Daily Forty-Niner, Sept. 16, 2019 by Beach Media

weekly print edition

DAILY FORTY-NINER CELEBRATING 70 YEARS

Vol. LXXI, Issue 04

www.daily49er.com

Monday, September 16, 2019

JUST A SECOND FASTER PAGE 4

NEWS

SPORTS

CSULB prioritizes accessibility

Hockey: from a dream to reality

pg 3

pg 16

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2019 | DAILY49ER.COM | @DAILY49ER | STAFF@DAILY49ER.COM ON THE COVER Students walk through “the gap” to shave seconds off their commute, Sept. 12. According to campus officials, thousands of students walk through “the gap” a day.

Weekly Calendar

Photo by AUSTIN BRUMBLAY

1250 Bellflower Blvd., LA4-203 Long Beach, CA, 90840

Monday 9/16

Tuesday 9/17

Wednesday 9/18

Thursday 9/19

Friday 9/20

Saturday 9/21

Sunday 9/22

Sports

Outdoor Movie Series: Willy Wonka @ USU North Lawn 7 p.m.

Noon Time Events @ USU Southwest Terrace 12 p.m.1 p.m.

Poet’s Lounge @ USU Sunset Lounge 8 p.m. - 10 p.m.

Sports

Sandra Bernhard @ Carpenter Center 8 p.m.

Sports

Men’s Golf Husky Invitational, 1st and 2nd round Bremerton, Wash.

Women’s Soccer vs. USC @ 4 p.m. San Diego, Calif.

Daily Forty-Niner

Men’s WPOLO vs. Air Force Tournament Colorado Springs, Colo.

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Sports

Men’s Golf Husky Invitational, Final round Bremerton, Wash.

Men’s WPOLO @ USC 7 p.m. Los Angeles, Calif.

Men’s WPOLO vs. Air Force Tournament Colorado Springs, Colo.

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Sports Mud @ Players Theatre from September 12 - 29, 2019

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Women’s Volleyball vs. SDSU @ 7 p.m. San Diego, Calif.

Shark Bites is a Long Beach State inspired crossword puzzle that contains clues from the articles within the paper.

Across 3. the space near the USU where students line up to walk through 5. the street where bike lanes have been added leading to fewer lanes 6. Cyrus Parker-Jeannette retired as the dean of this college 7. students use this app to look for love

Down 1 the sport that Francis Lemay plays at CSULB 2 school officials are in talks of including these in parking structures

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By Alejandro Vazquez

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Shark Bites

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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 FortyNiner 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.

4 the ASI president proposes an idea to have these available to

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9/14/19 10:03 PM

NEWS 3

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2019 | DAILY49ER.COM | @DAILY49ER | NEWS@DAILY49ER.COM

Unrestricted access By Rachel Barnes News Editor @ rachlbarnes

here are over 1,800 students with disabilities who attend Long Beach State, making up almost 5% of the campus population.

Despite most of the campus being built in the ‘70s, CSULB prioritizes accessibility for disabled students.

Since much of the school was constructed before 1990, when the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed, there are some buildings on the campus that aren’t accessible.

Zakhour is a campus certified access specialist, which means he is able to evaluate accessibility issues and review all building plans to make sure that the campus is accessible. “Even if someone wants to buy a desk, I review it to make sure that it isn’t going to restrict access,” Zakhour said. Zakhour is one among many other faculty members on campus that are part of the Barrier Removal Committee. The committee meets every two months to review issues that they’ve received that they couldn’t fix right away.

However, according to Mark Zakhour, director of construction and design at CSULB, the facilities department is always working on ways to improve accessibility on campus. “It’s not always feasible to fix the physical barrier, but we always ensure the [programs are] accessible,” Zakhour said.

It also reviews the large number of ongoing projects that facilities has planned to make sure that every project has provisions for accessibility. One of the larger projects that is in the works is the tear down of buildings FO4, FO5 and PH1.

For Rachel Hultger, a third-year anthropology major and first-year transfer student, getting used to a new campus is hard enough even without the wheelchair she uses to get around. Hultger has spent most of her break time during her first semester to explore the campus.

The buildings were constructed in the 1970s so only the first floors are ADA compliant, and PH1 is on the state’s seismic priority list, which indicates an urgent need for upgrades. Facilities is working on getting funding from the state to tear down the three buildings and build new ones.

Hultger transferred from Shasta College in Redding, California, and she said that that campus was mostly flat so she had little to no issue with accessibility there. CSULB is a campus full of stairs, but there are elevators and ramps for people who cannot use stairs to utilize.

The buildings are so old that Zakhour said the way that they were built makes it nearly impossible to renovate them, which is why they chose to build whole new buildings. The new buildings will be ADA compliant.

The twists and turns of the accessible route through campus make wheelchair travel take longer than routes that include stairs. Hultger said that if she absolutely needs to, she can take the stairs.

“We play a big role in the physical aspect of accessibility,” Zakhour said.

“While I am a disabled person, I’m pretty lucky that I’m pretty mobile,” Hultger said. “If I really had to get up the steps I could pick up my chair and do it, but that’s not a choice for other people.”

Since transferring to CSULB, Hultger said that her biggest issue was finding a place to live. She originally wanted to live in the dorms, but the waitlist was so long that she was told she had no chance at making it.

Hultger has Brittle Bone Disease, which means that her bones are fragile and break easily. This condition is rare, with fewer than 20,000 cases per year, and can’t be cured. She said that her larger leg bones are the ones that are most affected.

From there, she contacted the Bob Murphy Access Center for help, and she was directed to the Long Beach Disability Center only to hear that they also had a waitlist that was five years long. Hultger was left to move to Long Beach from Redding, an almost nine-hour drive, a week before school started with no place to live.

As a kid, Hultger walked a lot more than she does now because the effects of Brittle Bone Disease worsen with age. She mostly only walks at home to make sure that she is safe at all times.

She quickly found a place to live before classes began that was accessible. Her only problem now is the steep ramp near E. James Brotman Hall that she said requires a lot of strength to maneuver up.

“When I fall down, I break my leg,” Hultger said. When Hultger uses doors she tends to use handles as opposed to the automatic door buttons because she’s used to them not working.

Custodians check the automatic door buttons every day to make sure that they work, and if they don’t they will usually be fixed within an hour, according to Zakhour.

ALEJANDRO VAZQUEZ | Daily Forty-Niner

The stairs outside the Hall of Science are inaccessable for disabled students. While there is an elevator inside, some buildings don’t have that option.

“To a point, I can see the accessibility problems,” she said. “But there are things I can do in my daily life that make me more mobile.”

4 NEWS

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2019 | DAILY49ER.COM | @DAILY49ER | NEWS@DAILY49ER.COM

By Khalid Hassan Contributing Writer

The gap developed a fan page of sorts in 2013. It has a Facebook page called “CSULB Crevice,” with 172 followers and 174 likes. “Sometimes the line to walk through the crevice is longer than a Disneyland ride, but it’s worth it every time,” CSULB alumna Amy Sohn posted on the page. “Sometimes I think it would have been faster to just walk around.”

here is something of a tradition at Long Beach State that students and staff unknowingly are a part of.

Located past the dandelion-shaped water fountains, near the “Go Beach” sign is a granite wall and a three-foot gap that students walk through. Its narrow opening, however, can be tricky and not an easy path for students.

The creator of the page even suggested that the gap be honored. “I say that we petition to get a plaque to commemorate the glory that is the crevice,” the creator posted.

Only one student is able to fit through the gap at a time, and that tends to cause traffic. Sometimes, the traffic causes a line 11 students deep, and the only alternative is to go around the long way.

It’s been such a long-lasting tradition that CSULB official website posted about it in an article detailing 18 things CSULB students should try before graduating.

Micheal Gardener, director of campus planning and sustainability, said the gap wasn’t predicted to be a passageway that thousands of students take daily. It was designed for architectural reasons and it was originally planned for students to go around the pillars.

“Shoot the gap. You know the place, that narrow opening at the end of the USU walkway. Just don’t bump into anyone,” the article stated. A census was conducted a few years back to ask students for their input on the gap to see if they wanted to remove the narrow gap or leave it be.

“It’s an amazing thing...no one could have planned that this narrow gap, could become a passageway for thousands of students daily,” Gardener said. “That’s Beach culture.”

“It was voted by the students to keep this relic of CSULB culture,” Gardener said.

Gardener said that despite it not being intended to be a passageway, the gap is so ingrained in CSULB culture that the school couldn’t bear to remove it.

The census was distributed to students and faculty that year to decide the action for future CSULB students. No regard was given to any future students if they wanted the gap.

The University Student Union was built in 1972, but the gap itself was constructed in the early ‘90s. Currently, the USU is home to many campus organizations, including Associated Students Inc.

“I like going through it when nobody there but if it’s crowded I’ll go around because I know there’s another way that’s less crowded,” said Michelle Duenas, a third-year health science major.

“From time to time I use the gap,” said James Ahumada, the ASI senior communications manager. “It’s just a second faster.”

However, some people avoid the gap and don’t understand the appeal of the popular passageway. “It depends, but I don’t like walking through it preferably,” said Art Medina, Educational Opportunity Program advisor of access and retention.

Ahumada said that it is interesting that students often wait in line to go through the gap, despite the wait negating the extra seconds the gap saves people. “I think it’s funny that the gap has gotten such a personality,” Ahumada said.

RYAN GUITARE | Daily Forty-Niner

“The Gap” is an unintended pathway used by students. Students squeeze through a small gap in the wall to take the shortest pathway instead of walking around.

Mind the

No matter the opinion on the gap, it’s here to stay for a long time to save the CSULB population an extra second or two during their trek across campus.

gap

CSULB students wait in line to walk through the small opening by the “Go Beach” sign, but it was never intended to be a passageway.

NEWS 5

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2019 | DAILY49ER.COM | @DAILY49ER | NEWS@DAILY49ER.COM

Newly elected ASI President Lizbeth Velasquez speaks at the 2019 annual convocation in the Carpenter Performing Arts Center, Aug. 23. AUSTIN BRUMBLAY Daily Forty-Niner

Lizbeth for lawyers Velasquez proposes an idea to bring affordable lawyers to campus for students that need legal representation. By Celeste Huecias Staff Writer

ssociated Students Inc. President Lizbeth Velasquez has proposed a plan to provide free legal services for economically challenged students. Velasquez’s idea for a legal clinic at Long Beach State began when she had an internship with AmeriCorps at the Long Beach Courthouse. Through the internship, she saw first-hand how many community members needed legal advice and not just legal education. “I, and others, saw the need for students on this campus to access legal advice and be-

gan to brainstorm how this would look on our campus,” Velasquez said. Her announcement at convocation for a free legal clinic on campus came just after the California State University system announced it would be providing attorneys for dreamers at all CSU campuses. CSULB will be provided with two attorneys and two paralegals in the Dream Success Center to aid undocumented students with legal advice due to the new CSU program. “Our idea is similar in the sense we would be aiming to help folks who cannot afford legal representation, making it accessible to them on campus,” Velasquez said. The difference between the legal help that ASI plans to provide and the CSU system

Crime Blotter

Graphic by MIGUEL MARTINEZ

is that the services will not come from the Chancellor’s office and it will address many other issues. Velasquez said issues that would be covered through her plan’s legal representation would include unlawful detainers, name changes, protection orders, paternity and child custody, marriage dissolution and more. ASI issued student surveys, and the responses showed that students expressed a need for these types of services. Some concerns students have with the idea is how much it would cost. Crystal Kem, a third-year member of the ASI Beach Events team, said she doesn’t know if these legal services are worth it if it will cause tuition to increase.

“If it’s going to be taken from the tuition money that [already] goes towards ASI, then I think it’s a great idea,” Kem said. “College is expensive and I think if CSULB can provide affordable and helpful services to students its a good thing in my book.” This plan is in the early stages of development but Velasquez said that ASI envisions providing pro-bono attorneys. ASI hasn’t determined the cost of these services and where the funding will come from yet. Despite not having a clear direction on where the funding is going to come from, Velasquez said that she and the rest of ASI are excited for this project. Her goal is to make this dream a reality during her time as president as well as a and long-lasting service.

By Ramon Alvarado Staff Writer

In a different incident, red paint and scratches were reported along the passenger side of a student’s vehicle, Sept. 10. The car was parked inside of the pyramid parking structure at the time of the incident. There were no witnesses at the scene.

Hit-and-Runs A CSULB student was riding their bike along Merriam Way, near Atherton Street when they were struck by a blue vehicle around 6:50 p.m. on Sept. 9. The student used one of the blue emergency phones on campus to report the incident to UPD. The student had minor scrapes, but no major injuries. The student refused any further assistance. The make and model of the blue vehicle was not identified.

Suspicious Person An individual was walking along Beach Drive and yelling to himself Sept. 10. The University Police Department received a call that said the individual tried to deface property. UPD officers were able to reach the suspicious person, but there was no proof of an attempt of defaced property. The individual was not a Long Beach State student, so they were escorted off the campus.

Stolen Vehicle A 1991 Honda Civic was reported stolen from parking lot G13 on Sept. 9. The owner of the vehicle reported the car stolen around 9:30 p.m. The student was on campus for about four hours before they returned to the parking lot and noticed that their car was gone. There are currently no leads and the incident is still under investigation. Stalking A female student walked into the UPD office to inform officers that she felt she was being stalked by an ex-boyfriend, Sept. 9. The officer she spoke to determined her story didn’t meet the criminal criteria for stalking. The student was given Title IX information for future reference, according to UPD Capt. John Brockie.

6 NEWS

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2019 | DAILY49ER.COM | @DAILY49ER | NEWS@DAILY49ER.COM

CSULB may install new security cameras Officials have confirmed that there are ongoing discussions about cameras being added in campus parking structures. RYAN GUITARE | Daily Forty-Niner

Surveillance cameras may be added in parking structures to help with student and property security. By Ramon Alvarado Staff Writer

dministrators are considering installing surveillance cameras in parking structures at Long Beach State.

how to best implement the camera system into the three campus parking structures. “The barriers include cost of the technology and the staff to monitor and review [footage],” Conoley said in an email. “For example, should we have cameras just at the entrances and exits, or try to deploy at every level? There are pros and cons to both strategies.”

pus, but there were no security cameras in the structure to help with the investigation. The next day it was discovered from footage from cameras near the structure that the incident did not happen at CSUF. Instances like this may have prompted CSULB to consider installing cameras in the parking structures on campus.

There’s currently no time-table on when students can expect to see cameras in the parking structures. Based on the discussions, it’s almost certain they’ll be installed in the near future, according to University Police Department Capt. Richard Goodwin.

Conoley said that adding the cameras will help with student and property security. The cameras would also help the UPD identify suspects, especially with hit-and-run and vandalism cases in the parking lots.

The cost of the cameras is one of the obstacles holding the school back from implementing them. It’s not that the school isn’t willing to pay for extra security, they’re just looking for the most cost-efficient strategy, according to President Conoley.

President Jane Close Cononley and administrators are in discussions about

On Sept. 10 a student at California State University Fullerton reported that she was raped in a parking structure on cam-

“Cameras are very expensive, it’s not a low-dollar project,” Goodwin said. “Say you have cameras taking up all different

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angles...not being a camera expert, but I’d say you’re going to need 10 cameras on each floor. Then you have the logistics of plugging them all in and having screen [monitors] for them. It’s big bucks.” For first-year mechanical engineering major Troy Diez, it’s the university’s responsibility to monitor the footage it receives seriously, and its actions will decide whether the cameras are worth the price. “The immediate [return on investment] here is making the university seem like it cares, whether that’s true or not,” Diez said. “Unless someone is actually caught by a camera and the university takes appropriate actions to satisfy the wronged individual, [the cameras] are worthless by definition.”

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2019 | DAILY49ER.COM | @DAILY49ER | NEWS@DAILY49ER.COM

NEWS 7

A biker (left) rides along Broadway in Long Beach, Friday morning. A sign (above) protesting the road diet sitting inside a local Long Beach shop window. EMMA CARLSEN Daily Forty-Niner

Road diet leaves residents hangry Many Long Beach residents are angry with changes made to Broadway. With fewer lanes and less space, bikers and drivers alike have raised safety concerns.

By Emma Carlsen Podcast Editor

The new layout took what was a four-lane street and reduced it to two lanes with protected bike lanes on each side. These changes made lanes narrower and severely reduced parking along the corridor.

Residents have acknowledged that although the changes may have made things easier for bikers, it is harder for cars to turn onto the street because they only have one lane of traffic to enter, rather than two.

n an attempt to make Broadway safer, changes were made along the road, but many contest that this road diet has actually done so.

“There’s so much more red [curb] because of it,” said Tom Villarreal, manager of Gallagher’s Long Beach Pub & Grill on Broadway.

Delta Zeta is one of a few Long Beach State sororities directly impacted by the road diet, as their sorority home is near Broadway.

According to the US Department of Transportation, a “road diet” is a street plan that involves removing traffic lanes to reallocate that space for other purposes, including creating protected bike lanes.

Reduced parking along Broadway has slowed foot traffic for shops along the corridor, and local businesses claim it is hurting them financially.

“I almost got into an accident [on Broadway],” said Summer Alvano, a fourth-year Delta Zeta member.

“This street is designed to save lives, [and] slow traffic. We are still working to improve what the traffic engineers designed to have it match with how we all move in corridor,” Long Beach City Councilwoman Jeannine Pearce said in a Facebook post. The term road diet refers to slimming down the amount of available space on the streets. The specifics of how the space on the street is used depends upon the design and the area the road diet is in.

Residents in Long Beach have begun to protest against the road diet. Signs against it sit in front lawns and hang in local shop windows. These signs claim that the new layout of the street has both reduced parking and “starved businesses.” When certain road diet designs have been put into place in California, communities have reported safety issues. Residents like Villarreal claim that the road diet makes the road more dangerous, and they said they have even seen homeless people hit by cars after the changes on Broadway.

One of these plans was implemented in Long Beach along Broadway in mid-April 2019 from Redondo to Alamitos Avenues.

Most complaints about the changes to the street have come from drivers. On the other hand, bikers enjoy the new protected bike lanes.

While the intended purpose of the road diet was to make streets safer and lanes easier to share with bicyclists, some residents are upset with the changes.

Bikers feel accommodated by the city because of the protected bike lanes that the road diet created, and that Long Beach is trying to live up to its reputation of being a bike friendly city.

Police data for accidents in this corridor have shown an increase in collisions. However, city officials maintain that the road diet has improved safety. According to Long Beach Police data acquired by the Long Beach Post, there were about 16 accidents on Broadway Road between Jan. 1 and April 30, nearly four per month. After the road diet was put into place in mid-April, the number of collisions rose to 19 collisions between May 1 and June 30, or almost 10 per month. With narrower lanes, cars, bikes and pedestrians all have less space to maneuver. As a result, everyone using the street may need to exercise more caution than usual because it is harder to see as cars pull out onto the corridor. “There’s no room for error, and people make errors every day,” said Mariha Mitchell, a fourth-year music major who regularly commutes along Broadway.

8 ARTS & LIFE

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2019 | DAILY49ER.COM | @DAILY49ER | ARTS@DAILY49ER.COM

Courtesy of CSULB

This past summer, Cyrus Parker-Jeannette announced her retirement from her position as dean of the College of the Arts at Long Beach State.

Creativity never retires Newly retired College of the Arts Dean, Cyrus ParkerJeannette had dreams of teaching from a young age.

By Saad Kazi Assistant Arts Editor

gainst her father’s wishes, Cyrus Parker-Jeannette spent her youth with a passion for dance and theater.

She started playing piano at the age of 6, when she taught her friends different choreographed sets. Her father, who worked in the electrical field at a naval shipyard, reluctantly helped out by hanging up a curtain in the garage so that her daughter could charge neighbors 2 cents to watch her perform. “Don’t give up your dreams,” ParkerJeannette said. It’s a simple bit of advice, but it’s one that the former dean of the university’s College of the Arts holds true. Looking back at her professional career, Parker-Jeannette credits her persistence and dedication for her success at Long Beach State University. “[CSULB] has been a central touchstone and culmination of my adult life,” she said. “It’s a really, really special place…all of the

faculty and administration all the way up to the president care about the students.” A Long Beach native, Parker-Jeannette had always dreamed of teaching dance at CSULB, but her journey to earning the deanship position wasn’t easy. Parker-Jeannette’s parents didn’t initially support her decision to study dance and theater when she was an undergraduate student at California State University, Fullerton. She relented and eventually made her parents proud enough to help with the expenses for her master’s program at the University of California, Irvine. “I really believe we are given talents…and various kinds of intelligence,” ParkerJeannette said. “If we stay in tune with that, we kind of take a certain path.”

passion for Parker-Jeannette. As a dance instructor at a minority-dominated school in the inner city, she sparked confidence in many students. “[Learning] gave them hope,” ParkerJeannette said. Parker-Jeannette was hired as the head of the dance department at Chapman University in 1995. During the span of 11 years, she was able to move up to chair of the theater and dance department before moving on to CSULB. “There’s never a challenge that she’s not willing to take,” her husband, Patrick Jeanette, said. “We’re always living our lives taking things to the edge, so to speak.”

Like many with a love for theater, ParkerJeannette moved to New York upon graduation. There, she made connections, and eventually moved back to California.

In 2003, Parker-Jeannette received the California Dance Educator of the Year award. The following year, she earned the Director’s Award for outstanding contribution in dance education from California Dance and Movement.

“Sometimes, when dreams get crushed, it’s really important to pay attention to open doors,” Parker-Jeannette said.

“Those were the years I was really starting to get acknowledged as a dance educator,” Parker-Jeannette said.

It was at San Bernardino Community College where teaching became a

Around that time, Parker-Jeannette got invited to teach highschool students at

Taipei American School in Taiwan. She spent many of her summers teaching at different schools around the world, and also participated in the annual summer intensive at Backhausdance in Orange County. Parker-Jeannette was initially an associate dean for the COTA. She got professional learning experience to prepare for a higher role while participating in the campus’ Leadership Fellows Program. In 2014, she was named dean, and became the first female to hold a full-time dean position since the 1970s. “I’ve been fortunate to have an amazing academic career,” Parker-Jeannette said. “I’m really grateful to have been apart of this community. Parker-Jeannette was responsible for securing the campus museum’s $10 million donation from Carolyn Campagna Kleefeld. She emphasised that challenges she has faced her entire career have only made her passion grow. “It was a lovely renaissance and a great fresh start for the school,” ParkerJeannette said.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2019 | DAILY49ER.COM | @DAILY49ER | ARTS@DAILY49ER.COM

ARTS & LIFE 9

New Dungeons and Dragons club opens up fiery paths The club brings imaginations to life with D&D at CSULB.

By Kaleen Luu Staff Writer

antasy roleplaying is an immersive experience that the new Dungeons and Dragons club on campus is happy to explore.

Ava Brodsky, a first-year pre-film major, is currently in the process of having the D&D club registered through the university to be an officially recognized club. “Dungeons and Dragons is a super fun roleplaying game where you make a character and you are that character when you play,” Brodsky said. “Sometimes if you want to do something, you have to ask the [dungeon master] for permission. It’s kind of like real life.” The premise of D&D, a tabletop roleplaying game, is that it’s run by a DM who creates a universe and players create their own roles in that universe. The DM is in charge of overseeing the campaign and a storyline that can last over a year. A campaign can last as long as it takes, unless all the characters die or the characters get to level 20, the highest level in the game.

KALEEN LUU | Daily Forty-Niner

A fantasy roleplaying game, Dungeons and Dragons, engages players in a world where their imagination whisks them away to fight dragons and strive for triumph.

“Depending on how you roll the dice, and how you roleplay, you can fight monsters or explore new places and it’s really, really fun. It’s like being in an adventure novel,” Brodsky said. “I encourage beginners to try it; it’s not that hard, it’s really easy to get into [but] you might just hooked forever.” The idea behind the D&D club began when Brodsky met design graduate student, Josh Ian at Smorgasport last month. “I met Ava and I jumped at the opportunity to make friends because I’m new here,” Ian said. “I overheard her and her friends talking about D&D and it was like a chain reaction in that line because four people around us started getting into this conversation.” Brodsky started playing D&D two years ago. When she arrived at Long Beach State, she realized there was only a video gaming club. This sparked the idea of forming her own club. “I think what D&D lets you do is explore new paths,” Ian said. “It’s almost like an alternate reality where you’re trying things out and seeing it from a different perspective.” According to Brodsky, she printed 40 flyers to advertise the launch of the club and was “overwhelmed” by the number

of responses. “I thought maybe 10 people would show up but so far, there’s been 44 people that showed up,” Brodsky said. The D&D club has multiple campaigns set up for different levels of player experience. “My favorite part is the roleplaying because you’re interacting with people at the table,” club member and firstyear pre-communication major Dylan Barber said, “It’s not just roll some dice and do a thing, it’s acting it out and telling a collaborative story, and I think that’s a really cool feeling to have.” The concepts of D&D are endless and players are only limited by their imagination. The immersive game has players take on various missions and is an easy way for people to make friends. “Join and if it’s not for you, you can always drop out, but you will meet people and if you get into it [then] you will be able to strip away and get into character,” Barber said. “It feels like you’re in a storybook. You are the hero defeating the dragon, you are the person.” The D&D club meets in USU 303, Fridays at 7:30 p.m.

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10 ARTS & LIFE

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2019 | DAILY49ER.COM | @DAILY49ER | ARTS@DAILY49ER.COM

THE COLOR COLLECTION: Everett Barton

CSULB student, Everett Barton shares how he got into cinema and album producing.

COURTESY OF EVERETT BARTON

Everette Barton, a film student at CSULB poses next to the poppy fields earlier this year while on a photo-shoot.

By Suzane Jlelati Assistant Arts Editor

ver since Everett Barton was a kid, he has created short films. He grew up in a family of photographers and was always surrounded by cameras. One day in elementary school, he picked up a camcorder and along with his friend, Maggie Herr, and they started creating stories. “Making films and music has always been something fun and doing it with other friends is just a fun way to spend time with people you enjoy being around,” Barton said. “You can make something interesting.” Since high school, Barton has been working for the production company, Lago Productions. He mainly works on the show, “Alive & Well,” where he films photo-shoots and edits footage. Barton also does freelance work for

FINIEN in Long Beach, where he edits the podcast “Hitting The Mark” and works on marketing projects for clients. His family has been supportive of his decision to pursue film. After seeing his work and watching him make money doing what he loves, they became confident in his future. Like most students, Barton isn’t sure what he wants to do. Although his major has a focus in screenwriting, that’s not all he enjoys doing. “There’s a part of me that would like to do cinematography, I like directing and most of my work is editing,” Barton said. “I don’t think I’d ever like to stick to one lane and just do that with the same genre of films forever. I like the idea of dipping my toes into different things.” In the past two years, Barton has released two films that are part of a trilogy he is making. The first film, “Talent Wanted,” was released in January 2018 and was a finalist at the LA Cinefest film festival. His second film, “Loner,” released in

November 2018 and was a semifinalist in the same film festival.

Creek, had any experience with producing an album.

Barton is currently in the process of creating the final film of the trilogy. According to Barton, he creates stories that are able to stand on their own but still connect in certain aspects, like recurring characters or similar themes in each film.

Herr has been friends with Barton for 16 years and grew up creating short films and music with Barton.

“Talent Wanted” follows the theme of being alone and eventually finding comfort in a friend. “Loner” follows a similar theme in which the main character starts out alone but finds comfort in family. The final film will follow a similar theme of loneliness, where the subject eventually finds comfort in oneself. “Finding comfort in yourself is a very internal thing,” Barton said. “So finding a way to translate that to film has been a bit of a struggle.” Barton also produced an album in 2018 titled, “Little One” with his close friends, Maggie Herr and Nick Jennings. According to Barton, It was a difficult process because no one in the band, Sheep

“Making each film and creating music together within our little group, has really done nothing but bring us closer together over the years,” Herr said. “Barton is the most creatively plentiful and [most] driven person I know when it comes to studying and working in film and music. It’s really inspiring to work with somebody like that who has amazing ideas and works insanely hard to make them come to life, every single day.” Sheep Creek is currently in the process of creating an EP. “The number one thing is to just go out and make something,” Barton said. “We’re at the point where anyone has the tools to make anything, you can make a short film all on your iPhone in your pocket. You learn the most from going out there and doing it.”

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2019 | DAILY49ER.COM | @DAILY49ER | ARTS@DAILY49ER.COM

ARTS & LIFE 11

CSULB student Daniela Maria Escobar died of cancer on Nov. 11, 2018. COURTESY OF THE ESCOBAR FAMILY

Remembering the life of Daniela Maria Escobar: a personal story By Cristina Molina Contributing Writer

I know that she wouldn’t want me, or anybody she cared about, to feel regret. I can write about Daniela’s battle with brain cancer and how it affected her everyday life.

he last conversation I had with Daniela Maria Escobar changed my outlook on life and weighed heavily on my decisions.

She was letting me know that she couldn’t join me for an acai bowl: “Sorry, I can’t hold down some meals because of my chemo treatments. It’s fine though, I can still do other things! I feel so blessed.” But it was I who had been blessed with her friendship. Ever since she passed, there hasn’t been a day that I haven’t thought of her. It made me realize that I have made mistakes. I think about mornings where my mom would leave to visit Daniela at the hospital and I chose to sleep in or the gifts she’s made me, such as a rosary that I misplaced. I could go on, but Daniela did not. She passed away on Nov. 11, 2018 from brain cancer, after a two-year battle. Her passing instilled new life in me.

“But that’s not what Daniela is about,” her sister Natalia told me. And she was right. Daniela was more than just her disease; her heart was purer than that of anybody I have encountered. This was a young woman who spent her time in the hospital making bracelets and rosaries to fund money for a family in need. During the end of her time staying in the hospital, her own doctor left her, tearfully saying: “Out of all of the people in this hospital, you are one of those who is suffering the most...yet you have never complained. I visit you to provide hope, but instead it’s you who provides it to me.” She was focused, and loved being a Long Beach State student. So much so, she was buried with her beloved CSULB cap. She had less than a semester’s worth of units left to graduate, but had fallen behind during her battle with the disease.

After Daniela passed, there were many stories of how she had affected others. After her battle ended, a parent of a friend of Daniela’s approached her mother, Ana. “You have no idea how much of a positive impact your daughter had on my son’s life. He has suffered with depression for years, and became suicidal,” she said. “However, she stepped in to tell him why happiness in life is worth searching for. She spent so much of her time dedicated to comforting, supporting and keeping him here with us.” If there is one source of Daniela’s best qualities, it is the character of her family. Daniela grew up with two sisters, Natalia and Gabriela, and her brother, Diego. She also had two devoted parents, Ana and Eric Escobar. When my mom asked Ana how she was doing, she told her simply: “My family is like an orchestra...when one instrument is down, the rest have to pick up the tune and continue.” And that certainly happened: there were 60 or more people in their home every night after she passed, praying the Novena, or nine-day prayer service.

On the day of Daniela’s funeral, I turned around in my pew and saw hundreds of people from my community filling the church. It was standing room only. We saw this family, who gave so much, endure something so crippling. The last time we spoke, Daniela didn’t put her wig on, because she felt beautiful as she was. She had a big smile on her face the day her hair fell, and sent a selfie to us and her family. She had a fire inside of her, determined to live every day as if it were another opportunity to make somebody else smile as big as she did. The last conversation I had with my friend changed my life because she gave me hope. After she passed away, I became driven to pursue happiness regardless of the challenges that come my way. I am inspired to love people the way she did, and I dream of having an ounce of the selflessness she embodied. And that alone is my beautiful friend’s impact on every person she encountered. Daniela Maria Escobar AUGUST 30, 1993 – NOVEMBER 11, 2018

12 OPINIONS

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2019 | DAILY49ER.COM | @DAILY49ER | OPINIONS@DAILY49ER.COM

Spill the Tea is a weekly section for students to share their opinions and make their voices heard. Long Beach State students answer a question that can range from the silly to the political. We at the Daily Forty-Niner value the diverse opinions of the CSULB student body and look forward to you sharing them with us. This week, students weigh in on shortcuts they take around campus. Photos and Reporting by Mercedes Cannon

Name: Kevin Lai Major: Accounting

Name: Jennifer Fritz Major: International Business

What shortcuts do you take to class?: “Well I am a business major, so I am all in the same building, but if I do need to take a shortcut to get to like upper-campus I cut through the USU so I don’t have to go up the ramp.”

What shortcuts do you take to class?: “My classes are in the business building, so I take the large curve by Brotman Hall instead of going through.”

How much time does it save you?: “Honestly it probably saves me like 10 or 15 minutes. Walking up everything takes a little while and there is always traffic.”

How much time does it save you?: “It saves me about 45 seconds to two minutes.”

Name: Claire Ramirez Major: Film/ Electronic Arts

Name: Alonzo Urita Major: Communications

What shortcuts do you take to class?: “OK, the big [shortcut] is right over by the awkward pool [that] the convenience store is right next to. I go through there and through the lounge center to the other side of the hallway to avoid the traffic.”

What shortcuts do you take to class?: “I come up from the lower-campus, so I try to avoid all the people and the traffic by taking the back stairs and elevator that put me out by the hall of sciences. I also take a shortcut around the theater building.”

How much time does it save you?: “It probably saves me like 20 seconds. I walk really fast though.”

How much time does it save you?: “It probably saves me about five minutes.”

OPINIONS 13

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2019 | DAILY49ER.COM | @DAILY49ER | OPINIONS@DAILY49ER.COM

Dating apps expand the potential to find love

Guys in your area looking for deep and meaningful connections, click now!

Online dating should be used as a tool to make a connection, but shouldn’t take precedence to meeting someone organically.

Finding a partner online is a lot more common than you think. By Gabrielle Rivero Staff Writer

By Kaleen Luu Staff Writer

hen I first tried out dating apps in 2015, I did it under the guise of doing it as a joke.

I was 18 years old at the time, and I didn’t know what I wanted. My friends were all coupled up, and I felt desperate to dissuade their attempts at trying to set me up with people they knew. I struggled with approaching people in person, and my anxiety prevented me from relaxing enough at get-togethers to meet anyone.

ollege-aged students have a stigma that Tinder is an app for finding short-term partners.

But as someone who once had an account on the popular dating app, there are more people on it who are searching for deep, meaningful connections than one-night stands. At first, I kept the fact that I was on a dating app very quiet. Only a select few of my friends were aware because I was wary of what others would say.

Looking back, it was my own apathy toward dating apps like Tinder that made me fail at finding love, but my experience, nonetheless, helped me grow as a person.

As time progressed, meeting people online made it easier for someone like me, who was nervous about going back out into the dating world, to talk to other single individuals.

Naturally, I gravitated toward dating apps. Tinder was founded in 2012, and by 2014, users were swiping over one billion times a day. It seemed like the perfect place for me to start.

The fact that if at any point I didn’t want to talk to them anymore, I could just delete them from my app and be done with them was comforting. Once I was more open to the fact that I was on Tinder, I started to learn that a lot of people I was friends with had met their current partners online.

Dating online can be difficult because it’s very reliant on appearances and makes it too easy to “date shop” where potential matches are just viewed as profiles and not considered as real people.

One of the most convenient features that Tinder has is the ability to select whether you want to swipe between men, women or both, which makes it inclusive to the LGBTQ+ community.

I think it really opens up the dating pool; how else would you meet that cutie from across town? Yes, you can meet people organically through clubs, parties or maybe like an indie rom-com where you brush hands at a secondhand bookshop, but the possibilities are endless online.

Another feature that draws some into online dating is the ability to get to talk to people outside of your daily routine. For Bumble, you can increase your match radius to go up to 100 miles. So even if you don’t live in a particular city, you still have the opportunity to get to know someone from there.

When I first began using dating apps, I was a very “one foot out the door” kind of person. I knew most people on Tinder were just looking for something lowkey, but I craved something more. A connection?

For many, online dating helps you push yourself out of your comfort zone.

Perhaps that was naive of me, but after dozens of meet ups, I think I’m starting to understand myself more.

I was the type of person who couldn’t speak to anyone I didn’t know without getting very nervous, but the more time I spent getting to know and talking to guys online, the more comfortable I became with who I was and what I wanted in a partner.

I began with low self-esteem and a lot of insecurities, but numerous boba dates down the line, I’m more honest with myself. I’m in control. I feel that I’ve struggled with finding the courage to let things go when it isn’t working, but online dating has allowed me to meet so many different personalities, lifestyles and perspectives that it’s truly enriched my life. It’s OK for me to be “not sure yet” when it comes to love.

It helped me with my self confidence in a tremendous way. I used to hate uploading pictures with my smile, and I’d do anything to hide my face. But after continuously being complimented on it, I started smiling huge in all the pictures I posted.

You don’t have to give up your fantasy of finding someone organically, but dating apps can help expedite the process of finding someone. The best thing about dating apps is that people summarize themselves in a short bio and you can decide if they’re interesting or not. It’s 2019 now and I’m still waiting to brush hands with someone at a bookstore, but until then, I’ll shuffle my Tinder deck.

My current boyfriend and I met through Twitter, and although it’s not a dating app, I believe that social media has made it so much easier for people to direct message one another online and flirt. What was once a very stigmatized act, finding a partner online seems to be the common denominator to most relationships now.

Graphic by ALEJANDRO VAZQUEZ | Daily Forty-Niner

14 SPORTS

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2019 | DAILY49ER.COM | @DAILY49ER | SPORTS@DAILY49ER.COM

Competition on an even playing field The Student Recreation and Wellness Center’s Inclusive program looks to increase participation to promote fun and understanding for all at the Beach.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ASI

Students line up in a “Mario Kart” themed wheelchair race in the SRWC’s inclusive program event last spring semester.

By Ralston Dacanay Assistant Sports Editor @ ralstondacanay

Grit. Resilience. Resolve. Courage. Most successful college athletes require these characteristics to go pro. Most college students with disabilities require these characteristics to go to class. Having two adult children living with disabilities in her life, Carmen Varela has worked in disability rights work for 25 years. As the director of the Bob Murphy Access Center for over a year, she has seen how education can open doors and improve the quality of life for students with disabilities. “When you have a lifetime of having to overcome barriers…just to be able to participate equally and be a part of things, people are gritty,” Varela said. “I think our students are exceptional in that they have found ways to compensate.” This is the type of attitude that the Student Recreation and Wellness Center staff hope to remind non-disabled Long Beach State students with its Inclusive program. In addition to the state-of-the-art recreational facility’s accessible building features and equipment, the SRWC’s inclusive sports events, such as wheelchair volleyball and beep baseball, seek to eliminate barriers to participation and exercise. “You forget about the simple things people with disabilities can struggle with,” said Erin Lightbourn, a fourth-year kinesiology major and rec sports student co-lead. “It lets you see there’s other sports besides just your traditional basketball [and] volleyball.” The inclusive events are officiated and offer prizes to all students, faculty and alumni who participate. However, event atten-

dance has mostly consisted of non-disabled students. “It doesn’t matter what height you are or how much strength you have, everyone’s at the same level,” said Justin Manzon, a fourth-year business administration major. While working at the SRWC intramurals desk or in his free time, Manzon said he especially enjoys participating in the Inclusive program’s wheelchair basketball events. Taking place at the rock wall and Main Gym A, the events tend to be laidback and focus on the challenge of being able to adjust to the “level playing field” for those that do not have a disability. “There’s one called goalball, that’s really hard,” Manzon said. “You’re blindfolded and then you have to use your other senses, like hearing, to grab a ball and you only can hear the ball.” While the Inclusive program has been successful in creating environments where non-disabled participants can gain a new perspective towards those with physical disabilities, they are working towards having an equal mix of non-disabled and disabled students competing together at the events. In hopes of increasing participation from students with disabilities this semester, the SRWC is working in collaboration with the BMAC. The BMAC provides a multitude of support services for 1,800 disabled CSULB students each semester who come in voluntarily. These services include testing accommodations, disabled/medical parking and emotional support animals, to specific programs for those with autism, learning disabilities or are deaf or hard of hearing. “This is kind of my drop in the bucket of humanity of how I [can] make a difference,” Varela said, “By being [at the Bob Murphy Access Center] and showing that students

[with disabilities] get served, they have a voice and choice with their services…so that they can be ready to join the workforce.” Varela said that increased participation from disabled students in the SRWC’s Inclusive program would be a win for all. She suggested that the BMAC and the SRWC should create focus groups to see what direction the Inclusive program should move next. “Let’s figure out what the students want and what the students need, and then go from there and look at that as an opportu-

nity to create something, modify what they have already, or to figure that piece out,” Varela said. “The proportion of students with disabilities on campus that are identified through our office is pretty small, but we know that it’s at least double that just based on national population statistics.” The Inclusive program will host its first event of the semester, the Inclusive Sports Expo, Wednesday, Sept. 18 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m at the SRWC.

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SPORTS 15

MANUEL VALLADARES | Daily Forty-Niner

CSULB Jiu-Jitsu club members, Jordan Nguyen and Aaron Salgado demonstrate takedown techniques at Week of Welcome, Sept. 4.

Locking arms with armlocks Long Beach State’s Jiu-Jitsu club uses inclusivity as a way to reach out to others.

By Manuel Valladares Assistant Sports Editor @ mannyvaiiadares

our students, sweaty and smiling, are causing a ruckus in the corner of the quad in the taxing summer heat. They spar with each other on a black mat. One proudly sports Vegeta’s battle armor across his chest. Each showed off their favorite martial art moves in an attempt to draw a crowd. It is their passion. It is Jiu-Jitsu. Despite all the physical contact, this sports club does not engage in any in-club competitions. Rather, they use the time to train to reach a point where they compete in events outside the club. “It’s a community,” Jiu-Jitsu club president Emilio Bautista said. “We don’t do competitions…we teach and reach out to other [Jiu-Jitsu] clubs to see if they want to collaborate and host seminars together. We all want to learn from each other and teach beginners.” The Jiu-Jitsu Club was previously on hiatus before Bautista revived it. Once Bautista took over, he had to renew interest in the club and recruit members for what he envisioned for the team. “Instead of hiring a black wwwwbelt, I just got a group of students who had been doing Jiu-Jitsu for nine-plus years,” Bautista said. Bautista said that not having a black belt requirement

created a more inclusive environment for students. For novices who are interested in the club, whether for self-defense or a good workout, the team trains members at their own pace. As someone who started as a novice, Bautista used his personal experience to come up with this method of training. For Bautista, his decision to enter the sport began as a way to defend himself from bullies while he was in middle school. “I decided to get some martial arts in my background as a tool to protect myself from being harassed,” Bautista said. “But now its changed to a lifestyle where I get to pass it down to people.” Club instructor Jordan Nguyen grew up with his father being a martial artist, gaining a passion for combat sports at an early age. “[My dad] was more traditional, he did bo staff and Kung Fu,” Nguyen said. “[I chose Jiu-Jitsu] because I realized it was more advanced and efficient.” At 12 years old, Nguyen had gotten training in Jiu-Jitsu and wrestling, eventually dedicating himself to Jiu-Jitsu because he realized that the techniques allowed him to take control over his opponent without getting hit. Nguyen is not the only one who made the transition from wrestling to Jiu-Jitsu. Club member Aaron Salgado chose to follow the same path after joining the club last year. “I saw the similarity between wrestling and Jiu-Jitsu and I liked the transition because I am a very contact [driven] person,” Salgado said. “I like the respectfulness we have for one another… because even though you are supposed

to dominate your opponent, you are never trying to fully hurt them.” The club defers a lot of times to the golden rule, “treat others how you want to be treated,” which is how they have been able to avoid major injuries during their seminars and meetings. Love and respect for one another is what has helped their group grow. “If you don’t want to get choked out then why would you choke out someone you’re training with,” Bautista said. “[That rule helps] build a sense of comradery when we’re doing activities.” For all those looking to join the club, Bautista recommends going to Jiu-Jitsu seminars. He said that learning consistency will help yield positive results, improve skills and boost self esteem. “We do it by levels, so the more experienced people do riskier moves like slams and spine manipulation,” Nguyen said. “The new group members work on regular chokes so they can just tap right away.” At one point only four members consistently attended meetings. This year, the club has nearly 40 dedicated members. Investing in this community is what gives its members the environment to playfully poke fun at each other when they have them tangled up in submission. Bautista said that trust does not happen overnight, but it occurs after they immerse themselves in the team and the community. “It’s a lifestyle, so everyone’s interested in it,” Bautista said. “I think that’s how we recruit [the right people] in Week of Welcome and Smorgasport.”

16 SPORTS

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2019 | DAILY49ER.COM | @DAILY49ER | SPORTS@DAILY49ER.COM

Fire on the Ice Senior center Francis Lemay looks to lead team to a championship after three seasons climbing the ranks.

JACOB POWERS | Daily Forty-Niner

Francis Lemay, number 15 on the ice but number 11 during practice, prepares himself for Monday morning drills.

By Jacob Powers Staff Writer @ jaypowers__

he love for a sport is often discovered at an early age.

For Francis Lemay, a fourth-year sociology major in the Long Beach State hockey club, hockey has been a part of his life since he was a toddler. “I’ve been skating since I was three,” Lemay said. “It’s just part of the lifestyle where I grew up. For my second Christmas, my parents got me my first pair of Canada Cycle & Motor Co. skates and I never stopped skating.”

Whether it was street hockey or defending his household net in shootouts against his father, the game has served as a family bonding experience for the Lemays. Lemay attributes learning his aggressive style of play from his father as they practiced shooting drills five days a week. Lemay also studied his childhood idol, Montreal Canadiens center Tomas Plekanec, and modeled his game after him. “My dad played hockey at his work and would play with me when he had free time,” Lemay said. “Dad is very hardworking with an aggressive edge and I definitely play like that.” At 10 years old, Lemay and his family moved from Montreal to Southern California when his father accepted a high-level position with a new company.

Lemay was born and raised in Montreal, Canada, and grew up speaking French and idolizing the NHL team, Montreal Canadiens. Whenever he could, Lemay’s dad Eric, would take him to Canadiens games, which became a shared interest between the two.

After taking English as a second language classes at University Park Elementary in Irvine and working with an English tutor, Lemay learned the language quickly.

Lemay has always taken immense pride in the game, and is one of the fastest players on the team, according to head coach Sean Hoang.

Lemay played for the Orange County Hockey Club, a youth travel hockey organization ,until he entered highschool at JSerra, a private Catholic high school in San Juan Capistrano.

Speed was his main focus when he trained during his early years. Constant drills filled most of his days.

“It was sink or swim for me,” Lemay said. “I had to learn English.”

In his senior year, Lemay led the team to the quarterfinals.

After graduating high school in 2016, Lemay wanted to further his playing career, and considered schools such as the University of Oregon and the University of Washington. He ultimately decided to call the Beach his home, which allowed him to stay close to family.

a lot over the years. He’s really stepped up as a leader and changed his game to help the team more.”

“I felt I had more to give to this game,” Lemay said. “I didn’t want to waste all the blood I’ve put into this sport my entire life.”

Displeased with the way the locker room’s state reflected the work of the club, Lemay decided to rally his team to renovate it.

He joined the CSULB Hockey Club as a freshman and used the work ethic his father instilled in him from an early age to stay aggressive.

With the help of a personal $200 donation from coach Hoang, Lemay alongside teammates Brendan Conaty, Adam Moroz, Matt Hoeksema and Gian Ebert built a table, two benches and installed new drywall.

After spending 84 minutes in the penalty box freshman year, nearly two games worth, Lemay’s aggressive style of play became his calling-card. In tight games, Lemay would try to get opponents off their game by slapping sticks and getting in his opponent’s head. Now he’s shifted his focus to staying on the ice to make sure he can help his team during crunch time. The last two seasons, Lemay has lowered his total penalty minutes from 68 minutes to 36 minutes. Hoang is looking forward to Lemay making an impact this year as a senior leader on and off the ice. “When we got him as a freshman he was fiery and wanted to make his mark,” Hoang said. “He’s overall a good kid who has grown

In addition to being a leader on the ice, Lemay also isn’t afraid to lead in other areas too.

They also added new coats of black and yellow paint to reflect the school’s colors. “Our locker room last year was a shit show,” sophomore teammate Nico SanToro said. “Francis is one of the hardest working guys I’ve ever met. He installed new rubber floor mats and painted the walls making it look and feel like a college clubhouse now.” After graduating from CSULB, Lemay plans to pursue law enforcement. “He’s one of the prime candidates to be captain this season,” Hoang said. “He’s been on my top line for the last two years now.” The CSULB hockey club will begin its play at the Lakewood Ice Oct. 4 vs LMU at 7:35 p.m.