The Vikings were able to beat Antelope Valley 3-0 after a violation against Antelope Valley gave the Vikings the game winning point on March 5.
“It feels good to win, obviously we had some slow parts, but those slow parts show us things that we can work on for the next game,” said setter Willy Wang, “I think we’re all in agreement that we have things that we can work on, which makes us good as a team.”
Both teams started the first set with great defense however the Vikings came through as they were able to take advantage of the mistakes from Antelope Valley.
Outside hitter Bryce Bowsher scored the last point of the set allowing the Vikings to win the first set with a score of 25-16.
The second set didn’t start the way the Vikings hoped it would as Antelope Valley was able to take a three point lead.
“Sometimes they get a little out of hand and they just need to recenter, and things usually end up alright at that point, so that’s kind of what happened,” said Coach Joshua Nehls.
The Vikings were able to tie the game with points from outside hitter Alden Jacobs, as the score continued to go back and forth, but the Vikings were able to get the win 25-22.
“The second set, it was mostly just us making errors and not earning enough points, and that’s what let them come back, but we just went back on our principles and slowed the ball down a little bit to reduce our errors,” said Bowsher.
In the third set the Vikings started off with a multiple point lead as Jacobs and Bowsher scored the majority of the points as the Vikings won the set 25-11.
After this win the Vikings now have a record of 6-5 overall and 2-1 in the conference with a two game winning streak.
As for the standings, the Vikings are in first place in the North division-central which is part of the California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA).
The next time that the Vikings play Antelope Valley will be March 28 at 6 p.m. in Antelope Valley.
As President Donald Trump continues to crackdown on immigration policies, the unrest continues in Los Angeles, California, as protestors take to the streets once again in Mariachi Plaza, Boyle Heights on March 3.
The protest was organized by the Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL) where it began in Mariachi Plaza and was led down the streets of LA following a truck filled with musicians and public speakers.
“We are coming out here to defend the rights of immigrants, we have a large undocumented community in Los Angeles and it is our duty to protect them,” said organizer Danielle Torres with PSL.
Speakers began the protest, members from non-profits and community based programs such as Celebration Nation Foundation, Immigo LA, and the National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON).
“All they have to do is see if there is an oligarchy that is running this country right now, an oligarchy that we are going to defeat together, and it will require a movement of all people,” said Pablo Alvarado, co-executive director of NDLON.
After the speakers music filled the crowd and the march began circling into the city and concluded back into the plaza.
The protest at peak was met with under 100 protestors as compared to similar walks the weeks beforehand.
Protestors walk down the streets of Los Angeles on March 3, holding flags and banners in support of immigrants in the United States. The protest was in response to the recent attacks by the Trump Administration. (Sam Villa)
Osvaldo Delgado, left, confronting a masked protestor, right, for tagging a bridge column during the “Day Without Immigrants” Protest on March 3. (Enrique Martinez)
A mother kissing her daughter before the start of the marching for the “Day Without Immigrants” protest on March 3. (Enrique Martinez)
Student protestor Juan Jimenez climbs a post waving a Mexican flag overlooking a crowd of protestors in the “A Day Without Immigrants” protest as it marches down the city. The protest started in Boyle Heights at the historic Mariachi Plaza and was led down the streets of Los Angeles on Mar. 3. (Sam Villa)
A protestor wearing a luchador mask, blows a horn in Boyle Height’s Mariachi Plaza before the “Day Without Immigrants” protest on March 3 began. (Enrique Martinez)
A crowd of protesters march down the road during the “Day Without Immigrants” protest on March 3, organized by the Party of Socialism and Liberation. (Enrique Martinez)
Students from East Los Angeles Renaissance Academy coordinated with school staff to walk out and participate in the protest, many taking public transport to meet up with other friends and classmates.
“I have long time friends who are a part of these communities like this, so I’m concerned all the time,” said student protestor Aris Clark.
Most student walkouts have been led by the high schools, however the students who attended the march ranged from middle school to college students.
“Our goal was to bring awareness to our school, because I’m gonna be honest, it’s really whitewashed,” said student organizer Marie Vargas, “So we started a presentation for the whole school and then that’s when we said we were gonna do this walkout.”
While the protest remained peaceful for the majority of the time, there were moments of high stress between protestors as well as arguments between observers and protestors.
The twice a month Beach Flea market meant to celebrate all things Betty Boop this week turned into a battle against the elements on Sunday March 2, as powerful winds sent tents tumbling and vendors scrambling to keep their merchandise from flying away.
The outdoor market located at the TTC campus, dedicated to the iconic 1930s cartoon character, was designed to immerse attendees in a nostalgic atmosphere with themed decorations, collectibles and vintage-inspired fashion, but with wind gusts reaching up to 30 mph the focus quickly shifted from classic animation to chaos.
Vendors specializing in Betty Boop figurines, posters and clothing saw their inventory scattered, with some reporting broken items, while others struggled to keep their tents from collapsing under the relentless gusts.
Nicole Hicks, a vendor selling vintage clothing, was less concerned about promoting her merchandise than she was about the weather.
“Are we going to talk about these insane winds? It has made it really difficult for me today. I had to take down my tent and I’m constantly picking up clothes off the ground,” said Hicks.
“The Beach Flea Market” vendor Nicole Hicks on March 2 at TTC. (Jose Calix)
Some vendors attempted to reinforce their tents using extra weights, but others ultimately chose to pack up early, unable to keep their booths intact.
Vendors were even expressing concerns about customer safety such as Abby Divas, a vendor selling vintage clothing.
“It’s really stressful because you don’t want any customers to get hurt and I think staff and security should help out more in situations like this, maybe even providing weights for vendors who don’t have them,” said Divas.
While many vendors were caught off guard, others came prepared after receiving a weather advisory from organizers, such as Savannah Medina, a vendor who remembered to check her email.
“Luckily we came prepared since we did get an email the night before telling us about high winds and to make sure we had adequate weight, which was great because wind is the one thing I always forget to check,” said Medina.
Despite the chaotic conditions, Medina seemed a little bit more optimistic about the situation and noted that the wind didn’t seem to scare off too many shoppers.
“Security and staff did a great job helping us and making sure the space was safe for customers and the wind didn’t seem to deter too many people. The other vendors were super supportive as well and when our neighbor took her canopy down she let us use her extra weights which really made the difference,” said Medina.
Though the event didn’t go as planned, vendors and shoppers alike agreed it was a market to remember—just not for the Betty Boop theme.
On Feb. 27, Superintendent-President Mike Munoz hosted a webinar regarding the school’s introduction of “limited zones,” on-campus designated spaces for students or employees who may feel threatened by immigration enforcement.
Limited zones will be located on both campuses, LAC and TTC, and would also include classrooms while classes are in session.
“We made sure to strategically place these limited zones in locations monitored by staff,” said Nohel Corral, who co-hosted the event.
Limited zones will be secured by key cards, locked doors, and discrete entry points.
“They are rooms that you wouldn’t be able to see from a hallway or from outside,” said Corral.
Importantly, immigration enforcement is not allowed to enter without proper warrants.
Once limited zones were explained, Administrative Vice President, Candace Jones, took the time to explain Administrative Procedure (AP) 3415.
AP 3415 is a policy which specifies non-participation in immigration enforcement activities by a school, and how students and employees should follow it.
“The important action that we need everyone to do is stay calm,” said Jones.
If confronted by an immigration enforcement agent, AP 3415 instructs students and employees to immediately call the offices of the Superintendent-President, campus safety, or public safety.
“Employees are expected to contact my office if there are any problems,” said Munoz when asked about the school’s plan if ICE were to come on campus.
An authorized designee will then verify any presented warrants, ensure that the warrant was signed by a judge, and that the agent will only be searching the areas described in the warrant.
Jones listed LBCC campus police as another resource, and ensured both students and employees that the college will provide the available resources to support them if they come into contact with any ICE officials.
“LBCC understands the importance of staying proactive to changing circumstances,” said Corral when asked about the unlikely possibility of any state policy changes regarding immigration.
“We’ll reevaluate and shift strategies to protect our students and employees,” said Corral.
Corral further recommended students and employees can go to the Centro CHA – Immigration Legal Services website for more information and resources at: https://centrocha.org/immigration-legal-services/
CORRECTION: A previous version of the story misspelled Ennette Morton’s last name as “Morten.” It also referred to Uduak-Joe Ntuk as an honorary member of the Board of Trustees rather than a member of LBCC’s Board of Trustees. An earlier version failed to include that Long Beach City Councilwoman Tunua Thrash-Ntuk was a panelist.
Long Beach City College’s Black Student Success Center hosted its first Black Elected Officials Panel gathering prominent Black leaders in Long Beach for a conversation about leadership, racial equity, and overcoming today’s current challenges in our community on Feb. 26.
Key speakers included Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson, District 9 Council Member Joni Ricks-Oddie, Long Beach Unified School District Board Member Erik Miller, LBCC Trustee Uduak-Joe Ntuk, Long Beach City Councilwoman Tunua Thrash-Ntuk, LBCC Trustee Ennette Morton, led in conversation by LBCC’s Executive Director of Public Affairs and Marketing, Carl Kemp.
The event was hosted by Black Student Success Coordinator, Angela Fowlkes and the LBCC Black Student Success Center.
The speakers had time to share their personal background and journeys in leadership as well as their motivation for their work in Long Beach and plans for the future.
The speakers held a panel for students to get answers for questions they may have had.
The conversation focused on the role of Black change-makers in both the local community and the nation, as well as ways Black students and people of color can advocate for their advancement while partnering with other groups to address collective issues.
“We are a model in Long Beach…in areas where Black representation is shrinking based on demographics, we are changing systems to add more representation…in our city,” said Mayor Rex Richardson.
There was some humor shared among the panelists, but the overall tone of the event was geared to motivate LBCC Black students to walk in power and take the future of the community into their own hands.
“Don’t try to manage the moment. Be bold, be loud, be consistent,” said Councilmember Joni Ricks-Oddie.
A statement was made on the need for support while rising in leadership.
“We don’t always have to agree, but you always have our support. To have that support in doing something that has been done for the first time has been a really, really important component in my success,” said Erik Miller.
The current challenges facing LBUSD students were also addressed with plans to implement more social workers and psychologists.
After the panel, the speakers made it known that job openings for interested students were available with the city.
The audience was encouraged to exchange information with the officials and to continue the work for equity and change in Long Beach.
“You want me to hook you up, but you better be hook-up-able,” joked Uduak-Joe Ntuk, referencing the audience’s ability to take the opportunities that were being offered.
The event ended with introductions and one-on-one conversations between the speakers and audience members as they prepared for further events to happen throughout the city.
Vikings baseball won 18-5 against the LA Harbor College Seahawks at the Tuesday afternoon home game.
The Vikings started the game strong, with the Seahawks striking out before earning any runs.
Second baseman Danny Rodriguez and pitcher Max Ghiglieri stole both third and second base, respectively, with Cross Stephens at bat.
Stephens subsequently earned a walk to first.
The next batter, first baseman Aaron Mingo, earned a hit, allowing Rodriguez to reach home plate.
Unfortunately, Ghiglieri was tagged out in the same play.
Infielder Eshua Desai followed hit a double, allowing both Mingo and Stevens to cross home plate, bringing the score to 4-0.
The Vikings had an even better performance in the next inning, with six runs scored, for a total of 10-0.
Neither team earned any points in the third and fourth innings, with the two teams quickly striking each other out in both innings.
Ryan Lopetegui made the first home run of the game.
“That’s my fourth one this season,” said Lopetegui.
Another home run was hit in the sixth inning by Eduardo Diaz.
In the same inning, many benched players were added to the batters lineup.
“We actually ended up with a totally different lineup today by the end. None of our starters finished the game,” head coach Casey Crook said.
The Vikings scored an additional five more points, bringing the score to 18-0.
The subsequent seventh inning was the shortest, with both teams striking out by their third batters.
In the eighth inning, as the Seahawks started earning some runs back, first baseman Logan Thurman was injured by a ball to the eye.
He ended up throwing it over cause I think he thought he wasn’t gonna get there in time and I tried to get my face in it like you always do with a pick,” he said about the incident.
Thurman was out for the remainder of the game.
The eighth inning ended with a score of 18-2.
LA Harbor scored only three more points in the final inning before striking out and the game ending with a final score of 18-5.
“We came in, like we always do, with the anticipation to win,” said Lopetegui, reflecting on the game.
With this win, Vikings Baseball now has a two game winning streak, a conference record of 4-3, and their overall record now at 9-8.
The opening night of the musical “In the Heights” is this Friday, March 7 at 7:30 p.m. in the Bob and Barbara Ellis Auditorium, located in the J building on the LAC campus.
For the first time in 18 years, LBCC’s departments of theatre, music, and dance have come together to produce and perform this musical.
This production has been in the works since the summer 2024, when the director of this upcoming musical, Mark Anthony Vallejo received an email from the chair of the Performing Arts Department, Peter Knapp asking him to direct a musical titled “In the Heights,” which the department had selected for Vallejo to produce.
Although the director had been conceptualizing the musical since he accepted the offer, the musical didn’t come to life until late Dec. 2024, when he had finally received the rights for the musical.
With this came the script of the musical which allowed Vallejo to finally start mapping out the positions of the characters in each scene, in technical terms, he was in charge of “blocking” out the entire play.
“That is the director’s job, it’s to visualize the blocking, the visual storytelling, and they do that by understanding what the scene is about and showing that on stage,” Director Vallejo said.
Vallejo worked alongside a talented production team of set designers, lighting designers, costume designers, sound designers and an orchestra to really bring the world of “In the Heights” to life.
“This is a show about folks that immigrated from the Dominican Republic, from Cuba, from Mexico, from Puerto Rico, so you’re going to see a lot of salsa, a lot of Latin Music. Great dancing, and there’s also a lot of rap in there, which Lin-Manuel Miranda is known for and hip-hop. Then it kind of also has those pop flavors too from the early 2000’s. Salsa, meringue, there’s rumba in there, it’s great music,” said Skye Angulo, the vocal music director.
A large factor in selecting the musical “In the Heights” was because it represents the diverse Latinx population that is an important aspect of the musical, and a important part of the community present at LBCC.
For his production of “In the Heights,” Vallejo took inspiration from Lin-Manuel Miranda’s 2008 Broadway show, but aimed to make his rendition of the musical more modern, as he set out to tell the story in his own unique way.
“When you see a show of Mark Anthony, people are going to know my style, slow motion, poetic, visual imageries, magic realism. That’s the thing you would see when it comes to a Mark Anthony show, it’s going to be bold, it’s going to be passionate,” Vallejo said when asked what to expect from the play.
“In the Heights” is a story that takes place in Washington Heights, a neighborhood in New York whose population is made up of first-generation and second-generation Latinx immigrants.
Dimly lit stage for the play “In the Heights” on Tuesday, March, 4 at LBCC Bob and Barbara Ellis Auditorium. The play will open for the public on Friday, March, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15 and 16. (Jose Calix)
The main character, Usnavi De La Vega, who is played by Joel Rodriguez, is a young adult who immigrated from the Dominican Republic with his parents when he was just a baby, but his parents died shortly after, leaving him to be raised by Abuela Claudia, an elder in the Washington Heights community.
Although De La Vega is the protagonist, the musical also follows the lives of other young community members like Nina, played by Daisy Johnson, a freshman at Stanford who drops out and returns to the neighborhood.
Alongside is Vanessa, played by Natalia Carrera, a young adult who works at a hair shop, but is eager to leave Washington Heights in hopes for a better life.
Closely related to the Latinx and immigration representation that the musical showcases, topics like gentrification, the American dream, and having a community are also explored in this musical.
“What we see in the heights is a community supporting each other through the toughest of times, a community celebrating together, and a community who no matter what location they’re in, they’re always going to be at home. I think that’s just really telling to our Latinx blood and identities that we stick together, no matter what happens,” Vallejo said.
The actors have been rehearsing for five hours each weekday over the span of two months in preparation for this musical.
“I’m so excited because this is a beautiful story that I know anyone could relate to. Everyone has a grandmother and there’s Abuela in the story. Everyone has a dream and it speaks about a couple of the characters have dreams, big dreams, and everyone will relate to this and they’ll love the singing because the songs are beautiful. They’ll love the dancing, it’s really artsy,” said David Chhom, who plays Graffiti Pete.
Along with its opening night on March 7 at 7:30 p.m., the musical will also be performed the following day on March 8 at 7:30 p.m. and on March 9 at 2 p.m.
The show will continue into the following week on March 14 and 15 at 7:30 p.m. and it plans to close out on March 16 at 2 p.m.
Right fielder Ryan Lopetegui hit a triple in the bottom of the ninth inning as the Vikings lost 19-5 to Rio Hondo on Thursday.
“We don’t really come to play our best game every day, so they need to individually figure out how to be ready to play to win every time they show up and then if we do that individually we will be able to do it as a group moving forward,” said Coach Casey Crook.
The first three innings remained scoreless for both teams, as both teams were unable to capitalize when runners did get on base.
The scoring didn’t start until the top of the fourth inning when Rio Hondo hit a single to pitcher Logan Carr, however, Carr slipped when trying to field the ball allowing the runner to come from third, scoring the first run of the game.
Rio Hondo was able to add on more runs during this inning with two hit by pitches, an error allowing the runner to reach first, and a fielder’s choice making the 5-0 Rio Hondo.
However, in the fifth inning, the Vikings allowed a walk, an error, and a single before making a pitching change to pitcher Johann Gibbs.
Gibbs gave up five hits as Rio Hondo scored six more runs making the score 11-0.
The Vikings made another pitching change in the top of the sixth inning replacing Gibbs with pitcher Sean Lovett, to which Lovett gave up two hits, two runs, and two walks making the score 13-0.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, the Vikings scored their first few runs, when center fielder Danny Rodriguez hit a two-run home run and second baseman Alejandro Rosas hit a single making the score 15-3.
Outfielder Danny Gill hits a single and sets up the Vikings for scoring. (Diosa Hippolyta)
“I’m not really thinking about hitting a home run right there, I’m just trying to put in a good at bat and get the next guy up, but I mean it’s tough in situations like that,” Rodriguez said.
In the ninth inning, both teams were able to add more runs, as Rio Hondo scored four runs and the Vikings were able to score two runs making the final score 19-5.
Pitcher Marcos Orizaba pitches to Rio Hondo in the top of the nineth. (Isabel Murty)
“Just keep our heads up and get going for the next game,” said Rosas when asked about what the team can do better at.
The Vikings currently have an overall record of 7-8, a conference record of 2-3, and a home record of 3-5.
LBCC’s Student Health Services held a poetry workshop entitled “Affirmations and Poetry” on Monday, Feb. 24 in the T-1300 building of the LAC campus.
The workshop was led by nurse and poet Alex Petunia who guided students in journal making, writing and supplied the event with various art supplies, typewriters, and writing templates.
Petunia, who works as a registered nurse, began her poetry journey through studying in a 10 month writing program with the Community Literature Initiative.
She has published poetry works which include her book, “Tending My Wild,” a collection of poems about Petunia’s own self reflection and personal experiences.
“While working in healthcare during COVID-19, writing was a pathway to stay grounded and a mode of self care,” Petunia said.
She continued sharing about why she writes, and said, “I really love to build connections, I write personalized poetry for people on the spot and I have been able to meet a lot of great people that way, I want to encourage writing poetry because I find it to be healing.”
Petunia started off the workshop by greeting students, introducing herself, and proceeded to start her warm up writing exercise by setting a two minute timer so students could write about whatever came to their mind.
Petunia designed the environment to feel open and relaxing, playing soft music and approaching students with an easygoing attitude.
She encouraged attendees to share their poetry depending on what they were comfortable with, making for a low pressure atmosphere.
Many attendees such as LBCC student, Eric Crayton, expressed feelings of relaxation after the workshop.
“The workshop was fun and one of the first times I’ve felt calm in a while since college is so stressful. I want to use what I learned today and share this calming experience with my friends and family who are stressed,” Crayton said.
Workshop leader Alex Petunia (right) hands out stationary and journal making supplies to students Marja Needham (right), Eric Crayton (left), and Jacqueline Evans (left) during the “Affirmations and Poetry” workshop on Monday Feb. 24, 2025. These materials were personally supplied by Petunia. (Penny Lott)
Petunia passed out an assortment of stationary and supplies such as blank journals, stickers, and decorated paper which she let students take home to continue working on their writing.
The attendees, such as LBCC student Jacqueline Evans, seemed excited about making the journals and using a typewriter, which she had never done before.
“I enjoyed the event and found it really inspirational. My favorite part was getting materials for creating my own journal and using all the cool stickers and stuff,” Evans said.
The workshop had students leaving with new skills and a sense of self reflection as they spent the time learning and reaching within to experiment with a new mode of self expression.
After an exciting game the Vikings take a victory against Rio Hondo College, winning after a high scoring game of 13-4 on Saturday.
“There is not much time to prepare in between games, we had to rely on our mental toughness,” said Coach Casey Crook when asked on how he prepared the team for the game.
“I want to be a big contribution for the team whether it’s batting or pitching,” said LBCC pitcher Max Ghiglieri when asked about his performance.
The game started with two slow innings, with not much action.
During the third inning, third baseman Eshua Desai started the count for the Vikings with a thunderous home run making the score 1-0.
The fifth inning was a high point for the game as both teams scored, the Vikings scored three runs and Rio Hondo scored two.
During the sixth inning the Vikings scored a total of four runs by players second baseman Cross Stephens, first baseman Aaron Mingo, Dasai and catcher Eduardo Diaz who scored for LBCC.
In the seventh inning with two bases occupied by players Stephens and Mingo, LBCC third baseman Desai hit his second home run of the game.
“I just had to find my timing,” said Desai when asked about his performance.
In the eighth inning, pitcher Ghiglieri hit an RBI which brought in right fielder Ryan Lopetegui and center fielder Danny Rodriguez to score two runs.
During the ninth inning the Vikings managed to finish the game without scoring.
“We have to get mentally tougher,” said coach Crook referring to a way to win future games.
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