Volume 79.10 • October 17 • lbunion.com
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“We’re all potatoes in the end.”
INTRO
Issue 79.9
3
Allison Meyer, Multimedia Assistant
Alejandro Ramos, Editor-in-Chief editorinchief@lbunion.com Bailey Mount, Managing Editor manager@lbunion.com Nathan Zankich, Web Manager web@lbunion.com Alexis Cruz, Social Media Manager Andrew Linde, Multimedia Manager Allison Meyer, Multimedia Assistant Christopher Orozco, Advertising/Distribution ART & DESIGN Sam Orihuela, Art Director artdirector@lbunion.com John Mueller, Graphics Illustrator illustration@lbunion.com EDITORIAL Matthew Gozzip, Athletics Editor athletics@lbunion.com Sylvana Uribe, Community Editor community@lbunion.com Amanda Del Cid, Community Editor community@lbunion.com Sheila Sadr, Copy Editor Elizabeth Nguyen, Copy Editor Amanda Dominguez-Chio, Culture Editor amanda@lbunion.com Madison Gallegos, Culture Editor madison@lbunion.com Peter R. Clark, Entertainment Editor entertainment@lbunion.com Zach Phelps, Food Editor food@lbunion.com Grim Fandango, Grunion Editor grunion@lbunion.com Kaila-Marie Hardaway, Music Editor music@lbunion.com Elliott Gatica, Music Editor music@lbunion.com Jordan Daniels, Opinions Editor opinions@lbunion.com Mario Lopez, Travel Editor travel@lbunion.com STAFF WRITERS Martha Quijano Karrie Comfort CONTRIBUTORS Natalee Coloman, Jorge Paniagua, Marilyn Ramirez, Jocelyn Reyes, R. Ray Robinson, Ana Varela COVER DESIGN BY: Nathan Zankich
Hablamos con Ramos Alex Ramos Editor-In-Chief This is it, guys. I’ve reached my limit. I’ve run out of words. I’ve said everything there is to possibly say. I’ve talked to you guys about our good weeks, our bad weeks, our ugly weeks and everything in between. There is nothing left to say without getting repetitive. I guess it’s time to do what I’ve avoided this entire time: talk about myself. It’s only fair that I share a little bit about myself to you. That way you can know who exactly is calling the shots for your favorite weekly publication. Here it goes: My name is Alejandro Ramos, but you can call me Alex. I’m a 23-year old MexicanAmerican undergraduate student from the Bay, which I could go on for days about. The people are laidback and chill. There’s plenty to see and eat and do through the entirety of the region. You could walk along next to the piers in San Francisco or go for a hike in the Oakland hills or even stay in the suburbs and get a good bite to eat.
My immediate family is comprised of myself, my sister and my parents. My extended family is a little bit bigger; in all, I have 10 cousins from five uncles and aunts. We’re not the biggest family, but it’s enough to keep things interesting during the holidays. Out of my cousins, I’m the third oldest behind two sisters. The three of us were among the first in my extended family to go to college, which has been the source of both pride and anxiety for us. I can’t speak for them, but I can tell you that the pressure of being first in college is heavy. And so, my time in college hasn’t been simple or easy. In the past six years, during which I’ve gone to three different schools, switched majors twice and got kicked out once. Despite everything, my goal has always been to write, whether it’s short stories, poems, songs or articles. That’s why I kept at it until I got back into Long Beach. And I guess that’s why I’m with the
Union Weekly. The stories and articles I read when I first got the CSULB were different. They didn’t read like the wellstructured, informative pieces I wrote while I was in community college. They were fun and exciting, ranging from wild and wacky to serious and attentive. The Union Weekly is where rejects and outcasts and potatoes go, or at least that’s what it seems like everyone says. You know what? That’s not a bad label to have. Rejects and outcasts aren’t bad people. They just don’t tend to fit the strict and narrow mold society tries to put them in. That’s why I—a college dropout—was able to come back from the ashes of failure. I’m not a college dropout. I’m a college phoenix! (Sam said it.) Anyway, that’s just a glimpse of who I am and why I’m here. If I had to guess, I would say that’s why a lot of the staff is here. We just accept each other, despite our differences. That’s what makes us great. Hope you guys enjoy this issue.
FEATURE DESIGN BY: Sam Orihuela CONTACT US Snail Mail: 1212 Bellflower Blvd. Suite 116 Long Beach, CA 90815 Phone: 562.985.4867 E-mail: lbunion.info@gmail.com Classifieds: classifieds.lbunion@gmail.com
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Disclaimer and Publication Information: The Union Weekly is published using ad money and partial funding provided by the Associated Students, Inc. All Editorials are the opinions of their individual authors, not the Union Weekly, ASI nor CSULB. All students are welcome and encouraged to be a part of the Union Weekly staff. All letters to the editor will be considered for publication. However, CSULB students will have precedence. Please include name and major for all submissions. They are subject to editing and will not be returned. Letters may or may not be edited for grammar, spelling, punctuation, and length. The Union Weekly will publish anonymous letters, articles, editorials, and illustration, but must have your name and information attached for our records. Letters to the editor should be no longer than 500 words. The Union Weekly assumes no responsibility, nor is it liable, for claims of its advertisers. Grievance procedures are available in the Associated Students business office.
4 COMMUNITY
Meet Our Future Meeting the Industries Expo lines up potential career paths Words and Photos by Jordan Daniels Opinions Editor
Figuring out your career is tricky when you’re in college. It’s hard to navigate what you want to do in your life, especially when the resources to help discover your path seem scarce. Luckily, organizations like the Associated Business Student Organization Council host events that help bridge the gap between not knowing what you want to do and having the resources to find out. The 45th Annual Meet the Industries Expo, hosted by the ABSOC, brought over 20 Fortune 500 companies to help students, especially business majors, discover their options for careers once they graduate. The annual event brings companies that focus on all aspects of business such
Lost and Never Found Rummaging through piles of forgotten items By Andrew Linde Multimedia Manager
Representatives from well-known businesses and students listen to presenters in between their networking time during the Meeting the Industries Expo on Oct. 13. as finance, marketing, supply chains, accounting and more. Taking place in a formal dining setting, company representatives sat at different tables allowing students to gravitate toward the companies that most caught their interest. Businesses in attendance included groups such as DHL Packaging and Molina Healthcare. “This is a great opportunity for students in the College of Business to not only network with companies, but give them more of a one-on-one,” said VP of Communications for ABSOC, Alicia Sanchez. “A lot of these companies are actually recruiting for internships or jobs so we really want to help students in the program
obtain those.” In Corporate America, first impressions are most important and the expo sets to help students create that in a professional setting, while connecting them with businesses they may want to work for in the future. “It gives them a foot in the door because you usually have to go through a first step just to meet the recruiter,” said Rue Yusufu, VP of Public Relations for ABSOC. “From here, the recruiter is right in front of you and you can hand them your resume.” Many of the companies in attendance sent college recruiters to be the first point of contact for the students. Several of the them discussed how they target students in their final semesters
to intern because it positions them for easier conversion, meaning that there is a good chance that they will have a fulltime job right out of school. Lauren Carerra, Lead College Recruiter for Molina Healthcare and alumni of CSULB, revealed the importance of finding students who have excellent oral and written communication skills and are goal-driven. Although the networking only lasted a few hours, it proved to be valuable to students who wanted the chance to meet their industries. Toward the event of the event, keynote speaker and founder of Concrete Advertising Mark Carreno said, “relationship building is key.”
If you’ve ever lost anything, then you might have called up or visited our lost and found to see if you could retrieve your beloved item. If they didn’t have it, then you would just have to hope the universe would grant you the peace to let it go. To stop the lost and found from growing too large, there is a yearly sale of these unclaimed items. Boxes are labeled, from hats to sports gear, sunglasses to jewelry, and plenty of binders. So many binders. The more large scale items, like bicycles, are auctioned off in a semblance of fairness. When I arrived at this years’ sale on Oct. 6, running from my upper campus class to the Friendship Walk outside of the SSPA building, I found a massive crowd and no sense of order. A yellow caution tape surrounded the sale, blocking off patrons from the boxes and bikes. I heard one person ask about a line, to which an employee replied there is no real line. “Oh yes there is!” A female patron shouted. “We were told this is the line!” Shouts emerged in agreement with the woman. The clock ticked down to 11 am, an employee tore the caution tape in two and everyone
flocked to the tables. People seemed to know what they were after. When the sale started, I found myself stuck behind people, reaching over and past them to search boxes for prizes. I was looking for USB thumbdrives. At last year’s sale, I managed to get over a dozen USB drives for under $10. Since so much of what we do as students is digital, having a USB drive handy at all times is essential. I found the USB drives, and this year they were scattered. It seemed that on each table there was a box with USB drives, but each had a different amount of gigabytes (GB). I was in heaven when I found the 16GB ones. By the time I went up to the cashier, I had 39 USB drives and payed about a dollar for each of them. Totally worth it. I do regret passing up a basketball, in fairly good condition, for just $1. I hesitated for only a minute, but it was gone. That’s the real lesson. If you lose something, maybe you didn’t really want it anyway. And if you do want it, you’d be willing to fight your way to the front and buy it again for a dollar.
“If they didn’t have it, then you would just have to hope the universe would grant you the peace to let it go.”
5 FOOD
Three Meals: A Review
I’ve been covering three restaurants a week to compile a comprehensive freshman’s guide to cheap food in Long Beach. The rule is that they can’t have meals going over $20, they can’t be chain restaurants, and they can’t be more than 30 minutes from campus by bus. This week, I stopped by two town favorites.
Lunch: Pizzamania Seldom do you find a pizza place that reminds you of Chuck-E-Cheese with its smell, but of a much better pizzeria with its taste. With its two arcade games bundled into a corner and its greasy pizza, “Pizzamania” is that place. A 14 minute walk from the University Student Union, this restaurant is a nice venue to go to if you’re looking to stretch your legs and eat in a place that isn’t covered in CSULB paraphernalia. The servers are friendly and - if your order isn’t too complicated - quick to give you your order. I got mine about two minutes after ordering it. The cheap pricing and the fast service usually is a warning bell to the food’s quality. In this establishment, however, I was not left wanting. The pizza was great - once I mopped off the extra layer of grease. The salad was delicious - not something many pizzerias can boast of. And the venue itself felt like a place I could stand to hang out in on a weekend.
Dinner: Rascal’s Teriyaki Grill This CSULB student favorite is located right down the street from the campus dormitories. Its proximity is probably what gives it that title. The food is reflective of its proximity; quick, cheap, and filling. With a quick serve time and many of the servers being CSULB students, “Rascal’s” feels like an extension of the dorm dining halls. That’s not to say that it’s good. In actuality, it’s rather bland, in both ambience and food. The chicken curry bowl lacked any major flavor that I’ve come to associate with curry. The portion was generous, but the lack of spices in the dish undercut it and the price of it was not worth the quality of food given. I even witnessed one unsatisfied customer dump his entire order into the garbage because “this wasn’t teriyaki.” Maybe it was a slow night. Maybe the cook was new. If the crowded booths are any indication, this place is pretty popular with locals and students. I just wish I knew why.
The Road of Excess Leads to No Palace
The hidden dangers of our worship of food
By Zach Phelps Food Editor
While the very existence of man has forever been closely tied to his access to nutritional nourishment, it is only recently that the status of gourmet food has been elevated in popular culture to that of near worship. Terms like “food porn” and “foodie culture” can easily be found scattered throughout various social media platforms, and alternative dining options such as gastropubs and food trucks only seem to grow in their popularity. Hell, this very section of the Union Weekly you’re currently reading is a sanctioned haven for all things high-caloric, cholesterol-ridden, cheesecovered, and otherwise delicious. Yet, despite this seemingly-innocent trend towards fetishizing creative culinary creations, there is a darker side to our everexpanding appetite for decadent cuisine, particularly as the obesity epidemic continues to pose a real and significant detriment to the health of millions of Americans.
provides. For an alcoholic to overcome his addiction, he must abstain from drinking alcohol in any form. For a smoker to break her habit, she must stay away from lightingup a cigarette. While removing oneself from these cravings is easier said than done, there is a certain clarity to the steps one must take to get beyond these corrosive habits. However, for those who struggle with their weight or overeating, the path they must maintain to or regain their health is not nearly as straightforward. One cannot simply abstain from eating any more than they can abstain from breathing air or drinking water, unless their end goal is merely to
die. Furthermore, nutritional advice has proven to be extremely fickle, with health professionals touting the values of certain diets one day before denying their value the next. All this is not to say that our current elevation of food as something beyond a mere survival tool is inherently bad or harmful. Food still continues to be a source of happiness and entertainment, as it should be, and few activities help foster and strengthen human relationships, both platonic and romantic, like that of cooking or sharing a meal. The real issue comes when food moves from being a source of fascination to a literal obsession. While it’s a thin line that’s often not always easy to define, it remains important for both people who struggle with weight-related health issues, as well as society at large, is to understand the negative consequences that can arise from our overindulgence.
Checking the cheap eats near CSULB By Bailey Mount Managing Editor
Breakfast: The Crooked Duck Nine minutes away from campus by bus, it’s easy to miss “The Crooked Duck” at first glance. It’s a small restaurant that looks as if it might have been someone’s home at one point or another. The almost familial air of the place lends credence to this. It smells like a home you had once, or at least what that home might have smelled like. Named after the owner seeing a duck with a crooked neck after a boating accident, the shop is riddled with boating accoutrements and attracts older locals, many of whom sit around reminiscing of how Long Beach used to be. The servers take their time giving you your food. In “The Crooked Duck,” time slows down and you feel tempted to relax. Don’t eat here if you’re in a hurry. Instead, sit back, relax, and wait for your meal to come to you. Drink their hazelnut coffee and already be reminded of Christmas. I promise the wait is well worth it.
For many of people afflicted with serious weight control issues, greasy, salty and/or sweet snacks and meals provide a reliable source of comfort, which is in many cases exacerbated by our glamorization of such foods. The constant bombardment we receive through media of chocolatedusted churros and deep-fried grilled cheese sandwiches makes it that much more challenging for those most illeffected by weight problems to curb their eating habits. For overweight and obese individuals, relationship with food is made equally problematic due to the essential function it
“Terms like ‘food porn’ and ‘foodie culture’ can easily be found scattered throughout various social media platforms...”
6 ATHLETICS
Steering to Victory
Red Bull Rallycross skids through the Port of Los Angeles By Mario Lopez Travel Editor
Gasoline permeated the air, the buzzing of the revving engines sharp needles through our ears. The ripples of the sea sway through the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro. Scents of salt and local food trucks mix together in the breeze. Anxious fans waiting in the stands and eager onlookers lean on the rails of the S.S. Lane Victory, the cargo ship that served as the backdrop for the 2016 RedBull Global Rally Cross (GRC). Upon entrance, we were bombarded by sponsors. There was Volkswagen, Honda, and the father of cars, Ford. They were displaying their latest models and offering branded merchandise for interacting with them or answering their rigorous survey. The lines for the food truck were building up, and the excitement could be felt through the motors rumbling. This was our first time here, but the GRC has been a full time racing series since 2009. “You know the gist of it is that you go to anywhere and build a track and you can do it in a parking lot or you could go to a speedway or you could kind of do both,” a representative from OMSE, one of the auto racing teams, explained to us as we got a behind-thescenes look at the cars and the crew behind them. You could see what she meant just seconds into it. We were watching some sweet drifting and cars flying in action-packed racing on a port all while the sea shimmered just a few feet from the tracks. The GRC has the makings of a sport that can grow to have a larger following. The sports has refined its structure overthe seven years its has been existence and also has the ability to set up shop in any city with a large enough lot to place a course. Several events aired ESPN and NBC recently and people are starting to take notice of the race series’ rise. Not only are big manufacturers part of the sport, but certain personalities from other action sports—such as Dave Mirra (BMX rider), Bucky
Photos by Christopher Orozco Advertising and Distribution Lasek (Skateboarder), Brian Deegan (Freestyle motocross), Scott Speed and Nelson Piquet Jr. (both Formula One and NASCAR drivers)—bring their own following. After I ran along the course between swigs of RedBull and arm pumping, I was taken on a small tour of the OMSE camp on site. We were immediately advised not to take pictures of the supercar engines and to erase any picture if any taken. The supercar competitions are as much about the parts as it is the drivers. Whereas, the lite car races are focused on the drivers’ abilities alone. “LMC builds and sells the lite cars, so every lite driver is in the same type of car, same engine, and etc,” said the guide. “This is normal in most spec series or lite series, ladder development series.” This fairly new Lites division, introduced in 2013, is an important developmental division for young drivers that eventually go on to compete in the supercar division. I was able to score an interview with driver, Oliver Eriksson, who is only 17-year-old and was last year’s first place champion in the lite series. His first ever Rally Cross was back in 2014. This year he had the chance to repeat, but ended up in 4th place in the final race on Sunday, leaving him only one race standing from the repeat. Placing in 3rd place would have put him and Cabot Bigham both at 452 apiece in the standings, with Eriksson having the tiebreaker and being able to make history as the first ever back to back lite division champ. When we asked him how he celebrates a win he answered with, “Wings at a wing bar,” when he places on podium. What about a last place? “I’ve haven’t been in last place, I’ve never known that.” Finishing in second place is not bad, so enjoy your wings, young man. If you are up for an adrenaline rush, fast cars, some fun-fueled action, the occasional crash, then you want to be here at the RedBull Global Rally Cross.
(Top) Austin Dyne burnouts at the starting line of the race. He finished in 8th place. (Bottom) A member of the Dyne crew makes some last minute adjustements. Even the smallest modifications affect car performance. (Right) Alejandro Fernandez prepares for the Lite race. GRC Lite is a farm system for up and coming stars in the racing scene.
7 FEATURE
By Bailey Mount Managing Editor It’s October. Leaves are falling, temperatures are dropping, and all across the United States, some people are hoping that they don’t have to wear masks this year. For them, it’s LGBT History Month and for the brave few, it’s the month that they take that step and come out to their friends and family. Why do people come out at all? The answer isn’t always some calculated decision, some carefully organized plan to tell people. Oftentimes, queer people come out because someone else asks them about their sexuality. They don’t always have agency over it. Even the connotation of “coming out” echoes the sentiment that it’s a secret, a personal detail not everyone needs to know or one that people might not be comfortable with sharing just yet. For queer women in particular, both are often true. They’ve been told their sexuality is “just a phase” while exclusively gay men and women are accepted and celebrated. They’ve felt isolated from LGBTQIA+ spaces because of how they identify or pressured to behave a certain way because of the misconceptions associated with them. Basically, for these girls, coming out isn’t a one-time battle - it’s an ongoing war. In honor of CSULB’s Outober and National LBTQ History Month, three queer women decided to share their experiences with coming out. Here, they’re our friends and coworkers and their sexuality isn’t something we consider. Out there, it often defines who they are. With them, we say: We’re not your punchline. We’re not your fantasy. We’re what we’ve always been - your friends, siblings, coworkers, and most importantly, ourselves. And coming out to you is something we shouldn’t have to do.
8 FEATURE
By Sheila Sadr Copy Editor
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Writing this is hard. Telling people is hard. I completely recognize that it’s incredibly uncomfortable to come out. But it especially is for me. Especially because almost everyone believes my sexual preference doesn’t exist. Especially since every time I’ve come out to someone their first question is, “isn’t that how everyone feels?” or “doesn’t everyone get that way?” And my answer is no. It’s always no. My sexuality is hard to understand. Sometimes it feels hard to explain and I think that’s because it feels invalid. It feels like I am not in the LGBTQIA+ community because my sexual preference doesn’t fit nicely into this new box. It feels invalid also because, to me, it’s literally not a big deal. But I’m writing this for anyone who feels the same. To let people know that you’re not alone. So I don’t feel alone. See, I’m demisexual. Phew. Okay. That’s the first time I’ve written it down. That’s the first time more than three of my closest friends will know. And again, it’s. Not. That. Big. Of. A. Deal. I’m not trying to downplay how much it affects me personally. I just don’t want to make it a big deal or hype it up. Because I’m not coming out right now out of vanity or because I want to appear different or “trendy” - as some will say. I’m doing it because I’m fucking tired. I’m tired of people assuming
that I’m into guys. I’m tired of some of friends teasing me over my sexuality at parties. I’m tired of lying. I’m tired of the how problematic I’ve become when I engage with my sexuality, how I practice flirting with womyn only at social gatherings, when I’ve had a couple drinks, only when it’s kind of socially appropriate to. Ultimately, I’m tired of being in the closet or people telling me that I’m not in one and me almost believing them. I’m tired of people thinking that sexuality moves along some sort of line or works only one way. I’m tired and hurt that people don’t understand mine. So, I’m going to explain it once. Please pay attention and if it’s still confusing, I kindly encourage you to do your own research. Continue on your quest of asking questions and being curious. Being a demisexual means that I only become sexually attracted to people after I’ve formed an emotional bond with them. I only become interested in have sex with someone after I’ve spent a solid amount of time with them. Biological sex and gender identity play literally no factor on it at all. My sexuality never robs itself of other human being. There were times where I tried to push myself into hookup culture, thinking that maybe if I found the right person I could “do it”. But I couldn’t do it. Because I’m plainly not sexually attracted in people I don’t know.
The best way to explain it is also the way I realized I was demi: I’ve never ever looked at an attractive stranger passing by and thought “I’d fuck that”. Never. Not in my entire life have looked at a single stranger and thought like that. At the very max, I just thought that they were beautiful. And it wasn’t until I grew into adulthood that I realized that this mentality wasn’t the norm. There’ve been years where I’ve thought I’m asexual and simply interested in romance. There have been times where I thought I was bisexual. There were times when I thought I was straight or when I just didn’t want to know. It took too much energy and too much time. It was too scary to contemplate because, if I was in anyway interested in womyn, I knew I would be outcasted and shamed by my family or questioned constantly by my peers. Or even worse for me, I would become undesirable to someone I love. And I couldn’t handle that. But now, I’m out I guess. I’m kind of relieved, kind of excited, and terrified out of my mind. I don’t feel proud or brave like I’m supposed to feel. I feel very, very vulnerable and scared. My heart actually feels like it’s going to leap out of my chest. But I am living. I am living. Because what is life if you are not living authentically? I hope nothing’s changed. I hope I’m accepted.
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9 FEATURE
By Alexis Cruz Social Media Manager I always thought that the notion of coming out was, for a lack of better words, weird. For the longest time I would question my sexuality, as I was one of those girls that would notice how attractive other girls were, but never thought much of it. If I liked the way a person looked, did that change the heterosexual label placed onto me? I was forced to look into this matter by analyzing my sexual identity for an essay back in Fall 2015 when I took a Sociology of Sexualities class. My professor reached out and pointed out that I was questioning, which was nothing to be afraid of. As the semester went on, that class had shown me that “questioning” was an identity itself and because of this I was unknowingly a part of the LGBTQIA+. However, the class left me feeling
more confused and made me want answers, so I turned to my peers. A very good friend of mine gave me the final question to end all questions.
“It’s a big, scary world out there, but if bisexual/ queer women stick together, it won’t be so bad.” As I spilled out the feelings that I held in for so long, she asked, “can you imagine yourself with a woman and pursuing a relationship with them?”
I paused for a bit, and looked to her and our two other friends and confidently said, “Yes, I can.” I am a bisexual woman. Did I feel the need to “experiment” with other women to confirm this? Absolutely not. Did I feel the need to tell everyone about my newly found identity? Well, yes and no. I told my significant other (S.O.), who is a man, and I would always throw that fact at him. I was expecting some big negative reaction from him, and it was wrong of me to assume such and try to pry it out of him. So, I was out, I am out, but I don’t know how to feel about it. I feel free, yet caged. Caged in the sense that the bisexual identity is skewed by the notion of passing as heterosexual—therefore
creating a feeling of guilt on the identity—and that being a bisexual woman is often associated with a woman willing to “spice up” her life with some girl on girl action. These ideas ostracize bisexual women from both the heterosexual and LGBTQIA+ communities, and leave us in this sort of middle space to wander. Women shouldn’t be left to float in this endless space. I refuse to let other women float in this space as I did. For those of us who are out, we need to push the boundaries set upon us and open the conversation, but not to the point where we are verbally attacking our peers (as I did to my S.O.). It’s a big, scary world out there, but if bisexual/queer women stick together it won’t be so bad.
have happily accepted my identity. And there’s always that handful of people that I know will never talk to me again. But even worse than straight up rejection is the fake acceptance. The people who say they are supportive but in reality think that I’m just “going through a phase”. Once I get one of the three responses, it usually concludes in, “Why didn’t you tell me you were bisexual genderfluid before?” I want to tell them that they aren’t entitled to my gender and sexuality. I get to disclose information,
that shouldn’t even matter, on my own terms. But, I don’t say that. I go with the shorter, less aggressive version. I just tell them I don’t make it a point to come out because it never comes up. Which is true, but doesn’t make what I don’t say any less right. Finally, I live with the consequences of telling that person, good or bad. I don’t get a gold star and triumphant music doesn’t play as I ride into the sunset. At the end of it all, I get to go home tired and start the cycle all over again in the morning.
By Allison Meyer Multimedia Assistant There seems to be a misconception about how “coming out” works. There’s this idea that when a person comes out, that’s it. They’re out of the closet and there’s no turning back. The people they love accept or reject them. Game over. The end. Unfortunately, life is rarely that easy. In a world where people assume I’m straight and cisgender until proven otherwise, coming out is a process. It’s a calculated risk. It’s a tiring and mundane cycle that happens every time you meet someone new. The first step is deciding if you even want to come out to someone. There’s always the possibility that you could lose your job, your friends, your family. The price of coming isn’t always worth it to me. To further complicate things: I identify as bisexual genderfluid. The first label comes with a host of negative connotations thanks to popular media. The second comes with the burden of being completely unheard of. This means that coming out involves a lot of explanation for me. I’ve actually considered putting together a PowerPoint just for the occasion.
Once I finish my piece, I get to watch as the clear confusion consumes them. I try to put into words the feelings that are so natural to me but foreign to them. I put up with invasive questions about my sex life that are born out of ignorance. I attempt to correct any misunderstandings that they have. I Google search the definitions just in case.
“I want to tell them that they aren’t entitled to my gender and sexuality. I get to disclose information, that shouldn’t even matter, on my own terms.” Next is the waiting game. How will they respond? I have found that there are three ways that coming out can go: acceptance, rejection, or fake acceptance. I am lucky enough to have come out to plenty of people who
10 OPINIONS
Yeeze On Out the Fashion Industry Kanye West is a genius in music, not in fashion By Madison Gallegos Culture Editor
Kanye West is a self-proclaimed “creative genius.” Now you may be thinking, that’s a completely valid statement; he’s sold over 21 million physical albums and has had 55 Billboard Top 100 hits since his start in 2004. It would be — if he was talking about his music career. But he’s not. After just two years of “experience” in the fashion industry, Mr. West thinks he’s earned the title. He also believes that he could have earned that without his success as a music artist. Don’t get me wrong, I love Kanye’s music as much as the next person, but he has no business in the fashion world. He thinks he can just step from the studio to
the runway without any background except the clothes in his closet. According to him, “the majority of things that are popular now are really directly based on something I’ve done in in the past 10 years.” If I eye-rolled any harder, I’d get a migraine. He’s trying to tell us that he’s more responsible for fashion trends than Saint Laurent, Chanel, Marc Jacobs, Louis Vuitton? Kanye’s head has gotten so massive that he’s discrediting the accomplishments of designers and brands that have been molding the fashion industry long before it even entered his mind.
“He thinks he can just step from the studio to the runway without any background except the clothes in his closet.”
The problem is that the lines between the entertainment industry and the fashion industry are being completely blurred. Sure, celebrities have been making their own lines forever, but they’re not being present at Fashion Week. The average person has to go to design school for 4+ years, have experience in the industry, build up clients, expand your image and then maybe achieve high even status to be selected for Fashion Week. But Kanye can just step in like he owns the place? Maybe, maybe I would accept his newfound “fashion designer” status if his pieces didn’t look like the garbage that already exists at American Apparel. The Yeezy designs are the most basic, run-of-themill, toss-on-just-cause-you’re-running-tothe-grocery store, kind of nonsense. It doesn’t even look like it’s made well; most of the material is thin, the lines aren’t even, and everything is either too tight or completely engulfs you.
Photo by Vogue.Com Let’s say that’s what he was going for—basic, everyday pieces that “you just throw on.” Fine. But you know what he also says? “… only I can do it.” Excuse me, but I’m pretty sure I saw those plain gray sweatpants you got walking down the runway at Walmart. That nude bodysuit? I can get that from Forever 21. The reality is Kanye, everyone’s doing it and has been for decades because they’re basics. They’re easy to make, take little to no creativity (sure as hell not the eightperson design team you got working for you), and you know what else? They don’t cost thousands of dollars. What’s worse is that fashion magazines are allowing and even promoting all this bunk, especially Vogue. All I saw on Vogue’s website during New York Fashion Week was Yeezy, Yeezy, Yeezy, as if no other designers existed. Please, let’s divert back to what fashion really is: art. We need to go back to its roots, when fashion actually meant something.
Leo at Heart, Cancer at NASA The revised astrological zodiac hasn’t changed me By Marilyn Ramirez Contributor On a first date, the man in front of me finds it charming when I ask for his birthday. He thinks I have a high regard for his personal information when in reality, I’m calculating our compatibility based on the gods of the universe to figure out if a next date is likely. Last week, NASA shocked astrology fans, like me, by “introducing” a 13th sign of the zodiac: Ophiuchus. The serpentbearer constellation is designated for those born from Nov 29 to Dec 17. For those of you born within that time frame, congratulations; according to this clarification in data, NASA has redesigned astrology believers’ horoscopes. This is a result of the Earth’s axis shifting all these years, which shifts the perspective of the stars, so Ophiuchus is aligned with the sun much longer—even longer than Scorpio. Although Ophiuchus is an ancient constellation that had been discovered by the Greeks thousands of years ago, there are diehard believers whose base
of their very lives depend on their daily horoscope.When struggles arise, they turn to a certified astrologist by The Organization for Professional Astrology. It sounds like a religion, but I’d consider it to be a scientific art. Analyzing my zodiac sign and comparing it to those around me— as a representation of whether I should love or hate them—has been a subculture I wish would be more widely accepted. I’d argue that you don’t really feel your zodiac sign until you’ve read up on it and claimed it, which is a great argument for people who don’t believe in astrology. On a certain level, I agree.
However, I also believe that you enjoy what you enjoy, so if you’re cool being a down-to-earth Taurus or a practical Capricorn, go for it. As for me, I was born on Aug 9. This means that I’m a fierce and courageous Leo, a fire sign that is creative, with a large capacity to love. I am also overbearing, controlling and pretty stubborn when it comes to accepting ideas that aren’t my own. These are the traits I find pretty accurate, and I’ve accepted them since the day I looked up my zodiac—probably as a result of opening up a spam email in my AOL account. Even if I’m a cancer, according to the newly introduced constellation chart, I’ll be sticking to my original sign. I have no regrets. Illustration by John Mueller
Exploring OUTober
11 OPINIONS
A collection of commentaries regarding our pride Intro by Jordan Daniels Opinions Editor In honor of OUTober, which is a series of events hosted by the Office of Multicultural Affairs, I wanted to get several different commentaries about the pride some students feel in regards to being a part of the LGBTQ+ community. This page will be home to these voices.
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Briefly, I just want to say touch on the pride I feel. I came out when I was 17 to my family and have been coming out to family and friends since. Truly, one never stops coming out, but the power in starting is life-changing. Since I came out, I haven’t looked back at that closet.
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Having Pride is all about accepting yourself, loving yourself and not caring who doesn’t because you’re not wasting time on the ones who hate you; you’re spending your time loving the ones who love you. If you’re out, I hope you feel the same sense of pride as I do.
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If you’re not, I hope that one day you will feel safe enough to do so, at least to somebody. If you don’t, that is okay too. If you need a space, know that we, as a community, are here for you. You are not alone. We love you. It does get better. Have faith and have pride.
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By Alexis Cruz Social Media Manager
By Natalee Coloman Contributor
This year’s OUTober is very near and dear to my heart as it is my first year of being “out.” I came out as bisexual to my close friends and my significant other (S.O.) earlier this year and it was one of the most frightening experiences of my life. I thought to myself, “what if they don’t believe me? What if they think I’m just confused? What if my S.O. breaks up with me? What if, what if, what if. All these thoughts were running through my head, yet my support group accepted me for who I am. However, my sociologist self always thinks back on my coming out moment and why I was so hesitant in the first place. Prior to being out I was in a constant state of questioning my sexuality, and it’s because there is a severe lack of bisexual representation and pride. Socially, bisexual men and women are often scrutinized by the heterosexual
I didn’t truly understand my sexuality until Jan. 7, 2014. That was the day of utter confusion, yet total realization — the day my girlfriend kissed me. In the few minutes following that lifechanging kiss, I asked myself, “Why did that feel so right?” “What do I do now?” “Am I gay?” Almost three years later, I think I can finally answer those questions. However, the answers aren’t so simple. I know it felt right, because it was more natural than any kiss I’ve ever had with a male. It clicked, like this was someone I wanted to be with. And I longed for more kisses. The question about me being gay is the difficult one to pinpoint. I come from a conservative family on my father’s side. I was sure my dad didn’t dislike the LGBT community, because both my parents played on the gay and lesbian softball leagues while I was younger.
I heard my grandmother’s voice in my head repeatedly say, “Don’t expose Natalee to gays, it’ll rub off on her.” Like that made any sense. Yet here I am, dating a woman and confused about my identity. I didn’t want to say anything to her because I knew it would be chaos for my parents and myself if I came out to my grandma. Unfortunately I still haven’t told her. This doesn’t mean I don’t post photos of my relationship, or talk about my girlfriend. I am very open to anyone who wants to ask, or talk about my sexuality. Just because I hide my relationship from one person in my family doesn’t make what I am any less prideful. I am finally comfortable to say I am dating a woman, and although I hate to use labels, I can consider myself a lesbian. I am proud to have the support of everyone else in my family and amongst my friends and I would never change who I am.
understanding of how one’s sexual character works. Those days are thankfully over, but they weren’t necessarily easy to overcome. Coming out takes time, patience and encouragement. The kind of encouragement brought about by celebratory events like OUTober and month-long events recognizing the LGBT community’s annals. I always feel safe as a gay man on campus — loved, even. The CSULB campus is collectively
a progressively-minded one. I get the comforting impression that the majority of students on campus want to make this world a much more tolerable place. CSULB is my kind of place to be. Rather than discriminating against who I am, the campus inspires me to continue bettering myself and being myself. It’s been said so many times before by millions across the world. But there’s something so heartening about proclaiming, “I’m gay and proud.” And that’s exactly what this 49er is.
community. For bisexual men, being bisexual is seen as a way to hide your gay identity while bisexual women are accused of having a “lesbian phase.” As a woman, being with a man can be seen as heteronormative privilege by radical LGBTQ+ activists and I acknowledge this, but that does not remove my sexual identity. To quote Anna Paquin’s interview with Larry King on her bisexuality: “If you were to break up with them or if they were to die, it doesn’t prevent your sexuality from existing.” The stigma on bisexuality made me closeted for so long, and it makes me question if there are others out there who felt or currently feel this way. However, celebrities with young audiences that come out as bisexual or queer do give me the hope that bisexuality will be more visible.
By Jorge Paniagua Contributor As I make my way down campus, I spot promotional art for OUTober — Cal State Long Beach’s month-long event commemorating, as well as celebrating, the fact that October is LGBT history month. It’s a gratifying feeling — knowing that so many of my fellow 49ers support the LGBT community in the gnarliest of ways. For those unaware, Oct. 11 was National Coming Out Day, a day where LGBT members and allies encourage those struggling with their sexuality to “come out” and take pride in who they are.
As someone who has accepted that he is a gay man, the day makes me feel honored. It’s a reminder, something along the lines of, “Hey, you made it this far and life is only getting better.” Yet, Oct. 11, unintentionally, brings back some unsettling f lashbacks of when I was a closeted male trying to convince myself that my attraction to the samesex was a fad. A fad which although was running long, would eventually come to a screeching end. Oh, how I had such an illogical
12 ENTERTAINMENT
The Rocky Horrible Picture Show Let’s not do the the Time Warp again
By Bailey Mount Managing Editor Following the praise received from its production of “Grease: Live” in January, FOX decided to try its hand again at remaking movie musicals. On Oct. 20, the studio will air “The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Let’s Do the Time Warp Again,” a remake of the movie musical “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” (RHPS). With its initial critical flop on stage and its slow rise to cult status following the 1975 film, the original RHPS was created as both a tribute to and a parody of horror and science fiction B-movies. The musical follows straight-laced couple Brad (Barry Bostwick) and Janet’s (Susan Sarandon) fateful encounter with the pansexual Dr. Frank N. Furter (Tim Curry). It’s rife with sexual androgyny and fluidity shocked audiences at the time with its graphic celebrations of sexuality in all its forms. Curry’s performance propelled him to
godlike heights in the RHPS community and the intentional dramatization of all the cast members is what gave the musical its charms. The 2016 remake once again tells the story of Brad (Ryan McCartan) and Janet (Victoria Justice) when they stumble across the Frankenstein place one rainy night. McCartan and Justice bring a freshness to the virginal characters, succeeding in making the pair seem like a genuine pair of goofballs. They and American Idol runner up Adam Lambert, who plays Eddie, are the only astounding actors and performers in this star-studded cast. The singing is lackluster, the pacing of the entire production is rushed, almost as if they’re running from the shadow of their predecessor, and the sexuality - the core of what made RHPS great - is sanitized. Given the network, the censorship
is understandable, but when handling a musical that deals in pool make-out sessions and alien transvestites, one needs to commit. This version has its admirable qualities. The costumes are flawless, the dancing commendable. It’s shiny where the original was gritty. It’s polished where the original was rough around the edges. This remake runs smooth as a dream and is every bit what the original would have been if it had the budgeting and the cast. That’s where it fails. In an interview with the New York Times, the cast calls it not a direct remake - because it would be impossible to outdo the original, they admit - but rather a celebration of the flick. What makes RHPS great is that it’s versatile. It perseveres and adapts to suit the current tastes of the outliers of society
and mocks the mainstream. By making it a mainstream phenomenon, its essence is taken from it. The cast stated that they hope to introduce a new generation of fans to “Rocky Horror” with this remake. If that happens, it’s safe to say that these new fans will be very surprised when they attend a live show or watch the original.
“The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Let’s Do The Time Warp Again” Air Date: Oct. 20, 8:00 p.m. Length: 1 hr 30 mins Director: Kenny Ortega Starring: Tim Curry, Laverne Cox, Victoria Justice, Annaleigh Ashford
From Pawn to Queen Disney’s lastest film is a check mate “Queen of Katwe” is a biographical rags-toriches Ugandan odyssey about chess. The film’s genesis begins with Phiona Mutesi (Madina Nalwanga), the protagonist, helping her family sell food in order to make a living. One day, after growing tired of working, she curiously stumbles through the slums of Katwe in Kampala – the capital of Uganda, discovering a wise man coaching kids a cerebral game. The coach (David Oyelowo) notices her from afar and invites her to play chess. As Phiona learns, a friendly player tells her, “The small piece can rise to become the big piece” triggering her to train hard in order to battle opponents in East Africa and soon the world. This film exceeds expectations in telling the beautiful experience of a young underdog becoming a queen of the game. Additionally, Disney avoided the exploitation of Africans by using genocide, mud huts and so called “savages” as common tropes found often in other films. Instead, Disney chose acclaimed director Mira Nair to present Ugandan people and
By R. Ray Robinson Contributor culture differently. Her previous work includes “Mississippi Masala” which was praised by many critics. This movie focuses on Phiona overcoming obstacles through her matches. Nair delivers a mix of comedy and courage through Phiona’s journey as a chess prodigy. One scene in particular that strikes a chord is when Phiona and her team are duking it out against Ugandan academy players, who are reluctant in shaking hands with them due to their status. Nair’s details inspire by perfectly capturing the spirit of the true champion Phiona becomes. Through her wittiness and skills, Phiona proves the rich kids wrong. The stars deliver nuanced performances carrying zest and intelligence. Academy Award winner Lupita Nyong’o (“12 Years a Slave”) portrays Nakku Harriet, Phiona’s mother. Award winner David Oyelowo (“Selma”) plays Coach Katande. Both ubiquitous roles fight for Phiona to have a better life. Lupita’s fights passionately for Phiona
while Oyelowo masters the art of coaching her. Together, they uplift the former pawn to garner a crown in chess by winning matches. But Oyelowo and Nyong’o could not complete this film without the help of rising new starlet Madina Nalwanga. She captures Phiona’s observant, quietness which conveys calmness and charisma to win. Her humility awakens with almost superhuman zeal, that balances the cast and drives the plot to triumph. “Queen of Katwe” merits praise—both for the tale it tells and for how poignant it chose to tell it. Be dazzled by Phiona’s wondrous prowess in a game of kings and queens in the “Queen of Katwe.”
“Queen of Katwe” Length: 2 hr 4 mins Director: Mira Nair Starring: David Oyelowo, Lupita Nyong’o, Martin Kabanza, Madina Nalwanga
13 CULTURE
Cleaning Out My Closet One woman’s trash is another woman’s obsession By Karrie Comfort Staff Writer
Photos by Jocelyn Reyes Contributor
said. The more she blogged, the more she liked it but it wasn’t always this easy. Diaz credits a lot of her newly found eye for fashion writing to her internship with College Fashionista, which taught her how to Maria Diaz is not your typical fashionista; she is on a mission. As a third year sociology major, fashion isn’t a crucial part of her major, but clothing has been a growing passion of hers. “I have honestly been interested in fashion since I was in middle school,” Diaz said. “At some point in my life, I wanted to be a designer but then I realized I couldn’t sketch at all...now I just like to promote, or write about fashion, or maybe be a stylist.” With a minor in journalism, Diaz has been writing her own blog since the summer before her sophomore year, and it has grown from a small idea sparked by a conversation to one of her favorite pastimes. Although it is hard to stay consistent with such an endeavor due to clashing schedules with her photographer, Maria Diaz tries to keep content up to date for her readers. Many of her blog outfits are a product of her favorite hobby: thrifting. “I started my blog mainly because I love to thrift shop and I’ve always wanted a place to showcase the way I style my finds, and keep track of seasonal trends too,” Diaz
properly s p e l l garment brands, photograph outfits, and connected her to other fashion enthusiasts. “I actually got my internship through the Fashion Club here on campus...I applied, and by April, I received an email saying that I had been accepted into the internship,” she said. Not everyone is as interested in fashion as she is, Diaz admits. Despite this, she is convinced that there are still many reasons that fashion holds a wide appeal, whether it be for its natural artistic beauty or even
because of the added spice of the makeup world. In fact, Diaz feels as though fashion can help advance girl’s confidence in wearing whatever they like, whether or not it is “provocative.” She wants to convey that she’s not dressing for anyone other than herself. If it’s super hot outside, simply wear less. “If a girl feels cute in a way that she dresses then she should wear that,” Diaz said confidently. “I’m not your ideal model size, but I wear what I want whether society says it goes with my body or not. I am really
comfortable in my body and I’ve learned to love it.” Most importantly though, she is glad to have the support of her friends and family, which is truly a blessing in such a competitive industry.
Specifically, Diaz recounts how her cousins gave her advice and got her into fashion—even her mom cares. “My mom is a fan of my blog; I love showing her my new posts because she gets so happy seeing how I put everything together,” Diaz said. “Sometimes she questions a specific piece in my outfit, but she lets me be because she knows it’s in style.”
For more information, check out Maria Diaz’s blog at lookingthrroughmycloset. blogspot.com She adds that she in the end, she feels that she knows what she is doing. “Like my mom always says: ‘Ya se, asi es la moda’.” “‘I already know that this is the style.’”
14 MUSIC
Kings of Leon’s “WALLS” Come Down They come down...with a strong delivery By Martha Quijano Staff Writer Kings of Leon released their seventh album titled “WALLS” on Oct. 14 after a nearly three-year hiatus. They’re back with a new vibe and new look to go with themes that each of their 10 tracks cover. Keeping up with their five-syllable album
Next up is “Reverend,” which they released as a single a week before the album. Again, it took a while for me to get used to how different their sound is. But I can see myself having this on repeat with that captivating intro and storytelling lyrics.
titles, “ WA L LS” is short for “We Are Like Love Songs,” according to NME. I went in listening to the album expecting poetic love songs about falling in love or falling out of love. But as always, Kings Of Leon never fails to surprise me. I found the title to be quite the opposite of what each song had to offer. The first song that sets the tone for the rest of what’s to come is “Waste A Moment.” That was their first single released in early September followed by an eccentric music video. I was definitely not a fan of it at first. At least a year before the talks of a new album came about, several fans expected them to go back to their roots of “Youth & Young Manhood” with their raw and gritty style. I expected that too, which is why I was initially disappointed. But then I realized that they hadn’t lost their touch. After a while, the song grows on you and you can’t help but keep singing along.
“Around The World” is probably one of my favorites ever since I heard them play it live on “Later...With Jools Holland.” It is so much fun to listen to— especially with lines like, “All around the world, all around the world. I lost myself and found a girl.” You’ll definitely want to get your dancing shoes out for this one. Calling all guitar heroes out there for the fourth track, “Find Me,” because this one is full of guitar and drum play. It is still not as gritty as their previous albums, but rather it has a more polished finish to it which really shows how much
the band has evolved over time. “Over” might be my second favorite just because it gave me such a 1980s coming-of-age film feel. It’s the kind of song you can imagine playing in the background of a break up montage. The line, “Oh, don’t say it’s over. Don’t say it’s over, anymore” reads to me like a heartbreaking plea from one person to another. Now “Muchacho” is an interesting song. I heard a preview of it on their
by the crisp guitar is literally music to my ears in “Conversation Piece.” Hearing him sing, “Take me back to California…” right in the beginning gives me feelings of nostalgia, driving home from a long trip kind of jam. “Eyes On You” and “Wild” are the only songs that I felt indifferent about. Yeah, they sounded cool but, they just did nothing for me. They are those songs that I would probably find myself skipping over as much as possible. “WALLS” wraps up the whole album with a neat and shiny bow on the top. I’ve always thought of the song as the “Beautiful War” from of “WALLS.”It has that simple melody, but has lyrics that just hit you like an arrow to the heart. I’m a firm believer that location matters when it comes to recording because it serves as the inspiration for the general feel and creation of the album. K O L
“Making of WALLS” video. As soon as Caleb started playing it, I knew it was going to be a fan favorite. I find it quite amazing how something so simple can turn into a masterpiece overnight. Also, I’m a total sucker for songs that include whistling in it so that’s a bonus. That clarity of Caleb’s voice accompanied
recorded “WALLS” in Los Angeles, according to Rolling Stone which is why I got a beachy, California vibe to it. It’s basically “Come Around Sundown” 2.0. The album felt more mature and felt much more like the kind of music the band wanted to do. It’s definitely worth the wait and so I give it a solid 8.5/10 Grammy Awards!
My Love is Not Enough
15 MUSIC
Melodic hardcore band Casey releases an album that grows over time By Peter R. Clark Entertainment Editor Casey is a melodic hardcore band from South Wales, UK. They recently released their first full-length album “Love is not Enough,” after releasing nothing but singles before. Prior to the release of this album, Casey had four songs released. One that was on this album, and three others that did not make it to this album. While the three did not make it to the album, some of their lyrics are sprinkled into the some of the songs on the album. For instance, the song “Hell” has its lyrics put into two different songs.
“Love is not Enough” is an 11-song album and each song feels disjointed. None of the songs really seem to relate musically, but that fits the band immensely. They state on their website that, “We are a band whose music is not defined by our image, or where we come from; how we met, or where we’ve been b e f o r e n o w . ” This comes through in many songs and, while the album does feel disjointed at times, I have come to accept the fact that it was intentional. At first, I didn’t like it.
Perhaps the best thing about Casey is their lyrics. The lyrics are incredibly emotional, and are generally about love, relationships, family and loss. The singer, does a good job of interchanging his gravely vocals with some clean singing to emphasize certain lyrics. “Ceremony” was the first song released for this track (after “Darling, which was its own release months before the announcement of this album). This track feels like you are forever descending into a certain kind of madness. It’s a song about love, and what love actually means. The song allows you to understand what’s wrong with relationships. The line, “I hope that you are finding sleep while I still lay awake,” is a perfect example of dwelling on something that you shouldn’t. “Ceremony” is a track that is near perfect. Sure, it is no “Hell,” but this song might just be the best on the album. Tied with “Ceremony” is “Mourning” and rightfully so. It’s the sequel to “Hell.” So much so that is uses similar guitar riffs and lyrics. “Hell” has some of the best lyrics written prior to a section late into this song. It’s a section about dead flowers being
pressed between a notebook that “you” only read when “you’re” bored. The imagery conjured here is fantastic. The song itself is a what some might call the standard last song on album. It conjures a feel of uplifting as it takes out of the album, just as much as the first song, “Bloom” gets you into the album. Other songs on the album are great too; “Haze” is a song about cheating, it begins slow and progressively gets faster, and ends with a haunting line “Are you fucking happy?”. “Cavity” is a song about a brother with a mental disability. Almost every song has something that someone can relate to. Casey makes an album that we can all relate to, and no matter what you’re going though “You are not alone.” Overall, “Love is not Enough” was initially a disappointing album to me, but the more I’ve listened to it, the more I’ve really enjoyed it. At first, I was turned off by the disjointed aspect of the album, but I slowly began to love it. I’m glad I stuck with it, this album is certainly one to enjoy and cherish.
22, An Infinity: Bon Iver’s Brilliant Boundlessness Folk music’s favorite sons explore new sounds, find renewed soul By Matthew Gozzip Athletics Editor Deep in the Great Lakes region where the whistling winds of sleet ravage and nourish the land, a good winter is all it takes to get back on track. The white blankets of snow smother the shortcomings of the past, the clear purity of rebirth. In the tiny Wisconsin town of Eau Claire (“clear water” in French), Bon Iver has reemerged with a renewed sense of artistic creativity. Nearly a decade after releasing their debut album “For Emma, Forever Ago”, the masters of melancholy have continued to strum the acoustic heart strings while also revitalizing their sound on their newly released record, “22, A Million”. Instead of using simple instruments such as the guitar and piano, creative mastermind Justin Vernon incorporated heavy synths and electronic production to the originally raw records that had garnered both critical acclaim and pop culture appeal. The decision to change up the sound is a risky one to be sure but it is for good reason. Vernon, the voice and spiritual catalyst of the band’s music, embarked on a musical pilgrimage shortly after the band’s second
album “Bon Iver, Bon Iver” was released. Vernon traversed across genres frequently, working on projects with artists such as experimental R&B crooner James Blake. Vernon’s most notable collaboration is a continual partnership with one of the godfathers of modern hip-hop, Kanye West. Despite the heavy influences from a variety of different artists and a departure from minimal production, “22, A Million” is still quintessential Bon Iver. The album is arguably the most emotional album the group has put out to date. Electronic elements and distorted vocals actually amplify the feelings Vernon’s songwriting, an unusual paradox in a music culture that usually loses its sincerity when drained out by overproduction. Vernon’s voice serenades the ears and remains the key element to making Bon Iver’s music that much more vulnerable. The cryptic lyrics match well with the random arrangement of symbols and numbers with the songs titles. Listening to the album becomes more of a challenge to understand the themes and narrative when the nothing is directly explained. Several tracks sound very much like Bon
Iver’s early offerings with minimal changes. “29 #Strafford APTS” hearkens back to earlier days: orchestral strings, piano and guitar, piercing falsetto. “____45____” starts off as a heavy electronic number with a modified saxophone blurb but eases into a calming melody that captures the same feelings as many of the band’s earlier songs. “22 O V E R S∞∞N,” the first track, remains the standard for the album, the thematic tone setter for the rest of album. The horn echo waits patiently in the back after being blasted in the beginning, an abstract sound that becomes a simple complement to Vernon’s vocals.
Besides the refined samplings of the modified music, Bon Iver understands what makes them unique other than their sound. The heartbreaking stories and honest personal assessments remain, creating a close bond with the listener. Throughout the layers of sound and snow, Bon Iver continues to reinvent themselves w h i l e b e i n g more clear a b o u t t h e i r feelings more than ever before.
TRAVEL
Taipei Travel Tips
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The top 5 things to expect when you arrive in Taipei Words and Photos by Ana Varela Contributor
If it’s your first time in Taipei, Taiwan, you’d be smart to be more aware of your surroundings than usual. If you’re not careful, you’ll miss the city’s most delicious but sometimes hard to find food places, hidden collectible stamps and unexpected adventures. Here are a few things to keep in mind before coming to Taipei (minus the spoilers):
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Fashion equality:
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Friendly people:
Voguettes and fashionistas take long strides in their most stylish outfits on their Taipei street runway. It isn’t uncommon to see someone wearing the most recent trend standing just next to someone that has combined neon stripes and pastel polka dots. While this would usually call for strange looks from either party, this is not the case in the friendly city of Taipei. Despite what many online articles say, no one seems to care about what you’re wearing so long as it isn’t offensive
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Stamp addiction: Yes. Stamps are everywhere in Taiwan if you know where to look. Usually, these detailed little designs include what the region or location that you are visiting is most famous for. Carrying around a journal or a stamp book is a must and is excellent for remembering where you went that day. In the future, you’ll look back at your lack of stamping skills and laugh at yourself for blaming the stamps for not imprinting properly.
Scoot Over for the Scooters: Keep your eyes and ears open to the sudden loud buzz of an approaching scooter. Scooters can be seen most obviously at intersections where they collect and then, at the ping of a green light, ride away with an astounding sound of one hundred motors revving in unison. Their small size, however, also allows them to zip past you through the smallest streets and even the sidewalks. Yes, scooters can be intimidating to the wary pedestrian, at first. As long as you limit your zigzagging, scooterists will never do so much as graze your rain poncho. It’s always good to remember that if you can’t beat them, you can join them on your own set of wheels with Taipei’s rentable UBikes. It’s faster than walking and extremely affordable, even for broke students *shoutout*.
or extremely revealing. It should be noted though, that showing some butt cheek is OK (hence their nonexistent hemlines at clubs) but showing cleavage or even shoulders is seen as too revealing. Regardless of what part of your beautiful body you’re hoping to show off, shopping is everywhere and sales are abundant. Many stores even cater to specific styles so that you know exactly where to walk in to browse for exactly what you want. Sizes do run small so if you’re big and tall you should keep an eye out for stores that cater to foreigners.
The scooterists will never hit you. The people on the Taipei Metro will gently remind you that you cannot eat or drink at the stations or on the rail. The fashionistas will happily tell you where to shop for the best prices or trends. Most people that you ask for help will give you their undivided attention or will find someone that speaks English if they cannot. Every day that you’re in Taipei, despite making a handful of friends, you may still be shocked at the incredibly selfless hospitality that everyone offers.
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Hours:
Hours in Taipei require some getting used to. While some places similar to 7/11 are open 24 hours, little else has such convenient hours. Many food locations are only open for the three or four hours that their food is most popular. So, if you’re craving grilled turnip, you shouldn’t be shocked to find
the stand has vanished sooner than noon. Furthermore, if you come from a country that is used to having dinner later in the evening, Taipei’s night markets will be your best bet. Most restaurants and services close by nine or ten and the night markets turn into ghost towns at midnight. Remember, when a place is as fairy-tale-like as Taipei, the best things will be the hardest to find. I invite you to apply to study in Taipei at a Taiwanese University or Mandarin Training Center (like me) and take advantage of the abundance of scholarships that the Taiwanese government (and sometimes CSULB) have to offer. Come get a taste of Taipei; a large city that isn’t overbearingly crowded, has delicious foods and adventures to partake in just around every corner.