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VIKING NEWS Long Beach City College June 2, 2022 • Volume 94 • Issue 2 • Published since 1927
‘DANCE IS FOR EVERYONE’ Photo by Marlon Villa
LBCC dancers share their stories on how they’re breaking the biases of ballet
Lifestyle Page 6
NEWS
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June 2, 2022
NEWS BRIEFS
No more masks required at LBCC
On May 24, Long Beach City College updated their mask mandate, which will be effective starting June 9. The new rules include masks not being required both in an indoor or outdoor setting on campus, but with them still being recommended. The district still plans on notifying faculty, staff and students if there are any new COVID-19 cases on campus. This includes attendants of events not needing to show proof of vaccination or a COVID-19 test. The current health screening monitors will still be present on both campuses to check health screening surveys on campus. —Marlon Villa
Menstrual Equity Act takes effect
Mid-May LBCC fulfilled the Menstrual Equity Act that requires all California public schools to carry free menstrual products in restrooms by the start of the 2022-23 school semester. This bill was signed in October of 2022 and applies to California public schools in grades 6-12, California community colleges, and California state universities. Both the Pacific Coast campus and Liberal Arts campus locations started installing feminine care product dispensers throughout campus in both the women’s and men’s bathrooms. Although all bathrooms around campus now have these products available free of charge, there is still an inconsistency in regards to these machines functioning and dispensing correctly. —Shelby Tiefenthaler
Commencement speaker revealed
Writer and director Moises Zamora will be the guest speaker for the commencement ceremony taking place June 9, which was just announced exclusively to the Viking News by Superintendent-president Mike Munoz. Moises Zamora was the creator, executive Producer and co-showrunner for the Netflix series “Selena: The Series.” Zamora has contributed as a writer in shows such as American Crime and Star. In 2011, Zamora received an award for best documentary by a Mexican director at the Oaxaca film festival, for his documentary “Jovenes Vivos.” —Marlon Villa
Photo by Marlon Villa The LBCC Faculty Association and AFT Local 6108, representing classified employees, converge on the Board of Trustees meeting.
Faculty reach deal with LBCC By Sean Davis The LBCC Faculty Association and AFT Local 6108, representing classified employees, converged on the Board of Trustees meeting on May 25 to publicly lodge grievances around cost of living adjustments (COLA) and salaries they hope to resolve in negotiation with the district. The Faculty Association reached a tentative agreement with the district the following day, achieving a 6.56% COLA, a one-time $2000 stipend for off-schedule work and a number of “contract language gains,” said Suzanne Engelhardt, LBCCFA president. “Classified are at the low end of the school pay wise, which we understand, but when inflation hits badly like it is now, it hurts people paying rent, people buying food, single mothers,” said Robert Remeta, president of AFT. To highlight what they see as unfair and
substandard pay, classified employees and faculty gave comments to the board during their initial closed session. “It recently came to my attention that we have staff here that are living in their vehicles,” said Donna Coats, LAC vice president of AFT, “Originally in my speech I was going to say ‘We have safe parking for students, maybe one day soon we’ll need it for employees’ and I subsequently found out we indeed have employees parking in a lot.” The focus of most employees’ grievances to the board was around cost of living adjustment funds, or COLA. “Cost of living adjustment, which is mandated by the state, at 6.56%, is the minimum we should be working from. Any less than that, and you’re taking money out of our pocket,” Smith said. COLA funds are provided to school districts by the state and distributed by the districts themselves. “The district considers their COLA as
their money and you have to negotiate for raises,” Remeta said, “We’re just asking to keep our cost of living so we can keep paying for food and keep paying for gas.” Union leaders pointed to the school’s reserve fund as proof that the money is there to grant raises to staff. “The school is given money and there is an opportunity to help our faculty by distributing that COLA to help offset the cost of gas, food and cost of living.” Engelhardt said, “Don’t put it in the reserve, distribute it to your employees.” As negotiations continue, classified union members hope they can change how the college views them as employees. “During the pandemic, we were the ones here. There was no faculty here and when they had to go remote, they were compensated for that. We were keeping the campuses running,” Smith said, “And I’m not taking anything from (faculty), I want them to get a fair and equitable raise too.”
Plan for spending $30 million gift By Marlon Villa Investing in programs that would benefit vulnerable students and keep creating revenue for years is part of the plan that Long Beach City College is doing with the $30 million gift it received by McKenzie Scott last year. “Creating or starting new programs that would benefit the vulnerable students, provide race consciousness and equity minded practices,” said Ennette Morton, community member of the advisory group. The advisory committee took 179 suggestions, through forms from students, employees, community members and alumni to help set up a plan for the money. One of the priorities would be schol-
arships for disproportionately impacted students such as foster youth, low-income students, veterans, Native American, African American, Hispanic, Pacific Islander or students that are part of the LGBTQ+ community. Part of the recommendations made from the committee were to use $5 million for the promise program, which allows students to have two years of free tuition and scholarships for students who need it the most. This would benefit students who are from local high schools who enroll in at least 12 units at LBCC per semester. Another $5 million was recommended for strategic investments, which included Equity Innovation Grants and Institutional Priorities.
Each year up to $600,000 would be available for grants within a five year span. The Student Equity Subcommittee is currently looking into an annual process to award mini grants of up to $5,000 a year through an application process. “About $20 million a year, we should be able to average somewhere between $500,000 and $1 million a year in interest that’s made on that gift,” said Mike Munoz, superintendent president of LBCC. “Our approach collects the collective wisdom of many people on campus both students, internal faculty and staff and both community members,” Munoz said. “What I appreciate about our process is we had a very transparent process and we had a process that engaged multiple stakeholders.”
NEWS
June 2, 2022
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LBCC Pride celebrations start with flag raising By Sophia Cobb
Roughly 50 people gathered around the flagpole at the LAC on May 23 to watch a Pride flag be raised in honor of Harvey Milk Day, marking the second year the college has done this. There were several faculty members who came to show their support for the raising of the flag. One of whom was Mike Munoz, the college’s first openly gay superintendent-president. “As an openly gay man, this day is really personally meaningful for me,” Munoz said. “For me, this is a very powerful and impactful moment for us as a college to be able to recognize the power of raising a Pride flag.” The flag was raised in honor of Harvey Milk who was the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in California. It will fly throughout the month of June for Pride month. Also attending the event was Dr. Jerome Hunt, a political science professor and student equity coordinator at LBCC. He spoke openly on the challenges he faced while growing up as a Black, gay man. In his speech, Hunt emphasized the significance of social equity and how it still seems to be lacking within our society. “We must stop treating the LGBTQIA+ community as if it is a monolith. We need to acknowledge that all issues that impact the community do not affect everyone the same way. We need to embrace the rich intercultural diversity of the community and accept and advocate for all letters of the acronym once and for all,” Hunt said. Hunt also spoke about the misconceptions surrounding social equity. “Most importantly, the narrative of, ‘extending equity to one group comes at
Photo by Sophia Cobb Several students and faculty members gathered around the LAC flag pole on May 23 to watch a Pride flag be raised.
the expense of others,’ needs to be stopped once and for all, because we all stand to benefit when everyone in our society is truly equal,” Hunt said. Trustee President Uduak-Joe Ntuk also attended the event and shared his support for the raising of the flag. “We have to have visual acknowledgment and respectful events like this. We just need to remind everybody that our goal and our mission is that we are a cam-
pus for everybody, and when we say ‘all’ we mean all,” Ntuk said. Providing visual acknowledgement to LGBTQIA+ students is important, but offering the necessary resources is what will truly help them succeed in the long run, which is why the school is working to provide its students with services they may need to overcome obstacles. “We have an LGBTQ+ resource page on the LBCC website where any of us can find
out about various services and supports that exist on campus. There’s also a pronoun guide that’s there more so for faculty and staff to really help ensure that we properly identify and recognize our LGBTQIA+ students,” Hunt said. LBCC plans to continue showing its recognition for its LGBTQIA+ students and faculty by being apart of the Long Beach Pride Parade on July 10.
Long Beach helps support its struggling cannabis industry By Eli Orozco
Photo by Eli Orozco Mike Cuccia, director of community development at HAVEN dispensaries, holding a poster outside Long Beach City Hall on May 10.
Leaders in the cannabis industry along with community members rallied for cannabis reform at Long Beach City Hall on May 10. Some of the reforms demanded by the attendees were a reduction of retail taxes, a need for a fair social equity process and program, and urging the city to support state bill AB2792. The council voted unanimously on a reduction in retail taxes and to make a social equity program. The council responded positively to the future of the cannabis industry. Over the past couple of years, the industry has been demanding a reduction of taxes at all levels, arguing that “the industry is on the brink of collapse,” due to inflation, high taxes, and competition with the black market.
According to MJBiz Daily, farmers are almost out of business due to licensing fees, high cultivation taxes, and an oversupply of cultivation. Farmers are forced to offer depressed wholesale prices for their hard work, pushing them out of business. Although heavy taxation brings revenue to the city, consumers are hurt in the process as well, due to having to pay 45% of taxes out the door every time. Everyone involved in the industry is barely managing to make a profit. Those suffering the most are citizens who were victims of the War on Drugs era and are now stuck in Long Beach’s social equity pipeline program. The city accepted a $3 million social equity grant from the state in March, but the program has had one applicant accepted for the grant. At the moment, the program has 156 applicants. “Give us what we need, you have a mil-
lion-dollar (grant), and are giving 10 (applicants) $100,000 when it is half-million dollars to get in the business,” said Uriel Barrel, an upset applicant. Barrel is one of many applicants who spoke on the grievances applicants face in a failing pipeline. Councilmember Al Austin from District 9 said, “We have folks who went through the process, got their lottery reward to begin with, lost their businesses for whatever reason, and now they are coming back to be in the back of the line in the application process. I think that is counterproductive and unfair.” Austin asked the office of cannabis oversight to start prioritizing social equity applicants who went through the lottery process. The council members unanimously all agreed there needs to be changes to how the city was managing the industry.
LIFESTYLE
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June 2, 2022
1. OLVERA STREET
This historical monument has been around since the early 1820’s in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles. Olvera Street attests to the rich Mexican culture, history and traditions that still live today. There is a wide variety of the traditional Mexican foods, gift shops, and entertainment. Gina Rodriguez, a proud family business owner of Mr. Churro, Hecho con Carino, Casa Rodriguez, Marta’s Imports, Catalina’s imports, and Gina’s has a family business legacy of over one hundred years. Not only will you find the traditional gift shops and great dining, but if you get lucky and plan accordingly, you can take advantage of great traditional Mexican music, such as live female mariachi and great dining, such as La Luz del Día, El Paseo and Cielito Lindo. — Moisies Vargas
2. ACADEMY MUSEUM OF MOTION PICTURES
Photo by Sophia Cobb LA Metro A line (Blue) in downtown Long Beach. All LBCC students can now ride with LA Metro for free.
DESTINATIONS FOR SUMMER
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ong Beach City College students are now eligible for free rides with LA Metro and Long Beach Transit after the school announced a new partnership with the transportation systems. The Viking News has created a series on different locations to visit using the GoPass, which is available for students enrolled in spring, summer, and fall courses. For weekly stories, go to https://lbccviking.com/category/gopass.
Photo by Moises Vargas Gina Rodriguez, a proud family business owner of Hecho con Carino (Made with Love).
Photo by Eduardo Gomez Dorthy’s iconic ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in the film “The Wizard of Oz” made in 1939.
Find Dorothy’s iconic ruby slippers, 17th-century pre-cinema technology, and Bruce Lee’s nunchaku all under one roof. With four floors filled with attractions, the Academy Museum is enjoyable for both movie buffs and casual fans alike. There is a room with multiple TVs showing acceptance speeches from the past, surrounded with a platform of mannequins wearing dresses that were once worn by celebrities who participated in the award show. The museum also holds daily screenings of classic and modern films in the David Geffen Theater and the Ted Mann Theater. With no shortage of options, the museum has a food court and restuarants inside. — Eduardo Gomez
3. PINK’S HOT DOGS
Looking for a new spot to try in the Hollywood area? A celebrity favorite where you can get a great variety of hotdogs and drinks with an American vintage feel in the most famous city in California? The Pink family first started this family business on a pushcart back in 1939, but it has come a long way since then. Richard, Gloria, and Beverly Pink are now in charge of the famous hot dog joint which has been visited by everyone from locals, celebrities, and tourists from all over the world. Pink’s prime location has been a place many enjoy creating an atmosphere of happiness, full bellied customers and delicious smells. Pink’s is a hot spot that sells over 1,500 hotdogs and burgers a day. All over the location, you will find something to smile at. — Karina Serrano
Photo by Karina Serrano Richard Pink standing in front of Pink’s hot dogs, family owned business since 1939 in Hollywood.
June 2, 2022
LIFESTYLE
Comic books utilized in English lectures
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By Marlon Villa
Connecting comics such as ‘Watchmen’ into English lectures is part of what this English 1 professor does at LBCC to give a deeper, yet different understanding on topics being covered in class. Currently in the class, students are talking and writing rhetorical essays on the topic of racism. Thomas Price’s class will read a comic called ‘They Called Us Enemy,’ which is about how Asian Americans were taken out of their homes and locked up during WW2. Price teaches English 1 Plus at PCC and started using comic books eight years ago to attempt to give his students a better emotional connection to the topics they’re discussing. Price has seen his students benefit from using comics in his courses, as he feels that many don’t read books. As with a novel you’re just decoding the words and the meaning while moving along. “In a graphic novel you’re reading the text, your eyes are taken in the ways of the panels which affects the narrative. Decoding symbolism, like wavy lines, like does that mean something smells or it’s hot,” Price said. Among the list of comics he uses are ‘Watchmen’ to discuss vigilantism and dystopianism, ‘Daytripper’ about a man that experiences different moments in his life like his first love and marrying in his old age, and ‘Pride of Baghdad’ to discuss American adventurism in the Middle East. Lasheathe Brown is currently part of Price’s English 1 Plus course and felt connected to the course because it was different from what she normally had read in a literature course. “It brought something different to the table. It wasn’t your typical English class where you stick to a particular curriculum. Got you more interested in the reading by bringing something new to the table, to freshen your mind and to brighten your horizon,” Brown said.
Photo by Marlon Villa English 1 Plus professor Thomas Price at Pulp Fiction comics where he gets books to share with his students and use them for lectures.
Price started reading comics as a kid as a form to escape, which helped him develop some of his morals and ethics. After he was sent to military school, which he considered to be a extremely homophobic place, he started to read ‘Adventure Comic Jon Sable Freelance’ about a vigilante who solves peoples problems. By reading that series of comics, he was exposed to homosexuality for the first time and it helped him develop sympathy and empathy for people that were gay. He as-
sociates that experience with how students can benefit from graphic novels in more ways than one. Brown believes you are able to relate to the Watchmen comics more and see it in a broader aspect as it is more mature. The Watchmen and Daytripper were the comics in the class that caught Brown’s attention the most. Brown believes that this method used in Price’s English course entices you by wanting to break down the literature and
by wanting to know what it all can mean, as she feels that each panel helps you bond more with the characters. Price has gotten his students to become fans of reading graphic novels, as some of them return and tell them how they’ve continued reading them. Such as one called ‘Saga,’ which is a sort of mashup between Star Wars and Star Trek. Price supplies his students with his own comic books, or he has his students use a website called ‘Comixology.’
Fashion Club students hold first pop-up boutique By Sean Davis
The Long Beach City College Fashion Club sold their student-designed upcycled wares outside the Viking Bakery promoting values of sustainability in fashion design, drawing passersby, and even LBCC president Mike Munoz dropped in to help fund the club. Put together by the Fashion Club and featuring the designs and sewing work by students in the Fashion Promotion class, the pop-up was influenced by the chosen theme of reuse and upcycling, the practice of repurposing used materials to create something else of high quality. “We collectively chose the theme to support sustainability practices and we ran with ‘Boro’ once we researched the process and materials,”
said Mindy Ngo, Fashion Club member. Boro is a centuries-old Japanese textile practice of using old, used materials to create new, patchwork designs and products. However, there are pros and cons for a fashion designer reusing existing materials. “I find it liberating, especially personally finishing products that are unique in their own way,” Ngo said. “But it can be somewhat constraining too, since (the material) may not be my ideal choice. It’s nice to have variety and choices.” “And ‘Boro’ is very niche, but it’s been done for hundreds and hundreds of years,” said Maria Moreira, another Fashion Club member. With Ernie the Earth, a student-designed informal mascot for the pop-up featured throughout the shop, issues of environmental
responsibility can be deeply tied to how fashion design is produced. “Students are showing interest in sustainable fashion,” Bryant said, “Hemp fabric is coming back. We discuss synthetic materials, which are produced using fossil fuels, versus organic material.” “We do what we can, but there are sometimes challenges with organic materials, like recycled cotton,” said Armando Avelar, a Fashion Club member, recounting issues using traditional screen printing on recycled cotton tote bags. But different technologies and techniques are making more sustainable approaches to fashion easier. “We got a Strong Workforce grant for a direct to garment printer, which is much more
sustainable and lets us print these totes with student designs,” Bryant said. Even fashion isn’t exempt from having to rethink its practices as climate change advances and planetary health falters. “Textile and water waste is a serious issue. The idea of repurposing materials helps a lot (to fix that),” Moreira said. For a culture used to easy and cheap clothing options, some are beginning to question the way fashion is made. “We are seeing that idea surfacing off social media a lot now. Research brands to see what they produce, how they produce it, and how they treat their workers,” Moreira said. “It’s about fast fashion versus slow fashion,” Bryant said.
LIFESTYLE
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June 2, 2022
Photos by Sophia Cobb LBCC has a wide variety of dancers. Joe Clements, above, is a former computer engineer. Natalie Carrera, top left, is an aspiring actress. Lauren Kochheim, middle left, has a background in modern dance. Shea Reina, bottom left, is defying traditional gender roles in dance.
Dare to Dance Student artists redefine what it means to do ballet
By Maisie Vilchis
T
he LBCC dance program has cultivated an environment for dancers of all backgrounds to feel welcomed, included and confident in their abilities while also breaking the biases often seen in traditional ballet. Kiarra Kinghorn, who has been a dance instructor for the school, teaches several different styles such as ballet, modern and jazz. Kinghorn has set the “barre” for what it means to be a dancer in this day and age by providing a safe space for anyone who is passionate about dance. “I have a philosophy that dance is for everyone, I think it’s really changing in recent years,” Kinghorn said. Behind the doors of the newly built Q building, you will find a pair of ballet slippers worn by ballerinas from every walk of life. Whether you’re seeking a new hobby, reigniting an old passion, or just looking for a different way to exercise, the dance studios at LBCC have a place for you. “I sort of had an experience like many have had, a lot of abusive teachers or authoritarian choreographers and I am trying to change that,” Kinghorn said. “I think it’s wrong, I try to open it (dance) up to people who haven’t had it and have been disenfranchised from taking a dance class,” Kinghorn said. Joe Clements is a 29-year-old returning college student that formerly studied computer engineering. Clements started dancing a few years ago but had never done ballet before. Although he had been fascinated by ballet his whole life, he was reluctant to try it until he signed up for his first ballet class this semester. “I saw how happy the other people were dancing and I was so scared of doing it that I just wanted to try it and it really set me free once I did,” Clements said. Clements mentioned how LBCC is one of the few places he
On the web For a photo gallery of Long Beach City Colleges ballet dancers including action shots go to lbccviking.com could think of that offers ballet classes to adults who are new dancers. Now Clements hopes to go to dance school and share his new found passion with others. “I always tell people who are looking to develop themselves to pick a creative outlet that you’re not comfortable doing and for me, that was dancing,” Clements said. In the past, classical forms of dance like ballet, have been known to be restrictive. Dancers are highly criticized for their body and overall appearance. This can be intimidating for people who don’t fit into the description of what a typical ballerina would look like. According to a study titled “Body dysmorphic disorder and eating disorders in elite professional female ballet dancers” by the Annals of Clinical Psychology, body dysmorphic disorder and eating disorders are more prevalent in ballet dancers than in the general population. Despite the negative aspects revolving around physical appearance and lack of representation for women of color, Shvawn Taylor, a 34 year old Black student who has been dancing since the age of three continues to be passionate about dance. “I have always been in love with dance. I never had the body for it or was able to pursue it, but I’ve never been able to give it up. It’s helped me mentally, it’s helped me physically, and it’s helped me overcome things,” Taylor said. If you’re interested in joining the LBCC dance program, several classes are still open and available for the upcoming summer and fall session.
SPORTS
June 2, 2022 CONFERENCE AWARDS
Baseball clinches conference title
Facing challenging odds such as key players sustaining injuries and difficult games, the Long Beach City College men’s baseball team was named co-champions of the South Coast Conference after finishing the season with a 19-5 record against their conference opponents. This is the sixth conference championship in the last seven seasons for the Vikings and it comes off the heels of a season riddled with injuries and other obstacles. “We went through a lot of injuries, coming off of the COVID lock downs, and there were still some question marks in the Fall about how and where we were going to do all of our workouts,” coach Casey Crooks said. The team finished the season with a dominant 15-1 run where they outscored their opponents 135-58. — Eduardo Gomez
Pitcher player of the year in SCC
Appearing in 18 games this season, with 170 at-bats, 39 runs scored, and three home runs this season Long Beach City College baseball team pitcher and infielder, Matthew Pinal, was named South Coast Conference Player of the Year. Pinal has pitched in 64.2 innings this season and averages 9.6 strikeouts per game. He has a total of 69 strikeouts for this season. “I’m hoping to just keep playing and see how far I can take it,” Pinal said, “I’d like to go pro if I can.” — Emily D’Amico
WSC volleyball player of the year
Outsider hitter Erik Hernandez of the Long Beach City College men’s volleyball team was named the player of the year for the Western State Conference. Hernandez hit 200 kills and more than 70 digs in 20 games, including averaging more than 3 kills per set and 18 service aces in the conference season. For Hernandez, staying disciplined is what played the biggest factor in being able to consistently perform well all season. “Something that keeps me motivated to keep going is staying disciplined,” said Hernandez. “You can’t rely on motivation, you gotta rely on discipline because the motivation won’t always be there.” — Eduardo Gomez
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Catcher of the Year at LBCC By Daniel McMahon
Jaylene Ross finished the year on a high note with a team that made the playoffs, and being named Cal JC Catcher of the year by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association and Diamond Sports. Offensively, Ross was a force with a batting average of .452, 17 doubles, and 29 RBIs. The free swinging catcher struck out three times in 159 plate appearances and remembers all three. But that is the kind of person Ross is, she gets locked in on the field and doesn’t allow her thoughts to wander or over complicate the game. This strategy is how she excels on the field. It is also something Ross tries to impress on her teammates. For example, when she visits the mound to settle the nerves of her pitchers, all she does is try to keep her thoughts from wandering, and get them back in the moment. “I just think that slowing the game down, and seeing it in slow motion is much better,” Ross said. “I try to put it in simpler terms because if I over explain it and over do myself, I’ll never get a good result.” Catchers are generally considered the ‘Field General’ on the diamond. Ross’s leadership reverberated throughout the clubhouse and is based on the example she gives with her great play. Ross’s original path didn’t lead to LBCC, as she committed to Texas Southern University when she was attending Whittier High School in 2019. Shortly after that commitment, obstacles such as the pandemic, the Texas Southern head coach quitting, and general dysfunction at the school ended the idea of playing softball in Texas. Her connection to Coach Mike Rogers brought her into the LBCC circle to work out while she was undecided on her future. Ross was impressed with the level of talent at LBCC. When she asked Coach Megan Martinez to officially join the team, she
Photo by Frederick Iwuagwu Jaylene Ross bats the ball during a match against El Camino College. In addition, Ross was selected to First Team All American and the SCC All Conference Team.
added the future catcher of the year to the roster. Throughout her first season, the Vikings went on a winning streak and they went through slumps. Ross’s hitting was consistent throughout and the bond between the women of the team grew with each game.
The Vikings earned a playoff berth that led to their elimination in the second round of the Southern California Regionals. “It was expected to see her win such an award,” Infielder Jade Whitman said. “It was an honor to play my last (junior college) year with her behind the plate.”
Freshman wins CCAA state title By Marco Haynes
Freshman thrower Casey Davis won the California Community College Athletic Association State Championship in the women’s shot put at Mt. SAC on May 21. The victory at the CCCAA State Championship made Davis a State Champion and All American in Shot Put. Davis came first place with a personal best throw of 41 feet and 11 inches, beating freshman Amani Britton of Sacramento City College by a distance of 1 foot and 10 inches. “To be honest it has not set in yet. I’m proud of myself honestly, I kept saying it
throughout the year ‘I’m going to become a state champion’ and now it feels good to become one,” said Davis. Davis competed against 11 players from other Community Colleges in competition. Davis advanced to the CCCAA State Championships after finishing fourth place with her highest distance toss being 38 feet and 5 inches during the finals at the SoCal Trials on May 9. Davis will be returning to compete in the shot put as a sophomore, setting herself higher standards to beat next season. “Next year I will be beating the school record on the board, hopefully being a twotime shot put champion as well as a ham-
mer state champion, hitting 50 feet and getting a couple of D1 offers,” Davis said. Davis is looking to overcome obstacles this past season, saying she did a fabulous job but can do better on certain throws or force more power onto her kick leg. Track and field coach John McFadyen has been a big support to Davis during the season. “I tend to psyche myself out about certain things and overthink situations, but my coach tells me to stay calm and do what I do,” Davis said. Track and field will be back next year in Spring, as Davis will be looking to defend her title as state champion.
OPINION
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June 2, 2022
Debate: How should we spend MacKenzie Scott’s donation? By Craig Roberts
Marlon Villa
Craig Roberts Moises Vargas Matthew Walker Opinion editors: Eduardo Gomez Eli Orozco Lifestyle editors: Karina Serrano Maisie Vilchis Sports editors: Marco Haynes Photo by Eli Orozco LBCC students debate how McKenzie Scott’s multi-million dollar donation should be used. One student argues saving one-third of the gift will be transformational.
By Eli Orozco The LBCC board of trustees made the best decision as to how MacKenzie Scott’s $30 million gift will be used. The decision making process was transparent and well thought out. Most importantly, it is focused on making a transformational impact on campus. The gift was given to LBCC by philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, the ex-wife of Jeff Bezos, who used a large portion of her divorce settlement with the billionaire as a gift for colleges that “are chronically underrepresented.” This gift came out of the blue, donations of this size are not common at LBCC. Despite the unexpectedness of the gift, the LBCC board of trustees took a well-thought out approach to how the money would be used. The board of trustees decided the money will be used to benefit both current and future students at the college by investing one-third of the gift to build interest. The board built an advisory group that was designed to reflect LBCC and Long Beach’s diverse community and held meetings to help with the decision-making process. They also allowed people outside of the institution to voice their opinion as well. Dr. Enette Morton, a professor at CSULB, was an advisor for MacKenzie Scott’s gift and said the board of trustees “had a diverse perspective.” Morton said, “The committee had input by
students.” Ensuring that this decision-making is transparent allows for the community outside of LBCC to have an opportunity to voice their opinion on how the gift can impact them. Although the money would only go to future students attending LBCC, the benefactors of this money can go on to become Long Beach’s leaders. According to Mike Munoz in an interview with Inside Higher Education, LBCC was chosen as a recipient because of the school’s work on equity and racial justice. Deciding to continue working on equity and racial justice on campus can spur future donations to be endowed to LBCC. Since LBCC is using its gift to make a transformational impact on future generations, this can lead to donors believing in that vision. Donors give gifts like this because they want to make an impact on future generations. MacKenzie Scott intended this money to be used to create a social impact on underrepresented communities. Having part of the money be invested to help future generations of LBCC students is the best way to make a continuous social impact. Progress is made with time. To see real change from a gift of this magnitude is to make a transformational change for years rather than months. This decision was made meticulously with strong inspiration for the meaning of equity and racial justice.
VIKING NEWS POLICIES The Viking is published by Journalism 80, 81, 82, 83, 86, 87 and 88 students of the LBCC English Department, with funding from the Associated Student Body.
Sophia Cobb
News editors:
We really should spend the money now, not many opportunities like this are granted where one can dump a giant heap of funds into a problem and make a serious immediate impact, or at least one in the very near future. But with such a large amount of money, not only can some issues now be helped, but future ones as well. There’s more than one way to invest money other than just saving it. Just as a home is an investment, so is a building. It would be a commitment that would last longer than the funds themselves and could be easily accommodated for. Investing in students now is also an investment for the future. Some may donate to the college in the future if they see that the college used the donation to really make an impact. Others might come back and teach, and some might end up having their own children attend. You never really know what positive results can come from simple good will. The other issue with holding onto and investing money from something like a donation is how susceptible that money is to having its purpose changed with new officials, say 20 years from now. Whereas if the money were spent now and whatever programs or projects were finished before that point, the money would have definitely served its purpose. While such corruption is unlikely, it’s always a possibility. And with the population of LBCC, not one worth taking. It would be a devastating blow to the institution. Equity issues will always exist, this is simply the natural state of a capitalist society. But making attempts to help break that constant every so often are needed for both practical survivability and morale. Spending the money now would result in many students being more motivated to work harder, seeing that the college truly wants them to succeed and is willing to go to great lengths to ensure it. The school owes it to the students, especially coming from a pandemic, to build equity back up sooner rather than later. If we wait, equity could get worse and by the time money is ready to be spent, it would be too late as is often the case.
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