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Issue 79.1
Intro
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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
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 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 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, martha@lbunion.com Karrie Comfort, karrie@lbunion.com
CONTRIBUTORS Anna Elaine Abella, Julia Velasco-Aguilar, Eliabeth Campos, Natalie Grant, Rachel Haering
What up, young people! I’m back, yet again, to bother you all with my incessant and unnecessary commentary on how our week at the Union Weekly went. It went pretty well. There weren’t any incidents to speak of. We came in, did our work, and went home. I know that sounds boring, but after going through all the stress and anxiety of the last couple of weeks, boring is exactly what we need. Boring means we were able to get things done without having to call someone and cry about it for an hour. Boring means nothing terrible happened to completely derail our efforts to print a quality paper. Boring is nice. That said, it wasn’t a completely uneventful week. We had a pretty busy start since we had a short week thanks to Labor Day. We had to come in on Tuesday and have our weekly staff meeting then get ready for a general meeting for new volunteers on Wednesday. That sounds like a lot of work but we’ve gotten the hang of things. And so, after four weeks of doing this I can finally say that we’re good to go now. We got the ball rolling and have some momentum going from week to week. It’s just a matter of us not getting lazy and complacent in the midst of everything. If we do that, then we’ll end up crashing and burning. We don’t wanna crash and burn. We wanna go places. That’s the question, though. Where do we wanna go from here? Well, we wanna go where we haven’t gone before and bring Long Beach to Cal State Long Beach. I know what you’re thinking: “Alex, we’re already in Long Beach.” Yeah, I know but that doesn’t mean we necessarily know Long Beach all that well. Our college campus isn’t exactly in the middle of a bustling urban center; we’re way off to the side of the city. On top of that, a good amount of us are commuters and have no ties to Long
Beach other than the fact that we attend this institution. That’s why we’re going to do what we can to bring more community-related news and features to you, so you can get to know the city you’re spending so much time in. We’ve already started doing this in our Food and Community pages. Our editors for those sections are working tirelessly to bring you content that’ll get you interested in our surrounding areas. We’ll be putting in work on pushing this a bit more across our other sections over the next couple of weeks. Ultimately, our end goal is to make the Union Weekly more than just another campus newspaper. We want to be read all across Long Beach and the surrounding cities and towns. And why stop there? We wanna go across the state and across the nation. That’s why we’ll be using our new Medium blog to post more content on a regular basis. The hope is that using a blogging site will help us get our brand out there and get more people interested in reading what we have to say. But before we get that far, we need all of you to help us gain some traction. Tell your friends to pick up a copy of our print edition. Have them follow us on social media and read our articles on our main website and at Medium. That’s not going to happen in one week though. This week we want to talk to you about something a bit more timely — the anniversary of 9/11. It’s a big deal this year because it’s the 15th anniversary of the devastating attacks. That’s a considerable amount of time; enough time for a teenager to start learning about it after not having lived through it. For us, 9/11 is a big topic of conversation in the office for that exact reason. There’s a divide between the people that remember the world before and those that don’t. For example, I take it pretty seriously
even though I wasn’t personally affected by it. In contrast, there’s some people in the office who are too young to remember it and don’t understand why I get wound up about it. This was such an interesting concept to us that we decided to we would have a couple of writers talk about it to compare the viewpoints in writing. How has the world changed? How do we remember that date? These are some of the questions they try to answer. Hopefully it’s as interesting to you as it is to us. While the feature is a bit more serious than usual, the rest of the paper will balance it out. In Athletics, you’ll get a chance to read about the rise of eSports and the lack of coverage of the Paralympics. In Travel, you’ll get to read about Yung Bailey’s family trip to Iowa and Distribution Manager Chris’s yearning for adventure. In Culture, there’s a nice profile about a fashion student that’s looking to make waves in the industry. And of course, we’ve got reviews of the latest TV shows, movies, and albums in Entertainment and Music. Anyway, that’s it for this week. Thank you for sticking around ‘til the very end. It means a lot to me that you would want to read this many words. This will (hopefully) be the last time you see this wall of text. Sam is coming up with a new style guide for us so we’ll be rolling out a new look soon. Until then, this is what I’m working with, so thank you.
Ramos P.S: DID YOU GUYS SEE DRAKE!?!?
COVER DESIGN BY: Sam Orihuela 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
@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 claims of its advertisers. Grievance procedures are available in the Associated Students business office.
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Opinions
Acting Out of Fear What 9/11 meant for hate crimes By Sylvana Uribe Community Editor In roughly three of my classes this semester, my professors have posed the same question: “are you guys too young to remember 9/11?” No, I remember it perfectly. Its aftermath taught me the dangers of acting out of fear. It was the first time I was introduced to the word “terrorist.” At six years old, I couldn’t connect the billowing clouds of smoke or dazed faces covered in debris with the realities of the situation. All I could process was that every day felt tense and hostility toward people whose skin was not much darker than my own intensified. What I was most troubled by was how the pain of the events manifested itself into lashing out against those who fit people’s idea of the “enemy.” I’d eventually come to learn that this behavior is deeply rooted in American history. This was the Pearl Harbor of the 21st century and the masses needed to direct their anguish, tears and anger somewhere else.
Photo by A. Yee (Flickr).
These sentiments were the kindling thrown in to fuel the fire of Islamaphobia. Balbir Singh Sodhi was the first to lose his life in a post-9/11 hate crime. Residing in Arizona, Sodhi was shot and killed as he arranged American flags outside of the gas station he worked at. His killer justified his beliefs of shooting “towel-heads” because he was a “patriot and an American.” Fifteen years later, the antagonization of actual or assumed Muslims in this
country continues. Does the name Ahmed Mohamed ring a bell? Last year, he was arrested for bringing a homemade clock to school, which his teachers assumed was a hoax bomb. Solidarity against the racial profiling directed toward Mohamed was shown on social media through “#IStandWithAhmed,” and brought to the forefront the prevalence of Islamaphobia in today’s society. Several of those concepts are rooted
in Orientalism, which has shaped Western views of Eastern countries. Orientalism categorizes those in the East as exotic and devoid of structure. These roots are what have painted the people in these regions as barbaric aggressors who only understand concepts laced with violence and death. Fear is rooted in the very things we don’t understand. Fear centered around a society is what has led to the harassment of women on beaches for wearing burkinis. It’s what makes agents at airport keep a closer eye on some passengers more than others. It’s what led to Hollywood casting darker actors as suicide bombers or enemies in their films. It’s what fuels supremacist politicians to enter office and dismantle a society. Sept. 11 isn’t remembered for the sake of keeping this wound open. It is remembered as a moment in American history where time stood still. A time where we didn’t know what tomorrow would entail. We’ve spent the past 15 years picking up the pieces, yet there are voices invading the mainstream calling for a ban of Muslims and denying its existing issues with race. There is still so much more to mend. So yes, I do remember 9/11.
What We Have “In Common” with Alicia Keys To makeup or to #NoMakeup? By Elizabeth Campos Contributor No one ever thinks that someone as beautiful as Alicia Keys would feel the same insecurities we all battle from our teenage years all the way into our 20s. Being a public figure, she’s under the common rule of having to look perfect and feel amazing, or at least pretend to. Keys, however, recently wiped off the pretty-in-pink hues and glitter from the glamorous life and introduced “#NoMakeup” in a personal essay “Time to Uncover,” which she published in Lenny, a weekly online feminist newsletter. Keys makes clear in her article that the insecurity and pressure of looking f lawless does not end in high school and assures that while in the Hollywood world, she too has reached a threshold in which she accepts her bare beauty. In “Time to Uncover” she writes, ‘‘I don’t want to cover up anymore. Not my face, not my mind, not my soul, not my thoughts, not my dreams, not my struggles, not my emotional growth. Nothing.”
Well that’s a Aside from the gold whole lot to tones, though, I don’t cover. use makeup to cover Maybe my emotional it’s because growth. I’m not Keys also under the wrote that Hol ly wood she “would spotlight, approach things but if you feel differently this like makeup time” regarding completely strips her image and allow you from all you are, her real self, as is, to come then there’s something through. Photo by Intel Free Press wrong. And that’s really what it I understand that she’s comes down to. trying to send a positive message about To approach things differently is natural beauty, that I agree with. But for subjective. Even when I wear makeup or do others, make up highlights and adds an my hair in a way different from the usual, I extra oomph to all they are. feel much more comfortable with little or Sometimes I go a little extra on the no makeup. bronzer and highlighter to have the To me, makeup has never been a thing natural light make me look radiant, and I can’t live without. Those who know me it works. know that I wear minimal make up and
that I’m far from being an expert on the contour and highlight realm. In fact, winged eye liner is still pretty difficult for me to achieve. When I scroll down on Instagram and see makeup gurus, part of me wants to learn how to make eyebrows look “on fleek.” The other part me of thinks of the irony of “no-makeup” looks. For other people, however, it means another thing. Whether you’re supporting a local brand or an organic makeup brand, it all comes down to how you feel. It doesn’t need to be one side or the other; it’s not black or white. Enhance your beauty. Highlight it with glitter or coconut oil, go nude or Ruby Woo, let the wings of your eyeliner guide you. If that’s what makes you feel comfortable, go ahead. But keep in mind that paint will not change who you are. You shine more from within than from the pigments you apply on your skin.
Community
Club Spotlight: Latinos in Media Getting acquainted with the National Association of Hispanic Journalists With over 300 clubs calling Cal State Long Beach home, the possibilities can be a little overwhelming. Students may not be aware of a club that could potentially be a perfect fit for them. The goal of this new feature series, Club Spotlight, is to shine a light on these wonderful organizations and how they contribute to our CSULB community. Founded in 1984, the National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ) seeks to create better representation and career advancement for Hispanics in news media. NAHJ is also dedicated to helping journalism students develop the skills they need to succeed in the industry. It offers scholarships, internships, job opportunities, and various workshops and conferences. Students often mistakenly believe that only Hispanics are allowed to join, but according to the president of NAHJ’s CSULB chapter, Elizabeth Campos, the organization is “about networking and meeting with other journalists regardless of color or language.” As president, Campos wants to increase NAHJ activity, present its efforts to a wider audience, and raise awareness of the large community of Hispanic journalists that many people may not know exists. She added that NAHJ gives a voice to
Words and Photos by Rachel Haering Contributor
NAHJ Vice President Roberto Rodriguez, left, recruiting students during Week of Welcome.
“Hispanic students who decide to…come out and help a greater community.” Campos and many other members came to the United States from Mexico and other Latin American countries, and to be “here in the U.S. representing [its] people”
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is something very important and exciting for her. A major, national event for NAHJ was held on August 3-7 of this year when a joint conference of the National Association of Black Journalists and the National
Association of Hispanic Journalists took place in Washington, D.C. Over 4,000 people, including journalists, media executives, public relations professionals, and students, were in attendance to network, attended to develop their professional skills and discuss issues they face as journalists of color in today’s America. Campos believes that events like these help minority groups to break stereotypes and show that they are capable of “so much more” than society often expects of them. NAHJ has several events planned for this semester, like bringing guest speakers to campus, meeting with chapters from other schools such as Cal State Fullerton, UCLA, and USC to network and fundraise, and even holding journalism-related movie nights. If you are interested in journalism, issues affecting the Hispanic community, or Hispanic representation in the media, or just want to find out more, NAHJ meets every other Tuesday from 5-6pm in USU 202. You can also contact them at csulbnahj@ gmail.com or find them on social media under the handle @CSULBNAHJ.
What Will My Reflection Show? Finding a moment of peace on campus On a campus of more than 30,000 students, it’s easy to feel crowded and claustrophobic. Stress affects us immensely and we get overwhelmed the second we enter the parking structures. Hardly do we have the time or space to sit with ourselves and breathe. Then you happen to stumble upon the USU Reflection Room and you finally have a moment of peace. Located on the third floor of the University Student Union in room 308, the Reflection Room is a place of tranquility and quiet. I found it one day with a friend in an attempt to escape the craziness of campus for a moment. Its mirrored windows gave me the impression that I shouldn’t look inside, that it looked private and intimate. It was a setting not very common on campus and a space that I soon found that I direly needed. As we entered the room, we were greeted by the cool air and numerous pillows lain across the floor. Immediately, a wave of relief washed over us and I was filled with feelings of comfort and safety. I sat there that day for an hour in peace and was able to center myself and erase the erraticism running rampant in my head. Soon, I began to make weekly trips there,
Words and Photos by Jordan Daniels Opinions Editor
The Reflection Room offers a tranquil escape from the outside world. It also accomodates people of religious backgrounds seeking a calm environment to pray.
favoring going on a Thursday or Friday to help destress myself and unwind from the shenanigans of the past week. My friend and I would even make little dates there. It was a space where we could sit with each other, sometimes hold hushed conversations as talking is not encouraged in the room. This is completely understandable considering the room’s purpose. As we continued to go, I felt an attachment to this room. It represented more than a place to relax to me; it represented a safe space where I could think, decompress, cry and sometimes all of the above. I also realized that this wasn’t its only purpose. I’ve seen many students from different religious backgrounds also come to the room to pray. It’s a sacred moment that you feel like you’re imposing on, but it’s equally beautiful to see people, who may not feel safe enough to do this anywhere else on campus, feel enough comfort to be with themselves and their god. As for you, let the Reflection Room be the space where you can engage in selfreflection, relaxation and maybe even actualization. I know I have.
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Food
Pinches Pizza Not necessarily the best f***ing pizza By Julia Velasco-Aguilar Contributor As a pizza lover, I always follow the nearest pizza places near me on Facebook to get promotional stuff. I got a notification from Pinches Pizza—which translates from Spanish to F***ing Pizza—and it said that Thursday, Sept. 7 was their 3rd year anniversary and they were going to sell large one topping pizzas for under $5. Although I had never been to Pinches before, I had heard of it and I had been wanting to check it out for some time. I figured this was the perfect time to do so, so I decided to go and give the place a try. My excitement was compounded by the fact that I had been abstaining from pizza for some time. In fact I was so excited to try Pinches Pizza as fast as possible that I rented a car for the occasion. Since the pizzeria is off of Anaheim Street, however, I knew it was going to be hard to find parking. In the end I spent 10 minutes trying to find it and when I did, it was on a rather sketchy street. I arrived at Pinches Pizza and the first thing I noticed was the line. It was crowded, since everyone else had heard of the promotion. The second thing I noticed was the place itself. It didn’t look like my idea of a
Mexican pizzeria. There was some pretty cool pictures and decorative paintings but I didn’t get the Mexican feel. When I finally arrived to the front of the line and ordered my pizza, I was told it was going to be at least 20 minutes, which I thought it wasn’t too bad. During the waiting time, more people showed up and the place started to get really packed. I hadn’t looked at the time in a while so I looked at my phone and realized that it was past the 20 minutes and I still hadn’t been called on. I waited an additional 10 minutes for me to get my pizza and they almost gave me more than what I had paid for. I was anxious to try the pizza and I sped home full of gleeful anticipation. Unfortunately, after I opened the box and grabbed a slice, I found myself utterly disappointed. In a nutshell, the bread felt a tad old, the tomato sauce was a little too sweet for my taste, and the pepperonis were “okei.” I had really high expectations for this place, which might have been why I felt so disappointed. Some of you may have had a different experience, but from my first experience Pinches Pizza was not that impressive. I would give it 2 1/2 pinches of pizza.
Crustless Spinach and Ham Quiche
Vegan Chilaquiles
By Sylvana Uribe Community Editor
By Zach Phelps Food Editor
Now that the fall semester is in full swing, I might have developed an early case of burn out. As the lists of daily tasks grow, properly feeding myself doesn’t always take as big of a 5 eggs 1 cup of spinach, chopped 3 slices of ham, chopped 1 tablespoon of milk 1/2 teaspoon of salt 1/2 teaspoon of pepper 1/2 cup of cheddar cheese or cheese of choice
priority as it should. I put together this quiche recipe to make sure I had a guilt-free meal and an effortless way of putting together a dish with limited ingredients. A cheap, healthy meal that I can throw in the oven and cross off other to-do list items as it bakes? Yes, please.
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a pie dish with nonstick cooking spray, or ramekins. This recipe made enough to fill three ramekins. 2. Place a pan over medium heat. Add in the ham and chopped spinach and cook until the ham is lightly browned. 3. Crack the eggs into a bowl and whisk. Whisk in the milk, seasonings, cheese and spinach mixture. Pour quiche mixture into the greased pie dish or divide amongst ramekins. 4. Bake quiche for 30 minutes or until the egg has set. Let cool for 10 minutes before eating.
A popular breakfast dish throughout Mexico, chilaquiles (pronounced che-lakey-lays) are the perfect breakfast after night of tequila shots and mariachi sing-alongs, since they are both ridiculously easy to make and do a good job at soaking up whatever alcohol is left in your stomach. This dish has a particularly warm
For salsa verde: 10 tomatillos 2 garlic cloves 1 jalapeño, sliced vertically 1/4 cup cilantro 1/2 teaspoon sea salt Water For chilaquiles: Corn tortillas Sunflower or safflower oil 1 avocado, sliced Cilantro
place in my heart, since it was actually my nickname in high school, due primarily to my inability to pronounce it. While this recipe is vegan, you can make a heartier vegetarian version of this dish by simply topping the finished product with a fried egg and some crumbly cheese.
1. Place tomatillos, with husks removed, along with garlic cloves, jalapeño, cilantro, and sea salt into food processor and blend. Add water until desired consistency is reached and place aside. 2. Heat thin layer of oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat. Slice tortillas into six triangular pieces, like a pie, and spread them evenly across frying pan. Fry until golden brown on both sides and drain onto paper towels. 3. Heat salsa verde in microwave. Spread fried tortillas evenly across plate and cover with salsa. Garnish with avocado and cilantro. Serve with a side of vegan refried beans and a cup of coffee or Mexican hot chocolate and enjoy!
By Alejandro Ramos Let’s talk about Sept. 11, 2001. It was the day of the worst terrorist attack in American history. It was the day that prompted us to go to war. It was the day when fear took hold of us and began to control the way we live our lives. To put it simply, Sept. 11 was the day our world changed. At least, it changed for those of us that are old enough to remember. For us, the world changed from what seemed like a bright and happy place to a dark and somber one. Our innocence was ripped away and replaced with a sense of apprehension and weariness. We were forced to deal with constant war coverage and fear mongering that we didn’t understand at the time. Over time, we became desensitized, but we haven’t forgotten what it was like to live through the transition. Then there are those of us who are too young to remember any of this. For them, 9/11 exists in the history books as a date that happened before their time. The changes that we went
through were just constants in their lives. They know only the world after the fact and struggle to understand why the rest of us make such a big deal about a day in September. These groups meet and interact everyday in the same world but carry differing views from each other. The fact is that even though we were all affected by the 9/11 attacks, we each have our own stance on it. Some of us think back with melancholy while others rely on humor to cope with the gravity of the memory of what happened. Now, on the 15th anniversary of 9/11, two of our writers look back with the same question: “How do I remember it? How did it affect me?” One remembers the day clearly and has felt the shift in the way the world works, while the other knows only the world that came after. Despite their contrasting starting points, both of their perspectives meet somewhere in the middle in agreement of the impact 9/11 had on our lives.
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FEATURE
The World Trade Center Towers after the September 11 plane collisions.
By Andrew Linde “On September 11, terrorists tried to change America forever. Well, they succeeded.” - ‘Main Street, U.S.A.’ television advertisement I remember what it was like to live in a world before the terrorist attacks on 9/11. I may seem too young to remember, but I do. At 27 years old, I’ve been lumped in with millennials, but I don’t feel like one. Millennials don’t understand what it was like to be changed by that day. I’m certainly not saying that I personally woke up on the twelfth of September and, at 12 years old, felt the difference in culture and society. But I remember when airport security didn’t involve machines that could scan every inch of your body. I remember when terrorists and the NSA weren’t common plots in television shows. On the week of July 4, 2002, the Ad Council ran a Campaign for Freedom. Among those ads was one that depicted an all-American street lined with porches. The narrator intoned, “On September 11, terrorists tried to change America forever.” The screen then went black for a second before fading up on the same street covered in American flags. The narrator concluded, “Well, they succeeded.” I remember watching this commercial and marvelling at it.
I was prepared for ads about cereals (Coooooookie Crisps!), vitamins (I’m a Flintstones kid!), and TV shows (T-GI-F!). But this was something entirely different. This was an ad for...America. An ad for patriotism. I’m not saying it isn’t in this country’s history to put out ad campaigns for patriotic reasons, but this ad wasn’t compelling citizens to buy war bonds or volunteer for service. The ad was selling America to Americans. There was this idea that we allowed some otherness into the country and that we needed to regain our true self. But they never said that out loud. Initial reactions to seeing the news footage or those who were in New York at the time included witnesses saying it looked “unreal.” That the kind of destruction that occurred was like something out of a movie. And yet, in the next fifteen years films and the film industry would react by creating even bigger spectacles and world-ending CGI. While this example was 12 years after the fact, the ending of Star Trek Beyond very much invoked memories of 9/11. The villain was a known enemy of the Federation who was attacking them for everything they stood for. He crashed a ship into the heart of a bustling city to cause the most collateral damage as possible. And one of the final scenes took
place a year after the attack, when they were rebuilding and commemorating those who lost their lives. We also never would have had a proper villain in Iron Man 3 if it wasn’t for Osama Bin Laden. The Mandarin and his terrorist group in the Marvel series was definitely inspired by the Al-Qaeda leader. While certainly the original comic character of the Mandarin was inspired by racially insensitive Asian stereotypes, the new iteration of this villain was a play on the leader in a cave, sending ominous transmissions into the world with threats of attack. 9/11 has inspired countless films and television shows. I can’t imagine Showtime’s Homeland or the popularity of Fox’s 24 without the culture that came from the tragedy of that September morning. The wars and people who were pulled into the attacks also inspired several films, including the Oscar-nominated Zero Dark Thirty. That film showed how one woman made it her mission to capture or kill Osama Bin Laden. Besides the entertainment industry, 9/11 affected internet culture. 9/11 truthers weren’t just people shouting on street corners, but people who wormed their way onto Facebook and influence our friends and family. From those who claim that “jet fuel can’t melt steel beams” or to those that say “Bush did 9/11,” there are many questions to be asked and answers that don’t satisfy everyone. And certainly, these have entered the world of memes with people making images that say “Bush did” other things,
such as Harambe (the Cincinnati zoo gorilla that was shot when a child fell into his cage). Are the people making these jokes part of the truther movement or think that they’re dumb enough to make fun of? Are these jokes perpetuating the ideas of government conspiracy or making like of them? I’m not sure the meme sharers are even thinking that far; they just laugh, click like or share, and move on. I had not read anything that captured how I feel about 9/11 until I read a short story called “Twilight of the Superheroes” by Deborah Eisenberg. The story follows several different points of view leading up to and directly after the planes crashed into the World Trade Center in New York. The people in the story aren’t the most important people and are not even directly involved with the World Trade Center. But the story perfectly captures the feeling of loss and change that resulted from society’s perception of and reaction to the attacks. America changed on 9/11. The world changed. To say otherwise is false. The world wasn’t necessarily better beforehand, advancements in technology and society becoming more accepting of minority cultures certainly makes today better than any day in the 90s, but it has forever been changed. And being able to remember an event happening that is now considered historical enough to be taught in schools is strange. All of history had to be experienced once, and I was alive and remembering it all on 9/11.
FEATURE
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Victims of the September 11 attack according to the flight 93 transcript.
By Bailey Mount There is a memory, fuzzy and faded like the carpet I sit on everyday before school. It’s early, too early in the morning for a five-year-old child to remember anything past what she’s eating for breakfast. Probably cereal. The television doesn’t have its usual cartoons. Instead, it has two planes crashing into two buildings. The buildings burn. They fall. This happens over and over and over again, this clip of two buildings falling, so much so that I quickly become disinterested. I don’t know where they are. I don’t know why I’m watching this. And I don’t know why my parents don’t want me to go to school today. It’s Sept. 11, 2001 and fifteen years later, I’m still clueless as to how the world changed when the twin towers fell. For me, the world I live in is shaped by the events that happened and the ripple effect that they caused. For me, there is no “pre-9/11” world; there is only the world I grew up in - a world of fear. 9/11 was the first major attack on the US mainland. It was the greatest loss of life in American history, with 2,973 people dying in the attacks that occurred in Pennsylvania, Washington D.C., and New York. Fifteen years and three wars later, the number of dead U.S. soldiers has more than tripled that, according to Defense Casualty System Analysis reports. But I grew up seeing it as a meme.
Why? Because by the time I was old enough to learn about it in history textbooks, it was old enough to be in history textbooks. By the time I was in high school, the Sept. 11 attacks had taken their place in history alongside Pearl Harbor and World War II. I was learning about a time in history I was technically present for, but wasn’t personally affected by. As a result, my world was one where such a tragedy could be laughed about. According to Amanda Hess in her Slate article, “Bin Laden Walks Into a Bar: why teenagers love making jokes about 9/11,” this was not uncommon for my age demographic. We joked about it, she said, because we were trying to make light of the situation and, in our own way, cope. What did we have to cope with? There has never been a time in my remembered life that my country has not been at war in the Middle East. Soldiers have been dying in some far off place as long as I can think back. There have always been shadows, always been things to look out for and watch
out for. People could never be trusted people who looked a certain way, even less so. If anything, this irreverence stemmed not from cruelty, but from the loss of
“...by the time I was old enough to learn about it in history textbooks, it was old enough to be in history textbooks.” a world we completely missed out on because of one violent act. So what did the Sept. 11 attacks do? They created a generation that lost their innocence and a subsequent generation - my generation - that simply grew up without it. If you asked me what the world was like before the Sept. 11 attacks, I would tell you what everyone else says - that it was safer. Ignorant perhaps in its naivete, but trusting. The only thing is that it was safer for me because I wasn’t old enough to worry about anything besides the fact that other kids didn’t like playing with me.
The attacks did not affect me personally. I did not lose anyone. I did not know any of the almost 3,000 people who died that day halfway across the country, nor did I know the almost 7,000 that have followed them since. All I see are the reverberations of it in the world that helped raise me. Now, being older and understanding the gravity of what happened that day, that makes me sad. I missed out on a world that would have been much different and might have made me much different, had I been older. Instead, this is all I know. It’s Sept. 9, 2016 and it’s still early, too early in the morning for even a twenty-year-old to remember anything past what she’s eating for breakfast. The television is showing the same clips again. The buildings burn. They fall. Now, I know where they are. I know why I’m watching this. But I still don’t know how the world changed.
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Music
From the Echoplex and Regent to the Novo
Ravyn Lenae performing “Blossom Dearie” during her set.
A Soulection show lineup goes from iffy to mind-blowing Words and Photos by Anna Elaine Abella Contributor On the evening of Sept. 3 at the Novo by Microsoft, Soulection curated a much bigger show than usual. When I first saw the flyer with the lineup, I must say I was pretty surprised. I felt hesitant at first because there were a lot of names that I didn’t recognize. It felt like I was playing Russian Roulette with music. Throw me into a pit of uncertainty and surprises. And let me tell you, wow. The lineup itself was a crazy cool mix. In some ways, I thought it was poetic in a weird way. By the way, I was right in front. After seeing Ravyn Lenae live, I can’t stop listening to her new album — which of course she performed a few songs from. Her voice is different. She acts different. I noticed that she never really kept eye contact with the people in the crowd. She was literally in her own world. She looked down, and when she talked, she was quick and quiet. She was awkward in a seductive way. She danced seductively when she sang. She was a paradox; it’s like she didn’t want the attention on her but at the same time she did. Her voice reminds me of a mix of Corinne Bailey Rae and perhaps Erykah Badu. Deffie and Oshi. Out of all the shows I’ve gone to, this was the craziest set I’ve gone to. They made the whole building shake. I’ve never even heard of these DJs until they came live. This was my favorite set. After dancing about an hour straight, my shirt was soaked in sweat. I felt disgusting. But I didn’t care, the music just made you forget about everything.
What made this set fun was that both these DJs would go crazy with us. They would step away from the table and start dancing too. On the ride home, I immediately told my brother to start playing Deffie and Oshi songs. Andre Power played next. Two things happened during his set. First, Deffie and Oshi came off stage and literally danced with the crowd. Second, towards the end of the show, the song “Pony” came on, as soon as the first lyrics came on, Ginuwine came out. He proceeded to go down toward the pit and I got to hug Ginuwine. I cried inside. The freak and the 7th grader in me were belting out the lyrics to his song. Joe Kay played last. He had a different style. It was more flowy and less “turn-up” music. I’m not sure how to really describe it but it sounded like better elevator music that would be playing at a high-end hotel in Ibiza — and I’m saying this the nicest way possible. My brother and I noticed that he was really trying to experiment new rhythms and get people on game with his style. Respect to him; it’s as if he’s trying to find himself in music and find a signature. Overall, it was a great show and it felt like a wonderful way to start the semester. It’s like I let out all of my summer party self out and now it’s time to get to business. I loved the new music that Soulection is trying to introduce in the world. Look out for Soulection Music Festival 2017.
Dave B. singing along “International Players Anthem” by UGK ft. ANDRE 3000.
Mars Today performing a snippet of “Summatime Fine.”
(Left to right) Oshi, Deffie, The Whooligan, and Andres Uribe setting up.
Deffie(left) and Oshi(middle) setting up for their performance after Andre Power(right).
Joe Kay plerforming during his set.
Music
A DAY TO REMEMBER PRESENTS:
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A THROWBACK TO THE “ HOMESICK” DAYS “Bad Vibrations” puts ADTR into a better direction By Kaila-Marie Hardaway Music Editor A Day to Remember is a band I’ve always held near to my heart. In 13 years of making music, ADTR has always created music incorporating a combination of pop-punk and hardcore tunes. In the beginning of summer, they announced that they would be releasing their sixth studio album. I was instantly stoked and patiently awaited its release. On Friday, Sept. 2, ADTR released their album, “Bad Vibrations,” and it is everything I hoped for it to be — diverse, balanced, and powerful. When ADTR first began releasing singles from the album, I was slightly hesitant. Singles such as “Paranoia,” “Bullfight,” and “We Got This” all represented very different sounds, and I was very uncertain on how these diverse songs would come together on a single album. Somehow, it works. Each song is very different—they seamlessly flow between hardcore, guitardriven songs, to lighter songs featuring signature chants and lead singer Jeremy Mckinnon’s wide-ranged vocals. Despite its diverse track list, “Bad Vibrations” resembles many characteristics from their third studio album, “Homesick.”
Therefore, if you are a fan of that album, you will most likely dig “Bad Vibrations.” One of my favorite songs, “Reassemble,” displays the grit and power that can be traced to older ADTR tracks. It arguably has one of the most interesting starts to the song, as it begins with a chant of the chorus’ main lyrics, “I have come undone / Desperate and out of touch / Fall when I should run / Am I worth a reassemble?” The lyrics, overall, convey a sense of falling apart and drowning in your own self-doubt and depression. The song then
instantly goes into evil-sounding guitar riffs and powerful vocals that carry on throughout the entire song. The song’s ending is what resonated with me most; it ends at a seemingly random, slow tempo which resonates with the listener and makes the song that much more powerful. This song is one that will be on repeat for a while. “Exposed” is another song that stood out to me on this album. This is easily one of the hardest songs on the album and one of ADTR’s hardest songs in a while. When played
live, this will hands down be the song to mosh to. The song is a head banger, with deep brutal, vocals carried throughout the entire song. It also represents very politically-driven lyrics, which is a theme that runs through many of the songs on “Bad Vibrations.” Jeremy Mckinnon ends the song by singing, “Don’t believe what the pacifist tells you / No war, no peace.” Ironically, this song is followed by “Bullfight,” which begins as a much mellower tune. This odd, yet effective, transition makes the ending of “Exposed” even more compelling. This eleven-track album displays a number of great tunes that flow perfectly together despite each song’s variation. While ADTR does not completely adhere to their original sound, they successfully incorporate both dirty and clean vocals and seemingly update their well-known, and beloved, sound. With the incorporation of powerful vocals, signature post-hardcore breakdowns, and meaningful lyrics, “Bad Vibrations” is a killer album.
Sia is “The Greatest” #Weareyourchildren leads to a single that may be an instant hit By Martha Giron Quijano Staff Writer Sia’s latest single, “The Greatest,” came as a surprise when the singer released it over Labor Day weekend along with a new music video. This is the first song for her eighth upcoming album, “We Are Your Children.” The introduction is a dead giveaway that it’s a Sia song. It has a very similar beat to “Cheap Thrills” from her album “This Is Acting.” The lyrics are very simple and repetitive, making it easy to sing along to within a few times listening to it. It definitely has a lot of radio play potential as most of her songs do. The official song also features Kendrick Lamar, which added a tasteful flare to the upbeat tune. His verse provides a good break from the repetitiveness of the chorus without straying too far from the message conveyed through the music. The beat along with the lyrics has a positive feel to it despite the
eerie music video and possible meaning behind it. Many have speculated that the music video is a tribute to the victims of the Orlando nightclub shooting that happened on June 12, 2016, according to Billboard. Although Sia has not made an official statement nor has she confirmed the rumors, it is clear what was intended to be shown in the video. The music video features dancer, Maddie Ziegler, who starred in many of Sia’s music videos before. The video starts off with the hashtag #WEAREYOURCHILDREN followed by an opening shot of lifeless bodies in a rundown building. A very ominous sound sets the tone for its dark theme. Ziegler is seen in her Sia-esque wig, covered in dirt, wiping her face until rainbow streaks spread down her cheeks as if she was crying.
The lifeless bodies suddenly come to life in a synchronized dance as the beat kicks in. Scene after scene, they are shown trying to run out of the building with Ziegler leading them out. All of the dancers are of different ages and it has been noted that there are 49 of them, the exact same count as those who died in the Orlando shooting, according to Variety. The song along with its music video is powerful even though it has such simplicity to it. The lines “don’t give up, I won’t give up” and “I’m free to be the greatest, I’m alive” are easily relatable to anyone who listens to it, but it definitely provides impact to what many believe the intention of this video was. We will certainly hear more from Sia with her new album coming out soon and “The Greatest” is the greatest preview for it.
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Culture
Making the World a Better [Looking] Place Showcasing one of CSULB’s most innovative and stylish students Words by Madison Gallegos Culture Editor
Photos by Natalie Grant Contributor
“Buy the pieces that make you gasp.” These are the words CSULB’s Jazz Gabriell lives by. You may not know her name, but if you’ve been here long enough I’m sure she’s caught your eye. As a graduating Fashion Merchandising student, she is constantly showcasing her innovative style and it’s her mission to spread it across campus. It’s difficult to narrow Gabriell into one identity—doing so would be selling her short. She’s first and foremost a stylist, but she’s also a blogger, an innovator, and overall fashion enthusiast. Her on-going project is her blog, GorgByGabriell, where she flaunts her bold, unique pieces. Taking inspiration from queen Rihanna and stylist Monica Rose, she creates looks for every occasion and every emotion. She uses her clothes—and their promotion through social media—to express her individuality, provoking confidence and, let’s be real, perfection. The site not only displays her exceptional fashion sense, but also her talent and credibility as a stylist. Whether you’ve been fervently following New York Fashion Week or you can’t tell the difference between teal and green, Gabriell’s your girl. No matter who you are, you have to wear clothes and she’s the one you want to go to for style advice.
The blog is just her jumping off point to showcase to the world wide web what she can do. Styling is where her passions lie. While she’ll go “wherever the wind takes [her],” she hopes that’s where she lands. If you like what you see—and I don’t really see how you couldn’t—Gabriell wants to start giving free makeovers to people on campus in order to keep building her portfolio. Yeah, that’s right, she wants to make you look bomb. For free. See for yourself how talented she is; you’ll look and feel better than ever. This is an opportunity I wouldn’t pass up, friends. In the spirit of Fashion Week, Gabriell shares some tips for looking your best this Fall. Among her list of essentials are thigh high boots, hats, FURS, and trench coats. “I know they’re not for LA weather, but if I could I would wear a trench coat every day,” she says. Her favorite colors this season are olive, burgundy, black, and taupe. As for her go-to brands, she says she doesn’t have any—and you shouldn’t either. She does a lot of in-depth online searching to ensure her image is unique, and adds that “that’s where you get exclusivity.” For more of Gabriell, check out and subscribe to her blog at gorgbygabriell.com and follow her Instagram gorgbygabriell. To set up a style appointment, you can contact her at jazz@gorgbygabriell.com
Bursting at the Seams
Culture
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Shedding light on the extravagant works of Colleen Atwood Words by Amanda Dominguez-Chio Culture Editor Photos by Pinterest One of the most successful costume designers is Colleen Atwood. She’s famous for collaborating with Tim Burton on several of his films, including “Edward Scissorhands” and his most recent film “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children.” She’s produced vibrant and lavish costumes over the years, known most notably for her period costumes. Recently, however, Atwood has created costumes for the hit CW shows “Arrow” and “Supergirl.” The first time I heard of Colleen Atwood was for her work in “Memoirs of a Geisha.” I found the costumes beautiful and visuallystunning. The kimonos contained intricate patterns and designs, requiring a lot of research, skill, and attention to detail. The best part was how Atwood used colors to reflect the characters’ personality. Gong Li’s character Hatsumomo, for example, wore dark and subdued colors to convey her vile personality, while the kimonos for Sayuri, played by Ziyi Zhang, used a lighter palette to reflect her ethereal and delicate character. Born in Yakima, Washington, Atwood studied painting at Cornish College of the Arts before moving to New York. Prior to moving to New York, however, Atwood did work as a fashion consultant in Seattle. She attended NYU’s film
school in the 1980s where her interests in costume design developed. Atwood began her career as a costume designer with small projects, making her debut in costume design with the film “Firstborn.” She earned her first Academy Award nomination with Gillian Armstrong’s “Little Women.” Atwood has been nominated for eleven Academy Awards for Best Costume Design, successfully winning the prestigious award three times for “Chicago,” “Memoirs of a Geisha,” and “Alice in Wonderland.” Aside from creating costumes in film and television, Atwood designed the costumes for two of the music videos of the band My Chemical Romance, “Welcome to the Black Parade” and “Sing.” I thought of Colleen Atwood the other day when a few of us were listening to the “Chicago” soundtrack in the office. Aside from the music and lyrics, the costumes created a memorable impression on me when I first saw the movie. Also, her costume work in “Snow White and the Huntsman” also shows her high-level of craftsmanship shown on the dresses worn by Charlize Theron. I admire costume designers who show elaborate and detailed designs. Atwood’s work is an excellent example of hard work and attention to detail.
(Counterclockwise from the top): “Memoirs of a Geisha,” “Snow White and the Huntsman,” Colleen Atwood on the set of “Chicago,” “Alice in Wonderland,” and “Edward Scissorhands.”
14
Entertainment
Love and Other Filth By Peter R. Clark Entertainment Editor
“Wetlands” Length: 1 hr 49 mins Director: David Wnendt Starring: Carla Juri, Christoph Letkowski, Marien Kruse, Meret Becker, Axel Milberg, Peri Baumesiter
Not That Childish By Andrew Linde Multimedia Manager “Atlanta” Episode 1 and 2 of Season 1 can be seen on FX Now. Episode 3 airs Sept. 13 at 10pm on FX Starring: Donald Glover, Brian Tyree Henry, Keith Stanfireld, Zazie Beetz
Sometimes when I’m browsing Netflix, movies with interesting posters catch my eye. Even if I’ve never heard of the film, I’ll click on it and give it a shot. After reading the desciption for the film “Wetlands,” I had no idea what I was getting myself into. After 20 mins of the film, I was near close to turning it off. I’m glad I didn’t. “Wetlands” is about a young girl who hates her upbringing and instead of being a clean freak, she does the most disgusting things imaginable. This includes, but is not limited to, rubbing her vagina across a digusting public restroom toilet. This was about where I turned off the film and reassessed my life, but I instead decided to press on. The movie starts to become more
interesting once she enters the hospital, a result of anal fissures from shaving her hemorrhoid-ridden anal region. Did I mention this was a good film? It is. “Wetlands” is, at its core, a love story.
After much clamoring and suspense, Donald Glover has returned to television with “Atlanta.” For those who are used to seeing Glover as the lovable Troy Barnes in “Community,” get ready to see an entirely different side of the actor. Not only does Glover act in the series, he creates it based on his experience in the music scene as Childish Gambino. The first episode opens with a literal bang as one character shoots another. Despite this, the show can be described as a comedy that is aware of the social situation that its characters are in. Glover plays Earn, a young man who has dropped out of college, is supporting his baby daughter, and is not on the best terms with her mother, Van (played by newcomer Zazie Beetz). Van and Earn seem happy, but there’s an underlying trouble between them.
Earn is an extremely relatable character. He’s a bit too smart for the world he lives in, but not smart enough to get out of there. He has familial ties to Atlanta, and in the first episode he wants to make use of those to rise
While in the hospital, she develops a crush on a male nurse and tries everything to get him to notice her as more than just a patient. She prolongs her stay at the hospital by saying
up above his circumstances. Brian Tyree Henry plays Earn’s cousin, a new hip-hop artist who calls himself Paper Boi. Earn offers to manage his career, but
that she isn’t ready to go home yet. She’s lying, but she has a reason to. It gets to the point where she is being told that she has to leave. In a desperate effort to stay, she reopens her anal wounds. The scene is graphic, but needed. The end result is her staying longer and thus allowing her more opportunies to either woo the male nurse or get her parents back together. “Wetlands” was a surpising film that I suggest everyone see. While at time rather disgusting, it has a great story and an interesting ending. If you can stomach some of the disgusting parts, I suggest watching it.
Rating: 4 out 5 anal fissures
Paper Boi is hesitant. There’s some reason why he and Earn’s parents don’t fully trust him.This kind of character depth is fantastic and feels real. My favorite character, without a doubt, is Darius (played by Keith Stanfield, probably best known for playing Snoop in “Straight Outta Compton”). Darius is Paper Boi’s good buddy who he gets high with all the time. The more non-sequitur jokes come from Darius, like musing how if everyone used rats as cell phones, there’d be at least five ratphones per person in New York City. The situations that the characters are in feel fully developed and more like what I’d expect in the season finale, rather than the first few episodes. If they’re starting here, it’s going to be a wild ride. And I want to see if Earn can make it in Atlanta. Rating: 4 out 5 ratphones
Travel
Blood is Thicker than Corn
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There is no mourning when a family comes together Words and photos by Bailey Mount Managing Editor This is not a sad story – although it certainly started as one. My great-grandparents would only be buried together. My great-grandfather died first; it took great-grandma seven years to catch up with him. When she finally died, we mourned, packed up, and flew her home for their joint funeral service. She talked about Iowa a lot. Iowa was where my paternal family had taken root and buried itself deep into the community. Iowa was where she and great-grandpa had met. It was where he built their house, where she had my grandpa. My grandpa had met my grandma there and, many years later, I
was baptized in the same church they all got married in. It was where everything started. It only made sense that things would end there. It’s crazy to say but until we touched down, I was certain Iowa was only ever going to be a fairytale. It wasn’t real. In the darkened airport, my brother and I made corn puns to pass the time. Iowan children were called kernels, dumb stuff like that. We were just nervous. Who were we going to meet? And God, how awkward was it going to be? I met my aunt and uncle – terms used here only because they’re easier to explain
A collapsed bridge signified how long the surrounding small towns had been in the area.
and because I now consider them more family than actual aunts and uncles – in a bar, surrounded by their biker gang. I was skeptical at first. These people were related to my great-grandma? I watched them smoke and laugh at my parent’s jokes. I watched my mother smile for the first time in days and my dad finally relax. Even my brother would crack the occasional smile. The next day, I met their daughters, one of whom lived right next door to them. The eldest lived just down the street and soon, I was babysitting her kids. Then the day of the funeral came. The
church that meant so much to my family was where the service took place. I looked around and saw my aunt, wearing a brightly colored dress and daring anyone to shame her for it. My uncle smelled like beer and cigarettes when he hugged me and told me not to cry. Back in Iowa, I realized that this was what family was. People who could understand and acknowledge that you were gone for seventeen years, but still greet you and welcome you home as if you had never left. I lost a great-grandmother this year, but gained an entire family in return as her last gift to me. It was the best thing she left me with.
My great-grandparent’s house in Grand Junction, Iowa, built by my great-grandfather himself.
The forest around Grand Junction.
Road Trip Revelation Bringing home a memento for a lifetime By Christopher Orozco Distribution Manager If I was any more laid back, I would fall backwards. Three years ago, I traveled with a group of friends to San Diego. We were all strangers from different parts of California. Like any other friends, we all convinced each other to go on an 8 pm trip on a Thursday night. It was a recipe of stupidity and disappointment. Well, it was mostly the latter. That was because I envisioned some type of Hollywood-esque adventure—young Calikids loaded up with UV vodkas and going on an impulsive trip to nowhere. It was mainly drinking, listening to music, and chatting with each other. In retrospect, the disappointment stemmed from being sober and surrounded by drunks. As for the driver, I am sure he was on my level of disappointment.
Since it was spontaneous, the entire trip was more of a come-up-with-stuff-to-dobefore-we-head-back type of travel. First, we visited a friend’s native home. Second, we drove two blocks down and visited his friend. On that stop, we petted a tiny dog. Third, we listened to the stories of Native Americans in San Diego and the political powers that they possessed on casino territories. Fourth, we decided to visit a casino. Viejas Casino (Casino Old Ladies) was literally a casino full of old ladies. You can see them sitting on the slot machines, sipping on liquored fill bucket glasses, and chain smoking cigarettes. I’m probably exaggerating, but you can probably take a sniff and manage to get a first hand smoke. Shortly after becoming familiar with the
Illustration by John Mueller Graphics Illustrator vicinity, we decided to eat within the casinoowned restaurant. We ordered the American usual: fries, hamburgers, spaghettimeatballs, chicken, and pork. After paying the expenses, I realized that I could make a family meal of good pasta under fifteen dollars rather than pay for a single platter of it with a drink. I kept the receipt as a memento. A reminder to not be reckless with my poor financial investment of my college grants. After our driver won poker, and the rest of my friends entered the depressing sober phase, we got into our vehicle and headed home; it was already 4 am. On the drive back, people began to fall asleep one by one and resting on each other’s shoulders. I stayed awake. Night trips remind me of my father’s travels to my aunt’s house in San Luis Obispo. She
lived on a hill surrounded by fields of farms and winery. The nostalgia was strong as I stared at the full moon. I felt a bit sad, knowing that those days were over with my father. He had not died. They were just over. If I was drinking, I am sure I would have cried. To avoid the thoughts, I looked toward the dark blue ocean. Past the cliffs of the 5 freeway, I fell in love. A full moon swam across the black waves as it glittered its moonlit scales. It was my first time seeing such a scene. Since then, I always enjoyed looking at the ocean on a full moon. Whenever a full moon rises, it is like meeting an old friend. A reminder of my childhood memories with my father and a reminder to this silly travel to San Diego. It is surreal how mediocre traveling with friends and family can root strong emotions within yourself.
Illustration by Allison Meyer Multimedia Assistant
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Athletics
The Digital Playing Field CSULB, collegiate gaming holds eSport’s future
By Matthew Gozzip Athletics Editor (Top and bottom) Scenes from Beach Con 2016. (Right) Players at the 1st eSports meeting play Super Smash 4. There were members from every concentration and legion, the greatest warriors from the area assembled to challenge each other in the arena. For the time being everybody stood at peace, casually conversing strategy and exchanging tactics. They might have been cordial at the time but in a few minutes, they would wage battle with each other. 200 people, one space, all for the sake of seeing who was the best in the land. This wasn’t a mythical battleground. It was the first meeting for the eSports club on campus. Whimsical fantasy comparison aside, there is no denying the relevance of video games in popular culture. Anybody who was born in the past three decades has at the very least played an arcade game or picked up a controller for a quick game of “quell the curiosity.” As video game technology evolved over the years, social gaming culture followed suit. With more accessibility to online play and faster connection speeds, competitive gaming turned living room battles for neighborhood bragging rights into international tournaments crowning the best players in the world. This new frontier, the multi-
layered organization of tournaments by designated games, is only continuing to grow. The eSports scene holds unstoppable momentum. The eSports Association started four years ago with around 50 consistent members. At the first meeting of the fall semester, there were easily over 150 people who showed up. Cat Tompkins, the club’s president, experienced the rapid evolution of competitive gaming culture in Long Beach in a short amount of time. “I’ve been at the eSports club for three and a half years. I’ve seen the switch from ‘what is eSports’ to ‘hey this is the eSports club.’” says Tompkins. “The amount of passion and awareness for gaming has grown through the community.” Even more are expected to show up in the coming weeks. Tompkins noted that after Week of Welcome that around 200 people usually sign up for the newsletter. Last week, 400 people had already signed up. The continual rise of eSports can largely be attributed to how easy it is to pick up a controller and start playing. Compared to other sports that require years of physical fitness, eSports is accessible to everyone. Moving forward, collegiate gaming is
going to be the key to eSports’ consistent expansion into regular sports culture. “The way the industry is trending, it’s going to come down to collegiate sports in the next couple years,” says Tompkins. “I see even more growth when more events
eSports game, League of Legends, telecasted it’s world championship to an audience of 36 million viewers. That’s was the 2nd most viewed sporting event in the US last year, behind only the Super Bowl. Speaking of viewing channels, Twitch.tv,
will get regularly scheduled. This is the first time the room has been so overcrowded that we find necessity to move to a gym... we could even outgrow that.” Through collegiate eSports, organized teams from academic institutions can play against each other, much like other sports such as basketball or football. Allocating designated funds for these eSports teams would be much easier compared to the big budgets of the aforementioned sports. Even with the smaller funding, eSports can arguably make just as much as any other collegiate sport. According to a report from statistical analysis website FiveThirtyEight, around 205 million people watched or played eSports in 2014. Of this audience, 28 million viewers tuned in from Europe and North America. On average, this group will increase by 21% a year. Last year, the most popular
the preferred medium to watch eSports competitions streamed live, can have up to hundreds of thousands of viewers on average for any major event. Rejecting the legitimacy of eSports is an exercise in futility. eSports has flourished in the new age of video games, ascending to a plane of popularity that matches the interest of the most popular sports that have been around for centuries. Gaming culture continues to progress and at a pivotal time for the future of the industry, CSULB is ready to lead the horde. The general meetings for the CSULB eSports club are on Wednesdays at 6:30 pm in LA5246. (Photos from CSULB eSports Association Facebook page)