Virtual Tombstones by Union Weekly

“Dumbledore: The Hoodlum Years” by John Mueller

Issue 77.4

Intro

Katie Cortez, Editor in Chief editorinchief@lbunion.com Richard Mejia, Managing Editor manager@lbunion.com Renee Schmiedeberg, Assistant Managing Editor/Social Media Intern assistmanager@lbunion.com Trevor Desrosiers, Advertising Executive advertising@lbunion.com Ashley Rodriguez, Advertising Intern Nathan Zankich, Web Manager web@lbunion.com ART & DESIGN

Words by: Katie Cortez

Graphic by: Sam Orihuela

Sam Orihuela, Art Director artdirector@lbunion.com John Mueller, Graphics Illustrator illustration@lbunion.com Jose Hernandez, Photographer EDITORIAL Elizabeth Nguyen, Co-Opinions Editor opinions@lbunion.com Rebeca Vega, Co-Opinions Editor opinions@lbunion.com Joel Martinez, Community Editor community@lbunion.com Bailey Mount, Campus Editor campus@lbunion.com William Odis Martin, Athletics Editor athletics@lbunion.com Madison Gallegos, Arts Editor arts@lbunion.com Andrew Linde, Entertainment Editor entertainment@lbunion.com Elliott Gatica, Music Editor music@lbunion.com Jack Villalba, Lifestyle Editor lifestyle@lbunion.com Amanda Dominguez-Chio, Literature Editor literature@lbunion.com Marilyn Ramirez, Travel Editor travel@lbunion.com Kaila-Marie Hardaway, Food Editor food@lbunion.com Aubrey Graham, Grunion Editor grunion@lbunion.com

PARKING SUCKS, GO KICK ROCKS Parking on campus is a topic that has been talked to death. But, I’m going to talk about it again because for four out of the six days I wind to blow away all of the cars on the fourth Pyramid. I don’t really care where they land, I just want them gone. Every morning I wake up, shower, get dressed, and drive to campus in a pretty good mood. But from the moment I drive into the parking structure, I feel like a war unsheath my sword, and raise my shield and drive into the lion’s den that is Parking Structure 1. Question: how is it that there are 2,642 general parking spaces in that particular parking structure and it takes me more than Answer: Records on csulb.edu show that last year, there were 36,808 students enrolled in classes. Okay, maybe it’s possible that not every single enrolled student is on campus at the same time. And yes, I am fully aware that not every single student drives to campus. Some have disabilities and park in those spots, some drive motorcycles and park much closer to campus, at least 2,000 students live on-campus, and a sizeable chunk take public transportation. But with more than 30,000 students enrolled at CSULB, chances are there are at least half of the student body is on campus on any given day.

STAFF WRITERS Lauren Hunter, lauren@lbunion.com Karrie Comfort, karrie@lbunion.com Cesar Cadenas, cesar@lbunion.com Sylvana Uribe, sylvana@lbunion.com Emily Ayers, emily@lbunion.com COPY & ASSISTANT EDITORS Carissa Pope, Mario Lopez, Karen Ruiz, Sheila Sadr, Abril Burstein, Michelle Ha

for parking. I’ve been waiting for a parking spot, blinker on, ready to turn in, and have someone zoom dangerously to snake the spot away from me. Naturally, a slur of vulgarities exit my mouth and I tend to drive away in anger, hunting for the next available parking spot like Captain Ahab looking for the great whale in Moby Dick. And on the rare occasion that I dare to

CONTRIBUTORS Blake Pinto, Daniel Barajas, Meagan Meylor, Samantha Neou, Stephany Medina, Mary Cruz, Natalie Ordaz, Elizabeth Ortiz, nothingbutwordssatire COVER PHOTO BY: William Odis Martin FEATURE AND COVER DESIGN BY: Sam Orihuela

situation isn’t any better. I end up regretting my decision when I see cars on the fourth It should also be recognized that there are three parking structures with a total of 5,111 general parking spaces, and Lots 12,13,14 A, B, and C, 16, and 11 A and B which hold a total of 4,607 general parking spaces. That means

that there are 9,718 general parking spaces that are completely full Monday-Thursday. That’s less than a third of the entire student body. In my over-worked mind, that means that my desire to obliterate every car in the This semester, the parking structure has become an unholy pit of hell in not just a metaphorical sense, but almost in a literal sense. Due to the scorching temperatures that have condemned our lovely Long Beach into something reminiscent of Death Valley, the walk from the parking structure to the USU is like walking across the Sahara Desert. I almost wish that I had a camel to really make it feel like a journey through Egypt. I spend my entire walk to the UW cruising through Facebook and cursing every foul human who deemed it necessary to take up two parking spots and block me from taking open parking spots. Oddly enough, most of my friends who also go to CSULB have posted the exact same thing: “Parking sucks. Go kick rocks.” Facebook really is the universal truth of our generation. We complain about parking, talk about boy/girl troubles, let our friends and family know where we are at any given time, and integrate it with Instagram to show everyone exactly what is taking place. We are a generation who uses social media to communicate with one another when we’re happy, sad, or any spectrum of emotion. Social media is our virtual diary, but instead of hiding our private thoughts in a composition book under our beds, we put those thoughts and feelings out there for the entire world to see—no matter what they are. That’s why for this issue, our feature story shines a spotlight on how social media actually helps us cope with death. We see how other people memorialize those we have lost and are able to realize that we are not alone. Other people we have never met are riddled with the same emotions that we are, and we are able to help one another deal with death in a way that hasn’t really been discussed at length before. The UW for this issue’s have experienced death and have used social media to cope with it. They’ve seen how many people loved and appreciated those they cared about, and are reassured that others were able to experience

the goodness of that particular person. We are able to see how many lives that person has touched. The Feature for this issue was one of the hardest to read and write for me, personally. And after reading what the others had to write too. But these feelings aren’t being left under our beds where no one can read them. We’re putting them online and in print, and most of all, on social media. Until next week, Tezzington

SNAP OF THE WEEK

Sent by: Sam Orihuela

@UnionWeekly

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

Opinions

Dear President Jane Conoley: As I write this, the day is Sept. 11—a meaningful date in the USA and around the world. A date to be discussed and remembered. Yet, instead of sending out a remembrance to the student body to “Never Forget,” you chose to mass email a “message” promoting the beauty and opportunity within OTHER countries. To be sure, everyone will agree that international I’m questioning your timing, the motivation behind it, and your lack of acknowledgement of 9/11.

It is clear that you had a wonderful time visiting exotic locations with our foreign allied dignitaries, but your decision to send us this “message” today, of all days...was it simply a very coincidental oversight? Was it an error in judgement that you chose Sept. 11 to send a “message” advocating China, Japan, and many other countries while overlooking the fourteenth anniversary of one of the USA’s darkest days? Your Twitter account of 1,200 followers shows that you tweeted a 9/11 remembrance

on the morning of Sept. 11, so why is there “message” to our student / faculty body of over 36,000? Why choose to address them instead, on Sept. 11, with a “message” gushing admiration for “rich” foreign cultures? With this letter, I seek to understand why a seasoned collegiate professional, born and raised in New York, viewed the full date of Sept. 11 typed out at the top of her “message” and did not conceive of the inappropriateness of the timing. By neglecting and/or ignoring

the past in your “message” to so many within our academic community, you diminish the relevance and importance of both. I believe “Never Forget” means remembering the how, who, and why of 9/11. I believe it means spread the word. Sincerely, Andrew McGivern

Right on, Target The franchise hits the mark with new design Story by Sylvana Uribe Staff Writer Target announced in early August it would make a gender neutral shift in a few of the departments within its stores. Changes would do away with separating items by gender in the toys, home, and entertainment sections of its stores. Gender indicative colors would be removed from aisles, and items meant for children would simply be labeled for “kids.” The changes are due to a photo tweeted by an Ohio mom, Abi Bechtel, of a store sign that read “building sets” and “girl’s building sets.” It’s received over 3,000 retweets. Taking to social platforms like Twitter, some have said that gender neutrality will confuse children and that it is not a big problem in the United States. Well, that’s certainly not right. If children are confused between sex and gender, that’s because adults still grapple with the distinction. In simple terms, sex is assigned based on the reproductive organs we bear at birth. Gender refers to how we choose to express our masculinity and femininity. One is biological and one is a behavior, got it? We would like to think that expressing our gender is something we take into our own hands. However, feminine and masculine ideals are already set in place by society. A common example would be television advertisements of mud-stained boys playing outdoors or girls having tea parties with their dolls. While both seemingly innocent, they depict boys as tough, rugged beings, while

girls are quiet and dainty. How are children ever going to grasp freedom of expression while the world force-feeds them a set of standards to abide by? I would argue that it would be more confusing for a child to constantly be told they were odd for not being girly or manly enough. How do you cope when you don’t have the vocabulary or notion that being By not allowing children to explore their own identities, they grow up with a limited sense of the wide spectrum of people that exist beyond their bubble. Later on when they encounter terms like transgender, genderqueer, or intersex, they are ill-prepared in how to deal with it. Ideally, people would strive to listen and understand case, many reject the opportunity to do so. This rejection has escalated to the outright discrimination and attacks of people who the LGBT community. To dismiss gender neutrality as an irrelevant topic would be to dismiss the lives of the transgender men someone else’s perception of the norm. Although Target’s changes are small, they do shed light on the dangers of not keeping the conversation open when it comes to gender. Whether or not you prefer pink more than blue, it shouldn’t have the power to break you.

Illustration by Alaina Tinirello Contributor

Opinions

“¡Oye, Chica!” One Latina recounts her family’s escape to the US Story by Jack Villalba Lifestyle Editor I am Cuban-American by descent of both my grandparents. In 1962, at the age of 20,

owned, and took it from them in front of their

“A handshake between America and Cuba is a good step, but it’s not the step necessary for happiness. ”

The substance of what is being said about

of when she wanted to see the ocean she was separated; cousins were sent to random

Cuba is free or that my grandmother gets her wedding ring back. It doesn’t mean anything. bring anything with them to America—no man approached my grandmother before she

mean we aren’t in pain. It means that we are wow. You must be excited.” Why on earth

to her. My great grandmother wanted to go to America to be with her daughter, but Castro

had ended. A handshake between America and Cuba is a good step, but it’s not the step

grandmother was watching a documentary

The Dog Days Are Over US should pass up on extra holidays

Boston Globe

Christmas is one of the most important attention to things we need to be proud of

Story by Cesar Cadenas Staff Writer

of the year and to come together as brothers at the end of the year and honors African-

Illustration by John Mueller Graphics Illustrator

gimmicks meant to attract or distract

with a gimmick to begin with, but rather a

amazing the condiment is. I think that’s the dishonest. Case in point, Massachusetts is

with a gimmick premise.

6 Campus

Creating a Legacy of Increased Revenue Story by Wesley Young Contributor

Photos by Nathan Zankich

In the brief time the semester has been in progress, there has been a silent battle for resources that has left Engineering students struggling. This precious resource is space—space for the brilliant minds of the Engineering student body to expand. In the College of Engineering (CoE), many student clubs and organizations had the space they’d been occupying taken from them and given away for yet-to-be-known reasons. Some organizations like California Launch Vehicle Education Initiative (CALVEIN) and Experimental Sounding Rocket Association (ESRA) were given twoweeks notice to clear out with complete disregard for critical delays that would be caused to year-long projects. The honor society, Pi Tau Sigma, returned locked out of their room and denied access to their own belongings. Even the study rooms in the CoE were taken away, dealing another blow to student productivity. The students and faculty who were

EN4 things like build and design rockets. The This scarcity of space stems from the

the CoE led to many unanswered questions, the concealed details of which are still coming to light . Dr. Rahai, the associate dean overseeing the room changes, it left the students feeling was that these clubs were not successful enough to justify their space. Every student at this university should recognize that “success” is a word that they alone choose the meaning of when it comes to their education. It is a claim the CoE has no right to make when these clubs reach dozens of students who work endless nights

growth and experience to those students that put them in the air. Take Students of Automotive Engineering (SAE), a crew of students that builds their own mini bajas and formula racecars on an embarrassingly strained budget compared to their competitors. They determined themselves to be successful the moment they of the classroom. It was students on this very campus that engine that is said will be the key to traveling Why then are these unique, successful

Enrollment and faculty are constantly increasing and there are even plans to start a new Biomedical Engineering department. Yet, student organizations are being consolidated by the college, and to Boeing under a new contract. What is known about this unannounced deal is that more than six rooms will be given to Boeing in exchange for some $500,000 in yearly research grants. That is the price that the school has put on the limitless knowledge, collaboration, and pride of students in organizations. information on the scope of this contract as they were never informed or consulted by the CoE Dean, Dr. Golshani, before the deal was made. select amount of students, but no earlier than next summer. So if the school has this limited resource, why is it making these CSU, one would think there would be more of an emphasis on providing opportunities to students and less of a priority given to research contracts. I went to look at a new club room that that the CoE gave to the students. It was a windowless, leaky storage shack in EN4. In one corner of the room, there was a dead opossum. This is not what you should be

paying for when it comes to your education. It should be more than some of the halfassed lectures you get. These opportunities is something often overlooked by the CoE. won’t be the last. The legacy being written right now will not be about how student experiences were. It will only be a legacy of increased revenue. What was discovered is hard to describe, and eerie in nature. Subjectively, it seems that the CoE has bred an environment where non-tenured faculty are afraid to voice their concerns about decisions that get made. Faculty email chains raise concern that the campus administration is unwilling to listen, instead siding with those higher in power to suppress issues. So now it has fallen on us, the students, to Students shouldn’t be told that the concerns they raise are too trivial. By not consulting us, uninformed decisions were made that marked the end of an innovative and developmental period in the college. I really hate when I tell people where I go and they say, “I hear Long Beach has a good engineering program.” I have to say no, While the decline in student success won’t be plotted on a neat color-coded engineering graph, it will be experienced by every incoming student if this continues to be the trend in the CoE.

Arts “We were close to being homeless and

drawing class. She hopes to return as a student in the near future, but only 40 out of 400 students

always helping my mom along with my are there for each other, but we do our own She said her mom and brother struggled They were left feeling abandoned and abused by their father.

pushed herself in high school so she could get decent grades.

Sitting quietly in a room while trampling

Illustrating Your Own Future

, Hellboy, and are often playing on T.V. These characters dabbles in the digital world. Drawing is crucial to 19-year-old Liz as though the one-and-a-half years studying animation at Long Beach has

outreach program at The LA School of Art and Music, focusing on drawing the human and animal anatomy, using mediums such as pencil, pen, charcoal and watercolor. “My brother’s passion inspired me to

As a woman in a man’s game, she hopes Indesign, etcetera,0 to use as an aid in the their horizons. She also hopes to inspire Her brother, being a former student, pursue their goals. College of Design in Pasadena. There she senior year of high school and became a paid

remembrance of her past family troubles. “I need music to focus and am happiest

How one artist used her struggles to create something amazing

part of Van Nuys, California, along with her older brother, now age 26, who inspired her He landed his dream career as a Honda

Story by Elizabeth Ortiz Contributor

This same determination

Fashions “F—You” to the Patriarchy Story by Madison Gallegos Arts Editor

of strong, self-empowered, and sexually liberated women. In the ‘80s it was powerful business woman with shoulder pads, sharp lines, and bright colors. Now they’re when the feminist

but with bright ‘80s-esque colors, scaled that we are badass. All throughout the 2015 award trading-in their elegant dresses for edgier pantsuits. At the Golden Globes, Lorde

women as a form of with a diamond statement the only ones in charge. From streetwear to the red carpet, pantsuits are

low-cut, red Gucci pantsuit

Alexander

McQueen

showed

gender restrictions. Whether it’s fashion or real life, women are not limited. The powersuit represents the freedom

a they want. Women are embracing their inner goddess and the suit

and straight-legged pants. the most important and stunning new addition to a classic trend. What’s so unique and fantastic about the pantsuits trending today is that you

Giorgio Armani captured this concept perfectly when “The new powersuit is the

suits. They matter. These accident. With more women

Hillary Clinton a front runner for the 2016 presidency, the success of women-centered Mad Max

wore to the Critic’s Choice Awards. they CAN. That’s what’s so great about them. The world needs to see women Powersuits are dominating the fall 2015 Couture runways and they are bolder and

Now we’re seeing both sides, and they

Travel

Sleepless in Seattle An adventurous roadtrip that will never be forgotten Story and photos by Mario Lopez Assistant Editor This summer, a good friend of mine and I decided to go on an impromptu road trip. We hopped into my crappy 2000 Nissan Altima and drove straight from Los Angeles to Portland, Oregon in about 15 hours. After swapping from driver to passenger and taking a long nap, we drove past the border into Oregon in the middle of the night. I marveled at the dusty, starred skies— something that a native Angelino is not used

friend’s home in Portland (remember what I said about knowing someone? Free motel!), our friend took us to a few local spots to eat and drink beer (remember to drink responsibly! Or not at all). If you are on the destination; it is the the city with the most breweries in the US We managed to hit up two spots: Radio Room and Prost. The Radio Room was a nice and cozy place with a sleek

“Our trip not only consisted of alcohol and friends, but also the great outdoors.” to seeing—while my buddy rapped along to every song on his Spotify playlist, from WuTang Clan to Kendrick Lamar. We arrived in Eugene to meet up with my friend’s dad, a trucker. Here’s a tip for anyone planning to road trip: It always helps to know or befriend someone in order to get free showers and be shown around; you may even get a place to sleep for the night. If all else fails, save a few bucks and sleep in the car. After a good three hours of sleep at our

look, an upper deck with a nice view, and plenty of fresh air. Prost was the place to be for beer. I had a malt beer that hardly tasted like any beer I have tasted, but it was a slightly the taste cannot describe how amazing it is, but it is something that I highly recommend. Our trip not only consisted of alcohol and friends, but also the great outdoors. The state of Oregon is lush with greenery and those famous Oregon pines. I could look

Enjoying Redhook’s Wisecracker Whit beer and soaking in the beauty of nature out the window and just stare at them for hours. We also made our way into the great city of Seattle, Washington the next day, with another fellow Angelino that knows spend a day and night with him, where he showed us Snoqualmie Falls. This 268-foot tall waterfall makes for a great view, and if you are up for it, a hiking trail nearby to burn brewery named Red Hook. Funny story—before we left, one of my buddies was talking about how he really wanted a promotional pint glass from waitress said she could not sell it, but she would not notice if a couple of glasses went missing. The thing was, we only received generic glasses Sent from my iPhone that glass cup of his favorite MLS soccer team, the Seattle Sounders. That is when my mission began. As everyone else left, I asked the bartender if she could serve me up my fourth Wisecracker

A view of Seattle’s very own Snoqualmie Falls

in one of those promotional glasses, and gave her a knowing eye. She handed me the beer and the check, I winked, thanked her, signed my name, tipped her the price of a regular glass, walked into the bathroom with

my beer, chugged it, slipped the glass into my bag, switched my bag with a friend that entered the bathroom shortly after I did, and left the bar. Done deal, right? No. My friend came out of the bathroom and took another glass and walked into the bathroom and came back empty-handed. He said the workers were giving him funny looks and suspected him of stealing, so he left them in the stall we traded bags in. I could not let my other buddy down, so I walked back into the Red Hook Brewery. I nonchalantly asked where the bathroom was, and went in to the stall expecting the glasses to be gone. They were still there, and they them in my bag. I walked out slowly, and as I made my way out the door, I ran like hell towards our designated driver’s car, and we

and though it is only a slice of the whole own moments—moments that you will talk about, those that you will write about, and those you will keep only to yourself. Go and

FEATURE

Virtual Tombstones Remembering loved ones through social media Intro by Katie Cortez

If there is one thing that every person in the human race has to experience, it’s the loss of a loved one. It’s an unfortunate commonality especially in the modern age of social media. In November 2014, one of my oldest friends suddenly died. I hadn’t really hung out with him in awhile, but it was the span of a week, he was gone. from his sister or his parents, or any out through Facebook. The day after his death, his loved ones began posting messages like “I miss you. RIP,” on his

Photos by Sam Orihuela and William Odis Martin

joke. There was no way he could be dead. I had just spoken to him a week before when he came to my work. It wasn’t until I saw photos of our old group of friends when we were kids that the reality of it all sunk in. If I hadn’t been cruising through my news feed, I wouldn’t have known that he had died. It was weird to see people memorializing him online, but in a way, it helped me grieve. To see how much

of a positive impact he had on the lives of others was incredibly reassuring. In the days before his funeral, I would scroll through his Facebook page to see the kind words people had said about him, and although I felt a deep regret that I hadn’t really kept in touch, I was shown that the big-hearted guy I knew had others in his life who were hurting just as much. With the one-year anniversary of his death fast approaching, I still consider it one of the harshest realities I have ever had to face and something that I think about every day. Despite the negative opinions older generations may have about social media, people our age have used this method to cope with loss and have found it therapeutic to see so many people create an online vigil to those they have lost. We may spend too much time looking down at our phones, but we have managed to use Facebook for more than just telling our friends about our daily lives. We’re remembering those who have gone and are sharing those memories with others who loved them just as much. This is our way of coping with death.

FEATURE Photo credit: William Odis Martin

By William Odis Martin One hundred and fifty-eight weeks ago, life became a little more precious. The life of one of my best friends was taken in a car accident in Georgia. Facebook posts dedicated to “Boogie” began to flood my feed the next morning as news of his untimely death made its way to the west coast. His little brother created a Facebook group in his honor so people could share their individual memories and goodbye notes on Boogie’s cyber-tomb. Hundreds of people from Atlanta to Compton spilled their hearts out onto the page. Family and friends grappled with coming to terms that our beloved brother Boogie, who was always radiant and so full of life, would have to watch over us from the sidelines in the sky. His last post, taken the night he died, remains eternally hammered onto his Instagram wall and keeps track of the weeks that continue to speed past. His 158-week-old post— an eerie point-of-view snap taken from his cell phone—hangs as a constant reminder of how precious every living moment is. The only lights sparsely illuminating the road in his photo were from his dim headlights that eventually were reduced to confetti at the moment of impact. He went to high school in the Bay Area and most of his friends

could not make the pilgrimage to the “Peach State,” so they grieved online and tried to gain some closure there. In this case, social media was an asset to the many mourners. Another friend of mine recently died in a car accident in the Bay Area because he did not buckle his seat belt. Kyle’s family utilized social media to its fullest potential by garnishing enough donations through GoFundMe.com to almost cover the cost of his funeral: $9,668 of the 10k goal. Then his family created a socialmedia-fueled campaign on on June 15, his birthday, called “#BUCKLEUPFORKYLE” in hopes to create awareness of the consequences of not wearing a seat belt. I think that far too often, social media is a misused soapbox for the maddeningly mundane, yet there is a positive role it can play when death hits close to home. Everyone grieves differently, but most need the support of loved ones as a crutch during these most trying times. Social media offers a forum for the lamenting to fully open up to each other. Complete strangers can share laughs in remembrance of their deceased mutual friends. It can help mourning families overcome the fiscal burden that a premature passing can present.

By Richard Mejia Death is something that had always given me mixed feelings. I have never experienced death of a loved one until recently, so I could never relate to the pain gone through such a tragedy. I would spend hours in the dark, before bed, thinking about what death is. I would be overcome with anxiety and fear with thoughts leading up to death, and wonder if there is even an afterlife. My perspective on death changed this past winter. As Christmas approached, my with MISSING posts. My friend from high school, Jake, had been missing for a few days and his family had been unable to contact him. Through the and family on multiple social media platforms, the city of Long Beach was fully aware of this missing young man. Unfortunately, these had committed suicide. When reporting it, I was completely dumbfounded. I truly could not believe that someone I had known for such a long time died at such a young age. I sent my condolences to his family and like many others, I posted a heartfelt message on his Facebook page. The outpour through social

media was astounding. It didn’t matter if these friends knew Jake personally for years or just through social media, everyone had an opportunity to pay their respects. Friends who hadn’t spoken to him in a long time were able to reconnect with his family, and attend both his funeral and wake. Many individuals were able to collect funds for his funeral expenses through a few peerto-peer money transfer sites, and were able to share links through Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. This epitomizes the advances technology has made. In just a matter of days, the stunningly unfortunate death of a young man was reported through a small group of family and friends and evolved into an event that brought together a community. Many, like myself, were unable to personally attend the services, nor provide any additional support for the family, but through social media we were able to pay respects for Jake and donate funds to his family. I miss him all the time, and just like hundreds of other Facebook friends, I can celebrate and share his legacy at any given moment just through a click of a button.

FEATURE

By Sylvana Uribe

By Emily Ayers I always thought that the people closest to me were exempt from having anything bad happen to them. It might have been immaturity, but I believed they were untouchable. It was one of the most devastating blows when I came to the realization that my loved ones would not be in my life forever. It was even more surprising when I found myself reaching for social media as an outlet to deal with the overwhelming emotions that came along with grieving. loss was in 2013, when my grandfather died in a car accident. It was unexpected and left my family unsure of how to deal with his passing. My grandfather was a pillar in the family and the grieving for each of us. Some were quiet, while others were chatty. I found myself gripped by anger, sadness, and confusion. I wanted to shut down, but I also wanted to vocalize how special my grandfather was. It was in those moments of needing to share about his life post about his death. I was amazed at how relieved I felt after clicking the ‘post’ button on Facebook. It brought closure and a sense of peace knowing that my friends and relatives could read about who this person was to me.

When my family created a Facebook page dedicated to my grandfather, it instantly became a place to commemorate him. People were able to share their favorite photos and memories, and it provided a support system for all of us. The powerful role of social media in the grieving process crept into my life once again this past week when I received news that a former professor of mine had passed away. It was unfathomable, and I was completely heartbroken. Immediately after I received the news, I felt compelled to sit down at my computer to write a Facebook post. My professor’s role in my life was pivotal, and I wanted everyone to understand how valued and appreciated he was. As I began typing, I again felt closure. I think people are social media as a means to celebrate a life. But it really provides an incredible web of human connectedness that otherwise might not be possible. These virtual tombstones that we create allow us to revere our loved ones in unique ways. There is a power in social media that, if you let it, can encapsulate the wonderful life contributions of those who have passed.

I can feel a certain uneasiness wash over me when contemplating about “the end.” Will it hurt? What happens afterwards? In the world of the living, it’s become more common to scroll through posts of condolences following someone’s death on social media. Posts vary from photos with paragraph-long messages recalling time spent with a person who has departed, to the cryptic one-line message reading, “sad day.” My first experience with death was when my brother succumbed to lymphoma cancer during my senior year of high school. My peers talked endlessly of how they envisioned college life or their three-week searches for the perfect prom dress. However, I was struggling with how to tell my teachers I’d be missing class because I’d be attending my brother’s funeral without having to deal with the sympathetic, “Are you okay ?” In terms of social media, I didn’t want my disillusionment to infiltrate a forum bombarded with photos of food and smiling selfies. I wasn’t ready to have my thumbs string together a post when the words describing what had occurred couldn’t leave my lips. I needed space to accept his death before opening up to the hundreds of people that lived within my newsfeed. Why go public with such a private battle? Recently, news broke on

social media of the passing of a former history professor. On his Facebook page, people had taken to their keyboards to express their disbelief in the loss of an inspiring community figure. Had I never enrolled into his class, this past year would have been completely different. Since he had incorporated a volunteering element into his class, I became involved with a local non-profit and began my journey to become better acquainted with Long Beach, a city I wanted to leave, yet knew nothing about. After the reality of my professor’s passing sunk in, I did something a bit foreign to me, which was share a post honoring his memory. I was surprised by the comments and private messages from people who wanted to share their own memories with him. My inbox became a digital vigil where I could mourn with acquaintances, and we’d heal along the way. While I understand the healing capability of social media following a death, I ultimately gravitate toward a traditional grieving process. Disconnecting from a population of oversharers gives a person the necessary breathing room to recover. Closure comes at one’s own terms, and allowing ourselves to grieve reminds us that we’re human and more than just the image we portray on our timelines.

Food

Boathouse on the Bay A closer look at a favorite Long Beach restaurant Frozen Yogurt-Covered Blueberries Recipe by Kaila Hardaway Food Editor Blueberries are known to be a superfood: a nutrient-rich food known to be extremely This recipe for frozen yogurt-covered Blueberries makes for a great snack that is perfect for studying, in between meals, or even as a snack on-the-go. Full of nutritious as they are delicious and are great for your wallet. What You’ll Need: • •

1 6oz container of fresh blueberries 1 6oz container of your favorite

• •

1 Toothpick Baking Sheet

1. 2.

Wash your blueberries. Using your toothpick, dip each

(Above) Restaurant-goers enjoyed eating and socializing on the Boathouse on the Bay patio

Story and photos by Lauren Hunter Staff Writer There is a place that overlooks the water where one can see seals and dolphins playing. There is a place where you can get sushi, pasta, or steak, all of which taste equally delicious. There is a place with a fantastic pit. This place is the Boathouse on the Bay. This is the restaurant that used to be known as McKenna’s. The Boathouse on the Bay is owned by Long Beach locals who know what the people want and will guarantee you a satisfying experience. I personally have never had a bad time at Boathouse on the Bay, and I have been a

faithful patron since before the name change. I have sat inside, outside, and at the bar. No matter where you sit, the view is always spectacular, because it is located right on the water and the sunsets are indescribable. Most recently a group of friends and I went to celebrate Labor Day at Boathouse on the Bay. My friend and I split the mahi-mahi tacos and lobster ravioli. I know this sounds like a weird combo, but every bite was worth it. Normally I get their sushi. A couple other

time to experience one of Long Beach’s best decide to go, please drink responsibly.

Boathouse on the Bay which comes on a huge plate. Now I am getting hungry and itching to go back. On the patio they have live music seven days a week, and sometimes a band will play music in the bar area. The environment is always fun and relaxing. It is hard to have a bad time at the Boathouse on the Bay because day or night, the service is always “on point.” Again, the view is worth every penny. They have exciting events during holidays. I strongly suggest going and having a great time. It is really worth your

3. 4.

swirl around until the blueberry is nicely coated with yogurt. Place on a baking sheet. Repeat steps 2 and 3 until all blueberries are coated with yogurt.

• •

Location: 190 N. Marina Drive, Long Beach, CA 90803 Hours: Monday-Thursday 11:30 am10:00pm Friday 11:30 am -midnight Saturday 9:00 am -midnight Sunday 9:00 am to 10:00 pm

sheet into the freezer, and allow it to sit for at least an hour. After about an hour, your yogurtcovered blueberries are ready to be put in a Ziplock bag and stored in the

“Every time time you spend money, you’re casting a vote for the kind of world you want.” -Anne Lappe

Lifestyle

The Power of Having a Choice Saving the world through ethical consumerism Story by Sheila Sadr Assistant Editor

To be completely honest, I’ve never been more apprehensive about writing a piece. Why? Because I’ve been educating and reeducating myself on ethical consumerism for nearly three years now and all I want is to correctly inform as many people as possible about this lifestyle. Now I might sound overdramatic, but author Anne Lappe once said that “Every time you spend money, you’re casting a vote for the kind of world you

responsibly sourced jewelry. There are even condoms and lube that are cruelty free! Yes,

illustrates exactly why our world is in so much trouble. But it also shows how we can save it. Ethical consumerism is the purchasing of commodities through careful thought and consideration as to how exactly it was made and brought to you. It’s being an activist as a consumer, having a preference of buying responsibly sourced products, and morally boycotting products that violate your personal standards. For example, let’s say you’re looking to replenish your shampoo supply. So you go into a store and rather than purchasing a typical name brand of shampoo on the shelf, you search for shampoos with a distinct symbol that recognizes that that product was not tested on animals and you purchase that product. By doing this, you are “casting a vote” that you do not condone companies that test on animals. You can take this example one step further and look for a shampoo that is vegan which means that not only is it not tested on animals but that it doesn’t have any animal by-products. You can practice this purchasing method with anything. You can morally boycott clothes made in sweatshops by children in other countries by purchasing

often hear about is that this kind of lifestyle is expensive for the average student. Well, yes. Living a cruelty-free life is expensive if you plan on maintaining the same routine as an average consumer. Purchasing crueltyfree products at the same consistency and amount as your regular purchases will really dig a hole in your pocket.

manufacture in America. You can purchase poultry where the animals are treated with dignity and respect. For example, you would purchase free-range organic chickens and their resulting eggs or, with cows, you would purchase meat and dairy products that are grass-fed and organic. You could even go vegan if that suits you. There are so many options. You can buy tampons and pads that have lower plastic content on the wrappers. You can buy

have animal byproducts in them and lube has been tested on animals. The point is this: if you really think about it, the depth you can go into your ethical purchasing lifestyle is virtually limitless. Of course there are setbacks as an ethical consumer. For the sake of argument, I’ve

slowly in your transition to ethically sourced products and be considerate of how much you use of it. Start by looking for and buying cruelty-free makeup, lotions, and shaving stores—and be attentive to the amount you are using. You will notice over time that not only are these products lasting longer but

Illustration by John Mueller Graphics Illustrator

they are also worth their amount in their use. Recycle your bottles when you’re done too. Also, don’t forget to forgive yourself for not being perfect in this process. There are certain items that won’t fall directly into the ethically sourced category that you will have to use, such as medication or deodorant (hit

politics. The more people we get to try this out, the better. The more income moral and independent business make, the more lives

Just remember, you can go as far as you’re comfortable with in this lifestyle. Doing a

ourselves and the world around us. This type of consumption, if more people get in on it, will greatly enhance the quality of life among many animals and people alike in so many parts of the world. And this is what matters most.

The second issue is the argument that buying anything responsibly sourced won’t

consumerism, I actually had no clue there was a word for it. I just wanted to buy

things. It is here that I make plea with you.: please try and take steps to practice this lifestyle. Once you’ve gotten comfortable in it, please educate someone else on the matter. Try and get other people to at least think about their purchases. There is power in numbers and there is power in purchasing. Recall how every time you spend your money, you are voting. If everyone believed that their vote doesn’t count in politics, there wouldn’t be a functioning government. A of ethical consumption is a vote and it’s a vote that is just as important as the one in

doing research a couple years back and it single item I purchase. It made me question and analyze how exactly all these products the clothes, the makeup, the toiletries, the household items, the food got into my hands and where it all came from. For the past three years, my development in this discipline has expanded to my makeup which is now all cruelty-free along with all my toiletries and hair care items. I try my best to buy responsibly sourced meats and local organic vegetables and I spread the gospel of ethical consumerism to anyone who is willing to listen. My next step: To systematically money to purchase a smaller closet of responsibly sourced clothing, since they tend to be a little pricey. For me, this isn’t about falling into the repulsive hipster culture or being cool or shouting maniacally that the world is shit and we need to save it, no. There is no other agenda for me but having the knowledge that through this practice, I am voting to help our earth replenish its resources. I am voting to improve the lives of countless animals and individuals in varying parts of the world. I am voting for a better life for all the people and things that are interconnected to it. And that is what matters most of all.

Music

A Journey to Reggae Righteousness Using music as their aid, these artists sing for causes larger than themselves Story by Elizabeth Ortiz Contributor Following seven reggae artists to “CactusLand” to see them perform at the Arizona Reggae Fest on Sept. 4 requires patience. Each musician is gathered one by one, piling musical equipment in the back of a van; a long, hot journey was about to begin. “The opportunity to ride along with Layne and 7 Seal Dove feels like being inducted into a family,” said Ras Duke, a promoter of several reggae bands. RD believes moving forward in unity through music creates a bond within the reggae culture. Vision, understanding and movement is what it is all about. When traveling together to play across the desert, the bond becomes stronger and more evident to the audience. A movement for those who believe in Jah; the band sings about inspiration through the struggle of poverty. The lead singer, Layne, works hard at perfecting his music so he can travel to

Photos by Alfonso De Alba

various locations across the world, bringing positive vibes of encouragement. “I’ve written most of my songs and the rest of the band has been good about putting said Layne, lead singer of 7 Seal Dove. “It’s about the performance.” Layne has been around since 1987 playing a little R&B with artists such as Jodeci, Black St. and EDM’s Alo Black. But reggae is his true calling. Slight hints of culture such as R&B, world music and East African Eritrean music are infused throughout the 7 Seals Dove’s sound. “We practice 3-4 days before we play a show and then just get on stage and jam,” Layne said. L a y n e e x p l a i n s the music is basically focused on awareness of the current world state we live in and how lives. Traveling to more people’s local culture becoming a journey

of righteousness. “I was once a refugee and I speak on struggles, war, love, peace and unity, while always being focused on creating positive high energy music,” Layne said. “Every man carries himself a certain way and with solid belief; being a man of God is who I will be to all Jah’s people.” Layne speaks deeply believing people are only passing through this wicked world, and he must carry on the righteous way of life for the next generation, especially while he is in his youth. parts of the world, within cultures and tribes, the people sing reggae to relate to one purpose which is the movement of Jah,

believes in. “This has been a movement for centuries; BC,” Ras Duke said.” And is still going strong today.” The book of numbers 6:5 scribes “no razor shall be placed upon the head of Jah’s people.

Contributor

Therefore we have dreads.” RD points out that herb (Marijuana) is what is smoked because it

is like a medicine; not to be abused, but similar to how Indians smoke the peace pipe. It is for healing. The movement also includes teaching the meaning of symbolic colors; red is for the land of Africa, yellow for the gold that Black Jack stole (he was a historic slave driver), and black is for the people that beauty robbed. At the end of the performance, Layne said up on stage was rewarding. The message was delivered and the group was able to promote something higher than their selves.

Jepsen Gets a New Wave Carly Rae Jepsen shows a variety of her E·mo·tions in her new album Story by Cesar Cadenas Staff Writer Carly Rae Jepsen roared into the public consciousness with her hit single “Call Me Maybe” in 2012. “Call Me Maybe” was featured in Jepsen’s sophomore album Kiss which was met with mixed reviews. Kiss was criticized for being bland and mediocre by many reviewers, with Blair Kelly of MusicOMH going as far as to call the album “a huge disappointme nt.” Recently, Jepsen released an album entitled Emotion showing how Jepsen has grown from a one-hit wonder to a true pop star, chronicling the sappy journey of falling in love.

The lead single “I Really Like You” comes out with fusion of new wave and a catchy, ‘80s drum beat. The drum beat has this great, crisp sound to it like a heartbeat powering the song. As a sucker for new wave, “I Really Like You” spoke to me on a level I didn’t think it could reach. It’s a fun dance-pop number. The second single “Run Away With Me” is the slower of the singles, and truly captures the moment of falling in love. The saxophone playing in the background further emphasizes its emotion. It portrays the feeling via an anxious beat. I

would describe it as one that feels ready to get going, but it doesn’t make the listener slowly excited until the point when the beat drops,

“...it’s an album that shows that Jepsen has grown from a onehit wonder to a true popstar chronicling the sappy journey of falling in love.” The song is more deliberate with conveying and bringing out certain emotions. The rest of the album is also really fun,

is similar to the lead single because it borrows inspiration from ‘80s music. The funky guitar may not be in the forefront of the song, but it’s a constant that helps escalate the rest of the song. The guitar gives the track a special feel to it since the drums are not fueling the song anymore. “All That” is a ballad portraying the innocence of friendship becoming love. The song takes the listener through the various emotions of creating this new love with a memorable conclusion. The ballad escalates to the poignant end with Jepsen repeating the same line for emphasis. “Show me if you want me/If I’m all that/I will be that/I will be your friend” Jepsen chants these lyrics to the point of eliciting a trance. Emotion Kiss as a whole, but none of the songs on this album overpowers the popularity of “Call Me Maybe.” Not every song on the album is as

Music

Bringing on a New and Refreshing Spirit That’s the Spirit Story by Natalie Ordaz Contributor That’s the Spirit

“This is a new sound for the group as they moved away from their usual metal-core sound to a lighter, alternative, pop-rock sound.”

Cynics and Saints Story by Mary Cruz Contributor

Cynics and Saints,

Athletics

Athletes stretch for relief of sore muscles Suffer from chronic pain? Don’t walk it off, stretch it out. “It’s relaxing and relieves a lot of stress that I have pent up from all my other classes. Plus, I can feel myself getting stronger -Elizabeth Rhamani

Photos by William Odis Martin Athletics Editor

Story by Karrie Comfort Contributor My back hurts. My butt hurts. I think the only part of my body that doesn’t hurt right now are my eyebrows... so yeah, all of me hurts. I’m used to chronic soreness after playing soccer for four years, basketball for two years, and now dancing and weightlifting. However, all the tension was getting to me, and I recently Turns out, this is a problem among a lot of athletes, which manifests itself later in poor health. I’ve started doing yoga occasionally at the Student Recreation and Wellness Center, the start time, you have to show up earlier

because there is never enough room. Besides, no one wants someone downward dogging in

yoga is exactly what it sounds like. It involves building various muscle groups to give you a stronger body and sculpt yoga is similar. The yoga positions are held longer than they out all those tense muscles. “I look forward to it every week,” student Elizabeth Rhamani said about her yoga class. “It’s relaxing and relieves a lot of stress that I

I can feel myself getting stronger and more

the splits. Flexibility keeps your bones and muscles on high alert, and as an athelete your

better posture, simply because you are so much more aware of your breathing and movement. A strong core makes you want to sit up, and who doesn’t want to be taller? My personal favorite reason to do yoga

A lot of poses build core strength, which is at the center of your body and controls a lot of your movement.

blood pressure, which runs in my family, so even the little things help. And yoga helps my mind and body calm down itself after a long day. Tension and pain shouldn’t be a normal part of life. Instead

balanced, without having to use complicated weight lifting machines,” Rachel Grefe said. “I always feel really refreshed and at peace

stretching it out.

“Yoga makes me feel strong, powerful and balanced.” -Rachel Grefe

Entertainment

In Theaters Now: The Visit See it after 9:30pm for more thrills Story by Daniel Barajas Contributor Illustration by John Mueller Graphics Illustrator Don’t visit your grandparents. That’s right, don’t do it. Call them, email them, Facebook them, maybe send them LifeAlert for Christmas, but avoid their presence at all costs, especially after 9:30 at night. At least, that’s how you might feel after watching writer/director M. Night The Visit. The movie follows Becca and Tyler (played by newcomers Olivia DeJonge and Ed Oxenbould) as they leave the comforts of their home to stay with their grandparents for a week. It doesn’t take long for the siblings to notice that something is very wrong with their elderly caretakers. Bumps in the night, strange behavior, and a mysterious shed add to the mounting terror as the nights creep by. The audience watches the story unfold as Becca records everything for a documentary she is making. Shyamalan reinvigorates

tension, and even some laughs throughout the movie. Shyamalan is also able to sneak in deeper emotions with the use of the broken family trying to put itself back together. Protagonists Becca and Tyler are wonderfully portrayed by the two young actors, creating a believable and relatable relationship between brother and sister. Shyamalan really

“[Shyamalan] returns

some laughs throughout

actors when he sees them (I’m looking at you Haley Joel Osment!). The small cast is bolstered by Kathryn Hahn (Tomorrowland) as the mother of the

two children. With producer Jason Blum (Paranormal Activity, Insidious) by his side, Shyamalan is The Visit is a great way to start the oncoming October slaughterfest and is sure to

inducing camera spasms.

The Visit Run Time: 94 min Directed by: M. Night Shyamalan Starring: Olivia DeJonge, Ed Oxenbould, Kathryn Hahn, Deanna Dunagan, Peter McRobbie

The Reality of Television Escape is futile Story by Blake Pinto Contributor Television is as American as apple pie and as addictive as heroin. According to the A.C. will have spent an average of nine years watching television. That’s nine years escaping the reality of everyday life by— many times —tuning into someone else’s. Reality television has exploded in popularity over the past decade, but let’s not pretend it hasn’t always existed—“Candid Camera” dates back to the 1940’s. However, the types of ‘reality’ shows that are currently dominating the airwaves aren’t the same wholesome practical jokes of the early “Candid Camera.” Instead, reality television has strayed land of fantasy and sensationalism.

And people love it. What is better than a show teaching a person survival tactics in the wilderness by dropping two naked people into the wilderness and watching them try to survive? Want to learn about the complexities surrounding the psyche of a hoarder? No

is a glimpse into chaos and how people handle it from the comfort of our living room. It’s always easier to judge from the viewers’ side of the screen—and that’s what we’re doing, constantly judging. Reality television has become a platform from which people feel that they can measure

of amassed dog feces in the corner of their house. Why watch happy storybook weddings when it’s possible to watch brides have mental breakdowns and panic attacks instead? Outlandish? Disgusting? Damn right, this is entertainment, baby!

Whether it be comparing our wealth and lifestyle with the Kardashian clan or yelling at a contestant in “Chopped” because they forgot to use one of the main ingredients, we watch feeling certain that we wouldn’t have cracked under the pressure. When reality precedes the word “television” it’s easier to place ourselves in the character’s shoes. We think, “Maybe, one day, millions will be watching me.”

our values, and what we’re willing to watch. It

It can be dangerous falling under the assumption that these shows represent anything resembling reality. Instead, they should be watched as a child, and some adults, watches a WWE wresting match: reveling in the drama it creates, but knowing at the end of the day it is all part of a carefully cast script. Sadly, some people are unable to separate to. Once a person plunges down the rabbit hole of sensationalized ‘reality’ television that exists today, one can only hope they maintain their sanity—and if they can’t, I’m sure there’s a show about them waiting to be made, and millions ready to watch it.

Literature

An Adventure Through Space and Time Saga

Story by Samantha Neou

Written by Brian K. Vaughan and illustrated by Fiona Staples, Saga is a comic book series that has won an Eisner Award every year from 2013 to 2015, which is the equivalent to winning an Oscar in the comic book industry. The ongoing series consists of paperback just this past week, a compilation one volume for sale. Without giving away any major spoilers, Saga is an action-packed epic about two soldiers who fall in love with each other despite being on opposing sides of a relentless galactic war. To make matters worse, they have a daughter together. The struggle to raise their daughter Hazel in a galaxy with enemies lurking in every corner becomes problematic.

one as of now. I’m not saying it’s the best thing since sliced bread, but it’s a series that deserves tons of praise. It’s similar to Star Wars, but with more adult themes, crude humor, and zany situations. The story is so silly and crazy, but that’s what makes Saga so fresh and brilliant. distinct and gorgeous. Every stroke of color is vibrant and every facial expression is detailed with emotion. The universe Vaughan has created is littered with bizarre creatures and monsters, fascinating planets and worlds. Without the help of Staples,

Vaughan’s vision wouldn’t have carried over so well in each panel. When it comes to the writing, through all four volumes, Saga remains intriguing and is never dull. The story is always headed towards a direction most stories don’t ever go or refuse to go. The dialogue and occasional bits of narration are amazing in every way possible. Vaughan is able to maintain a careful balance between the amount of adventure, hilarity, heart, and drama. If I had to choose one aspect of the series that sealed the deal though, it would be the characters. They’re brimming with life and are very relatable. They joke around, curse, party, contemplate about life, and have family issues, fears, and responsibilities. other person so that even the line between who is really a villain or hero is blurred. They’re all just people trying to get on during a war and protect the ones they love. Ultimately, Saga is a heart-warming story about family. Vaughan’s ability to juggle his insane ideas coupled with Staple’s artistic talent to convey them makes it an unforgettable tale about a couple that just want to be good parents in the midst of a war. Sometimes Saga was hard to keep up and plot lines, but I re-read and endured. It is a highly imaginative and vividly drawn

Images from Saga Vol. 1

Literature

Requiem for a Dream A novel set in the 1930s that explores the seedy world of Hollywood Story by Meagan Meylor Contributor

In Nathanael West’s The Day of the Locust, artist and protagonist Tod Hackett decides to paint his vision of Los Angeles, an image that is all-too-familiar for Angelinos today: Hollywood, the novel is prophetic in its portrayal of Los Angeles as a city on the brink of a natural disaster, heightened by the social West sets the scene on a studio set in Hollywood, where Tod—a recent student of

outside of Kahn’s Persian Palace Theatre, Although Tod is constantly surrounded by these empty—and oftentimes, grotesque— individuals, the novel assures us that Tod “was really a very complicated young man with a whole set of personalities, one inside Therefore, it is through Tod’s perspective that we are able to understand West’s portrayal of Hollywood as overrun by seedy, papier-mâché characters that Tod decides to make the subjects of his masterpiece,

eccentric architecture and illusive quality of the city, Tod interacts with a cast of characters who are all warped by their own fantasies

the disillusioned and passive-aggressive

focuses on the lower-middle class citizens on the street, those who are frustrated with the delusion of the American dream and have

and handsome cowboy from Arizona; Abe

In Tod’s imagined painting, these outsiders have formed an angry mob as Los Angeles burns to the ground behind

Hollywood screenwriter who mimics the role

this envisioned art piece becomes reality as the inhabitants of Hollywood begin rioting

scene—along with Tod’s artistic rendition of the city—is prophetic of contemporary Los Angeles, not only because of the recent

that have erupted in the city since the novel’s invokes images of the Watt Riots, the Rodney King Riot, and the more recent Black Lives disasters and drought-conditions taking The Day of the Locust is an altogether enjoyable and thought-provoking read, due to West’s eerie forecasting of these social tensions and environmental issues that seem to be even more realized today than when is remarkably relevant for a contemporary readership, as it sheds light on the unstable beauty of Los Angeles and its inhabitants

Raise Your Voice One way people deal with the darkness that overshadows their lives may be to keep it to

A collection of poems to inspire audiences all around Story by Stephany Medina Contributor

This book is something I will always

smothered together into words on pages for feelings for others during moments where the highlight of my life, the highlight in the I, on the other hand, am that voice for admit who I really was so I battled with the I recently got hold of a book that stained People need to know it’s okay to be who who I am, and it taught me how to stand up to be you Facing Love & Pain also provides readers with inspiring quotes to either help the poem make sense or give a little has on us until we are reciting the words on my most popular quotes that have touched many lives says, “The way I choose to live my someone I know, and someone who lives Facing Love & Pain is a collection

Volume 77 Issue 4

Monday, September 14th, 2015

LBUNION.COM

DISCLAIMER: Do not anger the Calhound. He yells so loudly, he can break plastic wine glasses, but only on Saturdays. Every other day, his unemployment drives him to constantly apologize for his actions (or, rather, his lack thereof). This page is satire/parody and does not represent ASI nor the CSULB campus. Submit articlez to grunion@lbunion.com.

Trump Actually DOES Respect Women Since the remarks made about Fox News correspondent and GOP debate moderator Megyn Kelly went viral By Dick Fairy after the recent republican debate, Donald Trump has been the target of much criticism from both parties, calling him sexist, misogynistic, and chauvinistic for the jabs. While I can understand how his comments about women can be misconstrued as offensive, what people don’t understand is that Donald Trump has one of the most positive track records supporting women’s rights, both in and out of politics. In order to get your mind off of some of the hateful things you may have read about Mr. Trump in the media lately, I have compiled a list of things that Donald has done for women within the last decade. - He loves women so much, he gave three of them the opportunity to be his wife. - The only reason Trump called laywer Elizabeth Beck’s request to pump milk for her infant daughter “disgusting” was merely in the best interest for the child. All girls want a slender, appealing body in order to impress and satisfy well-off men like Mr. Trump, and they achieve that physique by holding off on the “milk” every once in a while. Some people see diets for infants as “barbaric” and “sick,” but I really think that Donald had the girl’s best interest in mind by discouraging her mother from providing her with food. Who knows? If the child continues maintaining that lifestyle, she might be privileged enough to be his wife #4 in a handful of years! - Donald cares so much about

women, he couldn’t bare to see the confusion that some of them have to go through when deciding whether or not to expand their families. In order made the decision for you. Congrats on that new baby, ladies! - During a 2013 episode of his show Celebrity Apprentice, he told model Brande Roderick that it would be a pretty picture to see her on her knees during the boardroom scene. All he’s saying is that women DO indeed have a place in the workforce… - He has been accused of “rating” his female TV show contestants based on their appearance. Personally, I be economically savvy. It’s a known fact that women are more expensive to hire, so why not get more bang for your buck by hiring someone nice to look at? He is still providing ladies with respectable jobs! He is simply using his trademark honesty once again to express the widely held view that most high powered men are too scared to say: bringing a fancy bachelor’s degree to the table simply isn’t enough for ladies in the workforce. Who do they think they are? Men? In conclusion, both the right and the left need to stop their crusade against Trump. As I have demonstrated above, he has done more to inspire feminism than all the candidates so far in this 2016 race, and the questions that Mrs. Kelly asked on Thursday night’s debate simply show her overreaction to comments that, when looked at critically, were actually meant to support working professional women such as herself. But you know women, always overreacting…

Will The Real Slim Sanders Please Shut Up? This is the Bern Man, writing to you from The LBC. As you all may know, I was interrupted by the Black Lives By Bernie Sandman Matter people a while back in the great city of that big pointy thingy, where it always rains. I know what you all are thinking: Why did I let myself get cut off so brashly? Well, our great country was founded on silencing the minority and taking what is not theirs. If that worked before, surely it will work now, right? Wrong. Hear me out, we need to silence the majority! Too many black lives have been taken by the tyrannical police departments nationwide. We need to silence those in power, and the Black Lives Matter movement is already ahead of the curve, beginning with myself. Us snobby white, old men need to shut the fuck up and let us, the future generation, step up for once.

a pair to take up the forefront, we can make a difference in our United States of America. I have been criticized for only speaking on classist issues, all the while ignoring the institutionalized racism in our country, but let it be known that Bernie Sanders is “down with the bitches and the hoes.” I have love for all the homies. If you don’t like my campaigning, then you a bitch. So please, stop stereotyping me. It hurts. I’m different. Fo shizzle. I fully support the Black Lives Matter movement and its practices of interrupting my speeches, among other ideas. One of the ideas is to them, slather their naked bodies in milk, and have them publicly licked by dozens of hungry kittens during my rallies. They will take place before and after each speech, followed by a designated time of two minutes diss, while showcasing a picture of for all supporters to throw their best mixtapes at. We will have lard-glazed donuts sprinkled with bacon, and several ten-foot tall Donald Trump Piñatas for a funThis is the ultimate way for me to say sorry that whites are oppressors, that non-whites are victims, but race doesn’t exist, yet I love racial diversity and I celebrate our differences because we’re all the same, praise be to God! So come down and join us for some good old American oppression and feel the BERN!

THIS WEEK IN CHANNEL 69 NEWS:

HOMELESS MAN FAILS SHELTER DRILL

GETTING LIT IN PUBLIC

RAPPER SWALLOWS SULFUR TO SPIT FIRE

H.G. WELLS REVEALS IDENTITY OF INVISIBLE MAN