Daily Forty-Niner, Sept. 9, 2019

weekly print edition

DAILY FORTY-NINER CELEBRATING 70 YEARS

Vol. LXXI, Issue 03

www.daily49er.com

Monday, September 9, 2019

Page 3

“Actually, we are not the sharks.”

- President Jane Close Conoley

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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2019 | DAILY49ER.COM | @DAILY49ER | STAFF@DAILY49ER.COM ON THE COVER President Jane Close Conoley tweeted “we are actually not the sharks,” Sept. 4.

Weekly Calendar

Graphic by RYAN GUITARE

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

Monday 9/9

Tuesday 9/10

Wednesday 9/11

Thursday 9/12

Friday 9/13

Saturday 9/14

Sunday 9/15

Sports

Rec Con: Heros for Health @ Main Gym 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Movies on the House (Avengers: Endgame) @ USU Beach Auditorium 6 p.m. & 9 p.m.

Movies on the House (Avengers: Endgame) @ USU Beach Auditorium 6 p.m. & 9 p.m.

California Repertory Production of “Mud” @ Players Theatre 7 p.m.

25th Annual Jewels of the Night @ The Walter Pyramid 5:30 p.m.

Sports

Sports

Sports

Sports

Sports

Women’s SOC vs Ole Miss @ Dallas, Texas 2 p.m.

Women’s VB vs USF Florida Tournament Gainesvill, Fla. 2 p.m.

Men’s WPOLO: Inland Empire Classic @ Redlands, Calif.

Women’s SOC vs SMU @ Dallas, Texas 11 a.m.

Sports

Sports

Women’s GOLF: Minnesota Invitational @ St. Paul, Minn.

Aroma Therapy Info session @ SRWC 203C 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Sports Women’s GOLF: Minnesota Invitational @ St. Paul, Minn.

Daily Forty-Niner

Men’s WPOLO: Inland Empire Classic @ Redlands, Calif.

WVB vs James CROSS: UC Madison, Riverside Florida Invitational Tournament @ Riverside, @ Calif.

Gainesville, Fla 7 a.m.

Sports WVB vs Univ. of Florida, Florida Tournament @ Gainesville, Fla. 2 p.m.

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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.

In the Aug. 26 issue of the Daily Forty-Niner, a caption incorrectly identified Director of the Kleefeld Contemporary Art Museum Paul Baker Prindle as the new dean of the College of the Arts. Baker Prindle’s correct title is the director of the Kleefeld Contemporary Art Museum. The Daily Forty-Niner regrets the error. The misidentification was corrected in the online version of the article Aug. 27.

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.

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NEWS 3

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2019 | DAILY49ER.COM | @DAILY49ER | NEWS@DAILY49ER.COM

The identity crisis continues President Conoley tweets that the school mascot is not the sharks, causing confusion.

Photo illustration by RYAN GUITARE AND ALEJANDRO VAZQUEZ President Conoley’s tweet about CSULB not identifying as the sharks causes confusion among the student body.

By Rachel Barnes News Editor @ rachlbarnes

felt it was only right to apply the change to all departments since students voted for to be the sharks.

disregards years of history. Despite the pushback, the school continued to go ahead with the mascot change.

P

“Students voted for the shark mascot and I think most were under [the] impression that we will be full switching to being sharks so I think they should rename the teams so it’s not confusing,” said Jesus Osvaldo an aerospace engineering major.

Last semester, ASI hosted a campus-wide mascot search where students voted for a mascot to replace Prospector Pete. Students were able to submit suggestions for what the mascot should be, that were then narrowed down by Conoley and ASI.

Alumni have also voiced their opinions about the mascot changes.

A community vote ran for two weeks in April before the official student vote that ran from May 6 to 8.

The finalists in the student vote were stingrays, sharks and no mascot or “Go Beach.”

resident Jane Close Conoley wrote that the university mascot is not the shark in a response to a tweet from Long Beach State Student Health Services.

In the Sept. 4 tweet, SHS addressed the student body as the sharks while promoting the department’s Week of Welcome presence. In response, Conoley quote tweeted SHS to clarify.

“Actually, we are not the sharks,” read Conoley’s tweet.

James Ahumada, the Associated Students Inc. senior communications manager, said that it is common for other schools to not refer to the student body as the mascot that represents the school.

“There will be a shark mascot at the game, but the school will not identify as the sharks,” Ahumada said of his interpretation of Conoley’s tweet.

There are numerous universities that have a mascot that differs from the school’s identity. University of Alabama has an elephant mascot called “Big Al,” but the university calls itself the Crimson Tide.

Stanford University calls itself the Cardinals but has an unofficial mascot known as the Stanford Tree. The Stanford Tree also appears in the school’s sports logo.

Some students were concerned about the school’s consistency about the mascot change, and they

“Honestly, I feel that the money should be used for something more important like paying professors with better wages, fixing old buildings and add new classes that are needed then relocating a statue just because a small number of people feel uncomfortable,” a class of 1999 almuni member commented on the Daily Forty-Niner website. “Last time I attended CSULB, the art department was still in need of fixing, professors were being let go, and classes were being cut. The money should come out of their own pockets, not the school’s.”

Last September, Conoley officially announced that CSULB would officially retire Prospector Pete and the 49ers as mascots. The decision was made due to complaints from Indigeous Americans, as the school is built on Native American land.

The “Prospector Man” statue that resides in front of LA-5 will be moved to an alumni center that is estimated to begin construction in November of 2020 and finish in February 2022, according to CSULB Facilities’ website.

Many alumni of the university have voiced their disapproval of the change because they said that it

The results were announced by ASI on May 10, and the shark was the vote winner.

“The short answer is that we will have a mascot that looks like a shark, but we have not made any decision that the teams will change from being called Beach Athletics,” Conoley said in an email.

A man named Michael Kellner, who identified as a CSULB alumni, commented on the Daily FortyNiner website in frustration after learning about Conoley’s tweet.

“Get your act together or bring back Prospector Pete (who never should have been retired),” Kellner said. “It’s sad that we cannot embrace our past good or bad, it’s our past. But to take away a legacy that thousands of 49ers have embraced is a process that excluded hundreds of thousands of alumni.”

Austin Brumblay, Editor in chief, and Pavel Pilipenko, Staff writer, contributed to this article.

4 NEWS

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2019 | DAILY49ER.COM | @DAILY49ER | NEWS@DAILY49ER.COM

Parking is a barrier to student success, says President Conoley In an email to faculty and staff, Conoley acknowledges that parking is a problem.

RYAN GUITARE | Daily Forty-Niner

Drivers sit in traffic as they wait to find a parking spot the first day of school, Aug. 26.

By Rachel Barnes News Editor @rachlbarnes

I

n an email sent to Long Beach State faculty and staff, Sept. 6, President Jane Close Conoley acknowledged that there is a substantial issue with the current parking situation.

“Perhaps, in addition to the parking stress evident early in each semester, we are seeing an evolution in student needs as they spend more time on campus in classes, at jobs, and engaging in our vibrant campus life,” Conoley said in the email.

Conoley said that though the school’s goal is to remove barriers to student success, parking is an apparent “tangible barrier” to academic progress and student achievement.

Her email also recognized problems that lecturers face in employee parking lots. Though she said that the school has alleviated parking problems in staff lots, some lecturers still face problems parking. Some have had to cancel classes because they were unable to find parking.

Conoley said she sent the email because of her concern for student welfare. Her email asked for input from staff to help fix the parking problem for students.

“We have already a parking advisory committee that has a number of student participants,” she said. “We have asked for more input to add to the strategies I outlined in the message.”

CSULB’s current solution to the parking crisis is the newly-implemented assisted parking, but so far it is doing more harm than good, students say.

The assisted parking program is a

partnership between CSULB and Empire Parking Lot Services to assist with the large amount of traffic that takes place at the beginning of the fall semester.

The current strategy is for students to park their cars and hand off their keys to attendants.

CSULB’s strategy to alleviate the parking issues on campus has been a problem for students, in the form of damage to cars and confusion about the process. Another student reported that attendants parked cars along accessible sidewalk ramps, blocking entry.

A student frustrated with the parking situation left their vehicle unattended in the roadway of lot G12, almost got their car impounded on Sept. 5 according to University Police Department Capt.

Richard Goodwin. The vehicle was being loaded onto a tow truck when the student arrived back.

The student was able to retrieve their car before it was impounded. Parking has been an issue during the first couple weeks of the semester, so it’s no surprise to see numerous vehicle impound reports, according to Goodwin.

“Just parking on campus is a nightmare for people with all the cars [on campus],” Goodwin said. “When that happens, people get very frustrated and just say ‘I’m out,’ and leave their car anywhere.

But when the smoke clears and you think about, it’s not very smart.”

Fourth-year aerospace engineering major, Jeanavic Malaiba took to Twitter to express her concerns about campus parking.

“I was stunned and felt very unfortunate that something like this had happened to me at school,” Malaiba said. “The valet did not mention damage or anything of the sort to me when I collected my car.”

Malaiba said after 30 minutes of looking for a parking spot she decided to use the

assisted parking program in lot G12. She said she was a little wary, but she was worried that she would be late to her first day of classes. Malaiba was guided by the employees to a stacked space directly behind other cars in parking spots.

She returned to her car after her classes, and it had been moved, which she thought nothing of as she had been double parked. Malaiba only saw the driver’s side of her vehicle before she got in and drove home.

“As I pulled into my driveway, my mom asked what happened to my car. I came around to the passengers side and saw the damage,” she said. “My car was dented and scratched all across the rear door and back side.”

On Twitter, Malaiba said that she was going to contact the school to see what could be done to fix the situation.

She, the school and the University Police Department are in the middle of negotiations.

“The school was very apologetic and moved quickly to try to help me resolve this,” she said. “They’ve been helpful and understanding about this situation which I’m glad [about].”

Jeff Cook, associate vice president of strategic communications, said that if there is an accident then it should be reported to police.

“Unfortunately, I do know that minor accidents are relatively common at universities as semesters begin and people adjust to the start of a new academic year,” Cook said. “I’m not suggesting that’s OK or that we should be resigned to accept it.”

The assisted parking program is scheduled for the first eight weeks of the semester in lots G2, G6, G7 and G12, according to the Director of Parking and Operations Robyn Ames-Woodyard.

“Parking will be paying approximately $400,000 for this eight week program,” Ames-Woodyard said. “The cost includes the assisted parking services and the cost to add three more shuttles to the on-campus fleet for the duration of the program.”

The money primarily comes from parking permit fees, according to AmesWoodyard.

Franco Vizcaya, a second-year computer science major, said that he also had trouble with the assisted parking program.

“As I’m sitting on my phone waiting to get helped I felt a hard thud, looked up, and saw that whoever was in front of me backed right into me,” Vizcaya said. “I got out immediately and noticed it was one of the valets.”

Vizcaya said that when he got out of his car to look at the damage he saw an indent of his license plate on the other car. He said the parking employee asked him, “You think they’ll notice?”

He was late to class already, so he decided to leave it be, though that wasn’t his only experience with the assisted parking program. The first time he used the service, attendees passed around his car keys and almost lost them because some of them didn’t know how to drive a stick-shift.

He said that it concerned him because manual cars could be significantly damaged if they are not handled correctly.

“I hate that I have no other choice but to take the valet or be late to class and it’s [filling] me with stress while I’m on campus,” Vizcaya said.

Ramon Alvarado, Staff writer, contributed to this article.

NEWS 5

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2019 | DAILY49ER.COM | @DAILY49ER | NEWS@DAILY49ER.COM

Poor connection with CSULB Students at the university have issues connecting to the campus Wi-Fi, BeachNet+.

RYAN GUITARE | Daily Forty-Niner

Each year students have trouble connecting to Wi-Fi due to a mandatory yearly password update.

By Christian Wiseman Staff Writer

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n e w sc h o o l y ea r r e b o o t s Wi - Fi c o n n ect i o n pr o b le m s f o r m a ny Lo n g B ea ch S t a t e stu de nts w h o tr y t o co n n e ct t o t h e sc hoo l Wi - Fi , B e a ch N e t + .

Connection problems within the first few weeks of a semester is not a new thing, and is something that has been known to happen, especially after students and faculty are required to change their BeachID passwords every year.

Shirley Quan, the helpdesk supervisor for CSULB’s Division of Information Technology explained why this is the case.

“What usually happens, if you changed your password yesterday, and come on campus today, you have that saved password on your phone for example, and it is an automatic connection,” Quan said.

According to Quan, the previously connected device would continue to use the old BeachID password unless the network has been manually forgotten by the user.

Usage of the old BeachID password to connect to the Wi-Fi could possibly cause access to BeachID services such as Wi-Fi access, Single Sign On system and BeachBoard to be blocked.

“When that happens, people typically reach out to us and then we unlock their account, and then we are able to look and see if they

are being blocked by the network,” Quan said. “If they are we unblock it, then we walk them through the process of forgetting the BeachNet+ Network, and establishing a new connection so they can update their password.”

Richard Hernandez, a masters student in public health said he has issues with logging in.

“I can’t connect with my Wi-Fi, so I’m using [my girlfriend’s],” Hernandez said.

Although most devices, such as Windows, PCs and Macs, prompt the user to enter their BeachID username and password upon connecting to the BeachNet+ Network, Chromebooks and other Android devices require more specific settings in order to connect.

Instructions for how to connect those devices can be found on the DOIT website.

Students such as fourth-year history major, Brent Pothoven have used the campus’s helpdesk system to resolve such an issue.

“Every semester without fail,” Pothoven said. “Whenever we have to change our passwords, my phone never recognizes it, and I have to go to the Horn Center.”

The Division of Information Technology has a helpdesk in both the fifth floor of the University Library, and the lobby of the Horn Center to allow for walkin assistance. Students can also receive help by calling 562-9854959, or by submitting a support ticket to the online helpdesk.

Crime Blotter The parking situation at CSULB has resulted in an influx of traffic on campus, leading to numerous hit-and-runs in the first weeks of the fall semester.

Graphic by MIGUEL MARTINEZ

By Ramon Alvarado Staff Writer

Grand Theft An asthma nebulizer valued at $15,000 was reported stolen from a Long Beach State student’s vehicle. The student reported the machine missing Sept. 5, but is unsure if it was stolen on or before that date. A backpack full of food was also stolen from the car. There are currently no leads, according to Capt. Richard Goodwin of the University Police Department.

Hit-and-Runs A CSULB student’s motorcycle fell over and ruined one of the bike’s turn signals on Sept. 3 at 5:30 p.m. The motorcycle was parked in lot E10, behind the psychology building. The student didn’t know whether his motorcycle was pushed over or run into until he found a note from a witness who saw it get knocked over by another person.

There are currently no suspects, and no camera was able to capture the incident.

Traffic Accident A student was riding his skateboard when a vehicle hit him and injured his right arm, Sept. 3. He was skateboarding through a crosswalk near the tennis courts on Deukmejian Way near the Student Recreation and Wellness Center when a driver failed to make a stop at the stop sign. The skateboarder received the driver’s phone number and took a photo of the license plate but the driver refused to give any additional information.

Another hit-and-run took place Sept. 5. when tan sedan was trying park and hit the right front bumper of an already parked vehicle in lot G2. A parking attendant confronted the driver of the sedan, but the vehicle fled the scene without giving any information. There was no license plate on the suspect’s sedan.

Vandalism A dark gray Chevy Bolt sedan was scratched along the driver’s side from headlight to trunk. The car was parked in the Palo Verde south parking structure Sept. 4 from around 4:45 p.m. to 5:54 p.m. The owner of the vehicle didn’t want to file a report, but instead wanted to inform UPD of what happened, Goodwin said.

6 ARTS & LIFE

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2019 | DAILY49ER.COM | @DAILY49ER | ARTS@DAILY49ER.COM

Artists celebrate Salvadoran culture through art and music The Somos Arte Music and Art Festival was held at the Museum of Latin American Art over the weekend.

By Richard Grant Staff Writer

González performed a trio of songs that expressed his love for his home country as a preview of what viewers would see in the first episode of the documentary.

T

he two-day Somos Arte Music and Arts Festival kicked off Friday at the Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach, featuring art and artists from the Salvadoran community.

Cartas a Felice, a Salvadoran band with members from the US and El Salvador, closed the concert on Saturday. They have recently been on tour traveling around the US and Central America.

The first day of the festival started off with a documentary series titled, “Somos Arte: The Creative Movement of El Salvador,” which is what the event was named after. The documentary highlighted Salvadoran artists in an attempt to change the negative perception of the country.

“For us, it’s really important to [play in] America because it’s one of the countries that we are looking to play [in] and build an audience,” harmonica and accordion player Roberto Amaya of Cartas a Felice said.

“It’s our big plan to take [our] music out of the country.”

After the premiere of episode one, Velasquez hosted a Q&A session with the filmmakers and asked why they wanted to make the documentary.

Jonathan Barrera, one of the filmmakers, responded that his goal is to help others see the art and beauty of the Salvadoran people. He wants to eventually get the documentary aired on HBO or Hulu to reach a larger audience.

“When they talk about El Salvador in the media, it’s always really bad stuff. It’s always like wars, gangs and nobody talks about the good stuff,” Curly Velasquez of Buzzfeed’s “Pero Like” said. “I only know like really good amazing people that come from super humble backgrounds, super humble beginnings, and do great things.”

The festival included musical performances by Buyepongo, Feefa, Irene Diaz, Leche Fonk, Cartas A Felice and a DJ set

by Radio Pulgarcito. There was an augmented reality art exhibit by AR Funhouse allowed attendees to virtually go through an exhibition that features artists from El Salvador.

“Pero Like” is an English language series on Buzzfeed that was launched in 2017 to provide entertainment that pertains to the Latin American population.

The premiere of episode one of the documentary was shown in the outdoor screening area of MOLAA surrounded by Latin American sculpture pieces that the museum had on display. There were around 150 attendees, including a few of the bands that played during the event.

The documentary highlighted the bands playing the festival, including José González of Cartas a Felice.

There was plenty of Salvadoran food available to help people feel at home or try something new. People were also able to buy some art and merchandise from Salvadoran artists from both Los Angeles and El Salvador.

RICHARD GRANT | Daily Forty-Niner

José González of Cartas a Felice, performing a song before the premiere of the Salvadoran documentary at the MOLAA, Friday.

“There are things I didn’t know about my community,” Velasquez said. “I learned we are fucking dope, like why are we not sharing that?”

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2019 | DAILY49ER.COM | @DAILY49ER | ARTS@DAILY49ER.COM

ARTS & LIFE 7

ALEJANDRO VAZQUEZ | Daily Forty-Niner

The Edward and Karen Carpenter Performing Arts Center turns 25 this year. For the upcoming season, the theatre will be hosting a range of acts that focus on students’ interests.

The Carpenter Performing Arts Center celebrates its 25th anniversary The Richard and Karen Carpenter Performing Arts Center will be visited by several notable entertainers such as Bill Nye and Mandy Harvey this year.

By Saad Kazi Staff Writer

O

ver the years, the Richard and Karen Carpenter Performing Arts Center has set the stage for comedian Seth MacFarlane, musician Jose Feliciano and the Dalai Lama. This year, the Carpenter Performing Arts Center will be continuing its long-lasting success in its 25th anniversary season.

“We’re really trying to focus on students [this year],” said Megan Kline Crockett, executive director of the Carpenter Center.

Jad Abumrad, co-creator of the podcast “Radiolab,” is just one of the many guests that the Carpenter Center has lined up. Along with performances by YouTube sensation Miranda Sings and “America’s Got Talent” breakout star Mandy Harvey, their appearances will be ones that the theatre is hoping will appeal more to students’ interests.

“Part of the problem is getting students

to know what we do here,” Kline Crockett said. “This season, the venue is seeking to present more ‘diverse and culturally relevant events that speak to the interests and experiences of students today.’”

Among the acts in the Carpenter Center’s “Wit & Wisdom Series” will be Sandra Bernhard and Anne Lamott.

“Chris Perondi’s Stunt Dog Experience” and “Cirque FLIP Fabrique” will be apart of the “Wow! Series.” Other singers who will perform in the Carpenter’s “Cabaret Series” include Stacey Sullivan, Davis Gaines and Ann Hampton.

“Even if you don’t know who somebody is, you’re going to have an amazing experience,” Kline Crockett said.

“Everyone we bring in is the best at what they do. The best dancers, the best singers, the best stand-up.”

Perhaps the most notable figure who will be making an appearance is Emmy-Award winner Bill Nye. The science guy’s visit will include a regular evening of enlightenment and comedy as well as a separate VIP meet and greet.

Every January, Kline Crockett travels to New York to find inspiration for future Carpenter Center performances.

Responsible for negotiating with agents to bring famous talents to the Carpenter Center, Kline Crockett has yet to have anyone reject an offer.

“They’re not going to go just to any performing arts center,” Kline Crockett said. “They come here because of our reputation.”

Seating just over 1,000 people, the Carpenter Center was modeled after the six-level David H. Koch Theatre in New York City.

“It’s a beautiful venue, we have a great audience,” Kline Crockett said.

“There’s not a bad seat in the house.”

The theatre was named after brothersister duo Richard and Karen Carpenter, who were on of the most successful American pop groups of the 1970s, The Carpenters. Their 11 gold albums and 10 gold singles were part of the 100 million recordings that the Long Beach State alumni sold worldwide. When visiting Southern California, fans from all over the nation and abroad visit the

Carpenters’ childhood home in Downey as well as the theatre.

Commemorating Karen’s sudden death at the age of 33, Richard donated the center to CSULB in 1994. Since then, the venue has continuously “renewed [its] commitment to celebrate wonder, diversity, and exceptional artistic achievement,” according to Kline Crockett.

In addition to providing educational outreach to Long Beach Unified School District, the Carpenter Center lets its stage be used by rental companies and on-campus student groups. CSULB students also comprise some of the theatre’s staff in the ticketing office, concession stands and the marketing department.

Some of the initiatives that the center puts forward in helping students are free master’s classes and workshops tied to performers.

“We try as much as we can to work with academic units across campus, offering ways to collaborate,” Kline Crockett said.

8 ARTS & LIFE

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2019 | DAILY49ER.COM | @DAILY49ER | ARTS@DAILY49ER.COM

Singing in Wales The Chamber Choir at CSULB will travel to Wales to compete for “Choir of the World” this summer, hoping to win the title a second time.

CSULB

The Bob Cole Conservatory Chamber Choir poses after being named “Choir of the World” in 2016.

By Andy Lizarraga Arts & Life Editor

L

ong Beach State’s Bob Cole Conservatory Chamber Choir won the title of “Choir of the World” in 2016 at the Llangollen International Eisteddfod Festival in Wales and is ready to try again this year.

Every summer, the Llangollen International Eisteddfod Festival is held in Wales in the United Kingdom. At the festival, multiple choirs from all around the world compete against each other in order to win the title of “Choir of the World.”

“We are shooting to be the only American choir to win twice,” Jonathan Talberg, director of the BCC Chamber Choir, said.

Next summer, the choir will be traveling to Llangollen again and will be competing against other choirs from around the world. The two-week tour in July will have the team performing in different countries.

“After we have our five days in Wales, we are going to fly to the Netherlands and we are presenting ‘Carmina Burana’ in Amsterdam and in Brussels,” Talberg said.

Talberg is currently in the process of meeting with the director of the foundation, Vice President Cesca, in October to map out their plans for the tour.

After performing “Carmina Burana,” the choir will end their trip with a concert in Berlin, where they will perform a variety of great American choral music.

According to Talberg, the choir has full support from the university. President Jane Conoley asked when their next return to the competition would be after their win.

The chamber choir will not be the only group of people attending the European tour. Any student that registers for one of the five choirs on campus in the spring will be singing “Carmina Burana,” giving them the opportunity to travel with the group.

“I have invited other members of the university to join us for the second part of the trip, for the ‘Carmina Burana’ piece and the other concert that we will be doing in Berlin,” Talberg said.

Throughout the year, the chamber choir will be fundraising to help fund the tour. The choir will be putting together extra concerts, caroling during the winter time, using direct donations and having a dinner fundraiser.

“We are going to have to hustle,” Talberg said. “Each student is expected to contribute between $1,800 and $2,000...and that’s after we raise $85,000.”

Out of 42 students in the choir, all but one plan on attending the summer trip.

“I feel very excited,” Lauryn Jessup, a second-year music major, said. “It’s good to get out and see the world. I’ve never been to Europe.”

Talberg is still in the process of picking out the music for their competition set. With the music being due in November, Talberg has made lists, called colleagues and looked at videos to help him decide what kind of music they will perform.

“I’m excited, and the students are very excited,” Talberg said. “It’s a wonderful choir this year. I think we have a great chance at doing very well at this competition again this year.”

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2019 | DAILY49ER.COM | @DAILY49ER | ARTS@DAILY49ER.COM

ARTS & LIFE 9

RYAN GUITARE | Daily Forty-Niner

A crowd gathers around the new exhibit at the Carolyn Campagna Kleefeld Contemporary Art Museum at Long Beach State Friday.

Kleefeld Contemporary highlights women in art The Kleefeld Contemporary Art Museum will host; “B.A.T. State III: Women Artists in Conversation with El Nopal Press” until Nov. 14.

By Andy Lizarraga Arts & Life Editor

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new art exhibit featuring female artists opened Saturday at the Carolyn Campagna Kleefeld Contemporary Art Museum at Long Beach State.

The exhibit, “B.A.T. State III: Women Artists in Conversation with El Nopal Press,” is co-curated by Anita Bunn and Francesco X. Siqueiros and presents a diverse array of prints by 37 female artists from the archives of El Nopal Press.

“I am pleased to witness the work of women artists that have collaborated with El Nopal Press, with all their openness, to produce this great display of prints,” Siqueiros said.

Siqueiros is the founder of El Nopal Press and has been an active artist in the Los Angeles art scene since the mid ‘80s.

He switches constantly between the roles of artist, master printmaker and curator. Siqueiros’s work as a painter and printmaker have been exhibited in galleries and museums in the United States, Mexico, Paris and other locations.

El Nopal Press was established in 1990 and has published limited edition prints for nearly three decades, recording the complex flux of ideas between mostly Los Angeles and Mexico City.

El Nopal Press is an independent creative space where ideas around the border coexist and activate and build conversation. It produces artwork that is dedicated to the artist’s individual ideas and expressions and creates respect for master printmaking. The company seeks international recognition for artists who are a part of its creative enterprise.

Bunn is an artist and adjunct instructor of photography at several colleges and universities.

interconnected web of artistic production in Mexico and California from the early ‘90s to the present.

One of the pieces of art is a series by Judie Bamber, which features prints of nine different black and white cats.

“Previous to beginning this work, I, along with many of my friends, had a black and white cat,” Bamber said. “As I spent time looking at each cat, I began to notice their patterning. I have had a long-standing interest in the intersection between abstraction and representation.”

Bunn has displayed her art both nationally and internationally, and she has developed a variety of local curatorial projects. Her artwork is in many collections, including the Wallis Annenberg Department of Photography at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and the Capital Group, Los Angeles.

Bamber was struck by the fact that each cat had a different pattern that appeared to be an abstraction overlaid onto a recognizable form.

In printmaking, the phrase “Bon a Tirer,” “B.A.T.” translates as “good to go” and refers to the final trial proof that an artist approves before the master printer begins production.

“I was inspired by the presence of Black Widows around my urban studio and my encounters with them,” Stark said. “Sometimes I had to kill them if they were near doors, for which I felt bad, so I started to do paintings about them, they were part of my everyday life and I needed to honor them posthumously.”

Curators Bunn and Siqueiros engage in themes of artistic representation and political activism while they examine how the evolution of printmaking is influenced by the cultural and geographic border between California and Mexico.

The 37 female artists selected for the exhibit trace trajectories of influence, tension and overlap that build an

Another piece of art in the exhibit was a lithograph series titled “Black Widow” by Linda Stark.

Stark said that her “Black Widow” works reference the cult of the black widow or femme fatale archetype.

“B.A.T. State III: Women Artists in Conversation with El Nopal Press” will be on display at the Kleefeld Contemporary Art Museum from Sept. 9 through Nov. 14.

10 OPINIONS

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 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 their opinions on the mascot debacle.

By Perry Continente Photos by Lauren Berny

Name: Rayvone Huntsman Major: Political Science

Name: Sarah Graff Major: Journalism

What was your reaction to the whole mascot search? “I thought it was a tad bit over the top. Don’t get me wrong I do get what they were saying in regards to the Native Americans, but we need to choose our battles.”

What was your reaction to the whole mascot search? “I think it’s good to get new mascots that aren’t representative of something bad. Especially for a big university such as this [one].

What do you think about Conoley tweeting the sharks not being the official mascot? “She flip flopped on that one, if you go through all this you [have to] stick to your guns.”

What do you think about Conoley tweeting the sharks not being the official mascot? “It shows a lot of diversity with different things, with where we are and how far we expand. The sharks being about the beach and the dirtbags being about baseball.

Name: Kaitlyn Doktorzyk Major: Speech Pathology

Name: Luke Williams Major: English

What was your reaction to the whole mascot search? “It kinda just seemed like our mascot was given to us for a reason, its when we were founded.”

What was your reaction to the whole mascot search? “I think it was good that we [were] going to replace the miner. It might have been problematic for some people. It was fun and cute. I know some people wanted a tiger shark, some people wanted a giraffe.”

What do you think about Conoley tweeting the sharks not being the official mascot? “It makes us seem scattered.”

What do you think about Conoley tweeting the sharks not being the official mascot? “I guess it’s up to President Cononley what we do with our mascot.

I guess we decided one thing, and she wants something else. Interesting.”

OPINIONS 11

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2019 | DAILY49ER.COM | @DAILY49ER | OPINIONS@DAILY49ER.COM

Cannabis beats diseases (CBD) Cannabis and its health benefits may be surprising.

By Emma Carlsen Staff Writer

G

rowing up, I believed the war on drugs propaganda that I learned in school and from my parents. I bought into it until I started smoking pot in college to treat my anxiety disorder.

This plant has medicinal qualities that cannot be ignored and could be key to helping people around the world.

Confusion about marijuana along with a history in America of fearmongering against drugs has lead to restrictive and draconian laws against users.

“It is still quite unclear from a molecular perspective how exactly CBD works in the brain and body with cannabinoid receptors,” said Lee Macklin, a Long Beach State biochemistry teaching associate.

Marijuana is known around the globe for its popular psychoactive effects and users are often painted as lazy people only seeking a high, while the medicinal benefits are usually overlooked.

The possible applications of the marijuana plant are still being researched today. The two main chemicals in pot are tetrahydrocannabinol, known as THC, and cannabidiol referred to as CBD. Most users of CBD are not seeking a high, but the medical benefits from the plant.

Users put it in smoothies, coffee, lotions, oils, baked goods and bath bombs. They usually do this in order to seek pain relief or alleviation from ailments.

THC is the main chemical in marijuana that gets users high, while CBD is a nonpsychoactive chemical but is what scientists say to be the most medicinally beneficial aspect of the plant.

Producing and using CBD is different from smoking the whole marijuana flower, which is the most common way of ingesting it.

Extensive research into the properties of the drug has been slowed due to the confusion surrounding its legal status. It varies state by state, often depending on if the CBD is derived from hemp or marijuana.

While some states allow it to be produced and distributed, CBD that is derived from marijuana is illegal at the federal level, but CBD that is made from hemp is federally legal, according to CBD Central.

However, studies conducted have shown that the use of CBD can relieve pain.

The drug has also been successful in alleviating symptoms from dangerous health issues such as seizures.

“Many anecdotal testimonials and many preliminary scientific reports have suggested that CBD has several potential medical benefits, specifically in the context of neurological disorders, inflammatory disorders, pain management and more,” Macklin said.

THC is considered to be moderately dangerous to certain patients due to its psychoactive nature, but CBD has more scientific evidence supporting its medicinal effects, according to ProCon.org.

Despite the potential risks marijuana use may have, the benefits outweigh the negatives for many patients in comparison to using outrageously expensive and often ineffective pharmaceuticals.

CBD is becoming more popular to treat a variety of illnesses, and while the science isn’t conclusive on how it affects every disease and ailment, many people are turning to it as an alternative to potential negative side effects of prescription drugs.

“It is still quite unclear from a molecular perspective how exactly CBD works in the brain and body with cannabinoid receptors,” Macklin said.

Marry me, Jane Safe and legal weed comes at a hefty price tag.

By Jacob Powers Staff Writer

I

like to think of myself as a marijuana connoisseur.

For me, this medicinal drug helps me focus on one task at a time, have a better attitude towards life and gives me confidence when my social anxiety reaches a peak.

While marijuana has its benefits, there are two major problems in California that the legal cannabis industry faces. The first one is that counterfeit products have been flooding the state at an astonishing rate, cutting into profits of reputable legal cannabis businesses. The second major issue stems from the result of bad farming of the plant, which causes damage to the ecosystem.

As a medical marijuana patient, I simply refuse to purchase products unless I know exactly what is in them. When trying unregulated, illegal, marijuana in the past, I’ve received headaches, broken out into hives and had the sweats after inhaling harmful byproducts such as vitamin E acetate.

However, I can’t tell you the amount of times I have seen friends smoking products that I know are not organic because they weren’t purchased from a licensed dispensary. To them, it is OK because they still get high.

Besides, they can’t afford to purchase from a licensed dispensary.

There is a reason why hole-inthe-wall shops keep popping up, shutting down and operating once again to push popular products at a discounted price.

Consumers simply aren’t aware that many major vape pen brands in the California cannabis industry have been replicated to look like legal versions of the real products.

On the Vapes-Wholesale site, you can find many examples of counterfeit vape pens.

Inhalation of these rip-offs can make you so far from chill that you may even end up spending some time in the hospital.

Pesticides, including carbofuran and myclobutanil, are being leached into soils they were never exposed to before. As a result of being exposed to these pesticides, plants become resilient to mold and other natural hindrances but stay embedded in the plant throughout its life cycle.

Not only is this awful for human health, wildlife in turn suffers.

Illegal and careless growing practices of marijuana also pose a threat to sustainability.

An illegal growing operation discovered this year in the Sierra National Forest wasted an estimated 5.4 million gallons of water in a year. Not only is water being wasted, but it is also flushing the banned contaminants into the waterways.

This is the farthest thing from acceptable.

Support local, legal cannabis, not only your health, but for the planet’s as well.

12 ARTS & LIFE

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2019 | DAILY49ER.COM | @DAILY49ER | ARTS@DAILY49ER.COM

IMDB

Pennywise lures another victim in a standout scene in “It Chapter Two.”

Chapter Two almost gets “It” “It” has a lot going for it, the acting and direction are fantastic. But as the story unwinds the film begins to fall apart.

By Perry Continente Opinions Editor

“I

t Chapter Two” opens with an arresting scene. Two gay men are violently assaulted outside of a carnival by the homophobic locals. The violence is presented honestly and brutally, there is little in the way of cinematic flair, no swelling music or fancy effects.

The audience is left to suffer along with the hapless lovers. It is a brutal, powerful and subtle scene that perfectly sets the tone for the film that follows.

It’s a shame then that after the first hour the film devolves into such a mess.

Its an ambitious, well-acted mess, but a mess nonetheless.

“It Chapter Two” was always going to be an uphill battle. Trying to adapt Stephen King’s 1,100 word epic about a supernatural sewer clown named

Pennywise (Bill Skarsgård) who feeds on children is brazen at best. And the parts that “Chapter Two” adapts are less compelling than “Chapter One.”

unique villain in horror. An oppressive, alien presence who hangs over the film like a black cloud terrorizing the hapless protagonists.

Director Andy Muschietti’s solution was to have the film run for almost three hours. A startlingly long time for a horror film. Unfortunately the whole film buckles under the weight.

The old friends opposing this monster bounce off each other in such a charming way, it’s a shame that the bulk of the film sees them separated.

“Chapter Two” focuses on the Losers Club 27 years after the conclusion of “Chapter One.” Mike Hanlon (Isaiah Mustafa) rallies his old friends when the evil they battled begins to kill again.

Each actor is impeccably cast, with Bill Hader’s Richie and James Ransome’s Eddie standing out among the talented cast.

However it’s Pennywise that steals the show. Skarsgård’s performance is textured and terrifying, effectively portraying an inhuman, malevolent force poorly imitating a person.

He adds genuine menace and is a wholly

Almost as soon as the principle characters reconvene, they separate again, each on their own quest.

The following hour of the film sees them each assaulted by poorly animated computer-generated imaging abominations, one after the other.

These scenes are by the numbers, dull and predictable, dragging the pacing to a grinding halt.

What would be a total slog is saved by nuanced acting, but great performances can only do so much when the special effects and writing is below par.

The film becomes something horror should never be: predictable.

Sadly, this uneven quality grows even more apparent in the climax, which sees the worst scenes of the film followed by some of the best.

In an attempt to rewrite King’s (admittedly insane) ending, the film relies on scenes that feel like rejected ideas from the “Nightmare on Elm Street” sequels, that are so ham-fisted in their symbolism that what should be a terrifying and exhilarating climax instead feels corny and contrived.

However the emotional resolution of the film, leaning on the bonds these characters have forged with each other, rings true. The resolutions to each of the character’s arcs feel earned, and this honest empathy is the best element of film.

This is a story that could have used more time in the oven. There is something special at the core of the film, but it is surrounded by so many poor ideas that sometimes these flaws are all that can be seen.

SPORTS 13

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2019 | DAILY49ER.COM | @DAILY49ER | SPORTS@DAILY49ER.COM

Big disc energy

Long Beach State ultimate frisbee team president is shaking things up at the Beach during his tenure.

PHOTO COURTESY OF DANIEL GRIMM

Long Beach State Pyramid Scheme president Alex Grimm, unloads a back hand toss at the Kendra Fallon Memorial Tournament against SDSU, Nov. 2018.

By Mark Lindahl Sports Editor @markalindahl

C

hange is good, even when it comes unexpectedly. For fourth-year ultimate frisbee club president Alex Grimm, these changes are bringing about exciting times for the club, as its identity is shifting and new recruits are lining up to join.

After receiving a notice from USA Ultimate, the governing body of competitive ultimate frisbee, about changing their name from the “Long Beach Stalkers,” Grimm saw his opportunity to make his mark on the team.

“I just didn’t really feel comfortable wearing ‘Long Beach Stalkers’ across the jersey,” said team member Freddy Buchanan. “So now I feel like I have something I can actually brand that promotes our team.”

The new name of the team is the Long Beach State Pyramid Scheme, tying in the university’s iconic Walter Pyramid into its identity.

“I started a group on Facebook with every single alumni that I could find and current players,” Grimm said.

“Then we started adding submissions and from there, we went to a poll then Pyramid Scheme won.”

With a new name for the upcoming season, the Pyramid Scheme can already can see its plans coming to fruition.

“Of course the alumni understood

“

there wasn’t much that we could do,” Buchanan said. “It wasn’t a [voluntary] rebrand, another team said ‘Stalkers’ wasn’t [appropriate] and it made sense. But going through the rebranding process, it also gives us a fresh start, especially going into mine and [Grimm’s] second half of our eligibility, so it’s refreshing in the sense that it’s a new team almost.”

ending getting there, but [then] I saw a lot more opportunity.”

With Grimm’s mark already being made with rebranding, he is also doing more to expand the club’s outreach on campus.

“The first day [of] Week of Welcome, I walked up to the booth and I signed my name,” Grimm said. “And after the first practice I’m telling my parents, ‘I’m sticking with this, this is awesome. I’ve been missing this. I’ve been missing a team.’”

“Other than [renaming the team], I’m changing the recruitment process and just getting people in,” Grimm said.

“We’re trying to get more people than ever to join the team.”

Grimm’s go-getter attitude isn’t the only thing that got him elected as club president, he worked hard to gain the club’s respect through his actions on and off the field.

“Club presidents really have to be passionate about the club and on top of administrative-type stuff,” team coach Jacob Baumer said. “It’s pretty obvious to the team how committed Alex is to them, so choosing him wasn’t much of a surprise.”

Joining the club in the beginning of his second year from a soccer background, the business-turned-history major quickly fell in love with ultimate frisbee and the team.

“Ever since I graduated high school I didn’t have a team, so it felt good being back on one,” Grimm said. “It made me enjoy college. In my freshman year, I didn’t enjoy college. … I felt like I was in the bottom and I never saw the

Grimm never had any competitive experience handling a disc before joining the team, but knew ultimate frisbee interested him after enjoying tossing a disc on the beach with his cousin and being prompted by his aunt to look into playing ultimate frisbee.

By seeing the hours of hard work put in and his never-say-never attitude, Grimm’s play on the field began to drastically improve, showing his worth to the team on the field as well.

“He’s constantly trying to make himself better,” Buchanan said. “Even the jump from his sophomore to junior year … he dropped 20-something pounds. I think it’s affecting the team in the sense that they see captain [and] president all working their butts off and I feel like that sets the precedent for what people should be doing for themselves.”

According to Baumer, seeing this level of effort put in for the team is what has made the Pyramid Scheme’s bond unbreakable.

“They’re family,” Baumer said. “In the way that you feel safe and protected and loved. That whole ‘blood is thicker than water’ thing.”

Being a third-generation CSULB student, Grimm wants to contribute to the university’s legacy when

representing the Beach on the field.

“I’m the most equipped, and I care about this team and want this team to grow,” Grimm said.

Once Grimm graduates with a degree in history, he plans to become a high school teacher, which he attributes to being inspired by his favorite teacher growing up.

“High school is where it is,” Grimm said. “I’ve been told that I can listen to everyone. I’m very patient. That leads to the ability for me to listen to all people, and if I’m teaching, I’d want to help everyone learn.”

With the preseason and recruiting taking place now, the ultimate frisbee team will begin gearing up for USAU sanctioned tournaments against the likes of Cal Poly and UCLA in the spring semester.

“I see ourselves record-wise, about .500, depending on how many rookies that we’ve gotten out to stay,” Buchanan said. “I think we could make it to regionals, and if we do make it to regionals, maybe [upset] a win or two to ruin someone’s chances at nationals.”

For Grimm and the rest of the Pyramid Scheme, ultimate frisbee is more than just the number of points at the end of the game.

“If you’re looking for a good group of guys to bond with and play a sport with, this is your team,” Grimm said.

“Because again, I went to one practice and I was hooked. I threw the frisbee a little bit in high school, but ... I was a soccer player. So joining this team brought me back the joy of being on a team.”

It made me enjoy college. In my freshman year, I didn’t enjoy college. … I felt like I was in the bottom and I never saw the ending getting there, but [then] I saw a lot more opportunity.

”

-Alex Grimm

14 SPORTS

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2019 | DAILY49ER.COM | @DAILY49ER | SPORTS@DAILY49ER.COM

Welcome to the fun leagues The SWRC’s registration period is underway for students, faculty and alumni looking to participate in intramural sports.

RALSTON DACANAY | Daily Forty-Niner

Registration for indoor soccer, open softball, coed volleyball, open soccer, coed basketball, open basketball, coed soccer and flag football began August 19 at the SWRC.

By Ralston Dacanay Assistant Sports Editor @RalstonDacanay

T

he Student Recreation and Wellness Center’s registration period is underway for Long Beach State students, faculty and alumni looking to participate in intramural sports.

Up until the week of Sept. 16, those interested in soccer, softball, volleyball, basketball or flag football action at the recreational level can pay the one-time SRWC $20 fee and get involved.

With the number of around 300400 students who participated last fall being on the decline, fourth-year communications studies major and rec sports student co-lead Isabella Jimenez is looking to increase involvement in intramural leagues this semester.

“They don’t know each other at the beginning of the league,” Jimenez said.

“But towards the end, they start to grow closer as a team and work together and collaborate with one another.”

Aside from handling the scheduling, overseeing the league supervisors and doing inventory since taking over as the intramural lead in June, Jimenez said she’s seen some special moments take place at the SRWC since she started getting involved in recreational sports as a freshman. Her most rewarding part of the job — seeing those who’ve signed up individually as free agents have a fun time with their teams nearing the end of the season.

As one of, if not the largest sport in the world, it may not be surprising to think that soccer is the most popular intramural sport at the SRWC. Jimenez

said that international students drive the indoor, open and coed soccer leagues, helping to bring together those new to America together at the Beach.

While open leagues allow teams to consist of any combination of male or female participants, coed leagues require teams to have at least one female participant on the roster and on the court at all times.

Fourth-year sociology major Malik Pittman is entering his seventh season on the MAC gym hardwood, playing in open basketball since he was a freshman.

As someone who grew up playing the sport, Pittman said he wants those who’re concerned about joining because of their skill level to know that all SRWC intramural sports leagues offer the same fun, organized environment for all players.

“Usually I hear a lot of new players who want to join intramurals say they want to play coed because they think open is too competitive,” Pittman said. “I guess they think everybody just competes and it’s like … it’s a hit-and-miss with both. There’s not one league that’s less competitive than the other and what not, it’s just depending on what teams you have, and depending on the type of atmosphere of the game.”

As a two-time coed volleyball champion, senior kinesiology major Shaine Anolin started playing in intramurals during her sophomore year. After playing volleyball throughout high school and at the club level at CSULB, Anolin recommends joining intramurals because of the ability to make new friends on much less of a time commitment.

“If you have classes the days you have games, you could put in a note saying, ‘Hey, I can’t play seven o’clock games,’” Anolin said. “‘Our team can’t play because someone has work, someone has classes,’ and they’ll for sure accommodate the

schedule for you. It’s a very good way to balance your school and work life.”

wanted to continue going into college,” Maulupe said.

Coming to CSULB from Long Beach’s Cabrillo High School, freshman mechanical engineering major John Sucro and freshman psychology major Fili Maulupe plan to form their own intramural volleyball team with other players from their local alma mater.

Although they both have had plenty of varsity volleyball experience in high school, Sucro and Maulupe are cautiously excited to go up against some of the Beach’s best at the recreational level.

“[Playing volleyball together something we liked doing, so

is] we

“We can’t underestimate the people we play against and I feel like they’re going to be great players too,” Sucro said.

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SPORTS 15

RYAN GUITARE | Daily Forty-Niner

Long Beach State and the city of Long Beach are undergoing renovations for the baseball practice field on campus, which is expected to be completed in October.

CSULB reinvests in baseball program Dirtbags look towards the future with newly renovated fields.

By Jacob Powers Staff Writer @ jaypowers__

L

ong Beach State is in the process of renovating the baseball field on campus as well as the off-campus Blair Field.

Af t e r abandoning its old training grounds due to poor conditions in 2014, Long Beach State baseball will return to campus for practice next season.

With a newly renovated field, players will be able to go straight from practice to the weight room without cooling off during the commute back to campus.

“During the fall we have such a busy schedule that taking batting practice and ground balls can get crammed into a tight schedule,” Hughey said.

“This will now help the team not have to go back and forth as often and feel as rushed through practice.”

With a budget of approximately $60,000, the new practice diamond currently under construction will be located behind the Barrett Athletic Administration Center. The construction on the field is expected to be completed in October.

The funding for the project came from a $5 million donation by longtime fan and Long Beach State athletics booster, Marilyn Bohl, in 2017.

A new facility will also play a role as a possible recruiting tool for the team in the future.

On the other hand, President Jane Close Conoley and the city of Long Beach had planned the renovations to Blair Field prior to 2016.

“We thought about the future and how can we

build more effectively and efficiently. We want to open up Blair Field to host more events in the future,” Executive Associate Athletic Director Rob Clark said. “President Conoley has been amazing on this project. She’s looking at the greater whole of the community, and from that standpoint, she’s being a champion.”

For redshirt senior Jacob Hughey, getting to play everyday at Blair Field at Bohl Diamond has been a “blessing.”

“I’ve been lucky to be able to play here for nine years throughout high school and college,” Hughey said. “I love that they are trying to utilize another field for us because they film commercials and host other events [at Blair Field] a lot.”

The team moved to the off-campus location five years ago due to the infield corners causing problems for infielders and the outfield grass being a hazard for outfielders in the past.

The new practice field plans include laser-grating the grass field, installing new backstop netting, reconstructing the outfield grass and improving the bullpen area to meet NCAA baseball standards.

“We’re moving practice to campus several times a week,” Clark said. “Filming at Blair Field can take all day, and we have had to shuffle practices around before because of it.”

The renovation plans were made to keep Blair Field’s history and impact on the community in mind, according to Clark. The CSULB Director of Athletics, Andy Fee, and staff pitched the renovation plans to the school board for approval.

Since April 11, 1958, Blair Field, named after longtime Long Beach Press Telegram sports editor Frank T. Blair, has been a large part of the city of Long Beach community. Blair Field has been held in high regard in its 61 year history, showcasing

MLB all-stars including Tony Gwynn, Jered Weaver, Troy Tulowitzki and Evan Longoria.

It has also been utilized in an array of ways outside of baseball, movies “Mr. Baseball,” “Moneyball” and “Space Jam” have been filmed on site, as well as over 200 commercials. The Dodgers, Cubs, Angels, Indians, Los Angeles Rams and even rapper Snoop Dogg have taken the field to practice and play exhibition games.

Blair Field has also been the host of four NCAA Regional Tournaments and six MTV Rock and Jock softball games.

The field often gets over used, currently providing game time to Woodrow Wilson High School on top of being the main practice facility for the Dirtbags.

The Dirtbags are the primary tenants of Blair Field, which means the team is fully responsible for the upkeep. Being a natural grass field, the field requires additional time to properly be maintenanced to a playable condition, unlike other synthetic turf fields.

Former St. Mary’s College coach Eric Valenzuela, who was hired this June as the Dirtbags’ eighth head coach, said he and the club are excited for a new field.

“Not a lot of baseball programs have two facilities that are this legit, and our guys can really develop from it,” Valenzuela said. “It’s a dream for me to have an opportunity like this to get to Omaha.”

After turning around the St. Mary’s program in his five years at the helm, Valenzuela looks to take the same approach to his new ball club.

“Baseball is baseball,” Valenzuela said. “We’ve got all the tools that it takes to be successful. It’s going to take time, but we gotta bring it day in and day out.”

16

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2019 | DAILY49ER.COM | @DAILY49ER | STAFF@DAILY49ER.COM

YOUR MORNING COMMUTE JUST GOT BETTER Tune in every Monday morning to Beach Weekly, a news and sports podcast by the Daily Forty-Niner at Long Beach State.

Get your weekly news update at the Beach with veteran host Hannah Getahun and her new partner Perry Continente. Join them as they discuss the biggest headline of the week with the reporter that compiled the story.

This season, Beach Weekly presents a new segment, Beach Weekly: Sports, where assistant sports editors Manuel Valladares and Ralston Dacanay talk all things Long Beach State athletics.

Beach Weekly can be streamed at Daily49er.com as well as the following platforms: Spotify, Google Podcasts, Breaker, SoundCloud, and Radio Public.