Long Beach current
1250 Bellflower Blvd., LA4-203 Long Beach, CA, 90804
Phone (562) 985-8000
El Nicklin
Sam Farfán
ON THE COVER
JUSTIN ENRIQUEZ / Long Beach Current
Trans Pride Long Beach hosted an event that featured drag performers, musicians and local keynote speakers. Locals enjoyed dance, music and food, connecting with vendors at the event.
Acsah Lemma
Linsey Towles
Managing Editor Editor in Chief Community Engagement Editor
Editorial Office Director of Business Operations
Kristina Agresta
Multimedia Managing Editor business@gobeach.media managing@lbcurrent.com eic@lbcurrent.com community@lbcurrent.com multimedia@lbcurrent.com
editors
Juan Calvillo News Editor news@lbcurrent.com
Julia Goldman Arts & Life Editor arts@lbcurrent.com
Joannah Clemente Opinions Editor opinions@lbcurrent.com
Davis Ramage Sports Editor sports@lbcurrent.com
Jaylyn Preslicka Solutions Editor solutions@lbcurrent.com
Mary Catipay Design Editor design@lbcurrent.com
Khoury Williams Copy Editor
Samuel Chacko Photo Editor
Jazmyn De Jesus Social Media Editor
Dante Estrada Video Editor
Aidan Swanepoel Podcast Editor
copy@lbcurrent.com photo@lbcurrent.com socials@lbcurrent.com video@lbcurrent.com podcast@lbcurrent.com
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
Thank you for picking up the newest edition of the Long Beach Current. My name is Linsey Towles and I am the managing editor for Long Beach State’s student-run publication.
Annette Quijada
Mayra Salazar
Opinions Assistants Lizbeth Cortes-Gutierrez News Assistants Ethan Cohen
Grace Lawson
Diego Renteria
Romi Mathews
Christine Nader
Sports Assistants Matthew Coleman
Alyssa De La Cruz
Matthew Gomez
Jack Haslett
Soleil Cardenas Design Assistants
Luis Castilla
Timothy Hessen Copy Assistants
Photo Assistants
Bella Garcia
Lauren Benson
Justin Enriquez
Devin Malast
Mark Siquig
Social Media Assistants Matthew Gregory
Andrew Miller
Video Assistants Eduardo Contreras Jr.
Kimberly Perez
Gianna Echeverria Podcast Assistants
Business
While the newspaper has taken on a new name, we have not abandoned old traditions. Each year the month of October marks the release of our “OUTober” issue, an issue that highlights stories from within and about the LGBTQ+ community. We recognize OUTober as a special opportunity to tell the stories of LGBTQ+ individuals and organizations that play pivotal roles in our community and whose contributions have shaped larger society.
Alexandra Gryciuk
Andrea Contreras Advertising Manager advertising@gobeach.media
Jennix Bien Creative Director
Web & Technology Director
Leila Nuñez
web@gobeach.media creative@gobeach.media
Nicollette Combre PR & Marketing Manager
Distribution Manager
assistants advisers
beach.pr@gobeach.media
Joseph Vargas
Madison Yang distribution@gobeach.media
Gary Metzker Design Adviser
Barbara Kinglsey-Wilson Content Adviser
Jennifer Newton Advertising & Business Adviser
Within this issue you will find stories detailing the evolution of the Pride flag, profiles on LGBTQ+ community leaders and wise words from a 40-year strong couple. These stories are identified with a special OUTober banner at the top of the page.
While we hope that these stories evoke emotion, thought and conversation among our readers, we also hope to continue to serve all members of our community through storytelling. Thank you to everybody who made this issue possible and a special thank you to those who trusted their stories with the Long Beach Current staff.
The Long Beach Current staff dedicated hard work and long hours to the publication of this issue with the hope that it amplifies the voices of a too-often silenced and overlooked community.
LINSEY TOWLES Managing Editor
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, October 7, 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.
Arts & Life Assistants Delfino Camacho
SAMUEL CHACKO / Long Beach Current
Evolution, significance of LGBTQ+ Pride flags
BY MIA ALVAREZ Contributor
The traditional Pride flag is just one among many diverse Pride flags, each celebrating a unique intersectionality of identities and how individuals see themselves.
The vibrant spectrum of LGBTQ+ Pride flags has become a powerful symbol of identity, unity and visibility. From the iconic rainbow flag to the numerous other flags representing different identities, each one tells a unique story of struggle, Pride and acceptance.
According to the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender (GLBT) Historical Society, the journey of Pride flags began in 1978, when artist and activist Gilbert Baker, inspired by Harvey Milk, designed the first rainbow flag.
The original flag featured eight colors, each symbolizing a different aspect of the LGBTQ+ experience:
• Pink for sex
• Red for life
• Orange for healing
• Yellow for sunlight
• Green for nature
• Turquoise for magic/art Indigo for serenity
• Violet for spirit
Over time, the flag evolved, and the most recognized version today consists of six stripes, with pink and turquoise removed due to fabric availability issues.
Noah Benasfre, Long Beach State’s Queer Students’ Alliance president and a third-year marine biology major, said he has a personal connection to one of the lesser-known Pride flags.
“Personally, I really like the leather Pride flag. I actually have it on my water bottle because it represents kink, which is very inherent in the Pride community. I feel like that’s something people don’t talk about enough. It resonates with so many people, yet they feel very ashamed about it or forget about it,” Benasfre said.
He also appreciates the inclusivity that comes with the evolving designs of Pride flags.
“I think the additions can be very useful because they broaden the flag’s meaning in a way that fits more people.
A timeline of Pride flags from 1978 to 2021, starting from the top right.
I wouldn’t say it’s more correct, but it is more inclusive and acknowledges the history that comes with it,” Benasfre said.
The leather Pride flag, characterized by its black, blue and white stripes with a red heart, exemplifies the diversity within the spectrum of Pride flags. Each Pride flag acts as a symbol of visibility and acceptance for various segments of the LGBTQ+ community.
Outright International, a group dedicated to working with partners around the globe to strengthen the capacity of the LGBTQ+ human rights movement, documents and amplifies human rights violations against LGBTIQ+ people and advocates for inclusion and equality.
According to Outright International, the bisexual flag, created in 1998 by activist Michael Page, features pink, blue and purple bands representing same-sex attraction, opposite-sex attraction and
attraction to all genders, respectively. The pansexual flag, which emerged online in 2010, uses pink, yellow and blue to symbolize attraction to women, all genders and men, respectively.
Marceline Salazar, a third-year studio arts major, expressed her admiration for several Pride flags and the creative ways in which the flags are incorporated into different forms of expression.
“The bisexual, transgender and the rainbow flag: I think they are cool. I think it is cool to have more inclusions in general,” Salazar said. “I see a lot of the color schemes being used, and I love that. Like in the movie Spider-Verse and other media that use bisexual lighting, it’s amazing how creative people can be, especially when it comes to queer undertones.”
The evolution of Pride flags reflects the growing diversity and inclusivity within the LGBTQ+ community, shown
visibly from the original rainbow flag to the Progress Pride flag.
The Human Rights Campaign’s website describes the Progress Pride flag as having black and brown stripes for underrepresented communities of color and the colors of the transgender Pride flag.
The transgender Pride flag, designed by Monica Helms in 1999, features light blue, pink and white stripes. The blue stripes represent the traditional boy colors, while the pink stripes represent the traditional girl colors. The white stripe represents those who are intersex, transitioning or have an undefined gender. This flag, along with others, symbolize the community’s commitment to inclusivity and representation.
Each flag with its unique colors and meaning tells a story of Pride, resilience and the unyielding spirit of the LGBTQ+ community.
Graphic by EL NICKLIN / Long Beach Current
LGBTQ+ resources accessible across Long Beach
BY ANGELINA AZCUÉ Contributor
Mental health services, HIV and STI testing and online support hotlines are some of the many resources the city of Long Beach has to offer for the LGBTQ+ community.
The LGBTQ Center Long Beach
The LGBTQ Center Long Beach provides a range of services to support LGBTQ+ individuals in the area.
The center offers support groups, including “20 Somethings,” which is held on every second and fourth Wednesday of the month. The support group hosts group games, activities and open discussions.
The center, located at 2017 E 4th St, aims to create a safe place to connect with the Long Beach community through different group outings.
They also have another group named “Queer People of Color” which is held every first and third Tuesday of the month. The group wants to encourage its attendees to embrace the diversity within the community. They engage in conversations focused on mental health and relationships.
The LGBTQ Center Long Beach has its own legal services department that offers LGBTQ-affirming legal assistance. The department uses its expertise to guide individuals to the right resources for free. These resources can support victims of any crimes, including domestic violence and human trafficking.
The center has a food pantry inside that accepts donations and also helps individuals get verified for their CalFresh application.
Most of The LGBTQ Center Long Beach’s facilities and services are offered in English and Spanish.
Bienestar
Bienestar Long Beach, a community-based social services organization, offers youth resources for the LGBTQ+ and Latino community, ages 18 to 25, to build professional skills and encourage
The LGBTQ Center Long Beach offers services and resources for the LGBTQ+ community through education, programs and mental health counseling.
ANGELINA AZCUÉ / Long Beach Current
The LGBTQ Center’s library offers a variety of books from topics like queer studies in psychology to aromantic readings. Individuals are able to sign up for a library card at The LGBTQ Center Long Beach.
the evolution of identity.
Camila Vazquez, a committee member for Bienestar, emphasized the importance of college students getting tested for HIV, stating that “it is always better for them to always get tested for HIV.”
If an individual were to test positive for HIV, Bienestar provides linkage to care.
Vazquez also shared how she is a transgender woman herself, and Bienestar offers many resources for the trans
community, including motel vouchers for individuals who need them and support groups.
Career-building workshops, counseling, game nights and community service are some of the activities that Bienestar offers to help build its youth community.
Bienestar also offers a program called “My Life, My Power,” which is five 90-minute weekly sessions that focus on relationship issues, safe sex practices and
substance abuse prevention.
Bienestar Long Beach is located at 2690 Pacific Ave. Ste 300.
St. Mary’s
St. Mary Medical Center’s CARE Program in Long Beach provides different services for people affected by HIV/ AIDS. They provide HIV and STI testing including additional testing and treatments for chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis.
The center also offers a registered dietitian who is specifically trained to help people living with HIV.
The CARE Program provides Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) services regardless of an individual’s ability to pay.
PrEP is a once-daily pill or bi-monthly injection that reduces the risk of HIV infection by up to 99% for anyone who may have been exposed to it. They are recognized as a PrEP Center of Excellence in Los Angeles County.
For students who need a 24/7 online resource, The Trevor Project is a forum that can be reached by text message, phone calls and chat box. Their mission is to end suicide among young people in the LGBTQ+ community.
JUSTIN ENRIQUEZ / Long Beach Current
University Police Department opens new doors to campus community
Long Beach State opens a new Community Engagement Center to provide students and staff a place to connect with the UPD.
BY AIDEN REDSTEER Contributor
The University Police Department opened a new Community Engagement Center on Sept. 30 on upper campus.
The new office, located next to the Amazon store adjacent to parking lot E10, will primarily be dedicated to providing students and staff a place to connect with the UPD. Previously, the only location available was the main station near the Student Recreation and Wellness Center.
“We want people to feel welcome, and we want them to know that as police we are here for them,” Community Engagement Officer Corina Washington said. “It’s our job to help people in the most difficult of times.”
The new location will offer a variety of services for students and staff, such as safety escorts, providing U-locks for bicycles and information on available self-defense classes. All these services and more were previously offered at the main station, but the new office allows for an additional location to access them.
When asked, many students responded positively about the new engagement center.
“People within their majors are often confined in upper or lower campus,” Leeaneli Juarez, a third-year psychology major said. “People having more access is a good thing.”
Those who have visited the main station may have seen the need for additional space. The entrance way is crowded with fixed seating, and walking in to speak with an officer can be a crowded event depending on the day.
The department has taken previous strides to assist with this. They implemented a “soft interview room” with comfortable couches and white noise boxes, allowing students and faculty a warmer and private environment to speak with an officer.
The new engagement center is another step towards what UPD Chief John Brockie described as “Community Oriented Policing” in a recent meeting with contributors of the Long Beach Current.
This is a philosophy held by the UPD, which provides an additional focus on community engagement. It encourages improvements like the soft interview room and the new engagement center.
Both locations offer assistance from Community Service Officers, who are trained student workers that assist campus officers in certain duties.
Oscar Patino has been a CSO for over a year and is currently a Field Training Officer looking to graduate after this semester.
“Even if it is something small, every call is important to us with student safety,” Patino said.
Students and staff are encouraged to stop by the new engagement center and find out more about the services available.
Corina Washington Community Engagement Officer ”
We want people to feel welcome, and we want them to know that as police we are here for them.
AIDEN REDSTEER / Long Beach Current Community Engagement Officer Corina Washington sits near the welcome desk of the new Community Engagement Center. The center is near parking lot E10 and right next to the Amazon store.
Long Beach drag queen brings goals of inclusivity to community
Long Beach’s local drag queen, Jewels Long Beach, sheds light on the entertainment and philanthropic work that comes with her presense in the community.
BY GRACE LAWSON Arts & Life Assistant
From extravagant wigs to lip syncs and comedy sets, Drag Queen Jewels Long Beach has been in the local scene advocating for its entertainment, community and philanthropy for 26 years.
“Drag to me is freedom - it’s the freedom to be whoever and whenever you feel like in that moment, or that day, or that year, whenever it is,” Jewels said. “You create your own character and it’s the freedom to express yourself through gender and fun and glitter and sassiness, you know, whatever way you’re feeling that day.”
The practice of drag has existed for centuries, from ancient Greek tragedies to works of Shakespeare and representation in ancient Egypt.
Though it has entered a modern, cultural relevance through “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” the culture has been on the front lines of activism for the LGBTQ+ movements since the beginning, one example being the Stonewall Riots of 1969.
According to Jewels, Long Beach has always been a huge mecca for the LGBTQ+ community.
Since 2000, Jewels has worked with Hamburger Mary’s, a local restaurant with the slogan, “Open air bar and grille
for open-minded people.” Often, Hamburger Mary’s offers meals and drag show performances for the community to attend.
“Long Beach has always been uniquely welcoming to the community,” Jewels said.
Though Jewels said that Long Beach does hold a reputation for a flourishing drag community, she stressed that the community can only continue to exist with support and participation in what is vital to keeping these spaces alive.
“I think queer spaces in general are changing,” Jewels said. “Queer spaces in Long Beach are definitely having a hard time, like most entertainment venues anywhere having a hard time.”
Amidst anti-drag and LGBTQ+ legislation across the United States, Jewels said that she seeks to utilize the practice of drag as an act of resilience and a form of expression to cultivate atmospheres
of inclusivity, diversity and uniqueness.
Long Beach State journalism professor, Ashley Hopkins, said they are a huge advocate for celebrating the beauty of drag and recognizing the support to local drag queens.
“There didn’t use to be a space for queer individuals to be themselves or be with others that are like them,” Hopkins said. “Drag and drag queens do some much for challenging cultural norms and stereotypes whether it’s gender, sexuality, or just giving a voice to queer culture. I think representation matters, representation is key.” Hopkins said.
To Hopkins, these spaces symbolize a place where people can be accepted.
Jewels said that they utilize drag as a livelihood, as a way to bring their community together.
As the current Executive Director of Entertainment Media and Marketing for Hamburger Mary’s International,
Jewels does philanthropic work with the LGBTQ+ Pride Center and St. Mary’s Hospital.
“I utilize drag for good,” Jewels said. “A huge part of what I do is fundraising and supporting causes that I care about.”
One common sentiment that both Hopkins and Jewels shared is that drag offers freedom.
“Artistically, just the expression of it and the fun of it, of just like letting your hair down letting loose - I think there’s a freedom in drag,” Hopkins said. “I think there’s a freedom in masquerading and putting on a wig and playing out gender.”
Jewels believes that coming out to shows, or partaking in fundraisers is the biggest display of support that can be shown to the drag community.
Future announcements regarding Jewels’ performances can be found on her Instagram, @jewelslongbeach.
GRACE LAWSON / Long Beach Current
The drag queen, Jewels Long Beach, accepts dollar bills from people in the audience at her Oct. 2 show at Hamburger Mary’s.
ARTS & LIFE
The evolution of Long Beach State’s music program since 1949
BY CHRISTOPHER CHAN Contributor
Deep breath in. Lips tight against the mouthpiece.
Fingers positioned on the trumpet’s valves— it’s showtime.
For decades, Long Beach State’s music program has shaped the careers of students, including accomplished alumni Richard and Karen Carpenter, setting an educational standard with its rich and impactful repertoire. The program’s legacy continues to inspire, as reflected in its multiple Grammy-winning alumni.
“One of the things I noticed when I came to visit was this culture of comradery and support for one another that was here and we continue to build on that,” Jermie Arnold, director of the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music, said.
A staple of the program, the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music has been a place where student creativity and artistic growth thrive, a place where an award-winning culture was established by the program’s original band and a place where creativity shined from the start.
First formed in 1949, program’s original band struggled with frequent leadership changes in the music program, leading to periods of instability. For some time, they lacked a Director of Bands and instead had five different conductors, all primarily hired to teach music education rather than to lead the band full-time.
Despite the bumps the first official concert was held six years later.
On May 10, 1955, student performers showcased a selection of wind instruments, including flutes, clarinets and trumpets.
While classical music was the focus of the original music performed, over the years the program has advanced to incorporate genres like jazz and marching band music. Genres that students like Josh Encarnacion, a 19-year-old firstyear piano major, believe have brought great experiences.
“Having so many genres is great because it makes music accessible to every -
one who wants to learn about it,” Encarnacion said. “The fact that the program provides so many different opportunities to explore those types of music guarantees that there will be something for everyone.”
Despite its musical milestones, the program faced significant challenges, relying on repurposed science halls for practice and as classrooms— both being makeshift spaces that are not ideally designed for music.
Ultimately, the construction of the BCCM main building in 2003 and the pavilion and plaza in 2007 meant students had a dedicated safe space designed specifically for their musical pursuits.
The state-of-the-art facility offers students practice rooms and student lounges.
“We have an outdoor eating area where students will hang out here pretty much all hours of the day,” Arnold said. “A whole bunch of them were up there singing, having a good time– they may have been practicing for a class.”
Since then, the program has evolved into an environment where students like Encarnacion thrive, inspired by those who came before him.
For some students, the prospect of joining the ranks of accomplished alumni such as John Bettis, a songwriter with multiple platinum records, is alluring.
“We got critiqued by a Long Beach director a couple of times when my high school performed, which gave me more exposure to the program,” Encarnacion said. “I did more research and found out many good musicians came out of it, like Tom Cubis, a great band leader.”
Even today, alumni accomplishments are reaching a different generation of artists.
Soon at Long Beach, trumpet notes will embrace yet another musical style: mariachi. The introduction of this new course aims to further develop the diversity of the BCCM once again, offering a wider range of music available for both current and future musicians on campus.
“There is a place for all kinds of music,” Arnold said. “For every artist to express themselves in a free and open way is important, and we need to make sure we allow that.”
Meet Kennedy Ghaill, trans filmmaker, programmer and curator
BY DANTE ESTRADA Video Editor
Answering calls and emails, film curation, social media management, engaging with customers, talking with film buyers, dealing with movie studios and always watching films.
Kennedy Ghaill, film programmer for the Art Theatre of Long Beach, performs all of these tasks and more on a daily basis.
Ghaill was initially hired by the theatre in 2021 as an assistant manager.
Early in her tenure, she and a co-worker bonded over their shared passion for older movies. They both wanted the theatre to screen more classic cinema, so Ghaill pitched the idea for a series called “Century of Cinema,” in which the theatre would screen older films.
The series runs to this day.
Ghaill’s “Century of Cinema” series found success alongside the “After Dark” series curated by her close friend, M, the theater’s programmer at the time.
Shortly after, in 2023, M died. Considering how close Ghaill and M were, she was offered the programmer position.
Recalling the loss of her close friend, Ghaill described losing M and subsequently obtaining the same position as a surreal experience.
Ghaill said she continues to build upon the vision she and M hoped for in the Art Theatre, coming from the perspective of a fellow transgender woman.
“She was a huge inspiration and laid a lot of the groundwork for what I’ve been able to do at the theater since I took over the position,” Ghaill said.
As a transgender filmmaker, Ghaill is dedicated to screening transgender-themed films and working with other transgender filmmakers.
Ghaill said she takes immense pleasure in being able to screen transgender-themed films such as “Tangerine” and “Ma vie en rose” for the theatre.
“[We] really show stuff that is by our community and for our community, which is just beautiful. Those and the si-
lent films are my favorite part of what I get to do,” Ghaill said.
In addition to being a film programmer, Ghaill is an experienced filmmaker having made two feature films in her early 20’s.
Her first movie was “How to Succeed in Business with a Best Friend and a Handgun,” which is described as a dark comedy. On top of directing the movie and other roles she filled, Ghaill unexpectedly took the role of editing the film.
She holds a background in theatre acting, which helps when crafting her films.
“The Big Part,” her second feature film, is a personal story about her transition, rekindling romances and finding her identity.
“I really turned the camera on myself and wrote about how I felt at the time; I was like, ‘Oh my god,’ I was just looking at my own misery and then kind of being motivated to not live like that anymore,” Ghaill said. “It was very weird to watch endless footage of yourself and be like, ‘I don’t even recognize who this person is but what they’re saying is how I’m feeling.’”
Ghaill described the films as “letting the last bit of my past self go” in terms of leaving her former self behind, even using her former name in the credits.
Ghaill has some advice for aspiring transgender filmmakers on what to expect when creating their first film and centering it around transgender themes.
“I think it’s important if you’re trans
and entering the film space not to concern yourself so much with expressing transness in your filmmaking but just what is important to you,” Ghaill said. “If transness is a part of that then it will come through.”
“You have to learn how to be your own champion which is hard as a trans woman day-to-day, let alone in trying to get people to give you money to make movies,” Ghaill said.
A filmmaker at heart, Ghaill is working to get her next feature off the ground. She has a script she is passionate about and has talent she is excited to work alongside with.
“Once we get those resources, those cameras are going to start rolling, that’s for sure,” Ghaill said.
DELFINO CAMACHO / Long Beach Current
Kennedy Ghaill, head programmer of the Long Beach Art Theatre, works the concessions stand on Sept. 3. The restored 1920s theater screens independent films and documentaries.
ARTS & LIFE
From friendship to a loving relationship: Betsie Spann and Claire Biron
BY JULIA GOLDMAN Arts & Life Editor
Clockwise from top right: Spann (left) and Biron sat next to each other while on vacation in Kona, Hawaii in 2009, as they enjoyed a quick bite to eat. Directly outside of the Watch Me! Sports Bar in Long Beach California, 79-year-old Betsie Spann and 76-year-old Claire Biron posed next to each other, on Oct. 2. When asked to meet for an interview and photos, the married couple said that they both got their haircut for the occasion. An archive of Biron and Spann’s ‘jock’ career. The two participated in the 18-mile ‘world’s largest long-distance canoe race’ in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii in 2006. Claire Biron (left) and Betsie Spann on their wedding day in 2013, as soon as same-sex marriage was legalized in California after Prop 8 was struck down.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF CLAIRE BIRON
PHOTO 1 BY JULIA GOLDMAN
Once Betsie Spann and Claire Biron realized that they were in love while both still married to their husbands, Spann told Biron that she would wait 10 years for her to get a divorce to be together.
Nine-and-a-half years later, Biron split from her husband.
Now, after 36 years together, the two have celebrated love in a relationship that has evolved from friends to lovers and spouses.
“When we were going through the process of deciding if we were going to leave our husbands and get together, we made the promise that we were going to remain friends, no matter what,” Spann said.
Cheeks matching the shade of her pink cocktail, Biron stared and smiled at Spann as she said the words, until their gaze was interrupted by laughter and a light punch on the arm delivered by Spann.
The two found their way to each other in the field of computer programming, a time back when Biron said “computers were huge mainframes.”
Originally from Maine, Biron studied computer programming in her home state at what was then the Plus Gray Business School. Her move to California was spontaneous, as Biron decided to follow her sister’s best friend in their move across the country.
Spann, originally from Chula Vista, studied anthropology at the University of California, Los Angeles. She found her way into the field through an ad in the Los Angeles Times, hiring an open call for programmers.
During their young adult years, both Biron and Spann worked different jobs within their fields and got married to different partners. Biron had three children with her then husband.
It wasn’t until the two began programming jobs at Western Airlines that they met and became friends.
Though Western Airlines has since become a subsidiary of Delta Airlines, their time spent working together allowed the two to travel together and grow closer.
“Working with Betsie was great,” Biron said. “We could go anywhere– Paris, Mexico, London, for cheap.”
It was in 1987 that Spann came to the
realization that she was in love with Biron.
“I had a dream one night; she kissed me in the dream. I woke up, and thought, ‘Oh my God– I’m in love with a woman,’” Spann said. “I had no idea that I would love a woman.”
Spann, still married to her husband at that time, said that it was a hard year following. Having been raised Catholic, Spann said that at that time, she thought that she was broken and wrong.
First meeting a psychologist alongside her husband in couple’s therapy to restore their relationship, sessions began to shift with individual meetings.
It was through those individual sessions that Spann said she realized that she was not “necessarily straight,” and that she had no future with her husband.
The following year, Spann and her husband split.
From there, Biron and Spann continued their relationship under the understood 10 year ultimatum.
“I gave Claire 10 years to get a divorce–she made it 9 and a half, and she got divorced.” Spann said.
Once Biron’s divorce was finalized, she moved to Sacramento, which she said was a challenging time; her three children decided that they wanted to live with their father.
During this time, Biron provided support to her children through financial contributions and frequent calls home . Spann, who was spending each weekend with Biron in between work weeks, witnessed and supported Biron.
“It took a while for the kids to accept the fact that [Claire] left her dad and was with a woman,” Spann said. “She was very lonely at times– that was my impression–
because she wasn’t with the kids.”
Over time, Biron’s family began to accept their relationship, and the couple moved to the San Mateo region of Northern California.
The pair describes themselves as ‘jocks,’ the two said that once they entered their ‘50s, they dabbled in a variety of sports.
From playing in a women’s ice hockey league to long distance mountain biking and outrigger canoeing in Hawaii, they spent these years participating in travel and community athletics.
“Most of the time we get along,” Spann said. “When we were paddling, we’d come home and [Biron would] tell me all the things I did wrong in the boat. I sat in front, so she’d see my stroke. You get used to it.”
Though they retired from their careers
and the more extreme of their ‘jock’ adventures around age 65, both Spann and Biron said that they love to stay active to this day.
Since they moved to Long Beach two years ago in an effort to be closer to their shared children and grandchildren, the two have found excitement through visits to the local beaches, sports tournaments and displays of live entertainment.
“Long Beach is a great city to be in, the kids keep telling me about cool spots,” Biron said.
As they grow older, Spann said that she hopes they both can continue to travel and stay healthy.
A lifetime looking back, Biron expresses no regrets.
“From our friendship, it turned into a loving relationship. I feel so lucky,” Spann said.
ARTS & LIFE
Crude meets clever as comedy musical ‘Urinetown’ makes a splash
CAMACHO/Long Beach Current Urinetown protagonist Hope Cladwell, played by Aya Sherian (Center, white dress), her cruel father Caldwell B. Cladwell, played by Art Alvarez (Right of Sherian) and other cast members playing employees of the evil Urine Good Hands Corporation form a kickline while performing the song “Mr. Cladwell” during the first act of the premier musical performance on Oct. 2.
BY DELFINO CAMACHO Arts & Life Assistant
On stage, an older man clad in tattered clothes pleads for mercy while being forcibly dragged, kicking and screaming, to a labor camp by a totalitarian police force.
The audience roared with laughter from their seats.
The man’s crime? He tried to pee for free.
So begins “Urinetown: The Musical,” which premiered at the Long Beach State Studio Theater on Oct. 2 to a soldout crowd.
“Urinetown is sort of a satire of political civic life,” said Ezra LeBank, professor and chair of Theatre Arts at CSULB.
Initially written in 2001 by Greg Kotis with music by Mark Hollmann, the play parodies corporations, capitalism and the shortsightedness of would-be revolutionaries.
Urinetown is the second performance by the Long Beach State Cal Rep Company for the fall 2024 season, the first being an improv series.
LeBank said last year, an eight-person advisory committee of students, faculty and staff came together to “collectively envision” the upcoming season around a central theme, ultimately landing on “Laughing Together.”
“We can create meaningful work that is also funny, and our whole Cal Rep season is about celebrating diverse styles and voices through the lens of comedy,” LeBank said.
In choosing “Urinetown,” LeBank said with the current political culture and the upcoming election, the committee wanted a show that might inspire students’ civic engagement, “but in a funny way.”
Helming the two-act musical with a large ensemble cast is director and alumni Daniel Nakawatase, who received his B.A. in directing and theatrical production from CSULB before earning an M.A. from New York University.
LeBank said hiring past graduates is intentional, as it is fulfilling for them and inspiring for students.
Theater arts performance major Aya Sherian, 20, who plays Hope Caldwell, said working with LeBank was a positive and enjoyable experience.
“It was my first time working with Daniel and he is spectacular, truly one of the best directors I’ve worked with,” Sherian said. “He has a very collaborative way of working with his cast and crew.”
Opening night started with greetings from narrator Officer Lockstock, who introduces the audience to “Urinetown, not the place, but the musical.”
Lockstock sets the stage with the song, “Too Much Exposition.”
After a drought, individual toilets were outlawed, and the corporation Urine Good Hands (in collaboration with the government) took control of public amenities.
Citizens must now pay to use public restrooms; violators are arrested and sent to the mysterious “Urinetown.”
“It’s a bad place, a place you won’t see until act two, and when you do, it’s full of symbolism,” Lockstock said.
The plot kicks off when Bobby Strong (Aidan McGuiness) helplessly watches his father get taken away for public urination at Public Amenity #9.
A haunted Bobby meets and falls in love with Hope, whose talks of love inspire him to lead a revolt. Unbeknownst to him, Hope is the daughter of Caldwell
B. Cladwell (Art Alvarez), the ruthless head of Urine Good Hands who commands the police force.
Hope is torn between siding with Bobby, leading a revolution, and Caldwell scheming to squash the rebellion while installing a pee-fee hike.
Although silly at its core, “Urinetown” plays with serious socio-political issues of classism, environmentalism and the role of government and business versus the rights of citizens.
“It’s insane because we’re singing about pee, but deep down there is this very sincere aspect to the show, which I think is beautiful,” Sherian said.
The show’s cast members displayed their on-stage chemistry throughout the performance, with one highlight being Hope and Bobby’s meet-cute duet to “Follow Your Heart.”
Criminal justice major Kaia King attended the opening night show. Although she had seen “Urinetown” previously at her high school, this production impressed her more.
“I liked it, it’s not conventional,” King said. “It’s different; there’s no musical that ends like this, and then you still go out and say, ‘Oh wow, that was so good!’”
DELFINO
Exploring the impact of book bans on critical thinking, social awareness
BY ABBY HERRERA Contributor
Book banning infringes upon the First Amendment rights of all U.S. citizens. The American Library Association, along with many public libraries and bookstores, celebrated Banned Book Week from Sept. 22 - 28.
The ALA has upheld this tradition since 1982, following an influx of book bans and challenges. Over the years, the number of challenged and banned books grow from institutions, often driven by concerns from parents and community members who deem certain topics “inappropriate” for children.
While books have been removed from schools in response to public demands, public libraries continue to serve as a safe space where these titles remain accessible.
Eric Cardoso, Long Beach State alumni and senior youth services librarian at the Billie Jean King Main Library in downtown Long Beach, addressed the dangers of book banning.
“The biggest issue [with book banning] is you’re taking opportunities away from folks,” Cardoso said. “We learn through our text.”
During Banned Book Week, the children’s section at Billie Jean King Main Library featured a display dedicated to books that have been banned, specifically for ages 0- 12.
“Sometimes patrons don’t know about banned books and once I explain it, it sometimes makes them want to read these books,” Cardoso said.
Among the displayed titles were novels The Giver and Bridge to Terabithia, two books that were previously included on public school reading lists but have
since been removed from classrooms.
Many books are banned due to their language and subject matter, however, much of the content within banned books focuses on LGBTQ+ and BIPOC stories. According to the ALA, these stories accounted for 47% of the banned book attempts in 2023 alone.
“LGBTQ+ is a huge topic in banned books,” Cardoso said, “I think people are afraid of what they don’t understand and they could possibly be afraid of having to explain it. But these are real stories.”
Additionally, Cardoso emphasized the importance of learning these nar-
ratives to foster growth, understanding and the ability to ask the right questions.
“These things really do happen. They are telling one’s story, and they are there to open minds and present visibility,” Cardoso said. “Banned books can teach people about different walks of life outside of their own.”
Attempting to remove LBGTQ+ and BIPOC stories from classrooms is an effort to erase these groups from the fabric of the community. It also deters students from seeking further knowledge about these groups and may prevent them from feeling comfortable in the
classroom.
“I think when you’re banning books, you’re banning different parts of the world because a lot of writers write from a real place,” Cardoso said. “It helps us grow and think on our own.”
Children and young adults are the most targeted demographic for book bans, and limiting their access to a variety of books prevents them from learning about the world around them.
They should feel comfortable reading about topics to which they can relate, and some banned books provide them with that opportunity.
Graphic by ABBY HERRERA / Long Beach Current Banned book week is from Sept. 22 to 28 and books that touch on the LBGTQ+ community make up a large majority of the censored book topics. While they may be subject for removal in schools, everyone deserves to learn different topics.
OPINION
The importance of representation in LGBTQ+ media
BY CHRISTINE NADER Opinions Assistant
Whether in television, video games or music, representation of the LGBTQ+ community in media has progressed significantly in recent years.
Films including “Love Lies Bleeding,” “I Saw The TV Glow” and “Portrait of a Lady on Fire” draw in audiences that hope to see their communities’ stories told from a less stereotypical or harmful perspective.
In 2022, Glaad reported that LGBTQ+ representation in 2021-22 reached a record height in their annual “Where We Are on TV” report.
Out of 775 series regular characters scheduled to appear on scripted broadcast primetime programming, 92 were members of the LGBTQ+ community.
Streaming platforms hold 87% of representative LGBTQ+ content and are seen as more inclusive than traditional television.
The consumption of LGBTQ+ media goes hand in hand with the increase in LGBTQ+ media creation. Singer-songwriter Chappell Roan has swung the gates open regarding community recognition.
Opening for acts including Fletcher and Olivia Rodrigo, 26-year-old Roan gathered a mass following as a result of her powerhouse vocals and unabashed display of sexual liberation in her onstage presence and lyricism.
Roan, whose on-stage persona was inspired by drag queens, had local drag queens open for her Midwest Princess Tour and also dedicated her “Best New Artist” VMA award to the LGBTQ+ and transgender community.
Fellow LGBTQ+ artist Girl in Red posted a video to TikTok saying Roan’s song, “Good Luck, Babe!” reminded her of her personal experience with coming out and how she tried “so hard to fight it.”
After having the biggest Lollapalooza crowd in the history of the music festival, Chappell
spaces. Roan has been pursuing a career in the music industry for the past 10 years.
John Hooper Criminal justice major ”
I feel like queer media is moving in the right direction and it’s an amazing thing.
assault] within same-sex individuals [is something that] a lot of people overlook, which can be invalidating and painful to the victims,” Hooper said.
While gathering CSULB student input on campus, a handful of students felt comfortable discussing LGBTQ+ media but appeared visibly tense when asked to provide their names.
The city of Long Beach is known for demonstrating support for the LGBTQ+ community, however, it does not mean that every person is shielded from uncomfortable confrontations or interactions about sexuality and gender identity.
“I feel like queer media is moving in the right direction and it’s an amazing thing,” said John Hooper, a criminal justice major at Long Beach State.
Within the past decade, the outspokenness of LGBTQ+ musicians, including Elton John, Renee Rapp and Ethel Cain, combined with the normalization of a widely LGBTQ+ society on social media and in real life, has changed how society perceives the community.
Hooper, who identifies as gay, emphasized that despite the uptick in LGBTQ+ media consumption, bringing light to acts of violence against the community should also be of utmost importance.
“[Domestic violence] and [sexual
A surefire end to homophobia is unlikely, but showing support for those who identify with the community does not have to be extravagant. Simply acknowledging that you are empathetic and respectful of everyone goes a long way.
Graphic by EL NICKLIN / Long Beach Current
Roan is the newest trailblazer in queer
OUTober: A celebration of the LGBTQ+ community
BY LIZBETH CORTES-GUTIERREZ Opinions Assistant
Long Beach State hosts OUTober, a series of events on campus for students and faculty every year.
The CSULB LGBTQ+ Resource Center opened in 1989, and decades later, in October 2006, the university celebrated National Coming Out Day.
Some events that will be held this year include Career Insights for LGBTQ+ Students, Gender Affirming Hair Cuts, Drag Loteria and Flags & Popsicles!.
Alex Cunanan, a first year student at Long Beach State said OUTober allows students to feel safer and welcomed on campus to be themselves.
“If you feel more like yourself, you’re more confident and then you can do other things, do the things that you thought you couldn’t do,” Cunanan said.
Aside from aiming to celebrate and empower the LGBTQ+ community, OUTober aims to also provide opportunities to educate people on how to be allies.
One year ago, I attended an OUTober event called Know Your Rights and learned a lot about LGBTQ+ history, rights, resources and how to demonstrate solidarity.
I highly encourage people who do not identify as a part of the LGBTQ+ community to attend informational OUTober events such as the Understanding Cisgender Privilege workshop, which will be held Oct. 10 in the University Student Union.
“I would be interested in learning more about the community and I would definitely encourage other people to look into it or at least have some knowledge of it, because I think it’s still important, even if you’re not part of the community, to understand that part of your community,” Cunanan said.
Acceptance and love are just a couple of the best things we can extend to people.
Some people on campus may come from environments where these traits were seen as conditional, only extended to people who fit into what is considered “normal.”
I was lucky enough to grow up most of my life in Long Beach, a city that I consider to be more progressive than most in celebrating and accepting the LGBTQ+ community.
The first wedding that I ever attended was the wedding of my mother’s gay friends. Their wedding took place six years before same-sex marriage was legalized in California, so it was symbolic in more ways than one.
Thanks to my mother, I grew up understanding the importance of not just respecting but celebrating the LGBTQ+ community.
It has been a painful experience to watch how some politicians are attempting to move our country backward instead of forward in regards to same-sex relationships. Moreover, how people can fight for a right to own guns, yet stand against the right to allow people to be and love who they want, will always be beyond my understanding.
One of my close friends decided to come out to her family as bisexual during her senior year of high school. Her parents, heavily religious, did not support her and accused her of sinning.
Following her family’s harsh reaction, she trusted me enough to come out to me. I immediately embraced her with positivity and support, but, unfortunately, her parent’s berating behavior made her question her relationship with God and whether she could find a way to change who she was.
It took a consistent stream of support and love from her friends for her to finally feel comfortable and proud of who she was.
CSULB’s OUTober reminds people that they should not be ashamed of who they are or who they love. Through group unity we can combat any worries and anxieties and pave a way forward.
EL NICKLIN / Long Beach Current
The Harvey Milk Plaza is located on Castro Street in San Francisco, a historically significant LGBTQ+ community.
PAID ADVERTISEMENT
OPINION
Goodbye Porter, and thank you
BY BARBARA KINGSLEY-WILSON Content Advisor
MISSION VIEJO – One of the hardest parts about being a teacher is learning that a student you have watched step out into the world is suddenly and irrevocably taken from it.
For much of the 2023-24 school year, a high point of my day came when journalism student Porter Aydelotte would steer his wheelchair into the doorway of my office at the Daily Forty-Niner, now the Long Beach Current.
He would always say hello and ask how I was doing. Sometimes, he would discuss a Marvel movie he saw or some aspect of politics or pop culture.
Porter wrote for the Forty-Niner and quickly became a newsroom fixture with his easy smile, solicitous nature
and pointed wit.
Porter needed a wheelchair to get to class – or to go anywhere – due to a condition called Duchenne muscular dystrophy. He had two rods in his back and was often in pain.
His best friend, Alex Bloom, was always with him. The two would take the bus from Mission Viejo to Long Beach State three days a week before Bloom started driving him in a specially outfitted Toyota Sienna.
Bloom walked across the stage with Porter at his May graduation at Angel Stadium. Bloom said Porter, a longtime movie buff, was headed toward a film major but then “got a taste of the newsroom … He loved journalism, and he loved stories. He was curious; he wanted answers.”
Recently, Bloom let us know that Porter had died on Sept. 10 at age 26 from complications from muscular dys-
trophy.
At his Mission Viejo service on Sept. 28, a memorial table was adorned with anime stickers, comic books, his five degrees from Saddleback College and his 2024 Long Beach State diploma. It also featured one of his favorite sayings – “I love sarcasm; it’s like punching people in the face, but with words.”
Family members and friends talked about how Porter loved science – one of his favorite Forty-Niner reporting projects was a story on the Shark Lab. He connected with a larger community through video games, and he just kept going.
“No matter what he was going through, Porter was a beacon of positive energy,” Todd Keneley, Porter’s caregiver through high school, said at Porter’s service. “He had an infectious smile and a certain gleam in his eye.”
Keneley said being with Porter taught him to keep things in perspective. With a gleam in his own eye, he added that he also held the memory of “several stress fractures in my foot” from Porter’s wheelchair rolling over it.
Porter’s condition crept up on him when he was a child. He did not use a wheelchair until age 11.
His mother, Keri Cranmer, joked that she thought Porter was “uncoordinated” when he struggled to peddle a bike. As his prognosis became clear, doctors told the family that Porter would likely not live to adulthood.
“At first, they told us you’ll be lucky if he makes it to his late teens, then he made it through that, then they said he wouldn’t make it to early 20s,” Cranmer said. “Porter just kept beating the odds. This [Porter’s death] was definitely not in my plan.”
As his physical condition worsened, Porter suffered
Gary
and Barbara
on graduation day 2024 at Angels
Porter Aydelotte loved Marvel and DC comics, Star Wars, video games and Dungeons and Dragons as well as science and cinema. He died on Sept. 10 due to complications from his Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Porter’s aid and best friend, Alex Bloom, writes a goodbye message at Porter’s funeral in Salem, Utah.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE AYDELOTTE FAMILY
PHOTO 1 BY BARBARA KINGSLEY-WILSON
bouts of depression, Cranmer said. He also had three younger brothers who relied on him.
“He could have been a lot more depressed; he could have sunk into himself, but he had to help somebody else. He was everyone’s shrink, even though he gave terrible advice! But he was needed,” Cranmer said.
Porter told family he was afraid of death, but he also joked that he wanted a Viking funeral — buried on a ship and carried off to Valhalla.
Porter made it to graduation but died before his mother and stepfather could finish enlarging the bedroom in their Mission Viejo home with a lift to get him out of his chair.
Although Porter did not receive a Viking funeral, over 300 people attended two memorial services in his honor — one in Utah and one in Southern California, where his
mother, stepfather and brothers live.
Among the mourners, friends and family wrote goodbye messages and placed comics and anime stickers on his coffin. He was buried in his family’s plot in Utah.
The family just started a $1,000 scholarship fund at Porter’s high school.
On Sept. 28, an overflow crowd, including several members of the student newsroom, filled a Mission Viejo church. Most wore Marvel comics t-shirts or Star Wars ties and sang “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing” as they said goodbye to their brother, student, son and friend.
One good thing about being a teacher, even in times like this, is that one gets to learn from every student. Porter will inspire me to give full attention to the student who stops in my doorway, stay curious even when it’s hard and just keep going.
From left: Porter Aydelotte with Journalism and Public Relations faculty members Jennifer Newton,
Metzker
Kingsley-Wilson
Stadium.
Long Beach State swept by Hawai’i in conference home opener
BY ALYSSA DE LA CRUZ Sports Assitant
Long Beach State women’s volleyball returned to the Walter Pyramid on Saturday night riding a five-game win streak and an undefeated 3-0 start in Big West play, but the Hawai’i Rainbow Wahine rained on its parade.
The matchup was a highly anticipated rematch of last season’s Big West Championship where the Rainbow Wahine came out on top as well.
The energy was palpable on Alumni Night with a packed house of Beach fans alongside a sizable contingent of Hawai’i supporters. Both sides made their presence known early, setting the stage for an intense battle.
“Our crowd was incredible tonight, 2,800 showing up is how we want it to be filled in here every game,” interim head coach Natalie Reagan said. “Thankful to play again here at times like this.”
The Beach started strong with solid plays from consistent redshirt junior setter Zayna Meyer, who had 19 assists, three blocks and two digs on the night.
Meyer played a huge role in providing confidence to her younger teammates, as she has played in similar environments before.
“I talked to Zanya earlier this week and she said ‘I got your back’, it was re-
MARK SIQUIG/Long Beach Current
The LBSU women’s volleyball finished the game with 24 kills and Hawai’i finished with 44 kills. The home team was dominated in all statistical categories as it lost at home during Alumni Night.
ally special and it calmed my nerves,” freshman setter/opposite hitter Madi Maxwell said.
Maxwell finished her night with seven kills, five digs and one block.
After back-and-forth action in the first set, LBSU’s defense held up early, responding to each of Hawaii’s attacks. A challenge by Hawai’i after a close call went in favor of The Beach, and the crowd erupted in support.
Miscommunication on The Beach’s side allowed the Rainbow Wahine to extend their lead, but a kill by senior outside hitter Natalie Glenn tied it up 9-9. Glenn finished the night with five kills, eight digs and one block.
Hawai’i took control late in the first set fueled by its strong play and The Beach’s mistakes. Despite a block by Meyer that brought LBSU within two at 1715, Hawai’i shut the door on a potential comeback and closed out the set 25-17.
Hawai’i carried its momentum into the second set, racing to a five-point lead over The Beach. LBSU struggled to respond, frustrated by calls and miscommunication on the court once again.
“We wanted this one badly, but one thing about our team is we are never going to turn against each other and blame each other,” Meyer said. “We have full faith in each other.”
Hawai’i’s junior outside hitter Caylen Alexander was unstoppable, finishing with 18 kills and 10 digs to finish her night off. Reagan praised Alexander, saying that she is an “incredible player night in, night out.”
LBSU briefly cut the lead down to five at 16-11 in the second set, but Hawai’i remained in control, finishing with a 25-12 set win and a 2-0 lead in the match.
The Beach finally found a rhythm early in the third set, building a 5-2 lead. However, Hawai’i quickly answered, ty -
ing it up 5-5.
Both teams exchanged points, but Hawai’i seized momentum again with another dominant run led by Alexander, taking an 18-12 lead.
The Beach made a late push, closing the gap to 20-16 behind another Glenn kill, but it wasn’t enough as Hawai’i sealed the sweep with a 25-19 third-set victory.
With the 3-0 win, Hawai’i silenced the black and gold side of the Pyramid while the Hawai’i fans celebrated loudly.
Despite the loss, LBSU remains a strong contender in the Big West, and it has a chance to bounce back in its next match away against Cal State Northridge on Thursday at 7 p.m.
“We still have unfinished business, so we’re working towards that…this loss feels a little bit like a chip on our shoulders…but we’re excited to get some competitive spirit,” Reagan said.
We wanted this one badly, but one thing about our team is we are never going to turn against each other and blame each other. We have full faith in each other.
Zayna Meyer Junior setter ”
SPORTS
NextFan: The NIL partnership that never happened
BY MATTHEW GOMEZ & ADRIAN MEDINA Staff Writers
Only two years ago, NextFan was unveiled at Long Beach State as the men’s basketball program’s first partnership in the new Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) era of college athletics.
Now, NextFan is a thing of the past with no updates on its return.
At the time, the athletic administration at CSULB looked much different than it does today, as athletic director Bobby Smitheran is now at the helm.
That period introduced what is still today deemed the ‘Wild West’ of college athletics in regard to NIL, which is full of gray areas, a lack of stability and false promises.
“I can’t speak to what transpired with [NextFan],” Smitheran said. “I can’t speak to what the structure was before … Hopefully, we’re not going to have those kinds of certain situations where you establish something and then it just falls at the wayside because that’s not great either.”
NextFan, a fan engagement website for athletes, musicians and any creators with a fanbase to offer diverse fan experiences, was reported on by The Daily 49er in 2023, but not long after became defunct and the website no longer exists.
“The reality is that being a college athlete is a full-time job,” said NextFan CEO Mark Roah in March 2023 to The Daily 49er. “The goal for the coaching staff and the school was to integrate our products and our offerings with the team to help the team be more competitive and to keep these players happy.”
From the onset, that strategy was challenged, according to Roah.
“It’s been hard to get [fans] to engage. We’ve had more success working with boosters,” Roah said.
Nextfan 2.0 was scheduled to launch in Spring 2023, but the website rebranded into Channl.com on July 5 of this year as a platform for building, engaging and monetizing your audience targeted mainly at musicians.
In the 2024 season, the men’s volleyball program created the first NIL collective for student-athletes at CSULB, with Smitheran attributing it to maintaining their competitiveness.
Soon after, the Long Beach State Men’s Basketball Alliance was announced. This official NIL collective hopes to help stabilize and solidify the program’s identity.
For a mid-major like LBSU, these alliances present an opportunity to maintain competitiveness in an environment where team boosters spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on their programs.
“This new initiative will potentially put us in the position to retain players and build upon the legacy of an already well-established tradition here at the Beach. In order to do so, we need your support,” men’s basketball head coach Chris Acker said in a press release introducing the collective.
This year, the men’s basketball squad lost five crucial players from their NCAA tournament run in the transfer portal to teams that can offer them a lot more in NIL deals.
“If your best players are continually poached from your program, it just makes it that much harder to compete at that level,” Smitheran said.
SAMUEL CHACKO / Long Beach Current
After a timeout, the Long Beach State fans cheer for pizza on Feb. 29 rivalry game against Cal State Fullerton at the Walter Pyramid. The failed partnership with NextFan keeps LBSU men’s basketball behind the curve of where NIL is in college basketball today.