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CSULB students attended the choreographedy workshops to strengthen their dance skills with the help of A.I.M instructors.
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While residents have felt the financial burden, CSULB is known to be a commuter school with many students driving to campus. An April 2022 survey revealed that 80% of students commute by car and 34% have commutes of 16 miles or more.
Kaitlyn Nguyen commutes from Irvine to CSULB twice a week for classes and said that the rise in gas prices has become a factor in her budget.
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Long Beach residents and students have felt the financial squeeze in the past weeks as gas prices continue to rise, with Los Angeles County averaging over $6 per gallon.
The price of gas has seen an increase nationwide in recent weeks, but California residents have seen some of the highest prices across the state. The national average for gas is $3.80 per gallon, with $6 per gallon in California as of Thursday, according to AAA.
“I do have to gas quite often and with gas prices increasing recently it has become an inconvenience,” Nguyen said. She also said she prefers to get gas in the Long Beach area.
“The gas prices in Long Beach haven’t risen as much as in Orange County,” she said. “In Orange County, the gas prices are crazy. It’s unfortunate that the economy has come to this.”
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In Los Angeles County, the average price of gas has gone above the $6 mark, staying at $6.20 as of Thursday. Some areas of Los Angeles have seen prices go up to as high as $7 a gallon.
Dottie Green, a Pittsburgh local, filled up her rental car at Arco on the corner of Bellflower and Atherton during her visit to California.
“It’s quite a shock,” said Green about the gas prices. “In Pennsylvania, it’s only about $3.69 there. Luckily, I haven’t gone too far, but I’ve got no idea of what it’s going to cost me for a few gallons of gas.”
Long Beach resident and semi-retired movie producer Ted Kennedy said that he usually spends about $100 a week on gas.
“I’m semi-retired and my office is only five blocks from me, but I used to spend almost $200 when I was working,” Kennedy said.
CSULB student Kaitlin Sysavath, originally from Ventura County, commutes around 30 minutes a day to campus.
“I feel like I’m more aware of how much gas it takes me to drive places, like ‘oh I need my gas to last me this long’ and I have to think about it,” Sysavath said. “Right now, I live with my aunt and usually I fill up gas once a week.”
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the high prices for gas are a result of oil production cuts in Saudi Arabia and Russia, where production has been cut by 1.3 million barrels a day since July.
On Sept. 5, Russia and Saudi Arabia extended their production cuts through the end of the year, which could mean a continuation of high prices for local and student drivers alike.
Here at the 49er we acknowledge that the school we report on is located on the sacred site of Puvungna, “the gathering place”. We are on the land of the Tongva/Gabrieleño and the Acjachemen/Juaneño Nations who have lived and continue to live here.
We also acknowledge the Gabrieleño/Tongva (pronounced: GABRIEL-EN-YO/TONG – VAH) and Acjachamen/Juaneño (pronounced: AH-HACH-AH-MEN/JUAN-EN-YO) as the traditional custodians of the Los Angeles region along with the Chumash (pronounced: CHOO-MOSH) to the north and west, and the Tataviam (pronounced: TAH-TAH-VEE-YUM) and Cahuilla (pronounced: KAH-WEE-YAH) Nations to the east.
We respect and value the many ways the Tongva/Acjachemen cultural heritage and beliefs continue to have significance to the living people and remind us about the sacred and spiritual relationship that has always existed here at what we now call California State University Long Beach.
Asfar as he could remember, Devon James has been doing public service in order to become an official police officer. Now, he helps the community in Long Beach State’s University Police Department.
The 31-year-old recruit, born and raised in Long Beach, hopes to be a driving force for the campus community.
With all the experience he’s gathered in policing and keeping the peace, James feels right at home protecting CSULB and its students.
“It’s the perfect place for me to utilize all my skills that I’ve learned over time,” he said.
James is still undergoing training within the UPD. He’s learning how to use his lethal and non-lethal weapons.
Detective Corporal Stephen Gray expects the recruits to be an influence to the students they encounter “and to always be compassionate towards the humans that they’re encountering.”
Police Chief John Brockie appreciates someone like James who’s looking
out for the community, while also keeping in mind the diversity it adds to the UPD.
“Our type of policing, a very community-oriented, police-oriented, working with young adults, and the outreach events that we do on campus, the average patrol officer doesn’t get to do those types of things and so that’s what drew him to Long Beach State,” Brockie said.
Being African American, James loves the diversity around campus and that minorities will feel relieved that there’s someone like him on the lookout.
“I don’t feel different, don’t feel left out,” James said. “I just feel a part of the family and I’m able to connect with others in different ways.”
Growing up, his uncle served 25 years as a police officer himself, working in the K9 looking for bombs or drugs, protecting the community from within.
“He always told me to be ready, stay on my feet,” James said. “Just always be prepared for the unexpected. So he always gave me a breakdown of what’s been prepared for him. Never underestimate anyone.”
Gaining experience for policing wasn’t easy for James. Before being recruited into CSULB, he worked at a ju-
venile facility in Los Angeles from 2017 to 2022.
He found it interesting to learn about the many young people that came into the facility, from the mentally-challenged to gang members.
“My first two years was difficult because I was kind of getting in the swing of things. But eventually, I started being able to build rapport with different people with different backgrounds and it [made] my job a little easier.”
The things James was given to do in the juvenile facilities were like how anyone performs their morning routines. He gets the juveniles to eat their meals, go to classes, participate in outside activities and help fine tune their skills like reading, writing and many more.
The riots in the facility, that happen once or twice a year, were one of James’ scary moments being there. He said he had to make sure to keep account and monitor every youth in there as the riots went down.
When it was time for James to leave, many of the youth were upset to see him go as he left a huge impact on their lives.
“Leaving was kind of bittersweet, because I knew some of the kids there actually needed a presence like myself and
need the help,” James said. “But they’re thankful for when I left and hopefully they’re doing good now.”
After spending seven months as a jailer in the Culver City Police Department, he got promoted into the police academy for six months.
In those months, James went through so much training that he considered “mentally and physically challenging.”
From running many miles, to studying vast penal codes, he cherishes all the lessons he learned from it.
“It’s new every day and it really pushed you to be a better person, become smarter and better in your craft,” James said.
After all that he’s been through, he strives to be amongst the community as a police officer which brought him into the UPD.
Given that he’s dealt with so many people in the past, James feels that CSULB would be the perfect place for him to feel more connected to the people and its students.
“Ninety-nine percent of the people always have a smile on their face. Very respectful, positive, never have too many issues at all honestly,” James said. “It’s a good environment to be in.”
Women’s and Gender Equity Center Director Pamela Lewis is set to end her 21 year-long career at CSULB on Sept. 29.
Pamela Lewis, director of the Women’s and Gender Equity Center, announced that her final day at California State University Long Beach is on Sept. 29. Her final day in office was on Sept. 27.
“I had to go through a process, which I said I had to divorce Long Beach State, because there was a strong deeply rooted relationship with my institution as an employee. I bleed black and gold forever,” Lewis said.
The process of separation from CSULB for Lewis was with a heavy heart. She expressed gratitude for the 21 years of commitment with the CSU system and the professional development she experienced.
Lewis is a Long Beach native and graduated from Long Beach Polytechnic High School. She stayed connected with the city and friends by attending CSULB. During her first semester, she began a new chapter, not only as a college student, but also as a single parent.
“It was really important to continue my education, especially as a mother, and it was a goal of my family,” Lewis said.
She attempted to parent and continue her education, but without proper guidance, had to find an alternative route. She attended Long Beach City College with hopes of becoming a registered nurse, a career path that followed her family’s professions. She quickly realized the medical field was not for her after observing a total knee replacement, but still had passion for helping others.
Lewis was able to transfer back to CSULB. She took a temporary position with the Associated Students Inc. as the University Student Union administration coordinator. Lewis found ASI’s professional development plan to be impactful toward continuing her education. She also saw how ASI was supportive of her status as a parent.
“While I was in school, my son used to come into the union and wait for me. So, that was a very supportive community, in regard to that, but also the way I learned about being supportive to an employee. I owe ASI a lot,” Lewis said.
During her time with ASI, Lewis had to leave at times to ensure the health and safety of her mother, who was experiencing a mental health disorder. The job security offered by ASI provided flexibility and support. She never had to worry about her job or about getting fired.
Lewis’ role was directed more toward operations and facilities at ASI. During the 14 years with the association, Lewis took on roles as an administration coordinator, building operations manager and ended as interim associate director for facility operations.
“My time with ASI was just valuable. I always say, they made me,” Lewis said.
She learned about the master’s program in higher education from graduate students who were working within ASI. This led her to pursue a master’s in counseling with emphasis in student development in higher education. Learning more about student affairs, she was motivated to work more directly with students.
Lewis’ family and community influenced her passion for women’s issues. She almost moved to Cal State University Fullerton to work at their Women’s Center. However, she found an alternative role at CSULB as a housing and residential life assistant director of conduct.
Lewis’ drive toward working directly with students blossomed in this role since it
helped her understand student engagement, programming and success. She also learned about the difficulties students go through daily.
It wasn’t until in 2019 when Dr. Mary Ann Takemoto, the interim vice president of student affairs, extended the opportunity for Lewis to oversee the Women’s and Gender Equity Center as the director.
“It was finally where I felt my worlds were aligning and I was so excited,” Lewis said.
She began transforming the center from predominantly focusing on Title IX issues, to a center that empowers women in many ways.
“My motto is impact. We must always
be intentional,” Lewis said. “It’s about programming, it’s about accountability, the choices that we make and how, myself or my colleagues, are teaching them.”
The WGEC is a resource center open to all students. They hold empowerment workshops and events while also offering free printing, snacks and a breast milk storage fridge for lactating parents to use.
As the director at the center, Lewis oversaw the CalWORKs program and held the position of the standing cochair of the President’s Commission on the Status of Women. She was also part of the faith-based initiative CSULB Village Program, and supported prospective students in historically marginalized communities.
Lewis began her journey as a single parent who needed to ensure financial security and professional growth. Her experiences with CSULB gave her everything she needed to thrive. Now that her son is an adult and married, she is experiencing a freedom which enables her to prioritize herself and her own needs.
“I want us to always remember that we have options. Never ever feel that you are stuck, because when we feel that way, that’s when the fear festers,” Lewis said.
I want us to always remember that we have options. Never ever feel that you are stuck, because when we feel that way, that’s when the fear festers.
Pamela Lewis
ContributorPhoto courtesy of Celia Mejia After 21 years of servicing CSU system Pamela Lewis would part ways with Long Beach State on Sept. 29 with her last day in office being Sept. 27.
On early Tuesday morning, members of La F.U.E.R.Z.A. set up posters with names and photos of 43 Ayotzinapa Rural Teacher’s College students who were victims of an act of organized political violence.
Allegedly, the settler-colonial governments in Latin America targeted the students from Iguala, Guerrero, Mexico, opening fire on the bus they were traveling on and kidnapping them.
“The students of Ayotzinapa were fighting for their communities and to deconstruct the policies set in place by settler-colonial states like Mexico that discriminate against black, brown and Indigenous people,” representatives Emma Barrera, Milo Cedilo and Navi Romero said in a joint statement.
Despite loose investigations, the students’ whereabouts are still unknown.
“Unfortunately, there has been no recent update on any findings of the 43
missing students. However, the people hold so much power and if organized correctly, we can dismantle the corrupt forces to ensure a better world for our communities,” the representatives said.
Even though the tragedy occurred nine years ago, protests around the globe still happen every Sept. 26.
“We want to show our respect and recognition to the student activists before us. They are the sole reason we continue to fight for student rights,” the representatives said.
The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights has continued its investigation since the disappearance in 2014, with a technical team being deployed to Mexico from 2019 to February 2022. However, as of August 2022, a special Investigation and Litigation Unit lacked the resources and officials to continue a thorough investigation.
This is the first year since 2020 that La F.U.E.R.Z.A. has been able to host an on-campus memorial. For the past
three years, the club has posted on their Instagram commemorating the students, as well as creating a short film and mentioning that they “wanted to emphasize a vigil this year.”
“The main hardship that COVID-19 gave us was that we did not have a lot of recognition. Many people were stuck on Zoom and didn’t give them the opportunity to investigate any organizations on campus,” the representatives said.
Despite this being an international issue, there are ways CSULB students can stand in solidarity with the cause. The club emphasizes research into the issues and policies on campus that control student activists, as well as how campus policies control student activists as well as black, brown and indigenous communities.
“Questioning why these policies exist and critically thinking of ways to dismantle them so we can fight for the education and space we deserve,” the representatives said. “And take back what we fought and learned back into our communities.”
BY JAYLYN PRESLICKA
Copy Editor Assistant
The club set up a memorial outside of the liberal arts quad to remember the lives of 43 students who went missing in Mexico nine years ago.
We want to show our respect and recognition to the student activists before us.
La F.U.E.R.Z.A. statement
”
Diabetes is a disease that causes the pancreas to ineffectively produce insulin, the hormone that helps to keep blood glucose levels at bay.
Graduate student Destiny Islas has been dealing with Type 1 diabetes since her diagnosis in 2018.
Islas was born and raised in Lynwood, later moving to Bellflower. The 25-yearold is part of the master’s program of public administration and explores communicative, leadership and problemsolving skills in regard to community and policy challenges. Islas has been able to achieve accessibility and resources for diabetic students and faculty on campus with these skills.
One of her first successful campaigns was pushing for sharps containers in the University Student Union (USU) bathrooms for convenient needle disposal. Sharps containers are useful for diabetic students and faculty to dispose of hazardous waste after injecting insulin or conducting a blood test by pricking a finger.
There are no sharps containers located inside any of the general campus building restrooms. Islas said it was a challenge to persuade the Student Health Services.
“When I first started my student government position back in fall 2021 as the commissioner for disability affairs, I had approached individuals within the Student Health Services on campus and was told the need for sharps containers in all bathrooms on campus was not necessary, as all diabetics carry our own resources to safely dispose sharps,” Islas said.
While budgeting is something to account for when looking at big projects such as placing sharps containers in campus restrooms, Islas said she doesn’t believe that it’s the reason that they are not as eager to push for it.
“It was the mere fact that it was assumed we as diabetics have the
capability to always carry our own medical supplies, which made it more frustrating to comprehend,” Islas said.
“Those who have no correspondence with diabetes or have it will never grasp how hard it really is to live with a chronic condition, an invisible disability. We as people come from all walks of life and not everyone is privileged to have such ‘basic’ resources.”
Islas’ proposal with the Student Health Services was never met with an agreement. She said no further efforts for alternative accommodations were made to support students and faculty with diabetes.
Islas decided to talk to members of the USU about her proposal for sharps containers. Her proposal was given the green light, and sharps containers can be seen in every bathroom located within the USU.
Islas’ advocacy did not stop. During
the spring of 2022, Islas held a virtual presentation on diabetes awareness in collaboration with Student Health Services, where she met Pamela Jesse, the CSULB liaison of special events. Jesse herself has Type 1 diabetes and was diagnosed in her 40s. She asked Islas if she would consider starting a club on campus for individuals with diabetes.
Islas started the club in July 2022, known as the CSULB Diabetes Link, with Jesse as the club adviser.
“We started off slowly in fall of 2022, but Destiny remained steadfast and positive and by the end of the year we had a handful of active members,” Jesse said. “And even though our membership was few, the impact was great. I’ve been truly impressed by Destiny’s drive to make a difference, to bring together the diabetes community and to embrace and empower those whose lives have been impacted by diabetes.“
The CSULB Diabetes Link has held many events on and off campus. The club has also created partnerships with the Bob Murphy Access Center, Exercise is Medicine on Campus and the Student Health Services, among other school organizations. The club was able to win awards in its first year from the Student Affairs Division Recognition Event in multiple categories like Officer of the Year and Adviser of the Year.
As the club reaches its second year, Islas is still driven to make changes on campus and wants other leaders to follow in her footsteps.
“Many people have approached and thanked me for the efforts in establishing this resource to not just students, but the community,” Islas said. “When we as community leaders help one person, we help those in surrounding communities. We can leave a great legacy for generations to come.”
We as people come from all walks of life and not everyone is privileged to have such ‘basic’ resources.
”
Destiny Islas
CSULB graduate studentDAPHNE FORD / Daily Forty Niner A typical Wednesday at CSULB Diabetes Link meetings consists of conversations about event planning and suggestions for the club itself.
BY SAMANTHA CORTES Arts & Life Assistant
The program included works choreographed by Abraham, the artistic director and founder of A.I.M, and other collaborators, including The Glorya Kaufman School of Dance. The company’s mission is to celebrate Black culture and history through dancebased work that draws inspiration from various movement styles.
New company member Amari Frazier took the spotlight in “Just Your Two Wrists”, where he drifted across stage to an isolated vocal piece composed by David Lang. The dancer rapidly shifted from fluid movements to stiff, robotic arm gestures
“You have to switch on a dime wildly,” Frazier said. “You have to reach your extremes but also have to be soft with it. It’s one of the hardest pieces I’ve ever done.”
“Motorrover”, a duet by Jamaal Bowman and Donovan Reed, was an emotionally-charged piece performed without music. The audience could only hear the dancers’ breath and steps across the dance floor during its 14-minute span.
The New York-based touring group returned to CSULB with dance works that celebrated love, angst and yearning.
off with intense warm-ups to loosen the dancer’s bodies. The dance students follow along with the A.I.M instructors throughout the workshop.
Choreographed by Kyle Abraham in collaboration with A.I.M., the piece takes inspiration from Merce Cunningham’s 1972 dance “Landrover.”
“There was a moment where I was a little insecure and started to consider putting music to it, but I went back and decided I was going to hold onto this,” Abraham said.
“Rain”, choreographed by Bebe Miller, placed performer Gianna Theodore on stage alongside a patch of grass. Theodore crawled and leaped around the grass to a fast-paced, haunting drum soundtrack.
The music transitioned to a dynamic opera piece when Theodore finally ran into the grass, rolling around and sprawling her body on the prop at center stage.
Theodore primarily rehearsed the piece through Zoom calls with Miller, where she would receive feedback from the choreographer ahead of its premier in May.
“It is such a grounded, deep, rooted work,” Theodore said. “I’m very grateful to be able to have this legacy passed onto us in such a special way.”
“If We Were a Love Song” closed the night, with a series of six vignettes set to songs by jazz singer Nina Simone. Donovan Reed and Kar’mel Antonyo Wade Small moved with yearning and tension in a dramatic duet to
“Don’t Explain”, a song that describes the pain of having an unfaithful partner.
The crowd was filled with community members and CSULB dance students who trained with A.I.M. company members in various workshops throughout the week.
First-year dance student Ayanna Dowell came to the event to see some of the movements and pieces they learned on full display.
“I really enjoyed taking those classes,” Dowell said. “I’m hoping to find those (moves) in the show and see the iconic Kyle Abraham movement.”
Abraham said that he is working on a new creative process, where he reflects on nature, aging and how people hold fragility and empathy in the body.
“It starts with reading and a lot of different types of research for us,” Abraham said. “There might be a lot of different literature that we’ll explore as a workgroup … but there’s different points of entry for every process.”
A.I.M. by Kyle Abraham will continue their tour with a show in Montclair, New Jersey at Peak Performances. The Carpenter Center is set to host various performances throughout the school year, including the Symphonic Jazz Orchestra in November and Versa-Style Dance Company in December.
Chef Paul Blanco led a class on Tuesday at Beach Kitchen where he demonstrated to students different techniques on how to make vegan meat tacos.
As part of the Latinx Heritage Month event lineup, Blanco instructed students not just on the process of making the vegan meat, but also on how to make pico de gallo salsa.
Highlighting the importance of a popular Latinx meal such as tacos, this course gave students a greater insight as to what goes behind making it.
Sophomore Anthony Hernandez decided to take this class as it interested him to find different ways to cook food he was familiar with.
“It made my knowledge on food way larger, it made me realize how there’s way more ways to cook simple foods,” Hernandez said.
Despite many students struggling to keep up with the long step of ingredients, everyone seemed satisfied with the final outcome of their tacos.
Among the steps for the vegan meat was hand chopping the ingredients such as mushrooms, cauliflower, onions and walnuts.
Fresh tomato, oregano, paprika, black pepper, soy sauce and chili powder were among the other ingredients blended together with vegetables, which created the spicy sauce for the tacos.
Junior An Lam explained how she now has a new understanding of the food and culture after taking the course.
“I didn’t realize you could get the taste of chorizo from a vegan taco,” Lam said.”
Getting a taste of authentic tacos during Latinx Heritage Month is what brought graduate student Fhrey Modi to the Taco Tuesday class at the Beach Kitchen.
Modi did note, however, that there were some difficulties in the process of making the tacos and salsas.
“The most challenging was making the taco dough and making tacos out of
Out of the 3,200 students living in the three dormitory villages at Long Beach State, there are 88 students who take on the role of Residential Assistant. Residential Assistants, or RA’s, enforce rules, hold events, and assist students with adjusting to dorm life.
After a positive freshman dorm experience herself, Melanie Vo, a third year graphic design major, decided to become an RA. This is Vo’s second year as an RA and she currently resides in the J building at Parkside Village.
“I feel like it’s [living on campus] something that people look back on and it’s a special time in your life,” said Vo. “I like knowing that I played a part in that.”
Vo went into the job with a “pay-itforward” mentality hoping to create a welcoming community, especially for students who may be homesick or living on their own for the first time. However, creating fun events is only part of the responsibilities RA’s have.
In the two weeks prior to students moving in, RA’s have intensive training where they attend presentations from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Monday to Friday. They also have a refresher training a week before winter break ends, and a refresher training once a month throughout the school year.
RA training focuses on everything
including planning community events, who to call in emergencies, decorating the building, and one-on-one conversations with students. These conversations can touch on suicidal ideation and Title IX cases.
According to Vo, the hours of training are important in situations that require a lot of emotional durability from RA’s to properly handle. RA’s must be prepared to refer residents to the proper resources when necessary.
“I would get a knock on my door at like 10 a.m. and someone’s life is falling apart and they’re crying in my room,” Vo said. “I just have to take a step back, because I’m not a licensed therapist, and offer that compassion and support and empathy, but also know that this goes beyond what I’m trained to do.”
In these situations RA’s “call up”, call the people above them, to take over the situation. Afterward RA’s receive support from other Housing and Residential Life staff, as well as an in-residence counselor provided by CAPS available to all RA’s.
All RA’s have a Residential Life Coordinator (RLC) as their direct supervisor whom they have one-on-one meetings with. These meetings allow Vo to decompress and process heavy situations.
According to Vo, staff does a great job emphasizing that RA’s are humans first, students second, and then RA’s.
RA’s are “on call” at least once a week in which during the night they assist residents throughout the village, mostly with residents locking themselves out
it,” Modi said.
The opportunity of working as a team and using communication skills through the preparation process is what Modi took out of this class.
Chef Paul Blanco encourages more students to take these types of courses because of the special qualities the recipes often have. This recipe required vegan ingredients, for example.
“You have virtually no animal fat, you don’t have any cholesterol and everything is plant-based,” Blanco said.
Blanco explained how you could eat up to three tacos of these and it would still feel very light. Eating tacos containing more grease typically feel like they
could weigh you down.
Starting off with a hybrid tortilla, these tortillas are one part wheat flour and butternut squash and one part dough.
“It has three different textures, it also has roasted turmeric,” Blanco said. Blanco believes these types of classes allow students to try different cuisines from different countries, expand their taste profile and further their understanding of food and cooking techniques.
Concluding the cooking classes hosted by ASI for Latinx Heritage Month, Tamales 101 will take place on Oct. 12 at 4:00 p.m. at the Beach Kitchen.
RA’s will make a personalized door decoration for each of their residents with the residents name and place them on the room doors. Melanie Vo has door decorations from every year she lived on campus, including some from other RA’s.
of their rooms. Vo says the team of RA’s in the village work together to pick the night they work.
The flexibility of the job being scheduled around classes has been beneficial for Vo who has a heavily impacted schedule. She has five classes, including a three hour studio art class twice a week, and she works a second job for 10 hours a week.
This past summer, Vo’s supervisor offered her a position as housing’s marketing and social media assistant after she saw Vo’s graphic design work during her shifts at the Parkside Service Center.
“It’s just been really cool to feel like they’re paying attention to what my career goals are,” said Vo. “And now I have a graphic design job under my resume.”
Last year, Vo proposed creating a free library in the Parkside Service Center. She painted a sign and added some books to a shelf with the intention of cre-
ating something for Parkside residents to do, as well as create a place where old textbooks could be repurposed.
“She’s just so intentional with everything that she does, not only so that it’s done to the best of her ability, but so that students can actually appreciate it,” said Assistant Director of Residential Curriculum and Leadership Hannah Elliott.
One of her proudest moments of being an RA last year was hosting a listening party for Taylor Swift’s album Midnights, which won program of the year. Vo says she was approached by people who didn’t live in her building telling her they loved attending her event.
“I wanted to be an RA because I love residents and I love just interacting with other people constantly,” Vo said. “I’d advise incoming RA’s to be adaptable and open-minded and do it out of a deep sense of compassion for people who are new to college.”
The 23-year-old jazz singer performed to a sold out crowd in Long Beach as a part of her U.S. tour.
Samara Joy McLendon is not your average 23-year-old college graduate. In February, she won two Grammys for Best New Artist and Best Jazz Vocal Album for “Linger Awhile.”
On Sept. 23, the award-winning singer kicked off the fall season at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center with her velvety voice that is reminiscent of the golden age of jazz.
However, before she took the stage, Joy opened her soundcheck to students at Long Beach State who study jazz or perform in the jazz ensembles on campus. The singer also took time to answer students’ questions about her musical process and the steps she takes to prepare for a performance.
“It’s fantastic seeing her do this be-
cause she is these singers’ age and she is living the dream that a lot of them are in pursuit of right now,” said Jonny Arenas, director of Jazz & Tonic, one of the two vocal ensembles on campus.
Arenas explained how invaluable this experience was for students because Joy is a talent that is in a league all of her own.
“Her voice being her instrument, the technical perfection mixed with impeccable style, it’s just everything at the highest level,” Arenas said. “The students get to see a jazz singer with perfect technique who can use it flawlessly and effortlessly, it almost seems. I know it’s all hard work up there, but she makes it look easy.”
The concert began with “Can’t Get Out of This Mood” from “Linger Awhile.” Joy then performed a song entirely in Portuguese by Brazilian artist Antônio Carlos Jobim, called “Chega de Saudade.”
She glided between songs with ease and carried notes for what seemed like an eternity, effortlessly changing rhythm and controlling her voice with a sheer
mastery of talent.
Joy’s powerfully seductive voice proudly rang through the venue, joined on stage by bassist Michael Migliore, drummer Evan Sherman and pianist Luther Allison. Joy stepped out of the spotlight several times throughout her performance to bring the audience’s attention to her band. The singer’s humble bravado was on full display as she continually praised her bandmates’ musical talents.
She also performed covers of “Tight,” and “Beware My Heart,” two love songs from Betty Carter, one of her jazz inspirations. Joy also cited Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn and Destiny’s Child as a few of her other musical inspirations.
Though Joy grew up singing at her church in the Bronx, she did not seriously sing jazz until she got to college. It was during that time that she fell in love with the music and began to study it as an art form. She has since become a fan of taking classical jazz standards and making them her own.
However, she finds the most joy in singing without charts or rules.
“I try not to have any charts, just because I feel like when there are no charts, like when you have the music in you, it’s a part of you, then, you know, you’re free,” Joy said.
Joy received a standing ovation for her performance at the Carpenter Center and left attendees in awe of her talent and sincerity.
“We’re always thrilled to share phenomenal artists like Samara Joy with our arts community,” said Corinne Garthoff, the education and outreach coordinator at the Carpenter Center.
“As one of the few CSU campuses with a performing arts center, we’re also able to give CSULB students a once-ina-lifetime opportunity to learn from leading artists and to experience performances, like Samara Joy’s, that are sure to become one of the highlights of students’ campus experience,” said Garthoff.
The 2023 – 2024 event calendar for the Carpenter Performing Arts Center can be found online, and with performers like Samara Joy, it is sure to be an exciting year.
It’s fantastic seeing her do this because she is these singers’ age and she is living the dream that a lot of them are in pursuit of right now.
Jonny Arenas Director of Jazz & Tonic
”
“I mainly just take a break from whatever I’m stressed about. I’ll go and take a nap, or just recently I started to go for runs either at night or in the early morning,” said Isabella Vazquez, a firstyear undeclared major.
“If I’m feeling stressed out or my eyes need a break, I just go and run errands. It helps me get away from my computer,” said Brian Ngo, a fourth-year kinesiology major.
“The main way I deal with stress is by taking mental breaks. I blast music, workout and play video games. This usually helps me find relief and calm down before I have to go back to whatever it was that was stressing me out,” said Andy Than, a third-year kinesiology major.
“If I’m tired, I’ll sleep a bit. If I’m hungry, I’ll spoil myself. I try to take a breather and spend time with the people I care about,” said Kaitlyn Chau, a secondyear kinesiology major.
“I try to take things one at a time. I give myself mental breaks, around 10 to 15 minutes,” said George Stevenson, a third-year communication major. “When I’m not focused on work, I focus on doing what I love. It’s the best way for me to ground myself.”
“Since high school, working out has always helped me with stress,” said Ismael Uriostegui, a first-year business marketing major. “I work out for a hour and a half, four days a week. It helps.”
”
tudents at Long Beach State share what they do when it comes to stress and time management.
Ever since their arrival to the United States in 1964, The Beatles have been an integral part of American pop culture.
Their long hair, chic suits and messages of peace and love have become iconic, and still to this day, they continue to be universally loved across the states.
For me, my exposure to the classics came from my parents, especially my father.
Growing up, it was easy for my brother to bond with my dad through football and other sports. Although I tried to take part in throwing a ball and watching games, I just didn’t have the same passion for sports that they did.
Something we did have in common, however, was music. My dad became a major influence on my music taste, introducing me to all his favorite rock bands, including The Beatles.
He loved telling me about the origins of the band and how they became so popular today. We both appreciated the poetry behind the lyrics and loved to
dissect their meaning.
Soon, Paul McCartney and John Lennon charmed me just like the rest of America. I never would have guessed the impact that these four British men would have on my life. As car rides turned into opportunities to belt “Yellow Submarine,” I became grateful for how their music strengthened my father and I’s bond.
No one can prepare you for the whirlwind that is attending public high school. Prior to my freshman year, I was a shy kid who was very concerned with how others viewed me. In a coming-ofage time filled with self-discovery, The Beatles became a part of my journey.
Without a steady group of friends, high school brought on a whole new set of troubles. It was a challenge for me to
find those “ride-or-die” friends from the movies. I needed people who I could truly be myself with, but instead always ended up around catty girls who thrived on degrading each other.
Things took a turn though when one of my teachers revealed that they were a Beatles maniac. I lit up inside as this sparked a conversation amongst the class. As we all laughed together and bonded over a common passion, I was able to make some new friends.
I finally ffelt like I was a part of a community who understood each other. With this new sense of belonging, The Beatles gave me the confidence and strength to come out of my shell.
No matter how rough everything seems, they always have a way of bringing me back to Earth. I constantly find myself returning to their simple, yet powerful lyrics. The band influences my ability to look beyond myself in situations and encourages me to have compassion towards others.
Every day, I strive to embody The Beatles’ positive outlook and my father’s life goes on attitude, because sometimes in a world filled with darkness, all you need is love.
The band’s universal message of kindness helped me connect to my dad and peers.
No matter how rough everything seems, they always have a way of bringing me back to Earth.
”
When Tyler
Hildebrandfirst arrived at LBSU in 2022 to coach
Women’s Volleyball, one particular recruit was so eager to become part of Hildebrand’s vision of creating a culture of leadership at The Beach, she committed within 48 hours of coach’s announcement. That recruit was Zayna Meyer.
Zayna, a redshirt sophomore born and raised in Wheaton, Illinois, transferred from Brigham Young University to LBSU last fall and has been an immediate impact to the team’s success from the setter position, so much so that Hildebrand identified her as a core leader.
“I think what drives me is the desire to reach my fullest potential in volleyball,” Zayna said about her motivation to improve each time she steps foot on the court. “I study international setters because I want to be able to play like them.”
Zayna has always wanted to be a professional athlete and make multiple appearances in the Olympics, with her eyes set on playing volleyball overseas and for the US National Team.
Coaches recognize that Zayna brings a level of intensity and drive to the team that helps everyone get better, but characteristics of leadership come in all shapes and sizes.
“It’s hard because there’s funny things that happen in volleyball, but something that I’ve been working on with our team mentality wise is making sure that we’re playing our brand of volleyball; win, lose or draw,” Zayna said about her in-game mindset and what she communicates with her teammates.
Zayna said a quick and creative offense with focus on serving and passing best describes The Beach’s brand of volleyball, while she’s in charge of setting it all up, quite literally.
In 2023, Zayna is averaging more than 36 assists, nine digs and two blocks per game with a .326 hitting percentage. Zayna’s versatility and athleticism are on full display each and every set, always playing with high levels of energy and emotion.
“Everyone on the team right now has a drive but they don’t show it the same way as Zayna,” said Hildebrand about her focus and intensity. “When Zayna is at the level she’s at, the team is gravitating towards her and her play.”
Hildebrand describes Zayna as an elite athlete in the setter position with her ability to jump, block, defend and make plays at the net, showcasing national team qualities in her game.
Volleyball serves an important role in Zayna’s life; she takes care of herself mentally and physically with intentions of playing after college. She said there is a lot of commitment that goes into maintaining a healthy lifestyle as a student athlete.
Zayna said she makes sure to spend time away from volleyball to focus on activities that distance herself from the sport. She does so by spending time with her friends, most likely to be seen at Humblemaker in Seal Beach, recovering at the Student Recreation and Wellness Center, or by focusing on schoolwork and her marketing degree.
“I love how the community supports our athletes and the professors that I’ve had are always very kind when it comes to the sport because they know the mental toll of being an athlete”, Zayna said about the Long Beach community
and campus life. Zayna entered a new chapter of her life moving from the Midwest to the West Coast in 2022.
The biggest difference she saw was the polarizing lifestyles between the Midwest and West Coast. Zayna said her life in Long Beach has been much fasterpaced and less family-oriented than life in Illinois. She made it a priority to reach out to her friends and family back home throughout the season.
For the remainder of the 2023 season, Zayna will be setting the tone for The Beach’s success as they aim for a Big West title and NCAA tournament
appearance. Her growth on a personal and athletic level haven’t gone unnoticed by teammates and coaches, solidifying herself as a core leader for Long Beach State Women’s Volleyball.
“I’m really blown away and inspired by her growth as a person,” Hildebrand said about Zayna’s development and leadership. “Her ability to understand that life is about more than volleyball, [such as] building relationships, learning, growing, being okay with making mistakes and learning from it; she’s grown in that area about as much as anyone ever could.”
Junior outside hitter Natalie Glenn racked up 31 kills in two conference games over the weekend, including a career-high 21 kills in Friday night’s win over Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.
“Early in the season, I’ve kind of been struggling, so that was good to see all the stuff I’ve been working at in practice click together during a match,” Glenn said.
Clicking is an understatement. In Glenn’s last three games, she has totaled 47 kills, which is 17 more than she had in her first 6 games combined.
Her recent hot streak has her third on the team in kills. When asked what she can attribute her recent success to, she said, “My teammates pushing and believing in me every single day, and of course, my coaches pushing me to my limit and even over my limit.”
Glenn was a very highly-ranked recruit out of Southlake, Texas, being named to two MaxPreps’ All-American teams in her time at Carroll High School.
Long Beach State head coach Tyler Hildebrand said that he has had his eye on her since 2017 when he was an assistant coach at Nebraska when Glenn was only a freshman in high school.
“I spent more time watching her than anyone else in that class,” Hildebrand said.
Hildebrand’s sister called him and told him that Glenn had entered the
transfer portal, and within three days she was in Long Beach for an official visit.
Glenn is in her second year at The Beach since transferring from the University of Minnesota. She wanted to come to a program where she could play both indoor and beach volleyball, and The Beach was “a no-brainer” for Glenn.
Playing beach has helped Glenn with conditioning and ball control since there’s two people on the court. So, you have to “pick certain shots and you have to be able to see the court and use your vision,” said Glenn.
To play two sports, you have to have a love for competing. Luckily, growing up in a football household shaped Glenn’s competitiveness.
Her late father, Terry Glenn, played 11 years in the NFL for the Patriots, Packers and Cowboys. In his rookie year with the Patriots, he won a Super Bowl and was named to a Pro Bowl team.
“Growing up my dad was hard on us... He did teach us about that competitive mindset and that it’s OK to make errors and mess up,” said Glenn.
All of her siblings play sports as with her brother playing football and her two sisters playing volleyball as well.
She wears number 83, the number her late father wore at Ohio State and on the Cowboys and Packers.
“Natalie’s really starting to remember how good she is,” said Hildebrand.
Glenn looks to continue to be a big part of a Beach team that is battling for a Big West conference title.
BY MATTHEW GOMEZ Sports Assistant
Long Beach State women’s volleyball added a second signature win to its resume this season defeating Hawaii after just three sets Friday night at the Walter Pyramid.
In the build-up for the match, a central talking point was The Beach looking for its first win against the Rainbow Wahine since 2016. Instead, the team put together its first sweep of Hawaii in 25 years.
“I was just acknowledging like, ‘Hey guys, we haven’t beat Hawaii in our whole time here. Like, let’s do it,’ and I think we could feel it,” graduate student Opposite Hitter Katie Kennedy said in the postgame press conference.
“So tonight after we won, I just went up to them again like we did it and Tyler’s dad said to me, ‘One time is not enough let’s get another,’ so I agree.”
Back-and-forth high-intensity volleyball was the expectation, and it delivered with each set coming down to the 20s, and the largest margin of victory being just four points in LBSU’s last win to complete the sweep.
It was a collective effort for The Beach with redshirt sophomore outside hitter Abby Karich leading the team with 13 kills, and junior outside hitter Natalie Glenn following close behind with 11 of her own.
Glenn would also add three aces,
and five digs to her stat line as she continues to be one of the brightest stars on an LBSU team that’s on an upward trajectory.
Since Sept. 16 against New Mexico St., she has posted double-digit kills in each game, a stretch that now runs across five matches four of which have been wins.
Hawaii may have had the lead in blocks and fewer total attacking errors, but on a night where each set came down to the nitty gritty portion, it was The Beach who showed poise.
There will be takeaways for each program with none more noticeable than the 10 service errors for Hawaii. In a match where nine points separated the two, those free points can prove costly.
“I think we learn a lot from our losses, because everybody on this team, like, we want to win, and we want to just show everybody what we can do,” Junior Libero Savana Chacon said. “So it just kind of fires us up and gives us confidence to keep moving forward.”
The Beach outhit the Rainbow Wahine by a .23 margin and outworked them on the floor finishing the night with 56 digs. It was another day at the office for Chacon whose 13 digs were the most in the contest
To tell head coach Tyler Hildebrand and redshirt sophomore setter Zayna Meyer, the pilot of the offense that this team would beat No. 1 Texas to open the season would’ve meant something; but to tell them they’d do that and sweep Hawaii just over a month later really puts
the season to this point into perspective.
“This community is starting to appreciate what these young women are building. And you know, they were with us tonight and so we’re very grateful for them to be there,” Hildebrand said about the crowds that have continued to come
out in support.
The unthinkable keeps becoming possible for women’s volleyball at LBSU with the team improving to (9-5) overall and (3-1) in conference play, next they’ll embark on the road for matchups with CSU Bakersfield and CSUN.