

“We will always make strategic improvements in our facilities,” Smitheran said. “So, I’m going to need a minute to get in here and have an opportunity to look at those studies and look at those repairs that need to be made in a strategic manner that we can accomplish.”

The end goal for Executive Director in regards to the Pyramid is to make a facility that the student-athletes and overall student population can be proud of.

Smitheran wants to establish a culture of pride and class and thinks the Pyramid should be a reflection of that.

Long Beach State alumni honored at Angel Stadium

BY MATTHEW COLEMAN Sports Assistant

The Los Angeles Angels hosted their third of four scheduled college nights on Aug. 5 where they played host to the Seattle Mariners.

This annual event allowed alumni to revisit the site filled with special memories, as it has hosted CSULB’s graduation for the past three years.

Family and friends of the Long Beach State community were treated to several school-themed pregame festivities before the game.

This included a ceremonial first pitch by Long Beach State’s very own men’s volleyball head coach Alan Knipe, a former National Championship player. He delivered a perfect strike down the middle to Angels rookie Jordyn Adams.

Along with picking up the limited edition 2023 Angels-Dirtbags hats, numerous students and alumni stopped by a couple of interactive pop-up tents dedicated to the Long Beach State Athletic Department and the CSULB Alumni Association.

To top it all off, fans of all ages took

the opportunity to snag a picture with the beloved school mascot Elbee, who made the trip down to Anaheim.

The game saw a stadium full of fans from The Beach, who all had the pleasure of witnessing the generational talent and global phenomenon of Shohei Ohtani, who is once again on pace for an MVP season.

This superstar player has been known to draw crowds from not just around the country, but around the globe. The twoway Japanese star is undisputedly one of the most popular figures in all of sports.

The Angels’ comeback fell short in a 3-2 loss to their AL West division foes, the Seattle Mariners, who were led by their own young all-star Julio Rodriguez’s 3-4 performance at the plate that included two RBI’s.

Fans were invited to stay for a firework display following the game, a tradition the Angels have done after every Saturday home game in 2023. A fun way to end a memorable night at the Big A.

Thanks to current students and alumni, this annual event continues to be a hit summer attraction for baseball fans and fans of The Beach, in which people can enjoy a ball game and also show their Long Beach pride!

NAOKI GIMA / Daily Forty-Niner

Long Beach, CALIF: Cal State University Long Beach President, Jane Close Conoley (left), welcomes new Executive Director of Athletics Bobby Smitheran during a press conference at The Pointe inside the Walter Pyramid.

MATTHEW COLEMAN / Daily Forty-Niner Fans who purchased the special-event ticket were able to come away with commemorative Angels-Dirtbag hats during Long Beach Night on Aug. 5 at Angel Stadium in Anaheim.

Isa new beginning with Silva at The Beach

BY NAOKI GIMA Photo Editor

Originally from Sacramento, California, Isa Silva has hopes in leading the Beach team during the oncoming season. The firstgeneration Mexican-American point guard stands 6-foot-4 and is the first in his family to be born in the United States.

When it came to the decision to leave Stanford and come down to The Beach, Silva found it an easy choice to go to a place where he feels he can thrive.

“When I entered the transfer portal, it was all about fit and it was a basketballdriven decision,” Silva said, “I had a great experience at Stanford, but from a basketball perspective, it was time for a change of scenery for me.”

He felt extremely welcome when he made his visit to The Beach and looks forward to working with the coaching staff to best highlight his abilities as a passer and playmaker on and off the ball.

“The coaching staff and the players really made me feel welcome on my visit, and they were really looking for a point guard to come in, Silva said.

“Coach Dan Monson, Coach Myke Scholl, Coach Carey and now Coach Larry Anderson, they all have that vision for me.”

Long Beach State men’s basketball head coach Dan Monson prioritized getting playmaking guards during the summer to initiate a better flow for the offense and have options in the depth chart.

Women’s Volleyball Home Schedule

FRI 25 | 6 p.m.

SUN 27 | 4 p.m.

THU 31 | 7 p.m.

SEPTEMBER

FRI 01 | 7 p.m.

FRI 22 | 7 p.m.

“I think it was evident last year we had a good basketball team, but we didn’t have anybody to run it when when when Joel Murray went down with an injury, Monson said.

“That was a priority for us to get point guards who could not just run a team but could shoot the basketball and I think Isa really fits that bill.”

Silva will join a team at the Beach that was No. 3 in the nation in rebounds per game, but finished outside of the top 200 in effective field goal percentage.

The 6-foot-4 guard looks to bring

some stability and flair to this Beach offense, give the fans a show, and produce winning basketball.

He won’t be the only one bringing style as he described his Long Beach State teammates as, “people playing the right way and playing fast and with some swag.”

The Beach has high hopes for this season, with the addition of Silva, and Silva said he is looking forward to playing with this Beach team.

Women’s Soccer Home Schedule

SEPTEMBER

FRI 01 | 7 p.m. HARVARD

SUN 10 | 1 p.m. UTAH VALLEY

THU 14 | 7 p.m. UC IRVINE

SUN 17 | 1 p.m. NORTHERN COLORADO

SUN 24 | 6 p.m. UC SANTA BARBARA

SAT 23 | 7 p.m.

SANTA BARBARA THU 28 | 7 p.m. UC SAN DIEGO

FRI 29 | 7 p.m. HAWAI’I

OCTOBER

FRI 13 | 7 p.m.

UC DAVIS

SAT 14 | 7 p.m. UC RIVERSIDE

SAT 21 | 7 p.m. CAL STATE FULLERTON

NOVEMBER

FRI 03 | 7 p.m. CAL STATE NORTHRIDGE

SAT 04 | 3 p.m. CSU BAKERSFIELD

OCTOBER

THU 05 | 7 p.m. CAL POLY

SUN 15 | 6 p.m. UC SAN DIEGO

THU 26 | 7 p.m. HAWAI’I

COURTESY OF STANFORD UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

Stanford, CALIF: New Long Beach State men’s basketball point guard, Isa Silva (right), being guarded by Oregon guard Jacob Young during a regular season matchup. Silva averaged 3.2 points per game and 1.2 assists per game in his last season at Stanford.