Remembering Nohemi by Union Weekly

Issue 77.13

Intro

Katie Cortez, Editor in Chief editorinchief@lbunion.com Richard Mejia, Managing Editor manager@lbunion.com Renee Schmiedeberg, Assistant Managing Editor/Social Media Manager assistmanager@lbunion.com Trevor Desrosiers, Advertising Executive advertising@lbunion.com Ashley Rodriguez, Advertising Intern ashley.lbunion@gmail.com Nathan Zankich, Web Manager web@lbunion.com ART & DESIGN Sam Orihuela, Art Director artdirector@lbunion.com John Mueller, Graphics Illustrator illustration@lbunion.com EDITORIAL Elizabeth Nguyen and Rebeca Vega Opinions Editors 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 Mario Lopez, Travel Editor travel@lbunion.com Kaila-Marie Hardaway, Food Editor food@lbunion.com Aubrey Graham, Grunion Editor STAFF WRITERS Lauren Hunter, lauren@lbunion.com Cesar Cadenas, cesar@lbunion.com Sylvana Uribe, sylvana@lbunion.com Emily Ayers, emily@lbunion.com Jordan Daniels COPY & ASSISTANT EDITORS Carissa Pope, Karen Ruiz, Sheila Sadr, Abril Burstein, Michelle Ha CONTRIBUTORS Nohemi Gonzalez, Niran Jayasiri, Jean Jullien, Jorge Martinez, Maximo Gonzalez, Natalie Ordaz, Mary Cruz, Peter R. Clark COVER PHOTO BY: Niran Jayasiri COVER AND FEATURE DESIGN BY: Sam Orihuela INTRO ILLUSTRATION BY: John Mueller CONTACT US Long Beach, CA 90815 E-mail: lbunion.info@gmail.com

@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

Getting to the End Navigating through the decisions that lead to grad school Story by Mario Lopez Travel Editor

Since my senior year of high school, continuing my education has always been a question of time. It was clear I was going to graduate high school, and attend college because I had studied enough, naturally excelled in mathematics, and had various extracurricular activities under my belt, including American football and participation in an environmental group. I had no doubts about my future. All I needed to do was simply wait. Graduating and going on to CSULB was something I felt I owed my parents for raising me, and it seemed better than going out into the workforce without any knowledge but the little I picked up in high school. Now that I have been attending CSULB for a few years, I am in my last semester as an undergraduate student. The impending day I have to make my family wait in and burn in the scorching sun so I can receive a piece of paper full of promises of a better future is fast arriving. A scary thought: me versus the real world. But as luck would have it, there is a delightful haven waiting for me at the end of

Illustration by John Mueller Graphics Illustrator

easiest way to do that is to seek an advisor in your department. To be frank, I had not given graduate school much thought up until earlier this year, during the summer. The question was no longer of time, it was whether I wanted to continue my education or take my chances with my bachelor’s degree. After much private conversations with myself during I decided to apply. It is the logical next step for me. I have to hone my craft as a writer, and I feel that surrounding myself with other me immensely. There is something about being surrounded by other people in my This takes me back to a question of time. I was really looking forward to moving out of my parents’ home after graduating, but I know that while they still love having me around to do them favors and whatnot, I should take advantage of this opportunity— while I still have it—to attend grad school. I have plenty of time to move out after I earn

eternal McDonald’s manager position when I

graduate school! As advice to anyone thinking about grad school, I say to take a look at your options Take the time to think about it. Speak to your family and friends, even if you think they will give you bad advice or ignore the question. Eventually, you will make the right choice—your choice. I also understand that some people need a break to see what is out there in the world and to weigh their options. I advise you speak to your professors and other classmates to get a sense of the program, and learn the application process and requirements. Another important thing Take a look at scholarships. I know certain

for doing this now is so that I keep my brain going in an academic setting. I don’t want to wait a full year because I don’t know what may happen within that year. I don’t want to up putting my academics on the back burner. That is why I have decided not to wait too long before I get back at it. I am hoping to return next fall, and proudly boast that I am part of the writing program here at CSULB. Another reason for me wanting to return time here and I hope I can contribute to the paper if I come back. And boy, is that a frightening “if ”. That is part of the thrill, I guess: not knowing. I have no idea if I will be in a workshop next fall with my classmates, trying to decipher what my poetry is trying to say. That is why I am now working on a portfolio to show the panel of professors who will evaluate my work, and decide whether

help. So if you decide to take a break before workers in furthering their education. The most important piece of advice I can give, and probably the simplest, is to get informed. The

said, it will surely be an interesting ride, and hopefully I’ll have great company in this grad school party.

Opinions

Letter from the Editor Let us bow our heads in mourning, and shame

On Saturday, Nov. 14, I was woken up to an L.A. Times app alert with the headline: “Friends mourn Cal State Long Beach student killed in Paris terror attacks” and was

the most tragic way. This is not the time to

canceled Homecoming.

on campus on Saturday, I doubt that they

important. Money should not be the school’s we made our campus appear insensitive to

CSULB senior Nohemi Gonzalez, 23, was a disgusted that Homecoming marched on, business as usual. The only reason that comes to mind as to why the school wouldn’t cancel Homecoming

should not let those deaths go unrecognized. They are much more important than a silly Homecoming event. I understand that CSULB has an image to

home who had known her and would never

Undoubtedly, an event as big as Homecoming

our own breaks my heart in many ways, but

However, Nohemi’s death should be the school’s priority. She was the only U.S. victim

and time went into putting Homecoming

University, Long Beach is not just in the

to protect, we should not have had a parking

States, but the world is watching our school right now. Does having a huge carnival on institution that would dare host a celebration when its students are in mourning. During

our sadness? Does it make CSULB look like has been murdered and who’s name is on

Student Union, Terri Carbaugh, CSULB’s

Homecoming would go on, but with a more

event together. I understand that the school would

opportunity to meet her are hurting, and as much as I would like to say that our school the Homecoming celebration on Saturday

Story by Katie Cortez Editor in Chief

Homecoming been canceled, but money is not what is important right now. No one

who will never hear or see her again. It’s

Friday. Given the circumstances, there is From everything I’ve heard about her,

the smaller programs on campus who treat

Illustration by Jean Jullien

To the Person Who Wrote ‘Black Widows’...

school hosted a massive celebration the day

away. Those petting zoo animals should

To the journalist who wrote “Black Widows,” I would like to point out that writing

Harden on hold.

it brings quite the opposite. Writing this

touched many lives. I just wish that CSULB would have given us the time to heal this

and lenient toward the men involved with the Kardashians. You describe them as victims at

become what they didn’t already want to be on their own. That’s incredulous.

in reality Lamar Odom was the drug addict, not Khloe. He was always the person with the problem. Not Khloe. Scott Disick was

men in their lives. They make a massive

These men are the ones with the problems.

see this as empowerment, I do not. They are

discrimination is—how you probably meant antagonize not just the Kardashians but so many other individuals. I’d also like to point out that this should not at all my attempt to try to shame you. their own lives. Their women were not the the problematic elements within your piece so you can consider your audience and your You state that the “Kardashian women

tried to help. that comes with the knowledge that the Kardashian women do virtually nothing and inherently misogynistic discourse and should does not mean they should take the blame is when it is mentioned how Kourtney “got

A response to an article from the UW Nov. 2 issue

you discuss how Lamar Odom’s drug problem and his eventual downward spiral was due to his marriage with Khloe Kardashian. You paint Odom as this “promising basketball

and to break him, 100 percent.” Not only does this emphasize the socialized gender role that all women want babies, but we neither know

this: Fame, money, and other deeply personal

he began to “tumble downhill” because the Kardashians are “black widows.” One,

relationship nor are we at liberty to make any egregious assumptions. However, the most problematic element

their own actions. Stop blaming women. Maybe the world will become a better and

as serial killers. Two, Khloe is not a serial as Bruce. You write, “The Kardashians broke

her pending divorce petition and put her

his transition into a woman.” I’m not going to even sugarcoat this: This is a transphobic

Sheila Sadr

Community

‘Kampai!’ at the Comikaze Stan Lee’s comic book convention rocks Los Angeles

It’s Halloween, I am in a convention center, and many people are dressed up, but not for all the usual reasons people dress up for on this spooky day. It is Stan Lee’s Comikaze! Cosplayers are everywhere, from Deadpools to Princess Leias, to a plethora of Marty McFlys, and B-boy storm troopers, and get ups of obscure comic book characters or TV show characters long forgotten. It is a geek gathering, and I mean that in all of its positive connotations. What better day to celebrate your geeky passions than on Halloween, though on the next day people will begin to shoot questioning looks at those seven Batmans taking the Blue Line. The three-day event took place from Oct. 30th through Nov. 1st in the Los Angeles Convention Center. This convention began in 2011 with about 35,000 in attendance and has doubled in only four years with a whopping 70,000 in attendance this year. I have been attending for two straight years now, and it has been my replacement for the ever eluding San Diego Comic-Con tickets I have so desired. Relatively big stars were in attendance this year, from the man himself, Stan Lee, to Elvira, Mistress of the Dark. My personal plus was Bryan Lee O’malley, the creator of the Scott Pilgrim series of comics. The convention took up the West Hall hosting dozens of vendors in booths, while the Artist Alley featured many talented artists displaying and selling their work. There were also many smaller rooms with panels including podcasters to writers, and others covering niche interests. Stan Lee’s Mega Museum was the place to check out when you were not in a panel, or taking

pictures with all the amazing cosplayers (a term used for someone that dresses up for convention like these). The museum hosted artwork from some of the best comic creators, rare comic books, props from some

Thor, and a series of glowing Iron-man suits. Comikaze also took up the South hall, where the Hot Topic main stage was located. It featured the guests of honor,like comic book writer Grant Morrison and actress Summer Glau, and many other events, such as the Adventure Time Cast meet-up, a costume contest for kids, and a cosplay championship. The highlight of the main stage was the All That reunion panel. We got to listen to the cast reminisce of the the show, and talk about why they felt the show impacted so many children all the way into adulthood. We even found out the later cast was sent to a boot camp to shape them up to the standards of the original cast, a revelation to everyone including the original theme song, “Fresh out the box/ stop, look and watch/ ready yet, get set/ it’s All That!” Everyone sang along and it was glorious. If you have never been to a convention, I cannot recommend this one enough. I look forward to missing my chance, once again, to snatch a San Diego Comic-Con ticket, and rebound to the charming embrace of Comikaze. Come and join us in the dark side, pick up a comic, get into something you haven’t tried before, and dress up! There is something here for everyone.

Story and photos by Mario Lopez Travel Editor

Community

Blacked-Out Memories A retrospective on drinking, joking, and bonding between friends Story and photos by Richard Mejia Managing Editor

By no stretch of the imagination am I considered to be an old man. At only 24 years old, I have a whole lot of living and exploring to do. With all that being said, once I outgrew my adolescence, my early adult life consisted of a lot of living and a great amount of exploring. Breaking free of the shackles that bounded me before I was 18, I enthusiastically pushed to discover new things. to would eventually become something of a haven I would frequent throughout my many shores in Long Beach lies a small area and tucked near a mobile home park. This glorious land is known as Golden Shore. Golden Shore was the place for myself and my friends to talk, bond, and drink. Even though we were all underage, the secluded area brought tranquility to our otherwise terribly risky antics. Nothing mattered there. At that point in my life, the steady stream of part-time jobs, uncertainty at community college, and general long-term misdirection weighed heavily on my mind. I was not sure what the future held for me and, to be completely frank, I didn’t care. I didn’t want to think about any of those taxing thoughts, so Golden Shore was where I would spend most of my nights, relaxing for hours on end, enjoying the cool ocean breeze as smoke engulfed the evening air and tale after tale was spoken. Some nights were mellower than others, just a brief walk from the parking lot, past the large tree and section of peace. On the nights that weren’t so mellow, boisterous laughter and echoing bottle clanks would spread throughout the shore as one, if not all, of my brothers would be a bit too inebriated. Golden Shore wasn’t about an escape to underage drink; it was about bonding with my best friends. We always had hectic and nonadjacent schedules, but that was the

one place we could all meet up and enjoy each other’s company. This fact hits much harder now as I’ve grown more mature. I now no longer go to Golden Shore and times with my brothers are very few and far in between. But I don’t dwell nor pity myself for this. I can look back and smile knowing that I had the best times of my life with the best people in my life in one of the many hidden gems Long Beach has to offer. Long Beach is a city with a wide array of secluded spots. Perhaps you’re in the midst of discovering one, or maybe you’ve already discovered it. If there is one truth that I have learned in my life, it is that at some point we all need our own “Golden Shore” to call our own. Editor’s Note: Please drink responsibly.

Literature

g n i h t y r e d e Ev t a n i m u l l I is tive

rna e t l a w e af

t on h g i l a Shining uggestions s manga

riter

fW s Staf a n e d a

esar C

by C Story

In high school, I used to be really into manga and anime. Now, I don’t have the time to indulge in my hobby as much as I used to. However, I still make it a habit to read manga as often as I can. Manga has some of the most unique stories, some of the more popular

ones being One Piece and Attack on Titan. Manga series like those already have enough praise and, don’t get me wrong, they’re great stories, but I want to shine the spotlight on other stories manga fans should check out.

20th Century Boys

Boku wa Mari no Naka/ I’m in Mari

20th Century Boys is almost 20 years old, but I consider it a classic of the early 2000s. The author and artist, Naoki Urasawa, has done other great stories like Pluto and Monster. 20th Century Boys is about Kenji Endo, a convenience store manager, and his friends who discover a cult leader known simply as “Friend” who is out to destroy the world. Apparently, “Friend” has a connection to Endo and company, and they’re the only ones who can stop the cult leader. It’s a great story about nostalgia, rock ‘n’ roll music, and becoming middle aged.

Pluto Pluto is written and drawn by Urasawa. It’s a re-telling of legendary manga series, Astro Boy. Many other manga writers state that Astro Boy series of all time. Pluto gives Astro Boy a dark spin. It focuses on the android Gesichtwho tries to solve various murders around the world. Several important robots have been ripped apart with the killer leaving clues. Now Gesicht must solve the murders before he gets targeted.

One of my personal favorites, I’m in Mari, is a weird story that is written and drawn by Shuuzou Oshimi. Isao Komori wakes up one day having discovered that he is not in his own body anymore. He realizes that he has switched bodies with Mari Yoshizaki, a beautiful young girl. Now as Mari, Komori switched as well as deal with being a young woman and the unique challenges that come with it. It’s a strange mystery story of life as a young girl in today’s society.

Remembering Nohemi Story by Richard Mejia

An international tragedy has unfortunately hit close to home. On Friday, Nov. 14, the Bataclan concert hall in Paris, France was the center of terrorist attacks that quickly spread throughout the city. Initially reported as the Islamic terrorist group ISIS, civilians. As of the publishing of this issue, an estimated 129 individuals have been killed. Of this total, it comes with great dismay to state that CSULB industrial design student Nohemi Gonzalez was among one of the victims. Gonzalez was a 23-year-old senior who was studying abroad at the Strate College of Design in Paris with hopes of attaining an cooperation by CSULB and Strate College, it is known that Gonzalez was out that Friday evening with fellow CSULB students as they made their way to have dinner at a restaurant. It was then that chaos broke and

Photo by Niran Jayasiri

an armed terrorist shot and fatally wounded Gonzalez. The students who accompanied Gonzalez aided her immediately and last saw her as she was being taken for medical care on a stretcher. With limited information available, it is not known where Gonzalez passed away or if she received any full medical attention prior to her death. Union Weekly Art Director and industrial design student Samantha Orihuela was very familiar with Gonzalez. Throughout her time in the design program, Orihuela knew Gonzalez as a teacher’s assistant would who go out of her way to help in whatever way she could. “She always knew how to get things down and she was really good at her designs,” said Orihuela. “She was very nice and kind, but was always honest when it came to feedback.”

was going to study abroad,” said fellow design student Derick Moreno. “Her body

always showed when she talked about going to Paris.” Throughout this terrible time, the one shining light has been that of Gonzalez’s legacy. She has been described as lively, fun, caring and sweet; this has been the silver lining in the otherwise dark and thunderous storm. A vigil was held in memoriam of Nohemi Gonzalez Sunday, Nov. 14 at both Friendship Walk and the fountains in front of Brotman Hall. Now is not the time for heated debate over foreign policy or violent religious acts. Now is the time for healing. Gonzalez’s death was an untimely tragedy, but that shouldn’t call for anger and the spread of more pain. To honor her legacy, the and had worked as teacher’s assistant the community must unite and support those prior two semesters before attending her study abroad program. “You could just and unity is required right now for us as a tell her excitement when she heard she society to plan for a clear future.

FEATURE

Love and Appreciation By Bailey Mount When November rolls around, I spend the next 30 days in a state of paranoia. I know that when I walk into department stores, I’ll see Santa grinning at me around the corner, probably in some heinous, vaguely menacing blow-up doll form. I know that people will start singing Christmas carols. I know that my mother will already be decorating for Christmas. But most importantly, I know that on the last Thursday of this awkward transitional month when it’s not acceptable to watch The Nightmare before Christmas, it will be Thanksgiving. And quite honestly, I feel a slight indifference toward it. Maybe it’s because nothing cool happens on Thanksgiving. There’s no candy. No presents. Just a mad dash to clean the entire house to my mother’s suddenly sky-high expectations before my grandparents arrive. Maybe it’s because I’ve been so oversaturated by media advertisements for Halloween costumes and snowmen that I have become a cog in the capitalist machine and I no longer appreciate the pure spirit of Turkey Day. My Thanksgiving usually starts with me staring at my ceiling. I wonder how long I can stay in bed before my mother’s voice echoes down the hall, complaining that my siblings and I aren’t up yet to help

her clean. My sister will sleep until noon. Either that or she’ll do a pretty good job of faking it. My brother will have to be woken up three times or more before he is finally conscious and even then, he’ll play on his phone for about thirty minutes more. So I rise, allow myself the pleasure of waking up my siblings—usually with a pillow thrown both lovingly and seriously at their heads—and prepare for three to four hours of cleaning. Every year, my mother is convinced that my grandma—her mother-in-law—will comment on the house’s cleanliness. Every year I tell her that Grandma doesn’t care; Grandma just likes to be here with us. My father always manages to disappear when this debacle begins. Always. I don’t know where he goes, I don’t know how he gets there, I just know that he doesn’t take me with him. Hours later, the house is perfect. My father reappears from whatever paradise he’s hid in and then the best part of the Thanksgiving begins: the food part. I then realize that you have to go through hell to get to heaven. In this case, you have to scrub toilets before you can make mashed potatoes. I really like food. Mostly, I really like potatoes. Potatoes are the backbone of our society and if I had to guess, I would say that 70 percent of my body is comprised of them.

And every Thanksgiving, I get to make them and the other traditional Thanksgiving food stuff with my father and brother. There’s something immensely satisfying about a home-cooked meal. I think it’s because it reminds me of home, of a time when things weren’t as fast and as complicated, and I could sit around the dinner table with my family and not argue with them about politics. I love my family and once a year, I love to sit around a table with all of them and eat the food that we made ourselves. I love to see my grandma out of the house, trying to get my fat cat to crawl into her lap. I love to see my great-grandma watching some public broadcasting concert, while my grandpa gets her food and makes sure that she’s taken care of, because that’s his mother and we’re still graced with her presence for another Thanksgiving. And, whether we all like to admit it or not, I like us all being together on that day. Thanksgiving is the appointed “family” holiday. It’s the spirit of Christmas without presents and that’s enjoyable. For my family and me, it’s safe to say that Thanksgiving has never been a boring holiday. A lot of strong personalities under one roof will do that, so it’s never been an easy day. And in the end, my great love of

a home-cooked meal does not fully outweigh the awkward feeling I get whenever my grandparents ask me how my education is coming along. I’m writing an article on my indifference toward Thanksgiving, Grandpa. I’d say it’s going pretty okay, like our Thanksgiving will this year. Not too good, not too bad, and someone is always giving someone else a dirty look over a table. The only difference is that I get to do it closer to home and this year— whether by the grace of God or by fate—I’m glad to revel in the chaos we create. This year, I will gladly undertake the task of scrubbing toilets and re-dusting the house because my sister can’t clean. I won’t mind that my brother can’t either. I probably won’t even mind my mother’s yelling at me, because now is not the time not worry about such trivial things. Now—this time of year, especially this year—is the one time my cold indifference will melt like butter on my favorite mashed potatoes. My family is still surviving and thriving in this crazy world, and we’re showing no signs of slowing down. This year, I can’t think of a better place to come home to and I can’t help but feel grateful that we all have that choice.

FEATURE

By Emily Ayers Fall and winter are my favorite times of year, so I am heavily biased when it comes to Thanksgiving. Despite that summer, I am not a fan of hot weather. I am driven by gloomy days when seeking refuge in bed with a warm cup only solace. This time of year conjures up memories from my childhood when Thanksgiving signaled that Christmas and presents were near. As an adult it is no longer the anticipation of gifts, but the excitement of family and relaxation that brings me joy. I like what Thanksgiving represents. It gives people the opportunity to pause from their busy schedules and enjoy time with family and friends. This semester has been teaching me how truly important slowing down is. My life has become busy and often overwhelming, so it seems unrealistic to even think of stopping. But in the midst of it all, it is essential to take the time to be grateful and refocus. everyone. Some people gather with family and others with friends. The us all is the theme of cultivating

relationships and enjoying time with one another. Yes, drama may occur: someone will forget the pie, people will argue over politics, but at the end of the day we are hopefully surrounded by people who have our best interest at heart. Spending quality time with family and friends is what I need to refuel. Thanksgiving happens right as the year is winding down, and it gives me a chance to re-evaluate my life and the goals I hope to carry out. I get a break

and Martinelli’s sparkling apple cider. Those dishes always signify the holidays for me. For all the good that Thanksgiving represents, there are a few downsides to the occasion. Like most families, mine tends to get into arguments when we gather for extended periods of time. Someone yells and gets upset, and then suddenly a family member has been ostracized. But I have come to accept that as part of the fun.

“...in the midst of it all, it is essential to take the time to be grateful and refocus.” from work, school, and whatever else takes up my time. I think in this way Thanksgiving is rewarding. Of course on top of that, there is the abundance of delicious food that is served. The extravagant meal on Thanksgiving is one of the main things that I look forward to. I am a honey baked ham kind of gal, and alongside that: candied yams, macaroni and present. For dessert I enjoy pumpkin or apple pie with vanilla ice cream

Looking past family-holiday drama there is also the onslaught of customers that rear their heads at my retail job when we open our doors for Black Friday. The time of gratitude seems to be spoiled with the lure of holiday shopping. Slowly businesses have pushed the opening earlier on Thanksgiving day and in doing so associates have to cut their holiday short. Although I understand the great

seems like it would better uphold the meaning of the holiday if doors were actually kept closed until midnight. The shopping and excitement can wait, that way people can truly enjoy time with their family and friends. Despite those downsides, Thanksgiving still carries value for me. As with anything else, it is the meaning that we personally attach to something that truly matters. I am especially aware of how fortunate I am to be able to spend time with friends and family. It tugs heavily at my heart that such a peaceful and loving time of year is now tainted by trauma and devastation. It is hard, but in the wake of tragedy there is always an opportunity to re-evaluate the importance of life. It is a reminder of what is truly important. We must be fully present in every moment, and not take any of it for granted. As students, we owe it to ourselves of school commences. We deserve a breather and a genuine connection with the ones we love. And if you let it, Thanksgiving can give you the extra zeal you need to push you past the those reasons to be thankful.

By Jordan Daniels When the holidays roll around, I can’t help but get anxious. For the past several years, I’ve gone from the baby of the family to head chef. During Thanksgiving, the question that everyone asks isn’t what I’m doing for the day; it’s what I’m cooking. For the record, cooking is absolutely one of my most favorite things to do. But cooking for Thanksgiving is probably the bane of my existence. I spend two days brining my turkey in beer—and let me tell you, the bird comes out amazing—while I spend the day before Thanksgiving preparing baked foods, like sweet potato pie, macaroni and cheese, and sage butter dressing, to think that during the day I am in my own version of MasterChef and Gordon Ramsay is crying because my mashed rosemary-Parmesan potatoes are truly dreamy. In short,

for my family on Thanksgiving, I never fail to share how thankful I am to have the opportunity to cook for my family. We all lead such separate lives, but I’m deeply moved by how hard everyone works to be together for at least a whole day to share laughs, joy, and dranks. This year, my parents and I are going up north for Thanksgiving

parents who are so family-oriented, I’m extremely thankful that I’ve been given the opportunities to meet my family in various places and to experience them and our family culture together. If it wasn’t for moments like this, I would never be able to show the gratitude I have for the family I love. I would never be able to be thankful.

“Gratitude is not a hard concept to grasp, but it is often hard to practice. In this fast-paced society, especially during the college years, we hardly have time to take on what we’re fortunate to have.”

a Thanksgiving feast and it is truly exhausting to do so. But through all of this work, I am thankful. Gratitude is not a hard concept to grasp, but it is often hard to practice. In this fast-paced society, especially during the college years, we hardly have time to take in these imperative moments and reflect on what we’re fortunate to have. While I can absolutely, at times, detest how much I slave over a hot stove

to spend time with my dad’s family and they’re going to cook a beautiful buffet, probably filled with everything I shouldn’t be having. I’ll get to see my siblings, cousins, nieces, aunts and so many more people that it’ll probably be a fire hazard for the room we’re renting, but I’m cool with that. Besides, if I’m not cooking then you will probably hear me screaming “Yasssss” all the way from San Jose. Being raised by

Be thankful. It’s a phrase I often hear from people whether it’s family, Like I said before, it’s not hard to grasp but hard to practice. However, times of need and tragedy. In light of is planning on going to Paris for the her constantly, which she’s already

aware of, and telling her how much I appreciate her. In fact, I’ve spent this past week telling many people how thankful I am for them in my life and how much I appreciate them. Considering this week, I’ve had some outside factors spark this thought-train that has prompted me to reflect on all that I am thankful for in this life. In fact, I think it is life that I am most thankful for. I’m thankful for the life that has been given to me by my parents, I am thankful for the life that I have created for myself since moving to Long Beach, and I am thankful for the new, and old, relationships that I am solidifying in my life. I am also thankful for the fact that my loved ones are safe and out of harm’s way. This all being said, I am absolutely breaking for everyone who is affected by this string of events in our world. I also feel inconsiderate thinking of what I’m thankful for while there are many people right now wishing that they could be thankful as well. Whether it’s for Paris, Beirut, Baghdad, or Kenya, my heart bleeds. It also swells for various reasons, a big one being that I have the privilege to be thankful. Gratitude is not a concept that is hard to be grasp. It may be hard to practice, but if there is a time to start, this is it.

12 Athletics

Beach Basketball The Men’s team stomps out BYU-Hawaii at the Homecoming game Story by Richard Mejia Managing Editor

Photos by William Odis Martin Athletics Editor The Long Beach State men’s basketball

the best shooting percentage in the game

Player Spotlight: Nick Faust Story by Jorge Martinez Contributor

against helped me gain experience […]

Photo by William Odis Martin Athletics Editor

Athletics

The Women’s Squad Wins Big Story by Maximo Gonzales Contributor Photos by William Odis Martin Athletics Editor

The Long Beach State women’s basketball

Long

“I

was

“I was pleased with the energy.” bit -Coach Judy Wynn

Beach

Arts

There Are Other Types of Pants Believe it or not, you can broaden your pant horizons

Story by Renee Schmiedeberg Assistant Managing Editor Photos taken from Pinterest

Fashion is a barometer for culture. On a deeper level, this pant guide demonstrates how fashion measures cultural changes. As many know, fashion changes quickly, every change an indication of a change in culture in that geographic area during that time. Here, we’ll see how women’s pants act as a barometer for women’s changing gender roles starting from the 20th century, a century which saw radical trouser changes for women (and thus cultural changes). Though generally known that women have gained significant socio-political rights since the 20th century, gender equality has not been a constantly rising trajectory. Over the course of history, especially in recent decades, women’s rights have risen and fallen and risen again, and are still constantly in flux—women’s clothing, specifically pants, reflect that. So your skinny jean-wrapped limbs have forgotten to dance—because you’ve forgotten pants could be something other than skinny jeans. Say goodbye to monotony, because starting right now, everything is going to get better. I’ll show you how to bring exuberance back into those pedal pushers. I’ll show you pants that aren’t skinny jeans. I’ll show you something good.

Palazzo Pants Like many wonderful things in fashion, the explosive popularity of these pants can be traced back to Coco Chanel in the 1920s, a decade of prosperity and modernity as women gained more rights and started entering the workforce.

Due to their billowing nature, they’re great for warm days spent under the sun or in the shade. What many people don’t little breeze, perfect for counteracting the heat. These pants were made for waist accents. Pair them with sandals, a cropped shirt, and a wide belt, even just a piece of fabric tied in a bow around the waist will do. A Fun Reminder: these pants are two great swaths of joy, meaning that they’re a hell of a lot of fun to walk in, since the

Cigarette Pants War acts as a catalyst for many things, and you as probably know there were two Really Big Ones in the 20th century.

way, you can bend over without everyone knowing what color your underwear is). They were much better suited for working, which eventually led to our modern, professional pant: the cigarette pant. The 1950s saw a “masculinity crisis” as many men returned home from the war to wives who were no longer complacent ovestepped their boundaries and pressured into becoming more traditionally feminine again. Thus, the work-friendly trousers became more Actress and style icon Audrey Hepburn donning cigarette pants

Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn. Though similar on the outset, the biggest and most

The “OG” palazzo pants by legendary designer Oscar De La Renta Actress portraying Marilyn Monroe is able to read comfortably in her

jeans is that cigarette pants are sleek. Skinny jean legs taper from the knee down while the cigarette stays the same from knee to ankle. The effect and feel are completely different.

Arts

Types of Cigarette Pants: • • • • • •

Bell Bottoms

Charlie’s Angels

This woman may be bored, but her bell bottoms are poppin’

Nothing says vintage funk like a well-ironed bell bottom

Culottes

Two modern young ladies bond over their fashion-foward culottes

Food

Here’s to a Cheesy Thanksgiving Make this delicious macaroni and cheese dish for your next big family gathering Story and photos by Sylvana Uribe Staff Writer

I’ve never determined if because of the cheese or the sheer promise of carbs, I cling onto the belief that macaroni and cheese is good for the soul. I’ve practically built my support system of friends around this food mantra. Rather than depend on a small blue box to provide me with my favorite dish, I convinced myself it was time to step back into the kitchen. I see cooking as an opportunity to claim a sense of control. Every knife stroke, ingredient addition,

the usual deadlines and school projects. 1. Cook macaroni according to the package directions. Drain water once 2.

4. by the cook. And as is the case for this dish, a lack of control can also be exercised as liberal use of dairy products is permissible. Whether this recipe becomes the hub of the next family gathering, or is hopefully incorporated into the menu this holiday season, have fun with it. That’s all my tired soul can ask for this fall break as it takes a breather from

In a saucepan, melt butter over a roux, which will serve as the main thickener for the sauce. Add milk to the roux slowly, stirring constantly. Stir in the cheddar and Parmesan cheese, and cook over a low heat until the cheese is melted and the sauce is a bit thick. Put macaroni in large casserole dish and pour the sauce over it. Stir sauce until well incorporated. Mix in the sun dried tomatoes. Finish by topping the macaroni with a mixture of breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese. Bake at 350 degrees F for 20 minutes.

Ingredients: 1. 8 ounces elbow macaroni 2. 1/4 cup butter 3. 3-4 tablespoons all-purpose 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

3 cups milk 2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese 4 sun dried tomatoes, chopped 3 tablespoons of breadcrumbs Parmesan cheese to top dish, as much as desired

Music

Rockin’ Behind Closed Doors Despite not being let in the venue, a showgoer loved seeing Citizen perform Words and photos by Mary Cruz Contributor Would you ever stand outside a small vinyl record store window, regardless of a full bladder and the freezing cold, all for a band you just fell in love with? If you responded yes to this question, then you and I are friends for life. Last Wednesday night, my sister and I decided to attend this small show on the Sunset Strip at Vacation Vinyl. Once we heard the band Citizen was going to perform, free to get in, but not technically. The day before the show, we had to go to the store and ask an employee for a poster because that was the ticket to get in. Aside from that, they were going to let in 30 more people. So, we left early, very optimistic and excited.

When we arrived, there was a small line outside, but feeling hopeful, we waited. I can’t even remember how long we waited outside because I had to pee very badly. I held onto my strong will and my love for music, just to be shut down by one of the store employees, telling us there was no more room. Damn it! We weren’t just going to leave. Along with other people, we formed a small crowd outside the store. I was trying my best to tiptoe so I would be able to see over letters decorating the window, while my sister was jumping up and down also trying to see. The show began around 8 pm. They played “The Summer,” “The Sleep,” and many more of their others songs. In my

opinion, they sound good, even behind a glass window. “The Summer” was one of my favorite songs because it spoke to me. I felt as if Mat Kerekes was singing this for me with such desperation, trying to make me understand something I am unable to see. So much energy was radiating from the band. This band is from Ohio, so they aren’t so well known here. They are such a good band with songs containing such deep meaning. Is it weird that I enjoy it when the band members get all sweaty from playing? I like that it shows so much passion for what they love to do. They aren’t famous, but they showed a lot of love to the crowd, even us outside. The show ended pretty early since they

only play for less than 40 minutes, which really sucked. But in that small amount of time, they were so great moving around that small space in front of the crowd. I think my sister neatly cried when they played “Sleep.” It’s a beautiful song with such a melancholic melody. Even though the show was over, the night wasn’t. They let us go inside and we got to meet the band members. Despite standing outside in the cold and trying desperately not to pee myself, I had a lot of fun.

Breaking the Chain of Similar Sounds Korean boy band VIXX releases a new album, Chained Up The six-man South Korean pop idol group, VIXX, is back with their second full-length album Chained Up, released on Nov. 10. This album contains nine new songs and three previously released singles: “Error,” “Eternity,” and a Korean version of their Japanese song, “Can’t Say.” VIXX is known for their power vocals, husky rap, dark concepts, Starting with the intro song, “Mistress,” you hear chains jingling and doors opening. This sets the eerie and Tim Burton-esque theme of the album. This leads into the title song, “Chained Up.” It begins with a mellow beat, which leads the main vocalists in to take the song but with its contrasting vocals, the song becomes upbeat, keeping the chorus stuck in your head. The melody seems to overpower the group’s powerful vocals, followed with a rap break in the middle that slows down the song, with a husky voice that keeps the eerie vibe going. “Maze” begins with an electronic sound followed by the vocals, to get the song going. The vocalists do a wonderful job with blending their voices in with the song, paired with computerized voices, staying true to the pop genre. The chorus is very catchy with its dance-pop vibe and melody. It is a fun listen “Stop It Girl” sounds like a pop-ballad, with its upbeat rhythm and slow, harmonic vocals. The talent of these gentlemen

is highlighted in this song, particularly showcasing their vocal power as singers. “Hot Enough” is another popballad, similar to the previous song, that highlights the vocalists’ ranges. The vocals in this song are clean and relaxing, matching the easygoing beat. It’s a great listen if you are into fun, slow jams. In the middle, the husky voices return to contrast the relaxing v o c a l s . Toward the end, the high notes that fans recognize in a heartbeat make an appearance, once again, reminding us of their vocal ranges. “Spider” begins with deep vocals, which makes one think the song is going to be dark, but then it does a 180 and becomes fun. The deep vocals randomly come back in the song, but besides that, this song is a wonderful listen with its harmonies and a great tune that will induce some head bopping. “Out of Sorts” is a slow song that begins with an acoustic guitar and a harmonic

vocal. This soft tune really contrasts the rest of the album, seeing that it is the only song sung from outside their window. It’s a sweet song with matching vocals that make a cute confession song. “Heaven” begins with the spelling out of the words “Angel” and “Heaven” setting a preppy vibe to the song, typical of a stereotypical boy band. However, this song is unlike the others on this album, demonstrating the group’s Along with the preppy rhythm, the vocals sound light, match the beat, and make this a fun tune to jam to. “Us Now” begins very slowly both in rhythm and vocals. This is a typical ballad with its strong, almost heartbreaking vocals and beat. The harmony between the vocalists creates a bittersweet tone that keeps you listening. At the end, the power vocals come in and then die down. From the re-released songs, “Eternity”

Story by Natalie Ordaz Contributor is a song I heard at a concert that sounds a lot better live. This song begins with the depressing message of, “Love… love is a nightmare,” which then leads into the singers taking over with their calming vocals, along with the contrasting upbeat sound. This song, easily, is a fun listen. It goes back and forth from strong and upbeat, to soft and melancholic, creating a bittersweet vibe that is worth having on repeat. saddening piano melody and a matching vocal with the words, “set me free,” repeating in the background. The beat picks up, but keeps its depressing tone along with the strong, heartbroken vocals. The husky rap vocals that add to the song, make it an instant favorite. This stays pretty consistent throughout the song, and it does a good job of showcasing the singers’ voices. The rap in the middle also worked well with the overall tone. It is a Overall, this album is a fantastic listen, songs stuck in my head. That being said, there were a few things I could do without, but hey, not everything is going to be perfect. I would recommend this album for those who are into would say this album is a 4.5 out of 5.

Entertainment

Gain Renown on a Digital Exploration

A new RPG-style game for PC delights one gamer “Renowned Explorers: International Society” (RE:IS) is a strategy/RPG/adventure game developed by Abbey Games. This is the second game they have released, with the from their previous game in that it has a lot more replayability, and, overall, is a lot more intuitive and interesting. RE:IS begins with you choosing 3 explorers for your grand expedition, a leader and two others. The leader has an ability attached to them that makes a certain aspect of the game easier. Choosing a team is very important to the play style you want employ. You can choose to be Aggressive, Devious, or Friendly. Aggressive means you attack your enemies (and kill them, most of the time), whereas the other two involve you talking to your enemies. So if you wanted to be an Aggressive expedition, you might want to pick explorers who are best suited to being aggressive. You can technically choose any three you want, however you will most likely be hindered in doing so and it is best to choose three explorers that work well together. Once you pick your three explorers, you can begin your grand expedition. Every game starts on a tutorial island. It is very short, and very easy. This is the meat of the game, and it plays a lot like “FTL: Faster Than Light,” and a little like a board game. When you arrive at each play area, the goal node is revealed to you. The idea of the game is travel to as many nodes as you can on your way to the goal node without running out of supplies. If you run out of supplies your expedition gets hit with numerous

“Resolve” is sometimes tied to failing events, and also to having a character fall in battle. If you run out of Resolve, you lose. If you encounter enemies on the map you will have to do battle with them (unless it can be resolved in another way). Fighting works like a turn-based strategy game like “Heroes with you and the enemies taking turns for friendly. Battles are what determine what type of explorers you are. Are you the type that goes in with swords slashing? Or are you the peace loving, make friends with everyone type? You can also be the kind of person who strikes fear into people and make them run away. But whatever you choose, it is best to stick with one because switching mid-game Once you reach the goal node, you may have to spin the adventure wheel again. A little story dialogue is shown between your characters and then you will receive a treasure. Once you receive this treasure you are sent back to your headquarters in London. Each treasure has something adventure easier, and it also increases your renown. The overall goal is to at the end of the game have the most renown to beat your rival, Rivaleux. It is at this point you are shown the overworld. Here you can buy

Story by Peter R. Clark Contributor

equipment for your explorers, research new unlocks to help your adventurers out, and even teach classes to get more resources. There are four resources: Insight, Research, Gold, and Status. Insight allows you teach more, Research is spent on researching Status is spent on followers. Followers grant additional resources when you do something on the adventure map. There are also special followers that grant you additional traits for your characters. In addition to that, if your explorers level up then you can advance them, gaining new traits.

new areas you can explore. Each zone has a or Transylvania, or even a newly Emerged Island. After gaining a number of treasures the game warns you that you are to undertake one last expedition. You can choose from the

which gives you a lot of renown. It is there you will meet your rival, Rivaleux, the currently most renowned explorer. Once you beat the game, if you beat the game, your renown will be totaled up and you will be ranked with how

are still so many minor details to go over, have a gripes with the game. The random number generator for determining if you pass or fail on the Adventure Wheel is a bit just as easily as I can fail at 95 percent. Another thing is that I am not sure what the decision process behind giving some enemies immunities to some type of attacks. Randomly enemies will be immune to Cheer, or whatever, and I have no idea why. If my whole team only has Cheer abilities (which is unlikely, but it happened at least once to me) extreme case, since most of the time you will be able to defeat an enemy with an immunity, but it will just be slower than normal). It also seems that the immunities only applies to Friendly and Devious attacks, meaning if you are Aggressive you will never have to deal with that. Another complaint is that it almost seems impossible to ever have enough the research in one game. I only ever seem to be able to unlock one, sometimes two trees per game. These are just minor complaints though. I really enjoyed using Anna as a leader for a Devious team. The idea that you can play

always had enough renown to beat Rivaleux. required to kill everyone is enjoyable to me. The Aggressive route just seems too easy at times, and the other two ways to attain victory are both challenging and rewarding. RE:IS is a game that surprised me in many ways, even and exciting, with the exception of the

won or lost by percent chances, called “The Adventure Wheel.” It spins and depending on your percent chance to succeed you win the event and good things happen, fail and bad things happen. What happens varies from node to node, some could just give resources, some can give treasures, and even others can lead to encounters. You will want to ensure you can succeed at each node, because failing usually has big consequences. A resource called

thing about this game is that every aspect of it is enjoyable and nothing feels tacked on. From managing your team on the overworld, to spinning the Adventure Wheel, to even combat, nothing feels tedious. This is a very good game. It only hours playing it. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys adventure,

Entertainment

American Ultra Not the pot-comedy you wanted Story by Richard Mejia Managing Editor

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American Ultra

In Theaters Now: Spectre The subtle combination of fresh and classic

Story by Andrew Linde Entertainment Editor

With the release of Spectre Skyfall Casino Royale Spectre

The Bourne Identity Spectre

Spectre Guardians of the Galaxy

Blue is the Warmest Color Spectre is a Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation

Spectre Run Time: 2 hrs 28 mins Directed by: Sam Mendes Starring: Daniel Craig, Léa Seydoux, Dave Bautista, Cristoph Waltz

On Her Majesty’s Secret Service For Your Eyes Only

Nohemiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s DESN 254 Toy Model