Long Beach
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Community
Inspiration
Lifestyle
Fall 2021
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CONTENTS LB INSIDER 5
Editor’s Note
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Dig Your Style: Our Intersectionality
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Mind Your Health: Where to Meditate on Campus
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Hidden Figures: Giovanna Quevedo
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Nature Is Calling: Where to Hike Near Long Beach
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Report Card: Books about Perseverance
FEATURES Need for Change 20 ABYConstant JOEY HARVEY
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Sometimes, in the pursuit of self-love and identity, there comes time for a change.
Perspectives on Puvungna
BY KELSEY BROWN
Members of the Acjachemen Nation explain the historical and spiritual importance of Puvungna.
The Dark Side of Twitch 30 BY BELLA ARNOLD
Twitch has transformed from a streaming platform into a cultural phenomenon, but the increased popularity is some causing issues for a huge population of streamers.
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WHO WE ARE · MEET THE TEAM
DIG MAG is the insider’s guide to Long
Beach for the CSULB community, inspiring readers to immerse themselves in the Long Beach lifestyle through in-the-know stories about the latest in food, arts, entertainment and culture; in-depth features about people and trends on the campus and in the city; poetry, fiction and literary journalism written by students; and beautiful photography and design. Published by the Department of Journalism and Public Relations at CSULB, it is produced entirely by students.
Editor-In-Chief Bella Arnold
Senior Editor Kelsey Brown
Features Editors Joseph Harvey Peter Villafañe
Art Director
Gabby Gobaton
Graphic Designers Mijin Kim Natalie Barr
Photo Editor Emily Chen
Photo Assistant Ahtziri Aguilar
Digital Director Vittina Ibanez
Online Editor Lauren Galvan
Assistant Online Editors Alicia Casey Laila Freeman Holly Alvarado
Assistant Multimedia Editor Reyn Ou
Social Media Editor Sabrina Gobaton
Assistant Social Media Editors Isabel Edmondson Niyah Maldonado
Faculty Advisers Robin Jones Gary Metzker Jennifer Newton
California State University, Long Beach, 1250 Bellflower Blvd., LA-4 203, Long Beach, CA 90840-4601 © DIG and 49er Publications Board 2021 DIG MAG is a publication of the DIG and 49er Publications Board.
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Online
digmaglb.com
IG | Twitter | Facebook | TikTok @digmaglb
Submissions:
digmagonline@gmail.com
Advertising: Ramsha Hasan advertising@daily49er.com 562-985-1740
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INSIDER · EDITOR’S NOTE
FALL 2021
DEAR READER, Over the past year and a half, we’ve all been forced to adapt, whether we like it or not. Though it seems irrational to even search for any sliver of a silver lining, the truth is that we’ve all been forced to adopt a resiliency and confront adversity. We’ve had to persevere. And that, dear readers, is the theme of this issue: perseverance. When I first stepped into this role, I was petrified. Most of my college education had been consumed by Zoom meetings and a general fear of the outside world, so how could I possibly do this? I remember sprouting a stress pimple the morning I had to pitch the idea for the fall issue to my fellow editors. However, as soon as the words left my lips, I saw a spark in their eyes. We spent the next few weeks expanding on this idea of grit, resilience and perseverance. My cheeks hurt from smiling all day after Peter, one of our features editors, shared a piece of wisdom that stuck with me throughout the summer, as we put together this fall issue. Peter suggested that, when we persevere, we’re striving to be liberated. Kelsey, our senior editor, added that a fundamental part of liberation is taking the
time to heal. And just like that, we had our issue. I am constantly in awe of not only the immense and pure talent of our staff, but also how kind and generous my fellow staff members are. Each and every one of them has changed my life in a profound, beautiful way and I am so grateful for their willingness to not only bring 110% every time, but also to be there to support and lift each other up. When I think about everything that this academic year will usher in, I feel a flutter of joy. Less than a year ago I emailed my predecessor, Alejandro Vazquez, asking if DIG would be interested in a story I wrote. I think that is my favorite email I’ve sent to date. I only hope that one day, dear reader, you draft that email you’ve been nervous about and press send. Now, sit back, relax and pat yourself on the back. You’ve been through so much. You’ve persevered and now, it’s time to heal. I hope you enjoy our issue, and I hope to hear from you soon.
- Bella
Arnold
(EDITOR-IN-CHIEF)
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INSIDER · DIG YOUR STYLE
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FALL 2021
OUR I N T E R S E C T I O N A L I T Y EXPLORING IDENTITY WITHOUT EXPECTATIONS PHOTOS BY
JACLYN LIM
MODEL
HERMES RAMOS CESPEDES
" To me, wearing that cerulean slip dress was an ode to Black and brown femme bodies all around the world. It was a message of acknowledgement because, had they not been as courageous and groundbreaking as they were, and still are, I would not have had the courage to even agree to the shoot. " HERMES RAMOS CESPEDES 7
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INSIDER · DIG YOUR STYLE
“ THERE IS A
soft power I N JUST STANDING THAT SCREAMS THE CONFIDENCE I WISH I HAD WHEN I WAS YOUNGER...”
" I find it beautiful that we were able to capture moments where the most exciting thing happening was my existence, which is often overpoliced and misconstructed.”" HERMES RAMOS CESPEDES
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FALL 2021
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INSIDER · MIND YOUR HEALTH
WHERE TO MEDITATE
ON CAMPUS STORY BY
WENDY RANGEL
Student life makes it hard to relax. Here are some pockets of peace on campus that are great for meditation.
For the past year, students have had to undergo the stress of adapting to online classes. This new school year ushers in the hope of returning to in-person classes, and with that, newfound stress. However, meditation is a great way to help students relieve tension and stress. Meditating neurologically helps people boost their focus and lower their heart rate. “Meditation as a daily practice creates an anchor point in the day,” said Nick Perez, the president of the Musical Meditation Club at California State University, Long Beach. “That anchor also gives a sense of stability that many of us really need in these uncertain times.” The benefits of meditation are undeniable. But how can students meditate on an ever-changing campus? Where should CSULB students flock to when they need to recalibrate, refocus and refuel? Here are three spots we recommend.
2. LOW-TRAFFIC 1. EARL BURNS LAWNS MILLER JAPANESE Some people benefit from meditating GARDEN in semi-populated locations. The lawn If students have a little more time and are looking to benefit from meditating near water, the Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden is the perfect place. With a pond filled with koi fish surrounded by greenery, the Japanese Garden is an escape from school within campus.
in front of the Engineering 2 (EN2) building is an ideal location, due to its low traffic. Additionally, the lawn surrounding the Friendship Walk is a popular spot where students often hang hammocks to relax, making it an ideal location for those looking to meditate.
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FALL 2021 LEFT: Photo by Jacob Ybarra
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3. UNIVERSITY LIBRARY When the upper campus is not under construction, the quad near the University Library is a great spot to regain focus and calm the nerves before a big exam due to its big trees — just watch out for squirrels. Another great area to meditate before class are the quiet study areas inside the University Library, on the second and fourth floor.
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INSIDER · HIDDEN FIGURES
MAKING AN IMPACT
Giovanna Quevedo, a second-year CSULB student, wrote and published a book to help children understand their cancer diagnosis and one of its many treatments: radiation therapy. STORY BY
JOHANNA RODRIGUEZ
ILLUSTRATIONS BY
NALA HALEY
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FALL 2021
Illustration by Nala Haley
W
hile sitting in church one Sunday morning, Giovanna Quevedo was thinking long and hard about her next project for the Girl Scouts Gold Award when she had a flash of inspiration: She’d draw on her personal experiences with her mother’s cancer diagnosis to write a book. “I knew I wanted to do something really impactful, but I was having such a hard time figuring it out,” Quevedo said. “And that moment it just came to me [in church], and I was so excited because I knew that I had come across a project that could really help people.” In 2019, Quevedo’s mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. While her mother was going through the process of cancer treatments, Quevedo was simultaneously looking for different Gold Award projects to do during her last year at Millikan High School in Long Beach. The Girl Scouts Gold Award that Quevedo earned, which can be pursued by senior and ambassador Girl Scout members, is a service project that serves a need in a student’s local, national, and global community while they are in high school. “I went to Miller Children’s [and Women’s] Hospital and I said, ‘Is there a book that you might need for any topic?’”Quevedo said. “And they said, ‘We really need a book for radiation therapy.’ My mom was going through radiation at the same time, so I was like, this is so perfect. This is what I’m meant to do.” Quevedo, a second-year student at California State University, Long Beach, published the boos in 2020. It’s a children’s pediatric cancer book titled “A Kid’s Guide to Radiation Therapy.” After coming up with the subject of her book, Quevedo spent about a month researching the topic. She realized the need for a children’s book about radiation therapy because there were very few books for children that simplified their cancer diagnosis or treatment plans for them to fully understand what is going on in their body.
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“ I knew I wanted to do something really impactful, but I was having such a hard time figuring it out.” - GIOVANNA QUEVEDO
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INSIDER · HIDDEN FIGURES
“It was kinda a month of meeting with different hospitals and different staff members every week and research by myself as well,” Quevedo said. She worked alongside Rita Goshert, her mentor and child life director at Miller Children’s and Women’s Hospital. Goshert took Quevedo under her wing and helped make sure that she had the needed resources to be successful in her project, according to Quevedo. “She set up some meetings for me with staff at the hospital so I could do research with the radiation team,” Quevedo said. “She helped me with proofreading, [along] with a couple other child life specialists as well.” After all her hard work researching, writing and editing her book, Quevedo was struck with her biggest obstacle — finding an illustrator. “At first, I wanted to find patient illustrators, because I thought that would be really impactful for a patient to see a drawing from another patient who went through the same thing,” Quevedo said. However, it did not work out in Quevedo’s favor because after volunteering at her school’s cancer club and seeking illustrators within the group, she was still not able to find anyone. So she continued her
“ It was kinda a month of meeting with different hospitals and different staff members every week and research by myself as well.” GIOVANNA QUEVEDO search and went to a different club at her school and asked around to see if anyone could draw a few pictures for her book. After a long pursuit, she found a fellow student at her high school named Nala Haley, who became the main illustrator in Quevedo’s children’s book. In the book, you will find illustrations of cute, cuddly animal doctors and patients that share their stories of treatment along with an illustration in the acknowledgements page from a pediatric patient at Miller Children’s and Women’s Hospital. As her book was published, Quevedo collaborated with many hospitals and institutions to donate her book to pediatric patients. The Long Beach Unified School
Illustration by Nala Haley
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“ I’ve had a couple of adults reach out to me and say, ‘I know your book’s for children, but it’s been really helpful for me because it’s written in such simple words.” GIOVANNA QUEVEDO Illustration by Nala Haley
District, American Cancer Society, Childhood Cancer International and Miller Children’s and Women’s Hospital are only a few of the many institutions that have provided hundreds of families with Quevedo’s book in print or eBook format within the past year. And Quevedo continues to seek partnerships with more hospitals to distribute her book. Along with all her collaborations, she has her own project website that offers the book for sale. As she continues her undergraduate degree in molecular cell biology and physiology at CSULB, Quevedo is looking toward the future to pursue something in the field of health or medicine, but she isn’t shying away from writing another book.
Her book has not only helped children understand their cancer diagnosis and treatments, but it has also helped adults in their journey. Her book, which is written in both English and Spanish, has made an impact in many people’s lives. “I’ve been considering maybe doing another book about a similar topic related to cancer and making it a series,” Quevedo said. “I’ve had a couple of adults reach out to me and say, ‘I know your book’s for children, but it’s been really helpful for me because it’s written in such simple words. So, even though it’s for children, I might branch out and do something for adults as well because all the literature out there is very expert level.” 15
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INSIDER · NATURE IS CALLING
WHERE TO HIKE
NEAR LONG BEACH 1
STORY & PHOTOS BY
ETHAN LAUREN
Hiking is a rewarding pastime, but it can be overwhelming to learn where to start. Here are three trails worth trying out, especially for beginners. An act as simple as trading the concrete sidewalk under your soles for a natural path can be all that’s needed to vivify the spirit. Roxanne Mendoza, a senior majoring in psychology and minoring in anthropology at CSULB, uses hiking not only to exercise, but also to learn about the areas around her. “I like being on the trail and seeing flowers or animals I’ve never seen,” Mendoza said. “It totally reconnects you to a childlike mindset where everything is interesting and cool.” She recommends exploring areas you’re interested in such as the ocean, canyons, parks, or even paths leading to destinations like the old Los Angeles Zoo. Apps like AllTrails are a great resource for hikers searching for various trails. For CSULB students, Strava is a great way to find adventure. “We live in SoCal with some of the most amazing trailheads within our reach,” Mendoza said. “So check out our landscape, have fun and learn about our land.” Sarah Goodale, lead at the California State University, Long Beach’s Rock and Outdoor Adventure within the Recreation and Wellness Center, is an avid hiker. She recommends making sure you have proper footwear, sunscreen and plenty of water before you head out. Taking a screenshot of the trail ahead of time can be useful if your phone loses service. These three trails of varying difficulty in and around Long Beach provide a great way to exercise and immerse yourself in nature. While the trails are relatively free of challenge and never stray too far from civilization, those looking to branch out further have several resources available to them: The Rec Center hosts regular hiking, climbing and camping outings.
1. ABALONE COVE STATE PARK
Abalone Cove State Park is an excellent hike if you are looking for a variety of paths. Within Rancho Palos Verdes, this place is farther out than the two other trails, but well worth taking the time to visit. Parking is $6 for half an hour to two hours and $12 after that. The trail starts atop a bluff overlooking the cove before winding down to the ocean, cresting a peninsula. After rising a gentle grade to the nearby promontory, called Portuguese Bend, the trail ventures off to several meanderings — with a balance between steep and flat sections, giving your calves a break.
“ We live in SoCal with some of the most amazing trailheads within our reach.” ROXANNE MENDOZA
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FALL 2021
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2. HILLTOP PARK
Hilltop Park, within Signal Hill, is only four miles from campus. This spot is great for those seeking a calm, circular trail. There are great views of the surrounding neighborhoods from the highest point of the hill. For those strolling down Panorama Promenade, the Walter Pyramid is unmissable, wherein the trail optionally twists down the hill in an unpaved section that might prove steep for some visitors.
3. GUM GROVE PARK
Gum Grove Park, south-eastward from CSULB, is a short loop where skittering lizards and rustling reeds are common sounds. There are two places to easily park, one on Avalon Drive, the other off Heron Pointe. Hikers have the choice between a flat, paved path on one side, and a dirt path that cuts through the trees on the other. For adventure duos, there is an optional section of the trail that narrows into a maze-like fashion.
Illustrations courtesy of @pch.vector on Freepik.com
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“ You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it.”
MODEL: SUE LEE PHOTO BY: AHTZIRI AGUILAR EMILY CHEN
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– Maya Angelou
ASSISTED BY: BELLA ARNOLD MIJIN KIM SABRINA GOBATON GABRIELLA GOBATON
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FEATURE · A CONSTANT NEED FOR CHANGE
STORY BY
JOEY HARVEY
OCTOB ER 26, 2020 01:28 A.M.
I snapped. I was in a cramped bathroom with my partner, deeply concerned yet compliant, as I told him to start cutting my hair. It was silent besides the impact of each strand of hair falling behind me. I felt the rough texture of the clippers as they ran through my once-glorious mane, making an annoying yet haunting buzzing sound that grew louder as my hair became shorter. I felt great tension in the room from my partner and our anxious dog who watched my unraveling. It didn’t help that I was standing in front of the mirror, a manic 6-foot-3 baby, internally sobbing as Beyonce’s “Pretty Hurts” played on a loop in my head. This night unfolded a year after I decided to grow my hair out. I finally wanted to embrace my dark, natural loose-coiled curls that I hated for most of my youth. It was cathartic watching my hair progress because I had never let my hair just be.
“ I was in a cramped bathroom with my partner, deeply concerned yet compliant, as I told him to start cutting my hair.” I felt great. I received compliments from friends and strangers and was gassed up on social media, which made my Libra moon smile. When I walked, my hair had this subtle bounce and shine that made me feel like I was a model in a Pantene commercial. Not to sound conceited, but it was a moment.
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INSIDER · WHERE TO NEXT
FALL 2021
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FEATURE · A CONSTANT NEED FOR CHANGE
“ PEOPLE BULLIED ME, SO I DYED MY HAIR AS A RESPONSE TO SQUARE UP AND TOLD THEM FUCK OFF.”
ABOVE: Joey Harvey went through many hair colors and styles as a form of self-expression.
My hair means a lot to me. It’s an entity where I find creative expression. But I also find reinvention through my hair when I badly need a clean slate to cope with the challenges that most twentysomethings undergo. My poor coping mechanisms, which my therapist Madison often reminds me to avoid — cutting my hair, damaging my scalp, singeing my curls, and occasionally getting minor chemical burns — are less toxic forms of expression. But according to Madison, these are (sort of) an improvement and less harmful than some of my other coping mechanisms. My hair transformation was often motivated by my oddly comedic impulsive mania. It started in high school when I decided to call it quits with my first long-term boyfriend, named “internalized homophobia,” who still occasionally shows up from time to time. But at that point, I grew tired of “butching” myself up for my peers, which I had gone to far lengths to do. For almost two years, I was a part of my school’s football team. Being among very fragile young male high schoolers was an experience I’d like to forget. But, it wasn’t as bad as the time I led two girls into thinking that I had feelings for them, who I genuinely hope I did not hurt or cause any trauma. Regardless, I wanted to change. In a moment of silence as I lay in my bed staring at my bedroom ceiling, I finally admitted to myself that I was gay. “Cool… now what?” I thought. I threw out all of my clothes from Tilly’s and started shopping at H&M and Forever 21. I grabbed my scissors, cut all of my shorts to a sensible upper-mid-thigh length, and started wearing tank tops, though they were a dress code violation. Eventually, I got highlights, and then people began to get the clue that I was gay. Though I was taking the form of a stereotype that I saw so frequently in the media, I was slowly growing into the person I had kept hidden for years. I found an outlet of expression through my hair and finally felt free to express myself. I went through many hair colors and styles: blonde, blue, pink, turquoise. I started to straighten my hair, which left my hair looking
like strands of uncooked spaghetti. It wasn’t cute, but it was something that I needed. Soon after, hair transformation became my response to when life was rough. People bullied me, so I dyed my hair as a response to square up and told them fuck off. My depression got bad, so I dyed my hair. My mom and dad got a divorce, and I dyed my hair. I suffered my first heartbreak, and guess what I did. I found comfort in creating a reincarnated version of myself that was stronger and wiser. At times I wanted to rebel so badly because it gave me control. In my teenage mind I thought I could find this act of control through my hair. It grounded me. It liberated me. It made me feel present as I was struggling to keep the trajectory of my life on track. But through my hair, I had this persona that I could create who was self aware, resilient and unapologetically themselves as they stood out in a sea of students at Diamond Bar High. It became a regular occurrence, but by high school I cooled down with the bad dye jobs. Unfortunately, I began to make questionable choices as a response to coping, but my scalp and hair were happy at least. Though my hair and scalp endured severe damage, it was cathartic knowing I had this outlet. It was impulsive and ultimately painful to have my head shaved and temporarily part ways with my perfectly coiled curls. But I’ll emphasize temporarily, because they’re not gone (surprisingly) because I put them through hell for years. As corny as this may sound, I grow as much as my hair does. Together we work in tandem physically, spiritually and quite poetically. As Lady Gaga once sang and my high school self would often say, “I’m as free as my hair.” So when I shaved my head that night, I was reintroduced to how much of a transformation your hair can make when I looked at the reflection of that 6-foot-3 individual. Their eyes were a bit puffy. They looked flushed. But color began to fill their cheeks and eventually a smile broke through, followed by a faint laugh and a giant exhale. “You look good, bitch,” I said.
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FALL 2021 LEFT: Joey Harvey, hair dyed blonde. They went through many hair colors: blonde, blue, pink, turquoise.
LEFT: Harvey when they decided to grow their hair out and embrace their natural hair color and curls.
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Hot Springs during the sunset, Feb. 26, 2021. Photo by Natalie Malins.
FEATURE · PERSPECTIVES ON PUVUNGNA
PERSPECTIVES ON
PUVUNGNA STORY BY
KELSEY BROWN
PHOTOS BY
AHTZIRI AGUILAR
Members of the Acjachemen Nation explain the historical and spiritual importance to Native people of the sacred 22 acres of land that remains of Puvungna.
T
he hill where California State University, Long Beach now stands used to be a plentiful village. Surrounding the hill, the city of Long Beach was marsh and wetlands. But here, on this raised land, was a freshwater spring, so Native people settled and made it home. For members of the Acjachemen Nation, or the Juaneno Band of Mission Indians, who are the native peoples of Orange County, and the Tongva Nation or Gabrieleno, the Native peoples of Los Angeles County, this
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LEFT: Louis Robles, Acjachemen Nation member.
“ IT’S REALLY RARE FOR A PERSON TO BE ABLE TO STAND land is more than what appears at first glance. Louis Robles’ ancestors walked this land for generations. A mission record from San Juan Capistrano in 1769 documents his family’s lineage, though that year by no means marks their origin. Because of colonization, missions, farming and ranching, what remains of Puvungna, which was once a vivacious village site spanning a two-mile radius from the beach past the 405 freeway, is now just 22 acres of open land. According
to Robles, this now “stands for something much, much larger.” “It’s really rare for a person to be able to stand somewhere where they know that their family has stood for generations,” said Robles, who is a member of the Acjachemen Nation. “Especially here in America, we tend to lose track of our family lineage.” For generations, Puvungna, which translates to “the place where people gather,” was a crossroads for those traveling along the coast. But beyond being a
SOMEWHERE WHERE THEY KNOW THAT THEIR FAMILY HAS STOOD FOR GENERATIONS.” 25
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FEATURE · PERSPECTIVES ON PUVUNGNA
ABOVE: Louis Robles tends to the shells that lie at the foot of his parent’s ancestor poles.
significant geographical point, Puvungna was a place where prophet Chinigchinich emerged, who introduced the Native peoples to a whole new way of living that spread south throughout the desert and influenced Southern Californian tribes. The enriching history of the land, paralleled with the current purpose of the institution that now stands on it, is a point of optimism for Robles. “He taught them rules to live by,” Robles said. “He taught them new prayers, new songs. So how perfect that it’s still this institution of learning — that there’s growth and learning still continuing.” Puvungna, though surrounded by campus, still exists as a sacred place for Native tribes. They gather and hold ceremonies, recently to celebrate the summer solstice with a sand painting and gathering ceremony. A family recently held a coming of age ceremony for their twin daughters. In the sycamore trees lining the creek beds, a hawk lives, circling above, screeching during some gatherings, Robles says. Native peoples walk through the land daily. The land is marked with ancestor poles, which are erected by families after a loved one passes as a reminder of them. The campus is scattered with archeological sites, like near the gym and swimming pool, where piles of crushed shells disposed by Na-
tive peoples’ shellfish diet and jewelry-making stand as reminders of Native peoples’ prevalence on the land. In the morning before her classes start, Heidi Lucero, a member of the Acjachemen tribe and an American Indian studies professor at CSULB, can be found walking at Puvungna. “It’s always there for me to go, just to reconnect with that place and with my community and with nature,” Lucero said. “Our religion is based on having a connection with the natural world, so being able to go there is something that’s priceless to me.” In the ‘90s, Robles was part of a protest and lawsuit, where the tribe was represented by the ACLU, which stopped a mini-mall from being built on the land. During that time, he remembers being asked why they have to pray on the land and can’t just pray elsewhere. Robles explained that, where nonNatives may just see a grassy field, there is spiritual significance for Native people. People can be walking the land, alone, praying. They don’t need spectacles or homages to worship — being with the land is enough. “It’s just you, connecting with the land, connecting with the creator,” Robles said. “It’s a real, personal thing. Whereas the Westerners are used to going to a big church with a whole bunch of people. That too, makes it difficult for the Western mind to comprehend.” Differences in perspectives have been the cause of schisms not only with Westerners, but within the Native community as well. Because Puvungna is such a personal
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RIGHT: Robles is the chair of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act at CSULB.
“ IT’S JUST YOU, CONNECTING WITH THE LAND, CONNECTING WITH THE CREATOR ... IT’S A REAL, PERSONAL THING.” LOUIS ROBLES, ACJACHEMEN NATION MEMBER and impassioned piece of the local Native community, there is discourse on how to deal with the land. What is most important, though, Robles notes, is that decisions of the land be made by tribal people native to the area. Prior administrations were hesitant to acknowledge the tribes, but in Robles’ opinion, President Jane Close Conoley having knowledge of local tribes prior to her administration was a positive sign. In 2019, controversy emerged over the dumping of debris-littered dirt on Puvungna, which has resulted in the California Cultural Resource Preservation Alliance, a nonnative organization, filing a lawsuit. Lucero feels as if the situation was not intentional, but a result of poor communication. Lucero explained there had been long-term plans to make Puvungna easier to access for elders and to make it ADA compliant. Though the community-driven discussion wasn’t planned to be implemented anytime soon, Lucero believes the university’s planning committee saw the future plans, which sparked the dumping of the dirt. “They were giving the construction people the direction to move the soil there,
not knowing that there was all this debris in it,” Lucero said. “I think that the parties that have filed the suit are the ones that are just kind of jumping the gun and laying blame that the university is trying to do something nefarious.” Lucero, who studied anthropology with an emphasis on cultural anthropology and California archeology at CSULB in 2017, explained that because the soil is around burials, there are body fluids and DNA. In extracting soil, you don’t know what’s being removed, which is why all the soil is sacred. For the tribes, it is imperative that soil on campus isn’t exported and replaced with imported soil that they deem clean. In pitching future solutions to the school, descendants from tribal communities native to the land have begun meeting on a regular basis with members of the community to discuss their needs and to establish a more cohesive approach.
“We’ve put together this group called the United Descendants of Puvungna,” Lucero said. “It has members from all the community groups — the Tongva groups, the Acjachemen groups, the university groups — the only people that don’t participate are the group that filed the lawsuit.” In creating a united front for the Native community, they hope to be more effective than if the individual groups approached the university with their ideas and solutions. Robles works as the chair of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) at CSULB with professors like Lucero to attempt to return any found Native American remains or related goods.The NAGPRA committee at CSULB has returned hundreds of ancestors to their tribes and recently reburied ancestors that had been kept in the college’s basement since 1953. Robles looks forward to continuing the “good work.” 27
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FEATURE · PERSPECTIVES ON PUVUNGNA
“ IT SHOULD ALWAYS BE PROTECTED AS A GATHERING PLACE, [...] BUT IT NEEDS TO CHANGE WITH THE TIMES AND WITH THE PEOPLE.” LOUIS ROBLES, ACJACHEMEN NATION MEMBER Some Native people oppose any building on the land, but both Robles and Lucero mentioned the difficulty when an elder needs to use the restroom during a gathering and there’s none nearby. Or in the winter, when women are weaving, but their hands are freezing from the cold. Even just some type of covering to provide protection, Robles said, could help. Lucero mentioned that other ethnic groups on campus have resource centers and expressed the benefits of providing a resource center for Native peoples. Not only would it be beneficial for the Native community, says Lucero, but for students and community members who are interested in learning as well. A walkway restoring the wetland area to how it traditionally looked with information on why the land is important is another vision Lucero shared. If not, Lucero fears that the land will always be in somebody’s mind as a plot that can be developed. Robles, who has seen this land through more than most, is optimistic about the future of Puvungna. Though there is no monolithic vision for how Puvungna evolves, Robles also feels it’s important to get stakes in it before outsiders do. He worries that in 20 years, there may not be anyone to advocate and fight for the land. A struggle within the community remains, keeping the younger generations engaged in community gatherings in the exponentially growing modernization of society. Robles says it was hard enough for his mother, who in her 70s slept in a tent on Puvungna to ensure it wasn’t developed, to keep him and his siblings engaged. “It should always be protected as a gathering place, in some form or another, but it needs to change with the times and with the people,” Robles said. “How do we keep the next generation interested?” Some will continue to walk obliviously on the site of Puvungna. But for those who know what rich history and tradition lie underneath the surface, the land may look a little different. When you walk, remember the Native people who walked here before you, lived here before you, and thrived here before you. Maybe then, you’ll see the land in the loving light that the tribe’s members do.
RIGHT: Puvungna spans a two-mile radius from the beach past the 405. Today, it is 22 acres of open land.
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FEATURE · THE DARK SIDE OF TWITCH
THE DARK SIDE OF
STORY BY BELLA ARNOLD
The rising popularity of video game streaming platforms have ushered in a slew of sexism and harassment toward female streamers. Sue Lee started streaming on Twitch from her Mac laptop in high school. The mix of low-quality WiFi with her overwhelmed laptop fan made for a unique start, according to Lee. Four years later, the 19-year-old has about 3,300 followers on Twitch. Though Lee has gained a loyal following on her Twitch account, during a 10-hour stream she was berated with racist and sexist comments in her chat. She had no choice but to continue and, overall, feels that this instance was minor, compared to what her fellow female stream-
“At first, I thought it only happened to a few people.” -Sue Lee
ers face on a daily basis. Lee has seen fellow streamers threatened with sexual assault and physical harm in their chats. Though she was aware of the harassment some women face on Twitch, Lee found that the occurrences were more common than she had imagined. “At first, I thought it only happened to a few people,” Lee said. Twitch is a live-streaming platform. Justin Kan, the founder, launched the start-up while studying physics at Yale in 2005, when the website was called justin.tv. It officially became Twitch in 2011. Audiences are drawn to the platform to watch streamers play video games, but they can also listen to their favorite streamers chat, cook and much more. Streamers interact with audience members via webcam and microphones playing games, or otherwise, and while conversing with audience members in the chat. Twitch had about 41.5 million users in 2020, just in the United States. In 2021, the platform averaged 27 visitors and six million streamers across the globe, daily. As with any social media platform, there are limits to the type of language that commenters use, but these guidelines do not guard streamers, like Lee, from harassment. Lee, who uses all pronouns, joined the platform as a League of Legends streamer when she was in high school as a way to make money while playing video games. The 19-year-old goes by the name @Sueeyepaa
“ As I started growing a community it became a comfort. It was a way to get me to socialize without really socializing.” SUE LEE
and streams games like Overwatch, Valorant and Dead By Daylight. She slowly began to gain an audience and found solace in the community on Twitch. Connecting with her audience became a comfortable outlet for human connection without the stress that she often felt from in-person interactions. “As I started growing a community it became a comfort,” Lee said. “It was a way to get me to socialize without really socializing.” After she created her TikTok account, @Sueypa, her Twitch account took off. On TikTok, Lee has about 183,000 followers and a total of four million likes. The Twitch phenomenon is nothing new. However, the pandemic enticed a slew of new streamers, like Daisy Eveling, to join the platform.
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FALL 2021
Eveling, 22, originally went by the name @ByssheSims and streamed Sims on Twitch. Now, she’s changed her name to @ThatBysshe on Twitch and streams more games, like Valorant. The UK-based streamer immediately felt restrained by the notion that certain games were considered masculine and, therefore, off-limits to her. Sims was a traditionally feminine game, so she felt as if streaming it made her a fraud and not a real gamer. “Gaming in general has a really weird tendency to label something a boy game or a girl game,” Eveling said. “I only recently realized I’d been a gamer since I was 7. I played loads of things that would be classically labeled [as] girl games, and I never considered myself a gamer.” Simulation games like Sims and Minecraft share a lot of the same goals and functions, but are marketed toward different groups. Games like Sims are labeled as feminine games, where games like Minecraft are more masculine. Sexism prevailing in the gaming and Esports world is generally unsurprising, according to Eveling. She finds that the idea of misogyny is prevalent in the world of gaming in general, and admits that she still has issues labeling herself as a gamer. This imposter syndrome can be largely attributed to the lack of representation of successful women in the gaming world.
“ IF WE’RE WEARING TOO MUCH MAKEUP, WE’RE TRYING TOO HARD, AND IF WE’RE NOT GOOD AT THE GAME WE’RE TOLD WE’RE NOT TRYING HARD.” - SUE LEE
SUE LEE
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FEATURE · THE DARK SIDE OF TWITCH
“Within Twitch, if you’re a woman, there’s a variety of experiences you can have if people consider you classically attractive.” -Daisy Eveling
Pokimane is the seventh-most-followed Twitch streamer overall, and with 8.1 million followers is the most-followed woman on Twitch. She is the only woman to break into the list of top 50 most-followed Twitch streamers. However, women are dominating one area of Twitch: hot tub streaming. Hot tub streaming rose to prominence in late 2020 and found its way into the new year. The majority of hot tub streamers are women and feminine-presenting individuals.
During hot tub streams, the streamer sits in a hot tub, usually in a bikini, and chats with their audience. This is similar to the “Just Chatting” feature, another form of content on Twitch where the streamer solely interacts with their audience. “I think it’s a very visual and personality-based thing,” Eveling said. “Within Twitch, if you’re a woman, there’s a variety of experiences you can have if people consider you classically attractive.” Hot tub streamers have faced a lot of scrutiny from viewers as well as fellow streamers. Kathryn Michelle Siragusa, better known as @Amouranth on Twitch, currently has over four million followers and is pioneering the hot tub streaming movement, as the top hot tub streamer. She often streams ASMR and “Just Chatting” content as well. Many content creators were calling for hot tub streamers to be reprimanded for what they deemed to be a violation of
DAISY EVELING
Twitch’s code of conduct. Others, like Eveling, find the new type of content completely valid. “Sis, go get your bag,” Eveling said. Twitch made an official statement condemning those harassing hot tub streamers. They even created a subcategory, called “Pools, Hot Tubs and Beaches,” where this content would be housed. “Being found to be sexy by others is not against our rules,” they said in an official statement on May 21, 2021. However, Twitch’s solidarity with hot tub streamers did little to lessen the abuse and harassment that women and femininepresenting individuals face. Also, Twitch continued to limit the ability for hot tub streamers, most of them female, to advertise on the platform. To Eveling, it’s clear that there’s a double standard between men and gender-marginalized individuals on Twitch, but she doesn’t know if there are any solutions. “There are problems,” Eveling said. “I think it’s really important we discuss these problems, though. Even if you can’t solve these problems, highlighting them is still incredibly important.”
“ EVEN IF YOU CAN’T SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS, HIGHLIGHTING THEM IS STILL INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.” 32
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- DAISY EVELING
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FALL 2021
ASHLEY CRANDALL
Organizations like the non-profit Queer Women of Esports are seeking to diversify the landscape of Twitch and gaming, in general. Ashley Crandall was drawn to work for Queer Women of Esports, as a lover of the gaming world and Twitch streamer. Crandall, 20, believes that most female streamers on Twitch have been shamed for their appearance. She was often harassed in her chat, being told her teeth were big or being called derogatory names. “If you stream on Twitch, you have to have really thick skin, especially as a girl,” Crandall said. “I’ve learned to ignore it [and] I don’t care what they think. But not everyone has that luxury and that’s not OK.” Crandall is invested in the world of gaming and e-sports. Her dream is to run live, in-person e-sports events. She interned at Dignitas, a professional e-sports organization, and worked on diversity and inclusion. Though she has taken a break from streaming to accommodate her lifestyle as a full-time business management student at CSULB, Crandall joined the platform as a streamer in 2017. She’s always had a competitive spirit and loved watching people play video games, but being a gamer didn’t seem viable to Crandall until she was a teenager. “I’ve always watched video games on YouTube, but nobody ever asked me if I wanted to play,” Crandall said. “My brother had a console, but I didn’t think to ask.” She streams Valorant and Dead By Daylight, among other games, on Twitch and
goes by the name @AsheIsMash. Recently, she made the switch from @AshleyIsMash to her current username. She suspects that the harassment she’s faced has decreased on account of her current username being more gender neutral. For Lee, it’s become clear that the harrassment has gone beyond sexist comments. Women and gender-nonconforming individuals, she said, have to put in more effort than their male counterparts in order to succeed. “If we’re wearing too much makeup, we’re trying too hard, and if we’re not good at the game we’re told we’re not trying hard,” Lee said. “Everything has to fit the perfect standard of a stream or no one is going to watch you.” Eveling doesn’t feel comfortable streaming without makeup on, for that reason. For women and gender-nonconforming
“I’ve learned to ignore it [and] I don’t care what they think. But, not everyone has that luxury and that’s not OK.” -Ashley Crandall
individuals looking to get into streaming, Eveling, Lee and Crandall all empahsize the importance of finding a community on Twitch. Crandall urges streamers to embrace the ban button and have agency over their own streams. “You’ll eventually find that community and once you do, it’ll feel a lot better,” Lee said. “Have fun and let go, because at the end of the day your viewers are here to watch you and if they don’t like you, screw them. You’ll find your people!” 33
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INSIDER · REPORT CARD
BOOKS ON
PERSEVERANCE
STORY BY Holly Alvarado
Three books by female authors share stories about overcoming setbacks to discover and embrace your true self.
Untamed
by Glennon Doyle “Neither domesticated nor otherwise controlled” is the short, concise definition of “untamed.” Glennon Doyle, the author of the New York Times best-seller “Untamed,” unpeels this meaning in a way that translates into a form of endearment, longing, and the sheer perseverance that queer individuals cultivate after experiencing emotional setbacks. Doyle, a queer woman, redefines what it means to be a mother, a wife, a writer and most of all, a human. Untamed is equal parts a memoir and an intimate recount of a self-awakening chapter in one’s life. Throughout the book, she confronts her self-worth and asks herself the harsh question, “Am I really enough?” Her experiences with love lost and found helps her to navigate the corridors of respective gender roles and breaks them entirely. She shares her pursuit of how to live your truth and to live a life untamed.
Across a Hundred Mountains by Reyna Grande
Reyna Grande, the Mexican-born author behind “Across a Hundred Mountains,” illustrates the excruciating cycle of poverty, family ties, dangers of immigration and experiences of the ones who make it to the other side. The novel is a glimpse into Grande’s life, with a fictitious spin. The book’s lead character, Juana Garcia, is the face of the story. “Across a Hundred Mountains” is a stunning and poignant story of loss and self-discovery as two women — Garcia, born in Mexico, and Adelina Vasquez from California — find their lives combined in the most unlikely way. It’s a tale of perseverance and coming back home to yourself and your roots.
Dear Ijeawele, Or A Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, the Nigerian best-selling author of “We Should All Be Feminists” and “Americanah,” delivers an inspiring new outlook on feminism in the millennium—written as a letter to an old friend’s daughter. “Dear Ijeawele, Or A Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions” is the newest addition to Adichie’s vast catalog and a direct guide to the heart of sexual politics in the 21st century. Adichie offers advice on identity, sexuality, unhealthy cultural norms, and dismantling the old idea that women are somehow destined only to cook and clean. She challenges the way we, as humans, view feminism and the work of women today.
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GO BEACH!
Go Beach! and go wherever for less. Get your Go Beach! Pass for unlimited rides aboard Long Beach Transit this school year. 30-day or 150-day Go Beach! Passes are available for purchase beginning Monday, September 13. Fare Collection will not be in effect until Sunday, September 19, please make sure to not use your Go Beach! Pass on LBT buses before fare collection begins.
Go Beach! Pass: *
Price:
Value: **
30-day pass
$40
$65
(Save $25)
150-day pass
$100
$365
(Save $265)
*Go Beach! Passes are active from day of first use **value based on standard single ride fare of $1.25 To see how to purchase your Go Beach! Pass via your phone or in person at the CSULB Transportation Office, visit ridelbt.com/students or scan the qr code.
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SCAN ME
10/1/2021 12:42:14 PM
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