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First-Year Head Coach, Bradley Adamson, Takes Home ‘Coach Of The Year’ Conference Award

Frederick Iwuagwu
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First-Year Head Coach, Bradley Adamson, Takes Home ‘Coach Of The Year’ Conference Award

For the first time in 16 years, Long Beach City College women’s swim team won its first South Coast Conference Championships title, which rightfully earned first-year head coach, Bradley Adamson, the coach of the year award.

LBCC represented three out of the five recipients in the SCC swim and diving awards this year with athletes Atiya Yuwana and Kyle Barrett receiving the Co-Swimmer of the year award as well.

It was able to break Mt. Saint Antonio’s streak of winning four consecutive titles. 

“I plan on continuing this. It’s my first year as a head coach, and I just want to really establish ourselves as a championship program,” said Adamson. 

Adamson has been coaching the LBCC’s swim team since 2015, but has even deeper roots as he was a student-athlete for the school from 2010 to 2012.

Between 2012 and 2015 he swam at the Olivet Nazarene University in Illinois and started assistant coaching his last year there before returning to Long Beach. 

The window of opportunity opened for Adamson to assist coach Dave Costa with water polo and swimming while Coach Oeding was away at the Rio Olympics. 

Oeding was serving as the assistant coach for the USA Women’s Water Polo team, when Oeding returned Adamson was able to stay with the team in Long Beach and continue coaching. 

Adamson admitted that this position fell into his lap. Without hesitation he knew it was the right choice to stay. “Being here just felt like home,” Adamson said. 

Adamson grew up here and has hometown ties which is why he carries the love and compassion it takes to continue to raise the bar for LBCC’s aquatics program. 

He reveals that the team bonding amongst the athletes is nothing short of solid and connected. 

Being able to work together as a team is vital in rising to the next level and sustaining a team that can be considered top tier and that can take home titles and break records. 

Next week the State Championships will take place and Adamson hopes for a strong finish for all of his swimmers. 

They are back to training this week to prepare and get ahead with the goal in mind of being able to rest a little leading into the Championships. 

One main focus Coach Adamson wants to continue to work on is the visualization for his swimmers. Being able to walk through and picture the event in their mind before competing is something he believes to be a key element in a successful race. 

Opinion: It’s time get back to live concerts

Eduardo Gomez
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Opinion: It’s time get back to live concerts

After more than two years since the pandemic began, it’s clear that COVID is becoming endemic and it’s time to return to in-person concerts and help bring back job opportunities to the entertainment industry.

As more and more people continue to get vaccinated, mass gatherings of people in closed and open areas will begin to occur more frequently. 

This of course includes musical concerts; both large-scale multiple-day festivals and smaller concerts at local venues. 

Pollstar, an entertainment trade publication, estimated that the concert industry lost $30 billion in 2020 alone.

The return to in-person events gives a lifeline not only to artists, but also to others whose income depends heavily on ticket sales and other concert-related profits.

Some of the people that rely heavily on events include security, food vendors, booking agents and event planners.

Many of the companies that employed these positions were unable to continue working yet at the same time did not qualify for the government assistance that other small businesses were benefiting from. This led to a lot of them shutting down either permanently or temporarily until in-person shows and tours returned.

John Lares is a booking agent who founded Cielo Agency in 2016 and has since accumulated a clientele that includes over 20 musicians from various genres. 

“We were completely shut down (during the pandemic),” Lares said. “Our business is based on production, tours and concerts so we really weren’t making any money.” 

“I pivoted to another industry for the time being, software automation, which is now helping me post-pandemic in expediting the process of booking and saving time in that process,” Lares said. 

When asked about his thoughts on the current music scene, Lares said that he feels it is “almost back to normal. In a situation where no one tests positive for covid, venues are at their legal capacities and people aren’t wearing masks indoors anymore. So we’re almost at that back to normal phase.”

For many fans, the opportunity to finally see live music and once again feel the atmosphere of a concert is long overdue.

“I basically went to the first concert I could,” said Victor Alvarado, a student at LBCC. “I was never really able to wrap my head around paying for a virtual concert ticket so it was nice to be able to be a part of that concert environment again.” 

The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival was held for the first time since it was cancelled in 2019. (Photo by Eddie Gomez)

Victor went on to mention how “anyone who doesn’t feel comfortable being in a crowd full of unmasked people is more than welcome to wear one themselves.” 

Going to a concert does not necessarily mean you have to put yourself completely at risk, the majority of festival organizers took strict precautions to bring back in-person events.

Most events in LA County still require proof of vaccination or a negative Covid test within 24-48 hours before the concert is taking place. 

In addition to this, venues are also taking other measures such as requiring masks, limiting attendance to allow for social distancing and implementing touchless payment systems at their shows. 

Although it is possible that some of these additional measures may increase ticket prices, most of the increases could be caused by inflation. 

Those who believe it is not time to bring back live entertainment must recognize the efforts that the industry has put into bringing back concerts and festivals and also take into consideration how many people would benefit from it, artists and employees alike.

Olivia Ramirez: A Cerebral Captain and a Vocal Leader

Frederick Iwuagwu
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Olivia Ramirez: A Cerebral Captain and a Vocal Leader

Olivia Ramirez is a pitcher for the LBCC softball team who helped bring her team to victory 27 times this season. She has exhibited grit and relentlessness to overcome injuries, become a leader in the clubhouse, and is labeled one of the captains for the Vikings.

“I love seeing the outcome of hard work,” Ramirez said in regard to what motivates her.

Softball seemed like a natural choice to Ramirez due to her vocal personality.

“I’m a pretty vocal person, so I believe that softball was my calling,” Ramirez said while recalling her stint as a golfer.

The LBCC coaching staff has influenced her progress in softball and beyond.

“They actually care and are here to help us,” Ramirez said. “They believe in us, they show up for us on a level that’s even bigger than just softball. If you need anything, they are there for you.” 

Coach Fa Leilua has become a role model to Ramirez. Her straightforward coaching style has made an impact on Ramirez’s transition from high school to college.

“I wasn’t ready to transition to a four-year university. I think being here definitely prepared me and makes me want to go to a four-year school,” Ramirez said when asked of LBCC’s influence on her athletic career. “She won’t tell me what I want to hear, but instead, what I need to hear.”

Her father, who attends home games in his lucky seat in the top row on the far left of the bleachers, has been a role model to Ramirez. 

“Just like me, my dad has had a lot of injuries and has been through some surgeries. He has a lot of perseverance,” Ramirez said.

Ramirez is also a youth softball coach in her spare time. She plans on playing softball at the highest level. But also has her sights set on a career that goes beyond the playing field. She plans on earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s in sports psychology.

To LBCC infielder Jennifer Aguilar, Ramirez’s leadership is a natural for her personality, “Olivia is very hardworking and has the traits of a great leader, it’s no wonder that she’s a coach.”

Softball For Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner: Alia Marquez, the captain with a one-track mind

Frederick Iwuagwu
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Softball For Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner: Alia Marquez, the captain with a one-track mind

Alia Marquez is a captain on the softball team at LBCC with a total of 27 wins this season. Her leadership has been paramount to the comradery that these women have built throughout the season.

“She is always on top of everything and if something isn’t right, she’ll be the first one to point it out and guide the team,” Jenifer Aguilar, the LBCC infielder said.

Attitude is the backbone to the success of Marquez. Her ability to be self-aware and lift herself out of a negative mindset allows Marquez to keep moving forward.

Not only does Marquez lead the Vikings into battle on the diamond at LBCC, she also coaches softball for the nationwide organization, Athletics Mercado.

“Her being a coach for another team translates very well here because she holds us accountable,” Aguilar said.

According to Athletics Mercado’s website they have “a proven model to get their players, coaches, and teams to excel and compete at the highest level.”

“I just like being a good example to these girls, and I enjoy giving back to them,” Marquez said about her experience coaching. 

Her coaching career began with her sister and now she is helping with three teams.

Currently, there is no room for anything but softball for Marquez. She has no hobbies, just a love for the game that requires constant attention. “It’s like I eat, breathe, and sleep softball,” Marquez said. If she’s not with her collegiate team she is at another diamond with the teams she coaches.

“Alia Marquez is very mature and disciplined and works extremely hard.” Coach Megan Martinez said. “She’s the first one to practice and is always the last one to leave. Her leadership and communicative skills are superior.” 

Having the ability to balance school, playing softball, and coaching softball is a point of pride for Marquez. As a youth, she didn’t foresee her ability to handle such a busy schedule. Now that she is living a life full of responsibilities and time restrictions, she sees it as a blessing.

“I know that if I didn’t have this much going on, I’d probably be out doing something that I shouldn’t be doing,” Marquez said.

Her motivation to stay busy is not the only thing that keeps Alia Marquez in constant motion. She draws inspiration from witnessing her mother’s resilience, and strong-mindedness, growing up to achieve success. 

Alia Marquez also credits her mother with getting her start in softball. 

“My mom played when she was younger, and I guess it’s just in my blood,” Marquez said, “She just signed me up for softball and I’ve been doing it since.”

Another role model for Marquez is Coach Fa Leilua on the coaching staff at LBCC. 

“Now that I’m here at Long Beach, I’d say Coach Fa,” Marquez said when asked about role models in her life. “I love her energy and the way she’s giving back to us.”

“I’m pretty good at picking myself up and understanding that I’m here for a reason.” Marquez said, “I’ve got a lot of good things going for me and I can’t give that up now.”

What does the future hold for Alia Marquez? 

“Hopefully playing softball at the next level, graduating with a good degree, and getting a good job. I would love to continue coaching and giving back to the girls.” Marquez said.

 Opinion: LA County’s guaranteed income program should remain ongoing

Moises
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 Opinion: LA County’s guaranteed income program should remain ongoing

Los Angeles County’s Guaranteed Income Program acknowledges the challenges faced by residents in recent years by alleviating 1,000 eligible participants with $1,000 per month for 3 years.

This program has had open enrollment since March 31, 2022, and though it is still in its infancy, it should be extended beyond the 3 year time frame that has been proposed. 

 “Breathe” is a pilot research program being conducted by The University of Pennsylvania that will be studying the overall health and economic growth of those selected.

The average American today is faced with an uphill battle when it comes to both health and financial stability, even more so with the COVID-19 pandemic and residual effects caused by it. 

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, people of color and female minorities are facing occupational mobility which is one of the factors that has led to a higher number of people being at or below the poverty line. 

Unemployment for African Americans is close to double that of white Americans, and in order to address these issues it is imperative that an extra two years should be added to the program.

Additionally, Transition Age Youth (TAY), Domestic Violence Survivors and or head of household falls under this criteria where they have had unfortunate disadvantages.

The guaranteed income program should use this momentum in order to further assist those who are more prone to these struggles and therefore would benefit from this assistance. 

A lot of the people who fall under TAY are women who were either incarcerated or released in the past seven years which has restricted them from a plethora of past and or current employment opportunities.

Many people today are struggling with emotional, physical, and financial issues. 

Ideally, a program such as “Breathe” should remain for at least a five-year time frame to allow sufficient time to recover, especially for some under stringent circumstances.

The efforts going towards stopping this unfortunate cycle is commendable, but should be sustained, re-evaluated and extended. 

Opinion: Gentrification is killing Long Beach’s local communities

Eduardo Gomez
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Opinion: Gentrification is killing Long Beach’s local communities

The city of Long Beach was once considered the “Iowa by the sea” due to its sleepy town feel, but it has since veered far from that as it has become the seventh most populous city in California.

A city once ranked among the most affordable places to live in on the west coast is now considered to be more expensive to buy a house in than San Francisco; so what has happened to the local population that was here before Long Beach’s urban renewal? 

Many native Long Beachians have been left feeling culturally displaced. Increased development has made the city feel unrecognizable creating a sense of unfamiliarity in a city they are supposed to call home. That is, if they are even able to afford to stay here.

In 2021, RealtyHop reported that nearly two-thirds of a Long Beachian’s earnings go towards monthly mortgage payments and taxes on the average priced home in the city making it the top five most expensive places to buy a house in the United States. 

A city once littered with panaderias, local diners, and pho houses built by the hands of immigrants and refugees who settled in Long Beach looking to build their American dream is disappearing as new vegan coffee shops and over-priced boutiques spawn on every corner along with luxury apartment buildings that have forever changed the skyline.

In an interview done by KCRW, Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia stated, “A lot of people today are scared of more people, but the future is that cities that aren’t growing and adapting and creating space for young professionals to live and work are dying,” Garcia said. “And cities of the future are growing. They’re planning for growth.”

In order to create an environment that allows for young professionals to live and flourish in a growing city, it would make sense to prioritize the youth who are the future of the city. This does not seem to be the case at hand, however, since 25.2 % of high school students in Long Beach are below the poverty line, according to welfareinfo.org. 

Local businesses that have been here for years are having a hard time staying open as rent prices sky rocket and the “Silver Tsunami” takes hold.

The “Silver Tsunami” refers to the mass retirement of boomer business owners which has caused a small business closure crisis across the U.S. 

Project-equity.org reported that about 85% of these business owners have no succession plan for their business and only 20% of small businesses end up getting sold. As for family owned businesses, business owners hope to pass on their legacy to the next generation, but the chances of this actually happening are slim. 

The reality is that only 15% of family businesses end up getting passed on to the next generation, as the next generation usually ends up having different interests than their parents. 

Unfortunately, many of these small businesses end up getting bought out by outside investors. 

It is imperative that these small businesses stay alive in order to fuel Long Beach’s local economy. There are over 2,500 businesses in Long Beach that have been here for more than 20 years and they account for $12.3 billion of Long Beach’s revenue.

Fighting gentrification is a communal effort and cannot be done alone. While gentrification is inevitable as society progresses and expands, it is important to try and limit the harm it does to local existing communities. Especially lower income ones, like Long Beach, where 16.8 % of the population are considered below the poverty line, which is higher than the national average.

Gentrification’s harmful effects on local communities is unstoppable unless the government prioritizes the entirety of the city’s populations, rather than just those with deep pockets. Citizens need to fight for bills to be passed that help combat gentrification, that includes advocating for initiatives to increase public housing and enact rent control.

New Social Justice Intercultural Center on Campus

Karina Serrano
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New Social Justice Intercultural Center on Campus

Long Beach City College opened their new Social Justice Intercultural Center on the lower level of the LAC Building E last month. Students can use the center to work on their studies, find helpful resources, and also grab snacks and drinks if needed.

The center provides students with board games, film screenings, webinars, computer access, printing resources, and cubicles for resource programs, such as Basic Needs or the Justice Scholars.

The Basic Needs program also provides a grab-and-go station for students to take snacks and drinks when they need them, as well as a fridge stocked with grocery items for students to have.

There are cubicles lined up along the wall for different programs on campus to reserve. The programs send a representative for them, that way students are able to meet directly with them there in a private space, making the resources more accessible.

The center is a part of the Student Equity departments initiative to create more resources for students.

“We will be hosting more events later on. My goal is to have more identity focused workshops, socials, mixers, and community building,” Itzel Marin said, who works in the center. 

The Student Equity departments goal is to create and sustain an inclusive culture on campus that enables students to thrive and be their best.

“The Social Justice Intercultural Center is intentional about meeting the non-cognitive, social, and environmental needs of our diverse student population,” Eric Becerra said, Interim Director of Student Equity.

The Social Justice Center’s focus is on LBGTQI+ students, Asian Pacific American students, Indiginous Black students, and Latinx students.

The new Social Justice Intercultural Center at LBCC in building C at LAC opened its doors only one month ago. Although few have used its resources, it offers access to private cubicles for studying, printer and computer privileges, and even stocks a small snack and drink station. (Photo by Shelby Tiefenthaler)

“We hope to positively impact retention, persistence, and completion among our most disproportionately impacted populations, namely Black/African American, Latina/o/x, LGBTQI+, Asian Pacific Islander DESI, and Native American students,” Becerra said.

The Social Justice Intercultural Center promotes social justice, education, culturally responsive support, community building, and leadership development for all students.

“This space is to promote equity, a space for community building, and a place for students to learn more about their identities,” Marin said.

The center has not had too many visitors yet, since their opening last month. This is a space for students to speak freely, feel accepted, and utilize resources to better their experience on campus.

The Social Justice Intercultural Center is open now Monday through Thursday, 8am – 5pm.

Opinion: Schools should ditch standardized testing

Eduardo Gomez
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Opinion: Schools should ditch standardized testing

A panicked glance at the classroom clock, unanswered questions littering the scantron, the fear of failure and the anticipation of disappointment swarming in your mind.

For many students who have taken standardized testing, this is an experience that they are all too familiar with. 

The anxiety and stress that is often associated with standardized tests has affected thousands of students, despite the fact that there are alternatives that should be used instead of the outdated method of standardized testing.

In the study “Testing, Stress, and Performance: How Students Respond Physiologically to High-Stakes Testing” researchers found that cortisol, a primary stress hormone, changes in response to high-stakes testing.

The impact that testing has on a student’s overall grade is the greatest factor in the high-stakes nature of testing.

On average, exams or quizzes make up the highest percentage of your grade when it comes to an individual class, causing them to either make or break a student’s grade in a class.

In addition to increased feelings of anxiety and depression, these kinds of high stakes also cause fear of backlash from guardian figures within students.

These kinds of tests can result in issues with sleep as well, with students losing hours of sleep because they are studying for exams and quizzes instead.

There are benefits of this kind of testing, with the most important one being an accurate assessment of the student’s retained knowledge on a subject without outside sources affecting the results.

Yet, this kind of testing leads to intense stress within students alongside having alternatives that could lead to less stress and similar results.

For one, tests being used as an accurate assessment of student learning is flawed, as cheating commonly used by students to circumvent the purpose of a test.

A research study by the International Center for Academic Integrity, out of 70,000 high school students at over 24 high schools in the United States, 64% admitted to cheating on a test.

One solution would be to reduce the disparity between the effect that test scores have on the grade, making it more equal to the rest of factors that make up a student’s overall grade.

School projects, discussion boards, and open note tests are other options that still provide time and resources without restoring to strict test taking.

Open note testing has already increased in use during the pandemic, when at-home tests were nearly impossible to regulate. Many students resorted to using open notes on the tests without permission.

The pandemic had a drastic effect on the subject of standardized testing, with many colleges announcing that they will no longer require SAT and/or ACT test scores.

With the many drawbacks associated with high stakes testing, it is crucial that schools seek the alternative options available.

Inside the Long Beach North Institute of Religion

Matthew Walker
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Inside the Long Beach North Institute of Religion

With barbecues, pool tables and Ping-Pong tournaments to name a few of the activities at the Long Beach North Institute of Religion, they hope to share thoughts and ideas based on Christian values in classes offered every week that Elder Paniagua teaches both in-person and online. 

This institute of religion is funded by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but Paniagua considers it to be more of a support system to help young students as they go through college. 

This center of religion provides free parking for LBCC students, where all they ask for in return is to sign up for their ‘lunch-in’ and they can use parking, at no extra charge for food or parking. 

During the ‘lunch-in’, they provide an environment where students can socialize while eating free food from either the cook-offs or barbecues, along with spaghetti or chicken quesadillas. 

Typically at the institute, there are several scripture-based classes where they teach the old testament, new testament, modern revelation and teachings of the prophets. 

The classes being offered can benefit students who choose to be part of the Brigham Young University program, as their courses are transferable to the institution. 

The institute is meant to support those students that don’t go directly to BYU, but instead go to a community college first.

“This is more of a satellite for the BYU pathway program, so we’re kind of a school. So if students want to take classes (here), they can transfer to BYU,” Paniagua said. 

A secondary focus they have is bringing in missionaries that go over to the Liberal Arts Campus, where they place a white board next to them and ask students to write answers to questions, such as ‘Who is your hero?’

The intent behind this is to start a conversation with students, getting to know them and possibly getting them to come to Christ and read the scriptures with the missionaries. 

“We’ve been able to bring a handful of good people and are trying to set up a time to meet with them and have them go over into our class in the institute,” Chase Black said, a missionary from this institute.  

A majority of LBCC students who have gone to visit the institute are athletes from the athletics department. Some of them being the track and field team girls. 

As missionaries, women serve for 18 months and men for two years. 

Paniagua believes it is a very meaningful experience, as missionaries are sent to locations like South America or Europe to preach the gospel. 

“Think about it, 19 year olds leaving everything behind and being in a different country not knowing the language and having to learn the language, its a life changing experience,” Paniagua said. 

The courses provided at the Long Beach North Institute of Religion are held weekly on Monday-Wednesday 12:00pm-12:50pm on zoom, as well as in person on Monday 10:00am-11:30am and Wednesday/Thursdays 7:30pm-8:00pm.

What to know about the campus cafeteria

Karina Serrano
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What to know about the campus cafeteria

Look no further than the LBCC cafeteria where students can go to grab snacks including chips, cookies, candies, and other cooked meals such as tortas, quesadillas, and burgers. 

The cafeteria is the one-step stop, where students can grab food without a long wait, as well as sit in and eat their food at socially distanced tables.

Now there is also The Nordic Cup, where students can order their favorite coffee drinks to enjoy throughout their school day. 

Cole Neuhoff, who works 2 days a week, shared that she sees about 400 people a day in the cafeteria. 

“We get an order every Friday, but sometimes not everything in the order comes in so we always restock in the mornings but for the actual supply it depends,” Neuhoff said. 

The cafeteria typically seems to be pretty empty with lines for snacks and drinks being short. 

“Especially for The Nordic Cup, most of the stuff we won’t get,” Neuhoff said, expressing why there is less of a variety for drinks.

After the cafeteria reopened this semester, many students have had good and bad things to say about it. 

Dianna Rivas, a student at LBCC and visits the cafeteria on a daily basis shares her experience. 

“ I would say that the cafeteria has a nice layout and it’s easy to access the food and drinks, but I would like them to have more food options so students don’t always get the same thing,” Rivas said. 

The cafeteria is also still enforcing social distancing with students sitting 2 tables away from each other and also having a door monitor where students get cleared to enter. 

Students are encouraged to visit the cafeteria during its open hours when on campus and in need of a pick-up. 

The cafeteria is open Monday through Thursday from 7 am to 4 pm, and Fridays from 7 am to 2 pm.

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