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LBCC’s once in a year musical starts rehearsals

Paloma Maciel
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LBCC’s once in a year musical starts rehearsals

After a very lengthy audition process that took eight hours with about 120 applicants, two full evenings of callbacks and a week of anticipation for the cast list, LBCC’s much anticipated spring musical “Into the Woods” finally started rehearsals in the first week of January.

The directors and cast waste no time as opening night on March 13 approaches, as even in the beginning stages of the production, their four and a half hour rehearsals are jam packed from start to finish.

“Into the Woods” features a combination of known fairy tales stories like Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack from Jack and the Beanstalk and Rapunzel alongside an original story regarding a baker and his wife who are struggling to conceive a child.

They learn that their family line has been cursed by an evil witch, and they set on a journey into the woods to break the curse, where they meet the other characters. 

Phyre Romero, right, playing the Witch, terrifies the Baker, left, and the Baker’s Wife, middle, in a scene where she barges into their house and explains that their inability to conceive a child is because of a curse that her mother placed on their family line. (Paloma Maciel)

Like the Baker and his wife who want nothing more than to have a child, each character has their own wish.  

Cinderella wants to go to the ball, Jack’s mother wants to not be poor, Rapunzel wants out of her controlling and suffocating life in the tower and Little Red Riding Hood wants to visit her sick grandmother.  

Each character gets their wish, but there are consequences and new challenges after they find their “happily ever after”. 

When choosing a musical for this spring, relevance for the students at LBCC was one of the core deciding factors for department head of performing arts Skye Angulo and other professors.

“It’s a story of life and going through life and facing challenges and overcoming setbacks, growing and learning. You look at each individual character and you can see the ones that grow and learn from going into the woods, going into life and having big life changes,” Angulo, who is also the vocal director for the musical, said. 

During the first two weeks of rehearsals, the first hour was dedicated to a vocal group session, where the cast warmed up their voices and sang the script without the movements. 

These exercises not only helped strengthen their musicianship but also served as a bonding experience that made the cast more comfortable with each other. 

The cast members for LBCC’s upcoming musical “Into the Woods” laugh and have fun during a vocal exercise where they walked in a circle and greeted each other by collectively singing a member’s name at a time. This was during the vocal portion of rehearsals on Jan. 13. (Paloma Maciel)

While the cast was singing upstairs, the director Andre Brown walked around the auditorium stage, often pausing in places when he was overtaken by sudden bursts of inspiration for the musical.

Deep in his creative thoughts, he was confident yet had a childlike excitement when he told the stage manager and prop designer, who followed him around, his visions for where props would go and what they would look like. 

Brown attributed his confidence in directing to “spending a lot of time with the material,” but most urgently advocated for the importance of daydreaming and listening to one’s creative thoughts. 

“I dream a lot. I day dream a lot. I don’t even mean like sleeping at night. … I allow for sparks and moments of creativity to just hit me. I might be in the supermarket and you know, I’ll see a kid with a shopping cart, he’s ramming his mother’s heels into the shopping cart and it gives me an idea. ‘Oh, my God, that reminds me of this moment when Jack is trying to get his mother’s attention in the second act.’ ‘Oh, he should take Milky White and push Milky White into his (mother)’ like it just comes to me,” Brown said. 

Milky White is Jack’s pet cow, and Brown added, “I think the real danger is to stop, in all of our lives and especially in our creativity, is to stop dreaming or to have an idea and then to say ‘oh that’s not going to work.’”

Andre Brown, center, the director of LBCC’s upcoming musical “Into the Woods”, acts out directions he has for the ensemble and choreography director Michelle Funderburk, far right, during a rehearsal on Jan. 12. (Paloma Maciel)

After the vocal session was over, the ensemble headed to the dance studio to learn new choreography with the choreography director, Michelle Funderburk, while one of the main actors had a private vocal session with the vocal director in a different room. 

All the other actors were downstairs with Brown, working on a specific scene at a time. If an actor wasn’t in a scene, they’d spend their time memorizing their lines. 

Kayla Rubio, left, playing Florinda; one of Cinderella’s stepsisters, Nicolas Rout-Vazquez, center, playing the Baker and Ruby Denmion, right, playing Cinderella’s Stepmother, pose after singing their solo parts in the song “First Midnight” at a rehearsal for “Into the Woods” on Jan. 12. (Dom Maddan)

Nicolas Rout-Vazquez, center, playing the Baker pulls a block that represents his pet cow Milky White, in a scene with the actors who play Cinderella’s stepsisters, Sophia Zwillinger, left, and Kayla Rubio, right, while the Baker’s wife stands on the far right during a rehearsal for LBCC’s “Into the Woods” on Jan. 13. (Paloma Maciel)

Having a dance ensemble that performs choreography throughout the show is a unique feature of LBCC’s rendition of “Into the Woods.” 

In the original Broadway show and in other iterations of the musical, a dancing ensemble is not present, and the show itself is not very dance heavy. 

Angulo noted how having an ensemble allows for more students to be part of the musical and allows for the show to have understudies. 

Due to the newness of the dancing ensemble, Funderburk is making up her own original choreography. 

Funderburk’s creative process is experimental, she comes prepared with a plan, “spatial designs” and “movement”, but allows for interpretation when working with the performers.

The ensemble of LBCC’s upcoming musical “Into the Woods” practices choreography that they just adjusted with choreography director Michelle Funderburk, pink shirt, during their rehearsal on Jan. 12 in the J-Building dance studio. (Paloma Maciel)

Funderburk, who has choreographed for dance concerts at LBCC and was the choreography director for “In the Heights” last year, pointed out the difference between choreographing for traditional dance concerts and musicals.

“When you choreograph a dance for a dance concert it’s just like, ok you have your one specific dance and you already have your ideas for that and all of your productional elements and things. But here, and when you’re creating a musical, you have to really consider all of the story. You have to consider all of the characters and then what the director is wanting to see and what (is) the aesthetic that they’re looking for, within the scenes. Then you really have to play off of the sets and the props and how does that in the costuming, play into the movement that you create for the work, ” Funderburk said. 

The ensemble represents extensions of other characters on stage and also of the woods, where a majority of the musical takes place. 

Ensemble cast member Hannah de la Vega shared her interpretation of the ensemble’s role. 

“I’m kind of hoping that… it’s gonna translate as us being like the spirit or the essence of the woods or whatever is going on at that moment, because we are in multiple scenes. But, I think that we’re like really bringing kind of like the spirit in the nature aspect,” Vega said.

The ensemble of LBCC’s upcoming musical “Into the Woods” embodies the creepy nature of the woods while practicing choreography with choreography director Michelle Funderburk, pink shirt, during their rehearsal on Jan. 12 in the J-Building dance studio. (Paloma Maciel)

As the musical continues to develop, more props, full sets and costumes will be added to make the fantasy-like world of “Into the Woods” come to life alongside a live orchestra. 

Tickets for purchase will be available as opening night approaches. 

Sophia Zwillinger, left, and Kayla Rubio, right, pose as Cinderella’s wicked step-sisters Lucinda and Florinda respectively during a rehearsal of “Into the Woods” on Jan. 12. The much anticipated musical started its rehearsals in early January, and the show will open on March 13. (Dom Maddan)

Grammy Winning saxophonist shares the stage with LBCC’s Big Band at DiPiazza’s

Jessica Rodriguez
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Grammy Winning saxophonist shares the stage with LBCC’s Big Band at DiPiazza’s

Walking into DiPiazza’s restaurant that was filled with students having their end of the year celebration, rhythm took over as Jazz music was played by LBCC students alongside two time Grammy Award-winning saxophonist Ernie Watts on Dec. 11. 

Watts is a towering figure that many students described as a staple in the Los Angeles Jazz scene and his career spans decades of recordings and collaborations with other respected artists like Marvin Gaye and Frank Zappa. 

He joined the students’ ensemble for an evening of equal parts professional experience and jazz education. 

Two-time Grammy winning saxophonist Ernie Watts, left, performs with Jacqueline Iginiamre, right, a base player for one of LBCC’s jazz combos, during LBCC’s Jazz Night event on Dec. 11 at DiPiazza’s restaurant in Long Beach, California. Iginiamre’s facial expression demonstrates the intensity of this performance, and 
the engagement of both Iginiamre and Watts is demonstrated in both of their concentrated expressions. (Isaiah Ryan)

“It’s interesting to see how much he knows and how much he can teach, even in just 20 minutes of rehearsal. He can really help you a lot. He’s someone who’s so experienced, so playing with him was a big deal,” Jacqueline Iginiamre, a base player for one of LBCC’s jazz combos said. 

Iginiamre, who has played bass since childhood, said Watts presence on stage sharpened her awareness as a musician. 

“You could really tell that he was listening to everyone. Seeing that made me lock in more. I realized I have to listen too,” Iginiamre said. 

The setting at DiPiazza’s created an up-close experience where students and audience members alike could witness the difference between Watts’ individual sound and his deep engagement with the ensemble.

The overall performance was a mix of mellow sounds, a lot of bass and expressive high and low tones with the changes conveying emotions ranging from calmness to moments where people were clapping. 

Patrick Sheng, Director of Instrumental Jazz Studies at Long Beach City College, emphasized the importance of exposing students to professional artists at this level.

“All the musicians are just trying to become professional musicians. How do you become a professional musician? With other professionals. You get first-hand exposure.” Sheng said. 

For Watts, that exchange between generations is what he strives to get out of events like this. 

“I think it’s very important for us to share our music and pass it along. That’s what keeps the music alive, a person like me sharing with a younger person and handing it on to the next generation.” Watts said.

The evening was the result of a long-standing relationship between Watts and Sheng.

“I went to one of Ernie’s gigs at the Baked Potato because I’m a big fan. Just chit-chatting with him and his wife, Patricia, they said, ‘Hey, would you like us to come work with the students again?’ I was like, ‘That’s amazing. Yes, please.’” Sheng said. 

While guest artists typically visit LBCC in the spring semester, this collaboration marked a rare fall appearance. 

Watts, who participates in these sort of collaborations across the country, described these appearances as “special things” rather than routine events. He believes students gain something invaluable from witnessing what dedication to the craft can achieve.

“I think it’s to know and to learn and to witness the potential of this music. You have to work. You can’t get results unless you do the work. But if you do the work, things happen.” Watts said.

During the performance, Watts could be seen watching students closely as they took solos; listening, nodding, and responding musically with his own instrument in real time. He would match the energy that students performed with acknowledging their presence. 

Frank Andrade lead trumpeter for LBCC’s Big Band, center, performing alongside two-time Grammy winning saxophonist Ernie Watts, right, at LBCC’s Jazz Night event on Dec. 11 that took place inside the restaurant DiPiazza’s in Long Beach, California. Andrade and Watts were seen feeding off each others energy on stage, and Andrade expressed what a sureal moment it was for him to be playing with such a renowned artist like Watts. (Isaiah Ryan)

“Everybody has their own voice. In this music, everybody has a different, unique voice.” Watts said. 

International duo drives LBCC water polo success

Dezaray Jimenez
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International duo drives LBCC water polo success

CORRECTION: A previous version of the story included incorrect punctuation.

The top scorers of the 2025 LBCC women’s water polo season were Mar Bernal and Irene Pueyo Caballero. 

They didn’t just bring goals to the Vikings, they brought an entirely different style of play shaped by years of competing in Spain’s high level club system.

Bernal, from Madrid, and Pueyo, from Barcelona, both grew up in families where water polo was already part of the household.

Pueyo began playing at the age of 11, inspired by her father who was a water polo coach, and her brother, who now competes at Cal State Long Beach. 

Bernal started even earlier, taking swimming lessons before transitioning into water polo at age 8.

Coming to the U.S. was a major shift for both girls, as Spain’s water polo culture is known for its intensity, countless club teams, faster style of play, and deep competition at every level.

“In community college, there are a lot of teams with a lower level than what we’re used to in Spain. Back home, the competition is stronger, and even the referees let the game be more physical. Here they stop the game for things that would be normal in Spain,” Pueyo said.

Bernal added that the contrast became even clearer when LBCC faced top programs throughout the season, especially during regional play.

“When we played bigger universities, we felt the difference right away. The speed, the pressure, everything reminded us of what we were used to back home,” Bernal said.

Despite the adjustment period, both players said competing in the U.S. has helped them grow mentally and technically, playing at regionals this year, they said, pushed them to another level.

“We looked at the states teams all season to see how they were playing, how they were winning. Last year we lost by a little, and this year we wanted to change that,” Pueyo said.

Both players credit LBCC’s coaching staff with helping refine their game.

“The coach here is very technical and knows what he’s doing. We learned a lot and trained really well,” Bernal said.

They explained that Spanish water polo focuses heavily on discipline and tactics, while American play challenges athletes with speed and endurance.

At regionals this season, they said the level of competition felt closer to what they experienced in Spain, where every match is fast paced and intense.

“We spent the season watching how the top state teams played and how they kept winning. Last year we lost by a little, so this year we came in wanting to change that,” Pueyo said.

Off the pool deck, both athletes have found success academically.

Bernal’s favorite class this semester is economics, while Pueyo said she struggled with learning English, only being in the U.S. for a couple of months.

“We want to be seen, improve, and play at the highest level we can. Being here has helped us do that,” Bernal said.

As the 2025 season closes, Bernal and Pueyo leave behind not only impressive stats but also an international impact on LBCC water polo, one defined by discipline, passion, and the unmistakable grit of Spanish competition.

Friends speak past vigil’s allotted time to honor LBCC student and student worker

Paloma Maciel
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Friends speak past vigil’s allotted time to honor LBCC student and student worker

Friends and loved ones gathered for a candlelight vigil on Friday, where they took turns sharing the impact that an LBCC student, who they referred to as their biggest “cheerleader” has left in the community and in their individual lives to a room full of people.

On Monday, Danny Alvarez Rosales died after being struck by a vehicle in Washington state, where he had recently moved to. 

The vigil started with its speech portion that lasted until 6:30 p.m., when the entire event was originally planned to run from 4 to 6 p.m., including speeches and the placing of candles and flowers on an altar dedicated to Rosales.

A friend of his, Eric Becerra, director of student equity at LBCC, put this into perspective, referencing the influence that he had on the people he interacted with around the rose garden in the A building, where he was often seen greeting his friends and giving people campus tours. 

“The most interesting thing I found in this space was that he poured into so many people somehow he had this way of making everyone he spoke with feeling like they’re the most important person in the world and that’s a rare quality. He was all about giving right, not about being self-important or aggrandising himself, just really about giving,” said Becerra. 

A common description of Rosales was his friendliness, happiness, and supportive nature, with many saying that Rosales was their biggest “hypeman”, often greeting his friends on campus excitedly, by name.

LBCC community members line up to put flowers and candles on the altar dedicated to Danny Alvarez Rosales placed in front of the Justice Scholars Program center at the candlelight vigil on Friday. Rosales was a loved member of the LBCC community, known for his enthusiastic greetings, supportive nature and involvement across various different clubs. He was president of the Justice Scholars Club, worked at the Justice Scholars Program and helped in other programs like Umoja. (Paloma Maciel)

“I don’t know how he remembered everyone’s name. … He would see me like literally (and be like) “Wendy” and come running, and I thought ‘oh my gosh, if we all greeted each other like that, wouldn’t that be so beautiful,” Wendy Porter, the program director for Upward Bound at LBCC said.

A close friend of his, Herica Paniagua, who used to attend LBCC but has now transferred to CSULB, spoke about Rosales’ passion for the LBCC campus, describing the moments when he would be seen eagerly giving LBCC students, or anyone he met, campus tours. 

“He would pass through (the rose garden) here with a student. I’m not going to lie to you like ten students a day or even more, back and forth, back and forth with a smile always encouraging them, always talking to them and that welcoming smile that he had blends perfectly with the little area because this is the welcoming center,” said Paniagua. 

Priince Bass, ASB president and friend of Rosales, mentioned how Rosales wanted to become a presidential ambassador for the school and asked his friends for reassurance. 

“We’re like ‘duh’, he’s the original embodiment of a president ambassador, somebody who shows the school to the elementary school, middle school, high school students, gives them tours, and makes them excited about college. So that’s why we were like oh my goodness, yes you would have been worthy to be a president ambassador. He served in so many areas on campus, he might not of even had time, but knowing Danny, he would of tried to make time,” Bass said. 

A picture of Danny Alvarez Rosales is surrounded by flowers, candles and a speech, that were placed on the altar dedicated to him in front of the Justice Scholars Program’s center at the candlelight vigil on Friday. (Paloma Maciel)

Many of his friends recalled Rosales’ funny, vibrant and spontaneous nature, with Rosa Martinez, one of his close friends who he worked with in the Justice Scholars Program, sharing a moment when Rosales started doing snow angels on the floor out of excitement during a university campus tour.  

“So we went to Dominguez Hills and you know he was jumping around, he was so hyped and then I see him get on the grass and start doing like snow angels. I’m like ‘what are you doing,’  he said ‘I’m just so happy to be here’. … We recently went to Cal State Long Beach, and we looked at the patch of grass and I looked at him, I was like “are you going to do it again”, he’s like “what” and then he just immediately knew and just dropped down and started doing the snow angel. And he was just so happy about education, he was so happy about transferring and you know he always says that education saved his life,” Martinez said. 

Another moment that Martinez recalled with laughter was when Rosales dressed up as a palm tree for the Halloween contest on campus last year as part of the Office of Student Equity’s group costume, when they dressed up as loteria card symbols. 

“He comes with a green face and like with a jumpsuit, and I’m looking at him like ‘um what are you on the loteria, you know card, bingo card’. And he said “I’m a tree” and I said “whatchu mean”, and his face was green, his hands you know he’s a brown complexion, so he’s like ‘these are my branches’. And then he had a poster behind him and it just said… “arbol”, and we were just dying, he’s like ‘does it look ok?… And I’m like you look ‘amazing,’” said Martinez. 

Danny Alvarez Rosales dressed up in his palm tree costume for the Halloween contest last year on Oct. 31, 2024. Photo courtesy of Brian Burten.

Numerous LBCC students at the vigil shared personal anecdotes they had with Rosales, describing how Rosales was there for them in their toughest moments when they felt emotionally defeated, reading scriptures from the Bible to uplift them and sharing encouraging words. 

The day before the vigil, the school hosted a healing circle in the same room, creating a safe space for loved ones to express how they felt about their friend’s sudden death. 

The circle, which started small, needed to have more chairs added to it throughout the talk as more people arrived. 

By the time the talk ended, the circle lined the entire Social Justice Intercultural Center room, and had a smaller circle of people in the middle, as there was no more space in the original circle. 

After the speech portion of the vigil, Rosale’s loved ones walked together to the Justice Scholars Program center, and placed flowers and candles on an altar in honor of Rosales. 

Throughout both days, his friends expressed how heartbroken they were that Rosales wouldn’t be able to graduate alongside them in the Spring. 

Superintendent-President Mike Munoz, who was present at the healing circle, assured the community that the school would find the appropriate way to honor Rosales at graduation. 

A couple of Rosales’ friends mentioned the possibility of naming the rose garden in the A building area after him. 

“He led with love, with joy, he was just a beautiful spirit, and I think everything that I saw tonight is just Danny’s spirit still alive with all of us,” Porter said at the vigil.

The altar dedicated to Danny Alvarez Rosales stands in front of the Justice Scholars Program’s center, where Rosales worked and is filled with flowers placed by community members at the candlelight vigil on Friday. (Paloma Maciel)

Student trustee shares her journey at first generation student luncheon

Ryenne Jolliff
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Student trustee shares her journey at first generation student luncheon

Long Beach City College’s first Samoan Niuean student trustee and other first generation students shared their experiences during a luncheon held at the T Building on Nov. 19.

Student Trustee Pise Leiataua said being a first generation student is central to her goals as both a current student and future college graduate.

“It’s everything, it’s my identity, it’s one of the biggest achievements of my life. Being the first is a reminder that I will not be the last,” Leiataua said. 

Leiataua’s parents immigrated separately from Samoa, but both landed in Compton, where they eventually met at church. 

Leiataua said her parents’ resilience and hard-working lifestyle are what inspired her to attend college. 

“My parents could have gone to community college, but instead they chose to work in order to raise their family. It’s about recognizing the sacrifices that they made for me, and taking advantage of the resources they didn’t have,” Leiataua said. 

Leiataua initially attended Compton College and Cerritos College before making LBCC her home. 

“LBCC says ‘You belong’, and I feel like they bring that feeling to its students. Sadly, the other schools did not help me reach my goals for a higher education,” Leiataua said.  

Leiataua began her educational journey as a pre-med student, but changed her mind after getting involved with on-campus organizations. 

“I started working for the MANA program, which is what led to me applying for student government. I noticed that there was a lack of Pacific Islander representation. I love science, but I realized that it was never about the medicine. It was about access and representation. It became more than just giving someone a diagnosis,” Leiataua said. 

Now triple-majoring in sociology, political science, and psychology, Leiataua plans to major in both public policy and ethnic studies when she transfers. 

Her ultimate goal is to support her hometown. 

“My end goal is becoming superintendent president of Compton College so I can give back to my community. Compton College does not have the resources that LBCC does, so I want to make it what our school is today. I hope to one day sit on city council and move my way up in politics to uplift future Asian and Pacific Islander generations,” Leiataua said. 

LooLoo Amante Tupua, Career Pathway coordinator and fellow first-generation student, spoke about the importance of community during the luncheon which offered Italian food and board games to attendees. 

“When I think about my journey, I think about the friends and educators that helped me along the way. Many of our own community members are the first in their family to pursue a master’s degree, which ensures that our first-generation students are taken care of,” Amante Tupua said. 

Amante Tupua said she wanted first-generation students to be able to sit down, enjoy a meal and get to know one another. 

“Most of our on-campus events have grab-and-go food for students to eat while they’re going to their next class, but we really wanted to be able to set aside time for our students to build community,” Amante Tupua said. 

Hayarpi Nersisyan, first-year experience counselor lead, said first-generation students should not be afraid to pursue their dreams. 

“Always aim higher, take bigger risks, and remind yourself that it’s ok to fail. You have to pave the way for your family to then encourage your siblings or other loved ones to do the same,” Nersisyan said. 

Overall, the event served as a way to celebrate and honor the accomplishments of LBCC’s first-generation students. 

“At LBCC, first-generation students are an essential part of our community. They bring unique perspectives and determination to our school. We break barriers and open doors for the generations that come after. We want every first-generation student to know that you belong here,” Leiataua said. 

Year in review: Take a look back at the biggest stories of 2025

Rafael Gomez
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Year in review: Take a look back at the biggest stories of 2025

It’s the final week of the fall semester, which brings the end of a year defined by change at both campus and countrywide levels. Take a moment to look back at the top 10 stories that The Viking News covered in 2025.

1. ICE RAIDS: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement increased its presence in Southern California in early June, with raids occurring in the Long Beach area. Students have voiced their fears about the targeting of immigrant communities, as the college is not able to do much given their legal frameworks. A Dia de los Muertos celebration was held at LAC despite the city of Long Beach’s own parade being canceled for community concern regarding increased ICE activity. The celebration at LBCC featured ofrendas, including one that honored lives of those lost while in ICE custody.

2. GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN CUTS: The U.S. government had its longest shutdown in the country’s history of 43 days, which cut support lifelines for community college students like SNAP and WIC for the first half of November. SNAP benefits were briefly sent out on Nov. 7 and LBCC increased resources given out through food drives and assistance forms. An additional $150 was disbursed by LBCC using emergency funds to students on SNAP on Nov. 17 to offset the initial cut.

3. PART-TIME PAY LAWSUIT: LBCC lost a lawsuit turned class-action, served by two part-time professors for its failure to pay adjuncts appropriate wages for their work outside of the classroom, with the college having to pay out wages from as far back as 2019. The ruling sets a precedent for other community college adjuncts to ask for fair wages.

4. STUDENT ACTRESS SCHOLARSHIP: Daisy Johnson, lead actress of LBCC’s first musical production in 18 years, died a month after the debut of “In the Heights.” A scholarship was created in her name as a collaborative effort between her family and the college to support students in future productions.

5. WOMEN’S WATER POLO CHAMPIONS: Vikings women’s water polo won their first back-to-back state championship since 2004. They continued to dominate in the pool with their tenth straight win in  the South Coast Conference Regional Championship. The Vikings also went undefeated in conference for their most recent season.

6. FLAG AT HALF-STAFF: Following the death of controversial right-wing political activist Charlie Kirk, President Trump ordered the U.S. flag to be flown at half-staff from September 10 to 14. LBCC kept its flag down for this duration, and when asked why, claimed it to be an “operational oversight.”

7. FOOTBALL COACH REPLACED: Vikings head football coach Brett Peabody was replaced after a journalist on Twitter/X shared messages Peabody had sent criticizing the journalist’s coverage of Trump, which he then retracted. While some players on the team petitioned for Peabody to continue coaching, he resigned in March following backlash from the community and was replaced by the previous defense coordinator, Marques Cooper.

8. COUNSELOR REINSTATED: Counselor Kashara Moore was reinstated after Moore allegedly elbowed a student during a 2022 commencement speech. The college ruled that the elbowing was intentional, but reinstated Moore this spring semester, with neither Moore nor LBCC elaborating on the rehiring.

9. HBCU CARAVAN RETURNS: 21 historically Black colleges across the U.S. convened at LAC for the second HBCU Caravan since 2017. Other community colleges were invited to the event to access the resources provided, as well as the chance the be guaranteed admission to these colleges.

10. CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION: Following November 2024’s approval of Measure AC, $990 million has been invested into future constructions on campus, such as student housing on Clark Avenue and Lew Davis Davis Street, and the demolition of the old student center for a new one.

Orchestra and woodwind ensemble bring festive sounds for end of semester concert

Dom Maddan
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Orchestra and woodwind ensemble bring festive sounds for end of semester concert

The LBCC orchestra and the woodwind band brought some festive sounds with a “mysterious” undertone at their final concert for the semester, ‘Eggnog: A Holiday Mystery’ on Sunday, put on by the LBCC Performing Arts department.

The theme put a spin on what the usual type of music the orchestra and woodwind band chooses to do; instead of doing an outright Christmas-themed concert, the songs chosen were “holiday-adjacent” but with a “mysterious” feel.

LBCC orchestra conductor Roger Przytulski said that the current ensemble’s skills are the basis of how the music is picked and added a theme afterwards.

“We like to play stuff that is advanced because we have different abilities in our group and then we choose themes that correlate, like December but not fully ‘holiday-like’ as we run out of music over time. I chose pieces that have a mysterious and magical quality to them,” Przytulski  said.

The specific imagery of eggnog was considered a “colorful idea” by Przytulski and emulated a “soft holiday feel.”

However, the music played was anything but soft with very strong stringed instruments playing well-known classical pieces like “Dance of the Knights” from the ballet, “Romeo and Juliet”.

In the orchestra lineup, performer Abraham Corona, who’s been with LBCC for over five years was able to perform a solo on the tuba, which isn’t well known for it being a soloist instrument.

“This kind of an arrangement for a tuba, a big burly instrument, let it be able to be showcased. It means a lot to show people what a tuba can do,” Corona said. 

Though the big, burly and strong instruments were seen as a way to power the “mysterious” theme of the concert, the woodwind band lead by head conductor Brian Hamilton brought a more cheerful and festive mood for their performance.

Remixed arrangements of familiar holiday tunes were heard throughout the woodwind band’s set, including the compositions of “Jingle Them Bells” and “Three Wise Guys” which added a bit of flair to classic Christmas tunes.

The woodwind band closed out their set with holiday classic “Jingle Bells,” which Hamilton noted was requested yearly by students throughout his 25 years of conducting at LBCC before he finally allowed students to perform this year.

Hamilton noted that the group refrained from doing any actual holiday music performed stereotypically around Christmastime which served to be refreshing and new.

“There’s a different spirit to not doing traditional holiday music besides that one piece, the all around spirit of the music just feels different and has a different type of entertainment,” Hamilton said.

“Eggnog: A Holiday Mystery” was the final performance for both the orchestra and woodwind band for the semester and year; concerts will continue into next semester. 

The spring semester concerts are anticipated to be featured in the brand-new Performing Arts building, building G, that finished construction earlier on in the year.

EDITORIAL: Viking News challenges ASB President on anti-homeless remarks and anti-Black, anti-student accusations towards paper

The Viking News
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EDITORIAL: Viking News challenges ASB President on anti-homeless remarks and anti-Black, anti-student accusations towards paper

The ASB President made anti-homeless remarks in a later regretted “passionate but misguided” string of texts sent to a reporter, deeming petitioners as a safety threat after he speculated they were casing students while calling the same petitioners “panhandlers.” He then made unwarranted and ill-informed accusations of The Viking of being anti-Black and anti-student in a series of ranting interviews.

Priince Bass’ assumption that petitioners on campus are homeless “threats” and his accusations towards the paper were both ignorant and emotionally charged.

Bass said he “did not consent” to his messages being posted, but The Viking did not assure him the messages would not run, and believes that the public has the right to see their elected government official’s unfiltered comments sent to a Viking reporter.

Screenshots of the initial set of texts sent to a reporter by LBCC ASB President Priince Bass, in response to story published about a signature gatherer getting pushed and having his belongings taken, on Tuesday.

“We have raised it as a safety threat with student affairs because the are exploiting our students; taking there information and casing them. … they are under investigation,” Bass said in his message where he labeled petitioners as “panhandlers,” a common word for homeless people.

Bass backpeddled on his anti-homeless remark and claimed he was only talking about two isolated incidents he was not present for, one of which he claims involved a signature gatherer stealing a Black student’s necklace off his body and a student who got her phone stolen while signing a petition.

LBCC, a public campus, has many people soliciting on campus, including recruitment for gym memberships, Jehovah’s Witnesses and fundraisers for third-world countries, but Bass did not label these groups as “panhandlers,” only those who collect signatures for ballot measures with forms that Bass believes are “invalid” based on the date.

A police report was filed for the necklace theft and the specific suspect is under investigation, but “(the police) had no knowledge of hearing that (the suspect) was a petitioner,” according to campus police officer Kevin Stinson. The stolen phone incident has not been confirmed with the police by The Viking.

Bass’ inability to clarify his initial text messages without turning the focus to “protecting student safety” makes The Viking believe that he thinks students need to be protected from homeless people specifically, which is bigoted rhetoric that uses singular incidents to stigmatize entire groups.

In 2023, 53% of community college students in California reported they were housing insecure in a survey by the California Student Aid Commission. LBCC is a community college with students that utilize the Safe Parking Program offered to homeless students living out of their cars.

If Bass believes that students need to be protected from “panhandlers,” do students also need to be protected from the housing insecure students at LBCC?

Bass told The Viking he feels “absolutely not” responsible for students not knowing what they’re signing, but in his initial text said he told a petitioner “It’s my responsibility to look (after and) protect my students however I can,” after he claimed the petitioner verbally berated him when questioned on what students were asked to sign because Bass knew petitioners get paid per signature.

If Bass does not feel responsible for students not knowing what they’re signing, why does he continue to make the argument of student safety, saying they need to be “protected” from petitioners he labeled panhandlers?

“I love that we know our rights, right? But once again, don’t our students have a right to feel safe on campus? … Y’all are so anti-student. … I feel like I’m talking to like one of the uppers at the school,” Bass said.

Bass also accused the paper of being anti-Black in the series of ranting interviews. 

“If you can put your eyes in the limbs of a Black person for 30 seconds, … say, … ‘hey, I’m a Black person, let me see where I find myself and feel represented in these articles.’ … It’s something bad. It’s never a highlight of accomplishments,” Bass said.

He continued to criticize the fall semester’s second print issue, with no mention of the website where The Viking has highlighted Black student life throughout the semester. 

The Viking’s second print issue included a story about the return of the Historically Black Colleges and Universities transfer recruitment fair to LBCC, but Bass harped on the print edition’s lack of art for the story.

“Okay, first I’d like to say there’s been a gross misrepresentation of Black students in the school media, … we’re just assuming that there is a blind spot when it comes to Black students, as if they are invisible,” Bass said.

In November and December, The Viking published coverage on LBCC’s Black Student Success Center hosting its first talent show, the city of Compton hosting its first air and space fair to encourage Black youths to pursue careers in STEM, a follow up to the fair regarding how LBCC supports Black and Latino students in STEM, a Black artist’s process on his works that are “reappropriating the appropriator,” and Black student clubs coming together for the Black Student Success Center’s first annual Friendsgiving event. 

Bass said “we can’t even be the tokens no more” and claimed The Viking did not cover Black students outside of the month of February, unless it’s negative, asking the paper to publish positive coverage in other months.

“We are begging you. I, as a Black student, am begging you. ‘Hey, how can y’all help us stop from being represented so negatively in the media? … I know that sounds like a miracle. But hey, could we be there in March or April and May?,’” Bass said.

In March, The Viking published coverage of LBCC’s first Black elected officials panel, which ran in the spring semester’s only print issue, and a Black literature discussion with professor Angeli Francois.

In April, The Viking published a story about a workshop discussing the art of Vogue dancing and Black influence in ballroom culture with guest speaker Cali Nike.

In May, stories included a senior construction manager who calls herself “Black Rosie the Riveter,” a play that portrayed Black history through dramatic monologue, the celebration of Black success for the Black Student Success Center’s one year anniversary, LBCC’s Black graduation celebration and a profile on Bass himself.

Bass called attention to coverage of a woman’s fight with security, which she called her “iconic moment,” during rapper Cardi B’s Long Beach meet-and-greet event in September.

The Viking posted a follow-up video interview with Harmoney Karat Gold in October, who had no problem with her fight being published because she stood her ground and defended herself and her cousin.

“What Viking News does sometimes does a good job at minimizing the human experience … and we understand it’s the business, right? … People have to read the newspaper, right? Put something about me on there. People gonna click on it all the time. … Put all the clickbait stuff over the front page, but when you open up this newspaper, let it be more Black people,” Bass said.

The Viking published and distributed three physical issues from October to December and every issue included a Black presence.

The first issue positively highlighted Gold’s “iconic moment” on the cover and on a two-page spread along with DJ Mustard making a surprise halftime show performance for a rivalry high school football game at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

The second issue included the return of the HBCU Caravan to LBCC for the first time in eight years.

The third issue included Compton’s first air and space fair which encouraged Black youths to pursue careers in STEM, and highlighted support for LBCC’s Black and Latino students in STEM majors, as well as provided coverage of a Black artist’s work that addressed racism.

“The paper might be anti-LBCC …  Y’all just journalize, right, because y’all don’t report to nobody … So if you all put out something and it would put students in jeopardy or harm’s way, y’all might not care, right? But we have to, me as a student body president, I have to care. I know y’all got to get y’all’s clicks up, y’all’s engagement … I got it,” Bass said.

The Viking News is a student-run newspaper in full control of what is posted, at the student editor-in-chief’s discretion, and has a staff of editors and reporters that push to equally cover stories on and off campus, including cultural heritage month events hosted by the school and its clubs, crime and sports, only limited by reporters’ schedules.

If Bass believes that The Viking News’ print coverage is not substantial, reporters recommend joining the team, sending a letter to the editor at lbccviking@gmail.com or going to lbccviking.com to read more.

Bass’ ignorant claim of signature gatherers being a threat to student safety is a generalization of constitutionally protected petitioners and misleads students about safety risks on campus, with his accusations of the paper being anti-Black and anti-student being unwarranted and baseless. 

All of Bass’ messages sent to The Viking are displayed below.

Screenshots of the initial set of texts sent to a reporter by LBCC ASB President Priince Bass, in response to story published about a signature gatherer getting pushed and having his belongings taken, on Tuesday.

Screenshots of the text messages sent to reporters after two over-the-phone interviews by on Wednesday.

International Culture Fest turns campus quad into global marketplace

Diosa Hippolyta
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International Culture Fest turns campus quad into global marketplace

LAC’s A Quad transformed into a hub of global music, food and dancing that brought a sense of home to campus at the third annual International Cultural Fest on Nov. 19.

Live Mexican banda music by the Molina Vargas Brothers and Japanese taiko drumming by Ryujin Taiko served as invitations for students to try Vietnamese lemongrass roasted chicken, Mexican beans with onion, cilantro and salsa, Cambodian “bai cha” fried rice with egg, carrots, green beans, lime, cilantro and Thai basil and lemongrass tea provided by the culinary arts department.

The band Hermanos Molina Vargas consisting of Nayeli Molina Vargas, right, John Molina Vargas, left, and Jorge Molina Vargas perform “Te Esperare” and an Ecuadorian waltz by Julio Jaramillo during Long Beach City College’s International Cultural Festival on Nov. 19. The group became a crowd favorite, and gave an encore for a second song. (Isaiah Ryan)

“We want to expose students to cultural comfort foods that remind them of home or places they visit. … One of the things that I am most proud of is having the opportunity to expose students not only to the program, but to different foods they may not have tasted before. Seeing students crawl at the beginning and run at the end is enlightening“ Juan Lopez, an assistant culinary arts professor said regarding students both making and trying new dishes.

Performances included an Uyghur Ethnic Drum dance by Ling’s Dance Academy, Cambodian Peacock Dance by Khmer Culture and Arts Association of California, “Binasuan”, a Filipino folk dance by Pinaypages and Cambodian Blessing Dance by Mera Dance Troupe. 

Members of Pinaypages, representing the Philippines, perform Tinikling, the national folk dance that imitates the movements of the tikling bird as it avoids bamboo traps, with dancers stepping between clapping bamboo poles in a display of agility and endurance at Long Beach City College’s International Cultural Festival on Nov. 19. (Isaiah Ryan)

“We have some great cultural performances and our culinary department has prepared foods from about five different countries,” said Nina Richardson, Director of International Studies. 

Attendees had the opportunity to place their ancestral roots on a map using a colored sticker to identify the over 30 cultures represented at the festival.

“It’s amazing and looks nice and each year it gets better and better with all the decorations and the atmosphere. It feels like an international market, … I encourage them (students) to get involved, to learn, but also travel to undeveloped countries, so when you go there you see how people are living with limited resources, but live happily.” Cambodia Town Chair Sithea San said.

The event allowed over 20 clubs and organizations to showcase many different countries that make up the student body through fundraising and program opportunities.

The crowd cheers after the band Hermanos Molina Vargas performed “Te Esperare” and an Ecuadorian waltz by Julio Jaramillo during Long Beach City College’s International Cultural Festival on Nov. 19. (Isaiah Ryan)

“What has been successful is the teamwork, help from the volunteers and the clubs that arrived on time to help set up the event.  I am just expecting people to have fun today,” International Students Club President James Trinh said.

Chai tea cookies, Russian layered honey cake with sweet sour cream filling, Japanese coffee jello with condensed milk, Mexican pan dulce were some desserts made and sold by clubs.

The chai tea cookies infused with cinnamon and nutmeg, Thai tea cookies with white chocolate, and matcha cookies were sold by the Asian Pacific Islander and Desi Club.  

“We want to showcase and highlight APID flavors,” said Raeven Ramos, president of the Asian Pacific Islander and Desi Club.

The event was co-sponsored for the second year by the Sister Cities of Long Beach, a non-profit organization that promotes international partnerships with cities around the world and offers students the opportunities to learn through their Digital Pen Pal Program, Youth Artists and Authors Showcase and foreign exchange opportunities.

“We are promoting peace through people and diplomacy, “ Sister Cities of Long Beach Chairman of the Board Richer San said.

Art exhibit displays the transgender and nonbinary experience 

Regi Melchor
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Art exhibit displays the transgender and nonbinary experience 

Long Beach City College’s PRIDE scholars hosted the inaugural “Hello, My name is:….,” Pop Up Art exhibit focused on nonbinary and transgender communities within the LGBTQ+ spectrum, and it focused on identity.

Watercolors, images exhibiting split expressions, sculptures and digital stories were on display on Thursday with the art exhibit being held at LAC in P-113 and in the courtyard. The exhibit had an early showing from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. and then a reception and second showing from 5 to 7 p.m. as a place for students to show their art to the public. 

The purpose of the gallery aimed to both honor and highlight the experiences of students and foster understanding, visibility and appreciation for the struggles and obstacles on the ongoing journey towards equality and acceptance. 

Guests were greeted with pronoun buttons to select and keep as a token of appreciation and respect. Post-Its and pens were available for guests to write notes to the artists leaving positive feedback and support during the interactive experience.

One of the artists in the exhibit was Acaua Tildon better known as just Acaua and they had a piece called ‘Untitled,” which was created with vivid blue water color and colored pencil on a white canvas background.  

“Through a kaleidoscope, we see multiple versions of ourselves. In this way, we are able to find the essence of who we can fully be,” Acaua said on the artist label posted next to the art piece. 

Acaua was not able to present during the earlier exhibit, as they were still in the process of finishing their piece. 

“I really was working on it even this morning! I thought I would not finish. So seeing that people liked it, it is exciting,” Acaua said. 

Acaua’s piece featured a look that depicted separate painting pieces that were collaged into one 

“Well it’s like little minis. The middle is a painting about this process of transformation. All introspective from the cocoon then we have this type of kaleidoscope. It’s all introspective self reflection, and the way that gender is not binary,” says Acaua. 

Acaua then described the personal aspect of their piece referring to it as being about themselves. 

“I feel like this is a thing that I often like, catching myself thinking about it. I often think about myself.”

Another artist within the exhibit was Jasper Ruiz, a first year student who was excited to participate in the first exhibit of this kind on campus. 

Ruiz shared their thoughts on the art exhibit saying, “It’s to bring light to transphobia.”

Ruiz considers themselves nonbinary trans masc describing their identity as being able to present one day as more feminine and another more masculine, “I am nonbinary and trans masc so for me its not exclusively male I can also choose to present female some days.”

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