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Issue 80.3
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Alejandro Ramos, Editor-in-Chief editorinchief@lbunion.com Bailey Mount, Managing Editor manager@lbunion.com Nathan Zankich, Web Manager web@lbunion.com Alexis Cruz, Social Media Manager Allison Meyer, Multimedia Manager Alfredo Banuelos, Advertising Executive Christopher Orozco, Distribution Manager ART & DESIGN Sam Orihuela, Art Director artdirector@lbunion.com John Mueller, Graphics Illustrator illustration@lbunion.com EDITORIAL Matthew Gozzip, Athletics Editor athletics@lbunion.com Sylvana Uribe, Community Editor community@lbunion.com Sheila J. Sadr, Lead Copy Editor sheila@lbunion.com Tara Thomas, Copy Editor Amanda Dominguez-Chio, Culture Editor amanda@lbunion.com Madison Gallegos, Culture Editor madison@lbunion.com Peter R. Clark, Entertainment Editor entertainment@lbunion.com Mercedes Colomar, Grunion Editor grunion@lbunion.com Kaila-Marie Hardaway, Music Editor music@lbunion.com Elliott Gatica, Music Editor music@lbunion.com Jordan Daniels, Opinions Editor opinions@lbunion.com STAFF MEMBERS Natalee Coloman Karrie Comfort Diana Martinez Samantha Neou Soun Oeng R. Ray Robinson CONTRIBUTORS Isaura Aceves, Emily Ayers, Nancy Soriano, Micayla Vermeeren, Erick Zepeda COVER DESIGN BY: John Mueller FEATURE DESIGN BY: Sam Orihuela CONTACT US Snail Mail: 1212 Bellflower Blvd. Suite 116 Long Beach, CA 90815 Phone: 562.985.4867 E-mail: lbunion.info@gmail.com Classifieds: classifieds.lbunion@gmail.com
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Brewing with Bailey Bailey Mount Managing Editor Hello again, friends. I have this theory about spring semester. It’s pretty straightforward. Spring semester is fall semester’s hungover sister that no one necessarily wants to visit, but you feel obligated to because she’s family. She’s the one that says she’s happy to see you, but every time you leave her house, you’re not sure who could use the drink more. Did you guys know that we’re only starting the third week? The third. There’s at least 13 more left. At this point, spring break doesn’t just seem like a distant hope - it seems like a pipe dream.
The first week gave us a new president. The second week another thing I relied on shut down - my body. I got bronchitis. This proverbial bug is being felt in the office too. Once or twice a week, I’d say. Someone is always missing from the office for one reason or another. Like right now, Alex is out covering the basketball game that you’re going to see on the back of this issue. Why, you may ask? Well, our Athletics editor is at the Superbowl for his job. And of course, we’re proud of him. But still a little bitter. See, we didn’t get to go to the Superbowl, Matt. We had to stay here and put a paper together, Matt. But good job, buddy.
We’re proud of you. So I guess you could say that although the semester is trying its best to get to us, we’re doing okay. Our staff box has gotten a bit bigger and every week at least three people walk in with some interest in contributing to us. We’re hoping we can keep that momentum. New, exciting and slightly frightening things are coming and - at least speaking for Alex and myself - we can’t wait to see what challenges are up next. For now, though, we just have a paper to write. And some days, that’s challenging enough.
“An Evening Without
One staff writer’s poem
Who does it better? Single
Mexicans” screening
about the meaning of home
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promotes unity in Long Beach
in America
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Disclaimer and Publication Information: The Union Weekly is published using ad money and partial funding provided by the Associated Students, Inc. All Editorials are the opinions of their individual authors, not the Union Weekly, ASI nor CSULB. All students are welcome and encouraged to be a part of the Union Weekly staff. All letters to the editor will be considered for publication. However, CSULB students will have precedence. Please include name and major for all submissions. They are subject to editing and will not be returned. Letters may or may not be edited for grammar, spelling, punctuation, and length. The Union Weekly will publish anonymous letters, articles, editorials, and illustration, but must have your name and information attached for our records. Letters to the editor should be no longer than 500 words. The Union Weekly assumes no responsibility, nor is it liable, for claims of its advertisers. Grievance procedures are available in the Associated Students business office.
4 COMMUNITY
An Evening Without Mexicans City Council ecourages unity through screening of satirical film Words and Photos by Sylvana Uribe Community Editor
Amid a slew of immigration reforms being churned out by the Trump administration, Long Beach City Councilmembers Roberto Uranga and Lena Gonzalez initiated a public conversation on the topic by repurposing the council chambers for a film screening on Jan. 31. The council members screened the 2004 satirical film “A Day Without a Mexican,” which hailed international fame for its portrayal of an alternate reality where California’s Mexican population suddenly vanishes. In addition to delivering laughs, the film was a reminder of how immigrants are often taken for granted for their contributions to the American economy. The screening was in partnership with various community groups, including CSULB’s Chicano Latino Studies program and the Latino Student Union. The event occurred on the council’s regularly scheduled day off and marked the first time the city council chambers have been open to the public for movie showing purposes. Prior to the event, a vigil was hosted outside of city hall. The Sacred Resistance Community Vigil drew out speakers like Uranga and Council Member Jeannine Pearce, as well as other allies advocating for justice and solidarity for vulnerable communities. The tension between the Trump administration and Mexico has been evident lately with proposals for more of a border wall and recycled “bad hombre” rhetoric. Councilmember Uranga shared that he
“Tell Me About Yourself” Crafting a creative approach to the inevitable interview question Courtesy of the Career Development Center
(Top) Community members attending “A Day Without a Mexican” could pick up treats like popcorn and pan dulce before the movie started. (Left) Attendees participated in a vigil advocating for unity amid recent Trump administration proposals.
Although many students lament having to answer this question in an interview, it’s almost percent certain that you will be answering this question at some point in your life. Luckily, answering it does not have to be stressful. Just remember to break down the question into these 3 easy components:
Passion
Take time to reflect on your passions and build this into your answer. Consider what you like about your major, how the major ties into your long-term goals, or certain courses you’ve taken. When employers say “Tell me about yourself ”, a piece of what they want to know is: “What makes you – YOU?” By expressing your passions, this can help the employer see what motivates you and whether or not you will be a good “fit” for the desired position.
Problem
Your future career will in some way or another, help solve a “problem”. So think about, what problem you would like to solve in the world? Perhaps you want to go into tax law to be able to assist low-income families with their tax returns, or maybe create better
biomedical devices. This is another way to show how you would “fit” into a role.
Potential
Now that you’ve considered your passions and the problems you want to help solve, consider how you’ve demonstrated these across major accomplishments in your lifetime, and show your potential to the employer. Take the example below: INTERVIEWER: So, tell us a little about yourself and why you applied for this job? BIANCA: Sure, so a little about myself, if I had to describe my work style I would call it “creative intuition”. I enjoy working with others in teams in a way that utilizes my ability to tap into their motivations and strengths to create an efficient work process that allows us to get the job done. I’ve found that I’m naturally creative and I’ve been able to express this through engineering by coming up with ideas in technology that solve some of life’s basic challenges, such as building a self-cleaning fridge in my free time. Through combining my ability to intuitively connect with others, and my passion for creating new tools and technology, I’ve come
believed moving forward together would not be possible by refusing entry to immigrants and building walls. “Instead of meeting hate with hate, we need to face it with love,” Uranga said. “We make this country great by loving one another and embracing our diversity and being who we are, human beings.” The film’s director Sergio Arau was in attendance for a question and answer session along with his wife, Yareli Arizmendi. Arizmendi not only wrote and produced the film with her husband, but also starred in it. The pair spoke about the relevance of the film today and its ability to facilitate a conversation on divisive topics through satire. “Here we are 12 years later, still using it as a dialogue opener, Arizmendi said. “I mean, let’s really talk about the unthinkable, let’s be able to ask all the questions without be offended.” After answering questions, Uranga added that there were ongoing discussions to use the council chambers on days off or “dark days” for gatherings celebrating the cultures contained within Long Beach. Uranga presented Arua and Arizmendi with a recognition on behalf of Long Beach signed by Mayor Robert Garcia and councilmembers for presenting their film and participating in an important public discussion. The artists thanked everyone and Arizmendi said, “I hope you use your dark Tuesdays to shed the light.”
to realize that project management in the engineering field is the best fit for me in terms of a career. Through this position, I will be able to solve some of life’s basic challenges, while leveraging my ability to connect with and lead others through my intuition, which I believe would help me in this position. If you ever need assistance or just want to practice, the Career Development Center offers mock interviews for all current students. Make an appointment and start practicing!
Career Development Center Brotman Hall, Room 250 careers.csulb.edu
COMMUNITY
Scholars of the Round Table
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The Medieval and Renaissance Students’ Association combine whimsy and wisdom By Bailey Mount Managing Editor Photo courtesy of MaRSA Britt Radine (MaRSA Event Coordinator), Maitlyn Reynolds (MaRSA Secretary), Gitana Deneff (EGSA Liaison), and Ashley Kolb (MaRSA President) assemble for a sword fighting workshop. The Nugget is the last place you’d expect to find a Middle English translation group. You’d expect the usual cluster of studying students and the usual sports fans sprawled out in front of the big screen screaming for their team to win. The translation group sat in the corner. They were small, only about seven people. They formed some sort of quasi Round Table with the furniture and sat huddled around it, books sprawled out between them with beer and French fries completing the picture. It was almost like looking at a modern day reimagining of a “Game of Thrones” scene. The people of this “Round Table” are members of the Medieval and Renaissance
Sparking Discussions on the Lawn Teach-ins create space to talk through tense social and political climate By Alejandro Ramos Editor-in-Chief
Students’ Association (MaRSA). As their name suggests, these guys are about all things associated with this time period. Translation groups are only the tip of this impressive iceberg. They also hold workshops, events, debates, game nights and even take trips to the Getty museum together. It’s both academic and social. Described on their official site as an “association comprised of graduate and undergraduate students in a wide variety of fields,” MaRSA strives to create events inclusive to people studying Medieval and Renaissance Studies as well as anybody interested in learning new things. A few days after the translation group, co-
director Ilan Mitchell-Smith met with ten of these interested people on the grass by the MacIntosh Humanities building. Crows squawked in the trees above the group. Wooden swords and metal shields lay scattered around them. They sat in a circle questioning why the modern depiction of a knight wore chainmail - there was no evidence of this in the documents they studied. The conversation shifted to sword fighting techniques. Mitchell-Smith and a student began to argue over a training move. Sensing they were getting nowhere, he leapt to his feet. They grabbed swords. One of the students, MaRSA secretary Maitlyn Reynolds, cheered for her
friend’s victory. “Maitlyn seems to have forgotten who gives her her grades!” announced MitchellSmith, brandishing his wooden sword. Everyone laughed. MaRSA is a group on campus the likes of which we don’t usually see. Not quite a club and not quite a formal association, they’re a wonderfully nerdy, inclusive and intelligent group of individuals. The carefree banter mixed with academia creates an environment that makes you feel welcome upon your first meeting. Whether you’re interested in learning about medieval culture or interested in making acquaintance with a diverting niche of people, MaRSA is the group to meet.
Students and faculty gathered for discussions on politics and social issues for the Reclaiming Democracy teach-in on Jan. 31. The teach-in was put together by a group of lecturers and professors with the intent of generating conversations in regards to recent developments within the social and political landscape of the United States. It’s the first in a series that will go on throughout the semester and cover a variety of topics. According to a press release from CSULB journalism professor Chris Burnett, the goal of the series is to “inform, empower and activate our campus and wider community to promote democracy, justice, equality, respect, and inclusion.” The teach-in series comes at a much needed time. Over the past two weeks, president Trump has passed a number of controversial executive orders, including a travel ban on seven predominantly Muslim countries and a call to begin construction for a wall along the USMexico border. These actions have caused tensions to rise between those who support the president’s actions and those who feel
threatened by them. Public response has been widespread and immediate. Protests popped up in several major cities across the United States, including a few in Long Beach. The response was not as palpable on campus, though. There was little acknowledgement of the recent events aside from a statement made by President Conoley and ASI government officials — until the teach-in series was announced. The theme of the first teach-in was “Overcoming Exclusion, Discrimination, & Oppression,” which discussed the topics
of race, gender, immigration status and religious belief. The interest of the student body was evident from the large crowds gathered on the Speaker’s Lawn. Burnett estimated that, at one point, around 300 people were listening to the speakers. These numbers dwindled as some students left, but the Speaker’s Lawn remained fairly packed as the breakout sessions began. “Tremendous,” he said about the turnout. “We’re going to build on this energy.” The breakout sessions were led by faculty members and covered five topics: voting rights & executive orders, racism & immigration, anti-semitism, Islamophobia and reproductive rights. Students and faculty engaged in conversations that guided them through the complexities of these topics. “Your anger is justified,” said Sarah Miralles, who led the talk on racism & immigration, to the group around her. “Now what are you going to do with it?” The theme of next teach-in will be “Fascism: Past and Present” and will take place on Wednesday, Feb. 22 on the Speaker’s Lawn.
“We’re going to build on this energy.” - Chris Burnett
6 OPINIONS
Breathe Campaign Losing Its Lungs People are inconsiderate of other’s health A student smokes in the Parking Structure on campus.
By Peter R. Clark Entertainment Editor
Photo by Jordan Daniels Opinions Editor
The Breathe Campaign. At its core, its goal was to promote a healthier campus by making it tobacco free. However, since its inception, I don’t believe that it’s working. The problem is, I rarely see any policing of the people who smoke. There are no smoke areas on campus anymore, so instead everyone smokes anywhere and everywhere they want; like when they walk to class, behind pillars, around corners or in the parking lot. They are everywhere and I am getting tired of it. The Breathe Campaign only works if there are people to enforce it. I am getting tired of walking to class and having smoke blown in my face, or smelling it as I walk to my car. These individuals are incredibly inconsiderate for the health of the people around them. I don’t smoke, and I don’t want to ever smoke. Therefore, when I am forced to inhale it because some idiot wants to light up before class, it infuriates me. Now you might be asking right now, “why doesn’t he just say something?”
Well, this is where the bystander effect comes in. I have this notion in my head that smokers are confrontational people and in an effort to avoid confrontation, I don’t say anything. Instead, I write an article for people to read. Passive aggressive? Sure, but as I said before, I hate confrontation. Do I think the Breathe Campaign is working? No. Through all my observations, I think it is failing. I’ve seen more people smoking now than I saw before the campaign began. It could be that whole notion of, “Now that it is illegal, I must do it.” But that’s just my opinion, and without sufficient research, I can’t back that up. All I want is for smokers to be policed more because, without telling people it’s not cool to smoke, the campaign will go nowhere. It makes the school look good on paper, sure, but being good on paper is not going to cut it. My health matters and I want to be healthy. I want to breathe, so this needs to be better enforced.
“The Breathe Campaign only works if there are people to enforce it.”
Don’t Battle the Sexes Reject the role society assigns us By Micayla Vermeeren Contributor Photo by Jordan Daniels Opinions Editor Battle of the Sexes. Few phrases make my skin crawl more, and for damn good reason. For as long as I – or really, anyone in history – can remember, there’s been a stark dichotomy between what the “sexes” (note: sex and gender are in no way conflatable, but for the purpose of specific phrase analysis, let’s stick with sex for now) can and should be. And keep in mind, this dichotomy is violent. It’s active; hence, the word “battle.” On one side of the field, swathed in deep blue, we have the men. The providers. The protectors. The ones on the front lines. On the other, draped in linens of pink, the women stare back. The nurturers. The docile. The ones on the sidelines. It sounds archaic, right?
The Union Weekly Staff standoff on the Friendship Walk. It’s the year of our Lord 2017. And we don’t hold our society to those standards anymore, right? We know the difference between sex and gender! We know that there aren’t just two genders and that gender and sex can, and often do, disagree with each other. We know that women can be CEOs and that men can cry. We know that the binary hasn’t provided enough space for everyone and we’ve made moves to try and break it down. Break it open. So, why then is it that all of these beautiful non-conformers that we’ve fought for years to empower still get the short end of the stick? Because this battle is part of a larger war. Gender roles came from one central idea:
a way to control an entire population on the basis of arbitrarily assigned “truths” about character and personality based off of one’s perceived sex or sexuality. Humans are nuanced, complex beings. As Carl Sagan once said, “we are each of us a multitude.” The ins and outs of individual personalities are vast and we could spend years of our lives in a relationship, but walk away still only knowing a tenth of who the other really is. That’s dangerous. That means to get to know someone, to understand them, we need to take time – and this hasn’t always been a popular idea. The division of gender roles serves to categorize the insurmountable world population into two, easy-to- chew “types.”
All we do to pass judgement on another is asses their sex. From there, we know whether we can overpower, woo, trick, seduce, ignore, empower, partner with or trust the person across from us. But our genitals do not constrain us. Unless we – and I mean the whole damn collective “we” – take time to study the history of gender roles; listen to the people who have lived within and outside them, look at the way we as individuals have learned to see ourselves in relation to our sex and commit to more than a “pussy hat,” those ingrained ideals will remain. I don’t know about you, but it takes a lot for me to fight. It’s not in my nature. But if you tell me there’s about to be a battle of the sexes, I’ll fight like hell to shut that down.
8 FEATURE
By Natalee Coloman Staff Writer
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Once you’re in the clear and your organization is unique and ready to blossom, the next step is to contact Dr. Matt Cabrera through his email, matt.cabrera@csulb.edu, who will assist you in starting the New Student Organization In-Take process. If you would like to turn your Pug Lovers club into a sports-based club called Running while Carrying Pugs, then you’d want to talk to the Sports, Athletics and Recreation (SAR) Office, more specifically, talk to the Recreation Director, Rita Hayes through her email, rita.hayes@csulb.edu. *Be wary of potential costs for yourself, members, and your pugs while creating your club.*
Hello! My name is Natalee and I will be your guide to all clubs and organizations on campus ranging from cultural, academic, religious, special interests, honor societies and greek organizations. However, if none of those appeal to you, you can start your own club by following a few simple steps. In this guide, we will create the “Pug Lovers” club, because who wouldn’t want to join that organization?
Find out if the club you’d like to create is not already an established organization on campus. The easiest way to see what active clubs the school has to offer is to attend Week of Welcome, which just so happened to take place last Wednesday and Thursday. But have no fear! The CSULB website has the full list of organizations through the Student Life and Development tab. If your club is not listed, proceed to step 2. If it already exists, go join it!
CSULB is all about inclusion, so although your club caters specifically to pug lovers, please keep in mind that you must not discriminate and include other dog lovers, even cat lovers. Also, hazing is a big no-no, so please don’t try to initiate members by attacking them with pug licks, or anything of that matter. Setting up a specific time and place to meet is also extremely important. You need to make sure a large majority, if not all, members are available to attend weekly meetings — but please, don’t interrupt your pug’s eating and sleeping schedule.
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So, now that you’ve followed all the rules and regulations for starting a student organization under the university’s Student Life and Development office, it’s time to get you some club members. To be an eligible club, the SLD office needs information on the club’s potential leaders and at least 15 verified members wanting to join. But with all the clubs featured on campus, how are people going to know about yours? The best way to attract members is to get out there in person and recruit on campus. If you plan on bringing your pugs on campus, please obey the campus regulations and requirements, as listed on the student website. There are plenty of spaces for students to set up a table and a few chairs (after filing a request to table through the SLD office) that can attract passing students to your club. Social Media is highly important when establishing a club. By creating a Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc., many students on campus can share your pug-induced posts. This can lead to more followers and eventually, more members.
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Step 5: Make sure to have the most fun possible in your club. The purpose of creating clubs and organizations on campus can range from meeting new people and making friends to getting more involved with your fellow students. With over 37,000 students on campus, getting together with people who share common interests can make your college experience even more fantastic. So there you have it, the all you need to know guide to creating a club or organization here at CSULB in five easy steps. We hope you are successful in this process, if you have any other questions or concerns, feel free to let us know!
FEATURE
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10 CULTURE
Ring in the New Year Celebrating the Tet Festival By Karrie Comfort Staff Writer
From left to right: Lobster on the grill (PC: Alan Tran), Miss Photogenic poses for the audience (PC: Marvin K. Sola), Wedding procession complete with guards (PC: Karrie Comfort).
Lion dancing, food lines and Lang Viet Nam rung in the Lunar New Year at the 36th annual Union of Vietnamese Student Associations of Southern California (UVSA) Tet Festival, held at the Costa Mesa OC Fair Grounds. While everyone lamented that 2016 was a terrible year, many Asian cultures had not yet rung in 2017, the year of the Rooster, until this past Saturday. Tet Festival, a Vietnamese celebration for the Lunar New Year, is the largest of its kind — outside of Vietnam. “To me, Tet Festival and UVSA is my way to connect back to that heritage and culture that I’ve felt disconnected to,” said Alex Doan, a volunteer on the media team and student at CSULB. “Not only that, it has a provided me with so many connections, networks and
importantly friends and family that I wouldn’t get anywhere else.” One of its most popular attractions is Lang Vietnam, a cultural village, mimicking a traditional festival celebration and completed with traditional foods like banh tet, a banh cung, a river boat and an ao dai shop. What’s an ao dai you ask? A traditional Vietnamese tunic-like piece of clothing, usually made of silk that can be worn by both men and women, and is donned by many festival goers, young and old. Along with the cultural pieces, there were several traditional dance performances and Vietnamese singers who entertained the audience on the main stage; however, what I found the most exciting was the Spring Wedding.
Every year, a couple is chosen to participate in a traditional Vietnamese wedding, complete with a procession of dancers and village entourage. This one was beautiful and moving, like any wedding should be, but the bride and groom also expressed their appreciation that they could still have a cultural wedding here in the States. Culture is not something that is left behind by Vietnamese-Americans. Rather, it is something that is cherished and celebrated. “I believe that Tet is very valuable for us as a community…it is a time where the old lives are reborn as a new one,” said Bill Bui Masaki, a festival attendee and student at CSULB. “It is a time where we honor the dead and bring good wishes to our families. Being raised Vietnamese and born in Vietnam, I cannot let myself forget what the history and culture of Vietnamese Tet
is for me.” Along with the Vietnamese culture, of course, comes the amazing food. “Honestly, I never thought I would become a director for Tet Festival,” said Chris Alanis, marketing director for the Tet Festival. “We did have a lot to learn, and mistakes were made. However, we were able to invite several celebrities to participate at our Meet & Greet booth and reach out to a new demographic via Groupon.” The proceeds from the festival are used to fund cultural experiences and events for high school and college students throughout the next year, including those from our own CSULB Vietnamese Student Association. With nearly two million Vietnamese Americans calling the US their home, it is a uniquely American experience to be able to enjoy their culture right here in Southern California.
11 CULTURE
when the hands you have are spit on for taking jobs no one wants? Where do you go when the land of opportunity shuts its door because you look like a terrorist? Do you cut off your tongue and promise to never speak of your native language? Or do you use a knife to dig in your stomach because it’s the only pain that makes you understand that this is reality and you’re not welcomed.
Home Poem by Soun Oeng Staff Writer
Where do you go when home is no longer yours? Do you climb a wall, follow the North Star and keep running? Because you know if you stop, the drug lords that butchered your father Will come to rape you, sell your body, and force you to pay for the jewelry they stole from the bodies of your neighbors. But where do you go
Where do you go when your mother is sick of cancer and is visiting her beloved desert homeland because she wanted to see her family before time runs out? But on the expected day of her arrival she is interrogated and deported, and you don’t know when you’ll ever see her again, despite she just received her green card. Where must you go when your loving uncle who treats you for Sunday ice cream is taken from your life, because he is undocumented and you know that he is a good man, and he came to America because his country is a war zone.
Is the answer to cut off your feet because running from your problems is cowardly? Or is the answer to pray? Even though God doesn’t seem to be answering no matter how hard you pray? Or do you march at every street corner, with picket signs to let Mr. President know that you are not going anywhere. That your family and ancestors whom are buried under the soil American citizens walk on are forced to know your face, your name, your skin, your eyes, your voice. So where do you go when home is no longer yours? You stay and fight because you know that if you changed one person’s mind, you’ve already won the fight.
Immigrants (We Get the Job Done) Previewing “A Day in the Life of an Undocumented Student” Event By Emily Ayers Contributor On a campus with more than 30,000 students who come from unique backgrounds, it is sometimes difficult to make sure that everyone’s stories are heard and understood. For the students at CSULB who identify as undocumented, being heard has become increasingly important.
This is one of the main goals for major graduate student and Secretary for AB540 and Undocumented Students, Kenia Duarte. Since Fall 2016, she has been working to organize “A Day in the Life of an Undocumented Student,” where people come together to share their experiences. The event will take place Feb. 8 from 4 - 7 p.m. in the Student Union Ballrooms. There will be videos displaying various student stories, a keynote speaker and roundtable discussions that allow students, staff and faculty to engage in conversations with undocumented students. “The point of the event is to touch on a variety of issues like the fact that when people think of immigrants they often think only of Latinos,” said Duarte. “That’s a huge issue because there are immigrants from all over the world, so it is crucial to have these types of conversations where people can open up and tell their stories.”
“When I attended, it was very emotional and full of great information,” said Duarte. “It felt like a safe space for me and everyone really felt welcomed and able to open up. After that experience, I wanted to continue it and make it even bigger, which it seems like this year it is going to be.” Duarte said the event will touch on issues relating to the country’s political climate, but she doesn’t want that to be the main-focus. She said the goal is to allow everyone to ask questions and to learn from one another. Not only members from the CSULB community, but also people who aren’t on campus will offer unique perspectives. “I didn’t come out as undocumented until after high school,” said Duarte. “It is definitely a dark place to be when you feel like you can’t be honest about your situation and you feel lonely, but eventually, because of events like this one you can really start to open up.” During last year’s event, Duarte had an
encounter with someone who didn’t realize that there are undocumented students in the United States, let alone on CSULB’s campus. Duarte recalls that although she was shocked, being able to teach people who are either misinformed or not informed enough makes it worthwhile. A big part of the event is also meant to show the intersectionality of what it can mean to be an undocumented student. Some people identify as queer and undocumented and sometimes that can be difficult. “If there’s anyone in the crowd that is still hidden and unsure about coming out, my message would be [that] we are here, so have hope and let’s move forward,” said Duarte. “We really just want to create a space that allows for there to be a mutual understanding that no matter what the political climate is, we are human beings and we are here. We are just trying to move forward and we aren’t trying to move back.”
12 ENTERTAINMENT
Movies on the House: Moana Exploring an ocean of emotions By Alexis Cruz Social Media Manager Disney’s latest princess movie “Moana,” is a thrilling tale that exposes its viewers to an ocean of feelings. It lives up to the hype and has a great rewatch value. The film was directed by the powerhouse duo Ron Clements and John Musker, who have directed other famed Disney films such as “The Little Mermaid,” “Aladdin” and “Hercules,” and can proudly add this movie to their repertoire. When the two are combined with the musical talents of Lin-Manuel
Miranda, they create a beautiful Polynesian masterpiece. For a voice acting newbie, Auil’i Cravalho’s performance is spectacular as she is paints Moana as a strong woman and genuinely loves her people and can belt a note or two. Opposite to Cravalho, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s stunt as Maui has the personality to appeal to children and adults alike. Though it contains the stereotypical Disney tropes, such as a princess rebelling against a parental figure, having an animal sidekick and containing easter eggs from other
Disney movies, the musical score f lowed beautifully with the plot as if they were one in the same. The musical scenes would not be the same and would not hold the same emotional impact without them. It has only been a couple of months since the film’s release, but I have seen “Moana” twice. I listen to the soundtrack whenever I need cheering up, yet I always tear up when I think about a certain scene. You’ll know it when you see it. This film is a memorable Disney princess movie that will be a favorite for generations to come.
“Moana” Length: 1 hr 47m Directed By: Ron Clements, John Musker, Don Hall and Chris Williams Starring: Auli’i Cravalho, Dwayne Johnson, Rachel House, Temuera Morrison, Jemaine Clement, Nicole Schezinger and Alan Tudyk. Moana will be free to all students on Feb. 8 and 9 at 3:30, 6:00, and 8:30 p.m. in the USU Beach Auditorium.
Explosive Diesel “xXx: Return of Xander Cage” is sure to entertain By R. Ray Robinson Staff Writer Already the third week of school and still a billion things to do. Check out books, acquire classes, working a job— among other things. Might as well write a ten-page tragedy about how stressful life is. But after getting into classes, buying books and making sure to not miss lunch from a fast paced schedule, I did something different. I relaxed by watching the action thriller “xXx: The Return of Xander Cage.” After the last two films and the “Fate of Furious” rolling by, Vin Diesel is rolling like thunder with his action-packed excellence. With D.J. Caruso directing, the film begins with
NSA Agent Augustus Gibbons (Samuel L. Jackson), who apparently gets killed by a falling satellite. Afterwards, when an antagonistic group led by Xiang (Donnie Yen) winds up stealing the C.I.A.’s “Pandora’s Box” exile and former xXx operative Xander Cage is called for duty. His mission is to gather his team and use their smarts, skills and Xander’s “one-man army” stature up to his enemies while acquiring the stolen box. Although many of the action sequences are cliché, they still give the audience that feel-good martial-arts astonishment. With road-rollerblading and high-speed chases, it is somewhat reminiscent to “Fast and Furious” series which have you at the edge of your seat. The action scenes around Diesel and Yen give the audience that classic “Mission Impossible” feel. The scenes range from racing jet skis into the ocean to strategic acrobatic vividness and nonstop “Ip Man” style
action the second they duke it out with one another. It even carries kick-ass, gun-slinging girls like Adele Wolff (Ruby Rose), a member of Xander’s crew, and the antihero Serena Unger (Deepika Padukone). The finale hits you with West Coast warlord Ice Cube blasting out as Darius Stone, assisting his teammates with the roll call “X takes care of its own.” “xXx: Return of Xander Cage” may not be a Stanley Kubrick masterpiece nor a Golden Globe “Moonlight,” however, the film has it all. It has great
action, girls with guns and Ice Cube for having Xander Cage’s back. If you have not already seen the film, be thrilled by “xXx: Return of Xander Cage.”
“xXx: Return of Xander Cage” Length: 1 hr 47m Directed By: D.J. Caruso Written By: Rich Wilkes and F. Scott Frazier Starring: Vin Diesel, Donnie Yen, Deepika Padukone, Kris Wu, Ruby Rose, Tony Jaa, Nina Dobrev, Rory McCann, Toni Collette, Samuel L. Jackson, Ice Cube and Tony Gonzalez
Single vs. multiplayer: there is no right answer By Peter R. Clark Entertainment Editor
Someone asked me recently, “What is your opinion on single-player games vs. massive multiplayer ones?” I responded with “How much time do you have?” It’s a simple concept really. Both genres are story-rich worlds, full of places to explore and content to discover. However, there is one thing that makes them different— other people. A s Jea n-Pau l Sa r tre once sa id “Hell is ot her people.” He isn’t wrong. Truly the worst experience of any massive multiplayer online roleplaying game (MMORPG) is the fact that other people exist. Which makes the case for single-player games being better, right? Well, that’s where you’re a little off. Perhaps I’m a bit of a masochist, but it’s because of the fact that there are other assholes running around that I enjoy MMOs. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Single-player games have their merits too. The great thing about single-player games is that they offer a diverse world with a large enthralling story. This is where single-player games edge a bit ahead of MMOs. While MMOs do provide a great engrossing stories, they can’t truly give as rich of a story as singleplayer games.
This may be a by-product of not having to worry about things like balancing, diverse character classes, and server maintenance. MMOs suffer from having complex ideas that while, similar between games, hinder the game’s ability to be anything but an MMO. Some could argue that a game like The Elder Scrolls Online achieves a balance between MMO and single-player status. I would mostly agree. However, once you enter a major city all feelings of being part of single-player game fade away when you see a person named “xxAwesomeSaucexx” walking around. The same could be said for Guild Wars 2 or Neverwinter. They both have great stories, and a vast, varied world. But they all suffer from the aforementioned problem: other people. While some might say that these games are just underpopulated enough that encountering another player is rare, the immersion is blown when you see another person. I suppose you could see it from a different perspective though. I have often found myself feeling lonely in a singleplayer game. Everything in a single-player game is stagnant. Non-player characters (NPCs) move when they are told to. They follow you closely, or when scripted to, open a door, for example. They rarely do things that are unexpected. Technology just isn’t that far along yet. So while a single-player game offers a richer story, and maybe more complex mechanics, they can feel dead. Some would argue that with a game like The Witcher 3, or a heavily modded Skyrim, the world can feel alive. But all you’re doing is flooding the world with
pre-programmed NPCs that are assigned to a specific task. Once they do that task, they start all over. There is little to no autonomy among NPCs. And if there is some, it is very basic. That’s where MMOs shine. While it’s annoying to see some dude running around with a stupid name, at least I feel like there is another person here with me doing the same shit that I’m doing. Another huge problem is that currently not a lot of good games are coming out. Currently, MMOs have been on a steady decline for years now and we aren’t likely to see another great MMO for at least another year. Crowfall looks great, sure, but that’s still got a long time until even a beta is released. MMOs made by huge companies (or AAA) are unlikely to be made in the capacity that they once were. Older AAA MMOs are great, and are what I play mostly these days. At the same time, single-player games have also been slowly declining. It has been quite a while since I’ve played a single-player game that I’ve enjoyed enough to beat. Off the top of my head, the last one that took a significant portion of my time was Fallout 4. Prior to that? Dragon Age: Inquisition, maybe. The ones being released now aren’t exactly all that appealing or interesting. Recently, I tried playing Doom 4 and I couldn’t get into it. Same goes for the Witcher 3 and Deus Ex. There was just something about them that I didn’t like. I suppose this is where things get difficult, huh? It’s hard to decide between
“At least I know there is another person here doing the same shit that I’m doing.”
ENTERTAINMENT
One vs. Many: A Great Debate
13
the two. I love them both. They both offer two unique things. Either I get a community that I communicate with in-game, or I get a community that I communicates with me outside of the game (but really who does that?). I suppose that’s what it all comes down to: community. I honestly can’t decide. As much as I love single-player games, I also love MMOs. I think I might currently like MMOs slightly more, but both markets are a little bland at the moment. I haven’t played a good singleplayer game in a while, and a good MMO hasn’t been released either. While it is true that singleplayer games are more common right now, the MMOs that have been around for awhile have been occupying my time. I don’t know. There is not right or wrong answer here. I could go on and on about this, and sometimes I have with my friends. There are just so many factors to take into account, and I can’t cover them all in this small amount of space. They are both good in their own ways, and choosing would be like choosing your favorite child. It’s usually whoever is present at the time.
14 MUSIC
Artist Spotlight: Ladies’ Code
Generation Revolution The evolution of political messages in music By Nancy Soriano Contributor
By Erick Zepeda Contributor
Ilustration by John Mueller Graphics Illustrator
I know — K-Pop fandoms can be truly repulsive. The climate may appear to be some romanticized tarpit reminiscent of self-proclaimed “Anglophiles” and weaboos. Ladies’ Code changed that for me. Frequently forced to listen to Korean Pop by a growing number of friends, I had grown indifferent to it. When somebody suggested I watch the video for “Galaxy,” I was shocked to find that the production design, shot composition, and editing were so well crafted that I didn’t notice I was also enjoying the song. Formerly
a
five-piece
group,
Ladies’ Code underwent a more somber restructuring after the deaths of two of their members. Now a trio, they maintain an understandably mature and powerful presence. Rather than to attempt to continue a bright, cheery style, the group allows their music and performances to reflect the tragedy to reveal unrelenting beauty. Well written, choreographed, and consistently unique, it is wise to check this group out before making any judgements on the genre. Suggested Songs: “The Rain,” “Galaxy”
Art is inherently political whether you choose to interpret it that way or take it for its aesthetic. Probably the most famous example of American protest music is Woody Guthrie’s “This Machine Kills Fascists” movement. Guthrie wrote songs about the experiences of the Dust Bowl migrants and, more famously, World War II. His message has since inspired generations of artists to approach and write protest music. Another example of American protest music comes in the form of Aretha Franklin’s “Respect.” Though it was originally an Otis Redding song, Franklin made it her own by exhibiting a voice for female empowerment and social acceptance. If that doesn’t convince you that “Respect” is a protest song, its release date was 1967, an important year for social movements in America such as the Civil Rights and Anti-War movements. Music today is no different. Accompanying a number of the social movements that are occurring today, the most pertinent to Trump’s presidency is the “Our First 100 Days” project. The movement’s goal is to will release a song every day for the first hundred days of the new presidency. Artists like Angel Olsen, Toro Y Moi and PWR BTTM have already contributed to the project. The profits made from this project go directly into funding organizations that are “working on the front lines of climate, women’s rights, immigration and fairness.” This project is produced by a nonprofit agency called Revolutions Per Minute (RPM) that gives artists the support and resources for their “activism and philanthropy.” Founded in 2005 by various musicians, managers and advisors from bands such as Pearl Jam and R.E.M., RPM helps to bring funding and attention to over 43 social issues which include the environment, civic engagement, racial justice, etc. Even if you don’t think that musical
protest has the power to change politics, it’s still a means of documentation for the times in which it written and released. It also
provides an outlet for artists and their fans. In addition, musical activism isn’t inherent to America. Tryo, a French band
that takes a left wing stance, often criticizes local and international politicians. Gorillaz, a virtual band from England, shares opinions about things happening abroad as well as locally. For example, they recently released a new single called “Hallelujah Money” in direct protest of Trump’s inauguration. Some fans were confused by this, because they seem to have forgotten the Gorillaz’s repertoire like “Kids With Guns,” “Dirty Harry” and “Plastic Beach”. La Santa Cecilia, a critically acclaimed MexicanAmerican band, can often be seen at marches and protests. They have also released videos like “Ice El Hielo,” which “portrays the problem of illegal immigration from the perspective of undocumented immigrants.,” according to an article from the Huffington Post. Artists also use their live performances to send messages. Beyonce’s 2014 VMA performance in front of the word “Feminist” was talked about extensively. Devendra Banhart, at his performance at The Mayan, brought up two speakers that spoke about the refugee ban and deportation within the Los Angeles County respectively. And if you’re looking for results, look no further than Chance the Rapper’s free concert that encouraged youth to vote by leading them to an early voting site the night before the election. According to Cook County officials, there was a 24-percent increase in the early voting population. It would be wrong to invalidate your interpretation. so take music as you like, but remember — this machine kills fascists. Systemic resistance be damned. For more information on “Our First 100 Days”, visit https://ourfirst100days. bandcamp.com/. For more information on Revolutions Per Minute, visit http://revolutionsperminute. net/.
15 MUSIC
A Night of Thriving Rock Headlining band Seratones kick off 2017 with a memorable show Words and photos by Isaura Aceves Contributor On Jan. 26, the Seratones headlined a show at The Echo in Los Angeles. The openers were the hard rock band Ever So Android and the folk rock band Communist Daughter. Ever So Android
Connor Davis of the Seratones shredding his guitar with non-stop solos and gritty riffs.
Jonny Solomon from Communist Daughter.
opened the night with distorted hard guitars and powerful, gut-wrenching vocals. They set the tone for the rest of the show with the energy that woke us up from our sleepy stupor. The following band, Communist Daughter, is a feel-good, mellow folk band from Minneapolis that played harmonies which were sweet to the ear. In comparison from the Seratones and Ever So Android, Communist Daughter was the break that allowed us to catch our breath through their gentle vocals. The Seratones know how to put on a show. Every moment, there’s something occurring on stage.
richness that melted me away while the bass and drums kept the energy going, making it impossible to stand still. AJ started singing at a Baptist church in Louisiana, but it’s as if she never left because experiencing her voice live was almost a religious experience. The Seratones are centered around their thriving rhythm and vocals. There are undertones of soul combined with the fierceness of southern garage rock, creating the band’s unique sound. By the end of their set, they started to play the gritty and fast-paced guitar
“Her vocals held a gospel touch and richness that melted me away while the bass and drums kept the energy going.”
From guitar solos to high notes to the lead singer walking up and down the stage. If you look away for a second, you could miss a crucial moment of the performance. For a moment AJ Haynes, the frontwoman of the Seratones, sang next to the guitarist, but in a blink of an eye, she was sitting at the edge of the stage with the mic singing passionately to the audience. This was just a small taste of what the rest of the show had in store for the audience. AJ stood on stage with such fierceness and charisma the whole night. She played her guitar all over the stage and bellowed notes that kept the crowd’s ears ringing. Her vocals held a gospel touch and
riffs from their song, “Trees.” AJ soon stepped down from the stage and sang in the middle of the crowd. She danced and headbanged with the audience as she made her way all around the venue. Then, once the audience thought the show was over and couldn’t get any better, they came back for an encore. The audience went wild singing along as she came by serenading anyone in her way. At one point, she accidently hit a photographer with her mic chord. Then, she came running towards the photographer, hugged them, then sang in their ear as the photographer became a tangled mess of cords. Even though it may feel like the world is
falling apart right now, the Seratones gave us an unforgettable experience for 2017.
Hope Simpson from Ever So Android giving the crowd a taste of wild energy.
AJ Haynes joins the crowd during their encore, ending the night with a bang.
16 ATHLETICS
Settling the Score Men’s basketball struggles during week; bounces back against UC Irvine Words and Photos by Alejandro Ramos Editor-in-Chief After getting off to a rough start during the week, Long Beach State men’s basketball bounced back with a hard-fought victory over UC Irvine in the Black and Blue Rivalry. The Long Beach State team beat out their opponents 72-63 in a game that was determined by strong defense. UC Irvine was held to 28% from the field in the first half, which gave the Beach a chance to get ahead and grind out the win. “The first half was the best defensive half we’ve had of the year,” said Coach Dan Monson.
Several of the team’s younger players proved proved their worth as well. Freshman guards Loren Jackson and Jordan Griffin came out and contributed in a game that required every player to pitch in. Loren Jackson put up a career-high 15 points along with 2 assists and 3 steals. Jordan Griffin made a single 3-point shot but there’s no doubting how important it was given how close the game was at times. Overall, Monson expressed his pleasure with the way the players have adapted to the changes in the line-ups.
“We just need to learn how to win.” -Evan Payne on road games Justin Bibbins and Evan Payne showed up and performed well, as expected. The pair bolstered the offense by putting up double figures each and nine of the team’s 14 assists. At this point, it would be a surprise if these seasoned players didn’t produce decent numbers. Instead, the real surprise came from players that were overlooked until the loss of starters Gabe Levin and Noah Blackwell to injury gave them a chance to step up. Roschon Prince put up 9 points and a team-leading 10 rebounds, which left him just shy of his 8th double-double. Earlier in the week, Prince put up 21 points with 12 rebounds in the loss against CSU Northridge. Needless to say, his play has been tremendous as of late and has helped the team succeed.
“It takes some adjustment on both ends of the court,” said Monson. Jackson gave his two cents on the way they won and may continue winning. He broke it down by saying the game is based on runs. “We just said, ‘We’re going to get this stop and make this our run,’” said Jackson. Evan Payne praised team for the way they got stops and recovered from turnovers they made. This was only one game, though. Looking ahead Payne had only a few words to say. “We just need to learn how to win,” said Evan Payne. Men’s basketball next plays on the road against UC Riverside on February 9 at 7 p.m.
(Above) Junior guard Evan Payne takes a jump shot. (Below, top) Freshman guard Loren Jackson goes up to contest a shot from UC Irvine guard Martin Jaron. (Below, middle) UC Irvine guard Martin Jaron drives into the paint. (Below, bottom) Junior forward Roschon Prince and UC Irvine guard Spencer Rivers stand ready to grab a rebound.