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SAMUEL CHACKO / Long Beach Current
During the first day of school, lot G11 was packed with cars and students on Aug. 26.
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UPD offers multiple emergency support services to campus community
BY LIZBETH CORTES-GUTIERREZ Opinions Assistant
There are three ways to contact 911 on campus, by calling, texting and using the blue light emergency towers. Emergency towers serve as phones to connect with 911 dispatchers. University Police Department Chief John Brockie said other campuses have removed this resource due to their expense but they still remain at CSULB.
According to Brockie, there are 109 emergency towers on campus.
UPD can also locate callers who need to remain silent due to dangerous situations with a location range provided through 911 calls.
According to Pascal, dispatchers ask yes or no questions when they sense a caller cannot speak.
With no specific address, dispatchers must listen for background noises to find a caller’s location. In these cases, they will have police in the area sound their sirens to hear them over the phone.
A caller’s location is imperative information. If someone is unable to call, they can text 911.
“That actually started here at Cal State Long Beach,” Pascal said. “This was the first place in the state of California where you could send a text message to 911,” Pascal said.
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Calls from emergency towers are frequently from people who request the Night Safety Escort Program or misplace their cars.
Broken emergency towers are labeled or covered with a bag. The towers are tested monthly, according to Brockie, and UPD considers whether the repairs are economical.
According to the UPD’s communications and information systems manager Gregory Pascal, 911 dispatchers receive around a dozen calls a day, including calls from campus, neighborhoods, the surrounding city and freeways.
Dispatchers train to work through multiple emergencies, but Pascal said it takes a year for new dispatchers to feel knowledgeable.
In 2013, UPD volunteered to be part of the California Governor’s Office Emergency Services (CalOES) pilot program for deploying text-to-911 services. They were the first pilot site that was ready and on Nov. 20, 2013, they received their first 911 text.
Pascal encourages the campus community to “call if you can and text if you can’t,” because it is more difficult to find someone’s location and communicate with them through text.
“If you are in a situation where you think you might be needing to dial 911, that’s the point where you should be calling us,” Pascal said.
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“There’s a fair amount of thinking on your feet and solving problems and coming up with creative solutions,” Pascal said.
According to Brockie, dispatchers evaluate each call to send the appropriate resources and LBPD’s assistance is requested when UPD no longer has resources for it.
Land acknowLedgment
Here at the Long Beach Current we acknowledge that the school we report on is located on the sacred site of Puvungna, “the gathering place”. We are on the land of the Tongva/Gabrieleño and the Acjachemen/Juaneño Nations who have lived and continue to live here.
We also acknowledge the Gabrieleño/Tongva (pronounced: GABRIEL-EN-YO/TONG – VAH) and Acjachamen/Juaneño (pronounced: AH-HACH-AH-MEN/JUAN-EN-YO) as the traditional custodians of the Los Angeles region along with the Chumash (pronounced: CHOO-MOSH) to the north and west, and the Tataviam (pronounced: TAH-TAH-VEE-YUM) and Cahuilla (pronounced: KAH-WEE-YAH) Nations to the east.
We respect and value the many ways the Tongva/Acjachemen cultural heritage and beliefs continue to have significance to the living people and remind us about the sacred and spiritual relationship that has always existed here at what we now call California State University Long Beach.
editoriaLs: All opinions expressed in the columns, letters and cartoons in the issue are those of the writers or artists. The opinons of the Long Beach Current 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 Long Beach Current.
Monday, September 2, 2024
Letter PoLicy: All letters and emails must bear the phone number of the writer and must be no more than 300 words. The Long Beach Current reserves the right to edit letters for publication in regard to space.
Community Engagement Assistant Jazmyn De Jesus
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Long Beach City College reclaims ‘large college’ status
BY MAYRA SALAZAR News Assistant
Long Beach City College has now become one of the handful of California Community Colleges that has managed to get back to its pre-COVID enrollment level.
Long Beach City College (LBCC) has regained “large college” status after losing it due to declines in enrollment during the pandemic.
The state of California considers a community college to be “large” if it has 20,000 or more full-time equivalent students.
After declining enrollment due to the COVID-19 pandemic, college officials throughout the state have been struggling to get students to enroll at the rate they were before.
“Returning to large college status is crucial for LBCC because it enables us to expand our resources, enhance our academic offerings and better serve our diverse student population,” LBCC Superintendent-President Mike Muñoz said in a press release.
Now due to having a large college status LBCC can secure more funding from the California Community College Chancellor’s Office, about $2 million annually.
These funds will be used to better support student services and academic programs.
To be able to regain the large college status back and to overall improve the college, an LBCC Strategic Plan was made by the Strategic Plan Oversight Taskforce and College Planning Council.
In the plan, the task force put in detail future goals for the college, including increasing inclusivity, support, care, innovative approaches, synergy and sustainability.
LBCC has also undertaken numerous outreach campaigns, created an inclusive/anti-racist environment and pushed for improving college completion to ensure commitment to the plan.
Services including the Safe Parking Program, allowing students to sleep in their vehicles on campus overnight and
LAUREN BENSON / Long Beach Current Students walk past a mural located at the Liberal Arts Campus of Long Beach City College. The mural by artist Paul Botello entitled “Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow,” was commissioned during the spring 2024 semester.
a partnership featuring the Boys & Girls Clubs of Long Beach and the Long Beach Unified School District, giving parents the ability to enroll their children in LBCC’s after-school and summer program for free, have assisted the increase in enrollment.
The Long Beach College Promise, which allows most students to pay zero tuition, is a dual enrollment program that grants high school students the ability to take college classes at their high schools, and their award-winning “BeLong Beach” campaign has contributed to this as well.
The high amount of transfer rates to four-year universities is also a key element in LBCC’s flourishing enrollment.
During LBCC’s 2023-24 academic year, enrollment increased to 38,696 students, of which over 20,000 of those enrolled were full-time equivalent students.
There was a 10% increase in Black student enrollment and a record high for the college in five years for new indirect matriculant students in credit classes.
“Our enrollment growth means in-
creased access to education for our community which will improve economic mobility and break cycles of generational poverty,” Muñoz said. “This milestone reflects our commitment to providing exceptional education and support to our community ensuring that every student has the opportunity to succeed and thrive.”
When asked about which programs and services where the funds will go toward, Associate Director of Communications and Community Engagement at LBCC Stacey Toda said there were no specifics yet because the college has not received the funds.
Extended efforts and accolades in improving LBCC’s campus include the following:
• Excelencia in Education recertified the college with the Seal of Excelencia in 2023
• Awarded the 2024 Innovation of the Year Award from The League for Innovation in the Community College for its efforts in improving student’s sense of belonging from 50% to 92%
• Awarded the CABSE Black EdCel-
lence Award in 2023 for its leadership in advancing educational equity for Black and African American students at the Seventh Annual CABSE Education Conference by The California Association of Black School Educators.
• Awarded the 2023 Equity Champions of Higher Education by The Campaign for College Opportunity for working with intentionality to support Black students in obtaining their Associate Degree to transfer to a four-year university.
The numerous efforts from both students and staff of LBCC have not gone unnoticed and are instead emphasized by the college’s faculty.
“Our ability to return to large college status ahead of schedule is a testament to the heroic efforts we’ve made to achieve clear and concrete post-pandemic goals,” Vivian Malauulu, President of the LBCC Board of Trustees said. “This achievement reflects the collective effort of our dedicated employees, from our outreach teams recruiting new students to our faculty and classified staff that ensured their success in the classroom and our future viability as a district.”
Convocation highlights fundraising, new scholarships, reconnection
JUSTIN ENRIQUEZ / Long Beach Current
CSULB President Jane Close Conoley discusses changes in the new policy of protesting, the conflict in Gaza and the new agenda for the 2024-25 academic year during the Fall 2024 Convocation event on Aug. 23.
BY JUAN CALVILLO News Editor
Fundraising over $300 million, creating hundreds of additional scholarships and a call for campus reconnection were the focus of Long Beach State’s Fall 2024 Convocation on Aug. 23.
During her time at the podium, CSULB President Jane Close Conoley focused on programs to help the student experience on campus.
One of those programs, the No Barriers campaign, focused on raising funds to help students advance while at CSULB.
Conoley said the campaign ended its philanthropic work with the campaign exceeding the original goal of $275 million.
In an email sent after the event, Jim Milbury, CSULB news media services specialist, clarified donors raised $313.4
million since the program started in September 2022.
The program recently ended on June 30. According to Conoley, $223 million will be invested in the campus.
Over 300 new scholarships will be created with funds raised through the program. Student emergency grant amounts will also increase due to the gifts from the campaign.
Milbury said the remaining $90 million consists of gifts from wills or trust funds, which will become available at later dates.
According to Conoley, multiple programs will benefit from the funds, including the ASI Beach Pantry and more.
“For example, the Lauren Chalmers endowment funding ASI Beach Pantry which provides food to thousands of our students every year,” Conoley said. “Also, the $11 million gift from the Ballmer Group to fund the preparation of teachers for young learners.”
She also reinforced the university’s commitment to providing excellent edu-
cation in a place where students can feel safe.
Conoley said people are in control of how they treat others and hoped reconciliation was possible after protests characterized the 2023-2024 school year.
The College of Liberal Arts is offering a way to learn to have conversations about controversial and challenging topics in a meaningful way.
Sophia Pandya, department chair of Religious Studies, said the Beach Pluralism Project endeavors to show its cohort how to live in and value a diverse world. The project is made up of 20 students. The program will include instruction in two courses, one in fall 2024 and one in spring 2025.
Pandya said the classes will instruct students in the theory of pluralism and how to counteract polarization.
The members of this cohort are referred to as “Conoley fellows” and will be expected to put what they learn about pluralism into action.
“They are expected to be part of our
campus leadership in terms of navigating conflict resolution and spearheading pluralism in their own communities,” Pandya said.
Nikki Majidi, president of the Associated Student Inc., said her experience at CSULB has been positive, but said not all students share that experience.
Majidi said bridging the gap between students and their student leaders is what she hopes will create a more inclusive environment.
“Through these connections, we can foster space for listening, understanding and ultimately for educating ourselves and others about what true inclusivity means,” Majidi said.
In a departure from last year, this year’s Convocation had a keynote speaker. Loretta Ross is an activist, scholar and author.
Ross spoke on the human rights movement, reproductive justice and the main points of her upcoming book “Calling In the Call Out Culture.”
BY ETHAN COHEN News Assistant
CCSU bans encampments, limits scope of demonstrations
alifornia State University campuses will no longer allow encampments, pathway-blocking protests and face coverings which conceal identities, according to a system-wide email from the Chancellor’s Office sent to all 23 schools last week.
The move comes after a season of protests among campuses across the nation in response to the Israel-Hamas War which saw clashes between student activists and university administrations, many of which called in local police to disperse the demonstrations.
The email acknowledged the collective right to demonstration but highlighted that “Freedom of expression, however, is not an absolute right” and that it “coexists with other rights, the CSU educational mission and the need for public order and safety.”
Overnight demonstrations and the use of indoor university property are also prohibited in the updated policy. The changes restrict the time, place and manner students and faculty may demonstrate. Those protesting will now face limitations on the use of bullhorns and speakers, signs and banners and disruption of classes.
The policy also grants power to CSU presidents and police chiefs to determine the appropriate level of security and response for each event.
The University of California system recently adopted a similar change in policy aimed at curbing encampments and limiting hostilities on its campuses.
Protests on CSULB’s campus were largely relegated to May of last semester where students and faculty used chairs, tables and umbrellas to block the pathway from the College of Business Building to Brotman Hall.
The demonstration drew mixed reactions from students prompting some responses and confrontations with protestors.
Palestine protesters spoke through megaphones and held up signs about the Israel-Hamas War, including calling on students to boycott Starbucks, HP and McDonalds to support their movement.
SAMUEL CHACKO / Long Beach Current
Nearly 150 Long Beach State students walked out of classes to protest the Israel-Hamas war on Oct. 25, 2023. The CSU system updated its policy placing greater restrictions on campus demonstrations after an academic year filled with student activism.
CSULB along with all other CSU’s have places restrictions on the use of sound amplifying equipment and signage that has not been vetted by the college.
CSULB’s specific policy further clarifies events, public gatherings and demonstrations must undergo an approval process and are restricted to designated public areas on or around campus from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
While the policy outlines guidelines for demonstrations, some student groups perceive it as a reaction to their activism and restriction of their expression.
La F.U.E.R.Z.A, a student activism group instrumental in organizing May’s campus protest, expressed strong opposition to the new policy.
Media spokesperson for La F.U.E.R.Z.A Pedro Garcia, who is using a fake name due to privacy concerns, said the updated policy was a response to a growing wave of student activism which threatens the business of the university system.
“The policy is a direct attack on student free speech and a direct attack on
student criticism of the school,” Garcia said. “Essentially, it is surveillance of the students. Students coming to this campus will be met with more surveillance and policing.”
He said the policy provides controls to college administrations that extend beyond the protection of freedom of expression allowing those in power to decide what is and is not appropriate.
“They [CSU’s] think that the policy will put an end to the protesting,” Garcia said. “Nothing they can do will stop us… we’re dedicated in this fight and will continue to organize.”
CSULB Vice President of Student Affairs Beth Lesen, responsible for the implementation and enforcement of the policy, said in an email to students that the goal of the college is to “create an environment that is both passionate and compassionate” for students to exchange ideas and use their voices.
“What I’m really hoping is that we all find ways of communicating respectfully with people who think and feel differently from us,” Lesen’s email to students said.
Time, Place and Manner Policy
• Students have the right to peacefully assemble as long as the assembly doesn’t violate the TPM regulations. Otherwise, it will be considered civil disobedience.
• Students can use public areas on campus for assembly, marches, demonstrations, protests and debates. In addition, spontaneous activities are allowed to take place in public areas on campus without prescheduling or reservations with the university.
New protest regulations ignite discussions across California universities
BY JD PRESLICKA Solutions Editor
California universities have introduced new “Time, Place, and Manner” (TMP) policy changes, including stricter regulations on identity concealment, voice-amplifying devices, banner drops and the timing of protests.
Universities of California (UC), California State Universities (CSU) and California Universities (CU) have been notified about the new regulations that were announced on Aug. 19.
Campuses such as the University of Southern California (USC), University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and the University of California, Irvine (UCI) experienced high pressure from students to divest from military industrial contracts with companies like Raytheon, Northrop Grumman and Boeing.
These protests included sit-ins and encampments that put the universities at a crossroads on how to handle protesters.
Protests also reached California State Universities, though fewer CSU campuses saw encampments.
Students have expressed their concern regarding the new regulations, and how they impact future protests.
“We make every effort to nurture free expression, and we provide countless opportunities and venues for our students, faculty, other academic appointees, and staff to safely and lawfully share their diverse viewpoints and beliefs,” University of California President Michael Drake said in a press release.
“While the vast majority of protests held on our campuses are peaceful and nonviolent, some of the activities we saw this past year were not.”
Drake’s letter to the UC outlines five major changes to the “Time, Place, and Manner” policy including a ban on encampments and unauthorized structures, restricting the flow of on-campus traffic like walkways, roadways and building entry points, concealing identity with masks and the refusal to reveal identity.
Mike Uhlenkamp, assistant vice chan-
cellor of communications and media relations at UCI said the regulations are not new to TMP.
“The great majority of policies tied to the UC guidelines are already in place at UC Irvine. We are currently working to collect all of the information in a single, easily accessible place on our website in compliance with the guidelines and SB 108,” Uhlenkamp said in an email sent to the Long Beach Current. “Each situation would require a real-time review against those policies, so it’s not possible to answer hypothetical questions about enforcement.”
Protesters’ rights have been a popular topic among students following demonstrations throughout several California colleges opposing the Israel-Hamas war.
According to an email sent to the Current, Long Beach State Assistant Political Science Professor Matt Lesenyie said there could be legal challenges regarding a policy “violating” a student’s right to protest, but this may not appear in the courts for years to come.
“The university admin [administration] doesn’t want to show favor in demonstrations, in particular messages,” Lensenyie said. “In a dynamic envi-
ronment, like our current politics, they are commonly scapegoats, but these unexciting decisions….are the work product of admins [administrators]. Their goal is really about protecting the brand reputation of the university.”
During last semester’s protests, newsrooms experienced both significant and minor impacts.
For student reporters at USC, a campus-wide shutdown meant the news staff was unable to work on campus, subsequently leading to a slower workflow.
“Last semester at moments, when they completely shut down campus, we obviously can’t get into campus to do the reporting. So, if that happens again, that is a very clear and hard roadblock which stops us from doing that [reporting],” Daily Trojan Photo Editor Henry Kofman said.
“Our newsroom is in the middle of campus so if you weren’t already there, there was no way to get there,” he said.
However, it is not the general consensus that student news staff would have a difficult time reporting on future protests with the updated TMP policy.
“They put a large emphasis in the emails at the beginning of the year on
• The Supreme Court ruled that students and teachers in public schools like Long Beach State are protected by the First Amendment.
• However, CSULB will restrict expression if it violates the law, defames an individual, is considered a threat or harassment and invades privacy. The First Amendment and CSULB
to quote them, ‘Time and Place [manner]’ so they say yes, you do completely have free speech, in the appropriate time and place,” Koffman said. “They sort of vaguely outlined what the appropriate time and place is, but it is also per their discretion, on a case-by-case basis for them to decide.”
Most protesters and the organizations that hosted demonstrations were told not to speak to the media.
Organizers advised reporters and media personnel to communicate with designated media liaisons, as campuses like UCLA offer protection from academic repercussions through college administration.
Daily Bruin News Editor Dylan Winward said the regulations should not affect student reporters, though uncertainty remains as their academic year has yet to begin.
“We have the broad strokes on what changing policy will look like, but we don’t have the specific details of that, so it is very difficult to say whether the academic year’s new policies affect our reporting,” Winward said.
“Our plan is to do what we can do, do what we should do to the best of our ability in respective of the new rules that come out,” he said.
ANTHONY ORRICO / Long Beach Current Students at UC Irvine set up encampments on April 29, which would stand for a total of 16 days, before the area outside Rowland Hall was order cleared by the chancellor of the university on May 15.
New professors embrace their beginnings at Long Beach State
BY JULIA GOLDMAN Arts & Life Editor
Despite the differences in their respective departments of Theatre Arts, Journalism and Computer Science and Engineering, they each share an excitement to their future with the university.
As the university’s new assistant professor and co-head of Theatre Studies, Gibbs said her role as an educator is something she has really loved growing into.
Gibbs’ education in the field includes a bachelor’s degree in Theatre Performance from Western Michigan University, a master’s degree in Drama from the University of Irvine as well as a graduate certificate in Performance Studies and doctorate in Theatre from Bowling Green State University in Ohio.
Between Gibbs’ master’s and doctorate degree, she pursued a career as an actress for seven years.
“As a black woman, I was not willing to sacrifice to go to Hollywood,” Gibbs said. “I didn’t believe at the time that those spaces were healthy for anyone, let alone for Black women.”
Since that experience, Gibbs said she has utilized her skills to do good in the world. She believes theatre, through its study, practice, performance and ways that it evokes emotions and connects people, is the opportunity to do just that.
“It’s really important to me to create community based ways to engage with students that help them bring their best selves to any space,” Gibbs said. “Not just rehearsal, even outside of the walls of the institution.”
This fall semester, Gibbs is teaching the courses Theatre History 1 and Theatre Protest and Social Change. Gibbs said she is impressed with the way the students have demonstrated kindness to make her feel welcome and that her colleagues’ love for the field of theatre is infectious to her.
“I’ve always wanted to be the professor I never had when I was in undergrad,” Gibbs said. “I’ve had the opportunity to do that and really help shape and inspire what healthy relationships look like.”
Qin’s experience in the field goes back to her hometown of Shanghai, China, where she obtained her bachelor’s
Photos by JULIA GOLDMAN / Long Beach Current
Clockwise from top: Standing right outside of her new department on Aug. 29, the Beach welcomes Michelle Gibbs as Assistant Professor of Theatre Arts and co-head of Theatre Studies; Sitting in their new office, CSULB welcomes Ashley Hopkins as an assistant professor for the Department of Journalism; Despite just starting in August, 27-year-old Xin Qin has already made history on campus as the youngest assistant professor in the Computer Science department.
degree in Computer Science at Shanghai Tech University. From there, she spent her last year of undergrad at Berkeley’s Artificial Intelligence Research (BAIR) Lab and completed her doctorate in Computer Science at the University of Southern California.
Now as an assistant professor, Qin is teaching Search Engine Technology and Concepts of Computer Science Theory. She is also conducting research on safety for Cyber Physical Systems (CPS) and will be conducting surveys for the de-
partment soon.
“Currently, I am observing the AI and determining if it is safe or not, monitoring it,” Qin said about her research.
“After all this monitoring, we want to work on how to help the system improve. We call it CPS with learning enabled components.”
She first wishes to ensure students’ success by helping them purse what they want. For her own ambitions, Qin said she wants to do great research with the goal to self-evolve CPS so the system can
improve by itself.
“I think everyone can be a cutting edge leader in their field right now, so we should keep that in mind,” Qin said. “Please join in doing research with me! I am open to interdisciplinary collaborations and anyone who wants to combine their insights with multiplayer gaming to computer science.”
If you are interested in working in research with Xin Qin, you can email her at xin.qin@csulb.edu.
Now arriving from Augusta University in Georgia, Hopkins enters the Long Beach community with familiarity, excitement and what they say is a permanent smile on their face.
“I just love it here. I love the vibe, how it’s laid back, I just love everything,” Hopkins said. “Before I moved here, this is where I vacationed because this is where all the good drag was.”
Their education includes a bachelor’s degree in Media Arts and Design from James Madison University, a master’s degree from Northwestern in Magazine Journalism and a doctorate in Philosophy in Journalism from Ohio University. Hopkins is a first generation college student who worked throughout all of their degrees– both within the journalistic field and in the broader workforce. While they were in their doctoral program, Hopkins said they taught classes, did dissertations on data mining and privacy concerns and worked as a fry cook in the kitchen of an Irish pub and bar.
“I lost my mother at that time and she’d be really proud to know I’m here right now because she knew that was the dream,” Hopkins said.
As a professor teaching the courses News Writing and Ethics and Media and Research Methods this semester, Hopkins said they are looking to foster a relationship of openness and support between students.
“I want to help inspire a passion for the news and for reading between the lines, with an emphasis on media literacy,” Hopkins said. “Especially today, when there’s kind of a bastardization of the word ‘news’ and what it means.”
Since arriving at Long Beach, Hopkins said they have seen the Aquarium of the Pacific and that they look forward to exploring different bike trails.
“It’s important to me, as a queer person, that I found my community here. I want to spend the rest of my life here.”
BY SAMUEL CHACKO
Editor
With the arrival of the fall semester, new and returning Long Beach State students flooded the campus parking lots and swarmed into their class buildings to familiarize themselves with the campus climate.
CSULB President Jane Close Conoley said in an interview with the Long Beach Current that the campus has a record enrollment of nearly 41,000 students this fall.
As early as 7 a.m. on Aug. 26, students filled the parking lots and crowded every passageway across campus.
To address the heavy foot and vehicle traffic throughout the campus, three crossing guards were placed near the crosswalk sections of The Walter Pyramid to clear the congestion.
The campus locations that have been affected the most by heavy foot traffic are the University Student Union, Brotman Hall and the University Bookstore.
Students have also complained about the campus shuttles being late and the amount of time it takes to get in and out of the parking lots.
After a hot summer break, the empty CSULB campus has once again become a thriving and vibrant community of students, staff and faculty members eager to learn, teach and uphold safety throughout the college.
Photo
Photos by SAMUEL CHACKO
Long Beach Current
Clockwise from below: The G11 parking spot and the Pyramid lies bunches of cars who are looking to park or are parked near the Pyramid during the first day of school on Aug. 26; The escalators near the University Student Union continued to be congested with foot traffic following the first couple of days of classes on Aug. 28; The Liberal Arts buildings (LA) is overflowing with students walking to and from classes on Aug. 29 at noon. President Jane Close Conoley said to the Long Beach Current that the campus has record enrollment in around 41,000 students enrolling at CSULB; Near Brotman Hall and E2, students rush to campus on Aug. 26 at 9 a.m. as classes begin; Long Beach State students use different ways of transportation including the Long Beach Transit busses, personal vehicles, skateboards or bicycles. to get around campus.
Movies, memories, and micheladas: Milagro Cinema brings nostalgia to Norwalk
BY DELFINO CAMACHO Arts & Life Assistant
Growing up Mondays were movie days for filmmaker Moctesuma Esparza and his father.
A Mexican immigrant living in 1950’s Boyle Heights, Francisco Esparza worked 12 hours a day, six days a week as a cook to provide for his family.
Monday was his free day.
On Mondays, the pair would bus it to Olvera Street where they would enjoy breakfast at the historic taco stand Cielito Lindo.
Then they’d go to the Million Dollar Theater on 3rd and Broadway and catch a Mexican movie. After the credits rolled they would walk to another theater on Broadway, be it the Palace, The Los Angeles or The Orpheum.
After lunch, they would play bingo at The California, another theater. The day would end back at Cielito Lindo for a final nightcap taco before arriving home, around 1 a.m.
Through film Francisco taught his son about life, Mexico and himself.
“We would talk about the movies,” Moctesuma said. “So I came to know and understand Mexico through its movies, so the Mexico that I grew to love was pastoral, rural and small. My dad would talk to me about life.”
As he matured Moctesuma Esparza became a community activist, student journalist, entertainment executive and a movie producer. His filmography includes films like Gettysburg with Sam Elliot, The Cisco Kid with Cheech Marin and Selena with Jennifer Lopez.
Now 75-year-old Moctesuma is taking on another role – founder and CEO of Milagro Cinemas, a new independent movie theater that opened its doors this summer on August 5 in Norwalk, California.
Moctesuma worked closely with his daughter, Tonontzin Esparza, to renovate the space and recapture the community theater vibe.
A producer and actress in her own right, 16 Tonantzin experienced her first foray into the film world at 16 when she worked with her dad on the Selena set, as a makeup artist.
“It was a dream come true because my goal was to become closer to my father,” she said. “Through film we’ve bonded and I know where his passions lie and those same passions became mine.”
In 2022 Moctesuma and Tonantzin spent two years designing and renovating the old space.
When guests first enter the Milagro they are greeted by a mural
of Moctemsa and Francisco, dressed in their Monday best, ready for a movie.
Beyond popcorn, the Milagro offers Mexican-inspired theater food including street tacos, burritos and authentic nachos with fresh cheese, beans and salsa.
They partnered with various local Chicano-owned businesses like La Bodega Brewery and the Whittier Wine Collection to offer wine, branded beer on tap and canned options.
The theater boasts eight screens including two designated Dolby rooms that feature 40 speakers strategically placed to surround the audience, offering an immersive audio experience.
Screen 8 is the D-Box room featuring hi-tech chairs that contort and react in conjunction with the movie on screen. The technology offers tactful and detailed sensations to further immerse viewers.
During a screening of Alien: Romulus, as an android character malfunctions onscreen the D-Box chairs react– poking the audience with quick, mechanical sensations. As the scene cuts to a Xenomorph
facehugger escaping its cocoon, the changes, becoming more organic,
The Esparzas have also made efforts by hiring locals as employees, like Norwalk resident of 35 years, said commitment and hopes to keep the
“I hope that the community here. I hope that they see that we’ve them, because I think that this city
Community emphasis also extends space, as a portion of the theater host rotating art collections loaned
“We’re partnering with MOLAA, Art in Long Beach, they’re going Toanatzin said.
While currently offering mostly plans to showcase older, revival films
DELFINO CAMACHO
Long Beach Current
the sensation inflicted on the audience organic, like bony fingers prodding. efforts to value the relative community like Manager Ginger Morales. Morales, a said that she appreciates the community the Milagro open as long as possible. gives back what we’re trying to instill we’ve done this, not only for us but for city really deserves love,” Morales said. extends to a planned public art gallery theater is currently reserved with plans to loaned from local museums.
MOLAA, the Museum of Latin American going to be helping curate some exhibits,”
mostly mainstream releases there are films and independent movies.
On Saturday, September 25 the theater will be hosting a free screening of Blue Beetle with the film’s star Xolo Maridueña doing an in-person Q and A.
Standing in front of the mural of him and his father Montesuma reminisces about his childhood, a past where a father and his son could walk to and watch an entire day’s worth of movies, all without leaving their community.
“My world was just a few blocks and movies allowed me to discover that the world was huge,” Moctesuma said. “I wanted to share that beautiful, nostalgic memory of films that I have and give new families the opportunity to create their own memories.”
The Milagro Cinema is located at 13917 Pioneer Boulevard.
Tickets Prices:
Matinee: $10; General Admission: $13
Tuesday / Family and Community Day tickets: $7
Clockwise from left: Moctesuma Esparza stands in front of a mural of himself and his father in their movie hopping days on Wednesday, Aug. 28. The mural rests in the lobby of the newly opened Milagros Cinema which Moctesuma bought and developed. The mural is titled “Fathers Day; Tonantzin Esparza (left) and Milagro Cinema employees pose for the camera in front of the theater’s concessions stand on Aug, 27. Tonantzin and her father Moctesuma made efforts to hire Norwalk locals at El Milagro to create a community theater experience; Filmmaker, activist and entrepreneur Moctesuma Esparza sits in the front row of theater room seven inside Milagro Cinemas on Aug. 28. Moctesuma and his daughter, Tonantzin Esparza, spent two years designing and renovating the space into a community cineplex with a Chicano theme.
Photos by
ARTS & LIFE
Lions lives forever: Long Beach’s historical racetrack prevails through memory
BY DIEGO RENTERIA Arts & Life Assistant
From 1955 to 1972, Lions Drag Strip served as Long Beach’s motorsports cathedral. Known colloquially as Lions, it was a quarter-mile drag racing facility on the corner of 223rd and Alameda Street.
The track was formed when local judge, Fred Miller, was moved by both the amount of street racing cases flooding his courtroom and the auto accidents caused by street racing.
Judge Miller and some constituents helped convince the local Lions Clubs, a set of service organizations, to gather enough money to build a racetrack on a derelict, old railroad yard on the fringes of Long Beach.
1955 marked the year that Lions opened its gates and ignited its stage lights for the first time.
While opening day would see a raucous crowd of 15,000 people, the track’s attendance would quickly dwindle.
It was not until automotive legend Mickey Thompson became the drag strip’s manager that the event space found success. He introduced the idea of “Saturday Night Racing”, which led to the track’s popularity skyrocketing.
Throughout the ‘60s, Lions became a battleground for the biggest names in drag racing. Some notable regulars included Tom “The Mongoose” McEwen, Don “The Snake” Prudhomme and Don “Big Daddy” Garlits.
The track also benefited the community, as all operational profits went to local charities and service organizations.
During this period, it seemed like the Lion’s success was guaranteed.
That would change in the 1970s.
By the beginning of the ‘70s, the population surrounding the drag strip increased, leading to an influx of official noise complaints to the city about the track.
The city of Long Beach ultimately forced Lions to shut down. The beloved quarter-mile held its final passes on Dec. 2, 1972.
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the genesis of this type of drag cars.
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After being abandoned for a decade, the track became a container facility and train yard. Any trace of the iconic raceway was seemingly erased.
However, its memory was not lost. Some members of the local community still wanted to keep the history of Lions Drag Strip alive.
Rick Lorenzen, owner of Price Transfer Inc. and a Long Beach native, was an avid attendee of Lions before the shutdown.
He was so enthralled by drag racing culture that he was inspired to start collecting some of the cars.
Lorenzen started with a 1941 Willys Overland two-door coupe, similar to the model that his heroes drove as they raced down Lions.
After his business grew, he began to collect more cars inspired by memories at Lions, like a 1957 Chevrolet Bel-Air “Fuelie” and a 1970 Plymouth Super Bird.
Over the years, Lorenzen’s car collection became so massive that he chose to turn his treasure trove of hot rods and drag racing history into something that honored the legend of Lions Drag Strip.
This memorabilia took shape as the Lions Automobilia Foundation Museum in Long Beach, which was formed in 2019 and officially opened in 2021.
“Rick wanted to encapsulate visitors in the time when Lions was at its peak,” said Leonard Glick, a museum volunteer docent.
One corner of the museum displays a period-accurate ‘50s diner while another section displays a collection of Willys Overland cars. The immersive experience teleports visitors to an era now only seen in movies like “Grease” or “Once Upon A Time In Hollywood.”
Perhaps the crown jewel of the museum is the reimagining of Lions Drag Strip, featuring one of the most compre-
hensive collections of ‘dragsters,’ ‘funny cars’ and drag racing memorabilia.
“We have had many visitors from around the world, but the ones that are the most interesting are the ones that went to Lions when it was in operation,” Glick said. “We had a 90-year-old man come in one day and tell us he was the person that painted the ‘Lion’s Drag Strip’ signs around the track.”
On June 16 of this year, Lorenzen passed away at 82.
His daughter, Tami Lorenzen-Fanselow, has taken up the mantle at Lions Automobilia Foundation.
Lorenzen’s name and Lions Drag Strip are now synonymous, and their legacies will continue to live on in the heart of the Lions den.
Lion’s Automobilia Foundation is open twice a week on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
DIEGO RENTERIA / Long Beach Current
“Funny” cars
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culture of drag racing. Lion’s Drag Strip was one of the first ractracks that would see
A tail of second chances: Long Beach’s Feline Good Social Club
44 cats find meals, solace, medical care and community compassion through this woman-owned cat lounge.
BY JULIA GOLDMAN Arts & Life Editor
Dinner time is an exciting time for 44 cats and their audience at the Feline Good Social Club (FGSC) in Long Beach.
From Thursday through Monday, the lounge hosts a “Meow and Chow” event where members of the community are invited to hang out, pet and watch the cats feast upon platters of wet food from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.
As FGSC employees and volunteers distribute portions in flower-shaped plates, many cats meow in anticipation.
Once finished, some of the clutter choose to settle down and groom themselves while others approach people for attention.
The $20 event helps support the woman-owned and soon-to-be nonprofit organization’s goal of providing food, shelter, medical care and forever homes to the cats.
The cats, all of which are adoptable with up-to-date shots and papers, enter through FGSC collaboration with the foster group, Long Beach Felines.
“The main goal is to get these cats adopted, but it’s also fun community things,” said 32-year-old Jesse Roth, the center’s lounge operations support.
Roth, who began working at the center in March, said that she’s seen a variety of people who come into the club, from parents and their children, to couples on their first dates and people grieving their pets.
“A sad trend I’ve noticed is that people, when their cats pass, they come in and want to be in a room with a cat in their lap,” Roth said. “And they leave feeling refreshed and a little better.”
Though Roth initially thought that her employment at the club was temporary, she chose to stay because of
the relief it provided her.
“I’m an EMT, who helps move people who are working in medical emergencies,” Roth said. “It’s very nice to not have to think so much and it’s just relaxing with cats. They’re the easiest coworkers you can ask for, a room full of cats.”
One of the feast attendees on Thursday was fourth-year CSULB computer science major Kim Lee.
Returning for her second visit, Lee thought the lounge was a nice place to unwind between school.
“Each time it’s a different experience,” Lee said. “It was nice to see the different sides of the cats, the cats were more sweet the second time around than the first time.”
The rotating group of 44 felines, all with different stories of how they arrived, exhibit a wide display of varying personalities.
It is one thing that Roth said she would like guests to know, as she asked for everyone to be mindful that all the cats have their personalities.
“It’s not a fun thing to get for a girlfriend and return - they all have their own feelings,” Roth said. “Don’t adopt because they’re cute and return them later.”
Aside from their “Meow and Chow” event, the FGSC also hosts a variety of ticketed events like Cat Yoga, Crochet with Cats and Sound Healing to encourage community involvement, with proceeds supporting the foundation.
Roth said that the shelter and their teams of fosters are always accepting donations of food, litter, carriers, toys, treats, general medications and financial contributions.
If you’re interested in donating, volunteering or visiting the Feline Social Good Club, you can check out their website www.felinegoodsocialclub.com.
JULIA GOLDMAN / Long Beach Current
The attendees of FGSC’s ‘Meow and Chow’ event can occasionally witness mealtime disagreements between the lounge residents. Though each cat has a different relationship with food security due to their varying pasts, FGSC employees and volunteers like Alyx Flournoy monitor them to ensure that everyone gets a meal
”
It’s very nice to not have to think so much and it’s just relaxing with cats. They’re the easiest coworkers you can ask for, a room full of cats.
Jesse Roth Feline Good Social Club Lounge Operations Support
Debt’s dilemma: Student loans and its effects on mental health
BY JOANNAH CLEMENTE Opinions Editor
Student debt is not just a financial burden—it is the invisible hand stifling the dreams of millions, fueling anxiety and despair before life even begins.
This crisis is not abstract; it is a ticking time bomb threatening the mental health of an entire generation and hitting too close to home.
According to the Education Data Initiative, federal student debt totals $1.7 trillion, impacting 42.8 million borrowers and exposing the harsh reality of those striving for better opportunities.
Policymakers frequently debate the economic implications but overlook the psychological toll student debt can take on young adults.
Every step is overshadowed by this debt, forcing us to navigate decisions with constant worry and uncertainty.
While it delays life’s milestones such as starting a family, buying a home or switching careers, student debt can also affect personal welfare.
The emotional weight from mounting loans is not a fleeting setback, it is instead a persistent stressor that can escalate to chronic mental health concerns.
Findings from Mental Health America reveal that cost is a significant barrier to mental health care, with one in four adults unable to afford a doctor.
Additionally, the studies also revealed that 10% of adults with mental illness are uninsured with 64% of the group surveyed citing costs as the reason.
Ignoring this aspect traps students in cycles of stress and inadequate care.
This oversight is evident in the narrow focus on repayment strategies and economic theories, which need to explore the full scope of this crisis.
Such a perspective often downplays the issue, rendering it insignificant and unavoidable.
Focusing primarily on financial aspects neglects the sleepless nights, dread
by
Rising student debt causes stagnant mental health support, unveiling a concerning trend in prioritizing financial over emotional well-being.
and deferred dreams many face.
We must shift the conversation toward a holistic approach supporting borrowers’ well-being.
The recent Supreme Court’s decision to reject efforts to reinstate President Joe Biden’s student debt plan has left millions without the promised financial assistance, underscoring the need to move past fixating on the numbers and demand empathetic action.
To overcome this issue, broad reforms are needed to alleviate ongoing struggles and drive meaningful change.
Students require an affordable ed-
ucation, enhanced loan forgiveness, income-driven repayment plans and improved mental health support to encourage academic motivation and success.
Transformative change will shatter the chains of student debt and secure a future of freedom, not fear.
Students deserve a system that values their worth and invests in their potential, ensuring fairness instead of imposing extra hurdles.
Our voices must be heard and our needs attended to with the urgency and compassion they deserve.
Finishing college is an achievement
society can’t take away from us, yet it feels like, in every respect, students owe college institutions their careers.
Even with their efforts and sacrifices, students battle a system that anchors educational rewards to unending constraints.
Education should be a gateway to possibilities; it should open doors and not build barriers.
Advocating for policies that ease financial strain will restore hope and create a nation where education empowers rather than oppresses.
Graphic
STEPHANIE MORALES / Long Beach Current
A new era set in motion for Women’s Volleyball
BY ALYSSA DE LA CRUZ Sports Assistant
With the departure of former head coach Tyler Hildebrand, who left to join USC's women's volleyball coaching staff, Long Beach State enters a new chapter under interim head coach Natalie Reagan.
Despite the coaching change and their 3-0 loss to Hawai’i in the Big West Championship last season, expectations remain high for Long Beach State. They have been picked to finish third in the Big West Conference preseason coaches' poll.
“I'm really thankful for the previous head coach. He did a great job of making sure that I was comfortable in the transition,” Reagan said. “We have unfinished business in the Big West, so we're looking to do really well in
conference this year.”
Five starters return for the Beach, including key player redshirt junior setter Zayna Meyer who was named to the Big West Preseason Coaches Team. Meyer, the 2023 Big West Setter of the Year, is coming off an impressive season where she led the conference in assists, 9.99 per set and guided the Beach to the best hitting percentage of .244 in the Big West.
“My goal this year is just to enjoy the game and spend time with my teammates while also achieving big things, like going to the NCAA tournament and the Sweet 16,” Meyer said.
Meanwhile, senior middle blocker Kameron Bacon, another returning starter, aims to elevate her offensive contributions while maintaining her strong defensive presence at the net.
“I feel really strong on the defensive side of this position, but I really want to take a bigger role offensively for our team, which is something I'm already
feeling more comfortable doing,” Bacon said. “I sometimes lack with my offense, but yeah, that's a goal of mine to be better and work more on being a serving middle and helping out my team from the end line.”
With this being Bacon’s senior year, she expressed how her role this season as one of the captains is to support the team and make sure she is leaving the jersey she wears in a better place than when she first came in.
Reagan's approach to coaching the team this season is dealing with consistency and building strong relationships within the team, aiming to foster a supportive and cohesive environment.
Both Bacon and Meyer emphasized the departure of former head coach Hildebrand was a pivotal moment for the team. But it brought the team closer than ever. The players leaned on each other during this period, creating a foundation of trust and unity.
Bacon mentioned how it was a heartwarming moment to realize that no one transferred and everyone stayed together. They shifted their focus and determination for the upcoming season.
The Beach faces a daunting non-conference schedule, highlighted by a trip to Eugene, Oregon, where they will face off against Pittsburgh (Aug. 31) and Oregon (Sep. 1), both of whom finished in the top 10 last season.
Reagan acknowledged the difficulty of the schedule but sees it as a valuable opportunity for growth.
"We have a really tough schedule this year, with four top 25 opponents and a high average RPI (rating percentage index)," Reagan said. "Playing against tough teams early is really helpful for us."
The Beach is set to have their first home games at the Walter Pyramid against Northwestern Sept. 5 at 7 p.m. and Sep. 7 at 4 p.m.
SAMUEL CHACKO / Long Beach Current
The Long Beach State women’s volleyball team kneels down anxiously watching the University of Hawai’i sideline just before play begins in the Big West Championship on November 25, 2023. Long Beach State was upset at home against the Rainbow Warriors 3-0 at the Walter Pyramid, and were eliminated from the NCAA tournament.