Issue 78.5
Intro
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Katie Cortez, Editor in Chief editorinchief@lbunion.com Richard Mejia, Managing Editor manager@lbunion.com Jack Villalba, Assistant Managing Editor assistmanager@lbunion.com Ashley Rodriguez, Advertising Executive ashley.lbunion@gmail.com Nathan Zankich, Web Manager web@lbunion.com Amanda Del Cid, Social Media Manager
By Peter Maculay
Illustration by John Mueller
Andrew Linde, Podcast Producer ART & DESIGN
February 20-March 20: The energies of Pisces
Sam Orihuela, Art Director artdirector@lbunion.com Ruby Trinh, Assistant Art Director John Mueller, Graphics Illustrator illustration@lbunion.com EDITORIAL Joel Martinez, News Editor news@lbunion.com Elizabeth Nguyen, Opinions Editor opinions@lbunion.com Bailey Mount, Community Editor community@lbunion.com Kaila-Marie Hardaway, Food Editor food@lbunion.com
Aries: You will be engaged in some sort of fun adventure! However, it’s not all fun and games if someone gets on your bad side because Aries will attack if provoked, but you might want to slow down and store up energy for your birthday next month. Taurus: As the strongest sign of the zodiac, you will help others establish a foothold in their lives and build them up for self improvement. As a result, you will be helping
William Odis Martin, Athletics Editor athletics@lbunion.com Amanda Dominguez-Chio, Culture Editor amanda@lbunion.com Madison Gallegos, Culture Editor madison@lbunion.com Elliott Gatica, Music Editor music@lbunion.com Andrew Linde, Entertainment Editor entertainment@lbunion.com Peter R. Clark, Travel Editor travel@lbunion.com
Gemini: You will have an inquisitive and curious mind striving to learn all you can about people and the world; but, don’t party too much and try to refrain from doing anything in excess this month. Cancer: People don’t want to cross you especially when it comes to protecting the wellbeing of your loved ones. Your emotions are highlighted this month under the sign of Pisces and you will thrive by caring and nurturing others. Just try not to forget to nurture your own dreams.
Leo: You will feel like daydreaming this month but remember to not become too lazy because many people see you as a reliable leader. Since Leo is the sign of the middle of achieve middle ground when confronted by emotionally charged situations. Virgo: Your ability to pinpoint analytical precision will help you navigate this month because you will have many tasks on your plate since everyone else is daydreaming under the energies of your complimentary sign Pisces. Libra: Relationships will be priority this month. People will depend on you to bring a sense of peace and balance and provide advice and conversation. This is because why they will exceed at anything under the creative energies of Pisces. Scorpio: You will be more intense and dangerous than usual. But, you will also have
the wind at your back when it comes to any creative endeavors. With the sun in Pisces, awareness and see easily into the motives of others. Sagittarius: Despite all the drama this month, you will come through with your typical comedic sense of humor and use the power of laughter to help everyone including yourself to adapt to all the changes of this past year. You’re too funny! Capricorn: You are so focused on career success and working diligently at your goals but have you taken time out to ponder you dreams in life? Even the unrealistic dreams can come true if you take the leap of faith Capricorn. Aquarius: This month will highlight your life’s work which is to ensure the survival of humanity with your creative and unpredictable critical thinking powers. You people in many situations.
Grim Fandango, Grunion Editor STAFF WRITERS Lauren Hunter, lauren@lbunion.com Sylvana Uribe, sylvana@lbunion.com Emily Ayers, emily@lbunion.com Jordan Daniels, jordan@lbunion.com Alejandro Ramos, alex@lbunion.com Haley Ko, haley@lbunion.com Elizabeth Campos, liz@lbunion.com Matthew Gozzip, matt@lbunion.com Abraham Alapisco, abraham@lbunion.com
Andrew and I want to do the unthinkable and eat every item on the Nugget Bar and Grill’s menu this semester. We have takeitem, and each week we’ll pick our best or worst Nugget meal.
COPY & ASSISTANT EDITORS Carissa Pope, Karen Ruiz, Sheila Sadr, Abril Burstein CONTRIBUTORS Karrie Comfort, Lalig Tarbinian, Maximo Gonzales, Rueben Strickland, Christian O’Keefe, Cindy Garcia, Bradford Chin, Renee Schmiedeberg, Ricardo Alejandro Pulido, Peter Macaulay COVER AND FEATURE DESIGN BY: Sam Orihuela COVER PHOTO BY: Sam Orihuela CONTACT US Long Beach, CA 90815 E-mail: lbunion.info@gmail.com
@UnionWeekly
doesn’t have pizza. That’s where the Nugget Express comes in. True to its name, the Nugget Express has pizza ready to go. It’s located in the food court, closest to the Nugget. Monday through Thursday there is a specialty pizza for each day. Other than those, they have cheese, pepperoni, margherita, meat extravaganza, and 49er pizza. Besides our own preferences, we tried the specials for each day. Except veggie. We’re anti-veggie.
Andrew: My personal favorite for the week was Tuesday’s BBQ Chicken Pizza. The barbeque sauce combined with the chicken topping was exactly the respite I needed while running between classes.
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
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Opinions
Money is Not Merit
By Emily Ayers Staff Writer
Equal opportunity is not what it’s cracked up to be
Illustration by John Mueller Graphics Illustrator
It is widely known that a degree from an Ivy League school means a higher average income as well as better job opportunities. Shutting out low income students from these advantages hinders hope for upward mobility. The country needs to move away from the idea that the wealthy are more entitled to a top tier education than someone from a low-income background. If competitive admissions applies to poor students, the same should go for students who come from wealthy families. Admissions should be based solely on academic achievement and merit, not the amount of money their parents donated to the school. It is a very complex issue that spans beyond the scope of the Ivy League schools changing their admissions process to better embrace diverse groups of students from all socioeconomic backgrounds. It comes down
school that provided tools and resources to get to college, junior and senior year were who strived to attend a four year university, it was a swirl of ACT and SAT testing, lists of backup schools and reach schools, personal Despite the stress, we were all convinced it would be worth it in the end, when we received the glorious manila envelope in the mail declaring our acceptance. But for those students who are not given the same tools and resources, the idea of university can seem unattainable. Many don’t even know where to start in the college application process, and it becomes overwhelming. This is especially true for students from low income families. notion that certain schools are out of reach, even for students whose scores, grades, and extracurricular activities qualify them to apply for some of the nation’s top universities. A recent report from the education and poverty focused Jack-Kent Cooke a selective institution is harder for the highachieving, low income student than for
having accurate individual guidance, they do not try. The question then becomes: how do
opportunities for poor students who are report also found that in Harvard University’s 2014 freshman class, more students came from the top 1 percent than the bottom 50 percent. This statistic alone shows the stark inequality present in the current education system. Although schools claim to have ways action, or athletic recruiting, there are still many factors including the selection process
that are working against these students. Ivy League schools tend to prefer students whose parents attended the fewer spots for low income students. The report mentions, “Harvard admissions rates for legacy students is 30 percent, while the rate for general admission is six percent. In the poor-while admissions to the wealthy is
Just Hear Me Out
schools in low income areas. Every child should have the same access to colleges regardless of income level. College counselors should be available to walk students through the application process and explain SAT and ACT testing. There should be outreach programs that take students on college tours and familiarize them with the idea of higher education. The ultimate goal being: every student has an equal chance of being accepted to the nations Ivy League schools. If our country truly values equality, it’s time the school
By Sylvana Uribe Staff Writer
A student’s account on what it is to be an introvert I don’t hate people, nor do I dread going out in public. It also isn’t a matter of not knowing how to have fun. I’m just another misunderstood introvert. Perhaps author Susan Cain phrased it best. During a 2012 TED Talk, she asked, “why are we making introverts feel so guilty
invitations for a night out. The trouble is
Understanding the guilt requires a basic grasp of what it means to be an introvert. Introverts tend to think inward and are often consumed with their thoughts and emotions, which gives them a greater sense of mental stimulation. Extroverts on the other hand, increase their mental stimulation through their interactions with others. This group is often viewed as outgoing, whereas introverts are labeled as shy and reserved. My extroverted friends struggle to understand the one problem I have with
because I can’t match their enthusiasm when venturing into the world. I’ve grown tired with feeling guilty for craving a bit of solitude. Being alone with my thoughts encourages me to be creative and freely seek inspiration. I need time to sit with my ideas before gathering the strength and assertiveness to voice what’s in my head. However, I’ve learned to survive in a world that views the loudest one in the room as the strongest by becoming a pseudo-extrovert. I often channel this type of person whenever
plead and pout as if denying a Taco Tuesday invite means my social life is over. If the apprehension shows on my face, my friends
I become passionate about a certain cause. surging through Long Beach. I’m willing to step out of character and immerse myself into the bigger crowds not only for the sake of gathering blog or Union Weekly material, but because it genuinely makes me happy. Passing as an extrovert in these settings has sparked friendships with people I dubbed as local celebs and learn more about the place I call home. I step out of my normal behavior because I want to continue collecting the words and emotions to convey what I’ve grown to love. Recently, I encountered a term that describes my yearning to fall into the arms of seclusion and recharge. This term is
can entail a quick yoga session or channeling
Henry David Thoreau and literally secluding themselves in nature. Or in my case, I forego making plans with others for time alone at home with a cup of chamomile tea, lost between the pages of a book. Just because many introverts ask for time to retreat from others doesn’t mean they’ve stopped loving you, so can we loosen up on have we drifted away from the idea that it’s acceptable to unplug and wander within our up against the other because the world needs the voices of both extroverts and introverts. All I ask is that extroverts open themselves up to listening and creating a space where introverts can speak up. In turn, introverts like myself will do our best to let you in on what’s cooped up in our heads.
Community
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Coming Home The CSULB Dream Success Center offers students a different experience abroad. By Elizabeth Campos Staff Writer The topic of immigration brings controversy as well as supporters. With it also comes the lives of many people who look for better opportunities that are often limited due to their legal status. Included with those who stand beneath the curtain of the American Dream are undocumented students. They are stuck in between what they can and what they want to do. They are called the Dreamers. While this term might come from the general requirements of the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act, these individuals. Being brought to the United States as
Photos taken from Noberto Lopez’s Facebook
as well: the chance to visit home.
arrival
A study abroad program created with the purpose of allowing Dreamers to visit their home country, the process lets them temporarily return to where they came from. This was an opportunity that Norberto
Following that was
Dreamer, was unable to pass up. Lopez recently was able to visit his home country and get immersed in the
C u e r n av a c a , Morelos. T h e students spent time in their hometowns with family. Lopez was much smaller The streets of Mexico City make students feel at home when he lived here. Now, a great deal of time had passed. really is over there,” said Lopez. “Instead of looking up, I was looking down,” For many of the Dreamers who once lived there, it is home. The little boy who had lived here was a lot Dreamers all have a story to tell and there are no amount of words or legal “[That was] the thing that impacted me the most.” program did for them. When in Cuernavaca, Lopez attended a The organizers of the program are progressive Spanish speaking school named planning a Summer 2016 study abroad CETLALIC where he learned of social opportunity for more qualifying students. Information on the upcoming program There, he also got to listen to activists of can he found here: the area as well as speak and write Spanish. A moment that resonated with him the most
He and 29 other Dreamer students were
Lopez took to the task of raising money for his airfare and other T h r o u g h Facebook he organized a fundraiser in his home where he sold tacos, aguas frescas and more with the help of his mother and family members to raise money. The day of the from Los Angeles important question was clouding both they and their
Norberto Lopez in front of the Teotihuacan Pyramids children, most Dreamers are eligible for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. The program allows children who came to the United States before their 16th birthday and are currently or have graduated school to apply for a deferring period of up to two years. Being a part of the program does get some They are able to refocus on their education without fear of deportation.
Would they be able to come back
into the United States? The advanced parole authorization does and the possibility of immigration reforms changing is present. When asked if he was scared, Lopez calmly
back a group of 30 students with permission to leave the country. organize ourselves,” he said. “Send one back, you send all of us back.”
to
Ja l i s c o — h i s hometown—
In the U.S., he had always only seen it on a screen. “When see it, actually standing in front of it, Lopez said. When the opportunity of studying abroad arises,
a lot of people think of.
An activist speaks at CETLALIC speaks of important issues
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News
Black Student Union Preach Equality, Collaborate with Nation of Islam Leaders from both organizations speak on timely issues on campus Words and photos by Amanda Del Cid Social Media Manager The Black Student Union was host to many outside of the black community for its Feb.11 open meeting. “We have the Muslim¬ student association and interfaith here at the black student union meeting, announced a member. The group hosted Nation of Islam speaker Salih Muhammad, who was said to be “a profound speaker” in the BSUs introduction of him. The announcer also claimed that the reasoning behind having Muhammad speak at the BSU meeting came from the San Bernardino incident stating that the media demonized the “riots” for the #BlackLivesMatter incidents and the same has happened with the reputation of Islam “First they called it a murder mission then they changed... the frame to Muslim killers.” He said of the media. “Why demonized the name of Islam or out this act.” unifying the struggles of the black and Muslim people’s. As a graduate from UC Berkeley, Salih now travels as a representative of the Nation of Islam and is also the dxecutive director of the African Black Coalition. “I really want to help us understand,” said Muhammad. “We live in a world where
black lives obviously do not matter, we live in a world where a concept of power is retweets on Twitter...how do we make sense of this reality.” Muhammad not only refers to the Qur’an but the Bible to bring in ideas and call to action to “end the oppression” that the black American faces. Muhammad refers to the “Light of Islam” and the means of the proper knowledge we can illuminate the darkness of this society.” Muhammad also states that during the slave trade into America, one-third of the Yeasmin Ema, health care administration majorand Muslim student said “I felt that he was more about the oppression of the black people than Islam.” Ema feels that although he represented the Nation of Islam he said things that aren’t entirely cohesive to her beliefs. Her biggest concern was his use of “an eye for an eye” stating that in Islam “if the enemy wants to reconcile with peace than we want peace.” Muhammad, unwilling to give a full interview merely stated that “the black youth must organize.” A theme that was apparent throughout his speech.
“I felt that he was more about the oppression of the black people than Islam.”
A member of the Black Student Union addressed the gathering preceding the meeting’s guest speaker, above; Salih Muhammad, speaker from the Nation of Islam and associate to the African Black Coalition, speaks to the CSULB Black Student Union about the common struggles of the Muslim and Black American (Amanda Del Cid/Union Weekly)
Obituary: Rose Chelsea Lubang Nursing student succumbed to unknown causes By Jordan Daniels Staff Writer
Everyone will remember the way she smiled. Rose Chelsea Lubang. It’s a name that some never knew and many will never forget. The freshman nursing student at California State University, Long Beach, died Wednesday of unknown causes after being in the hospital for severe chest pains. Lubang had graduated from Long Beach Polytechnic High as part of the class of 2015 and was 18 years old when she died. “I remember Rose as a conscientious student and very respectful,” said Lubang’s high school history teacher Christine Tram. Friends and teachers remember Lubang as being easy to work with and was often sought out to be a project partner. She’s remembered as being kind-hearted and never speaking bad about others, as if she was the epitome of altruism. People who
knew Lubang say that it was her smile that drew them in, often times hanging around her just to feel the light of her radiance. “She just had this way of brightening your day with her smile and the way she spoke to you,” said japanese teacher Susan Watson. “She was one of the kindest students I have ever had the privilege to teach.” Loved by family and friends, Rose will be missed. In the words of her Japanese sensei, “The world is going to be a sadder place without her in it.” A GoFundMe has been created to help cover the expenses for Rose’s service. To donate, go to https://www.gofundme. com/2mn6qqbs
Lubang was a freshman starting her college career in the nursing proram before her untimely death (Rose Lubang/Facebook)
News
Writing for “Peace in Diversity” Essay contest open to CSULB students By Richard Mejia Managing Editor The MLK Celebration Planning Committee has extended the deadline for their MLK essay content to Monday, Feb. 15. The contest is open to current Cal State, Long Beach students and is focused around personal experiences or observations that
numerous events in honor of Black History Month, this contest provides an opportunity
message of justice, change, peace, and doing for others. The 17th MLK Celebration will be held in the USU Ballrooms on Friday, Feb. 19 at noon. The event will feature poets, singers, dancers, speakers and others as they
think critically about what it means to have peace in diversity,” said committee member
not merely a distant goal that we seek, but a means by which we arrive at that goal.” The winner will receive a plaque from the committee, a CSULB sweatshirt, and will read the essay as part of the event program. In addition to these awards, the winning essay will be published in the Union Weekly.
present in todays society, and how we are still striving to achieve peace in diversity.” All original essays are to require to be a minimum of 500 words, double spaced and at 12-point font in Times New Roman. Submissions must be sent to Taylor. Buhler-Scott@csulb.edu along with all contact information and student id number.
by spreading personal and heartfelt stories to potentially change the lives of students on campus.
and performers weare bringing from the community, students who attend will hopefully leave with a better understanding
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Food
Zero Express A new boba hot-spot located in CSULB’s backyard
It was the Sunday night before Spring
right in CSULB’s own backyard. I was driving home after having a heavy, intense, and 7/11 on Atherton and Palo Verde to buy some milk so I could make some chocolate milk to comfort me and help me sleep. As I pulled in the parking lot, I saw some bright lights coming from one of the stores next to the 7/11, and it just so happened to be
three minutes before midnight. I said to my self in awe, “What is this place?” Curiously, I looked through the windows of this Zero Express and opened the door. A cashier told me they were just about to close in three minutes but they could still make me something. My friend Cindy mentioned this new boba place once or twice, and mentioned that it was right by my house and I had to try it. I ran into her earlier that night and she asked me if I had tried Zero Express yet. She recommended I try their “Matchata,” a mix of a Mexican classic “horchata” and green tea. I had such a bizarre night that night, that this drink at the moment sounded perfect for my nightcap. It was so ironic that I ended up there that night, especially after being told by my friend to try it that day. So I did it. I ordered the “Matchata” and the cashier Eric asked me if I wanted the option to have my drink put in a glass milk bottle. I was instantly reminded of Nintendo 64’s “The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask,” where the main character, Link, buys magic milk from the town’s milk bar called “Chateau Romani.” It brought me back nostalgia from the 90’s, so I had to get it! The cashier’s attitude was so awesome and friendly; we made great conversation. We talked about the how Zero Express is new in the area. I was a little pissed though, because Zero Express used to be a sushi
Story and photos by Ricardo Alejandro Pulido Contributor
bar that I loved to go to buy my crunch and Philadelphia rolls. Before, I could walk right down the street and have my sushi whenever
got home, I put on Quentin Tarantino’s “Kill Bill” with French audio, and opened my milk
and amazing! It was my halo to a night of madness and I knew then that I found a gold mine, a diamond in the rough in CSULB’s backyard. Their bright lights outside just invited me into a night of happiness and everything turned out ok. All of their drinks are made fresh with real fruit and boba is optional as well. They
day and be surprised with greatness. Their most expensive drink on the menu and goes for $4.50. Their “Orange Mojito” has that will keep you wanting more while their “Strawberry Milk” has a sweetness to it. It’s made with real strawberries that can make you feel comforted and gets you hooked! All the prices are perfect for students on a budget and you can have a great time and conversation with friends while you watch their big screen TV on the wall synced with the music playing. The interior of the Zero Express is very modern and the also available which makes it a great place to have a drink and work on homework by your self or with friends. If you are involved with a club on campus, Zero Express can help you with fundraising as well. They even have a free tip jar for customers! I discovered this jar as I
you could keep for your self, or give to a friend. My tip of the day said, “Where there is life, there is hope.” It gave me so much beautiful insight and it brought a smile to my
face that day I picked it out from the jar! I always leave Zero Express feeling great from their warm and positive vibes. I found that at Zero Express, there is a happy smile shared with friends, good moments and great conversation, while enjoying their amazing Zero Express is located at 1787 Palo Verde Avenue, Long Beach, California 90815.
FEATURE
Leaders of Tomorrow Inspiring tales from startup entrepreneurs
By Elizabeth Campos
Photo credit: Cindy Garcia
In the midst of graduating, internships and working
the amount of time that
to order.
so.
pride in. her degree, that is not what she wants.
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FEATURE FEATURE
By Lauren Hunter Who would have thought that athletes and hungover millennials would have been the springboard for a truly amazing idea that would sooner lead to an equally great product. Liquid I.V. is that exact product. With its founders Brandin Cohen,CEO and Hayden Fulstone,CGO (Chief Give-Back Officer) at the helm, this product is worth looking into and the story is an inspiration to aspiring entrepreneurs. Liquid I.V. is a packet of powder that when mixed with water is extremely hydrating and beneficial to our bodies. The beginnings of Liquid I.V. all started when Cohen and Fulstone noticed athletes and people with hangovers were drinking Pedialyte to help rehydrate themselves. They set out to create an adult version of the drink that was even healthier and more hydrating than Pedialyte. When conducting the preliminary research, they discovered Oral Rehydration Therapy (ORT). ORT was first used in developing third world countries and it is essentially electrolytes, glucose, and water. They took this already amazing technology and decided to bring it home and distribute it to the masses. What is truly inspiring to young entrepreneurs was when this “first started it was actually more of a hobby. We all still had our jobs. We got so busy and got traction and all this excitement around it we basically had to quit our jobs. This was at the end of 2013. As far as getting investors what we did is we all invested our own money in the very beginning and then we got a little bit of funding from family and friends” according to Fulstone. This was just a brilliant idea that turned into a great hobby and took off and built itself into something bigger and better. Once the ball got rolling, there was no spotting them. They met with a beverage chemist and together they decided what
needed to be in the drink and also how to make it taste great. Liquid I.V. is made up of mined salt, potassium, pure beet sugar and water. It offers five essential vitamins, C, B3, B5, B6 and B12. All these ingredients combine to make a drink that improves athletic performances, can helps fight jet lag, promotes improved body composition, reduces signs of aging and improves complexion and also increases mental clarity and energy. 2016 is starting off great for Liquid I.V., they were named top product at the ECRM in Las Vegas. The ECRM is a Diet and Sports Nutrition Conference. “We don’t want to run too fast. We want to crawl before we walk before we run” explained Fulstone. Liquid I.V. will slowly start to creep into major urban hubs around the United States starting as early as next year. One of the great things about their business taking off is now they can start giving back. Fulstone will be making a trip in April to Haiti with connection to the Hands Together Organization. Hands Together is a missionary started by Father Tom. Hayden will be meeting with Father Tom and the children of his mission. He plans to help the children there that are
extremely
malnourished. Liquid I.V. has already sent many packets over to Haiti to start helping. Hayden and Brandin hope that they can expand further than Haiti and reach many more in need in the near and distant future. All this greatness came from a simple idea. It makes it easy for any young entrepreneur to look up to an example set like this and believe in their dreams. Cohen had some advice for people that ever want to start their own businesses and when asked he explained it like this: Obviously it’s a difficult question because you kind of get involved in this and you don’t really know exactly where you’re going when you get started but the key for me is you have to believe in yourself and you have to, no matter what everyone else is saying you just going to keep pushing forward. Surround yourself with the right people. Get the right mentors in place. There has to be a little bit of ignorance when you go in because it’s so hard to start something from scratch.” Fulstone offered up his advice as well he says to “work hard and don’t give up because it’s always harder than you think. It’s always harder and takes more time to do things and to achieve the things you and want to achieve. Continue to try your best and be passionate. Trust your instincts. Don’t give up because there’s always going to be obstacles. It always takes longer than you expect and it’s harder than you expect, so stick with it”. Liquid I.V. is a great product with a great story to back it up. And now that they are established they can help others in need. It is proof that a simple spark can become a great flame and to any young aspiring entrepreneur, even your smallest ideas could become something great and not just for yourself, but for others. Photo credit: Liquid I.V.’s Facebook page
FEATURE FEATURE
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path for his future. He ended up attending Hughes Middle School and then Long Beach Polytechnic High School where he was stunned by the high level of talent. “In Paramount, I thought I was going to the NBA,” Strickland said. “I was a really key player on the rec[reation] league team. So I dreaded moving to Long Beach, but it was the best thing that has ever happened to me because it exposed me to a whole new level of genius,” which he decided to capitalize on. Strickland’s entrepreneurial mindset has been part of his makeup since he was a child. It was always about being his own boss; a lofty notion for many 21-year-olds today who feel starting a business is an later was never in the cards. “My mom was the kind of parent to always
By Emily Ayers as a person who organizes and manages any enterprise usually with considerable initiative and risk. All the qualities of which can be found in Rueben Strickland, the creator and founder of “Rise Long Beach,” a website for the young talent in the city. Started almost a year ago, Rise Long Beach is a platform to raise exposure for local artists, musicians, writers, photographers, designers and athletes. The site includes sections
Photo credit: Rueben Strickland (top), Christian O’Keefe (bottom)
interviews and video clips. Strickland also organizes various events throughout the city as another form of promotion. Last year’s Rise Art Show was able to raise money as well as provide a place for artists to showcase their works. In a city bursting with nearly 500,000 residents as well as a rich culture and historical roots, the website taps into these diverse groups of people and provides an intimate way for them to be seen and heard. For Strickland, it is the positive feedback that “Just seeing athletes in the city whose determination to do better is to get on my website is crazy,” said Strickland. “The best part about it all is when people come up to me and say they have been checking out what I am doing. I love that more than anything.” Moving to Long Beach from the city of Paramount in eighth grade, Strickland had planned to follow his friends to Paramount High School. However, Strickland’s mother didn’t see that as the best
activities just so I wasn’t sitting around. I was even on a bowling team.” Strickland’s mother instilled a mindset of not sit around and getting things done. His mother always encouraged him to use basketball to get to the next level, but Strickland knew that wasn’t what he wanted to do. “The things my mom told me harped in my mind, but I have never really worked a real job and from the jump I never wanted to. I fell in love with being my own boss just by selling shoes and starting small.” Although Rise Long Beach is Strickland’s main focus, he is also a personal trainer for a travel basketball team as well as training personal clients and has a sneaker consignment shop on Instagram called “I Got Sole,” which he hopes to also expand. Strickland’s path since high school has not been what anyone expected. The conventional route of attending a four year college followed by a career “I feel like school is more for people still trying do,” Strickland said. “Which isn’t a bad thing at all, but for me, I do know what I want to do with life and I know I can take Rise Long Beach as far as I want.” Strickland currently attends Long Beach City College and is two classes away from transferring to California State University, Long Beach. me and I want my degree, but I don’t see it as helping me any more than being out here and doing my thing and building connections,” said Strickland whose and back-up-plan. “I personally don’t like having a plan-b, I am a plan-a- all-the-way and ride it until the wheels fall Having a mindset with no limitations has helped him sift through the challenges that naturally arise when starting a new business and having a sometimes full workload rest solely on his shoulders. But Strickland plans to continue expanding Rise Long Beach with upcoming events like concerts, basketball tournaments, and a celebration of the site’s one year anniversary. Believing organization and dedication are the keys to success, Strickland plans to correlate his life around those ideals and to continue pursuing his dreams by allowing them to give him the momentum needed in order to help Long Beach rise.
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Culture
Care to Dance? The dance department wows audience with their latest concert By Amanda Dominguez-Chio Culture Editor
Photo by Bradford Chin Contributor
and Renee Schmiedeberg Contributor
Last night, I had the honor of attending our
always look forward to the concerts held by
the curtain slowly rises. opened with a dancer en pointe and shortly afterwards she is joined with six other dancers. I liked how the concert opened with this piece, with each dancer moving gracefully and elegantly.
over throughout and chronicled the woman’s alcohol. Although the drinking allows her to shed her timidity and provides her with the
moving to the beat of the music. I loved how the dance ended with the dancers looking over their shoulder, displaying attitude and
This particular piece featured the most dancers. I admired the choreography on how each dancer seemed to be dependent on the other’s movement. The interesting part of the piece occurred towards the end when of the stage, each appearing bewildered. As one of the dancers stood alone, one by one the dancers moves towards her and clasp hands, which I interpreted to mean mutual support.
further draws on her insecurities. that featured two men embracing one another. It was a beautiful performance that shared towards each other, followed by displaying their mutual animosity. school’s dance department concert, the 2016 Contemporary Concert Program A, held at the Martha B. Knoebel Dance Theater. This particular concert was choreographed by dance students, as opposed to the faculty. I
the dance department; it brings me so much joy to observe the original choreography and I greatly admire the dancers’ agility. So you can imagine me eagerly anticipating the concert to start as the lights begin to dim and
perhaps one of my favorite dance pieces. The piece opened with four dancers, each wearing was the epitome of cool, with the lighting
concerts, a part of me feels intimidated and uncertain whether I misinterpreted the choreographer’s meaning behind his or her dance. And yet, I was told that it’s not a matter of misinterpreting the meaning of the dance but what meaning I gathered from the dance piece. I highly recommend attending a dance concert and supporting the nimble sprite of our dance department.
Culture
Valentine’s Day? A group of friends prove that love doesn’t have to be romantic
It all started when a red velvet cake was stabbed in it’s heart-shaped design and a photo of the incident made its way to social media with the caption, “love sucks.” My friends and I have celebrated Anti-Valentine’s day for the past three years, which its inception we all credit to the aforementioned cake. The festivity draws inspiration from activities my friends and I enjoy such as watching movies, experimenting with food and not giving into the day usually reserved for couples. We hang a sheet outside and project
a friend brought his deep fryer and from the bubbling oil emerged Twinkies and Oreos, covered in a
parties as a child where I’d anxiously wait my turn to hit the pinata. As kids, many of us lunged for the few pieces of candy freed from the pinata with each hit. Our parents would yell at us to stay back as a blindfolded child continued hitting everything within reach. At AntiValentine’s day, no one dove for candy but everyone was set on destroying the pinata. A few kicks and hits later, my yard was covered in pieces of cardboard, shreds of tissue paper and Mexican candy. Pieces of cardboard were used as holding recipients for sucking on lollipops. Anti-Valentine’s day has also become an excuse to try out my latest Pinterest obsessions and roping my friends into doing the same. I’m usually met with eyes rolling when I pitch a craft activity, but end up craft was to convert cork coasters into anti-love ornaments I could hang on the Christmas tree I’ve been too lazy to cat ornaments made by paint-covered hands. The future of Anti-Valentine’s day is uncertain, as candy hearts and a life outside of singlehood starts e ib plucking into its grasp people from our r U group of friends. In the meantime, we’ll a n continue forth in celebrating our a lv friendship and overindulgence y of sweets. yS
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14 Athletics
Too Faust, Too Furious, Too Soon? LBSU extends win streak to four becoming the hottest team in the Big West By Alex Ramos Staff Writer
Photos by William Odis Martin Athletics Editor and Lalig Tarbinian Contributor
LBSU’s star senior guard skies above the the pack of Mustangs for a critical offensive rebound in the second half. (Lalig Tarbinian/Contributor)
LBSU forward Mason Riggins posterizes Cal Poly’s Josh Martin in the second half of a 73-70 conference win at Walter Pyramid on Thursday.(Wlliam Odis Martin/Union)
LBSU’s sophmore forward Gabe Levin slams home an alley-oop dime from Nick Faust off a fast break against Cal Poly. (Lalig Tarbinian/Contributor)
Left: Spencer puts up a 3-point attempt. Top: Faust celebrates after draining a 3. (Wlliam Odis Martin/Union)
Athletics
15
Men’s Volleyball team routs USC 3-0 at Walter Pyramid
Photos courtesy of LBSU Athletics Wesbite
Collage by William Odis Martin Athletics Editor
LBSU Women’s Basketball team fall short in Hawaii By Maximo Gonzales Contributor Despite the usual strong defensive performance, the Long Beach State women’s basketball team were unable to get it going
Other Sports News: -Softball goes 2-2 through Saturday’s games in tourny in Las Vegas
nine points, while Anna Kim had eight points. evening. From the opening tip, it was clear that buckets as each team combined to score just
open on a lot of those shots. We just couldn’t get the ball in the basket.”
lead at the half.
“We had the looks we wanted on
-Baseball begins Feb. 19 with a three game series at home against Holy Cross at Blair Field -Follow us on IG, Twitter, Facebook, and whatever else @UnionWeekly #LBU or #GoBeach
16
Music
“When It’s Dark Out,” Get Lit G-Eazy and other artists killed it at the Shrine Auditorium Words and Photos by Kaila-Marie Hardaway Food Editor
G-Eazy is an established rapper originally from Oakland, Calif. Although he’s been active in the hip-hop industry for years, he has become a force to be reckoned with since the release of his These Things Happen. His most recent album, When It’s Dark Out, was released in December, and ultimately contributed to his rapid rise to fame. Not only that, but his current tour, named after his newest album, i s
completely sold out across the nation. On Feb. 9, G-Eazy made his mark in Los Angeles at the Shrine Auditorium with support from opening acts Marc E. Bassy and A$AP Ferg. Opener Marc E. Bassy impressed the crowd with his alluring voice and stage presence, sounding as though it were straight from a recording, and I was thoroughly impressed with his ability to connect with the crowd. Although I was somewhat familiar with him before the concert, I was a little disappointed that I hadn’t listened to him more beforehand. He proved to be an awesome performer, and I wouldn’t be surprised if we saw more of him in the near future. A$AP Ferg, a well-known rapper from the hip-hop group A$AP Mob, brought an exhilarating performance to get the crowd ready for G-Eazy. He performed songs he considered “ratchet” in order to make the night feel like a neverending party and Soon after, A$AP Ferg, along with fellow hip-hop artist Marty Baller, performed a touching tribute to their late friend and A$AP Mob founder, Steven “A$AP Yams” Rodriguez. A$AP Ferg had every member of the audience put their hands together as though they were going to pray, look up, and say, “Rest in peace A$AP Yams.” He then returned to his lively, upbeat music. After a lengthy 45-minute wait, G-Eazy made his way onto the stage and I quickly dismissed my level o f
annoyance. The amount of energy he brought throughout his two-hour performance was incredible. As soon as he began rapping one of his new songs, “Random,” the crowd erupted and instantly sang back every word. This setlist contained an immense amount of diversity performing both lively and slower tunes; at one point, he even had two strippers dancing on stage (much to my surprise). His ability to change the atmosphere throughout his performance prevented concertgoers from getting bored and seemed to add an overall excitement to the crowd. G-Eazy discussed throughout his performance about the experience of gaining recognition in the music growing up in the Bay area and how his fans throughout southern California, in particular, have welcomed him with open arms since the beginning of his career. “I always feel like this is my second home, and you guys especially make me feel this way. Thank you,” he said. G-Eazy brought a number of “Me, Myself and I” singer Bebe Rexha, and musicians with whom he worked with before he achieved fame. After a long performance, concertgoers decided that they still wanted more, which led to a two-song encore of arguably his biggest hits, “One More” and “I Mean It.” All in all, each artist did an holding their own and engaging with the crowd. I
genuinely had a really great time and have admittedly acquired a slight obsession with G-Eazy after witnessing his performance. If I had the opportunity to see any of these performers in concert again, I would do it in a heartbeat.
Kanye Loves Him Some Yeezy
Music
“The Life of Pablo” pays tribute to the overzealous West By Katie Cortez Editor in Chief
When Kanye West dropped “Yeezus” in 2013,
Track list provided by Kanye West’s Twitter
17
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Entertainment
In Theaters Now: “Deadpool” A little less Wade Wilson, a little more Deadpool please By Bailey Mount Community Editor “We’re here for Deadpool. It’s a superhero movie,” said the guy behind me when someone asked him what the huge line we were standing in was for. Naturally, I rolled my eyes. Deadpool is pretty super, but he’s no hero. Imagine my surprise when – in a roundabout way – that was just what the movie turned out to be.
And it was this that made Ryan Reynold’s performance as the titular character the with the comic’s series and obsession with the character, Reynolds provides the perfect tools to bring the complex character to life. Do I like characters that are morally gray,
character in the publication. Yes, Wilson gets cancer and leaves her to spare her the pain of watching him die. Yes, she gets kidnapped. But he never comes to rescue her and this is why: Wade Wilson and Deadpool are two
him. He escapes and adopts the persona of “Deadpool” to kill the doctor who made him ugly. It was everything I expected from a Deadpool movie. With its over-the-top violence, endless but witty bevy of one liners, and tactful breaking of the fourth wall, this
Deadpool does not by Reynolds himself “Deadpool” remember most – if and blatantly obvious Run Time: 1 hr 48 mins not all – of his previous in the comics, so come life before he went Directed by: Tim Miller at me, fanboys – and insane. Therefore, he Starring: Ryan Reynolds, mentally ill? Yes. doesn’t really give a Do I appreciate Morena Baccarin, T.J. Miller, damn about this girl. the disregard and Gina Carano, Ed Skrein He’s more content changing of source with being a gun for material in an attempt to anchor the movie hire, the only thing that really seemed to stick in his mind through all of the torture and the exposition? No. injecting him with Wolverine’s blood and Maybe I’m being a little too much of a comic book purist here, but seeing Deadpool He is also extremely self-conscious about reduced to a superhero trying to save his lady his physical appearance. He doesn’t just take
favorite merc with a mouth.
Iron Man conventional hero movies.
become a “superhero” and get “cured” by an organization that is really making super slaves. Through rigorous torture, Wade’s mutant genes activate, giving him
aaaaaaa
Tackling a character that is both parts
job displaying the wide range of emotions on the face; he could’ve done a little better displaying it through the mask. Wilson than he is himself. It makes his character transformation not as jarring as it ought to have been. I wanted to see his insanity played up more. What we got was “hero”, but it still leaves a little something left to be desired. In a world full of superhero movies and it’s nice to see one that pokes fun at the tired genre. Satire is an art if done correctly. And Deadpool does it with a clumsy, but determined hand.
the reactions he’ll receive when he does. In
Put a Morty in Your Pocket A Morty by any other name would be just as sah-weet By Andrew Linde Entertainment Editor Fans of “Rick and Morty” rejoice! Although season three is farther away than we’d like, there’s a new distraction to enjoy. Pocket Mortys is a free mobile game available now on Android and iOS. The game begins with a portal opening in Rick’s garage. Another Rick called Mysterious Rick appears and challenges Rick to a battle using their Mortys. Rick immediately agrees, and upon defeating
defeat their collection of Mortys.
Illustration by John Mueller Graphics Illustrator The gameplay consists of traveling through a portal to a random universe and defeating another Rick to earn a badge and Once in these other universes, you must battle other Morty collectors. It turns out,
Pocket Mortys Available on Android and iOS “Rick and Morty” will return to Adult Swim in March 2017, if Mr.Poopybutthole is right
There is also a crafting system for the allows you to craft serums (for healing), halzingers (to restore a dazed Morty), Morty Manipulator chips (for catching wild Mortys) and more. There is a limit of only ten parts that you can craft, which encourages you to use those parts and craft more things. Once you craft an item, the recipe is saved for future use. The battle system is a simple Rock-Paperand are usually better than one other type, depending on level. So a paper-type like Test
clone, the references to the show and the an underdeveloped Morty inside, would do than makes up for any shortcomings. While to collect, my favorites are Shadow Morty, Mustache Morty, and Orange Shirt Morty. There’s already been one update which added more Mortys, so I can only imagine that there will be future updates with even more weird versions of Rick’s grandson.
Most opponents you battle are strange alien creatures, some with a personal vendetta against Rick. My favorite opponent, though,
But a Mustache Morty has advantage against Pocket Mortys is an enjoyable distraction
the whole Morty collecting phenomenon charming in his befuddled way. Whenever you defeat Jerry, he accuses you of taking it too seriously and not being a good sport.
non-fans of the show getting any enjoyment out of the game, but everyone should love the show anyway.
Entertainment
19
Feed Your Curiosity: Podcasts for All Occasions Download one of these today! By Emily Ayers & Elizabeth Campos Staff Writers Although music feeds the soul and is always a great companion, sometimes a song plays so much on the radio that it loses its touch. Aside from radio, your Pandora or Spotify is already a part of your daily routine. Personally, in the midst of looking for something new I found podcasts. Just
Latino USA - NPR
Strangers - KCRW
As the name implies it, this podcast covers topics that revolve lic. This podcast also won an award for its “Gang, Murder and
ed person to ever read this. Strangers’ purpose is to promote empathy and kindness as you never know what the person
http://latinousa.org/episodes/
and other emotional topics are discussed in 30-45 min of pure empathy. http://www.kcrw.com/news-culture/shows/strangers
The Moth If you’ve ever experienced the thrill of listening to a spoken word performance, The Moth Podcast will deliver the same the speakers live performances, you feel as if you are sitting
It is the perfect mix of poetry and prose, and many times
Bawdy Love
would inspire positivity and self-love, and I happily found the experience.
-
Modern Love - WBUR
The Read - LoudSpeakers Network
attitude. -
love looks like in today’s world. Stemming from a slew of difhometowns of Miami and Oklahoma City. You will laugh, you come along with love and romance, this podcast delivers. You will leave feeling sometimes energized and sometimes sad, you through the day.
Bon Appétit Foodcast A twist on the story telling of the previously mentioned podcasts, Bon Appetit magazine interviews chefs and writers that -
to keep listening. http://thisistheread.com/
Travel
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Hawaiian Death Cruise Two weeks on the open ocean isn’t all fun and games By Katie Cortez Editor in Chief Vacations when you’re an only child are never fun. When you’re younger, your traveling companions consist of you, your parents, and a friend—if you’re lucky. Vacations weren’t too fun, so I don’t really remember anything about them. Sometimes my parents would bring along a cousin or a close family friend along to keep me company in the backseat on long drives, but I would still keep to myself for the most part. Now that I’m older, vacations with my family are a little more fun. I can have intelligent conversations with the adults while sipping on a beer instead of sitting in the corner reading “Harry Potter” while they talk about things I don’t understand. But it wasn’t until I went on a cruise with my family that I realized how much I truly hate cruises. I didn’t know what I was signing up for when I agreed to take from work and t a k e
a cruise to Hawaii with parents, two of my cousins, two aunts and one uncle. But on day one, I knew I was doomed for two weeks of hell. My family wanted to take a family photo standing at the edge of a ship while the ship was pulling out of San Pedro Harbor. My dad and I were the only two who recognized how dumb this was because we could see San Pedro at any time, so we decided to go get buckets of beer at a bar instead, our family not realizing that we weren’t there until after the picture had been taken. This is how the majority of the trip went. My dad and I getting into trouble because we didn’t want to play bingo or learn how to make origami was a common occurrence. Neither of us had any interest in playing bingo or learning how to make animals out of paper. If we didn’t have any interest in doing those things on dry land, why would we want
because I usually opted to read on the deck instead of any of the mundane on-board
Think about that for a second: Cruise with several thousands of people trapped inside. I never think about giant waves sending me to my death when I’m in an airplane, and for the most part, unless there’s unforeseen weather involved, I don’t really feel the plane traveling through the air. But cruise ships aren’t like that. You can’t predict when an apocalyptic wave is going to come crashing down on you during a mentally stimulating game like bingo. Not only was spending two weeks on the open water boring, I also felt like I was drunk when I was sober. The boat just rocked back and forth so much that it constantly felt like I was stumbling around. Just getting
One of the many Hawaiian volcanos. (Katie Cortez/Union Weekly)
wake anyone up at 6 a.m. The wave crashing also does not make it easy to sit outside and watch a movie on the giant screen above the poolside deck. Not only does the chlorinated pool water splash around, the spray from the ocean keeps you damp every single time you step outside. This proved especially
if the ship hit a big wave and sent me crashing into a wall. When I was actually somewhat intoxicated after a nightcap with my family, walking back to my room was a nightmare. Not only was I actually stumbling a little, I had to walk in anticipation of a rocking ship. because no matter how deep of a sleeper I am, the rocking caused by a big wave crashing alongside a boat is enough to
activities my family wanted to do, so my books would get a little damp too. I understand that it was a trip to Hawaii, but I have no interest in learning how to make a hula skirt. Hawaii wasn’t much better than the boat either. It was hot and no matter what tour we decided to go on that day, there would enthusiastic about seeing waterfalls. Don’t get me wrong, waterfalls are beautiful. But after you’ve seen at least four in the same day on the same island, the majority of them look the same. Although I can now say that I have been to the big island, I can now say that boats
A group of people really excited to see San Pedro Harbor. (Katie Cortez/Union Weekly)
commend those who aren’t afraid of a giant wave sucking you down into the deep blue sea.
“You can’t predict when an apocalyptic wave is going to come crashing down on you.”