It's All Up to You! by Union Weekly

Issue 78.7

Intro

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

IN THIS WEEK’S EPISODE OF “THE OFFICE:” Saturday Feb. 27 marked the 20th anniversary of Pokemon’s original release in Japan. This means that I was 5 years old when the original Pokemon came out, and 8 years old when Red and Blue were released in America. After the worst week I’ve had all semester, playing Pokemon all day Saturday would have been ideal, but instead I found

engagement with some of our other close friends. Overall, it was a terrible week and I’m more than glad that it’s over. full week without any energy drinks, so I might have just gotten sick because my body was detoxing. Guess I need to get back on that Rockstar.

Amanda Del Cid, Social Media Manager Graphic by Sam Orihuela

Andrew Linde, Podcast Producer

themselves. We were really into Twitter polls this week, so below are the results of our Feature-based question. Until next time,

ART & DESIGN Sam Orihuela, Art Director artdirector@lbunion.com John Mueller, Graphics Illustrator illustration@lbunion.com

Ktez EDITORIAL

like I do every Saturday. I’ll just give you a quick rundown of what happened down here in USU 116 last week: me, John, Elizabeth, Andrew, (and now Nathan) all came down with the same sickniss, I slept for maybe 15 hours between Monday and Friday, the

Joel Martinez, News Editor news@lbunion.com Elizabeth Nguyen, Opinions Editor opinions@lbunion.com Bailey Mount, Community Editor community@lbunion.com

than an episode of “The Real Housewives,” and Donald Trump won Nevada. Luckily, Saturday was the turning point

Kaila-Marie Hardaway, Food Editor food@lbunion.com Amanda Dominguez-Chio, Culture Editor amanda@lbunion.com

early enough for us to go out and enjoy our Satruday night, but two of my best friends got engaged and I was able to celebrate their

Madison Gallegos, Culture Editor madison@lbunion.com

Andrew and I want to do the unthinkable and eat every item on the Nugget Bar and Grill’s menu. We have take-home menus

Elliott Gatica, Music Editor music@lbunion.com Andrew Linde, Entertainment Editor entertainment@lbunion.com Peter R. Clark, Travel Editor travel@lbunion.com

This week neither of us wanted to try certain items, so we were helped by Beatriz Villa and Lauren Hunter.

Beatriz—Reluctantly, I arrived at The Nugget, tasked to review a new item on the menu: the tuna melt. Reluctantly because I was under the assumption we would all eat together and I would be assigned one of the “dreaded” salads Katie and Andrew won’t touch. Luckily, I am not the type of person who can’t eat alone, so it wasn’t a big deal. Honestly, I don’t like tuna very much but I am not a picky eater either. So, there I sat, eating my tuna melt alone, dreading to put it in my mouth. But the tuna with chopped red onions and chives; the sourdough bread was toasted enough to give

STAFF WRITERS

the melt an extra crunch but not enough to leave the roof of my mouth feeling raw; and it wasn’t overly greasy. Suprisingly, it was delicious. Lauren—The Nugget just released a couple new items to their menu. They added a curry chicken sandwich, tuna sandwich and a Cajun hot link. Since curry isn’t my thing I tried the hot link. The hot link is served on a delicious hot dog bun with grilled onions

Next week: BEER!

however something else could have been added that would have made it great. The one thing the hot link was missing was shredded cheese sprinkled on top. Even without cheese the Cajun hot link wasn’t terrible and might be worth getting again.

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

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 Elizabeth Campos, liz@lbunion.com Matthew Gozzip, matt@lbunion.com Abraham Alapisco, abraham@lbunion.com COPY & ASSISTANT EDITORS Carissa Pope, Karen Ruiz, Sheila Sadr, Abril Burstein CONTRIBUTORS Christopher Orozco, Beatriz Villa, August Krider, Blake Pinto, Zach Phelps, William Odis Martin, John Broadway COVER AND FEATURE DESIGN BY: Sam Orihuela CONTACT US Long Beach, CA 90815 E-mail: lbunion.info@gmail.com

@UnionWeekly

Opinions

Some Weird Letter to the Editor By Augustus Krider

I was on my usual Friday afternoon walk from the dorms to 7-11 to get scratchers and Starbursts, and as I walk, I grab a Union encounter this advertisement: “Freelance Journalists Needed Aspiring and experienced freelance writers needed for upstart publication. Strong social media preferred but not required. Starting $2 per word. (562) 301-3252” Now here is the thing that got me, two dollars per word. I’ll sit down and write every damn word I know for that rate. To be clear, two dollars per word means this piece is already worth two hundred and seventy four dollars. So, needless to say, I knew it was bullshit, but I couldn’t help but feel I had possibly hit the lottery. There was

a serious inkling of me that thought I could make some money. After all, I was aspiring to be a journalist, also an astronaut, and a professional bocce ball player. As for experience, I have read “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.” Old Hunter S. Thompson would be my spirit guide. In fact, my words would probably be considered worthy of $3.92 a piece because of my experience and my ostensibly rich vocabulary. I now understood what I didn’t before; that ad had been placed by some rich child from Orange County with a love for Rolling Stone magazine and a wish to start their own zine, despite both the nineties and print media being dead. Obviously at the supposed word rate, Daddy’s startup money would soon be gone, but I harbored the idea that I could write up five hundred words on Bernie Sanders or whatever Money Bags was into and make the first edition. Cash in that one thousand dollar check and call it good. I wouldn’t even shed a tear for the bankrupt zine.

I was hardly ready for anybody to actually answer. When the person did pick up, I went straight to business: “Hello! My name is Gus Krider and I am calling about your ad in the Long Beach Union Weekly.” The person on the other end’s response was perfect. “Uhhhh what ad?” I was so instantly annoyed; rich kids were a pet peeve of mine that I had forgotten. So “Freelance Journalists Needed.” “Oh…I didn’t know they had put my number on that.” Her response threw me for a loop. “They” implied multiple people. Could there be this many people so bad at math in the world? Where is America’s economy headed? The next line is the real kicker however. The girl receiving my phone call very politely says, “Just so you know, we cannot pay you. We just wanted to see who would call.” This was not shocking but very disheartening. The rest was just a polite sales

pitch about working for the Union Weekly for free, which just shows that our school paper is almost an excellent troll. They had me for a few moments. However, their form at the end was weak; they tried to make a sales pitch after what was essentially a practical joke. The girl who answered was too polite and laughed nervously while receiving my call. And that, friends, is why I will attempt to write for them, not because I want to give them my words for free, but because I want to be the guy who answers that phone call from ruse with proper grace and form. “YES, WE ARE GOING TO PAY YOU 2 DOLLARS A WORD, AND WHILE WE ARE ON THE SUBJECT OF MONEY, I HAVE SOME PENIS ENLARGING PILLS TO SELL YOU; DUMBSHIT. DON’T YOU KNOW THAT PRINT MEDIA IS DEAD?” If you like Augustus’ humor, follow him on Twitter @Guskrider.

Some Weird Response Back

By Katie Cortez I want to start by saying that I am not a “rich child from Orange County with a love of Rolling Stone magazine.” I hate Orange County, have lived in North Long Beach my whole life, and although I have a deep passion for music, I really don’t like Rolling Stone. I’ve been working crappy part-time jobs since I was 16 and could never consider myself a “rich kid.” The word “zine” isn’t in my vocabulary. Some friends and I have toyed with the idea of starting our own magazine in Long Beach, but it hasn’t really blossomed into more than won’t be a cut-and-paste “zine” that we get photocopied at Fed-Ex. Those fan-made zines are an insult to any aspiring journalist. The night you called my cell phone, I had

of volunteers who are here to learn the basic skills of a journalist without the restrictions of a professor or advisor looking over your shoulder or telling you what to write. Our volunteers are here for the experience and the friendships we’ve created within our

TECHNICAL HELP WANTED Looking for tech-savvy persons with knowledge in AutoCAD, Adobe CS5+ and C++. Minimum 5 years exp. Pay negotiated. Call (562) 233-9514

BIKE FOR SALE Momentum Street Bike w/700C wheels, used only 3 times in the mini-fridge. Try not to feel like you’ve been trolled too hard, at least three members of the UW phone number asking about it. We weren’t trying to troll anyone; we just wanted to see if people would respond to and be interested wrote the fake ad assumed that no one would

after a long day of school, Union Weekly work,

it, journalists don’t get that lucky. So, on

So, when I answered the phone, I was a bit groggy and confused by your voice on the other side of the phone. Even though I’m in charge of running the paper, I don’t have it in my budget to pay writers. Or editors. Or anyone who really deserves it. Believe me, if I could, I would, but unfortunately I don’t get to make that

inadvertently trolling you. I wasn’t lying about your writing, I really enjoyed it and hope that you decide to come

Talk to you soon, Katie

$300 OBO NO LOWBALLERS (562) 233-9514

FREELANCE JOURNALISTS NEEDED Aspiring and experienced free lance writers needed for upstart publication. Strong social media preferred but not required. Starting $2 per word. (562) 301-3252

Opinions

America vs. Donald Trump Who the next President of the United States will be means a lot to America; however, the focus of many citizens and the social media has been on Republican Party candidate Donald Trump. Due to how blunt he has been on his views, students have submitted to the Union Weekly their perspectives on Trump and how his words have an effect on them.

Introduction by Elizabeth Nguyen Opinions Editor

Illustration by John Mueller Graphics Illustrator

‘Til The Fat Trump Sings

Thank You, Donald Trump

By Jordan Daniels Staff Writer

By Blake Pinto Contributor

I don’t think anyone is getting how serious this Donald Trump issue is. The world wants to act like “Oh he’s crazy as all hell, he’ll never be president.” But nobody is seeing the facts here: He’s leading in almost every poll and caucus that he’s in. It’s chilling how we talk, talk, and talk about how easy it is to count him out, yet he’s continually showing that he is not leaving this race—at least not easily. Let me be very clear. My issue with Trump isn’t that he says the most profane and usually idiotic things, or that he’s pretty much an asshole. I know that I may get some heat for this, but I will say that the only respectable thing I find about him is that he’s 100 percent unapologetic about who is and what he wants to do. For that, and you can’t deny this, you have to acknowledge how he maintains an uncomfortable amount of transparency between himself and the people. He represents what many people want in some weird retrogressive way. I wouldn’t necessarily say he’s racist, but he represents many of the racist voices that are so deeply rooted in America. He brings out the racism and elitism that people have so subtly hidden through microaggressions. It’s with that wherein I find my problem with Donald Trump. What he represents is a group of people who are stuck in Victorian-era views of race

and socioeconomic status. He is the face of racist America, whether he knows it or not. Probably the saddest thing is people who don’t believe in him aren’t taking him seriously. He is a force to be reckoned with. I know that he looks like some backwoods literally-out-of-left-field poser, but the threat of him running our country is real. It’s absolutely frustrating that nobody is seeing this. Okay, so Obama proclaimed to the heavens that Donald Trump will not be president, but at the end of the day, he is not God. He has no control over who becomes president next. We’ve tried before, on several occasions, to point out that Trump should be still here. He says a lot of BS; he says enough to rile everyone’s feathers and just enough to

faces on a warm summer night, but we can never catch. He’s a savage. He’s the biggest pimple on America’s face, but we sit back and pray that he’ll go away by prom night. The problem is he won’t. We need to be aware and informed, and we need to ready to deal with him. We need to take him seriously. We should not live in fear of Donald Trump. Instead, we should fear what he perpetuates.

“It’s chilling... how easy it is to count him out, yet he’s continually showing that he is not leaving this race...”

“He is our creation, an enormous apathy towards a political system Americans have lost interest in...”

I was worried the people of America had forgotten what it is to live in a country whose existance is supposed to exemplify modern democracy. Roughly 50 percent of eligible voters participate in electing the president. Donald Trump running for candidancy has become a reality check. You, sir, have jogged their memories: EVERY VOTE MATTERS. People have expressed many reactions towards the Republican candidate since

and serenaded Americans with his views on illegal immigrants. It’s easy to laugh though. Laugh at the notion that someone like Donald Trump could be taken seriously or at the fact that anyone in their right mind could support his views. “The media is making it a bigger deal than it is,” people say. “He’ll never win.” After bagging two primaries (in New Hampshire and in South Carolina) along with the Republican Party Nevada Caucus, it doesn’t matter if he wins the nomination. He has already proven that he represents a portion of Americans who deserve to be heard, not laughed at. His presence allows a certain sect of extremely disgruntled voters to express themselves with—what many Americans rarely utilize—their votes. Trump is leading the Republican pack within the year, upholding record debate viewership and record voter turnout in the early primaries and caucuses. “We’re going to bring in so much money and so much everything,” Trump said in his victory speech in Nevada on

Feb. 20. “We’re going to make America great again, folks.” Oh but Trump, you already have. Your divisive personality and rambling rhetoric has galvanized your followers, incensed democrats, befuddled “establishment republicans,” and made a country take notice. Your supporters prove that the silent act of voting is the loudest form of protest. Cable news networks continue to act shocked that the polls they’ve been constantly updating 24/7 are actually right after people cast their ballots. Now that you’re on a roll, you will continue to motivate a lethargic nation to vote for or against you. Your shenanigans, insults, and illustrious head of hair forced us to pay attention to politics and unmasked its true face in the process. We’re quick to laugh at Donald Trump, but maybe he simply represents the joke that we have left our political system to become. Maybe we should laugh at ourselves instead. He is our creation, an enormous apathy towards a political system Americans have lost interest in or It’s not too late though. Sometimes, the bottom must be hit before bouncing back up. Hopefully, Trump is the bottom for our country. Maybe he knew republicans and democrats needed a common enemy to was his plan all along, and he’s much smarter than he lets on. Well-played, Donald. Looks like you will make America great again, just as promised.

Food

BO-Beau Kitchen and Roof Tap Unique restaurant is an ideal spot for a romantic night out

By Katie Cortez Editor-In-Chief Photos by Peter R. Clark Travel Editor

Beer gardens are few and far between in the city of Long Beach. A city with such a diverse culture and beautiful weather all year-round should have a place other than the patio at TGI Friday’s for people to sit and enjoy a few beers outside. The upstairs portion of BOBeau Kitchen and Roof Tap is the answer to this problem. Located on Pine Street in Downtown Long Beach, BO-Beau’s features a wide variety of French-themed food items, a long list of beers, specialty drinks and beer cocktails. The downstairs main restaurant is

beautifully decorated, but the best part of the place is the upstairs beer garden. The open-air rooftop is a dimly-lit space with a long bar behind brick archways and long picnic tables provide an atmospheric environment perfect for beer drinking. A ping-pong table sits on the opposite side of the bar, and anyone can step up to the paddle and play. then the one downstairs, and mostly focuses on alcohol and appetizers. California State University, Long Beach student Peter Clark tried the Poutine, which has a braised short rib, chives and sauce on top of fries. Although he thought the poutine was good, it was “not as Canadian as I thought it would be,” Clark said. Clark also ordered the Jumbo Bavarian Pretzel served with spicy brown mustard and beer cheese

A Taste of Ireland The country we’re born in isn’t always the one we feel our strongest connection to. culture confusion often brings with it more questions than answers. The few answers we get usually have to deal with food. Whether its geographical or genealogical distance, a simple meal can make any place feel like the motherland. Cooking something the way it would be prepared in its native country helps strengthens the connection to a lost heritage. Being of Irish descent, I felt a strong pull to the old Emerald Isle since I was 14 years old. Being someone with very little funds and no passport, I had no way of getting there. Books and Google searches were a nice substitute, but they could not replace my yearning for some tangible representation of my heritage. So, I decided to experiment with

Irish cooking. I never was good at cooking. Anything that wasn’t an egg or instant ramen ended up burned or some gross, misshapen creature with no semblance of edibility. Thankfully for me, I discovered something indestructible and versatile: potatoes. Irish potato soup is something that the people of Eire thrived on when times were tough. It was capable of feeding whole families; certainly it can feed broke college students.

saw those smiles break across my family’s faces— I was just glad they were eating my food—I felt like a bond had been made. So whether you’re Irish yourself or you’re just looking for a cheap, hearty meal, here it is: the general rules for making Irish potato soup.

and thought “The pretzel was great, but the sauces were just okay.” I ordered the PB&J and it was much better then any other peanut butter and jelly sandwich I had as a kid. Served on grilled white bread, the PB&J comes with peanut butter, cherry jam, banana, organic New York-style ricotta whip, and a side of fries. The heat from the grilled bread melted the peanut butter and ricotta whip, both oozing from the sides of the bread to make a messy but delicious meal. BO-Beau’s list of 50 craft beers provides beer I tried was Allagash White, a traditional Belgian wheat beer with coriander and Curacao orange peel to make a fruity, refreshing beer that went great with my PB&J. The second beer I drank was Modern Times Lomaland, a Belgian-style saison that tasted light and hoppy.

Clark drank Stone’s Pataskala Red IPA and thought that it was a good pairing with his Bavarian pretzel. He also tried a Black Market Triple Rye IPA, which he thought was just okay. “I can taste the black, I can taste the triple, and I can taste the rye,” he said. With their French-inspired cuisine and large amount of drink options, BO-Beau hang out and have a few drinks with friends in small or large groups. BO-Beau is located on 144 Pine Ave, Long Beach, California 90802.

A soup that’ll make you wish you were in the Emerald Isle

By Bailey Mount Community Editor

celery soften at a low heat in the butter. Do not let them brown. It ruins the taste. Better yet, take them out when they are not all the way cooked yet, because they

You will need: 1. 3 large potatoes, washed and peeled 2. 2 tablespoons of butter 3. 2 medium sized onions (dried onions for 4. 5. 6.

1 cube of chicken bouillon 2 cups of milk 1 clove garlic, crushed (garlic powder for

3 pieces of celery, chopped (celery salt or

8. 9.

1 pinch of ground black pepper and salt 1 1/2 cup of grated cheese

Peel and cut the potatoes into cubes. Put them in a large pot with the dried onions, celery salt, and garlic powder so

a boil. This should take 25 to 30 minutes. In a separate pan, let the onions and

longer after removal. Drain the potato pot and replace the water with milk. Pour the vegetables in with the potatoes and mix until the soup becomes thick. Add the cheese and stir until fully melted. Additional spices can be added as necessary when tasting.

After 50 minutes, you have a thick, chunky soup. Eat it with bread for a fuller, more satisfying feeling: the lack of which caused my ancestors to end up here. If they hadn’t, I never would have had to search for my heritage. The journey made it worth the wait. I hope the 50 minutes are worth the wait for you.

News

Creating a More Perfect Beach Campus event celebrates peace and unity By Lauren Hunter Staff Writer California State University, Long Beach held its annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration on Tuesday Feb 22 . With a ballroom full of students, faculty, and friends of various races everyone came together to celebrate MLK. Who was a brilliant and inspiring individual that helped change to world. These people came together with his message of peace. Everyone at CSULB got to hear keynote speaker, Pastor William D. Smart Jr. Professor Craig Stone, Chair and Professor of American Indian Studies, opened the ceremony with a Native American song and drum performance in the spiritual nature of the ceremony. It was a huge honor for Dr. Maulana Karenga, Professor and Chair of African Studies, to perform a libation. A libation is a a deity. But Karenga performed it more as a symbol of respect and reverence to the late MLK. He spoke a chant in other languages that the audience recited back in the name of unity. CSULB student, Candace Rice, performed the Black National Anthem during the last part of the opening ceremony. Rice’s voice was moving and inspiring as she sang the words about liberty and harmony. President Jane Close Conoley then addressed the mass of students and faculty and encouraged everyone to be well informed. She used MLK’s celebration to emphasize that the, “personal model of ‘The Beach’ is to give every community member a chance to achieve excellence. Must be a just campus.” She later went on to rally that in the spirit of MLK, “Let’s do this with the intent to learn and to create a more perfect beach” with knowledge there will be more acceptance and less hatred. Less hatred was a key component in MLK’s message. CSULB’s director of the Multicultural Center, Dr. James Sauceda then took to the microphone and delivered a compassionate speech about the justice and injustice that our world faces today, as well as the injustices that MLK had to deal with during his lifetime. “Racial understanding isn’t something we Sauceda said. He was trying to motivate the students in a way that drives them towards understanding, peace, and love. This year’s winner of the 17th annual MLK essay contest was CSULB student John Broadway. He received an award and then recited a section from his winning piece. His

friend was there to support him, Everett Lomax Jr., Tau Kappa Epsilon, like others in then I noticed very notable people.” Lennox said, “it was great and I didn’t know you guys have had this for 17 years straight and its really impressive.” One of the highlights of the event was the dance team from Renaissance High School for the Arts. It was an all girls dancing group who performed a special routine for this event. The keynote speaker Pastor William D. Smart Jr. rallied the audience and preached love not hate in order to emphasize how important the Black Lives Matter Movement is. To Smart the issues of today’s world mirror

Separating Drugs from Medicine Long Beach anticipates medical marijuana initiatives By Joel Martinez News Editor Earlier in February, Long Beach City Council ceased consideration of a proposed ordinance related to medicinal cannabis programs. The ordinance would have allowed up to four cannabis delivery providers to operate within city limits by 2017 and considered allowing dispensaries as early as October that same year. In the face of this, some have looked for other legal methods than a City Council ordinance. For one organization, the focus has turned to the general election upcoming. The Long Beach Patients Access PAC supports a measure described in the Press-Telegram that “would allow an unlimited number of dispensaries to operate in Long Beach and would not require permits for residential cultivation,” with proponents looking to gather voter signatures as soon as March. Additionally, another anonymous document from “LongBeachReport.com” outlines the intention by an organization to petition a measure meant to “reduce the dangers presented by illegal drug

dealing and potentially unsafe medicinal products” through effective regulation of cannabis and related medicinal products. Invoking the Compassionate Use Act of 1996, the proposed initiative claims to acknowledge the safety of its citizens and ensure the medicinal rights of “individuals suffering from debilitating conditions.” Proposition 215, also called the California Compassionate Use Act, institutes the legal right for seriously ill Californians to have access to marijuana for medicinal purposes. While the rights related to medical marijuana are not severable, however, conflicts where state programs provide allowances for programs banned by national legislature have littered courtrooms across the state. One such skirmish was Pack v. City of Long Beach, where in October 2011 an appellate court gave the controversial ruling that Long Beach’s collective permit process failed to meet dispensary regulations preempted by federal law. This ruling, among other reasons, motivated the Long

Beach City Council to ban medical marijuana collectives in February 2012 to crack down on over 30 unlicensed dispensaries. Within six months, however, the California Supreme Court threw out the ruling as moot, invalidating Long Beach’s supporters. In the past four years, various proposals and lawsuits supporting medical marijuana policies have occupied Long Beach in support of putting a medical marijuana initiative on a special elections ballot. By city ordinance or by ballot, Long Beach residents are sure to hear this year of proposals and petitions by those who wish to see medical marijuana facilities return within city limits. Whether something will finally be done after four years, however, is still left to speculation.

News

Beating the Odds By Sylvana Uribe Staff Writer

Feb. 22.

Speakers came together from the LGBT commuinty to discuss the multiple facets of diversity and the struggles that come with it (Jordan Daniels/Union Weekly)

Making a Strong First Impression

4. Be Enthusiastic

5. Apply For Everything

1. Resume 6. Do Your Research

2. Dress to Impress

3. Know Yourself Words by Katie Cortez Graphic by Nathan Zankich

Athletics

Dirtbags Get a Dose of Reality, Struggle Offensively in 9-2 Loss

Legend of Woodson

Arizona State overwhelmed the Beach and leaves many unanswered questions

A look back into the retired All-Pro’s career

By Matthew Gozzip Staff Writer

By Richard Mejia Managing Editor

The Dirtbags have been struggling in quicksand as of late. After experiencing a brief period of strong swinging and untouchable throwing in their have been inconsistent this week.

those ashes rise the pass-catching backs and for the Dirtbags on a routine underhand to

for the Dirtbags was non existent on Friday night as the Beach gave up a pair of three run to suture any wounds either. There was no 9-2 loss to the opposing Arizona State Sun Devils (5-1) . It was Dirtbags (3-2) gave up

entirely. Duran continued his hitting streak that started at the beginning of the season that plated Stotler to give the Dirtbags a respectable two runs. There is no doubting the talent of the Dirtbags but there are plenty of concerns in regards to their consistency.

“The jury is still out on whether or not the result of Friday’s game is a ”

one constant over the past two decades of this is transitional period has been the following: Charles Woodson will shut you down. The newly-retired Woodson spent 18 seasons playing for both the Oakland Raiders

Cross for back-to-back Calling Woodson a generational talent is Sunday for a 3-2 loss

only one hit after three defeated for the two previous contests. and breaking ball as far as Hutting could

trophy and has been the only player since or running back.

the senior righthander but were still able

special with consistent pressure in the strike Sebastian Zawada crushed a liner over the Woodson player for nearly two decades and showed resiliency for a position that wears out players. He inspired those wanting to be

Beach Basketball Locks Down Big West Rival UC Irvine Story and photo by Alejandro Ramos Staff Writer what the the Beach did.

Woodson proved his critics wrong. of how defense should be played. The Ant-

totaled ten interceptions and received

Woodson provided guidance and experience to players like All-Pro linebacker

for the young players. -

coordinators. the end of the week.

Junior guard Raven Benton drives to the lane in LBSU’s blowout victory against UCI, 67-49 at Walter Pyramid, Saturday Feb.27.

the way Woodson did for how long he has is

FEATURE

VOTE

IT’S ALL UP TO

YOU!

A primer to give the CSULB campus an understanding of the 2016 Presidential Election

The Campus Perspective By Abraham Alapisco Dr. Edgar Kaskla, a political science professor at CSULB, believes this election is different from ones in the past. “Donald Trump, the staying power he’s had this far into the race has been surprising everybody,” Kaskla said. The candidates proposed solutions for current issues are how they can appeal to certain groups more than others. Kaskla believes a big change in American politics are candidates not being held accountable for not following up on campaign promises the way they used to in the past. Even with some type of recording that can be brought up to prove that candidate so and so said this, the name of the game is deny, deny, deny. “It’s very peculiar,” Kaskla said. Attitudes toward politics reach across a wide spectrum when students express their feelings towards current state of affairs. “It’s certainly not optimistic,” Kaskla said.

“There’s a lot of interest in politics because it is an election season. There is some apprehension when it comes to people, like Donald Trump, and the kind of over the top things he said. On the other hand, there is excitement over out-of-thebox candidates like Bernie Sanders who aren’t often seen in national politics.” “Sanders would have a hard time in office, Trump is a joke, Clinton is straightforward and a leader,” biochemistry major Calvin Voong said. “However, biased and inconsistent on where she stands on certain issues.” According to English major Ariana Martinez, being up to date on the political process through social media and the internet has made it easier for students to keep up with the news, despite leading busy lives. Video clips, infographs, and shared opinions about the candidates are at the touch of a screen, but it doesn’t necessarily make

choosing a candidate to support a simple process as Martinez explains her mixed feelings. “I’m indecisive at this point. The right wing seems to play into the minds of their voters,” Martinze said. “Democrats seem to be the lesser of two evils at this point. The Republicans used to focus on fiscal conservatism. Now they focus on issues that divide people.” On the more extreme end of the opinion spectrum is Nichole Kimbell, a student in the teaching credential program. Kimbell views the candidates as untrustworthy due to their nature of flip flopping on where they stand on certain issues in order to appeal to a wider voter base through compromise. “All of them are idiots,” Kimbell said.

FEATURE

By Elizabeth Campos “For the people, by the people” is what may come across when thinking about the Democratic Party. Ideas of equality and unity drive supporters of said party to thrive for social justice and equal opportunities for all. Under the statement “we’re greater together than we are on our own,” the website “Democrats. org” explains that success can be achieved in a country where everyone gets a fair shot, do their part and play by the same rules. Jeanette Ramirez, treasurer of the California State University, Long Beach’s College Democrats Club, points out that democrats look for fair advantage and equal opportunity to success. The CSULB College Democrats Club has been active since 2011 and provides an atmosphere where students can freely voice their opinions. Aside from the freedom and open space that the club provides, representatives of CSULB College Democrats recognize that there is a reluctance to politics coming from young people. “It stems from deeper apathy,” said Ivan Garcia, political science major and secretary of CSULB College Democrats. “They [young people] are focused on other things.” An analysis of presidential elections done by the U.S Census found that from 1964 to 2012, young voters of ages 18-24 have been less engaged in presidential elections. The same analysis proves that voting rates dropped from 50.9 percent in 1964 to 38 percent in 2012. “Two out of eight students didn’t know what the primaries are,” said Jessie Butera, a 19-yearold film major and producer of the new College Beat TV political game show “And We Vote!”.

These numbers were found as she spoke to the public while filming segments for the show. In addition, she also encountered people that relied on social media as their only source of information. Whether social media is an adequate platform or not, issues that affect the population are laid out on the table. Immigration, student debt, minimum wage and equality in all its forms are topics that matter and need to be addressed. In a community like that of CSULB, however, issues being discussed in this particular election cycle hit very close to home. As far immigration goes, some undocumented students carry with them the possibility of processes such as DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) to be revoked or changed and being unable to pay for their studies and achieve their goals. Moreover, the potential CSU faculty strike is the perfect example of the fight for income equality and the issue of minimum wage. According to the “Race to the Bottom,” an analysis made by the California Faculty Association, to show the failure to fund faculty salaries explains that “at UC San Francisco, the average faculty salary from 2004 and 2013 (adjusted for inflation) rose $16,138, while at San Francisco State, the average faculty salary lost $9,748.” Student debt is another topic that draws attention to presidential candidates such as former Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders. In pursuing a higher and better education, Sanders’ proposals include making tuition free, cut student loan interests rates and allow

Americans to refinance student loans at today’s low interest rates. Campaigns have done everything to capitalize that issues like these are being addressed in hopes of having a bigger voting turnout. As of July 2015, the Democratic Party is viewed more favorably than the Republican Party according to the Pew Research Center. In addition, 18-29 year-old voters have consistently favored Democrats over Republicans. The comparison of data previously stated that shows that young people’s engagement in politics has decreased juxtaposed with young voters being a big reason of the Democratic Party’s success can conclude in the idea that young voters can set a different tone in the political climate. “Millennials are truly the sleeping giant of the political system,” Ryan Sweeney, a 21-year-old, third year political science student double major said. Sweeney also expressed that “It’s silly to expect that an election in a country of 300 million people will hinge on your one vote.” The important detail in the broader picture is that the entire generation of millennials need to recognize that an effort needs to be made. “It’s important to entrust a candidate with your vote who you feel can represent your interests both nationally and internationally,” Sweeny said. “And who you feel has the best vision to lead the country into some of the most defining challenges of modern times.” The common goal both parties strive is to make America great, and for Democrats this can only be done in unity.

FEATURE

By Jordan Daniels Rooting their ideals in conservatism, Republicans focus on current issues within society, politics and the economy. Conservatism is a political philosophy based on traditional and social stability. It focuses on lowering taxes, limited government regulation, strong military and individualized financial responsibility for personal needs. According to Nestor Moto Jr., the president of the College Republicans of Long Beach State, the school’s political climate is currently in a state of apathy they’re not properly informed. The organization works to be a voice among this climate to better inform people of philosophy of conservatism. “We believe in capitalism and the right to be free of government regulation,” Dalton Kuehn, vice president of the CRLBS said. These beliefs call on the idea of the free-market, where the economic and political system are controlled through private ownership rather than by the type. According to Kuehn, conservatism stems from classic liberalism, which advocates for civil liberties along with political and economic freedom with representative democracy under the law. “Conservatism believes that the government

is made of laws, not of man,” CRLBS Treasurer Joseph Lopez said. “Man makes laws, but he does not control it.” He believes that this foundation should seldom be changed, but if it does change then the change must be deliberate and for good reason. “We don’t drastically or radically change something just because.” A modern application of this ideology is through the idea of healthcare, a recurring issue in American society. Lopez believes that with the introduction of ObamaCare, there should have been a slower introduction of the reform of the healthcare system. With a slower introduction, the changing of the foundation would have been smoother for the people. In addition to the political system, conservatism places strong values on economics. Through limited government, conservatism supports individual liberties and believes that government involvement should only equate to providing people the freedom to pursue their own goals. “It’s in our best interest to have a small government and leave it [governing] up to the states,” Moto Jr. said. “They [conservatives] believe that federal government can become

tyrannical and government would be more effective if it were left up to the states.” He also points out that another misconception is that people often synonymize conservatism and republican together, however they can be completely separate. “Some people are really conservative on social issues and some are pro-liberty,” Moto Jr. said. “We have some that care about taxes and some that focus on foreign policy.” Despite the republican platform being based on conservatism and sometimes tying in to faith and religion, it is important to understand that one can be without being the other. In terms of debating Democrats and Republicans, Lopez summarizes words of Charlie Munger, believing that he does not have the right to argue one side until he can argue the other. The 2016 election season deals has many layers that young people peel away in order to find a party and candidate they feel provide for the issues that matter. Once Super Tuesday takes place next week, a clearer picture of which candidate will receive enough delegate support to win the nomination will narrow down the options for millennial voters.

Culture

Peace and Diversity: Creating a Culture of Change By John Broadway Contributor Before discussing Martin Luther King Jr’s vision and how it relates to myself and this year’s theme for the 17th annual Martin Luther King Jr. celebration, I must expose the unfortunate irony this year’s theme contains. Sadly, diversity is too often the reason behind the lack of peace. Countless

Illustration by John Mueller Graphics Illustrator disruptor of peace. For those who don’t

proof that it does. Growing up I was someone that was

because it was something that I never thought I needed to work on. It had not occurred to me that members of the LGBT community represent another minority group that

down upon simply because the color of

applied his principles of equality, love, and fairness towards the LGBT community. Upon doing so I realized that looking down makes me a hypocrite since I expect to be

religion, ideology, ethnicity, etc. If everyone was the same and no diversity existed, peace would be commonplace. However, diversity is something that is as natural to this earth as air, water, and plants, and it should be revered as such. Now, Dr. King never really spoke on the importance of diversity, but his legendary advocacy for civil rights, peace, love, equality, and ultimately change, left a legacy of tolerance and acceptance for diversity. His vision of a peaceful world where “people are judged not by the color of their skin but by the content of their character” has to become more accepting. Applying this vision to other areas of diversity (religion, sexual orientation, and gender) promotes a culture of change. A culture which celebrates diversity, and doesn’t allow it to be a constant

After that revelation, I began to rid myself of homophobia. It’s unquestionable that my reverence for Dr. Kings vision of a world of equality and love for one another played a huge role in helping change my homophobic mindset. This experience of mine is a concrete example of how the ideals that Dr. King advocated for,

homophobic. Not for any religious reasons, I was just unaccepting of diversity in regards to sexual orientation. Considering I am African-American I never put much thought into making sure I am accepting of minorities

a culture of change that promotes peace and is celebratory towards diversity. This is something the world is deeply in need of, and it’s why he so deserving of having a holiday in his name. deserve acceptance. This all changed one day as I was thinking of how unfortunate it is that throughout American history, AfricanAmericans have been mistreated and looked

Color Through the Pain How a student found her zen in an unlikely place By Bailey Mount Community Editor It’s Friday night and it’s been one hell of a week. With the workload of a fulltime college student and the unnecessary emotional baggage of a nearly 20-something on my back, it’s safe to say that I’m one straw away from breaking my proverbial horse’s back. Scratch that. Half a straw. situations like this as of late. I’m always stressed, I’m always about two seconds away from crying, and someone always seems to want something from me. But do I collapse into a little ball of misery? Sometimes. More often than not, I tend to engage in art therapy. It’s exactly what it sounds like: feeling a negative way and channeling that negative

energy into a form of art. It can be anything from painting to constructing and burning a large wooden sculpture of whatever is ailing you and making a rock garden with the ashes. From the simple to the extravagant, art therapy can help make negative feelings into something beautiful. At the very least, it can just calm you down. Right now, I’m fully immersing myself in this article instead of thinking about all of the bullroar that I have to deal with at the moment. For me, writing is a catharsis for whatever I feel during the piece’s conception. When I’m angry, my pieces taking your current emotion and living vicariously through your

characters as you ride it out. For me, that sometimes results in pages and pages of scathing dialogue between my inky children. Sometimes I kill one of them. Either way, the end result is a sense of both tranquility and accomplishment at having written anything. This gives me new material to sort through that I haven’t discovered before. Everybody wins. A better way to reach your Zen zone without committing color. Those adult coloring books that are all the rage in Barnes & Noble right now are pretty sweet.

name it, they probably have made a coloring book for it. When writing doesn’t work and my stress becomes a little too much, this is a good second option. The coloring book I own is made up of Celtic artwork. Lots of lines and lots of time to lose yourself in the colors and smooth directions that your hand goes. It’s very repetitive, but very soothing. It’s the equivalent of massaging my own shoulders. So, if you’re a stressed student like me and you’re tired of punching those pillows in frustration, turn to art. Even if you’re not artistic. Sometimes all it takes is throwing paint at a canvas to make you feel better.

Culture

Snoop: The Early Years

An exhibition reveals the puppy days no one has seen before Story and photos Madison Gallegos Culture Editor

The sign in the back reads: “13,383 people died due to gun violence in 2015.” This woman horrors they experienced.

On Feb. 20, I had the pleasure of seeing Snoop: The Early Years, an intimate photo collection done by Duke Givens, local photographer and childhood friend of, then, Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr. The showcase was held at Made in Long Beach, and presented private photographs Givens had taken about 25 years ago, thus revealing a side of Snoop Dogg most people have never seen before. Givens gave personal insight into each photo. The overwhelming theme of the exhibition was peace and love. Photos displayed the close relationship Snoop, Givens, and other guys keep and spread compassion and peace. During the exhibit, Givens (with Snoop on speaker phone, for real) showed that many of their friends ended up in gangs or even losing their lives. A young woman performed a beautiful dance as “an expression of the community and the things they experienced.” This was so important, because the gang wars and violence that were happening in the ‘80s is still happening today. Givens said that “13,383 people died of gun violence in 2015.” He pushed the idea that through our creativity, One of the photographs was a spread of a calendar that Duke African-American who contributed to ending gang violence in Long Beach. One month even had a photo of Snoop and his friends’ high school football team. All the proceeds from the calendar sales went to families of victims of gang violence. Givens’ photos revealed parts of Snoop’s life that were so innocent and pure. Even though he had his run-ins with the law, Snoop ended up bringing peace into the industry. He always inspired people to do good. While on speaker phone, Snoop encouraged us to “get up, get out, do something and do right.” His last remark before hanging up was “love beats all.”

moments of his life.

Snoop: The Early Years by Duke Givens will be on display from now until the end of March at: Made in Long Beach 240 Pine Ave, 90802 If you love Long Beach, love Snoop Dogg, or even just love love, you do not want to miss out on this beautiful and eyeopening exhibition.

This photo was taken in 1993. Snoop, Duke, and their friends made substantial efforts to bring Long Beach and Compton together and end the all the violence between the two cities.

Travel

South of the Border Go for the quinceñera, stay for the tacos Story and photos by Alejandro Ramos Staff Writer

A typical scene in the town square of Cuquio.

good food and good drinks in the company of my grandparents,

I get used to their into getting the meat and it’s hard to have to

kids running around, gave me a better appreciation for the and

street

serves as a reminder

vendors

and I comes from and motivates me to age birthday party for

some ice cream from that I didn’t even

The Parish of San Felipe overlooks the you that quinceñeras in town square of Cuquio. the United States have

And to anyone that hasn’t seen some

get to have the best I’m not sure if they

doing and come out to eat, dance, and have a

Arnulfo Ramos, Alejandro’s dad, prepares I encourage you to pig skin by shaving off the hair with a knife. contact them and see

New York for Dummies Story and photo by Zach Phelps Contributor In 1979, Frank Sinatra recorded a cover of the eponymous theme song from a Martin

due to a variety to pursue the hippie dream of striking out to Manhattan divided

the 1970’s and 1980’s, the above verse uttered

into

U p p e r Manhattan encompassed by the neighborhood The Brooklyn Bridge is one of the easily recognizeable New York icons.

from this cramped and congested corner of the country, and it continues to house a

Music

The Chronicles of Father John Misty’s Latest Beats “I Love You, Honeybear” is a mixing pot of musical chemistry and storytelling By Christopher Orozco Contributor

Music

Local Music Roundup A spotlight on small bands in Long Beach Lately, I’ve found myself spread thin and feeling defeated by the daily to-do list that

an exasperating weight on my chest that I’m

Words and photos by Sylvana Uribe Staff Writer

draw inspiration from Long Beach and its

proximity are passionate and driven to share their soul through their music it’s a dose of

of my blog posts because of its cultural fostering a creative process dwindles, as I’m tempted to give into thoughts of “I can’t do

easy venture, but music has become an ally

around this lack of motivation has become

gravitated more toward local musicians who

me about knowing that people so close in

Who knew it could be fun to dance along to songs about social issues? I didn’t think I’d be

things have been quiet in terms of updates, I have to credit Fathers & Suns as being to kickstart my interest in the local & Suns describes their music as indie rockadelic and draws inspiration from

Bandini, percussionist Luis Renteria and

went to more of their shows where I was introduced to other local tunes, and attended their album release performance at Fingerprints for their sophomore

Walls lineup originally included former Fathers & Suns member Jay Penev, vocalist and guitarist Daniel Perkins and

now has an all female brass section, which are Vanessa

saxophone, and Greggory Moore on vocals and brass-infused

members to compete at last year’s Buskerfest and the additions worked to their advantage because the result ended

powerpop

and pop arrangements to provide listeners with their playful social commentary and of my favorites include “Government Boy” and

For more information

& Suns’ music is a subtle reminder of the summers where I’d go to their concerts with

For more information on Fathers & Suns,

Fridays art walk in Bixby Knolls and bought their album, “Mama Provides,” the same

Better Better Heroes is an alternative rock group

and powerful vocals that mesh perfectly

Heroes herself into believing she could take on the world, and worry about responsibilities at a in high school and college, the group has a lot of room to grow musically and I’m looking forward with what they have in store for their

For more information on Better Heroes, you can visit is reminiscent of earlier works by Paramore, which taps into my inner teenager that fooled

comprise Bearcoon are devoted to their

of the Long Beach Post voted their album, “El Guapo,” as the best Long Beach album of Bearcoon as they decided to live in a van and take their music to the lesser known parts

pairs with Walker’s guitar to storytell in a

Entertainment

Villains Take Center Stage

Mr. Freeze wants to “Gotham” and chill

By Jordan Daniels Staff Writer Illustration by John Mueller Graphics Illustrator

“Gotham” ‘Mr. Freeze’ airs Feb. 29 Starring: Ben McKenzie, Donal Logue, David Mazouz, Morena Baccarin, Robin Lord Taylor Guest Star: Nathan Darrow

You Haven’t Seen the Last of this Man A sneak peak at the midseason premiere of “The Last Man on Earth” By Blake Pinto Contributor

“The Last Man on Earth” ‘Pitch Black’ airs Mar. 6 Starring: Will Forte, Kristen Schaal, Mel Rodriguez, January Jones, Mary Steenburgen Guest Star: Jason Sudeikis

Entertainment

Playing With Fire to Tell A Story Screenshot from “Firewatch”

Exploring is the new way to play When I started up “Firewatch” I had a small person narrative with impressive visuals and a dynamic story. I was right about everything except the dynamic story. Before I get into all that, I would like to explain my history with this genre. I recently played a few episodes of the stellar “Life is Strange,” and also one of my favorite games of all time “Gone Home.” Prior to that I played “Dear Esther,” and a few others that met this standard of what is mockingly called a “walking simulator.” These games are very fun and I’ve had some of my best experiences with these types of games. I thought “Firewatch” was going to be as every other game and did nothing new. I

compare this game to “Gone Home,” now, but before playing I thought it was going to be

By Peter Clark Travel Editor

expected the story to end in one way. You were in a house, and your job is to piece the story together about what has happened since you’ve left home. That was easy.

ended up the same. It was still a roughly 4 hour long mystery that ended with being a bit of let down. The other big issue with the story is that the mystery towards the middle of the game is greater than the ending. The mystery in the middle seems

with a relatively open world, and dialogue options that seemed to matter. Turns out, it was not that at all, and I was disappointed in that respect. I expected that since this game was “larger” than “Gone Home,” it was

go, but it ends with the easiest way out and it’s disappointing. That is not to say it wasn’t well done or impactful, it just doesn’t live up to the mystery it was creating. The game is only four hours long. Four

what dialogue the player chose, the story still

$15? Maybe. The game is well made, and the

“I wasn’t sure if I beat the game, or if the game beat me.”

story is interesting, but if it was longer and had some replayability it would be worth the asking price. However, as it stands, $20 for a story that is the same no matter how you play it is asking for a lot. I love games in this style, and “Firewatch” is no exception. It’s a great game with an interesting story. It falls short on a few expectations, but it is still a game that I would suggest people to play. The interaction between the two main characters is interesting enough to warrant a purchase and playthrough. It was a game that at the end of it, I wasn’t sure if I beat the game, or if the game beat me. It’s an emotional experience that is well crafted and an excellent addition to this genre.

A Bloody Knife is Not Enough One fan’s plea to renovate a dying genre Lately, the horror genre has taken on all the charm of a child covering themselves in ketchup at the family picnic. We as spectators child with another packet and a pointed glance in the other direction. What was once the lively prized pig of the cash cow content to be walked through the slaughterhouse again and again. Horror needs a reboot. It wouldn’t be the something fresher. with the “Universal Monsters” era from the 1920s to the 50s. The “evil children” these children grew up into the “slasher”

genre, which lasted all the way until the end of the 20th century until many sequels later when we realized that Jason in space does not a great movie make. Budding horror directors have nearly a century’s worth of material – both good and Sharknado – to work with. The entire came before them, relying on past failures to pioneer new triumphs and old tricks to pull So, where’s our new trend? Jason, Freddy, and Michael hung up their weapons nearly two decades ago, leaving behind a vacuum of horror movie power. 21st century directors have provided two unworthy alternatives: The “supernatural”

By Bailey Mount Community Editor

that relies on door slamming for success. And “torture porn,” a genre that perpetuates violence for violence’s sake. “Hostel” and the endless “Paranormal advance the horror industry. Incessant gore for shock value isn’t scary. Slamming a door to elicit two cheap seconds of adrenaline in a viewer isn’t an art form. It’s not a contest to see who can make the most audience members run out of the room. It is – and it has always been – a contest to see who can keep the viewers rooted to their seats in terror. As the late great Wes Craven once said, “[Audiences] need to have [their] fear manipulated and massaged.” If directors and writers could just take a step back from their

buckets of blood, they would remember that. Set up a narrative that never grants the audience a moment of respite from the tension. Limit your jump scares to a few pivotal moments. And remember that the scariest parts people behind the masks. Sometimes the scariest thing you can show a viewer is a mirror. Bates whose human moments we can connect to and scare ourselves with the implications. Bring back that horrifying realization that none of us are that far away from becoming the bogeyman we pay to see. And stop covering us in gallons of fake blood and viscera to make a quick buck.

Community

Contemporary Vintage Hobo Jane sells atmosphere and affordable clothes Fashion in Long Beach is as eclectic as it could be, considering that Long Beachians don’t follow any one way of wearing and styling our clothing. As a Long Beach native, I’m accustomed to walking into vintage shops of all shapes and sizes. Usually, they’re on the smaller side.

Redondo. Looking at the store, it looks as though the ever popular Retro Row on 4th street. As I walked in, I already felt at home. Despite being a clothing store, there are pillows and places to sit everywhere in the store. a comfortable vibe where you would feel as though you could stay there for hours and it would only seem like a few minutes. Now this doesn’t mean customers should just come to sit and chill inside the shop. No, no, missy or mister, there is shopping to be done!

because it features local designers with styles ranging from contemporary to vintage, so there is always something for everyone. You could buy a pair of leggings while checking out a one of a kind piece of vintage clothing or a cute

By Carissa Pope Copy Editor

prefers to fashion themselves. So she put together a store that is a vision of creativity. Vintage, adorable things appear everywhere throughout the store, from books and old cameras as décor to 80s music playing over the speakers. After speaking to Sara, I found out that she custom makes most of the pillows. She also creates her own fashion line with another designer named RubyBlu and carries it in the store. Sara further explained that she is going to be releasing more men’s clothing throughout the store in about a month.

“[It has] a with a piece of comfortable vibe handmade jewelry. And most importantly, the . . . you could stay overall selection is not too pricey, a great there for hours students with a and it would only limited budget. I had the pleasure seem like a few of speaking to Sara Jane Martini, the owner of the shop, minutes.” who says she decided on Long Beach to open her store because, “Long Beach is fun, funky, and affordable. Why would you go anywhere else?” Considering that Sara has worked in the fashion industry for over 25 years, she knows a thing or two about how this generation

a place with a strong sense of community. It’s a stage where Sara Jane hosts events by locals and for locals.

These events include band performances, beer tasting, and the showcasing of Long Beach artists. In March, Sara is hosting a celebration of innovative female creators. This event is set to take place on March 6 at 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will include three local female tattoo artist, tea and pastry lady, and music by a female band or DJ. Similar events often take place Saturdays nights. Whether you want to buy a blouse, catch a nap, or immerse yourself in Long Beach Sara Jane also said that if you mention my article, she will give you a 15 percent discount, provided that you have a California State University, Long Beach student I.D.

To take a look at what the store has

To see the designs of its partner, RubyBlu, check out www.RubyBlujewerly.com.

A Hermit’s Guide to Relaxing on Campus Escaping responsibilities in little known places The library is crowded, the ASI building smells like an old “Yu-gi-oh!” card, and anywhere else on campus isn’t much of an escape from people or responsibilities. Being a social hermit, I always keep a look out for places for me to retreat back into my little shell.

I’m not pacing between lab coats and fruit

Our campus is obviously not an eye sore, but its beauty is hidden. It’s hidden because there aren’t any benches to sit on to just stop and look at its beauty. The majority of the time students cross the hill to avoid the stairs, so this little gem often goes unnoticed. For example, I myself didn’t consider it a chill spot to hang out at until I saw someone, lying down in the grass. It looked so relaxing that I couldn’t help but do the same, and ever since it’s been the spot for me to take a breather.

me to catch my breath. What makes this spot worthy of mentioning is the view.

through this shortcut, don’t tak the stairs; stop and smell the roses. Another private oasis is a small spot to the

places to let the social hermit unwind or a laid back place to study. My personal favorite is the hillside

By Jack Villalba Assistant Managing Editor

left of the art store. It’s easy to miss unless you’re walking out and you happen to see it. It’s also easy to dismiss because it’s doesn’t scream for attention like some of the university’s other hangout spots. Whoever did the landscaping for this area

when the sun is setting. It’s a pretty nice view of the campus. the main attraction for anything, but considering where I was sitting, I didn’t mind watching them sway to the pull of the wind. It was kind of cute.

inspiration and motivation when your Starbucks Double Shot isn’t doing the trick. Last, but not least is a courtyard in the Kinesiology building. With patches of green grass, a couple of trees, and cement tables to lay your head down on a warm spring day, it’s literally a full on escape. The chances of running into someone is slim, so no professors or classmates can The only thing fast about that place is the people exercising in it. As you can see, there’s a relaxing spot on campus for everyone. Like your inner peace, you just have to look for it.

Community

COMIC CONMEN

Intro by Andrew Linde Entertainment Editor Photos by William Odis Martin

Contributor

Long Beach Comic Expo offers the nerd-vana experience without the stress. Panels are never too packed, collectors don’t elbow each other for exclusives, and cosplayers are glad to share their tips and costumes with viewers. This year’s seventh convention showcased a bevy of costumed talent. Above: A candid capture of a “Mommy and Me” cosplay family making their way into the Expo. Upper right: Mayra Martinez swings a mean bat as Harley Quinn, Gotham’s favorite antihero. Left: Jesse Oliva’s precise rendition of Heath Ledger’s Joker from “The Dark Knight”. Right: Captain America gets ready to pack a punch. Below: Instagram cosplayer @thebatbum arrives with his Bum-Mobile. Lower right: A little girl stands her ground as a life-szied Optimus Prime makes his way through awestruck fans.